Mixed English Questions for Mains Exam— Set 183

Directions: In each of these questions, a paragraph is given that has a blank in it. Out of the given options, only one fits in with the context of the paragraph. Select that as the answer.

1. Nine years is perhaps too short a time for deep wounds to heal, but it is enough time to begin to introspect. However, going by the polarised views around the anniversary of the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war, there are few signs of that. For the Tamils who gathered in Mullaitivu district in the Northern Province, it was a day to remember loved ones killed in those savage final days of the war that ended on May 18, 2009. _________________________.
   Even this year, national leaders saluted the soldiers for their sacrifice, while offering nothing but silence to the civilians who were caught in the conflict.
   The two disparate narratives of trauma and triumph can never meet, and in such a context, the chances for fruitfully negotiating this hard-won peace will remain slim.
   Time will only make it harder for the two communities to resolve the ethnic division that has outlived the war.
   The southern Sinhalese political leadership, on the other hand, makes it a point to celebrate “war heroes” around the same time, hailing their efforts to bring peace.
   None of the above
   Option
   The original passage talks about Sri Lanka’s civil war that ended in 2009. The second statement talks about ‘polarized views’ and hints at two different viewpoints. The third statement talks about one of the views and hence ideally, the blank should the other side of the coin.
   
   Option D is correct clearly as it conveys the opposing viewpoint.
   
   
    



2. Any incremental spending focus should shift to the construction sector — rural housing and infrastructure. _________________________. Even with a lower share in GDP, it employs more workers than manufacturing.
   In addition, the labour force used in construction is largely unskilled or semi-skilled.
   Higher allocation and steps to boost this sector are needed as it is likeliest to absorb labour after agriculture.
   This is a key characteristic of the rural labour force.
   These measures will make good economic and political sense.
   None of the above
   Option B
   The original passage talks about spending more on the construction sector. The statement after the blank continues in terms of the positive tone and states a reason for spending more on this sector. Thus, we need a statement that justifies spending more on construction.
   
   
   Option B is correct. It connects with the previous sentence due to use of the words ’this sector’ and also matches well with the following sentence.
   
    



3. Surprisingly, the Survey is not too concerned about surplus financials savings flowing out from banks to the capital market. _________________________. A concern everywhere now is that as the market appears to be overvalued and is due for a correction. This could lead to significant losses for households that have moved to such riskier avenues to earn higher returns relative to deposit rates which are falling.
   This is interesting because at present, our investment and savings rates are both declining.
   Anecdotally, a high current account deficit can create a different set of problem when savings trails investment.
   This has been taken to be a positive fallout of demonetisation where funds have been directed to the market.
   Now, these returns are linked to interest rates prevailing in the banking system.
   None of the above
   Option C
   The statement before the blank talks about the Survey not being too concerned about a large number of people moving towards capital markets. Ideally, the next statement should provide a reason for the same. We look for something that is positive in tone.
   
   Option C is a perfect fit. It continues the previous statement by providing a reason for people moving towards capital markets.
   
    



4. Demonetisation and GST have definitely added transparency to the tax system and resulted in more taxpayers. _________________________. Otherwise there is no explanation for lower GDP growth in FY17 and FY18 as monsoons have been good, inflation low, crude oil price benign, CAD low, fiscal balances under control, rupee stronger, foreign flows higher and interest rates lower.
   The Government should set realistic and credible fiscal targets for FY19 rather than target a low number which cannot be achieved.
   GDP growth in FY16 was 8 per cent which came down to 7.1 per cent in FY17 and could go up to 6.75 per cent in FY18 and say, 7.5 per cent in FY19.
   But the disruption caused to small businesses and agriculture has been significant.
   Major reforms undertaken by the Government have cleansed the system for sure and made it more efficient.
   None of the above
   Option C
   The statement before the blank talks positively about Demonetisation and GST. However, the one after the blank is negative in tone and tries to justify the lower GDP numbers. We need to find a statement that ‘bridges’ the gap between the two perspectives.
   
   Option C is correct as this provides a different viewpoint and a possible reason for the low GDP numbers.
   
    



5. As Frederick Nietzsche said, there are no facts, only interpretations. This would just about be the case when one reads the Economic Survey for FY18. _________________________ Hence, the so-called facts are available to all but the conclusions drawn change after reading the report.
   The Survey is a detailed update on all aspects of the economy and does not work with data which is not known.
   The Survey is evidently sanguine about the future to the extent of being gung-ho provided some glitches are addressed with expediency.
   The Survey takes the unconventional route of interpreting inflation on an average basis and arguing that CPI of 3.3 per cent for the first 9 months is lower than the 4 per cent target.
   It does turn around several views which were held before the report came out.
   None of the above
   Option A
   The passage begins by stating that there can be different explanations for the same event and then connects this with the Economic Survey. The line after the blank talks about how different conclusions may be drawn from the same facts.
   
   Option A fits in well. It states that the survey uses facts which are common knowledge. This matches well with the next statement and the overall theme of the passage.
   
    


Directions: Given below is a set of statements, not necessarily in the correct order. You are required to identify the correct sequence from the options given below and mark that as your answer.

A. American President Donald Trump last week announced that his administration would soon impose tariffs on the import of steel and aluminium into the U.S. for an indefinite period of time.

B. The European Union, one of the largest trading partners of the U.S., has since vowed to return the favour through retaliatory measures targeting American exporters.

C. After all, they had learned their lessons from the global trade war of the 1930s which deepened and prolonged the Great Depression, or so it was thought.

D. The EU is expected to come out with a list of over 100 items imported from the U.S. that will be subject to scrutiny.

E. World leaders did well to avoid protectionist trade policies in the aftermath of the Great Recession of 2008.


6. Which of the following can be the first statement after re-arrangement?
   A
   B
   C
   D
   E
   Option E
   The correct sequence is E-C-A-B-D.
   
    



7. Which of the following can be the second statement after re-arrangement?
   A
   B
   C
   D
   E
   Option C
   
   
    



8. Which of the following can be the third statement after re-arrangement?
   A
   B
   C
   D
   E
   Option A
   The correct sequence is E-C-A-B-D.
   
    



9. Which of the following can be the fourth statement after re-arrangement?
   A
   B
   C
   D
   E
   Option B
   
   
    



10. Which of the following can be the fifth statement after re-arrangement?
    A
    B
    C
    D
    E
    Option D