SBI PO 2017 PYQs

Question 1

Directions (Qs 1-10): Which of the phrases given against the sentences should replace the word/ phrase given in
bold
in the sentence to make it grammatically correct? If the sentence is correctas it is given and no correction is required, select ‘No correction required’ as the answer.

The public sector banks exercise a degree of discriminationof optimum utiliseof the financial resources of the community.

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'discrimination for' is correct, and 'utilisation' is the appropriate noun form. This combination ensures grammatical correctness and clear meaning in the sentence.

Question 2

The tambourineto gain popularityin the mid 18th century in Western Europe as an orchestral instrument.

Accepted Answer

The sentence describes a past event that was completed at a specific time (mid-18th century). Therefore, the simple past tense verb 'gained' is the correct choice.

Question 3

Directions (Qs 1-10): Which of the phrases given against the sentences should replace the word/ phrase given in
bold
in the sentence to make it grammatically correct? If the sentence is correctas it is given and no correction is required, select ‘No correction required’ as the answer.

Observingthat when the marketsare in a buoyant state, theretail investor tends to jumpin and invest in the market

Accepted Answer

The sentence starts with a gerund phrase acting as a participial clause, describing the condition. 'Observing' correctly sets up this introductory clause.

Question 4

Varun advised Aman thatgive offwrong pleasure is not self sacrifice but self-culture.

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'give off' means to emit, which is incorrect here. The context requires 'giving up', meaning to surrender or abandon something, which fits the idea of self-sacrifice.

Question 5

Directions (Qs 11-20): Read the following passage and answer the given questions. Certain words or phrases are given in
bold
to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
Stocks of grain and other foods are high, with another bumper harvest due in the northern hemisphere this year. The number of hungry people has been falling too, by 167 million in the past decade, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), chiefly thanks to progress in China and India. Yet that leaves nearly 800 million, a third of which are in Africa,The UN reckons that one measure,“prevalence of undernourishment”has the dropped from 18.6%of the world population in 1990-92 to 10.9% now. That broadly meets a target the world set itself in 2000,in the Millennium Development Goals. But international bodies such as the G7 are worried about the coming decades. The world’s population will exceed nine billion in 2050, with most of the growth in developing countries. The United States Department of Agriculture reckons that the number of hungry(“food insecure”) people in sub-Saharan Africa will rise by a third. The FAO reckons that food production will need to increase by 70%. Worries abound. Crop yields are
flat
. And many trends are negative : new crop diseases, urbanisation, desertification,salinisation and soil erosion,which outstrips renewal even in developed countries.
That does not mean disaster is looming. Agricultural productivity is often shockingly low in “traditional” farming practices. That leaves plenty of room for improvement. But in most kinds of agriculture, scarce water can be used more sensibly. A study by Britain’s Institution of Mechanical Engineers estimated that 550 billion litres are wasted annually in crop production. Eliminating waste, for example by drip feed irrigation, could raise food production by 60% or more. Phosphorus{a finite resource, unlike water)is wasted too : only a fifth of the phosphorus mined actually ends up in food. Climate change will indeed hurt some farmers but help others(so, perhaps, does more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere). Genetically Modified (GM) crops (such as drought-resistant rice, heat-resistant maize or blight-resistant wheat) have huge
potential
Technology is only part of the solution.The food chain lacks resilience to other forms of disruption too, from political strife to consumer panics.Panics about contamination (real or imagined), for example, can send food flying off the shelves. A new report by Lloyds of London insurance market highlights the need for more innovation to help farmers and food manufacturers deal with adverse weather and other potential risks.
The Gulf countries have long been preoccupied by the question of how to feed their people. The region’s population is expected to grow by 40% between 2010 and 2030. Some gulf countries import as much as 10% of their food. Their governments have been unsure of the best way to keep everyone fed and content. Qatar reportedly declared that it would produce 70%of its food at home by 2023, by adopting new technologies of desalination and hydroponics. Adding  a layer of the hydroponic sand under the topsoil stops water from reaching away, making it easier to grow crops in odd climates or in water scarce lands. Agricultural entrepreneur sreck on that such innovation could allow the country to grow more of its own food. That idea was soon
dropped
. Saudi Arabia, with the busiest farm sector among the six countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council, scaled back wheat grown by irrigation because it was draining non-renewable aquifers.Heavy reliance on imports is problematic when countries such as Argentina suddenly restrict their exports in response to rising prices.Buying farmland in countries such as Sudan, Tanzania and Pakistanis another Gulf ploy. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are among the top ten investors in land abroad, according to Land Matrix, a body that tracks such deals. But this has drawbacks,too. Getting big projects off the ground in places that lack infrastructure is tricky. Many of the region’s rulers are now considering investing in food companies abroad, often in more developed countries. The UAE’s Al Dahra Agriculture,which works closely with the government and owns land abroad, recently bought eight farm companies in Serbia for
\
\backslash
\
$ 400 m. It has also invested in an Indian rice producer. In addition, countries like Saudi Arabia are looking at ways of keeping strategic food reserves.Gulf rulers may end up following a mixture of such strategies to fill their peoples’ stomachs. They should at least be commended for grappling with the problem, says a regional food expert. Poorer and hungrier Arab countries, like Egypt and Yemen, are far less willing to address it.

Why has the author mentioned the example of Qatar in the passage?(A) To illustrate how increased dependence on foreign food imports backfires.(B) It demonstrates the tremendous impact climate change has on agriculture which is going unnoticed.(C) To show that some countries are innovative and making tremendous efforts to improve agriculture.

Accepted Answer

The passage highlights Qatar's efforts in agricultural innovation despite challenges, indicating the author used it to show countries making efforts to improve agriculture. Option C aligns with this.

Question 6

In the modern day, it is common to say you arebored to deathif someone or something is incredibly uninteresting.

Accepted Answer

The idiom 'bored to death' is a fixed phrase meaning extremely bored. It is used to emphasize the intensity of boredom.

Question 7

Directions (Qs 11-20): Read the following passage and answer the given questions. Certain words/phrases are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
There is a market failure in cyber security. Solutions being suggested or tried include increasing transparency about data losses,helping consumers and firms to make more informed decisions about cyber-security; shedding more light on how internet-service providers (ISPs) tackle malware infections they spot on customers’ computers;and using liability laws to force software companies to produce safer code. On transparency, America hasled the way. Almost all American states now have data-breach laws that require firms to reveal any loss of sensitive customer information.In Europe telecoms firms have been obliged to notify customers of breaches for some time now, and there are plans to extend reporting to a wider range of industries.
Breach laws have encouraged insurance companies to offer coverage against potential losses. This is helpful because they are in a position to gather and share information about best practices across a wide range of companies. A cyber insurer advises companies on defensive tactics, and also on how to minimise the damage if something goes wrong. The American government should create a cyber-equivalent of the National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates serious accidents and shares information about them. Such a body could look into all breaches that cost over,
\
\backslash
\
$ 50m and make sure the lessons are shared widely. But insurers are likely to remain wary of taking on
broader
risks because the costs associated with a
serious
cyber-incident could be astronomic.Insurers can deal with acts of God,but not acts of Anonymous (hacking groups or acts of state sponsored  hacking). This explains why the overall cyber-insurance market is still small. Governments are weighing in, too, not least by supporting private-sector efforts to clean up“botnets”, or networks of compromised computers controlled by hackers. These networks, which are prevalent in countries such as America and China, can be used to launch attacks and spread malware.In Germany an initiative called Bot-Frei, which helps people clean up their infected computers, received government support to get started,though it is now self-financing. The American government has also worked closely with private firms to bring down large botnets. Another strategy involves issuing standards to encourage improved security.America’s National Institute of Standards and Technology published a set of voluntary guide lines for companies in critical-infrastructure sectors such as energy and transport. Britain has also launched a scheme called “cyber-essentials”under which firms can apply for a certificate showing they comply with certain minimum security standards. Applicants undergo an external audit and, if successful,are awarded a badge which they can use on marketing materials.Whether governments are best placed to set minimum standards is debatable, but they have certainly raised awareness of cyber-security as an issue that needs attention.
They could also help to get more information into the public domain.Researchers have argued persuasively that collecting and publishing data about the quantity of spam and other bad traffic handled by ISPs could encourage the worst performers to do more to tackle the problem,thus improving overall security.Another debate has revolved around getting software companies to produce code with fewer flaws init. One idea is to make them liable for damage caused when, say, hackers exploit a weakness in a software program. Most software companies currently insist customers accept end-user licensing agreements that specifically protect firms from legal claims unless local laws prohibit such exclusions. The snag is that imposing blanket liability could have a chilling effect on innovation.Companies that are selling millions of copies of programmes might take fright at the potential exposure and leave the business. Strict liability be applied only to firms which produce software that cannot be patched if a security flaw is found.There is quite a lot of that sort of code around.

Which of the following is theSAMEin meaning as the wordBROADERas used in the passage?

Accepted Answer

The word 'broader' in the context of a passage often implies a wider scope or more inclusive understanding. 'Comprehensive' accurately captures this meaning of covering all aspects.

Question 8

Directions (Qs 11-20): Read the following passage and answer the given questions. Certain words or phrases are given in
bold
to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
Stocks of grain and other foods are high, with another bumper harvest due in the northern hemisphere this year. The number of hungry people has been falling too, by 167 million in the past decade, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), chiefly thanks to progress in China and India. Yet that leaves nearly 800 million, a third of which are in Africa,The UN reckons that one measure,“prevalence of undernourishment”has the dropped from 18.6%of the world population in 1990-92 to 10.9% now. That broadly meets a target the world set itself in 2000,in the Millennium Development Goals. But international bodies such as the G7 are worried about the coming decades. The world’s population will exceed nine billion in 2050, with most of the growth in developing countries. The United States Department of Agriculture reckons that the number of hungry(“food insecure”) people in sub-Saharan Africa will rise by a third. The FAO reckons that food production will need to increase by 70%. Worries abound. Crop yields are
flat
. And many trends are negative : new crop diseases, urbanisation, desertification,salinisation and soil erosion,which outstrips renewal even in developed countries.
That does not mean disaster is looming. Agricultural productivity is often shockingly low in “traditional” farming practices. That leaves plenty of room for improvement. But in most kinds of agriculture, scarce water can be used more sensibly. A study by Britain’s Institution of Mechanical Engineers estimated that 550 billion litres are wasted annually in crop production. Eliminating waste, for example by drip feed irrigation, could raise food production by 60% or more. Phosphorus{a finite resource, unlike water)is wasted too : only a fifth of the phosphorus mined actually ends up in food. Climate change will indeed hurt some farmers but help others(so, perhaps, does more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere). Genetically Modified (GM) crops (such as drought-resistant rice, heat-resistant maize or blight-resistant wheat) have huge
potential
Technology is only part of the solution.The food chain lacks resilience to other forms of disruption too, from political strife to consumer panics.Panics about contamination (real or imagined), for example, can send food flying off the shelves. A new report by Lloyds of London insurance market highlights the need for more innovation to help farmers and food manufacturers deal with adverse weather and other potential risks.
The Gulf countries have long been preoccupied by the question of how to feed their people. The region’s population is expected to grow by 40% between 2010 and 2030. Some gulf countries import as much as 10% of their food. Their governments have been unsure of the best way to keep everyone fed and content. Qatar reportedly declared that it would produce 70%of its food at home by 2023, by adopting new technologies of desalination and hydroponics. Adding  a layer of the hydroponic sand under the topsoil stops water from reaching away, making it easier to grow crops in odd climates or in water scarce lands. Agricultural entrepreneur sreck on that such innovation could allow the country to grow more of its own food. That idea was soon
dropped
. Saudi Arabia, with the busiest farm sector among the six countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council, scaled back wheat grown by irrigation because it was draining non-renewable aquifers.Heavy reliance on imports is problematic when countries such as Argentina suddenly restrict their exports in response to rising prices.Buying farmland in countries such as Sudan, Tanzania and Pakistanis another Gulf ploy. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are among the top ten investors in land abroad, according to Land Matrix, a body that tracks such deals. But this has drawbacks,too. Getting big projects off the ground in places that lack infrastructure is tricky. Many of the region’s rulers are now considering investing in food companies abroad, often in more developed countries. The UAE’s Al Dahra Agriculture,which works closely with the government and owns land abroad, recently bought eight farm companies in Serbia for
\
\backslash
\
$ 400 m. It has also invested in an Indian rice producer. In addition, countries like Saudi Arabia are looking at ways of keeping strategic food reserves.Gulf rulers may end up following a mixture of such strategies to fill their peoples’ stomachs. They should at least be commended for grappling with the problem, says a regional food expert. Poorer and hungrier Arab countries, like Egypt and Yemen, are far less willing to address it.

Which of the following is the SAME in meaning as the word FLAT as used in the passage?

Accepted Answer

In the context of the passage, 'flat' implies something constant or without change. 'Unvarying' perfectly captures this meaning, indicating no fluctuation or alteration.

Question 9

We advised themto going toa hill station during the summer vacation.

Accepted Answer

The verb 'advise' is followed by an infinitive (to + verb) when referring to an action. Therefore, 'to go to' is the correct grammatical construction.

Question 10

Directions (Qs 11-20): Read the following passage and answer the given questions. Certain words/phrases are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
There is a market failure in cyber security. Solutions being suggested or tried include increasing transparency about data losses,helping consumers and firms to make more informed decisions about cyber-security; shedding more light on how internet-service providers (ISPs) tackle malware infections they spot on customers’ computers;and using liability laws to force software companies to produce safer code. On transparency, America hasled the way. Almost all American states now have data-breach laws that require firms to reveal any loss of sensitive customer information.In Europe telecoms firms have been obliged to notify customers of breaches for some time now, and there are plans to extend reporting to a wider range of industries.
Breach laws have encouraged insurance companies to offer coverage against potential losses. This is helpful because they are in a position to gather and share information about best practices across a wide range of companies. A cyber insurer advises companies on defensive tactics, and also on how to minimise the damage if something goes wrong. The American government should create a cyber-equivalent of the National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates serious accidents and shares information about them. Such a body could look into all breaches that cost over,
\
\backslash
\
$ 50m and make sure the lessons are shared widely. But insurers are likely to remain wary of taking on
broader
risks because the costs associated with a
serious
cyber-incident could be astronomic.Insurers can deal with acts of God,but not acts of Anonymous (hacking groups or acts of state sponsored  hacking). This explains why the overall cyber-insurance market is still small. Governments are weighing in, too, not least by supporting private-sector efforts to clean up“botnets”, or networks of compromised computers controlled by hackers. These networks, which are prevalent in countries such as America and China, can be used to launch attacks and spread malware.In Germany an initiative called Bot-Frei, which helps people clean up their infected computers, received government support to get started,though it is now self-financing. The American government has also worked closely with private firms to bring down large botnets. Another strategy involves issuing standards to encourage improved security.America’s National Institute of Standards and Technology published a set of voluntary guide lines for companies in critical-infrastructure sectors such as energy and transport. Britain has also launched a scheme called “cyber-essentials”under which firms can apply for a certificate showing they comply with certain minimum security standards. Applicants undergo an external audit and, if successful,are awarded a badge which they can use on marketing materials.Whether governments are best placed to set minimum standards is debatable, but they have certainly raised awareness of cyber-security as an issue that needs attention.
They could also help to get more information into the public domain.Researchers have argued persuasively that collecting and publishing data about the quantity of spam and other bad traffic handled by ISPs could encourage the worst performers to do more to tackle the problem,thus improving overall security.Another debate has revolved around getting software companies to produce code with fewer flaws init. One idea is to make them liable for damage caused when, say, hackers exploit a weakness in a software program. Most software companies currently insist customers accept end-user licensing agreements that specifically protect firms from legal claims unless local laws prohibit such exclusions. The snag is that imposing blanket liability could have a chilling effect on innovation.Companies that are selling millions of copies of programmes might take fright at the potential exposure and leave the business. Strict liability be applied only to firms which produce software that cannot be patched if a security flaw is found.There is quite a lot of that sort of code around.

Which of the following is/are the argument(s) in favour of cyber- essentials?(A) It boosts transparency and promotion of firms.(B) The certification is given by hackers which makes it authentic.(C) Firms benefit from paying attention to cyber-security and so do users.

Accepted Answer

Cyber-essentials enhance transparency and promote firms by demonstrating commitment to security. Both firms and users benefit from robust cybersecurity measures, making (A) and (C) valid arguments.

Question 11

They failed intheir attemptto repair the demolished portion of the building.

Accepted Answer

The original sentence is grammatically correct. 'Failed in their attempt' is a standard idiomatic expression, meaning no improvement is needed. Thus, option 5 (No improvement) is correct.

Question 12

Directions (Qs 11-20): Read the following passage and answer the given questions. Certain words/phrases are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
There is a market failure in cyber security. Solutions being suggested or tried include increasing transparency about data losses,helping consumers and firms to make more informed decisions about cyber-security; shedding more light on how internet-service providers (ISPs) tackle malware infections they spot on customers’ computers;and using liability laws to force software companies to produce safer code. On transparency, America hasled the way. Almost all American states now have data-breach laws that require firms to reveal any loss of sensitive customer information.In Europe telecoms firms have been obliged to notify customers of breaches for some time now, and there are plans to extend reporting to a wider range of industries.
Breach laws have encouraged insurance companies to offer coverage against potential losses. This is helpful because they are in a position to gather and share information about best practices across a wide range of companies. A cyber insurer advises companies on defensive tactics, and also on how to minimise the damage if something goes wrong. The American government should create a cyber-equivalent of the National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates serious accidents and shares information about them. Such a body could look into all breaches that cost over,
\
\backslash
\
$ 50m and make sure the lessons are shared widely. But insurers are likely to remain wary of taking on
broader
risks because the costs associated with a
serious
cyber-incident could be astronomic.Insurers can deal with acts of God,but not acts of Anonymous (hacking groups or acts of state sponsored  hacking). This explains why the overall cyber-insurance market is still small. Governments are weighing in, too, not least by supporting private-sector efforts to clean up“botnets”, or networks of compromised computers controlled by hackers. These networks, which are prevalent in countries such as America and China, can be used to launch attacks and spread malware.In Germany an initiative called Bot-Frei, which helps people clean up their infected computers, received government support to get started,though it is now self-financing. The American government has also worked closely with private firms to bring down large botnets. Another strategy involves issuing standards to encourage improved security.America’s National Institute of Standards and Technology published a set of voluntary guide lines for companies in critical-infrastructure sectors such as energy and transport. Britain has also launched a scheme called “cyber-essentials”under which firms can apply for a certificate showing they comply with certain minimum security standards. Applicants undergo an external audit and, if successful,are awarded a badge which they can use on marketing materials.Whether governments are best placed to set minimum standards is debatable, but they have certainly raised awareness of cyber-security as an issue that needs attention.
They could also help to get more information into the public domain.Researchers have argued persuasively that collecting and publishing data about the quantity of spam and other bad traffic handled by ISPs could encourage the worst performers to do more to tackle the problem,thus improving overall security.Another debate has revolved around getting software companies to produce code with fewer flaws init. One idea is to make them liable for damage caused when, say, hackers exploit a weakness in a software program. Most software companies currently insist customers accept end-user licensing agreements that specifically protect firms from legal claims unless local laws prohibit such exclusions. The snag is that imposing blanket liability could have a chilling effect on innovation.Companies that are selling millions of copies of programmes might take fright at the potential exposure and leave the business. Strict liability be applied only to firms which produce software that cannot be patched if a security flaw is found.There is quite a lot of that sort of code around.

Which of the following is theSAMEin meaning as the wordTRIEDas used in the passage?

Accepted Answer

The word 'tried' in the context of 'attempted' means to make an effort to do something. 'Attempted' is the closest synonym among the given options.

Question 13

Directions (Qs 11-20): Read the following passage and answer the given questions. Certain words or phrases are given in
bold
to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
Stocks of grain and other foods are high, with another bumper harvest due in the northern hemisphere this year. The number of hungry people has been falling too, by 167 million in the past decade, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), chiefly thanks to progress in China and India. Yet that leaves nearly 800 million, a third of which are in Africa,The UN reckons that one measure,“prevalence of undernourishment”has the dropped from 18.6%of the world population in 1990-92 to 10.9% now. That broadly meets a target the world set itself in 2000,in the Millennium Development Goals. But international bodies such as the G7 are worried about the coming decades. The world’s population will exceed nine billion in 2050, with most of the growth in developing countries. The United States Department of Agriculture reckons that the number of hungry(“food insecure”) people in sub-Saharan Africa will rise by a third. The FAO reckons that food production will need to increase by 70%. Worries abound. Crop yields are
flat
. And many trends are negative : new crop diseases, urbanisation, desertification,salinisation and soil erosion,which outstrips renewal even in developed countries.
That does not mean disaster is looming. Agricultural productivity is often shockingly low in “traditional” farming practices. That leaves plenty of room for improvement. But in most kinds of agriculture, scarce water can be used more sensibly. A study by Britain’s Institution of Mechanical Engineers estimated that 550 billion litres are wasted annually in crop production. Eliminating waste, for example by drip feed irrigation, could raise food production by 60% or more. Phosphorus{a finite resource, unlike water)is wasted too : only a fifth of the phosphorus mined actually ends up in food. Climate change will indeed hurt some farmers but help others(so, perhaps, does more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere). Genetically Modified (GM) crops (such as drought-resistant rice, heat-resistant maize or blight-resistant wheat) have huge
potential
Technology is only part of the solution.The food chain lacks resilience to other forms of disruption too, from political strife to consumer panics.Panics about contamination (real or imagined), for example, can send food flying off the shelves. A new report by Lloyds of London insurance market highlights the need for more innovation to help farmers and food manufacturers deal with adverse weather and other potential risks.
The Gulf countries have long been preoccupied by the question of how to feed their people. The region’s population is expected to grow by 40% between 2010 and 2030. Some gulf countries import as much as 10% of their food. Their governments have been unsure of the best way to keep everyone fed and content. Qatar reportedly declared that it would produce 70%of its food at home by 2023, by adopting new technologies of desalination and hydroponics. Adding  a layer of the hydroponic sand under the topsoil stops water from reaching away, making it easier to grow crops in odd climates or in water scarce lands. Agricultural entrepreneur sreck on that such innovation could allow the country to grow more of its own food. That idea was soon
dropped
. Saudi Arabia, with the busiest farm sector among the six countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council, scaled back wheat grown by irrigation because it was draining non-renewable aquifers.Heavy reliance on imports is problematic when countries such as Argentina suddenly restrict their exports in response to rising prices.Buying farmland in countries such as Sudan, Tanzania and Pakistanis another Gulf ploy. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are among the top ten investors in land abroad, according to Land Matrix, a body that tracks such deals. But this has drawbacks,too. Getting big projects off the ground in places that lack infrastructure is tricky. Many of the region’s rulers are now considering investing in food companies abroad, often in more developed countries. The UAE’s Al Dahra Agriculture,which works closely with the government and owns land abroad, recently bought eight farm companies in Serbia for
\
\backslash
\
$ 400 m. It has also invested in an Indian rice producer. In addition, countries like Saudi Arabia are looking at ways of keeping strategic food reserves.Gulf rulers may end up following a mixture of such strategies to fill their peoples’ stomachs. They should at least be commended for grappling with the problem, says a regional food expert. Poorer and hungrier Arab countries, like Egypt and Yemen, are far less willing to address it.

Which of the following is the OPPOSITE of the word DROPPED as used in the passage?

Accepted Answer

The word 'dropped' implies discontinuation or abandonment. 'Sustained' means to continue or maintain, making it the direct opposite in context.

Question 14

In Indian democracy, It is necessary for the citizens tobeware ofall the political facts about every political party.

Accepted Answer

The phrase 'be aware of' correctly means to have knowledge or perception of something. The original sentence incorrectly uses 'tobeware of'.

Question 15

Directions (Qs 11-20): Read the following passage and answer the given questions. Certain words/phrases are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
There is a market failure in cyber security. Solutions being suggested or tried include increasing transparency about data losses,helping consumers and firms to make more informed decisions about cyber-security; shedding more light on how internet-service providers (ISPs) tackle malware infections they spot on customers’ computers;and using liability laws to force software companies to produce safer code. On transparency, America hasled the way. Almost all American states now have data-breach laws that require firms to reveal any loss of sensitive customer information.In Europe telecoms firms have been obliged to notify customers of breaches for some time now, and there are plans to extend reporting to a wider range of industries.
Breach laws have encouraged insurance companies to offer coverage against potential losses. This is helpful because they are in a position to gather and share information about best practices across a wide range of companies. A cyber insurer advises companies on defensive tactics, and also on how to minimise the damage if something goes wrong. The American government should create a cyber-equivalent of the National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates serious accidents and shares information about them. Such a body could look into all breaches that cost over,
\
\backslash
\
$ 50m and make sure the lessons are shared widely. But insurers are likely to remain wary of taking on
broader
risks because the costs associated with a
serious
cyber-incident could be astronomic.Insurers can deal with acts of God,but not acts of Anonymous (hacking groups or acts of state sponsored  hacking). This explains why the overall cyber-insurance market is still small. Governments are weighing in, too, not least by supporting private-sector efforts to clean up“botnets”, or networks of compromised computers controlled by hackers. These networks, which are prevalent in countries such as America and China, can be used to launch attacks and spread malware.In Germany an initiative called Bot-Frei, which helps people clean up their infected computers, received government support to get started,though it is now self-financing. The American government has also worked closely with private firms to bring down large botnets. Another strategy involves issuing standards to encourage improved security.America’s National Institute of Standards and Technology published a set of voluntary guide lines for companies in critical-infrastructure sectors such as energy and transport. Britain has also launched a scheme called “cyber-essentials”under which firms can apply for a certificate showing they comply with certain minimum security standards. Applicants undergo an external audit and, if successful,are awarded a badge which they can use on marketing materials.Whether governments are best placed to set minimum standards is debatable, but they have certainly raised awareness of cyber-security as an issue that needs attention.
They could also help to get more information into the public domain.Researchers have argued persuasively that collecting and publishing data about the quantity of spam and other bad traffic handled by ISPs could encourage the worst performers to do more to tackle the problem,thus improving overall security.Another debate has revolved around getting software companies to produce code with fewer flaws init. One idea is to make them liable for damage caused when, say, hackers exploit a weakness in a software program. Most software companies currently insist customers accept end-user licensing agreements that specifically protect firms from legal claims unless local laws prohibit such exclusions. The snag is that imposing blanket liability could have a chilling effect on innovation.Companies that are selling millions of copies of programmes might take fright at the potential exposure and leave the business. Strict liability be applied only to firms which produce software that cannot be patched if a security flaw is found.There is quite a lot of that sort of code around.

Which of the following is theOPPOSITEof the wordSERIOUSas used in the passage?

Accepted Answer

The word 'serious' implies importance or gravity. Its opposite, 'insignificant,' means lacking importance. Therefore, option 4 is the correct antonym.

Question 16

We’re going to have toput downour summer vacation until July because of the bad weather conditions.

Accepted Answer

The phrasal verb 'put off' means to postpone or delay, which fits the context of delaying a vacation due to bad weather. The other options do not convey this meaning.

Question 17

Wecalled onbut we weren’t able to find the car part we needed to fix the gear system.

Accepted Answer

The phrasal verb 'called around' means to contact multiple people or places. This fits the context of searching for a car part.

Question 18

Directions (Qs 11-20): Read the following passage and answer the given questions. Certain words/phrases are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
There is a market failure in cyber security. Solutions being suggested or tried include increasing transparency about data losses,helping consumers and firms to make more informed decisions about cyber-security; shedding more light on how internet-service providers (ISPs) tackle malware infections they spot on customers’ computers;and using liability laws to force software companies to produce safer code. On transparency, America hasled the way. Almost all American states now have data-breach laws that require firms to reveal any loss of sensitive customer information.In Europe telecoms firms have been obliged to notify customers of breaches for some time now, and there are plans to extend reporting to a wider range of industries.
Breach laws have encouraged insurance companies to offer coverage against potential losses. This is helpful because they are in a position to gather and share information about best practices across a wide range of companies. A cyber insurer advises companies on defensive tactics, and also on how to minimise the damage if something goes wrong. The American government should create a cyber-equivalent of the National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates serious accidents and shares information about them. Such a body could look into all breaches that cost over,
\
\backslash
\
$ 50m and make sure the lessons are shared widely. But insurers are likely to remain wary of taking on
broader
risks because the costs associated with a
serious
cyber-incident could be astronomic.Insurers can deal with acts of God,but not acts of Anonymous (hacking groups or acts of state sponsored  hacking). This explains why the overall cyber-insurance market is still small. Governments are weighing in, too, not least by supporting private-sector efforts to clean up“botnets”, or networks of compromised computers controlled by hackers. These networks, which are prevalent in countries such as America and China, can be used to launch attacks and spread malware.In Germany an initiative called Bot-Frei, which helps people clean up their infected computers, received government support to get started,though it is now self-financing. The American government has also worked closely with private firms to bring down large botnets. Another strategy involves issuing standards to encourage improved security.America’s National Institute of Standards and Technology published a set of voluntary guide lines for companies in critical-infrastructure sectors such as energy and transport. Britain has also launched a scheme called “cyber-essentials”under which firms can apply for a certificate showing they comply with certain minimum security standards. Applicants undergo an external audit and, if successful,are awarded a badge which they can use on marketing materials.Whether governments are best placed to set minimum standards is debatable, but they have certainly raised awareness of cyber-security as an issue that needs attention.
They could also help to get more information into the public domain.Researchers have argued persuasively that collecting and publishing data about the quantity of spam and other bad traffic handled by ISPs could encourage the worst performers to do more to tackle the problem,thus improving overall security.Another debate has revolved around getting software companies to produce code with fewer flaws init. One idea is to make them liable for damage caused when, say, hackers exploit a weakness in a software program. Most software companies currently insist customers accept end-user licensing agreements that specifically protect firms from legal claims unless local laws prohibit such exclusions. The snag is that imposing blanket liability could have a chilling effect on innovation.Companies that are selling millions of copies of programmes might take fright at the potential exposure and leave the business. Strict liability be applied only to firms which produce software that cannot be patched if a security flaw is found.There is quite a lot of that sort of code around.

Which of the following best describes the author’s view of liability laws?

Accepted Answer

The author suggests liability laws will motivate firms to improve software security. This implies a positive view, seeing them as effective incentives for better practices.

Question 19

Directions (Qs 11-20): Read the following passage and answer the given questions. Certain words or phrases are given in
bold
to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
Stocks of grain and other foods are high, with another bumper harvest due in the northern hemisphere this year. The number of hungry people has been falling too, by 167 million in the past decade, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), chiefly thanks to progress in China and India. Yet that leaves nearly 800 million, a third of which are in Africa,The UN reckons that one measure,“prevalence of undernourishment”has the dropped from 18.6%of the world population in 1990-92 to 10.9% now. That broadly meets a target the world set itself in 2000,in the Millennium Development Goals. But international bodies such as the G7 are worried about the coming decades. The world’s population will exceed nine billion in 2050, with most of the growth in developing countries. The United States Department of Agriculture reckons that the number of hungry(“food insecure”) people in sub-Saharan Africa will rise by a third. The FAO reckons that food production will need to increase by 70%. Worries abound. Crop yields are
flat
. And many trends are negative : new crop diseases, urbanisation, desertification,salinisation and soil erosion,which outstrips renewal even in developed countries.
That does not mean disaster is looming. Agricultural productivity is often shockingly low in “traditional” farming practices. That leaves plenty of room for improvement. But in most kinds of agriculture, scarce water can be used more sensibly. A study by Britain’s Institution of Mechanical Engineers estimated that 550 billion litres are wasted annually in crop production. Eliminating waste, for example by drip feed irrigation, could raise food production by 60% or more. Phosphorus{a finite resource, unlike water)is wasted too : only a fifth of the phosphorus mined actually ends up in food. Climate change will indeed hurt some farmers but help others(so, perhaps, does more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere). Genetically Modified (GM) crops (such as drought-resistant rice, heat-resistant maize or blight-resistant wheat) have huge
potential
Technology is only part of the solution.The food chain lacks resilience to other forms of disruption too, from political strife to consumer panics.Panics about contamination (real or imagined), for example, can send food flying off the shelves. A new report by Lloyds of London insurance market highlights the need for more innovation to help farmers and food manufacturers deal with adverse weather and other potential risks.
The Gulf countries have long been preoccupied by the question of how to feed their people. The region’s population is expected to grow by 40% between 2010 and 2030. Some gulf countries import as much as 10% of their food. Their governments have been unsure of the best way to keep everyone fed and content. Qatar reportedly declared that it would produce 70%of its food at home by 2023, by adopting new technologies of desalination and hydroponics. Adding  a layer of the hydroponic sand under the topsoil stops water from reaching away, making it easier to grow crops in odd climates or in water scarce lands. Agricultural entrepreneur sreck on that such innovation could allow the country to grow more of its own food. That idea was soon
dropped
. Saudi Arabia, with the busiest farm sector among the six countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council, scaled back wheat grown by irrigation because it was draining non-renewable aquifers.Heavy reliance on imports is problematic when countries such as Argentina suddenly restrict their exports in response to rising prices.Buying farmland in countries such as Sudan, Tanzania and Pakistanis another Gulf ploy. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are among the top ten investors in land abroad, according to Land Matrix, a body that tracks such deals. But this has drawbacks,too. Getting big projects off the ground in places that lack infrastructure is tricky. Many of the region’s rulers are now considering investing in food companies abroad, often in more developed countries. The UAE’s Al Dahra Agriculture,which works closely with the government and owns land abroad, recently bought eight farm companies in Serbia for
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$ 400 m. It has also invested in an Indian rice producer. In addition, countries like Saudi Arabia are looking at ways of keeping strategic food reserves.Gulf rulers may end up following a mixture of such strategies to fill their peoples’ stomachs. They should at least be commended for grappling with the problem, says a regional food expert. Poorer and hungrier Arab countries, like Egypt and Yemen, are far less willing to address it.

Which of the following is/are the argument(s) in favour of investing in agriculture abroad?(A) It is a means to boost food security in countries which invest.(B) Agriculture at home is too costly in terms of scarce natural resources.(C) It will help countries which do so to address discontent at home.

Accepted Answer

Investing abroad can boost food security (A), reduce reliance on costly domestic resources (B), and potentially alleviate domestic discontent by securing resources (C). All three are valid arguments.

Question 20

If everyonechips inthey can get the whole kitchen painted by today afternoon.

Accepted Answer

The original sentence is correct. 'Chips in' is a phrasal verb meaning to contribute money or help. No substitution is needed.