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Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words / phrases have been printed COLORED 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 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 a prerequisite. 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. There by most of the MNCs prefer India as their destination 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 neighboring 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 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?
A) Pollution
B) Poverty
C) Unemployment
1) Only (A) 2) Only (B)
3) Only (A) and (B)
4) Only (A) and (C)
5) All (A), (B), (C)

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

3. What is the author's main objective in writing this passage?
1) To exhort the Government to garner support from its neighboring countries
2) To suggest to the Government to follow China's example blindly thereby bringing about rapid development.
3) To highlight the plight of the poor
4) To discuss the problems of child labour and suggest suitable remedies
5) To bring forth the problems associated with the 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?
A) Shorter response time for clients.
B) Better technical skills
C) Availability of cheap labour.
1) Only (C)
2) All (A), (B), (C)
3) Only (B) and (C)
4) Only (A) and (B)
5) Only (A)

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

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

7. Which of the following, according to the author, is a result of poverty in India?
1) Lack of robust security system
2) Child labour and the resulting dearth of educated youth
3) Floods, famines and other calamities
4) Rapid increase in population
5) None of these

8. How, according to the author, can the effects of floods, famines, drought, etc. be minimized?
1) By limiting pollution there by reducing the chances of such events taking place
2) By educating the children about the ill effects of such calamities who in turn will help during the time of need
3) By following the U.S. system of providing relief to its citizens
4) By allotting proper funds for research which can predict the outcome of such calamities and thus design relief measures
5) None of these

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
1) Spying
2) Cameras
3) Security
4) Observation
5) Alertness

10. PREREQUISITE
1) Result
2) Association
3) Necessity
4) Factor
5) Mystery

In the following passage, some of the words have been left out, each of which is indicated by a number. Find the suitable word from the options given against each number and fill up the blanks with appropriate words to make the paragraph meaningful.

The Amarnath cave in the Himalayas is ___(11) only during a short period in a year, usually June / July - August, when ____(12) the cave, an ice lingam forms that ____(13) its full form on full moon day. On that day, Shiva is_____(14) to have revealed the secret of life to his consort Parvati, the beautiful daughter of the Himalayas. At this moment, according to legend, a pair of pigeons appeared and ____(15) the talk; they are the same pigeons who visit the shrine ___(16) the yatra period. Some believe the pigeons are Shiva and Parvati ___(17). The Amarnath Yatra __(18) with the Chhari Mubarak ceremony at the Dashnami Temple, Srinagar. Then the yatris ____(19) to Pahalgam, and then to Chandanwari. The steep climb to Pishu Ghati ___(20) yatris that the path to salvation is not easy.

11. 1) susceptible      2) accessible  3) restricted     4) attainable     5) exposed

12. 1) at                   2) over          3) besides        4) inside          5) under

13. 1) makes            2) attains        3) takes           4) gets            5) have

14. 1) believed          2) linked        3) assessed      4) criticised      5) asked

15. 1) appreciated     2) judged       3) stopped        4) overheard    5) started

16. 1) along              2) before       3) among         4) amidst         5) during

17. 1) wife               2) incarnate   3) shape           4) idol             5) goddess

18. 1) commences    2) launches    3) goes            4) reckons       5) initiates

19. 1) push              2) pass          3) proceed       4) continue       5) get

20. 1) remembers     2) forces       3) proposes      4) says            5) reminds
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