SSC CGL 2017 · 2017-08-21 · Shift 3

In the above diagram B and C represent Collectors who are either Artist or Fathers but not Military Officers.

Hence, answer is figure 3.

The letters available in JAUNTILY are {J, A, U, N, T, I, L, Y}. Checking each option: AUNTY uses A, U, N, T, Y — all available. JAUNT uses J, A, U, N, T — all available. UNITY uses U, N, I, T, Y — all available. NEATLY requires the letter E, which is not in JAUNTILY. Hence NEATLY cannot be formed.

The cipher is the reverse alphabet code: each letter is replaced by its mirror (A↔Z, B↔Y, …), so the position sums to 27. Verify with U(21)+F(6)=27, N(14)+M(13)=27, etc. Apply to TIP: \(T(20) \rightarrow 27-20=7 \rightarrow G\) \(I(9) \rightarrow 27-9=18 \rightarrow R\) \(P(16) \rightarrow 27-16=11 \rightarrow K\) Therefore TIP is coded as GRK.

It is in the form of: 82 = 64 Similarly; 0.12 = 0.01 Therefore, the answer is 0.1.

Consecutive differences are constant: \(107.5-111=-3.5\) and \(104-107.5=-3.5\). The series subtracts 3.5 each step. Missing term \(=104-3.5=100.5\). Check: \(100.5-3.5=97\), which matches the next given term. Therefore the answer is 100.5.

Possible totals from subsets of {90, 30, 40, 60} (each box used at most once): Singles: 30, 40, 60, 90. Pairs: 30+40=70, 30+60=90, 30+90=120, 40+60=100, 40+90=130, 60+90=150. Triples: 30+40+60=130, 30+40+90=160, 30+60+90=180, 40+60+90=190. All four: 30+40+60+90=220. Among the options, 220, 180 and 130 are achievable, but 200 is not in this list. Hence 200 kg cannot be formed.

The relationship is producer : product — a cow yields milk. Applying the same relation to bees: bees produce honey. Silk is from silkworms; flowers and water are inputs/needs, not products of bees.

Convert each letter to its alphabet position: L=12, N=14, Q=17, S=19, V=22. The gaps alternate: \(+2, +3, +2, +3, \ldots\) The next gap is \(+2\), so the next position is \(22+2=24\), which is the letter X.

Replace each symbol per the code: \(+\rightarrow\times\), \(-\rightarrow+\), \(\times\rightarrow\div\). The expression \(50+5-700\times 28\) becomes: \[50\times 5 + 700\div 28\] Apply BODMAS — division and multiplication first: \(700\div 28 = 25\) and \(50\times 5 = 250\). Therefore the value is \(250+25=\mathbf{275}\).

Convert ACF and GIL to positions: A=1, C=3, F=6 and G=7, I=9, L=12. The differences are \(7-1=6\), \(9-3=6\), \(12-6=6\). Each letter shifts +6. Apply to OQT (15, 17, 20): \(15+6=21\rightarrow U\), \(17+6=23\rightarrow W\), \(20+6=26\rightarrow Z\). Hence the answer is UWZ.

Check which are perfect squares: \(49=7^2\), \(25=5^2\), \(36=6^2\) — all perfect squares. \(8=2^3\) is a perfect cube, not a perfect square. Hence 8 is the odd one out.

Take East/North as positive. Track net displacement: Step 1 — East 10 km: position (+10, 0). Step 2 — South 3 km: position (+10, −3). Step 3 — West 6 km: position (+4, −3). Step 4 — right turn from West is North; cycle 3 km: position (+4, 0). Net displacement: 4 km East of the start.

Option 4 th cube is not possible from unfolded cube. The doted face and cross face should not be adjacent to each other. Hence, answer is figure 4.

Count days from 19 June to 17 November (same year): Remaining June: \(30-19=11\); July 31; August 31; September 30; October 31; November (up to 17th) 17. Total \(=11+31+31+30+31+17=151\) days. Odd days \(=151 \bmod 7 = 4\) (since \(151=7\times 21+4\)). Counting 4 days forward from Monday: Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri. Hence Nishith's birthday falls on Friday.

Hence, answer is figure 2.

Hence, answer is figure 3.

Hence, given image is hidden in figure 1. Therefore, answer is figure 1.

Spot the rule using the examples: in each case the result equals the sum of the two operands multiplied by 10. \(3\,\%\,2 = (3+2)\times 10 = 50\) ✓ \(2\,\%\,4 = (2+4)\times 10 = 60\) ✓ Apply to \(5\,\%\,4\): \((5+4)\times 10 = 9\times 10 = 90\).

Decode each option and check against OXEN. Row-then-column applies; Matrix-I uses indices 0–4, Matrix-II uses 5–9. O at 65 → Matrix-II, row 6, col 5 = O. ✓ X at 97 → Matrix-II, row 9, col 7 = X. ✓ E at 42 → Matrix-I, row 4, col 2 = E. ✓ N at 99 → Matrix-II, row 9, col 9 = N. ✓ All four match, so the correct set is 65, 97, 42, 99. The other options fail at the first letter (21=H, 44=F, 14=G — none give O).

Read the grid by columns. Each column satisfies the rule (top − middle) × middle = bottom. Column 1: \((23-6)\times 6 = 17\times 6 \ne 138\). Try top × middle = bottom: \(23\times 6=138\). ✓ Column 3: \(12\times 7 = 84\). ✓ So the rule is top × middle = bottom. For column 2: \(?\times 13 = 117\), giving \(?=\dfrac{117}{13}=9\).

Statement 2 ("Some flowers are plants") is an I-type proposition, so by simple conversion Some plants are flowers — Conclusion II follows. From Statement 2, take an entity x that is both a flower and a plant. Statement 1 says all flowers are leaves, so x is also a leaf. Hence that x is both a leaf and a plant, i.e. Some leaves are plants — Conclusion I follows. Both conclusions follow.

Read the second letter of each word in sequence: upset, aurora, spurn, strut, status → P, U, P, T, T. These letters spell the start of PUTTER. The missing word must therefore have R as its second letter. Among the options, only treasure (t-r-e-a-s-u-r-e) fits, completing PUTTER.

Stream, Rivulet and River are all flowing bodies of water (differing only in size). Valley is a landform — a low area of land between hills or mountains — not a water body. Hence Valley is the odd one out.

Check the gap between consecutive letters in each set: ADG: A(1) → D(4) → G(7), gap +3, +3. HKN: H(8) → K(11) → N(14), gap +3, +3. ORU: O(15) → R(18) → U(21), gap +3, +3. BDF: B(2) → D(4) → F(6), gap +2, +2. BDF breaks the +3 pattern, so it is the odd one out.

An array is an ordered collection of elements of the same data type, stored under one common identifier and accessed by index. An object holds key-value pairs of possibly different types; a string is a single sequence of characters (one value); “numbers” is a data type, not a container. Hence the definition matches Array.

Electroplating uses an electric current passed through an electrolyte to deposit a thin layer of a desired metal onto a conductive object (placed at the cathode). Galvanisation specifically refers to zinc coating (often hot-dip, not necessarily electrical); rusting is corrosion of iron; crystallisation is the formation of solid crystals. Only electroplating matches “any desired metal” deposited by electricity.

Scottish chemist Charles Macintosh patented waterproof fabric in 1823, bonding two layers of cloth with rubber dissolved in naphtha. The resulting raincoat became known as the “Mackintosh”. Robert Hooke is known for the cell and Hooke’s law; Cai Lun for papermaking; William Harvey for describing blood circulation.

At the Rio 2016 Olympics, India won two medals: a silver in Badminton (P.V. Sindhu, Women’s Singles) and a bronze in Wrestling (Sakshi Malik, Women’s 58 kg freestyle). No Indian boxer or hockey team medalled at Rio 2016, so the silver was in Badminton.

The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution distributes legislative subjects across the Union, State and Concurrent Lists. “Central Bureau of Intelligence and Investigation” appears as Entry 8 of the Union List (List I), since national intelligence and investigation are matters of central competence.

India’s Valmiki National Park in West Champaran (Bihar) shares its northern boundary with Nepal’s Chitwan National Park, together forming a transboundary tiger-rhino landscape. Bandipur (Nepal) lies in the Churia hills away from this border; Dudhwa and Jim Corbett are Indian parks, not Nepalese. Hence the continuation is Chitwan.

Animals are classified by the number of germ layers formed during gastrulation. Those with three layers — ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm — are called triploblastic (e.g. flatworms to chordates). Diploblastic animals (cnidarians, ctenophores) have only two layers. Ectoderm and endoderm are individual layers, not classifications.

For a firm with zero or only fixed costs, marginal cost is zero. In perfect competition, equilibrium for the firm requires price equal to marginal cost, so \(P = MC = 0\). Since average revenue equals price (\(AR = P\)), equilibrium output is the quantity where AR = 0. Under monopoly, oligopoly or monopolistic competition the firm faces a downward-sloping demand curve and produces where MR = MC = 0, which gives a positive price (AR > 0), not zero.

As output rises, variable inputs initially become more productive (specialisation), pushing AVC down. After a point, the law of diminishing marginal returns sets in and AVC rises. This fall-then-rise pattern gives the average variable cost curve its characteristic U-shape.

An image that can be captured on a screen is necessarily a real image, formed by the actual convergence of reflected rays. For a concave mirror, whenever the object distance exceeds the focal length (object placed beyond F), reflected rays converge in front of the mirror to produce a real, inverted image. A virtual image (object between pole and F) cannot be obtained on a screen.

Plasma is the straw-coloured, slightly viscous liquid matrix of blood, making up roughly 55% of total blood volume. It is about 90–92% water and 6–8% proteins (albumin, globulins, fibrinogen), along with salts, glucose, and hormones. Formed elements (RBCs, WBCs, platelets) are cellular and constitute the remaining ~45%; blood groups are antigen-based classifications; coagulation is a process — none is a straw-coloured fluid.

Verify each claim: Statement 1 — ‘India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium’ was written by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Y.S. Rajan, not Shashi Tharoor. Incorrect. Statement 2 — ‘The Great Indian Novel’ was written by Shashi Tharoor, not A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Incorrect. Statement 3 — ‘My Country My Life’ is L.K. Advani’s autobiography; I.K. Gujral’s autobiography is ‘Matters of Discretion’. Incorrect. All three statements are wrong, so the answer is 1, 2 and 3.

In 1918, Mahatma Gandhi led the Ahmedabad Mill Workers' Satyagraha. Cotton mill workers demanded restoration of the plague bonus and a wage hike; owners refused. Invited by Anasuya Sarabhai, Gandhi backed a 35% wage increase and undertook his first hunger strike (fast unto death) in India. The tribunal ultimately awarded the 35% rise. Hence the location was Ahmedabad. Champaran (1917) concerned indigo planters and Kheda (1918) concerned peasant revenue, not cotton mill workers.

Murshid Quli Khan (founder of independent Nawabi rule, shifted capital to Murshidabad), Alivardi Khan (r. 1740-1756), and Sirajuddaullah (r. 1756-1757, defeated at Plassey) all ruled Bengal. Lucknow was the seat of the Nawabs of Awadh; Hyderabad was ruled by Nizams (Asaf Jahi dynasty); Varanasi had no comparable independent Nawabi line.

Humus formation is fundamentally a biological decomposition process. Soil flora supply the dead organic matter and soil fauna (microbes, earthworms, fungi) break it down into stable humus. Hence Flora & Fauna directly control the rate. Time merely measures duration; temperature and parent rock influence the process only indirectly by affecting decomposer activity.

Natality denotes the number of births added to a population over a given period, increasing the initial density. Mortality (deaths) and emigration (out-movement) reduce density; immigration (in-movement) increases density but from outside individuals, not births. Only natality refers specifically to births.

Sexual reproduction in algae is classified by gamete size and motility: Isogamy — fusing gametes are similar in size (e.g. Ulothrix, some Chlamydomonas). Anisogamy — gametes differ in size. Oogamy — large non-motile egg fuses with small motile sperm. Fusion of two similar-size gametes matches Isogamous. Zoospores are asexual motile spores, not gametes.

India lies entirely in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres. The mainland stretches from Kanyakumari (south) to near Indira Col in the Siachen area (north). Hence the latitudinal extent is \(8^{\circ}4'\,\text{N}\) to \(37^{\circ}6'\,\text{N}\). Options with E/W denote longitudes, and S would place India in the Southern Hemisphere — both invalid.

On a distance-time graph, speed equals the slope: \(\text{speed}=\frac{\Delta \text{distance}}{\Delta \text{time}}\) Constant speed means equal distances are covered in equal times, so the slope is constant. A constant slope produces a straight line. A curve would indicate changing speed (acceleration); a horizontal line would indicate rest.

The Taj Mahal at Agra, commissioned by Shah Jahan in memory of Mumtaz Mahal (1631-1653), was designed by Ustad Ahmad Lahouri, a Persian-born architect serving the Mughal court. Norman Foster is a 20th-21st century British architect; Henry Irwin worked during the British Raj (Mysore Palace, Madras High Court); Ustad Ghani Utbuddin was not the principal architect.

The 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Bob Dylan "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition." This was the first time a songwriter received the Literature prize. Sinatra, Presley, and Hendrix — though iconic musicians — never received a Nobel.

In April 2017, China launched its first fully domestically built aircraft carrier, the Type 001A (later commissioned as the Shandong) at Dalian shipyard. Its earlier carrier Liaoning was a refit of the Soviet Varyag hull. The USA has built carriers domestically since the 1920s; South Korea and Japan had no domestic aircraft carrier launch in April 2017.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), launched on 1 May 2016 by PM Narendra Modi from Ballia (UP), provides deposit-free LPG connections to women from BPL households to replace polluting traditional cooking fuels. Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan targets rural governance; PM Surakshit Matritva Yojana provides antenatal care; Vidyanjali Yojana supports school education.

Nylon, a synthetic polyamide, has very high tensile strength relative to weight thanks to long polymer chains held by strong hydrogen bonds. A nylon thread of suitable thickness can withstand greater pulling force than a steel wire of the same diameter, and is far stronger than natural fibres wool, cotton, or jute.

As per the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, Rajya Sabha seats are allotted to states based on population. Odisha is allocated 10 seats. For reference: Uttar Pradesh has 31, Maharashtra 19, Tamil Nadu 18, West Bengal and Bihar 16 each.

Step 1 — Find Marked Price: At 20% discount, SP = 0.8 × MP. \[\text{MP}=\frac{2400}{0.8}=3000\] Step 2 — Apply 32.5% discount: \[\text{SP}=3000\times(1-0.325)=3000\times 0.675\] \[\text{SP}=\text{Rs. }2025\] Therefore the new selling price is Rs. 2025.

Step 1 — Use the given relation: \(20\%\ \text{of}\ a = b\) gives \(b=\dfrac{a}{5}\). Step 2 — Compute b% of 20: \[\frac{b}{100}\times 20 = \frac{b}{5}\] Substitute \(b=\dfrac{a}{5}\): \[\frac{1}{5}\times \frac{a}{5}=\frac{a}{25}=\frac{4a}{100}=4\%\ \text{of}\ a\] Therefore the answer is 4%.

Substitute standard values \(\cot 60^\circ=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\) and \(\cos 45^\circ=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\): \[\cot 60^\circ-\cos 45^\circ=\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}-\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\] Take LCM \(\sqrt{6}\): \[=\frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{6}}-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{6}}=\frac{\sqrt{2}-\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{6}}\] Therefore the value is \(\dfrac{\sqrt{2}-\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{6}}\).

Multiples of 7 strictly between 8 and 74 are 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70 — an AP with first term 14 and last term 70. For an AP, the average equals the mean of the first and last terms: \[\text{Average}=\frac{14+70}{2}=\frac{84}{2}=42\] Therefore the average is 42.

Using the slope formula with \(A(x,-3)\) and \(B(5,2)\): \[m=\frac{2-(-3)}{5-x}=\frac{5}{5-x}=-\frac{2}{3}\] Cross-multiply: \[-2(5-x)=3\cdot 5\implies -10+2x=15\] \[2x=25\implies x=12.5\] Therefore \(x=12.5\).

Number of taxis in A and C after the merge = 25 + 35 = 60 Number of taxis in D = 75 ∴ Required % = [(75 - 60)/60] × 100 = (15/60)(100) = 25%

Area of 4 walls (lateral surface area) of a cuboid: \[A=2(l+b)h\] Substitute \(A=400\), \(l=15\), \(h=8\): \[400=2(15+b)(8)=16(15+b)\] \[15+b=25\implies b=10\] Therefore the breadth is 10 cm.

Number of taxis in D in the new scenario = 75 + 30 = 105 ⇒ Number of taxis in C = 35 ∴ Required value = (taxis in D) - (taxis in C) = 105 - 35 = 70

For reflection in a horizontal line \(y=c\), the x-coordinate is unchanged and the new y-coordinate is \(2c-y\). With \((x,y)=(4,7)\) and \(c=-1\): \[y'=2(-1)-7=-9\] The reflected point is \((4,-9)\). (Check: point is 8 units above \(y=-1\), so image is 8 units below at \(y=-9\).)

In right-angled \(\triangle PQR\) with \(\angle Q=90^\circ\), PR is the hypotenuse and RQ is adjacent to \(\angle R\). \[\cos R=\frac{RQ}{PR}\implies \cos 60^\circ=\frac{4\sqrt{3}}{PR}\] Since \(\cos 60^\circ=\dfrac{1}{2}\): \[\frac{1}{2}=\frac{4\sqrt{3}}{PR}\implies PR=8\sqrt{3}\text{ cm}\] Therefore \(PR=8\sqrt{3}\) cm.

For an AP, \(a_n=a+(n-1)d\). Given \(a_3=-9\) and \(a_7=11\): \[a_7-a_3=4d=11-(-9)=20\implies d=5\] Then \(a=a_3-2d=-9-10=-19\). \[a_{15}=a+14d=-19+14(5)=-19+70=51\] Therefore the 15th term is 51.

A does 75% in 9 days, so A's full-job time is \(9\times\frac{4}{3}=12\) days; A's rate is \(\frac{1}{12}\)/day. B does half the job in 8 days, so B's full-job time is 16 days; B's rate is \(\frac{1}{16}\)/day. Combined rate: \[\frac{1}{12}+\frac{1}{16}=\frac{4+3}{48}=\frac{7}{48}\text{ per day}\] Time for half the job: \[\frac{1/2}{7/48}=\frac{48}{14}=\frac{24}{7}\text{ days}\] Therefore the answer is \(\dfrac{24}{7}\) days.

SI per year = \(\frac{1000}{2}=500\). For 2 years, \(\text{CI}-\text{SI}\) equals the interest on the first year's interest. \[\text{CI}-\text{SI}=1040-1000=40\] This 40 is the simple interest on Rs. 500 for 1 year at rate R: \[40=\frac{500\times R\times 1}{100}=5R\implies R=8\%\] Therefore the rate is 8% per annum.

If \(x\) is the fourth proportional to 24, 120, 22, then \(24:120::22:x\), i.e. \[\frac{24}{120}=\frac{22}{x}\] Cross-multiplying: \[24x=120\times 22=2640\implies x=110\] Therefore the fourth proportional is 110.

Use the identity \(a^3-b^3=(a-b)^3+3ab(a-b)\). Substitute \(a-b=2\) and \(ab=24\): \[a^3-b^3=2^3+3(24)(2)=8+144=152\] Therefore \(a^3-b^3=\) 152.

Let the fraction be \(x\). Then: \[2x+\frac{1}{x}=\frac{17}{6}\] Multiply through by \(6x\): \[12x^2-17x+6=0\] Factor: \[(3x-2)(4x-3)=0\implies x=\tfrac{2}{3}\text{ or }\tfrac{3}{4}\] Among the options, only \(\dfrac{3}{4}\) appears. Check: \(2\cdot\tfrac{3}{4}+\tfrac{4}{3}=\tfrac{3}{2}+\tfrac{4}{3}=\tfrac{9+8}{6}=\tfrac{17}{6}\). Therefore the fraction is \(\dfrac{3}{4}\).

Find the nearest multiple of 37 below 2468. Since \(37\times 66=2442\) and \(37\times 67=2479>2468\): \[2468-2442=26\] So \(2468=37\times 66+26\), with \(0\le 26<37\). Therefore the remainder is 26.

The bus loses speed because of stoppages. Stoppage time per hour equals the ratio of speed lost to running speed: \[\text{Stoppage}=\frac{\text{Speed without stops}-\text{Speed with stops}}{\text{Speed without stops}}\times 60\text{ min}\] \[=\frac{60-45}{60}\times 60=\frac{15}{60}\times 60=15\text{ minutes}\] Therefore the bus stops for 15 minutes per hour.

Since \(DE\parallel BC\), \(\triangle ADE\sim\triangle ABC\) (AA similarity). Given \(AD:DB=2:3\), so \(\dfrac{AD}{AB}=\dfrac{2}{2+3}=\dfrac{2}{5}\). Ratio of areas of similar triangles equals square of side ratio: \[\frac{[\triangle ADE]}{[\triangle ABC]}=\left(\frac{2}{5}\right)^2=\frac{4}{25}\] Let \([\triangle ADE]=4k\), \([\triangle ABC]=25k\). Then \([BDEC]=25k-4k=21k\). Therefore \([\triangle ADE]:[BDEC]=\) 4 : 21.

Use the identity \(\sec^2\theta = 1 + \tan^2\theta\). \[\sec^2\theta = 1 + \left(\frac{9}{40}\right)^2 = 1 + \frac{81}{1600} = \frac{1681}{1600}\] Taking the positive root, \(\sec\theta = \dfrac{41}{40}\). Therefore the answer is 41/40.

The centroid of a triangle with vertices \((x_1,y_1), (x_2,y_2), (x_3,y_3)\) is \(\left(\dfrac{x_1+x_2+x_3}{3}, \dfrac{y_1+y_2+y_3}{3}\right)\). \[G_x = \frac{2+(-4)+5}{3} = \frac{3}{3} = 1\] \[G_y = \frac{5+0+4}{3} = \frac{9}{3} = 3\] Therefore the centroid is (1, 3).

Taxi companies having more taxis than A = B, C, D, E Taxi companies having less taxis than D = A, C, F ∴ Common company in above 2 situations = C

Step 1 — Set up alligation: mix profits 5% and 11% to get mean 7%. \[\frac{\text{Quantity at 5%}}{\text{Quantity at 11%}} = \frac{11-7}{7-5} = \frac{4}{2} = \frac{2}{1}\] Step 2 — Apportion 1200 kg: total parts = 2 + 1 = 3. \[\text{Quantity at 5% profit} = \frac{2}{3} \times 1200 = 800 \text{ kg}\] Therefore he sold 800 kg at 5% profit.

Total number of taxes in all companies = 25 + 120 + 35 + 75 + 95 + 10 = 360 ⇒ Money spent by 1 taxi on fuel in 1 day = 100 × 3 = Rs. 300 ⇒ Money spent by 360 taxis on fuel in 1 day = 360 × 300 = 108000 ∴ the correct option is 2)

Step 1 — Clear fractions: multiply both sides by 10 (LCM of 2 and 5). \[25 - 12\left(x - \tfrac{15}{2}\right) = -2x\] Step 2 — Expand: \[25 - 12x + 90 = -2x \implies 115 - 12x = -2x\] Step 3 — Solve for x: \[115 = 10x \implies x = \frac{23}{2}\] Therefore x = 23/2.

The passage states that abandoned manja strings stuck in trees act as a supporting platform for tender climbers, giving them an easy path to reach the treetop. This support directly benefits the creepers (climbers), even though it ultimately harms the tree by letting the canopy be smothered. Humans, birds and trees are described as threatened, not benefitted.

The adjective close, when expressing nearness, must be followed by the preposition to. "Close the palace" is ungrammatical; the correct phrase is "close to the palace" (or simply "near the palace"). The error lies in part (3).

Wreckage means the remains of something that has been badly damaged or destroyed, especially a vehicle, aircraft or building — a direct match for the phrase. "Pristine" and "immaculate" mean unspoiled or perfectly clean (opposite sense), and "sterile" means free from germs — none of these refer to damaged remains.

Perverse means turned away from what is right or good — wicked, improper, deliberately contrary. Nefarious, meaning wicked or criminal, captures this sense most closely. "Agreeable", "compliant" and "willing" all denote cooperation or pleasantness, the opposite of perverse.

To maneuver means to move or act with skill, strategy or manipulation — it is an active verb. To cease means to stop or bring to an end, which is the direct opposite of acting or moving. "Manipulate" and "machinate" are synonyms (skilful scheming), and "proceed" means to continue, not to stop.

When the reporting verb is in the past tense ("said"), the modal can shifts to could in indirect speech, the quotation marks are removed, and the reported clause is introduced by that. Applying these rules: The teacher said that nobody could solve the problem.

The passage states: "A research paper by three scientists of the Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden... illustrates in detail how the manja, in collusion with climbers, does the damage." Hence three scientists contributed.

Eye-opening is the established idiom for an experience that reveals something new and surprising or changes one's perspective — exactly what city life would be for a straitlaced country girl. "Eye-clearing" and "eye-freeing" are not standard expressions; "eye-saving" refers to protecting vision and does not fit the context.

A blood test detects hCG and is used to verify pregnancy, so the physician is able to confirm (establish the truth of) the pregnancy. "Term" relates to ending or duration, "firm" means to strengthen, and "confer" means to grant or to consult — none fit a diagnostic verification.

To avert means to prevent something (usually bad) from happening. Its opposite is To aid, which means to help or assist something to happen. "Deter", "forestall" and "preclude" all mean to prevent or hinder, so they are synonyms of avert, not antonyms.

The idiom to go to somebody's head literally describes alcohol or altitude that makes a person feel dizzy or slightly drunk; figuratively it describes praise or success producing the same lightheaded loss of perspective. Option 3, to make someone dizzy or slightly drunk, captures the literal core meaning. "Huge ego" is a possible consequence but not the idiom's definition; the other options are unrelated.

Traverse means to travel across or through an area, often involving back-and-forth or sideways movement (as a climber traverses a cliff face). It is the best fit for "to move back and forth or sideways". Sojourn = a temporary stay; Tarriance = lingering/delay; Breather = a short rest. None of these describe lateral motion.

The correct spelling is Mutineers — people who take part in a mutiny (rebellion against authority). The standard form keeps the pattern M-U-T-I-N-E-E-R-S. The other options misplace vowels: Mutiniers uses 'ie' instead of 'ee'; Muteneers and Muteniers wrongly replace the 'i' after 't' with an 'e'.

The lead-in "Thus, I stand on a" needs a noun — "hill" (X) — to complete it, so X comes first. After "watch a labourer", the natural sequence is the action then the location. Z ("striking with his sledge") supplies the action; Y ("upon the distant railway") fixes the location. XYZ would give the ungrammatical "railway striking with his sledge". Hence the order is XZY: "Thus, I stand on a hill and watch a labourer striking with his sledge upon the distant railway."

X introduces the enemies ("heat, thirst, and flies") and ends with the comparative "but far", so X must come first. Z ("rather would I have faced any danger") completes the "but far rather" comparison. Y ("from man or beast than that awful trinity") then specifies the alternative danger and refers back to the "awful trinity" of X. The sequence XZY reads: "Our only enemies were heat, thirst, and flies, but far rather would I have faced any danger from man or beast than that awful trinity."

The active sentence is in the simple past: subject "The painter" + verb "painted" + object "the entire bungalow". The passive structure is Object + was/were + past participle + by + Subject. The new subject "the entire bungalow" is singular, so the auxiliary is "was", and the past participle of "paint" is "painted". This gives: The entire bungalow was painted by the painter. Option 1 wrongly uses present tense "is"; options 2 and 4 use the awkward "Painting of... was/is done by".

India's oldest botanical garden is the Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, located in Howrah, West Bengal (founded 1787). Taking the first letter of each word — Acharya, Jagdish, Chandra, Bose, Indian, Botanic, Garden — gives the acronym AJCBIBG.

The idiom "to make amends" means to do something to make up for a wrong or to repair the damage caused by one's actions — i.e. to compensate. The other options are unrelated: making new friends, feeling guilt for something not done, or offering flimsy excuses do not involve compensating for a wrongdoing.

The passage states that abandoned, torn kite strings (i.e. manja) act as a "primary supporting platform" giving tender climbers easy passage to the top of the trees. Creepers/climbers are the plants being supported (not the support itself); the kite itself is irrelevant once snapped — only its string remains; lateral branches use the first climber for support later, not at the start. Hence the answer is Manja.

The intended phrasal verb here is "called out" — meaning to shout or announce loudly. The sentence uses "called over", but "call over" means to summon someone to come closer, which does not fit a conductor announcing a stop. Parts (1) and (2) are grammatically sound; the error is in part (3) — "over in a loud voice" should be "out in a loud voice".

The correct spelling is Obeisance — a noun meaning a gesture of respect (a bow or curtsy), or deferential homage. The standard form uses the 'ei' vowel pair after 'b' and the '-ance' ending. The other options either drop the 'i' (Obesance, Obesanse) or wrongly end in '-anse' instead of '-ance'.

The passage explains that creepers, once they reach the top of a tree using the manja as support, spread across the canopy and form a dense cover. This layer prevents sunlight from reaching the tree's leaves, blocking photosynthesis and eventually killing the tree. So the creeper kills the tree by blocking its access to sunlight. The passage does not mention parasitic nutrient absorption, constriction, or toxic chemicals.

The modal verb "should" must be followed by the base form of the main verb, never a past participle. So "Why should we bothered?" is ungrammatical. The base form of "bothered" is bother, giving the correct sentence: "Why should we bother?" The other options (bothering, to bother, no improvement) all violate the modal + base-form rule.

Exemption means freedom or release from an obligation, duty, or liability imposed on others. Immunity carries the same sense — protection or exemption from something (e.g. immunity from prosecution, tax). Accountability, liability, and responsibility all denote the opposite — being answerable or under obligation. Hence the synonym is Immunity.

The modal verb "must" is always followed by the base form of the main verb, not the past participle. "Must seen" is therefore ungrammatical. The base form of "seen" is see, giving: "I absolutely must see him, however painful it may be for me." "Saw" (past) and "seeing" (participle) also fail the modal + base-form rule.