READING ABILITY - Reading Comprehension

Sakshi Education

PASSAGE – I
India’s new mining Bill has provisions which seek, rightly, to shovel money from mining companies to rural people affected by mining, but the devil could lie in the detail. The proposal has three defects. One, it seeks differential treatment for coal and other minerals - coal miners would share 26% of their profits, while miners of other minerals would give additional royalty payments. Pray, why? Two, it exempts captive miners from this obligation to share mineral wealth. And, three it leaves out the key variable, the price of the ore, manipulating which companies can arbitrarily understate their profits and pay a pittance as royalty, as they, indeed, have been. The sensible thing is to link royalty to the globally traded price of the mineral in question and assign a share of reasonable royalty to the local community unify the sharing parameter as a share of the royalty linked to globally traded prices, for every mineral.

As coal mining is done mostly by state owned giant Coal India, it will have to pay the most. Current royalty rates, revised every three years, are pathetically low. Miners routinely understate prices at which they sell minerals to deflate the value of royalties. Crooked state government employees, including mine inspectors and forest department personnel, collude with miners to make mining an extremely profitable – and exploitative- business. It is no coincidence that the mining map of India fits almost exactly with the regions that are affected by Maoist insurgency. That’s why development has to go hand in hand with mining. The new law intends to tighten monitoring and penalties for illegal mining and set up a regulator. It also scraps the existing system of allocating mining licenses for one that will allow states to auction off plots to the highest bidder. This is sound. Some of India’s largest miners are actually power, steel and other metals makers that squat on large captive mines. They, too, should pay royalty on par with others. Captive mining is a wasteful and inefficient activity and should be done away with. India’s mining sector needs deep and widespread reforms, both at the central and state government levels. The present draft law is only a step in the right direction.

In this passage, the author primarily
(1) Explains why the new mining bill should be scrapped.
(2) Criticizes the centre for introducing a mining bill without eliciting the view of experts.
(3) Points out the flaws in the new mining bill and offers suggestions for revising it.
(4) Calls for a revamping of the age-old mining laws in the country
(5) Questions the wisdom of the central government in introducing a new mining bill.
Which of the following proposals in the new Bill have been criticized by the author?
I. Omission of the price of the ore in working out profits.
II. Special treatment for coal miners
III. Scrapping of the auctioning of mining fields
(1) Only I
(2) Only II
(3) II and III
(4) Only III
(5) Only I and II
Pick the TRUE statement.
(1) Mining companies are exempt from paying royalty
(2) Mining laws have been revised every three years.
(3) Coal mafia is hand in glove with Maoist insurgents
(4) India has squandered its mineral resources
(5) Maoists are active in regions which are mineral rich in India
Which of the following proposals has been described by the author as a sound step?
(1) Coal miners sharing 26% of their profits
(2) Delinking royalty from the global price of the minerals
(3) Preventing States from issuing mining licenses and auctioning off plots to the highest bidders
(4) Cutting the coasts of captive mining
(5) Imposing stiff fines on wrongdoers
According to the passage, mining companies pay a pittance as royalty by
(1) Manipulating the price of ore and understating their profit.
(2) Seeking differential treatment from state and central governments
(3) Bribing mine inspectors and forest department staff
(4) Resorting to captive mining
(5) All of the above
The antonym of the word ‘UNDERSTATE’ as used in the passage is
(1) Dramatize
(2) Embroider
(3) Overemphasize
(4) Inflate
(5) Augment
The synonym of the word ‘ASSIGN’ as used in the passage is
(1) Attribute
(2) Allot
(3) Accredit
(4) Ascribe
(5) Commission

PASSAGE – II
For the global economy, August 2011 was a particularly bad month. A string of economic indicators released early that month suggested that close to four years after the onset of the global recession in December 2007, a sluggish world economy was set to sink again.

Sentiment too was at an exceptional low. Through completely out of line and even irresponsible, the first-in-history downgrade of US Treasury bonds by Standard and Poor’s did reflect the mood in the market. Though the assessment was based on wrong numbers, the fact that the debt of the world’s most powerful country that was home to its reserve currency was even considered to be of suspect quality was telling.

Besides the never-ending crisis in Europe, one factor explaining this despondency was the fear of a second recession within half a decade. The news from almost all sources was disconcerting. Recovery from the recession was still sluggish in the US.

For an India that is now more integrated with the world economy, this has to be bad news. But if the government of India is to be believed, the Indian economy is not likely to be very adversely affected by the current round of global volatility. Finance Ministry sources argue that the Indian economic growth story is so robust that the current uncertainty will cause no more than a minor blip in its confident trajectory.

Consider, for example, the Indian government’s response to the market collapse that followed the US debt standoff and subsequent Standard and Poor’s downgrade.

While acknowledging that India would be impacted, the effort was to play down the likely intensity of that impact. “Our Institutions are strong and (we) are prepared to address any concern that may arise on account of the present situation”, the Finance Minister, reportedly stated. He also promised that the government “Will fast-track the implementation of the pending reforms and keep a close eye on international developments”.

That response misses the point. The problem is not that India is not adequately reformed, but that past reforms have resulted in its greater integration through flows of goods, services and finance with the global economy.

One obvious and important consequence of the global downturn is bound to be a fall in export revenues. The European Union accounts for 20.2 per cent of India’s merchandise exports and the US for another 10.9 per cent. Thus, markets accounting for close to a third of India’s exports are already stagnating or in recession. Only two regions can, hypothetically, counter this tendency: Developing Asia (excluding China) and the OPEC countries. The former accounts for a sizeable 23.4 per cent of India’s exports and the latter for another 21.1 per cent.

However, most of developing Asia would be adversely affected by the OECD downturn to a greater extent than India. And unless geopolitical developments intervene, a global recession would moderate oil prices and dampen import demand from the OPEC bloc.

Finally, the hope that China would be a balancing force is of less relevance to India since it accounts for just 6.5 per cent of the latter’s exports. Overall, India is likely to take a hit in terms of its exports of goods, which has been a source of buoyancy recently.
What are the factors that contributed to global despondency?
(a) Sluggish recovery from recession in the US
(b) The never-ending crisis in Europe
(c) The fear of a second recession within half a decade
(d) The disconsolation of all sources
(1) a, b and d
(2) b, c and d
(3) a and b
(4) c and d
(5) a, b and c
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
(1) The US is more interested in India’s merchandise when compared to the European Union.
(2) India is affected less adversely by the OECD downturn when compared to the other developing Asian Countries
(3) China can counter India’s exports from decreasing drastically
(4) The Indian government is responsible for the US’ market collapse
(5) None of these
‘Wrong numbers’ here refers to
(1) Illegal money
(2) incorrect information
(3) Incorrect survey result
(4) The amount taken as debt by the US
(5) The amount of money the US claims to have taken as debt.
Why does the author think that though India is adequately reformed, recession might have an adverse affect on it?
(1) Because he thinks the government may fail to implement the pending reforms
(2) Because he thinks the reforms have made India an important part of the global economy.
(3) Because he thinks most of the policies have merely remained on paper.
(4) Because he thinks the process of implementing the reforms lacks consistency
(5) Because he thinks the result of our reforms is completely dependent on the international development.
According to the passage,
(a) Indian economy is likely to be very adversely affected by the current round of global volatility.
(b) Finance ministry argues that the Indian economic growth is strong and the global volatility is only a minor cause of worry.
(c) Global recession might moderate oil prices and dampen import demand from the OPEC bloc.
(1) a and b
(2) b and c
(3) only c
(4) Only b
(5) only a
What is the meaning of the word ‘ROBUST’ as used in the passage?
(1) Strong
(2) worthy
(3) unhealthy
(4) Morbid
(5) unwholesome
What is the opposite of the word ‘VOLATILITY’ as used in the passage?
(1) Instability
(2) variance
(3) Vacillation
(4) fluctuation
(5) Invariability
When the author says ‘That response misses the point’, he implies that
(1) India is adequately reformed
(2) Past reforms have resulted in its greater integration
(4) The problem has not been seen from India’s point of view.
(5) Flows of goods, services and finance with the global economy must take place to play down the intensity of the impact.
(6) India is not insulated from the shocks of the global economy.

PASSAGE - III
Durga Puja symbolizes our eternal Journey to self-realization and not just the victory of good over evil. Behind the apparent magnificence of rituals there lies a deep spiritual significance worth contemplation.

Human mind subject to limitations of time and space cannot conceive the abstract idea of infinite Brahmn, the non-dual one without a second. Ancient sages therefore contemplated suitable symbols for progressive realization of the Divine through various levels of God-consciousness towards ultimate realization. Durga Puja encompasses the entire gamut of spiritual realization. In the process of spiritual transformation we need to rise above the neuro-linguistic programmes in built in our DNA. A fortnight before the puja, tarpan or offering is made to ancestors till Mahalaya- the intention behind this is to work out the genetic bondage to enable us to awaken our divine consciousness or bodhan on Mahashashti, the first day of the Puja. To hungry man food is God. That is why humans first worshipped nature. On Mahashashti prayers are offered to the wood apple tree, the abode of the goddess. On Mahasaptami, the second day of the Puja, nine leaves including a banana tress called Navapatrika are placed for worship. The paradoxical presence of the four children of the goddess- who is otherwise a virgin- in the battle field is highly symbolic. When subtle intelligence represented by Ganesha is applied to nurturing nature, wealth in the form of Lakshmi evolves.

Material prosperity begets two associates, learning and fine arts represented by Goddess Saraswati and military prowess for protection and preservation represented by Kartikeya. All four off springs of the goddess are worshipped for worldly achievements.

Material prosperity and military prowess invariably beget arrogance and egotism unless these are accepted as gifts of the divine and stepping stones for further progress. But the pernicious ego sheltered under beastly ignorance (buffalo in the image) and identifying itself to be omnipotent breaks the natural law of harmony and peace. At this spiritual crisis primordial nature in the form of Goddess Durga intervenes to vanquish the ego and makes it surrender to her. It is victory of the universal life force over individual egoism and upholding of cosmic cause over untoward interests of the indomitable ego.

With 10 weapons in her 10 hands and the wisdom of the third eye the goddess transcends the 10 human senses of perception of action represented by Mahishasura. She represents the universal principle of energy or holy vibration of the cosmos. Thus, we have progressive depature from nature worship to worship of material prosperity, military prowess, learning, fine arts and intellect. There after the dominating arrogant ego is made to surrender to the omnipotent cosmic energy of Goddess Durga.

Our journey to self-realization ends with awakening cosmic consciousness as the destination. Above the image of Durga there lies rather invisibly Lord shiva, representing cosmic consciousness. On the fourth day of the Puja or the day of Vijaya or special victory Goddess Durga is united with Shiva after her worldly play is done for establishing the divine realization through the evolutionary process. Hence, all the peripherals are immersed into the ocean of consciousness of Lord Shiva, which is the culmination of spiritual progress along with the dissolution of delusive manifestation of the apparent reality.
The human mind is unable to conceive the idea of ‘infinite Brahmin’ because
(A) It is an abstract idea
(B) It is bound by the limitations of time and space
(C) The human mind is highly egoistic
(1) Only A
(2) A and B
(3) B and C
(4) only B
(5) All the three
The sage of yore conceived various symbols in order to
(1) Prove that god is omnipresent
(2) Bring about spiritual realization in people through a gradual process involving several stages.
(3) Prove that nature is superior to god
(4) to make people realize the importance of making sacred offering to our ancestors
(5) All the above
Our journey to self-realization culminates with
(1) The awakening of cosmic consciousness
(2) Man succumbing to the pressures of his ego
(3) The vanquishing of one’s ego by the cosmic energy of goddess Durga.
(4) The unification of man with Divine
(5) The attainment of worldly achievements by man.
The third eye of the goddess represents
(1) Material wealth
(2) Military prowess
(3) Wisdom
(4) Peace and harmony
(5) Happiness
Durga Puja Symbolizes
(A) Man’s eternal journey to self-realisation
(B) The Victory of good over evil
(C) The supremacy of nature
(1) Only A
(2) Only B
(3) A and B
(4) A and C
(5) Only C
Which of the following is most nearly similar to OMNIPOTENT as used in the passage?
(1) Terrific
(2) Benign
(3) Supreme
(4) Awesome
(5) Wise
Which of the following is most nearly opposite to PERNICIOUS as used in the passage?
(1) Innocuous
(2) Destructive
(3) Effective
(4) Productive
(5) Salubrious

PASSAGE-IV
If global CEOs are working 53 hours a week on an average, those in the emerging economies are slogging the hardest, with India at the top (57 hours) – shows a Grant Thornton International Business Report conducted on 7, 200 privately-owned businesses in 32 countries. Indian CEOs also top the stress-table (after china). And stress levels seem to have increased from 53 per cent in 2004 to 79 percent in 2007. Some 53 per cent of CEOs blame increased competition for this and 48 per cent say they are stressed out by rising customer expectations.

Up close, stress has become a way of life for the leaders of India Inc., points out a nationwide survey subjected on 270 CEOs by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM). Nearly 70 per cent CEOs are stressed out – 77 per cent lay the blame on business competition; 44 per cent on staff constraints; 44 per cent on work-related deadlines; 44 per cent on business travelling.

But what exactly is stress in biological terms? The brain’s mood management centre can be divided into two parts- the decision-making part which regulates judgments and helps in solving problems and Amygdala, the brain’s emotional core which raises alarm at every perception of threat. Constant stress affects the decision-making part of the brain. How? The answer lies in the emotional centre of the brain or the amygdala, whose job is to look for a match between the memory of a past experience and an event now. If a colleague ignores you or is curt with you, your amygdale remembers the negative experience; then, when you receive an e-mail from the same colleague you misread its intent because your brain finds a negative match. Every negative match unleashes a reaction of roughly 1,400 biochemical changes- with cortisol, the stress hormone that is a major culprit in heart disease and diabetes, flooding the nervous system. Your body, over the years, adapts to living in perpetual state of negative, stressful matching, which keeps the blood pressure and cortisol levels constantly set at high. The body’s natural feedback mechanisms breakdown. Even when you are not in a stressful situation, your body’s activation remains permanently on and at a higher level. It can lead to impulsive, short-sighted, aggressive behavior as well as increased anxiety, depression and other stress-related disease. This can lead to high blood pressure, heart diseases, sleep disorder and other stress-related problems.

Is stress the main villain in a CEO’s life? Not really. Increasingly, researchers are probing the upside of stress “When the brain perceives physical or physiological stress, it starts pumping chemicals- cortisol, epinephrine and non-epinephrine – into the body”, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, the endocrinologist of Apollo Hospital, Delhi. Instantly, the heart beats faster, blood pressure shoots up, senses sharpen, a rise in blood glucose invigorates us and we are ready to act- fight or flee. Research shows that a moderate amount of stress stimulates us. “Think about your daily life- when do you get thing done?” asks Mithal “Only when you have a deadline”. No doubt you want some stress to help you do your best.
The grant Thornton International Business Report conducted a global survey to find out
(1) The average working hours of the CEOs in India and China
(2) About the most hard-working and stressed-out people of the world
(3) The average working hours of CEOs in various countries across the globe
(4) The amount of stress levels in CEOs of the emerging economies
(5) The average working hours of CEOs in the emerging economies
The CEOs attribute all of the following reasons for their stressed out conditions EXCEPT
(A) Staff constraint
(B) Negative Feedback
(C) Business travels
(1) A and B
(2) Only A
(3) Only C
(4) Only B
(5) A and C
When a person lives in continuous stressful situations, his/her
(1) Body get adapted to it.
(2) Blood pressure and cortisol levels are constantly set at high
(3) Body becomes less active
(4) Nervous system collapses
(5) Efficiency improves
In the opinion of researchers like Dr. Ambrish Mithal
(1) Moderate amounts of stress is beneficial
(2) One cannot perceive a stress-free life in the present days.
(3) Stress is the main villain in a CEO’s life
(4) Stress has to be classified as physical and physiological
(5) Stress is something that we have to eliminate from our life.
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
(1) The Indian CEOs are the most stressed- out according to the survey of the Grant Thornton International Business Report
(2) Most CEOs blame increased customer expectation as the main cause for their stress
(3) The decision-making part of the brain helps a person in making judgments and solving problems
(4) The excess release of cortisol leads to increase in blood pressure
(5) Our brain accepts an e-mail from a colleague only when it can remember having any past experience with that person.
Some of the stress-related problems mentioned in the passage are
(A) Increased anxiety and high blood pressure
(B) Mental depression and sleeplessness
(C) Faster heart beat and sharpening of senses
(1) A and C
(2) Only A
(3) A and B
(4) Only C
(5) All the three
Which of the following words is similar in meaning to SLOGGING as used in the passage?
(1) Moaning
(2) Toiling
(3) Grumbling
(4) Protesting
(5) Pushing
Which of the following words is nearly opposite in meaning to PERPETUAL as used in the passage?
(1) Permanent
(2) Spiritual
(3) Occasional
(4) Uninterrupted
(5) Intermittent

PASSAGE-V
Water covers more than two-thirds of the planet, largely in the form of oceans, seas, lakes and ice. The majority of this water is salty and cannot be used for human consumption or for irrigating plants. While countries can plan to make the best possible use of the water that exists in, or passes through the country, they cannot influence the rate at which water is naturally renewed through the water cycle (Solar-driven circulation of water from the ocean, to the atmosphere, from the atmosphere to the land and back to the ocean. In other words, they cannot actually create more water.)

Less than one per cent of the earth’s water is unsalty and available for human consumption. In theory, this amount could support four times the present human population, but in reality water supplies are spread unevenly around the world. About two billion people in 80 countries live in areas of chronic water shortage- a situation that will worsen as human and animal populations grow. Particularly affected are most of Africa, the Middle East, North Asia and Australia. Many countries are draining water from aquifers (an Underground level of earth or porous rock with contains water) faster than those aquifers can replenish themselves.

Due to population growth alone, water demand is expected to double in more than half of the world’s countries. Most of this increasing demand is for irrigation and industrial uses. About 69 per cent of the world’s fresh water goes for irrigation, about 23 per cent for industry and 8 per cent for household use. In many arid and semi-arid areas, population growth has raised food demand to a level that can be met only through irrigation. Some countries lie within climatic zone most prone to drought and other water problems. Unfortunately, some of these countries have high rates of population growth. For example, the populations of Kenya, Ethiopia and Iran may well double within 25 years, yet the amount of water available to these countries will remain the same.

Even with efficient irrigation and other water-use methods, many countries in the Middle East and Africa may not be able to meet their water needs by 2025 if population growth continues at present level. By that date, some believe that as many as 25 developing countries may have reached the water barrier, which is the minimum amount of water needed by each person, assuming access to advanced technology to maximize water conservation. Another 24 countries may experience seasonal shortage and problems with water quality.
The main reason for the acute shortage of water is
(1) Extremities of climate
(2) Drought
(3) Excessive population growth
(4) Draining of water from aquifers
(5) None of these
Majority of the water found on the earth is not fit for human consumption because
(A) It is highly polluted
(B) Of its high salinity
(C) Most of the water is drained from underground porous rocks called aquifers.
(1) Only A
(2) Only B
(3) A and C
(4) A and B
(5) All the three
Which of the following is not one among those place which are excepted to be worst affected by chronic water shortage?
(1) The Middle East
(2) Africa
(3) Europe
(4) Australia
(5) North Asia
The food demand caused by population growth, in many arid and semi-arid areas, can be met through
(A) Conservation of water resources
(B) Irrigation
(C) Advanced Technology
(1) Only A
(2) A and B
(3) A and C
(4) Only B
(5) None of these
Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
(1) Water bodies like oceans, seas, lakes etc. constitute more than two-thirds of the earth’s surface.
(2) More water can be generated for human consumption with the help of sophisticated technology
(3) Scarcity of water is expected to reach alarming levels by the year 2025.
(4) The amount of water will remain the same for countries like Ethiopia, Iran and Kenya, even after 25 years when the population has doubled.
(5) Eighty countries of the world are affected by acute water scarcity
Which of the following words is most similar in meaning to REPLENISH as used in the passage?
(1) Refresh
(2) Restore
(3) Rejuvenate
(4) Restock
(5) Refurbish
Which of the following words is most nearly opposite to ARID as used in the passage?
(1) Forlorn
(2) Frozen
(3) Dank
(4) Gelid
(5) Fertile

PASSAGE VI
Communication, which comprises listening and expression is given paramount importance in team work and building better interpersonal relations at the workplace. Many companies even organize seminars and training for improving communication skills of their employees. But, most of those efforts do not yield expected results as the emphasis is on between expressions. Listening, on the other hand, is given little or no importance. It must be realized that articulation or other forms of expression may help one to achieve individual goals or team goals partially. A powerful speaker conveys his idea efficiency. But, team aspirations can be met only by proper listening. This gives a chance to think of better ideas both at individual and team levels.

There are several ways of listening, which come into play in different situations and serve different roles in the workplace. Passive listening is not really listening but hearing, which happens involuntarily. The person perceives the sounds but does not gain anything from the process. Passive listening must be checked at the earliest to ensure better communication. Informative listening is the kind of listening in which the listener is interested in the message being delivered. Examples of this are listening to lecture in a class, speech or news. This can also be considered as the first step of a comprehensive listening process. In evaluative listener carefully reasons out what is being said, assesses it and makes a judgment. When a person tries to convince us, we set in on evaluative listening. Do not get carried away by any misleading talk of the speaker. Evaluative listening plays a significant role in decision making.

Appreciative listening comes into the pictures when we listen to something because we like it. Examples are, listening to music and speeches of people we appreciate. Appreciative listening has great effect on our minds. It helps in relaxing and re-energizing ourselves. A team leader can increase the morale of his team by making speeches that invite appreciative listening. Emphatic listening involves carful observation of a person’s body language, accentuation and variations in emotions. The listener tries to comprehend the speaker’s feeling and thereby decides his future course of action. Emphatic listening helps in understanding the other person, his priorities, musings and goals better. Therapeutic listening helps greatly in establishing inter-personal relations. Listening in an art that can be mastered by practice. So, practice listening and improve you communication skills and in turn your team relations.
Many companies organize seminars and training programmes for their employees in order to
(1) Encourage team spirit
(2) Build better interpersonal relations within a team
(3) Improve their communication skills
(4) Develop understanding among team members
(5) Encourage budding talents
When a team leader or any team member is able to convey his ideas effectively
(1) He can make his team achieve its goal
(2) He can achieve his individual goals
(3) He can achieve both his individual goal and the goal of his team partially
(5) The aspiration of his teammates will be met.
(6) The listening skills of his teammates are toned up.
The type of listening that can act as an impediment to effective communication is
(1) Evaluative listening
(2) Appreciative listening
(3) Informative listening
(4) Therapeutic listening
(5) Passive listening
Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
(1) Companies organize seminars and training programmes in the hope of improving their employees’ communication skills.
(2) Better listening skills helps in building better team relations.
(3) A listener can learn a lot through passive learning
(4) A comprehensive listening process begins with informative listening
(5) Though the skill of communication comprises of both listening and speaking, it is the art of expression that is given more importance generally.
According to the author of the passage evaluative listening
(A) Misleads the listener
(B) Helps in making decisions
(C) Improves a person’s communication skills
(1) Only A
(2) Only B
(3) Only C (4) A and B
(5) B and C
Emphatic listening helps a listener
(1) Learn more about the speaker
(2) Understand the subject in depth
(3) Relax and re-energize himself
(4) Perceive different sound intonations involuntarily
(5) Think better and act faster.
When you are listening to music, your listening is said to be
(1) Passive
(2) therapeutic
(3) Emphatic
(4) Appreciative
(5) Evaluative
People with Psychological problems can overcome their trauma if
(1) They are made to listen to music and speeches of people they appreciate
(2) They are encouraged to speak out their mind
(3) They do not get carried away by misleading speeches and lectures
(4) They are made to listen to speeches that can boost their morale
(5) They can express their emotions effectively and convincingly.
A good team leader can motivate his team and improve the performance of his employees by
(1) Delivery lectures that invite appreciative listening
(2) Helping them achieve their individual goals
(3) Organizing seminars and training programmes regularly for his treatment
(4) Checking all passive learning of his teammates
(5) Encouraging his teammates to reason out and assess the speeches made during seminars.

Directions for questions 47 to 49: Select the word that is SIMILAR in meaning to the given word as used in the passage:-
ORGANIZE
(1) Establish
(2) frame
(3) arrange
(4) Institute
(5) construct
EXPRESSION
(1) Appearance
(2) illustration
(3) Exhibition
(4) articulation
(5) Passion
GESTURES
(1) Reports
(2) Signals
(3) Actions
(4) Discussions
(5) Efforts

Directions for questions 50 to 52: Select the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the given word as used in the passage:-
COMPREHEND
(1) Disregard
(2) Complete
(3) Overtook
(4) Abandon
(5) Mistake
COMPREHENSIVE
(1) Private
(2) Solitary
(3) Secretive
(4) Particular
(5) Communicative
MISLEADING
(1) Ambiguous
(2) Conclusive
(3) Unequivocal
(4) Deceptive
(5) Sensible

PASSAGE-VII
Germans look for strong, decisive leadership from somebody who known what he is talking about. There is a universal deference to people in authority and subordinates will rarely contradict or criticize their boss. Superiors expect to be obeyed and in return are expected to provide unequivocal direction. It would be wrong to regard this as subservience. Orders are obeyed out of respect for the boss’s functional role and his competence.

Some may take advantage of this to indulge in a dictatorial manner. Although it is certainly not done to answer back, such behavior is no more acceptable to Germans than it is to others. Greater store is set by managers who rely on technical competence rather than force of personality. People form countries where outburst of temper are a privilege of seniority and a sign of getting tough should know that in Germany they are regarded as uncouth and a sign of weakness.

Doing the minimum to get by is abhorred at all levels of the organization, especially senior management. It is important that the boss be seen to be working hard, getting his hands dirty. While the upwardly mobile expect to be rewarded, the chance to take it easy while others get on with the job is not associated with promotion. Employees readily obey instructions but they prefer to be left to carry them out without inference. Delegation is clear, precise and preferably written.

Relationships between bosses and subordinates tend to be distant and award. While bosses may deliberately keep an open door most people are too intimidated to walk through it. Younger employees often want their bosses to be more accessible. They except more participation and feedback and have fewer inhibitions about asking for it, which older style bosses have difficulty in coping with.

The kind of appraisal system in which performance and progress are frankly discussed is not common in traditional companies. Employees do not except to share in the setting of objectives. They are Censorious about even minor failings, especially if a procedure has been broken or ignored. Feedback has to be precise and objective, since criticism is neither given nor received easily.
Why do subordinates rarely criticize their bosses?
(1) They want to curry favour with the bosses
(2) They do not want to antagonize their bosses
(3) They prefer to be subservient to their bosses
(4) They generally show a lot of respect to people in authority
(5) Most of the bosses are intimidating characters and hence the subordinates fear their bosses.
What kind of a person is preferred as a leader by the Germans?
(1) People who are eloquent orators
(2) A person who behaves in an autocratic manner
(3) A person who is competent and is able to guide his employees in the right direction.
(4) A person who is intimidating and inaccessible
(5) None of these
In Germany a boss who frequently gives vent to his temper is
(A) Considered to be over bearing
(B) Hailed as a true leader because the outbursts of temper are considered a privilege of seniority
(C) Is considered to be ill-mannered and weak-minded.
(1) Only B
(2) Only A
(3) A and B
(4) Only C
(5) A and C
In order to be considered for a promotion, a boss should
(A) Merely delegate work to his subordinates
(B) Only supervise the work and ensure that it is done well
(C) Work as hard as his subordinates
(1) B and C
(2) Only B
(3) Only C
(4) A and B
(5) A and C
How do employees prefer to execute the work assigned to them?
(1) They prefer to take independent decisions
(2) They prefer the boss involvement in the work they do
(3) They prefer to act on clear instructions with minimal intervention
(4) They resent any suggestions or instructions
(5) None of these
The relationship between the bosses and the subordinates tends to be distant and awkward because
(A) The bosses are inaccessible
(B) Most employees are intimidated to interact with the bosses
(C) The employees resent any instructions or suggestions from the bosses
(1) A and B
(2) Only A
(3) Only B
(4) A and C
(5) B and C
Older style bosses have difficulty in coping with
(1) The junior employees
(2) The subordinates who are veterans
(3) The younger employees who demand feedback and participation from the bosses.
(5) The Younger employees who are not open to criticism
(5) None of these
Which of the following statement/s is/are applicable to traditional companies?
(1) The appraisal system in which performance and progress are frankly discussed are not common in traditional companies
(2) Employees do not have a share in the setting of objectives
(3) Traditional companies are critical even about small mistakes
(4) Traditional Companies strongly condemn the breaking or ignoring of a procedure
(5) All the above
Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
(1) Some bosses are likely to misuse the respect given to them by their subordinates by behaving in a presumptuous manner
(2) Technical competence is greatly valued by the Germans
(3) Employees generally prefer written instructions from the bosses
(4) In most countries outbursts of temper are considered to be a privilege of seniority
(5) A boss who is inaccessible and exudes authority is considered to be a powerful leader by the Germans.

Directions for questions 62 to 64: Select the word that is SIMILAR in meaning to the given word as used in the passage:-
ABHORRED
(1) Accepted
(2) Condemned
(3) Despised
(4) Rewarded
(5) Censured
PRECISE
(1) Accurate
(2) Decipherable
(3) Obvious
(4) Crucial
(5) Prominent
CENSORIOUS
(1) Finicky
(2) Conscious
(3) Critical
(4) Fastidious
(5) Complimentary

Directions for questions 65 to 67: Select the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the given word as used in the passage:-
DEFERENCE
(1) Flippancy
(2) Disrespect
(3) Esteem
(4) Obedience
(5) Humility
UNEQUIVOCAL
(1) Dubious
(2) Contradictory
(3) Debatable
(4) Ambiguous
(5) Obfuscating
SUBSERVIENCE
(1) Influence
(2) Domination
(3) Humility
(4) Power
(5) Arrogance

PASSAGE - VIII
The Demographic transition happening in India is striking. Fifteen years ago, of the 820 million people in the country, about 8.5 per cent (or 70 million people) were over 60 years of age. Today, the proportion of these geriatrics has increased to 10 per cent, and by the year 2021, every seventh Indian will be a senior citizen.

This ageing of India poses health issues of a kind not as pronounced a generation ago. With age come the problems of ageing disorder and diseases. The most challenging of these is the set of neurodegenerative diseases, notably dementia or loss of mental functions.

Alzheimer’s disease, or senile dementia, is a increasingly prevalent form of these. The Kerala based Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI) has been doing praiseworthy work in recognizing this growing geriatric problem and suggesting ways and means of tackling it, including starting a Respite Care Centre for Alzheimer’s disease patients. The disease is named after the German physician Alois Alzheimer who described its symptoms and pathology about 100 years ago, when he was treating an elderly lady who was progressively losing memory, Speech, Displaying hallucinations and delusions, and finally became totally helpless. Autopsy of her brain showed strands of thick, insoluble deposits, which presumably interfered with normal brain function, by disturbing the electrical activity there.

What causes these Alzheimer’s Plaques is not clear, but a variety of factors seems to do so. Mutations or variants of the gene for the blood protein called Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) are associated with the disorder. Life-style habits, diets and drugs are known to be involved as well. The mere process of ageing is a factor- hence the name senile dementia. How can we affect the course of human ageing?

Gymnasts, health clinicians and Yoga teachers show us how controlling our diet and habits, and regular physical exercise can keep the body young. Taking care of the body helps it keep young. Look at the 36-year-old Andre Agassi, who rebirthed himself in world tennis for the second time and almost won the US open in 2005, more than a decade later, or the bicycling hero Lance Armstrong, who became the Champion of the Tour de France after successfully overcoming testicular cancer.

If physical exercise and proper habits can delay the course of physical ageing, why can we not do the same about mental ageing or senility? Gratifyingly, the answer seems to be in the affirmative. Mental exercise appears to affect the course of mental ageing in desirable ways. Herein lies the hope for Alzheimer’s and related conditions of dementia. There is now increasing evidence that an intellectually stimulating lifestyle may help modify late-life mental health in a positive manner.
What is expected to happen in India by the year 2021, according to the passage?
(1) There will be 70 million people above the age of 60
(2) ten percent of the Indian population will be above the age of 60.
(3) Every seventh Indian will be a senior citizen
(4) All the senior citizens of India will be affected by one disease or the other
(5) Most of the Indians will be suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
What comes with age, according to the passage?
(1) Knowledge and wisdom
(2) Patience and tolerance
(3) Resignation and submission
(4) Mental disorders and loss of attention
(5) Neurodegenerative diseases and loss of mental functions
Alzheimer’s disease is otherwise called senile dementia because
(1) It was first diagnosed by the German physician Alois Alzheimer
(2) it disturbs the electrical activity of the brain
(3) It is caused by the mutations or variants of ApoE.
(4) It is mainly caused by the process of ageing
(5) It is caused by a variety of factors
The disease Lance Armstrong had to overcome was
(1) Testicular cancer
(2) Alzheimer’s disease
(3) Neurodegenerative Disease
(4) Dementia
(5) Mental disorder
What, according to the passage, can delay the process of physical ageing?
(1) Diet and drugs
(2) Yoga and healthy food
(3) Nutritious diet and pollution free environment
(5) Physical exercise and proper life-style habits
(6) Strong will power and exposure to the basic elements
The lady with some undiagnosed disease who reported to Alois Alzheimer complained of
(1) Progressive loss of memory and speech
(2) Severe body Pains
(3) Neurotic Disorders
(4) Severe headache
(5) Heaviness of brain due to some insoluble deposits.
What is the best medicine for Alzheimer’s disease as suggested in the passage?
(1) Yoga and Gymnastics
(2) Drugs that stimulate the activities of the brain
(3) Intellectually stimulating life-style
(4) Intermittentv physical exercise
(5) Neurobiotic drugs
What was seen in the brain of the elderly lady by Alzheimer after the autopsy?
(1) Hallucinations
(2) Brain nerves cut into pieces
(3) Delusions
(4) Thick strands of insoluble deposits
(5) Lot of blood protein called Apo lipoproteine
Alzheimer’s disease results in helplessness as it affect the normal functioning of the brain by
(1) Disturbing its electrical activity
(2) Interfering into its regular functions
(3) Making it forget the day-to-day activities
(4) Displaying too many hallucinations
(5) Making the person lose her sense of speech.

Directions for questions 77 to 79: Select the word that is SIMILAR in meaning to the given word as used in the passage:-
TACKLING
(1) Handling
(2) Measuring
(3) Observing
(4) Avoiding
(5) Determining
HALLUCINATION
(1) Discomfort
(2) Illusion
(3) Aspiration
(4) Desire
(5) Disability
PLAQUES
(1) Panels
(2) Location
(3) Deposits
(4) Signs
(5) Plates

Directions for questions 80 to 82: Select the word that is OPPOSITE in meaning to the given word as used in the passage:-
PRONOUNCED
(1) Vague
(2) mistaken
(3) glaring
(4) Clear
(5) Silent
GRATIFYINGLY
(1) Satisfyingly
(2) Actually
(3) Frustratingly
(4) Precisely
(5) Plainly
STIMULATING
(1) Dynamic
(2) Depressing
(3) Lively
(4) Inactive
(5) Uneventful.

ANSWER:-

1.3	10.2	19.3	28.3	37.5	46.1	55.4	64.3	73.1	82.2
2.5	11.2	20.3	29.2	38.3	47.3	56.3	65.2	74.3
3.5	12.2	21.3	30.3	39.3	48.4	57.3	66.4	75.4
4.3	13.1	22.1	31.3	40.5	49.3	58.3	67.2	76.1
5.1	14.5	23.3	32.2	41.3	50.4	59.3	68.3	77.1
6.4	15.5	24.4	33.3	42.2	51.4	60.5	69.5	78.2
7.2	16.4	25.2	34.4	43.1	52.3	61.5	70.4	79.3
8.5	17.2	26.1	35.2	44.4	53.4	62.3	71.1	80.1
9.2	18.1	27.3	36.4	45.2	54.3	63.1	72.4	81.3