Directions (Q, 1-5): 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.
India's manufacturing growth fell to its lowest in more than two years in September 2011, reinforcing fears that an extended period of high policy rates is hurting growth, according to a closely vatched index.
The HSBC India Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), based on a survey of over 500 companies, fell to 50.4 from 52.6 in August and 53.6 in July. It was the lowest since March 2009, when the reading was below 50, indicating contraction. September's index also recorded the biggest one-month fall since November 2008.
The sub-index for new orders, which reflects future output, declined for the sixth successive month, while export orders fell for a third month on the back of weakness in global economy.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) last week indicated it was not done yet with monetary policy tightening as inflation was still high. The bank has already raised rates 12 times since March 2010 to tame inflation, which is at a 13-month high of 9.78%.
Economists expect the RBI to raise rates one more time but warn that targeted growth will be hard to achieve if the slump continues. "This (fall in PMI) was driven by weaker orders, with export orders still contracting due to the weaker global economic conditions," HSBC said in a press release quoting its chief economist for India & ASEAN.
PMI is considered a fairly good indicator of manufacturing activity the world over, but in the case of India, the large contribution of the unorganised sector yields a low correlation with industrial growth.
However, the Index for Industrial Production (IIP) has been showing a weakening tend, having slipped to a 21- month low of 3.3% in July. The core sector, which consists of eight infrastructure industries and has a combined weight of 37.9% in the IIP, also grew at only 3.5% in August.
The PMI data is in line with the suffering manufacturing activity in India as per other estimates. Producers are seeing that demand conditions are softening and the outlook is uncertain, therefore they are producing less.
Employment in the manufacturing sector declined for the second consecutive month, indicating it too was under pressure. This could be attributed to lower requirement of staff and rise in resignations as higher wage requests go unfulfilled, the HSBC statement said.
On the inflation front, input prices rose at an 11-month low rate, but despite signs of softening, they still remain at historically high levels.
While decelerating slightly, the readings for input and output prices suggest that inflation pressures remain firmly in place.
Most economists feel the RBI is close to the end of its rate hike cycle. Even the weekly Wholesale Price Index (WPI) estimates have started showing signs of softening, having fallen more than one percentage point.
1. The PMI is based on surveys of
1) Individual Consumers 2) Companies 3) Countries
4) Economists 5) Banks
2. Which year did PMI record the biggest one-month fall since 2008?
1)2008 2)2009 3)2010
4)2011 5) None of these
3. Which of the following explains the phrase, as used in the passage, "it was not done yet"?
1) It is over now 2) There is no hope 3) There is still hope
4) Rates will be further raised 5) PMI will further fall
4. Which of the following is indicated by the sub-index for new orders?
1) Export orders 2) WPI 3) Inflation
4) Output price 5) Future output
5. How many companies are included in PMI data from India?
1) About 100 2) Less than 10 3) Between 100 to 300
4) More than 500 5) More than 10,000
6. Which of the following is the prediction of economists about RBI's rate hike cycle, as per the passage?
1) There will not be many rate hikes
2) The rate reduction cycle will start soon.
3) There will be many more rate hikes.
4) Not indicated in the passage.
5) None of these
7. Which of the following is not true about PMI data in India?
1) It reflects decline in manufacturing.
2) In September 2011, PMI was 50.4.
3) Reduction is export orders affected PMI.
4) Other related estimates support PMI data.
5) PMI data is reported once in 3 months.
8. PMI is used
1) Only in India
2) World over
3) Only in ASEAN countries
4) Only in developed countries
5) Only in developing countries
9. Which of the following is indicated as one of the reasons for the fall in PMI?
1) Less number of orders were placed.
2) Unorganised sector failed to give the required results.
3) Industrial unrest reduced manufacturing.
4) RBI has stopped raising the rates.
5) WPI has shown signs of softening.
10. Which of the following is correct in the context of the passage?
1) India's manufacturing growth was the lowest in 2010.
2) PMI is not affected by high policy rates.
3) Employment in manufacturing sector was also affected adversely.
4) The input prices were lowest in 2011 as compared to earlier years.
5) HP was 37.9% in August.
Directions (Q. 11-13): Choose the word(s) which is most nearly the same in meaning to the word printed in hold, as used in the passage.
11. yields
1) relents 2) submits 3) produces 4) reduces 5) withstands
12. tame
1) increase 2) timid 3) study 4) control 5) understand
13. still
1) silent 2) now as before 3) nevertheless 4) quiet 5) in spite of
Directions (Q. 14-15): Choose the word(s) which is most opposite in meaning of the word printed in bold, as used in the passage.
14. reinforcing
1) contradicting 2) wishing 3) jolting 4) forcing 5) re-inventing
15. slump
1) output 2) rise 3) slide 4) slack 5) input
Directions (Q. 16-20): 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) ie, 'All Correct', as your answer.
16. Another advantage is that technology can be quickly
1) 2) 3)
adapted to the client's needs. All correct
4) 5)
17. It freed me to enter one of the most creatively periods
1) 2) 3) 4) of my life. All correct
5)
18. About 4,500 private and 2000 government hospitols are
1) 2)
empanelled under the scheme. All correct
3) 4) 5)
19. More often then not we feel concerned with the
1) 2) 3)
development around us. All correct
4) 5)
20. Software makers in India are facing a huge pressure.
1) 2) 3) 4) 5)All correct
Directions (Q. 21-25): 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. The number of that word is the answer.
21. I. The truck stopped_____.
II. We take a_walk every day.
1) suddenly 2) long 3) short 4) distant 5) near
22. I. I got the grains ______ in the machine.
II. I do not have any _______ for doubting him.
l) done 2) basis 3) ground 4) crushed 5) tune
23. I. We were asked to design a______ of the dam.
II. This Institute is a________ of modern thinking.
1) picture 2) type 3) function 4) fabric 5) model
24. I. Keep a _____ grip on the railing.
II. He was ______ asleep.
1) fast 2) firm 3) deep 4) strong 5) sure
25. I. He asked me to ________ over the fence.
II. We should keep the valuables in the __________ .
1) vault 2) cross 3) safe 4) tie 5) locker
Directions (Q. 26-30): 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 answer.
26. Most of time strangers have helped in critical situations.
1) Many a time 2) At time 3) More of time 4) At odd period
5) No correction required
27. The reality is that India needs a strong, efficient and competitive aviation sector.
1) what India needs 2) that India need 3) therefore India need
4) needs India 5) No correction required
28. I have known this industry since the last two decades.
1) since last two decade
2) ever since the last two decades
3) for the last two decades
4) from the last two decades
5) No correction required
29. Today's children have far most knowledge and far less patience compared to our generation.
1) much most knowledge 2) far most knowledgeable
3) by far higher knowledge 4) far more knowledge
5) No correction required
30. Of late, Bonsai trees have attracted the attention of one and all.
1) some and all 2) many and all 3) everyone and all
4) none and all 5) No correction required
Directions (Q. 31-40): 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).
31. 1) All companies must / 2) send its annual report to / 3) its shareholders twenty-one days / 4) before the Annual General Body Meeting. / 5) No error
32. 1) To be an effective manager / 2) it is vital to / 3) know the goals and vision / 4) of your organisation. / 5) No error
33. 1) His aim is / 2) provided cheap and / 3) reliable internet facilities / 4) to every village within five years. / 5) No error
34. 1) Bank notes have / 2) many special features so / 3) that bank staff can / 4) easier identify fake notes. / 5) No error
35. 1) According to the Census Bureau, / 2) India will have / 3) a more population / 4) than China by 2025. / 5) No error
36. 1) The state government has / 2) issued licences to farmers / 3) allowing them to sell / 4) its vegetables to hotels. / 5) No error
37. 1) Many people decide / 2) not to buy a car / 3) last Diwali because of / 4) the high price of petrol last year. / 5) No error
38. 1) We plan to / 2) sell part of our / 3) business therefore we have / 4) to repay a loan. / 5) No error
39. 1) The Reserve Bank of India is / 2) the only central bank in / 3) Asia which have / 4) raised interest rates in September. / 5) No error
40. 1) Under this scheme / 2) insurance companies will reimburse / 3) any expenditure on medicines / 4) if you submitting the original bills. / 5) No error
Directions (Q. 41-50): 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 are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.
Today experts all over the world are of the opinion that agriculture will affect the future of the world.
The world has a serious food (41) and the only way to solve (42) is if more people take up (43). Moreover since the 1980s, technology and finance jobs (44) been the basis of America's economy. (45), in recent times, farmers' incomes have risen (46). It has also been a long time (47) farming was a major source of employment, but data (48) that unemployment in America is (49) in states where farming is the (50) occupation.
As the demand for food is rising - what the world needs today is more fanners.
41.
1) trouble
2) problem
3) doubt
4) discussion
5) production
42.
l) how
2) usually
3) it
4) these
5) which
43.
1) farming
2) time
3) matter
4) offer
5) job
44.
1) also
2) has
3) not
4) have
5) were
45.
1) However
2) Instead
3) Despite
4) Again
5) Still
46.
l) much
2) up
3) above
4) sharply
5) highly
47.
l) when
2) since
3) while
4) as
5) after
48.
1) collected
2) informs
3) calculate
4) analysed
5) show
49.
1) lowest
2) smaller
3) decreased
4) important
5) not
50.
1). mostly
2) best
3) suitable
4) superior
5) main
