Selecting Words, Phrases & idioms - English (MCQ) for Bank, MBA, CAT, MAT, GMAT, SSC

Dear Readers, Welcome to Verbal Ability Selecting Words, Phrases & idioms questions and answers with explanation. These Selecting Words, Phrases & idioms solved examples will help you learn and practice for your Placement Test and competitive exams like Bank PO, IBPS PO, SBI PO, RRB PO, RBI Assistant, LIC,SSC, MBA - MAT, XAT, CAT, NMAT, SNAP, CET, UPSC, NET etc.

After practicing these tricky Selecting Words, Phrases & idioms multiple choice questions, you will be exam ready to deal with any objective type questions.

1)   Find the odd term from the given 4 options which does not belong to the group of remaining options.
- Published on 05 May 16

a. Vulture
b. Doves
c. Kingfishers
d. Kiwi
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Kiwi

Explanation:
The correct option is (d) Kiwi.

Vulture, Doves and Kingfishers are the birds which have wings and can fly.
Pigeons or doves belong to the bird family Columbidae.
Smaller species are called as 'Dove' and larger ones are pigeons.
Kiwi is a flightless bird. Latin species name for “Kiwi' is Apteryx which means wingless.

2)   In the sentence given below, replace the underlined part with its alternate meaning. If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (d) i.e. “None of these” as the answer.

Kiran was in high spirits, when he was called upon the stage to deliver his speech.
- Published on 12 Apr 16

a. was very cheerful
b. was highly depressed
c. was deeply engrossed in thoughts
d. None of these
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: was very cheerful

Explanation:
' in high spirits ' means he was in a very happy state of mind or was very cheerful.

3)   Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

She wanted him to ___________ the lines but he lacked sufficient understanding of the situation.
- Published on 31 Mar 16

a. Read up all
b. Read between
c. Read for
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Read between

Explanation:
To read between the lines means to derive a meaning from the words which is not obvious, but hidden. To find a matter that is concealed from him enlightening would mean he has unique insight. As the sentence says he clearly lacks understanding, the inference is he cannot think deeply on the matter.

4)   Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

We knew we should not ________  at the party, but we could not help it as the case was so interesting.
- Published on 28 Mar 16

a. talk loudly
b. talk shop
c. talk incessantly
d. none of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: talk shop

Explanation:
“talk shop” is the right option because talking incessantly or loudly at a party is not odd behaviour, but talking about a professional case in an informal setting is. Choice (b) is correct.

5)   Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

Like a fish ________
- Published on 17 Mar 16

a. Out of aquarium
b. Out of water
c. Out of sea
d. Out of ocean
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Out of water

Explanation:
Fish lives in water and therefore sea, ocean are all water(fish are found in both). The natural habitat of fish is not the aquarium.

6)   Complete the following sentence/phrase with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

She did not want to show white feathers in the face of a tough mathematics paper at the board exam so she did not leave the hall.
- Published on 14 Mar 16

a. Show she was scared
b. Show she was happy
c. Show she was proud
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Show she was scared

Explanation:
She did not want to show white feathers means she was unwilling to show her fear. The correct answer is therefore (a) as both b and c carry positive meaning and are the very opposite of what is being expressed here

7)   Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

Birds of feather ______________
- Published on 14 Mar 16

a. fly together
b. flock together
c. dance together
d. tweet together
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: flock together

Explanation:
The correct idiom is “Birds of feather flock together.” Flying is something birds do in groups or single units. Birds cannot dance and tweet together always. But when it comes to gathering, birds of the same species can generally be found in a group. Ornithologists deem there is safety in numbers for this avian species while on land if they flock together. The idiom was coined by William Turner in 1545.

8)   In the following question, an idiom or proverb has been underlined. Choose its correct meaning in the given context from the alternatives given below.

She realised there was no use crying over spilt milk when she saw the interviewer promising the job to someone else.
- Published on 11 Mar 16

a. She has spilt milk
b. She realised it was useless to worry about something which cannot be changed
c. She was worried over the spilt milk
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: She realised it was useless to worry about something which cannot be changed

Explanation:
Just like milk cannot be put back into the vessel after it has spilled, similarly you cannot go back in time and change things which have not worked out for you. For example: Cursing yourself for not studying enough after getting bad marks in the exam is like crying over spilt milk.

9)   Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

A stitch in time_______________
- Published on 11 Mar 16

a. Saves till nine
b. Saves none
c. Saves till eight
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Saves till nine

Explanation:
A stitch in time saves till nine- meaning a timely stitch can prevent the cloth from tearing for a long period of time. This phrase is used to explain why it is always better to choose proactive approach.

For example: As he had prepared for the exam well in advance, he discovered why a stitch in time saves till nine when he got good marks.

10)   Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate words/phrases with reference to grammar, idioms, proverbs and syntax.

________________ should not throw stones.
- Published on 10 Mar 16

a. People in glass houses
b. People in crystal houses
c. People in ice houses
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: People in glass houses

Explanation:
People in glass houses should not throw stones. (this is an “idiom” or commonly used phrase in the English language). Writer Geoffrey Chaucer was the first person to use this phrase in the English language in his work “Troilus”
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