English Language Practice Questions For RBI Assistant Mains 2017

Direction (1-5): In each of the following questions a short passage is given with one of the lines in the passage missing and represented by a blank. Pick out the option which when used to start a sentence combines both the above sentences in one. Select the best out of the five answer choices given, to make the passage complete and coherent.

Q1.____________. Our society is still deeply mired in propagating caste and religious prejudices; rather than take up the issue in isolation, we need to strike at the root cause — caste prejudice. I wonder how this marginalized community will be able to attain some kind of social mobility even with reservation when there is a growing anti-reservation sentiment. We need to do something for them which is sustainable and helps them in achieving a social status on their own.

(a)Because there is no support by society to eliminate the most inhuman of professions, manual scavenging still persist which is the basic reason
(b)Because there is despicable practice of manual scavenging which still persist in India, society support inhuman profession
(c) The basic reason why the despicable practice of manual scavenging still persists in India is because there is negligible or no support by society to eliminate this most inhuman of professions.
(d)No support by society to eliminate this most inhuman of professions manual scavenging still persist in India which is a despicable practice
(e)Why the despicable practice of manual scavenging still persists in India is negligible and no support by society.

Q2.  ___________. More than half of them are under cultivation does not have access to irrigation. Agriculture income generated at an average size of land holding is not adequate to meet farmers’ needs.
Modern agriculture requires investment in farm machinery and use of purchased inputs like seed, fertiliser,agri-chemicals, diesel and hired labor. Most often, savings generated from unremunerative crop enterprise are inadequate for such investments. Rising expenses on health, education, social ceremonies and non-food items put an additional financial demand on farm families.
(a)Indian agriculture low scale and low productivity. About 85% of the operational land-hold the country below 5 acre and 67% farm house hold one acre.
(b)Indian agriculture is known by low scale and productivity. Operational land –holding in country below 5 acre and 67% farm households survive average.
(c)About 85% of the operational land-holding is below 5 acres and 67% households Indian survive on average landholding on one acre.
(d)About 85% of the operational land-holding in country are below 5 acre and 67% average landholding on one acre.
(e) Indian agriculture is characterized by low scale and low productivity. About 85% of the operational land-holdings in the country are below 5 acres and 67% farm households survive on an average landholding of one acre.

Q3___________. However, with the declaration of peace, there was a need to do something about the installed capacity. And so, in 1946, Tupperware company came into being.
At present, the use of plastic has become so ubiquitous that even birds, animals and fish have unwittingly made it part of their diet. Disposed plastic degrades slowly, its chemicals getting leached into surroundings. Further, it breaks down into smaller components over time, entering our food chain and landing up on our plates.
(a)The first synthetic plastic was called Bakelite and was derived from fossil fuels. Large-scale production during Second World War, was directed for war effort.
(b) Plastics had their origin in cellulose derivatives. The first synthetic plastic was called Bakelite and was derived from fossil fuels. During the Second World War, large-scale production of plastic was directed towards the war effort.
(c)Plastic originates from derivatives. Bakelite was derived from fossil fuels. Large-scale production of plastic was directed towards war effort.
(d)During the Second World War, large-scale production of plastic was for war effort. The first plastic Bakelite.
(e)During Bakelite was call first synthetic plastic, was derived from fossil fuel. Plastic had origin in cellulose derivatives. Large-scale production of plastic towards war.

Q4. _____________. The concept, credited to British economist John Maynard Keynes, has been heavily criticized for its assumption that people are naïve. The theory of rational expectations, which among other things states that people learn from experience and can reset their earlier beliefs, was a response to the idea of money illusion.
(a)The people care about the nominal value money rather than its real value. Workers, for instance, would be impressed if their wages double in a year if real money drop more than half
(b)The notion that people care about drop by more than half during the same period. According to this idea, workers, for instance, would be impressed if their wages gets double.
(c)The notion that people care more about the nominal value , would be impressed if their wages double than its real value. Real values of their money were to drop by more than half during the same period.
(d) The notion that people care more about the nominal value of money rather than its real value. According to this idea, workers, for instance, would be impressed if their wages double in a year even if the real value of their money were to drop by more than half during the same period.
(e)The notion were to drop by more than half during the same period. According to this idea, workers, for instance, would be impressed if its wages double.

Q5. ___________. Down the ages, man has tried to discover life’s meaning, the purpose of living, whether there is a God or release from suffering… and to attain to some spiritual state where all the questions are understood by some experience, a transcendent mystical union with the ultimate.
(a)Trying to be something that you are not is not possible. The very want is no different than any other want that we might have.
(b)The very want is no different than any other want. It is not possible.
(c)Trying to be something that you are not is possible. The vary want is not different.
(d)We might have, something that we are not, is not possible. The very want is no different.
(e)No different than any other want that they might have.

Directions (6-15): Read the following passages 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 questions.

PASSAGE – I Despite the economic crunch worldwide that saw pulverization of some of the largest banking and finance giants, Indian banking houses have managed to show positive growth this quarter. Some of India’s leading national banks have posted a net profit rise of more than 40% over the last quarter amid global turmoil. This would come as a big shot in the arm for the investors and consumers of these banks even though apprehension is mounting on other banking and broking firms worldwide. One of the main reasons behind the success of these banks this quarter would be their direct banking by the Government India. People take solace in their investments in public sector watching the bailout packages being cashed out by governments all over the world to save big business houses.

PASSAGE – II Other private banks in India have also reported a substantial net profit over the last quarter. Given the international and domestic scenario, one cannot put this down as a mundane achievement. While others are on a cost cutting spree and firing employees, Indian Companies are actually working on boosting staffing in banking and broking sectors. This can be seen as a big boon in the days to come when the current recession eases and the economy gradually comes back on to the fast track. The finance minister has assured Indian public about the sound health of all Indian banks. This could also be evident from the fact that there have been no mergers and takeovers in Indian Banking sector in a contrast to world scenario where finance houses are looking for mergers to cut costs on operations. We definitely are not looking to thrive; rather we are looking for growth, It is just that the pace of growth is a little slow now as compared to a year or two before. These are hard times of test the hard. The weak in business and career will be weeded out and it is sometimes very beneficial for business on the long run.

Q6. What, according to the author, is the reason for the success for Indian national banks in this quarter?
(a) Indian national banks do not have any commitments in troubled foreign markets
(b) These banks can never face the financial crisis because of their sheer size
(c) These banks are ready to give loans at a very low rate of interest
(d) The public is ready to invest in these banks because of the knowledge that these banks get strong support from the Government.
(e) None of these

Q7. What does the phrase ‘shot in the arm’ as used in the passage mean?
(a) Shock
(b) Fear
(c) Encouragement
(d) Anxiety
(e) None of these

Q8. How, according to the author, is the current recession beneficial?
(a) Worldwide, companies have realized that India is a strong power to reckon with
(b) India is surging ahead of the other companies throughout the world
(c) After the recession is over international companies will turn to India for investments
(d) Recession is bringing down the prices of essential commodities
(e) None of these

Q9. What, according to the author, will be a big boon in the days to come?
(a) The economy coming back on the fast track
(b) The slowing down of the economy
(c) Increased hiring in Indian financial sector in times of economic slowdown
(d) The cost-cutting carried out by all the companies
(e) None of these

Q10. Which of the following statements is definitely true in the context of the passage?
(A) India has not been affected by the economic slowdown.
(B) Indian Banks are showing growth in this quarter despite the recession.
(C) While banking industry in the West was severely affected by the recession in the past, it is now gradually recovering and showing a positive growth.
(a) Only (A)
(b) Only (B)
(c) Only (C)
(d) Only (A) and (B)
(e) Only (B) and (C)

Q11. Which of the following strengthens the finance minister’s statement about the sound health of Indian Banks with respect to the passage?
(A) There have been no acquisitions and mergers of Indian Banks.
(B) The Indian Banks are recording a positive growth.
(C) Layoffs have been observed worldwide.
(a) Only (A) and (B)
(b) Only (A) and (C)
(c) Only (A)
(d) Only (B)
(e) All (A), (B) and (C)

Directions (12-13): 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.

Q12. TURMOIL
(a) danger
(b) shock
(c) sadness
(d) fear
(e) chaos

Q13. PULVERIZATION
(a) polarization
(b) mashing
(c) debasement
(d) fall
(e) crushing

Directions (14-15): 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.

Q14. THRIVE
(a) succeed
(b) deteriorate
(c) worry
(d) tremble
(e) strive

Q15. MUNDANE
(a) extraordinary
(b) regular
(c) severe
(d) visionary
(e) routine