Practice Question
1. India will start a Siberian crane breeding programme in the country to increase the number of birds in the wild. While a similar plan did not take off a couple of years ago, the environment ministry is hopeful that this time around “technology” will be the key mover. Cranes are given flight training as part of an experiment in the U.S. to train the cranes raised in captivity to team up with those born in the wild. The microlite aircraft guides them on their migratory route till they get accustomed. Now India will do the same to breed the Siberian cranes at Bharatpur where their numbers have dropped drastically from more than 120 pairs eight years ago to a handful which arrives from Siberia. One of the main reasons is the lack of water at Bharatpur and the encroachment around the wetland.
A. India will start a programme to breed Siberian cranes in order to increase their number in the wild. A similar plan had failed previously.
B. India will start a Siberian crane breeding programme at Bharatpur as their numbers are declining. One of the reasons for the decline is lack of water.
C. India will start a breeding programme for the Siberian cranes. In U.S. the cranes are given flight training as part of an experiment. Now India will do the same at Bharatpur.
D. Number of Siberian cranes has dropped drastically from more than 120 pairs to a handful. So, India is now planning to start a breeding programme. The reason behind the decline is lack of water.
2. In a new study, researchers found that the hearts of people who spent more time in front of TV and computer screens tended to take longer to recover after exercising, even when researchers took other possible factors into account and tried to reduce their influence on the statistics. The same thing happened in those who didn’t exercise much or at all. They added that more screen time linked to obesity, blood sugar etc. which are all thought to boost the risk of heart diseases.
A. In a new study, researchers found that people who watch TV get tired easily and are prone to obesity etc which increases the risk of heart diseases.
B. Researchers say, people who spend more time watching TV get tired easily when they exercise as their hearts take longer to recover after exercising.
C. In a new study, researchers found that increasing a person’s screen time leads to obesity and increase in the levels of blood sugar. Researchers; however, took other factors into account to reduce their influence on the statistics formed.
D. In a new study, researchers have found that people who spent most of their time watching TV or a computer screen are vulnerable to obesity and blood sugar.
3. Over the years, English has been stripped to its skeleton, focusing more and more on function and less and less on the finer points that exercise the intellect and enhance creativity. It’s a debatable issue whether the switch over from the structural approach to communicative has played villain, but most people agree that little attention is given to the art of creative writing these days. Ever since the functional approach has taken over, thumbing its nose at grammar, syntax and structure are no longer vital. Worse, we encourage redundancies and lack essentials like sentence construction and punctuation. It’s a different matter when learners learn the rules first and then break them with their skill, creating something new and artistic.
A. English has become a skeleton as people these days focus less on finer points and more on functions. The debatable issue is whether the switch has played a villain, but most people think that the art of creative writing is not given importance.
B. People these days give importance to functions than other points in English and they also agree that a little attention is given to the art of creation, however, they encourage redundancies and lack essentials.
C. People these days focus more on functions than finer points of English and encourage redundancies and lack essentials. However, most people agree that the art of creative writing is no longer given attention.
D. These days people are focussing more and more on functions and less and less on finer points. The art of creative writing no longer exists. However, people must learn the rules and then break them to create something different.
4. Children should not allow themselves to be licked by pets, nor kiss them or let them into their beds, warns Ulrich Fegeler, spokesman for Germany’s professional Association of Children’s and Young People’s Physicians. If a pet licks a child, he says, parents should immediately wash the spot thoroughly with soap and water to prevent possible transmission of Yersinia pestis bacterium as well as othen pathogens. In both animals and humans, Yesinia pestis bacteria can settle in the mucous membranes of the throat and nasal conchae, which . are shelf-like protrusions on the walls of the nasal ‘ cavity. The bacteria can cause blood poisoning, ostitis, pneumonia and meningitis and must be treated quickly with antibiotics. In addition, pets should be examined regularly by a veterinarian, dewormed and kept free of fleas. Then, Fegeler says, there is nothing wrong with children having four-legged friends.
A. Children usually allow themselves to be licked by their pets. They even let them sleep in their beds. This could lead to bacterial infection in mucous membranes of throat and nose. Pets must be taken to a veterinarian every month in order to avoid this.
B. A Spokesman of Germany’s association said, children must not allow their pets to lick them, as dogs have a certain bacteria in their saliva, which leads to serious issues. If this is treated, he says, there is nothing wrong with children having pets.
C. Ulrich Fegeler, a spokesman for Germany’s association of physicians said, children must not allow their pets to lick them or take them into their beds as the animal’s saliva may have certain bacteria which would lead to serious health problems. He suggests,- pets must be regularly examined by a veterinarian.
D. Ulrich Fegeler, spokesman for Germany’s professional association of children’s and young peoples Physicians said, children must not be allowed to be licked by their pets as they have bacteria, Yersinia pests which causes blood poisoning etc and must be treated by antibiotics. In addition, the pets must be taken regularly to a veterinarian as he helps in keeping the pets free from fleas.
5. One of the more blatant and visible scams of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) relates to how the thousands of workers who worked on the games construction sites were denied minimum wages, safety equipment, housing and other benefits constitutionally due to them. As a country if we are serious about issues of human security and development, then it is imperative that the CWG Committee also includes violations of labour laws within its purview. Besides non-payment of the legal wage, other equally important issues relating to the Games have not as yet received adequate attention. There is yet no figure estimating the total number of accidents and deaths that have occurred in the course of construction of Games-related projects. There is another aspect to this; existing penalties for violation of labour law standards are extremely paltry.
A. One of the most outrageous scams of CWG is the denial of minimum wages and other facilities to the workers. It is our responsibility to include violations of labour laws and look into the matter of punishments.
B. The most visible scam of the CWG is how the thousands of workers who worked on the game construction sites are denied wages, equipment, etc. We are responsible and hence, we must include violations of labour laws in the purview.
C. The most blatant scam of the CWG is; workers not getting paid for their work. If we are serious about development and security, we must include violations of laws and the exact number of accidents occurred must be estimated.
D. Not paying the workers properly and denying them of basic facilities is outrageous. If we are a serious country, we must include violations of laws and people who violate them be punished very severely.
6. Mark Twain once observed that giving up smoking is easy. He knew, because he had done it hundreds of times himself. Giving up for ever is a trifle more difficult, apparently, and it is well known that it is much more difficult for some people than for others. Why is this so? Few doctors believe any longer that it is simply a question of will power. And for those people that continue to view addicts as merely ‘weak’, recent genetic research may force a rethink. Research suggests that an individual’s degree of nicotine dependence, and even the number of cigarettes he smokes per day,. are strongly genetically influenced. Finding genes responsible for nicotine dependence will make it possible to identify the causes of such dependence’ which will help to classify smokers better and thus enable quitting programmes to be customized.
A. Giving up smoking for ever is more difficult for some people than for others. It is not just a question of will power because recent research suggests that nicotine dependence is genetically. influenced. Finding the gene responsible for this will help in designing customized ’quitting programmes’.
B. As Mark Twain humorously observed quitting smoking is not easy. It is wrong to ascribe this to a lack of will power because addicts are not weak people – it may be a question of genetic predisposition as suggested by recent research.
C. To desist from smoking is difficult because it is genetically determined and people who have inherited nicotine dependence cannot overcome it, as revealed by recent research. The result can be achieved by altering the gene.
D. Genetic predisposition determines whether a person can cease smoking or not. A person with weak will power may find help in recent research that promises to alter the gene to stop nicotine dependence.
7. The heads of Government of the European Union (EU) have decided to rewrite the framework directive to liberalize the internal market in services following mounting opposition, especially from France and Germany. The Bolkestein directive on services proved that in many cases – but not in the important areas of health, wages and environmental protection firms operating anywhere in the EU would be allowed to observe the law of the country of their origin as distinct from that of the host nation. This understandably triggered fears that companies from less developed EU states particularly the new members from Eastern Europe, would set up operations in advanced countries introducing the relatively lower labour and welfare standards in the country of their origin and undermine established standards in the developed parts of Europe. The decision to review the controversial services directive, coupled with the move to relax norms on containment of fiscal deficits under the Stability and Growth Pact, is seen as a major victory by the champions of the so-called social model again Bolkestein Bolkestein st the neoliberal and free market direction favoured by the non-elected European Commission (EC), and is in a way a miniature reflection of the complexities and contradictions witnessed everywhere in the larger area of globalization.
A. Opposition from France and Germany has led the heads of Government of European Union to rethink on the Bolkestein directives on services that allowed firms to follow the laws of the country of origin. This triggered a fear of lower labour and welfare standards.
B. The heads of Government of the European Union have decided to change the directive on services. This together with the Stability and Growth Pact is a victory for the champions of the social model against free market directives.
C. The Bolkestein directive that allowed countries to follow the laws of the country of origin will be reviewed by the government of European Union. This is a victory for the champions of so called social model against free market direction. It is a reflection of the complexities and contradictions of globalization.
D. Under pressure from France and Germany the heads of government of the European Union have reviewed the Bolkestein directive on services. This permitted firms to follow the laws of their country and not of the country they were located in.
8. If you have a belief that is based entirely upon faith, I cannot examine your reasons. You retreat behind the private wall of faith where I cannot reach you. If your faith tells you that your quickest path to heaven is to murder a novelist and bum his books, I cannot dissuade you any more than I could argue the Yorkshire Ripper out of his faith that Jesus had ‘called’ him to cut up women. I can only start arguing with you if you abandon faith and listen to reason based upon evidence. This is what scientists professionally do. Science is a communal enterprise in which truths are established by appealing not to authority or private conviction but to public evidence and shared logic.
A. A person whose belief is based on faith commits heinous acts like murder because he is not open to reason. You cannot reach such a person. Science, on the other hand, is based on logic, reason and evidence that is accessible to all.
B. You cannot argue with a person whose belief is based on faith, as he/she is not open to reason based on evidence. In science truths are established by appealing not to authority or conviction but evidence and logic.
C. You can only argue with people who are open to reason and not blinded by faith. Your faith can lead you to commit heinous crimes as can be seen from the Yorkshire ripper.
D. Only a person whose belief is based on faith commits murder and destroys things, you can’t reason with such a person. Science uses logic and evidence to build up its authority.
9. The art of claymation (clay animation) has been around for almost a century from the very beginning of motion picture. However, it did not come into worldwide prominence until a BBC children’s series ‘Wallace and Gromit’ started to win several Oscar awards. Claymation had been rescued from the fringes of the animation world. With computer graphics playing a part in almost every major movie, the ‘brick and mortar’ feel of claymation won it a large fan base. However, it was only six years ago that claymation landed in India, so the work done here, despite winning plaudits for its quality, has some way to go before it can catch up. But while claymation stars may not throw any tantrums, they lend themselves to rather slow work, as every single frame has to be shot individually.
A. The winning of Oscar by ‘Wallace and Gromit’ brought claymation. into prominence though it has been around since the beginning of motion pictures. It is only six years old in India and has a long way to go before it achieves quality.
B. Claymation has been around since the beginning of motion picture but the BBC children series brought it to prominence. Its concrete feel, as opposed to computer animation, has won it fans. It involves a lot of work as every frame has to be shot individually.
C. Unlike animation, claymation involves a lot of work, as every frame has to be shot individually. But its brick and mortar feel has won it many ■fans. When the BBC series on claymation won an Oscar, it zoomed into prominence and has a long way to go in India.
D. Though claymation is a century old, it received prominence only after ‘Wallace and Gromit’ won Oscars. The appeal of claymation lies in its brick and mortar feel. It is relatively new to India, involves a lot of work and has a long way to go.
10. Is this the beginning of the end for the fast growing BPO sector? Sceptics have for sometime been pointing to the double whammy of sky rocketing attrition and absenteeism as a potential stumbling block. Add to this the increasing number of disillusioned MNCs gravitating towards the exit sign, and the dismal picture is complete. Consider: Not too long ago Wipro’s BPO lost a part of the outbound voice work it would do for Capital One, then AXA Business Services lost a portion of the captive work it used to do from Bangalore. Now it is the turn of the Sykes – a Tampa based call center firm – to cut its work force, according to a filing it has made with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Sykes says it will move ’some’ Indian work, with some reports pointing to half the $4 million in revenues generated from this center being repatriated to other centers in the Asian Pacific (Philippines and China) and the work force in Bangalore being slashed by 50 percent.
A. Attrition and absenteeism have always been hurdles for the BPO industry. Now an increasing number of MNCs like Wipro, Sykes, Capital One etc are moving away as much as fifty percent of their work to other Asia Pacific region signifying the end of the BPO sector.
B. Sceptics have always considered attrition and absenteeism as major obstacles in the growth of the BPO sector. Now their predictions1 are coming true with reputed MNCs cutting their work force in India and shifting to other Asia Pacific regions.
C. The end of the BPO .industry seems to be at hand. Apart from attrition and absenteeism that have plagued the industry, a number of MNCs, now seem to be disillusioned and moving their work from Bangalore to other Asia Pacific regions.
D. In recent times a number of call center works have not been assigned to India but to other Asia Pacific countries. Even reputed businesses like Wipro, Capital One, AXN Business Services and Sykes’ have lost contracts that they might have got. This portends the end of the BPO sector in India.
11. Human liver has sensors that work with blood contents, besides sugars, and these have the ability to affect hunger cues as well. There appear to be sensors that can detect the presence of specific amino acids. Many of these sensors, while shown to exist, have not been isolated. How those signals reach the brain and contribute to the cause of hunger is an even deeper mystery. The liver informs the brain of the body’s nutritional status in many ways and this information somehow contributes to the feelings of hunger. It is physically separated from the brain by about thirty-eight centimeters or fifteen inches in most people, an infinite distance when viewed from the level of the molecule. To interact with the brain, the liver is forced to hurl its information via a system of. interacting neurons. A nerve cell literally fires up a signal in response to a perceived metabolic stimulus, creating a chain of excitement that eventually reaches the brain.
A. The sensors of the liver work with the blood contents to detect sugar and specific amino acids. They inform the brain through the nerve cells and nervous system of the nutritional status which contributes to the feeling of hunger.
B. It is a mystery how the liver which is separated from the brain by about fifteen inches communicates with it. It is presumed that signals of hunger are fired to the brain through the nerve cells.
C. The sensors of the liver, though not isolated, have been shown to have the ability to detect sugar and amino acids in the blood. How they communicate this information to the brain is not known as it is separated from the brain by about fifteen inches.
D. The liver communicates feelings of hunger to the brain though it is separated by about fifteen inches which is an infinite distance from the point of view of a molecule It sends messages through nerve cells.
12. The Manas river, after which the tiger reserve and the park are named, is known as Dang-me-chu in Bhutan. After entering India at Mathanguri, it splits into two major channels – the Bispani-Hakuwa and the Manas/Beki. The bed of this beautiful river, covered with boulders, can be seen through the crystal clear water during the non-flood season. A study carried out by Gauhati University found as many as 106 species of fish in this river. Owing to heavy poaching for consumption, the number of large-sized fish is being depleted which in turn has adversely affected the predators dependent upon the river. However according to a recent survey the fish population is recovering. The trail of foot prints on the sands of the river bank at Mathanguri left by tigers, wild elephants, deer and wild buffaloes during their movement towards the river overnight’, shows that the river system is the only source of water for all the major fauna. For tigers, elephants, deer of all species, bisons, leopards and other cats, this is the only source of water during severe drought.
A. The Manas or Dang-me-chu enters India from Bhutan at Mathanguri. It splits into two, Bispani and Manas. The boulder covered bed can be seen through its crystal clear water which houses 106 varieties of fishes.
B. The Manas river after entering India at Mathanguri splits into two. It has crystal clear water and is the main source for the wildlife here as seen from the foot prints of animals that come here at night.
C. The Manas or Dang-me-chu as it is known in Bhutan splits into two – Bispani and Manas on entering India at Mathanguri. It has crystal clear water, a boulder covered bed and 106 varieties fish which are being lost through poaching. It is also the main source of water for the wildlife around, which is proved by the foot prints of the animals near the river.
D. The Manas river splits into two after entering India at Mathanguri. It has as many as 106 fish species, which are getting depleted due to poaching, which can adversely affect the total eco cycle because it is the water source for all the major fauna, as seen from the foot prints.
13. It is no mean achievement to run India’s largest profit-making company. And even more impressive, if the entity also happens to be the country’s largest in terms of market capitalization. Chairman Subir Rana has managed this double distinction for ONGC with elegant ease. Ever since he took over the reins in 2001, Rana has successfully steered this oil behemoth in the league of global petroleum companies by effectively exploring every opportunity arising out of progressive dismantling of controls and administered price mechanism in the country’s oil sector. Rana is keen on expanding the country’s presence in the global energy business too. In the recent years, he has systematically enlarged ONGC’s footprint by acquiring oil bearing properties in Vietnam, Russia, Sudan, Iraq, Iran and Myanmar through wholly owned subsidiary, ONGC Videsh, regarded as a stretcher case not very long ago.
A. ONGC is India’s largest profit-making company and is also the largest in terms of market capitalization. Subir Rana, its chairman since 2001, has won the giant a place among the great oil companies of the world. He has done so by moving away from government control to a free operation o/ market forces.
B. Subir Rana has been the chairman of ONGC, India’s largest profit-making company and largest in terms of market capitalization, since 2001. He has steered the company into free market economy and acquired a presence in other countries througn its subsidiary, ONGC Videsh.
C. India’s largest profit-making company, ONGC, is also the largest in terms of market capitalization. Subir Rana has been its chairman since 2001, He has tried to place the company among other oil giants of the world through the creation of a subsidiary, ONGC Videsh, which has acquired property in other countries.
D. Subir Rana has tried to place ONGC among the oil behemoths of the world through dismantling administered price mechanism. Since 2001, he has been the chairman of the company that is largest in profit and in market capitalization.
14. Not too long ago anyone suggesting a link between spirituality and good health would have been laughed out of the room. But thanks to efforts of doctors like Deepak Chopra, who popularized the concept of holistic healing, spirituality is no longer taboo in the world of science and medicine. A preliminary study by University of Chicago researchers contends that belief in God may improve a person’s physical health. The study says strong spirituality, regardless of religion, results in improved physiological functioning, health and well¬being. The University has received S1.8 million to conduct a comprehensive study to examine the connection between religious belief and health. The fact that a major research University is exploring the link between religion and health is a big step in recognizing the importance of spirituality in our lives.
A. Spirituality is not a taboo to science and medical research shows that belief in god, irrespective of religion, results in better health. The growing importance of spirituality is borne out by the research work being carried out in major universities.
B. It is no longer unfashionable to suggest a link between spirituality and health, ever since Deepak Chopra popularized the concept of holistic healing. Universities are prepared to conduct research to establish a link between religion, any religion for that matter, and good health, thereby accepting the importance of spirituality.
C. Ever since Deepak Chopra popularized the concept of holistic healing, universities have been researching into the link between religion and health though it has been established that a belief in god leads to better health.
D. Pray to god for good health seems to be the latest trend since Deepak Chopra popularized the concept of holistic healing. Spirituality has come into its own as universities conduct research to establish a link between religious belief and good health.
15. Two of the world’s fastest growing economies are beginning to outgrow decades of rivalry and mistrust and starting to think of themselves as partners. It is perhaps too short sighted to see India and China only as competitors. Typically large neighbouring countries have huge bilateral trade. By that benchmark, India and China have a long way to go. It is not that the two countries should not or will not compete in the future. It is only that the scope of cooperation – so far unexplored and unrealized – is enormous. The scale of interaction among all large neighbours in the world, be it Mexico and the US or Germany and France or South Africa and its neighbours, is much larger than what exists between India and China. And this when the two are the world’s most populous nations.
A. India and China are not merely competitors who mistrust each other but have realized the need to be partners. Large neighbouring countries like Mexico and the US or Germany and France have huge bilateral trade but India and China will continue to compete.
B. Two of the world’s largest economies have realized atleast the need for cooperation for the progress of their countries. Like other large countries that are neighbours India and China must increase trade as they also have a huge population.
C. India and China, two of the world’s fastest growing economies are beginning to cooperate. The world over, large neighbouring countries have huge bilateral trade. The scope for cooperation is especially high as the two are the world’s most populous countries.
D. India and China are the two most populous countries in the world. Further they are also neighbours. As such there is a lot of scope for cooperation as the world over, large neighbouring countries have a lot of trade and interaction.
16. In the past five years alone, several helicopters have crashed into mountains, fallen into fields and smashed into trees. Five crashes in the past four years have killed seven politicians, including four state ministers, a Lok Sabha speaker and two MLAs. Even these VIP deaths haven’t goaded a change in safety standards. Consider this: The Director General of Civil Aviation has just one helicopter inspector for monitoring the air worthiness, safety and maintenance standards of the 187 helicopters in the country when aviation experts say there should be atleast 10 inspectors. The world over, the ratio of crashes in civil aviation to those in general aviation is a steep 1 : 20 or 20 crashes in general aviation for every crash in civil aviation. This is because general aviation aircraft operate out of remote areas and rough airfields with no access to technical facilities or even vital parameters like cloud base and weather report.
A. Air crashes have been increasing in the past five years. Even though ministers and MLAs have met their end in air crashes there has been no change in safety standards. Crashes in general aviation are several times those in civil aviation as they operate in difficult conditions.
B. The large number of helicopter crashes in the past five years, including VIP deaths, has not changed safety standards. There is just one helicopter inspector for monitoring 187 helicopters. Internationally, crashes in general aviation are 20 times those in civil aviation as they operate in more difficult conditions.
C. There have been a number of air crashes in the past five years some involving deaths of ministers, MLAs etc. But these have not changed safety’ for the better. The Director General of Civil Aviation has only one tenth of the requisite manpower.
D. Internationally, the crashes in general aviation are twenty times those in civil aviation, as it has less facilities. That there , is only 1 inspector to monitor the airworthiness, safety and maintenance of 187 helicopters, does not help matters. In the past five years there have been more than four crashes.
17. India’s security policy has been going through a profound transformation wrought by fundamental changes in the internal and external environment. On the external front, assumptions that shaped the foreign and security policies for decades were shaken to the core at the turn of the 1990s. The end of the cold war and the collapse of the Soviet Union India’s long standing strategic partner, left New Delhi in a policy limbo that it had not faced since the mid-1960s. The unveiling of the American unipolar movement after the Gulf War, exposed India to unprecedented constraints and severely curtailed its room for manoeuvre in the new global order. The defining principle of India’s foreign policy -nonalignment – came under critical questioning from within and without. The ability to cope with a radically altered external environment was significantly constrained by deep internal economic and political crises.
A. India’s security policy has been shaken to the core by changes that question the assumptions on which the policy was based. India’s policy of nonalignment became meaningless in the post cold war era in which America emerged as a unipolar power.
B. There has been a profound transformation in India’s security policy as a result of changes that have taken place in 1990s. The collapse of Russia, India’s long standing partner, was a severe shock as also the emergence of America as a unipolar power after the Gulf War. These gave no place for India in the new global order.
C. The profound transformation in India’s security policy has been a response to changes in the environment – both internal and external. Internally there were economic and political crises which questioned the fundamentals on which the policy was based.
D. India’s security policy has changed in response to changes in the external and internal environment. Externally, the end of Cold War and the emergence of America as a unipolar power, questioned India’s stand of nonalignment. Internally, the economic and political crises did not help matters.
18. The per-capita-related development of a country is directly linked to its level of literacy and if development is to be hastened India has to motivate about 200 million adults to read. Southeast Asian countries like Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore, and even China, had the same literacy levels as India 25 years ago; today the figures have soared to 95, 96, 99 and 90 percent respectively. The per-capita related development in these countries has risen in tandem with their literacy level. In India, trends indicate, that despite the efforts of the State Literacy Missions and the National Literacy Missions, achieving total literacy is a distant dream that, like a mirage, lies at least 25-30 years away. It was the latest census figures highlighting the immensity of the problem that spurred F. C Kohli, former Deputy Chairman of Tata Consultancy Services, to do something about it. He masterminded a pedagogic revolution to scale up literacy mission’s efforts through the use of information technology. The results of the computer-based functional literacy method they developed are encouraging.
A. Southeast Asian countries like Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, China which have achieved high literacy level show that development is linked directly to the level of literacy. In India State Literacy Missions and National Literacy Missions have failed to make an impact. Hence F. C Kholi, former Deputy Chairman of TCS devised the computer-based functional literacy method.
B. India has 200 million illiterate adults. Since per- capita-related development is directly linked to the level of literacy it is essential to tackle this. F. C. Kohli has devised the computer-based functional literacy method to overcome the shortcomings of the State and National Literacy Mission and the results are encouraging.
C. The per-capita-related development of a country is directly linked to its literacy level as borne out by the experiences of Southeast Asian countries. F. C Kohli has devised a computer- based functional literacy method to tackle the problem of 200 million adult illiterates in India and the results are encouraging.
D. Southeast Asian countries, which had the same level of illiteracy as India, have successfully eradicated it and their development has been proportional. In India, however, there are 200 million adults who are illiterates and the efforts of the government have not borne fruits.
19. The industrial process, irrespective of scale, contributes to environmental problems. Keeping that in mind and the fact that India is still way behind developed countries in formulating and implementing laws which ensure that industry takes measures to protect the environment, it is indeed laudable that companies based in India have decided to take matters into their own hands. A new consciousness has meant that companies today are not just interested in bottom lines but also the quality of air, water and the noise that they pass on to society. Take the Steel Authority of India Limited, for instance. The process of producing steel causes environmental problems at every stage, yet this steel giant decided in the 90s that the time had come for it to help conserve the environment and minimize damage in whatever way was possible. The company formally adopted an environmental policy in 1996.
A. Unlike developed countries India does not have laws that restrict companies polluting the environment. It is remarkable that companies have become conscious of their role in polluting the environment. Steel Authority of India, for instance has made its own environmental policy in 1996.
B. Though India does not have comprehensive laws that hold industries accountable for the pollution they cause, companies in India have become conscious of their role and are taking necessary steps to conserve environment and minimize damages.
C. That companies like Steel Authority of India Limited have formulated their own environmental policy is to be appreciated, considering that unlike the West, India does not have laws that stop a company from damaging the environment.
D. Industries have always been the cause of environmental pollution. But now industries have become conscious of their duty to society and adopted self-regulatory measures without bothering about their bottom line although India does not have laws to curtail the activities of companies.
20. How much should the government spend on education? According to the National Policy of Education, it is 6 percent of the GDP. India spends a little less than 4 percent, as did countries like South Korea and Japan that achieved high literacy post World War II. China spends only 2.6 percent. The quality of expenditure is more important than the quantity. The center spends ?1,000 per year on a child while in cities like Mumbai, it’s higher than ?4,400. Yet independent studies have found that an average four years of schooling generates two years of learning levels across country. Most government spending is like water carried in a bucket with a hole in primary education, salaries account for 97 percent of the budget. But the proponents of higher spending-for-more-education pin their hopes on some part of the increased spending finally reaching the beneficiary.
A. Where education is concerned, how well money is spent is more important than how much is spent, as seen from the progress made by some Asian countries. In India, spending on education is like carrying water in a bucket with a hole. The more money spent on it, the more it is wasted.
B. What percentage of GDP should be spent on education is open to question since some Asian countries that spend less or as much as India have achieved greater progress. Expenditure on education is like water leaking from a bucket – it is wasted.
C. India spends 4% of its GDP on education as against the 6% considered ideal by the National Education Policy. However, various Asian countries spending less have achieved greater progress than India, which makes us realise that much of the expenditure is wasted in India.
D. When a government spends money on education/it has to think about the quality of its expenditure more than the quantity spent, as seen by the progress made by some Asian countries. In India, much of this expenditure seems to be wasted as it doesn’t seem to benefit the intended beneficiary.
2. A
3. C
4. C
5. A
6. A
7. C
8. B
9. D
10. C
11. A
12. D
13. B
14. A
15. C
16. B
17. D
18. C
19. B
20. D
1. India will start a breeding programme.
2. Terminal decline of Siberian cranes.
3. One of the reasons is lack of water.
2. Option (A) leaves out points 2 and 3. Option'(C) has unnecessary details and option (D) is verbose and also says the reason behind the decline is lack of water. Lack of water is one of the reasons and not the reason.
The key points of the paragraph are:
1. Hearts of people watching TV or computer screens take longer to recover, which implies they are easily tired.
2. They are at a higher risk of heart diseases.
3. They are prone to obesity etc.
Option (B) misses points 3, option (C) is verbose and
option (D) misses point 2. Choice (A)
3. The key points are:
1. Focus on functions than finer points.
2. Encourage redundancies and the essentials are ignored.
3. Little attention is-given to art of creative writing.
Choice (A) misses point 2, choice (B) does not convey the apt meaning of the passage.’ a little’ means some attention. Hence, it contradicts the meaning. Choice (D) is distorted in its meaning.
4. The key points are: ,
1. The risk of children getting infected
2. How it affects the person.
3. How this can be avoided.
Option (A), adds details that are not mentioned in the passage. It’s not mentioned about how often they are supposed to take them to the veterinarian. Option (B) talks about dogs in specific, which is incorrect. Option (D) is verbose. Choice (C)
5. The key points are:
1. Denial of workers’ basic facilities and wages is outrageous.
2. Take responsibility of the violation of laws and include it in the purview.
3. Look into the issue of punishments:
Option (A), is the most apt choice, option (B) and (C) say the most’, but it is ‘one of the most’. Further, they don’t include all the points. Option (D) talks about severe punishments, which is a little extreme.
6. The main points are:
1. Giving up smoking is not just about will power.
2. It may be genetically influenced.
3. Finding the gene will help in finding the right quitting programme.
Choice (B) leaves out the 3rd point. Choice (C) is wrong because it says nicotine dependence cannot be overcome. Choices (D) is totally skewed.
7. The main points are:
1. Decision of the government of EU to review the Bolkestein directive.
2. What the Bolkestein directive means
3. The decision is a victory for social model against liberalization.
The points are captured in Choice (C). Choice (A) leaves out point 3. Choice (B) does not explain the Bolkestein directive and Choice (D) does not talk of the success of social model.
8. The main, points made here are:
1. You can’t argue with a person whose belief is based on faith.
2. Science establishes truth by appealing to evidence and logic.
Choice (B) captures the summary. Choice (A) says faith will lead to heinous crimes, which is wrong. Choice (C) does not talk about science. Choice (D) says only a person with faith commits crimes, which is wrong.
9. The main points are :
1. Claymation has been around for a century.
2. The winning of Oscars brought in prominence.
3. Been in India for 6 years and has a long way to go.
Choice (A) is wrong as it says India has not achieved quality in claymation. Choice (B) leaves out the point about the scenario in India. Choice (C) wrongly says that the BBC film was on claymation. Choice (D) captures the points appropriately.
10. The paragraph raises the question: Is the end of the BPO industry’near at hand? As evidence it points to
1. Absenteeism and high attrition that have always troubled the industry.
2. Even reputed BPO losing business.
Choices (A) and (D) make the mistake of including Sykes among those that have lost business to Asia Pacific region where as Sykes is the call centre that has cut its work force in India. Choice (B) does not talk about the possible end of BPQ in India. Choice (C) captures the points accurately.
11. The main points are:
1. The liver has sensors that can detect sugar and amino acids in the blood.
2. It sends signals to the brain through nerve cells.
3. The information contributes to the feeling of hunger.
Choice (A) captures the points
Choice (B) omits point 1
Choice (C) omits point 2
Choice (D) omits point 1.
12. The main points are:
1. The Manas river enters India at Mathanguri and splits into two.
2. It has a variety of fish depleted through poaching.
3. It is the source of water for the fauna.
Choice (A) does not include point 3.
Choice (B) misses point 2.
Choice (C) is too long.
Choice (D) is appropriate.
13. The main points are:
1. Subir Rana is ONGC’s Chairman.
2. ONGC is India’s largest profit making company and largest in terms of market capitalisation.
3. He has moved from control to free market economy.
4. He has made a global presence through acquiring property in other countries under its subsidiary, ONGC Videsh.
Choice (A) leaves out ONGC Videsh.
Choice (C) misses point 3.
Choice (D) does not include point 4.
14. The main points made are:
1. Spirituality is no longer a taboo in the world of science and medicine.
2. A preliminary study says belief in god may improve a person’s health
3. The involvement of a major university shows the importance of spirituality.
Choice (B) is too long, misses out point 2 and states erroneously that universities are ‘prepared’ whereas they are already into it. Choice (C) is wrong in saying that link between belief in God and good health has been established. Choice (D) has a flippant tone. Choice (A)
15. The main points are:
1. India and China are two of the fastest growing economies of the world.
2. Large neighbouring countries usually have huge bilateral trade.
3. India and China with their huge population have a lot of scope for cooperation.
Choice (A) misses point 1 and 3. The conclusion in choice (must increase trade as they also have huge population) is not in tune with the tone of the original. Choice (C) captures the points. Choice (D) misses point 1.
16. The main points are:
1. High number of air crashes.
2. VIP deaths have not changed safety standards.
3. Crashes in general aviation are far more than those in civil aviation.
Choice (A) is wrong as it says air crashes have been increasing which is not stated in the passage.
Choice (B) captures all the points.
Choice (C) omits point 3.
Choice (D) omits point 2.
17. The main points are:
1. India’s security policies have changed as a response to change in environment.
2. External factors – end of cold war, collapse of Soviet Union, emergence of USA as the sole superpower.
3. Internal factors – economic and political crises.
Choices (A) and (B) leave out the changes in the internal conditions. Choice (C) misses out point 2. Choice (D)
18. The main points are:
1. Per capita-related development is linked to level of literacy.
2. India has 200 million adult illiterates.
3. The development of computers based functional literacy methods to tackle the problem.
Choice (A) fails to cover point 2 and the fact that the new method has given positive results. Choice (B) talks of the ‘shortcomings’ of the missions which is not mentioned in the passage. Choice (D) misses point 3. Choice (C)
19. The main points are:
1. Industries cause pollution.
2. India does not have comprehensive laws on environmental protection.
3. Nevertheless companies have woken up to the need to do their bit:
Choice (A) fails to mention that companies are doing what they can to reduce pollution. Choice (C) makes it more specific to SAIL whereas the original is generalised with SAIL given as an example. Choice (D) is wrong as it says companies do not bother about their bottom lines.
20. The main points are:
1. Expenditure on education – quantity versus quality.
2. Spending not reaching the intended beneficiaries.
Choice (A) does not state the second point clearly. Choice does not mention quality, but mentions only wastage. Choice (C) quotes figures, which are not required in a summary. Choice (D) covers both points precisely.