Directions (1-15): Read the following passage carefully and answer the
questions given below it. Certain words/phrases are printed in bold to help you
to locate them while answering some of the questions.
The outside
world has pet answers concerning extremely impoverished countries, especially
those in Africa. Everything comes back, again and again, to corruption and
misrule. Western officials argue that Africa simply needs to behave itself
better, to allow market forces to operate without interference by corrupt
rulers. Yet the critics of African governance have it wrong. Politics simply
can’t explain Africa’s prolonged economic crisis. The claim that Africa’s
corruption is the basic source of the problem does not withstand serious
scrutiny. During the past decade I witnessed how relatively well-governed
countries in Africa, such as Ghana, Malawi, Mali and Senegal, failed to
prosper, whereas societies in Asia perceive to have extensive corruption, such
as Bangladesh, Indonesia and Pakistan, enjoyed rapid economic growth.
world has pet answers concerning extremely impoverished countries, especially
those in Africa. Everything comes back, again and again, to corruption and
misrule. Western officials argue that Africa simply needs to behave itself
better, to allow market forces to operate without interference by corrupt
rulers. Yet the critics of African governance have it wrong. Politics simply
can’t explain Africa’s prolonged economic crisis. The claim that Africa’s
corruption is the basic source of the problem does not withstand serious
scrutiny. During the past decade I witnessed how relatively well-governed
countries in Africa, such as Ghana, Malawi, Mali and Senegal, failed to
prosper, whereas societies in Asia perceive to have extensive corruption, such
as Bangladesh, Indonesia and Pakistan, enjoyed rapid economic growth.
What is the
explanation? Every situation of extreme poverty around the world contains some
of its own unique uses, which need to be diagnosed as a doctor would a patient.
For example, Africa is burdened with malaria like to other part of the world,
simply because it is unlucky in providing the perfect conditions for that
disease; high temperatures, plenty of breeding sites and particular species
malaria-transmitting mosquitoes that prefer to bite men rather than cattle.
explanation? Every situation of extreme poverty around the world contains some
of its own unique uses, which need to be diagnosed as a doctor would a patient.
For example, Africa is burdened with malaria like to other part of the world,
simply because it is unlucky in providing the perfect conditions for that
disease; high temperatures, plenty of breeding sites and particular species
malaria-transmitting mosquitoes that prefer to bite men rather than cattle.
Another myth
is that the developed world already gives enty of aid to the world’s poor.
Former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Paul O’Neil expressed a common
frustration when he remarked about aid for Africa: “We’ve spent trillions
dollars on these problems and we have damn near nothing show for it.” O’Neil
was no foe of foreign aid. Indeed, he wanted to fix the system so that more
U.S. aid could be certified. But he was wrong to believe that vast flows of aid
Africa had been squandered. President Bush said in a conference in April 2004
that as “the greatest power the face of the earth, was have an obligation to
help the lead of freedom. We have an obligation to feed the angry”. Yet how
does the U.S. fulfill its obligation? U.S. to farmers in poor countries to help
them grow more runs to around $200 million per year, far less than $1 person
per year for the hundreds of millions of people in subsistence farm households.
is that the developed world already gives enty of aid to the world’s poor.
Former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Paul O’Neil expressed a common
frustration when he remarked about aid for Africa: “We’ve spent trillions
dollars on these problems and we have damn near nothing show for it.” O’Neil
was no foe of foreign aid. Indeed, he wanted to fix the system so that more
U.S. aid could be certified. But he was wrong to believe that vast flows of aid
Africa had been squandered. President Bush said in a conference in April 2004
that as “the greatest power the face of the earth, was have an obligation to
help the lead of freedom. We have an obligation to feed the angry”. Yet how
does the U.S. fulfill its obligation? U.S. to farmers in poor countries to help
them grow more runs to around $200 million per year, far less than $1 person
per year for the hundreds of millions of people in subsistence farm households.
From the
world as a whole, the amount of aid per African per year is really very small,
just $30 per sub-Saharan African in 2002. Of that modest amount, almost $5 was
actually for consultants from the donor countries, more than $3 was for
emergency aid, about $4 went for servicing Africa’s debt and $5 was for
debt-relief operations. The rest, about $12, went to Africa. Since the “money
down the drain” argument is heard most frequently in the U.S., it’s worth
looking at the same calculations for U.S. aid alone. In 2002, the U.S. gave $3
per sub-Saharan African. Taking out the parts for U.S. consultants and technical
cooperation, food and other emergency aid, administrative costs and debt
relief, the aid per African came to grand total of 6 cents.
world as a whole, the amount of aid per African per year is really very small,
just $30 per sub-Saharan African in 2002. Of that modest amount, almost $5 was
actually for consultants from the donor countries, more than $3 was for
emergency aid, about $4 went for servicing Africa’s debt and $5 was for
debt-relief operations. The rest, about $12, went to Africa. Since the “money
down the drain” argument is heard most frequently in the U.S., it’s worth
looking at the same calculations for U.S. aid alone. In 2002, the U.S. gave $3
per sub-Saharan African. Taking out the parts for U.S. consultants and technical
cooperation, food and other emergency aid, administrative costs and debt
relief, the aid per African came to grand total of 6 cents.
The U.S. has
promised repeatedly over the decades, as a signatory to global agreements like
the Monterrey Consensus of 2002, to give a much larger proportion of its annual
output, specifically upto 0.7% of GNP, to official development assistance. The
U.S.’s failure to follow through has no political fallout domestically, of
course, because not one in a million U.S. citizens even knows of statements
like the Monterrey Consensus. But no one should underestimate the salience that
it has around the world. Spin as American might about their nation’s
generosity, the poor countries are fully aware of what the U.S. is not doing.
promised repeatedly over the decades, as a signatory to global agreements like
the Monterrey Consensus of 2002, to give a much larger proportion of its annual
output, specifically upto 0.7% of GNP, to official development assistance. The
U.S.’s failure to follow through has no political fallout domestically, of
course, because not one in a million U.S. citizens even knows of statements
like the Monterrey Consensus. But no one should underestimate the salience that
it has around the world. Spin as American might about their nation’s
generosity, the poor countries are fully aware of what the U.S. is not doing.
Q1. The
passage seems to emphasise that the outside world has:
passage seems to emphasise that the outside world has:
(a) correct
understanding about the reasonable aid provided by the USA to the poor
countries
understanding about the reasonable aid provided by the USA to the poor
countries
(b) definite
information about what is happening in underdeveloped countries
information about what is happening in underdeveloped countries
(c) stopped
extending any financial aid to underdeveloped countries
extending any financial aid to underdeveloped countries
(d)
misconceptions about the aid given to the poor nations by developed countries
misconceptions about the aid given to the poor nations by developed countries
(e) None of
these
these
Q2.
According to the Westerners the solution to eradicate poverty of African
nations lies in:
According to the Westerners the solution to eradicate poverty of African
nations lies in:
(a)
corruption
corruption
(b) improving
their own national behaviour
their own national behaviour
(c) misrule
(d)
prolonged economic crisis
prolonged economic crisis
(e) none of
these
these
Q3. The
author has given the example of Bangladesh, Indonesia and Pakistan in support
of his argument that:
author has given the example of Bangladesh, Indonesia and Pakistan in support
of his argument that:
(a)
corruption in the major culprit in the way of prosperity
corruption in the major culprit in the way of prosperity
(b)
mis-governance hampers the prosperity of nations
mis-governance hampers the prosperity of nations
(c) despite
rampant corruption, nations may prosper
rampant corruption, nations may prosper
(d)
developed nations arrogantly neglect underdeveloped countries
developed nations arrogantly neglect underdeveloped countries
(e) None of
these
these
Q4. The
author has mentioned Ghana as a country with:
author has mentioned Ghana as a country with:
(a)
reasonably good-governance
reasonably good-governance
(b) corrupt
leadership
leadership
(c) plenty
of natural resources
of natural resources
(d) rapid
economic growth
economic growth
(e) None of
these
these
Q5. The
cases of malaria in Africa are mainly due to:
cases of malaria in Africa are mainly due to:
(A) high
temperature.
temperature.
(B) climatic
conditions conducive for breeding.
conditions conducive for breeding.
(C) malaria
carriers’ liking for human blood in preference to that of cattle.
carriers’ liking for human blood in preference to that of cattle.
(a) None of
these
these
(b) Only B
and C
and C
(c) Only A
and C
and C
(d) Only A
and B
and B
(e) All the
three
three
Q6. The
remark of former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Paul O’Neil, is according to
the author.
remark of former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Paul O’Neil, is according to
the author.
(a) a
statement of fact
statement of fact
(b) not
factually correct
factually correct
(c) an
underestimation of U.S. aid
underestimation of U.S. aid
(d) a
ruthless remark by an arrogant bureaucrat
ruthless remark by an arrogant bureaucrat
(e) None of
these
these
Q7.
President Bush’s statement in a Press Conference in April 2004 indicates that:
President Bush’s statement in a Press Conference in April 2004 indicates that:
(a) the aid
given by the U.S. to the poor countries is substantial and sufficient
given by the U.S. to the poor countries is substantial and sufficient
(b) the
spread of freedom cannot be achieved through financial aid
spread of freedom cannot be achieved through financial aid
(c) feeding
the hungry millions outside the U.S. is not possible
the hungry millions outside the U.S. is not possible
(d) the
U.S., on its own, assumes the obligation of helping the poor countries
U.S., on its own, assumes the obligation of helping the poor countries
(e) U.S. has
spent trillions of dollars on aid
spent trillions of dollars on aid
Q8. Which of
the following statements is TRUE about U.S. aid to the sub-Saharan African
countries?
the following statements is TRUE about U.S. aid to the sub-Saharan African
countries?
(a) The U.S.
aid meant for per capita African does not reach the incumbent
aid meant for per capita African does not reach the incumbent
(b) The U.S.
aid to African countries is more than that for any other developing or
underdeveloped nation
aid to African countries is more than that for any other developing or
underdeveloped nation
(c) The U.S.
aid for farmers in African countries is $200 m per year
aid for farmers in African countries is $200 m per year
(d) The
donor country charges $5 per individual as the consultancy charges
donor country charges $5 per individual as the consultancy charges
(e) U.S. has
been contributing more that 0.7% of its GNP for development assistance
been contributing more that 0.7% of its GNP for development assistance
Q9. The
purpose of the author in writing this passage seems to:
purpose of the author in writing this passage seems to:
(a)
criticize USA for not providing adequate financial help
criticize USA for not providing adequate financial help
(b) make
Africans realize their own problems
Africans realize their own problems
(c) analyse
the actual quantum of aid against the perceived one
the actual quantum of aid against the perceived one
(d)
highlight how American leaders are power-hungry
highlight how American leaders are power-hungry
(e) None of
these
these
Directions
(10-12): Which of the following word/group of words is MOST NEARLY THE SAME in
meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage?
(10-12): Which of the following word/group of words is MOST NEARLY THE SAME in
meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage?
Q10.
obligation
obligation
(a) lip
sympathy
sympathy
(b) true
empathy
empathy
(c) self
pity
pity
(d)
conditional responsibility
conditional responsibility
(e) moral
binding
binding
Q11.
squander
squander
(a) use
economically
economically
(b) spend
wastefully
wastefully
(c) siphon
judiciously
judiciously
(d) donate
generously
generously
(e) donate with
ulterior motive
ulterior motive
Q12. modest
(a) humble
(b)
sufficient
sufficient
(c) meagre
(d) sober
(e)
unpretentious
unpretentious
Directions
(13-15): Which of the following word/group of words is most OPPOSITE in meaning
of the word given in bold as used in the passage.
(13-15): Which of the following word/group of words is most OPPOSITE in meaning
of the word given in bold as used in the passage.
Q13. myth
(a) reality
(b) mystery
(c) misery
(d)
misconception
misconception
(e)
exaggeration
exaggeration
Q14.
extensive
extensive
(a)
intensive
intensive
(b)
abominable
abominable
(c) inherent
(d) rampant
(e)
negligible
negligible
Q15.
prolonged
prolonged
(a)
immediate
immediate
(b)
shortened
shortened
(c) brevity
(d)
short-lived
short-lived
(e) narrow
Solutions
S1. Ans.(d)
Sol. misconceptions about the aid given to the poor nations by developed
countries
countries
S2. Ans.(b)
Sol. improving their own national behaviour
S3. Ans.(c)
Sol. despite rampant corruption, nations may prosper
S4. Ans.(a)
Sol. reasonably good-governance
S5. Ans.(d)
Sol. Only A and B
S6. Ans.(b)
Sol. not factually correct
S7. Ans.(d)
Sol. the U.S., on its own, assumes the obligation of helping the poor countries
S8. Ans.(d)
Sol. The donor country charges $5 per individual as the consultancy charges
S9. Ans.(c)
Sol. analyse the actual quantum of aid against the perceived one
S10. Ans.(e)
Sol. obligation-an act or course of
action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment.
action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment.
S11. Ans.(b)
Sol. squander-waste (something, especially
money or time) in a reckless and foolish manner.
money or time) in a reckless and foolish manner.
S12. Ans.(c)
Sol. meagre-(of something provided or
available) lacking in quantity or quality.
available) lacking in quantity or quality.
S13. Ans.(a)
Sol. Myth and reality are opposite in
meaning.
meaning.
S14. Ans.(e)
Sol. extensive-covering or affecting a
large area.
large area.
S15. Ans.(d)
Sol. prolonged -continuing for a long
time or longer than usual; lengthy.
time or longer than usual; lengthy.
