RC Questions
RC Questions
CONTENTS
READING COMPREHENSION
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can be effectively used to enhance our penetrate and understand the
CSAT preparation in a variety of ways, subject matter of the passage.
especially in the Comprehension part. b. Knowledge of a wide variety of
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topics.
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In Management Entrance Exams, c. Vocabulary with stress on Usage.
during the 90s, the verbal section
constituted around 50-60% of the total Now let us see how our reading habits
questions, thereby giving the edge to can help us achieve all the above-
those with good command over the mentioned objectives. We all usually
language, especially since a lot of indulge in two distinct types of
vocabulary based questions were asked. reading called:
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But from 1999 the trend has changed, a. Leisure reading: when we read
now all three sections have equal Comics, novels, magazines, etc.
weightage. The pattern and type of b. Study / Information reading:
questions also showed a distinct change Academic books, Newspapers,
in 2001, stress was more on usage of Magazines, etc.
words and language ability rather than
knowledge. Reading is one of the ways But, CSAT requires a combination of
skimming' and demanding' or 'close'
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meaning. The same also follows for Standard, etc. and at least one
CSAT. business magazine and a political
As far as CSAT questions regarding magazine like the Outlook or the
Frontline. The reading experience
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day for free, so do search for these geography or any other sub
and similar resources in the web. branche or related disciplines.
Another good one is the word
Or
power booklets published by
Readers Digest. So please ensure evaluation of research
that you spend around 2-3 hours hypotheses.
on general reading. You should get discussion of recent findings.
familiar with a large number of research reports drawn from
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words. science journals.
latest scientific observations.
3. Speed Reading: Speed-reading is new developments in a specific
immensely beneficial for attempting science discipline.
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RC. The good thing about RC is that history of a discovery / events
once you have gone through the that led to a discovery.
passage properly the chances of
2. Socio-political/cultural: A
making mistakes is minimized. In
passage from the field of social /
CSAT you can expect passages from
economic / political / history. It
such diverse topics like psychology
may be a discussion on:
and economics to rocket science and
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medicine. You can also try some achievements of Indians, since
speed reading techniques, which Independence or achievements of
can make a dramatic improvement Chinese /Americans.
to your reading speed. Though it cultural aspects.
must be said that 'close reading' some happening from history.
would be more applicable in the social and cultural aspects of the
current test scenario, speed reading lives of people.
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One can expect the same in one continues this for a period of time,
Management Exams too. the efficiency of reading - both speed
and comprehension is bound to go up.
Eye-span and Fixation time:
Tackling the main problems in
The human eye which is a great marvel
Reading:
of nature tends to read in bursts and
pauses. This can be understood if one Vocalization: Speaking words aloud
were to take a video of a person's ideas or murmuring and making some
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while he is reading and then play it
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noise while reading is called
back in slow motion. The eyes settle on vocalization. This is a problem from
a phrase or a group of words. When which many students suffer.
the reader is able to make sense of the Vocalization limits your reading
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speed and hence reading and
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words, the eyes go into a burst mode
and then again pause on the next group comprehending ability. Vocalization
of words. Now a person's, eye-span is has probably resulted from children
the number of words that the eyes of being forced to read aloud by teachers
the person can read in one glance. The or parents. To break this habit, one
has to take a firm decision to stop
eye-span of a human being usually is
murmuring or vocalizing while
1-5 words. The time taken by the eyes
reading. If one is aware of this while
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to understand a group of words i.e the reading then in a short period of time
brain-time to understand the meaning one can make a shift from vocalization
of the groups of words is called fixation to mental and silent reading which
time. makes for efficient reading.
A below average reader may read
Subvocalization: This is the
word by word and hence his phenomenon in which one hears
reading speed would be low. words being repeated inside one's
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There are two types of regression: one finds oneself regressing every
now and then in order to
A. Passage Regression: This is when
understand tough words in the
one regresses while reading a passage.
passage. This is one of the
Some of the reasons for passage important reasons why one should
regression are: improve vocabulary.
Tough Subject Matter: When the B. Question Regression: Many times one
subject matter of a passage is tough
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goes back into the passage in order to find
or abstruse then one finds that there the answer to a particular question. It also
is more regression in order to happens when one is half- sure of the
understand the passage. The answer and wants to crosscheck things. So
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solution for this is to read a wide
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question regression is helpful to a certain
variety of topics so as to become extent but too much of it indicates that one
reasonably comfortable with reading is a lazy reader and is not able to
any topic. And remember, a subject comprehend or retain details of the passage
matter seems tough only when one well after reading.
is not fully familiar with the topic.
Thus, varied/ eclectic reading will
Types of Questions:
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solve the purpose.
The common comprehension questions
Poor Concentration: This arises due are:
to poor reading habits which can be
traced back to even one's childhood I. CORE QUESTIONS
days. Reading with the TV switched The questions that are based on the core
on or amidst various distractions information in the passage are Core
develops a habit of reading in which questions. They are of two types:
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passage.
(ii) the author's style of writing.
Test-Concentration can be increased by reading (iii) how the paragraphs are arranged.
in noisier conditions. One fine day you will (iv) how the author takes the
get immune to the noise ! discussion forward.
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(iii) The profession of the author. The author's main concern is…
(iv) The source of the passage. The central idea / theme / topic
of the passage is…
IV. INFERENCE BASED QUESTIONS
Which of the following best
These questions normally ask - the summarizes the passage as a
implication of things given in the whole?
passage. In the passage, the author is
primarily interested in…
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V. CRITICAL REASONING TYPE
Which of the following titles best
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summarizes the passage as a
a. Assumption Questions whole?
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The primary purpose of the second
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These are the questions in which you
paragraph is which of the
are required to identify the assumption
following?
that the author is making while stating
The last paragraph of the passage
something within a passage.
performs which of the following
b. Logical Conclusion Questions functions?
A suitable title for the passage would
In this question type you are asked to
be…
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identify a statement that would logically
Which of the following questions
follow the passage. The answer is closely
answers the central theme of the
related to the content in that. It
passage?
summarizes the ideas discussed in the
passage. 2. Specific Detail Questions:
VI. TONE BASED QUESTIONS Following are some ways of improving
accuracy in main idea questions :
These questions are about the tone or
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attitude of the author with respect to One should Read proactively so that the
the subject matter of the passage or a main idea is more or less gauged by the
particular entity in the passage. time one finishes the passage. Then when
one actually attempts the questions it
will be easier to eliminate and arrive at
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NOW LET US STUDY EACH the right option. Most of the students
OF THESE QUESTION are not proactive and as a result they
TYPES IN DETAIL. tend to search the whole passage ---
which leads to errors and delay as well.
I. CORE QUESTIONS Many times the main idea is stated or
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idea as a whole.
idea question appears in every In order to increase one's ability over these
passage. questions, one has to cultivate an eye for
The central idea question is phrased details while reading the passage.
in one of the following ways. If one is closely aware of the logical
structure of the passage then it
Which of the following best states helps to locate the details more
the central idea of the passage? easily.
The author's primary purpose / It is advisable to go back to the
objective is to… passage if one is not sure of a specific
Which of the following is the detail rather than assuming things
principal topic of the passage? and marking the wrong answer.
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be a question on why a specific example given. It is a gap in the argument which
is being furnished at a specific point. So is taken for granted. For eg. When
Logical structure questions test "Why?". someone says that "The Commonwealth
games should take place in India", some
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III. Further Application Questions:
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of the assumptions are that "India is
These questions ask you to extend the
capable of hosting the Commonwealth
information in the passage to contexts
games" and that "The Commonwealth
outside it. So, one has to comprehend games would be good for India."
the passage properly and also extend it
within limits. B. Logical Conclusion questions: These
questions are usually direct and they ask
Most common ways in which this
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appears
you to perceive a logical outcome of the
facts or statements in the passage or a
“the author is most probably a…" specific para of the passage. The
"the next para is likely to deal conclusion usually flows out of the data
with" in the passage. One has to watch out for
"except" or "not" in these question types.
"similar situation/example etc.",
"with which of the following We have
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Knowledge of the meaning of the tones If you intend to take the Management
helps immensely here. Exam, it is necessary to read
extensively and from varied genres.
Also, the tones can be classified as mild,
There ought to be a purpose -- to
moderate and extreme. For example
develop your reading comprehension
irritation is mild, anger is moderate and
and to bolster your vocabulary.
rage is extreme.
You should read novels, non-fiction, short
For gauging the tone, it helps to pay
stories, magazines, journals, newspapers
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close attention to the adjectives used
and biographies.
by the author in the passage, as also
the signing off statements of the author. After finishing a piece, try to
review what you read. Make sure
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Summary: In Management Exams, it
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is necessary to have a good command that you have perfect
over Reading Comprehension. For comprehension, and if you are
improving one's ability in RC it is uncertain, check with friends,
necessary to read a wide variety of parents and teachers.
topics, tackle the problems of Reading, Skipping words that you do not understand
have a good reading speed with an can be disastrous. Instead, underline such
ability to do close reading
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words and refer to their dictionary meanings
and understand and crack the various types intermittently. This practice will surely give
of questions appearing in entrance you amazing results.
exams.
If you understand each word, your
There is no doubt that RC is time- overall comprehension is enhanced
consuming. However, if a student and you will realize the true
is well aware of proper strategy meaning of the piece.
If you are not usually a reader,
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factor. The most important point is read a philosophical piece all the
to read consistently and for longer more -- it will give you a clear
periods of time. Unfortunately, most picture of your speed, accuracy,
students nowadays do not take this patience and focus. The passages
step, which makes acing RC almost
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question; or, the passage mentions
Now, you must develop speed and a distance in miles while the
accuracy as a reader. The first question uses kilometres. So stay
technique to learn is skimming. It alert and keep a hawk's eye for
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requires a lot of practice, but these traps.
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mastering it will dramatically Apart from this, the best way for
increase your speed. average students to complete the
Skimming consists of quickly going RC section is by using one of two
through a passage and picking out strategies -- Some Questions from
the main ideas. You find key phrases All Passages (SQAP) and All
and underline nouns, adjectives, Questions from Some Passages
verbs and adverbs. In other words, (AQSP).
aim at the ideas that are important With SQAP, you should not
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and leave out phrases and sentences attempt questions with options
that are not. such as none of these, All of these,
I suggest that while skimming, go Except, Least Agree, Least
through the questions. simultaneously Disagree, True and Not True. These
at times, you will come across a are the most difficult RC questions
question that is linked to something and should be avoided. Instead,
you just read in the previous answer the direct questions that,
paragraph. most of the time, are given in
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support the passage or the author's questions from the passages with
view. direct questions, while avoiding
Words such as however, although, the passages that have the most
but, on the other hand, are against indirect questions.
the flow. While taking the CSAT, do not try to
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and imbibing of the culture of local self- institutions like Parliament and State
government, including municipal self- Assemblies still differ over women's
administration. If the federal concept is reservation, 33 per cent of all seats in
the chariot, the Constitution its majestic panchayat bodies are actually occupied by
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horse and the organs of state its women. This is apart from and in addition
harmonious wheels, then local self- to quota for Scheduled Castes and
government and panchayati raj alone can Scheduled Tribes and in some states for
qualify as the ultimate destination of this Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
chariot. The Indian irony- some would
rightly call it tragedy-was that although 1. Consider the following statements
regarding the above passage.
Panchayati Raj had been an integral part
of rural India and although panchayats 1. During British Rule PRIs were in
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had played a key role for centuries in anemic condition.
maintaining social order in Indian villages, 2. According to our Constitution the
the institution had virtually died during destination of the wheels of
centuries of colonial rule and existed only federalism is the local rural body.
on paper in an anemic condition till the 3. In the three tier structure village
late Rajiv Gandhi decided to revitalize, Panchayat is the base of local
reinvigorate and reinstall ancient India's democracy.
established forms of self-governance. He 4. A sizeable number of seats in PRIs
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not only personally set up a High Powered are now being held by women.
apex Committee for revitalization of Choose the correct answer:
panchayati raj but zealously followed up (a) 1, 2, 3 (b) 2, 3 only
its recommendations to ensure their (c) 2, 4 only (d) 2, 3, 4 only
implementation. His untiring commitment
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to the cause led to the enactment of the 2. According to the passage what had
73rd and 74th Constitution (Amendment) been the after effects of 73rd and
Act in 1992, respectively for rural and 74th Constitutional Amendments?
urban areas. 1. The number of elected people is
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(b) Federalism should be able to has declined by almost one third in the
promote rapid socio economic past 35 years mainly due to habitat loss
development. and the wildlife trade, the World Wide
(c) Both (a) and
(b) are correct. Fund for Nature (WWF) said on 16th May
(d) Both (a) and 2008. It warned that climate change
(b) are incorrect. would lead increasingly to the wildlife
woes over the next three decades. Some
4. What are the contributions of Late
scientists see the loss of plants, animals
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Rajiv Gandhi that led to make two
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progressive enactments? and insects as the start of the sixth great
species wipe out in the Earth's history,
1. He persuaded the parliamentarians
to support the Bill that led to the last being in the age of the dinosaurs
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which disappeared 130 million years ago
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passing of 73rd and 74th
Constitution Amendment Act. and since then, no rate of extinction has
2. He took active interest in follow up been observed as yet.
action of the Committee
recommendation. The technological bind of improved
Choose the correct answer: varieties is that they eliminate the
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only resource upon which they are based. Since
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(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) None the past 10,000 years, crop plants have
proliferated to an innumerable number
5. According to the passage what
were the drawbacks of the so called of locally - adapted genotypes. These
'participatory democracy' prior to landraces and folk varieties of indigenous
73rd and 74th Constitutional and peasant agriculture have been the
Amendment? genetic reservoir for the plant breeder in
1. Some of the records of government crop improvement. Suddenly this genetic
diversity is being replaced with a
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its homework properly and it was changes in land use and agro-practices
just a matter of days before it could
be realized. resulting in the disappearance of habitat
3. Marginalized class were given these which harbor the wild progenitors/
rights and privileges (Participatory weedy forms of our basic food plants. As
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role) in theory but not in practice. a result of these two trends, there is urgent
Choose the correct answer: need to collect and conserve the diverse
(a) 1, 2 only (b) 1, 2, 3 genetic materials that remain. In a world
(c) 2, 3 only (d) 1, 3 only where per capita resources are decreasing
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some of the plants and animals 9. According to the passage why 'land
species? races and folk varieties of indigenous
and peasant agriculture' should be
1. Global warming would lead
protected?
increasingly to the wildlife woes
over the next three decades. 1. They play a significant role in
2. Loss of plants, animals and insects improvement of crops.
will be the end of the sixth great 2. They are the base substance which
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species wipeout. could be modified at a later stage.
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3. The sixth great species wipeout in 3. One does not need a water reservoir
the earth's history was the to irrigate these varieties.
disappearance of dinosaurs. Choose the correct answer:
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Choose the correct answer: (a) 1, 2 only (b) 2, 3 only
(a) 1, 2 only (b) 2, 3 only (c) 1, 3 only (d) 1, 2, 3
(c) 1, 2, 3 (d) None 10. What is the correct conclusion
7. According to the passage there are drawn from the above passage?
important and direct causes for the (a) There could be colossal loss of climate
loss of biodiversity. Some of the change.
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cause are... (b) It is essential to collect and conserve
1. Global warming which has led to the diverse genetic resources.
extinction of several species. (c) Both (a) and (b) above.
(d) None of the above.
2. Political upheavals has also been a
major factor that has contributed to PASSAGE - III
loss of biodiversity.
3. There has been illegal trade of wild The Planning Commission was established
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The Industrial policy resolutions of 1948 1. Public sector will play a dominant
and 1956 provided the basic framework role.
of industrial development and regulation. 2. Industrial development will be
The Industrial policy Resolution of 1948 almost monopolized by public sector
envisaged careful planning and undertakings.
integrated effort and that a progressively 3. The resolution provided the
increased role will be assumed by the necessary guidelines that led to
Central and State governments in the enactments of several rules and
process of economic growth and in regulations.
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industrial development in particular, by 4. 1948 resolution required the joint
the public sector within a mixed action to be taken both by union
economy. It demarcated industries and state governments for economic
between the public and private sectors, and industrial development.
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Choose the correct answer:
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providing for exclusive monopoly of the
basic and infrastructural industries to the (a) 1, 2, 3 only (b) 2, 3 only
former. The Industrial policy Resolution (c) 3, 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4
of 1956 gave priority to development of
heavy industries and machine-making 14. Consider the following features of
industries, expansion of public sector, 1948 industrial policy resolution.
besides promoting the co-operative sector. (a) Private sector could take up some
11. Consider the following assumptions industries which do not fall under
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regarding the above passage. the category of basic and
infrastructure.
1. The recommendations of Planning (b) It reiterated the importance of
Commission is mandatory for Union mixed economy for economic
and State governments. growth and industrial development.
2. Under industrial policy resolution (c) Planning will be a mode for
1948 both union government and
state governments have to take economic and industrial
development.
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emerging human resource requirements of According to the Eleventh Five Year Plan
an expanding economy. Despite its Document, only 2% of existing workforce
population of more than 1.21 billion India in India has skill training. While the
suffers from manpower deficiency, mainly corresponding figures are 96%, 80% and
due to absence of required skills among 75% respectively for Korea, Japan and
the vast majority of its workforce. This gets Germany.
reflected in the fact that about 80% of the 16. Consider the following statements
workforce in rural and urban areas do not regarding the above passage.
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possess any identifiable marketable skills.
1. It is problematic to transfer a
Skill shortage can really hurt India's sizeable number of people for core
growth prospects. The so called farming to allied activities.
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demographic dividends can wither away 2. India has surplus manpower that is
very fast if 'young India' is not represented competent but there are no
by people with right skills. The problem employment opportunities.
of skill shortage, however is not unique 3. Our national robust GDP growth has
to India as many developed and developed a curiosity across the
developing countries are also suffering world.
from this malaise. But what makes India's 4. Majority of the unemployed people
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case perhaps worse than others is that do not possess necessary
while the country is deficient in skilled competency.
manpower, it has to deal with a huge Choose the correct answer:
surplus manpower which is ready to
(a) 1, 2, 3 only (b) 2, 3, 4 only
work but lacks employability due to not
(c) 1, 3, 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4
having the skills that the market
demands. According to NASSCOM- 17. According to the passage India's
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McKinsey Report (2005) about 25% of position is both similar and different
technical graduates and 10-15% of general regarding 'skill shortage' comparing
college graduates from India are suitable with many developed and
for employment in the offshore IT and developing nations. Consider the
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the fact that over the next five years the 2. 'Skilled manpower' availability in
Indian economy will experience a severe India is negligible.
shortfall of skilled workers in the presence 3. Fairly large segment in India lacks
of huge surplus of unskilled manpower. the employability because of absence
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country is facing a major challenge deficient in many ways. Their morale is
which could be effectively met by. low. They have developed external loops
of loyalty and find ways to bring outside
(a) Rapid economic development so as
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influence for their postings. The command
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to create sufficient employment lines of a uniformed force stand
opportunities for both semi and undermined by these developments. Police
unskilled people. and policing reforms are indeed an area
(b) In order to have sustainable of priority.
agriculture, additional manpower
21. According to the passage what are
has to be shifted to alternative the main functions of police?
profession.
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(c) Both 'a' and 'b' above. 1. Protecting life of the VIPs
(d) None of the above. 2. Maintenance of Public Order.
3. Crime control.
20. What is the correct conclusion from Choose the correct answer:
the above passage?
(a) 1, 2, 3 (b) 2, 3
(a) Non availability of skilled work (c) 1, 3 (d) 1, 2
force is a major obstruction in
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(d) India has poor skill work force in because most of the time it is busy
comparison with other developing in personal security.
countries. 2. There is politicalisation of police
force.
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5. Members of the force wear identical occupation. This, in turn, may demotivate
dress so that their presence is felt. them to step-up agricultural production,
Choose the correct answer: which may ultimately result into a grim
situation of non availability of adequate
(a) 1, 2, 3, 4 (b) 2, 3, 4 foodstuffs for people, in general, and for
(c) 2, 3, 4, 5 (d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 those below poverty line, in particular, as
witnessed in many parts of the world
24. According to the passage why good
today.
policing is significant?
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Moreover, post-globalization developments
(a) Citizens should feel that it is safety
have brought in a new role for agricultural
and peace everywhere. marketing. Agricultural marketing in the
(b) Common man feels that he is present milieu is fast emerging as a
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secure. coordinating force between production and
(c) 'a' and 'b' above. consumption activities. As people migrate
(d) None of the above. from rural areas to the cities and these urban
centres increase in size, more and more of
25. Why command lines in police has the urban consumers' food expenditures
been undermined? must go for marketing services, including
1. They do not have reasonable transportation, storage, processing, packing
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residential facilities. and product grading. As incomes increase,
more marketing services are demanded.
2. Police has to work for long hours.
Thus, as economic development occurs, the
3. Transfer and pooling in police is proportion of consumer expenditure for
influenced by external forces who marketing services tends to increase and the
are not the part of police hierarchy. marketing system becomes more important
4. They are still performing their duty as a coordinator of production and
with the help of obsolete arms and consumption activities. It is against this
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to Indians. The result of that endeavor
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(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) 1, 2 only (d) None was the Indian Patent Act 1970, which
by granting process patent protection
28. How remunerative price to the only, allowed Indian pharma companies
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cultivators can be ensured?
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to produce and market cheaper versions
1. Compelling the government for of the latest drugs by re-engineering
favorable announcement. processes, at a fraction of a cost of the
2. By introducing efficient system of original ones produced in countries offering
product patent production. This, coupled
agricultural marketing.
with the tremendous re-engineering skills
3. By collective efforts of the farmers
of Indian Chemists laid the foundation of
by putting pressure on the
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government.
today's pharmaceutical industry. The size
of the Indian Pharmaceutical industry was
4. By making available market outlets over Rs. 65,000 Crores in 2006-07. The
where agriculturists could sell their CAGR (compound annual growth rate)
produce. from 2002-03 to 2006-07 is 23.4%. Today
Choose the correct option: India is recognized as one of the lowest
(a) 1, 2, 3 only (b) 2, 3, 4 only cost manufacturers of drugs and
pharmaceuticals, holding 4th position in
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(c) Both 'a' and 'b' above. made our IPR laws TRIPS (Trade Related
(d) None of the above. aspects of Intellectual property Rights)
compliant by amending the Indian Patent
30. What is the correct inference drawn
Act, 1970 in 2005. The 2005 amendment
from the above passage?
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no one should expect cheaper (a) 1, 2, 3 (b) 2, 3 only
varieties by reengineering process. (c) 1, 3 only (d) 1, 2 only
4. We made our Intellectual Property
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Rights laws contrary to our 35. What is the correct conclusion of the
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obligations under WTO. passage?
Choose the correct option: (a) Indian Patent Act, 1970 laid the
(a) 1, 2, 3 only (b) 2, 3 only foundation of pharmaceutical
(c) 2, 3, 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 industry.
(b) Amendment of 2005 was contrary
32. According to the passage how the to the interest of pharmaceutical
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Indian pharmaceutical industry has industry.
progressed? (c) Both 'a' and 'b' above.
1. It was due to untiring efforts of (d) None of the above.
Indian chemists.
2. Reengineering process that reduced PASSAGE -VIII
the cost of original drug. Indian Railways are the principal mode
3. The legislation on patent also of transport in the country and are an
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facilitated the reduction of the drug integral part of our socio-economic life.
price. From a system which essentially served
Choose the correct option: the colonial interests of the British in the
(a) 1, 2 only (b) 2, 3 only first 94 years of its existence when the
first wheels rolled on rails from Bombay
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patent regime?
With over 63,000 km of route, they are
1. India was under obligation to take today entrusted with the indispensable
some follow up action that were task of fulfilling the country's transport
contrary to its interest. needs, particularly in respect of long
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passengers across India's mountains, (b) Both rich and poor use the railways.
deserts and rivers and under the ground. (c) Both 'a' and 'b' above.
(d) None of the above.
The pre-eminent position of Indian
Railways in the nation's economy is 39. According to the passage why
essentially due to the fact that they railways should be preferred over
remain, even today, the most economical other modes of transport?
mode of vehicular transport. At a time
1. It will consume less fuel and will
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when the country is confronted with
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transport more people.
severe scarcity in energy resources, the
2. It will cause less pollution.
indispensability of railways is even greater
3. It is also preferred by suburban
than ever before. Energy efficiency of rail
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population.
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transport is six times that of road
transport and many more times that of Choose the correct option:
air transport. In India, the relevance of (a) 1, 2 only (b) 2, only
railways as the prime low cost carrier of (c) 1, 2, 3 (d) 1, 3 only
goods and passengers over long distances
is, therefore, bound to continue for ever. 40. What is the correct inference drawn
from the above passage?
36. According to the passage what is
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the most important factor that has (a) Expansion of Indian Railways is
made Indian Railways a popular inevitable.
mode of transport? (b) Indian Railways is cost efficient.
(c) Railways are fuel efficient.
(a) It is a cheaper mode.
(d) None of the above.
(b) It is user friendly.
(c) It is energy efficient. PASSAGE - IX
(d) It has been responsible for socio-
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weaker sections of our society. (c) 1, 3 only (d) None
NREGA has arrived as an unprecedented 43. According to the passage what are
opportunity for rural India as it the salient features of NREGA?
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guarantees one of the crucial rights, Right
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1. Minimum half of the work under the
to Work, envisaged in the Article 41 of scheme should be executed through
the Indian Constitution. The National Gram Panchayat.
Rural Employment Guarantee Act has the 2. Job Cards to be issued immediately
potential to provide a "big push" in India's after head of the family makes an
regions of distress. Gram Panchayats have application to the Gram Panchayat.
a central role in the implementation and 3. Priority of the schemes are to be
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monitoring of the Schemes under NREGA. decided by Gram Sabha.
Under the provisions of the National 4. 'Social Audit' is to be a component
Rural Employment Guarantee Act of the scheme.
(NREGA), eligible households apply to the Choose the correct option:
Gram Panchayat which, after due
(a) 1, 2, 3 only (b) 2, 3 only
verification, issues the job card. Each
(c) 1, 3 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4
district has to prepare a shelf of projects
on bottom-up basis, which is done on the 44. According to the passage what are
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of high and low classes and in which community".
women would enjoy the same rights as 46. Consider the following statements
men and the teeming millions of Indians regarding the above passage.
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would be ensured dignity and justice-
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1. United Nations declare all types of
social, economic and political. human rights to both men and
The country's concern in safeguarding the women in respect of social, cultural,
rights and privileges of women found its religious, political and economic
best expression in the Constitution of India, matters.
covering Fundamental Rights and the 2. Gandhian view was that there has
Directive Principles of State Policy. The not to be any distinction between
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Constitution (73 and 74 Amendment) Acts,
high and low classes and women
must get preferential treatment.
1992 provides that not less than one third
Choose the correct option:
(including the number of seats reserved for
women belonging to the Scheduled Castes (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
and Scheduled Tribes) of the total number (c) 1, 2 only (d) None
of seats to be filled by direct election in 47. According to the passage what
every Panchayat and Municipality shall be specific measures have been taken
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reserved for women. To make this de-jure to make equality to women 'de-facto'
equality into a de-facto one, many policies from 'de-jure'?
and programmes were put into action from
time to time, besides enacting/enforcing 1. Some special schemes have been
launched for the welfare of women.
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have vital implications for the women are Choose the correct option:
National Policy for Empowerment of (a) 1, 2 only (b) 3, 4 only
Women 2001 and others relating to (c) 2, 3, 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4
population, health, nutrition, education,
agriculture, industry, forest, water, 48. According to the passage what are
housing, credit, science and technology, the various provisions for women
media, etc. as per Indian Constitution.
Since Women's empowerment is a global 1. One third of the seats in
issue, UNO has also expressed concern Panchayats and Municipalities
in the matter. The Charter of the United will be reserved for women.
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49. Apart from the Constitution, where dation of local democracy. Hence
from other rights of women could statement 3 is incorrect. Passage
be derived? mentions that 33 per cent of all
seats in panchayat bodies are ac-
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1. National policy on housing.
tually occupied by women. Hence
2. National forest policy. statement 4 is correct.
3. National agriculture policy.
4. National policy on tribals. 2. b.
Choose the correct answer:
Exp. Passage mentions that India has
(a) 1, 2, 3 only over 2, 50,000 elected panchayats
(b) 2, 3, 4 only
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involving over 3.2 million elected
(c) 1, 3, 4 only representatives i.e., more than the
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 population of Norway. Hence
statement 1 is incorrect. Passage
50. What is the correct inference drawn mentions that Scheduled Castes
out from the passage? and Scheduled Tribes which had
(a) Women empowerment is on the top experienced participatory democ-
racy only in name or on paper or
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of national agenda.
(b) There had been consistent efforts for inside mega government reports
women empowerment and rights. have found real empowerment
(c) There is a global concern for women and real grassroots participation in
rights. decision-making. Hence statement
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is a grand, macro-constitutional
concept, its operational reality is
1. c.
the creation, operationalisation
Exp. Passage mentions that PRIs virtu- and imbibing of the culture of lo-
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Exp. Passage mentions that Rajiv plants, animals and insects as the
Gandhi not only set up a High start of the sixth great species
Powered apex Committee for re- wipe out in the Earth’s history,
vitalization of panchayati raj but Hence statements 2 is incorrect.
zealously followed up its recom- Passage mentions that the last
mendations to ensure their imple- wipeout was of the dinosaur
mentation. It does not mention which was fifth species wipeout.
that he persuaded the parliamen- Hence statement 3 is incorrect.
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tarians to support the bill al-
though he vigorously worked for 7. c.
the enactment of the bill. Hence
Exp. Passage mentions that climate
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statement 1 is incorrect and
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change led to extinction. Hence
statement 2 is correct.
statement 1 is incorrect. Passage
5. d. does not mention anything about
the political instability and its di-
Exp. Passage mentions that PRIs ex- rect relationship with species ex-
isted only on paper in an anemic tinction. Hence statement 2 is
condition after the independence incorrect. Passage mentions that
AC NItill the enactment of 73rd Consti- World biodiversity has declined by
tution (Amendment) Act in 1992. almost one third in the past 35
Hence PRIs were not an effective years due mainly to habitat loss
tool in the hand of the people for and the wildlife trade. Hence
participatory democracy before statements 3 and 4 are correct.
the enactment of the Act. Hence
statement 1 is correct. Passage 8. d.
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tions that Scheduled Castes and tat which harbor the wild pro-
Scheduled Tribes which had ex- genitors/weedy forms of our ba-
perienced participatory democ- sic food plants. Hence statement
racy only in name or on paper or 1 is incorrect. Passage mentions
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of climate change in biodiversity governments in the process of eco-
and emphasises that genetic di- nomic growth and in industrial
versity should be preserved to development in particular, by the
conserve the biodiversity. Hence
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public sector within a mixed
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option “c” is more appropriate. economy. Hence statements 1, 2
and 4 are correct. The Industrial
11. d.
policy resolutions of 1948 and 1956
Exp. Passage mentions that the respon- provided the basic framework of
sibility for policy decisions and industrial development and regu-
implementation rests with the lation. Hence statement 3 is also
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Central and State governments. correct.
Hence Planning Commission has
14. d.
an advisory role. Hence state-
ment 1 is incorrect. Passage men- Exp. Passage mentions that Industrial
tions that The Industrial policy policy Resolution of 1948 demar-
Resolution of 1948 envisaged that cated industries between the pub-
a progressively increased and lic and private sectors, providing
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12. c.
economy. Hence option “b” and
Exp. Passage mentions that the Indian “c” are correct.
Plans were modeled on Soviet-
15. d.
type “command” planning and
there was considerable emphasis, 16. c.
particularly in the Second and
Third Plans, on creation of a Exp. Passage mentions that the prob-
heavy industrial base under the lem of unemployment gets inten-
auspices of the State. Hence both sified when one considers shifting
statement 1 and 2 are correct. surplus manpower from agricul-
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tion “a” is correct. Passage men-
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statement 2 is incorrect. and
statement 4 is correct. Passage tions that the problem of unem-
mentions that India’s spectacular ployment gets intensified when
growth performance in recent one considers shifting surplus
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years has attracted the attention manpower from agriculture to
of researchers, analysts and policy other economic activities. Hence
makers around the globe. Hence option “b” is correct.
statement 3 is correct.
20. a.
17. b.
Exp. Passage mentions that only 2% of
Exp. Passage mentions that only 2% of existing workforce in India has
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skill training. While the corre- can really hurt India’s growth
sponding figures are 96%, 80% prospects. Hence it is a major
and 75% respectively for Korea, hurdle in economic development
Japan and Germany. Hence state- of the country. Hence option “a”
ment 1 is incorrect. Passage men- is more appropriate.
tions that about 80% of the
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ability due to not having the skills crimes, surveillance, etc, are their
that the market demands. Hence main tasks. Hence statement 1 is
both statement 2 and 3 are cor- incorrect, and statements 2 and
rect. 3 are correct.
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18. b. 22. c.
Exp. Passage mentions that Skill short- Exp. Passage mentions that Police is of-
age can really hurt India’s growth ten used by political parties in
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prospects. The so called demo- power for their own ends. Police
graphic dividends can wither is deployed in large numbers on
away very fast if ‘young India’ is personal security and VIP duties.
not represented by people with Hence both statements 1and 2
right skills. Hence skill develop- are correct.
ment is necessary for reaping the
benefits of demographic dividend. 23. c.
It does not mention about the Exp. Passage mentions that Police is a
functional literacy. Hence state- uniformed force with clear com-
ment 1 is incorrect and statement mand lines and prescribed stan-
2 is correct.
dards of conduct and discipline.
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Exp. Passage mentions that Excellence
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Exp. Passage mentions that ensuring a
in public services requires a civic remunerative price to the cultiva-
environment that is safe and tors is the foundation of an effi-
peaceful. The ordinary citizen cient system of agricultural mar-
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must feel secure. This is where keting. If the agriculturists do not
good policing matters. Hence see any easily accessible market
both statement 1 and 2 are outlet where they can sell their
correct. produce, they will have little in-
centive to regard agriculture as a
25. d.
gainful occupation. Hence both
statement 2 and 4 are correct. Pas-
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Exp. Passage mentions that their work-
ing hours are often unduly long sage does not mention about the
and arduous. Their training, use of pressure tactics by the farm-
equipment and living conditions ers for remunerative price. Hence
are deficient in many ways. Their both statement 1 and 3 are incor-
morale is low. They have devel- rect.
oped external loops of loyalty and
29. a.
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Exp. Passage mentions that an efficient food stuffs for people, in general,
and reliable marketing system by and for those below poverty line,
itself can stimulate increase in ag- in particular, as witnessed in
many parts of the world today.
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Patent Act 1970 allowed Indian
is correct. The 2005 amendment
pharma companies to produce
of Indian Patent Act, 1970,
and market cheaper versions of
marked the end of an era for In-
the latest drugs. The size of the
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dian pharmaceutical industry, an
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Indian Pharmaceutical industry
era of process patent only, of re-
was over Rs.65, 000 Crore in 2006-
verse engineering and of low cost
07. Hence all statements are cor-
generic drugs. Hence statement
rect.
3 is correct. In consonance with
obligations under WTO, the gov- 35. c.
ernment made IPR laws TRIPS
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tual property Rights) compliant. Patent Act 1970 which allowed
Hence statement 4 is incorrect. Indian pharma companies to pro-
duce and market cheaper versions
32. b. of the latest drugs. And amend-
ment made in the Act in 2005
Exp. Passage mentions that tremen-
after India joined the WTO.
dous re-engineering skills of In-
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dian Patent Act 1970, by grant- Exp. Passage mentions that In India,
ing process patent protection only, the relevance of railways as the
allowed Indian pharma compa- prime low cost carrier of goods
nies to produce and market and passengers over long dis-
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38. a. the Indian Constitution. Hence
both statements 1 and 2 are cor-
Exp. Passage mentions that Indian Rail-
rect. Passage does not mention that
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ways every day, transporting in
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NGREA can enhance the GDP.
their wagons every conceivable
Hence statement 3 is incorrect.
commodity, from steel to cement,
coal to petroleum, fertilizers to 43. c.
fodder and food grains to fruits.
Hence option “a” is correct. Pas- Exp. Passage mentions that under the
sage does not mention of rich and provisions of the National Rural
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poor classes. Employment Guarantee Act
(NREGA), At least 50% of the
39. c. works have to be compulsorily
Exp. Passage mentions that Energy ef- allotted to Gram Panchayats for
ficiency of rail transport is six execution. Hence statement 1 is
times that of road transport and correct. Gram Panchayat after due
many more times that of air trans- verification, issues the job card.
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Exp. Passage mentions that In order to Exp. Passage mentions that The Con-
provide rural people with better stitution (73 and 74 Amendments)
prospects for economic develop- Act 1992 provides that not less
ment; increased participation of than one third (including the num-
people in rural development ber of seats reserved for women
programmes, decentralization of belonging to the Scheduled Castes
planning, better enforcement of and Scheduled Tribes) of the total
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land reforms and greater access number of seats to be filled by
to credit are envisaged. Hence direct election in every Panchayat
statement 1 and 3 are correct and and Municipality shall be reserved
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statement 2 is incorrect because for women. Hence statement 1
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passage mention that better en- is incorrect. Passage mentions
forcement of land reforms is nec- that Rights and privileges of
essary rather than enactment of women found its best expression
laws. in the Constitution of India, cov-
ering Fundamental Rights and the
46. d. Directive Principles of state Policy.
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Exp. Passage mentions that the char-
ter of the United Nations declares 49. a.
equal dignity and worth of hu-
man person-all types of human Exp. Passage mentions that The impor-
rights, civil, political, economic, tant policies which have vital im-
social and cultural and does not plications for the women are Na-
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47. d. 50. b.
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Exp. Passage mentions that to make Exp. Passage discussed about the vari-
this de-jure equality into a de- ous provisions included in consti-
facto one, many policies and tution of India and in the UN
programmes were put into action charter related to women empow-
from time to time, besides enact- erment. Hence option “b” is
ing/enforcing special legislations, more appropriate.
in favour of women. Hence all
statements are correct.
48. b.
F irst AOL and Time Warner announced their intention to combine. Then came Time
Warner/EMI and Tribune/ Times Mirror. Even more significant, however, has been
the speculation that these mergers have caused: If these transactions are consummated, a
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large number of additional media mergers are expected. There is even the possibility of a
nightmare scenario-a wave of media mergers so large that within a decade most of our
information will be supplied by perhaps six of these huge conglomerates and a fringe of
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much smaller firms.
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It's time to ask two critical questions. Is this kind of media oligopoly what we, as a
society, want? And if not, can the antitrust laws effectively prevent the threatened merger
wave? The answer to the first question is clear. We do not want a media oligopoly. The
answer to the second question, however, is far less certain. We should distrust a media
oligopoly because it would give undue control to a small number of individuals. This need
not manifest itself in a price rise for the daily newspaper or AOL's monthly fee. Rather, it
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could consist of a change in editorial viewpoints, a shift in the relative prominence of links
to certain websites or a decision not to cover certain topics, because they are not
"newsworthy". These problems could exist without any improper intent on the part of the
media barons. Even if they try to be fair and objective, they will necessarily bring their own
worldview to the job. And in time some of these conglomerates may be controlled by
people who are not fair or objective.
At first it might appear that the antitrust laws can be of little help in grappling with
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the issues presented by large media mergers. The anti-merger laws are commonly
understood as protecting price competition, and a relatively small number of firms-to
greatly oversimplify, let's say at most half a dozen-are normally thought to be enough
to keep a market price-competitive. In industry after industry firms merge until there
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is only a handful left, and the antitrust enforcers are normally unable to do anything
to prevent this. (In former years mergers were governed by an "incipiency" standard
that prevented mergers and merger waves well before they would have led to very
large or likely anti-competitive problems.) Even if a handful of firms are enough to
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insure effective competition in most industries, would six conglomerate media firms be
sufficient for the diversity of viewpoints necessary to democracy? Would we be reassured
if they could somehow guarantee that they would sell their magazines and Internet
advertisements at competitive prices?
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I am hopeful that the antitrust laws, if correctly and vigorously interpreted, are adaptable
enough to meet this challenge. This is because antitrust is not exclusively about price. It is
essentially about choice-about giving consumers a competitive range of options in the
marketplace so that they can make their own, effective selection from the market's offerings.
Consumers should be able to make their choices along any dimension important to them-
including price, variety and editorial viewpoint.
Communications media compete in part by offering independent editorial viewpoints
and an independent gatekeeper function. Six media firms cannot effectively respond to the
demand for choice or diversity competition by extending their product lines, because new
media products will inevitably bear, to some degree, the perspective of their corporate
parent. For these reasons competition in terms of editorial viewpoint or gate-keeping can
be guaranteed only by ensuring that a media market contains a significantly larger number
of firms than is required for price competition in other, more conventional markets.
It is unclear, however, whether this interpretation of the anti-trust laws will be applied
by the enforcement agencies and the courts. What is needed, therefore, is a much more
careful look at the challenges that will be raised by future media mergers.
This could best be accomplished if Congress created a Temporary Committee to Study
Media Mergers and Media Convergence. This committee could include members of Congress;
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the heads of the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission and
the Justice Department's antitrust division; CEOs of media companies; and representatives
of consumer groups. The committee would identify problems that may be caused by large
media mergers and by media convergence. If the committee concludes that existing antitrust
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laws are inadequate, it should recommend to Congress that new anti-merger legislation be
enacted. This may be the only way to prevent the nightmare scenario of a media oligopoly.
c. A, B, C, D d. A, C, D
5. To get a clear picture of the challenges posed by media mergers, the author
recommends:-
a. creation of strict laws
b. strengthening the enforcement agencies
c. creation of a study committee by the congress
d. none of the above
s printer-hurdler PT Usha has overcome many challenges in her illustrious career, but today
she faces the biggest hurdle of her life -- running her dream project, the Usha School of
Athletics, to produce champion athletes.
"Running and hurdling are far easier than running an academy," Usha sums up her
eight-year experience of managing the academy at Koyilandy, a 30-minute drive from the
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coastal city of Kozhikode in Kerala.
She started the academy in 2002, with the state government providing land and some
money, but thereafter money has not been easy to come by.
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"The financial crunch is crippling. We can't scout around the country for talent. We are
struggling to have proper facilities; we only have mud tracks," Usha said.
"The Kerala government provided me 30 acres of land and Rs. 2 million. Not enough
to equip an academy with synthetic tracks."
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"Now Olympic Gold Quest (launched by cueist Geet Sethi and badminton great Prakash
Padukone with hockey star Viren Rasquinha as CEO) has come out to help 20 of her
athletes. That's not enough; it's quite tough to get people to pool in money for the academy,"
Usha said.
Usha is not the one to give up. With grit and single-minded determination she is shaping
up the careers of a few talented youngsters like middle-distance runner Tintu Luka, who is
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making waves in the women's 800 metre. Luka is seen as a medal hopeful at the Commonwealth
Games in October.
Luka clocked her personal best, 2 minutes 1.24 seconds, to win the 800m gold at the
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All-Star Asian Athletic meet on Thursday. Usha feels that more and more international
exposure would do her protege a world of good.
"In our days we never got exposure. I do not want these girls to meet the same fate.
They need to compete in more and more international events. Their training needs to be
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properly managed. They need to chalk out their personal schedule in advance and plan
accordingly," said Usha, who has over 100 international medals to her credit and yet she
is remembered more for missing the bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics by
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1/100th of a second.
"Luka is very hard working. And she is improving fast. There are some other promising
girls in the academy and they are performing well."
Usha said that the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) should provide world class training
and competition to the youngsters.
"Last year I could not get entries for her (Luka) in some of the meets where I wanted
her to compete because AFI did not forward the entries. This year I have been told that
we will get to compete in two good meets before the Commonwealth Games."
Usha feels Luka should be a lot better by the time the Commonwealth Games get under
way. She will participate in an international meet in England before running in a Diamond
League meet in Brussels Aug 27.
Asked whether AFI is not sending the team for exposure trips outside, Usha said
sending athletes for training in Ukraine, the preferred choice of AFI, is of little use.
"What is there in Ukraine? I do not want to send my trainees to places like Ukraine.
We have better coaches here."
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"We need to work at the grassroot level. There is enough potential in India, but what
are we doing to reach out to hone the talent? The promising athletes need to be nurtured,"
says Usha.
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6. P.T. Usha believes that:
a. there is much talent in India and the promising athletes need to be nurtured.
b. we have better coaches here in India than Ukraine has.
c. Running and hurdling are far easier than running an academy.
d. All the above.
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7. It can be inferred from the passage:
a. We can win some gold medals at the International Level.
b. Practice in any sports is a must to win acclaim.
c. PT Usha is a living example of patience and perseverance.
d. None of the three.
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French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre focussed more sharply on the moral consequences of existentialist
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But my exercise of this capacity inevitably makes me totally responsible for the life I
choose. Since I could always have chosen some other path in life, the one I follow is my own.
Since nothing has been imposed on me from outside, there are no excuses for what I am.
Since the choices I make are ones I deem best, they constitute my proposal for what any
human being ought to be. On Sartre's view, the inescapable condition of human life is the
requirement of choosing something and accepting the responsibility for the consequences.
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Responsibility
But accepting such total responsibility entails a profound alteration of my attitude towards
life. Sharing in the awesome business of determining the future development of humanity
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generally through the particular decisions I make for myself produces an overwhelming
sense of anguish. Moreover, since there is no external authority to which I can turn in an
effort to escape my duty in this regard, I am bound to feel abandoned as well. Finally, since
I repeatedly experience evidence that my own powers are inadequate to the task, I am
driven to despair. There can be no relief, no help, no hope. Human life demands total
commitment to a path whose significance will always remain open to doubt.
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Although this account of human life is thoroughly subjective, that does not reduce the
importance of moral judgment. Indeed, Sartre maintained that only this account does
justice to the fundamental dignity and value of human life. Since all of us share in the same
situation, we must embrace our awesome freedom, deliberately rejecting any (false) promise
of authoritative moral determination. Even when we choose to seek or accept advice about
what to do, we remain ourselves responsible for choosing which advice to accept.
This doesn't mean that I can do whatever I want, since free choice is never exercised
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capriciously. Making a moral decision is an act of creation, like the creation of a work of
art; nothing about it is predetermined, so its value lies wholly within itself. Nor does this
mean that it is impossible to make mistakes. Although there can be no objective failure to
meet external standards, an individual human being can choose badly. When that happens,
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it is not that I have betrayed my abstract essence, but rather that I have failed to keep faith
in myself.
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Self-Deception
Sartre thoroughly expounded his notion of the self-negation of freedom in l'Être et le néant
(Being and Nothingness) (1943). Since the central feature of human existence is the capacity
to choose in full awareness of one's own non-being, it follows that the basic question is
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always whether or not I will be true to myself. Self-deception invariably involves an attempt
to evade responsibility for myself. If, for example, I attribute undesirable thoughts and
actions to the influence upon me of the subconscious or unconscious, I have made part of
myself into an "other" that I then suppose to control the real me. Thus, using psychological
theory to distinguish between a "good I" and a "bad me" only serves to perpetuate my
evasion of responsibility and its concomitants.
Sartre offered practical examples of mauvaise foi (bad faith) in action. People who
pretend to keep all options open while on a date by deliberately ignoring the sexual
implications of their partners' behavior, for example, illustrate the perpetual tension between
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In our relationships with other human beings, what we truly are is all that counts, yet it
is precisely here that we most often betray ourselves by trying to be whatever the other
person expects us to be. This is invidious, on Sartre's view, since it exhibits a total lack of
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faith in ourselves: to the extent that I have faith in anyone else, I reveal my lack of the
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courage to be myself. There are, in the end, only two choices-sincerity or self-deception, to
be or not to be.
11. We can infer from the passage that the irony of life is that:
a. It is impossible to commit mistakes.
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b. the account of human life is thoroughly objective, that reduces the importance of
moral judgment.
c. Sincerity and self-deception are the two sides of the same coin, i.e, human nature. We
want to be sincere but end up being self-deceptive (in Sartre's view).
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T he argument over whether the universe has a creator, and who that might be, is among
the oldest in human history. But amid the raging arguments between believers and
skeptics, one possibility has been almost ignored - the idea that the universe around us was
created by people very much like ourselves, using devices not too dissimilar to those available
to scientists today.
As with much else in modern physics, the idea involves particle acceleration, the kind
of thing that goes on in the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland. Before the LHC began
operating, a few alarmists worried that it might create a black hole which would destroy
the world. That was never on the cards: although it is just possible that the device could
generate an artificial black hole, it would be too small to swallow an atom, let alone the
Earth.
However, to create a new universe would require a machine only slightly more powerful
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than the LHC - and there is every chance that our own universe may have been
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manufactured in this way.
This is possible for two reasons. First, black holes may - as science fiction aficionados
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will be well aware - act as gateways to other regions of space and time. Second, because
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of the curious fact that gravity has negative energy, it takes no energy to make a universe.
Despite the colossal amount of energy contained in every atom of matter, it is precisely
balanced by the negativity of gravity.
Black holes, moreover, are relatively easy to make. For any object, there is a critical
radius, called the Schwarzschild radius, at which its mass will form a black hole. The
Schwarzschild radius for the Sun is about two miles, 1/200,000th of its current width; for
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the Earth to become a black hole, it would have to be squeezed into a ball with a radius
of one centimeter.
The black holes that could be created in a particle accelerator would be far smaller: tiny
masses squeezed into incredibly tiny volumes. But because of gravity's negative energy, it
doesn't matter how small such holes are: they still have the potential to inflate and expand
in their own dimensions (rather than gobbling up our own). Such expansion was precisely
what our universe did in the Big Bang, when it suddenly exploded from a tiny clump of
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technicalities of "the creation of universes in the laboratory", and concluded that the laws
of physics do, in principle, make it possible.
The big question is whether that has already happened - is our universe a designer
universe? By this, I do not mean a God figure, an "intelligent designer" monitoring and
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shaping all aspects of life. Evolution by natural selection, and all the other processes that
produced our planet and the life on it, are sufficient to explain how we got to be the way
we are, given the laws of physics that operate in our universe.
However, there is still scope for an intelligent designer of universes as a whole. Modern
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physics suggests that our universe is one of many, part of a "multiverse" where different
regions of space and time may have different properties (the strength of gravity may be
stronger in some and weaker in others). If our universe was made by a technologically
advanced civilisation in another part of the multiverse, the designer may have been
responsible for the Big Bang, but nothing more.
If such designers make universes by manufacturing black holes - the only way to do it
that we are aware of - there are three levels at which they might operate. The first is just
to manufacture black holes, without influencing the laws of physics in the new universe.
Humanity is nearly at this level, which Gregory Benford's novel Cosm puts in an entertaining
context: an American researcher finds herself, after an explosion in a particle accelerator,
with a new universe on her hands, the size of a baseball.
The second level, for a slightly more advanced civilisation, would involve nudging the
properties of the baby universes in a certain direction. It might be possible to tweak the
black holes in such a way that the force of gravity was a little stronger than in the parent
universe, without the designers being able to say exactly how much stronger.
The third level, for a very advanced civilisation, would involve the ability to set precise
parameters, thereby designing it in detail. An analogy would be with designer babies -
instead of tinkering with DNA to get a perfect child, a scientist might tinker with the laws
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of physics to get a perfect universe. Crucially, though, it would not be possible in any of
these cases - even at the most advanced level - for the designers to interfere with the baby
universes once they had formed. From the moment of its own Big Bang, each universe
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would be on its own.
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This might sound far-fetched, but the startling thing about this theory is how likely it
is to happen - and to have happened already. All that is required is that evolution occurs
naturally in the multiverse until, in at least one universe, intelligence reaches roughly our
level. From that seed point, intelligent designers create enough universes suitable for evolution,
which bud off their own universes, that universes like our own (in other words, suitable
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for intelligent life) proliferate rapidly, with "unintelligent" universes coming to represent a
tiny fraction of the whole multiverse. It therefore becomes overwhelmingly likely that any
given universe, our own included, would be designed rather than "natural".
While the intelligence required to do the job may be (slightly) superior to ours, it is of
a kind that is recognizably similar to our own, rather than that of an infinite and
incomprehensible God. And the most likely reason for such an intelligence to make universes
is the same for doing things like climbing mountains, or studying the nature of subatomic
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particles - because we can. A civilisation that has the technology to make baby universes
would surely find the temptation irresistible. And if the intelligences are anything like our
own, there would be an overwhelming temptation at the higher levels of universe design
to improve upon the results.
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This idea provides the best resolution yet to the puzzle Albert Einstein used to raise, that
"the most incomprehensible thing about the Universe is that it is comprehensible". The
universe is comprehensible to the human mind because it was designed, at least to some
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through a process of natural selection, with no need for outside interference. It isn't that
man was created in God's image - rather that our universe was created, more or less, in
the image of its designers.
15. What does the word "aficionados" in the first line of the fourth paragraph mean?
16. What do you understand by the line "the most incomprehensible thing about the
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Universe is that it is comprehensible".
a. The most of the things or facts about the Universe are still unknown, although we
claim to know them.
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b. The concept of Universe is understandable as it was designed by the human mind.
c. Universe was indeed set up to provide a home for life.
d. None of these.
I n the 108 years since it was published, Joseph Conrad's colonial fable Heart of Darkness
has infected TS Eliot, been excoriated for racism by Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe and
transplanted to Vietnam by Francis Ford Coppola.
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Now the book has been reinterpreted as a graphic novel in whose monochrome pages
Conrad's exploration of power, greed and madness plays out as disturbingly as ever.
Catherine Anyango, whose drawings are peppered with David Zane Mairowitz's
adaptation of the text, had her doubts about tackling the Polish-born novelist's most famous
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work.
Those reservations had more to do with the original medium than the enduring
controversy over Conrad's views or the familiarity of Heart of Darkness.
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"I wasn't sure initially if it was a good subject for a graphic novel as the writing is so
dense and the style of it is partly what attracts me to the book," she said.
"As I knew we couldn't keep most of the text in, I tried to make the drawings very rich
in detail and texture so that immersive feeling you get, especially when he describes the
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Anyango, who grew up in Kenya where she went to a British school, wanted to steer
a course that was as true as possible to the original so that her version did not sink under
the weight of too much intellectual baggage.
"When I was dealing with the book, I was focused solely on the particular events of the
Congo, rather than colonialism in general," she said. "I wasn't trying to tell the history of
colonialism either, but to situate this particular narrative in a way that people might ask:
what on earth was the attitude of that time that these things could happen?"
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To reinforce the geographical and historical immediacy of Conrad's tale, the graphic
novel is interspersed with excerpts from The Congo Diary - the journal Conrad kept of his
1890 voyage up the river.
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Anyango's research also led her to the story of a man from a village in the Upper Congo
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called Nsala. She came across a photograph of him sat on a step contemplating the hand
and foot of his daughter, which had been cut off by guards sent to his village by the Anglo
Belgian India Rubber Company. The men, ordered to attack Nsala's village for failing to
provide the company with enough rubber, devoured his wife and daughter, leaving only
the child's hand and foot.
"I put him on one page, and similar portraits on others, so the Congolese characters
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have resonance at least for me, even if they remain stereotyped because of the existing
narrative," she said.
In her efforts to ensure the authenticity of the uniforms she drew - the protagonist,
Marlow, is given a cap with a prominent Belgian lion badge - Anyango was shocked to
discover how markedly Belgian perceptions of the occupation of Congo still vary.
For some, it is a shameful episode in the country's history, while others still view it as
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a benign experience despite the evidence uncovered by recent histories such as Adam
Hochschild's 1998 book, King Leopold's Ghost, which laid bare the barbarism inflicted on
Congo.
The artist found that Belgium's colonial deeds "seem to have vanished into history, with
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the [country's] education system not dwelling on anything but positive aspects of the
colonial rule".
That may not be not wholly surprising: at her school in Nairobi, Anyango did not learn
about Britain's colonies.
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It is this creeping colonial amnesia - not to mention a catalogue of recent and current
events- which, she argues, give Heart of Darkness both its relevance and its universality.
"It's about the idea of entitlement; [how] through the ages we enforce our feelings of
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entitlement in whatever way that age will allow - from Leopold II owning the Congo as
a private possession to the corporations involved with blood diamonds. The effects of
entitlement have not so much gone out of fashion as out of sight."
Dr Keith Carabine, who teaches literature at the University of Kent and chairs the
Joseph Conrad Society, agrees that Kurtz, the ivory trader whose misplaced idealism has
putrefied into savagery and madness, has become an archetypal figure.
"Heart of Darkness is the most important book in the last 100-plus years not because
it's the best, but because it anticipated how 20th century leaders with visions of bringing
light and creating new models for humans beings - Hitler, Lenin, Pol Pot, Mao - all ended
up," he said. "When disappointed by the response of the very groups they wanted to save
or help or transform, they, like Kurtz, wish to (and actually do, of course) 'exterminate all
the brutes!'"
Of the Edwardian novella's continuing relevance, Carabine is unequivocal. "If Bush and
Cheney and the neocons had read Heart of Darkness and understood it, they would not
have invaded Iraq under the absurd utopian illusion that the Iraqis were gagging for
democracy."
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18. What do you understand by the phrase "under the absurd utopian illusion that the
Iraqis were gagging for democracy," in the last lines of the passage.
a. how one nation gets corrupted by other's greed.
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b. the desire of US to spread 'freedom and democracy' throughout the Middle East.
c. The Iraq was under the illusion that they would soon stop being a democratic state.
d. None of the above.
19. What do you understand by the word "excerpt" used in the passage?
a. Text taken from a journal describing voyage.
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b. An extract taken from any book, film, play etc.
c. Both (a) and (b).
d. None of the above.
21. What is the biggest challenge in turning 'Heart of Darkness' into a graphic novel?
a. Too many expectations b. Very dark subject matter.
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A ccording to Freudian psychoanalysis, the psychic structure is divided into 3 parts: the
Id, Ego, Superego. The ID is the unorganized reservoir of energy includes all instinct
sinherent at birth, encompasses all basic biological drives, self-preservation, libido, aggression,
dominated by the pleasure principle, completely unconscious, deduced from dreams, slips
of the tongue, free association, neurosis. The EGO represents the reality principle, functions
to suspend pleasure according to the environment, logical and ordered, it is what makes
reason and judgment possible. The SUPEREGO is the conscience, it evolves by satisfactorily
completely Oedipal stage, moral and judicial, and comes from internalization of parental
restrictions and customs.
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unacceptable impulses from reaching consciousness and the aim of therapy is the bring
conflicts out from repression.
Reaction formation replaces unacceptable urges by their opposite and is typical of
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obsessive disorders. Rationalization is giving a socially-acceptable reason to explain an
unacceptable behavior or thought. Projection is attributing unacceptable wishes to another
which includes prejudice and hypervigilience to danger. Fixation is returning to a
developmental stage when you are unable to cope. Sublimation id transferring libidinal
urges to socially-acceptable behaviors.
This is the most mature of all the defense mechanisms. Projection identification is
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depositing unwanted feelings onto another who accepts them which sometimes involves
pressure. Splitting is deciding that external objects are all good or all bad. Intellectualization
is controlling impulses by thinking about them instead of experiencing them. Undoing is
a symbolic acting out in reverse of something unacceptable that has already been done.
Denial involves refusing to accept external reality because it's too threatening; the gross
reshaping of external reality to meet internal needs is called distortion; projection occurs
when one attributes to others one's own unacceptable thoughts/emotions.
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Passive aggression refers to indirectly expressing aggression toward others; acting out
is the direct expression of an unconscious impulse without conscious awareness; idealization
is subconsciously viewing another person as more positive than they are. Displacement
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pleasure; introjections occurs when one identifies so deeply with some idea that it becomes
a part of that persons character; sublimation refers to transferring/expressing negative
emotions or instincts in positive, more acceptable ways. Repression is the rejection of
painful or shameful experiences from consciousness and prevents unacceptable impulses/
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a. Displacement involves shifting sexual or aggressive impulses to a more acceptable
target.
b. Rationalization is giving a socially-unacceptable reason to explain an unacceptable
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behavior or thought.
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c. Projection is attributing unacceptable wishes to another which includes prejudice and
hyper-vigilance to danger.
d. Passive aggression refers to directly expressing aggression toward others; acting out
is the direct expression of an unconscious impulse without conscious awareness.
Passage 7 (Political)
A little over a month ago, when Google made defiant noises of shutting down its office
in China, the stand-off was phrased with great fanfare as the new clash of civilisations.
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Google stood for the innovative, knowledge-based western culture: the free world. China,
well, for China: mixed ownership, private property rights, strong shut-your-mouth
government intervention.
Google said in January 2010 that it was likely to close down its China-based search engine
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as it believed digital bandits in China stole some of its computer coding and attempted to
break into the e-mail accounts of Chinese dissidents. It is interesting to note that the agency
representing the universal spirit of freedom has been relegated in our mind from a country
or a people to a multinational company that specialises in organising information online.
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Safeguarding freedom and human rights is traditionally associated with the dogged
American pursuit of happiness. The US monopoly of freedom is now strangely the home
turf of Google. The US is happy to back it, of course. Secretary of state Hillary Clinton's
defence of Google last month in a reaction to Chinese cyber vandalism was proof that US
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Since Google is the champion of a new freedom spawned by a new technology, what
it does is likely to largely define the nature of the lifestyle of future generations. But, it has
been a disappointing battle so far. Google officials say they are in talks with the Chinese
government since mid-January, when they threatened to walk out of China, unless that
country rolled back its censorship laws.
China's online population is 384 million, the largest in the world. Most of them prefer
the local engine Baidu to Google. Reports estimate that by 2014, China's internet ad market
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could range from $15 billion to $20 billion annually, up from about $3 billion now. If
Google stays on, it is likely to net around $5 billion to $6 billion of the revenue even if it
plays second fiddle to Baidu.
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That's a lot of money to kiss goodbye to. Which is why after the fleeting first moments
of bravado and grandstanding, Google has kept a low profile and the much-hyped
confrontation with the 'Other' culture has muted down to confabulations.
One of the famous philosophies of Google is "you can make money without doing evil."
This is a questionable premise as a lot really depends on what you mean by evil. Baldly put,
if Google chooses to stay on in China despite censorship and hacking, it'd be for profit. And
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that'd be at the expense of basic freedoms and at the expense of a few hundred lives at
least. If that transpires evil would have been perpetrated any way.
The current clash of civilizations turns out to be not so much about a new freedom as
an old and careworn spectre: the ethics of business. It'd be great fun to see if one of the
world's most innovative companies can indeed find a way around making money without
doing evil. Virtually, or otherwise.
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28. Why does author believe that America wants to extend its monopoly to internet also?
a. Its obvious as all major websites and majority of internet traffic is of US origin.
b. Because secretary of the State, Hilary Clinton defended Google.
c. Because America wants to extend its idealism of 4 core values of freedom to entire
world and internet is best suited for doing that.
d. All of the above.
P oliticians and activists constantly propose new rights - the right to work, to education,
and now to food. The word "rights" is being twisted to mean entitlements, and there
is a big difference.
Rights are freedoms from oppression by the state or by society (through ethnicity,
religion and gender). These rights do not entail government handouts. Entitlements,
however, are welfare measures entailing government handouts. Rights are not limited by
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budget constraints, but entitlements are. So, rights are universal but entitlements are not.
Historically, India has provided only limited welfare. It can certainly afford to provide
more as it grows richer. Yet fiscal crises in the West warn us that entitlements can grow
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so rapidly as to threaten even rich governments with bankruptcy. Because of budget
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constraints, entitlements must be limited. But rights should not be limited. So, don't confuse
rights with entitlements.
US economists calculate that three welfare measures - social security (for the aged),
Medicare (for the aged) and Medicaid (for the poor)-will triple from 7% of GDP to 20% in
the next decade, swallowing up virtually all federal tax revenue. Jagadeesh Gokhale of the
Cato Institute calculates that, including social security, the US is headed for a national debt
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that's 500% of GDP, and Europe of 434%. Laurence Kotlikoff of Boston University says
welfare measures have become a Ponzi scheme, which work by constantly shifting burdens
to future generations.
Greece, which prides itself on socialist entitlements, looks certain to default on its public
debt despite a recent rescue by the European Union. Spain, Britain, Portugal and Ireland
are seeking to cut entitlements to stave off a future debt crisis. Entitlements need to be
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called a right to work or to doles. It was seen as Christian charity, and as a way of
stopping desperate people from taking to crime.
The British Bill of Rights in 1689 created a constitutional monarchy. The rights included
freedom from royal interference with the law, from taxation without parliamentary approval
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and from martial law in times of peace; and free elections and free speech. These were all
rights, not entitlements.
In 1776, the US Declaration of Independence said all men were equal with a fundamental
right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The US Bill of Rights in 1789 provided
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for freedom of religion and speech; for the right to due process of law and peaceful
assembly; for freedom against military confiscation in peacetime, unlawful seizure and
arrest, excessive bail, torture, self-incrimination and excessive or cruel punishment; for the
right to bear arms in a militia, to public trial by a jury, and to legal counsel.
The French Revolution produced its own Rights of Man. This declared that men are
born free and equal, and have inalienable rights to liberty, property, security and resistance
to oppression. It provided for equal civil participation by all, due process of law, freedom
of speech and religion.
These three countries spearheaded the concept of fundamental rights. In all three, rights
were about freedoms, not entitlements.
In subsequent centuries, people said this was not enough, and proposed entitlements -
which some called second-generation rights. Marxists declared that rights to free speech,
elections and personal freedom were bourgeois illusions that did not empower the poor. So
Lenin proposed a dictatorship of the proletariat that took away all basic freedoms, and
instead offered the right to food, shelter and work. Mind you, nobody could sue Lenin for
poor provision. Nobody could throw out Mao for the Great Leap Forward that killed 30
million people. Nobody could topple Stalin for murdering four to six million peasants in the
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Ukraine.
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The communist experience shows that giving welfare rights priority over basic freedoms
is the road to serfdom. And the capitalist welfare state now shows that entitlements,
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although desirable and inevitable in democracies, must be limited and targeted at the
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needy, so that they do not hog all spending or bankrupt governments.
What lessons follow for India's welfare reforms? Some changes - like the right to
information -are true rights, requiring no budgetary outlays. Others, like the employment
guarantee scheme or right to food, are entitlements. These must be restricted to the needy,
not made universal, as some activists want. Mukesh Ambani must have the right to free
speech, but why on earth should he be entitled to 35 kg of rice at Rs 3?
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29. Which one of the following is incorrect?
a. Rights are the elaborated versions of entitlements.
b. French Revolution emphasizes on the fact that men are born free and equal.
c. India has provided only limited welfare in its past history.
d. All the above.
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30. "Mukesh Ambani must have the right to free speech, but why on earth should he be
entitled to 35 kg of rice at Rs 3?" By this statement, which of the following could be
inferred?
R
a. Rights and not the entitlements should not be given to the rich.
b. Fundamental right is the right of every individual, but entitlements should be restricted
to the needy.
c. Mukesh Ambani is a good orator, hence he should have freedom of speech.
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d. None of these.
Passage 9:
T he advances and convergence of IT and telecommunication can bring the entire health
care services to the patient's doorstep. Telemedicine is delivery of health care information
across distances using telecom technology. This includes transfer of images like X-rays, CT,
MRI, ECG, etc. from patient to expert doctors seamlessly, apart from the live video
conferencing between the patient at remote hospital with the specialists at the super
speciality hospital for tele-consultation and treatment.
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specialist in handling the medical problems including emergencies. Further, the needy
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patient need not undertake long and difficult journey to towns and cities, especially when
the condition of the patient is serious like in case of heart attack or trauma. There will be
cost-saving in terms of reduced necessity to travel for the patient and the family when
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telemedicine facility is used.
ISRO as the part of application of space technology has initiated a number of pilot
projects under GRAMSAI (Rural Satellite) programme in the area like water shed
development, drinking water mission, tele-education and more importantly telemedicine
which is a project of deep social relevance.
ISRO has initiated a number of telemedicine pilot projects which are very specific to the
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needs of development of our society. ISRO telemedicine projects consist of linking hospitals
in remote and inaccessible areas with superspeciality hospital located in the city through
Indian National Satellite (INSAT). Remote areas covered are J&K and Ladakh in North,
offshore islands of Andaman and Lakshadweep, interior parts of Orissa, north-eastern
states of country and some tribal districts in the mainland states.
Telemedicine is most effective for India which is vast and has different regions like the
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mountain region of J&K and Ladakh, far-flung areas of North East and offshore islands of
Andaman and Lakshadweep. With a majority of our population living in rural area and
majority of doctors living in urban areas, telemedicines can be the only solution for providing
improved health care for benefits like improved access, reduced cost, reduced isolation of
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The hospitals get their manpower trained for utilisation of telemedicine facility which
is provided by the telemedicine system vendors.
The telemedicine has good potential to grow since it provides speciality health care to
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the remote hospitals. The growth could be the connectivity between a) district hospitals/
health centres and super-speciality hospitals in the cities. b) Community Health Centres
(CHC) at block level and district hospital and c) Primary Health Centre (PHC) at village
level and community health centres for health care and delivery of medical advice. Further,
there could be a network of super-speciality hospitals providing telemedicine consultation
to any of the regions.
The major challenges ahead include evolving an effective operations and revenue model
for making the telemedicine facility self-sustainable through innovative health insurance
schemes with public and private institutions partnerships for assuring quality health care
to the citizens.
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33. It can be inferred from the passage
a. As telemedicine technologies and processes gradually mature, the extent and breadth
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of medical specialities should reduce.
b. Telemedicine facility is self-sustainable.
c. Telemedicine as a discipline has the highest effectiveness in the vast regions like India.
d. None of the three.
Passage 10
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Some modern anthropologists hold that biological evolution has shaped not only human
morphology but also human behavior. The role those anthropologists ascribe to evolution
is not of dictating the details of human behavior but one of imposing constraints - ways
of feeling, thinking, and acting that ''come naturally'' in archetypal situations in any culture.
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Our ''frailties'' - emotions and motives such as rage, fear, greed, gluttony, joy, lust, love-may
be a very mixed assortment quality: we are, as we say, ''in the grip'' of them. And thus they
give us our sense of constraints.
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Unhappily, some of those frailties our need for ever-increasing security among them are
presently maladaptive. Yet beneath the overlay of cultural detail, they, too, are said to be
biological in direction, and therefore as natural to us as are our appendixes. We would
need to comprehend thoroughly their adaptive origins in order to understand how badly
they guide us now. And we might then begin to resist their pressure.
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b. Changes in the total human environment can outpace evolutionary change.
c. Our mal-adaptiveness of our frailties results in our misunderstanding of the Evolution.
d. None of these.
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Passage 11: (974 words)
T owards the end of the 19th century, and in the wake of Wagner's achievement in
Tristan und Isolde and Parsifal, the musical language which had been common property
of Western composers since the Renaissance, underwent a crisis.
What we now know as tonality, which is the system of keys and scales, and the
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harmonic progressions, which had been accepted by audiences since at least the end of the
Middle Ages, entered a kind of flux. Keys were no longer stable; dissonances began to
resolve onto other dissonances (as in the Prelude to Tristan und Isolde), new harmonies
began to insert themselves into the old sequences, and the scale expanded from eight notes
to the twelve-note chromatic scale, using notes at random from other keys, and constructing
sinuous melodic lines that seemed more adapted to dark and solitary emotions than to the
cheerful day-light exuberance of choral song.
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The crisis deepened during the first quarter of the 20th century, as a result of two
striking innovations. The first was that of Debussy, anticipated by Liszt, who began to use
the whole-tone scale (the scale without semitones). This scale, emphasizing each note
equally, and being without a dominant, is directionless and lacks the dynamic tension of
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the traditional major and minor modalities. From the whole-tone scale new harmonies
emerge - static, indolent, yet somehow not at rest. Debussy combined this scale with post-
Wagnerian harmonies, in music which was guided entirely by his own sensitive ear, and
by none of the rules of classical harmony, not even those followed and stretched by
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Wagner. Ravel followed suit, and in due course the French composers were to influence
Bartók, Stravinsky and Janácek, all of whom borrowed the whole-tone language when
they needed it, meanwhile inventing with the ear.
The second innovation, yet more subversive, was the introduction of entirely atonal
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melodies and harmonies by Schoenberg, who also, in his vocal setting Pierrot Lunaire, used
Sprachgesang - a kind of insinuating sing-song, in which words are deftly stuck onto the
musical line, rather than being sung to a melody of their own. It was impossible to dismiss
Schoenberg's innovations as the work of a second-rate composer trying to disguise his
incompetence. In Gurrelieder, Verklärte Nacht, and Pelléas et Mélisande he had shown
total mastery of tonality and of late romantic harmony, and these great works remain part
of the repertoire today. But by the time of the Piano Pieces op. 11 he was writing music
which to many people no longer made sense, with melodic lines that began and ended
nowhere, and harmonies that seemed to bear no relation to the principal voice. At the
same time, Schoenberg's atonal pieces were meticulously composed, according to schemes
that involved the intricate relation of phrases and thematic ideas.
In due course this meticulousness led to an obsession with structure and the quasi-
mathematical idiom of twelve-tone serialism, in which the linear relations of tonal music
were entirely replaced by a permutational grammar. The result, in the hands of a musical
genius like Schoenberg, was intriguing, often (as in the unfinished opera Moses und Aron,
and The Survivor from Warsaw) genuinely moving. Schoenberg's pupils Alban Berg and
Anton Webern developed the idiom, the one in a romantic and quasi-tonal direction, the
other towards a refined pointillistic style that is uniquely evocative. But it should be
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remembered that all these experiments were begun at a time when Mahler was composing
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tonal symphonies, with great arched melodies in the high romantic tradition, and using
modernist harmonies only as rhetorical gestures within a strongly diatonic style. And in
England Vaughan Williams and Holst were working in a similar way, treating dissonances
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as by-ways within an all-including tonal logic.
A concert-goer in the early 1930s would have been faced with two completely different
musics - one (Vaughan Williams, Holst, Sibelius, Walton, Strauss, Busoni) remaining within
the bounds of the tonal language, the other (Schoenberg and his school) consciously departing
from the old language, and often striking a deliberately defiant pose towards it. Somewhere
in between those two musics hovered the great eclectic geniuses, Stravinsky, Bartók and
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Prokoviev. And meanwhile the polemics abounded, some dismissing the tonal idiom as
reactionary and exhausted, some attacking the modernists as nonsensical and deliberately
insulting to the good bourgeois audiences who paid for their self-indulgence.
As we know the contest between tonality and atonality continued throughout the 20th
century. The first was popular, the second, on the whole, popular only with the elites. But
it was the elites who controlled things, and who directed the state subsidies to the music
that they preferred - or at least, that they pretended to prefer. From the time (1959) when
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the modernist critic Sir William Glock took over the musical direction of BBC's Third
Programme, only the second kind of contemporary music was broadcast over the airwaves
in Britain. Composers like Vaughan Williams were marginalized and experimental voices
given an airing in proportion to their cacophonousness. During the 1950s there also grew
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up in Darmstadt a wholly new pedagogy of music, under the aegis of Karlheinz Stockhausen.
Composition, as taught by Stockhausen, consisted in total randomness of inspiration
combined with a meticulous mathematization of the score, to produce music which makes
little or no sense to the ear, but which fascinates the eye when spelled out on the page.
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influenced by Stravinsky and Prokoviev, was in comparison ignored, not because his music
is trivial, but because he was perceived to be out of touch with a musical culture determined
to clear away the dangerous vestiges of the romantic worldview.
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c. Changes are inevitable.
d. Music hasn't lost all its appeal despite the changes.
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Passage - 12
EM
H itler and his henchmen victimized an entire continent and exterminated millions in
his quest for a so-called Master Race.
But the concept of a white, blond-haired, blue-eyed master Nordic race didn't originate
with Hitler. The idea was created in the United States, and cultivated in California, decades
before Hitler came to power. California eugenicists played an important, although little-
known, role in the American eugenics movement's campaign for ethnic cleansing.
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Eugenics was the pseudoscience aimed at "improving" the human race. In its extreme,
racist form, this meant wiping away all human beings deemed "unfit," preserving only
those who conformed to a Nordic stereotype. Elements of the philosophy were enshrined
as national policy by forced sterilization and segregation laws, as well as marriage restrictions,
enacted in 27 states. In 1909, California became the third state to adopt such laws. Ultimately,
eugenics practitioners coercively sterilized some 60,000 Americans, barred the marriage of
thousands, forcibly segregated thousands in "colonies," and persecuted untold numbers in
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ways we are just learning. Before World War II, nearly half of coercive sterilizations were
done in California, and even after the war, the state accounted for a third of all such
surgeries.
California was considered an epicenter of the American eugenics movement. During
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the 20th century's first decades, California's eugenicists included potent but little-known
race scientists, such as Army venereal disease specialist Dr. Paul Popenoe, citrus magnate
Paul Gosney, Sacramento banker Charles Goethe, as well as members of the California
state Board of Charities and Corrections and the University of California Board of Regents.
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Eugenics would have been so much bizarre parlor talk had it not been for extensive
financing by corporate philanthropies, specifically the Carnegie Institution, the Rockefeller
Foundation and the Harriman railroad fortune. They were all in league with some of
America's most respected scientists from such prestigious universities as Stanford, Yale,
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Harvard and Princeton. These academicians espoused race theory and race science, and
then faked and twisted data to serve eugenics' racist aims.
Stanford President David Starr Jordan originated the notion of "race and blood" in his
1902 racial epistle "Blood of a Nation," in which the university scholar declared that
human qualities and conditions such as talent and poverty were passed through the blood.
In 1904, the Carnegie Institution established a laboratory complex at Cold Spring Harbor
on Long Island that stockpiled millions of index cards on ordinary Americans, as researchers
carefully plotted the removal of families, bloodlines and whole peoples. From Cold Spring
Harbor, eugenics advocates agitated in the legislatures of America, as well as the nation's
social service agencies and associations.
The Harriman railroad fortune paid local charities, such as the New York Bureau of
Industries and Immigration, to seek out Jewish, Italian and other immigrants in New York
and other crowded cities and subject them to deportation, confinement or forced sterilization.
German eugenics program and even funded the program that Josef Mengele worked in
before he went to Auschwitz.
Much of the spiritual guidance and political agitation for the American eugenics
movement came from California's quasi-autonomous eugenic societies, such as Pasadena's
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Human Betterment Foundation and the California branch of the American Eugenics Society,
which coordinated much of their activity with the Eugenics Research Society in Long
Island. These organizations -- which functioned as part of a closely-knit network -- published
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racist eugenic newsletters and pseudoscientific journals, such as Eugenical News and
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Eugenics, and propagandized for the Nazis. Eugenics was born as a scientific curiosity in
the Victorian age. In 1863,
Sir Francis Galton, a cousin of Charles Darwin, theorized that if talented people married
only other talented people, the result would be measurably better offspring. At the turn of
the last century, Galton's ideas were imported to the United States just as Gregor Mendel's
principles of heredity were rediscovered. American eugenics advocates believed with religious
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fervor that the same Mendelian concepts determining the color and size of peas, corn and
cattle also governed the social and intellectual character of man.
In a United States demographically reeling from immigration upheaval and torn by
post-Reconstruction chaos, race conflict was everywhere in the early 20th century. Elitists,
utopians and so-called progressives fused their smoldering race fears and class bias with
their desire to make a better world. They reinvented Galton's eugenics into a repressive and
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racist ideology. The intent: Populate the Earth with vastly more of their own socioeconomic
and biological kind -- and less or none of everyone else.
The superior species the eugenics movement sought was populated not merely by tall,
strong, talented people. Eugenicists craved blond, blue-eyed Nordic types. This group alone,
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they believed, was fit to inherit the Earth. In the process, the movement intended to
subtract emancipated Negroes, immigrant Asian laborers, Indians, Hispanics, East Europeans,
Jews, dark- haired hill folk, poor people, the infirm and anyone classified outside the
gentrified genetic lines drawn up by American raceologists.
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How? By identifying so-called defective family trees and subjecting them to lifelong
segregation and sterilization programs to kill their bloodlines. The grand plan was to
literally wipe away the reproductive capability of those deemed weak and inferior -- the
so-called unfit. The eugenicists hoped to neutralize the viability of 10 percent of the
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"Applied Eugenics" also devoted a chapter to "Lethal Selection," which operated "through
the destruction of the individual by some adverse feature of the environment, such as
excessive cold, or bacteria, or by bodily deficiency."
Eugenic breeders believed American society was not ready to implement an organized
lethal solution. But many mental institutions and doctors practiced improvised medical
lethality and passive euthanasia on their own. One institution in Lincoln, Ill., fed its incoming
patients milk from tubercular cows believing a eugenically strong individual would be
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immune. Thirty to 40 percent annual death rates resulted at Lincoln. Some doctors practiced
passive eugenicide one newborn infant at a time. Others doctors at mental institutions
engaged in lethal neglect.
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Nonetheless, with eugenicide marginalized, the main solution for eugenicists was the
rapid expansion of forced segregation and sterilization, as well as more marriage restrictions.
California led the nation, performing nearly all sterilization procedures with little or no due
process. In its first 25 years of eugenics legislation, California sterilized 9,782 individuals,
mostly women. Many were classified as "bad girls," diagnosed as "passionate," "oversexed"
or "sexually wayward." At the Sonoma State Home, some women were sterilized because
of what was deemed an abnormally large clitoris or labia.
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In 1933 alone, at least 1,278 coercive sterilizations were performed, 700 on women. The
state's two leading sterilization mills in 1933 were Sonoma State Home with 388 operations
and Patton State Hospital with 363 operations. Other sterilization centers included Agnews,
Mendocino, Napa, Norwalk, Stockton and Pacific Colony state hospitals.
Even the U.S. Supreme Court endorsed aspects of eugenics. In its infamous 1927 decision,
Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote, "It is better for all the world, if
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instead of waiting to execute degenerate offspring for crime, or to let them starve for their
imbecility, society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind
. . . Three generations of imbeciles are enough." This decision opened the floodgates for
thousands to be coercively sterilized or otherwise persecuted as subhuman. Years later, the
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Nazis at the Nuremberg trials quoted Holmes' words in their own defense.
Only after eugenics became entrenched in the United States was the campaign
transplanted into Germany, in no small measure through the efforts of California eugenicists,
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who published booklets idealizing sterilization and circulated them to German officials and
scientists.
Hitler studied American eugenics laws. He tried to legitimize his anti- Semitism by
medicalizing it, and wrapping it in the more palatable pseudoscientific facade of eugenics.
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Hitler was able to recruit more followers among reasonable Germans by claiming that
science was on his side. Hitler's race hatred sprung from his own mind, but the intellectual
outlines of the eugenics Hitler adopted in 1924 were made in America.
43. Which of those races were not considered fit by eugencies movement of that time?
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a. White men with Blue eyes.
b. White men with curly blonde hair.
c. White men with dark hair.
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d. White men belonging to Nordic Race.
Passage -13
W hile ethnic conflict has many dimensions, one of the first to strike the observer is the
territorial one. Marching rituals in Northern Ireland, for instance, are designed
frequently to express symbolic control over territory, and the very creation of Belfast's
'peace line' represents an effort to give concrete geographical shape to a profound interethnic
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division. The contours of the ethnic mosaic of Cyprus became increasingly clearly defined
in the 1960s, and in 1974 the ethnic map of the country was radically reformed, as the
long-established bicommunal patchwork yielded to a partitioned country, a 'green line'
extending through Nicosia and the rest of the island separating the Turkish North
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then, well established, but it is also complex. Ethnic affiliation and territorial location
have long been acknowledged as sources of national identification; the distinction
between the two may be traced back to that between jus sanguinis and jus soli in
public international law. Just as these two criteria of identification may give conflicting
answers regarding the position of an individual, so too may they give rise to conflict
at the collective level, at the level of the community.
In this domain, two sources of potential conflict between the state and the
community or communities that reside within its borders may in principle be
identified. Both arise from the essentially territorial nature of the state. It is hardly
necessary to go back to Weber's description of the state as 'a compulsory
organisation with a territorial basis' to make the point that state boundaries are
frequently clear-cut in physical reality, and that they are almost always clearly defined in
graphic representation. Since the boundaries of social groups nearly always lack these
characteristics, the potential for conflict is immediate. Corresponding to the legal distinction
between jus sanguinis and jus soli, social psychologists have noted people and land as the
two primary stimuli of patriotism and nationalism, in that they act as powerful foci for
group loyalty. From the state's perspective, the problem is that these two sources of
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identification may give different answers to the question where any boundary should lie,
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and that both of these answers may conflict with the preferences of the dominant group
within the state itself.
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The first difficulty arises from the fact that it is obviously the case that persons who feel
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that they belong to the same ethnic community may occupy a very imprecisely defined
territory, and that, even if the territory in which they predominate may be precisely defined,
this does not necessarily coincide with the territory of a state. Almost every state includes
non-members of the ethnic community with which it is associated, but it also fails to
include some members of this community. As the gap between the territory actually occupied
by the ethnic community and the territory of its state increases, so too does the probability
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of ethnic tension, other things being equal.
Second, whatever the spatial distribution of their members, many ethnic communities
feel a strong association with a particular relatively clearly defined segment of territory. In
the case of indigenous peoples, this may be seen as having a sacred character. Many
'modern' ethnic communities identify a so-called 'national' territory, and use historical,
pseudo-historical or even fabricated arguments to press their claims to this. Outlying portions
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of this territory may be inhabited by other ethnic groups (as in the case of the North East
of Ireland), the core of the 'national territory' itself may be inhabited predominantly by an
'alien' community (as in the cases of Vilnius in Lithuania in the past or Pamplona in the
Basque Country), or the entire territory may be inhabited by another community (as in the
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case of Israel at the beginning of the twentieth century), but the claim nevertheless
attracts powerful public support. Historical arguments may, indeed, be reinforced by
geographical, economic or strategic ones.
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46. Based on the passage, we can say that the chances of an ethnic conflict in a state or
a country are most
a. When members of one community suffer racial discrimination.
b. When the state does not follow a secular path
c. When 'sons of the soil' feel their territorial rights have been infringed
d. When the state allows the occupation of its territory by more than one ethnic group
47. In the phrase, "since the boundaries of social groups nearly always lack these
characteristics", "these characteristics" refer to
a. Marked physical features b. Clear graphic representation
c. Distinct traits d. All of the above
48. Kashmir and Israel have been cited by the author as examples of
a. The predominant territorial facet in all ethnic conflicts.
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b. Age-old ethnic conflicts which have defied solutions.
c. A territorial divide causing ethnic conflicts.
d. Ethnic struggles with religious overtones.
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49. Which of the following is TRUE of ethnic activists?
a. They sometimes press for a division of the state on religious lines.
b. They want state borders to be drawn based on ethnic group ins.
c. They doctor history to fight their case.
d. They demand autonomy within a state.
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While complex in the extreme, Derrida's work has proven to be a particularly influential
approach to the analysis of the ways in which language structures our understanding of
ourselves and the world we inhabit, an approach he termed deconstruction. In its simplest
formulation, deconstruction can be taken to refer to a methodological strategy which seeks
to uncover layers of hidden meaning in a text that have been denied or suppressed. The
term 'text', in this respect, does not refer simply to a written form of communication,
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however. Rather, texts are something we all produce and reproduce constantly in our
everyday social relations, be they spoken, written or embedded in the construction of
material artifacts. At the heart of Derrida's deconstructive approach is his critique of what
he receives to be the totalitarian impulse of the Enlightenment pursuit to bring all that
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exists in the world under the domain of a representative language, a pursuit he refers to
as logocentrism. Logocentrism is the search for a rational language that is able to know and
represent the world and all its aspects perfectly and accurately. Its totalitarian dimension,
for Derrida at least, lies primarily in its tendency to marginalize or dismiss all that does not
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neatly comply with its particular linguistic representations, a tendency that, throughout
history, has all too frequently been manifested in the form of authoritarian institutions.
Thus logocentrism has, in its search for the truth of absolute representation, subsumed
difference and oppressed that which it designates as its alien 'other'. For Derrida, western
civilization has been built upon such a ystematic assault on alien cultures and ways of life,
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constructed through oppositional usage), and at the same time, a hierarchical relationship
is maintained by the deference of one term to the other (in the positing of rationality over
irrationality, for instance). It is this latter point which is perhaps the key to understanding
Derrida's approach to deconstruction.
For the fact that at any given time one term must defer to its oppositional 'other', means
that the two terms are constantly in a state of interdependence. The presence of one is
dependent upon the absence or 'absent-presence' of the 'other', such as in the case of good
and evil, whereby to understand the nature of one, we must constantly relate it to the
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absent term in order to grasp its meaning. That is, to do good, we must understand that
our act is not evil for without that comparison the term becomes meaningless. Put simply,
deconstruction represents an attempt to demonstrate the absent-presence of this oppositional
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'other', to show that what we say or write is in itself not expressive simply of what is
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present, but also of what is absent. Thus, deconstruction seeks to reveal the interdependence
of apparently dichotomous terms and their meanings relative to their textual context; that
is, within the linguistic power relations which structure dichotomous terms hierarchically.
In Derrida's awn wards, a deconstructive reading "must always aim at a certain relationship,
unperceived by the writer, between what he commands and what he does not command
of the patterns of a language that he uses. . . .It attempts to make the not-seen accessible
to sight."
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Meaning, then, is never fixed or stable, whatever the intention of the author of a text. For
Derrida, language is a system of relations that are dynamic, in that all meanings we ascribe
to the world are dependent not only an what we believe to be present but also an what
is absent. Thus, any act of interpretation must refer not only to what the author of a text
intends, but also to what is absent from his or her intention. This insight leads, once again,
Derrida's further rejection of the idea of the definitive authority of the intentional agent or
subject. The subject is decentred; it is conceived as the outcome of relations of différance.
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As author of its awn biography, the subject thus becomes the ideological fiction of modernity
and its logocentric philosophy, one that depends upon the formation of hierarchical dualisms,
which repress and deny the presence of the absent 'other'. No meaning can, therefore, ever
be definitive, but is merely an outcome of a particular interpretation.
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50. According to the passage, Derrida believes that the system of binary opposition
a. weakens the process of marginalization and ordering of truth
b. deconstructs reality.
c. represents a prioritization or hierarchy
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52. Derrida rejects the idea of 'definitive authority of the subject' because
a. any act of interpretation must refer to what the author intends
b. interpretation of the text may not make the unseen visible
c. the implicit power relationship is often ignored
d. the meaning of the text is based on binary opposites.
Passage 15
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T here was an increase of about 10 % in the investment in the public sector, like electricity,
irrigation quarrying, public services and transport; even though the emphasis leaned
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towards transport and away from the other sectors mentioned. A 16-17% growth in
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investment, including a 30% increase in investment in business premises has been recorded
in trade and services. Although there continued to be a decline in the share of agriculture
in total gross investment in the economy, investment grew by 9% in absolute terms, largely
spurred on by a 23% expansion of investment in agriculture equipment. Housing construction
had 12% more invested in it in 1964, not so much owing to increase demand, as to fears
of impending new taxes and limitation of building.
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There was a rise of close to 11% in the total consumption in real terms during 1964 and
per capita personal consumption by under 7%, as in 1963. The undesirable trend towards
a rapid rise in consumption, evident in previous years, remains unaltered. Since at current
prices consumption rose by 16% and disposable income by 13%, there was evidently a fall
in the rate of saving in the private sector of the economy. Once again a swift advance in
the standard of living was indicated in consumption patterns. Though fruit consumption
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increased, expenditure on food, especially bread and staple items, declined significantly.
There was a continuing increase in the outlay on furniture and household equipment,
health, education and recreation. The greatest proof of altered living standards was the
rapid expansion of expenditure on transport (including private cars) and personal services
of all kinds, which occurred during 1964. The changing composition if purchased durable
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goods demonstrated the progressive affluence of large sectors of the public. On the one
hand increased purchase of automobiles and television sets were registered, a point of
saturation was rapidly being approached for items like the first household radio, gas
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55. According to the author the trend towards a rapid rise in consumption is "undesirable"
as:
a. the people were affluent
b. there was a rise in the standard of living
c. people were eating less
d. people were saving less
56. It is possible to conclude that the United States is not the discussed country as:
a. there was a decline in the expenditure for food
b. From the statement that the saturation point was rapidly being approached for first
household radios .
c. there is no mention of military expenditure.
d. the people were affluent
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Passage 16
I ndia is one of the world's 12 mega-biodiversity centres, and the subcontinent one of the
six Vavilovian centres of origin of species. Some 45,000 plant species and over 89,000
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species of animals have been documented here, comprising some 6.5 per cent of all known
wildlife.
The faunal diversity comprises inter alia 2,500 fishes, 150 amphibians, 450 reptiles,
1,200 birds, 850 mammals and 68,000 insects. Although India is designated as a mega-
biodiversity area, it also has two of the world's most threatened 'hot spots', the Eastern
Himalayan region and the Western Ghats. To quote Professor M.S. Swaminathan, both are
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paradises of valuable genes but are inching towards the status of 'Paradise Lost.'
At least 10 per cent of Inida's recorded wild flora and possibly more of its wild fauna
are on the brink of obliteration. Of the wild fauna, 80 species of mammals, 47 of birds, 15
of reptiles, three of amphibians and a large number of moths, butterflies and beetles are
endangered. Out of 19 species of primates, 12 are endangered. The cheetah (Acinonyx
jubatus) and the pink-headed duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea) are among species that
have become extinct. There must be many more that have been annihilated, unrecorded
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either because they were not that spectacular or because their existence remained unknown.
Global warming and climate change pose threats to plant and animal species as many
organisms are sensitive to carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere that may lead
to their disappearance. Pesticide, troposphere ozone, sulphur and nitrogen oxides from
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industries also contribute to the degradation of natural ecosystems. Poaching puts pressure
on wild animals. Elephants are being hunted for their tusks, the tiger is being shot for its
skin.
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Nature is beautifully balanced; each little thing has its own place, its duty and special
utility. Ecosystem stability is a compelling reason for preserving biodiversity. All living
organisms are an internal part of the biosphere and provide invaluable services. These
include the control of pests, recycling of nutrients, replenishment of local climate and
control of floods.
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59. Which one of the following has the largest green house effects?
a. Water Vapour b. Carbon Dioxide
c. Methane d. Chlorofluoro Carbons
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from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
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ii. Natural events such as volcanoes and solar flares can produce changes is of greatest
concern than man made changes.
Which is correct?
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a. (i) is Correct b. (ii) is Correct
c. both (i) and (ii) are Correct d. both (i) and (ii) are wrong
Having killed 76 paramilitary troops in April, Maoists have killed 30 more in a bus explosion
in DanteWada district, Chhatisgarh. Some cabinet ministers want aerial bombing of
Dantewada's jungles to kill Maoists. This will kill civilians and strengthen the Maoists. The
problem is not military, and has no military solutions.
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Home minister Chidambaram says he wants the air force not for bombing but surveillance
and logistics. This too is a quasi-military approach, short-sighted and doomed to failure.
Maoists have flourished in several states but been routed in Andhra Pradesh. AP achieved
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success not through military force but a well trained and politically empowered police, plus
intelligent politics. A similar model crushed Sikh terrorism in Punjab. It needs replication
in all Maoist-hit states.
Initially, the then AP chief minister Rajasekhara Reddy tried negotiating with the Maoists
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but found they were merely buying time. So he formulated a new strategy using the full
administration, not the police alone.
First, the police got additional staff, superior training, arms, vehicles and communications,
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as in Punjab. Second, the government built an intensive network of roads in the jungles of
the four worst affected northern districts. Trying to control a jungle belt with a few roads
is a death trap, as shown in Dantewada.
In AP, the new road network was used to set up not just new police stations but the
full range of government offices and services. This included irrigation, schools and health
clinics, and welfare services (cheap rice, employment schemes). Earlier, when Maoists ruled
supreme, most government staff had run away, leaving a vacuum filled by the Naxalites.
To reoccupy that vacuum, Reddy provided the full range of government services. This gave
locals the confidence that the state government was here to fight to the finish. Only then
could the police recruit informers, infiltrate Maoists groups and winkle them out.
63. Consider the two statements regarding police action against extremists:
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i. There is no proper coordination between state police and central Paramilitary Forces
and also that extremists have sophisticated telecommunication network.
ii. Ultra are more dependent on mines hidden under roads and also they are younger
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than the police personnel. Which of the statement/statements is/are Correct?
a. (i) only b. (ii) only
c. Both (i) and (ii) d. Neither (i) nor (ii)
64. Which is the most successful anti -Naxalite operation?
a. Operation 'green-hounds' b. Operation 'COBRA'
c. Operation 'Black-Thunder' d. Operation 'Leopard'
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65. What is the most common strategy adopted by naxalites against the police personnel?
a. Shooting from a close range b. Shooting from a distant range
c. Open warfare d. Ambush
Passage 18
I t sounds like a child's riddle: what do you get when you cross a firefly with a tobacco
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plant? Answer: tobacco that lights itself. That is essentially what a team of scientists at
the university of California at San Diego has done. By outfitting a fragment of a plant virus
with the gene that tells firefly cells to produce a protein central generating light, the
researchers have created a plant that literally glows in the dark.
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The technique, reported in last week's issue of the journal "Science", is significant not
so much as a demonstration of virtuoso genetic engineering but because it will provide
scientists with a valuable research tool for studying how genes go about their business. By
fusing the firefly gene to the genetic material of other plants and animals, biologists gain
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a visual cue that will help them understand in detail how genes tell different cells what
their duties are within an organism. Armed with such specific knowledge, researchers may
some day understand exactly why these instructions are occasionally garbled and, perhaps,
why cancer and other gene-influenced diseases occur.
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In studying genes, scientists deal basically with two components: one part supplies the
code for the production of a particular protein, and the other, a sort of a regulatory switch,
turns the protein producing mechanism on and off. In the human body, as in all organisms,
every cell contains the complete genetic code, and in theory, has the potential to serve any
function. A liver cell has the instructions necessary to grow hair, for example, and a bone
cell to transmit information as a nerve does. The reason these things do not happen is that
the instructions - the genes --- are switched on only under very specific conditions. If
researchers can fuse the firefly gene to specific plant or animal genes, they will be able to
monitor the "expression" or turning on, of those genes simply by looking at what parts of
the organism light up, and when.
The initial impetus for the research came from a rather oblique direction. UCSD biochemist
Marlene deluka has been investigating for 20 years how the firefly protein-in this case, an
enzyme called luciferase --------- produces light. But the process of collecting and grinding
up fireflies to extract the enzyme was laborious and costly. She and Helinski, a molecular
geneticist, decided to isolate the luciferase gene, cloning exact copies of it and splicing it
into the genetic machinery of the common bacterium E.coli. The E.coli could then mass
produce luciferase by the vat. Deluca and Helinski accomplished this task by using standard
recombinant DNA techniques developed over the past 20 years and now widely employed
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in industrial microbiology labs.
The UCSD team quickly realized that the successful harnessing of luciferase might yield
other benefits. If the firefly gene was a simple, straightforward and easily manipulated one-
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gene-one-enzyme system, it might be possible to use it as a marker, or "reporter" gene. "We
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lucked out" says Helinski. "It did turn out to be a single gene that we could manipulate."
They enlisted Howell and a colleague, David ow, who began trying to package the gene
in a way that could prove useful to the research of gene expression. The resulting procedure
though the simplest available, might have been designed by Rube Goldberg. The luciferase
gene was spliced to the regulatory switch of a gene belonging to a virus that infects plants.
The altered two-part piece of DNA was then inserted into a circular strand of DNA, called
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a plasmid, from the bacterium agrobacterium. The bacterial plasmid was incubated with
tobacco-leaf cells, and the cells were nurtured into full-fledged plants.
Why choose tobacco? says Howell. "Tobacco is the laboratoty rat of plant molecular
biologists. It is a model system that we use in these sorts of experiments". Responding to
orders from the firefly-virus gene, the plants dutifully produced their own luciferase.
66. The author mentions Rube Goldberg's design to suggest that the procedure was:
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67. The specific purpose of the scientists in "crossing the firefly with a tobacco plant was":
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68. It can be inferred that one of the possible causes of diseases such as cancer could be:
a. The genes in a cancer patient are deficient in protein production.
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69. Though every cell in any organism can serve all functions, in practice, however, they
serve only a limited number of them because:
a. The cells are limited in number.
b. The instruction giving genes are activated under specific conditions.
c. The switch on and off mechanism is slow to respond.
d. It is not possible to monitor the "expression" of genes.
70. The UCSD team possibly could not have contributed to the research of gene expression
if :
a. Grinding up fireflies was the only method for extracting luciferase.
b. Luciferase was not a single enzyme -----several genes system.
c. Cloning exact copies of luciferase gene was not possible.
d. Luciferase could not be mass produced by using standard recombinant DNA technique.
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Passage 19
After every solitary night,
The sun will shine bright.
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All that happens is for your good,
EM
So never cease to give a try
For behind every dark cloud,
There is a highlighted sky.
So again I repeat,
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a. Hope is one's only companion.
b. One looks forward to better days.
c. One curses one's fate.
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d. Many come to share your grief.
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74. What, according to the poet, is the benefit of failure?
a. One won't repeat the mistake.
b. One learns from it.
c. Every loss ensures a gain.
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d. None of these.
Passage 20:
G ervais is Gervais, too bright and too giggly; Mackenzie Crook the kind, laconic pragmatist;
and now I've interviewed the third of my hat-trick from The Office, Martin Freeman,
and I have to say: wowza! Searingly intelligent, angry, direct, caustic, lefty, sweary, as
stunningly far from "Tim" as you could get, because, as I fast realise, he's a real actor.
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He's in a play, at the Royal Court, Bruce Norris's Clybourne Park, about racism and
property, the first half set in the 1950s, half now, in America, and is quite happy with his
Chicago accent, and talks with such wit and insight about racism, and the corollary:
political correctness gone not mad but simply haunted by the anti-intellectualism of its
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birth.
"It was just so well-written. I started to read it not necessarily expecting to think of
doing it - it's a while out of your life, and most things I don't want to do - but, within
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pages, such wit, and a real nice nastiness to it. It's also got people of different colours,
different classes, echoing things that were said by people 50 years before but about a
different colour or sex or power or class - it shows how things shift, and it's magnificent.
It's about prejudice - literally, to prejudge a situation."
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And, yes, as a lefty, he does worry about multiculturalism, a bit. "In London we give
ourselves a pat on the back, rightly, for not killing one another, for our prejudice being
subtle rather than lethal. But nor are we waking up every morning saying, 'I can't wait to
speak to my different X or Y neighbours about food or music.'"
And he's on, accidentally, to the Beatles, music being his other passion, and of course to the
amazing success of BBC1's Sherlock, in which he played Dr Watson. "Look, it sounds arrogant
to hell, but I remember reading an NME interview with McCartney and they'd been in Abbey
Road, doing Sgt Pepper, when everyone was saying: 'What's happened to the Beatles?', and it was, 'Just you wait until
this comes out.' Same thing happened. I knew it was great, writing great… I really must
stop swearing."
The signs look good for a recommissioning, he says, but, apart from that he doesn't have
a specific life-plan, acting wise; he just wants to be true to himself in picking the parts,
because "I've always got my eye on my deathbed. Will I be proud, or think I've sold out?
I've got an overly developed sense of what selling out is, and I of course worry about it too
much. Having said that, I am aware I am very lucky to be able to afford to say that. But
if you are lucky enough to have some career or financial buffer to allow you to say that,
then why wouldn't you? You'll last more than eight minutes that way."
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There was so much more. This is a truly good actor; a truly good man.
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a. Being a real actor, Martin Freeman is able to do justice to his character in "The Office"
even though it is quite different from his real nature.
b. Martin feels that people in London have adjusted to multiculturalism so well that
they do not resort to killing each other nor are they prejudiced.
c. The Beatles had surprised everyone when they were doing Sgt Pepper as people had
not expected them to be successful in that venture.
d. Martin doesn't want to feel like a sold-out actor at the end of his life by doing
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unnecessary parts which do not make him feel proud of himself.
b. Martin admits that he worries a bit more than necessary about being sold out though
he does not want to correct this trait in his nature as there is monetarily no need to
do so.
c. Martin admits that he worries a bit more than necessary about being sold out and
that he would want to correct this trait in his nature if he did not have a viable career
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or a financial buffer.
d. None of the above.
Passage 22
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F idel Castro's wry comment to US journalist Geoffrey Goldberg that Cuba's economic
system isn't working has become an issue that has echoed round the world as columnists
and commentators have seized upon it as the confession of a man preparing to meet his
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maker.
However, as it is wont to do with Cuba, the world's media (especially that which is
vehemently opposed to socialism) is perhaps reading a little too much into the comment.
Fidel is a keen media watcher himself and seeing the attention his remark has received will
surely be clarifying his views in the days to come, but you can be sure it will not be to say
that capitalism is the answer. Indeed, elsewhere in the Goldberg interview he told his
interlocutor that he was still very much a dialectical materialist.
So what exactly did the old man say? To be specific: "The Cuban model doesn't even
work for us anymore," was his answer to being asked if he believed it was something still
worth exporting. That is hardly an admission of total failure. He clearly thinks it worked
once, and since he does not elaborate on the reasons why he thinks it doesn't work now,
it is premature to assume that he is chucking in the towel.
Nor can the statement be interpreted as him saying that socialism per se has failed -
merely that Cuba's current model of it no longer fits the times. He has consistently held the
view that there are as many models of socialism as there are countries that try it out. As
a Marxist he believes that the particular circumstances of each society and the peculiarities
of their histories affect the character of whatever politics they might have - be they communist
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or capitalist.
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What the statement really means is that he agrees with his brother that the way the
Cuban system is currently configured has to change, but watch the space carefully - this
does not automatically imply that free-market capitalism is the answer - far from it.
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Since being handed power by his brother in 2006, Raúl Castro has taken measures to
reform the economy, including using some market mechanisms and allowing more citizens
to work for themselves. In order to shrink the state (and the deficit - Cuba is in the same
boat as the rest of us), something like a million government workers are set to lose their
jobs in the coming months.
The government has recently handed out more than 2.5m acres of land to individuals
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and co-operatives, in order that they produce more food, and has accordingly loosened
controls that prohibit Cubans from selling fruit and vegetables. In an effort to build a
modern tourism infrastructure it has eased property laws to give lease periods of up to 99
years for foreign investors.
However, at the same time the government has announced that workers will be
encouraged to take over the ownership of the companies in which they work. In a move
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that the government has actually called a deepening of socialism, the Cubans are about to
launch what could potentially become the biggest co-operative project the world has ever
seen.
The government is saying that the old centrally planned Soviet-style of socialism has
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finally hit the buffers - a new form of socialism is required, in which the state ceases to be
the administrator of economic activity but the regulator. That's a different model of socialism
- it may not work either - but it is not capitalism.
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77. It can be inferred that the new economic model which the Cuban government wants
to experiment with is
a. A model in which the powers of the common man would be taken away.
b. A model which is closer to capitalism than socialism.
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79. Which of the following has not been cited as the meaning of Fidel Castro's remark?
a. Castro is deeply aware of the fact that he is nearing his end.
b. Capitalism could be the answer to Cuba's woes.
c. The earlier model of socialism in Cuba needs to be reformed now.
d. It is futile to export something from Cuba which has lost its relevance in Cuba itself.
Passage 23:
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he belated English translation of Rodolfo Kusch's Indigenous and Popular Thinking in
América (originally published in Spanish in 1970)* introduces this Argentine author to
an English-speaking audience for the first time. What makes his work interesting is that it
takes indigenous thinking seriously as philosophy - that is, as a contribution to truth rather
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than myth. Kusch refuses the default setting of anthropology, where the thought of the
other is a local mapping of the world; rather, he sets out the truth claims of indigenous
thinking and uses them to provide a critique of a tradition he regards as epistemologically
erroneous and ethically dangerous. In this sense, indigenous thinking lies on the same
conceptual plane as European thought and is coeval with modernity rather than belonging
to a superseded epoch. Whilst such strong claims may turn out to be problematic, they
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provoke serious thought about the relation of European thought to its supposed Others and
what emerges from their encounter.
The book arrives under the auspices of Duke University Press's Latin America Otherwise
series, with a ringing endorsement and long introductory essay by that series general editor,
Walter Mignolo, who claims that Kusch 'relat[es] mestizo consciousness and border hermeneutics'
and that his work is 'deeply illuminating' of Du Bois's '"double consciousness" and Anzaldúa's
"mestiza consciousness"'. Kusch thus appears in English assimilated to Mignolo's own project
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of 'border thinking'. His translators make the claim that Kusch offers not merely a critique of
'the logic of control' that underpins Western thought but the possibility of another 'more
organic' logic from which to reconstruct a sense of community as opposed to 'ideology-bound'
forms of 'building collectivity'. Kusch, like Cheríe Moraga, the thinker of Chicana consciousness,
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recovers a 'form of thinking rooted in América', a form of living that is 'body to body collective
activity that pulls the cosmos towards a renovation of life understanding of identity '. Kusch,
then, is placed in a new genealogy of 'border thinkers' and seen as the herald of 'liberatory, non-
reformist, de-colonial, intercultural' activity. The translation becomes instrumental to a politics
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whose main site of enunciation and reception is the US academy and in the process the
complexities and particularities of Kusch's writing - especially his own misreadings and misprisions
- are overlooked and the rifts of his thought are sutured or ignored.
Arguably, then, there is a tension between text and appropriation, in part facilitated by
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the decision to translate this volume of Kusch's work first, which leaves its antecedents and
development slightly obscure, despite the long introductory essay. And, of course, the very
belatedness of the translation means that Kusch's singularity looks like the now-commonplace
strategies of post-colonial critique and puts his work in the shadow of a much more
articulate discursive production on and from the Andes. Though the translation is serviceable,
its occasional errors and general awkwardness also make already difficult thought less
accessible to critical reflection. Nevertheless, Kusch's work should be read as a contribution
to a transculturation of philosophy and 'thinking' and the construction of a wider surface
of comparability. The current attempt to construct a form of politics in Bolivia that engages
indigenous conceptions of the social demonstrates the stakes and risks of such a mobilization.
This article frames the book via an account of Kusch's context and earlier thought that
stresses his debt to Heidegger. It goes on to outline the arguments and claims of Indigenous
and Popular Thinking in América and raises what I see as the main problems with Kusch's
approach. Finally, it offers a critique of his conclusions and some further reflection on
Mignolo's appropriation of the text.
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a. Kusch displays a disregard for anthropology as it contributes to making American
culture unethical and dangerous.
b. Kusch approves of the 'logic of control' of the Americans as long as it facilitates a
search for identity.
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c. Indigenous thinking is seen by Kusch as a precursor to modernity , motivating people
towards collective effort.
d. Kusch posits an original mode of thinking which could increase ethical consciousness
in America.
82. All of the following are true regarding the translation of Kusch's work except ?
a. The translation of Kusch's book does not highlight the works of Kusch which have
preceded the one being translated.
b. The translation appears vague and obscure like other similar works from the Andes.
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c. The translation does not make Kusch's thoughts simpler and more lucid than they are
in the original work.
d. The translation leaves out many specific aspects of Kusch's thoughts and writings.
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Passage - 24
O n a cool evening in late November, some 70 entrepreneurs from across sectors such as
information technology, real estate, hospitality and clean tech met for dinner at
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Bangalore's Leela Palace to discuss the latest developments in their companies. The meeting,
part of the Entrepreneurs Organisation----once called Young Entrepreneurs Organisation-
--represents a new and fast-growing interest in giving up risk-free jobs, biting the bullet of
uncertainty and going solo. From a time when Indians preferred to stick to steady pay and
focus on building a three-decade career in one company, executives today are crowding
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start-up events, chasing investors and splurging their savings, and well, starting up. Across
industries, such as IT, mobile phones, hospitality and now education and clean tech,
entrepreneurs are breaking loose from the confines of a 9-to-5 job to set up their businesses.
"There has been a night-and-day change over the past decade," says Laura Perkin,
Executive Director of National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN). She says that since its
inception seven years ago, NEN, which provides start-up support to colleges and
entrepreneurs, now has over 70,000 students covered and works with 470 educational
institutes nationwide. Elsewhere proto.in, a not-for-profit startup initiative focused on the
products segment, has seen attendance grow from 200 wide-eyed entrepreneurs and a
couple of investors, to over 600 people and 15to 20 investors in its latest round held in
Pune."We began with interest basically in IT and mobile value-added segments, but this
has since grown into newer segments such as auto and clean tech," says Ravi Shankar, co-
founder of proto.in. Earlier this year, a summit organized by the Indus entrepreneurs,
better known as TIE, attracted over 1700 people and many mentoring sessions were sold
out well in advance and had to be repeated.
Things have not been so rosy for long. The first Indian entrepreneurs were traders who
relied on family money and networks to run their businesses. Prior to liberalization, this
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meant focusing on a closed-and slow-growing economy, with a strong dose of restraints
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in the form of licenses and permits, restrictions on import of machinery and limitations on
foreign exchange. It wasn't until the economy was liberalized in 1991 that most of these
controls were lifted and entrepreneurship could be given serious thought.
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Even then the going was tough."When I started my first company (IT&T) back in 1990, no
one was willing to lend me money and a business was about factories," says serial entrepreneur
and angel investor K. Ganesh. Others agree with this dismal view. "When I started my company
IIS Infotech in 1989, it took me a year to get the licenses, and there was a 160 percent import
duty on software," says Saurabh Srivastava, currently Chairman of US software major CA
(formerly Computer Associates, Inc.) and co-founder of the Indian angle Network. "Socially, it
was not an acceptable thing to do--- to become an entrepreneur. Overall, it was a very difficult
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task. All this has changed in the last decade."
It all started in the late nineties, when everything with a dotcom suffix became hip, and
growth hungry venture capitalists (VCs) rushed to back anything in this segment. According
to some executives, there were as many as 50-60 VCs looking to fund dotcom businesses
during the 1999-2000 period. Just as quickly bloated, it exploded, leaving many investors
gasping for breath. Early VCs in this market such as Ant Factory and EV entures were
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belly-up and others such as WestBridge capital ( now Sequoi Capital India) ChreysCapital
morphed into later-stage and private equity type of investors.
Despite this blip, entrepreneurship was certainly here to stay. According to data from
the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, from 1980-1991, the average number of companies
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formed each year was 14,379 and from 1992-2006, it was 33,385. Emboldened by pioneers
such as Shiv Nadar of HCL and the seven founders of Infosys led by N.R. Narayan
Murthy, many more wannabe entrepreneurs took the plunge, first in IT and then in other
sunrise sectors like organized retailing and financial services.
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plan. But as the Indian economy climbed onto a higher growth curve, even as returns
began to dry up in mature markets, global investors started entering, and re-entering, India
in droves.
The returning investors were smarter this time around, demanding more detailed business
plans, keeping a closer track of how companies were spending their money, and also more
persistent on the returns front. Emerging segments such as mobile value-added services,
and knowledge-intensive back office work increasingly got investor attention. Several
greenhorn as well as seasoned corporate honchos saw opportunities to start up. Auto
industry veteran and former Maruti Suzuki MD Jagdish Khattar started a chain of third
party, multi-brand auto service centres called Carnation after quitting his job with the
Japanese car maker. He recently tied up Rs 170 crore in funding from Punjab National
Bank and plans to expand his network from 12 centres to 30 by the end of the year. At
the other end of the spectrum, Hari Prakash Shanbog, quit a cushy job with Wipro and
teamed up with his friend Vidhyadhara S. Talaya to set up Ipomo, which provides learning
solutions on mobile devices.
Simultaneously, the focus on entrepreneurs has shifted from providing services and
products to Western countries to developing solutions for emerging markets."India and the
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developing economy as a whole have unique problems and opportunities," says T.G. "Tiger"
Ramesh, founder of Vignani Solutions, a provider of LED lighting equipment. "While some
of this enthusiasm has been dampened by the current slowdown----and its after-effects--
--some experts say that this may actually be a blessing in disguise. Companies with a strong
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business plan and some funding will attract talent at lower costs. And a meltdown in real
estate means rentals and leases are cheaper.
While entrepreneurship has been kindled and nurtured in places such as Silicon Valley
and Boston in the US due to a mature ecosystem of academic institutes, entrepreneurship
cells, investors and risk-friendly entrepreneurs, observers believe India is someway away
from emulating this model. ""The Silicon Valley model happened over 40 years and even
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the focus of this hub has changed, with no actual semiconductor fabs in the region any
longer," says Ganesh, who has founded TutorVista, a virtual tutoring service. He instead
says that in India, the focus needs to be on providing more early-stage(seed and angel
funding) to nurture entrepreneurship in the country.
b. The Risk-Revolution.
c. The global change in Business Set-up.
d. Internet-a catalyst for entrepreneurship.
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84. "Things haven't been so rosy for long." What does this line of the paragraph mean:
a. Entrepreneurship as a new concept picked up at first but then declined soon after.
b. Entrepreneurship seemed to be easy but it was not actually so.
c. Entrepreneurship as a new concept picked up fast but the going was tough.
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85. The average number of companies formed each year from 1992-2006 was:
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Passage 25
F rom the 197 million square miles, which make up the surface of the globe, 71 per cent
is covered by the interconnecting bodies of marine water; the Pacific Ocean alone covers
half the Earth and averages near 14,000 feet in depth. The portions which rise above sea level
are the continents-Eurasia, Africa; North America, South America, Australia, and Antarctica.
The submerged borders of the continental masses are the continental shelves, beyond which lie
the deep-sea basins.
The ocean are deepest not in the center but in some elongated furrows, or long narrow
troughs, called deeps. These profound troughs have a peripheral arrangement, notably
around the borders of the pacific and Indian oceans. The position of the deeps, like the
highest mountains, is of recent origin, since otherwise they would have been filled with
waste from the lands. This is further strengthened by the observation that the deeps are
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quite often, where world-shaking earthquakes occur. To cite an example, the "tidal wave"
that in April, 1946, caused widespread destruction along Pacific coasts resulted from a
strong earthquake on the floor of the Aleutian Deep.
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The topography of the ocean floors is none too well known, since in great areas the available
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soundings are hundreds or even thousands of miles apart. However, the floor of the Atlantic
is becoming fairly well known as a result of special surveys since 1920. A broad, well-defined
ridge-the Mid-Atlantic ridge-runs north and south between Africa and the two Americas and
numerous other major irregularities diversify the Atlantic floor. Closely spaced soundings show
that many parts of the oceanic floors are as rugged as mountainous regions of the continents.
During World War II great strides were made in mapping submarine surfaces, particularly in
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many parts of the vast Pacific basin.
Most of the continents stand on an average of 2870 feet above sea level. North America
averages 2300 feet; Europe averages only 1150 feet; and Asia, the highest of the larger
continental subdivisions, averages 3200 feet. Mount Everest, which is the highest point in
the globe, is 29,000 feet above the sea; and as the greatest known depth in the sea is over
35,000 feet, the maximum relief (that is, the difference in altitude between the lowest and
highest points) exceeds 64,000 feet, or exceeds 12 miles. The continental masses and the
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deep-sea basins are relief features of the first order; the deeps, ridges, and volcanic cones
that diversify the sea floor, as well as the plains, plateaus, and mountains of the continents,
are relief features of the second order. The lands are unendingly subject to a complex of
activities summarized in the term erosion, which first sculptures them in great detail and
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then tends to reduce them ultimately to sea level. The modeling of the landscape by
weather, running water, and other agents is apparent to the keenly observant eye and
causes thinking people to speculate on what must be the final result of the ceaseless
wearing down of the lands. Much before there was any recognizable science as geology,
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E
a. By the Greeks. b. During world war II
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c. April 1946 d. After 1600
e. In 1920
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90. The highest point on North America is
a. 2870 feet above sea level b. not mentioned in the passage
c. higher than the highest point in Europed. 2300 feet above sea level
e. in Mexico.