English Practice Questions For IBPS Clerk Mains 2017

Directions (1-15): In the following passage, there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each, five words are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.

Agriculture has always been celebrated as the primary sector in India. Thanks to the Green Revolution, India is now  _(1)_ (self-addressed for) production. Indian agriculture has been _(2)_ (growing and using technologically) as well. Does that mean everything is looking bright for Indian agriculture? A superficial analysis of the above points would tempt one to say yes, but the _(3)_ (the study is different). The reality is that Indian farmers have to face extreme poverty and financial crisis, which _(4)_ (understanding them for) suicides. What are the grave adversities that drive the farmers to commit suicide? At a time when the Indian economy is _(5)_ (up for performing) to take on the world?

Indian agriculture is _(6)_ (dominantly about the) nature. Irrigation facilities that are currently available, do not cover the entire cultivable land. If the farmers are at the _(7)_ (leniency of land) for timely water for their crops, they are at the mercy of the government for _(8)_ (alternating irrigation facility). Any failure of nature directly affects the _(9)_ (destination of farmers). Secondly, Indian agriculture is largely an unorganized sector, there is no _(10)_(unorganized planning), farmers work on lands of uneconomical sizes, institutional finances are not available and minimum purchase prices of the government do not, in reality, reach the poorest farmer. Added to this, the cost of agricultural inputs have been steadily rising over the years, farmers margins of profits have been _(11)_ (causing the irrigation) rise in inputs is not complemented by an increase in the purchase price of the agricultural produce. Even today, in several parts of the country agriculture, is a seasonal occupation. In many districts, farmers get only one crop per year and for the remaining part of the year, they find it _(12)_ (feasible to increase livelihood). The farmers normally resort to borrowing from money lenders, in the absence of institutionalized finance. Where institutional finance is available, the ordinary farmer does not have a chance of availing it because of the procedures involved in disbursing the finance. This calls for removing the elaborate formalities for obtaining the loans. The institutional finance, where available is mostly availed by the medium or large land owners, the small farmers do not even have the awareness of the existence of such facilities. The money lender is the only source of finance to the farmers. Should the crops fail, the farmers fall into a debt trap and crop failures piled up over the years give them no other option than ending their lives. Another disturbing trend has been observed where farmers commit suicide or deliberately kill a family member in order to avail relief and benefits announced by the government to support the families of those who have committed suicide so that their families could at least benefit from the Government’s relief programs. What then needs to be done to prevent this sad state of affairs? There cannot be one single solution to end the woes of farmers.

Temporary measures _(13)_ (through donation) would not be the solution. The governmental efforts should be _(14)_ (mentioning the measures) of the small farmers wherein the relief is not given on a drought to drought basis, rather they are taught to overcome their difficulties through their own skills and capabilities. Social responsibility also goes a long way to help the farmers. The general public, NGOs, Corporates and other organizations too can play a part in helping farmers by _ (15)_ (rectifying their fields) and families and helping them to rehabilitate.

Q1. 

(a)perfect about 

(b)rely to food

(c)self-sufficient in food 

(d)dependent to food

(e) no change

Q2. 

(a)longing to greenery

(b)making technological advancement

(c)creating marginal 

(d)producing grains

(e) no change 

Q3. 

(a)reality suggests the same

(b)demand is same

(c)reality is bright

(d)truth is far from it

(e) no change 

Q4. 

(a)driving them to 

(b)bringing them for

(c)drived them to

(d)attracting them in

(e) no change 

Q5. 

(a)thought of alleviate up

(b)imagined for elevation

(c)supposed to be gearing up 

(d)gradually steeping up at

(e) no change 

Q6. 

(a)dominating over the 

(b)making up to

(c)looking at

(d)predominantly dependent on

(e) no change 

Q7. 

(a)profit of crops

(b)mercy of monsoons

(c)help of landlords

(d)need of having facilities 

(e) no change 

Q8. 

(a)alternative irrigation facilities

(b)alteration in the facility

(c)irrigation facility alteration 

(d)facility to alter

(e)no change 

Q9. 

(a)right of the farmers

(b)fortunes of the farmers

(c)decision of the farmers

(d)nature of the farmers

(e)no change 

Q10. 

(a)intellectual cultivation

(b)thoughtful cultivation

(c)true approach

(d)systematic planning in cultivation

(e) no change 

Q11. 

(a)curtailing as the availability

(b)broadening because the approach

(c)narrowing because the price

(d)resulting in the occupation

(e)no change 

Q12. 

(a)far more easier to love a luxury life

(b)difficult to make both ends meet

(c)annoying to control occupation

(d)convenient to increase output

(e)no change 

Q13. 

(a)through monetary relief 

(b)through retreating monsoons

(c)through deliberate meditation

(d)through NGOs, irrigation

(e) no change 

Q14. 

(a)ignoring the need

(b)targeted at improving the entire structure 

(c)depending upon the need of 

(d)detecting the crisis engraved

(e)no change 

Q15. 

(a)raising the marginal cost of the inputs

(b)giving them fertilizers at high cost 

(c)motivating NGOs  

(d)adopting drought affected villages

(e)no change