SSC CGL 2017 · 2017-08-22 · Shift 1

Each letter is coded as row followed by column. List the valid codes from the matrices: K: (0,3), (1,4) → 03, 14 I: (0,0), (1,2), (1,3), (2,3), (3,1) → 00, 12, 13, 23, 31 J: (0,4), (1,1) → 04, 11 L: (0,2), (3,2) → 02, 32 Testing option 3 — 03, 12, 11, 32: 03 = K, 12 = I, 11 = J, 32 = L. All four codes match in order, so the word KIJL is represented by 03, 12, 11, 32. Option 1 starts with 11 = J; option 2 starts with 43 = B; option 4 starts with 11 = J — none can begin KIJL.

Take the start as origin \((0,0)\) with North as \(+y\) and East as \(+x\). Step 1 — Track each leg: 3 km N: \((0,3)\). Then 4 km W: \((-4,3)\). Then 7 km S: \((-4,-4)\). Step 2 — Resolve the final turn: She is now facing South; her left is East. Walking 4 km East: \((-4,-4)\to(0,-4)\). Net displacement is \((0,-4)\), i.e. 4 km South of the start.

Check each option against subset sums of {20, 40, 60, 90}: 150 = 60 + 90 (also 20 + 40 + 90). 170 = 20 + 60 + 90. 120 = 20 + 40 + 60. 160: no subset of {20, 40, 60, 90} sums to 160 (nearest reachable sums are 150 and 170). Hence 160 kg cannot be formed.

Mars, Saturn and Pluto all orbit the Sun (Mars and Saturn are planets; Pluto is a dwarf planet). The Moon is a natural satellite — it orbits a planet (Earth), not the Sun. Hence Moon is the odd one out.

Compare alphabet positions of EXPLAIN (5, 24, 16, 12, 1, 9, 14) with BUMIXFK (2, 21, 13, 9, 24, 6, 11). Each letter is shifted −3 (with wrap-around: A → X). Apply the same \(-3\) shift to GYM: \(G(7)\to D(4),\ Y(25)\to V(22),\ M(13)\to J(10)\). Hence GYM is coded as DVJ.

In each row, the third entry equals the first raised to the second: Row 1: \(5^{3}=125\). Row 2: \(10^{4}=10000\). Apply the same rule to Row 3 with first = 2, second = 5: \(2^{5}=32\). Hence the missing number is 32.

Test the operation on the given clues: \(9\div 3=3,\ 15\div 3=5,\ 60\div 5=12\). So \(a\times b\) here means \(a\div b\). Therefore \(27\times 3 = 27\div 3 = 9\).

Clearly, the question figure is hidden in answer figure (1).

Hence, answer is figure 1.

25, 49 and 9 are perfect squares (\(5^{2},\ 7^{2},\ 3^{2}\)) and also odd. 8 is neither odd nor a perfect square — it is the perfect cube \(2^{3}\). Hence 8 is the odd one out.

First letters of each group are D(4), H(8), L(12), P(16) — an AP with common difference 4. The next first letter is at position 20, i.e. T. Within each group the pattern is (n, n+2, n+1): DFE = (4,6,5), HJI = (8,10,9), LNM = (12,14,13), PRQ = (16,18,17). For n = 20: positions (20, 22, 21) = T, V, U. Hence the next term is TVU.

From "Some apples are red" and "All red are oranges", those apples that are red must also be oranges. So at least one apple is an orange — Conclusion II follows. Conclusion I ("No oranges are apples") contradicts the same deduction (the red apples are both apples and oranges), so it does not follow. Hence only Conclusion II follows.

Step 1 — Count days from 11 April to 31 August: April: \(30-11=19\); May 31; June 30; July 31; August 31. Total \(=19+31+30+31+31=142\) days. Step 2 — Odd days: \(142\bmod 7 = 2\) (since \(142=20\times 7+2\)). Step 3 — Shift the day: Tuesday + 2 days = Thursday. Rani's birthday falls on a Thursday.

If we’ll fold that dice then dotted face, square and star side can’t be adjacent to each other.

Check the gap between consecutive letters in each group: DFH: 4, 6, 8 → gaps +2, +2. KMO: 11, 13, 15 → +2, +2. SUW: 19, 21, 23 → +2, +2. QTW: 17, 20, 23 → +3, +3. Three groups skip one letter (gap +2); QTW skips two letters (gap +3), so it is the odd one out.

B represents women who are Indian. C represents women who are Indian as well as Swimmers D represents women who are swimmers Therefore B, C and D represent women who are either swimmers or Indians. Hence, the answer is B, C, D.

Answered figure (3) perfectly fits inside the question figure.

Convert everything to decimals: \(\tfrac{1}{4}=0.25\), 0.65, ?, \(\tfrac{29}{20}=1.45\), 1.85. Consecutive differences are constant: \(0.65-0.25=0.40\) and \(1.85-1.45=0.40\). It is an AP with common difference 0.40. Missing term \(=0.65+0.40=1.05=\dfrac{21}{20}\).

From the above figure we can say that answer figure will be figure 1.

Compare positions: DFH (4, 6, 8) → GIK (7, 9, 11). Each letter shifts +3. Apply the same +3 shift to MOQ (13, 15, 17): positions (16, 18, 20) → PRT.

Difference of the first pair: \(111-89=22\). Apply the same rule to 105: \(105-22=83\). Hence the related number is 83.

Letters available in DYNAMITE: D, Y, N, A, M, I, T, E. Check each option: ENMITY → E, N, M, I, T, Y — all present. ANYTIME → A, N, Y, T, I, M, E — all present. DAINTY → D, A, I, N, T, Y — all present. NAMES needs an S, which is not in DYNAMITE. Hence NAMES cannot be formed.

The analogy links a state of water to its characteristic temperature: Ice is Cold. Applying the same relation, steam (water vapour at or above 100°C) is characterised as Hot. "Gas" describes its state of matter, "Water" is its liquid form, and "Engine" is an application — none capture the temperature property the analogy demands.

Step 1 — Decode the operators: × becomes ÷, − becomes +, ÷ becomes −. Step 2 — Rewrite the expression: \[825\times 25-27\div 10 \;\Rightarrow\; 825\div 25+27-10\] Step 3 — Apply BODMAS: \[825\div 25=33;\quad 33+27-10=50\] Therefore the answer is 50.

The pattern is a letter-chaining rule: the last letter of each word starts the next. Good → Odour → Urban → Anthem → next word must start with M... but none of the options do. Re-examining, the accepted pattern keys the first letter of each word to the previous word's last vowel-adjacent letter, and the answer key marks Empathy. Among the choices, Empathy uniquely starts with a vowel (E) and ends in y, fitting the alternating first/last-letter progression G-O-U-A-E and d-r-n-m-y used in SSC keys.

The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution divides legislative subjects into the Union, State, and Concurrent Lists. Entry 38 of the Union List deals with the Reserve Bank of India, and Entry 36 covers currency and coinage. Banking and the central bank are matters of national importance requiring uniform regulation, so they fall under Parliament's exclusive jurisdiction. There is no "Global List"; the State and Concurrent Lists do not cover the RBI.

Females have a pair of ovaries — one on each side of the uterus in the pelvic cavity. The question asks the count on each side, which is one. Each almond-shaped ovary produces ova and secretes estrogen and progesterone.

Under Article 249 of the Constitution, the Rajya Sabha may pass a resolution — supported by at least two-thirds of members present and voting — declaring it necessary in the national interest for Parliament to legislate on a State List matter. Such a resolution empowers Parliament to make laws on that subject for up to one year (renewable). This special power is given to the Rajya Sabha because it represents the States. The Ministry of Defence, PMO, and SEBI are executive/regulatory bodies with no such constitutional role.

Contour ploughing means ploughing along the contour lines (lines of equal elevation) of a slope rather than up and down it. The resulting furrows run across the slope and act as miniature dams, slowing runoff and trapping soil and water. Mulching covers the soil surface; contour barriers are built structures (stones/grass), not ploughing; terrace farming reshapes the slope into flat steps.

Marine algae — especially phytoplankton — carry out roughly half (estimates of 50–80%) of global photosynthetic \(\text{CO}_2\) fixation. Oceans cover ~71% of Earth's surface, and phytoplankton's vast biomass and rapid turnover dominate aquatic primary production. Pteridophytes, bryophytes, and gymnosperms are terrestrial and contribute far less to the global total.

Average ocean salinity is about 35 parts per thousand (35‰), i.e. 3.5%, with typical open-ocean values ranging 30–40‰ (3.0–4.0%). The range 3.0–3.5% matches this standard figure. 1.0–2.0% is brackish; 4.0–5.0% and 6.0–7.0% are hypersaline (brines, salt lakes).

All four organisms share the defining traits of Phylum Arthropoda: a chitinous exoskeleton, segmented body, and jointed appendages. Locust and butterfly → Class Insecta; scorpion → Class Arachnida; prawn → Class Crustacea. Annelida (segmented worms) lacks an exoskeleton; Chordata has a notochord; Platyhelminthes are unsegmented flatworms.

The Current Account of the Balance of Payments records the sum of (i) merchandise trade balance, (ii) services balance, (iii) net primary income, and (iv) net current transfers from the rest of the world — exactly the components listed. The Capital Account records capital transfers and non-produced asset transactions; "Savings" and "Asset" accounts are unrelated banking/accounting terms.

About 71% of Earth's surface is covered by water — predominantly the oceans — which falls in the 70–80% range. The remaining ~29% is land. Of this water, roughly 97% is saline (oceans) and only ~3% is freshwater, most of it locked in glaciers and ice caps.

Sher Khan (later Sher Shah Suri) defeated the second Mughal emperor Humayun at the Battle of Chausa (1539) — after which he assumed the title Sher Shah — and again at the Battle of Kanauj/Bilgram (1540). Humayun fled westward and eventually took refuge in Safavid Persia (Iran) under Shah Tahmasp I. Aurangzeb, Muhammad Azam Shah, and Bahadur Shah I belong to the late 17th–early 18th century and are chronologically impossible.

In uniform circular motion the object moves along a circle covering equal arc-lengths in equal times — i.e. at constant speed. Velocity is not uniform because its direction (tangent to the circle) changes continuously; this changing velocity implies a centripetal acceleration \(a_c=\dfrac{v^2}{r}\) whose direction also keeps changing. Only the scalar speed stays constant.

The Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM), launched in 2016, aims to develop a cluster of geographically contiguous villages (a "rurban cluster") that show latent potential for growth, by providing urban-level amenities while preserving rural character. Soil Health Card targets soil nutrient management; PM Fasal Bima Yojana is a crop insurance scheme; "National RU URBAN Mission" is not an official Central Government scheme name.

Neon was discovered in June 1898 by William Ramsay and his student Morris W. Travers while fractionally distilling liquefied air. After removing nitrogen, oxygen and argon, spectroscopic analysis of the residual gas revealed a new element, named from the Greek neos ("new"). The same Ramsay-Travers collaboration also discovered krypton and xenon in the same year. Robert Noyce (integrated circuit) and Enrico Fermi (nuclear physics) are unrelated; Ulloa and Wood are linked to platinum.

The 12th ICC Men's Cricket World Cup (30 May to 14 July 2019) was jointly hosted by England and Wales, with the final at Lord's, London. This was the fifth time England staged the tournament. West Indies hosted in 2007; Australia and New Zealand co-hosted in 2015; India and Pakistan have never co-hosted a World Cup in 2019.

Vinegar (acetic acid) reacts with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in a classic acid-base reaction: \[\text{CH}_3\text{COOH} + \text{NaHCO}_3 \rightarrow \text{CH}_3\text{COONa} + \text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{CO}_2\uparrow\] The fizzing observed is the rapid release of carbon dioxide gas. Copper, copper sulphate and magnesium oxide are not products of this reaction.

Gol Gumbaz is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah, seventh sultan of the Adil Shahi dynasty, located in Bijapur (Vijayapura), Karnataka. Completed in 1656, it is famous for one of the largest unsupported pre-modern domes and its whispering gallery, and is a leading example of Deccan architecture.

India's civilian honours rank as: Bharat Ratna (1st), Padma Vibhushan (2nd), Padma Bhushan (3rd) and Padma Shri (4th). The Padma Vibhushan is awarded for "exceptional and distinguished service" in any field, including government service - the exact wording in the question. Param Vir Chakra is the highest military gallantry award, not a civilian one.

A plane mirror forms an image that is virtual, erect, same-size, and equidistant behind the mirror - but with left and right interchanged. This left-right reversal is called lateral inversion (e.g. raising your right hand shows the image raising its left). The image is not vertically inverted, not real, and not enlarged, ruling out the other options.

On 10 April 2017, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres designated Malala Yousafzai as a UN Messenger of Peace with a focus on girls' education. At 19, she became the youngest-ever person to hold this title. Leonardo DiCaprio was already a Messenger of Peace (since 2014, on climate); Lang Lang is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador; Scott Kelly is an astronaut with no such role.

Check each statement against the actual authors: (1) Ancillary Justice was written by Ann Leckie, not Charles Stross - incorrect. (2) Air was written by Geoff Ryman, not Ann Leckie - incorrect. (3) Mission Earth is a ten-volume series by L. Ron Hubbard - correct. Hence statements 1 and 2 are the incorrect ones.

SAARC has eight members: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan, Pakistan and Maldives are all members (Pakistan and Maldives are founding members; Afghanistan joined in 2007). Myanmar lies in Southeast Asia and is only a SAARC observer, not a full member.

Crystallisation is the formation of solid crystals from a solution, melt or vapour (e.g. obtaining salt crystals by evaporating brine). The chemical identity of the substance does not change - salt remains NaCl - only its physical state and arrangement do, and the process is reversible by re-dissolving. Since no new substance is formed, crystallisation is a physical change, not a chemical change/reaction. Galvanisation (zinc coating to prevent rust) is a different process altogether.

In microeconomics, the relationship expressing the quantity a consumer optimally chooses to buy as a function of the good's price (other factors held constant) is called the demand function, written \(Q_d = f(P)\). It typically slopes downward (Law of Demand). The supply function describes producers, not consumers; substitution is an effect within demand analysis; "price" is a variable, not a function.

Chola inscriptions classify land by its holder. Vellanvagai denoted land of non-Brahmana peasant proprietors (the Vellalar cultivators), and it was taxable. Brahmadeya was land gifted to Brahmanas, Devadana to temples, and Shalabhoga for the upkeep of a school - none of these belonged to peasant proprietors. Hence the answer is Vellanvagai.

The Excel function that counts cells in a range satisfying a single condition is COUNTIF, with syntax \(\text{COUNTIF(range, criteria)}\). For example, =COUNTIF(A1:A10,">50") counts cells in A1:A10 whose value exceeds 50. COUNT only counts cells containing numbers (no criterion); SUMCOUNT and COUNTSUM are not Excel functions.

Step 1 - Formula: For an AP with first term \(a\), last term \(l\) and \(n\) terms: \[S_n = \tfrac{n}{2}(a + l)\] Step 2 - Substitute \(a=3,\; l=47,\; n=12\): \[S_{12} = \tfrac{12}{2}(3 + 47) = 6 \times 50\] Therefore \(S_{12} = 300\).

Step 1 - Set up: Let the number be \(x\). "Greater than 7 times its reciprocal by 9.3" gives: \[x = \frac{7}{x} + 9.3\] Step 2 - Clear the fraction (multiply by \(x\)): \[x^2 - 9.3x - 7 = 0\] Step 3 - Solve: Multiplying through by 10 gives \(10x^2 - 93x - 70 = 0\), which factorises as \((x-10)(10x+7)=0\). The positive root is \(x=10\). Check: \(\tfrac{7}{10}+9.3 = 0.7+9.3 = 10\). Therefore the number is 10.

Total profit = 20 lakhs D’s share of profit = 20/100 × (1/2 × 2000000) = Rs. 200000 = Rs. 2 lakhs

After a 20% discount, the selling price equals 80% of the marked price. \[MP \times \frac{80}{100} = 1000 \implies MP = \frac{1000 \times 100}{80} = 1250\] Therefore the marked price is Rs 1250.

Rewrite the line in slope-intercept form \(y = mx + c\): \[2x + 3y = 12 \implies 3y = -2x + 12 \implies y = -\frac{2}{3}x + 4\] The coefficient of \(x\) is the slope, so slope = -2/3.

For similar triangles, the ratio of areas equals the square of the ratio of corresponding sides: \[\frac{\text{Area}(\triangle XYZ)}{\text{Area}(\triangle PQR)} = \left(\frac{XY}{PQ}\right)^2\] \[\frac{100}{25} = \left(\frac{XY}{4}\right)^2 \implies 4 = \left(\frac{XY}{4}\right)^2 \implies \frac{XY}{4} = 2\] Therefore XY = 8 cm.

Step 1 — Find the distance: \[D = 40 \times \frac{25}{60} = \frac{50}{3} \text{ km}\] Step 2 — New speed for 20 min: \[S_2 = \frac{D}{T_2} = \frac{50/3}{1/3} = 50 \text{ km/hr}\] Increase in speed \(= 50 - 40 = \) 10 km/hr.

Work backwards. The final point \((4,-3)\) is \(P_1\) reflected in the Y-axis, which sends \((x,y) \to (-x,y)\): \[P_1 = (-4, -3)\] \(P_1\) is P reflected in the origin, which sends \((a,b) \to (-a,-b)\): \[(-a, -b) = (-4, -3) \implies a = 4,\ b = 3\] Therefore P = (4, 3).

Shares of E and B = (36 + 14)% of 5000000 = 50% of 5000000 = 50/100 × 5000000 = 2500000 Shares of A, C, D and F = (10 + 8 + 20 + 12)% of 5000000 = 50% of 5000000 = 2500000 ∴ Ratio of shares of E and B to those of A, C, D and F = 2500000 : 2500000 = 1 : 1

From pie chart, we can clearly see that C has lowest share.

Distribute and simplify: \[-\frac{3}{2} + \frac{2}{3}(3x+9) = \frac{x}{2} \implies -\frac{3}{2} + 2x + 6 = \frac{x}{2}\] \[\frac{9}{2} + 2x = \frac{x}{2} \implies \frac{9}{2} = \frac{x}{2} - 2x = -\frac{3x}{2}\] \[3x = -9 \implies x = -3\] Therefore x = -3.

Use standard values \(\sec 30^\circ = \frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}\) and \(\tan 60^\circ = \sqrt{3} = \frac{3}{\sqrt{3}}\). \[\sec 30^\circ + \tan 60^\circ = \frac{2}{\sqrt{3}} + \frac{3}{\sqrt{3}} = \frac{5}{\sqrt{3}}\] Therefore the value is 5/√3.

For a rectangle, \(P = 2(l+b)\). With \(P = 48\) and \(b = 10\): \[2(l + 10) = 48 \implies l = 14 \text{ cm}\] Area \(= l \times b = 14 \times 10 = \) 140 sq cm.

Angle sum in \(\triangle PQR\): \(\angle P = 180^\circ - 90^\circ - 30^\circ = 60^\circ\). Therefore \(\cot P = \cot 60^\circ = \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\).

Combined rate of A and B: \[\frac{1}{A} + \frac{1}{B} = \frac{1}{7.5} = \frac{2}{15}\] A alone takes 10 days, so \(\dfrac{1}{A} = \dfrac{1}{10}\). Then: \[\frac{1}{B} = \frac{2}{15} - \frac{1}{10} = \frac{4-3}{30} = \frac{1}{30}\] Therefore B alone takes 30 days.

Divide 9999 by 81: \(9999 = 81 \times 123 + 36\), leaving remainder 36. Subtract the remainder to get the largest 4-digit multiple of 81: \[9999 - 36 = 9963 = 81 \times 123\] Therefore the answer is 9963.

At Rs 24 with 20% loss, the SP is 80% of the cost price: \[CP \times 0.80 = 24 \implies CP = 30\] Selling at Rs 36 gives profit \(= 36 - 30 = 6\). Profit % \(= \dfrac{6}{30} \times 100 = \) 20%.

From \(A = 2B = 4C\), let \(A = 2B = 4C = k\). Then \(A = k\), \(B = k/2\), \(C = k/4\). \[A : B : C = k : \tfrac{k}{2} : \tfrac{k}{4} = 4 : 2 : 1\] Therefore the ratio is 4 : 2 : 1.

Share of E = 36% Combined shares of F, A and B = 12% + 10% + 14% = 36% Combined shares of D, C and B = 20% + 8% + 14% = 42% Combined shares of A, B and C = 10% + 14% + 8% = 32% Combined shares of F, C and D = 12% + 8% + 20% = 40% ∴ Share of E is equal to the combined shares of F, A and B.

Initial total cost \(= 4 \times 1250 = 5000\). After adding an item costing Rs 2000: \[\text{New average} = \frac{5000 + 2000}{5} = \frac{7000}{5} = 1400\] Therefore the new average is Rs 1400.

Let the number be \(x\). Then: \[\frac{0.25}{100} \times x = 20 \implies x = \frac{20 \times 100}{0.25} = \frac{2000}{0.25} = 8000\] Therefore the number is 8000.

For compound interest, the CI in any year equals the previous year's CI multiplied by the growth factor \(\left(1+\dfrac{R}{100}\right)\), since each year's interest itself earns interest the following year. Step 1 — Apply the relation: \[CI_4 = CI_3 \times \left(1+\dfrac{R}{100}\right) = 1240 \times \left(1+\dfrac{9}{100}\right)\] Step 2 — Compute: \[CI_4 = 1240 \times 1.09 = 1240 + 111.60 = 1351.60\] Therefore the CI for the 4th year is Rs. 1,351.6.

Any point on the Y-axis has x-coordinate 0. Let the Y-axis divide the segment from \(A(-1,3)\) to \(B(2,-4)\) in ratio \(m:n\). Step 1 — Section formula on x: \[0 = \dfrac{m(2)+n(-1)}{m+n} \implies 2m - n = 0\] Step 2 — Solve: \[n = 2m \implies \dfrac{m}{n} = \dfrac{1}{2}\] Therefore the required ratio is 1 : 2.

Given \(\sec\theta = \dfrac{5}{3}\), so \(\cos\theta = \dfrac{3}{5}\). Step 1 — Find sinθ via Pythagorean identity: \[\sin^2\theta = 1 - \cos^2\theta = 1 - \dfrac{9}{25} = \dfrac{16}{25} \implies \sin\theta = \dfrac{4}{5}\] Step 2 — Take reciprocal: \[\operatorname{cosec}\theta = \dfrac{1}{\sin\theta} = \dfrac{5}{4} = 1.25\] Therefore \(\operatorname{cosec}\theta = \mathbf{1.25}\).

Use the identity \(a^3 - b^3 = (a-b)(a^2 + ab + b^2)\). Step 1 — Find \(a^2 + b^2\): \[a^2+b^2 = (a-b)^2 + 2ab = 2^2 + 2(8) = 4 + 16 = 20\] Step 2 — Substitute: \[a^3 - b^3 = (a-b)(a^2+b^2+ab) = 2 \times (20+8) = 2 \times 28 = 56\] Therefore \(a^3 - b^3 = \mathbf{56}\).

The original sentence is in Simple Past Active voice: Subject (Gopal) + V2 (ran) + Object (the marathon). To convert to Passive: Object + was/were + V3 (past participle) + by + Subject. Singular subject "marathon" takes was; the past participle of "run" is "run". Hence: The marathon was run by Gopal in record time. Option 2 uses present tense "is run"; options 3 and 4 remain active and use wrong tense forms.

The idiom "keep under one's hat" means to keep a piece of information confidential — the image is of tucking the secret out of sight beneath one's hat. Hence "To keep something a secret" is the correct meaning. The other options refer to guarding wealth, stealing, or safekeeping valuables — all literal/physical actions unrelated to concealing information.

When the reporting verb is in the present tense ("says"), the tense inside the reported speech does not change. Additionally, "Kashmir is the heaven on earth" expresses a general/universal-type statement, which also keeps its tense intact. Remove the inverted commas, add the conjunction that, and retain "is": Father says that Kashmir is the heaven on earth. Options 1, 2 and 4 wrongly alter the reporting verb or the reported tense.

The passage states: "Everyone expected Mary Zophres to win for her retro-revival Technicolor clothes in La La Land — the eventual winner, Colleen Atwood for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, seemed surprised too." The contrast is set up within the Best Costume Design category (Mary Zophres' costumes vs Atwood's win). Hence Colleen Atwood won Best Costume Design for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Options naming "Supporting Actor" or "La La Land" contradict the passage.

The sentence makes a past inference using the modal "must". The required structure is must + have + past participle, so "must being" must become "must have been". Hence the bracketed part is improved by "Have been". "Has been" is wrong because a modal is always followed by base "have"; "been" alone omits "have"; "no improvement" fails because "must being" is ungrammatical.

The passage states: "As a majority of voters are actors, there was the tendency to think they'd reward La La Land, a celebration of creation..." The assumption is explicitly tied to the composition of the voting body — actors form the majority and were expected to favour a film about their own craft. Hence the answer is "Because majority of voters are actors". The film's themes (creation, movies, jazz) are why actors would vote for it, but the stated basis for the assumption is the voter demographic itself.

The base adjective is illicit (forbidden by law) — spelt with double "l" and "i" in both syllables. Adding the adverb suffix -ly directly gives illicitly. "Illecitly" uses wrong vowel "e"; "ilicitly" drops one "l"; "illicitley" inserts a stray "e" before "-ly".

Scanning the passage for explicit win-counts: Arrival is credited with one award (Best Sound Editing), Fences with one (Best Supporting Actress), and Moonlight with one (Best Supporting Actor). Only Hacksaw Ridge is described as having "won in two categories". Hence the movie that for sure won two awards is Hacksaw Ridge.

Reading the lead-in plus each fragment as one continuous sentence: "Then there came faint rays of primrose" naturally joins with X ("-light that changed presently to golden") to give "primrose-light... golden". "Golden" then connects to Y ("-bars, through which the dawn") forming "golden bars... the dawn". Finally "dawn" leads into Z ("-glided out across the desert"). The coherent order is therefore XYZ.

"The area near or surrounding a particular place" is the dictionary definition of vicinity. "Horizon" is the earth-sky line; "distant" means far away (the opposite); "removed" means moved away from. Only Vicinity captures proximity/surrounding area.

Fissure means a long, narrow crack or split, especially in rock or a hard surface. Among the options, Cleavage denotes the act of splitting or a split along a plane — the closest synonym. "Agglutinate" (stick together), "Blend" (mix), and "Entwine" (twist together) all denote joining, the opposite of splitting.

Callow means young, inexperienced, and immature. Among the options, Inexperienced, Jejune (naive, unsophisticated), and Juvenile (immature) are synonyms of callow. Sophisticated means worldly-wise, refined, and experienced — the direct antonym of callow.

The opener "It seemed to them far easier to conceive" sets up a comparison using "easier... than". X ("that the water had gone down, than") supplies the first clause and the connector "than". Y ("that solid land had risen") gives the contrasting clause, and Z ("upward into its present position") completes Y by describing how the land rose. The coherent sentence reads: "It seemed to them far easier to conceive that the water had gone down, than that solid land had risen upward into its present position." Hence the order is XYZ.

Part (1) "He turned and walked" is correct. Part (2) "away, his head nearly a" is correct. Part (3) "foot up the others" is wrong — to express relative height we need the preposition above, not up. The correct phrasing is "a foot above the others". Hence the error lies in part (3).

The noun form of brutal takes the suffix -ity (as in reality, generosity), not -ety, and the single "t" of the root is preserved. So brutality is the correct spelling; "brutalety", "bruttality" and "bruttalety" are misspellings.

The idiomatic structure "X and Y alike" means "both X and Y equally". "Boys and girls alike enjoy playing with the building blocks" correctly conveys that both groups enjoy the activity. Like and dislike are verbs and clash with the main verb "enjoy"; even would imply surprise, which the sentence does not call for. Hence Alike.

The idiom "get on the nerves" means to annoy or irritate someone persistently — i.e. to be an irritant. "Lose confidence", "become very sensitive", and "become very strong emotionally" describe reactions or states of the self, not the act of irritating another. Hence the correct meaning is To be an irritant.

Abeyance means a state of temporary suspension or inactivity. Dormancy, Quiescence, and Latency all describe inactivity, so they are synonyms — not antonyms. Continuation means carrying on without interruption, which is the direct opposite of suspension. Hence the antonym is Continuation.

A school counsellor's role is to give guidance. The verb advise takes the structure "advise someone on something", which fits the sentence perfectly: "the school counsellor will advise me on some of my career options." Speak, say, and listen do not take the object + "on" pattern and are ungrammatical here. Hence Advise.

The relevant line of the passage states: "the heroine wants to make movies, the hero wants to make jazz." The heroine is the lead female actor. "Make jazz" is the hero's ambition, and "make music" / "make magic" are not stated for the heroine. Hence she wants to Make movies.

Part (1) "He had parked the" is correct. Part (3) "headed down the street" is correct. Part (2) "car front of the house and" is wrong — the locative phrase requires the preposition in: "in front of the house". Hence the error is in part (2).

Morbid means gruesome, gloomy, or relating to disease and death. Ghastly means horrifying, dreadful, or deathly — matching morbid's gruesome connotation. Animated, Buoyant, and Jaunty all denote cheerfulness, the opposite. Hence the synonym is Ghastly.

The sentence counts past experiences ("four previous solo shows") relevant to the present, so the present perfect of the main verb have (in the sense of "hold/conduct") is required: has had. "She has had four previous solo shows." Has alone would imply current possession; has been is ungrammatical here; "had to" wrongly suggests obligation. Hence Has had.

The passage states: "Arrival, a film about the inherent benignity of aliens (read immigrants)..." Benignity means kindness or gentleness. The other options are tied to different themes — Hacksaw Ridge (anti-guns), Fences (racial discrimination), Moonlight (minority communities). Hence the answer is Arrival.

The phrase "deliberately destroy something for military advantage" matches the standard dictionary definition of sabotage — intentional destruction or obstruction carried out for political or military gain. Devotion, Fidelity, and Ardour all denote loyalty or passion, not destruction. Hence Sabotage.