Directions (1Q - 5Q): Read the following passage carefully and answer the given questions. Certain words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering the same of the questions.
Rural development in India has witnessed several changes over the years in its emphasis, approaches, strategies, and programs. It has assumed a new dimension and perspective as a consequence. Rural development can be richer and more meaningful only through the participation of the clienteles of development. Just as implementation is the touchstone for planning, people’s participation is the centerpiece in rural development. People’s participation is one of the foremost prerequisites of development process both from procedural and philosophical perspectives. For the development planners and administrators, it is important to solicit the participation of different groups of rural people, to make the plans participatory.
Rural development aims at improving rural people’s livelihoods in an equitable and sustainable manner, both socially and environmentally, through better access to assets and services, and control over productive capital.
The basis objectives of Rural Development Programmes have been alleviation of poverty and unemployment through creation of basic social and economic infrastructure, provision of training to rural unemployed youth and providing employment to marginal farmer/laborers to discourage seasonal and permanent migration to urban areas.
Rural development is the main pillar of a nation’s development. In spite of rapid urbanization, a large section of our population still lives in the villages. Secondly, rural India has lagged behind in development because of many historical factors. Though the 11th plan began in very favorable circumstances with the economy has grown at the rate of 7.7% per year in the 10th plan period, there still existed a big challenge to correct the developmental imbalances and to accord due priority to development in rural areas. Ministry of Rural Development is implementing a number of programs aimed at sustainable holistic development in rural areas. The thrust of these programs is on all-round economic and social transformation in rural areas through a multi-pronged strategy aiming to reach out to the most disadvantaged sections of the society.
Although concerted efforts have been initiated by the Government of India through several plans and measures to alleviate poverty in rural India, there still remains much more to be done to bring prosperity in the lives of the people in rural areas. At present, technology dissemination is uneven and slow in rural areas. Good efforts of organizations developing technologies, devices, and products for rural areas could not yield high success. Experiences of many countries suggest that technological development fuelled by demand has a higher dissemination rate. However, in India, technology developers for rural areas have been catering to needs, rather than creating demand. There is no industry-linkage machinery to create a demand-based-technology market for rural communities. Besides, there is also an imbalance between strategies and effective management programs. Propagation of technology/schemes for rural development is slow there is a lacking in wider participation of different stakeholders. An ideal approach may, therefore, include the government, panchayats, village personnel, researchers, industries, NGOs and private companies to not only help in reducing this imbalance but also to have a multiplier effect on the overall economy.
Q1. According to the passage, which of the following are the objectives of most Rural Development Programmers? A) To promote urbanization B) Provide training to youth C) Reducing unemployment

A. Only A and C B. Only C C. Only B and C D. All the three (A),(B) and (C) E. Only A

Answer - Option C
Explanation - Only B and C
Q2. Which of the following is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the word given in bold as used in the passage?
Alleviation

A. mitigation B. smoothing C. intensification D. outpouring E. comfortable

Answer - Option A
Explanation - mitigation
Q3. Which of the following is most OPPOSITE in meaning of the word given bold as used in the passage?
Propagation

A. generation B. producing C. reproduction D. underdevelopment E. growth

Answer - Option D
Explanation - underdevelopment
Q4. Which of the following is true according to the passage? A) Urbanization has resulted in a majority of Indian population living in urban areas. B) The economic growth of the 10th Five-year plan did not translate into proportionate rural development. C) The efforts of the Government of India for poverty alleviation have met with complete failure

A. Only A and B B. Only C C. Only A and C D. Only B E. All the three (A),(B) and (C)

Answer - Option D
Explanation - Only B
Q5. Which of the following can be the most suitable title for the passage?

A. Technology in Rural India B. The Rural Indian Communities C. Rural Development-The Participative Way D. Rural India-Ignored by All the Stakeholders E. Rural Development-An Impossible Dream

Answer - Option C
Explanation - Rural Development-The Participative Way

Directions (1Q - 5Q): Read the following passage carefully and answer the given questions. Certain words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering the same of the questions.
Buying a house is the single largest financial investment an individual makes. Yet, in India, this act is fraught with risk and individuals depend on weak laws for justice. Occasionally, deviant promoters are called to account as was the case in the detention of Unitech’s promoters. This incident shows up the fallout of an absence of proper regulation to cover contracts between buyers and real estate promoters. A real estate bill, which is presently pending in Rajya Sabha, seeks to fill this gap. It has been debated for over two years and should be passed by Parliament in the budget session.
India is in the midst of rapid urbanization and urban population is expected to more than double to about 900 million over the next three decades. Unfortunately, even the current population does not have adequate housing. A government estimate in 2012 put the shortage at nearly 19 million units. If this shortage is to be alleviated quickly, India’s messy real estate sector needs reforms. The real estate bill seeks to set standards for contracts between buyers and sellers. Transparency, a rare commodity in real estate, is enforced as promoters have to upload project details on the regulators’ website. Importantly, standard definitions of terms mean that buyers will not feel cheated after taking possession of a house. In order to protect buyers who pay upfront, a part of the money collected for a real estate project is ring-fenced in a separate bank account. Also, given the uncertainty which exists in India on land titles, the real estate bill provides title insurance. This bill has been scrutinized by two parliamentary committees and its passage now brooks no delay.
This bill is an important step in cleaning up the real estate market, but the journey should not end with it. State governments play a significant role in real estate and they are often the source of problems. Some estimates suggest that real estate developers have to seek approvals of as many as 40 central and state departments, which lead to delays and an escalation in the cost of houses. Sensibly, NDA government’s project to provide universal urban housing forces states to institute reforms to access central funding. Without real estate reforms at the level of states, it will not be possible to meet the ambition of making housing accessible for all urban dwellers.
Q1. Which of the following is ‘true’ in the context of the passage?

A. Buying house is not a single largest individual investment. B. In India, no one depends on laws for justice. C. Urbanization increasing rapidly. D. The real estate bill not provides title insurance. E. None of these

Answer - Option C
Explanation - Urbanisation increasing rapidly.
Q2. According to the passage, What is the pending in Rajya Sabha?

A. NDA governments new Scheme B. Universal Rural housing programme C. Universal urban housing programme D. Real state bill E. None of these

Answer - Option D
Explanation - Real state bill
Q3. Choose the word which is MOST SIMILAR in meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
Escalation

A. growth B. Sustain C. decrease D. reduction E. None of these

Answer - Option A
Explanation - Growth
Q4. Choose the word which is MOST OPPOSITE in meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
Scrutinise

A. catechize B. Neglect C. audit D. canvass E. None of these

Answer - Option B
Explanation - Neglect
Q5. According to the passage, What is the source of Problem in Real State?

A. Market money Makers B. State Government C. Central Government D. Buyers and sellers E. None of these

Answer - Option B
Explanation - State Government

Directions (1Q - 5Q): Read the following passage carefully and answer the given questions. Certain words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering the same of the questions.
A fisherman. enfeebled with could no longer go out to sea so he began fishing in the river. Every morning he would go down to the river and sit there fishing the whole day long. In the evening he would sell whatever he had caught, buy food for himself and go home. It was a hard life for an old man. One hot afternoon while he was trying to keep awake and bemoaning his fate, a large bird with silvery feathers alighted on a rock near him. It was Kaha, the heavenly bird. have you no one to care for you, grandpa?” asked the bird. “Not a soul. “You should not be doing such work at your age, said the bird “From now on I will bring you a big fish every evening. You can sell it I and live in comfort ” True to her word, the bird began to drop a large fish at his doorstep every evening. All that the fisherman had to do was take it to the market and sell it. As big fish were in great demand, he was soon rolling in money He bought a cottage near the sea, with a garden around it and engaged a servant to cook for him. His wife had died some years earlier. He had decided too many again and began to look for a suitable woman.
One day he heard the royal courtier make an announcement. Our king has news of a great bird called Kaha said the courtier. Whoever can give information about this bird and help catch it. will be rewarded with half the gold in the royal treasury and half the kingdom !”The fisherman was sorely tempted by the reward. Half the kingdom would make him a prince!
“Why does the king want the bird?” he asked. “He has lost his sight”, explained the courtier. “A wise man has advised him to bathe his eyes with the blood of Kaha. Do you know where she can be found?” “No..i mean ..no, no …” Torn between greed and his sense of gratitude to the bird, the fisherman could not give a coherent reply. The courtier. sensing that he knew something about the bird, informed the king. The king had him brought to the palace.
“If you have information about the bird, tell-me, urged the king. “l will reward you handsomely and if you help catch her, I will personally crown you king half my domain.” “I will get the bird for you,” cried the fisherman, suddenly making up his mind. “But Kaha is strong. I will need help.” The king sent a dozen soldiers with him. That evening when the bird came with the fish, the fisherman called out to her to wait. You drop the fish and go and I never get a chance to thank you for all that you’ve done for me,” he said. Today I have laid out a feast for you inside. Please alight and come in.” Kaha was reluctant to accept the invitation.but the fisherman pleaded so earnestly that she finally gave in, and alighted. The moment she was on the ground, the fisherman grabbed one of her legs and shouted to the soldiers hiding in his house to come out. They rushed to his aid but their combined effort could not keep Kaha down.
She rose into the air with the fisherman stilt clinging onto her leg. By the time he realized he was being carried away. the fisherman was too high in the air to let go. He hung on grimly, and neither he nor Kaha ‘were ever seen again.
Q1. Why was the king desperately looking for Kaha the bird?

A. The king wanted a pet bird. B. A wise man advised the king to capture the bird for good luck. C. Kaha was the only heavenly, a bird with silvery feathers. D. The king was blind and required Kaha’s blood for his eyes. E. Kaha was known to be the greatest bird alive.

Answer - Option D
Explanation - The king was blind and required Kaha’s blood for his eyes.
Q2. Why did the bird volunteer to bring fish for the old man?

A. The old man was inexperienced at fishing. B. The bird took pity on the old man and wanted to help him. C. The bird had caught more fish than required. D. The bird wanted to make the old man rich. E. The bird had heard the old man bemoaning his fate.

Answer - Option B
Explanation - The bird took pity on the old man and wanted to help him.
Q3. Choose the word ·which is most nearly the ‘SAME in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
SORELY

A. Happily B. Painfully C. Gainfully D. Greatly E. Primarily

Answer - Option D
Explanation - Greatly
Q4. Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in meaning of the word printed tn bold as used in the passage.
GRABBED

A. Caught B. Released C. Secured D. Loosened E. Held

Answer - Option B
Explanation - Released
Q5. What does the phrase ‘rolling in money’ as highlighted in the passage refer to ?

A. To have a large amount bf money. B. To have just enough of money. C. To Jive a life that is not affordable D. To live off someone else. E. To be self-sufficient.

Answer - Option A
Explanation - To have a large amount bf money.