Verbal ability and reading comprehension for the CAT

475 Pages·2017·10.932 MB·English

by  Sinha, Nishit K

This edition is a one stop solution for aspirants preparing for the verbal and reading comprehension S Also useful for other MBA entrance
in
section of CAT and other similar examinations. It provides new topics and exercises as per the recent h examinations like XAT, SNAP and IIFT
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pattern including non-MCQ based questions. Presented in crisp and clear manner, students will find
this book indispensable in their preparation quest.
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Practice exercises are provided in hierarchical order of difficulty so that a student can test himself and
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recognize sectors of comfort and those that need particular attention. This book is also useful for other B VERBAL ABILITY
B-school entrance examinations like XAT, SNAP, IIFT, etc. A
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HIGHLIGHTS B a n d READING
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 5 simulated CAT online tests in CD  Benchmarking tests updated as per latest pattern
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 More than 2000 fully solved questions  New non-MCQ based exercises Y

 Focus on how to solve questions  Model Papers of SNAP, XAT and IIFT a COMPREHENSION
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Nishit K. Sinha, an IIM Lucknow alumnus, has been training students for the CAT and other A CAT
for the
B-school entrance examinations for more than a decade. During this period, he has successfully D
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trained more than 10,000 students of varying backgrounds to clear various MBA entrance N
examinations. To best analyze the pattern of all the major B-school entrance tests, as well as to G

remain updated on the examination pattern, he sits for exams such as the CAT and XAT every year. C
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Nishit K. Sinha
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He is Founder-Partner at his test prep organization dueNorth Academics LLP, based at Dehradun.
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E  5 simulated CAT online tests in CD
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I  2000+ fully solved questions
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Also read N

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o  New non-MCQ based exercises
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 7 years’ fully solved CAT papers
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3e AT S imulator in
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Cover Image: AlenaK. Shutterstock
Size:203x254mm Spine: 16mm ISBN: 9789332570023 Title Sub Title Edition Authors / Editors Name With CD Red Band Territory line URL Price mQuest
Verbal Ability

and

Reading Comprehension
for the
C AT
Third Edition
Nishit K. Sinha
Delhi • Chennai
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No part of this eBook may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the
publisher’s prior written consent.
Copyright © 2016 Pearson India Education Services Pvt. Ltd.
This eBook may or may not include all assets that were part of the print version. The publisher
reserves the right to remove any material in this eBook at any time.
ISBN: 9789332570023
e-ISBN: 9789332575608
First Impression
Head Office: 7th Floor, Knowledge Boulevard, A-8(A) Sector 62, Noida 201 309, India.
Registered Office: 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi 110 017, India.
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To
Papa and Ma
Kumar Kalyan Prasad Sinha and Sanjila Sinha
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This page is intentionally left blank
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CONTENTS
Preface to the Third Edition vii
Preface viii
About the Author x
Acknowledgements xi
CAT Demystified xii
Part 1 VErBaL aBILItY
Chapter 1 Grammar 1.3–1.12
Chapter 2 Sentence Correction 1.13–1.22
Chapter 3 Fill in the Blanks 1.23–1.34
Chapter 4 Confusing Words 1.35–1.44
Chapter 5 Frequently Used Vocabulary 1.45–1.74
Chapter 6 Idioms and Phrases 1.75–1.88
Chapter 7 Spot the Error 1.89–1.94
Part 2 VErBaL rEaSONING
Chapter 1 Parajumbles 2.3–2.30
Chapter 2 Critical Reasoning 2.31–2.40
Chapter 3 Fact, Inference, Judgement 2.41–2.46
Chapter 4 Paragraph Completion 2.47–2.54
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vi ❏ Verbal Ability
Part 3 rEaDING COMPrEHENSION
Chapter 1 Reading Comprehension 3.3–3.66
Chapter 2 Reading Comprehension A Day 3.67–3.151
Part 4 Cat PaPErS
CAT 2002 4.3–4.16
CAT 2003 4.17–4.30
CAT 2004 4.31–4.46
CAT 2005 4.47–4.56
CAT 2006 4.57–4.66
CAT 2007 4.67–4.78
CAT 2008 4.79–4.89
Part 5 SECtION tEStS
Section Test 1 5.3–5.10
Section Test 2 5.11–5.20
Section Test 3 5.21–5.30
Part 6 OtHEr MBa ENtraNCE PaPErS
Model SNAP Paper 6.3–6.8
Model XAT Paper 1 6.9–6.16
Model XAT Paper 2 6.17–6.26
Model IIFT Paper 6.27–6.38
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PREFACE TO THE
THIRD EDITION
CAT (Common Admission Test) is known to usher surprises by bringing changes in its format. CAT 2015 was another
such year, when CAT went back to 3-sections format exam with sectional time-limit from erstwhile 2-sections exam.
CAT 2015 also introduced, for the first time, non-options based questions in Verbal Ability and Quantitative Aptitude
section.
CAT 2015 also brought an increased focus upon Reading Comprehension (RC) by asking 24 questions from
RC out of total 34 questions in Verbal section. Because of the change in the format of the examination, like removing
logical reasoning part from verbal section, increased focus on RC, and introduction of non-MCQ based questions, we
felt the need to bring out this new edition of Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT.
This new edition has incorporated major modifications that will make it more comprehensive and beneficial for
all users of the book. The nature and extent of these modifications can be encapsulated as follows:
(a) To cater to the CAT 2015 pattern, a new exercise on Parajumble (non-MCQ based) with complete solutions has
been added. This way, there are three different types of Parajumble questions are given in this book—options
based questions, odd-one out statement based questions and non-MCQ based questions.
(b) Adequate new practice exercises on Reading Comprehension section have been added for the benefi t of
students.
(c) To make this book more useful for other entrance examinations and campus recruitment tests, adequate new
exercises have been added to chapter on Spot the Error.
(d) Section tests have been revamped based upon CAT 2015 pattern.
(e) Model test papers (based upon previous years’ examinations) for XAT, IIFT, and SNAP have been included for
the benefi t of students who intend to appear for exams of other B-schools.
(f) A CD designed to simulate the same GUI experience as that of CAT 2015 has been included with the book. The
CD contains fi ve Section Tests based on the pattern of CAT 2015 (both options based and non-options based)
to provide students with a hands-on experience and enhance their confi dence.
I am sure that the changes made to this new edition will help students to derive more from this book. In case you have
any question, you can connect with me on Facebook or Quora.
For any feedback or clarification, I can be reached at [email protected]
Happy Learning!
—Nishit K. Sinha
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PREFACE
The fact that there was no surprise element in CAT 2010 with respect to CAT 2009 was itself a surprise. Probably IIMs/CAT
committee wanted to regain the ground that they might have lost during CAT 2009 online test glitches.
So everybody was expecting some changes in CAT pattern in 2011, and CAT committee obliged. The CAT
changed again in 2011—with the introduction of (a) 2-section format instead of 3-section format and (b) sectional time
limit. This is a welcome change as now the CAT is similar to other global exams like the GMAT and GRE. They also
comprise only two sections and have sectional time limit.
This book covers everything that you need to prepare for the Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning Section as
per CAT 2011 pattern. Before we move ahead, let us see the cut-off percentile of different IIMs for CAT 2011 (for
general category):
S. No IIM’s Overall Score QA/DI VA/LR
1 IIM-A 99 94 94
2 IIM-B 90 80 90
3 IIM-C 99.55 94.24 93.73
4 IIM-L 90 85 85
5 IIM-I 90 85 85
6 IIM Trichy 80 70 70
7 IIM Kashipur 75 70 70
8 IIM Udaipur 80 70 70
9 IIM Ranchi 90 70 70
10 IIM Shillong *** 65 65
11 IIM Kozhikode 85 55 55
*** Not given.
This book is distributed among six parts:
Part 1—Verbal Ability: This part of the book is dedicated to help you develop basics of grammar, vocabulary and
usage of the same. There are ample practice questions.
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Grammar ❏ ix
Part 2—Verbal Reasoning: This part of the book is dedicated to reasoning based verbal questions. You will get
introduced to types of questions, and then methods are elucidated with the help of example to develop problem solving
approach. This part will cover Paragraph Jumbling, Critical Reasoning, Fact – Inference – Judgment inter alia.
Part 3—Reading Comprehension: In case of Reading Comprehension questions, a paragraph will be given followed by
questions to be solved on the basis of information given in the paragraph. This part deals with identifying different types
of questions and method to solve those. It also gives a new and unique way of dealing with Reading Comprehension, i.e.,
RC A Day—One RC passage to be solved in a day.
Part 4—CAT Papers: This part is wholly dedicated to CAT questions of previous years. Solve these questions under
time constraint and see where do you stand.
Part 5—Section Tests: This part of the book contains three Section Tests as per CAT 2011 pattern. Solve these questions
and try to achieve minimum of net of 20 questions (net means, number of right answers − wrong answers).
Further to facilitate the online testing, a CD containing Section Tests is appended.
Though I have taken utmost care in preparing the manuscript and going through the subsequent proofs,
there may be some error creped inside the book. Kindly mail me your valuable constructive advice on my email
id: [email protected]
—Nishit K. Sinha
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