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Expected Reading Comprehension Set for IBPS PO Mains

Published on Friday, November 04, 2016
Reading Comprehension

Directions (Q.1 – Q.10): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. 
We admire better hygiene and better traffic discipline abroad, but would breach the same back home. We condemn our system for churning out unemployed youth, but don’t like working hard to acquire knowledge. Students demanded their right to cheat in an examination; it is the same set of discards that later become a burden as they fail to acquire a skill for gainful employment. Rights are forcefully demanded, but duties generally detested . 

As citizens of a functioning democracy, we welcome populist policies and government bounties. The State is expected to provide free electricity, free Wi-fi, free water, free books, free housing, free transport, free health facilities, free education. This will not raise much cavil if they are provided to the deserving sections of society. The problem arises when undeserving elements try to corner these benefits through devious means. The benefits that are provided by the government are seldom used in a responsible manner. Water and electricity are wasted, public utilities vandalised. We want the State’s delivery mechanism to be prompt and efficient, but we seldom reciprocate. We forget that it is the people who make the country and not the other way round. We resent nepotism and favouritism in government service delivery, but would not mind peddling 

influence to seek undue favours. The plan to develop smart cities would turn out to be still-born if we don’t have smart citizens who would be willing to make sacrifices for a dignified living. We under-report our income and underpay our taxes, but we resent the government’s plea on inadequate resources to provide for basic amenities. Digging the road for a private purpose, piling building materials on thoroughfares, tapping of the sources of water or electricity is a common sight; but the same people will complain of congested roads, contaminated water or load-shedding without realising that it is their selfish actions which are affecting the quality of public services. There are enough laws and rules, but enforcement is seldom effective. While you pay a hefty $ 1000 fine for littering in a developed country or for a traffic violation, in India you can get away without penalty through various desi jugad (influence-peddling). Sometimes, the systemic imperfections impede the enforcement of the rule of law as the law-abiding citizens do not always get their rightful dues. Today, hundreds of thousands of applications for a fire licence or a building plan are allegedly pending in government offices for years, unless you pass on the speed money to those in the gravy train. Many services in the government are rightly being outsourced on account of the inability to deliver in a timely, transparent and efficient manner. Similarly, many other critical services with substantive time and cost overruns, such as clearing a building plan or sanctioning a statutory licence should also be outsourced. Information technology needs to be suitably harnessed for most of these services. E-governance is definitely the way to the future. As a country we shall continue to grovel in the dust until the citizens are aware of their responsibilities. One only hopes that we shall soon wake up by acting as responsible citizens of a great nation. 

1. According to the passage, what are the main causes of outsourcing of the government works? 
1) Lack of technology aptitude among the government employees.
2) Lack of resource and man power.
3) Inability to maintain robust pattern of work process.
4) Lack of confidence to implement process in time with transparency and efficiency.
5) Other than given options

2. Which of the following is/are valid suggestion given by the author?
(A) Responsibility should be shared among the citizen.
(B) E–governance should be encouraged.
(C) Rules should not be seen in totality. 

1) Both (A) and B)
2) Both (B) and (C)
3) All (A), (B) and (C)
4) Only (C)
5) Only (A)

3. Which of the following is/are the ironical part of Indian citizens, according to the passage?
(A) We blame our government for non availability of jobs, but don't like to work hard.
(B) We admire better hygiene and better traffic discipline abroad but usually breach the same in our country.
(C) Rights are violently expected, but duties are generally neglected.
(D) People resent favouritism and nepostim but would not mind seeking favours. 

1) Only (A) and (C)
2) Only (B) and (C)
3) All (A), (B), (C) and D
4) Only (C)
5) Only (A) and (D)

4. Which of the following is the most suitable phrase/word to 'Cavil' as used in the passage? 
1) A trivial and annoying objection 
2) To act in an objectionable manner
3) To lower the dignity
4) Possessing qualities that given great satisfaction
5) Exercising the power

5. Which of the following is/are the constraints to the healthy civil/society?
(A) Lack of effective enforcement of rules.
(B) Lack of political will
(C) Selfish actions by the irresponsible citizens.
(D) An organised cartels to seek private interests. 

1) Only (A) and (B)
2) Only (A) and (C)
3) Only (B) and (D)
4) All (A), (B), (C) and (D)
5) Only (A), (B) and (C)

6. What does the grary train expression mean? 
1) An activity from which people make a lot of money very quickly and easily 
2) Very fast train
3) Very comfortable train
4) A situation of high inflation
5) Growing economy

7. Choose the word which is most similar in meaning to the word 'Grovel' as used in the passage? 
1) Crawl 
2) Search
3) Value
4) Elevate
5) Exalt

8. Which of the following is false in the context of the given passage? 
1) As citizens of the largest democracy, we a lot but flinch from doing anything that is expected of its people. 
2) A sense of duty is conspicuous by its absence in a predominant majority of our civil society.
3) People are usually apathetic when it comes to their duties.
4) People regale themselves by indulging in vanadlism of government properties.
5) Other than given options

9. Choose the word which is most similar in meaning to the word 'Devious' as used in the passage? 
1) frank 
2) open
3) truthful
4) dishonest
5) straightforward

10. Choose the word which is most similar in meaning to the word 'Pedding' as used in the passage? 
1) Flagging 
2) Suggesting
3) Pulling
4) Offering
5) Urging

Directions (Q.11–Q.15): Which of the phrases 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 given below each statement should replace the phrase which is underlined in the sentence to make it grammatically correct ? If the sentence is correct as it is given and No correction is required, mark 5 as the answer. 

11. The launch of the new phone was delayed which resulted in heavily losses. 
1) result in heavily losses 
2) resulted in heavy losses
3) resulted in heavily loss
4) had resulted in heavily loss
5) No correction required

12. Since he failed to pay his rent on time the landlord denied him access to the premise. 
1) access to premise 
2) to access the premise
3) to access the premises
4) access to the premises
5) No correction required

13. Having lifted the heavy bag , I suffered a severe pain in my hand
1) suffered from a server pain 
2) was suffered a severe pain
3) was suffering the severe pain
4) suffered the severe pain
5) No correction required

14. Ritu doubts when she will be ready for the interview in time. 
1) Ritu doubt if 
2) Ritu has doubt
3) Ritu doubts whether
4) Rit has doubts
5) No correction required

15. According to the branch manager not more than three per cent of education loans taken by students are overdue
1) by students is overdue 
2) by the student are overdue
3) by student are overdue
4) by us are overdue
5) No correction required

Answer Key :

Answer 1. 4
Answer 2. 1
Answer 3. 3
Answer 4. 1
Answer 5. 2
Answer 6. 1
Answer 7. 1
Answer 8. 5
Answer 9. 4
Answer 10. 5
Answer 11. 2
Answer 12. 4
Answer 13. 1
Answer 14. 3
Answer 15. 1
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