English Vocabulary for SSC & Bank Exam

1. Ravenous (Adj) :- devouring or craving food in great quantities, extremely hungry. (bahotbhookha)
Synonyms: voracious, rapacious, edacious, esurient, gluttonous. 
Uses: It keeps the ravenous predators of the market at bay.

2. Vacuous (Adj) :- having or showing a lack of intelligence or serious thought: lacking meaning or importance. (Rikt, Moorkh)
Synonyms: Vacant, blank, void. devoid.
Uses: Clinton’s preference for vacuous campaigning gives Republicans an opening.

3. Vivacious (Adj) :- vigorous and animated.
Synonyms: animated, lively, vibrant.
Uses: A vivacious person is lively and spirited.

4. Despondency (N) :- feeling downcast and disheartened and hopeless. (nirash, hatash)
Synonyms: despair, hopelessness.
Uses: He had led the country out of the despondency which followed the defeat of Novara and the abdication of Charles Albert, through all the vicissitudes of national unification to the final triumph at Rome.

5. Detrimental (Adj.) :- causing harm or injury, (Hanikarak)
Synonyms: baleful, deleterious, noxious, pernicious, obnoxious, baneful,hazardous.
Uses: It noted Pakistani leaders’ fears it could have “substantial detrimental effects” on the economy.

6. Indolent (Adj.) :- disinclined to work. (Aalasi, Sust)
Synonyms: sluggish, lazy, lethargy, slothful.
Uses: But prostate cancer can grow slowly or remain dormant — indolent, in medical parlance.

7. Industrious (Adj.) :- characterized by hard work and perseverance. (Mehanti)
Synonyms: assiduous, diligent, laborious, sedulous.
Uses: If someone comments that you are very industrious, they are complimenting you for working hard and tirelessly.

8. Lackadaisical (Adj.) :- lacking spirit or liveliness. (kamIkshashaktiWala)
Synonyms: lazy, apathetic, lacklustre.
Uses: A person with a lackadaisical attitude shows no enthusiasm and puts forth a half-hearted effort.

9. Predicament (N) :- a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one. (Duvidha, Asmanjas)
Synonyms: quandary, plight, dilemma, impasse, quagmire.
Uses: If you're engaged to get married, but suddenly fall in love with someone else, you have got yourself in quite a predicament.

10. Propensity (N) :- an inclination to do something. (Pravritti)
Synonyms: tendency, inclination, aptness, proneness.
Uses:  Dogs have a propensity to bark, and many people have a propensity for getting annoyed by it.

General Science SSC Exam

1. Pollination by birds is called  

A. autogamy

B. ornithophily

C. entomophily

D. anemophily

2. The study of phenomena at very low temperatures is called  

A. heat transfer

B. morphology

C. crystallography

D. cryogenics

3. The branch of medical science which is concerned with the study of disease as it affects a community of people is called  

A. epidemiology

B. oncology

C. paleontogy

D. pathology

4.Superconductivity is a material property associated with  

A. cooling a substance without a phase change

B. frictionless liquid flow

C. a loss of thermal resistance

D. a loss of electrical resistance

5.If a metal can be drawn into wires relatively easily it is called  

A. malleable

B. ductile

C. extractive

D. tactile

6. Cystitis is the infection of which of the following?  

A. liver

B. urinary bladder

C. pancreas

D. lung

7. Which of the following is primarily composed of calcium carbonate?  

A. Fish scales

B. Shark teeth

C. Oyster Shells

D. Whale bones

8. Water flows through a horizontal pipe at a constant volumetric rate. At a location where the cross sectional area decreases, the velocity of the fluid  

A. increases

B. decreases

C. stays the same

D. none of the above

9. A cyclone is an engineering device that is used to  

A. transport materials

B. segregate particles

C. control switching devices

D. model fractals

10.A gas used as a disinfectant in drinking water is  

A. Hydrogen

B. Oxygen

C. Fluorine

D. Chlorine

Answer key:
01.B
02.D
03.A
04.D
05.B
06.B
07.C
08.A
09.B
10.D

General Awareness Question for SSC CGL Exam

1. Which of the following are incorrectly paired?

(A)Sri Krishna Devaraya – Amuktamalyada

(B)Harshavardhana – Nagananda

(C)Kalidasa – Ritusamhara

(D)Visakhadatta – Kiratarjuniyam

2. Who was the first muslim president of the Indian national congress?

(A)Muhammad Ali Jinnah

(B)BadruddinTyabji

(C)Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

(D)AbulKalam Azad

3. In which year, Gandhiji established Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat :

(A)1916

(B)1917

(C)1918

(D)1929

4. Most of the chola temples were dedicated to :

(A)Vishnu

(B)Shiva

(C)Brahma

(D)Durga

5. The tax which the kings used to collect from the people in the Vedic period was called _____

(A)Bali

(B)Vidatha

(C)Varman

(D)Kara

6. ‘Operation Flood’ is associated with ____

(A)Milk production

(B)Wheat production

(C)Flood Control

(D)Water Harvesting

7. Which of the following is not the source of the revenue of central Government?

(A)Income tax

(B)Corporate tax

(C)Agricultural Income tax

(D)Excise duty

8. A fall in demand or rise in supply of a commodity ___

(A)Increases the price of that commodity

(B)Decreases the price of that commodity

(C)Neutralizes the changes in the price

(D)Determines the price elasticity

9. No confidence Motion against the union council of ministers can be initiated _____

(A)In rajyasabha only

(B)In loksabha only

(C)Both in loksabha and rajyasabha

(D)Speaker

10. Which one of the following is not the result of underground water action?

(A)Stalactites

(B)Stalagmites

(C)Sinkholes

(D)Fiords

Answer key:

1.D

2.B

3.B

4.B

5.A

6.A

7.C

8.B

9.B

10.D

Current Affair 22 Jan 2016

1. Pavel Filip appointed as Moldova's PM 

(i) Moldovan Parliament appointed Pavel Filip as the country's Prime Minister. Filip is Moldova's third PM in less than a year, the previous two being Chiril Gaburici and Valeriu Strelet. 

(ii) While Gaburici resigned in June 2015, Strelet was overthrown with a no-confidence vote in October 2015 after $1 billion was siphoned-off from the nation's banking system. 

(iii) Filip is part of the main pro-European Union coalition. His victory has led to protests in the nation from both pro-European and pro-Russian activists, who are incensed over his ties with one of the richest man and controversial businessman Vladimir Plahotniuc.

2. World Bank to provide $250 million loan for Kosi Basin Project 

(i) India recently signed a loan agreement with the World Bank, as per which the latter will provide $250 million loan for the Bihar Kosi Basin Development project. 

(ii) The project aims to improve agricultural productivity in targeted districts in the river basin and enhance the state's ability to fight floods. 

(iii) The project will primarily benefit rural producers and households in the basin, including farmers that have lost their land due to silt deposits brought by the 2008 Kosi River flood as well as farmers in the project area, who presently do not have access to irrigation, improved agricultural practices and proper transportation.

3. New species of thrush (bird) discovered in eastern Himalayas 

(i) A team of scientists discovered a new species of the thrush (bird) in north-eastern India and adjacent regions of China. The newly-found Himalayan Forest thrush (Zoothera salimalii) is commonly found in the eastern Himalaya range but was hitherto unnoticed as it is similar in appearance to the plain-backed thrush (which has now been renamed as Alpine thrush). 

(ii) As per the Bombay Natural History Society's (BNHS) press release stated that this is the first Indian bird to be named after late Dr. Salim Ali, who was associated with the BNHS as a researcher, honorary secretary and president. This is in recognition of his huge contribution to the growth of modern Indian ornithology and wildlife conservation.

(iii) Scientists from India, Sweden, China, U.S. and Russia worked on the project.

4. Jodhpur's Umaid Bhawan Palace named the World's Best Hotel of 2016

(i) As per the recently released 14th edition of travel site TripAdvisor's 2016 Travellers' Choice Awards, the Umaid Bhawan Palace situated in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, was named the World's Best Hotel of 2016. 

(ii) The 347-room hotel was constructed between 1928 and 1943 and boasts of a distinctive architectural blend of western and eastern design. The golden sandstone edifice features a 32m-high cupola inspired by the European Renaissance, while the art and decor reflect the Rajput heritage. 

(iii) The travel site selected the winners based on millions of reviews collected in a year from TripAdvisor travellers across the globe. The Shinta Mani Resort in Siem Reap, Cambodia and Bellevue Syrene in Sorrento, Italy, bagged the second and third place in the list respectively. 

5. Ravi Chellam appointed as executive director of Greenpeace India 

(i) Recently, noted environmentalist Ravi Chellam took charge as the executive director of the Greenpeace India. 

(ii) As per a statement, Chellam has been appointed at a phase when the NGO is, "facing a series of challenges from a number of government agencies apart from renewing the organisation's focus on campaigns for a clean and safe future". 

(iii) Chellam, who is a wildlife biologist and conservation scientist, has vast experience in management of environmental organisations. Previously, he was associated with the Wildlife Institute of India, United Nations Development Programme, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Wildlife Conservation Society (India Program), Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, among others.

6. Atulesh Jindal appointed as chairman of CBDT

(i) Atulesh Jindal, a senior Indian Revenue Service official, was appointed as the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), which is India's apex tax body. 

(ii) The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet finalised this appointment after superannuation of AK Jain, who was brought in as acting Chairman on December 2015.

English For SSC Exam

English Vocabulary with Hindi Meaning

1. Diaphanous: पारदर्शक

Meaning: Transparent

Usage: A diaphanous door.

2. Disport: आनंद मनाना

Meaning: to smile

Usage: People disported themselves at the stage show.

3. Dulcet: आनंदकर

Meaning: Sweet sounding

Usage: I thought I recognized your dulcet tone.

4. Despondency: निराशा

Meaning: hopeless, sad

Usage: It is very difficult to come out from despondency after his father’s death.

5. Didactic: प्रबोधक

Meaning:  a bitter; criticism in speck writing

Usage: Launch a diatribe against the government.

6. Exculpate: निर्दोष सिद्ध करना

Meaning: Prove guiltless

Usage: The Supreme Court exculpated Sanjay Dutt from TADA Case.

7. Encumber

Meaning: to become burden

Usage: Traveling is difficult when you’re encumbered with heavy suitcases.

8. Extol: प्रशंसा करना

Meaning: to praise highly

Usage: He was extolled as a hero.

9. Effulgent: दीप्तिमान

Meaning: shinning brilliantly

Usage: The effulgent beauty.

10.Ephemeral: अल्पकालिक

Meaning: short lived

Usage: Ephemeral mosquitoes during the rainy season.