NDA (II) 2017 GAT Q4: We must adopt drastic measures to control population

Q: What is the answer to NDA (II) 2017 GAT Q4?

D. Correct — D, 'severe'. 'Drastic' describes action that is extreme and far-reaching in its effect, and 'severe' carries that same weight. Measures strong enough to bend a country's population growth are by definition harsh ones, which is why the sentence reaches for the word.

NDA (II) 2017 General Ability Test · Question 4 of 150

Question text verified against the official NDA question paper.

We must adopt <u>drastic</u> measures to control population growth. (Select the word or group of words that is most similar in meaning to the underlined word.)

(a)simple
(b)dramatic
(c)realistic
(d)severe

Answer

Why

Correct — D, 'severe'. 'Drastic' describes action that is extreme and far-reaching in its effect, and 'severe' carries that same weight. Measures strong enough to bend a country's population growth are by definition harsh ones, which is why the sentence reaches for the word.

Why the others are wrong

(a)simple — Simple measures are easy and undemanding, the reverse of what 'drastic' claims.
(b)dramatic — 'Dramatic' is about how striking something looks to an onlooker, not how hard it bites; a dramatic gesture can change nothing.
(c)realistic — Being realistic is about matching what is practicable and says nothing about how extreme the step is.

Concept

'Drastic' means extreme in its effect, and it is used of steps taken when milder ones will not do — drastic measures, drastic cuts, drastic action.

'Dramatic' is the near-miss, partly because the two words look and sound similar and partly because both suggest something out of the ordinary. The test is where the emphasis falls — 'dramatic' points at the impression made, 'drastic' at the severity of the effect. A dramatic announcement may be followed by nothing; a drastic step is felt.

Key facts

'Drastic' entered English from Greek 'drastikos', meaning effective or active.
It collocates with measures, steps, cuts, action and change.
'Dramatic' is the adjective from 'drama' and collocates with rescue, increase, entrance and effect.

Study next

Look-alike adjectives — drastic and dramatic, historic and historicalWords of degree — severe, stringent, stern, harshCollocation as a test between near-synonymsAdjectives common in policy and administration writing

Common traps

Picking 'dramatic' on the strength of the similar sound.
Reading 'drastic' as merely 'big' rather than as extreme and painful.

Asked as a synonym item — choose the word or group of words most similar in meaning to the underlined word.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

Practice

practice — not a real PYQ
Choose the word nearest in meaning to 'drastic'.
- (a)mild
- (b)radical
- (c)temporary
- (d)popular
Answer(b) radical — drastic action is extreme and far-reaching.
practice — not a real PYQ
Choose the word nearest in meaning to 'stringent' in 'The board imposed stringent rules.'
- (a)flexible
- (b)strict
- (c)unclear
- (d)temporary
Answer(b) strict — stringent rules are tight and rigorously enforced.