UPSC NDA I 2014 General Ability Paper

In the following passage at certain points, you are given a choice of three words marked (a), (b) and (c), one of which fits the meaning of the passage. Choose the best word out of the three. Mark the letter, viz., (a), (b) or (c), relating to this word on your answer sheet. Examples K and L have been solved for you.

The K. (a) boy (b) Horse (c) dog was in the school in Shimla. L. (a) She(b) It (c) He was homesick.

Explanation: One of the list given in item K, only ‘boy’is the correct answer because usually, a boy, and not a horse or a dog, attends school. So (a) is to be marked on the Answer Sheet for item K. A boy is usually referred to as ‘he’, so for item L, (c) is the correct answer.
Notice that to solve the first item K, you have to read the rest of the sentence and then see what fits the best.

Drobny defied the critics. He had played through the Wimbledon fortnight and reached the final. Could he win just one more match and take the crown, or would he fail again at the last test and justify those who said that he lacked that little extra something that makes the champion? His opponent was the Australian Ken Rose-wall, 39. (a) that (b) a (c) the brilliant youngster and already a master 40. (a) with (b) of (c) for world experience behind him. Jaroslav Drobny, 41. (a) a (b) that (c) the son of a Czech carpenter who 42. (a) had (b) was (c) has started the boy off at the 43. (a) age stage (c) career of five with a wooden ‘bat’ in lieu 44. (a) for (b) of (c) to a racquet, wenton 45.(a) to (b) for (c) with the famous Center Court at Wimbledon 46. (a) in (b) on (c) that day with the full knowledge that this 47. (a) can (b) must (c) would be the game of his 48. (a) life (b) age (d) day He had kept on typing, and 49. (a) he (b) one(c) you could keep on trying, but 50. (a) games (b) matches (c) opportunities would become fewer and fewer. He knew that he had to gain an advantage from the start, and he had this young rival set off against him.