The GATE Grind

GATE 2016 CE (CE1) – Question 3

General Aptitude · Verbal Aptitude: Grammar and Vocabulary · 1 mark · Multiple choice

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.

  1. figurative
  2. collateral
  3. literal
  4. figurine

Practise this question in The GATE Grind →

Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (A) figurative

Explanation

The statement uses the mechanical advantage of a lever to express the power of having an appropriate support and means. In its quoted use it is **figurative, A**. It is not a practical claim that an available terrestrial lever could literally move the entire Earth.