Tuesday, October 7, 2014

English Quiz

Directions: (1– 15): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you 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 globalization is taking place in stages. In the first stage as flows of capital and goods were liberated the benefits of globalization e.g., technological advancements, flowed primarily to the developed 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 themselves and to keep their families out of poverty. At the turn of the 20th century the United Nations estimates that approximately three per cent of the world’s population is on the move, a similar scale to that witnessed in earlier eras. Growing economic inequality together with natural and manmade crises prompt emigration. But this mobility has the potential to chip away at the vast inequalities that characterise out time and accelerate progress throughout the developing world. To take an example, last year migrants sent home $264 billion triple all international aid combined. The free movement of people helps to underwrite health care, education and grass roots entrepreneurship across the developing world.


It helps to oil the global economy. When industrialized 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 reduced 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 wirelessly transmit hard won and sometimes meager 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 rights in poorer ones. Global for a 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 industrialized 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 globalization where everyone can share in the world’s prosperity.

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

(A) Migrants misuse concessions granted to them by the countries where they earn their livelihood.
(b) Migration can be a powerful means to bring about the development of the developing world.
(C) The amount of aid from developed countries has decreased significantly.

(1) None
(2) Only (A)
(3) Both (A) and (B)
(4) Both ( A) and ( C)
(5) None of these

2. The author’s main objective in writing the passage is to ……….?
(1) Convince governments to tighten security measures to restrict migration and therefore the growth of criminal networks.
(2) Criticise developed countries for unfairly reaping the benefits of globalization.
(3) Provide a history of globalization and its impact on developed countries.
(4) Exhort nations to make a collective effort to ensure migration results in development of all countries.
(5) 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?
(1) Increased job opportunities in developed countries
(2) Facilitation of technological advancement
(3) Encouraging movement of citizens away from their native country
(4) Difference in benefits to developed and developing countries
(5) Sudden reversal of brain drain

4. What is the objective of international fora on migration?
(1) Create an awareness about the negative aspects of migration
(2) Make the right to dual citizenship a fundamental right
(3) Devise practical steps to optimise the benefits of migration
(4) Defuse conflict between the leaders of developing countries
(5) Control brain drain by restricting the movement of people across borders

5. Which of the following is an advantage of migration?
(1) Labour costs have diminished
(2) Banks earn high revenues from transaction fees that they charge migrants
(3) Developed countries are no longer forced to provide aid to
(4) It facilities entrepreneurship at the grass root level in migrants’ native countries.
(5) None of these

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

(A) Migrants have to face discrimination
(B) Governments remain in power since locals do not lose their jobs to migrants
(C) Growth of criminal activities like smuggling of human beings

(1)Only (B)
(2) Both (A) and (B)
(3) Both (A) and (C)
(4) All (A), (B) and (C)
(5) None of these

7. According to the passage which of the following has not facilitated migrants’ access to their native countries?
(1) Relaxation of internet laws
(2) Readily available technology
(3) Advances in telecommunication
(4) Affordable means of communication
(5) Economical means of transport

8. According to the author why do people migrate?

(A) To get very well paid jobs in developed countries 
(B) To provide for their families 
(C) To obtain dual citizenship

(1) All (A), (B) and (C)
(2) Both (A) and (B)
(3) Only (B)
(4) Both (B) and (C)
(5) None of these

9. How does the author view migration?
(1) As a necessary evil
(2) As a means to reduce economic inequality
(3) As a threat to national security
(4) As an excuse for developed countries to stop aid to impoverished countries
(5) None of these

10. Which of the following is true in the context of the passage?
(1) The world is currently in the final stage of globalization
(2) The aim of summits on migration is to curb migration and prevent brain drain
(3) Governments have not fully exploited the potential benefits of migration
(4) Currently reforms are needed as international remittances are marginal
(5) The rate of migration during the 20th century has been unprecedented

For (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
(1) Mobilized
(2) Control
(3) Pushed
(4) Pull
(5) Busy

12. ACCELERATE
(1) Further
(2) Quicken
(3) Open
(4) Rapid
(5) Emphasise

13. BURGEONING
(1) Stretching
(2) Intensify
(3) Expanding
(4) Cultivate
(5) Succeeding

For (14 – 15): Choose the word which is most opposite in meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

14. ADVANCE
(1) Backward
(2) Increase
(3) Hamper
(4) Defeat
(5) Behind

15. PROMPT
(1) Late
(2) Unwilling
(3) Slowly
(4) Provoke
(5) Restrain




ANSWERS
1. 5
2. 4
3. 5
4. 3
5. 4
6. 3
7. 1
8. 2
9. 2
10. 3
11. 1
12. 2
13. 3
14. 3
15. 5

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