UNITED BANK OF INDIA PROBATIONARY OFFICERS SOLVED PAPER

UNITED BANK OF INDIA PROBATIONARY OFFICERS EXAM

(Held on 19-9-2007)

English Language


Directions—(Q. 1 to 10) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are given in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.

Though it is commonplace to say we live in a globalised world, less well understood is that globalisation is taking place in stages. In the first stage as flows of capital and goods were liberated the benefits of globalisation e.g., technological advance-ments, flowed primarily to the deve-loped world. As we enter the current newer age of mobility, people have begun to move across borders in great numbers in pursuit of economic security and a better life for them-selves and to keep their families out of poverty. At the turn of the 20th century the United Nations estimates that approximately three percent of the world’s population is on the move, a similar scale to that wit-nessed in earlier eras. Growing economic inequality together with natural and man made crises prompt emigration. But this mobility has the potential to chip away at the vast inequalities that characterise our time and accelerate progress throughout the developing world. To take an example, last year migrants sent home $264 billion
triple all inter-national aid combined. The freer movement of people helps to underwrite health care, education and grass roots entrepreneurship across the developing world.

It helps to oil the global eco-nomy. When industrialised nations need to recruit nurses or software programmers developing countries are often the source. Yet rather than look at how these gains can be harnessed to reduce poverty, governments have been slow to adapt. The result is burgeoning illegal immigration, and trafficking, social tension and intolerance, loss of faith in the government and the empowerment of criminal networks. Until a few years ago, migrants were paying exorbitant fees to send money home losing about 20% in transaction costs. Today though migrants move freely and easily thanks to easy access to low cost transport and the internet, affordable and rapidly advancing telephony and satellite television which keep them in constant touch with home. Banks easily and wire-lessly transmit hard won and some-times meagre salaries instantly to their families. The flow of people until now mostly benefited richer countries and generated worries about brain drain and the violation of migrant r
ights in poorer ones. Global fora represent a step in the effort to harness the power of migration to advance development and increase our knowledge of how to make the migration equation work for all. Rather than focus on the negative consequences and recriminations of exploitation by developing countries such summits provide an opportunity for all nations to come together and address these issues in a comprehensive, logical and rational way so that the benefits of migration are fully realised in both developing and industrialised countries. Countries may examine how dual citizenship laws can ease the way for migrants to play a bigger role in development by bringing their capital, knowledge and networks back home. Such efforts will usher in the third stage of globalisation where everyone can share in the world’s prosperity.

1. What does the fact that remittances exceeded international aid illustrate ?

1. Migrants misuse concessions granted to them by the countries where they earn their livelihood

2. Migration can be a powerful means to bring about the development of the developing world.

3. The amount of aid from developed countries has decreased significantly

(A) None

(B) Only 1

(C) Both 1 and 2

(D) Both 1 and 3

(E) None of these

2. The author’s main objective in writing the passage is to—

(A) Convince governments to tighten security measures to restrict migration and therefore the growth of criminal networks

(B) Criticise developed countries for unfairly reaping the benefits of globalisation

(C) Provide a history of globalisation and its impact on developed countries

(D) Exhort nations to make a collective effort to ensure migration results in development of all countries

(E) Focus only on technological advancements made by developed countries to the benefit of migrants

3. Which of the following has not been an impact of globalisation ?

(A) Increased job opportunities in developed countries

(B) Facilitation of technological advancement

(C) Encouraging movement of citizens away from their native country

(D) Difference in benefits to developed and developing countries

(E) Sudden reversal of brain drain

4. What is the objective of inter-national fora on migration ?

(A) Create an awareness about the negative aspects of migration

(B) Make the right to dual citizenship a fundamental right

(C) Devise practical steps to optimise the benefits of migration

(D) Defuse conflict between the leaders of developing countries

(E) Control brain drain by restricting the movement of people across borders

5. Which of the following is an advantage of migration ?

(A) Labour costs have diminished

(B) Banks earn high revenues from transaction fees that they charge migrants

(C) Developed countries are no longer forced to provide aid to developing countries

(D) It facilitates entrepreneur- ship at the grass root level in migrants’ native countries

(E) None of these

6. What is/are the outcome/s of governments ignoring the issue of migration ?

1. Migrants have to face discrimination

2. Governments remain in power since locals do not lose their jobs to migrants

3. Growth of criminal activities like smuggling of human beings

(A) Only 2

(B) Both 1 and 2

(C) Both 1 and 3

(D) All 1, 2 and 3

(E) None of these

7. According to the passage which of the following has not facilitated migrants’ access to their native countries ?

(A) Relaxation of internet laws

(B) Readily available technology

(C) Advances in telecommunication

(D) Affordable means of communication

(E) Economical means of transport

8. According to the author why do people migrate ?

1. To get very well paid jobs in developed countries

2. To provide for their families

3. To obtain dual citizenship

(A) All 1, 2 and 3

(B) Both 1 and 2

(C) Only 2

(D) Both 2 and 3

(E) None of these

9. How does the author view migration ?

(A) As a necessary evil

(B) As a means to reduce economic inequality

(C) As a threat to national security

(D) As an excuse for developed countries to stop aid to impoverished countries

(E) None of these

10. Which of the following is true in the context of the passage ?

(A) The world is currently in the final stage of globalisation

(B) The aim of summits on migration is to curb migration and prevent brain drain

(C) Governments have not fully exploited the potential benefits of migration

(D) Currently reforms are needed as international remittances are marginal

(E) The rate of migration during the 20th century has been un-precedented

Directions—(Q. 11-13) Choose the word which is most nearly the same in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage

11. Harnessed—

(A) Mobilised (B) Control

(C) Pushed (D) Pull

(E) Busy

12 Accelerate—

(A) Further (B) Quicken

(C) Open (D) Rapid

(E) Emphasise

13. Burgeoning—

(A) Stretching (B) Intensify

(C) Expanding (D) Cultivate

(E) Succeeding

Directions—(Q. 14-15) Choose the word which is most opposite in meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage

14. Advance—

(A) Backward

(B) Increase

(C) Hamper

(D) Defeat

(E) Behind

15. Prompt—

(A) Late (B) Unwilling

(C) Slowly (D) Provoke

(E) Restrain

Directions—(Q. 16-25) Read each sentence to find out if there is any error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error the answer is (E). (Ignore errors in punctuation, if any)

16. They are scheduled a/meeting

(A)

today to / accept the resigna-

(B) (C)

tion/of the Director/No error

(D) (E)

17. The launch of/the new products

(A) (B)

was/delayed which resulted/in

(C)

heavily losses/No error

(D) (E)

18. The Chairman has promised/to

(A)

sanction / the necessary funds

(B) (C)

to/modernise the factory/No

(D)

error

(E)

19. The company has decided / to

(A)

invest in/one crore rupees/in

(B) (C)

new technology/No error

(D) (E)

20. The success of the/merger of the

(A) (B)

two/banks is dependence/on

(C)

various factors/No error

(D) (E)

21. The meeting taken place/when

(A)

you were/at a conference/in

(B) (C)

Delhi last month/No error

(D) (E)

22. Most companies neglect / to

(A)

spend none/of their resources/

(B) (C)

on training older employees/No

(D) (E)

error

23. Even today there are / several

(A)

million people / who do not

(B) (C)

have/access of banking services/

(D)

No error

(E)

24. We are still / waiting for the/

(A) (B)

committee decision about/the

(C)

pension plan/No error

(D) (E)

25. Ramesh doubts when/he will be

(A) (B)

ready/for the presentation/in

(C)

time/No error

(D) (E)

Directions—(Q. 26-30) Which of the phrases (A), (B), (C), (4) given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold type to make the sentence grammatically correct ? If the sentence is correct mark (E) i.e., ‘No correction required’ as the answer.

26. For being skilful and experience, he is a valuable employee—

(A) Because he is skill

(B) On account he is skilled

(C) With his skill

(D) Beside having skill

(E) No correction required

27. Today there are few countries whose growth rate is equally that of China.

(A) Equalize on

(B) Equivalent to

(C) Equals with

(D) On equality with

(E) No correction required

28. The government is willing for finance part of the project.

(A) Willingly finance to

(B) Financially willing

(C) Willing to finance

(D) Willingness in financing

(E) No correction required

29. We must keep in pace changing technology to succeed.

(A) Keep pace with

(B) Kept pace on

(C) In keeping pace

(D) Keep pacing

(E) No correction required

30. The company does not have many choice, except to pay the fine.

(A) Any choice of

(B) Much choice

(C) More choices

(D) Other choice

(E) No correction required

Directions—(Q. 31-35) In each of the following sentences there are two blank spaces. Below each five words have been denoted by letters (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E). Find out which pair of words can be filled up in the blanks in the sentence in the same sequence to make the sentence meaningfully complete.

31. Efforts to……the issue will not be successful ……… both sides continue to blame each other.

(A) Resolve—if

(B) Discuss—unless

(C) Address—whether

(D) Settled—because

(E) Close—although

32. The economy has managed to retain its …… edge despite …… demand for its exports.

(A) Leading—healthy

(B) Competitive—shrinking

(C) Sharp—favourable

(D) Predominant—average

(E) Worthwhile—durable

33. It will be ……… for the management to implement the policy because of the employees’ ……to change.

(A) Inconvenient—willing

(B) Complicated—concern

(C) Burden—decision

(D) Impossible—resistance

(E) Critical—character

34. Analysts are looking …………to more mergers in the banking …………which will boost the economy.

(A) Around—arena

(B) Ahead—rivals

(C) Forward—sector

(D) Perhaps—partners

(E) Doubtfully—investment

35. After the devastating fire, the Board has no………except……… of their textile factory.

(A) Idea—inauguration

(B) Estimate—running

(C) Power—modernising

(D) Condition—improving

(E) Option—closure

Directions—(Q. 35-40) Rear-range the following sentences (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) into a meaningful paragraph and then answer the ques-tions given below it.

1. The urban poor were neglected.

2. A new generation of professionals however are attempting to reach the urban poor.

3. This is because they were considered too mobile and lacking in cohesion.

4. Micro finance institutions have traditionally focussed on the rural poor.

5. These factors do not facilitate generation of peer group pressure which is essential for the success of the microfinance model.

6. Their challenge will be to adapt the traditional microfinance model to one suited to urban microfinance.

36. Which of the following is the second sentence after rearrange-ment ?

(A) 1 (B) 2

(C) 3 (D) 4

(E) 5

37. Which of the following is the fifth sentence after rearrange-ment ?

(A) 1 (B) 2

(C) 3 (D) 4

(E) 5

38. Which of the following is the sixth (last) sentence after rear-rangement ?

(A) 2 (B) 3

(C) 4 (D) 5

(E) 6

39. Which of the following is the third sentence after rearrange-ment ?

(A) 2 (B) 3

(C) 4 (D) 5

(E) 6

40. Which of the following is the first sentence after rearrange-ment ?

(A) 1 (B) 2

(C) 3 (D) 4

(E) 5

Directions—(Q. 41-50) 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 have been suggested, one of which fills the blanks appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.

A decade ago, a financial crisis (41) Bangkok. During the next fifteen months it swept (42) Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Seoul. As Asian countries borrowed and spent beyond their means (43) of thousands lost their jobs. (44) half-built build-ings throughout Asian cities (45) as reminders of the shattered hopes not only of distinguished entrepreneurs but also (46) workers. Asia has come a long way during the past ten years—vast economic imbalances no longer (47). However, market crashes are (48) even today and Asia’s best insurance policy to (49) with any future crises is to build (50) financial systems.

41. (A) Occurred (B) Hit

(C) Striking (D) Fuelled

(E) Suffered

42. (A) In (B) Upward

(C) Forward (D) From

(E) Through

43. (A) Tens

(B) Few

(C) Approximate

(D) Several

(E) Lives

44. (A) Dense

(B) Haunted

(C) Abandoned

(D) Buried

(E) Vacate

45. (A) Seen (B) Pointed

(C) Showed (D) Stood

(E) Forgotten

46. (A) Undeserving

(B) Incompetent

(C) Greedy

(D) Cheap

(E) Ordinary

47. (A) Seen (B) Valid

(C) Exist (D) Present

(E) There

48. (A) Undertaken

(B) Possible

(C) Threat

(D) Reality

(E) Capable

49. (A) Cope (B) Combat

(C) Justify (D) Avert

(E) Accommodate

50. (A) Perfectly

(B) Popular

(C) Formidably

(D) Resilient

(E) Foreign

Answers with Hints

1. (B) 2. (D) 3. (E) 4. (C) 5. (E)

6. (E) 7. (A) 8. (B) 9. (B) 10. (C)

11. (A) 12. (B) 13. (C) 14. (C) 15. (E)

16. (A) Replace ‘scheduled’ with ‘organising’ or ‘holding’.

17. (D) Change ‘heavily’ to ‘heavy’.

18. (E)

19. (B) Delete ‘in’ after ‘invest’.

20. (C) Change ‘dependence’ to ‘dependent’.

21. (A) Change ‘taken’ to ‘was taking’

22. (B) Change ‘to spend none’ to ‘spending some’.

23. (D) Replace ‘of’ with ‘to’ .

24. (B) Change ‘waiting for’ to ‘awai-ting’.

25. (A) Change ‘when’ to ‘whether’.

26. (C) 27. (C) 28. (C) 29. (A) 30. (D)

31. (A) 32. (B) 33. (D) 34. (C) 35. (E)

36. (A) 37. (B) 38. (E) 39. (B) 40. (D)

41. (B) 42. (E) 43. (A) 44. (C) 45. (D)

46. (E) 47. (C) 48. (B) 49. (A) 50. (D)