IBPS: Previous English Papers

English Language Directions (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.
The yearly festival was close at hand. The store room was packed with silk fabrics. gold ornaments, clay bowls full of sweet curd and platefuls of sweetmeats. The orders had been placed with shops well in advance. The mother was sending out gifts to everyone. The eldest son, a government servant, lived with his wife and children in far off lands. The second son had left home at an early age. As a merchant he travelled all over the world. The other sons had split up over petty squabbles, and they now lived in homes of their own. The relatives were spread all across the world. They rarely visited. The youngest son, left in the company of a servant, was soon bored and stood at the door all day long, waiting and watching. His mother, thrilled and excited, loaded the presents on trays and plates, covered them with colorful kerchiefs, and sent them off with maids and servants. The neighbors looked on.
The day came to an end. All the presents had been sent off.
The child came back into the house and dejectedly said to his mother, ‘Maa, you gave a present to everyone, but you didn’t give me anything!’
His mother laughed, ‘I have given all the gifts away to everyone, now see what’s left for you.’ She kissed him on the forehead.
The child said in a tearful voice, ‘Don’t I get a gift?’
‘You’ll get it when you go far away.’
‘But when I am close to you, don’t I get something from your own hands?’
His mother reached out her arms and drew him to her. ‘This is all I have in my own hands. It is the most precious of all.’

1) Why did the woman’s second son travel?                                                               
a) He was restless by nature
b) He did not want to stay at home
c)  He was rich and could afford to travel
d) His job was such that he had to travel
e) None of these

2) Why did the woman’s eldest son not attend the festival?
He was not on good terms with his youngest brother who lived at home
He had quarreled with his mother
His wife did not allow him to return home
His job prevented him from taking leave
None of these

3) How did the woman prepare for the festival?
1. She bought expensive gifts for her children and neighbours.
2. She ordered her servants to prepare sweets and food well in advance.
3. She made sure that her youngest child was looked after so that he wouldn’t be bored.
None
Only 1
Only 2
Both 1 and 2
All 1, 2 and 3

4) What did the youngest child do while his mother was busy?
1. He waited for a chance to steal some sweetmeats.
2. He pestered his mother to give him a present.
3. He stood at the door with servants.
Only 1
Only 2
Both 1 and 3
Only 3
None of these

5) Which of the following can be said about the woman?
She was a widow who had brought up her children single handedly
She was not a good mother since her children had left home at an early age
She enjoyed sending her family gifts at festival time
She gave expensive presents to show that she was wealthy
She rarely visited her grand-children because they all lived abroad

6) What did the boy receive from his mother?
She taught him the value of patience
She encouraged him to grow up and live independently like his brothers
She showed him the importance of giving expensive gifts
She gave him a hug to express her love
None of these

7) Which of the following is TRUE in the context of the passage?
The woman usually ignored her youngest son
The woman’s eldest son lived abroad
The members of the woman’s family did not care about her
The woman made all the preparations herself since she did not want to burden the servants
The woman sent gifts to her children to ensure that they visited her

Directions (Q8-9): Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
 

8) Left
Gone
Quit
Remaining
Disappeared
Forgot

9) Packed
Filled
Squeezed
Crowd
Collected
Untidy

10) Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in meaning of the word dejectedly as used in the passage.
Calmly
Happily
Willingly
Fortunately
Softly

Directions(11-12): 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) Many multinational companies (A) / have not been as (B) /successful in India (C) /than we expected. (D) No error (E)
A
B
C
D

12) He has ruined (A) /his eyesight (B) /by not using (C) /his spectacles regularly. (D) No error (E)
A
B
C
D
E

13) Mostly of the (A) /newly recruited officers (B) /have no experience (C) /in the banking sector (D) No error (E)

A

B

C

D

E 

14) The resignation of (A) /one of our directors (B) /have caused the price (C) / of shares to fall. (D) No error (E)
A
B
C
Answer:C
Explanation:Change ‘have’ to ‘has’.
D
E

(15) There are many (A) /ways of which (B) /inflation can (C) /be measured. (D) No error (E)
A
B
Answer:B
Explanation:Replace ‘of’ with ‘in’
C
D
E

Directions(Q16-20): Which of the phrases (A), (B), (C) and (D) 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 (E) as the answer.

(16) Each of the loan must be approved by the Branch Manager-
Every loan
Each one of the loan
Any of the loan
All of the loan
No correction required

(17) The issue was taken before the Municipal Corporation meeting last week-
Taking place at
Taken after
Being taken in
Taken up at
No correction required

(18) He has asked for the names of those employees involved in the project.
had asked
having asked about
was asked that
is asking
no correction required

(19) Considerate the traffic, it is better to leave for the airport an hour early-
While considering
Consideration of
Considering
Being considerate to
No correction required

(20) He is a good leader, knowing that to motivate his employees to achieve””
That known when
Who knows how
Which knows how
Knowing what
No correction required

Directions(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 able bodied men of the tribe gathered to discuss how to climb the mountain.
(2) As part of their plundering they kidnapped a baby of one of the families.
(3) One day the mountain tribe invaded those living in the valley.
(4) ‘We couldn’t climb the mountain. How could you?-, they asked, ‘It wasn’t your baby !’ she replied.
(5) There were two tribes in the Andes’ one lived in the valley and the other high up in the mountains.
(6) Two days later they noticed the child’s mother coming down the mountain that they hadn’t yet figured out how to climb.

(21) Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence after rearrangement?
1
2
3
4
5

(22) Which of the following should be the FIFTH sentence after rearrangement ?
6
5
4
3
2

(23) Which of the following should be the FIRST sentence after rearrangement ?
1
2
3
4
5

(24) Which of the following should be the SIXTH (LAST) sentence after rearrangement ?
1
2
3
4
5

(25) Which of the following should be the THIRD sentence after rearrangement ?
1
2
3
4
5

Directions(Q26-30): In each question below a sentence with four words printed in bold type is given. These are lettered (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) The income (A) of many people in rural (B) India is not adequate (C) to satisfy (D) their basic needs. All correct (E)
A
B
C
D
E

(27) He is always (A) prompt (B) in caring (C) out instructions. (D) All correct (E)
A
B
C
D
E

(28) The revized (A) rates (B) of interest will be effective (C) immediately. (D) All correct (E)
A
B
C
D
E

(29) Such transactions (A) are quiet (B) expensive (C) and time consuming (D) for customers. All correct (E)
A
B
C
D
E

(30) The guidelines (A) of the new scheme (B) are expected (C) to be finally (D) soon. All correct (E)
A
B
C
D
E

Directions(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/ phrases are suggested one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.
 

(31) I used to look …(81)… to the holidays. I was usually …(82)… to my uncle’s house where I …(83)… his children. I did not get paid a salary for …(84)… What I received in return however, was far more …(85)… My uncle was an avid reader. During the time I spent with his family I had an …(86)… to read the vast amount of books and magazines that he possessed. This improved my English to some …(87)… Reading became my new …(88–89)… spending my pocket money on a ticket to the cinema I began to …(90)… books. This has benefited me greatly.
forward
towards
backward
up
around

(32) I was usually …(82)… to my uncle’s house
went
sent
visited
travelled
gone

(33) where I …(83)… his children.
cared
occupy
guarded
taught
played

(34) I did not get paid a salary for …(84)….
them
whom
this
now
which

(35) What I received in return however, was far more …(85)….
expensive
deserving
helping
demanding
valuable

(36) During the time I spent with his family I had an …(86)……….
opportunity
ability
use
encouragement
achievement

(37) This improved my English to some …(87)….
distance
extent
time
limits
degrees

(38) Reading became my new …(88)…
activity
hope
hobby
duty
worship

(39) Reading became my new …(88–89)…
despite
though
by
instead of
while

(40) I began to …(90)… books. This has benefited me greatly.
sell
read
exchange
invest
buy

Directions(Q41-50): 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/ phrases are suggested one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.

(41) Each year Middle class Indian children …(91)… hundred of crores of rupees in pocket money and …(92)… a heavy burden parental …(93)… like adults, these kids have …(94)… connected with budgeting and saving money. unfortunately, basic money …(95)… is …(96)… taught in schools. At home, very few parents …(97)… money matters with their children. Kids who …(98)… about money …(99)… have been found to be way ahead of their peers. Indeed, learning to …(100)… with money properly fosters discipline, good work habits and self respect.
spend
steal
save
give
invest

(42) …(92)… a heavy burden parental
move
take
risk
put
lift

(43) a heavy burden parental …(93)… like adults,
promises
payments
demands
attitudes
incomes

(44) these kids have …(94)… connected with budgeting and saving money.
expenses
experience
problems
guidance
necessities

(45) basic money …(95)… is …(96)… taught in schools.
availability
inflation
economics
problem
management

(46) unfortunately, basic money …(95)… is …(96)… taught in schools.
carefully
rarely
generally
always
thoroughly

(47) very few parents …(97)… money matters with their children.
discuss
understand
teach
reveal
advise

(48) Kids who …(98)… about money
quarrel
ask
learn
waste
spend

(49) …(99)… have been found to be way ahead of their peers.
slowly
early
timely
lately
regularly

(50) Indeed, learning to …(100)… with money properly fosters discipline, good work habits and self respect.
decide
earn
control
deal
pay