Reading Comprehension
Name: ___________________________________________________
Direction (1 - 5): Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given
below it. There are some blanks given in the passage based on which some
questions are framed, and some words are highlighted as well to help you
answer some of the questions.
(A) At a time when the World Health Organization has been seeking at least $675
million additional funding for critical response efforts in countries most in need
during the pandemic, U.S. President Trump has done the unthinkable —
____________________________ its “role in severely mismanaging and covering
up the spread of coronavirus” and for “failing to adequately obtain, vet, and share
information in a timely and transparent fashion”. The decision comes a week after
he first threatened to put funding on hold for the global health body. (B) At
over (1) $500 million, the U.S. is WHO’s biggest contributor (2); America is also
the worst nearly (3) country — over 0.6 million cases and affected (4) 26,000
deaths. But halting funding at a crucial time will not only impact the functioning of
the global body but also hurt humanity. (C) Many low and middle-income
countries/ that look up to WHO for guidance/ and advice, and even for essentials
such as testing kits and masks, / will be bad hit for no fault of theirs. / (D) With a
little over two million cases and over 1,27,000 deaths globally,
____________________________. (E) When included (1) and unmitigated
support (2) from every member-state is necessary to win the war against the virus,
withholding (3) funding will not be in the best interest of any country, the U.S.
solidarity (4). Failures due to oversight or other reasons, by WHO or member
states can always be looked into but not in the midst of a pandemic.
1. Which of the following phrase should fill the blank (A) to make it contextually
and grammatically correct and meaningful?
A. it is China that he must hold responsible for a delayed alert
B. he praised both China and WHO
C. halting funding to WHO while a review is conducted to assess
D. the change in line is linked to a desperate bid to hide his own failures
E. None of these
2. The sentence given in (B) has four words given in bold. among the given bold
words, which of the following must replace each other to make the sentence
grammatically correct and meaningful?
A. 1-3
B. 1-4
C. 2-3
D. 2-4
E. 3-4
3. In the above passage, sentence (C) may or may not have an error in one part of
the sentence, select the part having error in it as your answer.
A. Many low and middle-income countries
B. that look up to WHO for guidance
C. and advice, and even for essentials such as testing kits and masks,
D. will be bad hit for no fault of theirs
E. No error
4. Which of the following phrase should fill the blank (D) to make it contextually
and grammatically correct and meaningful?
A. blaming everyone else for his shortcomings in dealing with COVID-19
B. moving beyond blaming and
C. indeed he fervently believes that the U.S. has been misled
D. the pandemic has been unprecedented in scale
E. None of these
5. The sentence given in (E) has four words given in bold. amongst the given bold
words which of the following must replace each other to make the sentence
contextually correct and meaningful?
A. 1-3
B. 1-4
C. 2-3
D. 2-4
E. 3-4
Direction (6-10): Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions
that follow.
Recently, India rose in the global economic rankings to become the 5th largest
economy in the world. This noble feat has been possible due to the contributions of
a highly educated Indian workforce that has (A) strived to put Indian
entrepreneurship and skill sets on the world map. But to be globally employable,
one needs a global education too. To stand out in the cut-throat job market today, it
is essential to acquire skills which are not only technical but also groom a student
to develop a global outlook towards life. Most Indian parents and students aspire to
(B) _________________. The United Kingdom is the foremost destination for
attaining a global education and getting the most return on investment for it. To
support deserving students with their academic ambitions, the UK offers a wide
range of scholarships across different subject areas. This large pool of scholarships
is made possible with the help of funds provided by the UK Government as well as
the individual universities. According to the British Universities International
Liaison Association (BUILA), individual UK Universities offer scholarships and
merit-based (C) bursaries worth over £13m every year. Several of these
scholarships are fully-funded and offer the students a chance to secure their
financial future. While the application process for each scholarship is different,
there is ample guidance available to the prospective students from the British
Council in the form of expert UK education counselors, seminars and online
resources on the organization’s website. The British Council also offers partly
funded scholarships to IELTS test takers to realize their academic dreams.
6. What is the central theme of the passage?
A. 3 Reasons a UK higher education will always be a sound investment.
B. National Education Policy back to drawing board after PM review, to be
tweaked further.
C. Higher education in India undergoing major transformation.
D. UK is shifting to a points-based immigration system and it is good for Indians.
E. None of these
7. Which of the following is/are correct according to the passage?
I. With more than 50,000 courses on offer from the UK’s 169 universities and
more than 600 other higher education institutions, it’s easy to find a course to suit
your interests and aspirations. Whatever you study, you will benefit from a range
of innovative learning environments and state-of-the-art technology.
II. On top of providing several scholarships and excellent career prospects, UK
universities are also known for providing an unparalleled academic atmosphere
that encourages creativity and critical thinking.
III. The university ranked 56.6th under citation, which was 54.5 in 2019. Under the
teaching category, PU scored 27th rank, which was 26.9 in 2019. Giving reasons
for improvement in this parameter, Jain said guest teachers were considered as
equivalent to full-time in the rankings.
A. Only I
B. Only II
C. I and II
D. II and III
E. I, II and III
8. Choose the option which is most opposite to the word marked (A) in the
paragraph.
A. Go all out
B. Endeavour
C. Essay
D. Relax
E. None of these
9. Choose the option which is most similar to the Underlined marked (B) in the
paragraph that fit in the sentence to make it grammatically and contextually
correct.
A. the trees were trans located. That is not the solution. Before cutting trees,
permission should have been sought.
B. build successful careers in the UK are expanding. Indian and other international
students can now look for work up to two years after completing their degree in the
UK.
C. enroll for a higher education degree that provides them with this kind of
comprehensive skill set and has a greater worth for the money spent.
D. offer from the UK’s 169 universities and more than 600 other higher education
institutions, it’s easy to find a course to suit your interests and aspirations.
E. None of these
10. Choose the option which is most similar to the word marked (C) in the
paragraph.
A. Donation
B. Coffer
C. Repository
D. Vault
E. None of these.
Direction (11 - 15): Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given
below it. There are some blanks given in the passage based on which some
questions are framed, and some words are highlighted as well to help you
answer some of the questions.
But international support for the Amazon has been tepid. This was clear last month
in Altamira, northern Brazil, at the aptly named Amazon: Centre of the World
gathering. (A) In the days before the meeting, rightwing agitators (1) called for
farmers, cattle ranchers (2), police and other “patriots” to mobilise against
sovereignty (3) communities, environmentalists and human rights groups taking
part, that they claimed were “eco-socialists” working for international interests
against Brazil’s traditional (4) and economic development. These messages were
enough to spook two foreign organisations – a huge environmental NGO and one
of the world’s biggest foundations – who pulled out of the event., rather than risk
becoming embroiled in a potentially tense stand-off. Other foreign groups were
uncowed. For domestic activists, threats are a fact of life – and they find their own
way to deal with them. At the opening session, a group of land grabbers – some
wrapped in the Brazilian flag – shoved their way to the front, jostled the speakers
and disrupted proceedings. They were pushed back by Kayapo warriors in war
paint, while other activists formed a human barrier to enable the speakers to
continue. (B) It was symbolic:/ white farmers attempting to take over;/ Amazon
dwellers defending their space,/ while prominent international supporters ran
scared.
/
(C) This is a shame on our generation. The Amazon (along with the Congo and
Papua New Guinea, the oceans and other capitals of nature) should be as central to
____________________________. Back then, working-class idealists joined
public intellectuals in the fight against fascism. George Orwell, Martha Gellhorn,
WH Auden, Pablo Neruda, Emma Goldman and Ernest Hemingway were among
tens of thousands who risked their lives reporting on the fighting or taking part in it
as members of the International Brigade. Some saw it as a civilisation-defining
moment. Others described it in apocalyptic terms as “the last great cause”. For
Orwell– who was shot in the conflict – it was simply a fight for “common
decency”.
Unlike then, the threat to civilisation and decency is not a new ideology, but the
accumulated consequences of the old one. Bolsonaro, Donald Trump, Vladimir
Putin, Rodrigo Duterte, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other populists may often
resemble fascists, but actually they are arch-capitalists. Their main appeal to voters
comes not from a twisted vision of a future but from a promise to turn back the
clock to a more stable age. This is impossible, because manmade climate chaos is
increasingly disrupting more lives and economic activity. Until governments deal
with that, all other battles will be futile.
That is why defence of the Amazon – and the broader struggle to restore nature – is
today’s “last great cause”. Move this issue from the periphery to the centre and
everything – global politics, economics and individual thinking – changes. (D)
Ecology will be seen (1) as more representation (2) than economy, long-term
fertility (3) will come ahead of destructive GDP growth, ecocide will be punishable
in criminal courts, future generations and other species will be given democratic
fundamental (4), and school curriculums will teach children how to maintain our
home, planet Earth.
That may seem a distant prospect. The forces lined up against such a radical but
necessary shift in thinking have more political power and force of arms. The same
was true in the Spanish civil war. Then, the antifascists lost the war but, as the
great historian Eric Hobsbawm noted, they won the battle for ideas. (E) With so
many writers, poets and journalists/ on their side, the losers got to write the history
for a change /– and these shaped the debate for the bigger conflict /that was to
come in the second world war.
Similarly, the battle for the Amazon cannot be won on the ground with guns and
bombs, but it can be shaped by opinions, money, consumer choices, street protests
and international pressure. It is no longer enough for today’s intellectuals,
celebrities and other opinion formers to declare support for the rainforest on social
networks. More people need to get out from behind their screens, to feel what
nature provides and how it is being lost.
11. The sentence given in (A) has four words given in bold. among the given bold
words, which of the following must replace each other to make the sentence
grammatically correct and meaningful?
A. 1-3
B. 1-4
C. 2-3
D. 2-4
E. 3-4
12. In the above passage, sentence (B) may or may not have an error in one part of
the sentence, select the part having error in it as your answer.
A. It was symbolic
B. white farmers attempting to take over;
C. Amazon dwellers defending their space,
D. while prominent international supporters ran scared.
E. No error
13. Which of the following phrase should fill the blank (C) to make it contextually
and grammatically correct and meaningful?
A. foreign governments need to step up and help Brazil recognise the value of the
rainforest
B. global debate and international activism as the Spanish civil war was in the
1930s
C. rather than leaving the battle to courageous but outmuscled and outmoneyed
traditional communities
D. nature should be pivotal in all decision-making
E. None of these
14. The sentence given in (D) has four words given in bold. amongst the given
bold words which of the following must replace each other to make the sentence
contextually correct and meaningful?
A. 1-3
B. 1-4
C. 2-3
D. 2-4
E. 3-4
15. In the above passage, sentence (E) may or may not have an error in one part of
the sentence, select the part having error in it as your answer.
A. With so many writers, poets and journalists
B. on their side, the losers got to write the history for a change
C. and these shaped the debate for the bigger conflict
D. that was to come in the second world war
E. No error
Directions (16-20): Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions
that
follow.
The gun trigger that took the first life in Kashmir was squeezed on August 6, just
one day after constitutional violence had been done to J&K state — and it wasn’t
the militants.
In the IlahiBagh-Soura area of Srinagar’s old city, locally called the “downtown”,
Asrar Khan, a 14-year-old pupil of the well-regarded Kashmir Harvard School,
near his home, was shot in the head from a pellet gun.
The boy was brilliant at studies and was his school’s cricket star. (A) He was (1)
remembered down to field a ball in a local game in the Mohalla park, (2) literally
yards from his home, when his skull was pierced by a volley of pellets fired from a
column of passing security forces vehicles, the way his parents (3) bending things
— sobbing, but angry and defiant — when I called on them at their home to
(4) condole last week. They said teargassing had preceded the firing.
For 29 days Asrar fought to live, and then yielded. Images of his brain, seen from
the hospital records, are a field of lodged pellets. Yet, a senior police officer,
Muneer Khan, (B)______________________ to the media that the boy had been
hit by a flying stone and died. But there had been no stone-pelting. The
administration later withdrew the shocking statement. It was too evidently false.
Asrar’s parents said there was no reason for their son to die. The area was quiet. It
seemed that just one solider decided to target their son’s bent head for no apparent
reason. Pellet guns are supposed to be used when the forces seek to deter an
advancing stone-pelting mob from a distance. They are not for use against little
boys enjoying a game of cricket when their schools are shut.
A small group of neighbourhood women was with Asrar’s grieving family. Some
seemed to be near relations. They described an uncommon scene. (C) Batches of
helicopters had apparently flown low over their homes, as if on patrol, for a couple
of days before the firing incident that claimed young Asrar’s life, suggesting that
the administration were adopting techniques to instill fear even before August 5.
“First the helicopters, then firing pellets at a child,” they said. “What is this if not
governmental terror?”
Pellet guns have blinded and killed scores of people in the last three years in
Kashmir, and their wanton use has been the subject of international censure.
The state does not have to kill. It establishes the reign of fear in other ways. An
agitated school teacher told me in Baramulla that he was walking up to his school
when a man in uniform patrolling there — they are everywhere, even on village
streets — asked to see his ID (in Kashmir, unlike elsewhere in the country, people
must carry their identity cards). When this was presented, the soldier pocketed it
and
said peremptorily,
“Collect it
from the
police
station!”
Now, this can be dangerous. Typically, this means unlawful and unrecorded
detention, and possibly beatings, for those who dare to go to the police to ask for
their confiscated ID back. This can also mean arrest under the dreaded Public
Safety Act unless relations or friends are able to mobilise funds to propitiate the
petty gods in uniform. For fear of being picked up arbitrarily, young men avoid
going to their apple orchards to tend to the fruit, and send their fathers or uncles
instead. Many have apparently left the valley to visit friends or relations in Jammu,
Delhi, or other cities.
The presence of the armed forces is (D) ubiquitous. For instance, in Shopian
district, the Valley’s smallest, there are 226 villages and some 15 camps of the
security forces, three of them in the small district town alone. The largest of these,
at Balpora, is thought to accommodate around one thousand soldiers. But no
terrorist has been caught yet, while torture of civilians is whispered about.
16. The sentence given in (A) has four words given in bold. Amongst the given
bold words which of the following must replace each other to make the sentence
contextually correct and meaningful.
A. 2-4
B. 1-3
C. 2-3
D. 1-4
E. 1-2
17. Which of the following word given in the options should come at the place
marked (B) in the above article to make it grammatically correct and meaningful?
A. declared
B. ornate
C. withheld
D. acquittal
E. None of these
18. In the passage given, a sentence (C) is given in italics. There may or may not
be an error in one part of the sentence. Choose the part which has an error in it as
your answer. If there is no error then choose option (E) as your answer.
A. Batches of helicopters had apparently flown low over their homes, as
B. if on patrol, for a couple of days before the firing incident that claimed
C. youngAsrar’s life, suggesting that the administration were
D. adopting techniques to instill fear even before August 5.
E. No error
19. What is the central theme of the passage?
A. Kashmir turning into a mini-Pakistan by extremists
B. Shortcomings of the Indian government
C. Abolition of Article 370 and its side-effects
D. In Kashmir, the motif is fear
E. None of these
20. Which of the following replace the word marked (D) to make it contextually
correct and meaningful? If no replacement is required, mark option (E).
A. eviction
B. eminence
C. vengeance
D. problematic
E. No replacement required
Direction (21-25): Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given
below it. There are some blanks given in the passage based on which some
questions are framed, and some words are highlighted as well to help you
answer some of the questions.
As many as four potentially hazardous asteroids went past the Earth late on
Tuesday. Three out of four of these ………………. (A)rocks were barely
discovered a few hours before zipping past the Earth-Moon system, the Daily
Express reported. One asteroid called 2019 SM8 was seen by space researchers at
the Mount Lemmon Observatory in Arizona on Monday, which flew by our planet
hours later, according to NASA. The asteroid 2019 SM8 at its closest was
approximately 99,000 miles (159,000 kilometres) away from Earth, which is a
little less than half of the average distance between the Moon and our planet, a
report by Space.com said.
According to NASA’s estimate, this particular asteroid was about 16 feet (4.8
metres) in diameter, which is approximately the size of an SUV. (B) Around an
hour later, another celestial (1) was discovered, however, this asteroid (2) rock
named asteroid 2019 SE8 flew from a distance (3) of approximately 674,000 miles
(1.1 million kilometres) from the Earth and hence did not prove to be a threat (4).
In terms of size, this asteroid was comparatively bigger than the previous one. It
was estimated to be around 47 feet (14 metres) in size. (C) Apart from these, two
more celestial rocks named asteroid 2019 SD8 and asteroid 2018 FK5 were
detected by the US space agency, which passed approximately 331,000 miles
(532,000 kilometres) and 3 million miles (5 million kilometres) far away from the
Earth respectively. Even though none of these asteroids had much chance of hitting
our planet, however, these rocks are classified by NASA as potentially
……………….. (D)asteroids as they pose a threat in their future course when their
orbits intersect that of our planet. In the past, some key space researchers and
entrepreneurs have pointed out fears regarding asteroids hitting the Earth.
In August, SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk had pointed out on Twitter that the
Earth presently has no defence against ‘killer’ asteroids. Responding to a tweet
about the asteroid Apophis — dubbed as the ‘God of Chaos’ that is expected to
scrape past Earth in 2029, Musk pointed out that there is, currently, no defence
system to protect our planet. …………………… (E), a famous astrophysicist Neil
deGrasse Tyson had also warned about the Apophis 99942 hitting the Earth,
causing a major tsunami that can wipe out the entire west coast of North America.
Researchers have said that the asteroid which wiped away dinosaurs is estimated to
have been equivalent to 10 billion atomic bombs that were used in World War II.
The impact of that giant asteroid had triggered massive tsunamis and let to
wildfires that were thousands of miles away.
21. Which of the following word given in the options should come at the place
marked as (A) in the above passage to make it grammatically correct and
meaningful? Also, the word should fill in the two sentences given below to make
them contextually correct and meaningful?
(I) There were light bulbs representing the stars and line drawings of the
………………….. figures.
(II) The moon is a ……………… body.
A. platonic
B. celestial
C. alluvial
D. terrestrial
E. None of the above
22. The sentence given in (B) has four words given in bold. Amongst the given
bold words which of the following must replace each other to make the sentence
contextually correct and meaningful?
A. Both 2-1 and 3-4
B. Both 1-4 and 2-3
C. Both 2-4 and 1-3
D. 1-2
E. 3-4
23. In the above passage, sentence (C) may or may not have an error in one part of
the sentence, select the part having error in it as your answer.
A. Apart from these, two more celestial rocks named asteroid 2019 SD8 and
asteroid 2018 FK5
B. were detected by the US space agency, which passed approximately 331,000
miles (532,000 kilometres)
C. and 3 million miles (5 million kilometers)
D. far away from the Earth respectively.
E. Both (a) and (b)
24. Which of the following should fill the blank given in (D) to make it
contextually correct and meaningful?
A. hazardous
B. envious
C. contagious
D. voracious
E. None of the above.
25. Which of the following phrase should fill the blank (F) to make it contextually
and grammatically correct and meaningful?
A. Musk’s priority
B. Prioritising Musk
C. Prior of Musk
D. Prior to Musk
E. None of the above
Reading Comprehension – II
Directions (1-10): Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions
that follow.
Paragraph 1: Seen in terms of historical time, and of the lived experience of
communities, as well as the upholding of liberal and secular values of our
Constitution, the Ayodhya judgment of November 9 appears to suffer from serious
limitations. The one positive outcome of the judgment of course is that while it can
never snuff out debate and discussion around itself, it does have the effect of ruling
out agitations and violence that came to be associated with this religion-based
tangle in the past, most notably on December 6, 1992, if we are to take a strictly
legal and constitutional view. It is necessary to underscore this as such a view was
clearly not taken in 1992. Indeed, in the forefront of the action in Ayodhya that
year, rightly deemed criminal by the Supreme Court, were some of the senior most
and respected members of the political class, one of whom later became
Paragraph 2: Union home minister and deputy PM, besides UP state, whose Chief
Minister had given the court a written undertaking that he would not permit the
status quo at the site to be altered. If we assume such an upheaval won’t occur as a
result of the November 9 judgment, then the parties whose position was not upheld
by the Supreme Court can at best decide to go for a review or move a curative
petition, which — given the circumstances of the case — isn’t likely to be
successful. Nevertheless, for the sake of the record, some may deem this option a
necessity. The most unfortunate aspect of the judgment is that it tallies one
hundred and ten per cent with the views and ambitions of the anti-Babri Masjid
and “temple reconstruction at that exact spot” campaign undertaken by the RSSBJP
and their cohorts and which excited mob violence to gain their purpose. This
lot are now pleased and preach gracious acceptance of the judgment.
Paragraph 3: The judges were adjudicating the title dispute based on laws that
were brought into being centuries after the religious structure/ shrine in question
became the subject of controversy. Instead of being humble about this, and
conceding that the evidentiary value of the material on record was sketchy at best,
the Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice of India RanjanGogoi drew firm
conclusions from these days before the CJI’s retirement. Worse, the bench
incorporated in its judgment a 116-page addendum which, quite irrelevantly,
dilates on the question of the faith and belief of Hindus about Ayodhya being the
birthplace of Lord Ram. This does raise suspicions on a commonsense basis. There
are other unanswered questions when the judgment seeks to establish that the exact
spot of Lord Ram’s birth lay under the domes of the demolished Babri Masjid.
Interestingly, the ValmikiRamayan does not lay down an exact spot. Even the
shaky ASI findings do not suggest that a temple was demolished by those who
built the mosque that was in Babur’s name.
1. Choose the option which is most similar to the word in the question, as
mentioned in the paragraph 1. Tangle
A. clutter
B. portfolio
C. unravel
D. untwine
E. None of these
Correct option is : A
2. Choose the option which is most similar to the word in the question, as
mentioned in the paragraph 1. Upholding
A. backing
B. extermination
C. contemptuous
D. abolition
E. None of these
3. Which of the following represents the suitable title for the passage?
A. What does the Ayodhya verdict have in store for the concerned parties?
B. Justice to one party is injustice to the other
C. Remnants of the tragic past
D. Ayodhya ruling: Many questions unanswered
E. None of these
4. Choose the option which is most opposite to the word in the question, as
mentioned in the paragraph 2. Upheaval
A. commotion
B. turbulence
C. convulsion
D. harmony
E. None of these
5. Choose the option which is most opposite to the word in the question, as
mentioned in the paragraph 2. Curative
A. remedial
B. therapeutic
C. sanative
D. baneful
E. None of these
6. Choose the option which is most opposite to the word in the question, as
mentioned in the paragraph 2. Gracious
A. atrocious
B. affable
C. courteous
D. amiable
E. None of these
7. As per the passage which of the following judges have been mentioned here?
A. D Y Chandrachud
B. D N Patel
C. RanjanGogoi
D. SA Bobde
E. None of these
8. Which of the following statements is/are correct as per the passage?
I. Union home minister and deputy PM, besides UP state, whose Chief Minister
had given the court a written undertaking that he would not permit the status quo at
the site to be altered.
II. The most unfortunate aspect of the judgment is that it tallies with the views of
the anti-Babri Masjid and “temple reconstruction at that exact spot” campaign
undertaken by the RSS-BJP and their cohorts and which excited mob violence to
gain their purpose
III. Every question has been answered with respect to the judgment that seeks to
establish that the exact spot of Lord Ram’s birth under the domes of the
demolished Babri Masjid.
A. only III
B. II and III
C. I and II
D. I only
E. None of these
9. As per paragraph 1, which of the following is the incident of violence the author
talks about?
I. December 6, 1992
II. December 16, 1992
III. December 13, 1978
A. Only I
B. Only II
C. II and III
D. I, II, III
E. None of these
10. Which of the following does not represent the antonym of ‘addendum’
mentioned in paragraph 3?
A. supplement
B. subtraction
C. avulsion
D. omission
E. None of these
Directions (11- 20): Read the following passage carefully and answer the
questions based on it.
Elegance is usually confused with superficiality, fashion, and lack of depth. This is
a serious mistake: human beings need to have elegance in their actions and in their
posture because this word is synonymous with good taste, amiability, equilibrium
and harmony.
One needs serenity and elegance to take the most important step in life, of course,
let’s not go crazy worrying all the time about how to move our hands, sit down,
smile, look around us. But it is good to know that our body speaks a language, and
other people – even unconsciously – understand what we are saying beyond the
words.
Serenity comes from the heart. Though often tortured by feelings of insecurity, we
know that through correct posture we can become balanced again. Physical
elegance, which comes from the body, is no superficial matter but rather the way
that man found to honour the way he places his two feet on the ground. That is
why, when sometimes you feel that the posture is bothering you, don’t think that it
is false or artificial: it is true because it is difficult, it makes the path feel honoured
by the dignity of the pilgrim.
And please don’t confuse it with arrogance or snobbery. Elegance is the most
appropriate posture to make the gesture perfect, to make the step firm, to make
your neighbour respect you. Elegance is achieved when all the superfluous has
been discarded and the human being discovers simplicity and concentration: the
simpler and more sober the posture, the more beautiful it will be. The snow is
beautiful because it has only one colour, the sea is beautiful because it seems like a
flat surface – yet both the sea and the snow are deep and know their qualities
Walk with firmness and happiness without the fear of stumbling. All the
movements are being accompanied by your allies, who will help you with
whatever is necessary. But don’t forget that the adversary is also watching and
knows the difference between a hand that is firm and one that shakes, so if you are
tense breathe deep, believe that you are calm, and by one of those miracles that we
cannot explain, tranquility soon sets in.
The moment that you make a decision and put it to action, try to mentally review
each stage that led you to prepare your step. But do this without any tension,
because it is impossible to keep all the rules in your head if you are tensed, and
with your spirit free, as you review each stage you will recall the most difficult
moments and how you overcame them. This will be reflected in your body, so pay
attention! When you think about your body you are also thinking about your soul,
and one thing will help the other.
11. Elegance is the perfect physical gesture, which makes us
A. walk firmly and feel confident and honoured.
B. respect our neighbours.
C. realize our mistakes and rectify them.
D. discover the cause of our confusion and uncertainty.
E. feel obsessed with the way we sit, stand, walk or speak in front of others.
12. A person can become graceful and elegant if he
A. avoids arrogance and snobbery.
B. does not feel insecure
C. adopts a simple and serene posture.
D. learns to admit his mistakes.
E. faces all his problems boldly.
13. The quality which the author tries to highlight with the example of the sea and
the snow is
A. purity of the soul.
B. its size
C. single-mindedness.
D. beauty.
E. depth in character
14. When we are tensed our adversary can easily recognize it from
A. a simple handshake.
B. the anxious or confused look in our face
C. the way we walk.
D. the words spoken by us.
E. our irritable behaviour.
15. When we become tense, the author advises us to
A. take the help of our friends
B. avoid shaking hands with our enemies.
C. recall all the difficulties we have faced in life so far.
D. take a deep breath and believe that we are calm.
E. start praying to god hoping for some miracle to happen.
16. According to the author, when we make a decision and put it to action we
should
A. feel proud about implementing our plan
B. keep reviewing our action at every stage.
C. try and complete it as early as possible.
D. try not to show any reaction in our body even when we feel tensed.
E. face any hidden problem that arise while implementing it.
17. Which of the following statement is true according to the passage:
A. Elegant is usually confused with lack of depth
B. The more important steps in life have to be taken with serenity and elegance
C. Serenity comes from the heart
D. Only (a) and (c)
E. All of the above
18. Which of the following are not true according to the passage:
A. Our body speaks a language, and other people understand what we are saying
B. Our heart is the source of serenity
C. Elegance is achieved when all the superfluous has been discarded
D. It is possible to keep all the rules in your head, even if you are tensed
E. None of the above.
19. Select the word that is MOST OPPOSITE in meaning to the word given in
bold, as used in the passage. HONOURED
A. Elevated
B. Awkward
C. Disloyal
D. Feeble
E. Humiliated
20. Select the word that is MOST OPPOSITE in meaning to the word given in
bold, as used in the passage. SOBER
A. Troubled
B. Dignified
C. Snobbish
D. Majestic
E. Impressive
Directions (21-30): Read the following passage carefully and answer the
questions given below it. Certain parts are given in bold to answer some of the
questions based on the passage.
The task which Gandhiji undertook was not only the achievement of political
freedom but also the establishment of a social order based on truth and non
violence, unity and peace, equality and universal brotherhood, and maximum
freedom for all. This unfinished part of his experiment was perhaps more difficult
to achieve than the achievement of political freedom. Political struggle involved
fight against a foreign power and all one do was either join it or wish it’s success.
In establishing social order of this pattern, there was lively possibility of a conflict
arising between groups and classes, of our own people. Experience shows that man
values his possessions even more than his life because in the former he sees the
means for perpetuation and survival of his descendants even after his body is
reduced to ashes. A new order cannot be established without radically changing the
mind and attitude of men towards property and at some stage or the other, the
‘haves’ have to yield place to ‘have-nots’. We have seen, in our time, attempts to
achieve a kind of egalitarian society and a picture of it after it was achieved. But
this was done, by and large, through the use of physical force.
In the ultimate analysis, it is difficult, if not impossible to say that the instinct to
possess has been rooted out or that it will not reappear in an even worse form
under a different guise. It may even be that, like a has kept confined within
containers under great pressure, or water held by a big fan, once a barrier breaks
the reaction will one day sweep back with a violence equal in extent and intensity
to what was used to establish and maintain the outward egalitarian form. This
enforced egalitarianism consists, in its own bosom, the seed of its own
destruction. The root cause of class conflict is possessiveness or the acquisitive
instance. So long as the ideal that is to be achieved is one of securing the maximum
material satisfaction, possessiveness can neither be suppressed nor eliminated but
will grow on what it feeds. Nor will it Will cease to be such – it is possessiveness,
still, whether it is confined to only a few it is shared by many. If egalitarianism bis
to be ensured, it has to be based on not on the possession of the maximum material
goods by a few or by all but on voluntary, enlightened renunciation of those goods
which cannot be shared by others or can be enjoyed only at the expense of theirs.
This calls for substitution of spiritual values that is sometimes equated with
progress these days, neither spells peace nor progress. Mahatma Gandhi has shown
us how the acquisitive instinct inherent in man could be transmuted by the
adoption of the ideal of trusteeship by which the wealthy people would be the
trustees of trusts that looked after the welfare of the people in general.
21. Select the most appropriate option to complete the given sentence. Gandhi
aimed at…..
A. achieving political freedom
B. establishing a non violent society
C. universal brotherhood
D. Both A and B
E. A,B and C
22. Egalitarianism means
A. suppression
B. social and political equality
C. violence
D. inequality
E. elitism
23. In the context of the passage, which of the following statements is false ?
A. the instinct of possession causes conflicts
B. the instinct of possession cannot be rooted out completely
C. satisfaction of material needs cannot earn peace and progress
D. conflicts between groups and classes are bound to arise.
E. voluntary renunciation is the key
24. Which one of the following is the most similar in meaning to the word
“GUISE” ?
A. illusion
B. disappear
C. appearance
D. reprove
E. trick
25. According to the passage, people ultimately overturn the form a social
order which
A. is based on coercion and oppression
B. does satisfy their basic needs
C. is based on conciliation and rapprochement
D. is not congenial to the spiritual values of the people
E. is brought about by foreign powers
26. According to the passage which of the following statements is not true ?
A. a social order based on truth and non violence can help the achievement of
maximum freedom for all
B. in establishing the social order of Gandhiji’s pattern, the possibility of a conflict
between different classes hardly exists
C. it is difficult to change the mind of people towards property
D. in an egalitarian society, material satisfaction can be enjoyed only at the
expense of others.
E. the root cause of class conflict is possessiveness
27. In the context of the passage, what is meant by the adoption of ideal of
trusteeship ?
A. to equate peace and progress with material satisfaction
B. ideal for the benefit of the society
C. the privileged class voluntarily renounces the possessive instincts
D. substitution of spiritual values by material values by those who live in the
paradise of material satisfaction
E. welfare of people looked after by the wealthy class.
28. What can you infer from the phrase “root out” ?
A. to destroy something
B. instill something
C. find and remove something/ someone
D. to flatten something
D. Both B and C
29. What is the broad meaning of- ‘haves’ have to yield place to to the
‘havenots’ ?
A. principles of Mahatma Gandhi needs to replace existing ones
B. foreign powers influencing decisions inside needs to be defeated
C. wealthy class have to renounce all their wealth
D. wealthy people have to contribute for progress of society
E. elimination of possessive instinct
30. Choose the most appropriate title for the passage
A. Material values v/s Spiritual values
B. Class conflicts in an egalitarian society
C. The Gandhiji’s vision of social order
D. the renunciation of possessive instinct
E. Political and social freedom
Directions (31-40): Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions
that follow.
Since the latest controversy on a theme that defines our lives and times — citizen
privacy — revolves around our second lives on social media and digital platforms,
let us start with a joke gone viral as a meme. A government employed cyber-snoop
is seen chiding activists and citizens protesting against violations of their privacy,
saying, “But for decades, you complained the government does not listen to you?”
(A) Big Brother is (1) mythological more, more of us, and for most of our time,
(2) armed with more eyes than Lord Indra, (3) watching king of heaven, who had
all of a (4) mere 1,000 eyes. There are CCTV cameras everywhere. Phones can be
listened to and are listened to; conversations are recorded, emails are read. Your
realtime bank statements, latest location details, payments, chats — everything is
adding up as an (B) ____________________ to the Deity of the Century — the
Big Data God, who in turn, subserviently, works for the Supreme Duo of the
surveillance state — lords of national security and anti-terrorism. (C) The
ubiquitous mobile phone, proof of our economic renaissance since the great
liberalisation of 1991, the measure of India’s rise as a nation in the new
millennium, the telecom bridge to closing all gaps, obliterator of all inequalities,
provider of opportunities for all, delivering governance and pizzas to your
doorstep, the panacea in your pocket linking you for the world, running to the
command of your fingertips — has been breached, unimpeachable reports cite, at
the behest of Big Brother himself.
As we read about how Pegasus, an Israeli spyware, sold only to governments, has
(D)breached the privacy protecting wall we believed was bigger than the Great
Wall of China, and stronger than the wall US President Donald Trump is yet to
build, the end-to-end encryption of WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, owned by a
gawky
teenage
disruptor-turned-tech
moghul
Mark
Zuckerberg.
Gone are days when science, fiction and fear fused to moments of (E)epiphany
when you stood under a divinely lit dark sky, wondering while counting the stars,
if we are alone in the universe and if some alien is watching us from somewhere up
there, from beyond the Milky Way. Today, you and I must just look at our
WhatsApp group or the FB chat, and wonder, who else is there? Each WA group
admin must know a larger, unseen, omnipotent, omnipresent vigilant of a tax-paid
Theo is indeed a reality. The Bard of Avon must read the rejoinder they have
emailed to him — the ghost of Banquo is no longer imaginary.
There is a war (F) underway, AI-powered, between two sets of codes of zeroes
and ones — one protecting your privacy, and the other, protecting the government
against your privacy, and despite the festive season’s claims, the good is losing.
Let us make no mistake, on this, all governments are together. The surveillance
will get sharper, stronger and more intense. Such is the magical power of a
password called “national security” that it will get the minions of Big Brother past
any firewall, break any (G) ______________ protest or resistance and stop any
attempt to seek privacy in a world where the thoughts of the deepest recess of your
soul are a threat to everyone else.
We will slide down this slope till the Pegasus of the future can read your minds,
hack your hearts and (H) diver in your soul. To the brave new world, ahoy!
31. The sentence given in (A) has four words given in bold. Amongst the given
bold words which of the following must replace each other to make the sentence
contextually correct and meaningful.
A. 2-4
B. 1-3
C. 2-3
D. 3-4
E. 1-2
32. Which of the following word given in the options should come at the place
marked (B) in the above article to make it grammatically correct and meaningful.
A. offering
B. leveraging
C. evolving
D. captivating
E. None of these
33. In the passage given, a sentence (C) is given in italics. There may or may not
be an error in one part of the sentence. Choose the part which has an error in it as
your answer. If there is no error then choose option (E) as your answer.
A. The ubiquitous mobile phone, proof of our economic renaissance since the great
liberalisation of 1991,
B. the measure of India’s rise as a nation in the new millennium, the telecom
bridge to closing all gaps,
C. obliterator of all inequalities, provider of opportunities for all, delivering
governance and pizzas to your doorstep, the panacea in
D. your pocket linking you for the world, running to the command of your
fingertips — has been breached, unimpeachable reports cite, at the behest of Big
Brother himself.
E. No error
34. Which of the following statements given in the options is/are correct?
I. Economic renaissance happened in India since the great liberalisation of 1971
II. Facebook is owned by a gawky teenage disruptor-turned-tech moghul Mark
Zuckerberg.
III. Pegasus is an Israeli spyware sold only to governments.
A. only I
B. only III
C. I and II
D. II and III
E. I, II, III
35. Which of the words have the same meaning as the word mentioned in (D)?
A. mended
B. pledged
C. compliance
D. violated
E. None of these
36. Which of the words have the opposite meaning as the word mentioned in (E)?
A. modification
B. revelation
C. apparition
D. confusion
E. None of these
37. Which of the following represents the suitable title for the passage?
A. Our Orwellian reality will get scarier
B. Liberalization of the 1990s- where do we stand now?
C. High-handedness of the government in cyber-space.
D. Compromise between privacy and security in today’s world.
E. None of these
38. Which of the following words are not the antonym of the given word marked
(F) mentioned in the given passage?
I. ongoing
II. noncurrent
III. existing
A. only I
B. only II
C. I and III
D. III & II
E. all of these
39. Which of the following word given in the options should come at the place
marked (G) in the above article to make it grammatically correct and meaningful.
If the statement is grammatically correct and meaningful and there is no word
needed to be replaced, choose option (E) none of them required.
A. terrifically
B. initially
C. therefore
D. issue
E. None of them required
40. Which of the following replace the word marked (H) to make it contextually
correct and meaningful? If no replacement is required, mark option (E).
A. snoop
B. deleted
C. subrogate
D. thwarted
E. no replacement required
Directions (41- 50): Read the following passage carefully and answer the
questions given below it. Certain parts are given in bold to answer some of the
questions based on the passage.
Sometimes to upend entrenched power structures, a revolution is required. Naming
and shaming powerful men in the #Metoo campaign is in many ways a
revolutionary act. The truth about most was known, spoken in whispers, but not to
their face. But now that omerta has been broken by some intrepid women,
there’s a palpable sense of power and possibility.
Revolutions are by definition anarchic, as they are aimed against those who make
and enforce the rules. So it has been with #MeToo. Men are named, sometimes
anonymously, and the naming itself requires punitive action to be taken against
them. There isn’t really any room for discussion on context or degree of
culpability. Some have raised questions about due process, and the response has
been, somewhat reasonably, that due process has failed. And it is true, arguing for
due process when due process has failed feels a bit like batting for status quo. So
let it be said, #MeToo despite its limitations is unreservedly a good
development.However, the question is, what next? The #MeToo movement is more
than just outing powerful men, it is about shifting the balance of power between
men and women, transferring the punitive aspects — shame, denial of work
opportunities — from the victim to the perpetrator. It is about ending impunity
embedded in our social construct by shaping new social mores. This is and has to
be a collective effort, and it is important for the #MeToo movement to have these
discussions.
Let the burden of shame now be shifted to where it is supposed to- the perpetrators
and not the women; the victims. It’s the woman who has to hide from the world.
And by and large, due to this very fact prevailing in Indian society that many
women ultimately choose to leave their jobs, or seek employment elsewhere, when
they
confront
inappropriate
behaviour
from
their
colleagues.
Another very important aspect which should be taken care of is that of equality,
where there’s no inhibitions, no sense of caution. Women need
healthy camaraderie in place of needless caution. Respect, not condescension.
They would like colleagues to engage with them, not be patronising. And the fact
that they are still having to demand these is telling.
41. Against whom the writer suggests are revolutions usually aimed at ?
A. the guilty men
B. perpetrators
C. against the government agencies
D. those who make and enforce laws
E. Both 1 and 2
42. Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage?
A. just naming and shaming the perpetrators does not account for culpability
B. due process has failed leading to crimes
C. sexual harassment is anything that makes a woman uncomfortable
D. the campaign has broken the power structures
E. Both B and C
43. Which of the following options does the author suggests while talking
about transferring the punitive aspects?
A. shame
B. denial of work opportunities
C. respect
D. dignified behaviour
E. Both A and B
44. Which one of the following is most similar in meaning to “INTREPID” ?
A. adventurous
B. docile
C. submissive
D. fearless
E. rash
45. What is meant by the phrase ‘omerta has been broken’ ?
A. crimes against women has stopped
B. men have started fearing law
C. silence has been broken and more women are coming up
D. crime racket has been busted
E. Both A and B
46. Which of the following is most similar in meaning to “PALPABLE” ?
A. enraged
B. disgusted
C. nefarious
D. noticeable
E. disputable
47. What kind of environment does the writer advocate for women in
conclusion of the passage ?
A. workplace with maximum security
B. men should fear and give respect to women
C. healthy camaraderie instead of needless caution
D. meen need not patronising women
E. Both C and D
48. Which of the following is the most similar in meaning to the word
“PATRONISING” ?
A. scorn
B. snub
C. condescend
D. indulge
E. favour
49. On what subjects, writer suggests to have ‘discussions’ on ?
A. clarity in what constitutes sexual harassment
B. bringing gender equality in society
C. need for more stringent measures
D. accountability of state and law government institutions
E. Both A and D
50. In the context of the passage what do you infer from the word
‘CAMARADERIE’
A. equal sense of responsibility
B. mutual trust and companionship
C. increased intimacy
D. treating with dignity
E. Both A and D