NTS NAT-ICS English (Verbal Reasoning) Syllabus

What is the most reliable method for solving an analogy: build a 'bridge sentence.' What is it?

A short sentence that precisely states the relationship between the first pair (e.g., 'A glove is worn on a HAND'), then tested against each option pair to find the one that fits identically.

Define a synonym.

A word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word (e.g., 'happy' and 'joyful').

Give a common synonym set for the word 'big.'

Large, huge, enormous, immense, gigantic, vast, massive (any several).

Give a common synonym set for the word 'smart/intelligent.'

Clever, bright, brilliant, sharp, astute, shrewd, ingenious (any several).

Give a common synonym set for the word 'happy.'

Joyful, cheerful, content, delighted, elated, glad, jubilant (any several).

Give a common synonym set for the word 'sad.'

Unhappy, sorrowful, melancholy, gloomy, dejected, mournful, despondent (any several).

What is a root word, and why is it useful for verbal reasoning?

The base part of a word that carries its core meaning; recognizing roots lets you decode unfamiliar words (e.g., 'spect' = look, so 'inspect,' 'spectator,' 'spectacle' all relate to looking).

Define a prefix and give its function.

A word part added to the front of a root that modifies its meaning (e.g., 'un-' meaning 'not' turns 'happy' into 'unhappy').

Define a suffix and give its function.

A word part added to the end of a root that often changes the word's part of speech or meaning (e.g., '-tion' makes 'inform' into the noun 'information').

What does the prefix 'bene-' mean? Give an example.

'Good' or 'well'; e.g., 'benefit,' 'benevolent,' 'benign.'

What does the prefix 'mal-' mean? Give an example.

'Bad' or 'evil'; e.g., 'malice,' 'malfunction,' 'malevolent.'

What does the prefix 'anti-' mean? Give an example.

'Against' or 'opposite'; e.g., 'antibiotic,' 'antifreeze,' 'antagonist.'

What does the root 'dict' mean? Give an example.

'Say' or 'speak'; e.g., 'dictate,' 'predict,' 'contradict,' 'verdict.'

What does the root 'ben/bon' contrast with 'mal' help you decide in antonym questions?

'Ben/bon' signals positive/good meaning while 'mal' signals negative/bad meaning, so words with these roots are often direct opposites (e.g., 'benevolent' vs. 'malevolent').

In multiple-choice verbal questions, what is a 'distractor'?

An incorrect answer option deliberately designed to look plausible or tempting—often by being partially related, an opposite, or a similar-sounding word—to trap careless test-takers.

Name three common types of distractors in vocabulary/sentence questions.

The exact opposite (antonym trap), a word related to the topic but wrong in meaning, a word that sounds/looks similar to the answer, or a word that is too extreme/too weak in degree (any three).

What is the process of elimination strategy for handling distractors?

Cross out options you can prove wrong (wrong direction, wrong degree, wrong part of speech) to narrow the field, improving odds even when unsure of the exact answer.

If two answer options are exact opposites of each other, what does this often signal?

That one of them is likely the intended answer and the other is a distractor placed to test whether you grasp the sentence's direction (agreement vs. contrast).

Define an antonym.

A word that has the opposite meaning of another word (e.g., 'hot' and 'cold').

What is a 'direct opposite' antonym? Give an example.

A word whose meaning is unmistakably and completely contrary to the given word; e.g., 'ascend' vs. 'descend,' 'expand' vs. 'contract.'

In antonym questions, why must you match the part of speech of the original word?

The correct opposite must be the same part of speech (noun, verb, adjective); a word with the right meaning but wrong part of speech is a distractor.

What is meant by 'degree and shade of meaning' among synonyms?

Synonyms can differ in intensity (degree) and connotation (shade)—e.g., 'warm,' 'hot,' 'scorching' share meaning but rise in intensity; choosing requires matching the precise strength the context demands.

Arrange in increasing degree of intensity: 'dislike,' 'detest,' 'hate.'

Dislike (mildest) < hate < detest (strongest).

What is the difference between 'connotation' and 'denotation'?

Denotation is a word's literal dictionary meaning; connotation is the emotional or cultural shade it carries (e.g., 'thrifty' is positive while 'stingy' is negative, though both mean careful with money).

Compare the shades of 'confident,' 'assertive,' and 'arrogant.'

All describe self-assurance, but 'confident' is positive, 'assertive' is neutral-to-positive (forceful), and 'arrogant' is negative (excessive/overbearing pride).

What is a 'context-based antonym' question and how does it differ from a plain antonym?

It asks for the opposite of a word as used within a specific sentence/passage, so the correct opposite depends on that word's contextual meaning, not just its most common meaning.

Why can the same word have different antonyms in different contexts? Give an example with 'light.'

Because the word's meaning shifts with context: the opposite of 'light' (weight) is 'heavy,' but the opposite of 'light' (color/brightness) is 'dark.'

Define the 'main idea' of a passage.

The central point or most important thought the author wants to communicate—what the passage is mostly about, usually expressible in one sentence.

Define the 'theme' of a passage and how it differs from the main idea.

The theme is the underlying message, insight, or universal concept the passage conveys (e.g., perseverance, justice); the main idea is the specific central point, while the theme is the broader abstract takeaway.

What is the difference between the 'main idea' and a 'supporting detail'?

The main idea is the overarching point; supporting details are the facts, examples, and explanations that develop or prove that point. The main idea is broad; details are specific.

What is a reliable technique for finding the main idea when no single sentence states it directly?

Identify the common subject shared by all paragraphs/sentences and ask 'what point do these details add up to?'—the answer that summarizes the whole passage (not just one part) is the main idea.