IBPS PO English: English Language questions with solutions

Q1. We have in America a collection of speech that is neither American, Oxford English, nor colloquial English, but a mixture of all three.

1. motley, an enhancement
2. hybrid, a combination
3. nasal, a blend
4. mangled, a medley
5. No correction required

Answer: mangled, a medley

The sentence needs words that convey a mixed and distorted form of speech. "Mangled" fits the idea of speech that is not pure or standard, and "medley" means a mixture of different elements. The other options are either too positive or do not fit the context well.

Q2. Alice Walker’s *The Temple of My Familiar*, far from being a tight, focused narrative, is instead a circuitous novel that roams freely and imaginatively over a half-million...

1. traditional, a chronological
2. provocative, an insensitive
3. forceful, a concise
4. focused, an expansive
5. circuitous, a discursive

Answer: circuitous, a discursive

The sentence contrasts a tight, focused narrative with one that roams freely and imaginatively. "Circuitous" means roundabout or indirect, and "discursive" means rambling or wide-ranging, which fits the context best. The other options do not match the intended contrast.

Q3. Jayashree was habitually so accommodating and erratic that her friends could not understand her sudden hostile outburst against her employers.

1. accommodating...outburst against
2. erratic...envy of
3. truculent...virulence toward
4. hasty...annoyance toward
5. apologetic...hostile

Answer: accommodating...outburst against

The sentence needs a word meaning cooperative or easy-going for the first blank, and a phrase that correctly describes a sudden hostile reaction for the second. "Accommodating" fits Jayashree’s usual nature, and "outburst against" is grammatically and semantically correct. The other options do not fit the context or grammar.

Q4. The village headman was unlettered, but he was no fool; he could see through the sophistry of the businessman’s proposition and promptly turned him down.

1. deception, forced
2. naivete, turned
3. potential, forced
4. sophistry, turned
5. No correction required

Answer: sophistry, turned

"Sophistry" means clever but misleading reasoning, which fits the businessman’s proposition. "Turned him down" is the correct idiomatic expression for rejecting someone. The original sentence had awkward wording, and this option corrects it best.

Q5. Directions (Q121–125): In each of the following questions, a short passage is given with one of the lines missing and represented by a blank. Select the best of the five answer choices given to make the passage complete and coherent. The Time Traveler (for so it will be convenient to speak of him) was expounding a recondite matter to us. His grey eyes shone and twinkled, and his usually pale face was flushed and animated. The fire burned brightly, and the soft radiance of the incandescent lights in the lilies of silver caught the bubbles that flashed and passed in our glasses. Our chairs, being his patents, embraced and caressed us rather than submitted to be sat upon, and there was that luxurious after-dinner atmosphere when thought roams gracefully free of the trammels of precision. (__________)

1. And slowly and steadily, the atmosphere grew stale and lost all the vibrancy it had
2. And he put it to us in this way—marking the points with a lean forefinger—as we sat and lazily admired his earnestness over this new paradox (as we thought it) and his fecundity
3. We sat like toddlers do in a nursery, eagerly anticipating the show the Time Traveler would put on for us
4. We sat benumbed by the proceedings, for the radiance of the Time Traveler was unimaginable and unbearable
5. I caught Filby’s eye over the shoulder of the Medical Man, and he winked at me solemnly

Answer: And he put it to us in this way—marking the points with a lean forefinger—as we sat and lazily admired his earnestness over this new paradox (as we thought it) and his fecundity

The passage builds an atmosphere and then needs a line that smoothly introduces the Time Traveler’s explanation. The correct option continues the narration by showing him presenting his points clearly and earnestly. It fits the tone and flow of the original passage from *The Time Machine*.

Q6. Let us understand the definition of metaphysics, a purely speculative science, which occupies a completely isolated position and is entirely independent of the teachings of experience. It deals with mere conceptions—not, like mathematics, with conceptions applied to intuition—and in it, reason is the pupil of itself alone. It is the oldest of the sciences. (__________)

1. And it would struggle to survive without the architecture of mathematical support that it draws its strength from
2. Yet it continued to baffle mankind because of its abstractions
3. But it has never had and never will have the good fortune to attain to the sure scientific method
4. And it would still survive, even if all the rest were swallowed up in the abyss of an all-destroying barbarism
5. This critical science is not opposed to the dogmatic procedure of reason in pure cognition; for pure cognition must always be dogmatic

Answer: But it has never had and never will have the good fortune to attain to the sure scientific method

The passage defines metaphysics as a speculative science independent of experience. The missing sentence should logically conclude that, despite being ancient, it has not achieved the certainty of a true scientific method. Option 3 fits this idea exactly and maintains the formal tone of the passage.

Q7. Aggregation of risks is somewhat new to banks in India. While some banks have started thinking in that direction by trying to put in place integrated limit frameworks and integrated risk policies, as well as using CBS solutions for technological integration, the effort required is beyond such requirements. Risk aggregation would mean aggregating the individual risk measures to decide the most appropriate asset class that would contain the risk to the desired level dictated by the risk appetite. Capital allocation (about how much) would be based on such strategies...........

1. Most banks are yet to conceptualize the same in their processes
2. Most banks have already integrated it in their functioning; it is working over the years satisfactorily.
3. Which would in long run prove to be the growth impeding
4. Of risk aggregation which is really a new concept to Indian banks
5. On expected lines of the regulation conditions laid down in the manual of the bank

Answer: Most banks are yet to conceptualize the same in their processes

The passage says risk aggregation is new to Indian banks and that the effort required is still beyond what many banks are doing. The missing line should reinforce that most banks have not yet fully developed this in their systems. Option 1 fits the context and grammar best.

Q8. After two years, high inflation moderated in the later part of 2011–12 in response to past monetary tightening and growth deceleration. High inflation had adverse consequences on welfare and on saving and investment, particularly household saving in financial assets. The most serious consequence of inflation is __________. As growth slowed down, in part due to high inflation, it further reduced the welfare of the common man through adverse impact on employment and incomes.

1. its destructive allocation impact on the industries that were lately coming up.
2. its negative impact on the rich and high-profile people.
3. its adverse distributional impact on the poor, people without social security and pensioners.
4. its wayward consequences on the public distribution system meant for the poor.
5. its unfavourable bearing on day to day commodities that are used by the common man.

Answer: its adverse distributional impact on the poor, people without social security and pensioners.

The passage discusses inflation’s effect on welfare, saving, investment, employment, and incomes. The most serious consequence is not just higher prices, but the unequal burden it places on vulnerable groups. Option 3 correctly identifies the poor, those without social security, and pensioners as the most affected.

Q9. RBI is concerned about the risk of investing in mutual funds. RBI is likely to ask banks to reduce their investments in mutual funds.

1. At the risk of investing........
2. To reduce investments........
3. Concern for the risk........
4. Only (A) and (B)

Answer: To reduce investments........

The second sentence states RBI’s likely action, so the connector must lead naturally into that action. Option (B) best combines the idea by showing the purpose or result of RBI’s concern.

Q10. The government has decided to install renewable energy devices at prominent sites. Citizens will be more aware of their benefits.

1. The government’s decision..........
2. Deciding to install..........
3. By making citizens..........
4. Only (A)

Answer: The government’s decision..........

Option (A) correctly nominalizes the first sentence into a subject phrase and allows the second idea to follow naturally. The other options do not combine the two statements as smoothly or correctly.

Q11. The company’s sales were low at the beginning of the year. Its sales have picked up in the past few months.

1. Though the company’s sales were low..........
2. Despite low sales at..........
3. However the company’s sales have picked..........
4. Only (B) and (C)

Answer: Though the company’s sales were low..........

Option (A) correctly introduces contrast between low sales earlier and improvement later. Options (B) and (C) are not as grammatically suitable for combining the two statements in the given form.

Q12. Five statements are given below, labelled a, b, c, d and e. Among these, four statements are in logical order and form a coherent paragraph/passage. From the given options, choose the option that does not fit into the theme of the passage. (a) The reference was to China, a country that has been courting Pakistan for several years through a number of means including assistance in its nuclear programme. (b) After the Uri attacks, Pakistan’s special Kashmir envoy Mushahid Hussain Syed declared that the US was a waning power, suggesting that Pakistan was seeking out other allies. (c) The most important concern relates to the possible conflict in Pakistan between votaries of economic development and supporters of militancy. (d) This corridor—which includes road, rail and port infrastructure—is expected to allow China to avoid the vulnerable Indian Ocean route currently used to transport oil from the Gulf. (e) Of late, there has been much talk of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that stretches from the autonomous region of Xinjiang to the Gwadar port.

1. (a)
2. (b)
3. (c)
4. (d)

Answer: (b)

The passage is mainly about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and its implications. Sentence (b) introduces a separate point about the Uri attacks and Pakistan’s view of the US, so it does not fit the theme.

Q13. (a) Corporate Social Responsibility has entered India’s legal corridors. (b) Given the need for proper legal help for a diverse section of society, even the PM, in his address at the Bar Council's centenary celebrations earlier this year, urged lawyers to take on more pro bono cases. (c) Top law firms and lawyers are doing pro bono so that they can give back to society. (d) In India, traditionally, pro bono legal work was carried out by lawyers who had dedicated themselves to helping society. (e) There are a number of socially aware and generous souls who are increasingly lending their expertise for pro bono work.

1. (a)
2. (b)
3. (c)
4. (d)

Answer: (d)

The set mainly discusses the current rise and encouragement of pro bono legal work in India. Sentence (d) is a historical statement about traditional pro bono work and is less aligned with the present-focused theme, making it the odd one out.

Q14. A look at the historical data on forecasts made by the IMF in its World Economic Outlook (WEO) reports seems to suggest that optimism bias may be the bigger culprit.

1. The large negative forecast errors in the recession years skewed the historical averages.
2. Over the past few years, the forecasts made by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have displayed one consistent pattern.
3. The forecasts are rosy at the start of the year, then revised downwards towards the end of the year, and the actual estimates of real growth turn out to be even lower.
4. Is predicting the fate of the global economy become more difficult in a volatile post-crisis world, or does the IMF suffer from an inherent optimism bias?

Answer: The forecasts are rosy at the start of the year, then revised downwards towards the end of the year, and the actual estimates of real growth turn out to be even lower.

The given sentence says historical data suggests optimism bias is the main issue. Option (C) directly explains this by describing forecasts that start optimistic, are revised downward, and still end up too high. This matches the idea of optimism bias best.

Q15. India has 13 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world, according to the World Health Organization.

1. The government should redouble its efforts to combat climate change, which will naturally slash not just greenhouse-gas emissions but particulates as well.
2. Every year, more than half a million people are estimated to die prematurely because of air pollution.
3. While air quality tends to worsen around this time of year as millions of Indians light firecrackers to celebrate the Diwali festival, the problem isn’t limited by season or geography.
4. This week, air pollution in New Delhi has been truly off the charts: Tiny particulates, which are especially deadly, topped 999 micrograms per cubic meter—40 times what is considered safe and beyond what the scale was designed to measure.

Answer: While air quality tends to worsen around this time of year as millions of Indians light firecrackers to celebrate the Diwali festival, the problem isn’t limited by season or geography.

The opening sentence gives a broad statistic about polluted cities in India. Option (C) fits best because it continues the discussion by noting that pollution worsens seasonally but is not confined to one season or place. The other options are either too specific or shift the focus away from the given statement.

Q16. Direction (136-140): Please select the most appropriate option, out of the five options given for each of the following sentences, which, in your view, should be grammatically and structurally correct. Please note that the meaning and context of the sentence must not change. Although I already knew the answer and he invited me to visit him often, since I just have seen her in the square, I was never determined to yield this point.

1. Although I already knew the answer and he invited me to visit him often, since I just have seen her in the square, I was never determined to yield this point.
2. Although I have already known the answer and he invited me to visit him often but since I just have seen her in the square, I was not determined to yield this point.
3. Although I knew the answer already, and he has often invited me to visit him, since I just have seen her in the square, I am never determined to yield this point.
4. Although I already know the answer and he often invited me to visit him, since I have just seen her in the square, I am determined never to yield this point.
5. None is true.

Answer: None is true.

The given sentence has multiple errors in tense, agreement, and structure, and none of the four rewritten options fully corrects them while preserving meaning. Therefore, the correct choice is the option stating that none is true.

Q17. I have been ill for a fortnight, and the management and the school sports committee as well prefer to elect me captain of the school team. Initially, I thought that it was only in fun, but I was wrong.

1. I have been ill for fortnight and the Management and the school sports committee as well prefer to elect me the Captain of school team. Initially I thought that it is only in a fun but I was wrong.
2. I had been ill for the fortnight and the Management and the school sports committee preferred to elect me the Captain of school team. Initially I thought that it was only in a fun but I was wrong.
3. I have been ill for a fortnight and the Management as well as the school sports committee prefers to elect me Captain of school team. Initially I thought that it was only in fun but I was wrong.
4. I was ill for a fortnight thus the Management as well as the school sports committee preferred to elect me the Captain of school team. Initially I thought that it was only in fun but I was wrong.

Answer: I have been ill for a fortnight and the Management as well as the school sports committee prefers to elect me Captain of school team. Initially I thought that it was only in fun but I was wrong.

The correct sentence keeps the present perfect tense for an action continuing up to the present: "have been ill for a fortnight." Also, "management as well as the school sports committee" takes a singular verb, so "prefers" is correct. The phrase "in fun" is the correct idiom, not "in a fun."

Q18. If you try to understand the concept in the class, you will not only remember it but also be able to put it to use while solving even the difficult exercises.

1. If you try to understand the concept in the class you will not only remember it but also will not be able to put to use while solving even the difficult exercises.
2. If you tried to understand the concept of the whole class, you will not only remember it, but also can put to use while solving even the difficult exercises.
3. If you tried to understand the concept in the class, you would not only remember it but also can put it to use while solving even the difficult exercises.
4. If you tried to understand the concept in the class, you would not only remember it but also could put it to use while solving even the difficult exercises.
5. None is true.

Answer: If you tried to understand the concept in the class, you would not only remember it but also could put it to use while solving even the difficult exercises.

The original sentence is ungrammatical because it mixes an incorrect structure with a contradictory meaning. In a second conditional, the correct form is "If you tried..., you would..." and the parallel modal should be "could". Option D is the only grammatically correct choice.

Q19. Our constant usage of the Internet threatens our reading capacity. It results in our decreasing capacity to concentrate, think, and understand things as we were used to. And while the decision-making part of our brain works in overdrive by clicking, skimming, browsing, liking, sharing, and bookmarking, it is true that we are choosing faster, but we are not understanding in depth what we chose and why we chose what we did.

1. Our constant usage of the Internet threatens our reading capacity
2. think and understand things as we were used to
3. It results in our decreasing capacity to concentrate
4. And while the decision-making part of our brain works in overdrive

Answer: Our constant usage of the Internet threatens our reading capacity

The first option is a complete and grammatically correct sentence. The other options are either fragments or contain grammatical issues in the original passage, so they are not the correct choice for an error-free segment.

Q20. Any interruption, by indulging in a conflict with nations small or big, would not only damage but derail the levels of progress that is essential to achieve this objective.

1. by indulging in a conflict with nations small or big
2. would not only damage but
3. progress that is essential
4. to achieve this objective

Answer: by indulging in a conflict with nations small or big

The phrase 'by indulging in a conflict with nations small or big' is awkward and unidiomatic. It should be expressed more naturally, such as 'by indulging in conflicts with nations, small or big.'

Q21. According to the Amendment Bill, when a State government approaches the Centre with a dispute, the later shall set up a Disputes Resolution Committee consisting of expert members from relevant field at resolve the dispute amicably.

1. According to the Amendment Bill, when a State government
2. dispute, the later shall set up a
3. consisting of expert members from
4. relevant field at resolve the dispute amicably

Answer: relevant field at resolve the dispute amicably

The phrase 'from relevant field at resolve' is grammatically incorrect. It should be 'from relevant fields to resolve' or similar, making option D the erroneous part.

Q22. But (A) With platform companies sponging off advertising revenue and ISP providers getting the power to convert cyberspace into a controlled premium space, it looks like the Internet is set to lose its status as rebel angel. (B) In case of Net Neutrality debate, the associated statistics and analysis despite available in humongous amounts clearly show no signs of favoritism making the numbers irrelevant. (C) Internet facilitated easy communication, broke the monopoly of the one-to-many format to create a many-to-many structure, and democratised the communication universe. (D) When a tragedy of immense proportion is unfolding, it is literature that provides clues and means to deal with it. A) Only C-A B) Only D-B C) Both A-C & D-B D) Both D-B & C-A

1. Only C-A
2. Only D-B
3. Both A-C & D-B
4. Both D-B & C-A

Answer: Both D-B & C-A

Sentence C naturally leads into A because A presents a contrast to the Internet's earlier democratizing role. Sentence D can be followed by B in a broader discussion of debate and analysis, making both pairs valid in the given order.

Q23. Along with water, steps to check our burgeoning population will also be needed. In the political realm, the Indus Waters Treaty may need to be renegotiated and updated to better reflect the reality of climate change. In the long run, our biggest challenge is global climate change. As rivers dry up and chronic drought becomes the norm, the country needs policies in place to ensure the equitable distribution of water. Conservation policies will have to be put in place and the use of water prioritised. Water is inefficiently diverted for agricultural use, where allocation is done on the basis of the size of landholdings rather than need. Even within the same communities, women are often dependent on men for access to safe drinking water.

1. Only C-D
2. Both D-C & A-B
3. Only D-A
4. Only A-C
5. No connection possible

Answer: Both D-C & A-B

Sentence A naturally leads to C because both discuss climate change, water scarcity, and population pressure. Sentence D leads to B because both concern unequal access to water and its inefficient allocation in society.

Q24. Specifically, in cases where companies have ended up struggling to service debt as a ________ of unpredictable external factors that adversely impacted their operations and financials, barring the promoters of such firms from a chance to restructure and turnaround the business, merely because the loans have turned ________, is unfair to both the entrepreneur and the enterprise itself. (I) Consequence (II) Sour (III) Reverberation (IV) Result (V) Fractious

1. A-B
2. D-E
3. C-B
4. D-D

Answer: D-D

'Result' fits the first blank as it means an outcome of external factors. 'Sour' fits the second blank because loans can 'turn sour' in financial contexts, meaning they become bad or non-performing.

Q25. Directions 32-34: Given below is a set of statements viz. (I), (II), (III), (IV) and (V). Read them to answer the question that follows without changing the tone of the paragraph. (I) Although there is a thick alphabet soup of new organisations meant to fight terrorism, most are chronically under-resourced. (II) India’s intelligence services remain desperately short of resources, running some 30 per cent below officially sanctioned staffing levels that were decided on before 26/11. (III) There are chronic shortages of everything, from language and area specialists to personnel with specialist technology skills. (IV) India has been unable to fulfil its commitment to modernise basic policing and emergency services — the first responders at the time of a crisis. (V) Forensics, investigation and intelligence capabilities are abysmal. Which among the following sentences can REPLACE Statement (II) IN CONTEXT completely?

1. Time enough, perhaps, to ask if India, as a state and civil society, has learned anything from it other than to mourn.
2. For all the fighting words 26/11 gave rise to, though, neither of these issues can be said to have been addressed in any meaningful way.
3. It led to a distillation of public frustration with police and intelligence services, which seemed unable to protect India’s citizens.
4. The arrival of various fronts with their anti terrorism agenda can never undermine the fact that the government agencies responsible for the security of the nation are well below requirement, quantitatively and qualitatively.

Answer: The arrival of various fronts with their anti terrorism agenda can never undermine the fact that the government agencies responsible for the security of the nation are well below requirement, quantitatively and qualitatively.

Statement (II) says intelligence services are under-resourced and below staffing levels. Option D conveys the same idea in a more formal way, stating that security agencies are below requirement both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Q26. Directions (1–4): Read the following passage and answer the questions as directed. Paragraph 1: One of the easiest ways to establish a savings habit is to participate in your employer's 401(k) plan. Funds are withheld from each paycheck and deposited into your account. If your employer matches part of your contribution — and many do — you will accumulate even more. A second way to consistently save is with an automatic savings transfer program with your financial institution. You decide how much and when you want funds transferred from your checking account into a savings account. You can also use a payroll deduction plan from your employer and get the same results. Paragraph 2: Along with how much and how often you save, what you earn on your funds will determine how fast your money grows. You cannot control what happens with interest rates or the stock market, but you can consider different types of savings vehicles that provide different returns. The simplest savings vehicle to consider is buying certificates of deposit (CDs) instead of leaving funds in a savings account. CDs usually offer higher interest rates, but they are time deposits and have penalties for early withdrawal. If you can accept not having immediate access to your funds, CDs can be an attractive savings vehicle. Which of the following can be inferred as the theme of the passage?

1. Certificate of deposits is the best way to establish savings habit.
2. Establishing a consistent saving habit and also smart saving with CDs.
3. Employer's 401(k) plan provides a convenient way for consistent and smart savings.
4. Your savings decide how well you flourish and grow.
5. None of the Above

Answer: Establishing a consistent saving habit and also smart saving with CDs.

The passage first explains ways to build a consistent savings habit, such as 401(k) plans and automatic transfers. It then discusses choosing savings vehicles like CDs to earn better returns. So the theme is both consistent saving and smart saving choices.

Q27. In the given sentence, a part is italicized. There may or may not be an error in one part of the sentence. Choose the part that has an error. If there is no error, choose option (e) as your answer. Local welfare has been controversially as most councils refuse to give cash payments to clients in crisis, choosing instead to offer supermarket food vouchers or refer them to food banks.

1. Local welfare has been controversially
2. as most councils refuse to give cash payments to clients
3. in crisis, choosing instead to offer supermarket
4. food vouchers or refer them to food banks.
5. No Error

Answer: Local welfare has been controversially

The phrase “has been controversially” is incomplete and ungrammatical because “controversially” is an adverb and cannot directly follow “has been” without a suitable past participle or predicate. The sentence needs a correct passive or adjectival structure.

Q28. Directions (32-35): Rearrange the following six sentences (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph and then answer the questions given below. (A) With the change from traditional to industrial food processing there has also been a change in the types of product processed. (B) In the early days of traditional food processing the main aim was preservation to maintain a supply of wholesome, nutritious food during the year and in particular to preserve it for hungry periods, for example when hunting was poor. (C) Nowadays non-traditional crops are grown all over the world. This, together with consumer demand influenced by radio, advertising and television, has led to a demand for non-traditional foods that are not appropriate to the local environment. (D) While food processing still has the main objective of providing a safe nutritious diet in order to maintain health, other aspects, particularly the generation of wealth for the producer and seller, have become increasingly important. (E) Traditional processors worked with foods that grew locally and the methods they developed were in harmony with the climate in which they lived. (F) Only simple packaging using leaves, animal skins and pottery was possible and necessary to protect the food for its planned storage life.

1. Benefits of non-traditional food processing
2. Reforms in food processing
3. Harmful effects of processed foods
4. Objective of processing foods
5. None of these

Answer: Objective of processing foods

The set of sentences discusses how the purpose of food processing has changed from preservation in traditional times to broader objectives in modern times. Hence the best title is about the objective of processing foods.

Q29. Considering statement (D) — “While food processing still has the main objective of providing a safe nutritious diet in order to maintain health, other aspects, particularly the generation of wealth for the producer and seller, have become increasingly important.” — as the second sentence of the rearranged paragraph, which among the following should be the FOURTH sentence of the rearranged paragraph? A) A B) B C) E D) F E) C

1. A
2. B
3. E
4. F
5. C

Answer: E

If D is the second sentence, the paragraph likely shifts from modern food processing back to traditional processing details. Sentence E logically follows because it introduces traditional processors and their local food sources, which then can be elaborated by F and B.

Q30. Statement: Brushing off the recent two-month discord with China over the Doklam standoff, India displayed robust participation at the BRICS meeting in the Chinese port city of Xiamen. In their first substantive meeting after the 73-day Doklam face-off, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held "constructive" talks during which it was reaffirmed that maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas was a prerequisite for the development of India-China relations. Which of the following can be inferred from the given statement? (I) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first substantive bilateral meeting at the BRICS summit after the Doklam standoff, which had put ties between the two countries under strain. (II) Putting behind the Doklam standoff, India and China today agreed on a "forward-looking" approach in their ties and made more efforts to ensure that such incidents do not recur. (III) Counter-terrorism issues were taken up during the course of BRICS, which were discussed in this meeting between Modi and Xi Jinping.

1. Only I and II
2. Only II and III
3. Only I and III
4. All of the above

Answer: Only I and II

Statement I is supported because the passage says it was their first substantive meeting after the Doklam face-off. Statement II is also supported by the idea of moving ahead constructively and maintaining peace; statement III is not supported because counter-terrorism is never mentioned.

Q31. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the author’s view of not giving too much importance to “presenteeism”?

1. Highly paid jobs can be highly pressurised too, demanding unhealthy amounts of overtime.
2. Business should be using output numbers to set an average instead of calculating the time spent working by each employee
3. When it comes to work, we should value the returns instead of the time apportioned by employees towards their workplace.
4. Both (b) and (c)
5. none of these

Answer: Both (b) and (c)

If presenteeism is not important, then the focus shifts from physical presence or time spent to actual output. Both statements (b) and (c) reflect this inference, so the combined option is correct.

Q32. Which of the following phrases could fit in the given blank to make the statement contextually and grammatically meaningful?

1. are all and sundry
2. have a cup of Joe
3. go back to the drawing board
4. lead the pack
5. all are correct

Answer: lead the pack

“Lead the pack” is an idiom meaning to be in the leading position or ahead of others. The other options do not fit the likely context grammatically or semantically.

Q33. Which of the following is opposite to COLLABORATION, as highlighted in the given passage?

1. unraveled
2. cognizant
3. confrontation
4. denunciation
5. none of these

Answer: confrontation

Collaboration means working together, while confrontation means conflict or opposition. Therefore, confrontation is the best opposite in context.

Q34. Which part of the sentence contains a grammatical error?

1. I-A; II-A
2. I-C; II-C
3. II-C; III-B
4. I-C; III-C
5. II-D; III-D

Answer: I-C; III-C

In sentence I, “strung together in such a way that” is acceptable, but the marked part C is intended to be checked for structure; the error is in the phrasing around the tricolour construction. In sentence III, “known by all” is awkward and should be “known to all,” making part C incorrect.

Q35. Directions (93–95): In the following questions, two columns are given containing three sentences/phrases each. In the first column, sentences/phrases are A, B and C, and in the second column the sentences/phrases are D, E and F. A sentence/phrase from the first column may or may not connect with another sentence/phrase from the second column to make a grammatically and contextually correct sentence. Each question has five options, four of which display the sequence(s) in which the sentences/phrases can be joined to form a grammatically and contextually correct sentence. If none of the options given forms a correct sentence after combination, mark (e), i.e. “None of these,” as your answer. COLUMN I (A) If organizations or states do not learn from one another, (B) Wide collaboration means including everyone (C) The more we talk about the importance of cybersecurity COLUMN II (D) generations of cybersecurity professionals we very much need (E) the same attacks will needlessly take down countless entities (F) repositories that are part of our operational systems

1. C-D & B-F
2. A-E
3. B-D
4. F-A & E
5. None of these

Answer: A-E

The fragment A connects with E to form a meaningful conditional sentence: if organizations or states do not learn from one another, the same attacks will needlessly take down countless entities. The other combinations do not form complete or coherent sentences.

Q36. COLUMN I (A) Only one museum currently has the funding to contend for (B) Speculators, thieves, and promoters long ago created (C) Cultural appeals notwithstanding, great COLUMN II (D) transfer will disseminate once static fortunes (E) art will increasingly devolve into big business (F) and fed a market where cultural icons could be traded like commodities

1. B-F & C-D
2. C-E & A-F
3. B-E & A-D
4. C-E & B-F
5. None of these

Answer: C-E & B-F

C pairs with E to form “Cultural appeals notwithstanding, great art will increasingly devolve into big business.” B pairs with F to form “Speculators, thieves, and promoters long ago created and fed a market where cultural icons could be traded like commodities.” These are the only coherent combinations.

Q37. What will be the correct sequence of rearrangement of parts of statement [II]?

1. ACBD
2. CABD
3. DABC
4. BACD

Answer: CABD

The sentence begins with the subject phrase "take fast fashion" and then explains it as a culture. After that, the sentence naturally continues with the consequence of low labour costs leading to waste. So the correct order is C-A-B-D.

Q38. Governments and (A) contagion institutions can set targets and (B) multilateral for other parties to change their (C) sustainably and use their resources both efficiently and (D) behaviour.

1. BDAC; C- sufficiently
2. DCBA; D- hyphenated
3. BACD; A- mandate
4. CADB; A- tenets

Answer: BACD; A- mandate

The correct arrangement is "Governments and multilateral institutions can set targets and mandate other parties to change their behaviour..." Here, "mandate" fits the meaning of compelling others to act. The other options do not form a grammatically and semantically correct sentence.

Q39. Companies can provide (A) technologies to make solutions more (B) accessible and affordable to all — especially MNCs (C) operating across multiple business sectors and (D) industries.

1. BDAC; C- occupational
2. DCBA; D- industrious
3. BACD; A- technocracy
4. CADB; A- compelling

Answer: BDAC; C- occupational

The sentence becomes meaningful as: "Companies can provide compelling technologies to make solutions more accessible and affordable to all — especially MNCs operating across multiple business sectors and industries." The word in part C should be "occupational" in the given option set, and the arrangement BDAC is correct.

Q40. Which of the phrases could fit in blank (I) to make the statement grammatically correct and contextually meaningful?

1. roughly form the entities of modern-day
2. merely on territorial extent of its sovereignty
3. cursory survey of them
4. religious intermingling to new level of exploration
5. none of these

Answer: cursory survey of them

The sentence says it may be useful to take just a brief look at the events. "Cursory survey of them" fits both grammatically and contextually. The other options do not match the structure or meaning.

Q41. Which of the following statements is true in the context of the information given in the passage?

1. The astronaut scientists will be spending fortnights in the workshop in the orbit.
2. Saturn 5 rocket had been used prior to its current requirement for housing laboratory and observatory
3. The plan proposed by NASA will conduct an in-depth study of physiological and psychological reaction of humans within space environment.
4. both (a) and (b)
5. all are correct

Answer: The plan proposed by NASA will conduct an in-depth study of physiological and psychological reaction of humans within space environment.

The passage clearly states that the project will study man's physiological and psychological responses in the space environment. That directly matches option C. The other statements are either inaccurate or not fully supported by the passage.

Q42. The small savings scheme, (A) investment avenues in India (B) is arguably one of the most popular (C) which offers guaranteed returns along with tax benefit (D).

1. A-C
2. B-D
3. A-D
4. A-D, B-C
5. No interchange required

Answer: No interchange required

The sentence is grammatically correct as written: "The small savings scheme... is arguably one of the most popular investment avenues in India which offers guaranteed returns along with tax benefit." No interchange is needed. The structure and meaning are intact.

Q43. Such as stress in balance sheets, (A) deteriorating financial conditions of the group (B) the agencies did not alter ratings despite (C) lack of cash flows, inability to monetise assets (D).

1. A-C
2. B-D
3. A-D
4. A-D, B-C
5. No interchange required

Answer: A-D

The sentence becomes correct when the introductory phrase and the list-ending phrase are interchanged. The corrected sense is that agencies did not alter ratings despite deteriorating financial conditions, such as stress in balance sheets, lack of cash flows, and inability to monetise assets. So A and D should be swapped.

Q44. Directions (86-88): In the following question, a sentence with two highlighted phrases is given which may or may not be grammatically correct. From the given alternatives, choose the most suitable pair of phrases that are grammatically and contextually correct to replace the incorrect phrases. The ongoing effort to combat neglected tropical diseases, which disproportionately affect vulnerable populations in low-income countries, have highlighted the critical need for global collaboration. (i) efforts for fighting neglected / had highlighted the critical need (ii) recent effort to combat neglected / has highlighted the critical need (iii) ongoing efforts to combat neglected / have highlighted the critical need

1. Both (ii) and (iii)
2. Only (iii)
3. Both (i) and (iii)
4. Only (ii)

Answer: Only (iii)

The subject should be plural, so "ongoing efforts" fits better than "ongoing effort." Since the subject is plural, the verb should be "have highlighted," making option (iii) grammatically correct.

Q45. The detailed analysis of financial trends by the economists did provide valuable insights, allowing investors to make informed decisions in a volatile market. (i) detailed analysis about / has provided valuable insights (ii) detailed analysis of / have provided valuable insights (iii) detailed analysis of / has provided valuable insights

1. Both (i) and (iii)
2. Only (ii)
3. Both (ii) and (iii)
4. Only (iii)

Answer: Only (iii)

The correct collocation is "analysis of," not "analysis about." Since "analysis" is singular, it should be followed by "has provided," not "have provided." Therefore, only option (iii) is grammatically correct.

Q46. The professors’ detailed lecture about historical narratives emphasized the importance of understanding cultural contexts, a lesson still relevant today. (i) professor’s detailed lecture of / emphasized the importance of (ii) professor’s detailed lecture on / has emphasized the importance of (iii) professor’s detailed lecture on / emphasized the importance of

1. Both (i) and (ii)
2. Only (iii)
3. Both (ii) and (iii)
4. Only (i)

Answer: Only (iii)

The correct phrase is "lecture on" rather than "lecture about" or "lecture of" in this context. The verb "emphasized" is also correct because the sentence refers to a completed lecture with a present-day relevance.

Q47. The skilled weaver’s intricate designs for luxurious fabrics did captivate the attention of fashion enthusiasts and collectors at the international exhibition. (i) skilled weaver’s intricate designs on / has captivated the attention (ii) skilled weaver’s intricate designs on / have captivated the attention (iii) skilled weaver’s intricate designs of / have captivated the attention

1. Both (i) and (iii)
2. Only (ii)
3. Both (ii) and (iii)
4. Only (i)

Answer: Only (ii)

The subject "designs" is plural, so the auxiliary should be "have captivated." The phrase "designs on luxurious fabrics" is also the most natural among the given choices, making option (ii) correct.

Q48. Directions (92-94): In the questions below, three sentences are provided. Select the most appropriate connectors to link (A)-(B) and (B)-(C) respectively to form a cohesive sentence without altering the given context. Q92. (A) The students worked tirelessly on their group project, researching extensively and compiling their findings into a detailed report, (B) they faced numerous challenges, such as conflicting schedules and limited resources, (C) they managed to submit their work on time, impressing their professor with their dedication and collaborative effort. (i) although (ii) while (iii) and yet (iv) which

1. ii, iv
2. i, iii
3. i, ii
4. iii, iv

Answer: i, iii

The first blank needs a contrast connector because the students worked hard but still faced challenges. The second blank should connect the challenge with the successful outcome, and 'and yet' fits that concessive contrast. So the correct pair is 'although' and 'and yet'.

Q49. (A) The company introduced a new product line aimed at younger consumers, (B) the initial feedback from the market was mixed, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement, (C) the sales team decided to focus on promotional campaigns to address consumer concerns. (i) because (ii) despite (iii) and therefore (iv) however

1. i, iii
2. ii, iii
3. ii, iv
4. i, iv

Answer: i, iv

The first connector should indicate reason or purpose, and 'because' can link the product introduction with the market response in the intended context. The second connector should show contrast between mixed feedback and the sales team's response, so 'however' fits best. Thus, the correct pair is i, iv.

Q50. (A) The team worked late into the night to finalize the presentation, (B) they discovered a critical error in their analysis, (C) they resolved the issue and delivered the presentation successfully. (i) although (ii) because (iii) and (iv) however

1. ii, iii
2. ii, iv
3. i, iv
4. iii, ii

Answer: iii, ii

The first blank needs a simple additive connector, so 'and' works to continue the narrative. The second blank should indicate cause, and 'because' is the best fit among the given options. Therefore, the correct pair is iii, ii.