NDA (I & II) 2020 General Ability Test · Question 26 of 148

Correct — B, pointless. This is a synonym item for 'futile'. 'Futile' means producing no useful result — incapable of achieving anything — which is exactly what 'pointless' conveys, so it is nearest in meaning.

• (a)costly — 'Costly' means expensive; a futile effort may or may not be costly, but expense is not what 'futile' means.
• (c)indecisive — 'Indecisive' means unable to decide; 'futile' is about a useless outcome, not hesitation.
• (d)successful — 'Successful' is the direct opposite — a futile exercise achieves nothing.

This is a synonym item — 'futile' means producing no result; 'pointless' is the nearest match.

No directly related past PYQ was found.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Select the word nearest in meaning to 'fruitless'.

  • (a)rewarding
  • (b)unproductive
  • (c)cheap
  • (d)certain

  Answer(b) unproductive — 'fruitless' means yielding no result, matching 'unproductive'.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Select the word nearest in meaning to 'vain' (as in 'a vain attempt').

  • (a)useless
  • (b)proud
  • (c)brave
  • (d)costly

  Answer(a) useless — a 'vain attempt' is one that achieves nothing, i.e. useless.