NDA (I) 2021 General Ability Test · Question 1 of 149

Correct — D, catching. 'Contagious' here describes a smile that spreads readily from one person to another, and 'catching' means exactly that — able to be passed on to others — so it is the word nearest in meaning.

• (a)arrogant — 'Arrogant' means haughty or overbearing; it describes a proud attitude, not something that spreads to others.
• (b)disrespectful — 'Disrespectful' means rude or showing contempt; it has nothing to do with spreading from one person to another.
• (c)sarcastic — 'Sarcastic' means using cutting, ironic remarks; it describes a tone, not the infectious quality of a smile.

A synonym item — 'contagious' means spreading easily from one person to another, so the nearest match is 'catching'.

No directly related past PYQ was found.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Select the word nearest in meaning to 'infectious' (as in an infectious laugh).

  • (a)repellent
  • (b)spreading
  • (c)faint
  • (d)forced

  Answer(b) spreading — an infectious laugh readily spreads to others, which 'spreading' captures.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Select the word nearest in meaning to 'jovial'.

  • (a)gloomy
  • (b)cheerful
  • (c)strict
  • (d)anxious

  Answer(b) cheerful — 'jovial' means good-humoured and merry, i.e. cheerful.