TOPIC: Miscellaneous
Directions
(1-10): Read the following passage carefully and answer the given questions.
Certain words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering same of
the questions.
Rural
development in India has witnessed several changes over the years in its
emphasis, approaches, strategies and programmes. It has assumed a new dimension
and perspective as a consequence. Rural development can be richer and more
meaningful only through the participation of clienteles of development. Just as
implementation is the touchstone for
planning, people’s participation is the centrepiece in rural development.
People’s participation is one of the foremost prerequisites of development
process both from procedural and philosophical perspectives. For the
development planners and administrators, it is important to solicit the
participation of different groups of rural people, to make the plans
participatory.
Rural
development aims at improving rural people’s livelihoods in an equitable and sustainable manner, both
socially and environmentally, through better access to assets and services, and
control
over
productive capital.
The
basic objectives of Rural Development Programmes have been alleviation of poverty and unemployment through creation of basic
social and economic infrastructure, provision of training to rural unemployed
and providing employment to marginal farmers/labourers to discourage seasonal
and permanent migration to urban areas.
Rural
development is the main pillar of nation’s development. In spite of rapid
urbanisation, a large section of our population still lives in the villages.
Secondly, rural India has lagged behind in development because of many
historical factors. Though the 11th Plan began in very favourable circumstances
with the economy having grown at the rate of 7.7% per year in the 10th Plan
period, there still existed a big challenge to correct the developmental
imbalances and to accord due priority to development in rural areas. Ministry
of Rural Development is implementing a number of programmes aimed at
sustainable holistic development in rural areas. The thrust of these programmes
is on all-round economic and social transformation in rural areas through a multi-pronged
strategy aiming to reach out to the most disadvantaged sections of the society.
Although
concerted efforts have been initiated by the Government of India through
several plans and measures to alleviate poverty in rural India, there still remains
much more to be done to bring prosperity in the lives of the people in rural
areas. At present, technology dissemination is uneven and slow in the rural
areas. Good efforts of organisations developing technologies, devices and
products for rural areas could not yield high success. Experiences of many
countries suggest that technological development fuelled by demand has a higher
dissemination rate. However, in India, technology developers for rural areas
have been catering to needs, rather than creating demand. There is no
industry-linkage machinery to create demand-based-technology market for rural
communities. Besides, there is also an imbalance between strategies and
effective management programmes. Propagation
of technology/schemes for rural development is slow and there is a lacking in
wider participation of different stakeholders. An ideal approach may,
therefore, include the government, panchayats, village personnel, researchers,
industries, NGOs and private companies to not only help in reducing this
imbalance, but also to have a multiplier effect on the overall economy.
Q1. According to the passage, which of the
following are the objectives of most Rural Development Programmes?
(A)
To promote urbanisation
(B)
Provide training to youth
(C)
Reducing unemployment
(a)
Only A and C (b)
Only C (c) Only B and C
(d)
All the three (A), (B) and (C)
(e) Only A
Q2. Which of the following is most nearly the
SAME in meaning as the word given in bold as used in the passage?
Alleviation
(a)
mitigation
(b)
soothing
(c)
intensification
(d)
outpouring
(e)
comfortable
Q3. Which of the following is most OPPOSITE in
meaning of the word given bold as used in the passage?
Propagation
(a)
generation
(b)
producing
(c)
reproduction
(d)
underdevelopment
(e)
growth
Q4. What, according to the passage, is the most
important factor of rural development?
(a)
Alleviation of poverty and unemployment
(b)
Employment to marginal farmers and labourers
(c)
Participation of different groups of rural people
(d)
Creation of basic social and economic infrastructure
(e)
None of these
Q5. Which of the following is true according to
the passage?
(A)
Urbanisation has resulted in a majority of Indian population living in urban
areas.
(B)The
economic growth of the 10th Five Year Plan did not translate into proportionate
rural development.
(C)
The efforts of the Government of India for poverty alleviation have met with
complete failure.
(a)
Only A and B (b) Only C (c) Only A and C
(d)
Only B (e) All the three
(A), (B) and (C)
Q6. Which of the following is most nearly the SAME
in meaning as the word given in bold as used in the passage?
Touchstone
(a)
yardstick (b) periphery (c) sensitivity
(d)
weakness (e) hurdle
Q7. According to the passage, what ails the
process of technology-aided development in rural areas?
(A)
Creation of demand for technology-aided development in rural areas is missing.
(B)
There is lack of participation of rural people in the process of technology-aided
development.
(C)
There is a dearth of appropriate linkages needed for bringing about
technology-aided development.
(a) Only C (b)
Only B and C (c) Only A
(d)
Only A and B (e) All the three (A),
(B) and (C)
Q8. Which of the following can be the most
suitable title for the passage?
(a)
Technology in Rural India
(b)
The Rural Indian Communities
(c)
Rural Development—The Participative Way
(d)
Rural India — Ignored by All the Stakeholders
(e)
Rural Development —An Impossible Dream
Q9. What is the current status of the poverty
alleviation programme initiated by the Government of India?
(A)
Technology dissemination is uneven and slow in rural areas.
(B)
There still remains much more to be done to bring prosperity in the lives of
the people in rural areas.
(C)
There is a lack of participation of different stakeholders.
(a)
Only (A) and (B) (b)
Only (B) and (C) (c) Only (A) and (C)
(d)
All (A), (B) and (C) (e)
None of these
Q10. Which of the following is most OPPOSITE in meaning of the word given
in bold as used in the passage?
Equitable
(a) troubled (b)
unfair (c) separated (d) futuristic (e) just
Directions (11-15): Rearrange the following six
sentences (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F) in the proper sequence to form a
meaningful paragraph and then answer the questions given below.
A.
This is the result of a growing consensus that far from being a
harm-free alternative as claimed by industry lobbies, e-cigarettes could sooner
or later lure consumers to take up the real thing.
B.
In the U.S., e-cigarettes cannot be sold to people under 18 years of
age.
C.
In tandem with the latest restrictions on how cigarettes are packaged,
the EU and the U.S. have clamped down on the sale of electronic cigarettes.
D.
Curiously, it was when the new nicotine-based substitute began to make
inroads that some tobacco giants were more willing to acknowledge the toxic
chemicals and carcinogens released while smoking.
E.
That ruling may still be some time away. But the public health campaign
must continue apace with the enforcement of extensive curbs on smoking in
public spaces.
F.
However, they continue to pin their hopes on a challenge at the WTO,
which they are fighting together with countries that have strong interests in
the tobacco crop.
Q11.
Which of the following should be the FIRST
sentence after rearrangement?
(a)A (b) B (c) C (d) D
(e) E
Q12. Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence after rearrangement?
(a)A (b) B (c) C (d) D
(e) E
Q13.
Which of the following should be the THIRD
sentence after rearrangement?
(a)A (b) B (c) C (d) D
(e) E
Q14. Which of the following should be the FOURTH sentence after rearrangement?
(a)A (b) B (c) C (d) D
(e) E
Q15. Which of the following should be the SIXTH (last) sentence after
rearrangement?
(a)A (b) B (c) C (d)D
(e) E
SOLUTIONS:
S1. Ans. (c)
Sol. The
third paragraph of the passage says: “The basic objectives of Rural Development
Programmes have been alleviation of
poverty and unemployment through creation of basic social and economic
infrastructure, provision of training to rural unemployed you.” Hence, (c) is
the correct option.
S2. Ans. (a)
Sol. Alleviation
means to
make (pain, for example) less intense or more bearable. So, mitigation is the
word which is similar in meaning to it.
S3. Ans. (d)
Sol. Propagation means the process of spreading to a larger area or greater
number. So, underdevelopment is the word
which is opposite in meaning to it.
S4. Ans. (c)
Sol. The first paragraph of the passage says:
“People’s participation is one of the foremost prerequisites of development
process both from procedural and philosophical perspectives.” Hence, (c) is the
correct option.
S5. Ans. (d)
Sol. The passage says “Though the 11th Plan
began in very favourable circumstances with the economy having grown at the
rate of 7.7% per year in the 10th Plan period, there still existed a big
challenge to correct the developmental imbalances and to accord due priority to
development in rural areas.” So, only (B) option is true.
S6. Ans. (a)
Sol. Touchstone
means an excellent
quality or example that is used to test
the excellence or genuineness of others. So, yardstick is the word which is similar in meaning to it.
S7. Ans. (e)
Sol. The passage says “There is no
industry-linkage machinery to create demand-based-technology market for rural
communities. Besides, there is also an imbalance between strategies and
effective management programmes.
Propagation of technology/schemes for rural development is slow and
there is a lacking in wider participation of different stakeholders.” So, all
the given options are true.
S8. Ans. (c)
Sol. ‘Rural Development—The Participative Way’
is the most appropriate title of the passage.
S9. Ans. (d)
Sol. The last paragraph of the passage says:
“there still remains much more to be done to bring prosperity in the lives of
the people in rural areas. At present, technology dissemination is uneven and
slow in the rural areas. Good efforts of organisations developing technologies,
devices and products for rural areas could not yield high success.” So, all the
given options are true.
S10. Ans. (b)
Sol. Equitable
means fair and impartial. So, unfair is the word which is opposite in
meaning to it.
S11.
Ans. (c)
Sol.
The current sequence is CBADFE.
S12.
Ans. (b)
Sol.
The current sequence is CBADFE.
S13.
Ans. (a)
Sol.
The current sequence is CBADFE.
S14.
Ans. (d)
Sol.
The current sequence is CBADFE.
S15.
Ans. (e)
Sol.
The current sequence is CBADFE.
