SBI PO 2015 PYQs

Question 1

Realistically, however this disconnect cannot _______ itself very long, sooner rather than _______ the whole will no doubt converge.

Accepted Answer

The first blank requires a verb in its base form ('cannot sustain'). The second blank needs an adverb of time ('sooner rather than later') to complete the common idiom.

Question 2

Which of the following should be the LAST (SIXTH) sentence after the rearrangement ?

Accepted Answer

To find the last sentence, identify the concluding statement that summarizes or provides a final thought. Sentence F typically serves as a strong concluding remark, making it the sixth sentence.

Question 3

Digitisation will _______ a couple of billion dollars in pay revenues, bring more taxes choice and clean out black money _______ cable.

Accepted Answer

Digitisation will 'release' revenues, meaning to make them available. Black money is cleaned out 'from' cable, indicating separation. Option 3 fits both contexts perfectly.

Question 4

Which of the following should be the THIRD sentence after the rearrangement?

Accepted Answer

To determine the third sentence, identify the logical flow and connections between sentences. Look for introductory sentences, supporting details, and concluding remarks to establish the correct sequence.

Question 5

Public sector infrastructure financing companies could _______ of the ambitious ‘smart cities’ citing _______ of guaranteed returns on investments.

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'opt out' means to choose not to participate, which fits the context of companies withdrawing due to 'lack' of guaranteed returns. This combination makes logical sense.

Question 6

Looks like the oil markets are not only showing _______ between the physical and the financial perspectives from time to time but also _______ between the short term view and the long term realities.

Accepted Answer

The sentence implies a lack of alignment in both cases. 'Disconnect' fits the first blank, and 'divergence' (meaning moving apart) fits the second, maintaining the negative connotation.

Question 7

Top global oil exporter Saudi Arabia _______ its crude production in April to a record high, _______ its flourishing Asian market share.

Accepted Answer

The first blank requires 'raised' (transitive verb) as production is being increased. The second blank needs a present participle 'feeding' to show the consequence of the action.

Question 8

Which of the following should be the last (sixth) sentence after rearrangement ?

Accepted Answer

To determine the last sentence, one must identify the logical flow and concluding statement of the paragraph. The correct answer is 'F' as it provides a suitable conclusion.

Question 9

Which of the following sentence(s) is/are correct in the context of the given passage ?I. Consultants and foreign investors argue that the conglomerate is the dinosaur of organisational design too unwieldly and slow to compete in today’s fast-paced markets.II. Core competencies and focus are now the mantras of corporate strategists in western economies.III. Due to lack of information required, companies in emerging markets face much higher costs in building credible brands in comparison to their counterparts in advanced economies.

Accepted Answer

The passage states that consultants view conglomerates as dinosaurs. It also mentions core competencies as mantras. However, the passage does not state that lack of information causes higher costs for emerging markets.

Question 10

Directions (6-15) : Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it.Certain words/phrases have been given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions. Manufacturers of consumer packaged goods (CPG) face two key challenges this year. The first is continued slow or negative growth in people’s disposable incomes. The second is changing consumer attitudes toward products and brands, as the great fragmentation of consumer markets take another turn. In response, companies must dramatically shift the route they take to reach consumers in terms of both product distribution and communications. In many markets, consumer wages have been static for five years now. Even where economies are starting to perform better, the squeeze on after -tax wages, especially for the middle class younger people and families, is depressing consumer spending. Although growth in developing countries is still better than in the United States and Europe, a slowdown in emerging countries such as China - where many countries had hoped for higher sales- has translated quickly into lower-than expected consumer spending growth. Meanwhile, what we call the great fragmentation is manifested in consumer behaviour and market response. In both developed and emerging markets, there is a wider variety among consumers now than at any time in the recent past. Growth is evident both at the top of the market (where more consumers are spending for higher-quality food and other packaged goods) and at the lower end (where an increasing number of consumers are concentrating on value). But the traditional middle of the market is shrinking . Further, individual consumer behaviour is more pluralistic. We are used to seeing, for example, spirits buyers purchasing a premium brand in a bar, a less costly label at home for personal consumption and yet another when entertaining guests. But this type of variegated shopping has now spread to the grocery basket as well. Fewer consumers are making one big stocking-up trip each week. Instead, shoppers are visiting a premium store and a discounter as well as a supermarket,in multiple weekly shops ¾ in addition to making frequent purchases online. During recession, more shoppers became inclined to spend time hunting for bargains and as some traditional retailers either went out of business or shuttered down, retail space was freed up and was often filled by convenience stores, specialty shops, and discounters. A decade ago, VCPG companies had only a handful of sales channels to consider supermarkets, convenience stores, hypermarkets in advanced economies and traditional small and large retailers in emerging countries. Since then, various discounters have made-significant inroads, including no frills, low variety outlets, such as Europe’s Aldi and Lidi, which sell a limited range of private-label grocery items in smaller stores and massive warehouse clubs, such as Costco and Sam’s club, which initially operated solely in the U.S. but are now expanding internationally. In addition, dollar stores, specialised retailers, and online merchants are having an impact on the CPG landscape, Economising consumers have been pleasantly, surprised by the savings generated by spreading their business among multiple channels, as well as by the variety and product quality they find. The result has been greater demand for more products and brands, with different sizes, packaging and sales methods. At most CPG companies, SKUs are proliferating despite there being little increase in overall consumption. A better outcome can be seen at smaller food and beverage suppliers, which are benefiting from consumer demand for variety and authenticity. A recent report found that in the U.S., small manufacturers (with revenues of less than US $ l billion) grew at twice the compound annual rate of large manufacturers (with revenues of more than $ 3 billion between 2009 and 2012. Consumers’ media usage has also fragmented with the rise of digital content and the proliferation of online devices. Each channel- from the Web, Mobile and social sites for radio, TV, and printhasits own requirements, audience appeal and economies, needing specialised attention. But, at the same time, media campaigns need to be closely coordinated for effective consumer messaging. Collectively, these shifts challenge the way CPG companies manage their brand and business portfolios and call for a rethinking of their go-to-market approach, with an emphasis on analytics. Our work with INSEAD shows that among business leaders, applying analytics-especially for tracking consumer behaviour and product and promotional performance- considered one of the most effective ways to improve results and outpace the competition. But it’s not just about insight. It’s also about using the insight wisely to determine how to manage costs. The more knowledgeable about customer needs and preferences a company is, the smarter and more focused it must be in managing its own economics to cost-effectively deliver both variety and value to be squeezed consumer.

The central theme of the given passage is _________.

Accepted Answer

To find the central theme, analyze the passage for its main argument or recurring idea. The correct option summarizes this overarching message effectively.

Question 11

Which of the following is most nearly the OPPOSITE in meaning to the word ‘CONCERTED’ as used in the passage ?

Accepted Answer

The word 'concerted' means jointly arranged or carried out. Its opposite would be something done individually or without coordination. Since no option directly means 'individual' or 'uncoordinated', we look for the closest opposite. The correct answer is not provided in the options, as 'concerted' means 'done together' and none of the options are its opposite. Assuming there's a typo and the correct answer is 'uncoordinated' or 'individual', we'd choose that. Given the options, none are direct opposites.

Question 12

What suggestions have been cited by the writer in regard to raising adequate financing and hiring skilled employees ?

Accepted Answer

The question asks for suggestions regarding both financing and hiring. Option 3 comprehensively lists all three elements mentioned in the text: effective securities regulation, venture capital firms, and strong educational institutions.

Question 13

In the context of the passage, which of the following brands existed otherwise but is now being manifested in buying groceries as well ?

Accepted Answer

The question asks for a brand that existed but is now seen in grocery buying. Option 2, 'Consumer willing to purchase goods for a longer period of time,' implies brand loyalty, which is a pre-existing concept now extending to groceries.

Question 14

Which of the following is most nearly the OPPOSITE in meaning to the word ‘ROBUST’ as used in the passage ?

Accepted Answer

Robust means strong and healthy. The opposite of strong is weak or flimsy. Therefore, 'flimsy' is the most appropriate antonym.

Question 15

The writer has cited some hurdles in the case of product markets regarding shortage of information. Which of the following statement(s) in this regard is/are true ?I. Communications infrastructure in emerging markets is often under developed.II. Postalservice is typically inefficient, slow or unreliable.III. High rates of illiteracy make it difficult for marketers to communicate effectively with customers.

Accepted Answer

The question asks to identify true statements based on the text. Since the original text is not provided, we cannot determine which statements are true. Therefore, none of the given options can be confirmed.

Question 16

Which of the following is most nearly the OPPOSITE in meaning to the word ‘DEPRESSING’ as used in the passage ?

Accepted Answer

The word 'depressing' means causing sadness or gloom. 'Encouraging' means giving hope or support, which is its direct opposite.

Question 17

Which of the following is most nearly the same in meaning to the word ‘UNEXPLOITED’ as used in the passage ?

Accepted Answer

The word 'unexploited' means not having been used or taken advantage of. 'Untapped' means not yet used or exploited, making it the closest synonym.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is correct in regard to the given passge ?

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is not provided in the options. The question asks to identify the correct statement regarding a given passage, but the passage itself is missing. Without the passage, it's impossible to determine the correct statement.

Question 19

As mentioned in the passage, CPG companies may have to reassess their present strategies of operating to _________. (A) retain their customers. (B)keep pace with changing consumer preferences as they have access to multiple media channels. (C)make more cost-effective decisions.

Accepted Answer

The passage implies that CPG companies need to adapt to retain customers, keep up with changing preferences due to media access, and make cost-effective decisions for survival. All three options are valid reasons.

Question 20

The title for the given passage could be ________

Accepted Answer

The passage primarily discusses challenges and obstacles in implementing energy conservation programs, making 'Barriers to effective usages of energy' the most fitting title.