(Paper) SBI Clerk Exam Paper - 2011

:: ENGLISH LANGUAGE ::

Directions (41 - 50): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

Once upon a time in a village, there lived six blind men. In spite of their blindness, they had managed to educate themselves. Seeking to expand their knowledge, they decided to visit a zoo and try out their skills in recognising animals by their touch. The first animal they came across, as soon as they entered the zoo, was an elephant.

As the first man approached the elephant, the elephant waved its trunk, and the man felt something brush past him. Managing to hold on to it, he felt it, and found something long and moving. He jumped back in alarm, shouting "mover away! This is a snaker!". Meanwhile,the second man had moved closer, and walked right near its legs. As the man touched the thick, cylindrical - shaped legs, he called out "Do not worry. These are just four trees here. There is certainly no snaker!" The third man was curious hearing the other two, and moved forward. As he walked towards the elephant, he felt his hand touch one of the tusks. Feeling the smooth, sharp ivory tusk, the man cried out "Be careful! There is a sharp spear here". The fourth man cautiously walked up behind the elephant, and felt its swinging tail. "It's just a rope! There is nothing to be afraid of!" he said. "This is nothing but a huge fan!" The sixth man did not want to be left out. As he walked towards the elephant, he bumped into its massive body, and he exclaimed, "Hey! This is just a huge mud wall! There is no animal at all!" All six of them were convinced that they were right, and began arguing amongst themselves.

Wondering what the commotion was all about, the zoo keeper arrived at the scene, and was surprised to see six blind men surrounding an elephant, each of them shouting at the top of their voice! "Quiet" he shouted out, and when they had calmed down, he asked. "Why are all of you shouting and arguing in this manner? "They replied, "Sir, as your can see, we are all blind. We came here to expand our knowledge. We sensed an animal here, and tried to get an idea of its appearance by feeling it. However, we are not able to arrive at a consensus over its appearance, and hence are arguing. Can you please help us and tell us which of us is right"?

The zoo keeper laughed before answering, "My dear men, each of you has touched just one portion of the animal. The animal you see is neither a snake, nor any of the other things you have mentioned. The animal in front of you is an elephant!" As the six men bowed their head, ashamed of the scene they had created, the zoo keeper said, "My dear men, this is a huge animal, and luckily, it is tame. It stood by clamly as each of you touched it. You are extremely lucky that it stayed calm even during your argument, for if it had got angry, it would have trampled all of you to death!" He continued further, "It is not enough to gather knowledge, but it is also important to learn to share and pool your knowledge. Instead of fighting among yourselves, if you had tried to put all your observations together, you might have had an idea of the animal as a whole! Also, when you cannot see the entire truth, it is better to go to someone who does know the complete truth, rather than guess about small parts of it.

Such half-knowledge is not only useless, but also dangerous. If you had come directly to me, I would have helped you identify all the animals without putting you in danger!" The six men apologized to the zoo keeper, and assured him that they had learn their lesson. From now on, they would seek true knowledge from qualified people, and would also try to work together as a team so that they could learn more.

41. Which part of the elephant resembled a big fan?

1) The wide ears
2) The mouth
3) The long slender trunk
4) The big wrinkled body
5) The end of the tail

42. Why did the six blind men visit the zoo?

1) They wanted to touch an elephant
2) They had heard a lot about animals
3) They wanted to visit the animals in the zoo
4) They wished to recognise animals by their touch and feel
5) They had never been to a zoo before

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43. What was the first thing the blind men came across as they entered the zoo?

1) A large mud wall
2) The zoo keeper
3) The trees
4) The elephant
5) A snake

44. Why is it that each of the six blind men had different impressions of the elephant?

A) Each of them touched only a portion of the elephant
B) Each of the six blind men approached different animals
C) The blind men were touching the surroundings instead of the elephant
D) They had never touched an elephant before

1) Only A
2) Only A and C
3) Only C
4) Only B and D
5) Only B

45. Why were the six men arguing and shouting amongst themselves?

1) Each of them wanted his voice to be heard over and above the others
2) Each of them thought he was right about the animal
3) There was alot of noise in the zoo and they couldn't hear each other
4) They were having an interesting debate
5) None of these

46. What advice did the zoo keeper give to the six blind men?

1) That the elephant was tame and obedient
2) That they were very lucky to have had the opportunity to visit the zoo
3) That it was important to share knowledge and work together as a team
4) That they were not qualified to be knowledgeable individuals
5) That the elephant is mad up of different parts

47. Which statement best describes the zoo keeper's behaviour towards the six blind men?

1) The zoo keeper insulted the six men
2) The zoo keeper presented himself to be as ignorant as they were
3) The zoo keeper helped them and assisted them further
4) The zoo keeper was indifferent towards the six blind men
5) The zoo keeper prohibited the six blind men from entering the zoo

Directions (48 - 50): Choose the word which is most nearly the same in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage

48. Convinced

1) Certain
2) Doubtful
3) Pressured
4) Committed
5) Daring

49. Pool

1) Expand
2) Gather
3) Devote
4) Apply
5) Combine

50. Consensus

1) Harmony
2) Agreement
3) Information
4) Order
5) Inference

Directions (51 - 55): In each of the following sentences, an idiomatic expression or a proverb is highlighted. Select the alternative which best describes its use in the sentence.

51. In all likelihood the missing boy has run away to the forest

1) with good intentions
2) there's no chance
3) without doubt
4) In most probability
5) None of these

52. The parents were completely in the dark concerning their daughter's plans.

1) ignorant about
2) ashamed of
3) pretending to be unaware
4) unhappy about
5) None of these

53. I am in touch with the police, and they will be here in ten minutes.

1) in communication with
2) in close proximity with
3) in good terms with
4) familiar with
5) None of these

54. I stumbled upon some interesting old letters in my Grandfather's desk.

1) Deliberately went through
2) Surveyed
3) Tripped over
4) Discovered by chance
5) None of these

55. The secretary made an entry of the arrangement

1) initiated discussion
2) made a record
3) about notice
4) showed approval
5) None of these

Directions (56 - 60): Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error in it. The error, if any will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (5) i.e. 'No Error'. (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any).

56. In times of crisis, (1)/the Bhagavad Gita gives light (2)/and guide to the mind tortured by doubt (3)/and torn by conflict of duties. (4)/ No Error (5).

57. It was not easy for late Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1)/ to root out the custom of sati (2)/ because a majority of (3)/ the educated class does not support him. (4)/ No error (5).

58. Deplete of the Ozone layer (1)/ and the greenhouse effect (2)/ are two long-term effects (3)/ of air pollution. (4)/ No Error (5).

59. Most of the people which (1)/ have been victims (2)/ of extreme violence (3)/ are too frightened to report it to the police. (4)/ No Error (5).

60. The doctor helps (1)/ to reducing human suffering (2)/ by curing diseases (3)/ and improving health (4) No error (5).

Directions (61 - 65): Each sentence below has a blank, each blank indicates that something has been omitted. Choose the word/group of words that best fit/s the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

61. When I was training for the marathon, I .......... run over 100 kilometres a week.

1) have to
2) would
3) will
4) destined
5) used to

62. My colleague is one of the kindest people ..........

1) that I knows
2) I know
3) who I know
4) which know
5) I had know

63. The lawyer's .......... let to the resolution of the problem.

1) behaviour
2) fees
3) advice
4) impact
5) approval

64. The government claims that .......... in the telecommunications industry will mean lower prices for customers.

1) budget
2) finance
3) installments
4) decrease
5) competition.

65. Sarah was walking along the street .......... she tripped over.

1) when
2) as
3) while
4) then
5) however

Directions (66 - 70): In each question below, four words printed in bold type are given. These are numbered (1), (2), (3) and (4). One of these words printed in bold may either be wrongly spelt or inappropriate in the context of the sentence. Find out the word that sentence. Find out the word that is inappropriate or word that is your answer. If all the words printed in bold are correctly spelt and appropriate in the context of the sentence then mark (5) i.e. 'All Correct' as your answer.

66. All the competitors (1)/ completed (2)/ the race (3)/ with just one exeption (4)/ All Correct (5).

67. Poor posture (1)/ can lead (2)/ to muscular (3)/ problems in later life (4)/. All Correct (5).

68. The pump (1)/ shut off (2)/ as a result (3)/ of a mecanical failure (4)/. All correct (5).

69. The Principal (1)/ gave a very pompous (2)/ speach (3)/ about the Portals of learning (4)/. All Correct (5).

70. Copeing (1)/with her mother's long illness (2)/ was a heavy load (3)/ to bear (4)/. All correct (5).

Directions (71 - 75): Rearrange the following six sentences/ group of senterices A, B, C, d, E an F in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph; then answer the questions given below.

A) To his surprise, a little honeybee came before his throne and said, "Of all the gifts you could give me, only one will do. I'd like the power to inflict great pain whenever I choose to".
B) I hereby give you a sharp sting. But, I am sure you will use this weapon carefully only in times of anger and strife.
C) "What an awful wish!" said great Zeus. "But I will grant It".
D) And to this day, the little honeybee dies after it stings.
E) One day, Zeus, the King of mount Olympus, was giving out gifts to beasts, birds and insects.
F) "You will get to use it only once, for using it will cost you your life".

71. Which of the following should be the FOURTH sentence after the rearrangement?

1) D
2) F
3) B
4) E
5) C

72. Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence after the rearrangement?

1) A
2) D
3) F
4) B
5) E

73. Which of the following should be the FIRST sentence after the rearrangement?

1) E
2) B
3) D
4) C
5) F

74. Which of the following should be the SIXTH (LAST) sentence after the rearrangement?

1) A
2) D
3) F
4) E
5) F

75. Which of the following should be the FIFTH sentence after the rearrangement.

1) E
2) D
3) B
4) C
5) F

Directions (76 - 80): In the following passages, 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.

Day dreaming is often overlooked as a proper dream and ...(76)... instead as wandering thoughts. However, the meanings to you highly dream symbols are also ...(77)... to your day dreams. The content in you day dreams are helpful in understanding your true feelings and will help you in ...(78)... your goals. Day dreaming is the spontaneous imagining or recalling of various images or experiences in the past or the future. When you daydream, you are accessing your right brain, which is the creative and feminine side of your personality. Worrying about something creates visual images in your brain of the worst outcome that you are imagining and is a form of daydreaming. By repeating these negative images in your mind, you are more likely to make them happen. so the next, time you start worrying, try to think of a positive outcome. Positive daydreaming is very healthy and acts as a temporary ...(79)... from the demands of reality. It is also a good way to ...(80)... built up frustrations without physically acting them out.

76.

1) composed
2) determined
3) thought
4) felt
5) regareded

77.

1) duplicated
2) present
3) established
4) applicable
5) depictive

78.

1) thinking
2) holding
3) achieving
4) realise
5) capturing

79.

1) solitude
2) healing
3) gateway
4) passage
5) escape

80.

1) adjust
2) confirm
3) capture
4) relase
5) demonstrate

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