IBPS RRB PO/Clerk Mains English Quiz: 6th October 2019

With every day passed, competition is increasing in leaps and bounds and it is necessary to work smarter to sail through any exam. Having a proper study plan and the updated questions to brush up your knowledge in addition to well-organized study notes for the same can help you with your preparation. IBPS RRB PO/Clerk is going to be the tough exam so you can not afford to leave any important topics. If you deal with the section with accuracy, it can do wonders and can fetch you good marks. As English is the most dreaded subject among students, we are here to provide you with the new questions with the detailed solution so that you can make it this time in IBPS RRB PO/Clerk mains. Here is the English quiz for 6th October 2019. This quiz is based on mix topics-English Misc.

Direction (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.
Paragraph 1 : The acquisition of knowledge is no longer the preserve of a few. The need for widespread literacy in modern societies as well as the development of public spheres has meant that the acquisition and communication of knowledge, including the understanding of radically different people and cultures, has to be democratized. Gathering knowledge through reading and writing and exchanging ideas is a general human need in contemporary societies. In the past, those trained to acquire, preserve, nourish and transmit knowledge had to go through rigorous protocols. They had to learn the norms of knowledge formation: proper ways of collecting and assessing evidence; drawing sound inferences from data; formulating concepts and frameworks of explanation; cultivating empathetic understanding.

Paragraph 2 : It is true that some forms of knowledge gathering and transmission which were normal earlier make us uncomfortable today. The elites spoke primarily to themselves, wrote for themselves, stealthily guarded the knowledge they ‘owned’, did not allow public dissemination, and even punished anyone from outside the circle who tried to procure it. Yet, the crucial point here is the existence of fairly rigorous norms of knowledge acquisition in the past, as also an ethic of reading, writing, speaking, listening, and sharing knowledge. Great emphasis was put on intellectual virtues, and measures were put in place to check corresponding intellectual vices.

Paragraph 3 : In the contemporary world of democratized knowledge acquisition, insufficient attention is paid to intellectual norms and virtues. There are many, but mainly intellectual openness is one of them. It must surely be an integral part of our education, nurtured early in our childhood and ingrained so firmly that it remains with us as long as we are intellectually active. But what is this quality of openness? Suppose a newspaper claims that the Indian economy is growing at 10%, it is incumbent upon me, the reader, with no particular beliefs of my own on this matter, to check if this is true. Not much research is needed. Relevant facts — some supporting and others challenging the claim — are available on the Internet. And if that information proves indecisive, it is easily obtainable from other reliable sources. Thus, one important feature of being open-minded is to refrain from making hasty or premature judgments. This intellectual virtue of hearing both sides, to be persuaded only by better evidence and argument, should be cultivated through education. Exercising intellectual caution and not getting easily swayed by hyperbole is an integral part of intellectual life. Sadly, this elementary virtue is neglected or forgotten today. Why else would rumors and fake news be as rampant and successful?

Paragraph 4 : Another form of open-mindedness is even more important, crucial for knowledge of other people and cultures. Our habits of reading, listening, seeing and understanding often get locked within a particular intellectual framework, which becomes our default position. It becomes naturalized, something taken for granted. We seem unable to think, read, write without it. For example, in some cognitive frameworks, anything good (a rich man’s wealth) or bad (a poor man’s suffering) that happens to an individual is either a product of his own personal choice or to do with some bad karma in previous life. No place exists in this framework for any idea of systematic harms caused by one group to another, or by social, cultural and institutional biases built into the system. Such naturalized intellectual frameworks may also be influenced or defined by a particular culture, philosophy, religion or caste. So, Hindus might think about the world with their own very Hindu assumptions and Muslims and Christians with their own. And each finds it difficult to move beyond, to enlarge their respective visions. This is understandable but these frameworks can be the source of many prejudices and, because they are implicit, lying in the background, can generate an invidious form of closed-mindedness. Only those who have opened up their hearts and minds can overcome the limitations of deeply entrenched world views. Alas, this open-endedness is least remembered when it is most needed. No society can survive normlessness in intellectual life. Neglecting intellectual virtues may not cause immediate visible harm but it will spell disaster.

Q1.What virtues does the author want to be cultivated which are an integral part of education?
(a) Gathering knowledge through reading and writing.
(b) Intellectual openness to be nurtured early in our childhood.
(c) Acquiring rigorous norms of knowledge.
(d) Analyzing previous situations and making premature judgments.
(e) None of these.

S1. Ans.(b)
Sol. Option (b) is the appropriate choice. Refer to paragraph 3 where it is mentioned that insufficient attention is paid to intellectual norms and virtues. There are many virtues but mainly intellectual openness is one of them. It must surely be an integral part of our education, nurtured early in our childhood and ingrained so firmly that it remains with us as long as we are intellectually active.

Q2. What is one of the elementary features of being open-minded?
(a)Not to be influenced by particular religion, culture, philosophy or caste.
(b) To refrain from making hasty or premature judgments.
(c)Supporting and challenging the claim made by some other people.
(d)Existence of fairly rigorous norms of knowledge acquisition.
(e)Having ethics of reading, writing and speaking.

S2. Ans.(b)
Sol. The correct option here is choice (b).The answer can be deduced from paragraph 3 where it is mentioned that one important feature of being open-minded is to refrain from making hasty or premature judgments. “This intellectual virtue of hearing both sides, to be persuaded only by better evidence and argument, should be cultivated through education.”

Q3.Which of the statements is true in reference to cognitive frameworks?
(a)Anything good or bad that happens to a person is not a part of his karma.
(b)These frameworks are not influenced by any particular religion, philosophy or caste.
(c)These are explicit set of frameworks.
(d)This framework does not hold any systematic harm caused by one group to another.
(e)None of these.

S3. Ans.(d)
Sol. Only option (d) is correct with reference to cognitive frameworks. The answer can be concluded from paragraph 4. All of the given options mentioned are negated in the options but in real they are the opposite as mentioned in the paragraph. Thus, only option (d) holds true.

Q4. How are cognitive frameworks likely to generate unfairly discriminating forms of closed mindedness?
(a)As they are explicit, they are likely to become biased and result in closed mindedness.
(b)Since they are implicit, lying in the background, they can be source of many mindedness.
(c)As those who have opened their minds and hearts will not be able to overcome the limitations of the world views.
(d)Prevalent normlessness culture will result in closed mindedness.
(e)All of these.

S4. Ans. (b)
Sol. Option (b) is the appropriate choice here. For the answer, we can refer to paragraph 4 where the author has mentioned that cognitive frameworks are the source of many prejudices because of which people are not able to move beyond and have an enlarged vision.

Q5.What can be referred as the most appropriate title of the passage?
(a)Democratized Knowledge acquisition
(b)Need for widespread Literacy
(c)Cognitive framework of Active learning
(d)Necessity of Intellectual Virtue
(e)Overcoming the rituals of Caste and religion.

S5. Ans. (d)
Sol. The only appropriate title of the passage is option (d). ‘Necessity of Intellectual Virtue’ is the title around which whole of the passage revolves. It is based upon how the acquiring of knowledge is based on rigorous past norms. Though what is needed today is an intellectual caution. Intellectual virtue must be an integral part of our education, nurtured early in our childhood and ingrained so firmly that it remains with us as long as we are intellectually active. Neglecting intellectual virtues may not cause immediate visible harm but it will spell disaster.

Directions (6-8): Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

Q6.Contemporary
(a)Archaic
(b)Vintage
(c)Concurrent
(d)Antiquated
(e)Antediluvian

S6. Ans. (c)
Sol. Contemporary means living or occurring at the same time. Concurrent means the same.
Archaic means very old or old-fashioned.
Vintage means the time that something of quality was produced.
Antiquated means old fashioned or outdated.
Antediluvian means ridiculously old fashioned.

Q7. Empathetic
(a)Callous
(b)Congenial
(c)Savage
(d)Vicious
(e)Implacable

S7. Ans.(b)
Sol. Empathetic means showing an ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
Congenial means sympathetic. Hence option (b) is the answer.
Callous means showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others.
Savage means a brutal or vicious person.
Vicious means deliberately cruel or violent.
Implacable means unable to be appeased or placated.

Q8. Rigorous
(a)Lenient
(b)Indulgent
(c)Clement
(d)Tender
(e)Stringent

S8. Ans.(e)
Sol. Rigorous means extremely thorough and careful.
Stringent means strict, precise and exacting.
Lenient means more merciful or tolerant than expected.
Indulgent means having or indicating a readiness or over-readiness to be generous to or lenient with someone.
Clement means mild, merciful.
Tender means showing gentleness, kindness, and affection.

Directions (9-10): Choose the word which is the OPPOSITE in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
Q9. Rampant
(a)Inhibited
(b)Turbulent
(c)Unrestrained
(d)Unbridled
(e)Rife

S9. Ans. (a)
Sol. Rampant means flourishing or spreading unchecked.
Inhibited means restrained. Hence it is the opposite of the given word.
Turbulent means characterized by conflict, disorder, or confusion; not stable or calm.
Unbridled means uncontrolled.
Rife means of common occurrence;widespread.

Q10. Entrenched
(a)Ensconced
(b)Established
(c)Settled
(d)Embedded
(e)Unascertained

S10. Ans.(e)
Sol. Entrenched means firmly established and difficult or unlikely to change; ingrained.
Unascertained means unknown.
Esconced means establish or settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe place.
Embedded means fixed firmly and deeply in a surrounding mass; implanted.

Directions (11-15): In the paragraph given below certain numbered blanks are given. Against each blank 4 words are given which may or may not fit the blank. Choose the option which provides the perfect combination of word(s) that can fit in the blank. If none of the 4 words can fill the blank then choose “None of these” as your choice. If all the given words can fill the blank then choose “all are correct” as your choice.

The idea of a free and vibrant media is not a utopian concept. It is an essential requirement not only for the people but also for the state to make informed choices and policies that reflect reality, and to ___(11)___ various decision-making processes. The critical distance maintained by journalism from various ___(12)___ interests gives it the ability to document changes and record people’s ___(13)___. A good field report has an ear to the ground; it traces the emerging fault lines. Journalistic work may not be appealing to ___(14)___ but every reflective policymaker values its ___(15)___ role. It is in this context that the inability of Indian journalists to cover the biggest news story of last week, the general election in Pakistan, shows the bigoted attitude of South Asian leadership.

Q11.
(I) calibrate
(II) Edict
(III) Refrain
(IV) Mystify
(a) Only I
(b) Only II
(c) Both I and II
(d) Both II and III
(e) None of these

S11. Ans.(a)
Sol.
Calibrate means to make, adjust, or check the setting (= the position) of the controls used to make measurements with a tool or measuring device.
Other options are irrelevant to the context of the option.
The idea is that with free media, various decision-making processes can be checked.

Q12.
(I) Dislodged
(II) Ingrained
(III) Superficial
(IV) Entrenched
(a) Only II
(b) Only IV
(c) Both II and IV
(d) Both II and III
(e) None of these

S12. Ans.(c)
Sol. Ingrained and entrenched are correct words.
Ingrained means (of a habit, belief, or attitude) firmly fixed or established; difficult to change.
Entrenched means establish (an attitude, habit, or belief) so firmly that change is very difficult or unlikely.

Q13.
(I) Objectives
(II) Aspirations
(III) Expectations
(IV) Reminiscent
(a) Only II
(b) Only IV
(c) Both II and IV
(d) I, II and III
(e) None of these

S13. Ans.(d)
Sol.
Option (d) is the correct choice.
Aspirations, objectives and expectations all are similar in meaning and they all can fit in the blank.
Aspirations means a hope or ambition of achieving something.The argument is that media can help in understanding people’s aspirations.

Q14.
(I) Demagogues
(II) Sympathizers
(III) Peace makers
(IV) Contemporaries
(a) Only IV
(b) Only I
(c) Both I and III
(d) Only II
(e) None of these

S14. Ans. (b)
Sol. Option (b) is the correct choice as demagogue means a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument. The use of “but” and the “policymaker” after that indicates that in the blank a word which means close to a politician or policymaker should be used.

Q15.
(I) immense
(II) substantial
(III) massive
(IV) Significant
(a) Both I and II
(b) Only I
(c) I,II and IV
(d) I, II and III
(e) All are correct

S15. Ans.(e)
Sol.
Substantial means of considerable importance, size, or worth.
Immense means extremely large or great, especially in scale or degree.
All the given 4 words are identical in meaning. All the 4 words can be fit in the blank. The use of “but” indicates contradiction and therefore the work of journalism may not be appealing before “but” indicates that it should be appealing or must have some value in the latter parts of the statement. Therefore, the use of all the 4 words which means that they are of considerable importance is justified.

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