English - Online Test
Q1. Direction:Read the sentence to find out whether there is any error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. If there is no error, the answer is (5).
They stood in a long line(1)/ waiting, talking and discussed(2)/ how to fix corruption as it(3) / is a growing concern in today's world. (4)/ No error (5).
Answer : Option B
Explaination / Solution:
The sentence has an error of parallelism. The words "waiting" and "talking" are gerunds, hence 'discussed' should be replaced with 'discussing'.
Q2. Which of the following is MOST SIMILAR in meaning to 'Ravaged'?
Answer : Option A
Explaination / Solution:
Ravaged (adjective) (तबाह) – severely damaged, devastated
Q3. Choose the most appropriate word from the options given below to complete the
following sentence.
If you are trying to make a strong impression on your audience, you
cannot do so by being understated, tentative or_____________.
Answer : Option B
Explaination / Solution:
The tone of the sentence clearly indicates a word that is similar to understated is
needed for the blank. Alternatively, the word should be antonym of strong (fail to
make strong impression). Therefore, the best choice is restrained which means
controlled/reserved/timid.
Q4.
Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
The idea that every individual should have access to a minimum guaranteed basic income is not new. Thomas Paine sought an equal inheritance for everyone, “a national fund” which would pay every adult a sum of “fifteen pounds sterling as compensation” for the introduction of the system of landed property. Over the last century, with the Great Depression, welfare policy in the U.S. was transformed with minimum wage legislation, while Keynesianism meant that the government would attempt to stimulate the economy during downturns by directly financing public employment and public works. Long-term support was offered to the aged, the disabled and single mothers while unemployment insurance sought to support the temporarily unemployed. The 1960s brought about the war on poverty, waged through federally funded social service and healthcare programmes. Milton Friedman sought a negative income tax, eliminating the need for a minimum wage and potentially the “welfare trap”, while bureaucracy could be curtailed. Richard Nixon supported and yet failed to push through a “Family Assistance Plan” while George McGovern’s 1972 campaign sought a $1,000 “demogrant” for all citizens. This decadal struggle against poverty in the West cut the number of those in poverty in the U.S. to 26 million from 36 million in 12 years. Education and health care were improved, but the employability and the income of the poor remained stranded. With the rise of neo-liberalism, opinion shifted. Existing welfare systems had grown too cumbersome, without eliminating poverty.
Now, however, the idea of an unconditional annual income is gathering momentum. Y Combinator, of Silicon Valley fame, is testing out a new business model: handing out money, without any strings, in an unnamed U.S. community in an attempt to replace safety net welfare policies that often fail to help those with the greatest need. Finland is considering a plan to give 100,000 citizens $1,000 a month, while four cities in Netherlands are starting trial programmes. Switzerland may have rejected, in a referendum, the idea of giving citizens about $2,500 a month, but the Canadian province of Ontario is planning a trial run. Progressives hail it as an escape route for workaholics, from oppressive jobs and situations, giving individuals greater time to build relationships and pursue education or artistic endeavours. Conservatives applaud its potential to shrink bureaucracy. As job concerns about automation grow, the basic income stands out as a panacea.
Even India has seen its share of basic income experiments. A pilot in eight villages in Madhya Pradesh provided over 6,000 individuals a monthly payment (Rs.100 for a child, Rs.200 for an adult; later raised to Rs.150 and Rs.300, respectively). The money was initially paid out as cash, while transitioning to bank accounts three months later. The transfer was unconditional, saving the prevention of substitution of food subsidies for cash grants. The results were intriguing. Most villagers used the money on household improvements while taking precautions against malaria — 24.3 per cent of the households changed their main source of energy for cooking or lighting; 16 per cent had made changes to their toilet. There was a seeming shift towards markets, instead of ration shops, given better financial liquidity, leading to improved nutrition, particularly among SC and ST households, and better school attendance and performance. There was an increase in small-scale investments (better seeds, sewing machines, equipment repairs etc). Bonded labour decreased, along with casual wage labour, while self-employed farming and business activity increased. Financial inclusion was rapid – within four months of the pilot, 95.6 per cent of the individuals had bank accounts. Within a year, 73 per cent of the households reported a reduction in their debt. There was no evidence of any increase in spending on alcohol.
Before moving ahead, we would need more data to prove its applicability in the Indian context. There have only been eight large-scale pilot programmes testing the impact of a universal basic income on human well-being. Social context too matters — what might have worked in Manitoba or Kenya might not necessarily be applicable to India. We need a greater depth of pilot studies, focussed on ensuring universal access and covering minimum living expenses. With more pilots planned in Oakland, Netherlands, Germany and India, insights developed can be used to modify welfare policy.
Which among the following is the MOST OPPOSITE in meaning to the word “curtailed”?
Answer : Option A
Explaination / Solution:
'curtail' means to cut short. Contrary to it, 'amplifying' is the most suitable response.
Q5.
Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the question given below it. Certain words are printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
The concept of ‘Corporate Governance’ and ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ are two concepts that have been developed by western economies. A company which is well managed and governed is successful in the sense that it fulfils the aims of all its stakeholders and grows with sustainability. Such an organization should be able to fulfil its obligation towards the society at large and in the process be able to help in sustaining its progress as well as progress of the economy as a whole. These concepts have become all the more relevant in developing and emerging economies and have spread across all sectors. Financial institutions and banks are spear headers of economic development in emerging economies. The onus of capital accumulation, in view of a low savings rate, along with mobilization of capital into productive and priority sectors of the economy, lies on the banks and financial institutions. These institutions thus play a dual role in prevalence of good governance norms and ensuring that the society gets its due. On one hand, banks and financial institutions must practice good governance norms as well as fulfil their obligations towards society by practicing good CSR, whilst they should ensure that the large corporations do the same by virtue of being large investors in these corporations.
The issue of relationship or complementarity of Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility has been often discussed. The concept of ‘Corporate Governance’ essentially points towards ethical functioning of a corporation whereby in the process of achievement of the goal of profit maximization, the rights and interests of all the stakeholders of the corporation should be protected.
Corporate Social responsibility essentially consists of or refers to actions of a corporation which benefits the society in general, an external stake holder of the corporation and it may contradict with the interests of one or more internal stakeholders. However, it is not essential that the interests may necessarily contradict. It has been widely observed that successful corporations generally give it back to the society as they continue to benefit from it.
The practice of good governance norms in banks is essential as it directs and leads economic growth as well as economic development in an economy. The banks and other financial institutions, basically function for the benefit of the society, hence the practice of CSR activities by banks assumes added significance. CSR practices are not only for external stake holders of an organization, but it embodies many aspects like employee relations, diversity, human right activities, non-practice of harmful policies, compensation policies practiced by organization etc. The CSR activities also help in brand building of organizations, which is an important aspect for banks and financial institutions as well in view of increasing competition in this sector.
In the context of the given passage, a successful company can be defined as a company that-
Answer : Option D
Explaination / Solution:
This can be interpreted from the initial lines of the passage, “Such an organization should be able to fulfill its obligation towards the society at large and in the process be able to help in sustaining its progress as well as progress of the economy as a whole.”
Q6. Directions: Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical mistake/error in it. The error if any, will be one part of sentence. Mark the number of the part with errors as your answer. If there is 'No error', mark (5).
If you have made a mistake(1)/while filling up the form(2)/you should be informed(3)/the Income Tax department immediately(4)/ No error (5)
Answer : Option C
Explaination / Solution:
There is error in Part (3). Here Active voice that is “should inform” should be used.
Hence Option C is correct
Q7. Direction: Which of the following is the MOST OPPOSITE in meaning to the given word?
Answer : Option E
Explaination / Solution:
Perfidious means untrustworthy.
Mendacious means not telling the truth; lying.
Duplicitous means deceitful.
Treasonous means involving or guilty of the crime of betraying one's country.
Treacherous means guilty of or involving betrayal or deception.
Steadfast means loyal; resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering.
Hence, steadfast is the correct answer.
Q8. If you choose plan P, you will have to _______ plan Q, as these two are mutually _________.
Answer : Option A
Explaination / Solution:
No Explaination.
Q9.
Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
The idea that every individual should have access to a minimum guaranteed basic income is not new. Thomas Paine sought an equal inheritance for everyone, “a national fund” which would pay every adult a sum of “fifteen pounds sterling as compensation” for the introduction of the system of landed property. Over the last century, with the Great Depression, welfare policy in the U.S. was transformed with minimum wage legislation, while Keynesianism meant that the government would attempt to stimulate the economy during downturns by directly financing public employment and public works. Long-term support was offered to the aged, the disabled and single mothers while unemployment insurance sought to support the temporarily unemployed. The 1960s brought about the war on poverty, waged through federally funded social service and healthcare programmes. Milton Friedman sought a negative income tax, eliminating the need for a minimum wage and potentially the “welfare trap”, while bureaucracy could be curtailed. Richard Nixon supported and yet failed to push through a “Family Assistance Plan” while George McGovern’s 1972 campaign sought a $1,000 “demogrant” for all citizens. This decadal struggle against poverty in the West cut the number of those in poverty in the U.S. to 26 million from 36 million in 12 years. Education and health care were improved, but the employability and the income of the poor remained stranded. With the rise of neo-liberalism, opinion shifted. Existing welfare systems had grown too cumbersome, without eliminating poverty.
Now, however, the idea of an unconditional annual income is gathering momentum. Y Combinator, of Silicon Valley fame, is testing out a new business model: handing out money, without any strings, in an unnamed U.S. community in an attempt to replace safety net welfare policies that often fail to help those with the greatest need. Finland is considering a plan to give 100,000 citizens $1,000 a month, while four cities in Netherlands are starting trial programmes. Switzerland may have rejected, in a referendum, the idea of giving citizens about $2,500 a month, but the Canadian province of Ontario is planning a trial run. Progressives hail it as an escape route for workaholics, from oppressive jobs and situations, giving individuals greater time to build relationships and pursue education or artistic endeavours. Conservatives applaud its potential to shrink bureaucracy. As job concerns about automation grow, the basic income stands out as a panacea.
Even India has seen its share of basic income experiments. A pilot in eight villages in Madhya Pradesh provided over 6,000 individuals a monthly payment (Rs.100 for a child, Rs.200 for an adult; later raised to Rs.150 and Rs.300, respectively). The money was initially paid out as cash, while transitioning to bank accounts three months later. The transfer was unconditional, saving the prevention of substitution of food subsidies for cash grants. The results were intriguing. Most villagers used the money on household improvements while taking precautions against malaria — 24.3 per cent of the households changed their main source of energy for cooking or lighting; 16 per cent had made changes to their toilet. There was a seeming shift towards markets, instead of ration shops, given better financial liquidity, leading to improved nutrition, particularly among SC and ST households, and better school attendance and performance. There was an increase in small-scale investments (better seeds, sewing machines, equipment repairs etc). Bonded labour decreased, along with casual wage labour, while self-employed farming and business activity increased. Financial inclusion was rapid – within four months of the pilot, 95.6 per cent of the individuals had bank accounts. Within a year, 73 per cent of the households reported a reduction in their debt. There was no evidence of any increase in spending on alcohol.
Before moving ahead, we would need more data to prove its applicability in the Indian context. There have only been eight large-scale pilot programmes testing the impact of a universal basic income on human well-being. Social context too matters — what might have worked in Manitoba or Kenya might not necessarily be applicable to India. We need a greater depth of pilot studies, focussed on ensuring universal access and covering minimum living expenses. With more pilots planned in Oakland, Netherlands, Germany and India, insights developed can be used to modify welfare policy.
Which among the following is MOST SIMILAR in meaning to the word “sought”?
Answer : Option C
Explaination / Solution:
'sought' means wanted. Corresponding to it, 'desired' is the most suitable response.
Q10.
Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the question given below it. Certain words are printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
The concept of ‘Corporate Governance’ and ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ are two concepts that have been developed by western economies. A company which is well managed and governed is successful in the sense that it fulfils the aims of all its stakeholders and grows with sustainability. Such an organization should be able to fulfil its obligation towards the society at large and in the process be able to help in sustaining its progress as well as progress of the economy as a whole. These concepts have become all the more relevant in developing and emerging economies and have spread across all sectors. Financial institutions and banks are spear headers of economic development in emerging economies. The onus of capital accumulation, in view of a low savings rate, along with mobilization of capital into productive and priority sectors of the economy, lies on the banks and financial institutions. These institutions thus play a dual role in prevalence of good governance norms and ensuring that the society gets its due. On one hand, banks and financial institutions must practice good governance norms as well as fulfil their obligations towards society by practicing good CSR, whilst they should ensure that the large corporations do the same by virtue of being large investors in these corporations.
The issue of relationship or complementarity of Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility has been often discussed. The concept of ‘Corporate Governance’ essentially points towards ethical functioning of a corporation whereby in the process of achievement of the goal of profit maximization, the rights and interests of all the stakeholders of the corporation should be protected.
Corporate Social responsibility essentially consists of or refers to actions of a corporation which benefits the society in general, an external stake holder of the corporation and it may contradict with the interests of one or more internal stakeholders. However, it is not essential that the interests may necessarily contradict. It has been widely observed that successful corporations generally give it back to the society as they continue to benefit from it.
The practice of good governance norms in banks is essential as it directs and leads economic growth as well as economic development in an economy. The banks and other financial institutions, basically function for the benefit of the society, hence the practice of CSR activities by banks assumes added significance. CSR practices are not only for external stake holders of an organization, but it embodies many aspects like employee relations, diversity, human right activities, non-practice of harmful policies, compensation policies practiced by organization etc. The CSR activities also help in brand building of organizations, which is an important aspect for banks and financial institutions as well in view of increasing competition in this sector.
Why are CSR practices considered essential for banks and other financial institutions?
(i) Because these institutions are essential for the economic development of a country
(ii) Because their primary motive is to serve the society
(iii) Because CSR helps in improving the image of these institutions
(i) Because these institutions are essential for the economic development of a country
(ii) Because their primary motive is to serve the society
(iii) Because CSR helps in improving the image of these institutions
Answer : Option C
Explaination / Solution:
The first two options can be interpreted from these lines of the passage, “The practice of good governance norms in banks is essential as it directs and leads economic growth as well as economic development in an economy. The banks and other financial institutions, basically function for the benefit of the society, hence the practice of CSR activities by banks assumes added significance.” The third option can be interpreted from the last lines of the passage i.e “The CSR activities also help in brand building of organizations, which is an important aspect for banks and financial institutions as well in view of increasing competition in this sector.” Hence, all of the above options are correct.
