CAT Vocabulary Questions & Solutions

A sample of real CAT Vocabulary past-year questions, each with a worked solution and the correct answer highlighted. AthenaPrep has 123 Vocabulary questions in all — sign up free to practise them timed.

1. Passage

   Directions for the following four questions: In each of the questions, a word has been used in sentences in five different ways. Choose the option corresponding to the sentence in which the usage of the word is incorrect or inappropriate.

   Q1.CAT 2008

   Choose the option in which the usage of the word is incorrect or inappropriate.

   Run

   [CAT 2008]

   • I must run fast to catch up with him.

   • Our team scored a goal against the run of play.

   • You can’t run over him like that.

   • The newly released book is enjoying a popular run.

   • This film is a run-of-the-mill production.

   Show solution

   The phrase 'run over him' is wrongly used in sentence C. It means running over him physically. A person can't run over another person.

   Hence, option C is the correct answer.

2. Passage

   Directions for the following four questions: Each of the following questions has a sentence with two blanks. Given below each question are five pairs of words. Choose the pair that best completes the sentence.

   Q2.CAT 2008

   Every human being, after the first few days of his life, is a product of two factors: on the one hand, there is his __________ endowment; and on the other hand, there is the effect of environment, including _____

   • constitutional; weather

   • congenital; education

   • personal; climate

   • economic; learning

   • genetic; pedagogy

   Show solution

   
   In the first blank word used should be between ' congenital'  and ' genetic' .Here congenital means - from birth ; genetic means - something that come from parents or ancestors(hereditory) . But for the second blank 'education' sounds proper instead of 'pedagogy'. As 'pedagogy means function of teacher or science of teaching'.Hence, option B.
3. Q3.CAT 2005

   The following question has a paragraph with one italicized word that does not make sense. Choose the most appropriate replacement for that word from the options given below the paragraph.

   It is $kiang$ to a sensitive traveler who walks through this great town, when he sees the streets, the roads, and cabin doors crowded with beggars, mostly women, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags and importuning every passenger for alms.

   • amusing

   • irritating

   • disgusting

   • distressing

   Show solution

   In this paragraph, the key word is sensitive. Sensitive is especially mentioned in this paragraph. Therefore distressing is the most appropriate word. Sensitive persons feel distressed on seeing a grim situation.

4. Passage

   Directions for the following ten questions: Fill up the blanks, numbered [1], [2] up to [10], in the two passages below with most appropriate word from the options given for each blank.

   First Passage:

   "Between the year 1946 and the year 1955, I did not file any income tax returns." With that [1] statement, Ramesh embarked on an account of his encounter with the income tax department. "I originally owned Rs. 20,000 in unpaid taxes. With [2] and [3], the 20,000 became 60,000. The Income tax Department then went into action, and I learned first hand just how much power the Tax Department wields. Royalties and trust funds can be [4]; automobiles may be [5], and auctioned off. Nothing belongs to the [6] until the case is settled."

   Second Passage:

   "At that time the white house was as serene as a resort hotel out of season. The corridors were [7]. In the various offices, [8] gray men in waistcoats talked to one another in low-pitched voices. The only color, or choler, curiously enough, was provided by President Eisenhower himself. Apparently, his [9] was easily set off; he scowled when he [10] the corridors.

   Q4.CAT 2004

   Blank Number [6]

   • purchaser

   • victim

   • investor

   • offender

   Show solution

   Those who evade income tax are offenders rather than a victim, purchaser or an investor.

5. Q5.CAT 2003

   Fill in the Blanks: Early ______ of maladjustment to college culture is ______ by the tendency to develop friendship networks outside college which mask signals of maladjustment.

   • treatment, compounded

   • detection, facilitated

   • identification, complicated

   • prevention, helped

   Show solution

   The detection to maladjustment to college culture becomes complicated when we develop friendships outside the college. Hence option c is correct.

6. Q6.CAT 2002

   From the alternatives given pick the word or phrase that is closest in meaning in the given context.

   Portend: It appears to many that the US ‘war on terrorism’ portends trouble in the Gulf.

   • Introduces

   • Bodes

   • Spells

   • Evokes

   Show solution

   In the given context, "to portend" is 'to mean' something. It doesn't mean 'to start' something, hence options A and D can be eliminated. Between "bodes" and "spells", "spells" fits better in this context. Option c) is the correct answer.

7. Q7.CAT 2001

   Fill in the Blanks: But _____ are now regularly written not just for tools, but well-established practices, organisations and institutions, not all of which seem to be _____ away.

   • reports ... withering

   • stories ... trading

   • books ... dying

   • obituaries ... fading

   Show solution

   We can identify the correct choice using the second blank: 'practices' do not wither or trade or die 'away'; they 'fade away.' Options A, B and C don't fit in the second blank and hence, can be eliminated. 

8. Passage

   Directions for the following five questions: Answer the questions based on the following information.

   For the word given at the top of each table, match the dictionary definitions on the left (A, B, C, D) with their corresponding usage on the right (E, F, G, H). Out of the four possibilities given in the boxes below the table, select the one that has all the definitions and their usages correctly matched.

   Q8.CAT 2001

   EXCEED

   

   • A - H, B - F, C - E, D - G

   • A - H, B - E, C - F, D - G

   • A - G, B - F, C - E, D - H

   • A - F, B - G, C - H, D - E

   Show solution

   Take a look at the sentence F where it is mentioned  "Their accomplishment exceeded our expectations." This means exceed refers toB. So B goes with F. 

   Now take a look at the sentence G.It is written that "He exceeded his authority....". Here "exceed " refers to crossing the limit which is mentioned in D. Hence D will go with G.

   Only option A goes with B-F, D-G

9. Q9.CAT 1998

   Fill in the blanks: Social studies, science matters of health and safety, the very atmosphere of the classroom —these areas are few of the ___ for the ___ of proper emotional reactions.

   • things ... growth

   • fertile areas ... basis

   • fertile fields ... inculcation

   • important areas ... formation

   Show solution

   Option A is incorrect as in the usage of "these areas", things cannot be used. Similarly option C is incorrect. Option B is incorrect because"basis of proper emotional reaction" is an incorrect usage.

10. Q10.CAT 1997

    Select the pair that best expresses a relationship similar to the one expressed in the question pair. Reptile : Adder

    • Skeleton : Flesh

    • Method : System

    • Plant : Genus

    • Dinosaur : Tyrannosaurus

    Show solution

    Adder is a type of a reptile.

    Tyrannosauraus is a type of Dinosaur. The relationship is similar to that of Adder and Reptile.

    Hence, option D is the answer.

11. Passage

    Find the odd word out from each of the following sets of four word.

    Q11.CAT 1996

    • Taxi

    • Cruiser

    • Amble

    • Cab

    Show solution

    Taxi, cruiser and cab are related.

    Amble means to walk slowly.

    Hence, amble is the odd one out.

12. Q12.CAT 1990

    Choose from among the given alternatives the one which will be a suitable substitute for the expression in quotes. The thrilling narrative caused "the hair on the skin to stand erect".

    • tension

    • horrification

    • terror

    • horror

    Show solution

    The sentence is conveying the idea that the thrilling narrative caused an intense feeling of fear among the audience. In other words, it cause horror among the audience. Option d) is the correct answer.

CAT Vocabulary previous year questions with solutions — AthenaPrep