NGS, 1st feb.- 5th feb.

Section- 1

Synonymous words:

1.APPLAUD, CHEER, APPRECIATE, PRAISE, COMMEND, ADMIRE - ...................

2.APPOINT, DESIGNATE, NOMINATE - ...................

3.WET, DAMP, MOIST, DANK, HUMID - ...................

4.APPREHEND, COMPREHEND, UNDERSTAND, GRASP - ...................

5.APPREHENSION, FOREBODING, PRESENTIMENT, MISGIVING - ...................

6.APPROPRIATE, ARROGATE, COMMANDEER, CONFISCATE, PREEMPT, USURP - ...................

7.APPROVE, ENDORSE, SANCTION, CERTIFY, ACCREDIT, RATIFY - ...................

8.ARBITRARY, CAPRICIOUS, WHIMSICAL - ...................

9.AREA, REGION, BELT, ZONE, DISTRICT, LOCALITY - ...................

10.ARGUE, QUARREL, WRANGLE, SQUABBLE, BICKER - ...................

11.ARGUMENT, DISPUTE, CONTROVERSY - ...................

12.ARGUMENTATIVE, COMBATIVE, CONTENTIOUS, DISPUTATIOUS, QUARRELSOME, SCRAPPY - ...................

13.ARRANGE, ORDER, ORGANISE, SORT, SYSTEMATIZE - ...................

14.WEIRD, EERIE, UNCANNY, UNEARTHLY - ...................

15.ARTIFICE, TRICK, RUSE, WILE, FEINT, STRATAGEM, MANEUVER - ...................

16.ARTIFICIAL, SYNTHETIC, ERSATZ, SIMULATED - ...................

17.ASK, QUESTION, INQUIRE, QUERY, INTERROGATE, EXAMINE, QUIZ - ...................

18.ASSENT, AGREE, ACCEDE, ACQUIESCE, CONSENT, CONCUR, SUBSCRIBE - ...................

19.ASSERT, ASSEVERATE, DECLARE, AFFIRM, AVER, AVOW - ...................

20.ASSIGN, ALLOT, APPORTION, ALLOCATE - ...................

21.ASSISTANT, AIDE, COADJUTANT, HELPER, LIEUTENANT, SECOND - ...................

22.ATTACK, BOMBARD, ASSAIL, STORM, ASSAULT, BESET - ...................

23.ATTRIBUTE, ASCRIBE, IMPUTE, CREDIT, ASSIGN, REFER - ...................

24.AUTHENTIC, BONA FIDE, GENUINE, REAL, TRUE, UNDOUBTED, UNQUESTIONABLE - ...................

25.AUTHORIZE, ACCREDIT, COMMISSION, EMPOWER, LICENSE - ...................

26.AVERAGE, MEDIUM, MEDIOCRE, FAIR, MIDDLING - ...................

27.AWARE, COGNIZANT, CONSCIOUS, SENSIBLE, AWAKE, ALERT, WATCHFUL, VIGILANT - ...................

28.AWKWARD, CLUMSY, MALADROIT, INEPT, GAUCHE, UNGAINLY - ...................

29.BALANCE, EQUILIBRIUM, EQUIPOISE, POISE - ...................

30.BAND, COMPANY, CORPS, PARTY, TROOP, TROUPE - ...................

31.BANISH, EXILE, EXPATRIATE, DEPORT, TRANSPORT, EXTRADITE - ...................

32.BANTER, CHAFF, JOSH, KID, RAG, RAZZ, RIB - ...................

33.BARGAIN, COMPACT, CONTRACT, COVENANT, DEAL - ...................

34.BARRAGE, BOMBARD, PEPPER, SHOWER - ...................

35.BASE, BASIS, FOUNDATION, GROUND, GROUNDWORK - ...................

36.BATTER, MAIM, MANGLE, MAUL, MUTILATE - ...................

37.BREATHE, EXIST, LIVE, SUBSIST - ...................

38.BEAR, ENDURE, STAND, ABIDE, SUFFER, TOLERATE - ...................

39.BEARING, MANNER, DEMEANOR, MIEN, PRESENCE - ...................

40.BEAUTIFUL, LOVELY, PRETTY, HANDSOME, COMELY, FAIR - ...................

41.BEG, CRAVE, BESEECH, IMPLORE, ENTREAT, IMPORTUNE - ...................

42.BEGIN, COMMENCE, START, INITIATE, INAUGURATE - ...................

43.BEGINNING, BIRTH, DAWN, GENESIS, NASCENCE, RISE - ...................

44.BEHAVIOR, CONDUCT, DEPORTMENT - ...................

45.BELIEF, CREDENCE, FAITH, TRUST - ...................

46.BELLIGERENT, BELLICOSE, PUGNACIOUS, CONTENTIOUS, QUARRELSOME - ...................

47.BEND, CROOK, CURVE, ROUND - ...................

48.BENEFICIAL, PROFITABLE, ADVANTAGEOUS - ...................

49.BENEFIT,  PROFIT, ADVANTAGE, GAIN - ...................

50.BENEVOLENT, CHARITABLE, BENIGN, PHILANTHROPIC - ...................

Note- Though the words are synonymous, their meanings and usages may be different. Please, consult a good dictionary to know them!


Section- 2

One word substitution:

1.A number of stars grouped together- Constellation - ...................

2.A paper written by hand- Manuscript - ...................

3.A part of a word that can be pronounced separately- Syllable - ...................

4.A person coming to a foreign land to settle there- Immigrant - ...................

5.A person devoted to sensual enjoyment, especially that derived from fine food and drink- Epicurean - ...................

6.A person eighty years of age- Octogenarian - ...................

7.A person in a vehicle or on horseback escorting another vehicle- Outrider - ...................

8.A person interested in collecting, studying and selling of old things- Antiquarian - ...................

9.A person interested in reading books and nothing else- Book-worm - ...................

10.A person not sure of the existence of God- Agnostic - ...................

11.A person of good understanding knowledge and reasoning power- Intellectual - ...................

12.A person who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions- Cynic - ...................

13.A person who breaks into houses in order to steal- Burglar - ...................

14.A person who brings goods illegally into the country- Smuggler - ...................

15.A person who devotes his/her life for the welfare of others- Altruist - ...................

16.A person who does not believe in any religion- Pagan - ...................

17.A person who gambles or bets- Punter - ...................

18.A person who helps even a stranger in difficulty- Samaritan - ...................

19.A person who insists on something- Stickler - ...................

20.A person who is always hopeful and looks upon the brighter side of things- Optimist - ...................

21.A person who is fluent in two languages- Bilingual - ...................

22.A person who is greatly respected because of wisdom- Venerable - ...................

23.A person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs- Martyr - ...................

24.A person who is skilled in horsemanship- Equestrian - ...................

25.A person who is unable to pay debts- Insolvent - ...................

26.A person who is well known in an unfavourable way- Notorious - ...................

27.A person who is working in the same institution- Colleague - ...................

28.A person who kills somebody especially for political reasons- Assassin - ...................

29.A person who knows many foreign languages- Linguist - ...................

30.A person who lives by himself- Recluse - ...................

31.A person who loves mankind- Philanthropist - ...................

32.A person who never takes alcoholic drinks- Teetotaller - ...................

33.A person who opposes war or use of military force- Pacifist - ...................

34.A person who pretends to be what he is not- Impostor - ...................

35.A person who supports or speaks in favour of something- Advocate - ...................

36.A person who thinks only about himself and not about others needs- Egocentric - ...................

37.A person who travels to a sacred place as an act of religious devotion- Pilgrim - ...................

38.A person who tries to deceive people by claiming to be able to do wonderful things- Trickster - ...................

39.A person who writes decoratively- Calligrapher - ...................

40.A person with a long experience of any occupation- Veteran - ...................

41.A person without training or experience in a skill or subject- Novice - ...................

42.A person worship only one God- Monotheist - ...................

43.A person's peculiar habit- Idiosyncrasy - ...................

44.A picture of a person or a thing drawn in such a highly exaggerated manner to cause a laughter- Caricature - ...................

45.A place of good climate for invalids- Sanatorium - ...................

46.A place of permanent residence- Domicile - ...................

47.A place where all religions are honoured- Secular - ...................

48.A place where bees are kept- Apiary - ...................

49.A place where birds are kept- Aviary - ...................

50.A place where clothes are kept- Wardrobe - ...................


Section- 3

Idioms and phrases:

1.A big cheese- an important or a powerful person in a group or family - ...................

2.At the crack of the dawn- very early in morning - ...................

3.A cuckoo in the nest- someone in a group of people but not liked by them. - ...................

4.A litmus test- a method which clearly proves something - ...................

5.As the crow flies- measuring distance between two places in a straight line. - ...................

6.A dead letter- an argument or law not followed by anyone. - ...................

7.At the drop of the hat- immediately, without delay, without any hesitation - ...................

8.An early bird- someone who gets early in the morning - ...................

9.An educated guess- a guess which was likely to get corrected - ...................

10.A queer fish- a strange person - ...................

11.A wake-up call- an event done to warn someone - ...................

12.A worm’s eye view- having very little knowledge about something - ...................

13.A witch hunt- an attempt to find and punish those who have options that are believed to be dangerous - ...................

14.At the heels of- to follow someone - ...................

15.A dish fit for Gods- something of very high quality - ...................

16.A game of two equal halves-  used for saying that a situation could end very differently from the way it seems to be developing now - ...................

17.Afraid of one’s own shadow- to become easily frightened - ...................

18.Against the clock- to be in a hurry to do something before a particular time - ...................

19.Air one’s dirty laundry- to make public something embarrassing that should be kept secret. - ...................

20.An arm and a leg- a large amount of money - ...................

21.Appear out of now here- to appear suddenly without warning. - ...................

22.Asleep at the switch- not to be alert on opportunity - ...................

23.At the bottom of the ladder- at the lowest level - ...................

24.A house of cards- a poor plan - ...................

25.A boon in disguise- a benefit in loss - ...................

26.A nine days wonder- pleasure for a short time - ...................

27.A bit under the weather- falling ill - ...................

28.Bend your ears- to talk to someone for a very long time about something boring - ...................

29.Bite your tongue- to stop yourself from saying something because it would be better not to - ...................

30.Black and blue- full of bruises - ...................

31.Be above board- to be honest and legal - ...................

32.Be bouncing off the walls- excited and full of nervous energy - ...................

33.Bow and scrap- try too hard to please someone in a position of authority - ...................

34.Brass monkey weather- extremely cold weather - ...................

35.Be tailor made- to be completely suitable for someone. - ...................

36.Between the devil and deep blue sea- a type of situation where you must choose between two equally unpleasant situations - ...................

37.Be in the doldrums- not very successful or nothing new is taking place - ...................

38.Beat the drum- to speak eagerly about something you support - ...................

39.Be on the edge- to be nervous or worried about something - ...................

40.Be at each other’s throat- two persons arguing angrily - ...................

41.Batten down the hatches- to prepare for trouble - ...................

42.Bent on doing- to be determined to do something - ...................

43.Back to square one- to reach again to the starting point - ...................

44.Back to the salt mines- back to one's job or daily work, especially when it is very hard or unpleasant - ...................

45.Ball of fire- active and energetic - ...................

46.Beat one’s head against the wall- to try to do something that is hopeless - ...................

47.Beat one’s brain out- to work hard - ...................

48.Begin to see the light- to begin to understand - ...................

49.Behind closed doors- done in secret - ...................

50.Bet on the wrong horse- to misread the future - ...................


Section- 4

Verb/ adj./ noun+ preposition combinations:

1.accuse someone of (doing) something - His mother accused him of eating the entire cake. - ...................

2.convict someone of (doing) something - Johnson was convicted of armed robbery. - ...................

3.remind someone of (doing) something / someone - Peter reminded me of Tom. - ...................

4.suspect someone of (doing) something - The police suspect Agnes of breaking into the bank. - ...................

5.be on something / someone - She is on Peter to do his best. - ...................

6.base something on something - I base my conclusions on market research. - ...................

7.blame something on someone - She blames the lack of interest on the teacher's poor explanation. - ...................

8.concentrate something on (doing) something - They concentrate their efforts on improving the infrastructure. - ...................

9.congratulate someone on (doing) something - Tom congratulated Lisa on getting her diploma. - ...................

10.decide against something - I've decided against helping him. - ...................

11.depend on someone / (doing) something - We depend on our customers' suggestions. - ...................

12.elaborate on (doing) something - Can you elaborate on the process? - ...................

13.impose on someone - The mother imposed severe restrictions on her daughter. - ...................

14.insist on something / someone doing something - I insist on Peter's studying every day for two hours. - ...................

15.pride oneself on (doing) something - I like to pride myself on my ability to concentrate. - ...................

16.answer to someone - I answer to Ms Smith. - ...................

17.appeal to someone - Let me appeal to you for your help in this matter. - ...................

18.apply oneself to (doing) something - I think you should apply yourself to getting a degree. - ...................

19.apply to something - He applied glue to the board. - ...................

20.attend to (doing) something - Chris attended to doing the grocery shopping. - ...................

21.attribute something to someone - Professor Samson attributes this painting to Leonardo. - ...................

22.be resigned to (doing) something - I'm resigned to not having any success in that field. - ...................

23.commit oneself to (doing) something - She committed herself to finding a new job. - ...................

24.confess to (doing) something - The boy confessed to stealing the apple. - ...................

25.devote oneself to (doing) something - I'm going to devote myself to playing the piano after I retire. - ...................

26.prefer one thing to another thing - I prefer roast potatoes to French fries. - ...................

27.react to something - He reacted poorly to the news. - ...................

28.refer to (doing) something - Please refer to your notes. - ...................

29.refer someone to someone - I referred Ken to Doctor Jones. - ...................

30.resort to (doing) something - Please don't resort to violence. - ...................

31.see to (doing) something - I'll see to those chores. - ...................

32.acquaint someone with something - I acquainted Mary with French cuisine. - ...................

33.associate something with (doing) someone - Susan associates chocolate with childhood. - ...................

34.be faced with (doing) something - She's faced with working overtime this weekend. - ...................

35.charge someone with (doing) something - The officer charged Mr Smith with blackmail. - ...................

36.clutter with something - The room was cluttered with paper. - ...................

37.coincide with something - My birthday coincides with a national holiday. - ...................

38.collide with something - The car collided with a truck and blocked traffic. - ...................

39.comply with something - He complies with each and every order. - ...................

40.confront someone with something - I confronted Vivian with the evidence. - ...................

41.confuse someone / something with someone / something - I'm afraid I confused you with someone else. - ...................

42.cram with something - My closed is crammed with dirty clothes! - ...................

43.deal with someone / (doing) something - I can't deal with so much overtime. - ...................

44.discuss something with someone - I'd like to discuss our next conference with the boss. - ...................

45.ingratiate oneself with someone - Ingratiate yourself with the headmaster and your life with be easy! - ...................

46.meet with something - The congressman met with strong opposition to his plan. - ...................

47.plead with someone - He plead with his teacher to give him one more chance. - ...................

48.provide someone with something - The instructor provided the students with a number of examples. - ...................

49.tamper with something - Do not tamper with this equipment. - ...................

50.trust someone with something - I trust Bob with all of my financial information. - ...................


Section- 5

Unusual plural nouns:

SINGULAR [-A]- PLURAL [-AE]*

1.formula- formulae  - ...................

2.larva- larvae - ...................

3.nebula- nebulae - ...................

4.alga- algae - ...................

5.amoeba- amoebae - ...................

6.antenna- antennae - ...................

7.larva-larvae - ...................

8.vita- vitae - ...................

9.vertebra- vertebrae - ...................

10.alumna- alumnae [Feminine] - ...................


SINGULAR [-US]- PLURAL [-I]*

11.alumnus- alumni [Masculine] - ...................

12.bacillus- bacilli - ...................

13.focus- foci - ...................

14.nucleus- nuclei - ...................

15.octopus- octopii - ...................

16.radius- radii - ...................

17.terminus- termini - ...................

18.cactus- cacti - ...................

19.fungus- fungi - ...................

20.stimulus- stimuli - ...................

21.syllabus- syllabi - ...................


SINGULAR [-US]- PLURAL [-A]*

22.corpus- corpora - ...................

23.genus- genera - ...................


SINGULAR [-UM]- PLURAL [-A]*

24.aquarium- aquaria - ...................

25.agendum- agenda - ...................

26.spectrum- spectra - ...................

27.erratum- errata - ...................

28.medium- media - ...................

29.stratum- strata - ...................

31.memorandum- memoranda - ...................

32.curriculum- curricula - ...................

33.datum- data  - ...................


SINGULAR [-IS]- PLURAL [-ES]

34.analysis- analyses - ...................

35.basis- bases - ...................

36.crisis- crises - ...................

37.axis- axes - ...................

38.diagnosis- diagnoses  - ...................

39.ellipsis- ellipses - ...................

40.oasis- oases - ...................


SINGULAR [-ON]- PLURAL [-A]*

41.phenomenon- phenomena  - ...................


SINGULAR [-X]- PLURAL [-ES]*

42.appendix- appendices - ...................

43.index- indices - ...................

44.matrix- matrices - ...................

45.apex- apexes or apices - ...................

46.vortex- vortices or vortexes  - ...................


SINGULAR [-OS]- PLURAL [-ES]*

47.rhinoceros- rhinoceroses/ rhinocerosses/ rhinoceri [non-standard]/ rhinocerotes[archaic] - ...................


SINGULAR [-A]- PLURAL [-ATA]

48.stigma- stigmata - ...................

49.stoma- stomata - ...................


SINGULAR [-EAU]- PLURAL [-EAUS]/ [-EAUX]

50.bureau- bureaux [BrE] or bureaus - ...................

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