Select the word from the given options that is the most similar in meaning to the underlined word in the following sentence:
Deputy Inspector General made a perfunctory inspection of the police station.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → superficial
Note: The given answer is as per the official NTA Answer Key. However, more than one answer is possible here: Option (2) "superficial" and Option (3) "done as a routine but without interest" both give the meaning of "perfunctory", as explained below.
Perfunctory means done only as a duty, quickly and without care or interest. A perfunctory inspection is a routine check that does not look into anything properly.
Example: The guard gave our passes a perfunctory glance and waved us in.
Option 1: thorough and complete — Incorrect. Thorough and complete means careful and covering every detail; it is the opposite of perfunctory.
Example: The auditors made a thorough and complete check of the accounts.
Option 2: superficial — Correct (Answer as per NTA). Superficial means on the surface only, not going into detail. A perfunctory inspection only touches the surface, so superficial is a synonym.
Example: The doctor made only a superficial examination and missed the fracture.
Option 3: done as a routine but without interest — Can also be considered as correct. This is the dictionary meaning of perfunctory itself: an act done as a routine, with no real interest or care. It fits the sentence as well as "superficial" does.
Option 4: intensive — Incorrect. Intensive means concentrated, with a lot of effort in a short time; it is the opposite of perfunctory.
Example: The team went through an intensive training camp before the final.
The following words have also been asked in other CUET (UG) English papers:
| Word | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| perfunctory | 14-05 S1 20-05 S1 | 22-05 S2 | – | – | – |