NDA (II) 2025 General Ability Test · Question 46 of 147

Correct — A, 'any further'. Advancement in one's studies is metaphorical, not literal, distance, so 'further' is the right word, and 'farther' — reserved for physical distance — is ruled out; because the clause is negative ('It does not look like...'), the intensifier 'any' before the comparative is idiomatic, as in 'not... any further'. This is a soft call: bare 'further' (b) would also read acceptably, so treat (a) and (b) as close.

• (b)further — Right on 'further' vs 'farther', but after the negative 'does not look like' the idiom usually adds 'any' before the comparative ('not... any further'); the key prefers 'any further' — though bare 'further' is the closest rival.
• (c)farther — 'Farther' denotes literal, physical distance (a mile farther down the road); progress in studies is figurative, so 'further' is required.
• (d)any farther — Carries the same 'farther' error as (c) — a physical-distance word wrongly applied to the abstract idea of advancing in one's studies.

'Further' vs 'farther': 'farther' is for literal physical distance; 'further' covers figurative or metaphorical extent (further in one's studies/career). After a negative, the comparative often takes 'any'.

No directly related past PYQ was found.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Choose the correct word: 'We should discuss this no ______ until we have the facts.'

  • (a)farther
  • (b)further
  • (c)farthest
  • (d)far

  Answer(b) further — the 'distance' is figurative (discussion), so 'further', not 'farther'.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  In which sentence is 'farther' the better choice?

  • (a)She ran farther than the others down the track.
  • (b)Let us not go farther into this argument.
  • (c)He wants to study farther.
  • (d)Nothing farther to add.

  Answer(a) 'ran farther... down the track' — literal physical distance takes 'farther'.