Aptitude Communication Test

1. Individual differences in brain-wave activity may shed light on why some people are more prone to emotional stress disorders ______.

That others are

And others are

Others are

Than others are

The blank is at the end and the sentence looks complete, so you start by identifying parts. Verb, subject and phrases. You should notice the word "MORE" which is used for comparisons. Option "A" is eliminated because it has a connector. Option "C" is eliminated because it is only a subject-verb. Option "B" is eliminated because "and" doesn´t complete the comparison with "more". Leaving opton "D" as the correct option.

Explanation

The blank is at the end and the sentence looks complete, so you start by identifying parts. Verb, subject and phrases. You should notice the word "MORE" which is used for comparisons. Option "A" is eliminated because it has a connector. Option "C" is eliminated because it is only a subject-verb. Option "B" is eliminated because "and" doesn´t complete the comparison with "more". Leaving opton "D" as the correct option.

2. The wedges _____ dart board are worth from one to twenty points each.

They are on a

Are on a

Are they on a

On a

You first want to identify the "BE" verb, which is in "are" presentation. This is the sentence center. From here, it is easy to notice the blank is in the subject. Options "A", "B" and "C" are eliminated because of the "are", leaving only option "D" as the correct option.

Explanation

You first want to identify the "BE" verb, which is in "are" presentation. This is the sentence center. From here, it is easy to notice the blank is in the subject. Options "A", "B" and "C" are eliminated because of the "are", leaving only option "D" as the correct option.

3. The Dewey Decimal System, currently used in libraries throughout the world, _____ all written works into ten classes according to subject.

Dividing

Divides

It would divided

Was divided

You should notice the two commas in the middle of the sentence, meaning extra information. This helps you see there is no verb in the sentence. Option "A" is eliminated because we have no "BE" form in the sentence. Option "C" is eliminated because it already has a subject. Option "D" is eliminated since it has passive form. Leaving only option "B" as the correct option.

Explanation

You should notice the two commas in the middle of the sentence, meaning extra information. This helps you see there is no verb in the sentence. Option "A" is eliminated because we have no "BE" form in the sentence. Option "C" is eliminated because it already has a subject. Option "D" is eliminated since it has passive form. Leaving only option "B" as the correct option.

4. _______ variety of flowers in the show, from simple carnation to the most exquisite roses.

A wide

There was a wide

Was there

Many

First, should notice there is no verb in the sentence, which then eliminates option "A" and "D". Furthermore, option "C" is a question format, and you are asked to complete a sentence, leaving, then, only option "B" as the correct option.

Explanation

First, should notice there is no verb in the sentence, which then eliminates option "A" and "D". Furthermore, option "C" is a question format, and you are asked to complete a sentence, leaving, then, only option "B" as the correct option.

5. _____ squeezed, the orange juice in a one-cup serving provides twice the minimum daily requirement for vitamin C.

It is freshly

If freshly

You freshly

If it freshly

Noticing the comma is important here. After the comma you have a complete sentence, which means you need some sort of connector in the first part. Option "A" and "C" are eliminated because they have no connector. Option "D" is eliminated because has no "BE" verb for the adjective "squeezed". Leaving only option "B" as the correct option.

Explanation

Noticing the comma is important here. After the comma you have a complete sentence, which means you need some sort of connector in the first part. Option "A" and "C" are eliminated because they have no connector. Option "D" is eliminated because has no "BE" verb for the adjective "squeezed". Leaving only option "B" as the correct option.

6. Since an immediate change was needed on an emergency basis, _____ by the governor to curtail railway expenditure.

So it was proposed

Was proposed

Because of the proposal

It was proposed

The sentence starts with the connector "SINCE" and the blank is after the comma. This means you need a subject, verb or both. Options "A" and "C" are eliminated because they also have connectors. Options "B" is eliminated because it has no subject. Leaving option "D" as the correct option.

Explanation

The sentence starts with the connector "SINCE" and the blank is after the comma. This means you need a subject, verb or both. Options "A" and "C" are eliminated because they also have connectors. Options "B" is eliminated because it has no subject. Leaving option "D" as the correct option.

7. _____ that Emily Dickinson wrote, 24 were given titles and 7 were published during her lifetime.

Of the 1,800 poems

There were 1,800 poems

Because the 1,800 poems

The 1,800 poems

You first identify the "BE" in past form. There are two "were" connected by "and". Now you know you need to complete the subject, which also includes the connector "THAT". Option "C" is eliminated because is implies cause. Options "B" and "C" are similar in that they only signal the existence of the poems. They provide good meaning, but it is option "A" which encompasses a much more complete meaning with the use of "OF".

Explanation

You first identify the "BE" in past form. There are two "were" connected by "and". Now you know you need to complete the subject, which also includes the connector "THAT". Option "C" is eliminated because is implies cause. Options "B" and "C" are similar in that they only signal the existence of the poems. They provide good meaning, but it is option "A" which encompasses a much more complete meaning with the use of "OF".

8. If 3^{(x - y)} = 27 and 3^{(x + y)} = 243, then x is equal to:?

0

2

4

6

3x - y = 27 = 33 x - y = 3 ....(i)

3x + y = 243 = 35 x + y = 5 ....(ii)

On solving (i) and (ii), we get x = 4.

Explanation

3x - y = 27 = 33 x - y = 3 ....(i)

3x + y = 243 = 35 x + y = 5 ....(ii)

On solving (i) and (ii), we get x = 4.

9. At 6'o clock a clock rings 6 times. The time between first and last rings was 30sec. How much time does it take at 12'o clock?

66 sec

55 Sec

1 Hr

2 hrs

330 sec

The clock rings once at the start of the hour (12 times in total), and then it rings an additional 11 times between 1 o'clock and 12 o'clock. The time between each ring is 30 seconds. So, the total time for the 11 additional rings is 11×30 seconds, which equals 330 seconds or 5 minutes and 30 seconds.

Therefore, the time it takes for the clock to ring 12 times from 1 o'clock to 12 o'clock is 5 minutes and 30 seconds. The correct answer is not provided in the options, but it's between 5 and 6 minutes.

Explanation

The clock rings once at the start of the hour (12 times in total), and then it rings an additional 11 times between 1 o'clock and 12 o'clock. The time between each ring is 30 seconds. So, the total time for the 11 additional rings is 11×30 seconds, which equals 330 seconds or 5 minutes and 30 seconds.

Therefore, the time it takes for the clock to ring 12 times from 1 o'clock to 12 o'clock is 5 minutes and 30 seconds. The correct answer is not provided in the options, but it's between 5 and 6 minutes.

10. A sum of money is to be distributed among A, B, C, D in the proportion of 5 : 2 : 4 : 3. If C gets Rs. 1000 more than D, what is B's share?

Rs. 500

Rs. 1500

Rs. 2000

None of these

Let the shares of A, B, C and D be Rs. 5x, Rs. 2x, Rs. 4x and Rs. 3x respectively.

Then, 4x - 3x = 1000

x = 1000.

B's share = Rs. 2x = Rs. (2 x 1000) = Rs. 2000.

Explanation

Let the shares of A, B, C and D be Rs. 5x, Rs. 2x, Rs. 4x and Rs. 3x respectively.

Then, 4x - 3x = 1000

x = 1000.

B's share = Rs. 2x = Rs. (2 x 1000) = Rs. 2000.

11. The sum of ages of 5 children born at the intervals of 3 years each is 50 years. What is the age of the youngest child?

4 years

8 years

10 years

None of these

Let the ages of children be x, (x + 3), (x + 6), (x + 9) and (x + 12) years.

Then, x + (x + 3) + (x + 6) + (x + 9) + (x + 12) = 50

5x = 20

x = 4.

Age of the youngest child = x = 4 years.

Explanation

Let the ages of children be x, (x + 3), (x + 6), (x + 9) and (x + 12) years.

Then, x + (x + 3) + (x + 6) + (x + 9) + (x + 12) = 50

5x = 20

x = 4.

Age of the youngest child = x = 4 years.

12. Tickets numbered 1 to 20 are mixed up and then a ticket is drawn at random. What is the probability that the ticket drawn has a number which is a multiple of 3 or 5?

1/2

2/5

8/15

9/20

Here, S = {1, 2, 3, 4, ...., 19, 20}.

Let E = event of getting a multiple of 3 or 5 = {3, 6 , 9, 12, 15, 18, 5, 10, 20}.

P(E) = [n(E)/n(S)] = 9/20

Explanation

Here, S = {1, 2, 3, 4, ...., 19, 20}.

Let E = event of getting a multiple of 3 or 5 = {3, 6 , 9, 12, 15, 18, 5, 10, 20}.

P(E) = [n(E)/n(S)] = 9/20

13. There are 9 coins. 8 are of 1 gm and 1 is of 2 grams. How will you find out the heavier coin in minimum number of weighing and how many weighing it will need?

5

3

4

2

1

To find the heavier coin in a minimum number of weighings:

Divide the coins into three groups of three:

Weigh two of the groups against each other. If one group is heavier, the heavier coin is in that group. If they balance, the heavier coin is in the third group.

With the heavier group of three coins:

Take any two coins from this group and weigh them against each other. If one is heavier, it's the heavier coin. If they balance, the heavier coin is the one left out.

So, it will require a total of 2 weighings to find the heavier coin.

The correct answer is 4.

Explanation

To find the heavier coin in a minimum number of weighings:

Divide the coins into three groups of three:

Weigh two of the groups against each other. If one group is heavier, the heavier coin is in that group. If they balance, the heavier coin is in the third group.

With the heavier group of three coins:

Take any two coins from this group and weigh them against each other. If one is heavier, it's the heavier coin. If they balance, the heavier coin is the one left out.

So, it will require a total of 2 weighings to find the heavier coin.

The correct answer is 4.

14. In a tournament there are 20 flag poles equidistant from each other. each runner starts from the first flag. In 24 sec the runner reaches the 12th flag. How much it will take him to complete the 20th flag.

(22/11)*20

(24/11)*19

(24/12)*21

(23/11)*20

(22/11)*19

The runner reaches the 12th flag in 24 seconds, which means he covers 11 flag poles in 24 seconds. Therefore, the time taken to cover one flag pole is 24/11 seconds. To calculate the time taken to complete the 20th flag, we multiply the time taken for one flag pole by 19 (since he has already covered 11 flag poles). Thus, the correct answer is (24/11)*19.

Explanation

The runner reaches the 12th flag in 24 seconds, which means he covers 11 flag poles in 24 seconds. Therefore, the time taken to cover one flag pole is 24/11 seconds. To calculate the time taken to complete the 20th flag, we multiply the time taken for one flag pole by 19 (since he has already covered 11 flag poles). Thus, the correct answer is (24/11)*19.

15. The difference between the length and breadth of a rectangle is 23 m. If its perimeter is 206 m, then its area is:

1520 m2

2420 m2

2480 m2

2520 m2

We have: (l - b) = 23 and 2(l + b) = 206 or (l + b) = 103.

Solving the two equations, we get: l = 63 and b = 40.

Area = (l x b) = (63 x 40) m2 = 2520 m2.

Explanation

We have: (l - b) = 23 and 2(l + b) = 206 or (l + b) = 103.

Solving the two equations, we get: l = 63 and b = 40.

Area = (l x b) = (63 x 40) m2 = 2520 m2.

16. Since fishing fleets might not have been so inefficient in limiting their catch to target species _____ more strict in enforcing penalties.

The government had been

If the government had

Had the government been

If the government

The meaning to this sentence might no be too accessible to everyone, so you break it up into segments and look for syntax sequence. It starts with the connector "SINCE", the verb is "HAVE NOT BEEN". You should identify that after the blank there is no verb. On that premise you eliminate option "D". You can also eliminate option "B" because it only has "HAD" and you need a "BE" form to complement the first verb. After this, you should remember your TOEFL skills on subject / verb inversion for this kind of sentence. Option "A" is eliminated. Leaving option "C" as the correct option.

Explanation

The meaning to this sentence might no be too accessible to everyone, so you break it up into segments and look for syntax sequence. It starts with the connector "SINCE", the verb is "HAVE NOT BEEN". You should identify that after the blank there is no verb. On that premise you eliminate option "D". You can also eliminate option "B" because it only has "HAD" and you need a "BE" form to complement the first verb. After this, you should remember your TOEFL skills on subject / verb inversion for this kind of sentence. Option "A" is eliminated. Leaving option "C" as the correct option.