Section I - Sample Questions

Section I
Verbal Skills

[ Answers ]

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No. of Questions: 16 (Questions 1 – 16)

Time: 18 Minutes

Directions for Questions 1 – 5

Answer the Questions after reading the following passage. Base your answer on the information that is either stated or implied in the passage. Choose the best answer and darken the corresponding oval in the answer sheet.

Passage

A good monsoon has improved the economic outlook. With the industrial growth rising from Last year’s 4.5 percent to 5.7 percent in June, there is cause to cheer. The manufacturing sector in particular has been performing well, especially in the passenger car segment along with non – cotton textiles, steel and transport equipment. Electricity generation is also up. The farm sector is expected to grow 7.5 percent generating higher incomes in rural households and adding momentum to the demand for industrial goods. The other positive signs are the huge stocks of good grains and foreign exchange reserves. Exports, too, are growing at a double digit rate and on the balance of payments side, a trade surplus has accrued for the second time. Inflation has remained low. The only problem is the widening fiscal deficit and government’s borrowing pattern. A higher deficit will effect the scope of public investment. In the first quarter of 2003 – 2004, the centre and state governments together borrowed Rs. 73,218 crore from the domestic market as compared to Rs. 66,702 crore during same period last year. The centre alone has already borrowed more in the first quarter (April – June) this fiscal than it did over the first half of the last year. Such heavy borrowing could be attributed to the rather low revenue collection so far as well as the large loan repayments scheduled for July – August this year. When government borrows so heavily, it has less money to spend on crucial growth promoting areas and the social sector.

The private sector, too, has been reluctant to invest in the expansion of productive capacity and has parked its cash kitty in government bonds and mutual funds. Better demand prospect on account of a favourable monsoon are likely to persuade them to invest more. An increase in both public and private investment will be necessary to bring about a GDP growth of 8 percent as a higher industrial growth alone will not be sufficient.

(Source: A lead article from a national daily, August, 2003)

Questions 1 – 5 are based on the above passage

Q1	According to the author of the passage, which of the following best states the central point of the passage? I.The government’s heavy borrowing from the market will prevent the central government to invest in crucial growth – promoting areas and the social sector. II. A higher industrial growth alone will not be sufficient to bring about a GDP growth of 8 percent, an increase in both public and private investment will be necessary. III. A good monsoon has improved the economic outlook for 2003 – 04.
	(1) I only	(2) II only	(3) III only	(4) I, II and III

According to the passage, which of the following statement(s) is/are TRUE?

(1) The expected growth in the farm sector due to a good monsoon this year will generate higher incomes in rural households and is likely to add momentum to the demand for industrial goods.

(2) Despite the fact that exports are growing, however, since the rupee has been rising against the American Dollar, the expected growth in exports may be slowed down at the end of this fiscal.

(3) The investments by the private sector in government bonds and mutual funds have improved the capital market.

(4) None of the above.

According to the passage, which of the following is/are TRUE?

I. Rather low revenue collection and large loan repayments scheduled in July – August this financial year could be attributed as the cause of the centre’s heavy borrowing from the market.

II. The positive signs of the economy are improved performance of the manufacturing sector especially in the passenger car segment, non – cotton textiles, steel and transport equipment.

III. A trade surplus and inflation remaining low are also to be positive sign of the economy in this fiscal.

(1) I only

(2) II only

(3) III only

(4) I, II and III

Which of the following statement(s) is/are the main thrust of the author’s argument in the passage?

I.The scope of public investment will be affected to widening fiscal deficit.

II.The centre and the state governments together borrowed from the domestic market more than 10 percent in the first Quarter of 2003 – 2004 as compared to the same period last year.

III.Better demand prospects on account of a favourable monsoon are likely to persuade the private sector to invest more.

(1)I only

(2)II only

(3)III only

(4)I, II and III

Accepting the line of argument as stated in the passage as valid, which of the following statement(s) WEAKEN(s) the conclusion?

I. Indian economy, since globalisation, has been closely linked with the world economy and as such not solely dependent on domestic demand.

II. Foreign direct investment has been declined in this fiscal as a proportion of the GDP.

III. The uncertainty in the international and domestic business climate is the major factor for the private sector not to invest in a major way.

IV. To reach a higher GDP growth, investment in industrial sector alone would not be sufficient, it would need several important policy measures by the Government of India.

(1) I only

(2) II only

(3) III only

(4) I, II and III

Directions for Questions 6 – 8

These questions test your ability to recognize correct and effective expression. Follow the requirements of standard written English Grammar, choice of words and sentence construction.

In each question below, either part or all of the sentence is underlined. The sentence is followed by four ways of writing the underling parts. Choose the answer which results in the clearest, most exact sentence. The answer choice (1) repeats the original; the other answer choices numbered (2), (3) and (4) vary. If you think that the original phrasing is best, select that choice. Choose the best or the correct one for the question. Darken the corresponding oval in the answer sheet.


Q6	Because of enemy’s new ship is the quietest and it is therefore the most elusive submarine, it is being increasingly viewed by the Indian Navy as a threat to security.
	and it is therefore the most elusive submarine, it is being increasingly viewed and therefore it is the most elusive submarine, there is an increasing view. and therefore the most elusive submarine, it is being increasingly viewed. therefore being the most elusive of submarines, it is increasingly viewed.


Q7	A large rise in the number of housing starts in the coming year (2004 – 2005) due to decrease in the interest rate on housing loans by almost all Banks should boost new construction of houses by several million rupees, making the construction industry’s economic health much more robust than five years ago.
	making the construction industry’s economic health much more robust than five years ago. to make the construction industry’s economic health much more robust than five years ago. making the construction industry’s economic health much more robust than it was five years ago. in making the construction in industry’s economic health much more robust than it was five years ago.


Q8	The standard explanations of all administration when incidents of these nature like the violence in Assam occurs is that they didn’t have adequate force at their disposal to be dealt in the situation.
	The standard explanations of all administration when incidents of these nature like the violence in Assam occurs is that they didn’t have adequate force at their disposal to be dealt in the situation. The standard explanation of all administration when incident of this nature like the violence in Assam occurs is that they didn’t have adequate force at their disposal to be dealt with in the situation. The standard explanation of all administration when incident of this nature like the violence in Assam, occurs is that they didn’t have adequate force at their disposal to be dealt with in situation. The standard explanation of all administrations when incidents of this nature, like the violence in Assam, occurs is that they didn’t have adequate force at their disposal to deal with the situation.

Directions for Questions 9 – 11

Each sentence that follows has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Following the sentence are four words or set of words. Choose the word or set of words for each blank that best fit the meaning of the sentence as a whole. Darken the corresponding oval in the answer sheet.


Q9	Prudery actually draws attention to the vice it is suppose to…………. the very act that forbids speech or prohibits sight ………. what is hidden.
	condemn…….distort repress……..dramatizes divulge…….conceal obviate…….fosters

Q10	Compared mathematically to smoking and driving, almost everything else seems relatively risk free……….almost nothing seems worth regulating.
	(1) so	(2) yet	(3) since	(4) even though

Q11	While some see in practical jokes a wish for mastery in miniature over a world that seems very………, others believe that jokes’ purpose is to disrupt, by reducing all transactions to………
	(1) untruly…….chaos	(2) harmonious……….dissonance	(3) turbulent……….uniformity	(4) dubious……….confusion

Directions for Questions 12 – 14

In each of the following questions, a related pair of words or phrases is followed by four numbered pairs of words or phrases. Select the numbered pair that best express a relationship similar to that expressed in the original pair and darken the corresponding oval in the answer sheet.

Q12	LUMBER : GRACE : :
	(1) insinuate : subtley	(2) relent : energy	(3) waver : resolution	(4) castigate : justice

Q13	CAUSTIC : EAT AWAY : :
	(1) explosive : destroy	(2) regent : blind	(3) desiccant : dry	(4) synthesis : substitute

Q14	. If b < 2 and 2x – 3b = 0, which of the following MUST BE TRUE?
	(1) x > -3	(2) x < 3	(3) ) x < 2	(4) x > 3

Directions for Questions 15 – 16

Each question below consists of a word printed in CAPITAL LETTERS, followed by four numbered words or phrases. Choose the number word or phrase that is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to the word or phrase in capital letter.

Since some of the Questions require you to distinguish fine shades of meanings, be sure to consider all the choices before deciding which one is the best.