Practice Test

1) What do you understand by the 'instrumentalist' view of education ?

2) According to the passage, education must be respected in itself because

3) Education is a process in which

4) With reference to the passage,consider the following statements :
(I) When children are denied education, adult society does not act on behalf of them.
(II) Right to Education as a law cannot be enforced in the country.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

5) According to the passage, what could be the traditional obstacles to the education of girls ?
(I) Inability of parents to fight a legal battle when the Right to Education is denied to their children.
(II) The traditional way of thinking about girls' role in society.
(III) The prejudice against the intellectual potential of girls.
(IV) Improper system of education.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below :

6) On the basis of the passage, consider the following statements :
(I) Right to Education is a legal right and not a fundamental right.
(II) For realising the goal of universal education, the education system in the country must be made identical to that of developed countries.
Which of the statements given above is/ are correct ?

7) Which of the following statements conveys the key message of the passage ?

8) Which one of the following statements conveys the inference of the passage ?

9) Which of the following statements best describe / describes the thought of the writer ?
(I) A moral act calls for using our discretion.
(II) Man should react to a situation immediately.
(III) Man must do his duty.
(IV) Man should be able to defy convention in order to be moral.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below :

10) Which of the following statements is the nearest definition of moral action, according to the writer ?

11) The passage contains a statement "lets himself be swept along like a log of wood by a current." Among the following statements, which is/are nearest in meaning on this ?
(I) A person does not use his own reason.
(II) He is susceptible to influence / pressure.
(III) He cannot withstand difficulties / challenges.
(IV) He is like a log of wood.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

12) What does the author imply by "creative society" ?
(I) A society where diverse art forms and literary writings seek incentive.
(II) A society where social inequalities are accepted as the norm.
(III) A society where a large number of contradictions are recognised.
(IV) A society where the exploited and the oppressed groups grow conscious of their human rights and upliftment.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

13) What according to the passage are the manifestations of social movements ?
(I) Aggressiveness and being incendiary
(II) Instigation by external forces
(III) Quest for social equality and individual freedom.
(IV) Urge for granting privileges and self-respect to disparaged sections of the society.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

14) With reference to the passage, consider the following statements :
(I) To be a creative society, it is essential to have a variety of social movements.
(II) To be a creative society, it is imperative to have potential contradictions and conflicts.
Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

15) Consider the following three statements :
(I) Only students can participate in the race.
(II) Some participants in the race are girls.
(III) All girl participants in the race are invited for coaching.
Which one of the following conclusions can be drawn from the above statements ?

16) According to the passage, why is a serious tension perceived between democracy and development by the detractors of democracy ?

17) According to the passage, what should be the ultimate assessment / aim / view of development ?

18) What does a "constitutive" connection between democracy and development imply ?

19) According to the passage, what does "depending of democracy" mean in the Western context ?

20) Greater democratization in India has not necessarily led to

21) What is the "silent revolution" that has occurred in the Indian democratic process ?

22) According to the passage :
(I) The objective of inclusive growth was laid down by the founding fathers of the nation.
(II) Need of the hour is to have an enabling Government.
(III) The Government should engage in maximum interference in market processes.
(IV) There is a need to change the size of the Government.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?

23) According to the passage, the strategy of inclusive growth can be effected by focusing on

24) Why is the State unable to deliver "all that is needed " ?
(I) It does not have sufficient bureaucracy.
(II) It does not promote inclusive growth.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below :

25) What constitutes an enabling Government ?
(I) A large bureaucracy.
(II) Implementation of welfare programmes through representatives.
(III) Creating an ethos that helps individual enterprise.
(IV) Providing resources to those who are underprivileged.
(V) Offering direct help to the poor regarding basic services.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below :

26) What is the essential message being conveyed by the author of the passage ?

27) The passage mentions that "this world is evidently not meant for them". It refers to people who
(I) seek freedom from foreign domination.
(II) live in starvation and misery.
(III) become revolutionaries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

28) Consider the following assumptions :
(I) A country under foreign domination cannot indulge in spiritual pursuit.
(II) Poverty is an impediment in the spiritual pursuit.
(III) Subject peoples may become other-worldly.
With reference to the passage, which of the above assumptions is/ are valid ?

29) The passage thematically centres on

30) According to the passage, the torture of the mind and spirit is caused

31) Agricultural collectivities such as group based farming can provide the rural poor
(I) Empowerment.
(II) Increased agricultural productivity.
(III) Safeguard against exploitative markets
(IV) Surplus production of agricultural commodities.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

32) What does the author imply by "gender impact" ?

33) Consider the following assumptions :
(I) It is imperative for transition economies to have agricultural collectivities.
(II) Agricultural productivity can be increased by group approach to farming.
With reference to the above passage, which of these assumptions is/are valid ?

34) Which of the following conditions of growth can add to vulnerability ?
(I) Where the growth occurs due to excessive exploitation of mineral resources and forests.
(II) When the growth brings about a change in humankind's creative potential.
(III) When the growth is envisaged only for providing houses and social security to the people.
(IV) When the growth occurs due to emphasis on farming only.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

35) What does low-carbon growth imply in the present context ?
(I) More emphasis on the use of renewable sources of energy.
(II) Less emphasis on manufacturing sector and more emphasis on agriculture sector.
(III) Switching over from monoculture practices to mixed farming.
(IV) Less demand for goods and services.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

36) Which of the following conditions is/are necessary for sustainable economic growth ?
(I) Spreading of economic prosperity more.
(II) Popularising / Spreading of adaptive technologies widely.
(III) Investing on research in adaptation and mitigation technologies :
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

37) Which of the following inferences can be made from the passage ?
(I) Rainfed crops should not be cultivated in irrigated areas.
(II) Farming under water-deficient areas should not be a part of development strategy.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

38) Which one of the following statements constitutes the central theme of this passage ?

39) With reference to the passage, consider the following statements :
(I) It is desirable that the impact of Foreign Direct Investment should be pro-competitive.
(II) The entry of foreign investors invariably leads to the inflated prices in domestic markets.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

40) According to the passage, how does a foreign investor dominate the relevant domestic market ?
(I) Multinational companies get accustomed to domestic laws.
(II) Foreign companies establish joint ventures with domestic companies.
(III) Affiliates in a particular market / sector lose their independence as their parent companies overseas merge.
(IV) Foreign companies lower the cost of their products as compared to that of products of domestic companies.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?

41) What is the inference from the passage ?

42) Which of the following statements is /are correct on the basis of information in the above passage ?
(I) Buddhist economists totally prohibit the use of non-renewable source
(II) The attitude of modern economists towards natural resources is uneconomic
(III) Complete non-violence is not possible.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :

43) The Buddhist viewpoint implies :

44) Buddhist economists are not in favour of :

45) In this passage, the author has tried to :

46) Consider the following statements :
(I) Persuasive skill-set is a prerequisite to an effective presentation.
(II) At the end of a presentation, offering small gifts to the audience by the speaker is a good strategy.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct ?

47) Consider the following statements :
(I) Innate stage fright of a speaker can be countered by meticulous preparation of his presentation.
(II) Confidence of a speaker is generally taken by the audience as a sign of arrogance.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct ?

48) Consider the following statements :
(I) Topic of the presentation must be of relevant interest to the audience to induce their responses.
(II) Topic of the presentation may or may not be of intimate interest to the speaker.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct ?

49) Consider the following statements :
(I) A speaker must memorize his talk so as to introduce more flexibility.
(II) A written document is more efficacious than an oral presentation as it leaves a lasting impression on the reader.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct ?

50) Consider the following statements :
(I) Presentations are not meant to change point of view of the audience about subject of the presentation.
(II) Recounting of quotations in the presentation should be avoided as it makes the presentation appear superficial.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct ?

51) Consider the following statements :
(I) One of the drawbacks of presentations is that they fails to provide a feedback from the audience.
(II) While making a presentation one should, at times, refer to his written material.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct ?

52) Consider the following statements :
(I) An effective presentation about the product of a company can help in increasing sales volumes.
(II) Impromptu presentation can leave a more forceful impact on the audience.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct ?

53) According to the author which of the following is/are consequences of water conflicts ?
(I) Trans-border conflicts between developing countries.
(II) Water bodies will remain unused and unaffected till the conflict is resolved.
(III) Water conflicts have altered the political boundaries within countries.

54) Why does the author ask readers not to view conflicts too negatively ?
(I) Most countries have survived them easily.
(II) They bring political parties together.
(III) They only affect the grassroot levels.

55) The author's main objective in writing the passage is to

56) What is the Prime Minister's advice to resolve water disputes ?

57) According to the passage, which of the following is a limitation of water resulting in disputes ?

58) According to the author, what is the major weakness of the present examination system ?

59) Which of the following factors is responsible for children's dislike of learning ?
(I) Rigid, logical, systematic organisation of syllabus.
(II) Teaching methodology which does not focus on text books.
(III) Examination pattern which rewards rote learning.

60) What is the drawback of teacher training courses ?

61) According to the author, which of the following conditions will influence India's future development ?
(I) Replacing traditional educational systems with globally accepted foreign systems
(II) Improving employment conditions of teaching staff
(III) Getting global accreditation for Indian college courses

62) What will be the impact of having an interactive syllabus ?

63) The author has quoted Jawaharlal Nehru to emphasise the point that

64) What, according to the author, is the impact of the divisive forces on our nation ?

65) "Communal loyalties" have been considered by the author as

66) The passage appears to have been written with the purpose of

67) History shows that India, which was not a political unit earlier, became so

68) Which of the following statements is/are DEFINITELY TRUE in the context of the passage ?
(I) The people of India had fought for certain values.
(II) The fight of the Indian people was for one common culture.
(III) The Indian people lacked sense of nationalism until they gained freedom.

69) Which of the following, according to the passage, was commonly applicable to both: the Maurya dynasty rule and Mughal rule ?
(I) A vast territory under governance
(II) Various independent sovereign rulers under one major ruler
(III) Lack of political unity under the common governance

70) Why do people tend to overlook the paramount importance of national interest ?
(I) Because they are unaware of the imperative need of the day
(II) Because they give undue importance to their selfish motives
(III) Because historical events force them to do so

71) The "People of India" as highlighted by the author in the last sentence of the passage, refer to

72) Transformation of our country into nationhood was possible because of
(I) people's spontaneously referring to Mahatma Gandhi as the Father of the Nation
(II) People's sense of national consciousness
(III) Generation of a high sense of dedication to the nation among the people

73) A hypothesis related to low birth weight has now been confirmed. According to this, the major reason for this state is

74) Which type of scheme indicates that there was no lack of efforts in India for the last two decades to improve the situation ?

75) According to the author,

76) Which of the following is the major reason for a large number of women in India suffering from iron deficiency ?

77) In which of the following areas is South Asia's performance better than that of sub-Saharan Africa ?

78) According to the author, the crux is

79) Which of the following was one of the measures of women's position in the home ?

80) What according to the passage is heartbreaking ?

81) The individual's decision to remain in the organisation depends on

82) Which of the following statement/s is/are true in the context of the passage ?
(I) Ability leads to performance
(II) Job satisfaction certainly leads to higher performance
(III) High anxiety adversely affects performance.

83) Which of the following combination of factors affects job performance ?

84) The task of motivating employees is difficult due to

85) According to the passage, which country has the most ambitious plan for e-governance ?

86) GovWorks is working in which of the following countries ?

87) How can India overcome low penetration of computers for e-governance ?

88) In which direction is the new wind blowing ?

89) According to the author, e-governance in India

90) According to the passage, there has been a demand for a National Judicial Commission to

91) The role and procedure of the National Commission must be spelt out clearly

92) What, according to the author, is the typical characteristic of an independent democratic country ?

93) Which of the following forms part of what the Lord Chancelor has said ?

94) Which of the following according to the author is he most welcome thing ?

95) Which of the following is one of the reasons for aviation sector performing sluggishly recently ?

96) ".... as we tighten our seat-belts and take off..." What does this signify in the context of the passage ?

97) Which of the following is not true in the context of the passage ?

98) Which of the following can be the major picture of the apex fare as inferred from the passage ?

99) Which of the following may be the result of price-cutting ?

100) With reference to the passage, consider the following statements.
Expanding human population has an adverse effect on :
(I) Spiritual fulfilment
(II) Aesthetic enjoyment
(III) Potable fresh water
(IV) Production of food and fibre
(V) Biodiversity
Which of the statements given above are correct ?

101) The passage mentions that " some people have actually been harmed by these changes". What does it imply ?
(I) The rapid expansion of population has adversely affected some people.
(II) Sufficient efforts have not been made to increase the production of food and fibre.
(III) In the short term some people may be harmed, but in the long term everyone will benefit from modifications in Earth's ecosystems.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

102) With reference to the passage, consider the following statements :
(I) It is imperative to modify the Earth's ecosystems for the well being of mankind.
(II) Technology can never replace all the goods and services provided by ecosystems.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

103) What is the crux of the passage ?

104) With reference to the passage, consider the following statements :
(I) Mussels are generally the dominant species in intertidal ecosystem.
(II) The survival of sea star is generally determined by the abundance of mussels.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

105) Which of the following is/are implied by the passage ?
(I) Mussels are always hard competitors for sea stars.
(II) Sea stars of the Pacific coast have reached the climax of their evolution.
(III) Sea stars constitute an important component in the energy flow in intertidal ecosystem.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

106) Consider the following assumptions :
(I) The food chains/ food web in an ecosystem are influenced by keystone species.
(II) The presence of keystone species is a specific characteristic of aquatic ecosystems.
(III) If the keystone species is completely removed from an ecosystem, it will lead to the collapse of the ecosystem.
With reference to the passage, which of the above assumptions is/are valid ?

107) With reference to the passage, which of the following statements is correct ?

108) Why does man introduce exotic species into new geographical areas ?
(I) To breed exotic species with local varieties.
(II) To increase agricultural productivity.
(III) For beautification and landscaping.
Which of the above statements is/are correct ?

109) How is homogenization prevented under natural conditions ?

110) How have the human beings influenced the biodiversity ?
(I) By smuggling live organisms.
(II) By building highways.
(III) By making ecosystems sensitive so that new species are not allowed.
(IV) By ensuring that new species do not have major impact on local species.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?

111) What can be the impact of invasion of exotic species on an ecosystem ?
(I) Erosion of endemic species.
(II) Change in the species composition of the community of the ecosystem.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

112) "The evolution of pesticide resistance is natural selection in action." What does it actually imply ?

113) With reference to the passage, consider the following statements :
(I) Use of chemical pesticides has become imperative in all the poor countries of the world.
(II) Chemical pesticides should not have any role in sustainable agriculture.
(III) One pest can develop resistance to many pesticides. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

114) Though the problems associated with the use of chemical pesticides is known for a long time, their widespread use has not waned. Why ?

115) How do pesticides act as agents for the selection of resistant individuals in any pest population ?
(I) It is possible that in a pest population the individuals will behave differently due to their genetic makeup.
(II) Pests do possess the ability to detoxify the pesticides.
(III) Evolution of pesticide resistance is equally distributed in pest population.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

116) What does the passage imply ?

117) What is the author's main objective in writing the passage ?

118) What impact did the economic recession of 2008 have on agriculture ?

119) Which of the following factors was/were responsible for the neglect of the farming sector after the Green Revolution ?
(I) Street and cement sectors generated more revenue for the government as compared to agriculture.
(II) Large scale protests against favouring agriculture at the cost of other important sectors such as education and healthcare.
(III) Attention of policy makers and aid organizations was diverted from agriculture to other sectors.

120) Which of the following is an adverse impact of the Green Revolution ?

121) Which of the following is true about the state of agriculture in India at present ?
(I) Of all the sectors, agriculture needs the highest allocation of funds.
(II) Contribution of agriculture to India's GDP this year would depend greatly upon the monsoon rains.
(III) As India is one of the high-growth countries, it has surplus food reserves to export to other nations.

122) Which of the following factors has not been responsible for untimely payment of NREGS wages ?

123) According to the passage, which of the following has/have been the consequence(s) of delayed wage payments ?
(I) Compensation to victimised workers has amounted to crores.
(II) Banks will no longer be entrusted with remitting wages.
(III) Regulations to ensure punctual wage payments have come into force.

124) Which of the following is not true in the context of the passage ?
(I) Workers are reluctant to open bank accounts as branches are not conveniently located.
(II) Local officials often delay wage payments in drought prone areas to benefit workers.
(III) The Government has not implemented every recommendation of the Central Employment Gaurantee Council.

125) What solution has the author suggested to expedite NREGS wage payments ?

126) What is the author's view about the government's solution to the problem of delayed wage payments ?

127) According to the author, which of the following is/are the problem/s facing India's rural population ?
(I) Unavailability of healthcare facilities.
(II) The technological advancements which have been borrowed from abroad have not been suitable adapted to the Indian scenario.
(III) Lack of awareness about the importance of utilising technology in the agricultural sector.

128) Why is there no motivation to reduce power consumption ?

129) What effect will the implementation of post harvest technologies such as cold storages have ?

130) Which of the follwing is NOT true in context of the passage ?
(I) In recent times, the benefits of science and technology have not been felt in agriculture.
(II) The current means of rural transportation are ideal ie, low cost and non-polluting.
(III) Agriculture provides livelihood to over 50 per cent of the Indian population.

131) What is the role of mobile technology in the rural economy ?
(I) It will not play a large role since the technology is largely untested.
(II) It provides opportunities for farmers manipulate commodity prices.
(III) It will largely be beneficial since such technology is cheap.

132) Which of the following is true in context of the passage ?

133) Why according to the author, is genetic modification of crops not an answer to the problem of hunger in the world ?
(I) People being highly doubtful of the long term effects of genetically modified crops, do not buy the products grown by such methods.
(II) The problem of hunger in the world is not due to inadequate production of food but due to unequal distribution of it.
(III) Many developing countries have banned genetically modified products as developed countries have been using these countries as dumping grounds for new genetically modified products.

134) The author of the given passage seems to be definitely

135) Which of the following, according to the author, is/are a result(s) of increased population in India ?
(I) Pollution
(II) Poverty
(III) Unemployment

136) Why, according to the author, has the Indian Government allotted more funds to strengthen the military forces ?

137) Why, according to the author, is India one of the favourite destinations for investment by outsourcing companies ?
(I) Shorter response time for clients.
(II) Better technical skills.
(III) Availability of cheap labour.

138) Which of the following is/are true in the context of the passage ?
(I) India leads the way in the amount invested in the development of infrastructure.
(II) Political system in India is not influenced by poverty.
(III) Indian population would increase by approximately 50 percent in the next twenty five years.

139) Which of the following is/are the facility (ies) available to MNCs investing in India ?
(I) Easy availability of land
(II) Better infrastructure than China
(III) Tax Concessions

140) Which of the following, according to the author, is a result of poverty in India ?

141) How, according to the author, can the effects of floods, famines, droughts, etc.be minimized ?

142) According to the passage, what did the scientist actually mean when he said, "IT has destroyed Indian Science" ?

143) Why does the author say that knowledge has become a commodity ?

144) Which of the following mentioned below is/are the author's suggestion/s to promote interest in Indian academia ?
(I) Research centres should adopt the corporate culture as is done in the West.
(II) Lessening the number of research grants given.
(III) Making academic salaries equivalent to those paid in IT industries.

145) Which of the following, according to the author, are factors responsible for the declining interest in scientific research ?
(I) Slower progress of work in research.
(II) Lesser monetary compensation in research related activities.
(III) Societal perception towards research.

146) Which of the following is true about the perception towards IT jobs as given in the passage ?
(I) They are physically tiring.
(II) They are considered to be managerial level jobs.
(III) They require usage of dishonest means.

147) Which of the following is suggested in the passage by which global warming can be reduced ?

148) Which of the following is not true in the context of the I given passage?
(I) Non-carbon fuels are too expensive so they should not be used.
(II) Political ignorance is one of the main reasons behind the inappropriate approach to combat global warming.
(III) The generation of energy from non-carbon sources has to be increased for significant reduction in global warming.

149) Why, according to the author, are the international negotiations barely a solution to the problem of global warming ?

150) Which challenge according to the author is not being taken seriously in the phrase "we are not taking this challenge seriously" as used in the passage ?
(I) Cutting the carbon emissions to a scale of 2.5 times in the next decade.
(II) The challenge of locating new fossil fuel reserves since the existing ones are depleting at a fast rate.
(III) To carry out technological innovations for developing non-carbon based energy resources.

151) Which of the following is true in the context of the passage ?

152) What does the author mean by the phrase 'the transformation has led to a stark financial polarization' as used in the passage ?

153) Which of the following, according to the author, has/have been responsible for the encouragement of culture of debt in the society lately ?
(I) The changing lifestyle which makes it impossible for a common man to sustain himself without debts and loans.
(II) Breaking down of moral institutions which supported economic prudence.
(III) Provision for easy availability of loans to every section of the society regardless of their ability to repay these.

154) The author of the given passage seems to be definitely

155) Why does the author of the given passage seem to be displeased with the software stalwarts ?

156) Which of the following suggestions have been made by the author in order to check the culture promoting debts ?
(I) Putting a ban on the companies providing credit cards indiscriminately.
(II) Taking the help of informal institutions to limit the business of money lending by payday lenders.
(III) Raising public awareness about negative effects of injudicious borrowing of money.
(IV) Taking action against governments which have been allowing lottery in their States.

157) Which of the following statements would weaken the arguments made by author in the given paragraph ?

158) Why has the author referred to India "as one of the unhealthiest places on earth" ?
(I) There is no cure available for many of the diseases contracted in India.
(II) The Government has not clearly defined health standards.
(III) A large number of people in India suffer from disease, which have been wiped out in other countries.

159) What staff related problems does the rural health care system face ?
(I) High rate of absenteeism
(II) Badly maintained clinics
(III) Good maintenance of equipment by staff.

160) What has contributed to the present ill health among Indians ?

161) What has the impact of high cost of healthcare in India been ?

162) What is the author's main objective in writing the passage ?

163) Which of the following is TRUE in the context of the passage ?
(I) Economic growth leads to provision of better healthcare services for all.
(II) Africa has cheaper and better healthcare facilities than India.
(III) The per capita income of India and Senegal is equivalent.

164) Which of the following cannot be seen as a cause for the state of India's healthcare system ?

165) What impact has India's economic growth had on the healthcare system ?

166) What can be inferred from the statistics given for 2001-2006 ?

167) How has the Prime Minister reached to the crisis facing the health care sector ?
(I) Is concerned about the spending levels on the healthcare system.
(II) Has decided to reduce expenditure on defence.
(III) Has encouraged private sector investment in healthcare.

168) What would be the impact of unchecked green-house gas and carbon dioxide emissions ?

169) What can be the most appropriate title of the above passage ?

170) What does the scientist Warren Washington mean when he says "we could stabilise the threat of climate change" ?

171) Why did Washington and his colleagues conduct a series of studies ?

172) What would be the impact of holding the carbon dioxide level at 450 ppm at the end of this century ?
(I) Global temperatures would increase by 0.6 degrees Celcius.
(II) Arctic warming would be reduced by half.
(III) Themal expansion will stop completely.

173) Why is the use of chemical pesticides generally justified by giving the examples of poor and developing countries?
(1) Developing countries can afford to do away with use of pesticides by adapting to organic farming, but it is imperative for poor and developing countries to use chemical pesticides.
(2) In poor and developing countries, the pesticide addresses the problem of epidemic diseases of crops and eases the food problem.
(3) The social and health costs of pesticide use are generally ignored in poor and developing countries.
Which of the statements given above is\are correct?