General English
given below it. Certain words have been printed in bold to help you locate them while
answering some of the questions.
Over the past few decades, many Asian nations transformed from poverty into global
competitors. From 2003 to 2007, Asian economies expanded at an average annual rate of
8•1%, triple that of advanced economies. Over the same period, inflation in Asiaaveraged only about 3•5%. But Asia could be facing turbulent economic times. In May,
the average inflation rate throughout the region reached nearly 7%, led by spikes in oil
and food prices. In India, inflation jumped to an 11•6% annual rate in June, according to
the latest government figures, the highest in 13 years.
Policymakers and central bankers are forced to raise interest rates and limit credit to get
inflation under control. But these same measures suppress the investment and
consumption that generates growth. The combination of slowing growth and soaring
inflation makes economic policy-making tricky. Inflation stirs up the middle classes
because it can quickly erase years of hardwon personal gains. Inflation is cruel to the
poor, because families have to spend a larger share of their meagre incomes on
necessities. In the Philippines, farmers, unable to afford fuel for tractors, use water
buffaloes to plough their fields.
But to avoid unrest, leaders cannot blindly adopt rigid anti-inflation measures. Voters
won’t hesitate to remove from office any politician who doesn’t deliver the goods. So
they cannot overreact to the inflation threat and scale down economic growth in the
process. Developing nations need to grow quickly to create jobs and increase incomes for
their large populations. With prices soaring, doing nothing is not an option. Most central
banks in Asia have started raising interest rates. The Reserve Bank of India increased its
benchmark rate twice last month to a six year high of 8•5%.
The challenge is especially difficult because currently, inflation is not of domestic origin.
Prices are being driven higher by a global surge in oil and food prices, which individual
governments can do little to control. Of course, inflation is not just a problem in Asia.
World Bank President Robert Zoellick called rising food and oil prices a man-made
‘catastrophe’ that could quickly reverse the gains made in overcoming poverty over the
past seven years. For now, though, there is more talk than action on the international
front, so Asian governments are on their own.
Even though inflation throughout the region is likely to continue to rise in coming
months, no one is expecting an economic calamity. According to the Asian Development
Bank Asian countries have large hard currency reserves and relatively healthy banks, and
so are far better prepared to absorb external shocks than they were during the region’s
last recession ten years ago. Asian policymakers have learned their lessons and are more
alert.
1. Which of the following can be said about Asian economies during the period from
2003- 2007 ?
1. Though inflation was rising at the time politicians did not pay much attention.
2. Many of the poor countries were able to compete internationally.
3. The growth rate of Asian countries was facilitated by growth in advanced countries.
(A) All 1, 2, and 3
(B) Only 1
(C) Only 2
(D) Both 1 and 2
(E) None of these
2. Which of the following is not an anti-inflation measure being used by Asian countries
?
1. Increase in benchmark interest rate by a central bank.
2. Checks on lending.
3. Subsidising fuel for farmers.
(A) Only 3
(B) Both 1 and 2
(C) Both 2 and 3
(D) Only 2
(E) None of these
3. What makes it difficult for Asian countries to control inflation ?
(A) Restrictions by organizations like the Asian Development Bank
(B) Governments are indecisive and adopt counterproductive measures
(C) The problem is global in nature, not restricted to their individual countries
(D) Countries have never faced a financial crisis
(E) Economic growth rate cannot occur in the absence of inflation
4. Why are experts not very concerned about the impact of inflation on Asian economies
?
1. Asian countries have not maintained substantial hard currency reserves.
2. The condition of Asian banks is currently both stable and strong.
3. The Asian Development Bank will bail them out of any trouble.
(A) Only 1
(B) Both 1 and 3
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Only 2
(E) None of these
5. What is the author’s advice to politicians regarding the handling of inflation ?
(A) They should focus on preventing agitations among their citizens not implementing
antiinflation measures
(B) They ought to implement anti-inflation measures even at the cost of losing office
(C) They must focus on maintaining high economic growth rate as inflation will taper off
on its own
(D) Countries should handle the problem independently and not collectively
(E) None of these
6. What could the impact of stringent inflation measures be ?
(A) Increased consumption as families spend a larger part of their income on essential
goods
(B) Politicians may be voted out of power
(C) Economic growth rate remains constant
(D) Oil prices within the country remain stable despite high global prices
(E) None of these
7. Why is high economic growth necessary for developing countries ?
(A) To catch up with the growth rate of the advanced countries
(B) To sustain their economies despite the ill effects of inflation
(C) To provide better educational opportunities to their citizens
(D) To create employment opportunities for citizens
(E) None of these
8. Why has inflation been referred to as a ‘catastrophe’ ?
(A) Prices of essential commodities are unaffordable for all
(B) Our past efforts to reduce poverty will be nullified
(C) Governments are unstable and do not take stringent decisions
(D) It has divided countries rather than ensuring co-operation among them
(E) None of these
9. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage ?
1. Growth rate in advanced countries was low so the effects of inflation were not felt.
2. Closing the economy to global markets will reduce inflation.
3. India has been the most severely affected by inflation.
(A) None
(B) Only 1
(C) Only 2
(D) Both 2 and 3
(E) All 1, 2 and 3
10. Which of the following factors was responsible for inflation in India ?
(A) Reserve Bank India raising the interest rates very frequently
(B) High population growth
(C) Sudden rise in prices of oil worldwide
(D) Reckless competition with China
(E) None of these
Directions—(Q. 11–13) Choose the word which is most similar in meaning to the word
printed in bold as used in the passage.
11. stirs
(A) trembles
(B) moves
(C) mixes
(D) inspires
(E) agitates
12. scale
(A) descent
(B) climb
(C) hindrance
(D) cut
(E) measure
13. origin
(A) ancestry
(B) source
(C) inauguration
(D) down
(E) heritage
Directions—(Q. 14–15) Choose the word which is most opposite in meaning to the
word printed in bold as used in the passage.
14. turbulent
(A) quiet
(B) rest
(C) soothes
(D) stormy
(E) lawful
15. gains
(A) decreases
(B) fails
(C) deprives
(D) frauds
(E) losses
Directions—(Q. 16–20) Which of the phrases (A), (B), (C) and (D) given below should
replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentences to make the sentence
grammatically meaningful and correct. If the sentence is correct as it is and ‘No
correction is required’, mark (E) as the answer.
16. The main objective of the workshop has made children aware of Western classical
music.
(A) will make children aware
(B) is to make children aware
(C) is making aware children
(D) awareness of children
(E) No correction required
17. Afraid of missing her train and was late for the meeting, Sunita arrived an hour early
at the station.
(A) but later for
(B) and been late to
(C) after being late
(D) and being late for
(E) No correction required
18. As a famous historian he has travelled around the world giving lectures on rare
subjects.
(A) rarely to subjects
(B) of rare subject
(C) with rarest of subject
(D) in subjects rarely
P a g e | 27
(E) No correction required
19. The stadium wherever the opening ceremony will be held next month, is equipped
with the latest facilities.
(A) in the opening ceremony
(B) which the ceremony will open
(C) where the opening ceremony
(D) that the opening ceremony
(E) No correction required
20. There will be a trend of unseasonal rainfall in April, in recent years.
(A) There has been
(B) It has been
(C) There is being
(D) It may have been
(E) No correction required
Directions—(Q. 21–25) In each of the following sentences there are two blank spaces.
Below each five pairs of words have been denoted by letters (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E).
Find out which pair of words can be filled up in the blanks in the sentence in the same
sequence to make the sentence meaningfully complete.
21. A committee has been…………..to…………..the transformation of the city into an
international finance centre.
(A) constituted, convert
(B) appointed, oversee
(C) converged, evaluate
(D) inducted, change
(E) inaugurated, determine
22. Keeping in mind the…………..to develop the sector the government has…………..
solicited foreign investment.
(A) importance, never
(B) proposal, forcibly
(C) objective, wanted
(D) view, discretely
(E) need, actively
23. In his speech he vowed to…………..the four billion unbanked individuals across the
world into the…………..of financial inclusion.
(A) represent, sphere
(B) target, area
(C) bring, realm
(D) engage, achievement
(E) convince, era
24. Although he puts in…………..of overtime and takes few holidays,
he…………..cannot support his family.
(A) sufficient, however
(B) lot, besides
(C) much, thus
(D) plenty, still
(E) frequency, yet
25. They have been…………..on incentives to…………..these practices are implemented
at grass root level.
(A) relying, ensure
(B) improving, secure
(C) advocating, confirm
(D) debating, necessitate
(E) focusing, display
Directions—(Q. 26–30) Rearrange the following six sentences (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and
(6) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph; then answer the questions
given below them—
1. It was a cycling race launched in 1903, by Henri Desgrange, a magazine editor in
Paris.
2. The Tour de France is a test of human endurance.
3. His idea worked and the magazine boomed.
4. His aim was to boost the circulation of his magazine.
5. He wanted to achieve this by covering every stage of the three week long, 3,500
kilometre long cycling race.
6. Till today the race remains more popular than he could ever have dreamed.
26. Which of the following should be the first sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5
27. Which of the following should be the second sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5
28. Which of the following should be the third sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5
29. Which of the following should be the fifth sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 6
30. Which of the following should be the sixth (Last) sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 2
(B) 3
(C) 4
(D) 5
(E) 6
Directions—(Q. 31–40) Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical
error or idiomatic error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The
letters of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (E). (Ignore errors of
punctuation, if any.)
31. On account of the week (A) / long strike the factory (B) / was forced to close and (C)
/ next month’s shipment will delay. (D) No error. (E)
32. Since the US economy experiences (A) / a recession many Asian countries (B) / are
likely to have (C) / reduced growth rates this year. (D) No error. (E)
33. Oil is now so expensive that (A) / India will have to cut subsidies (B) / instead face
running out (C) / of funds to import oil. (D) No error. (E)
34. It is unlikely that you will (A) / find a more qualified and experience (B) / candidate
than Mr. Prasad (C) / for the post of President. (D) No error. (E)
35. On account of the rising (A) / costs many people are (B) / finding it difficult (C) / to
State Bank of India Clerk Exam., 2008
General English : Solved Paper
(Held on 13-7-2008) (IInd Shift)
Directions—(Q. 1–10) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions
given below it. Certain words are printed in bold to help you to locate them while
answering some of the questions.
There was a girl who sang beautifully at the temple every morning. The music master
used to happily recall, “One day when I went into the woods to pluck flowers, I found
this baby under a pipal tree.” He picked her up carefully, raised her lovingly as if she
was his daughter and taught her to sing before she spoke her first word.
The music master grew old and didn't see too well. The girl tended to him caringly. Many
people including young men travelled from far and wide to hear her sing. This made the
music master's heart quake with fear. “You will choose one of them as your husband.
What is to become of me ?” The girl replied, “I shall not be apart from you.” But on a full
moon night during the harvest festival, the master's chief disciple touched his feet
reverently and said, “Master grant me your permission for your daughter has agreed to
marry me.” The master's tears flowed freely, “She has chosen well. Go and fetch her, let
me hear you sing the first of many melodies that you will sing together.” The two began
to sing in harmony. But the song was interrupted by the arrival of the royal messenger.
“Your daughter is very fortunate-the king has sent for her,” the messenger said. At the
palace the Queen summoned the girl to her and said, ”I place upon you the honour of
making sure my daughter is never unhappy at her husband's home.” There wasn't a single
tear in the girl's eyes but she thought of the master and her heart was heavy.
That very night the princess began her journey to Kambhoj. The princess's royal chariot
led the procession and the girl's palanquin followed close behind carrying trunks of silks,
jewellry and precious stones. It was covered with a velvet sheet and had soldiers on both
sides. As the procession passed, the master and his disciple Kumarsen stood still by the
wayside. A collective sigh escaped the crowd gathered there wishing that the princess
wouldn't feel homesick in her faraway home.
1. Which of the following can be said about the girl ?
(1) She was brought up by her father as her mother had died when she was a baby.
(2) She was a talented singer who had learnt to sing at an early age.
(3) She was only allowed to sing with the master's permission.
(A) Only (1)
(B) Both (1) and (2)
(C) Only (2)
(D) All (1), (2) and (3)
(E) None of these
2. What was the girl's reaction to leaving home ?
(A) She was honoured to be serving the princess
(B) Sadness at leaving the master.
(C) She entrusted the task of looking after the music master to Kumarasen
(D) She was thrilled to be living in luxury
(E) None of these
3. What task was entrusted to the girl by the Queen ?
(A) Seeing that her daughter reached Kambhoj safely
(B) Entertaining the princess on her journey to Kambhoj
(C) Protecting the princess and reporting to the queen if she was unhappy
(D) Ensuring the princess' happiness
(E) None of these
4. What was the master's reaction to the girl's decision to marry his disciple ?
(A) He was upset and cried
(B) He promised to give his permission if the couple sang well together
(C) He was sad because she would be going to Kambhoj which was far away
(D) He was pleased with her choice of husband
(E) None of these
5. Which of the following is not true in the context of the passage ?
(1) The girl was leaving the master and going to Kambhoj once she was married.
(2) The king sent for the girl because she was a good singer.
(3) The master did not let the girl study any other subject except music.
(A) Only (1)
(B) Both (1) and (2)
(C) All (1), (2) and (3)
(D) Both (1) and (3)
(E) None of these
6. Why was the princess going on a journey ?
(1) She was going to her prospective husband's home to get engaged.
(2) Her parents wanted her to visit the kingdom of which she would be the future queen.
(3) To take expensive gifts for the rulers of the Kambhoj who were well known to her
parents.
(A) None
(B) Only (2)
(C) Only (1)
(D) Both (1) and (2)
(E) Both (2) and (3)
7. Why was the master afraid ?
(A) He felt the princess would treat the young girl unkindly
(B) He would be all alone after the girl's marriage
(C) The girl may not be able to adapt to her new home
(D) He was slowly going blind.
(E) None of these
Directions—(Q. 8–9) Choose the word which is MOST NEARLY the SAME in
MEANING as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
68. fortunate
(A) rich
(B) liked
(C) happy
(D) successful
(E) lucky
9. raised
(A) nurtured
(B) lifted
(C) grew
(D) built
(E) high
10. Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in meaning of the word Collective as
used in the passage—
(A) alone
(B) separately
(C) united
(D) partial
(E) single
Directions—(Q. 11–15) Read each sentence to find out whether there is any error in it.
The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The letter of that part is the answer.
If there is no error, the answer is (E). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.)
11. In present the (A)/ prices of food grains (B)/ are high all (C)/ over the world. (D) No
error (E)
12. Majority of the banks (A)/ today uses technology (B)/ to reach out to those (C)/living
in rural areas. (D) No error (E)
13. I will give (A)/ you the advance (B)/ if you repay it as (C)/ soon as possibly. (D) No
error (E)
14. Though he is very (A)/ wealthy and powerful (B)/ he has any (C)/ concern for the
poor. (D) No error (E)
15. Mala has the (A)/ ability t o handle (B)/ many tasks at (C)/ the same time. (D) No
error (E)
Directions—(Q. 16–20) Which of the phrases (A), (B), (C) and (D) given below should
replace the phrases given in bold in the following sentences to make the sentence
grammatically meaningful and correct. If the sentence is correct as it is and No correction
is required, mark (E) as the answer.
16. Finding himself in financial difficulty, he came forward me for help and advice—
(A) came across
(B) is come upto
(C) came to
(D) comes with
(E) No correction required
17. Deepak having been over eighteen years of age, is entitled to vote—
(A) has been of
(B) being over
(C) who is having over
(D) who is been
(E) No correction required
18. The magazine that we subscribe to is published monthly—
(A) which is subscribed
(B) we are subscribed
(C) whom we subscribe
(D) whichever we subscribe
(E) No correction required
19. Among of his many good qualities, that I remember is his honesty—
(A) All of his
(B) Some of the
(C) Only of his
(D) One of his
(E) No correction required
20. Many of our clients have deposit of this foreign bank—
(A) have deposits in
(B) had deposited
(C) with deposits
(D) have deposited
(E) No correction required
Directions—(Q. 21–25) Rearrange the following six sentences (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and
(6) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph; then answer the questions
given below them.
(1) The sailor was told it was placed there as warning signal to sailors to warn them of the
danger.
(2) He returned to the spot a few years later as captain of his own ship.
(3) The ship was at sea for many days and finally anchored near the coastline.
(4) The night was stormy and without a warning signal his ship was wrecked on that very
rock.
(5) One of the sailors on board saw a bell tied to a dangerous submerged rock.
(6) As a joke the sailor decided to steal the bell and hide it despite being informed of this.
21. Which of the following should be the FIRST sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) (1)
(B) (2)
(C) (3)
(D) (4)
(E) (5)
22. Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) (1)
(B) (2)
(C) (3)
(D) (4)
(E) (5)
23. Which of the following should be the THIRD sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) (1)
(B) (2)
(C) (3)
(D) (4)
(E) (5)
24. Which of the following should be the FIFTH sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) (1)
(B) (2)
(C) (3)
(D) (4)
(E) (5)
25. Which of the following should be the SIXTH (LAST) sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) (1)
(B) (2)
(C) (3)
(D) (4)
(E) (5)
Directions—(Q. 26–30) In each question below a sentence with four words printed in
bold type is given. These are lettered as (A), (B), (C) and (D). 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 letter 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 (E) i.e. ‘All Correct’ as your answer.
26. We have incurred (A) an expense (B) of over fifty thousands (C) this year alone.
(D) All correct (E)
27. World Earth Day is celeberated (A) as a means (B) to make people aware (C) about
the environment. (D) All correct (E)
28. The key issue (A) discused (B) at the meeting was how to resolve (C) the food crisis.
(D) All correct (E)
29. He deserves (A) some recognition (B) for working diligently (C) for the passed (D)
five years. All correct (E)
30. There are many employment (A) opportunities (B) for fresh graduates (C) in the
market (D) today. All correct (E)
Directions—(Q. 31–40) 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.
I had …(31)… to become a multipurpose manager. I took three steps to accomplish this.
First, I took very …(32)… part in professional associations. I …(33)… the National
President of the Indian Society for Training and Development–one of the …(34)…
organizations for HR professionals. This helped me to grow professionally. My
communication skills …(35)…. It also taught me …(36)… to conduct meetings in an
effective manner. My job …(37)… me to different parts of the country and I …(38)…
believe that …(39)… provided me with an education. I also wrote a lot. Newspaper
editors often approached me with …(40)… to write articles for their publications.
31. (A) achieved
(B) aim
(C) try
(D) dreamed
(E) wanted
32. (A) selected
(B) active
(C) interesting
(D) often
(E) joint
33. (A) elected
(B) voted
(C) became
(D) applied
(E) decided
34. (A) respected
(B) status
(C) impressed
(D) aged
(E) common
35. (A) lacked
(B) grown
(C) learnt
(D) improved
(E) earned
36. (A) that
(B) why
(C) how
(D) never
(E) anyhow
37. (A) saw
(B) showed
(C) posted
(D) discovered
(E) took
38. (A) quiet
(B) firmly
(C) strong
(D) first
(E) not
39. (A) travelling
(B) journey
(C) visit
(D) migrating
(E) shift
40. (A) wish
(B) offer
(C) appointments
(D) requests
(E) commands
Answers with Explanations
1. (C) 2. (B) 3. (D) 4. (E) 5. (B)
6. (A) 7. (B) 8. (E) 9. (B) 10. (A)
11. (A) Write ‘At’ in place of ‘In’.
12. (B) Write ‘use’. 13. (D) Write ‘possible’.
14. (C) Write ‘no’ in place of ‘any’.
15. (E) 16. (C) 17. (E) 18. (E) 19. (D)
20. (A) 21. (C) 22. (E) 23. (A) 24. (D)
25. (B) 26. (C) Write change ‘thousands’ to ‘thousand’.
27. (A) Write ‘celebrated’. 28. (B) Write ‘discussed’.
29. (D) Write ‘past’.
30. (E) 31. (E) 32. (B) 33. (C) 34. (A)
35. (D) 36. (C) 37. (E) 38. (B) 39. (A)
40. (D)
