(Paper) SBI Clerk Exam Paper - 2008 (English Language)

(Paper) SBI Clerk Exam Paper - 2008


Directions (41 - 55): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain works/expressions are given in bold in the passage to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

Radically changing monsoon patterns, reduction in the winter rice harvest and a quantum increase in respiratory diseases all part of the environmental doomsday scenario which is reportedly playing out in South Asia. According to a United Nations Environment Programme report, a deadly three km deep blatant of pollution comprising a fearsome cocktail of ash, acids, aerosols and other particles has enveloped this region. For India, already struggling to cope with a drought, the implications of this are devasting and further crop failure will amount to a life and death question for many Indians. The increase in premature deaths will have adverse social and economic consequence and a rise in morbidities will place an unbearable burden on our crumbling health system. And there is no one to blame but ourselves. Both official and corporate India has always been allergic to any mention of clean technology. most mechanical two wheelers roll off the assembly line without proper pollution control systems. Little effort is made R & D on simple technologies, which could make a vital difference to people's lives and the environment.

However, while there is no denying that South Asia must clean up its act, sceptics might questions the timing of the haze report. The johannesburg meet on rio +10 is just two weeks away and the staze is set for the usual battle between the developing world and the West, particularly the U.S. President Mr. Bush has admantly refused to sign any protocol, which would mean a change in American consumption. U.N. environment report will likely find a place in the U.S. arsenal as it points an accruing finger countries like India and China. yet the U.S. can hardly deny is own dubious role in the matter of erasing trading quotas. Richer countries can simply buy up excess credits from poorer countries and continue to pollute. Rather than try to get the better of developing countries, who undoubtedly have taken up environmental shortcuts in their bid to catch up with the West, the U.S. should take a look at the environment profligacy, which is going on within. From opening up virgin territories for oil exploration to relaxing the standards for drinking water. Mr. Bush's policies are not exactly beneficial- not even to Americans we realise that we are all in this together and that pollution anywhere should be a global concern only be more tunnels at the end of the tunnel.

41. Both official and corporate India is allergic to

1) failure of monsoon
2) poverty and inequality
3) slowdown in industrial product
4) mention of clean technology
5) crop failure

42. Which, according to the passage, is a life and death question to many Indians?

1) Increase in respiratory diseases
2) Use of clean technology
3) Thick blanket of pollution over the region
4) Failure in crops
5) Dwindling agricultural yield

43. If the rate of premature deaths increases it will-

1) exert added burden on our crumbling economy
2) have adverse social and economic consequences
3) make positive effect on our efforts to control population
4) have less aspirants in the society
5) have healthy effect on our economy

44. Choose the word which is SIMILAR in meaning to the work 'profligacy' as used in the passage.

1) wastefulness
2) conservation
3) upliftment
4) criticalness
5) denouncement

45. According to the passage, India cannot tolerate any further-

1) crop failure
2) deterioration of health care system
3) increase in respiratory diseases
4) proliferation of nuclear devises
5) social and economic consequences

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46. According to the passage, two wheeler industry is not adequately concerned about...

1) passenger safety on the roads
2) life cover insurance of the vehicle owners
3) pollution control systems in the vehicles
4) rising cost of the two wheelers
5) rising cost of the petrol in the country

47. What could be the reason behind timing of the haze report just before the Johannesburg meet, as indicated in the passage?

1) United Nations is working hand-inglobe with the U.S.
2) Organizers of the forthcoming meet to teach a lesson to the U.S.
3) Drawing attentions of the world towards devastating effects of environmental degradation.
4) U.S. wants to use it as a handle against the developing countries in the forthcoming meet
5) The meet is a part of political agenda of the U.N.

48. Choose the word which is SIMILAR in meaning to the word 'allergic' as used in the passage.

1) liking
2) passionate
3) possessive
4) crumbling
5) repugnant

49. Which of the following is the indication of environmental degradation in South Asia?

1) Social and economic inequality
2) Crumbling health care system
3) Inadequate pollution control system
4) Over emphasis on technology
5) Radically changing monsoon pattern

50. What must we realise, according to the passage?

1) No country should show superiority over other countries
2) U.N. is putting in hard efforts in the direction of pollution control
3) All countries must join hands in fighting pollution
4) Nobody should travel through tunnel to avoid health hazards
5) We all must strive hard to increase agricultural production

51. which of the following finds place in the United Nations Environment Programme Report

1) Changing monsoon patterns
2) Substantial increase in respiratory diseases
3) A serious cover of pollution over the region
4) Reduction in winter rice harvest
5) None of these

52. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE in the context of the passage?

1) U.N. environment report blames countries like India and China
2) Developing countries have taken environmental shortcuts in their bid to catch up with west
3) U.S. is also to be blamed for environmental degradation and pollution
4) Indians cannot afford to have any further crop failure
5) U.S. has tightened safety standards for drinking water

53. According to the passage, Johannesburg meet is going to witness...

1) calm and dispassionate thinking on the issue of pollution control
2) a blaming game between developed and developing countries
3) refusal of U.N. to work as arbitrator
4) U.S. agreeing to look at the issue of lowering its consumption
5) countries agreeing for higher monetary allocation to R & D

54. Choose the word which is MOST OPPOSITE in meaning to the word 'dubious' as used in the passage?

1) unquestionable
2) dissimilar
3) illegal
4) antisocial
5) innovative

55. Choose the word which is MOST OPPOSITE in meaning to the word 'morbidity' as used in the passage.

1) powerfulness
2) healthiness
3) softness
4) acuteness
5) purposeful

Directions (56 - 65): Read each of the following sentences to find out whether there is any 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), (Ignore errors of punctuation, if any).

56. This facts make it very clear (1)/ that he had a hand in the murder (2)/ though he still (3)/ pleads innocence. (4)/ No error (5)

57. A nationwide survey (1)/ has brought out an (2)/ interesting finding (3)/ regarding infant mortality rate in India. (4)/ No error (5)

58. Gangotri has a special significance (1)/ for the devout (2)/ as it is considered as (3)/ the abode of king Bhagirath who bought the Ganga down to the earth. (4)/ No error (5)

59. The recent study has (1)/ indicated that there (2)/ is perceptible change in (3)/ the attitudes of the people (4)/ No error (5)

60. The disclosure of (1)/ the synopsis of Thakkar Commission Report (2)/ on the assassination of Mrs. Indira Gandhi (3)/ has raised several vital questions. (4) No error (5)

61. He did not go (1)/ to the city on foot, (2)/ he go there (3)/ by train. (4) No error (5)

62. It being a rainy day (1)/ we will decide not to go out (2)/ but to stay at home (3)? and watch a movie. (4)/ No error (5)

63. By all standards (1)/ he is the best soldier (2)/ our military school (3)/ will produce so far. (4)/ No error (5)

64. As I was reach (1)/ early I left in an aeroplane (2)/ instead of (3)/ going by train. (4)/ No error (5)

65. On my request (1)/ Lalit introduced me (2)/ to his friend (3)/ who is singer and a scientist. (4)/ No error (5).

Directions (66 - 70): Which of the following phrases at (1), (2), (3) and (4) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentence to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct, if the sentence is correct as it is and 'No correction' required and (5) as the answer.

66. If the evidence bear out the charge, he may be sentenced to death.

1) bears out
2) bore out
3) was born out
4) has borne out
5) No correction required

67. He has to liaise direct with the politics while writing the report.

1) liaised direct
2) to liaise directly
3) to liaise direct
4) to liaise directed
5) No correction required

68. The rise in unemployment is parallel by an increase in petty crime.

1) was parallel by
2) will be parallel by
3) is paralleled by
4) is paralleled with
5) No correction required

69. He has a chance redeem him after last week's mistake.

1) to redeem him
2) to redeem
3) redeem himself
4) to redeem himself
5) No correction required

70. We shall eat some now and save some for tomorrow.

1) now some and save some
2) now some and some save
3) some and save
4) some now or save some
5) No correction required

Directions (71 - 75): In each question below, four words which are numbered (1), (2), (3) and (4) have been printed of which one may be wrongly spelt. The number of that word is the answer. If all the four words are correctly spelt mark (5) i.e. 'All correct' as the answer.


1) Reverence
2) Heavenly
3) Elsewhere
4) Celebrate
5) All correct


1) Admirable
2) Mingle
3) Instinctively
4) Accomplishment
5) All correct


1) Opportunity
2) Lethargy
3) Procrastination
4) Bereavement
5) All correct


1) Discouraged
2) Proceeding
3) Disastrous
4) Innocent
5) All correct


1) Friendship
2) Soldeir
3) Grandeur
4) Familiar
5) All correct

Directions (76 - 80): In each of the following questions there is a sentence with a pair of blank spaces, followed by five pair of words. Choose the pair that can fill up the blanks in the same order. The number of that pair is your answer.

76. Handicrafts constitute an important ...... of the decentralised sector of India's economy and ...... employment to over six million artisans.

1) factors -aims
2) extension - plans
3) segment -provides
4) supplier - gives
5) period - projects

77. Among a number of hobbies that one can ......, the hobby of reading is the most useful and ......

1) develops - accumulative
2) cultivates - enlightened
3) nourish -cumulative
4) absorbs - durable
5) considers - appreciative

78. The quality of ......between individuals and the organisation for which they work can be ...... to the benefit of both the parties.

1) services -evaluated
2) interaction - improved
3) sophistication - developed
4) work - appreciated
5) life - conceptualised

79. Part of the confusion in our societies ......... from our pursuit of efficiency and economic growth, in the ..... that these are the necessary ingredients of progress.

1) stems -conviction
2) derives - evaluation
3) emerges - consideration
4) obtains - exploration
5) extends - planning

80. The problem of housing shortage ......... with the population explosion has also been ......... by this policy.

1) coped - highlighted
2) dispensed - acknowledged
3) compounded - addressed
4) threatened - manifested
5) projected - discussed

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