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Directions (1-10): Read the following passage and answer the questions that follows. For students of geopolitics, the visit by Xi Jinping, China‘s president, to Berlin was a highlight of the week. Students of economics may have been more taken with Mr Xi‘s stop in the industrial western state of North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW), to toasts, cheers and favourable press coverage. His visit points up a rising trend: Chinese purchases of Germany‘s prized, medium-sized and high-tech Mittelstand companies. A study published in January by EY, a firm of consultants, found that companies from China or Hong Kong had bought 25 German firms in 2013, thrice the rate of just a few years earlier. Only Britain was as popular, but if the trend continues German companies will soon stand alone in Chinese estimation. After America, China is the biggest non-European investor in Germany. Another study, by Prognos, a research firm, expects Chinese investment there to quadruple between 2011 and 2020, to $2 billion. Unlike Chinese purchases in America, the shopping spree in Germany causes little alarm. Germans are proud that ―Made in Germany‖ is a mark of quality not only for products but also for companies. Their economics ministry believes that the country has over 1,300 ―hidden champions‖, world leaders in specialised products, more by far than anywhere else. China‘s purchases have included Putzmeister, a Swabian maker of concrete pumps, and Kiekert, from NRW, which makes car-door latches. Some German bosses have naturally worried that the Chinese buyers were just looking to strip out technical knowledge, while workers worried for their jobs. But to the target companies‘ pleasant surprise, Chinese buyers have mostly been content to leave the companies to run much as they had before. The Chinese are attracted by the Germans‘ attitudes as much as by their know-how. The buyers know that ―Made in China‖ still stands, in many minds, for cheap stuff assembled in the Middle Kingdom but designed elsewhere. German companies excel at incremental but constant innovation. They have continued to grind out productivity gains during Germany‘s decade-long recovery from stagnation. Chinese managers, by contrast, are mostly used to pursuing growth, says Nils Stieglitz of the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. He expects the Chinese investors to spend a good bit of time watching and learning from their German acquisitions. Besides fresh capital, what do the Germans get from the deal? Ingeborg Neumann, vice-president of the Federation of German Industry (and founder of a medium-sized textile company), thinks the Chinese may be the answer to the succession problem facing many Mittelstand companies: if the founders‘ children do not want to take over, as increasingly seems the case, the Chinese can do so instead. China may solve another kind of succession problem, says EY‘s Yi Sun, by buying former state-owned firms privatised after the fall of communism in East Germany, The Chinese may be too optimistic about their German purchases. Transferring a management style, after all, is a lot harder than transferring technical know-how. Language and cultures differ: Ms Sun tells of a Chinese buyer who was surprised not to be able to get his German managers on the phone 24 hours a day. But in some ways the cultures may suit each other well. German efficiency and incremental innovation was honed by ten years of slow growth and testing competition. As their economy slows, their companies mature and competition gets stiffer, the Chinese may be glad to have those Germans on the payroll. 1) Which writing style has been used by the author in the passage? A) Analytical B) Descriptive C) Judgmental D) Narrative E) None of these 2) What does “taken with“ as highlighted in the passage means? A) going with B) frustrated with C) interested in D) enjoying E) went along 3) Which of the following statement(s) is/are false as per the above passage? (i) America is the biggest European investor in Germany. (ii) Transfer of management style is harder than transfer of technical knowledge. (iii) Chinese are attracted by the knowledge of Germans. A) Only (ii) B) Both (ii) and (i) C) Only (i) D) Only (iii) E) None is false 4) Which of the following as per the passage is/are not a benefit that Germans have or may have because of the Chinese firms buying German firms? (i) Germans get capital (ii) Succession problem is solved. (iii) Transfer of management style will be eased A) Only (i) B) Both (i) and (iii) C) Only (iii) D) All are the benefit E) Both (ii) and (I) 5) By how many times will the Chinese investment in German firms increase between 2012 and 2020? A) 4 B) 8 C) 16 D) 2 E) Not mentioned in the passage 1

6) Why are the German bosses worried about the Chinese firms buying German firms? A) They think that workers will loose job. B) They think that it will lead to stealing of technical knowledge C) Chinese company will leave the German firms to run as they were running before D) All of these E) Not mentioned in the passage 7) In the passage what difference(s) between German and Chinese has/have been mentioned that creates problem in the operation of the company? (i) Language Difference (ii) Cultural Difference (iii) Efficiency Difference A) Only (i) B) Both (i) and (ii) C) All D) Both (ii) and (iii) E) Both (i)and (iii) 8) Which of the following word has the most similar meaning of ―succession” as mentioned in the passage? A) inheritance B) continuation C) cycle D) order E) connection 9) Which of the following word means the farthest of “honed” as mentioned in the passage? A) sharpen B) blunt C) deteriorated D) improved E) lost 10) Which of the following word has the most similar meaning of ―stiffer“ as mentioned in the passage? A) inflexible B) inelastic C) fixed D) strong E) brittle Directions (11-20): Read the following passage and answer the questions that follows. Their tea hot and fragrant, their pencils sharp and red, delegates assembled in Beijing this week for China‘s lianghui or ―two meetings‖, the annual gathering of the country‘s rubber-stamp parliament (the National People‘s Congress) and its political advisory body (the Chinese People‘s Political Consultative Conference). There they heard the outgoing prime minister, Wen Jiabao, declare the government‘s economic targets and aspirations for the year ahead, including 7.5% growth. But the deliberations at these events were upstaged by an earlier, more arresting announcement. On March 1st the State Council, China‘s cabinet, spelled out fresh curbs on property speculation, sending the housing market, the stockmarket and even the marriage market into a tizzy. The curbs impose higher down-payments and stiffer mortgage rates on people buying second homes in property hotspots. They also breathe new life into a pre-existing 20% capital-gains tax on second-home sales, which had been a dead letter until now. It is not clear when this measure will take effect or what its consequences will be. In the long run, it should curb speculative demand, helping to ease prices. In the shorter run, it may have the opposite effect, discouraging some sellers and prompting others to raise their asking price so as to pass on the tax to buyers. The immediate effect of the announcement was that China‘s stockmarkets plunged, before regaining some ground . Homeowners rushed to complete sales before the tax arrived. The property office in Shanghai reportedly stayed open late into the night to cope. Marriage registrars were equally busy. Couples with multiple properties to their name hastened to divorce each other to dilute their tax bills. The tax does not apply to homes bought over five years ago as a sole residence. So married couples with two properties hoped to escape the charge by becoming singletons with one property each. According to Shanghai Daily, a local newspaper, a registrar in the Zhabei district of the city recorded 53 divorces on March 5th, surpassing the previous record of 42. There are better ways to quell China‘s turbulent property market. An annual levy on the market value of a home would discourage owners from sitting on vacant flats in the hope of making speculative gains. By renting out their properties, these hoarders could pass the tax on to the tenant. Such a tax could both curb demand for home purchases and increase the supply of rental properties. The State Council promised last month to extend a pilot version of this tax, which is now confined to a handful of luxurious Chongqing and Shanghai homes. But it has been saying that for a while. Perhaps some of the bigwigs gathered in Beijing could pick up their pencils and urge them to hurry up. 11) Why the main discussion at the meeting between National People′s Congress(NPC) and Chinese People‘s Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC) diverted from the main theme? A) Because of the plunge in stock market B) As the outgoing Prime Minister announced 7.5% growth C) Due to the rubber stamp policy of the government D) As the cabinet announced a curb on property speculation E) Not clearly mentioned in the passage 12) Which of the following is not an effect as per the author that the curb on property speculation will have? (i) It will curb speculative demand (ii) Sellers may increase the price of the property (iii) Mortgage rates will become stiffer. A) All are effect B) Only (i) C) Only (ii) D) Only (iii) E) Not clearly mentioned in the passage 13) Which of the following is not true as per the passage? A) The annual levy on the market value of a home is already applied to some luxurious homes in Chongqing and Shanghai. B) Prime Minister Wen Jiabao targeted an economic growth of 7.5% for the next year. C) The new curb on property speculation repealed the pre-existing 20% Capital Gain Tax. 2

D) The Chinese Stock Market moved downwards after the announcement of curb on property speculation. E) All are true. 14) Why did the number of divorce cases increased after the announcement of curb on property speculation? A) Couples used this announcement as an excuse to get rid of their partner. B) So that they could become the owner of single property each after they become single. C) The curb was not applicable on divorced male and Female. D) To divert the attention of the government from the main issue i.e property tax. E) Not clearly mentioned in the passage 15) If all the divorce case which had taken place on March 5th (as mentioned in the passage) were due to the result of curb on property speculation then which of the following sentence can be true? (i) The marriage of all these couples had completed at least 5 years. (ii) None of the marriage had completed 5 years. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Either (i) or (ii) D) None is true E) Both are true 16) What alternative to the curb on property speculation has the author mentioned? A) Introduction of stiffer mortgage rate B) Make property market turbulence free C) To levy annual tax on the market value of home D) Protests by bigwigs must be organized E) Not clearly mentioned in the passage 17) Which statement(s) is/are true? (i) Property Offices in Shanghai remained open late night due to rising number of divorce case. (ii) The exact date from when the curb would be applicable was known. (iii) After the announcement,Chinese stock market moved downwards before gaining the momentum back. A) All are true B) All except (ii) C) Only (iii) D) All except (i) E) None is true 18) Find the word which means MOST SIMILAR to ARRESTING as mentioned in the passage. A) Foiling B) Protecting C) Surprising D) Thwart E) Usual 19) Find the word which means MOST OPPOSITE to UPSTAGED as mentioned in the passage. A) Controlled B) Ignored C) Ejected D) Disregarded E) Focused 20) What does the work RUBBER STAMP as mentioned in the passage means? A) Flexible Parliament B) Stubborn parliament which disrespects CPPCC. C) Parliament that has complete power D) Parliament which gives approval to the decision of CPPCC without consideration. E) Parliament is superior to any other body in China Directions (21-30): Read the following passage and answer the questions that follows. In the eighteenth century, Japan‘s feudal overlords, from the shogun to the humblest samurai, found themselves under financial stress. In part, this stress can be attributed to the overlords‘ failure to adjust to a rapidly expanding economy, but the stress was also due to factors beyond the overlords‘ control. Concentration of the samurai in castle-towns had acted as a stimulus to trade. Commercial efficiency, in turn, had put temptations in the way of buyers. Since most samurai had been reduced to idleness by years of peace, encouraged to engage in scholarship and martial exercises or to perform administrative tasks that took little time, it is not surprising that their tastes and habits grew expensive. Overlords‘ income, despite the increase in rice production among their tenant farmers, failed to keep pace with their expenses. Although shortfalls in overlords‘ income resulted almost as much from laxity among their tax collectors (the nearly inevitable outcome of hereditary office-holding) as from their higher standards of living, a misfortune like a fire or flood, bringing an increase in expenses or a drop in revenue, could put a domain in debt to the city rice-brokers who handled its finances. Once in debt, neither the individual samurai nor the shogun himself found it easy to recover. It was difficult for individual samurai overlords to increase their income because the amount of rice that farmers could be made to pay in taxes was not unlimited, and since the income of Japan‘s central government consisted in part of taxes collected by the shogun from his huge domain, the government too was constrained. Therefore, the Tokugawa shoguns began to look to other sources for revenue. Cash profits from government-owned mines were already on the decline because the most easily worked deposits of silver and gold had been exhausted, although debasement of the coinage had compensated for the loss. Opening up new farmland was a possibility, but most of what was suitable had already been exploited and further reclamation was technically unfeasible. Direct taxation of the samurai themselves would be politically dangerous. This left the shoguns only commerce as a potential source of government income. Most of the country‘s wealth, or so it seemed, was finding its way into the hands of city merchants. It appeared reasonable that they should contribute part of that revenue to ease the shogun‘s burden of financing the state. A means of obtaining such revenue was soon found by levying forced loans, known as goyo-kin; although these were not taxes in the strict sense, since they were irregular in timing and arbitrary in amount, they were high in yield. Unfortunately, they pushed up prices. Thus, regrettably, the Tokugawa shoguns‘ search for solvency for the government made it increasingly difficult for individual Japanese who lived on fixed stipends to make ends meet. 3

21) The passage is most probably an excerpt from A) an economic history of Japan B) the memoirs of a samurai warrior C) a modern novel about eighteenth-century Japan D) an essay contrasting Japanese feudalism with its Western counterpart E) an introduction to a collection of Japanese folktales 22) Which of the following financial situations is most analogous to the financial situation in which Japan‘s Tokugawa shoguns found themselves in the eighteenth century? A) A small business borrows heavily to invest in new equipment, but is able to pay off its debt early when it is awarded a lucrative government contract. B) Fire destroys a small business, but insurance covers the cost of rebuilding. C) A small business is turned down for a loan at a local bank because the owners have no credit history. D) A small business has to struggle to meet operating expenses when its profits decrease. E) A small business is able to cut back sharply on spending through greater commercial efficiency and thereby compensate for a loss of revenue. 23) Which of the following best describes the attitude of the author toward the samurai discussed in lines 11-16? A) Warmly approving B) Mildly sympathetic C) Bitterly disappointed D) Harshly disdainful E) Profoundly shocked 24) According to the passage, the major reason for the financial problems experienced by Japan‘s feudal overlords in the eighteenth century was that A) spending had outdistanced income B) trade had fallen off C) profits from mining had declined D) the coinage had been sharply debased E) the samurai had concentrated in castle-towns 25) The passage implies that individual samurai did not find it easy to recover from debt for which of the following reasons? A) Agricultural production had increased. B) Taxes were irregular in timing and arbitrary in amount. C) The Japanese government had failed to adjust to the needs of a changing economy. D) The domains of samurai overlords were becoming smaller and poorer as government revenues increased. E) There was a limit to the amount in taxes that farmers could be made to pay. 26) The passage suggests that, in eighteenth-century Japan, the office of tax collector A) was a source of personal profit to the officeholder B) was regarded with derision by many Japanese C) remained within families D) existed only in castle-towns E) took up most of the officeholder‘s time 27) Which of the following could best be substituted for the word ―This‖ as highlighted in the passage without changing the meaning of the passage? A) The search of Japan‘s Tokugawa shoguns for solvency B) The importance of commerce in feudal Japan C) The unfairness of the tax structure in eighteenth century Japan D) The difficulty of increasing government income by other means E) The difficulty experienced by both individual samurai and the shogun himself in extricating themselves from debt 28) The passage implies that which of the following was the primary reason whty the Tokugawa shotguns turned to city merchants for help in financing the state? A) A series of costly wars had depleted the nations treasury B) Most of the country‘s wealth appeared to be in city merchants hands. C) Japan had suffered a series of economic reversals due to natural disasters such as floods. D) The merchants were already heavily indebted to the shotguns E) Further reclamation of land would not have been economically advatageous 29) According to the passage, the actions of the Tokugawa shotguns in their search for solvency for the government were regrettable because those actions………….. A) raised the cost of living by pushing up prices B) resulted in the exhaustion of the most easily worked deposits of silver and gold C) were far lower in yield than had originally been anticipated D) did not succeed in reducing government spending E) acted as a deterrent to trade. 30) Which of the following word means MOST SMILIAR to the word LAXITY as mentioned in the passage. A) facility B) domain C) attitude D) leniency E) prominence Directions (31-40): Read the following passage and answer the questions that follows. TEN years ago this month investors were pretty confident. True, there were signs that problems in the American housing market would mean trouble for mortgage lenders. But most people agreed with Ben Bernanke, the Federal Reserve chairman, that ―the impact on the broader economy…seems likely to be contained.‖ The IMF had just reported that ―overall risks to the outlook seem less threatening than six months ago.‖That was reflected in market valuations. In May 2007 the cyclically-adjusted price-earnings ratio (CAPE), a measure that averages profits over ten years, was 27.6 4

for American equities . That ratio turned out to be the peak for the cycle. As the problems at Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers and others emerged, and as the world was gripped by recession, share prices plunged. By March 2009 the CAPE had fallen by more than half.mCentral banks then kicked into action, slashing interest rates and buying assets via quantitative easing (QE). The stockmarkets recovered rapidly and the S&P 500 is now more than 50% higher than it was ten years ago. And the American stockmarket‘s CAPE, at 29.2, is also higher than it was back then. Investors might worry about equity valuations but what are their alternatives? A decade ago, the ten-year Treasury- bond yield was around 4.8%; now it is 2.3%. The Fed may have started to raise rates but the return on cash is still pitiful in nominal terms and negative in real (ie, after inflation) terms.But at least the return on cash and bonds (held to maturity) is fixed in nominal terms. Investors have already suffered two big bear markets in equities this millennium. On each occasion, their losses in percentage terms were in the double digits. What might trigger another collapse?There is no law that says the CAPE has to return to its long-run average of 16.7; indeed, the ratio‘s mean over the past 30 years has been 24.5. Even in the depths of the 2008-09 crisis, the ratio only fell below the long-run average for ten months.When investors accept a high CAPE for shares, they are confident about the ability of companies to maintain, and increase, their profits. One reason why the American market has powered ahead since the election of Donald Trump is that investors expect cuts to the tax rate on corporate profits, allowing more of those profits to be passed on to shareholders.As Jeremy Grantham of GMO, a fund-management group, points out, there does seem to have been a step change in the level of American profits, as a proportion of both sales and GDP, since 1996. The corollary has been a lower share of GDP for labour, one factor behind voter discontent.Mr Grantham suggests two forces behind the higher profits: enhanced monopoly power for American companies; and low real interest rates, which have allowed firms to operate with more debt. Both suggest there is something wrong about the way capitalism is currently working. If profit margins are high, then more capital ought to be ploughed into businesses until investment-led competition drives margins back down; that has not happened. And low real interest rates reflect, in part, the extraordinary measures taken by central banks to revive developed economies after the financial crisis. The conventional threats to the equity market are twofold: a sharp rise in interest rates, which would hit indebted individuals and companies; or a decline into recession, which would dent profits. Neither looks imminent at the moment, which helps explain why Wall Street keeps hitting record highs.But there are other ways that profit margins could be hit. Protectionist policies could disrupt the free flow of goods, services and people across borders. A credit crisis could emerge elsewhere in the world—in China, for example, where debt has been growing rapidly. Flashpoints in the Middle East or on the Korean peninsula could spark war.Investors are not as complacent as they seemed a decade ago. In a poll conducted by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, a net 32% of global fund managers think shares are overvalued. Despite that, however, a net 40% have higher-than-normal holdings in shares.In other words, investors are managing to be simultaneously bullish and skittish. By a large majority, fund managers expect global growth and corporate profits to be strong over the next 12 months; but they also know such expectations are already fully reflected in share prices. All will be well provided there are no shocks. But history suggests shocks have a nasty habit of occurring. 31) Which of the following is/are not the way(s) suggested in the passage using which profit margins could be hit? (i) Steep rise in policy rate (ii) Recession (iii) Protectionist Policies A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Both (i) and (ii) D) Both (ii) and (iii) E) All are suggested 32) Which of the following statement correctly depicts the meaning of ―Despite that,‖ as used in the passage (highlighted)? A) Even though there are better stocks in the market still 40% people have higher than normal holdings in the stock. B) Even though 32% of global fund managers have negative outlook, still 40% people have higher than normal holdings in the stock. C) Even though price of stocks may fall in future still 40% people have higher than normal holdings in the stock. D) Even after having 40% higher holdings of share, people believe that stocks are overvalued. E) Due to low value of price, people have bought these shares 33) Why 10 years ago, were the investors confident even after troubled American Housing as mentioned in the passage? A) As CAPE value increased. B) They had a view that the impact of troubles on big economy would be contained C) Due to easy recovery of stock market D) Due to high yield on treasury bonds E) All of these 5

34) What steps did Central Bank of America take after CAPE had fallen in 2009? (i) Interest Rate cut (ii) Increased the money supply in the economy (iii) Buying and selling of assets. A) Only (i) B) Only (i) and (iii) C) Only (i) and (ii) D) Only (iii) E) All of these 35) Why do investors buy shares with high CAPE even after knowing that they may fall drastically in future? A) Due to the IMF report that predicted high CAPE in future. B) Quantitative easing (QE) measures by Central Bank. C) Due to recent cut in tax, resulting in visible profit growth D) They have full confidence in the ability of the company to make profits. E) All of these 36) What is/are the reasons for American firms to operate in profit even after debts? (i) Protectionist Policy (ii) Enhanced Monopoly Power (iii) Low nominal Interest Rate A) Both (ii) and (iii) B) Only (iii) C) Only (i) D) Only (ii) E) All 37) Which of the following will be the most suitable title for the passage? A) Upcoming recession a challenge for global economy B) Increasing dominance of America C) Investors are both bullish and skittish about share prices D) The impact of recession on broad economy E) After effects of recession 38) Which of the following word means opposite to PLUNGED as mentioned in the passage? A) bothered B) opulent C) intensification D) shrink E) insinuate 39) Which of the following word means opposite to IMMINENT as mentioned in the passage? A) convenient B) prospective C) preordained D) portending E) distant 40) Which of the following word means same as COMPLACENT as mentioned in the passage? A) collected B) unsure C) soothed D) gratified E) meander Directions (41-50): Read the following passage and answer the questions that follows. A DEAD rhino, with a bloody stump in place of its horn, means different things. For the species it is the danger of imminent extinction; for wildlife-lovers it is barbarism; for law-enforcers it is failure. For its poachers it means income; the horn will be exported illegally to fetch tens of thousands of dollars. For economists, it means market forces are at work.South Africa is in the throes of a poaching epidemic. Official figures show poachers killed 1,054 rhinos in 2016, up from just 13 in 2007. In Kruger National Park, home to the world‘s largest rhino population, numbers are dropping despite a fall in recorded poaching incidents. Tom Milliken of TRAFFIC, a wildlife-trade monitoring network, worries that poachers have become better at hiding the carcasses.The problem is international. The rhino-horn supply-chain sprawls from South Africa, home to nearly three-quarters of the world‘s rhinos, to Asia, and in particular to Vietnam, where rhino horn is coveted as medicine, prescribed for fevers, alcohol dependency and even cancer.Prohibitionists call for better law-enforcement. Demand for rhino horn in China, they point out, fell sharply after the government banned its use in 1993. In the rhino‘s homelands, they say, extra patrols, fences and harsher penalties have helped curb poaching in the past couple of years.But some argue the trade ban might actually be making the problem worse. Restricted supply pushes up prices and pulls in poachers. Private rhino-ranchers argue that if they could sell their stocks of horn, they could undercut the illegal trade. Some already chop off their rhinos‘ horns to make them worthless to poachers. Unlike elephant ivory, rhino horn grows back after a few years. Michael Knight, who chairs a specialist group on rhinos at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, an NGO, worries that, if rhino-horn sales remain illegal, ranchers will switch to cattle. They bear the cost of security. Poachers make the money. But by seeming to normalise rhino-horn use, legalisation might boost demand along with supply. Prohibitionists worry that any attempt to lower prices would both bring in more customers, leaving incentives to poach unchanged, and make it far easier to launder illegal, poached horn.For them, the best form of conservation is to cut demand. A new study, requested by the Vietnamese and South African governments and overseen by the International Trade Centre, an independent arm of the WTO and the UN, provides information on where that demand comes from. Thanks to contacts in the traditional-medicine business, the academic researchers who conducted the study interviewed rhino-horn users. Disproportionately, these were well-off older men. None used it as an aphrodisiac. And nothing suggested any stigma in using it: if anything, illegality enhanced the product‘s exclusivity and hence their willingness to pay. Asked how their demand would respond to price, users confirmed that cheaper horn would increase usage.But if legalisation is risky, so is maintaining the ban. The study finds a hard-core user base of around 30% of rhino-horn users, who want the stuff regardless of the penalties. So long as doctors prescribe it demand will be difficult to eradicate. Douglas MacMillan, an author of the study, is sceptical that information campaigns persuade many people to shun it. Vietnam has already seen vigorous initiatives pointing out that rhino horn is the chemical equivalent of human hair and toenails.Changes in the law may yield more evidence. On March 30th South Africa‘s constitutional court overturned the ban on domestic trade. Now, if they have the right permit, people can trade rhino horn, but not export it. TRAFFIC‘s Mr Milliken worries that this will lead to the worst of all worlds. Allowing some legal trade while the authorities are not properly enforcing the ban on illegal trade will muddy already murky waters. Once out of the country, legal and illegal horn will be all but 6

indistinguishable. So users in Vietnam will have cheaper supplies; the illegal dealers still in control of the export trade will pocket the profits; and rhinos will keep falling to the poachers‘ bullets. 41) The author says that despite fall in poaching incidents the population of rhino is decreasing. Which if the following statement supports the above statement? A) For poachers rhinos horn are a source of infinite income B) At the home of rhino, the population of rhino is decreasing C) Poachers have become better at hiding carcasses D) Extra patrols, fences and penalties have helped curb poaching E) None of these 42) Which of the following statement gives a meaningful sense to the statement ‖ with a bloody stump in place of its horn‖? A) The horn is exported illegally to fetch tens of thousands of dollar B) Rhino-horns are used as medicine in Vietnam C) Some people already chop off the horns of their Rhino to make them worthless to poachers D) Rhino horn is a chemical equivalent of human hair and toenails E) Rhino horn grows back after a few years 43) Which steps are pointed out by Prohibitionists in the passage that can stop poaching? (i) Ban on use of Rhino horns (ii) Extra patrol on places where rhinos live (iii) Cut in demand of horns A) Both (i) and (ii) B) Both (ii) and (iii) C) Both (i) and (iii) D) Only (iii) E) All of these 44) Which of the following step can stop ranchers from switching over to cattles? A) Making rhino horn sales illegal B) Making rhino horn sales legal C) Cutting the demand of rhino horn D) Stop doctors from prescribing such things E) Having cheaper supply of rhino horns 45) Which of the following is not mentioned as a possible after-effect to legalizing the sale of rhino horn. A) laundering of illegal horn will become easy B) Incentives of poachers will reduce C) It will boost demand and supplyD) None of them is mentioned E) All of them are mentioned 46) Which of the following statement as per the passage weakens the argument that people use rhino horn for medicinal purpose. A) Doctors prescribe it as per demand B) Rhino horn is chemical equivalent of human hair and toenails. C) Rhino horn is illegal to trade D) Rhino horn regrows after few years E) cheaper horn would increase usage 47) Which of the following is not mentioned in the passage as one of the Interpretation of ―A dead Rhino with stolen horns‖? A) Danger of extinction B) Cruelty C) Failure D) Income E) Drop in security level 48) Which of the following is the most suitable title for the above passage? A) pros and cons of poaching B) Rising poaching in Africa C) Might legalising the rhino-horn trade actually help? D) Ranchers vs Poachers E) Medicinal use of rhino horn 49) What is the writing style of the author? A) Judgemental B) Analytical C) Descriptive D) Narrative E) Dogmatic 50) Which of the following phrase correctly depicts the meaning of ―muddy already murky waters‖ as used in the passage A) Make something illegal B) Make a difficult situation more problematic C) Add some relief to a difficult problem D) Make a dirty thing more dirty E) Add value to a substance 7

In the passage given below there are 10 blanks, each followed by a word given in bold. Even blank has four alternative words given in options (A),(B),(C) and (D). You have to tell which word will best suit the respective blank. Mark (E) as your answer if the work given in bold after the blank is your answer i.e “No change required”. Clear and mounting (1) (generation) continues to link employee engagement to an organization‘s bottom line. An AON Hewitt study linked employee engagement to an organization‘s (2) (rival) growth, finding that organizations that had actively managed employee engagement (3) (excessive) to their peers during the recent economic downturn were now seeing ―dramatic, positive impacts to their revenue growth.‖ The Gallup study found (4) different results, noting that organizations with high employee engagement seemed to have recovered from the recession at a faster rate. A McLean & Company study yielded similar results, (5) (terminating) that organizations with highly-engaged employees had an average three-year revenue growth of 20.1 percent, versus the average 8.9 percent revenue growth rate, and had employees who were three times more likely to be top performers. Other studies have found that when organizations have engaged workers, they are 18 percent more productive than their competitors, 12 percent more profitable, have 22 percent higher-than-average shareholder returns, and have employees who are 57 percent more effective and 87 percent less likely to (6) (leave). During the recent economic downturn, many senior leaders did not consider employee engagement to be a (7) (damage) , perhaps understandably so—they had other short-term imperatives to focus on, like staying in business. However, a 2012 survey by the employee retention firm Talent Keepers indicates that employee engagement is making its way back onto strategic priority agendas. The survey of U.S. executives representing 430 organizations found that 81 percent of the senior leaders surveyed wanted to improve performance and profitability by making employee engagement a (8) (strategic) priority. The renewed interest in improving employee engagement in organizations has originated from actions executives took during the recession. Sixty-one percent of the senior executives responding to the Talent Keepers survey said they had taken the opportunity to hire better-skilled employees from the larger talent pool available during the recession and were now worried that these employees may leave when the economy (9) (deteriorate) . If this is the case, business leaders will expect HR and talent management professionals to not only (10) (partner) engagement levels, but to take proactive steps to improve employee engagement in their organizations. 1) A) evidence B) burden C) damage D) prediction E) No Change Required 2) A) sporting B) depreciated C) competitive D) vying E) No Change Required 3) A) focused B) relative C) boycotting D) damaging E) No Change Required 4) A) opposite B) challenging C) similar D) dangling E) No Change Required 5) A) concluding B) assuming C) mulling D) limiting E) No Change Required 6) A) stay B) work. C) permit D) license E) No Change Required 7) A) moment B) priority C) stress D) start E) No Change Required 8) A) trivial B) clever C) civil D) bonus E) No Change Required 9) A) worsens B) arrives C) amends D) recovers E) No Change Required 10) A) inculcate B) damage C) monitor D) predict E) No Change Required In the passage given below there are 5 blanks, each followed by a word given in bold. Even blank has four alternative words given in options (A),(B),(C) and (D). THE phrase ―Pacific island‖ conjures images of white-sand beaches, turquoise seas and cocktails served in halved coconuts. Alas, the reality is not quite so (1) . Most of the countries of the Pacific are poor and poorly run. Their tiny size and remoteness are obstacles enough to (2) . Now, thanks to global warming, they must also (3) with rising seas and increasingly frequent and severe storms. The biggest regional economies belong to the predominantly Melanesian countries closest to Asia: Fiji, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Timor-Leste (which considers itself both a Pacific and a South-East Asian country). Fiji‘s leading export has long been sugar; sugar cane covers three-quarters of its arable land. But output is falling, and its future is uncertain: for years Fijian sugar has benefited from (4)_ access to the European Union, but that is scheduled to end next year. Competing on the open market against bigger producers with lower production and transport costs, such as Brazil and India, will be (5). Fortunately, Fiji has a robust and growing tourism industry and, like many Pacific countries, reliable remittances from overseas workers. 1) A) wretched B) blissful C) undertaking D) recant 2) A) disparity B) poverty C) victory D) prosperity 3) A) contend B) oppose C) jostle D) comply 4) A) restricted B) preferential C) doubtful D) limited 8

5) A) easy B) difficult C) fruitful D) hindered In the passage given below there are 5 blanks, each followed by a word given in bold. Even blank has four alternative words given in options (A),(B),(C) and (D). Measuring GDP requires adding up the value of what is produced, net of inputs, across a wide variety of business lines, (6)_ each according to its importance in the economy. Both the output and the materials (if any) used up in making it have to be adjusted for inflation to arrive at a figure that allows for comparison with what has gone before. This is (7)enough to do for an economy of farms, production lines and mass markets—the setting in which GDP was first introduced. For today‘s rich economies, (8) by made-to-order services and increasingly (9) to the quality of experience rather than the production of ever more stuff, the trickiness is raised to a higher level. No wonder GDP statistics are still so prone to constant and substantial (10) . The problem is not just that it is hard to make these calculations. It is that what the calculations produce is a measure put to too many purposes, and, though useful, not truly fit for any of them. And there are worries that things may be getting worse. 6) A) managing B) restricting C) rectifying D) weighting 7) A) smart B) tricky C) good D) formal 8) A) dominated B) neglected C) repealed D) parsed 9) A) ensued B) geared C) effaced D) frame 10) A) worsening B) amendment C) revision D) clause In the passage given below there are 10 blanks, each followed by a word given in bold. Even blank has four alternative words given in options (A),(B),(C) and (D). You have to tell which word will best suit the respective blank. Mark (E) as your answer if the work given in bold after the blank is your answer i.e “No change required”. Cloze Test exercise ON A recent afternoon (1) [prehistorian] and dump trucks (2) [forced] into what remained of the alleyways of Xupu on the western edge of Shanghai. Their task was to remove debris from the place, formally a village but in (3) [development] an urban slum. Officials had had enough of the eyesore: in October they had sent in demolition crews which, within two months, had (4) [eject] some 13,000 migrants and flattened buildings with a total of 6,000 rooms. ―Seven out of ten people I know here have left,‖ says Zhuang Shiguo, a 42-year-old kitchen worker from Jiangsu, a neighbouring province, standing next to a heap of rubble. In recent months the authorities have (5) [aspired] more than 30 other slums in Shanghai for similar ―makeovers‖. Shanghai is stepping up its efforts to control the growth of its population. One of its techniques is to make it more difficult for unskilled workers from the countryside to live there, such as by (6) [complimenting] down their cheap, ramshackle (7) [fitting] . Similar efforts are under way in the capital, Beijing. The governments of both cities have been (8) [attack] with complaints about pressures on transport, schools and hospitals. Their (9) [response] has been to strike at those most easily displaced: rural migrants whose household-registration papers, or hukou, make them (10) [acceptable] for urban benefits such as social housing or subsidised health care and education. 1) A) performers B) excavators C) classicist D) trowel E) No Correction Required 2) A) abstained B) packed C) crammed D) heaped E) No Correction Required 3) A) reality B) concept C) journey D) consequence E) No Correction Required 4) A) admit B) exclude C) uproot D) evicted E) No Correction Required 5) A) targeted B) ignored C) presented D) attempted E) No Correction Required 6) A) knelling B) knocking C) convert D) regulate E) No Correction Required 7) A) repayment B) credit C) accommodation D) reparation E) No Correction Required 8) A) rabbled B) pushed C) deluged D) delighted E) No Correction Required 9) A) echo B) failure C) strain D) force E) No Correction Required 10) A) inexpert B) equipped C) ineligible D) wrong E) No Correction Required Direction (1-6) : In the passage given below there are 6 blanks, each followed by a word given in bold. Even blank has four alternative words given in options (A),(B),(C) and (D). You have to tell which word will best suit the respective blank. Mark (E) as your answer if the work given in bold after the blank is your answer i.e “No change required”. INNOVATION, the elixir of progress, has always (1) [lost] people their jobs. In the Industrial Revolution artisan weavers were (2) [kept] aside by the mechanical loom. Over the past 30 years the digital revolution has displaced many of the mid-skill jobs that (3) [changed] 20th-century middle-class life. Typists, ticket agents, bank tellers and many production-line jobs have been (4) [reduced] with, just as the weavers were. For those, including this newspaper, who believe that technological progress has made the world a better place, such churn is a natural part of rising prosperity. Although innovation (5) [kills] some jobs, it creates new and better ones, as a more productive society becomes richer and its wealthier inhabitants demand more goods and services. A hundred years ago one in three American workers was employed on a farm. Today less than 2% of them produce far more food. The millions (6) [led] from the land were 9

not consigned to joblessness, but found better-paid work as the economy grew more sophisticated. Today the pool of secretaries has shrunk, but there are ever more computer programmers and web designers. 1) A) swipe B) highlight C) cost D) reduced E) No change required 2) A) hired B) changed C) seen D) swept E) No change required 3) A) adopted B) underpinned C) required D) admired E) No change required 4) A) downgraded B) comforted C) admired D) dispensed E) No change required 5) A) denies B) offers C) varies D) requires E) No change required 6) A)occupied B) requested C) freed D) originated E) No change required Direction (7-10) : In the passage given below there are 5 blanks, each followed by a word given in bold. Even blank has four alternative words given in options (A),(B),(C) and (D). You have to tell which word will best suit the respective blank. Mark (E) as your answer if the work given in bold after the blank is your answer i.e “No change required”. IN THE immediate (7) [change] of the financial crisis, politicians and regulators from around the world stood shoulder to shoulder and promised to tame the excesses in the banking system that had brought the global economy to its knees. Among the first of their proposed reforms was to have more loss-absorbing capital in banks to (8) [elongate]the risks of future taxpayer-funded bail-outs. How quickly memories fade. On January 12th the Basel committee, a club of central bankers and supervisors, released new rules that are weaker than their previous proposals. The technical (9) [verification] may let big banks—mostly European ones—off the hook of having to raise as much as €70 billion ($96 billion) in capital. Although banks will still have to meet a leverage target of at least 3%, the formula for calculating it has been softened. The next day brought a surge in the share prices of big banks, which had lobbied hard for a dilution of the rules. Investors‘ elation ought to be worrying for taxpayers. One of the most remarkable features of the financial crisis of 2008 was the razor-thin capitalisation of many of the world‘s largest banks. In theory, the banking system had entered the crisis with comfortably thick (10) [brick] . 7) A) follow B) aftermath C) resulted D) changeover E) No change required 8) A) reduce B) increase C) excess D) request E) No change required 9) A) adaptation B) redundancy C) tweaks D) ease E) No change required 10) A) cushions B) step C) advantage D) stone E) No change required Directions (1-5): Fill in the blanks with appropriate words: Long ago there lived a merchant. He used to (1) in salt. He had a donkey to carry load. He used to sell his salt loaded on the donkey. He had to cross a stream to go to other village. Once his donkey fell into the stream and much of the salt was (2) in water. The donkey easily crossed the stream due to the light weight of salt on his back. The donkey was (3) The donkey on his next trip knowingly fell into the stream. The merchant suspected the animal‘s intention. On the other day too the donkey intentionally repeated the same trick. His master was now sure about the animal‘s (4) intention. The merchant next day loaded the donkey with a lot of cotton. The donkey once again repeated the same trick. He fell into the stream. This time his load became very heavy. The donkey carried the heavy load. It was very (5) for him to move on. The donkey now realized his mistake. He stopped falling down into the stream any more. He thought that it was not good to play tricks. The merchant had taught the donkey a good lesson. 1) A) sell B) business C) deal D) pact E) contract 2) A) dissolved B) drowned C) displaced D) flux E) integrated 3) A) sad B) sincere C) affected D) happy E) kind 4) A) pure B) evil C) decent D) delightful E) injurious 5) A) easy B) frustrating C) displeasing D) heavy E) tiring Directions (6-10): Fill in the blanks with appropriate words: Once an old lady lost her eyesight and became blind. She called a doctor and (6) to pay him a very big amount if he cured her. But she will not give a single penny if she is not cured. Doctor daily came to her house for treatment. He started (7) lady‘s furniture and other valuable things from the house. He took away everyday one thing from lady‘s house. So he (8) curing the lady. He cured the lady after he had removed all the furniture and valuable articles from the lady‘s house. Now doctor demanded his fee from the lady. But she refused to pay the fees and said that she is not fully cured. Doctor registered a case against her in the court. On being asked by the judge why she was not paying the fee, she told the court that her eye sight is not fully (9) She could not see her furniture and other articles in the house. The judge was very clever. He understood the matter and (10) the doctor. 6) A) permitted B) denied C) agreed D) ordered E) refused 7) A) carrying B) stealing C) observing D) utilizing E) using 8) A) avoided B) charged C) cursed D) forgot E) delayed 9) A) restored B) replaced C) replenished D) right E) correct 10) A) awarded B) bribed C) patted D) punished E) cheated 10

Direction (1-40):In each of the following sentences, find if any part of the sentence (1), (2), (3) or (4) contains error. If there is no error mark E) as you answer. 1) There are today (1)/ 40-plus university (2) / in India where (3)/ Arabic language is being taught.(4) )./ No error (5) 2) He is always telling me (1) /about the good old days (2) /and how he‘d not exchange his (3) /youth by all our modern ways (4)./ No error (5) 3) Every story was worth noting down (1)/, to sit and devour (2) / on a rainy evening (3) / with a steamed cup of tea.(4)/ No error (5) 4) This is a very (1) / welcome judgement which (2) / has immense (3) / significant beyond India.(4)/ No error (5) 5) The introduction of GST (1)/ in India promise (2) / to be a major step towards a modern (3) /, broad-based tax system (4)/ No error (5) 6) It is hoped that (1)/President‘s visit will provide(2)/ the thrust to develop a truly strategic relationship (3)/ among the two countries. (4)/ No error (5) 7) Post- demonetization (1) /, work orders greatly reduce (2) / even as contractors and traders refuse (3) / to paying in new notes. (4)/ No error (5) 8) Zardozi is a fine style (1)/ of hand embroidery (2) / traditionally done by (3) / gold and silver threads. (4)/ No error (5) 9) Unilateral withdrawal of (1)/consent by a spouse (2)/on the time of mutual divorce (3) / amounts to mental cruelty. (4)/ No error (5) 10) The bigger concern (1)/ for the team (2) / would be past (3) / errors coming in.(4) )./ No error (5) 11) Because Rashi has (1)/ a mistrust for doctors, (2)/ she is reluctant to seek (3)/ help for her medical concerns.(4)/ No error (5) 12) The employees grow angry (1)/ with their boss for assigning (2)/ such an impossible task (3)/ of creating the monthly reports overnight.(4)/ No error (5) 13) Before any among of the aforementioned (1)/ performers take the stage, (2)/ the judges will decide (3)/ which individual will leave the contest tonight.(4)/ No error (5) 14) Even though she lacked (1)/ the enzyme necessary to break down food, (2)/ she had to take a supplement (3)/ in order to help her system.(4)/ No error (5) 15) Eying the painting on the wall, (1)/ the gallery owner pondered (2)/ whether the crooking frame was (3)/ offset by a few centimeters.(4)/ No error (5) 16) Because my father is a (1)/ football fanatic, he hasn‘t (2)/ missed one of his team‘s home games (3)/ in ten years.(4)/ No error (5) 17) After so many years of fighting,(1)/ Aman became convinced that (2)/ he was no longer capable of (3)/ making up with his partner.(4)/ No error (5) 18) In Rohan‘s family, (1)/ the genetic factors of longevity (2)/ must be stronger because most of the members (3)/ live to be over ninety years of age.(4)/ No error (5) 19) A difference in perspectives (1)/ caused a rift that (2)/ forced the two friends to end (3)/ there business partnership.(4)/ No error (5) 20) Even though the home team (1)/ was down by two points, (2)/ the star player knew the shot would be impossible (3)/ to make in his angle.(4)/ No error (5) 11

21) Consumption of energy is becoming (1)/ less intensed and more efficient as people use less energy (2)/ to live their lives and as energy efficiency technologies become more (3)/ integrated in homes, businesses and transportation. (4)/ No error (5) 22) The capital markets regulator, Sebi, (1) faces legal difficulties in allowing options trading in commodities, (2)/ and has reported decided to focus, for now, (3)/ on attracting more institutional players to the commodity futures market. (4)/ No error (5) 23) US President Donald Trump has (1)/ make it clear that (2)/ his administration are focused (3)/ on putting America First.(4)/ No error (5) 24) Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, at a function (1)/ in Bengaluru on Monday shared insights (2)/ on the impact about artificial intelligence (3)/ and cloud computing can make. (4)/ No error (5) 25) South Mumbai is hailed as (1)/ one of the most affluent areas in the city, (2)/ yet it has also consistently topped (3)/ the list of areas with the lowest voting percentages. (4)/ No error (5) 26) Corruption in high places (1)/ is a malaise that is (2)/ easily to diagnose but (3)/ difficult in cure. (4)/ No error (5) 27) Every year, India dreams of (1)/ its high educational institutions (2)/ rising up to world standards in terms of ranking, (3)/ number of peer-reviewed publications, and awards for research.(4)/ No error (5) 28) If the enemy is (1)/ allowed in breach the (2)/ perimeter of the castle, (3) the kingdom will sure fall.(4)/ No error (5) 29) His capabilities as a (1)/ soldier has been (2)/ generally recognized (3)/by competing authorities.(4)/ No error (5) 30) Rising of the fourth straight session, (1)/ the Sensex and Nifty closed near five-month highs (2)/ today on widespread buying even as telecom stocks (3)/ tumbled after Reliance Jio announced new tariff plans. (4)/ No error (5) 31) At one level, air-conditioning is potentially (1)/ a sign of civilization- of rising above the (2)/ biological, cultivating the ability to not react immediately (3)/to one‘s physical surroundings. (4)/ No error (5) 32) The discovery of the Slims River diversion (1)/ away from the Bering Sea into another watershed (2)/ that empties from the Pacific Ocean (3)/ was published in the journal Nature Geoscience. (4)/ No error (5) 33) If farmers ready their fields by burning (1)/ stubble, the dark smoke clouds that (2)/ rise as a result travel far and (3)/ wide, by carrying in their wake severe air pollution. (4)/ No error (5) 34) The moment we blame anybody, (1)/ we become victims, the sorrow (2)/ intensifies, and we refuse to (3)/ accept responsibility to our actions. (4)/ No error (5) 35) We are creatures of habit, and (1)/ tend to want to stay in something and (2)/hold onto that which is known and familiar, (3)/ even if its not the right fit for our lives anymore. (4)/ No error (5) 36) The thyroid gland located at the ―Adam‘s Apple‖ near your throat, is (1) / what produces hormones that activate cell activity (2)/ by controlling your body‘s temperature but also (3)/ the rate that your body burns calories. (4)/ No error (5) 37) After offering a glass of water, I (1)/ encouraged her to speak, though in (2)/ my mind I was thinking of it as a custodial (3)/ fight over children, a tragical common narrative. (4)/ No error (5) 38) When too many colleges are affiliated to a (1)/ university, the latter tends to deteriorate (2)/ into an exam factory instead of an institution (3)/ imparting quality education or pursue research. (4)/ No error (5) 39) Practices of culture sometimes can be (1) opposed to rational thinking, requiring (2) bending to meet subjective (3) region specific demands. (4)/ No error (5) 40) The influences of the forces of modernization creeping (1) in the society has led to paradigm shift (2)/ of the housing types from traditional flood resistant into (3) concrete modern structures. (4)/ No error (5) Direction(41-50): In each of the question below two statements are given. You have to find which statement(s) contains error and choose the answer from the provided options accordingly. 12

41) (i) When moon comes between the earth and the sun, her shadow causes solar eclipse (ii) He does not cut paper with blade, but with scissors. A) Only statement (i) contains error B) Only statement (ii) contains error C) Both (i) and (ii) contains error D) Both (i) and (ii) are error free 42) (i) Because the blueprint seemed to be missing some details, the builders were concerned. (ii) His brother committed a theifhood in his house. A) Only statement (i) contains error B) Only statement (ii) contains error C) Both (i) and (ii) contains error D) Both (i) and (ii) are error free 43) (i) The boy, being a brilliant student, he will top the class. (ii) As a result of the injury received by him, he died of tetanus. A) Only statement (i) contains error B) Only statement (ii) contains error C) Both (i) and (ii) contains error D) Both (i) and (ii) are error free 44) (i) Here comes Ravindra Jadeja, whom they say is the best all-rounder India has ever had. (ii) Either Manoj or Ravi has left behind their book. A) Only statement (i) contains error B) Only statement (ii) contains error C) Both (i) and (ii) contains error D) Both (i) and (ii) are error free 45) (i) His paralyzed arm is insensible to feeling. (ii) That what cannot be cured must be endured A) Only statement (i) contains error B) Only statement (ii) contains error C) Both (i) and (ii) contains error D) Both (i) and (ii) are error free 46) (i) The crowd have no answer to what the culprit says. (ii) When you have finished your work you may go home. A) Only statement (i) contains error B) Only statement (ii) contains error C) Both (i) and (ii) contains error D) Both (i) and (ii) are error free 47) (i) As soon as he heard the news he wrote to me. (ii) After the law had been passed this form of crime ceased. A) Only statement (i) contains error B) Only statement (ii) contains error C) Both (i) and (ii) contains error D) Both (i) and (ii) are error free 48) (i) How will you prevent will you prevent the bacteria to enter the system? (ii) I hope my review will elucidate the strengths and weaknesses I found in your novel. A) Only statement (i) contains error B) Only statement (ii) contains error C) Both (i) and (ii) contains error D) Both (i) and (ii) are error free 49) (i) Those sort of excuses are not allowed in prestigious institutions. (ii) Visit AspirantsZone for it keeps you apace with the last trends in exams. A) Only statement (i) contains error B) Only statement (ii) contains error C) Both (i) and (ii) contains error D) Both (i) and (ii) are error free 50) (i) Before you go to impeach someone, make sure you have the evidence ready to show. (ii) He felt lone in the town where no one knew him. A) Only statement (i) contains error B) Only statement (ii) contains error C) Both (i) and (ii) contains error D) Both (i) and (ii) are error free 13

Direction (1-5): In each of the following questions four statements with a blank in each are given. You have to choose a word from the given option that can fill all the blanks. Mark that option as your answer. 1) They were reluctant to.............themselves to an opinion. (ii) Manufacturers will have to.............substantial funds to developing new engines. (iii) The magistrate decided to.............him for trial. (iv) He composed a letter but didn‘t.............it to paper A) complete B) transgress C) commit D) concentrate E) entrust 2) (i) As the storm cleared, a _____ fog came down. (ii) She made her way through the.............undergrowth (iii) She‘s way too ______to understand what we‘re doing. (iv) This modernist novel is.............as hell. A) compact B) crowded C) solid D) dark E) dense 3) (i) Amisha wiped the.............off her face (ii) Amit threw a handful of.............on to the coffin. (iii) Is there any.............on Kejriwal? (iv) We had to drive along a.............road for about 25 miles to get to the campsite. A) ground B) soil C) dirt D) smut E) dust 4) (i) The mountains.............over the western end of the island. (ii) Horses have the strength of character to.............themselves to their utmost limit. (iii) They asked the government to.............its period of deliberation. (iv) Her generosity did not.............to all adults. A) boost B) continue C) last D) extend E) mantle 5) (i) I won‘t let you go without trying to.............a promise from you. (ii) There are few attempts to.............generalities about the nature of the disciplines. (iii) Early computers had an instruction to.............a square root. (iv) I read an.............from an old magazine about how predict time by seeing stars. A) extract B) excerpt C) abstract D) appoint E) favor Direction (6-10): In each of the following questions a short passage is given with one of the lines in the passage missing and represented by a blank. Select the best out of the five answer choices given, to make the passage complete and coherent. 6) Widespread and profound changes in the ways that work is carried out have occurred across recent decades, resulting in a cumulative revolution in the ways that employees are treated. The pervasiveness of these changes was noted at the end of 20th century. They were seen as affecting every aspect of the employment relationship; temporary, part-time and a wide range of irregular patterns of work had already moved from the periphery and become far less ‗atypical‘ than hitherto. (.............) ; new forms of contracting organizations which expose workers directly to their markets and decrease employer–employee interdependence are increasingly common. Work intensity has increased across the world, associated not least with the spread of such practices as multi-tasking and a revival in performance-based pay. A) Increases in organizational change predicted psychological contract breach in public organizations, which in turn predicted decreased employee contributions to those organizations. B) Some argue that a consequence of these changes is that work has been ‗de-bordered‘ from the rest of life C) They assess employee reactions when faced with positive factors such as perceived fairness at work and negative factors such as psychological contract breach. D) Increasingly, many of those performing work for large organizations are not employed directly by them. E) Workers may develop negative emotions and deteriorating interpersonal relationships in response to the introduction of work–life balance initiatives when such initiatives are perceived as unfairly implemented 7) Over the past 60 years, both the work and the home domains have undergone profound changes. Balancing work and home life has become increasingly difficult for employees and private individuals, especially for those holding management positions.(.............). One of the most significant changes is the growing labour force participation of women since the 1950s and 1960s. The growing number of dual-earner couples, single parents, co-parenting individuals and individuals who care for elderly relatives has brought about a dramatic shift in the allocation of time 14

and energy devoted to the work and the home domains. A) Work−home balance has become a primary concern to employers and policy makers in western industrial societies B) With regard to the work−home interface, several interconnected developments have taken place C) From an employee perspective, the term work−home balance refers to striking and maintaining a balance between responsibilities in the professional work arena and in the home environment. D) Negative work−home interference is experienced when pressures from the work and home domains are mutually incompatible E) Some studies have examined a work−home or family-friendly culture, in relation to work−home interference. 8) Managers and professionals who work part-time are likely to have particular concerns about professional acceptance and career progression. In professional and managerial occupations, long hours are a norm and work is often structured in a way that assumes that people can contribute long hours on a full-time basis. (.............) A) Good (or ‗retention‘) part-time jobs, generally considered to be found in managerial and professional occupations, are characterized by high pay, high skills, a career track and being valued by the organization B) One likely reason for this is the difficulty in finding a data set that represents both different occupational groups and significant numbers of part-time and full-time workers. C) The organizational context regarding flexible working practices is also likely to influence part-timers‘ propensity to work overtime. D) Violation of such work-time norms may affect individuals‘ career progression, in that hours spent on work are seen as a proxy for commitment to the profession and ambition to succeed within it. E) Since many people choose to work part-time in order to balance work with family responsibilities, an environment that appears to be more supportive of family needs may encourage part-timers to believe that they need not exceed their contracted hours and prejudice their work–life balance. 9) In response to growing workforce concerns regarding work−life balance (WLB), organizations increasingly offer initiatives intended to facilitate the combination of employees‘ work responsibilities with their non-work commitments. Research shows that providing initiatives valued by employees enhances perceptions of organizational support, affective commitment to the organization, and reciprocation in the form of increased task and contextual performance. (.............). Another unintended effect of initiative implementation is the potential for ‗backlash‘ from childfree employees, who may believe that WLB initiatives target parents and result in increased workloads for those not using them. Consequently, the benefits of WLB initiatives, such as increased organizational commitment, improved performance and reduced turnover, may only be realized if staff are aware of the initiatives on offer and feel able to use them A) Using a mixed-methods approach, the present study investigates the relationship between employees‘ fairness perceptions of organizational WLB initiatives and CWB, and explores the moderating role of individual differences. B) However, imperfect implementation of WLB initiatives often results in employees having little knowledge of the provisions on offer and/or unequal access to the programmes within organizations C) This suggests that employees who are dissatisfied with the fairness of their employer‘s procedures for allocating WLB initiatives, or with the honesty or comprehensiveness of the explanations provided regarding initiative use, may reciprocate with organizationally oriented CWB. D) These are followed by reactions to the stressors: psychological, physical or behavioural job strains. Behavioural strains enable individuals to cope with stressors, either by decreasing the emotions elicited by the stressor or by removing the stressor itself E) Dispositional characteristics appear to have the capacity to modify the social exchange relationship, by influencing employees‘ responses to environmental factors such as organizational justice. 10) Empowering leadership has been seen as a distinct type of leader behaviour, providing support to subordinates through coaching, encouragement, training and emotional support, and information.(.............). Studies of empowering leadership have been conducted mainly at the individual level of analysis. There is theoretical support for this in that a leader may empower individual employees to a greater or lesser degree, depending on individual characteristics. A) However, organizations are moving away from hierarchical management, emphasizing instead the need to empower employees, requiring leaders concerned less with directing subordinates than with supporting and empowering them to perform, and there is evidence that such empowerment is positively associated with employees‘ attitudinal and behavioural outcomes. B) However, it is important to address both the between- and within-group processes linking empowering leadership and outcomes at the same time. C) Although the Empowering Leadership Questionnaire (ELQ) was initially developed and validated at the individual level, the questionnaire items focus on the behaviour of the leader towards the respondent‘s work group as a whole. D) Some have shown the importance of taking a multi-level approach to the analysis of leadership and 15

empowerment, but they analysed leadership climate and leader–member exchange, rather than empowering leadership. E) Employees are thus more likely to have a sense of meaning in their jobs, and to feel capable of implementing job activities on a self-managed basis Direction (11-15): In each of the following questions four statements with a blank in each are given. You have to choose a word from the given option that can fill all the blanks. Mark that option as your answer. 11) (i) His hair was combed forward to hide a growing bald.............. (ii) They did their best to ............. up the gaping wounds (iii) Once the.............is removed, the drug clears from the body tissue after twenty minute. (iv) They spent Sundays digging their vegetable .............. A) piece B) area C) patch D) shield E) stretch 12) (i) Do not let a.............grudge make you spend your life ignoring someone who could be one of your best friends. (ii) She thought readers were being.............in writing to complain about blocked paths (iii) I took the money out of the.............cash and paid her. (iv) He is a very.............man who delights in reminding others of their mistakes. A) minor B) phase C) generous D) petty E) paltry 13) (i) The economy is not in the.............of health. (ii) The car was inclined to.............slightly in accelerating from a low engine speed. (iii) The church was beautifully decorated with bouquets of red and.............roses for the wedding. (iv) If you know how to.............the edges of the cloth, you can easily make designer cloth. A) worth B) pink C) state D) cut E) source 14) (i) I must apologize for my staff—their actions were............. (ii) There was a.............decline in the amount of black money in the economy after demonetization. (iii) The rising level of unemployment is going to.............a huge crowd at the welfare office. (iv) Soap when dissolved in a large amount of water suffers hydrolysis, with formation of a.............of acid salt and a solution containing free alkali. A) expedite B) induce C) plunge D) propel E) precipitate 15) (i) The man turned and she caught his.............. (ii) The soil.............on the farm has been disrupted by the flooding. (iii) He has a big nose and a pointed chin so I would recognize him by his.............even if I didn‘t see his face clearly. (iv) The ministers are working to raise the.............of women in industry. A) account B) profile C) depiction D) outline E) contour Direction (16-20): In each of the following questions four statements with a blank in each are given. You have to choose a word from the given option that can fill all the blanks. Mark that option as your answer. 16) (i) Susan admitted that she never attained her.............of becoming president of the company. (ii) His body responded with a surge of ............he gritted his teeth against. (iii) Under interrogation, the robber admitted that his............for expensive clothing led him to shoplift (iv) The motivation to succeed comes from the burning............to achieve a purpose. A) need B) longing C) fascination D) desire 17) (i) Do not let your depressive emotions ............a craving for food when you are not hungry. (ii) Tom didn‘t have the courage to pull the .............. (iii) The animal shelter hopes its new commercial will ............. feelings of generosity from the public. (iv) If you apply pressure to this ............. point on the shoulder blade, it will help to release tension in the shoulders and neck. A) support B) trigger C) lever D) arouse 18) (i) The rocks ............. down the hillside before coming to a rest in a stream. (ii) The young girl ............. into the classroom, laughing with delight. (iii) I must have written down your e-mail address wrong. I tried to send you a message, but it .............. (iv) Those who put in a dismal performance will be ............ from the tour A) recoiled B) discharged C) bounced D) undulated 19) (i) I ............. with my boss to have the time off (ii) The first package holiday was ............. by Thomas Cook in 1861. (iii) The quarrel, partly by the interference of the Crown Prince, was ............. (iv) Vishal Shekar ............. the piece for full string orchestra A) organised B) arranged C) spruced D) endured 16

20) (i) Leaf fall had left the trees ............. . (ii) My birthday‘s on the 2nd October—I‘m gonna get ……… cash (iii) That girl is……… lazy (iv) He outlined the……….. essentials of the story A) shorn B) vacuous C) affirm D) bare Direction (21-30): In each of the following questions three statements are given with a missing word in each. You have to fill the blank of first two statements with the first word of the option and the blank of the third statement with the second word of the option provided. 21) (i) The little boy forgot to deliver a newspaper to one of the houses on his............., so he had to go back after supper. (ii) The gas company was able to ........ the pipeline under our flower garden without having to dig up our yard at all. (iii) A quick punch to the throat will ............most attackers. A) way, depress B) route, debilitate C) lay, defeat D) trail, submit 22) (i) For a fee, most celebrities will.............a product by pretending to like it. (ii) The purpose of the brochure is to………the beauty of the small island nation. (iii) The .............of Sherlock Holmes is one of the most recognizable figures in English literature. A) glorify, book B) recognize, temper C) exalt, character D) demeanor, stroke 23) (i) The promoters .............the right to cancel the outdoor concert in the event of rain (ii) Australia is the site of the world‘s largest underground water .............. (iii) The boss.............him to send the report out as soon as it was completed. A) reserve, instructed B) holds, allowed C) stores, advised D) assigned, informed 24) (i) The local newspaper now runs a regular .............on environmental issues. (ii) The swimming pool is an attractive .............of the apartment complex. (iii) Studies show that listening to music, especially rock music, is the preferred ............. activity of North Indian adolescents. A) article, respite B) feature, leisure C) location, idle D) column, liberty 25) (i) A Danish proverb tells us that it is better to be a free bird than a ............. king. (ii) The steel company opened a.............power plant to fulfill its power needs. (iii) The Prime Minister claimed the scandal was a minor affair and certainly didn‘t.............an investigative commission. A) caged, attract B) temporary, attend C) captive, merit D) directed, allow 26) (i) The planet earth takes just over 365 days to complete its ............. around the sun. (ii) The runner has been doing very well in the national track and field .............and is expected to place in the top ten in next year‘s Olympics. (iii) Computers are able to process .............amounts of data in mere seconds. A) revolution, large B) circuit, massive C) event, vast D) rotation, great 27) (i) The family physician said he was afraid that surgery could.............a heart attack. (ii) The government has introduced a lower minimum wage for those starting their first jobs in an effort to ............. companies to hire more young people. (iii) The press was given a/an ............. of the highlights of the speech ahead of time. A) induce, outline B) attract, prospect C) draw, deadline D) cover-up, digest 28) (i) She likes to mix different ............., such as paint, plastic and sound in her art works. (ii) Children‘s interpretation of ............._ content is molded by the opinions of parents, teachers, and friends. (iii) Microsoft has become the ............._ of the computer companies of the future. A) material, path B) information, sample C) layouts, representation D) media, paradigm 29) (i) Some people seem to have this ............._ in their heads that there is some shortcut you can take to learn a language quickly, and it simply isn‘t true. (ii) She had a.............to ring her friend at work. (iii) His failure was ............._ , given his poor study habits. A) approach, refrained B) concept, unforseen C) notion, predictable D) preference, certain 30) (i) People were chosen at.............from the group to take part in the experiment. (ii) Several people put their names forward to work on the committee, so we chose 3 names purely at……… (iii) The students staged a .............march in front of the Legislature in anger at rising tuition fees. A) arbitrary, knock B) definite, praise C) desultory, peace D) random, protest 17

Direction (31-45): Fill in the blanks with appropriate word to form a meaningful sentence. 31) The students gave a convincing.............for doing their presentations in.............rather than individually. A) clash, support B) argument, groups C) brush, team D) agreement, team E) dispute, support 32) The dishonest lender‘s.............caused hundreds of people to lose their homes when they……….to meet the high interest payments. A) exploitation, supported B) stealing, regretted C) dishonesty, accomplished D) corruption, prepared E) usury, failed 33) Some swear by the semi-divine……… of her work, while others point out that not all her actions are above……… A) temperament, herself B) nature, criticism C) consciousness, dignity D) character, judgment E) scale, answer 34) Even if a man is found………by a court, he has an………to a higher court. A) guilty, appeal B) convicted, onus C) wanting, office D) derelict, attitude E) safe, accident 35) He was initially ………at the suggestion but was soon………it himself. A) frowning, rejecting B) thrilled, propagating C) shocked, advocating D) impressed, negating E) suspicious, trusting 36) The Prime Minister felt that the ………made by the Committee was ………even though similar schemes had worked earlier. A) election, acceptable B) choice, profitable C) decision, gainful D) recommendation, infeasible E) acceptance, approved 37) Sakshi was not………by the criticism and paid no………even when her best friend talked against her A) threatened, warning B) troubled, mind C) deterred, heed D) bothered, attention E) shaken, indication 38) The activities of the association have ……… from the………objectives set for it in the initial years. A) emerged, total B) deviated, original C) grown, simple D) details, grand E) increase, perverse 39) The foolish waste all their mental and spiritual energy in ………foolish chatter of selfish argument, not to………wasteful physical excesses. A) triviality, speak of B) frivolity, mention C) gossip, tell D) obscurity, say E) insipidity, expatiate 40) It hurt my pride to be forced to………a person who always insulted me; nevertheless, I tried to………him. A) rebuke, condign B) respect, avenge C) propitiate, conciliate D) repudiate, evaluate E) intimate, redeem 41) Now, the educational courses in many institutions are sold and even ……….. for………… prices. A) auctioned, fabulous B) glamourised, soaring C) bought, competitive D) advertised, cover E) demanded, handy 42) Limited………… of resources and their limited potential is everybody‘s……….. A) assess, responsibility B) reach, game C) availability, concern D) area, knowledge E) scope, story 43) The right to livelihood is an………….. facet of the right to life, ……….as a fundamental right under the Constitution. A) important, enjoying B) integral, guaranteed C) utmost, covered D) ideal, procured E) essential, denied 44) For a large majority of poor people, labour power is the only productive………… they…….. for securing a living. A) energy, gain B) field, deliver C) assignment, carry D) asset, possess E) area, work 45) The committee‘s………….. is to create a space for democratic…………. of conflicts. A) efforts, solution B)tasks, finding C) finding, settlement D) concern, adherence E) endeavour, resolution 18

Some proverbs/idioms are given below together with their meanings. Choose the correct meaning of proverb/idiom 1) In high spirits A) in good position B) drunk C) cheerful D) shocked 2) Grease someone‘s palm A) bribe B) flatter C) cheat D) fight 3) Man of letters A) of wide contacts B) excellent letter dictator C) great writer of letters D) proficient in literary art 4) To pay off old scores A) to refund old dues B) to take revenge C) to force someone D) to score in exam well 5) Red letter day A) bloodshed day B) dangerous day C) day with love and warmth D) memorable day for some joyful event 6) Turn down A) hand over to police B) refuse C) send back D) touch feet 7) Close shave A) maintain cleanliness B) remove the entire hair C) a narrow escape D) close relations 8) At one‘s beck and call A) to attend a call B) to be helped by someone C) to be useful to someoneD) to be dominated by someone 9) To call spade a spade A) to be frank B) to be sly C) to be rude D) to be diplomatic 10) Birds of same feather A) persons of same caste B) siblings C) birds with same kind of feathers D) persons of same character 11) In a tight corner A) in a closed room B) in a small field C) in a difficult situation D) in a meadow 12) Wild goose chase A) fruitful hunting B) futile search C) ideal seekingD) genuine effort 13) Out and out A) totally B) simply C) merely D) slightly 14) Green thumb A) one is artistic B) one nails are painted green C) to have interest in gardening D) to have a green tattoo on thumb 15) Pay through one‘s nose A) pay huge loansB) pay a reasonable price C) pay an extremely high price D) make a quick buck 16) To give someone piece of your mind A) to be nice with him B) to take revenge C) to reprimand him D) to support him 17) Make a clean breast of A) fight like a hero B) face bravely C) confess without reserve D) clean the floor 18) An axe to grind A) a blunt axe B) a sharp tongue C) a private interest to serve D) a tendency to fight 19) To give devil his due A) to give credit to notorious person B) to give encouragement to enemy C) to invite a devil D) to stand in way of a devil 20) Talk through one‘s hat A) talk nonsense B) talk ignorantly C) talk irresponsibly D) talk insultingly 21) Cut your coat according to your cloth A) Be honest in your dealing B) Work according to your capacity C) Live within your means D) Don‘t be too ambitious 22) Break down A) Donate B) Fell down C) Become angry D) Cry 23) Lay off A) Allot B) Donate C) Distribute D) Spend 24) Free hand A) Complete liberty B) An expense account C) Unlimited funds D) To employ men at work 19

25) As hard as nail A) Tough B) Emotionless C) Strong D) Hard working 26) Under a cloud A) In disgrace B) Heavy heart C) Under heavy influence D) Raining 27) In a pickle A) In funny position B) In serious position C) In sad position D) In embarrassing situation 28) Slip off A) Steal quietly B) Go quickly C) Leave quietly D) Slide quickly 29) Hold one‘s tongue A) Be silent B) Give advice C) Defend D) Argue 30) Live from hand to mouth A) Lavishly B) Miserably C) Happily D) Comfortably 31) Come to grief A) addicted B) go up to extreme C) suffer D) enjoy 32) Once in a blue moon A) from renowned publisher B) at very low cost C) blue light of moon D) rarely 33) Bury the hatchet A) to keep secret B) to make peace C) to fool someone D) to bury the wealth 34) Wear one‘s heart in sleeves A) express emotions freely B) express emotions with reserve C) suppress emotions openly D) suppress emotions sparingly 35) To foam at one‘s mouth A) to brush properly B) to get very angry C) to salivate on seeing food D) to faint 36) To burn one‘s fingers A) to get hurt physically B) to suffer financial losses C) to find work D) to suffer nervous breakdown 37) End in smoke A) get to fire B) come to nothing C) to burn D) attract everyone 38) Die in harness C) die for one‘s country D) die while working A) cease to live B) die of a disease 39) Hard nut to crack A) difficult task B) different matter C) impossible task D) inexplicable problem 40) To eat a humble pie A) to feel downtrodden B) to behave humbly C) to accept abuse D) to accept defeat 41) Bark up wrong tree A) to scold a person B) to criticize someone heavily C) to do wrong things D) to plant tree which does not bear fruits 42) Beat a hasty retreat A) to sign a deal in haste B) beat a person C) to run away hurriedly D) to be finished 43) Blow a fuse A) lights off B) to be excited over an achievement C) become angry D) become sad 44) Bee‘s knees A) to be bitten by a bee B) exceptionally good C) tired and exhausted D) barely adequate 45) Back to the wall A) back to original condition B) to be strong C) to be seriously ill D) in a serious difficulty 46) Between jobs A) to be unemployed B) to be confused C) to be happy D) to have more than one job at hand 47) Bite the dust A) to get angry B) to fall on ground C) to eat unhealthy food D) to be defeated 48) Buy a lemon A) buy lemons from market B) buy something costly C) buy something cheap D) buy something worthless 49) Call it a day A) important day B) a holiday C) to finish work D) to go on a strike 50) Sit on a fence A) to sit on a chairB) to avoid taking sides in a discussion C) to enjoy benefits D) to be in a difficult situation 20

Direction: The following questions contain five sentences as options. Find one sentence which does not relate to the central theme of the passage made by remaining four sentences. 1) A) Changing temperatures and chemistry, overfishing and pollution have stressed its ecosystems for decades. B) Humans have long assumed that the ocean‘s size allowed them to put anything they wanted into it and to take anything they wanted out. C) As sea-floor soundings proliferate, the supervision of deep-sea mining, which is overseen by the International Seabed Authority in areas beyond national jurisdiction, should get better. D) The ocean stores more than nine-tenths of the heat trapped on Earth by greenhouse-gas emissions. E) Coral reefs are suffering as a result; scientists expect almost all corals to be gone by 2050. 2) A) Twenty years ago America was home to 8,000 listed domestic firms; now the total is close to 4,000. B) In 2016, 74 firms made their stockmarket debut, compared with 600 two decades ago. This winnowing is unwelcome. Merger activity, which reduces the number of listed firms, is damaging competition. C) Private markets have slowly opened up to a wider pool of investors, mutual funds among them. D) Overregulation, which deters younger firms from floating, deprives ordinary investors of opportunities to benefit from America‘s corporate successes. E) THE public markets in America are much less crowded than they once were. 3) A) Without the threat of a cell to keep them in check, the strong and selfish would prey on the weak, as they do in countries where the state is too feeble to run a proper justice system. B) A study in finds that low-risk prisoners who are tagged instead of being incarcerated are less likely to reoffend, probably because they remain among normal folk instead of sitting idly in a cage with sociopaths. C) Prisons are an essential tool to keep society safe. A burglar who is locked up cannot break into your home. A mugger may leave you alone if he thinks that robbing you means jail. D) The more people a country imprisons, the less dangerous each additional prisoner is likely to be. At some point, the costs of incarceration start to outweigh the benefits. Prisons are expensive—cells must be built, guards hired, prisoners fed. E) But as with many good things, more is not always better. The first people any rational society locks up are the most dangerous criminals, such as murderers and rapists. 4) A) The war against corruption is only starting, and the fighting is carried out office by office, ministry by ministry. B) Ukraine is fighting two wars. One is near its eastern border, where it faces Russian aggression. The other is at its core, where it is wrestling with some of the worst corruption of any post-Soviet state. C) One of the main sources of corruption that feeds the system, state procurement, has been slowly overhauled, producing some positive results. D) Patients of Ukraine, an NGO, has estimated that 1,600 Ukrainians die daily from the resulting lack of medicine. E) Naftogaz, a state oil and gas firm which once epitomised the country‘s misgovernment, has been cleaned up. Some of the most powerful oligarchs have been squeezed. 5) A) What is most unusual about Bastoy is not that it treats prisoners like human beings, but that it treats them like adults. B) Bastoy, an island prison in Norway allows the inmates to wander where they like on the island, go cross-country skiing in the winter and fish in the summer. So long as they keep it tidy they can enjoy the beach C) Bastoy prisoners walk around with hammers, axes and chainsaws. They chop down trees for furniture, grow vegetables and raise livestock. D) This is despite the fact that Norway reserves prison for hard cases, who would normally be more likely to reoffend. E) Prisons in other parts of the world try to stop inmates from laying hands on any piece of metal that could be shaped into a weapon. 6) A) This is helped along by chemicals—lots of them, confides a winemaker based near the town of Thuir in the Pyrenees. B) The number of potential compounds that have to be synthesised and tested for each new substance, in case they are harmful, has risen from 50,000 to over 140,000, a process that can take as long as a decade. C) In their absence, vineyards would need natural fertilisers and to be weeded by hand, both costly. D) French farmers use more chemicals than anyone else in Europe: 65,000 tonnes of pesticides alone each year. E) As spring arrives, the hills of Languedoc in southern France turn green with the leaves of grapevines. 21

7) A) Long after Apple had become one of the planet‘s most valuable firms, its boss, Steve Jobs (who died in 2011), obsessed over ―the finish on a piece of metal, the curve of the head of a screw, the shade of blue on a box‖, writes his biographer, Walter Isaacson. B) Most chief executives would say they are more pickers than polishers. C) Bosses come in all shapes and sizes. One way to categorise them is to split them into two types: polishers and pickers. Polishers put their energy into products, improving and reimagining their design and production in a quest for perfection. D) In the 1970s the logic of starving lousy businesses and feeding good ones was spread by management- consulting firms. E) Pickers, by contrast, are capital allocators, who stand back and decide unsentimentally how the firm should deploy resources. An example of this approach is Jeff Immelt, who runs General Electric (GE), the world‘s most valuable industrial firm. Mr Immelt‘s record since taking over in 2001 shows that capital allocation is far harder than you might think. 8) A) What is the point of buying shares? Ultimately investors must hope that the cash they receive from the company will offer an attractive long-term return. B) But since the 1980s American firms have increasingly used share buy-backs, which have tax advantages for some investors. C) Over the long run, reinvested dividends rather than capital gains have comprised the vast bulk of returns. D) Buy-backs have been higher than dividend payments in eight of the past ten years. E) The stockmarket is much more international than it used to be; almost half the revenues of S&P 500 companies come from outside America. 9) A) That pulp is washed and refined, before being beaten to a finer slush. B) A piece of paper is a complicated product. Trees are felled, stripped of their bark, chipped, mashed, and then mixed with water and churned into pulp. C) Laid out flat, drained of water, then squeezed between large rollers, the slush at last becomes one large, long sheet of paper. D) At the same time, by backlighting the paper, the researchers can take their picture through the entire depth of the paper, rather than just relying on the patterns on its surface. E) All those machinations introduce a great deal of randomness to the arrangement of fibres within an individual piece of paper. 10) A) As with computers, though, scientists need a way to control their creations. To date, that has been done with chemical signals. B) Instead of chemicals, he and his colleagues demonstrate how to control customised cells with coloured light. C) The central idea of synthetic biology is that living cells can be programmed in the same way that computers can, in order to make them do things and produce compounds that their natural counterparts do not. D) Scientists have toyed with the idea of using vats of genetically altered bacteria to produce things like artificial sweeteners or drugs. E) In a paper published in Nature Chemical Biology, Christopher Voigt, a biologist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, describes an alternative. 11) A) Although Sony‘s operating income forecast for the year through March 2018 was slightly below analysts‘ estimates, there‘s a sense that the company may be low-balling the numbers so it can give investors an upward revision later in the year. B) In reality, it‘s Sony‘s games division that will anchor sales growth in the coming year, and continue the bottom- line gains delivered in the 2016 financial year. C) The standout among the various divisions was a massive turnaround at Sony‘s chip business. But most of that can be attributed to one-time gains from asset sales and the absence of earthquake-related losses that weighed on performance a year ago. D) Between them, games and music account for half of Sony‘s value, according to a sum of the parts valuation E) If the hype and success of either platform brings gamers back to consoles, then these habits can be rebuilt, leading to further title sales. 12) A) The enhanced tinkering with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)—the building blocks of life—can be used to achieve end goals as diverse as enhancing crop quality and disease resistance, treating genetic diseases, and even addressing the associated risk of antibiotic resistance through a Crispr pill that substitutes antibiotics. B) Scientists all over the world are now able to carry out gene editing at costs much lower than ever before, and much more accurately. C) The relatively minimal development of silencing reagents ensure significant, specific, consistent and lasting knockdown of the target gene. D) While RNAi is a gene silencing technology that inhibits protein synthesis in target cells using double-stranded RNA, antisense technology achieves the same result through single-stranded RNA. 22

E) But the media attention hogged by this technology should not blind us to new advances in ribonucleic acid (RNA) research. This polymeric molecule—essential for regulation and expression of genes—has already been the subject of research, in areas such as RNA interference (RNAi) and antisense technology. 13) A) NITI Aayog is preparing a 15-year vision and a seven-year strategy document, and has circulated a three-year action agenda. The goal of transforming India and attaining the desired level of economic and social outcomes will require higher and sustainable growth in coming years. B) It is now well accepted that high levels of non-performing assets—particularly in public sector banks—are a drag on investments and growth. C) The vice-chairman of NITI Aayog, Arvind Panagariya, in his presentation on Sunday, showed that the size of the Indian economy will increase from a level of Rs137 trillion in 2015-16 to Rs469 trillion by 2031-32 (2015-16 prices)—a compound annual growth of about 8%. D) Higher economic growth will not only create employment, but will also generate higher revenue which will help increase government spending without disturbing the budgetary balance. E) Higher growth is the best way of lifting standards of living, as has been demonstrated by China in recent decades. Attaining and sustaining this level of growth is feasible, but will need policy action on various fronts—as has also been highlighted in NITI Aayog‘s action agenda. 14) A) The paper is not going to be offered to BA English Honours students. Therefore, this will be a Commerce or Science or History student‘s introduction to popular fiction in English literature. B) Bhagat‘s book will be sharing space with Louisa May Alcott‘s Little Women, Agatha Christie‘s Murder on the Orient Express, and JK Rowling‘s Harry Potter and the Philosopher‘s Stone. C) Delhi University has announced that Chetan Bhagat‘s book, Five Point Someone will be part of the popular fiction syllabus of the general elective course offered to second-year undergraduate students studying either Honours or programme courses under the Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS). D) Writing does not necessarily mean writing heavyweight non-fiction books or highly dramatised fiction. It also includes writing generic but important content properly such as that for blog posts. E) To be fair, apart from Little Women, none of the other books can be considered high literature. 15) A) The Supreme Court collegium has recently cleared a record 51 names for high court judge posts. Of these, 20 are judicial officers and 31 are advocates. B) In the rush to fill judicial vacancies, there should be no compromise in the quality of judicial decisions and ensure judges are capable of dealing with increasingly complex issues interlinking law, economics, technology, intellectual property, competition and allied fields. C) Historically, the Indian judiciary has dealt with socially significant issues such as health, education, reservations in education and employment, priority sector lending, bank nationalization, bank branch licensing in remote locations, etc. D) An inability or unwillingness to take into account economic considerations in judicial decisions is putting a significant number of jobs at risk, and a substantial amount of investment in peril. E) Other than this, not much information is available in the public domain about the expertise of the selected individuals. 16) A) But the G20 should assess whether cybersecurity is a business objective or a means towards the larger goal of promoting digital access and financial inclusion. B) No country is more affected by the weaknesses in digital payments systems, global and domestic, than India, which is tackling the twin challenge of Internet adoption and expansive digitalization. C) A prominent concern outlined by this group related to the threat to global financial systems because of greater interconnectivity and the creation of novel, untested architectures to manage payment processes. D) In the run- up to the ministerial meeting, a T20 task force comprising think tanks and academia, was constituted to offer recommendations that would strengthen digital economies and manage the ―digitalization‖ of traditional sectors. E) Last month, Germany convened the first-ever G20 ―digital ministers‖ meeting, indicating how the future of connected societies and economies is now firmly at the top of the global agenda. 17) A) IPRs are critical to incentivizing innovation, which, in turn, is key to sustaining economic growth and increasing living standards. B) The good news is that intellectual property rights (IPRs) have greater public visibility these days. The bad news is that a lot of it is misguided scepticism. C) Scholars around the world have found this statement to hold true based on rigorous empirical testing across a cross-section of countries and time periods. D) In India, there is still a dearth of evidence-based research that can inform our laws, practice and policy-making pertaining to IPRs. E) Just because a handful of sectors in India have tasted (limited) success and partially fuelled the Indian engine of growth in the recent past does not mean that policymakers can afford to be complacent. 23

18) A) The three conditions that the donor agency proposed (according to a communique by the trustees of the recipient organization) was: (a)The trust to be renamed to include the name of the donor; (b) A permanent place for the donor on the board of trustees; and (c) The land or building named after the donor. B) However, donations in the past were a mutual contract between the donor corporation and a recipient not-for- profit and were not mandated by law. C) Instead of getting into the specifics in this particular instance, we should examine the larger issues of governance from the perspective of the donor in the context of the CSR law. D) There has been a debate in Bengaluru recently relating to a donation made by construction firm Puravankara to the Suchitra Cinema and Cultural Academy Trust. E) While the details of the organizational structure of the recipient are intricate, the debate has revolved around three contentious issues about the conditionality imposed on a corporate social responsibility (CSR) grant by the company. 19) A) The winner—the strategy most likely to produce a cooperative outcome—was Anatol Rapoport‘s tit-for-tat (TFT) strategy. B) As with any human interaction, international relations, whether economic or political, is a combination of cooperation and competition. C) Facing the temptation of duplicity, they may become concerned, or even suspicious, that their partners—facing the same temptation—are betraying them. As a result, they become even more tempted to betray their partners first. D) The ―cooperation‖ part benefits all involved, whether by sustaining world peace or boosting growth and prosperity through free trade. The ―competition‖ part creates serious risks, from economic impediments to war and environmental destruction. E) So why don‘t countries cooperate more?The answer comes down, in part, to the so-called prisoner‘s dilemma. Countries may suspect that by betraying their partners, they can obtain a better ―deal‖ for themselves. 20) A) The services sector in India shows some similarities with the services sector in the US, with both exhibiting agglomeration economies. However, there are also some differences. B) In the US, agglomeration economies in services dominate in medium-density locations. Three of the main high- tech counties in the US are in Santa Clara, California (Silicon Valley); Middlesex, Massachusetts (Route 128); and Durham, North Carolina (Research Triangle). C) The evidence of agglomeration in the services sector in the US is in cities with densities of employment below 150 employees per sq. km, while in India, agglomeration is found in cities with densities above this threshold D) Although India has experienced rapid growth over the last two decades, spatial disparities have increased. E) In contrast, in India, agglomeration economies are more dominant in high-density locations, such as Hyderabad and Chennai. 21) A) Mark sheets and graduation certificates issued by Mumbai University this academic term will be equipped with QR code. B) Last year, the university had initiated digital mark sheets that could be directly downloaded from the MU website. C) This code prevents the certificates from being faked, tampered with or distorted in any manner. D) The knowledge of coding has become very important in today‘s technologically advanced world E) It could help future employers or other universities to verify certificates presented online by students 22) A) The boat disaster in the Ganga on Makar Sankranti day killed at least 24 people. B) It shows that safety in public transport remains a low priority for governments. C) Makar Sankranti and road mishaps have become common these days. D) As with road accidents, mishaps in the inland waterways and lakes take a terrible toll of lives regularly, with no effective administrative response. E) In the Ganga Diara tragedy near Patna, a large number of people had apparently crammed themselves into a small vessel for a free ride after witnessing a kite festival. 23) A) Over the past few days, five Pakistani activists including the poet Salman Haider have gone missing. B) The ban of Pakistani artists in India has also attracted flak. C) The incidents have left the rights groups, already under pressure from the military and extremist outfits, alarmed. D) Nobody has claimed responsibility, and the family members haven‘t got any ransom calls. E) Although the full facts are not available, the perception that the disappearances are somehow linked has gained credence. 24) A) Tamil Nadu‘s move to declare a drought, ironically on the eve of the harvest festival of Pongal, is an important step to address the agrarian distress that is sweeping the State following poor rainfall during the northeast monsoon. B) Even with relatively better governance structures, desperation among farmers has resulted in a spate of suicides, particularly in the Cauvery delta rice belt that has received little water from Karnataka in recent times. C) There is a need to look ahead and institute reforms in drought management for effective distress mitigation. 24

D) The minister said that he intends to legalise the cruel and dangerous sports of bull taming in Tamil Nadu E) A monsoon management centre drawing upon the expertise of multiple departments would, for instance, help use scarce resources conservatively during a drought, and maximise their potential in good times. 25) A) The successful test-firing of the long-range ballistic missile Agni-V for the fourth time is a significant step towards building a credible nuclear deterrence. B) Nuclear test in the field of power generation have gained widespread popularity and every country is looking forward to make some contribution to it. C) With this test and the recent commissioning of the indigenously built nuclear submarine INS Arihant, India is inching towards creating a robust and world-class second-strike capability. D) For a nation sworn to no-first-use of nuclear weapons, a reliable second-strike capability is an absolute necessity. E) In the worst-case scenario, the country should have the ability to withstand an enemy nuclear strike on its key locations and launch a successful second strike. 26) A) The argument in favour of a compulsory Class X Board examination made by Union Human Resource Development Minister is that its absence discriminates against candidates of State boards. B) The Minister announced his intent of returning to a compulsory Board examination well before the CBSE governing body formally announced it. C) Uniformity militates against creative educational methods, and a test that is no more than a straitjacket crushes the initiative of teacher and student. D) The CBSE would, therefore, do well to avoid homogenisation, and retain sufficient scope for true learning. E) The bold step by CBSE regarding the uniformity of dress code in schools is appreciable. 27) A) Income tax authorities on the trail of illegal acts of money exchange in commercial banks following the demonetisation are netting bigger fish than they may have expected. B) Investigations into the hoarding of new currency notes in the denomination of Rs. 2,000 have implicated not only mining barons and contractors, but also government officials and politicians. C) It is now clear that in the first few days after the demonetisation announcement, when government-imposed limits on withdrawals were in force, and people were queuing up before banks, several unscrupulous officials of both public sector and private banks conspired to convert demonetised notes to benefit black marketeers and corrupt public servants. D) The positive impact of demonitisation will be visible in near future, say for in real estate business where the fall in price of properties will enable buyers to purchase their dream house in fewer prices. E) Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have accounted for most of the seizures, running to more than a hundred crore rupees in new notes, but this is surely an all-India phenomenon. 28) A) It is hard now to remember a time when German Chancellor Angela Merkel was not in the thick of a political storm in Europe. B) The German interior ministry announced on Thursday that it would return newly arrived asylum seekers to Greece – effectively suspending a five-year ban on such returns – in accordance with the Dublin Regulation protocol. C) As she seeks election for a fourth term next September, Ms. Merkel‘s political and diplomatic acumen could be put to the toughest test yet in a world still coming to grips with the implications of Britain‘s vote to leave the European Union (EU) and the U.S. presidential election result. D) Her measured approach to the deepening debt crisis in the eurozone saw her being pilloried by some of her conservative colleagues as indulgence of a profligate Greece. E) But the Chancellor, seen hitherto as cautious if not indecisive, was spontaneous and firm in her response to the tragic drowning of many Syrians at the height of the refugee crisis in 2015. 29) A) That the winter session would be washed out had been clear for a while. B) The Opposition parties are mustering all their disruptive tactics to stall the functioning of both Houses. C) The government has staked much political capital on key financial reforms that need cooperation across the aisles. D) It lost the chance to pass bills critical to the April 1, 2017, deadline for the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax. E) Governments aim to roll out GST will be highly beneficial for the Indian economy. 30) A) The Chinese Navy seized an American underwater drone in the international waters of the South China Sea. B) Though it is not clear if the capture of the drone, which China agreed to return later, was a junior-level act by sailors or a strategic move directed by Beijing. C) Interestingly, the incident comes days after Mr. Trump broke diplomatic protocol and accepted a congratulatory call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen D) Mr. Trump has been reported to have won the election gaining support from Putin. E) This move of Trump invited an angry response from China, which sees Taiwan as a breakaway province. 25

31) A) Therefore solar power can‘t help in catering to the requirement of electric power during evening hours, when the power demand peaks. B) A distinctive characteristic of solar power is that it can be generated only during the mid-day hours when the sun is up in the sky. C) Sun has been assumed to be perfectly sphere of hot plasma and energy is produced by nuclear fusion in the core region. D) In fact, solar capacity should not be counted when working out the generating capacity requirement for meeting the projected peak demand. E) As we move towards ‗electricity for all‘, the power demand during evening hours would keep on rising, and conventional generating capacity would require continued enhancement, irrespective of the installation of the solar capacity. 32) A) Although the bank lends its name to the machine, the ownership and management of more than half the ATMs in the country are with operators who earn fees from banks for every transaction B) The ATM industry stands to lose hundreds of crores as banks continue to starve machines of cash. C) ATM operators are entities that manage networks on behalf of banks and often make capital investments in these machines. D) ATM machines are rarely available in every part of the country and people have to go miles to access the banking services. E) As a result, ATM operators are now thinking of petitioning the government for compensation. 33) A) Further, banks maintaining currency chests have been asked to make necessary arrangements to facilitate the deposit of SBNs received through linked branches or other branches of banks and post offices. B) Demonetization has created chaos in the system and many economist think demonetization a unnecessary step. C) RBI has asked banks to report details of deposits of old Rs 500/1,000 notes . D) All lenders, including public, private, rural and cooperative banks, have been asked to make arrangements to gather information on deposits of the Specified Bank Notes (SBNs). E) With the closure of the facility of exchange of SBNs (defunct notes) as at the close of business on December 30, 2016, all banks should report information on collection of SBNs on December 30, 2016, itself at e-mail 34) A) The malpractices of doctors in private hospitals has become rampant these days which should be stopped at any cost. B) From next month, registration will become free for patients who provide their Aadhaar number. Those who cannot provide Aadhaar card they will have to pay of Rs 100 for registration . C) Linking of Aadhaar number will also help in achieving the aim of health records portability from one hospital to another . D) The move aims at encouraging digital transactions and streamlining patients‘ database which otherwise is getting cluttered as many patients misplace documents and OPD cards. E) Soon patients who provide Aadhaar card at AIIMS will have their registration charges waived . 35) A) What makes this change significant is that the member with experience in school administration, hitherto nominated by schools‘ managing committees, will now be nominated by the chairperson of the CBSE. B) CBSE schools are popular due to its well qualified principals and dedicated teachers who work round the clock to ensure best result of the students. C) Private unaided schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will no longer be able to appoint principals or heads on their own as the board has empowered itself to monitor such appointments in schools that fall under its ambit. D) Also, teachers aspiring to be principals will now have to qualify a Principal Eligibility Test (PET) conducted by the board . E) It will now be mandatory for schools to include a CBSE nominee and a state government nominee in their selection committees for principals. 36) A) The Union government has found that an estimated Rs. 3-4 lakh crore of tax evaded income were deposited during the 50-day window provided to get rid of the junked Rs. 1,000 and old Rs. 500 notes. B) More than Rs. 10,700 crore in cash was deposited in different accounts in the Northeastern States sinceNovember 9. C) It had come to light that Rs. 25,000 crore in cash was deposited in dormant bank accounts while nearly Rs. 80,000 crore of repayment of loans was done in cash since November 8 D) Starting from November 8, 2016, various reports were called for from the banks based on different threshold of cash deposits made by different categories of persons. The reports were collated and analysed based on intelligence, which has been available in the Government data bases. E) But many politicians have opposed demonetization and termed it as the biggest scam of Indian history. They even want the government to take back the step of demonetization of High denomination currency notes. 26

37) A) The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has sent a questionnaire to RBI Governor Urjit Patel and other top finance-related officials on demonetisation. B) The officials will answer not just these questions but also others related to the decision to demonetise and the economic impact. C) Officials can respond to the members‘ questions there or later in writing. D) Officials must make sure that there is demonetization process never takes place again in near future. E) Sources say the committee is expected to quiz the officials on these issues, as several details about demonetisation and new notes put into circulation have not been made public. 38) A) In the mid-1990s Japan had a smaller proportion of over-65s than Britain or Germany. B) Between 2010 and 2040 the number of people aged 65 or over in metropolitan Tokyo, of which Tama is part, is expected to rise from 2.7m to 4.1m C) Tama is a beautiful metropolitan city in Japan where the famous tama hill is located. D) By 2025, officials in Tama predict, almost one in four elderly residents will be bedridden and one in seven will suffer from dementia. E) For Tama, though, the most worrying effects of ageing are fiscal. Two-thirds of the city‘s budget goes on social welfare, which old people require lots of. 39) A) In a league table of education systems drawn up in 2015 by the OECD club of mainly rich countries, South Africa ranks 75th out of 76. B) The GDP of South Africa is not so bad. But the country to learn to effectively utilize its resources. C) A shocking 27% of pupils from South Africa who have attended school for six years cannot read, compared with 4% in Tanzania and 19% in Zimbabwe. D) In South Africa public spending on education is 6.4% of GDP; the average share in EU countries is 4.8%. More important than money are a lack of accountability and the abysmal quality of most teachers. E) In one study done in South Africa in 2007, maths teachers of 11- and 12-year-olds sat tests similar to those taken by their class. A scandalous 79% of teachers scored below the level expected of the pupils. 40) A) In 1998 Britain became the world leader due to its political stability and supportive politics from opposition. B) In 2015 Britain gave away £12.1bn ($18.5bn) in foreign aid, more than any country bar America. C) It was one of just six countries to meet the UN‘s target of spending 0.7% of GDP on international assistance. D) Yet although the leaders of all Britain‘s main political parties support this generosity, grumbles that the money should stay at home are growing louder. E) Some backbench Conservatives have called for aid to be redirected to pay for social care for elderly Britons. Direction (1-5) : The following questions contain five sentences as options. Find one sentence which does not relate to the central theme of the passage made by remaining four sentences. 41) A) This growth comes in many forms: better education and health that increase female labour force participation, reduced discrimination and wage differentials that encourage greater effort, and improved advancement practices that promote talented women into leadership and managerial roles. B) Travel in India can be limited and unpredictable, and women face greater constraints in geographic mobility imposed by safety concerns and social norms. C) A central driver of economic growth is the increased role of women. D) Improving this balance is an important first step for India‘s development and its achievement of greater economic growth and gender equality. E) Despite its recent economic advances, India‘s gender balance in labour force participation, entrepreneurship, and growth remains among the lowest in the world. 42) A) One particular similarity, however, stands out: a geography-centred view of power and influence. The Marshall Plan was a product of the era when Europe was deemed to be the determinant of the balance of global power, and the BRI‘s arrival merely reflects the fact that Europe has ceded that privileged position to Asia. B) The Marshall Plan was overshadowed by a zero-sum game between capitalism and communism but the BRI, they insist, is a win-win for all the participating countries. C) The Chinese establishment recoils at its grand vision—the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) or One Belt One Road (Obor)—being compared to the Marshall Plan, the post-World War II American initiative to rebuild the war-ravaged economies of Europe. D) A much bigger vision than the Marshall Plan, the BRI involves the continental connectivity of China to Central and West Asia and onwards to Europe (the ‗belt‘ part) and maritime connectivity of China‘s southern coast to Africa via South-East Asia (the ‗road‘ part). E) As an advocate of a multipolar Asia, India has done well to sit out the BRF. A wait-and-watch strategy on the BRI does no harm for the moment but New Delhi should simultaneously step up its infrastructure building in India and the neighbourhood. 27

43) A) A lot of people are saying that that‘s part of the next growth wave of Chinese exports, which is that it‘s going to have its influence and its infrastructure build-out in many of these countries, most of them emerging markets, in lots of things that frankly have fueled the very high growth in China over the past decade. B) Underneath all the heady talk about China positioning itself at the heart of a new global order, though, lies in uncomfortable question: Can it afford to do so? C) At the conference itself, Chinese president Xi Jinping pledged another $78 billion for the effort, which envisions building infrastructure to link China to Europe through Asia, the Middle East and Africa. D) Such doubts might seem spurious, given the numbers being tossed around. China claims nearly $900 billion worth of deals are already underway, with estimates of future spending ranging from $4 trillion to $8 trillion, depending on which Chinese government agency is doing the talking. E) China‘s just-completed conference touting its Belt and Road initiative certainly looked like a triumph, with Russian president Vladimir Putin playing the piano and Chinese leaders announcing a string of potential deals and massive financial pledges. 44) A) We are aware that the state of the current healthcare system does not always deliver for our citizens and faces significant systemic challenges. B) India can build on core design principles from global experiences, including prioritizing resources for health within government budgets, pooling existing resources, and bringing in greater government control over the health sector. C) India spends close to 5% of its GDP on health, and yet, on an index measuring country performance on health- related sustainable development goal indicators, It ranks poorly at 143 out of 188 countries. D) Part of the challenge comes from the isolated, disconnected way in which the private health system deals with TB. E) To overcome some of these, strategic shifts in the level of control that the government exerts on both the financing and provision of health are urgently required. 45) A) These attacks, coupled with the exponential growth of fintech platforms and solutions partly fuelled by the demonetisation exercise, underscore the need for strong cybersecurity initiatives. B) About 3.2 million debit cards were compromised last year through a hack on Hitachi‘s ATM switch server. Phishers assumed the Reserve Bank of India‘s (RBI‘s) identity to hoodwink a gullible staffer in the Union Bank of India and inject malware into the bank‘s servers. C) At a lesser level of sophistication, software vulnerabilities in the Bank of Maharashtra‘s Unified Payment Interface app were recently exploited to complete digital transactions even when there was insufficient balance in the sender‘s account. D) The $171 million, transferred through unlawful access to the bank‘s SWIFT codes for cross-border transactions, was fortunately rolled back due to early detection. E) If these normative goals are sought to be achieved by building them into the very design of Cert-Fin, it could hopefully serve as a healthy template for other jurisdictions too, in addition to facilitating the transition to a digital India for financial transactions. 28

Direction : In each question below there are four or five statements. Each statement has pairs of words/phrases that are highlighted. From the highlighted word(s)/phrase(s), select the most appropriate word(s)/phrase(s) to form correct sentences. Then choose the best option. 1. (i) He took refuse (A)/ refuge (B) in an Arabic state (ii) They warned him not to temper (A)/ tamper (B) with the EVM machines. (iii) Social (A)/ sociable (B) people do not like living alone. (iv) The stationary (A)/ stationery (B) was laid out on the table A) ABBB B) BABA C) BABB D) BBBB E) AABB 2. (i) His feelings were easily hurt as he was a sensitive (A)/ sensible (B) man (ii) God‘s laws are highly spirituous (A)/ spiritual (B) (iii) The statue (A)/ statute (B) of the lord is simple (iv) The house we saw is still empty (A)/ vacant (B) (v) He was ordered to give a verizon (A)/ verbal (B) speech on education A) ABBBB B) ABABA C) BBABB D) BABAA E) ABBAB 3. (i) It is womanly (A)/ woman (B) on a man‘s part to shed tears (ii) He worked all one‟s (A)/ his (B) life to get his daughters married (iii) Mahatma Gandhi tried his best for Hindu Muslim Union (A)/ unity (B) (iv) The lord abides (A)/ abounds (B) in each one of us A) ABBA B) AAAB C) ABBA D) BBAB E) BBAB 4. (i) We shall ensure (A)/ Insure (B) that you get selected (ii) The cook tried to prize (A)/ prise (B) open the container (iii) The teacher asked the students to commit (A)/ commute (B) the lesson to memory (iv) Grapes are grown in vineyards (A)/ wine yards(B) A) ABBA B) AABA C) ABAA D) BAAB E) AABA 5. (i). Anybody who tress passes on this premises (A)/ premise (B) will be prosecuted (ii) The prime minister along with his minister is (A)/ are (B) coming to attend the event (iii) His wife who continuously quarrelled with him was the boon (A) /bane (B) on his life (iv) His neighbour was filled with jealousy (A)/ zealous (B). (v) He had to roam (A)/ room (B) about the town for several house before h found a suitable peace. A) BBAAA B) AABAA C) ABABA D) BABBA E) ABBBA 6. (i) There was a fierce dual (A)/ duel (B) between the brothers. (ii) ―Don‘t jump to conclusions” (A)/ Allusions (B) he advised his juniors (iii) The police officers will alloy (A) allay (B) your fears. (iv) The custom officials frisked (A)/ fleshed (B) the passengers (v) He has been working (A) / work (B) for 6 hours A) BABAA B) BAABA C) BBBAA D) ABABA E) AABAA 7. (i) He mediates (A)/ meditates (B) in the action to be taken (ii) A drowning man will catch (A)/ cling (B) on to a straw. (iii) Search (A)/ examine (B) the thief for the jewellery. (iv) The man died of a strike (A)/ stroke (B) (v) Her absence rued (A)/ ruined (B) his day A) BBAAA B) ABBAA C) ABABB D) BABBA E) AAABB 8. (i) The side hero was simply a substitute (A)/ substance (B) for the main hers. (ii) A breed (A)/ brood (B) of pigeons were placed in a pen. (iii) A gaggle (A)/ giggle (B) of geese waddled along the banks of the rivers. (iv) I have no opinion (A)/ option (B) but to resign. (v) The government has decided to wave (A)/ waive (B) bad loans A) BABBA B) AAABA C) AABBA D) BBABA E) ABABB 29

9. (i) He stepped on (A)/ into (B) the hall from the bedroom (ii) The guests dined (A)/ dinner (B) on pies & wine (iii) The Gupta‘s live adjunct (A)/ adjacent (B) to the kumar‘s (iv) There were three different causes (A)/ clauses (B) in the contract (v) The basis on which his arguments are based is sheer conjecture (A)/ conjunction (B) A) BABBA B) BABAA C) BAAAB D) ABBBA E) AABBA 10. (i) The convict did not revel (A)/ reveal (B) his plans to escape from prison. (ii) The orator had a bass (A)/ base (B) voice (iii) Full of happiness his face looked beatific (A)/ beauty (B) (iv). From the passage we can infer (A)/ inform (B) that the author dislike corruption. (v) Columbus voiced his dissent (A)/ descent (B) on the contentions issue. A) BBBAB B) BAAAA C) AABAB D) ABAAA E) BABAA 11. (i) The prince wanted to ascent (A)/ ascend (B) to the throne (ii) The doctor did not expect (A)/ except (B) the patient to die during the operation. (iii) He delivered a speech on India shining with panacea (A)/ panache (B) (iv) The accused swore the he did not steel (A)/ steal (B) the dead body of the saint (v) The customer could not gain access (A)/ excess (B) to his ATM account A) BABBA B) ABBBA C) AAABB D) AAABA E) BBABA 12. (i) This situation will not effect (A) /affect (B) the results. (ii) He made several illusions(A)/ allusions (B) to the murder of the prime minister (iii) There is little reason to altar (A) /alter (B) my decision (iv) The chairman remarks were not very apposite (A)/ opposite (B) A) ABBA B) BABB C) BABA D) BBBA E) BBAB 13. (i) He accepted (A)/ excepted (B) my reason for being late (ii) The ministers drank to access(A)/ excess(B) (iii) That was a terrible accident (A)/ incident (B) in his life (iv) We must adopt (A)/ adapt (B) ourselves to the situation. (v) They must adopt (A)/ Adapt (B) the child if it is to be saved A) ABABA B) BABBA C) ABBBA D) BBBBA E) BAABA 14. (i) He used to be audited (A)/ addicted (B) to drinking but now he is devoted to his studies (ii) He acted on his lawyers advise (A)/ advice (B) (iii) The lawyer nodded in a/an assent (A)/ ascent (B) at 6.p.m (iv) We will avenge (A)/ revenge (B) the helpless and poor people (v) He stepped on the breaks(A)/ brakes (B). A) BBAAB B) ABBAB C) BAABA D) BBABA E) BBAAA 15. (i) My brother‘s vocation (A)/ vacation (B) is banking (ii) These customs are a relics of barbarisms (A)/ barbarity (B) (iii) He could not bare (A)/ bear (B) such hardship (iv) Water ran down the creak (A)/ creek(B) rapidly (v) His acts were beneficent(A)/ beneficial (B) to all. A) AABBB B) ABAAB C) BABAB D) ABBAB E) BAABA 16. (i) Kindly reserve a birth (A)/ berth (B) for me (ii) Shakespeare was borne (A) born (B) in Stafford (iii) The bridle (A)/ bridal (B) ceremony lasted for two hours (iv) They canvas (A) /canvass (B) strongly for their party. (v) There is a special cell (A)/ sell (B) for hard core criminals. A) ABABA B) BBBBA C) AAAAB D) BAABA E) BBABA 17. (i) His manner was rather ceremonious (A)/ ceremonial (B) (ii) The cession (A)/ cessation (B) of the territory was demanded by the British (iii) The bill will be introduced in the current (A)/ cession (B) session (iv) The teller was asked to cheque (A)/ check (B) his accounts (v) The mans attitude was too childish (A)/ childlike (B) for his age A) ABBBB B) AABBA C) ABABA D) ABBBA E) BBABB 30

18. (i) The speaker will cite (A)/ site (B) many reasons for our failure (ii) My work is the compliment (A)/ complement (B) of his (iii) Her speech was scarcely comprehensible (A)/ comprehensive (B) (iv) He spoke with baited (A)/ bated (B) breath. (v) The young man made his uncle confidant (A)/ confident (B). A) ABBBA B) ABABA C) BABBA D) BAABA E) AAABA 19. (i) I will keep your counsel (A)/ council (B) in mind (ii) She was conscientious (A)/ conscious (B) of her faults (iii) He is a contemptible (A)/ Contemptuous (B) chap (iv) He worked continuously (A)/ Continually (B) from morn till night (v) Corporal (A)/ Corporeal (B) Punishment is forbidden in schools.. A) ABBAA B) BAAAA C) ABAAA D) ABBBB E) BBABA 20. (i) This coarse (A)/ Course (B) of action will eventually ruin us. (ii) The rumour was to far fetched to be credible (A)/ creditable (B) (iii) Drunkenness is not among his crimes (A) /vices(B) (iv) This custom habit (A)/ habitual (B) still exists among savages (v) The deceased (A)/ diseased (B) sheep were examined by the vet A) BAABA B) ABBAA C) AAABB D) BABAB E) BBBBA Directions: Which of the words/phrases (A), (B), (C) and (D) given below should replace the words/phrases given in bold in the following sentences to make it meaningful and grammatically correct. Mark (E) as the answer if the sentence is correct and „No correction is required‟. 21. Transforming leadership is about driven sustainable change and the government has identified digital, the rural economy, financial inclusion, opportunities for a youth, and ease of doing business. A) Transform, driven, identifying, for the B) Transforming, driving, identified, for C) Transformative, driven, identifying, for aD) Transformative, driving, identified, for the E) No Correction Required 22. Data mining and the use of analytics on bank deposited collected following the demonetisation exercise are yielding the government good insights for increase the number of tax assesses and expanding the tax base. A) deposit, yield, for, expand B) deposits, yielding, to, expand C) deposited, yielding, on, expansion D) depositing, yielding, for, expansion E) No Correction Required 23. As old and new economy firms continue to invest and grow their operations, India‘s youth will find many opportunities to gain new skills and thereafter job opportunities. A) continue to, will, to gain, thereafter B) continuing, would, for gaining, thus C) continues to , will, to lack, therefore D) continued, would, to access, hence E) No Correction Required 24. At a macro level, the Budget delivers on its promises of fiscal prudence with numbering trending in the right direction, with intensifying public investment programmes simultaneously. A) At, for number, with, simultaneous. B) For, with numbering, and, simultaneously C) At the, with numbers, while, simultaneously D) At a, with number, for, simultaneous E) No Correction Required 25. The critical way to clean up poll funding is to mandate all parties to disclosing every month how much they spend at each level, starting from the polling booth area to the panchayat, the district, the state and a nation. A) Best way, for disclosing, beginning from, a nation B) only way, to disclose, starting, the nation C) best way, for disclose, starts, the nationD) right way, disclose, since, the nationE) No Correction Required 26. The Budget deals for allocating money towards areas where the government thinking it is essential to spend, and find out ways such as taxes, for financing it. A) deals in, thinks, find, to financing B) deal with, thinking, found, for financing C) deals upon, thinking, finds, to finance D) deals with, thinks, finding, to financeE) No Correction Required 27. 50 days of hard work has gone into the process of accepting old notes from the system and disbursing currency through branches and ATMs. A) have gone, by, distributing, from B) has gone, from, disbursing, through C) has went, of, disbursing, through D) went, by, distribution, from E) No Correction Required 31

28. In coming years, the only differentiator that will matter in the selection and ranking of world class educational institutions will be that whether the institution is practicing education as enabler for uplifting the society. A) In coming, difference, can be, to uplifting B) In few , differentiation, would be, since uplift C) In, difference, could be, for uplift D) In upcoming, differentiator, be, for upliftE) No Correction Required 29. Education is going from a big transition because of the ongoing changes in the way we used technology and the way we communicated. A) by, because of, we use, communicated.B) through, because of, we are using, communicated C) through, due to, we use, communicate D) from, since, we use, communicateE) No Correction Required 30. Many organizations are changing themselves to cope on with the changes taking place in the educational space. Others will be either forced to shut or they will face the consequences of not make up with the changes. A) started changing, cope up, submit, setting upB) believed, take on, change, making up C) contain, continue, continue, continuing upD) are changing, cope up, change, making up E) No Correction Required Directions: Following sentences contain 4 bold words each. Find spelling error or grammatical error if any, else mark (E) as your answer. 31. The permanent tribunal (PT) will now subsume and replace all the existing tribunals and provided a permanent avenue for resolving inter-state water disputes. A) subsume B) existing C) provided D) avenue E) All Correct 32. The tongue-twister names take a little getting used to, but it doesn‘t take long to feel at home with the unhurried hospitality, which can taught you a thing or two! A) tongue-twister B) little C) unhurried D) taught E) All Correct 33. Conventional Trusting Wisdom says Note Recall was an exercise to root out black money, but its good intention was waylay by poor execution that has led to large-scale distress of the kind that natural calamities usually bring. A) waylay B) execution C) distress D) calamities E) All Correct 34. The government said a number of complaint have been received in this regard, where hotels and restaurants were charging service charge in the range of 5-20 per cent, in lieu of tips, which a consumer is forced to pay irrespective of the kind of service provided to him/her. A) complaint B) in lieu C) irrespective D) service E) All Correct 35. There are about 60 French citizens fighting alongside Islamic State militants in the northern city of Mosul alone and hundreds more in the rest of the countries and Syria A) alongside B) militants C) hundreds D) countries E) All Correct 36. Even though Sarah has an aversion to snakes, she is still brave enoug to walk through the forest with us on our hiking trips. A) aversion B) enoug C) through D) hiking E) All Correct 37. We started to campaign for John‘s election more fiercely as November began to loom ever closer. A) campaign B) election C) fiercely D) loom E) All Correct 38. Despite his history of violent, the judge decide to grant him leniency due to his quick admission of guilt. A) violent B) decide C) leniency D) guilt E) All Correct 39. It is hard to feel pity for someone who makes a living by wilingly choosing to dissemble their true intent for monetary reasons. A) pity B) wilingly C) dissemble D) monetary E) All Correct 40. Because Nisha decorated her residence in a pastiche of styles, every room in her house is uniquely beautified. A) Because B) pastiche C) uniquely D) beautified E) All Correct 32

Directions (1-10): Select the phrase/connector from the given three options which can be used in the beginning (to start the sentence) to form a single sentence from the two sentences given below, implying the same meaning as expressed in the statement sentences. 1) He was unwilling to go any further. He returned home. (i) Returning home…. (ii) Unwilling to go….. (iii) To go any further….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (ii) E) None of these 2) They saw the uselessness of violence. They changed their policy. (i) Seeing the uselessness…. (ii) Changing their policy…. (iii) See the uselessness….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (ii) E) None of these 3) He lost a large sum of money. He gave up speculation. (i) Giving up speculation….. (ii) Large sum of…. (iii) Loosing a large…. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (iii) E) None of these 4) The hunter took up his gun. He went out to shoot the lion. (i) Taking up his….. (ii) Took his gun…. (iii) Shooting the lion….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (iii) E) None of these 5) A crow stole a piece of cheese. She flew to her nest to enjoy the tasty meal. (i) Flying to steal….. (ii) Stealing a piece….. (iii) Enjoying the tasty…… A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) All E) None of these 6) My sister was charmed with the silk. She bought ten yards. (i) Buying ten yards…. (ii) After charming…. (iii) Charmed with the…… A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) All E) None of these 7) The letter was badly written. I had great difficulty in making out its content. (i) The letter having….. (ii) Having great difficulty….. (iii) Making out the content….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (iii) E) None of these 8) I was walking along the street one day. I saw a dead snake. (i) Walking along….. (ii) Walking with….. (iii) Seeing a dead….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (iii) E) None of these 9) Neeraj lost the favour of his master. He was dismissed from his high offices. (i) Lost the…. (ii) Having lost…. (iii) Dismissed from his….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (iii) E) None of these 10) He was occupied with important matters. He had no leisure to see visitors. (i) No leisure to see….. (ii) Being occupied….. (iii) Occupying important matters…. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (ii) E) None of these 33

Directions (11-20): Select the phrase/connector from the given three options which can be used in the beginning (to start the sentence) to form a single sentence from the two sentences given below, implying the same meaning as expressed in the statement sentences. 11) Mr. Yogi was elected as the Chief Minister. He is a well-known Sanskrit Scholar. (i) Being elected as……… (ii) Mr. Yogi a well……… (iii) Being a well-known………… A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (ii) E) All 12) The Gitanjali is the most famous work of Tagore. It is a collection of short poems. (i) Tagore‘s most famous……… (ii) The Gitanjali……. (iii) Being a collection of…………… A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) (i) and (ii) E) All 13) He must confess his fault. He may thus escape punishment. (i) Confess his fault…….. (ii) escaping punishment………. (iii) He may escape……… A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Only (i) and (ii) E) None 14) He has a good record. It is impossible to suspect such a man. (i) It is impossible………… (ii) to suspect a man……… (iii) A good record……….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (ii) E) Both (ii) and (iii) 15) Even a bird will defend its young ones. It then shows great courage. (i) Shows great courage……….. (ii) Even a young………. (iii) Even a bird……… A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) All E) None 16) There was a want of provisions. The garrison could hold out no longer. (i) For a want………… (ii) Wanting of provisions……… (iii) Hold out no longer………. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) None E) Only (ii) and (iii) 17) He is free from disease. At least he appears to be so. (i) Appearing to be…… (ii) At least in appearance……… (iii) free from disease………. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Only (i) and (ii) E) Only (ii) and (iii) 18) It was a very hot day. I could not do my work satisfactorily. (i) It being a very…… (ii) Not able to do………. (iii) Unable to do……….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) None E) All 19) The information is of no use to us. It has come too late. (i) As the information……… (ii) No use to us……….. (iii) The information has……….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) (i) and (iii) E) All 20) You did not invest all your savings in one concern. You were Prudent. (i) You were prudent…………. (ii) With the prudent………. (iii) In one concern……….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Only (i) and (ii) E) None Directions (21-30): Select the phrase/connector from the given three options which can be used in the beginning (to start the sentence) to form a single sentence from the two sentences given below, implying the same meaning as expressed in the statement sentences. 34

21) A dog once met a tiger. The dog had never seen a tiger before. (i) Never Seeing… (ii) A dog……… (iii) Meeting a…. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (ii) E) All 22) He is short-sighted. Otherwise he is fit for the post. (i) Being fit…. (ii) Other than….. (iii) Except that….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (iii) E) None of these 23) The game was lost. It was the consequence of his carelessness. (i) The consequence….. (ii) The game….. (iii) Being careless….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (iii) E) Both (i) and (ii) 24) He fled somewhere. His pursuers could not follow him. (i) He fled….. (ii) Not following….. (iii) Fleeing somewhere…. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (iii) E) None of the above 25) He was not there. I spoke to his brother for that reason. (i) Speaking to….. (ii) As he was….. (iii) The reason in…… A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (ii) and (iii) E) All of these 26) I must know all the facts. I cannot help you otherwise. (i) Before I…… (ii) Knowing all…. (iii) I cannot….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (ii) and (iii) E) Both (i) and (iii) 27) We were nearing some waterfall. It was evident from the distant roar of water. (i) It was evident…….. (ii) As nearing….. (iii) As we neared….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (iii) E) All of these 28) Manish made an egg stand on its end. I will show you his method. (i) Standing on…. (ii) I will show…. (iii) Making an….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (ii) E) Both (ii) and (iii) 29) The theft was committed last night. The man has been caught. (i) Committed last….. (ii) The man….. (iii) Being committed…. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (ii) E) All 30) The time was six o‘clock. The accident happened then. (i) Happening….. (ii) Happened at….. (iii) The time…. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (iii) E) All Directions (1-10): Select the phrase/connector from the given three options which can be used in the beginning (to start the sentence) to form a single sentence from the two sentences given below, implying the same meaning as expressed in the statement sentences. 31) We must finish this exercise. There are still three sentences. (i) Yet to finish…. (ii) We have….. 35

(iii) By finishing….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (ii) E) None of the above 32) He was occupied with important matters. He had no leisure to see visitors. (i) Being occupied…… (ii) He had (iii) To see….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (ii) E) All 33) She wants to marry a foreigner. Her friend is opposed to this. (i) Wanting to….. (ii) Her friend….. (iii) Marrying her….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (ii) E) Both (ii) and (iii) 34) His father was dead. He had to support his widowed mother. (i) His father….. (ii) Supported by….. (iii) Being dead….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (ii) and (iii) E) None of the above 35) The river is deep and swift. I am afraid to dive into it. (i) I am afraid….. (ii) The river…… (iii) Being afraid A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (ii) and (iii) E) Both (i) and (ii)\\ 36) The two friends quarreled. I want to know the reason. (i) Knowing…. (ii) After quarreling….. (iii) I want…. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (iii) E) None of the above 37) I have seen this man somewhere before. I cannot remember the place. (i) Seeing this man….. (ii) I cannot….. (iii) Not able to…. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (iii) E) Both (ii) and (iii) 38) He distrusts his own sons. It is difficult to understand the reason. (i) Distrusting his…. (ii) It is difficult…. (iii) Being difficult…. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (ii) E) Both (ii) and (iii) 39) He has many plans for earning money quickly. All of them have failed. (i) Many of his….. (ii) Earning money….. (iii) All his plans….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (iii) E) All of these 40) The fireman came out of the house. The roof collapsed that very moment. (i) Coming out….. (ii) As soon as….. (iii) Collapsed after….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (ii) E) None of the above Select the phrase/connector from the given three options which can be used in the beginning (to start the sentence) to form a single sentence from the two sentences given below, implying the same meaning as expressed in the statement sentences. 41) Consumers turned cautious following the Centre‘s demonetisation move. There was a slowdown in Fast moving consumer goods. (i) Fast moving consumer goods companies witnessed…… (ii) Lately the consumers turned….. (iii) Due to Centre‘s demonetization….. (A) Only (i) (B) Only (iii) (C) Only (ii) (D) Both (i) and (iii) (E) All 36

42) Payments banks and small finance banks have differentiated nature of business. RBI had issued a separate operating guidelines for them. (i) In view of differentiated nature……. (ii) Since RBI has issued…… (iii) Operating guidelines has been released….. (A) Only (i) (B) Only (iii) (C) Both (i) and (ii) (D) Both (i) and (iii) (E) Only (ii) 43) Government introduced inking and stopped over-the-counter exchange of invalid denomination notes within a fortnight. Otherwise money laundering would have reached new heights. (i) Even though the government introduced…… (ii) Even though the money laundering have reached…… (iii) Had the Government not introduced….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Both (i) and (ii) D) Only (iii) E) All 44) Dhoni has led his team in most number of matches as a captain. Ricky Ponting is second in the list. (i) No other captain has led his team………… (ii) Apart from Ricky Ponting…………. (iii) Being a captain Dhoni……… A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (ii) D) Both (i) and (iii) E) All 45) Lenskart plans to set up 8-10 satellite manufacturing units in the country. It will bring down the time of delivery of spectacles. (i) By setting up….. (ii) To bring down the…… (iii) Delivery of spectacles….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) All E) Both (i) and (ii) 46) Rajeev will contribute immensely in accelerating our growth journey . He has a vast experience across a range of developing markets. (i) With his contribution…… (ii) With his vast experience across……. (iii) Accelerating our growth journey…….. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (ii) E) Both (i) and (iii) 47) The government and RBI are focusing on rural areas. It is to ensure that the cash problem is resolved in the rural area. (i) The government‘s and RBI‘s focus on rural areas……… (ii) To ensure that the ……. (iii) While the rural area…… A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (ii) E) Both (ii) and (iii) 48) The government may hike deduction limit on interest paid on home loans. It aims to boost demand in the housing sector. (i) Aiming to boost…….. (ii) Deduction limit aims to……… (iii) Demand in housing sector………. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (ii) E) None of them 49) Poultry exports to Saudi Arabia contribute less than 1% of India‘s Poultry industry. The Impact of Saudi Arabia‘s ban may not be significant. (i) With poultry exports contributing……….. (ii) Poultry export may not be significant….……. (iii) Saudi Arabia‘s banning on poultry export………. A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) None E) All 50) Hero Motor Corp reported a 34 per cent drop in two wheeler sales. As a result the stock of the company was down by 1.4 per cent. (i) By bringing down the stock by………. (ii) The Hero Motor Corp stock was down………… (iii) Since the stock………… A) Only (i) B) Only (ii) C) Only (iii) D) Both (i) and (ii) E) All 37

Which of the phrase/ word from the options (A), (B), (C) and (D) given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold letters to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (e) i.e., “No correction required” as the answer. 1) There was a war on, so some kids were only sixteen when they join up. A) joins in B) joined up. C) joined off D) join off E) No Correction Required 2) I read the paper every day to keep into with the news. A) for keeping of B) to keep for C) to keep up D) for keeping into E) No Correction Required 3) I feel so let down because they promised me a puppy but all I got was a doll. A) let by B) letting off C) lets off D) letting by E) No Correction Required 4) If you don‘t want to take part in the game you can look by for now. A) be looking at B) look from C) looking on D) look on for E) No Correction Required 5) I‘m looking forward at my birthday. It‘s in two days time. A) looked forward from B) looking forward to C) looked at D) looking from E) No Correction Required 6) I always looked up to my father. He was a great man. A) looks up to B) look into C) looked since D) looks from E) No Correction Required 7) It‘s not nice for making fun of people in wheelchairs. A) to making fun of B) to make fun for C) to make fun of D) for making fun to E) No Correction Required 8) She had so many cats that she kept mix up their names. A) mixing up B) mixed up C) mixing into D) mix for E) No Correction Required 9) You were so tired after the game that you nod off on the couch. A) nodded of B) nodded into C) nod on D) nodded off E) No Correction Required 10) He didn‘t drink enough water so he pass out at the end of the race. A) pass into B) pass for C) passed out D) passed into E) No Correction Required 11) My partner‘s been away for a fortnight- I am aching of her. A) aching in B) aching for C) ache for D) ache by E) No Correction Required 12) Trains delays are getting worse and with the high fares, it all add into misery for the commuters. A) add for B) adds in C) add up D) adds up to E) No Correction Required 13) He‘s been angling for an invitation, but I don‘t want him to come. A) angling into B) angling of C) angling by D) angling upto E) No Correction Required 14) The teacher tried for arguing of the girl down, but she couldn‘t. A) for argument B) to argue C) in argue D) for argue of E) No Correction Required 15) They auctioned out their property as they were heavily in debt. A) auctioned on B) auction from C) auctioned off D) auctioned into E) No Correction Required 16) He backed out from the agreement at the last minute. A) backed out by B) backed up of C) back into D) backed out of E) No Correction Required 17) Everybody bailed out on him when the scandal broke. A) bailed into B) bailed up to C) bails on him D) bailed from E) No Correction Required 18) The government banged on out competition and the free market A) bangs from B) banged on about C) banged on in D) bangs on in E) No Correction Required 19) If you bash your monitor around like that, it won‘t last long. A) within like this B) among like this C) about like that D) from like this E) No Correction Required 20) I hadn‘t bargained for so many people coming. A) bargain on B) bargain from C) bargained into D) bargained of E) No Correction Required Which of the phrase/ word from the options (A), (B), (C) and (D) given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold letters to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (e) i.e., “No correction required” as the answer. 21) It‘s important for getting along with your team supervisor. A) to getting along B) to get along C) at get along D) to get again E) No Correction Required 22) He keeps getting for me and I really don‘t know what I‘ve done wrong. A) gets at me B) get off at me C) getting at meD) getting by me E) No Correction Required 38

23) Students without jobs have a hard time getting in. A) getting by B) getting since C) get to D) get off E) No Correction Required 24) After they split up, she had a hard time getting with her life. A) getting in B) to get in C) getting on with D) to get by E) No Correction Required 25) He doesn‘t get on very well with the other members of the committee. A) get in B) get by C) get off D) gets of E) No Correction Required 26) Anushka is trying for getting out of working the night shift. A) to getting out for B) to get out in C) to get out of D) to gets out by E) No Correction Required 27) Rupa had the chickenpox last week but she get over it. A) got above it B) get above it C) got against it D) got over it E) No Correction Required 28) We will never give by to the terrorists‘ demands. A) giving in to B) give in to C) gave in to D) gives in to E) No Correction Required 29) Aditya went through a lot of pain after his mother died. A) go through B) goes in C) went off D) go in E) No Correction Required 30) I have to hand into my report by next Wednesday. A) to hang out B) to handing in C) to hand in D) to hands in E) No Correction Required Which of the phrase/ word from the options (A), (B), (C) and (D) given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold letters to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (e) i.e., “No correction required” as the answer. 31) What happens of all those abroad the bus was not known. A) What happens to B) This is what happens to C) What is that happens to D) What happened to E) No correction required 32) The hotel lay out twenty staff because tourist numbers were down. A) laid in B) lays of C) laid off D) lay down E) No correction required 33) He was left in of the side because he hasn‘t been playing too well lately. A) left out B) let in C) lofted outside D) little out E) No correction required 34) I can‘t put up with my neighbour‘s noise any longer it‘s driving me mad. A) Quiten down B) put on C) go with D) put down on E) No correction required 35) The musketeer ran his enemy within by a sword and killed him. A) below to B) save up C) withhold D) through with E) No correction required 36) I had to send of a plumber because the radiator was leaking. A) sent from B) send for C) sent by D) send into E) No correction required 37) The police were send from to quell the riot as the protesters had started burning cars and wrecking shops. A) brought from B) force into C) sent in D) drafted in E) No correction required 38) The road to creativity was long and arduous; and it had remain so. A) will remained soB) has remained so C) would remains so D) can remain E) No correction required 39) The Government can strive for provide support to the persons with disabilities by launching high-growth ventures, and creating employment opportunities. A) must strive to B) could strive by C) has strived to D) had strike to E) No correction required 40) Finding an alternative habitat to replace earth is not the solution to decreasing level of earth‘s resources and its atmospheric quality. A) in replacing B) to replacing C) to replaced D) by replace E) No correction required Directions: Which of phrases given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold type to make it grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark „E‟ as the answer. 41) Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan has clarify that the government‟s plans to merging state petroleum companies will not lead to one giant entity. A) clarification that the government‘s plan of merging B) clarified that the government‘s plans of merging C) clarified that the government‘s plan to merge D) clarification that the government planning of merge E) No Correction Required 42) Thursday‘s newspapers was fill with nothing else but the news about Union Budget 2017 and analyses of various shades. A) was filled with noting else rather than a news B) was filling with nothing else rather the news C) was fill from nothing apart from news D) were filled with nothing else but the news E) No Correction Required 39

43) Quality of education has slowly became the focuses of the recent debates on education. A) has slowly become the focus of B) has slowly becoming the focused from C) had slowly become a focus from D) has been become the focus of E) No Correction Required 44) Prime Minister NarendraModi says that his conversation with Trump was ―warm‖ since that he has invited the US President to visit India. A) and whom he has invited B) and that he had invited C) since than he had invited D) and because he invited E) No Correction Required 45) It is welcome that the government has taken up the important subject as reform politics funding. A) of reformer politics fund. B) as of reforms political funding C) like reforms politic funds. D) of reforming political funding. E) No Correction Required 46) The numbers in the general budget presented to parliament earlier in the week showed a mix pictures of the financial performances of the Indian Railways. A) shows a mixed picture on the financial performance B) showing a mixed picture from the financial performances C) show the mixed picture from a financial performance D) shown the mixing pictures of a financial performance E) No Correction Required 47) The slowdown in the economy seemingly to has impacted rail operations far more substantially than anticipated. A) seem of impacting B) seems to had impact C) seems to have impacted D) seemed having impacts E) No Correction Required 48) Focused government support will not just widen digital access to include hitherto untouched groups, but will also increase overall consumer confidence and awareness, enables a smooth transition for a cashless economy. A) enabling a smoother transition to a B) enabled a smoother transition from a C) enabling a smoother transition from a D) enabled a smooth transition of a E) No Correction Required 49) Successive governments through the last decade have managed to create the right ecosystem which can be harnessed for deliver essential services to citizens. A) that could be harnessing for delivery B) that can be harness of delivering C) which could be harnessed of deliver D) that can be harnessed to deliver E) No Correction Required 50) This Budget has been a balancing act in maintaining fiscal consolidation, spurring economic growth and creating a transparent ecosystem in every sphere. A) spurred economic growth and creating a transparent B) spurring economic growth and created a transparent C) spurring economic growing and creating a transparency D) spur economic growth and creating a transparent E) No Correction Required Directions :Which of phrases given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold type to make it grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark „E‟ as the answer. 51) Mr. Mistry resigned from the boards of all publicly listed companies of the Tata group after a bitter eight-week boardroom battle against Ratan Tata‘s „illegally coup to unceremonious remove‟ him as the chairman of Tata Sons. A) illegal coup for unceremoniously remove B) illegal coup to unceremoniously remove C) illegally couping for unceremoniously remove D) illegally couping unceremonious remove E) No Correction Required 52) Even as investigation into molestations on New Year eve is on, a police has filed four (FIRs) against unknown persons. A) the police has filed four (FIRs) against B) a police have filed four (FIRs) against C) the police have filed four (FIRs) against D) the police has filed four (FIRs) versusE) No Correction Required 53) My objective here is not to berate one particular State police, but for warning others in the country against complacence, and to learn from the obvious mistakes committed by Bengaluru law enforcement. A) but to warn others in the country against complacence B) only to warn others in the country against complacences C) but to warning others in the countries against complacence D) but from warning other in the country for complacence E) No Correction Required 54) The main concern of education is to engender a certain character in human beings and in teaching them the nobility of spirit and the moral common ground of actions. A) teach them noblelism of spirit B) teach them nobility of spirit C) to teach them the noble spirit D) to teach them the nobility of spirit E) No Correction Required 40

55) The Centre‘s measures to eliminate the shadow economy and tax evasion is expects to having a positive impact both on GDP and on fiscal consolidation in the long run. A) is expecting to have a positive impact both on B) is expected to have a positive impact on both C) are expected to have a positive impact both on D) are expecting to have a positive impact both on E) No Correction Required 56) The central bank clarified that all the banknotes in the denomination of Rs. 50 and Rs. 20 issued in the past will continue to be legal tender. A) issuance in the past will continue to be B) issued in a past will continues to be C) issued in the past will continues to be D) issued in the past will continue for E) No Correction Required 57) About half from the consumers has cut down their household spends significantly. A) half of the consumer has B) half of the consumers have C) halves of the consumer has D) halves of the consumers have E) No Correction Required 58) Demonetisation of high-value currency notes has hit repayments on micro loans, many of which originated in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and was adversely impacts following political intervention by some local leaders and rumours of loan waivers A) was adverse impacting followingB) were adverse impacted followingC) was adversely impacting following D) were adversely impacted following E) No Correction Required 59) The Banks‘ Board Bureau is working to ensure that leadership roles in state-run banks will only be given to them with at least six years of service left, in order to ensure accountability of their actions. A) would only be given to those with B) will be given to only them withC) would only be given to them with D) will only be given to those with E) No Correction Required 60) RBI said banks should advise their currency chests to step up issuance of fresh notes to rural branches of Regional Rural Banks. A) for set up issuance of fresh notes B) to step up issuance of fresh notes C) for setting up issuance for fresh notes D) to setting up issuance to fresh notes E) No Correction Required 41

Direction: In each of the following questions a short passage is given with one of the lines in the passage missing and represented by a blank. Select the best out of the five answer choices given, to make the passage complete and coherent. 1) It is important for HR and talent management professionals to understand the distinction between happy, satisfied employees and engaged employees. Engaged employees are happy, satisfied employees, but not all happy, satisfied employees are engaged employees (…………………). Similarly, satisfied employees are happy to show up to work each day and do their work, but will be equally happy to take their satisfaction elsewhere for a salary increase. A) The renewed interest in improving employee engagement in organizations has originated from actions executives took during the recession. B) Engaged employees speak positively about their organizations to their co-workers, potential employees, and customers. C) Happy employees, for example, may gladly show up for work on most days, but that happiness does not necessarily translate into productivity and profitability D) Not all satisfied, emotionally invested professionals are engaged at the same level in an organization. E) HR and talent management professionals must understand these various engagement levels before embarking on an employee engagement initiative because action steps to improve engagement need to be customized based on where employees fall on the scale. 2) (………………….). As the economy continues to recover and talent remains the last true competitive advantage, business leaders are right to be concerned about employee engagement. There is a real fear that the 70 percent disengaged workers will leave, taking their knowledge and talents to competitors, or worse, stay with the organization physically, but not mentally. The timing could not be more crucial for HR and talent managers to prioritize engagement as a strategic initiative. A) Engaged employees feel emotionally connected to the organization, understand what it takes to help the organization succeed, and drive for that result. B) To achieve stronger bottom line results, it is essential that HR and talent leaders partner with business leaders to create and communicate a culture of engagement. C) Increasing an organization‘s employee engagement and commitment can dramatically impact and fuel operational excellence, innovation, and the ability to compete. D) HR and talent management professionals should ensure communication plans are built into all employee engagement initiatives. E) When implemented correctly, employee engagement initiatives can improve employee morale, create a more positive corporate culture, and significantly impact the bottom line. 3) (……………….). We are managing numerous fluctuating priorities, working with increased expectations, balancing competing demands for our personal and professional goals, and handling ongoing conflict and ambiguity in complex environments. Consulting firm AON Hewitt estimates that 35 percent of U.S. employers in 2013 offered stress-reduction programs to their employees, and that estimate is expected to grow (AON Hewitt, 2013). HR and talent management professionals are increasingly looking for ways to reduce employee stress, and many employers—like Google, Aetna, Target, and General Mills, to name a few—have found that introducing mindfulness into their workplace not only lowers employee stress, but improves focus, clarity of thinking, decision- making, emotional intelligence, and more. A) Mindfulness has roots that go back 2,500 years and uses an anchor—often breathing—to center attention and to bring awareness to the present moment B) Physiological or biological stress is an organism‘s response to a stressor such as an environmental condition C) One child was said to have lost all their eyelashes due to stress, while others worried about academic failure and some had to be comforted. D) Psychologist ElaAmarie of the Switzerland-based consultancy Mindful Brain observes that there are three characteristics of mindfulness; intention, attention, and attitude. E) In today‘s work world, we face multiple stress inducing demands and pressures as well as constant connectivity through smart phones, social media, and tablet computers 42

4) Thought leaders are increasingly calling today‘s turbulent business world a ―VUCA‖ environment—one that is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous.(……………….). Organizations that lack resilience, that ability to bounce back after setbacks, are often stressful places to work, a situation in which far too many employers and employees are well versed. A) But if you‘re looking to build resilient teams or entire organizations, it‘s the resilience of all those relationships that may matter even more. B) But all isn‘t lost; it simply means shifting our focus from developing resilient leaders toward developing collectively resilient groups. C) To succeed in this environment, organizations must be more adaptive and agile than ever before—they must be resilient D) Keep piling on ever bigger sales targets or changing mandates from on high, and eventually, even the most resilient individual is likely to break down. E) Stress lowers employee performance, productivity, morale, and strains workplace relationships. 5) The workplace is often strained, stressful, and overwhelming.(…………..). As human beings, that is simply an impossibility; employees cannot leave their emotions and personalities at home. By building work communities that are safe and secure, yet also encouraging and stimulating, HR and talent management professionals can also create teams that are more productive, satisfied, and high-performing. A) Employees have been taught to check their feelings at the door to focus on their work—to ―compart-mentalize‖ their personal and professional selves B) Developing resilient leaders will help them better grasp and support the benefits of building resilience at all organizational levels. C) Each time a community meets—whether it is a team, a smaller working group or an entire division— the community leader should open with a few simple questions. D) Encourage employees to keep a running list of everything that is on their minds so they can get it off their minds. E) Deeply focused, uninterrupted reading is an excellent way to train and sustain the brain‘s capacity for absorbed attention. 6) Providing street and public lighting can account for up to 38% of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in some cities. New energy-efficient technologies and design can cut street lighting costs dramatically (up to 60%) and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the same amount. (………………) The savings also allow municipalities to expand street lighting coverage to additional areas that include low-income and other underserved areas. A) Providing street and public lighting is one of the most expensive responsibilities of a municipality. B) These savings can reduce the need for new generating plants and redeploy scarce capital to delivering energy access to populations in remote areas. C) The project actually has produced 9.7 million kWh, 10 percent more electricity than anticipated, for a total utility savings of about $1.2 million D) Municipalities are often not willing or able to implement LED retrofits because a significant portion of the generated electricity savings will not be realized through reduced operating costs E) The limited knowledge of LEDs and capacity to retrofit, operate, and maintain LEDs in most municipalities create an unwillingness to retrofit city streetlights. 7) (……………). To counter this new normal, organizations need employees and leaders who are agile, adaptable, and flexible. In a word, resilient. HR and talent management professionals can help by creating resilient organizational cultures. This will require a fundamental shift in thinking, away from squeezing the most productivity from employees and towards enabling employees to take care of their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs, thereby building resilience. A) A key to a resilient organizational culture is empowerment, which can come in many forms. B) Employees need to be given the freedom to take regular renewal breaks throughout the day to help rejuvenate, metabolize, and embed learning. C) Today, ―business as usual‖ means rapid change, an influx of new technologies, economic turbulence, uncertainty, and ambiguity. D) The more employees move into ―fight or flight‖ mode, the more reactive and impulsive they become, and the less reflective and responsive. E) It is important to establish safe and secure communities and acknowledge, according to Schwartz, that the ―struggle to feel valued is one of the most insidious and least acknowledged issues in organizations.‖ 8) (……………). Based on the 2010 GDP statistics published by both the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, the traditional BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) countries are now the seventh, eleventh, ninth, and second largest economies in the world, respectively, while the newest member of the BRICS (South Africa), is among the top thirty economies in the world. Moreover, companies based in emerging economies and those 43

expanding into them in search of growth opportunities are experimenting with new business models even as they build on and extend traditional approaches to strategy and management. At a minimum, emerging markets will complement traditional ―developed‖ markets in strategic importance in the foreseeable future. A) Interest on management research on the emerging economies also is increasing by leaps and bounds. B) One way of categorizing the works in this virtual issue reflects the conceptual lenses and empirical focus. C) The twenty-first century is the century of the emerging economies, both in market growth and, just as importantly, in changes to business strategy D) Guo and Miller (2010) study the dynamic of guanxi networks and their impact on business organization, helping to develop a new conceptual lens for understanding social structure in different institutional contexts and stages of entrepreneurial formation E) We need more ―green‖ type research when studying management phenomena in novel contexts, especially emerging economies. 9) (…………). Not only has it been shown to assist language acquisition in learning impaired children, enhance students‘ academic performance in exams and alleviate anxiety and depression but its mere presence improves cognitive functioning. Several studies reveal increases in levels of attention, memory, mental arithmetic and learning. A popular explanation for this improvement in cognitive performance proposes that if the music is liked then this increases arousal which in turn increases performance. A) Listening to music is a well-loved past time for many people but recent research suggests that it provides both health and psychological benefits as well B) Given that music can generally be characterisedby this feature , it maybe predicted that background music, instead of increasing performance , would actually reduce performance. C) The arousal and mood hypothesis proposes that listening to a liked piece of music is just one example of a stimulus that can increase a participant‘s arousal and mood. D) Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music. E) You might use a streaming music service while you‘re doing chores around the house or studying, but how would you feel if your surgeon was rocking out in the operating room during a procedure? 10) Cross-cultural psychology has demonstrated important links between cultural context and individual behavioural development. (……………) The long-term psychological consequences of this process of acculturation are highly variable, depending on social and personal variables that reside in the society of origin, the society of settlement and phenomena that both exist prior to, and arise during, the course of acculturation. A) This is distinct from acculturation, which would involve the surrender of the immigrants‘ traditions, heritage and identity into the American melting pot. B) Given this relationship, cross-cultural research has increasingly investigated what happens to individuals who have developed in one cultural context when they attempt to re-establish their lives in another one. C) One of the most important things to consider when doing business internationally is mastering the art of cross- cultural communication. D) Diversity in the workplace means leaders need to be ready to build strong teams with cross-cultural members from different backgrounds. E) Through our world-class line-up we strive to inspire and create lasting opportunities for collaboration; cross cultural exchanges; economic opportunities and skills development. In each of the following questions a short passage is given with one of the lines in the passage missing and represented by a blank. Select the best out of the five answer choices given, to make the passage complete and coherent. 11) (……………) Only the former, they say, is worth having. They are suspicious of GDP, a crude measure which does not take account of resource depletion, unpaid work, and countless other factors. In its place they advocate more holistic approaches, such as the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI), a composite index that includes things like the cost of pollution, deforestation and car accidents. A) But also a question for economists, argued Kenneth Boulding, a British economist, in an essay published in 1966. B) To its practitioners, ecological economics is neither ecology nor economics, but a fusion of both. C) There are two ways our economies can grow, ecological economists point out: through technological change, or through more intensive use of resources. D) The GPI, they point out, is a subjective measure. E) In 2009 a paper in Nature, a scientific journal, argued that human activity is already overstepping safe planetary boundaries on issues such as biodiversity and climate change. 44

12) Recent mass shootings may mobilise advocates of gun restrictions and could conceivably even spur legislators to reinstate the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004 or pursue other gun legislation. But there is reason to wonder how much of a difference these reforms would make. American civilians own far more guns than anybody else in the world. The land of the free is home to an estimated 270m guns, enough for nearly nine in ten Americans. (………………) A) Many people attribute the phenomenon to the power of the National Rifle Association (NRA), one of America‘s richest and most influential lobbying groups. B) Opponents of gun control routinely argue that the Second Amendment‘s ―right to bear arms‖ ensures unfettered access to guns. C) The NRA builds its prestige on a constituency that is more strident and more politically active than proponents of gun-control. D) Seven years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that a ban on handguns in the home was an affront to the Second Amendment. E) So even if all new gun purchases were banned tomorrow, there are enough rifles floating around the country to fuel countless more mass shootings. 13) It may seem odd that Greece would cave in to the pressure of being expelled from Schengen at a time when the zone‘s future itself is uncertain. Yet border checks in Europe, whatever their practical use, are important symbols of who belongs to the club and who does not. The case of Schengen and Greece‘s future in it will be revisited in March 2016, when members will consider a longer-term suspension. (……………………) A) The first sign of a bust-up came on November 27th, when Slovakia‘s prime minister, Robert Fico, said that European leaders were keen to shoo Greece out of the visa-free zone. B) The unprecedented number of migrants entering it in search of a better life caused many states to ask for reinstallation of border controls earlier this year. C) For now, the continent is struggling to find a way to manage its migrant and border problems without dissolving the project of European unity. D) But despite the area‘s uncertain future, last week expulsion was still used as a threat towards one member state, Greece, which refused to co-operate in the collective effort to alleviate the refugee crisis. E) The only consequence would be to deprive Greek citizens of the right to travel freely within Schengen and, perhaps more importantly, to force overseas visitors to obtain a visa to enter Greece—a blow to Greece‘s tourism-reliant economy. 14) Independence and the Gulf states‘ control over copious quantities of oil brought little relief. Bedouin clans morphed into sovereign states, but so small were their populations that they relied on the former colonial powers to secure their immense wealth. (………………)Military rulers monopolised power in the Islamic world‘s former heartlands, often treating Islam as an obstacle to their modernising projects. A) Since then Western sanctions have offered a reminder of the lingering hold foreigners continue to exercise over the region. B) The first suicide bombings in the 1980s were carried out by Shias, with the understanding that the next world would be an improvement. C) Since the mid-19th century, when the Sunni sultan of the Ottoman empire controlled land on three continents, history has been a tale of Sunni decline. D) Sunni militias rose up in their place, in Iraq and Syria, in an attempt to stem the advance of Iranian influence. E) It was in 1920 that Winston Churchill, then Britain‘s war secretary, ordered the Royal Air Force to bomb Iraq in an attempt to subdue a rebellion. 15) In the 19th century, supporters of nationalisation argued that it boosted economic efficiency. State ownership benefited consumers, the argument went, by ensuring that companies had sufficient investment and profits were passed onto consumers through lower prices. (……………). As a result, the state started to creep into more sectors of the economy. A) There were significant efficiency improvements in nationalising the postal system and the telegraph network. B) This was in part due to the rise of trade unions and the move towards a fully democratic political system. C) The most pernicious effect of this was to slow down the overall growth of the economy. D) Having a big single company rather than lots of little privately-owned ones would increase productivity through harnessing economies of scale. E) Domestic fuel prices have fallen by 30% in real terms since privatisation in the 1980s, for instance, benefiting the poor, who spend the greatest share of their income on it, more than the rich. 16) (…………): parents in America are also turning away from fee-paying schools. In both countries, the result is more pressure on state resources. And falling private school attendance is likely to be one reason why the well-off are grabbing an ever-larger share of government spending. The decline of private schools—long desired by many on the left—could turn out to have tricky consequences. A) The growing unpopularity of private education is not just an English phenomenon 45

B) Some have closed, others have merged and many more have simply focused on teaching fewer pupils for more money. C) The fall in numbers is largely confined to the lower end of the market. D) One study found that fees had gone up by around 20% between 2010 and 2015. E) Although the number of school-age children has risen since 2008, independent schools have barely grown. 17) (…………) Terrorists and criminals cross national borders easily. Law-enforcement should be able to do the same. The police should have access to databases such as passenger name records on internal European flights, and the fingerprints of people who have arrived claiming refugee status. Interior ministers are already pushing strongly for this. Public worries about privacy and abuse of power are reasonable, but the answer to that is good intelligence oversight. A) Each government sets different rules for what data may be looked at, by whom and with what authority. B) The attacks also reignited a long-running debate about encryption—encoding messages such as e-mails, in ways that even government intelligence agencies cannot break C) Breaking down barriers to information-sharing is a much better idea. D) The internet has fostered a culture in which anybody can pretend to be who they like, or give no details at all. E) We do not allow anonymous births, cars, planes or bank-accounts. Insisting on absolute anonymity online looks a bit anomalous. 18) Presidential pardons and commutations are prone to misuse, of course. George W Bush was pilloried for in effect eliminating the prison sentence of Lewis ―Scooter‖ Libby, a former White House aide, in 2007. Mr Libby had been sentenced to 30 months in prison for leaking the identity of a CIA operative who opposed the Iraq war. (……….) A) Obama‘s record on pardons offers an intriguing glimpse of his views on criminality and justice. B) According to statistics provided by the Department of Justice, 64 applicants have been pardoned in the four years between December 2010 and December 2014 C) The American president can pardon any person convicted in a federal court, but the vast majority of presidential pardons are granted after a conviction has been served. D) In a stroke, Mr Bush‘s reprieve erased the deliberative work of the judicial system and the penalty dealt to an official working on his behalf. E) A pardoned man or woman therefore enjoys the same rights as ordinary citizens, but only, in most cases, after suffering the fate of a rightfully or wrongfully held conviction. 19) In 1905, Einstein had put forth his special theory of relativity, which concerned itself with objects and experimenters travelling at speeds near that of light. (……………)His flash of insight was to fuse the three dimensions of space with that of time and create a single, mutable whole: spacetime. To make sure that light was always seen to move at light speed, the theory predicted weird effects like the shrinking of physical extent or stretching of time as objects got faster. A) After the 1919 eclipse, general relativity lapsed into the shadows. B) Einstein took this to be an absolute speed limit. C) Physicists were distracted by another flashy new theory, quantum mechanics, or working on the physics of atomic nuclei, which was also booming. D) By now they are taken to be fundamental constituents of the cosmos and to lie at the centres of most galaxies. E) Matter is not pulled by gravity, it falls along the path of least resistance, tracing out the shape of spacetime itself. 20) Identity and language are closely entwined, but the high level of bilingualism in Malta has made code-switching rife. The use of English is increasingly present in informal speech—some words are even adopted and given a new life in Italian forms. (……………) Others dismiss such concerns as irrelevant. Professor Joseph Brincat, who teaches linguistics at the University of Malta, says it is too early to say whether Maltese will survive. A) Maltese developed in parallel with the nationalities of those who ruled it, absorbing new elements and fitting them into its simplified Arabic structures. B) Some fear this intrusion could cause the language to be abandoned. C) Much like its society, Malta‘s language is the result of centuries of cultural mingling. D) From as early as the ninth century until 1964, when the country became independent, a series of conquerors left their mark on all aspects of Maltese life E) The Sicilians and the Knights of Malta followed. 21) As the teenager‘s mind races and he strategises a route that involves multiple launching pads for superhuman leaps, his mother comes up from behind and orders him to shut down the computer. He has entertained himself enough for the day, with TV, football with his friends, and at least 100 pages of Eragon, re-read for the nth time. Time he got back to his maths. After all, he has do well in his 12th Board exams, do better in assorted entrance exams and prepare himself for a successful life. ……………..This is a routine piece of family drama acted out in most middle-class homes of urban India with much sincere passion on the part of all members of the cast involved. 46