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Word Usage questions for IPMAT, with solutions

10 free Word Usage practice questions for IPMAT Indore, Rohtak and JIPMAT, 3 from past papers, each with the answer and a full worked solution. No sign-in. Try each one first, then open the solution. The lessons for this chapter are in Word Usage on Learn.

  1. Question 1Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayPick the sentence that uses the word correctly

    Only one of the statements below uses the word or words correctly. Choose that statement.

    Word: their / there / they're

    1. A.There going to the market after lunch with their cousins.
    2. B.Their is a bus to Mysuru at six.
    3. C.They're house is near the lake.
    4. D.The children left their bags in the hall.
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: D. The children left their bags in the hall.

    Answer: (D) The children left their bags in the hall.

    Meanings:

    • their: belonging to them
    • there: in that place; "there is/are"
    • they're: they are

    Why (D) is the answer: "Their bags" = the bags belonging to them. Correct.

    The other options:

    • (A) "They're (they are) going".
    • (B) "There is a bus".
    • (C) "Their house".

  2. Question 2Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayPick the sentence that uses the word correctly

    Only one of the statements below uses the word or words correctly. Choose that statement.

    Word: piece / peace

    1. A.May I have a peace of cake?
    2. B.The two countries finally signed a piece treaty after years of war.
    3. C.Each piece of the puzzle fits in only one place.
    4. D.He likes to work in piece and quiet.
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: C. Each piece of the puzzle fits in only one place.

    Answer: (C) Each piece of the puzzle fits in only one place.

    Meanings:

    • piece: a part or bit
    • peace: calm; the absence of war

    Why (C) is the answer: A part of a puzzle is a "piece". Correct.

    The other options:

    • (A) "A piece of cake".
    • (B) "A peace treaty".
    • (D) "Peace and quiet".

  3. Question 3Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayPick the sentence that uses the word correctly

    Only one of the statements below uses the word or words correctly. Choose that statement.

    Word: weather / whether

    1. A.I don't know weather he will come to the meeting tomorrow.
    2. B.Whether the weather is fine or not, the match will go on.
    3. C.The whether turned cold suddenly.
    4. D.We will go weather or not it rains.
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: B. Whether the weather is fine or not, the match will go on.

    Answer: (B) Whether the weather is fine or not, the match will go on.

    Meanings:

    • weather: rain, sun, temperature
    • whether: if (introducing a choice)

    Why (B) is the answer: "Whether" introduces the choice and "weather" is the climate. Both are right.

    The other options:

    • (A) "Whether he will come".
    • (C) "The weather".
    • (D) "Whether or not".

  4. Question 4Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayPick the sentence that uses the word correctly

    Only one of the statements below uses the word or words correctly. Choose that statement.

    Word: desert / dessert

    1. A.We had ice cream for desert.
    2. B.Camels can travel for days across the desert.
    3. C.The Thar Dessert lies mostly in Rajasthan.
    4. D.A good soldier will never dessert his post, even under fire.
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: B. Camels can travel for days across the desert.

    Answer: (B) Camels can travel for days across the desert.

    Meanings:

    • desert: a dry sandy region (noun); abandon (verb)
    • dessert: the sweet course of a meal

    Why (B) is the answer: A dry, sandy region is a "desert". Correct.

    The other options:

    • (A) "For dessert" (the sweet course).
    • (C) "The Thar Desert".
    • (D) "Desert his post" (abandon).

  5. Question 5Multiple choiceAsked in IPMAT Indore 2022Pick the sentence that uses the word wrongly (Indore format)

    One of the statements below contains a word used incorrectly or inappropriately. Choose the option which has the incorrect or inappropriate usage of the word.

    Word: draw

    1. A.As he was very old, he didn’t have the strength to draw water from the well near his house.
    2. B.He was lucky enough to win the draw in the lottery, where the prize was a rare painting.
    3. C.He used to keep all his important documents in the draw of his cupboard.
    4. D.The cricket match was heading for a draw, when the batsman hit a sixer and our team won.
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: C. He used to keep all his important documents in the draw of his cupboard.

    Answer: (C) He used to keep all his important documents in the draw of his cupboard.

    Corrected: He used to keep all his important documents in the drawer of his cupboard.

    Meanings:

    • draw: pull out (draw water); a tied game; a lottery
    • drawer: a sliding box in a piece of furniture

    Why (C) is the answer: The sliding compartment of a cupboard is a "drawer".

    The other options:

    • (A) Correct usage: draw water = pull it up.
    • (B) Correct usage: a lottery draw.
    • (D) Correct usage: a draw = a match with no winner.

  6. Question 6Multiple choiceAsked in IPMAT Indore 2024Pick the sentence that uses the word wrongly (Indore format)

    One of the statements below contains a word used incorrectly or inappropriately. Choose the option which has the incorrect or inappropriate usage of the word.

    Word: proscribe

    1. A.The rules of the organization proscribes members from engaging in conflicts of interest.
    2. B.The coach proscribes late night parties before an important game.
    3. C.The company’s policy proscribes employees from disclosing confidential information to unauthorized individuals.
    4. D.The software manual proscribes step-by-step instructions for installing and configuring the program.
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: D. The software manual proscribes step-by-step instructions for installing and configuring the program.

    Answer: (D) The software manual proscribes step-by-step instructions for installing and configuring the program.

    Corrected: The software manual prescribes step-by-step instructions for installing and configuring the program.

    Meanings:

    • proscribe: forbid
    • prescribe: lay down, recommend or order (instructions, medicine)

    Why (D) is the answer: A manual lays down instructions: it "prescribes" them. "Proscribe" means forbid.

    The other options:

    • (A) Correct usage: the rules forbid conflicts of interest. (The sentence has a separate agreement slip, "rules… proscribes", but the word itself is used correctly.)
    • (B) Correct usage: the coach forbids late-night parties.
    • (C) Correct usage: the policy forbids disclosure.

    Answer-key note: 2iim and Cracku key (d). Option (a) has an unrelated subject-verb slip ("The rules… proscribes"); the question is about the word, which (a) uses correctly.

  7. Question 7Multiple choiceAsked in IPMAT Indore 2024Pick the sentence that uses the word wrongly (Indore format)

    One of the statements below contains a word used incorrectly or inappropriately. Choose the option which has the incorrect or inappropriate usage of the word.

    Word: train

    1. A.The sound of laughter and loud music from the neighbour’s house disturbed his train of thought as he was writing his farewell speech.
    2. B.If you really want to see the landscape and the scenic countryside, it is better to take a train or go by road, rather than by plane.
    3. C.By following the train of blood on the platform the police located the body of a young woman who had been brutally stabbed.
    4. D.My friend has picked up a stray dog from the street and is now looking for somebody to train and domesticate the animal.
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: C. By following the train of blood on the platform the police located the body of a young woman who had been brutally stabbed.

    Answer: (C) By following the train of blood on the platform the police located the body of a young woman who had been brutally stabbed.

    Corrected: By following the trail of blood on the platform the police located the body…

    Meanings:

    • train: a railway train; a connected series ("train of thought"); to teach
    • trail: a track or line of marks left behind

    Why (C) is the answer: Marks of blood that lead somewhere form a "trail".

    The other options:

    • (A) Correct usage: train of thought = a connected series of ideas.
    • (B) Correct usage: take a train.
    • (D) Correct usage: train an animal = teach it.

  8. Question 8Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayBest word for the context (near-synonyms)

    Choose the word that best fits the blank.

    In his formal letter to the vice-chancellor, the professor sought permission to ______ the research project in January.

    1. A.kick off
    2. B.get going with
    3. C.commence
    4. D.start up
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: C. commence

    Answer: (C) commence

    Why (C) is right: A formal letter to a vice-chancellor needs a formal verb. "Commence" means "begin" and suits that register.

    Why the others are wrong:

    • (A) Informal: suits conversation or sports reporting, not an official letter.
    • (B) Informal and wordy.
    • (D) "Start up" is informal and is used for businesses or engines, not projects in a formal request.

  9. Question 9Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayBest word for the context (near-synonyms)

    Choose the word that best fits the blank.

    The inquiry report praised the officer for being ______: she refused every gift, however small, and treated a minister's complaint exactly as she treated a farmer's.

    1. A.rigid
    2. B.pedantic
    3. C.fastidious
    4. D.scrupulous
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: D. scrupulous

    Answer: (D) scrupulous

    Why (D) is right: "Scrupulous" means careful to act honestly and correctly, a positive word that fits both the praise and the examples of refusing gifts and treating everyone alike.

    Why the others are wrong:

    • (A) "Rigid" means unwilling to adapt, a criticism, not praise.
    • (B) "Pedantic" means fussy about small rules or details, a negative word.
    • (C) "Fastidious" means fussy, hard to please, and has nothing to do with honesty.

  10. Question 10Multiple choiceWritten by IPMATwayBest word for the context (near-synonyms)

    Choose the word that best fits the blank.

    Critics called the budget ______, arguing that it cut spending on schools and hospitals merely to report a smaller deficit.

    1. A.prudent
    2. B.judicious
    3. C.parsimonious
    4. D.economical
    Show the answer and solution

    Answer: C. parsimonious

    Answer: (C) parsimonious

    Why (C) is right: "Parsimonious" means unwilling to spend even where spending is needed, which is exactly what the critics accuse the budget of.

    Why the others are wrong:

    • (A) "Prudent" is praise (wisely careful), not criticism.
    • (B) "Judicious" means showing good judgement, the opposite of what the critics say.
    • (D) "Economical" is neutral or positive (good value), so it does not carry the criticism.