Captive breeding has helped revive wildlife such as the Eurasian beaver, the cheetah and the Arabian Onyx. Several species have been reintroduced into locations in order that the ecological balance is restored. When herbivorous bandicoots were set free in the wild, they dug the ground and redistributed dry leaves and branches, reducing the chance of bush fires. But some predators may overhunt or threaten other vulnerable species. _________.
AHence, wildlife conservationists should revive more of herbivorous animals and enrich the ecosystems.
BConservation of carnivorous animals is complex and could be dangerous to so many other vulnerable species.
CThe revival of the ecosystem therefore, depends on the eating habits of the animals introduced therein.
DTherefore, all species must be revived and allowed to live in forests regardless of their being carnivorous.
Pick an option to attempt
What the paragraph is building to. The examples are sorted by diet and nothing else. Herbivorous bandicoots turn out to help - they 'dug the ground and redistributed dry leaves and branches, reducing the chance of bush fires' - while the pivot sentence warns that 'some predators may overhunt or threaten other vulnerable species'. Plant-eaters improved their ecosystem, meat-eaters may damage it, so the conclusion the paragraph has earned is that what the reintroduced animal *eats* decides how the reintroduction goes.
Why the others fail.
* Option 2 restates the final sentence instead of concluding from the paragraph. It also drops the bandicoots entirely, so half the evidence goes unused.
* Option 1 leaps from observation to policy. The paragraph reports what happens when different animals are released; it never recommends breeding more of one kind.
* Option 4 contradicts the sentence immediately before the blank. 'But' has just introduced the danger some predators pose, so a conclusion that all species should be released 'regardless' ignores it.
Final Answer: The revival of the ecosystem therefore, depends on the eating habits of the animals introduced therein.
When people move from one city or country to another, the spread of diseases may result. People often bring in germs which may not have been present there before. These new germs can spread quickly and cause previously unknown diseases. __________________________________. They become ill more easily and could even die. In turn, newcomers may catch diseases which were not present where they came from.
AIf they had gone back, they would have started an epidemic.
BPollution also can lead to the spread of disease.
CIf a germ is completely new to a region, people have no natural protection against it.
DSuch changes may result in enhancing conditions for people who live in big cities.
Pick an option to attempt
- If they had gone back, they would have started an epidemic.
Meaning: Returning travelers could bring diseases to their original locations, potentially causing outbreaks.
Reasoning: This option is irrelevant to the context of local susceptibility to new germs. The focus should be on the local population's lack of immunity.
- Pollution also can lead to the spread of disease.
Meaning: Pollution contributes to disease transmission.
Reasoning: This option is unrelated to the context of diseases spread by people moving between regions. It introduces an unrelated concept (pollution) and disrupts the flow of the passage.
- If a germ is completely new to a region, people have no natural protection against it.
Meaning: Locals lack immunity to new germs brought by newcomers.
Reasoning: This option is correct. It logically follows the discussion about the spread of previously unknown diseases and aligns with the context of local susceptibility to new germs.
- Such changes may result in enhancing conditions for people who live in big cities.
Meaning: Changes might improve conditions for urban residents.
Reasoning: This option is irrelevant and contradictory to the context, which is about the spread of disease and not about improving living conditions.
Postponed from last year, the Tokyo Olympics are set to begin this year. The locals are wary, the athletes are anxious, training sessions are truncated, and restrictions are extensive. _________. Yet Japan, in many ways is seen as a safe choice, because of its past experience of hosting big events. It has an impeccable reputation for discipline and the ability to deliver the goods.
AThe Japanese are anxious but ready to welcome the athletes.
BThe shadow of the pandemic looms large over the Tokyo Olympics.
CThe International Olympic Committee has fully supported the Tokyo games.
DJapan is going through an economic recession and could run out of funds.
Pick an option to attempt
What the blank needs. This blank sits between two opposed halves, and the word after it decides everything. Before it: locals 'wary', athletes 'anxious', sessions 'truncated', restrictions 'extensive' - an accumulation of trouble. After it: 'Yet Japan, in many ways is seen as a safe choice'. *Yet* signals a reversal, so the blank must be the low point that the reassurance then pushes against, and it must name the one cause behind all four difficulties - the pandemic.
Why the others fail.
* Option 1 is already half-reassuring. If the Japanese are 'ready to welcome the athletes', the following *Yet* has nothing left to contrast with.
* Option 3 is positive outright. Full backing from the International Olympic Committee would point the same way as Japan being a safe choice, not against it.
* Option 4 introduces money, a subject the paragraph never touches. The listed problems are all about caution and restriction, not about funds.
Final Answer: The shadow of the pandemic looms large over the Tokyo Olympics.
Samar, a young man from a village in Tripura is a social media star who hopes to make it big as a model and actor. While his minute-long videos are very popular, his series titled, 'Who wore it better?' showcases his creative side. He uses a variety of filters and visual effects to improve his videos. __________________________________.
AIt is clear that short videos are very popular among the youth than television.
BThis is one of the ways young men make money on the internet.
CIt is possible to be popular on the internet, although making money here is difficult.
DThis shows how it is possible today for people with limited resources to express their creativity.
Pick an option to attempt
- It is clear that short videos are very popular among the youth than television.
Meaning: Short videos are more popular among young people compared to television.
Reasoning: This option does not fit well as it shifts the focus to the popularity of video formats rather than Samar's creativity and resourcefulness.
- This is one of the ways young men make money on the internet.
Meaning: Young men can earn money through their activities on the internet.
Reasoning: This option is somewhat relevant but focuses more on monetization rather than on creativity or resourcefulness, which is the main theme.
- It is possible to be popular on the internet, although making money here is difficult.
Meaning: One can gain popularity online, but earning money is challenging.
Reasoning: This option is relevant but adds a contradictory note about the difficulty of making money, which distracts from the primary focus on creativity and resourcefulness.
- This shows how it is possible today for people with limited resources to express their creativity.
Meaning: People with limited means can still showcase their creativity.
Reasoning: This option is correct as it aligns perfectly with the theme of Samar using filters and visual effects to enhance his videos, showcasing his creativity despite limited resources.
A report published in Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology has called for an overhaul of our understanding of obesity. An over-reliance on using Body Mass Index [BMI] as a metric has the peculiar effect of leading to both underdiagnosis and overdiagnosis of the condition. ______________________________. BMI does not give accurate information about how fat is distributed in an individual's body. It frequently fails to capture the true state of health of an individual. A person's BMI may indicate they are "obese", but their organs and bodily functions may be absolutely normal. Every individual is a unique constellation — not only of genes and other biological variables, but also socio-economic conditions and habits.
AObesity is the end result of multiple factors and BMI can pinpoint the cause of the problem
BFurther, much of the information on diabetes, obesity or BMI available on social media is misleading
CBMI reading can help the doctor to accurately prescribe the appropriate dosage to reduce fat
DThis is because BMI does not provide a reliable picture of health, nor any direct measure of fat
Pick an option to attempt
The Setup: We are tackling a paracompletion question where we need to find the missing puzzle piece that bridges the flow of the paragraph. The text is basically roasting BMI for being a highly inaccurate, outdated metric.
Step 1: Analyze the context (Left and Right links). Before the blank, the text claims relying on BMI causes massive errors (both underdiagnosis and overdiagnosis). After the blank, it drops the receipts: BMI doesn't show fat distribution or true health, and people are way too unique for one simple number. We need a transition sentence that explains *why* BMI causes these errors before it dives into the specific biological details.
Step 2: Vibe check the options through a process of elimination.
* Option (A) is a massive L. It claims BMI *can* pinpoint the cause of the problem, which completely contradicts the passage's entire argument that BMI is wildly inaccurate.
* Option (B) is a red herring. Social media misinformation is a totally different topic. The passage is focusing strictly on medical metrics and biology, not internet drama.
* Option (C) is fake news. It claims BMI helps doctors accurately prescribe dosages, but the text literally just said BMI is unreliable and fails to capture true health states.
* Option (D) is the absolute W. It perfectly connects the claim ("BMI causes misdiagnosis") to the evidence ("It doesn't show fat distribution"). It drops the exact reason: BMI does not provide a reliable picture of health. Flawless combo.
Final Answer: Option (D)
The pursuit of a career in sports offers individuals opportunities for personal fulfilment and professional success. ______________________________. Athletes must therefore undergo rigorous training regimens to maintain peak physical condition and hone their skills. Additionally, competition in the sports industry is fierce, requiring dedication, perseverance, and mental resilience to succeed. Despite the challenges, successful athletes can enjoy lucrative contracts, endorsements, and global recognition for their achievements.
ASports careers are often short-lived due to the physical demands and risks of injury associated with athletic competition
BMany athletes choose to pursue higher education alongside their sports careers to ensure long-term stability and success
CThe sports industry encompasses a wide range of career paths, including coaching, sports management, and sports journalism
DAthletes often face pressure from coaches, sponsors, and fans to perform at their best, adding to the stress of professional sports
Pick an option to attempt
The Setup: The best approach here is to look for a sentence that links the opportunities and challenges mentioned in the paragraph. Option 1 smoothly transitions from the opportunities offered by sports to the reasons for rigorous training by discussing the short-lived nature of such careers, which makes it the most relevant and fitting completion. The other options, while plausible, don't provide a compelling link between opportunities for fulfilment and the need for rigorous training.
Final Answer: Sports careers are often short-lived due to the physical demands and risks of injury associated with athletic competition
The concept of the 'Villa' and other European ideas came to Lucknow with foreign soldiers, travellers and adventurers. For the Nawabs of Lucknow, architecture became the physical manifestation of their new status, and a way of proclaiming their alignment to the new power bloc. ___________. Villas, hence, provided an ideal substitute. Europeans sold to the Nawabs the idea of villas, based on designs in publications carried by them, and often aided by memory. The building chosen as the prototype for the famous Dilkusha Kothi was a country house in Northumberland.
AThe Villa became the backdrop to both the private as well as the court life of the Nawabs
BThe Nawabs chose to live in Villas because they were easier to construct than palaces
CThe Nawabs of Lucknow fancied building palaces that resembled British ancestral homes
DThe Nawabs were attracted to European ideas in architecture because of their ‘foreignness’
Pick an option to attempt
The correct answer is option 3. The passage discusses the influence of European architectural concepts on the Nawabs of Lucknow, specifically their desire to manifest their new status through buildings that resembled European structures. Here are the explanations for each option:
- 'The Villa became the backdrop to both the private as well as the court life of the Nawabs' is incorrect because the passage does not indicate that villas served as a backdrop for both private and court life.
- 'The Nawabs chose to live in Villas because they were easier to construct than palaces' is not supported by the text, as ease of construction is not mentioned as a factor.
- 'The Nawabs of Lucknow fancied building palaces that resembled British ancestral homes' is correct because it reflects the Nawabs' alignment to the new power bloc and their inclination towards European styles, as indicated by the reference to the Dilkusha Kothi's prototype being a country house in Northumberland.
- 'The Nawabs were attracted to European ideas in architecture because of their 'foreignness' is not stated explicitly in the passage, and the emphasis is on the resemblance to British homes, not just 'foreignness.'
This winter, I wish to go to the beaches for a holiday. I think I will go to Goa, India's most well-known beach holiday destination. It is about 600 km away from Mumbai, so reaching there is not a major problem. ___________________________. The major Goan beaches are tourist attractions and have some good beach-view hotels and plenty of shops selling touristy things such as beach robes, hats, jewellery, bags, and more.
AThere are buses that ply at night, there are both day and night trains, and one can always hire a car and reach there in comfort in about 10 hours.
BA great getaway place, it offers an interesting variety of food, sightseeing options, flea markets, and some wonderful Indo-Portuguese buildings.
COne of the great things about a holiday in Goa is that we can be as lazy as we want, relaxing all day, sunbathing, sipping juice, and trying out different Goan tidbits.
DSome major beaches are Baga, Bogmalo, Candolim, Calangute, and Dona Paula, where adventure sports activities like water skiing and scuba diving are organized.
Pick an option to attempt
What the blank has to do. The sentence before it makes a claim: Goa is 600 km from Mumbai, 'so reaching there is not a major problem'. A claim like that calls for immediate support, and the blank is where the support belongs.
Option 1 supplies it precisely - night buses, trains by day and night, and a hired car covering the distance in about ten hours. Those are the reasons the distance is not a problem.
Why the others fail.
* Option 2 lists attractions: food, sightseeing, flea markets, Indo-Portuguese buildings. All true of Goa, but it leaves the accessibility claim standing unsupported.
* Option 3 describes what to do once you have arrived, and the paragraph has not yet got the traveller there.
* Option 4 is the trap. It names specific beaches and water sports, but the sentence *following* the blank is already about the major Goan beaches and what they offer. Choosing it would make the paragraph say the same thing twice.
Final Answer: There are buses that ply at night, there are both day and night trains, and one can always hire a car and reach there in comfort in about 10 hours.
An island in Japan boasts of numerous dairy farms that own nearly one million cows, and supplies 70% of the milk sold in the country. These dairy farms have now begun to use cow manure to produce hydrogen. The methane from cow manure mingles with steam in a high temperature environment to produce hydrogen, which is used to electrify the local zoo. ______________________________.
AThe Indian government too, should replicate this, and use such technology to produce hydrogen
BIt is a case study of a certain animal that is useful in providing energy for several other animals
CThis is an exemplary way of creating a sustainable source of energy using innovative technology
DThis shows how Japan has always used technology to help animals
Pick an option to attempt
The Setup: We are tackling a paracompletion question where we need to find the perfect concluding sentence to cap off a paragraph. The passage is a cool little case study about Japanese dairy farms converting cow manure (methane) into hydrogen energy to power a local zoo. We need a sentence that logically wraps up this specific idea.
Step 1: Analyze the flow. The paragraph moves from setting the scene (lots of cows in Japan) to describing a very specific, high-tech process (turning manure into hydrogen for electricity). The blank is at the very end, meaning it needs to act as a concluding evaluation or summary of this whole innovative energy process.
Step 2: Vibe check the options through a process of elimination.
* Option (A) completely derails the topic. The paragraph is about a specific instance in Japan, and randomly dropping a suggestion for the Indian government to copy them is an abrupt shift in focus without any smooth transition. Major L.
* Option (B) is way too abstract and weirdly phrased. Calling it a "case study of a certain animal" totally ignores the main point of the passage, which is the actual innovation and sustainability of the described process.
* Option (D) makes an unsupported broad generalization. The passage gives *one* specific example of powering a zoo; it definitely doesn't provide enough evidence to claim that Japan has *always* used technology to help animals. You can't make massive claims without the receipts.
* Option (C) is the absolute W. It provides a natural, evaluative conclusion. It perfectly summarizes the core themes by calling the process an "exemplary way of creating a sustainable source of energy using innovative technology." Flawless wrap-up.
Final Answer: Option (C)
______________________________. This happened after a lorry laden with tomatoes worth 21 lakh rupees went missing. One of the three traders who had sent his tomatoes on the lorry said that they had lost contact with the driver in Nashik and that his GPS had been switched off. The traders were not sure if the truck had been hijacked or if the driver had stolen the tomatoes. This is the third time tomatoes have been stolen following the rise of tomato prices to Rs.150 per kg.
APanic and confusion reigned among traders in the Kolar agricultural produce market
BA couple took the hijacked vehicle to a nearby market and sold the tomatoes there
CNashik overtook Kolar as the biggest tomato market in Asia
DThree traders jointly hired a lorry to carry tomatoes
Pick an option to attempt
The Setup: To determine the best fit, the missing sentence should ideally set the context for the subsequent detailed events. Option 1 effectively introduces the atmosphere of panic and confusion, which is consistent with the incident of a missing lorry described immediately after. The other options either jump into specifics unrelated to the ensuing details (Option 2 and 4) or provide irrelevant background information (Option 3).
Final Answer: Panic and confusion reigned among traders in the Kolar agricultural produce market
In the late 1960s, architect Charles Correa began his career as an urban planner, creating New Bombay (now Navi Mumbai), an urban area that provided housing and job opportunities for many who lived across the harbour from the original city. In the midst of overpopulated cities, he tried to create quasi-rural housing environments. In all of his urban planning commissions, Correa avoided high-rise housing solutions. ___________.
AHe focused on low-rise dwelling solutions that emphasized the human scale and created a sense of community
BConsiderations of the Indian climate drove many of his decisions
CHe is particularly noted for his sensitivity to the needs of the urban poor
DHis early work combined traditional architectural values with the Modernist use of materials
Pick an option to attempt
The correct answer is option 1, which aligns with Correa's approach to urban planning that avoided high-rise structures and instead promoted low-rise buildings to foster community and human scale. The other options, while potentially relevant to Correa's overall philosophy, do not directly relate to the specific point about his avoidance of high-rise housing in the context provided.
Nowadays, many teenagers and young adults around the world have to spend most of their time studying in order to get top grades, a university place, and a good job. ________________________________. There are several causes for this situation, one of the main ones being exams. These are stressful experiences, and most students take a huge number of them during their school career.
ATherefore, studying while you are exhausted is unproductive.
BTherefore, it would be better to learn how to apply the knowledge gained.
CFor this reason, there is often little time left for hobbies or socializing.
DFor this reason, the education system has to change for the welfare of the students.
Pick an option to attempt
What the blank has to do. The decisive clue sits *after* the gap: 'There are several causes for this situation'. That phrase points backwards, so 'this situation' must be something the blank has just described. The blank therefore has to state a situation - not a moral, and not a remedy.
Option 3 states one: students left with little time for hobbies or socialising. The next sentence then supplies its causes, exams foremost among them.
Why the others fail.
* Option 1 draws a general lesson about studying while exhausted. That is an observation, not a situation whose causes could then be listed.
* Option 2 proposes a remedy - applying knowledge rather than merely acquiring it. A remedy cannot be the thing that has several causes.
* Option 4 calls for the education system to change. That is a prescription, and it also runs ahead of the causes the paragraph is only about to introduce.
Final Answer: For this reason, there is often little time left for hobbies or socializing.
As globalization held sway over the world, communities, which used to live in relative isolation, sought access to the wider world, and in the process, they parted with their own language and adopted a new lingua franca. The loss of language, however, does not merely mean the loss of a mode of communication or the loss of a few thousand words. ______________________________. So, when a language dies, a way of thinking dies with it.
AA certain school of thought regrets the demise of local languages but in recent times revival movements have emerged across the world, especially in India
BA potentially endangered language can sometimes appear to be thriving, or on the other hand, it can show signs of declining
CLanguages exist not only for the purposes of practical communication; they convey a linguistic community's entire mindset and its culture
DSince evolution and change in languages is a part of history, most of the languages spoken today would be scarcely recognizable from what they were a few thousand or maybe even a few hundred
Pick an option to attempt
The Setup: We are tackling a paracompletion question where we need to find the missing puzzle piece that bridges the logical flow of the paragraph. The text is discussing how globalization leads to the loss of local languages, and it emphasizes that this loss is much deeper than just forgetting some vocabulary words.
Step 1: Analyze the context (Left and Right links). Before the blank, the text sets up a contrast: losing a language is *not* just losing a "mode of communication." After the blank, it concludes: "So, when a language dies, a way of thinking dies with it." We need a transition sentence that perfectly connects these two ideas—it must explain exactly *what* a language contains beyond basic communication to justify why a "way of thinking" dies with it.
Step 2: Vibe check the options through a process of elimination.
* Option (A) introduces a completely new sub-plot about "revival movements" in India. It does absolutely nothing to bridge the gap between communication and ways of thinking. Major L.
* Option (B) goes off on a tangent about how to assess if a language is endangered or thriving. It completely ignores the core philosophical argument of the paragraph.
* Option (D) starts giving a history lesson on language evolution over thousands of years. While true, it has zero connection to the loss of cultural mindsets mentioned in the passage.
* Option (C) is the absolute W. It perfectly mirrors the left link ("not only for the purposes of practical communication") and perfectly sets up the right link by introducing that languages convey an "entire mindset and its culture." Flawless combo that seamlessly completes the logical chain.
Final Answer: Option (C)
Most artificial intelligence (AI) applications in the fields of healthcare, industry, finance, transportation, and writing, rely heavily on deep learning and natural language processing. However, while AI systems can mimic existing styles and patterns, there is an ongoing debate about whether AI can truly possess creativity in the same sense as humans. ______________________________.
AMan has long feared the rise of the machine, his own creation becoming smarter and more intelligent than him
BHigh-performance computing has already proven a machine’s ability to perform advanced calculations far faster and more accurately than the human mind
CAI-generated works may lack the depth, emotional connection, and unique perspectives that come with human experiences and emotions
DAI usage raises a number of ethical concerns such as privacy issues, bias in algorithms, and the potential misuse of AI in many applications
Pick an option to attempt
The Setup: The best choice connects the theme of creativity with AI's limitations. Option 3 fits perfectly as it addresses the debate over AI's creative capabilities by pointing out the qualities AI-generated works might lack, aligning directly with the concern about true creativity. Options 1 and 2 introduce new themes not directly connected to creativity, and Option 4 shifts focus to ethical concerns rather than creativity.
Final Answer: AI-generated works may lack the depth, emotional connection, and unique perspectives that come with human experiences and emotions
A study of the social and cultural context of Indian poetry in English reveals several important insights into its origin. Indian poetry in English began in Bengal, the province where the British first gained a stronghold. In addition, this poetry was a largely urban phenomenon, centered in Calcutta. ___________. Then, gradually, it moved to other urban centres such as Madras and Bombay. Even today, Indian poetry in English remains largely urban. Moreover, because English was an elite language, Indian poets writing in English came from the upper classes.
AThe British had decided that poetry about India could reach a larger audience if written in Calcutta
BThe rulers encouraged the natives to write poetry about India only if their mother tongue was English
CEnglish was seen as an elite language and so the British felt that only they could use it for poetry
DIn fact, poetry writing for the first fifty years was confined to a few families who were residents of Calcutta
Pick an option to attempt
The correct answer is option 4, as it describes the initial confinement of English poetry to a specific social group in a specific locale, reflecting the elite status of English. It complements the later points about the spread of poetry to other urban centres and its association with the upper classes. The other options are not supported by the passage.
__________________________________________. In Southeast Asia, for example, climate and lifestyle factors mean that people spend much more time in shopping malls than Europeans do, who might go shopping once a fortnight. Then there are gender variations in the way we shop. As descendants of hunter-gatherers, accumulating is in our blood, but how you go about it depends on whether you are male or female.
ABy and large, people enjoy shopping and comparing brands and prices.
BRetail stores constantly offer promotional discounts to entice shoppers.
CWhen it comes to shopping, men hunt, and women gather.
DCulture plays an important role in shaping the shopping experience.
Pick an option to attempt
What the blank has to do. It opens the paragraph, and the sentence after it begins 'In Southeast Asia, for example'. An example must be an example *of* something, so the blank has to state the general principle that Southeast Asian shopping habits illustrate - and what that sentence describes is climate and lifestyle shaping behaviour, which is to say culture.
The opener also has to leave room for what comes next: 'Then there are gender variations' adds a second factor alongside the first.
Option 4 satisfies both requirements - culture as one shaping force, gender introduced afterwards as another.
Why the others fail.
* Option 1 says people enjoy shopping and compare brands and prices. A contrast between regions is not an example of enjoyment.
* Option 2 concerns retailers' promotional discounts, a subject the paragraph never takes up.
* Option 3 is the real trap. It is genuinely about shopping, but it states the gender point that the paragraph deliberately withholds until 'Then there are gender variations'. Placed first, it would make that later sentence redundant and leave the Southeast Asia example illustrating nothing.
Final Answer: Culture plays an important role in shaping the shopping experience.
On the first day of January 2025, the Indian Meteorological Department [IMD] announced that 2024 was the hottest year on record. A study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water shows that nearly eight out of ten Indians live in districts that are at risk of either a flood, a cyclone, or a drought. Nearly twenty three States in India are heatwave-prone. ______________________________. In the summer of 2024, India recorded more than 44,000 cases of heatstroke and over 300 heat-related mortalities, as per the bulletin of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Water reservoirs and the energy demand that keeps India powered are impacted too. During a ten-day long heatwave in Delhi, peak power demand was 16% higher than the previous year.
AAccording to the Council, more than 20% of the population is not affected by climate change
BThe record-breaking heat of the summer of 2024 resulted in an unpredictable and delayed monsoon
CHowever, the people of these districts are given sufficient compensation for loss of life and property
DThe increasing heat stress remains a major challenge, affecting public health and economic productivity
Pick an option to attempt
The Setup: We are dealing with a paracompletion question. The passage highlights extreme climate risks in India, specifically focusing on the severe heat. We need a bridge sentence that connects the general vulnerability statistics to the brutal reality of the 2024 heatwave impacts.
Step 1: Analyze the context (Left and Right links). Before the blank, the text states that nearly 23 states are heatwave-prone (establishing the overarching risk). Immediately after the blank, it drops devastating stats: 44,000 heatstroke cases and 300 deaths (public health impact), followed by soaring energy/power demand (economic/infrastructure impact). The blank must seamlessly introduce both the health and economic consequences of this heat to set up the following sentences.
Step 2: Vibe check the options through a process of elimination.
* Option (A) is a massive L. It focuses on the 20% who are *not* affected, which completely ruins the grim, urgent flow of the passage detailing severe casualties.
* Option (B) introduces a subplot about a "delayed monsoon." While rain is a climate issue, the very next sentence explicitly details heatstrokes and power grids, not rainfall. It breaks the logical flow.
* Option (C) drops a "However" and talks about financial compensation. This creates a false contrast and completely ignores the massive casualties and power crises detailed right after it.
* Option (D) is the absolute W. It introduces "heat stress" as a major challenge affecting "public health" (perfectly setting up the 44,000 heatstroke cases) and "economic productivity" (perfectly setting up the 16% higher power demand). It is a flawless transition.
Final Answer: Option (D)
In an era where privacy and individualism are often prized above all else, Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto blurs the boundary between public and private. ______________________________. His work is a testament to the power of architecture to break down barriers and to foster a sense of community. Through his innovative designs, he challenges traditional notions of public and private spaces, seamlessly blending the two realms.
AHe is deeply committed to building harmonious societies through his architectural practice
BHe was recently named the 2024 Laureate of the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize
CHe successfully integrates traditional Japanese aesthetics and modern design principles in his work
DIn the world of architecture, he stands out as a visionary voice advocating a return to a more interconnected way of living
Pick an option to attempt
The Setup: The missing sentence should link Yamamoto's architectural philosophy with the impact of his work. Option 4 is the most effective as it captures the essence of blurring public and private boundaries and his role as a 'visionary voice' promoting community through architectural design. Options 1 and 3 describe aspects of his work but don't connect as strongly to the theme of communal living, and Option 2 focuses on an award, which is irrelevant to the topic.
Final Answer: In the world of architecture, he stands out as a visionary voice advocating a return to a more interconnected way of living
_____________. Conflicts are now brewing over rivers and river basins shared by many countries around the world. This is not unexpected, given the fact that more than two hundred water bodies are shared by two or more countries. Strife over water, for example, is erupting throughout the Middle East, from the watersheds of the Nile to the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
AWith water becoming increasingly scarce and development of new sources of water extremely costly, international water tensions are expected to rise
BIt might be a cliche, but given how scarce it is, water is the new oil of the 21st century
CThe world does not consider water to be the scarce resource it is
DFresh water is increasingly in short supply, with nearly two-thirds of the global population living in water-stressed conditions
Pick an option to attempt
The correct answer is option 1, which directly addresses the issue of scarcity and the ensuing international tensions over water, a topic that the subsequent sentences elaborate on. The option serves as a general introduction to the detailed instances of conflict that follow. The other options do not as effectively set the stage for the specific examples of water-related conflicts that the paragraph goes on to discuss.
The people of the Indus Valley civilization wrote with a script. So far scholars have been unable to decipher that script. Archaeologists who have been excavating newly discovered sites in Mesopotamia hope to find a text that has scripts from both the Indus valley and Mesopotamia, the second of which has already been deciphered. __________________.
AThey will then be able to decode the Indus valley language.
BThey will then be able to decide which civilization was older.
CThe nature of relationships between the two will come to light.
DThey can then prove that there was trade between the two.
Pick an option to attempt
What the blank has to do. The paragraph assembles a precise piece of logic. The Indus script cannot be read. The Mesopotamian script 'has already been deciphered'. Archaeologists hope to find a single text carrying both. The blank is the payoff, and only one payoff follows from a bilingual text: a script you can read, set beside one you cannot, lets you crack the second. It is the principle that opened Egyptian hieroglyphs by way of the Rosetta Stone.
Why the others fail.
* Option 2 is about dating. A text carrying both scripts would say nothing about which civilisation came first.
* Option 3 may well be true, but it is vague and it is not what the set-up has been building towards - the stated hope concerns the undeciphered script specifically.
* Option 4 jumps to a conclusion about trade. Contact might be inferred from a shared text, but proving trade is a different claim, and the paragraph's entire structure points at decipherment.
Final Answer: They will then be able to decode the Indus valley language.
__________________ Infrastructure, in the form of paved surfaces, disrupts water absorption and lowers water retention. This leads to disastrous levels of flooding which diminishes the biodiversity and impoverishes the people of the region. Land should be used mindfully to prevent water logging during heavy rains.
AClimate change is not the only cause for flooding.
BFlooding can happen after heavy or low rainfall.
CInfrastructure can actually cause a lot of trouble during flooding.
DWater retention is less important to prevent flooding.
Pick an option to attempt
- Climate change is not the only cause for flooding.
Reasoning: This sentence sets up the discussion by introducing the idea that there are other factors contributing to flooding, leading naturally into the explanation about infrastructure.
- Flooding can happen after heavy or low rainfall.
Reasoning: This sentence does not set up the specific discussion about infrastructure's role in flooding as effectively.
- Infrastructure can actually cause a lot of trouble during flooding.
Reasoning: This sentence is somewhat redundant since the subsequent sentences already explain how infrastructure causes flooding problems.
- Water retention is less important to prevent flooding.
Reasoning: This sentence is incorrect as it contradicts the passage's message about the importance of water retention in preventing flooding.
Few look forward to old age and all that it brings in its wake - deteriorating health, loss of vigour, restricted mobility, increasing dependence on others, not to mention a sense of foreboding and anxiety. Yet, one has to learn to cope with the onset of old age. Firstly, it is imperative to prepare to accept old age in spite of the restrictions or limitations it imposes on one's mobility. Equally important is the need to adopt a positive attitude towards life. _______________Above all, peace of mind, is the efficacious balm that brings equanimity to one's life. We must resign ourselves to growing old, and in the process let us try to make life as fulfilling and meaningful as possible.
AThe role of humour and fun are indispensable as these are the spice of life and guaranteed to bring cheer and bonhomie, besides keeping one's mind off life's grim realities.
BOwing to advances in medical science, we can now expect to live well beyond 90 years.
CPhysical debility and stiffening body joints 'creaking' in protest may make mobility difficult - something one should learn to take in one's stride stoically.
DTurning nostalgic and recalling 'those good old days' when they were young and life was radically different from what it is today, help one accept old age.
Pick an option to attempt
- The role of humour and fun are indispensable as these are the spice of life and guaranteed to bring cheer and bonhomie, besides keeping one's mind off life's grim realities.
Reasoning: This option fits best as it complements the idea of adopting a positive attitude towards life and aligns with the passage's emphasis on finding ways to cope with old age.
- Owing to advances in medical science, we can now expect to live well beyond 90 years.
Reasoning: This option shifts the focus to life expectancy rather than coping mechanisms, making it less relevant to the passage's theme of adopting a positive attitude.
- Physical debility and stiffening body joints 'creaking' in protest may make mobility difficult - something one should learn to take in one's stride stoically.
Reasoning: This option, while relevant, focuses more on physical limitations and acceptance rather than on the proactive and positive attitude emphasized in the passage.
- Turning nostalgic and recalling 'those good old days' when they were young and life was radically different from what it is today, help one accept old age.
Reasoning: This option is less relevant as it focuses on nostalgia rather than the proactive attitude and coping mechanisms discussed in the passage.
The Arab Spring is widely believed to have stemmed from dissatisfaction with the rule of local governments, though some have speculated that wide gaps in income levels may have had a hand as well. Issues such as political corruption, human rights violations, unemployment, and educated but dissatisfied youth may have been responsible as well._____________________.
AThus, youth unrest was the main reason for the Arab Spring
BSome also cite the 2009-10 Iranian election protests as one of the reasons behind the Arab Spring
CThe Arab Spring was due to the wide gap between the haves and the have-nots
DTo sum up, the Arab Spring was a series of anti-government protests, uprisings, and armed rebellions across the Arab world
Pick an option to attempt
The sentence talks about different reasons that may have caused the Arab Spring, like political problems, unemployment, and youth dissatisfaction.
Option 2 -> introduces another related event, the 2009-10 Iranian election protests, which also might have influenced the Arab Spring. This makes it a good fit because it adds another factor to what was already mentioned!
Option 1 (youth unrest) -> is too narrow and doesn't cover all the factors mentioned.
Option 3 (wide gap between the rich and poor) -> is already part of what's mentioned in the passage.
Option 4 -> just a general summary and doesn't directly continue the thought from the sentence.
Tech companies are spending billions to build data centres that power AI systems for growth and security. But data centres consume huge amounts of electricity, which has raised the cost of electricity for those living near the data centres. Some tech giants are now saying they will seek to pay not just for the energy its data centres use, but also to cover the costs of updating and adding necessary electricity to the grid. _________________________________.
AGovernments should bear the additional electricity costs, as AI will provide greater security.
BThis way the additional electricity costs will not be passed on to other local consumers.
CNot all tech companies will be able to afford the additional electricity costs.
DThis way the anger of the public will not be directed at the tech companies.
Pick an option to attempt
Clue: Data centres raise electricity costs for locals -> tech companies say they will pay for grid upgrades -> [blank].
Answer: Option 2 - 'This way the additional electricity costs will not be passed on to other local consumers.'
Thought Process Breakdown:
The blank should be the LOGICAL CONSEQUENCE of companies footing the bill. (Tip: For paracompletion, the answer almost always follows directly from the preceding sentence, not from new ideas.)
-> "Governments should bear..." contradicts the passage (it says COMPANIES will pay, not governments).
-> "This way the additional electricity costs will not be passed on..." is the direct consequence of companies paying.
-> "Not all tech companies will be able to afford..." introduces a new tangent (which companies can afford it).
-> "This way the anger of the public will not be directed..." is a speculative motive, not a logical consequence.
Option Analysis:
* Option A -> Contradicts the passage -> It says COMPANIES will pay, not governments.
* Option B -> Correct -> Direct consequence of companies paying.
* Option C -> Introduces a new tangent -> Focuses on which companies can afford it.
* Option D -> Speculative motive -> Not a logical consequence.
Writing has long been a primary tool for thinking. _________________________________. The articulation of thought, a foundational human skill, risks atrophy due to the deployment of AI. 'Help' from AI is a gentle, persistent pressure removing idiosyncrasies and pushing writers towards a standardised, middle-of-the-road voice. In a manner of speaking, the originality of the writer's voice is lost. Hence, the unique signature of the writer is eroded by an algorithm.
AFor writers, the help provided by AI is essential for the formation of lucid thoughts.
BWithout human effort, however, difficult concepts cannot be easily communicated to the reader.
CWhen that process is delegated to an outside agency, thinking itself becomes superficial.
DThinking is a process expressed best by smooth, frictionless prose assisted by AI.
Pick an option to attempt
Clue: Writing is a thinking tool -> [blank] -> articulation atrophies due to AI. The blank must BRIDGE the idea that writing aids thinking with the idea that AI erodes thinking.
Answer: Option 3 - 'When that process is delegated to an outside agency, thinking itself becomes superficial.'
Thought Process Breakdown:
The passage has a clear negative stance on AI's impact on writing and thinking. The blank must logically bridge the first sentence ("primary tool for thinking") with the subsequent sentences detailing how AI causes "atrophy" of this skill. (Tip: When a passage has a clear stance, the answer must agree with that stance.)
-> Option A praises AI, contradicting the passage's negative stance.
-> Option B talks about communication to the reader, which is off-track; the passage is specifically about the WRITER'S thinking.
-> Option C perfectly bridges the two ideas: delegating the process (to AI) makes thinking superficial, which logically leads to the "atrophy" mentioned in the next sentence.
-> Option D praises AI's assistance, directly contradicting the rest of the passage.
Option Analysis:
* Option A -> Contradicts the passage -> Praises AI, whereas the passage argues that AI erodes thinking and originality.
* Option B -> Off-track -> Focuses on communication to the reader rather than the core topic of the writer's internal thinking process.
* Option C -> Correct -> Acts as a perfect bridge connecting the concept of writing as a thinking tool to the subsequent idea of AI causing skill atrophy.
* Option D -> Contradicts the passage -> Suggests AI is the "best" way to express thinking, completely opposing the passage's critical stance.
With access to content and streaming video platforms among Indian viewers increasing, producers and creators seem to be taking fewer risks. Streaming service subscribers in India have traditionally appreciated the craft, acting, and storytelling of some exceptional videos on platforms like Netflix and HBO. _________________________________. Driven by algorithms and a tendency to replicate templates that have worked in the past, Indian streamers increasingly favour star-led shows and films that promise safety over experimentation. Hence 2025 had fewer standout originals.
ASince a large proportion of OTT viewers in India use smart phones to view videos, the content has to be discerning.
BYet, this past year, Indian producers have gravitated towards content that entertains a wider section of viewers.
CNow that smart phones are commonplace, viewing videos is no longer part of the shared and family time.
DWithout a discerning viewership, Indian producers have had to use social media to promote and sell their stories.
Pick an option to attempt
Clue: Indian viewers used to appreciate craft -> [blank] -> producers now favour safe star-led content -> fewer originals. The blank needs a CONTRAST introducing the producers' shift.
Answer: Option 2 - 'Yet, this past year, Indian producers have gravitated towards content that entertains a wider section of viewers.'
Thought Process Breakdown:
The passage describes a shift from past appreciation of craft to a current preference for safe, algorithmic content. The blank sits exactly between these two ideas, requiring a transitional pivot. (Tip: Look for a transition word like 'yet', 'however', or 'but' in the options - it often signals the right pivot.)
-> Option A introduces a tangent about smartphones, which is not supported by the passage's focus on risk-taking and content type.
-> Option B perfectly introduces the contrast using "Yet", explaining the shift towards mass-appeal (safe) content that connects the past appreciation to the current algorithmic safety.
-> Option C introduces another unrelated tangent about smartphones and family time.
-> Option D introduces a tangent about social media promotion, missing the core point about content creation shifts.
Option Analysis:
* Option A -> Irrelevant tangent -> Focuses on smartphone usage, which is not supported by the passage.
* Option B -> Correct -> Uses the transition word "Yet" to make the exact logical pivot from past appreciation of craft to the current safe-play strategy.
* Option C -> Irrelevant tangent -> Discusses shared family time and smartphones, disconnecting from the passage's theme of content production.
* Option D -> Irrelevant tangent -> Mentions social media promotion, ignoring the structural shift in the producers' content strategy.
Till recently, weight-loss drugs have been an elite privilege, creating a class system among those battling obesity and diabetes and setting new aspirational benchmarks for a healthy life. Manufacturers have now lowered their prices to tap into a booming health-conscious market in India. Despite repeated clarification that the efficacy of the drug is co-dependent on diet, lifestyle corrections, fitness routines and, most importantly, baseline fitness and health, the drug is seen as manna from heaven. _________________________________. This leads to the individual surrendering to a false sense of well-being.
AThis creates a false sense of complacency about the drugs notwithstanding their side-effects.
BWeight loss drugs have allowed celebrities to parade their thin age-defying bodies.
CThe once-a-week jab is seen as a convenience obviating the need for any other action.
DWeight loss is a path to thinness, a healthier lifestyle and a more attractive image.
Pick an option to attempt
Clue: Weight-loss drug seen as 'manna from heaven' (miracle) -> [blank] -> false sense of well-being. The blank must explain WHY users develop this false sense of well-being—they treat the drug as a complete standalone solution.
Answer: Option 3 - 'The once-a-week jab is seen as a convenience obviating the need for any other action.'
Thought Process Breakdown:
The passage highlights a contrast: doctors warn that the drug requires diet and exercise, but people view it as a miracle. The blank sits right before the conclusion ("surrendering to a false sense of well-being") and needs to explain how viewing it as a miracle causes this false safety.
-> Option A introduces the tangent of "side-effects", which is not the issue being discussed (the issue is ignoring diet/lifestyle).
-> Option B introduces an unrelated tangent about celebrities.
-> Option C directly provides the missing link: people view the drug as "obviating" (removing) the need for diet/exercise, which logically leads to the false sense of well-being. (Tip: 'Obviating the need for any other action' = removes the need for diet, exercise, lifestyle changes. That's exactly why people get a false sense of safety.)
-> Option D gives a general statement about weight loss that does not bridge to the negative consequence in the final sentence.
Option Analysis:
* Option A -> Off-track -> Talks about side-effects, ignoring the passage's emphasis on diet, exercise, and lifestyle corrections.
* Option B -> Irrelevant tangent -> Focuses on celebrities, which is completely off-topic.
* Option C -> Correct -> Directly explains the cause of the false sense of well-being by stating users think the jab replaces all other necessary health actions.
* Option D -> Too general -> Generalises about weight loss and fails to logically connect to the "false sense of well-being" mentioned in the following sentence.