Reading Comprehension

Directions: Choose the option which is most nearly the same in meaning to the words in capital letters.

CATCHING UP

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

The past decade has upset many preconceptions about development and this more than anything else, makes it difficult to be overly definite about what the next decade has in store. But there are a few things that can be asserted with some confidence. First, education, health and productive employment are crucial - both for growth and for equity. We have tended to assume that all of these are the consequences of rapid economic growth and that only growth can generate the resources required for these purposes. But increasingly, it appears that these are better seen as the causes rather than as consequences of development. Virtually, every case of successful development involves a prior improvement in literacy, technical skills, health status and access to productive work.
Secondly, technological competence is the most important resource endowment and it explains a far larger proportion of growth in output and trade than more conventional factors like natural resources or capital accumulation. The competence required is not just in research. In fact technological dynamism in the factory and the farm is more important than the presence of larger research establishments.
Third, the environmental imperative can no longer be ignored. Today, as an international issue, it is second only to disarmament. Nationally, the developmental consequences of environmental neglect are increasingly obvious.
In the Indian context, there are at least two further factors which reinforce the above propositions. The first is the population growth. Given the pace of expansion of the population and the work force, human resource development acquires an added urgency. Necessarily the most important factor, which underlines environmental stress in rural and urban areas. The second factor is that as a larger country, we cannot carve out an independent position in the global system without building up a substantial capacity for self-reliant growth. The acquisition of technical competence is crucial for this purpose.     
Until now, we have tended to treat human resource development technology issues and environment as subsidiary to the main task of planning. The thrust has been on quantitative expansion of infrastructure and production with a focus on production targets like tonnes of steel, kilowatts of electricity; capacity targets like road length, rail kilometreage; and coverage targets like number of school and students, catching up with known technologies – thus, the maximum mobilisaton of financial resources.

According to the author, which of the following cannot be viewed as a cause of development?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

The past decade has upset many preconceptions about development and this more than anything else, makes it difficult to be overly definite about what the next decade has in store. But there are a few things that can be asserted with some confidence. First, education, health and productive employment are crucial - both for growth and for equity. We have tended to assume that all of these are the consequences of rapid economic growth and that only growth can generate the resources required for these purposes. But increasingly, it appears that these are better seen as the causes rather than as consequences of development. Virtually, every case of successful development involves a prior improvement in literacy, technical skills, health status and access to productive work.
Secondly, technological competence is the most important resource endowment and it explains a far larger proportion of growth in output and trade than more conventional factors like natural resources or capital accumulation. The competence required is not just in research. In fact technological dynamism in the factory and the farm is more important than the presence of larger research establishments.
Third, the environmental imperative can no longer be ignored. Today, as an international issue, it is second only to disarmament. Nationally, the developmental consequences of environmental neglect are increasingly obvious.
In the Indian context, there are at least two further factors which reinforce the above propositions. The first is the population growth. Given the pace of expansion of the population and the work force, human resource development acquires an added urgency. Necessarily the most important factor, which underlines environmental stress in rural and urban areas. The second factor is that as a larger country, we cannot carve out an independent position in the global system without building up a substantial capacity for self-reliant growth. The acquisition of technical competence is crucial for this purpose.     
Until now, we have tended to treat human resource development technology issues and environment as subsidiary to the main task of planning. The thrust has been on quantitative expansion of infrastructure and production with a focus on production targets like tonnes of steel, kilowatts of electricity; capacity targets like road length, rail kilometreage; and coverage targets like number of school and students, catching up with known technologies – thus, the maximum mobilisaton of financial resources.

According to the author, which of the following is an important factor resulting in environmental stress in rural and urban areas?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

The past decade has upset many preconceptions about development and this more than anything else, makes it difficult to be overly definite about what the next decade has in store. But there are a few things that can be asserted with some confidence. First, education, health and productive employment are crucial - both for growth and for equity. We have tended to assume that all of these are the consequences of rapid economic growth and that only growth can generate the resources required for these purposes. But increasingly, it appears that these are better seen as the causes rather than as consequences of development. Virtually, every case of successful development involves a prior improvement in literacy, technical skills, health status and access to productive work.
Secondly, technological competence is the most important resource endowment and it explains a far larger proportion of growth in output and trade than more conventional factors like natural resources or capital accumulation. The competence required is not just in research. In fact technological dynamism in the factory and the farm is more important than the presence of larger research establishments.
Third, the environmental imperative can no longer be ignored. Today, as an international issue, it is second only to disarmament. Nationally, the developmental consequences of environmental neglect are increasingly obvious.
In the Indian context, there are at least two further factors which reinforce the above propositions. The first is the population growth. Given the pace of expansion of the population and the work force, human resource development acquires an added urgency. Necessarily the most important factor, which underlines environmental stress in rural and urban areas. The second factor is that as a larger country, we cannot carve out an independent position in the global system without building up a substantial capacity for self-reliant growth. The acquisition of technical competence is crucial for this purpose.     
Until now, we have tended to treat human resource development technology issues and environment as subsidiary to the main task of planning. The thrust has been on quantitative expansion of infrastructure and production with a focus on production targets like tonnes of steel, kilowatts of electricity; capacity targets like road length, rail kilometreage; and coverage targets like number of school and students, catching up with known technologies – thus, the maximum mobilisaton of financial resources.

According to the passage, we have so far placed more emphasis on which of the following?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

The past decade has upset many preconceptions about development and this more than anything else, makes it difficult to be overly definite about what the next decade has in store. But there are a few things that can be asserted with some confidence. First, education, health and productive employment are crucial - both for growth and for equity. We have tended to assume that all of these are the consequences of rapid economic growth and that only growth can generate the resources required for these purposes. But increasingly, it appears that these are better seen as the causes rather than as consequences of development. Virtually, every case of successful development involves a prior improvement in literacy, technical skills, health status and access to productive work.
Secondly, technological competence is the most important resource endowment and it explains a far larger proportion of growth in output and trade than more conventional factors like natural resources or capital accumulation. The competence required is not just in research. In fact technological dynamism in the factory and the farm is more important than the presence of larger research establishments.
Third, the environmental imperative can no longer be ignored. Today, as an international issue, it is second only to disarmament. Nationally, the developmental consequences of environmental neglect are increasingly obvious.
In the Indian context, there are at least two further factors which reinforce the above propositions. The first is the population growth. Given the pace of expansion of the population and the work force, human resource development acquires an added urgency. Necessarily the most important factor, which underlines environmental stress in rural and urban areas. The second factor is that as a larger country, we cannot carve out an independent position in the global system without building up a substantial capacity for self-reliant growth. The acquisition of technical competence is crucial for this purpose.     
Until now, we have tended to treat human resource development technology issues and environment as subsidiary to the main task of planning. The thrust has been on quantitative expansion of infrastructure and production with a focus on production targets like tonnes of steel, kilowatts of electricity; capacity targets like road length, rail kilometreage; and coverage targets like number of school and students, catching up with known technologies – thus, the maximum mobilisaton of financial resources.

According to the author, which of the following factors support(s) and strengthen(s) his point of view?

(A) Necessity for carrying out growth on the basis of our own strength (B) Increased emphasis on production and coverage targets

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

The past decade has upset many preconceptions about development and this more than anything else, makes it difficult to be overly definite about what the next decade has in store. But there are a few things that can be asserted with some confidence. First, education, health and productive employment are crucial - both for growth and for equity. We have tended to assume that all of these are the consequences of rapid economic growth and that only growth can generate the resources required for these purposes. But increasingly, it appears that these are better seen as the causes rather than as consequences of development. Virtually, every case of successful development involves a prior improvement in literacy, technical skills, health status and access to productive work.
Secondly, technological competence is the most important resource endowment and it explains a far larger proportion of growth in output and trade than more conventional factors like natural resources or capital accumulation. The competence required is not just in research. In fact technological dynamism in the factory and the farm is more important than the presence of larger research establishments.
Third, the environmental imperative can no longer be ignored. Today, as an international issue, it is second only to disarmament. Nationally, the developmental consequences of environmental neglect are increasingly obvious.
In the Indian context, there are at least two further factors which reinforce the above propositions. The first is the population growth. Given the pace of expansion of the population and the work force, human resource development acquires an added urgency. Necessarily the most important factor, which underlines environmental stress in rural and urban areas. The second factor is that as a larger country, we cannot carve out an independent position in the global system without building up a substantial capacity for self-reliant growth. The acquisition of technical competence is crucial for this purpose.     
Until now, we have tended to treat human resource development technology issues and environment as subsidiary to the main task of planning. The thrust has been on quantitative expansion of infrastructure and production with a focus on production targets like tonnes of steel, kilowatts of electricity; capacity targets like road length, rail kilometreage; and coverage targets like number of school and students, catching up with known technologies – thus, the maximum mobilisaton of financial resources.

What seems to be the approach of the author regarding the present status of research?

(A) He desires that more research establishments should come up. (B) Application of new technologies in factories and field is more vital than setting up of research laboratories.

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

The past decade has upset many preconceptions about development and this more than anything else, makes it difficult to be overly definite about what the next decade has in store. But there are a few things that can be asserted with some confidence. First, education, health and productive employment are crucial - both for growth and for equity. We have tended to assume that all of these are the consequences of rapid economic growth and that only growth can generate the resources required for these purposes. But increasingly, it appears that these are better seen as the causes rather than as consequences of development. Virtually, every case of successful development involves a prior improvement in literacy, technical skills, health status and access to productive work.
Secondly, technological competence is the most important resource endowment and it explains a far larger proportion of growth in output and trade than more conventional factors like natural resources or capital accumulation. The competence required is not just in research. In fact technological dynamism in the factory and the farm is more important than the presence of larger research establishments.
Third, the environmental imperative can no longer be ignored. Today, as an international issue, it is second only to disarmament. Nationally, the developmental consequences of environmental neglect are increasingly obvious.
In the Indian context, there are at least two further factors which reinforce the above propositions. The first is the population growth. Given the pace of expansion of the population and the work force, human resource development acquires an added urgency. Necessarily the most important factor, which underlines environmental stress in rural and urban areas. The second factor is that as a larger country, we cannot carve out an independent position in the global system without building up a substantial capacity for self-reliant growth. The acquisition of technical competence is crucial for this purpose.     
Until now, we have tended to treat human resource development technology issues and environment as subsidiary to the main task of planning. The thrust has been on quantitative expansion of infrastructure and production with a focus on production targets like tonnes of steel, kilowatts of electricity; capacity targets like road length, rail kilometreage; and coverage targets like number of school and students, catching up with known technologies – thus, the maximum mobilisaton of financial resources.

Which of the following statements is not true in the context of the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

The past decade has upset many preconceptions about development and this more than anything else, makes it difficult to be overly definite about what the next decade has in store. But there are a few things that can be asserted with some confidence. First, education, health and productive employment are crucial - both for growth and for equity. We have tended to assume that all of these are the consequences of rapid economic growth and that only growth can generate the resources required for these purposes. But increasingly, it appears that these are better seen as the causes rather than as consequences of development. Virtually, every case of successful development involves a prior improvement in literacy, technical skills, health status and access to productive work.
Secondly, technological competence is the most important resource endowment and it explains a far larger proportion of growth in output and trade than more conventional factors like natural resources or capital accumulation. The competence required is not just in research. In fact technological dynamism in the factory and the farm is more important than the presence of larger research establishments.
Third, the environmental imperative can no longer be ignored. Today, as an international issue, it is second only to disarmament. Nationally, the developmental consequences of environmental neglect are increasingly obvious.
In the Indian context, there are at least two further factors which reinforce the above propositions. The first is the population growth. Given the pace of expansion of the population and the work force, human resource development acquires an added urgency. Necessarily the most important factor, which underlines environmental stress in rural and urban areas. The second factor is that as a larger country, we cannot carve out an independent position in the global system without building up a substantial capacity for self-reliant growth. The acquisition of technical competence is crucial for this purpose.     
Until now, we have tended to treat human resource development technology issues and environment as subsidiary to the main task of planning. The thrust has been on quantitative expansion of infrastructure and production with a focus on production targets like tonnes of steel, kilowatts of electricity; capacity targets like road length, rail kilometreage; and coverage targets like number of school and students, catching up with known technologies – thus, the maximum mobilisaton of financial resources.

According to the author, with the passage of time, the effect of which of the following is being felt at the national level?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

The past decade has upset many preconceptions about development and this more than anything else, makes it difficult to be overly definite about what the next decade has in store. But there are a few things that can be asserted with some confidence. First, education, health and productive employment are crucial - both for growth and for equity. We have tended to assume that all of these are the consequences of rapid economic growth and that only growth can generate the resources required for these purposes. But increasingly, it appears that these are better seen as the causes rather than as consequences of development. Virtually, every case of successful development involves a prior improvement in literacy, technical skills, health status and access to productive work.
Secondly, technological competence is the most important resource endowment and it explains a far larger proportion of growth in output and trade than more conventional factors like natural resources or capital accumulation. The competence required is not just in research. In fact technological dynamism in the factory and the farm is more important than the presence of larger research establishments.
Third, the environmental imperative can no longer be ignored. Today, as an international issue, it is second only to disarmament. Nationally, the developmental consequences of environmental neglect are increasingly obvious.
In the Indian context, there are at least two further factors which reinforce the above propositions. The first is the population growth. Given the pace of expansion of the population and the work force, human resource development acquires an added urgency. Necessarily the most important factor, which underlines environmental stress in rural and urban areas. The second factor is that as a larger country, we cannot carve out an independent position in the global system without building up a substantial capacity for self-reliant growth. The acquisition of technical competence is crucial for this purpose.     
Until now, we have tended to treat human resource development technology issues and environment as subsidiary to the main task of planning. The thrust has been on quantitative expansion of infrastructure and production with a focus on production targets like tonnes of steel, kilowatts of electricity; capacity targets like road length, rail kilometreage; and coverage targets like number of school and students, catching up with known technologies – thus, the maximum mobilisaton of financial resources.

Choose the word which is most nearly the same in meaning to the word in capital letters.

PURPOSE

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

The past decade has upset many preconceptions about development and this more than anything else, makes it difficult to be overly definite about what the next decade has in store. But there are a few things that can be asserted with some confidence. First, education, health and productive employment are crucial - both for growth and for equity. We have tended to assume that all of these are the consequences of rapid economic growth and that only growth can generate the resources required for these purposes. But increasingly, it appears that these are better seen as the causes rather than as consequences of development. Virtually, every case of successful development involves a prior improvement in literacy, technical skills, health status and access to productive work.
Secondly, technological competence is the most important resource endowment and it explains a far larger proportion of growth in output and trade than more conventional factors like natural resources or capital accumulation. The competence required is not just in research. In fact technological dynamism in the factory and the farm is more important than the presence of larger research establishments.
Third, the environmental imperative can no longer be ignored. Today, as an international issue, it is second only to disarmament. Nationally, the developmental consequences of environmental neglect are increasingly obvious.
In the Indian context, there are at least two further factors which reinforce the above propositions. The first is the population growth. Given the pace of expansion of the population and the work force, human resource development acquires an added urgency. Necessarily the most important factor, which underlines environmental stress in rural and urban areas. The second factor is that as a larger country, we cannot carve out an independent position in the global system without building up a substantial capacity for self-reliant growth. The acquisition of technical competence is crucial for this purpose.     
Until now, we have tended to treat human resource development technology issues and environment as subsidiary to the main task of planning. The thrust has been on quantitative expansion of infrastructure and production with a focus on production targets like tonnes of steel, kilowatts of electricity; capacity targets like road length, rail kilometreage; and coverage targets like number of school and students, catching up with known technologies – thus, the maximum mobilisaton of financial resources.

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question.

'Tolerable state of balance' in the last sentence may mean _____________________.

Democratic societies from the earliest times have expected their governments to protect the weak against the strong. No ‘era of good feeling’ can justify discharging the police force or giving up the idea of public control over concentrated private wealth. On the other hand, it is obvious that a spirit of self – denial & moderation on the part of those who hold economic power will greatly soften the demand for absolute equality. Men are more interested in freedom & security than in an equal distribution of wealth. The extent to which government must interfere with business, therefore, is not
exactly measured by the by the extent to which economic power is concentrated into a few hands . The required degree of government interference depends mainly on weather economic powers are oppressively used, and on the necessity of keeping economic factors in a tolerable state of balance.
             But with the necessity of meeting all these dangers and threats to liberty, the power of government are unavoidably increased, whichever political party may be in office. The growth of government is a necessary result of

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question.

A spirit of moderation on the economically sound people would make the less privileged _________________.

Democratic societies from the earliest times have expected their governments to protect the weak against the strong. No ‘era of good feeling’ can justify discharging the police force or giving up the idea of public control over concentrated private wealth. On the other hand, it is obvious that a spirit of self – denial & moderation on the part of those who hold economic power will greatly soften the demand for absolute equality. Men are more interested in freedom & security than in an equal distribution of wealth. The extent to which government must interfere with business, therefore, is not
exactly measured by the by the extent to which economic power is concentrated into a few hands . The required degree of government interference depends mainly on weather economic powers are oppressively used, and on the necessity of keeping economic factors in a tolerable state of balance.
             But with the necessity of meeting all these dangers and threats to liberty, the power of government are unavoidably increased, whichever political party may be in office. The growth of government is a necessary result of

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question.

'Era of good feeling' in sentence 2 refers to _________________.

Democratic societies from the earliest times have expected their governments to protect the weak against the strong. No ‘era of good feeling’ can justify discharging the police force or giving up the idea of public control over concentrated private wealth. On the other hand, it is obvious that a spirit of self – denial & moderation on the part of those who hold economic power will greatly soften the demand for absolute equality. Men are more interested in freedom & security than in an equal distribution of wealth. The extent to which government must interfere with business, therefore, is not
exactly measured by the by the extent to which economic power is concentrated into a few hands . The required degree of government interference depends mainly on weather economic powers are oppressively used, and on the necessity of keeping economic factors in a tolerable state of balance.
             But with the necessity of meeting all these dangers and threats to liberty, the power of government are unavoidably increased, whichever political party may be in office. The growth of government is a necessary result of

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question.

The advent of science and technology has increased the _________________.

Democratic societies from the earliest times have expected their governments to protect the weak against the strong. No ‘era of good feeling’ can justify discharging the police force or giving up the idea of public control over concentrated private wealth. On the other hand, it is obvious that a spirit of self – denial & moderation on the part of those who hold economic power will greatly soften the demand for absolute equality. Men are more interested in freedom & security than in an equal distribution of wealth. The extent to which government must interfere with business, therefore, is not
exactly measured by the by the extent to which economic power is concentrated into a few hands . The required degree of government interference depends mainly on weather economic powers are oppressively used, and on the necessity of keeping economic factors in a tolerable state of balance.
             But with the necessity of meeting all these dangers and threats to liberty, the power of government are unavoidably increased, whichever political party may be in office. The growth of government is a necessary result of

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question.

The growth of government is necessitated to __________________.

Democratic societies from the earliest times have expected their governments to protect the weak against the strong. No ‘era of good feeling’ can justify discharging the police force or giving up the idea of public control over concentrated private wealth. On the other hand, it is obvious that a spirit of self – denial & moderation on the part of those who hold economic power will greatly soften the demand for absolute equality. Men are more interested in freedom & security than in an equal distribution of wealth. The extent to which government must interfere with business, therefore, is not
exactly measured by the by the extent to which economic power is concentrated into a few hands . The required degree of government interference depends mainly on weather economic powers are oppressively used, and on the necessity of keeping economic factors in a tolerable state of balance.
             But with the necessity of meeting all these dangers and threats to liberty, the power of government are unavoidably increased, whichever political party may be in office. The growth of government is a necessary result of

Directions: Which of the phrases (A), (B), (C) and (D) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentence to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct. If the sentence is correct as it is and no correction is required, mark (E) as the answer.

The magazine that we subscribe to is published monthly.

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

There was a girl who sang beautifully at the temple every morning. The music master used to happily recall, "One day when I went into the woods to pluck flowers, I found this baby under a pipal tree." He picked her up carefully, raised her lovingly as if she was his own daughter and he taught her to sing before she spoke her first word.

The music master grew old and didn't see too well. The girl tended to him caringly. Many people including young men travelled from far and wide to hear her sing. This made the music master's heart quake with fear, "You will choose one of them as your husband. What is to become of me?" The girl replied, "I shall not be apart from you." But on a full moon night during the harvest festival, the master's chief disciple touched his feet reverently and said, "Master grant me your permission for your daughter has agreed to marry me." The master's tears flowed freely, "She has chosen well. Go and fetch her, let me hear you sing the first of many melodies that you will sing together." The two began to sing in harmony. But the song was interrupted by the arrival of the royal messenger. "Your daughter is very fortunate - the king has sent for her," the messenger said. At the palace, the Queen summoned the girl to her and said, "I place upon you the honour of making sure my daughter is never unhappy at her husband's home." There wasn't a single tear in the girl's eyes, but she thought of the master and her heart was heavy.