Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General English
What is the antonym of ‘consensus’ in the context of group decisions?
A)
Approval
B)
Disagreement
C)
Accord
D)
Harmony
In the context of group decisions, 'consensus' means a general agreement or collective opinion. Therefore, its direct antonym is 'Disagreement' (option b), which signifies a lack of consensus or a conflict in opinions. The other options—'Approval' (a), 'Accord' (c), and 'Harmony' (d)—are synonyms or closely related terms that represent agreement and unity within a group.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General English
Choose the Correct Word or Phrase to Complete the Sentence: The company’s decision to withdraw from the project was not strategic but rather a result of ___ financial planning.
A)
astute
B)
dispassionate
C)
poor
D)
speculative
The sentence uses the contrast 'not strategic but rather...' to indicate that the withdrawal was a forced consequence of bad planning rather than a calculated move. 'Poor' (meaning inadequate or deficient) fits perfectly here, as 'poor financial planning' directly explains the non-strategic failure. 'Astute' (shrewd) and 'dispassionate' (rational/unbiased) are positive terms that would lead to strategic success, not failure. 'Speculative' (risky) does not fit the contrast as well as 'poor'.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General English
Choose the Correct Word or Phrase to Complete the Sentence: The proposal, though initially appealing, was ultimately rejected due to its ___ assumptions about the market.
A)
arbitrary
B)
objective
C)
hypothetical
D)
flawed
The sentence describes a proposal that was rejected despite being initially appealing. The blank requires a negative adjective that explains the reason for its rejection. 'Flawed' (meaning faulty or incorrect) fits perfectly, as flawed assumptions about the market would naturally lead to a proposal's rejection. 'Objective' is positive and would not lead to rejection. 'Hypothetical' is neutral and redundant since assumptions are inherently hypothetical. 'Arbitrary' means random, which is less logical in a professional market analysis context than 'flawed'.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General English
Read the passage below and write a précis in 120-140 words giving a suitable title: 'The modern world is full of bustle and activity. Men live in a perpetual hurry, and their minds are perpetually occupied with a thousand fleeting interests. The pressure of immediate needs and urgent tasks absorbs their attention. Reflection, solitude, and leisurely thought are becoming rare luxuries. In earlier times, particularly in simpler societies, people were more given to introspection. They lived closer to nature and closer to themselves. But now, man has become a stranger to silence, to solitude, to the inner world. The greatest loss that this entails is the decline of independent thinking. The individual today thinks less and less for himself. His opinions are formed by mass communication—by newspapers, radio, and television. Instead of thinking, he absorbs ideas; instead of forming convictions, he repeats clichés. Public opinion is not so much the result of personal deliberation as it is a reflection of mass suggestion. True education is meant to awaken the capacity for critical thought, to teach individuals how to think rather than what to think. But unfortunately, even education has become increasingly a system of training minds to conform, rather than to inquire and dissent. The man who dares to think independently finds himself in a difficult position. Society does not easily forgive originality. Nonconformity is often punished, either by ridicule or isolation. Yet, it is this very nonconformist, the one who questions the accepted dogmas and resists the pull of the crowd, who is often the source of progress. It was never the crowd that led the way in science, in art, or in ethics—it was always the individual. In such a world, the value of cultivating solitude and independent judgment cannot be overstated. To read great books, to converse with one’s own mind, to retreat occasionally from the world’s noise—these are not escapist habits but essential practices for a fully realized life. A democracy flourishes not merely by the number of people who vote, but by the quality of thought behind those votes.'
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General English
Choose the Correct Word or Phrase to Complete the Sentence: The report was dismissed as being full of vague generalizations and lacked ___ evidence.
A)
circumstantial
B)
empirical
C)
verbal
D)
anecdotal
The correct word to complete the sentence is 'empirical'. 'Empirical' evidence refers to evidence that is verifiable by observation, experience, or scientific experimentation rather than theory or pure logic. It directly contrasts with 'vague generalizations'. Other options are incorrect because: 'circumstantial' (a) refers to indirect evidence; 'anecdotal' (d) refers to evidence based on personal accounts, which is often unreliable and similar to generalizations; and 'verbal' (c) refers to spoken evidence, which is irrelevant to the factual validity of a report.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General English
Choose an appropriate Preposition for the following sentence: He piques himself _______his artistic taste.
A)
on
B)
at
C)
by
D)
of
The correct preposition is 'on'. The idiomatic expression 'to pique oneself on (something)' means to pride oneself on or take pride in something. Therefore, 'He piques himself on his artistic taste' is the correct usage. Other prepositions like 'at', 'by', and 'of' do not form this standard idiomatic phrase and are grammatically incorrect in this context.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General English
Which word best fits the sentence: ‘The judge’s decision was widely considered ___ because it balanced law with compassion.’
A)
arbitrary
B)
biased
C)
lenient
D)
judicious
The correct option is 'd' (judicious). 'Judicious' means having, showing, or done with good judgment or sense. A decision that successfully balances the strictness of the law with human compassion is a prime example of wise and fair judgment. Option 'a' (arbitrary) means based on random choice or whim rather than reason, which contradicts a balanced decision. Option 'b' (biased) means unfairly prejudiced, which is a negative trait. Option 'c' (lenient) means merciful or tolerant; while it relates to compassion, it fails to capture the balance with the 'law' aspect, as a purely lenient decision might disregard legal requirements.
Group B (Gazetted) • 2025 • General English
Choose an appropriate Preposition for the following sentence: Extremism is detrimental ______ the progress of the country.
A)
to
B)
for
C)
with
D)
at
The adjective 'detrimental' (meaning harmful or damaging) is always followed by the preposition 'to' when specifying the object or entity that is being harmed. Therefore, 'detrimental to' is the correct standard collocation. Options 'for', 'with', and 'at' are grammatically incorrect as they do not pair with 'detrimental' in this context.
