Reading Comprehension for IBPS PO Prelims Exam: 22nd August 2018 |

Dear Aspirants,

Reading Comprehension for IBPS PO Prelims Exam

IBPS PO Prelims is in its way and lot of aspirants are heading towards new hopes with this upcoming opportunity. Thus, English Language can be an impetus for their success by saving time and scoring well. So, instead of boiling the ocean, try building up a strong vocabulary, an effective knowledge of grammar, and efficient comprehension skills so as to be on the ball to face this particular section. Here is a quiz on English Language being provided by Adda247 to let you practice the best of latest pattern English Questions for upcoming IBPS PO exam.

Directions (1- 10): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below them. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

Social sector benefits, notably rice at Rs 2 a kg and 100 days of work under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, have scarcely been able to address the grinding privation in the Junglemahal belt that straddles West Bengal’s Purulia, Bankura, West Midnapore and the newly-created Jhargram districts. Whether or not this failure on the food front facilitated the Bharatiya Janata Party’s victory in the region’s panchayat elections need not detain us here. In point of fact, 14 years after the five starvation deaths at Amlasole (West Midnapore), the recent death out of starvation of a 67-year-old woman in Purulia, has caused a flutter in the district administration’s roost. This is not to forget the deaths on account of starvation in Darjeeling’s tea estates.
In death, Bimala Pande symbolises the failure of the local administration in Purulia, a reaffirmation that the best-laid plans can be made to flounder by the bureaucracy, especially at the subordinate levels. The prognosis that she “died of illness and not starvation” is to split hairs between cause and effect. That said, the response of the government has not been as facile as that of its predecessor in the wake of the Amlasole tragedy. It would be pertinent to recall that the Supreme Court had then ordered an inquiry into the tragedy in West Midnapore. The Bengal Left had drawn a fine distinction between starvation and malnutrition. Death caused by hunger lends no scope for semantic quibbling. Yet the present dispensation will have to concede that for all the drum-beating over welfare, the failure to provide the promised entitlements has driven ~ at least one individual ~ quicker to death than to a handful of grain. The truth of the matter was recounted by none other than her son ~ “She was without food for seven days prior to her death on 9 August. We ran from pillar to post to get ration cards and other benefits like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, but failed to get our names listed.”
In the net, the family wasn’t listed in the NREGA scheme. Nor for that matter did it receive one kilogram of rice for Rs 2 promised by the state government to those below the poverty line in Junglemahal. (A) It is hard not to wonder if the welfare schemes have failed in one of West Bengal’s particularly vulnerable areas, verily with the section of the populace that needs them the most. It is pretty obvious that the Benthamite philosophy of the greatest good of the greatest number is yet to attain complete fruition in West Bengal. The welfare schemes, while laudable, have not been uniformly beneficial. While there is little doubt that many have benefited, many others quite palpably have not. And the issue ought to be accorded uppermost priority in course of Mamata Banerjee’s periodic visits to rural Bengal. Parts of the state wallow in the mire of poverty and hunger. Bimala Pande has emitted a painful signal ~ food insecurity is overwhelming.

Q1. As per the passage, what does the death of Bimala Pande symbolise about the administration?

It gives a confirmation that even the best laid plans can be made to face difficulty by the administration, especially at higher levels.

It gives a confirmation that even the worst laid plans can be made effective by the administration, especially at higher levels.

It gives a confirmation that even the best laid plans can be made to face difficulty by the administration, especially at lower levels.

It gives a confirmation that even the worst laid plans can be made effective by the administration, especially at lower levels.

None of the Above

Solution:

Refer the following lines in paragarph 2 "In death, Bimala Pande symbolises the failure of the local administration in Purulia, a reaffirmation that the best-laid plans can be made to flounder by the bureaucracy, especially at the subordinate levels." Here, flounder means to face difficulty.

Q2. Which of the following can be the most appropriate title for the passage above?

Rise in prices of Rice

Social Sector Benefits

A painful signal

Benefits of MNREGA Scheme

Achievements of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana

Solution:

The most appropriate title for the passage is "A painful signal". In the passage, the author is focussing upon the lack of implementation of social sector benefits by relating it with a painful story. He tells the extent of losses that occur due to ineffective implementation of social sector benefits scheme by depicting a sad part of it.

Q3. Which of the following statements are incorrect in context with the passage?

(I) Mahatma Gandhi's NREGS has scarcely been able to address the scarcity in the Junglemahal belt in West Bengal.

(II) The death of Bimala Pande symbolises the failure of the local administration in Purulia
(III) It is evident now that over the last five years there has been sluggishness in MGNREGS’s implementation.

Only (I)

Only (II)

Only (III)

Both (I) and (II)

Both (II) and (III)

Solution:

Only statement (III) is incorrect. Both (I) and (II) are correct. Refer the following lines:
Statement (I)"Social sector benefits, notably rice at Rs 2 a kg and 100 days of work under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, have scarcely been able to address the grinding privation in the Junglemahal belt that straddles West Bengal’s Purulia, Bankura, West Midnapore and the newly-created Jhargram districts. "
Statement (II)"In death, Bimala Pande symbolises the failure of the local administration in Purulia, a reaffirmation that the best-laid plans can be made to flounder by the bureaucracy, especially at the subordinate levels. "

Q4. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage above?
(I) Right now, many states do not register demand for employment even in times of widespread distress.
(II) In the initial years, MNREGA was a true game-changer, rural wages started climbing and reports also pointed towards a decline in migration to urban centers.
(III) The welfare schemes are admirable but have not been uniformly beneficial.

Only (I)

Only (II)

Only (III)

Both (I) and (II)

Both (II) and (III)

Solution:

Only (III) is the correct option. Refer the following lines in paragraph 3 "welfare schemes, while laudable, have not been uniformly beneficial."

Q5. In the passage above, a line is given in bold - (A) It is hard not to wonder if the welfare schemes have failed in one of West Bengal’s particularly vulnerable areas, verily with the section of the populace that needs them the most. What is the best way to write to statement without altering its meaning?

It is certain to wonder if the welfare schemes have failed in one of West Bengal’s particularly vulnerable areas, truly with the community that needed them the most.

It is definite to wonder about the failure of scheme in West Bengal’s most populated area’s most desirable section.

It will not be wonderful for the sections that needed the schemes the most to have the schemes failed in their vulnerable areas.

Both (a) and (b)

None of the Above

Solution:

Only statement (a) has the same meaning as the bold statement in the passage.

Q6. Choose the word which is MOST SIMILAR to the word given in passage.

FLUTTER

Spurt

Doldrums

Slump

Motivate

Exaggerate

Solution:

Flutter: a sudden and usually temporary growth of activity

Spurt: a sudden marked burst or increase of activity or speed.

Doldrums: a state or period of stagnation or depression.

Slump: sit, lean, or fall heavily and limply.

Exaggerate: represent (something) as being larger, better, or worse than it really is.

Q7. Choose the word which is MOST SIMILAR to the word given in passage.

FACILE

Profound

Inclusive

Strenuous

Superficial

Toil

Solution:

Facile: ignoring the true complexities of an issue; superficial.

Superficial: lacking depth of character or understanding.

Profound: (of a state, quality, or emotion) very great or intense.

Inclusive: including all the services or items normally expected or required.

Strenuous: requiring or using great effort or exertion.

Toil: very hard or unpleasant work

Q8. Choose the word which is most opposite to the following word given in bold in the passage.
QUIBBLING

Carping

Cavil

Fussing

Nitpick

Endorsing

Solution:

Quibbling: argue or raise objections about a trivial matter.

Endorsing: to promote the interests or cause of

Carping: given to making or expressing unfavorable judgments about things

Cavil: make petty or unnecessary objections.

Fussing: to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely

Nitpick: to make often peevish criticisms or objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant

Q9. Choose the word which is most opposite to the following word given in bold in the passage.
LAUDABLE

Estimable

Meritorious

Delightful

Discreditable

Honorable

Solution:

Laudable: (of an action, idea, or aim) deserving praise and commendation.

Discreditable: tending to bring harm to a reputation.

Meritorious: deserving reward or praise.

Delightful: causing delight; charming.

Honorable: bringing or deserving honour.

Estimable: worthy of great respect.

Q10. Choose the word which is most opposite to the following word given in bold in the passage.
WALLOW

Revel

Delight

Bask

Eschew

Luxuriate

Solution:

Wallow: (of a person) indulge in an unrestrained way in (something that one finds pleasurable).
Eschew: deliberately avoid using; abstain from.

Revel: gain great pleasure from (a situation).

Delight: please (someone) greatly.

Bask: lie exposed to warmth and light, typically from the sun, for relaxation and pleasure.

Luxuriate: enjoy (something) as a luxury; take self-indulgent delight in.

Directions(11-15):In each of the following sentence, there are two blank spaces. Below each sentence, there are five options and each blank is to be filled with the same word given below to make the sentence correct. Fill up the sentences with the correct word.

Q11. (I) I made a few suggestions, and he thanked me as was his ………….. nature.

(II) When I met the princess, she was ………………… and friendly despite her twelve- hour plane ride.

pleasantly

clever

gracious

ungracious

amusing

Solution:

Gracious means courteous, kind, and pleasant, especially towards someone of lower social status. In sentence (I) it is written he thanked me, which shows a kind nature. In sentence (II) gracious is synonymous with friendly so gracious is the most appropriate choice.

Q12. (I) After ……………………… negotiations, in the bilateral joint communiqué issued at the end of the visit, President Musharraf gave the assurance that he would not permit any territory under Pakistan’s control to be used to support terrorism in any manner.

(II) A treaty was urgently required and …………………….. efforts should be made to secure participation and cooperation with the Soviet Union.

strenuous

beautiful

unfortunate

feeble

generous

Solution:

Strenuous means requiring or using great effort or exertion. In sentence (I), negotiations were made and then President Musharraf gave the assurance that he would not permit any territory under Pakistan’s control to be used to support terrorism in any manner. Negotiations require effort and so strenuous is the correct choice. In sentence (II) efforts are being talked about, hence strenuous is the correct choice here also.

Q13. (I) Times were different and nobody saw the need to raise a ………………………………., which is why the present outcry does not make sense.

(II) Someone said the bank had failed, and soon there was a ……………………………….. as people shouted for their money.

opinion

racket

demand

applause

hue and cry

Solution:

Hue and cry means a loud clamor or public outcry.
In sentence (I), the latter part of sentence talks about an outcry and a synonymous meaning word should fit in the blank. The sentence says that present outcry does not make sense which means something similar was to be done in the past.
In sentence (II), the bank had failed so something negative has to happen and so the hue and cry is the correct choice.

Q14. (I) Sometimes, in a vacant or ……………… mood, my husband, a doctor, would regale me with anecdotes from his medical college days.

(II) Even though the woman seemed happy, the bartender could not help but notice the sad and ………………… look on her face.

unreflective

pensive

silly

frivolous

flighty

Solution:

Pensive means engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought. In sentence (I), the husband involves her with her talks so pensive is the correct choice. In statement (II), her sad face is synonymous to a serious thought and so pensive is the correct choice. Frivolous means lacking importance, so it does not go with a sad face.
Flighty means lacking in seriousness or maturity, so it also does not go with a sad mood.

Q15. (I) In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to clean the “filthiness all around us”, which, according to him, is an …………………. for promoting the tourism that offers jobs to the poorest of the poor.

(II) Your ego will create …………………. in your path and no one will offer you help.

opportunities

obstacle

hitching

clearance

promotion

Solution:

Obstacle means a thing that blocks one's way or prevents or hinders progress. In sentence (I), filthiness prevents promoting tourism hence; it becomes an obstacle for tourism.
In statement (II), ego is a negative word and so it will not create positive results. Ii will hinder your path and thus obstacle is the correct choice.

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