Reading Comprehension
Born on Jan 12, 1863 in an affluent Bengali family, Narendra Natha Datta was a precocious child who was what we call nowadays, an all-rounder, excelling in music, studies and athletics. His father Vishwanatha Datta was a well-known attorney. However, he took the spiritual route instead and introduced Hinduism to the world in 1893 when he spoke at the World's Parliament of Religion (probably one of the most epic things any Indian has done abroad!). The historic speech was given on September 11, 1893 by Swami Vivekananda.
Here's the full text of his opening and closing address: Sisters and Brothers of America, It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions, and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.
My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honor of bearing to different lands the idea of toleration. I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance.
We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: "As the different streams having their sources in different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee."
The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: "Whosoever comes to me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me." Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth.
1. What was Vishwanatha Datta’s profession?

A. Attorney B. Spiritual leader C. Teacher D. None of the above

Answer: Option A
Explanation: The first option is correct, as the passage mentions that he was an attorney.
2. Who spoke at the World’s Parliament of Religion?

A. Narendra Nath Datta B. Swami Vivekananda C. Both D. None

Answer: Option B
Explanation: Swami Vivekananda spoke at the conference.
3. Give the opposite of the word “Occident” from the second passage of the speech

A. Delegate B. Universal C. Orient D. Toleration

Answer: Option C
Explanation: “Orient” is the opposite of Occident
4. In the phrase: “all lead to Thee”, to whom does the word ‘Thee’ refer?

A. All religions B. The delegates present C. Universal brotherhood and peace D. God

Answer: Option C
Explanation: It refers to God.
5. In the phrase: “I am proud to belong to a nation” – what nation is the speaker referring to?

A. India B. Southern India C. Rome D. America

Answer: Option C
Explanation: The speaker is referring to India
Cloze Test
Directions (1-5): Read the following passage and attempt the questions as directed.
It is now becoming clear that Cyclone Gaja is a major disaster, and its economic impact in Tamil Nadu is comparable to that of the tsunami of 2004. The (A) ……………… suffered by tens of thousands of people in several districts of the State has been severe, going well beyond the annual storm season losses. In the initial days after November 16, when the cyclone struck, the State heaved a sigh of relief (B) …………………. But it is now clear that the suffering, the loss, and the displacement in large parts of Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and Pudukottai districts is of an enormous magnitude. (C) Communities in the affected areas are distraught as houses have collapsed, farms lie ruined, water sources are contaminate and electricity supply remains disrupted. Many areas remain inaccessible because fallen trees have blocked roads. (D) In its report to the Centre, the Tamil Nadu government has destroyed the number of people rendered homeless at 3.7 lakh, and houses estimated at 3.4 lakh. The cyclone has crippled agriculture and livelihoods in a fertile region, felling thousands of productive trees and (E) surviving livestock. Between 60% and 80% of the coconut trees in the region have fallen, (F) ………………. Tamil Nadu’s farmers, who contribute a quarter of India’s coconuts with the highest unit yield. Unlike paddy or many other crops, bringing coconut plantations (G) ……………………… will take years.
(H) The top priority for the Tamil Nadu government should be to restored administrative systems and service delivery in the affected areas. Only with physical access, electricity connections and public health facilities can effective relief work be undertaken. Solar power can get public facilities running overnight. (I) It is equally important to compensation the large number of stricken farmers that there will be a moratorium on any agricultural loans that they have taken, while a fair assure scheme is prepared. Many of them have invested in trees and livestock expecting long-term returns, but have been rendered (J) rich overnight. The Tamil Nadu government has given the Centre a memorandum seeking nearly ₹15,000 crore for restoration, rehabilitation and mitigation, besides ₹1,431 crore for immediate relief work.
1. Which of the following words given in the options should come at the place marked as (A) in the above paragraph to make it grammatically correct and meaningful. Also, the word should fill in the blanks given in the two sentences given below to make them contextually correct and meaningful.
(I) But on the whole there was no ruinous ..................... of the land. (II) In 1170 a great flood caused immense ..................... in the north and helped to form the Zuider Zee.

A. devastation B. development C. rehabilitation D. encroachment E. Both (A) and (D)

Answer: Option A
Explanation: 'Devastation' means great destruction or damage. Hence, it is a perfect fit for all the blanks.
2. Which of the following phrases should fill the blank in (B) to make it contextually correct and meaningful?

A. as the cyclone was very strong and harsh. B. since the death toll was relatively high. C. since the death toll was relatively low. D. since the infrastructure was badly damaged. E. Both (C) and (D)

Answer: Option C
Explanation: Prior to the blank it is given that the State heaved a sigh of relief, which clearly states that the blank requires something positive. So, 'since the death toll was relatively low' correctly maintains the continuity of the statement.
3. In the passage given, a sentence (C) is given in BOLD. 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 in no error then choose option (E) as your answer.

A. Communities in the affected areas are distraught B. as houses have collapsed, farms lie ruined, C. water sources are contaminate and electricity D. supply remains disrupted. E. No Error

Answer: Option C
Explanation: Error is in the part given in option (c). Use 'contaminated' in place of 'contaminate'.
4. 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. estimated-report B. estimated-destroyed C. report-rendered D. estimated-rendered E. No replacement required

Answer: Option B
Explanation: 'estimated-destroyed' should replace each other to make a contextually correct and meaningful sentence.
5. A word is given in bold in (E). Choose the word which should replace the word given in bold to make the sentence correct and meaningful. If no change is required, choose option (E) as your answer.

A. killing B. improving C. raising D. refusing E. No change required

Answer: Option A
Explanation: As the passage is about the devastation caused due to the cyclone, 'killing' is the correct word in context of 'livestock'.
Para Jumbles
1. 1971 war changed the political geography of the subcontinent 2. Despite the significance of the event. There has been no serious book about the conflict 3. Surrender at Dacca aims to fill this gap 4. It also profoundly altered the geo-strategic situation in South-East Asia

A. 1324 B. 3142 C. 2143 D. 1423

Answer: Option D
Explanation: We can see that Option 1 is most likely the starting sentence. Now that we know that 1 is the starting sentence we can eliminate choice B and C as they start with 3 and 2 respectively and not with sentence 1. This narrows down our possibilities to option A and option D.
Now we can see in option A 3 follows sentence 1 but the gap spoken of in sentence 3 has no correlation with political geography of the subcontinent spoken of in sentence 1 , so we can rule out Option A. Therefore answer has to be option D, as we can also see it elaborates on the change mentioned in sentence 1.
Fill in the blanks
1. I ________ not visit her ______ she is discharged

A. Shall, since B. Shall, until C. Probably, since D. Probably, until E. Probably, until

Answer: Option B
2. Our classes will _______ ____ next week

A. Commence, on B. Commence, by C. Commence, at D. Over, on E. Over, at

Answer: Option B
3. We are _________ to you for _______ hard work.

A. Grateful, your B. Helpful, your C. Helpful, our D. Helpful, their E. Thankful, our

Answer: Option A
Spotting Errors
Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error in it. The error, if any will be in one part of the sentence. The letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is 'D'. (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any).
1. (solve as per the direction is given above)

A. We discussed the problem so thoroughly B. on the eve of the examination C. that I found it very easy to work it out. D. No error.

Answer: Option A
Explanation: We discussed the problem so thoroughly.
2. (solve as per the direction is given above)

A. If I had known B. this yesterday C. I will have helped him. D. No error.

Answer: Option C
Explanation: I would have helped him.
3. (solve as per the direction is given above)

A. The students were B. waiting for C. the arrival of the chief guest. D. No error.

Answer: Option B
Explanation: waiting
Miscellaneous
Directions (1): Study the following arrangement and answer the following questions given below.
E 4 B % R 3 A 6 # F H @ I 2 D 9 & K U $ W 1 M P 5 * Q 8 T
If all the numbers are dropped from the arrangement, then which of the following is ninth to the left of W ?

A. A B. # C. R D. & E. None of these

Answer: Option E
Directions (2): Study the following arrangement and answer the following questions given below.
‘Barin’ village is 20 kilometers to the north of village ‘Khanof’ village, ‘Banoha’ is 18 kilometers to east of village’ Khanof’ village, Palasi village is 12 kilometers to the west of ‘Barin’. Nitin starts from village Banoha and goes to village palasi in which direction is he from starting point?

A. North-East B. North-west C. South-East D. North E. None of these

Answer: Option B