SBI PO 2018 PYQs

Question 1

Pick out the most effective word from the given options to fill in the blanks of the following sentences.Her face had a _______________ pallor which he noticed immediately on reaching her.He got a __________________ shock on opening the parcel.

Accepted Answer

The word 'unpleasant' fits both blanks perfectly. An unpleasant pallor describes an unhealthy paleness, and an unpleasant shock refers to a negative surprise.

Question 2

Directions: Ques No: 13-20
Parents prefer private schools. A global survey in 2017 found that they were a lot more likely to give the teaching at their children’s school a positive rating if it was private than if it was public;
parents in Chile have voted with their children’s feet in favour of the private sector
. The private sector’s efficiency is one reason why it does well at providing access to education. Another is its speed: in fast-growing cities, governments struggle to provide schools, but wherever there are people, schools spring up.
Governments are often less keen on private education. Some of the reasons for their hostility are bad ones: a reluctance to
cede
power, the opportunity for patronage, the influence of teachers’ unions. But some are entirely in order: governments need to promote quality, access to schooling and equity. The private sector is
good
at some, but not all, of those. Yet well-designed public-private partnerships can work. Two of the world’s best education systems—those of the Netherlands and Hong Kong—are based on them.
The main reason for the private sector’s superior efficiency seems to be teachers, who are paid less and are more likely to turn up for work than at government schools. Politics has a lot to do with that. Teachers’ unions have huge bargaining power and can, therefore, protect their members from being held to account for poor performance. An Indian study found that in 3,000 government schools, only one principal had ever dismissed a teacher; among 600 private schools, 35 had.

Which of the words can explain the meaning of the wordgoodin the passage?

Accepted Answer

The word 'good' is versatile. In a passage, it can imply advantageous, efficient, or productive depending on context. All options are plausible synonyms.

Question 3

The respective ratio between the time taken by a boat to travel the same distance downstream in stream A and that in stream B is 8 : 7. The speed of the boat is 12 km/h and the speed of stream A is half the speed of stream B. What is the speed of stream B ? (in km/h)

Accepted Answer

Let speed of stream B be 'x'. Stream A's speed is x/2. Downstream speeds are (12 + x/2) and (12 + x). Ratio of times is (12+x)/(12+x/2) = 8/7. Solve for x to get 4 km/h.

Question 4

Directions: Ques No: 13-20
Parents prefer private schools. A global survey in 2017 found that they were a lot more likely to give the teaching at their children’s school a positive rating if it was private than if it was public;
parents in Chile have voted with their children’s feet in favour of the private sector
. The private sector’s efficiency is one reason why it does well at providing access to education. Another is its speed: in fast-growing cities, governments struggle to provide schools, but wherever there are people, schools spring up.
Governments are often less keen on private education. Some of the reasons for their hostility are bad ones: a reluctance to
cede
power, the opportunity for patronage, the influence of teachers’ unions. But some are entirely in order: governments need to promote quality, access to schooling and equity. The private sector is
good
at some, but not all, of those. Yet well-designed public-private partnerships can work. Two of the world’s best education systems—those of the Netherlands and Hong Kong—are based on them.
The main reason for the private sector’s superior efficiency seems to be teachers, who are paid less and are more likely to turn up for work than at government schools. Politics has a lot to do with that. Teachers’ unions have huge bargaining power and can, therefore, protect their members from being held to account for poor performance. An Indian study found that in 3,000 government schools, only one principal had ever dismissed a teacher; among 600 private schools, 35 had.

Which of the following words are similar in meaning tocedein the passage?

Accepted Answer

The word 'cede' means to give up power or territory. All options 1, 2, and 3 (Relinquish, Yield, Surrender) are synonyms of 'cede'. Therefore, the correct answer is 'None of these' as it implies that all given options are similar.

Question 5

Directions: Ques No: 19-24
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been highlighted for your attention.
Once again, a vigorous monsoon so vital to India’s economic fortunes has left some states in
shambles
. From Assam to Karnataka, heavy rainfall in a short span of time has created paralyzing floods that have taken a heavy toll on life, wiped out crops and destroyed hard-earned assets. When the waters recede, a familiar cycle of assessment of damage by Central teams, preparation of loss estimates and expensive restoration work such as repairs to river embankments, will follow. In Assam, where 31 deaths have been recorded already, there are projects to strengthen the embankments of the heavily silted Brahmaputra; the Flood Control Department as well as the disaster relief force have well-funded budgets. Yet, the hundreds of crores of rupees periodically spent on flood preparation, relief and mitigation research in the State have not yielded a protocol that reduces the impact of heavy rain.
The
swollen
river invariably dissolves the weak earthen embankments overnight. Now that another furious season is providing fresh insight into the causes, effects, and impact of rain and floods in northeastern India and elsewhere, it is time the Centre took a coordinated view in tackling the crisis. To begin with, it has to review the efficacy of the flood forecasts issued by nearly 180 specialized stations now in operation, and the pattern of responses of the 19 States and Union Territories that receive these alerts.
Urban India is no less traumatized by floods, but city governments have not learned too many lessons from devastation and losses. The scenes of gridlock and frustration in Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Delhi last week travelled around the world, just months after the disaster in Chennai. Can there be a surgical solution to
sclerotic
urban planning? The
spectacle
of flooding and destruction should convince the Environment Ministry that it is retrograde to sanction large real estate projects without an environmental impact assessment.

Ques No: 19-24 Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been highlighted for your attention. Once again, a vigorous monsoon so vital to India’s economic fortunes has left some states in shambles . From Assam to Karnataka, heavy rainfall in a short span of time has created paralyzing floods that have taken a heavy toll on life, wiped out crops and destroyed hard-earned assets. When the waters recede, a familiar cycle of assessment of damage by Central teams, preparation of loss estimates and expensive restoration work such as repairs to river embankments, will follow. In Assam, where 31 deaths have been recorded already, there are projects to strengthen the embankments of the heavily silted Brahmaputra; the Flood Control Department as well as the disaster relief force have well-funded budgets. Yet, the hundreds of crores of rupees periodically spent on flood preparation, relief and mitigation research in the State have not yielded a protocol that reduces the impact of heavy rain. The swollen river invariably dissolves the weak earthen embankments overnight. Now that another furious season is providing fresh insight into the causes, effects, and impact of rain and floods in northeastern India and elsewhere, it is time the Centre took a coordinated view in tackling the crisis. To begin with, it has to review the efficacy of the flood forecasts issued by nearly 180 specialized stations now in operation, and the pattern of responses of the 19 States and Union Territories that receive these alerts. Urban India is no less traumatized by floods, but city governments have not learned too many lessons from devastation and losses. The scenes of gridlock and frustration in Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Delhi last week travelled around the world, just months after the disaster in Chennai. Can there be a surgical solution to sclerotic urban planning? The spectacle of flooding and destruction should convince the Environment Ministry that it is retrograde to sanction large real estate projects without an environmental impact assessment.

Which of the following phrases would be a suitable title for the given passage?​​

Accepted Answer

The passage likely discusses the consequences of inadequate flood planning, leading to casualties. Option 3 directly reflects this central theme, making it the most suitable title.

Question 6

A, B and C. each working alone, can finish a piece of work in 27, 33 and 45 days respectively. A starts by working alone for 12 days, then B takes over from A and works for 11 days. At this stage C takes over from B and completes the remaining work. In how many days the  whole work was completed ?

Accepted Answer

Calculate individual work rates. A completes 12/27 work. B completes 11/33 work. Sum these, find remaining work. C's rate is 1/45. Divide remaining work by C's rate to find C's days. Add all days.

Question 7

Directions: Ques No: 13-20
Parents prefer private schools. A global survey in 2017 found that they were a lot more likely to give the teaching at their children’s school a positive rating if it was private than if it was public;
parents in Chile have voted with their children’s feet in favour of the private sector
. The private sector’s efficiency is one reason why it does well at providing access to education. Another is its speed: in fast-growing cities, governments struggle to provide schools, but wherever there are people, schools spring up.
Governments are often less keen on private education. Some of the reasons for their hostility are bad ones: a reluctance to
cede
power, the opportunity for patronage, the influence of teachers’ unions. But some are entirely in order: governments need to promote quality, access to schooling and equity. The private sector is
good
at some, but not all, of those. Yet well-designed public-private partnerships can work. Two of the world’s best education systems—those of the Netherlands and Hong Kong—are based on them.
The main reason for the private sector’s superior efficiency seems to be teachers, who are paid less and are more likely to turn up for work than at government schools. Politics has a lot to do with that. Teachers’ unions have huge bargaining power and can, therefore, protect their members from being held to account for poor performance. An Indian study found that in 3,000 government schools, only one principal had ever dismissed a teacher; among 600 private schools, 35 had.

What is the main reason for the private sector’s superior efficiency?

Accepted Answer

The efficiency of teachers directly impacts student learning outcomes and overall school performance, making it a primary driver of private sector efficiency.

Question 8

Directions: Ques No: 19-24
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been highlighted for your attention.
Once again, a vigorous monsoon so vital to India’s economic fortunes has left some states in
shambles
. From Assam to Karnataka, heavy rainfall in a short span of time has created paralyzing floods that have taken a heavy toll on life, wiped out crops and destroyed hard-earned assets. When the waters recede, a familiar cycle of assessment of damage by Central teams, preparation of loss estimates and expensive restoration work such as repairs to river embankments, will follow. In Assam, where 31 deaths have been recorded already, there are projects to strengthen the embankments of the heavily silted Brahmaputra; the Flood Control Department as well as the disaster relief force have well-funded budgets. Yet, the hundreds of crores of rupees periodically spent on flood preparation, relief and mitigation research in the State have not yielded a protocol that reduces the impact of heavy rain.
The
swollen
river invariably dissolves the weak earthen embankments overnight. Now that another furious season is providing fresh insight into the causes, effects, and impact of rain and floods in northeastern India and elsewhere, it is time the Centre took a coordinated view in tackling the crisis. To begin with, it has to review the efficacy of the flood forecasts issued by nearly 180 specialized stations now in operation, and the pattern of responses of the 19 States and Union Territories that receive these alerts.
Urban India is no less traumatized by floods, but city governments have not learned too many lessons from devastation and losses. The scenes of gridlock and frustration in Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Delhi last week travelled around the world, just months after the disaster in Chennai. Can there be a surgical solution to
sclerotic
urban planning? The
spectacle
of flooding and destruction should convince the Environment Ministry that it is retrograde to sanction large real estate projects without an environmental impact assessment.

Which of the following words is themost similarin meaning to the word ‘sclerotic’ as given in the passage?​​

Accepted Answer

Sclerotic means becoming rigid and unresponsive. Therefore, 'unresponsive' is the most similar in meaning, indicating a lack of reaction or flexibility.

Question 9

Directions: Instructions
In each of the following questions, two equations I and II have  been given. Solve these questions and answer
(1)if x < y
(2) if x ≤ y
(3) if x = y or the relation cannot be established
(4) if ≥ y
(5) if x > y

I.30x2+11x+1=0II.42y2+13y+1=0

Accepted Answer

Solve both quadratic equations by factoring. For I, roots are -1/5 and -1/6. For II, roots are -1/6 and -1/7. Comparing all possible pairs shows x ≤ y.

Question 10

In the following sentence, a part of the sentence is emboldened. Below are given alternatives to the emboldened part, which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. In case no improvement is needed, choose the alternative that indicates 'No improvement.'Acting in front of the camerais easyacting on the stage, as there is no audience.

Accepted Answer

The sentence requires a comparative adjective to compare 'acting in front of the camera' with 'acting on the stage'. 'Easier than' is the correct comparative form, making option 2 the right choice.

Question 11

Directions: Ques No: 19-24
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been highlighted for your attention.
Once again, a vigorous monsoon so vital to India’s economic fortunes has left some states in
shambles
. From Assam to Karnataka, heavy rainfall in a short span of time has created paralyzing floods that have taken a heavy toll on life, wiped out crops and destroyed hard-earned assets. When the waters recede, a familiar cycle of assessment of damage by Central teams, preparation of loss estimates and expensive restoration work such as repairs to river embankments, will follow. In Assam, where 31 deaths have been recorded already, there are projects to strengthen the embankments of the heavily silted Brahmaputra; the Flood Control Department as well as the disaster relief force have well-funded budgets. Yet, the hundreds of crores of rupees periodically spent on flood preparation, relief and mitigation research in the State have not yielded a protocol that reduces the impact of heavy rain.
The
swollen
river invariably dissolves the weak earthen embankments overnight. Now that another furious season is providing fresh insight into the causes, effects, and impact of rain and floods in northeastern India and elsewhere, it is time the Centre took a coordinated view in tackling the crisis. To begin with, it has to review the efficacy of the flood forecasts issued by nearly 180 specialized stations now in operation, and the pattern of responses of the 19 States and Union Territories that receive these alerts.
Urban India is no less traumatized by floods, but city governments have not learned too many lessons from devastation and losses. The scenes of gridlock and frustration in Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Delhi last week travelled around the world, just months after the disaster in Chennai. Can there be a surgical solution to
sclerotic
urban planning? The
spectacle
of flooding and destruction should convince the Environment Ministry that it is retrograde to sanction large real estate projects without an environmental impact assessment.

Ques No: 19-24 Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been highlighted for your attention. Once again, a vigorous monsoon so vital to India’s economic fortunes has left some states in shambles . From Assam to Karnataka, heavy rainfall in a short span of time has created paralyzing floods that have taken a heavy toll on life, wiped out crops and destroyed hard-earned assets. When the waters recede, a familiar cycle of assessment of damage by Central teams, preparation of loss estimates and expensive restoration work such as repairs to river embankments, will follow. In Assam, where 31 deaths have been recorded already, there are projects to strengthen the embankments of the heavily silted Brahmaputra; the Flood Control Department as well as the disaster relief force have well-funded budgets. Yet, the hundreds of crores of rupees periodically spent on flood preparation, relief and mitigation research in the State have not yielded a protocol that reduces the impact of heavy rain. The swollen river invariably dissolves the weak earthen embankments overnight. Now that another furious season is providing fresh insight into the causes, effects, and impact of rain and floods in northeastern India and elsewhere, it is time the Centre took a coordinated view in tackling the crisis. To begin with, it has to review the efficacy of the flood forecasts issued by nearly 180 specialized stations now in operation, and the pattern of responses of the 19 States and Union Territories that receive these alerts. Urban India is no less traumatized by floods, but city governments have not learned too many lessons from devastation and losses. The scenes of gridlock and frustration in Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Delhi last week travelled around the world, just months after the disaster in Chennai. Can there be a surgical solution to sclerotic urban planning? The spectacle of flooding and destruction should convince the Environment Ministry that it is retrograde to sanction large real estate projects without an environmental impact assessment.

Which of the following stands TRUE as per the reading of the given passage?​​

Accepted Answer

Option 1 directly reflects a key recommendation or observation from a typical passage discussing flood management, emphasizing review and response patterns. It aligns with critical analysis.

Question 12

Directions: Instructions
In each of the following questions, two equations I and II have  been given. Solve these questions and answer
(1)if x < y
(2) if x ≤ y
(3) if x = y or the relation cannot be established
(4) if ≥ y
(5) if x > y

I.x2−x−√2x+√2=0II.y2−3y+2=0

Accepted Answer

Solve both quadratic equations for x and y. For equation I, factor by grouping to find x = 1 or x = √2. For equation II, factor to find y = 1 or y = 2. Compare the values.

Question 13

Directions: Ques No: 19-24
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been highlighted for your attention.
Once again, a vigorous monsoon so vital to India’s economic fortunes has left some states in
shambles
. From Assam to Karnataka, heavy rainfall in a short span of time has created paralyzing floods that have taken a heavy toll on life, wiped out crops and destroyed hard-earned assets. When the waters recede, a familiar cycle of assessment of damage by Central teams, preparation of loss estimates and expensive restoration work such as repairs to river embankments, will follow. In Assam, where 31 deaths have been recorded already, there are projects to strengthen the embankments of the heavily silted Brahmaputra; the Flood Control Department as well as the disaster relief force have well-funded budgets. Yet, the hundreds of crores of rupees periodically spent on flood preparation, relief and mitigation research in the State have not yielded a protocol that reduces the impact of heavy rain.
The
swollen
river invariably dissolves the weak earthen embankments overnight. Now that another furious season is providing fresh insight into the causes, effects, and impact of rain and floods in northeastern India and elsewhere, it is time the Centre took a coordinated view in tackling the crisis. To begin with, it has to review the efficacy of the flood forecasts issued by nearly 180 specialized stations now in operation, and the pattern of responses of the 19 States and Union Territories that receive these alerts.
Urban India is no less traumatized by floods, but city governments have not learned too many lessons from devastation and losses. The scenes of gridlock and frustration in Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Delhi last week travelled around the world, just months after the disaster in Chennai. Can there be a surgical solution to
sclerotic
urban planning? The
spectacle
of flooding and destruction should convince the Environment Ministry that it is retrograde to sanction large real estate projects without an environmental impact assessment.

What happens when the waters recede?​

Accepted Answer

The passage states that after floods, assessment of damage and expensive restoration work are undertaken. This directly matches option 3.

Question 14

Directions: Instructions
In each of the following questions, two equations I and II have  been given. Solve these questions and answer
(1)if x < y
(2) if x ≤ y
(3) if x = y or the relation cannot be established
(4) if ≥ y
(5) if x > y

I.x2−2x−√5x+2√5=0II.y2−√3y−√2y+√6=0

Accepted Answer

Solve both quadratic equations by factorization. For I, x=2, √5. For II, y=√3, √2. Compare all possible pairs of x and y values to establish the relationship.

Question 15

Directions: Ques No: 19-24
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been highlighted for your attention.
Once again, a vigorous monsoon so vital to India’s economic fortunes has left some states in
shambles
. From Assam to Karnataka, heavy rainfall in a short span of time has created paralyzing floods that have taken a heavy toll on life, wiped out crops and destroyed hard-earned assets. When the waters recede, a familiar cycle of assessment of damage by Central teams, preparation of loss estimates and expensive restoration work such as repairs to river embankments, will follow. In Assam, where 31 deaths have been recorded already, there are projects to strengthen the embankments of the heavily silted Brahmaputra; the Flood Control Department as well as the disaster relief force have well-funded budgets. Yet, the hundreds of crores of rupees periodically spent on flood preparation, relief and mitigation research in the State have not yielded a protocol that reduces the impact of heavy rain.
The
swollen
river invariably dissolves the weak earthen embankments overnight. Now that another furious season is providing fresh insight into the causes, effects, and impact of rain and floods in northeastern India and elsewhere, it is time the Centre took a coordinated view in tackling the crisis. To begin with, it has to review the efficacy of the flood forecasts issued by nearly 180 specialized stations now in operation, and the pattern of responses of the 19 States and Union Territories that receive these alerts.
Urban India is no less traumatized by floods, but city governments have not learned too many lessons from devastation and losses. The scenes of gridlock and frustration in Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Delhi last week travelled around the world, just months after the disaster in Chennai. Can there be a surgical solution to
sclerotic
urban planning? The
spectacle
of flooding and destruction should convince the Environment Ministry that it is retrograde to sanction large real estate projects without an environmental impact assessment.

Which of the following words ismost similarin meaning to the word ‘swollen’ as used in the passage?         ​

Accepted Answer

In the context of a passage, 'swollen' often refers to an increase in volume, typically due to water. 'Flooded' directly conveys this meaning, indicating an overflow of water.

Question 16

Directions: Ques No: 19-24
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been highlighted for your attention.
Once again, a vigorous monsoon so vital to India’s economic fortunes has left some states in
shambles
. From Assam to Karnataka, heavy rainfall in a short span of time has created paralyzing floods that have taken a heavy toll on life, wiped out crops and destroyed hard-earned assets. When the waters recede, a familiar cycle of assessment of damage by Central teams, preparation of loss estimates and expensive restoration work such as repairs to river embankments, will follow. In Assam, where 31 deaths have been recorded already, there are projects to strengthen the embankments of the heavily silted Brahmaputra; the Flood Control Department as well as the disaster relief force have well-funded budgets. Yet, the hundreds of crores of rupees periodically spent on flood preparation, relief and mitigation research in the State have not yielded a protocol that reduces the impact of heavy rain.
The
swollen
river invariably dissolves the weak earthen embankments overnight. Now that another furious season is providing fresh insight into the causes, effects, and impact of rain and floods in northeastern India and elsewhere, it is time the Centre took a coordinated view in tackling the crisis. To begin with, it has to review the efficacy of the flood forecasts issued by nearly 180 specialized stations now in operation, and the pattern of responses of the 19 States and Union Territories that receive these alerts.
Urban India is no less traumatized by floods, but city governments have not learned too many lessons from devastation and losses. The scenes of gridlock and frustration in Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Delhi last week travelled around the world, just months after the disaster in Chennai. Can there be a surgical solution to
sclerotic
urban planning? The
spectacle
of flooding and destruction should convince the Environment Ministry that it is retrograde to sanction large real estate projects without an environmental impact assessment.

Which of the below sentences summarises the key idea of the passage?​​

Accepted Answer

The passage highlights that despite research and planning efforts, floods continue to cause significant damage, implying that these efforts have been ineffective. Option 2 captures this central theme.

Question 17

Directions: Instructions
In each of the following questions, two equations I and II have  been given. Solve these questions and answer
(1)if x < y
(2) if x ≤ y
(3) if x = y or the relation cannot be established
(4) if ≥ y
(5) if x > y

I.9x2+3x−2=0II.8y2+6y+1=0

Accepted Answer

Solve both quadratic equations for x and y. For equation I, x = 1/3, -2/3. For equation II, y = -1/4, -1/2. Compare all possible pairs of roots to find no consistent relation.

Question 18

In the question given below, a sentence has been divided into five parts out of which the first part is given in bold. Each question is followed by five options which give the sequence of the rearranged parts. Choose the option that gives the correct sequence. If the sentence is already arranged or the given sequence does not match then choose (e) i.e. 'None of the above' as the answer.The ease of communication/ in the digital era (A)/ to talk to each other, (B)/ instead we talk at each other (C)/ has not increased our ability (D).

Accepted Answer

The sentence starts with 'The ease of communication'. 'has not increased our ability' (D) logically follows, then 'to talk to each other' (B), and finally 'instead we talk at each other' (C). 'in the digital era' (A) modifies 'communication'.

Question 19

Directions: Instructions
Find the wrong number in given series sequence.

1, 4, 15, 64 325, 1955

Accepted Answer

The pattern is (previous term * N) + (N-1). For N=1, (1*1)+0=1. For N=2, (1*2)+1=3. The series should be 1, 3, 11, 47, 239, 1439. Thus, 1955 is incorrect.

Question 20

Fill in the blank with the correct word.The bulletproof vest _______ the young police officer's life by stopping the bullet from passing through the vest.

Accepted Answer

The vest's action directly resulted in the officer's survival. 'Saved' accurately conveys this outcome, indicating preservation from harm or death.