Practice Section 11 question answer - general english mcq Online Quiz (set-1) For All Competitive Exams

DIRECTIONS:

Read the fol lowing passages carefully and answer the questions given below them. Certain words are given in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.

PASSAGE

We all seek happiness but few, very-few, indeed, get it. We are unhappy partly because we desire much more than what we can hope to attain. Our countless desires are hard to be satisfied. And that is what makes us so sad in life.

The secret of happiness lies in the simplification of life. Simple living encourages high thinking. It leads to contentment. Contentment gives us inner wealth, the wealth of the mind and of the soul. A contented man devotes himself to virtues like truth, beauty, love, goodness, kindness and charity. By pursuing and inculcating these virtues, a man can feel true happiness.

I do not mean that for simplification of life, a man should become an ascetic. The happiness of a sadhu is of a negative kind. I want positive kind of happiness. For this I must live in the midst of life and faithfully carry out my responsibilities to my home and my country. But all this should be done in the spirit of selfless service. A man who wants to lead a happy life, should also make others happy. In making others happy he will taste real and lasting happiness. There is a kind of joy in serving others with virtuous motives, in sacrificing what one has for the good of others. An act of goodness is of itself an act of happiness.

The secret of perfect happiness lies in renunciation. Wealth may give us joy for a while and fame may provide us with fleeting excitement. But they cannot give us permanent happiness. Kings have everything to make them happy and yet they feel unhappy. It is because they do not practise renunciation.

There is a sense of joy in doing one's work honestly and efficiently. A research-worker feels joy in research and a journalist in writing. In doing one's duty sincerely, one feels peace of mind which is an important essence of happiness.

It is only by cultivating spirit of renunciation, selfsacrifice, contentment and sincere work that one can really be happy. The strings of misfortune spare none but they will not cow such a person.

Q-1)   Which of the following is OPPOSITE in meaning to the word ‘fleeting’ as used in the passage?

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

Explanation:

‘Fleeting’ means ‘passing quickly, lasting only a short time’. ‘Momentary’ means ‘lasting for a very short time’.


DIRECTIONS:

Read the fol lowing passages carefully and answer the questions given below them. Certain words are given in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.

PASSAGE

We all seek happiness but few, very-few, indeed, get it. We are unhappy partly because we desire much more than what we can hope to attain. Our countless desires are hard to be satisfied. And that is what makes us so sad in life.

The secret of happiness lies in the simplification of life. Simple living encourages high thinking. It leads to contentment. Contentment gives us inner wealth, the wealth of the mind and of the soul. A contented man devotes himself to virtues like truth, beauty, love, goodness, kindness and charity. By pursuing and inculcating these virtues, a man can feel true happiness.

I do not mean that for simplification of life, a man should become an ascetic. The happiness of a sadhu is of a negative kind. I want positive kind of happiness. For this I must live in the midst of life and faithfully carry out my responsibilities to my home and my country. But all this should be done in the spirit of selfless service. A man who wants to lead a happy life, should also make others happy. In making others happy he will taste real and lasting happiness. There is a kind of joy in serving others with virtuous motives, in sacrificing what one has for the good of others. An act of goodness is of itself an act of happiness.

The secret of perfect happiness lies in renunciation. Wealth may give us joy for a while and fame may provide us with fleeting excitement. But they cannot give us permanent happiness. Kings have everything to make them happy and yet they feel unhappy. It is because they do not practise renunciation.

There is a sense of joy in doing one's work honestly and efficiently. A research-worker feels joy in research and a journalist in writing. In doing one's duty sincerely, one feels peace of mind which is an important essence of happiness.

It is only by cultivating spirit of renunciation, selfsacrifice, contentment and sincere work that one can really be happy. The strings of misfortune spare none but they will not cow such a person.

Q-2)   Which of the following is SIMILAR in meaning as the word ‘cow’ as used in the passage?

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

Explanation:

Cow when used as a verb means make somebody do as one wants by frightening him; intimidate somebody. Mould (Verb) means to guide or control the development of somebody/ something; shape or influence.


DIRECTIONS:

A passage is given with 5 questions following it. Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.

PASSAGE

I had seen this road many years ago when my parents moved to Mundakotukurussi, our ancestral village. However, in those early years, I hadn't begun exploring the countryside. I stored the unknown road in my head under 'One Day I Will'. Ten years ago, when I recovered from a herniated disc, it was to discover that I had a useless left leg. Though I managed to lose the limp, I hated not being able to stride around as I used to. I needed a challenge to tell myself that I wasn't going to buckle to a creature called sciatica. Thus the 'One Day I Will' arrived.

"Where does the road by the medical shop lead to?" I asked my parents while visiting them next. "Chalavara," they said. "It's not an easy road to walk on," my father added. "There are too many ups and downs." Chalavara was a superior grade of a village as compared to Mundakotukurussi, with a high school, a fine library, ATMs and several shops. But it also has two approach roads. The one I had chosen was a narrow back road used by the locals and that settled it for me. I needed to know for myself I could walk a road that wasn't going to be easy. And the next day, I would get up and walk that road again.

Q-3)   Where did the forefathers of the writer live?

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)


DIRECTIONS:

A passage is given with 5 questions following it. Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.

PASSAGE

I had seen this road many years ago when my parents moved to Mundakotukurussi, our ancestral village. However, in those early years, I hadn't begun exploring the countryside. I stored the unknown road in my head under 'One Day I Will'. Ten years ago, when I recovered from a herniated disc, it was to discover that I had a useless left leg. Though I managed to lose the limp, I hated not being able to stride around as I used to. I needed a challenge to tell myself that I wasn't going to buckle to a creature called sciatica. Thus the 'One Day I Will' arrived.

"Where does the road by the medical shop lead to?" I asked my parents while visiting them next. "Chalavara," they said. "It's not an easy road to walk on," my father added. "There are too many ups and downs." Chalavara was a superior grade of a village as compared to Mundakotukurussi, with a high school, a fine library, ATMs and several shops. But it also has two approach roads. The one I had chosen was a narrow back road used by the locals and that settled it for me. I needed to know for myself I could walk a road that wasn't going to be easy. And the next day, I would get up and walk that road again.

Q-4)   What disability did the writer suffer due to the herniated disc?

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)


DIRECTIONS:

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

PASSAGE

Nature is an infinite source of beauty. Sunrise and sunset, mountains and rivers, lakes and glaciers, forests and fields provide joy and bliss to the human mind and heart for hours together. Everything in nature is splendid and divine. Everyday and every season of the year has a peculiar beauty to unfold. Only one should have eyes to behold it and a heart to feel it like the English poet William Wordsworth who after seeing daffodils said: "And then my heart with pleasure fills and dances with the daffodils".

Nature is a great teacher. The early man was thrilled with beauty and wonders of nature. The Aryans worshipped nature. One can learn the lessons in the vast school of nature.

Unfortunately the strife, the stress and the tension of modern life have made people immune to beauties of nature. Their life is so full of care that they have no time to stand and stare. They cannot enjoy the beauty of lowing rivers, swinging trees, flying birds and majestic mountains and hills. There is however, a cry to go back to village from the concrete and artificial jungle of cities. Hence the town planners of today pay special attention to provide enough number of natural scenic spots in town planning. To develop a balanced personality, one needs to have a healthy attitude which can make us appreciate and enjoy the beauty of nature.

There is other balm to soothe our tired soul and listless mind than the infinite nature all around us. We should enjoy it fully to lead a balanced and harmonious life, full of peace and tranquility.

Q-5)   Which of the following words has the SAME meaning as the word 'care' as used in the passage?

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Explanation:

grief


DIRECTIONS:

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words in the passage are printed in bold to help you to locate them easily while answering some of the questions.

PASSAGE

Political ploys Initially hailed as masterstrokes often end up as flops. The Rs. 60,000 crore farm loan waiver announced In the budget writes off 100% of overdoes of small and marginal farmers holding up to two hectares, and 25% of overdoes of larger farmers. While India has enjoyed 8%9% GDP growth for the past few years, the boom has bypassed many rural areas and farmer distress and suicides have made newspaper headlines. Various attempts to provide relief (employment guarantee scheme, public distribution system) have made little impact, thanks to huge leakages from the governments lousy delivery systems. So, many economists think the loan waiver is a worthwhile alternative to provide relief. However the poorest rural folk are landless laborers, who get neither farm loans nor waivers.

Half of the small and marginal farmers get no loans from banks and depend entirely on moneylenders, and will not benefit. Besides, rural India is full of the family holdings rather than Individual holdings and family holdings will typically be much larger than two hectares even for dirt poor farmers, why will, therefore, be denied the 100% waiver. It will thus fall In both economic and political objectives. IRDP loans to .the rural poor In the 1980s demonstrated that crooked bank officials demand bribes amounting to one third the Intended benefits. Very few of the intended beneficiaries who merited relief received it, After the last farm loan waiver will similarly slow down fresh loans to deserving farmers. While over dues to cooperatives may be higher, economist Surjit Bhalla says less than 1 5% of farmer loans to banks are overdue l.e. over dues exist for only 2.25 million out of 90 million farmers. If so, then the 95% who have repaid loans will not benefit. They will be angry at being penalised for honesty. The budget thus grossly overestimates the number of beneficiaries , It also underestimates the negative effects of the waiver encouraging willful , default in the future and discouraging fresh bank lending for some years. Instead of trying to reach the needy, through a plethora of leaky schemes we should transfer cash directly to the needy using new technology like biometric smart cards, which are now being used in many countries, and mobile phones bank accounts.

Then benefits can go directly to phone accounts operable only by those with biometric cards, ending the massive leakages of current schemes. The political benefits of the loan waiver have also been exaggerated since if only a small fraction of farm families benefit , and many of these have to pay bribes to get the actual benefit, will the waiver really be a massive vote winner ? Members of Joint families will feel aggrieved that, despite having less than one hectare per head , their family holding is too large ,to qualify for the 100% waiver All finance ministers, of central or state governments, give away freebies in their last budgets, hoping to win electoral regards . Yet, four fifth of all incumbent governments are voted out. This shows that beneficiaries of favors are not notably grateful , while those not so favored may feel aggrieved, and vote for the opposition. That seems to be Why election budgets constantly fall to win elections in India and the loan waiver will not change that pattern.

Q-6)   What are the terms of the loan waiver?
  1. One-fourth of the overdue loans of landless labourers will be written off.
  2. Rs. 60,000 crore loan waiver has been sanctioned for 25 million marginal farmers.
  3. Any farmer with between 26 per cent to 100 per cent of their loan repayments overdue will be penalised.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

Explanation:


DIRECTIONS:

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words in the passage are printed in bold to help you to locate them easily while answering some of the questions.

PASSAGE

Political ploys Initially hailed as masterstrokes often end up as flops. The Rs. 60,000 crore farm loan waiver announced In the budget writes off 100% of overdoes of small and marginal farmers holding up to two hectares, and 25% of overdoes of larger farmers. While India has enjoyed 8%9% GDP growth for the past few years, the boom has bypassed many rural areas and farmer distress and suicides have made newspaper headlines. Various attempts to provide relief (employment guarantee scheme, public distribution system) have made little impact, thanks to huge leakages from the governments lousy delivery systems. So, many economists think the loan waiver is a worthwhile alternative to provide relief. However the poorest rural folk are landless laborers, who get neither farm loans nor waivers.

Half of the small and marginal farmers get no loans from banks and depend entirely on moneylenders, and will not benefit. Besides, rural India is full of the family holdings rather than Individual holdings and family holdings will typically be much larger than two hectares even for dirt poor farmers, why will, therefore, be denied the 100% waiver. It will thus fall In both economic and political objectives. IRDP loans to .the rural poor In the 1980s demonstrated that crooked bank officials demand bribes amounting to one third the Intended benefits. Very few of the intended beneficiaries who merited relief received it, After the last farm loan waiver will similarly slow down fresh loans to deserving farmers. While over dues to cooperatives may be higher, economist Surjit Bhalla says less than 1 5% of farmer loans to banks are overdue l.e. over dues exist for only 2.25 million out of 90 million farmers. If so, then the 95% who have repaid loans will not benefit. They will be angry at being penalised for honesty. The budget thus grossly overestimates the number of beneficiaries , It also underestimates the negative effects of the waiver encouraging willful , default in the future and discouraging fresh bank lending for some years. Instead of trying to reach the needy, through a plethora of leaky schemes we should transfer cash directly to the needy using new technology like biometric smart cards, which are now being used in many countries, and mobile phones bank accounts.

Then benefits can go directly to phone accounts operable only by those with biometric cards, ending the massive leakages of current schemes. The political benefits of the loan waiver have also been exaggerated since if only a small fraction of farm families benefit , and many of these have to pay bribes to get the actual benefit, will the waiver really be a massive vote winner ? Members of Joint families will feel aggrieved that, despite having less than one hectare per head , their family holding is too large ,to qualify for the 100% waiver All finance ministers, of central or state governments, give away freebies in their last budgets, hoping to win electoral regards . Yet, four fifth of all incumbent governments are voted out. This shows that beneficiaries of favors are not notably grateful , while those not so favored may feel aggrieved, and vote for the opposition. That seems to be Why election budgets constantly fall to win elections in India and the loan waiver will not change that pattern.

Q-7)   Which of the following will definitely be an impact of loan waivers?
  1. Family holdings will be split into individual holdings not exceeding one hectare.
  2. The public distribution system will be revamped.
  3. The opposition will definitely win the election.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

Explanation:


DIRECTIONS:

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

PASSAGE

Nature is an infinite source of beauty. Sunrise and sunset, mountains and rivers, lakes and glaciers, forests and fields provide joy and bliss to the human mind and heart for hours together. Everything in nature is splendid and divine. Everyday and every season of the year has a peculiar beauty to unfold. Only one should have eyes to behold it and a heart to feel it like the English poet William Wordsworth who after seeing daffodils said: "And then my heart with pleasure fills and dances with the daffodils".

Nature is a great teacher. The early man was thrilled with beauty and wonders of nature. The Aryans worshipped nature. One can learn the lessons in the vast school of nature.

Unfortunately the strife, the stress and the tension of modern life have made people immune to beauties of nature. Their life is so full of care that they have no time to stand and stare. They cannot enjoy the beauty of lowing rivers, swinging trees, flying birds and majestic mountains and hills. There is however, a cry to go back to village from the concrete and artificial jungle of cities. Hence the town planners of today pay special attention to provide enough number of natural scenic spots in town planning. To develop a balanced personality, one needs to have a healthy attitude which can make us appreciate and enjoy the beauty of nature.

There is other balm to soothe our tired soul and listless mind than the infinite nature all around us. We should enjoy it fully to lead a balanced and harmonious life, full of peace and tranquility.

Q-8)   Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in meaning of the word 'unfold' as used in the passage?

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Explanation:

conceal


DIRECTIONS:

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

PASSAGE

It is sad that in country after country, progress should become synonymous with an assault on nature. We who are a part of nature and dependent on her for every need, speak constantly about 'exploiting' nature. When the highest mountain in the world was climbed in 1953, Jawaharlal Nehru objected to the phrase conquest of Everest' which he thought was arrogant. Is it surprising that this lack of consideration and the constant need to prove one's superiority should be projected on to our treatment of our fellowmen? I remember Edward Thompson, a British writer and a good friend of India, once telling Mr. Gandhi that wildlife was fast disappearing. Remarked Mr. Gandhi: 'It is decreasing in the jungles but it is increasing in the towns'

On the one hand the rich look askance at our continuing poverty; on the other they warn us against their own methods. We do not wish to impoverish the environment any further and yet we cannot forget the grim poverty of large numbers of people. Are not poverty and need the great polluters? For instance, unless we are in a position to provide employment and purchasing power for the daily necessities of the tribal people and those who live in and around our jungles, we cannot prevent them from combing the forest for food and livelihood, from poaching and from despoiling the vegetation.

Q-9)   In the passage the term 'exploiting' nature suggests

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)


DIRECTIONS:

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words in the passage are printed in bold to help you to locate them easily while answering some of the questions.

PASSAGE

Political ploys Initially hailed as masterstrokes often end up as flops. The Rs. 60,000 crore farm loan waiver announced In the budget writes off 100% of overdoes of small and marginal farmers holding up to two hectares, and 25% of overdoes of larger farmers. While India has enjoyed 8%9% GDP growth for the past few years, the boom has bypassed many rural areas and farmer distress and suicides have made newspaper headlines. Various attempts to provide relief (employment guarantee scheme, public distribution system) have made little impact, thanks to huge leakages from the governments lousy delivery systems. So, many economists think the loan waiver is a worthwhile alternative to provide relief. However the poorest rural folk are landless laborers, who get neither farm loans nor waivers.

Half of the small and marginal farmers get no loans from banks and depend entirely on moneylenders, and will not benefit. Besides, rural India is full of the family holdings rather than Individual holdings and family holdings will typically be much larger than two hectares even for dirt poor farmers, why will, therefore, be denied the 100% waiver. It will thus fall In both economic and political objectives. IRDP loans to .the rural poor In the 1980s demonstrated that crooked bank officials demand bribes amounting to one third the Intended benefits. Very few of the intended beneficiaries who merited relief received it, After the last farm loan waiver will similarly slow down fresh loans to deserving farmers. While over dues to cooperatives may be higher, economist Surjit Bhalla says less than 1 5% of farmer loans to banks are overdue l.e. over dues exist for only 2.25 million out of 90 million farmers. If so, then the 95% who have repaid loans will not benefit. They will be angry at being penalised for honesty. The budget thus grossly overestimates the number of beneficiaries , It also underestimates the negative effects of the waiver encouraging willful , default in the future and discouraging fresh bank lending for some years. Instead of trying to reach the needy, through a plethora of leaky schemes we should transfer cash directly to the needy using new technology like biometric smart cards, which are now being used in many countries, and mobile phones bank accounts.

Then benefits can go directly to phone accounts operable only by those with biometric cards, ending the massive leakages of current schemes. The political benefits of the loan waiver have also been exaggerated since if only a small fraction of farm families benefit , and many of these have to pay bribes to get the actual benefit, will the waiver really be a massive vote winner ? Members of Joint families will feel aggrieved that, despite having less than one hectare per head , their family holding is too large ,to qualify for the 100% waiver All finance ministers, of central or state governments, give away freebies in their last budgets, hoping to win electoral regards . Yet, four fifth of all incumbent governments are voted out. This shows that beneficiaries of favors are not notably grateful , while those not so favored may feel aggrieved, and vote for the opposition. That seems to be Why election budgets constantly fall to win elections in India and the loan waiver will not change that pattern.

Q-10)   Which of the following cannot be said about loan waiver?
  1. Small and marginal farmers will benefit the most.
  2. The loan waiver penalises deserving farmers.
  3. A large percentage i.e. ninety-five per cent of distressed farmers, wifi benefit

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

Explanation: