Directions (1-10): In the following passage there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. These numbers are again printed below the passage and against each, five words are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.
Mr. Chamberlain had come to get gift to thirty-five million pounds from South Africa and to win the hearts of Englishmen and Boers. So he gave a …(1)… shoulder to the Indian deputation. ‘You know’, he said, that the Imperial Government has little control over self-governing colonies. Your grievances seem to be genuine. I shall do what I can, but you must try your …(2)… to placate the ‘Europeans, if you wish to live in their midst’. The reply cast a chill over the members of the …(3)…. I was also disappointed.
It was an eye opener for us all, and I saw that we should start with our work do novo. I …(4)… the situation to my colleagues. As a matter of fact there was nothing wrong about Mr. Chamberlain’s reply. It was well that he did not mince …(5)…. He had brought home to us in a rather gentle way the rule of might being …(6)…, or the law of the sword. But sword we had none. We …(7)… had the nerve and the muscle even to receive sword-cuts. Mr. Chamberlain had given only a short time to the sub-continent. If Sri Nagar to Cape Comorin is 1,900 miles, Durban to Cape town is not less than 1,100 miles, and Mr. Chamberlain had to cover the long distance at hurricane speed. From Natal he hastened to the Transvaal. I had to prepare the case for the Indians there as well and …(8)… it to him. But how was I to get to Pretoria? Our people there were not in a position to …(9)… the necessary legal facilities for my getting to them in time. The war had reduced the Transvaal to a howling wilderness. There were neither provisions nor clothing available. Empty or closed shops were there, waiting to be …(10)… or opened, but that was a matter of time.
1. (1) cold (2) cool (3) hot (4) warm (5) left
2. (1) hard (2) best (3) least (4) fate (5) hate
3. (1) reputation (2) crowd (3) delegate (4) leader (5) deputation
4. (1) expressed (2) said (3) explained (4) exclaimed (5) denied
5. (1) lectures (2) matter (3) topic (4) words (5) deals
6. (1) wrong (2) right (3) rite (4) bright (5) weak
7. (1) hardly (2) rare (3) might (4) do (5) scarce
8. (1) through (2) permit (3) submit (4) deposit (5) fill
9. (1) secure (2) procure (3) pull (4) fetch (5) buy
10. (1) replenished (2) fed (3) booked (4) filled (5) emptied
Solution
