NLN PAX (PRE-ADMISSION EXAM) NEW
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE
EXAM QUESTION AND CORRECT ANSWER
WITH RATIONALES LATEST UPDATE
Section 1: Verbal Ability – Word Knowledge (Questions 130)
1. What does "innocuous" mean?
A) Harmful
B) Not harmful or offensive
C) Young
D) Clever
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: * "Innocuous" means not harmful or offensive. It combines "in-" (not) and "nocuus"
(harmful) - literally not harmful. An innocuous comment is one that won't upset anyone .
2. The meaning of "ubiquitous" is:
A) Rare
B) Found everywhere
C) Mysterious
D) Foreign
Correct Answer: B
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,*Rationale: * "Ubiquitous" means present, appearing, or found everywhere. It comes from the
Latin "ubique" meaning everywhere. Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern society .
3. Which word is a synonym for "tenacious"?
A) Weak
B) Persistent
C) Temporary
D) Gentle
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: * "Tenacious" means tending to keep a firm hold; persistent. It comes from the Latin
"tenax" meaning holding fast. A tenacious person doesn't give up easily .
4. "Ambivalent" feelings are characterized by:
A) Certainty
B) Mixed or conflicting emotions
C) Enthusiasm
D) Indifference
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: * "Ambivalent" means having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about
something or someone. It combines "ambi-" (both) and "valent" (strength) - having strength in
both directions .
5. The word "lucid" most nearly means:
A) Confusing
B) Clear and easy to understand
C) Dreamlike
D) Dark
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,Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: * "Lucid" means expressed clearly; easy to understand. It comes from the Latin
"lucidus" meaning bright or clear, from "lux" (light). Lucid writing is like a clear window - you
see through to the meaning .
6. What does "sporadic" mean?
A) Frequent
B) Occurring at irregular intervals
C) Predictable
D) Continuous
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: * "Sporadic" means occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places;
scattered or isolated. It comes from the Greek "sporas" meaning scattered. Sporadic outbreaks
occur here and there, not everywhere .
7. The word "alleviate" means:
A) To make worse
B) To relieve or make less severe
C) To ignore
D) To celebrate
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: * "Alleviate" means to make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe. It
comes from the Latin "alleviare" meaning to lighten. Pain medication alleviates discomfort .
8. "Complacent" people are:
A) Dissatisfied and striving
B) Pleased with themselves; self-satisfied
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, C) Helpful
D) Angry
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: * "Complacent" means showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's
achievements. It implies a lack of awareness of potential dangers or deficiencies. A complacent
student stops studying because they think they already know enough .
9. The word "diligent" means:
A) Lazy
B) Careless
C) Hardworking and careful
D) Fast
Correct Answer: C
*Rationale: * "Diligent" means having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or
duties. It comes from the Latin "diligere" meaning to value or love. A diligent worker puts in
consistent, careful effort .
10. What is the meaning of "discrepancy"?
A) Agreement
B) A lack of compatibility or similarity
C) Harmony
D) A secret
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: * "Discrepancy" means a lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more
facts. If two accounts of an event don't match, there's a discrepancy. It comes from the Latin
"discrepare" meaning to sound differently .
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COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE
EXAM QUESTION AND CORRECT ANSWER
WITH RATIONALES LATEST UPDATE
Section 1: Verbal Ability – Word Knowledge (Questions 130)
1. What does "innocuous" mean?
A) Harmful
B) Not harmful or offensive
C) Young
D) Clever
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: * "Innocuous" means not harmful or offensive. It combines "in-" (not) and "nocuus"
(harmful) - literally not harmful. An innocuous comment is one that won't upset anyone .
2. The meaning of "ubiquitous" is:
A) Rare
B) Found everywhere
C) Mysterious
D) Foreign
Correct Answer: B
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,*Rationale: * "Ubiquitous" means present, appearing, or found everywhere. It comes from the
Latin "ubique" meaning everywhere. Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern society .
3. Which word is a synonym for "tenacious"?
A) Weak
B) Persistent
C) Temporary
D) Gentle
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: * "Tenacious" means tending to keep a firm hold; persistent. It comes from the Latin
"tenax" meaning holding fast. A tenacious person doesn't give up easily .
4. "Ambivalent" feelings are characterized by:
A) Certainty
B) Mixed or conflicting emotions
C) Enthusiasm
D) Indifference
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: * "Ambivalent" means having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about
something or someone. It combines "ambi-" (both) and "valent" (strength) - having strength in
both directions .
5. The word "lucid" most nearly means:
A) Confusing
B) Clear and easy to understand
C) Dreamlike
D) Dark
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,Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: * "Lucid" means expressed clearly; easy to understand. It comes from the Latin
"lucidus" meaning bright or clear, from "lux" (light). Lucid writing is like a clear window - you
see through to the meaning .
6. What does "sporadic" mean?
A) Frequent
B) Occurring at irregular intervals
C) Predictable
D) Continuous
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: * "Sporadic" means occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places;
scattered or isolated. It comes from the Greek "sporas" meaning scattered. Sporadic outbreaks
occur here and there, not everywhere .
7. The word "alleviate" means:
A) To make worse
B) To relieve or make less severe
C) To ignore
D) To celebrate
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: * "Alleviate" means to make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe. It
comes from the Latin "alleviare" meaning to lighten. Pain medication alleviates discomfort .
8. "Complacent" people are:
A) Dissatisfied and striving
B) Pleased with themselves; self-satisfied
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, C) Helpful
D) Angry
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: * "Complacent" means showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's
achievements. It implies a lack of awareness of potential dangers or deficiencies. A complacent
student stops studying because they think they already know enough .
9. The word "diligent" means:
A) Lazy
B) Careless
C) Hardworking and careful
D) Fast
Correct Answer: C
*Rationale: * "Diligent" means having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or
duties. It comes from the Latin "diligere" meaning to value or love. A diligent worker puts in
consistent, careful effort .
10. What is the meaning of "discrepancy"?
A) Agreement
B) A lack of compatibility or similarity
C) Harmony
D) A secret
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: * "Discrepancy" means a lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more
facts. If two accounts of an event don't match, there's a discrepancy. It comes from the Latin
"discrepare" meaning to sound differently .
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