Directions(1-10): Read the following passage carefully and answer the question given below it. Certain words have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some questions.
The RBI recently put an end to several unfair practices in retail banking through a series of customer-friendly circulars to commercial banks and credit card companies. Result: consumer goods companies, retail chains and banks which were having a free run, alluring and exploiting gullible customers will have to be more transparent and rationale while doing business.
The RBI comes just weeks before the onset of the festival season, and much to the chagrin of retail players. The biggest move, of course, was the ban on zero per cent interest EMI’s (equated monthly installments). Retail chains, companies and banks had a field day hawking smart phones. LED TV, air-conditioners and microwave ovens. Since the very concept of zero per cent interest is non-existent and fair practices demands that the processing charge and interest charged should be kept uniform product or segment wise, such schemes only serve the purpose of alluring and exploiting the vulnerable customers. The biggest loss for a customer would be forgoing the cash discount on a product that a customer could have otherwise got if he had brought it on full payment. This is on top of the transaction or processing fee under the zero per cent scheme and consequently more money through EMIs.
In the second major measure, the RBI said banks not complying with the requirements should compensate the loss incurred by the card holder using card at POS terminals not adhering to the mandated security standards. The law enforcement agencies recently found fraudsters cloned the cards to withdraw money and go on a shopping binge abroad. There were several instances of illegal card –skimming leading to money theft from other bank accounts due to problems in the authentication processes in the jurisdiction where the money got withdrawn. The RBI says the issuing bank should claim the amount paid by it to the customer from the respective bank which have acquired the POS transaction in question .The acquiring banks have to pay the amount paid by the issuing bank without demur within three working days of the issuing bank raising the claim, failing which the RBI would compensate the issuing bank by debiting the account of the acquiring bank maintained with the bank. The RBI had earlier this year asked banks to bar international usage of debit and credit cards unless customers specifically ask for this feature. Banks have also been asked to enable blocking of cards through a text message request. ATM and credit card customers have complained that banks were not restoring funds debited to their accounts by cloned cards from distant places. Customers insist that they have not parted with the cards and hence cannot be liable for transactions which the banks hold them responsible for. Customers demand that in ‘card percent scenario’ such distant transactions if not authorized by the customer should immediately by reversed.
In another measure, the RBI directed banks to terminate relationship with merchant establishments which levy a fee as a percentage of the transaction value as charges on debit cards of customers saying such fees are not “permissible and justifiable”. There are instance where merchant establishments levy a fee as a percentage of the transaction value as charges on customers who are making payments for purchase of goods and services through debit cards. Such fees are not justifiable and are not permissible as per the bilateral agreement between the acquiring bank and the merchants and therefore calls for termination of the relationship of the bank with such establishments. Some outlets, especially fuel stations, are still charging a fee from customers who use debit cards. According to the Damodaran panel report, the percentage of interchange/ merchant fee charged by the card services providers for both debit and credit card being the same, a merchant is indifferent to a create/ debit card. Card data indicates that more than 80 per cent of the cards are debit cards and the customers feel that debit card is  akin to cash as it directly debits their accounts and does not confer any advantage by way of a credit facility. Customer feedback indicated that if the merchant service fee is made minimal for a debit card, it might encourage its acceptance by the merchant establishment and thereby encourage electronic payments. Card service providers and banks should therefore follow a differential merchant fee policy in favour of  debit cards which will over a period of time, reduce the dependence on cash for payments.
1. Why has the RBI put a ban the schemes claiming zero per cent interest on EMI’s?

A. The customers had not shown any interest in such schemes. B. The consumers buying power had risen considerably and was not healthy for the economy. C. The banks were incurring losses owing to such schemes. D. The facility of zero percent interest does not exist. E. Not clearly mentioned in the passage

Answer: D
2. What did the customers demand whenever their money was fraudulently withdrawn abroad by cloning their cards?

A. They demanded that such transactions should be reversed unless authorized by the customer. B. They demanded that double the amount should be credited to their account immediately. C. They demanded that the fraud be arrested and taken action against. D. They demanded that the cloned card be immediately retrieved and destroyed in front of the customer E. They silently agreed to bear the loss.

Answer: A
3. Which of the following is TRUE with regard to Damodaran panel report?

A) A small percentage of customers preferred debit cards to credit cards. B) The customers considered debit cards similar to cash. C) The customers used debit cards only for withdrawal of money from their accounts

A. Only A B. Only B C. Only A and C D. Only B and C E. All of the above

Answer: B
4. Which of the following has been suggested to popularize the payments be done using debit cards?

A. The customers should be encouraged to use cash for making huge payments as they would not have to pay merchant service fee. B. Merchant service fee should be kept as low as possible. C. Card service providers and banks should mutually from a policy which favours usage of debit cards for making payments. D. Only a and c E. Only b and c

Answer: E
5. What has been the impact of RBI’s move, on retail players in the market?

A. They have agreed to lend full support to ensure implementation of its directions. B. They have not welcomed the RBI’s move C. They have come up with different schemes to evade getting caught by the new rules. D. They have decided to change markets so that the changes made do not impact them much E. All of the above

Answer: B
6. Which of the following is FALSE, in the context of the passage?

A. In many cases of fraud, customers insist that they cannot be held responsible for unauthorized transactions as they did not part with their cards. B. The RBI has issued customer-friendly circulars in order the protect the rights of the customers. C. RBI has asked banks to terminate relationship with merchant establishments which levy unjustifiable fee as a percentage of the transaction value. D. The RBI has directed banks to bar international usage of debit and credit cards unless specifically asked by the customer. E. All of the above are TRUE

Answer: E
7. Gullible

A. Knowledgeable B. Garrulous C. Fussy D. Naive E. Reprimanding

Answer: D
8. Akin

A. Corresponding B. Focused C. Similar D. Related E. Derived

Answer: C
9. Terminate

A. Expire B. Permit C. Reverberate D. Start E. prohibit

Answer: D
10. Forgoin

A. Passing B. Surrendering C. Changing D. Enhancing E. Availing

Answer: E

Directions(1 – 10): Choose a word to be fitted in both the sentences
1. He __________a map of the Caribbean next to the letter, to trace the ship’s _______.

A. Unfolded, plan B. Unfurled, course C. Unrolled, course D. Unrolled, fate E. Used, course

Answer: C
2. She noisily _________ the water, _________ half of it onto her chin.

A. Drank, dropping B. Inhaled, spilling C. Gurgled, slopping D. Gurgled, dropping E. Gulped, trailing

Answer: C
3. Although they have always done things ______ in the past, the twins felt it was crucial that they experience college ______, and foster a healthy sense of independence.

A. Closely, collectively B. Joyfully, happily C. Deceptively, quietly D. Individually, independently E. Jointly, separately

Answer: E
4. It is ______ for every listed company to _____ its annual financial statements with the registrar of companies.

A. Necessary, lodge B. Binding, pay C. Obligatory, file D. Possible, remit E. Worthwhile, evade

Answer: C
5. ____________dark clouds had been piling up all afternoon in _________layers.

A. Flourishing, threatening B. Healing, menacing C. Festering, ominous D. Decaying, promising E. Rotten, Auspicious

Answer: C
6. Chi reached into the dark _______ and _________ around.

A. Hole, stood B. Tunnel, rummaged C. Alcove, ransacked D. Alcove, rummaged E. Cellar, covered

Answer: D
7. The famous pop singer tragically died at age thirty-two; it was an ______ event for all his many fans, but it was especially hard on his most ______ fans.

A. Unthinkable, healthy B. Amazing, dubious C. Appalling, devoted D. Appreciated, strange E. Emotional, heavy

Answer: C
8. The snake was a _____ 8-foot long and spewed ______ on the frightened campers.

A. Measly, venom B. Merely, blood C. Mghty, blood D. Measly, blood E. Mighty, venom

Answer: E
9. Harry was supposed to play in the _____ but he badly _____ his ankle.

A. Choir, cut B. Match, joined C. Choir, hit D. Match, sprained E. None of these

Answer: D
10. Rain _________ in through a few holes and rapidly created ________ in the dirt floor.

A. Rained, pools B. Came, pools C. Leaked, rivulets D. Poured, rivulets E. Came, rivulets

Answer: C

Directions(1 – 10): In the following passage there are blanks each of which has been numbered, these numbers are printed below the passage and against each five words have been suggested, one of which fits the blanks appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.
How to express your ideas so that the reader will understand? It’s good to write as if you were having a____(1)_____ with the reader. Use complete sentences and liven up your text with ____(2)_____. A good practice is to raise questions and ____(3)_____ upon the topic from different perspectives. The benefits of good preparation will become apparent at this stage at the latest. Remember that if you try to collect information and think about the style and content at the same time, it is very ____(4)_____ that you will not succeed with either the style or the content. It will be difficult to get a proper flow, with the text proceeding smoothly from start to finish. Sometimes it’s best to start from the easiest or most ____(5)_____ part, and then work through the more difficult parts at a later stage.
Seeking to ___(6)___ with the market pressure, those made responsible for running schools often tend to forget that the ___(7)___ group being addressed by them consists of those in their ___(8)___ years, that is, small children still in the process of learning their primary language. Giving an opportunity to someone to express his thoughts and thus to look for new words and coin new sentences, is the best way out to ___(9)___ his language. An enlightened parent or a school worth its name will use such an opportunity as a first step towards the much-desired ___(10)___ of the reading habit. But how many of us do it?
1. 1.Argument 2.Chat 3.Talk 4.Conversation 5.Discussion Answer: Conversation
2. 1.Idioms 2.Quotes 3.Phrases 4.Notations 5.Examples Answer: Examples
3. 1.Examine 2.Explanation 3.Illuminate 4.Highlight 5.Views Answer: Illuminate
4. 1.Unlikely 2.Probable 3.Pertinent 4.Necessary 5.Impossible Answer: Probable
5. 1.Crucial 2.Difficult 3.Important 4.Defining 5.Central Answer: Crucial
6. 1.carry-on 2.put-on 3.cope 4.pick-up 5.relinquish Answer: Cope
7. 1.favourite 2.sample 3.target 4.audience 5.experimental Answer: Target
8. 1.former 2.formative 3.making 4.scholarly 5.infancy Answer: Formative
9. 1.rejuvenate 2.explore 3.debilitate 4.strengthen 5.solidify Answer: Strengthen
10. 1.vice 2.inculcation 3.ingestion 4.harvesting 5.incubation Answer: Inculcation

Directions (1 – 5): Read each sentence given below and find out whether there is an error in it. The error if any will be one of the parts of the sentence which are marked as A, B, C and D. If there is no error, the answer will be (E) i.e. No error. (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any)
1. Since the growth (A)/ of travel agencies and tourism companies,(B)/ travelling became very pleasant,(C)/and hassle-free.(D)/ No error (E) Answer: (C) The correct phrase is ‘travelling has become very pleasant’. As the effects are still continuing, it is evident that the present tense must be used. Also, as the word ‘since’ has been used, it shows that there was a definite starting point in the past and the act is still continuing. So we use the present perfect tense.
2. I was (A)/ little worried (B)/ about the exam (C) /and the interview.(D) /No error (E) Answer: (B)The phrase ‘little worried’ is incorrect. It is to be replaced with ‘a little worried’. There is a difference between ‘little’ and ‘a little’. ‘Little’ means ‘not at all’ or ‘no’. ‘A little’ means ‘some’. So you can be ‘a little worried’ about the exam. But to say you were ‘little worried’ about the exam would be incorrect.
3. All the beach hotels(A)/ was full, so they(B)/ ended up staying(C)/ in the town centre.(D)/ No error. (E) Answer: (B) The use of ‘was’ is incorrect, as it is used when the noun is singular, but the object of the verb here is ‘hotels’ which is plural, so the plural form, ‘were’ should be used to make the sentence grammatically correct.
4. Skating is(A)/ quite difficult, but the more(B)/ you practice,(C)/ the easy it gets.(D)/ No error. (E) Answer: (D) The phrase ‘the easy it gets’ is incorrect as ‘easy’ has been used incorrectly. It should be ‘easier’, which is the comparative form, as there is a comparison between skating before practice and skating after practice.
5. If he wanted(A)/ to get good marks(B)/, he should not(C)/ has wasted his time.(D)/No error. (E) Answer: (D) The phrase ‘has wasted his time’ is incorrect. The use of the modal 'should' must always use the auxillary verb as 'have' irrespective of person. Eg: The girls should have demanded justice. You should have done it. I should have called you.

Directions (1-5): Rearrange the given sentences (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F) in a proper sequence so as to form a meaningful paragraph and then answer the questions given below them
(A) Nothing lasts forever. (B) There are also numerous non-government aided institutes that give elder health care. (C) Life moves fast leaving age and grace behind. (D) Therefore, there are various government run organisations that provide elder health care services. (E) Senior citizens have special needs and requirements. (F) As they say, as you grow in age, you grow as a human being and people around start showing their true colours. (G) Sometimes immediate family members are not able to give home health to the elderly.
1. Which among the following is the fifth statement?

A. G B. B C. C D. D E. E

Answer: G
2. Which among the following is the Third statement?

A. G B. B C. C D. D E. E

Answer: F
3. Which among the following is the Fourth statement?

A. G B. B C. C D. D E. E

Answer: D
4. Which among the following is the Seventh statement?

A. G B. B C. C D. D E. E

Answer: B
5. Which among the following is the Sixth statement?

A. G B. B C. C D. D E. E

Answer: D