Exam Paper Previous Year IBPS Clerk Held on - 11-12-2012 English Language
Exam Paper IBPS Clerk - 2012
Directions (1-5): In each of the following sentences, an idiomatic expression or a proverb is highlighted. Select the alternative which best describes its use in the sentence.
1. The stunt that I recently attempted was a piece of cake.
(1) The stunt that I recently attempted was enjoyable to watch
(2) The stunt that I recently attempted was very challenging
(3) The stunt that I recently attempted was celebrated by all
(4) The stunt that I recently attempted turned out to be a failure
(5) The stunt that I recently attempted was a Simple task
2. The boy broke the window and took to his heels.
(1) The boy broke the window and fell on his heels
(2) The boy broke the window and ran away
(3) The boy broke the window with his heels
(4) The boy ran into the window
(5) The boy broke the window and robbed a pair of heels
3. I pledged myself to serve the king faithfully.
(1) I made a mistake by promising to serve the king faithfully
(2) I made a fool of myself in order to serve the king
(3) I boasted about serving the king faithfully
(4) I was forcibly made to serve the king
(5) I made a solemn and formal promise to serve the king faithfully
4. There is a crying need for improvements to our public transport system.
(1) There is an obvious need for improvements to our public transport system
(2) Tht1e is a well documented need for improvements to our public transport system.
(3) There is a minor need for improvements to our public transport system.
(4) There is a serious need for improvements to our public transport system.
(5) There is no urgency for improvements to our public transport system.
5. In an old bookshop I happened to light upon a volume that belonged to my grandfather.
(1) In an old bookshop I happened to discard a volume that belonged to my
(2) In an old bookshop I happened to purchase a volume that belonged to my grand-father.
(3) In an old books hop I happened to look for a volume that belonged to my grandfather.
(4) In an old bookshop I happened to discover by chance a volume that belonged to my grandfather
(5) In an old books hop I happened to reveal a volume that belonged to my grandfather.
Directions (6-10): Pick out the most effective word/phrases from the given alternatives marked (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) given below each sentence to fill in the blank to make the sentence meaningful and grammatically Correct.
6. By the middle of the 19th Century, the urban population of England __ the rural population.
(1) have exceed
(2) exceeded _
(3) was to exceeds
(5) will exceed
7. The house that the actress lives in is beautiful, but the surroundings are __ unpleasant.
(2) more and more
(3) a little quite
(4) very little
(5) quite few
8. My friend kand I decided to watch a play, however ______ enjoyed it.
(1) hardly of us
(2) some few of us
(3) we scarcely only
(4) neither of us
(5) no one of us
9. It is difficult to speak a language fluently unless _____ regularly.
(1) it is in practice
(2) it is by practising
(3) it will be practised
(4) it is practised
(5) it had been practised.
10. By the time he was eighteen years old. Peter __ to make a living and support his family.
(3) started beginning
(4) would begin
(5) has just begun
Directions (11-15): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are printed in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions. Lumbini is a beautiful place in the southern part of Nepal. About 2,500 years ago, a baby boy was born to the king and queen. The baby was named Siddharth. His mother. died when he was five days old. The baby boy grew into a handsome prince. His father tried to keep him happy. The little prince had everything he needed fine clothes, the best rood and good toys. But he was not interested in them. He wanted to be alone and was always found in deep thought. Later he was married to a beautiful princess. She was called Yashodhara. They had a son and named him Rahul. The king hoped that Siddharth would become a great ruler.
One day Siddharth was driving through the street in his chariot. He saw an old man and then a sick man. The old man could hardly walk. The sick man groaned in pain. Then he saw some people carrying a dead body others were wailing and weeping at the loss of a dear one. Siddharth was very upset to see so much suffering and unhappiness. He was shocked. Then he saw an entirely different sight. A man in yellow robes was walking along the street. There was no trace of sadness on his radiant face instead it shone with peace. He was a monk who had given up the world to escape the misery of life.
Siddharth wanted to find out why there was so much suffering in the world. He
wanted to find out how men could be free of misery. He could find neither peace
nor happiness in the life he was leading at the palace. One night Siddharth left
his home, his wife and his little son. He went into the forest. He wanted to
search for a way out of suffering and sorrow for all mankind. He meditated and
got enlightenment. He became Lord Buddha, the enlightened one. Truth was
revealed to him and he learnt all the secrets of life and the world.
He found out that the world was full of sorrow and unhappiness. The reason for it was greed and selfishness. To be free from suffering, we must be free from greed and desire. Desire is the root cause of all human suffering. He advocated the Middle Path and asked his followers to avoid the two extremes.
11. Which of the following sentences is true according to the passage?
(1) Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini.
(2) The little boy was very happy with fine clothes, good food and toys.
(3) Siddharth divorced his first wife.
(4) Siddharth and Yashodhara had no children and so they were very unhappy
(5) None of these
12. What was Siddharth interested in as a child?
(1) He was interested in making new friends as he did not have any siblings.
(2) His interests were largely in ‘studying and reading books.
(3) He was interested in the best of clothes and good toys.
(4) In spending time alone in deep thought.
(5) In spending time with nature.
13. Which of the following can be inferred about Siddharth?
(A) Siddharth was different from other princes his age.
(B) Siddharth was a spoilt child.
(C) Siddharth was lonely because he did not have a mother.
(1) Only (A)
(2) Only (B)
(3) Only (e)
(4) Only (B) and (C)
(5) All (A), (B) and (e)
14. What did the King wish for his son, Siddharth?
(1) He wanted Siddharth to become a great ruler.
(2) He wished that Siddharth would not marry Yashodhara.
(3) He wished that Siddharth’s son would take over his kingdom
(4) He wished that Siddharth would behave like the other princes.
(5) He wished that Siddharth would find the answer to all the suffering in the world.
5. What incident changed Siddharth’s life forever?
(1) His mother’s death.
(2) The incident where he saw a monk free from the misery of life.
(3) The birth of his son
(4) His marriage to Yashodhara.
(5) The time he met Lord Buddha.
16. Why did Siddharth leave his home?
(1) He wanted to run away from his wife and son
(2) He did not want to become heir to his father’s throne
(3) He was in search of a bigger kingdom
(4) He wanted to see the world
(5) He wanted to search for a way out of suffering and spend time in meditation.
17. According to Siddharth what was the reason for suffering and unhappiness in the world?
(1) The increased mumber or deaths
(2) The advocacy of the Middle Path.
(3) Human greed and selfishness
(4) People were unaware of the benefits of meditation.
(5) None of these
18. What according to passage is the root cause for an human suffering?
(1) Only (A)
(2) Only (B) and (C)
(3) Only (B) (4) Only (C)
(5) All (A), (B) and (C)
19. Why was Siddharth called the enlightened one?
(1) He was smarter than all the princes of his age.
(2) He was the King’s son.
(3) Truth was revealed to him through meditation.
(4) He had a great ability to resist temptation
(5) He always wanted to be left alone
20. Why did Lord Buddha advocate the Middle Path?
(1) He believed that it was the only way to eliminate poverty.
(2) He believed that it was the only way of obtaining true happiness.
(3) He was a staunch believer of living an extreme life.
(4) He did not have a happy life being a prince.
(5) He was not a risk-taker.
Directions (21-23): Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
Directions (24-25): Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
24. Revealed to
(1) Hidden from
(2) Exposed to
(3) Presented to
(4) Manifested from
(5) Obtained from
(26-30): Read each sentence to find out whether there is any
grammatical error in it. The 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).
36. If tomorrow is (1)/ declared a holiday, (2)/ we shall go (3)/ to a picnic. (4)/ No Error (5)
37. My grandfather used (1) / to go (2)/ for a walk (3)/ every morning. (4)/ No Error (5)
38. The blast from (1)/ the explosion (2)/ knocked the factory worker (3) / to unconsciousness, (4)/ No Error (5)
69. Raju found it difficult (1)/ to explain (2) / his final exam marks (3)/ to his parents. (4)/ No Error (5)
30. My friend become (1)/ terribly upset (2)/ after losing her purse (3) / at the supermarket. (4)/ No Error (5)
Directions (31-40): 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 word in each case.
Once upon a time there lived a wise man by the (31) of Mamad. He never lied. All the people in the land, knew about him. The king heard about Mamad and (32) his subjects to bring him to the palace. He looked at the wise man and asked: “Mamad, is it true, that you have never lied ?” “It is true, your Majesty.” “And you will never lie in your life?” questioned the king. “I am sure of that,” replied Mamad. (33) days passed and the king called Mamad once again. There was a big crowd, the king was (34) to go hunting. The king held his horse by the mane, his left foot was already on the stirrup. He. (35) to Mamad, “Go to my summer palace and tell the queen I will be with her for lunch. Tell her to (36) a big feast. You will have lunch with me then.” Mamad bowed down and went to the queen. Then the king laughed and said, “We won’t go hunting and now Mamad will lie to the queen. Tomorrow we will laugh on his behalf. “But the wise Mamad went to the palace and said, “maybe you should prepare a big feast for lunch tomorrow, and maybe you shouldn’t, Maybe the king will come by noon, and maybe he won’t.” “(37) me will he come or will he not?” - asked the queen. “I do not know whether he put his right foot on the stirrup, or he put his left foot on the ground after I left”. Everybody (38) for the king. He came the next day and said to the queen, “The wise Mamad, who never lies, (39) to you yesterday.” But the queen told him Marnads exact words. And the king (40) that the wise man never lies. and says only that, which he see’s with his own eyes.