NTS Verbal Reasoning

The English (Verbal Reasoning) section of the NTS test consists of the following three
type of questions:

Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms, Analogies, Blanks)

Grammar, and
Reading Comprehension

NTS VERBAL REASONING SECTION: SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Choose the word that is most nearly similar in meaning to the word in capital letters.
(Find answers and explanation to the answers at the bottom of the page.)

1. INTEGRITY
(A) questioning
(B) transparency
(C) honesty
(D) sadness

2. PREROGATIVE
(A) interrogative
(B) right
(C) wise
(D) casual

Choose the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in capital
letters.

3. RESTIVE
(A) easy
(B) calm
(C) hurry
(D) restless

4. PRODIGAL
(A) wasteful
(B) confident
(C) neutral
(D) frugal

Choose the pair of words that best expresses a relationship similar to that
expressed in the pairs of words in capital.
5. TIGER : CARNIVOROUS
(A) lion : jungle
(B) cat : house
(C) cow : herbivorous
(D) wolf : clever

6. CONSTELLATION : STARS
(A) archipelago : islands
(B) city : country
(C) book : pen
(D) school : education

Fill in the blanks with suitable choices.

7. We cannot predict whether he will go on a picnic or not. He is so __________ .

(A) deleterious
(B) offensive
(C) feckless
(D) capricious

8. He is __________ fame and money. He pursues research just as an amateur

scientist.
(A) indifferent to
(B) enamoured of
(C) running for
(D) struggling for

9. Octopuses have not only large brains __________ also a well-developed nervous
system.
(A) but
(B) and
(C) are
(D) and have

10. I hardly __________ meet him.

(A) ever
(B) never
(C) had ever
(D) had never

11. She wouldnt ask you if she _________ not sure.

(A) was
(B) were
(C) has
(D) had
12. Dont think there are no crocodiles because the water is calm. This is a
(A) Simple Sentence
(B) Compound sentence
(C) Complex sentence
(D) Mixed sentence

Read the following paragraphs carefully. Choose the correct answer from the
options given below.
These huge waves wreak terrific damage when they crash on the shores of distant
lands or continents. Under a perfectly sunny sky and from an apparently calm sea, a
wall of water may break twenty or thirty feet high over beaches and waterfronts,
crushing houses and drowning unsuspecting residents and bathers in its path. How are
these waves formed? When a submarine earthquake occurs, it is likely to set up a
tremendous amount of shock, disturbing the quite waters of the deep ocean.

13. One surprising aspect of the waves discussed in the passage is the fact that they
(A) are formed in concentric patterns
(B) often strike during clear weather
(C) arise under conditions of cold temperature
(D) are produced by deep swells

14. It is believed that the waves are caused by

(A) seismic changes
(B) concentric time belts
(C) underwater earthquakes
(D) storms

ANSWERS: NTS VERBAL REASONING

1(C) 2(B) 3(A) 4(D) 5(C) 6(A) 7(D)
8(A) 9(A) 10(A) 11(B) 12(B) 13(B) 14(C)

EXPLANATION

1. (C) Integrity means honesty.

2. (B) Prerogative means right (or legal rights).
3. (A) Restive means restless or uneasy. So, easy is the antonym.
4. (D) Prodigal means wasteful (who spends too much). So,
frugal (economic or one who spends with care) is the antonym.
5. (C) Tiger is carnivorous (meat eating) animal. And, cow is herbivorous (grass eating)
animal.
6. (A) Constellation is made up of stars. And, archipelago is made up of islands.
7. (D) Cannot predict whether will go or not. So, he is unpredictable. Hence, capricious
(unpredictable) is the best choice.
8. (A) Amateur (non-professional or unpaid worker) works without being paid. So,
indifferent to (not interested) in fame and money is the best choice.
9. (A) not only . but also. This is a conjunction.
10. (A) We cannot use negative word, never, with hardly. So, ever is the best choice.
11. (B) The verb, to be, will always appear as were in the present conditional.
12. (B) There are two clauses in the sentence. Hence, it is a compound sentence.
13. (B) Read this: Under a perfectly sunny sky and from an apparently calm sea, a wall
of water may break.
14. (C) Read this: When a submarine earthquake occurs, it is likely to set up a
tremendous amount of shock.