Directions (1-7):
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it.
Certain words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of
the questions.
Have you ever come across a painting, by Picasso,
Mondrian, Miro, or any other modern abstract painter of this century, and found
yourself engulfed in a brightly-coloured canvas which your senses cannot
interpret? Many people would tend to denounce
abstractionism as senseless trash. These people are disoriented by Miro’s
bright, fanciful creatures and two-dimensional canvases. They click their
tongues and shake their heads at Mondrian’s grid works, declaring that the poor
guy played too many scrabble games. They silently shake their heads in sympathy
for Picasso, whose gruesome, distorted figures must be a reflection of his
mental health. Then, standing in front of a work by Charlie Russell, the famous
western artist, they’ll declare it a work of God. People feel more comfortable
with something they can relate to and understand immediately without too much
thought. This is the case with the work of Charlie Russell. Being able to
recognize the elements in his paintings — trees, horses and cowboys — gives
people a safety line to their world of ‘reality’. There are some who would
disagree when I say abstract art requires more creativity and artistic talent
to produce a good piece than does representational art, but there are many
weaknesses in their arguments.
People who look down on abstract art have several major
arguments to support their beliefs. They feel that artists turn abstract
because they are not capable of the technical drafting skills that appear in a
Russell: therefore, such artists create an art form that anyone is capable of
and that is less time consuming, and then parade it as artistic progress.
Secondly, they feel that the purpose of art is to create something of beauty in
an orderly, logical composition. Russell’s compositions are balanced and
rational: everything sits calmly on the canvas, leaving the viewer satisfied
that he has seen all there is to see. The modern abstractionists, on the other
hand, seem to compose their pieces irrationally. For example, upon seeing
Picasso’s Guernica, a friend of mine asked me, “What‘s the point?” Finally,
many people feel that art should portray the ideal and real. The exactness of
detail in Charlie Russell’s work is an example of this. He has been called a
great historian because his pieces depict the lifestyle, dress, and events of
the times. His subject matter is derived from his own experiences on the trial,
and reproduced to the smallest detail.
I agree in part with many of these arguments, and at one
time even endorsed them. But now, I believe differently. Firstly, I object to
the argument that abstract artists are not capable of drafting. Many abstract
artists, such as Picasso, are excellent draftsmen. As his work matured, Picasso
became more abstract in order to increase the expressive quality of his work.
Guernica was meant as a protest against the bombing of that city by the
Germans. To express the terror and suffering of the victims more vividly, he distorted the figures and
presented them in a black and white journalistic manner. If he had used
representational images and colour, much of the emotional content would have
been lost and the piece would not have caused the demand for justice that it
did. Secondly, I do not think that a piece must be logical and aesthetically
pleasing to be art. The message it conveys to its viewers is more important. It
should reflect the ideals and issues of its time and be true to itself, not
just a flowery, glossy surface. For example, through his work, Mondrian was
trying to present a system of simplicity, logic, and rational order. As a
result, his pieces did end up looking like a scrabble board.
Miro created powerful, surrealistic images from his
dreams and subconscious. These artists were trying to evoke a response from
society through an expressionistic manner. Finally, abstract artists and
representational artists maintain different ideas about ‘reality’. To the
representational artist, reality is what he sees with his eyes. This is the
reality he reproduces on canvas. To the abstract artist, reality is what he
feels about what his eyes see. This is the reality he interprets on canvas.
This can be illustrated by Mondrian’s Trees series. You can actually see the
progression from the early recognizable, though abstracted Trees, to his final
solution, the grid system.
A cycle of abstract and representational art began with
the first scratchings of prehistoric man. From the abstractions of ancient
Egypt to representational, classical Rome, returning to abstractionism in early
Christian art and, so on up to the present day, the cycle has been going on.
But this day and age may witness its death through the camera. With film, there
is no need to produce finely detailed, historical records manually; the camera
does this for us more efficiently. Maybe, representational art would cease to
exist. With abstractionism as the victor of the first battle, maybe, a
different kind of cycle will be touched off. Possibly, sometime in the distant
future, thousands of years from now, art itself will be physically
non-existent. Some artists today believe that once they have planned and
constructed a piece in their mind, there is no sense in finishing it with their
hands; it has already been done and can never be duplicated.
Q1. The author believes that people feel comfortable with
representational art because
(a) they are not engulfed in brightly-coloured canvases.
(b) they do not have to click their tongues and shake
their heads in sympathy.
(c) they understand the art without putting too much
strain on their minds.
(d) painting like Guernica do not have a point.
(e) All of these
Q2. In the author’s opinion, Picasso’s Guernica created a
strong demand for justice sin
(a) it was a protest against the German bombing of
Guernica.
(b) Picasso managed to express the emotional content well
with his abstract depiction.
(c) it depicts the terror and suffering of the victims in
a distorted manner.
(d)it was a mature work of Picasso, painted when the
artist’s drafting skills were excellent.
(e) Both (c) and (d)
Q3.The author argues that many people look down upon
abstract art because they feel that
(a) modern abstract art does not portray what is ideal
and real.
(b) abstract artists are unskilled in matters of
technical drafting.
(c) abstractionists compose irrationally.
(d) Both (b) and (c)
(e)All of the above
Q4. The author acknowledges that Mondrian’s pieces may
have ended up looking like a scrabble board because
(a) many people declared the poor guy played too many
scrabble games.
(b) Mondrian believed in the ‘grid-works’ approach to
abstractionist painting.
(c) Mondrian was trying to convey the message of
simplicity and rational order.
(d) Mondrian learned from his Trees series to evolve a
grid system.
(e) None of these
Q5. The main difference between the abstract artist and
the representational artist in matters of the ‘ideal’ and the ‘real’, according
to the author, is:
(a) How each chooses to deal with ‘reality’ on his or her
canvas.
(b) The superiority of interpretation of reality over
reproduction of reality.
(c) The different values attached by each to being a
historian.
(d) The varying levels of drafting skills and logical
thinking abilities.
(e) All of these
Directions (6-7):
Choose the word/group of words which is most SIMILAR in meaning to the word/group of words printed in bold as
used in passage.
Q6. Denounce
(a)candid
(b)allure
(c)sublime
(d) proscribe
(e)splendid
Q7. Scrabble
(a) Rummage
(b) ascribe
(c) murky
(d) rebuke
(e) rife
Direction (8-10): In the following question, a part of the sentence
is given in bold; it is then followed by three sentences which try to explain
the meaning of the phrase given in bold. Choose the best set of alternatives
from the five options given below each question which explains the meaning of
the phrase correctly without altering the meaning of the sentence given to the
question.
Q8. The so-called nationalists are
clearly off-target when they miss the point that patriotism arises from a
genuine love of one’s country, having a stake in its welfare ~ it cannot be indoctrinated through symbolic
gestures.
(I)The ones who call themselves
nationalists are clearly off-target when they miss the point that patriotism
arises from an unfeigned love of one’s country and having a stake in its
welfare rather than persuading it through symbolic deeds.
(II)Most of the time the so-called
nationalists miss the point that patriotism cannot be drilled through allusive
acts rather it transpires from a true love of one’s country and being
supportive in its prosperity.
(III)Any symbolic actions to prove patriotism
cannot be considered a genuine love of one’s country and that’s what the
so-called nationalists miss to make a point.
(a)Only (I) is correct
(b)Only (III) is correct
(c)Both (I) and (III) are correct
(d)Both (II) and (III) are correct
(e)All are correct
Q9. The Right to Education Act, which
has not been as effective as initially envisaged in 2010, might well flounder on the rock of teaching ~ a cruel irony of what
was once packaged as a fundamental entitlement.
(I)The Right to Education Act has not
been as effective as initially anticipated in 2010 which might well work
against the process of teaching, envisioning a cruel irony of what was once
packaged as a fundamental entitlement.
(II)The Right to Education Act that was
once packaged as a fundamental entitlement has not been as effective as
initially envisaged in 2010 and might struggle ironically due to the teaching
flaws.
(III)The Right to Education Act has
given way to a cruel irony of what was once packaged as a fundamental
entitlement owing to its ineffectiveness as envisioned in 2010 and might
prosper the foundation of teaching in the process.
(a)Only (I) is correct
(b)Only (II) is correct
(c)Both (II) and (III) are correct
(d)Both (I) and (II) are correct
(e)All are correct
Q10. Sometimes dreams are such a far cry from reality that they do make
for somewhat entertaining cocktail party conversation.
(I)Dreams are intermittently illusory,
framing somewhat entertaining cocktail party conversation.
(II)Sometimes dreams are so funny that
they foster entertaining cocktail party conversation.
(III)Sometimes dreams are so much
different from reality that they tend to result in somewhat entertaining
cocktail party conversation.
(a)Only (I) is correct
(b)Only (II) is correct
(c)Both (I) and (II) are correct
(d)Both (I) and (III) are correct
(e)All are correct
Direction (11-14): The following question
consists of a sentence which is divided into three parts which contain
grammatical errors in one or more than one part of the sentence. If there is an
error in any part of the sentence, find the correct alternatives to replace
those parts from the three options given below each question to make the
sentence grammatically correct. If there is an error in any part of the
sentence and none of the alternatives is correct to replace that part, then
choose (d), i.e., None of the (I), (II) and (III) as your answer. If the given
sentence is grammatically correct or does not require any correction, choose
(e), i.e., No correction required as your answer.
Q11. Water is in every sense a
multi-dimensional resource (I)/requiring an understanding of many other
discipline(II)/for its sustainable management. (III)
(I)Water that has been a
multi-dimensional resource
(II)requiring an understanding of many
other disciplines
(III)in its sustainable management
(a)Only (I)
(b)Only (II)
(c)Both (I) and (III)
(d)None of the (I), (II) and (III)
(e)No correction required
Q12. The Centre earns a large part of
its own revenues not only in excise and customs duty (I)/on petro-products,
while from cess on crude oil, (II)/from taxes on the profits of oil companies
and dividend from oil PSUs. (III)
(I)The Centre earns a large part of its
own revenues not only from excise and customs duty
(II)on petro-products, but also from cess
on crude oil,
(III)in taxes on the profits of oil
companies and dividend on oil PSUs
(a)Only (I)
(b)Both (II) and (III)
(c)Both (I) and (II)
(d)None of the (I), (II) and (III)
(e)No correction required
Q13. The uptick Amazon shares registered
on Wall Street this Friday has directly affected (I)/ the fortune of its
founder, Jeff Bezos, who immediately (II)/replaced Microsoft co-founder Bill
Gates as the richest person in the world. (III)
(I)The uptick Amazon shares registered
on Wall Street this Friday had directly effected
(II)the fortune of its founder, Jeff
Bezos, who’s immediately
(III)replacing Microsoft co-founder Bill
Gates as the richest person of the world
(a)Only (I)
(b)Only (II)
(c)Both (I) and (III)
(d)None of the (I), (II) and (III)
(e)No correction required
Q14. India’s biggest tax reform through
date, the Goods and Service Tax, (I)/with its goal of “one nation, one tax”,
(II)/ heralds a new age in India’s growth story. (III)
(I)India’s biggest tax reform till date,
the Goods and Service Tax,
(II)with its goals of “one nation, one
tax”,
(III)heralds a new age of India’s growth
story
(a)Only (I)
(b)Both (I) and (III)
(c)All (I), (II) and (III)
(d)None of the (I), (II) and (III)
(e)No correction required
Direction (15): There are sets of four statements in question given
below which when connected using the correct sentence structure forms a single
complete sentence without altering the meaning of the sentences given in the
question. There are four options given below the question, choose the sentence
that forms the correct formation of a single sentence which is both
grammatically correct and contextually meaningful. If none follows, choose (e)
as your answer.
Q15. There is a decline in GDP growth in
the first quarter of 2017-18;GDP is declined to 5.4 per cent, compared to 7.6
per cent during the same period in 2016-17;it is mainly because of a slowdown
in the economy after the euphoria of a turnaround; it is causing sleepless
nights to the government of Narendra Modi.
(a)There is a decline in GDP growth in
the first quarter of 2017-18 to 5.4 per cent as compared to 7.6 per cent during
the same period in 2016-17 which is mainly because of a slowdown in the economy
after the euphoria of a turnaround that has caused sleepless nights to the
government of Narendra Modi.
(b)Decline in GDP growth in the first
quarter of 2017-18 to 5.4 per cent, compared to 7.6 per cent during the same
period in 2016-17 mainly because of a slowdown in the economy after the
euphoria of a turnaround is causing sleepless nights to the government of
Narendra Modi.
(c)Because of a slowdown in the economy
after the euphoria of a turnaround that is causing sleepless nights to the
government of Narendra Modi, there is a decline in GDP growth in the first
quarter of 2017-18 leading to 5.4 per cent after comparing it to 7.6 per cent
during the same period in 2016-17.
(d)While there is a decline in GDP
growth in the first quarter of 2017-18 up to 5.4 per cent when compared to 7.6
per cent during the same period in 2016-17, it has been causing sleepless
nights to the government of Narendra Modi owing to the slowdown in the economy
and the euphoria of a turnaround.
(e)None of the above is correct.
SOLUTIONS:
S1. Ans. (c)
Sol. Refer the fourth last sentence of
the first paragraph “People feel more comfortable with something they can
relate to and understand immediately without too much thought”.
S2. Ans. (b)
Sol. Refer the eighth sentence of the
third paragraph “If he had used representational images and colour, much of the
emotional content would have been lost and the piece would not have caused the
demand for justice that it did.”
S3. Ans. (d)
Sol. Refer the first few sentences of
the second paragraph “People who look down on abstract art have several major
arguments to support their beliefs. They feel that artists turn abstract
because they are not capable of the technical drafting skills that appear in a
Russell: therefore, such artists create an art form that anyone is capable of
and that is less time consuming, and then parade it as artistic progress.”
S4. Ans. (c)
Sol. Refer the last two sentences of the
third paragraph “This can be illustrated by Mondrian’s Trees series. You can
actually see the progression from the early recognizable, though abstracted
Trees, to his final solution, the grid system.”
S5. Ans. (a)
Sol. Refer the fourth paragraph.
S6. Ans. (d)
Sol. Denounce means publicly declare to be wrong or evil. Hence it has
same meaning as proscribe.
Splendid means magnificent, very impressive.
Candid means truthful and straightforward, frank.
Sublime means of very great excellence or beauty.
S7. Ans. (a)
Sol. Scrabble means an act of scratching or scrambling for something.
Hence it has same meaning as rummage.
Rebuke means express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because
of their behaviour or actions.
Ascribe means regard something as being due to (a cause).
Rife means abundant.
Murky means dark and gloomy, especially due to thick mist.
S8. Ans. (c)
Sol. The phrase given in bold “it cannot be indoctrinated through symbolic
gestures” implies that patriotism cannot be taught or shown through
symbolic deeds. Thus among the three statements, statement (I) and (III)
provide the exact and the most suitable meaning of the phrase in the context of
its usage in the sentence. Hence (c) is the correct option. Statement (II) is
incorrect as the word allusive means to contain suggestion rather than explicit
mention whereas the whole issue is revolving around the propagandizing of
patriotism.
S9. Ans. (b)
Sol. The word “flounder” in the phrase given in bold “might well flounder on the rock of teaching” means “be in serious
difficulty.” Thus among the given three sentences, statements (I) and (III) can
be eliminated as they give a vague and inappropriate meaning of the phrase to
the sentences. However, only statement (II) provides the exact and the most suitable
meaning of the phrase in the context of its usage in the sentence. Hence (b) is
the correct choice.
S10. Ans. (d)
Sol. The phrase “far cry from reality” implies very different from reality. Thus among the three given statements, only
statements (I) and (III) provide the correct meaning of the phrase without
altering the meaning of the actual sentence. The second statement gives a very
different meaning to the phrase which is incorrect. Hence (d) is the correct
choice.
S11. Ans. (b)
Sol. The first part of the sentence is
grammatically correct, pointing towards a true statement. Thus it doesn’t
require any correction. In the second part of the sentence, the word
“discipline” should be replaced by “disciplines” as the phrase “many other”
indicates that the noun it signifies should be in plural form. The third part
of the sentence is grammatically correct and doesn’t require any correction.
Hence (b) is the correct option.
S12. Ans. (c)
Sol. In the first part of the sentence,
there is a minor error in the use of preposition “in” which should be replace
by “from” to make the sentence grammatically correct. In the second part of the
sentence, the connector “while” should be replaced by “but also” as the use of
“not only” in the first part of the sentence indicates that it should be
followed by “but also.” However, the third part of the sentence is
grammatically correct and doesn’t require any correction. Hence (c) is the
correct choice.
S13. Ans. (e)
Sol. The given sentence is grammatically
correct and hence it doesn’t require any correction.
S14. Ans. (a)
Sol. In the first part of the sentence,
the phrase “India’s biggest tax reform through date” should be replaced by
“India’s biggest tax reform till date” as “till” is the correct preposition in
this case. The second and the third
parts of the sentence are grammatically correct and don’t require any
correction. Hence (a) is the correct option.
S15. Ans. (b)
Sol. Among the four options, sentences
(a), (c) and (d) are structurally or are grammatically incorrect and completely
differ from the actual meaning of the sentence. However, sentence (b) adds
meaning to the sentence as it follows the correct structure required to bring
out the grammatically correct sentence. Hence (b) is the correct choice.
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