Online testing: A verbal psychometric test (verbal reasoning) (Psychometric)

Identify the word that means the opposite of the given word. Respect

Choose the correct word(s) from the lists to complete the sentence.

Rearrange the sentences into the order in which they were originally written.

Passage 12: Solicitors, doctors and priests have traditionally kept in strict confidence information they hold about or are told by their clients. A doctor will not disclose a patient’s illness to anyone but the patient or next of kin. Priests have sought to keep secret the content of what they learn in the confessional and solicitors have guarded carefully the confidentiality of the client–lawyer relationship. However, under certain circumstances all these professions make exceptions and will break confidences. A doctor must by law report injuries he believes are the result of gunshots and conditions that represent serious threats to public health. Priests have provided information to the police in relation to child abuse cases and murder. Solicitors are required to report only suspicions they have of money laundering. Journalists also adopt a code of confidentiality to protect their sources. They have a reputation for being a profession far less likely to break their code even when ordered by the courts. In a number of high-profile cases journalists have chosen to go to jail for contempt of court rather than reveal the source of a story.
Statement: All professions have a confidentiality code but some are stricter than others.

Rearrange the sentences into the order in which they were originally written.

Passage 4: Asia is the world’s largest continent and stretches from the Baring Sea in the east to Turkey and Europe in the west. Its southern border comprises many islands, including those that make up Indonesia. Since independence of colonial powers, Asian economies have boomed. First were Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea and later Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. More recently China and India have enjoyed rapid economic growth. The south-west and central parts of the continent are deserts. The Himalayan mountains divide the cold north from the tropical south. The people of Asia make up over two-thirds of the world’s population and they live in the birthplace of the world’s earliest civilizations.
Statement: The continent of Antarctica is smaller than Asia.

Passage 13: In the past 12 months benefit fraud has fallen by £½ billion to its lowest level for over a decade. The fall is equivalent to a 25 per cent drop to 1.5 per cent of the total £100 billion benefit bill. This spectacular fall follows permission for the benefit office to access Inland Revenue taxation data. Benefit officers can now immediately check to see if a claimant is working and claiming benefits intended only for those out of work. This new measure has led to over 80,000 people being caught making false claims. A similar initiative has also succeeded in a substantial cut in the level of fraud committed by claimants of housing benefit. Local authorities are responsible for the administration of this allowance, which is awarded to the unemployed and low paid to help with housing costs. Until recently local authority staff had been unable to access central government records to check the information provided by claimants. These checks have so far identified 44,000 claimants who have provided false information in order to make claims for allowances for which they are not eligible.
Statement: By making it possible to share information, over 120,000 cases of fraud have been detected.

The company is in the midst of a ___, funded through a ___ bond, to expand and diversify its portfolio of business activities.

Choose two words—one from each list—that are closest in meaning or have the strongest connection. Responsive is to elastic as: rival is to

Passage 12: Solicitors, doctors and priests have traditionally kept in strict confidence information they hold about or are told by their clients. A doctor will not disclose a patient’s illness to anyone but the patient or next of kin. Priests have sought to keep secret the content of what they learn in the confessional and solicitors have guarded carefully the confidentiality of the client–lawyer relationship. However, under certain circumstances all these professions make exceptions and will break confidences. A doctor must by law report injuries he believes are the result of gunshots and conditions that represent serious threats to public health. Priests have provided information to the police in relation to child abuse cases and murder. Solicitors are required to report only suspicions they have of money laundering. Journalists also adopt a code of confidentiality to protect their sources. They have a reputation for being a profession far less likely to break their code even when ordered by the courts. In a number of high-profile cases journalists have chosen to go to jail for contempt of court rather than reveal the source of a story.
Statement: Solicitors are obliged to report a client to the authorities if they suspect them of tax evasion.

Rearrange the sentences into the order in which they were originally written.

Choose two words, one from each list, that are closest in meaning or have the strongest connection.

Passage 9: People assume that they go to hospital to get well. However, in the past few years this perception has been challenged by the real risk of acquiring a deadly infection while in hospital. As a consequence, public confidence in the health service has suffered. An antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria was first identified in the 1950s. It was a staphylococcus common in abscesses and bloodstream infections and it had become resistant to the antibiotic penicillin. Since then the bacteria have become resistant to a second antibiotic and have become established as a source of infection in many nursing homes and hospitals. Today they are believed to cause about 1,000 deaths each year as a result of hospital-acquired infections. Action that can beat this ‘superbug’ is simple but expensive: very high levels of hygiene and cleanliness and a programme of testing so that infected patients can be isolated and treated.
Statement: Staphylococcus has become a ‘superbug’.

Passage 10: Recent changes to the postal voting system are considered by election officials to significantly increase the risk of electoral fraud. If it were to become widespread, such fraud could discredit the electoral process. Greatest concerns centre around the very limited time the new system allows electoral administrators to check that requests for postal ballots are genuine. The government is keen to increase the number of people who cast a vote and believe that people should not be denied a vote simply because they do not apply in good time. Fraud is currently rare and there is so far no evidence of postal votes leading to widespread fraud.
Statement: The previous system of postal voting was considered by election administrators to be less open to fraud.

Rearrange the sentences into the order in which they were originally written.

Find the new four-letter word from the end of one given word and the beginning of the next.

British firms have failed ___ implement government recommendations about investing in and managing their workforces because they have been busy ___ to unprecedented regulatory changes.

Swap two words so that the sentence reads sensibly.

Swap two words so that the sentence reads sensibly.

Swap two words so that the sentence reads sensibly.

Passage 8: The ambulance service estimates that as many as 500 lives are lost each year because of slower emergency response times caused by road humps. Some claim that road humps, or sleeping policemen, cost more lives than are saved as a result of slowed traffic. Critics of road humps also claim that they cause more pollution as drivers repeatedly slow down and speed up and that they cause more congestion by disrupting the flow of traffic. Residents complain of the noise of cars crossing them and accelerating away from them. Some of these claims run counter to published research which shows that road humps cause average speeds to drop by 10 mph and as a result save lives. Since 1980 and the widespread introduction of road humps, figures show that the level of deaths and serious injury fell by 60 per cent.
Statement: Critics believe that traffic would flow more smoothly if road humps were removed.

Passage 15: For most of the last two decades of the previous century the economy of the city of Liverpool was mostly stagnant and far behind that of the rest of the UK. But as other cities have become more expensive, Liverpool has become a more popular place in which to invest and live. Liverpool’s population dropped from 800,000 after the war to less than 500,000 at the turn of the century. The process of depopulation has now reduced to a trickle and for the first time in decades the working population has grown. The level of unemployment, which once stood at 20 per cent, is down to under 5 per cent. Construction of office space is booming and currently being built are conference complexes, a series of department stores and two 50-floor tower blocks. It is not surprising, therefore, that the working population is expected to grow further still. Low living and housing costs have attracted many public sector organizations to relocate to the city. Forty per cent of the workforce of Liverpool work in this sector and it seems that this trend will continue as over half of the new jobs created are public appointments. Subsidy has played a significant part in attracting jobs and investment. Over £4 billion has been spent in the regeneration of the region and the lion’s share of this has been committed to the city of Liverpool itself.
Statement: Forty per cent of the new jobs are public appointments.

Choose the correct word(s) from the lists to complete the sentence.

Find the new four-letter word from the end of one given word and the beginning of the next.

Choose the sentence(s) that contain an error. Options are lettered A–D.

Rearrange the sentences into the order in which they were originally written.

Rearrange the sentences into the order in which they were originally written.

Passage 6: The theory goes that everything around us is built up of tiny particles called atoms. Some materials are made up of only one type of atom; these are called elements. Others are made up of different sorts of atom bonded together into molecules. Water, for example, is a compound made up of molecules that contain two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The force which holds atoms together is called bonds. Atoms are made up of even smaller particles such as neutrons, electrons and protons. Neutrons and protons are made up of quarks and gluons. The search is on for the particles that make up quarks.
Statement: Neutrons are made up of quarks and gluons.

Swap two words so that the sentence reads sensibly.

Complete the sentence by choosing the correct words for blanks A and B.

Swap two words so that the sentence reads sensibly.

Passage 8: The ambulance service estimates that as many as 500 lives are lost each year because of slower emergency response times caused by road humps. Some claim that road humps, or sleeping policemen, cost more lives than are saved as a result of slowed traffic. Critics of road humps also claim that they cause more pollution as drivers repeatedly slow down and speed up and that they cause more congestion by disrupting the flow of traffic. Residents complain of the noise of cars crossing them and accelerating away from them. Some of these claims run counter to published research which shows that road humps cause average speeds to drop by 10 mph and as a result save lives. Since 1980 and the widespread introduction of road humps, figures show that the level of deaths and serious injury fell by 60 per cent.
Statement: Delays to the ambulance service and environmental concerns are raised as objections to road humps.

Identify the word that means the opposite of the given word. Warrant

Complete the analogy by choosing the opposite. Savage is to mild as: tangible is to

Find the new four-letter word from the end of one given word and the beginning of the next.

The chancellor faced ___ demands to avoid further increases ___ the tax burden on companies in the forthcoming budget report.

Identify the word that means the opposite of the given word. Aggravate

Rearrange the sentences into the order in which they were originally written.

Complete the sentence by choosing the correct words for blanks A and B.

Passage 2: Between 1797 and 1815 Europe went through the Napoleonic wars. During this period France was at war with Prussia, Russia, Austria, Spain and Britain. At that time the French army was the most powerful in Europe. By 1808 France had conquered much of the continent and created the largest European empire since the Romans. Napoleon Bonaparte was emperor and military leader. However, a disastrous campaign in Russia, retreat from Spain and British supremacy at sea eventually allowed a combined European force to defeat Napoleon at Waterloo.
Statement: By 1808 Napoleon headed an empire that controlled most of the continent of Europe.

Find the new four-letter word from the end of one given word and the beginning of the next.

Choose the correct word(s) from the lists to complete the sentence.

Find the new four-letter word from the end of one given word and the beginning of the next.

Choose two words, one from each list, that are closest in meaning or have the strongest connection.

Passage 1: Light is made up of electromagnetic waves. These vary in length and these differences are perceived as different colours. White light contains all wavelengths mixed together. An object looks coloured because light falls on it and it reflects only certain parts of the spectrum while the rest is absorbed. An object that looks white reflects all the light that falls on it; an object that looks red reflects the red part of the spectrum and absorbs the rest. Our eyes detect these different reflected waves and we see them as different colours.
Statement: The passage states that an object that looks blue absorbs all but the blue wavelengths of light.

Passage 14: In most parts of the developed world many middle-class people ask themselves whether they should buy or rent a house. In the United States, Spain, Ireland and the UK, most answer ‘Buy’. In these countries house prices have almost doubled over the past seven years. Other parts of the developed world have not seen such inflation and the passage asks if it is realistic to assume that prices will always continue to rise. Some argue that paying rent is like throwing money away and that it is better to repay a mortgage and build equity. But what if house prices fall? A small adjustment could wipe out the equity of many home owners. If house price inflation is a thing of the past, then home ownership becomes less attractive. Renting has some advantages too; people who rent find it easier to move for their work.
Statement: It is reasonable to infer that fewer people will rent if house prices stop going up in value.

Passage 12: Solicitors, doctors and priests have traditionally kept in strict confidence information they hold about or are told by their clients. A doctor will not disclose a patient’s illness to anyone but the patient or next of kin. Priests have sought to keep secret the content of what they learn in the confessional and solicitors have guarded carefully the confidentiality of the client–lawyer relationship. However, under certain circumstances all these professions make exceptions and will break confidences. A doctor must by law report injuries he believes are the result of gunshots and conditions that represent serious threats to public health. Priests have provided information to the police in relation to child abuse cases and murder. Solicitors are required to report only suspicions they have of money laundering. Journalists also adopt a code of confidentiality to protect their sources. They have a reputation for being a profession far less likely to break their code even when ordered by the courts. In a number of high-profile cases journalists have chosen to go to jail for contempt of court rather than reveal the source of a story.
Statement: The passage mentions priests, doctors and solicitors as professions with a confidentiality ethic.

Find the new four-letter word from the end of one given word and the beginning of the next.

Choose the correct word(s) from the lists to complete the sentence.

Choose the word that means the opposite of the given word. Exact

Complete the sentence by choosing the correct word for blank A.

Complete the analogy by choosing the opposite. Eminent is to unknown as: descendant is to

Find the new four-letter word from the end of one given word and the beginning of the next.

Swap two words so that the sentence reads sensibly.

Passage 3: Traditionally medicine was the science of curing illness with treatments. For thousands of years people would have used plants and would have turned to priests for cures. In more recent times illness has been attributed to natural causes rather than to gods or magic. Medicine today is as much concerned with prevention as with cure. Doctors use treatments of many types, including radiation and vaccination, both of which were unknown until very recent times. Other treatments have been known about and practised for centuries; Muslim doctors were skilled surgeons and treated pain with opium. When Europeans first reached the Americas they found healers who used many plants to cure illnesses. The Europeans adopted many of those treatments and some are still effective and in use today.
Statement: Vaccination is a relatively recent discovery.

Passage 14: In most parts of the developed world many middle-class people ask themselves whether they should buy or rent a house. In the United States, Spain, Ireland and the UK, most answer ‘Buy’. In these countries house prices have almost doubled over the past seven years. Other parts of the developed world have not seen such inflation and the passage asks if it is realistic to assume that prices will always continue to rise. Some argue that paying rent is like throwing money away and that it is better to repay a mortgage and build equity. But what if house prices fall? A small adjustment could wipe out the equity of many home owners. If house price inflation is a thing of the past, then home ownership becomes less attractive. Renting has some advantages too; people who rent find it easier to move for their work.
Statement: Most middle-class people in the developed world prefer to own their own home.

Rearrange the sentences into the order in which they were originally written.

Choose the word that means the opposite of the given word. Sway

Find the new four-letter word from the end of one given word and the beginning of the next.

Swap two words so that the sentence reads sensibly.

Choose the correct word(s) from the lists to complete the sentence.

Passage 6: The theory goes that everything around us is built up of tiny particles called atoms. Some materials are made up of only one type of atom; these are called elements. Others are made up of different sorts of atom bonded together into molecules. Water, for example, is a compound made up of molecules that contain two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The force which holds atoms together is called bonds. Atoms are made up of even smaller particles such as neutrons, electrons and protons. Neutrons and protons are made up of quarks and gluons. The search is on for the particles that make up quarks.
Statement: All substances are made up of elements.

Choose the correct word(s) from the lists to complete the sentence.

Complete the analogy by choosing the opposite. Divulge is to conceal as: percentage is to

Complete the sentence by choosing the correct words for blanks A, B and C.

Find the new four-letter word from the end of one given word and the beginning of the next.

Passage 8: The ambulance service estimates that as many as 500 lives are lost each year because of slower emergency response times caused by road humps. Some claim that road humps, or sleeping policemen, cost more lives than are saved as a result of slowed traffic. Critics of road humps also claim that they cause more pollution as drivers repeatedly slow down and speed up and that they cause more congestion by disrupting the flow of traffic. Residents complain of the noise of cars crossing them and accelerating away from them. Some of these claims run counter to published research which shows that road humps cause average speeds to drop by 10 mph and as a result save lives. Since 1980 and the widespread introduction of road humps, figures show that the level of deaths and serious injury fell by 60 per cent.
Statement: It is fair to say that road humps can save lives and injuries but at a price.

Passage 1: Light is made up of electromagnetic waves. These vary in length and these differences are perceived as different colours. White light contains all wavelengths mixed together. An object looks coloured because light falls on it and it reflects only certain parts of the spectrum while the rest is absorbed. An object that looks white reflects all the light that falls on it; an object that looks red reflects the red part of the spectrum and absorbs the rest. Our eyes detect these different reflected waves and we see them as different colours.
Statement: White paint reflects more light than red paint.

Choose two words—one from each list—that are closest in meaning or have the strongest connection. Co-ordinate is to harmonize as: commodity is to

Find the new four-letter word from the end of one given word and the beginning of the next.

___ biggest utility company in the new EU member countries reported that its recent ___ activities had failed to have the desired impact.

Identify the word that means the opposite of the given word. Annul

Choose the word that means the opposite of the given word. Answer

Complete the analogy by choosing the opposite. Steep is to gradual as: bicker is to

Find the new four-letter word from the end of one given word and the beginning of the next.

Find the new four-letter word from the end of one given word and the beginning of the next.

Identify the word that means the opposite of the given word. Arrest

Complete the analogy by choosing the opposite. Contend is to agree as: scramble is to

The ___ regulator has decreed that advertisements must not link alcohol with sexual attractiveness or success or imply that alcohol can enhance attractiveness, ___ may the ___ refer to daring tough or unruly behaviour.