(Papers) IBPS Clerk Previous Year Exam Paper "Held on 27-11-2011, 2nd Sitting - English Language" (North Zone)
(Papers) IBPS Clerk Previous Year Exam Paper "Held on 27-11-2011, 2nd Sitting - English Language" (North Zone)
Directions (51·65) : Read the following passage to answer the given questions based on it. Some words/phrases are printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
‘We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals. We now know that it is bad economics,” said American President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937 in the midst of the Great Depression. And the world has learnt that enlightened self-interest is good economics all over again after the Great Recession of 2009. Americans are entering a period of social change as they are’ recalibrating their sense of what it means to be a citizen, not just through voting or volunteering but also through commerce. There is a new dimension to civic duty that is growing among Americans - the idea that they can serve not only by spending time in communities and classrooms but by spending more responsibly. In short, Americans are beginning to put their money where their ideals are.
In a recent poll most said they had consciously supported local or small neighbourhood businesses and 40 percent said that they had purchased a product because they liked the social or political values of the company that produced it. People were alarmed about ‘blood diamonds’ mined in war zones and used to finance conflict in Africa. They were also willing to pay $2000 more for a car that gets 35 miles per gallon than for one that gives less, though the former is more expensive but environment friendly. Of course consumers have done their own doing-well-by doing good calculation -a more expensive car that gives; better mileage will save them money in the long run and makes them feel good about protecting the environment. Moreover since 1995, the number of socially responsible investment (SRI) mutual funds, which generally avoid buying shares of companies that profit from tobacco, oil or child labour has grown from 55 to 260. SRI funds now manage approximately 11 percent of all the money invested in the US financial markets -an estimated $ 2.7 trillion. This is evidence of a changing mind-set in a nation whose most iconic economist Milton Friedman wrote in 1970 that a corporation’s only moral responsibility was to increase shareholder profits.
At first the corporate stance was defensive: companies were punished by consumers for unethical behavior such as discriminatory labour practices. The nexus of activist groups, consumers and government regulation could not merely tarnish a company but put it out of business. But corporate America quickly discerned that social responsibility attracts investment capital as well as customer loyalty, creating a virtuous circle. Some companies quickly embraced the new ethos that consumers boycotted products they considered unethical and others purchase products in part because their manufacturers were responsible. With global warming on the minds of many consumers lots of companies are racing to ‘outgreen’ each other. The most progressive companies are talking about a triple bottom line-profit, planet and people – that focuses on how to run a business while trying to improve environmental and worker conditions.
This is a time when the only thing that has sunk lower than the American public’s opinion of Congress is its opinion of business. One burning question is how many of these Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives are just shrewd marketing to give companies a halo effect? After all only 8 per cent of the large American corporations go through the trouble of verifying their CSR reports, which many consumers don’t bother to read. And while social responsibility is one way for companies to get back their reputations consumers too need to make ethical choices.
51. Which of the following represents the change/s that has/have occurred in the American outlook?
(A) The perception that the government needs to invest resources in business rather than in education.
(B) Loss of faith in American corporations as they do not disburse their profits equitably among shareholders.
(C) Americans have cut down on their expenditure drastically to invest only in socially responsible mutual funds.
(1) None
(2) Only (C)
(3) Only (A) and (B)
(4) Only (A) and (C)
(5) All (A), (B) and (C)
52. Which of the following is/are TRUE in the context of the passage?
(A) The voter turnout during the 2009 American elections was high.
(B) African diamonds are highly valued by the American public.
(C) American firms have to spend vast amounts on advertising because activists cast aspersions on their images.
(1) None
(2) Only (A)
(3) Only (B) and (C)
(4) Only (C)
(5) Only (A) and (C)
53. To what does the author attribute the consumers’ willingness to purchase environment friendly vehicles?
(1) Auto companies sell these types of vehicles at lower rates in order to boost sales in times of recession.
(2) The realisation that consumers’ greed caused the economic recession of 2009.
(3) To show their support for small entrepreneurs who are the manufacturers of such vehicles.
(4) They have to comply with government guidelines regarding reduction of carbon emissions.
(5) None of these
54. Which of the following is the central idea of the passage?
(1) It is beneficial to invest in American companies as they are socially responsible and profitable
(2) Large corporations should be penalised by the American government for their greed
(3) Ethical consumerism is profitable for organisations as well as society as a whole
(4) Companies should be required by law to account for their impact on the environment in their balance sheet
(5) Developing countries should learn how to combat child labour from America
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55. Which of the following best describes the widespread view among Americans about big corporations?
(1) They have been lax in fulfilling their moral responsibility of increasing profits and benefitting shareholders
(2) They are being too severely penalised by activists and the government for their role in the economic crisis
(3) Their innovations have brought commercial success and benefited America tremendously
(4) They need to be held accountable for their ruthless business practices
(5) Their balance sheets are often fraudulent and deceive shareholders
56. What is the author trying to convey through the phrase ‘companies are racing to outgreen each other’ ?
(1) The competition among companies to boost their bottom line - profit, planet and people — is very stiff
(2) The conflict facing businesses of whether to benefit their shareholders or the environment
(3) Corporations are vying with each other to solicit investment
(4) Companies are striving to find the necessary funds to finance their environment friendly initiatives
(5) None of these
57. Which of the following factors has led to corporations adopting more socially responsible practices?
(1) The desire to be labelled as progressive by the government
(2) Guilt over causing the economic downturn
(3) High attrition rates as employees do not support the companies’ practices
(4) Recognition of the changing demands of customers
(5) Strict penalties imposed by governments against companies with unfair practices
58. What can be inferred from the statistics mentioned about SRI mutual funds in the passage?
(A) The percentage of child labourers has fallen since 1995.
(B) At present tobacco companies are making huge losses.
(C) The government needs to regulate SRI mutual funds as they handle vast amounts of funds,
(1) None
(2) Only (A)
(3) Only (A) and (B)
(4) Only (C)
(5) Only (B) and (C)
59. What is the author’s view about companies, documentation of CSR initiatives?
(1) Since it is not certified by the government it cannot be considered authentic
(2) It is the ideal way to earn customer loyalty and set a good example for small businesses
(3) It is a waste of time as neither consumers nor companies bother to determine their validity
(4) It should be mandatorily incorporated in the statement of accounts of any firm
(5) None of these
60. Which of the following cannot be said about small businesses?
(A) During the recession their profits have been higher than those made by big corporates.
(B) They adopt fair labour practices and environment friendly methods of production.
(C) They have managed to acquire an investment of over 11 per cent of American capital.
(1) Only (A) and (C)
(2) Only (C)
(3) All (A), (B) and (C)
(4) Only (B)
(5) None of these
Directions (61-63) : Choose the word which is most similar in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
61. IDEALS
(1) models
(2) visions
(3) perfection (4) paradigms
(5) values
62. EMBRACED
(1) clinched
(2) adopted
(3) seized
(4) hugged
(5) encompassed
63. ATTRACTS
(1) appeals
(2) encourages
(3) captives
(4) fascinates
(5) pleases
Directions (64 - 65): Choose the word/phrase which is most opposite in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
64. ENLIGHTENED
(1) illiterate
(2) inept
(3) ignorant
(4) illogical
(5) immature
65. HEEDLESS
(1) prudent
(2) obedient
(3) observable
(4) noticeable
(5) wary
Directions (66-70) : In each of these questions, two sentences (I) and (II) are given. Each sentence has a blank in it. Five words (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) are suggested, Out of these, only one fits at both the places in the context of each sentence. Number of that word is the answer.
66. I. He has now become a ___to reckon with.
II. It is better not to use_____to prove one’s point.
(1) model
(2) force
(3) coercion
(4) name
(5) influence
67. I. He tried his _____ best to score distinction in this exam.
II. It pays to keep a ____ head in an emergency.
(1) cool
(2) utmost
(3) very
(4) possible
(5) level
68. I. The system is working with _____to getting things done.
II. ____must be commanded and not demanded.
(1) status
(2) relation
(3) attitude
(4) respect
(5) honour
69. I.There is a complaint against him that he ____ the mistakes of his juniors.
II. A good thing about this house is that it______the sea.
(1) ignores
(2) promotes
(3) examines
(4) overlooks
(5) faces
70. I. Out of the total loans ______ by the bank, the largest share was for infrastructure.
II. The trees ______ throughout the area.
(1) disbursed
(2) covered
(3) distributed
(4) spanned
(5) extended
Directions (71-75): Which of the phrases (1), (2), (3) and (4) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentence to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct. If the sentence is correct as it is and ‘No correction is required’, mark (5) as the answer.
71. To identify potential leaders, look for people who are constantly suggesting new and better ways of doing things,
(1) look forward people
(2) search at people
(3) looking at people
(4) people look at them
(5) No correction required
72. Of late, both India and China have been seeing a slow down in the credit market.
(1) Off late
(2) Of lately
(3) Often tate
(4) Of recently
(5) No correction required
73. No other Communities have played a greater role in building an “India of tomorrow” than the teaching community.
(1) No communities have
(2) Many communities has
(3) No other community has
(4) Have any other community
(5) No correction required
74. Theoretically, positive operating cash flow is considered a indicator of efficiency.
(1) considering indicators
(2) considered a indicators
(3) considered an indicator
(4) indicator considered
(5) No correction required
75. I have realized over times that there is a larger meaning to things happening around us.
(1) time over
(2) upon time
(3) over the times
(4) over time
(5) No correction required
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Directions (76-80): In each question below a sentence with four words printed in bold type is given. These are numbered as (1), (2), (3) and (4). One of these four words printed in bold may be either wrongly spelt or inappropriate in the context of the sentence. Find out the word, which is wrongly spelt or inappropriate, if any. The number of that word is your answer. If all the words printed in bold are correctly spelt and also appropriate in the context of the sentence, mark (5) i.e.‘All Correct’ as your answer.
76. Mental(l)/disordors (2)/ have become Europe’s largest health (3)/ challenge (4)/of the 21st century. All correct (5).
77. By created (1)/ the most precise (2)/ lunar gravity (3)/ map, scientists (4)/hope to find out what is beneath the lunar surface. All correct (5)
78. The book is full (1)/of updated (2)/ and contemparary (3)/ commentary.(4)/ All correct (5)
79. Now electronic (1)/mail is becoming the primary (2)/tool for exchanging (3)/ messages (4)/All correct (5)
80. My overall (1)/ financial (2)/goal is to build (3)/ sufficient (4)/ wealth. All correct (5)
Directions (81-90): Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical mistake/error in it. The error if any, will be in one part of the sentence. Mark the number of the part with error as your answer. If there is ‘No error’, mark (5).
81. The company plans (1)/ to hire more workers (2)/ as there is many (3)/orders during the festival season. (4)/No error (5)
82. The State government has approved (1)/ the proposal building (2)/ a new metro system (3)/in the state capital. (4)/No error (5)
83. Nearly four lakh foreigners (1)/ visited India in August (2)/ which show that its (3)/ advertising campaign is good.(4)/ No error (5)
84. Reserve Bank of India has (1)/ printed sixteen million bank notes (2)/ this year but this is (3)/ less the total number required.(4)/No error (5)
85. People had not (1)/ travel by ship because (2)/ it is very expensive (3)/ and the facilities are poor.(4)/ No error (5)
86. Science students can (1)/ attend their classes (2)/ on the weekend and (3)/ working during the week.(4)/ No error (5)
87. According to the Labour Ministry (1)/ the money earned (2)/ by farmers is usually (3)/ spent on buying newly equipment.(4)/ No error(5)
88. Every year India spends (1)/ large sums of money (2)/ from new education schemes (3)/ and foodgrain subsidies. (4)/ No error (5)
89. If you have (1)/ an account with this branch (2)/ the bank will not (3)/levy any extra charges.(4)/No error (5)
90. You should purchase (1)/ this insurance policy (2)/ as the company (3)/ offers many benefits.(4)/ No error (5)
Directions (91-100): 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.
Mobile phones are changing the world we live in.
Kenya was regarded as a poor (91)- lacking hospitals, running water, electricity, education, (92) etc. Mobile phone technology has (93) all this. Today 92 percent of Kenyans (94) the internet using their mobile phones. Farmers can (95) only check the prices of crops but also (96) with customers directly. Banking services are (97) available through mobile phones. A (98) by the World Bank shows that (99) countries where more people use mobile phones (100) by 0.6 percent to 1.2 percent every year.
This technology has also helped the world come closer together as it allows people from different countries to interact with each other.
91. (1) neighbour
(2) performance
(3) country
(4) development
(5) choice
92. (1) land
(2) roads
(3) poverty
(4) peoples
(5) leader
93. (1) changed
(2) discovered
(3) created
(4) transform
(5) made
94. (1) go
(2) access
(3) connect
(4) used
(5) online
95. (1) decide
(2) allow
(3) simply
(4) not
(5) still
96. (1) handle
(2) supply
(3) deal
(4) argument
(5) sell
97. (1) cheap
(2) easy
(3) become
(4) also
(5) though
98. (1) report
(2) fund
(3) researcher
(4) wish
(5) solution
99. (1) more
(2) any
(3) because
(4) in
(5) those
100. (1) increase
(2) work
(3) value
(4) rise
(5) grow
