S.B.I. Clerical Staff Recruitment Exam 2007 :
General English

Directions—(Q. 1—5) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are given in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.

The income disparity in the new India is massive: 36 billionaires in India and 800 million people living on less than $2 a day. The challenge for achieving inclusive growth relates to the revival of agriculture. Farming is becoming a non­viable activity. A confluence of factors, from poor rainfall to the new availability of consumer goods which consume much of Indian families' incomes, has driven many farmers into crushing debt. The agriculture sector has many problems with a growth rate of less than 2% in the last decade. Further scope for increase in net sown area is limited. Disparity in productivity across regions and crops has persisted. Far from benefiting from the economic boom many complain that banks don't offer the rural poor credit, forcing them to turn to greedy money-lenders, who typically charge up to 20% interest on a four-month loan. Health-care and education costs have risen dramatically, while the global price of cotton has become depressed, largely due to the billions of dollars in subsidies Washington hands out to U.S. farmers.

The approach to the revival of Indian agricul­ture seems to be incremental, rather than a holistic strategy. It is important to stress that growth and equity should be pursued simultaneously rather than following' growth first and equity next' approach. What -are the challenges for achieving 4% growth and equity in agriculture? Policy makers like the National Commission on Farmers mention cost reduction in agriculture as important to compete in a globalised world. The most important problem for the farmers is output price fluctuations. There is a big gap between producer prices and consumer prices. In order to protect farmers from national and international price volatility, a price stabilization fund is needed. The supply and demand side constraints have to be removed to raise growth. The support systems have to be tuned to improve productivity and incomes of farmers with emphasis on small and marginal farmers and dry land areas. One of the differences between the green revolution in the 1960s170s and the present 'second green revolu­tion' is that risk is higher in the latter approach as it has to. concentrate more on dry-land areas. Trade liberalization has also raised the risk and uncertainty. Thus, policies have to keep in mind the increasing risk in agriculture. Agriculture policies have to be gender sensitive too since the share of women is increasing. The Government is aware that the crop sector may not be able to grow at 4% per annum but horticulture and allied activities like dairying, poultry and fisheries have to grow at the rate 6% to 7% to achieve 4% growth in agriculture. Investment in irrigation and rural infrastructure is important for agricultural growth. It is known that public investment in agriculture is lower than the requirements needed for achieving 4% growth. Bharat Nirman Programme is in the right direction but the progress has to be much faster.

1. What does the author view as a challenge for achieving inclusive growth?
   (A) Doubling agricultural growth using an incremental approach
   (B) Regulating the availability of consumer goods.
   (C) Achieving growth and equity in agriculture
   (D) Reducing cost of healthcare and education for the poor through privatisation
   (E) Maintaining a steady growth rate of 2% during the next decade
    

2. Which of the following factors should the Government take into consideration while framing agricultural policies?
   1. Allied farm activities like horticulture should receive less attention.
   2. Increased participation of women in agricultural sector.
   3. Reduced risk in agriculture owing to globalisation.
   
   (A) Only 1
   (B) Only 2
   (C) Only 1 and 2
   (D) All 1, 2 and 3
   (E) None of these
    

3. Which of the following is not true in the context of the passage?
   (A) Trade liberalization has reduced the uncertainty in agriculture
   (B) Currently 4% growth in crop sector is not feasible
   (C) Indian families are spending more than what they can afford on luxury items
   (D) Agricultural growth rate has remained stagnant during the last ten years
   (E) Fluctuations in prices pose a problem to farmers
    

4. Which of the following is not a means to achieve 4% agricultural growth rate?
   (A) Stricter regulations governing demand and supply
   (B) Focus on increasing the income of small farmers
   (C) Attention to development of dry land
   (D) Concentration on fisheries, poultry and other allied activities
   (E) Increasing public investment in agriculture
    

5. How does the government plan to ensure a 4% growth rate in agriculture?
   (A) Providing licenses to unlicensed money lenders
   (B) Shift focus from developing agricultural infrastructure to pricing of agricultural products
   (C) Provide subsidies equivalent to those given in the US
   (D) Maintain a 6% growth rate in allied agricultural activities
   (E) None of these
    

6. What has prevented the rural poor from benefiting from economic growth?
   1. High rate of interest on bank credit.
   2. Exploitation by money lenders.
   3. Subsidies provided by the Government to farmers are insufficient.
   (A) Only 3
   (B) Both 1 and 2
   (C) Only 2
   (D) Both 2 and 3
   (E) None of these
    

7. Why are farmers facing crippling debt?
   1.Increased expenditure on luxury items.
   2. Subsidies are not provided by the Indian government.
   3. Prices of crops like cotton have risen dramatically.
   (A) All 1, 2 and 3
   (B) Only 1
   (C) Only 2
   (D) Both 1 and 2
   (E) None of these
    

8. What do policy makers feel is essential for India's agricultural sector to be competitive internationally?
   (A) Exactly replicating the green revolution 'of the 1960s
   (B) Reduce government intervention in the agricultural sector to speed up progress
   (C) Removal of price stabilisation fund
   (D) Emphasising more on economic growth rather than on inclusiveness
   (E) None of these
    

9. Why is farming not considered a feasible occupation?
   (A) Insufficient land suitable for cultivation
   (B) Price stabilization fund introduced by the government
   (C) Superior western farming practices
   (D) Rapid spread of road network has destroyed agricultural land
   (E) None of these
    

10. Why is public investment in agriculture negligible ?
    (A) Government procedures for investment in agriculture are too tedious
    (B) Present government programmes are ensuring rapid progress
    (C) Cost of living has gone up
    (D) There are no tax concessions for investment in agriculture
    (E) None of these
    
    Directions—(Q. 11—13) Choose the word which is most nearly the same in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
     

11. Compete—
    (A) Fight
    (C) Defeat
    (E) Pursue
    (B) Struggle
    (D) Participate
     

12. Stress—
    (A) Strain
    (B) Anxiety
    (C) Emphasise
    (D) Burden
    (E) Suffer
     

13. Persisted—
    (A) Fixed
    (B) Insisted
    (C) Applied
    (D) Determined
    (E) Continued
    
    Directions—(Q. 14—15) Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
     

14. Simultaneously—
    (A) Independently
    (B) Partially
    (C) Freely
    (D) Jointly
    (E) Adversely
     

15. Disparity—
    (A) Adequacy
    (B) Comparison
    (C) Contrast
    (D) Balance
    (E) Dissimilar
    
    Directions—(Q. 16—20) Read each sentence to find out if there is any error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error the answer is (E). (Ignore errors in punctuation if any).
     

16. Having acquired some experience (A)/ she is no longer (B)/ one of those who believes (C)/ every explanation she is given (D). No error. (E)
     

17. Governments and businesses must reduce (A)/ its own energy use (B)/ and promote conservation (C)/ to their citizens and employees (D). No error. (E)
     

18. With regard to implementation the (A)/ details of the proposal (B)/ the committee was divided (C) / in its opinion (D). No error. (E)
     

19. If the allegations (A)/ made against him (B)/ are found to be true (C)/ he could face rigorous imprisonment (D). No error. (E)
     

20. On discovering that (A)/ it was a forgery (B)/ he torn up the agreement (C)/ he had signed (D). No error. (E)
    
    Directions—(Q. 21—30) Which of the phrases (A), (B), (C), (D) given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold type to make the sentence grammatically cortect ? If the sentence is correct mark (E) i.e. 'No correction required' as the answer.
     

21. As a member of the Cabinet, Aiyar had the opportunity to observe debates and see which they were resolved.
    (A) About they being resolved
    (B) That it was resolved
    (C) To its resolution
    (D) How they were resolved
    (E) No correction required
     

22. Did the court not intervened the matter many students would have been denied admission.
    (A) Because the court intervened in
    (B) Until the court had intervened
    (C) Had the court not intervened in
    (D) If the court intervened between
    (E) No correction required
     

23. Many employees are hesitate to volunteer for assignments in a foreign country because of language and cultural issues.
    (A) Hesitated to volunteer
    (B) Hesitant to volunteer
    (C) Hesitating volunteer
    (D) Hesitatingly volunteer
    (E) No correction required
     

24. Salaries in state owned enterprises today have to be in line on prevailing market rates in order to reduce turnover.
    (A) Been on line with
    (B) To be aligned on
    (C) Been in line for
    (D) To be in line with
    (E) No correction required
     

25. The Board has inability to provide any proper strategy to outdo the competition.
    (A) Not being able to provide
    (B) Has been unable to provide
    (C) Cannot provide for
    (D) Is being unable to provide
    (E) No correction required
     

26. He was determined in completing the project despite opposition from the union.
    (A) On completing
    (B) To complete
    (C) For completion
    (D) About completed
    (E) No correction required
     

27. The Director said that he did not want to see neither of the student who had failed and ordered them to leave.'
    (A) None of the students
    (B) One of the student
    (C) Each of the student
    (D) Any of the students
    (E) No correction required
     

28. Budget hotels are being set up across the country to provide travellers with accommodation at reasonable rates.
    (A) Are to be set in
    (B) Will be set up
    (C) Have been setting up around
    (D) Were set up through
    (E) No correction required
     

29. In his speech he failed to emphasize the only great reason why Government programmes have not benefited the poor.
    (A) Greatest reason why
    (B) Only greatest reason
    (C) Only greatest reason for
    (D) Great reason because
    (E) No correction required
     

30. Directly the meeting commenced then the Board called for the Chairman's resignation.
    (A) No sooner had the meeting commenced than
    (B) As soon as the meeting commenced when
    (C) Hardly did the meeting commence
    (D) Soon after the meeting commences that
    (E) No correction required
    
    Directions—(Q. 31—40) In the following passage there are blanks each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each five words have been suggested, one of which fills the blanks appro­priately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.
    
    Amid rumours of the government planning a crackdown on stock speculation, the Shanghai stock index... (31). .. 8.8 per cent on February 27th, its ...(32)... one day drop in a decade. ...(33)... usual for China's stock markets, investors in New York's equity markets saw this and sent the Dow Jones industrial index down more than 400 points. The drop in New York's index in turn ... (34)... fear in markets across Asia the following day and suddenly stock indexes across the world.. .(35)This chain reaction plainly.. .(36)... the increasingly.. .(37)... place that China now occupies in the minds of global investors. Its extraordinary economic run has been the key reason for ...(38)... demand for everything from copper to cars much to the. ..(39)... of multinational and Chinese investors alike. But while investors are right about China's growing economic importance to the world they are still confused about how to ...(40)... a decline in Chinese stocks.
     

31. (A) slips
    (B) plunged
    (C) fallen
    (D) triggered
    (E) gained
     

32. (A) peak
    (B) substantial
    (C) significant
    (D) dismal
    (E) biggest
     

33. (A) Though
    (B) However
    (C) Being
    (D) Despite
    (E) Because
     

34. (A) instill
    (B) heighten
    (C) fuelled
    (D) predicted
    (E) ignored
     

35. (A) dive
    (B) stumble
    (C) corrected
    (D) tumbled
    (E) stabilised
     

36. (A) emphasis
    (B) reflect
    (C) strengthened
    (D) caused
    (E) demonstrated
     

37. (A) worthwhile
    (B) privileged
    (C) prominent
    (D) tangible
    (E) feasible
     

38. (A) soaring
    (B) variable
    (C) risen
    (D) fallen
    (E) volatile
     

39. (A) concern
    (B) risk
    (C) detriment
    (D) benefit
    (E) impact
     

40. (A) indicate
    (B) interpret
    (C) deal
    (D) cope
    (E) welcome