PNB General English Question Papers for PO, Clerk, Specialist Officers Exam

Directions (Q. 1-9): Study the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below. Certain words in the passage are printed in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.

For an industry still in a nascent state of development the performance of the electronics goods sector in exports is gratifying. On top of an over 50 per cent growth during 1998-99, these exports are poised to grow at a similar rate during the current year, if the trend in the first half of the year is an indication. Data released by the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council show that electronics goods exports at Rs. 2,363 crores during April-September l999 were 51 per cent higher than during the corresponding period of 1998. Since there is a greater acceleration in the tempo of exports in the second half of the year, it appears that the target of electronic goods exports, pegged at Rs. 5000 crores, is well within reach. Even more heartening is the fact that the export surge has been broad based, though the pace has been set by better showing in both electronic software and hardware exports. This successful foray is the outcome of a conscious strategy to build export infrastructure which includes the setting up of Electronic Hardware Technology Parks, technology missions and a liberal policy under which virtually the entire industry is thrown open to foreign direct investment. Some incentives like access to domestic market for these export-oriented units, based on the net value addition, also have helped the export drive. Besides, the industry has made efforts to capture new markets, laid stress on quality of the product and become alive to customer needs.

However, in the case of software exports, the actual performance is behind the potential. With its endowment in terms of software personnel, low costs and high productivity, India can emerge as a major force in global software exports by emphasising on customising software rather than relying on standard products. At the same time, electronic hardware exports should not suffer by default. The recent data give lie to the claim that we have a leeway in software technology. Over a period, this success on global marketing of our hardware should facilitate systems integration, and to exports of value-added computers with software. As of now, what is significant is that we have carved a small niche in the global market in an industry that is the cutting edge of technology.

1. Which of the following are responsible for substantial growth in exports in electronic goods sector?
A. Conscious strategy to build export infrastructure
B. Liberal policy
C. Government subsidy
1) All A, B and C
2) Only B and C
3) Only A and C
4) Only A and B
5) None of these

2. Which of the following have helped in the growth of exports in electronic goods sector?
A. Value addition
B. Quality control
C. Customer-friendliness
D. Access to domestic market
1) All A, B, C and D
2) Only A, B and C
3) Only B, C and D
4) Only A, C and D
5) None of these

3. Which of the following words has the SAME meaning as the word ‘heartening’ as used in the passage?
1) Saddening
2) Encouraging
3) Illuminating
4) Satisfying
5) Worsening

4. Which of the following statements is true in the context of the passage?
1) The growth in exports in electronic goods sector is expected to be 100 per cent during 1999-2000 to that of 1998-99.
2) The growth in exports in electronic goods sector in 1999-2000 is expected to be more than in 1998-99.
3) The growth in exports in electronic goods sector is expected to be 50 per cent in 1999-2000.
4) The growth in exports in electronic goods sector is expected to be 25 per cent in 1999-2000.
5) None of these

5. Setting up of electronic hardware technology parks has resulted into which of the following?
1) Production of computers has increased.
2) Increase in electronic hardware exports
3) Increase in electronic software exports
4) Abundance of electronic goods in the domestic market
5) None of these

6. Which of the following words has the SAME meaning as the word ‘alive’ as used in the passage?
1) Awaken
2) Open
3) Conducive
4) Active
5) Brisk

7. Which of the following words has the SAME meaning as the word ‘customising’ as used in the passage?
1) need-based
2) supportive
3) appropriate
4) quality
5) traditional

8. Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage?
1) India’s performance in exports of software is better than that of hardware.
2) India’s performance in exports of hardware is better than that of software.
3) India’s performance in value-added exports has grown in the recent past.
4) India has made considerable effort in exporting value added products in international market.
5) Performance in global marketing has helped in systems integration.

9. What, according to the passage, is the basis for the expectation of the exports in electronic goods sector reaching the targeted amount?
1) growth in exports in the earlier year
2) domestic demand in the sector
3) India’s performance in hardware manufacturing
4) trend observed during the first half of the year
5) None of these

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Directions (Q. 10-15): Pick out the most effective word from the given words to make the sentence meaningfully complete.

10. The manager is to help his subordinates ________ their potential in their present as well as in their future assignments.
1) respect
2) train
3) delegate
4) judge
5) realise

11. It is _____ in pursuit of these very objectives that our Government has made some basic changes in our economic policies.
1) greatly
2) constantly
3) clearly
4) largely
5) precisely

12. He was a rich man and so I was surprised when I saw him in ________ clothes.
1) tattered
2) splendid
3) foreign
4) damp
5) local

13. In some backward countries millions of people live in _______ conditions.
1) notable
2) popular
3) derogatory
4) violent
5) appalling

14. He looks simple but has a ________ style of behavior.
1) wise
2) popular
3) modern
4) deceptive
5) intelligent

15. He _______ students to make use of their vacations fruitfully in the reconstruction of rural India.
1) acclaimed
2) ridiculed
3) projected
4) exhorted
5) dedicated

Directions (Q. 16-18): Read each sentence carefully. Four choices are given as (1), (2), (3) and (4), for each sentence. You have to choose the one that is closest in meaning to the original sentence. If none of the choices is closest in meaning to the original sentence, mark ‘5’ as the answer.

16. You would have won the ‘Best Paper Award’ if you had used transparencies and blackboard in your presentation.
1) You lost the ‘Best Paper Award’ because you did not use transparencies in your presentation.
2) Using of transparencies and blackboard during presentation always fetches the award.
3) Without using transparencies and blackboard in the presentation it is very difficult to win the award.
4) ‘Best Paper Award’ is a prestigious one and the presentator should ensure to use transparencies during presentation.
5) None of these

17. The Minister told his secretary that at present, he was not interested in making any announcement which he couldn’t fulfill.
1) The Minister told to his Secretary that presently, he would make that announcement which he would fulfill.
2) Secretary advised the Minister that better avoid making any announcement at present.
3) At present, making announcement only is not sufficient for the Minister, observed the Secretary.
4) The Minister told his Secretary that he would not make any announcement at present, but would fulfill them.
5) None of these

18. Had all the call letters been sent earlier, more candidates would have appeared in the examination.
1) Call letters were sent earlier with a hope that all the candidates would appear in the examination.
2) Since the call letters were not sent earlier, fewer candidates appeared in the examination.
3) Many candidates did not appear in the examination because call letters were not sent when they should have been sent.
4) More number of candidates appeared in the examination because call letters were despatched to them.
5) None of se

Directions (Q. 19-21): Read each sentence carefully to find out whether there is any error in it. Error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (5). i.e. “No error”. (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any.)

19. 1) The Head of the Department, /2) along with his colleagues are coming /3) to attend the conference which is /4) scheduled this afternoon. /5) No error

20. 1) One of the most effective /2) solutions is that /3) she should work on Sunday /4) and complete the assignment. /5) No error

21. 1) Whatever he was /2) today is only because /3) of his mother who/4) was a renowned scientist. /5) No error

Directions (Q. 22-28): 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 words.

With ——- 22 ——- classes it is difficult for teachers to ——– 23 ———- regular essay-type questions for home-work because ——– 24 ——— long answers would take too long. Progress or phase tests may therefore be set, ———- 25 ——— regular intervals, to ——- 26 ——– students’ progress. This is necessary if teachers are to assess the ——- 27 ——– of their teaching and it is necessary for students to know how well they are doing and where further work is ———- 28 ————.

22. 1) bright 2) large 3) short 4) voluminous 5) small

23. 1) set 2) organise 3) give 4) avoid 5) evaluate

24. 1) defining 2) collecting 3) marking 4) distributing 5) identifying

25. 1) satisfy 2) in 3) above 4) from 5) at

26. 1) satisfy 2) begin 3) celebrate 4) monitor 5) evolve

27. 1) goals 2) mastery 3) source 4) joy 5) effectiveness

28. 1) studied 2) corrected 3) needed 4) done 5) designed

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Directions (Q. 29-30): You are to choose from the words given below the two sentences, the word which has the same meaning and can be used in the same context as the word printed in bold parts in both the sentences.

29. I. A special team of observers has been despatched to appraise the situation.
II. Can you estimate the distance between the two sides of the river.
1) predict
2) guesstimate
3) confront
4) control
5) gauge

30. I. Repeated denial and criticism of a child makes him stubborn.
II. Because of unyielding union leaders no agreement could be reached.
1) firm
2) adamant
3) rebellious
4) admonishing
5) disturbing

Directions (Q. 31-35): In each question below a part of the sentence is printed in bold type. The part printed in bold type may contain an error. Below each sentence four phrases are given which are numbered (1), (2), (3), and (4). One of these can substitute the part of the sentence in bold type to correct it. The number of that part is the answer. If that part of the sentence which is printed in bold type, is correct as it is, mark (5), i.e. ‘No correction required’, as your answer.

31. He is not worthy his salt if he fails at this juncture.
1) worth his salt
2) for his salt
3) valuable for his salt
4) in his salt
5) No correction required

32. The cost of living has increased so much that he finds it difficult to make each end meet.
1) to make all ends meet
2) to make both end meet
3) to make both ends meet
4) to make either end meet
5) No correction required

33. He is hand and glove with my cousin for this new factory project.
1) hand on glove
2) hand against glove
3) hand in glove
4) hand with glove
5) No correction required .

34. He insisted on his orders being carried out with the letter.
1) for the letter
2) to the letter
3) by the letter
4) into the letter
5) No correction required

35. I take exception of your remark about the behaviour of Rajesh.
1) take exception for
2) take exception against
3) take exception in
4) take exception to
5) No exception required

Directions (Q. 36-40): Pick out the most effective word from the given words to fill in the blank to make the sentence meaningfully complete.

36. The great advantage of early rising is the good __ it gives us in our day’s work.
1) kick
2) spirit
3) feeling
4) humour
5) tonic

37. The best friend a man has in this world may ____ against him and become his enemy.
1) fight
2) appear
3) change
4) bore
5) turn

38. No one can say that hospitality is a___ which the natives of this land do not have.
1) practice
2) process
3) tradition
4) virtue
5) religion

39. In a country where the landlord has a permanent property in the soil it will be worth his ___ to improve that property.
1) asset
2) while
3) trial
4) effect
5) business

40. The new textile policy lays great emphasis on stabilizing cotton prices to _____ the interest of cotton growers.
1) improve
2) raise
3) protect
4) channelize
5) diversify

Directions (Q. 41-45): Rearrange the following five sentences A, B, C, D, and E in the proper sequence so as to form a meaningful paragraph; then answer the questions given below them.

A. The purpose of this review is to offload public investments from certain low priority areas.
B. The Govt. has decided in principle to throw open to the private sector industries reserved for the public sector.
C. Only those industries are proposed to be reserved for the public sector which fall in the high priority areas
D. In addition, the government is also engaged in a review of the existing portfolio of public investment
E. This will enable the government to abolish the monopoly of any sector in the field of manufacture except these priority sectors.

41. Which sentence should come second in the paragraph?
1) A
2) B
3) C
4) D
5) E

42. Which sentence should come last in the paragraph?
1) A
2) B
3) C
4) D
5) E

43. Which sentence should come fourth in the paragraph?
1) A
2) B
3) C
4) D
5) E

44. Which sentence should come first in the paragraph?
1) A
2) B
3) C
4) D
5) E

45. Which sentence should come third in the paragraph?
1) A
2) B
3) C
4) D
5) E

Directions (Q. 46-50): Pick out the word that IS the most opposite in meaning of the word given in bold

46. Monotonous
1) Disgusting 2) Pleasing 3) Complete 4) critics 5) copious

47. Strife
1) Treaty 2) conflict 3) concurrence 4) accord 5) resolution

48. Strenuous
1) Slack 2) confusing 3) tense 4) light 5) retiring

49. Concord
1) Harmony 2) accord 3) discord 4) melody 5) opposition

50. Complexity
1) Entangled 2) indifference 3) unwillingness 4) simplicity 5) involved