General English
(Exam Held on 18-4-2010)
Directions—(Q. 1–4) Against each key word are given some suggested meanings. Choose the word or phrase which is nearest in meaning to the key word.
1. PRIVY
(A) Dishonest
(B) Cautious
(C) Secretive
(D) Quiet
Ans : (C)
2. PILFER
(A) To gossip
(B) Steal
(C) Trifle
(D) Loiter
Ans : (B)
3. EAGER
(A) Clever
(B) Enthusiastic
(C) Curious
(D) Devoted
Ans : (C)
4. PLACID
(A) Clear
(B) Calm
(C) Enjoyable
(D) Dull
Ans : (B)
Directions—(Q. 5–8) In each of the following questions, choose the word opposite in meaning to the given word.
5. URBAN
(A) Country-made
(B) Pastoral
(C) Provincial
(D) Rural
Ans : (D)
6. BLATANT
(A) Noisy
(B) Quiet
(C) Barren
(D) Slow
Ans : (B)
7. PRIM
(A) Rash
(B) Extravagant
(C) Foul
(D) Shameful
Ans : (B)
8. EXHIBIT
(A) Conceal
(B) Prevent
(C) Withdraw
(D) Concede
Ans : (A)
Directions—(Q. 9–11) In each of the following questions an idiomatic expression / proverb has been given, followed by some alternatives. Choose the one which best expresses the meaning of the given idiom/proverb.
9. To read between the lines—
(A) To concentrate
(B) To read carefully
(C) To suspect
(D) To grasp the hidden meaning
Ans : (D)
10. To flog a dead horse—
(A) To act in a foolish way
(B) To waste one’s efforts
(C) To revive interest in an oldsubject
(D) To revive old memories
Ans : (C)
11. To pay one back in the same coin—
(A) To provoke a person to quarrel
(B) To offer another polite attention
(C) To retaliate
(D) To give a word a encouragement or praise to another
Ans : (C)
Directions—(Q. 12–15) In each of the following questions, out of the four alternatives, choose the one which can be substituted for the given words/sentence.
12. A small house with all rooms on one floor—
(A) Bungalow
(B) Cottage
(C) Flat
(D) Castle
Ans : (B)
13. Mania for stealing articles—
(A) Logomania
(B) Nymphomania
(C) Kleptomania
(D) Hypomania
Ans : (C)
14. One who hates mankind—
(A) Misanthrope
(B) Philanthropist
(C) Lover
(D) Hater
Ans : (A)
15. One whose wife is dead—
(A) Widower
(B) Widow
(C) Divorcee
(D) Celibate
Ans : (A)
Directions—(Q. 16–17) In each question below, select the alternative spelt correctly.
16. (A) Ommission
(B) Omision
(C) Omission
(D) Ommision
Ans : (C)
17. (A) Aliennate
(B) Allienate
(C) Alienate
(D) Alienatte
Ans : (C)
Directions—(Q. 18–19) In each question below, select the alternative that is spelt wrong.
18. (A) Suicide
(B) Suiteable
(C) Summarize
(D) Superficial
Ans : (B)
19. (A) Surender
(B) Abbreviate
(C) Qualification
(D) Eccentric
Ans : (A)
Directions—(Q. 20–22) In the following sets of analogies one word is missing. Select that word from the alternatives given below each question.
20. Breeze : Cyclone : : Drizzle : ?
(A) Earthquake
(B) Storm
(C) Flood
(D) Downpour
Ans : (D)
21. Genuine : Authentic : : Mirage : ?
(A) Image
(B) Transpiration
(C) Reflection
(D) Illusion
Ans : (D)
22. Grain : Granary : : Curios : ?
(A) Archives
(B) Museum
(C) Library
(D) Zoo
Ans : (B)
Directions—(Q. 23–26) From amongst the options given below each word, choose the appropriate singular form.
23. Lice
(A) Louse
(B) Lace
(C) Licey
(D) None of these
Ans : (A)
24. Knives
(A) Knife
(B) Knive
(C) Kniv
(D) None of these
Ans : (A)
25. Dwarves
(A) Dwarv
(B) Dwarve
(C) Dwarf
(D) None of these
Ans : (C)
26. Geese
(A) Gander
(B) Goose
(C) Gouse
(D) None of these
Ans : (B)
Directions—(Q. 27–30) From amongst the options given below each word, choose the appropriate plural form.
27. Foot
(A) Feet
(B) Foots
(C) Feat
(D) None of these
Ans : (A)
28. Syllabus
(A) Syllabi
(B) Syllabus
(C) Syllabu
(D) None of these
Ans : (A)
29. Mouse
(A) Mice
(B) Mouses
(C) Mouse
(D) None of these
Ans : (A)
30. Man
(A) Mean
(B) Mans
(C) Men
(D) None of these
Ans : (C)
Directions—(Q. 31–60) Answer the questions that follow each of the five passages based on the information given in the passage.
PASSAGE I
To those who do listen, the desert speaks of things with an emphasis quite different from that of the shore, the mountain, the valley or the plains. Whereas these invite action and suggest limitless opportunity and exhaustless resources, the implications and the mood of the desert are something different. For one thing, the desert is conservative, not radical. It is more likely to provide awe than to invite conquest. The heroism which it encourages is the heroism of the endurance, not that of conquest. It brings man up against this limitation, turns him in upon himself and suggests values which more indulgent regions suppress. Sometimes it induces contemplation in men who have never contemplated before. And of all the answers to the question—what is a desert good for—‘contemplation’ is perhaps the best.
31. In order to receive the desert’s message, the beholder needs to be—
(A) Courageous in his reaction
(B) Conservative in his responses
(C) A good listener
(D) Sensitive to nature
Ans : (D)
32. The desert is unique among landscapes in that it encourages only—
(A) Contemplation
(B) Indolence
(C) Heroic endeavour
(D) Adventurous spirit
Ans : (C)
33. If one responds with insight to the mood of the desert, it evokes—
(A) An inclination for deep thought
(B) The possibility of unending resources
(C) The desire for heroic conquest
(D) A sense of intense revulsion
Ans : (A)
34. The writer calls the desert ‘conservative’ rather than ‘radical’ because it provides an environment that—
(A) Inspires man to explore it
(B) Offers unlimited opportunity to conquer
(C) Tests one’s endurance
(D) Makes one gloomy
Ans : (C)
35. What does the phrase “it brings man up against his limitations”, mean ?
(A) It makes man feel hopeless about his limitations
(B) It makes man aware of his limitations
(C) It compels man to fight against his limitations
(D) It persuades man to overcome his limitations
Ans : (D)
PASSAGE II
It is difficult to reconcile the ideas of different schools of thought on the question of education. Some people maintain that pupils at school should concentrate on a narrow range of subjects which will benefit them directly in their subsequent careers. Others contend that they should study a wide range of subjects so that they have not only the specialised knowledge necessary for their chosen careers but also sound general knowledge about the world they will have to work and live in. Supporters of the first theory state that the greatest contributions to civilisation are made by those who are most expert in their trade or profession. Those on the other side say that, unless they have a broad general education, the experts will be too narrow in their outlook to have sympathy with their fellows or a proper sense of responsibility towards humanity as a whole.
36. ‘Schools of thought’ can be explained as—
(A) Groups of people whose job is to think
(B) Groups of people who are schooled to think
(C) Groups of people who study in a particular school thoughtfully
(D) Groups of people having the same ideas but with different perception on a particular subject
Ans : (D)
37. Broad general knowledge is necessary because—
(A) Specialisation is incomplete without it
(B) Without it no one would get a job
(C) It teaches us about different things
(D) It broadens one’s outlook
Ans : (D)
38. The idea of the first school of thought in the passage is that—
(A) Students should concentrate on studies
(B) Students should not undertake any specialised work
(C) Students should study all the subjects they want to
(D) Students should study a few subjects that will help them in their profession
Ans : (D)
39. Supporters of the first theory say that—
(A) Experts have contributed most to progress in the modern world
(B) People with general knowledge have contributed to civilisation
(C) Experts have done nothing to help mankind
(D) People with general knowledge are more useful than experts
Ans : (A)
40. According to the second school of thought, education will not be very effective if pupils—
(A) Have inadequate knowledge of their own work
(B) Do not have a wide general education
(C) Ignore the study of fine arts
(D) Have nothing but general knowledge
Ans : (A)
PASSAGE III
Recent technological advancement in manned and unmanned undersea vehicles, overcome some of the limitations of divers equipment. Without a vehicle, divers often became sluggish and their mental concentration was limited. Because of undersea pressure that affected their mind, concentration among divers was difficult or impossible. But today, most oceanographers make observations by means of instruments that are lowered into the ocean or from samples taken from the water. Direct observations of the ocean floor are made not only by the divers, but also by deep-diving submarines. Some of these submarines can dive to depths of more than several miles and cruise at depths of 15 thousand feet. Radio equipped buoys can be operated by remote control in order to transmit information back to land-based laboratories including data about water temperature, currents and weather. Some of mankind’s most serious problems, especially those concerning energy and food may be solved with the help of observations made possible by these undersea vehicles.
41. With what topic is the passage primarily concerned ?
(A) Recent technological advances
(B) Communication among divers
(C) Direct observation of the ocean floor
(D) Undersea vehicles
Ans : (D)
42. Divers have had problems in concentrating underwater because—
(A) The pressure affected their minds
(B) The vehicles they used have not been perfected
(C) They did not think clearly
(D) The pressure destroyed their mental processes
Ans : (A)
43. This passage suggests that the successful exploration of the ocean depends upon—
(A) Vehicles as well as divers
(B) Radio that divers use to communicate
(C) Controlling currents and the weather
(D) Removal of the limitations of diving equipment
Ans : (A)
44. Undersea vehicles—
(A) Are too small for a man to fit inside
(B) Are very slow to respond
(C) Have the same limitations that divers have
(D) Make direct observations of the ocean floor
Ans : (D)
45. How is a radio-equipped buoy most likely to be operated ?
(A) By operators inside the vehicle and underwater
(B) By operators outside the vehicle on a ship
(C) By operators outside the vehicle on a diving platform
(D) By operators outside the vehicle in a laboratory on the shore
Ans : (D)
PASSAGE IV
A new US study has warned that adolescents who take performance enhancing anabolic steroids are more likely to have adverse neural and behavioural consequences, like aggression and moodiness, because of the steroids’ affect on the underdeveloped brain and the nervous system. The study, by Northeastern University in the US, centred around a brain chemical called serotonin, which is linked to mood. Lower levels of serotonin are associated with depression and aggression. For the study, experiments were carried out on a strain of Syrian hamsters. This breed has similar neurological circuitry to humans, so experts felt it might be a good model for humans in this respect. The hamsters were given a high dose of anabolic steroids over the course of a month—which corresponded to five years’ repeated dosage in humans. The researchers found that the hamsters were more aggressive than those not given steroids and these aggressive tendencies were mellowed if Prozac—a drug which boosts serotonin ‘uptake’ — was given. However, subsequent analysis showed significantly lower than normal serotonin levels in the neural connections of the hamster’s brains. This suggests there may be a longer-term effect of taking steroids while the brain is still developing. Professor Richard Melloni, who helped run the study, was quoted as saying by BBC : “We know testosterone or steroids affect the development of serotonin nerve cells, which, in turn, decreases serotonin availability in the brain. The serotonin neural system is developing during adolescence and the use of anabolic steroids during this critical period appears to have immediate neural and behavioural consequences.”
46. Why do adolescents develop neural disorders?
(A) The effect of steroids hampers the growth of the brain
(B) Prozac, if taken in excess by adolescents, makes them aggressive
(C) Due to a decrease in the level of serotonin in the blood
(D) None of these
Ans : (C)
47. Which of the following sentences is true, according to the passage ?
(A) Adolescents are more likely to have neural and behavioural disorders
(B) Depression and aggression are caused by a lower intake of serotonin
(C) Those taking steroids are likely to face long-term neural and behavioral implications
(D) None of these
Ans : (C)
48. The drug that boosts serotonin uptake is—
(A) Prozac
(B) Melanin
(C) Erythrocytes
(D) Penicillin
Ans : (A)
49. Upon which breed of mammals were the experiments carried out ?
(A) Sicilian gangsters
(B) Italian hamsters
(C) Syrian hamsters
(D) None of these
Ans : (C)
50. The thrust area of the research mentioned in the passage is—
(A) The effect of serotonin on the human brain
(B) The effect of high doses of anabolic steroids
(C) The immediate neural and behavioural consequences of the use of anabolic steroids
(D) All of these
Ans : (D)
PASSAGE V
It is common knowledge that the root cause of our backwardness in most fields is illiteracy. Campaigns for the eradication of this drawback gathered momentum in the past four decades after independence. The results are, as expected, dramatic. However, while the percentage of literacy in India is going up, the number of illiterates has also been increasing, which is really incredible. Thus, according to the 1991 census figures, there were 503 million illiterates in the country, 30 million more than in 1981. During the same period, the percentage of literacy went up from 34 to 39 per cent. There is no need of any sophisticated technique to explain the cause of this paradox, as it is obviously the result of the rapid growth of population. The rapid growth of population has outpaced whatever little progress had been achieved in literacy. For instance, from 1971 to 1981, literacy increased at an annual average rate of 0•7 per cent, while the country’s population grew by 2•15 per cent every year. In the following decade the average rate of annual increase in literacy was 0•95 per cent, whereas the population grew by almost 2•85 per cent every year during that decade. But population explosion is not entirely responsible for the growing number of illiterates. The apathy of most states in failing to tackle the problem of adult illiteracy is also partly to blame. Till now, they have shown little awareness of the magnitude of the problem. Moreover, follow-up measures to prevent neoliterates from relapsing into illiteracy are just as important as the initial adult literacy campaigns. In this case too, the State Education authorities are negligent. Not sufficient provision has been made for ‘continued education’. This can be done by setting up more rural libraries, adult schools and correspondence courses.
51. Which of the following appears unbelievable, according to the passage ?
(A) Growing illiteracy is owing to non-availability of reading facilities to rural masses
(B) Sufficient provision for continued education has not been made
(C) The increase in literacy per centage and also the increase in number of illiterates
(D) Population explosion is the only reason for increase in the number of illiterates
Ans : (C)
52. The term ‘Neo-literate’ as used in the passage refers to a person who—
(A) Is not literate
(B) Has newly become literate
(C) Is a little literate
(D) Is a literate with no school education
Ans : (C)
53. In the passage, the rapid growth of population has been attributed to—
(A) Illiteracy
(B) Apathy of government officials
(C) Want of continued education
(D) None of these
Ans : (D)
54. Which of the following is the same in meaning as the word ‘outpaced’ as use of the passage ?
(A) Surpassed
(B) Mullihed
(C) Ruled out
(D) Spoiled
Ans : (A)
55. ‘Eradication’ as used in the passage means—
(A) Removal
(B) Destruction
(C) Starvation
(D) Evaporation
Ans : (B)
PASSAGE VI
The Rajputs occupied an honoured place in the history of India. They were a war-like people, proud and patriotic. They were jealous of their honour and would lay down their lives to uphold it. They loved their homes and fought bravely to defend the honour of their women-folk. Nothing would tame their spirits. Perils only called fourth their courage and poverty only increased their power of resistance. None could fight like them. Their motto was ‘Better death than Dishonour’.
56. Which of the represents the central theme of the passage ?
(A) The pride of the Rajputs
(B) Rajputs and their sacrifices
(C) The rise and fall of the Rajputs
(D) Rajputs – the spirited heroes of Indian history
Ans : (A)
57. Which of the following is opposite in meaning to the word ‘proud’ in the passage ?
(A) Humble
(B) Kind
(C) Courteous
(D) Cowardly
Ans : (D)
58. The expression ‘tame their spirits’ in the passage means—
(A) Suppress their ambitious
(B) Arouse their enthusiasm
(C) Develop their courage
(D) Curb their enthusiasm
Ans : (D)
59. Which of the following statements is not true in the context of the passage ?
(A) The Rajputs achieved eminence in history due to their great history
(B) They were homely people and would fight for upholding women’s honour
(C) In the moments of danger they would exhibit great courage
(D) They could not, however face the challenge of poverty
Ans : (B)
60. According to the writer, the Rajputs occupy an honoured place in history, because—
(A) They were fond of wars
(B) They were proud of their wars
(C) They were jealous of people’s honour
(D) They lived and died upholding their self-respect
Ans : (D)
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