CAT Questions | CAT Word Usage Questions

The question is from CAT Word Usage. Word Usage for Verbal Ability for CAT. Word Usage questions that appear in the verbal section of CAT look for the correct usage of words in a sentence. Have a look at this question from Word Usage. Solve CAT Questions from Word Usage to get more practice and 2IIMs CAT questions bank provides you with CAT questions that can help you gear for CAT Exam .

Question 12: The continued presence of Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon helps explain why the Lebanese are loathe(A)/loath(B) to establish camps for Syrians fleeing the civil war.

Their shear (A)/sheer (B) numbers make it impossible for the refugees to be appropriately sheltered and protected.

Such a large number of refugees in a country like Lebanon, where the ethnic and religious balance is so fragile, is galvanizing (A)/rattling (B) a government that was having difficulty functioning anyway.

There is growing concern over the outbreak of violent confrontations of (A)/between (B) the Lebanese and the refugees, and over a loss of control of the refugee enclaves.

1. BBBB
2. ABBB
3. AAAA
4. BAAA

Explanatory Answer

Method of solving this CAT Question from Word Usage:

Sentence 1- The continued presence of Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon helps explain why the Lebanese are loathe (A)/loath(B) to establish camps for Syrians fleeing the civil war.

Loathe is a verb meaning to dislike greatly, whereas loath is an adjective meaning unwilling or reluctant.

The correct word in this context is loath.

One more clue in the sentence that points to loath as the right answer is the “are� in the sentence. Loathe is a verb and “are loathe� does not make sense.

Sentence 2- Their shear (A)/sheer (B) numbers make it impossible for the refugees to be appropriately sheltered and protected.

To shear is to cut or clip (eg, shear sheep). Sheer, implying steep numbers in this context, is the right choice for this sentence.

Sentence 3- Such a large number of refugees in a country like Lebanon, where the ethnic and religious balance is so fragile, is galvanizing (A)/rattling (B) a government that was having difficulty functioning anyway.

Galvanizing, meaning stimulating action, does not make sense in this sentence, as we are told the government has “difficulty functioning anyway�. Rattling or perplexing will be the right choice here.

Sentence 4- There is growing concern over the outbreak of violent confrontations of (A)/between (B) the Lebanese and the refugees, and over a loss of control of the refugee enclaves.

Hence, the answer is BBBB

Choice A is the correct answer.