English Verbal Ability - Reading Comprehension

Verbal Ability .
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English
Verbal Ability
(Reading Comprehension & Jumbled Passages)
For General Aptitude Entrance Exam Aspirants
Law, Hotel Management, Business Administration, Mass Communication, Liberal Studies, Economics
Bank-PO, PG-Management Entrance Tests
Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 1

Verbal Ability .
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Verbal Ability .
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Contents
Foreword ................................................................................................................................................. 5
Chapter 1 ................................................................................................................................................. 7
Speed Reading .................................................................................................................................... 7
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 7
Breaking Poor Reading Habits ............................................................................................................ 8
Keys to Successful Speed Reading ..................................................................................................... 9
Speed Reading Practice Exercise 1 ................................................................................................... 10
Passage 1 ....................................................................................................................................... 10
Passage 2 ....................................................................................................................................... 12
Passage 3 ....................................................................................................................................... 14
Passage 4 ....................................................................................................................................... 16
Passage 5 ....................................................................................................................................... 18
Chapter 2 ............................................................................................................................................... 20
Reading Comprehension ................................................................................................................... 20
Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 20
Common Wrong Answers in Inference Questions ....................................................................... 26
Reading Comprehension Practice Exercise 2 ............................................................................... 29
Chapter 3 ............................................................................................................................................... 54
Jumbled Paragraphs .......................................................................................................................... 54
Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 54
Jumbled Paragraphs Practice Exercise 5 ....................................................................................... 57

Verbal Ability .
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Verbal Ability .
Foreword .
Foreword
Dear Entrance Test Aspirant,
The ability to speak and write is one of the fundamental prerequisites in today’s globalized world.
High profile careers demand candidates to have exceptional command over both spoken and written
English. A thorough knowledge of basic grammar is the foundation upon which one can build this
ability.
Most general aptitude entrance tests examine students in this domain. This book is planned to help
students understand the fundamentals and to equip them face entrance tests.
Wish you all the best.
- Team iQue
Mohit Mangal (Director)

N. Sathyanarayan (Academic Head)
Manisha Angre (HoD, English)
Hyndavi G. (Senior Faculty)

Verbal Ability .
Foreword .

Verbal Ability Speed Reading
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 1
Speed Reading
Introduction
In this exercise, we will first check what our current reading speed this. Following the speed tests, we
will see a few tips on what prevents us from reading fast and what we can do to improve our reading
speed.
How to take the test?
 Keep a stop-watch ready. (You need to be able to count minutes and seconds)
 Start the stop-watch and start reading the passage.
 As soon as you reach the end of the passage, stop the stop-watch and note down the time in
minutes and seconds.
 Convert your time to seconds.
o For e.g. if you took 3 minutes and 23 seconds to read the passage, your time = (3 x
60) + 23 = 203 seconds.
o If you took 2 minutes and 19 seconds to read the passage, your time = (2 x 60) + 19 =
139 seconds
 At the end of each passage is the word count for the passage.
 You reading speed (in words per minute) = [60 x word count] / (your time in seconds)
o e.g. Word count of passage = 510 words. Your time = 203 seconds.
o Hence your reading speed (in words per minute) = [60 x 510]/203 = 150 WPM
(approx)
1. Your guess of what your reading speed is _______WPM
2. Passage 1 _______WPM
7. Average of Passages 1 – 5 _______WPM

Verbal Ability Breaking Poor Reading Habits
Introduction
How to improve Reading Speed?
Breaking Poor Reading Habits
If you're like most people, then you probably have one or more reading habits that slow you down.
Becoming a better reader means overcoming these bad habits, so that you can clear the way for new,
effective ways of reading.
Below, we cover some of the most common bad reading habits, and discuss what you can do to
overcome them.
Sub-Vocalization
Sub-vocalization is the habit of pronouncing each word in your head as you read it. Most people do
this to some extent or another.
When you sub-vocalize, you "hear" the word being spoken in your mind. This takes much more time
than is necessary, because you can understand a word more quickly than you can say it.
To turn off the voice in your head, you have to first acknowledge that it's there (how did you read the
first part of this article?), and then you have to practice "not speaking." When you sit down to read,
tell yourself that you will not sub-vocalize. You need to practice this until this bad habit is erased.
Reading blocks of words also helps, as it's harder to vocalize a block of words. (See below for more
on this.)
Eliminating sub-vocalization alone can increase your reading speed by an astounding amount.
Otherwise, you're limited to reading at the same pace as talking, which is about 250-350 words per
minute. The only way to break through this barrier is to stop saying the words in your head as you
read.
Reading Word-by-Word
Not only is it slow to read word-by-word, but when you concentrate on separate words, you often
miss the overall concept of what's being said. People who read each word as a distinct unit can
understand less than those who read faster by "chunking" words together in blocks. (Think about how
your eyes are moving as you read this article. Are you actually reading each word, or are you reading
blocks of two, or three, or five words?)
Practice expanding the number of words that you read at a time. You may also find that you can
increase the number of words you read in a single fixation by holding the text a little further from
your eyes. The more words you can read in each block, the faster you'll read!
Inefficient Eye Motion

Slow readers tend to focus on each word, and work their way across each line. The eye can actually
span about 1.5 inches at a time, which, for an average page, encompasses four or five words. Related
to this is the fact that most readers don't use their peripheral vision to see words at the ends of each
line.
To overcome this, "soften" your gaze when you read – by relaxing your face and expanding your
gaze, you'll begin to see blocks of words instead of seeing each word as distinct unit. As you get good
at this, your eyes will skip faster and faster across the page.
When you get close to the end of the line, let your peripheral vision take over to see the last set of
words. This way you can quickly scan across and down to the next line.
Regression
Regression is the unnecessary re-reading of material.
Sometimes people get into the habit of skipping back to words they have just read, while, other
times, they may jump back a few sentences, just to make sure that they read something right. When
you regress like this, you lose the flow and structure of the text, and your overall understanding of the
subject can decrease.

Verbal Ability Keys to Successful Speed Reading
Introduction
Be very conscious of regression, and don't allow yourself to re-read material unless you absolutely
have to.
To reduce the number of times your eyes skip back, run a pointer along the line as you read. This
could be a finger, or a pen or pencil. Your eyes will follow the tip of your pointer, helping you avoid
skipping back. The speed at which you read using this method will largely depend on the speed at
which you move the pointer.
Poor Concentration
If you've tried to read while the TV is on, you'll know how hard it is to concentrate on one word, let
alone on many sentences strung together. Reading has to be done in an environment where external
distractions are kept to a minimum.
To improve your concentration as you read, stop multitasking while reading, and remove any
distractions. This is particularly important, because when you use the techniques of chunking blocks
of words together and ceasing to sub-vocalize, you may find that you read several pages before you
realize you haven't understood something properly.
Pay attention to "internal distractions" as well. If you're rehashing a heated discussion, or if you're
wondering what to make for dinner, this will also limit your ability to process information.
Sub-vocalization actually forces your brain to attend to what you're reading, and that's why people
often say that they can read and watch TV at the same time. To become an efficient reader, you need
to avoid this.
Keys to Successful Speed Reading
Knowing the "how" of speed reading is only the first step. You have to practice it to get good at it.
Here are some tips that will help you break poor reading habits and master the speed reading skills
discussed above.
 Practice, practice, practice – you have to use your skills on a regular basis. It took you several
years to learn to read, and it will take time to improve your reading skills.
 Choose easy material to start with – when you begin speed reading, don't use a challenging
textbook. Read something like a novel or travel-writing, which you can understand and enjoy
with a quick once-over.
 Speed read appropriately – not everything you read lends itself to speed reading.
 If you need to understand the message completely, memorize the information, discuss it in
detail, analyze it thoroughly, or simply enjoy the prose the way the author intended, then
speed reading is the wrong approach. (Here, it helps to choose an appropriate reading strategy
before you start.)
 Use a pointer or other device to help push your reading speed – when you quickly draw a
card down the page, or run your finger back and forth, you force your eyes and brain to keep
pace.
 Take a step back and use the material's structure – this includes skimming information to get a
feel for the organization and layout of the text, looking for bolded words and headings, and
looking for the ways in which the author transitions from one topic to the next.

Verbal Ability Speed Reading Practice Exercise 1
Passage 1
Speed Reading Practice Exercise 1
Passage 1
John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address
January 20, 1961
We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom -- symbolizing an end as well as
a beginning -- signifying renewal as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God
the same solemn oath our forbearers prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago.
The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of
human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our
forbearers fought are still at issue around the globe -- the belief that the rights of man come not from
the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.
We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this
time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of
Americans -- born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of
our ancient heritage -- and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to
which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and
around the world.
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden,
meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of
liberty.
This much we pledge -- and more.
To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful
friends. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of co-operative ventures. Divided, there is little
we can do -- for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.
To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of
colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We
shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them
strongly supporting their own freedom -- and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly
sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.
To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass
misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required -- not
because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a
free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.
To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge -- to convert our good words into
good deeds -- in a new alliance for progress -- to assist free men and free governments in casting off
the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers.
Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere
in the Americas. And let every other power know that this hemisphere intends to remain the master
of its own house.

Passage 1
To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the
instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support -- to
prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective -- to strengthen its shield of the new and the
weak -- and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.
Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a
request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction
unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.
We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we
be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.
But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course -- both
sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the
deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's
final war.
So let us begin anew -- remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity
is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.
Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.
Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control
of arms -- and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all
nations.
Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the
stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and
commerce.
Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah -- to "undo the heavy
burdens . . . . . and let the oppressed go free."
----- end of passage 1 -----
WORD COUNT: 929

TIME TAKEN (in seconds): _________
SPEED FOR PASSAGE 1 = [60 X 929] / (time taken in seconds)

= 55740 / (time taken in seconds)
= _________ words per minute

Passage 2
Passage 2
The Keeper of the Keys
BOOM. They knocked again. Dudley jerked awake.

"Where's the cannon?" he said stupidly.
There was a crash behind them and Uncle Vernon came skidding into the room. He was holding a
rifle in his hands - now they knew what had been in the long, thin package he had brought with them.
"Who's there?" he shouted. "I warn you - I'm armed!"
There was a pause. Then -
SMASH
The door was hit with such force that it swung clean off its hinges and with a deafening crash landed
flat on the floor.
A giant of a man was standing in the doorway. His face was almost completely hidden by a long,
shaggy mane of hair and a wild, tangled beard, but you could make out his eyes, glinting like black
beetles under all the hair.
The giant squeezed his way into the hut, stooping so that his head just brushed the ceiling. He bent
down, picked up the door and fitted it easily back into its frame. The noise of the storm outside
dropped a little. He turned to look at them all.
"Couldn't make up a cup o' tea, could yeh? It's not been an easy journey ..."
He strode over to the sofa where Dudley sat frozen with fear.
"Budge up, yeh great lump," said the stranger.
Dudley squeaked and ran to hide behind his mother, who was crouching, terrified, behind Uncle
Vernon.
"An' here's Harry!" said the giant.
Harry looked up into the fierce, wild, shadowy face and saw that the beetle eyes were crinkled in a
smile.
"Las' time I saw you, you was only a baby, " said the giant. "Yeh look a lot like yer dad, but yeh've
got yer mum's eyes. "
Uncle Vernon made a funny rasping noise.
"I demand that you leave at once, sir!"he said. " You are breaking and entering!"
"Ah, shut up. Dursley, yeh great prune," said the giant. He reached over the back of the sofa, jerked
the gun out of Uncle Vernon's hands, bent it into a knot as easily as if it had been made of rubber, and
threw it into a corner of the room.
Uncle Vernon made another funny noise, like a mouse being trodden on.
"Anyway - Harry," said the giant, turning his back on the Dursleys, "a very happy birthday to yeh.
Got summat fer yeh here - I mighta sat on it at some point, but it'll taste all right."
From an inside pocket of his black overcoat he pulled a slightly squashed box. Harry opened it with
trembling fingers. Inside was a large, sticky chocolate cake with Happy Birthday Harry written on it
in green icing.
Harry looked up at the giant. He meant to say thank you, but the words got lost on the way to his
mouth, and what he said instead was, "Who are you?"
The giant chuckled.
"True, I haven't introduced myself. Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts."
He held out an enormous hand and shook Harry's whole arm.
"What about that tea then, eh?" he said, rubbing his hands together. "I'd not say no ter summat
stronger if yeh've got it, mind."
His eyes fell on the empty grate with the shrivelled crisp packets in it and he snorted. He bent down
over the fireplace; they couldn't see what he was doing but when he drew back a second later, there
was a roaring fire there. It filled the whole damp hut with flickering light and Harry felt the warmth
wash over him as though he'd sunk into a hot bath.

Passage 2
WORD COUNT: 606



Passage 3
Passage 3
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for
freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the
Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions
of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous
daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro
is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred
years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material
prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society
and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful
condition.
In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic
wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were
signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all
men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this
promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred
obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked
"insufficient funds."
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are
insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this
check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.
We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no
time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the
time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate
valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the
quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality
for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the
Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and
equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro
needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to
business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted
his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation
until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads
into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of
wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness
and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We
must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must
rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust
of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have

Passage 3
come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their
freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.
We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.
We cannot turn back.
There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can
never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We
can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in
the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's
basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our
children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: "For Whites
Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York
believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied
until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."
WORD COUNT: 917



Passage 4
Passage 4
To Be Legal
Marijuana smokers are generally mildly intoxicated, giggle, laugh, other no one, and have a good
time. They do not stagger or fall, and wouldn‘t ordinarily attempt to harm anyone. It has not been
proven that smoking marijuana leads to crimes of a violent nature or to crimes of a sexual nature.
Smoking marijuana has no unpleasant after-affects, no dependence is developed on the drug, and the
practice can easily be stopped at any time. So why is marijuana illegal? Although marijuana usage is
frowned upon by society, marijuana can be used for industrial, recreational, and even medical
purposes.
The industry could certainly benefit from marijuana. Hemp (processed marijuana) is among the
oldest of industries on the planet, going back more than 10,000 years to the beginning of pottery.
Surprisingly, Hemp can replace many of the elements used in products today. One acre of hemp in
annual rotation will produce as much pulp for paper as 4.1 acres of trees during the same twenty-year
period. Hemp can be grown and harvested every year, unlike trees that take a lasting fifty to one
hundred years to grow back. Also, making paper from trees creates over five times more pollution
than making paper from hemp. Hemp could also have an effect on the clothing industry producing
three times as much fiber per acre as cotton. While cotton is grown on only 3% of the world‘s
farmland, it uses a devastating 26% of the world‘s pesticides per year. Hemp requires no pesticides or
herbicides to grow.
In regards to recreational use, marijuana is about as benign as you can get. It is not addictive. It
does not cause violence. It creates no hangovers and no one has ever died from an overdose.
Marijuana serves as a natural relaxant, unlike alcohol, which produces more hyper emotions.
Personally, I noticed that people attending college parties based around the consumption of alcohol
tend to be more aggressive than those under the influence of marijuana. Marijuana users tend to be
more jovial in a social atmosphere such as a party/club and do not pursue things that involve large
amounts of energy. Although there are some that claim marijuana usage is harmful to the body,
impairing the normal flow of thought, causing loss of coordination, and even brain damage, it can also
be a way of enjoying yourself, socializing with friends, and escaping the troubled reality of the world.
Medically, marijuana could bring to the surface ways of curing even the deadliest if diseases.
Marijuana has been reported to, relieve migraine headaches, stop the advancement of glaucoma,
relieve asthma attacks, improve breathing, alleviate nausea and pain associated with cancer
chemotherapy treatments, block epileptic seizures, relieve the pain of arthritis, help with depression,
and etc. Though there is some evidence that marijuana may suppress the immune system, marijuana‘s
use has been known to eliminate the drug-induced stupor suffered by many AIDS patients during end
stages of the disease. During this stage the patient usually loses his appetite and becomes chronically
nauseous. With marijuana use the patient doesn‘t have to worry about the nauseous feeling that results
from certain medications. They are then able to enjoy foods that they‘ve been accustomed to eating.
The health issues listed in the previous paragraph are all problems that our society suffers from on a
day-to-day basis. Most importantly, they are problems that can be cured by elements that we‘ve
known about for years. In truth, marijuana could probably surpass the things we use for industrial
recreational and medical purposes, but we are living in a world that doesn‘t promote change, even if it
is detrimental to our survival. We‘d rather pay doctors billions of dollars a year to discover new
antidotes than use hemp just because we think it‘s immoral. But the irony is that in this society
everything is immoral until we make it legal.
Probably the most dangerous feature of marijuana is that it is a gateway drug. It teaches disrespect
for the law and would complicate drug enforcement. If it were legalized, that role would disappear.
There would be no need for the average teen to have anything to do with drug pushers at all because
they could buy it publicly. If marijuana were legalized, the drug could be government inspected,

Passage 4
guaranteed of standard potency, and without pesticide residues. Also, the lower cost would allow
people to start eating marijuana in brownies or other specialty foods rather than smoking it, which
would reduce the health risk considerably.
WORD COUNT: 749



Passage 5
Passage 5
Summary of the Mahabharata
The Mahabharata tells the story of two sets of paternal first cousins--the five sons of the deceased
king Pandu (the five Pandavas) and the one hundred sons of blind King Dhritarashtra--who became
bitter rivals, and opposed each other in war for possession of the ancestral Bharata kingdom with its
capital in the "City of the Elephants," Hastinapura , on the Ganga river in north central India. What is
dramatically interesting within this simple opposition is the large number of individual agendas the
many characters pursue, and the numerous personal conflicts, ethical puzzles, subplots, and plot twists
that give the story a strikingly powerful development.
The five sons of Pandu were actually fathered by five Gods (sex was mortally dangerous for Pandu,
because of a curse) and these heroes were assisted throughout the story by various Gods, sages, and
brahmins, including the great sage Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa (who later became the author of the
epic telling this story), who was also their actual grandfather (he had engendered Pandu and the blind
Dhrtarastra upon their nominal father's widows in order to preserve the lineage). The one hundred
sons of the blind king Dhrtarashtra, on the other hand, had a grotesque, demonic birth, and are said
more than once in the text to be human incarnations of the demons who are the perpetual enemies of
the devotees of the lord. The most dramatic figure of the entire Mahabharata, however, is Sri Krishna
who is the supreme personality of Godhead himself, descended to earth in human form to reestablish
his devotees as care takers of the earth, and who practice Dharma. Krishna Vasudeva was the cousin
of both parties, but he was a friend and advisor to the Pandavas, became the brother-in-law of Arjuna ,
and served as Arjuna's mentor and charioteer in the great war. Krishna Vasudeva is portrayed several
times as eager to see the war occur, and in many ways the Pandavas were his human instruments for
fulfilling that end.
The Dhrtarashtra party behaved viciously and brutally toward the Pandavas in many ways, from the
time of their early childhood. Their malice displayed itself when they took advantage of the eldest
Pandava, Yudhishthira (who had by now become the ruler of the world) in a game of dice: The
Dhrtarashtras 'won' all his brothers, himself, and even the Pandavas' common wife Draupadi They
humiliated all the Pandavas and physically abused Draupadi; they drove the Pandava party into the
wilderness for twelve years, and the twelve years of exile had to be followed by the Pandavas' living
somewhere in society, in disguise, without being discovered.
The Pandavas fulfilled their part of that bargain by living outside the kingdom, but the evil leader and
eldest son of Dhartarashtra, Duryodhana , was unwilling to restore the Pandavas to their half of the
kingdom when the thirteen years had expired. Both sides then called upon their many allies and two
large armies arrayed themselves on 'Kuru's Field' (Kuru was one of the eponymous ancestors of the
clan), eleven divisions in the army of Duryodhana against seven divisions for Yudhishthira. Much of
the action in the Mahabharata is accompanied by discussion and debate among various interested
parties, and the most famous dialog of all time, Krishna Vasudeva's ethical lecture and demonstration
of his divinity to his devotee and friend Arjuna (the Holy Bhagavad Gita appeared in the Mahabharata
just prior to the commencement of the world war. Several of the important ethical and theological
themes of the Mahabharata are tied together in this Gita, and this "Song of the Blessed One" has
exerted much the same sort of powerful and far-reaching influence in the Vedic Civilization that the
New Testament has had in the Christian world. The Pandavas won the eighteen day battle, but it was a
victory that deeply troubled all except those who were able to understand things on the divine level
(chiefly Krishna, Vyasa, and Bhishma the Bharata patriarch who was symbol of the virtues of the era
now passing away). The Pandavas' five sons by Draupadi, as well as Bhimasena and Arjuna Pandava's
two sons by two other mothers (respectively, the young warriors and Abhimanyu, were all tragic
victims in the war. Worse perhaps, the Pandava victory was won by the Pandavas slaying, in
succession, four men who were like fathers to them: Bhishma, their teacher Drona , Karna (who was,
though none of the Pandavas knew it, the first born, pre-marital, son of their mother), and their

Passage 5
maternal uncle Shalya (all four of these men were, in succession, 'supreme commanders' of
Duryodhana's army during the war). Equally troubling was the fact that the killing of the first three of
these 'respected elders,' and of some other enemy warriors as well, was accomplished only through '
trickery', most of which were suggested by Krishna Vasudeva as absolutely required by the
circumstances.
The ethical gaps were not resolved to anyone's satisfaction on the surface of the narrative and the
aftermath of the war was dominated by a sense of horror and malaise. Yudhishthira alone was terribly
troubled, but his sense of the war's wrongfulness persisted to the end of the text, in spite of the fact
that everyone else, from his wife to Krishna Vasudeva, told him the war was right and good; in spite
of the fact that the dying patriarch Bhishma lectured him at length on all aspects of the Good Law (the
Duties and Responsibilities of Kings, which have rightful violence at their center; the ambiguities of
Righteousness in abnormal circumstances; and the absolute perspective of a beatitude that ultimately
transcends the oppositions of good versus bad, right versus wrong, pleasant versus unpleasant, etc.);
in spite of the fact that he performed a grand Horse Sacrifice as expiation for the putative wrong of the
war. These debates and instructions and the account of this Horse Sacrifice are told at some length
after the massive and narrative of the battle; they form a deliberate tale of pacification that aims to
neutralize the inevitable reactions of the war.
In the years that follow the war Dhritarashtra and his queen Gandhari, and Kunti , the mother of the
Pandavas, lived a life of asceticism in a forest retreat and died with yogic calm in a forest fire. Krishna
Vasudeva departed from this earth thirty-six years after the war. When they learned of this, the
Pandavas believed it time for them to leave this world too and they embarked upon the 'Great
Journey,' which involved walking north toward the polar mountain that is toward the heavenly worlds,
until one's body dropped dead. One by one Draupadi and the younger Pandavas died along the way
until Yudhishthira was left alone with a dog that had followed him all the way. Yudhishthira made it
to the gate of heaven and there refused the order to drive the dog back, at which point the dog was
revealed to be an incarnate form of the God Dharma (the God who was Yudhishthira's actual, physical
father), who was there to test Yudhishthira's virtue. Once in heaven Yudhishthira faced one final test
of his virtue: He saw only the Dhartarashtra Clan in heaven, and he was told that his brothers were in
hell. He insisted on joining his brothers in hell, if that were the case! It was then revealed that they
were really in heaven, that this illusion had been one final test for him.
WORD COUNT: 1243



Verbal Ability Reading Comprehension
Chapter 2
Reading Comprehension
Introduction
Reading Comprehension in the main part of the Verbal section of any Competitive exam. You will
come across a passage whose length can vary from 300 words to 1000 words. You are required to
read the passage and answer the questions that follow that. The questions are MCQ based and the
trick lies in selecting the correct option. Not only a good reading speed but also the ability to infer the
content correctly is essential while solving Reading Passages. The data given in the passage and put
across in the answer options may not be in the same format, the answer option may use semantics
(synonyms, phrases ) which means the same. A variety of subjects are included in Reading Passages ,
such as passages based on science, history, philosophy, geography, economics, etc. Therefore, a good
reading habit will take you a long way. The following strategies will help you in solving the various
types of questions.
Types of questions:
1) Main Idea
2) Specific details
3) Author‘s purpose
4) Inference
5) Vocabulary based
Strategies for answering reading questions
The Reading Assessment Test challenges you to read short passages and answer questions that require
you to: 1) Identify the main idea of a passage 2) Read a passage for specific details 3) Identify the
author‘s purpose for writing a passage or the author‘s tone 4) Make inferences based on the facts
presented in a passage. In addition to general strategies for taking standardized reading tests, the
following strategies are useful for tackling each of the above question types:
1. Identifying the Main Idea of a Passage
The main idea of a passage is its point – the central idea or primary focus of the writing. The
correct answer in a main-idea question must be entirely true and complete.
Main idea questions will usually include one of the following key words: main idea, emphasizes,
focuses on, is primarily or chiefly concerned with, author’s point of view, essence, will go on to
discuss.
In reading test passages, sometimes the main idea is stated in the opening sentence and developed
with examples and evidence in the sentences that follow. Or a passage may conclude with the main
idea – a point that the author has been building toward throughout the passage with supporting
evidence. But don‘t be fooled into thinking you only need to read the first and last sentences of the
passage. The main ideas of complex passages are not so easy to identify.
Strategies for Answering Main Idea Questions:
 Look for key words that identify the question as a main idea question. If the question includes
any of the main idea key words listed above, this will help you focus on identifying the
author‘s point as you read.
 Read the passage and make notes. Once you‘ve identified the question as a main idea
question, read the passage, making mental notes on your scrap paper as you read.
 Remember to pay special attention to words such as but, yet, although, since, except,
moreover, unless, nonetheless, however. These words signal a shift, a qualification,

something you should note. The ideas that follow these words are usually important to the
overall meaning of the passage.
 Learn to spot wrong answers. Use the process of elimination to rule out wrong answers.
Wrong answers for main idea questions are often:
a) too broad – the answer covers too much, is too ―big‖ in some way
b) too narrow – the answer is too restricted in outlook, too ―small
c) irrelevant – the answer is not directly related to the question
d) incorrect – the answer distorts or contradicts facts in the passage
e) illogical – the answer is not supported by facts in the passage.
Solved Example for Main Idea question - 1
Once, people wore garlic around their necks to ward off disease. Today, most Americans would scoff
at the idea of wearing a necklace of garlic cloves to enhance their well-being. However, you might
find a number of Americans willing to ingest capsules of pulverized garlic or other herbal
supplements in the name of health.
Complementary and alternative medicine, which includes a range of practices outside of conventional
medicine such as herbs, homeopathy, massage therapy, yoga, and acupuncture, hold increasing
appeal for Americans. In fact, according to one estimate, 42% of Americans have used alternative
therapies. In all age groups, the use of unconventional healthcare practices has steadily increased in
the last 30 years, and the trend is likely to continue, although people born before 1945 are the least
likely to turn to these therapies.
Why have so many patients turned to alternative therapies? Many are frustrated by the time
constraints of managed care and alienated by conventional medicine's focus on technology. Others
feel that a holistic approach to healthcare better reflects their beliefs and values. Others seek
therapies that relieve symptoms associated with chronic disease; symptoms that mainstream
medicine cannot treat.
Some alternative therapies have even crossed the line into mainstream medicine, as scientific
investigation has confirmed their safety and efficacy. For example, physicians may currently
prescribe acupuncture for pain management or to control the nausea associated with chemotherapy.
Additionally, many U.S. medical schools teach courses in alternative therapies, and many health
insurance companies offer some alternative medicine benefits.
1. What is the main idea of this passage?

a. Alternative medicine is now a big business in the United States with more Americans seeking it out
than ever before.
b. Today, it is not unusual for mainstream doctors to incorporate alternative therapies into their
practice.
c. Over the last few decades, alternative medicine has become more popular, accepted, and practiced
in the United States.
d. People are tired of conventional medicine's focus on technology.
Answer: C
Explanation:
Remember, Main idea means the authors view on the topic. The passage talks about benefits of
Alternative medicines and how it has entered the main stream. Thus, we can eliminate option (d) as it
is irrelevant. Now, option (a), (b), (c) all talk about alternative therapies; however, option (b) can now
be easily eliminated as it does not talk about doctors throughout the passage. Option (a) too can be
eliminated as it talks about alternative medicine becoming a big business in US, which again is not the
main idea of the passage and irrelevant too. Therefore, Option (c) is the correct answer as it sums up
the idea of the author in brief.

Solved Example for Main Idea question - 2

In criminal cases, the availability of readable fingerprints is often critical in establishing evidence of a
major crime. It is necessary, therefore, to follow proper procedures when taking fingerprints. In
major cases, prints should be obtained from all persons who may have touched areas associated with
a crime scene, for elimination purposes.
2. The main idea of the paragraph is that

a. because fingerprints are so important in many cases, it is important to follow the correct course in
taking them.
b. all fingerprints found at a crime scene should be taken and thoroughly investigated.
c. if the incorrect procedure is followed in gathering fingerprints, the ones taken may be useless.
d. the first step in investigating fingerprints is to eliminate those of non-suspects.
Answer: a
Explanation:
Option b mentions that the fingerprints should be thoroughly investigated, which is not the main idea.
Option c talks about incorrect procedures, which is out of scope of the passage, therefore incorrect
option. Eliminate option d as well as it strays away from the paragraph. Option a, properly talks about
following the correct procedure in taking finger prints. Therefore, option a is the correct answer.
2. Reading a Passage for Specific Details
An author often supports his or her main idea with key facts and examples that help make the overall
meaning of the text clear. You may be asked a question based on one of these facts or examples. Your
job is to make sense of the fact or example in the context of the overall main idea that is being
conveyed. Questions about specific details are a matter of reading carefully for meaning.
Strategies for Answering Specific Detail Questions:

 Identify the most important word(s) in the question. This general strategy is critical for
specific detail questions. Identify the word or phrase that will guide you toward the answer as
you read the passage.
 Make mental notes related to the word or phrase as you read. If the question is a
straightforward question about a fact or example from the text, your answer will likely appear
in the same sentence in which the word or phrase appears -- or in the sentence before or after
that sentence. However, be sure to read the entire passage. Understanding the main idea of the
passage is often critical to choosing the correct answer for specific detail questions.
 *Some questions will contain a key word or phrase that is a synonym for another word or
phrase in the passage. In this case, look for the word or phrase in the passage that means
nearly the same as the word or phrase in the stem.
 *Some questions will simply ask you to identify the statement that is true or accurate among
the answer options. In this case, take brief notes on the main idea as you read and test each
answer choice against the facts presented in the passage.
Solved Example for Specific Details question - 1

Once people wore garlic around their necks to ward off disease. Today, most Americans would scoff
at the idea of wearing a necklace of garlic cloves to enhance their well-being. However, you might
find a number of Americans willing to ingest capsules of pulverized garlic or other herbal
supplements in the name of health.
Complementary and alternative medicine, which includes a range of practices outside of conventional
medicine such as herbs, homeopathy, massage therapy, yoga, and acupuncture, hold increasing appeal
for Americans. In fact, according to one estimate, 42% of Americans have used alternative therapies.
In all age groups, the use of unconventional healthcare practices has steadily increased in the last 30
years, and the trend is likely to continue, although people born before 1945 are the least likely to turn
to these therapies.

Why have so many patients turned to alternative therapies? Many are frustrated by the time
constraints of managed care and alienated by conventional medicine's focus on technology. Others
feel that a holistic approach to healthcare better reflects their beliefs and values. Others seek therapies
that relieve symptoms associated with chronic disease; symptoms that mainstream medicine cannot
treat.
Some alternative therapies have even crossed the line into mainstream medicine, as scientific
investigation has confirmed their safety and efficacy. For example, physicians may currently prescribe
acupuncture for pain management or to control the nausea associated with chemotherapy.
Additionally, many U.S. medical schools teach courses in alternative therapies, and many health
insurance companies offer some alternative medicine benefits.
1. According to the passage, which practice would not be defined as alternative medicine?
a. pain management
b. acupuncture
c. taking herbal garlic supplements
d. massage therapy
Answer : a
Explanation:
Read the question carefully, it asks you to find which practice is NOT defined as alternative medicine.
Except option (a), rest all three are alternative therapies.
How to find the Author’s Purpose?
Knowing what author's purpose questions look like is one thing. Finding it is quite another! On
a standardized test, you'll have answer choices to help you figure it out, but distractor questions will
often confuse you. On a short answer test, you'll have nothing but your own brain to figure it out, and
sometimes it isn't as easy as it seems.
Look For Clue Words to Find Author's Purpose
Figuring out why an author wrote a particular passage can be as easy (or as difficult) as looking at
clues inside the passage. Several different reasons an author would have to write a passage of text, and
what those reasons mean. Below, you'll find those reasons, with the clue words associated with them.
 Compare: Author wanted to show similarities between ideas
Clue Words: both, similarly, in the same way, like, just as
 Contrast: Author wanted to show differences between ideas

Clue Words: however, but, dissimilarly, on the other hand
 Criticize: Author wanted to give a negative opinion of an idea

Clue Words: Look for words that show the author's negative opinion. Judgment words like
"bad", "wasteful", and "poor" all demonstrate negative opinions.
 Describe/Illustrate: Author wanted to paint a picture of an idea

Clue Words: Look for words that provide descriptive detail. Adjectives like "red", "lusty",
"morose", "striped", "sparkling", and "crestfallen" are all illustrative.
 Explain: Author wanted to break down an idea into simpler terms

Clue Words: Look for words that turn a complicated process into simple language. A
"descriptive" text will use more adjectives. An "explanatory" text will usually be used with a

complicated idea.
 Identify/List: Author wanted to tell the reader about an idea or series of ideas
Clue Words: Text that identifies or lists, will name an idea or series of ideas without providing
much description or opinion.
 Intensify: Author wanted to make an idea greater

Clue Words: Text that intensifies will add more specific details to the idea. Look for superlative
adjectives and "bigger" concepts. A baby sadly crying is descriptive, but a baby mournfully
howling red-cheeked for 30 minutes is more intense.
 Suggest: Author wanted to propose an idea

Clue Words: "Suggest" answers are usually positive opinions, and try to sway the reader to
believe. The author will provide a point, and then use details to prove it.
Underline the Clue Words
It helps to use that pencil in your hand when you're reading if you're unsure what the author's purpose
is. As you read, underline the clue words in the text to help you get a better idea. Then, either
compose a sentence using the key words (compare, explain, illustrate) to show why the author wrote
the piece or select the best answer from the choices given.
Solved Example for Author’s Purpose question - 1
The next day, the 22nd of March, at six in the morning, preparations for departure were begun. The last
gleams of twilight were melting into night. The cold was great; the constellations shown with
wonderful intensity. In the zenith glittered that wondrous Southern Cross – the polar bear of Antarctic
regions. The thermometer showed 12 degrees below zero, and when the wind freshened it was most
biting. Flakes of ice increased on the open water. The sea seemed everywhere alike. Numerous
blackish patches spread on the surface, showing the formation of fresh ice. Evidently the southern
basin, frozen during the six winter months, was absolutely inaccessible. What became of the whales in
that time? Doubtless they went beneath the icebergs, seeking more practicable seas. As to the seals
and morses, accustomed to life in a hard climate, they remained on these icy shores.
The author's description of the temperature in lines 43 – 46 primarily serves to:
A. explain the hardships the boatmen were about to go through.
B. intensify the setting, so the reader can experience the boatmen's difficult journey.
C. compare the differences between boatmen who have experienced hardships and those who haven't.
D. identify the causes of the temperature decrease.
Answer: B.
Explanation:
intensify the setting, so the reader can experience the boatmen's difficult journey.
Here, the temperature descriptions slowly get more intense, or heightened, so the best answer is
Choice B
Solved Example for Author’s Purpose question - 2

Until the early 1900's, Americans were not extremely concerned about their futures as they became
older. The major source of economic security was farming, and the extended family cared for the
elderly. However, the Industrial Revolution brought an end to this tradition. Farming gave way to
more progressive means of earning a living and family ties became looser; as a result, the family was
not always available to take care of the older generation. The Great Depression of the 1930's
exacerbated these economic security woes. So in 1935, Congress, under the direction of President
Franklin D. Roosevelt, signed into law the Social Security Act. This act created a program intended to
provide continuing income for retired workers at least 65 years old, partially through the collection of

funds from Americans in the work force. Much organization was required to get the program
underway, but the first monthly Social Security checks were issued in 1940. Over the years the Social
Security Program has metamorphosed into benefits not only for workers but also for the disabled and
for survivors of beneficiaries, as well as medical insurance benefits in the form of Medicare.
The author most likely mentions the Depression to:
A. identify the primary purpose for Social Security.
B. criticize FDR's adoption of a program that would run out of money.
C. contrast the effectiveness of the Social Security Program with that of family care.
D. list another factor that contributed to the need for the Social Security Program.
Answer: D.
Explanation”
list another factor that contributed to the need for the Social Security Program.
The Depression was just one more reason that FDR started the SS Program. It was not the primary
cause for Social Security, which rules out Choice A. The author did not criticize FDR's creation in any
way, so that gets rid of Choice B. And, no ideas were being compared, so that rules out Choice C.
Bingo!
4. Making Inferences from a Passage
To ―infer‖ is to draw a logical conclusion from what is known or assumed to be true, in this case from
what is written in the passage. Inferences are not stated explicitly in the passage. Rather, inference
questions require you to draw conclusions from the factual knowledge or evidence presented. In order
to answer an inference question, you must understand the logic of the author‘s statements and decide
what is or is not reasonable. Inference questions are as much about critical thinking as they are about
critical reading. Most inference questions will include one of the following key words: imply, suggest,
infer, assume, most likely, probably, seem, predict, indicate, conclude.
One type of inference question will ask you to draw a conclusion that is supported by facts presented
in the passage. Another type of inference question may ask you the meaning of a word or phrase that
is included in the passage. Such questions are not meant to test your vocabulary. Rather, they are
designed to test your ability to understand a word or phrase by the context in which it appears.
Strategies for Answering Inference Questions:
Part of your preparation should involve learning and internalizing a strategy for each question type.
By test day, these steps should be habitual and done without thought.
 Attack the Passage
Dive in and read the passage all the way through. Stay out of the details of the passage and focus on
the main ideas. Focus on understanding the connection among the paragraphs, especially their
connection to the main idea of the passage. Finally, determine the author‘s purpose in writing, and the
author‘s opinion about the topic.
 Rephrase Question
Read the question and put it into your own words. Rephrasing the question will force you to
understand what it is asking. Make notes of line numbers, concepts from specific parts of the passage,
and any words like ―except‖ or ―not‖. These clues will be crucial to answering the question correctly.
 Evaluate Answer Choice based on the Passage
Read through each answer choice and decide whether the passage supports the statement. Usually, the
support for the correct answer will be separated—not in one sentence, but based on the information in
two or three sentences.
 Eliminate Wrong Answers
Why fret over a right answer when there are so many wrong answers in front of you. Usually in my
first pass through the answer choices, I aim to eliminate three blatantly wrong answer choices. This
always makes it easier to find the right answer at the end.

These steps are similar to most of the Reading Comprehension questions, except that we are not
anticipating an answer choice. Since there are many inferences that you can make on a single passage,
it is often hard to predict the inference in the answer choices. So, it‘s best to move to evaluating the
answer choices instead of anticipating an inference.
Common Wrong Answers in Inference Questions

 Detail from the passage
For the tired and lazy, the inattentive and unfocused, Examiners will always give a detail from the
passage as an answer choice. If a test taker is not aware that they are answering an inference question,
they easily fall into this trap because they found something directly stated in the passage. Remember,
an inference is something that is not explicitly stated in the passage. So it‘s always important to
identify the question type to avoid this wrong answer.
 Distorting the passage
I sometimes think of these trap answers as half right and all wrong because Examiners take
information contained in the passage and twists and distorts it enough to make the answer wrong.
Usually this involves twisting the connection of ideas in the passage or misattributing an idea to the
wrong person. Students get stuck with these because they see the part that is correct and then come up
with reasons or situations in which the answer might be true. Anytime you find yourself trying hard to
justify an answer choice, it is most likely going to be wrong.
 Extreme Language
―Always,‖ ―any,‖ ―all,‖ ―never,‖ ―none,‖—these words should set off an alarm in your head. The
GRE passages are complex and subtle, not extreme and one-sided. The passages are well-reasoned
and contain qualifying statements. As such, a passage will rarely support extreme, broad over-
generalizations that contain these words.
 Unrelated, Unsupported, or New
Examiners love a little sleight of hand. They try to slip in a new concept into the answer choice,
something related but unsupported by the passage. The most obvious example is when they mention
actual values when the passage only mentions ratios or percentages. Do not be fooled! Be on the
lookout for concepts not addressed in the passage.
Solved Example for Author’s Purpose question - 1 ,2
Jupiter has 2.5 times more mass than all the other planets of the solar system combined and is 11
times as large as Earth in diameter. Jupiter is so large that scientists believe it almost became a star: as
the gases and dust contracted to the form the planet, gravitational forces created tremendous pressure
and temperature inside the core—as high as tens of thousands of degrees. But there was not enough
mass available to create the temperature needed to start a fusion reaction such as that of the Sun
(above 27,000,000 Fahrenheit, or 15,000,000 Celsius, at the Sun‘s core); thus Jupiter has been cooling
down ever since. Even so, Jupiter radiates about as much heat as it receives from the Sun.
1. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
A. Exo-planets the size of Jupiter can be expected to have a core that is the same temperature as
that of Jupiter.
B. All observable stars in the galaxy formed from planets that heated over 27,000,000 degrees
Fahrenheit.
C. The mass of a planet can have an effect on the temperature of its core.
2. The passage is mainly concerned with
A. the size of Jupiter relative to other planets in the solar system
B. differences between the sun and Jupiter
C. how Jupiter‘s mass has affected its development
D. the temperature at which a planet‘s core can start a fusion reaction
E. amount of power radiated by Jupiter
Answers:
1. C
2. C

Explanations:
1. (A) Based on the passage, we do not know what the exact relation between mass and heat is. Thus
we can‘t extrapolate to other planets.
(B) We only know that the sun formed at this temperature. Even if this fact is true (I‘d have to ask an
astronomer) [Editor‘s note: Actually, a lot of planets are made of the same stuff as stars – they‘re
planets because they‘re not massive enough to start fusion], the passage does not provide enough
information.
(C) The passage mentions, ―But there was not enough mass available to create the temperature
needed…‖ Therefore (C).
2. The passage is mainly concerned with how Jupiter‘s mass affected its development. Jupiter could
have become a sun…but not quite. That is the main thrust. Hence (C).
5. Vocabulary Words in Context on a Test
A question on a standardized test may look something like this:
Solved Example for Vocabulary Based question - 1

After the first day on the job, the bank‘s new manager realized he would be busier than he had been
led to believe. Not only was he assisting the bank tellers with their work, but his new boss had
decided to inundate him with other tasks like creating security systems, managing the bank‘s
deposits and refunds, securing loans, and maintaining the daily operations. The new manager was
exhausted as he locked the bank up for the night.
The word “inundate” from the passage is closest in meaning to
a) overload
b) provide
c) assault
d) underwhelm
Hint: A way to figure out if your choice is correct is by putting the answer choice in the sentence in
place of the vocabulary word. Which one fits the intended meaning the best?
You're right. It's "overload." The first choice is the best pick, although "assault" is a close second. The
only way that one would work is if the tone of the passage had been more negative.
Understanding Vocabulary Words in Context Exercise
Try to determine the meanings of the following italicized vocabulary words, based on the context
clues in the sentences.
1. Pablo always showed animosity toward his teachers by throwing spitballs and mouthing off, but
his sister Mary was kind and sweet.
2. The little girl was showing signs of ocular problems - she squinted to read the blackboard and
complained of headaches after working on the computer for too long.
3. The crowd rewarded the singer with plaudits, or extreme praise, by clapping and cheering during
a standing ovation.
4. Elena‘s repudiation of Jerry‘s bad table manners was obvious to everyone at dinner as she
dropped her napkin and left the table.
5. From the far past to the present day, the moon has been thought to cause lunacy. Some studies
have shown that this momentary insanity does have some association to the moon's phases.
6. The old man‘s hair was sparse rather than thick and full like it was when he was young.
7. Janie was as devout as the Pope himself.
8. My sister Kimmy shows a great abhorrence for crowds, whereas my little brother Michael loves
to be the center of attention.
9. When you admonish someone, you point out his or her errors; an example would be scolding a
child for misbehaving.

Chapter 2
10. The sorcerer‘s minions, or devoted followers, were willing to perform any sorcery he could
conjure.
11. Ninety-seven pairs is a superfluous number of shoes.
12. The spy was hung at the gallows of his homeland for his perfidious deeds.
13. ―Busy as a bee‖ and ―quiet as a mouse‖ are hackneyed phrases – they‘re used all the time.
14. Amelia was as pretentious as a princess when she arrived to the party. She tossed her coat to the
hostess and grabbed a drink out of a nearby guest‘s hand.
15. We always listen to my great-aunt because she is venerable, but we ignore my niece‘s advice
because she‘s only six.

Chapter 2 Reading Comprehension Practice Exercise 2
Reading Comprehension Practice Exercise 2

No. of Questions: 38
Allocated Time : 40 minutes
Direction for questions 1 to 38 : Read each passage carefully and answers the questions that
follow every passage. Every question carries 1 mark and 0.25 marks shall be deducted for every
incorrect answer. Every question has only one correct answer.
Passage 1
Today, bicycles are elegantly simple machines that are common around the world. Many people ride
bicycles for recreation, whereas others use them as a means of transportation. The first bicycle, called
a draisienne, was invented in Germany in 1818 by Baron Karl de Drais de Sauerbrun. Because it was
made of wood, the draisienne wasn't very durable nor did it have pedals. Riders moved it by pushing
their feet against the ground.
In 1839, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, a Scottish blacksmith, invented a much better bicycle. Macmillan's
machine had tires with iron rims to keep them from getting worn down. He also used footoperated
cranks, similar to pedals, so his bicycle could be ridden at a quick pace. It didn't look much like the
modern bicycle, though, because its back wheel was substantially larger than its front wheel.
Although Macmillan's bicycles could be ridden easily, they were never produced in large numbers.
In 1861, Frenchman Pierre Michaux and his brother Ernest invented a bicycle with an improved crank
mechanism. They called their bicycle a vélocipède, but most people called it a "bone shaker" because
of the jarring effect of the wood and iron frame. Despite the unflattering nickname,
the vélocipède was a hit. After a few years, the Michaux family was making hundreds of the machines
annually, mostly for fun seeking young people.
Ten years later, James Starley, an English inventor, made several innovations that revolutionized
bicycle design. He made the front wheel many times larger than the back wheel, put a gear on the
pedals to make the bicycle more efficient, and lightened the wheels by using wire spokes. Although
this bicycle was much lighter and less tiring to ride, it was still clumsy, extremely top heavy, and
ridden mostly for entertainment.
It wasn't until 1874 that the first truly modern bicycle appeared on the scene. Invented by another
Englishman, H. J. Lawson, the safety bicycle would look familiar to today's cyclists. The safety
bicycle had equal sized wheels, which made it much less prone to toppling over. Lawson also attached
a chain to the pedals to drive the rear wheel. By 1893, the safety bicycle had been further improved
with air filled rubber tires, a diamond shaped frame, and easy braking. With the improvements
provided by Lawson, bicycles became extremely popular and useful for transportation. Today, they
are built, used, and enjoyed all over the world.
1. There is enough information in this passage to show that

a. several people contributed to the development of the modern bicycle.
b. only a few vélocipèdes built by the Michaux family are still in existence.
c. for most of the nineteenth century, few people rode bicycles just for fun.
d. bicycles with wheels of different sizes cannot be ridden easily.
2. The first person to use a gear system on bicycles was
a. H. J. Lawson.
b. Kirkpatrick Macmillan.
c. Pierre Michaux.
d. James Starley.
3. This passage was most likely written in order to
a. persuade readers to use bicycles for transportation.
b. describe the problems that bicycle manufacturers encounter.
c. compare bicycles used for fun with bicycles used for transportation.
d. tell readers a little about the history of the bicycle.

4. Macmillan added iron rims to the tires of his bicycle to

a. add weight to the bicycle.
b. make the tires last longer.
c. make the ride less bumpy.
d. make the ride less tiring.
5. Read the following sentence from the fourth paragraph:
Ten years later, James Starley, an English inventor, made several innovations that
revolutionized bicycle design. As it is used in the sentence, the underlined word
revolutionized most nearly means
a. cancelled.
b. changed drastically.
c. became outdated.
d. exercised control over.
6. Which of the following statements from the passage represents the writer's opinion?
a. The safety bicycle would look familiar to today's cyclists.
b. Two hundred years ago, bicycles didn't even exist.
c. The Michaux brothers called their bicycle a vélocipède.
d. Macmillan's machine had tires with iron rims.
Passage 2
One of the most hazardous conditions a firefighter will ever encounter is a backdraft (also known as a
smoke explosion). A backdraft can occur in the hot smoldering phase of a fire when burning is
incomplete and there is not enough oxygen to sustain the fire. Unburned carbon particles and other
flammable products, combined with the intense heat, may cause instantaneous combustion if more
oxygen reaches the fire.
Firefighters should be aware of the conditions that indicate the possibility for a backdraft to occur.
When there is a lack of oxygen during a fire, the smoke becomes filled with carbon dioxide or carbon
monoxide and turns dense gray or black. other warning signs of a potential backdraft are little or no
visible flame, excessive heat, smoke leaving the building in puffs, muffled sounds, and smoke-stained
windows.
Proper ventilation will make a backdraft less likely. Opening a room or building at the highest point
allows heated gases and smoke to be released gradually. However, suddenly breaking a window or
opening a door is a mistake, because it allows oxygen to rush in, causing an explosion.
7. A backdraft is a dangerous condition for firefighters mainly because
a. there is not enough oxygen for breathing.
b. the heat is extremely intense.
c. the smoke is dangerously thick.
d. an explosion occurs.
8. Which of the following is not mentioned as a potential backdraft warning sign?
a. windows stained with smoke
b. flames shooting up from the building
c. puffs of smoke leaving the building
d. more intense heat than usual
9. To prevent the possibility of a backdraft, a firefighter should
a. carry an oxygen tank.
b. open a door to allow gases to escape.
c. make an opening at the top of the building.
d. break a window to release carbon particles.
10. When compared with a hot, smoldering fire, a fire with visible, high reaching flames
a. has more oxygen available for combustion.
b. has more carbon dioxide available for consumption.
c. produces more dense gray smoke.
d. is more likely to cause a backdraft.

Passage 3
The human body can tolerate only a small range of temperature, especially when the person is
engaged in vigorous activity. Heat reactions usually occur when large amounts of water and/or salt are
lost through excessive sweating following strenuous exercise. When the body becomes overheated
and cannot eliminate this excess heat, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are possible.
Heat exhaustion is generally characterized by clammy skin, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, profuse
perspiration, and sometimes fainting, resulting from an inadequate intake of water and the loss of
fluids. First aid treatment for this condition includes having the victim lie down, raising the feet 8 to
12 inches, applying cool, wet cloths to the skin, and giving the victim sips of salt water (1 teaspoon
per glass, half a glass every 15 minutes) over a 1hour period.
Heat stroke is much more serious; it is an immediate life-threatening situation. The characteristics of
heat stroke are a high body temperature (which may reach 106° F or more); a rapid pulse; hot, dry
skin; and a blocked sweating mechanism. Victims of this condition may be unconscious, and first aid
measures should be directed at quickly cooling the body. The victim should be placed in a tub of cold
water or repeatedly sponged with cool water until his or her temperature is sufficiently lowered. Fans
or air conditioners will also help with the cooling process. Care should be taken, however, not to over
chill the victim once the temperature is below 102° F.
11. The most immediate concern of a person tending to a victim of heat stroke should be to
a. get salt into the victim's body.
b. raise the victim's feet.
c. lower the victim's pulse.
d. lower the victim's temperature.
12. Which of the following is a symptom of heat exhaustion?
a. unconsciousness
b. profuse sweating
c. hot, dry skin
d. a weak pulse
13. Heat stroke is more serious than heat exhaustion because heat stroke victims
a. do not sweat.
b. have no salt in their bodies.
c. cannot take in water.
d. have frequent fainting spells.
14. Symptoms such as nausea and dizziness in a victim of heat exhaustion indicate that the person
most likely needs to
a. be immediately taken to a hospital.
b. be given more salt water.
c. be immersed in a tub of water.
d. sweat more.
Passage 4
Every day, we put our trust in computing technology in the financial networks that drive the global
economy, the aircraft control systems that guide thousands of flights safely to their destination, the
computers that store our documents at work and at home . Yet, most people still don‘t count on
computing the way they rely on electricity or the telephone. Individuals and businesses alike are
concerned about the privacy, security and availability of their data, about upgrading their hardware,
about how new applications might affect their systems. Until these concerns are addressed,
computing‘s potential to enrich our daily lives will not be fully realized.
Right now, we‘re only scratching the surface of what computing technology can do. Already,
networks of smart, connected devices make it possible for us to do business, communicate, learn and
be entertained using everything from full featured Pcs to smart, handheld devices. And in the years
ahead, a combination of inexpensive microchips and smart software will weave computing into
almost every part of our lives. The advance of computing technology has in many ways, tracked the

growth of electric power more than a century ago. Manufacturing companies were among the first to
use electricity, mostly to improve their productivity. But in the home it remained as novel luxury.
Many people were reluctant to use the new electrical appliances, unsure of their safety and reliability.
By the 1930s, however, technological advances, industry safety initiatives and gradual public
acceptance led to a rapid increase in electricity use in many countries the technology was still not
fully trustworthy, but it was safe and reliable enough.
Today, the developed world takes electricity for granted. For computers to be taken for granted they
must always be available wherever and whenever people need them, they must reliably protect
personal information from misuse, give people control over how their data is used and they must be
unfailingly secure. We call this concept Trustworthy Computing.
Making Trustworthy Computing a reality is both an immediate challenge and a long term research
goal. Computing technology is far more advanced and in vastly different ways than it was in the
mid20th century. Yet the way we build computers and the way we largely design software and services
around those computers, hasn‘t really changed.
15. The examples of computing technology that are put to our everyday use do not include
a) Financial network that drive the local economy.
b) The aircraft control systems that guide thousands of flights.
c) The computers that store our documents at work and at home.
d) None of the above
16. What can possibly follow the last line of the passage?
a) The changes that need to be made to make Trustworthy Computing a reality.
b) Apologies for the state of affairs and details of research activities that are on.
c) The legal hurdles that have to be overcome to enable wider connectivity.
d) None of the above
17. The writer draws an analogy between public acceptance of computing technology and
a) Industry initiatives
b) Manufacturing Companies
c) Electric power
d) all of the above
18. The author uses the word ‘weave‘ in the passage to imply
a) a smooth blend of technology with our daily lives
b) a combination of inexpensive microchips and smart software.
c) the marvel of easy software
d) None of the above.
Passage 5
Ironically enough, the very Success‘ of Operation Flood which is to make the cities flush with milk,
has proved its undoing. Farmers in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are now
faced with a surplus of supplies for which there are no takers. Indeed some experts in the industrial
area in the Union agricultural ministry are even going so far as to suggest that the country should
export to neighbouring countries- Bangladesh, for example, which imports dairy and milk products.
Does this means that the needs of consumers at home are met? Far from it, the fact that a dairy
technology mission was created to improve the nutritional status of the rural poor speaks for itself.
The protagonists of the Operation floods argue that the per capita consumption of milk has gone up
from 1-8 gm in 1967 to 158 g m in 1987 and an expected 196 g m in 1995, when the third phase of the
programme comes to an end. But it is clear that consumption has been limited to the cities and that too
to the relatively better off households. Four out of every ten citizens in larger cities, officially
estimated to be living in slums, are unable to afford sufficient milk for all their needs. What the much-
vaunted ‗surplus‘ thus amounts to therefore is a saturation of the market comprising the other half.
Even in Mumbai, the most affluent metropolis, housewives find it difficult to meet their milk bills
because it is priced the highest in the country.

The inadequate off take of milk is thus related to its price. The anomaly should be sufficient to prompt
a thorough revaluation of Operation Flood, which is based on improving technology in the dairy
industry to increase yields though at higher costs. Somewhat like the green revolution in cereals, the
‗White Revolution ‗ has its share of critics who argue that instead of concentrating on increasing the
milk supplying a few pockets (though the co-operatives are inherently preferable to private suppliers),
the authorities ought to spread the benefits of improved dairying throughout the countryside. Like the
Green Revolution that demands capital-intensive inputs and energy, Operation Flood requires
genetically superior cattle, which in turn has to be provided with fodder, now in extremely short
supply all over the country. What is more, schemes such as Operation Flood only sharpen the urban
rural divide, instead of narrowing it, which should surely be the objective of any development
scheme.
19. Which of the following has the same meaning as the word ‗protagonist‘ as used in the passage?
a. opponent b. intellectual c. supporter d. preserver e. practitioner
20. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

a. certain states in India have excess production of milk.
b. Operation Flood does not operate in Karnataka
c. Gujarat cities have less milk than cities in Maharashtra
d. certain states are producing excess raw material for milk production
e. None of these
21. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage, is not an outcome of ‗Operation Flood‘?
a. The urban areas are benefitted by improved milk supply
b. Nutritional standard of rural poor has gone down.
c. It has hiked up the price of milk.
d. Milk output has increased in the country
e. It has improved the per capita milk intake
22. Which of the following is true regarding the price of milk?

a. It is high because of middlemen.
b. It is high because cost of production is high.
c. It is low because of establishment of co-operatives
d. It is high only in metropolitan areas
e. None of these
23. Which is the charge being leveled against Operation Flood by its critics?
a. It is benefitting only in certain areas
b. Milk is being sold at high prices
c. It is not increasing the milk production
d. Milk products have limited export markets and hence it is useless.
24. Which of the following has the same meaning as ‗divide‘ as used in the passage?
a. partition b. cut off c. disagreement d. difference e. separate
25. Which of the following is true according to the passage that people live in slums?
a. get half their requirement only.
b. get sufficient milk
c. buy some milk
d. do not buy milk at all
e. are not affected by milk prices.
26. Which of the following according to the author should be the main objective of schemes like
Operation Flood?

a. To increase the availability of milk products in urban areas

b. To make use of surplus inputs available in plenty in the country
c. To increase the production of milk in rural areas
d. To decrease the poverty in rural areas and bring down differences
e. None of these
27. The word sharpen as used in the passage means

a. prepare b. provide c. force d. widen e. surmount
28. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

a. Milk needs of the urban group being met
b. Six out of ten people in urban areas buy milk
c. Milk needs of only the affluent people in urban areas are being met
d. Milk needs of the entire country are being met
e. None of these
Passage 6
Political independence came to Ceylon in a totally different manner than it did to Burma. In the case
of Ceylon there was no Japanese occupation, no revolutionary fervent and no sudden break with the
past. The colony did not even experience the sort of liberation struggle that the Indian National
Congress organized. There was no civil disobedience or non-cooperation and no imprisonment of
national leaders. As there was no struggle in Ceylon, neither was there a usual concomitant of a
struggle, the hardening of national solidarity through national sacrifice. Ceylon emerged from colonial
rule though a process of peaceful negotiations, but his was not an altogether unmixed blessing.
An essential element in the explanation of the unique way in which Ceylon achieved political
independence is the fact that the process of Westernization had gone further there than in other
colonial territories. To start with, Ceylon had experienced nearly four hundred and fifty years of
colonial rule, first under the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and finally the British. From schools founded
and run by Christian missions, and in the British era more and more modeled on British line, even to
the extent in some cases of emulating English public schools – there emerged a thoroughly Anglicized
upper class with generally conservative political learning. These Ceylonese were so much like their
colonial masters in outlook, manners, and social habits that they were often called, ―brown sahibs‖,
and negotiations between them and the British were almost in the nature of dealings between
gentlemen of the same club.
After the First World War, this elite group formed a Ceylonese National Congress, which it
hoped would grow in strength like its Indian prototype. But it collapsed a few years before the country
achieved independence. During the period of British rule, Ceylonese leaders felt no inclination to
make any radical or egalitarian appeals for public support and nationalism struck no roots among the
masses. It is no wonder, then, that the British felt that such men could safely be entrusted with even
larger installments of political responsibility.
29. The character of liberation struggle of the Ceylonese people for achieving political independence
from the colonial masters resembled that of
a. Burma
b. India
c. Vietnam
d. None of these
30. The Ceylonese struggle for freedom was characterized by

a. civil disobedience
b. revolutionary fervent
c. terroristic activities on the part of the nationalists
d. peaceful negotiations

31. What, according to the author, is the usual concomitant of a liberation struggle?
a. National solidarity strengthened through national sacrifice.
b. It leaves much bitterness behind between the rulers and the ruled.
c. It accentuates divisive forces in the polity that emerges after the grant of independence.
d. People receive practical training in governance.
32. Political independence came to Burma after this country had experienced
a. Japanese occupation during Second World war
b. revolutionary fervent
c. both of these
d. neither of these
33. Before achieving political independence, Ceylon had experienced colonial rule for
a. nearly one hundred and fifty years
b. nearly four hundred and fifty years
c. exactly three hundred years
d. nearly a century
34. Which of the following had kept Ceylon under colonial rule?
a. The Portuguese
b. The Dutch
c. The British
d. All of them
35. The Anglicised upper classes of Ceylon emerged

e. from the successors of the erstwhile native rulers
f. from schools founded and run by Christian missions in Ceylon
g. from the mixed breed of the British and the Ceylonese people
h. from the sons and daughters of the English officials and administrators who settled in Ceylon
as a matter of convenience
36. The Anglicised upper class of Ceylon formed for the purpose of political independence was
a. Ceylonese National Congress
b. a radical party
c. Socialist Democratic Forum
d. Ceylonese Freedom Party
37. Why, according to the author, did nationalism not strike any roots among the masses in Ceylon?
a. Because the Ceylonese people were not politically conscious at all
b. Because English education had so indoctrinated the minds of these Ceylonese people that they
thought it a sacrilege to think in terms of any opposition to their colonial masters
c. Because during the period of British rule, Ceylonese leaders felt no inclination to make any
radical or egalitarian appeals for public support
d. None of these
38. Who were known as ―brown sahibs‖?

a. The Englishmen serving in Ceylon
b. The native peasantry of Ceylon
c. The Anglicised upper class people of Ceylon who received education in schools modeled on
British lines
d. Those who were born of inter-race marriages


No. of questions: 34
Allocated Time: 40 minutes
Directions for questions (1-33): Read each passage and answer the questions that follow each
passage. Every question carries 1 mark and the 0.25 marks shall be deducted for every wrong
answer. Each question has only one correct answer. Calculate your scores at the end of the
exercise.
Passage1
English Ivy betrays its poor reputation as a nuisance by its unparalleled ability to provide shade. By
seamlessly covering the exterior of a building, it works as a natural insulator, blocking the sun and
decreasing air conditioning costs. This means big savings for both building tenants and homeowners
alike. And it can happen quickly, too. Under the proper conditions, established English Ivy can grow
to cover an area of roughly 500 square feet per year. Given that most homes have a roof measuring
roughly 2000 square feet, ivy-friendly homeowners can rest assured that their roofs will be completely
covered in about four years. When considering growth rates of newly planted ivy, just remember the
old adage: First year, it sleeps, Second year, it creeps, Third year, it leaps! For English Ivy, this is
especially true. Now, detractors may take this opportunity to remind readers about how invasive
English Ivy can be. For what ivy enthusiast hasn't been cautioned about its ability to burrow holes,
fracture windows, and even deteriorate brick? But be warned. Oftentimes, this suggestion is taken to
the comical extreme. Naysayers take a strange pleasure in spinning yarns about a particularly
malevolent strand of ivy—one that slips in through the cracks on a hot summer night, silently
strangling homeowners in their sleep. Admittedly, this can be a funny story to tell. But are we to
believe such a tale? The intelligent gardener will quickly dismiss such rubbish for what it is.
Questions
1) The primary purpose of the passage is to
A. highlight the reasons why English Ivy‘s fast growth rate is beneficial
B. argue that English Ivy is an essential plant for homeowners
C. educate readers about how to use English Ivy to insulate their homes
D. belittle detractors of English Ivy
E. Defend the reputation of English Ivy
2) As used in paragraph 1, which is the best definition for betrays?

A. gives away B. contradicts C. reveals D. supports E. highlights
3) In paragraph 1, the author states, ―Given that most homes have a roof measuring roughly 2000
square feet, ivy-friendly homeowners can rest assured that their roofs will be completely covered in
about four years.‖ Which of the following logical mistakes does the author make in drawing this
conclusion?
I. English Ivy will not cover the area of most roofs in 4 years if it only grows 500 square feet
per year.
II. Most homes may not have the proper conditions necessary for English Ivy to grow at the
specified rate.
III. Newly planted ivy does not grow as fast as established ivy.
A. I only B. II only C. I and II only D. II and III only E. I, II, and III
4) As used in paragraph 2, which is the best definition for deteriorate?

A. wear away B. shield C. add to D. climb on E. strengthen
5) Based on information in paragraph 1, which of the following would most likely be considered an
insulator?
A. an umbrella B. an automobile C. suntan lotion D. skin E. a winter jacket

6) As used in paragraph 2, which is the best antonym for malevolent?

A. wary B. sensitive C. virtuous D. injured E. willing
7) This passage would most likely be found

A. in a scholarly journal about botany
B. in a magazine article about gardening
C. in a letter from one gardener to another
D. on a website identifying different types of plants
E. in a pamphlet about the best ways to make a home more energy-efficient
8) The author's tone can best be described as

A. passionate B. indignant C. argumentative D. persuasive E. accusatory all.
Passage2
The word euthanasia is of Greek origin and literally means ―a good death.‖ The American Heritage
Dictionary defines it as ―the act of killing a person painlessly for reasons of mercy.‖ Such killing can
be done through active means, such as administering a lethal injection, or by passive means, such as
withholding medical care or food and water.
In recent years in the United States, there have been numerous cases of active euthanasia in the news.
They usually involve the deliberate killing of ill or incapacitated persons by relatives or friends who
plead that they can no longer bear to see their loved ones suffer. Although such killings are a crime,
the perpetrators are often dealt with leniently by our legal system, and the media usually portrays
them as compassionate heroes who take personal risks to save another from unbearable suffering.
The seeming acceptance of active forms of euthanasia is alarming, but we face a bigger, more
insidious threat from passive forms of euthanasia. Every year, in hospitals and nursing homes around
the country, there are growing numbers of documented deaths caused by caregivers withholding life
sustaining care, including food and water, from vulnerable patients who cannot speak for themselves.
While it is illegal to kill someone directly, for example with a gun or knife, in many cases the law has
put its stamp of approval on causing death by omitting needed care. Further, many states have ―living
will‖ laws designed to protect those who withhold treatment, and there have been numerous court
rulings which have approved of patients being denied care and even starved and dehydrated to death.
Because such deaths occur quietly within the confines of hospitals and nursing homes, they can be
kept hidden from the public. Most euthanasia victims are old or very ill, so their deaths might be
attributed to a cause other than the denial of care that really killed them. Further, it is often relatives
of the patient who request that care be withheld. In one court case, the court held that decisions to
withhold life sustaining care may be made not only by close family members but also by a number of
third parties, and that such decisions need not be reviewed by the judicial system if there is no
disagreement between decision makers and medical staff. The court went so far as to rule that a
nursing home may not refuse to participate in the fatal withdrawal of food and water from an
incompetent patient!
―Extraordinary‖ or ―heroic‖ treatment need not be used when the chance for recovery is poor and
medical intervention would serve only to prolong the dying process. But to deny customary and
reasonable care or to deliberately starve or dehydrate someone because he or she is very old or very ill
should not be permitted. Most of the cases coming before the courts do not involve withholding heroic
measures from imminently dying people, but rather they seek approval for denying basic care, such as
administration of food and water, to people who are not elderly or terminally ill, but who are
permanently incapacitated. These people could be expected to live indefinitely, though in an impaired
state, if they were given food and water and minimal treatment.
No one has the right to judge that another‘s life is not worth living. The basic right to life should not
be abridged because someone decides that someone else‘s quality of life is too low. If we base the
right to life on quality of life standards, there is no logical place to draw the line.
To protect vulnerable patients, we must foster more positive attitudes towards people with serious and
incapacitating illnesses and conditions. Despite the ravages of their diseases, they are still our fellow
human beings and deserve our care and respect. We must also enact positive legislation that will

protect vulnerable people from those who consider their lives meaningless or too costly to maintain
and who would cause their deaths by withholding life-sustaining care such as food and water.
Questions
9) The tone of the author can best be described as

A. pleading B. argumentative C. compassionate D. emphatic E. empathetic
10) In paragraph 3, the author finds starvation and dehydration induced euthanasia is to be ―more
insidious" because
A. euthanasia is legally considered to be a criminal act
B. the public‘s attitude toward euthanasia is becoming more positive
C. it often involves those who cannot protest
D. the patient has asked to die with dignity
E. its perpetrators are viewed as kindly caregivers
11) As used in paragraph 3, what is the best synonym for insidious?

A. mischievous B. treacherous C. seductive D. apparent E. cumulative
12) The author maintains that death by withholding care is

A. largely confined to hospitals
B. largely confined to the terminally ill
C. often requested by family members
D. approved by living wills
E. difficult to prove if prosecuted
13) As used in paragraph 7, which is the best definition of abridged?

A. trimmed B. curtailed C. lengthened D. extended E. compressed
14) Using the passage as a guide, it can be inferred that the author would find euthanasia less
objectionable in cases in which
A. the patient‘s death is imminent
B. the patient has left instructions in a living will not to provide care
C. the patient refuses to accept nourishment
A. I only B. II only C. I and II only D. II and III only E. I, II and III
15) The main idea of paragraph 7 is that

A. lawyers will be unable to prosecute or defend caregivers
B. no comprehensive right or wrong definition of euthanasia will exist
C. using a subjective standard will make the decision to end an individual‘s life arbitrary
D. no boundary will exist between euthanasia and care omission
E. ‗quality of life‘ will no longer be able to be rigidly defined
16) In the final paragraph the author writes, "Despite the ravages of their diseases, they are still our
fellow human beings and deserve our care and respect." The main purpose of this statement is to
A. prove a previous argument
B. illustrate an example
C. gainsay a later statement
D. object to a larger idea
E. justify an earlier statement

Passage 3
Concussions are brain injuries that occur when a person receives a blow to the head, face, or neck.
Although most people who suffer a concussion experience initial bouts of dizziness, nausea, and
drowsiness, these symptoms often disappear after a few days. The long-term effects of concussions,
however, are less understood and far more severe. Recent studies suggest that people who suffer
multiple concussions are at significant risk for developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a
degenerative brain disorder that causes a variety of dangerous mental and emotional problems to arise
weeks, months, or even years after the initial injury. These psychological problems can include
depression, anxiety, memory loss, inability to concentrate, and aggression. In extreme cases, people
suffering from CTE have even committed suicide or homicide. The majority of people who develop
these issues are athletes who participate in popular high-impact sports, especially football. Although
new sports regulations and improvements in helmet technology can help protect players, amateur
leagues, the sports media, and fans all bear some of the responsibility for reducing the incidence of
these devastating injuries.
Improvements in diagnostic technology have provided substantial evidence to link severe—and often
fatal—psychological disorders to the head injuries that players receive while on the field. Recent
autopsies performed on the brains of football players who have committed suicide have shown
advanced cases of CTE in every single victim. In response to the growing understanding of this
danger, the National Football League (NFL) has revised its safety regulations. Players who have
suffered a head injury on the field must undergo a ―concussion sideline assessment‖—a series of
mental and physical fitness tests—before being allowed back in the game. In an effort to diminish the
amount of head and neck injuries on the field, NFL officials began enforcing stricter penalty calls for
helmet-to-helmet contact, leading with the head, and hitting a defenseless player. Furthermore, as of
2010, if a player‘s helmet is accidentally wrenched from his head during play, the ball is immediately
whistled dead. It is hoped that these new regulations, coupled with advances in helmet design, will
reduce the number of concussions, and thus curb further cases of CTE.
Efforts by the NFL and other professional sports leagues are certainly laudable; we should commend
every attempt to protect the mental and physical health of players. However, new regulations at the
professional level cannot protect amateur players, especially young people. Fatal cases of CTE have
been reported in victims as young as 21. Proper tackling form—using the arms and shoulders to aim
for a player‘s midsection—should be taught at an early age. Youth, high school, and college leagues
should also adopt safety rules even more stringent than those of the NFL. Furthermore, young athletes
should be educated about the serious dangers of head injuries at an early age.
Perhaps the most important factor in reducing the number of traumatic brain injuries, however, lies
not with the players, the coaches, or the administrators, but with the media and fans. Sports media
producers have become accustomed to showcasing the most aggressive tackles and the most intense
plays. NFL broadcasts often replay especially violent collisions while the commentators marvel at the
players‘ physical prowess. Some sports highlights television programs even feature weekly
countdowns of the ―hardest hits.‖ When the media exalts such dangerous behavior, professionals are
rewarded for injuring each other on the field and amateurs become more likely to try to imitate their
favorite NFL athletes. Announcers, commentators, television producers, and sportswriters should
engage in a collective effort to cease glorifying brutal plays. In turn, fans should stop expecting their
favorite players to put their lives on the line for the purposes of entertainment. Players must not be
encouraged to trade their careers, their health, their happiness, and even their lives for the sake of a
game.
Questions
17) Based on information in the passage, it can be inferred that all of the following statements are true
except
A. tackling is not always dangerous; however, players who use improper tackling form may
injure others
B. scientists have established a definitive link between players who die untimely deaths and the
onset of CTE
C. NFL officials have done little to address the problem of CTE

D. athletes who are praised for exceptionally brutal hits are likely to continue engaging in such
dangerous behavior
E. the NFL has done more to mitigate future cases of CTE than youth, high school, or college
leagues have done
18) According to the passage, which of the following factors contribute(s) to the incidence of CTE in
amateur players?
I. inconsistent application of safety regulations for all levels
II. lack of education about the dangers of head injuries
III. amateur players‘ desire to emulate professionals
A. l only B. II only C. I and II only D. II and III only E. I, II, and III
19) As used in paragraph 3, which is the best synonym for laudable?

A. praiseworthy B. ineffectual C. memorable D. audacious E. satisfactory
20) The author‘s tone in the final paragraph can best be described as
A. remorseful B. hopeless
C. perplexed D. insistent E. arrogant
21) As used in the final paragraph, which is the best antonym for exalts?
A. mitigates B. venerates C. mollifies D. expedites E. castigates
22) In describing the sports media, the author emphasizes its

A. responsibility B. entertainment value C. senselessness D. danger E. sensationalism
23) In the final paragraph, the author mentions ―sports highlights television programs‖ as an example
of how
I. the media glorifies violence
II. amateurs learn to mimic professional athletes
III. professional athletes gain approval
A. I only B. II only C. I and II only D. II and III only E. I, II, and III
24) In the last sentence of this passage, the author writes, "Players must not be encouraged to trade
their careers, their health, their happiness, and even their lives for the sake of a game." Which of the
following literary devices is used in this quotation?
A. Irony, characterized by the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal
meaning. In irony, the deeper, real layer of significance is revealed by the situation and the
context in which they are placed and not by the words themselves.
B. Climax, characterized by the arrangement of words, phrases, or causes in an order of ascending
power that culminates into the highest or most intense point. This works to deliver the main action
or integral message to the reader in a powerful way.
C. Authorial intrusion, characterized by a point at which the author speaks out directly to the reader.
This establishes a one to one relationship between the writer and the reader where the latter is no
longer a secondary player or an indirect audience to the progress of the story but is the main
subject of the author‘s attention.
D. Hyperbole, characterized by the use of specific words and phrases that exaggerate and
overemphasize the core of the statement in order to produce a grander, more noticeable effect.
This usually works to convey an action or sentiment that is generally not realistically possible or
plausible but helps to emphasize an emotion
E. Anastrophe, in which the order of the noun and the adjective in the sentence is exchanged. In
standard parlance and writing the adjective comes before the noun but when one is employing an
anastrophe the noun is followed by the adjective. This reversed order creates a dramatic impact
and lends weight to the description offered by the adjective.

Passage4
Deep in the Sierra Nevada, the famous General Grant giant sequoia tree is suffering its loss of stature
in silence. What once was the world's No. 2 biggest tree has been supplanted thanks to the most
comprehensive measurements taken of the largest living things on Earth.
The new No. 2 is The President, a 54,000-cubic-foot gargantuan not far from the Grant in Sequoia
National Park. After 3,240 years, the giant sequoia still is growing wider at a consistent rate, which
may be what most surprised the scientists examining how the sequoias and coastal redwoods will be
affected by climate change and whether these trees have a role to play in combating it.
"I consider it to be the greatest tree in all of the mountains of the world," said Stephen Sillett, a
redwood researcher whose team from Humboldt State University is seeking to mathematically assess
the potential of California's iconic trees to absorb planet-warming carbon dioxide.
The researchers are a part of the 10-year Redwoods and Climate Change Initiative funded by the Save
the Redwoods League in San Francisco. The measurements of The President, reported in the current
National Geographic, dispelled the previous notion that the big trees grow more slowly in old age.
It means, the experts say, the amount of carbon dioxide they absorb during photosynthesis continues
to increase over their lifetimes.
In addition to painstaking measurements of every branch and twig, the team took 15 half-centimeter-
wide core samples of The President to determine its growth rate, which they learned was stunted in
the abnormally cold year of 1580 when temperatures in the Sierra hovered near freezing even in the
summer and the trees remained dormant.
But that was an anomaly, Sillett said. The President adds about one cubic meter of wood a year during
its short six-month growing season, making it one of the fastest-growing trees in the world. Its 2
billion leaves are thought to be the most of any tree on the planet, which would also make it one of the
most efficient at transforming carbon dioxide into nourishing sugars during photosynthesis.
"We're not going to save the world with any one strategy, but part of the value of these great trees is
this contribution and we're trying to get a handle on the math behind that," Sillett said.
After the equivalent of 32 working days dangling from ropes in The President, Sillett's team is closer
to having a mathematical equation to determine its carbon conversion potential, as it has done with
some less famous coastal redwoods. The team has analyzed a representative sample that can be used
to model the capacity of the state's signature trees.
More immediately, however, the new measurements could lead to a changing of the guard in the land
of giant sequoias. The park would have to update signs and brochures - and someone is going to have
to correct the Wikipedia entry for "List of largest giant sequoias," which still has The President at No.
3.
Now at 93 feet in circumference and with 45,000 cubic feet of trunk volume and another 9,000 cubic
feet in its branches, the tree named for President Warren G. Harding is about 15 percent larger than
Grant, also known as America's Christmas tree. Sliced into one-foot by one-foot cubes, The President
would cover a football field.
Giant sequoias grow so big and for so long because their wood is resistant to the pests and disease that
dwarf the lifespan of other trees, and their thick bark make them impervious to fast-moving fire.
It's that resiliency that makes sequoias and their taller coastal redwood cousin worthy of intensive
protections - and even candidates for cultivation to pull carbon from an increasingly warming
atmosphere, Sillett said. Unlike white firs, which easily die and decay to send decomposing carbon
back into the air, rot-resistant redwoods stay solid for hundreds of years after they fall.
Though sequoias are native to California, early settlers traveled with seedlings back to the British
Isles and New Zealand, where a 15-foot diameter sequoia that is the world's biggest planted tree took
root in 1850. Part of Sillett's studies involves modeling the potential growth rate of cultivated sequoia
forests to determine over time how much carbon sequestering might increase.
All of that led him to a spot 7,000 feet high in the Sierra and to The President, which he calls "the
ultimate example of a giant sequoia." Compared to the other giants whose silhouettes are bedraggled
by lightning strikes, The President's crown is large with burly branches that are themselves as large as
tree trunks.
The world's biggest tree is still the nearby General Sherman with about 2,000 cubic feet more volume
than the President, but to Sillett it's not a contest.

"They're all superlative in their own way," Sillett said.
25. The word "supplanted" in paragraph 1

A) inquisitive
B) Has a double-meaning both as a pun on the topic of plants and a literal meaning of "to replace"
C) Is a synonym for "to plant again"
D) Has the same meaning as "to plant," with extra emphasis
26. One common myth about trees that The President helps disprove is
A) That giant sequoias are more resilient than other tree species
B) That old trees are as productive at photosynthesis as younger ones
C) That only giant sequoias may be named after historical figures
D) That large trees grow more slowly as they age
27. What is the primary benefit that Sillett and other researchers suggest that giant sequoias may
have?
A) Their natural beauty can have health benefits for those who travel to wildlife preserves to see
them
B) They represent centuries of natural history that no other living things do
C) Because of their size, they are able to process more carbon dioxide than other trees, which can
have significant benefits for the atmosphere
D) Their resilient bark may have eventual uses in human medicine.
28. The giant sequoias are compared to white firs to demonstrate that?
A) Even when the sequoias fall, they do not decay and so send less carbon into the air
B) White firs are more plentiful because they grow and decay more quickly than sequoias
C) The giant sequoias are completely resistant to death
D) White firs are essential because when they decompose they emit necessary nutrients
29. The President has grown every year EXCEPT

A) 1850
B) 2012
C) 1580
D) The President has grown every year of its life
30. All of the following contribute to the lifespan of the giant sequoia EXCEPT
A) They are resistant to diseases that can affect other tree species
B) Their size makes them less vulnerable to animal attacks
C) They are resistant to pests that commonly inhabit trees
D) Their thick bark protects them from wildfires.
31. The term "changing of the guard" in Paragraph 10 means

A) The size rankings of various large sequoias is being reevaluated
B) Human security will be employed to protect these valuable trees
C) Wildlife parks will bring in new equipment to ensure the safety of the trees
D) A new schedule of shifts will be made for studying the trees
32. What does the term "cultivated sequoia forests" in Paragraph 14 imply?
A) Current sequoia reserves will be altered to grow in particular patterns
B) That sequoias may be specially grown in the future for the sole purpose of filtering carbon from
the air
C) New forests may be grown globally to promote the beauty of the species
D) Wildlife parks will make more of an effort in the future to direct visitors to the sequoia forests

33. Giant sequoias are native to California, but can also be found in
A) New Zealand
B) France
C) South America
D) Australia
34. In the final sentence, the word "superlative" is closest in meaning to

A) Best of a species
B) Most beautiful
C) The winner of a contest
D) Having individual, unique merit


No of questions: 50
Allocated Time for every passage: 10 minutes
Direction for questions 1 -50: Read each passage carefully and answer the questions that follow
by selecting the correct answer, Every question has only one correct answer. Each question
carries 1 mark and 0.25 mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer. Calculate your score
at the end of the exercise.
Passage-1
I. Instructions (1 to 10): Read the given passage carefully and attempt the questions that follow.
The work which Gandhiji had taken up was not only regarding the achievement of political freedom
but also the establishment of a new social order based on truth and non-violence, unity and peace,
equality and universal brotherhood and maximum freedom for all. This unfinished part of his
experiment was perhaps even more difficult to achieve than the achievement of political freedom. In
the political struggle, the fight was against a foreign power and all one could do was either join it or
wish it success and give it his/her moral support. In establishing a social order on this pattern, there
was a strong possibility of a conflict arising between diverse groups and classes of our own people.
Experience shows that man values his possessions even more than his life because in the former he
sees the means for perpetuation and survival of his descendants even after his body is reduced to
ashes. A new order cannot be established without radically changing the mind and attitude of men
towards property and, at some stage or the other, the ‗haves‘ have to yield place to the ‗have-nots‘.
We have seen, in our time, attempts to achieve a kind of egalitarian society and the picture of it after it
was achieved. But this was done, by and large, through the use of physical force.
In the ultimate analysis it is difficult, if not impossible, to say that the instinct to possess has been
rooted out or that it will not reappear in an even worse form under a different guise. It may even be
that, like a gas kept confined within containers under great pressure, or water held back by a big dam,
once the barrier breaks, the reaction will one day sweep back with a violence equal in extent and
intensity to what was used to establish and maintain the outward egalitarian form. This enforced
egalitarianism contains, in its bosom, the seed of its own destruction.
The root cause of class conflict is possessiveness or the acquisitive instinct. So long as the ideal that is
to be achieved is one of securing the maximum material satisfaction, possessiveness is neither
suppressed nor eliminated but grows on what it feeds. Nor does it cease to be possessiveness, whether
it is confined to only a few or is shared by many.
If egalitarianism is to endure, it has to be based not on the possession of the maximum material goods
by a few or by all but on voluntary, enlightened renunciation of those goods which cannot be shared
by others or can be enjoyed only at the expense of others. This calls for substitution of material values
by purely spiritual ones. The paradise of material satisfaction, which is sometimes equated with
progress these days, neither spells peace nor progress. Mahatma Gandhi has shown us how the
acquisitive instinct inherent in man can be transmuted by the adoption of the ideal of trusteeship by
those who ‗have‘ for the benefit of all those who ‗have not‘ so that, instead of leading to exploitation
and conflict, it would become a means and incentive for the amelioration and progress of society
respectively.
1. According to the passage, egalitarianism will not survive if

(A) It is based on voluntary renunciation
(B) It is achieved by resorting to physical force
(C) Underprivileged people are not involved in its establishment.
(D) People‘s outlook towards it is not radically changed.
2. According to the passage, why does man value his possessions more than his life?
(A) He has inherent desire to share his possession with others.
(B) He is endowed with the possessive instinct.

(C) Only his possession helps him earn love and respect from his descendants.
(D) Through his possessions he can preserve his name even after his death.
3. According to the passage, which was the unfinished part of Gandhi‘s experiment?
(A) Educating people to avoid class conflict.
(B) Achieving total political freedom for the country
(C) Establishment of an egalitarian society
(D) Radically changing the mind and attitude of men towards truth and nonviolence.
4. Which of the following statements is ‗not true‘ in the context of the passage?
(A) True egalitarianism can be achieved by giving up one‘s possessions under compulsion.
(B) Man values his life more than his possessions.
(C) Possessive instinct is a natural desire of human beings
(D) In the political struggle, the fight was against alien rule.
5. According to the passage, true egalitarianism will last only if

(A) It is thrust upon people.
(B) It is based on truth and non-violence.
(C) People inculcate spiritual values instead of material values.
(D) ‗Haves‘ and ‗have-nots‘ live together peacefully
6. According to the passage, people ultimately overturn a social order ——-

(A) which is based on coercion and oppression.
(B) which does not satisfy their basic needs
(C) which is based upon conciliation and rapprochement.
(D) which is not congenital to the spiritual values of the people
7. According to the passage, the root cause of class conflict is

(A) The paradise of material satisfaction.
(B) Dominant inherent acquisitive instinct in man.
(C) Exploitation of the ‗have-nots‘ by the ‗haves‘.
(D) A Social order where the unprivileged are not a part of the establishment.
8. Which of the following statements is ‗not true‘ in the context of the passage?
(A) A new order can be established by radically changing the outlook of people towards it.
(B) Adoption of the ideal of trusteeship can minimize possessive instinct.
(C) Enforced egalitarianism can be the cause of its own destruction
(D) Ideal of new order is to secure maximum material satisfaction
9. Which of the following conclusions can be deduced from the passage?

(A) A social order based on truth and non-violence alone can help the achievement of political
freedom.
(B) After establishing the social order of Gandhiji‘s pattern, the possibility of a conflict between
different classes of society will hardly exist.
(C) It is difficult to change the mind and attitude of men towards property.
(D) In an egalitarian society, material satisfaction can be enjoyed only at the expense of oothers.
10. According to the passage, what does ―adoption of the ideal of trusteeship‖ mean?
(A) Equating peace and progress with material satisfaction.
(B) Adoption of the ideal by the ‗haves‘ for the benefit of ‗have-nots‘.
(C) Voluntary enlightened remuneration of the possessive instinct by the privileged class.
(D) Substitution of spiritual values by material ones by those who live in the paradise of material
satisfaction.

Passage 2
In 1954, a Bombay economist named A.D. Shroff began a Forum of Free Enterprise, whose ideas on
economic development were somewhat at odds with those then influentially articulated by the
Planning Commission of the Government of India. Shroff complained against the ‗indifference, if not
discouragement‘ with which the state treated entrepreneurs.
At the same time as Shroff, but independently of him, a journalist named Philip Spratt was writing a
series of essays in favour of free enterprise. Spratt was a Cambridge communist who was sent by the
party in 1920s to foment revolution in the subcontinent. Detected in the act, he spent many years in an
Indian jail. The books he read in the prison, and his marriage to an Indian woman afterwards, inspired
a steady move rightwards. By the 1950s, he was editing a proAmerican weekly from Bangalore,
called Myslndia. There he inveighed against the economic policies of the government of India. These,
he said, treated the entrepreneur `as a criminal who has dared to use his brains independently of the
state to create wealth and give employment‘. The state‘s chief planner, P.C. Mahalanobis, had
surrounded himself with Western leftists and Soviet academicians, who reinforced his belief in `rigid
control by the government over all activities‘. The result, said Spratt, would be `the smothering of free
enterprise, a famine of consumer goods, and the tying down of millions of workers to soul-deadening
techniques.‘
The voices of men like Spratt and Shroff were drowned in the chorus of popular support for a model
of heavy industrialization funded and directed by the governments. The 1950s were certainly not
propitious times for free marketers in India. But from time to time their ideas were revived. After the
rupee was devalued in 1966, there were some moves towards freeing the trade regime, and hopes
that the licensing system would also be liberalized. However, after Indira Gandhi split the Congress
Party in 1969, her government took its `left turn‘, nationalizing a fresh range of industries and
returning to economic autarky.
11. Which of the following statements can most reasonably be inferred from the information available
in the passage:
(a) P.C. Mahalanobis believed in empowering private entrepreneurs and promoting free market.
(b) Phillip Spratt preferred plans that would create economic conditions favourable for a forward
march by the private enterprise.
(c) Restrictions on free markets enriched large Indian companies.
(d) Philip Spratt opposed the devaluation of rupee in 1966.
12. Which of the following statements is least likely to be inferred from the passage:
(a) Acceptance of A.D. Shroff‘s plans in the official circles smothered free enterprise in India.
(b) The views of the Forum of Free Enterprise ran against the conception of development then
prevalent among the policy makers.
(c) A.D. Shroff believed that state should actively support the private sector.
(d) Philip Spratt had been educated in Cambridge.
13. Select the statement that best captures the central purpose of this passage:
(a) Highlight that even though there were advocates for free-market and private enterprise in the early
years of independent India, they were crowded out by others who supported a dominant role for state
over private enterprise.
(b) Explain the politics behind Indira Gandhi‘s decision to nationalize the banks.
(c) Demonstrate with the help of statistics how the preference of policy makers for Soviet-style
economic policies prevented India‘s economic growth.
(d) Establish that devaluation of rupee in 1966 was vindicated by subsequent experience.
14. Philip Spratt came to India because he:

(a) Fell in love with an Indian woman
(b) Wanted to protest against the economic policies of the Indian government.
(c) Was offered the editorship of MysIndia.
(d) Had been instructed to work towards the goal of inciting a revolution in India.

15. The author asserts that A.D Shroff‘s ideas were somewhat at odds with the views of Planning
Commission because:
(a) A.D. Shroff was in favour of rigid governmental control over all economic activities.
(b) Shroff had opposed government‘s decision to devalue Indian rupee.
(c) The hostility of the government to private entrepreneurs was complained against by A.D. Shroff.
(d) Shroff had been critical of the influence of Soviet academicians over India‘s economic policy.
16. The ideological shift of Philip Spratt to the right was caused by:
(a) The demise of the Soviet Union.
(b) The start of the weekly called MysIndia.
(c) The books that he encountered in the prison.
(d) The dissolution of his first marriage to his college friend.
17. Select the statement that could be most plausibly inferred from this passage:
(a) Philip Spratt and A.D. Shroff were members of the Forum for Free Enterprise.
(b) The first two Five Year Plans emphasized on the importance of private enterprise as the spearhead
of economic growth.
(c) P.C. Mahalanobis had mooted the expulsion of foreign firms like Coca Cola and IBM from India.
(d) The hopes that the licensing regime would be liberalized after the devaluation of Indian rupee
were belied in the aftermath of the split in the Congress Party.
18. The author alludes to nationalization of industries in 1969 in order to:

(a) Show the contradictions between AD Shroff‘s economic views and the official economic policies
of the Government of India.
(b) Exemplify the shift of the Indira Gandhi led government to the `left‘
(c) Demonstrate the ideological changes in the worldview of Philip Spratt.
(d) Highlight the negative political repercussions of the decision to devalue the Indian currency.
19. ―Neither Philip Spratt nor A.D. Shroff_______able to convince Mahalanobis.‖ Select the most
appropriate phrase out of the four options for filling the blank space in the aforesaid sentence.
(a)Were (b) Are (c) Was (d) Is
20. The word `inveighed‘ in this passage means:

(a) Praised (b) Recited (c) Proclaimed (d) Remonstrated
Passage 3
In Mann Joseph‘s debut novel Serious Men, the protagonist, Ayyan Mani, is a sly, scheming Dalit-
Buddhist who almost gets away with passing off his partially deaf son, Adi, as a prodigy, a genius
who can recite the first 1,000 prime numbers. The garb of satire-where almost every character cuts a
sorry figure- gives the author the licence to offer one of the most bleak and pessimistic portrayals of
urban Dalits. Despite his savage portrayal of Dalit (and female) characters–or perhaps because of it?-
Serious Men has won critical appreciation from a cross-section of readers and critics.
At a time when a formidable body of Dalit literature- writing by Dalits about Dalit lives-has created a
distinct space for itself, how and why is it that a novel such as Serious Men, with its gleefully skewed
portrayal of an angry Dalit man, manages to win such accolades? In American literature-and
particularly in the case of African- American authors and characters-these issues of representation
have been debated for decades. But in India, the sustained refusal to address issues related to caste
in everyday life-and the continued and unquestioned predominance of a Brahminical stranglehold
over cultural production-have led us to a place where non-Dalit portrayal of Dalits in literature,
cinema and art remains the norm.
The journey of modem Dalit literature has been a difficult one. But even though it has not necessarily
enjoyed the support of numbers, we must engage with what Dalits are writing-not simply for reasons
of authenticity, or as a concession to identity politics, but simply because of the aesthetic value of this

body of writing, and for the insights it offers into the human condition. In a society that is still largely
unwilling to recognize Dalits as equal, rights-bearing human beings, in a society that is
inherently indifferent to the everyday violence against Dalits, in a society unwilling to share social
and cultural resources equitably with Dalits unless mandated by law (as seen in the anti-reservation
discourse), Dalit literature has the potential to humanise non- Dalits and sensitize them to a world into
which they have no insight. But before we can understand what Dalit literature is seeking to
accomplish, we need first to come to terms with the stranglehold of non-Dalit representations of
Dalits.
Rohinton Miary‘s (A Fine Balance), published 15 years ago, chronicles the travails of two Dalit
characters-uncle Ishvar and nephew Omprakash-who migrate to Bombay and yet cannot escape
brutality. While the present of the novel is set at the time of the Emergency, Ishvar‘s father Dukhy
belongs to the era of the anti-colonial nationalist movement. During one of Dukhi‘s visits to the town,
he chances upon a meeting of the Indian National Congress, where speakers spread the ―Mahatma‘s
message regarding the freedom struggle, the struggle for justice,‖ and wiping out ―the disease of
untouchability; ravaging us for centuries, denying dignity to our fellow human beings.‖
Neither in the 1940s, where the novel‘s past is set, nor in the Emergency period of the 1970swhen the
minds and bodies Ishvar and Omprakash, are savaged by the state-do we find any mention of a figure
like BR Ambedkar or of Dalit movements. In his `nationalist‘ understanding of modem Indian history,
Mistry seems to have not veered too far from the road charted by predecessors like Mulk Raj Anand
and Premchand. Sixty years after Premchand, Mistry‘s literary imagination seems stuck in
the empathy-realism mode, trapping Dalits in abjection. Mistry happily continues the broad stereotype
of the Dalit as a passive sufferer, without consciousness of caste politics.
21. Which of the following is the closest description of the central argument of this passage :
(a) Manu Joseph‘s novel presents a scathing portrayal of Dalits.
(b) Contemporary American literature is very cautious on politically correct representation of
minorities.
(c) The last two decades have witnessed the rise of a very vibrant Dalit literature.
(d) Portrayal of Dalits by non-Dalits merely as passive victims has been the dominant norm in Indian
literature, cinema and an.
22. According to this passage, Premchand and Mulk Raj Anand:

(a) Presented a stereotyped version of Dalit characters in their writings.
(b) Excelled in writing satires on social inequality.
(c) Were politically opposed to the views of B.R. Ambedkar.
(d) Were closely involved with the leadership of the nationalist movement.
23. The writer refers to the ‗anti-reservation discourse‘ in order to argue that:
(a) Dalit literature has had a very difficult journey since its origins.
(b) Manu Joseph is viscerally opposed to Dalits.
(c) Persons belonging to the upper castes are inherently indifferent to routine violence against Dalits.
(d) Indian society is not yet ready to equitably share, on its own, social, cultural and political space
with Dalits.
24. Which of the following statements is least likely to be inferred from this passage:
(a) The author of Serious Men has used the literary device of satire to present an unflattering picture
of women characters.
(b) Issues of representation of minorities have been debated extensively in American literature.
(c) The writer of this passage believes that engagement with Dalits is necessary only because such
engagement affirms the importance of identity politics.
(d) The writer believes that Rohinton Mistry presented a stereotypical representation of Dalit‘s
character in his book.

25. According to the information available in the passage, the writer attributes the prevalence of
representation of Dalits by non-Dalits in literature, art and media to:
(a) The nationalist understanding of Indian history.
(b) Marginalisation of B.R Ambedkar from nationalist movement.
(c) The anti-reservation discourse
(d) Brahminical control over cultural production.
26. Which of the following is not among the reasons suggested by the writer for engaging with Dalit
writing:
(a) Dalit literature has the potential to sensitize non-Dalits about the experiences of the former.
(b) Dalit writing is more authentic than representation of Dalits by non-Dalits.
(c) Dalit literature does not have the support of numbers.
(d) The aesthetic value of Dalit writing.
27. Which of the following statement cannot be inferred from the passage:
(a) Upper-castes have dominated the instruments of cultural production in Indian society.
(b) Indian society is unwilling to recognize Dalits as equal, rights-bearing human beings.
(c) Dalit writers have carved out a space for writings on Dalit experience and world view.
(d) The judiciary in India, in its opposition to reservation, has betrayed its unwillingness to
acknowledge Dalits as equal bearer of rights.
28. The writer of this passage is critical of Rohinton Mistry‘s A Fine Balance for the reason that:
(a) It is an example of a book on Dalit characters by a Non-Dalit.
(b) The book suggests that Dalits are nothing more than passive sufferers without any agency.
(c) The book ignores the everyday violence that Dalits have to confront with.
(d) It bares the passive literary style of the author, Rohinton Mistry.
29. Which of the following words would be the best substitute for the word ‗sly‘ in this passage:
(a) Bright
(b) wise
(c) devious
(d) dim
30. ―It is not as if Dalit movements ______not active during the periods that form A Fine Balance‘s
backdrop.‖ Select the most appropriate choice to fill in the blank in the above sentence:
(a) is (b) was (c) were (d) are
Passage 4
In recent weeks, the writers William Dalrymple and Patrick French, among others, have come before
a fusillade of criticism in India, much of it questioning not their facts, not their interpretations, but
their foreignness.
―Who gets to write about India?‖ The Wall Street Journal asked on Wednesday in its own report on
this Indian literary feuding. It is a complicated question, not least because to decide who gets to write
about India, you would need to decide who gets to decide who gets to write about India. Rather than
conjecturing some Committee for the Deciding of the Deciding of Who Gets to Write about India, it
might be easier to let writers write what they please and readers read what they wish.
The accusations pouring forth from a section of the Indian commentariat are varied. Some criticism is
of a genuine literary nature, fair game, customary, expected. But lately a good amount of the
reproaching has been about identity.
In the case of Mr. Dalrymple, a Briton who lives in New Delhi, it is – in the critics‘ view – that his
writing is an act of re-colonization. In the case of Mr. French, it is that he belongs to a group of
foreign writers who use business-class lounges and see some merit in capitalism and therefore do not
know the real India, which only the commentariat member in question does.

What is most interesting about these appraisals is that their essential nature makes reading the book
superfluous, as one of my Indian reviewers openly admitted. (His review was not about the book but
about his refusal to read the book.) The book is not necessary in these cases, for the argument is about
who can write about India, not what has been written.
For critics of this persuasion, India surely seems a lonely land. A country with a millennial history of
Hindus, Christians, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists living peaceably together; a country of hundreds of
dialects in which so many Indians are linguistic foreigners to each other , and happily, tolerantly so; a
country that welcomes foreign seekers (of yoga poses, of spiritual wisdom, of ancestral roots) with
open arms; a country where, outside the elite world of South Delhi and South Bombay, I have not
heard an Indian ask whether outsiders have a right to write, think or exist on their soil.
But it is not just this deep-in-the-bones pluralism that challenges the ‗who-gets-to write- about India
contingent‘. It is also that at the very heart of India‘s multifarious changes today is this glimmering
idea: that Indians must be rewarded for what they do, not who they are.
Identities you never chose – caste, gender, birth order – are becoming less important determinants of
fate. Your deeds – how hard you work, what risks you take – are becoming more important.
It is this idea, which I have found pulsating throughout the Indian layers, that leaves a certain portion
of the intelligentsia out of sync with the surrounding country. As Mr. French has observed, there is a
tendency in some of these writers to value social mobility only for themselves. When the new
economy lifts up the huddled masses, then it becomes tawdry capitalism and rapacious imperialism
and soulless globalization.
Fortunately for those without Indian passports, the nativists‘ vision of India is under demographic
siege. The young and the relentless are India‘s future. They could not think more differently from
these literatis.
They savour the freedom they are gaining to seek their own level in the society and to find their voice;
and they tend to be delighted at the thought that some foreigners do the same in India and love their
country as much as they do.
31. Which of the following statements is least likely to be inferred from the passage:
(a) Younger generations of Indians are more tolerant of foreign scribes who write about their country.
(b) The writer believes that a section of Indian intelligentsia is very hostile to upward economic
mobility.
(c) Mr. William Dalrymple has been accused of recolonising India through his writings.
(d) Most of the criticism that has been recently directed at Patrick French has emphasized mainly on
the writer‘s under whelming literary style.
32. Which of the following would be the best substitute for the word, `fusillade‘ in the passage?
(a) Barrage (b) Breach (c) Temper (d) Row
33. The writer uses the phrase, ‗who-gets-to-write-about-India contingent‘ in this passage to refer to:
(a) Foreign writers who have written books on India.
(b) Critics who have attacked foreign writers writing on India for their mere foreignness.
(c) Elite residents of South Delhi and South Bombay.
(d) Cultural pluralists.
34. The writer believes that the most peculiar aspect of the criticisms that Patrick French and William
Dalrymple have received is that:
(a) Most such condemnation has emerged from elite Indians.
(b) Such critics are hostile to upward immobility.
(c) These censures are not centered on the books of such writers or their literary styles but are targeted
at their identity instead.
(d) These critics ignore the plural ethos of India.
35. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage?
(a) Ascriptive identities like caste, tribe, etc. are becoming more and more important with the passage

of time.
(b) Patrick French believes that the new market friendly economic policies followed for the last
decades have resulted in the rise of tawdry capitalism and rapacious imperialism.
(c) The writer is of the opinion that a section of the intelligentsia is divorced from the views of their
compatriots.
(d) While India has historically been very hospitable to a variety of religions, it has not been equally
open to linguistic foreigners.
36. According to the information available in the passage, the writer is of the opinion that:
(a) Writers like Patrick French do not know the real India.
(b) Most of the condemnation heaped on Dalrymple, French and himself has been on expected lines.
(c) India‘s reputation of pluralism is cosmetic at best, one that hides deep rooted hatred towards
foreigners.
(d) The new generation of Indians have internalized the idea that people should be rewarded for what
they do and not who they are.
37. The writer refers to the history of Hindus, Christians, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists living
peaceably together in India for millions of years in order to:
(a) Show India‘s openness to foreigners who have visited Indian in the quest for yoga.
(b) Argue that India is a country of hundreds of dialects.
(c) Demonstrate the religiosity pervading in an average Indian.
(d) India‘s deep-in the bones pluralism.
38. The writer argues that the nature of criticism he, Dalrymple and French have received for their
books renders reading their books superfluous because:
(a) Such criticism has been limited to a very small minority of Indians.
(b) These writers are popular among Indian youth, even among those who have not read their books.
(c) The literary styles of these writers are not the sole focus of such criticism.
(d) Such criticism is less about what has been written in their books than about who can write on
India.
39. According to the passage, the question `who gets to write about India‘ is complicated because:
(a) India has been historically open to and tolerant of foreign writers and artists.
(b) This issue can be satisfactorily resolved only if we can decide who gets to decide who gets to write
about India.
(c) Ascriptive identities are becoming more and more important in a globalized world.
(d) This would result in a shift of attention from what has been written to who has written.
40. ―But with many outsiders‘ India-related books recently hitting bookstores there, the sensitivity –
flared into a bout of vigorous literary nativism, with equally vigorous counterpunches.‖ Select the
most appropriate choice to fill in the blank in the above sentence:
(a) Has (b) Have (c) Was (d) did
Passage 5
If religion and community are associated with global violence in the minds of many people, then so
are global poverty and inequality. There has, in fact, been an increasing tendency in recent years to
justify policies of poverty removal on the ground that this is the surest way to prevent political strife
and turmoil. Basing public policy – international as well as domestic- on such an understanding has
some evident attractions. Given the public anxiety about wars and disorders in the rich countries in the
world, the indirect justification of poverty removal -not for its own sake but for the sake of peace and
quiet in the world – provides an argument that appeal to self-interest for helping the needy. It presents
an argument for allocating more resources on poverty removal because of its presumed political,
rather than moral, relevance.

While the temptation to go in that direction is easy to understand, it is a perilous route to take even for
a worthy cause. Part of the difficulty lies in the possibility that if wrong, economic reductionism
would not only impair our understanding of the world, but would also tend to undermine the declared
rationale of the public commitment to remove poverty. This is a particularly serious concern, since
poverty and massive inequality are terrible enough in themselves, and deserve priority even if there
were no connection whatsoever with violence. Just as virtue is its own reward, poverty is at least its
own penalty. This is not to deny that poverty and inequality can – and do – have far reaching
consequences with conflict and strife, but these connections have to be examined and investigated
with appropriate care and empirical scrutiny, rather than being casually invoked with unreasoned
rapidity in support of a `good cause.‖
Destitution can, of course, produce provocation for defying established laws and rules. But it need not
give people the initiative, courage, and actual ability to do anything very violent. Destitution can be
accompanied not only by economic debility, but also by political helplessness. A starving wretch can
be too frail and too dejected to fight and battle, and even the protest and holler. It is thus not
surprising that often enough intense and widespread suffering and misery have been accompanied
by unusual peace and silence.
Indeed, many famines have occurred without there being much political rebellion or civil strife or
intergroup warfare. For example, the famine years in the 1840s in Ireland were among the most
peaceful, and there was little attempt by the hungry masses to intervene even as ship after ship sailed
down the river Shannon with rich food. Looking elsewhere, my own childhood memories in Calcutta
during the Bengal famine of 1943 include the sight of starving people dying in front of sweetshops
with various layers of luscious food displayed behind the glass windows, without a single glass being
broken, or law or order being disrupted.
41. Select the statement that can be most plausibly inferred from the aforesaid passage:
(a) A society plagued by recurrent famines can never witness political revolution.
(b) Religious discrimination inevitably leads to violence and strife.
(c) Destitution of the masses leads to peace and social stability.
(d) Famines and starvation do not necessarily result in political rebellion.
42. The author believes that it may not be advisable to emphasize on the connection between poverty
and violence as:
(a) Emphasis on such connection appeals only to self-interest of persons.
(b) Linking poverty and violence undermines the moral character of anti-poverty measures.
(c) The absence of any essential connection between poverty and violence may then weaken the very
rationale of anti-poverty policies.
(d) There is no necessary link between poverty and inequality.
43. Which of the following best captures the central argument of this passage:
(a) Religion is inextricably linked with violence
(b) Famines may not necessarily result in civil unrest.
(c) Global poverty and inequality are one of the fundamental causes of global violence and strife.
(d) Basing anti-poverty programmes on the need for avoidance of violence and strife is dotted with
many pitfalls.
44. In the given passage, the word `perilous‘ means:

(a) Scared (b) Costly (c) Futile (d) Dangerous
45. The author refers to his own experience as a child during the Bengal famine of 1943 in order to:
(a) Illustrate how religiosity may instill passive acceptance of even the worst forms of starvation
among people.
(b) Repudiate the argument that religious discrimination usually tends to inspire violent protests.
(c) Substantiate his assertion that it is not unusual to have the most intense suffering and misery co-
exists with complete peace.

(d) Demonstrate that people confronted with acute starvation are rendered too helpless to protest ever
at all.
46. The word ‗destitution‘ in this passage can be best substituted by.
(a) Dejection (b) Indigence (c) Default (d) Dereliction
47. Which of the following statement is least likely to be inferred from the passage:
(a) History is replete with instance of famines that have occurred without there being much violent
protest.
(b) Many writers and critics are increasingly advocating for stronger policies on poverty removal on
the ground that this would help prevent political turmoil.
(c) The author believes that the links between poverty and violence must never be emphasized at
(d) Economic debility in turn inhibits political freedom.
48. The author asserts that basing anti-poverty measures on the avowed connections between poverty
and violence has certain apparent benefits because:
(a) Poverty is similar to religious exploitation in terms of the potential violent consequences.
(b) It leads to allocation of more resources on anti-poverty policies.
(c) The widespread concern about war and violence provides a rationale for poverty removal that
appeals to the `self-interest‘ of persons
(d) otherwise, there would not have been the tendency to justify anti-poverty policies on the ground
that they prevent political turmoil.
49. Economic reductionism‘ in this passage means;

(a) Neglecting the economic connection between poverty & violence
(b) Excessive accent on poverty and inequality
(c) Emphasizing on the linkage between violence, poverty and economic equality.
(d) The view that every conflict is caused by underlying economic tensions.
50. ―A sense of encroachment, degradation and humiliation can be even easier _ mobilize for
rebellion and revolt.‖ Select the most appropriate word out of the four options for filling the blank
space in the aforesaid sentence
(a) for (b) as (c) into (d) to

Verbal Ability Jumbled Paragraphs
Chapter 3
Jumbled Paragraphs
Introduction
Jumbled paragraphs consist of sentences not arranged in a logical sequence. The jumbled sentences
are coded with an alphabet (usually A, B, C and D).4/5 sentences are given in a random order and
student has to logically order all of them. Four choices of arrangement of the sentences are given
from which the student has to choose the most logical sequence which would be the most appropriate
for conveying the idea of the passage. Jumbled paragraphs test the students‘ logical ability and
language interpretation ability.
Standard Process for solving Jumbled Paragraphs
Step 1: Idea Grasping Phase

In this phase, the focus has to be on identifying the main and supplementary ideas which make up the
paragraph.
Step 2: Paragraph Structure Identification Phase
Try to identify the logical structure used in the paragraph. Correct identification of the logical
structure of the paragraph helps in looking for the right option in the next phase. During this phase,
develop a slight understanding about the author‘s tone and style in the paragraph.
Step 3: Specific Understanding Phase
Try to fit into the logical structure identified above, the minor details of the key words used. Identify
the logical sequence of the sentences and also try to fill in the minor gaps in your understanding of the
jumbled sequence.
Step 4: Incorporation Phase
During this phase, the strategy of the paragraph should start from the general idea to the specific and
vice- versa depending on the context. Finally, test whether your chosen logical sequence conveys the
idea or theme accurately. If something does not seem quite right, reassemble the structure and cross
check the options given.
Types of structures used for the writing of paragraphs or for the presentation of ideas
A jumbled paragraph might have one or more of the following standard structures for the presentment
of ideas within the paragraph.
Type 1: Cause and Effect Structure

The cause and effect paragraph consist of two parts- the cause, leading to the effect.
The typical structure of this paragraph is:
A, hence B or A causes B or A is the cause and B is the effect.
Key words to identify the cause and effect structure are: hence, because, cause, and leads to.
In cause-effect paragraphs, you will notice the effect following the cause in most cases.
Solved example 1
1. The governance of the Ashoka dynasty was amongst the most efficient of its time. (Cause)
2. It led to the elimination of crime and created a general feeling of security in the masses.
(Effect)
Type 2: General to Specific Structure

In this type of structure, the author talks about a generic idea and then backs it up with specific
examples of the same. The flow of this type of paragraph is always from general to specific.
A. Roger Federer is the greatest tennis player of all time. (General)

B. He can play forehands with his right hand as well as the left hand. (Specific)
Type 3: Contrast Structure

In this structure, both the points of view are presented with equal force and the author does not give
away his/her opinions towards either of the opposite points of view. These paragraphs are often
signified by words such as: but, on the other hand, as against, however, although and so on.
These words indicate a shift from one point of view to the other .
A. Late March in Ranthambore, the world is all sunshine, crisp air and flowering trees.
B. But in the late 1990s, tigers vanished from this open, rugged scrubland along the
Aravallis.
Type 4:Idea-explanation/Elaboration/Completion Structure

One sentence presents an idea and then it is either explained in detail or expanded or completed in the
subsequent sentences.
Example:
A. I was lucky,
B. the bus driver slammed the brakes a meter or two away from my car.
A. Russia possesses the largest stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction in the world.
B.489 missiles carrying up to 1,788 warheads and 12 submarines carrying up to 609 warheads
form a looming threat.
Type 5: Chronological Structure

In this structure, successive sentences are demarcated on the basis of chronological order or the time
dimension.
Example:
A. Spring-driven clocks appeared during the 15th century, although they are often erroneously
credited to Nuremberg watchmaker Peter Henlen around 1511.
B. The next development in accuracy occurred after 1656 with the invention of the pendulum
clock
Type6: Action Sequence Structure

Action sequences depict a set of actions, logically connected to each other .
Example:
A. I intended to stage a sharp gastric attack, and entering an old-fashioned pharmacy, I asked
for a popular shampoo mixture, consisting of olive and flaked soap.
B. Then, while the pharmacist was wrapping up a six-ounce bottle of the mixture, I groaned and
inquired whether he could give me something for acute gastric cramp.
Type7: Idea Reiteration Structure

Sentence sequences which use this structure of argumentation start off by giving a point of view,
followed by one or more sentences reiterating the fact. Consider the following example:
A. Sachin was one of the best batsmen of him time.

B. In fact, he was so good that his team hardly ever lost a match.

Tips for Solving Jumbled paragraphs
1. Location of the starting sentence

One of the keys to solving a question correctly is the location of the starting sentence. Very often a
jumbled paragraph question gets solved by identifying the starting sentence.
2. Finding the topic sentence

Identifying the topic sentence of the paragraph very often can be a clue to the first sentence of the
paragraph. But, it cannot be an absolute rule.
3. The smartest approach

a. The best approach to solving PJ questions is the 'free fall' one. That is, develop a high reading speed
and scan all 4-5 sentences. Try to get a feel of what the passage is about.
b. At this point, you need to decide whether this particular paragraph is one which you are
comfortable with or not.
c. If you decide to go ahead, then scan the answer options. Are they of any help?
If, for example, the options are:
a) BDAC b) BCAD c) CABD d) CBDA
Then, you know for sure that this paragraph has to start either with B or C. A quick look at B and C
will tell you which one looks like a better opening sentence and already your choices will be halved.
Similarly, with options like:
a) BDCA b) CDBA c) DCAB d) ACDB
Then, we know that it has to end with either B or A. So browse sentences A and B and see if any one
of them looks like a concluding sentence.
There might be other indicators to keep an eye out for. For example, if three of the five options start
with A and the other two with C/B/D there is a good probability that A is the starting sentence.
If, say, a link CB occurs in more than 2 options, then it is something worth paying attention to.
Personal Pronouns
Make it 'personal'. Look out for personal pronouns (he, she, it, him, her, you, and they).
Personal pronouns always refer to a person, place or thing. Therefore, if a sentence has a personal
pronoun without mentioning the person, place or object it is referring to, mark it in your head and
scan the paragraph for the original person, place or object that it refers to.
For example if you go back to the opening jumbled paragraph of this article, the third sentence starts
with 'it'. We now need to figure out what 'it' refers to and the sentence containing the original 'it' will
come before this sentence.
Use of definite article

It is highly unlikely that the definite article 'the' will be part of an opening sentence. If 'a/an' and 'the'
both are used for the same noun then the sentence containing 'the' will come after the sentence
containing a/an.
Lastly, Regular reading and practice helps in enhancing the speed and accuracy.

Chapter 3 Jumbled Paragraphs Practice Exercise 5
Jumbled Paragraphs Practice Exercise 5

Read directions carefully for every exercise and question type
No. of questions: 35
Allocated time: 35 minutes
Directions: Read the instructions carefully, given for ever exercise and question type.
In each of the following questions( 1-10), the first and the last part of the sentences are
numbered S1 to S6 respectively. The rest of the sentence is split into four parts and named P, Q,
R and S. These four parts are not given in their proper order. Read the sentence and find out
which of the four combinations is correct and encircle it.
1. S1: A study
P: success increases
Q: concludes that
R: and chances for
S: commitment to future tasks
S6: future success.
a. RQPS b. SRQP c. QPSR d. PSRQ
2. S1: Putting it another way

P: what we see as our
Q: our goals throughout our lives
R: we are constantly resetting
S: in response to
S6: wins and losses.
a. RQSP b. QPRS c. PRSQ d. RSQP
3. S1: Studies of Nobel laureates show that

P: or encounter professional
Q: and have strained relationship with friends and colleagues.
R: they often publish less frequently
S: after winning the prize
S6: envy and rivalry.
a. SRQP b. RQPS c. QPSR d. PSRQ
4. S1: There is
P: no such thing
Q: from one nation
R: as the gift
S: of independence
S6: to another.
a. SPQR b. PRSQ c. QPRS d. RSPQ
5. S1: People who

P: are terrible
Q: no way of taking
R: there is
S: have no weaknesses
S6: advantage of them.
a. PSQR b. RSPQ c. SPRQ d. QSRP
6. S1: There are

P: any other kind of
Q: more ants

R: land animal
S: than
S6: in the world.
a. PSQR b. RSPQ c. SPRQ d. QSPR
7. S1: For some time

P: it was commonly assumed
Q: after the treaty of Versailles
R: that Germany had caused World War I by her aggressive acts
S: by scholars and laymen alike
S6: and by encouraging Italy in her aggression.
a. PRQS b. SPQR c. QPRS d. QPSR
8. Put the given sentences in proper order.

A. His mother was dead.
B. They had not sent him the sad information.
C. Probably they knew his deep love for her.
D. When Gandhi returned to India his son Hiralal was four.
a. DCAB b. DABC c. DBAC d. DCAB
9. Put the given sentences in proper order.

A. It results from a carefully revised plan.
B. Men work together for a cause or purpose.
C. Team work does not just happen.
D. It must be clearly known to them.
a. BCAD b. CBDA c. BCDA d. CABD
10. Put the given sentences each of the following questions in proper order.
A. I will give you a copy of it.
B. The book was published in New York.
C. It is a very interesting book.
D. It deals with mankind's political future.
a. DCBA b. CBDA c. BDCA d. DBCA
Questions (11-35) the sentences given in each question, when properly sequenced form a
coherent paragraph. Each sentence is labelled with a letter. Choose the most logical order of
sentences from the given choices to construct a coherent paragraph.
11. A. Then two astronomers-the German, Johannes Kepler, and the Italian, Galileo Galilei-started
publicly to support the Copernican theory, despite the fact that the orbits it predicted did not
quite match the ones observed.
B. His idea was that the sun was stationary at the centre and that the earth and the planets move
in circular orbits around the sun
C. A simple model was proposed in 1514 by a Polish priest, Nicholas Copernicus
D. Nearly a century passed before this idea was taken seriously.
a. CDBA b. CBDA c. BCAD d. CADB
12. A. He was carrying his jacket and walked with his head thrown back.
B. As Anette neared the lamp she saw a figure walking slowly.
C. For a while Michael walked on and she followed twenty paces behind.
D. With a mixture of terror and triumph of recognition she slackened her pace.
a. ABCD b. BADC c. BCDA d. ACBD
13. A. However, the real challenge today is in unlearning, which is much harder.

B. But the new world of business behaves differently from the world in which we grew up.
C. Learning is important for both people and organisations.
D. Each of us has a mental model that we have used over the years to make sense.
a. CADB b. BDAC c. CDAB d. ACBD
14. A. There was nothing quite like a heavy downpour of rain to make life worthwhile.
B. We reached the field, soaked to the skin, and surrounded it.
C. The wet, as far as he was concerned, was ideal.
D. There, sure enough, stood Claudius, looking like a debauched Roman emperor under a
shower.
a. DCBA b. ABDC c. BADC d. BACD
15. A. Alex had never been happy with his Indian origins.
B. He set about rectifying this grave injustice by making his house in his own image of a
country manor.
C Fate had been unfair to him; if he had had his wish, he would have been a Count or an Earl
on some English estate, or a medieval monarch in a chateau in France.
D. This illusion of misplaced grandeur, his wife felt, would be Alex‘s undoing.
a. ACDB b. ABDC c. ACBD d. CABD
16. A. The influence is reflected the most in beaded evening wear.

B. Increasingly, the influence of India‘s colours and cuts can be seen on western styles.
C. And even as Nehru jackets and jodhpurs remain staples of the fashion world, designers
such as Armani and McFadden have turned to the sleek silhouette of the churidar this year.
D. Indian hot pink, paprika and saffron continue to be popular colours year in year out.
a. BADC b. ABCD c. BCAD d. DABC
17. A. Such a national policy will surely divide and never unite the people.
B. In fact, it suits the purpose of the politicians; they can drag the people into submission by
appealing to them in the name of religion.
C. In order to inculcate the unquestioning belief they condemn the other states which do not
follow their religion.
D. The emergence of the theocratic states where all types of crimes are committed in the
name of religion, has revived the religion of the Middle Ages.
a. ABCD b. DBCA c. DBAC d. CDAB
18. A. His left hand concealed a blackjack, his right hand groped for the torch in his pocket.
B. The meeting was scheduled for nine o‘ clock, and his watch showed the time to be quarter
to nine.
C. The man lurked in the corner, away from the glare of the light.
D. His heart thumped in his chest, sweat beads formed themselves on his forehead, his mouth
was dry.
a. CADB b. BDAC c. BADC d. ABCD
19. A. The Director walked into the room and took a look around the class.
B. Mitch wanted to scream—the illogicality of the entire scene struck him as dumb.
C. The managers stared at him with the look of fear that no democratic country should
tolerate in its people.
D. Mitch walked out of the room—it was his irrevocable protest against an insensible and
insensitive situation.
a. ACBD b. BDAC c. BCAD d. ABCD
20. A. An essay which appeals chiefly to the intellect is Francis Bacon‘s ―Of Studies‖.
B. His careful tripartite division of studies expressed succinctly in aphoristic prose demands

the complete attention of the mind of the reader.

C. He considers studies as they should be; for pleasure, for self-improvement, for business.
D. He considers the evils of excess study: laziness, affectation, and precocity.
a. DCBA b. ABCD c. CDBA d. ACBD
21. A. By reasoning we mean the mental process of drawing an inference from two or more
statements or going from the inference to the statements which yield that inference
B. So logical reasoning covers those types of questions which imply drawing an inference
from the problems.
C. Logic means, if we take its original meaning, the science of valid reasoning.
D. Clearly, for understanding arguments and for drawing the inference correctly it is
necessary that we should understand the statements first.
a. ACBD b. CABD c. ABCD d. DBCA
22. A. The establishment of the Third Reich influenced events in American history by starting a
chain of events which culminated in war between Germany and the United States.
B. The Neutrality Acts of 1935 and 1936 prohibited trade with any belligerents or loans to
them.
C. While speaking out against Hitler‘s atrocities, the American people generally favoured
isolationist policies and neutrality.
D. The complete destruction of democracy, the persecution of Jews, the war on religion, the
cruelty and barbarism of the allies, caused great indignation in this country and brought on
fear of another World War.
a. ABCD b. CBDA c. CDBA d. ADCB
23. A. It begins with an ordinary fever and a moderate cough.

B. India could be under attack from a class of germs that cause what are called atypical
pneumonias.
C. Slowly, a sore throat progresses to bronchitis and then pneumonia and respiratory
complications.
D. It appears like the ordinary flu, but baffled doctors find that the usual drugs don‘t work.
a. ABCD b. BDCA c. ADCB d. BCDA
24. A. After several routine elections there comes a ‗critical‘ election which redefines the basic
pattern of political loyalties, redraws political geography and opens up the frozen political
space.
B. In psephological jargon they call it realignment.
C. Rather, since 1989, there have been a series of semi-critical elections.
D. On a strict definition, none of the recent Indian elections qualifies as a critical election.
a. ABCD b. ABDC c. DBAC d. DCBA
25.
A. Participation involves more than the formal sharing of decisions.
B. Through anticipation, individuals or organisations consider trends and make plans, shielding
institutions from trauma of learning by shock.
C. Innovative learning involves both anticipation and participation.
D. It is an attitude characterized by cooperation, dialogue and empathy.
a. BCAD b. ABDC c. DACB d. CBAD e. ACBD
26.
A. Finally the bureaucratic organisation took over from the pioneering enterprise.
B. The 19th century was the age of entrepreneur, the self-made man.
C. Thoughtful business administration took over from action-centred business entrepreneurship.
D. In the 20th century the rational executive took command.

a. DBAC b. CABD c. BDCA d. BCDA e. DBAC
27.
A. However, different rulers and governments dealt with the different groups in a
compartmentalized manner.
B. Various situational and political changes have taken place over the past three and half
centuries.
C. This tendency resulted in deeply embedded fragmented South African society which became
even more prominent in the period 1948 until the new commencement of the new
Constitution on May 10 1994.
D. South Africa is a racially divided society since the first European settlers arrived in 1652.
a. BDAC b. DBAC C. CABD d. ACDB e.BACD
28.
A. Now under liberated economy they are learning to compete domestically and globally.
B. In India corporations until recently achieved success by avoiding competition, using protected
and regulated domestic markets.
C. The trend is irreversible.
D. Business leaders are preparing themselves to meet competitive challenges and to avoid being
swept away.
a. ABDC b. BDCA c. BDAC d. CDBA e. BADC
29.
A. Much of the argument that goes on around the alternative solution occurs because people hold
different perceptions of the problem.
B. One of the reasons that Japanese Managers are perceived as making superior decisions
compared to Western Managers is that they spend a great deal of effort and time determining
that the problem is correctly defined.
C. Unfortunately, too often in the West, Managers assume that the initial definition of the
situation is correct.
D. Up to half the time in meetings is spent in asking. "Is this the real problem?"
a. BDCA b. BCDA c. CBDA d. ACDB e. ABCD
30.
A. He was so busy with them that he did not get time to eat.
B. Thousands of people came to him and asked different types of questions.
C. No one cared to see that he had this food or rest that night.
D. Swami Vivekananda once stayed in a small village.
a. BCDA b. CBAD c. DBAC d. DBCA e. ABCD
31.
A. Such a system will help identify and groom executives for positions of strategists.
B. Evaluation of performance is more often than not done for the purpose of reward or
punishment for the past performance.
C. They must become an integral part of the executive evaluation system.
D. Even where the evaluation system is for one's promotion to assume higher responsibilities, it
rarely includes items that are a key for playing the role of strategists effectively.
a. DBAC b. DCBA c. ABCD d. BDCA e. CDBA
32.
A. The facts speak for themselves so they need exposition only, not demonstration.
B. At the present moment, it is widely recognized that India holds the balance in worldwide
competition between rival ideologies.
C. It is not of course, only in geographical sense that India is in a key position.

D. India's key position simply needs pointing out.

a. DACB b. CDAB c. BCDA d. BDAC e. DABC
33.
A. Although there are large regional variations, it is not infrequent to find a large number of
people sitting here and there and doing nothing.
B. Once in office, they receive friends and relatives who feel free to call any time without prior
appointment.
C. While working, one is struck by the slow and clumsy actions and reactions, indifferent
attitudes, procedure rather than outcome orientation, and the lack of consideration for others.
D. Even those who are employed often come late to the office and leave early unless they are
forced to be punctual.
E. Work is not intrinsically valued in India.
F. Quite often people visit ailing friends and relatives or go out of their way to help them in their
personal matters even during office hours.
a. ECADBF b. EADCFB c. EADBFC d. ABFCBE
34.
A. Learn a kind of tenderness towards the vanity of others.
B. And indeed towards all their prejudices.
C. Who make a cult of sincerity.
D. Men accustomed to difficult negotiations.
E. Which is infinitely shocking to those.
a. DCEAB b. CDEBA c. DABEC d. CDBEA e. DCEBA
35.
A. A taxi was summoned and Venu was taken to Lifeline hospital.
B. While hurrying home from school.
C. Since they did not succeed, they decided to take him to a hospital.
D. When Venu opened his eyes, he found himself surrounded by doctors and nurses.
E. Some people rushed towards him and tried to ring him to his senses.
F. He was thrown a couple of feet away and lost consciousness.
a. BFECAD b. BFEADC c. BFCEDA d. BFCADE

No. of questions : 35
Allotted time : 35 minutes
Directions : In each of the following questions, there are six sentences marked S1, S6, P, Q, R, S.
The positions of S1 and S6 are fixed( S1-first, S6 – last). You are required to choose one of the
four alternatives which would be the most logical sequence of the sentence in the passage.
1)
S1. Work with retarded children, in particular, involves superhuman patience and long-delayed
rewards.
P : Another woman faithfully spent two hours a day, five days a week, with a bed-ridden retarded
girl.
Q : It was three years before the girl made her first cut in a piece of paper.
R : The girl had never before responded to, or recognized anyone.
S : One woman decided to teach a young rain – damaged girl how to use scissors.
S6. After five years, the girl finally began to smile, when her foster grandparents entered the room.
(a) PSQR (b) QSPR (c) RQSP (d) SQPR
2)
S1. He tried the door.
P : The room was neat and clean.
Q : Then he stepped into the room.
R : He waited for a minute or two.
S : It opened easily and he peeped in.
S6. He was careful not to touch anything.
(a) PQRS (b) QSPR (c) RPQS (d) SPRQ
3)
S1. Frozen foods are so popular today that many people wonder how they ever lived without them.
S6. Now refrigerators and deep freezers preserve many foods that could not be kept any other
way.
P : Near the North Pole, where the ground stays frozen all the year around, there is no problem of
preserving foods.
Q : Actually, people who live in cool climates have had frozen foods for a long time.
R : Ice helped them when they could get it, but they couldn‘t get it very often.
S : ut people who live in warm climates have not always been able to keep food fresh.
(a) PQRS (b) QPRS (c) QPSR (d) SRQP
4)
S1. Jawaharlal Nehru was born on November 14.
P : He loved children.
Q : On this day, children take part in many activities.
R : Sports, music, drama and debates are arranged in schools.
S : That is why his birthday is celebrated as Children‘s Day.
S6: Exhibitions of photographs of Pandit Nehru showing his life time are also arranged in some
schools.
(a) PQRS (b) PSQR (c) QPSR (d) SPQR
5)
S1. For a conversation to be stimulating and sustained, the participants must be active talkers as
well as active listeners.
S6. It‘s better to paint the big picture first, and if your partner wants to know more, you can always
fill in with details.
P : This is usually unnecessary, confusing and even boring to your partner.
Q : Some people feel that they have to give long – winded explanations of their views.

R : Make a point of throwing the conversational all to the other person after you have presented
your ideas in an abridged form.
S : Be sure to do both in conversation.
(a) QPSR (b) SRQP (c) PSRQ (d) RSPQ
6)
S1.But how does a new word get into the dictionary?
S6. He sorts them according to their grammatical function, and carefully writes a definition.
P : When a new dictionary is being edited, a lexicographer collects all the alphabetically arranged
citation slips for a particular word.
Q : The dictionary makers notice it and make a note of it on a citation slip.
R : The moment a new word is coined, it usually enters the spoken language.
S : The word then passes from the realm of hearing to the realm of writing.
(a) PQRS (b) PRSQ (c) RQPS (d) RSPQ
7)
S1. Gandhi‘s first political fast was made soon after his return from Africa.
S6. He did not fast against the mill owners, but in order to strengthen the determination of the
strikers.
P : He had also received help from this man‘s sister.
Q : This was when the poor labourers of the cotton mills of Ahmedabad were on strike.
R : He was a friend of the largest mill-owner.
S : Gandhi had made the strikers promise to remain on strike until the owners agreed to accept the
decision of an arbitrator.
(a) PQSR (b) QSRP (c) RPQS (d) SRPQ
8)
S1. Kabir knew that Ramananda got up very early in the morning and went down on the steps of
the ‗ghat‘ to bathe in the waters of the sacred Ganges.
P : As Ramananda came down the steps before daybreak for his usual bath, he trod on the
sleeping man.
Q : Kabir at once jumped up and threw himself at the feet of the preacher.
R : ―Ram, Ram‖, he exclaimed in astonishment.
S : One dark night, Kabir went to the ‗ghat‘ and lay down on one of the river steps.
S6. He said, ―You have given me the mantra, ‗Ram Ram,‘ I have become your disciple.‖
(a) PQSR (b) PRQS (c) RQPS (d) SPRQ
9)
S1. We must also understand that the fruits of labour are sweeter than the gifts of fortune.
S6. The best life, therefore, is lived both in thought and deed.
P : Moreover, too much of thinking is also a disease.
Q : Indeed, thought and action can be separately analyzed but can never be separated from each
other .
R : Hence, thought to be complete demands action and action without thought also has no value.
S : It keeps us depressed and gloomy.
(a) PSRQ (b) QRSP (c) RQPS (d) SPQR
10)
S1. Smoke oozed up between the planks.
P : Passengers were told to be ready to quit the ship.
Q : The rising gale fanned the smouldering fire.
R : Every one now knew there was a fire on board.
S : Flames broke out here and there.
S6. Most people bore the shock bravely.
(a) QPSR (b) QSRP (c) RSPQ (d) SRQP
11)
S1. The houses in the Indus Valley were built of baked ricks.
P : This staircase sometimes continued upwards on to the roof.

Q : Access to the upstairs rooms was by a narrow stone staircase at the back of the house.
R : The drains were incorporated in the walls.
S : The houses had bathrooms and water closets, rubbish chutes and excellent drainage systems.
S6. They led outside into covered sewers which ran down the side of the streets.
(a) PSQR (b) QPSR (c) QRPS (d) SPQR
12)
S1. Most of the perishable foods are shipped by refrigerator ships.
S6. Ripe bananas are poor travelers and even one ripe banana at the start of the trip can spoil a
whole ship load of fruit.
P : They are placed in the refrigerated hold of the ship.
Q : Some foods, such as bananas, are shipped before they get ripe.
R : As the green bananas are loaded, a man watches closely the signs of yellow on them.
S : The cool temperatures keep the bananas from getting ripe during the trip.
(a) PQRS (b) PSQR (c) QPSR (d) SRPQ
13)
S1. A transformation of consciousness is now beginning to express itself in the field of theoretical
architecture.
P : In the still theoretical structure an attempt is being made to create a house that is ― a
domestication of an ecosystem‖.
Q : What is happening in the architecture is a shift from the international style of the post-
industrial era to a symbolic structure.
R : Since architecture is the collective unconscious made visible, the architect does not himself
always understand the full cultural implications of his own work.
S : The new form is not a celebration of power over new materials, but a celebration of
cooperation with ecosystem.
S6. The relationship between culture and nature is changed, for the architect grows a house like a
garden.
(a) PRSQ (b) QPSR (c) RQSP (d) SQRP
14)
S1. While on a fishing trip last summer, I watched an elderly man fishing off the edge of a dock.
P : ―Why didn‘t you keep the other big ones?‖ I asked.
Q : He caught an enormous trout, but apparently not satisfied with its size, he threw it back into
the war.
R : He finally caught a small pike, threw into his pail, and, smiling happily, prepared to live.
S : Amazed, I watched him repeat this performance.
S6.Cheerfully, the old man replied, ―Small frying pan‖.
(a) PSQR (b) QSRP (c) RPQS (d) SQRP
15)
S1. There was once a Persian king called Shahryar who had a beautiful wife.
P : When the King discovered this he killed her.
Q : He gave orders that he was to be provided with a new wife every day.
R: He loved her very much, but she was a wicked woman.
S : He decided that all women were wicked and that he would punish them.
S6. After one day‘s marriage he would cut off her head and marry again.
(a) PQRS (b) QSPR (c) RPSQ (d) SPRQ
16)
S1. We must never allow ourselves to lapse into the evil habit of borrowing money from others.
S6. We must not confuse money lending with generosity.
P : We must work hard and earn money, enough for our wants.

Q : Even if we are fortunate enough to possess surplus wealth, we should take care not to lend out
money indiscriminately.
R : If borrowing is ad, lending is worse.
S : borrowing of a habitual nature prevents us from being industrious.
(a) PSQR (b) QSRP (c) RSQP (d) SPRQ
17)
S1. There was a time Egypt faced economic crisis.
P : Cotton is the chief export commodity of Egypt.
Q : Foreign trade depends on cultivation of cotton on large scale.
R : It became necessary for Egypt to boost cotton crops.
S : Only by means of increasing foreign trade Egypt could survive.
S6. Egypt was able to sustain itself by its cotton produce.
(a) PQRS (b) QRPS (c) RPSQ (d) SRQP
18)
S1. While crossing a busy road we should obey the policeman on duty.
P : We should always cross the road at the zebra crossing.
Q : We must look to the signal lights and cross the road only when the road is clear.
R : If there are no signal lights at the crossing, we should look to the right, then to the left and
again to the right before crossing the road.
S : If the road is not clear we should wait.
S6. We should never run while crossing a road.
(a) PQRS (b) PSRQ (c) QRPS (d) RQSP
19)
S1. The commonest form of forgetfulness, I suppose, occurs in the matter of posting letters.
S6. Weary of holding it in my hand, I then put it for safety into one of my pockets and forget all
about it.
P : So common is it that I am always reluctant to trust a departing visitor to post an important
letter.
Q : As for myself, anyone who asks me to post a letter is a poor judge of character.
R : Even if I carry the letter in my hand I am always past the first pillar ox before I remember that
I ought to have posted it.
S : So little I rely on his memory that I put him on his oath before handing the letter to him.
(a) PRQS (b) PSQR (c) QSPR (d) RQSP
20)
S1. We must learn to depend on ourselves and not to look to others for help every time we are in
trouble.
S6. A country‘s freedom can be preserved only byher own strength and self-reliance.
P : We should not forget that those who lean too much on others tend to become weak and
helpless.
Q : Certainly we want to make friends with the rest of the world.
R : We welcome help and cooperation from every quarter, but we must depend primarily on our
own resources.
S : We also seek the goodwill and cooperation of all those who reside in this country, whatever
their race or nationality.
(a) PQRS (b) QPRS (c) QSRP (d) SRQP

Directions (questions 21 to 35): Choose the most logical order of sentences from the given
choices to construct a coherent paragraph
21)
A) 1971 war changed the political geography of the subcontinent.

B) Despite the significance of the event, there has been no serious book about the conflict.
C) Surrender at Decca aims to fill this gap.
D) It also profoundly altered the geo-strtegic situation in South-East Asia.
a) ACBD b) CADB c) BADC d) ADBC
22)
A. Nonetheless, Tocqueville was only one of the first of a long line of thinkers to worry
whether such rough equality could survive in the face of a growing factory system that
threatened to create divisions between industrial workers and new business elite.
B. "The government of democracy rings the nation of political rights to the level of the
humblest citizens. He wrote," Just as the dissemination of wealth rings the notion of
property within the reach of all the members of the community".
C. Tocqueville was far too shrewd an observer to be uncritical about the US, but his verdict
was fundamentally positive.
D. No visitor to the US left a more enduring record of his travels and observations than the
French writer and political theorist Alexis de Tocqueville, whose ‗Democracy in
America’, first published in 1835, remains one of the most trenchant and insightful
analyses of American social and political practices.
a) DACB b) BACD c) DCBA d) DBAC
23)
A. The potential exchanges between the officials of IBBF and the Maharashtra body-
building Association has all the trappings of a drama we are accustomed to
B. In the case of sports persons, there is room for some sympathy, but the apathy of the
administrators, which has even led to sanctions from international bodies, is
unpardonable.
C. A case in the point is the hefty penalty of US $10,000 slapped on the Indian body-
building Federation for not fulfilling its commitment for holding the Asian
Championships in Mumbai in October.
D. It is a matter of deep regret and concern that the sports administrators often cause more
harm to the image of the country than sportsmen and sportswomen do through their
dismal performances.
a) CABD b) DBCA c) DABC d) CDBA
24)
A. His political career came to an abrupt end with China's military operation.
B. He attracted as well as repelled.
C. He was responsible for the debacle.
D. A man of paradoxes, Menon remained an enigma.
a) DCAB b) ACDB c) DBAC d) DABC
25)
A. Thus begins the search for relief: painkillers, ice, yoga, hers, even surgery
B. Most computer users develop disorders because they ignore warnings like tingling
fingers, numb hand or a sore shoulder
C. They keep pointing and dragging until tendons chafe and scar tissue forms, along with ad
habits that are almost impossible to change

D. But cures are elusive, because repetitive stress injuries present a bag of ills that often defy
easy diagnosis.
a) BDAC b) BADC c) BCAD d) ABCD
26)
A. What came out was very large garland made out of currency notes.
B. The unsuspecting governor opened the ox in full view of the gathering.
C. When the RI governor came to inaugurate the new printing press, the local unit of
the JP handed him a gift wrapped ox
D. There was a twist – the notes were all as tattered as notes could get
a) DABC b) CABD c) CBAD d) DCAB
27)
A. Otherwise the Congress would not have opposed PSU disinvestment today.
B. It is clear that there is no consensus on economic reform.
C. Nor would allies of ruling NDA opposes privatisation.
D. All this would stop India from becoming the next superpower.
a) ABCD b) ABDC c) BACD d) BCAD
28) A. arrived here on Sunday by an early morning flight.

B. Dubai-based Win Gautam who is the
C. accused in the Rs 50 crore before guns kickback case.
D. He is scheduled to appear in the trial court by Wednesday.
a) BACD b) BCAD c) ADBC d) ACDB
29)
A. The main difference is that efficiency is a ration and effectiveness is not.
B. But they reach efficiency in a different way than American businesses.
C. The Japanese are very efficient and such concepts as ―just in time‖ are a witness to
their efficiency.
D. They reach efficiency through the route of effectiveness.
a) CBDA b) ADCB c) CADB d) CDAB
30)
A. I suggested that Ford should buy up a company called NCP, which owned most of
the car parks in the city centres throughout the UK.
B. We were discussing competing in the European market.
C. If NCP became a Ford company, a notice could be placed at the entrance to all city
centres car parks indicating that only Ford cars could use them
D. At one time I was giving a seminar for the British marketing department of Ford, the
biggest Ford operation outside of Detroit.
a) BACD b) DBAC c) BDCA d) BCAD
31)
A. By the time he got to Linjeflug four years later, he had learned many lessons; in fact,
he began his second stint as top dog by calling the entire company together in a
hanger and asking for help, a far cry from his barking out commands just 48 months
back.
B. At SAS, he arrived at a time crisis.
C. This book is chock-a-lock full of intrusive stories and practical advice, describing
Carton‘s activities at Vingresor (where he assumed his first presidency at age 32,
Linjeflug, and SAS in particular.
D. He began at Vingresor as an order giver, not a listener – neither to his people nor to
his customers and made every mistake in the book.
a) BADC b) BACD c) CBAD d) CDAB

32)
A. Over the years, I have had the opportunities to observe and understand the thought
processes behind the ads that have been flooding both the print and the TV media.
B. Although there is a huge shift in the quality of ads that we come across on a daily
basis-- thanks essentially to improvement in technology--I somehow can't help but
feel that the quality of communication of the message has become diluted.
C. Proportionally, the numbers of ads that lack in quality have gone up exponentially as
well!!
D. There is an increasing attempt by most companies to be seen as cool and funky.
E. Another reason could be the burgeoning number of companies, which means an
exponential increase in the number of ads that are being made.
a) DCABE b) ABDEC c) DCEAB d) BADCE
33)
A. Let us take a look at the manner in which the traditional bank adds value to the
customer.
B. The ability to retain deposits, in itself, is not enough to ensure long-term survival
and growth.
C. The ability to deploy invested funds into productive economic activity at a higher
rate of return, hence contributing to the prosperity of both the economy and the
institution, is the other loop in the banking cycle.
D. Further, as only a small portion of the actual deposit base is retained with the bank
in a liquid form, the very survival of the bank lies in building enough trust with its
clientele so as to prevent the occurrence of a sizeable chunk of simultaneous
customer withdrawal (a run on the bank).
E. The bank's basic job is risk absorption- it takes money, which has a lot of attached
risk, and provides the customer an assured rate of return.
a) CADBE b) EABCD c) AEDBC d) BDAEC
34)
A. They argue that it is this, which has led to the bankruptcy in many states.
B. Here was a commission whose members worked very hard, did exemplary research
and homework, before coming up with a list of recommendations that balanced
economic efficiency with safety nets for disadvantaged labour.
C. It reminds us of the political shenanigans during the implementation of the Fifth pay
Commission.
D. How many times have you heard experts, politicians and the finance minister refer
to the implementation of the pay hikes following the commission's report as the
singular cause for the increase in government expenditure?
E. Barring P. Chidambaram, who was then the finance minister, every single political
party and politician opposed the implementation of the recommendations and are
directly responsible for the current fiscal crises in the Centre and the states.
a) 42513 b) CDABE c) BEADC d) DEBAC
35)
A. The general impressions that skilled negotiators seem to convey is they are people
who keep their cards close to their chest and do not reveal their feelings.
B. Hence, they used a surrogate method- they countered the number of times that the
negotiators talked about their feelings or motives.
C. This contrasts sharply with the amount of information given about external events
such as facts, clarifications and general expressions of opinion.
D. The results showed that contrary to the general impressions, skilled negotiators are
more likely to give information about internal events than are average negotiators.
E. Feelings are in themselves not observable and Huthwaite's researchers could not
measure them directly.
a) AEBDC b) AEDCB c) ABEDC d) ABECD

No of questions: 35
Allotted Time: 35 minutes
Directions: Choose the most logical order of sentences from the given choices to construct a
coherent paragraph
1.
1) To get a head start, early the next morning the farmer started covering ground quickly
because he wanted to get as much land as he could.
2) Late in the afternoon he realized the condition he had to fulfil to get the land was to get
back to the starting point by sundown.
3) Even though he was tired, he kept going all afternoon because he did not want to miss this
once in a lifetime opportunity to gain more wealth.
4) There is a story about a wealthy who was once offered all the land he could walk on in a
day, provided he come back by sundown to the point where he started.
A) 4312 B) 3124 C) 4132 D) 4123
2.
1) Sony has been valued at around Rs 800 crore.
2) IBM is a leading consultancy firm.
3) This valuation has been done by IBM.
4) They have relied on the excess value approach.
A) 4123 B) 2143 C) 1234 D) 1324
3.
1) Even as Indians leftists think Bill Clinton is coming to take over India, Indian companies
are preparing to take over American ones on a gargantuan scale.
2) Now Infosys and Wipro propose of Rs 54,000 crore each.
3) To put this in perspective, recall that when Chandan sold his Parle brands to Coca-Cola
amidst much swadeshi wringing of hands, he got a reported Rs 200 crore.
4) Infosys and Wipro, our two most glamorous InfoTech companies, both want automatic
permission from FIP to take over foreign companies worth - hold your breath - $ 15 million
each.
A) 2341 B) 1423 C) 1342 D) 2413
4.
1) Mr D Gautam's personality sets him apart from the rest.
2) Nothing is too small for his attention.
3) He has a fanatical devotion to detail.
4) This is what makes him a different guy.
A) 1324 B) 1234 C) 2341 D) 2134
5.
1) In his first inaugural address he concluded with an eloquent plea; "Ask not what your
country can do for you--- ask what you can do for your country."
2) John F. Kennedy, Democratic victor in the election of 1960, was at 43, the youngest man
ever to win the presidency.
3) On television, in a series of debates with opponent Richard Nixon, he appeared able,
articulate and energetic.
4) In the campaign, he spoke of moving aggressively into the new decade, for 'the New
Frontier is here whether we seek it or not'.
A) 4123 B) 2341 C) 3124 D) 2134

6.
1) But in the industrial era destroying the enemy‘s productive capacity means bombing the factories
which are located in the cities.
2) So in the agrarian era, if you need to destroy the enemy‘s productive capacity, what you want
to do is um his fields, or if you‘re really vicious, salt them.
3) Now in the information era, destroying the enemy‘s productive capacity means destroying the
information infrastructure.
4) How do you do battle with your enemy?
5) The idea is to destroy the enemy‘s productive capacity, and depending upon the economic
foundation, that productive capacity is different in each case.
6) With regard to defence, the purpose of the military is to defend the nation and be prepared to
do battle with its enemy.
A) 645213 B) 631254 C) 452136 D) 43521
7.
1) Electronic transactions are happening in closed group networks and Internet. Electronic commerce
is one of the most important aspects of Internet to emerge.
2) Cash transactions offer both privacy and anonymity as it does not contain information that can be
used to identify the parties nor the transaction history.
3) To support e-commerce, we need effective payment systems and secure communication channels
and data integrity.
4) The whole structure of traditional money is built on faith and so will electronic money have to be.
5) Moreover, money is worth what it is because we have come to accept it.
A) 25413 B) 12534 C) 45123 D) 43521
8.
1) Food manufactures spend more on advertising than any other manufacturing group and the nation's
grocery stores rank first among all retailers.
2) Food product lead in expenditures for network and spot television advertisements, discount
coupons, trading stamps, contests, and other forms of premium advertising.
3) Foods are overwhelming the most advertised group of all consumer products in the U.S.
4) In other media- newspapers, magazines, newspaper supplements, billboard and radio, food
advertising expenditures rank near the top.
A) 3421 B) 3241 C) 3142 D) 4132
9.
1) If you are used to having your stimulation come in from outside, your mind never develops its own
habits of thinking and reflecting
2) Marx thought that religion was the opiate, because it soothed people‘s pain and suffering and
prevented them from rising in rebellion
3) If Karl Marx was alive today, he would say that television is the opiate of the people.
4) Television and similar entertainments are even more of an opiate because of their addictive
tendencies.
A) 2134 B) 1423 C) 2431 D) 3241
10.
1) A difference in the frequency of usage of counter proposing between skilled and average
negotiators suggests that counter proposing may not e, as effective one tends to think it would be.
2) I may have suggested that my son buy a pair of trousers at a certain price whereas my son would
have made a counterproposal that he would rather buy two pairs at half price each.
3) Research conducted across several negotiators ranging from sales negotiators to purchase and
labour negotiators shows that average negotiators tend to counter propose more often than skilled
negotiators.

4) This happens in everyday life too.

5) Think back to the last time you were discussing completing an assignment with one of your
colleagues : you may have suggested that you both come in on Saturday to finish the work and
your colleague may have counter proposed that you could stay back on Friday evening and finish
it instead.
A) 31452 B) 52134 C) 12534 D) 34521
11.
1) Thrills, ranging from video games to burgers cover the rest.
2) This is because the returns from browsing cover only a percentage of your costs.
3) The bigger your cafe, the more is the need for additional mean of income.
4) Some cafes can get away with being plain vanilla.
5) These fruits will make your clients spend more time with you and also add to your profits.
6) But others cannot.
A) 346215 B) 321564 C) 423156 D) 463215
12.
S1) Exchange control does not altogether prohibit Indian banks keeping open positions during the
course of a day.
1) Indeed, unless they are willing to take open positions, they will cease to be market-makers.
2) For market-makers offering two-way quotes in the international markets, open positions are far
more common.
3) Thus, depending on the policy of a bank, dealers may be allowed to take intra-day positions in
order to make profit.
4) For instance, a dealer expecting the dollar to weaken during the day might deliberately create,
through customer transactions and transaction in the inter-bank market, an oversold position in the
hope of squaring it later during a day at a profit, should his expectation about the dollar
weakening materialise.
S6) Large overbought or oversold positions are often deliberately built up in the hope of profiting
from price movements.
A) 4312 B) 3241 C) 1342D) 3421
13.
S1) The one major cause for the current weakened state of Indian banks is the level and volume of
non-performing assets.
1) Yet, the fact remains that the banks allowed themselves to be pressurized into lowering their guard
in the one area of business that is and should be their read and utter of existence- risk assessment.
2) Description such as 'deceased portfolio' and figures running into thousands of crores have all led to
treating the problem as a major one-time aberration requiring emergency treatment.
3) The causal explanations - political interference, wilful defaults, targeted lending and even
fraudulent behaviours by banks - have some grain of truth in them.
4) The problem has not been looked at in its proper perspective.
S6) The response from the banks is to concentrate on somehow reducing the amount and number of
accounts in this category.
A) 4312 B) 4231 C) 2431 D) 1432
14.
1) The inherent expectations of a high short-term return on advertising investment that is common to
most traders who are attempting to scale up operations is not conductive to a long-term
consistency in advertising direction.
2) The lack of significant players with national reach is only one of the factors that explain the
relatively low attention given to mass marketing by the retail sector in India.
3) Mass marketing by Indian retail chains has hitherto been the exception rather than the rule.

4) The focused brand image which leads to pithy, punchy advertising has been difficult because most
retailers have not been focused in terms of their own vision for their retail brand. Most advertising
has tended to focus on the presence of locations or the range.
5) Advertising then tends to focus significantly on announcement of in store promotions and events,
where the payoffs in terms of immediate increases in customer entry and average cash memo size
are more visible.
A) 15342 B) 32415 C) 45123 D) 23451
15.
S1) Since Independence the policy of the government of India towards private foreign investment and
collaboration has moved from cautious encouragement through a brief spell of near 'open door' in
the fifties, a long phase of rigorous selectivity from 1968 to 1991 onto current post-1991 policy of
open encouragement of direct investment specially in priority areas even with 51 percent
participation in equity.
1) Independent India started with a legacy of well-established foreign capital and all the fear and
prejudice associated with it.
2) Based on the exposure of a series of misdeeds perpetrated on some third countries by some of the
multinational like International Telephone and Telegraph corp. (ITT), United Fruit, Union
Miniere and Lockheed, criticism welled up against the MNCs in the Indian parliament and
outside.
3) During the seventies and eighties, official view has been inevitably influenced by the controversy
the world over on the role of multinational corporations in relation to third world countries.
4) While the overwhelming thrust has all along been towards the goal of a self-sufficient economy
and of freeing national economic and industrial policy from the dictates and manipulates of
foreign capital, the compulsions of an economy of scarcity and chronic foreign exchange
deficiency also had an effect in shaping official policy towards foreign investment and foreign
collaboration.
S6) On the other hand, there was also a realisation that all foreign enterprises operating in India
should not be tarred with the same rush and that there were some amongst them who were
performing a useful role in the economy by their import-substitution or export-oriented operation,
or by making valuable contribution to the technological skill and capability of our country.
A) 2431 B) 1432 C) 1423 D) 2134
16.
S1) because services are performances, they cannot be inventoried.
1) This is a significant fact of life in a services business demand peaks cannot be accommodated
simply by taking goods off the shelf.
2) Conversely, if an airliner takes off with 40 empty seats, the revenue that those 40 seats could have
produced, had they been filled, is lost forever.
3) One of the crucial challenges in many service industries is to find ways to better synchronise
supply and demand as an alternative to recurring conditions of severe over demand and under
demand.
4) If an airline has 40 more flight-reservation request than capacity permits, some business will likely
be lost.
S6) This is easier said than done: demand peaks can occur during certain times of the day (airlines,
restaurant), during certain days of week (movies, hair styling), and during certain months of the
year (income tax services, each resorts).
A) 1423 B) 1342 C) 3412 D) 1243
17.
1) Merchants soon grew rich as the demand for products increased.
2) Trade started from person to person but grew to involve different towns in different lands.
3) Eventually, people got a greater variety of things to choose from
4) People found work in transporting the goods or selling them.

A) 2413 B) 2143 C) 4123 D) 4213
18.
1) In my view, a priority sector should be an area of market failure.
2) Priority sectors include agriculture, small scale industries, housing, exports, etc.
3) Economics say that a market has failed when the market does not provide efficient outcomes for
society.
4) The government of India directs substantial bank credit to what it deems is 'priority sectors' for the
Indian economy.
5) It is not clear how sectors get identified for the priority tag, as there is no clearly articulated logic.
6) Markets fail for a variety of reasons.
A) 425136 B) 361452 C) 136452 D) 254136
19.
1) Of course, sitting out in the country I possessed less information than anyone else at headquarters
about was going on, but they called me anyway.
2) but as soon I arrived at my country house, the telephone began ringing.
3) And it kept right on ringing with questions from people back at the office about the most mundane
matters.
4) In the summer of 1992, the first year I became president of XYZ, I decided to take a two-week
vacation.
A) 4213 B) 4312 C) 4123 D) 4231
20.
1) More organisations today seek a transformation in their businesses, yet most of them think of and
talk about managing change.
2) Change is characterised by 'reactivity'. Most of us live in the domain of change both as individuals
and as organisations.
3) The characteristics of transformation are positive and actually creative. They stem from a new
found sense of purposefulness, once a higher purpose is discovered.
4) The implications of this conflict will not be fully appreciated until we learn to distinguish between
change and transformation.
5) Clearly, we all aspire to live in the domain of transformation even if we presently are in the domain
of change.
A) 13245 B) 13425 C) 14235 D) 15243
21.
S1). Employees need to follow a meaningful set of guidelines designed to minimize risks while
encouraging creativity.
1) They must establish a meaningful corporate culture that encourages a sense of entrepreneurship.
2) Seniors managers have a large role to play in this balancing act.
3) They have to find ways of encouraging mass experiments while limiting possible threats to the
company's existence.
4) They need to make sure the workers they hire have the skills necessary to drive the company
forward.
S6) If all goes well, natural leaders will 'emerge' to move the organization forward.
A) 2431 B) 3421 C) 2314 D) 2134
22.
1) Its cargo consisted of 38 sacks of spices and Magellan himself had been hacked to pieces on the
each of Mactan in the Philippines.
2) So contrary to popular belief it was the crew of the Victoria who were the first men to have sailed
around the globe

3) In September 1522 Victoria , the sole survivor of the Armada, limped into the Spanish port San
Lucar , manned by a skeleton crew of 15, so weak they could not talk
4) In September 1519 the Armada de Molucca of five ships and 250 sailors has set out from San
Lucar de arrameda under the command of Fernando de Magellan
5) It was to sail to the spice islands of the Malayan Archipelago where they were to exchange an
assortment of ells, mirrors and scissors for cinnamon and cloves.
A) 45312 B) 15432 C) 34512 D) 45123
23.
1) A good budget is one which makes a sincere attempt to change the policy environment.
2) Government finances are terminally impaired with uncontrolled fiscal deficits.
3) There are big gaps in perception and capability of managers.
4) Industry too is not ready to deliver growth, should even the government pursue the right policies.
5) The current reforms pace is too slow.
6) The fiscal deficit has deteriorated.
A) 214356 B) 512346 C) 654321 D) 143256
24
1) Despite posting healthy profits, Volkswagen shares trade at a discount to peers due to bad
reputation among investors.
2) A disastrous capital hike, an expensive foray into truck business and uncertainty about the reason
for a share buyback has in recent years left investors bewildered.
3) The main problem with Volkswagen is the past.
4) Many investors have been disappointed and frightened away.
5) Volkswagen shares trade at about nine times the 2002 estimated earnings, compared to MW's 19
and are the second cheapest in the sector.
A) 52134 B) 13425 C) 32451 D) 13524
25.
1) Ignorance is the opposite of knowledge, i.e., want of knowledge.
2) To deal with uncertainty and ignorance economists have recognized the entrepreneur as
possessing this non- rational form of knowledge.
3) Like some ancient priest-king, the entrepreneur ‗knows‘ the future and leads his people.
4) Entrepreneurial knowledge is essentially intuitive.
5) It involves seeing and realizing a vision of future markets, products and/or other opportunities.
A) 32145 B) 43125 C) 12453 D) 23541
26.
1) The impetus for change in cargo handling, after years of operational inefficiency has come from
new private sector facilitators.
2) Other ports, both major and minor, have spurred into action.
3) And the government agrees this is having a cascading effect on the functioning of other ports.
4) In terms of cargo handling efficiency, some of India's ports have lately undergone a sea change.
A) 1324 B) 4132 C) 4213 D) 4312
27.
1) The credit rating agencies use legions of high trained analyst with access to top management.
2) Their meticulous reports giving ratings for corporate bonds are designed to give an accurate picture
of the bonds riskiness and ultimately the probability of default.
3) Lately, the credit-rating agencies have struggled to keep up.
4) It seems a bond rating tells you even less about the price that investors are willing to pay.
5) In 1999 two-third of the debt rated triple by standard and poor was priced within 20 basis points of
the average bond with the same rating.
A) 45123 B) 34215 C) 12345 D) 23415

28.
S1). Just as with adults, pessimistic ways of interpreting defeats seem to feed the sense of helplessness
and hopelessness at the heart of children's depression.
1) That people who are already depressed think in these ways has long been known.
2) What has only recently emerged, though, is that children's beliefs about their own ability to control
what happens in their lives.
3) One line of evidence comes from studies of children's belief about their own ability to control what
happens in their lives- for example, being able to change things for the better.
4) This insight suggests a window of opportunity for inoculating them against depression before it
strikes.
S6) This assessed by children's rating of themselves in such term as : 'when I have problems at home
I'm better than most kids at helping to solve problems' and 'When I work hard, I get good grades'.
A) 1342 B) 3421 C) 1243 D) 2431
29.
1) Wonder is marvelous, but it is also cruel, cruel, cruel.
2) We have paid a terrible price for our education, such as it is.
3) Of course, wonder is costly because it is the antithesis of the anxiously worshipped security.
4) The Magian World View, in so far as it exists, has taken flight into science.
5) We have educated ourselves into a world from which wonder has been banished.
A) 24531 B) 54132 C) 13245 D) 31254
30
S1) Most investors feel they lose out when the market rallies.
1) There are times when one is not sure of the direction in which a sector will move.
2) Every time such a thing happens you wish to include in your portfolio some of the stocks scaling
the new highs every day.
3) While the index and several scripts may be running with each passing day, the investor may find
that the specific shares in his portfolio are hardly moving.
4) All this can lead to rash decisions.
S6). Picking a winner even within a booming sector is tough.
A) 3124 B) 2134 C) 3241 D) 1342
31.
1) Behaviour is just the evidence for mind, not its very nature.
2) The view that a mind can be reduced to patterns in behaviour is a hypothesis long abandoned.
3) Thus you can act as if you are in pain and not really be in pain.
4) The turning test, one may say, is seriously flawed.
A) 1324 B) 2134 C) 4213 D) 4123
32.
1) Risk-stemming from fluctuations in exchange rate loans hover constantly on the horizon of foreign
investment.
2). In view of the higher risk, a firm contemplating foreign investment would naturally expect a
higher rate of return.
3) A multinational company may be accused of 'profiteering' even when it may simply be following
the sound financial practice of asking for a higher rate of return commensurate with risks
characterizing the project.
4) In addition, a foreign investment is subject to discriminatory treatment and selection control in
various forms.
A) 1423 B) 3421 C) 1324 D) 2134

33
S1) Some business executives have adapted a 'wait and see' attitude.
1) Like a driver changing a tyre in the middle of the highway they hope an oncoming vehicle will not
hit them before their work is done.
2) Discussions with several executives in both situations show that they recognize the danger is not
applying them to understanding the shape of future.
3) Others are too busy ailing themselves out of troubles already caused by the changes that have taken
place around them to have any time to reflect on the future.
4) Like deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck, they risk being turn over.
S6) Traditional ways of forecasting and strategic planning are not effective any longer.
A) 4213 B) 4231 C) 4123 D) 1432

English Verbal Ability - Reading Comprehension

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What are some techniques discussed for improving reading speed?

What are some techniques discussed for improving reading speed?

What are some common mistakes made in reading comprehension questions according to the passage?

What are some common mistakes made in reading comprehension questions according to the passage?

Verbal Ability .

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 1

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 2

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 3

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 4

Dear Entrance Test Aspirant,

Wish you all the best.

Mohit Mangal (Director)

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 5

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 6

How to take the test?

1. Your guess of what your reading speed is _______WPM

7. Average of Passages 1 – 5 _______WPM

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 7

How to improve Reading Speed?

Breaking Poor Reading Habits

Inefficient Eye Motion

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 8

Keys to Successful Speed Reading

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 9

Speed Reading Practice Exercise 1

John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address

January 20, 1961

This much we pledge -- and more.

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 10

----- end of passage 1 -----

WORD COUNT: 929

SPEED FOR PASSAGE 1 = [60 X 929] / (time taken in seconds)

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 11

The Keeper of the Keys

BOOM. They knocked again. Dudley jerked awake.

----- end of passage 2 -----

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 12

WORD COUNT: 606

SPEED FOR PASSAGE 2 = [60 X 606] / (time taken in seconds)

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 13

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 14

We cannot walk alone.

We cannot turn back.

----- end of passage 3 -----

WORD COUNT: 917

SPEED FOR PASSAGE 3 = [60 X 917] / (time taken in seconds)

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 15

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 16

----- end of passage 4 -----

WORD COUNT: 749

SPEED FOR PASSAGE 4 = [60 X 749] / (time taken in seconds)

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 17

Summary of the Mahabharata

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 18

----- end of passage 5 -----

WORD COUNT: 1243

SPEED FOR PASSAGE 5 = [60 X 1243] / (time taken in seconds)

Verbal Ability – Text Book Page 19

Strategies for answering reading questions

1. Identifying the Main Idea of a Passage