SBI ASSOCIATE BANK P.O. EXAM 2010

(Exam Held On : 07-03-2010)
Descriptive type: English language

1.    Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it in your own words as far as practicable.
    The short story as a brief and complete narrative, restricted to a single effect and dealing for this reason with one profile. Some particular and revealing aspect of the central character’s personality in a single episode, is perhaps a fifteenth or sixteenth century phenomenon in Europe . it developed, evidently from stories woven into regular novels. Such as un Cervantes Don Quixote and in Alexander Dumas. Three musketeers. In the England of Dr. Johnson’s era, the short story technique was applied to tales for teaching moral lessons. Only in the nineteenth century did it begin to acquire the form that is familiar to us today. Perhaps the greatest practitioner of the short story in Europe, and the man who gave it its modern status as an independent and special literacy form was guy de Maupassant. From France the form travelled to England and Russia and was immediately adopted in America. Edger Allen Poe used the short story form for tales of mood and horror as well as for detective stories. O. Henry turned the short story to humour and wit.
    It was inevitable that, under the influence of English writing, when the British ruled South Asia, the short form should make its way here. As in other places, in South Asia too, story –telling is an ancient art older than “Katha Sarit Sagar” and the “Panchatantra” (volumes of stories and fables). But the short story, in story-telling, did not develop significantly as a independent form until story-telling was yanked into the modern age with the work of Prem Chand, who wrote in Urdu and Hindi. His language might be described most partly as Hindustani, the trunk from which the Persianized refinement branched out into Urdu and the Sanskritised refinement into Hindi. The direction towards a modern sensibility came from him primarily, and the thread was picked up by Ismat Chugtai, who came into popular acclaim with her two volumes of short stories, “Kaliaan” and “Choten”. Her stories dramatized in character and action the social ways, wiles and wisdom of men and women of the 1930s and the 1940s: though she continued to write in the following years, and though her work retained its verve and pointedness. She has been considered essentially as some kind of bridge between the restrained story –writing of Prem Chand on the one hand and the (sometimes shocking) candid and explicit stories of Saadat Hassan Manto and the two most prominent fiction writers spawned by the progressive writers movement, Krishan Chander and Rajinder Singh Bedi.
    These three writers, Manto, Krishan Chander and Bedi, lifted the Urdu short story to its most sophisticated level. They have been recently made available to the English-reading public in translation by Mr. jai rattan, two volumes of the selected shirt stories of Krishan Chander and Rajinder Singh Bedi published by the Sahitya academy. New Delhi, and a collection of the short stories of Saadat Hassan Manto. The Best of Mant, published by Sterling Publishers, New Delhi.
    Of these three writers, Manto, who died in 1955 at the young age of forty-two-veered dictionary to the language used by Prem Chand, a Hundustani written in alif-bey, but carrying thought and implications that was a great deal more subtle and pointed.  However, what manto is known most of all are for his defiance of social convention about what may and may not be publicly stated and his pen-chant for depicting scenes and action explicitly. A certain section of the public –the middle class orthodox who preferred a gloss of mortality, and stood resolutely by ossified rites and attitudes –opposed him with all the influence at its command and he was hauled up a number of times on charges of obscenity. It there is anything for which one might call him to account, it is that he ends occasionally to be self-consciously unreserved and unrestrained in his picking of themes and in the language in which he expressed himself. Statement detracts from subtlety. For all this, Manto’s stories, reminiscent in some ways of Maupassant, do not make lust, greed and exploitation attractive, though he writes with sympathy of the twilight world of prostitutes and underdogs; his knowledge and understanding of their lives, aspirations and endeavours is obviously authentic. Stories such as ‘Khol De’ (translated by Mr. Jai Rattan as ‘Loosen Up’). Toba Tek Singh and Babu Gopinath are today almost classic, and will continue to stay relevant to the South Asians predicament for a long time.
Questions:
a)    Why is the language of Prem Chand rightly called Hindustani?
b)    Why did many people oppose Manto?
c)    What are the characteristics of Ismat Chugtal’s short stories?
a)    Mention two salient features of Manto’s writings?
b)    “These three writers, Manto, Krishnan Chander and Bedi, lirted the Urdu short story to its most sophisticated level”.—what does this line indicate?

2.    Make a precis of the following passage in not more than one third of its original length and suggest a suitable title.
    There is a famous speech recorded of an old Norseman, thoroughly characteristic of the Teuton. “I believe neither in in idols nor in demons,” said he, “I put my sole trust in my own strength of body and soul.” The ancient crest of a pickaxe with the motto of “Either I will find a way or make one,” was an expression of the same sturdy, independence which to this day distinguishes the descendants of the Norsemen. Indeed nothing could be more characteristic of the scandinavian mythology, than that it had a god with a hammer. A man’s character is seen in small matters, and from even so slight test as the mode in which a man wields a hammer, his energy may in some measure be inferred. Thus an eminent Frenchman hits off in a single phrase the characteristic quality of the inhabitants of a particular district in which a friend o this proposed to settle and buy land. “Beware,” said he, “of making a purchase there; I know the men of that department; the pupils who come from it to our veterinary school at Paris do not strike hard upon the anvil; they want energy; and you will not get a satisfactory return on any capital you may invest there.” A fine and just appreciation of character, and strikingly illustrative of the fact that it is the energy of the individual men that gives strength to a state, and confers a value even upon the very soil which they cultivate.
    The cultivation of this quality is of the greatest importance; resolute determination in the pursuit of worthy objects being the foundation of all true greatness of character. Energy enables a man to force his way through irksome drudgery and dry details, and carries him onward and upward in every station in life. It accomplishes more than genius, with not one-half the disappointment and peril. It is not eminent talent that is required to ensure success in any pursuit, so much as purpose, -not merely the power to achieve, but the will to labour energetically and persevering. Hence energy of will may be defined to be the very central power of character in a man-in a word, it is the man himself. It gives impulse to his every action, and soul to every effort. This hope is based on it,- and it is hope that gives the real perfume to life.
3.    Write a letter to the editor, the Hindu, expressing your deep concern on the impact of adult graded cinemas on young minds.
4.    Write an essay in about 500 words on any one of the following topics:
    a) Cottage Industries
    b) Socialism
    c) Blessings of science
    d) Dowry Deaths
    e) My motherland

                                   ANSWERS
1.    a) the language of Prem Chand is rightly called Hindustani because it has the refinement of both Urdu and Hindi.
    b)Many people opposed Manto because they considered his writings obscene.
    c) i)Ismat Chugtai’s short stories depict the social life in India of 1930s and 1940s.
    ii) her stories form a kind of bridge between the styles of Prem Chand and the later writers of Progressive writers’ movement.
    d)The two characteristics of Manto’s writings are:
    i)Manto’s stories are known for their defiance of social conventions.
    ii) Manto’s style knows no restrictions.
    e)The line indicates that the efforts of Manto, Krishan Chander and Bedi made the Urdu short story modern and refined.

2.     Title: Energy-basis of character.
    Precis: The belief that Norse-men have trust in pure strength is amply revealed by the fact that their god is represented carrying hammer. Strength is an impression of sturdy independence and this is maintained by Norsemen to the present day. Energy is an extremely important quality in a truly great character. It is the energetic individuals who make a state strong. Energy can accomplish more than even genius and talent, what matters in life is not the power to achieve but the will to work ceaselessly for the goal. This needs energy. A good and minute observer can understand the trivial actions. The cultivation of this quality (energy) is of paramount importance as it provides the resolution so badly needed in pursuit of noble objects and is the very basis of true and great character.

3.    Karan Ahuja
    Loknayak Apartments,
    Rohini
    Delhi
    August 15, 2009
    The editor,
    The Hindu
    New Delhi
    Sir,
    Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I wish to express my views about the impact of adult grade cinemas on young people. Full of foreign imitation, vulgarity, sex, cheap romance, catchy and unhealthy songs etc., have their harmful influence of the modern youth. The fashions and pseudo-adventures of their heroes and heroines will sooner than later get into trouble. The films are responsible to a great extent for the acts of indiscipline, disobedience by the youths of today. It is absolutely necessary that our censor authorities should be strict and not approve a movie if it is likely to mislead the youth.
 Yours faithfully,
Karan Ahuja

4.    (c) BLESSINGS OF SCIENCE
    The modern system of livelihood is solely related to science. Men are totally dependent on science. Science has paved a new path of advancement in men’s life in every nook and corner of his living. Everything seems to be at the tip of his finger. Whatever he want he can do, sitting in his own chair. Luxury has reached its acme by the new inventions made by men with the aid of science.
    Most of us judge science by what it has done to increase the happiness of mankind. It has done a great service to mankind. It has brought about changes in our everyday life. In every sphere, we depend on one or the other invention of science.
    Science has given us a number of quick and safer means of transport and communication. These have helped to destroy the barriers of time and distance. Now every corner of the world is easily accessibly by means of railways, ships and airplanes. This has made the world look smaller and created a feeling of international sympathy and brotherhood among the people.
    The modern means of communication enable us to send messages almost immediately to any part of the world. They have made the spread of every corner of the world. People all over the world are benefited from the wisdom of a nation. There is a constant exchange of ideas among the peoples of different countries. This has helped to create a better understanding of one another’s problems and points of view.
    Science has brought comfort and safety to every individual. Now we can grow more food in the fields than even before. Most of our work is now done by machines. This saves labour and gives us more time for recreation and research work.
    Science has given us a number of things which have made domestic life comfortable. For example, electricity lights our houses, cooks our food, washes our clothes, keeps us warm in winter and cool in summer.
    Science has provided us with various means of healthy recreation. Radio and television not only entertain us but have also proved very useful from the educational point of view. The invention of the printing press has enabled us to enrich our minds with the knowledge of all the ages. It has also made the appearance of newspapers possible.
    Medical science has helped to increase the longevity of human life. Now no disease is regarded as incurable. Now it is possible even to replace almost every part of the human body.

Bank of Maharashtra Probationary Officer Exam., 2010

English Language (Exam Held on 19-12-2010)

Directions—(Q. 1–10) In the following passage there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each, five words are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.

When sound …(1)…, the world of cinema, mime made a gracious exit. …(2)… then, it stood proudly as a performing art in itself, independent and …(3)… in style, approach, treatment and performance not matched however, by …(4)… acceptance. During the silent era, actors in silent films had to …(5)… totally on mime as the only way of …(6)… their emotions, expressions, incidents, events and interactions between and among characters. German Expressionist cinema, the acting of classic performers like Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton used mime they had …(7)… as part of their theatrical …(8)… in their films with great effect. A French mime artist once said, “Mime is the poetry of silence.” But once talking …(9)… entered the scenario, mime was …(10)… ever used in films, even through a character introduced as a mime artist.

1. (A) entered
(B) came
(C) saw
(D) became
(E) featured
Ans : (A)

2. (A) From
(B) So
(C) Since
(D) By
(E) Until
Ans : (C)

3. (A) single
(B) fair
(C) dependent
(D) unique
(E) treacherous
Ans : (D)


4. (A) drama
(B) conclusion
(C) opinion
(D) judgement
(E) popular
Ans : (E)

5. (A) portray
(B) act
(C) rely
(D) depict
(E) earn
Ans : (C)

6. (A) mentioning
(B) designing
(C) stimulating
(D) expressing
(E) considering
Ans : (D)

7. (A) worked
(B) learnt
(C) qualified
(D) bought
(E) invested
Ans : (B)

8. (A) experience
(B) showings
(C) vision
(D) distance
(E) story
Ans : (A)

9. (A) toys
(B) worlds
(C) films
(D) people
(E) mimes
Ans : (C)

10. (A) and
(B) hardly
(C) then
(D) thus
(E) for
Ans : (B)

Directions—(Q. 11–15) Rearrange the following five sentences (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph; then answer the questions given below them.
(a) A small wooden nest box is all it has taken to rekindle all the romance of bringing sparrows and other birds back into our cities and halt them from fading into the past like a forgotten folktale.
(b) There is something wrong with a city that remains unperturbed even as its birds desert it.
(c) Thankfully, the situation is not as hopeless as it seems.
(d) Much as we try to defend the seemingly irreversible modern life of these cities, we can’t stop our hearts from crying when we realize that our rapidly degenerating urban eco-system isn’t generous enough to let these delicate winged creatures build tiny little nests in its nooks and crannies, sit in solitude, and rear offspring.
(e) And this desertion seems to be true with most metros in India where house sparrows have almost become a thing of the past.

11. Which of the following should be the FIRST sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) (a)
(B) (b)
(C) (c)
(D) (d)
(E) (e)
Ans : (B)

12. Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) (e)
(B) (d)
(C) (c)
(D) (b)
(E) (a)
Ans : (A)

13. Which of the following should be the THIRD sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) (a)
(B) (b)
(C) (c)
(D) (d)
(E) (e)
Ans : (D)

14. Which of the following should be the FOURTH sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) (e)
(B) (d)
(C) (c)
(D) (b)
(E) (a)
Ans : (C)

15. Which of the following should be the FIFTH sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) (a)
(B) (b)
(C) (c)
(D) (d)
(E) (e)
Ans : (A)

Directions—(Q. 16–20) Which of the phrases (A), (B), (C) and (D) given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold in the sentence to make it grammatically correct ? If the sentence is correct as it is given and no correction is required, mark (E) as the answer.

16. After keeping a ten-year-old in detention for around six days, the police finally registered a case of fraud against the child and sent him to jail.
(A) has finally register
(B) final registered
(C) is finally registration
(D) is final registering
(E) No correction required
Ans : (E)

17. Whichever reasons, there is no denying the changing attitudes to traditions as well as livelihoods, and by implication to the environment as well.
(A) Whichever the reasoning
(B) Whichever reasoned
(C) Whatever reasoning
(D) Whatever the reasons
(E) No correction required
Ans : (D)

18. Visiting the village is like be transported into some other century.
(A) alike to transport
(B) like being transported
(C) likely to be transporting
(D) likes transport
(E) No correction required
Ans : (B)

19. Environmentalists has pay little heed to the ‘softer’ aspects of the movement, of which the need to change our culture is one of the most important.
(A) is paying little heed
(B) are paying little heeding
(C) has paid little heeds
(D) have paid little heed
(E) No correction required
Ans : (D)

20. Even in a changing world, we cannot wishes away the Indian nation and replace it with a world government overnight.
(A) Cannot wish away
(B) Can never wishing out
(C) Cannot wish out
(D) Never wishes out
(E) No correction required
Ans : (A)

Directions—(Q. 21–25) Each question below has two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Choose the set of words for each blank which best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

21. We can feel morally ……… when someone insults us – as long as we do not ……… upon those feelings by burning down houses.
(A) challenged, stand
(B) outraged, act
(C) bound, build
(D) obliged, think
(E) violated, harp
Ans : (B)

22. Human beings are biological ………, they need to be grounded in time and place or else they come ……….
(A) things, forward
(B) souls, back
(C) organisms, unhinged
(D) features, undone
(E) creatures, again
Ans : (E)

23. ……… their golden years of love and togetherness, the couple ……… all their guests at their fiftieth wedding anniversary.
(A) Celebrating, welcomed
(B) Remembering, asked
(C) Rejoicing, promised
(D) Commemorating, brought
(E) Observing, greeted
Ans : (A)

24. Since it does not have the …… to do anything beyond sending out notices, the corporation has now decided to take steps to attach movable properties such as cars so that people take the notices more ……….
(A) authority, appropriately
(B) influence, justly
(C) guts, sincerely
(D) pressure, gravely
(E) power, seriously
Ans : (E)

25. A new law has been passed stating that no actor would be allowed to shoot beyond twelve hours in a day and those who ……… this norm would henceforth be ……… for it.
(A) followed, punished
(B) accompanied, reprimanded
(C) flouted - penalized
(D) defied, applauded
(E) obeyed, disciplined
Ans : (C)

Directions—(Q. 26–35) Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error; the answer is (E). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.)

26. It is only now, (A) / sixty years after independence, that (B) / India is learning how to negotiating (C) / the competing demands of power and justice. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)

27. The graceful folk dance had performed (A) / so beautifully by a dance group that nobody (B) / seemed to notice that (C) / the show was two-and-a-half hours long ! (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)

28. The actor, that was (A) / busy meeting and greeting people, (B) / made sure that this day became (C) / an extra special one for his parents. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)

29. Farmhouse owners in the city, (A) / who were till now paid property tax (B) / for only the built-up area of the plot, will soon (C) / have to pay tax to the government for vacant land also. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (B)

30. A time sheet diary is to be (A) / maintained by every actor, since (B) / producers constantly complain that they are (C) / forced shooting for late hours because actors come very late. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)

31. Injected into the blood, (A) / tiny bubbles of gas can ease (B) / the passage of vital stroke drugs into the brain, (C) / helping in prevent damage to the grey matter. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)

32. Since universities have more (A) / space on their campuses, they (B) / have been asked to open fire detection control rooms (C) / as a mandatory measure. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)

33. District police arrested (A) / a gang of notorious robbers (B) / who were planning to strike at (C) / a house in the vicinity. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)

34. Households across the State are either opting for (A) / a more modest lifestyle or compromising on (B) / the nutritional value of their food in efforts to negate (C) / the price rise of essential commodities, cereals, vegetables and fruits. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)

35. The fire that gutted (A) / years for research in the chemistry and biochemistry labs (B) / of the University building was (C) / due to short circuit. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (B)

Directions—(Q. 36–50) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

In February 2010 the Medical Council of India announced a major change in the regulation governing the establishment of medical colleges. With this change, corporate entities were permitted to open medical colleges. The new regulation also carried the following warning : “permission shall be withdrawn if the colleges resort to commercialization”. Since the regulation does not elaborate on what constitutes “resorting to commercialization”, this will presumably be a matter left to the discretion of the Government.

A basic requirement for a new medical college is a pre-existing hospital that will serve as a teaching hospital. Corporate entities have hospitals in the major metros and that is where they will have to locate medical colleges. The earlier mandated land requirement for a medical college campus, a minimum of 25 acres of contiguous land, cannot be fulfilled in the metros. Not surprisingly, yet another tweak has been made in the regulation, prescribing 10 acres as the new minimum campus size for 9 cities including the main metros. With this, the stage is set for corporate entities to enter the medical education market.

Until now, medical education in India has been projected as a not-forprofit activity to be organised for the public good. While private bodies can run medical colleges, these can only be societies or trusts, legally non-profit organizations. In opening the door to corporate colleges, thus, a major policy change has been effected without changing the law or even a discussion in Parliament, but by simply getting a compliant MCI to change the regulation on establishment of medical colleges. This and other changes have been justified in the name of addressing the shortage of doctors. At the same time, over 50 existing medical colleges, including 15 run by the government, have been prohibited from admitting students in 2010 for having failed to meet the basic standards prescribed. Ninety per cent of these colleges have come up in the last 5 years. Particularly shocking is the phenomenon of government colleges falling short of standards approved by the Government. Why are state government institutions not able to meet the requirements that have been approved by the central government ? A severe problem faced by government-run institutions is attracting and retaining teaching faculty, and this is likely to be among the major reasons for these colleges failing to satisfy the MCI norms. The crisis building up on the faculty front has been flagged by various commissions looking into problems of medical education over the years.

An indicator of the crisis is the attempt to conjure up faculty when MCI carries out inspections of new colleges, one of its regulatory functions. Judging by news reports, the practice of presenting fake faculty – students or private medical practitioners hired for the day – during MCI inspections in private colleges is common. What is interesting is that even government colleges are adopting unscrupulous methods. Another indicator is the extraordinary scheme, verging on the ridiculous that is being put in place by the MCI to make inspections ‘foolproof’. Faculty in all medical colleges are to be issued an RFID-based smart card by the MCI with a unique Faculty Number. The card, it is argued, will eliminate the possibility of a teacher being shown on the faculty of more than one college and establish if the qualifications of a teacher are genuine. In the future, it is projected that biometric RFID readers will be installed in the colleges that will enable a Faculty Identification, Tracking and Monitoring System to monitor faculty from within the college and even remotely from MCI headquarters.

The picture above does not even start to reveal the true and pathetic situation of medical care especially in rural India. Only a fraction of the doctors and nursing professionals serve rural areas where 70 per cent of our population lives. The Health Ministry, with the help of the MCI, has been active in proposing yet another ‘innovative’ solution to the problem of lack of doctors in the rural areas. The proposal is for a three-and-a-half year course to obtain the degree of Bachelor of Rural Medicine and Surgery (BRMS). Only rural candidates would be able to join this course. The study and training would happen at two different levels – Community Health Centers for 18 months, and sub-divisional hospitals for a further period of 2 years – and be conducted by retired professors. After completion of training, they would only be able to serve in their own state in district hospitals, community health centres, and primary health centres.

The BRMS proposal has invited sharp criticism from some doctors’ organizations on the grounds that it is discriminatory to have two different standards of health care – one for urban and the other for rural areas, and that the health care provided by such graduates will be compromised. At the other end is the opinion expressed by some that “something is better than nothing”, that since doctors do not want to serve in rural areas, the government may as well create a new cadre of medics who will be obliged to serve there. The debate will surely pick up after the government formally lays out its plans. What is apparent is that neither this proposal nor the various stopgap measures adopted so far address the root of the problem of health care.
The far larger issue is government policy, the low priority attached by the government to the social sector as a whole and the health sector in particular, evidenced in the paltry allocations for maintaining and upgrading medical infrastructure and medical education and for looking after precious human resources.

36. What solution is being offered by the Health Ministry for the shortage of doctors in rural areas ?
(A) Increase the number of government run hospitals in the rural areas thereby increasing the number of doctors catering to the people in these regions.
(B) Make it mandatory for doctors serving in the urban areas to serve in the rural areas for a specific number of years
(C) Set up increasing number of community health centres in rural areas
(D) Hire retired professors of medicine to offer medical help to people living in the rural areas till the time more doctors are appointed
(E) Run a separate medical course for three and a half years which can be taken up only by rural candidates who would ultimately serve in the rural areas
Ans : (E)

37. Why have some existing medical colleges been prohibited from admitting students ?
(A) As these have adopted corrupt practices and have been taking huge donations from their students
(B) As all these colleges were illegally set up and were not approved by the government in the first place
(C) As the course offered by these colleges is not in line with the course offered by the government run colleges
(D) As these have failed to meet the norms set by the central government for running the college
(E) As there are absolutely no faculty members left in these colleges to teach students
Ans : (D)

38. Which of the following is/are the change/s announced by the MCI in the regulation governing the establishment of medical college?
(a) Allowing the commercialization of medical colleges.
(b) Reducing the earlier mandated land requirement for a medical college campus for metros.
(c) Allowing corporate bodies to open medical colleges.
(A) Only (b)
(B) Only (a) and (b)
(C) Only (c)
(D) Only (b) and (c)
(E) All (a), (b) and (c) are true
Ans : (D)

39. Which of the following are the different opinions regarding the BRMS proposal ?
(a) At least a small step has been taken to improve the healthcare facilities in the rural areas through this proposal.
(b) There should be uniform healthcare facilities available for people living in both rural and urban area
(c) The healthcare providers through this proposal would not be up to the mark.
(A) Only (a)
(B) Only (a) and (b)
(C) Only (b) and (c)
(D) Only (b)
(E) All (a), (b) and (c)
Ans : (C)

40. Which of the following is possibly the most appropriate title for the passage ?
(A) Healthcare in India – The Questionable Changes
(B) Medical Centres in Rural India
(C) Commercialization of Medical Education in India
(D) The Medical Council of India
(E) The BRMS Proposal – The Way Out for Rural India
Ans : (A)

41. What is one of the major problems faced by the government–run medical institutions ?
(A) Dearth of land required for the setting up of medical institutions
(B) Lack of funds for running the colleges
(C) Dearth of teaching faculty
(D) Excessive competition from colleges run by corporate bodies
(E) Dearth of students opting for these colleges
Ans : (C)

42. What is the idea behind the MCI putting in place the RFID-based smart card ?
(a) To monitor and track faculty from MCI headquarters in the future.
(b) To put a stop to the practice of colleges of presenting fake faculty members.
(c) To verify the authenticity of faculty member qualifications.
(A) Only (a) and (b)
(B) All (a), (b) and (c)
(C) Only (c)
(D) Only (b) and (c)
(E) Only (b)
Ans : (B)

43. What is the author’s main intention behind writing this passage ?
(A) To make the general public aware of the healthcare facilities available in India
(B) To bring to light the problems faced by the healthcare sector in India despite changes suggested and goad the government into attaching priority to the sector
(C) To bring to light the problems faced by rural people in terms of healthcare facilities and thus exhort urban doctors to serve in the rural areas
(D) To make the general public aware of the benefits arising from the changes brought about by the MCI in the healthcare sector
(E) To urge the corporate bodies to look into the matter of healthcare facilities in the rural areas
Ans : (B)

Directions—(Q. 44–47) Choose the word/group of words which is most similar in meaning to the word/group of words printed in bold as used in the passage.

44. FLAGGED
(A) highlighted
(B) stopped
(C) bannered
(D) caused
(E) hoisted
Ans : (A)

45. FALLING SHORT
(A) remaining tiny
(B) limiting
(C) stumbling upon
(D) just satisfying
(E) not meeting
Ans : (E)

46. PERMITTED
(A) forbidden
(B) pressed
(C) allowed
(D) sent
(E) forced
Ans : (C)

47. SHOCKING
(A) wicked
(B) pleasing
(C) appalling
(D) electrifying
(E) scandalous
Ans : (C)

Directions—(Q. 48–50) Choose the word/group of words which is most opposite in meaning to the word/ group of words printed in bold as used in the passage.

48. UNSCRUPULOUS
(A) corrupt
(B) even
(C) constant
(D) honest
(E) measured
Ans : (D)

49. SHARP
(A) mild
(B) thin
(C) blunt
(D) rounded
(E) pointed
Ans : (D)

50. COMPLIANT
(A) fixed
(B) unyielding
(C) stagnant
(D) obedient
(E) negative
Ans : (B)

Central Bank of India Clerk (First Shift) Exam. 2011 Solved Paper

English Language

(Exam Held on 13-2-2011)

Directions—(Q. 1–15) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are printed in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.

The Sun, while going on his daily rounds saw a princess and fell in love with her. Whenever he could slip away from the heavens he would take human form and go down to the princess to spend some time with her. The princess too became quite fond of him and would wait for him to come. One day the Sun decided to send her a blood-red ruby as a token of his love for her. He put the gem in a silk bag, and calling a crow that was flying past, asked the bird to deliver the gem to his beloved. Crows had milky white feathers in those days and it was considered auspicious if a crow came anywhere near you. So the Sun was pleased that he had found a crow to deliver the gem. As the crow sped through the sky with the silken bag, the aroma of food lured him. Looking down the crow saw that a wedding feast was in progress, and immediately it was distracted from its mission. Food was one thing it could never resist !

Alighting on a tree nearby, it hung the bag on a twig and went off to find some food. While the crow was feasting, a merchant passing by saw the bag on the tree, and knocked it down with a pole. When he opened the bag and saw its contents he almost swooned in joy. Quickly pocketing the ruby, he filled the bag with dry cow dung that was lying there, and then deftly returned the bag to the branch. It was all done so quickly that the crow missed all the action. After having its fill, it flew up to the tree, and picking up the bag took it to the person it was intended for. The princess was in the garden. When the crow gave her the bag, she took it eagerly, knowing that it was from the Sun. But when she saw its contents she reeled back in shock and anger. Believing that it was the Sun’s way of telling her that he did not care for her, she flung the bag away, rushed to her palace, and never came out again. When the Sun learnt of what had happened he was furious.
So great was his anger that when he turned his scorching gaze on the crow, its feathers were burned black. Its feathers have been black ever since. The ruby did not stay with the man who stole it. It fell out of his pocket and rolled into a deep pit. Men have been trying to dig it out ever since. Many precious stones have been found in the process, making Myanmar one of the richest sources of rubies and sapphires, but the ruby that the Sun sent to the princess is yet to be found.

1. What did the Sun send for the princess as a token of his love ?
(A) He sent her the crow
(B) He sent her dry cow dung
(C) He sent her a red ruby
(D) He gifted her the city of Myanmar
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

2. Why did the princess fling the gift away ?
(A) She did not like rubies
(B) The crow was known to bring bad luck
(C) She had found cow dung in the bag
(D) She thought the Sun was playing a cruel joke on her
(E) She had wanted the Sun to personally deliver it
Ans : (C)

3. What led to the discovery of precious stones in Myanmar ?
(A) Humans discovered the stones in their search for the lost ruby
(B) The crow spread the news of the lost ruby
(C) The princess went in search of the lost ruby and discovered other precious stones
(D) The merchant went in search of the ruby that fell off his pocket
(E) The merchant’s clumsiness led to the discovery of precious stones
Ans : (A)


4. While on its way to the princess, the crow was distracted by—
(A) The merchant calling out to him
(B) The wedding that was taking place below
(C) The ruby that the Sun sent for the princess
(D) The temptation of the smell of food
(E) The huge crowd at the wedding
Ans : (D)

5. Why did the Sun send his gift for the princess along with the crow?
(A) The princess loved crows
(B) The crow was the only bird available at the time
(C) The crow was considered to be an auspicious bird
(D) The crow knew where the princess lived
(E) The Sun trusted the crow
Ans : (C)

6. The joy of the merchant on finding the ruby was short lived because—
(A) He did not succeed in stealing the ruby
(B) The ruby fell out of his pocket
(C) The crow returned just in time and caught him red handed
(D) He soon discovered many more precious stones
(E) None of these
Ans : (B)

7. How did the crow get its black colour ?
(A) The crow was punished by the Sun for its clumsiness
(B) The crow was burned black by the scorching gaze of the angry Sun
(C) The crow was not considered auspicious any more
(D) The crow was cursed by the merchant
(E) None of these
Ans : (B)

8. What could be an appropriate title for the story ?
(A) The Careless Black Crow
(B) Myanmar and its Mineral Riches
(C) The Sun and the Princess
(D) The Depressed Princess
(E) The Sun and the Ruby
Ans : (C)

9. What was the crow’s mission ?
(A) To deliver the gift to the princess
(B) To attend the wedding
(C) To make the Sun angry
(D) To keep the princess in her palace
(E) To protect the princess from the harmful Sun
Ans : (A)

10. What message did the princess get after opening the bag ?
(A) That the Sun truly loved her
(B) That the crow was an evil bird
(C) That the crow was playing a joke on her
(D) That the Sun did not love her anymore
(E) That the cow dung was a token of the Sun’s love for her
Ans : (D)

Directions—(Q. 11–13) Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

11. Token
(A) Symbol
(B) Insurance
(C) Slip
(D) Assurance
(E) Investment
Ans : (A)

12. Deftly
(A) Skillfully
(B) Blindly
(C) Eagerly
(D) Rightfully
(E) Innocently
Ans : (A)

13. Auspicious
(A) Religious
(B) Lucky
(C) Fulfilling
(D) Charming
(E) Normal
Ans : (A)

Directions—(Q. 14–15) Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

14. Scorching
(A) Cool
(B) Heated
(C) Warm
(D) Silent
(E) Composed
Ans : (A)

15. Furious
(A) Beaming
(B) Angry
(C) Forgiving
(D) Calm
(E) Sulking
Ans : (D)

Directions—(Q. 16–25) Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (E) i.e., ‘No error’. (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any.)

16. When we (A) / reached the shops, (B) / we find that (C) / they were all closed. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)

17. Poor people (A) / has no money (B) / therefore they cannot afford (C) / proper medical facilities. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (B)

18. The course is for (A) / anyone who is interested (B) / in learning (C) / about computers. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)

19. We were surprised (A) / that she participated (B) / at the performance (C) / held at NCPA. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)

20. As soon as (A) / I getting my (B) / first salary (C) / I spent all my money. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (B)

21. The principal (A) / introducing me (B) / to some of her (C) / teaching staff. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (B)

22. The doctors said that (A) / he was making good progress (B) / and would not (C) / need an operation. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (E)

23. Instead of (A) / to buy books, (B) / I borrow them (C) / from the library. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (B)

24. By the times (A) / we reached the classroom, (B) / the lecture had (C) / already begun. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)

25. The Indian government (A) / should make sure that (B) / men and women are (C) / given equal opportunities. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)

Directions—(Q. 26–30) Pick out the most effective word from the given words to fill in the blanks to make the sentence meaningfully complete.

26. I was annoyed …… John for arriving late.
(A) on
(B) about
(C) by
(D) for
(E) with
Ans : (E)

27. We are …… the possibility of buying our own house.
(A) judging
(B) initiating
(C) threatening
(D) applying
(E) considering
Ans : (E)

28. The student did not pay …… to the instructions that were given to her in class.
(A) ear
(B) awareness
(C) notice
(D) attention
(E) closure
Ans : (D)

29. The young boy was unhurt …… for a minor injury to his knee.
(A) less
(B) except
(C) also
(D) just
(E) while
Ans : (B)

30. There is …… chance of seeing her again …… she leaves.
(A) perhaps, when
(B) also, as
(C) little, before
(D) full, therefore
(E) more, after
Ans : (A)

Directions—(Q. 31–35) In each question below four words which are lettered (A), (B), (C) and (D) have been printed, of which, one word may be wrongly spelt. The letter of that word is the answer. If all the four words are correctly spelt, mark (E) i.e. “All Correct” as the answer.

31. (A) Accept
(B) Reciept
(C) Frequent
(D) Gesture
(E) All Correct
Ans : (B)

32. (A) Justise
(B) Practice
(C) Menace
(D) Variance
(E) All Correct
Ans : (A)

33. (A) Complaint
(B) Alerted
(C) Cheated
(D) Hunged
(E) All Correct
Ans : (D)

34. (A) Remorse
(B) Noble
(C) Upsurge
(D) Incline
(E) All Correct
Ans : (E)

35. (A) Blister
(B) Warrant
(C) Arrest
(D) Mannual
(E) All Correct
Ans : (D)

Directions—(Q. 36–40) Rearrange the following six sentences (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph; then answer the questions given below them.
1. At first he got scared, but then he thought, “I have never worshipped her that is why I am not able to get anything from my land.”
2. One day unable to tolerate the summer heat, he went to rest under a big banyan tree.
3. He rushed to his village and placed his humble offering of milk in a bowl before the snake.
4. Vishnu Raman was a poor Brahmin and a farmer by profession.
5. The next day when he returned, he was rewarded with a gold coin in the bowl he left behind.
6. Just as he was preparing to lie down he saw a huge Cobra swaying with his hood open.

36. Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence after the rearrangement ?
(A) 2
(B) 3
(C) 5
(D) 4
(E) 6
Ans : (A)

37. Which of the following should be the FIRST sentence after the rearrangement ?
(A) 1
(B) 4
(C) 6
(D) 3
(E) 5
Ans : (B)

38. Which of the following should be the FOURTH sentence after the rearrangement ?
(A) 5
(B) 6
(C) 2
(D) 1
(E) 4
Ans : (D)

39. Which of the following should be the FIFTH sentence after the rearrangement ?
(A) 6
(B) 4
(C) 3
(D) 2
(E) 5
Ans : (C)

40. Which of the following should be the SIXTH (LAST) sentence after the rearrangement ?
(A) 4
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 5
(E) 6
Ans : (D)

Directions—(Q. 41–50) In the following passage, there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each, five words are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.

Once upon a time there lived a peacock and a tortoise in close proximity and they became the best of friends. The peacock lived on a tree on the …(41)… of a stream which was the home of the tortoise. It was a daily …(42)… for the peacock to dance near the stream after he had a drink of water. He would display his great plumage for the amusement of his friend. One unfortunate day, a bird-catcher who was on the …(43)… caught the peacock and was about to take him away to the market. The unhappy bird begged his captor to allow him to bid his friend the tortoise good-bye, as it would be the …(44)… time he would see him. The bird-catcher gave in to his request and took him to the tortoise. The tortoise was in tears to see his friend held …(45)….
The tortoise asked the birdcatcher to let the peacock go; but he laughed at the request, saying that it was his means of livelihood. The tortoise then said, “If I give you an expensive present, will you let my friend go ?” “Certainly,” answered the bird-catcher. Whereupon, the tortoise …(46)… into the water and in a few seconds came up with a handsome pearl, which he presented to the bird-catcher. This was beyond the man’s expectations, and he let the peacock go immediately. A short time after, the bird-catcher came back and told the tortoise that he thought he had not paid enough for the release of his friend, and …(47)…, that unless a match to the pearl was obtained for him, he would catch the peacock again. The tortoise, who had already …(48)… his friend to shift to a distant jungle on being set free, was greatly …(49)… by the greed of the bird - catcher. “Well,” said the tortoise, “if you insist on having another pearl like the one I gave you, give it back to me and I will fish you an exact match for it.” The greediness of the bird-catcher prevented his reasoning and he …(50)… gave the pearl to the clever tortoise. The tortoise swam out with it saying, “I am no fool to give you another pearl, you’re greediness has left you with nothing.

41. (A) fence
(B) brim
(C) banks
(D) base
(E) outlet
Ans : (C)

42. (A) fact
(B) lifestyle
(C) phenomenon
(D) adventure
(E) routine
Ans : (C)

43. (A) prowl
(B) guard
(C) rounds
(D) duty
(E) alert
Ans : (B)

44. (A) right
(B) last
(C) perfect
(D) appropriate
(E) justified
Ans : (B)

45. (A) captive
(B) custody
(C) affectionately
(D) badly
(E) carelessly
Ans : (A)

46. (A) collapsed
(B) dived
(C) sunk
(D) drowned
(E) slipped
Ans : (B)

47. (A) wished
(B) secured
(C) contemplated
(D) debated
(E) threatened
Ans : (E)

48. (A) advised
(B) left
(C) disowned
(D) excluded
(E) wanted
Ans : (A)

49. (A) aware
(B) enraged
(C) superstitious
(D) touched
(E) tolerant
Ans : (B)

50. (A) deftly
(B) clumsily
(C) selfishly
(D) affectionately
(E) promptly
Ans : (E)