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.

According to the passage, which of the following statement is NOT true?

In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the four alternatives.

The way criminal justice is designed and administered today _______________ serves any of the purposes for which it is set up: towards securing life and property. It does not ________________ criminals because of the delay and uncertainties involved in its processes and ridiculously ineffective punishments it imposes ____________________ those few who get convicted. It provides wide discretion to the police and the prosecution, __________________ the system vulnerable to corruption and manipulation and endangering basic ____________________ of innocent citizens.

it imposes ____________________ those few who get convicted.

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".

The music (soothe) me and I stroll on happily.

A sentence has been given in Active/Passive Voice. Out of the four given alternatives, select the one which best expresses the same sentence inPassive/Active Voice.

Somebody hit the beggar with a stone.

In the following question, the sentence given with blank to be filled in with an appropriate word. Select the correct alternative out of the four and indicate it by selecting the appropriate option.

The majestic Himalayas are revered, for from them _________ the life sustaining river, mother Ganga.

In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the four alternatives.

The news has always ____________ predicated on informing the consumer. It speaks of — apart from the day’s most ____________ upheavals — the best and the worst that _____________ has managed to accomplish each day. This includes the medal-winners, the laureates, the record-breakers, the deal-makers _________the criminals, the villains, the corrupt. The news regales us ________ the highlights, a reel of the most provoking ones that made it into a window of a half-an-hour.

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

Mind your language

In the following question, out of the given four alternatives, select the one which best expresses the meaning of the given word.

Reminisce