Reading Comprehension
Questions for Bank/Insurance Exams (21 – 03 – 2018)
Directions (1 – 5):
Read the passage given below and then answer the questions given below the
passage. Some words may be highlighted for your attention. Pay careful
attention.
The government on
Saturday sought to clarify that it has in no way infringed upon
the autonomy of the Reserve Bank of India and that it “fully respects the
independence and autonomy” of the central bank. This comes a day after the
United Forum of Reserve Bank Officers & Employees were up in arms and
wrote to RBI Governor Urjit Patel voicing their dissatisfaction about what they
perceived was an impingement of the central bank’s autonomy by the government
when the Finance Ministry reportedly decided to send a joint secretary to
coordinate the RBI’s currency chest operations. “There has been a report in
sections of the press that some unions have alleged infringement
of the autonomy of the Reserve Bank of India,” the Finance Ministry said in a
statement on Saturday. “It is categorically stated that the Government fully
respects the independence and autonomy of the Reserve Bank of India.”
“Consultations between the Government and the RBI are undertaken on various
matters of public importance wherever such consultation is mandated by law or
has evolved as a practice,” the statement added. “Consultations mandated by law
or as evolved by practice should not be taken as infringement of autonomy of
RBI.” “If true, this (the sending of the joint secretary to the RBI) is most
unfortunate and we take strong exception to this measure of the Government as
impinging on RBI autonomy and its statutory as well as
operational jurisdiction,” the union’s letter to Mr. Patel said.“May we request
you that as the Governor of RBI, its highest functionary and protector of its
autonomy and prestige, you will please do the needful urgently to do away with
this unwarranted interference from the Ministry of Finance, and assure the
staff accordingly, as the staff feel humiliated,” the letter added. The
statement comes at a time when two former RBI governors—Y.V. Reddy and Bimal
Jalan—openly raised concerns over erosion of the central bank’s autonomy.
RBI and the government have come under a lot of criticism for their handling of
the entire demonetisation exercise with many policy flip flops in the
50-day period. Questions have also been raised at the fact that the government
initiated the process of demonetisation by suggesting to the RBI
board on 7 November to invalidate high value currency.The board met on the
evening of 8 November and gave its nod following which Prime Minister Narendra
Modi announced the cancellation of the legal tender of the old Rs 500 and Rs
1,000 notes in an address to the nation later that evening. This led to many
expressing concern that the government’s move dilutes one of central bank’s
core function of issuance of currency.
1. What is the reason of dissatisfaction of the RBI members
against the government?
a) The government's tendency to discuss
on matters with the RBI on financial issues.
b) The government refused to respect
the independence and autonomy of RBI.
c) The Finance Ministry reportedly
decided to send a joint secretary to coordinate the RBI’s currency chest
operations.
d) The announcement of demonetization
and the criticism it had to face because of it.
e) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
announced the cancellation of the legal tender of the old Rs500 and Rs1,000
notes in an address to the nation.
2. What was seen as an action of disturbance from the
government previously?
a) The announcement of
demonetization.
b) The clear statements of the
Government not respecting the autonomy of the RBI.
c) Finance Ministry's justification
of its steps as consultation with the RBI.
d) A lot of flip-flops of policies
after the demonetization announcement
e) Efforts of the Government to
establish its supremacy over RBI
3. What had former Governors of the RBI indicated?
a) The autonomy of RBI was properly
maintained.
b) The autonomy of RBI is getting
degraded.
c) The autonomy of RBI is getting
lost with the BJP government.
d) The autonomy of RBI has always
been superficial.
e) The government plays the actual
role and the RBI had to follow it always.
4. What has been the demand of the RBI employees?
a) To take some action against the
government.
b) To maintain the autonomy of the
RBI.
c) To stop allowing the government
consult with the RBI.
d) To increase the power of the RBI.
e) To regulate some functions of the
government
5. What idea did demonetization create about the RBI and its
relationship with the Government?
a) The employees considered the
government's act as a breach of autonomy.
b) It was seen as an interference of
the government in the functioning of the RBI.
c) It was seen as a productive step
on the part of the government.
d) It was seen as a method to show
the supremacy of the government.
e) It reflected the cooperative
relationship between the two bodies.
Directions (6 – 10):
Read the passage given below and then answer the questions given below the
passage. Some words may be highlighted for your attention. Pay careful
attention.
Manual scavenging refers
to the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing or handling in any
manner, human excreta from dry latrines and sewers. It often involves using the
most basic of tools such as buckets, brooms and baskets. The practice of manual
scavenging is linked to India’s caste system where so-called lower castes were
expected to perform this job. Manual scavengers are amongst the poorest and
most disadvantaged communities in India. In 1993, India banned the employment
of people as manual scavengers. In 2013, landmark new legislation in the form
of the Manual Scavengers Act was passed which seeks to reinforce this ban by
prohibiting manual scavenging in all forms and ensures the rehabilitation of
manual scavengers to be identified through a mandatory survey. Despite
progress, manual scavenging persists in India. According to the India Census
2011, there are more than 2.6 million dry latrines in the country. There are
13,14,652 toilets where human excreta is flushed in open drains, 7,94,390 dry
latrines where the human excreta is cleaned manually. Seventy three percent of
these are in rural areas and 27 percent are in urban areas.According to the
House Listing and Housing Census 2011, states such as Andhra Pradesh, Assam,
Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal
account for more than 72 percent of the insanitary latrines in India. The
Government of India has adopted a two-pronged strategy of eliminating insanitary
latrines through demolition and conversion into sanitary latrines, and
developing a comprehensive rehabilitation package for manual scavengers through
a survey. However, while manual scavenging for many may have ended as a form of
employment, the stigma and discrimination associated with it lingers on,
making it difficult for former or liberated manual scavengers to secure
alternate livelihoods and raising the fear that people could once again return
to manual scavenging in the absence of other opportunities to support their
families. Correctly identifying manual scavengers remains a key challenge. A
comprehensive rehabilitation package has recently been put together that
includes livelihoods and skill development, access to education for children of
former manual scavengers and alternate livelihoods. In 1993, the Government of
India enacted the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry
Latrines (Prohibition) Act which prohibited the employment of manual scavengers
for manually cleaning dry latrines and also the construction of dry toilets,
that is, toilets that do not operate with a flush. It provided for imprisonment
of upto a year and a fine. In 2013, this was followed by the Prohibition of
Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, which is
wider in scope and importantly, acknowledged the urgency of rehabilitating
manual scavengers.The key features of the Act were it prohibited the
construction or maintenance of insanitary toilets, engagement or employment of
anyone as a manual scavenger, a person from being engaged or employed for
hazardous cleaning of a sewer or a septic tank. Its violations could result in
a years’ imprisonment or a fine of INR 50,000 or both and offences under the
act are cognizable and non-bailable.Manual scavengers are at a double
whammy. They are members of lower castes and as such, face enormous
discrimination in society, and second, are disadvantaged because they are
manual scavengers who clean human excreta. The challenge of rehabilitation is
urgent, and requires a comprehensive approach that moves beyond expanding
income generation or providing loans, to focus on various aspects crucial to
secure the future of the next generation of liberated manual scavengers.
6. What is the central idea of the passage?
a) To give a clear description on
manual scavenging.
b) To criticize manual scavenging.
c) An overview of manual scavenging,
it’s threats and the measures being taken to eradicate it.
d) To highlight the growing challenges of manual scavenging.
e) To give a personal judgement on
manual scavenging.
7. What strategy has the government taken to eradicate manual
scavenging?
a) Comprehensive Rehabilitation
b) Retaliation
c) Demolition
d) Comprehensive Rescue task
e) Forming a task Force.
8. What can be inferred about the 1993 Manual Scavengers Act?
a) It aimed to promote manual
scavenging.
b) It aimed to behold the social reputation
of the manual scavenger.
c) It aimed to condemn the societal
pressure on manual scavenger.
d) It aimed to ensure the dignity,
employment of the manual scavenger.
e) It aimed to malign the status of
the manual scavenger.
9. Choose a word opposite in meaning to the word ‘cognizable’
as used in the passage.
a) Apparent
b) Audible
c) Distinct
d) Distinguishable
e) Ambiguous
10. Choose a word that best illustrates the meaning of the
phrase ‘double whammy’ .
a) Double faced
b) A twofold setback
c) A twofold success
d) An owner of 2 properties
e) A person guilty of two actions
Anwers with Explanations:
1. C) The reason of dissatisfaction was the finance ministry's step of sending
a secretary to coordinate some actions. This was supposed to be solely the
activity of the RBI. Thus it was seen as a step of interference and they got
dissatisfies.
2. A) It can be clearly inferred from the passage that the announcement of
demonetization was a step big enough to interfere in the working of the RBI:
Thus option (A) is the correct answer.
3. B) The passage nowhere specifically mentions about the BJP government. Thus
some options are eliminated. They had just talked on the state of losing the
autonomy of the RBI. It is mentioned in the passage, 'The statement comes at
a time when two former RBI governors—Y.V. Reddy and Bimal Jalan—openly raised
concerns over erosion of the central bank’s autonomy. 'Thus option (B)
is the correct answer.
4. B) It can be referred from the passage that the RBI has felt extremely
humiliated and wants the autonomy to be maintained. The rest of the options are
not correct.
5. B) The announcement of demonetization was seen as a step of the government
interfering with the RBI as issuance of currency is the function of the RBI. It
is mentioned in the passage 'This led to many expressing concern that the
government’s move dilutes one of central bank’s core function of issuance of
currency.'. Thus option (B) is the correct answer.
6. C) Option (A), (B) and (D) are only a part of the passage and not the
central idea. Option (C) catches the essence of the passage while option (E) is
irrelevant. Thus option (C) is the correct answer.
7. A) It is clearly given in the passage that’ A comprehensive
rehabilitation package has recently been put together that includes livelihoods
and skill development, access to education for children of former manual
scavengers and alternate livelihoods.’ The passage does not mention
anything about the other options. Thus option (A) is the correct answer.
8. D) Prior to the mention of the Manual Scavengers Act, it has been mentioned
that The practice of manual scavenging is linked to India’s caste
system where so-called lower castes were expected to perform this job.
Hence, it can be inferred that the government wanted to ensure the respect,
employment and upliftment of the manual scavenger and eradicate this
malpractices through rehabilitation and demolition of dry latrines. The other
option are irrelevant with reference to the given passage. Thus option (D) is
the correct answer.
9. E) 'Cognizable’ means ‘clearly identifiable' or 'noticeable’. All
option are similar in meaning except ‘ambigious’ which means ‘not clear’ and
carries opposite meaning of the given word . Thus option (E) is the correct
answer.
10. B) The phrase ‘double whammy’ means ‘a combination of two usually adverse
forces, circumstances or effects or aspects. The only option that goes with its
actual meaning is ‘a twofold setback’. ‘Double faced’ means ‘one who is fake'.
