Read
the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it.
The
King of Kanchi set off to conquer Kamat. He was victorious in battle. The
elephants were laden with sandalwood, ivory gold and precious stones, taken from
the conquered kingdom of Kamat. They would be a part of the victory parade for
his sujbjects. On his way back home he stopped at a temple, finished his
prayers to the goddess and turned to leave. Around his neck, was a garland of
scarlet hibiscus and as was the custom for all, his forehead was anointed with
red sandal paste. His Minister and the court jester were his only companions.
At one spot, in a mango grove by the wayside, they spied some children
play. The King said, “Let me go and see what they are playing.”
The
children had lined up two ros of clay dolls and were playing warriors and
battles. The king asked, “Who is fighting with whom?” They said, “Kamat is at battle
with Kanchi.” The king asked, “who is winning and who is the loser?” The children
puffed their chests up and said, “Kamat will win and Kanchi will lose.” The
Minister froze in disbelief, the King was furious and the juester burst
into laughter.
The
King was soon joined by his troops and the children were still immersed in their
game. The King commanded, “Cane them hard.” The children’s parents came running
from the nearby village and said, “They are naïve, it was just a game, please
grant them pardon.” The King called his commander and ordred, “Teach
these children and the village a slesson so that they never forget the king of Kanchi.”
He went back to his camp.
That
evening the commander stood before the King. He bowed low in shame and said,
“Your Majesty, with the exception of hyenas and vultures, all lie silent in the
village.” The Minister said, “His Majesty’s honour has been saved.” The priest
said, “The goddess has blessed our King.” The jester said, “Your highness,
please grant me leave to go now.” The King asked, “But why?” The jester said,
“I cannot kill, I cannot maim, I can only laugh at God’s gift of life.”
Trembling In the face of the King’s anger he bravely continued, “If I stay in
your Majesty’s court, I shall become like you and I shall forget how to laugh.”
1.
Why were the elephants carrying loads of gold and other valuables?
a)
This was what the king had looted from Karnat to distribute among his soldiers
as a reward
b)
This was the king’s offering to the deity out of gratitude for making him victorious
c)
It was what the king had plundered from Karnat to display to the people of his
kingdom as a sign of victory
d)
So that the people of the kingdom of Karnat acknowledged him as their rew ruler
e)
None of these
2.
Why did the king anoint his head with red sandal paste?
a)
As a mark of celebration to show he had been victorious
b)
It was the usual practice for all devotees at the temple
c)
To show other devotees that he was king
d)
To priest requested him to do so
e)
To show his soldiers that he had visited the temple
3.
What excuse was given for the children’s behaviour?
a)
They were disobedient to their parent’s wishes
b)
They were unaware of the true facts of the battle
c)
They were upset that their army had lost
d)
They were in the habit of lying
e)
None of these
4.
Which of the following is true in the context of the passage?
a)
The king stopped at the temple to see what else could be plundered
b)
The people of the village to which the children belonged developed great respect
for the king
c)
The commander was ashamed at having obeyed the king’s orders to cane the
children
d)
The jester was unhappy that the king had defeated the army of karnat
e)
None of these
5.
Why did the jester resign from his post?
a)
He felt that the king was too influenced by the Minister
b)
To show that he disapproved of the king’s action of punishing the children
c)
He did not want to accompany the king on his war campaign
d)
He was no longer able to make the king laugh
e)
None of these
6.
Why was the king angry with the children?
a)
Because the game they were playing was dangerous
b)
They had lied him
c)
They did not recognize him as king
d)
They had unknowingly insulted him
e)
They were rude to him
Directions
: Choose
the word which is most nearly the same in meaning
as
the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
7.
Froze
a)
Cold b) Numb c) Shivered
d)
Stood still e) Chill
8.
Leave
a)
Holiday b) Transfer c) Exit
d)
Permission e) Farewell
9.
Spied
a)
Noticed b) Keep watch c) Followed
d)
Spot e) Caught
Directions:
Choose
the word which is most opposite in meaning of the
word
printed in bold as used in the passage.
10.
Immersed in
a)
Safe from b) Distracted from c) Boring
d)
Drowning in e) Entertained by
11.
Pardon
a)
Punishment b) Excuse c) Convict
d)
Intolerance e) Imprison
Read
the passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words/phrases
are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the
questions.
Various
measures have been deployed to combat food inflation. Subsidies on food and
fertilisers, imports of food as well as regulations to prevent hoarding farm
produce did succeed in stabilising prices from time to time. But such crisis management
has been able to provide only short lived relief, and prices have gone
up
from 2007.
Bringing
down food inflation will benefit the consumer, but make prices unattractive to
farmers. This will accentuate poverty. Unremunerative prices discourage
investments in agriculture, causing supply side shortages, fueling inflation
further. So, the most effective way of prices, ploughing a larger share of the
consumer spend back to the farmer.
First
we need to lower transaction costs. The Agricultural Produce Market Committee
Acts mandate all farm produce should be brought to mandis for farmer pays to
transport his produce over loing distances, before knowing the price at which
his produce would be sold, or whether any other market would have paid a better
price.
The
journey from farm to consumer involves multiple levels of transportation,
handling expenses, commissions of agents and a mandi cess, adding nearly 20%
cost to food prices. This absurdity was acknowledged years ago, and a new
Model APMC Act recommended by the Centre in 2003.
This
Model Act must be implemented in all states. Unless farmers have the freedom to
sell at farm-gate or other transparent platforms directly to buyers, transaction
costs will remain high and drive consumer prices higher. Next, we need to cut
wastage. Anywhere from, 5% to 40% of food is wasted along the chain, depending
on the perishability of the crop and the season. First, market instruments
must
empower farmers to produce as per tommorrow’s demand, rather than be guided by
yesterdat’s prices.
If
the Forward Contracts Regulation Act is amended to permit trading in options,
farmers are assured of a minimum price when sowing, based on future projections
simulated by a market consensus. This will align production volumes to future
demand conditions and minimise wastage.
12.
What has been the overall effect of the various measures taken to combat food
inflation?
a)
Such measures have successfully stablisied prices of food items for a longer
period
b)
Such measures have proved ineffective in the long run, and the prices have gone
up.
c)
Such measures could provide only a short lived relief
d)
Only b) and c)
13.
What prompted the Centre to bring about a new Model APMC Act? Select the most
appropriate option.
a)
The earlier version of the APMC Act forced the farmers to bear huge transportation
cost
b)
The APMC Act provided that every farmer had to sell his produce only in mandi
and that also through agents.
c)
APMC Act was not acceptable to farmers, and on several occasions they had
expressed their resentment against the said Act.
d)
The APMC Act could not provide relief to farmers, rather it led the food prices
to costlier by 20%.
14.
Which of the following statements is contrary to the facts mentioned in the given
passage?
a)
Unremunerative prices discourage investment in agriculture resulting into
supply side shortage
b)
To contain food inflation the consumer prices should be lowered.
c)
Market instruments must empower farmers to produce as per yesterday’s demand.
d)
The new Model of APMC Act was recommended by the centre to lower the
transaction cost.
15.
Choose the word/group of words which is most similar in meaning to the word/group
of words printed in bold as used in the passage.
Absurdity
a)
Logic b) Wisdom c) Folly
d)
Seriousness
16.
Choose the word/group of words which is most similar in meaning to the
word/group
of words printed in bold as used in the passage.
Virtual
a)
Real b) Practical c) Authentic
d)
Actual
17.
Choose the word/group of words which is most similar in meaning to the
word/group
of words printed in bold as used in the passage.
Simulated
a)
Unexpected b) Classified c) Delivered
d)
Imitated
18.
Choose the word/group of words which is most opposite in meaning of the
word/group
of words printed in bold as used in the passage.
Accentuate
a)
Alleviate b) Increase c) Accentuate
d)
Highlight
19.
Choose the word/group of words which is most opposite in meaning of the
word/group
of words printed in bold as used in the passage
Fueling
a)
Inciting b) Lessening c) Inflaming
d)
Sustaining
ANSWERS:
1.
Option C
2.
Option B
3.
Option B
4.
Option C
5.
Option E
6.
Option D
7.
Option B
8.
Option D
9.
Option A
10.
Option B
11.
Option A
12.
Option D
13.
Option D
14.
Option C
15.
Option C
16.
Option B
17.
Option D
18.
Option C
19.
Option B
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