English Quiz (RC) : 16th October 2018

16/10/2018

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Directions (1-10): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

Nobel Prize winner Joseph E. Stiglitz, described “globalization as a double edged sword. For those willing to seize the opportunities and manage globalization on their own terms, it has provided the basis of unprecedented growth.” Taking full advantage of globalization India has managed a historically unprecedented growth rate for more than a decade and half. Following the Washington consensus in the last quarter of 20th century, international institutions including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund mounted a sustained campaign to push liberalization of national economies and privatization of their public sector.

Empirical studies have amply demonstrated that the benefits of the globalization have not been shared by all the countries. Even in the same country, the benefits arising out of globalization have not filtered to the various strata of the population and disparities have widened. Thus, there are transparent inequalities amongst the countries as also within the same country. India is no exception to the latter. In most of the poorer countries in Africa growth rates have not registered any improvements and the number of people below poverty line has in some cases doubled. Moreover there is reluctance of developed countries in removing the trade distorting subsidies in agriculture and giving duty-free market access to the least developed countries with very limited exportable products.

The issue is how has India reaped benefits of globalization? To assume that economic, fiscal, trade and allied policies initiated by the government created an environment which facilitated economic advancement on these fronts will amount to manipulation of ground realities. The foremost factor which engineered the growth in India was emergence of a self-reliant middle class equipped with strong knowledge base with technical qualifications. They pursued innovative businesses requiring managerial and technical skills in the upcoming sectors like information technology and other allied fields. Instead of the traditional industry led growth path followed by the west and other developing countries India opted for services-led growth which had visible, tangible results. In the manufacturing sector, technological innovation, low-cost production, ability to quickly adapt to changes, establishing world class R and D facilities etc., greatly helped in successfully meeting global competition. The automobile industry is a classic example, Strong presence of non-resident Indians in the developed countries occupying senior management positions in several multinational corporations built confidence in Indian managerial competence and leadership. This promoted MNCs’ networking with India (as also in China) with its expanding domestic market which in the present circumstances remained the only viable option for their sustained growth in future. The success stories of businesses controlled by NRIs in the western markets established India’s reputation as dependable and disciplined businessmen. Well established democratic political framework, large young population ingrained with absorption capacity of new technologies have all created a responsive realization that India is marching ahead. The initiative largely of its private sector in expanding low-cost air transportation, press, TV and other media penetration ignited awareness amongst all sections of its people of a bright future and thus radically changed their perception, thinking and actions. Furthermore the entire world took note of unexploited potentials of India in becoming a competitive centre of excellence and cost efficiency.

Q1. According to the author, which of the following was primarily responsible for India’s growth?

(a) Well developed and implemented economic, fiscal and trade policies.

(b) Detailed micro level analysis of the economy.

(d) Emergence of a self-reliant middle class equipped with strong knowledge base with technical qualifications.

(e) None of these

Q2. What was the fallout of improvement in connectivity?

(a) Decline in travel by traditional modes like road and rail.

(b) Optimism was created among the Indian public about the future of the Indian economy.

(d) It made Indian entrepreneurs realise that they should concentrate on domestic not global markets.

(e) None of these.

Q3. What does the example of the auto industry indicate?

(a) Indian cars were too expensive for the Indian market but were competitively priced for global markets.

(b) Investment by multinationals in Indian firms boosted the Indian auto industry.

(d) NRIs were responsible for the success of the automobile industry.

(e) None of these.

Q4. Choose the word which is most nearly the same in meaning as the word given in bold as used in the passage.

Mounted

(a) Increase

(b) Descended

(d) Climbed

(e) Diminished

Q5. Choose the word which is most nearly the same in meaning as the word given in bold as used in the passage.

Tangible

(a) Valuable

(b) Complex

(d) Concrete

(e) Abstract

Q6. Choose the word which is most nearly the same in meaning as the word given in bold as used in the passage.

Manipulation

(a) Distortion

(b) Calculation

(d) Indication

(e) Distinction

Q7. Choose the word which is most opposite in meaning of the word given in bold as used in the passage.

Viable

(a) Indirect

(b) Impractical

(d) Unpleasant

(e) Reasonable

Q8. Choose the word which is most opposite in meaning of the word given in bold as used in the passage.

Amply

(a) Slowly

(b) Intensively

(d) Harshly

(e) Sufficiently

Q9. Which of the following statements is/are not true in the context of the passage?

(A)India has managed a historically unprecedented growth rate for more than a decade and half after globalization.

(B)In most of the poorer countries of Africa, the number of people below poverty line has in some cases doubled.

(a)Only (A)

(b)Only (B)

(c)Only (C)

(d)Both (B) and (C)

(e)All are true

Q10. Which of the following factors did not help India in successfully meeting global competition in the manufacturing sector?

(a) Technological innovation.

(b) Low-cost production.

(d) Allocation of more funds.

(e) Establishing world class R and D facilities.

Directions (11-15): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been printed in bold to help you locate them, while answering some of the questions.

Woodrow Wilson was referring to the liberal idea of the economic market when he said that the free enterprises system is the most efficient economic system. Maximum freedom means maximum productiveness: our ‘openness’ to be the measure of our stability. Fascination with this ideal has made Americans defy the ‘Old World’ categories (settled possessiveness versus unsettling deprivation; the cupidity of retention versus the cupidity of seizure, a ‘status quo’ defended or attacked.

The United States, it was believed, had no status quo ante. Our only ‘station’ was the turning of a stationary wheel, spinning faster and faster. We did not base our system on property but opportunity—which meant we based it not on stability but on mobility. The more things changed, that is, the more rapidly the wheel turned, the steadier we would be. The conventional picture of class politics is composed of the Haves, who want a stability to keep what they have, and the Have-Nots who want a touch of instability and change; in which to scramble for the things they have not. But Americans imagined a condition in which speculators, self-makers, runners are always using the new opportunities given by our land. These economic leaders (front-runners) would thus be mainly agents of change.

The non-starters were considered the ones who wanted stability, a strong referee to give them some position in the race, a regulative hand to calm manic speculation; and authority that can call things to a halt, begin things again from compensatorily staggered ‘starting lines.’ Reform’ in America has been sterile because it can imagine no change except through the extension of this metaphor of a race, wider inclusion of competitors, ‘a piece of the action,’ as it were, for the disenfranchised.

There is no attempt to call off the race. Since our only stability is change, America seems not to honour the quiet work that achieves social interdependence and stability. There is, in our legends, no heroism of the office clerk; stable industrial work force of the people who actually make the system work. There is no pride in being an employee; Wilson asked for a return to the time when everyone was an employee.

There has been no boasting about our social workers—they are merely signs of the system’s failure, of opportunity denied or not taken, of things to be eliminated. We have no pride in our growing interdependence, in the fact that our system can serve others, that we are able to help those in need; empty boasts from the past make us ashamed of our present achievements, make us try to forget or deny them, move away from them. There is no honour but in Wonderland race, we must all run, all trying to win, none winning in the end (for there is no end).

Q11. According to the passage, ‘Old World’ values were based on

(a) ability

(b) property

(d) guild hierarchies

(e) None of the above

Q12. In the context of the author’s discussion of regulating change, which of the following could be most probably regarded as a ‘strong referee’ in the United States?

(a) A school principal

(b) A political theorist

(d) A social worker

(e) None of the above

Q13. The author sets off the word ‘Reform’ with quotation marks in order to

(a) Emphasise its departure from the concept of settled possessiveness

(b) Show his support for a systematic programme of change

(d) Assert that reform in the United States has not been fundamental

(e) None of the above

Q14. It can be inferred from the passage that the author most probably thinks that giving disenfranchised ‘a piece of the action’ is a/an

(a) Compassionate, if misdirected, legislative measure

(b) Example of Americans’ resistance to profound social change.

(d) Monument to the efforts of industrial reformers

(e) None of the above

Directions (15): Choose the word which is most nearly the same in meaning to the word given in bold as used in the passage.

Q15. Cupidity

(a) generosity

(b) grudge

(d) reluctance

(e) abhorrence

Solutions

Refer to the third paragraph of the passage, “The foremost factor which engineered the growth in India was emergence of a self-reliant middle class equipped with strong knowledge base with technical qualifications.” Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

Read the last few sentences of the third paragraph carefully, “The initiative largely of its private sector in expanding low-cost air transportation, press, TV and other media penetration ignited awareness amongst all sections of its people of a bright future and thus radically changed their perception, thinking and actions.” Hence option (b) is the correct answer.

Refer to the third paragraph of the passage, “The automobile industry is a classic example, Strong presence of non-resident Indians in the developed countries occupying senior management positions in several multinational corporations built confidence in Indian managerial competence and leadership.” Hence (d) is the correct option.

The word ‘mounted’ means organize and initiate (a campaign or other course of action). Hence the word ‘organized’ is the most similar in meaning in the context of the word used in the passage.

The word ‘tangible’ means perceptible by touch. Hence the word ‘concrete’ is the most similar in meaning in the context of the word used in the passage.

The word ‘manipulation’ means the action of manipulating something in a skilful manner. Hence the word ‘distortion’ is most nearly same in meaning in the context of the word used in the passage.

The word ‘viable’ means capable of working successfully; feasible. Hence the word ‘impractical’ is most nearly opposite in meaning to it.

The word ‘amply’ means sufficiently; more than adequately. Hence the word ‘least’ is most nearly opposite in meaning to it.

All the given statements are true in the context of the passage. Read the first and second paragraphs carefully. All three statements are clearly mentioned there.

Refer to the third paragraph of the passage, “In the manufacturing sector, technological innovation, low-cost production, ability to quickly adapt to changes, establishing world class R and D facilities etc., greatly helped in successfully meeting global competition.” Hence option (d) is the only incorrect factor.

S11.(d)

‘Old World’ values were based on guild hierarchies according to the passage.

12.(c)

In the lines, ‘These economic leaders…” starting lines, ‘a strong referee’ is a regulative hand and an authority that can control things, therefore, a federal court judge, i.e., option (c) appears to be the most appropriate answer.

13.(b)

In order to show his support for a systematic programme of change, the word ‘Reform’ is given in quotation marks.

14.(b)

The point in question can be deciphered from lines, ‘Reform’ in America has been sterile…….for disenfranchised. Most probably the implication or hidden meaning of the lines is that the author thinks that giving disenfranchised ‘a piece of the action’ is an example Americans’ resistence to profound social change.

Cupidity means greed for money or possessions. Avarice means extreme greed for wealth or material gain.