ENGLISH PRACTICE SHEET

READING COMPREHENSION

Directions: A set of five passages is given below. Read the passages given below and answer the questions based
on it.
PASSAGE- I
The world has come around to the view that democracy is essential for full human development. And only
education and skill development can make this possible. Democracy cannot be sustained unless the electorate is
well informed, chooses its leadership wisely, and this leadership is intellectually empowered by a multi-dimensional
intelligence. The world view of economic development has completely changed: it is no longer believed to be
driven by human labor, as Karl Marx said, or by capital, as Alfred Marshall stated, but is knowledge-driven. For
application of knowledge, innovations are required, and for more original research, we need many more young
minds at the frontier. Knowledge is gender neutral, and hence the 21st century offers a great opportunity to level
the gender inequity of the last thousand years in India.
The youth require a mental faculty endowed with multi-dimensional intelligence. It is not adequate to foster
cognitive intelligence alone — as is being done in India's educational campuses today — but to also develop the
other dimensions of intelligence: emotional, social, moral, spiritual, environmental, and innovational. India's vast
youth population is its demographic potential dividend, but only if equipped and enabled with this seven-
dimensional intelligence. The nation must, therefore, structure a national education policy for the youth so that the
seven dimensions of intelligence can be manifested in every young man and woman. Only then will the
demographic dividend not be wasted. These seven dimensions constitute the ability of a person to live a productive
life and for the national good. Hence, a policy for India's youth has to be structured within the implied parameters
of these dimensions.
1. According to the passage, democracy cannot be sustained in a country without:
(a) Economic Development (b) Education and Skill Development
(c) Rural and Urban Development (d) Technological Development

2. An empowered intellectual leadership involve:

(a) Logical Intelligence (b) Interpersonal Intelligence
(c) Multi Dimensional Intelligence (d) Intra-personal Intelligence\

3. The youth of India is being taught to learn which of these dimensions of intelligence?
(A) Emotional and Social (B) Social and Moral (C) Spiritual (D) Environmental and Innovational
(a) Only A and B (b) Only B and C (c) Only C and D (d) All of the above

4. The 21st century education system believes in imparting knowledge:

(a) In a gender biased way. (b) In a gender neutral manner.
(c) On the basis of sex discrimination. (d)On the preferences based on gender.

5. What is required to optimally utilize the demographic dividend of India?

(a) An economic development policy for the country.
(b) An Industrial policy for the industrial growth.
(c) A structured national education policy for the youth.
(d) Aji economic reform for structural change.

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PASSAGE- II
Steel mills and cement factories have been equated by governments traditionally. When urban people get a lot
richer, millions of farmers remain mired in poverty. A dramatic shift in world economic policy has been caused by
the recession in 2008, fears of food shortages and a rethinking of antipoverty priorities favoring agriculture.
This happened before in 1970s when the food prices went up and then there was a real concern that the planet is
not able to produce enough grains and meat for the rising population. Investment was plowed by the developing
world's governments and international aid organizations and the technological advancements boosted production.
This resulted in Green revolution when food production exploded.
Later the Green Revolution was victimized by its own success. Since its peak in mid 1970s food prices plunged by
60% by the late 1980s. Other pressing needs of the poor population like healthcare and education grabbed the
attention of policy makers. Farming was constricted because of resources and investment. "Agriculture lost its
glitter' when investment on the sector sank by 3.5% by 2004. As the recipients of high growth countries like China
and India started consuming more meat, more importance was given to beef up livestock to meet their demands.
Restrictions slapped on grain exports by its major producers and panicked buying by importing countries helped
drive food prices soar by 2008. The condition was aggravated when resources and land were reallocated for cash
crops such as bio-fuels. Protests broke our fiercely across the emerging world and governments were toppled.
'Change' was also witnessed by Africa that missed out the first green revolution due to poor policies and limited
resources. Influenced by the East Asian success, African strategy was to make the farmers off their farming land to
modem jobs in factories and cities. This strategy proved to be a big blunder when the income inequality between
the rural and urban population soared and when FAO estimated that the number of poor hungry people has gone
an all time high in 2009 to more than a billion.
In India with only 40% of its fanning land irrigated, the entire economic boom is stalled by the unpredictable
monsoons. The government will have a tough time to meet its economic development target with poor monsoons
and hence the drought. Another green revolution is the need of the hour.
1. Which among the following is the reason for the major shift in the thinking of world economic policy according
to the passage?
(a) Death of millions of farmers (b) Living conditions of poor people
(c) Food shortages and recession (d)Environmental Factors

2. Why did the Green Revolution happen according to the passage?

(a) The rise in food prices and hence the inflation.
(b) Poor production of food grains due to lack of resources.
(c) Meat was not popular in many countries.
(d) Investment in agriculture and technological advancements.

3. What strategy of Africa failed its economy according to the passage?

(a) Africa not being a part of the green revolution.
(b) Poor policies and allocation of resources.
(c) Pulling off fanners to employ them in industries.
(d) Poor economic governance

4. Why is food production necessary for political stability according to the passage?
(a) Increased poverty results in economic inequality and affects the competence of the country in world
market.
(b) Inflation affects the country's economy,
(c) Fanners commit suicide and the international image of the country is spoiled.
(d) Many upheavals by affected hungry people results in social unrest.

5. What is the main purpose of the author in writing this passage?

(a) To show the importance of agriculture in a country's economy.
(b) To show the importance of agriculture and the need for another green revolution.
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 (c) To express how poor food production can fail a country by citing Africa as an example.
(d) To prove how agricultural revolution will have its own negative impact on the economy.

PASSAGE- III
According to the theories, when a businessman is an amateur, he stays cautious and is always forward to please.
The reason behind that is very simple, he wants to make the most profits and he gives undivided attention to every
detail passing under him. He prevents to not let anything affect his business. He maintains a bonding with the each
working member and tries to be as friendly as possible. But no sooner than the business turns into a great success,
he is no longer the same man as he used to be. He forgets to be considerate and unpretentious. The possession of
fortune overtakes his morale. For a specialist in his profession, this is not expected. It is important to give human
relations more value above anything else. But most of the professional men fail to eliminate this mistake.
Few years back, I went to meet a well-known lawyer in Delhi. Before he even looked into my case, he asked me
what my business was. He was more interested in my income rather than in solving my problem. His prime concern
was not in how much he could help me but how much he could get out of me. The result was he got nothing and
his character made him lose his credibility, at least in all my acquaintances soon as I got away from his office.
Our world is full of people like that; taking, self-absorbed. So, the population who tries to serve genuinely has an
advantage. They are having very less competition. These people need not to worry what they can grab for future,
they just have to put themselves in the place of others and serve them honestly. Indeed, honesty pays.
1. The prime concern of the professional was to find out}
(a) about his client's trouble (b) how much he could help the author
(c) how much he could get out of the author (d) what is the quickest way to solve the author's query

2. The words considerate and unpretentious in the passage means ___

(a) attentive and blunt (b) assertive and sharp
(c)thoughtful and unassuming (d) respectful and modest

3. The author got away from the professional's office

(a) with respect for his professional proficiency
(b) with an appreciation for the his openness
(c) with a feeling of irrelevance towards the professional
(d) with a feeling of lack in morale towards the professional

4. What is the advantage that a person has who serves unselfishly?

(a) Me is different from the majority of selfish crowd.
(b) He does not face much competition so he needs not to bother about his future.
(c) He is very practical.
(d) He faces less competition and can grab much more than the others.

5. According to the author:

(a) Amateurs are better businessmen than professionals
(b) Professionals give more value to human relations above anything else
(c) Our world is full of self-seeking people
(d) In this selfish world serving genuinely does not make rich

PASSAGE- IV
With the Land Acquisition Bill in the limelight, nobody is talking about the real reforms that farmers need. The
unseasonal rains over the last few years have resulted in enormous loss of crop output across many States of North
India. This has shifted attention from the issue of land acquisition to other important problems faced by farmers in
India. While it is important to debate the various clauses of the Land Acquisition Bill — what might benefit the
fanners and what goes against their interests — it is also important for the government to pay attention to the
bigger problems that Indian farmers face. The findings from a survey conducted by the Centre for the Study of
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Developing Societies in late 2013 among 5,480 fanners across 18 States in the country present a rather dismal
picture of agriculture today. Most conversations with farmers reveal how income returns are very low, irrigation
facilities are inadequate and supporting infrastructure is largely absent or are of poor quality. Besides, crops also
get destroyed either by drought or by floods. It is no wonder that the survey indicates that more than one-fifth (22
per cent) of the farmers have begun to dislike farming. The scarcity of financial resources for fanning is another
major issue. Unsurprisingly, the study indicated that one-third of the fanners had taken a loan in the last five years
for meeting personal or farming needs. For non-farming purposes, most of them had to depend on either friends or
moneylenders.
1. Which of the following statements is best supported by the passage?
(a) Income returns are adequate in fanning business.
(b) Government is providing enough irrigation facilities to the farmers.
(c) Land Acquisition bill is not the only reason of concern for farmers.
(d) Loans are making the farmers financially independent.

2. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage?

(a) Farmers are only concerned about the Land Acquisition Bill.
(b) Fanning has become a very less lucrative work for fanners.
(c) Land Acquisition Bill will make the farmers financially strong.
(d) Most of the fanners are in favor of the Land Acquisition Bill.

3. Which one of the following weakens the conclusion drawn in the above passage?
(a) Both financial and infrastructural factors affect the business of fanning.
(b) For arranging financial resources, both for farming and personal purpose, fanners have to depend upon
outsider's money.
(c) Fanners are able to earn sufficient income from farming to meet their basic requirements.
(d) Irrigation facilities along with other infrastructural facilities are inadequately provided to the farmers.

4. What does the term 'dismal picture of agriculture' means in the passage?
(a) Agriculture sector is prospering day by day.
(b) Favorable factors are helping agriculture sector to grow.
(c) There is a sudden boom in the agriculture sector.
(d) Agriculture sector is going through a very bad phase these days.

5. According to the passage, which of the following resource is scarce in farming sector?
(a) Natural Resource (b) Financial Resource
(c) Technological Resource (d) Human Resource

PASSAGE- V
With the passage of a tough new law to deal with black money kept abroad—the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign
Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Bill, 2015—and introduction of the Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Bill
in the Lok Sabha on the last day of the budget session, the government has demonstrated that it has the political
will to address the menace of black money. The Black Money Bill, which seeks to unearth unaccounted funds and
assets stashed by Indians abroad and provides for 120 per cent tax and penalty in addition to a 10-year jail term,
will become law after getting assent of the president, having already been passed by both Houses of Parliament.
The government has also armed itself to attach domestic property of equivalent value of such offenders.
Crucially, the Lok Sabha Speaker had notified the Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets (Imposition of Tax) Bill as
a Money Bill. This meant that after the Lok Sabha had approved the bill, the Rajya Sabha where the government is
in a minority had to act on it within 14 days of receiving it, or it would have been deemed to have been passed by
that House. If the Rajya Sabha makes changes or rejects a Money Bill, the Lok Sabha has the power to accept or not
accept the recommendations and it will be considered passed.

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It is now for the government to ensure that the new laws are implemented transparently and not applied
selectively through misuse of the implementation machinery. For the first time in decades, the assault on black
money is well on course. This apparent stranglehold on the black money menace must not be allowed to be
sabotaged. Indeed, after this assault on black money held abroad begins to bear fruit, due attention needs to be
given to tax evasion within the country which is an equally big menace.
1. According to the passage, the Black Money Bill has been passed to:
(a) Distribute the Black money amongst the citizens of the country.
(b) Use the black money for the development of the country.
(c) Dig the unaccounted funds and assets stored by Indians abroad.
(d)Bring equality of income all over India.

2. With reference to the passage, consider the following statements:

(i) After a Bill gets approved in Lok Sabha, it is deemed to have been passed by Rajya Sabha.
(ii) If Rajya Sabha makes any changes in the bill previously passed by the Lok Sabha; then the Lok Sabha has the
power to accept or not accept the recommendations and it will be considered passed.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only (i) (b) Both (i) and (ii) (c) Only (ii) (d) Neither (i) nor (ii)

3. What does the term 'Assault on Black Money' means in the passage?
(a) Utilising the black money for economic growth.
(b) Keeping an eye on the black money stored by the Indians abroad.
(c) A raid on the black money stored by the Indians abroad.
(d) Transferring the black money from to India abroad.

4. What punishment will be given to the people caught with black money stored abroad?
(a) 120% tax & penalty
(b) 10-year jail term
(c) 120% tax & penalty or 10-year jail term
(d) 120% tax & penalty and 10-year jail term

5. According to the passage, other than penalty and jail term, what can be further demanded from the people
who will get caught with black money stored abroad?
(a) Attach domestic property of equivalent value to the black money stored.
(b) Detach domestic property of equivalent value to the black money stored.
(c) Attach domestic income of equivalent value to the black money stored.
(d) Attach domestic liability of equivalent value to the black money stored.

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ANSWERS WITH EXPLANATIONS
PASSAGE-I
1. (b)
Explanation: The passage clearly mentions that the democracy cannot be sustained in a country without
education and skill development.
2. (c)
Explanation: It is clearly stated in the passage that in a democratic country the leadership should be
intellectually empowered by a multi-dimensional intelligence.
3. (d)
Explanation: It has been clearly mentioned in the second paragraph that India's educational campuses today
aims to develop the other dimensions of intelligence in youth which are: emotional, social, moral, spiritual,
environmental, and innovational.
4. (b)
Explanation: It has been clearly mentioned in the last line of the first paragraph that knowledge is gender
neutral, and hence the 21st century offers a great opportunity to level the gender inequity of the last thousand
years in India.
5. (c)
Explanation: It has been clearly mentioned in the second paragraph that the nation must structure a national
education policy for the youth so that the seven dimensions of intelligence can be manifested in every young
man and woman.

PASSAGE-II
1. (c)
Explanation: The second line of the passage clearly states that a dramatic shift in world economic policy has
been caused by the recession in 2008, fears of food shortages and a rethinking of antipoverty priorities favoring
agriculture.
2. (b)
Explanation: It has been clearly stated in the second paragraph of the passage that the Green Revolution
happened in 1970s when the food prices went up and then there was a real concern that the planet is not able
to produce enough grains and meat for the rising population.
3. (c)
Explanation: The second sentence of the second last paragraph clearly states that influenced by the East Asian
success, African strategy was to make the farmers off their farming land to modem jobs in factories and cities.
4. (d)
Explanation: The last sentence of the third paragraph clearly mentions that protests broke fiercely across the
emerging world and governments were toppled in 2008 when food production became deficient.
5. (b)
Explanation: The passage clearly talks about the importance of agriculture and the need for another green
revolution.

PASSAGE-III
1. (c)
Explanation: In the second paragraph author clearly states about the lawyer's intention.
2. (d)
Explanation: The first two options (a) & (b) are not the exact meaning of the words whereas (c) & (d) are
factual meaning of the given words but (d) suits the best according to the passage.

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3. (d)
Explanation: The last section of the section paragraph mentions author got away with the feeling of contempt
towards the lawyer.
4. (b)
Explanation: It can be observed in the last paragraph about the author's perspective towards the unselfish
service.
5. (c)
Explanation: After reading the whole passage the option (C) becomes very clear and first line of last paragraph
also signals the point.

PASSAGE-IV
1. (c)
Explanation: The whole passage is talking about the issues farmers are facing other than the clauses of Land
Acquisition Bill and hence, it is not the only reason of concern for farmers,
2. (b)
Explanation: The passage clearly mentions that farmers are starting to dislike farming as an occupation
because of low income returns, inadequate irrigation facilities and poor quality of supporting infrastructure.
3. (c)
Explanation: The passage clearly mentions that farmers are not able to earn sufficient income and therefore,
have to depend on loans and moneylenders money.
4. (d)
Explanation: The word 'dismal' means something causing unhappiness or a sad feeling which implies that
agriculture is going through a very poor state.
5. (b)
Explanation: The passage clearly states that the scarcity of financial resources for farming is another major
issue.

PASSAGE-V
1. (c)
Explanation: The first paragraph clearly mentions that the Black Money Bill seeks to unearth unaccounted
funds and assets stashed by Indians abroad.
2. (b)
Explanation: The second paragraph mentions that "if the Lok Sabha had approved the bill, the Rajya Sabha
where the government is in a minority had to act on it within 14 days of receiving it, or it would have been
deemed to have been passed by that House. If the Rajya Sabha makes changes or rejects a Money Bill, the Lok
Sabha has the power to accept or not accept the recommendations and it will be considered passed". Hence,
both the statements are true.
3. (c)
Explanation: 'Assault' means a sudden attack and hence, in the passage it means a raid on the black money
stored abroad by the Indians.
4. (d)
Explanation: The first paragraph clearly states that the Indians having black money stored abroad will be
punished with 120 per cent tax and penalty in addition to a 10-year jail term.
5. (a)
Explanation: The last lines of the first paragraph clearly state that the government has also armed itself to
attach domestic property of equivalent value of such offenders.
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