Directions (1-10): In the following passage there are blanks, each of which has been numbered and one word has been suggested alongside the blank. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each, five options are given. In four options, one word is suggested in each option. Find out the appropriate word which fits the blank appropriately. If the word written alongside the blank fits the passage, choose option ‘e’ (No correction required) as the correct choice.
Q1. We need a multi-pronged story____________(1) to help both resource-poor farmers and the educated better-off ones. For the majority, promoting____________ (2) farm yields and diversifying livelihoods may____________ (3) be the best way. Many experts provide long lists of recommendations for raising output. The foremost is irrigation, and a judicious use of groundwater. Only 44 per cent of our cropland is irrigated — this needs order____________ (4) expansion. We have also used our groundwater riskily____________ (5). In Punjab, with drastic____________ (6) overdrawing, the water table has been falling by 2.6 feet annually since 2000. Instead of diesel and electricity subsidies, which encourage excessive pumping, we must strictly guide____________ (7)extraction (say, by meters), conserve water use by techniques____________ (8) like drip irrigation, expand rainwater harvesting, etc. A second strategic need is for institutional innovation, especially promoting cooperation in production and linking farmers to higher value chains. Pooling land, labour and capital can help small farmers reduce____________ (9) farm size, enjoy scale economies, share risks, emend____________ (10) input access, upscale technology and enlarge the skill pool — small owners can thus become medium-sized producers.
(a) scenario
(b) angle
(c) strategy
(d) control
(e) No improvement required
Q2. We need a multi-pronged story____________(1) to help both resource-poor farmers and the educated better-off ones. For the majority, promoting____________ (2) farm yields and diversifying livelihoods may____________ (3) be the best way. Many experts provide long lists of recommendations for raising output. The foremost is irrigation, and a judicious use of groundwater. Only 44 per cent of our cropland is irrigated — this needs order____________ (4) expansion. We have also used our groundwater riskily____________ (5). In Punjab, with drastic____________ (6) overdrawing, the water table has been falling by 2.6 feet annually since 2000. Instead of diesel and electricity subsidies, which encourage excessive pumping, we must strictly guide____________ (7)extraction (say, by meters), conserve water use by techniques____________ (8) like drip irrigation, expand rainwater harvesting, etc. A second strategic need is for institutional innovation, especially promoting cooperation in production and linking farmers to higher value chains. Pooling land, labour and capital can help small farmers reduce____________ (9) farm size, enjoy scale economies, share risks, emend____________ (10) input access, upscale technology and enlarge the skill pool — small owners can thus become medium-sized producers.
(a) raising
(b) deepening
(c) fostering
(d) elevating
(e) No improvement required
Q3. We need a multi-pronged story____________(1) to help both resource-poor farmers and the educated better-off ones. For the majority, promoting____________ (2) farm yields and diversifying livelihoods may____________ (3) be the best way. Many experts provide long lists of recommendations for raising output. The foremost is irrigation, and a judicious use of groundwater. Only 44 per cent of our cropland is irrigated — this needs order____________ (4) expansion. We have also used our groundwater riskily____________ (5). In Punjab, with drastic____________ (6) overdrawing, the water table has been falling by 2.6 feet annually since 2000. Instead of diesel and electricity subsidies, which encourage excessive pumping, we must strictly guide____________ (7)extraction (say, by meters), conserve water use by techniques____________ (8) like drip irrigation, expand rainwater harvesting, etc. A second strategic need is for institutional innovation, especially promoting cooperation in production and linking farmers to higher value chains. Pooling land, labour and capital can help small farmers reduce____________ (9) farm size, enjoy scale economies, share risks, emend____________ (10) input access, upscale technology and enlarge the skill pool — small owners can thus become medium-sized producers.
(a) is
(b) will
(c) would
(d) could
(e) No improvement required
Q4. We need a multi-pronged story____________(1) to help both resource-poor farmers and the educated better-off ones. For the majority, promoting____________ (2) farm yields and diversifying livelihoods may____________ (3) be the best way. Many experts provide long lists of recommendations for raising output. The foremost is irrigation, and a judicious use of groundwater. Only 44 per cent of our cropland is irrigated — this needs order____________ (4) expansion. We have also used our groundwater riskily____________ (5). In Punjab, with drastic____________ (6) overdrawing, the water table has been falling by 2.6 feet annually since 2000. Instead of diesel and electricity subsidies, which encourage excessive pumping, we must strictly guide____________ (7)extraction (say, by meters), conserve water use by techniques____________ (8) like drip irrigation, expand rainwater harvesting, etc. A second strategic need is for institutional innovation, especially promoting cooperation in production and linking farmers to higher value chains. Pooling land, labour and capital can help small farmers reduce____________ (9) farm size, enjoy scale economies, share risks, emend____________ (10) input access, upscale technology and enlarge the skill pool — small owners can thus become medium-sized producers.
(a) force
(b) priority
(c) power
(d) caliber
(e) No improvement required
Q5. We need a multi-pronged story____________(1) to help both resource-poor farmers and the educated better-off ones. For the majority, promoting____________ (2) farm yields and diversifying livelihoods may____________ (3) be the best way. Many experts provide long lists of recommendations for raising output. The foremost is irrigation, and a judicious use of groundwater. Only 44 per cent of our cropland is irrigated — this needs order____________ (4) expansion. We have also used our groundwater riskily____________ (5). In Punjab, with drastic____________ (6) overdrawing, the water table has been falling by 2.6 feet annually since 2000. Instead of diesel and electricity subsidies, which encourage excessive pumping, we must strictly guide____________ (7)extraction (say, by meters), conserve water use by techniques____________ (8) like drip irrigation, expand rainwater harvesting, etc. A second strategic need is for institutional innovation, especially promoting cooperation in production and linking farmers to higher value chains. Pooling land, labour and capital can help small farmers reduce____________ (9) farm size, enjoy scale economies, share risks, emend____________ (10) input access, upscale technology and enlarge the skill pool — small owners can thus become medium-sized producers.
(a) seriously
(b) critically
(c) dangerously
(d) recklessly
(e) No improvement required
Q6. We need a multi-pronged story____________(1) to help both resource-poor farmers and the educated better-off ones. For the majority, promoting____________ (2) farm yields and diversifying livelihoods may____________ (3) be the best way. Many experts provide long lists of recommendations for raising output. The foremost is irrigation, and a judicious use of groundwater. Only 44 per cent of our cropland is irrigated — this needs order____________ (4) expansion. We have also used our groundwater riskily____________ (5). In Punjab, with drastic____________ (6) overdrawing, the water table has been falling by 2.6 feet annually since 2000. Instead of diesel and electricity subsidies, which encourage excessive pumping, we must strictly guide____________ (7)extraction (say, by meters), conserve water use by techniques____________ (8) like drip irrigation, expand rainwater harvesting, etc. A second strategic need is for institutional innovation, especially promoting cooperation in production and linking farmers to higher value chains. Pooling land, labour and capital can help small farmers reduce____________ (9) farm size, enjoy scale economies, share risks, emend____________ (10) input access, upscale technology and enlarge the skill pool — small owners can thus become medium-sized producers.
(a) strong
(b) fierce
(c) desperate
(d) exigent
(e) No improvement required
Q7. We need a multi-pronged story____________(1) to help both resource-poor farmers and the educated better-off ones. For the majority, promoting____________ (2) farm yields and diversifying livelihoods may____________ (3) be the best way. Many experts provide long lists of recommendations for raising output. The foremost is irrigation, and a judicious use of groundwater. Only 44 per cent of our cropland is irrigated — this needs order____________ (4) expansion. We have also used our groundwater riskily____________ (5). In Punjab, with drastic____________ (6) overdrawing, the water table has been falling by 2.6 feet annually since 2000. Instead of diesel and electricity subsidies, which encourage excessive pumping, we must strictly guide____________ (7)extraction (say, by meters), conserve water use by techniques____________ (8) like drip irrigation, expand rainwater harvesting, etc. A second strategic need is for institutional innovation, especially promoting cooperation in production and linking farmers to higher value chains. Pooling land, labour and capital can help small farmers reduce____________ (9) farm size, enjoy scale economies, share risks, emend____________ (10) input access, upscale technology and enlarge the skill pool — small owners can thus become medium-sized producers.
(a) adapt
(b) regulate
(c) modify
(d) settle
(e) No improvement required
Q8. We need a multi-pronged story____________(1) to help both resource-poor farmers and the educated better-off ones. For the majority, promoting____________ (2) farm yields and diversifying livelihoods may____________ (3) be the best way. Many experts provide long lists of recommendations for raising output. The foremost is irrigation, and a judicious use of groundwater. Only 44 per cent of our cropland is irrigated — this needs order____________ (4) expansion. We have also used our groundwater riskily____________ (5). In Punjab, with drastic____________ (6) overdrawing, the water table has been falling by 2.6 feet annually since 2000. Instead of diesel and electricity subsidies, which encourage excessive pumping, we must strictly guide____________ (7)extraction (say, by meters), conserve water use by techniques____________ (8) like drip irrigation, expand rainwater harvesting, etc. A second strategic need is for institutional innovation, especially promoting cooperation in production and linking farmers to higher value chains. Pooling land, labour and capital can help small farmers reduce____________ (9) farm size, enjoy scale economies, share risks, emend____________ (10) input access, upscale technology and enlarge the skill pool — small owners can thus become medium-sized producers.
(a) art
(b) course
(c) system
(d) means
(e) No improvement required
Q9. We need a multi-pronged story____________(1) to help both resource-poor farmers and the educated better-off ones. For the majority, promoting____________ (2) farm yields and diversifying livelihoods may____________ (3) be the best way. Many experts provide long lists of recommendations for raising output. The foremost is irrigation, and a judicious use of groundwater. Only 44 per cent of our cropland is irrigated — this needs order____________ (4) expansion. We have also used our groundwater riskily____________ (5). In Punjab, with drastic____________ (6) overdrawing, the water table has been falling by 2.6 feet annually since 2000. Instead of diesel and electricity subsidies, which encourage excessive pumping, we must strictly guide____________ (7)extraction (say, by meters), conserve water use by techniques____________ (8) like drip irrigation, expand rainwater harvesting, etc. A second strategic need is for institutional innovation, especially promoting cooperation in production and linking farmers to higher value chains. Pooling land, labour and capital can help small farmers reduce____________ (9) farm size, enjoy scale economies, share risks, emend____________ (10) input access, upscale technology and enlarge the skill pool — small owners can thus become medium-sized producers.
(a) procure
(b) gain
(c) destroy
(d) expand
(e) No improvement required
Q10. We need a multi-pronged story____________(1) to help both resource-poor farmers and the educated better-off ones. For the majority, promoting____________ (2) farm yields and diversifying livelihoods may____________ (3) be the best way. Many experts provide long lists of recommendations for raising output. The foremost is irrigation, and a judicious use of groundwater. Only 44 per cent of our cropland is irrigated — this needs order____________ (4) expansion. We have also used our groundwater riskily____________ (5). In Punjab, with drastic____________ (6) overdrawing, the water table has been falling by 2.6 feet annually since 2000. Instead of diesel and electricity subsidies, which encourage excessive pumping, we must strictly guide____________ (7)extraction (say, by meters), conserve water use by techniques____________ (8) like drip irrigation, expand rainwater harvesting, etc. A second strategic need is for institutional innovation, especially promoting cooperation in production and linking farmers to higher value chains. Pooling land, labour and capital can help small farmers reduce____________ (9) farm size, enjoy scale economies, share risks, emend____________ (10) input access, upscale technology and enlarge the skill pool — small owners can thus become medium-sized producers.
(a) sharpen
(b) improve
(c) develop
(d) rectify
(e) No improvement required
Solutions
S1. Ans. (c)
Sol. “strategy” is the more suitable word in context of its meaning to the sentence. The word ‘strategy’ means a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim.
S2. Ans. (a)
Sol. “raising” is the correct word replacement as it means lifting or moving to a higher position or level.
S3. Ans. (c)
Sol. “would” is the correct grammar usage as there is no certainty but speculation.
S4. Ans. (b)
Sol. “priority” is the correct word replacement as it means a thing that is regarded as more important than others.
S5. Ans. (d)
Sol. “recklessly” is the correct usage in context of its meaning to the sentence. Other words are irrelevant. The word ‘recklessly’ means without regard to the danger or the consequences of one’s actions; rashly.
S6. Ans. (e)
Sol. “drastic” is the correct word in context of its usage in the sentence. Hence it doesn’t require any improvement.
S7. Ans. (b)
Sol. “regulate” is the correct word replacement as it means control or maintain the rate or speed of (a machine or process) so that it operates properly.
S8. Ans. (e)
Sol. ‘techniques’ is the correct word in context of its usage in the sentence. Hence it doesn’t require any improvement.
S9. Ans. (d)
Sol. The phrase “expand farm size” adds meaning to the sentence. The word ‘expand’ means become or make larger or more extensive.
S10. Ans. (b)
Sol. “improve” is the correct word replacement as it means achieve or produce something better than.
English Language Quiz For Bank Foundatio...
English Language Quiz For Bank Mains Exa...
