English Language
Directions—(Q. 1–5) Rearrange the following seven sentences (1), (2),
(3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful
paragraph; then answer the questions given below them.
(1) But seriously, how much would you pay to know what thoughts are
swimming around in someone else's head ?
(2) In most fictional movies thus, the idea of reading minds – of
seeing the private intentions of another, and the possibility of
intervening in those plans – has always been highly attractive.
(3) Such fantastical questions have long been the bread and butter of fiction.
(4) Today, more than four centuries since the phrase, 'A penny for
your thoughts?' was first recorded, inflationary accounting makes that
ancient penny worth more than $ 40.
(5) The going rate for a 'thought' – a probe into the thinking of
another – was once quite a bargain.
(6) And if you could really know their truthfulness how much more
would you pay ?
(7) Even with the sliding value of the dollar, this still seems quite a bargain.
1. Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 6 (B) 4
(C) 3 (D) 7
(E) 1
Ans : (B)
2. Which of the following should be the FOURTH sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1 (B) 2
(C) 7 (D) 4
(E) 6
Ans : (B)
3. Which of the following should be the SIXTH sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 5 (B) 7
(C) 3 (D) 2
(E) 1
Ans : (C)
4. Which of the following should be the SEVENTH (Last) sentence after
rearrangement ?
(A) 1 (B) 2
(C) 6 (D) 4
(E) 5
Ans : (C)
5. Which of the following should be the FIRST sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1 (B) 2
(C) 3 (D) 4
(E) 5
Ans : (E)
Directions— (Q. 6–16) 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/phrases are suggested, one of
which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate
word/phrase in each case.
The economics of owning and running a Ration Shop, the familiar name
for the outlets in our Public Distribution System (PDS), are such that
under normal business terms, the shop-owner could never make a profit.
Yet, …(6)… the government announces that new permits for ration shops
will be given out, there is frenzy in the market to grab one of these
…(7)… ? The answer is bovious : the business is not for the honest and
if one knows the …(8)…, there is a fortune to be made.
What are these tricks of the trade ?
l Getting fake names into the user list is the most obvious option;
the State seems to be …(9)… a losing battle against this practice,
judging by the endless efforts to weed out bogus ration cards.
l The next is to get the 'right customers' on the list, not just more
customers. These are people who are registered but who do not have any
interest in …(10)… on their entitlements. In a system where caste and
income certificates are for sale, it is not …(11)… to 'produce' these
documents for mutual benefit. Receipts are duly made in their names,
and the rations thus 'drawn' are …(12)… off into the open market. The
sale price of an item like rice makes clear the …(13)… economics – it
costs Rs. 8 is a ration shop while in the latter it is Rs. 30 or
above. There are also customers who would rather exchange their
entitlements for hard cash at the beginning of the month.
l As the degradation progresses, the shop keeper, in …(14)… with the
official machinery, manages to withhold effectively the entitlements
from even the genuine beneficiaries, and diverts them to the open
market. The targeted group is usually not in a position to …(15)…
itself to get its due.
And thus one has all the …(16)… of a good PDS business.
6. (A) whenever (B) quickly
(C) just (D) as soon
(E) time
Ans : (A)
7. (A) what (B) when
(C) where (D) why
(E) how
Ans : (D)
8. (A) lying (B) people
(C) sprouting (D) hard work
(E) ropes
Ans : (A)
9. (A) attempt (B) waging
(C) winning (D) expecting
(E) trying
Ans : (B)
10. (A) harping (B) discussing
(C) realizing (D) drawing
(E) giving
Ans : (D)
11. (A) easy (B) must
(C) difficult (D) simple
(E) enough
Ans : (C)
12. (A) sell (B) borrowed
(C) donated (D) bought
(E) siphoned
Ans : (E)
13. (A) understood (B) poor
(C) underlying (D) mechanical
(E) unclear
Ans : (C)
14. (A) meeting (B) collusion
(C) flow (D) show
(E) line
Ans : (B)
15. (A) ask (B) voiced
(C) assert (D) deliver
(E) willful
Ans : (C)
16. (A) things (B) ingredients
(C) dictate (D) component
(E) facet
Ans : (E)
Directions—(Q. 17–20) Which of the words/phrases (A), (B), (C) and (D)
given below each sentence should replace the word/phrase printed in
bold in the sentence to make it grammatically correct ? If the
sentence is correct as it is given and no correction is required, mark
(E) as the answer.
17. A lot of time we hear from actors that they regret the kind of
roles they have been doing all this while, but this actor says he has
never any regrets.
(A) never has have (B) has never had
(C) has no (D) has had
(E) No correction required
Ans : (B)
18. The actress participated in the event whole-hearted, cheered the
participants, danced with them and emphasised on the importance of
creating awareness for oral care across the country.
(A) whole-heartedly (B) whole-heart
(C) with whole-heart (D) wholly-hearted
(E) No correction required
Ans : (A)
19. Although complete treatment of cancer is beyond the reach of the
underprivileged but no child should lose his life for want of funds.
(A) Though (B) As
(C) The (D) Since
(E) No correction required
Ans : (E)
20. Slated to begin this year, the league could provide a soneeded
boost to hockey in India.
(A) so-needful (B) much-needy
(C) much-need (D) much-needed
(E) No correction required
Ans : (D)
Directions—(Q. 21–25) Each question below has two blanks, each blank
indicating that something has been omitted. Choose the set of words
for each blank which best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
21. Much of the ……… that cricket has is due to the fact it is a ……… sport.
(A) Allure, lucrative (B) Criticism, controversial
(C) Attraction, unpopular (D) Flak, great
(E) Comments, unusual
Ans : (A)
22. Since foggy weather ……… visibility by several metres, the railways
has either partially ……… or diverted some of the trains.
(A) improves, started (B) impairs, called off
(C) hampers, withdrawn (D) decrease, stopped
(E) reduces, cancelled
Ans : (B)
23. The once …… district is gradually being ……… of its green cover.
(A) remote, eroded (B) arid, replenished
(C) beautiful, devoid (D) picturesque, depleted
(E) lush, rob
Ans : (C)
24. The pilot knew she would be able to see the ……… lights of the city
from her cockpit window, but she would not see the fireworks explode
to welcome the new year as she would have ……… to cruising altitude.
(A) few, soared (B) divine, escalate
(C) glistening, jumped (D) shining, reached
(E) glittering, climbed
Ans : (D)
25. The New Year has ……… in good news for city hotels as most
properties are ……… for the whole month.
(A) brought, deserted (B) ushered, packed
(C) pushed, full (D) steered, renovating
(E) escorted, vacant
Ans : (B)
Directions—(Q. 26–35) Read each sentence to find out whether there is
any grammatical error or idiomatic 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 (E). (Ignore errors of
punctuation, if any)
26. The bane of Indian hockey today is (A) / lack of interest by the
part of the public (B) / which in turn is fuelled by the perception
that (C) / it doesn't pay to take up the sport as a career. (D) No
error (E)
Ans : (E)
27. Illegal sand mining has become (A) / a boom business fuelled (B) /
by the ever-increasing demand (C) / of the construction industry. (D)
No error (E)
Ans : (B)
28. Much is the inflow of travelers that (A) / it is tough to book an
air ticket (B) / to Ahmedabad and the international flights (C) / too
are almost over-booked. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)
29. Experts believe that a (A) / gradually decreasing infant mortality
rate (B) / is lead to a proportionate (C) / decrease in the size of
our brains. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)
30. In just two months after having (A) / planted these, most of the
plants have (B) / either dried up and are suffering (C) / due to lack
of maintenance. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)
31. In cities people don't (A) / always have the time to (B)/ catch up
with old friends or (C) / spend times with their family. (D) No error
(E)
Ans : (B)
32. The band have been (A) / performing at many cause-oriented
concerts (B) / to encourage people to come forward and (C) / lend
their support to the noble cause. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)
33. As market leaders, (A) / we have always been at (B) / the
forefront of creating awareness (C) / between the public. (D) No error
(E)
Ans : (D)
34. If the IPL has succeeded in drawing (A) / an audience across the
country, it is because (B) / cricket has always had a strong
foundation (C) / and a dedicated audience. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)
35. In view of the intense cold wave conditions (A) / prevailing in
the state, the government declared (B) / holidays in all the schools
(C) / for a period of ten days. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (E)
Directions—(Q. 36–50) Read the following passage carefully and answer
the questions given below it. Certain words/phrases have been printed
in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the question.
It was in the offing. With shortages mounting across the board for
water as they are for energy, it was only inevitable that the Central
government would be stirred into starting a Bureau of Water Efficiency
(BWE), much like the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) that was
launched some years ago.
Early reports suggest that the draft norms for various sectors
consuming water will be created by the BWE soon. The alarm bells have
been ringing for some years now. Water availability per capita in
India has fallen about 5 million litres in the 1950s to 1•3 million
litres in 2010— that's a staggering 75 per cent drop in 50 years.
Nearly 60 per cent of India's aquifers have slumped to critical levels
in just the last 15 years. The rate at which borewells are being
plunged in every city with no law to ban such extraction, ground water
tables have depleted alarmingly.
The BEE's efforts in the last seven years have only been cosmetic. The
bureau has looked at efficiency rating systems for white goods in the
domestic sector, and has not paid attention to the massive consumption
of energy in metals manufacture, paper, and textiles. These sectors
are very intense in both energy and water consumption. But very little
attention has been paid to the water and energy used per tonne of
steel or cement or aluminium that we buy, and without significant
changes in these areas, the overall situtation is unlikely to change.
Use of water is inextricably interlinked with energy. One does not
exist without the other. The BWE should steer clear of the early
mistakes of BEE – of focusing on the 'softer targets' in the domestic
sector. Nearly 80 per cent of fresh water is used by agriculture, with
industry coming a close second. The domestic sector's consumption of
fresh water is in single digits. So the BWE's priority should be to
look at measures that will get farmers and industrialists to follow
good practices in water use. Water resources have to be made, by law,
an indivisible national asset. The protection and withdrawal of this
resource, as well as its sustainable development are of general
importance and therefore in the public interest. This will mean that
individuals and organisations may own land but not water or the other
resources that lie below the first 20 metres of the surface of those
lands. Drilling of borewells into such 'national assets' will have to
be banned, or at the very least they must be regulated. What would be
more sensible for the new water bureau to do would be to look at some
of the low-hanging fruits that can be plucked, and pretty quickly,
with laws that can emanate from the Centre, without the risk of either
dilution or inaction from state adminis trations. The other tactical
approach that the BWE can adopt is to devise a policy that addresses
the serious water challenge in industry segments across a swathe of
companies : this will be easier than taking on the more disparate
domestic sector which hurts the water crisis less than industry.
Implementing a law is more feasible when the concentration is dense
and identifiable. Industry offers this advantage more than the
domestic or the commercial sector of hotels and offices.
As for agriculture, though the country's water requirement is as high
as 80 per cent, the growing of water within the loop in agriculture
de-risks the challenge of any perceived deficit. Rice, wheat,
sugarcane are crops that need water-logging, which ensures ground
water restoration. Surface water evaporation doesn't amount to any
more than 7–8 per cent and only strengthens precipitation and
rainfall. Agriculture and water need is not quite as much a threat as
industry and domestic sectors that account for the rest of the 20 per
cent.
The primary challenge in industry and the building sector is that no
conscious legal measures have been enacted that stipulate 'growing
your own water' with measures that will 'put all water in a a loop' in
any residential or commercial building. This involves treating all
used water to a grade that it can be 'upcycled' for use in flush tanks
and for gardens across all our cities with the polluter owning the
responsibility for treating and for reuse. The drop in fresh water
demand can be dramatic with such upcycle, reuse, and recycle of
treated water. Water by itself in industry and the domestic sector, is
not as much a challenge as pollution of water. Not enough measures
exist yet to ensure that such polluters shift the water back for
reuse. If legislation can ensure that water is treated and reused for
specific purposes within industry as well as in the domestic sector,
this will make all the difference to the crisis on fresh water.
So is the case in industry, especially in sectors like textiles,
aluminium and steel. Agriculture offers us the amusing irony of the
educated urbanites dependent on cereals like rice and wheat that
consume 4000 litres of water for every kg, while the farmer lives on
the more nutritious millets that consume less than half the quantity.
Sugarcane consumes as much as 12,000 litres of water for a kilo of
cane that you buy !
A listing of such correlations of water used by every product that we
use in our daily lives with make much better sense that any elaborate
rating system from the newly formed BWE. Such sensitizing with
concerted awareness campaigns that the new Bureau drives will impact
the urban consumer more than all the research findings that experts
can present. What is important for us is to understand the life-cycle
impact in a way that we see the connect between a product that we use
and the resources it utilizes up to the point where we bring the
visible connect to destruction of natural resources of our ecosystems.
36. How, according to the author, can the bureau sensitize the urban
consumer about careful utilization of water ?
(A) By encouraging them to consume more rice instead of millets daily
and thereby reduce the amount of water consumption.
(B) By providing them more insight into the water consumption cycle of
the textile, aluminium and steel industries.
(C) By making them aware of the linkages between water consumption for
daily activities and
the resource utilization and subsequent ecological destruction
associated with it.
(D) By publishing research findings of experts in popular media
whereby people gain awareness on the impact of water misuse.
(E) By conducting elaborate drives which notify the urban population
about the penalties levied on misuse of water resources.
Ans : (C)
37. Why, according to the author, is the water consumption for
agricultural activities the least risky ?
(A) Proportion of water consumed for agricultrual activities is much
less as compared to that consumed for domestic and industrial
purposes.
(B) Most farmers are aware of the popular methods of water
conservation and hence do not allow wastage of water.
(C) Water is fairly recycled through ground water restoration due to
water-logging and surface water evaporation.
(D) Farmers in India mostly cultivate crops that require less amount of water.
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)
38. Which of the following is possibly the most appropriate title for
the passage ?
(A) Water Challenges in the New Millennium
(B) The Bureau of Water Efficiency Vs. the Bureau of Energy Efficiency
(C) Unchecked Urban Consumption of Water
(D) Challenges of the Agricultural Sector and Water Resources
(E) The Route to Conservation of Water Resources
Ans : (E)
39. What does 'low-hanging fruits that can be plucked, and pretty
quickly' mean in the context of the passage ?
(A) The bureau should employ the cheapest methods possible to
effectively control the current situation of improper usage of water
resources.
(B) The bureau should target the industrial sector as well as the
domestic sector to reduce water wastage.
(C) The bureau should target the agricultural sector only for
producing quick results in reducing wastage of water.
(D) The bureau should ensure that all the state officials concerned
with the measures are actively involved.
(E) The bureau should start with adopting measures which are simple to
execute and produce immediate results in reducing water wastage.
Ans : (E)
40. Which of the following, according to the author, is/are the
indication/s of a water crisis ?
1. Many agrarian areas in the country are facing a drought– like situation.
2. Almost three-fifth of the naturally available water has been
reduced to a very critical level in a relatively short span of time.
3. There has been a significant drop in the availability of water over
the past fifty years.
(A) Only 2 (B) Only 1 and 3
(C) Only 3 (D) Only 2 and 3
(E) All 1, 2 and 3
Ans : (D)
41. The author suggests that the Bureau of Water Efficiency devise a
strategy or make laws to meet water challenges in the industrial
segments rather than the domestic segments because—
(A) The industrial sector is the only one that is in a position to
reduce its water consumption by a significant margin.
(B) There is comparatively less serious water misuse in the domestic sector.
(C) It would be easy to identify the consumption patterns in the
industrial sector because of its density and visibility.
(D) The industrial sector would be capable of paying the fines levied
by the Bureau for water misuse whereas the domestic sector would be in
no such position.
(E) The industrial sector would be easier to manage in terms of making
them understand the importance of water conservation
Ans : (C)
42. Which of the following, according to the author, is/are the step/s
that the Bureau of Water Efficiency can take to ensure proper
utilization of water resources ?
1. Put in place measures that ensure proper water usage.
2. Concentrate on the water consumption patterns of the domestic sector alone.
3. Monitor carefully the activity of digging borewells.
(A) Only 1 and 3 (B) Only 1 and 2
(C) Only 1 (D) Only 2 and 3
(E) All 1, 2 and 3
Ans : (A)
43. Which of the following is true about the Bureau of Energy
Efficiency, in the context of the passage ?
1. It failed to pay adequate attention to industries like metal,
textiles, etc. in terms of energy consumption.
2. It focused on rating systems for efficient use of goods in the
domestic sector.
3. It mostly focused on the energy consumption in the domestic sector.
(A) Only 1 and 3 (B) Only 1 and 2
(C) Only 1 (D) Only 2 and 3
(E) All 1, 2 and 3
Ans : (C)
Directions—(Q. 44–47) Choose the word/group of words which is most
similar in meaning to the word/group of words printed in bold as used
in the passage.
44. COSMETIC
(A) Enhancive (B) Beauty
(C) Augmentative (D) Superficial
(E) Aesthetic
Ans : (D)
45. STAGGERING
(A) Weaving (B) Astounding
(C) Lurching (D) Stumbling
(E) Unsteady
Ans : (B)
46. CONSCIOUS
(A) Unknown (B) Mindful
(C) Self-aware (D) Awake
(E) Alert
Ans : (D)
47. DRAMATIC
(A) Remarkable (B) Moving
(C) Theatrical (D) Histrionic
(E) Staged
Ans : (A)
Directions—(Q. 48–50) Choose the word/group of words which is most
opposite in meaning to the word/group of words printed in bold as used
in the passage.
48. INTENSE
(A) Smooth (B) Serious
(C) Low (D) Diluted
(E) Jovial
Ans : (C)
49. TACTICAL
(A) Unplanned (B) Uniform
(C) Devious (D) Premeditated
(E) Deformed
Ans : (A)
50. INEVITABLE
(A) Certain (B) Unforeseeable
(C) Unavoidable (D) Inescapable
(E) Perdictable
Ans : (B)
Directions—(Q. 1–5) Rearrange the following seven sentences (1), (2),
(3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful
paragraph; then answer the questions given below them.
(1) But seriously, how much would you pay to know what thoughts are
swimming around in someone else's head ?
(2) In most fictional movies thus, the idea of reading minds – of
seeing the private intentions of another, and the possibility of
intervening in those plans – has always been highly attractive.
(3) Such fantastical questions have long been the bread and butter of fiction.
(4) Today, more than four centuries since the phrase, 'A penny for
your thoughts?' was first recorded, inflationary accounting makes that
ancient penny worth more than $ 40.
(5) The going rate for a 'thought' – a probe into the thinking of
another – was once quite a bargain.
(6) And if you could really know their truthfulness how much more
would you pay ?
(7) Even with the sliding value of the dollar, this still seems quite a bargain.
1. Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 6 (B) 4
(C) 3 (D) 7
(E) 1
Ans : (B)
2. Which of the following should be the FOURTH sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1 (B) 2
(C) 7 (D) 4
(E) 6
Ans : (B)
3. Which of the following should be the SIXTH sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 5 (B) 7
(C) 3 (D) 2
(E) 1
Ans : (C)
4. Which of the following should be the SEVENTH (Last) sentence after
rearrangement ?
(A) 1 (B) 2
(C) 6 (D) 4
(E) 5
Ans : (C)
5. Which of the following should be the FIRST sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1 (B) 2
(C) 3 (D) 4
(E) 5
Ans : (E)
Directions— (Q. 6–16) 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/phrases are suggested, one of
which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate
word/phrase in each case.
The economics of owning and running a Ration Shop, the familiar name
for the outlets in our Public Distribution System (PDS), are such that
under normal business terms, the shop-owner could never make a profit.
Yet, …(6)… the government announces that new permits for ration shops
will be given out, there is frenzy in the market to grab one of these
…(7)… ? The answer is bovious : the business is not for the honest and
if one knows the …(8)…, there is a fortune to be made.
What are these tricks of the trade ?
l Getting fake names into the user list is the most obvious option;
the State seems to be …(9)… a losing battle against this practice,
judging by the endless efforts to weed out bogus ration cards.
l The next is to get the 'right customers' on the list, not just more
customers. These are people who are registered but who do not have any
interest in …(10)… on their entitlements. In a system where caste and
income certificates are for sale, it is not …(11)… to 'produce' these
documents for mutual benefit. Receipts are duly made in their names,
and the rations thus 'drawn' are …(12)… off into the open market. The
sale price of an item like rice makes clear the …(13)… economics – it
costs Rs. 8 is a ration shop while in the latter it is Rs. 30 or
above. There are also customers who would rather exchange their
entitlements for hard cash at the beginning of the month.
l As the degradation progresses, the shop keeper, in …(14)… with the
official machinery, manages to withhold effectively the entitlements
from even the genuine beneficiaries, and diverts them to the open
market. The targeted group is usually not in a position to …(15)…
itself to get its due.
And thus one has all the …(16)… of a good PDS business.
6. (A) whenever (B) quickly
(C) just (D) as soon
(E) time
Ans : (A)
7. (A) what (B) when
(C) where (D) why
(E) how
Ans : (D)
8. (A) lying (B) people
(C) sprouting (D) hard work
(E) ropes
Ans : (A)
9. (A) attempt (B) waging
(C) winning (D) expecting
(E) trying
Ans : (B)
10. (A) harping (B) discussing
(C) realizing (D) drawing
(E) giving
Ans : (D)
11. (A) easy (B) must
(C) difficult (D) simple
(E) enough
Ans : (C)
12. (A) sell (B) borrowed
(C) donated (D) bought
(E) siphoned
Ans : (E)
13. (A) understood (B) poor
(C) underlying (D) mechanical
(E) unclear
Ans : (C)
14. (A) meeting (B) collusion
(C) flow (D) show
(E) line
Ans : (B)
15. (A) ask (B) voiced
(C) assert (D) deliver
(E) willful
Ans : (C)
16. (A) things (B) ingredients
(C) dictate (D) component
(E) facet
Ans : (E)
Directions—(Q. 17–20) Which of the words/phrases (A), (B), (C) and (D)
given below each sentence should replace the word/phrase printed in
bold in the sentence to make it grammatically correct ? If the
sentence is correct as it is given and no correction is required, mark
(E) as the answer.
17. A lot of time we hear from actors that they regret the kind of
roles they have been doing all this while, but this actor says he has
never any regrets.
(A) never has have (B) has never had
(C) has no (D) has had
(E) No correction required
Ans : (B)
18. The actress participated in the event whole-hearted, cheered the
participants, danced with them and emphasised on the importance of
creating awareness for oral care across the country.
(A) whole-heartedly (B) whole-heart
(C) with whole-heart (D) wholly-hearted
(E) No correction required
Ans : (A)
19. Although complete treatment of cancer is beyond the reach of the
underprivileged but no child should lose his life for want of funds.
(A) Though (B) As
(C) The (D) Since
(E) No correction required
Ans : (E)
20. Slated to begin this year, the league could provide a soneeded
boost to hockey in India.
(A) so-needful (B) much-needy
(C) much-need (D) much-needed
(E) No correction required
Ans : (D)
Directions—(Q. 21–25) Each question below has two blanks, each blank
indicating that something has been omitted. Choose the set of words
for each blank which best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
21. Much of the ……… that cricket has is due to the fact it is a ……… sport.
(A) Allure, lucrative (B) Criticism, controversial
(C) Attraction, unpopular (D) Flak, great
(E) Comments, unusual
Ans : (A)
22. Since foggy weather ……… visibility by several metres, the railways
has either partially ……… or diverted some of the trains.
(A) improves, started (B) impairs, called off
(C) hampers, withdrawn (D) decrease, stopped
(E) reduces, cancelled
Ans : (B)
23. The once …… district is gradually being ……… of its green cover.
(A) remote, eroded (B) arid, replenished
(C) beautiful, devoid (D) picturesque, depleted
(E) lush, rob
Ans : (C)
24. The pilot knew she would be able to see the ……… lights of the city
from her cockpit window, but she would not see the fireworks explode
to welcome the new year as she would have ……… to cruising altitude.
(A) few, soared (B) divine, escalate
(C) glistening, jumped (D) shining, reached
(E) glittering, climbed
Ans : (D)
25. The New Year has ……… in good news for city hotels as most
properties are ……… for the whole month.
(A) brought, deserted (B) ushered, packed
(C) pushed, full (D) steered, renovating
(E) escorted, vacant
Ans : (B)
Directions—(Q. 26–35) Read each sentence to find out whether there is
any grammatical error or idiomatic 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 (E). (Ignore errors of
punctuation, if any)
26. The bane of Indian hockey today is (A) / lack of interest by the
part of the public (B) / which in turn is fuelled by the perception
that (C) / it doesn't pay to take up the sport as a career. (D) No
error (E)
Ans : (E)
27. Illegal sand mining has become (A) / a boom business fuelled (B) /
by the ever-increasing demand (C) / of the construction industry. (D)
No error (E)
Ans : (B)
28. Much is the inflow of travelers that (A) / it is tough to book an
air ticket (B) / to Ahmedabad and the international flights (C) / too
are almost over-booked. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)
29. Experts believe that a (A) / gradually decreasing infant mortality
rate (B) / is lead to a proportionate (C) / decrease in the size of
our brains. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)
30. In just two months after having (A) / planted these, most of the
plants have (B) / either dried up and are suffering (C) / due to lack
of maintenance. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)
31. In cities people don't (A) / always have the time to (B)/ catch up
with old friends or (C) / spend times with their family. (D) No error
(E)
Ans : (B)
32. The band have been (A) / performing at many cause-oriented
concerts (B) / to encourage people to come forward and (C) / lend
their support to the noble cause. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)
33. As market leaders, (A) / we have always been at (B) / the
forefront of creating awareness (C) / between the public. (D) No error
(E)
Ans : (D)
34. If the IPL has succeeded in drawing (A) / an audience across the
country, it is because (B) / cricket has always had a strong
foundation (C) / and a dedicated audience. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)
35. In view of the intense cold wave conditions (A) / prevailing in
the state, the government declared (B) / holidays in all the schools
(C) / for a period of ten days. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (E)
Directions—(Q. 36–50) Read the following passage carefully and answer
the questions given below it. Certain words/phrases have been printed
in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the question.
It was in the offing. With shortages mounting across the board for
water as they are for energy, it was only inevitable that the Central
government would be stirred into starting a Bureau of Water Efficiency
(BWE), much like the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) that was
launched some years ago.
Early reports suggest that the draft norms for various sectors
consuming water will be created by the BWE soon. The alarm bells have
been ringing for some years now. Water availability per capita in
India has fallen about 5 million litres in the 1950s to 1•3 million
litres in 2010— that's a staggering 75 per cent drop in 50 years.
Nearly 60 per cent of India's aquifers have slumped to critical levels
in just the last 15 years. The rate at which borewells are being
plunged in every city with no law to ban such extraction, ground water
tables have depleted alarmingly.
The BEE's efforts in the last seven years have only been cosmetic. The
bureau has looked at efficiency rating systems for white goods in the
domestic sector, and has not paid attention to the massive consumption
of energy in metals manufacture, paper, and textiles. These sectors
are very intense in both energy and water consumption. But very little
attention has been paid to the water and energy used per tonne of
steel or cement or aluminium that we buy, and without significant
changes in these areas, the overall situtation is unlikely to change.
Use of water is inextricably interlinked with energy. One does not
exist without the other. The BWE should steer clear of the early
mistakes of BEE – of focusing on the 'softer targets' in the domestic
sector. Nearly 80 per cent of fresh water is used by agriculture, with
industry coming a close second. The domestic sector's consumption of
fresh water is in single digits. So the BWE's priority should be to
look at measures that will get farmers and industrialists to follow
good practices in water use. Water resources have to be made, by law,
an indivisible national asset. The protection and withdrawal of this
resource, as well as its sustainable development are of general
importance and therefore in the public interest. This will mean that
individuals and organisations may own land but not water or the other
resources that lie below the first 20 metres of the surface of those
lands. Drilling of borewells into such 'national assets' will have to
be banned, or at the very least they must be regulated. What would be
more sensible for the new water bureau to do would be to look at some
of the low-hanging fruits that can be plucked, and pretty quickly,
with laws that can emanate from the Centre, without the risk of either
dilution or inaction from state adminis trations. The other tactical
approach that the BWE can adopt is to devise a policy that addresses
the serious water challenge in industry segments across a swathe of
companies : this will be easier than taking on the more disparate
domestic sector which hurts the water crisis less than industry.
Implementing a law is more feasible when the concentration is dense
and identifiable. Industry offers this advantage more than the
domestic or the commercial sector of hotels and offices.
As for agriculture, though the country's water requirement is as high
as 80 per cent, the growing of water within the loop in agriculture
de-risks the challenge of any perceived deficit. Rice, wheat,
sugarcane are crops that need water-logging, which ensures ground
water restoration. Surface water evaporation doesn't amount to any
more than 7–8 per cent and only strengthens precipitation and
rainfall. Agriculture and water need is not quite as much a threat as
industry and domestic sectors that account for the rest of the 20 per
cent.
The primary challenge in industry and the building sector is that no
conscious legal measures have been enacted that stipulate 'growing
your own water' with measures that will 'put all water in a a loop' in
any residential or commercial building. This involves treating all
used water to a grade that it can be 'upcycled' for use in flush tanks
and for gardens across all our cities with the polluter owning the
responsibility for treating and for reuse. The drop in fresh water
demand can be dramatic with such upcycle, reuse, and recycle of
treated water. Water by itself in industry and the domestic sector, is
not as much a challenge as pollution of water. Not enough measures
exist yet to ensure that such polluters shift the water back for
reuse. If legislation can ensure that water is treated and reused for
specific purposes within industry as well as in the domestic sector,
this will make all the difference to the crisis on fresh water.
So is the case in industry, especially in sectors like textiles,
aluminium and steel. Agriculture offers us the amusing irony of the
educated urbanites dependent on cereals like rice and wheat that
consume 4000 litres of water for every kg, while the farmer lives on
the more nutritious millets that consume less than half the quantity.
Sugarcane consumes as much as 12,000 litres of water for a kilo of
cane that you buy !
A listing of such correlations of water used by every product that we
use in our daily lives with make much better sense that any elaborate
rating system from the newly formed BWE. Such sensitizing with
concerted awareness campaigns that the new Bureau drives will impact
the urban consumer more than all the research findings that experts
can present. What is important for us is to understand the life-cycle
impact in a way that we see the connect between a product that we use
and the resources it utilizes up to the point where we bring the
visible connect to destruction of natural resources of our ecosystems.
36. How, according to the author, can the bureau sensitize the urban
consumer about careful utilization of water ?
(A) By encouraging them to consume more rice instead of millets daily
and thereby reduce the amount of water consumption.
(B) By providing them more insight into the water consumption cycle of
the textile, aluminium and steel industries.
(C) By making them aware of the linkages between water consumption for
daily activities and
the resource utilization and subsequent ecological destruction
associated with it.
(D) By publishing research findings of experts in popular media
whereby people gain awareness on the impact of water misuse.
(E) By conducting elaborate drives which notify the urban population
about the penalties levied on misuse of water resources.
Ans : (C)
37. Why, according to the author, is the water consumption for
agricultural activities the least risky ?
(A) Proportion of water consumed for agricultrual activities is much
less as compared to that consumed for domestic and industrial
purposes.
(B) Most farmers are aware of the popular methods of water
conservation and hence do not allow wastage of water.
(C) Water is fairly recycled through ground water restoration due to
water-logging and surface water evaporation.
(D) Farmers in India mostly cultivate crops that require less amount of water.
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)
38. Which of the following is possibly the most appropriate title for
the passage ?
(A) Water Challenges in the New Millennium
(B) The Bureau of Water Efficiency Vs. the Bureau of Energy Efficiency
(C) Unchecked Urban Consumption of Water
(D) Challenges of the Agricultural Sector and Water Resources
(E) The Route to Conservation of Water Resources
Ans : (E)
39. What does 'low-hanging fruits that can be plucked, and pretty
quickly' mean in the context of the passage ?
(A) The bureau should employ the cheapest methods possible to
effectively control the current situation of improper usage of water
resources.
(B) The bureau should target the industrial sector as well as the
domestic sector to reduce water wastage.
(C) The bureau should target the agricultural sector only for
producing quick results in reducing wastage of water.
(D) The bureau should ensure that all the state officials concerned
with the measures are actively involved.
(E) The bureau should start with adopting measures which are simple to
execute and produce immediate results in reducing water wastage.
Ans : (E)
40. Which of the following, according to the author, is/are the
indication/s of a water crisis ?
1. Many agrarian areas in the country are facing a drought– like situation.
2. Almost three-fifth of the naturally available water has been
reduced to a very critical level in a relatively short span of time.
3. There has been a significant drop in the availability of water over
the past fifty years.
(A) Only 2 (B) Only 1 and 3
(C) Only 3 (D) Only 2 and 3
(E) All 1, 2 and 3
Ans : (D)
41. The author suggests that the Bureau of Water Efficiency devise a
strategy or make laws to meet water challenges in the industrial
segments rather than the domestic segments because—
(A) The industrial sector is the only one that is in a position to
reduce its water consumption by a significant margin.
(B) There is comparatively less serious water misuse in the domestic sector.
(C) It would be easy to identify the consumption patterns in the
industrial sector because of its density and visibility.
(D) The industrial sector would be capable of paying the fines levied
by the Bureau for water misuse whereas the domestic sector would be in
no such position.
(E) The industrial sector would be easier to manage in terms of making
them understand the importance of water conservation
Ans : (C)
42. Which of the following, according to the author, is/are the step/s
that the Bureau of Water Efficiency can take to ensure proper
utilization of water resources ?
1. Put in place measures that ensure proper water usage.
2. Concentrate on the water consumption patterns of the domestic sector alone.
3. Monitor carefully the activity of digging borewells.
(A) Only 1 and 3 (B) Only 1 and 2
(C) Only 1 (D) Only 2 and 3
(E) All 1, 2 and 3
Ans : (A)
43. Which of the following is true about the Bureau of Energy
Efficiency, in the context of the passage ?
1. It failed to pay adequate attention to industries like metal,
textiles, etc. in terms of energy consumption.
2. It focused on rating systems for efficient use of goods in the
domestic sector.
3. It mostly focused on the energy consumption in the domestic sector.
(A) Only 1 and 3 (B) Only 1 and 2
(C) Only 1 (D) Only 2 and 3
(E) All 1, 2 and 3
Ans : (C)
Directions—(Q. 44–47) Choose the word/group of words which is most
similar in meaning to the word/group of words printed in bold as used
in the passage.
44. COSMETIC
(A) Enhancive (B) Beauty
(C) Augmentative (D) Superficial
(E) Aesthetic
Ans : (D)
45. STAGGERING
(A) Weaving (B) Astounding
(C) Lurching (D) Stumbling
(E) Unsteady
Ans : (B)
46. CONSCIOUS
(A) Unknown (B) Mindful
(C) Self-aware (D) Awake
(E) Alert
Ans : (D)
47. DRAMATIC
(A) Remarkable (B) Moving
(C) Theatrical (D) Histrionic
(E) Staged
Ans : (A)
Directions—(Q. 48–50) Choose the word/group of words which is most
opposite in meaning to the word/group of words printed in bold as used
in the passage.
48. INTENSE
(A) Smooth (B) Serious
(C) Low (D) Diluted
(E) Jovial
Ans : (C)
49. TACTICAL
(A) Unplanned (B) Uniform
(C) Devious (D) Premeditated
(E) Deformed
Ans : (A)
50. INEVITABLE
(A) Certain (B) Unforeseeable
(C) Unavoidable (D) Inescapable
(E) Perdictable
Ans : (B)
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