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Reading Comprehension - 1

Reading Comprehension is one of the important topics which commonly appears in all major Banking examinations. In this topic, a passage will be given with some words marked in bold or some words missing or both and some questions will be given under the paragraph to answer them. Candidates can expect questions like ‘suggest a suitable title to the passage’, ‘find the tone of the passage’, ‘find synonyms and antonyms of the words’, ‘fill the blanks with a suitable word’, etc. Candidates with good vocabulary skills may have the scope of scoring good marks in this topic compared to other candidates.

Directions (1-8): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given after reading it. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

The latest inflation data, both retail and wholesale, point to accelerating price gains that could potentially undermine the fragile economic recovery by pushing up costs and depleting consumers’ purchasing power. November’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows year on year inflation at the retail level quickened to a three-month high of 4.91%, from 4.48% in October. Even on a sequential basis, last month’s CPI reveals prices are ... (7) ... to have risen 0.73% from October with as many as 10 of the 12 constituents of the food and beverages category witnessing month on month inflation.

Food was in fact a major driver of the quickening in price gains on an annual basis. Vegetable prices surged from October, logging 7.4% month on month inflation. Also, the Union government’s belated and marginal reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel, which was followed by cuts in local value added taxes by many states, barely slowed the pace of inflation in the transport and communication category: the rate eased 88 basis points from 10.90% in October, to 10.02% in November.

Clothing and footwear, housing, health, education and recreation were among the other key product and service categories that contributed to the sequential trend in price gains underlining the fact that inflation excluding food and fuel, otherwise known as core inflation, remains disconcertingly sticky and elevated at around 6%. Nor does the data on wholesale prices provide any reason for cheer, with provisional inflation based on the wholesale price index racing to a record 14.2% in November, from October’s 12.5%.

The fuel and power sub index surged 39.8% year on year, and all three major groups comprising the WPI posted sequential accelerations as well. Persistently high and climbing wholesale prices of basic metals, chemicals and chemical products, and textiles among manufactured products have the potential to feed through down the line to retail prices and add to inflationary pressure for consumers. While manufacturers in some sectors may opt to absorb rising input costs, at least in the short term till demand gets more entrenched, thesigns including from automobile makers are far from reassuring.

The tariff increases announced by telecom service providers last month are also expected to feed through into retail inflation in December and international semi conductor shortages and logistics bottlenecks are roiling the outlook for prices of electronics and other products reliant on global supply chains. With the rupee continuing to ...(5)... against the U.S. dollar, policymakers also face the challenge of contending with imported inflation including the landed cost of crude oil shipments. The onus is clearly on the Centre to deepen the fuel tax cuts and address other supply side issues to prevent inflation from hurting the recovery.

1. What can be the suitable title of the above passage?

A) Inflation – Pain from prices

B) Inflation – Path for development

C) Inflation – Government’s asset

D) Inflation – Up and down

E) Inflation – The need and its importance

Explanation: The above passage is about ‘inflation’. In economics, the term ‘inflation’ is used to indicate the increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy. Inflation occurs due to an imbalance between demand and supply of money. When a country’s economy experiences inflation, the value of currency of the country reduces and the prices of goods and services increases. So, from the given options, the title ‘Inflation – Pain from prices’ suits apt for the paragraph.

Ans: A

2. According to the passage, what was the major driver that was responsible for faster annual price gains?

A) Clothing was in fact a major driver of the quickening in price gains on an annual basis.

B) Food was in fact a major driver of the quickening in price gains on an annual basis.

C) Infrastructure development was in fact a major driver of the quickening in price gains on an annual basis.

D) Central government was in fact a major driver of the quickening in price gains on an annual basis.

E) None of the above.

Explanation: According to the author, food was in fact a major driver of the quickening in price gains (of goods and services) on an annual basis in India. The author made this statement because India is the 2nd biggest country in terms of population and food is very important for the survival of people. If the value of food items increases, the accessibility of food for the poor and deprived decreases.

Ans: B

3. Choose the word which is most similar in meaning of the word Persistently printed in bold in the passage.

A) randomly      B) stationary     C) continuously      D) respectfully     E) fictionality

Explanation: The word ‘persistent’ refers to do something continuously or to try to do something even though it is difficult. From the given options, the word ‘continuously’ gives most similar meaning to the word ‘persistently.’

Ans: C

4. Choose the word which is most opposite in meaning of the word fragile printed in bold in the passage.

A) delicate      B) breakable      C) frail     D) rigid       E) brittle

Explanation: The word ‘fragile’ means very delicate or vulnerable. From the given options, the word ‘rigid’ which means ‘strong and sturdy’ will be the most opposite of the word ‘fragile.’

Ans: D

5. Choose a correct word from the options for .....(5)..... in the passage, that suits appropriately to the context of the sentence and make the paragraph meaningful and grammatically correct.

A) strengthen     B) awaken     C) risen     D) taken      E) weaken

Explanation: In the passage, the author is talking about the inflation data of retail and wholesale businesses in India. We know that, when a country’s economy experiences inflation, the value of currency of the country reduces and the prices of goods and services increases. Therefore, “With the rupee continuing to weaken against the U.S. dollar, policymakers also face the challenge of contending with imported inflation including the landed cost of crude oil shipments.” Is the correct sentence.

Ans: E

6. According to the author, what are the issues that highlighted the rise of inflation in our country?

A) The tariff increases announced by telecom service providers.

B) Increase in wholesale prices of basic metals, chemicals and chemical products, and textiles.

C) The rise in prices of electronic products due to the shortage of semi conductors globally.

D) All of these (options A, B, and C)

E) None of these

Explanation: In the passage, the author highlighted the rise of inflation in our country by quoting some examples such as the tariff increases by telecom service providers, increase in wholesale prices of basic metals, chemicals and chemical products, and textiles and the rise in prices of electronic products due to the shortage of semi conductors globally.

Ans: D

7. Choose a correct word from the options for .... (7) .... in the passage, that suits appropriately to the context of the sentence and make the paragraph meaningful and grammatically correct. 

A) estimated      B) proved      C) explained     D) declined      E) postponed

Explanation: In the passage, the author is talking about the inflation data of retail and wholesale businesses in India. In general, inflation data will be estimated by using different indexes such as Consumer Price Index (CPI). Therefore, “Even on a sequential basis, last month’s CPI reveals prices are estimated to have risen 0.73% from October with as many as 10 of the 12 constituents of the food and beverages category witnessing month on month inflation” is the correct usage.

Ans: A

8. According to the author, what was the belated measure taken by the Union government to reduce the pace of inflation in the transport and communication category?

A) Marginal increment of petrol and diesel prices.

B) Distributing money for petrol to all two-wheeler vehicle holders.

C) Marginal reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel, followed by cuts in local value added taxes by many states in the country.

D) Massive increment in excise duty on petrol and diesel, followed by cuts in local value added taxes by many states in the country.

E) None of these

Explanation: According to author, Marginal reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel, followed by cuts in local value added taxes by many states in the country. So, option ‘C’ is the correct choice.

Ans: C

Posted Date : 10-02-2023

గమనిక : ప్రతిభ.ఈనాడు.నెట్‌లో కనిపించే వ్యాపార ప్రకటనలు వివిధ దేశాల్లోని వ్యాపారులు, సంస్థల నుంచి వస్తాయి. మరి కొన్ని ప్రకటనలు పాఠకుల అభిరుచి మేరకు కృత్రిమ మేధస్సు సాంకేతికత సాయంతో ప్రదర్శితమవుతుంటాయి. ఆ ప్రకటనల్లోని ఉత్పత్తులను లేదా సేవలను పాఠకులు స్వయంగా విచారించుకొని, జాగ్రత్తగా పరిశీలించి కొనుక్కోవాలి లేదా వినియోగించుకోవాలి. వాటి నాణ్యత లేదా లోపాలతో ఈనాడు యాజమాన్యానికి ఎలాంటి సంబంధం లేదు. ఈ విషయంలో ఉత్తర ప్రత్యుత్తరాలకు, ఈ-మెయిల్స్ కి, ఇంకా ఇతర రూపాల్లో సమాచార మార్పిడికి తావు లేదు. ఫిర్యాదులు స్వీకరించడం కుదరదు. పాఠకులు గమనించి, సహకరించాలని మనవి.

 

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పాత ప్రశ్నప‌త్రాలు

 

విద్యా ఉద్యోగ సమాచారం

 

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