Read the following advertisement and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option...

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 1 to 10.

        In Gen Alpha vernacular, aura has no color associated with it and is decidedly not a spiritual thing. In fact, the word is really just used as a way to quantify somebody’s “cool factor.” If someone has so much aura, they are effortlessly cool and exude a coveted social status without even trying. Conversely, if a quiet kid who usually flies under the radar spills his juice on a popular student in the cafeteria, his ‘aura points’ will take a big hit. It is essentially a measure of how much respect or “coolness” you possess in a social situation at any given moment.

        Pushing the strategy of being effortless too far brings us to the concept of aura farming. If you are hunting down aura points, flexing too hard, and inadvertently making a mockery of yourself by flaunting too much cool, you are in the business of aura farming. The terminology comes from the world of video games where “farming” refers to doing the same task over and over again to rack up points or rewards, such as slaying low-level monsters for better armor. Aura farming applies that concept to the social sphere, representing the subtle and exhausting art of projecting a curated vibe across your entire identity.

        [I] In fact, aura farming can win you actual aura points if you do it successfully on social media and garner a following as a result. [II] The concept originated with a kid who took his dance moves to the front of a boat in Indonesia and became the country’s tourism ambassador. [III] Other examples of admirable aura farming include Michael Jackson, who many dub the original aura farmer, and Timothée Chalamet. [IV] Ultimately, the concept is saturated with irony, involving a person trying to be cool while maintaining an air of randomness to their curated content.

        Gen Alpha loves this trend because they like to lean into absurdity, ambiguity, and randomness. It is difficult to say whether aura farming is a compliment or a dig because the impression is that it can go both ways. This trend requires a very delicate touch; do it right and you will go viral and become a really big deal, but do it wrong and you are just the butt of a joke. It is like a social stock market where anyone who goes public must be ready to take some risks and face the irony of their highly calculated yet seemingly random content.

(Adapted from https://www.purewow.com/)

Question 1. The word “coveted” can be replaced by ____________.

A. rather lowly
B. quite awful
C. strongly desired
D. slightly favoured

Question 2. According to paragraph 1, how does Gen Alpha define “aura”?

A. A quantifiable assessment of spiritual depth.
B. The level of respect achieved effortlessly.

C. An association between colors and qualities.
D. The perceived coolness gained by trying.

Question 3. The phrase “that concept” in paragraph 2 refers to ____________.

A. the art of projecting a curated vibe
B. slaying low-level monsters for armor

C. the terminology of video game farming
D. the tasks gamers do to win video games

Question 4. Which of the following best summarizes paragraph 2?

A. The art of aura farming is a sophisticated strategy that allows gaining social status by appearing to make great efforts.

B. Social status points can be acquired by adopting an effortless strategy called aura farming though the results are unpredictable.

C. Aura farming, an expression derived from gaming language, is the conscious effort to project an artificial image of coolness.

D. Aura farming is the process of gaining social recognition by adopting tactics which are commonly used in video games.

Question 5. Where in the passage does the following sentence best fit?

There is an inherent contradiction here, as aura farming is not always a negative thing.

A. [III]
B. [IV]
C. [II]
D. [I]

Question 6. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 3?

        A. Aura farming requires people to curate content to seem random in an ironic way.

        B. Irony comes from balancing an image of coolness with the pretense of randomness.

        C. People add irony to their image of coolness by carefully crafting content as random.

        D. The irony of aura farming lies in the fact that intentions are presented as accidents.

Question 7. Why is aura farming popular among Gen Alpha?

A. It allows them to impress others easily.
B. It is a great way to get compliments.

C. It offers a great sense of illogicality.
D. It demonstrates their sense of humour.

Question 8. Aura farming is compared with the social stock market to emphasize ____________.

        A. the significant financial reward gained from social media fame

        B. the contradiction Gen Alpha often faces in achieving popularity

        C. the unpredictable nature of exposing curated identity to the public

        D. the potential loss of respect due to careless creation of content

Question 9. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

        A. True aura can be acquired through accidents rather than intentional actions.

        B. The goal of aura farming is respect, but the process involves self-mockery.

        C. Michael Jackson publicly admitted that he was trying to farm aura points.

        D. The perception of whether someone is cool or trying too hard is subjective.

Question 10. Which of the following best summarizes the passage?

A. Aura is a term for coolness that originated in video games, but it has now become a negative label for people who try too hard on social media.

B. Aura farming, derived from video games, provides a reliable and low-risk method for social media users to achieve massive viral success.

C. Gen Alpha uses the term aura to describe social status, and while trying to manufacture it carries risks, it can also lead to significant social rewards.

D. Gen Alpha’s “aura” is a flexible measure of social cool, requiring people to engage in “aura farming” the effortless creation of an ironic online image.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 11 to 18.

        Genetics has a much larger role in how long a person lives than previously thought, challenging decades of scientific consensus. About 55% of the human lifespan is heritable, meaning that more than half of the variation in longevity across a population is attributable to genetics. This is a much greater proportion than previous estimates of 10–25%, suggesting that genetics is a primary factor in the ageing process.

        Previous estimates were too low because they did not effectively separate deaths caused by extrinsic factors, such as accidents, from intrinsic ones inside the body. To tease out these factors, researchers re-examined data from twin studies in Denmark and Sweden. By comparing identical twins, who share all their DNA, with fraternal twins, the team could accurately model the portion of lifespan determined specifically by genes.

        Excluding deaths caused by extrinsic factors made the similarity in lifespans between genetically related individuals much clearer. This connection became more apparent over time owing to improved public-health measures. In data from the late 1800s, when people often died young from infections, the genetic signal was almost invisible. However, the calculated heritability rose naturally over the twentieth century as medical advancements reduced external risks.

        Not all intrinsic causes of death are equally heritable; while cardiovascular disease showed high genetic influence, cancer showed much lower heritability, likely driven by environmental triggers. These results do not indicate a genetically encoded “destiny,” because healthy living is still heavily influenced by lifestyle choices. You cannot change the genes you are born with, but you can change your lifestyle to ensure you live a longer, healthier life.

(Adapted from https://www.nature.com/)

Question 11. According to paragraph 1, genetic factors ____________.

        A. account for more than half of the variation in how long people live

        B. used to be widely overestimated among the scientific community

        C. play an important role in reducing the speed of the ageing process

        D. have various effects on longevity across different population groups

Question 12. The word “consensus” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ____________.

A. arrangement
B. organization
C. agreement
D. issue

Question 13. The phrase “these factors” in paragraph 2 refers to ____________.

A. The lifespan data from Denmark and Sweden
B. The intrinsic and extrinsic causes of deaths

C. The previous estimates and current findings
D. Identical twins and fraternal twins’ genes

Question 14. The word “apparent” in paragraph 3 is OPPOSITE in meaning to ____________.

A. evident
B. unclear
C. noticeable
D. unsuitable

Question 15. Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 3?

A. It is highly possible that the increasing rate of heritability was caused by medical breakthroughs during the last century.

B. When external risks were reduced by medical progress, scientists began to calculate the true heritability rate more efficiently.

C. The increased effectiveness of modern medicine led to the genetic impact on lifespan becoming more obvious over time.

D. Improvements in public health meant that people were less likely to die from extrinsic causes compared to previous generations.

Question 16. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

        A. Eliminating extrinsic deaths clarified the genetic connection to life expectancy.

        B. People still hold great power to improve longevity in spite of their fixed genes.

        C. Heart disease and cancer show different levels of response to lifestyle changes.

        D. Diseases with low heritability can largely be attributed to environmental factors.

Question 17. Which paragraph mentions a cause of early mortality?

A. Paragraph 4
B. Paragraph 1
C. Paragraph 3
D. Paragraph 2

Question 18. Which paragraph mentions the relationship between research subjects?

A. Paragraph 2
B. Paragraph 1
C. Paragraph 4
D. Paragraph 3

Mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best arrangement of utterances or sentences to make a cohesive and coherent exchange or text in each of the following questions.

Question 19. 

Dear Ms. Johnson,

A. If you encounter any technical difficulties during the registration process, please contact our support team immediately.

B. Renewing before the deadline ensures you retain uninterrupted access to our exclusive digital library and research journals.

C. Please log in to the member portal to complete the payment at your earliest convenience.

D. Your current professional subscription is set to expire on December 31st.

e. We are writing to remind you that your annual membership with the Association of Architects is due for renewal.

Yours sincerely, The Membership Team

A. d – c – a – b – e
B. d – e – c – b – a
C. e – d – c – b – a
D. e – c – b – a – d

Question 20. 

A. While coding and debugging are essential aspects of this job, the regular team meetings for software updates, for instance, is a small trade-off.

B. Working in a quiet home office fuels my focus and allows for a more efficient coding environment.

C. Indeed, for the past two years, I have thrived in this role at a tech startup, where I build mobile applications and fix technical bugs.

D. My interest in both logic and math naturally led me to a rewarding career in software engineering.

e. In conclusion, I am very satisfied with my current job and the growth it offers, as it perfectly matches my talents and goals.

A. c – a – d – b – e
B. d – c – b – a – e
C. b – c – d – a – e
D. a – b – c – d – e

Question 21. 

A.  Tom: Not yet. I am torn between booking a relaxing beach trip or planning a mountain hiking expedition. What about you?

B.  Tom: Japan is amazing! The history is deep and the local cuisine is fascinating.

C.  Sarah: I agree completely. Exploring new cultures and traditions is the best part of travel.

D.  Sarah: Hey, have you finalised your plans for the upcoming summer holiday?

e. Sarah: I am going to Japan. I want to visit the ancient temples in Kyoto and try authentic sushi.

A. d – a – e – b – c
B. d – a – c – b – e
C. e – b – c – a – d
D. e – a – d – b – c

Question 22. 

A.  Tom: Then, message me when you’ve finished your workout.

B.  Tom: I’m going to the gym now. Would you like to join me for a session?

C.  Mary: Thanks, but I’m going to finish this laundry and then head there by myself later.

A. a – b – c
B. b – a – c
C. b – c – a
D. a – c – b

Question 23. 

A. Today, the corporation operates more efficiently with a flexible, global workforce and reduced overhead costs.

B. Furthermore, strict cybersecurity protocols were introduced to protect sensitive client data accessed from outside the office.

C. Consequently, management invested heavily in cloud-based collaboration tools to ensure seamless communication among teams.

D. This sudden transformation revealed significant gaps in the company’s digital infrastructure and remote management policies.

e. In recent years, the logistics firm has shifted from a traditional office-based model to a remote-first work environment.

A. e – d – c – b – a
B. a – d – c – b – e
C. e – c – b – d – a
D. a – e – c – d – b

Read the following instructions and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the blanks from 24 to 29.

How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter

To (24) ____________ in today’s competitive job market, follow these strategies to turn a daunting task into a secret weapon.

• Research (25) ____________: Explore the company website, read press releases, and study their mission statement. Review the job description more than once, underlining repeated phrases, desired skills, and core values.
• Personalize your story: Make it extremely personal to the company, role, and your background. Describe your “superpowers” upfront and explain (26) ____________ they align with the job description.
• Maintain authenticity: Avoid copying and pasting keywords; (27) ____________, rewrite the job requirements in your own words. Do not let AI write it for you as hiring managers can often (28) ____________ non-human voices.
• Get a second opinion: Have a trusted friend (29) ____________ your draft to ensure it showcases your unique voice.

(Adapted from https://www.forbes.com/)

Question 24.
A. make out
B. stand out
C. catch on
D. carry on

Question 25.
A. correctly
B. exactly
C. thoroughly
D. intensely

Question 26.
A. when
B. how
C. where
D. what

Question 27.
A. otherwise
B. however
C. instead
D. moreover

Question 28.
A. catch
B. pick
C. spot
D. mark

Question 29.
A. to read
B. reading
C. being read
D. read

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the blanks from 36 to 40.

        James Watson and Francis Crick set out to solve the structure of DNA by tinkering with toy-like physical models. (36) ____________, they deduced the structure of the double helix. This is an example of how scientific breakthroughs can emerge from something that looks remarkably like play, (37) ____________.

        A growing body of evidence is showing that play is a vital activity. It is associated with the development of cognitive and emotional skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and resilience. (38) ____________, and the main mechanism for them to deal with that unknown is to play, sense, and experiment with things around.

        Evidence is also emerging that certain kinds of play can help children learn as well as formal instruction. Guided play involves a playful educational task where children have freedom of choice, (39) ____________. Research indicates that guided play is as effective as conventional teaching for developing key skills such as literacy, numeracy, and thinking skills.

        There are links, too, between play and creativity, a central pillar of the scientific endeavour. You’re creating, you are experimenting, you are buzzing ideas together. There is an obvious parallel with playing imaginatively or playing with friends. (40) ____________. It eventually won Watson and Crick a Nobel Prize and unlocked one of the greatest mysteries of biology.

(Adapted from https://www.newscientist.com/)

Question 36. 

        A. By following their curiosity and investigating different possibilities

        B. Being investigated into their curiosity to follow different possibilities

        C. If they follow the investigation into different possibilities of curiosity

        D. If their curiosity is followed and investigated by different possibilities

Question 37. 

        A. it is something that often conjures up trivial images

        B. an image or a word which is often conjured up by something trivial

        C. which is a word that often conjures up images of something trivial

        D. an image which is often conjured up by trivial things

Question 38. 

        A. We are uncertain about the world where children are born and thrown into

        B. Children born with uncertainty about the world where they are thrown into

        C. Children are thrown into a world of uncertainty when they are born

        D. When children are born and thrown into the world of uncertainty

Question 39. 

        A. or a learning goal will gently steer them towards adulthood

        B. but are gently steered towards a learning goal by an adult

        C. and are gently steered towards adulthood by a learning goal

        D. while an adult will gently steer it towards a learning goal

Question 40. 

        A. Important as it might turn out to be, playing with wire and cardboard looked like something simple

        B. What looked like simple play with wire and cardboard turned out to be anything but unimportant

        C. Wire and cardboard looked simple but they turned out to be something that was important for playing

        D. The importance of what looked like playing with wire and cardboard turned out to be not that simple