RBI Aptitude-English

                                   RBI Assistant Previous Year Question Paper

English Language

Directions (Qs. 1-5): Read the following passage and answer the questions below it. A few words are given in the bold form to help easy location while answering some questions.

To some extent, it is the nature of the intellect to narrow our vision and give it focus. Tragedy comes in when we forget this limitation and think the intellect can comprehend things as a whole. The intellect views the world through a slit. When a cat walks by, it observes the eye,then fur, and then the tail, and then it infers that the eye is the cause of the tail, unless of course, the cat was walking backward. If this sounds absurd, some of the theories about biochemistry and behaviour use very similar reasoning. Nachiketa would object, “Man, why don’t you open the door? That’s just your black cat Frodo, pacing back and forth.”But instead we usually get caught up in clarifying slit-information, even though without a larger view our conclusions may be entirely wrong. To ake matters worse, we specialize. I am not against specialization perse but what often happens is that we do not even look through whole slit; we subdivide. My field is the upper part of the tail; yours is the lower.I might even forget about the eye and the fur. My main concern will be my debate with a colleague in Tokyo over whether hair on the tail grows up or down. If anybody asks how the eye fits in, I refer him to another researcher. After all, what have eyes got to do with geotropic hair growth?

Debates like this cannot be resolved on the slit level. What isrequired is to open the door; then argument becomes unnecessary.Once the door is opened, even a little, we will not quarrel over whose slit is correct or whether we should confine ourselves to the top of it or the bottom. As long as we see only part of the picture, logic and argumentation can never settle an issue. When the intellect becomes calm and clear, theory gives way to demonstration. It is not beyond our reach to see life whole. We have simply become so attached to this precious slit that we think there is no higher mode of knowing. After a while, we become so used to slits that we put on a special mask with just a hairline crack in front of the eyes. Try walking around wearing a mask like this and see what happens. Every little thing will fill your field of vision.

The intellect that sees only a small corner of life makes a very poor guide. We follow it like the blind led by the blind. I see this illustrated every day in the newspapers. To take just one urgent example, I have read that perhaps half a million scientists and engineers around the world are engaged in weapons research. I have no doubt that the vast majority of these people have no desire for war. They feel they are only doing a job, playing a small role in an inevitable activity. Nevertheless,this is not a defence industry, this is a half a million highly skilled men and women preparing for war. Producing and selling instruments of war is one of the biggest business in the world today. Even before the First World War, George Bernard Shaw caught the spirit of the industry in the character of undershaft in Major Barbara. Undershaft is no sinister “merchant of death”. He is just a businessman, whose credo is to give arms to all who offer an honest price for them, without respect of persons or principles, to capitalist and socialist, to protestant and catholic, to burglar and policeman, to black man, white man and yellow man, to all sorts and conditions, all nationalities and faiths, all follies, all causes and all crimes.

The defence-minded intellect might object, “That’s unfortunate, but defence is necessary. Everybody has to have weapons, and somebody is going to sell them. Here is a business that is thriving”. These sales”,the merchant argue, “help supply allies who cannot produce needed equipment.” Needed for what? Any school boy knows that weapons are needed by people in order to kill each other. From the evidence, we would have to conclude that death is a much more desirable goal than health, education, or welfare. Or, look at cancer. Many researchers today maintain that perhaps
seventy to ninety per cent of all human cancers are caused by environmental agents involved in manufacturing and processing new products. Most of these substances are relatively recent additions to our environment. We made them, and we can cease to make them if we choose. Yet one way or another such substances appeal to us so much that life without them seems untenable. As a result, instead of trying to eliminate the causes of cancer, we pour millions of dollars into what one writer calls “the Vietnam of modern medicine”: The Search for a Cancer 

This kind of myopia is not a necessary fault of the intellect. Given a larger picture, the intellect can rise to the occasion. Then even if the Nobel Prize is dangled before its eyes, it will refuse to work at any project that is at the expense of life, but will give all its attention to matters of real urgency.

1. Which of these is true in context to the passage:
(1) humans are capable of unlimited applications of the mind
(2) whether the slit is small or large, conclusion is the same
(3) all researchers view through slit-like intellects
(4) it is not possible to view life as a whole
(5) the intellect is capable of adjustments

2. The passage is against:
(a) short-sightedness of the scientists
(b) the nature of the intellect
(c) narrowness of the intellect

(1) (a) only
(2) (b) only
(3) (a) and (b)
(4) (a) and (c)
(5) all (a),(b) and (c)

3. What should be the right approach for argumentation:
(1) to specialise in a particular field
(2) to study bio-chemistry
(3) sub-divide topics and research on them
(4) open the doors of the intellect
(5) leave attachment to our slits

4. According to the author, the intellect which sees a small corner of life, can:
(1) lead to scientific and engineering outcomes
(2) lead to follies and crimes
(3) race for better defence
(4) cause environmental pollution
(5) lead to harmful and unwanted results

5. What leads to cancer?
(1) pre-existing environmental pollutants
(2) man-made additions to environment
(3) tasty and good-looking things
(4) modern medicines
(5) None of the above

6. The difference between narrow and broad vision is:
(1) narrow vision leads to specialisations, while broad vision does not
(2) narrow vision leads to debates while broad vision easily settles them
(3) narrow vision leads to desire for war while broad vision leads to desire for defence sales
(4) narrow vision leads to greedy business while broad vision leads to fair salesmanship
(5) narrow vision leads to Nobel prizes and broad vision refuses them

7. In context to the passage, which one of these is false:
(1) weapons are needed by nations for money
(2) weapons are needed for security reasons
(3) a person with a broad intellect would not sell weapons to all
(4) the author is against specialisations
(5) scientists all over the world are preparing for war

8. The title to the passage can be:
(1) Disasters of science
(2) Nature of the intellect
(3) Intellectual misconducts
(4) Human debates
(5) Viewing life as a whole

9. The undershaft is:
(1) a very clever businessman
(2) an intellectual businessman
(3) an immoral character
(4) the major role in Major Barbara
(5) a blindly-led intellect

Directions (Qs. 10-12): In context of the above passage choose the word which is most similar in meaning to the given word.

10. CREDO
(1) crime 
(2) credit 
(3) business
(4) job 
(5) management

11. COMPREHEND
(1) absorb 
(2) digest 
(3) guide
(4) assimilate 
(5) understand

12. GEOTROPIC
(1) falling to ground
(2) attracted towards earth
(3) touching the earth 
(4) projected toward the earth
(5) None of these

Directions (Qs. 13-15): In context of the above passage choose the word which is most opposite in meaning to the given word.

13. INEVITABLE
(1) blasting 
(2) accidental 
(3) certain
(4) incidental 
(5) avoidable

14. MYOPIA
(1) narrowmindedness
(2) broadmindedness
(3) shortsightedness
(4) evilsightedness
(5) hypermetropia

15. UNTENABLE
(1) probable 
(2) cured 
(3) unworthy
(4) worthsome 
(5) pleasant

Directions (Qs. 16-20): In each of the questions below four sentences are given which are denoted by A, B, C and D. By using all four sentences, frame a meaningful para. Choose answer from
the five alternatives given and the correct order of the sentences is your answer.

16. (A) India’s patent authorities are at the centre of global attention.
(B) India’s patent law is equipped to drive out frivolous patent seekers and to reward meritorious inventors
(C) If successful, Indian generic drug-makers may have to pay royalties.
(D) As many MNC drug-makers have applied for patents under India’s new product patent law

(1) ABCD 
(2) ADCB 
(3) BACD
(4) DACB 
(5) CABD

17. (A) What’s more, if you happen to be inching towards retirement, your EMIs will be structured accordingly.
(B) Future credit may get customised.
(C) The next time you get a hike in your company, rest assured your Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) will go up.
(D) EMIs will now be fixed according to your affordability.

(1) DCAB 
(2) BCAD 
(3) BCDA
(4) ABCD 
(5) CBAD

18. (A) The Tax Return Prepares Scheme has been introduced recently to help individuals file their income tax returns.
(B) According to this scheme, certain tax return prepares will be specially trained.
(C) The aim is to ease the process of filing returns and reduce the cost for tax payers.
(D) However, individuals should carefully examine this service and its likely benefits.

(1) ABCD 
(2) ADCA 
(3) DABC
(4) BACD 
(5) BCAD

19. (A) There is nothing more soothing to the mind, body and soul than being on the beach front.
(B) That’s what Archil, which buys bad loans, thinks.
(C) A little bit of business can also be thrown in such a setting.
(D) The ARC thought of the idea of organising a workshop on junk bonds in an exotic beach resort in Goa and has roped in the Indian Bank’s Association.

(1) DCAB 
(2) ABCD 
(3) DACB
(4) ACBD 
(5) CBDA

20. (A) The financial markets in the country have provided a wide array of such instruments.
(B) Doing business is all about managing risk.
(C) The profit and loss account is a reflection of the risk that is dexterously handled by CFOs.
(D) Which have been seized with alacrity by the industry.

(1) BACD 
(2) ABCD 
(3) ACBD
(4) DBCA 
(5) BCAD

Directions (21-30): In the following passage there are blanks.Choose the correct answer from the given options to fill the blanks which are numbered.

(21) has marked man’s (22) progress from (23) times. Modern medicine is built on the innovative (24) of scientists and physicians such as Louis Pasteur. He (25) in a revolution in medicine by producing a (26) against rabies in 1880. (27) with Robert Koch, Pasteur founded (28). There has been no (29) back (30) then.

21. (1) Discovery 
(2) Innovation
(3) Reforms
(4) Applications 
(5) Interests

22. (1) amazing 
(2) alluring 
(3) alarming
(4) charming 
(5) exciting

23. (1) antique 
(2) mid-historic 
(3) recent
(4) remote 
(5) prehistoric

24. (1) fantastic 
(2) dilemma 
(3) genius
(4) brain 
(5) intellect

25. (1) ushered 
(2) projected 
(3) prospered
(4) thrushed 
(5) brushed

26. (1) injection 
(2) medicine 
(3) antidote
(4) vaccine 
(5) antibody

27. (1) Along 
(2) Also 
(3) Going
(4) Working 
(5) Enjoying

28. (1) immunology 
(2) pathology 
(3) zoology
(4) botany 
(5) bacteriology

29. (1) viewing 
(2) looking 
(3) seeing
(4) peeping 
(5) hopping

30. (1) till 
(2) from 
(3) until
(4) since 
(5) by

Directions (Qs. 31-40): In each of the following sentences there are two blank spaces. Below each sentence, five pairs of words are given. Find out the correct pair of words and fill in the blanks.

31. The world is ___ the way it is, because it is what we wanted to experience at some level of .
(1) wonderful, brightness
(2) perfect, consciousness
(3) famous, search
(4) okay, intelligence
(5) brilliant, dreams

32. The church of England has that it can’t allow a multi-faith ceremony for Prince Charles.
(1) decided, functional
(2) projected, wedding
(3) asserted, coronation
(4) ordered, birth
(5) allowed, dancing

33. The ___ are the poorest and most people in our cities.
(1) poor, helpless
(2) rural, hardworking
(3) workers, happy
(4) scheduled castes, strong
(5) homeless, vulnerable

34. Reform will not only help the U.N., but also contribute to stability in Asia.
(1) revitalise, geopolitical
(2) regenerate, economic
(3) ascend, social
(4) revolutionise, political
(5) charge, general

35. Feeling the of the higher power is an .
(1) value, dream
(2) emotions, theme
(3) presence, ecstasy
(4) absence, innocence
(5) acknowledgement, accomplishment

36. All the for a robust and sustainable growth are being put in .
(1) ingredients, place
(2) factors, striding
(3) points, list
(4) component, consideration
(5) plans, favour

37. India is firmly in the of vote bank politics. So, the for job reservation for SC and ST in private sector will grow.
(1) gloves, greed
(2) grip, clamour
(3) hands, rush
(4) roots, need
(5) net, suicide

38. One of the secrets Gandhi gave us is that strength does not come from bone and muscle, it comes from an will.
(1) simple, inner
(2) straight, ironical
(3) wonderful, ideal
(4) tactical, iron
(5) magnificent, indomitable

39. If disasters and are the wake up call for a world that it has gone , then we are now in the position to acknowledge it to manifes the world we desire to experience.
(1) peace, mad 
(2) wars, insane 
(3) famines, out
(4) tragedies, troublesome 
(5) mishaps, trivial

40. Inner-faith harmony requires that there is both and among religions.
(1) value, esteem
(2) establishment, survival
(3) trust, respect
(4) harmony, co-operation
(5) co-existence, concord

Directions (Qs. 41-45): Each of the following questions consists of a sentence. Find out whether there is any error in it.The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that
part is answer. If there is no error, mark 5 as your answer. (Ignore the errors of punctuation).

41. (1) Neither of them (2) are coming here (3) to address this (4) large gathering. (5) No error.

42. (1) Hardly she finished (2) her duty when (3) the bell (4) started ringing. (5) No error.

43. (1) More private companies should (2) be permit to enter (3) into field of communication (4) to strengthen the network. (5) No error.

44. (1) Government should severely (2) punish the persons (3) involved in the (4) practice of female foeticide. (5) No error.

45. (1) Parents should ensure (2) and cultivate (3) reading habits between (4) their children. (5) No error.

Directions (Qs. 46-50):These questions are based on idioms.From among the options, choose the one that is closest in meaning to the given idiom/phrase.

46. keep at an arm’s length:
(1) keep a good distance
(2) keep closeness
(3) avoid involvement or friendship
(4) hate
(5) give a warm welcome

47. take the bull by the horns:
(1) invite danger from an enemy
(2) prepare for unwanted situation
(3) be full of vigour
(4) face boldly
(5) None of these

48. a dark horse:
(1) a person who is not good-looking but is very good at heart
(2) a person who is specially called for an event
(3) a person having a poor reputation
(4) a person whose past is mysterious
(5) a person who is quite less known

49. pour oil on troubled waters:
(1) create a nice scenery
(2) settle down a situation
(3) aggravate matters
(4) worsen a situation
(5) create an unfavourable situation

50. to drag one’s feet:
(1) slow down deliberately
(2) lazy behaviour
(3) uninterested behaviour
(4) present opposition to someone
(5) move very quietly