Questions

Read the passage carefully and select the best answer to each question out of the given four alternatives.

The conclusion of World Trade Organization’s 11th biennial ministerial conference at Buenos Aires was worrisome. From an Indian standpoint, there was no loss as status quo continues in the most important issue: the right to continue the food security programme by using support prices. But the inability of the negotiators to reach even one substantive outcome suggests that WTO’s efficacy is under question. As a 164-country multilateral organisation dedicated to crafting rules of trade through consensus, WTO represents the optimal bet for developing countries such as India. Strengthening WTO is in India’s best interest.

Perhaps the biggest threat to WTO’s efficacy today is the attitude of the US. The world’s largest economy appears to have lost faith in the organisation and has begun to undermine one of its most successful segments, the dispute redressal mechanism. This is significant as the US has been directly involved in nearly half of all cases brought to WTO. Separately, large groups of countries decided to pursue negotiations on e-commerce, investment facilitation and removal of trade obstacles for medium and small scale industries. By itself this should not weaken WTO. But it comes at a time when there is growing frustration with gridlock at WTO.

India did well to defend its position on its food security programme. The envisaged reform package which will see a greater use of direct cash transfers to beneficiaries will be in sync with what developed countries do. But it’s important for India to enhance its efforts to reinvigorate WTO. In this context, India’s plan to organise a meeting of some countries early next year is a step in the right direction. WTO represents the best available platform to accommodate interests of a diverse set of nations. Therefore, India should be at the forefront of moves to fortify it.

Why was the WTO’s 11th binennial ministerial conference worrisome?

In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the bracketed part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select "no improvement".

Take out your binoculars and (will see) the Andromeda galaxy.

In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

Pedal to the metal

In the following question, a word has been written in four different ways out of which only one is correctly spelt. Select the correctly spelt word.

When large quantities of ___ are consumed, it tends to slow metabolic processes and to depress the central nervous system.

The question below consists of a set of labelled sentences. Out of the four options given, select the most logical order of the sentences to form a coherent paragraph.

P: For that we need people who possess not only high skills but high values as well.
Q: So the need of the hour is not only skill-based education but also value-inspired and value-based education.
R: When we talk of investing in education, a question arises as to what kind of education needs to be given to the youngster.
S: Our aim is to evolve not only an affluent society, but an egalitarian, just, humane and compassionate society.

The question below consists of a set of labelled sentences. Out of the four options given, select the most logical order of the sentences to form a coherent paragraph.

P- Bureaucratic cultures can smother those who want to respond to shifting conditions.
Q- Arrogant managers can overevaluate their current performance and competitive position listen poorly and learn slowly.
R- And the lack of leadership leaves no force inside these organizations to break out of the morass.
S- Inwardly focused employees can have difficulty seeing the very forces that present threats and opportunities.

_________________ is a drug that makes your heart work more slowly, used for treating high blood pressure.