NDA (I) 2018 General Ability Test · Question 5 of 150

Correct — A, 'firmly'. Indissolubly means in a way that cannot be dissolved or undone, so a link described as indissoluble is one that holds fast; of the four options only 'firmly' says that the connection is strong and lasting.

• (b)vaguely — Vaguely means indistinctly or without precision, which reverses the sense of a bond that cannot be broken.
• (c)individually — Individually means one by one or separately, and separateness is the opposite of being linked.
• (d)steadily — Steadily describes something going on at an even rate or without wavering over time; it comments on the pace of a process rather than the strength of a connection.

Indissoluble is built on 'dissolve' — a tie that cannot be dissolved — so the word is about the strength and permanence of a bond, not about speed or manner.

'Firmly' is not a dictionary equal of 'indissolubly'; the exact gloss would be 'inseparably'. A synonym block asks for the best available option rather than a perfect match, and once you see that only one option speaks about strength of connection, the choice settles. Splitting the word into its parts — in-, dis-, solve — is the quickest route to its meaning.

• Dissolve, soluble, solution and dissolution all come from the same Latin root meaning to loosen.
• 'Indissoluble' is used most often of bonds, unions and marriages.
• The negative prefix in- appears as il-, im- and ir- before certain letters — illegal, immature, irregular.

• Choosing 'steadily' because it sounds positive and slips into the sentence smoothly.
• Being put off by a long word instead of breaking it into its parts.

Asked as a synonym item — choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word.

No directly related past PYQ was found.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Choose the phrase closest in meaning to 'inseparable' in 'The two friends were inseparable.'

  • (a)occasionally together
  • (b)always together
  • (c)easily parted
  • (d)unfriendly

  Answer(b) always together — inseparable means they could not be kept apart.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Choose the word closest in meaning to 'indissoluble' in 'an indissoluble bond'.

  • (a)temporary
  • (b)permanent
  • (c)invisible
  • (d)complicated

  Answer(b) permanent — the bond cannot be dissolved.