Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer
the questions given below them. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold
to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
Paragraph 1: Given the uncertain times we live in, nothing can be taken for
granted. Much of the world seems to be in a state of bewildering confusion.
Across the spectrum, people appear euphoric, angry, fearful or confused. Many
do not even want to think of what lies ahead. Therein, perhaps, lurks the
biggest danger. Not wanting to understand what is taking place has its own
perils. Disruption is the dominant sentiment today. It is leading to major
political upheavals. It has resulted in escalating levels of violence.
Technology is the biggest disruptor of all. Many large firms are being
challenged by start-ups. Artificial Intelligence is threatening everything that
we are aware of. This breeds uncertainty, apart from confusion.
Paragraph 2: How else can anyone explain the extraordinary spectacle of a U.S.
President effecting a meeting with a North Korean leader. Till very recently,
North Korea was seen by the U.S., and much of the West, as the principal part
of the “axis of evil”. Not only has this been exploded with the leaders of the
U.S. and North Korea meeting in Singapore in June, but the U.S. has announced
that North Korea no longer poses a nuclear threat, nor is it the “biggest and
the most dangerous problem” for the U.S. No diplomatic rigmarole, no joint
communiqué on the details and guarantees, just a simple endorsement that North
Korea would eschew the use of
nuclear weapons and dismantle its
nuclear arsenal is considered enough.
Paragraph 3: The rest of the world, meantime, is in various stages of disarray.
Russia’s Vladimir Putin is pitted against almost the entire Western world, and
is being blamed for an array of human rights violations. Several regions of
Asia are akin to powder kegs waiting to blow up. Afghanistan is rocked almost
daily by terror attacks by the Taliban, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or the
Islamic State. West Asia is embroiled in several wars. Syria is the
worst-affected and has almost ceased to be a state. Tensions between Iran and
Saudi Arabia have intensified. Tensions between Israel and the Muslim world
have peaked. The war launched by the Saudi Arabia-led alliance of Arab States
against Yemen is turning into a war without end. In South Asia, even tiny
countries like the Maldives are challenging bigger neighbours like India.
Paragraph 4: Europe may not be convulsed with the same degree of violence, but
political uncertainty is the prevailing order. Germany, which appeared the most
stable of European countries till recently, is in deep crisis politically and
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government hangs by the proverbial thread. In France,
despite President Emmanuel Macron’s reassuring presence, strong undercurrents
of political disruption are evident. A fluid political situation prevails
across much of southern Europe.
Q1. “Given the uncertain times we
live in, nothing can be taken for granted“. As per the passage, which
of the following are the factors that propagate this uncertainty?
(a) Evolution of start ups in the
advancing world can bother various large organizations.
(b) Political disorders and growing
violence as a product of disruption.
(c) Artificial Intelligence has its
value because of its ability to make predictions.
(d) Both (a) and (b)
(e) Both (b) and (c)
Q2. “North Korea was seen by the U.S., and much of the West, as the
principal part of the “axis of evil””. In context to the passage, what does
“axis of evil” mean here?
(a) Countries that were involved with
terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.
(b) Countries that were well-developed
and provide good job opportunities.
(c) Countries that have no democracy and
are still under monarchy.
(d) Countries becoming a victim of
terrorist activities and mass destruction.
(e) None of the Above
Q3. Which of the following statements
is/are incorrect in context with the passage?
(I) North Korea considered a lengthy and
complicated procedure and agreed to abstain from using nuclear weapons.
(II) Official announcement was made to
media on the details regarding North Korea’s approval to stop using nuclear
weapons.
(III) Afghanistan is prone to terror
attacks by the Taliban and other Islamic State.
(a) Only (I)
(b) Only (II)
(c) Both (I) and (II)
(d) Both (II) and (III)
(e) All of the Above
Q4. Which of the following word/pair of
words have similar meaning to the word given in bold in the passage?
ESCHEW
(I) Disavow
(II) Embrace
(III) Abjure
(IV) Fondle
(a) Only (I)
(b) Only (IV)
(c) Both (III) and (IV)
(d) Both (I) and (III)
(e) Both (I) and (IV)
Q5. Which of the following word/pair of
words is/are opposite in meaning to the word given in bold in the passage?
DISMANTLE
(I) Assemble
(II) Disarticulate
(III) Dissever
(IV) Demolish
(a) Only (I)
(b) Only (IV)
(c) Both (III) and (IV)
(d) Both (I) and (III)
(e) Both (I) and (IV)
Directions
(6-10): Read the following passage carefully and
answer the questions given below them. Certain words/phrases have been printed
in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
Paragraph 1: For consumer inflation, yesterday’s tailwinds have become today’s
headwinds. If imported inflation helped lower the consumer price index
(CPI)-based inflation to an average 3.6% last fiscal from 9.9% in 2013—of
course helped also by a prudent government stance on minimum support prices (MSPs)
and the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) inflation-targeting framework—it is
stoking it now. CPI inflation flared up to 4.9% in May, fuelled by rising
prices of imported crude. In this context, segregating inflation components
into pro-cyclical and acyclical parts, and analysing their movement, is
revelatory indeed. Pro-cyclical components are those that typically move with
economic cycles. For instance, when growth picks up, incomes rise and drive up
consumer demand. As that happens, sectors with relatively high income
elasticity see greater demand. As supply takes time to catch up, prices rise.
Acyclicals are mostly exogenous and do not move with the economic cycle, such
as prices of food, fuel and healthcare. However, if inflationary pressures from
acyclicals become persistent in an environment of strong demand, they can
become generalized over time.
Paragraph 2: Last fiscal, acyclical inflation stood at 2.9%, diving from 4.6%
in fiscal 2016. Pro-cyclical inflation, in contrast, was relatively stubborn
and fell from 5.3% to 4.6%. What restricted the fall was upward revisions in
the house rent allowance (HRA) of government employees, which kept housing
inflation elevated. This fiscal, we expect acyclical factors—in particular,
food and fuel—to drive up inflation, while pro-cyclicals could continue to
remain stubborn if growth momentum is strong. Among acyclicals, risk from
higher crude prices is currently playing out, while that from higher food
prices is lurking and can materialize should the government raise MSPs and
guarantee them to farmers. In recent years, while pro-cyclical inflation has
softened, it has been fairly rigid. That was in sync with India’s gross
domestic product (GDP) growth, which fell from 7.1% to 6.7%. The pricing power
of manufacturers weakened as domestic demand conditions stayed subdued and
swathes of capacities went unutilized. The inflation rates of all pro-cyclical
components, except housing, saw a fall. The impact of the revision in HRA,
which had pushed up inflation last fiscal, is expected to taper off gradually,
but other components could swing north. Consequently, the gradual pick-up in
demand and utilization would not be enough to sate these capacities. Pricing
power, therefore, could stay restrained.
Q6. Which of the following statements
can be inferred from the passage above?
(a) Core inflation, which strips out the
relatively volatile food and fuel prices, has also trended lower and eased
below 4% for the first time in at least five years.
(b) Higher cost of borrowing will dampen
investment, which can decelerate economic recovery in an election year.
(c) The voices exhorting the central
bank to reduce interest rates are only going to grow ahead of its next
bimonthly policy review at the beginning of August.
(d) Pro-cyclical inflation was obdurate
and hence fell from 5.3% to 4.6%.
(e) None of the Above
Q7. As per the passage, rise in growth
is followed by rise in income which is followed by increase in demand. What is
the effect on prices?
(a) Supply is accelerated and as a
result prices decrease.
(b) Supply takes time and as a result
prices decrease.
(c) Supply is accelerated and as a
result prices rise.
(d) Supply takes time and as a result
prices rise.
(e) Both (a) and (d)
Q8. Which of the following is the most
appropriate title for the passage above?
(a) Inflation conundrum: on the record
low retail inflation
(b) The Real Inflation Problem We Face
Today
(c) The Acyclical Inflation Threat in
India
(d) Stemming the Inflation
(e) None of the Above
Q9. Choose the word which best expresses
the meaning of the following word given in bold in the passage
PRUDENT
(a) Indiscreet
(b) Unwise
(c) Discreet
(d) Reckless
(e) Prolific
Q10.
Choose the word which is most opposite to the following word given in bold
in the passage
LURKING
(a) Sneaking
(b)Appearing
(c) Endanger
(d) Skulk
(e) Loiter
Directions (11-15):
In the following passage, there are blanks each of which has been numbered. These
numbers are printed below the passage and against each, five words/phrases are
suggested one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate
word/phrase in each case:
Q11. A …..11…………. of ugly rumours that spread rapidly leading to the
brutal killing of over 20 human beings in various parts of India has turned the
lens squarely on WhatsApp, the messaging platform used quite wilfully and ….12…… for the purpose. The Indian
government did what governments across the world have done in such
situations—blame the medium while ignoring the message. It promptly asked the
company to take steps to stop the spread of such videos. New media platforms
that have become a vehicle for some to disrupt society are increasingly under
pressure to reform or be shut down. For WhatsApp though, the ………..13………. it is facing in India is
quite unusual. A country known for its missed-call culture, ………14………… the messaging platform for
its free and ……..15……… communication
service. With little or no effort, it has scaled to nearly 200 million users, a
significant part of its 1.5 billion user base globally.
(a) Spate
(b) Collaboration
(c) Menace
(d) Delegation
(e) Ample
Q12.
A …..11…………. of ugly rumours
that spread rapidly leading to the brutal killing of over 20 human beings in
various parts of India has turned the lens squarely on WhatsApp, the messaging
platform used quite wilfully and ….12……
for the purpose. The Indian government did what governments across the world
have done in such situations—blame the medium while ignoring the message. It
promptly asked the company to take steps to stop the spread of such videos. New
media platforms that have become a vehicle for some to disrupt society are
increasingly under pressure to reform or be shut down. For WhatsApp though, the
………..13………. it is facing in India is
quite unusual. A country known for its missed-call culture, ………14………… the messaging platform for
its free and ……..15……… communication
service. With little or no effort, it has scaled to nearly 200 million users, a
significant part of its 1.5 billion user base globally.
(a) humbly
(b) amicably
(c) cynically
(d) hurriedly
(e) sincerely
Q13. A …..11…………. of ugly rumours that spread rapidly leading to the
brutal killing of over 20 human beings in various parts of India has turned the
lens squarely on WhatsApp, the messaging platform used quite wilfully and ….12…… for the purpose. The Indian
government did what governments across the world have done in such
situations—blame the medium while ignoring the message. It promptly asked the
company to take steps to stop the spread of such videos. New media platforms
that have become a vehicle for some to disrupt society are increasingly under
pressure to reform or be shut down. For WhatsApp though, the ………..13………. it is facing in India is
quite unusual. A country known for its missed-call culture, ………14………… the messaging platform for
its free and ……..15……… communication
service. With little or no effort, it has scaled to nearly 200 million users, a
significant part of its 1.5 billion user base globally.
(a) purpose
(b) seriousness
(c) culture
(d) diversity
(e) scrutiny
Q14.
A …..11…………. of ugly rumours
that spread rapidly leading to the brutal killing of over 20 human beings in
various parts of India has turned the lens squarely on WhatsApp, the messaging
platform used quite wilfully and ….12……
for the purpose. The Indian government did what governments across the world
have done in such situations—blame the medium while ignoring the message. It
promptly asked the company to take steps to stop the spread of such videos. New
media platforms that have become a vehicle for some to disrupt society are
increasingly under pressure to reform or be shut down. For WhatsApp though, the
………..13………. it is facing in India is
quite unusual. A country known for its missed-call culture, ………14………… the messaging platform for
its free and ……..15……… communication
service. With little or no effort, it has scaled to nearly 200 million users, a
significant part of its 1.5 billion user base globally.
(a) embarrassed
(b) catapulted
(c) emerged
(d) embraced
(e) dislocated
Q15. A …..11…………. of ugly rumours that spread rapidly leading to the
brutal killing of over 20 human beings in various parts of India has turned the
lens squarely on WhatsApp, the messaging platform used quite wilfully and ….12…… for the purpose. The Indian
government did what governments across the world have done in such
situations—blame the medium while ignoring the message. It promptly asked the
company to take steps to stop the spread of such videos. New media platforms
that have become a vehicle for some to disrupt society are increasingly under
pressure to reform or be shut down. For WhatsApp though, the ………..13………. it is facing in India is quite
unusual. A country known for its missed-call culture, ………14………… the messaging platform for its free and ……..15……… communication service. With
little or no effort, it has scaled to nearly 200 million users, a significant
part of its 1.5 billion user base globally.
(a) seamless
(b) hindered
(c) thwarted
(d) baffled
(e) delayed
Solutions
S1. Ans.(d)
Sol. Both
statements (a) and (b) are correct. As we can see in paragraph 1, “Disruption
is the dominant sentiment today. It is leading to major political upheavals. It
has resulted in escalating levels of violence. Technology is the biggest
disruptor of all. Many large firms are being challenged by start-ups.
Artificial Intelligence is threatening everything that we are aware of. This
breeds uncertainty, apart from confusion.” From these lines, it can be inferred
that evolution of start-ups will pose a challenge to large firms. Disruption
here has been considered as the major reason behind political disorders and
violence.
S2. Ans.(a)
Sol. Here,
“axis of evil” means Countries that were involved with terrorism and weapons of
mass destruction. In paragraph 2, “Till very recently, North Korea was seen by
the U.S., and much of the West, as the principal part of the “axis of evil”.
Not only has this been exploded with the leaders of the U.S. and North Korea
meeting in Singapore in June, but the U.S. has announced that North Korea no
longer poses a nuclear threat, nor is it the “biggest and the most dangerous
problem” for the U.S.” these lines clearly state that North Korea no longer
pose a nuclear threat, that means it was involved with weapons of mass destruction.
S3. Ans.(c)
Sol. Both statements (I) and (II) are incorrect.
Refer the following line in paragraph 2 “No diplomatic rigmarole, no joint
communiqué on the details and guarantees, just a simple endorsement that North
Korea would eschew the use of nuclear weapons and dismantle its nuclear arsenal
is considered enough.”. hence, it can be inferred that no legal procedure or
official announcement was made regarding North Korea’s approval to stop using
nuclear weapons
S4. Ans.(d)
Sol. Eschew:
deliberately avoid using; abstain from.
Disavow: deny any responsibility or support for.
Abjure: solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim).
Embrace: accept (a belief, theory, or change) willingly and
enthusiastically.
Fondle: stroke or caress lovingly or erotically.
S5. Ans.(a)
Sol. Dismantle: take (a machine or structure) to pieces.
Disarticulate: separate (bones) at the joints.
Dissever: divide or sever (something).
Demount: pull or knock down (a building).
S6. Ans.(d)
Sol.
Refer 2nd para 1st two lines.
S7. Ans.(d)
Sol. Refer the
following lines “For instance, when growth picks up, incomes rise and drive up
consumer demand. As that happens, sectors with relatively high income
elasticity see greater demand. As supply takes time to catch up, prices rise.”
S8. Ans.(c)
Sol. The most
appropriate title for the passage above is “The Acyclical Inflation Threat in
India”
S9. Ans.(c)
Sol. Prudent: wise, sensible in action and thought
Indiscreet: having, showing, or proceeding from too great a readiness to
reveal things that should remain private or secret.
Unwise: (of a person or action) not wise or sensible; foolish.
Discreet: careful and prudent in one’s speech or actions, especially in
order to keep something confidential or to avoid embarrassment.
Reckless: heedless of danger or the consequences of one’s actions; rash or
impetuous.
Prolific: present in large numbers or quantities; plentiful.
S10. Ans.(b)
Sol. Lurking: be or remain hidden so as to wait in ambush for someone or
something.
Sneaking: (of a feeling) persistent in one’s mind but reluctantly held or
not fully recognized.
Endanger: put (someone or something) at risk or in danger.
Skulk: keep out of sight, typically with a sinister or cowardly motive.
Loiter: stand or wait around without apparent purpose.
S11. Ans.(a)
Sol. Spate: a large number of similar things coming in quick succession.
Collaboration: the action of working with someone to produce something.
Menace: a person or thing that is likely to cause harm; a threat or
danger.
Delegation: a body of delegates or representatives; a deputation.
S12. Ans.(c)
Sol. Cynically: in a distrustful way that expresses a belief that people are
motivated purely by self-interest.
Amicably: in a friendly and peaceable manner.
S13. Ans.(e)
Sol. Scrutiny: critical observation or examination.
S14. Ans.(d)
Sol. Embraced: accept (a belief, theory, or change) willingly and
enthusiastically.
Embarrassed: cause (someone) to feel awkward, self-conscious, or ashamed.
S15. Ans.(a)
Sol. Seamless: smooth and continuous, with no apparent gaps or spaces between one
part and the next.
Thwarted: prevent (someone) from accomplishing something.
Baffled: totally bewilder or perplex.
English Quizzes For SBI PO Mains 2023 - ...
