Option (1): 'Stroked' conveys the opposite of 'stinging'. Hence, the option is eliminated. Option (2): 'Squall' can shake us but not the 'stinging drops'. Option (3): 'Beat us with stinging drops' is ungrammatical. Option (4): 'Squall' is 'a sudden violent wind, often with snow on rain' and 'pelt' is 'to throw repeatedly as in an attack'. A violent snowstorm will pelt hard with stinging drops. So, the correct option is (4). Option (5); 'Lashed' is a whipping action, and even if the drops are 'stinging', they can't lash us.

(1) Prose is out of context as we are not referring to particular ways of expression in a language. (2) Note that language is not like a medium, 'it is a medium'. Thus the text makes a comparison to something else. (3) Patter is correct filler, being chatter 'peculiar to a group'. (4) Recourse is the correct filler for the second blank as sometimes we may indulge in unspoken communication. (5) 'Resort to' is syntactically incorrect. We 'have recourse to' not 'have resort to'. (6) Access or approach is out of context.

Option (1): Egoist is a person who is selfish and self-centred. ‘Egoistic sense of importance’ makes no sense. Option (2): No ‘pretensions’ or putting on false airs can be derived from the text. Option (3): ‘Impudent’ sense of self importance makes no sense in the context. Option (4): The second will be governed by the first. If the sense of importance is low, he will hesitate to meddle in affairs of the others; if it is high he will meddle. ‘Exaggerated sense of self importance’ is cogent with ‘monopolize’. Hence, this is the correct answer. Option (5): ‘Ostentation’ or pompousness cannot be derived from the text.

Option (1): He is saddled with an unenviable or a burdensome task. Option (2): ‘Burdened’ seems to make sense in context. But ‘saddled with’ the preferred idiomatic usage.  Option (3): ‘Tasked’ with a task seems repetitive. Option (4): The task does not bound him but saddles him. Option (5): The filler ‘forced’ denotes coercion that cannot be derived from the text.

Option (1): 'Tradition' and 'spiritual' are vital clues. We can't use 'tolerant' for spiritual tradition. Option (2): 'Tradition' and 'spiritual' are vital clues. We can't use 'zealous' for spiritual tradition. Option (3): 'Ideological' appears to be a close option, but ideology need not be spiritual. Option (4): 'Long' and 'rich' are different ideas and ought to be joined by a conjunction. Also rich does not reflect the spirituality. Option (5): 'Tradition' and 'spiritual' are vital clues. 'Sacramental' is compatible both with tradition and spiritual. Hence, the answer is (5).

(1) 'Attitudes' measure our outer nature. But it is our inner nature that is complex. (2) 'Various disposition' is ungrammatical and illogical. (3) 'Mannerism' is only a part of our attitudes and inner nature. (4) It is easy to understand the outer self without confusion but it isn't easy to understand inner self. Thus the word in the blank cannot be fearful. (5) 'More hard' is ungrammatical. The opposite of 'not confusing' should be complex, not hard. (6) Attitudes measure our outer nature. But it is our inner nature that is 'Complex'.

(1) Members of the Solar System are afar, but the distance is nothing as compared to that for the stars. Stars can’t be termed as ‘dazzling points’.

(2) Members of the Solar System are afar, but the distance is nothing as compared to that for the stars. Glittering points are the stars.

(3) Members of the Solar System are afar, but the distance is nothing as compared to that for the stars. Flickering would refers to ‘unsteady light’ example candle flickering in the wind.

(4) Heavenly standards do not make much sense in thi context.

(5) We are used to ‘terrestrial’ or earthly measures of distance, which are puny compared to cosmic measures.

(6) Universal refers to cosmic standard and will be the opposite of our expectations.

(1) Nature is the correct filler for the first blank as it refers to the essential character of a thing, its essence. (2) Note that behavior refers to the way a person conducts himself, not something that is natural to him. (3) Routine is out of context; gossip is not a part of human routine; it is a part of human nature. (4) Note the word 'positive side' in the next line. Thus the filler must be somewhat opposite to the 'positive side'. Crude refers to 'unrefined' and 'unprocessed'. (5) The filler must be somewhat opposite to the 'positive side'. Atrocious is not the opposite of 'positive side'. (6) The passage states that gossip is not entirely 'evil'; it also has some positive side.

(1) News is not something on which something else is projected a la the screen. (2) A direct hint is given in text which talks about the view through the window; thus 'window' is the correct filler for the first blank. (3) The word seems to fit in. But later text makes 'window' as the only acceptable choice.  (4) Elucidates means illustrates or explains, which appears out of context. (5) Frame cannot view the world. (6) A frame delineates something which is inside from something that is not. The view across depends on the size.

(1) In pre-scientific days dreams were thought to be ‘manifestations’ of the divine or the demonical. Now we rarely doubt that they are creations of our own psyche.

(2) Dreams cannot be ‘feelings’ of the divine or the demonical.

(3) Dreams can be manifestations, not effects.

(4) In pre-scientific days dreams were thought to be ‘manifestations’ of the divine or the demonical. Now we rarely doubt that they are creations of our own psyche. The word psychology can be taken as hint. Thus the correct answer should be related to psychology which is psychical.

(5) Psychopathic is inappropriate since dreams are not disorders.

(6) Dreams are not preposterous; they are ‘psychical’.

(1) Modern art exalts the personal, rather than the cosmic that was practiced in the ancient times and is still practiced in the orient. Exalts refers to rise in status and makes sense in context. (2) The word concerns omits the importance emphasized in the passage. (3) The art phase will not admire but exalt. (4) Filler for the second blank must explain the cosmic. 'Critical' does not. (5) Filler for the second blank must explain the cosmic. Impersonal does. (6) Filler for the second blank must explain the cosmic. The word 'important' is out of context.

(1) Instead of encouraging X, we should encourage Y. Encourage regional rather than corporate.

(2) Beset will be the opposite of our expectations.

(3) We need a similar word to "favour" that occurs after the second blank. Encourage fits the bill best.

(4) Instead of encouraging X, we should encourage Y. Shift is a better fit than share

(5) The word carried signifies movement. There is no movement involved. It is a shift

(6) Instead of encouraging X, we should encourage Y. This is a policy shift involving shift of resources.