Cognizant Verbal Questions

Verbal ability is an important part of the written test conducted by Cognizant. It includes questions devised to check the test-taker's grammatical knowledge, vocabulary, and contextual understanding. Verbal questions are based on Reading Comprehension passages, sentence improvement, error identification, sentence arrangement, word selection, synonyms, antonyms, etc. Here are some examples of verbal questions asked in Cognizant placement tests:

DIRECTIONS for question 1-4: Read the given passage and answer the related questions accordingly

Until a hundred years ago as humans we had a simple, uncomplicated biological connect. It was a straightforward equation: we drew roughly 3,000 calories each of energy out of the Earth for our food and life's sustenance. Today that number per capita has grown to 1,00,000 calories. We still need only 3,000 calories each to nourish life itself. All the rest of this energy is what we extract from the Earth for everything else besides keeping ourselves alive. In some countries, like the US; this per capita number runs at over 2,00,000 calories! Some of us are concerned about this. We fret over what we could and should really be doing to soften this abuse of resources. Little things fox us in the welter of things that we get to read. What is sustainable development? How can it be started at our homes? Beyond the ceremonial planting of green arid getting people to run marathons of various lengths in support of the environment, is there- more that we can add to the abstract value of "sustainability"? What are the little things we can do in our day-to-day lives, to reduce demand for things that people make and market? Of course, we know that it helps to avoid a plastic bag when you can use a newspaper bag, or a brown bag, or even a jute bag which you can use for many more years unlike a plastic bag which you throw away in less than a week or after a few uses. However, there's actually quite a bit more that you and I can do without compromise on comfort, with very little as cost incurred, with financial savings that you can gain on energy and water use, and with solutions that are very feasible and within your reach. It is possible to understand our ecological footprint and its disastrous consequences, not merely in terms of our own behaviour as consumers, but really in terms of the impact on the environment we make.

What is the primary concern of the passage?
1. There is a need to save energy, especially for our future.
2. All of us should not only plant trees but also run the marathon.
3. Use of plastic bags should be completely banned.
4. We need to respect the Earth and consume less of its calories.
Answer: Option D
The passage states that we are abusing Earth’s resources and talks about ways in which we can reduce the demand for energy. The primary focus is on saving energy now ( at present). Hence we rule out option A.
Why does the author ask his audience to use a jute bag?
1. Jute bags look more trendy and stylish.
2. It is the need of the hour, to save energy, to save our ecosystem.
3. Using jute bags helps in consuming only 3,000 calories from the Earth.
4. They are more easily available.
Answer: Option B
The passage states that we need to do more than just run marathons to increase support from people. We need to find out little things in our day-to-day lives where we can reduce energy consumption and using a jute bag will help reduce use of plastic. The passage does not state how many calories can be saved if one uses a jute bag.

Which one of the following statements cannot be inferred from the passage?
1. There are many little things we can do to save our Earth.
2. Only running marathons of various lengths does not help.
3. We do not depend on the Earth for our food and life sustenance.
4. A lot many years before, our association with the Nature was quite simple.
Answer: Option C
Refer to “We drew roughly 3,000 calories each of energy out of the Earth for our food and life's sustenance.” Option C contradicts this sentence. All the others are inferred from the passage.
A suitable title to the passage could be
1. Lets Shift to Jute!
2. How to Consume Few Calories?
3. Save Energy, Save the Earth!
4. The Earth Heading for a Disaster.
Answer: Option C
The focus is on saving energy and stopping the abuse of Earth’s resources.

DIRECTIONS for question 5-7: Each of these has a sentence given in four different forms. Choose the most appropriate form of writing.

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1. That last word doubtless contained an allusion to some scene that had taken place between them.
2. That last word doubtless contained an illusion to some scene that take place between them.
3. That last word doubtless contained an allusion to some scene that had taken place in between them.
4. That last word doubtless contained an illusion to some scene that had taken place between them.
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
Answer: Option A
The noun allusion means "an indirect reference to a person, event, or thing." Illusion is a noun that means "false impression. Here we need the word allusion, which rules out option B and D. “in between them” is unidiomatic, hence C is incorrect.
1. Goriot had brought with him a considerable wardrobe, the gorgeous outfit of a retired tradesman who denies him nothing.
2. Goriot had brought with him a considerable wardrobe, the gorgeous outfit of a retired tradesman who denies himself nothing.
3. Goriot had brought with himself a considerable wardrobe, the gorgeous outfit of a retired tradesman who denies himself nothing.
4. Goriot had bought with him a considerable wardrobe, the gorgeous outfit of a retired tradesman who denies himself nothing.
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
Answer: Option C
We need the word brought and not bought. Hence we can rule out option D. “ who denies himself” as we are referring to Goriot denying himself nothing. Hence option 1 is incorrect. We say “ he brings with him considerable experience” and not “he brings with himself considerable experience.” Hence option C is incorrect.
1. Her heart was more full than it have ever been, so it was full of joy, and not of sorrow.
2. Her heart was fuller than it had ever been, but it was full of joy, and not of sorrow.
3. Her heart was more full than it had ever been, but it was full of joy, and not of sorrow.
4. Her heart was fuller than it had ever been, but he was full of joy, and not of sorrow
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
Answer: Option B
The comparative form of full is fuller and not more full. Also it should be followed by has and not have. Hence option A is incorrect. Option D is incorrect because he has no noun that it refers to.

DIRECTIONS for question 8-10: Each of these questions has a group of sentences marked A, B, C, D and E. Arrange these to form a logical sequence.

1. In simpler terms, it is the Indian version of the Razzies.
2. The 3rd Golden Kela Awards will be hosted by Cyrus Broacha this year.
3. It was created in order to ridicule the bad performances and as a revenge for wasting our precious time and money on such idiotic films.
4. The Golden Kela is held each year where awards are given for the year's worst in Bollywood.
5. It was created by Random magazine, India's longest running humor magazine in the year 2009.
1. DAECB
2. BACDE
3. ACEDB
4. CEADB
Answer: Option A
The paragraph talks about Golden Kela Awards. D introduces the Golden Kela awards. A explains what the awards are. Hence A follows D.
1. Despite the strong performance of the economy in 2010-11, the outlook for 2011-12 is clouded by stubborn and persistently high inflation, and rising external risks.
2. The three key macroeconomic concerns before the Union Budget 2011-12 were high inflation, high current account deficit (CAD), and fiscal consolidation.
3. Additionally, there was an expectation that the government would restart the reform process.
4. While the Budget sets a lower nominal gross domestic product (GDP) growth target of 14%, we believe that the real GDP growth target of 9% factored in the Budget is on the optimistic side.
5. The Budget has made an attempt to address all these issues, albeit through small steps.
1. BCEAD
2. CBAED
3. DACEB
4. ADCEB
Answer: Option A
The word Additionally means that there must be something before sentence C. These issues in E are the issues mentioned in B and C. B will be followed by C, which will be followed by E. BCE.
1. These were mainly bulwarks against winter, the hoarded dregs of more plentiful seasons.
2. The first were the earliest mince pies, which saw cooked, shredded meat, dried fruits, alcohol with its preservative qualities and perhaps a few spices or herbs, all encased in large pies.
3. Subsequently, people baked this into a kind of pie, adding bread-crumbs for bulk, eggs to bind it, and upping the dried fruits and called it 'plum pudding'.
4. The pudding seems to have had two principal forerunners.
5. The second main pudding was a pottage or soup called frumenty, a fast dish involving cracked wheat, currants and almonds which was ladled out at the start of a meal.
1. ECDAB
2. BAECD
3. DACEB
4. DBAEC
Answer: Option D
The passage talks about pudding which is introduced in D. 'The first' mentioned in B is for the puddings mentioned in B so DB is a pair. 'These were' mentioned in A is for the spices mentioned in B so, BA is also a pair. Then E follows as it continues by talking about second pudding. so the sequence is DBAEC.