English Language : Solved Paper (previous question Paper 2011)

Directions—(Q. 1 to 5) Rearrange the following five sentences (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph; then answer the questions given below them—

(1) “What is waste of my tax money”, I thought, walking past the people having free Californian Chardonnay.

(2) “Speak to her”, he said, “She's into books”.

(3) The friend who had brought me there noticed my noticing her.

(4) In late 2003, I was still paying taxes in America, so it horrified me that the US Consulate was hosting a “Gallo drinking appreciation event”.

(5) Behind them, a pianist was playing old film tunes, and a slim short woman was dancing around him.

1. Which of the following would be the FOURTH sentence ?

(A) 1

(B) 2

(C) 3

(D) 4

(E) 5

Ans : (C)

2. Which of the following would be the FIRST sentence ?

(A) 1

(B) 2

(C) 3

(D) 4

(E) 5

Ans : (D)

3. Which of the following would be the FIFTH (LAST) sentence ?

(A) 1

(B) 2

(C) 3

(D) 4

(E) 5

Ans : (B)

4. Which of the following would be the SECOND sentence ?

(A) 1

(B) 2

(C) 3

(D) 4

(E) 5

Ans : (A)

5. Which of the following would be the THIRD sentence ?

(A) 1

(B) 2

(C) 3

(D) 4

(E) 5

Ans : (E)

Directions—(Q. 6 to15) 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 Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, which came …(6)… effect in April this year, is meant to transform the education sector and take India closer to the goal of universal schooling. But with admissions to the new academic session just …(7)… the corner, it is fast becoming clear that …(8)… well-intentioned ideas into …(9)… will take some doing. For a start, the guidelines for admissions under the RTE prohibit schools from conducting any sort of student profiling. The stress on a random yet justifiable admission process means that schools will have to resort to something as quirky as a lottery system. However, leaving admission to a good school to pure …(10)… will only incentives manipulations, defeating the very essence of RTE.

The main problem facing the education sector is that of a resource crunch. The provisions for ensuring universal access to education are all very well, …(11)… we have the infrastructure in place first. Brick and mortar schools need to precede open admission and not the …(12)… way around. In that sense, legislators' assessment of ground realities is …(13)… target when they endorse the closure of tens of thousands of lowcost private schools for not meeting the minimum standards of land plot, building specifications and playground area as laid out in the RTE Act. Instead of bearing down …(14)… on private schools for failing to conform to abstract bureaucratic criteria, efforts to bring about universal education should focus on upgrading and expanding the existing government school infrastructure to accommodate all. Only then can we ensure the much-needed supply-demand …(15)… in the education sector.

6. (A) with

(B) for

(C) on

(D) into

(E) in

Ans : (D)

7. (A) around

(B) near

(C) into

(D) about

(E) reaching

Ans : (A)

8. (A) forming

(B) translating

(C) having

(D) taking

(E) framing

Ans : (B)

9. (A) affect

(B) ideas

(C) practice

(D) concept

(E) procedure

Ans : (C)

10. (A) benefit

(B) merit

(C) chance

(D) basis

(E) method

Ans : (C)

11. (A) unless

(B) until

(C) executed

(D) provided

(E) exercised

Ans : (D)

12. (A) other

(B) any

(C) two

(D) differ

(E) after

Ans : (A)

13. (A) on

(B) of

(C) often

(D) taken

(E) off

Ans : (E)

14. (A) soft

(B) more

(C) less

(D) only

(E) hard

Ans : (D)

15. (A) need

(B) equilibrium

(C) expectation

(D) attempt

(E) aspects

Ans : (B)

Directions—(Q. 16 to 25) 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 letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (E). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.)

16. The President has denied (A) / that the economy is in recession (B) / or was go into one (C) / despite a spate of downcast reports. (D) No error (E)

Ans : (C)

17. The angry at being (A) / left out of the bonanza (B) / is palpable among (C) / employees of the organization. (D) No error (E)

Ans : (E)

18. His comments came after (A) / the research group said that its (B) / consumer confidence index were (C) / slumped to its lowest level. (D) No error (E)

Ans : (C)

19. If all goes well, (A) / the examination scheduled for next month (B) / is all set to be completely free (C) / from annoying power cuts and disruptions. (D) No error (E)

Ans : (A)

20. There are just too few trains (A) / for the ever-grow (B) / number of passengers (C) / in the city. (D) No error (E)

Ans : (B)

21. The buzz at the party was (A) / that a famous (B) / filmstar and politician, would (C) / probable drop by for a while. (D) No error (E)

Ans : (D)

22. The Opposition disrupted proceedings (A) / in both Houses of Parliament (B) / for the second consecutive day (C) / above the plight of farmers in the country. (D) No error (E)

Ans : (D)

23. In response to the growing crisis, (A) / the agency is urgently asking for (B) / more contributions, to make up for (C) / its sharp decline in purchasing power. (D) No error (E)

Ans : (E)

24. The tennis player easy through (A) / the opening set before her opponent, (B) / rallied to take the final two sets (C) / for the biggest victory of her young career. (D) No error (E)

Ans : (A)

25. Aggression in some teenage boys (A) / may be linkage to overly (B) / large glands in their brains, (C) / a new study has found. (D) No error (E)

Ans : (B)

Directions—(Q. 26 to 35) 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.

A new analysis has determined that the threat of global warming can still be greatly diminished if nations cut emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases by 70% this century. The analysis was done by scientists at the National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). While global temperatures would rise, the most dangerous potential aspects of climate change, including massive losses of Arctic sea ice and permafrost and significant sea-level rise, could be partially avoided.

“This research indicates that we can no longer avoid significant warming during this century,” said NCAR scientist Warren Washington, the study paper's lead author, “But, if the world were to implement this level of emission cuts, we could stabilize the threat of climate change”, he added." Average global temperatures have warmed by close to 1 degree Celsius since the pre-industrial era. Much of the warming is due to human-produced emissions of greenhouse gases, predominantly carbon dioxide. This heat-trapping gas has increased from a pre-industrial level of about 284 parts per million (ppm) in the atmosphere to more than 380 ppm today. With research showing that additional warming of about 1 degree C may be the threshold for dangerous climate change, the European Union has called for dramatic cuts in emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

To examine the impact of such cuts on the world's climate, Washington and his colleagues ran a series of global studies with the NCAR - based Community Climate System Model (CCSM). They assumed that carbon dioxide levels could be held to 450 ppm at the end of this century. In contrast, emissions are now on track to reach about 750 ppm by 2100 if unchecked. The team's results showed that if carbon dioxide were held to 450 ppm, global temperatures would increase by 0.6 degrees Celsius above current readings by the end of the century. In contrast, the study showed that temperatures would rise by almost four times that amount, to 2.2 degrees Celsius above current readings, if emissions were allowed to continue on their present course. Holding carbon dioxide levels to 450 ppm would have other impacts, according to the climate modelling study.

Sea-level rise due to thermal expansion as water temperatures warmed would be 14 centimetres (about 5.5 inches) instead of 22 centimetres (8.7 inches). also, Arctic ice in the summertime would shrink by about a quarter in volume and stabilize by 2100, as opposed to shrinking at least three-quarters and continuing to melt, and Arctic warming would be reduced by almost half.

26. Why has the European Union called for dramatic cuts in carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions ?

(A) As global warming is not an issue of concern

(B) As the temperatures may rise almost by an additional one degree and this may lead to severe climate change

(C) As the NCAR has forced the European Union to announce the cuts

(D) As all the nations have decided to cut emissions of carbon dioxide

(E) None of these

Ans : (B)

27. What would not be one of the impacts of cutting greenhouse gas emissions ?

(A) Temperatures will stop soaring

(B) Ice in the Arctic sea would melt at a slower pace

(C) The rise in sea level would be lesser

(D) All of the above would be the impact

(E) None of these

Ans : (D)

28. What would be the impact of unchecked greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions ?

(A) The temperature would rise from the current temperature by 2.2 degrees Celsius

(B) The sea-level would rise by about 5.5 inches

(C) The arctic ice would stabilize by 2100

(D) The arctic ice would reduce by one-fourth

(E) None of these

Ans : (A)

29. What can be the most appropriate title of the above passage ?

(A) A study of the rise in water level

(B) A study of rise in temperatures

(C) A study of the effects of greenhouse gas emissions

(D) A study of the Arctic region

(E) A study of change in seasons

Ans : (C)

30. Which of the following statements is true in context of the passage ?

(A) At present the carbon dioxide emission is about 284 ppm

(B) The carbon dioxide emissions will be about 450 ppm at the end of this century if unchecked

(C) The carbon dioxide emission was about 380 ppm during the pre-industrial era

(D) The carbon dioxide emissions will be about 750 ppm at the end of this century if unchecked

(E) None of these

Ans : (B)

31. What does the scientist Warren Washington mean when he says “we could stabilize the threat of climate change” ?

(A) Climate change can be stopped completely

(B) Climate change can be regularized

(C) Climate change and its effects can be studied extensively

(D) The ill-effects of the change in climate can be minimized

(E) None of these

Ans : (D)

32. Why did Washington and his colleagues conduct a series of studies ?

(A) Because they realized that the temperature increase was almost about 1 degree

(B) So that they could stabilize the climate change

(C) So that they could help the European Union in cutting the carbon dioxide emissions

(D) Because they found out that the greenhouse gas emissions could be cut by 70%

(E) None of these

Ans : (E)

33. What would be the impact of holding the carbon dioxide level at 450 ppm at end of this century ?

(1) Global temperatures would increase by 0.6 degrees Celsius.

(2) Arctic warming would be reduced by half.

(3) Thermal expansion will stop completely.

(A) Only (1)

(B) Only (1) and (2)

(C) Only (2) and (3)

(D) All the three (1), (2) and (3)

(E) None of these

Ans : (B)

Directions—(Q. 34 to 37) Choose the word which is most similar in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage—

34. DRAMATIC

(A) unprecedented

(B) thrilling

(C) spectacular

(D) effective

(E) feeble

Ans : (D)

35. SHRINK

(A) contract

(B) physician

(C) wither

(D) shrivel

(E) reduce

Ans : (E)

36. PREDOMINANTLY

(A) clearly

(B) aggressively

(C) mainly

(D) firstly

(E) faintly

Ans : (C)

37. MASSIVE

(A) tall

(B) tough

(C) total

(D) little

(E) severe

Ans : (C)

Directions—(Q. 38 to 40) Choose the word which is most opposite in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

38. SIGNIFICANT

(A) substantial

(B) miniscule

(C) incoherent

(D) unimportant

(E) irrelevant

Ans : (D)

39. OPPOSED

(A) resistant

(B) against

(C) favouring

(D) similar

(E) agree

Ans : (D)

40. DIMINISHED

(A) created

(B) rose

(C) increased

(D) lessen

(E) finished

Ans : (B)

Directions—(Q. 41 to 45) Which of the phrases (A), (B), (C) and (D) given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold in the sentence to make it grammatically correct ? If the sentence is correct as it is given and no correc tion is required, mark (E) as the answer.

41. Although scared of heights, she gather all her courage and stood a top the 24-storey building to participate in the activities.

(A) gathered all her courage

(B) gathered all courageous

(C) gather all courageous

(D) is gathered all courage

(E) No correction required

Ans : (A)

42. Naturally, with everything gone so well for them, it was time for celebration.

(A) go so well

(B) going so well

(C) gone as well

(D) going as well

(E) No correction required

Ans : (B)

43. The ban was imposed by the state's commercial taxes department last Friday after protests by a certain community, which had threat to burn cinema halls screening the controversial movie.

(A) had threats of burning

(B) had threated to burn

(C) had threatened to burn

(D) had threatened to burning

(E) No correction required

Ans : (C)

44. Rakesh, an avid football player who captained his team in school and college, will inaugurate the match tomorrow in Pune.

(A) will be inaugurate

(B) is inauguration

(C) will inaugurating

(D) is inaugurate

(E) No correction required

Ans : (E)

45. At a musical night organized for them, the artistic side of the doctors came as forward, as they sang beautifully and made the evening truly memorable.

(A) come forward

(B) come to the fore

(C) came to the forth

(D) came to the fore

(E) No correction required

Ans : (D)

Directions—(Q. 46 to 50) 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.

46. Behaving in a …… and serious way, even in a …… situation, makes people respect you.

(A) calm, difficult

(B) steady, angry

(C) flamboyant, tricky

(D) cool, astounding

(E) silly, sound

Ans : (A)

47. Alongwith a sharp rise in ……, a recession would eventually result in more men, women, and children, living in ……

(A) crime, apathy

(B) fatalities, poor

(C) deaths, slums

(D) unemployment, poverty

(E) migrations, streets

Ans : (D)

48. The government has …… to provide financial aid to the ones …… by severe floods in the city.

(A) desired, troubled

(B) promised, havoc

(C) failed, affected

(D) wanted, struck

(E) decided, ill

Ans : (C)

49. An airplane with …… passengers on board made an unscheduled …… as the airport to which it was heading was covered with thick fog.

(A) irritable, slip

(B) faulty, stop

(C) variety, halt

(D) tons, wait

(E) numerous, landing

Ans : (C)

50. Deemed universities …… huge fees, but have not been successful in providing …… education to our students.

(A) collect, maintaining

(B) pay, better

(C) ask, good

(D) charge, quality

(E) demand, quantitative

Ans : (D)