IBPS Specialist officer English

SET - 01
Directions (51-60): 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 its the blank
appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.
(51) over the world, rights related to information'
technology that are already legally recognised are daily
being violated. (52) in the name of economic advancement,
political stability or for personal greed and interests.
Violations of these rights have (53) new problems in human
social systems, such as the digital divide, cybercrimedigital security and privacy concerns, all of which have (54)
peoples lives either directly or Indirectly;
It is important that countries come up with the guidelines
for action to (55) the incidences of malicious at
tacks on the confidentiality, integrity and availability of
electronic data and systems, computer related crimes,
content related offenses and violations of intellectual property
rights. (56)threats to critical Infrastructure and
national interests arising from the use of the internet for
criminal and terrorist activities arc of growing (57). The harm
incurred to businesses, governments -and individuals in those
countries in which the internet is user! (58). is gaining in (59)
and importance, while, in other countries: cybercrime
threatens the application of information and communication
technology for government services, health care, trade, and
banking. As users start losing (60) in on
line transactions and business, 'the opportunity costs may
become substantial.
51. (1) Entire
(2) Lot (3) Great (4) All
(5) Much
52. (1) scarcely

54.(1) distanced (2) affected

(4) advanced (5) cropped
55.(1) engage (2) conflict

(4) risen

63. Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence

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

(5) stopped

(3) exaggerated

(3) war (4) combat

(2) More (3) Addition (4) Beside

57.(1) concern
(5) matter

62. Which of the following should be the FIRST sentence

after rearrangement ?
(1)A
(2)B (3) C
(4) D
(5)E

(2) whether (3) and (4) for (5) hardly

53.(1) created (2) bent (3) pressured

56. (l)But

to form a meaningful paragraph; then answer the questions

given below them.
(A) It is no wonder that a majority of these excluded and
low achievers come from the most deprived sections
of society.
(B) They are precisely those who are supposed to be
empowered through education.
(C) With heightened political consciousness about the
plight of these to-be-empowered people, never in the
history of India has the demand for inclusive
education been as fervent as today.
(D) They either never enrol or they drop cut of schools at
different stages during these eight years.
(E) Of the nearly 200 million children in the age group
between 6 and 14 years, more than half do not
complete
eight years of elementary education.
(F) Of those who do complete eight years of schooling,
the achievement levels of a large percentage, in
language and mathematics, is unacceptably low.
61.Which of the following should be the THIRD sentence
after rearrangement?
(1)A
(2)B
(3) C (4) D
(5)F

(2) nature (3) pattern

65. Which of the following should be the FIFTH sentence

after rearrangement?
(1) F (2) E (3) D (4) B (5) A

(5) struggle

Directions (66-70) : 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.

(5) further

(4) important

66. Facts spoke louder than words at the Company meeting

where the Director tried to paint a rosy picture of the
Company's financial health.
(1) Too many facts related-to the good financial health of the
Company were presented during the meeting.
(2) The Company was not doing well financially despite the
Director saying otherwise.
(3) The Director was very loud while presenting the facts
about the Company's financial health during the meeting.

58.(1) really (2) figuratively (3) widely (4) never (5) tandem
59. (l)fear

(2) days

(3) positivity (4) width

(5) scope

60.(1) tracks (2) measure (3) confidence (4) mind (5)grip

Directions (61 - 65): Rearrange the following six sentences
(A), (B), (C),(D), (E) and (F) in the proper sequence

(4) The facts stated in the meeting supported the Director's

claims of good financial health of the Company.
(5) The Company was doing exceptionally well, financially,
despite the Director/ saying otherwise.

72. The website, which does not (1)/ accept advertisements

and is funded (2)/ entirely by donations, describes itself (3)/ as
the fifth most popular website on the planet. (4) / No error (5)
73. As sharing crime statistics for (1)/ the year 2011. the
Commissioner admitted that (2)/ there had been an undue
delay in (3)/ the setting up of an anti-narcotics cell. (4)/ No
error (5)

67. By initiating the fight with Sakshi in office, Kajal had

killed the goose that lay the golden egg.
(1) By initiating the fight with Sakshi in office. Kajal had left
her speechless.
(2) Kajal had ruined her chances of success by picking a fight
with Sakshi in office.
(3) Kajal had exacted her revenge by picking a fight with
Sakshi in office.
(4) Kajal had hurt Sakshi by picking a fight with her in office.
(5) By initiating the fight with Sakshi in office. Kajal had
missed getting the golden egg.

74. The Moon may be the best place (1) / to look for aliens as
their (2) / footprints on their surface would (3)/ last far longer
than radio signals. (4)/ No error (5)
75. The judge advised the government to (1)/ have metered
auto rickshaws across the state while (2)/ recounting his
personal experience where an auto rickshaw driver (3)/ made
him to wait and also demanded
Rs.100. (4)/ No error (5)

68. I let the chips fall where they may and do not worry too
much about what I want to do next.
(1) I take calculated risks.
(2) I let others do what they want and do not interfere.
(3) I am clumsy.
(4) I do not try to control my destiny.
(5) I prefer chaos to calm.

76. The Company aims (1)/to near]y double (2) / its revenues
on the back (3)/ of a strongest product pipeline. (4)/ No error
(5)
77. The woman that had (1)/ kidnapped a child has now (2)/
been apprehended and is being (3)/ held in the city's jail. (4)/
No error (5)

69. After trying hard to convince Narendra to change his

ways, Raman realised that a leopard cannot change its spots.
(1) Raman realised that Narendra would never change his
ways.
(2) Raman realised that Narendra was helpless.
(3) Raman realised that he was not good at convincing others.
(4) Raman realised that Narendra would change his ways
soon.
(5) Raman realised that someone else was forcing Narendra to
act in a certain way.

78. Rose growers in (1)/ the city are waking up (2)/ to the
benefits (3)/ of collective action. (4)/ No error (5)
79. The Minister will have (1)/ a tough task on his hands (2)/
where three different recommendations (3)/ for this year's rate
reach his desk. (4)/ No error (5)
80. The current economic scenario (1)/ could possibly undo
(2)/ the growth that followed (3)/ the economic liberalisation
of 1991. (4)/ No error (5)

70. Before starting work on cur new project, our mentor told
us to not count our chickens before they hatched.
(1)Our mentor warned us against being over confident about
achieving success.
(2) Our mentor asked us to meticulously count the chicken
first and then the eggs.
(3)Our mentor warned us against being over-enthusiastic in
implementing the project.
(4) Our mentor warned us about all the challenges that lay
ahead of us.
(5) Our mentor informed us about the prizes that we would get
on succeeding.

81.In a first of its kind stuffy, (1)/ a team of scientists have

tried to (2)/ "grow" new stem cells in (3)/
the ear that get damage with age. (4)/ No error (5)
82. If successful, the research could (1)/ pave the way towards
(2)/ the prevention in untimely deaths
(3)/ due to fatal illnesses. (4)/ No error (5)
83. The Ministry has directed Banks (1)/ to do away with their
(2)/ separate promotion policies, a
. move (3)/ strongly opposed by the officers' unions. (4)/ No
error (5)

Direction (71-85) : Read each sentence to find out whether

there is any grammatical error or idiomatic 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). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any).

84. After a complaint was filed, (1)/ police teams was given
the pho- to graph (2)/ of the accused from
the CCTV footage (3)/ recorded at the hotel. (4)/ No error (5)

71. The third season of (1)/the popular television show will

ends (3)/ on a grand note with (3)/ celebrities dancing and
having fun. (4)/ No error (5)

number of people, and may even be considered a necessary

first step on India's innovation path, they barely graze the
surface of what innovation can accomplish. That is, innovation
is capable of bringing about complete paradigm shifts and
redefining the way we perceive and interact with the world.
Take the cell phone, for example : it revolutionized
communication in a previously inconceivable way.
provided consumers with a product of unprecedented value
and created an entirely new market. The cell phone
was a result of years of directed, intentional innovation efforts
and large investments, and would not have ever
been created if the people responsible simply set out to make
the existing telephone cheaper and more accessible to
all.
While jugaad and frugal innovation may be indicative of
the Indian potential for innovativeness. this potential is not
utilised or given opportunity to flourish due to the lack of an
enabling culture.
India's many diverse and complex needs can be met only
through systematic innovation, and major shifts
have to first take place-in our educational institutions,
government policies and commercial firms in order for such
an innovation-enabling culture to come about .
The one thing that India's innovation theorists have not
said is that the absence of a culture of innovation
is intrinsically linked to many of the most intractable
problems facing India as a nation. These include poor
delivery of government services, inadequate systems of
personal identification and the absence of widely available
financial services for rural poor, health and sanitation failures.
This list can go on. Cumulatively, the inability
of India as a nation, society and economy to adequately
provide for its own population no longer reflects a failure
of implementation, but rather of a failure of innovation, for
there are not immediately-available off-the-shelf solutions that
would make it possible for these grand challenges facing India
to be redressed. Rather, we need to look at these intractable
problems from the more sophisticated and empowering "lens
of innovation, for them to begin to be solved.
86. Which of the following depict/s the growing importance of
innovation in India?
(A) Increased investment in research
(B) Initiation of Government backed for innovation
(C) Increase in number of conferences arranged and articles
written on innovation.
(1) Only(B)
(2) Only (A) and(B)
(3) Only (C) (4)
Only (B) and (C)
(5) All (A), (B) and (C)

85. Activists opposing the rail project said (1)/ that the eleven
new flyovers to be built (2)/ would practically ring (3)/ the
death knell for the city. (4)/ No error (5)
Directions (86-100): 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.
In India, innovation is emerging as one of the most
important rubrics in the discourse on how to bring about
greater and more consistent economic and social development.
One observes steadily growing investments in R & D
across the country, the setting up of national and state
innovation bodies, as well as the introduction of government
sponsored innovation funds. There have also been several
conferences and debates on innovation and how to best
promote and accomplish it in India, and a number of articles
on the subject, written for newspapers and magazines, as well
as more informal platforms like online forums and blogs.
Academic engagement and Indian authorship on the subject
have also exploded in the last five years. Despite
widespread agreement on the importance of innovation
in'India, there are wide gulfs between different conceptions of
innovation and the path India should take towards securing
benefits through investments in innovation.
Many Indian conversations around innovation begin by
talking about jugciad that uniquely Indian
approach to a temporary fix when something complex, like an
automobile or a steam engine stops working. However, many
observers have pointed out that while jugaad is certainly
innovative, it is a response to the lack of an innovation
culture-more a survival or coping mechanism at a time of need
than a systematic methodology to effectively address a wideranging, complex set of problems.
Another specifically Indian approach to innovation that has
entered into wide currency of late is so-called
'frugal innovation,' deemed by many to be the most
appropriate for the Indian context. In its midterm assessment
of the 11th five-year plan, the Planning Commission stressed
the need for innovation in India in order to 'accelerate its
growth and to make growth more inclusive as well as
environmentally sustainable.'The document went on to
say that 'India needs more frugal innovation that produces
more frugal cost products and services that are afford-
able by people at low levels of incomes without
compromising the safety, efficiency, and utility of the
products. The country also needs processes of innovation that
are frugal in the resources required to produce the innovations.
The products and processes must also have frugal impact on
the earth's resources.'
Two people formulated a similar theory called the Morefrom-Less-for-More (MLM theory of Innovation) theory of
Innovation, which advocates a focus on innovations that allow
for more production using fewer resources but benefit more
people. Under this rubric come products that arc more
affordable versions of existing technologies. While both frugal
innovation and the MLM theory are certainly valuable in
terms of bringing affordable products and services to a greater

87. Which of the following best describes the MLM theory of

innovation?
(1) Maximise output by using least number of resources and
benefiting a small number of people.
(2) Maximise resource utilization and cost thereby benefit
maximum number of people.
(3) Minirnise output and resource utilisation, yet benefit the
maximum number of people.
(4) Benefit most number of people through least usage of
resources and maximum output.

(5) Minimum usage of earth's natural resources.

(5) Benefit most number of people through maximum usage of

resources and minimizing cost.

Directions (94-98): Choose the word/group of words

which is most similar in meaning to the word/ group
of words printed in bold as used in the passage.
94. REDRESSED
(1) addressed (2) equalized (3) restored
(4) redone
(5) rearranged

88. Which of the following is possibly the most appropriate

title for the passage?
(1) Innovation At Its Best
(2) India And The Elixir Called Innovation
(3) Innovation Around The World vis-a-vis India And Other
Neighbouring Countries
(4) Worldwide Developments In Innovation
(5) Innovation -The History

95. CURRENCY
(1) notes (2) usage

(3) money (4) cash

(5) value

96. INTRINSICALLY
(1) internally (2) whole-heartedly (3) fundamentally
virtually (5) unavoidably

89. What tone is the author employing in the entire passage to

get his message across?
(1) Pessimistic (2) Sarcastic (3) Urgent (4) Informative
(5) Dubious

97. INDICATIVE
(1) causative
(2) forthcoming (3) verbal
(5) suggestive

90. Why, according to the author, is India unable to adequately

provide for its people?
(1) Failure to implement schemes and initiatives meant for the
Indian populace.
(2) Absence of regulatory authorities to oversee the
implementation process.
(3) Failure to innovate in order to find solutions.
(4) Lack of governmental schemes and Initiatives to redress
the challenges faced by India.
(5) Hesitance of the Indian people in trying out different
schemes provided by the Government for upliftment.

(4)

(4) abstract

98. COMPROMISING
(1) co-operating with (2) reducing the quality (3)
hampering the progress
(4) conciliating in order to (5) adjusting for the better
Directions (99-100) : Choose the word/group of words which
is most opposite in meaning to the word/group of words
printed in bold as used in the passage.
99. LACK
(1) presence (2) sufficient (3) charisma (4) adequacy
(5) dearth

91.Why, according to some people, is Jugaad' not the answer

to India's problems?
(1) Many a times this methodology backfires leading to further
complications.
(2) 'Jugaad provides only cheap solutions to all problems.
(3) It is reactive and hot a proactive and organised method of
finding solutions to problems.
(4) It can provide solutions to only simple problems and not
complex ones.
(5) None of these

100. INCONCEIVABLE
(1) visible (2) truthful
(5) complex

(3) incredible

(4) apparent

SET 02
Directions (51-60) : 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/phrases are suggested, one of which fits the blank
appropriately. Find out the appropriate word/ phrase in each
case.
Depending upon how humanity chooses to use it,
technology can enhance or 511 any aspect of life.
The realm of interpersonal communication generally feels this
impact first.
Many times throughout history, humanity has changed its
modes of communication as society itself
has (521. As people began to spread out geographically, verbal
communication turned to writing to make
it more (53). Then, people invented ways of carrying both
conversation and written communication between their
communities to keep in (54) with one another as travel became
simpler. With the advent of the telephone, people began to
wonder if picking up the receiver to call one another would

92.Which of the following is/are true about the cell phone?

(A) The innovation of the cell phone required Investment of
huge capital.
(B) The cell phone, when invented was meant to be affordable
to all.
(C) The cell phone was made available to the public in a very
short time from its ideation.
(1) Only (A) (2) Only (A) and (C) (3) Only (B) and (C)
(4) Only (B) (5) All (A). (B) and (C)
93. What does the author mean by 'frugal impact on the
earth's resources' as given in the passage?
(1) The damage to the environment should be assessable.
(2) More consumption of natural resources as compared to
manmade ones.
(3)Minimum impact on the environment in terms of pollution.
(4) The impact on the environment should be such that it is
reversible.

(F) At the end of the last century we had lost 3 out of 8

tiger species.

eventually (55) out other forms of communication. So far, as

families and friends have moved away from one another, the
telephone,, even its cellular form, has allowed humanity to
(56) the necessary links among its members.
Naturally, now that computers, instant and text messaging, and
other forms of communication have found their way into the
world, people not familiar with these technologies wonder
what they will do to the human race. Etiquette experts and
those raised on writing formal letters often (57) that e-mail
and text message lingo will replace the language of pen and
paper. This will not (58). and both methods of communication
can survive to enhance humans enjoyment of one another's
company if the next generation learns how to (59) both. Each
form of communication can survive with its own rules as
people learn which situations in life (60) for which level of
formality and which of the people they spend time with can
connect better with which type of language.

61.Which of the following should be the FIRST sentence after

rearrangement?
(1)A (2)B (3)C (4)D (5) E
62. Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence
after rearrangement?
(1)F
(2)D (3)C (4)E
(5) A
63. Which of the following should be the THIRD sentence
after rearrangement?
(1)A (2)B (3) C (4) D (5)E
64. Which of the following should be the FIFTH sentence
after rearrangement?
(1)A (2)B (3) F (4) D (5)E

51. (1) depressed (2) finish (3) problem (4) hinder (5)
featured
52. (1) evolved
(5) waited
53. (1) expensive
portable

65. Which of the following should be the SIXTH (Last)

sentence after rearrangement?
(1) E (2) D (3) C (4) B (5) A

(2) destroyed (3) pledged (4) extinguished

(2) subjective

(3) easier

54. (1) lines

(2) faith (3) distance

55. (1) pushed

(2) cancel (3) shells

(4) loud

(4) touch

Directions (66-70): Which of the phrases (1), (2), (3) and

(4) given below each sentence should replace the word/phrase
printed in bold in the sentence to make it grammatically
correct ? If the sentence is correct as it is given and 'No
correction is required*, mark (5) as the answer.
66. Never the one to mince words when it comes speaking his
mind, the captain criticized the hectic schedule of his
team.

(5)

(5) check

(4) try (5) turn .

56. (1) maintain (2) teleport (3) cut (4) curb

(5) regulation

57. (1) dominate (2) elate (3) worry (4) says

(5) mentioning

58. (1) agree

possible

(2) happen (3) occurred (4) exist (5)

59. (1) forms

example

(2) prove (3) accomplish

67. Indians are far more transparent than the Americans.

(1) farther (2) further more (3) greater
(4) many more
(5) No correction required
68. He will not be joining the rat race, which starts around this
time every year as the board exams draw a close.
(1) draw to close (2) drawing a closure (3) draw to a close
(4) draw a closer (5) No correction required

(4) study (5)

69. Lights will go out around the world with hundreds of

people sets to take part in the Earth Hour climate change
campaign.
(1) set to take part (2) set to be part (3) sets for taking part
(4) set for part (5) No correction required

60. (l)take (2) require (3) jump (4) stands (5) call
Directions (61-65): 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) When it comes to the number of tigers though, I think
it is too small a number representing a species.
(B) These days, everywhere I go, 1 see hoardings saying
'Just 1411 Left'.
(C) The three being, the Caspian, Balinese and Javan.
(D) Besides the small number, we are steadily losing a
few species of these animals as well.
(E) Normally, I would groan and grumble on seeing this
figure of 1411 on my shopping bills as it sounds too
much.

70. With nasty viral infections do the rounds in the city, you
should give all it takes to protect yourself.
(1) coming rounds (2) roundabout (3) doing the rounds
(4) done rounding (5) No correction required
Directions (71-75) : Each question below has two blanks,
each blank indicating that something has been omitted.
Choose the set of words for each blank which best fits the
meaning of the sentence as a whole.

personnel enjoyed space and freedom (3)/ to design new

products benefiting society. (4)/ No error (5)

71. Governments do not want to take a decision and resort to

soft-pedaling, delay tactics andcollusion, hoping that the
judiciary will_____in to relieve them of the ______of
decision- making.
(1) come enlightenment (2) vouch trouble (3) barge
pleasure (4) step burden (5) vote task

82. Though the book is not yet available on India, (1)/

previews published in this country suggest (2)/ that it is a
complex study of (3)/ an extremely complex personality. (4)/
No error (5)

72. The most important factor is the_____of a wealthy Indian

middle class which can now _____to send their children
abroad for education.
(1) emergence afford (2) advent focus (3) decline
manage (4) rise wish (5) perception go

83. Conventionally speaking, (1)/ men are supposed to earn

while (2)/ women are supposed to sit at home, (3)/ do
housework and discipline the children. (4)/ No error (5)
84. The movement, which aims to (1)/ raise awareness about
climate change hopes (2)/ to bring people together to think
about (3)/ what they can do for reduce harmful pollution. (4)/
No error (5)

73. Crores of public money is____on parks in the city and yet
most of them are out of ____for the public.
(1) invested limits (2) spent bounds (3) bet reach
(4) put areas (5) made boundaries

85. Workers battling to restore (1)/ power supply to the

damaged reactors (2)/ have successful in (3)/reaching up to
the second reactor. (4)/ No error (5)

74. Rules are for those who can- not ____them and not for the
rich and influential who can ____to ignore them.
(1) follow demand (2) set opt (3) break suggest (4)
find ask (5) challenge choose

Directions (86-100) : 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.
India's colleges and universities, with just a few
exceptions, have become large, under-funded, ungovernable
institutions. At many of them, politics has intruded into
campus life, influencing academic appointments and decisions
across levels. Under investment in libraries, information
technology, laboratories, and classrooms makes it
very difficult to provide top-quality instruction or engage in
cutting edge research. The rise in the number of parttime
teachers and the freeze on new full-time appointments in many
places have affected morale in the academic profession. The
lack of accountability means that teaching and research
performance is seldom measured. The system provides few
incentives to perform. Bureaucratic inertia hampers change.
Student unrest and occasional faculty agitation disrupt
operations. Nevertheless, with a semblance of normality,
faculty administrators are able to provide teaching, coordinate
examinations, and award degrees.
Even the small top tier of higher education faces serious
problems. Many IIT graduates, well trained in
technology, have chosen not to contribute their skills to the
burgeoning technology sector in India. Half
leave the country immediately upon graduation to pursue
advanced study abroad - and most do not return. A stunning
86 per cent of students in science and technology fields from
India who obtain degrees in the United States do not return
home immediately following their study. Another significant
group, of about 30 per cent, decides to earn MBAs in India
because local salaries are higher and are lost to science and
technology. A corps of dedicated and able teachers work at the
IITs and IIMs, but the lure of jobs abroad and in the private
sector makes it increasingly difficult to retain the best and
brightest to the academic profession.

75. Experts cannot____enough on the benefits of____more

fruit and vegetables in your daily diet.
(1) pressure involving (2) strain adding (3) emphasize
contributing (4) stress - including
(5) state mixing
Directions (76-85): Read each sentence to find out whether
there is any grammatical error or idiomatic 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). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any).
76. The actor, who plays (1)/ a detective in the film, alleged to
have pushed the director (2)/ when he asked him to get into his
costume (3)/ as it was getting late. (4)/ No error (5)
77. Manish was advised an operation (1)./ more than thirty
years back, but (2)/ due to his financial condition he (3)/
could not undergoes the procedure. (4)/ No error (5)
78. India's largest corporate house may be (1)/ force to review
the selection parameters after (2)/struggling to shortlist
potential candidates (3)/ for the past eight months, (4)/ No
error (5)
79. This questions force us (1)/ to face the unpleasant truth
that (2)/ the policies of social justice have (3)/ reached a dead
end. (4)/ No error (5)
80. Many of the young people (1)/ studying abroad agreed that
(2)/ returning home was always (3)/ an attractive option. (4)/
No error (5)
81. The government needs to provide (1)/ specific regulations
that create an environment (2)/ where trained scientific

(1) They are of the opinion that India has the best system of
higher education in the world.
(2) They believe that it is the responsibility of private
institutions to bring about a change in higher education.
(3) They are unaware of the new developments in the field of
higher education.
(4) They are unwilling to invest money in higher education
despite getting sufficient grants for the purpose.
(5) They do not think innovatively in the direction of bringing
about a change in higher education and are stuck in a rut.

Few in India are thinking creatively about higher

education. There is no field of higher education research.
Those in government as well as academic leaders seem
content to do the "same old thing." Academic institutions and
systems have become large and complex. They need good
data, careful analysis, and creative ideas. In China,
more than two-dozen higher education research centres, and
several government agencies are involved in higher education
policy for optimum planning.
India has survived with an increasingly mediocre higher
education system for decades. Now as India strives to compete
in a globalised economy in areas that require highly trained
professionals, the quality of higher education becomes
increasingly important. So far, India's large educated
population base and its reservoir of at least moderately welltrained university graduates have permitted the country to
move ahead. But the competition is fierce. China in particular
is heavily investing in improving its best universities with the
aim of making a small group of them world class in the
coming decade, and making a larger number internationally
competitive research universities.
To compete successfully in the knowledge-based
economy of the 21st century. India needs enough
universities that not only produce bright graduates for export
but can also support sophisticated research in a number of
scientific and scholarly fields and produce at least some of the
knowledge and technology needed for an expanding economy.
How can India build a higher education system that will
permit it to join developed economies? The newly emerging
private sector in higher education cannot spearhead academic
growth. Several of the well endowed and effectively managed
private institutions maintain reasonably high standards,
although it is not clear whether these institutions will be able
to sustain themselves in the long run. They can help produce
well-qualified graduates in such fields as management, but
they cannot form the basis for comprehensive research
universities. This sector lacks the resources to build the
facilities required for quality instruction and research in the
sciences. Most of the private institutions do not focus on
advanced training in the sciences.
Only public universities have the potential to be truly
world class institutions. But these institutions
have not been adequately or consistently supported. The top
institutions require sustained funding
from public sources. Academic salaries must be high enough
to attract excellent scientists and scholars. Fellowships and
other grants should be available for bright students. An
academic culture that is based on merit-based norms and
competition for advancement and research funds is a
necessary component, as is a judicious mix of autonomy to do
creative research and accountability to ensure productivity.
World class universities require world class professors and
students and a culture to sustain and stimulate them.

87. Which of the following is/are the problem/s faced by

Indian colleges and universities?
(A) Political interference in decision making
(B) Lack of funding necessary for improvement in classrooms,
libraries, etc.
(C) Hiring of teachers on a part-time basis only.
(1) Only (A) (2) Only (B) and (C) (3) Only (C) (4) Only
(A) and (B) (5) All (A), (B) and (C)
88. Which of the following steps has China taken to improve
higher education?
(A) Their education policy formation involves many
governmental bodies for thoughtful planning."
(B) They are sanctioning grants to their teachers to facilitate
the improvement process.
(C) They are investing in universities to make them
internationally competitive.
(1) Only (B) (2) Only (A) and (C) (3) Only (C) (4) Only
(B) and (C)
(5) All (A), (B) and (C)
89. How, according to the author, has India progressed despite
a mediocre higher education system?
(1) By borrowing ideas as well as technology from the west.
(2) By convincing the world that it is more knowledgeable
than it actually is .
(3) On the basis of its fairly competent graduates and a large
number of educated population.
(4) Because of its sound and progressive economic policies.
(5) On the basis of the goodwill accumulated by it over the
years,
90, Which of the following is possibly the most appropriate
title for the passage?
(1) Literacy in India
(2) State of Higher Education in India
(3) Top Universities of India
(4) Educational Institutes in India
(5) Comparative Study of Higher Education in India and
China
91. Which of the following problems do top institutes in India
face in terms of contribution to academics?
(A) The teachers of these institutes get enticed by the openings
in foreign countries.
(B) Many graduates from these institutes find opportunities
abroad and never return.

86. What, according to the author, is the shortfall of our

government officials as well as academicians when it comes to
higher education?

95. CONTENT
(1) unhappy (2) matter (3) enclosure (4) satisfied
substance

(C) Graduates from these institutes who do not migrate to

foreign countries are unfit for teaching in these institutes.
(1) Only (A) (2) Only (C) (3) Only (B) and (C) (4)
Only (A) and (B) (5) All (A), (B) and (C)

96. GRANT
(1) agreement (2) funding (3) allow

92. Which of the following is true, in the context of thepassage?

(A) Private universities are well equipped to produce
graduates who can conduct research.
(B) India needs more universities that can cater to research
studies in different scientific fields.
(C) India should completely stop graduates from leaving the
country to pursue a career.
(1) Only (B) (2) Only (A) and (B) (3) Only (A) (4) Only
(B) and (C) (5) All (A), (B) and (C)

(5)

Directions : (98-100) Choose the word/group of words

which is most opposite in meaning to the word/group of
words printed in bold as used in the passage.
98. FIERCE
(1) strong
(2) weak

(3) tame

(4) scrawny

99. BURGEONING
(1) minimizing (2) growing (3) escalating
(5) easing
100. MEDIOCRE
(1) superlative (2) middle
ordinary

Directions (94-97) : Choose the word/group of words

which is most similar in meaning to the word/group of words
printed in bold ; as used in the passage.

(2) legal (3) thoughtful | (4) difficult

(4) let (5) consent

97. INCENTIVE
(1) prompt (2) discouragement (3) cash (4) margin
motivator

93. What, according to the author, is/are the step/s that can
make Indian universities world class?
(A) Students need to be given independence to conduct
research
(B) Remuneration of teachers should be increased
(C) Proper support in the form of funds should be provided to
universities
(1) Only (A) and (B) (2) Only (C) (3) All (A). (B) and (C)
(4) Only (B) and (C) (5) Only (A)

94. JUDICIOUS
(1) hard-working
shrewd

(5)

(5)

(3) average

(5) timid

(4) dwindling

(4) pleasant (5)