The reasoning is one of the most scoring subjects of SSC and all other competitive exams and one of the easiest chapter in this section is from “Word Formation ”. Around 3-4 questions are covered from this topic and if the candidate is able to apply his thinking ability properly, he can easily score well in these questions.
This section aims to test the verbal knowledge of the candidates along with logical skills in the limited amount of time. These questions are easy if done after proper practice and knowing what exactly to look for in the question.
Types of questions asked:
1. Word formation by unscrambling letters:
In such questions, usually jumbled letters are given various types of questions are asked on the unscrambled word thus formed. For example:
A) VARSTE ⇒ Choose the correct order of letters which are required to form the correct word.
i) 2, 3, 1, 6, 4, 5
ii) 3, 2, 4, 5, 6, 1
iii) 4, 5, 2, 3, 1, 6
iv) 6, 3, 4, 5, 2, 1
Here, we’ve to create the correct word and ‘V’ has been labeled as 1, ‘A’ as 2, ‘R’ as 3, ‘S’ as 4, ‘T’ as 5 and ‘E’ as 6.
On observing we can see the correct word is STARVE. Hence, the correct order is 4(for S) 5(for T) 2316 ⇒ 452316 ⇒e. option iii) is correct.
B) Unscramble the words in options and find the odd-one out.
Let’s unscramble the options:
i) UPJM⇒ JUMP
ii) WKLA ⇒ WALK
iii) PEELS⇒ SLEEP
iv) UNR⇒ RUN.
We can see that all options except PEELS or SLEEP are active actions while sleep is a passive activity. So, option iii) is odd-one-out.
C) Unscrambled the word in question and find the option most similar in meaning to the rearranged word:
I T G N D L E I
On unscrambling the word we can see that the given word is DILIGENT. And, the synonym for diligent is Laborious so option iii) is the answer. Similar question on antonym can also be asked.
2. Word formation using letters of a given word:
A) Using certain letters of a word:
If it’s possible to make a meaningful word from 2nd,5th, 6th and 7th letters of the word GENEROSITY, then which will be the first letter of that word? Mark X if no such word can be formed, M if more than 1 such word can be formed.
Here, the word = GENEROSITY
2nd,5th, 6th and 7th letters = E, R, O, and S
Words starting with E = none, with R = ROSE, with O = ORES, with S = SORE
Clearly, we can see that more than 1 i.e. 3 words can be formed so we’ll mark ‘M” i.e. option iv) as the answer.
Note: Had the ROSE been the only word getting formed then we’d have marked option i) i.e. R as the answer because R is the first letter of the only word ROSE.
B) Using certain letters of a series:
U H O L Y F G W Z B A S R
Above a series is given, how many meaningful words can be formed from the 3rd letter from left, 4th letter from right, 6th letter from left and the 9th letter from right?
Here the series: (left) U H O L Y F G W Z B A S R (right)
3rd letter from left = O, , 6th letter from left = F,
4th letter from right = B, 9th letter from right = Y
Given letters = O, F, B, Y
We can see no such meaningful word can be formed using the aforementioned alphabets. Hence, we’ll mark ‘none’ i.e. option iv) as the correct answer.
C) Changing consonant/vowel:
If each vowel in OVEN is changed to the previous letters in the English alphabet and the consonants are changed to next letters of English alphabets, how many meaningful words can be formed using the letters of the new word thus formed using each letter only once?
Word given: OVEN
Changing vowels(O and E) to previous letters: NVDN
Changing consonants (V and N) to next letters: NWDO
So, given letters = N, W, D and O
We can see word thus formed = DOWN
Hence, only one word can be formed and correct option is option i)
D) Finding correct option:
Sometimes, questions come where we have to answer if the word(s) given in options can be created using the letter of the word given in the question. For example a question below:
From the following alternatives, select the word which cannot be formed using the letters of the given word:
Let’s check all the options:
a) TENT ⇒ It can’t be formed as it requires 2 T’s.
b) SEND ⇒ It can be formed.
c) SENT⇒ It can be formed.
d) MEND⇒ It can be formed.
Hence, option a) is the answer.
We just saw solving any kind of question on Word-formation requires a skill to create a meaningful word from scrambled words. So, practice that skill enough to be able to crack such questions in examinations.