SBI PO 2021 PYQs

Question 1

From the given options choose the correct synonym for the highlighted word'resurgence'as used in the passage.

Accepted Answer

The word 'resurgence' means a revival or increase after a period of little activity. 'Upsurge' directly means a sudden and powerful increase, making it the correct synonym.

Question 2

How can raising carbon prices affect the steel industry?

Accepted Answer

Raising carbon prices directly increases operational costs for carbon-intensive industries like steel. This reduces profit margins, potentially leading to plant closures and job losses due to increased expenses.

Question 3

Directions: Read the sentence to find out whether there is any error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is (5). Ignore errors of punctuation, if any.As per the present market scenario, we have only/(A)two options in front of us- either importing the raw materials from abroad/(B)or taking care of the entire production in our country. Although,/(C)the second option seems most sustainable, and the board of directors is concentrating on that./(D)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part D. The phrase 'most sustainable' is a superlative. Superlatives should be preceded by the definite article 'the'. Therefore, it should be 'the most sustainable'.

Question 4

Choose the most appropriate antonym for the word‘murky’.

Accepted Answer

The word 'murky' means dark and gloomy. Therefore, its most appropriate antonym is 'bright', which means full of light.

Question 5

A) After supper, Longarm stepped out onto the sidewalk and  took a ____________ on his cheroot.B) Anyone living an active lifestyle is bound to ____________ a  muscle eventually.

Accepted Answer

The word 'pull' fits both contexts: 'pull on a cheroot' means to take a drag, and 'pull a muscle' is a common idiom for muscle injury.

Question 6

Find out the appropriate word in each case.

Accepted Answer

The question asks for an appropriate word. Without context, 'Spurred' (प्रेरित किया गया) is the most versatile and generally positive option among the choices, implying encouragement or activation.

Question 7

What will fit in the blank taken from the passage. "The rats _______quick to eat seeds and young plants coming out of the ground, and they frequented the canopy as well, often nesting in the coconut palms and eating coconuts."

Accepted Answer

The sentence requires a past tense plural verb to agree with the plural subject 'rats'. 'Were' is the correct past tense plural form of 'to be'.

Question 8

Why do carbon taxes cause firms to move production outside the bloc?

Accepted Answer

Carbon taxes apply only to domestic producers, creating a cost disadvantage. Foreign producers avoid these taxes, allowing them to sell at lower prices or higher margins, incentivizing domestic firms to relocate production.

Question 9

Read the sentence below to find out if there is any error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error the answer is (5). (Ignore errors in punctuation if any).Three men were arrested for alleged(A)/ impersonating civic body officials(B)/ and extorting money from shopkeepers(C)/in east Delhi’s Mansarovar Park, the police said on Sunday.(D)/. No Error.(E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). The word 'alleged' is an adjective and should modify a noun. Here, it should be 'allegedly' (an adverb) to modify the verb 'impersonating'.

Question 10

Choose the synonym for the word‘derelict’.

Accepted Answer

The word 'derelict' means in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect, or abandoned. Therefore, 'abandoned' is the correct synonym.

Question 11

A) She spoke with total resignation and ________ defeat as she looked up at me.B) No one has ever heard him ________ a groan or a word of complaint.

Accepted Answer

The verb 'utter' means to make a sound or speak words. It fits both sentences perfectly, describing speaking with defeat and making a groan or complaint.

Question 12

Who said this, "most of the understory of Palmyra was either bare ground, sandy soil or coral rubble or covered in a carpet of ferns"?

Accepted Answer

The quote describes the understory of Palmyra. This specific observation was made and attributed to Ana Millerter Kuile, a researcher known for her work on ecological descriptions.

Question 13

'One big problem is the difficulty of calculating the embodied carbon in imports.' Which option can be called an inference from this sentence?

Accepted Answer

The sentence states difficulty in calculating embodied carbon. Option 1 logically extends this, implying carbon's omnipresence makes quantification hard for taxation purposes.

Question 14

In the question below, three statements are given which may or may not be grammatically correct. Identify the statement/statements that is/are incorrect.I. Young people in China eats more snacks than people of the same age in other Asian countries.II. He spends a good deal of money on gadgets.III. Without waiting for instructions from the Government, some cable operators in the city had block the news.

Accepted Answer

Statement I has a subject-verb agreement error; 'people' is plural, so 'eat' should be used instead of 'eats'. Statement III has a verb form error; 'had blocked' should be used instead of 'had block'. Statement II is grammatically correct.

Question 15

Consider the following statements and choose the correct option.(A) Coal mines helped to form a carbon-intensive economy and facilitated global independence on fossil fuels.(B) An estimated 2 billion cubic metres of warm water occupy the old mine shafts and these flooded shafts contain around 2.2 billion GWh of heat, with the potential to store more.(C) Under the right conditions, the energy generated from mine water geothermal can be cheaper than that from conventional sources.

Accepted Answer

Statement A is incorrect as coal mines led to dependence, not independence. Statement B overestimates the heat potential. Statement C is correct, as mine water geothermal can be cost-effective under optimal conditions.

Question 16

A) For them, the house's main ____________ lay in its quiet country location.B) The three-course menu is varied and good _______________ for money.

Accepted Answer

The word 'merit' fits both blanks perfectly. In A, it means 'advantage' or 'worth'. In B, 'good merit for money' means 'good value for money'.

Question 17

Who is Ana Millerter Kuile?

Accepted Answer

Ana Millerter Kuile is a graduate student, a researcher, and the lead author in the journal Biotropica. All options describe her roles.

Question 18

Which word correctly describes the author's opinion regarding protectionism?

Accepted Answer

To determine the author's opinion, analyze the overall tone and specific word choices used when discussing protectionism. The correct answer reflects this analysis.

Question 19

Find the relation between the statements given below.Statement I: New builds aren't often sited next to derelict collieries.Statement II: Retrofitting houses with the means to tap into a geothermal district heating network isn't cheap.

Accepted Answer

Statement I discusses building locations near old collieries. Statement II talks about the cost of retrofitting houses for geothermal heating. These are distinct topics with no direct causal link.

Question 20

A) Failing to ________ them to the good cause he was  determined anyhow to organize the great cultivated middle class into a political party.B) The Jacobites made an ineffectual ________ under Lord George Murray after the battle of Culloden.

Accepted Answer

The word 'rally' fits both contexts perfectly. In A, it means to gather support, and in B, it refers to a collective effort or resurgence, which aligns with the Jacobites' attempt.