GATE CS 2016 Set 1 — Question 3

MCQ+1 / -0.33EasyVocabulary (Words, Idioms, Phrases in Context)Verbal AptitudeGeneral Aptitude

General Aptitude → Verbal Aptitude → Vocabulary (Words, Idioms, Phrases in Context)

Last updated 5 September 2026

Question

Archimedes said, “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I will move the world.” The sentence above is an example of a___________statement.

Correct answer (A) figurative Solution Archimedes' statement is not meant to be taken literally (he did not actually intend to move the physical planet Earth with a lever). Instead, it is a figurative expression illustrating the immense mechanical advantage provided by a lever. Figurative : Departing from a literal use of words; metaphorical. Collateral : Something pledged as security for repayment of a loan. Literal : Taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory. Figurine : A statuette, especially one of a human form. Thus, it is a figurative statement. Turn this into a strength. Explore AI-powered practice and doubt support with Success Tracker.

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Correct answer (A) figurative Solution Archimedes' statement is not meant to be taken literally (he did not actually intend to move the physical planet Earth with a lever). Instead, it is a figurative expression illustrating the immense mechanical advantage provided by a lever. Figurative : Departing from a literal use of words; metaphorical. Collateral : Something pledged as security for repayment of a loan. Literal : Taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory. Figurine : A statuette, especially one of a human form. Thus, it is a figurative statement.

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