IBPS Clerk Reading Comprehension
Directions (Q1-Q10): Read
the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below
it. Certain words/phrases are given in bold to help you to locate while
answering some of the questions.
Planning in India has essentially been an effort to determine
the overall direction of the economy by directing public investment
accordingly. It was possible to conceive of outcomes on the basis of
government spending between 1947 and 1985 when the public sector made up
more than half the gross domestic product. Now that is neither possible
nor desirable.
The private sector accounts for three-fourths of the gross domestic
product, reducing the role of public expenditure in meeting growth
targets. Besides, decades of the government occupying the commanding
heights of the economy merely resulted in low rates of growth and nearly
two-fifth of the population living below the poverty line till 1991.
How
can planning contribute to today’s economy? It should be reconceived as
a think tank that works at maximising outcomes from investments in
social and physical infrastructure by identifying problems of governance. Outcomes in health and education are crucial
to realise the potential of our billion-plus population, while
shortcomings in power and port handling facilities can hold up future
growth. Where public-private partnerships involve a number of government
agencies, the Commission can work as a nodal body that takes a larger
view of projects and ensures their smooth implementation. Planners
should aim at meeting
growth targets by ensuring that markets function efficiently. They can
advise the government on market-specific policies that address lack of
access to information. They can identify sunrise areas in the next
decade and promote research and innovation through public-private
partnership. Simultaneously, planners should explore markets for
products made by unskilled workers.
The
Eleventh Plan aims at 9 per cent “inclusive” growth by raising
investment in infrastructure from 5 per cent of GDP to 9 percent. Of the
$475 billion investment needed for infrastructure, $130-140 billion is
expected to come from the private sector. Public sector enterprises are
expected to raise resources internally, with the Plan proposing lower
support for them. The Plan has got its priorities right by reducing
support for PSEs and increasing social sector allocations. Education is a
big-ticket item, with the Planning Commission earmarking Rs. 2,75,289
crores for it alone with a view to meeting the skills shortage. Sadly,
health has not been given the same emphasis. But, generally speaking, we
are on the right track.
Q1. Which of the following was possible during the first 38 years after India’s independence?
1. Increasing the domestic product of the public sector by more than half
2. Controlling government spending in proportion to gross domestic product
3. Envisioning the result of economic growth with the help of Government spending
4. Strike a balance between government spending and gross domestic product
5. None of these
1. Increasing the domestic product of the public sector by more than half
2. Controlling government spending in proportion to gross domestic product
3. Envisioning the result of economic growth with the help of Government spending
4. Strike a balance between government spending and gross domestic product
5. None of these
Q2. Which of the following best described “Planning” in India?
1. An attempt to mobilise public investment to give a proper direction to economy
2. An effort to lead the market in the direction of public investment
3. An attempt to invest public assets in social infrastructure to gain maximum leverage
4. An effort to bring out the best economic ventures to utilise public money
5. An attempt to make public investment worthy of the objective of planning
1. An attempt to mobilise public investment to give a proper direction to economy
2. An effort to lead the market in the direction of public investment
3. An attempt to invest public assets in social infrastructure to gain maximum leverage
4. An effort to bring out the best economic ventures to utilise public money
5. An attempt to make public investment worthy of the objective of planning
Q3. Which of the following functions does the author envisage for the Planning Commission in India?
(A) Advising the government on market specific policies
(B) Accomplishing predetermined growth
(C) Eradicating inadequacies in accessing information
1. Both (A) and (B)
2. Both (B) and (C)
3. Both (A) and (C)
4. All the three
5. None of these
(A) Advising the government on market specific policies
(B) Accomplishing predetermined growth
(C) Eradicating inadequacies in accessing information
1. Both (A) and (B)
2. Both (B) and (C)
3. Both (A) and (C)
4. All the three
5. None of these
Q4. Which of the following, according to the author, is a way to derive “maximum” outcome from investment?
1. By laying more emphasis on health and education
2. By exploring and recognising problems of governance
3. By boosting public-private partnership
4. By appointing a nodal body
5. None of these
1. By laying more emphasis on health and education
2. By exploring and recognising problems of governance
3. By boosting public-private partnership
4. By appointing a nodal body
5. None of these
Q5. Which of the following was/were the outcome of the government controlling the economy?
(A) Public expenditure could easily meet growth targets.
(B) Rates of growth were marginal.
(C) About 40% people had to live below the poverty line.
1. Only (A)
2. Only (B)
3. Only (C)
4. Both (B) and (C)
5. None of these
(A) Public expenditure could easily meet growth targets.
(B) Rates of growth were marginal.
(C) About 40% people had to live below the poverty line.
1. Only (A)
2. Only (B)
3. Only (C)
4. Both (B) and (C)
5. None of these
Choose the word which is most similar in meaning to the word given in bold as used in the passage.
Q6. Meeting
1. Gathering
2. Refuting
3. Summit
4. Accomplishing
5. Greeting
1. Gathering
2. Refuting
3. Summit
4. Accomplishing
5. Greeting
Q7. Identifying
1. Choosing
2. Discovering
3. Solving
4. Intensifying
5. Embodying
1. Choosing
2. Discovering
3. Solving
4. Intensifying
5. Embodying
Q8. Determine
1. Verify
2. Conclude
3. Decide
4. Limit
5. Settle
1. Verify
2. Conclude
3. Decide
4. Limit
5. Settle
Choose the word which is opposite in meaning to the word given in bold as used in the passage.
Q9. Desirable
1. Unpleasant
2. Irrational
3. Unwanted
4. Unscrupulous
5. Unnoticeable
1. Unpleasant
2. Irrational
3. Unwanted
4. Unscrupulous
5. Unnoticeable
Q10. Crucial
1. Trivial
2. Fundamental
3. Vital
4. Evasive
5. Complex
1. Trivial
2. Fundamental
3. Vital
4. Evasive
5. Complex
Answers..
1) 1; Refer to the following lines of the first paragraph of the passage, “….government spending between 1947 and 1985…more than half the gross domestic product.”
2) 1; Refer to the first line of the passage, “….overall direction of the economy by directing public investment accordingly.”
3) 3; Refer to the following lines of the second paragraph of the passage, “planners should aim….market function efficiently….advise the government on market-specific policies…” Therefore, statement (A) and (C) are correct.
4) 2; Refer to the following lines of the second paragraph of the passage, “….maximising outcomes….identifying problems of governance.”
5) 4; Refer to the following lines of the first paragraph of the passage, “….resulted ion low rates…two-fifth of the population living below the poverty line..”
6) 4
7) 2
8) 3
9) 3
10) 1
1) 1; Refer to the following lines of the first paragraph of the passage, “….government spending between 1947 and 1985…more than half the gross domestic product.”
2) 1; Refer to the first line of the passage, “….overall direction of the economy by directing public investment accordingly.”
3) 3; Refer to the following lines of the second paragraph of the passage, “planners should aim….market function efficiently….advise the government on market-specific policies…” Therefore, statement (A) and (C) are correct.
4) 2; Refer to the following lines of the second paragraph of the passage, “….maximising outcomes….identifying problems of governance.”
5) 4; Refer to the following lines of the first paragraph of the passage, “….resulted ion low rates…two-fifth of the population living below the poverty line..”
6) 4
7) 2
8) 3
9) 3
10) 1
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