Answer: D One should have to disentangle a skein or coiled and twisted bundle of yarn. Note how the presence of the verb disentangle, which may be used both figuratively and literally, influences the writer's choices of words. In this case, while line and strand are possible choices, neither word possesses the connotations of twistings and tangled contortions that make skeins the most suitable choice.
Q. No. 8:
We have in America a ______ speech that is neither American, Oxford English, nor colloquial English, but ______ of all three.
Answer: B Speech that is hybrid (made up of several elements) by definitions combines these elements. The technical term hybrid best suits this context because it is neutral term devoid of negative connotations (which motley and mangled possess).
Q. No. 9:
In the tradition of scholarly ________, the poet and scholar Dishant once assailed a Indian rival for relying on manuscripts " as a drunkard relies on lampposts, for _________ rather than illumination".
Answer: D The key word here is assaulted. Dishant is attacking his rival. Thus he is in the tradition of scholarly invective (vehement verbal attack), criticizing his foe for turning to manuscripts merely for confirmation or support of old theories and not enlightenment or illumination. Again, note that use of figurative language, in this case the simile of the drunkard.
Q. No. 10:
Soap operas and situation comedies, though given to distortion, are so derivative of contemporary culture that they are inestimable _________ the attitudes and values of our society in any particular decade.
Answer: C Soap operas and situation comedies are derivative of contemporary culture, they take their elements from that culture.Therefore they serve as indices (signs or indications) of what is going on in that culture, they both point to point up the social attitudes and values they portray. Note that Soap operas and comedies here cannot be determinants of our society's attitude and values, they derive from these attitudes and values , they do not determine them.
Q. No. 11:
Abhishek's critics in the scientific world ________ that many of the observations he has made during more than a decade of research in Costa Rica have been reported as ________ in popular magazines rather than as carefully documented case studies in technical journals.
Answer: B The critics charge (make the accusation) that Abhishek has published only anecdotes of his observations and not detailed analyses. Note that critics would be unlikely to applaud the publications of rumors or apologize for Abhishek's publications of fabrications or lies. Thus you can eliminate choices C and D Similarly, popular magazines would be unlikely to publish scientific hypothesis. You can rule out Choice A as well.
Q. No. 12:
Neutrons stars are believed to be the highly compressed remnants of exploding stars (supernovas) and thus _______ of one of the most _______ processes in nature.
Answer: B If neutron stars are remnants or remaining traces of exploding stars, than they are the products or results of violent natural processes. Choice A is incorrect. The neutron stars did not cause the explosions: they were caused by explosions. Choice C is incorrect. There is nothing equivocal or inconclusive about the explosion of stars. Choice D is incorrect. Nothing in the statement suggest that the creation of neutron stars justifies or vindicates the explosions of a star. In addition, harsh is far too weak a word to describe a stellar explosions.