Sunday, August 19, 2012

CODED INEQUALITIES


Q. In the following questions, the symbols@, ©, $,% and # are used with the following meanings
illustrated.
‘P $ Q’ means ‘P is neither smaller than nor equal to Q’.
‘P # Q’ means ‘P is not smaller than Q’.
‘P @ Q’ means ‘P is not greater than Q’.
‘P % Q’ means ‘P is neither smaller than nor greater than Q’.
‘P © Q’ means ‘P is neither greater than nor equal to Q’.
In each of the following questions assuming the given statements to be true, find out which of the
three conclusions I, II and III given below them is/are definitely true.

Q.1. Statements : B % H, H $ E, E @ K
        Conclusions : I. K$H II. K$B III. E©B
       (1) None is true   (2) Only III is true   (3) Only II is true
       (4) Only I is true (5) Only I and III are true

Q.2. Statements : M # W, W % N, N $ B
        Conclusions : I. N % M II. N©M III. M $ B
       (1) Only either I or II is true               (2) Only either I or III is true
       (3) Only either I or II and III are true (4) Only III is true
       (5) None of these

Q.3. Statements : M©T, T#J, J$K
           Conclusions : I. K©T II. M©J , III. K @ M
          (1) None is true   (2) Only III is true (3) Only II is true
          (4) Only I is true (5) Only I and II are true

Q.4. Statements : F # N, N © D, D @ R
        Conclusions : I. D # F II. R$N III. R $ F
       (1) None is true     (2) Only I is true (3) Only II is true
      (4) Only III is true (5) Only II and III are true

Q.5. Statements : W@F, F$M, M©D
       Conclusions : I. D $ F II. W©M III. F $ D
      (1) None is true      (2) Only I is true (3) Only II is true
      (4) Only III is true (5) Only II and III are true

SOLUTIONS


Q.1.(2)Statements : B = H > E, K > E
       Conclusions : I. K > HFalse
       II. K > B False
       III. B > E True

Q.2.(3)Statements : M > W = N > B
       Conclusions : I. N = M Either I or II true
       II. M > N
       III. M > B True

Q.3.(4)Statements : T > M, T > J > K
       Conclusions : I. T > K True
       II. J > M False
       III. M > K False

Q.4.(3)Statements : F > N, R > D > N
       Conclusions : I. D > F False
       II. R > N True
       III. R > F False

Q.5.(1)Statements : F > W, F > M, D > M
      Conclusions : I. D > F False
      II. M > W False
      III. F > D False

Q.6.(1)Statements : F > R, F > D, M > D
       Conclusions : I. D > RFalse
       II. M = F False
       III. M > R False


Q. In the following questions, the symbols $, %,@, © and * are used with the following meaning as illustrated below:
‘P % Q’ means ‘P is not smaller than Q’.
‘P $ Q’ means ‘P is not greater than Q’.
‘P * Q’ means ‘Pis neither greater than nor equal to Q’.
‘P © Q’means’P is neither smaller than nor equal to Q’.
‘P @ Q’ means ‘P is neither greater than nor smaller than Q’.

Q.1. Statements : R@K, K$F, F * N
        Conclusions : I. N © R II. F@R III. F©R
       (1) Only I is true (2) Only either II or III is true
       (3) Only I and either II or III are true (4) Only III is true
       (5) None of these

Q.2. Statements : J © M, M * K, K % D
        Conclusions : I. J©D II. D * M III. K©J
       (1) None is true (2) Only I is true (3) Only II is true
       (4) Only III is true (5) Only I and II are true

Q.3. Statements : H * T, T $ B, B © R
          Conclusions : I. R©H II. B©H III. T * R
         (1) Only I is true (2) Only I and II are true
         (3) Only I and III are true (4) Only ll and III are true
         (5) None of these

Q.4. Statements : R $ D, D @ N, N © F
        Conclusions : I. F * D II. F * R III. N % R
        (1) Only I and II are true (2) Only I and III are true
        (3) Only II and III are true (4) All are true
        (5) None of these

Q.5. Statements : F $ B, B @ H, H % K
        Conclusions : I. B % F II. K@F III. K$B
        (1) Only I is true (2) Only II is true
        (3) Only III is true (4) Only I and III are true
        (5) None of these

Q.6. Statements : M % D, D * K, K $ N
        Conclusions : I. K©M II. N©D III. M©N
        (1) Only I is true (2) Only II is true
        (3) Only III is true (4) Only I and II are true
        (5) None of these

SOLUTIONS


Q.1.(3) R = K < F < N
        I. N > R True
        II. F = R
        III. F > R Complementry pair

Q.2.(1) J > M < K > D
        I. J > D False
        II. D < M False
        III. K > J False

Q.3.(5) H < T < B > R
        I. R > H False
        II. B > H True
        III. T < R False

Q.4.(2) R < D = N > F
        I. F < D True
        II. F < R False
        III. N > R True

Q.5.(4) F < B = H > K
        I. B > F True
        II. K = F False
        III. K < B True

Q.6.(2) M > D < K < N
        I. K > M False
        II. N > D True
        III. M > N False


Q. In the following questions, the symbols #, %,@, $ and ©are used with the following meanings illustrated.
‘P # Q’ means ‘P is not smaller than Q’
‘P % Q’means’P is not greater than Q’.
‘P @ Q’ means ‘P is neither smaller than nor equal to Q’.
‘P $ Q’ means ‘P is neither greater than nor equal to Q’.
‘P © Q’ means ‘P is neither smaller than nor greater than Q’.
In each of the following questions assuming the given statements to be true, find out which of the two conclusions I and II given below them is/are definitely true.
Give answer (1) if only conclusion I is true.
Give answer (2) if only conclusion II is true.
Give answer (3) if either conclusion I or conclusion II is true.
Give answer (4) if neither conclusion I nor conclusion II is true.
Give answer (5) if both conclusions I and II are true.

Q.1. Statement : H © W, W % R, R @ F
      Conclusions: I. R©H II. R @ H

Q.2. Statement : M$T, T@K, K©D
      Conclusions : I. D$T II. K$M

Q.3. Statement : R % N, N # F, F @ B
      Conclusions : I. F©R II. B$N

Q.4. Statement : H @ W, W $ M, M # K
      Conclusions : I. K$W II. H @ M

Q.5. Statement : R#T, T©M, M @ D
      Conclusions : I. D$T II. R#M

Q.6. Statement : F # K, K $ B, B % M
      Conclusions : I. M @ F II. B @ F



SOLUTIONS


Q.1.(3) H = W < R > F
        (i) R = H (ii) R > H
         both (i) & (ii) jointly satisfy the given equation thats why either (i) or (ii)

Q.2.(1)M < T > K = D
       (i) D < T (ii) K < M

Q.3.(2) R < N > F > B
       (i) F = R (ii) B < N

Q.4.(4) H > W < M > K
       (i) K < W (ii) H > M

Q.5.(5) R > T = M > D
       (i) D < T (ii) R > M

Q.6.(4) F > K < B < M
       (i) M > F (ii) B > F



ICICI BANK PO


English Language Ability : A. Part I [1 x 7 = 7 Marks] 

Questions 1-7 are incomplete sentences. Beneath each sentence you will see four words or phrases, marked (A), (B), (C) and (D). Choose the one word or phrase that best completes the sentence.
1. After the funeral, the residents of the apartment building __________
a. sent faithfully flowers all weeks to the cemetery.
b. sent to the cemetery each week flowers faithfully.
c. sent flowers faithfully to the cemetery each week.
d. sent each week faithfully to the cemetery flowers.
2. Because the first pair of pants did not fit properly, he asked for ________
a. another pants
b. others pants
c. the others ones
d. another pair
3. The committee has met and _________
a. they have reached a decision
b. it has formulated themselves some opinions
c. its decision was reached at
d. it has reached a decision
4. Alfred Adams has not ________
a. lived loneliness in times previous
b. never before lived sole
c. ever lived alone before
d. before lived without the company of his friends

ICICI Bank PO EXAM PREVIOUS PAPER


VERBAL COMPREHENSION
Directions: Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.

Passage
On clear moonless evenings when it is completely dark, you can sometimes see a faint glow from the horizon. It is called the zodiacal light as it runs along the zodiac, the constellation through which the planets appear to travel. This glow is sunlight, reflected off dust particles in the solar system it is brightest near the sun, so it is best visible after sunset or before dawn, when the sun is just far enough below the horizon to leave the sky completely dark.

1. According to this passage the zodiac is a________
a. Collection of sun signs
b. Constellation
c. Star
d. Planet

2. The zodiacal light can be seen only on_____
a. Moonless nights
b. Starry Nights
c. Moonless evenings
d. Alternate days

Directions: Choose the best word from the given options to complete the sentence.
1. Passing gravy through a ________removes lumps.
a. Mixture
b. Sieve
c. Tap
d. Cap

2. The politician’s poor behaviour was overlooked because of his
________.
a. Selfishness
b. Reluctance
c. Resistance
d. Charisma

HDFC Reasoning/Numerical


HDFC Reasoning/Numerical


Test I : Reasoning ability and Numerical Aptitude 
1. Suresh is taller than Prabhu but shorter than Ram, Prabhu is as tall as Neeraj but taller than Nilesh. Which of the following statements is definitely true for Neeraj? 
(a) Neeraj is shorter than Nilesh 
(b) Neeraj is the tallest 
(c) Neeraj is the shortest 
(d) Neeraj is taller than Nilesh 
(e) None of these 
Ans: ( d ) Neeraj is taller than Nilesh 

2. How many such pairs of letters are there in the word STAINLESS each of which has as many letters between them in the word as they have in the English alphabet, in the same sequence? 
(a) Two 
(b) Three 
(c) Four 
(d) Five 
(e) None of these 
Ans: ( e ) None of these 
3. What will come in place of the question mark (?) in the following sequence? ARRANGEMENTS, RRANGEMENT, RANGEMEN, ?, NGEM 
(a) RANGEME 
(b) ANGEME 
(c) ANGEMENT 
(d) NGEMEN 
(e) None of these 
Ans: ( b ) ANGEME 
4. Four of the following five are alike in a certain way and so form a group. Which is the one that does not belong to that group? 
(a) Baking 
(b) Steaming 
(c) Cooking 
(d) Frying 
(e) Boiling 
Ans: ( c ) Cooking 
5. Four of the following five are alike in a certain way and so form a group which is the one that does not belong to that group? 
(a) Radish 
(b) Orange 
(c) Pear 
(d) Mango 
(e) Apple 
Ans: ( a ) Radish 
6. Four of the following five are alike in a certain way and so form a group. Which is the one that does not belong to that group? 
(a) Earth 
(b) Moon 
(c) Saturn 
(d) Pluto 
(e) Venus 
Ans: ( b ) Moon 
7. If water is called food, food is called drink, drink is called blue, blue is called red, red is called white and white is called brown, then what is the colour of ?blood? ? 
(a) Blue 
(b) Red 
(c) Brown 
(d) White 
(e) Drink 
Ans: ( d ) White 

FEDERAL BANK GA


FEDERAL BANK Financial Awareness

1. When did Regional Rural Banks start functioning in India?
(A) 1975
(B) 1947
(C) 1956
(D) 1960
2. Who was the Chairman of the Sixth Central Pay Commission?
(A) Justice B. N. Srikrishna
(B) Prof. Ravindra Dholakia
(C) J. S. Mathur
(D) Sushma Nath
3. The 11th Five Year Plan is termed as plan for.
(A) India’s Health
(B) Eradication of poverty from India
(C) India’s Education
(D) Development of Rural India
4. Which of the following correctly describes what sub-prime lending is?
(1) Lending to the people with less than ideal credit status.
(2) Lending to the people who are high value customers of the banks.
(3) Lending to those who are not a regular customer
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All

State Bank of India Probationary Officer 2008

General Awareness & Computer Knowledge 
(Held on 27-07-2008)


Q.1. Which of the following statement(s) reflects India's stand on new World
Trade Organization's proposal on the issue of the subsidy to agro products ?
(1) India would protect the interest of its poor farmers who can not bear the
burden of the cost of the products if they have to sell them on cheaper rate.
(2) Indian industry needs more flexibility as compared to the industry in
developed countries.
(3) WTO has set up a new committee under the chairmanship of Putin of
Russia to look into the issue of subsidy and find out a solution to the problem
acceptable to all the parties.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 & 2
(E) None of these
Ans : (A)
2. Which of the following statement(s) is / are true about the 11th five year plan
of India ?
(1) The highest priority is given to exports ,education and development of steel
sector.
(2) The plan aims at achieving the growth at 10 % level by the end of the plan.
(3) The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana is revived in such a way so that it can be
achieve a growth nof 4 % for agriculture sector.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 1 & 2
(E) None of these
Ans : (D)
3. As per the figures released recently the Stock markets in emerging
economies made handsome returns last year (2007-08). Which of the following
stock markets amongst the BRIC nations registered highest increased (97 %)
compared to its performance in 2006-07 ?
(A) China
(B) Brazil
(C) Russia
(D) India
(E) None of these
Ans : (A)
4. Bayana which was in news recently is a place in—
(A) Uttar Pradseh
(B) Madhya Pradseh
(C) Bihar
(D) Haryana
(E) Rajasthan
Ans : (E)


State Bank of India Probationary Officer 2010 REASONING


REASONING 

1. If it is possible to make only one meaningful word with the Third, Seventh, Eighth and Tenth letters of the word COMPATIBILITY, which of the following would be the last letter of that word ? If no such word can be made, give ‘X’ as your answer and if more than one such word can be formed, give your answer as ‘Y’.
(A) I
(B) B
(C) L
(D) X
(E) Y
Ans : (B)
2. Four of the following five are alike in a certain way and so form a group. Which is the one that does not belong to that group ?
(A) Stem
(B) Tree
(C) Root
(D) Branch
(E) Leaf
Ans : (B)
3. How many meaningful three letter English words can be formed with the letters AER, using each letter only once in each word ?
(A) None
(B) One
(C) Two
(D) Three
(E) Four
Ans : (D)
4. In a certain code FINE is written HGPC.
How is SLIT written in that code ?
(A) UTGR
(B) UTKR
(C) TUGR
(D) RUGT
(E) None of these
Ans : (E)
5. If ‘Apple’ is called ‘Orange’, ‘Orange’ is called ‘Peach’, ‘Peach’ is called ‘Potato’, ‘Potato’ is called ‘Banana’, ‘Banana’ is called ‘Papaya’ and ‘Papaya’ is called ‘Guava’, which of the following grows underground ?
(A) Potato
(B) Guava
(C) Apple
(D) Banana
(E) None of these
Ans : (D)

SBI ASSOCIATE BANKS CLERKS EXAM 2011 CS


Marketing Aptitude and Computer Knowledge

Q. 1. An email account includes a storage area, often called a(n) __
(1) attachment
(2) hyperlink
(3) mailbox
(4) IP address
(5) None of these

Q. 2. Data becomes __ when it is presented in a format that people can understand and use.
(1) processed
(2) graphs
(3) information
(4) presentation
(5) None of these

Q.3. A set of computer programs that helps a computer monitor itself and function more efficiently isajan __
(1) Windows
(2) System Software
(3) DBMS
(4) Application Software
(5) None of these

Q. 4. An area of a computer that temporarily holds data waiting to be processed is __
(1) CPU
(2) Memory
(3) Storage
(4) File
(5) None of these

Q.5. A __ is a microprocessor-based computing device.
(1) personal computer
(2) mainframe
(3) workstation
(4) server
(5) None of these

Q. 6. You use a(n) __ , such as a keyboard or mouse, to input information.
(1) output device
(2) input device
(3) storage device
(4) processing device
(5) None of these

Q.7. The term __ designates equipment that might be added to a computer system to enhance its functionality.

(1) digital device
(2) system add-on
(3) disk pack
(4) peripheral device
(5) None of these

SBI ASSOCIATE BANKS CLERKS EXAM 2011 GA


GENERAL AWARENESS

Q:1 What is financial inclusion ?

(1) To provide a permanent employment to the unemployed

(2) To provide a 100 days job to all those who are in need of a job

(3) To provide banking services to all those living in remote areas

(4) To ensure that all financial transactions amounting Rs. 5,000/- and above are done through banks.

(5) To provide finances for all.

Q: 2 Recently the term 3G was very much in news and even a conference on it was organized in India. What is the letter 'G' denotes in 3G ?

(1) Grade

(2) Group

(3) Global

(4) Guild

(5) Generation

Q: 3 Some major banks and financial institutions in various Western countries were to wind up their business and/ or declare themselves in financial problems during last few years. This trend is technically known as _

(1) Devaluation

(2) Deformation

(4) Political backdrop

(5) Globalisation

Q: 4 Which of the following International sports events was organized in Delhi in October 2010 in which several countries participated ?

(1) Asian Games

(2) World Cup Cricket Tournament

(3) Asian Hockey Tournament

(4) Commonwealth Games

(5) None of these

Q: 5 Exporters in India get insurance cover and risk cover from which of the following organizations?

(1) SIOBI

(2) NABARD

(3) ECGC

(4) RBI

(5) None of these

RBI Grade - II Exam Solved Paper General Awareness


General Awareness
   (Exam Held On : 18-12-11)

1.Some time we see a reference of "Least Developed country" in the economic journals / papers etc. Which among the following is one of the parameters on the basis of which a country in economic parlance, is labelled "Least Developed"?
1) Frequent changes in monetary / fiscal policies
    2) No change in the Government in last ten years as general elections did not take place
    3) Low Per Capita income of a specified level and instability in agricultural / industrial production
    4) Huge losses due to natural disasters resulting in displacement of people in majority
    5) Scarcity of trained / skilled manpower in the country

2)    Which of the following statements about the Indian Economy in the last decade is Not Correct ?
    1) The economy of India is the fourth largest in the world with GDP of about 4 trillion US $ at Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)
    2) Agriculture which was a major concern for the growth of the economy is now growing at an average of 7% per annum
    3) A strong Balance Of Payment (BOP) position in recent years has resulted in a comfortable stock of the foreign exchange reserves
    4) India has emerged as a global leader in software and business process outsourcing
    5) Indian economy has shown a remarkable average GDP growth of 6.8% during last ten years

3.    Who among the following is very closely associated with the day today functioning of the Reserve Bank of India ?
    1) Dr. Subir Gokarn   
2) Mr. U.K. Sinha
    3) Mr. Kaushik Basu   
4) Mr. Narendra Jadhav
    5) None of these

4.    Census in India was conducted recently (2011). In the eyes of the economists and policy makers, India's demographics' are very much favourable to growth. Which of the following statements is NOT in conformity with the traditional demographic characteristics of India and its relation with growth ?
    1) India is a young country with low dependency ratio
    2) More and more Indian youth under the age of 30 are getting better health care and access to quality technical education
    3) The so called Middle class of India is happy as they have better housing and earning facilities
    4) More employment opportunities and resultant financial freedom have made young women folk to pursue single life and delay marriage
    5) Indian youth are now biggest consumers of luxurious goods, they spend discretionary income and enjoy the associated status

5.    Some policy makers and thinkers are of the opinion that the notorious Satyam Scandal of 2009 has proved a blessing in disguise for India, as it intensified the call in the country for:
    1) Stronger police force
    2) Faster legal proceeding and effective judiciary
    3) Greater Accounting transparency and Corporate Governance
    4) Better employer employee relationship and active participation of employees in managerial functions
    5) All of these

6.    Frequent changes in the cost of which of the following commodities at international levels, push inflation upwards ?
    1) Vegetables    
    2) Foodgrains
    3) Petroleum Products    
    4) Milk
    5) All of these

7.    Indian Parliament in the year 2005 passed Special Economic Zones Bill which gave birth to hundreds of SEZs in the country. How do these SEZs help in the growth of the Indian Economy ?
    1) SEZs attract significant foreign direct investment from overseas and MNCs
    2) SEZs give a far better price for land to the farmers and others who sell their land for the same
    3) Production in SEZs is done for local consumption only and is supposed to tame inflation in the country
    4) Banks in India are allowed to give loans to SEZs liberally as the interest rate on such loans is decided to be 5% higher than the normal interest rates
    5) All of these

RBI Grade ‘B’ Officers Exam. 2011 General Awareness

General Awareness 
(Exam Held on 6-2-2011)

1. What role do Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play in a country’s economic and industrial development ?
1. They have the capacity to absorb skilled and unskilled labour available in the country.
2. Such institutions help in distribution of income in a wide spectrum and do not allow it to get concentrated in few hands or in few areas.
3. They help in eradication of poverty by providing selfemployment opportunities.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Only 1 and 3
(E) All 1, 2 and 3
Ans : (E)

2. Which of the following statements about the Indian Economy is correct ?
(A) Indian economy is as developed as that of China
(B) About 70% Indians are involved in some type of selfemployment and are the owners of some or the other micro or small enterprise
(C) In India single biggest employment is agriculture and allied activities
(D) About 48% Indian workforce is employed in foreign countries or in organizations assisted by foreign capital
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

3. Which of the following is/are correct about the problems of Indian Agriculture ?
1. Large agricultural subsidies are hampering productivity—enhancing investments.
2. Irrigation infrastructure is in bad shape and needs immediate improvement.
3. Frequent takeovers of fertile land by private companies and multinationals to launch big business complexes.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 1 and 2
(C) Only 1 and 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
(E) None of these
Ans : (D)


4. As per news in various journals, many banks have failed to achieve agri-loan target fixed by the RBI for the year 2010-11. What was the target fixed for the year ?
(A) 10%
(B) 15%
(C) 18%
(D) 24%
(E) 30%
Ans : (C)

5. Which of the following statements about Agro and Allied activities is not correct ?
(A) Farmers do not get adequate credit for purchase of cattle
(B) There is a need to improve breed and genetic characteristics of the cattle folk
(C) India has huge forest cover and also degraded and marshy land which can be used for productive purposes
(D) India is the 10th largest producer of medicinal and aromatic plants. But the products are not of commercial value
(E) Animal husbandry plays an important role in providing sustainability under Rain fed conditions
Ans : (C)

Indian Bank P.O. Exam., 2010 GA


Indian Bank P.O. Exam., 2010
(Held on 17-1-2010)
General Awareness

1. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is compiled and released by which of the following organizations/ agencies?
(A) Registrar of Companies
(B) Confederation of Indian Industries
(C) Bombay Stock Exchange
(D) Reserve Bank of India
(E) Central Statistical Organisation
Ans : (E)

2. Which of the following states launched a special scheme under which 10 kg of whole wheat flour is sold at a fixed price of Rs. 139 through its select outlets ?
(A) Delhi
(B) Kerala
(C) West Bengal
(D) Uttar Pradesh
(E) None of these
Ans : (A)

3. Which of the following is the abbreviated name of the asset reconstruction company created specifically for small and medium sectors ?
(A) CGTMSE
(B) CARE
(C) APITCO
(D) ISARC
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

4. Retail investors made Rs. 1•9 lakh crore in market rally, was the news in some major financial newspapers recently. The term ‘Retail investors’, as used in this headline, means which of the following types of stock market investors ?
(A) Promoters of Companies
(B) Individuals
(C) Foreign Institutional Investors
(D) Mutual Funds
(E) Corporate Bodies
Ans : (B)

5. Many times we read in newspapers that some bank(s) has/have to write off certain amount given/advanced by them. In banking terminology, what does ‘write off’ mean ?
(A) Loans sanctioned on paper but bank has yet to make provision for the same so that borrower can withdraw the money
(B) Big corporate loans for which bank has/have to take approval from RBI
(C) Loans for which documentation work is yet to be completed
(D) Bad and uncollectable loans
(E) Those loans which can never become bad or uncollectaebl loans as they are given under some social assistance scheme by the Govt. of India
Ans : (D)


6. Who amongst the following was the chairperson of the ‘Working Group on Benchmark Prime Lending Rate (BPLR)’constituted by the Reserve Bank of India
(A) Dr. K. C. Chakrovorty
(B) Mr. Deepak Mohanty
(C) Mr. Bhaskaran
(D) Mr. O. P. Bhatt
(E) Mr. M. V. Nair
Ans : (B)

7. A bank normally does not have to deal with an issue related to—
(A) Payments and settlement systems
(B) Contractual rights of creditors
(C) Intellectual property rights
(D) Cases of insolvency
(E) Coordination between regulators active in banking/financial sectors.
Ans : (C)

INDIAN BANK RURAL MARKETING OFFICERS English EXAM 2010


ENGLISH

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

Delays of several months in National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) wage payments and worksites where labourers have lost all hope of being paid at all have become the norm in many States. How are workers who exist on the margins of subsistence supposed to feed their families ? Under the scheme, workers must be paid within 15 days, failing which they are entitled to compensation under the Payment of Wages Act-upto Rs. 3,000/- per aggrieved worker. In reality, compensation is received in only a few isolated instances.

It is often argued by officials that the main reason for the delay is the inability of banks and post offices to handle mass payments of NREGS wages. Though there is a grain of truth in this, as a diagnosis it is misleading. The ‘jam’ in the banking system has been the result of the hasty switch to bank payments imposed by the Central Government against the recommendation of the Central Employment Guarantee Council which advocated a gradual transition starting with villages relatively close to the nearest bank.

However delays are not confined solely to the banking system. Operational hurdles include implementing agencies taking more than fifteen days to issue payment orders, viewing of work measurement as a cumbersome process resulting in procrastination by the engineering staff and non-maintenance of muster rolls and job cards etc. But behind these delays lies a deeper and deliberate ‘backlash’ against the NREGS. With bank payments making it much harder to embezzle NREGS funds, the programme is seen as a headache by many government functionaries–the workload has remained without the ‘inducements’. Slowing down wage payments is a convenient way of sabotaging the scheme because workers will desert NREGS worksites.


The common sense solution advocated by the government is to adopt the business correspondent model wherein bank agents will go to villages to make cash payments and duly record them on handheld electronic devices. This solution is based on the wrong diagnosis that distance separating villages from banks is the main issue. In order to accelerate payments, clear timelines for every step of the payment process should be incorporated into the system as Programme Officers often have no data on delays and cannot exert due pressure to remedy the situation. Workers are both clueless and powerless with no provision for them to air their grievances and seek redress. In drought affected areas the system of piece rate work can be dispensed with, where work measurement is not completed within a week and wages may be paid on the basis of attendance. Buffer funds can be provided to gram panchayats and post offices to avoid bottlenecks in the flow of funds. Partial advances could also be considered provided wage payments are meticulously tracked. But failure to recognise problems and unwillingness to remedy them will remain major threats to the NREGS.

1. What impact have late wage payments had on NREGS workers ?
(A) They cannot obtain employment till their dues are cleared
(B) They have benefited from the compensation awarded to them
(C) They have been unable to provide for their families
(D) They have been ostracised by their families who depend on them for sustenance
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

2. Which of the following factors has not been responsible for untimely payment of NREGS wages ?
(A) Communication delays between agencies implementing the scheme
(B) Improper record keeping
(C) Behind schedule release of payments by banks
(D) Drought conditions prevalent in the country
(E) Delays in work measurement
Ans : (D)

3. What has the outcome of disbursing NREGS wages through banks been ?
(A) Theft of funds by administration officials responsible for the scheme has reduced
(B) Increased workload for local government officials
(C) Protests by workers who have to travel long distances to the nearest bank to claim their wages
(D) Time consuming formalities have to be completed by workers
(E) None of these
Ans : (D)

4. According to the passage, which of the following has/have been the consequence(s) of delayed wage payments ?
(1) Compensation to victimised workers has amounted to crores.
(2) Banks will no longer be entrusted with remitting wages.
(3) Regulations to ensure punctual wage payments have come into force.
(A) None
(B) Only (1)
(C) Only (1) and (3)
(D) Only (1) and (2)
(E) Only (2) and (3)
Ans : (C)

Indian Bank Probationary Officers Exam. 2011 General Awareness


General Awareness 
(Exam Held on 2-1-2011)


1. On which one of the following ‘Head of Expenses’, the expenses of the Government of India are highest ?
(A) Food subsidy
(B) Fertilizer subsidy
(C) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
(D) Maintenance of national highways
(E) Oil subsidy
Ans : (A)

2. Which one of the following foreign agencies will assist the municipal agencies to improve quality of municipal schools through its School Excellence Programmes (SEP) ?
(A) IMF
(B) UNDP
(C) UNICEF
(D) ADB
(E) None of these
Ans : (C)

3. Which of the following carries out ‘Open Market Operations’ ?
(A) Finance Ministry
(B) External Affairs Ministry
(C) Reserve Bank of India
(D) Planning Commission
(E) Ministry of Commerce
Ans : (C)


4. Who among the following Ministers will hold telecom portfolio in addition to his own portfolio till next reallotment ?
(A) Kamal Nath
(B) Kapil Sibal
(C) Pranab Mukherjee
(D) Mamta Banerjee
(E) None of these
Ans : (B)

5. Under provisions of which one of the following Acts, the RBI issues directives to the Banks in India ?
(A) RBI Act
(B) Banking Regulation Act
(C) Essential Commodities Act
(D) RBI and Banking Regulation Act
(E) None of these
Ans : (B)

Indian Bank probationary officers Exam 2011 GENERAL AWARENESS


GENERAL AWARENESS


Q.1 Which of the following carries out 'Open Market Operations?
(1) Finance Ministry     (2) External Affairs Ministry
(4) Planning Commission (5) Ministry of Commerce

Q. 2 Who among the following Ministers will hold telecom portfolio in addition to his own portfolio till next reallotment?
(1) Kamal Nath        (2) Kapil Sibal
(4) Mamta Banerjee (5) None of these

Q. 3 Under provisions of which one of the following Acts, the RBI issues directives to the Banks in India?
(1) RBI Act  (2) Banking Regulation Act (3) Essential Commodities Act
(4) RBI and Banking Regulation Act (5) None of these

Q.4 On which one of the following 'Head of Expenses', the expenses of the Government of India are highest?
(1) Food subsidy (2) Fertilizer subsidy     (3) Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana
(4) Maintenance of national highways     (5) Oil subsidy

Q.5 Which one of the following foreign agencies will assist the municipal agencies to improve quality of municipal schools through its School Excellence Programmes (SEP) ?
(1) IMF     (2) UNDP     (3) UNICEF     (4) ADB  (5) None of these

Q. 6 Which one of the following tools is used by RBI for selective credit control?
(1) It advises banks to lend against certain commodities
(2) It advises banks to recall the loans for advances against certain commodities
(3) It advises banks to charge higher rate of interest for advance against certain commodities
(4) It discourages certain kinds of lending by assigning higher risk weights to loans it deems undesirable
(5) None of these

Q.7 For which one of the following Loan Products 'teaser loans' are offered by Banks?

(1) Education Loans         (2) Commercial Loans (3) Loans against security of gold
(4) Retail Trade Loans     (5) Home Loans     ,

Dena Bank Clerk Exam General English


General English 
(Exam Held On 08-03-2009)

Directions—(Q. 1–15) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
Bhaskar was a wealthy, wordly wise merchant. On his deathbed, he called his only son, Nakul, and gave him some advice. “When you do business and travel to an unknown land, make sure you know the local culture well. Try to gain as much information as you can. This and presence of mind will come to your rescue.” Bhaskar died a few days later and Nakul began looking after the business. Once, he travelled by ship to a distant country where he stayed at an inn. He began talking to the owner and ended up telling him all about his life and the business had come to conduct.

The following day, Nakul was heading to the bustling market when a one armed man rushed up to him and said, “Your father took one of my arms as a loan. You must return it to me.” Not knowing what to do, Nakul asked the man to meet him the next day. A little later, a woman came upto Nakul and said, “Your father married me and would send me money every month. This responsibility is now yours.” Again Nakul asked for a day’s respite and walked on. On the way he stopped at a tavern and ate breakfast. While paying for his meal the owner said, “The only payment I want is for you to make me happy.” Though he had to pay only two coins, Nakul gave the man five, but the man still maintained that he was unhappy. That evening Nakul met a man who invited him to a game of dice. Unaware they were playing with a trick dice, he lost every game. The winner set him an unusual condition, “Drink all the water in the sea or give me all the goods on your ship.” Nakul said he would give him his decision the next day. That night as Nakul lay on his bed, he remembered his father’s words, “In a foreign land only your wits will come to your aid.”
The next morning, as soon as he reached the marketplace, the one armed man appeared. Nakul smiled when he saw him and said, “My father took many such loans and our house is full of hands. I shall take your other arm, find the matching one and repay you.” The man ran away petrified. He then approached the woman who claimed to have been married to his father. “My father was wrong not to tell us about you. Come home with me and help my mother in the fields.” The woman left without a word. Next, Nakul went to the tavern and standing outside shouted, “Hail the King ! Your king is great !” “I am happy to hear you say that”, was the only response the tavern owner could give.“ If you are happy,” continued Nakul, “I have paid for my meal.” Nakul then sought out the man who had won at dice the previous night. “I shall gladly drink all the water in the sea provided you bring me the water in jugs.” The man made a quick getaway when he heard this. Nakul returned home after conducting much business. He was far richer in wisdom too.
1. Which of the following is TRUE in the context of the passage ?
(1) Nakul preferred sailing to working in the fields with his mother.
(2) Bhaskar’s second wife was a greedy woman.
(3) Bhaskar did not have faith in Nakul’s ability to successfully run the business.
(A) None
(B) Only (1)
(C) Both (1) & (3)
(D) Both (2) & (3)
(E) Only (2)
2. Why did Nakul visit a far-away country ?
(A) It was his father’s final request
(B) To acquire knowledge about a different culture
(C) To mee some of his father’s acquaintances
(D) To trade and do business
(E) None of these
3. How did Nakul manage to deal with the people who tried to swindle him ?
(1) His father provided him with the solution in a dream.
(2) He threatened them with dire punishment.
(3) He gave into their demands and paid them off.
(A) None
(B) Only (2)
(C) Only (3)
(D) Both (1) & (2)
(E) None of these
4. Why wasn’t Nakul able to win any of the games while gambling ?
(A) He was not a skilful player
(B) He was distracted while playing
(C) The other players were cheating with a trick dice
(D) He was not well versed with local rules
(E) None of these