SBI CLERK PRELIM LEVEL ENGLISH QUESTIONS
Directions (1-7): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below.
Some words are printed in bold in order to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
It was hardly a surprise that Russian President Vladimir Putin chose Iran, another country at the receiving end of western sanctions, for his first visit outside the former Soviet sphere since Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine. Russia and Iran, brought together by their opposition toward the West, already have a strategic partnership in place and have worked together in places such as Syria. But despite this cooperation, tensions have also existed where Russia has remained the big brother. But the war and the subsequent western sanctions on Russia have added a new dimension to the partnership. Hours before Mr. Putin landed in Tehran, the countries signed a $40 billion energy memorandum of understanding where Russia’s Gazprom would work with the National Iranian Oil Company in developing energy fields and building LNG projects and pipelines. Last week, the U.S. had claimed that Russia was also seeking armed drones from Iran to deploy in Ukraine. So, Russia, battered by sanctions and rattled by the slow progress of its war, is seeking to build a coalition of the sanctioned by deepening an economic, defence and strategic partnership with Iran. And in Tehran, Mr. Putin has found a receptive audience. In Tehran, Mr. Putin also met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to discuss the Syrian civil war and a United Nations proposal to allow grain exports from Ukrainian ports via the Black Sea. The trilateral summit, at a time when the West seeks to isolate and punish Mr. Putin, shows the complex geopolitical moves at play in West Asia. Turkey, a NATO member, has condemned the Russian war and supplied Ukraine with drones, but refused to join the western sanctions against Moscow. Turkey and Russia, which back rival factions in Syria’s civil war but have entered into an entente, need each other to protect their interests in Syria. Iran, whose bet on the 2015 nuclear deal backfired after the U.S. unilaterally pulled itself out of the agreement in 2018, has been keen on building stronger strategic and economic ties with China and Russia. As the nuclear talks resumed by the Biden administration have reached an impasse, Iran’s Ayatollahs would naturally prefer a stronger partnership with Russia. This explains the complex trilateral dynamics of the Tehran summit. The visit has also highlighted the importance of West Asia in the time of great power rivalries. Mr.Putin’s visit came just days after U.S. President Joe Biden wrapped up his Saudi-Israel tour. Mr. Biden warned America’s traditional allies against Russia, China and Iran gaining greater influence in the region. And days later, the Russian leader was in the Iranian capital. While Mr. Biden seeks to build a united front of American allies in West Asia against Iran and Russia, Mr. Putin is betting on Iran to expand the Russian influence in the region in these difficult times.
1. According to the passage, which of the following statement or statements can be stated as true?
i) Iran’s Ayatollahs would naturally prefer a stronger partnership with Russia.
ii) Mr. Putin seeks to build a united front of American allies in West Asia against Iran and Russia. iii) The U.S. had claimed that Russia was also seeking armed drones from Iran to deploy in Ukraine.
iv) Syria and Russia, which back rival factions in Turkey’s civil war but have entered into an entente, need each other to protect their interests in Russia.
a) Only i is true
b) Only iii is true
c) Both i and iii are true
d) Both ii and iv are true
e) None of the above
2. Why would Iran's Ayatollahs naturally prefer a stronger partnership with Russia?
a) As the nuclear talks resumed by the Biden administration have reached an impasse.
b) As the U.S. had claimed that Russia was also seeking armed drones from Iran to deploy in Ukraine.
c) As Mr. Putin also met Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan to discuss the Syrian civil war.
d) Because Mr. Putin is betting on Iran to expand the Russian influence in the region in these difficult times.
e) None of the above.
3. According to the passage, which of the following statement or statements can be stated as false?
i) Mr. Putin’s visit came just days after U.S. President Joe Biden wrapped up his Saudi-Israel tour.
ii) Mr. Biden warned America’s traditional allies against Russia, China and Iran gaining greater influence in the region.
iii) The visit has also highlighted the drawbacks of West Asia in the time of great power rivalries.
iv) Russia and Iran, brought together by their opposition toward the West, already have a strategic partnership.
a) Only ii is false
b) Only iii is false
c) Both ii and iii are false
d) Both ii and iv are false
e) None of the above
4. “Tensions have also existed where Russia has remained the big brother". Which of the following circumstances have added a new dimension to the partnership?
a) The Syrian civil war and a United Nations proposal to allow grain exports from Ukrainian ports.
b) The importance of West Asia in the time of great power rivalries.
c) A strategic partnership in place and have worked together in places such as Syria.
d) The war and the subsequent western sanctions on Russia.
e) None of the above.
5. According to the passage, Why Mr. Putin met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan?
a) to build a united front of American allies in West Asia against Iran and Russia.
b) for developing energy fields and building LNG projects and pipelines.
c) to discuss the Syrian civil war and a United Nations proposal to allow grain exports from Ukrainian ports via the Black Sea.
d) as the U.S. had claimed that Russia was also seeking armed drones from Iran to deploy in Ukraine.
e) None of the above.
6. Choose the word that is most SIMILAR to the word "impasse" in the passage.
a) agreement
b) deadlock
c) breakthrough
d) solution
e) None of the above
7. Choose the word that is most OPPOSITE to the word rattled in the passage.
a) reassured
b) crushed
c) bewildered
d) bugged
e) None of the above.
Directions (8-12): In the following question, a passage has been given with few blanks indicating that some words have been omitted. You are required to fill those blanks with the appropriate words from the given options.
The election of Droupadi Murmu as India’s 15th President is rich in symbolism. In the 75th year of the country’s Independence, Ms. Murmu becomes the second woman to_______(28) the Rashtrapati Bhavan, and the first member of a tribal community to do so. Her membership of the Santhal tribe is in focus. She has risen through the ranks in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and has shown a mind of her own during her stint as Governor of Jharkhand. Her election to the highest office of the country comes 101 years after two tribespeople were elected to legislative bodies in colonial India._______(29) figures of the Republic were acutely________(30) of the disadvantageous position of the tribespeople and made special provisions such as the Fifth and Sixth Schedules of the Constitution. Jaipal Singh Munda, sportsman and tribal leader, was a prominent member of the Constituent Assembly who forcefully________(31) the fears and hopes of tribespeople. In 2000, two States, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, were formed to give more focused attention to the concentrated tribal population in these regions. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, was passed in 2006. Ms. Murmu’s election is a milestone in the journey of tribal_______(32), though she is by no means limited to her identity. It is a moment of pride for India.
8. Choose the word that is most appropriate for the blank labelled 28.
a) illicit
b) strife
c) occupy
d) elevate
e) None of the above
9. Choose the word that is most appropriate for the blank labelled 29.
a) exemplify
b) founding
c) heresy
d) demoting
e) None of the above
10. Choose the word that is most appropriate for the blank labelled 30.
a) spell
b) unaware
c) polemic
d) cognisant
e) None of the above
11. Choose the word that is most appropriate for the blank labelled 31.
a) articulated
b) offshoot
c) sacrilege
d) complacent
e) None of the above
12. Choose the word that is most appropriate for the blank labelled 32.
a) preempt
b) mellifluous
c) visceral
d) empowerment
e) None of the above
Directions (13-17): In the following questions, a sentence has been divided into four parts. Out of which, only one part contains error. You are required to find the part which is erroneous and mark the same as your answer.
13. If I will get an (A) opportunity, I will (B) surely give (C) my best towards your institution (D).
a) A
b) B
c) C
d) D
e) No error.
14. I trust (A) more my parents (B) than my friends (C) in this world (D).
a) A
b) B
c) C
d) D
e) No error.
15. He (A) deserving to win (B)the award as he actively(C) participated in all the activities(D).
a) A
b) B
c) C
d) D
e) No error.
16. They don’t will have (A)an exam next (B)Tuesday due to the(C)spread of viral disease(D).
a) A
b) B
c) C
d) D
e) No error.
17. I and (A) my family shifted (B) to a place that is (C) closer from school (D).
a) A
b) B
c) C
d) D
e) No error.
Directions (18-22): In the following questions,a sentence is given with a blank. You are required to choose the appropriate word for the blank to make the sentence contextually correct and meaningful.
18. The policy has__________ dividends in public goodwill in Sri Lanka for India, particularly in comparison to other partners.
a) obfuscate
b) culminate
c) reaped
d) destitute
e) None of the above
19. India has eight cornerstone pieces of legislation that define a regulatory framework to ensure that natural resources are not_______ exploited.
a) bucolic
b) wantonly
c) adulation
d) viable
e) None of the above
20. Building credibility with them will require distancing himself from the very________ of the ruling SLPP backed by Mahinda Rajapaksa who won the elections.
a) predilection
b) castigate
c) distend
d) faction
e) None of the above
21. The Modi government has adopted a threepronged strategy expressing sympathy with the people of Sri Lanka and their _________ for stability and economic recovery.
a) felicity
b) disparate
c) quest
d) provident
e) None of the above
22. A combination of the fall in domestic production and currency reserves signals that the road out of this economic _______ will be arduous.
a) trough
b) dearth
c) tardy
d) exacavate
e) None of the above
Directions (23-27): Five statements are given below, which are jumbled in any random order. These statements will form a coherent and meaningful paragraph, when arranged in the correct sequence. Arrange the sentences in the right order and answer the questions that follow.
(A) As a young Portuguese noble, he served the king of Portugal.
(B) After he was dismissed from service by the king of Portugal.
(C) In the 16th century, an age of great marine and terrestrial exploration, Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition to sail around the world.
(D) He offered to serve the future Emperor Charles V of Spain and he agreed to the offer and improved the living condition of Spain by his intellectual mind.
(E) But he became involved in the quagmire of political intrigue at court and lost the king’s favor.
23. Which among the following will be the first sentence after rearrangement?
a) A
b) B
c) D
d) C
e) E
24. Which among the following will be the second sentence after rearrangement?
a) D
b) C
c) E
d) A
e) B
25. Which among the following will be the third sentence after rearrangement?
a) A
b) C
c) D
d) E
e) B
26. Which among the following will be the fourth sentence after rearrangement?
a) C
b) B
c) A
d) E
e) D
27. Which among the following will be the fifth sentence after rearrangement?
a) C
b) B
c) A
d) D
e) E
ANSWER KEY
1. Answer: C
2. Answer: A
3. Answer: B
4. Answer: D
5. Answer: C
6. Answer: B
7. Answer: A
8. Answer: C
9. Answer: B
10. Answer: D
11. Answer: A
12. Answer: D
13. Answer: A
14. Answer: B
15. Answer: B
16. Answer: A
17. Answer: D
18. Answer: C
19. Answer: B
20. Answer: D
21. Answer: C
22. Answer: A
23. Answer: D
24. Answer: D
25. Answer: D
26. Answer: B
27. Answer: D
