Reading Comprehension for SBI PO 2017
Directions (1 – 11): Read the following comprehension and
answer the following questions:
The education sector in India is in
ferment, hit by a storm long waiting to happen. The butterfly that flapped its
wings was the much-reiterated statement in a much publicised report that hardly
a fourth of graduating engineers, and an even smaller percentage of other
graduates, was of employable quality for IT-BPO jobs. This triggered a cyclone
when similar views were echoed by other sectors which led to widespread debate.
Increased industry-academia interaction, “finishing schools”, and other efforts
were initiated as immediate measures to bridge skill deficits. These, however,
did not work as some felt that these are but band aid solutions; instead,
radical systemic reform is necessary. Yet, there will be serious challenges to
overdue reforms in the education system. In India-as in many
countries-education is treated as a holy cow; sadly, the administrative system
that oversees it has also been deceived.
Well-run corporate organisations,
within an appropriate regulatory framework, would be far better than the
so-called trusts which-barring some noteworthy exceptions-are a blot on
education. However, it is not necessarily a question of choosing one over the
other; different organisational forms can coexist, as they do in the health
sector. A regulatory framework which creates competition, in tandem with a
rating system, would automatically ensure the quality and relevance of
education. As in sectors like telecom, and packaged goods, organisations will
quickly expand into the hinterland to tap the large unmet demand. Easy Loan/
scholarship arrangements would ensure affordability and access. The only real
structural reform in higher education was the creation of the institutes for
technology and management. They were also given autonomy and freedom beyond
that of the universities. However, in the last few years, determined efforts
have been underway to curb their autonomy. These institutes, however, need
freedom to decide on recruitment, salaries and admissions, so as to compete
globally. However, such institutes will be few. Therefore, we need a regulatory
framework that will enable and encourage States and the Centre, genuine
philanthropists and also corporates to set up quality educational institutions.
The regulatory system needs only to ensure transparency, accountability,
competition and widely-available independent assessments or ratings. It is time
for radical thinking, bold experimentation and new structures; it is time for
the government to bite the bullet.
1. Why, according to the author, did the initiatives such as
increased industry-academia and finishing schools did not help to bridge the
skill deficit?
(A) These steps
were only superficial remedies and the problem could be answered only by
reforming the entire education system.
(B) These
initiatives operated on a profit-making basis rather than aiming at any serious
systemic reforms.
(C) The
allocation of funds of such initiatives was only one fourth of the need.
a) Only A
b) Only B
c) Only B and C
d) Only A and B
e) None of these
2. Which of the following suggestions have been made by the
author to improve the state of-education in India?
(A) Allowing
the corporate organisations to enter the education sector.
(B) Easy
availability of loans and scholarships for making education more affordable.
(C) A
rating system for all the organisations to ensure quality.
a) Only A
b) Only A and B
c) Only A and C
d) Only B and C
e) All A, B and C
3. According to the author, what 'triggered a cyclone' which
saw similar views on the state of education being echoed across other sectors
as well?
a) The campaign for allowing corporates in the education
sector on a 'for-profit' basis.
b) The support for the increase in the industry-academia
interaction.
c) The report mentioning that only a small percentage of
graduates were employable in software industry.
d) The report supporting the idea of making the education
completely 'for-profit' in order to improve upon the standards.
e) None of these
4. Which argument does the author put forward when he compares
the education sector with sectors catering to health and potable water etc.?
a) Education should also be provided free of cost to all as
health services and water.
b) Taking an example from these sectors, there should be a
protest against the commercialization of education as well.
c) Allowing corporate entry in education would result in
rampant corruption as in the sectors of health and potable water etc.
d) As in these sectors, commercial organisations should also
be allowed to enter the education sector.
e) None of these
5. What does the author mean by the phrase 'we are not writing
on a blank page' in context of the passage?
a) Corporates would never enter education if they are forced
to function on a non-profit making basis.
b) The commercialization of education has already started in
India.
c) Education has been reduced to a profit making sector by
some corporate organizations.
d) Government will not allow corporates to enter education as
India can't afford to have costly education.
e) None of these
6. What is the author's main objective in writing the passage?
a) To suggest the ways to improve quality of education in
India.
b) To highlight the corruption present in the education
sector.
c) To compare the education sector with other sectors.
d) To suggest some temporary solutions to the problems in
education.
e) None of these
7. According to the author, which of the following was the
only step taken in order to reform the higher education?
a) Allowing organizations to enter the education sector on a
'for-profit' basis.
b) Creation of autonomous institutes for management and
technology which were not under university control.
c) Setting up the regulatory Fram work for all the existing
universities.
d) Making the availability of educational loans and
scholarships easier
e) None of these
8. Which suggestion does the author make in order to, make the
institutes of higher learning for technology and management capable of
competing globally?
a) To limit their autonomy to acceptable limit and give
partial controls to the government.
b) To allow corporate organisations to take them over in
order to provide more funds.
c) To increase the allocation of funds to such institutes.
d) To provide freedom to decide on recruitment, salaries and
admissions.
e) None of these
9. Which of the following is not true in context of the given
passage?
a) According to the law, education institutes should not be
run for profit
b) There has been no protest against the selling of drinking
water and paying for the health services.
c) Only either corporate organisations or government
controlled organisations can exist in the education sector.
d) The introduction of 'for-profit' corporates in the
education sector has been facing a lot of criticism.
e) All are true
10. Identify the correct antonym for the word blunt from the
passage.
a) Radical
b) Genuine
c) Noteworthy
d) Devious
e) None of these
11. Find a replacement for the word ‘promote’ used in the
passage.
a) Aid
b) Foster
c) Endorse
d) All of these
e) None of these
Answers:
1. A) 2. E)
3. C) 4. D) 5. B)
6. A) 7. B) 8. D)
9. E) 10. D) 11. D)
