(A)With the relevant measure of price gains, the Consumer Price Index, reflecting an acceleration in inflation for a sixth straight month in December, and that at the fastest pace in 17 months, the bank’s rate-setting panel must have had little difficulty in choosing to remain on hold.
(B)The Reserve Bank of India’s decision to keep the repo rate unchanged was no surprise given the focus with which the Monetary Policy Committee has approached its mandate: of keeping inflation in check.
(C)The RBI’s nominee, Michael Debabrata Patra, in fact voted to head off incipient price pressures by raising the policy rate by 25 basis points.
(D)For starters, “an unusual pick-up in food prices in November”, combined with a “less than usual” softening in the winter seasonal food price moderation, meant headline inflation averaged 4.6% in the third quarter.
(E)This was probably best exemplified by the reversal in stance of the six-member panel’s hitherto most dovish member, Ravindra H. Dholakia, to vote to stand pat on interest rates.
(F)This the MPC did while retaining a ‘neutral stance’, which gives it the flexibility to change gears in either direction.
(G)Laying out the factors informing its decision, the RBI once again spotlighted the less than reassuring outlook for price stability.
(H)The RBI had in December made a projection for inflation in the range of 4.3-4.7% in the six months through March 2018.
(I)In a country where a health crisis is often a precursor to financial catastrophe for the poor, the salience of a healthcare financing scheme cannot be overstated.
Q1. If the sentence (B), “The Reserve Bank of India’s decision to keep the repo rate unchanged was no surprise given the focus with which the Monetary Policy Committee has approached its mandate: of keeping inflation in check.” is the first sentence of the paragraph so formed after the rearrangement, which of the following sentences does not belong to the paragraph?
(a)A
(b)I
(c)D
(d)C
(e)G
Q2. If the sentence (H), “The RBI had in December made a projection for inflation in the range of 4.3-4.7% in the six months through March 2018.” is the last sentence of the paragraph so formed after the rearrangement of other sentences and the exclusion of incoherent sentence, which of the following sentences can follow the sentence (H) coherently?
(a)With pump prices of petrol and diesel having risen sharply in January, the RBI has now been forced to raise its estimate for retail price gains in the fourth quarter to 5.1%.
(b)The domestic currency finally settled the day with a modest 4 paise loss against the US dollar, extending its downtrend for the fifth straight session.
(c)The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the RBI kept the policy repo rate at 6 % with five of the six members in the Committee voted in favour of the decision.
(d)The normalisation of monetary policy by advanced economies could spell a decisive end to global ‘easy money’ conditions and may trigger some flight of capital from emerging markets including India.
(e)None of the above
Q3. If the sentence (B), “The Reserve Bank of India’s decision to keep the repo rate unchanged was no surprise given the focus with which the Monetary Policy Committee has approached its mandate: of keeping inflation in check.” is the first sentence of the paragraph so formed after the rearrangement of other sentences and the exclusion of incoherent one, which of the following combinations denotes that the latter sentence would immediately follow its former one i.e., the first sentence would be immediately followed by the second one?
(a)B-D
(b)G-I
(c)E-H
(d)A-E
(e)G-H
Q4. If the sentence (C), “The RBI’s nominee, Michael Debabrata Patra, in fact voted to head off incipient price pressures by raising the policy rate by 25 basis points.” follows the sentence (F) after rearranging the other sentences into a coherent paragraph and excluding the incoherent sentence, which of the following sentences can come in between the two statements without altering the theme of the paragraph?
(a)It later strengthened to hit a high of 64.02 in mid- morning deals as bullish momentum in equity markets kept leading the way for the local unit.
(b)In forward market today, premium for dollar declined due to mild receiving from exporters.
(c)Consumers blame the reluctance of the government to lower the fuel prices, even when the international crude oil prices plummeted, as the main reason for the consumer price index inflation.
(d)The decision of maintaining the status quo, citing the inflationary trends, has come in for severe criticism by retail and industrial loan-seekers.
(e)None of the above.
Q5. If the sentence (B), “The Reserve Bank of India’s decision to keep the repo rate unchanged was no surprise given the focus with which the Monetary Policy Committee has approached its mandate: of keeping inflation in check.” is the first statement and the sentence (H) the last of the coherent paragraph so formed after the rearrangement of other sentences and the elimination of the incoherent one, which of the following options depicts the most appropriate sequence of the coherent paragraph?
(a)BADGEIFH
(b)BGFCEDAH
(c)BAEFCGDH
(d)BEFGIAFH
(e)BCFGEADH
S1. Ans. (b)
Sol. If (B) is the first sentence of the paragraph so formed after the rearrangement, the statement (I) does not seem to be the part of the paragraph. The first statement of the paragraph gives a valid clue that the theme of the paragraph revolves around the Reserve Bank of India’s decision to keep the repo rate unchanged. However, the statement (I) makes out a different topic which is contextually incorrect; it is about the healthcare financing scheme which has no relevance with any other statement of the paragraph. Hence option (b) is the correct choice.
S2. Ans. (a)
Sol. The sentence (a) makes a proper and logical connection with the sentence (H) as the mention of statistical range of 4.3-4.7% as the projection for inflation by the RBI in December gives an indication that the sentence (a) would follow the sentence coherently. There is a clear connection between the two statements as the sentence (a) also states that the estimate for retail price gains in the fourth quarter may go up to 5.1%. The other options are, however, out of the context and do not make any logical combination with the coherent paragraph so formed. Hence option (a) is the correct choice.
S3. Ans. (d)
Sol. If (B) is the first sentence of the coherent paragraph, the combination of sentences (A) and (E) makes a valid and appropriate connection with each other. It can be viewed by reading the sentence (A) properly which mentions that the bank’s rate-setting panel must have had little difficulty after the decision was taken by the RBI. The sentence finds a suitable connection with the sentence (E) which also mentions about the reversal in stance of the six-member panel’s hitherto most dovish member, Ravindra H. Dholakia. Thus, the latter sentence follows the former one coherently and meaningfully which is not the case with the other combinations given as options. Hence option (d) is the correct choice.
S4. Ans. (e)
Sol. None of the given statements can come in between the two statements as they fail to connect with either of the sentences. Moreover, the statements given as options are out of the context which have no relevance with the theme of the paragraph. Hence option (e) is the correct choice.
S5. Ans. (c)
Sol. If (B) is the first and (H) is the last statements, the sentences in the sequence of BAEFCGDH form a coherent paragraph which is about the implications of the current decision taken by the RBI to keep the repo rate unchanged. The question can be quickly solved by taking the help of previous questions asked in the format. In the previous question, it is clearly mentioned that the sentence (C) follows the sentence (F) after the correct rearrangement of sentences and elimination of the incoherent one. This can be visualized in the option (c) only. Other sequences are not in proper order to make the paragraph coherent. Hence option (c) is the correct choice.
Direction (6-15): Select the phrase/connector (STARTERS) from the given three options which can be used to form a single sentence from the two sentences given below, implying the same meaning as expressed in the statement sentences.
Q6. (1) There was cultural opposition in India to Borlaug's methods and seeds.
(2) The famine was so bad by 1965 that the government stepped in and urged the project forward.
(i) The fact that there was…
(ii) Although there was …..
(iii)Despite the famine…
(a)only (i)
(b)only (ii)
(c)only (iii)
(d)all of these
(e)none of these.
Q7. (1) There are things in the book difficult for the feeble human mind to grasp.
(2) It is an admirable book which calms and elevates the soul.
(i)Whereas it is an admirable book....
(ii)Though there are things in the book…
(iii)While there are things in the book…
(a)both (i) and (iii)
(b)both (ii) and (iii)
(c)both (i) and (ii)
(d)only (i)
(e)only (ii)
Q8. (1)Sumitra Mahajan addressed the 8th Conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians and said that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) should be implemented in the South East Asian region before any other place.
(2)The geographical area of the South East Asian region held the key to fulfillment of these goals elsewhere.
(I)Addressing the 8th Conference of the Association…
(II)As the geographical area of…
(III)While addressing the 8th Conference…
(a)Only (I) is correct
(b)Only (II) is correct
(c)Both (I) and (III) are correct
(d)Both (II) and (III) are correct
(e)All are correct
Q9. (1) Many of the major CO2 emitting nations had achieved significant reductions in 2016.
(2) It is imperative for all countries to accelerate their emissions reduction if the Paris goals are to be met.
(I)Although many of the major…
(II)To accelerate the emission of CO2…
(III)While many of the major…
(a)Only (I) is correct
(b)Only (II) is correct
(c)Only (III) is correct
(d)Both (I) and (III) are correct
(e)All are correct
Q10. (1) Indira Gandhi set up a new Department of Environment on returning to power in 1980.
(2) A reputed botanist T.N. Khooshoo was hired as its Secretary.
(I)On returning to power in 1980…
(II)Since a reputed botanist…
(III)Being hired as the Secretary…
(a)Only (I) is correct
(b)Only (II) is correct
(c)Both (II) and (III) are correct
(d)Both (I) and (II) are correct
(e)All are correct
Q11. (1) News of detente, talks with South Korea and potential Olympic medals have clearly focused attention on the Korean peninsula.
(2) The children of North Korean women in China, most of whom have been trafficked out of the sealed state into illegal marriages, prostitution and slavery, live stateless on the fringes of society, unrecognized as citizens or even refugees.
(I)Although news of détente, talks…
(II)Notwithstanding that news of détente…
(III)As the children of North Korean women…
(a)Only (I) is correct
(b)Only (III) is correct
(c)Both (I) and (II) are correct
(d)Both (II) and (III) are correct
(e)All are correct
Q12. (1) We hope that the Indian family continues to be stronger than in most countries and provides a caring environment for the elderly.
(2) It can’t be the basis for our ability to support the elderly.
(I)While we hope that Indian family…
(II)Hoping that the Indian family can’t be the basis…
(III)To support the elderly, we hope that…
(a)Only (I) is correct
(b)Only (II) is correct
(c)Only (III) is correct
(d)Both (I) and (III) are correct
(e)All are correct
Q13. (1) Pluralism in many other spheres of national life is to be welcomed.
(2) There is little or no scope for medical pluralism.
(I)While pluralism in many other…
(II)Although pluralism in many other…
(III)For medical pluralism, many spheres of…
(a)Only (I) is correct
(b)Only (III) is correct
(c)Both (I) and (II) are correct
(d)Both (II) and (III) are correct
(e)All are correct
Q14. (I) Financial institutions (FIs) and payment providers are becoming aware of the pain points in facilitating and receiving remittances into India.
(II) Banks such as IndusInd Bank and Yes Bank are pioneering the adoption of blockchain technology.
(i) As banks such as…
(ii) Since banks such as..
(iii) Because banks such as…
(a) Only (ii)
(b) Only (i)
(c) Both (ii) and (iii)
(d) All (i) (ii) and (iii)
(e) None of these
Q15. (I) The effective role of markets in distributing scarce resources and gains between agents, buyers and sellers in a particular society has been analyzed.
(II) the analysis can involve the use of models to explain the relationship of any one aspect of the agent-market relationship, assuming other conditions to be constant.
(i) The effective role analysis of markets…
(ii) The analysis of the effective role…
(iii) Analyzing the effective role…
(a) Only (ii)
(b) Only (i)
(c) Both (ii) and (iii)
(d) All (i) (ii) and (iii)
(e) None of these
S6.Ans (b)
Sol. See the second option (ii) Although there was cultural opposition in India to Borlaug's methods and seeds, the famine was so bad by 1965 that the government stepped in and urged the project forward.
Hence option (b) is the right choice.
S7. Ans (b)
Sol. Option (b) is the correct choice for the given question.
(ii)Though there are things in the book difficult for the feeble human mind to grasp, it is an admirable book which calms and elevates the soul.
(iii)While there are things in the book that are difficult for the feeble human mind to grasp, it is an admirable book which calms and elevates the soul.
Hence both (ii) and (iii) are correct.
S8. Ans. (e)
Sol. All the three statements are possible with the given starters.
(I) Addressing the 8th Conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians, Sumitra Mahajan said that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) should be implemented in the South East Asian region before any other place, as this geographical area held the key to fulfillment of these goals elsewhere.
(II) As the geographical area of the South East Asian region held the key to fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) elsewhere, Sumitra Mahajan, in her address to the 8th Conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians, said that the SDGs should be implemented in this region before any other place.
(III) While addressing the 8th Conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians, Sumitra Mahajan said that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) should be implemented in the South East Asian region before any other place considering that this geographical area held the key to fulfillment of these goals elsewhere.
S9. Ans. (d)
Sol. Both the starters mentioned in the first and third options can be used to make a proper and meaningful sentence respectively. In both the cases, the connectors “Although” and “While” are used as the conjunction which give the similar meaning to the sentences so formed. However, the second starter is incorrect as it changes the meaning of the sentences aforementioned in the question.
(I)Although many of the major emitting nations had achieved significant reductions in 2016, it is imperative for all countries to accelerate their emissions reduction if the Paris goals are to be met.
(III)While many of the major emitting nations had achieved significant reductions in 2016, it is imperative for all countries to accelerate their emissions reduction if the Paris goals are to be met.
S10. Ans. (a)
Sol. Only the first starter can help in framing a suitable and logical sentence. The other two starters are incorrect as they cannot frame the sentence which connects the two statements in the same meaningful way.
(I) On returning to power in 1980, Indira Gandhi set up a new Department of Environment, for which a reputed botanist T.N. Khooshoo was hired as its Secretary.
S11. Ans. (c)
Sol. Both the starters (I) and (II) can be used to form the meaningful sentence without altering the intended meaning of the two statements. It is to be noted that both the conjunctions “Although” and “Notwithstanding”, mean the same i.e. in spite of the fact that; even though. In the given case, both these conjunctions give a contextual meaning to the given sentences. Hence (c) is the correct choice.
(I) Although news of detente, talks with South Korea and potential Olympic medals have clearly focused attention on the Korean peninsula, the children of North Korean women in China, most of whom have been trafficked out of the sealed state into illegal marriages, prostitution and slavery, live stateless on the fringes of society, unrecognized as citizens or even refugees.
(II) Notwithstanding that news of detente, talks with South Korea and potential Olympic medals have clearly focused attention on the Korean peninsula, the children of North Korean women in China, most of whom have been trafficked out of the sealed state into illegal marriages, prostitution and slavery, live stateless on the fringes of society, unrecognized as citizens or even refugees.
S12. Ans. (a)
Sol. Only the first starter can be used to form a meaningful sentence connecting both the given statements without altering their intended meanings.
(I) While we hope that the Indian family continues to be stronger than in most countries and provides a caring environment for the elderly, it can’t be the basis for our ability to support the elderly.
S13. Ans. (c)
Sol. Both the starters (I) and (II) can be used to frame the meaningful sentence connecting both the sentences without altering their meanings. Hence (c) is the correct choice.
(I) While pluralism in many other spheres of national life is to be welcomed, there is little or no scope for medical pluralism.
(II) Although pluralism in many other spheres of national life is to be welcomed, there is little or no scope for medical pluralism.
S14. Ans. (d)
Sol. All the three starters can be used to frame a meaningful sentence without altering the intended meaning of the given sentences. Hence option (d) is the correct choice.
(i) As banks such as IndusInd Bank and Yes Bank are pioneering the adoption of blockchain technology, financial institutions (FIs) and payment providers are becoming aware of the pain points in facilitating and receiving remittances into India.
(ii) Since banks such as IndusInd Bank and Yes Bank are pioneering the adoption of blockchain technology, financial institutions (FIs) and payment providers are becoming aware of the pain points in facilitating and receiving remittances into India.
(iii) Because banks such as IndusInd Bank and Yes Bank are pioneering the adoption of blockchain technology, financial institutions (FIs) and payment providers are becoming aware of the pain points in facilitating and receiving remittances into India.
S15. Ans. (c)
Sol. Both the starters (ii) and (iii) can be used to frame a meaningful sentence without altering the exact meaning of the given sentences. However, it is not possible to construct a contextual sentence using the first starter as it would alter the intended meaning. Hence option (b) is the correct choice.
(ii) The analysis of the effective role of markets in distributing scarce resources and gains between agents, buyers and sellers in a particular society can involve the use of models to explain the relationship of any one aspect of the agent-market relationship, assuming other conditions to be constant.
(iii) Analysing the effective role of markets in distributing scarce resources and gains between agents, buyers and sellers in a particular society can involve the use of models to explain the relationship of any one aspect of the agent-market relationship, assuming other conditions to be constant.