SAI VIDYA EDUCATION

SAI VIDYA
EDUCATION

English Sectional Test 2

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English Language
Q. (1 15): Read the following passage carefully and the questions
given below it. Certain words/ phrases are given in bold to help you
locate them while answering some of the questions.

Chinas rising power is based on its remarkable economic

success. Shanghais overall economy is currently growing at around
13%per year, thus doubling in size every five or six years. Everywhere
there are start-ups, innovations, and young entrepreneurs hungry for
profits. In a series of high level meetings between Chinese and African
officials, the advice that the African leaders received from the Chinese
was sound, and more practical than they typically get from the World
Bank. Chinese officials stress the crucial role of public investments,
especially in agriculture and infrastructure, to lay the basis for private
sector-led growth. In a hungry and poor rural economy, as China was in
the 1970s and as most of Africa is today, a key starting point is to raise
farm productivity. Farmers need the benefits of fertilizer, irrigation and
high-yield seeds, all of which were a core part of Chinas economical
takeoff. Two other equally critical investments are also needed: roads
and electricity, without which there cannot be a modern economy.
Farmers might be able to increase their output, but it wont be able to
reach the cities, and the cities wont be able to provide the countryside
with inputs. The government has taken pains to ensure that the
electricity grids and transportation networks reach every village in
China. China is prepared to help Africa in substantial ways in
agriculture, roads, power, health and education. And that is not an
empty boast. Chinese leaders are prepared to share new high-yield rice
varieties, with their African counterparts and, all over Africa, China is
financing and, constructing basic infrastructure. This illustrates what is
wrong with the World Bank. The World Bank has often forgotten the
most basic lessons of development, preferring to lecture the poor and
force them to privatize basic infrastructure, which is untenable, rather
than to help the poor to invest in infrastructure and other crucial
sectors. The Banks failure began in the early 1980s when under the
ideological sway of then American President and British Prime Minister
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it tried to get Africa and other poor regions to cut back or close down
government investments and services. For 25 years, the bank tried to
get governments out of agriculture, leaving impoverished peasants to
fend for themselves. The result hits been a disaster in Africa, with farm
productivity stagnant for decades. The bank also pushed for
privatization of national health systems, water utilities, and road and
power networks, and has grossly under financed these critical sectors.
This extreme free-market ideology, also called structural adjustment,
went against the practical lessons of development successes in, China
and the rest or Asia. Practical development strategy recognizes that
public investments in agriculture, health, education, and
infrastructureare necessary complements to private investments.
The World Bank has instead wrongly seen such vital public investments
as an enemy of private sector development. Whenever the banks
ideology failed, it has blamed the poor for corruption, mismanagement,
or lack of initiative. Instead of focusing its attention on helping the
poorest countries to improve their infrastructure, there has been a
crusade against corruption. The good news is that African governments
are getting the message on how to spur economic growth and are
getting crucial help from China and other partners that are less
wedded to extreme free-market ideology than the World Bank. They
have declared their intention to invest in infrastructure, agriculture
modernization, public health and education. It is clear the Bank can
regain its relevance only if it becomes practical once again, by
returning its focus to financing public investments in priority sectors. If
that happens, the Bank can still do justice to the bold vision of a world
of shared prosperity that prompted its creation after World War II.

Q. 1. The authors main objective in writing the passage is to

(1) make a case for the closure of the World Bank since it promotes US
interests over those of other countries. (2) illustrate how China can
play a more concrete role in Africa.
(3) criticize the World Bank for playing a crucial role in Chinas
development but neglecting Africa.
(4) recommend that China adopt the guidelines of the World Bank to
sustain growth.
(5) use Chinas success as an example of the changes required in
World Bank ideology.
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Q. 2. What advice have African leaders received from their

Chinese counterparts?
(A) Focus primarily on innovation, start-ups and urban development.
(B) To ensure all citizens benefit from economic development,
investment in crucial sectors should come from the government, not
the private sector.
(C) Improve agricultural output through government investment to
stimulate economic growth.

(1) None
(2) Only (C)
(3) Only (B)
(4) Both (A) & (B)
(5) None of these

Q. 3. What effect has the World Bank policy had on African

nations?
(1) The African government has restricted private sector investment in
agriculture.
(2) Africa has focused more on health and education rather than on
agriculture.
(3) The agriculture sector in these countries is not as productive as it
could be.
(4) US and Britain have volunteered substantial aid to Africa as Africa
has complied with World Bank ideology.
(5) None of these

Q. 4. What is the difference in the Chinese and World Bank

approach to development?
(1) Unlike the World Bank, China favors the public sector and restricts
private sector participation in crucial sectors.
(2) Contrary to Chinas strategy of dependence on the private sector,
the World Bank pressurizes governments to take the lead in investing
in agriculture.
(3) While the World Bank has focused on agriculture, Chinas priority
has been rooting out corruption so that investment in infrastructure is
utilized appropriately.
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(4) The Chinese government has retained control over essential

services like transport while the World Bank favors private sector
involvement.
(5) None of these

Q. 5. What is Chinas view in the development of the

transportation and power networks?
(1) Development in these sectors is not as important as investing in
agriculture.
(2) Resources need to be diverted from the rural to the urban areas to
meet the needs of the growing population in cities.
(3) The government should be solely responsible for developing these
services so all citizens have access to them.
(4) It is more important to develop and maintain transportation
networks and power grids in rural areas.
(5) None of these

Q. 6. Which of the following cannot be said about structural

adjustment?
(1) It is the World Banks free market ideology adapted by Asian
countries.
(2) Under this strategy public sector investment in priority sectors is
discouraged.
(3) As a development strategy it has failed in Africa.
(4) With this strategy there has been a lack of adequate investment in
critical sectors.
(5) It is an ideology advocated by the World Bank which needs to be
modified to facilitate economic growth.
Q. 7. Which of the following is NOT true in the context of the
passage?
(A) Chinas involvement in Africa so far has been restricted to advising
its leaders.
(B) The World Bank was created by the US and Britain for the sole
purpose of furthering their interests.
(C) Chinas economy was once in the same state as many African
countries are today.

(1) None
(2) Only (B)
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(3) Only (A)

(4) Both (A) & (B)
(5) None of these

Q. 8. What has/have been the outcome/s of Shanghais

economy prospering?
(A) The World Bank has changed its development strategy.
(B) Chinas importance globally has been enhanced.
(C) Rural areas are being neglected to promote development of cities.

(1) Only (B)

(2) Both (A) & (B)
(3) Both (B) & (C)
(4) All (A), (B) & (C)
(5) None of these

Q. 9. Why is the author optimistic about Africas future?

(1) The World Bank has committed itself to invest huge sums in Africas
development.
(2) Africa has decided to adopt a structural adjustment ideology which
has benefited many nations.
(3) Africa has committed itself to adopting Chinas strategy for
economic growth.
(4) China has urged the World Bank to waive the interest on its loans to
Africa.
(5) None of these

Q. 10. What advice has the author given the World Bank?
(1) Support Chinas involvement in developing Africa
(2) Reduce the influence of the US and Britain in its functioning
(3) Adopt a more practical ideology of structural adjustment
(4) Change its ideology to one encouraging both public and private
sector investment in basic infrastructure
(5) Focus on fighting corruption rather than interfering in the
governance of developing countries

Q. (11 13): Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME in
meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
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Q. 11. sway
(1) fluctuate (2) influence (3) govern (4) dependence (5) unsteady

Q. 12. core
(1) centre (2) heart (3) adequate (4) intermediate (5) essential

Q. 13. stress
(1) highlight (2) strain (3) taxing (4) tension (5) emphasis

Q. (14 15): Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in

meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

Q. 14. untenable
(1) viable (2) unsound (3) consistent (4) superior (5) attractive

Q. 15. empty
(1) foil (2) objective (3)meaningful (4) occupied (5) intelligent

Q. (16 20): Which of the phrases 1), 2), 3) and 4) given below
should replace the underlined phrase given in the following
sentences to make the sentence grammatically correct? If the
sentence is correct as it is and there is no correction required,
mark 5, ie No correction required as the answer.

Q. 16. The minimum age criterion shall be less to sixty years to

allow more senior citizens to avail of the benefits of the
scheme.
(1) should be lowered
(2) should be lower
(3) being lesser
(4) must be lessen
(5) No correction required
Q. 17. The latest study by Nasscom indicates possibly short of
five lakh qualified engineers in the IT industry.
(1) the possible shortage off
(2) possibly short by
(3) possibility of shortage
(4) a possible shortage of
(5) No correction required
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Q. 18. China has to be prepared to meet many age-related

social and financial challenges in the coming years.
(1) is been preparing
(2) was prepared
(3) have been prepared
(4) has preparations
(5) No correction required

Q. 19. It is necessary to ascertain that we can do to attract

investment to the manufacturing sector.
(1) how we can do
(2) what we can do
(3) more can be done
(4) that has been done
(5) No correction required

Q. 20. Despite all my efforts I could not prevail him to attend

next weeks conference.
(1) was unable to prevail
(2) cannot prevail for
(3) could not prevail on
(4) am not able to prevail with
(5) No correction required

Q. (21 25): In each of the following sentences there are two

blank spaces. Below each five pairs of words have been
denoted by numbers 1,2, 3, 4 and 5. Find out which pair of
words can be filled up in the blanks in the sentence in the
same sequence to make the sentence meaningfully complete.

Q. 21. The Chairman in his speech stated the ______ in company

profits was ____ to team building.
(1) incline, owing
(2) rise, liable
(3) slump, accountable
(4) surge, due
(5) plunge, response
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Q. 22. The main _____ of Healthcare reforms is ____ medical care

to every citizen.
(1) purpose, available
(2) cause, providing
(3) challenge, accessing
(4) assurance, qualified
(5) focus, extending

Q. 23. Being ____ of how he wanted his career to progress, he

began discussing his ______ with senior colleagues.
(1) convinced, misconduct
(2) unsure, options
(3) unresolved, aspirations
(4) practical, intentions
(5) spontaneous, future

Q. 24. Experts feel that the amendment to the Act will

adversely ____ private sector ____ in infrastructure
development.
(1) effect, participation
(2) facilitate, claim
(3) influence, involvement
(4)measure, investment
(5) expedite, stake

Q. 25. His absence at the crucial meeting cannot be ____ as he

____ the country at important international forum.
(1) helped, represents
(2) condoned, participates
(3) permitted, engages
(4) sanctioned, governs
(5) forgiven, promote

Q. (26 30): 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.
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(A) In fact, today, social entrepreneurship is no different from starting a

profit-motivated company.

(B) The major challenge they face is employee selection and retention.

(C) For decades social development in India meant charity.

(D) However, the challenges social organizations experience are

tougher.

(E) This is because while volunteering for social work is not new,
attracting talented people and tapping their potential at lower costs is
difficult.

(F) In recent years, however, economic changes have brought business

sense and professionalism to the sector.

Q. 26. Which of the following should be the FIFTH sentence in

the paragraph?
(1) A (2) B (3) C (4) D (5) E

Q. 27. Which of the following should be the SIXTH (LAST)

sentence in the paragraph?
(1) B (2) C (3) D (4) E (5) F

Q. 28. Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence

in the paragraph?
(1) B (2) C (3) D (4) E (5) F

Q. 29. Which of the following should be the FIRST sentence in

the paragraph?
(1) A (2) B (3) C (4) D (5) E

Q. 30. Which of the following should be the THIRD sentence in

the paragraph?
(1) A (2) B (3) C (4) D (5) E

Answers
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Q. 1. (5)

Q. 2. (5)

Q. 3. (3)

Q. 4. (5)

Q. 5. (4)

Q. 6. (1)

Q. 7. (4)

Q. 8. (1)

Q. 9. (3)

Q. 10. (4)

Q. 11. (2) Sway means to persuade somebody to believe something or

do something. Its Synonym is influence.

Q. 12. (5) core here means essential (important)

Q. 13. (1) stress here means to highlight (is verb) something i.e. to
show the importance
of something/somebody especially so that people give it more
attention.

Q. 14. (1) untenable means that cannot be defended against attack or

criticism. Its antonym is viable.
Viable means that can be done, that will be successful or capable of
developing and surviving independently.
eg- If there was delay then the rescue plan would cease to be viable.

Q. 15. (3) empty here means without any meaning or not meaning
what is said. Its antonym is meaningful. meaningful means serious and
important.
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eg. These statistics are meaningful.

Q. 16. (1) Should is used to show necessity or compulsion or give a

suggestion. Age should be lowered to sixty years here is a suggestion.

Q. 17. (4) Possibly is an adverb that is used to say that something

might exist or happen or be true but you are not certain about it.
eg. This news can be possibly true. Possible is an adjective used with a
noun.

Q. 18. (5)

Q. 19. (2) that is used to relate something to another thing stated.

Here sense of interrogation is indicated so what should be used (What
can be done to attract investment?)

Q. 20. (3) prevail on is a phrasal verb which means to persuade

somebody to do something

Q. 21. (4) Surge means a sudden increase in something. There was an

increase in the company profits due to team building

Q. 22. (5) focus means to show interest in or pay a lot of attention to

something and extending means. expanding or to provide more

Q. 23. (2) Unsure means uncertain/not being confident in something

eg. I am unsure of the success of this project.

Q. 24. (1) effect means result or a change that is caused in something

due to an action or something else.
The act will have an adverse (opposite) effect on the participation of
private sector in infrastructure projects.
Participation means to take part in something.

Q. 25. (1) cannot be helped means it is not possible to avoid

something. (The persons absence cannot be avoided as he represents
the country at international forum.)

Q. 26. (2)
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Q. 27. (4)

Q. 28. (5)

Q. 29. (3)

Q. 30. (1) The sequence is CFADBE.