SBI - English (for PO Recruitment)

SBI – English (for PO Recruitment)    (Sourced)

Directions:(Q1 -15) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. Certain words/expressions are given in bold in the passage to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

       

Radically changing monsoon patterns, reduction in the winter rice harvest and a quantum increase in respiratory diseases all part of the environmental doomsday scenario which is reportedly playing out in South Asia.  According to a United Nations Environment Program report, a deadly three km deep blanket of pollution comprising a fearsome cocktail of ash, acid, aerosols and other particles has enveloped this region. For India, already struggling to cope with a drought, the implications of this are devastating and further crop failure will amount to a life and death question for many Indians. The increase in premature deaths will have adverse social and economic consequences and a rise in morbidities will place an unbearable burden on our crumbling health system. And there is no one to blame but ourselves. Both official and corporate India has always been allergic to any mention of clean technology. Most mechanical two wheelers roll out off the assembly line without proper pollution control system. Little effort is made for R & D on simple technologies, which could make a vital difference to people's lives and the environment.

       

However, while there is no denying that South Asia must clean up its act, skeptics might question the timing of the haze report. The Kyoto meet on climate change is just two weeks away and the Stage is set for the usual battle between the developing world and the West, particularly the U.S. President Mr. Bush has adamantly refused to sign any protocol, which would mean a change in American consumption level. U.N. environment report will likely find a place in the U.S. arsenal as it plants an accusing finger towards controls like India and China. Yet the U.S. can hardly deny its own dubious role in the matter of erasing trading quotas. Richer countries can simply buy up excess credits from poorer countries and continue to pollute. Rather than try to get the better of developing countries, who undoubtedly have taken up environmental shortcuts in their bid to catch up with the West, the U.S. should take a look at the environmental profligacy, which is going on within. From opening up virgin territories for oil exploration to relaxing the standards for drinking water, Mr. Bush's policies are not exactly beneficial, not even to America's interests. We realize that we are all in this together and that pollution anywhere should be a global concern otherwise there will only be more tunnels at the end of the tunnel.

1. Both official and corporate India is allergic to:

(a) failure of monsoon

(b) poverty and inequality

(c) slowdown in industrial production

(d) mention of clean technology 

(e) crop failure

Ans: (d)

2. Which, according to the passage. Is a life and death question to many Indians?

(a) Increase in respiratory diseases

(b) Use of clean technology

(c) Thick blanket of pollution over the region

(d) Failure in crops 

(e) Dwindling agricultural yield

Ans: (d)

3. If the rate of premature deaths increases it will:

(a) exert added burden on our crumbling economy

(b) have adverse social and economic consequences

(c) make positive effect on our efforts to control population

(d) have less job aspirants in the ' society

(e) have healthy effect on our economy

Ans: (b)

4. Choose the word which is SIMILAR in meaning to the word 'profligacy' as used in the passage.

(a) wastefulness 

(b) conservation

(c) upliftmeht

(d) criticality

(e) denouncement

Ans: (a)

Explanations :  The meaning of the word Profligacy (Noun) is using money, time, materials etc. in a careless way; wastefulness. Hence, profligacy and wastefulness are synonymous,

5. According to the passage, India cannot tolerate any further:

(a) crop failure

(b) deterioration of health care system

(c) increase in respiratory diseases

(d) proliferation of nuclear devices

(e) social and economic consequences

Ans: (a)

6. According to the passage, two wheeler industries is not adequately concerned about

(a) passenger safety on the roads

(b) life cover insurance of the vehicle owners

(c) pollution control system In the vehicles 

(d) rising cost of the two wheelers

(e) rising cost of the petrol in the country

Ans: (c)

7. What could be the reason behind timing of the haze report just before the Kyoto meet, as indicated in the passage?

(a) United Nations is working hand in glove with U.S.

(b) Organizers of the forthcoming meet to teach a lesson to the U.S.

(c) Drawing attentions of the world towards devastating effects of environment degradation.

(d) U.S. wants to use it as a handle against the developing countries in the forthcoming meet 

(e) The meet is a part of political agenda of the U.N.

Ans: (d)

8. Choose the word which is SIMILAR in meaning to the word 'allergic' as used in the passage.

(a) liking

(b) passionate

(c) possessive

(d) crumbling

(e) repugnant

Ans: (e)

Explanations:  The word Allergic (Adjective) means having an allergy to some thing: having strong dislike of something/ somebody; a medical condition that causes you to react badly or feel ill or sick when you eat or touch a particular substance.

Look at the sentence: I like cats but unfortunately I am allergic to them. You could see he was allergic to housework. Out of the given alternatives repugnant (Adjective) means making you feel strong dislike or disgust.

Look at the sentence:  The idea of eating meat was repugnant to her. We found his suggestion absolutely repugnant. Hence, repugnant and allergic are synonymous.

9. Which of the following is the indication of environmental degradation in South Asia?

(a) Social and economic inequality

(b) Crumbling health care system

(c) Inadequate pollution control system

(d) Overemphasis on technology

(e) Radically changing monsoon pattern 

Ans: (e)

10. What must we realize, according to the passage?

(a) No country should show superiority over other countries

(b) U.N. is putting in hard efforts in the direction of pollution control

(c) All countries must join hands in fighting pollution 

(d) Nobody should travel through tunnel to avoid health hazards

(e) We all must strive hard to increase agricultural production

Ans: (c)

11. Which of the following finds place in the United Nations Environment Programmed Report?

(a) Changing monsoon patterns

(b) Substantial increase in respiratory diseases

(c) A serious cover of pollution over the region

(d) Reduction in winter rice harvest

(e) None of these

Ans: (c)

12. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE in the context of the passage?

(a) U.N. environment report blames countries like India and China

(b) Developing countries have taken environment shortcuts in their bid to catch up with the West.

(c) U.S. is also to be blamed for environmental degradation and pollution

(d) Indians cannot afford to have any further crop failure

(e) U.S. has tightened safety standards for drinking water   

Ans: (e)

13. According to the passage, Kyoto meet is going to witness

(a) calm and dispassionate thinking on the issue of pollution control

(b) a blaming game between developed and developing countries

(c) refusal of U.N. to work as arbitrator

(d) U.S. agreeing to look at the issue of lowering its consumption

(e) countries agreeing for higher monetary allocation to R & D.

Ans: (b)

14. Choose the word which is MOST OPPOSITE in meaning to the word 'dubious' as used in the passage?

(a) unquestionable 

(b) dissimilar

(c) illegal

(d) antisocial

(e) innovative

Ans: (a)

Explanations :  The word Dubious (Adjective) means not certain and slightly suspicious about something: suspicious, doubtful.

Look at the sentence: I was rather dubious about the whole idea.  They indulged in some highly dubious business practices to obtain their current position in the market. Hence, dubious and unquestionable are antonymous.

15. Choose the word which is the MOST OPPOSITE in meaning to the word 'morbidity' as used in the passage.

(a) powerfulness

(b) healthiness 

(c) softness

(d) acuteness

(e) purposeful

Ans: (b)

Explanations :  The word Morbidity (Noun) means a strong interest in sad or unpleasant things, especially disease or death. Hence, morbidity and healthiness are antonymous.