Selecting Words Practice Test Questions - Verbal Ability -- Free Practice

Question 1

Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

She wanted him to ___________ the lines but he lacked sufficient understanding of the situation.

A

Read up all✓✗

B

Read between✓✗

C

Read for✓✗

D

None of these✓✗

Explanation

"To read between the lines" means to understand the hidden meaning. So "read between" is correct.

Option A is wrong because "read up all the lines" does not give the idiom.
Option C is wrong because "read for the lines" does not give the idiom.
Option D is wrong because option B is correct.

Question 2

Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

We knew we should not ________ at the party, but we could not help it as the case was so interesting.

A

talk loudly✓✗

B

talk shop✓✗

C

talk incessantly✓✗

D

none of these✓✗

Explanation

"To talk shop" means to talk about work in a social setting, which fits a party where a case was so interesting.

Option A is wrong because talking loudly is not the reason given for the restraint.
Option C is wrong because talking incessantly is not the reason given for the restraint.
Option D is wrong because option B is correct.

Question 3

Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

Like a fish ________

A

Out of aquarium✓✗

B

Out of water✓✗

C

Out of sea✓✗

D

Out of ocean✓✗

Explanation

The idiom is "like a fish out of water", which means feeling uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings.

Option A is wrong because "out of aquarium" is not the idiom.
Option C is wrong because "out of sea" is not the idiom.
Option D is wrong because "out of ocean" is not the idiom.

Question 4

Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

Birds of a feather ______________

A

fly together✓✗

B

flock together✓✗

C

dance together✓✗

D

tweet together✓✗

Explanation

The proverb is "Birds of a feather flock together", which means that people of the same kind stay together.

Option A is wrong because "fly together" is not the proverb.
Option C is wrong because "dance together" is not the proverb.
Option D is wrong because "tweet together" is not the proverb.

Question 5

Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

________________ should not throw stones.

A

People in glass houses✓✗

B

People in crystal houses✓✗

C

People in ice houses✓✗

D

None of these✓✗

Explanation

The proverb is "People in glass houses should not throw stones".

Option B is wrong because "crystal houses" is not the proverb.
Option C is wrong because "ice houses" is not the proverb.
Option D is wrong because option A gives the correct proverb.

Question 6

Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

Time and tide wait ___________.

A

For every man✓✗

B

For no man✓✗

C

For every woman✓✗

D

For no woman✓✗

Explanation

The proverb is "Time and tide wait for no man".

Option A is wrong because "for every man" gives the opposite meaning.
Option C is wrong because "for every woman" is not the proverb.
Option D is wrong because "for no woman" is not the proverb.

Question 7

Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

Do not expect me to ……… you ……. this horrendous crime.

A

abet, by✓✗

B

abet, with✓✗

C

abet, in✓✗

D

abet, to✓✗

Explanation

"Abet someone in a crime" means to help someone commit it. So "abet you in this horrendous crime" is correct.

Option A is wrong because "abet you by" does not fit.
Option B is wrong because "abet you with" does not fit.
Option D is wrong because "abet you to" does not fit.

Question 8

Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

The child was ………………. her mother in the dead of the night.

A

abducted to✓✗

B

abducted for✓✗

C

abducted away✓✗

D

abducted from✓✗

Explanation

The verb "abduct" takes the preposition "from" for the person or place taken away, so "abducted from her mother" is correct.

Option A is wrong because "abducted to" does not fit "her mother".
Option B is wrong because "abducted for" does not fit "her mother".
Option C is wrong because "abducted away her mother" does not make sense.

Question 9

Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

They ……… the three page long introduction …. a small paragraph.

A

abbreviated, to✓✗

B

abbreviated, as✓✗

C

abbreviated, like✓✗

D

abbreviated, by✓✗

Explanation

To abbreviate something "to" a shorter form is the correct usage: "abbreviated ... to a small paragraph".

Option B is wrong because "abbreviated as" is used for naming a short form.
Option C is wrong because "abbreviated like" does not fit the meaning.
Option D is wrong because "abbreviated by" does not fit the meaning.

Question 10

Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

Defenceless, they ………..themselves …….. their attackers.

A

abandoned, to✓✗

B

abandoned, against✓✗

C

abandoned, with✓✗

D

abandoned, in✓✗

Explanation

The phrase is "abandoned themselves to their attackers", which means gave themselves up to them.

Option B is wrong because "abandoned themselves against" does not fit the meaning.
Option C is wrong because "abandoned themselves with" does not fit the meaning.
Option D is wrong because "abandoned themselves in" does not fit the meaning.

Question 11

Select the most appropriate word/phrase/idiom from the options below.

Contrary to what many devotees would like to believe, researchers have found the water of the holy river……….. harmful micro-organisms.

A

helped by✓✗

B

teeming with✓✗

C

completely free from✓✗

D

defended against✓✗

Explanation

"Teeming with" means full of, which fits "harmful micro-organisms" as a finding against the belief that the water is pure.

Option A is wrong because "helped by" does not fit the meaning.
Option C is wrong because "completely free from" would agree with what the devotees believe, but the sentence says "contrary to".
Option D is wrong because "defended against" does not fit the meaning.

Question 12

Select the most appropriate word/phrase/idiom from the options below.

In every profession, some words are used that are specific to the profession and would confuse a layman. We are looking for a technical writer who can eliminate the ……….. while composing manuals and yet, keep the tone of the content professional.

A

Slang✓✗

B

Idiom✓✗

C

Jargon✓✗

D

Cant✓✗

Explanation

Jargon means special words used by a profession that others may not understand.

Option A is wrong because slang means informal words.
Option B is wrong because an idiom is a fixed expression.
Option D is wrong because cant means insincere talk or the special language of a group of people, which is less apt here.

Question 13

Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

Who is the man ……. this picture?

A

within✓✗

B

inside✓✗

C

in✓✗

D

on✓✗

Explanation

We say "the man in this picture". The preposition "in" is used for something shown in a picture.

Option A is wrong because "within" is not used this way with a picture.
Option B is wrong because "inside" is not used this way with a picture.
Option D is wrong because "on this picture" would mean on top of the picture.

Question 14

Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

There is a bridge …………. the river

A

in✓✗

B

across✓✗

C

at✓✗

D

around✓✗

Explanation

"Across" is used for a bridge that spans a river, so it is "a bridge across the river".

Option A is wrong because "in the river" would place the bridge inside the water.
Option C is wrong because "at the river" does not show that the bridge spans it.
Option D is wrong because "around the river" would mean the bridge surrounds it.

Question 15

Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

Could you get me this shirt ….. a larger size?

A

at✓✗

B

for✓✗

C

in✓✗

D

over✓✗

Explanation

We say "a shirt in a larger size". The preposition "in" is used with sizes.

Option A is wrong because "at a larger size" is not the standard usage.
Option B is wrong because "for a larger size" is not the standard usage.
Option D is wrong because "over a larger size" is not the standard usage.

Question 16

Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

The garbage truck comes …………. Fridays.

A

in✓✗

B

on✓✗

C

at✓✗

D

every✓✗

Explanation

The preposition "on" is used with days, so it is "on Fridays".

Option A is wrong because "in" is used with months and years.
Option C is wrong because "at" is used with exact times.
Option D is wrong because "every Fridays" is ungrammatical.

Question 17

Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

He …….. a challenge.

A

told me✓✗

B

asked me to✓✗

C

threw me✓✗

D

made me✓✗

Explanation

The phrase "threw me a challenge" means challenged me. So "He threw me a challenge" is correct.

Option A is wrong because "told me a challenge" does not make sense.
Option B is wrong because "asked me to a challenge" is ungrammatical.
Option D is wrong because "made me a challenge" does not give the intended meaning.

Question 18

Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

It is time to truly reflect ….. your misdeeds.

A

of✓✗

B

upon✓✗

C

about✓✗

D

into✓✗

Explanation

The verb "reflect" takes the preposition "upon" or "on". So "reflect upon your misdeeds" is correct.

Option A is wrong because "reflect of" is not an idiomatic phrase.
Option C is wrong because "reflect about" is not the standard usage.
Option D is wrong because "reflect into" is not an idiomatic phrase.

Question 19

Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

I looked up and saw a man who seemed half-starved and …………..

A

handsome✓✗

B

as cunning as a fox✓✗

C

down on his luck✓✗

D

extremely agile✓✗

Explanation

A man who is half-starved would most likely be "down on his luck", meaning unlucky and poor.

Option A is wrong because handsome does not go with half-starved.
Option B is wrong because "as cunning as a fox" does not follow "and" in the structure.
Option D is wrong because extremely agile does not go with half-starved.

Question 20

Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

My boat was moored ……. an old bathing ghat.

A

besides✓✗

B

beside✓✗

C

against✓✗

D

with✓✗

Explanation

"Beside" means at the side of, so it is correct for a boat moored beside a ghat.

Option A is wrong because "besides" means in addition to, which does not fit.
Option C is wrong because "against" would mean the boat leaned against the ghat, which does not suit "moored".
Option D is wrong because "with" does not fit the meaning of place.

Question 21

Fill in the blank to complete the sentence which is grammatically correct:
It is due to lack of careful advance planning that your scheme has___________.

A

Come to grief✓✗

B

Come upon grief✓✗

C

Come out with grief✓✗

D

Come in grief✓✗

Explanation

"Come to grief" is the correct idiom meaning to end in failure or disaster.

Question 22

Fill in the blank to complete the sentence which is grammatically correct:
Agriculture in America has_____________industrial progress.

A

Kept its pace for✓✗

B

Kept paces along✓✗

C

Kept pace with✓✗

D

Kept pace together with✓✗

Explanation

"Kept pace with" is the correct idiom meaning to progress at the same rate as.

Question 23

Fill in the blank to complete the sentence which is grammatically correct:
_______________ pompous, he was an entertaining companion.

A

Though✓✗

B

Despite✓✗

C

Before✓✗

D

Never✓✗

Explanation

"Though" can directly precede an adjective in a concessive elliptical clause ("though pompous" = "though he was pompous"); "despite" would require "despite being pompous."

Question 24

Fill in the blank to complete the sentence which is grammatically correct:
As soon as the visitor's dishonest purpose was discovered, he was _______________ the door.

A

Shown✓✗

B

Shown out of✓✗

C

Shown with✓✗

D

Shown to✓✗

Explanation

"Shown out of" fits the idiomatic sense of being dismissed/ejected for wrongdoing.

Question 25

Fill in the blank: The speaker was so ____________ and elaborate that the audience started getting fidgety.

A

Prolix✓✗

B

Brief✓✗

C

Terse✓✗

D

Curt✓✗

Explanation

Prolix means tediously long-winded, matching "elaborate" and the audience's fidgeting.

Question 26

Select the most effective word from the options given below to fill in the blank and complete the sentence meaningfully.

If there is some chance of succeeding, it would be unwise to ______ it at this stage.

A

craggy✓✗

B

grasp✓✗

C

abandon✓✗

D

clutch✓✗

Explanation

If there is a chance of succeeding, it would be unwise to abandon the attempt.

Option A is wrong because craggy means rough and rocky.
Option B is wrong because grasp means to hold, which would be wise.
Option D is wrong because clutch means to hold tightly, which would be wise.