English Quizzes For IBPS Clerk Prelims 2022 : 8th August – Reading Comprehension, Sentence Rearrangement

TOPIC: Reading Comprehension, Sentence Rearrangement

Directions (1-10): 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.

There is a sense of gloom pervading India’s $150-billion
information technology (IT) industry, which earned India $88 billion in foreign
exchange in 2015-16 through the exports of software and IT-enabled services
(ITeS). According to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the rate of
growth of the combined exports of software and ITeS fell from 20.8 per cent in
2012-13 to 14.9 per cent in 2014-15 and to a low of 7.3 per cent in 2015-16.
Global circumstances combined with the specific nature of India’s IT prowess seem to be responsible for this
fall. India’s IT industry recorded remarkable growth over a long period because
it exploited an outsourcing opportunity by perfecting a global delivery model
for software and ITeS based on cheap skilled labour. That opportunity was
offered by the cost-cutting imperatives
facing the corporate sector in the United States and elsewhere.

As a result, IT industry revenues grew in double digits,
with export earnings accounting for a large share of those revenues. Employment
grew rapidly, albeit from a low base and at a lower pace than revenues. And a
service industry to support the IT sector’s growth grew around the principal
centres of its activity, suggesting that despite the absence of physical
production the sector had backward linkages through which it delivered some
economy-wide benefits. This combination of the characteristics of India’s IT
success not only gave the industry a position of privilege in the economy but
made it the symbol of India’s ostensible
post-globalisation success.

However, there were a number of features of that model that
made it vulnerable to changes in circumstances. To start with, it had a high
degree of dependence on exports for growth, with the U.S. accounting for a very
large share of those exports, followed by the European Union (E.U.) at a
distant second. At the turn of the century, the U.S. market accounted for close
to two-thirds of India’s IT exports and the E.U. for about a quarter, and even
in 2015-16, the U.S. was first with 62 per cent and Europe second with 24 per
cent. Little had changed for the industry.

Secondly, software services (or code writing and
customisation of different levels of sophistication) and ITeS, rather than IT
products, accounted for an overwhelming share of revenues. To garner those revenues, a workforce with
essential IT skills and familiarity with English, communication infrastructure,
and the requisite organisation were the necessary ingredients. But sustaining
those revenues required constant attention to cost competitiveness, which
encouraged automation of the routine activities that constitute an important
part of the industry’s operations.

Thirdly, this output composition required combining
offshore delivery with local services provision to understand client
requirements and customize services
and even run operations. So, on-site work remained an important component of
the industry’s activity. In 2002-03, 48 per cent of India’s exports of IT
services was through the medium of a commercial presence on foreign soil and
another 13.5 per cent through the presence of natural persons. By 2015-16 those
figures had come down to 18.9 per cent and 16.1 per cent respectively. But the
local presence, which ensured provision of 35 per cent of the value services
that had risen in value from Rs.31,100 crore to Rs.5,76,310 crore between
2002-03 and 2015-16, was undoubtedly large and crucial to the industry’s
performance.

Finally, a few firms (such as Tata Consultancy Services
(TCS), Infosys and Wipro) account for a very large share of the industry’s
revenues, drawing attention to their operations and brand as happened in the
U.S. recently.

Q1. Why according to the passage India’s IT industry is
facing a sense of despondency?

(I)Because of unavailability of cheap skilled labour force
in the country.

(II)There is an abrupt decline in the rate of growth of the
combined exports of software and ITeS.

(III)Because of over-exploitation of outsourcing opportunities.

(a)Only (I) is correct

(b)Only (II) is correct

(c)Both (I) and (III) are correct

(d)Both (II) and (III) are correct

(e)All are correct

Q2. How the outsourcing opportunity helped India’s IT
industry in achieving exceptional growth?

(I)It bettered India’s global delivery model for software
and ITeS based on cheap skilled labour.

(II)There was a significant growth in generation of
revenues of IT industry.

(III) It helped in rapid growth of employment.

(a)Only (I) is correct

(b)Only (III) is correct

(c)Both (I) and (II) are correct

(d)Both (II) and (III) are correct

(e)All are correct

Q3. What does the author mean by the sentence, “Little had changed for the industry” as
used in the passage?

(a)Despite the subsequent growth in other sectors, Indian
IT industry failed to add value to the economy.

(b)IT Industry still had a high degree of dependence on
exports for growth.

(d)Both (b) and (c)

(e)All of the above

Q4. Which of the following statements is/are true in
context of the passage?

(I) In 2002-03, 18.9
per cent of India’s exports of IT services was through the medium of a
commercial presence on foreign soil and another 16.1 per cent through the
presence of natural persons.

(II) India’s IT success not only gave the industry a
position of privilege in the economy but made it the symbol of India’s
ostensible post-globalisation success.

(III) A workforce with essential IT skills and familiarity
with English, communication infrastructure, and the requisite organisation were
the necessary ingredients for drawing attention of the outsourcing opportunity.

(a)Only (I) is true

(b)Only (II) is true

(c)Both (I) and (II) are true

(d)Both (II) and (III) are true

(e)All are true

Q5. Why according to the passage the growth rate of
combined exports of software and ITeS slumped to a new low?

(a) Global circumstances combined with the specific nature
of India’s IT prowess seem to be responsible for this fall.

(b) India’s over dependence on the exports of software and
ITeS for growth.

(d) Lack of workforce with essential IT skills and
familiarity with English, and communication infrastructure.

(e) All of the above.

Directions (6-8): 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. Prowess

(a)Dexterity

(b)Method

(c)Composure

(d)Liberty

(e)Serenity

Q7. Garner

(a)Pick up

(b)Setup

(c)Preserve

(d)Buy up

(e)Amass

Q8. Imperative

(a)Subtle

(b)Piercing

(c)Vital

(d)Supple

(e)Mercurial

Directions (9-10): Choose the word/group of words which is most opposite in meaning to the word/group
of words printed in bold as used in passage.

Q9. Ostensible

(a)Avowed

(b)Genuine

(c)Alleged

(d)Illusory

(e)Feigned

Q10. Customize

(a)Sustenance

(b)Broaden

(c)Maintenance

(d)Reshape

(e)Comply

Directions (11-15): Rearrange
the following sentences (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (F) in the proper sequence to
form a meaningful paragraph; then answer the questions given below them.

(A) In many ways, it was.

(B) This could have made defending the region difficult for us.

(C) Loss of these heights would have given the enemy, power to dominate the
axis leading to Ladakh, as also the complete area.

(D) Pakistan was certain that India would approach the world community but not
launch an attack.

(E) The main contention by many strategists has been that by reclaiming the
heights that was occupied by Pakistan, can we call it a victory?

(F) It was also their belief that even if India attacked, it would not succeed.

Q11. Which of the following should be the first sentence after rearrangement?

(a) B

(b) F

(d) E

(e) C

Q12. Which of the following should be the third sentence after rearrangement?

(a) A

(b) D

(d) E

(e) C

Q13. Which of the following should be the fifth sentence after rearrangement?

(a) B

(b) F

(d) D

(e) E

Q14. Which of the following should be the sixth (last) sentence after rearrangement?

(a) F

(b) E

(d) B

(e) C

Q15. Which of the following should be the second sentence after rearrangement?

(a) C

(b) A

(d) F

(e) E

SOLUTIONS:

S1. Ans. (b)

Sol. Refer the first paragraph, “According to data from the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the rate of growth of the combined exports of
software and ITeS fell from 20.8 per cent in 2012-13 to 14.9 per cent in
2014-15 and to a low of 7.3 per cent in 2015-16.” Hence only statement (II) is
the correct reason.

S2. Ans. (e)

Sol. Refer the last few lines of first paragraph, “India’s
IT industry recorded remarkable growth over a long period because it exploited
an outsourcing opportunity by perfecting a global delivery model for software
and ITeS based on cheap skilled labour.” and the first few lines of second
paragraph, “As a result, IT industry revenues grew in double digits, with
export earnings accounting for a large share of those revenues. Employment grew
rapidly, albeit from a low base and at a lower pace than revenues.” Hence all
three statements are correct in context of the passage.

S3. Ans. (d)

Sol. Refer the first few sentences of the third paragraph,
“However, there were a number of features of that model that made it vulnerable
to changes in circumstances. To start with, it had a high degree of dependence
on exports for growth, with the U.S. accounting for a very large share of those
exports…” and the first sentence of the fourth paragraph, “Secondly, software
services (or code writing and customisation of different levels of
sophistication) and ITeS, rather than IT products, accounted for an
overwhelming share of revenues.” Hence both the statements (b) and (c) are
correct in context of the passage.

S4. Ans. (b)

Sol. Refer the statements, “In 2002-03, 48 per cent of
India’s exports of IT services was through the medium of a commercial presence
on foreign soil and another 13.5 per cent through the presence of natural
persons.”, “This combination of the characteristics of India’s IT success not
only gave the industry a position of privilege in the economy but made it the
symbol of India’s ostensible post-globalisation success.” and “To garner those
revenues, a workforce with essential IT skills and familiarity with English,
communication infrastructure, and the requisite organisation were the necessary
ingredients.” Hence only statement (II) is true in context of the passage.

S5. Ans. (a)

S6. Ans. (a)

Sol. Prowess
means skill or expertise in a particular activity or field. Dexterity means skill in performing
tasks, especially with the hands. Hence both are similar in meanings.

Serenity means the
state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.

S7. Ans. (e)

Sol. Garner
means gather or collect (something, especially information or approval). Hence
“amass” is the word most similar in
meaning to it.

S8. Ans. (c)

Sol. Imperative
means a factor or influence making something necessary. Hence ‘vital’ is the
word most similar in meaning to it.

Supple means
bending and moving easily and gracefully; flexible.

Mercurial means
subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind.

S9. Ans. (b)

Sol. Ostensible
means stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so. Hence ‘genuine’ is the word most opposite in
meaning to it.

Avowed means that
has been asserted, admitted, or stated publicly.

S10. Ans. (b)

Sol. Customize
means modify (something) to suit a particular individual or task. Hence ‘broaden’ is the word most opposite in
meaning to it.

Sustenance means the
maintaining of someone or something in life or existence.

S11. Ans. (d)