Corporation Bank P.O. Exam, 2010 : Solved Paper

Corporation Bank Probationary Officers Exam., 2010

(Held on 9-5-2010) 
English Language : Solved Paper

Directions—(Q. 1–15) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

There are various sectors in India that are to be assessed for their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

The total population is over 1 billion which will increase to 1•46 billion by 2035 to cross China. The huge population will result in higher unemployment and deterioration of quality. Literacy, in India is yet another factor to be discussed. According to 1991 census, 64•8% of the population was illiterate. The major downtrend of education is due to child labour which has spread all over India and this should be totally eradicated by way of surveillance and a good educational system implemented properly by the Government.

Pollution is one more threat to the environment and for the country’s prospects. This has been experienced more in urban areas mainly in metropolitan cities. The water pollution by the sewage seepage into the ground water and improper maintenance will lead to various diseases which in turn will affect the next generation. In most of the cities there is no proper sewage disposal. The Government has to take effective steps to control population which, in turn, will minimize the pollution.

Poverty questions the entire strength of India’s political view and minimizes the energetic way of approach. The shortfall of rains, enormous floods, unexpected famine, drought, earthquake and the recent tsunami hit the country in a negative way. The proactive approach through effective research and analytical study helps us to determine the effects in advance. Proper allocation of funds is aprerequisite. In developed countries like U.S., Japan precautionary methods are adopted to overcome this, but it has to be improved a lot in our systems.

Increased population is one of the major reasons for poverty and the Government is unable to allocate funds for basic needs to the society. India has nearly 400 million people living below the poverty line and 90% of active population is in informal economy. The children are forced to work due to their poverty and differential caste system. They work in match industry for daily wages, as servants, mechanics, stone breakers, agricultural workers, etc. To prevent child labour, existing laws which favour the Anti Child Labour Act should be implemented by the Government vigorously.
More population results in cheap cost by virtue of the demand supply concept. Most of the foreign countries try to utilize this factor by outsourcing their business in India with a very low capital. According to U.S., India is a ‘Knowledge pool’ with cheap labour. The major advantage is our communication and technical skill which is adaptable to any environment. The cutting edge skill in IT of our professionals helps the outsourcing companies to commensurate with the needs of the consumers in a short span. The major competitors for India are China and Philippines and by the way of an effective communication and expert technical ability, Indians are ahead of the race. The major Metropolitan states are targeting the outsourcing field vigorously by giving various amenities to the outsourcing companies like tax concession, allotting land etc., to start their businesses in its cities without any hurdles. Thereby most of the MNCs prefer India as their destinations and capitalize the resources to maximize their assets. Infrastructure is another key factor for an outsourcing company to start a business in a particular city. It includes road, rail, ports, power and water. The increased input in infrastructure in India is very limited where China’s record is excellent.

India in earlier days gave more importance to the development of industry and less importance to other departments. But the scenario has quite changed now-a-days by allocating a special budget of funds for security. This is because of the frightening increase in terrorism all around the world especially emerging after the 9/11 terror attack in U.S. In the last ten years, budget towards the development of military forces is higher when compared to others. It shows that the threat from our neighbouring countries is escalating. India has to concentrate more on this security factor to wipe out the problem in the way of cross-border terrorism.

Making India a developed country in 2020 is not an easy task. India has to keep in check a variety of factors in order to progress rapidly. To quote China as an example is that they demolished an old building to construct a very big port to meet future demands, but India is still waiting for things to happen. The profits gained by India through various sectors are to be spent for the development and welfare of the country. India’s vision for a brighter path will come true not only by mere words or speech, but extra effort is needed at all levels to overcome the pitfalls.

1. Which of the following, according to the author, is/are a result(s) of increased population in India ?
1. Pollution
2. Poverty
3. Unemployment
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 1 and 2
(C) Only 2
(D) Only 1 and 3
(E) All 1, 2 and 3

2. Why, according to the author, has the Indian Government allotted more funds to strengthen the military forces ?
(A) To improve security in order to counter increasing terrorism
(B) As the security in India over the past ten years was grossly inadequate
(C) As the U.S. too has strengthened its military forces after the 9/11 attack
(D) As the industry is developed enough and is not in need of any more funds
(E) None of these


3. What is the author’s main objective in writing this passage ?
(A) To exhort the Government to garner support from its neighbouring countries
(B) To suggest to the Government to follow China’s example blindly thereby bringing about rapid development
(C) To highlight the plight of the poor
(D) To discuss the problems of child labour and suggest suitable remedies
(E) To bring forth the problems associated with India’s development and to suggest measures to counter them

4. Why, according to the author, is India one of the favourite destinations for investment by outsourcing companies ?
1. Shorter response time for clients.
2. Better technical skills.
3. Availability of cheap labour.
(A) Only 1
(B) All 1, 2 and 3
(C) Only 2 and 3
(D) Only 1 and 2
(E) Only 1

5. Which of the following is/are true in the context of the passage ?
1. India leads the way in the amount invested in the development of infrastructure.
2. Political system in India is not influenced by poverty.
3. Indian population would increase by approximately 50 per cent in the next twenty five years.
(A) Only 1 and 2
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Only 2 and 3
(E) All 1, 2 and 3

6. Which of the following is/are the facility(ies) available to MNCs investing in India ?
1. Easy availability of land.
2. Better infrastructure than China.
3. Tax Concessions.
(A) Only 3
(B) All 1, 2 and 3
(C) Only 1 and 2
(D) Only 1 and 3
(E) None of these

7. Which of the following, according to the author, is a result of poverty in India ?
(A) Lack of a robust security system
(B) Child labour and the resulting dearth of educated youth
(C) Floods, famines and other calamities
(D) Rapid increase in population
(E) None of these

8. How, according to the author, can the effects of floods, famines, droughts, etc. be minimized ?
(A) By limiting pollution thereby reducing the chances of such events taking place
(B) By educating the children about the ill effects of such calamities who in turn will help during the time of need
(C) By following the U.S. system of providing relief to its citizens
(D) By allotting proper funds for research which can predict the outcome of such calamities and thus design relief measures
(E) None of these

Directions—(Q. 9–12) Choose the word/group of words which is most similar in meaning to the word/group of words printed in bold as used in the passage.

9. SURVEILLANCE
(A) Spying
(B) Cameras
(C) Security
(D) Observation
(E) Alertness

10. PREREQUISITE 
(A) Result
(B) Association
(C) Necessity
(D) Factor
(E) Mystery

11. PROSPECTS
(A) Assimilation
(B) Demand
(C) Future
(D) Brochure
(E) Diagnosis

12. COMMENSURATE 
(A) Match
(B) Extracting
(C) Contemplating
(D) Request
(E) Employing

Directions—(Q. 13–15) Choose the word/group of words which is most opposite in meaning to the word/group of words printed in bold as used in the passage ?

13. LIMITED(A) Abundant
(B) Complete
(C) Flowing
(D) Inadequate
(E) Encompassing

14. DIFFERENTIAL
(A) Solitude
(B) Homogeneous
(C) Synonymous
(D) Unique
(E) Different

15. VIGOROUSLY
(A) Simply
(B) Regularly
(C) Roughly
(D) Softly
(E) Leniently

Directions—(Q. 16–20) Which of the phrases (A), (B), (C) and (D) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentence to make it meaningful and grammatically correct. If the sentence is correct as it is and no correction is required, mark (E) as the answer.

16. Banks charge differently rate of interest depending on the size of the loan.
(A) Difference in rate of interests
(B) Differently what rate of interest
(C) Different rates of interest
(D) The different rate of interest
(E) No correction required

17. It is necessary that we take any steps to reduce pollution soon.
(A) We should take every
(B) We have taken no
(C) Us to take any
(D) We take some
(E) No correction requireds

18. It is too early to say how the impact the new tax will have on investors.
(A) What impact
(B) That the impact
(C) How much impacts
(D) What are the impacts of
(E) No correction required

19. Kindly ask his advice regarding the various health insurance policies presently available.
(A) Him to advise that
(B) Regarding his advise
(C) That he should advice
(D) About his advice
(E) No correction required

20. Unfortunately many of our towns and cities do have more good transportation Systems.
(A) Have a good
(B) Not have good
(C) Not have much good
(D) Not having better
(E) No correction required

Directions—(Q. 21–25) Rearrange the following six sentences (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph; then answer the questions given below—
(1) With all the bid information being available and tracked online, corruption has considerably reduced.
(2) Today, most i.e. over ninety-five per cent households, in the city enjoy Broad Band connection.
(3) All city contracts are now bid for online.
(4) Over twenty years ago the city government, central government and the private Sector made a concerned effort to shift the economy to include IT
(5) As our cities expand and become more complex, such a system will make Governance more manageable.
(6) This level of connectedness has changed not only the city’s economy but also how it is governed and how business is conducted.

21. Which of the following should be the FIRST sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5

22. Which of the following should be the SECOND sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 6

23. Which of the following should be the THIRD sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1
(B) 3
(C) 4
(D) 5
(E) 6

24. Which of the following should be the FIFTH sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5

25. Which of the following should be the LAST (SIXTH) sentence after rearrangement ?
(A) 2
(B) 3
(C) 4
(D) 5
(E) 6

Directions—(Q. 26–35) Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error or idiomatic error in it. The letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (E). (Ignore errors of punctuations, if any)

26. Some genuine issues exist (A) / with the newly adopted (B) / system and needs to (C) / be examined seriously. (D) No error (E)

27. Whether or not to confront (A) / them about their role (B) / in the matter is a decision (C) / which is yet to take. (D) No error (E)

28. The government is still in the (A) / process of finalized new policy (B) / guidelines for the allocation of land (C) / to private sector organizations. (D) No error (E)

29. According to government estimates (A) / at least four millions tonnes of sugar (B) / will have to be imported (C) / this year because of a poor monsoon. (D) No error (E)

30. In our experience people usually (A) /value things that they have to (B) / pay off more than those that (C) / they receive free of cost. (D) No error (E)

31. At present China is the (A) / world’s leader manufacture (B) / of environment friendly products (C) / such as electric cars and bicycles. (D) No error (E)

32. Over eighty per cent from us (A) / feel that if we had taken (B) / some corrective measures earlier (C) / the crisis could have been averted. (D) No error (E)

33. The manager of that city branch (A) /cannot handle it with the help of (B) /only two personnel as (C) / business has increased substantially. (D) No error (E)

34. With the literacy rates in this (A) /region as low as ten per cent (B) /we need to encourage (C) / local people to build schools. (D) No error (E)

35. While providing such facilities (A) /online makes it covenient (B) / and easily accessible for customers (C) / we face several challenges. (D) No error (E)

Directions—(Q. 36–40) In each question below a sentence with four words printed in bold type is given. These are lettered as (A), (B), (C) and (D). One of these four words printed in bold may be Either wrongly spelt or inappropriate in the context of the sentence. Find out the word which iswrongly spelt or inappropriate if any. The letter of that word is your answer. If all the words printed in bold are correctly spelt and also appropriate in the context of the sentence, mark (E) i.e. ‘All correct’ as your answer.

36. The bank’s fluctuating (A) performance over the prior (B) year has been a major (C) cause (D) for concern. All correct (E)

37. An economy relies (A) on its access (B) to dependable (C) and affordable (D) sources of energy. All correct (E)

38. Researches have used data prevalent (A) to manufacturing companies to illustrate (B) theharmful (C) impacts (D) of technology on the environment. All correct (E)

39. Such a situation (A) is neither feasible (B) nor desirable (C) in a democratic country like ours. (D) All correct (E)

40. The gradual (A) withdrawal (B) of such safety (C) mechanisims (D) will affect small and medium industries the most. All correct (E)

Directions—(Q. 41–50) In the following passage there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each, five words are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.

The world’s climate has always changed and species have evolved accordingly to survive it. The surprising fact about the …(41)… between evolution and global warning …(42)… that it is not liner. …(43)… temperatures alone are not …(44)… of evolution. Evolution is also the …(45)… of seasonal changes. As the environment …(46)… those species which don’t adapt …(47)… to exist.

But the sheer …(48)… of manmade climate change today is …(49)…. ‘Bad things are happening’ and by one …(50)… global warning could threaten upto one-third of the world’s species if left unchecked. In fact a lot of the species which will be able to survive are the ones we consider pests like insects and weeds.

41. (A) difference
(B) similarity
(C) argument
(D) relationship
(E) alliance

42. (A) being
(B) seems
(C) mainly
(D) besides
(E) is

43. (A) however
(B) mounted
(C) rising
(D) elevating
(E) inclining

44. (A) means
(B) triggers
(C) responses
(D) threats
(E) stimulus

45. (A) results
(B) precursor
(C) resistance
(D) cause
(E) provocation

46. (A) conserves
(B) stifles
(C) predicts
(D) changes
(E) emerges

47. (A) continue
(B) halt
(C) cease
(D) terminate
(E) discontinue

48. (A) luck
(B) value
(C) coolapse
(D) pace
(E) attention

49. (A) threatened
(B) pursued
(C) unprecedented
(D) record
(E) debated

50. (A) forecast
(B) chance
(C) pattern
(D) occasion
(E) imagination

Answers :
1. (E) 2. (A) 3. (E) 4. (B) 5. (C) 6. (D) 7. (D) 8. (D) 9. (D) 10. (D)
11. (C) 12. (A) 13. (A) 14. (C) 15. (E) 16. (C) 17. (D) 18. (A) 19. (E) 20. (B)
21. (B) 22. (C) 23. (A) 24. (D) 25. (E) 26. (C) 27. (D) 28. (B) 29. (B) 30. (C)
31. (B) 32. (A) 33. (C) 34. (A) 35. (C) 36. (B) 37. (E) 38. (A) 39. (E) 40. (D)
41. (A) 42. (E) 43. (C) 44. (A) 45. (D) 46. (D) 47. (C) 48. (D) 49. (C) 50. (B)