Directions (1-10): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
Reliance Industries’ and BP’s joint investment of 40,000 crore in the KG-D6 gas block has important implications for the oil, gas and renewable energy sectors in terms of technological development, supply line infrastructure and pricing policy. The investment assumes a projected gas yield of 30 to 35 million cubic metres a day from the fields, and accompanies an overall partnership between the two companies in low-carbon and renewable energy, as well as in fuel retailing. With the last big investment in the sector being BP’s purchase of a 30% stake in some of RIL’s oil and gas production-sharing contracts in 2011, this pact signals a growing comfort with and acceptance of the Centre’s new gas pricing policy, which includes a mechanism for higher rates for gas from deep and ultra-deep wells. The proposed investment also brings into sharp focus the 2014 arbitration case the companies had filed against the government regarding gas pricing. Given the Centre’s current stance, the partners will not be able to derive benefit from the new gas pricing formula till the legal spat is resolved. The RIL-BP partnership also seeks to build capabilities across the entire oil and gas value chain. Thursday’s announcement that the two partners would explore opportunities in fuel retailing too was significant, coming as it did a day before the country moved to a dynamic pricing policy involving daily price revisions. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had invited the two companies to invest in fuel retailing, and their agreement suggests optimism over the outlook for the pricing regime. Conventional energy companies worldwide are realising that traditional markets are diminishing, and sources of conventional energy such as coal mines and gas fields becoming more expensive to operate. The RIL-BP plans to explore opportunities in renewable energy should be viewed against that backdrop. The two companies, in their search for new sources of conventional energy, have developed expertise that could be applied in the renewable energy space. BP has been operating deep and ultra-deep wells for years and has the infrastructure and technology to operate in high-risk, difficult locations. One possible opportunity for the companies is to exploit this know-how and develop offshore wind installations across the KG-D6 block. A company used to drilling at ultra-deep locations should not find it difficult to set up the foundations for offshore windmills at these sites. And it is not that big a jump to get electricity supply lines running alongside pre-existing oil and gas pipelines. With offshore wind installations virtually non-existent in India, the area offers an untapped market that the government would be keen to see exploited. While details of the investment plan have not been presented, the scale of the funds involved, coupled with attractive pricing and FDI policies, may well help draw more global oil and gas majors to the Indian market, upstream and downstream.
Q1. What is centre’s new gas pricing policy as mentioned in the given passage?
(a) Opportunity in renewable energy sector.
(b) The area that offers an untapped market that the government would be keen to see exploited.
(c) A mechanism for higher rates for gas from deep and ultra-deep wells.
(d) Partnership between the two companies in low-carbon and renewable energy.
(e) None of these.
Q2. When will the Reliance Industries and BP will be able to derive benefit from the new gas pricing formula?
(a) After the country moves to a dynamic pricing policy involving daily price revisions.
(b) After the announcement that the two partners would explore opportunities in fuel retailing too was significant.
(c) After the development of offshore wind installations across the KG-D6 block.
(d) After the arbitration case that companies filed against the government is resolved.
(e) None of these.
Q3. The joint investment being talked about has important implications for which of the following?
A. Oil
B. Gas
C. Renewable energy Sectors
(a) A and B
(b) Band C
(c) Only B
(d) A, B and C.
(e) None of the A, B and C
Q4. Which company, according to the given passage, should not find it difficult to set up the foundations for offshore windmills across the KG-D6 block?
(a) A company that has filed a case against government.
(b) A company in search for new sources of conventional energy.
(c) A company that is a source of conventional energy.
(d) A company used to drilling at ultra-deep locations.
(e) None of these.
Q5. Which of the following are becoming more expensive to operate according to the given paragraph?
A. Gas fields
B. Coal mines
C. Traditional markets
(a) A and C
(b) B and C
(c) A and B
(d) A, B and C
(e) None of the A, B and C
Directions (6-10): Which of the following is synonym/antonym of the given word from the passage?
Q6. spat
(a) contempt
(b) disgust
(c) concord
(d) repugnance
(e) detestation
Q7. dynamic
(a) apathetic
(b) exclusive
(c) noble
(d) topflight
(e) aristocrat
Q8. outlook
(a) temerity
(b) perspective
(c) recalcitrance
(d) approbation
(e) stump
Q9. opportunity
(a) contingency
(b) admiration
(c) esteem
(d) regard
(e) approval
Q10. untapped
(a) reserved
(b) unjaded
(c) concluding
(d) untouched
(e) Unbeatable
Directions (11-15): In the following Questions, there are four sentences. Each sentence has pairs of words/phrases that are italicized and highlighted. From the italicized and highlighted word(s)/phrase(s), select the most appropriate word(s)/phrase(s) to form correct sentences. Then choose the best option.
Q11. (i) Having to work unsociable [A]/antisocial [B] hours in the call center has had an effecton his health.
(ii) Most cosmetics claim to be hypoallergenic [A]/nonallergenic [B].
(iii) The finger that was caught in the door became turbid [A]/turgid [B] and discoloured.
(iv) The qualification, e.g., [A]/i.e., [B] Master of Business Administration, is essential for the job.
(a) AABB
(b) ABAB
(c) BABA
(d) BAAB
(e) BBBB
Q12. (i) Dumping waste into rivers and streams is flagrant [A]/blatant [B] abuse of environmental norms.
(ii) I will introduce you to her, but you are on your own from their [A]/there [B] on.
(iii) When her turn came, she lay [A]/laid [B] her papers on the table.
(iv) When his controversial paintings were banned, the artist emigrated [A]/immigrated [B] as a result.
(a) ABBA
(b) BBBA
(c) ABAB
(d) BBAB
(e) AAAA
Q13. (i) An actor’s performance depends on his ability to memorize the lines and cues [A]/ queues [B].
(ii) The project failed because of the shortcomings innate [A]/inherent [B] in our approach.
(iii) No wonder he is a doctor, his entire linear [A]/lineage [B] has been associated with medical science.
(iv) Evolutionary science established between human beings and simians, especially monkeys [A]/apes [B].
(a) AABB
(b) ABAB
(c) BABA
(d) ABBB
(e) AAAA
Q14. (i) The school affected [A]/effected [B] a new policy on extracurricular activities.
(ii) The rationale [A]/rational [B] behind current curricula is that students need to learn language and thinking skills, not specific information.
(iii) All the bickering and noise we witness in the legislature over petty politics is pure bathos [A]/pathos [B].
(iv) He has been recumbent [A]/incumbent [B] on the job; he must be fired.
(a) BAAA
(b) BBAA
(c) ABAB
(d) AAAB
(e) BBBB
Q15. (i) First, it is too expensive; second, it doesn’t fit well and thirdly [A]/third, [B] I don’t like it.
(ii) The festival offers a truly eclectic [A]/esoteric [B] program of events, including the opportunity to dance your socks off every evening.
(iii) In a monotonous [A]/monotonic [B] arrangement each set is contained completely within the other.
(iv) After the accident the victim went into comma [A]/coma [B] for several days.
(a) AABB
(b) BBAB
(c) BABB
(d) BBBB
(e) AAAA
