English Test for IBPS Clerk 2018 Main Exam Set – 12

Directions (1-5): Choose the odd sentence out of the given five sentences in each question.

1. India’s foreign exchange reserves declined by $1.506 billion to $366.139 billion in the week to October 14, due to fall in foreign currency assets, the Reserve Bank said today.
   In the previous week, the reserves had decreased by $4.343 billion to $367.646 billion.
   It had touched a life-time high of $371.99 billion in the week to September 30, 2016.
   FCAs, expressed in US dollar terms, include the effect of appreciation/depreciation of non-US currencies such as the euro, pound and the yen held in the reserves.
   Foreign currency assets (FCAs), a major component of the overall reserves, dipped by $1.486 billion to $340.908 billion.
   Option D
   

    

2. After 12-year hiatus, government is set to revive strategic sale of state-owned companies with the Cabinet likely to consider shortly the outright sale of stake in over a dozen PSUs including the profit making ones.
   “The strategic sale will come up before the Cabinet very shortly,” a top source said.
   PSUs identified for strategic sale reportedly include profit-making Bharat Earth Movers and Certification Engineers International as well as loss-making Scooters India.
   NITI Aayog has prepared a list of public sector units where the government can sell its majority stake to private companies in order to bring in greater efficiency and professionalism in functioning.
   Based on its suggestions, the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) has finalised a model of strategic disinvestment.
   Option C
   

    

3. The Centre, in collaboration with State governments, plans to introduce a ‘One India’ concept, the biggest and the most comprehensive ‘ease of doing business’ initiative so far.
   Under the ‘one-form-one-portal’ model, aimed at attracting huge investments, the processes will be simplified to an extent where investors will need to fill only a single e- form for investing and doing business anywhere in India.
   “(In this regard), we have just begun talks with the states, and will soon hold discussions with the private sector and users of government services,” the official added.
   Currently, firms are mandated to complete multiple forms at the Central and state- levels, and it gets more complicated as each state has different requirements and regulations.
   “We are working on what could be the world’s best single window clearance mechanism with an in-built information wizard that will help investors with the application processes,” a senior official said.
   Option C
   

    

4. Aiming to provide a fresh boost to the Centre’s Jan Aushadhi (Public Medicine) Scheme, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers is making efforts to rope in Members of Parliament (MPs) for opening new stores in their constituencies.
   This move comes close on the heels of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) initiating talks with various state governments regarding the matter.
   The scheme, launched in 2008 under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, has not achieved its desired results so far.
   “Minister (Ananth Kumar) has written to all MPs, asking them to lend a helping hand by ensuring that one or two Jan Aushadhi stores are opened in their constituencies,” said a source close to the Minister of State for Surface Transport and Petroleum and Chemicals, Mansukh Lal Mandaviya.
   While introducing the budget this year, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced that the government would open 3000 stores by the year-end- an ambitious target given that there are only 500 open stores at present.
   Option D
   

    

5. In his first visit to Vadodara from where he had contested Lok Sabha polls in 2014 after he became Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated a new integrated airport terminal, country’s second green airport terminal, and also attended a social welfare camp to hand out assistive devices and aids to around 8000 specially abled persons.”I am happy that after the NDA government came to power, two airports in the country have become fully green,” Mr. Modi said while opening the new terminal which has been built at the cost of Rs 160 crore and has been designed by Delhi based Creative Group to be fully compliant to the green building norms.
   “I am happy that after the NDA government came to power, two airports in the country have become fully green,” Mr. Modi said while opening the new terminal which has been built at the cost of Rs 160 crore and has been designed by Delhi based Creative Group to be fully compliant to the green building norms.
   “Distributing equipment is a very small part of the programme. The larger aspect is our duty to care for our Divyang sisters and brothers,” Mr Modi said .
   Mr Modi lauded his government’s new policy to promote regional air connectivity which will bring smaller towns and places on air route while blaming the previous governments of “lacking in vision to push and develop aviation sector in the country.”
   After opening the new terminal, Mr Modi headed to attend a camp to distribute assistive devices to around 8000 specially abled persons as part of the government’s scheme for the welfare of persons with disabilities.
   Option C
   

    

Directions(6-10): In each of the following questions a passage is given in which there is a blank. Choose the most logical and appropriate option from the five options given that can be filled in the blank.

6. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti launched the central government’s UJALA scheme in the state with the distribution of LED bulbs among people.____________________. Under this scheme consumer can buy five LED bulbs at the rate of Rs 20 each by showing monthly electricity bills or ID cards.
   The government was working on a “comprehensive roadmap to augment the generation, transmission and distribution systems” to ensure quality power supply to the consumers, adding it was with this augmented power sector, that the state’s economy could be “revitalised” with because of its cascading effect on all sectors.
   Government acknowledges the great savings that the scheme shall bring to the electricity bills of the consumers and has made sincere efforts to ensure that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have access to this national scheme.
   She urged the consumers to come forward and purchase the LED bulbs “so that their monthly electricity bills are reduced and they contribute positively towards energy conservation”.
   The scheme will be implemented in the state by Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department in collaboration with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL).
   The National LED programme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2015
   Option E
   

    

7. ____________________ Ahmedanagar-based Gagare will receive the Sportsman of the year award and the Satara-based Lalita, the Sportswoman of the year award, said a media release from SJAM. The awards presentation is to be held here on September 3 in which former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan would be chief guest and present the trophies and certificates.
   He is also founder and board member of a cricketing academy.
   Maharashtra’s sixth Chess GM Shardul Gagare, and steeplechase specialist Lalita Babar, who finished a creditable 10th in the Rio Olympics, have been chosen for the Sports Journalists Association of Mumbai’s (SJAM) Golden Jubilee Annual Awards 2016.
   Mumbai won the Ranji Trophy for the 41st time, defeating Saurashtra in the final.
   Mumbai and India middle-order batsman Ajinkya Rahane has been chosen for the International Cricketer of the Year award, Rohit Sharma for a special award for making the highest ODI score at Kolkata in 2014 while Shardul Thakur and Shreyas Iyer would share the Ranji Trophy Cricketer of the year award.
   Mumbai Cricket Association has been chosen for the team of the year award.
   Option B
   

    

8. With India getting only two medals in the Rio Olympics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced the decision to set up a task force to prepare a comprehensive action plan for effective participation in the next three Olympics. According to the announcement made by Modi at the meeting of the council of ministers here, the task force comprising experts will be set up in the next few days. “The Task Force will be set up to prepare a comprehensive action plan for effective participation of Indian sports persons in the next three Olympic games 2020, 2024 and 2028,” PMO stated._____________________.
   The decision to set up the task force comes against the backdrop of India’s dismal performance in Rio, as the country won only one silver and one bronze even after sending its biggest contingent of 118 athletes.
   The decision to set up the task force comes against the backdrop of India’s dismal performance in Rio, as the country won only one silver and one bronze even after sending its biggest contingent of 118 athletes.
   India finished 67th in the medal tally.
   The next Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo in 2020
   Mr Chandra joined Bain Capital as Managing Director in early 2008 and is part of the firm’s leadership team in Asia.
   Option D
   

    

9. Himachal Pradesh Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur launched a mobile app for availing immediate and easy access to ambulances in the state. ____________________”The app will make the access to the National Ambulance Service (NAS) much faster and does not require sharing of information such as name and location. Himachal has become the first state in India to launch any such app,” claimed Singh.
   “With this, the number of 108 ambulances which was just 50 in 2010 has increased to 199 and there is one ambulance for every 34,000 population and considering the tough topography of the state, this service has proved a boon for the people in the state,” said Singh.
   The app named ‘108 HP’ can be downloaded on any smartphone.
   The Health Minister said the state government was spending Rs 1 lakh per day on the ambulance services and till now 7.50 lakh emergency cases had been facilitated.
   Besides, 102 Janani Express providing free services to pregnant women from home to hospital and back home after delivery was being provided and so far 82,000 women had benefited, he added.
   During the programme, Singh also distributed cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of deceased in the 108 National Ambulance Service accidents.
   Option B
   

    

10. The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the joyous Hindu festival of Diwali with a Forever stamp. ____________________. The stamp design is a photograph featuring a traditional diya oil lamp beautifully lit, sitting on a sparkling gold background.
    Diwali is a shortened version of the Sanskrit word Deepavali, which roughly translates as “a necklace of lights.”
    During Diwali, the flickering oil-wick diyas sprinkle the homes of observers around the world.
    Oct 5 will be the first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony will take place at the Consulate General of India, New York.
    Also known as Deepavali, Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Spanning five days each autumn, it is considered by some to be the start of the new year.
    On the Hindu calendar, Diwali falls on the eve of, or on, the new moon that occurs between mid-October and mid-November.
    Option C