English Practice Questions For IBPS Clerk Mains 2017 (Answers)
Dear Aspirants,
English Practice Questions For IBPS Clerk Mains 2017
English Section is a topic that is feared by most of the candidates appearing in the IBPS Clerk Mains Exam. Though the sheer number of concepts and rules may seem intimidating at first, with discipline and the right approach, it is not difficult to master these concepts and their application to questions. Through such English Quizzes for IBPS Clerk and other upcoming exams, we will provide you with all types of high-level questions to ace the questions based on new pattern IBPS Clerk Mains.
Directions (1-5): Rearrange the following Six sentence (A), (B), (C), (D),(E) and (F) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph.
A. In the present time, due to lack of such vast spiritual knowledge, controlling psychology is almost absent. Even in Mahabharata war, it was misused due to defective psychology.
B. The same energy was also used as atom bomb in ancient India, which was called as Brahmaastra.
C. Energy, in the form of electricity, was used in ancient India, which was called as vaidyutaagni.
D. Similarly, whether the computer is used for spiritual work or at least for the development of technology in the worldly benefits of humanity or whether the computer is used for doing cyber crimes or used in useless entertainments, it depends upon the attitudes and psychology of human beings in the absence of lack of stress on the spiritual knowledge in the present system of education. Hence, God is used as a vehicle only.
E. In the Mahabharata war, the atom bomb (Brahmaastra) was used and its full description along with all the posterior effects (as observed in Hiroshima) were clearly explained.
F. In that ancient time, when this weapon was given to disciples, several controlling instructions were given side by side.Due to the background of vast spiritual knowledge, this weapon was almost out of use.
Q1. If A is the FIFTH sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the First sentence after rearrangement?
(a) F
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D
(e) E
Q2. If A is the FIFTH sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the Third sentence after rearrangement?
(a) B
(b) E
(c) F
(d) D
(e) C
Q3. If A is the FIFTH sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the Fourth sentence after rearrangement?
(a) F
(b) A
(c) D
(d) C
(e) B
Q4. If A is the FIFTH sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the Last sentence after rearrangement?
(a) C
(b) D
(c) B
(d) E
(e) A
Q5. If A is the FIFTH sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the Second sentence after rearrangement?
(a) D
(b) C
(c) E
(d) A
(e) B
S1. Ans.(c)
Sol.The correct sequence is CBEFAD. Statement C is the initiating sentence of the paragraph. It starts the paragraph with role and usage of "Energy" in ancient India.
S2. Ans.(b)
Sol.The correct sequence is CBEFAD. Statement E logically follows B.
S3. Ans.(a)
Sol. The correct sequence is CBEFAD.
S4. Ans.(b)
Sol.The correct sequence is CBEFAD. Statement D is the concluding sentence of the paragraph as it beautifully makes the transition from the different roles of energy in past to present.
S5. Ans.(e)
Sol. The correct sequence is CBEFAD. Statement B logically follows C and explains how this energy was used atom bomb in ancient India.
Directions (6-10): Rearrange the following Six sentence (A), (B), (C), (D),(E) and (F) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph.
A. However, these achievements come with a problem: innovation in technology, enhanced connectivity, and increasing integration in commerce and governance also make India the fifth most vulnerable country in the world in terms of cybersecurity breaches, according to the Internal Security Threat Report of 2017 by Symantec.
B. Till June 2017, 27,482 cybersecurity threats had been reported in the country, according to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team’s report. As this is a 23% increase from 2014 figures, it coincides with rapid growth and innovation in the ICT sector.
C. The good news, though, is that India recognises this. The second Global Cybersecurity Index, released by the International Telecommunication Union in July, which measured the commitment of nations to cybersecurity, found that India ranked 23 out of 165 nations.
D. Pioneering and technology-inspired programmes such as Aadhaar, MyGov, Government e-Market, DigiLocker, Bharat Net, Startup India, Skill India and Smart Cities are propelling India towards technological competence and transformation.
E. India is one of the key players in the digital and knowledge-based economy, holding more than a 50% share of the world’s outsourcing market.
F. India is already the third largest hub for technology-driven startups in the world and its Information and Communications Technology sector is estimated to reach the $225 billion landmark by 2020.
Q6. If E is the FIRST sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the Last sentence after rearrangement?
(a) F
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D
(e) A
Q7. If E is the FIRST sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the Third sentence after rearrangement?
(a) B
(b) A
(c) F
(d) D
(e) C
Q8. If E is the FIRST sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the Fourth sentence after rearrangement?
(a) F
(b) A
(c) D
(d) C
(e) B
Q9. If E is the FIRST sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the Fifth sentence after rearrangement?
(a) C
(b) D
(c) B
(d) F
(e) A
Q10. If E is the FIRST sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the Second sentence after rearrangement?
(a) D
(b) C
(c) F
(d) A
(e) B
S6. Ans.(c)
Sol. The correct sequence is EDFABC. Statement C logically concludes the paragraph.
S7. Ans.(C)
Sol. The correct sequence is EDFABC.
S8. Ans.(b)
Sol. The correct sequence is EDFABC. Statement A is the Fourth sentence of the paragraph. and introduces transition in the discussion. It shows problems that India faces with its technological transformations.
S9. Ans.(c)
Sol. The correct sequence is EDFABC. Statement B explains A and supports it with facts and figures.
S10. Ans.(a)
Sol. The correct sequence is EDFABC. D logically follows E and explains steps taken by India technological competence and transformation.
Directions (11-15): Rearrange the following Five sentence (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph.
A. The PES and RTE do have problems, and they need to be fixed; we need to find a way to make the system deliver in terms of better learning outcomes.
B. The Right to Education Act (RTE) was designed to improve this system.
C. However, all the attacks which arise from private schools, their supporters and the privatisation lobby are unjustified; and the solutions that are being aggressively pushed will lead us further into the morass.
D. Therefore, it is natural that the RTE will also come under fire from the same quarters that have been attacking the PES.
E. The public education system (PES) has for long been under fire. It is being painted as non-functioning, wasteful and un-improvable.
Q11. Which of the following should be the Fourth sentence after rearrangement?
(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D
(e) E
Q12. Which of the following should be the Fifth sentence after rearrangement?
(a) B
(b) E
(c) A
(d) D
(e) C
Q13. Which of the following should be the First sentence after rearrangement?
(a) A
(b) E
(c) D
(d) C
(e) B
Q14. Which of the following should be the Second sentence after rearrangement?
(a) C
(b) D
(c) B
(d) E
(e) A
Q15. Which of the following should be the Third sentence after rearrangement?
(a) D
(b) C
(c) E
(d) A
(e) B
S11. Ans.(a)
Sol. The correct sequence is EBDAC.
S12. Ans.(e)
Sol. The correct sequence is EBDAC.
S13. Ans.(b)
Sol. The correct sequence is EBDAC.
S14. Ans.(c)
Sol. The correct sequence is EBDAC.
S15. Ans.(a)
Sol. The correct sequence is EBDAC.
Vocab For Banking Examinations From The Hindu Newspaper
Vocab For Banking Examinations From The Hindu Newspaper
Dear Readers,
Vocabulary is an important part of English that helps you deal with all kinds of questions in objective as well as descriptive papers of various exams. You can learn new words daily from our Daily Word List. Learn the words and make your own sentences on the basis of the given word list. Here are a few words from The Hindu.
Many will agree that academic research in India needs to be internationally competitive and our institutions feature in rankings lists. Global research and competition are now increasingly diverse and in this scenario, India rightfully wants to be an important player. In pedagogy(1) too, we face a situation of enhanced expectations. There has been a rapid expansion with the setting up of more Central and State universities which includes more focussed institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Indian Institutes of Management and National Institutes of Technology, enhancing the opportunities for high-quality teaching. Despite the impressive job being done, there is considerable room for improvement.
But what is still holding our nation back(2) from achieving large-scale global academic excellence which is commensurate(3) with our intellectual heritage and caliber(4)? Beyond blaming the government and the bureaucracy, the usual suspects, it is important to look inward and ask whether our academics display an adequate ethical(5) commitment to excellence.
It is rarely appreciated that excellence is an ethical issue. We think of it as something arising from people of calibre coupled with sufficient resources. But how do successful nations spot such people and resources and enable them to achieve their potential? The answer: there is a sincere and stated commitment to cultivating excellence as a goal. Contrasting this with the academic ethos(6) in India raises uncomfortable questions.
Consider this advertisement put out by Stanford University recently: “We seek exceptional individuals who can develop a world-class program of research, and have a strong commitment to teaching at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.” In such institutions, once an excellent candidate is identified, the institution does everything to convince her/him to accept the offer. Loss of the candidate to a rival institution is considered a serious failure, as excellence is seen to be a precious commodity, with the heads of such institutions held accountable.
In India, in contrast, excellence is at best one of multiple criteria in faculty hiring. Though never openly stated, extraneous(7) considerations abound(8). It is an open secret that these considerations define a large fraction of hiring across India, and often precede considerations of merit. In some places, excellence can actually go against the candidate.
One might be tempted(9) to solely blame failed institutions/departments on the calibre of leadership, and, ultimately, the government that appoints such leaders. But the problem persists even in those institutions led by respected academics. The reasons need to be examined. While academics freely criticise personality cults(10) in the political sphere, they are happy to cultivate those of their own.
1. Pedagogy [ped-uh-goh-jee, -goj-ee]
Noun: the function or work of a teacher; teaching; the art or science of teaching; education; instructional methods.
Synonyms: apprenticeship, background, brainwashing, breeding, catechism, civilization, coaching, cultivation, culture, direction, discipline, drilling, edification, enlightenment, erudition, finish, guidance, improvement, inculcation.
Antonyms: confusion, destruction, harm, hurt.
2. Hold back
Phrasal verb of hold: hesitate to act or speak.
3. Commensurate [kuh-men-ser-it, -sher-]
Adjective: corresponding in amount, magnitude, or degree; proportionate; adequate; having the same measure; of equal extent or duration.
Synonyms: comparable, compatible, consistent, proportionate, sufficient, appropriate, coextensive, due, equal, equivalent, fit, fitting, in accord, symmetrical.
Antonyms: incompatible, unsuitable, inadequate, inappropriate.
4. Caliber [kal-uh-ber]
Noun: the diameter of something of circular section, especially that of the inside of a tube; degree of capacity or competence; ability; degree of merit or excellence; quality.
Synonyms: ability, competence, quality, stature, talent, appetency, capability, constitution, dignity, distinction, endowment, essence, faculty, force, gifts, merit, nature, parts, power.
Antonyms: inability, inadequacy, incompetence, weakness.
5. Ethical [eth-i-kuh l]
Adjective: pertaining to or dealing with morals or the principles of morality; pertaining to right and wrong in conduct; being in accordance with the rules or standards for right conduct or practice, especially the standards of a profession.
Synonyms: honest, honorable, humane, principled, proper, virtuous, christian, clean, conscientious, correct, decent, elevated, equitable, fair, fitting, good, high-principled, just, kosher.
Antonyms: corrupt, dishonest, immoral, improper.
6. Ethos [ee-thos, ee-thohs, eth-os, -ohs]
Noun: sociology. The fundamental character or spirit of a culture; the underlying sentiment that informs the beliefs, customs, or practices of a group or society; dominant assumptions of a people or period; the character or disposition of a community, group, person, etc.; the moral element in dramatic literature that determines a character's action rather than his or her thought or emotion.
Synonyms: ideology, mentality, mindset, spirit, attitude, beliefs, code, culture, habits, mind, principles, psyche, psychology, traits, values.
Antonyms: body, physicality.
7. Extraneous [ik-strey-nee-uh s]
Adjective: introduced or coming from without; not belonging or proper to a thing; external; foreign; not pertinent; irrelevant.
Synonyms: additional, immaterial, incidental, nonessential, superfluous, supplementary, unconnected, unnecessary, unrelated, accidental, adventitious, beside the point, extra, foreign, impertinent, inadmissible, inapplicable, inapposite, inappropriate.
Antonyms: essential, important, material, necessary.
8. Abound [uh-bound]
Verb: to occur or exist in great quantities or numbers.
Synonyms: flourish, proliferate, thrive, crowd, flow, infest, overflow, swarm, swell, teem, be alive with, be all over the place, be knee deep in, be no end to, be plentiful, be thick with.
Antonyms: decline, fail, languish, retreat.
9. Tempt [tempt]
Verb: to entice or allure to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral; to attract, appeal strongly to, or invite; to render strongly disposed to do something.
Synonyms: allured, charmed, desiring, enticed, inclined, seduced, bent on.
Antonyms: averse to, disinclined, indifferent, undesiring.
10. Cult [kuhlt]
Noun: a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies; an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, especially as manifested by a body of admirers; the object of such devotion.
Synonyms: band, church, clan, clique, denomination, faith, religion, sect, body, creed, faction, following, party, persuasion, school.
Antonyms: agnosticism, disbelief.
Dear Readers,
Vocabulary is an important part of English that helps you deal with all kinds of questions in objective as well as descriptive papers of various exams. You can learn new words daily from our Daily Word List. Learn the words and make your own sentences on the basis of the given word list. Here are a few words from The Hindu.
Many will agree that academic research in India needs to be internationally competitive and our institutions feature in rankings lists. Global research and competition are now increasingly diverse and in this scenario, India rightfully wants to be an important player. In pedagogy(1) too, we face a situation of enhanced expectations. There has been a rapid expansion with the setting up of more Central and State universities which includes more focussed institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Indian Institutes of Management and National Institutes of Technology, enhancing the opportunities for high-quality teaching. Despite the impressive job being done, there is considerable room for improvement.
But what is still holding our nation back(2) from achieving large-scale global academic excellence which is commensurate(3) with our intellectual heritage and caliber(4)? Beyond blaming the government and the bureaucracy, the usual suspects, it is important to look inward and ask whether our academics display an adequate ethical(5) commitment to excellence.
It is rarely appreciated that excellence is an ethical issue. We think of it as something arising from people of calibre coupled with sufficient resources. But how do successful nations spot such people and resources and enable them to achieve their potential? The answer: there is a sincere and stated commitment to cultivating excellence as a goal. Contrasting this with the academic ethos(6) in India raises uncomfortable questions.
Consider this advertisement put out by Stanford University recently: “We seek exceptional individuals who can develop a world-class program of research, and have a strong commitment to teaching at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.” In such institutions, once an excellent candidate is identified, the institution does everything to convince her/him to accept the offer. Loss of the candidate to a rival institution is considered a serious failure, as excellence is seen to be a precious commodity, with the heads of such institutions held accountable.
In India, in contrast, excellence is at best one of multiple criteria in faculty hiring. Though never openly stated, extraneous(7) considerations abound(8). It is an open secret that these considerations define a large fraction of hiring across India, and often precede considerations of merit. In some places, excellence can actually go against the candidate.
One might be tempted(9) to solely blame failed institutions/departments on the calibre of leadership, and, ultimately, the government that appoints such leaders. But the problem persists even in those institutions led by respected academics. The reasons need to be examined. While academics freely criticise personality cults(10) in the political sphere, they are happy to cultivate those of their own.
1. Pedagogy [ped-uh-goh-jee, -goj-ee]
Noun: the function or work of a teacher; teaching; the art or science of teaching; education; instructional methods.
Synonyms: apprenticeship, background, brainwashing, breeding, catechism, civilization, coaching, cultivation, culture, direction, discipline, drilling, edification, enlightenment, erudition, finish, guidance, improvement, inculcation.
Antonyms: confusion, destruction, harm, hurt.
2. Hold back
Phrasal verb of hold: hesitate to act or speak.
3. Commensurate [kuh-men-ser-it, -sher-]
Adjective: corresponding in amount, magnitude, or degree; proportionate; adequate; having the same measure; of equal extent or duration.
Synonyms: comparable, compatible, consistent, proportionate, sufficient, appropriate, coextensive, due, equal, equivalent, fit, fitting, in accord, symmetrical.
Antonyms: incompatible, unsuitable, inadequate, inappropriate.
4. Caliber [kal-uh-ber]
Noun: the diameter of something of circular section, especially that of the inside of a tube; degree of capacity or competence; ability; degree of merit or excellence; quality.
Synonyms: ability, competence, quality, stature, talent, appetency, capability, constitution, dignity, distinction, endowment, essence, faculty, force, gifts, merit, nature, parts, power.
Antonyms: inability, inadequacy, incompetence, weakness.
5. Ethical [eth-i-kuh l]
Adjective: pertaining to or dealing with morals or the principles of morality; pertaining to right and wrong in conduct; being in accordance with the rules or standards for right conduct or practice, especially the standards of a profession.
Synonyms: honest, honorable, humane, principled, proper, virtuous, christian, clean, conscientious, correct, decent, elevated, equitable, fair, fitting, good, high-principled, just, kosher.
Antonyms: corrupt, dishonest, immoral, improper.
6. Ethos [ee-thos, ee-thohs, eth-os, -ohs]
Noun: sociology. The fundamental character or spirit of a culture; the underlying sentiment that informs the beliefs, customs, or practices of a group or society; dominant assumptions of a people or period; the character or disposition of a community, group, person, etc.; the moral element in dramatic literature that determines a character's action rather than his or her thought or emotion.
Synonyms: ideology, mentality, mindset, spirit, attitude, beliefs, code, culture, habits, mind, principles, psyche, psychology, traits, values.
Antonyms: body, physicality.
7. Extraneous [ik-strey-nee-uh s]
Adjective: introduced or coming from without; not belonging or proper to a thing; external; foreign; not pertinent; irrelevant.
Synonyms: additional, immaterial, incidental, nonessential, superfluous, supplementary, unconnected, unnecessary, unrelated, accidental, adventitious, beside the point, extra, foreign, impertinent, inadmissible, inapplicable, inapposite, inappropriate.
Antonyms: essential, important, material, necessary.
8. Abound [uh-bound]
Verb: to occur or exist in great quantities or numbers.
Synonyms: flourish, proliferate, thrive, crowd, flow, infest, overflow, swarm, swell, teem, be alive with, be all over the place, be knee deep in, be no end to, be plentiful, be thick with.
Antonyms: decline, fail, languish, retreat.
9. Tempt [tempt]
Verb: to entice or allure to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral; to attract, appeal strongly to, or invite; to render strongly disposed to do something.
Synonyms: allured, charmed, desiring, enticed, inclined, seduced, bent on.
Antonyms: averse to, disinclined, indifferent, undesiring.
10. Cult [kuhlt]
Noun: a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies; an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, especially as manifested by a body of admirers; the object of such devotion.
Synonyms: band, church, clan, clique, denomination, faith, religion, sect, body, creed, faction, following, party, persuasion, school.
Antonyms: agnosticism, disbelief.
English Practice Questions For IBPS Clerk Mains 2017
Dear Aspirants,
English Practice Questions For IBPS Clerk Mains 2017
English Section is a topic that is feared by most of the candidates appearing in the IBPS Clerk Mains Exam. Though the sheer number of concepts and rules may seem intimidating at first, with discipline and the right approach, it is not difficult to master these concepts and their application to questions. Through such English Quizzes for IBPS Clerk and other upcoming exams, we will provide you with all types of high-level questions to ace the questions based on new pattern IBPS Clerk Mains.
Directions (1-10): Which of the words/phrases (a), (b), (c) and (d) given below is most similar in meaning to the word/group of words printed in bold as used in the passage and make it meaningful and coherent. Words in option can be modified according to the tense of the sentence keeping the meaning of root word intact. If none of the options is correct mark (e) as the answer.
Q1. In spite of government’s efforts to curb the growth of cryptocurrencies and Blockchain in India, the people of India and the Indian market for cryptocurrencies appear to love them all the more. The year 2017 has been particularly interesting for the growth of cryptocurrencies in India, mainly due to the ‘to the moon’ journey of the Bitcoin missile. Digital currency’s rapid price appreciation has sparked a nationwide interest, with the mainstream Indian media going haywire on cryptocurrency reporting. Media routinely gives both ‘investment’ advice and reiterates ‘cautionary’ warnings from the Indian government at the same time.
(a) limitation, rein, relating
(b) grapple, wrestle, plugging
(c) stop, light, bring
(d) check, enkindle, erratic
(e) None is correct
S1. Ans.(d)
Sol. Curb -a check or restraint on something. synonyms-restraint, restriction, check, brake, rein, control, limitation, limit,
Sparked -emit sparks of fire or electricity, ignite.
Haywire-erratic; out of control
Q2. The country has been at the forefront of massive cryptocurrency adoption this year and the government has struggled to keep up with developments and trading in the industry, where arbitrage between exchanges is commonplace.
(a) head, deal, asset
(b) front, grappled, trade
(c) violent, scuffle, determined
(d) vanguard, congested, trade
(e) None is correct
S2. Ans.(b)
Sol. Forefront-the leading or most important position or place.
synonyms- vanguard, van, spearhead, head, lead, fore, front, front line, cutting edge, foreground
Struggled -make forceful or violent efforts to get free of restraint or constriction, engage in conflict.
synonyms-fight, grapple, wrestle, scuffle, brawl, spar,
Arbitrage- the simultaneous buying and selling of securities, currency, or commodities in different markets or in derivative forms in order to take advantage of differing prices for the same asset.
Synonym- merchandise, trade, investing
Q3. Judges of the constitutional courts are often those who have left lucrative careers in the legal profession to follow the path of justice administration. This means a big cut in their income and a limited social life, leave aside transfers out of their parent State High Court.
(a) profitable, restricted, carry
(b) lofty, engage, selling
(c) trade, terms, purely
(d) expensive, strained, view
(e) None is correct
S3. Ans.(a)
Sol. Correct choice is option A.
Lucrative -producing a great deal of profit. synonyms- profitable, profit-making, gainful, remunerative, moneymaking, paying, high-income
Limited -restricted in size, amount, or extent; few, small, or short.
synonyms- restricted, finite, bounded, little, narrow, tight, lean, slight, slender,
Transfers -move from one place to another, change to another place, route, or means of transport during a journey. synonyms-move, convey, shift, remove, take, carry, fetch, lift, bring, bear, conduct, send
Q4. Urban planning is a mechanistic process that pays little heed to evolving urban landscapes. Taken together, this means band-aid solutions to congestion, i.e. building more roads. That is what the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission did, as it allocated 80% of the budget to building roads and flyovers.
(a) customers, buttress, roads
(b) technician, overcrowding, fly-past
(c) rear, further, maps
(d) emit, trade, lift
(e) None is correct
S4. Ans.(b)
Sol. Mechanistic -relating to theories which explain phenomena in purely physical or deterministic terms, determined by physical processes alone.
Congestion-the state of being congested.
synonyms- crowding, overcrowding; obstruction, blockage, stoppage, blocking, clogging, choking, plugging, stuffing; traffic jam, bottleneck
Flyovers -a bridge carrying one railway line or road over another, a low flight by one or more aircraft over a specific location. Synonyms- Flight, flying.
Q5. India is known for many wonderful things. On the international stage, it is recognized as the fastest-growing economy in the world, and is well-known for its culture, exquisite cuisine and sense of community and family, among many other qualities. One thing it is less known for is the discovery and development of new medicines.
(a) bridge, public, search
(b) beautiful, process, felt
(c) lovely, standard, finding
(d) classic, back, findings
(e) None is correct
S5. Ans.(c)
Sol. Exquisite- extremely beautiful and delicate, intensely felt.
synonyms- beautiful, lovely, elegant, graceful
Qualities -the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something.
synonyms-standard, grade, class, classification, caliber, status, condition, character, nature, constitution, Make-up, form, rank, worth, value, level
Discovery -the action or process of discovering or being discovered.
synonyms- finding, locating, location, uncovering, unearthing
Q6. Energy, in the form of electricity, was used in ancient India, which was called as vaidyutaagni. The same energy was also used as atom bomb in ancient India, which was called as Brahmaastra. In the Mahabharata war, the atom bomb (Brahmaastra) was used and its full description along with all the posterior effects (as observed in Hiroshima) were clearly explained.
(a) former, illustration, rear
(b) new, terms, determined
(c) formation, brawl, spar
(d) latest, asset, forms
(e) None is correct
S6. Ans.(a)
Sol. Ancient-belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence.
synonyms- of long ago, earliest, first, early, past, former, bygone
Description -a spoken or written account of a person, object, or event,a type or class of people or things.
synonyms- account, explanation, elucidation, illustration, representation, interpretation, sort, variety, kind, style, type, category, order, breed, species
Posterior -further back in position; of or nearer the rear or hind end.
synonyms- rear, hind, back, hinder, rearward
Q7. When you go to a bank, the manager will do many adjustments in the basic pattern of rules of administration in order to help the customer. Without violating the fundamental set-up of the administration, some talented ways may be applied by the manager so that the customers feel happy and the bank is maintained with many customers supporting it.
(a) fight, grapple, finite
(b) consumer, breaching, aiding
(c) extent, few, convey
(d) people, limiting, product
(e) None is correct
S7. Ans.(b)
Sol. Customer -a person who buys goods or services from a shop or business. synonyms- shopper, consumer, buyer, purchaser
Violating -break or fail to comply with (a rule or formal agreement), synonyms- contravene, breach, commit a breach of, infringe, infract, break, transgress, overstep
Supporting -bear all or part of the weight of; hold up, give assistance to, especially financially, provide with a home and the necessities of life.
synonyms- hold up, bear, carry, prop up, keep up, bolster up, brace, shore up, underpin, buttress, reinforce
Q8. No figures are available about India, but every year we are enacting new criminal statutes both at the Centre as well as in the states. The triple divorce bill is yet another instance of over criminalization. Even the Supreme Court had noted that incidence of triple divorce is insignificant.
(a) scuffle, trade, free
(b) erratic, limit, restraint
(c) validating, example, meaningless
(d) example, van, spread
(e) None is correct
S8. Ans.(c)
Sol. Enacting-make (a bill or other proposal) law, put into practice (an idea or suggestion).synonyms- make law, pass, approve, ratify, validate, sanction, authorize, accept, give the seal of approval to
Instance -an example or single occurrence of something.
synonyms- example, occasion, occurrence, case, representative case, typical case, case in point, illustration, specimen, sample, exemplar
Insignificant -too small or unimportant to be worth consideration, (of a person) without power or influence, meaningless, trivial.
Q9. India is stuck in a collective action problem: It’s not rational for anyone to switch to public transport until everyone else also follows. An individual will stop using his car if the bus is faster, but that is possible only if others also get their cars off the road. Unfortunately, city-development plans have failed to create the right incentives, as is borne out by the preference for private transport.
(a) sadly, inducement, priority
(b) greatly, bear, plug
(c) flight, lovely, kind
(d) stuffing, terms, determined
(e) None is correct
S9. Ans.(a)
Sol. Unfortunately -synonyms- unluckily, sadly, regrettably, unhappily, woefully, lamentably, alas
Incentives-a thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something.
synonyms- inducement, motivation, motive, reason, stimulus, stimulant, spur, impetus, encouragement, impulse
Preference-a greater liking for one alternative over another or others, a thing preferred.
Q10. Over the last two decades, several areas of the economy have been deemed sunrise sectors. This billing meant broad recognition of the sector’s potential to generate vast amounts of jobs and revenue. Policymakers put in place measures such as tax breaks to encourage these sectors. In the past, information technology (IT) and biotechnology (BT) were the two most prominent holders of the sunrise-sector tag.
(a) breach, trivial, whip
(b) influence, pass, comply
(c) seen, view, replace
(d) regarded as, uplift, important
(e) None is correct
S10. Ans.(d)
Sol. Deemed -regard or consider in a specified way.
synonyms- regard as, consider, judge, adjudge, hold to be, look on as, view as, see as, take to be, take for, class as, estimate as, count, rate, find, esteem
Encourage -give support, confidence, or hope to (someone). synonyms- hearten, cheer, buoy up, uplift, inspire, motivate, egg on, spur on, stir, stir up, whip up, fire up, stimulate, animate, invigorate, vitalize, revitalize,
Prominent -important; famous, projecting from something; protuberant.
synonyms- important, well known, leading, eminent, pre-eminent, distinguished, notable, noteworthy, noted, public, outstanding, foremost.
Directions (11-15): Rearrange the following Seven sentence (A), (B), (C), (D),(E) (F) and (G) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph.
A. Education, viable opportunities, affordable health facilities and proper accommodation should be made available to everyone so that they can start their careers in their homeland.
B. The government should be at the forefront of providing them opportunities to prevent a brain drain.
C. In this regard, sound policies are required to ensure good governance, rule of law and access to justice; safeguard human rights; and prevent violence, conflict, and extremism.
D. International Migrants Day is observed on December 18 every year.
E. According to a UN report from 2015, there are about 244 million migrants living in other countries.
F. Our young generation needs to be given suitable opportunities so that they can utilise their talent to fuel development in their own country.
G. As we gear up to commemorate this occasion, we must guarantee conditions whereby migration takes place as a matter of choice instead of being prompted by need or force.
Q11. If G is the THIRD sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the Fourth sentence after rearrangement?
(a) B
(b) D
(c) F
(d) H
(e) c
Q12. If G is the THIRD sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the First sentence after rearrangement?
(a) A
(b) H
(c) E
(d) D
(e) B
Q13. If G is the THIRD sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the Last sentence after rearrangement?
(a) C
(b) B
(c) H
(d) F
(e) A
Q14. If G is the THIRD sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the Fifth sentence after rearrangement?
(a) C
(b) A
(c) F
(d) B
(e) D
Q15. If G is the THIRD sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the Second sentence after rearrangement?
(a) A
(b) D
(c) E
(d) H
(e) C
Solutions (11-15):
S11. Ans.(e)
Sol. Correct sequence is DEGCAFB.
Statement D is the first sentence if the paragraph. It introduces the discussion. C supports the statement G.
S12. Ans.(d)
Sol. Correct sequence is DEGCAFB.
S13. Ans.(b)
Sol. Correct sequence is DEGCAFB. Statement B is the concluding sentence of the paragraph.
S14. Ans.(b)
Sol. Correct sequence is DEGCAFB.
S15. Ans.(c)
Sol. Correct sequence is DEGCAFB. Logically, E is the second statement which further explains the paragraph.
English Practice Questions For IBPS Clerk Mains 2017
English Section is a topic that is feared by most of the candidates appearing in the IBPS Clerk Mains Exam. Though the sheer number of concepts and rules may seem intimidating at first, with discipline and the right approach, it is not difficult to master these concepts and their application to questions. Through such English Quizzes for IBPS Clerk and other upcoming exams, we will provide you with all types of high-level questions to ace the questions based on new pattern IBPS Clerk Mains.
Directions (1-10): Which of the words/phrases (a), (b), (c) and (d) given below is most similar in meaning to the word/group of words printed in bold as used in the passage and make it meaningful and coherent. Words in option can be modified according to the tense of the sentence keeping the meaning of root word intact. If none of the options is correct mark (e) as the answer.
Q1. In spite of government’s efforts to curb the growth of cryptocurrencies and Blockchain in India, the people of India and the Indian market for cryptocurrencies appear to love them all the more. The year 2017 has been particularly interesting for the growth of cryptocurrencies in India, mainly due to the ‘to the moon’ journey of the Bitcoin missile. Digital currency’s rapid price appreciation has sparked a nationwide interest, with the mainstream Indian media going haywire on cryptocurrency reporting. Media routinely gives both ‘investment’ advice and reiterates ‘cautionary’ warnings from the Indian government at the same time.
(a) limitation, rein, relating
(b) grapple, wrestle, plugging
(c) stop, light, bring
(d) check, enkindle, erratic
(e) None is correct
S1. Ans.(d)
Sol. Curb -a check or restraint on something. synonyms-restraint, restriction, check, brake, rein, control, limitation, limit,
Sparked -emit sparks of fire or electricity, ignite.
Haywire-erratic; out of control
Q2. The country has been at the forefront of massive cryptocurrency adoption this year and the government has struggled to keep up with developments and trading in the industry, where arbitrage between exchanges is commonplace.
(a) head, deal, asset
(b) front, grappled, trade
(c) violent, scuffle, determined
(d) vanguard, congested, trade
(e) None is correct
S2. Ans.(b)
Sol. Forefront-the leading or most important position or place.
synonyms- vanguard, van, spearhead, head, lead, fore, front, front line, cutting edge, foreground
Struggled -make forceful or violent efforts to get free of restraint or constriction, engage in conflict.
synonyms-fight, grapple, wrestle, scuffle, brawl, spar,
Arbitrage- the simultaneous buying and selling of securities, currency, or commodities in different markets or in derivative forms in order to take advantage of differing prices for the same asset.
Synonym- merchandise, trade, investing
Q3. Judges of the constitutional courts are often those who have left lucrative careers in the legal profession to follow the path of justice administration. This means a big cut in their income and a limited social life, leave aside transfers out of their parent State High Court.
(a) profitable, restricted, carry
(b) lofty, engage, selling
(c) trade, terms, purely
(d) expensive, strained, view
(e) None is correct
S3. Ans.(a)
Sol. Correct choice is option A.
Lucrative -producing a great deal of profit. synonyms- profitable, profit-making, gainful, remunerative, moneymaking, paying, high-income
Limited -restricted in size, amount, or extent; few, small, or short.
synonyms- restricted, finite, bounded, little, narrow, tight, lean, slight, slender,
Transfers -move from one place to another, change to another place, route, or means of transport during a journey. synonyms-move, convey, shift, remove, take, carry, fetch, lift, bring, bear, conduct, send
Q4. Urban planning is a mechanistic process that pays little heed to evolving urban landscapes. Taken together, this means band-aid solutions to congestion, i.e. building more roads. That is what the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission did, as it allocated 80% of the budget to building roads and flyovers.
(a) customers, buttress, roads
(b) technician, overcrowding, fly-past
(c) rear, further, maps
(d) emit, trade, lift
(e) None is correct
S4. Ans.(b)
Sol. Mechanistic -relating to theories which explain phenomena in purely physical or deterministic terms, determined by physical processes alone.
Congestion-the state of being congested.
synonyms- crowding, overcrowding; obstruction, blockage, stoppage, blocking, clogging, choking, plugging, stuffing; traffic jam, bottleneck
Flyovers -a bridge carrying one railway line or road over another, a low flight by one or more aircraft over a specific location. Synonyms- Flight, flying.
Q5. India is known for many wonderful things. On the international stage, it is recognized as the fastest-growing economy in the world, and is well-known for its culture, exquisite cuisine and sense of community and family, among many other qualities. One thing it is less known for is the discovery and development of new medicines.
(a) bridge, public, search
(b) beautiful, process, felt
(c) lovely, standard, finding
(d) classic, back, findings
(e) None is correct
S5. Ans.(c)
Sol. Exquisite- extremely beautiful and delicate, intensely felt.
synonyms- beautiful, lovely, elegant, graceful
Qualities -the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something.
synonyms-standard, grade, class, classification, caliber, status, condition, character, nature, constitution, Make-up, form, rank, worth, value, level
Discovery -the action or process of discovering or being discovered.
synonyms- finding, locating, location, uncovering, unearthing
Q6. Energy, in the form of electricity, was used in ancient India, which was called as vaidyutaagni. The same energy was also used as atom bomb in ancient India, which was called as Brahmaastra. In the Mahabharata war, the atom bomb (Brahmaastra) was used and its full description along with all the posterior effects (as observed in Hiroshima) were clearly explained.
(a) former, illustration, rear
(b) new, terms, determined
(c) formation, brawl, spar
(d) latest, asset, forms
(e) None is correct
S6. Ans.(a)
Sol. Ancient-belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence.
synonyms- of long ago, earliest, first, early, past, former, bygone
Description -a spoken or written account of a person, object, or event,a type or class of people or things.
synonyms- account, explanation, elucidation, illustration, representation, interpretation, sort, variety, kind, style, type, category, order, breed, species
Posterior -further back in position; of or nearer the rear or hind end.
synonyms- rear, hind, back, hinder, rearward
Q7. When you go to a bank, the manager will do many adjustments in the basic pattern of rules of administration in order to help the customer. Without violating the fundamental set-up of the administration, some talented ways may be applied by the manager so that the customers feel happy and the bank is maintained with many customers supporting it.
(a) fight, grapple, finite
(b) consumer, breaching, aiding
(c) extent, few, convey
(d) people, limiting, product
(e) None is correct
S7. Ans.(b)
Sol. Customer -a person who buys goods or services from a shop or business. synonyms- shopper, consumer, buyer, purchaser
Violating -break or fail to comply with (a rule or formal agreement), synonyms- contravene, breach, commit a breach of, infringe, infract, break, transgress, overstep
Supporting -bear all or part of the weight of; hold up, give assistance to, especially financially, provide with a home and the necessities of life.
synonyms- hold up, bear, carry, prop up, keep up, bolster up, brace, shore up, underpin, buttress, reinforce
Q8. No figures are available about India, but every year we are enacting new criminal statutes both at the Centre as well as in the states. The triple divorce bill is yet another instance of over criminalization. Even the Supreme Court had noted that incidence of triple divorce is insignificant.
(a) scuffle, trade, free
(b) erratic, limit, restraint
(c) validating, example, meaningless
(d) example, van, spread
(e) None is correct
S8. Ans.(c)
Sol. Enacting-make (a bill or other proposal) law, put into practice (an idea or suggestion).synonyms- make law, pass, approve, ratify, validate, sanction, authorize, accept, give the seal of approval to
Instance -an example or single occurrence of something.
synonyms- example, occasion, occurrence, case, representative case, typical case, case in point, illustration, specimen, sample, exemplar
Insignificant -too small or unimportant to be worth consideration, (of a person) without power or influence, meaningless, trivial.
Q9. India is stuck in a collective action problem: It’s not rational for anyone to switch to public transport until everyone else also follows. An individual will stop using his car if the bus is faster, but that is possible only if others also get their cars off the road. Unfortunately, city-development plans have failed to create the right incentives, as is borne out by the preference for private transport.
(a) sadly, inducement, priority
(b) greatly, bear, plug
(c) flight, lovely, kind
(d) stuffing, terms, determined
(e) None is correct
S9. Ans.(a)
Sol. Unfortunately -synonyms- unluckily, sadly, regrettably, unhappily, woefully, lamentably, alas
Incentives-a thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something.
synonyms- inducement, motivation, motive, reason, stimulus, stimulant, spur, impetus, encouragement, impulse
Preference-a greater liking for one alternative over another or others, a thing preferred.
Q10. Over the last two decades, several areas of the economy have been deemed sunrise sectors. This billing meant broad recognition of the sector’s potential to generate vast amounts of jobs and revenue. Policymakers put in place measures such as tax breaks to encourage these sectors. In the past, information technology (IT) and biotechnology (BT) were the two most prominent holders of the sunrise-sector tag.
(a) breach, trivial, whip
(b) influence, pass, comply
(c) seen, view, replace
(d) regarded as, uplift, important
(e) None is correct
S10. Ans.(d)
Sol. Deemed -regard or consider in a specified way.
synonyms- regard as, consider, judge, adjudge, hold to be, look on as, view as, see as, take to be, take for, class as, estimate as, count, rate, find, esteem
Encourage -give support, confidence, or hope to (someone). synonyms- hearten, cheer, buoy up, uplift, inspire, motivate, egg on, spur on, stir, stir up, whip up, fire up, stimulate, animate, invigorate, vitalize, revitalize,
Prominent -important; famous, projecting from something; protuberant.
synonyms- important, well known, leading, eminent, pre-eminent, distinguished, notable, noteworthy, noted, public, outstanding, foremost.
Directions (11-15): Rearrange the following Seven sentence (A), (B), (C), (D),(E) (F) and (G) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph.
A. Education, viable opportunities, affordable health facilities and proper accommodation should be made available to everyone so that they can start their careers in their homeland.
B. The government should be at the forefront of providing them opportunities to prevent a brain drain.
C. In this regard, sound policies are required to ensure good governance, rule of law and access to justice; safeguard human rights; and prevent violence, conflict, and extremism.
D. International Migrants Day is observed on December 18 every year.
E. According to a UN report from 2015, there are about 244 million migrants living in other countries.
F. Our young generation needs to be given suitable opportunities so that they can utilise their talent to fuel development in their own country.
G. As we gear up to commemorate this occasion, we must guarantee conditions whereby migration takes place as a matter of choice instead of being prompted by need or force.
Q11. If G is the THIRD sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the Fourth sentence after rearrangement?
(a) B
(b) D
(c) F
(d) H
(e) c
Q12. If G is the THIRD sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the First sentence after rearrangement?
(a) A
(b) H
(c) E
(d) D
(e) B
Q13. If G is the THIRD sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the Last sentence after rearrangement?
(a) C
(b) B
(c) H
(d) F
(e) A
Q14. If G is the THIRD sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the Fifth sentence after rearrangement?
(a) C
(b) A
(c) F
(d) B
(e) D
Q15. If G is the THIRD sentence of the paragraph, which of the following should be the Second sentence after rearrangement?
(a) A
(b) D
(c) E
(d) H
(e) C
Solutions (11-15):
S11. Ans.(e)
Sol. Correct sequence is DEGCAFB.
Statement D is the first sentence if the paragraph. It introduces the discussion. C supports the statement G.
S12. Ans.(d)
Sol. Correct sequence is DEGCAFB.
S13. Ans.(b)
Sol. Correct sequence is DEGCAFB. Statement B is the concluding sentence of the paragraph.
S14. Ans.(b)
Sol. Correct sequence is DEGCAFB.
S15. Ans.(c)
Sol. Correct sequence is DEGCAFB. Logically, E is the second statement which further explains the paragraph.
English Practice Questions For IBPS SO Prelims 2017 (Answers)
Dear Aspirants,
English Practice Questions For IBPS SO Prelims 2017
English Section is a topic that is feared by most of the candidates appearing in the IBPS SO and IBPS Clerk Mains Exam. Though the sheer number of concepts and rules may seem intimidating at first, with discipline and the right approach, it is not difficult to master these concepts and their application to questions. Through such English Quizzes for IBPS Clerk, IBPS SO and other upcoming exams, we will provide you with all types of high-level questions to ace the questions based on new pattern English for IBPS SO and IBPS Clerk Mains.
Directions (1-10): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are given bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.
Language is not a cultural artefact that we learn the way we learn to tell time or how the federal government works. Instead, it is a distinct piece of the biological makeup of our brains. Language is a complex, specialized skill, which develop in the child spontaneously, without conscious effort or formal instruction, is deployed without awareness of its underlying logic, is qualitatively the same in every individual, and is distinct from more general abilities to process information or behave intelligently. For these reasons some cognitive scientists have described language as a psychological faculty, a mental organ, a neural system, and a computational module. But I prefer the admittedly quaint term "instinct". It conveys the idea that people know how to talk in more or less the sense that spider know how to spin webs. Web-spinning was not invented by some unsung spider genius and does not depend on having had the right education or on having an aptitude for architecture or the construction trades. Rather, spider spin spider webs because they have spider brains, which give them the urge to spin and the competence to succeed. Although there are differences between webs and words, I will encourage you to see language in this way, for it helps to make sense of the phenomena we will explore.
Thinking of language as an instinct inverts the popular wisdom, especially as it has been passed down in the canon of the humanities and social sciences. Language is no more a cultural invention than is upright posture.
It is not manifestation of a general capacity to use symbols: a three-year-old, we shall see, is a grammatical genius, but is quite incompetent at the visual arts, religious iconography, traffic signs, and the other staples of the semiotics curriculum. Though language is a magnificent ability unique to Homo sapiens among living species, it does not call for sequestering the study of human from the domain of biology, for a magnificent ability unique to a particular living species is far from unique in the animal kingdom. Some kinds of bats home in on flying insects using Doppler sonar. Some kinds of migratory birds navigate thousands of miles by calibrating the position of the constellation against the time of day and year. In nature's talent show, we are simply a species of primate with our act, a knack for communicating information about 'who did what to whom' by modulating the sound we make when we exhale.
Once you begin to look at language not as the ineffable essence of human uniqueness but as a biological adaptation to communication information, it is no longer as tempting to see language as an insidious shaper of thoughts, and, we shall see, it is not. Moreover, seeing language as one of nature's engineering marvels—an organ with “that perfection of structure and co-adaptation which justly excites our admiration," in Darwin's words—gives us a new respect for your ordinary Joe and the much-maligned English language (or any language). The complexity of language, from the scientist's point of view, is part of our biological birthright; it is not something that parents teach their children or something that must be elaborated in school—as Oscar Wilde said, "Education admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught." A preschooler's tacit knowledge of grammar is more sophisticated than the thickest style manual or the most state-of-the-art computer language system, and the same applies to all healthy human beings, even the notorious syntax-fracturing professional athlete and the, you know, like, inarticulate teenage skateboarder. Finally, since language is the product of a well-engineered biological instinct, we shall see that it is not the nutty barrel of moneys that entertainer-columnists make it out to be.
Q1. According to the passage, which of the following does not stem from popular wisdom on language?
(a) Language is the cultural artefact.
(b) Language is the cultural invention.
(c) Language is learnt as we grow.
(d) Language is unique to Homo sapiens.
(e) Language is a psychological faculty.
S1. Ans.(e)
Sol. Notice the “not” in the question. First the answer option that language is a psychological faculty is attributed to cognitive scientists—and not to popular wisdom. Next, the writer states that he would prefer the word “instinct” rather than “psychological faculty” and then the second paragraph explicitly states: Thinking of language as an instinct inverts the popular wisdom, hence, option (e) becomes the answer.
Q2. Which of the following can be used to replace the "spiders know how to spin webs" analogy as used by the author?
(a) A kitten learning to jump over a wall.
(b) Bees collecting nectar.
(c) A donkey carrying a load.
(d) A horse running a Derby.
(e) A pet dog protecting its owner's property.
S2. Ans.(b)
Sol. All the remaining options are “trained” or acquired skills; rather than instinctive or natural as the comparison must show.
Q3. According to the passage, which of the following is unique to human being?
(a) Ability to use symbols while communicating with one another.
(b) Ability to communicate with each other through voice modulation.
(c) Ability to communicate information to other member of the species.
(d) Ability to used sound as means of communication.
(e) All of the above.
S3. Ans.(b)
Sol. The last sentence of the paragraph states this explicitly. In nature’s talent show, we are simply a species of primate with our act (unique), a knack for communicating information about who did what to whom by modulating the sound (voice modulation) we make when we exhale. Option (a) is incorrect because the writer attributes this ability to bats migratory birds etc. and states that it is not unique.
Q4. According to the passage, complexity of language cannot be taught by parents or at school to children because
(a) Children instinctively know language.
(b) Children learn the language on their own.
(c) Language is not amenable to teaching.
(d) Children know language better than their teachers or parents.
(e) Children are born with the knowledge of semiotics.
S4. Ans.(a)
Sol. This is most clearly stated in the passage. “The complexity of language, from the scientist’s point of view, is part of our biological birthright; it is not something that parents teach their children or something that must be elaborated in schools.”
Q5. Which of the following best summarizes the passage?
(a) Language is unique to Homo sapiens.
(b) Language is neither learnt nor taught.
(c) Language is not a cultural invention or artefact as it is made out.
(d) Language is instinctive ability of human being.
(e) Language is use of symbols unique to human beings.
S5. Ans.(d)
Sol. Option (a) is contrary to the passage. Option (b) and C are vague because it states what language is not. The writer’s purpose is not to state what language is not, but to prove that language is instinctive to humans. Option (d) states what is and the highlight of the passage. Option (e) is contrary to the passage.
Q6. Which of the following is most nearly similar in meaning of the word posture as used in the passage?
(a) perspective
(b) formidable
(c) position
(d) cowardice
(e) spurious
S6. Ans.(c)
Sol. Posture- the position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting,behave in a way that is intended to impress or mislead.
synonyms- position, pose, attitude, stance,attitude, stance, stand, standpoint, view, point of view, viewpoint, opinion, position
Q7. Which of the following is most nearly similar in meaning of the word manifestation as used in the passage?
(a) concealment
(b) demonstration
(c) vagueness
(d) obscurity
(e) bridge
S7. Ans.(b)
Sol. Manifestation-an event, action, or object that clearly shows or embodies something abstract or theoretical, the action or fact of showing something.
synonyms- display, demonstration, showing, show, exhibition, presentation, indication, illustration, exemplification, exposition, disclosure, declaration, expression, profession,a symptom of an ailment, sign, indication, evidence, proof, token, symptom, testimony, substantiation, mark
Q8. Which of the following is most nearly Opposite in meaning of the word insidious as used in the passage?
(a) endemic
(b) entire
(c) kinship
(d) simplistic
(e) honest
S8. Ans.(b)
Sol. Insidious-proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with very harmful effects.
synonyms- stealthy, subtle, surreptitious, sneaking, cunning, crafty, Machiavellian, artful, guileful, sly, wily, tricky, slick, deceitful, deceptive, dishonest, underhand, backhanded, indirect
Q9. Which of the following is most nearly Opposite in meaning of the word tacit as used in the passage?
(a) insinuated
(b) inferred
(c) insinuated
(d) explicit
(e) specializes
S9. Ans.(d)
Sol. Tacit -understood or implied without being stated.
synonyms- implicit, understood, implied, inferred, hinted, suggested, insinuated
Q10. Which of the following is most nearly Opposite in meaning of the word inarticulate as used in the passage?
(a) unuttered
(b) expatiating
(c) disappeared
(d) resentful
(e) adolescents
S10. Ans.(b)
Sol. Inarticulate- unable to express one's ideas or feelings clearly or easily,not clearly expressed or pronounced, not expressed in words.
synonyms- unspoken, silent, unexpressed, wordless, unvoiced, unsaid, unuttered
Directions: (11- 15) Read each sentence to find out whether there is any 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). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.)
Q11. We were happy that a)/ the audience responded well b)/ and gave all the speakers c)/ a patiently listening. d)/ No error e).
S11. Ans.(d)
Sol. Replace 'patient' in the place of 'patiently.'
Q12. He received timely support a)/ from his elder brother b)/ who is working abroad c)/ for the last six years. d)/ No error e).
S12. (c)
Sol. Who had been working abroad.
Q13. The notorious gang opened a)/ the door quietly and b)/ escaped in the dark with c)/ whatever they would collect. d)/ No error e).
S13. (d)
Sol. Whatever they had collected. ‘Past perfect tense’ is needed here.
Q14. One of the security men a)/ rushed forward and asked b)/ me whether I c)/ had anything objectionable. d)/ No error e).
S14. (e)
Sol. No error
Q15. We could not a)/ believe that one b)/ of us was c)/ responsible with the act. d)/ No error e).
S15. (d)
Sol. Replace 'for' in place of 'with.'
English Practice Questions For IBPS SO Prelims 2017
English Section is a topic that is feared by most of the candidates appearing in the IBPS SO and IBPS Clerk Mains Exam. Though the sheer number of concepts and rules may seem intimidating at first, with discipline and the right approach, it is not difficult to master these concepts and their application to questions. Through such English Quizzes for IBPS Clerk, IBPS SO and other upcoming exams, we will provide you with all types of high-level questions to ace the questions based on new pattern English for IBPS SO and IBPS Clerk Mains.
Directions (1-10): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are given bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.
Language is not a cultural artefact that we learn the way we learn to tell time or how the federal government works. Instead, it is a distinct piece of the biological makeup of our brains. Language is a complex, specialized skill, which develop in the child spontaneously, without conscious effort or formal instruction, is deployed without awareness of its underlying logic, is qualitatively the same in every individual, and is distinct from more general abilities to process information or behave intelligently. For these reasons some cognitive scientists have described language as a psychological faculty, a mental organ, a neural system, and a computational module. But I prefer the admittedly quaint term "instinct". It conveys the idea that people know how to talk in more or less the sense that spider know how to spin webs. Web-spinning was not invented by some unsung spider genius and does not depend on having had the right education or on having an aptitude for architecture or the construction trades. Rather, spider spin spider webs because they have spider brains, which give them the urge to spin and the competence to succeed. Although there are differences between webs and words, I will encourage you to see language in this way, for it helps to make sense of the phenomena we will explore.
Thinking of language as an instinct inverts the popular wisdom, especially as it has been passed down in the canon of the humanities and social sciences. Language is no more a cultural invention than is upright posture.
It is not manifestation of a general capacity to use symbols: a three-year-old, we shall see, is a grammatical genius, but is quite incompetent at the visual arts, religious iconography, traffic signs, and the other staples of the semiotics curriculum. Though language is a magnificent ability unique to Homo sapiens among living species, it does not call for sequestering the study of human from the domain of biology, for a magnificent ability unique to a particular living species is far from unique in the animal kingdom. Some kinds of bats home in on flying insects using Doppler sonar. Some kinds of migratory birds navigate thousands of miles by calibrating the position of the constellation against the time of day and year. In nature's talent show, we are simply a species of primate with our act, a knack for communicating information about 'who did what to whom' by modulating the sound we make when we exhale.
Once you begin to look at language not as the ineffable essence of human uniqueness but as a biological adaptation to communication information, it is no longer as tempting to see language as an insidious shaper of thoughts, and, we shall see, it is not. Moreover, seeing language as one of nature's engineering marvels—an organ with “that perfection of structure and co-adaptation which justly excites our admiration," in Darwin's words—gives us a new respect for your ordinary Joe and the much-maligned English language (or any language). The complexity of language, from the scientist's point of view, is part of our biological birthright; it is not something that parents teach their children or something that must be elaborated in school—as Oscar Wilde said, "Education admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught." A preschooler's tacit knowledge of grammar is more sophisticated than the thickest style manual or the most state-of-the-art computer language system, and the same applies to all healthy human beings, even the notorious syntax-fracturing professional athlete and the, you know, like, inarticulate teenage skateboarder. Finally, since language is the product of a well-engineered biological instinct, we shall see that it is not the nutty barrel of moneys that entertainer-columnists make it out to be.
Q1. According to the passage, which of the following does not stem from popular wisdom on language?
(a) Language is the cultural artefact.
(b) Language is the cultural invention.
(c) Language is learnt as we grow.
(d) Language is unique to Homo sapiens.
(e) Language is a psychological faculty.
S1. Ans.(e)
Sol. Notice the “not” in the question. First the answer option that language is a psychological faculty is attributed to cognitive scientists—and not to popular wisdom. Next, the writer states that he would prefer the word “instinct” rather than “psychological faculty” and then the second paragraph explicitly states: Thinking of language as an instinct inverts the popular wisdom, hence, option (e) becomes the answer.
Q2. Which of the following can be used to replace the "spiders know how to spin webs" analogy as used by the author?
(a) A kitten learning to jump over a wall.
(b) Bees collecting nectar.
(c) A donkey carrying a load.
(d) A horse running a Derby.
(e) A pet dog protecting its owner's property.
S2. Ans.(b)
Sol. All the remaining options are “trained” or acquired skills; rather than instinctive or natural as the comparison must show.
Q3. According to the passage, which of the following is unique to human being?
(a) Ability to use symbols while communicating with one another.
(b) Ability to communicate with each other through voice modulation.
(c) Ability to communicate information to other member of the species.
(d) Ability to used sound as means of communication.
(e) All of the above.
S3. Ans.(b)
Sol. The last sentence of the paragraph states this explicitly. In nature’s talent show, we are simply a species of primate with our act (unique), a knack for communicating information about who did what to whom by modulating the sound (voice modulation) we make when we exhale. Option (a) is incorrect because the writer attributes this ability to bats migratory birds etc. and states that it is not unique.
Q4. According to the passage, complexity of language cannot be taught by parents or at school to children because
(a) Children instinctively know language.
(b) Children learn the language on their own.
(c) Language is not amenable to teaching.
(d) Children know language better than their teachers or parents.
(e) Children are born with the knowledge of semiotics.
S4. Ans.(a)
Sol. This is most clearly stated in the passage. “The complexity of language, from the scientist’s point of view, is part of our biological birthright; it is not something that parents teach their children or something that must be elaborated in schools.”
Q5. Which of the following best summarizes the passage?
(a) Language is unique to Homo sapiens.
(b) Language is neither learnt nor taught.
(c) Language is not a cultural invention or artefact as it is made out.
(d) Language is instinctive ability of human being.
(e) Language is use of symbols unique to human beings.
S5. Ans.(d)
Sol. Option (a) is contrary to the passage. Option (b) and C are vague because it states what language is not. The writer’s purpose is not to state what language is not, but to prove that language is instinctive to humans. Option (d) states what is and the highlight of the passage. Option (e) is contrary to the passage.
Q6. Which of the following is most nearly similar in meaning of the word posture as used in the passage?
(a) perspective
(b) formidable
(c) position
(d) cowardice
(e) spurious
S6. Ans.(c)
Sol. Posture- the position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting,behave in a way that is intended to impress or mislead.
synonyms- position, pose, attitude, stance,attitude, stance, stand, standpoint, view, point of view, viewpoint, opinion, position
Q7. Which of the following is most nearly similar in meaning of the word manifestation as used in the passage?
(a) concealment
(b) demonstration
(c) vagueness
(d) obscurity
(e) bridge
S7. Ans.(b)
Sol. Manifestation-an event, action, or object that clearly shows or embodies something abstract or theoretical, the action or fact of showing something.
synonyms- display, demonstration, showing, show, exhibition, presentation, indication, illustration, exemplification, exposition, disclosure, declaration, expression, profession,a symptom of an ailment, sign, indication, evidence, proof, token, symptom, testimony, substantiation, mark
Q8. Which of the following is most nearly Opposite in meaning of the word insidious as used in the passage?
(a) endemic
(b) entire
(c) kinship
(d) simplistic
(e) honest
S8. Ans.(b)
Sol. Insidious-proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with very harmful effects.
synonyms- stealthy, subtle, surreptitious, sneaking, cunning, crafty, Machiavellian, artful, guileful, sly, wily, tricky, slick, deceitful, deceptive, dishonest, underhand, backhanded, indirect
Q9. Which of the following is most nearly Opposite in meaning of the word tacit as used in the passage?
(a) insinuated
(b) inferred
(c) insinuated
(d) explicit
(e) specializes
S9. Ans.(d)
Sol. Tacit -understood or implied without being stated.
synonyms- implicit, understood, implied, inferred, hinted, suggested, insinuated
Q10. Which of the following is most nearly Opposite in meaning of the word inarticulate as used in the passage?
(a) unuttered
(b) expatiating
(c) disappeared
(d) resentful
(e) adolescents
S10. Ans.(b)
Sol. Inarticulate- unable to express one's ideas or feelings clearly or easily,not clearly expressed or pronounced, not expressed in words.
synonyms- unspoken, silent, unexpressed, wordless, unvoiced, unsaid, unuttered
Directions: (11- 15) Read each sentence to find out whether there is any 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). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.)
Q11. We were happy that a)/ the audience responded well b)/ and gave all the speakers c)/ a patiently listening. d)/ No error e).
S11. Ans.(d)
Sol. Replace 'patient' in the place of 'patiently.'
Q12. He received timely support a)/ from his elder brother b)/ who is working abroad c)/ for the last six years. d)/ No error e).
S12. (c)
Sol. Who had been working abroad.
Q13. The notorious gang opened a)/ the door quietly and b)/ escaped in the dark with c)/ whatever they would collect. d)/ No error e).
S13. (d)
Sol. Whatever they had collected. ‘Past perfect tense’ is needed here.
Q14. One of the security men a)/ rushed forward and asked b)/ me whether I c)/ had anything objectionable. d)/ No error e).
S14. (e)
Sol. No error
Q15. We could not a)/ believe that one b)/ of us was c)/ responsible with the act. d)/ No error e).
S15. (d)
Sol. Replace 'for' in place of 'with.'
Salary increment letter
Dear Sir,
I would like to thank you for taking time, out of your busy schedule to read my e-mail. I have been working with XYZ Company for a period of 20 months. I believe that I have done my job well to the best of my ability and my skills are improved in the above mentioned time. I am thankful to you for providing this opportunity.
Due to the high cost of living and want to give additional financial support to my family. I would like to request you for an appreciable salary increment for my performance.
I also ensure to strive continuously for the growth of our company.
Thank you for considering my request.
with regards,
(Your name)
I would like to thank you for taking time, out of your busy schedule to read my e-mail. I have been working with XYZ Company for a period of 20 months. I believe that I have done my job well to the best of my ability and my skills are improved in the above mentioned time. I am thankful to you for providing this opportunity.
Due to the high cost of living and want to give additional financial support to my family. I would like to request you for an appreciable salary increment for my performance.
I also ensure to strive continuously for the growth of our company.
Thank you for considering my request.
with regards,
(Your name)
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