Vocabulary Part 1 (118 Words with Meaning) 1. Recant - To make a formal retraction or disavowal of (a statement or belief to which one has previously committed oneself); make a formal retraction or disavowal of a previously held statement or belief; to disavow (something previously written or said) irrevocably and usually formally; take back something said; to take back formally an opinion or belief 2. Ameliorate - To make or become better; improve; relieve or reduce pain 3. Ephemeral - Lasting for a markedly brief time 4. Quandary - A state of uncertainty or perplexity; delicate situation; state of doubt or puzzlement; a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one; state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options 5. Luminary - An object, such as a celestial body, that gives light; person who is an inspiration to others; person who has achieved eminence in a specific field; celebrity; a famous person 6. Swarthy - Having a dark complexion or color; of a complexion tending toward brown or black; darkcomplexioned 7. Trite - Lacking power to evoke interest through overuse or repetition; hackneyed; without freshness or appeal because of overuse;silly, commonplace 8. Obfuscate - To render indistinct or dim; darken; to make so confused or opaque as to be difficult to perceive or understand 9. Immutable - Not subject or susceptible to change; incapable of changing or being modified; unchangeable 10. Penchant - A definite liking; a strong inclination; fondness; strong liking for or bias in favor of something 11. Turncoat - A person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc; who traitorously switches allegiance; person who deserts one cause or party to join an opposing one 12. Meandering - rambling; winding 13. Redoubtable - Arousing fear or awe; formidable; worthy of respect or honor; formidable; causing fear 14. Paltry - Lacking in importance or worth; wretched or contemptible; very small and almost worthless; trifling; petty; very poor; worthless 15. Illustrious - Well known and very distinguished; eminent; shining brightly; famous, prominent; outstanding because of dignity, achievements, or actions 16. Abatement - Diminution in amount, degree, or intensity; moderation; amount lowered; a reduction; act of eliminating or annulling; subsiding; decreasing, lessening 17. Nadir - The lowest point 18. Dogged - Stubbornly persevering; tenacious; determined, persistent; to track or follow 19. Supplant - To usurp the place of, especially through intrigue or underhanded tactics; displace and substitute for (another); take the place or move into the position of 20. Pusillanimous - Lacking courage; cowardly; without spirit or bravery 21. Pulverize - To pound, crush, or grind to a powder or dust; to demolish; destroy 22. Stygian - Gloomy and dark; infernal; hellish 23. Boor - A person with rude, clumsy manners and little refinement; a peasant; clod; a rude or illmannered person 24. Elicit - To bring or draw out (something latent); educe; arrive at (a truth, for example) by logic; call forth, draw out, or provoke (a reaction, for example); draw out 25. Puissant - Having or able to exert great power; powerful 26. Finesse - Refinement and delicacy of performance, execution, or artisanship; know-how, maneuver; manipulate; skill in taking care of difficult or touchy problems; stratagem in which one appears to decline an advantage; method of leading up to a tenace, as in bridge, in order to prevent an opponent from winning the trick with an intermediate card 27. Restive - Uneasily impatient under restriction, opposition, criticism, or delay; resisting control; difficult to control; impatient, nervous; being in a tense state; impatient especially under restriction or delay 28. Harry - To disturb or distress by or as if by repeated attacks; harass; to raid, as in war; sack or pillage; pester, annoy; torment; worry 29. Peerless - Being such as to have no match; incomparable; having no equal; superior 30. Callow - Lacking adult maturity or experience; immature 31. Perishables - Something, especially foodstuff, subject to decay or spoilage; subject to decay or death; mortal; liable to spoil, rot 32. Conscientious - Guided by or in accordance with the dictates of conscience; principled; thorough and assiduous; moral, upright; thorough, careful 33. Pastiche - A mixture of materials, forms, motifs, and/or styles; often incongruous; dramatic, literary, or musical piece openly imitating the previous works of other artists, often with satirical intent; an artistic effort that imitates or caricatures the work of another artist 34. Daguerreotype - An early photographic process with the image made on a light-sensitive silver-coated metallic plate 35. Puerile - Belonging to childhood; juvenile; immature; childish; showing a lack of maturity or good judgment 36. Lofty - Of imposing height; elevated in character; exalted; arrogant; haughty; affecting grandness; pompous; exceedingly dignified in form, tone, or style; of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style 37. Verse - A single metrical line in a poetic composition; one line of poetry; poem; familiarize by study or experience 38. Outtake - A section or scene, as of a movie, that is filmed but not used in the final version; complete version, as of a recording, that is dropped in favor of another version; opening for outward discharge; a vent; scene that is filmed but is not used in the final editing of the film 39. Hagiography - Biography of saints; worshipful or idealizing biography 40. Mendacious - Lying; untruthful; false; untrue; dishonest; given to or marked by deliberate concealment or misrepresentation of the truth 41. Panegyric - A formal eulogistic composition intended as a public compliment. Elaborate praise or laudation; an encomium 42. Myriad - Constituting a very large, indefinite number; innumerable; composed of numerous diverse elements or facets 43. Sylvan - Relating to or characteristic of woods or forest regions; abounding in trees; wooded 44. Stultify - To allege or prove insane and so not legally responsible; cause to appear foolish; deprive of strength or efficiency; make useless or worthless; cripple 45. Lugubrious - Mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially to an exaggerated or ludicrous degree 46. Sobriety - Gravity in bearing, manner, or treatment; moderation in or abstinence from alcohol or drugs; abstaining from excess; the state of being sober 47. Reticent - Inclined to keep one's thoughts, feelings, and personal affairs to oneself; restrained or reserved in style; reluctant; unwilling; secretive, quiet; reserved; quiet; not saying much, especially about one's thoughts 48. Prodigal - Rashly or wastefully extravagant; giving or given in abundance; lavish or profuse; wasteful; a recklessly extravagant consumer 49. Obeisance - A gesture or movement of the body, such as a curtsy, that expresses deference or homage; great respect or high public esteem accorded as a right or as due; salutation, curtsy 50. Tortuous - Full of plot twists 51. Affront - To insult intentionally, especially openly; insult or involve in entanglement 52. Glut - To fill beyond capacity, especially with food; satiate 53. Pelf - Wealth or riches, especially when dishonestly acquired 54. Paucity - Smallness of number; fewness; lack, scarcity; condition or fact of being deficient 55. Impecunious - Lacking money; penniless 56. Stricture - A restraint, limit, or restriction; adverse remark or criticism; censure; abnormal narrowing of a duct or passage; adverse criticism 57. Vivacity - The quality or condition of being vivacious; liveliness; lively, emphatic, eager quality or manner; characterized by high spirits and animation 58. Rile - To stir to anger; to stir up (liquid); roil; to trouble the nerves or peace of mind of, especially by repeated vexations; anger, upset; cause annoyance in; disturb, esp. by minor irritations; make turbid by stirring up the sediments of 59. Excision - The cutting out of a part; removal of a foreign body or growth from a part, organ, or tissue; act of cutting away or taking out; recombination involving removal of a genetic element 60. Revulsion - A sudden strong change or reaction in feeling, especially a feeling of violent disgust or loathing; withdrawing or turning away from something; counter irritation used to reduce inflammation or increase the blood supply to the affected area; disgust, hatred 61. Curb - Anything that holds back; stone or concrete edging along a street; repress, restrict; restraining device; check; concrete border or row of joined stones forming part of a gutter along the edge of a street; chain or strap that passes under a horse's lower jaw and serves in conjunction with the bit to restrain the horse; market, originally on a street or sidewalk, for trading securities that are not listed on a stock exchange 62. Palatable - Acceptable to the taste; sufficiently agreeable in flavor to be eaten; acceptable or agreeable to the mind or sensibilities; delicious, agreeable; quality of a food that makes it acceptable or agreeable to one’s personal taste 63. Immanent - Existing or remaining within; inherent; restricted entirely to the mind; subjective; pervasive 64. Esteem - To regard with respect; prize; favorable regard; think highly of; have a high opinion of; recognize the worth, quality, importance, or magnitude of; feeling of deference, approval, and liking 65. Fling - To throw with violence; throw (oneself) into an activity with abandon and energy; usually brief attempt or effort; period of uncontrolled selfindulgence 66. Flock - A group of animals that live, travel, or feed together; group of people under the leadership of one person, especially the members of a church; large crowd or number; tuft, as of fiber or hair; waste wool or cotton used for stuffing furniture and mattresses; congregate 67. Nugatory - Of little or no importance; trifling. having no force; invalid 68. Inane - One that lacks sense or substance; stupid 69. Pitfall - An unapparent source of trouble or danger; a hidden hazard; concealed hole in the ground that serves as a trap; hazard, trap 70. Euphemism - The act or an example of substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive; use or an instance of equivocal language; polite term 71. Unbend - Release from mental strain, tension, or formality; become less tense, rest, or take one's ease; make less tight; free from flexure, as of a bow; unfasten, as a sail, from a spar or a stay; straighten up or out; make straight 72. Plummet - To decline suddenly and steeply; to fall straight down; plunge; fall hard and fast 73. Marbled - Made of or covered with marble; having a mix of fat and lean; patterned with veins or streaks or color resembling marble 74. Exonerate - To free from blame; free from a responsibility, obligation, or task; excuse, clear of responsibility or blame 75. Blueprint - A contact print of a drawing or other image rendered as white lines on a blue background, especially such a print of an architectural plan or technical drawing; mechanical drawing produced by any of various similar photographic processes, such as one that creates blue or black lines on a white background; detailed plan of action; model or prototype 76. Deleterious - Having a harmful effect; injurious 77. Eschew - To avoid; shun; have nothing to do with 78. Peck - Act or an instance of kissing; scold or find fault with constantly: carp at, fuss at; indeterminately great amount or number; great deal; timber, decay resulting from fungus in isolated spots 79. Phlegmatic - Without emotion or interest; having or suggesting a calm, sluggish temperament; unemotional 80. Sonnet - A 14-line verse form usually having one of several conventional rhyme schemes 81. Bumptious - Crudely or loudly assertive; pushy; self-important, conceited; offensively self-assertive 82. Sycophant - A servile self-seeker who attempts to win favor by flattering influential people; one who flatters another excessively 83. Rickety - Not physically steady or firm; unsound, broken-down; shaky; likely to fall apart 84. Charisma - The power or quality of attracting 85. Bore - One that is wearingly dull, repetitive, or tedious; to make a hole in or through, with or as if with a drill; proceed or advance steadily or laboriously; high, often dangerous wave caused by the surge of a flood tide upstream in a narrowing estuary or by colliding tidal currents; unpleasant, tiresome person; hollow out (a gun barrel or other tube) 86. Scalawag - A reprobate; a rascal; white Southerner working for or supporting the federal government during Reconstruction 87. Subterranean - Situated or operating beneath the earth's surface; underground; hidden; secret 88. Arboreal - Relating to or resembling a tree; living in trees; pertaining to trees; of or relating to or formed by trees; inhabiting or frequenting trees; resembling a tree in form and branching structure 89. Fluvial - Of, relating to, or inhabiting a river or stream. Produced by the action of a river or stream 90. Rhabdomancy - Divination by means of a wand or rod, especially for discovering underground water or ores 91. Deferential - Marked by or exhibiting deference; marked by courteous submission or respect; respectful, considerate 92. Stolid - Having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; impassive; apathetic, stupid; without emotion or interest 93. Transience - The state or quality of being transient; temporariness; an impermanence that suggests the inevitability of ending or dying; the attribute of being brief or fleeting 94. Itinerant - Traveling from place to place, especially to perform work or a duty; one who travels from place to place; roaming 95. Zither - A musical instrument composed of a flat sound box with about 30 to 40 strings stretched over it and played horizontally with the fingertips, a plectrum, or a bow, or set into vibration by the wind, as in the Aeolian harp 96.Quibble - To evade the truth or importance of an issue by raising trivial distinctions and objections; find fault or criticize for petty reasons; cavil; petty distinction or an irrelevant objection; objection, complaint; beat around the bush; engage in a quarrel 97. Succinct - Characterized by clear, precise expression in few words; concise and terse 98. Enervate - To weaken or destroy the strength or vitality; deprived of strength; debilitated; lessen or deplete the nerve, energy, or strength of; lack of nervous energy 99. Puny - Of inferior size, strength, or significance; weak; small, insignificant 100. Vindictive - Disposed to seek revenge; revengeful; marked by or resulting from a desire to hurt; spiteful; hateful, revengeful 101. 101.Barbiturate - Any of a group of barbituric acid derivatives that act as central nervous system depressants and are used as sedatives or hypnotics 102. Obeisance - An act of greeting with friendly words and gestures like bowing or lifting the hat; A formal military gesture of respect; formal token of appreciation and admiration for a person's high achievements; approach for the purpose of speech 103. 103.Tenable - Capable of being maintained in argument; capable of being held against assault; defensible; reasonable 104. Carouse - To engage in boisterous, drunken merrymaking; drink excessively; make merry, often with liquor 105. Flippant - Marked by disrespectful levity or casualness; pert; talkative; voluble; irreverent; having a light, pert, trifling disposition 106. Modicum - A small, moderate, or token amount 107. Cardsharp - A professional card player who makes a living by cheating at card games; expert in cheating at cards 108. Masonry - Stonework or brickwork; art of shaping, arranging, and uniting stone, brick, building blocks, etc., to form walls and other parts of a building 109. Pernickety - Overparticular about trivial details; fastidious; snobbish; pretentious; requiring strict attention to detail; fussy, particular 110. Rococo - A style of art, especially architecture and decorative art, that originated in France in the early 18th century and is marked by elaborate ornamentation, as with a profusion of scrolls, foliage, and animal forms; very ornate style of speech or writing; ornate; immoderately elaborate or complicated 111. Conniving - To cooperate secretly in an illegal or wrongful action; collude; scheme; plot; feign ignorance of or fail to take measures against a wrong, thus implying tacit encouragement or consent; be blissfully ignorant; to be tolerant of wrong-doing 112. Tenterhook - A hooked nail for securing cloth on a tenter; one of a series of hooks used to hold cloth on a tenter 113. Flagrant - Conspicuously bad, offensive, or reprehensible; flaunting, blatant; without shame; extremely obvious or conspicuous 114. Camouflage - To use protective coloring or garments for concealment; disguise, cover; conceal by the use of disguise or by protective coloring or garments that blend in with the surrounding environment 115. Protract - To draw out or lengthen in time; prolong; draw to scale by means of a scale and protractor; plot; extend, draw out 116. Silhouette - A drawing consisting of the outline of something, especially a human profile, filled in with a solid color; outline that appears dark against a light background; outline 117. Labyrinthine - Difficult to understand because of intricacy; of, relating to, resembling, or constituting a labyrinth; complicated 118. Servile - The state of one bound in servitude as the property of a slaveholder or household; bondage; state of subjugation to an owner or master PRACTICE QUESTIONS In each of the following questions, choose the correctly spelled word. 1. It is my ________ that municipal employees handle their jobs with great professionalism. a. beleif b. bilief c. belief d. beleaf 2. The accounting firm was ________ for fraudulent practices. a. prosecuted b. prossecuted c. prosecutted d. prosecuited 3. Every ________ has to be handled differently. a. sittuation b. situation c. situachun d. sitiation 4. It was a ________day for the department’s annual picnic. a. superb b. supperb c. supurb d. sepurb 5. To be elected ________, candidates must have a solid background in law enforcement. a. sherrif b. sherriff c. sherif d. sheriff 6. To be hired for the job, he needed to have ________ ability. a. mechinical b. mechanical c. mechenical d. machanical 7. The agents were searching for ________ cargo on the airplane. a. elicitt b. ellicit c. illicet d. illicit 8. There will be an immediate ________ into the cause of the accident. a. inquiry b. inquirry c. enquirry d. enquery 9. The union workers’ contract could not be ________before the calendar year ended. a. terminated b. termenated c. terrminated d. termanated 10. A ________ can be obtained at the town hall. a. lisense b. lisence c. lycence d. license 11. In many states, passing a road test requires drivers to ________ park. a. paralel b. paralell c. parallal d. parallel 12. The paramedics attempted to ________ the victim. a. stabilize b. stablize c. stableize d. stableise 13. The attorney asked a question that was ________ to the case; the judge overruled it. a. irelevent b. irelevant c. irrelevant d. irrelevent 14. The mayor highlighted the ________ statistics during her campaign speech. a. encouredging b. encouraging c. incurraging d. incouraging For each of the following questions, choose the misspelled word. If there are no mistakes, select choice d. 15. a. radios b. leaves c. alumni d. no mistakes 16. a. anouncement b. advisement c. description d. no mistakes 17. a. omission b. aisle c. litrature d. no mistakes 18. a. informal b. servent c. comfortable d. no mistakes 19. a. vegetable b. width c. variation d. no mistakes 20. a. twentieth b. fortieth c. ninetieth d. no mistakes 21. a. association b. unecessary c. illegal d. no mistakes 22. a. villin b. volunteer c. voracious d. no mistakes 23. a. hindrence b. equipped c. possessive d. no mistakes 24. a. procedure b. judgment c. testamony d. no mistakes 25. a. explicit b. abduct c. rotate d. no mistakes 26. a. through b. threw c. thorough d. no mistakes 27. a. quantaty b. quality c. quaint d. no mistakes 28. a. requirement b. reverence c. resistent d. no mistakes 29. a. incorporate b. contridict c. exhale d. no mistakes 30. a. pertain b. reversel c. memorization d. no mistakes 31. a. marshal b. martial c. tyrenny d. no mistakes 32. a. optimum b. palpable c. plunder d. no mistakes 33. a. ravinous b. miraculous c. wondrous d. no mistakes 34. a. phenomonal b. emulate c. misconception d. no mistakes 35. a. mischief b. temperture c. lovable d. no mistakes 36. a. stadium b. competitor c. atheletic d. no mistakes For the questions 37–50, choose the correct homophone. 37. My favorite ________ is peach pie with vanilla ice cream. a. desert b. dessert 37. b. Dessert is an after-dinner treat; a desert is an arid land. 41. c. By means near; bye is used to express farewell; buy means to purchase. 42. This is the ________ book George has read. a. fourth b. forth 42. a. Fourth refers to the number four; forth means forward. 43. The acoustics in the auditorium made it easy for the audience to ________ the melodic sounds of the soloist. a. here b. hear 43. b. Hear means to perceive sound with the ear; here is a location, place, or position. 44. Our choice to stay in the comfortable, cozy ________ house was a good decision. a. guessed b. guest 44. b. A guest is one who is a recipient of hospitality. Guessed is to predict without significant information. 45. Have dinner with us at the restaurant; we’ll meet you ________. a. they’re b. their c. there 45. c. There refers to a place; their is a possessive pronoun; they’re is a contraction for they are. 46. May I have a ________ of cheese? a. piece b. peace 46. a. A piece is a portion; peace means calm or quiet. 38. While nuclear energy is efficient, storing nuclear ________ is always a problem. a. waste b. waist 47. All children have the ________ to an education. a. write b. rite c. right 38. a. Waste means material that is rejected during a process; the waist is the middle of the body. 47. c. A right is a privilege; to write is to put words on paper; a rite is a ceremonial ritual. 39. The price for the carpet was ________. a. fair b. fare 48. It is a good idea to exercise on a ________ bicycle during inclement weather. a. stationery b. stationary 39. a. Fair means equitable; a fare is a transportation fee. 40. This is the ________ of the new art museum. a. sight b. cite c. site 40. c. Site refers to a place; cite means to refer to; sight is the ability to see. 41. Come ________ the park later this evening to see the sunset. a. buy b. bye c. by 48. b. Stationary means standing still; stationery is writing paper. 49. At the beach, we went digging for clams and ________. a. mussels b. muscles 49. a. Mussels are marine animals; muscles are body tissues. 50. We ________ the exit and had to turn around. a. past b. passed 50. b. Passed is the past tense of pass; past means a time gone by. Recent Laws During Duterte Administration: 1. Proclamation No. 124 – January as “National Bible Month” 2. Executive Order No. 25-renamed Benham Rise to Philippine Rise. 3. Executive Order No. 26- ordered a nationwide smoking BAN. Implemented in July 23 4. Republic Act No. 10913 - Anti-Distracted Driving Act 5. Republic Act No. 10666, or the "Children on Motorcycle Safety Act of 2015", 6. Republic Act No. 10931 Free tuition in state universities 7. R.A. 10932 No Enhanced Anti-Hospital Deposit Law 8. R,A 10928 Extending Passport Validity to 10 years 9. 10929 Establishing FREE INTERNET ACCESS in public places 10. 10930 Extending Driver’s License Validity for Five Years 11. Ra 8049 Anti Hazing Law 12. Republic Act No. 10969 or the Free Irrigation Service Act 13. RA 10742- SK REFORM 14. RA 10963 Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN) Law Important Events: 1. Japanese Encephalitis - a mosquito-borne illness endemic to the Philippines 2. Avian Influenza Outbreak- declared in Pampanga 3. Philippines ranked 6th in the 29th sea games. (Malaysia: host country) -24golds,33 silvers,64 bronze won by the Philippines in the 29thseagames 4. 6.4 bilyon shipment of drugs from china, nakalusot Sa Customs under Sec. Nicanor Faeldon 5. 2019- Philippines will host SEA Games 6. November 10–12 – The Philippines hosted the 31st ASEAN Summit Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles, Pampanga.[32] 7. November 13–14 – The hosted the Twelfth East Asia Summit at the Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles, Pampanga.[87] 8. December 19 — President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN) Act January 1, 2018 took effect- Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN) is a legislation which made reforms on taxation in the Philippines. 9. Isnilon Hapilon of Abu Sayyaf and Omar Maute of Maute Group, leaders of ISIL-linked militants fighting the government in the Battle of Marawi were reportedly killed on October 16 10. October 23 – the Battle of Marawi was declared officially over by the military MARTIAL LAW- MAY 23- DEC. 31 11. January 22 – The Mayon Volcano’s alert status was raised to Alert Level 4 due to intensified volcanic activities. 12. The Office of the President has ordered a 90-day preventive suspension order against Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang for alleged grave misconduct and grave dishonesty for the unauthorized disclosures of the alleged bank transactions of President Rodrigo Duterte and his family. 13. February 28 – President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change 14. May 23, 2017 – Martial Law was declared on the islands of Mindanao – 15. Dec 31. 2017 –expiration of validity of the martial law 16. July 2, 2017- Pacquiao’s Fight against Jeff Horn 17. July 24, 2017 – 2nd SONA of Duterte 18. August 8, 2017 - Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Celebrates 50th Golden Anniversary Celebration in PICC. 19. Sept 21- Proclamation No. 319 Duterte declared “National Day of Protest” September- National Peace Consciousness Month 20. January 31: A total lunar eclipse coinciding with a super moon and blue moon phenomenon was witnessed by many astronomers and skywatchers throughout the country.[8 21. DengVaxia scandal vs aquino and butch abad 22. 29th of March 1969.- 49th anniversary of New People’s Army. (NPA) 23. Sept 21, 2017- National Day of Protest 24. . February 12: -The Philippine Government has signed the administrative order to completely ban the deployment of all workers to Kuwait. 25. . March 1 – President Rodrigo Duterte has signed Republic Act No. 10973, that restored the power of select officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to issue subpoenas on cases under investigation. 26. March 14 – President Rodrigo Duterte has announced that the Philippines is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC) IMPORTANT NAMES: 1. MARIA LOURDES SERENO – On March 8, through Votes of 38-2, the House Committee on Justice has found probable cause in the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. 2. HORACIO "ATIO" CASTILLO III – Killed by Aegis Juris fraternity over the fatal hazing of University of Santo Tomas (UST) law freshman student in September last year. 3. BONGBONG” MARCOS, JR. AGAINST VICE PRESIDENT LENI ROBREDO. The Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) has for the election protest of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr (counting started on Apr. 2 for Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental) 4. KERWIN ESPINOSA, PETER LIM- The Department of Justice has cleared alleged drug lords due to lack of evidence 5. MAUTE GROUP – rebel group who seized Marawi City, they are not ISIS, but only ISIS-affiliated 6. OMAR MAUTE leader of maute inspired by Isis in Marawi City 7. REYNALDO PAROJINOG SR. – Mayor who was killed in the drug ops in Ozamiz City. 8. NOVA PAROJINOG- her daughter 9. KIAN LOYD DELOS SANTOS - A 17-year-old who was killed in drug ops in Caloocan. 10. MAUREEN WROBLEWITZ- grand winner of Asia's Next Top Model 11. TAGUIWALO,YASAY (DFA) ,LOPEZ (DENR) ,MARIANO(DA), cabinet secretaries rejected by C.A, 13. Mike Taguba- Customs Broker who testified before the Senate about the shabu which smuggled 14. Jinggoy Estrada, -posted a P1.3M due to cases of graft at plunder 1. Flexible means most nearly (A) breakable (B) flammable (C) pliable (D) weak 2. Option means most nearly (A) use (B) choice (C) value (D) blame 3. To verify means most nearly to (A) examine (B) explain (C) confirm (D) guarantee 4. Indolent means most nearly (A) moderate (B) hopeless (C) selfish (D)lazy 5. Respiration means most nearly (A) recovery (B) breathing (C) pulsation (D) sweating 6. PLUMBER is related to WRENCH as PAINTER is related to (A) brush A brush is a tool of the painter’s trade, as a wrench is a tool of the plumber’s trade. (B) pipe (C) shop (D) hammer 7. LETTER is related to MESSAGE as PACKAGE is related to (A) sender (B) merchandise A package transports merchandise just as a letter transmits a message. (C) insurance (D) business 8. FOOD is related to HUNGER as SLEEP is related to (A) night (B) dream (C) weariness Sleep alleviates weariness just as food alleviates hunger. (D) rest 9. KEY is related to TYPEWRITER as DIAL is related to (A) sun (B) number (C) circle (D)telephone The dial is an input device of a telephone, just as a key is an input device of a typewriter. In questions 10 and 11 and all similar questions, decide which sentence is best with respect to grammar and usage suitable for a formal letter or report. 10. (A) I think that they will promote whoever has the best record. (B) The firm would have liked to have promoted all employees with good records. (C) Such of them that have the best records have excellent prospects of promotion. (D) I feel sure they will give the promotion to whomever has the best record. 11. (A) The receptionist must answer courteously the questions of all them callers. (B) The receptionist must answer courteously the questions what are asked by the callers. (C) There would have been no trouble if the receptionist had have always answered courteously. (D) The receptionist should answer courteously the questions of all callers. In questions 12–16 and all similar questions, find the correct spelling of the word. If no suggested spelling is correct, select choice (D). 12. (A) collapsible (B) collapseable (C) collapseble (D) None of the above 13. (A) ambigeuous (B) ambigeous (C) ambiguous (D) None of the above 14. (A) predesessor (B) predecesar (C) predecesser (D) None of the above 15. (A) sanctioned (B) sancktioned (C) sanctionned (D) None of the above 16. “Some fire-resistant buildings, although wholly constructed of materials that will not burn, may be completely gutted by the spread of fire through their contents by way of hallways and other openings. They may even suffer serious structural damage by the collapse of metal beams and columns.” The quotation best supports the statement that some fire-resistant buildings (A) can be damaged seriously by fire. (B) have specially constructed halls and doors. (C) afford less protection to their contents than would ordinary buildings. (D) will burn readily. 17. Civilization started to move ahead more rapidly when people freed themselves of the shackles that restricted their search for the truth. The paragraph best supports the statement that the progress of civilization (A) came as a result of people’s dislike for obstacles. (B) did not begin until restrictions on learning were removed. (C) has been aided by people’s efforts to find the truth. (D)is based on continually increasing efforts. 18. Vigilant means most nearly (A) sensible (B) watchful (C) suspicious (D) restless 19. Incidental means most nearly (A) independent (B) needless (C) infrequent (D) accompanying 20. Conciliatory means most nearly (A) pacific (B) contentious (C) obligatory (D) offensive 21. Altercation means most nearly (A) defeat (B) concurrence (C) controversy (D) vexation 22. Irresolute means most nearly (A) wavering (B) insubordinate (C) impudent (D) unobservant 23. DARKNESS is related to SUNLIGHT as STILLNESS is related to (A) quiet (B) moonlight (C) sound (D) dark 34. Telegrams should be clear, concise, and brief. Omit all unnecessary words. The parts of speech most often used in telegrams are nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. If possible, do without pronouns, articles, and copulative verbs. Use simple sentences, rather than complex or compound ones. 24. DESIGNED is related to INTENTION as ACCIDENTAL is related to (A) purpose (B) caution (C) damage (D) chance The paragraph best supports the statement that in writing telegrams one should always use (A) common and simple words. (B) only nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. (C) incomplete sentences. (D) only the words essential to the meaning. 25. ERROR is related to PRACTICE as SOUND is related to (A) deafness (B) noise (C) muffler (D) horn 35. To counteract means most nearly to (A) undermine (B) censure (C) preserve (D) neutralize 26. RESEARCH is related to FINDINGS as TRAINING is related to (A) skill (B) tests (C) supervision (D)teaching 27. (A) If properly addressed, the letter will reach my mother and I. (B) The letter had been addressed to myself and my mother. (C) I believe the letter was addressed to either my mother or I. (D) My mother’s name, as well as mine, was on the letter. 28. (A) The supervisors reprimanded the typists, whom she believed had made careless errors. (B) The typists would have corrected the errors had they of known that the supervisor would see the report. (C) The errors in the typed reports were so numerous that they could hardly be overlooked. (D) Many errors were found in the reports which they typed and could not disregard them. 29. (A) minieture (B) minneature (C) mineature (D) None of the above 30. (A) extemporaneous (B) extempuraneus (C) extemperaneous (D) None of the above 31. (A) problemmatical (B) problematical (C) problematicle (D) None of the above 32. (A) descendant (B) decendant (C) desendant (D) None of the above 33. The likelihood of America’s exhausting its natural resources seems to be growing less. All kinds of waste are being reworked and new uses are constantly being found for almost everything. We are getting more use out of our goods and are making many new byproducts out of what was formerly thrown away. The paragraph best supports the statement that we seem to be in less danger of exhausting our resources because (A) economy is found to lie in the use of substitutes. (B) more service is obtained from a given amount of material. (C) we are allowing time for nature to restore them. (D) supply and demand are better controlled. 36. Deferred means most nearly (A) reversed (B) delayed (C) considered (D)forbidden 37. Feasible means most nearly (A) capable (B) justifiable (C) practicable (D) beneficial 38. To encounter means most nearly to (A) meet (B) recall (C) overcome (D) retreat 39. Innate means most nearly (A) eternal (B) well-developed (C) native (D) prospective 40. STUDENT is related to TEACHER as DISCIPLE is related to (A) follower (B) master (C) principal (D) pupil 41. LECTURE is related to AUDITORIUM as EXPERIMENT is related to (A) scientist (B) chemistry (C) laboratory (D) discovery 42. BODY is related to FOOD as ENGINE is related to (A) wheels (B) fuel (C) motion (D) smoke 43. SCHOOL is related to EDUCATION as THEATER is related to (A) management (B) stage (C) recreation (D) preparation 44. (A) Most all these statements have been supported by persons who are reliable and can be depended upon. (B) The persons which have guaranteed these statements are reliable. (C) Reliable persons guarantee the facts with regards to the truth of these statements. (D) These statements can be depended on, for their truth has been guaranteed by reliable persons. The correct answer is (D). Choice (A) might state either “most” or “all” but not both; choice (B) should read “persons who”; choice (C) should read “with regard to….” 54. Precedent means most nearly (A) example (B) theory (C) law (D) conformity 45. (A) The success of the book pleased both the publishers and the authors. (B) Both the publisher and they was pleased with the success of the book. (C) Neither they or their publisher was disappointed with their success of the book. (D) Their publisher was as pleased as them with the success of the book. 55. Versatile means most nearly (A) broad-minded (B) well-known (C) up-to-date (D) many-sided The correct answer is (A). Choice (B) is incorrect because it requires the plural verb “were”; choice (C) requires the correlative construction “neither…nor”; choice (D) requires the nominative “they.” 46. (A) extercate (B) extracate (C) extricate (D) None of the above 47. (A) hereditory (B) hereditary (C) hereditairy (D) None of the above 48. (A) auspiceous (B) auspiseous (C) auspicious (D) None of the above 49. (A) sequance (B) sequence (C) sequense (D) None of the above 50. The prevention of accidents makes it necessary not only that safety devices be used to guard exposed machinery but also that mechanics be instructed in safety rules that they must follow for their own protection, and that the lighting in the plant be adequate. The paragraph best supports the statement that industrial accidents (A) may be due to lack of knowledge. (B) are always avoidable. (C) usually result from inadequate machinery. (D) cannot be entirely overcome. 51. The English language is peculiarly rich in synonyms, and there is scarcely a language spoken that has not some representative in English speech. The spirit of the Anglo-Saxon race has subjugated these various elements to one idiom, making not a patchwork, but a composite language. The paragraph best supports the statement that the English language (A) has few idiomatic expressions. (B) is difficult to translate. (C) is used universally. (D) has absorbed words from other languages 52. To acquiesce means most nearly to (A) assent (B) acquire (C) complete (D) participate 53. Unanimity means most nearly (A) emphasis (B) namelessness (C) harmony (D)impartiality 56. Authentic means most nearly (A) detailed (B) reliable (C) valuable (D) practical 57. BIOGRAPHY is related to FACT as NOVEL is related to (A) fiction (B) literature (C) narration (D) book 58. COPY is related to CARBON PAPER as MOTION PICTURE is related to (A) theater (B) film (C) duplicate (D)television 59. EFFICIENCY is related to REWARD as CARELESSNESS is related to (A) improvement (B) disobedience (C) reprimand (D) repetition 60. ABUNDANT is related to CHEAP as SCARCE is related to (A) ample (B) costly (C) inexpensive (D) unobtainable 61. (A) Brown’s & Company employees have recently received increases in salary. (B) Brown & Company recently increased the salaries of all its employees. (C) Recently Brown & Company has increased their employees’ salaries. (D) Brown & Company have recently increased the salaries of all its employees. 62. (A) In reviewing the typists’ work reports, the job analyst found records of unusual typing speeds. (B) It says in the job analyst’s report that some employees type with great speed. (C) The job analyst found that, in reviewing the typists’ work reports, that some unusual typing speeds had been made. (D) In the reports of typists’ speeds, the job analyst found some records that are kind of unusual. 63. (A) oblitorate (B) oblitterat (C) obbliterate (D) None of the above 64. (A) diagnoesis (B) diagnossis (C) diagnosis (D) None of the above 65. (A) contenance (B) countenance (C) countinance (D) None of the above 66. (A) conceivably (B) concieveably (C) conceiveably (D) None of the above (C) navy (D) ships 67. Through advertising, manufacturers exercise a high degree of control over consumers’ desires. However, the manufacturer assumes enormous risks in attempting to predict what consumers will want and in producing goods in quantity and distributing them in advance of final selection by the consumers. 77. CALENDAR is related to DATE as MAP is related to (A) drive (B) trip (C) location (D) vacation The paragraph best supports the statement that manufacturers (A) can eliminate the risk of overproduction by advertising. (B) distribute goods directly to the consumers. (C) must depend upon the final consumers for the success of their undertakings. (D) can predict with great accuracy the success of any product they put on the market. 78. (A) Since the report lacked the needed information, it was of no use to them. (B) This report was useless to them because there were no needed information in it. (C) Since the report did not contain the needed information, it was not real useful to them. (D) Being that the report lacked the needed information, they could not use it. 68. In the relations of humans to nature, the procuring of food and shelter is fundamental. With the migration of humans to various climates, ever new adjustments to the food supply and to the climate became necessary. The paragraph best supports the statement that the means by which the humans supply their material needs are (A) accidental. (B) varied. (C) limited. (D)inadequate. 69. Strident means most nearly (A) swaggering (B) domineering (C) angry (D) harsh 70. To confine means most nearly to (A) hide (B) restrict (C) eliminate (D) punish 71. To accentuate means most nearly to (A) modify (B) hasten (C) sustain (D)intensify 72. Banal means most nearly (A) commonplace (B) forceful (C) tranquil (D)indifferent 73. Incorrigible means most nearly (A) intolerable (B) retarded (C) irreformable (D) brazen 74. POLICE OFFICER is related to ORDER as DOCTOR is related to (A) physician (B) hospital (C) sickness (D) health 75. ARTIST is related to EASEL as WEAVER is related to (A) loom (B) cloth (C) threads (D) spinner 76. CROWD is related to PERSONS as FLEET is related to (A) expedition (B) officers 79. (A) The company had hardly declared the dividend till the notices were prepared for mailing. (B) They had no sooner declared the dividend when they sent the notices to the stockholders. (C) No sooner had the dividend been declared than the notices were prepared for mailing. (D) Scarcely had the dividend been declared than the notices were sent out. 80. (A) compitition (B) competition (C) competetion (D) None of the above 81. (A) occassion (B) occasion (C) ocassion (D) None of the above 82. (A) knowlege (B) knolledge (C) knowledge (D) None of the above 83. (A) deliborate (B) deliberate (C) delibrate (D) None of the above 84. What constitutes skill in any line of work is not always easy to determine. Economy of time must be carefully distinguished from economy of energy, as the quickest method may require the greatest expenditure of muscular effort and may not be essential or at all desirable. The paragraph best supports the statement that (A) the most efficiently executed task is not always the one done in the shortest time. (B) energy and time cannot both be conserved in performing a single task. (C) a task is well done when it is performed in the shortest time. (D) skill in performing a task should not be acquired at the expense of time. 85. It is difficult to distinguish between bookkeeping and accounting. In attempts to do so, bookkeeping is called the art, and accounting the science, of recording business transactions. Bookkeeping gives the history of the business in a systematic matter; and accounting classifies, analyzes, and interprets the facts thus recorded. The paragraph best supports the statement that (A) accounting is less systematic than bookkeeping. (B) accounting and bookkeeping are closely related. (C) bookkeeping and accounting cannot be distinguished from one another. (D) bookkeeping has been superseded by accounting. GRAMMAR AND CORRECT USAGE DIRECTIONS: Some of the sentences in this section contain an error in grammar or correct usage. On your Answer sheet, shade completely the bubbles that corresponds to that section of the sentence that contains the error. If there is no error in the sentence, shade completely box number 5. 36. (1) Between (2) the three of us, (3) I think I am (4) the slowest runner. (5) NO ERROR 37. (1) There are (2) scarcely no (3) more birds (4) in this city. (5) NO ERROR 38. (1) This (2) fruit (3) contains (4) fewer sugar. (5) NO ERROR 39. (1) I have never (2) seen nothing (3) as beautiful (4) as this city. (5) NO ERROR 40. (1) Place the (2) mirror on (3) the wall to give you an (4) allusion of bigger room. (5) NO ERROR 41. (1) We were lucky (2) we didn’t (3) have typhoon (4) this month. (5) NO ERROR 42. (1) My favorite (2) vegetable (3) are (4) peas. (5) NO ERROR 43. (1) Either James or John (2) are going (3) to lead the choir in the (4) recital tomorrow. (5) NO ERROR 44. (1) The additional supplies (2) that we need (3) to bring are: (4) band aids, cottons, alcohol, and gauze. (5) NO ERROR 45. (1) All the students (2) has finished (3) their (4) report. (5) NO ERROR 46. (1) He (2) was (3) a (4) honorable man. (5) NO ERROR 47. (1) The recently (2) heavy flooding (3) effected the (4) crops of farmers. (1) NO ERROR 48. (1) Emmanuel (2) could of passed (3) the examinations (4) if he had studied hard enough. (5) NO ERROR 49. (1) I believe (2) that were going (3) to have a (4) prosperous new year. (5) NO ERROR 50. (1) Paul Erdos (2) was a mathematician (3) who writes a lot of research papers (4) in collaboration with other mathematicians. (5) NO ERROR DIRECTIONS: Read each of the following sentences carefully, then choose which among the several choices in each group is expressed most satisfactorily in terms of grammar and correct usage. On your sheet, shade completely the bubble that corresponds to your answer. 51. 1. His mother, whom I met in the PTA meeting is much beautiful than you. 2. I met his mother in the PTA meeting and she is more beautiful than you. 3. His mother, which I met in the PTA meeting is most beautiful than you. 4. His mother, who was I met in the PTA meeting is beautiful than you 5. His mother, who was meet in the PTA meeting is more beautiful than you. 52. 1. Even though some people think that he is intelligent, most people comment in his or her personality. 2. Most people comments in his personality even though some people think that he is intelligent. 3. Even though some people think that he is intelligent, most people comment in their personality. 4. Even though some people think that he is intelligent, most people comment on his personality 5. Despite of some people who think that he is intelligent, most people comment on his or her personality. 53. 1. Magulo na ang paligid, kaya ginagawa na ng mga nakakatandang pinuno ang lahat upang ang sitwasyon ay maging maayos. 2. Upang maging maayos ang sitwasyon, ang mga matatandang pinuno ay ginagawa ang lahat, kahit na magulo ang paligid. 3. Ang mga nakakatatandang pinuno ay ginagawa ang lahat, kahit na magulo ang paligid upang maayos ang sitwasyon. 4. Ginagawa na ng mga makakatandang pinuno ang lahat upang maging maayos ang sitwasyon kahit na magulo ang paligid. 5. Kahit na napakagulo ng paligid, ang mga nakatatandang pinuno ay ginagawa ang lahat upang maging maayos ang sitwasyon. 54. 1. When the President and Vice President suggest their plans for EDSA Traffic Management plan, his plan is more effective. 2. Regarding in the plan for EDSA Traffic Management, the former is more effective 3. For EDSA Traffic Management plans, the former is more effective 4. When the President and Vice President suggest their plans for EDSA Traffic Management, the former has the more effective plan. 5. When the President and Vice President suggest their plans regarding EDSA, the President has the more effective plans than the Vice President. 55. 1. Neither emotions nor actions of the people was make me touch. 2. Neither emotions nor actions of the people are making me touch. 3. Neither emotions nor actions of the people is make me touch. 4. Neither emotions nor actions of the people are make me touch 5. Neither emotions nor actions of the people is making me touch. MATH DIRECTION: Answer the following questions by observation or computation. You may use the margins of the page for your computations. On your Answer Sheet, shade completely the bubble that corresponds to your answer. 21. 27, 499 round to the nearest hundred is ? a. 27, 400 b. 27, 500 c. 27, 000 d. 28, 000 22. Twenty-four weeks is how many days? a. 140 b. 168 c. 176 d. 196 23. Five hundred ninety-five days is how many weeks? a. 119 b. 95 c. 85 d. 75 24. Eighteen bus loads of 56 students each went to join the Independence Day Celebration. One hundred seventy-four did not go. How many students are there in all? a. 160 b. 1282 c. 180 d. 1182 25. Richard bowled 3 games and got scores of 139, 153, and 128. What was his average score for the three games? a. 130 b. 140 c. 150 d. 160 26. What time will it be 3 and 1/2 hours after 7:15 PM? a. 3:45 AM b. 10:45 AM c. 3:45 PM d. 10:45 PM 27. What time was it 3 and 1/2 hours before 7:15 AM? a. 3:45 AM b. 10:45 AM c. 3:45 PM d. 10:45 PM 28. The fraction 52 / 91 expressed in lowest term is ? a. 4/7 b. 2/3 c. 3/7 d. 7/13 29. Car A averages 8 km per liter of fuel. Car B averages 12 km per liter of fuel. If the price of fuel is $10 per liter. How much less would a 600 – km. trip cost for Car A than for Car B? a. $ 250 b. $ 500 c. $ 600 d. $ 750 30. 40 is what part of 64? a. 7/8 b. 3/8 c. 5/8 d. 1 and 3/5 31. Change 13 3/7 to an improper fraction. a. 91/7 b. 39/7 c. 273/7 d. 94/7 32. What is the average speed in kph of a car travelling 160 kilometers in 5 hours? a. 32 b. 40 c. 80 d. 90 33. 3/4 + 1/6 + 1/8 = ? a. 5/8 b. 1 and 1/24 c. 1/16 d. 3/8 34. 15 1/3 – 8 3/4 = ? a. 6 and 7/12 b. 7 and 2/3 c. 8 and 2/7 d. 7 and 2/7 35. 8 inches is what part of a foot? a. 2/3 b. 7/12 c. 4/5 d. 5/6 SENTENCE COMPLETION DIRECTIONS: Circle the word or phrase that is the best completion for each sentence. On your Answer Sheet, shade completely the box that corresponds to your answer. 56. I have been lonely since you___ me anymore. (don’t visit / didn’t visit / visit) 57. Because you _______a friend, I will not ask for an apology. (are / was / will have been) SYNONYM DIRECTIONS: Choose from among the suggested answers the word that means most nearly the same as the word in capital letters. On your Answer Sheet, shade completely the box that corresponds to your answer. 66. People tend to be CAPRICIOUS in their behavior depending on the things or happening that they see and experience. 1. Variable 2. Impulsive 3. Moody 4. Volatile 5. Unpredictable 58. Mary began to cry, so he ____ ashamed. (has been / felt / had not felt) 59. Dad is going back to work now that his health_______ good. (was / will be / is) 60. He just gave up as there________ little he could do. (was / will be / was being) 61. We will visit you in order that we_______ you face-toface. (see / have seen / saw) 62. Since you lost your job, you ___borrow money from us. (must have / have to /could have) 63. She trusted you because you________ a loyal friend. (will be / hadn’t been / were) 64. My stomach aches, so I______ to the doctor. (was going / will go / had gone) 65. Now that the war ______over, we can get on with our lives. (has been / was / is) Key Answers: 56. don’t visit 57. are 58. felt 59. is 60. was 61. See 62 . have to 63. were 64. will go 65. is 67. We create a public official that has integrity and GUILELESS 1. Truthful 2. Hardworking 3. Transparent 4. Honest 5. Intelligent 68. Every day I sad because I have a jealous with other people, especially in other men I have no handsome face, no beautiful body, no money and NONENTITY, then, I ask myself, why God existed me? 1. Infamous 2. Unfamous 3. Not Famous 4. No home 5. No Property 69. Many people are SYBARITE they spent their money in nothing, in end, they are nothing. 1. Contented 2. Thrifty 3. Luxurious 4. Self-Indulgent 5. Not Conscious 70. Ano kaya ang buhay sa ilalim ng PANUNUPIL ng isang heneral ng Canaan at ng mga hukbo nito? 1. Pananakop 2. Pananakit 3. Pagpatay 4. Pamumuno 5. Paniniil Key Answers to Synonym Questions in 2017 Civil Service Exam: 66. 1 67. 2 68. 3 69. 4 70. 1 READING COMPREHENSION DIRECTIONS: Read each passage and questions carefully. Then choose the best answer among the choices offered. On your Answer Sheet, shade completely the bubble that corresponds to your answer. Passage 1 – Opera Opera refers to a dramatic art form, originating in Europe, in which the emotional content is conveyed to the audience as much through music, both vocal and instrumental, as it is through the lyrics. By contrast, in musical theater an actor’s dramatic performance is primary, and the music plays a lesser role. The drama in opera is presented using the primary elements of theater such as scenery, costumes, and acting. However, the words of the opera, or libretto, are sung rather than spoken. The singers are accompanied by a musical ensemble ranging from a small instrumental ensemble to a full symphonic orchestra. 71. It is pointed out in the reading that opera —-. 1. Has developed under the influence of musical theater 2. Is a drama sung with the accompaniment of an orchestra 3. Is not a high-budget production 4. Is often performed in Europe 5. Is the most complex of all the performing arts 72. We can understand from the reading that —-. 1. People are captivated more by opera than musical theater 2. Drama in opera is more important than the music 3. Orchestras in operas can vary considerably in size 4. Musical theater relies above all on music 5. There is argument over whether the music is important or the words in opera 73. It is stated in the reading that —-. 1. Acting and costumes are secondary to music in musical theater 2. Many people find musical theater more captivating than opera 3. Music in musical theater is not as important as it is in opera 4. An opera requires a huge orchestra as well as a large choir 5. Opera doesn’t have any properties in common with musical theater Passage 2 – Dolphins Dolphins are regarded as the friendliest creatures in the sea and stories of them helping drowning sailors have been common since Roman times. The more we learn about dolphins, the more we realize that their society is more complex than people previously imagined. They look after other dolphins when they are ill, care for pregnant mothers and protect the weakest in the community, as we do. Some scientists have suggested that dolphins have a language but it is much more probable that they communicate with each other without needing words. Could any of these mammals be more intelligent than man? Certainly the most common argument in favor of man’s superiority over them that we can kill them more easily than they can kill us is the least satisfactory. On the contrary, the more we discover about these remarkable creatures, the less we appear superior when we destroy them. 74. It is clear from the passage that dolphins —-. 1. don’t want to be with us as much as we want to be with them 2. are proven to be less intelligent than once thought 3. have a reputation for being friendly to humans 4. are the most powerful creatures that live in the oceans 5. are capable of learning a language and communicating with humans 75. The fact that the writer of the passage thinks that we can kill dolphins more easily than they can kill us —-. 1. means that they are better adapted to their environment than we are 2. shows that dolphins have a very sophisticated form of communication 3. proves that dolphins are not the most intelligent species at sea 4. does not mean that we are superior to them 5. proves that Dolphins have linguistic skills far beyond what we previously thought 76. One can infer from the reading that —-. 1. dolphins are quite abundant in some areas of the world 2. communication is the most fascinating aspect of the dolphins 3. dolphins have skills that no other living creatures have such as the ability to think 4. it is not usual for dolphins to communicate with each other 5. dolphins have some social traits that are similar to those of humans Passage 3 – Unsinkable Ship Naval architects never claim that a ship is unsinkable, but the sinking of the passenger-and-car ferry Estonia in the Baltic surely should have never have happened. It was well designed and carefully maintained. It carried the proper number of lifeboats. It had been thoroughly inspected the day of its fatal voyage. Yet hours later, the Estonia rolled over and sank in a cold, stormy night. It went down so quickly that most of those on board, caught in their dark, flooding cabins, had no chance to save themselves: Of those who managed to scramble overboard, only 139 survived. The rest died of hypothermia before the rescuers could pluck them from the cold sea. The final death toll amounted to 912 souls. However, there were an unpleasant number of questions about why the Estonia sank and why so many survivors were men in the prime of life, while most of the dead were women, children and the elderly. 77. One can understand from the reading that —-. 1. the lifesaving equipment did not work well and lifeboats could not be lowered 2. design faults and incompetent crew contributed to the sinking of the Estonia ferry 3. 139 people managed to leave the vessel but died in freezing water 4. naval architects claimed that the Estonia was unsinkable 5. most victims were trapped inside the boat as they were in their cabins 78. It is clear from the passage that the survivors of the accident —-. 1. helped one another to overcome the tragedy that had affected them all 2. were mostly young men but women, children and the elderly stood little chance 3. helped save hundreds of lives 4. are still suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder 5. told the investigators nothing about the accident 79. According to the passage, when the Estonia sank, —-. 1. there were only 139 passengers on board 2. few of the passengers were asleep 3. there were enough lifeboats for the number of people on board 4. faster reaction by the crew could have increased the Estonia’s chances of survival 5. all the passengers had already moved out into the open decks Passage 4 – Erosion in America Erosion of America’s farmland by wind and water has been a problem since settlers first put the prairies and grasslands under the plow in the nineteenth century. By the 1930s, more than 282 million acres of farmland were damaged by erosion. After 40 years of conservation efforts, soil erosion has accelerated due to new demands placed on the land by heavy crop production. In the years ahead, soil erosion and the pollution problems it causes are likely to replace petroleum scarcity as the nation’s most critical natural resource problem. WORD ANALOGY DIRECTIONS: Determine the relationship of the first word to the second word in capital letters. From among the suggested answers, choose the word or group of words that best expresses a similar relationship to the third word in capital letters. On your Answer Sheet, shade completely the bubble that corresponds to your answer. 83. DEATH is to EUTHANASIA as LOVE is to . 1. Emotion 2. Devotion 3. Date 4. Proposal 5. Worship 84. ELONGATED is to TREE as is to PLANT 1. Sunlight 2. Stem 3. Green 4. Dried 5. Soil 80. As we understand from the reading, today, soil erosion in America —-. 1. causes humans to place new demands on the land 2. is worse than it was in the nineteenth century 3. happens so slowly that it is hardly noticed 4. is the most critical problem that the nation faces 5. is worse in areas which have a lot of petroleum production 81. The author points out in the passage that erosion in America —-. 85. GIANT is to PLANET as is to SPACECRAFT 1. Gas 2. Rocket 3. Astronomer 4. Station 5. Experiment 86. COMPUTATION is to PROBLEM as is to ANGER. 1. Counseling 2. Peace 3. War 4. Hot 5. Control 87. VOTE is to as CONVIVIALITY is to VALUES 1. has damaged 282 million acres ever since settlers first put the prairies and grasslands under theplow 2. has been so severe that it has forced people to abandon their settlements 3. occurs only in areas with no vegetation 4. can become a more serious problem in the future 5. was on the decline before 1930’s 1. Ballot 2. Right 3. Election 4. Choose 5. Politics 88. PENGUINS is to ORINOTHOLOGIST as is to ELASMOBRANCHOLOGY 1. Rubber 2. Tires 3. Fish 4. Sharks 5. Turtles 82. It is pointed out in the reading that in America —-. 89. DAGAT ay ISDA tulad ng ay PALAY 1. petroleum is causing heavy soil erosion and pollution problems 2. heavy crop production is necessary to meet the demands and to prevent a disaster 3. soil erosion has been hastened due to the overuse of farming lands 4. water is undoubtedly the largest cause of erosion 5. there are many ways to reduce erosion Key Answers to Reading Comprehension Questions in 2017 Civil Service Exam: 71. B 72. C 73. C 74. C 75. D 76. E 77. E 78. B 79. C 80. B 81. D 82. C 1. Bukid 2. Kamalig 3. Sako 4. Irigasyon 5. Magsasaka 90. TICKET is to TRAIN as KEY is to . 1. Answer 2. Unlock 3. Door 4. Room 5. Type DIRECTIONS: For each sentence, complete the analogy by choosing a pair of words from the suggested answers. On your Answer Sheet, shade completely the bubble that corresponds to your answers. 91. NEW YORK: NEW YORK CITY as : 1. Kuwait: Kuwait City 2. Singapore: Singapore City 3. Sulu: Jolo 4. Cebu: Cebu City 5. Panama: Panama City 92. DOWNY: FLUFFY as : 1. Cloudy: Rainy 2. Imbecile: Stupid 3. Soap: Clean 4. Linen: Clothes 5. Nail: Drive 93. BILL: as : SMILE 1. Receipt: Teeth 2. Money: Lopsided 3. Law: Pleasure 4. Gates: Pizza 5. Bird: Teacher 94. DYIP: PAMASAHE tulad ng : 1. Bayad: Ilaw 2. Sugalan: Pusta 3. Tindahan: Paninda 4.Kulungan: Suspek 5. Markahan: Mag-aaral 95. STORY: EVENTS as : LOGIC REASONING 1. General: Soldiers 2. Dish: Ingredients 3. Law: Articles 4. Human: Body 5. Life: Problems DIRECTIONS: Each item in this section consists of a statement or a passage followed by several assumptions. Determine the best assumption/s that can be logically made from the given statement or passage. On your Answer Sheet, shade completely the bubble that corresponds to your answer. 96. RECORD: DATA as : 1. Shot: Gun 2. Magnify: Lens 3. Chronicle: Journey 4. Store: Foods 5. Serve: People 101. In order to maintain the good service of government officials, Civil Service Commission has created the system of Incentives and Rewards. 97. PRACTICE: PRESENTATION as : 1. Profession: Preposition 2. Peñafrancia: Penelope 3. Review: Test 4.Rehearse: Recitation 5. Preparation: Party 98. INDULGENT: GENEROUS as : 1. Honesty: Real 2. Storm: Rain 3. Fellowship: Camaraderie 4. Suicide: Depression 5. Abstemious: Thrifty ASSUMPTIONS: I. All government officials are not doing well in their performance II. There are only one who will take the rewards/s. III. Discipline Systems are made so that every government officials will do their best in their service IV. Incentive and rewards are big help to improve the performance of each government officials 1. I, II,III,and IV 2. I and III 3. I and IV 4. III and IV 5. II only 99. BUS: PASSENGERS as : 1. Forest: Trees 2. Light: Clear 3. Movie: Series 4. People: Nation 5. Fireworks: Phosphorus 100. PANINGIN: SALAMIN tulad ng : 1. Paglilingkod: Tao 2. Noche Buena: Pasko 3. Lakas: Pagkain 4. Pagsasadula: Pagsasanay 5. Problema: Solusyon Key Answers to Word Analogy Questions in 2017 Civil Service Exam: 83. 2 84. 3 85. 2 86. 1 87. 2 88. 4 89. 1 90. 3 91. 4 92. 2 93. 2 94. 2 95. 3 96. 4 97. 2 98. 5 99. 1 100. 3 102. You may take this software for 30 days for trials or reviews. ASSUMPTIONS: I. This particular software is ensuring its good an modest function for 30 days II. There are limited function in this software for 30 days III. Users must buy this software if they are satisfied IV. Users must buy this software for longer usage V. Generally trials are good for knowing the software. 1. IV only 2. I and V 3. I, II, III and IV 4. III and IV only 5. II and V only 103. It is advisable that if Marikina River, goes in 15 m high water level, people in the nearby areas must evacuate if it is continue to rise. ASSUMPTIONS: I. Marikina River can cause floods in nearby places if it is continue to rise. II. Government has no concrete preparation in the times of floods. III. 15 meters high on Marikina river is a signal of evacuation immediately IV. Pollution is a factor of Rise of Marikina River V. People may or may not evacuate immediately even if Marikina River goes in 15 m water level. 1. I and V only 2. II and III only 3. I and III only 4. All of them 5. III only 104. Paalala sa mga pasahero ng bus na ito: ingatan po ninyo ang inyong mga tiket, kung nawala man ninyo ang inyong tiket, ay ikukunsiderang hindi pa kayo bayad!!! PALAGAY: I. Di masyadong tinitignan ng kundoktor ng bus kung sino ang mga bayad na o hindi pa II. Ang tiket ay mahalaga bilang katunayan na kayo’y bayad na III. Lahat ng tao sa bus ay burara pagdating sa tiket IV. Kailangang higpitan ng bus ang polisiya sa pagbabayad ng pamasahe upang wala ni isa man sa mga pasahero ang makalusot sa pagbabayad ng pamasahe 1. III lamang 2. II at IV lamang 3. IV lamang 4. III at IV lamang 5. II lamang 105. Heavy traffic situations in EDSA can be reduced if the government has to do action to decrease the number of Private Cars in the Philippines. ASSUMPTIONS: I. Private cars are the causes of heavy traffic in EDSA II. Population increase was the one of the causes of heavy traffic in EDSA III. EDSA is always heavy traffic IV. Government has not considered private cars as one of the causes of heavy traffic in EDSA. 1. V only 2. I, III and IV only 3. I and IV only 4. I only 5. IV only DIRECTIONS: Each item in this section consists of statements followed by several possible conclusions. Assume that all statements are true, then determine the best conclusion/s that can be logically made from the given statements. On your Answer Sheet, shade completely the bubble that corresponds to your answer. 106. All men are women, some men are not faithful. CONCLUSIONS: I. Some men are women II. Some not faithful are women III. All men are not faithful 1. II only 2. II and III only 3. I and II only 4. All of them 5. None of these 107. All happy are politicians, some not happy are people. CONCLUSIONS: I. All politician are happy II. Some politician are not happy III. All people are not happy 1. I only 2. III only 3. II only 4. I and III only 5. None of these 108. Some people are misfortunes, all luck are people CONCLUSIONS: I. All luck are misfortunes II. Some luck are misfortunes III. All misfortunes are people IV. Some misfortunes are luck 111. All boys are construction worker, all construction workers are muscular. CONCLUSIONS: I. Some Construction Workers are muscular II. Some boys are muscular III. All muscular are construction workers 1. I and III only 2. II only 3. All of them 4. None of These 5. II and III only 112. Some bays are having good sunset, all good sunset are relaxing. Manila Bay is relaxing. CONCLUSIONS: I. Some bays are sunset II. Some relaxing are bays III. Manila Bay is having a good sunset IV. Some bay are relaxing 1. IV only 2. III only 3. I and III only 4. II and IV only 5. III and IV only 113. Ang lahat ng pagtuturo ay nakakapagod. May matutunan kapag may pagtuturo. Si Mae ay pagod. KONGKLUSYON: I. Si Mae ay isang guro II. Nakakapagod ang lahat ng pagtuturo III. Di lahat ng natutunan ay nakakapagod. IV. Si Mae ay napapagod sa lahat ng pagtuturo. 1. III lamang 2. I at III lamang 3. I, II, at III lamang 4. III at IV lamang 5. IV lamang 114. No life is planet, some planet is discovered, Kepler is a discovery a while ago. CONCLUSIONS: I. Some discovered are planet II. Some planet are life III. No discovered are life IV. Some discovered are not life. V. Kepler is a planet VI. Kepler is discovered but not life. 1. I only 2. II, III and V only 3. IV and VI only 4. III only 5. All of them 1. None of these 2. III only 3. I and IV only 4. I and III 5. II and IV only 115. All Traffic Lights are green, No green is car. There is a traffic light in P. Tuazon Cor. EDSA. 109. No man is an island, no lonely is man. CONCLUSIONS: I. Traffic Light in P. Tuazon is green. II. Some car is Traffic Light III. No Traffic Light is car IV. No car is Traffic Light V. No green is traffic lights. CONCLUSIONS: I. No island are man II. No island is lonely III. All man is not lonely 1. I and III only 2. II only 3. None of These 4. III only 5. All of them 110. All money is nothing, no nothing is everything. CONCLUSIONS: I. Some money is nothing II. Some everything is nothing. III. No money is everything. 1. II only 2. I only 3. III only 4. None of the above 5. All of them 1. I, III and VI only 2. III and V only 3. I and V only 4. III and IV only 5. III, IV and V only Key Answers to Logic Reasoning Questions in 2017 Civil Service Exam: 101. 4 108 3 102. 2 109 3 103. 1 110 2 104. 2 111 4 105. 5 112 1 106. 1 113 3 107. 5 114 4 115 1 NUMERICAL REASONING 1. 6/27 2. 2/9 3. 9/18 4. 1/9 DIRECTIONS: On your Answer Sheet, shade completely the bubble that corresponds to your answer. 131. Susan traveled 114 miles in 2 hours. If she keeps going at the same rate, how long will it take her to go the remaining 285 miles of her trip? 116. 2187, 729, 243, 81, 27, 9, ___? a. 5 hours b. 3 hours c. 7 hours d. 4 hours 1. 6 2. 3 3. 4 4. 2 117. 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, ___? 1. 72 2. 75 3. 81 4. 90 132. A flight from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles took 5 hours and covered 3,060 miles. What was the plane’s average speed? a. 545 mph b. 615 mph c. 515 mph d. 612 mph 118. 13, -21, 34, -55, 89, ___ ? 133. Larry purchased 3 pairs of pants for $24 each and 5 shirts for $18 each. How much did Larry spend? 1. -95 2. 104 3. -123 4. -144 a. $42 b. $72 c. $162 d. $186 119. AZ, CX, EV, GT, ___ ? 1. IR KP 2. IR KQ 3. IS KQ 4. IS KP 120. A5, D25, G125, J625, M3125, ___ ? 134. How many square centimeters are in one square meter? a. 100 sq cm b. 10,000 sq cm c. 144 sq cm d. 100,000 sq cm 135. Raul’s bedroom is 4 yards long. How many inches long is the bedroom? 1. P15525 2. P15625 3. O15525 4. O15625 a. 144 inches b. 48 inches c. 400 inches d. 4,000 inches 121. What is -25 + 16? 1. 9 2. -9 3. -41 4. 41 122. What is 107 – (-17) ? 1. -90 2. 90 3. 124 4. -124 123. (-9) (-22) = ? 1. 198 2. -198 3. 31 4. -31 124. (21) (-4) + (8) (-2) = ? 1. -100 2. 100 3. -23 4. 23 125. (-560) ÷ 7 = ? 1. -80 2. 80 3. -553 4. 553 126. 6/8 + 2 ½ + 4/12 is also the same as? 1. ½ + 2.5 + ¼ 2. ½ + 5/2 + 1/6 3. ¾ + 2.5 + 1/6 4. ¾ + 5/2 + 1/3 127. What is the Least Common Denominator of 1/8, ¾, and 1/16? 1. 4 2. 8 3. 16 4. 2 128. What is the Greatest Common Factor of 36 and 54? 1. 6 2. 12 3. 18 4. 9 129. What is the sum of ½ + 8/4 + 6/12 ? 1. 15/12 2. 3/12 3. 3 4. 3 1/12 130. 3/9 x 2/3 = ? Key Answers to Numerical Reasoning Questions in 2017 CSE: 116. (2) next number in the sequence is 3. Notice that the numbers in the pattern were divided by 3 to get the next number. Therefore, you divide 2187 by 3 you’ll get 729, then the next and so on. 117. (3) 81 – you can get this by squaring the numbers (1×1=1), (2×2=4), (3×3=9) and so on… 118. (4) -144 – subtract the 3rd and 1st to get the 2nd number, do the same to the next 3 sets 119. (1) IR KP – Use the equivalent ascending and descending letters in the alphabet 120. (2) P15625 – the pattern is the next 2 letters from the alphabet and the number multiplied by 5 to get the next one… 121. (2) -9 –positive + negative numbers is to subtract them and follow the sign of the bigger number 122. (3) 124 – positive – negative numbers is to change the sign of the subtrahend and follow the rules in addition 123. (1) 198 – multiplying numbers with similar signs = positive 124. (1) -100 – already explained 125. (1) -80 – dividing numbers with different signs = negative 126. (4) ¾ + 5/2 + 1/3 – simplify the fractions given and convert the mixed number into improper fraction 127. (3) LCD is 16 – the denominators are: 8, 4 and 16 128. (3) GCF is 18 since 36 and 64 are divisible by 18, 9, 6, 3 129. (3) the answer is 3 because ½ + 2 + ½ = 3 130. (2) the answer is 6/27 simplified into 2/9 131. a. Find the rate at which Susan is traveling by dividing her distance by time; 114 ÷ 2 = 57 mph. To find out how long it will take her to travel 285 miles, divide her distance by her rate; 285 ÷ 57 = 5 hours. 132. d. Divide the miles by the time to find the rate; 3,060 ÷ 5 = 612 mph. 133. c. He spent $72 on pants (3 × $24 = $72) and $90 on shirts (5 × $18 = $90). Altogether he spent $162 ($72 + $90 = $162). If you chose a, you calculated the cost of ONE pair of pants plus ONE shirt instead of THREE pants and FIVE shirts. 134. b. There are 100 cm in a meter. A square meter is 100 cm by 100 cm. The area of this is 10,000 sq cm (100 × 100 = 10,000). 135. a. There are 36 inches in a yard; 4 × 36 = 144 inches. There are 144 inches in 4 yards. VOCABULARY 149. Come out of your shell means _____________. DIRECTIONS: For each sentence, complete the analogy. On your Answer Sheet, shade completely the bubble that corresponds to your answers. a. hive b. bee c. spread d. reservoir a. If someone comes in of their shell, they never stop being shy and withdrawn and become more unfriendly and sociable. b. If someone comes out of their shell, they stop being shy and withdrawn and become more friendly and sociable. c. If someone comes out of their shell, they never stop being shy and withdrawn and become more friendly and sociable. d. If someone comes in of their shell, they stop being shy and withdrawn and become more un friendly and unsociable. 137. quixotic : pragmatic ::murky : ______ 150. Derring-do means _________. a. rapid b. cloudy c. clear d. friendly 138. miserly : cheap ::homogeneous : ______ a. If a person shows derring-do, they show unwillingness. b. If a person shows derring-do, they show shyness. c. If a person shows derring-do, they show great courage. d. If a person shows derring-do, they show pettiness. a. extravagant b. unkind c. alike d. friendly 151. Hot water means ___________. 139. skew : gloomy ::slant : ______ a. If you get into hot water, you get into trouble. b. If you get into hot water, you get a lucky day. c. If you get into hot water, you get a bad day. d. If you get into hot water, you get a burn skin. 136. quarry : marble ::______ : honey a. glee b. foible c. Desperate d. gloaming 140. eider : ______ :: cedar : tree a. snow b. plant c. duck d. pine 141. gerrymander : divide ::filibuster : ______ a. bend b. punish c. delay d. rush 152. Keep abreast means __________. a. If you keep abreast of things, you stay uninformed about developments. b. If you keep abreast of things, you stay informed about developments. c. If you keep abreast of things, you stay informed about things. d. If you keep abreast of things, you stay informed about life 142. ______ : trail :: grain : grail 153. Keep it under your hat means ___________. a. train b. path c. wheat d. holy 143. particular : fussy ::______ : subservient a. meek b. above c. cranky d. uptight 144. ______ : horse ::board : train a. If you keep something under your hat, you keep it unclean. b. If you keep something under your hat, you keep it fresh. c. If you keep something under your hat, you keep it smelly. d. If you keep something under your hat, you keep it secret. 154. Spot on means ________. 145. smear : libel :: heed : ______ a. If something is spot on, it is exactly right. b. If something is spot on, it is exactly extrovert. c. If something is spot on, it is exactly wrong. d. If something is spot on, it is exactly introvert. a. represent b. doubt c. consider d. need 155. Take a punch means ________. 146. nymph : ______ ::seraphim : angel a. If somebody takes a punch, something good happens to them. b. If somebody takes a blow, something bad happens to them. c. If somebody takes a blow, something lucky happens to them. d. If somebody takes a blow, someone will punch him/her. a. stable b. shoe c. ride d. mount a. maiden b. sinner c. candle d. priest 147. poetry : rhyme ::philosophy : ______ a. imagery b. music c. bi-law d. theory Directions: Choose the word most opposite in meaning to the capitalized word. DIRECTIONS: In every Item, Identify the English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions. On your Answer Sheet, shade completely the bubble that corresponds to your answers. 156. ASSIMILATE: (A) strive (B) adapt (C) synchronize (D) estrange (E) officiate 148. A pretty penny means _____________. 157. GRATUITOUS: a. If something costs a pretty penny, it is very expensive. b. If something costs a pretty penny, it is very inexpensive. c. If something costs a pretty penny, it is very precious. d. If something costs a pretty penny, it is very unimportant. (A) voluntary (B) arduous (C) solicitous (D) righteous (E) befitting 158. CURB: (A) bridle (B) encourage (C) reproach (D) ameliorate (E) perjure 159. DOCUMENT: (A) copy (B) implement (C) gainsay (D) blanch (E) rant 160. FLUID: (A) radiant (B) smooth (C) solid (D) balky (E) craggy 161. HYPOCRITICAL: (A) forthright (B) judicious (C) circumspect (D) puritanical (E) unorthodox 162. VOLUMINOUS: (A) obscure (B) cantankerous (C) unsubstantial (D) tenacious (E) opprobrious 163. FANATICISM: (A) delusion (B) fascism (C) remorse (D) cynicism (E) indifference 164. INTERMINABLE: (A) finite (B) jejune (C) tranquil (D) incessant (E) imprudent 165. ORNATE: (A) Spartan (B) blemished (C) sturdy (D) counterfeit (E) temporary 166. MUTABILITY: (A) simplicity (B) apprehension (C) frailty (D) maverick (E) tenacity 167. VIRULENT: (A) benign (B) intrepid (C) malignant (D) hyperbolic (E) tentative 168. ABSTEMIOUS: (A) timely (B) immoderate (C) bellicose ( D) servile (E) irreligious 169. VERBOSE: (A) subliminal (B) myopic (C) pithy (D) dauntless (E) ubiquitous 170. VISCID: (A) subtle (B) faint (C) slick (D) vicious (E) difficult Key Answers to Vocabulary Questions in 2017 Civil Service Exam: 136. a. A quarry yields marble, and a hive yields honey. 137. c. Quixotic is an antonym for pragmatic, and murky is an antonym for clear. 138. c. Miserly is another word for cheap, and homogeneous is another word for alike. 139. c. To skew is a synonym of to slant, and to be gloomy is a synonym for desperate. 140. c. An eider is a type of duck, and a cedar is a type of tree. 141. c. To gerrymander is a political term meaning to divide land, and to filibuster is to delay legislature. 142. a. Train becomes trail when the “n” is replaced by an “l,” and grain becomes grail when the “n” is replaced by an “l.” 143. a. Particular is a synonym for fussy, and meek is a synonym for subservient. 144. d. To mount means to get on a horse, and to board means to get on a train. 145. c. To smear is a synonym of to libel, and to heed is a synonym of to consider. 146. a. A nymph is a maiden, and a seraphim is an angel. 147. d. Poetry is often comprised of rhyme; philosophy is often built on theory. 148. a.If something costs a pretty penny, it is very expensive. 149. b. If someone comes out of their shell, they stop being shy and withdrawn and become more friendly and sociable. 150. c. If a person shows derring-do, they show great courage. 151. a.If you get into hot water, you get into trouble. 152. b.If you keep abreast of things, you stay informed about developments. 153. d. If you keep something under your hat, you keep it secret. 154. a. If something is spot on, it is exactly right. 155. If somebody takes a blow, something bad happens to them. 156. (D) estrange 157. (E) befitting 158. (B) encourage 159. (C) gainsay 160. (D) balky 161. (A) forthright 162. (C) unsubstantial 163. (E) indifference 164. (A) finite 165. (A) Spartan 166. (E) tenacity 167. A) benign 168. (B) immoderate 169. (C) pithy 170. (C) slick