One-Word Substitution – MBA CET questions with solutions

Approach: One-word substitution — showing off learning.

Solution: Pedantic = excessively concerned with displaying one's learning or minor rules. A pedantic style is one in which the writer makes a display of his knowledge.

Why the other options are wrong:
B: Verbose — using too many words.
C: Pompous — self-important in manner; not specifically about knowledge.
D: Sarcastic — mocking.
E: Succinct — brief and clear.

Answer: A

Approach: One-word substitution — 'cannot be corrected'.

Solution: Incorrigible (in- = not + corrigible = correctable) = that which cannot be corrected or reformed.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: Unintelligible — cannot be understood.
B: Indelible — cannot be erased.
C: Illegible — cannot be read.
E: Irregular — not following a pattern.

Cetking shortcut: Root 'corrig-' = correct (as in 'corrigendum').

Answer: D

Approach: One-word substitution — insisting on something.

Solution: A stickler is a person who insists firmly on a particular quality or standard ('a stickler for punctuality').

Why the other options are wrong:
A: Disciplinarian — enforces strict discipline on others; narrower.
C: Instantaneous — an adjective meaning immediate.
D: Boaster — one who brags.
E: Literate — able to read and write.

Answer: B

Approach: One-word substitution — direction relative to a centre.

Solution: Centrifugal (centr- + -fugal, from Latin fugere = to flee) = tending to move away from the centre or axis.

Why the other options are wrong:
B: Centripetal (-petal from petere = to seek) — towards the centre.
C: Awry — out of the normal position.
D: Axiomatic — self-evident.
E: Central — at the centre.

Cetking shortcut: fugal = flee (fugitive) → away; petal = seek → towards.

Answer: A

Approach: One-word substitution — pretending to be someone else.

Solution: An impostor (also spelt imposter) is a person who pretends to be somebody he/she is not, in order to deceive.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: Hypocrite — pretends to have virtues or beliefs he lacks, not another identity.
B: Rogue — a dishonest person.
C: Liar — tells untruths, not necessarily posing as someone.
E: Linguist — one skilled in languages.

Answer: D

Approach: One-word substitution using Latin number roots.

Solution: A person aged 90 to 99 is in their nineties. The Latin root nonageni = ninety, so the word is NONAGENARIAN.

Why the other options are wrong:
A Octogenarian: 80 to 89 years.
B Centenarian: 100 years or more.
C Septuagenarian: 70 to 79 years.
E Puerile: childishly silly; not an age word.

Cetking shortcut: Remember the ladder: sexagenarian 60, septuagenarian 70, octogenarian 80, nonagenarian 90, centenarian 100.

Answer: D

Approach: One-word substitution using Greek roots.

Solution: Greek kleptes = thief. KLEPTOMANIA = a compulsive urge to steal things, usually things one does not need.

Why the other options are wrong:
A Logomania: abnormal talkativeness (logos = word).
B Melomania: excessive love of music (melos = song).
D Hypomania: a mild form of mania (mood state).
E Mythomania: compulsive lying or exaggeration.

Cetking shortcut: Link the root to a known word: klepto = thief (as in 'kleptocracy', rule by thieves).

Answer: C

Approach: One-word substitution for a stage of life.

Solution: Dotage = extreme old age marked by weakness of mind, when a person behaves foolishly.

Why the other options are wrong:
A Nostalgia: longing for the past.
B Serendipity: a happy chance discovery.
D Superannuation: retirement because of age / pension scheme — no foolish behaviour implied.
E Ethnicity: belonging to a cultural group.

Cetking shortcut: In one's dotage = senile; "dote" also means to be foolishly fond.

Answer: C

Approach: One-word substitution for a belief.

Solution: A fatalist believes that all events are predetermined (fate) and cannot be changed.

Why the other options are wrong:
A Extremist: holds extreme political/religious views.
C Tyrant: a cruel ruler.
D Puritan: one with very strict moral/religious standards.
E Egalitarian: believes all people are equal.

Answer: B

Approach: Animal homes — recall the special name for a squirrel's nest.

Solution: A squirrel builds a nest of twigs and leaves high in a tree; this nest is called a drey.
Completed sentence: 'The squirrel's nest is known as a drey.'

Why the other options are wrong:
A. Stable — home of a horse.
B. Coop — home of hens/poultry.
C. Den — home of a lion or wild beast.
D. Burrow — home of a rabbit or rat.

Answer: E

Approach: One-word substitution — '-mania' = obsessive urge.

Solution: Klepto (Greek: steal) + mania (obsession) = Kleptomania, a morbid desire to steal.

Why the other options are wrong:
B. Prevaricate — to avoid telling the truth.
C. Peroration — the concluding part of a speech.
D. Stoic — a person who endures hardship without complaint.
E. Sycophant — a flatterer.

Answer: A

Approach: One-word substitution — use roots: philo = love, zo = animal.

Solution: Philo (love) + zoic (animals) = Philozoic, a lover of animals.

Why the other options are wrong:
A. Philomuse — a lover of the arts/learning.
C. Polyglot — a person who knows many languages.
D. Emissary — a messenger sent on a mission.
E. Zoophobia — fear of animals; opposite.

Cetking shortcut: Root splitting: philo (love) + zo (animal) — only B has both.

Answer: B

Approach: One-word substitution — '-logy' = study of; kalos = beauty.

Solution: Kalo (beautiful) + logy (study) = Kalology, the science of human beauty.

Why the other options are wrong:
A. Aetiology — study of causes (of disease).
B. Physiology — study of how the body functions.
D. Cosmography — mapping/description of the universe.
E. Etiology — another spelling of aetiology.

Cetking shortcut: A and E are the same word (aetiology/etiology), so both are out at once.

Answer: C

Approach: One-word substitution — animal adjectives from Latin.

Solution: Latin vulpes = fox → Vulpine = fox-like.

Why the other options are wrong:
A. Leonine — lion-like.
B. Porine — not a standard animal adjective (porcine = pig-like).
C. Canine — dog-like.
E. Ostler — a stableman who looks after horses at an inn.

Cetking shortcut: Learn the set: leonine (lion), canine (dog), feline (cat), bovine (cow), equine (horse), vulpine (fox), ursine (bear), porcine (pig).

Answer: D

Approach: One-word substitution — 'palaeo' = ancient.

Solution: Palaeo (ancient) + onto (being) + logy (study) = Palaeontology, the study of fossils.

Why the other options are wrong:
A. Nomology — study of laws.
B. Metallurgy — science of metals.
C. Metrology — science of measurement.
D. Numismatics — study of coins.

Answer: E

Approach: Young ones of animals/insects.

Solution: A housefly lays eggs that hatch into soft, legless larvae called maggots.

Why the other options are wrong:
A. Fawn — young deer.
B. Owlet — young owl.
D. Cygnet — young swan.
E. Nymph — young of insects like grasshoppers, cockroaches, dragonflies.

Answer: C

Approach: Greek 'kalos' = beautiful + '-logy' = study.

Solution: Kalology = the science or study of human beauty.

Why the other options are wrong:
B: etiology (aetiology) – study of causes, especially of disease.
C: physiology – study of body functions.
D: cosmology – study of the universe.
E: osteology – study of bones.

Cetking shortcut: 'Kal-' as in calligraphy (beautiful writing) and kaleidoscope (beautiful forms).

Answer: A

Approach: One-word substitution.

Solution: Euphemism = a mild or indirect word used in place of a harsh or blunt one (e.g. 'passed away' for 'died'). This matches 'use of mild words in place of words required by truth'.

Why the other options are wrong:
B Cinephile: lover of cinema.
C Misobiblic: hating books.
D Pessimistic: expecting the worst.
E Rapacious: greedy.

Cetking shortcut: eu- = good or well (euphony, eulogy), so euphemism = 'speaking well' of something harsh.

Answer: A