General English
(Exam Held on 8-5-2011)
Directions-(Q. 1-10) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
Right of entry to education, an ample teaching-learning environment, a suitable curriculum and an empowered and all-encompassing faculty are four essential prerequisites of an education system that seeks to enable social transformation. While educational reform since the 1980s was strongly focused on the first two elements, the late 1990s brought the role of the curriculum into national focus. The critical link that binds these four critical elements together the activity of the faculty continues to be cast aside, by political ideologies of most hues, contemporary curriculum reform efforts and the professional practices of the faculty.
Far-reaching educational initiatives of both the Left and the Right have recognized the potential power of the .faculty. In multiple experiments, they have used this dormant force to build committed institutions and cadres of faculties dedicated to their particular causes. In many instances this has led to extreme politicization of the college faculty. In others it has led to the education of a generation of students in half –truths underpinned by the personal beliefs, sectarian concerns and folk pedagogy of faculties who have had little access themselves to education and training in related areas.
Over the last decade or so, educational reform has included, apart from access, a focus on developing alternative text materials and the training of faculty to handle these materials, without directly engaging with the issue of curriculum revamp. At the turn of the 20th century, a major national curriculum redesign was initiated following the change of political regime at the centre. The subsequent development of college programme came under wide public scrutiny and debate. Issues of equity, inclusion and exclusion, learner medley religious identity and communalism gained considerable importance in the curriculum debates that followed. For instance scholars argued that, "...the curriculum, while loud on rhetoric, fails to address the quality of education that students of under-privileged and marginalized group's experience". Several other critics described the revised curriculum as a retrogressive step in education that sought to impose the religious agenda in the garb of a national identity.
The subsequent change of national government in 2004, led to the curriculum review in 2005 underlining a new political interest in the role of education in national development, its role in social mobilization and transformation directed specifically at questions of caste and gender asymmetry and minority empowerment. Deeper than these politically driven initiatives, however, the professional need for curriculum review emerges from the long ossification of a national education system that continues to view faculty as "dispensers of information" and students as "passive recipients" of an "education", sought1obe "delivered" in four-walled classrooms with little scope to develop critical thinking and understanding.
1. Prior to 1990 what was NOT the agenda of the educational reforms?
(1) An appropriate curriculum
(2) Well managed admission process
(A) Only (1)
(B) Only (2)
(C) Both (1) and (2)
(D) Either (1) or (2)
(E) None of these
Ans : (A)
2. Which of the following best describes the phrase "passive recipients" as used in the passage ?
(A) The users of the educational system
(B) The political ideology of right and left parties
(C) Well framed curriculum guiding the teaching/learning process
(D) Free access to education system
(E) The faculty
Ans : (A)
3. To facilitate social transformation, which of the following has been identified by the author as one of the factors ?
(A) A committed political ideology'
(B) Support of the well framed curriculum
(C) A strong administration system
(D) Carefully planned education delivery
(E) None of these
Ans : (E)
4. What hampers the critical thinking ability of college going students?
(A) The emphasis on rote memorization and recalling the facts of education based on real experience
(B) Lack of political will to develop these abilities
(C) Absence of focus while designing curriculum framework
(D) Ignoring the active role of faculty and the student
(E) Lack of proper tests of critical thinking ability
Ans : (C)
5. Which of the following best describes the meaning of the word underpinned as used in the passsage ?
(A) advocated
(B) supported
(C) prepared
(D) bolstered
(E) boosted
Ans : (D)
6. Which of the following best describes the word ossification as used in the passage?
(A) hardening
(B) plasticity
(C) imbibition
(D) incorporation
(E) coalescing
Ans : (A)
7. Development of text books generated public debate on many issues except…
(1) making the curriculum students centered.
(2) using teaching community as an agency to bring change.
(A) Only (1)
(B) Only (2)
(C) Both (1) and (2)
(D) Either (1) or (2)
(E) None of these
Ans : (B)
8. How did personal beliefs and folk pedagogy enter into educational system ?
(A) The college acted as an agent of local communities
(B) The faculties were not properly trained
(C) College faculties started acting as passive listeners
(D) The loopholes in the educational system allowed it to happen
(E) It was by design
Ans : (B)
9. Which of the following is the most opposite in meaning to the word medley as used in the passage ?
(A) amalgamate
(B) united
(C) unity
(D) diffuse
(E) focusing
Ans : (D)
10. Revamping of the text material was the main focus in–
(A) early eighties
(B) late nineties
(C) 21st century
(D) evolving curriculum framework
(E) training faculty
Ans : (C)
Directions-(Q. 11-15) In each of the following sentences there are two blank spaces. Below each sentence there are five pairs of words denoted by letters (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E). Find out which pair of words can be filled up in the blanks in the sentence in the same sequence to make the sentence grammatically correct and meaningfully complete.
11. …………….to the popular belief that every astrologer nurtures blind faith in fate, our astrologer believes in………..
(A) Contrary , action
(B) According, thoughts
(C) Bowing, present
(D) Proving, forecasting
(E) Pointing, devotion
Ans : (A)
12. His………….has yielded him the…………….fruit.
(A) fate, undesirable
(B) efforts, unwanted
(C) action, viable
(D) perseverance, desired
(E) emphasis, expected
Ans : (D)
13. Liberalization has removed all the legal………….... and…………....flood-gates to multinational companies.
(A) hurdles, awarded
(B) barriers, opened
(C) obstacles, guarded
(D) manipulation, closed
(E) battles, threw
Ans : (B)
14. His …………....contribution to the Tsunami relief fund was …………....by his staff members.
(A) meagre, admired
(B) spontaneous, nullified
(C) negligible, sanctioned
(D) noteworthy, improved
(E) generous, appreciated
Ans : (E)
15. The …………....on some of the towns has created …………....among the residents of the other part of the country.
(A) attack, ambition
(B) raid, awareness
(C) bombardment, panic
(D) spell, satisfaction
(E) shower, dampness
Ans : (C)
Directions-(Q. 16-20) In each question below a sentence with four words printed in bold type is given. These are lettered as (A), (B), (C) and (D). One of these four words printed in bold may be either wrongly spelt or inappropriate in the context of the sentence. Find out the word which is wrongly spelt or inappropriate if any. The letter of that word is your answer. If all the words printed in bold are correctly spelt and also appropriate in the context of the sentence, mark (E) i.e. ' All correct' as your answer .
16; The file contents (A) a revised (B) estimate (C) of the banking industry's manpower requirements (D) for the next year. All correct (E)
Ans : (E)
17. Your marketing strategy (A) should be devised (B) dependent (C) on the kind of business you own. (D) All correct (E)
Ans : (C)
18. Since our financial resources (A) are limitless (B) we cannot afford (C) this alternative. (D) All correct (E)
Ans : (B)
19. His main reasoning (A) for applying (B) for this promotion is the possibility (C) of an overseas posting. (D) All correct (E)
Ans : (A)
20. To better understand the challenges (A) of starting anew venture (B) he read (C) up extensively. (D) All correct (E)
Ans : (C)
Directions-(Q. 21-30) Which of the phrases (A).. (B), (C) and (D) given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold type to make the sentence grammatically correct ? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (E) i.e., 'No correction required' as the answer .
21. His behavior with all his employees is so pleasing that everyone come forward for helping him.(A) came towards him for help
(B) comes towards him for help
(C) comes forward to help him
(D) comes forward for help him
(E) No correction required
Ans : (C)
22. The police commissioner burst into rage and ordered immediately suspension of the inspector who had arrested the innocent boy.
(A) order immediately
(B) order immediate
(C) ordered immediate
(D) ordering immediate
(E) No correction required
Ans : (C)
23. She will not attend the meeting until she is asked to.
(A) except
(B) even with
(C) even except
(D) unless
(E) No correction required
Ans : (E)
24. He would be like to have some ice-cream.
(A) would like to
(B) would be liked to
(C) was to be liking to
(D) would being liked to
(E) No correction required
Ans : (A)
25. A master should never impose his servants too much work.(A) his servants with too much work
(B) too much work with his servants
(C) too much work on his -servants
(D) too much work for his servants
(E) No correction required
Ans : (C)
26. Good life, according to many people, is to making more and more money.
(A) is making
(B) is made
(C) are made
(D) are making
(E) No correction required
Ans : (A)
27. Lift the handset only after paid a one rupee coin.
(A) paying a one rupee coin
(B) you pay one rupee coin
(C) pay one rupee-coin
(D) you paid one rupee coin
(E) No correction required
Ans : (A)
28. What matter does most is the quality and not the quantity.
(A) What does matter
(B) What does it matter
(C) That matters
(D) What matters
(E) No correction required
Ans : (B)
29. Not knowing the language and had no friends in the country, he found it impossible to get a job.
(A) has no
(B) with having
(C) with having not
(D) having no
(E) No correction required
Ans : (D)
30. With the introduction of new system, the number of candidates who resort to unfair means is decreasing year after year.
(A) resorting to
(B) to resort to
(C) resorted to
(D) to resorting
(E) No correction required
Ans : (E)
Directions-(Q. 31-40) Read each sentence to find out whether there is any error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (E). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any).
31. Our country can contribute (A) / to the mitigation of global warming (B) / by protecting forests (C) / and starting at afforestation programme. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)
32. The task for ensuring employment (A) / for the labour force has been (B) / a persistent concern throughout (C) / India's post independence development. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)
33. Psychologists have been documenting (A) / the emotional and physical (B) / effect of (C) / negative political advertisements. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)
34. India's efforts that are (A) / aimed at controlling (B) / infectious diseases is likely (C) / to show only partial success. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)
35. The magazine industry (A) / in India (B) / has been going from (C) / confusing times. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)
36. The fast pace of progress on (A) / basic education and literacy (B) / is consistent with an increase (C) / in demand for education. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)
37. Technology is (A) / transforming the way (B) / films are screen (C) / in the theatres. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)
38. One needs to set goals (A) / at differing stages (B) / of one's career and (C) / monitor achievements and accomplishments. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (B)
39. Non-communicable diseases (A) / often require (B) / long term and expensive interventions which (C) / poor people cannot afford. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (E)
40. A leader is a group member which (A) / exerts profound influence (B) / on the behaviour and attitudes (C) / of other members of the group. (D) No error (E)
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 growth story in any developing country cannot be ...(41)... without ...(42)... its impact on the poverty and employment situation. The Planning Commission has ...(43)... that India should strive for 'more inclusive growth' .The number of people living below the poverty line has ...(44)... from 36 per cent in 1993-94 to 22.0 per cent in 2004-05. Again, the issue is to bring more and more people out of poverty by ...(45)... them the productive employment opportunities. The Approach Paper to 11th Five Year Plan suggests that doubling the growth of agricultural GDP to 4 per cent per annum will ...(46)... rural employment conditions, by raising real wages and reducing under employment. However, even if this is attained, an overall growth of 9 per cent will further increase income ...(47)... between agricultural and non-agricultural households, ...(48)... around 10 million workers currently in agriculture find remunerative non-agricultural employment.. This ...(49)... a major challenge not only in terms of generating non-agricultural employment but also in ...(50)... its required location and type.
41. (A) complete
(B) retold
(C) achieved
(D) constructed
(E) narrated
Ans : (A)
42. (A) generating
(B) assessing
(C) realizing
(D) counting
(E) finding
Ans : (B)
43. (A) desired
(B) estimated
(C) focused
(D) verified
(E) stressed
Ans : (C)
44. (A) uplifted
(B) degraded
(C) vanished
(D) decreased
(E) enhanced
Ans : (D)
45. (A) absolving
(B) providing
(C) nurturing
(D) ignoring
(E) refusing
Ans : (B)
46. (A) impact
(B) diversify
(C) lay
(D) aggravate
(E) improve
Ans : (E)
47. (A) opportunity
(B) assessment
(C) disparity
(D) parity
(E) tax
Ans : (C)
48. (A) unless
(B) for
(C) in spite of
(D) despite
(E) by
Ans : (A)
49. (A) addresses
(B) meets
(C) poses
(D) recognizes
(E) solves
Ans : (C)
50. (A) exploring
(B) acquiting
(C) reciprocating
(D) matching
(E) solving
Ans : (D)
