English Quizzes, for IBPS Clerk/NIACL AO Prelims 2021

Directions (1-7): 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.

The very shape of man’s body is such that makes him a restless creature. He cannot do without work. It is truly said, “An idle man’s brain is the devil’s workshop.”
The whole civilization of man has evolved itself only through hard work. All the inventions and discoveries of science are the result of hard work. Constant work improving upon its own findings progressively, has enabled man to tread on the moon.

Even in our daily life we see that hard work pays dividends. A student who works regularly and systematically shows better results than the one who does not do so. Similarly, a player who practices regularly on the field is much better than the other one. Work not only leads to better results in the long run, but also increases our self- confidence. Work may be physical or intellectual. It is important in all its forms. But it must be constructive. Great nations of the world like Japan, Germany and China have emerged strong only through hard work put in individually and collectively.

In India we worship lord Vishwakarma, the great god of the workers but unfortunately, we are a nation of shirkers. We work little and we work even less for our country. One can work better and more efficiently if one is dedicated to some cause. Let us all be dedicated to the cause of our country. Then we shall be able to make great sacrifices as our freedom fighters did. Only then we can see our country great and strong. And we ourselves can be great and strong only if our country is so. There is no short-cut, no escape route. Hard work is the only way out. In whatever field we are, we must do our duty with utmost devotion and conscientiousness.

Q1. Which one of the following messages the author wants to convey through the passage?
(a) Follow the tenets of Indian civilization
(b) Respect all the inventions and discoveries
(c) Follow the footsteps of great nations
(d) Word hard for individual and national glory
(e) Learn while you earn

Q2. What, according to the passage, is the cause of our self-confidence?
(a) Our physical disposition
(b) The work that we carry out
(c) The lessons we learnt from our civilization
(d) All the inventions and discoveries our ancestors have made
(e) Our inner abilities and active mind

Q3. What, according to the passage, is necessary for the effective work?
(a) Following the principles of good workmanship
(b) Maintaining a balance between ability and motivation
(c) Dedication of work to some cause
(d) Worship of Lord Vishwakarma with selfless devotion
(e) Not allowing mind to engage in dreamy thoughts

Q4. Which of the following group of words is SIMILAR in meaning to the word ‘dividend’ as used in the passage?
(a) Produce an advantage
(b) Useful in the past
(c) Produce indolence
(d) Motivate hard work
(e) Brings devotion and conscientiousness

Q5. What, according to the passage, is important with regard to the work that we get involved in?
(a) It does not lead to idle brain.
(b) It does not disturb the shape of our body.
(c) It facilitates our evolutionary process.
(d) It is constructive.
(e) It must have intellectual aspect.

Q6. The great nations have become stronger as a result of
(a) their great civilization and culture
(b) their proactiveness and receptivity
(c) the rich physical resources they possess
(d) their efforts to drive away the reactive impulses
(e) individual and collective hard work

Q7. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE in the context of the passage?
(a) The entire civilization has evolved through man’s hard work.
(b) Work increases self-confidence.
(c) India is a nation of hard working people.
(d) Germany has become a great nation through sheer hard work.
(e) The shape of human body facilitates hard work.

Directions (8-9): In the following question, a sentence is divided into five different parts including two highlighted ones. The highlighted parts of the sentence are grammatically correct and do not require any correction. However, the remaining three parts may contain errors in one or more than one parts of the sentence. Choose the best alternative among the five options given below each sentence that determines the portions that require correction to make the sentence grammatically correct.

Q8. To accelerate the deployment of rooftop solar power in the country, (I)/the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has proposed (II)/to bring distribution utilities/companies (DISCOMs) to the forefront (III)/implementation the Grid Connected Rooftop Solar (RTS) Power Programme (IV)/to providing them financial support. (V)
(a) Only (I)
(b) Only (IV)
(c) Both (I) and (V)
(d) Both (IV) and (V)
(e) No error

Q9. Any credible allegation of widespread corruption (I)/should be thoroughly probed by a combined team (II)/of enforcement agencies working with a common strategy (III)/for a common object viz. ensuring punishment of the accused (IV)/and recovery of the defalcated money. (V)
(a) Only (II)
(b) Only (III)
(c) Both (II) and (V)
(d) All (II), (III) and (V)
(e) No error

Directions (10-11): Select the phrase/connector (STARTERS) from the given three options which can be used to form a single sentence from the two sentences given below, implying the same meaning as expressed in the statement sentences.

Q10. (1) There is generally decrepit state of public health, most particularly in rural India.
(2) It would be utterly disingenuous to tinker with so critical an aspect of public policy.
(I)Given the generally decrepit state…
(II)Considering the generally decrepit…
(III)In the light of the generally decrepit…
(a) Only (I) is correct
(b) Only (II) is correct
(c) Only (III) is correct
(d) Both (I) and (III) are correct
(e) All are correct

Q11. (1) Pluralism in many other spheres of national life is to be welcomed.
(2) There is little or no scope for medical pluralism.
(I) While pluralism in many other…
(II) Although pluralism in many other…
(III) For medical pluralism, many spheres of…
(a) Only (I) is correct
(b) Only (III) is correct
(c) Both (I) and (II) are correct
(d) Both (II) and (III) are correct
(e) All are correct

Q12. (1) Aadhaar has been extraordinarily adopted as a government programme.
(2) It is tempting to think of Aadhaar’s success as a testament to the Indian state’s uniquely coercive powers that it has accrued and fine-tuned over the past decade thanks to increasing interlinkages between various aspects of our daily lives — from banking to booking a tatkal ticket.
(I) Given the extraordinary adoption of…
(II) Despite tempting to think of Aadhaar…
(III) Even if it is tempting to think that…
(a) Only (I) is correct
(b) Only (II) is correct
(c) Both (I) and (III) are correct
(d) Both (II) and (III) are correct
(e) All are correct

Directions (13-14): In the question given below few sentences are given which are grammatically correct and meaningful. Connect them by the word/phrase given above the statements in the best possible way without changing the intended meaning. Choose the best possible combination as your answer accordingly from the options to form a correct, coherent sentence.

Q13. WHEREAS
(A) If for 8 hours of work in a day an employee (regular) gets Rs 2,000 then the 500 on contract basis gets just 300 rupees.
(B) It means that the regular employee is getting Rs 250 per hour work.
(C) The contract workmen are getting just Rs 300 for 8 hours.
(D) That the government employees do not work, is a myth that must be broken as soon as possible.
(a) Only D-A
(b) Only A-B
(c) Only B-C
(d) Both A-B and B-D
(e) None

Q14. BY THE TIME
(A) The storm crawls up the East Coast Wednesday and Thursday.
(B) It’s expected to gust with strong 30 to 50 mph winds.
(C) That’s a signal that the storm is going to get more intense, quickly.
(D) Once the storm reaches New England, it may bring dangerous, power line-snapping blizzard conditions and coastal flooding.
(a)Only A-B
(b)Only B-C
(c)Only D-C
(d)Only D-B
(e)Only C-A

Q15. Which of the following word is opposite in meaning to the word procrastinate?
(a) delay
(b) stall
(c) temporize
(d) expedite
(e) dally

Solutions

S1. Ans. (d)
Sol. We can infer the answer from last sentence of the passage “In whatever field we are, we must do our duty with utmost devotion and conscientiousness.”

S2. Ans. (b)
Sol. Refer the fourth sentence of the third paragraph “Work not only leads to better results in the long run, but also increases our self- confidence.”

S3. Ans. (c)
Sol. Refer the third sentence of the last paragraph “One can work better and more efficiently if one is dedicated to some cause.”

S4. Ans. (a)
Sol. Dividend means sum of money paid or profit made by someone, which has similar meaning as ‘produce an advantage’.

S5. Ans. (d)
Sol. Refer the last few lines of the third paragraph “Work may be physical or intellectual. It is important in all its forms. But it must be constructive.”

S6. Ans. (e)
Sol. Refer the last sentence of the third paragraph “Great nations of the world like Japan, Germany and China have emerged strong only through hard work put in individually and collectively.”

S7. Ans. (c)
Sol. Refer the first sentence of the last paragraph “In India we worship lord Vishwakarma, the great god of the workers but unfortunately, we are a nation of shirkers.”

S8. Ans. (d)
Sol. The first part of the sentence is grammatically correct. However, there are certain grammatical errors in both the fourth and the fifth parts of the sentence. In the fourth part, the expression “implementation” lacks the use of preposition; so, it should be replaced by “in implementing” to make the sentence grammatically feasible. Similarly, in the fifth part of the sentence, the preposition “to” should be replaced by “by” to make the sentence grammatically correct. At the end, the correct expression should be “by providing them financial support”. Hence among the given alternatives, option (d) is the correct choice.

S9. Ans. (e)
Sol. The given sentence is grammatically correct and doesn’t require any correction. Hence option (e) is the correct choice.

S10. Ans. (e)
Sol. All the three starters can be used to form the meaningful sentence without altering the intended meaning of the two sentences. Hence (e) is the correct choice.
(I) Given the generally decrepit state of public health, most particularly in rural India, it would be utterly disingenuous to tinker with so critical an aspect of public policy.
(II) Considering the generally decrepit state of public health, most particularly in rural India, it would be utterly disingenuous to tinker with so critical an aspect of public policy.
(III) In the light of the generally decrepit state of public health, most particularly in rural India, it would be utterly disingenuous to tinker with so critical an aspect of public policy.

S11. Ans. (c)
Sol. Both the starters (I) and (II) can be used to frame the meaningful sentence connecting both the sentences without altering their meanings. Hence (c) is the correct choice.
(I) While pluralism in many other spheres of national life is to be welcomed, there is little or no scope for medical pluralism.
(II) Although pluralism in many other spheres of national life is to be welcomed, there is little or no scope for medical pluralism.

S12. Ans. (a)
Sol. Only the first starter can be used to form a logical and meaningful sentence by combining the above two statements without altering their intended meanings. Hence option (a) is the correct choice.
(I) Given the extraordinary adoption of Aadhaar as a government programme, it is tempting to think of Aadhaar’s success as a testament to the Indian state’s uniquely coercive powers that it has accrued and fine-tuned over the past decade thanks to increasing interlinkages between various aspects of our daily lives — from banking to booking a tatkal ticket.

S13. Ans. (c)
Sol. The conjunction “WHEREAS” means in contrast or comparison with the fact that. The word can be used to connect only the sentences (B) and (C) to produce a coherent sentence. Other combinations accordingly give incorrect impressions to the sentences so formed. Hence (c) is the correct choice.
“It means that the regular employee is getting Rs 250 per hour work whereas the contract workmen are getting just Rs. 300 for 8 hours.”

S14. Ans. (d)
Sol. The phrase “BY THE TIME” is used for saying what has already happened at the time that something else happens. The phrase can be used to connect only the sentences (D) and (B) to frame a coherent sentence. Other alternatives would alter the intended meaning of the sentences so formed. Hence option (d) is the correct choice.
“By the time storm reaches New England, it’s expected to gust with strong 30 to 50 mph winds, bringing dangerous, power line-snapping blizzard conditions and coastal flooding.”

S15. Ans. (d)
Sol. All other words in other options are synonyms.