IBPS SO PREVIOUS YEAR ENGLISH QUESTIONS

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Directions (Q. 01-09): Read the following passage carefully.and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

It may be quite a while before climatologists are able to predict rainfall in the American Midwest by measuring snowfall in the Himalayas. But there is one prediction which they can confidently make now, and that is that the earth's ice cover- from the polar ice caps to the Himalayas-is thawing at an alarming rate. So much so that over 50 per cent of the planet's mountain glacier mass could be history by the turn of the next century. According to the latest findings of the US-based environmental think tank, World watch Institute, the Arctic Sea ice has shrunk by nearly 40 per cent in the last 25 years, even as Antarctica's extensive ice fields and glaciers have been badly 'bleeding' at their edges. This would indicate that the earth has entered a period of climatic change that is likely to cause widespread environmental, economic and social disruption over the next century if emissions of heat-trapping gases are not reduced. As a result of global warming, average planet wide temperatures have been going up steadily. If the levels of carbon dioxide - the bad boy of global warming - in the
atmosphere are allowed to increase at the present rate, more heat will be trapped in the planetary cocoon, raising global temperatures to scorching highs. The polar ice caps will melt and the resultant rise in sea levels will be catastrophic for low lying island-states and countries with large coastal populations, such as Marshall Islands and Bangladesh. Regional flooding will threaten water supplies and dramatically alter the habitats of many flora and fauna. This is particularly bad news for such regions as northern India, home to half of the total Indian populace who depend wholly on the glacier-fed rivers for their drinking water and irrigation needs. With the Himalayan ice caps melting like ice-cream on a hot summer day, these snow-fed rivers will first swell and then run dry, triggering off devastating floods, followed by a desolating drought. People used to think there was time to sort out problems related to climate change, but no longer. The chilling prospect of an imminent global glacial melt calls for immediate damage control exercises to stabilize the climate. A good way to begin, perhaps, will be to overhaul the energy and transportation systems which drive the world's fossil fuel economy and, instead, develop low-carbon energy systems based on electronic technologies.
 

01. Prediction of rainfall in the American Midwest depends on

• (a) The rainfall in the region in previous years.
• (b) The climatic conditions in the Himalayan region.
• (c) The condition of glaciers.
• (d) The changing patterns of the season.
• (e) None of these

02. Which of the following will be the consequence(s) if there is a rapid decline in the ice cover of earth?

• I. It will bring ecological disaster.
• II. It will have negative effect on the economy.
• III. It will affect the normal life mainly in the advanced nations.
• IV. It will snatch the dreamland of our poets.

         (a) Only I and II
         (b) Only III and IV
         (c) Only III (d) Only I
         (e) None of these

  

03. What is the prime cause behind the shrinking of ice fields?

1. (a) Human activities taking place at these places 
2. (b) Scientific experiments being done in these areas 
3. (c) Rising temperature due to pollution in atmosphere 
4. (d) Drying up of rivers which are snow-fed 
5. (e) None of these 

04. What measure is imminent for saving our mountain glaciers and ice fields?
          (a) Launching a worldwide campaign to save them
          (b) Checking the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
          (c) Making people aware of our environment
          (d) Depending less on the environment for livelihood
          (e) None of these

05 If the polar ice-cap melts and the sea level rises
          (a) It will bring more rain.
          (b) It will increase the amount of water in the world.
          (c) It will submerge low coastal areas, thus destroying life and property.
          (d) Hilly areas will come under water. Excess water will generate diseases and epidemic

06.Over 50 per cent of the planet's mountain glacier mass could be history by the turn of the next century means
           (a) In the next century mountain glacier will be taught as a history subject.
           (b) As the next century starts, over half of the mountain glaciers will have become extinct.
           (c) After the next century less than half of the planet's mountain glacier will be remaining.
            (d) Next century will damage the glaciers heavily. Glaciers will be a subject of interest in the next century

07.What efforts need to be taken to stabilise the climate?
               (a) Use of carbon should be checked and alternatives for it should be looked for to drive our
industries and transport.
               (b) Mountains and glaciers should be preserved at any cost
               (c) The Himalayas should be given special protection as they shape the climate.
               (d) People should not reside near natural flora and fauna.
               (e) None of these.

08.Which of the following is false in the context of the passage?
              (a) World watch Institute is related to America.
              (b) Ice cover of the earth is receding at a fast pace.
              (c) Carbon dioxide is the major contributor to global warming.
              (d) Snow-fed rivers will always have water in it.
              (e) None of these

09.Give a suitable title to the passage.
               (a) Glacier as a source of water
               (b) Glacier causing floods
               (c) Global warming and human survival
               (d) Glacier and its importance
               (e) Save water

Directions (Qs. 10-12): Choose the word which is same in meaning as the word given in bold as used in the passage. 

10. THAWING

         (a) diminishing (b) receding

          (c) evaporating (d) melting 

           (e) breaking 

11. SCORCHING

           (a) extreme (b) mild

           (c) uneven (d) odd

            (e) rapid 

12. IMMINENT

            (a) future (b) impending

            (c) supposed (d) thought
             (e) surmise

Directions (Qs. 13-15): Choose the word which is opposite in meaning of the word given in bold as used in the passage

13. SHRUNK

(a)

developed

(b)

emerged

(c)	built (d) widened
(e)	multiplied

  14.STEADILY

                        (a) gradually (b) systematically

                        (c) slowly (d) simply

                        (e) inconstantly

 15. CATASTROPHIC

                       (a) fortunate (b) yielding

                       (c) contributing (d) ushering

                       (e) jovial

 

Directions (Qs. 16-20): Rearrange the following six sentences (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (F) and (G) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph and then answer the questions given below

 (A). Among the essential features of this situation is that no one knows his place in society, his class position or social status, nor does anyone know his fortune in the distribution of natural assets and abilities, his intelligence, strength, and the like.

(B). This ensures that no one is advantaged or disadvantaged in the choice of principles by the outcome of natural chance or the contingency of social circumstances.

(C). It is understood as a purely hypothetical situation characterized so as to lead to a certain conception of justice.

(D). I shall even assume that the parties do not know their conceptions of the good or their special psychological propensities.

(E). Since all are similarly situated and no one is able to design principles to favor his particular condition, the principles of justice are the result of a fair agreement or bargain.

(F). In 'justice as fairness', the original position is not an actual historical state of affairs.

(G). The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance.

16. Which of the following should be the FIRST sentence after rearrangement?

           (a) E         (b) G     (c) C         (d) D       (e) F
17. Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence after rearrangement?

            (a) A        (b) E     (c) C          (d) G      (e) F
18. Which of the following should be the THIRD sentence after rearrangement? 

          (a) A          (b) B      (c) D          (d) E       (e) G
19. Which of the following should be the FIFTH sentence after rearrangement?

         (a) B           (b) C      (c) G          (d) A       (e) F
20. Which of the following should be the SEVENTH (last)  sentence after rearrangement?  

         (a) A           (b) E      (c) D          (d) D       (e) F 

 

Directions (Qs. 21-25): Each question below has one or more blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Choose the words for each blank that best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

21. The proposal has been ________ and will be sent to the

cabinet for final _______.

(a) designed, process (b) drafted, approval

(c) amend, sanction (d) said, objection

(e) mentioned, figure 1

22. The fake diesel factory was being _______ under the

_______ of a dairy.

(a) operated, operation (b) captured, array

(c) functioned, alias (d) run, garb

(e) activated, control

23. The singer, who has been very________ about his faith inthe party, also ________at the grand event.

(a) vocal, performed (b) strong, sang

(c) open, dance (d) loud, came

(e) creative, present

24. Over the years, the town has ________ popularity as thebest ________ for paragliding, and pilots from across theworld visit it.

(a) acquired, spots (b) claim, one

(c) gained, destination (d) sought, wonder

(e) sent, place

25. Due to the ______ number of swine - flu cases in the district,

the health department has decided to spread ______ about

the disease.

(a) Raising, alertness

(b) Populated, knowledge

(c) Prolonged, understanding

(d) Increasing, awareness

(e) High, ability

  Directions (Qs. 26-30): 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 number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (e), i.e. 'No error'. (Ignore the errorso ofpunctuation, if any.)

26. These companies have been asked

 (a)/to furnish their financial details (b)/and information about (c)/its board

members. (d)/No error (e)

27. The scheme which will be launched (a)/ during the next two

years (b)/require an additional investment (c)/ of one hundred

crore. (d)/ No error (e)

28. The speaker stressed (a)/ repeatedly on the importance (b)/

of improving the condition (c)/ of the slums. (d)/No error (e).

29. Though, she has aptitude (a)/ in mathematics I won't allow

(b)/ her to take it up as a subject of study for the Master's

Degree (c)/ because I know the labour involved will tell upon

her health. (d)/No error (e).

30. I am not familiar (a)/ with all the important places in this (b)/

town although I have been living (c)/ here since two years.

(d)/No error (e).

Directions (Qs. 31- 40): In the following passage, some of the words have been left out, each of which is indicated by a number.Find the suitable word from the options given against each number and fill up the blanks with appropriate words to make the paragraph

meaningful.

In the recent past, the Indian economy has had to varied

challenges in its resolve to its economic success. The major challenges included: unsupportive external environment, domestic structural, growth slowdown and inflationary pressures. The slowdown in the decline in the growth of Gross Domestic Product (at factor cost at constant 2004-05 prices) from 8.9 per cent in 2010-11 to 6.7 per cent in 2011-12 and 4.5 per cent in 2012-13. With the economy to have registered a growth rate of 4.9 per cent in 2013-14, the declining trend in growth seems to have reversed. The growth slowdown in India is in sync with trends in similar emerging economies. The sharp downturn in growth owes to the of domestic factors with global economic environment of uncertainties and slow growth in many advanced

economies. The growth of real GDP has generally shown a declining trend since the first quarter (Q1) of 2011-12, and is characterised by a  in services growth andslowdown in industry. The  in agriculture on the back of a steady monsoon and robust growth in financial and business services led to a modest uptick in growth in 2013-14

31. (a) move (b) overcome

(c) modify (d) surpass

(e) triumph

32. (a) approve (b) endorse

(c) sustain (d) bolster

(e) constraints

33. (a) commitment (b) repression

(c) compulsions (d) restraints

(e) constrains

34. (a) proclaimed (b) manifested

(c) exposed (d) declared

(e) embodied

35. (a) projected (b) outnumbered

(c) neglected (d) arranged

(e) envisaged

36. (a) commonly (b) typically

(c) broadly (d) usually

(e) publicly

37. (a) bond (b) part

(c) network (d) interface

(e) integration

38. (a) moderation (b) patience

(c) equanimity (d) discomposure

(e) relaxation

39. (a) incurable (b) distant

(c) stretched (d) protracted

(e) elongated

40. (a) renewal (b) restoration

(c) awakening (d) suppression

(e) revival

Directions (Qs. 41-45): Which of the phrases (a), (b), (c), (d)given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold type to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is mark (e) i.e. 'No correction required' as the answer.

41. Many employees are hesitate to volunteer for assignments in a foreign country because of language and cultural issues.

(a) hesitated to volunteer (b) hesitant to volunteer

(c) hesitant volunteer (d) hesitatingly volunteer

(e) No correction required

42. Salaries in state owned enterprises today have to be in linebon prevailing market rates in order to reduce turnover.

(a) been on line with (b) to be aligned on

(c) been in line for (d) to be in line with

(e) No correction required

43. As a member of the Cabinet, Alyar had the opportunity to observe debates and see which they were resolved.

(a) about they being resolved

(b) that it was resolved

(c) to its resolution

(d) how they were resolved

(e) No correction required

44. He was determined in completing the project despite opposition from the union.

(a) on completing (b) to complete

(c) for completion (d) about completed

(e) No correction required

45. In his attempt, he failed to emphasize the only great reasons why Government programmes have not benefited the poor.

(a) greatest reason why (b) only greatest reason

(c) only greatest reason for (d) great reason because

(e) No correction required

Directions (Qs. 46-50): For each of the words below, a

contextual usage is provided. Pick the word/phrase from the

alternatives that is most the appropriate substitute in the given

context and mark its number as your answer.

46. Propitious: During recession, conditions are not propitious to the development of business.

(a) lucky (b) suspicious

(c) favorable (d) fortunate

(e) affordable

47. Ephemeral: We often long to hold on to the ephemeral joy of childhood.

(a) harmless (b) remarkable

(c) sporadic (d) transitory

(e) heavenly

48. Unsavory: Many democracies resort to unsavory methods to control dissidence.

(a) disagreeable (b) coercive

(c) bribing (d) coaxing

(e) cunning

49. Stonewalling: After two months of stone-walling, a

breakthrough came out of the blue.

(a) trying (b) blocking

(c) preventing (d) cajoling

(e) delaying

50. Loopholes: There are enough loopholes in the law to raise serious doubts about its serving the intended purpose.

(a) amendments (b) vagaries

(c) ambiguities (d) openings

(e) drawback