English Language Quiz For SBI Clerk Prelims 2021- 15th May

Direction (1-10): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

In stark contrast to mammals, the zebrafish has the ability to completely regenerate its retina and restore vision after an injury. Researchers from Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, have decoded the signals and genes behind this tremendous feat and hope to uncover valuable clues as to why we humans fail at such regeneration. A particular signalling system — sonic hedgehog (Shh) — in zebrafish has been previously reported to aid in developmental and tissue regeneration activities. To decipher the influence of Shh signalling on retina regeneration, the researchers first inhibited its function. They found that impairing this signal made 90% of the zebrafish embryo exhibit a birth defect called cyclopia. Cyclopia is also seen in humans, where there is a single median eye or a partially divided eye. Detailed understanding of this signalling may provide insights into the rare defect. Since this signalling is also responsible for retina regeneration in zebrafish, the researchers are trying to understand why the signalling does not bring about retina regeneration in humans.

They performed whole retina RNA sequencing at various time points post-retinal injury to the zebrafish eye. Several genes (zic2b, foxn4, mmp9) were found to be upregulated through ‘Shh’ signalling. Zic2b and foxn4 are essential components for development and tissue regeneration, whereas mmp9 is an enzyme which makes the environment congenial for freshly formed cells. Individual knockdowns of these genes also revealed that these are indeed essential for normal retina regeneration. The researchers also showed the role of a microRNA (let-7) which is regulated through a particular gene (Lin28a) which allows normal Shh signalling during the retina regeneration process. “During an injury, you need the proliferation of cells that let-7 is capable of blocking. So Lin28a steps in action, clears or scavenges let-7 and allows differentiated cells to be transformed into multipotent stem cells, which aid in regeneration,” explains Rajesh Ramachandran from the Department of Biological Sciences at the Institute and corresponding author of the work published in the journal Cell Reports.

They further carried out studies on mice models by injecting the protein. “Shh protein can easily bind to its respective receptor and turn on the signalling pathway after an acute retinal injury,” says Simran Kaur, PhD scholar and first author of the work. “Though there was increased proliferation and upregulation of the genes, no regeneration of the retina was seen in mice.”
“Although we have understood the signals and genes behind the regeneration, the whole pathway and network need to be unravelled before trying it out in the mammalian system,” adds Prof. Rajesh.

Q1. According to the researchers from Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, what tremendous feat has been found in the zebrafish?
(a)Regeneration of retina
(b)Restoring the vision
(c)Both (a) and (b)
(d)regeneration of cells
(e)None of these

Q2.According to the passage what quality of zebrafish helps in developmental and tissue regeneration activities?
(a)A particular signalling system making ‘screech’ sound
(b)A particular sonic hedgehog (Shh) signalling system
(c)A particular signalling system making ‘purr’ sound
(d)Both (a) and (b)
(e)None of these

Q3. According to the passage what is the foremost challenge that the researchers are facing regarding the signaling pattern of zebrafish?
(a)Why impairing this signal made 90% of the zebrafish embryo exhibit a birth defect called cyclopia.
(b)If this signalling is responsible for retina regeneration in zebrafish why the signalling does not bring about retina regeneration in humans
(c)What is the source of that particular signalling system — sonic hedgehog (Shh) — in zebrafish
(d)Both (a) and (c)
(e)None of these

Q4.During development and tissue regeneration which enzyme makes the environment congenial for freshly formed cells?
(a)zic2b,
(b) foxn4, mmp9
(c)foxn4, zic2b
(d) mmp9
(e)None of these

Q5.According to the researchers how microRNA (let-7) and (Lin28a) gene play their important role during the retina regeneration process?
(a)Let-7 clears or scavenges Lin28a and allows differentiated cells to be transformed into multipotent stem cells, which aid in regeneration.
(b)Lin28a combines with Zic2b and then clears let-7 and allows differentiated cells to be transformed into multipotent stem cells, which aid in regeneration.
(c)Lin28a clears or scavenges let-7 and allows differentiated cells to be transformed into multipotent stem cells, which aid in regeneration.
(d)Both (b) and (c)
(e)None of these

Directions (6-7): Choose the word which is most similar in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

Q6. Stark
(a)Fuzzy
(b)Ornate
(c)Comfortable
(d)Indistinct
(e) Utter

Q7.Impairing
(a)Damage
(b)Improve
(c)Enhance
(d)Bloating
(e) Quirking

Q8. Which of the following options explain the most suitable meaning of the phrasal verb ‘bring about’ used?
(a)To make something happen
(b)To be the cause of something bad
(c)To use the skills of a particular group or person
(d)To take someone or something from one place to the place where someone else is
(e)None of these

Directions (9-10): Choose the word which is most opposite in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

Q9. Congenial
(a)Convivial
(b)Genial
(c)Personable
(d)Hospitable
(e)Incompatible

Q10. Insights
(a)Comprehension
(b)Acumen
(c)Cognizance
(d)Obtuseness
(e)Apprehension

Directions (11-15): In the following passage there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each, five options are given. Four of the five words fit into the blank coherently. Find out the word which does not fit into the blank appropriately.

Tyre-maker CEAT has introduced a ‘work from remote location’ policy, one that (11)_____________ its employees to work from anywhere—cafes, home, mall, or whatever they (12) _______________ fit as a place they can work from. The company, three months ago, (13) ______________ mandatory attendance recording, allowing its employees to operate on a (14) _________________ timetable. The management at RPG Enterprises, which owns CEAT, believes this motivates employees enough and drives up productivity. CEAT/RPG are not the only ones that are (15) ________________ their workplace policies, including on attendance, to give employees more freedom. Mahindra, Cipla, Godrej and ICICI Bank are doing this, too.

Q11.
(a) enables
(b) compels
(c) lets
(d) allows
(e) permits

Q12.
(a) scrutinize
(b) deem
(c) consider
(d) presume
(e) believe

Q13.
(a) dismissed
(b) eliminated
(c) discarded
(d) hoarded
(e) scrapped

Q14.
(a) flexible
(b) workable
(c) fluid
(d) variable
(e) brittle

Q15.
(a) tweaking
(b) modifying
(c) resizing
(d) changing
(e) altering

Practice More Questions of English for Competitive Exams:

Solutions

S1. Ans. (c)
Sol. Option (c) is the correct answer choice. Option (c) can be traced from the 1st paragraph of passage “the zebrafish has the ability to completely regenerate its retina and restore vision after an injury.”

S2. Ans. (b)
Sol. Option (b) is the correct answer choice. Option (b) can be traced from the 1st paragraph of passage “A particular signalling system — sonic hedgehog (Shh) — in zebrafish has been previously reported to aid in developmental and tissue regeneration activities.”

S3. Ans. (b)
Sol. Option (b) is the correct answer choice. Option (b) can be traced from the 1st paragraph of passage where it is stated “. Since this signalling is also responsible for retina regeneration in zebrafish, the researchers are trying to understand why the signalling does not bring about retina regeneration in humans.”

S4. Ans. (d)
Sol. Option (d) is the correct answer choice. Option (d) can be traced from the 2nd paragraph of passage where it is stated as “Zic2b and foxn4 are essential components for development and tissue regeneration, whereas mmp9 is an enzyme which makes the environment congenial for freshly formed cells.”

S5. Ans. (c)
Sol. Option (c) is the correct answer choice. Option (c) can be traced from the 2nd paragraph of passage where it is stated as “During an injury, you need the proliferation of cells that let-7 is capable of blocking. So Lin28a steps in action, clears or scavenges let-7 and allows differentiated cells to be transformed into multipotent stem cells, which aid in regeneration.”

S6. Ans. (e)
Sol. Stark- complete; sheer
Utter- complete; absolute.
So the best answer choice is option (e).

S7. Ans. (a)
Sol. Impairing- weaken or damage (something, especially a faculty or function)
Option (b) and (c) are the antonyms of the given word.
So the best answer choice is (a)
Quirking- (with reference to a person’s mouth or eyebrow) move or twist suddenly

S8. Ans. (a)
Sol. option (a) is the most suitable answer choice.
Bring about- to make something happen, especially to cause changes in a situation
All other given options are the meanings of different phrasal verbs.

S9. Ans. (e)
Sol. Congenial- (of a thing) pleasant or agreeable because suited to one’s taste or inclination
All the given options are the synonyms of the given word ‘congenial’ except option (e). So the best answer choice is option (e).

S10. Ans. (d)
Sol. Insights- the capacity to gain an accurate and deep understanding of someone or something.
All the given options are the synonyms of the given word ‘insights’ except option (d). So the best answer choice is option (d).

S11. Ans. (b)
Sol. The paragraph is describing about a policy introduced by CEAT in its working culture of permitting its employees to work from remote areas. The most suitable word that will coherently fit in the given blank is “permits” or a word similar in meaning. However, “compels” means force or oblige (someone) to do something. Therefore, it fails to fit coherently in the given paragraph. Hence, option (b) is the most suitable answer choice.

S12. Ans. (a)
Sol. Since the paragraph is describing about a policy introduced by CEAT in its working culture of permitting its employees to work from remote areas, the most suitable word for the given blank becomes “deem” or a word with similar meaning. However, scrutinize which means examine or inspect closely and thoroughly fail to provide coherence to the given paragraph. Hence, option (a) becomes the most suitable answer choice.
Deem means regard or consider in a specified way.
Presume means suppose that something is the case on the basis of probability.

S13. Ans. (d)
Sol. The sentence is describing the policy of abolishing the policy of mandatory attendance recording. The most suitable word to comply with the theme of the paragraph is “scrapped” or a word similar in the meaning. However, “hoarded” which means accumulate (money or valued objects) and hide or store away. Therefore, it does not comply with the theme of the paragraph. Hence, option (d) is the most suitable answer choice.
Dismissed means deliberately cease to think about.
Eliminated means completely remove or get rid of (something).
Scrapped means abolish or cancel.

S14. Ans. (e)
Sol. The paragraph is describing about a policy introduced by CEAT in its working culture of permitting its employees to work from remote areas. The most suitable word that will coherently fit in the given blank is “flexible” or a word similar in meaning. However, “brittle” means hard but liable to break easily. Therefore, it fails to fit coherently in the given paragraph. Hence, option (e) is the most suitable answer choice.
Fluid means not settled or stable; likely or able to change.

S15. Ans. (c)
Sol. The theme of the paragraph is describing about a policy introduced by CEAT in its working culture of permitting its employees to work from remote areas. The most suitable word that will coherently fit in the given blank is “tweaking” or a word similar in meaning. However, “resizing” means alter the size of (something, especially a computer window or image). Therefore, it fails to fit coherently in the given paragraph. Hence, option (c) is the most suitable answer choice.
Tweaking means improve (a mechanism or system) by making fine adjustments to it.
Altering means change in character or composition, typically in a comparatively small but significant way.

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