KRISHNA MOHAN

Tuesday, 1 August 2017

Reading Comprehension

Private interest as public purpose

The Bill to amend the 2013 land acquisition Act is neither pro-farmer nor pro-poor

A study of 1660 judgments of the Punjab and Haryana High Court (2009-11)
shows how the average government compensation for farmers losing land is just about one-fourth of the market value

Next week the economic agenda of the Narendra Modi government will face its biggest test in Parliament.

The controversial Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition,

Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015 (LARR) that has been introduced in Lok Sabha is due for consideration of the house on March 9.

While the government seems determined to push the Bill through Parliament, the opposition parties have vowed to oppose it tooth and nail.

The stakes are very high for both sides. Ensuring hassle-free and cheap land to private companies is a crucial component of the
economic agenda of the government. The government has made it clear that it will consider only ‘meaningful’ amendments, but will not change the core of the Bill.

On the other hand, for opposition parties the Bill offers an opportunity for revival. They want to capitalise on the battle that has been raging outside Parliament.

A foot-march by tens of thousands of farmers, agricultural workers and tribals from 16 States reached Jantar Mantar on February 23 to join a protest-
launched by Anna Hazare.The social activist has described the ordinance as a grave form of injustice to farmers and others who depend on land for livelihood.

Mr. Hazare has made it clear that the current protest is just a beginning of a larger movement that will continue until the anti-farmer Bill was withdrawn.

That many organisations of farmers, agricultural workers and tribals from different parts of the country have started protests is not surprising. Since Independence,

millions have been displaced and dispossessed of their livelihood due to land acquisition, and have received a pittance by way of compensation.

Farmers get a pittance

A study I undertook of 1,660 judgments of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, delivered between 2009 and 2011,
demonstrates how farmers have been receiving the short end of the stick.

It shows that the average government compensation is just about one-fourth of the market value of land. In other words, for a land worth Rs. 1 lakh, on average,

the farmer has received Rs. 25,000 and paid a subsidy of Rs. 75,000 to whoever received the land. If this is the case with farmers-
who could afford costly litigation, what about those too poor to do so?

As to the landless livelihood loser — sharecroppers, labourers, fishermen and artisans — their situation can best be described in the words of -
Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene 1: “You take my life when you do take the means whereby I live.”

Misleading claims

The government has sought to justify the Bill by attacking the LARR as anti-development. The Finance Minister, who is the architect of the ordinance,

in his blog has criticised the land acquisition process under the Act as: “A highly complicated process of acquisition which renders

it difficult or almost impossible to acquire land can hurt India’s development.”

Such claims are completely misleading. The LARR had been in place only for a year and there is no evidence-
suggesting that project delays increased during this period. On the contrary,

data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation show that more than 82 per cent of projects suffered delays -
even under the 1894 Act — the notorious ‘urgency clause’ under this colonial law permitted land acquisition without any scrutiny or hindrance whatsoever.
Clearly, several factors other than land acquisition also cause delays.

Also, the government has made much of the increase in compensation; now, it can be two to four times the ‘market rates’.

The corporate sector and its sympathiser claim that the increased compensation has rendered many projects unsustainable, threatening the growth prospects.

Some UPA leaders also seem to share this view, which is totally baseless, since the officials assess market value using stamp-duty and the sale-deeds rates as proxy.

As the above-mentioned study of court cases shows, the latter rates are a fraction of the actual market prices. Therefore, even at two to four times the stamp-duty rates,

the compensation will be less than the actual value.

The SIA and the R&R are crucial for ensuring that people get dispossessed and displaced when it is really worth it. Similarly,

prior consent of the affected families is a necessary check on the misuse of the eminent domain power of the state. With these provisions absent,

how can the bill be pro-farmer and pro-poor?

(Ram Singh is Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Delhi School of Economics.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the question given below it.

Some words have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions

Ques. 1 By opposing the bill, how can the bill can offer an opportunity for the revival of the opposition government?

(a) No matter what, by opposing the efforts of the Modi's government, the UPA can get an access back into the parliament.

(b) By playing the blame game

(c) By playing the sympathy game with the thousands of farmers, agricultural workers and tribals.

(d) By supporting the Anna Hazare, they can gain many votes of his supporters.

(e) None of these

Ques. 2 According to Anna Hazare, why the ordinance is the "grave form of injustice"?

(a) Boosting the industry sector will hamper the growth of the agriculture sector.

(b) The farmers are receiving the pittance by the way of compensation.

(c) Majority of populations will drift towards the industrial sector, which will leave a dent on the agricultural sector.

(d) The government is not providing the right way of living for the farmers.

(e) None of these

Ques. 3 Describe “You take my life when you do take the means whereby I live.”

Ques. 4 Why the huge turn-out of farmers in Anna Hazare protest is not surprising?

(a) People are looking for a leader like Anna Hazare, who can make their voices heard.

(b) Since Independence, millions have been displaced and dispossessed of their livelihood due to land acquisition.

(c) The government has been belligerent and repentant towards the farmer's needs.

(d) After the downfall of Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal, the huge turnout is our of pity for him.

(e) None of these

Ques. 5 Why Arun Jaitley, the architect of the ordinance, criticized it later?

Ques. 6 What is the "urgency clause" in 1894 Act?

Ques. 7 Can Modi's Govt can be considered as the "anti-farmer". Please elaborate.

Ques. 8 Who, according to you, is compassionate and concerned about the farmers - Anna Hazare, Modi & UPA? Elaborate.

Ques. 9 Expand SIA and RAR.

Ques. 10 According to you, how the central government can make the bill pro-farmer and pro-poor?

Directions: Which of the following words is most opposite in meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage?

Ques. 11 Capitalise

(a) obtain

(b) subsidize

(d) exploit

(e) gain

Ques. 12 Litigation

(a) action
(b) dispute
(c) suit
(d) trial
(e) None of these

Ques. 13 Hindrance

(a) liberation
(b) cumbrance
(c) impediment
(d) impedance
(e) restraint

Directions: Which of the following words is the same in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage:

Ques. 14 Tooth and Nail

(a) full tilt

(b) go along

(d) encourage

(e) retreat

Ques. 15 Eminent

(a) notable

(b) common

(d) obscure

(e) unnotable

Ques. 16 Scrutiny

(a) inspection

(b) glance

(d) ogle

(e) glimpse

ANSWERS

1. c

2. b

4. b
11. c
12. e
13. a
14. a
15. a
16. a

Reading Comprehension

Directions: 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.

For years now, George W. Bush has told Americans that he would increase the number of troops in Iraq only if,
the commanders on the ground asked him to do so.It was not a throw away live. Bush said it from the very first days of the war,
when he and pentagon boss Donald Rumsfeld were criticized for going to war with too few troops.

He said it right up until last summer, stressing at a news conference in Chicago that Iraq commander-
General George Casey will make the decisions as to how many troops we have there.

Seasoned military people suspected that the line was a dodge that the civilians -
who ran the pentagon were testing their personal theory that war can be fought on the cheap and the brass-

simply knew better than to ask for more in any case the president repeated the mantra to dismiss any suggestion that the war was going badly.
Who, after all, knew better than the generalson the ground? Now as the war nears the end of its fourth year -
and the number of Americans killed has surpassed 3,000 Bush has dropped the generals know best line sometime next-

week the president is expected to propose a surge in the number of 45 forces in Iraq for a period of up to two years. A senior official said reinforcements-

numbering about 20,000 troops and may be more could be in place within months; the surge would0-
be achieved by extending the stay of some forces already in Iraq and accelerating the deployment of others.

The irony is that while the generals would have liked more troops in the past, they are cool to the idea of spending more now that’s -

in past because the politicians and commanders had trouble agreeing on-

what the goal of a surge would further erode the readiness of the US’s already stressed ground forces and even those who back a surge are under-

no illusions about what it would mean to the casualty rate. If you put more American troops on the front line said a white house official,
you’re going to have more casualties.Coming from Bush, a man known for bold strokes the surge is a strange half-measure-too large for the political climate -

at house too small to crush theinsurgency in Iraq and surely three years too late Bush has waved off a bipartisan rescue-

mission out of pride stubbornness or ideology or same combination of the three, Rather than reversing course,
as all the wise elders of the Iraq study group advised,the commander in chief is betting that more troops-
will lead the way to what one white house official calls “victory.”

1. Bush and Rumsfeld had received brick bats for-

(1) waging a war against Iraq

(2) testing their personal theories

(3) their assertion in the news conference in Chicago

(4) turning down the demands of general George Casey

(5) None of these

2. George Bush gave an impression to his subjects that his army commanders were given the autonomy to decide-

(1) when to start or stop the war in Iraq

(2) the reasonable requirement of American troops to fight the war in Iraq

(3) how many troops should Iraq use to fight against the Americans

(4) the pentagon policies regarding war in Iraq

(5) None of these

3. From the content of the passage, which of the following can be definitely inferred?

(A) The US troops in Iraq are happy with their victory

(B) The troops already fighting the war in Iraq are sufficient enough to combat the situation effectively

(1) A and B only

(2) B and C only

(3) A and C only

(4) None

(5) All of three

4. Which of the following best describes Bush’s persistent reaction to the observations that the Iraq war strategy was not effective due to inadequate American forces?

(1) Such strategies are better left to army commanders to decide on the ground.

(2) Civilians are the best assessors of such strategies

(3) War can be fought on the cheap

(4) The brass knew better of war but not of politics.

(5) None of these

5. The author of the passage appears to be-

(1) in favor of enhancement of American troops in Iraq

(2) critical about Bush’s strategy of handling situation in Iraq

(3) an impartial assessor of the US strategy related to the situation in Iraq.

(4) an indifferent on looker of what is happening in Iraq

(5) inclined to the idea of with drawl of American troops to save casualty.

6. Which of the following is the assessment of the commander-in chief of US forced in Iraq on the present situation there?

(1) America’s desired goal will be achieved if more troops are deployed in Iraq.

(2) Withdrawal of troops from Iraq is essential to raise the moral of US army.

(3) Further strengthening of the US army in Iraq will be suicidal as it means more destruction of US forces.

(4) Pentagon’s civilians should not have been allowed to interfere with the army commanders’ strategies.

(5) None of these

7. Which of the following strategies would achieve the desired increase in American forces in Iraq?

(A) Continuation obstay of troops for a further period.

(B) Expeditious deployment of additional troops.

(1) A and C only

(2) C only

(3) B only

(4) A and B only

(5) None of these

8. Why do the army commanders disfavor enhancement of troops now?

(A) More force means more casualties.

(B) Difference of opinion between politicians and commanders about the aim of the troop enhancement

(1) Only A and B

(2) Only B and C

(3) All the three

(4) Only A and C

(5) None of these

9. Which of the following made Bush change his thinking about the requirement of forces in Iraq?

(A) The unreasonably long period for which the war continued

(B) The large number of American soldiers killed in the war

(1) Only A and C

(2) Only A and B

(3) Only B and C

(4) All three

(5) Only C

Directions (10-12): Which of the following is most OPPOSITE in meaning of the word given in bold as used in the passage?

10. Cool

(1) Warm

(2) Enthusiastic

(3) Unwelcome

(4) Intemperate

(5) Indifferent

11. Surge

(1) Enhancement

(2) Trivializing

(3) Reduction

(4) Strengthening

(5) Up gradation

12. Stubbornness

(1) Uncertainty

(2) Weakness

(3) Acceptability

(4) Infirmity

(5) Flexibility

Directions (13-15): Which of the following is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the word given in bold as used in passage?

13. Illusion

(1) Reality

(2) Reflection

(3) Fantastic

(4) Delusion

(5) Deviation

14. Insurgency

(1) Rebellion

(2) Ingredient

(3) Combat

(4) Debacle

(5) Violation

15. Irony

(1) Leveling

(2) Precaution

(3) Controversy

(4) Mockery

(5) Perception

ANSWERS

1. 5
2. 2
3. 4
4. 1
5. 2
6. 1
7. 4
8. 2
9. 2
10. 1
11. 3
12. 5
13. 4
14. 1
15. 4

English Quiz

DIRECTIONS (Qs. 1-8): 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 are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately.

Find out the appropriate word in each case.

The Government seems to be in right earnest to ensure more (1) in governance.

The Prime Minister’s announcement that his Government is (2) drafting legislation to establish the citizen’s right to information is indeed welcome.

Though the talk on the right to information is not new, we may (3) the bill to be brought early this time.

The previous Government had set up a high-level committee to prepare a draft bill.

But nothing has been heard about the matter since, (4) the committee did quite some work.

The issue, however, has come to such a pass that a solution cannot be (5) further.

Sunlight is the best disinfectant, a foreign judge once said, while (6) the unwarranted secrecy in an administrative system.

When those in authority know that people have the right to ask questions and the government is under the (7) to provide them with answers, (8) of authority,

or of public finances, for personal or party ends is less likely to happen.

1. (a) strictness

(b) rudeness

(d) economy

(e) transparency

2. (a) personally

(b) busy

(d) reluctantly

(e) absolutely

3. (a) expect

(b) wait

(d) frustrate

(e) appeal

4. (a) even

(b) as

(d) until

(e) though

5. (a) found

(b) expected

(d) looked

(e) longed

6. (a) nurturing

(b) criticising

(d) appreciating

(e) upholding

7. (a) pretention

(b) affect

(d) obligation

(e) property

8. (a) misuse

(b) governance

(d) curbing

(e) breach

DIRECTIONS (Qs. 9-20): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below.

Certain words/phrases are printed in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.

In the second week of August 1998, just a few days after the incidents of bombing the US embassies in Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam,

a high-powered, brain-storming session was held near Washington D.C.,

to discuss various aspects of terrorism. The meeting was attended by ten of America’s
leading experts in various fields such as germ and chemical warfare, public health,disease control and also by the doctors and the law enforcing officers.

Being asked to describe the horror of possible bio-attack, one of the experts narrated the following gloomy scenario.

A culprit in a crowded business centre or in a busy shopping mall of a town empties a test tube containing some fluid,

which in turn creates an unseen cloud of germ of a dreaded disease-

like anthrax capable of inflicting a horrible death within 5 days on anyone who inhales it.

At first 500, or so victims feel that they have mild influenza which may recede after a day or two.

Then the symptoms return again and their lungs start filling with fluid. They rush to local hospitals for treatment,

but the panic-stricken people may find that the medicare services run quickly out of drugs due to excessive demand.

But no one would be able to realise that a terrorist attack has occurred. One cannot deny the possibility that the germ involved would -

be of contagious variety capable of causing an epidermic. The meeting concluded that such attacks, apart from causing immediate human tragedy,

would have dire long-term effects on the political and social fabric of a country by way of ending people’s trust on the competence of the government.

The experts also said that the bombs used in Kenya and Tanzania were of the old-fashion variety and involved quantities of high explosives,

but new terrorism will prove to be more deadly and probably more elusive than hijacking an aeroplane or a gelignite of previous decades.

According to Bruce Hoffman, an American specialist on political violence, old terrorism generally had a specific manifesto-
to overthrow a colonial power or the capitalist system and so on.

These terrorists were not shy about planting a bomb or hijacking an aircraft and they set some limit to their brutality.
Killing so many innocent people might turn their natural supporters off. Political terrorists want a lot of people watching but not a lot of people dead.
“Old terrorism sought to change the world while the new sort is often practised by those who believe that the world has gone beyond redemption”, he added.

Hoffman says, “New terrorism has no long-term agenda but is ruthless in its short-term intentions.
It is often just a cacophonous cry of protest or an outburst of religious intolerance or a protest against the West in general and the US in particular.

Its perpetrators may be religious fanatics or diehard opponent of a government and see no reason to show restraint.

They are simply intent on inflicting the maximum amount of pain on the victim.”

9. In the context of the passage, the culprit’s act of emptying a test tube containing some fluid can be classified as

(a) a terrorist attack

(b) an epidemic of a dreaded disease

(d) panic created by an imaginary event

(e) None of these

10. In what way would the new terrorism be different from that of the earlier years?

A. More dangerous and less baffling

B. More hazardous for victims

C. Less complicated for terrorists

(a) A and C only

(b) B and C only

(d) All the three

(e) None of these

11. What was the immediate provocation for the meeting held in August 1998?

(a) the insistence of America’s leading

(b) the horrors of possible bio-attacks

(d) people’s lack of trust in the government

(e) None of these

12. What could be the probable consequences of bio- attacks, as mentioned in the passage?A. Several deaths

B. Political turmoil

C. Social unrest

(a) A only

(b) B only

(d) A and B only

(e) All the three

13. The author’s purpose of writing the above passage seems to explain

(a) the methods of containing terrorism

(b) the socio-political turmoil in African countries

(d) reasons for killing innocent people

(e) the salient features of terrorism of yesteryears

14. According to the author of the passage, the root cause of terrorism is

A. religious fanaticism

B. socio-political changes in countries

C. the enormous population growth

(a) A only

(b) B only

(d) A and B only

(e) All the three

15. The phrase “such attacks”, as mentioned in the last sentence of the second paragraph, refers to

(a) the on slaught of an epidemic as a natural calamity

(b) bio-attack on political people in the government

(d) bio-attack monoeuvred by unscrupulous elements

(e) None of these

16. The sole objective of the old terrorism, according to Hoffman, was to

(a) plant bombs to kill innocent people

(b) remove colonial power or capitalist system

(d) give a setback to socio-political order

(e) None of these

DIRECTIONS (Qs. 17-18): Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

17. gloomy

(a) discouraging

(b) disgusting

(d) tragic

(e) versatile

18. cacophonous

(a) loud

(b) melodious

(d) harsh

(e) distant

DIRECTIONS (Qs. 19-20): Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

19. perpetrators

(a) opponents

(b) followers

(d) leaders

(e) manoeuvres

20. elusive

(a) harmful

(b) fatal

(d) baffling

(e) obstructing

Answers:
1. e
2. b
3. a
4. e
5. c
6. b
7. d
8. a
9. a
10. b
11. e
12. e
13. c
14. a
15. d
16. d
17. c
18. b
19. e
20. d

Hints:
9. (a) Ascertain the hidden meaning of the sentence. “but no one would be able to realise that a terrorist attack has occurred ”. So, undoubtedly the culprit’s act canbe classified as a terrorist attack.

10. (b) “New terrorism has no long-term agenda but its ruthless in its short-term intentions”. This statement from the passage supports (b).

11. (e) The immediate provocation for the meeting held in August 1998 has not been given among the options. It was the incidents of bombing the U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam.

12. (e) Bio-attack will result in several deaths which will lead to political turmoil creating social unrest.

14. (a) ‘Religious intolerance’, as cited in the last paragraph stands behind terrorism.

English Quiz

Directions (1-5): Which options will most nearly replace the Phrase given in the following question?

1. Research in sciences and social sciences often complement each other…
(1) At the same time, both retain significant differences because of the basic questions each deals with.
(2) Sciences explain the causes of systems whereas social sciences explain the implications of actions.
(3) The implications of actions do not explain why cause effects occur.
(4) The differences between life and sciences are decreasing.
(5) The questions posed by the two shares certain assumptions about reality.

2. Studies show that there is hardly any difference between human beings and apes in-

their mental and physical capacities…
(1) What a human can think an ape can also think
(2) But the studies on mammals are often misinterpreted.
(3) This is particularly true for India
(4) Soon we will see apes replacing human beings in factories
(5) None of these

3. The cost of producing tillers in India is eight percent less than the cost of producing tillers in china,……….
(1) India is planning to export tillers to China
(2) India has a democratic form of government while China is not so much democratic in its decisions.
(3) Tax rate in china is higher in comparison to India
(4) China has to import raw material from India for manufacturing tillers
(5) None of the above

4. A film, to be successful at the box office, must satisfy the audience, by reflecting its values…………….
(1) It is a doubtful perception as films with more of violence and sex than moral values are doing good repeatedly at box office
(2) Central board of film censoring decides on the social values
(3) Audience cannot be fooled for long with no content or low content films
(4) Box office collections are the only criteria to judge the value of a film
(5) None of these

5. People who take drug X for obesity to reduce weight could end up defeating their purpose…
(1) Since research shows that high levels of x may induce a craving for starch-based foods.
(2) Since this drug has many side effects like high blood pressure and high cholesterol level
(3) Drug X is prohibited for sale in India and its use is a punishable crime
(4) Due to drug X muscles loose tension and become susceptible to become obese with even slightest intake of fat
(5) None of these

Directions (6-10): Choose the option which has correct pair to fill the blank space given in question.

6. The ……………………reforms that are taking place in the global economic scenario are …………….as they are full of optimism.
(1) Exorbitant , unnecessary
(2) Colossal, unfavorable
(3) Drastic, disappoint
(4) Sweeping ,unrealistic
(5) Positive, heartening

7. Sita was so …………………in his prayer that she did not pay any ……………………to our presence.
(1) Engrossed, remuneration
(2) Absorbed, heed
(3) Perfect, attention
(4) Careless, significance
(5) Indifferent, substance

8. He expressed ……………………for his hasty ……………….
(1) Regret , action
(2) Pleasure , speech
(3) Repentance ,movement
(4) Anguish , provocation
(5) Displeasure ,win

9. The residents on this island are so………………..that they do not ………………even their closest relatives.
(1) Callous, consider
(2) Hospitable ,greet
(3) Uncivilized ,recognize
(4) Indifferent , hurt
(5) Unreliable ,welcome

10. The annual ……………………..of industrial products has risen …………………..in the recent years.
(1) Output, enormously
(2) Outcome, hugely
(3) outlay ,paramount
(4) Outbreak ,tremendously
(5) Decline , scarcely

Directions (11- 15): Rearrange the following seven sentences (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) ,

(F) and (G) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph; then answer the questions given below them:

(A) It is assumed that these banks work in a hassle free manner as compared to government banks.
(B) Government banks are more trustworthy if you are considering taking a long term loan.
(C) They offer you lower interest rates, and this is the main reason why people seek education loans from government banks.
(D) The interest rate and terms are decided by the Reserve Bank and these national banks cannot make any changes by their own.
(E) But private banks work more smoothly.
(F) The employees in these banks are customer friendly and ready to help people.
(G) Government banks offer lower interest rate it is -

well-known fact that the interest rate of government banks is much lower as compared to private banks.

11. Which should be the FIRST sentence?
(1) A
(2) B
(3) C
(4) D
(5) E

12. Which should be the SECOND sentence?
(1) A
(2) B
(3) G
(4) D
(5) E

13. Which should be the THIRD sentence?
(1) A
(2) B
(3) C
(4) G
(5) E

14. Which should be the FOURTH sentence?
(1) D
(2) B
(3) C
(4) G
(5) E

15. Which should be the FIFTH sentence?
(1) F
(2) B
(3) C
(4) D
(5) E

ANSWERS
1. 1
2. 1
3. 3
4. 3
5. 4
6. 4
7. 1
8. 1
9. 3
10. 1
11. 2
12. 3
13. 3
14. 1
15. 5

English Quiz

Directions(1-5): Rearrange the following sentences (A), (B), (C), (D) , (E) and (F) into a meaningful paragraph and then answer the questions given below it.

(A) The urban poor were neglected.
(B) A new generation of professionals however are attempting to reach the urban poor.
(C) This is because they were considered too mobile and lacking in cohesion.
(D) Microfinance institutions have traditionally focused on the rural poor.
(E) These factors do not facilitate generation of peer group pressure which is essential for the success of the microfinance model.
(F) Their challenge will be to adapt the traditional microfinance model to one suited to urban microfinance.

1. Which of the following is the second sentence after rearrangement?
(1) A
(2) B
(3) C
(4) D
(5) E

2. Which of the following is the fifth sentence after rearrangement?
(1) A
(2) B
(3) C
(4) D
(5) E

3. Which of the following is the sixth ( last) sentence after rearrangement?
(1) B
(2) C
(3) D
(4) E
(5) F

4. Which of the following is the third sentence after rearrangement?
(1) B
(2) C
(3) D
(4) E
(5) F

5. Which of the following is the first sentence after rearrangement?
(1) A
(2) B
(3) C
(4) D
(5) E

Directions( 6 – 10): In each of the following sentences there are two blank spaces.

Below each five words have been denoted by letters (1) , (2) , ( 3), (4) and (5) .

Find out which pair of words can be filled up in the blanks in the sentence in the same sequence to make the sentence meaningfully complete.

6. Efforts to …………. the issue will not be successful ………. both sides continue to blame each other.
(1) resolve ………. if
(2) discuss ……. unless
(3) address …….. whether
(4) settled …….. because
(5) close ……..... although

7. The economy has managed to retain its …….. edge despite …………. demand for its exports.
(1) leading ……. healthy
(2) competitive …….. shrinking
(3) sharp………. favourable
(4) predominant ……average
(5) worthwhile ……… durable

8. It will be …….. For the management to implement the policy because of the employees …… to change.
(1) inconvenient ………. willing
(2) complicated ………. concern
(3) burden ……… decision
(4) impossible ………. resistance
(5) critical ……… character

9. Analysis are looking ……………to more mergers in the banking ……….. which will boost the economy.
(1) around…. arena
(2) ahead …. rivals
(3) forward … sector
(4) perhaps ….. partners
(5) doubtfully …. investment

10. After the devastating fire, the Board has no …………… except …… of their textile factory.
(1) idea …….. inauguration
(2) estimate ……. running
(3) power ……. modernizing
(4) condition ……. improving
(5) option ………. closure

1. 1
2. 2
3. 5
4. 2
5. 4
6. 1
7. 2
8. 4
9. 3
10. 5

English Quiz

DIRECTIONS (1 – 6):

Pick out the most effective pair of words from the given pair of words to make the sentence/s meaningfully complete.

1. Of all the problems that have ……. human beings since the beginning of recorded history.

perhaps the most significant has been the ………… of their own nature.
(1) encountered ……….. importance
(2) perplexed …………….. value
(3) questioned ………… scope
(4) confronted …………. riddle
(5) directed …………….. issue

2. Self – concept and self –esteem are crucial to personal and professional-

effectiveness because if they are not fully …………. , I may act in mystifying and sometimes …….. ways.
(1) positive ………. destructive
(2) developed ………. proactive
(3) nurtured ……… reactive
(4) nourished ……….. listless
(5) devised ……. vulnerable

3. A key factor in ……. an effective and fulfilling life in our complex society is the ability to ……… control over our actions.
(1) achieving ………. exert
(2) obtaining …… energize
(3) projecting ……….. restrain
(4) providing ……. admonish
(5) expressing ………… withhold

Directions: Which of the phrases (1), (2) , (3), and (4) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following -

sentence grammatically correct.If the sentence is correct as it is & no correction is required,mark (5) as the answer.

4. He went to the blast site to save his colleague who was stranding there.
(1) Had been stranded
(2) has to strand
(3) was being stranding
(4) was been stranding
(5) No correction required

5. When I receive the letter, the date for the interview was already over.
(1) I received the letter
(2) the letter I had received
(3) I had to receive letter
(4) I was receiving
(5) No correction required

6. Everyone is requested to attend the dinner party hosted by the president.
(1) is requesting to
(2) is requested to
(3) will request to
(4) is to requested to
(5) No correction required

Directions(7 – 12): Which of the phrases (1), (2) , (3) , (4) , given below type to make the-

sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct mark (5) i.e., ‘No correction required’ as the answer.

7. For being skilful and experience, he is a valuable employee.
(1) Because he is skill
(2) On account he is skilled
(3) With his skill
(4) Beside having skill
(5) No correction required

8. Today there are few countries whose growth rate is equally that of China.
(1) equalize on
(2) equivalent to
(3) equals with
(4) on equality with
(5) No correction required

9. The government is willing for finance part of the project.
(1) willingly finance to
(2) financially willing
(3) willing to finance
(4) willingness in financing
(5) No correction required

10. We must keep in pace changing technology to succeed.
(1) keep pace with
(2) kept pace on
(3) in keeping pace
(4) keep pacing
(5) No correction required

11. The company does not have many choice, except to pay the fine.
(1) any choice of
(2) Much choice
(3) more choices
(4) other choice
(5) No correction required

1. 4
2. 3
3. 1
4. 1
5. 1
6. 5
7. 3
8. 3
9. 3
10. 1
11. 4

English Quiz

Directions: (1-5) Rearrange the following eight sentences ( A) , ( B), ( C ) , ( D), ( E), (F), ( G) and ( H) in the proper-

sequence to form a meaningful paragraph; then answer the questions given below them.

(A) But I always felt somewhere in my mind that I loved acting.
(B) He never wanted me to be an actor, as he didn’t look upon theatre or acting as respectable vocation.
(C) Firstly, there was no tradition of theatre in my- family.
(D) I am talking specifically of acting, not theatre in general.
(E) My parents were old- fashioned.
(F) I will answer all your queries a little elaborately.
(G) Let alone theater, arts in general had no place of respect in my family.
(H) My father was a government servant.

1. Which of the following will be the LAST sentence?
(1) G
(2) C
(3) H
(4) D
(5) E

2. Which of the following will be the FIRST sentence?
(1) A
(2) B
(3) D
(4) C
(5) F

3. Which of the following will be the SIXTH sentence?
(1) B
(2) C
(3) A
(4) D
(5) E

4. Which of the following will be the FOURTH sentence?
(1) D
(2) E
(3) A
(4) B
(5) G

5. Which of the following will be the THIRD sentence?
(1) H
(2) E
(3) G
(4) C
(5) A

Directions (6-9) Read each sentence to find out whether there is any error in it.

The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of the part is the answer. If there is no error,

the answer is ‘5’. (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any).

6. Many animals and plants live in water (1) / but not in the same kind of water (2) / because not all water is the same .

(3) / Sea water, for instance, contains a lot of salt, fresh water contains very little. (4) / No error (5)

7. A sparrow has made a nest in Kesho’s house (1) / and had laid eggs.

Both Kesho and his sister Shyama (2) / watched the nest for hours every day. (3) / Even meal times were forgotten. (4) / No error (5)

8. A skillful advertiser may be able to create (1) / practically a monopoly for himself. (2) / not because his product is superior to

(3) / but because he has succeeded in inducing people to believe that it is . (4)/ No error (5)

9. Whatever may be the origin of speech, (1)/ we can be certain that man did not began (2)/ to feel the need to speak

(3) / until he began to live in communities. (4) / No error (5)

ANSWERS
1. 4
2. 5
3. 1
4. 2
5. 3
6. 4
7. 1
8. 2
9. 2

English Quiz

Direction :- In the following passage, some of the words have been left out,

each of which is indicated by a number. Find the suitable word from the options given-

against each number and fill up the blanks with appropriate words to make the paragraph meaningfully :

Mohit was born in a small coastal village near Ahmedabad. He always loved reading but the small library in his town was inadequate.

There weren't ...(1)... many books and many of those had the pages ...(2)... out. So he ...(3)... to finish those stories.

His debut novel was my sweet memories.

It is a story about a Man's journey ...(4)... the past, a family drama, ...(5)... ...(6)... of secrets. It is an ...(7)... to Ahmedabad.

And much of this book has been drawn from his own ...(8)... up years in the city. He grew up in Ahmedabad and worked for a while in Pune.

He had been posted to UK, ...(9)... that time so he did a creative writing course there – something he always wanted to do.

He went on to publish stories in publications. All his stories start ...(10)... a picture he create in his mind. This one had two girls,

were sharing secrets with each other. He was now working on his second novel, based on real life story.

1) that

2) to

3) so

4) the

5) too

1) torn

2) moribund

3) released

4) signed

5) controlled

1) has

2) have

3) had

4) is

5) suppose

1) of

2) into

3) at

4) in

5) for

1) a

2) an

3) all

4) almost

5) the

1) ridiculous

2) unearthing

3) contradict

4) keep

5) access

1) owe

2) agitate

3) cynical

4) ode

5) imprisoned

1) growing

2) giving

3) set

4) cover

5) end

1) offered

2) convention

3) around

4) negotiating

5) humiliating

10.

1) get

2) dangle

3) secure

4) with

5) betrayed

Answers:

1. 5

2. 1

3. 3

4. 2

5. 5

6. 2

7.4

8. 1

9. 3

10. 4

English Quiz

Directions :- In the following passage, some of the words have been left out,each of which is indicated by number.

Find the suitable word from the options given against each number and fill up the blanks with appropriate words to-

make the paragraph meaningfully complete.

I am working toward saving money; one of the savings ...(1)... I may want to consider is a savings account.

Savings accounts ...(2)... pay interest (although a relatively small amount) on the account. A savings account can be easily done,

but there are definitely some things to take up and ...(3)... before choosing an option. First, consider which bank you want to open the account with.

Look for convenience, and ...(4)..., but also consider the interest paid. Some banks provide specific facilities over a specific account balance, or with some,

the interest increases as the balance increases. Also ...(5)... any charges that bank may impose on you. Common charges include low balance charges,

monthly charges, and ATM charges (if I have access to my money via ATM). Any charge that I have to pay will ...(6)... reduce my savings.

So I try to minimise them. I may also consider opening a savings account with Jan Dhan Yojana. Once I am to decide a bank,

I'll have to determine what kind of savings account I'll open. A basic savings account offers higher interest rates but ...(7)... requirements and restrictions,

...(8)... other than saving accounts ...(9)... offer higher interest rates but more restrictions. Before I open a new banking account.

I am to start saving. Even if I only have a small amount to ...(10)... each month, even a little money is a great start.

1) benefits

2) privilege

3) discretion

4) options

5) grant

1) infrequently

2) rarely

3) usually

4) unusually

5) habitually

1) rank

2) evaluate

3) sized up

4) estimate

5) neglect

1) accessibility

2) difficulty

3) restriction

4) inutility

5) suitability

1) unification

2) rending

3) review

4) breaking

5) combining

1) seeming

2) tending

3) partiality

4) likely

5) leaning

1) consequential

2) major

3) important

4) large

5) fewer

1) while

2) before

3) until

4) unless

5) during

1) seldom

2) often

3) earlier

4) repeatedly

5) rarely

10.

1) withhold

2) counteract

3) contribute

4) take

5) withdraw

ANSWERS

1. 4

2. 3

3. 2

4. 1

5. 3

6. 4

7. 5

8. 1

9. 2

10. 3

KRISHNA MOHAN

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Tuesday, 1 August 2017

Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension

English Quiz

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English Quiz

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