United Bank of India P.O. Exam, 2010 : English Language Solved Paper

United Bank of India P.O. Exam., 2010
(Held on 14-11-2010)
English Language : Solved Paper

Directions—(Q. 1 to 10) 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.

People are as much attuned to fairness as they are to individual selfinterest. Therefore, any institution regulating human behaviour will have to …1… that the compromises between individual self-interest, collective interest and fairness are all within tolerable limits. These tradeoffs are as …2… for larger institutions, including the largest of them all, i.e., the state, as they are for the smallest ones like the family. …3… as parents should not repeatedly favour one child over another, the state cannot repeatedly favour one community or class over another. The …4… of fairness is ingrained in our psyches. Since human beings often grab what they can, we need institutions to ensure fair …5…. Of these institutions, the state is the most important, since it is …6… to ensure that basic human needs are ensured with minimal standards of fairness. A state …7… of or uninterested in ensuring equity in security, education, food, health and shelter is a state whose legitimacy will be questioned.

Further, the legitimacy of the state is dependent on its being as close to a neutral umpire as possible. When the state …8… partisan, its legitimacy can be questioned. When the state sheds the umpire's clothes and becomes one of the players, the rules of fair play are so badly …9… that we can only call such an event intolerable …10….

1. (A) ensure
(B) consider
(C) regulate
(D) encompass
(E) demand
Ans : (A)

2. (A) juvenile
(B) insignificant
(C) supreme
(D) part
(E) important
Ans : (E)

3. (A) Same
(B) So
(C) Like
(D) Just
(E) Presently
Ans : (D)


4. (A) judgement
(B) end
(C) drama
(D) conclusion
(E) opinion
Ans : (A)

5. (A) dissipations
(B) outcomes
(C) affects
(D) discouragements
(E) people
Ans : (B)

6. (A) calculated
(B) considered
(C) hastened
(D) designed
(E) stimulated
Ans : (D)

7. (A) riddled
(B) powerful
(C) incapable
(D) shortening
(E) qualified
Ans : (C)

8. (A) allow
(B) become
(C) recommends
(D) visualizes
(E) appears
Ans : (E)

9. (A) stopped
(B) mended
(C) broken
(D) abated
(E) twist
Ans : (C)

10. (A) fairness
(B) injustice
(C) murder
(D) fortune
(E) truth
Ans : (B)

Directions—(Q. 11 to 15) Rearrange the following five sentences (I), (II), (III), (IV) and (V) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph; then answer the questions given below them—
(I) For almost two months now, the struggle to cap the oil well and protect large sections of the country's coastline from being devastated has been the top story in the news and the major concern of the US administration.
(II) At present, though, one finds little expression of this in the discussions around the oil spill.
(III) In these months it has been realized that this is an environmental crisis of gigantic proportions, and is purely man-made.
(IV) Oil and water do not mix, as the Americans are being forced to accept with the tragic oil spill from a British Petroleum oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico.
(V) Whether in the long-term this will compel Americans to think again about their dependence on fossil fuels and seriously embark on the path of scaling it down and encouraging alternatives remains to be seen.

11. Which of the following should be the FIRST sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) I
(B) II
(C) III
(D) IV
(E) V
Ans : (D)

12. Which of the following should be the THIRD sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) I
(B) II
(C) III
(D) IV
(E) V
Ans : (A)

13. Which of the following should be the FIFTH sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) V
(B) IV
(C) III
(D) II
(E) I
Ans : (A)

14. Which of the following should be the FOURTH sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) I
(B) II
(C) III
(D) IV
(E) V
Ans : (C)

15. Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) V
(B) IV
(C) III
(D) II
(E) I
Ans : (D)

Directions—(Q. 16 to 20) In each of the following sentences an highlighted. Select the alternative which best describes its use in the sentence. If none of the alternatives explains the usage of the term adequately, give ‘None of these’ as your answer.

16. Anuj had made a huge mistake in the presentation about his company and thus his immediate boss took him to task.
(A) Anuj's immediate boss took Anuj to his superior for another assignment after he had made a mistake in the presentation
(B) Anuj's immediate boss patiently explained to Anuj that the mistake made by him in the presentation was excusable
(C) Anuj’s immediate boss completely ignored Anuj's mistake in the presentation and explained to him other tasks that were to be done
(D) Anuj's immediate boss assigned Anuj another job after he had made a mistake in his presentation
(E) None of these
Ans : (E)

17. “Raman is the best player that our team has and in the big games against the best players. He takes no prisoners.”
(A) Raman is determined and does not care about other people's opinions while playing in the big games against the best players
(B) In the big games against the best players Raman physically injures every player of the other team
(C) Raman is very cautious and plans every move while playing in the big games against the best players
(D) Raman employs unfair means while playing in the big games against the best players
(E) None of these
Ans : (A)

18. Ritu tried her best to convince the villagers to open a school for the children, but it looked like she was beating a dead horse.
(A) Ritu's effort of trying to convince the villagers to open a school for the children was being perceived as a statement of anger
(B) Ritu was trying harder than was necessary to convince the villagers to open a school for the children
(C) Ritu's effort of trying to convince the villagers to open a school for the children did not look like it would succeed
(D) Ritu looked desperate while trying to convince the villagers to open a school for the children
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

19. By revising the tax code, the Government would be opening a Pandora's Box.
(A) The Government would be inviting the public wrath on revising the tax code
(B) Along with the revision of the tax code the Government would get several other unknown benefits
(C) The Government would be inviting a series of unforeseen troubles by revising the tax code
(D) Revising the tax code would work to the advantage of the Government
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

20. Left to his own devices. Mahesh would hire someone to do the dirty work of washing dishes.
(A) Mahesh needed constant supervision in order to wash the dishes
(B) If Mahesh were allowed to do as he wished, he would appoint someone to wash the dishes
(C) Mahesh would use a series of devices in order to appoint someone to wash the dishes
(D) Mahesh would hire someone to wash the dishes in the dishwasher
(E) None of these
Ans : (D)

Directions—(Q. 21 to 25) Each question below has two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Choose the set of words for each blank which best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

21. Despite the collapse of efforts to legislate a climate bill, the country has……international negotiators it remains……to reducing carbon emissions over the next ten years.
(A) entrusted, obligated
(B) promised, averse
(C) declared, ignorant
(D) assured, committed
(E) pledged, attentive
Ans : (D)

22. The health officials were told to …… the medical practitioners about the treatment and immediate medical …… to be given to swine flu patients.
(A) inform, assistance
(B) enlist, backing
(C) dissuade, aid
(D) apprise, emergency
(E) encourage, help
Ans : (A)

23. …… by other singers and musicians, the singer sang his heart out and even …… the young newcomers during their act.
(A) Helped, smiled
(B) Accompanied, cheered
(C) Created, judged
(D) Stopped, applauded
(E) Assisted, greeted
Ans : (D)

24. Considering the …… of the city to chemical and industrial disasters, the State disaster management authority has decided to constitute an expert study group to analyze all possible threats and suggest …… to make the city ‘disaster-resilient’.
(A) vulnerability, measures
(B) propensity, sketches
(C) volatility, plans
(D) regularity, preparations
(E) instability, maps
Ans : (C)

25. The actress' …… from a chilledout girl off screen to an intense actor on screen in just a few minutes is …… amazing.
(A) change, improperly
(B) revolution, just
(C) transformation, simply
(D) adjustment, really
(E) renovation, truthfully
Ans : (C)

Directions—(Q. 26 to 35) 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 letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (E). (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.)

26. The actress believes in (A) / being fit and feels that there (B) / are too much hype around size zero (C) / in the entertainment world. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)

27. The celebrations continued (A) / through the evening as more (B) / and more friends joins (C) / in the fun and frolic. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (C)

28. Even though the exchange attract (A) / the attention of all those present at (B) / the police station, the inspector continued (C) / his tirade against the girl. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (A)

29. While the actress wins fans with (A) / her on screen fire works, off screen, it's her (B) / down-to-earth attitude and easy-going manner (C) / that wins her friends. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)

30. The Indian team cannot win the series (A) / and even pulling off a draw could (B) / be a tough proposition with (C) / its lead bowlers not playing. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)

31. The sole idea behind (A) / conducting such programmes (B) / is to create awareness (C) / among young minds for our culture. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (E)

32. The games scheduled to be held in the State (A) / have been plunged into crisis just two months prior the (B) / opening ceremony by allegations of corruption, (C) / shoddy workmanship and delays in handing over venues. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)

33. The market continues to be positive (A) / and in the next quarter we expected (B) / the trend to continue with (C) / the onset of the festive season. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (B)

34. The reports prompted the chairman of (A) / the organising committee to address a hurried press conference (B) / where he reprimanded the media (C) / for conducting a “prejudiced campaign.” (D) No error (E)
Ans : (E)

35. With this initiative the corporation (A) / hopes to assure the public that (B) / it is confident of providing good service (C) / and renewing their faith with the public transport system. (D) No error (E)
Ans : (D)

Directions—(Q. 36 to 43) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words / phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

Indians are known for their obsessive and compulsive fascination for gold. India is the largest importer and largest consumer of the yellow metal as Indians buy about 25 per cent of the world's gold. In 2008, India imported around 400 tons of it. About 80 per cent of the world's extracted gold is fashioned as jewellery. However, most of us don't know or don't think about the environmental cost of the metal. For instance, extracting enough gold to forge a solitary, no-frills wedding band ultimately translates into roughly 20-30 tons of waste. At some mines in Nevada (USA), 100 tons or more of earth have been excavated for a single ounce of gold.

The waste is of two forms : redundant rock, which is typically piled as flat heaps in locations near the mining site and the effluent or tailings which are a result of chemical processing of the mined ore. Sulphides in the redundant rock react with oxygen, making sulphuric acid which frees heavy metals like cyanide, cadmium, lead and mercury harmful to people even at miniscule concentrations. The tailings component is typically a thick slurry laced with cyanide, aluminum, copper, lead, and mercury; enough to decimate fish populations of water environments it is disposed of into. Disposal of wet tailings into water bodies has been effectively banned in developed countries but it continues to be practiced in most developing nations. There is also a very real danger of surface water and ground water table contamination on account of these heavy metals.

In fact, gold mining generates more waste per ounce than any other metal and the effects are starting. Mining for gold has left huge gouges on the face of the earth, so massive that they can be seen from space.

According to a study, respiratory ailments, soil and water contamination, thick blankets of dust, withering of coconut trees and changes in land pattern use are some of the common features of the urban area around a particular gold mine in Karnataka. Many areas are reported to have become infertile because of soil contamination. They contain a percentage of heavy metals enough to retard plant growth.

Similarly, accounting to another report in 2008, nearly seven years after the closure of these mines, the people of this region continue to face serious environmental and health problems, particularly in July and August, due to winds in these months that carry with them cyanide particles from the dust piles in the abandoned mines. When the mines were operational, al layer of red soil used to be put over these dust piles before these crucial months to prevent the cyanide particles from being carried away by the heavy winds. Now that the mines have been closed, the mitigative measures have ceased as well.

People from socially and economically marginalized communities turn to mining to escape acute poverty, unemployment, and landlessness. In some cases, their homes and farms may be ‘acquired’ for large-scale gold mining. While compensation is promised to them, it may take a year or two to kick in. Till then, forced to eke out a bare livelihood mostly in a kind of lottery system, they resort to crude methods to separate any flecks of gold that may be there in the discarded waste rock using mercury. In the process, destroy themselves slowly as well as their environment. The shanty towns which inevitably come up around the large-scale mining sites only serve to add to the problem. Given their illegal and therefore unrecognized nature, they lack basic amenities like garbage disposal and water supply and sanitation, becoming another unsightly blot on the land-scape.

According to the World Gold Council, while estimates of numbers engaged in artisanal mining vary widely, they range between 13 and 20 million men, women and children from over 50 developing countries. Indeed, it is believed that as much as a quarter of the world's gold is supplied by artisanal miners. Their efforts to earn themselves a daily wage have resulted in huge habitat loss and destruction. For example, huge patches of land, once home to lush trees in the island of Borneo in Indonesia, are being swiftly rendered treeless and lifeless pits of waste. Incidentally, the island is highly famed for its rich biodiversity. Combined with heavy pressures from the logging lobby and need for cheap power through hydroelectricity and relentless mining activity, it is hard to imagine if Borneo will manage to retain its crown.

Why should these facts about gold mining bother us ? After all, we just import the metal; we do not mine it here to the extent other countries do. That's about to change though. New Delhi has big plans to fuel growth in the mining sector and is looking to open investment in gold mining in the country and in a big way.

However, India's environmental track record in mining has been anything but stellar. And this is something that requires close attention in light of the planned increased forays into gold mining. Even with the comparatively minuscule amounts of gold mining done so far, we have tripped up on environmental considerations. Geologically, India's terrain is very similar to those in other parts of the world where there have been huge gold finds. What we need to do is learn from the mistakes committed by certain developed countries in their own backyard. We have a whole series of examples of where things have gone wrong from other developing countries. We need to use these insights to our
advantage, and quickly.

36. According the author, how are gold mines detrimental to the environment as well as public health even after their closure ?
(A) The layer of red soil used to cover dust piles in these mines seeps into the ground water, thereby making it unfit for consumption
(B) The mines weaken land mass and increase the chances of occurrence of earthquakes, especially after there is no one looking after them
(C) The mitigative measures adopted after the closure of these mines are not supervised adequately hence are highly damaging
(D) The unsupervised mines now become a threat to the environment as inexperienced people carry out unchecked mining activities
(E) Winds in specific months carry harmful heavy metal particles from the dust heaps accumulated in these mines
Ans : (E)

37. Why, according the author, should India worry about gold mining and its effects ?
(A) As India is planning to increase its investment in gold mining and is looking to increase activities in this sector in the near future
(B) As India has been extensively carrying out gold mining in the past and its environmental record is not encouraging
(C) As a large number of people in India are employed in this unorganized sector which is detrimental to the country's economy
(D) As India's terrain is geologically unstable and is similar to other lands in the world where gold mining is carried out
(E) As India is committing the same mistakes committed by other developed nations when it comes to gold mining
Ans : (A)

38. What is the author's intention behind writing this passage ?
(A) To discourage the Indian government from investing in gold mining
(B) To bring forward the problems associated with gold mining for India's benefit
(C) To discourage Indians from buying gold based on its repercussions
(D) To advocate the import of gold instead of mining for it
(E) To goad the Indian government into bringing the artisanal workers under the purview of the organized sector
Ans : (B)

39. Which of the following is possibly the most appropriate title for the passage ?
(A) Gold Mining and India-The Inseparable Duo
(B) Artisanal Mining and its Effects
(C) Gold Mining Activities in Asia
(D) Gold-The Most Expensive Metal in the World
(E) Lure for Gold-The Stark Reality
Ans : (E)

40. Which of the following is not true about the island of Borneo in Indonesia, as given in the passage ?
(1) Large pieces of land are being destroyed because of mining.
(2) There is a large among of mining activity being carried out on this island.
(3) It would be known for its rich biodiversity in the future.
(A) Only (1) and (2)
(B) Only (2)
(C) Only (3)
(D) Only (2) and (3)
(E) All (1), (2) and (3) are true
Ans : (A)

41. Why, according to the author, is the environmental cost of gold very high ?
(A) As gold is the only metal which generates harmful waste on its excavation
(B) As excavation of gold releases the highest amount of pollutants into the air as compared to any other metal
(C) As gold excavation is a very tedious process and requires usage of a number of environmentally destructive resources
(D) As the amount of gold recovered in proportion to the land excavated is negligible
(E) As the transformation of raw gold into a piece of jewellery is very expensive and is environmentally harmful
Ans : (D)

42. Which of the following is/are ill effects of gold mining as mentioned in the passage ?
(1) Waste generated while mining for gold is harmful even in small quantities.
(2) Groundwater gets polluted due to the release of heavy metals generated from the mining of gold.
(3) Gold mining activities cause respiratory illnesses in people.
(A) Only (1)
(B) All (1), (2) and (3)
(C) Only (2) and (3)
(D) Only (2)
(E) Only (1) and (2)
Ans : (B)

43. Which of the following is true about the people who carry out gold mining activities ?
(1) Their employment is purely legal in nature.
(2) They employ unsophisticated methods of mining.
(3) They do not have essential amenities.
(A) Only (2)
(B) Only (1) and (2)
(C) Only (3)
(D) Only (2) and (3)
(E) All (1), (2) and (3) are true
Ans : (C)

Directions—(Q. 44 to 47) Choose the word/group of words which is most similar in meaning to the word/ group of words printed in bold as used in the passage.

44. FUEL
(A) Fire
(B) Increase
(C) Light
(D) Energy
(E) Petroleum
Ans : (B)

45. FORGE
(A) Create
(B) Counterfeit
(C) Fake
(D) Falsify
(E) Copy
Ans : (A)

46. DECIMATE
(A) Destroy
(B) Divide
(C) Augment
(D) Vacate
(E) Equalize
Ans : (A)

47. FASHIONED AS
(A) Derived into
(B) Marketed as
(C) Stylized as
(D) Made into
(E) Attracted to
Ans : (D)

Directions—(Q. 48 to 50) Choose the word/group of words which is most opposite in meaning to the word/group of words printed in bold as used in the passage.

48. MASSIVE
(A) Meager
(B) Tiny
(C) Dim
(D) Inadequate
(E) Gigantic
Ans : (A)

49. INEVITABLY
(A) Unexpectedly
(B) Silently
(C) Unavoidably
(D) Forcefully
(E) Inescapably
Ans : (A)

50. CEASED
(A) Released
(B) Embarked
(C) Started
(D) Ended
(E) Measured
Ans : (C)

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