English: Reading Comprehension Set 54

Directions(1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below them. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

1. Moody’s has downgraded scam-hit Punjab National Bank (PNB) to junk grade, following its Rs. 13,417-crore loss in the fourth quarter. This will make it tough for PNB to raise funds overseas. However, there is no cause for panic, given the government’s implicit and explicit support to every public sector bank (PSB). Other PSBs have also reported huge losses, a corollary to bad loans and their provisioning. The good news is that banks are using the bankruptcy code to clean up their books. The government has promised to move fast to infuse capital. PSBs, especially those under prompt and corrective action (PCA), can use the capital to build up their balance-sheets and start lending again. But broader systemic reforms are needed, ranging from developing the bond market to ring-fencing banks from political interference.

   Some structural remedies can minimise corruption. A holding company to hold the government equity in banks, with a board whose primary job is to appoint the boards of individual banks, would help. It can leverage its capital to infuse capital in the banks. It can serve to insulate the banks from politicians and bureaucrats who seek to influence lending decisions. It can also help put in place a remuneration structure that rewards performance of bankers.

   Those who decide policy and take key decisions must be handsomely rewarded, linked to how their decisions pan out over time. It ought to be multi-tiered; the basic, fixed component small in relation to chunks linked to medium-and long-term performance, which must be truly generous, but subject to claw back. Banks must be empowered to lend to feed growth, not beaten up.

   1. The government has decided to infuse capital in the system. How will it help the banks?

   They can resume giving loans.
   They can improve their balance sheets.
   They can restart advertising themselves.
   Both A and B
   None of the above
   Option D
   As mentioned in the passage- PSBs, especially those under prompt and corrective action (PCA), can use the capital to build up their balance-sheets and start lending again.

    

2. Which of the following words is nearest in meaning to the word “insulate” as mentioned in the passage?
   Mingle
   Uncover
   Protect
   Differentiate
   Exclusion
   Option C
   Insulate – to cover or protect something from harmful exposure.
   In this case banks are to be protected from the interference of the politicians.

    

3. Raising funds in the foreign countries will be tough for Punjab National Bank. What is the main reason for it according to the passage?
   Moody’s has devalued Punjab National Bank.
   The bank has faced a huge amount of loss.
   The bank has been trying hard to overcome its losses.
   Both A and B
   All A,B and C
   Option D
   According to the passage- Moody’s has downgraded scam-hit Punjab National Bank (PNB) to junk grade, following its Rs. 13,417-crore loss in the fourth quarter. This will make it tough for PNB to raise funds overseas.
   Owing to the huge loss that the bank has faced in the fourth quarter,Moody’s degraded PNB’s value to junkgrade due to poor performance and losses.

    

4. Which of the following may help in reducing corruption in the banking system?
   Replacing the heads of all banks.
   Appointing boards of individual banks by constituting a board meant to do just that.
   Forming a company which can keep the government capital in banks.
   Both A and B
   Both B and C
   Option E
   As mentioned in the passage-A holding company to hold the government equity in banks, with a board whose primary job is to appoint the boards of individual banks, would help.It can leverage its capital to infuse capital in the banks. It can serve to insulate the banks from politicians and bureaucrats who seek to influence lending decisions. It can also help put in place a remuneration structure that rewards performance of bankers.

    

5. The lending decisions of the banks are usually affected by the interference of the people in higher positions.
   According to the information given, this statement is:-
   Definitely False
   Probably False
   Definitely True
   Probably True
   Cannot be determined
   Option C
   As the passage clearly mentions – It can serve to insulate the banks from politicians and bureaucrats who seek to influence lending decisions. Thus, we can definitely infer that politicians and other people in higher positions affect the banks’ lending decisions.

    

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