Reading comprehension
Direction ( 1 - 5): At this stage of civilization, when many nations are brought in to close and vital contact for good and evil, it is essential, as never before, that their gross ignorance of one another should be diminished, that they should begin to understand a little of one another's historical experience and resulting mentality. It is the fault of the English to expect the people of other countries to react as they do, to political and international situations. Our genuine goodwill and good intentions are often brought to nothing because we expect other people to be like us. This would be corrected if we knew the history, not necessarily in detail but in broad outlines, of the social and political conditions which have given to each nation its present character.
1. According to the author of 'Mentality' of a nation is mainly a product of its

A. history B. international position C. politics D. present character

Answer: Option (A)
2. The need for a greater understanding between nations

A. was always there B. is no longer there C. is more today than ever before D. will always be there

Answer: Option (C)
3. The character of a nation is the result of its

A. mentality B. cultural heritage C. gross ignorance D. socio-political conditions

Answer: Option (D)
4. According to the author, his countrymen should

A. read the story of other nations B. have a better understanding of other nations C. does not react to other actions D. have vital contacts with other nations

Answer: Option (B)
5. Englishmen like others to react to political situations like

A. us B. themselves C. others D. each other

Answer: Option (B)
New Pattern Cloze Test
Directions (1-10): The following question consists of a passage in which certain phrase/Sentences are printed in bold. Find out if there is an error in any of the bold part of the sentence, find the correct alternatives to replace those parts from the three options given below each question to make the sentence grammatically correct. If the given sentence is grammatically correct or does not require any correction, choose (e), i.e., “No correction required” as your answer.
To say it is a domino effect of the loan write-offs for small and marginal farmers by the Uttar Pradesh government may be simplistic, but farmers in different parts (1) of the country have begun agitating for waivers. In Tamil Nadu, they have given the State government two months to meet their demand for a full waiver or face a fresh agitation. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in the face of protracted protests by farmers, (2) has announced a blankets loan waiver for ‘needy’ farmers, with an estimated outgo of ₹35,000 crore. In Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has resisted announcing a waiver, but unveiled a ‘package’ that includes a ‘settlement scheme’ to bring loan defaulters (3) back into a credit net with interest-free loans. Farm groups in Punjab also began dharnas on Monday for loan waivers and other interventions. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has categorically said States must generate their own resources to fund such largesse, and the Reserve Bank of India has warned of inflationary (4) risks from fiscal slippage caused with large farm loan waivers. However, it would be short-sighted to see the rising angst in the farm sector as simply the desire of farmers around the country to keep up with U.P. (5) There are deeper reasons that would be addressed holistically. The problem is price discovery. In fact, (6) there is deflation in pulse and vegetable prices. The RBI has acknowledged that already falling vegetable prices dipped more sharply because of ‘fire sales’ following demonetization, and (7) pulses are cheaper because of higher output on top of imports. Prices for eggs, oils, cereals, and milk are moderating, and while the sharp fall in food prices has kept (8) consumer prices inflation tepid, rural distress has been aggravated. The new cattle trade rules threaten the viability of livestock and dairy farming. Banks are awash with funds since the note ban, but rural lending growth collapsed to 2.5% in the second half of 2016-17 and even shrank in several States, including Punjab and Maharashtra. Prices of fuel used by rural households have surged for three successive months. It is this squeeze on several fronts that seems to have pushed farmers to the brink. In consultation with the States, the Centre (9) must reconsider whether it is prudent to narrowly target low food inflation. If India wants to be the world’s food factory, its farm policy needs to recognize farmer requirements for state support. If consumers and producers can benefit from a single national market in the GST era, farmers should also have the freedom to sell their produce where and when they want — with a predictable policy framework (no flip-flops in export-import stances, for instance) that enables farm-to-fork supply chains independent of local mandis and traders. Labour and land reforms also need to be revisited to create more opportunities beyond farming, and irrigation and other (10) infrastructure projects speeded up to boost farm productivity.
1. (I) of the country have begun agitating of waivers (II) of the country had begun agitating for waivers (III) of the country have begun agitated for waivers

A. Only I B. Only II C. Only III D. Only I and II E. No correction required

Answer: Option (E)
2. (I) has announced a blanket loan waiver for ‘needy’ farmer (II) has announced a blanket loan waiver for ‘need’ farmers (III) has announced a blanket loan waiver for ‘needy’ farmers

A. Only I B. Only II C. Only III D. Only I and II E. No correction required

Answer: Option (C)
3. (I) back into the credit net with interest-free loans (II) back into the credit net within interest-free loans (III) back in the credit net with interest-free loans

A. Only I B. Only II C. Only III D. Only I and II E. No correction required

Answer: Option (A)
4. (I) risk from fiscal slippages causing by large farm loan waivers (II) risks from fiscal slippages caused by large farm loan waivers (III) risks from fiscal slippage caused by large farm loan waiver

A. Only I B. Only II C. Only III D. Only I and II E. No correction required

Answer: Option (B)
5. (I) There are deeper reasons that must be addressed holistically (II) There are deeper reasons that must be addressed holistically (III) There are deeper reasons which must be addressed holistically

A. Only I B. Only II C. Only III D. Only I and II E. No correction required

Answer: Option (A)
6. (I) there is deflation in pulse and vegetable price (II) there is deflation on pulse and vegetable prices (III) there is deflation in pulses and vegetable prices

A. Only I B. Only II C. Only III D. Only I and II E. No correction required

Answer: Option (E)
7. (I) pulses are cheaper because of the high output on top of imports (II) pulses had cheaper because of high output on top of imports (III) pulses are cheaper because of higher output on top of imports

A. Only I B. Only II C. Only III D. Only I and II E. No correction required

Answer: Option (A)
8. (I) consumer price inflation tepid, rural distress has been aggravating (II) consumer price inflation tepid, rural distress have been aggravated (III) consumer price inflation tepid, rural distress has been aggravated

A. Only I B. Only II C. Only III D. Only I and II E. No correction required

Answer: Option (C)
9. (I) should reconsider whether it is prudent to narrow target low food inflation (II) must reconsider whether it is prudent to narrowly target low food inflation (III) must reconsider whether that is prudent to narrowly targets low food inflation

A. Only I B. Only II C. Only III D. Only I and II E. No correction required

Answer: Option (B)
10. (I) infrastructure projects speeded upon to boost farm productivity (II) infrastructure projects speeded up to boosting farm productivity (III) infrastructure projects speeded up to boost farming productivity

A. Only I B. Only II C. Only III D. Only I and II E. No correction required

Answer: Option (E)
Odd Sentence Out cum Para Jumbles
Directions: Five statements are given below, labelled A, B, C, D and E, among these, four statements are in logical order and form a coherent paragraph/passage. From the given options, choose the option that does not fit into the theme of the passage.
1. A. The egregious practice that many Muslim men employ to divorce their wives instantaneously and without their consent, merely by uttering the word talaq thrice, was rendered legally invalid by the Shamim Ara vs State of UP judgment of 2002 and subsequent orders from various High Courts.
B. This practice has been either explicitly derecognized in Muslim-majority countries such as Indonesia, Iran, and Tunisia or implicitly in countries such as Pakistan, which provides for a mandatory arbitration procedure after the pronouncement of talaq.
C. Shayara Bano, one such victim of this arbitrary custom — not to speak of years of domestic violence — has filed public interest litigation in the Supreme Court seeking a ban on the practice.
D. But this has not stopped the practice; many Muslim women are unaware of the judgments or have had to accept such pronouncements owing to pressure from conservative sections.
E. The conservative All India Muslim Personal Law Board that seeks to wield influence on questions of Muslim personal law has, predictably, found it an occasion to air its regressive views on the issue.

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

Answer: Option (B)
Explanation: All the sentences, except sentence B center around the egregious practice of triple talaq, the women affected by it and how the conservative AIMPL Board sees an opportunity to air its regressive views on the issue. Sentence B, on the other hand, quotes the names of the countries where this severe practice has already been derecognized. The sentence, though, must have been an integral part of the whole write-up, is not required in the given paragraph as it breaks the chain of thoughts.
2. A. But a premature lowering of the guard and growing resistance to DDT led to the rising incidence in the 1980s.
B. Some of the major challenges the country had to face before it interrupted local transmission where the Plasmodium falciparum parasite becoming resistant to the chloroquine drug, behavioral changes in the vector, asymptomatic carriers, and vector reintroduction.
C. Sri Lanka was close to eliminating malaria in 1963 when it reported just 17 cases.
D. But the tide turned from 2000 when a steady reduction in the number of cases was recorded.
E. The public sector and the private sector were oriented to the common goal of eliminating malaria by enhancing case notification and achieving 100 percent detection and confirmation through tests.

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

Answer: Option (E)
Explanation: Clearly, sentence C sets the tone of the paragraph by quoting how close Sri Lanka was in 1963 to eliminating malaria. Sentence A then depicts how the lowering of the guard led to a rising incidence of malaria in the 1980s. Sentence B follows with instances of challenges the country had to face and sentence D connects to the flow by stating how the tide (or the problem) from 2000 has been turned. Clearly, sentence E is a misfit here.
3. A. The science of central banking is still evolving.
B. The concept of an independent central bank evolved in advanced economies and finds its roots in the successful anti-inflationary policy of Paul Volcker in the U.S. between 1979 and ‘82.
C. The need is to recognize that there is a clear distinction in the functioning of central banks in advanced and emerging market economies.
D. In 1900, there were hardly a dozen central banks and each had been initially created to dispense some specific function of the government, mainly to issue currency and coinage or manage foreign exchange reserves.
E. The evolution, as always, has not been easy and has had its share of challenges.

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

Answer: Option (C)
Explanation: Except for sentence C, all others centre around the evolution of independent central banks whereas the sentence C specifies the need to recognize a distinction between the functioning of central banks in advanced and emerging market economies and hence is a misfit here in the sequence of sentences. Clearly, option C is the correct answer.
4. A. India should use the interdependency and pressure-compromise strategies to leverage its interest to isolate Pakistan.
B. India has to fix its domestic issues to further social cohesion and make special efforts to build bridges between communities.
C. India needs to move on in the international system.
D. In some ways it has, but in other ways, it is moving backward. Its foreign policy is only an extension of its domestic politics.
E. This will give it an edge in the international system.

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

Answer: Option (A)
Explanation: While all the four sentences B, C, D and E center around the need for India to move on in the international system which is a broader perspective, sentence A specifically points towards the strategies that India should use to leverage its interest to isolate Pakistan. Clearly, sentence A is a misfit here in the context being discussed. Option A is hence the correct answer.
5. A. Like most criminal laws, fetal protection laws also show large class- and race-based disparity in their targets.
B. Apart from the demographic disparity in their targets, these laws are also instruments for societies to impose their subjective conceptions of inappropriate maternal behavior on women.
C. These laws further legitimize extensive surveillance and policing of women’s conduct before and during pregnancy. Women belonging to lower socio-economic backgrounds, minorities, and immigrants are overwhelmingly more vulnerable to the effect of these laws.
D. Factors such as age, use of assisted reproductive technologies, and history of genetic disorders, which also have an impact of fetal health, are not affected by these laws.
E. Factors such as age, use of assisted reproductive technologies, and history of genetic disorders, which also have an impact of fetal health, are not affected by these laws.

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

Answer: Option (C)
Explanation: Except for sentence C, all other sentences center around the disparities that exist concerning the fetal protection laws. The sentence C, on the other hand, discusses the actions that are permitted as per the fetal protection laws. Clearly, option C is the correct answer here.
Sentence Completion
1. The surgeon placed a ______ on the femoral artery to bind it during the long and exhausting surgery.

A. ligature B. doctrine C. premise D. synopsis E. degeneration

Answer: Option (A)
Explanation: A ligature (n.) is something that ties or binds up, such as a bandage, wire, or cord.
2. By sheer ______ force, the men pushed the truck to the side of the road and out of danger.

A. virile B. persnickety C. meticulous D. suave E. contentious

Answer: Option (A)
Explanation: Virile (adj.) means having masculine strength; vigorous or energetic.
3. Based on his recent poor decisions, it was obvious that Seth lacked even a ______ of good sense.

A. debasement B. diversion C. disapprobation D. submission E. modicum

Answer: Option (E)
Explanation: Modicum (n.) is a small or token amount.
4. The ______ newspaper accounts of the city scandal caused some readers to question the truth of the stories.

A. lurid B. vivacious C. blithesome D. prolific E. amicable

Answer: Option (A)
Explanation: Lurid (adj.) means glaringly sensational or vivid; shocking.
5. Justin’s ______ solution to the problem revealed that he did not spend much time considering the consequences.

A. facile B. obsolete C. resilient D. pristine E. ardent

Answer: Option (A)
Explanation: Facile (adj.) means arrived at or achieved with little difficulty or effort, thus lacking depth, superficial; performing or speaking effectively with effortless ease and fluency, adroit, eloquent.
Error Detection Questions
1. In synchronous transmission, receiver must stay synchronous for

A. 4 bits B. 8 bits C. 9 bits D. 16 bits

Answer: Option (C)
Explanation: In synchronous transmission, the receiver must stay synchronous for 9 bits.
2. How error detection and correction is done?

A. By passing it through the equalizer B. By passing it through the filter C. By amplifying it D. By adding redundancy bits

Answer: Option (D)
Explanation: The error can be detected and corrected by adding additional information that is by adding redundancy bits.
3. Which is more efficient?

A. Parity check B. Cyclic redundancy check C.Parity & Cyclic redundancy check D.None of the mentioned

Answer: Option (B)
Explanation: Cyclic redundancy check is more efficient than a parity check.
4. Which can detect two-bit errors?

A. Parity check B. Cyclic redundancy check C. Parity & Cyclic redundancy check D. None of the mentioned

Answer: Option (B)
Explanation: CRC is more powerful and it can detect various kind of errors like 2-bit errors.
5. CRC uses

A. Multiplication B. Binary division C. Multiplication & Binary division D. None of the mentioned

Answer: Option (C)
Explanation: CRC uses more math like multiplication and binary division.

Fillers ( Double fillers )
Directions (1 - 5): In each of the following questions given below there are two blanks, each blank indicates that something has been omitted. Choose the set of words for each blank which best fits to the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
1. The Centre is clearly stepping up its bid to ________ concerns about the fledgling goods and, services tax ________.

A. Covet, control B. Aspire, influence C. Challenge, restriction D. Address, regime E. Confront, execution

Answer: Option (D)
Explanation: “Address, regime” is the correct set of words.
2. While at one level, high or incongruent rate structures have _______ small and medium enterprises to the wall, at another level, entire product categories are under _________ of disappearing, such as eco-friendly hybrid cars.

A. Conducted, exposure B. Driven, threat C. Decided, objection D. Intended, exigency E. Urged, constraint

Answer: Option (B)
Explanation: “Driven, threat” is the correct set of words.
3. The RBI doubled the daily _________ limit from ATMs to Rs. 10000 but_________ the weekly ceiling at Rs. 24000.

A. take away, released B. take back, reserve C. withdrawal, retained D. stay, lose E. encash, free

Answer: Option (C)
4. National Flag represents hopes and_________ of the people of our country and hence should_________ a position of honour.

A. desires, idle B. aspirations, occupy C. wishes, monopolize D. directions, absorb E. objective, involve

Answer: Option (B)
5. Plastic Bags are not____________, they do not ________ for a long time.

A. non-biodegradable, combine B. degradable, unite C. biodegradable, decomposed D. ecological, separate E. harmful, distill

Answer: Option (C)
Phrase Replacement
Directions (1 -5):Which of the phrase/ word from the options (A), (B), (C) and (D) given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold letters to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (e) i.e., “No correction required” as the answer.
1. If you want to keep your job here, you must abide for our rules.

A. account for B. account by C. abide by D. add up E. No Correction Required

Answer: Option (C)
Explanation: abide by – To respect or obey a decision, law or rule.
2. I hope you can account the time you were out!

A. describe B. account for C. tell of D. propose of E. No Correction Required

Answer: Option (B)
Explanation: account for- To explain, give a reason.
3. I advise for the walk alone in this neighborhood.

A. advised a walking B. advise against walking C. advise walking D. advise in walking E. No Correction Required

Answer: Option (B)
Explanation: advice against – To recommend not doing something
4. We need to allow unexpected charges along the way.

A. to advise of B. the allow of C. to allow for D. a allow in E. No Correction Required

Answer: Option (C)
Explanation: to allow for – To take into consideration
5. It’s difficult to choose which appliance to buy, but in the end, it usually comes out of cost.

A. come less of B. boil out of C. come less by D. boils down to E. No Correction Required

Answer: Option (D)
Explanation: boil down to something to be the main reason for something or the most basic part of something.
Inference
1. Statement: Every year Malaria gets rampant after the rains. Courses of Action: I. Pesticides should be properly sprayed on a regular basis. II. People should be supplied with mosquito nets and mosquito coils free by the government. III. Using various means of media, people should be informed about the methods to be adopted for prevention from these seasonal diseases.

A. Only I and III follow B. Only II and III follow C. Only II follows D. Only I and II follow E. All the three follow

Answer: Option (A)
Explanation: Here the problem is malaria and we know that the cause of malaria is the mosquito. As we know that mosquitoes can be controlled by pesticides. So, I is a proper course of action. The course of action II is not practically possible because that will cause a burden on the government. Hence it does not follow. The course of action III is feasible and also not very costly, hence it is a proper course of action.
2. Statement: It is because of a multiparty system in our country that a coalition government is formed. Wherein the country suffers from instability. Courses of Action: I. There should be only a bi-party system and to this extent, the constitution must be amended. II. Whenever any party is not in the majority, the elections must be held again. III. If there is no absolute majority for any national party, the president should dissolve the parliament and he should rile the country during that period.

A. Only II and III follow B. Only I and II follow C. Only I and III follow D. Only I follow E. None follows

Answer: Option (D)
Explanation: Here the problem is a multiparty system which is causing instability. The course of action I is talking about the bi-party system and hence this can solve the problem. Holding an election for multiple numbers of times is not possible. Hence II does not follow. The course of action III does not solve the problem may re-occur again in the future.
3. Statement: Devotees in the pilgrimage places are much disturbed by the loud noise made by the loudspeakers and tape records played in the premises of temple streets. Courses of Action: I. The devotees should be provided with earplugs. II. All those, who make noise by using any of the means, should be strictly warned by the government to adhere to the permissible sound levels, or else face punishment. III. Selling and buying must be prohibited on pilgrimage premises.

A. Only I follows B. Only II follows C. Only II and III follow D. Only III follows E. None follows

Answer: Option (B)
Explanation: Here the problem is loud noise made by loudspeakers and tape records. Hence, the course of action I and II do not follow. The course of action III is a possible course of action, and this will help to reduce the loud noise to a permissible limit.
4. Statement: The non-performing assets in the banking sector in India stand at a staggering Rs. 80,574 crores for the year ending 2001. The biggest defaulters in paying up the loans to the loans to the banks are the major players in the Indian corporate sector. If this trend continues, the banking sector would be severely hit. Courses of Action: I. The banks should stop lending money to the corporate sector. II. The banking sector should, henceforth, exercise extreme prudence while sanctioning loans. III. All efforts, including legal recourse, should be made to recover the outstanding loans.

A. Only I follows B. Only I and II follow C. Only II and III follow D. Only III follows E. All follow

Answer: Option (C)
Explanation: I is a negative course of action. II and III are feasible and also help the banks to reduce their non-performing assets.
5. Statement: Food kiosks, rickshaw stands, hawkers and car repair shops, that are multiplying on the city's pavements, is leading to congestion. Residents of ground floor flats and buildings near markets are the worst affected as a result. Courses of Action: I. Hawkers should be evicted from the pavements. II. All encroachments should be immediately removed. III. Residents should relocate to more peaceful surroundings.

A. Only I follows B. Only I and II follow C. Only II follows D. All follow E. None of these

Answer: Option (C)
Explanation: As hawkers are not the only problem, hence I do not follow. As II is talking about all encroachments, hence it follows. III is not a proper course of action as that is not practically possible.
Connectors
1. In relative clauses, which of these is used to refer to things?

A. Who B. Which C. That D. Whom

Answer: Option (B)
Explanation: In relative clauses, we use which to refer to things, not to people. For example, The student who sits next to me in class comes from China.
2. Choose the correct statement :

A. Although he was hurt, he continued to walk. B. Although he was hurt, he continued to walk. C. He was hurt, he continued to walk. D. Although he continued to walk, he was hurt.

Answer: Option (B)
Explanation: The correct statement is: Although he was hurt, he continued to walk. We don’t use although and but together. To link two clauses, we just use one conjunction.
3. Choose the correct statement :

A. There were between 8 to 10 policemen present. B. There were between 8 and 10 policemen present. C. There were among 8 to 10 policemen present. D. There were at least 8 and 10 policemen present.

Answer: Option (B)
Explanation: The correct statement is: There were between 8 and 10 policemen present. After between, we use and not to.
4. The man was badly injured, _____ he was alive.

A. however B. but C. though D. hence

Answer: Option (B)
Explanation: The correct statement is: The man was badly injured, but he was alive. However, is an adverb. It can not link sentences. We should use conjunctions like but, although or yet to link two contrasting clauses.
5. Which of these words is not used to join the dependent clause with the main clause?

A. Who B. When C. For D. But

Answer: Option (D)
Explanation: The dependent clause can be joined with the main clause by using words like who, when and for. But is used to join independent clauses.
Phrasal Verb Related Questions
1. The government needs to further develop the public transport system if it wishes to encourage more people to give up driving private vehicles.

A. continue B. desist (from) C. consider D. testify

Answer: Option (B)
2. Hackers these days can easily penetrate weakly developed online security systems and give away sensitive information.

A. disclose B. investigate C. distort D. destroy

Answer: Option (A)
3. If students struggle to find information for their academic studies, they can easily look it up on the Internet.

A. imitate B. beautify C. invent D. research

Answer: Option (D)
4. Tourists are advised to look out regularly because of the increasing rate of crime in this city.

A. communicate B. gather C. beware D. polish

Answer: Option (C)
5. The city council was finally able to work out a plan to solve the problem of traffic congestion in the center.

A. agree with B. proofread C. devise D. expect

Answer: Option (C)
Word usage/ Vocabulary
1. As long as .............. have needs that need to be represented they’ll need trade unions.

A. employees B. employers C. managers D. partners

Answer: Option (A)
2. Market leaders usually want to .............. their market share even further, or at least to protect their current market share.

A. decrease B. dominate C. increase D. establish

Answer: Option (C)
3. We haven’t had .............. news from our agent.

A. some B. any C. no D. none

Answer: Option (B)
4. A recent survey identified the UK as .............. place in Europe to buy a car.

A. most expensive B. the more expensive C. more expensive D. the most expensive

Answer: Option (D)
5. You .............. fly to Dover – there isn’t an airport.

A. may B. can C. may not D. cannot

Answer: Option (D)