PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK SPECIALIST OFFICERS EXAM 2011

Punjab National Bank (Specialist Officers) Exam., 2011
English Language : Solved Paper(Held on 28-8-2011)

GENERAL ENGLISH

(EXAM HELD ON: 18-08-2011)

Directions–(Q. 1-15) Read the following passage to answer the given questions based on it. Some words / phrases are printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

The advent of technology has fundamentally changed our lives, but one thing is for sure: The velocity of technological change will accelerate in an exponential manner with significant ramifications for all of us. Just imagine: over half of the scientists and engineers who have ever lived are alive today. China adds about 6.5 million graduates every year, half of them engineers and scientists. It is not only the sheer number of "innovators" who will push the boundaries of science, technology and ultimately life-change, but also the greater degree of interconnectivity which accelerates the generation of knowledge and creates a much more entrepreneurial environment for innovation and change.

What is particularly striking is this dimension of change. Today's technological evolution no longer solely affects what we are doing, but also who we are. Of course, the Internet is in many ways still a tool, but it has also become part of our DNA. This is true for governments (just think of WikiLeaks), for businesses and for individuals. In some way, we are "outsourcing" parts of ourselves – and this raises the question: Who owns our 'inner most' self -our desires or our mobile phone records, capturing where we are going and with whom we are meeting. Is it technology companies, our local phone providers, or is it still us ?

It is not only the velocity and nature of change, but also the increasing multiplicity of actors which characterizes the world of today and tomorrow. Ten years ago, the Group of Eight (G-8) countries represented more than 60% of the world's economic power. Today, much more than half of the world's economic growth is produced by so-called emerging countries. This multiplicity of actors not only highlights the geographic expansion and the extension of multi-stakeholder impact, but it also underscores the fact that power is shifting from the top down and from the centre to the periphery -leaving almost seven billion people who want to have their say and the capability to do so.

The geoeconomic and geopolitical power shifts taking place will fundamentally change our lifestyles – equally, so too will the cultural seismic shifts that are occurring. Going forward, prevailing Western values will have to increasingly accommodate Asian values, and vice-versa. By 2025, four of the five largest economies in the world will be non-Western and close to half of the Fortune 500 companies will originate in emerging countries. This will have a direct impact on all of us in terms of new brands, new lifestyles and new industrial ownership structures.

All of these accelerated trends – velocity, multiplicity, interconnectivity – are creating a completely new world in which the mastering of complexities will be the key challenge. Of course, the more complex the system is, the greater the risk of systemic breakdowns.

1. Which of the following is predicted about world' s largest economies by 2025 ?
(A) Three out of the five largest economies will be Asian
(B) Four out of the five largest economies will be western
(C) Three out of the five largest economies will be non-western
(D) The top five largest economies will be non-western
(E) None of these
Ans : (E)

2. Which of the following is indicated about technology ?
(A) Technology changes will be more rapid now
(B) Technology will not bring about major societal changes now
(C) Number of innovations has gone down now
(D) Technologically advanced countries will represent 60% of world's economic power
(E) Telecommunication will see more advancement as compared to other areas
Ans : (A)

3. Which of the following would, in future, be true about cultural changes ?
(A) Western culture will affect Asian culture
(B) Asian culture will affect western culture
(C) Both western and Asian culture and values will adjust and mingle with each other
(D) No culture will be able to influence the other culture
(E) Inspite of other rapid changes, cultural changes will be slow
Ans : (C)


4. Which of the following is predicted about the Fortune 500 Companies ?
(A) Many of these companies will shift their base to the emerging countries
(B) Fortune 500 will be replaced by Fortune 2025
(C) Many new companies initiated in emerging countries will find place in Fortune 500
(D) None of the presently included countries will remain in Fortune 500 group by 2025
(E) The share of western countries will be less than 20% in Fortune 500
Ans : (C)

5. Which of the following may be the best title for the passage ?
(A) Technology
(B) New world complexities
(C) Convergence of Asian Values
(D) Innennost Vs outerself
(E) Changing lifestyle by 2025
Ans : (B)

6. Which of the following is true about world economy?
(A) The share of G-8 countries in the economic growth is just 10%
(B) More countries from western world now contribute to the world's economy
(C) There are five countries which contribute about 60% of world's economic growth
(D) More than 50% of world's economic growth now comes from developing countries
(E) The growth rate of GDP of most of the western countries is much more than what it was 10 years ago
Ans : (D)

7. Which of the following best describes the meaning of "push the boundaries" as used in the passage ?
(A) accept the challenge
(B) creating more competition
(C) prove to the world
(D) achieve the unimaginable
(E) take technology from one area to the other
Ans : (A)

8. Which of the following has now become a part of our DNA ?
(A) Global cooperation
(B) Internet
(C) Western values
(D) Complex life style
(E) None of these
Ans : (D)

9. Which of the following would be the key challenge in the new world ?
(A) Controlling geopolitical power shifts
(B) Mastering the emerging complexities
(C) Pushing the boundaries of science
(D) Overcoming the power of internet
(E) The power shift from the centre to the periphery
Ans : (E)

Directions–(Q. 10-13) Choose the word(s) which is most nearly the same in meaning of the word printed in bold, as used in the passage.

10. accommodate(A) alter
(B) domesticate
(C) barrack
(D) include
(E) abide
Ans : (D)

11. ramifications
(A) ractifications
(B) backlashes
(C) consequences
(D) issues
(E) reverberations
Ans : (C)

12. accelerated
(A) new found
(B) unexpected
(C) rabid
(D) systemic
(E) fast paced
Ans : (E)

13. advent
(A) over-use
(B) importance
(C) approach
(D) arrival
(E) assurance
Ans : (D)

Directions–(Q. 14-15) Choose I the word(s) which is most opposite in meaning of the word printed in bold, as used in the passage.

14. striking
(A) friendly
(B) undistinguished
(C) interlocking
(D) noticeable
(E) non-colliding
Ans : (B)

15. key
(A) subsidiary
(B) closed
(C) primal
(D) locked
(E) over-ruled
Ans : (A)

Directions–(Q. 16-25) In the following passage there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each, five words are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.

Delhi and Mumbai are the fifth and third cheapest cities of the world, out of 134 ...(16)..., says a news report. This comes as a ...(17)..., naturally, to those who live in these places and have been led to. ..(18) ... that they lead a pretty expensive life. Particularly what with the global commodity price boom pushing up material prices and all kinds of labour costs. With their considerable experience in 'arranging' surveys to deliver the desired results, many a Dilliwala or Mumbaikar might be tempted to ...(19)... the survey which came up with these results was ...(20)... by some sponsor or the other. Such cynicism goes out of the ...(21) ...when the same news report reveals that the survey was conducted by a respectable organisation. ...(22) ...a scrutiny of the top five cities and the two Indian cities, neighbours at the bottom yields a clue.

Tokyo leads the pack, followed by Oslo, Kobe, Paris and Zurich. One cannot readily vouch for Paris, but the other four are some of the most placid peaceful cities of the world. When we come to the bottom of the ranking, giving ...(23)... to Delhi and Mumbai are Tehran. Tunis and Karachi, the last mentioned being crowned the cheapest city of them all. Karachi gives the game away immediately, lifting all ...(24)... over what exactly is cheap in these places jostling for space at the bottom of the list. Life liberty and human dignity are what goes ...(25)... in these towns and what makes Delhi and Mumbai worthy contenders in the race to global cheapness. When crime goes unchecked, even after being widely reported and condemned, and criminals run rampant, life gets degraded, deformed, even extinguished. Life, in other words, gets cheap. Call it the lighter side of death.

16. (A) bigger
(B) participated
(C) sought
(D) designed
(E) surveyed
Ans : (E)

17. (A) reckoner
(B) shock
(C) mistake
(D) grief
(E) relief
Ans : (B)

18. (A) style
(B) believe
(C) display
(D) pretend
(E) deny
Ans : (B)

19. (A) deny
(B) protest
(C) oppose
(D) conclude
(E) conduct
Ans : (D)

20. (A) matched
(B) improved
(C) sponsored
(D) rejected
(E) manipulated
Ans : (E)

21. (A) doubt
(B) wisdom
(C) city
(D) door
(E) senses
Ans : (D)

22. (A) But
(B) Whether
(C) Would
(D) If
(E) As
Ans : (A)

23. (A) competing
(B) hints
(C) company
(D) significance
(E) threat
Ans : (C)

24. (A) inhibition
(B) definitions
(C) dependency
(D) mystery
(E) censor
Ans : (D)

25. (A) cheap
(B) unreported
(C) miss
(D) complex
(E) jostling
Ans : (A)

Directions–(Q. 26-35) Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error in it or a wrong word has been used. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence which has been lettered (A), (B), (C) or (D). The letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (E) i.e. 'No error'. (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any).

26. To begun with (A) / three agencies were (B) / retained to study (C) / and submit recommendations. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)

27. To clamp down on illegal mining (A) / that loses money for the Exchequer, (B) / local people need to empowered (C) / to vet and oversee operations. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)

28. In real terms, it (A) / means passing up on (B) / opportunities that presents (C) / themselves to us. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (E)

29. The failure to control (A) / losses or increase revenues (B) / in a market growing (C) / in double digit is significantly. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)

30. There have been (A) / marked changes, (B) / but social rather (C) / then economic. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)

31. Notwithstand his (A) / frequent indisposition, (B) / he has diligently attended (C) / every single court hearing. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)

32. The administration continued to (A) / improve bilateral relations, (B) / while deepening and (C) / formalizing the economic dialogue. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (E)

33. The cause of rising crimes (A) / against women has its roots (B) / in the skewed sex ratio which (C) / males outnumber females. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)

34. Now that more and more (A) / internet sites are tailored (B) / their services to the requirements of individual users, (C) / queries may yield different outcomes for different people. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (B)

35. These are among (A) / the many contentious points (B) / that the author make (C) / in his controversial book. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)

Prathama Gramin Bank Officers Exam., 2011

English Language 

(Held on 25-9-2011) 

Directions–Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below them. Certain words/expressions are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

The Battle of Gettysburg was fought during the first three days of July, 1863. During the night of July 4, Lee began to retreat southward while storm clouds' deluged the country with rain. When Lee reached the Potomac river with his defeated army, he found a swollen, impassable river in front of him, and a victorious Union army behind him. Lee was in a trap. He couldn't escape. US President, Abraham Lincoln saw that. Here was a golden, heaven-sent opportunity - the opportunity to capture Lee's army and end the war immediately. So, with a surge of high hope, Lincoln ordered General Meade not to call a council of war but to attack Lee immediately. Lincoln telegraphed his orders and then sent a special messenger to Meade demanding immediate action.

And, what did General Meade do ? He did the very opposite of what he was told to do. He called a council of war in direct violation of Lincoln's orders. Finally the water receded and Lee escaped over the Potomac with his forces.

Lincoln was furious. "What does this mean ?" Lincoln cried "Great God ! What does this mean ? We had them within our grasp, and had only to stretch forth our hands and they were ours; yet nothing that I could say or do could make the army move. Under the circumstances, almost any general could have defeated Lee.

In bitter disappointment, Lincoln sat down and wrote Meade this letter. And remember, at this period of his life, he was extremely conservative and restrained in his phraseology. So this letter coming from Lincoln in 1863 was tantamount to the severest rebuke.

"My dear' General,

"I do not believe you appreciate the magnitude of the misfortune involved in Lee's escape. He was within our easy grasp, and to have closed upon him would, in connection with our other late successes, have ended the war. As it is, the war will be prolonged indefinitely. If you could not safely attack Lee last Monday, how can you possibly do so south of the river, when you can take with you very few -not more than two-thirds of the force you then had in hand ? It would be unreasonable to expect and I do not expect that you can now effect much. Your golden opportunity is gone, and I am distressed immeasurably because of it."

What do you suppose Meade did when he read that letter ?

Meade never saw that letter. Lincoln never mailed it. It was found among Lincoln's papers after his death.

My guess is – and this is only a guess – that after writing that letter, Lincoln looked out of the window and said to himself, "Just a minute. May be I ought not to be so hasty. It is easy enough for me to sit here in the quiet of the White House and order Meade to attack; but if I had been up at Gettysburg, and if I had seen as much blood as Meade had seen during the last week, and if my ears had been pierced with the screams and shrieks of the wounded and dying, maybe I wouldn't be so anxious to attack either."

1. Which of the following is the author's guess about the reason for Lincoln's withholding the letter to General Meade ?
(A) There was no point in lamenting over spilt milk as the matter was already over
(B) Decisions taken while sitting in ivory tower may not be as appropriate as those taken after witnessing the battle field
(C) The blood seen at the battle field and the shrieks of the dying heard by Lincoln
(D) General's views should be considered by President not-withstanding their merits
(E) He wanted to avoid confrontation with the General at that critical hour
Ans : (B)

2. What would have been the probable consequences had General Meade followed Lincoln's orders ?
(a) It would have prolonged the war further, indefinitely
(b) Lee's army would have got enough time for a safe escape
(c) The Council of war would not have granted permission to carry out the orders
(A) (a) and (b) only
(B) (a) and (c) only
(C) (b) and (c) only
(D) All the three (a), (b) and (c)
(E) None of these
Ans : (E)

3. Abraham Lincoln had ordered General Meade not to……………..
(a) attack Lee while he had been at a disadvantage due to flooded river
(b) let Lee escape so that the war could be ended immediately
(c) call a council of war to discuss the attack on Lee's forces
(A) All the three
(B) (a) and (b) only
(C) (a) and (c) only
(D) (b) and (c) only
(E) None of these
Ans : (D)


4. In the context of the passage, all of the following statements are true EXCEPT……………..
(A) General Meade would have found it difficult to win the war after Lee's safe escape
(B) General Meade failed to end the war because of the swollen Potomac river
(C) Abraham Lincoln's orders were violated by General Meade
(D) When Potomac river was in spate, Lincoln considered it as a golden opportunity
(E) Abraham Lincoln refrained from sending the letter to General Meade
Ans : (B)

5. What was the situation that made Lee uncomfortable on the fourth day of war while retreating ?
(A) His army had been defeated in a very humiliating manner
(B) He was trapped in an ambush laid down by the enemy's army
(C) His army was sandwiched between enemy's forces and a swollen river
(D) Storm clouds had deluged the country with heavy rains
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

6. What could be the probable reason why General Meade didn't follow Lincoln's orders ?
General Meade……………..
(A) knew that Lincoln was not empowered to issue such orders
(B) did not wish to terminate war so early
(C) was rule-bound and wanted to follow orders of Council of War
(D) having defeated the enemy, wanted to avoid further bloodshed
(E) was aware of the danger of crossing the swollen Potomac river
Ans : (D)

7. What was the outcome of General Meade' s inaction on Abraham Lincoln's orders ?
(a) Lee and his army could escape safely
(b) It infuriated Abraham Lincoln
(c) Lee's army was defeated and had to retreat
(A) (a) and (b) only
(B) (a) and (c) only
(C) (b) and (c) only
(D) All the three
(E) None of these
Ans : (A)

8. The contents of the passage reveal which qualities of General Meade ?
(A) Timidity and arrogance
(B) Courage and humanitarian consideration
(C) Obedience and bravery
(D) Treachery and lack of patriotism
(E) Undue compassion for enemy and lawlessness
Ans : (B)

9. Abraham Lincoln was extremely annoyed with General Meade because…………….. (A) the latter had hurt his ego by violating his orders
(B) the General had procrastinated on his orders due to inertia
(C) a golden opportunity to win the war early was lost
(D) the latter had colluded with the enemy General
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

Directions–(Q. 10-12) Choose the word or group of words which is MOST NEARLY THE SAME in meaning as the word printed in bold.
10. Conservative
(A) Traditional
(B) Negative
(C) Backward
(D) Biased
(E) Unsymmetrical
Ans : (A)

11. Distressed
(A) Relieved
(B) Annoyed
(C) Sad
(D) Anxious
(E) Devastated
Ans : (B)

12. Grasp
(A) Understand
(B) Seize
(C) Knowledge
(D) Reach
(E) Assimilate
Ans : (B)

Directions–(Q. 13-15) Choose the word or group of words which is MOST OPPOSITE in meaning of the word/group of words printed in bold.

13. Surge
(A) Thinning
(B) Flash
(C) Drought
(D) Iota
(E) Miniscule
Ans : (A)

14. Violation
(A) Breach
(B) Honouring
(C) Obedient
(D) Confirmation
(E) Regulation
Ans : (B)

15. Receded
(A) Accumulated
(B) Extended
(C) Deflated
(D) Reflected
(E) Advanced
Ans : (E)

Directions–(Q. 16-20) Rearrange the following six sentences (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph; then answer the questions given below them.
(a) What made him one of the richest men in the USA ?
(b) He had hundreds of men working for him.
(c) And he knew how to handle these knowledgeable men.
(d) What made Andrew Carnegie a successful businessman?
(e) They knew far more about steel than he did.
(f) He was called the steel king, yet he himself knew little about manufacture of steel.

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

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

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

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

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

Directions–(Q. 21-25) Against each question number, an incomplete statement is provided. In the next column, there are fillers denoted by (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i). You have to find out which one, two or more of these can grammatically and meaningfully complete the incomplete statement provided against the question number. Accordingly, mark your answer where .answer choices are provided against question number repeated below the statement and fillers.
(a) he had to pay what the vendor had insisted on.
(b) yet, he seldom wins any easy bargain.
(c) yet, he somehow manages to maintain a win-win situation.
(d) and therefore, he always gets an edge over others.
(e) still, he rarely succeeds in being a beneficiary.
(f) but he refrains from seeking any benefits out of that strength.
(g) people are carried away by his perceived quality.
(h) he uses it for the society and not for self
(i) how can one expect him to benefit ?

21. His misunderstanding is that he acquired a good trick of the trade…………..
(A) (i) only
(B) Either (d) or (e)
(C) (g) only
(D) (d) only
(E) None of these
Ans : (B)

22. He projects himself as a likeable person without really being so…………..
(A) (e) only
(B) (g) only
(C) (c) only
(D) (a) only
(E) Either (c) or (g)
Ans : (B)

23. His persuasive skills are of a higher order…………..
(A) (i) only
(B) (a) only
(C) (c) only
(D) (g)only
(E) None of these
Ans : (E)

24. Despite being good at negotiations…………..
(A) (a) only
(B) (b) only
(C) Either (a) or (c)
(D) Either (a) or (b)
(E) Either (b) or (c)
Ans : (A)

25. He has serious limitations in convincing others…………..
(A) (e) only
(B) (a) only
(C) (c) only
(D) (d) only
(E) Either (d) or (e)
Ans : (C)

Directions –(Q. 26-35) Which of the following phrases (A), (B), (C) and (D) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentence to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct. If the sentence is correct as it is and no correction is required, mark (E) as the answer i.e. "No Correction Required".

26. Favourable changes would be visible if proper information will be shared without any reservations.
(A) will be visible if proper information would be shared
(B) would be visible if proper information is shared
(C) would be visible through proper share of information
(D) were visible after share of information will be proper
(E) No Correction Required
Ans : (B)

27. In the monsoon, large branches of trees suddenly break up and fall, wreck parked cars or a passing pedestrian.
(A) break up and fall suddenly, wreck
(B) suddenly break up, fall and wreck
(C) suddenly break off and fall, wrecking
(D) suddenly wreck, fall and break off
(E) No Correction Required
Ans : (C)

28. People had been motivated to join the movement to fight poverty and use the armed struggle to get social justice.
(A) are motivated to join
(B) were motivated to joining
(C) had motivation for joining
(D) had been motivated for joining
(E) No Correction Required
Ans : (E)

29. The Government discovered that though the scientist's seniority was entitled the highest grade in the service, his claims had been over-looked.
(A) scientist was entitled to the I highest grade by his seniority
(B) seniority of the scientist had been entitled to the highest grade .
(C) highest grade was entitled to the scientist with his seniority
(D) seniority was a factor to decide entitlement of the scientist to highest grade
(E) No Correction Required
Ans : (A)

30. Through the experiment, the boy, had gained just enough knowledge to whet his appetite for more.(A) just enough knowledge to his appetite whetting for more
(B) enough knowledge just to whet his appetite much more
(C) just enough knowledge for whetting more and more appetite
(D) knowledge enough to whet is much more appetite
(E) No Correction Required
Ans : (E)

31. The relationship has perceived by people of both countries as mutually beneficial and rewarding, so that they will develop trust and confidence.
(A) perception of relationship between people
(B) perceived relationship among people
(C) relationship as perceived by people
(D) relationship has to perceived by people
(E) No Correction Required
Ans : (D)

32. While acknowledging his knowledge and technical competence, the official sources lay down stress on his Integrity.(A) lay upon stress on the integrity
(B) lay off stress on his integrity
(C) lay stress on his integrity
(D) lay stress on him being a person on integrity
(E) No Correction Required
Ans : (C)

33. There is an impact assessment zone where radiation levels are regularly monitoring.
(A) level is regularly monitoring
(B) level is regular to monitor
(C) levels are regularly monitored
(D) level is monitoring regularly
(E) No Correction Required
Ans : (C)

34. What should they do with the enormous wealth is their lookout.
(A) they should have done with the enormous wealth have
(B) should they do if the wealth is enormous is
(C) should they be doing for the enormous wealth is
(D) they should do with the enormous wealth is
(E) No Correction Required
Ans : (E)

35. Those who voted for change in the region now wonder about its whereabouts.(A) are now wonderful about its whereabouts
(B) have now wondered of its whereabouts
(C) now wonder at whereabouts of themselves
(D) wonder about their whereabouts now
(E) No Correction Required
Ans : (D)

Directions–(Q. 36-40) In each sentence below there are two blank spaces. Below each sentence, there are five pairs of words denoted by (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E). Find out which pair best fits 'in the blanks in the same serial order to make the sentence meaningfully complete. The letter of that pair is the answer.

36. She had done her graduation and has……………..working in the company……………..nearly twenty years.
(A) is, since
(B) is, from
(C) was, since
(D) been, for
(E) started, about
Ans : (D)

37. Although I was……………..in front of the house, I could not……………..it due to lot of changes around.
(A) facing, find
(B) standing, recognize
(C) right, believe
(D) working, help
(E) alighted, sense
Ans : (B)

38. Spending time is not a……………..as there are numerous……………..to keep me busy.
(A) boon, action
(B) disaster, works
(C) difficulty, occasions
(D) solution, problems
(E) problem, activities
Ans : (E)

39. He realized that poverty can be……………..not by raising slogans, but by……………..more and more jobs for the unemployed.
(A) eliminated, doing
(B) handled, enhancing
(C) eradicated, creating
(D) elevated, assigning
(E) dealt, offering
Ans : (C)

40. When the suppliers came to know that the li1aterial we purchased was for……………..work, they offered generous discount and also made free……………..
(A) relief, delivery
(B) personal, supply
( C) our, manufacture
(D) exceptional, resources
(E) trivial, passage
Ans : (A)

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

The latest official figures of 2010 on ...(41)... say this: "A typical Indian worker is male,
...(42)... working in his midtwenties, is presumably better educated than before, ...(43)... most likely to find work as casual labour the ...(44)... secure of jobs. He is also more likely to ...(45)... a job, less likely to be interested in one, and will surely earn better money. His wife is less likely to work."

This is just the sort of ...(46)... that the government cautions observers not to paint, pointing to the formidable armies of the self-employed-those who ...(47)... your shoes, sell you roadside tea, and build a dhaba or a mechanic's shop-in the workforce. But be it the 'casual" workers or the self-employed, these are not the big, sweeping. ..( 48) ...that one expects to see 20 years after a big country starts liberalizing. ...(49) ..., the pro-portion of Indians in manufacturing jobs hasn't changed significantly ...(50)... the 90's.

41. (A) development
(B) economy
(C) employment
(D) education
(E) statistics
Ans : (C)

42. (A) decides
(B) starts
(C) neglects
(D) avoids
(E) pretends
Ans : (B)

43. (A) yet
(B) hence
(C) obviously
(D) and
(E) although
Ans : (A)

44. (A) financially
(B) more
(C) certainly
(D) least
(E) better
Ans : (D)

45. (A) assign
(B) seek
(C) create
(D) get
(E) delegate
Ans : (B)

46. (A) image
(B) guess
(C) riddle
(D) happening
(E) forecast
Ans : (A)

47. (A) wear
(B) polish
(C) handle
(D) sell
(E) steal
Ans : (B)

48. (A) realities
(B) tones
(C) alarms
(D) events
(E) changes
Ans : (A)

49. (A) Hence
(B) Liberally
(C) Subsequently
(D) Luckily
(E) Sadly
Ans : (E)

50. (A) before
(B) in
(C) since
(d) during
(E) over
Ans : (D)

Bank of Baroda Clerk Exam Paper 2011

English Language

Directions (1-15)
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are printed in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.
There is a story told of a king who lived long ago in a country across the sea. He was a very wise king, and spared no efforts to teach his people good habits. Often he did things which seemed to them strange and useless; but everything he did, he did to teach his people to be industrious and careful. "Nothing good can come to a nation, whose people complain and expect others to fix their problems for them" he said. "Good things from life come to those who take matters into their hands." One night, while everyone was asleep, he placed a large stone in the middle of the road that led past the place. Then he hid behind a bush, and waited to see what would happen.
First came a farmer with his wagon heavily loaded with grain, which he was taking to the mill to be ground. "Well, whoever saw such carelessness?" he said crossly, as he turned his wagon and drove around the stone. "Why don't these lazy people have that stone taken off from the road? " And so he went on complaining about the uselessness of others, but not touching the stone himself.
Soon afterwards, a young soldier came singing along the road. The long trail of his cap waved in the breeze, and a bright sword hung at his side. He was thinking of the wonderful bravery he would show in the war. The soldier did not see the stone, but struck his foot against it and went tossing in the dust. He rose to his feet, shook the dust from his clothes, picked up his sword, and complained angrily about the lazy people who had no more sense than to leave such a huge stone in the middle of the road. Then he, too, walked away, not once thinking that he might move it himself. And so the day passed. Everyone who came by complained and whined because the stone lay on the road, but no one touched it.
At last, just before nightfall, the miller's daughter came past. She was a hard-working girl and was very tired because she had been busy since early morning at the mill. But she said to herself, "It is almost dark, somebody may trip over this stone in the night, and perhaps he could be badly hurt. I will move it out of the way." So she tugged at the heavy stone. It was hard to move, but she pulled and pushed, and lifted until at last she moved it from its place. To her surprise, she found a box underneath. She lifted the box .It was heavy, for it was filled with something. Upon it was written: This box belong to the one who moved the stone. She opened the lid, and found that it was filled with gold! The miller's daughter went home with a happy heart.
When the farmer, the soldier and all the others heard what had happened, they gathered around the spot on the road where the stone had been. They scratched at the dust with their feet, hoping to turn up a piece of gold.
"My friends," said the king, "We often come across obstacles and burdens our way. We may complain out loud about them or we may choose to walk around them. Alternatively, we can analyse them and find out what they mean. Disappointment is usually the price of laziness." Then the wise king mounted his horse and rode away.

1. Why was the miler's daughter happy?
(1) She finished all her work at the mill.
(2) She won the bet placed by the king.
(3) The king declared her the most industrious persons in his kingdom.
(4) She was rewarded with a box full of gold that lay beneath the stone.
(5) The king offered her a hundred gold coins.

Ans. (4)

2. Why did the king place a stone in the middle of the road?
(1) He enjoyed troubling others.
(2) He wanted to watch people trip and fall.
(3) He wanted to cover a manhole in the road.
(4) He wanted to obstruct people from visiting the place.
(5) He wanted to teach his people to take matters into their own hands.

Ans.  (5)

3. The people completed while passing the road that led past the palace because
(A) there was a huge stone lying on the road.
(B) there was a manhole in the road.
(c) nobody was allowed to shift the stone on the road.

(1) Only (A)
(2) Only (C)
(3) Only (A) and (c)
(4) Only (B)
(5) None of these

Ans.  (1)

4. Which of the following adjectives given below would best describe the king?
(1) Evil     
(2) Industrious
(3) Lazy    
(4) Careless
(5) Suspicious

Ans. (2)

5. Why did the people from the country, including the farmer and the solider gather around the spot where the stone lay?
(1) They were hoping to discover a gold mine.
(2) They were told that the king was waiting for them at the very spot.
(3) They were hoping to discover some more gold for themselves.
(4)  They wanted to make sure that the stone was really removed.
(5) They wanted to inspect the damage done to the road.

Ans.  (3)

6. Who among the following did not attempt to move the stone?
(A) The farmer
(B) The miller's daughter
(C) The young soldier

(1) Only (A)
(2) Only (B)
(3) Only (C)
(4) Only (A) and (C)
(5) Only (A) and (B)

Ans.  (4)


7. Why did the king hide behind the bush?
(1) He wanted to see how his people would react to the stone.
(2) He was spying on the young soldier.
(3) He was not getting sleep.
(4) He wanted to guard the palace.
(5) None of these

Ans.  (1)


8. Which of the following statements is true of the miller's daughter according to the passage?
(1) She was a very considerate girl
(2) She was greedy
(3) She misguided the farmer and the young soldier
(4) She was very busy and had no time for others
(5) None of the above is true

Ans.  (1)


9. Which of the following statements is true of the king according to the passage?
(A) He often did useless thing like placing stone on the road to irritate his people.
(B) He tried his best to teach his people to be industrious.
(C) He was responsible for placing the box of gold beneath the stone.

(1) Only (A)
(2) Only (C)
(3) Only (B) and (C)
(4) Only (B)
(5) Only (A) and (C)

Ans.  (3)

10. Why did the miller's daughter decide to move the stone?
(1) She wanted the gold that lay beneath the stone.
(2) She was afraid that someone would get hurt.
(3) She knew that the king was watching her from behind the bush.
(4) The girl loved challenges and wanted to show her strength to the king.
(5) She wanted to escape work at the mill.

Ans.  (2)


Directions (11-13): Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
11. LOADED
(1)  Completed
(2) Filled
(3) Secured
(4) Adjusted
(5) Frequently

Ans. (2)


12. OFTEN
(1) Sometimes    
(2) Hardly
(3) Rarely 
(4) Deliberately
(5) Frequently

Ans. (5)


13. MOUNTED
(1) Climbed   
(2) Took
(3) Tapped
(4) Moved
(5) Called

Ans.  (1)


Directions (14-15): Choose the world which is most OPPOSITE in meaning of the world printed in bold as used in the passage.
14. CARELESSNESS
(1) Negligence
(2) Carefulness
(3) Worthiness  
(4) Harshness
(5) Laziness

Ans.  (2)


15. HARD
(1) Difficult
(2) Light
(3) Easy              
(4) Complicated
(5) Soft

Ans.  (3)


Directions (16-20): Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error in it. The error, if any will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (5) ie, ‘No error' (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any).
16. During the reign of /(1) the emperor of Vijayanagar,/ (2) there lived a/(3) wise magistrate named Haripant./(4) No error (5)

Ans.  (5)

17. My parents came /(1) to town with/(2) the intention in visting /(3) the University. (4) No error (5)

Ans.  (3)

18. Suman took a hundred coins /(1) from the man and /(2) gave him a few medicine /(3) to make him feel better./(4) No error (5)

Ans.  (1)

19. The children were/(1) even more angrier /(2) with the shopkeeper/ (3) for having tricked  them the second time. /(4) No error (5)

Ans. (2)

20. Since it was evening by the time/ (1) the farmer reached the next village,/(2) he took shelter in the house / (3) of a old couple. /(4) No error (5)

Ans.  (4)


Directions (21-25): In each of the following sentences, an idiomatic expression or a proverb is highlighted. Select the alternative which best describes its use in the sentence.
21. The Police will leave no stone unturned to discover the murderer.
(1) turn every stone
(2) investigate thoroughly
(3) make no commitment
(4) invest a large sum
(5) make no excuse

Ans. (2)


22. The police tried to make her admit that she had made a mistake, but the girl stood her ground and said that she had seen the burglar.
(1) did not move
(2) was being stubborn
(3) stood firm on the ground
(4) promised to be true
(5) refused to change her statement
Ans. (5)


23. Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
(1) indulge
(2) force
(3) disclose
(4) postpone
(5) place
Ans.  (4)


24. The concert was brought to a close with a display of fireworks.
(1) concluded
(2) interrupted
(3) announced
(4) brought to a halt
(5) cancelled
Ans. (1)


25. Step by step the veterinarian taught the little puppy to obey her.
(1) Hastily
(2) Reluctantly
(3)Slowly and methodically
(4) With great hesitation
(5) Dutifully
Ans.  (3)


Directions (26-30): Pick out the most effective word from the given words to fill in the blanks to make the sentence meaningfully complete in the context of the sentence.

26. In the field, a farmer was using two horses to pull his plough, a ___ I had not seen since my childhood.
(1) Sight    
(2) look
(3) Business
(4) appearance
(5) Work

Ans.  (1)


27. I must start ___ dawn to reach the station on time.
(1) during           
(2) doing
(3) in
(4) to
(5) before
Ans. (5)


28. During the last few years the company has been___hard to modernise its image.
(1) working        
(2) doing
(3) try                         
(4) work
(5) undertaking
Ans. (1)


29. No sooner had he returned ___  he was off again.
(1) and                
(b) but
(3) that
(4) yet
(5) than
Ans. (5)


30. As it was getting late, I was ___ troubled focusing on the birds in the disappearing light.
(1) feeling           
(2) having
(3) experience              
(4) being
(5) seeing
Ans. (2)


Directions (31-35): In each question below, four words printed in bold type are given. These are numbered (1), (2),(3) and (4). One of these words printed in bold may either be wrongly spelt or inappropriate in the context of the sentence. Find out the word that is inappropriate or wrongly spelt, if any. The number of that word is your answer. If all the words printed in bold are correctly spelt and appropriate in the context of the sentence then mark (5) ie, ‘All Correct' as your answer.

31. The soldiers (1) were brought (2) in to restore law and ordre (3) after the riots. (4) All Correct (5)

Ans. (3)

32. Under (1) my teacher's guidance (2) I slowly mastored (3) the art of pottery. (4) All Correct (5)
Ans. (3)

33. The building (1) is regularly inspected (2) by the fire (3) safety officer (4) All Correct (5)
Ans.  (5)

34. The Company (1) received severel (2) complaints (3) from irate (4) customers. All Correct (5)
Ans. (2)

35. Anxeity (1) can interfere (2) with children's performance (3) at school. (4) All Correct (5)
Ans. (1)


Direction (36-40): Rearrange the following six sentences/group of sentences (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph: then answer the questions given below them.

• (A) All looked alike and were dressed in kingly robes. Who was the real king? Wondered Birbal.
• (B) The king of Iran had heard that Birbal was one of the wisest men in the East and desirous of meeting him, sent him an invitation to visit his country.
• (C) Birbal explained saying, ‘The false king were all looking at you, while you yourself looked straight ahead. Even in regal robes, the common people will always look to their king for support.' Overjoyed, the king embraced him and showered him with gifts.
• (D) ‘But how did you identify me?' the king asked puzzled.
• (E) The very next moment he got his answer. Confidently, he approached the king and bowed in front of him.

36. Which of the following should be the FIFTH sentence after the rearrangement?
(1) D
(2) C
(3) B
(4) A
(5) F

Ans.  (2)


37. Which of the following should be the FOURTH sentence after the rearrangement?
(1) C              
(2) D
(3) F              
(4) B
(5) E
Ans. (2)

38. Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence after the rearrangement?
(1) B              
(2) C
(3) F              
(4) A
(5) E
Ans. (4)


39. Which of the following should be the THIRD sentence after the rearrangement?
(1) A              
(2) D
(3) F              
(4) C
(5) E

Ans. (3)


40. Which of the following should be the FIRST sentence after the rearrangement?
(1) D              
(2) C
(3) F              
(4) B
(5) E

Ans.  (4)


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

In the olden days people bitten by mad dogs died a sure and horrible death (191) to rabies. In 1867, Louis Pasteur, one of the well renowned scientists and the man who gave the world the ‘germ theory of disease' developed a vaccination to (192) rabies. He did not know if it would work, so he decided to (193) himself with rabies and then try out the (194) on himself. But before he could do that, a tearful woman brought her 9- year -old son to him. The boy had been (195) and bitten by a mad dog two days earlier. Pasteur (196) physicians known to him. They told him nothing could be done for the boy. Then Pasteur, with the (197) of the boy's mother, decided to try out the vaccination he had developed. He began to give the boy, injections of a certain, liquid (198) from the fragments of the brain of a mad dog. Each day Pasteur looked fearfully for signs of the onset of the dreaded disease. But the boy (199) healthy. A month passed by, then another and finally, Pasteur knew that his vaccination had worked. The physicians who had predicted the boy's death were (200). Rabies had been vanquished for the first time in history! In 1888 the Pasteur Institute was established to treat cases of rabies and today it is one the world's most famous centres of biological research.
41.
(1) inspire 
(2) owning
(3) due                
(4) cause
(5) such

Ans.  (3)



42.
(1) startle                     
(2) Block
(3) due                         
(4) prevent
(5) Treatment
Ans. (4)


43.
(1) indulge          
(2) infect
(3) try                 
(4) put
(5) secure
Ans.  (2)


44.
(1) decision         
(2) plan
(3) outcome        
(4) possible
(5) treatment

Ans.  (5)


45.
(1) teased            
(2) tested
(3) chase
(4) inquired
(5) consulted
Ans.  (4)


46.
(1) connection
(2) admitted
(3) chase
(4) inquired
(5) consulted
Ans.  (5)


47.
(1) commitment
(2) consent
(3) behavior
(4) knowledge
(5) approve

Ans.  (2)


48.
(1) finalised
(2) funneled
(3) obtained
(4) took
(5) resulting
Ans. (3)


49.
(1) took
(2) appearance
(3) just
(4) stay
(5) remained

Ans. (5)


50.
(1) amazed          
(2) sued
(3) dejected
(4) rejected
(5) celebrated

Ans. (1)

SBI Clerical Exam 2012 Practice Test

General Awareness

1. It is evident that the economic slowdown still continues to weigh on the performance of the banks in India. How is this affecting banks and/or general public?

(1) The number of bank account holders has gone down

(2) The gross Non Performing Assets (NPAs) of the listed banks have increased substantially.

(3) Inflation has reached at a very high level

(4) All of these

Ans: (4)

2. Which of the following challenges will be the most crucial for human existence on earth in the days to come?

(1) Pollution    

(2) Food Secudty

(3) Availability of natural gas

(4) Need for Financial Inclusion

Ans: (1)

3. Who amongst the following is the President of the European Union at present?

(1) Catherine Ashton    

(2) Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso,    

(3) Mr. Fredrik Reinfeldt

(4) None of these

Ans: (4)

4. Which of the following is NOT a bank or finance company?

(1) Barclays   

(2) BNP Paribas

(3) Lufthansa    

(4) HSBC

Ans: (3)

5. Reserve Bank of India deregulated non-resident external (NRE) deposits on 16 December 2011 allowing banks  to offer higher interest rates to dollar-denominated accounts. Which of the following facts related to the above statement is/are not true?

(1) Reserve Bank freed the rates on non-resident external accounts, offering interest as high as 9.6% per annum

(2) Following RBI’s deregulation five Indian banks, including HDFC Bank and Yes Bank on 23 December 2011 raised their interest rates on such deposits in order to lure foreign money

(3) Private lender Yes Bank increased the interest rates on fixed deposits held by non-resident Indians (NRIs) to 8.4 per cent from 3.82 per cent

(4) The new rates are effective from 24 December for fresh deposits as well as those being renewed on maturity.

(1) 1 & 2

(2) Only4

(3) Only 3

(4) 1 & 4

Ans: (3)

6. Telecom Commission, the decision-making body of the Department of Telecommunications recommended a uniform licence fee of what per cent of adjusted gross revenues (AGR) as against the prevalent rate of 6-8 per cent?

(1) 10%

(2) 8%

(3) 5.2%

(4) 9.3%

Ans: (2)

7. Maharashtra government planned to provide free medicare for poor families. Consider the following statements:

(i) The plan will benefit 50 lakh families.

(ii) The plan will cover eight districts in state.

Choose the right option:

(1) Both i and ii are correct.

(2) Only i is correct.

(3) Only ii is correct.

(4) Neither i nor ii is correct.

Ans:  (1)

8. Name the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader who was inducted into the Union Cabinet as civil aviation minister on 18 December 2011.

(1) Ajit Singh

(2) Jayant Chaudhary

(3) Devendra Nagpal

(4) Sanjay Singh Chauhan

Ans: (1)

9. Name the state-run Mumbai-headquartered bank which on 29 December 2011 surprised the market by cutting its base rate, the minimum lending rate, by 10 basis points, thereby becoming the first banker this year to do so when others are waiting for a signal from the central bank.
(1) State Bank of India

(2) Union Bank

(3) United Bank of India

(4) Allahabad Bank

Ans: (2)

10. Which PSU lender decided to aggressively market its gold loan scheme for farmers to prevent defaults after the agriculture sector witnessed a sharp spike in bad debt in the past one year?
(1) Union Bank

(2) United Bank of India

(3) Industrial Development Bank of India

(4) State Bank of India

Ans: (4)

General English

Directions-(Q. 11-15) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are printed in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.
A fisherman, enfeebled with age, could no longer go out to sea so he began fishing in the river. Every morning he would go down to the river and sit there fishing the whole day long. In the evening he would sell whatever he had caught, buy food for himself and go home. It was a hard life for an old man. One hot afternoon while he was trying to keep awake and bemoaning his fate, a large bird with silvery feathers alighted on a rock near him. It was Kaha, the heavenly bird. "Have you no one to care for you, grandpa ? .. asked the bird. "Not a soul." "You should not be doing such work at your age," said the bird. "From now on I will bring you a big fish every evening. You can sell it and live in comfort." True to her word, the bird began to drop a large fish at his doorstep every evening. All that the fisherman had to do was take it to the market and sell it. As big fish were in great demand, he was soon rolling in money. He bought a cottage near the sea, with a garden around it and engaged a servant to cook for him. His wife had died some years earlier. He had decided to marry again and began to look for a suitable woman.

One day he heard the royal courtier make an announcement. Our king has news of a great bird called Kaha," said the courtier. "Whoever can give information about this bird and help catch it, will be rewarded with half the gold in the royal treasury and half the kingdom !" The fisherman was sorely tempted by the reward. Half the kingdom would make him a prince!

"Why does the king want the bird ?" he asked. "He has lost his sight," explained the courtier. "A wise man has advised him to bathe his eyes with the blood of Kaha. Do you know where she can be found ? .. "No ... 1 mean ... no, no ..;" Torn between greed and his sense of gratitude to the bird, the fisherman could not give a coherent reply. The courtier, sensing that he knew someting about the bird, informed the king. The king had him brought to the palace.

"If you have information about the bird, tell me," urged the king. "I will reward you handsomely and if you help catch her, I will personally crown you king of half my domain." "I will get the bird for  you,"cried the fisherman, suddenly making up his mind. "But Kaha is strong. I will need help." The king sent a dozen soldiers with him. That evening when the bird came with the fish, the fisherman called out to her to wait. "You drop the fish and go and I never get a chance to thank you for all that you've done for me," he said. "Today I have laid out a feast for you inside. Please alight and come in." Kaha was reluctant to accept the invitation but the fisherman pleaded so earnestly that she finally gave in, and alighted. The moment she was on the ground, the fisherman grabbed one of her legs and shouted to the soldiers hiding in his house to come out. They rushed to his aid but their combined effort could not keep Kaha down.

She rose into the air with the fisherman still clinging onto her leg. By the time he realised he was being carried away, the fisherman was too high in the air to let go. He hung on grimly, and neither he nor Kaha were ever seen again.

11. Why was the king desperately looking for Kaha the bird?
(1) The king wanted a pet bird.

(2) A wise man advised the king to capture the bird for good luck.

(3) Kaha was the only heavenly bird with silvery feathers.

(4) The king was blind and required Kaha's blood for his eyes.

Ans: (4)

12. Why did the bird volunteer to bring fish for the old man?

(1) The old man was inexperienced at fishing

(2) The bird took pity on the old man and wanted to help him

(3) The bird had caught more fish than required

(4) The bird wanted to make the old man rich

Ans: (2)

13. What led the courtier to sense that the fisherman might know something about Kaha ?

(1) The courtier had observed Kaha alight at the fisherman's house every evening

(2) The courtier had seen the fisherman talk to Kaha

(3) The fisherman fumbled when asked about Kaha

(4) Word went around that the fisherman was in contact with Kaha

Ans: (3)

14. Which of the following cannot be said about the royal courtier?

(1) He was a very observant man.

(2) He was jealous of the old fisherman.

(3) He had informed the king about the fisherman.

(1) Only (1)

(2) Only (2)

(3) Only (3)

(4) Only (1) and (3)

Ans: (2)

15. What could be an appropriate title for the story ?

(1) A Fish a Day

(2) The Lonely fisherman

(3) Kaha the Silvery feathered bird

(4) The Ungrateful old fisherman

Ans: (4)

Directions-(Q.16 to 20) Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it-

Every afternoon, on their way back from school, the children used to go and play in the Giant's garden. It was a large lovely garden, with soft green grass. Over the grass stood beautiful flowers like stars, and there were twelve peach-trees that bore rich fruit. The birds would sit on the trees and sing sweetly to the children playing below. One day the Giant came back. He had been on a long tour and was now determined to return to his own castle. When he arrived he saw the children playing in the garden and was outrageous. "What are you doing here ?" He shouted in a very gruff voice, and the children ran away. "I will not allow anybody to play in my garden but myself" said the Giant. And so, he built a high wall around it, and put up a notice-board that read TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSE- CUTED. He was a very selfish Giant. The poor children h&d now, nowhere to play. They tried to play on the road, Bank Clerk 2011/37 but the road was very dusty and full of stones, and they did not like it. On their way back from school, they used to wander around the high wall and remember the good times.

Then came spring, and all over the country there were little blossoms and little birds. Only in the garden of the Selfish Giant it was still winter. The birds did not care to sing in it as there were no children and the trees forgot to blossom. The only people who were pleased were the snow and the frost. "Spring has forgotten this garden," they cried, "so we will live here all the year round." I cannot understand why the spring is so late in coming," said the selfish Giant, as he sat at the window and looked out at his cold white garden, "I hope there will be a change in the weather." But the spring never came, nor did the summer. The autumn gave golden fruit to every garden, but to the Giant's garden she gave none. "He was too selfish," she said. So it was always winter there.

One morning the Giant was lying awake in bed when he heard the birds singing. "I believe the spring has come at last," said the Giant, and he jumped out of bed and looked out. He saw the most wonderful sight. Through the little hole in the wall the children had crept in, and they were sitting on the branches of the trees. On every tree there was a child. The birds were flying about and twittering with delight, and the flowers were looking up through the green grass and laughing. It was a lovely scene however, in one corner it was still winter. It was the farthest corner of the garden, and in it was standing a little boy. He was so small that he could not reach the branches of the tree, and he was wandering all around it crying bitterly. The Giant's heart melted as he looked out. "How selfish I have been '" he said, "now I know why spring would not come here. I will put that poor little boy on the top of the tree, and then I will knock down the wall, and my garden shall be the children's play-ground for ever and ever." He was really sorry for what he had done.

16. Why was the Giant outraged when he got back from his holiday ?
(1) He had a bad journey back home

(2) He saw the children playing in the garden

(3) His castle was disorderly and not maintained

(4) It was still winter in his garden

Ans: (2)

17. What did the Giant do to keep the children away from his garden ?
(1) He built a high wall around the garden

(2) He displayed a message on a notice board

(3) He threatened to complain to their parents

(4) Only (A) and (B)

Ans: (4)
18. "Spring has forgotten this garden." They cried. Who is the author referring to ?
(1) The children

(2) The snow and the frost

(3) The autumn trees

(4) The spring

Ans: (2)
19. Why did the autumn trees refuse to bear fruit ?
(1) The snow and the winter took over

(2) The Giant was enjoying the winter in his garden

(3) It was one way of keeping the children away

(4) The Giant refused to change his behaviour

Ans: (1)
20. What does the author compare the flowers in the garden to ?
(1) Stars   

(2) Pearls

(3) Soft grass

(4) Frost

Ans: (1)

Quantitative Aptitude

Directions (Q.21-30): What will come in place of the question marks (?) in the following equations?

21. 8/12 + 2/5 - 1/3 = ?

(1) 3/7

(2) 2/5

(3) 3/8

(4) None of these

Ans: (4)

22. 4500 ÷ 18 - 122 = ? x 4

(1) 32

(2) 26

(3) 28

(4) 34

Ans: (1)

23. (19)² + (28)² - (16)² = ?

(1) 889

(2) 888

(3) 883

(4) 885

Ans: (1)

24. 63 x 14 + 334 = ? + (12)2

(1) 1078

(2) 1072

(3) 1077

(4) 7074

Ans: (2)

25. [(452 ÷ 4) + 62] ÷ 5 = ?

(1) 48

(2) 37

(3) 45

(4) 35

Ans: (4)

26. (14 x 24) + (27 x 12) = ?

(1) 650

(2) 665

(3) 660

(4) 655

Ans: (3)

27. (4.7 x 12 x 8) + (6.8 x 16 x 10) = ?

(1) 1533.9

(2) 1539.2

(3) 1532.9

(4) 1536.9

Ans: (2)

28. 1/5th of 3/4 the of 2/5 of 6000 = ?

(1) 360

(2) 330

(3) 370

(4) 350

Ans: (1)

29. 4¹⁰ x 64 ÷ 256 = 4^? x 16

(1) 6

(2) 5

(3) 8

(4) None of these

Ans: (4)

30. (5994 ÷ 18) x (468 ÷ 18) = ?

(1) 8658

(2) 8656

(3) 8655

(4) 8654

Ans: (1)

Reasoning Ability

31. (i) ‘P× Q’ means ‘Q’ is mother of ‘P’.

(ii) ‘P × Q’ means ‘P’ is brother of ‘Q’.

(iii) ‘P – Q’ means ‘P’ is sister of ‘Q’.

(iv) ‘P ÷ Q’ means ‘Q is father of ‘P’.

Which of the following definitely means R is grandson of K?
(1) R × T ÷ K

(2) M + R × T ÷ K

(3) M – R × T ÷ K

(4) None of these

Ans: (4)

32. How many such pairs of digits are there in the number 95137248 each of which has as many digits between them in the number as when they are arranged in ascending order?
(1) None

(2) One

(3) Two

(4) Three

Ans: (2)

33. In a certain code PATHOLOGIST is written as PIUBQKSRHFN. How is CONTROVERSY written in that code?
(1) SUOPDNXRQDU

(2) SUOPDNZTSFW

(3) QSMNBPXRQDU

(4) QSMNBPZTSFW

Ans: (1)

34. In a certain code PATHOLOGIST is written as PIUBQKSRHFN. How is CONTROVERSY written in that code?

(1) SUOPDNXRQDU

(2) SUOPDNZTSFW

(3) QSMNBPXRQDU

(4) QSMNBPZTSFW

Ans: (1)

35. Four of the following five are alike in a certain way and so form a group. Which is the one that does not belong to that group?

(1) Food : Hunger

(2) Water : Thirst

(3) Air : Suffocation

(4) Talent : Education

Ans: (4)

36. Four of the following five are alike in a certain way and so form a group. Which is the one that does not belong to that group?
(1) Crow

(2) Vulture

(3) Bat

(4) Ostrich

Ans: (3)
37. Which of the following has the same relationship as that of Money : wealth?
(1) Pity : Kindness

(2) Cruel : Anger

(3) Wise : Education

(4) Pride : Humility

Ans: (1)

38. Four of the following five are alike in a certain way and so form a group which is the one that does not belong to that group?

(1) 29

(2) 85

(3) 147

(4) 125

Ans: (4)

39. Ravi cycles 3 km towards the east and takes the first right turn and cycles for another 5 km to point A. From point A he takes a left turn and cycles 7 km to point 8, after covering another 4 km 'he rests for a while. How much distance has Ravi covered from point A till the time he stops.
(1) 16 km   

(2) 11 km

(3) 19 km   

(4) 15 km

Ans: (2)

40. The position of how many digits will remain the same if the digits in the number 2567394 are rearranged in ascending order from left to rig ht ?

(1) None   

(2) One

(3) Two   

(4) Three

Ans: (2)

Marketing Aptitude and Computer Knowledge

41. Fiscal deficit takes place when _

(1) When government’s expenditure is more than revenue earned

(2) When country’s imports are more than exports

(3) When foreign exchange reserves is negetive

(4) When there is rupee depreciation

Ans: (1)

42. SEBI is a _

(1) Insurance regulator

(2) Market regulator

(3) Drug regulator

(4) EPF regulator

Ans: (2)

Q.43 A set of computer programs that helps a computer monitor itself and function more efficiently isajan __
(1) Windows

(2) System Software

(3) DBMS

(4) Application Software

Ans: (2)
Q.44 An area of a computer that temporarily holds data waiting to be processed is __
(1) CPU

(2) Memory

(3) Storage

(4) File

Ans: (2)
Q.45 A __ is a microprocessor-based computing device.
(1) personal computer

(2) mainframe

(3) workstation

(4) server

Ans: (1)

Q.46 You use a(n) __ , such as a keyboard or mouse, to input information.
(1) output device

(2) input device

(3) storage device

(4) processing device

Ans: (2)
Q.47 The term __ designates equipment that might be added to a computer system to enhance its functionality.
(1) digital device

(2) system add-on

(3) disk pack

(4) peripheral device

Ans: (4)
Q.48 The instructions that tell a computer how to carry out the processing tasks are referred to as computer __
(1) programs

(2) processors

(3) input devices

(4) memory modules

Ans: (1)
Q.49 RAM can be thought of as the __ for the computer's processor.
(1) factory

(2) operating room

(3) waiting room

(4) planning room

Ans: (3)
Q.50 C, BASIC, COBOL, and Java are examples of __ languages.
(1) low-level

(2) computer

(3) system programming

(4) high-level

Ans: (4)

GENERAL AWARENESS MCQs FOR BANK EXAMS

1. Sushil Kumar, the winner of 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', was appointed as the brand ambass-ador for which of the following programmes?
1) JNNURM
2) IAY
3) Bharat Nirman
4) MGNREGA
5) None of these
2. Mario Monti became the new Prime Minister of which of the following countries in November 2011? (He succeeded Silvio Berlusconi)
1) France
2) Greece
3) Italy
4) Russia
5) Poland
3. Which of the following stateme-nts about the International Child-ren's Film Festival is/are correct?
1) The 17th International Childr-en's Film Festival was titled 'The Golden Elephant'.
2) The film festival was organiz-ed by the Children's Film Soc-iety of India (CFSI). Nandita Das is the chairperson of CFSI.
3) In the Indian competition section, 'Chillar Party' won the Best Feature Film.
4) Alafzar(Meadow), an Iranian film, was adjudged the Best Feature Film in the Competit-ion International section.
5) All the above are correct.
4. Which of the following countries was suspended from the Arab League in November 2011?
1) Qatar
2) Syria
3) Jordan
4) Libya
5) Saudi Arabia
5. Which is the first Indian comp-any to be listed in NASDAQ?
1) TCS
2) Reliance
3) Infosys
4) Wipro
5) None of these
6. With which game is Vijay Hazare Trophy associated?
1) Hockey
2) Football
3) Tennis
4) Table Tennis
5) Cricket
7. Which of the following countries is not a member of ASEAN?
1) Pakistan
2) Indonesia
3) Singapore
4) Malaysia
5) Thailand
8. Renowned cricket writer Peter Roebuck committed suicide recently. He was the captain of which of the following English county teams in the 1980s?
1) Oxford shire
2) Somerset
3) Kent
4) Essex
5) Sussex
9. Which city hosted the 17th International Children's Film Festival in November 2011?
1) Mumbai
2) Bangalore
3) Hyderabad
4) New Delhi
5) None of these
10. Who was named the Male World Athlete of the Year for 2011 by athletics' governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF)?
1) Yohan Blake (Jamaica)
2) Kirani James (Grenada)
3) Usain Bolt (Jamaica)
4) LaShawn Merritt (USA)
5) None of these
11. Sally Pearson, the world 100m hurdles champion, was named the Female World Athlete of the year for 2011 by the IAAF. To which country does she belong?
1) Australia
2) New Zealand
3) U.K.
4) U.S.A.
5) Denmark
12. Which of the following awards/ prizes is given for science?
1) Templeton Prize
2) Jnanpith Award
3) Phalke Ratna
4) Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award
5) None of these
13. Who is the author of the book 'The Exile', which is based on the life of Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of Lahore?
1) Chetan Bhagat
2) Navtej Sarna
3) Mulk Raj Anand
4) Khushwant Singh
5) None of these
14. Which of the following is not a plantation crop?
1) Rubber
2) Arecanut
3) Cocoa
4) Potato
5) Coconut
15. The term Bull's eye is associated with which of the following sports?
1) Badminton
2) Boxing.
3) Shooting
4) Cricket
5) Hockey
16. Which of the following is/are considered as allied agricultural activity?
1) Poultry
2) Fisheries
3) Dairy
4) Sheep rearing
5) All the above
17. Which of the following program-mes was launched by the govern-ment to develop rural infrastruct-ure in India?
1) SHGs
2) Bharat Nirman
3) JNNURM
4) IAY
5) None of these
18. Which of the following is not the name of a foreign bank?
1) BNP Paribas
2) Deutsche Bank
3) Barclays
4) Cathay Pacific
5) RBS
19. Which of the following schemes has been successful in attracting children to come to school and get educated?
1) MGNREGA
2) Food for Work
3) Mid Day Meal
4) NRLM
5) None of these
20. Guru Tegh Bahadur Gold Cup tournament is associated with which of the following sports?
1) Hockey
2) Badminton
3) Cricket
4) Soccer
5) None of these
21. Where is the National Commo- dity and Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX) located?
1) Hyderabad
2) Mumbai
3) Kolkata
4) Bangalore
5) New Delhi
22. Which former Chief Election Commissioner is the author of the book 'The Miracle of Demo-cracy: India's Amazing Journey'?
1) T.N.Seshan
2) M.S.Gill
3) B.B.Tandon
4) T.S.Krishnamurthy
5) Navin Chawla
23. What is the full form of 'POS'?
1) Permission of Sale
2) Point of Sale
3) Point of Support
4) Potential of Service
5) None
24. Which of the following is not a banking term?
1) Overdraft
2) CBS
3) Equator
4) Account payee
5) SME Finance
25. The Doing Business Report (DBR) is released every year by which of the following instituti-ons?
1) IMF
2) World Bank
3) WTO
4) ADB
5) UNCTAD
26. Which of the following banking terms is used to describe bad loans?
1) CBS
2) NPA
3) RTGS
4) Prime Loans
5) Prime Assets
27. Which country's currency is called Yen?
1) China
2) North Korea
3) South Korea
4) Japan
5) Thailand
28. Which of the following approves the draft of the Five Year Plans?
1) Planning Commission
2) National Innovation Council
3) National Development Council
4) Finance Commission
5) None of these
29. Which of the following is an extra-constitutional and non-statutory body?
1) Election Commission
2) Finance Commission
3) Planning Commission
4) Union Public Service Commission
5) None of these
30. Which of the following gives Crystal Award?
1) WTO
2) WEF
3) APEC
4) IBRD
5) ADB
31. Which of the following decides the distribution of tax incomes between the central and state governments?
1) Law Commission
2) Pay Commission
3) Planning Commission
4) Finance Commission
5) Administrative Reforms Commission
32. Who is the author of the book 'Termites in the Trading System'?
1) Jagdish Bhagwathi
2) Amartya Sen
3) M.S.Swaminathan
4) Paul Krugman
5) None of these
33. Which of the following is not a football club?
1) Chelsea
2) Arsenal
3) Manchester United
4) Monte Carlo
5) Liverpool
34. Putrajaya is the administrative capital of which of the following countries?
1) Malaysia
2) Indonesia
3) Sri Lanka
4) Nepal
5) None of these
35. Which of the following South American countries is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)?
1) Peru
2) Ecuador
3) Chile
4) Brazil
5) Argentina

ANSWERS:
1) 4 2) 3 3) 5 4) 2 5) 3
6) 5 7) 1 8) 2 9) 3 10) 3
11) 1 12) 4 13) 2 14) 4 15) 3
16) 5 17) 2 18) 4 19) 3 20) 1
21) 2 22) 4 23) 2 24) 3 25) 2
26) 2 27) 4 28) 3 29) 3 30) 2
31) 4 32) 1 33) 4 34) 1 35) 2

BANK EXAMS GENERAL AWARENESS MCQs

1.Which country's lower house of Parliament is called Wolesi Jirga?
1) Russia
2) Afghanistan
3) Japan
4) Pakistan
5) Bangladesh
2.Which of the following statements is/are correct?
1)The UNESCO-Madanjeet Si-ngh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence is a prize awarded every two years by UNESCO.
2)This award has been instituted in memory of Mahatma Gandhi.
3)This prize of US $ 1, 00,000 was made possible by the donation of the Indian diplo-mat Madanjeet Singh who is also the Goodwill Ambas-sador of UNESCO.
4) The 2011 awardees are Afgh-anistan's women's rights cam-paigner Anarkali Honaryar and Palestinian peace activist Khaled Abu Awwad.
5) All the above statements are correct.
3.Who among the following was chosen for the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence in 2002, but was allowed to accept the prize only in November 2011?
1) Taslima Nasreen (Bangladesh)
2) Aung San Suu Kyi (Myanmar)
3) Francois Houtart (Belgium)
4) Abdul Sattar Edhi (Pakistan)
5) None of these
4.Which of the following days is observed as the International Day for Tolerance?
1) October 2
2) November 16
3) October 24
4) October 16
5) November 14
5.Scientists have found the best evidence yet for water just beneath the surface of Europa. Europa is the icy moon of which of the following planets?
1) Mars
2) Saturn
3) Jupiter
4) Venus
5) Uranus
6.Which of the following countries is not a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)?
1) USA
2) Australia
3) Canada
4) India
5) France
7.Metro Cash& Carry is planning to invest Rs. 2400 crore in India on new stores in the next four years. To which country does this retailing giant belong?
1) Germany
2) Indonesia
3) Singapore
4) Malaysia
5) USA
8.The renovated Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) of Vijay-nagar, a completely air-mainta-ined and strategically located human settlement, was inaugur-ated recently. In which state is this Vijaynagar airfield located?
1) Assam
2) Nagaland
3) Karnataka
4) Arunachal Pradesh
5) None
9.A delegation from the Unites States Nuclear Regulatory Com-mission (USNRC) visited the nuclear facilities at Kalpakkam. In which state is Kalpakkam situated?
1) Karnataka
2) Kerala
3) Tamil Nadu
4) Maharashtra
5) None of these
10.The United Nations General Ass-embly has re-elected who among the following as a member of the International Law Commission (ILC) for a five- year term?
1) Mota Singh
2) Narinder Singh
3) Swaraj Paul
4) P.Venkat Ram Reddy
5) None
11.What is the disinvestment target for the current financial year i.e. 2011-12?
1) Rs.25, 000 crore
2) Rs.30, 000 crore
3) Rs.40, 000crore
4) Rs.50, 000 crore
5) None
12.Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was arrested for electoral fraud recently. She was the President of which of the following countries from 2001 to 2010?
1) Singapore
2) Philippines
3) Venezuela
4) Honduras
5) Vietnam
13.Sarath Fonseka was sentenced to spend three more years in prison in November 2011. He is the former army chief of which of the following countries?
1) Nepal
2) Mauritius
3) Sri Lanka
4) Pakistan
5) Myanmar
14.Which of the following badmi-nton tournaments was won by Saina Nehwal in the year 2011?
1) Singapore Super Series
2) Indonesia Super Series
3) Hong Kong Super Series
4) All England Badminton Championship
5) None
15.Guru Saidutt excelled in which of the following sports?
1) Table Tennis
2) Badminton
3) Lawn Tennis
4) Volleyball
5) Basketball
16.Which of the following trains covers the largest rail route in the country 4,286 km?
1) Vivek Express (Dibrugarh to Kanya Kumari)
2) Himsagar Express (Jammu Tawi to Kanya Kumari)
3) Dibrugarh-Chennai Express
4) Howrah-Amritsar Express
5) None of these
17.Sukh Ram was sentenced to five years' imprisonment by a special CBI Court in November 2011. He was a Minister of State for Communications in which of the following governments?
1) A.B.Vajpayee
2) P.V.Narasimha Rao
3) Rajiv Gandhi
4) Indira Gandhi
5) None
18.Eurasian Union is an economic body designed to reintegrate the former Soviet economies. Which of the following countries is not a member of this new group?
1) Russia
2) Kazakhstan
3) Belarus
4) Georgia
5) All the above mentioned countries are members
19.Basil D' Oliveira, the South Africa-born English player passed away recently. He was a renowned player in which of the following sports?
1) Football
2) Cricket
3) Rugby
4) Basketball
5) Boxing
20.Which Indian leader was honored by Singapore as a "Friend to our Shores" and a "Visionary" in November 2011?
1) Jawaharlal Nehru
2) Mahatma Gandhi
3) Sardar Vallabhbai Patel
4) Indira Gandhi
5) A.B.Vajpayee
21.Which of the following groups/ organizations has funded a sports centre in Ramallah, Palestine?
1) BRICS
2) BASIC
3) IBSA
4) SAARC
5) APEC
22.Which was the first non-Arab state to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1975?
1) India
2) Israel
3) China
4) USA
5) France
23.The Bar Council of India (BCI) was formed in 1961 as a regulatory body for the legal profession governed by the Indian Advocates Act. It is celebrating its golden jubilee. Who is its present Chairman?
1) Satish Abarao Deshmukh
2) Ashok K. Parija
3) S.Prabakaran
4) T.S.Ajith
5) None of theses
24.Tipaimukh Dam is a proposed dam on the river Barak in which state of India? (This project has led to a controversy between India and Bangladesh)
1) Assam
2) Nagaland
3) Manipur
4) Tripura
5) Arunachal Pradesh
25.Which team was crowned overall champions at the 65th Senior National Aquatic Championships in Ranchi in November 2011?
1) Karnataka
2) Maharashtra
3) Railways
4) Kerala
5) Gujarat
26.Which woman swimmer won 5 gold medals in the 65th Senior National Aquatic Championships held in Ranchi in November 2011?
1) Pooja Alva
2) Richa Mishra
3) Bhoomi Motwani
4) Talasha Prabhu
5) Surabhi Tipre
27.Who won the Men's singles title at the Hong Kong Open badminton championships in November 2011?
1) Lin Dan
2) Chen Jin
3)Cai Yun
4)Fu Haifeng
5)None
28.Which of the following teams won the Presidents Cup golf tournament in November 2011?
1) Internationals
2) USA
3) Europe
4) Australia
5) None
29.Which of the following teams has won both the men's and wo-men's Kabaddi world cup that was held in Ludhiana in Nove-mber 2011?
1) Canada
2) Pakistan
3) USA
4) India
5) Australia
30.Who has been selected for the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2011, an award instituted by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust?
1) Sheikh Hasina
2) Ela Bhatt
3) Angela Merkel
4) Hillary Clinton
5) Medha Patkar
31.Which city will host the 2018 Commonwealth Games?
1) Hambantota (Sri Lanka)
2) Glasgow (Scotland)
3) Gold Coast (Australia)
4) Wellington (New Zealand)
5) London (United Kingdom)
32.Mohammad Zillur Rahman is the President of which of the following countries?
1) Pakistan
2) Bangladesh
3) Iran
4) Afghanistan
5) Syria
33.Which of the following institut-ions decides the Bank rate?
1) SEBI
2) SBI
 3) IRDA
4) NABARD
5) RBI
34.Which scientist was conferred with the Ernesto Illy Trieste Science Prize for 2011 in November 2011? (This prize was instituted by the Academy of Sciences of the Developing World. It carries a cash compo-nent of 1,00,000 dollars. It seeks to honor distinguished scientists from developing countries.)
1) Tessy Thomas
2) V.K.Saraswat
3) C.N.R Rao
4) Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
5) None of these
35.National Income Accounting, Conduct of Annual Survey of In-dustries, Economic Census and its follow up surveys, compil-ation of index of industrial prod-uction, etc. are some of the activ-ities of which of the following institutions/organizations?
1) Reserve Bank of India
2) Planning Commission
3) Central Statistics Office
4)National Development Council
5)Unique Identification Authority of India
36.The distribution of Teesta river water is a bone of contention between India and which of the following countries?
1) Pakistan
2) Nepal
3)China
4)Bangladesh
5)Bhutan
37.Which of the following organiz-ations/ agencies was set up to boost overall rural development in India?
1) RBI
2) SIDBI
3) NABARD
4) SEBI
5) None of these
38.BR Act controls banking activities in India. What does the letter 'R' denote?
1) Reformation
2) Regulation
3) Reporting
4) Ranking
5) None of these
39.Who is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha?
1) Meira Kumar
2) Mohammad Hamid Ansari
3) Karia Munda
4) K.Rahman Khan
5) Manmohan Singh

ANSWERS:

1. (2) 2. (5) 3. (2) 4. (2) 5. (3) 6. (4) 7. (1) 8. (4) 9. (3) 10. (2)
11. (3) 12. (2) 13. (3) 14. (5) 15. (2) 16. (1) 17. (2) 18. (4) 19. (2) 20. (1)
21. (3) 22. (1) 23. (2) 24. (3) 25. (1) 26. (2) 27. (1) 28. (2) 29. (4) 30. (2)
31. (3) 32. (2) 33. (5) 34. (3) 35. (3) 36. (4) 37. (3) 38. (2) 39. (2)