Antonyms

Choose the word most opposite in meaning to the word ‘Realised’, as used in the passage.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully to answer the given question. 

In 1971, China contributed US \$ 2.78 billion to world trade (exports), which was 0.82 percent of world trade. Since then, its contribution to world trade consistently increased: US \$ 183.59 billion (3.37 percent) in 1998; and US $ 250 billion (over 4 percent) in 2001. India's contribution in 1971 was US $ 2.04 billion (0.60 percent of world trade) and US \$ 33.44 billion in 1998. In 2001, we achieved exports of US \$ 44.5 billion (0.70 percent of world trade). The export figures between India and China showed a big difference in 2001 though it was marginal in 1971.

The key factors influencing world trade are: External trade and foreign investment; relocation of global manufacturing basis; and rapid technological developments. External trade & foreign investment: Capital flows in the form of foreign direct investment (FDI's) and foreign invested enterprises (FIE's). Cross border acquisitions and mergers constituted a major percentage of FDI flows. FDI flow to developing countries increased by six fold from 1990 to 1998. During 1995-98, FDI flow increased to US \$ 1886 billion. Of this, China alone attracted US \$ 164 billion while India's share was only US \$ 11 billion. The impact of FDI to a host country's economy is widely recognised. The foreign-funded firms contributed to nearly 45 per cent of China's export during 1999.

Relocation of global manufacturing basis: Large-scale shift in global manufacturing basis to Asian countries has occurred through the 1990's, with factor costs, especially wages increased in developed countries. The other factor which determined the choice of shifting was the labour laws and work related rules and regulations. China which was associated with rigid labour laws and other economy related rules and regulations came out with a concept of special export zones which are a foreign enclave in the country where no labour laws and other economy related rules are made applicable. In fact, China soon realised that it may not be possible to change labour laws and other economy related rules in the country so soon. However, having realised their importance for attracting FDI and to the growth of their economy, it accepted the idea of creating these foreign enclaves such as Shenzen and attracted foreign capital and technology. That is the reason why approximately 45 per cent of China's exports come from such zones.

Rapid technological developments: Rapid technological developments have led to a steep decline in transportation and telecommunication costs. These in turn have vastly reduced the impact of physical distance for global commerce. Though China had a distinct disadvantage of the lack of knowledge of English, it has come out with Chinese as computer compatible language. It has declared that Chinese will be the world's no.1 computer language soon. The flow of FDI capital has also brought with it the technology from the West including the USA. The cultural ties with Taiwan have helped China to a great extent in achieving access to technology and export.

China has achieved the number one position in world trade in regard to toys and stuffed toys. China captured, in 1999, business to the tune of US \$ 52 billion out of global US \$ 300 billion in textile and clothing. China achieved more than US \$ 20 billion in world trade of US \$ 850 billion in electronics and computers in 1999-2000. China's next target is gem and jewellery which is low cost capital but highly labour oriented industry of approximately US \$ 40 billion. China is equally exploring organic and inorganic chemicals which had a world trade of US \$ 574 billion last year.

Destination wise analysis will show that in the USA's import of top 100 items, China figures among top exporters in respect of 61 items while India appears in only 15 items. Similar is the position in regard to the European Union. In the top 100 items of import by Japan, China appears at 76 items. China has foreign reserves of more than US \$ 250 billion but the share of FDI's in it is a question mark.

Should India be afraid of China or should prepare for competing with China in international trade. This writer is of the opinion that where we cannot compete we should co-operate with China and bring some success to our industry by importing semi finished products both for domestic and international trade. India should learn lesson from the next door neighbour and modify its economic policies, including the Exim policy with the sole motive of converting human factor from liability to an asset.

Choose the word most opposite in meaning to the word 'Recognised', as used in the passage.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully to answer the given question. 

In 1971, China contributed US \$ 2.78 billion to world trade (exports), which was 0.82 percent of world trade. Since then, its contribution to world trade consistently increased: US \$ 183.59 billion (3.37 percent) in 1998; and US $ 250 billion (over 4 percent) in 2001. India's contribution in 1971 was US $ 2.04 billion (0.60 percent of world trade) and US \$ 33.44 billion in 1998. In 2001, we achieved exports of US \$ 44.5 billion (0.70 percent of world trade). The export figures between India and China showed a big difference in 2001 though it was marginal in 1971.

The key factors influencing world trade are: External trade and foreign investment; relocation of global manufacturing basis; and rapid technological developments. External trade & foreign investment: Capital flows in the form of foreign direct investment (FDI's) and foreign invested enterprises (FIE's). Cross border acquisitions and mergers constituted a major percentage of FDI flows. FDI flow to developing countries increased by six fold from 1990 to 1998. During 1995-98, FDI flow increased to US \$ 1886 billion. Of this, China alone attracted US \$ 164 billion while India's share was only US \$ 11 billion. The impact of FDI to a host country's economy is widely recognised. The foreign-funded firms contributed to nearly 45 per cent of China's export during 1999.

Relocation of global manufacturing basis: Large-scale shift in global manufacturing basis to Asian countries has occurred through the 1990's, with factor costs, especially wages increased in developed countries. The other factor which determined the choice of shifting was the labour laws and work related rules and regulations. China which was associated with rigid labour laws and other economy related rules and regulations came out with a concept of special export zones which are a foreign enclave in the country where no labour laws and other economy related rules are made applicable. In fact, China soon realised that it may not be possible to change labour laws and other economy related rules in the country so soon. However, having realised their importance for attracting FDI and to the growth of their economy, it accepted the idea of creating these foreign enclaves such as Shenzen and attracted foreign capital and technology. That is the reason why approximately 45 per cent of China's exports come from such zones.

Rapid technological developments: Rapid technological developments have led to a steep decline in transportation and telecommunication costs. These in turn have vastly reduced the impact of physical distance for global commerce. Though China had a distinct disadvantage of the lack of knowledge of English, it has come out with Chinese as computer compatible language. It has declared that Chinese will be the world's no.1 computer language soon. The flow of FDI capital has also brought with it the technology from the West including the USA. The cultural ties with Taiwan have helped China to a great extent in achieving access to technology and export.

China has achieved the number one position in world trade in regard to toys and stuffed toys. China captured, in 1999, business to the tune of US \$ 52 billion out of global US \$ 300 billion in textile and clothing. China achieved more than US \$ 20 billion in world trade of US \$ 850 billion in electronics and computers in 1999-2000. China's next target is gem and jewellery which is low cost capital but highly labour oriented industry of approximately US \$ 40 billion. China is equally exploring organic and inorganic chemicals which had a world trade of US \$ 574 billion last year.

Destination wise analysis will show that in the USA's import of top 100 items, China figures among top exporters in respect of 61 items while India appears in only 15 items. Similar is the position in regard to the European Union. In the top 100 items of import by Japan, China appears at 76 items. China has foreign reserves of more than US \$ 250 billion but the share of FDI's in it is a question mark.

Should India be afraid of China or should prepare for competing with China in international trade. This writer is of the opinion that where we cannot compete we should co-operate with China and bring some success to our industry by importing semi finished products both for domestic and international trade. India should learn lesson from the next door neighbour and modify its economic policies, including the Exim policy with the sole motive of converting human factor from liability to an asset.

Directions: Choose the word, which is most opposite in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

Compressed

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the given question.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), plastic bags are a better option than paper bags from the environment’s point of view. Many studies comparing plastic versus paper show that plastic bags have less net environmental effect than paper bags, requiring less energy for transport, production and recycling and because of all these, plastic generates less greenhouse gases. They cause less air and water pollution and can get compressed to a small size in landfills. Plastic bags are sterile and thus are a better option for the transportation of eatables and medicines.
However there is another side of using plastic. Plastics are manufactured from petroleum. This brings a host of other issues e.g. destruction of habitat. Their manufacturing involves chemicals, many of which have not been sufficiently tested for their toxicological impact on humans and animals.Exacerbating the problem is that science has only advanced to detect plastic components in human bodies and then link it to human ailments and diseases. Where science has been unable to help is that it has largely failed to invent a solution to the hazards caused by it. Making the situation dismalis the fact that the hazard is closer than it appears. Teflon, PVC, Polyethylene, polystyrene in utensils and various silicones in hair and body care products accumulate in the body and lead to serious diseases. Plasticproducing companies are often chemical companies or subsidiaries of chemical companies, both with poor track records when it comes to their adherence to regulatory compliance and their willingness to perform toxicological analysis on the products that they make.
Plastics often drain component chemicals, including hazardous chemicals when temperature changes beyond a certain point. It is for this reason that toxicologists do not recommend storing very cold food in plastics or heating food (microwaving especially) in plastics. Also, plastics are durable materials. Thus, they are hard to eliminate once used and create tremendous waste. While some common plastics can be recycled the vast majority cannot be recycled.
Scientists suggest the use of Biodegradable plastics as an alternative to this persisting problem. These are the plastics that can decompose in the natural environment. Biodegradation of plastics can be achieved by enabling microorganisms in the environment to metabolize the molecular structure of plastic films to produce an inert humus-like material that is less harmful to the environment. They may be composed of either bio-plastics, which are plastics whose components are derived from renewable raw materials, or petroleum-based plastics. The use of bio-active compounds compounded with swelling agents ensures that, when combined with heat and moisture, they expand the plastic’s molecular structure and allow the bio-active compounds to metabolise and neutralize the plastic.
Various countries have been adopting different methods to discourage the use of plastic. Growing awareness in the UK of the problems caused by indiscriminate use of plastic bags is encouraging retailers to reward customers who bring their own bags or who reuse or recycle existing bags. This is called the ‘Green Bag Scheme’. In other countries retailers have stopped providing free plastic bags with purchases and have been selling cloth bags for very minimalistic prices.