Fill in the Blanks: IPMAT practice questions with solutions

Question 1

Complete the following sentence by choosing the most appropriate word/phrase from the options given below.

For the past three decades, this chain of coffee shops has been committed to building a culture where everyone is welcome. They are an ally to the LGBTQ community, and this is just one instance of their ______.

Accepted Answer

(A) inclusivity and diversity. Answer: (A) inclusivity and diversity Completed: For the past three decades, this chain of coffee shops has been committed to building a culture where everyone is welcome. They are an ally to the LGBTQ community, and this is just one instance of their inclusivity and diversity. Clue: "a culture where everyone is welcome", "an ally to the LGBTQ community". Why (A) is right: Welcoming everyone and supporting the LGBTQ community are examples of "inclusivity and diversity". Why the others are wrong: - (B) Positive words, but not about welcoming different groups. - (C) The opposite of welcoming everyone. - (D) A look-alike for "discriminatory"; "discretionary" means left to choice and does not fit.

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(B) mindfulness and objectivity

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(C) discriminatory practices

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(D) discretionary practices

Question 2

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank. The quality of the mangoes this year been disappointing.

Accepted Answer

(A) has. Answer: (A) has Completed: The quality of the mangoes this year has been disappointing. Clue: The subject is "quality", not "mangoes". Rule: sva-intervening-phrase: The verb agrees with the head of the subject, not with a noun inside a phrase that comes between them. Why (A) is right: Ignore the phrase "of the mangoes": the subject is "the quality" (singular), so "has been". Why the others are wrong: - (B) "Have" agrees with "mangoes", the noun in the intervening phrase. - (C) "Are been" is ungrammatical. - (D) "Were been" is ungrammatical.

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(B) have

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(C) are

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(D) were

Question 3

Choose the option that correctly fills the blank. Each of the candidates given a form to fill in.

Accepted Answer

(D) was. Answer: (D) was Completed: Each of the candidates was given a form to fill in. Clue: "Each" is the subject (singular). Rule: sva-each-every: Each, every, either, neither (used alone), everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, anyone, nobody and no one take a singular verb. Why (D) is right: "Each of the…" takes a singular verb: "Each… was given". Why the others are wrong: - (A) "Were" agrees with "candidates", not "each". - (B) "Are" is plural. - (C) "Have been" is plural.

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(A) were

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(B) are

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(C) have been

Question 4

Choose the word that best fills the blank. The witness's account was so , full of exact dates, names and times, that the defence could find no gap to exploit.

Accepted Answer

(A) precise. Answer: (A) precise Completed: The witness's account was so precise, full of exact dates, names and times, that the defence could find no gap to exploit. Clue: "full of exact dates, names and times". Why (A) is right: An account full of exact details is "precise", which is why the defence found no gap. Why the others are wrong: - (B) "Sketchy" means lacking detail, the opposite of the clue. - (C) A "rambling" account wanders and leaves gaps; it is not "full of exact dates". - (D) "Candid" means frank; honesty is not what "exact dates, names and times" describes.

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(B) sketchy

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(C) rambling

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(D) candid

Question 5

Choose the pair of words that best fills the blanks. A good editor is with a writer's sentences but of the writer's ideas, cutting words freely while leaving the argument intact.

Accepted Answer

(D) ruthless … respectful. Answer: (D) ruthless … respectful Completed: A good editor is ruthless with a writer's sentences but respectful of the writer's ideas, cutting words freely while leaving the argument intact. Clue: "cutting words freely" (blank 1) "while leaving the argument intact" (blank 2); "but" sets them against each other. Why (D) is right: Cutting freely is "ruthless" with sentences; leaving the argument intact is being "respectful" of the ideas. Why the others are wrong: - (A) "Gentle" contradicts cutting words freely, and "careless of the ideas" contradicts leaving them intact. - (B) "Ruthless" fits, but being "dismissive" of the ideas contradicts leaving the argument intact. - (C) "Protective" fits blank 2, but a "timid" editor does not cut words freely.

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(A) gentle … careless

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(B) ruthless … dismissive

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(C) timid … protective

Question 6

Choose the option that correctly fills both blanks. Although we joined on the same day, he is now senior me rank.

Accepted Answer

(A) to … in. Answer: (A) to … in Completed: Although we joined on the same day, he is now senior to me in rank. Rule: latin-comparative-to: Superior, inferior, senior, junior, prior and prefer (X to Y) take "to", not "than". Why (A) is right: Latin comparatives such as senior, junior and superior take "to", not "than"; and one is senior "in" rank ("by" goes with an amount, as in "by two years"). Why the others are wrong: - (B) "In rank" is right, but "senior" takes "to", not "than". - (C) "Senior to" is right, but "by rank" is not idiomatic; "by" goes with an amount (by two years). - (D) Both are wrong: "senior than" and "by rank".

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(B) than … in

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(C) to … by

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(D) than … by

Question 7

The sentences below have words that are missing. Choose the best option from those given below to complete the sentence.

In an era of globalisation, cultural diversity is celebrated and valued across societies. However, the rise of xenophobia and intolerance poses a ______ challenge to social cohesion and harmony. Building inclusive communities and promoting intercultural dialogue are essential for ______ mutual understanding and respect among diverse populations. Additionally, educating individuals about the benefits of cultural diversity and challenging ______ are crucial steps towards creating inclusive societies and encouraging peaceful coexistence.

Accepted Answer

(A) pressing … nurturing … stereotypes. Answer: (A) pressing … nurturing … stereotypes Completed: In an era of globalisation, cultural diversity is celebrated and valued across societies. However, the rise of xenophobia and intolerance poses a pressing challenge to social cohesion and harmony. Building inclusive communities and promoting intercultural dialogue are essential for nurturing mutual understanding and respect among diverse populations. Additionally, educating individuals about the benefits of cultural diversity and challenging stereotypes are crucial steps towards creating inclusive societies and encouraging peaceful coexistence. Clue: "educating individuals… and challenging " (blank 3 = the fixed, prejudiced ideas behind xenophobia). Why (A) is right: Xenophobia is a "pressing" (urgent) challenge; dialogue is essential for "nurturing" understanding; education must challenge "stereotypes", the fixed ideas about other groups that feed intolerance. Why the others are wrong: - (B) "Archetypes" are original models or typical examples, not prejudices, so there is nothing to challenge. - (C) "Truisms" are obvious truths; challenging them would not build inclusive societies. - (D) A "sophisticated challenge" is…

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(B) multi-faceted … stimulating … archetypes

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(C) complicated … advancing … truisms

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(D) sophisticated … expediting … propositions

Question 8

The sentences below have words that are missing. Choose the best option from those given below to complete the sentence.

One who is ______ gets on with his job in spite of obstacles, while the one who is ______ hardly shows any progress. The latter spends all his time ______ about his troubles.

Accepted Answer

(B) assiduous … querulous … whining. Answer: (B) assiduous … querulous … whining Completed: One who is assiduous gets on with his job in spite of obstacles, while the one who is querulous hardly shows any progress. The latter spends all his time whining about his troubles. Clue: "The latter spends all his time about his troubles" (blank 3 = complaining), which also defines blank 2. Why (B) is right: The "assiduous" (diligent) person keeps working despite obstacles; the "querulous" (complaining) one makes no progress because he spends his time "whining" about his troubles. Why the others are wrong: - (A) "Artful" (cunning) is not the opposite of making no progress, and "speaking about his troubles" is too neutral. - (C) "Hardworking" fits, but "dishonest" has nothing to do with progress, and you gossip about other people, not your own troubles. - (D) "Hotheaded" (quick-tempered) does not describe someone who keeps working steadily.

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(A) artful … doubtful … speaking

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(C) hardworking … dishonest … gossiping

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(D) hotheaded … scared … crying

Question 9

Choose the pair of words that best fills the blanks. The essayist's style is , every sentence pared to the bone, and his opinions are equally : he rarely hedges, qualifies or apologises.

Accepted Answer

(B) terse … forthright. Answer: (B) terse … forthright Completed: The essayist's style is terse, every sentence pared to the bone, and his opinions are equally forthright: he rarely hedges, qualifies or apologises. Clue: "every sentence pared to the bone" (blank 1 = brief); "rarely hedges, qualifies or apologises" (blank 2 = direct). Why (B) is right: A style "pared to the bone" is "terse"; opinions stated without hedging are "forthright". Why the others are wrong: - (A) "Forthright" fits, but "prolix" (wordy) contradicts "pared to the bone". - (C) "Terse" fits, but "equivocal" (non-committal) contradicts "rarely hedges". - (D) Both words reverse the clues.

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(A) prolix … forthright

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(C) terse … equivocal

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(D) florid … tentative

Question 10

Choose the option that correctly fills both blanks. Hardly the stage the lights went out.

Accepted Answer

(C) had he reached … when. Answer: (C) had he reached … when Completed: Hardly had he reached the stage when the lights went out. Rule: conjunction-correlative-pair: Fixed pairs: no sooner…than, hardly/scarcely…when, not only…but also, both…and, either…or, neither…nor, such/so…that. inversion-negative-adverbial: After a fronted negative or limiting adverbial (not once, never, hardly, seldom, no sooner, not only, rarely), put the auxiliary before the subject. Why (C) is right: A sentence opening with "Hardly" inverts the subject and the auxiliary (had he reached), and "hardly" is completed by "when". The past perfect shows that reaching the stage came just before the lights went out. Why the others are wrong: - (A) "When" is right, but a fronted "Hardly" needs inversion: "had he reached". - (B) The inversion is right, but "than" belongs to "no sooner", not "hardly". - (D) "Than" is wrong after "hardly", and the earlier action needs the past perfect.

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(A) he had reached … when

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(B) had he reached … than

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(D) did he reach … than

Fill in the Blanks questions for IPMAT, with solutions