Communicative English Language Skills II Midterm Examination (30%)

Name_______________________Id.No.________Department____________

Time given: 60’

Part One: Reading Comprehension (15%)

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the given questions (1.5%
each).

(1) Rural development in India has witnessed several changes over the years in its emphasis,
approaches, strategies and programmes. It has assumed a dimension and perspective as a
consequence. Rural development can be richer and more meaningful only through the
participation of clientèle of development. Just as implementation is the touchstone for
planning, people's participation is the centrepiece in rural development. People's participation
is one of the foremost prerequisites of development process both from procedural and
philosophical perspectives. For the development planners and administrators, it is important
to solicit the participation of different groups of rural people, to make the plans participatory.

(2) Rural development aims at improving rural people's livelihoods in an equitable and
sustainable manner, both socially and environmentally, through better access to assets and
services, and control over productive capital.

(3) The basic objectives of Rural Development economic have been alleviation of poverty
and unemployment through creation of basic social and economic infrastructure, provision of
training to rural unemployed youth and providing employment to marginal farmers/labourers
to discourage seasonal and permanent migration to urban areas. Rural development is the
main pillar of nation's development. In spite of rapid urbanisation, a large section of our
population still lives in the villages. Secondly, rural India has lagged behind in development
because of many historical factors. Though the 11th Plan began in very favourable
circumstances with the economy having grown at the rate of 7.7% per year in the 10th Plan
period, there still existed a big challenge to correct the developmental imbalances and to
accord due priority to development in rural areas. Ministry of Rural Development is
implementing a number of programmes aimed at sustainable holistic development in rural
areas. The thrust of these programmes is on all-round economic and social transformation in

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rural areas through a multi-pronged strategy aiming to reach out to the most disadvantaged
sections of the society.

(4) Although concerted efforts have been initiated by the Government of India through
several plans and measures alleviate poverty in rural India, there still remains much more to
be done to bring prosperity in the lives of the people in rural areas. At present, technology
disseminations uneven and slow in the rural areas. Good efforts of organisations developing
technologies, devices and products for rural areas could not yield high success. Experiences
of many countries suggest that technological development fuelled by demand has a higher
dissemination rate. However, in India, technology developers for rural areas have been
catering to needs, rather than creating demand, there is no industry-linkage machinery, to
create demand-based-technology market for rural communities. Besides there is also an
imbalance between strategies and effective management programmes. Propagation of
technology/schemes for rural development is slow and there is a lacking in wider
participation of different stakeholders. An ideal approach may, therefore, include the
government, panchayats, village personnel, researchers, industries, NGOs and private
companies to not only help in reducing this imbalance, but also to have a multiplier effect on
the overall economy.

________1. According to the passage, which of the following are the objectives of most
Rural Development Programmes?

A. To promote urbanisation B. Provide training to youth

C. Reducing unemployment

D. B and C

________2. Which of the following is most nearly the same in meaning as the word
alleviation (paragraph 3) as used in the passage?

A. mitigation B. soothing C. intensification D. outpouring

________3. Which of the following is most opposite in meaning of the word propagation
(paragraph 4) as used in the passage?

A. generation B. producing C. reproduction D. growth

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________4. What, according to the passage, is the most important factor of rural
development?

A. Alleviation of poverty and unemployment

B. Employment to marginal farmers and labourers

C. Participation of different groups of rural people

D. Creation of basic social and economic infrastructure

________5. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. Urbanisation has resulted in a majority of Indian population living in urban areas.

B. The economic growth of the 10th Five Year Plan did not translate into proportionate rural
development.

C. The efforts of the Government of India for poverty alleviation have met with complete
failure.
D. A and B

________6. Which of the following is most nearly the same is meaning as the word
touchstone (paragraph 1) as used in the passage?

A. yardstick B. periphery C. sensitivity D.weakness

________7. According to the passage, what ails the process of technology-aided development
in rural areas?

A. Creation of demand for to development in rural areas is missing.

B. There is lack of participation of rural people in the process of technology-aided

development.

C. There is a dearth of appropriate linkages needed for bringing about technology-aided

development.

D. All of the above

________8. Which of the following can be the most suitable title for the passage?

A. Technology in Rural India B. The Rural Indian Communities

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C. Rural Development the Participative Way

D. Rural India — Ignored by All the Stakeholders

________9. What is the current status of the poverty alleviation programme initiated by the
Government of India?

A. Technology dissemination is uneven and slow in rural areas.

B. There still remains much more to be done to bring prosperity in the lives of the people in
rural areas.

C. There is a lack of participation of different stakeholders.

D. A, B and C

________10. Which of the following is most opposite in meaning of the word equitable
(paragraph 2) as used in the passage?

A. troubled B. unfair C. separated D. futuristic

Part Two: Grammar (15% + 1% BONUS)

Section A: Active and Passive (6%)

Directions: Complete the following text with either active or passive form using simple
present or simple past tense. Underline the best answer from the given choices in the
brackets (0.5 % each).

The Statue of Liberty (1. give, is given, was given) to the United States by France. It (2. be,
is, was) a present on the 100th anniversary of the United States. The Statue of Liberty (3.
design, was designed, has been designed) by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. It (4. complete, was
completed, has been completed) in France in July 1884. In 350 pieces, the statue then (5. was
shipped, ship, shipped,) to New York, where it (6. arrives, arrived, was arrived) on 17 June
1885. The pieces (7. put, were put, have been put) together and the opening ceremony (8.
take, took, has taken) place on 28 October 1886. The Statue of Liberty (9. is, was, has been)
46 m high (93 m including the base). The statue (10. represents, represented, was
represented) the goddess of liberty. She (11. holds, held, has held) a torch in her right hand
and a tablet in her left hand. On the tablet you can see the date of the Declaration of

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Independence (July 4, 1776). Every year, the Statue of Liberty (12. is visited, was visited, has
been visited) by many people from all over the world.

Section B: Future Tense (10%)

Directions: Complete the following dialogue with the most suitable future forms using
present continuous, be going to, will, or shall.

Mamo: What________________ (1.you/do) this evening? _______________ (2. we/go

out)?
Roba: Not this evening. I ________________ (3. work) on a project until late.
Mamo: And when do you think you ________________ (4. be) free for a drink?
Roba: I don't know. I have my diary here with me; let me see. What about
tomorrow? ________________ (5. you/do) anything?
Mamo: I ________________ (6. see) my dentist tomorrow. Is Thursday ok?
Roba: Yes, Thursday is perfect.

Mamo: OK. What time ________________ (7. we/meet)?

Roba: I ________________ (8. meet) a friend at 6. Is 7 ok?
Mamo: Yes, great. But I don't have my car.

Roba: Don't worry, I ________________ (9. take) mine. ________________ (10. I/pick you
up) at 7 then?
Mamo: Ok, thanks.

Good Luck!