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IBPS PO Mains English Language

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IBPS PO Mains English Language

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IBPS PO 2019 – Main Examination, conducted in online Mode, has: a duration of 3 hours, 4 Sections, a total of 155 questions, a Maximum score of 200 marks, and, is followed by a Descriptive Test (English language) for a duration of 30 minutes. The 4 Sections are timed: Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness, English language, Data Analysis & Interpretation. The section wise details are as shown below. The objective test is followed by a Descriptive Paper (Essay Writing + Letter Writing)

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S.No. Name of Test (NOT BY SEQUENCE) No. of Questions Maximum Marks Medium of Exam Time Allotted for Each Test (Separately Timed)
1 Reasoning & Computer Aptitude 45 60 English & Hindi 60 minutes
2 General/Economy/Banking Awareness 40 40 English & Hindi 35 minutes
3 English Language 35 40 English 40 minutes
4 Data Analysis and Interpretation 35 60 English & Hindi 45 minutes
TOTAL 155 200 3 hours
5 English Language (Letter Writing & Essay) 2 25 English 30 minutes

The English Language, section in the IBPS PO Main Examination has a total of 35 questions, Maximum marks of 40 and a duration of 40 minutes. Below mentioned are the different categories of expected questions.

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Directions (1-5): Read the passage given below and then answer the questions given below the passage. Some words may be highlighted for your attention. Pay careful attention.
People in the present society have turned from the use of the old means of communication to the more advanced and technological ways of communicating. Technology has made it easier for people to communicate in a faster, efficient, and cost-saving means through the introduction of the communication channels. The world has turned out to be the centre for technology with different technologies emerging daily as the people continue to develop from time to time to cope with the growing technology. The benefits of adopting the communication technology are explained in this article which shows why people do not function without technology.
Communication is a critical thing in today’s society because the exchange of information is vital in living. People live both locally and globally through technological connections by maintaining contact and interaction between individuals from all corners of the world. Communication binds people, helps maintaining the society healthy and enables people to interact and make friends from different regions and cultures. According to Adrian in 2006, communication and information technology plays a great role in the individuals’ life. There is a high rate of growth of the communication technology industry and the benefits as more people come up with new means of communication by day. A point has reached where activities cannot function without information technology due to the many benefits which come along with the current day technologies. Moreover, the industry plays a great role in improving the nation’s economy by facilitating fast and easier means of doing things and offering employment to many people across the world.
The presence of computers, phones, internet and wireless devices have broadened the web of connectivity by changing long distances to short ones where everyone is equal distance from the other through the present connections. Living without technology will be totally impossible as this has become every day’s application as more and more people are gaining knowledge on how to make use of the communication tools to improve their ways of living and staying informed on the current technology to avoid being left behind. New technologies are being developed daily which shows that the industry will continue to grow and expand. People will continue using these technologies to improve their standards and to stay informed.
The present technology has found its use in almost every sector making the industries, businesses and institutions to use it for their daily activities since it brings a lot of benefits. In the former days the modes of communication used were slow and sometimes unreliable since the information could take a long time before getting to the recipient. The use of communication and interaction sites such as Facebook, You Tube, Twitter, MySpace, and online email chat services has gained popularity among the young people whereby they can talk, share and interact with people from different parts of the word. The communication channels helps many users since they act as the dating sites for couples, people also make friends and share t with them at different locations. Many people have ended up in marriages from the online dating services; others have made friends and got connections to good jobs and other beneficial activities. These sites are more addictive and therefore the users find themselves visiting them more often and others stay online 24 hours. Apart from benefiting the communication sector, technology has also led to the improvement in areas of business, education, health, and the society in general.
Businesses continue to enjoy the introduction of new technologies which help in improving their activities. Business remains up-to-date with the daily occurrences concerning the market; the business also moves forward and is able to compete with the others in different locations. In the education sector, technology continues to evolve at a faster rate as the learners get to know new ways of learning. The information technology is a requirement for every learner in order to utilize these ideas in the learning process. Students and their teachers communicate using the sites stated above to inform them on the changes in the timetable and send notes in soft copy. In addition technology has helped the health centres improve their services and transforming the medical profession by securing the environment for the patients and make them feel comfortable to discuss their issues.
Moreover, there are online medical services whereby the patients can interact with their doctors without having to go to the health centres. Communication technology helps in the growth of the society through offering convenience modes of attending to the activities through online shopping, banking and travel arrangements. Also, there is speed in doing various operations in presence of technology whereby individuals attend to their tasks in a convenient and reliable way. Alternatively, people in the society keep in touch with one another and can effectively communicate and exchange their views for the growth and development of the community.
Life is incomplete without technology and the world has reached a point that technology is everything. Incorporating technology in our daily activities makes the life easier and worth living. There is a need for the involved parties in the field of communication technology to come up with more advanced technologies so that people can enjoy these services and help in developing the country. People living in the third world countries have the duty to ensure that they have the knowledge of the current technology so that they can improve their countries to develop and compete with the developed nations. Comparing the advanced technology with the old fashion ways of doing things it has become simplified and time-saving. People are able to do many activities at a go, while in the absence of technology things went slow and more energy was utilized. Despite the few problems posed by the use of communication technology people continue to use it since the advantages outweighs the disadvantages.
1. Which of the following is most opposite in meaning to the word ‘cope’ as given in the passage?
    A. Deal B. Bear C. Endure D. Surrender E. None of the above
Solution: D ‘To cope with’ means to ‘deal effectively with something difficult’. ‘Deal with’ and ‘bear with’ mean the same. Similarly, to endure is to ‘last through some test’. Hence, it is also a synonym. ‘Surrender’ is to give up; hence, it is the only antonym.
2. Which of the following is most opposite in meaning to the word ‘facilitating’ as given in the passage?
    A. Impeding B. Promoting C. Assisting D. Simplifying E. None of the above
Solution: A To ‘facilitate’ is to make an action easier. Hence, simplifying is a synonym. ‘Promoting’ and ‘assisting’ are also synonyms. ‘Impeding’ is to hinder or obstruct something. Hence, it is an antonym.
3. Which of the following is most similar in meaning to the word ‘incorporating’ as given in the passage?
    A. Including B. Separating C. Dividing D. Cutting E. None of the above
Solution: A ‘To incorporate’ is to ‘take in as part of a whole’ or ‘to include’ or ‘to combine’. Only, the word ‘including’ is a synonym. Rest all the words are antonyms.
4. In today’s society, why is communication critical?
      a. Communication binds people b. Communication makes people closer c. Exchange of information is vital
    A. Only a B. Only c C. a and b D. a and c E. All of the above
Solution: D This is a fact based question. In the second paragraph of the passage it is said , ‘Communication is a critical thing in today’s society because the exchange of information is vital in living....Communication binds people, helps maintaining the society healthy and enables people to interact and make friends from different regions and cultures’. The points marked in bold are clearly mentioned in the passage. It is given that ‘people make friends’, but nothing is mentioned about ‘people getting closer’.
5. How were the modes of communication in former days?
      a. Slow b. Unreliable c. Time consuming
    A. Only a and b B. Only b C. a and c D. All of the above E. None of the above
Solution: D ‘In the former days the modes of communication used were slow and sometimes unreliable since the information could take a long time before getting to the recipient.’ Hence, all these three points have been mentioned clearly in the passage.
Directions(1 - 5): 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.
Given the (1) of black money in the economy is large, even though declining, and that a large part of these transactions take place in cash, it is natural the government would want to find ways to deal with this. The finance secretary, for instance, has said that one of the (2) being considered is that no one paying a bill of more than Rs.5,000 in a restaurant should be allowed to do so in cash—once the amount is paid by credit or debit card, it automatically leaves a trail for the taxman to (3) since bank accounts have PAN card details. At some point, presumably, the same principle needs to be extended to luxury boutiques/shops and showrooms for automobiles, among others. The finance secretary, in fact, has said the government will set up a committee to suggest ways to incentivize credit and debit card transactions. One of them, he said, could be to share the costs of the Point of Sale device; greater spread of the RuPay cards could be another, (4) their charges are lower. Another suggestion made has been to limit the amount of cash that can be (5) while purchasing property. While discouraging the use of cash is a good thing, it is unlikely incentivizing the use of credit/debit cards is going to be of much use. A person buying a house or a luxury car, or paying for an expensive meal in a luxury hotel in cash is not doing so to avoid paying the service charge levied by Visa or MasterCard—the idea is to avoid getting caught in the tax net.
It is equally important to recognize that merely mandating some things will not help. There is, for instance, no way of ensuring a limit, of say Rs.50,000, for the cash payment on the purchase of a flat as long as the registration is being done at a lower value than the actual one. The only way to check this is to do other reforms like lowering stamp duties, align circle rates with market values and refuse to recognize power of attorneys as proof of sale. The other, and more sensible, way is to make use of the troves of information the government already collects by way of annual information returns from jewellers, real estate firms, automobile dealers, hotels, property registrars, travel agents and airlines among others. Once a profile is available of large spenders, this needs to be matched with the income tax returns.
1. 1. Venture 2.functional 3.splits 4.commission 5.share Answer: share
2. 1. Capacity 2.measures 3.sizes 4.degrees 5.extreme Answer: measures
3. 1. Remedy 2.conspire 3.follow 4.omit 5.decide Answer: follow
4. 1. Given 2.considerate 3.suspicious 4.inclined 5.foremost Answer: Given
5. 1. charged 2.reimburse 3.loan 4.raised 5.paid Answer: paid
Direction (1 -5): Fill in the blanks with appropriate word to form a meaningful sentence. 1. Recent ______ suggest that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is on the path to re-establishing its_________ .
    A) crisis, prospect B) events, credibility C) circumstances, praise D) occasion, praise
Answer: B
2. The national food processing policy draft brought out by the government for public comments, though good in parts, needs a _______ of some of its key _______ to ensure inclusive growth of this sector.
    A) survey, doubts B) retrospect, disbelief C) review, tenets D) policy, terms
Answer: C
3. The Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (Sebi’s) plan to open the commodity derivatives market to more participants and add new trading products is well advised, even though extreme ______ is _______ while implementing it.
    A) vigilance, diverted B) negligence, avaoided C) guidance, performed D) caution, imperative
Answer: D
4. The ________ surrounding electronic voting machines (EVMs) refuses to _________ .
    A) discussion, hit B) controversy, die C) dispute, bear D) dynamic, end
Answer: B
5. Vodafone and Idea Cellular have decided to merge in order to __________ in an industry that is seeing its fortunes dip with each ________ quarter.
    A) survive, passing B) handle, crossing C) endure, appearing D) progress, proving
Answer: A
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. The low learning levels is due to the fact (A)/ that the state spends 87% of its budget (B)/ on salaries of its teachers (C)/ and not on infrastructure development for students (D)/ No error (E) Answer: (E)
2. Recent incidents of tigers straying have brought to focus (A)/ the lack of proper regulatory mechanism and powers with the forest department (B)/ to take action against the resorts (C)/ mushroom in forest fringes (D)/ No error (E) Answer: (D) ‘Mushrooming’ should be used- which would serve as an adjective.
3. The beauty of the palace comes alive (A)/ when over a lakh bulbs (B)/ is switched on between 7pm and 7.45pm (C)/ on specific days (D)/ No error (E) Answer: (C) ‘Are’ should replace ‘is’- verb should agree with ‘bulbs’
4. In view of the rising complaints (A)/ of unscrupulous financial institutes duping people with luring them (B)/ with handsome returns on their investments, the police have appealed (C)/ to the citizens to stay away from such companies(D)/ No error (E) Answer: (B) ‘By’ should replace ‘with’- which means ‘by the way of’
5. More and more cab drivers are approaching the regional transport office (RTO) (A)/ to obtain identity cards (B)/ after the transport office intensified action against errant drivers (C)/ in the last couple of months (D)/ No error (E) Answer: (E)
1. There is no use .............. going there at this time.
    A. at B. in C. on D. off
Answer: D
2. He wants to get a better ______ and earn more money.
    A. employ B. job C. work D. employment
Answer: B
3. Managers set objectives, and decide .............. their organization can achieve them.
    A. what B. how C. which D. because
Answer: B
4. Obviously, objectives occasionally .............. be modified or changed.
    A. have to B. must to C. shouldn’t D. ought
Answer: A
5. A defect can be caused .............. negligence by one of the members of a team.
    A. by B. to C. at D. in
Answer: A
Directions to Solve: In the question given below, a part of the sentence is underlined. Below are given alternatives to the italicised part which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. In case no improvement is needed, option 'D' is the answer.
1. I am tired as I am working since 7 O'clock in the morning.
    A. I was working B. I have been working C. I had been working D. I will be working
Answer: B
2. When it was morning they decided to put at an inn.
    A. put out in B. put off at C. put at D. put up at
Answer: D
3. Jeans was not permitted in out college.
    A. were B. had C. will D. have
Answer: A
4. He suggested that, we should be bound by a code of conduct, isn't it?
    A. Shouldn't we B. is it C. aren't we D. None of above
Answer: A
5. The furniture in this room are made of teak.
    A. have B. had C. is D. None of above
Answer: C
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) The sky god welcomed them when they arrived and pointing at the delicious food platters said, “This is for all of you”
    (B) Here was a famine in the forest and tortoise was starving
    (C) The birds stuck feather to his arms and legs so that he could fly
    (D) The next week the birds held a feast on land and invited the tortoise, but when he reached the venue, they announced that no one could eat with dirty claws so the tortoise rushed to the pond and cleaned his limbs, but every time he did so he dirtied them on the way back to which the birds simply said, “Watch as we eat!”
    (E) e heard about the feast being given by the sky god to the birds and convinced the birds to take him with them
    (F) The tortoise immediately said that the food was meant for him and ate it up leaving the birds feeling cheated

1. Which of the following should be the FIRST sentence after rearrangement?
    a. A b. B c. C d. D e. F
Answer: b
2. Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence after rearrangement?
    a. A b. B c. C d. D e. E
Answer: e
3. Which of the following should be the THIRD sentence after rearrangement?
    a. A b. B c. C d. D e. F
Answer: c
4. Which of the following should be the FOURTH sentence after rearrangement?
    a. A b. B c. C d. D e. E
Answer: a
5. Which of the following should be the SIXTH (Last) sentence after rearrangement?
    a. A b. B c. C d. D e. F
Answer: d
Direction: In the following question a short passage is given with one of the lines in the passage missing and represented by a blank. Select the best out of the five answer choices given, to make the passage complete and coherent.
It is important for HR and talent management professionals to understand the distinction between happy, satisfied employees and engaged employees. Engaged employees are happy, satisfied employees, but not all happy, satisfied employees are engaged employees (………………………………………………….). Similarly, satisfied employees are happy to show up to work each day and do their work, but will be equally happy to take their satisfaction elsewhere for a salary increase.
    A) The renewed interest in improving employee engagement in organizations has originated from actions executives took during the recession.
    B) Engaged employees speak positively about their organizations to their co-workers, potential employees, and customers.
    C) Happy employees, for example, may gladly show up for work on most days, but that happiness does not necessarily translate into productivity and profitability
    D) Not all satisfied, emotionally invested professionals are engaged at the same level in an organization.
    E) HR and talent management professionals must understand these various engagement levels before embarking on an employee engagement initiative because action steps to improve engagement need to be customized based on where employees fall on the scale.
Answer: C
IBPS PO Mains English Language - Study Guide - Click Here

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