English Reading Comprehension

Fill in the blank (vi) with the help of the given alternatives.

Directions: In the given question, some of the words have been left out. First read the passage and try to understand what it is about.

Many farmers who traditionally (…i…) pulses, millets and paddy have been lured by seed companies to buy hybrid cotton seeds and other GM crops, which were (…ii…) to make their lives easier and wealthier. Instead they (…iii…) bankruptcy and ruin. Their native seeds have been (…iv…) with new hybrids which cannot be saved and need to be purchased every year at a high cost. Hybrids are also very (…v…) to pest attacks. All pesticides have to be (…vi…) from the company that sold them the seeds; there have been reports of blatant profiteering from these companies.

We are (…vii…) told that without genetic engineering and globalization of agriculture the world will starve, it is constantly promoted as the only (…viii…) available for feeding the hungry.

Everywhere, food production is becoming a negative economy, with farmers (…ix…) more on buying costly inputs for industrial production than the price they receive for their produce. The consequence is rising debts in both rich and poor countries. In some African countries it is cheaper to buy foreign sugar and coffee than it is to buy locally produced goods. This is because of over production and subsidies in the West which means that they then dump these goods on Africa (…x…) local markets.

Fill in the blank (i) with the help of the given alternatives.

Directions: In the given question, some of the words have been left out. First read the passage and try to understand what it is about.

Many farmers who traditionally (…i…) pulses, millets and paddy have been lured by seed companies to buy hybrid cotton seeds and other GM crops, which were (…ii…) to make their lives easier and wealthier. Instead they (…iii…) bankruptcy and ruin. Their native seeds have been (…iv…) with new hybrids which cannot be saved and need to be purchased every year at a high cost. Hybrids are also very (…v…) to pest attacks. All pesticides have to be (…vi…) from the company that sold them the seeds; there have been reports of blatant profiteering from these companies.

We are (…vii…) told that without genetic engineering and globalization of agriculture the world will starve, it is constantly promoted as the only (…viii…) available for feeding the hungry.

Everywhere, food production is becoming a negative economy, with farmers (…ix…) more on buying costly inputs for industrial production than the price they receive for their produce. The consequence is rising debts in both rich and poor countries. In some African countries it is cheaper to buy foreign sugar and coffee than it is to buy locally produced goods. This is because of over production and subsidies in the West which means that they then dump these goods on Africa (…x…) local markets.

Fill in the blank (ii) with the help of the given alternatives.

Directions: In the given question, some of the words have been left out. First read the passage and try to understand what it is about.

Many farmers who traditionally (…i…) pulses, millets and paddy have been lured by seed companies to buy hybrid cotton seeds and other GM crops, which were (…ii…) to make their lives easier and wealthier. Instead they (…iii…) bankruptcy and ruin. Their native seeds have been (…iv…) with new hybrids which cannot be saved and need to be purchased every year at a high cost. Hybrids are also very (…v…) to pest attacks. All pesticides have to be (…vi…) from the company that sold them the seeds; there have been reports of blatant profiteering from these companies.

We are (…vii…) told that without genetic engineering and globalization of agriculture the world will starve, it is constantly promoted as the only (…viii…) available for feeding the hungry.

Everywhere, food production is becoming a negative economy, with farmers (…ix…) more on buying costly inputs for industrial production than the price they receive for their produce. The consequence is rising debts in both rich and poor countries. In some African countries it is cheaper to buy foreign sugar and coffee than it is to buy locally produced goods. This is because of over production and subsidies in the West which means that they then dump these goods on Africa (…x…) local markets.

Fill in the blank (viii) with the help of the given alternatives .

Directions: In the given question, some of the words have been left out. First read the passage and try to understand what it is about.

Many farmers who traditionally (…i…) pulses, millets and paddy have been lured by seed companies to buy hybrid cotton seeds and other GM crops, which were (…ii…) to make their lives easier and wealthier. Instead they (…iii…) bankruptcy and ruin. Their native seeds have been (…iv…) with new hybrids which cannot be saved and need to be purchased every year at a high cost. Hybrids are also very (…v…) to pest attacks. All pesticides have to be (…vi…) from the company that sold them the seeds; there have been reports of blatant profiteering from these companies.

We are (…vii…) told that without genetic engineering and globalization of agriculture the world will starve, it is constantly promoted as the only (…viii…) available for feeding the hungry.

Everywhere, food production is becoming a negative economy, with farmers (…ix…) more on buying costly inputs for industrial production than the price they receive for their produce. The consequence is rising debts in both rich and poor countries. In some African countries it is cheaper to buy foreign sugar and coffee than it is to buy locally produced goods. This is because of over production and subsidies in the West which means that they then dump these goods on Africa (…x…) local markets.

Fill in the blank (vii) with the help of the given alternatives.

Directions: In the given question, some of the words have been left out. First read the passage and try to understand what it is about.

Many farmers who traditionally (…i…) pulses, millets and paddy have been lured by seed companies to buy hybrid cotton seeds and other GM crops, which were (…ii…) to make their lives easier and wealthier. Instead they (…iii…) bankruptcy and ruin. Their native seeds have been (…iv…) with new hybrids which cannot be saved and need to be purchased every year at a high cost. Hybrids are also very (…v…) to pest attacks. All pesticides have to be (…vi…) from the company that sold them the seeds; there have been reports of blatant profiteering from these companies.

We are (…vii…) told that without genetic engineering and globalization of agriculture the world will starve, it is constantly promoted as the only (…viii…) available for feeding the hungry.

Everywhere, food production is becoming a negative economy, with farmers (…ix…) more on buying costly inputs for industrial production than the price they receive for their produce. The consequence is rising debts in both rich and poor countries. In some African countries it is cheaper to buy foreign sugar and coffee than it is to buy locally produced goods. This is because of over production and subsidies in the West which means that they then dump these goods on Africa (…x…) local markets.

According to the passage, in which of the following fields has science failed?

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.

Directions: Choose the correct word for blank (2).

The new RBI governor faces what economists call a central banker's ___ (1) __. He has to arrest the rupee's slide, cool inflation and create conditions that will boost-growth. Attempting all three simultaneously is a __ (2) ___ task. When growth ___ (3) ___ it is usually expected that the central bank will cut interest rates to ___ (4) ___ demand and spending. Higher demand and spending that is triggered by lower interest rates can also push prices up and ___ (5) ___ inflation, especially when the current inflation rate is very high.

Directions: Choose the correct word for blank (3).

The new RBI governor faces what economists call a central banker's ___ (1) __. He has to arrest the rupee's slide, cool inflation and create conditions that will boost-growth. Attempting all three simultaneously is a __ (2) ___ task. When growth ___ (3) ___ it is usually expected that the central bank will cut interest rates to ___ (4) ___ demand and spending. Higher demand and spending that is triggered by lower interest rates can also push prices up and ___ (5) ___ inflation, especially when the current inflation rate is very high.

Directions: Choose the correct word for blank (4).

The new RBI governor faces what economists call a central banker's ___ (1) __. He has to arrest the rupee's slide, cool inflation and create conditions that will boost-growth. Attempting all three simultaneously is a __ (2) ___ task. When growth ___ (3) ___ it is usually expected that the central bank will cut interest rates to ___ (4) ___ demand and spending. Higher demand and spending that is triggered by lower interest rates can also push prices up and ___ (5) ___ inflation, especially when the current inflation rate is very high.

A truly productive employee, according to the writer, is always

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question.

You may think the sign of a good manager is to have a department where everybody is busy at work on their assigned tasks. But if your people are merely doing their jobs, they’re only working at about half their potential. A truly productive department is one in which every employee is actively thinking of better, more efficient methods of working ways in which to produce a higher quality product, in less time, at lower cost.
To get this kind of innovation from your people, you have to be receptive to new ideas; what’s more, you have to encourage your people to produce new ideas. Incentives are one way to motivate employees to be more productive. You can offer a cash bonus, time off, or a gift. But a more potent form of motivation is simply the employee’s knowledge that management does listen to him or her, and does put employee suggestions and ideas to work.
When you listen to new ideas, be open-minded. Don’t shoot down a suggestion before you’ve heard it in full. Many of us are too quick, too eager, to show off our own experience and knowledge and say that something won’t work because ‘we’ve tried it before’ or ‘we don’t do it that way’. Well, may be you did try it before but that doesn’t mean it won’t work now. And having done things a certain way in the past doesn’t mean you’ve been doing them the best way. A good manager is open-minded and receptive to new ideas.

The word 'motivation' in the passage means

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question.

You may think the sign of a good manager is to have a department where everybody is busy at work on their assigned tasks. But if your people are merely doing their jobs, they’re only working at about half their potential. A truly productive department is one in which every employee is actively thinking of better, more efficient methods of working ways in which to produce a higher quality product, in less time, at lower cost.
To get this kind of innovation from your people, you have to be receptive to new ideas; what’s more, you have to encourage your people to produce new ideas. Incentives are one way to motivate employees to be more productive. You can offer a cash bonus, time off, or a gift. But a more potent form of motivation is simply the employee’s knowledge that management does listen to him or her, and does put employee suggestions and ideas to work.
When you listen to new ideas, be open-minded. Don’t shoot down a suggestion before you’ve heard it in full. Many of us are too quick, too eager, to show off our own experience and knowledge and say that something won’t work because ‘we’ve tried it before’ or ‘we don’t do it that way’. Well, may be you did try it before but that doesn’t mean it won’t work now. And having done things a certain way in the past doesn’t mean you’ve been doing them the best way. A good manager is open-minded and receptive to new ideas.

The poet describes his eyes as 'two red redundant eyes because

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question by selecting the most appropriate option.

Common Cold

1 Go hang yourself, you old M.D.! You shall not sneer at me. Pick up your hat and stethoscope, Go wash your mouth with laundry soap; I contemplate a joy exquisite I'm not paying you for your visit. I did not call you to be told My malady is a common cold.

2 By pounding brow and swollen lip; By fever's hot and scaly grip; By those two red redundant eyes That weep like woeful April skies; By racking snuffle, snort, and sniff; By handkerchief after handkerchief; This cold you wave away as naught Is the damnedest cold man ever caught !

3 Bacilli swarm within my portals Such as were ne'er conceived by mortals, But bred by scientists wise and hoary In some Olympic laboratory; Bacteria as large as mice, With feet of fire and heads of ice
Who never interrupt for slumber Their stamping elephantine rumba.

'Who never interrupt for slumber, their stamping elephantine rumba.' The meaning of these lines is that

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question by selecting the most appropriate option.

Common Cold

1 Go hang yourself, you old M.D.! You shall not sneer at me. Pick up your hat and stethoscope, Go wash your mouth with laundry soap; I contemplate a joy exquisite I'm not paying you for your visit. I did not call you to be told My malady is a common cold.

2 By pounding brow and swollen lip; By fever's hot and scaly grip; By those two red redundant eyes That weep like woeful April skies; By racking snuffle, snort, and sniff; By handkerchief after handkerchief; This cold you wave away as naught Is the damnedest cold man ever caught !

3 Bacilli swarm within my portals Such as were ne'er conceived by mortals, But bred by scientists wise and hoary In some Olympic laboratory; Bacteria as large as mice, With feet of fire and heads of ice
Who never interrupt for slumber Their stamping elephantine rumba.

The scheme, according to the Old Man, was useful because

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question by selecting the most appropriate option.

1. This was one of the Old Man's pet schemes; and one about which he would brook no interference. Each child would review the events of his school week in his own words, in his own way; he was free to comment, to criticize, to agree or disagree, with any person, subject or method, as long as it was in-some way associated with the school. No one and nothing was sacred, from the Headmaster down, and the child, moreover, was safe from any form of reprisal.

2. "Look at it this way," Mr. Florian had said. "It is of advantage to both pupil and teacher. If a child wants to write about something which matters to him, he will take some pains to set it down as carefully and with as much detail as possible; that must in some way improve his written English in terms of spelling, construction and style. Week by week we are able, through his reviews, to follow and observe his progress in such things. As for the teachers, we soon get a pretty good idea what the children think of us and whether or not we are getting close to them. It may sometimes be rather deflating to discover that a well-prepared lesson did not really excite Johnny Smith's interest, but, after all, the lesson was intended to benefit Johnny Smith, not his teacher.