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Index
S.No. TOPIC Page No.
1. Weaker, later: on olympics postponement (01-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2. Beyond the blame game (02-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
3. Safe forests, safe people: on diseases of animal origin (03-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . 28
4. Light and sound: on narendra modi’s 9-minute light ceremony (04-apr-2020) . . . . . 36
5. Enemy at the gates: on kerala-karnataka border row (06-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
6. Do not harm: on safety of health care workers (07-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
7. Preparing for exit: on lifting the lockdown (08-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
8. "for better use: on mplads funds" (09-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
9. In time of need: on hydroxychloroquine export (10-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
10. Stage fright: on denying community transmission (11-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
11. A key arsenal in rural india’s pandemic fight (12-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
12. Trade in tatters: on the global slump (13-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
13. Corona bond: on eurozone covid-19 rescue package (15-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
14. Disastrous decision: on trump halting funds to who (16-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
15. Across the gulf: on stranded indian workers (17-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 123
16. Helping a lending hand:on rbi's second lockdown stimulus (18-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . 129
17. Government nod mandatory for fdi coming from neighboring countries(19-apr-2020)…136
18. Economy in lockdown: on india’s worst case scenario (20-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
19. Takeover fears: nuanced approach on chinese investments (21-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . 150
20. Futures shock: on oil price fall below $0 (22-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
21. Script of unity: on coronavirus and social prejudices (23-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
22. Rapid failures: on antibody testing kits (24-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
23. No 100% quota: on overzealous reservation (25-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
24. Safe return: on migrant worker distress (27-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
25. Virtual, yet open: on nationwide lockdown (28-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
26. Signalling support: on rbi relief for mutual funds (29-apr-2020) . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
27. Strategic shift : On home isolation of mild coronavirus cases(30-apr-2020) . . . . . . . . . 211
28. The Hindu Vocabulary compilation with Synonyms & Antonyms. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 219
29. The Hindu Phrasal Verbs compilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
30. The Hindu Idioms & Phrases compilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. 259
What is this PDF all about?

This PDF contains monthly compilation of THE HINDU Editorials with RC, CLOZE
TEST, VOCAB and GRAMMAR questions. It also contains monthly compilation of
The Hindu vocab, idioms & Phrasal Verbs.
This can be considered as all in One PDF for boosting your score in English section
of your competitive exams.
Why this PDF is important for you?

Reading ‘The Hindu’ editorial is highly recommended for the candidates who are
preparing for competitive exams.
As per current trends in exams, examiner tends to formulate Reading
comprehension, Cloze test, Para jumbles, syno/anto etc. from the newspaper
articles; articles which are relevant from exam point of view.
The team Englishkendra has put a lot of hard work from choosing the most
relevant editorials to formulating the most relevant questions. The best part is
that we have provided detailed solutions and handy tips as well to help you
develop the best marks-fetching approach.
How to ace English section through this PDF?

This PDF comprises all the important editorials which are most likely to be asked
in the upcoming exams. Each editorial has approximately 10 questions based on
the passage. If you attempt questions based on each and every editorial article
given in the PDF, there are high chances of you scoring the highest in the English
section of your exam. Monthly compilation of The Hindu vocab, idioms & Phrasal
Verbs given in the later part of this PDF will be immensely helpful in improving
your vocabulary base.
How to make the most use of this PDF?

Firstly, attempt all the editorials given in the PDF.
The best way to attempt the questions based on the editorials can be divided into
5 steps. These are the following:-
a) STEP 1 - Take a quick look at the questions based on the editorial. There are
10-15 questions for each editorial article.
Note: In this process you don't have to invest more than 2 minutes.
b) STEP 2 - Now that you have gone through all of the questions, you are aware
of the type of questions that you have to answer.
With those questions in your mind, now your second task is "to read the passage
based on editorial 2-3 times.
c) STEP 3 - Now the third step is to attempt the questions. (Don't worry if you are
not able to solve the questions. Keep in mind that beginning is always tough. With
practice you will start slaying questions like no one ever did) .
d) STEP 4 - Fourth step is to check the solution and rectify your mistakes.
Note: You have to focus on the approach provided in the solution part.
e) STEP 5 - The Fifth step is to read the complete editorial article given right after
the solution.
Note: This step will help you overcome the mistakes you made and develop a
good reading habit with utmost efficiency.
Secondly, to have a good command of Vocabulary, Idioms and phrases and
phrasal verbs, try to memorize monthly The Hindu vocab compilation given in the
later part of the PDF. This monthly compilation is with synonyms, antonyms and
with both Hindi and English meaning.
We have also compiled The Hindu idioms & phrases and phrasal verbs to help you
develop a good command of idioms and phrasal verbs as well.
This monthly compilation of The Hindu editorial with RC, Cloze Test, Vocab and
Grammar questions is a panacea which will help you fetch the highest marks in
the English section.
इस PDF के बारे में विस्तृत जानकारी-
“THE HINDU” के Editorials, साथ ही RC, CLOZE TEST, VOCAB तथा GRAMMAR से सम्बंवित प्रश्नों का
समायोजन मावसक संकलन PDF में ककया गया है। यह आपकी प्रवतयोगी परीक्षा के English section में अपने
स्कोर को बढाने के वलए बेहतरीन सावबत होगी ।
आपके वलए यह पीडीएफ क्यों इतनी महत्िपूर्ण है ?
जो उम्मीदिार प्रवतयोगी परीक्षाओं की तैयारी कर रहें हैं उनके वलए THE HINDU के Editorials अत्यन्त
आिश्यक है। परीक्षाओं में ितणमान रुझानों के अनुसार, परीक्षक, समाचार पत्रों के Editorials से ही Reading
Comprehension, Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Synonyms/Antonyms आकद पर आिाररत प्रश्न तैयार
करता है; लेख जो परीक्षा के दृविकोर् से अवत-प्रासंवगक होते हैं ।
टीम EnglishKendra (https://www.englishkendra.com/) ने सबसे अविक प्रासंवगक Editorials चुनने
से लेकर सबसे अविक प्रासंवगक प्रश्न तैयार करने तक में बहुत मेहनत की है। सबसे अच्छी बात यह है कक हमने
आपको बेहतरीन अंक लाने के दृविकोर् के बारे में विस्तृत समािान और आसान सुझाि कदए हैं।
इस PDF में िे सभी महत्िपूर्ण Editorials भी समाविि है जो भविष्य में होने िाली प्रवतयोगी परीक्षाओं में
पूछे जा सकते हैं। प्रत्येक अितरर् में Editorials के लगभग 10 प्रश्न कदए गए हैं. यकद आप पीडीएफ में कदए
गए Editorials के प्रत्येक प्रश्न को हल करते हैं, तो आपके परीक्षा के अंग्रेजी अनुभाग में अविकतम अंक आने की
सम्भािना सिाणविक होगी। इस मावसक PDF के आगे के भाग में कदए गए The Hindu vocab, idioms &
Phrasal Verbs का संकलन आपकी शब्दािली सुिारने में बेहद मदद करे गी।
इस PDF का सही उपयोग कै से ककया जाए?
सबसे पहले PDF में कदए गए सभी Editorials हल करें ।

Editorial पर आिाररत प्रश्नों को हल करने के तरीकों को 5 चरर्ों में विभावजत ककया जाता सकता है, जो
कक वनम्नानुसार है-
a) STEP 1 - Editorial पर आिाररत प्रश्नों को जल्दी से देख लें। प्रत्येक Editorial से 10 प्रश्न होंगे।
नोट : इसमें आपको 2 वमनट से अविक समय नही लगाना है।
b) STEP 2 - अब आपने सभी प्रश्नों को देख वलया है तथा ये ध्यान में है कक आपको ककस प्रकार के प्रश्नों का
जिाब देना है। उन प्रश्नों को ध्यान में रखते हुए, दूसरा कायण है, " Editorial से संबंवित अितरर् को 2-3 बार
पढना"।
c) STEP 3 - अब तीसरा चरर् प्रश्नों को हल करने के प्रयास के बारे में है। (यकद आप प्रश्नों को हल नहीं कर पा
रहे हैं तो वचवन्तत न होिें। इसे ध्यान में रखे कक शुरुआत हमेशा करिन होती है। वनरं तर प्रयास से आप प्रश्नों को
िैसे हल कर पाएंगे जैसे आपने पहले कभी नही ककया होगा)
d) STEP 4 - चौथा चरर्, आप द्वारा कदये गए जिाबों की जांच तथा गलवतयों को सुिारना।
नोट : आपको उप्लब्ि करिाये गए जिाबों के तरीकों पर ध्यान कें कित करना होगा।
e) STEP 5 - पााँचिां चरर् है, Complete Editorial को हल करने के तुरंत बाद पढना।
नोट : आपका यह कदम आप द्वारा की जाने िाली गलवतयों को सुिारने में मदद करे गा तथा पूरी क्षमता से
पढने की अच्छी आदत को विकवसत करे गा।
दूसरी बात, Vocabulary, Idioms and phrases and phrasal verbs पर अच्छी पकड़ के वलए PDF के आगे
िाले भाग में िर्णर्त The Hindu के vocab compilation को याद करने की कोवशश करें । इस मावसक संकलन
में synonyms, antonyms के हहदी तथा अंग्रेजी दोनों अथों का समािेशन ककया गया है।
हमने The Hindu के idioms and phrases तथा phrasal verbs को भी संकवलत ककया है, जो आपकी
idioms तथा phrasal verbs पर भी अच्छी पकड़ विकवसत करने में बहुत मदद करे गा।
The Hindu Editorials का RC, Cloze Test, Vocab and Grammar questions के साथ मावसक संकलन,
एक रामबार् है जो आपको English section में सिाणविक अंक प्राप्त करने में मदद करे गा।
The Hindu editorial with RC, cloze test, error detection, vocab 01 April
2020
Weaker, later : on olympics postponement
Sport at its best is a glorious indulgence that blends adrenaline rush,

exultant joy and mind-numbing grief both for the athlete and the expectant fan.
However, in its worst form, sport is war minus the shooting while the cause of
nationhood whips up __A__ passions. But whatever be its intrinsic nature
governed by context and history, sport can never exist in a vacuum and it needs a
functional society to __B__ as its bedrock. In these __C__ times of the pandemic
and the resultant social distancing, basic survival takes precedence over moving
limbs and the frenzied applause from a thrilled audience. And it was no surprise
that sports events have been postponed or cancelled and the latest to face a
disruption in its schedule is the Olympics. Football continues to be the beautiful
game but the Olympics remains the world’s greatest congregation adhering to its
eternal ‘faster, higher, stronger’ motto. Originally slated for a July 24 to August 9
slot at Tokyo this year, the high-voltage event got derailed once the coronavirus
took flight from Wuhan’s wet market and coursed through the veins of an inter-
connected globe. X**Initially, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and
host (a) /Japan were in denial and Australia and Canada threatened to (b)
/boycott the event before better sense prevailing(c) /and the Olympics was
pushed to a July 23 start, next year(d) .
A postponement is a first in the chequered history of the modern Olympics
since its inception at Athens in 1896. But worse has happened, especially the
cancellations, during 1916, 1940 and 1944, when the World Wars drew vicious
lines of hate. There were also the Cold War years when the United States and its
allies boycotted the Moscow Games in 1980 and the erstwhile Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics retaliated along with the Eastern Bloc by skipping the 1984
Olympics at Los Angeles. The most heart-rending was the ‘Munich Massacre’
during the 1972 edition in then West Germany when a Palestinian terrorist group,
Black September, killed 11 members of Israel’s squad. Seen through that prism of
a bloodied past, the latest postponement seems a mere __D__. IOC president
Thomas Bach and Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori __E__ that fresh logistics
had to be worked out and ideally a year’s preparation was mandatory. Initially
estimated to cost about $28 billion, a delayed Olympics will have to factor
inflation and a shrinking economy coping with a pandemic. Over the next 12
months, it is hoped the virus will wane and a semblance of normalcy will set the
stage for the Olympics. Sport then would be a welcome balm. But for now,
universal health is the overriding priority.
Direction (1-5) –In the given passage, some words have been omitted. Choose
the words that make the passage meaningful.
Q1. Select the word that can be filled in the blank A to make the passage
meaningful.
a) merchandised
b) regressive
c) aggrandizing
d) knavish
e) jingoistic
Q2. Select the word that can be filled in the blank B to make the passage
meaningful.
a) regulate
b) dwell
c) serve
d) prompt
e) treat
Q3. Select the word that can be filled in the blank C to make the passage
meaningful.
a) manifolded
b) tranquil
c) unperturbed
d) serene
e) distraught
Q4. Select the word that can be filled in the blank D to make the passage
meaningful.
a) transgression
b) edict
c) nimble
d) quibble
e) quiescent
Q5. Select the word that can be filled in the blank E to make the passage
meaningful.
a) inaugurated
b) hypothesize
c) concurred
d) reversed
e) snowballed
Q6. According to the passage, which of the following statements are correct?
A.Olympics was originally slated for a July 24 to August 9 slot at Tokyo this year
B.Football continues to be the beautiful game but the Olympics remains the
world’s greatest congregation
C. The postponement is not the first in the checkered history of the modern
Olympics since its inception.
a) Only A is correct
b) Only B is correct
c) Only C is correct
d) B and C are correct
e) A and B are correct
Q7. The passage has suggested some factors which a delayed Olympics will have
to consider.These are -
A. inflation
B. a shrinking economy coping with a pandemic
C. quarantine monitoring has its limits.
c) B and C are correct
d) A, B and C are correct
Q8. Choose the word which correctly represents the word/phrase given below.
CHEQUERED
a) lacking
b) varied
c) unremitting
d) uniform
e) placid
FRENZIED
a) toppled
b) breached
c) botched
d) notched
e) frantic
Q10. Sentence X of the passage has been divided into four parts.One or two of
these parts contain errors .Choose the parts as your answer.Mark ‘no error’ as
your answer if there is no error in the sentence.
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
SOLUTION
1) Jingoistic, meaning-overly patriotic or nationalistic, fits into the context

appropriately as we need a filler which can be used as an adjective and imparts
meaning similar to 'super patriotic'.
The sentence means that in its worst form, sport is war minus shooting while
the cause of nationhood produces jingoistic passions.
Rest of the options can be easily eliminated, provided that you are aware of the
meaning of the given options.
Knavish (antonym of jingoistic) can be easily eliminated as it goes against the
context of the sentence.
Merchandised (meaning-engagaged in trade) , regressive(meaning- return to a
previous state) , aggrandizing(meaning- enlarging) can also be easily eliminated as
they have nothing to do with the context of the sentence.
2) Serve fits into the context appropriately.

We need a filler which can be used as a verb and impart meaning similar to 'to
be useful to'
The sentence means - 'sport can never exist in a vacuum and it needs a functional
society to serve as its bedrock'.
You can easily eliminate rest of the options.
Dwell(meaning- to linger on a particular thought) , prompt(meaning - to cause or
lead to) , treat and regulate can be eliminated easily as they have nothing to do
with the context.
Tip – If you find it difficult to eliminate unsuitable options, read the passage 2-3
times, keep in mind that you are here to practise, allowing yourself to make
mistakes and then rectifying those mistakes in order to avoid mistakes in the
exam.
3) Distraught, meaning-distressed, fits into the context appropriately as we

need a filler which can be used as an adjective and imparts a meaning similar to
'saddened, worried;distressed.
You can easily eliminate rest of the options.Tranquil
/serene/unperturbed(meaning- calm, free from emotional or mental
disturbances) can be easily eliminated as they go against the context of the
sentence.
Manifolded (meaning- having many folds) can also be easily eliminated as it has
nothing to do with the context of the sentence.
4) Quibble, meaning- minor complaint, objection or argument, fits into the

context appropriately as we need a word which can be used as a noun and
imparts a meaning simlilar to 'a minor complaint'.
The sentence means that the latest postponement seems a mere quibble as there
have been many major incidents which have caused postponement of Olympics.
Rest of the options can be eliminated as they render the sentence contextually
incorrect.
5) Concurred, meaning-‘agreed ’, fits into the context appropriately as

we need a filler which can be used as a verb and imparts a meaning similar to
'agreed'.
Rest of the options can be eliminated.
Hypothesize stands eliminated as we need a v2 to make the sentence
grammatically correct.
Inaugurated (meaning-initiated something in a formal manner) , snowballed
(meaning- rapidly grow out of control) , reversed can be easily eliminated as they
have nothing to do with the context of the sentence.
6) Statements A and B are correct.

C is wrong because- It's clearly mentioned in the passage that a postponement is
a first in the chequered history of the modern Olympics since its inception at
Athens in 1896.
7) e
It is clearly mentioned in the passage – a delayed Olympics will have to factor
inflation and a shrinking economy coping with a pandemic.There is nowhere
mentioning of limitations of quarantine monitoring in the passage.
8) CHEQUERED– varied, mixed
9) FRENZIED– a state of wild activity or panic;frantic
10) The error is in c part.

Replace ‘prevailing ’ with ‘prevailed ’ to make the sentence grammatically correct.
COMPLETE EDITORIAL
Weaker, later: On Olympics postponement
Sport at its best is a glorious indulgence that blends adrenaline rush, exultant joy
and mind-numbing grief both for the athlete and the expectant fan. However, in
its worst form, sport is war minus the shooting while the cause of nationhood
whips up jingoistic passions. But whatever be its intrinsic nature governed by
context and history, sport can never exist in a vacuum and it needs a functional
society to serve as its bedrock. In these distraught times of the pandemic and the
resultant social distancing, basic survival takes precedence over moving limbs and
the frenzied applause from a thrilled audience. And it was no surprise that sports
events have been postponed or cancelled and the latest to face a disruption in its
schedule is the Olympics. Football continues to be the beautiful game but the
Olympics remains the world’s greatest congregation adhering to its eternal
‘faster, higher, stronger’ motto. Originally slated for a July 24 to August 9 slot at
Tokyo this year, the high-voltage event got derailed once the coronavirus took
flight from Wuhan’s wet market and coursed through the veins of an inter-
connected globe. Initially, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and host
Japan were in denial and Australia and Canada threatened to boycott the event
before better sense prevailed and the Olympics was pushed to a July 23 start,
next year.
A postponement is a first in the chequered history of the modern Olympics
since its inception at Athens in 1896. But worse has happened, especially the
cancellations, during 1916, 1940 and 1944, when the World Wars drew vicious
lines of hate. There were also the Cold War years when the United States and its
allies boycotted the Moscow Games in 1980 and the erstwhile Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics retaliated along with the Eastern Bloc by skipping the 1984
Olympics at Los Angeles. The most heart-rending was the ‘Munich Massacre’
during the 1972 edition in then West Germany when a Palestinian terrorist group,
Black September, killed 11 members of Israel’s squad. Seen through that prism of
a bloodied past, the latest postponement seems a mere quibble. IOC president
Thomas Bach and Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori concurred that fresh
logistics had to be worked out and ideally a year’s preparation was mandatory.
Initially estimated to cost about $28 billion, a delayed Olympics will have to factor
inflation and a shrinking economy coping with a pandemic. Over the next 12
months, it is hoped the virus will wane and a semblance of normalcy will set the
stage for the Olympics. Sport then would be a welcome balm. But for now,
universal health is the overriding priority.
Important words from the Editorial
WHIP UP (phrasal verb) -to cause (someone or something) to feel strong emotions
about something.
JINGOISTIC (adj) -related to the belief that your own country is always
best.कट्टरदेशभविविषयक
BEDROCK (n) -the fundamental principles on which something is based. आिार
DISTRAUGHT (adj) -very worried and upset. व्याकु ल, विवक्षप्त
FRENZIED (adj) -wildly excited or uncontrolled. उन्मुि
DISRUPTION (n) -disturbance or problems which interrupt an event, activity, or

process. विघटन
INCEPTION (n) -the beginning of an organization or official activity. शुरुआत, स्थापना

के
QUIBBLE (n) -a slight objection or criticism about a trivial matter.
WANE (v) -to become weaker in strength or influence.कम होना
BALM (n) -something that gives comfort.
2020
Beyond the blame game
Nizamuddin in Delhi has turned into a large __A__ of novel coronavirus

(SARS-CoV-2) cases after a big religious congregation was held in mid-March by
the Tablighi Jamaat at the Alami Markaz Banglewali Masjid. More than 400 people
showing symptoms have been hospitalised in Delhi alone and nearly 240 have
tested positive; at least 10 have died. The __B__ of large-scale community spread
by a few hundred attendees from different States cannot be ruled out. That the
three-day event began on a day when the Health Ministry said that it did not
consider the novel coronavirus as a health emergency despite 81 cases being
reported cannot be an excuse. After all, WHO had called COVID-19 a pandemic on
March 11. The organisers should have been very much aware that a similar
congregation organised by them in Malaysia in end-February led to a spike in
cases there and the attendees had carried the virus to other countries. But the
Delhi government is equally __C__ as nothing was done to stop such a meeting
except issuing an order on March 13 prohibiting the assembly of more than 200
people. What prevented the State government from following the Centre’s March
6 advice to States to avoid or postpone mass gatherings till the pandemic was
contained? There have been several such large gatherings, religious and non-
religious, in the country after India reported its first case, beginning with the
Namaste Trump rally in Ahmedabad, to migrants gathering in a few cities
including Delhi a few days ago. Until the lockdown began, many places of worship
were open and political events held. Each such event could have potentially
seeded the virus into the population and should have therefore been __D__. But
India failed despite being aware how global congregations — some linked to
religion — had led to an __E__ spread of the virus, examples being the large
outbreaks in South Korea, Singapore, southern Italy and Spain.
X**States that already have cases with a link in the Nizamuddin (a) /event
should now use the lockdown period to actively engage in finding everyone (b)
/who has attended the event, trace their (c) /contacts, quarantine, test and
treat them without losing time(d) . Both South Korea and Singapore have
demonstrated how meticulous tracing of contacts of a church event, isolation and

aggressive testing helped prevent the highly infectious virus from spreading
widely in the community. Y**Ideally, the remaining period of the shutdown
should (a) /be used to expand the testing to at least (b) /limit community level
to find every (c) /suspected case linked to the attendee(d) . The last thing that
India can afford in the war against the virus is the disease acquiring a religious or
class colour. Community leaders have been irresponsible, but those in the
government have been lax too.
meaningful.
a) clutch
b) brood
c) clutter
d) disfiguring
e) cluster
meaningful.
a) regulation
b) people
c) humdrum
d) spectre
e) tumble
meaningful.
a) perceptive
b) discerned
c) perpetual
d) culpable
e) melancholy
meaningful.
a) aggrandized
b) deprived
c) hyped
d) tinkled
e) prevented
meaningful.
a) enduring
b) embiggening
c) alarming
d) aggrading
e) enlarging
A.WHO called COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11.

B. a big religious congregation was held in mid-March by the Tablighi Jamaat at
the Alami Markaz Banglewali Masjid.
C.a similar congregation was organised in Malaysia in end-March.
Q7.According to the passage, which countries have demonstrated how

meticulous tracing of contacts of a church event, isolation and aggressive testing
helped prevent the highly infectious virus from spreading widely in the
community.
A.Southern Italy and Spain

B. Singapore
C. South Korea
b) A and B are correct
c) A, B and C are correct
e) A and C are correct
Meticulous
a) painstaking
b) slapdash
c) sloppy
d) humdrum
e) showy
Q9. Sentence X of the passage has been divided into four parts. One or two of
these parts contain errors. Choose the parts as your answer. Mark ‘no error’ as
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
Q10. Sentence Y of the passage has been divided into four parts.One or two of
these parts contain errors .Choose the parts as your answer.Mark ‘no error’ as
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
SOLUTION
1) Cluster, meaning- a number of individuals grouped together, fits into the

context appropriately as we need a filler that imparts a meaning similar to that
of 'a grouping;a crowd.
Clutch(meaning-to grip or grasp tightly) , brood(meaning- the young of certain
animals) , clutter(meaning- confused noise) and disfigurging can be easily
eliminated as they have nothing to do with the context of the sentence.
2) Spectre, meaning-something widely feared as a possible dangerous

occurrence, fits into the context appropriately as we need a filler which can be
used as a noun and impart a meaning similar to that of 'a dangerous
occurrence'.
The sentence means that the spectre of large-scale community spread by a few
hundred attendees from different States cannot be ruled out.
You can easily eliminate rest of the options.
Regulation, people and humdrum(meaning- boring) can be eliminated easily as
they have nothing to do with the context of the sentence.
Tumbled can also be easily eliminated if you are aware of its meaning.
Tumble- A fall
mistakes and then rectifying those mistakes in order to avoid mistakes in the
exam.
3) Culpable, meaning- blameworthy, fits into the context appropriately as we

that of 'blameworthy'.
The sentence means to say that the Delhi government is equally culpable as
nothing was done to stop such a meeting except issuing an order on March 13
prohibiting the assembly of more than 200 people.
Rest of the options can be easily eliminated due to their out of context meanings.
Let's take a look at their meanings-
Melancholy- sad
discerned/perceptive-detect with the senses
perpetual - lasting forever
Now that you are aware of the meaning of the options, you can easily eliminate
them as they render the sentence contextually incorrect.
4) Prevented fits into the context appropriately as we need a filler that imparts
a meaning similar to that of 'stopped'.
The sentence means to say that such event could have potentially seeded the
virus into the population and should have therefore been prevented.
You can easily eliminate rest of the options if you are aware of the meaning of the
given options.
Aggrandized /hyped(meaning- enlarged) can be easily eliminated as they go
against the context of the sentence.
Deprived(meaning- poor; lacking) has nothing to do with the context.
Tinkled can also be eliminated if you are aware of its meaning.
Tinkle - to indicate, to signal
5) Alarming (meaning- frightening) fits into the context appropriately as we

that of 'frightening/causing fear'.
Alarming spread of the virus is being talked about in the sentence.
Enduring-long-lasting
Enlarging/embiggening - increasing;making large
Aggrading -to raise the level of a river bed.
Now that you are aware of the meaning of the options, you can easily eliminate
them as they render the sentence contextually incorrect.
6) Statements A and B are correct.

C is wrong because- a similar congregation was organised in Malaysia in end-Feb
not end-March.
7) d
It is clearly mentioned in the passage –
Both South Korea and Singapore have demonstrated how meticulous tracing of
contacts of a church event, isolation and aggressive testing helped prevent the
highly infectious virus from spreading widely in the community.
8) Meticulous– careful, precise, painstaking
9) The error is in a part.

Replace ‘link in’ with ‘link to’ to make the sentence grammatically and
contextually correct.
10) The error is in c part.

Replace ‘limit’ with ‘limited’ to make the sentence grammatically correct.
COMPLETE EDITORAL
Beyond the blame game
Nizamuddin in Delhi has turned into a large cluster of novel coronavirus

(SARS-CoV-2) cases after a big religious congregation was held in mid-March by
the Tablighi Jamaat at the Alami Markaz Banglewali Masjid. More than 400 people
showing symptoms have been hospitalised in Delhi alone and nearly 240 have
tested positive; at least 10 have died. The spectre of large-scale community
spread by a few hundred attendees from different States cannot be ruled out.
That the three-day event began on a day when the Health Ministry said that it did
not consider the novel coronavirus as a health emergency despite 81 cases being
reported cannot be an excuse. After all, WHO had called COVID-19 a pandemic on
March 11. The organisers should have been very much aware that a similar
congregation organised by them in Malaysia in end-February led to a spike in
cases there and the attendees had carried the virus to other countries. But the
Delhi government is equally culpable as nothing was done to stop such a meeting
except issuing an order on March 13 prohibiting the assembly of more than 200
people. What prevented the State government from following the Centre’s March
6 advice to States to avoid or postpone mass gatherings till the pandemic was
contained? There have been several such large gatherings, religious and non-
religious, in the country after India reported its first case, beginning with the
Namaste Trump rally in Ahmedabad, to migrants gathering in a few cities
including Delhi a few days ago. Until the lockdown began, many places of worship
were open and political events held. Each such event could have potentially
seeded the virus into the population and should have therefore been cancelled or
prevented. But India failed despite being aware how global congregations —
some linked to religion — had led to an alarming spread of the virus, examples
being the large outbreaks in South Korea, Singapore, southern Italy and Spain.
States that already have cases with a link to the Nizamuddin event should
now use the lockdown period to actively engage in finding everyone who has
attended the event, trace their contacts, quarantine, test and treat them without
losing time. Both South Korea and Singapore have demonstrated how meticulous
tracing of contacts of a church event, isolation and aggressive testing helped
prevent the highly infectious virus from spreading widely in the community.
Ideally, the remaining period of the shutdown should be used to expand the
testing to at least limited community level to find every suspected case linked to
the attendee. The last thing that India can afford in the war against the virus is the
disease acquiring a religious or class colour. Community leaders have been
irresponsible, but those in the government have been lax too.
SOME IMPORTANT WORDS FROM THE EDITORAL
1. Congregation (N) – The act of congregating or collecting together. मंडली
2. Outbreak (N) - An eruption; the sudden appearance of a rash, disease, etc.

प्रकोप
3. Lax (ADJ) – Lenient and allowing for deviation; not strict. ढीला
4. Prevent (V) – to stop( an outcome) . बािा डालना
5. Postpone (V) – to delay or to put off an event. स्थवगत करना

6. Rule out (phrasal verb) - to disallow or, to make unavailable.
2020
Safe forests, safe people: On diseases of animal origin
The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus across the world has focused
attention on the seemingly invisible processes that help pathogens originally
found in wild animals make the leap to humans. Diseases of animal origin such as
Ebola, HIV, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Middle East Respiratory
Syndrome, bird flu and swine flu have raised alarm over potential pandemics in
recent years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has confirmed the worst fears of
scientists. The _A_ , thought to have originated in a wet market that kept live
animals in Wuhan, China, points to many underlying factors: the destruction of
forests and trapping or farming of wild species has brought these animals closer
to humans, and the viruses they harbour find ready hosts in domestic animals,
moving to humans. There is concern also about rising economic activity, such as
road building and mining cutting through forests, bringing more people in close
contact with animals. Another dimension is the global trade in wild species — in
Wuhan, they reportedly ranged from wolf pups to rats, civets and foxes, among
others — and their sale in markets along with domestic animals. X** The well-
documented history of the lethal Nipah and Hendra viruses(a) /, involving
transfer from bats to pigs in the former, and bats to horses in the latter(b) ,
underscore the value of maintaining viable ecosystems, and eliminating(c) / the
need for wild bats to colonise human surroundings(d) .
Biodiversity in forests harmlessly retains dangerous viruses and other

pathogens among a vast pool of wild animals, away from people. What this
phenomenon makes clear is that governments should stop viewing undisturbed

landscapes as an _B_ to economic growth. As COVID-19 has proved, these short-
term high growth trajectories can come to an abrupt halt with a pandemic. Such a
terrible outcome could be witnessed again, _C_ caused by reckless exploitation of
the environment. In spite of repeated warnings of crippling pandemics waiting in
the wings, governments paid little attention. Now, a novel virus that can move
effortlessly from human to human has found a large reservoir of hosts in a
globalised world. Unlike previous epidemics, the latest one has extracted a _D_
toll, killing people, forcing a lockdown and causing economic devastation. This
should serve as a dire warning to the government that hasty permissions granted
for new roads, dams, mines and power projects in already enfeebled forests can
unleash more _E_. It would do well to roll back its dilution of the environmental
clearance system, strengthen it with a mandate to the States, and leave protected
areas to scientific experts. There is mounting evidence that environmental
protection confers health protection. Pristine forests with diverse species keep
viruses virtually bottled up, out of man’s way. They should be left undisturbed.
(Direction : 1-5) - In the given passage, some words have been omitted. Choose
Q.1 Select the word that can be filled in the blank A to make the passage
meaningful.
a) viruses
b) syndromes
c) contagion
d) collapse
e) wellness
Q.2 Select the word that can be filled in the blank B to make the passage
meaningful.
a) impediment
b) inundation
c) ingenuous
d) benefit
e) illusion
Q.3 Select the word that can be filled in the blank C to make the passage
meaningful.
a) possible
b) potentially
c) impossibility
d) unlikely
e) certainty
Q.4 Select the word that can be filled in the blank D to make the passage
meaningful.
a) amazing
b) astonishing
c) demoralising
d) staggering
e) encouraging
Q.5 Select the word that can be filled in the blank E to make the passage
meaningful.
a) scourge
b) scourging
c) scourged
d) scourges
e) none
Q.6 According to the passage, which of the following statements are correct?
(a) Pristine forests with diverse species keep viruses virtually bottled up, out of
man’s way.
(b) Now, a novel virus that can refrain effortlessly from human to human has
found a large reservoir of hosts in a globalised world.
(c) Ebola is not a disease of animal origin.
d) A and C are correct
Q.7 According to the passage, In spite of repeated warnings of crippling

pandemics waiting in the wings-
A governments paid little attention

B governments paid no attention
C governments paid enough attention
d) Both B and C are correct
e) Both A and B are correct
Q.8. Choose the word which correctly represents the word/phrase given below.
Waiting in the wings

a) straining
b) pushing around
c) crashing
d) jolting
e) poising
Q.9. Choose the word which correctly represents the word/phrase given below.
Bottled up
a) suppressed
b) let out
c) express
d) confide
e) restrain
Q.10. Sentence X of the passage has been divided into four parts. The first
sentence of the second part of the passage One or two of these parts contain an
error. Choose the part as an answer. Mark 'no error' as your answer if there is
no error in the sentence.
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
SOLUTION
1) Contagion, meaning-' a disease spread by contact', fits into the context

appropriately as the sentence talks about origin of COVID-19 virus.
Rest of the options can be eliminated easily.
Viruses can not be used as it talks about a specific virus that is COVID-19 virus.
Syndromes does not make any sense. Wellness (meaning - the quality of being
good) goes against the context.
Collapse has nothing to do with the context.
Hence, contagion is the most apt word that fits into the context appropriately.
2) Impediment, meaning - 'a hindrance or obstruction in doing something', fits

into the context appropriately as we need a filler which can be used as a noun
and imparts a meaning similar to that of the hindrance.
The sentence means to say that the governments should stop viewing
undisturbed landscapes as an impediment to economic growth.
Inundation , meaning- overflow, can be easily eliminated as it has nothing to do
with the context.
Similarly, ingenuous(meaning- naive, simple) and illusion can also be eliminated
as they render the sentence contextually incorrect.
Benefit can't be a choice as it starts with a consonant sound.
3) Potentially- 'with the capacity to develop or happen in the future' is the

correct option as the sentence talks about mishaps that can happen in future
too.
Rest of the options can be easily eliminated.
We need a filler that can be used as an adverb.
Option (a) can be easily eliminated as it's an adjective.Option (e) can also be easily
eliminated as it's a noun.
Impossiblity and unlikely also stand eliminated as they go against the context of
the sentence.
4) staggering- 'deeply shocking' is the correct option as we need a filler which

can be used as an adjective and imparts a meaning similar to that of the 'deeply
disappointing and shocking'.
Amazing, astonishing are synonyms but they are used in positive sense.Hence,
they stand eliminated.
Encouraging can also be easily eliminated as it goes against the context of the
sentence.
Demoralising has nothing to do with the context of the sentence. Hence, stands
eliminated.
5) Scourges(n) - 'persons or things that cause great trouble or suffering' is the

correct option as we need a filler that can be used a noun. Scourge is eliminated
as it's a singular noun.
6) Only A is correct
B is wrong because it is 'move' not 'refrain'.
C is wrong because- Ebola is a disease of animal origin and it's clearly mentioned
in the passage.
7) Only A is correct as it is clearly mentioned in the passage- In spite of repeated

warnings of crippling pandemics waiting in the wings governments paid little
attention.
8) Waiting in the wings- 'They are not active or important yet, but are ready to
make an entrance
9) Bottled Up - restrained or to kept contained or trapped'; suppressed.
Restrain can also be a choice but the phrasal verb Bottled Up is in past tense so
suppressed is a better choice.
10) Option (a) has an error. Replace history with histories to make the sentence
COMPLETE EDITORAL
Safe forests, safe people: On diseases of animal origin
The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus across the world has focused
attention on the seemingly invisible processes that help pathogens originally
found in wild animals make the leap to humans. Diseases of animal origin such as
Ebola, HIV, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Middle East Respiratory
Syndrome, bird flu and swine flu have raised alarm over potential pandemics in
recent years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has confirmed the worst fears of
scientists. The contagion , thought to have originated in a wet market that kept
live animals in Wuhan, China, points to many underlying factors: the destruction
of forests and trapping or farming of wild species has brought these animals
closer to humans, and the viruses they harbour find ready hosts in domestic
animals, moving to humans. There is concern also about rising economic activity,
such as road building and mining cutting through forests, bringing more people in
close contact with animals. Another dimension is the global trade in wild species
— in Wuhan, they reportedly ranged from wolf pups to rats, civets and foxes,
among others — and their sale in markets along with domestic animals. The well-
documented histories of the lethal Nipah and Hendra viruses, involving transfer
from bats to pigs in the former, and bats to horses in the latter, underscore the
value of maintaining viable ecosystems, and eliminating the need for wild bats to
colonise human surroundings.
Biodiversity in forests harmlessly retains dangerous viruses and other
pathogens among a vast pool of wild animals, away from people. What this
phenomenon makes clear is that governments should stop viewing undisturbed
landscapes as an impediment to economic growth. As COVID-19 has proved,
these short-term high growth trajectories can come to an abrupt halt with a
pandemic. Such a terrible outcome could be witnessed again, potentially caused
by reckless exploitation of the environment. In spite of repeated warnings of
crippling pandemics waiting in the wings, governments paid little attention. Now,
a novel virus that can move effortlessly from human to human has found a large
reservoir of hosts in a globalised world. Unlike previous epidemics, the latest one
has extracted a staggering toll, killing people, forcing a lockdown and causing
economic devastation. This should serve as a dire warning to the government that
hasty permissions granted for new roads, dams, mines and power projects in
already enfeebled forests can unleash more scourges. It would do well to roll back
its dilution of the environmental clearance system, strengthen it with a mandate
to the States, and leave protected areas to scientific experts. There is mounting
evidence that environmental protection confers health protection. Pristine forests
with diverse species keep viruses virtually bottled up, out of man’s way. They
should be left undisturbed.
Some Important Words from The EDITORAL
CONTAGION (n) -the communication of disease from one person or organism to

another by close contact.रोग-संचार, छू तसेरोगकाफै लना, संक्रमर्
HARBOUR (v) -to contain the bacteria, virus, etc. that can cause a disease to
spread.
CIVETS (n) -a small animal like a cat from Africa and southern Asia.कस्तूरीवबलाि
LETHAL (adj) -harmful, fatal, deadly, disastrous, perilous, threatening, etc.घातक
IMPEDIMENT (n) -a hindrance or obstruction in doing something.बािा
ABRUPT (adj) -sudden and unexpected, and often unpleasant.आकवस्मक
EXPLOITATION (n) -the use of something in order to get an advantage from it or

misuse.उपयोग, दोहन , शोषर्
CRIPPLING (adj) -causing a severe and almost insuperable problem.गंभीर
SCOURGES (n) -something or someone that causes great suffering or a lot of

trouble.गंभीरसंकट
BOTTLED UP (phrasal verb) -to slow the growth or progress of.
2020
LIGHT AND SOUND: ON NARENDRA MODI’S 9-MINUTE LIGHT CEREMONY
Full of sound and piety but signifying little, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third and
latest address to the nation on the COVID-19 pandemic _A_ calmed frayed nerves.
Anxieties triggered by the pandemic are on the rise among all sections of society. The
lockdown _B_ on March 24 has brought the economy to a halt: small businesses are
bleeding, and companies are scurrying to keep their heads above water. Migrant
laborers are _C_ and hungry; health workers and security personnel are already
stretched. The extent of the pandemic itself remains uncertain, meanwhile. It is only
natural that 130 crore Indians, the audience that the Prime Minister calls out to in all his
speeches, have a lot of angst regarding all this. They did expect a _D_ action plan from
the Prime Minister and a clear picture of the challenge ahead. They expected some
clarity on the post-lockdown course for the country. They hoped for more mitigation
measures, beyond those announced by the Finance Minister and the Reserve Bank of
India Governor. Chief executives of many democracies have personally addressed the
people with detailed and material plans of action since the outbreak. They have also
kept the interaction alive, and two-way. The political leadership at the Centre has largely
remained aloof. Mr. Modi himself continues with his monologues, shunning all
questions.
Rhetoric to rally the nation in a moment of crisis can actually do good. Unifying
and galvanizing the country is very critical in combating the pandemic. To the extent
that it sought to achieve those goals, the Prime Minister’s message was purposeful. But
gong and cymbals that drown out _E_ conversations can be counterproductive. If the
pandemic itself was not mind-boggling enough, now the country has a unique puzzle to
resolve — which is about the nine-minute light ceremony at 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 5,
that the Prime Minister has called for. X**Unsurprisingly, an industry has instantly
spring up online (a) / interpreting the choice of number nine as a stroke of celestial
genius, (b) / force the Press Information Bureau (c) / to issue a clarification (d) . “Don’t
fall for the rumors and unscientific reasoning on the appeal for lighting Diya…, ” it said.
The Prime Minister himself has repeatedly asked people to stay away from rumors and
misinformation about the pandemic and rely only on trusted media platforms. Mr.
Modi has a formidable following among the Indian public and his words carry weight.
But no country can talk its way out of a pandemic and an economic collapse. If words
are all one has, the virus is not going to be kind. Nor is an economy going to stop its free
fall at the sight of candles. Symbolism is infused with meaning only through action.
meaningful.
a) Severely
b) Immediately
c) Hardly
d) Lately
e) Rarely
meaningful.
a) Deterred
b) Ceased
c) Engraved
d) Enforced
e) Engrossed
meaningful.
a) Nurtured
b) Stranded
c) Virtuous
d) Cherished
e) Helped
meaningful.
a) Ominous
b) Daunting
c) Reassuring
d) Trivial
e) Futile
meaningful.
a) Hypothetical
b) Substantive
c) Unessential
d) Presumed
e) Nominal
A. Unifying and galvanizing the country is very critical in combating the pandemic.
B. If words are all one has, the virus is going to be kind.
C. They did not hope for more mitigation measures, beyond those announced by
the Finance Minister and the Reserve Bank of India Governor.
a) Only B is correct
b) Only A is correct
d) A and B are correct

e) All the statements are correct
Q7. According to the passage, what did 130 crore Indians hope and expect from
the Prime Minister?
A. They did expect a reassuring action plan from the Prime Minister and a clear
picture of the challenge ahead.
B. They expected some clarity on the unemployment allowance.
C. They hoped for more mitigation measures, beyond those announced by the
Finance Minister and the Reserve Bank of India Governor.
c) A and B are correct
e) all the three statements are correct
PIETY
a) Compassion
b) Sympathy
c) Devotion
d) Disbelief
e) Atheism
MIND-BOGGLING
a) Dreary
b) Monotonous
c) Mind-numbing
d) Overwhelming
e) Humdrum
1) ab
2) bd
3) bc
4) ac
5) ad
SOLUTION
1.Hardly, which means ‘certainly not’, fits into the context appropriately.
Rest of the options can be easily eliminated, provided that you have
comprehended the passage and are aware of the meaning of the given options.
Severely: Stringent
Immediately: Straightway
Lately: Recently
Rarely: Seldom
Now that you are aware of the meaning of the given options, you can easily
eliminate them based on their out of context meanings.
times, keep in mind that you are here to practice, allowing yourself to make
mistakes and then rectifying those mistakes to avoid mistakes in the exam.
2. Enforced, which means ‘imposed, compelled’ fits into the context

appropriately. Acc to the passage, Lockdown has been imposed by the
government on March 24.
Deterred: dissuade, discourage
Ceased: discontinue
Engraved: Printed, Fixed
Engrossed: Absorb
They can be easily eliminated as they have nothing to do with the context.
Hence, enforced is the most apt word that fits into the context appropriately.
3. Stranded, which means, ‘abandoned, homeless’ fits into the context properly.
If you have read the passage carefully, you will figure out that rest of the options
either don’t fit into the context or go against the context.
Let’s take a look at the meaning of the options-
Nurtured: to take care, to support
Virtuous: having or showing high moral standard
Cherished: admire
Helped: supported
Hence, stranded is the most apt word that can be used along with hungry for
migrant laborers.
4. Reassuring, which means, ‘to make someone less worried, comforting’ fits into
the context appropriately. The action plan should be positive and assuring which
can make people less worried or comforting.
Ominous, daunting both mean threatening or direful which is not appropriate
according to the context.
Trivial means insignificant and futile means worthless, they are also not
appropriate because they go against the context.
5. Substantive, which means, ‘important or related to real facts’ fits into the
context appropriately. Rest of the options render the sentence contextually
incorrect.
Let’s take a look at their meanings-
Hypothetical: unrealistic
Unessential: not important
Presumed: assumed
Nominal: minute, very small
Hence, substantive is the most apt word that fits into the context appropriately.
6. Only A is correct
B is wrong because- in the passage, it is clearly mentioned that ‘If words are all
one has; the virus is not going to be kind.
C is wrong because- According to the passage, ‘They hoped for more mitigation
measures, beyond those announced by the Finance Minister and the Reserve
Bank of India Governor.’
7. A and C are correct

B is wrong because: In the passage there is nothing given about the
unemployment allowance.
8. Piety: a quality of being religious or reverent; Devotion

Compassion, Sympathy both have the same meaning i.e. mercy and is different
from devotion. Disbelief is the reluctance to believe. Similarly, Atheism is also
nowhere linked to Piety because Atheism is the belief that there is no God.
9. Mind Boggling: extremely surprising and exciting; Overwhelming

Dreary (meaning: gloomy, dismal) Monotonous (meaning: repetitious) Mind-
numbing (extremely boring) Humdrum (lacking excitement) these all are opposite
in meaning so Overwhelming is the answer.
10. The errors are in parts a and c.

Replace ‘spring up’ with ‘sprung up’ and ‘force’ with ‘forcing’ to make it
COMPLETE EDITORIAL
LIGHT AND SOUND: ON NARENDRA MODI’S 9-MINUTE LIGHT CEREMONY
Full of sound and piety but signifying little, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third
and latest address to the nation on the COVID-19 pandemic hardly calmed frayed
nerves. Anxieties triggered by the pandemic are on the rise among all sections of
society. The lockdown enforced on March 24 has brought the economy to a halt: small
businesses are bleeding, and companies are scurrying to keep their heads above water.
Migrant laborers are stranded and hungry; health workers and security personnel are
already stretched. The extent of the pandemic itself remains uncertain, meanwhile. It is
only natural that 130 crore Indians, the audience that the Prime Minister calls out to in
all his speeches, have a lot of angst regarding all this. They did expect a reassuring action
plan from the Prime Minister and a clear picture of the challenge ahead. They expected
some clarity on the post-lockdown course for the country. They hoped for more
mitigation measures, beyond those announced by the Finance Minister and the Reserve
Bank of India Governor. Chief executives of many democracies have personally
addressed the people with detailed and material plans of action since the outbreak.
They have also kept the interaction alive, and two-way. The political leadership at the
Centre has largely remained aloof. Mr. Modi himself continues with his monologues,
shunning all questions.
Rhetoric to rally the nation in a moment of crisis can actually do good. Unifying
and galvanizing the country is very critical in combating the pandemic. To the extent
that it sought to achieve those goals, the Prime Minister’s message was purposeful. But
gong and cymbals that drown out substantive conversations can be counterproductive.
If the pandemic itself was not mind-boggling enough, now the country has a unique
puzzle to resolve — which is about the nine-minute light ceremony at 9 p.m. on Sunday,
April 5, that the Prime Minister has called for. Unsurprisingly, an industry has instantly
sprung up online interpreting the choice of number nine as a stroke of celestial genius,
forcing the Press Information Bureau to issue a clarification. “Don’t fall for the rumors
and unscientific reasoning on the appeal for lighting Diya…, ” it said. The Prime Minister
himself has repeatedly asked people to stay away from rumors and misinformation
about the pandemic and rely only on trusted media platforms. Mr. Modi has a
formidable following among the Indian public and his words carry weight. But no
country can talk its way out of a pandemic and an economic collapse. If words are all
one has, the virus is not going to be kind. Nor is an economy going to stop its free fall at
the sight of candles. Symbolism is infused with meaning only through corresponding
action.
2020
Enemy at the gates: On Kerala-Karnataka border row
Kerala-Karnataka border issue poses questions on restrictions, relations during a

pandemic
Kerala’s grievance over Karnataka sealing its border to prevent the spread
of COVID-19 has brought under focus the extent and the possible limits, of
restrictions that may be imposed by the government to deal with a public health
emergency. After the Kerala High Court directed the Centre to ensure free
vehicular movement for those requiring urgent medical treatment on the national
highway that connects Kasaragod in Kerala to Mangaluru in Karnataka, the
Supreme Court has directed the Centre to confer with the States and formulate
the norms for creating a passage at Talapadi, the border. A _A_ solution is
possibly round the corner, as there are reports of Kasaragod district suffering due
to the highway closure. Many here depend on medical facilities in Mangaluru for
emergencies, while others rely on inter-State movement for essential medicines
to reach them. These include those battling endosulfan poisoning for many years.
Karnataka’s objection is based on the fact that Kasaragod has Kerala’s largest
number of positive cases. It has a reasonable _B_ that allowing vehicles might
result in the disease spreading to its territory. However, it is clear that those who
may travel across the border for urgent medical needs are patients other than
those who are pandemic victims.
Y**A key question that has arose (a) / is whether legal measures taken by the
State (b) /to prevent the further spread of an epidemic can extended to a point
(c) /where there is no exception even for medical needs. (d) /
The Kerala High Court took the view that denying emergency medical aid _C_ to a
violation of the right to life and liberty, and addressed jurisdictional objections
from Karnataka by observing that its direction was to the Centre, as what was
under closure was a national highway. There is significant irony in the Kerala point
of view. Late last month, the Kerala Governor _D_ the ‘Kerala Epidemic Diseases
Ordinance, 2020’ to arm itself with extraordinary powers to deal with the
pandemic. One of its clauses says the State can seal its borders for such period as
necessary, while another empowers it to restrict the duration of essential or
emergency services, including health, food supply, and fuel. Karnataka may have
reason to believe that it is equally _E_ to seal its borders and restrict essential
services. It is a MOOT question whether Kerala’s new law would weaken its case
that its neighbour cannot shut down its border and deny medical access to its
residents. Interestingly, inter-State migration and quarantine are under the Union
List, while the prevention of infectious diseases moving from one State to another
is under the Concurrent List. This can only mean that while States have the power
to impose border restrictions, the responsibility to prevent a breakdown of inter-
State relations over such disputes is on the Centre.
meaningful.
a) Alternative
b) Abdicable
c) Amicable
d) Mundane
e) Competing
meaningful.
a) Extension
b) Response
c) Tranquility
d) Apprehension
e) Apathy
meaningful.
a) Accede
b) Accounts
c) Objects
d) Amounts
e) due
meaningful.
a) Permitted
b) Promulgated
c) Regulated
d) Promoted
e) Propagated
meaningful.
a) Inclined
b) Responsible
c) Enthused
d) Entitled
e) Alacrity
A) State list covers the subject of inter-State migration and quarantine.

B) The prevention of infectious diseases and moving from one State to another
are the topics under Concurrent List.
C) ’Kerala Epidemic Disease Ordinance, 2020’ empowers Kerala to restrict the
duration of essential or emergency services, including health, food supply, and
fuel.
Q7. According to the passage, what are the extraordinary powers Kerala
government entitled through ‘Kerala Epidemic disease ordinance, 2020’ to deal
with such pandemic?
A) The State can seal its borders for such a period of emergency as necessary.
B) This enables the state to impose heavy fines for any kind of violence against
health workers and imprisonment for up to 10 years.
C) This empowers the state to restrict the duration of essential or emergency
services, including health, food supply, and fuel.
MOOT
a) Accomplished
b) Irrefragable
c) Controversial
d) Certain
e) Positive
Apprehension
a) Certainty
b) Misunderstanding
c) Belief
d) Detention
e) Foreboding
Q10. Sentence Y of the passage has been divided into four parts. One or two of
1) ab
2) bd
3) bc
4) ac
SOLUTION
1. Amicable, which means friendly, cordial fits into the context appropriately. The
amicable solution here in the context refers to a solution which can be achieved
without unpleasant argument between the two states, so that friendly relations
between them can be maintained.
If you have comprehended the passage, you can easily eliminate the other
options out of context meaning.
Let’s go through their meanings:
Alternative: choice, option;
Abdicable: unwanted
Competing: rival
Mundane: ordinary, dull
Hence, Amicable is the apt word according to the passage.
2. Apprehension, meaning anxiety and worry especially about the future, fits into
context appropriately. Rest of the options can be easily eliminated if you are
aware of the meaning of the given options. Rest of the options render the
sentence contextually incorrect.
Let me take you through their meaning-
Extension: stretching
Response: Answer, reply
Tranquility: peacefulness
Apathy: lack of interest
Hence, Apprehension is the apt word according to the passage.
3. Amounts to, which means equivalents to, fits into the context appropriately.
By elimination method, other options can be eliminated easily.

Accede: agree, give consent, do not fit into the context. Accounts, objects, due
have nothing to do with the context, so they are eliminated.
Hence, Amounts is the apt word according to the passage.
4. Promulgated, which means put into effect, enact and implement, this is the
most appropriate word according to the context. According to the passage,
Karnataka governor put into effect the ‘Kerala Epidemic Disease Ordinance, 2020’.
You can easily eliminate rest of the options, provided that, you have read the
passage carefully and are aware of the meaning of the given options.
Permitted: Allowed
Regulated: directed
Promoted: Raise
Propagated: extended
Read out the passage carefully you will find that they all do not fit into the context
and hence, promulgated is the most apt word according to the passage.
5. Entitled, which means allowed and permitted, fits into the context
appropriately.
Rest of the options can be easily eliminated, provided that you have
Responsible is out of context, so eliminated straightaway. Enthused, which means
showing enthusiasm has no relevance here, so eliminated. Inclined means willing
and Alacrity means eagerness, they both are eliminated as they do not complete
the sentence sensibly.
6. Both B and C are correct

A is wrong because: According to the passage, Inter-state migration and
quarantine are under Union list.
7. A and C are correct

B is wrong because: In the passage there is nothing given about imprisonment
and fines.
8. MOOT: subject to discussion, debatable; Controversial
Accomplished: established beyond doubt or dispute (so this can be considered

as an antonym of moot)
Irrefragable meaning impossible to break or alter, Certain and positive are also
opposite in meaning to controversial.
9. Apprehension means anxiety and worry especially about future: Foreboding.

Apprehension also means understanding and comprehending.
Here in the options
Certainty (meaning: assurance) , Belief (meaning: faith) , Detention is different
and misunderstanding is opposite in meaning to apprehension.
10. The errors are in parts a and c.

Replace ‘arose’ with ‘arisen’ and ‘extended’ with ‘extend’ to make it
COMPLETE EDITORIAL
ENEMY AT THE GATES: ON KERALA-KARNATAKA BORDER ROW
Kerala-Karnataka border issue poses questions on restrictions, relations during a

pandemic
Kerala’s grievance over Karnataka sealing its border to prevent the spread of
COVID-19 has brought under focus the extent and the possible limits, of restrictions that
may be imposed by the government to deal with a public health emergency. After the
Kerala High Court directed the Centre to ensure free vehicular movement for those
requiring urgent medical treatment on the national highway that connects Kasaragod in
Kerala to Mangaluru in Karnataka, the Supreme Court has directed the Centre to confer
with the States and formulate the norms for creating a passage at Talapadi, the border.
An amicable solution is possibly round the corner, as there are reports of Kasaragod
district suffering due to highway closure. Many here depend on medical facilities in
Mangaluru for emergencies, while others rely on inter-State movement for essential
medicines to reach them. These include those battling endosulfan poisoning for many
years. Karnataka’s objection is based on the fact that Kasaragod has Kerala’s largest
number of positive cases. It has a reasonable apprehension that allowing vehicles might
result in the disease spreading to its territory. However, it is clear that those who may
travel across the border for urgent medical needs are patients other than those who are
pandemic victims. A key question that has arisen is whether legal measures taken by the
State to prevent the further spread of an epidemic can extend to a point where there is
no exception even for medical needs.
The Kerala High Court took the view that denying emergency medical aid amounts to a
violation of the right to life and liberty, and addressed jurisdictional objections from
Karnataka by observing that its direction was to the Centre, as what was under closure
was a national highway. There is significant irony in the Kerala point of view. Late last
month, the Kerala Governor promulgated the ‘Kerala Epidemic Diseases Ordinance,
2020’ to arm itself with extraordinary powers to deal with the pandemic. One of its
clauses says the State can seal its borders for such period as necessary, while another
empowers it to restrict the duration of essential or emergency services, including
health, food supply, and fuel. Karnataka may have reason to believe that it is equally
entitled to seal its borders and restrict essential services. It is a moot question whether
Kerala’s new law would weaken its case that its neighbour cannot shut down its border
and deny medical access to its residents. Interestingly, inter-State migration and
quarantine are under the Union List, while the prevention of infectious diseases moving
from one State to another is under the Concurrent List. This can only mean that while
States have the power to impose border restrictions, the responsibility to prevent a
breakdown of inter-State relations over such disputes is on the Centre.
Some Important Words from The EDITORIAL
Impose (V) - to establish or apply by authority. थोपना

Grievance (N) - something which causes grief. वशकायत
Apprehension (N) – the act of seizing or taken by legal process. डर
Promulgate (V) - to make known or public. घोषर्ा करना
Moot (ADJ) – debatable. वििादास्पद
2020
DO NOT HARM: ON SAFETY OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS
The safety of health-care workers on COVID-19 duty is paramount

‘Primum non nocere’ is the primary, guiding principle of bioethics. Every health-
care worker is oriented on the principle of ‘First, do no harm’ during their training.
All medical training is based on this idea, but very little in what they learn
prepares them for the reverse: When harm is _A_ upon them. Over the past
week, chilling stories of assaults on health-care workers, on COVID-19 duty, have
been reported. Visuals beamed in of angry locals who threw stones at doctors,
health-care workers and civic officials who went to screen people in Indore,
Madhya Pradesh. Two women doctors were injured. Earlier, there were reports of
locals in Ranipura _B_ spitting at officials as they took up screening. Last week,
doctors at Hyderabad’s Gandhi Hospital were attacked after a patient with
multiple co-morbidities died of COVID-19. Doctors there even sought police
protection. ASHA workers were reportedly attacked in Bengaluru, Karnataka,
when they went to collect data on COVID-19 symptoms. Locals grabbed their bags
and cellphones, and the police finally had to rescue them. In Mumbai’s Dharavi,
police personnel who went to ensure that lockdown conditions were being
followed — after a person tested positive in the locality — were assaulted by local
youth. A case has been registered at Kayathar police station in Thoothukudi, Tamil
Nadu, after 12 people allegedly assaulted a health inspector and his team when
they went there to isolate the family of a patient who had attended the
Nizamuddin conclave.
These attacks are a result of paranoia and are completely unmindfulof the many
risks health-care workers take on, _C_ doing their work in a pandemic situation
such as this. In Wockhardt, doctors and workers have tested positive while
treating patients. If these helpers are looked uponas the enemy, it only allows the
true foe — the virus — to gather strength. WHO too has developed guidelines for
addressing workplace violence in the health sector to support the development of
violence prevention policies in non-emergency settings. Their _D_ in this situation
must be examined. Baskut Tuncak, UN Special Rapporteur on the implications for
human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of
hazardous substances and wastes hailed health-care workers as heroes who must
be protected. X** “Stating that the tireless work and self-sacrifice of these
workers (a) /shows the best of humanity, he also went on to emphasize (b) /
that unacceptable shortages in critical protective equipment that can stop them
(c) / from being infected, continued to plague nearly all nations battling COVID-
19”.(d) The _E_ of restoring order and ensuring the safety of all health workers,
whether with personal protective equipment, or against attacks from the public
ultimately rests with the government, and in equal measure, the people.
meaningful.
a) Enervated
b) Inflicted
c) Annexed
d) Infringed
e) Rendered
meaningful.
a) Profusely
b) Contemptuously
c) Loathsome
d) Incessantly
e) Allegedly
meaningful.
a) Roughly
b) Merely
c) Rarely
d) Evenly
e) Finally
meaningful.
a) Futility
b) Senility
c) Tranquility
d) Applicability
e) Volatility
meaningful.
a) Plausibility
b) Applicability
c) Desirability
d) Probability
e) Responsibility
A) WHO has developed guidelines for addressing workplace violence in the health
sector to support the development of epidemic prevention policies.
B) The responsibility of restoring order and ensuring the safety of all health
workers, whether with personal protective equipment, or against attacks from
the public ultimately rests with the government, and in equal measure, the
people.
C) Baskut Tuncak, UN Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of

the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances
and wastes, hailed health-care workers as warriors who must be honored.
Q7. According to the passage, what are some of the chilling stories on assaults
on healthcare workers, on COVID-19 duty, have been reported in the past
week?
A) In Indore, Madhya Pradesh, angry locals threw stones at doctors and

healthcare workers who went there to screen people.
B) ASHA workers were reportedly attacked in Bangaluru, Karnataka, when they
went to collect data on COVID-19 symptoms. Locals grabbed their bags and
cellphones, and the police finally had to rescue them.
C) Doctors at Hyderabad’s Gandhi Hospital were attacked after a patient with
multiple co-morbidities died of COVID-19.
HAZARDOUS
a) Innocuous
b) Perilous
c) Anodyne
d) Inoffensive
e) Innocent
UNMINDFUL
a) Observant
b) Sentient
c) Incognizant
d) Acquainted
e) Sensitive
1) ab
2) bd
3) bc
4) ac
5) cd
SOLUTION
1.Inflicted, which means to Impose something unpleasant like pain, fits into the
sentence appropriately. Here, harm has been forcefully imposed by others on
health workers.
If you have read the passage carefully, you can easily eliminate other options by
checking their relevance in the particular context, provided that you know the
meaning of the given words.
Let me take you through the meanings:
Enervated: without vigor, force: languid
Annexed: attached to
Infringed: to violate
Rendered: Lay down, yield
Hence, Inflicted is the most apt word that fits into the context appropriately.
2. Allegedly, which means asserted to be true, fits into the context appropriately.
According to the passage, there are reports of locals spitting at officials in
ranipura but there is no proof.
By Elimination method, try to eliminate other options by checking their relevance
in the context.
Profusely: Abundantly
Loathsome: Disgusting
Contemptuously: Disrespectfully
Incessantly: everlasting
Hence, the most appropriate word which sensibly complete the sentence is
Allegedly.
3. Merely, which means ‘only’, fits here appropriately.

Eliminate other options using elimination method. Other words have out of
context meaning.
Rarely: Seldom
Roughly: Approximately; violently
Evenly and Finally also do not fit into the context and therefore eliminated.
4. Applicability, which means aptness, relevancy fits into the context

appropriately.
Futility means Uselessness which do not fit into the context as it is
quite opposite to what is required. Senility means dotage, tranquility
means state of being quiet, Volatility means irregularity, fickleness.
They all render the sentence contextually incorrect.
Hence, Applicability is the apt word here.
5. Responsibility, which means, liability, fits into the sentence appropriately.

Plausibility and Probability represents possibility which do not fit into the context.
Applicability (meaning- apt Ness) , relevancy and desirability can also be easily
eliminated as they have nothing to do with the context of the sentence.
Hence, Responsibility is the apt word here.
6. Only B is correct.
A is wrong because in the passage it is clearly mentioned that, WHO has

developed guidelines for addressing workplace violence in the health sector to
support the development of violence prevention policies, not epidemic
prevention policies.
C is wrong because, according to the passage, Baskut Tuncak, UN Special
Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound
management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, hailed health-
care workers as heroes who must be protected. Protection of health care workers
is being talked about.
7. All the statements are correct.
8. Perilous: full of peril, dangerous; hazardous.

Innocuous, Anodyne, innocent, and inoffensive have similar meaning i.e. harmless
which are opposite in meaning to Perilous. So, Perilous would be the correct word
with similar meaning to hazardous.
9. Unmindful: lacking awareness or consciousness; Incognizant.

Observant and Acquainted: familiar, mindful. They are opposite in meaning to
Unmindful. Sensitive (meaning: delicate) is not linked to Unmindful anywhere.
10. The errors are in parts b and d.

Replace ‘shows’with ‘show’ and ‘continued’ with ‘continue’ to make the sentence
COMPLETE EDITORIAL
DO NOT HARM: ON SAFETY OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS
The safety of health-care workers on COVID-19 duty is paramount

‘Primum non nocere’ is the primary, guiding principle of bioethics. Every health-care
worker is oriented on the principle of ‘First, do no harm’ during their training. All
medical training is based on this idea, but very little in what they learn prepares them
for the reverse: When harm is inflicted upon them. Over the past week, chilling stories
of assaults on health-care workers, on COVID-19 duty, have been reported. Visuals
beamed in of angry locals who threw stones at doctors, health-care workers and civic
officials who went to screen people in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Two women doctors
were injured. Earlier, there were reports of locals in Ranipura allegedly spitting at
officials as they took up screening. Last week, doctors at Hyderabad’s Gandhi Hospital
were attacked after a patient with multiple co-morbidities died of COVID-19. Doctors
there even sought police protection. ASHA workers were reportedly attacked in
Bengaluru, Karnataka, when they went to collect data on COVID-19 symptoms. Locals
grabbed their bags and cellphones, and the police finally had to rescue them. In
Mumbai’s Dharavi, police personnel who went to ensure that lockdown conditions
were being followed — after a person tested positive in the locality — were assaulted
by local youth. A case has been registered at Kayathar police station in Thoothukudi,
Tamil Nadu, after 12 people allegedly assaulted a health inspector and his team when
they went there to isolate the family of a patient who had attended the Nizamuddin
conclave.
These attacks are a result of paranoia and are completely unmindful of the many risks
health-care workers take on, merely doing their work in a pandemic situation such as
this. In Wockhardt, doctors and workers have tested positive while treating patients. If
these helpers are looked upon as the enemy, it only allows the true foe — the virus —
to gather strength. WHO too has developed guidelines for addressing workplace
violence in the health sector to support the development of violence prevention policies
in non-emergency settings. Their applicability in this situation must be examined. Baskut
Tuncak, UN Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the
environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes,
hailed health-care workers as heroes who must be protected. Stating that the tireless
work and self-sacrifice of these workers show the best of humanity, he also went on to
emphasize that unacceptable shortage in critical protective equipment that can stop
them from being infected, continue to plague nearly all nations battling COVID-19. The
responsibility of restoring order and ensuring the safety of all health workers, whether
with personal protective equipment, or against attacks from the public ultimately rests
with the government, and in equal measure, the people.
Allegedly (ADV) – according to someone’s allegation. कवथत तौर पर

Inflict (V) - to thrust upon, to impose. दण्ड
Morbidity (N) – the quality of being unhealthful or diseased, sometimes including the
cause. रोगों की संख्या
Implication (N) – the act of implicating. वनवहताथण
Hailed (V) – to greet , give salutation. स्िागत
2020
PREPARING FOR EXIT: ON LIFTING THE LOCKDOWN
Overall relaxation of lockdown needs massive testing and support for infection
clusters
As the world watches, India must plan its strategy for a calibrated exit, possibly in
a week, from the most aggressive lockdown anywhere to contain the novel
coronavirus. The government faces the challenge of normalizing some level of
daily life and oiling the wheels of the economy, without causing a surge in cases
that could follow the wrong steps.
X**It is wholly welcomed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi (a) / has sought
the views of the States on the way forward (b) / beyond the 21-day lockdown,
and mandated his Ministers to came up (c) /with a set of priority actions under
a business continuity plan. (d) The strategy will have to take into account the _A_
of migrant labor from cities to their home towns or camps set up along inter-State
corridors. Given that this is harvest season, _B_ of activity due to labor issues can
trigger food deficits and high prices. On the medical front, States are monitoring
those under isolation or in quarantine and straining to trace the contacts of those
who attended the Nizamuddin _C_, many of whom are now found in distinct
clusters in some districts. The States must also scale up testing, as part of the
latest ICMR advisory for clusters and migration centers, and going forward, as
part of the exit strategy. Against this complex background, the States are
cautious, and Telangana and Chhattisgarh have voiced doubts about an exit
without a clear plan.
Reducing the risk of withdrawal from lockdown will depend on prioritized actions.
The experience of China, South Korea, and Singapore, who are ahead of the curve
thus far, provides pointers to opening up of activity after a phase of movement
curbs. These countries opted for enhanced testing, isolation of the infected,
tracing of patient contacts, and strict quarantine. After three weeks or more of
lockdown, India, where 284 districts have so far been affected, should institute a
system of testing that includes not just indicative cases but surveillance samples
to determine the extent of spread. This will enable targeting and CONTAINMENT
to specific areas. With a high emphasis on social distancing, universal mask use,
and handwashing, it should be possible to open up some activity and release the
pressures building up under the lockdown. Needless to say, free and widely
available testing, and support systems for those infected, will encourage universal
adoption. The identification of hotspots, where a virtual lockdown could be in
force even if the nationwide curbs are relaxed, would require planned, humane
measures to ensure availability of food, other essentials, and medicines. Mass
gatherings, long-distance travel, and leisure activity would have to wait. Urban
_D_ for workers in the absence of public transport could be made possible by _E_
bicycle use where feasible, avoiding CONGESTION.
meaningful.
a) Decampment
b) Invasion
c) Exodus
d) Incursion
e) Advent
meaningful.
a) Inception
b) Desist
c) Creation
d) Cessation
e) Extension
meaningful.
a) Troupe
b) Congregation
c) Troop
d) Crew
e) Platoon
meaningful.
a) Infrastructure
b) Development
c) Congestion
d) Mobility
e) Transportation
meaningful.
a) Prohibiting
b) Commuting
c) Encouraging
d) Violating
e) Circulating
A) China, Italy and the United States of America, who are ahead of the curve thus
far, provides pointers to opening up of activity after a phase of the movement
curbs.
B) As this is a harvest season, so food deficit and high prices can be seen as a
result of the discontinuation of activity due to labor issues.
C) China, South Korea, and Singapore opted for enhanced testing, isolation of the
infected, tracing of patient contacts and strict quarantine.
Q7. According to the passage, what is the challenge government faces while
considering a calibrated exit from lockdown?
A) Movement of migrant labors from cities to their home towns or to camps set
up along inter-State corridors.
B) To normalize some level of daily life and boost the economy without a surge in
the number of COVID-19 cases.
C) To scale-up testing, as part of the latest ICMR advisory for clusters and
migration centers.
D) The proper imposition of social distancing, universal masks use and hand
washing.
c) A and D are correct

e) all of the above statements are correct
CONTAINMENT
a) Emancipation
b) Salvation
c) Curb
d) Liberation
e) Expansion
CONGESTION
a) Stark
b) Deficient
c) Barren
d) Profusion
e) Devoid
1) ab
2) bd
3) bc
4) ac
SOLUTION
1. Exodus, which means ‘Mass departure’ is the most appropriate word here
which completes the sentence sensibly. Passage talks about migrant labor
movement from cities to hometown. So here, ‘exodus of migrant labors’

represents the mass movement of migrant labors from cities to their respective
places.
Read the passage carefully and try to comprehend it completely. It would be very
easy to eliminate other options if you know the meaning of the rest of the words.
Decampment: to depart suddenly, Abscond
Invasion & Incursion: an act of invading, Raid
Advent: Incoming
Hence, Exodus is the most appropriate word.
2. Cessation, which means stop, discontinue, fits into the context appropriately.
You can easily eliminate the rest of the options, provided that, you have read the
passage carefully and are aware of the meaning of the given options.
Inception: Commencement
Desist: cease (Its meaning is appropriate according to the context but it is
followed by ‘from’ not 'of'. Hence, it stands eliminated)
Creation: formation
Extension: extend
Hence, cessation is the most apt word here.
3. Congregation, which means ‘religious gathering’ is a collective noun and fits

into the context appropriately.
Other options can be eliminated in seconds if you are aware of the usage of a few
important collective nouns.
Let’s have a look at them:
Troupe: group of artistes
Troop: group of scouts
Crew: a group of sailors
Platoon: group of soldiers
Now that you know the meaning and usage of the above collective nouns, you can
easily choose the most appropriate one. Here, the passage talks about
Nizamuddin gathering which was a religious event. Hence, the Congregation is
the correctly used word here.
4. Mobility, which means the ability to move, fits into the context appropriately.
Congestion: Overcrowding
Passage talks about the movement of workers by bicycles in the absence of public
transport. You can get an idea of what the writer is talking about by reading the
complete sentence ahead of the blank.
Rest of the options render the sentence contextually incorrect. Hence, Mobility is
the most apt word here.
5. Encouraging, which means optimistic, promising, fits int the context

appropriately.
If you have read the passage carefully and are aware of the meaning of the given
options, you will figure out that rest of the options either don’t fit into the context
or go against the context.
Let’s take a look at the meaning of the options-
Prohibiting: Forbid
Commuting: compensate
Circulating: broadcasting
Violating: Break, Interrupt
In the passage, the writer talks about the possibility to start the movement of
migrant laborers by encouraging bicycle usage if possible. Hence, Encouraging is
the most appropriate word here.
6. B and C are correct.

A is wrong because the passage mentions that, ”China, South Korea, and
Singapore, who are ahead of the curve thus far, provides pointers to opening up
of activity after a phase of the movement curbs.
7. Only B is correct
The challenge face by the government according to the passage is, “normalizing
some level of daily life and oiling the wheels of the economy, without causing a
surge in cases that could follow the wrong steps.
Other statements given in rest of the options are not challenges according to the
passage.
8. Containment: to prevent something from spread, Isolation: Curb
Emancipation and salvation means “free from slavery”, “liberation”, that is

opposite in meaning to containment. The expansion means to expand, that is
another antonym for containment.
9. Congestion: overcrowd, surplus: Profusion

All the other options can be eliminated as they are opposite in meaning. Let’s
have a look at their meanings one by one:
Barren is ‘Infertile’. Stark is similar to Barren. Devoid means ‘empty’. Deficient
means Insufficient and inadequate. So, they all represent less in quantity which is
opposite to Congestion.
Hence, Profusion which means ‘Abundance’ is similar to Congestion.
10.The errors are in a and c parts.

Replace ‘welcomed’ with ‘welcome’ in (a) and ‘came’ with ‘come’ in (c) to make it
a grammatically correct sentence.
COMPLETE EDITORAL
PREPARING FOR EXIT: ON LIFTING THE LOCKDOWN
Overall relaxation of lockdown needs massive testing and support for infection
clusters
As the world watches, India must plan its strategy for a calibrated exit, possibly in
a week, from the most aggressive lockdown anywhere to contain the novel
coronavirus. The government faces the challenge of normalizing some level of
daily life and oiling the wheels of the economy, without causing a surge in cases
that could follow the wrong steps. It is wholly welcome that Prime Minister
Narendra Modi has sought the views of the States on the way forward beyond the
21-day lockdown, and mandated his Ministers to come up with a set of priority
actions under a business continuity plan. The strategy will have to take into
account the exodus of migrant labor from cities to their home towns or camps set
up along inter-State corridors. Given that this is harvest season, cessation of
activity due to labor issues can trigger food deficits and high prices. On the
medical front, States are monitoring those under isolation or in quarantine and
straining to trace the contacts of those who attended the Nizamuddin

congregation, many of whom are now found in distinct clusters in some districts.
The States must also scale up testing, as part of the latest ICMR advisory for
clusters and migration centers, and going forward, as part of the exit strategy.
Against this complex background, the States are cautious, and Telangana and
Chhattisgarh have voiced doubts about an exit without a clear plan.
Reducing the risk of withdrawal from lockdown will depend on prioritized actions.
The experience of China, South Korea, and Singapore, who are ahead of the curve
thus far, provides pointers to opening up of activity after a phase of movement
curbs. These countries opted for enhanced testing, isolation of the infected,
tracing of patient contacts, and strict quarantine. After three weeks or more of
lockdown, India, where 284 districts have so far been affected, should institute a
system of testing that includes not just indicative cases but surveillance samples
to determine the extent of spread. This will enable targeting and containment to
specific areas. With a high emphasis on social distancing, universal mask use, and
handwashing, it should be possible to open up some activity and relea se the
pressures building up under the lockdown. Needless to say, free and widely
available testing, and support systems for those infected, will encourage universal
adoption. The identification of hotspots, where a virtual lockdown could be in
force even if the nationwide curbs are relaxed, would require planned, humane
measures to ensure availability of food, other essentials, and medicines. Mass
gatherings, long-distance travel, and leisure activity would have to wait. Urban
mobility for workers in the absence of public transport could be made possible by
encouraging bicycle use where feasible, avoiding congestion.

Surge (N) – a sudden transient rush, flood or increase. महोर्णम
Calibrate (V) – to check or adjust by comparison with a standard. जांचना
Massive (ADJ) – of or pertaining to a large mass; weighty, heavy or bulky. बड़ा
Cessation (N) – a ceasing or discontinuance, for example of an action , whether
temporary or final. समावप्त
Feasible (ADJ) – doable, achievable, practicable. संभि
2020
"For better use: On MPLADS funds"
The suspension of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme

(MPLADS) for two years to boost the funding available for the COVID-19 fight is a
step in the right direction. It may appear at first blush that the decision may
__1__ the decentralised manner of funding local area development. However,
past experience has been that some members do not utilise their full __2__and
that there is a gap between recommendation made by members and
implementation by the administration under this scheme.
The immediate benefit now is the freeing up of about ₹7, 900 crore over a two-
year period so that it can be spent on boosting the health infrastructure needed
to combat the pandemic. This is the second announcement regarding MPLADS
that the Centre has made after the disease outbreak. Last month, it allowed
utilisation of MPLADS funds to the extent of at least ₹5lakh by each MP to
purchase medical equipment for government hospitals in their constituencies.
Many members made immediate use of the one-time dispensation to
recommend the procurement of N95 masks, personal protective equipment, and
ventilators. Now that the entire scheme has been __3__, the government should
ensure that recommendations already made are acted upon immediately. While
the transfer of these sums to the Consolidated Fund of India would help _A_
deployment anywhere in the country, based on an __4__ of the varying needs in
different regions, it would redound to the government’s credit if the genuine
efforts made by members to help their constituents are not frustrated. It should
also see to it that allocations are non-discriminatory.
(a) Political reactions indicate that /(b) there is considerably /(c)
/disenchantment over the suspension(d) / — the ₹5-crore corpus available to

each member is a source of much goodwill for elected representatives. Better
performing MPs identify and fulfil local development needs with *empathy* and
ALACRITY. However, there has also been persistent criticism about the scheme’s
very nature. A conceptual flaw pointed out by experts is that it goes against the
separation of powers. It allows __5__ legislators to encroach on the planning and
implementation duties of the administration. Jurists have pointed out that the
Constitution does not confer the power to spend public money on an individual
legislator. Experts have called it out for weak monitoring. The Supreme Court,
while declining to strike down the scheme, called for a robust accountability
regime. MPLADS gives scope for MPs to utilise the funds as a source of patronage
that they can dispense at will. The CAG has flagged instances of financial
mismanagement and inflation of amounts spent. The Second Administrative
Reforms Commission recommended its abrogation altogether, highlighting the
problems of the legislator STEPPING INTO THE SHOES of the executive. The
current suspension gives some scope for a reconsideration of the scheme in its
totality.
Choose the correct word to fill the blanks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Q.1
a) sabotage
b) corroborate
c) Impair
d) Undermine
e) assist
Q.2
a) Entitlement
b) disadvantages
c) privilege
d) grant
e) responsibility
Q.3
a) pending
b) delay
c) suspended
d) delaying
e) postpone
Q.4
a) reviews
b) estimations
c) judgement
d) assessment
e) valuation
Q.5
a) group
b) individuals
c) human
d) humans
e) individual
Q6. The first sentence of the fourth part of the passage has been divided into
parts. One of these parts contain an error. Choose that part as an answer. Mark
'no error' as the answer if there's no error in the sentence.
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
Q.7. Choose the word which correctly represents the word given below.
Empathy
a) Condolence
b) affinity
c) appreciation
d) apathy
e) feeling
Alacrity
a) hurry
b) speed
c) eagerness
d) lethargy
e) activity
Q9. Choose the word which can be filled in the blank marked as A.
1) polite
2) judicious
3) descent
4) idiotic
5) reckless
Q10-. Choose the word which shows the meaning of the word given in bold.
Stepping Into The Shoes
1) to take over a job from someone

2) to put up in front
3) to be a replacement for
4) show someone the door
5) no correction required
SOLUTION
1. Undermine is the word that fits into the context appropriately. Undermine
means to make something weaker. (If you are good at Vocab and you know the
meanings of sabotage, corroborate, impair, assist, you can easily use the
elimination method as these words can't go well with the context.
2. Entitlement is the correct answer because it refers to 'the official right to have
or do something'.
3. Suspended is the most suitable word that fits in the sentence grammatically.
The given sentence is passive voice of present perfect, hence we need V3.
4. Assessment is the right answer because there is an article 'an' before the word.
Option a and b are in plural forms. That's why Assessment is our obvious choice.
5. Individual is the word which fits in the sentence grammatically as we need an

adjective to qualify the noun 'legislators' .
Individual (adj) means Relating to a single person or thing as opposed to more
than one. Rest options are noun so can be easily eliminated.
6. B
Considerably should be replaced with 'considerable' as we need an adjective to
make the sentence grammatically correct. Considerably is an adverb.
7. Option (a) Condolence is correct because Empathy means putting yourself in

the shoes of another or understanding and feeling someone's pain. And
Condolence also refers to understanding someone's pain. So it can replace the
word.
8. Option c) Eagerness can replace Alacrity because they have similar meanings.
Alacrity means great willingness, eagerness or enthusiasm.
9. Judicious which means 'done with good judgement fits in the context
appropriately.
10. (a)
Complete EDITORIAL
"For better use: On MPLADS funds"
While taking over MPLADS funds to fight the virus, Centre must allocate
judiciously
The suspension of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development

Scheme (MPLADS) for two years to boost the funding available for the COVID-19
fight is a step in the right direction. It may appear at first blush that the decision
may UNDERMINE the decentralised manner of funding local area development.
However, past experience has been that some members do not utilise their full
ENTITLEMENT and that there is a gap between recommendation made by
members and implementation by the administration under this scheme. The
immediate benefit now is the FREEING UP of about ₹7, 900 crore over a two-year
period so that it can be spent on boosting the health infrastructure needed to
combat the pandemic. This is the second announcement regarding MPLADS that
the Centre has made after the disease outbreak. Last month, it allowed utilisation
of MPLADS funds to the extent of at least ₹5lakh by each MP to purchase medical
equipment for government hospitals in their constituencies. Many members
made immediate use of the one-time dispensation to recommend the
procurement of N95 masks, personal protective equipment, and ventilators. Now
that the entire scheme has been suspended, the government should ensure that
recommendations already made are acted upon immediately. While the transfer
of these sums to the Consolidated Fund of India would help JUDICIOUS
deployment anywhere in the country, based on an ASSESSMENT of the varying
needs in different regions, it would REDOUND to the government’s credit if the
genuine efforts made by members to help their constituents are not frustrated. It
should also see to it that allocations are NON-DISCRIMINATORY.
Political reactions indicate that there is considerable DISENCHANTMENT
over the suspension — the ₹5-crore corpus available to each member is a source
of much goodwill for elected representatives. Better performing MPs identify and
fulfil local development needs with empathy and ALACRITY. However, there has
also been persistent criticism about the scheme’s very nature. A conceptual flaw
pointed out by experts is that it goes against the separation of powers. It allows
individual legislators to encroach on the planning and implementation duties of
the administration. Jurists have pointed out that the Constitution does not confer
the power to spend public money on an individual legislator. Experts have called it
out for weak monitoring. The Supreme Court, while declining to STRIKE DOWN
the scheme, called for a robust accountability regime. MPLADS gives scope for
MPs to utilise the funds as a source of PATRONAGE that they can dispense at will.
The CAG has flagged instances of financial mismanagement and inflation of
amounts spent. The Second Administrative Reforms Commission recommended
its abrogation altogether, highlighting the problems of the legislator STEPPING
INTO THE SHOES of the executive. The current suspension gives some scope for a
reconsideration of the scheme in its totality.
Some Important Words from The EDITORAL
UNDERMINE (v) -to make something or someone become gradually less effective,
confident, or successful.क्षीर् करना, दुबल
ण करना
ENTITLEMENT (n) -the right to receive something or to do something.हकदारी,

अविकार
FREEING UP (phrasal verb) -to make something available to be used.
JUDICIOUS (adj) -having, showing, or done with good judgement or sense.उवचत,

न्यायसंगत
ASSESSMENT (n) -to judge or decide the amount, value, quality, or importance of
something.मूल्यांकन
REDOUND (v) -To have an effect or consequence.
NON-DISCRIMINATORY (adj) -not making an unfair or prejudicial distinction

between different categories of people or things.अभेदात्मक
DISENCHANTMENT (n) -a state of disappointment or disillusionment.वनराशा
ALACRITY (n) -cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness.तत्परता
STRIKE DOWN (phrasal verb) -to declare (a law) illegal and unenforceable.वनष्फल
करना
PATRONAGE (n) -the support given to an organization by someone.संरक्षर्,

सहायता
STEPPING INTO THE SHOES (phrase) -To fill someone's position, especially one of
power or authority.
2020
In time of need: On hydroxychloroquine export
After imposing a blanket ban on the export of anti-malaria drug

hydroxychloroquine on April 4, without exemptions on humanitarian or other
grounds, India reversed the policy two days later. The decision to reverse the ban
was made public hours after U.S. President Donald Trump warned of __1__ if
India withheld supplies of the drug for which orders had already been placed.
Given the circumstances, it would be difficult to believe that the decision to lift
the restriction was taken independent of U.S. pressure. But the pandemic has
seen several countries displaying solidarity and cooperation providing essential
supplies to others even while _A_ the novel Corona virus in their own backyards.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message to Mr. Trump that “India shall do
everything possible to help humanity’s fight against COVID-19” should, therefore,
be seen in that light. Lauded as the pharmacy of the global south, India’s decision
to export the drug on humanitarian grounds to neighbouring countries and others
that have been badly hit by the pandemic is welcome. Till recently India relied
solely on other countries for test supplies and may look to others for essential
materials if the situation worsens. Also, India may have much to gain from the
U.S. in the future by this *diplomatic* act of supplying the drug at a crucial time.
(a) The sudden demand for hydroxychloroquine/ (b) across the world (c) arose
after Mr. Trump champions (d) it as treatment for COVID-19 patient. The drug
became much sought-after in India after the Indian Council of Medical Research
approved its use as prophylaxis for novel coronavirus by certain categories of
people on March 23. Two days later, the drug was placed in the __2__ category
for export and included in schedule H1 on March 26 to prevent its sale over the
counter, thereby preventing self-medication and hoarding. This was also to
ensure its availability to people with rheumatoid arithritis and other conditions.
(a) India have a production capacity/ (b) of 200 million hydroxychloroquine
tablets of 200 mg / (c) strength each month and three well-established (d)
pharmaceutical companies make the drug. While the capacity is sufficient to
meet the current demand, the companies are confident of RAMPING UP
production if the need arises. In all __3__, in the short term, India might not run
out of hydroxychloroquine as the national taskforce for COVID-19 had relied on
weak, __4__ evidence to make the _B_. Though the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration issued an emergency use __5__ for the drug to treat COVID-19
patients, on April 7, the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
revised its position saying there is no drug available to prevent or treat COVID-19.
Clearly, more research work is needed to establish the __6__ of the drug.
Choose the correct word to fill the blanks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Q.1
a) sabotage
b) pardon
c) retaliation
d) recrimination
e) condonation
Q.2
a) restricting
b) restricts
c) restricted
d) restriction
e) restrict
Q.3
a) expecting
b) likelihood
c) liability
d) opportunity
e) responsibility
Q.4
a) experimental
b) anecdotal
c) untrustworthy
d) austere
e) scientific
Q.5
a) claim
b) authorisation
c) refusal
d) rejection
e) veto power
Q.6
a) inadequacy
b) futility
c) idleness
d) helpful
e) efficacy
Q7. The first sentence of the second part of the passage has been divided into
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
Q8. The first sentence of the third part of the passage has been divided into
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
Ramping up
a) making
b) building down
c) building up
d) producing
e) working
hoarding
a) squander
b) stock pile
c) billboard
d) misuse
e) expend
Q. 11 Choose the word which correctly represents the word given below.
diplomatic
a) maladroit
b) gracious
c) tactless
d) stultifying
e) tactful
Q.12. Choose the word which can be filled in the blank marked as A.
a) marking
b) counseling
c) concluding
d) tackling
e) abstracting
Q.13. Choose the word which can be filled in the blank marked as B.
a) recommendation
b) counsel
c) rejection
d) disapproval
e) reckless
Q.14-. Choose correct meaning for the word given in bold.
RUN OUT OF
a) finish
b) deplete
c) waste
d) consume
e) no correction required
Q.15. Choose the word which can replace the word given in bold.
Sought-after
a) in the main stream

b) up to the minute
c) crowd-pleasing
d) longed for
e) no correction required
SOLUTION
1. Option (c) Retaliation is the correct answer of the question. Retaliation and
warning correlates with each other. Retaliation means 'an act of revenge or a
kind of payback'. Meanings of other options -
a) sabotage -'act of destruction'
b) pardon- 'to ask for forgiveness'
d) recrimination -'mutual accusations'
Hence, retaliation is the word which fits in the context appropriately.
2. restricted(adj) is the correct choice because restricted category is the correct

combination. Using restricts, restricting, restriction, restrict with the word
category (n) would be grammatically incorrect.
3. Option (c) likelihood is the right answer due to its meaning 'the probability of
a specified outcome'.
Whereas other options are quite opposite
a) expecting - 'to expect something'
c) liability - 'being responsible'
d) opportunity - 'possiblity of a positive circumstance'
e) responsibility - 'duty'
4. Option (b) anecdotal is the right answer because it refers to the things related
to 'based on reports or things someone saw rather than on proven facts'.
5. Option b) authorisation is the most suitable word for the question as it means
'The power to give orders or make decisions.
6. Option (e) efficacy is correct because it means 'the ability to produce a

desired or intended result'. Whereas other options don't suit the sentence due
to their 'out of context' meanings-

a) inadequacy - unsatisfactory
b) futility - uselessness
c) idleness - reluctance to work
d) helpful - showing a willingness to corporate
7. Option (c) has error. Replace 'champion' with 'championed' as the given
sentence is in past tense.
8. Option (a) is incorrect because have a can not be used with the name of a
country. ' India has ' should be used.
9 . Option c) building up can be used to fill the place of the word Ramping Up as
they relate to each other properly. They both refer to 'increase the level or
amount of something'. Whereas other options such making, working, producing
represents the production of things and
building down is an antonyms of building up. So they are not correct.
10 . Option c) Stock pile can replace Hoarding because they relate to each other
properly. They both mean 'to collect and store large quantities of something'.
Whereas other options squander and misuse refers to wasting something, expend
refers to spend and billboard refers to advertisment boards. So all these option
cannot be use to refill the place.
11. Option (e) Tactful can replace diplomatic because tactful and diplomatic are
used synonymously. They mean 'Skilled in dealing with sensitive matters or
people; tactful'.
12. Option (d) Tackling can be used to fill the blank as it refers to 'make an effort
to deal with a difficult situation or problem. And one such situation has been
mentioned in the paragraph.
13. Recommendation can fill the blank as it is the most suitable word for the
line 'evidence to make the
Recommendation'. Recommendation word refers to a suggestion.
14. (a)
15. (a) 'Longed for' can replace

Sought-after because they both have similar meanings , that is, 'to want
something very much or desiring something'. Rest of the words cannot replace
sought-after as they have different meanings.
1) in the main stream - the people who hold this opinions and beliefs
2) up to the minute - having the most recent information
3) crowd-pleasing - very popular and appealing
Complete EDITORIAL
In time of need: On hydroxychloroquine export
Irrespective of whether India bowed to U.S. pressure, it is unlikely to run out of

the drug
After imposing a blanket ban on the export of anti-malaria drug

hydroxychloroquine on April 4, without exemptions on humanitarian or other
grounds, India reversed the policy two days later. The decision to reverse the ban
was made public hours after U.S. President Donald Trump warned of “retaliation”
if India withheld supplies of the drug for which orders had already been placed.
Given the circumstances, it would be difficult to believe that the decision to lift
the restriction was taken independent of U.S. pressure. But the pandemic has
seen several countries displaying solidarity and cooperation providing essential
supplies to others even while tackling the novel coronavirus in their own
backyards. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message to Mr. Trump that “India
shall do everything possible to help humanity’s fight against COVID-19” should,
therefore, be seen in that light. Lauded as the pharmacy of the global south,
India’s decision to export the drug on humanitarian grounds to neighbouring
countries and others that have been badly hit by the pandemic is welcome. Till
recently India relied solely on other countries for test supplies and may look to
others for essential materials if the situation worsens. Also, India may have much
to gain from the U.S. in the future by this diplomatic act of supplying the drug at a
crucial time. The sudden demand for hydroxychloroquine across the world arose
after Mr. Trump championed it as treatment for COVID-19 patients. The drug
became much sought-after in India after the Indian Council of Medical Research
approved its use as prophylaxis for novel coronavirus by certain categories of
people on March 23. Two days later, the drug was placed in the restricted
category for export and included in schedule H1 on March 26 to prevent its sale
over the counter, thereby preventing self-medication and hoarding. This was also
to ensure its availability to people with rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions.
India has a production capacity of 200 million hydroxychloroquine tablets

of 200 mg strength each month and three well-established pharmaceutical
companies make the drug. While the capacity is sufficient to meet the current
demand, the companies are confident of RAMPING UP production if the need
arises. In all LIKELIHOOD, in the short term, India might not run out of
hydroxychloroquine as the national taskforce for COVID-19 had relied on weak,
ANECDOTAL evidence to make the recommendation. Though the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorisation for the drug to treat
COVID-19 patients, on April 7, the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention revised its position saying there is no drug available to prevent or treat
COVID-19. Clearly, more research work is needed to establish the EFFICACY of the
drug.
Important Words from The EDITORIAL
1.BOWED TO (phrasal verb) -to finally agree to do something, even though you do
not want to do it.
2.RUN OUT OF (idiom) -To be depleted of something; to use or sell all of

something that is available.
3.RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (n) -a disease that causes stiffness, swelling, and pain
in the joints (= places where two bones are connected) of the body.
4.RAMPING UP (phrasal verb) -a large increase in activity or in the level of

something.बढाना, जुटाना
5.LIKELIHOOD (n) -the chance that something will happen.संभािना
6.ANECDOTAL (adj) -based on reports or things someone saw rather than on

proven facts.
7.EFFICACY (n) -the ability to produce a desired or intended result.प्रभािकाररता
2020
Stage fright: On denying community transmission
(a) Even after the Health Ministry on March 28 acknowledges (b) on its website
that there was (c) “limited community transmission”, (d) India’s national
taskforce for COVID-19 continues to deny it. Now, a paper in the Indian Journal
of Medical Research, by ICMR and Health Ministry researchers, provides _B_ of
community transmission in 36 districts in 15 States. The study is based on _1_
surveillance undertaken by the task force among severe acute respiratory
infections (SARI) patients who have been hospitalised in public sector institutions
to identify the spread and the extent of transmission of COVID-19 disease in the
community.
If there were 1.9% (two of 106) SARI cases positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus by
the end of March third week, the number increased to 104 by April 2. Of the 102
coronavirus positive SARI cases tested between March 22 and April 2, 40 (39%)
had no travel history or contact with a positive case; data on EXPOSURE were not
available for 59 (58%) cases. If more than 1% of SARI patients tested positive for
the virus in 15 States, at 21 (3.8%) , Maharashtra had the most number of
coronavirus positive SARI cases in eight districts followed by Delhi (14 cases; 5.1%)
, Gujarat (13 cases; 1.6%) , and West Bengal (9 cases; 3.5%) . Kerala had just one
SARI patient testing positive. The authors point out that antibody-based testing
CARRIED OUT in those testing negative for molecular test could have helped
identify more positive cases.
With community transmission, or the third stage, now being confirmed in
36 districts, an expansion and change in testing strategy has become _3_ in the
high focus areas for the lockdown to be more meaningful.
(a) Though the taskforce has not openly declared community transmission, (b) it
is reassuring to note that the ICMR has already (c) initiates changes in the
testing strategy in response (d) to the change in the pattern of community
spread. On April 9, the ICMR revised the testing strategy for hotspots/_2_ and
large migration gatherings/evacuees centres.
While the _A_ for testing across India remain the same, the testing norms for the
high focus areas will now include people with influenza-like illness (ILI) with
certain symptoms. Antibody testing should be carried out whenever molecular
tests on these patients turn out negative. It is important to include antibody
testing along with molecular testing when necessary in the high focus areas.
Together with _4_ measures, this approach will help in snapping the transmission
chain. _5_ surveillance of all SARI and ILI patients along with quick and effective
tracing, _6_ and testing of their contacts should be the way forward now. How
well India responds now will determine whether the spread is contained quickly
or leads to more cases and deaths.
Choose the correct word to fill the blanks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Q.1
a) decoy
b) preserve
c) traitor
d) sentinel
e) patrol
Q.2
a) clusters
b) separate
c) bundle
d) individual
e) scatter
Q.3
a) discretional
b) inexorable
c) indulgent
d) trivial
e) Imperative
Q.4
a) spread
b) stipulation
c) containment
d) relinquishment
e) disorganisation
Q.5
a) syndromictic
b) syndromic
c) syndromical
d) syndroms
e) syndrom
Q.6
a) release
b) quarantining
c) detention
d) combine
e) capturing
Q7. The first sentence of the first part of the passage has been divided into
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
Q8. The first sentence of the third part of the passage has been divided into
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
antibody
a) counteragent
b) virus
c) microorganism
d) illness
e) disease
Surveillance
a) unobservable
b) negligence
c) Monitoring
d) neglect
e) indifference
Q. 11 Choose the word which correctly represents the word given below.
Exposure
a) uncovered
b) concealment
c) secret
d) confession
e) publicity
Q.12. Choose the word which can be filled in the blank marked as A.
a) Criteria
b) deal with
c) finish
d) tackling
e) end
Q.13. Choose the word which can be filled in the blank marked as B.
a) recommendation
b) counsel
c) taskforce
d) evidence
e) reckless
Q.14. Choose correct meaning for the word given in bold.
Evacuees
a) refugee
b) natives
c) emigrant
d) citizens
e) evaluatee
Q.15. Choose the word which shows the meaning of the word given in bold.
Carried Out
a) assert
b) follow out
c) execute
d) go through
e) assimilate
SOLUTION
1. Option (d) sentinel is the correct answer of the question. Sentinel (n) refers to
"a person employed to watch for something to happened"
and the word surveillance (n) which means 'close observation of a person, a
group, or a thing' , correlate each other. Other options can be easily eliminated
due to their out of context meanings :
a) decoy - "a beguiler who leads someone into danger"
b) preserve- "protecting something or someone for future"
c) traitor- "someone who betrays his country"
e) patrol- "the activity of going around for security purpose"
Hence, sentinel is the word that fits in the context appropriately and
grammatically.
We recommend you go through - Compilation of Vocab asked in bank exams
2. Option (a) clusters (n) "grouping of numbers" is the right answer. It fits more
in the context. Whereas other words b) separate, c) single, d) individual
e) scatter somehow represent an individual or one person, not the community.
3. Option (e) Imperative (adj) is the correct choice as it means "some duty that
is essential and urgent"
Whereas other options refer to
a) discretional - "having or using the ability to act or decide"
b) inexorable - "grim determination"
c) indulgent - "allowing someday to have or do whatever he/she wants
d) trivial - "small and of little importance"
4. Option (c) containment (n) "keeping something from spreading" is a suitable

choice as the sentence is about stopping the spread of virus. Whereas other
options are either quite opposite or do not go well with the context.
a) spread - "to affect a larger area or a bigger group"
b) stipulation- "an agreement or concession made by parties in a judicial
proceeding"
d) relinquishment - "the act of giving up or abandoning something"
e) disorganisation "a condition in which an orderly system has been disrupted"
5. (b) syndromic (adj) "pertaining to a syndrome" is the correct word as we need

an adjective to fill the blank. Rest options can be easily eliminated.
6. Option (b) quarantining (participle) "isolation or staying alone" is the correct
choice for the sentence.
7. Option (a) has error. Replace acknowledges with acknowledged as the

sentence is in past tense.
8. Option (c) has error because initiates changes is grammatically incorrect. It

should be 'initiate changes'.
9. Counteragent
Rest options can be easily eliminated based on their meaning.
10) Monitoring
Surveillance means close observation or monitoring of something.
11) Uncovered, Exposure means the condition of being uncovered, exposed.
12) Criteria which means 'a standard by which an individual may be compared',
fits in the context appropriately.
13) Evidence which means 'facts or observations presented in support of an

assertion' fits in the context appropriately.
14. Option (a) a) refugee "an exile who flees for safety" is the correct
replacement for the word evacuees (n) "a person who has been evacuated from
a dangerous place" both of them share a similar meaning.
15) Carry out - to execute or perform
Complete EDITORIAL
Stage fright: On denying community transmission
Limiting transmission in hotspots depends on a wider tracing and testing strategy

Even after the Health Ministry on March 28 acknowledged on its website that
there was “limited community transmission”, India’s national taskforce for COVID-
19 continues to deny it. Now, a paper in the Indian Journal of Medical Research,
by ICMR and Health Ministry researchers, provides evidence of community
transmission in 36 districts in 15 States. The study is based on SENTINEL
surveillance undertaken by the task force among severe ACUTE respiratory
infections (SARI) patients who have been hospitalised in public sector institutions
to identify the spread and the extent of transmission of COVID-19 disease in the
community. If there were 1.9% (two of 106) SARI cases positive for the SARS-CoV-
2 virus by the end of March third week, the number increased to 104 by April 2.
Of the 102 coronavirus positive SARI cases tested between March 22 and April 2,
40 (39%) had no travel history or contact with a positive case; data on EXPOSURE
were not available for 59 (58%) cases. If more than 1% of SARI patients tested
positive for the virus in 15 States, at 21 (3.8%) , Maharashtra had the most
number of coronavirus positive SARI cases in eight districts followed by Delhi (14
cases; 5.1%) , Gujarat (13 cases; 1.6%) , and West Bengal (9 cases; 3.5%) . Kerala
had just one SARI patient testing positive. The authors point out that antibody-
based testing CARRIED OUT in those testing negative for molecular test could
have helped identify more positive cases.
With community transmission, or the third stage, now being confirmed in 36
districts, an expansion and change in testing strategy has become IMPERATIVE in
the high focus areas for the lockdown to be more meaningful. Though the
taskforce has not openly declared community transmission, it is reassuring to
note that the ICMR has already initiated changes in the testing strategy in
response to the change in the pattern of community spread. On April 9, the ICMR
revised the testing strategy for hotspots/clusters and large migration
gatherings/evacuees centres. While the criteria for testing across India remain the
same, the testing norms for the high focus areas will now include people with
influenza-like illness (ILI) with certain symptoms. Antibody testing should be
carried out whenever molecular tests on these patients turn out negative. It is
important to include antibody testing along with molecular testing when
necessary in the high focus areas. Together with CONTAINMENT measures, this
approach will help in snapping the transmission chain. SYNDROMIC surveillance of
all SARI and ILI patients along with quick and effective tracing, quarantining and
testing of their contacts should be the way forward now. How well India responds
now will determine whether the spread is contained quickly or leads to more
cases and deaths.
Important words from the EDITORIAL
1.SENTINEL (n) -an indicator of the presence of disease.
2.ACUTE (adj) -(of a disease) sudden and severe.
3.EXPOSURE (n) -the state of having no protection from something harmful.
4.CARRIED OUT (phrasal verb) -to complete or fulfil.
5.IMPERATIVE (n) -an essential or urgent thing.अवनिायण
6.CONTAINMENT (n) -the action of keeping something harmful under control or

within limits.रोकथाम
7.SYNDROMIC (adj) - a group of symptoms that together are characteristic of a

specific disorder, disease, or the like
2020
A key arsenal in rural India’s pandemic fight
If you build a fortress to __1__ your defences against an enemy, what is of

importance is the strength of its walls. The issue of space or comfort within the
fortress is the last question one may dare to ask or even think about, apart from
the minimum supplies required for SUSTENANCE. But what if the enemy is a
virus?
With the ongoing war against (a) /COVID-19, it is the exact opposite which (b)
/need equal (c) /if not greater attention (d) — the state of preparedness within
the fortress. Yes. With the UBIQUITOUS 21-day national lockdown __2__ in the
history of independent India, stronger and harsher than anywhere else in the
world, the interiors within the boundaries need attention.
**Ground realities**
Interestingly, every village is in itself a fortress during these difficult times and
every village needs attention within. With the influx of thousands of migrant
labourers into their villages, there is a/an __3__ need to isolate them for at least
14 days. Unfortunately, the houses here, which are often one or two-room
dwellings, with an average seven family members to accommodate, are some of
the worst places where one can hope to contain the deadly disease. Along with
the absence of running water within households, the possibility of common points
in village arenas becoming hotspots for this deadly contagion becomes
MANIFOLD.
Notwithstanding the fact that the entire (a) /State machinery is now involved
in(b) / near wartime efforts (c) /to contain the spread of this pandemic(d) /, only
a few States have been able to organically involve their foundational governance
structure — i.e. gram panchayats — very effectively and efficiently in this
situation. In some southern States with pre-embedded conditions of self-
governing and nearly autonomous panchayats, they are becoming the beacons of
hope by proactively engaging with citizens at the village level. A case in example is
the community kitchens run by local bodies in Kerala, where home delivery of
cooked food is spiking as the situation demands.
**Reaching out effectively**

First, a model needs to be established, with concrete standard operating
procedures and best practices that can be __4__ throughout rural India.
Organisations such as Professional Assistance For Development Action (PRADAN)
have been trying to influence gram panchayats and district administrations in
many States ever since the pandemic. With sustained engagement, they have
been able to __5__ with the administration to use the resources of panchayats,
collaborate with self-help groups and to set isolation conditions within village
premises (with beds, sanitisers, drinking water, cooked meals, etc.) in many
interior blocks across the districts in central and eastern India. Involving
panchayats — and by observing adequate safety measures — to establish
isolation facilities across the length and breadth of the country is the need of the
hour.
Direction (1-5) - Choose the correct word among the given options to fill the
blanks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Q.1
a) preserve
b) dominate
c) fight
d) enlarge
e) strengthen
Q.2
a) Regulated
b) incorporated
c) contained
d) unprecedented
e) delivered
Q.3
a) progressing
b) deliberating
c) controlled
d) imminent
e) engineered
Q.4
a) integrating
b) isolating
c) praiseworthy
d) watched
e) replicated
Q.5
a) compel
b) do
c) procure
d) coordinate
e) declared
Q.6 The first sentence of the second paragraph of the passage has been divided
into four parts.One of these parts contain an error .Choose that part as your
answer.Mark 'no error' as your answer if there is no error in the sentence.
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
Q.7 The first sentence of the fourth para of the passage has been divided into
four parts. One of these parts contain an error .Choose that part as your answer.
Mark 'no error' as your answer if there is no error in the sentence.
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
Q.8 Choose the word which correctly represents the word given below.
SUSTENANCE
a) farming
b) soothing
c) nourishment
d) noteworthy
e) supporting
UBIQUITOUS
1) scarce
2) sparsed
3) omnipresent
4) unobservable
5) unoriginal
MANIFOLD
1) unique
2) sparsed
3) diverse
4) contained
5) different
Solution
1. Stregthen(v1) - 'to make strong' , fits in the context appropriately.

Rest options can be easily eliminated based on their meanings.
Preserve - to maintain throughout, to keep intact.
Dominate - to enjoy a commanding position.
Enlarge - to make large.
Hence, strengthen is the only word among the given options that goes well with
the context.
2) Unprecedented (adj) - never seen before , fits in the context

appropriately.Rest of the options can be easily eliminated if you know their
meanings.
Regulated - put in order
Incorporated - included as a part/member
3) Imminent(adj) - inevitable/immediate, fits in the context appropriately. Rest

options can be eliminated if you know their meanings and parts of speech.
Progressing can be used either as a noun or as a verb , so it can't be the answer as
we need an adjective to make the given sentence grammatically correct.
Deliberating - intentional
Engineered - produced by engineering
Hence, imminent (adj) is the only word among the given options that goes well
with the context.
4) To fill the blank , we need a v3 (can +be +v3) . Replicated- repeat with a
consistent result, fits in the context appropriately. Rest options can be
eliminated based on their meanings and parts of speech.
5) To fill the blank , we need a v1 (to +v1) . Coordinate- to synchronize/to

match, fits in the context appropriately. Rest options can be eliminated based
on their meanings and parts of speech.
Compel -to subdue, to overpower
Procure - to acquire
Hence, coordinate is the only word among the given options that fits in the
context appropriately and grammatically.
6) Replace 'need' with 'needs' as subject is singular in the given sentence.
7) Replace 'notwithstand' with notwithstanding.

Notwithstanding (adv) - nevertheless, all the same.
8) Sustenance - nourishment, something that provides support or nourishment
9) ubiquitous - omnipresent, present everywhere
10) Manifold - diverse ; various in kind and quality.
COMPLETE EDITORIAL
A key arsenal in rural India’s pandemic fight
With migrant labour back in their hometowns, gram panchayats can strengthen
containment measures in the interiors
If you build a fortress to strengthen your defences against an enemy, what is of
importance is the strength of its walls. The issue of space or comfort within the
fortress is the last question one may dare to ask or even think about, apart from
the minimum supplies required for SUSTENANCE. But what if the enemy is a
virus?
With the ongoing war against COVID-19, it is the exact opposite which needs
equal if not greater attention — the state of preparedness within the fortress.
Yes. With the UBIQUITOUS 21-day national lockdown unprecedented in the
history of independent India, stronger and harsher than anywhere else in the
world, the interiors within the boundaries need attention.
Ground realities
Interestingly, every village is in itself a fortress during these difficult times and
every village needs attention within. With the influx of thousands of migrant
labourers into their villages, there is an imminent need to isolate them for at least
14 days. Unfortunately, the houses here, which are often one or two-room
dwellings, with an average seven family members to accommodate, are some of
the worst places where one can hope to contain the deadly disease. Along with
the absence of running water within households, the possibility of common points
in village arenas becoming hotspots for this deadly contagion becomes manifold.
Notwithstanding the fact that the entire State machinery is now involved in near
wartime efforts to contain the spread of this pandemic, only a few States have
been able to organically involve their foundational governance structure — i.e.
gram panchayats — very effectively and efficiently in this situation. In some
southern States with pre-embedded conditions of self-governing and nearly
autonomous panchayats, they are becoming the beacons of hope by proactively
engaging with citizens at the village level. A case in example is the community
kitchens run by local bodies in Kerala, where home delivery of cooked food is
spiking as the situation demands.
Reaching out effectively
First, a model needs to be established, with concrete standard operating

procedures and best practices that can be replicated throughout rural India.
Organisations such as Professional Assistance For Development Action (PRADAN)
have been trying to influence gram panchayats and district administrations in
many States ever since the pandemic. With sustained engagement, they have
been able to coordinate with the administration to use the resources of
panchayats, collaborate with self-help groups and to set isolation conditions
within village premises (with beds, sanitisers, drinking water, cooked meals, etc.)
in many interior blocks across the districts in central and eastern India. Involving

panchayats — and by observing adequate safety measures — to establish

isolation facilities across the length and breadth of the country is the need of the
hour.
Consider the second part, even with the harvesting of wheat almost over in States
such as Madhya Pradesh; people are still out in the fields, but once they are done
with their work it is the panchayat that can do the work effectively to confine
people within their homes with adequate awareness generation. The police
cannot reach out to each and every village round the clock because of their
inadequate resources. Community policing with the active engagement of
panchayats, by collaborating with women’s collectives, is a potential area where a
people-led movement can be kick-started in a short time span. Who can make the
people aware better than their own elected representatives and who the villagers
see on a daily basis?
Finally, despite the financial packages being rolled out to avert panic and worry
about livelihoods and basic food requirements, it is an INEXORABLE situation that
many will be left out as documentation is core to availing these social-service
provisioning schemes. The Jandhan–Aadhaar–Mob
ile trinity is vulnerable in those areas where even mobile connectivity fluctuates,
leave alone Internet connectivity. Without the active engagement of panchayats,
it would be chaotic to even expect everything remaining under control within
villages in case of even a minor disturbance. A SEMINAL understanding developed
is that, without the agency of gram panchayats, it is not possible to deploy any
system effectively and to adequately take prompt actions to include the excluded.
With a package of ₹1.7-lakh crore to meet the needs of the population and
streamlining health services, it is clear that the government is trying its best; with
more volunteers and social commitment through raising resources, civil society
organisations are trying their best; with pledges of financial support and
donations, concerned citizens and industry players are also trying their best.
There have been enough ideas floated, proposed and implemented — from food
to using railway coaches as isolation wards. But REINVIGORATING panchayats is
an unattended area which needs a push in strengthening the ARSENAL available
in this fight against COVID-19.

1.SUSTENANCE(जीविका) :-food and drink regarded as a source of strength;

nourishment.
2.UBIQUITOUS(देशव्यापी, हर जगह ) : Everywhere, all-over
3.SEMINAL( प्राथवमक, लाभदायक) : influential, formative, major.
4.INEXORABLE: impossible to stop or prevent.
5.REINVIGORATING: give new energy or strength to.
6.ARSENAL: Store, warehouse:: a store or collection
2020
Trade in tatters: On the global slump
The only certainty right now in a pandemic-gripped world is the all-enveloping

uncertainty. And the WTO __1__ as much when it released its outlook for global
trade last week. Projecting merchandise trade to __2__ by anywhere between
13% and 32% in 2020, it added a categoric *CAVEAT*: at the moment, it is only
able to posit a wide range of possible trajectories for the predicted decline in
trade given the unprecedented nature of the health crisis caused by the COVID-19
outbreak and the uncertainty around its precise economic impact.
Economists at the WTO, however, (a) /appear more certain that the disruption
(b) /and resultant blow to trade will in all (c) /likelihood be far bad than the

slump brought on by the global financial crisis of 2008.(d) / As IMF Managing

Director Kristalina Georgieva observed on April 9, the global economy is set to
contract sharply in 2020, with “the lockdown needed to fight” the pandemic
affecting billions worldwide. The tight __3__ on movement and social distancing
norms across geographies have led to severe curbs on labour supply, transport
and travel and the shuttering of whole sectors from hotels and non-essential
retail to tourism and significant parts of manufacturing. The WTO expects all
regions, save Africa, West Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, to
suffer double-digit declines in exports and imports this year even under its
“optimistic scenario”, which postulates a recovery starting in the second half.
The WTO and the IMF chief have pointed(a) / to the fact that unlike the
recession that (b) /accompany the global financial crisis just over a decade ago,
(c) / the current downturn is unique(d) /.Global supply chains have increased in
complexity, especially in industries such as electronics and automotive products,
making them particularly vulnerable to the current disruptions, with countries
that are a part of these value linkages set to find trade more severely impacted.
Also, services trade — in which India has a higher global share as an exporter
($214 billion, or 3.5%, in 2019) than in merchandise exports — may be
significantly affected by the transport and travel curbs. A small *SLIVER* of silver
in this __4__ outlook for services trade is the role that the WTO sees for
information technology services as companies try to enable employees to work
from home and people order essentials and drugs online and socialise remotely.
India’s IT exporters have been busy supporting their overseas clients’ business
continuity plans in the face of the pandemic and may find this hand-holding at a
time of dire need earning them loyalty-linked business when economic activity
revives. Still, as the WTO chief, Roberto Azevêdo, crucially observes, a __5__ in
global economic activity will require trade to flow freely across borders as vitally
as any fiscal or monetary stimulus. The world will be best served if nations do not
turn *INSULAR* and erect new barriers to the movement of goods, services and
people in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Direction (1-5) - Choose the most appropriate word among the given options to
fill the blanks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Q.1

a) manipulated
b) corporated
c) correcting
d) infiltrated
e) acknowledged
Q.2
a) rise
b) arise
c) raise
d) plummet
e) raised
Q.3
a) misconception
b) perception
c) intention
d) restrictions
e) integration
Q.4
a) drizzling
b) presenting
c) praiseworthy
d) coarser
e) bleak
Q.5
a) regression
b) caveat
c) penetration
d) rebound
e) redundant

Q.6 The first sentence of the second paragraph of the passage has been divided
into four parts.One of these parts contain an error .Choose that part as your
answer.Mark 'no error' as your answer if there is no error in the sentence.
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
Q.7 The first sentence of the third paragraph of the passage has been divided
into four parts. One of these parts contain an error .Choose that part as your
answer. Mark 'no error' as your answer if there is no error in the sentence.
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
CAVEAT
a) property
b) feature
c) praiseworthy
d) warning
e) dull
SLIVER
a) cut-off
b) character
c) slice
d) mole

e) brightness
INSULAR
a) sane
b) insane
c) toggle
d) standoffish
e) extreme
Solution
1) Acknowledge , meaning 'to recognize as a fact or truth', fits in the context

appropriately. Rest of the options can be eliminated based on their 'out of
context' meaning or parts of speech.
To fill the blank we need v2 , so option c gets rejected here. Rest options
meaning-
Manipulated - to influence or control someone in order to achieve a specific
purpose.
Corporated -unified into one body
Infiltrated - to surreptitiously penetrate, enter or gain access.
Hence, 'acknowledged' is the only word among the given options that goes well
with the context.
2) Plummet, meaning 'a decline/fall, fits in the context appropriately. Rest

options can be easily eliminated as they contradict the context.
3) Restrictions meaning 'regulations that restrict', fits in the context

appropriately. Rest options can be easily eliminated based on their 'out of
context ' meaning.
4) Bleak meaning 'dull', fits in the context appropriately.

5) Rebound meaning 'an effort to recover from a setback ', fits in the context
appropriately. Rest options can be eliminated based on their 'out of context'
meaning or parts of speech.
To fill the blank , we need a noun. Redundant meaning 'superfluous' can't be
used as it's an adjective.
Let's take a look at other options meanings to understand how they are out of
context.
Regression- an action of travelling back in time;an act of regressing.
Caveat - a warning
Penetration-the act of penetrating something.
Hence, rebound is the only word among the given options that goes well with
the context.
6) d, Replace 'bad' with worse as it's a comparison.
7) c, Replace 'accompany' with accompanied as the given sentence is in past

tense.
8) Caveat - a warning
9) Sliver - slice, splinter
10) Insular - reserved, standoffish;having little interaction.
Complete EDITORIAL
Trade in tatters: On the global slump
The only certainty right now in a pandemic-gripped world is the all-enveloping

uncertainty. And the WTO acknowledged as much when it released its outlook for
global trade last week. Projecting MERCHANDISE trade to PLUMMET by anywhere
between 13% and 32% in 2020, it added a categoric CAVEAT: at the moment, it is
only able to posit a wide range of possible trajectories for the predicted decline in
trade given the unprecedented nature of the health crisis caused by the COVID-19
outbreak and the uncertainty around its precise economic impact. Economists at
the WTO, however, appear more certain that the disruption and resultant blow to
trade will in all likelihood be far worse than the SLUMP BROUGHT ON by the
global financial crisis of 2008. As IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva
observed on April 9, the global economy is set to contract sharply in 2020, with
“the lockdown needed to fight” the pandemic affecting billions worldwide. The
tight restrictions on movement and social distancing norms across geographies
have led to severe curbs on labour supply, transport and travel and the shuttering
of whole sectors from hotels and non-essential retail to tourism and significant
parts of manufacturing. The WTO expects all regions, save Africa, West Asia and
the Commonwealth of Independent States, to suffer double-digit declines in
exports and imports this year even under its “optimistic scenario”, which
postulates a recovery starting in the second half.
The WTO and the IMF chief have pointed to the fact that unlike the recession that
accompanied the global financial crisis just over a decade ago, the current
downturn is unique. Global supply chains have increased in complexity, especially
in industries such as electronics and automotive products, making them
particularly vulnerable to the current disruptions, with countries that are a part of
these value linkages set to find trade more severely impacted. Also, services trade
— in which India has a higher global share as an exporter ($214 billion, or 3.5%, in
2019) than in merchandise exports — may be significantly affected by the
transport and travel curbs. A small SLIVER of silver in this BLEAK outlook for
services trade is the role that the WTO sees for information technology services as
companies try to enable employees to work from home and people order
essentials and drugs online and socialise remotely. India’s IT exporters have been
busy supporting their overseas clients’ business continuity plans in the face of the
pandemic and may find this hand-holding at a time of dire need earning them
loyalty-linked business when economic activity revives. Still, as the WTO chief,
Roberto Azevêdo, crucially observes, a rebound in global economic activity will
require trade to flow freely across borders as vitally as any fiscal or monetary
stimulus. The world will be best served if nations do not turn INSULAR and erect
new barriers to the movement of goods, services and people in the aftermath of
the pandemic.
1.MERCHANDISE (n) -the commodities or goods that are bought and sold in
business.व्यापार

2.PLUMMET (v) -to go down in amount or value very quickly and suddenly.वगर
जाना
3.CAVEAT (n) -a warning or proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or

limitations.चेतािनी
4.SLUMP (n) -a sudden severe or prolonged fall in the price, value, or amount of
something.मंदी
5.BROUGHT ON (phrasal verb) -to be the cause of.
6.SLIVER (n) -a small, thin, narrow piece of something cut or split off a larger
piece.टु कड़ा
7.BLEAK (adj) -not giving much hope for the future.वनराशाजनक
8.INSULAR (adj) -interested only in your own country or group and not willing to
accept different or foreign ideas or people.
2020
Corona bond: On Eurozone COVID-19 rescue package
DELIBERATIONS on the €540-billion emergency rescue package that Eurozone

Finance Ministers agreed on Thursday ____A___ the difficult road ahead to chart
the economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis. They also decided to open an
emergency credit line in a fortnight, raise the lending capacity of the European
Investment Bank and ____B___ the European Commission’s €100-billion
unemployment insurance scheme. ** (Z) Separately, the European Central Bank
in March decided (1) / to expand its asset purchase programme by €750-billion
over (2) / the next nine months, even as its President, Christine Lagarde,
pledged (3) / of doing whatever it took to save the single currency (4)
**.Thursday’s steps have been HAILED as swift and substantial. But the current
formula has ___C___ controversy, like during the economic MELTDOWN, over
burden-sharing between the richer members in the north and the poorer states in
the south. The Netherlands initially opposed demands from Italy, the country
worst affected by the virus outbreak, that the pandemic credit to be issued by the
European Stability Mechanism be ____D___ of any conditionalities. ** (X) Rome’s
reasoning that the public health emergency (1) / was universal and symmetrical
may have influenced the final deal (2) / which allows governments borrowing
(3) / from the BAILOUT fund to spent up to 2% of GDP on direct and indirect
costs of the pandemic without strings attached (4) **. All the same, the
emergency package has drawn furious opposition from the populist Five Star
Movement in Italy’s ruling coalition as also the far-right and Eurosceptic Northern
League, linked to APPREHENSIONS about INTRUSIVE EU inspections. But a key
concern is the frustration among Rome’s pro-European elites with what they
regard as reluctance by Brussels to extend meaningful support.
France, Italy and Spain, the bloc’s three largest economies, with six other
members in the euro area wrote in late March to the European Council President,
renewing calls for joint issuance of Eurobonds, now dubbed corona bonds. Ms.
Lagarde has backed such a move. ** (Y) The idea of mutual issuance of debt has
drawn (1) / only a lukewarm response from Berlin, Amsterdam and (2) / the
bloc’s other members. Significantly, cracks have appeared (3) / in the
Netherlands’ ruling coalition over the government’s ORTHODOX fiscal stance,
where the opposition Labour and Green parties already advocate Eurobonds (4)
** With the Eurozone’s three largest economies after Germany throwing their
weight behind the new financial instrument, it may not be long before the bloc’s
fiscal hawks rethink their stance. The economic and political consequences of
failure on this count would ____E____ the post-pandemic recovery, and could
affect European solidarity. European leaders would do well to address this fact
when they formulate an economic recovery after the crisis.

In the following given passage, some words have been omitted. Choose the
words that makes the passage meaningful.
meaningful.
1) Elude
2) Vitiate
3) Underscore
4) Scourge
5) Feign
meaningful.
1) Exert
2) Vie
3) Waive
4) Back
5) Damper
meaningful.
1) Bestowed
2) Stoked
3) Fortify
4) Defile
5) Spate
Q4. Select the word that can be filled in the blank D to make the sentence
meaningful.
1) Lore
2) Impede
3) Botched
4) Swung
5) Stripped
meaningful.

1) Hamper
2) Impair
3) Endow
4) Wag
5) Flare
Q6. Sentence (X) I the passage has been written in bold. The sentence however,
is divided into four parts. One of these parts contain an error. Mark that part as
your answer. If there's no error in the sentence, mark 'no error'as your answer.
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
e) No error
Q7. Sentence (Y) of the passage has been written in bold. The sentence
however, is divided into four parts. One of these parts contain an error. Mark
that part as your answer. If there's no error in the sentence, mark 'no error'as
your answer
a) 2
b) 1
c) 4
d) 3
e) No error
Q8. Sentence (Z) of the passage has been written in bold. The sentence
however, is divided into four parts. One of these parts contain an error. Mark
that part as your answer. If there's no error in the sentence, mark 'no error'as
your answer
a) 3
b) 1
c) 4
d) 2
e) No error
Q9. Considering the passage, which of these are true?

1) Cristine Lagarde favoured Italy and Netherlands for the emergency credit fund.

2) Rome was against the idea of favoring Italy just because it helped EU in difficult
times.
3) Italy was facing backlash regarding the fund.
4) None is true
5) All are true
Q10. Three largest economies, with six other members in the euro area wrote to
the European Council President, renewing calls for joint issuance of Eurobonds,
when applied, saw lukewarm response by other members because-
1) The other members were poor
2) They lacked the vision
3) Of their government
4) Their economy was already down because of the pandemic
5) None of these is true
SOLUTION
1. Underscore
Underscore means to emphasize the importance something. Hence it is the
correct word.
2. Back
Back means to support a reason, cause etc. Hence it is the correct word.
3. Stoked
Stoke means to cause something to increase. Hence it is the correct word.
4. Stripped
Strip means to remove or to separate. Hence it is the correct word.
5. Hamper
Hamper means to prevent someone doing something easily or to prevent an
action from happening. Hence it is the correct word.
6. D

The correct term should be 'spend' instead of 'spent' as the sentence is not talking
about the past, hence spend would be the correct word.
7. There is no error in the sentence.
8. D
'pledge' is always followed by 'to'. Hence here 'of doing' should be replaced by 'to
do.'
9. 3 is true
1 is not true because nothing has been talked about favouritism of either country.
2 is not true. Rome was against the idea because the emergency fund belonged to
all countries equally irrespective of the condition of the country in the pandemic.
10. 3
Because of their government.
Complete EDITORIAL
Corona bond: On Eurozone COVID-19 rescue package
A Eurozone consensus on a new financial debt instrument is crucial for the bloc.
DELIBERATIONS on the €540-billion emergency rescue package that Eurozone
Finance Ministers agreed on Thursday UNDERSCORE the difficult road ahead to
chart the economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis. They also decided to
open an emergency credit line in a FORTNIGHT, raise the lending capacity of the
European Investment Bank and back the European Commission’s €100-billion
unemployment insurance scheme. Separately, the European Central Bank in
March decided to expand its asset purchase programme by €750-billion over the
next nine months, even as its President, Christine Lagarde, PLEDGED to do
whatever it took to save the single currency. Thursday’s steps have been HAILED
as swift and substantial. But the current formula has STOKED controversy, like
during the economic MELTDOWN, over burden-sharing between the richer
members in the north and the poorer states in the south. The Netherlands initially
opposed demands from Italy, the country worst affected by the virus outbreak,
that the pandemic credit to be issued by the European Stability Mechanism be
stripped of any conditionalities. Rome’s reasoning that the public health

emergency was universal and symmetrical may have influenced the final deal,
which allows governments borrowing from the BAILOUT fund to spend up to 2%
of GDP on direct and indirect costs of the pandemic without strings attached. All
the same, the emergency package has drawn furious opposition from the populist
Five Star Movement in Italy’s ruling coalition as also the far-right and Eurosceptic
Northern League, linked to APPREHENSIONS about INTRUSIVE EU inspections. But
a key concern is the frustration among Rome’s pro-European elites with what
they regard as reluctance by Brussels to extend meaningful support.
France, Italy and Spain, the bloc’s three largest economies, with six other
members in the euro area wrote in late March to the European Council President,
renewing calls for joint issuance of Eurobonds, now dubbed corona bonds. Ms.
Lagarde has backed such a move. The idea of mutual issuance of debt has drawn
only a LUKEWARM response from Berlin, Amsterdam and the bloc’s other
members. Significantly, cracks have appeared in the Netherlands’ ruling coalition
over the government’s ORTHODOX fiscal stance, where the opposition Labour
and Green parties already advocate Eurobonds. With the Eurozone’s three largest
economies after Germany throwing their weight behind the new financial
instrument, it may not be long before the bloc’s fiscal hawks rethink their stance.
The economic and political consequences of failure on this count would hamper
the post-pandemic recovery, and could affect European solidarity. European
leaders would do well to address this fact when they formulate an economic
recovery after the crisis.
Some important vocabulary used in the EDITORIAL
1.DELIBERATIONS (n) -considering or discussing something.विचार-विमशण
2.UNDERSCORE (v) -to emphasize the importance something.जोर देना
3.FORTNIGHT (n) -a period of two weeks.दो सप्ताह
4.PLEDGED (v) -commit (a person or organization) by a solemn promise.
5.HAILED (v) -to call someone in order to attract their attention.

6.STOKED (v) -to cause something to increase.बढाना
7.MELTDOWN (n) -a disastrous collapse or breakdown.मंदी
8.BAILOUT (n) -an act of giving financial assistance to a failing business or

economy to save it from collapse.
9.APPREHENSIONS (n) -anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will

happen.आशंकाओं
10.INTRUSIVE (adj) -becoming involved in something in a way that is not

welcome.
11.LUKEWARM (adj) -showing little enthusiasm.उदासीन, वनरुत्साह
12.ORTHODOX (adj) -accepted by most people as the correct or usual idea or

practice.
2020
Disastrous decision: On Trump halting funds to WHO
At a time when the World Health Organisation has been __A__ at least $675
million additional funding for critical response efforts in countries most in need
during the pandemic, U.S. President Trump has done the unthinkable — halting
funding to WHO while a review is conducted to assess its “role in severely
mismanaging and covering up the spread of coronavirus” and for “failing to
adequately obtain, vet, and share information in a timely and transparent
fashion”. The decision comes a week after he first __B__ to put funding on hold
for the global health body. At over $500 million, the U.S. is WHO’s biggest
contributor; America is also the worst-affected country — over 0.6 million cases
and nearly 26, 000 deaths. **X**But halting funding at (a) /a crucial time will
not(b) /only impact the functioning of(c) / the global body but also hurts
humanity(d) . Many low and middle-income countries that look up to WHO for
guidance and advice, and even for essentials such as testing kits and masks, will
be badly hit for no fault of theirs. With a little over two million cases and over 1,
27, 000 deaths globally, the pandemic has been __C__ in scale. **Y**When
SOLIDARITY and unmitigated (a) /support with every member-state is (b)
/necessary to win the war against the virus, (c) / withholding funding will not be
in the best interest of any country, the U.S. included(d) .
Failures due to oversight or other reasons, by WHO or member-states can always
be looked into but not in the midst of a pandemic.Contrary to what Mr. Trump
claims, WHO cannot independently investigate but can only __D__ on individual
member-states to share information. There has not been one instance when it
has been found “covering up” the epidemic in China. Rather, it has been
continuously urging countries to aggressively test people exhibiting symptoms
and trace, quarantine and test contacts to contain the spread. It repeatedly spoke
of the window of opportunity, and once warned that it is narrowing. Historically,
WHO has been against travel and trade restrictions against countries experiencing
outbreaks, and its position was no different when, in January, it declared COVID-
19 a public health emergency of international concern. But it did support China’s
large-scale __E__ measures to contain the virus spread. Faulting WHO for
imaginary failings cannot help Mr. Trump wash his hands of many administrative
failures in containing the epidemic. He has been blaming everyone else for his
shortcomings in dealing with COVID-19. But moving beyond blaming and actually
withholding WHO funding can have disastrous outcomes. If indeed he FERVENTLY
believes that the U.S. has been misled, it is China that he must hold responsible
for a delayed alert. Previously, he praised both China and WHO. Obviously, the
change in line is linked to a desperate bid to hide his own failures.
In the following given passage, some words have been omitted. Choose the
words that make the passage meaningful.

meaningful.
a) funding
b) experiencing
c) revoking
d) seeking
e) realigning
meaningful.
a) regretted
b) encouraged
c) dissipated
d) failed
e) threatened
meaningful.
a) measurable
b) Unprecedented
c) functioning
d) targeted
e) occupied
meaningful.
a) target
b) embark
c) shower
d) replicate
e) rely
meaningful.
a) deliberating
b) mitigating
c) praiseworthy

d) consoling
e) comforting
Q6. Sentence X has been divided into four parts.One of these parts contain an
error .Choose that part as your answer.Mark 'no error' as your answer if there is
1) a2) b3) c4) d5) No error
Q7. Sentence Y has been divided into four parts.One of these parts contain an
1) a2) b3) c4) d5) No error
Q8.Many low and middle-income countries that look up to WHO for guidance
and advice, and even for essentials such as testing kits and masks, will be badly
hit -
a) because WHO is getting bankrupt
b) because these countries have no masks and testing kits
c) because WHO has denied its support
d) because of Trump halting funds to WHO
e) None of the above
SOLIDARITY
a) sane
b) support
c) reserved
d) standoffish
e) extreme
FERVENT
a) Ferment
b) Zeal
c) responsibility
d) onus
e) toggle

SOLUTION
1) Seeking , which means 'looking for', fits into the context appropriately as the
first paragraph of the article explicitly shows that WHO is Seeking additional
funding to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have a good command over
vocab, you can easily eliminate the rest options based on their 'out of context'
meanings.
'Funding' can be easily eliminated as 'no funding from WHO side’ has been talked
about, rather WHO seeking funding has been talked about in the article.
Revoking- invalidating
Realigning-bringing back into realignment. Hence, 'seeking' is the only word
among the given options which makes the sentence contextually correct.
2) Threatened , which means 'warned', fits in the context appropriately. Rest

options can be eliminated based on their 'out of context' meanings.
Regretted - felt sorry about
Encouraged- motivated
Dissipated - used up or wasted
Hence, 'threatened' is the only word among the given options which makes the
sentence contextually correct.
3) Unprecedented which means 'never before seen ' fits in the context
appropriately. Rest options can be eliminated based on their 'out of context'
meanings.
4) Rely which means 'to depend', fits in the context appropriately. If you are
good at vocab, you can easily eliminate rest of the options as they don't go well
with the context.
5) Mitigating which means alleviating/lessening, fits in the context

appropriately as the article suggests that WHO supported china's large-scale
mitigating measures to contain the virus spread.
6) d, Replace hurts with 'hurt' to make the sentence grammatically correct.

7) Replace 'with' with 'from' to make the sentence contextually correct.
8) d, The article explicitly talks about Trump halting funds to WHO and negative
impact of this decision of Trump on the countries needing support from WHO to
fight COVID-19 pandemic.
9) Solidarity - willingness to give support when another person/country is in

difficulty.reserved, standoffish;having little interaction.
10) Fervent - enthusiasm, zeal
Complete EDITORIAL
At a time when the World Health Organisation has been seeking at least $675
million additional funding for critical response efforts in countries most in need
during the pandemic, U.S. President Trump has done the unthinkable — halting
funding to WHO while a review is conducted to assess its “role in severely
mismanaging and covering up the spread of coronavirus” and for “failing to
adequately obtain, vet, and share information in a timely and transparent
fashion”. The decision comes a week after he first threatened to put funding on
hold for the global health body. At over $500 million, the U.S. is WHO’s biggest
contributor; America is also the worst-affected country — over 0.6 million cases
and nearly 26, 000 deaths. But halting funding at a crucial time will not only
impact the functioning of the global body but also hurt humanity. Many low and
middle-income countries that look up to WHO for guidance and advice, and even
for essentials such as testing kits and masks, will be badly hit for no fault of theirs.
With a little over two million cases and over 1, 27, 000 deaths globally, the
pandemic has been UNPRECEDENTED in scale. When SOLIDARITY and unmitigated
support from every member-state is necessary to win the war against the virus,
withholding funding will not be in the best interest of any country, the U.S.
included. Failures due to oversight or other reasons, by WHO or member-states
can always be looked into but not in the midst of a pandemic.
Contrary to what Mr. Trump claims, WHO cannot independently investigate but
can only rely on individual member-states to share information. There has not
been one instance when it has been found “covering up” the epidemic in China.
Rather, it has been continuously urging countries to aggressively test people

exhibiting symptoms and trace, quarantine and test contacts to contain the
spread. It repeatedly spoke of the window of opportunity, and once warned that
it is narrowing. Historically, WHO has been against travel and trade restrictions
against countries experiencing OUTBREAKS, and its position was no different
when, in January, it declared COVID-19 a public health emergency of international
concern. But it did support China’s large-scale mitigation measures to contain the
virus spread. Faulting WHO for imaginary failings cannot help Mr. Trump WASH
HIS HANDS OF many administrative failures in containing the EPIDEMIC. He has
been blaming everyone else for his SHORTCOMINGS in dealing with COVID-19.
But moving beyond blaming and actually withholding WHO funding can have
disastrous outcomes. If indeed he FERVENTLY believes that the U.S. has been
misled, it is China that he must hold responsible for a delayed alert. Previously, he
praised both China and WHO. Obviously, the change in line is linked to a
desperate bid to hide his own failures.
Some important words from the EDITORIAL
1.UNPRECEDENTED (adj) -never having happened or existed in the past.अभूतपूिण
2.SOLIDARITY (n) -the support that people in a group give each other because
they have the same opinions or aims.एकजुटता
3.OUTBREAKS (n) -a sudden occurrence of something unwelcome, such as war or

disease.प्रकोप
4.WASH HIS HANDS OF (idiom) - To absolve oneself of or distance oneself from

responsibility for something.
5.EPIDEMIC (n) -a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community

at a particular time.महामारी
6.SHORTCOMINGS (n) -a fault or problem that makes someone or something less

effective.कवमयों
7.FERVENTLY (adv) -very enthusiastically or passionately.उत्साह

2020
Across the gulf: On stranded Indian workers
Around eight million people in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries
constitute a unique __A__ among Indian diaspora communities around the world.
Around 50% of them are unskilled and another 30% are semi-skilled. **X**Only a
small minority of (a) /20% of them are skilled (b) /and lucratively employed, but
all these migrant (c) /workers together form the backbone of India’s ties with
the region(d) . Their contribution of nearly 40% of the total foreign exchange
remmitances to India is critical to its economy. Their labour is vital for the GCC
economy. With no option of assimilation into their host countries, their link to the
home country remains intact, unlike Indian immigrants to the West. The vast
majority of them who are on __B__ wages are facing a tough situation in the
wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. From the little information available, it appears
that Indians are badly hit by the disease. Living and working conditions make it
extremely difficult for them to practise social distancing or get treatment if
infected. Many of them suffer from preexisting medical conditions and are used
to PROCURING medicines from India, which is now impossible. Vast sectors of the
economy are shut, rendering many of them jobless. Thousands are without
documentation. Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha being important transits for
international travel, thousands of Indian travellers are also __C__ in the region.
India cannot abandon them to their helpless fate. It must work closely with
governments of the region to bring them __D__. Prime Minister Narendra Modi
has nurtured good relations with all rulers of the region but the ongoing crisis is
testing the endurance of India’s ties with some of the GCC countries. **Y**The
UAE government has said it might revise current (a) /partnerships concerning
labour relations with (b) /nations refusing to cooperate with measures to

repatriate(c) /private sector expatriates who wish to return home(d) . The
country’s ambassador to India Ahmed Al Banna has promised only those who are
tested negative for the virus would be REPATRIATED. Some of these migrants
want to be evacuated, while many might want to remain where they are. Pinarayi
Vijayan, the Chief Minister of Kerala which is home to more than two million
Indian immigrants in the Gulf, has said the State is prepared to receive returnees
and provide them care. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab have a significant
number of people in the Gulf. The Centre must take the initiative to bring
together State governments, and work out arrangements with national
governments in the region in a manner __E__ to all. It will certainly take some
effort to arrive at what is doable and desirable at this juncture, but there is no
excuse for not doing that. That is the least India can do for these people whose
search for a livelihood has done the country so much good.
In the given passage, some words have been omitted. Choose the words that
make the passage meaningful.
meaningful.
a) assert b) realignment c) cohort d) sector e) regime
meaningful.
a) lucrative b) gravity c) high d) subsistence e) normal
meaningful.
a) struck b) fortified c) glorified d) commensurate e) stuck
meaningful.
a) health b) backing c) target d) succor e) overcome

meaningful.
a) promoted b) encouraged c) enraged d) engaged e) acceptable
error .Choose that part as your answer. Mark 'no error' as your answer if there
is no error in the sentence.
1) a 2) b 3) c 4) d 5) No error
1) a 2) b 3) c 4) d 5) No error
REPATRIATE
a) rejuvenate
b) support
c) reserve
d) intromit
e) extreme
REMITTANCE
a) a sum of money sent in payment or as a gift
b) a lump sum
c) a miserable state
d) remission e) abatement

PROCURE
a) acquire b) retake c) give and take d) retreat e) anticipate
SOLUTION
1) Cohort , which means 'a demographic grouping of people' fits in the context
appropriately. If you have a good command over vocab, you can easily eliminate
rest of the options based on their 'out of context' meanings and parts of speech.
'Assert' can be easily eliminated as it's a verb and we need a noun to make the
sentence grammatically correct.
Realignment- the act of realigning
Hence, 'cohort' is the only word among the given options which makes the
sentence contextually and grammatically correct.
2) Subsistence, which means 'the minimal resources that are necessary for
survival' fits in the context appropriately. Rest options can be easily eliminated
if you have read the passage carefully.
3) Stuck, which means 'trapped' fits in the context appropriately. Rest of the
options can be easily eliminated if you are good at vocab.
Struck - hit, eliminated
Commensurate- to adjust, to proportionate
Fortified- strengthened
4) Succor , which means 'aid' fits in the context appropriately. Rest of the options
can be eliminated based on either their out of context meanings or parts of
speech. For example- 'Overcome' (v) can be easily eliminated as we need a noun
to make the sentence grammatically correct.

5) Acceptable fits in the context appropriately.
6) b, Replace lucrative with 'lucratively' to make the sentence grammatically

correct.
7) d, Replace expatriated with 'expatriates' as we need a noun to make the

sentence grammatically correct.
Expatriates (plural noun) means 'people who live outside their own country.
8) Repatriate-to restore a person to his/her own country , synonym - intromit
9) Remittance - a sum of money sent in payment or as a gift.
10) PROCURE - to acquire or obtain
Complete EDITORIAL
Across the gulf: On stranded Indian workers
Around eight million people in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries
constitute a unique cohort among Indian diaspora communities around the world.
Around 50% of them are unskilled and another 30% are semi-skilled. Only a small
minority of 20% of them are skilled and lucratively employed, but all these
migrant workers together form the backbone of India’s ties with the region. Their
contribution of nearly 40% of the total foreign exchange REMITTANCES to India is
critical to its economy. Their labour is vital for the GCC economy. With no option
of ASSIMILATION into their host countries, their link to the home country remains
intact, unlike Indian immigrants to the West. The vast majority of them who are
on SUBSISTENCE wages are facing a tough situation in the wake of the COVID-19
pandemic. From the little information available, it appears that Indians are badly
hit by the disease. Living and working conditions make it extremely difficult for
them to practise social distancing or get treatment if infected. Many of them
suffer from preexisting medical conditions and are used to PROCURING medicines
from India, which is now impossible. Vast sectors of the economy are shut,
rendering many of them jobless. Thousands are without documentation. Dubai,

Abu Dhabi and Doha being important transits for international travel, thousands
of Indian travellers are also stuck in the region.
India cannot ABANDON them to their helpless fate. It must work closely with
governments of the region to bring them SUCCOUR. Prime Minister Narendra
Modi has nurtured good relations with all rulers of the region but the ongoing
crisis is testing the endurance of India’s ties with some of the GCC countries. The
UAE government has said it might revise current partnerships concerning labour
relations with nations refusing to cooperate with measures to REPATRIATE private
sector EXPATRIATES who wish to return home. The country’s ambassador to India
Ahmed Al Banna has promised only those who are tested negative for the virus
would be repatriated. Some of these migrants want to be EVACUATED, while
many might want to remain where they are. Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister
of Kerala which is home to more than two million Indian immigrants in the Gulf,
has said the State is prepared to receive returnees and provide them care. Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab have a significant number of people in the Gulf. The
Centre must take the initiative to bring together State governments, and work out
arrangements with national governments in the region in a manner acceptable to
all. It will certainly take some effort to arrive at what is doable and desirable at
this juncture, but there is no excuse for not doing that. That is the least India can
do for these people whose search for a livelihood has done the country so much
good.
1.STRANDED (adj) -unable to leave somewhere because of a problem such as not

having any transport or money.असहाय, फाँ सा हआ
2.REMITTANCES (n) -the act of sending payment to someone.भेजी हुई रकम, प्रेषर्
3.ASSIMILATION (n) -the process of becoming a part, or making someone become

a part, of a group, country, society, etc.सवम्मलन
4.SUBSISTENCE (n) -enough money or food to keep yourself alive.जीिन वनिाणह

5.PROCURING (v) -to obtain something, especially with effort or difficulty.प्राप्त

करना
6.ABANDON (v) -cease to support or look after (someone) .छोड़ देना
7.SUCCOUR (n) -help given to someone, especially someone who is suffering or in

need.परे शानी में सहायता
8.REPATRIATE (v) -send (someone) back to their own country.स्िदेश भेजना
9.EXPATRIATES (n) -someone who does not live in their own country.
10.EVACUATED (v) -remove (someone) from a place of danger to a safer place.
2020
Helping a lending hand:On RBI's second lockdown stimulus
The RBI has __A__ oxygen into the financial system with a second set of measures
announced on Friday by Governor Shatikanta Das to COMBAT the lockdown
impact on the economy. Most are aimed at __B__ liquidity, the economy’s
lifeblood, though there are some regulatory proposals aimed at making life easier
for banks, NBFCs and borrowers. *X*It is now clear the bank prefers to(a) /
calibre its moves based(b) / on constant feedback from the(c) / ground — the
way it should be(d) . In what should be reassuring for the markets, Mr. Das was

categorical that the RBI would do what it takes to support the economy and also
monitor the evolving situation. Indeed, the RBI has been very generous in its
liquidity maintenance measures in recent times and particularly so after the
lockdown began in March. There will surely be consequences for the economy
but that is a worry for another day. The overarching objective now should be to
keep the economy __C__ by deploying all the instruments at the RBI’s command.
*Y*The central bank has learnt from its experience of (a) /the Targeted Long
Term Repo Operations (TLTRO) (b) /till now when banks prefer to deploy the (c)
/funds in bonds of PSUs and large corporates(d) . The RBI has called out this risk-
off attitude of the banks while announcing a further ₹50, 000 crore TLTRO — all of
this has to be invested in bonds and paper of NBFCs and microfinance institutions.
The response to the next round of TLTRO will be interesting to watch. Similarly, by
reducing the reverse repo rate by another 25 basis points to 3.75%, the RBI has
made it furthermore unattractive for banks to __D__ in ‘lazy banking’ by parking
excess funds with the central bank rather than lend. As much as ₹6.9-lakh crore
was parked with the RBI as on April 15. This is the time when banks will have to
be liberal in extending help for working capital loans and overdrafts to their
borrowers, including MSMEs. The government could help here by extending a
scheme of credit assurance cover that will __E__ banks to be more liberal in their
risk outlook. By clarifying that there will be an asset classification STANDSTILL
during the moratorium period for accounts that were not already NPAs as of
March 1, the RBI has brought relief to borrowers who were worried that opting
for the moratorium may turn them into NPAs. State finances have got some
breathing space through the increase of WMA (Ways and Means Advances) limit
to 60% over the level as on March 31. The special refinance facility of ₹50, 000
crore extended to NABARD, SIDBI and NHB will help these institutions to PROP UP
their respective constituents. The central bank has done what it can. It is now
over to the government for the fiscal support package.
meaningful.
a) defused
b) inflated

c) deflated
d) infused
e) corporated
meaningful.
a) recurring
b) assimilating
c) monetizing
d) managing
e) defusing
meaningful.
a) at sea
b) overarched
c) deployed
d) afloat
e) intact
meaningful.
a) divulge
b) bewray
c) impart
d) stimulate
e) indulge
meaningful.
a) combat
b) affray
c) develop
d) encourage
e) associate

error .Choose that part as your answer.Mark ‘no error’ as your answer if there is
1) a 2) b 3) c 4) d 5) No error
error .Choose that part as your answer.Mark ‘no error’ as your answer if there is
1) a 2) b 3) c 4) d 5) No error
COMBAT
a) to fight with
b) strife
c) conflict
d) concord
e) victory
STANDSTILL
a) halt
b) movable
c) unequilibrated
d) hustle
e) drudge
Prop up
a) to clarify
b) mop up
c) to support with
d) to exacerbate
e) clean up
SOLUTION

1) 'Infused' , which means 'to insert or fill' , fits into the context appropriately.If
you have read the first paragraph of the passage carefully, you can easily
answer it as it's mentioned in the paragraph that measures taken by RBI are
aimed at combating the lockdown impact on the economy.
2) Managing fits into the context appropriately. Rest of the options can be
eliminated based on their 'out of context' meanings.
3) Afloat , which means 'floating' fits into the context appropriately. Rest
options can be eliminated if you know the meanings of the given options.
At sea - confused
Overarched - formed an arch over something
Deployed - to prepare and arrange for use
Intact - left complete or entire;not damaged
4) Indulge, which means 'to yield to a temptation or desire' fits into the context
appropriately. Rest of the options can be easily based on their 'out of context'
meanings, provided that you are good at vocab.
Let's take a note of the meanings of rest of the options:
Divulge - disclose, reveal
Bewray - to expose
Impart - to give a part or share
Stimulate - to encourage into action
5) Encourage, which means 'to motivate' fits into the context appropriately.
You can easily eliminate rest of the options, provided you have read the article
carefully.
6) Replace calibre with 'calibrate' as calibre is a noun and we need a verb to

make the sentence grammatically correct.
Calibrate- to check or adjust by comparison
Hence, calibrate makes the sentence contextually and grammatically correct.
7) Replace prefer with 'preferred' to make the sentence grammatically and

8) Combat -to fight with

9) Standstill - complete immobility
10) Prop up -to support with

Mop up - to clean up with a mop
Exacerbate- to make worse
Complete EDITORIAL
Helping a lending hand:On RBI's second lockdown stimulus
The RBI has infused oxygen into the financial system with a second set of
measures announced on Friday by Governor Shatikanta Das to COMBAT the
lockdown impact on the economy. Most are aimed at maintaining liquidity, the
economy’s LIFEBLOOD, though there are some regulatory proposals aimed at
making life easier for banks, NBFCs and borrowers. It is now clear the bank prefers
to CALIBRATE its moves based on constant feedback from the ground — the way
it should be. In what should be reassuring for the markets, Mr. Das was
categorical that the RBI would do what it takes to support the economy and also
monitor the evolving situation. Indeed, the RBI has been very generous in its
liquidity maintenance measures in recent times and particularly so after the
lockdown began in March. There will surely be consequences for the economy
but that is a worry for another day. The OVERARCHING objective now should be
to keep the economy AFLOAT by deploying all the instruments at the RBI’s
command.
The central bank has learnt from its experience of the Targeted Long Term Repo
Operations (TLTRO) till now when banks preferred to deploy the funds in bonds of
PSUs and large corporates. The RBI has called out this risk-off attitude of the
banks while announcing a further ₹50, 000 crore TLTRO — all of this has to be
invested in bonds and paper of NBFCs and microfinance institutions. The response
to the next round of TLTRO will be interesting to watch. Similarly, by reducing the
reverse repo rate by another 25 basis points to 3.75%, the RBI has made it
furthermore unattractive for banks to indulge in ‘lazy banking’ by parking excess
funds with the central bank rather than lend. As much as ₹6.9-lakh crore was
parked with the RBI as on April 15. This is the time when banks will have to be
liberal in extending help for working capital loans and overdrafts to their
borrowers, including MSMEs. The government could help here by extending a

scheme of credit assurance cover that will encourage banks to be more liberal in
their risk outlook. By clarifying that there will be an asset classification
STANDSTILL during the MORATORIUM period for accounts that were not already
NPAs as of March 1, the RBI has brought relief to borrowers who were worried
that opting for the moratorium may turn them into NPAs. State finances have got
some BREATHING SPACE through the increase of WMA (Ways and Means
Advances) limit to 60% over the level as on March 31. The special refinance
facility of ₹50, 000 crore extended to NABARD, SIDBI and NHB will help these
institutions to PROP UP their respective constituents. The central bank has done
what it can. It is now over to the government for the fiscal support package.
1.CUE (n) -a signal or reminder.संकेत
2.COMBAT (v) -take action to reduce or prevent (something bad or undesirable)

.मुकाबला, सामना
3.LIFEBLOOD (n) -the indispensable factor or influence that gives something its
strength and vitality.
4.CALIBRATE (v) -to measure precisely.जांचना
5.OVERARCHING (adj) -comprehensive or all-embracing.व्यापक, अवत महत्िपूर्ण
6.AFLOAT (adj) -out of debt or difficulty.बचाए, ऋर्मुि
7.STANDSTILL (n) -a situation or condition in which there is no movement or

activity at all.िहराि
8.MORATORIUM (n) -a temporary prohibition of an activity.रोक
9.BREATHING SPACE (n) -an opportunity to pause, relax, or decide what to do

next.विश्राम

10.PROP UP (phrasal verb) -to support or sustain
2020
Government nod mandatory for FDI coming from neighboring

countries
In a move that will __A__ Chinese investments, the Centre has made prior
government approval mandatory for foreign direct investments from countries
which share a land border with India. Previously, only investments from Pakistan
and Bangladesh faced such restrictions.
The revised FDI policy is aimed at “__B__opportunistic acquisitions of Indian
companies due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, ” said a press release from the
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade on Saturday.
“A non-resident entity can invest in India, subject to the FDI Policy except in those
sectors/activities which are prohibited, ” says the new policy.
X**Whatever, an entity of a country, (a) /which shares land border with India or
(b) /where the beneficial owner of an investment into India is situated in (c) /or
is a citizen of any such country, can invest only under the Government route(d)
.Pakistani investors face further restrictions in requiring government approval for
FDI in defence, space and atomic energy sectors as well.
India shares land borders with Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan,
Bangladesh and Myanmar. Investors from countries not covered by the new
policy only have to inform the RBI after a transaction rather than asking for prior
permission from the relevant government department.

With many Indian businesses coming to a __C__ due to the lockdown imposed to
contain the COVID-19 pandemic and valuations PLUMMETING, a number of
domestic firms may be vulnerable to “opportunistic ACQUISITIONS ” from foreign
players. Last week, housing finance company HDFC informed the stock exchanges
that the People’s Bank of China now holds a 1.01% stake in the company. This was
an instance of portfolio investment through the stock market and not FDI.
Y**The official statement added that a transfer of (a) /ownership of any existing
or future FDI in an(b) / Indian entity to those in the restricted (c) /ountries
would also needs government approval(d) . The decisions will become effective
from the date of the Foreign Exchange Management Act notification
“Given the macro situation, it is a measure to __D__ vulnerable companies, with
possibly low valuations, from unwelcome takeovers. However, while the DPIIT has
SET OUT its policy stance, the Non Debt Rules that the Ministry of Finance will
publish in this regard is __E__, as that will set out the different scenarios which
will trigger the Central Government approval requirement and other
considerations regarding foreign investments from our neighbours, " said Aarthi
Sivanandh who specialises in corporate law at Partner, J Sagar Associates.
meaningful.
a) facilitate
b) stimulate
c) expedite
d) restrict
e) regenerate
meaningful.
a) opportune
b) glorifying
c) busting

d) curbing
e) stimulating
meaningful.
a) path
b) curve
c) pandemic
d) mammer
e) halt
meaningful.
a) engage
b) enumerate
c) train
d) guide
e) protect
meaningful.
a) exaggerated
b) accomplished
c) triggered
d) awaited
e) formulated
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error

1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
Q8. Why , according to passage, imposing restrictions on chinese investments is

required-
a) to avoid Indian companies getting bankrupt
b) to expedite the FDI norms
c) due to prevalent COVID-19 pandemic in China
d) to protect domestic firms becoming vulnerable to opportunistic acquisitions
Q.9 Choose the word which correctly represents the word/phrase given below.
PLUMMET
a) soar
b) rival
c) fall
d) takeover
e) beflake
SET OUT
a) put out
b) back
c) finish
d) start
e) trigger
Solution

1) Restrict fits into the context appropriately. Rest of the options can be easily
eliminated if you have read the passage carefully. In the passage imposing
restrictions on Chinese and other foreign investments with the help of revised FDI
policy, has been talked about.
2) Curbing, which means restraining/controlling, fits into the context

appropriately. You can easily eliminate the rest of the options as they don't go
well with the context.
3) Halt(n) , which means lameness/limp, fits into the context appropriately. Rest
of the options can be easily eliminated based on their 'out of context' meanings.
Mammer(v) can be easily eliminated as we need a noun to make the sentence
grammatically correct. Other three options can also be easily eliminated as they
don't go well with the context.
4) Protect fits into the context appropriately as it's clear from the passage that
imposing restrictions on foreign players with the help of revised FDI policy is
aimed at protecting domestic companies becoming vulnerable to
opportunistic acquisitions.
5) Awaited, which means waited for/anticipated, fits into the context

appropriately as 'will' in the sentence indicates that it's not completed or
happened yet, hence awaited makes sense.
Note - If you read the sentence carefully , you will easily figure out that
'awaited' is the right answer by eliminating unsuitable options.(Tip- Read the
question based sentences at least 2-3 times)
6) a, Replace whatever with 'however' to make the sentence grammatically

correct. Whatever doesn't make any sense in the given context.
However(adv) -Nevertheless;in spite of
However (conjunction) - Although, in whatever way or manner
Whatever(adj) - unimportant, at all
Whatever(determiner) - no matter what

Whatever(pronoun) - no matter what, for any
7) d, Replace needs with 'need' to make the sentence grammatically correct.
8) d, It's clearly mentioned in the passage that imposing restrictions on Chinese

investments through revised FDI policy is aimed at protecting domestic
companies becoming vulnerable to opportunistic acquisitions.
9) Plummet - a decline;a fall
10) Set out - to start an activity
Complete EDITORIAL
In a move that will restrict Chinese investments, the Centre has made prior
government approval mandatory for foreign direct investments from countries
which share a land border with India. Previously, only investments from Pakistan
and Bangladesh faced such restrictions.
The revised FDI policy is aimed at “curbing opportunistic takeovers/acquisitions of
Indian companies due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, ” said a press release
from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade on Saturday.
‘With land borders’
“A non-resident entity can invest in India, subject to the FDI Policy except in those
sectors/activities which are prohibited, ” says the new policy.
“However, an entity of a country, which shares land border with India or where
the beneficial owner of an investment into India is situated in or is a citizen of any
such country, can invest only under the Government route.” Pakistani investors
face further restrictions in requiring government approval for FDI in defence,
space and atomic energy sectors as well.
India shares land borders with Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan,
Bangladesh and Myanmar. Investors from countries not covered by the new
policy only have to inform the RBI after a transaction rather than asking for prior
permission from the relevant government department.

With many Indian businesses coming to a halt due to the lockdown imposed to
contain the COVID-19 pandemic and valuations plummeting, a number of
domestic firms may be vulnerable to “opportunistic takeovers or acquisitions”
from foreign players. Last week, housing finance company HDFC informed the
stock exchanges that the People’s Bank of China now holds a 1.01% stake in the
company. This was an instance of portfolio investment through the stock market
and not FDI.
The official statement added that a transfer of ownership of any existing or future
FDI in an Indian entity to those in the restricted countries would also need
government approval. The decisions will become effective from the date of the
Foreign Exchange Management Act notification
“Given the macro situation, it is a measure to protect vulnerable companies, with
possibly low valuations, from unwelcome takeovers. However, while the DPIIT has
set out its policy stance, the Non Debt Rules that the Ministry of Finance will
publish in this regard is awaited, as that will set out the different scenarios which
will trigger the Central Government approval requirement and other
considerations regarding foreign investments from our neighbours, " said Aarthi
Sivanandh who specialises in corporate law at Partner, J Sagar Associates.
CURB (v) : to control or limit something that is not wanted. (वनयंत्रर्)

PROHIBIT (v) : to prevent from doing something (रोकलगाना)
HALT (v) : to cause the discontinuance of (स्र्कािट)
COMPLY (v) : act in accordance with a wish or command (पालन करना)
PLUMMET (v) : a steep and rapid fall or drop (आकवस्मकरूपसेघटने)
ACQUISITION (n) : the act of acquiring or gaining possession. (अजणन)
VULNERABLE (adj) : lacking protection from danger or resistance against
attack(असुरवक्षत)

2020
Economy in lockdown: On India’s worst case scenario
Less than two months after asserting that “global growth appears to be
bottoming out”, the pandemic induced ‘Great Lockdown’ has forced the IMF to
__A__ all its previous projections for economic output in 2020. X**Faced with
the stark reality of sweep (a) /shutdowns of almost entire (b) /economies
worldwide, the fund last week (c) /acknowledged that the current “crisis is like
no other”(d) . Forecasting the sharpest contraction in world output since the
Great Depression of the 1930s, the IMF __B__ its projection by 6.3 percentage
points from its January forecast for 3.3% growth to a 3% decline. In contrast, the
recession of 2009 saw world output contract by a MERE 0.1%. That the IMF was
BLINDSIDED by the comments from Chinese authorities and WHO is clear from
the fact that as recently as February 22, the fund’s chief, Kristalina Georgieva, told
G20 Finance Ministers that “global growth would be about 0.1 percentage points
lower” than forecast in January. China’s GDP, she projected, would expand by
5.6% this year, 0.4 percentage points slower than assumed in January. Last week,
the IMF slashed China’s forecast to a growth of 1.2%, citing data on industrial
production, retail sales, and fixed asset investment that, it said, suggested a
contraction of about 8% in the first quarter. China reported a 6.8% first- quarter
contraction. Still, in projecting an annual expansion in Asia’s largest economy, the
fund is rather OPTIMISTICALLY foreseeing a sharp rebound in activity over the rest
of the year.

On India, the IMF has cut its projection for growth in the fiscal year that started
on April 1, from January’s 5.8%, to 1.9%. Y**This again appears predicated on(a)
/the fund’s baseline scenario that assumes that(b) / the pandemic would ‘fade
in the second half of 2020’, (c) /allowing containment efforts to be unwound
and economic activity to normalised(d) . Another key assumption by the IMF’s
economists is the availability of policy support to nurture the revival once activity
restarts. __C__ its storied fiscal conservatism, the fund’s chief economist, Gita
Gopinath, has advocated ramping up a broad-based and coordinated __D__ once
the disease has been contained, a measure that would help avoid the errors of
the Great Depression years when premature efforts to __E__ budget deficits
prolonged the downturn. In this context, India’s fiscal measures pale in terms of
scale when compared with what several other nations have undertaken. Given
the size of the informal sector in India as well as the ANTICIPATED prolonged
disruption in labour supply even in more formal parts of the economy, the Centre
needs to proactively commit to a substantial stimulus package in order to ensure
that once the economy reopens, it has the legs to run.In the given passage, some
words have been omitted. Choose the words that make the passage meaningful.
meaningful.
a) reassure
b) back
c) ensure
d) junk
e) console
meaningful.
a) raised
b) backslashed
c) whacked
d) slashed
e) thrashed

meaningful.
a) ejecting
b) infuriating
c) accepting
d) jettisoning
e) following
meaningful.
a) set out
b) normalized
c) pacified
d) contained
e) aggrandized
meaningful.
a) postponed
b) backed
c) contained
d) prolonged
e) refined
Q6. That the IMF was blindsided by the comments from Chinese authorities and
WHO is clear from the fact that -
A. as recently as February 22, the fund’s chief, Kristalina Georgieva, told G20
Finance Ministers that “global growth would be about 0.2 percentage points
lower” than forecast in January.
B. as recently as February 22, the fund’s chief, Kristalina Georgieva, told G20
higher” than forecast in January.
C. as recently as February 22, the fund’s chief, Kristalina Georgieva, told G20

lower” than forecast in January.
a) only A is correct
b) only B is correct
c) only C is correct
e) All the three are correct
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
BLINDSIDE
a) to soar
b) to rival
c) to fall
d) to take by surprise
e) to put to a halt

UNWOUND
a) entangle
b) do
c) chill out
d) covered
e) spilled
SOLUTION
1) Junk(v) , which means 'discard/throw away', fits into the context

appropriately.
The words 'forced' and 'previous projections' in the given sentence indicate that
something like 'discard/junk' will fit into the context.
Rest of the options don't make any sense, so can be easily eliminated.
2) Slashed , which means 'reduced sharply ' fits into the context appropriately as
the figures given in the sentence represent a cut.Rest of the options can be easily
eliminated, provided you are good at vocab.
Backslash - to eascape
Whack/Thrash - to hit
3) Jettisoning , which means 'discarding, letting go or getting rid of as being

useless', fits into the context appropriately. Rest of the options can be
eliminated if you have read the passage carefully and tried to understand its
essence.
4) Contained fits into the context appropriately. Rest of the options can be
easily eliminated based on their 'out of context' meanings.
Set out and aggrandized can be easily eliminated as set out means 'to begin' while
aggrandize means 'to enlarge' which don't fit into the context at all.
And among the rest three options 'contained' is the most apt word that fits into
the context appropriately.

5) Prolonged , which means 'to lengthen in time' fits into the context
appropriately. If you read the sentence carefully , you will come to know that
avoiding errors of the great depression years when premature efforts to
reduce/prune budget deficits extended the period of the downturn, is being
talked about. Hence, Prolonged is the most apt word which fits into the context
appropriately.
6) c, In the later part of the first paragraph of the passage, it's clearly mentioned
that the IMF was blindsided by the comments from Chinese authorities and WHO
is clear from the fact that as recently as February 22, the fund’s chief, Kristalina
Georgieva, told G20 Finance Ministers that “global growth would be about 0.1
percentage points lower” than forecast in January.
7) Replace sweep with 'sweeping' to make the sentence grammatically and

Sweeping (adj) - wide, broad
8) Replace normalised with 'normalise' to make the sentence grammatically

correct.
9) Blindside - to take by surprise
10) unwound - to relax; to chill out
Complete EDITORIAL
Economy in lockdown: On India’s worst case scenario
Less than two months after asserting that “global growth appears to be
BOTTOMING OUT”, the pandemic induced ‘Great Lockdown’ has forced the IMF
to JUNK all its previous projections for economic output in 2020. Faced with the
stark reality of sweeping shutdowns of almost entire economies worldwide, the
fund last week acknowledged that the current “crisis is like no other”. Forecasting
the sharpest CONTRACTION in world output since the Great Depression of the
1930s, the IMF slashed its projection by 6.3 percentage points from its January
forecast for 3.3% growth to a 3% decline. In contrast, the recession of 2009 saw
world output contract by a MERE 0.1%. That the IMF was BLINDSIDED by the
comments from Chinese authorities and WHO is clear from the fact that as
recently as February 22, the fund’s chief, Kristalina Georgieva, told G20 Finance
Ministers that “global growth would be about 0.1 percentage points lower” than
forecast in January. China’s GDP, she projected, would expand by 5.6% this year,
0.4 percentage points slower than assumed in January. Last week, the IMF
slashed China’s forecast to a growth of 1.2%, citing data on industrial production,
retail sales, and fixed asset investment that, it said, suggested a contraction of
about 8% in the first quarter. China reported a 6.8% first- quarter contraction.
Still, in projecting an annual expansion in Asia’s largest economy, the fund is
rather OPTIMISTICALLY foreseeing a sharp rebound in activity over the rest of the
year.
On India, the IMF has cut its projection for growth in the fiscal year that started
on April 1, from January’s 5.8%, to 1.9%. This again appears predicated on the
fund’s baseline scenario that assumes that the pandemic would ‘fade in the
second half of 2020’, allowing containment efforts to be UNWOUND and
economic activity to normalise. Another key assumption by the IMF’s economists
is the availability of policy support to nurture the revival once activity restarts.
JETTISONING its storied fiscal conservatism, the fund’s chief economist, Gita
Gopinath, has advocated ramping up a broad-based and coordinated STIMULUS
once the disease has been contained, a measure that would help avoid the errors
of the Great Depression years when premature efforts to PRUNE budget deficits
prolonged the downturn. In this context, India’s fiscal measures pale in terms of
scale when compared with what several other nations have undertaken. Given
the size of the informal sector in India as well as the ANTICIPATED prolonged
disruption in labour supply even in more formal parts of the economy, the Centre
needs to proactively commit to a substantial stimulus package in order to ensure
that once the economy reopens, it has the legs to run.
Some Important words from the EDITORIAL
1.BOTTOMING OUT (phrasal verb) -To reach the lowest or worst point.
2.JUNK (v) -discard or abandon unceremoniously.

3.CONTRACTION (n) -reduction, cut, decrease, weakening, deduction, lessening,

cutback, retrenchment, etc.संकुचन
4.MERE (adj) -used to emphasize how small or insignificant someone or

something is.मात्र
5.BLINDSIDED (v) -to surprise someone, usually with harmful results.
6.UNWOUND (v) -to relax after a period of work or anxiety.
7.JETTISONING (v) -to get rid of (something or someone) as useless or

undesirable.
8.STIMULUS (n) -something that causes growth or activity.
9.PRUNE (v) - to reduce something by removing things that are not necessary.
10.ANTICIPATED (v) -to imagine or expect that something will happen.पूिाणनुमावनत
2020
Takeover fears: nuanced approach on Chinese investments
The government’s decision to ban foreign direct investments (FDI) (a) / through
the automatic route from neighbouring (b) /countries that shared a land (c)
/border with India has raised eyebrows(d) . This is mainly because the move is
seen as aimed at Chinese investors who could __A__ cheap valuations in the

depressed economic conditions post-lockdown to pick up equity interest in select

companies. India is not alone in this fear of “opportunistic takeovers”, as Press
Note 3(2020 Series) of the Commerce Ministry described it. Italy, Spain, France
and Australia have already taken similar action to protect their businesses from
foreign (read Chinese) investors fishing for distressed entities in need of cash in
the post-COVID-19 scenario. China’s investment in India has been on a sharp
upcurve in the last five years. According to a Brookings India study, the total
current and planned investment by Chinese entities is over $26 billion. Chinese
capital is invested not just in brick-and-mortar industries but in technology and
fintech start-ups where Alibaba and Tencent have funded a host of Indian names
such as Paytm, Swiggy, Ola, Zomato and BigBasket. It is quite possible that a move
to __B__Chinese investment in Indian companies was always on the cards and
that COVID-19 was a good excuse to PULL THE TRIGGER. There has always been
unease over the fact that there is a thin line that divides the state sector from
private enterprise in China and several companies there trace linkages back to the
security apparatus of that country.
So, while the decision to __C__ a layer of government approval is probably valid
in the current circumstances, the government could have adopted a more
nuanced approach. GREENFIELD investments should have been kept out of the
purview as they do not pose a threat of takeover of existing business; to the
contrary, they __D__ new capacities and businesses in the country. X**A
distinction should also have been made based on(a) / the class of investors:
venture capital funds (b) /are financial investors which may not necessarily(c) /
be interested in taking over and running a business(d) . While the FDI route has
been plugged, it is not clear what happens to investments that come through the
market route. SEBI has already sent out __E__ to custodians asking for details of
Chinese holdings in listed entities. How will this be regulated? And again, what
happens to FDI that comes in through entities registered in countries that do not
share a land border with India but which may trace their beneficial ownership to
China? And, now that the wall has been raised, approvals should be quick for
investment proposals in the technology start-up space, where cash burn is high
and existing investors are often tapped for a top-up investment.

meaningful.
a) assure
b) reinvent
c) take
d) exploit
e) reinstate
meaningful.
a) attack
b) penalize
c) channelize
d) curb
e) transmit
meaningful.
a) deduce
b) reject
c) criticize
d) introduce
e) penalize
meaningful.
a) damage
b) back up
c) take
d) create
e) heighten
meaningful.
a) word
b) projects

c) ventures
d) missives
e) drives
Q6.India is not alone in this fear of “opportunistic takeovers”, as Press Note

3(2020 Series) of the Commerce Ministry described it. According to passage,
some other countries have taken the same action-
A. Indonesia, Spain, USA and Australia have already taken similar action to protect
their businesses from foreign (read Chinese) investors fishing for distressed
entities in need of cash in the post-COVID-19 scenario.
B. Italy, Spain, USA and Australia have already taken similar action to protect their
businesses from foreign (read Chinese) investors fishing for distressed entities in
need of cash in the post-COVID-19 scenario.
C. Italy, Spain, France and Australia have already taken similar action to protect
their businesses from foreign (read Chinese) investors fishing for distressed
entities in need of cash in the post-COVID-19 scenario.
a) only A is correct
b) only B is correct
c) only C is correct
d) both A and C are correct
e) none of the above
Q7. First sentence of the first paragraph of the passage has been divided into
four parts.One of these parts contain an error .Choose that part as your answer.
Mark 'no error' as your answer if there is no error in the sentence.
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
Q8.Sentence X of the passage has been divided into four parts.One of these
parts contain an error .Choose that part as your answer.Mark 'no error' as your
answer if there is no error in the sentence.
1) a
2) b

3) c
4) d
5) No error
PULL THE TRIGGER

a) to accidentally do something
b) to provoke
c) to commit to a course of action
d) to intentionally do something
GREENFIELD
a) potential industrial sites not previously developed
b) successful industrial sites
c) incomplete venture
d) developed sites
SOLUTION
1) Exploit , which means 'take advantage of' fits into the context
appropriately.Rest options can be eliminated easily as they don't go well with the
context. If you have read the passage carefully, you can easily select the right
answer , that is, exploit by eliminating the rest of the unsuitable options.
2) Curb , which means 'to check, restrain or control', fits into the context
appropriately. Rest of the options can be eliminated based on their out of context
meanings.
Options b, c and e can be easily eliminated as they not at all fit into the context.

Between attack and curb, curb is the apt word that fits into the context
appropriately.
3) Introduce fits into the context appropriately. The sentence is talking about the
decision of Indian government regarding introducing a layer of government
approval on FDI through the automatic route from neighbouring countries.
4) Create is the most apt word among the given options that fits into the
context appropriately.
5) Missive, which means 'a written message or memo' , is the most apt word
that fits into the context appropriately.
6) C , It's clearly mentioned in the passage that India is not alone in this fear of
“opportunistic takeovers”, as Press Note 3(2020 Series) of the Commerce
Ministry described it.Italy, Spain, France and Australia have already taken similar
action to protect their businesses from foreign (read Chinese) investors fishing for
distressed entities in need of cash in the post-COVID-19 scenario.
7) Replace shared with 'share' to make the sentence grammatically correct.
8) c, Replace which with 'who' to make the sentence grammatically correct.
9) Pull the trigger- to commit to a course of action
10) Greenfield - potential industrial sites not previously developed
COMPLETE EDITORIAL
Takeover fears: nuanced approach on Chinese investments
The government’s decision to ban foreign direct investments (FDI) through the
automatic route from neighbouring countries that share a land border with India
has RAISED EYEBROWS. This is mainly because the move is seen as aimed at
Chinese investors who could EXPLOIT cheap valuations in the depressed economic

conditions post-lockdown to pick up equity interest in select companies. India is

not alone in this fear of “opportunistic takeovers”, as Press Note 3(2020 Series) of
the Commerce Ministry described it. Italy, Spain, France and Australia have
already taken similar action to protect their businesses from foreign (read
Chinese) investors fishing for distressed entities in need of cash in the post-
COVID-19 scenario. China’s investment in India has been on a sharp upcurve in
the last five years. According to a Brookings India study, the total current and
planned investment by Chinese entities is over $26 billion. Chinese capital is
invested not just in brick-and-mortar industries but in technology and fintech
start-ups where Alibaba and Tencent have funded a host of Indian names such as
Paytm, Swiggy, Ola, Zomato and BigBasket. It is quite possible that a move to curb
or control Chinese investment in Indian companies was always on the cards and
that COVID-19 was a good excuse to PULL THE TRIGGER. There has always been
unease over the fact that there is a thin line that divides the state sector from
private enterprise in China and several companies there trace linkages back to the
security apparatus of that country.
So, while the decision to introduce a layer of government approval is probably
valid in the current circumstances, the government could have adopted a more
nuanced approach. GREENFIELD investments should have been KEPT OUT of the
purview as they do not pose a threat of takeover of existing business; to the
contrary, they create new capacities and businesses in the country. A distinction
should also have been made based on the class of investors: venture capital funds
are financial investors who may not necessarily be interested in taking over and
running a business. While the FDI route has been plugged, it is not clear what
happens to investments that come through the market route. SEBI has already
sent out MISSIVES to custodians asking for details of Chinese holdings in listed
entities. How will this be regulated? And again, what happens to FDI that comes
in through entities registered in countries that do not share a land border with
India but which may trace their beneficial ownership to China? And, now that the
wall has been raised, approvals should be quick for investment proposals in the
technology start-up space, where cash burn is high and existing investors are
often tapped for a top-up investment.
Some Important Words from the EDITORIAL
1.NUANCED (adj) -a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude.

2.RAISED EYEBROWS (phrase) -to cause other people to react with surprise or
mild disapproval.
3.EXPLOIT (v) -to use someone or something unfairly for your own advantage.लाभ
उिाना
4.PULL THE TRIGGER (idiom) -To make a final decision or commit to a certain
course of action (about something) .
5.GREENFIELD (adj) -denoting or relating to previously undeveloped sites for

commercial development or exploitation.
6.KEPT OUT (phrasal verb) -To avoid discussing someone or something.
7.MISSIVES (n) -a letter, especially a long or official one.राजनीवतक संदश

े
2020
Futures shock: On oil price fall below $0
Five decades after the oil shock of 1973, when an Arab EMBARGO on the supply
of oil to some western powers including the United States sent the price of crude
__A__ fourfold to $12 a barrel, the global economy faces a fresh shock from a
free-fall in oil prices. On Monday, May futures for the West Texas Intermediate
(WTI) U.S. crude __B__ below zero to touch a historic low of -$40.32 a barrel. A

negative price implies that a seller would have to pay the buyer to hold the oil to
be supplied. X**While the unprecedented plunge in(a) / the particular futures
contract could(b) /be partly explained away as a technical anomaly gave (c)
/that the May contract was set to expire on Tuesday(d) , beyond which buyers
would need to be ready to take physical delivery, the reality is that oil prices are
desperately in search of a bottom. A perfect storm of a supply glut __C__ in
March by a price war that saw key producers Saudi Arabia and Russia RAMP UP
output even as demand continued to contract on account of the COVID-19
outbreak sent prices into a steeper slide. Brent crude futures have TUMBLED
more than 67% in 2020 to about $21 a barrel as of Tuesday afternoon in London
trading, while the WTI FUTURES have plunged about 110% to -$5.78. The
International Energy Agency observed this month, that the confinement measures
instituted worldwide have resulted in a dramatic decline in transportation activity
which will erase at least a decade of demand growth.
With storage for crude — on land or offshore in supertankers — nearing capacity

or becoming prohibitively expensive, oil producers are going to have little option
but to __D__ output. Y**Saudi Arabia is reported to be(a) / considered output
cuts even (b) /before a 9.7 million barrels per day deal it (c) /had struck with
Russia to cut production takes effect from May(d) . Still, merely closing the tap a
notch or two is not going to redress the oversupply in the market at a time when
the ‘Great Lockdown’ has destroyed demand on an unprecedented scale. India
has prudently been using the sharp fall in both crude prices and domestic demand
to accelerate the build-up of its strategic reserve. While the sliding oil prices
would help significantly pare India’s energy import bill, a __E__ demand drought
would end up hurting the government’s tax revenues severely, especially at a
time when it badly needs every additional rupee it can garner. Also, rock-bottom
oil prices risk damaging the economies of producer countries including those in
West Asia, hurting inward remittances. After the lockdown, the Centre ought to
consider using this opportunity to cut retail fuel prices sharply by foregoing some
excise revenue for a while in order to tease back momentum into the wider
economy.

meaningful.
a) down
b) bottom
c) plummet
d) skyrocketing
e) spike
meaningful.
a) jumped
b) spiked
c) overpowered
d) plunged
e) baptized
meaningful.
a) elevated
b) exaggerated
c) arised
d) swayed
e) exacerbated
meaningful.
a) immensify
b) enlarge
c) outgrow
d) curtail
e) create
meaningful.
a) usual
b) short

c) postponed
d) protracted
e) temporary
Q6. A perfect storm of a supply glut exacerbated in March.What could be the

reasons according to the passage?
A.Key producers Saudi Arabia and Russia reduced output even as demand
continued to contract on account of the COVID-19 outbreak.
B. Key producers Saudi Arabia and Russia ramp up output even as demand
continued to spike on account of the COVID-19 outbreak.
C.Key producers Saudi Arabia and Russia ramp up output even as demand
continued to contract on account of the COVID-19 outbreak.
d) both B and C are correct
e) All the three statements are correct
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error

Q8.Sentence Y of the passage has been divided into four parts.One of these
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
RAMP UP
a) start
b) increase
c) inherent
d) sudden
e) trigger
TUMBLE
a) spike
b) strike
c) string
d) fall
e) show
SOLUTION
1) Skyrocketing, which means 'increasing suddenly and extremely', fits into the
context appropriately. Rest options can be easily eliminated as they either don't
fit into the context or make the sentence grammatically incorrect.
If you have read the given passage carefully, you will figure out that options a, b

and c contradict the context, hence they can be easily eliminated.Between

skyrocketing and spike , skyrocketing is the apt word that makes the sentence
grammatically as well as contextually correct.
2) Plunged , which means 'fell or rushed headlong into some thing, action, state
or condition', fits into the context appropriately. Rest of the options can be
easily eliminated if you are good at vocab.
3) Exacerbated, which means 'made it worse', fits into the context

appropriately.Rest of the options can be easily eliminated based on their out of
context meanings.
Let us take a look at their meaning-
Elevated - raised
Exaggerated- abnormally enlarged
Swayed - bent backwards, as in swayback
Hence, exacerbated is the most apt word among the given options that fits into
4) Curtail, which means 'to limit or restrict' fits into the context
appropriately.Rest of the options can be easily eliminated as they contradict the
context.
5) Protracted which means 'lasting for longer time', fits into the context
context of the given sentence.
6) c, It's clearly mentioned in the first paragraph of the passage that a perfect
storm of a supply glut exacerbated in March by a price war that saw key
producers Saudi Arabia and Russia ramp up output even as demand continued to
contract on account of the COVID-19 outbreak sent prices into a steeper slide.
7) Replace gave with 'given' to make the sentence grammatically correct.
8) Replace considered with 'considering' to make the sentence grammatically

correct.
Sentence is like - Saudi Arabia is considering output cuts...
Hence, considered makes it grammatically incorrect.

9) Ramp up - to increase rapidly to a new value.
10) Tumble - to fall end over end
Complete EDITORIAL
Futures shock: On oil price fall below $0
Five decades after the oil shock of 1973, when an Arab EMBARGO on the supply
of oil to some western powers including the United States sent the price of crude
SKYROCKETING fourfold to $12 a barrel, the global economy faces a fresh shock
from a free-fall in oil prices. On Monday, May futures for the West Texas
Intermediate (WTI) U.S. crude plunged below zero to touch a historic low of -
$40.32 a barrel. A negative price implies that a seller would have to pay the buyer
to hold the oil to be supplied. While the unprecedented plunge in the particular
futures contract could be partly explained away as a technical anomaly given that
the May contract was set to expire on Tuesday, beyond which buyers would need
to be ready to take physical delivery, the reality is that oil prices are desperately
in search of a bottom. A perfect storm of a supply GLUT exacerbated in March by
a price war that saw key producers Saudi Arabia and Russia RAMP UP output even
as demand continued to contract on account of the COVID-19 outbreak sent
prices into a steeper slide. Brent crude futures have TUMBLED more than 67% in
2020 to about $21 a barrel as of Tuesday afternoon in London trading, while the
WTI FUTURES have plunged about 110% to -$5.78. The International Energy
Agency observed this month, that the confinement measures instituted
worldwide have resulted in a dramatic decline in transportation activity which will
erase at least a decade of demand growth.
With storage for crude — on land or offshore in supertankers — nearing capacity

or becoming prohibitively expensive, oil producers are going to have little option
but to CURTAIL output. Saudi Arabia is reported to be considering output cuts
even before a 9.7 million barrels per day deal it had struck with Russia to cut
production takes effect from May. Still, merely closing the tap a notch or two is
not going to redress the oversupply in the market at a time when the ‘Great
Lockdown’ has destroyed demand on an unprecedented scale. India has prudently
been using the sharp fall in both crude prices and domestic demand to accelerate
the build-up of its strategic reserve. While the sliding oil prices would help
significantly pare India’s energy import bill, a PROTRACTED demand drought
would end up hurting the government’s tax revenues severely, especially at a
time when it badly needs every additional rupee it can garner. Also, rock-bottom
oil prices risk damaging the economies of producer countries including those in
West Asia, hurting inward REMITTANCES. After the lockdown, the Centre ought to
consider using this opportunity to cut retail fuel prices sharply by foregoing some
excise revenue for a while in order to tease back momentum into the wider
economy.
1.STEEP (adj) -sudden or unexpected.
2.EMBARGO (v) -impose an official ban on (trade or a country or commodity)

.प्रवतबंि
3.SKYROCKETING (v) -(of a price, rate, or amount) increase very steeply or

rapidly.आसमान छू ने
4.GLUT (n) -a supply of something that is much greater than can be sold or is
needed or wanted.प्रचुरता
5.RAMP UP (phrasel verb) -to increase or cause to increase.बढाना
6.TUMBLED (v) -to fall quickly and without control.वगरािट
7.FUTURES (n) -contracts for assets (especially commodities or shares) bought at

agreed prices but delivered and paid for later.भािी सौदे
8.CURTAIL (v) -to reduce or limit something.घटाना
9.PROTRACTED (adj) -lasting for a long time or made to last longer than
necessary.

10.REMITTANCES (n) -an amount of money that you send to someone.प्रेषर्, भेजी
हुई रकम
2020
Script of unity: On coronavirus and social prejudices
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reminder that COVID-19 does not recognise
“race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or border” before striking, was
axiomatic but essential. The pandemic has fanned the flames of communalism
instead of __A__ them, as it has compounded economic woes. The Prime Minister
has recognised the calamitous rage of the virus when he called for “response and
conduct” that “should attach PRIMACY to unity and brotherhood”. He cannot be
more right about the fact that countries and societies can no longer afford to face
off with one another and the future can be secured only through togetherness
and __B__. X**He spoke against the backdrop (a) /of criticism of the apparent
communal stranded(b) / in the response of some sections(c) / to the COVID-19
challenge(d) . The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and the
UN expressed concern over stigmatization, in India, of a particular community.
India sought to reject these concerns as external interference, which they were.
But then, as he noted, the virus threat has made borders irrelevant. There have
been reports of religious discrimination towards patients. The situation was
__C__ when a vocal section of the Indian diaspora, often touted as proponents of
India’s interests in their host countries, was seen as islamophobic in the UAE.
Such odious digital behaviour routinely goes unquestioned in India, but in the

UAE, the response has been quick. Y**Many have lost their jobs for posting
hateful(a) / content and this culture of diatribe (b) /now loom over a critical
bilateral relationship(c) / that Mr. Modi has personally nurtured(d) . The Indian
Ambassador to the UAE reminded expatriates that discrimination was against
“our moral fabric and the rule of law”. Indeed. The narrative of the pandemic as a
communal conspiracy against the nation began to take shape immediately after a
Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi in March turned out to be a __D__ source
of the contagion. The Centre and the Delhi government appeared to be using the
unfortunate episode scripted by an irresponsible and ignorant group to FEND OFF
scrutiny of their own shortcomings. A section of the media continues to play a
dishonourable role in amplifying it. In an environment that is already __E__ with
fear and uncertainty, the official communications strategy must focus on building
trust and offering reassurance. The extremely inadequate messaging has led to
stigmatisation of patients and their families, and DESPICABLE incivility towards
even the bodies of unfortunate victims. All this makes the Prime Minister’s
statement timely. His call for unity in the face of this calamity must be translated
into firm action, and a good place to begin is the government’s own messaging.
meaningful.
a) plunging
b) arousing
c) spiking
d) dousing
e) ducking
meaningful.
a) mindset
b) freedom
c) liberty

d) resilience
e) equity
meaningful.
a) elevated
b) exaggerated
c) arised
d) swayed
e) aggravated
meaningful.
a) limp
b) inadequate
c) unsatisfactory
d) prodigious
e) lame
meaningful.
a) glorifying
b) frightening
c) amplifying
d) conducing
e) accommodating
Q6. According to passage, There have been reports of religious discrimination

towards patients. The situation was aggravated -
A.when a vocal section of the Indian diaspora, often touted as proponents of

India’s interests in their host countries, was seen as islamopologist in the UAE.
B. when a vocal section of the Indian diaspora, often touted as proponents of

India’s interests in their host countries, was seen as islamophobic in the UAE.

C.when a vocal section of the Indian diaspora, often touted as proponents of

India’s interests in their host countries, was seen as islamophobic in the UAE and
Iran.
d) both B and C are correct
e) All the three statements are correct
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
Q8.Sentence Y of the passage has been divided into four parts.One of these
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
FEND OFF

a) start off
b) decrease to a value
c) inherent
d) to defend against
e) trigger
DESPICABLE
a) honorable
b) contemptible
c) favorable
d) miserable
e) shocking
SOLUTION
1) Dousing , which means 'extinguishing, fits into the context appropriately. Rest
of the options can be easily eliminated as they don't fit into the context.
If you have read the given passage carefully, you will figure out that to fill the
blank we need a word which means 'to put out or extinguish'.Hence, dousing is
the most apt word that makes the sentence grammatically as well as contextually
correct.
2) Resilience, which means 'the positive ability of a system ;elasticity', fits into
the context appropriately. Rest of the options can be easily eliminated as they do
not go well with the context of the given sentence.
3) Aggravated, which means 'made it worse', fits into the context

appropriately.Rest of the options can be easily eliminated based on their out of
context meanings.
Let us take a look at their meaning-
Elevated - raised
Exaggerated- abnormally enlarged
Swayed - bent backwards, as in swayback

Hence, aggravated is the most apt word among the given options that fits into the
context appropriately.
4) Prodigious, which means 'gigantic' fits into the context appropriately.Rest of

the options can be easily eliminated if you are aware of the meaning of the given
options, you will figure out that they go against the context.
5) Amplifying, which means 'making more intense', fits into the context
context.
6) b, It's clearly mentioned in the first paragraph of the passage that 'there have
been reports of religious discrimination towards patients. The situation was
aggravated when a vocal section of the Indian diaspora, often touted as
proponents of India’s interests in their host countries, was seen as
islamophobic(not islamopolgist) in the UAE.
7) b, Replace stranded with 'strand' as we need a noun after communal(adj) to

make the sentence grammatically correct.
Strand(n) - a series of programs on a particular theme.
8) c, Replace loom over with 'looms over' to make the sentence grammatically
correct.
9) Fend off - to defend against
10) Despicable - contemptible, vile, worthless
Complete EDITORIAL
Script of unity: On coronavirus and social prejudices
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reminder that COVID-19 does not recognise
“race, religion, colour, caste, CREED, language or border” before striking, was
AXIOMATIC but essential. The pandemic has FANNED THE FLAMES of
communalism instead of dousing them, as it has compounded economic WOES.
The Prime Minister has recognised the CALAMITOUS rage of the virus when he
called for “response and conduct” that “should attach PRIMACY to unity and
brotherhood”. He cannot be more right about the fact that countries and
societies can no longer afford to face off with one another and the future can be
secured only through togetherness and RESILIENCE. He spoke against the
backdrop of criticism of the apparent communal strand in the response of some
sections to the COVID-19 challenge. The U.S. Commission on International
Religious Freedom and the UN expressed concern over STIGMATISATION, in India,
of a particular community. India sought to reject these concerns as external
interference, which they were. But then, as he noted, the virus threat has made
borders irrelevant. There have been reports of religious discrimination towards
patients. The situation was AGGRAVATED when a vocal section of the Indian
diaspora, often touted as PROPONENTS of India’s interests in their host countries,
was seen as ISLAMOPHOBIC in the UAE.
Such ODIOUS digital behaviour routinely goes unquestioned in India, but in the
UAE, the response has been quick. Many have lost their jobs for posting hateful
content and this culture of DIATRIBE now looms over a critical bilateral
relationship that Mr. Modi has personally nurtured. The Indian Ambassador to the
UAE reminded EXPATRIATES that discrimination was against “our moral fabric and
the rule of law”. Indeed. The narrative of the pandemic as a communal conspiracy
against the nation began to take shape immediately after a Tablighi Jamaat
congregation in Delhi in March TURNED OUT to be a PRODIGIOUS source of the
CONTAGION. The Centre and the Delhi government appeared to be using the
unfortunate episode scripted by an irresponsible and ignorant group to FEND OFF
scrutiny of their own shortcomings. A section of the media continues to play a
dishonourable role in amplifying it. In an environment that is already rife with fear
and uncertainty, the official communications strategy must focus on building trust
and offering reassurance. The extremely inadequate messaging has led to
stigmatisation of patients and their families, and DESPICABLE incivility towards
even the bodies of unfortunate victims. All this makes the Prime Minister’s
statement timely. His call for unity in the face of this calamity must be translated
into firm action, and a good place to begin is the government’s own messaging.

1.PREJUDICES (n) -preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual

experience.पूिाणग्रहों
2.CREED (n) -a set of religious beliefs.सम्प्रदाय, वसद्धान्त
3.AXIOMATIC (adj) -self-evident or obvious.
4.FANNED THE FLAMES (idiom) -to make a situation worse or make something
more intense.
5.WOES (n) -things that cause sorrow or distress; troubles.संकट
6.CALAMITOUS (adj) -causing great damage or suffering.प्रलयंकर, नुक़सानदेह
7.PRIMACY (n) -the state of being the most important thing.प्रिानता
8.RESILIENCE (n) -the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties;

toughness.लौटाि
9.STIGMATISATION (n) -the act of treating someone or something unfairly by

publicly disapproving of them.दोषारोपर्
10.AGGRAVATED (v) -To make worse or more troublesome.गंभीरता बढाना,

भड़काना, वबगाड़ना
11.PROPONENTS (n) -a person who advocates a theory, proposal, or course of

action.समथणकों
12.ISLAMOPHOBIC (adj) -having or showing a dislike of or prejudice against Islam

or Muslims, especially as a political force.
13.ODIOUS (adj) -hateful or disgusting.घृर्ास्पद
14.DIATRIBE (n) -a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or

something.अवभयोगात्मक भाषर्

15.EXPATRIATES (n) -someone who does not live in their own country.प्रिावसयों
16.TURNED OUT (phrasal verb) -to have a particular result, especially an

unexpected one.
17.PRODIGIOUS (adj) -huge, giant, massive, vast, enormous, tremendous,

immense, etc.
18.CONTAGION (n) -a disease spread by close contact.संक्रामक रोग
19.FEND OFF (phrasal verb) -to defend oneself against (someone or something)
.बचाि करना
20.DESPICABLE (adj) -deserving hatred and contempt.वघनौना
2020
Rapid failures: On antibody testing kits
Rapid testing kits that State governments have been using to detect antibodies to
the novel coronavirus have proved unreliable, making the shift to normal life after
the lockdown ends on May 3 more difficult. Governments around the world have
been looking for a/an __A__ blood test that can tell people if they have immunity
through past COVID-19 infection, and can therefore return to their duties to
kickstart the economy. X**While the diagnostic RT-PCR test to confirm the(a) /
presence of the virus using a nasal swab(b) / in a laboratory setting is

considered reliable, attempts to design a rapid test (c) /that use a blood sample
to find antibodies after past infection have thrown up errors in as much as a
third of cases(d) : a study in the U.K. showed that they were high on specificity —
accurate in cases that they found to be antibody positive. But they still missed
about 30% of positive cases, showing low sensitivity. This is the phenomenon
__B__ India, which has imported several hundred thousand rapid testing kits, and
its experience is shared by the U.S., U.K., Spain and other countries. Rajasthan had
laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 positive cases not being detected by rapid testing
kits. Several States have independently ordered thousands of kits, mainly from
China, and are in a __C__.
The ICMR has advised States, to whom it distributed kits, that they could be used
for surveillance testing, rather than to make medically important decisions.
Y**Narrowing down the test to reliable(a) / methods is the challenge, and the
WHO along (b) /with its collaborating centres are (c) /working to identify
them(d) . The results will be crucial and all countries, including the U.S. White
House Coronavirus Task Force, are looking at SEROSURVEILLANCE, the process
that will determine the status of the population on COVID-19. An exit from
lockdown and other public health measures depend on such testing. India should
remain focused on identifying tests that work well. This requires close __D__ with
efforts launched by diagnostics regulators in the U.S., Europe and China who have
used emergency provisions to allow early use of kits; the kits themselves are
under evaluation. There are reports indicating that some vendors of rapid testing
devices in China have run __E__ of regulators in that country since they have no
prior expertise in the field. Making purchase decisions, therefore, calls for
RIGOROUS review. In the immediate context, the message should go out to States
that rapid tests cannot substitute for RT-PCR to diagnose infection. It is by no
means clear that antibodies developed in response to COVID-19 provide long-
term protection against reinfection. Yet, a good test to certify a large section of
the population as having developed immunity seems to be a promising tool to
reopen the economy with some confidence.

meaningful.
a) short
b) vague
c) apparent
d) accurate
e) prolonged
meaningful.
a) selecting
b) hibernating
c) designating
d) escalating
e) worrying
meaningful.
a) situation
b) quarantine
c) sustenance
d) quandary
e) support
meaningful.
a) isolation
b) testing
c) friendship
d) integration
e) innovation
meaningful.
a) glorifying
b) short

c) excess
d) afoul
e) identifying
Q6. According to passage, which of the following phenomena/phenomenon

is/are worrying India?
A.Attempts to design a rapid test that uses a blood sample to find antibodies after
past infection have thrown up errors in as much as a third of cases: a study in the
U.K. showed that they were high on specificity — accurate in cases that they
found to be antibody positive. But they still missed about 30% of positive cases,
showing low sensitivity.
B. India has imported several hundred thousand rapid testing kits from China.
C.diagnostic RT-PCR test to confirm the presence of the virus using a nasal swab in
a laboratory setting is considered unreliable.
b) Only C is correct
Q7. Sentence X of the passage has been divided into four parts.One of these
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error

Q8. Sentence Y of the passage has been divided into four parts.One of these
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
SEROSURVEILLANCE
a) monitoring of the presence or absence of specific substances in the blood
serum
b) reducing antigen
c) tracking blood serum
d) monitoring of soluble particles in blood serum
RIGOROUS
a) disgusting
b) contemptible
c) severe
d) Capricious
e) hunting
SOLUTION
1) Accurate fits into the context appropriately. Rest of the options can be easily
eliminated as they don't fit into the context.
If you have read the given passage carefully, you will figure out that unreliability
of rapid testing kits has been explicitly mentioned , so governments around the

world have been looking for an accurate test that can tell people if they have
immunity through past COVID-19 infection.Hence, accurate is the most apt word
that makes the sentence contextually correct.
2) Worrying fits into the context appropriately. Rest of the options can be easily
eliminated as they do not go well with the context.
3) Quandary which means 'a dilemma', fits into the context appropriately.Rest
of the options can be easily eliminated as they either contradict the context or
don't fit into the context appropriately.
4) Integration which means 'the combination with compatible elements in order

to incorporate them' fits into the context appropriately.Rest of the options can
be easily eliminated if you have read the passage carefully and are aware of the
meaning of the given options and, you will figure out that they go against the
context.
5) Afoul which means 'in a state of entanglement or conflict', fits into the
context appropriately.Rest of the options can be easily eliminated as they
contradict the context.
6) c, It's clearly mentioned in the first paragraph of the passage that 'While the
diagnostic RT-PCR test to confirm the presence of the virus using a nasal swab in a
laboratory setting is considered reliable, attempts to design a rapid test that uses
a blood sample to find antibodies after past infection have thrown up errors in as
much as a third of cases: a study in the U.K. showed that they were high on
specificity — accurate in cases that they found to be antibody positive. But they
still missed about 30% of positive cases, showing low sensitivity. This is the
phenomenon worrying India, which has imported several hundred thousand rapid
testing kits'.
7) d, Replace use with 'uses' to make the sentence grammatically correct.

'A rapid test' is a singular subject.
8) c, Replace are with 'is' to make the sentence grammatically correct.

Check rule No. 4 - Study Notes on Verb

9) SEROSURVEILLANCE - The monitoring of the presence or absence of specific

substances in the blood serum
10) RIGOROUS - severe, intense
Complete EDITORIAL
Rapid failures: On antibody testing kits
Rapid testing kits that State governments have been using to detect antibodies to
the novel coronavirus have proved unreliable, making the shift to normal life after
the lockdown ends on May 3 more difficult. Governments around the world have
been looking for an accurate blood test that can tell people if they have immunity
through past COVID-19 infection, and can therefore return to their duties to
kickstart the economy. While the diagnostic RT-PCR test to confirm the presence
of the virus using a nasal swab in a laboratory setting is considered reliable,
attempts to design a rapid test that uses a blood sample to find antibodies after
past infection have thrown up errors in as much as a third of cases: a study in the
U.K. showed that they were high on specificity — accurate in cases that they
found to be antibody positive. But they still missed about 30% of positive cases,
showing low sensitivity. This is the phenomenon worrying India, which has
imported several hundred thousand rapid testing kits, and its experience is shared
by the U.S., U.K., Spain and other countries. Rajasthan had laboratory-confirmed
COVID-19 positive cases not being detected by rapid testing kits. Several States
have independently ordered thousands of kits, mainly from China, and are in a
quandry.
The ICMR has advised States, to whom it distributed kits, that they could be used
for surveillance testing, rather than to make medically important decisions.
Narrowing down the test to reliable methods is the challenge, and the WHO along
with its collaborating centres is working to identify them. The results will be
crucial and all countries, including the U.S. White House Coronavirus Task Force,
are looking at SEROSURVEILLANCE, the process that will determine the status of
the population on COVID-19. An exit from lockdown and other public health
measures depend on such testing. India should remain focused on identifying
tests that work well. This requires close integration with efforts launched by
diagnostics regulators in the U.S., Europe and China who have used emergency
provisions to allow early use of kits; the kits themselves are under evaluation.
There are reports indicating that some vendors of rapid testing devices in China
have run afoul of regulators in that country since they have no prior expertise in
the field. Making purchase decisions, therefore, calls for rigorous review. In the
immediate context, the message should go out to States that rapid tests cannot
substitute for RT-PCR to diagnose infection. It is by no means clear that antibodies
developed in response to COVID-19 provide long-term protection against
reinfection. Yet, a good test to certify a large section of the population as having
developed immunity seems to be a promising tool to reopen the economy with
some confidence.
1.QUANDARY (n) -to be not certain what decision to take about

something.असमंजस , उलझन
2.NARROW DOWN (phrasal verb) -to reduce the number of possibilities or

choices.
3.SEROSURVEILLANCE (n) -The monitoring of the presence or absence of specific

substances in the blood serum of a population.
4.AFOUL (adv) -in a state of difficulty or conflict with.
5.RIGOROUS (adj) -extremely thorough and careful.

2020
No 100% quota: On overzealous reservation
The Supreme Court is right in considering cent per cent reservation as anathema
to the constitutional scheme of equality even if it is for the __A__ objective of
providing representation to historically deprived sections. The verdict QUASHING
the reservation of 100% of all teaching posts in ‘Scheduled Areas’ of Andhra
Pradesh for local Scheduled Tribes is not against affirmative programmes as such,
but a caution against implementing them in a manner __B__ to the rest of
society. X**A five-judge Constitution Bench found(a) / that EARMARKING
teacher posts in areas notifying under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution (b)
/adversely affected the interests of other candidates not only from(c) /
Scheduled Castes and other backward communities but also other ST
communities not native to those areas(d) . Of course, what the State
government did, in its original orders of 1986, and thereafter, in a subsequent
order in 2000, was not without its own rationale. It found that there was chronic
__C__ among teachers who did not belong to those remote areas where the
schools were located. However, its solution of drafting only members of the local
tribes was not a __D__ solution. As the Bench noted, it could have come up with
other incentives to ensure the attendance of teachers. Another aspect that the
court took into account was that Andhra Pradesh has a local area system of
recruitment to public services. The President, under Article 371D, has issued
orders that a resident of a district/zone cannot apply to another district/zone for
appointment. Thus, the 100% quota deprived residents of the Scheduled Areas of
any opportunity to apply for teaching posts.
Affirmative action loses its meaning if it does not leave the door slightly azarfor
open competition. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar observed during the debate in the
Constituent Assembly on the equality clause, that any reservation normally ought
to be for a “minority of seats”. This is one of the points often urged in favour of
the 50% cap imposed by the Court on total reservation, albeit with some
allowance for relaxation in special circumstances. It is still a matter of debate
whether the ceiling has innate __E__ , but it is clear that wherever it is imperative
that the cap be breached, a special case must be made for it. Y**Such a debate
should not divert attention (a) /to the fact that there is a continuing need for a
(b) /significant quota for STs, especially those living(c) / in areas under the Fifth
Schedule special dispensation(d) . In this backdrop, it is somewhat disappointing
that courts tend to record obiter dicta advocating a revision of the list of SCs and
STs. While the power to amend the lists notified by the President is not in dispute,
it is somewhat uncharitable to say that the advanced and “affluent” sections
within SCs and STs are cornering all benefits and do not permit any trickle-down.
Indian society is still some distance from reaching that point.
meaningful.
a) palpable
b) sanctity
c) apparent
d) laudable
e) prolonged
meaningful.
a) acceptable
b) lovable
c) applicable
d) sealable
e) detrimental
meaningful.
a) anathema
b) asthma
c) pressure
d) absenteeism
e) support

meaningful.
a) detrimental
b) notified
c) innovative
d) viable
e) cultural
meaningful.
a) violability
b) features
c) ability
d) sanctity
e) compatibility
Q6. According to passage, The verdict quashing the reservation of 100% of all
teaching posts in ‘Scheduled Areas’ of Andhra Pradesh for local Scheduled Tribes
is-
A.against affirmative programmes and a caution against implementing them in a

manner acceptable to the rest of society.
B. against affirmative programmes and a caution against implementing them in a

manner detrimental to the rest of society.
C.not against affirmative programmes as such, but a caution against

implementing them in a manner detrimental to the rest of society.
c) Only B is correct

1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
QUASHING
a) revoking
b) invoking
c) perpetrating
d) conjuring
e) hunting
EARMARKING
a) setting aside for a particular purpose
b) disproportionating
c) purposing

d) capsizing
e) wallowing
SOLUTION
1) Laudable , which means 'salubrious/praiseworthy', fits into the context

appropriately. Rest of the options can be easily eliminated as they either don't fit
into the context or go against the context.
If you have read the given passage carefully, you will figure out that Supreme
Court's verdict quashing the reservation of 100% of all teaching posts in
‘Scheduled Areas’ of Andhra Pradesh for local Scheduled Tribes has been talked
about in the passage.Supreme Court considered cent percent reservation as
anathema to the constitutional scheme of equality even if it is for good
objective.Hence, laudable is the most apt word that makes the sentence
2) Detrimental, which means 'harmful', fits into the context appropriately. Rest
of the options can be easily eliminated as they go against the context.You will
easily figure rest of the give options being out of context provided you have read
the passage carefully.
3) Absenteeism , which means 'the state of being absent', fits into the context
appropriately.Rest of the options can be easily eliminated as they don't fit into
4) Viable, which means 'feasible' fits into the context appropriately.Rest of the
options can be easily eliminated if you have read the passage carefully and are
aware of the meaning of the given options, you will figure out that they either
don't fit into the context or go against the context.
5) Sanctity, which means 'Inviolability', fits into the context appropriately.Rest

of the options can be easily eliminated as they contradict the context.
6) c, It's clearly mentioned in the first paragraph of the passage that 'The verdict
quashing the reservation of 100% of all teaching posts in ‘Scheduled Areas’ of
Andhra Pradesh for local Scheduled Tribes is not against affirmative programmes

as such, but a caution against implementing them in a manner detrimental to the

rest of society'.
7) The error is in b, Replace notifying with 'notified' to make the sentence

8) The error is in b, Replace to with 'from' to make the sentence grammatically

correct.
'Divert attention from' is the correct usage.
9) QUASHING - revoking, suppressing
10) EARMARKING - setting aside for a particular purpose
Complete EDITORIAL
No 100% quota: On overzealous reservation
The Supreme Court is right in considering cent per cent reservation as anathema
to the constitutional scheme of equality even if it is for the laudable objective of
providing representation to historically deprived sections. The verdict quashing
the reservation of 100% of all teaching posts in ‘Scheduled Areas’ of Andhra
Pradesh for local Scheduled Tribes is not against affirmative programmes as such,
but a caution against implementing them in a manner detrimental to the rest of
society. A five-judge Constitution Bench found that earmarking teacher posts in
areas notified under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution adversely affected the
interests of other candidates not only from Scheduled Castes and other backward
communities but also other ST communities not native to those areas. Of course,
what the State government did, in its original orders of 1986, and thereafter, in a
subsequent order in 2000, was not without its own rationale. It found that there
was chronic absenteeism among teachers who did not belong to those remote
areas where the schools were located. However, its solution of drafting only
members of the local tribes was not a viable solution. As the Bench noted, it could
have come up with other incentives to ensure the attendance of teachers.
Another aspect that the court took into account was that Andhra Pradesh has a
local area system of recruitment to public services. The President, under Article
371D, has issued orders that a resident of a district/zone cannot apply to another
district/zone for appointment. Thus, the 100% quota deprived residents of the
Scheduled Areas of any opportunity to apply for teaching posts.
Affirmative action loses its meaning if it does not leave the door slightly ajar for
open competition. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar observed during the debate in the
Constituent Assembly on the equality clause, that any reservation normally ought
to be for a “minority of seats”. This is one of the points often urged in favour of
the 50% cap imposed by the Court on total reservation, albeit with some
allowance for relaxation in special circumstances. It is still a matter of debate
whether the ceiling has innate sanctity, but it is clear that wherever it is
imperative that the cap be breached, a special case must be made for it. Such a
debate should not divert attention from the fact that there is a continuing need
for a significant quota for STs, especially those living in areas under the Fifth
Schedule special dispensation. In this backdrop, it is somewhat disappointing that
courts tend to record oniter dicta advocating a revision of the list of SCs and STs.
While the power to amend the lists notified by the President is not in dispute, it is
somewhat uncharitable to say that the advanced and “affluent” sections within
SCs and STs are cornering all benefits and do not permit any trickle-down. Indian
society is still some distance from reaching that point.
Some Important Words From the EDITORIAL
1.OVERZEALOUS (adj) -too enthusiastic and eager.
2.ANATHEMA (n) -something that is considered completely wrong and

offensive.वअभशाप, अवभशप्त
3.LAUDABLE (adj) -deserving to be praised or admired.प्रशंसनीय
4.DEPRIVED (adj) -(of a person) lacking a specified benefit that is considered

important.िंवचत
5.QUASH (v) -to officially reject (something, such as a judgment or decision) as

invalid.अमान्य घोवषत करना

6.DETRIMENTAL (adj) -causing harm or damage.हावनकारक
7.AJAR (adj) -slightly open.अिखुला
8.OBITER DICTA (n) -remarks of a judge which are not necessary to reaching a
decision, but are made as comments, illustrations or thoughts.
9.TRICKLE-DOWN (n) -the theory that the poorest in society gradually benefit as a
result of the increasing wealth of the richest.
2020
Safe return: On migrant worker distress
A month after one of the most stringent global lockdowns was imposed in India to
tackle the pandemic, the __A__ of the migrant worker have shown no signs of
ending. The government told the Supreme Court in late March that arrangements
had been made to provide temporary shelters with food for migrant workers and
as of then, none of them was on the road, just days after the lockdown had
triggered an exodus of people to their native places. But reports have shown that
thousands continue to travel long distances, most of them by foot, to escape
distress conditions or to their families. Meanwhile, lakhs of workers, who were
dependent upon daily and casual labour, are still __B__ in Mumbai and Delhi
without wages. The functioning of shelters in several places has been uneven
across States and metropolitan cities. With the ongoing lockdown hurting the
economy, the Finance Ministry’s relief measures have been insufficient in
providing for their needs. X**Some migrant workers, who stare at (a) /a
continuing loss of livelihood in their adopted (b) /places of work, are better off

depending (c) /upon the social safety nets and familial support structures in
their native places(d) .They should be allowed to avail these in a dignified and
HUMANE way. Restarting work under the MGNREGA that went dormant in the
earlier period of the lockdown, has provided an INCENTIVE for workers to leave
for their native places. It is evident that the option of keeping workers at their
respective places is no longer __C__ and the Centre must work at ways to allow
for their transport to their native places.
India, among other Asian countries such as its neighbours in the subcontinent,
Malaysia and others, has managed to avoid the high fatalities and infection rates
that have been seen in Europe and North America. The lockdown has helped, but
it has come at a huge humanitarian and economic cost.
Y**steps that compensate the poor and (a) /the question of whether to extend
a lockdown(b) /amid an economic crisis is a moral dilemma that can be resolved
only through practical (c) /the workers in the unorganised sector, and protect
the old and the infirm(d) . Maharashtra, the State with the highest incidence of
COVID-19 cases, besides having the largest number of migrant workers, has urged
the Centre to plan and resume railway services for the labourers once the
lockdown ends on May 3; it is a request the Centre must heed. It is __D__ trying
to blame workers for flocking to railway stations as had happened in mid-April.
States such as Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are also __E__ to facilitate
their return. These steps are welcome. Allowing migrant travel in a safe way by
train that provides for the necessary physical distancing is the least that the
government can do.
meaningful.
a) toiling
b) passing
c) customs
d) travails
e) prevailing

meaningful.
a) acceptable
b) abused
c) stranded
d) beaten
e) detrimental
meaningful.
a) detrimental
b) notified
c) superseded
d) viable e) dejected
meaningful.
a) effective
b) likely
c) unlikely
d) futile
e) effectual
meaningful.
a) giving up
b) taking
c) enriching
d) annoyed
e) gearing up
Q6. According to the passage, which one of the following statements are
correct?
A.Maharashtra, the State with the highest incidence of COVID-19 cases, besides
having the largest number of migrant workers, has deterred the Centre to plan
and resume railway services for the labourers once the lockdown ends on May 3.

B. Maharashtra and Kerala, the State with the highest incidence of COVID-19
cases, besides having the largest number of migrant workers, has deterred the
Centre to plan and resume railway services for the labourers once the lockdown
ends on May 3.
C.Maharashtra, the State with the highest incidence of COVID-19 cases, besides
having the largest number of migrant workers, has urged the Centre to plan and
resume railway services for the labourers once the lockdown ends on May 3.
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
Q8.Sentence Y of the passage has been divided into four parts which after
rearrangement make a coherent and meaningful part of the given
passage.Select the order in which the given sentence should be rearranged.
1) adcb
2) abcd
3) dcba
4) bcad
5) dbca

HUMANE
a) passionate
b) invoking
c) humanities
d) compassionate
e) obsolete
INCENTIVE
a) a bonus for your great work
b) a bonus, often monetary, to work harder
c) a reward for a past achievement
d) kindle
SOLUTION
1) Travails(plu noun) , which means 'sufferings/hardships', fits into the context

appropriately. Rest of the options can be easily eliminated if you are aware of the
Let's take a look at their meanings -
Toiling (n) - hard work
Prevailing(adj) - predominant
Hence, Travails is the most apt word that makes the sentence contextually and
2) Stranded(adj) , which means 'abandoned/marooned, fits into the context

appropriately. Rest of the options can be easily eliminated as they go against the
context.You can easily figure out that the rest of the options go against the
context, provided you have read the passage carefully.

3) Viable (adj) , which means 'feasible' fits into the context appropriately.Rest of
the options can be easily eliminated if you have read the passage carefully
and are aware of the meaning of the given options and, you will figure out that
they either don't fit into the context or go against the context.
Detrimental- harmful
Superseded- set something aside
Hence, Viable is the most apt word that makes the sentence contextually and
4) Futile(adj) , which means 'not worth attempting' fits into the context
appropriately.Rest of the options can be easily eliminated if you have read the
passage carefully and are aware of the meaning of the given options and, you will
figure out that they either don't fit into the context or contradict the context.
5) gearing up(phrasal verb) , which means 'preparing for an activity, fits into the
context appropriately.Rest of the options can be easily eliminated, provided you
have read the passage carefully.
Tip - If you find it difficult to eliminate unsuitable options, read the passage 2-3
mistakes and then rectifying those mistakes so that you don't make any mistake
in the exam.
6) c, It's clearly mentioned in the 2nd paragraph of the passage

that 'Maharashtra, the State with the highest incidence of COVID-19 cases,
besides having the largest number of migrant workers, has urged(not deterred)
the Centre to plan and resume railway services for the labourers once the
lockdown ends on May 3.
7) The error is in b, replace livelihood with 'livelihoods' to make the sentence

8) bcad
9) HUMANE -compassionate
10) Incentive - a bonus or reward , often monetary, to work harder

Complete EDITORIAL
Safe return: On migrant worker distress
A month after one of the most stringent global lockdowns was imposed in India to
tackle the pandemic, the travails of the migrant worker have shown no signs of
ending. The government told the Supreme Court in late March that arrangements
had been made to provide temporary shelters with food for migrant workers and
as of then, none of them was on the road, just days after the lockdown had
triggered an exodus of people to their native places. But reports have shown that
thousands continue to travel long distances, most of them by foot, to escape
distress conditions or to their families. Meanwhile, lakhs of workers, who were
dependent upon daily and casual labour, are still stranded in Mumbai and Delhi
without wages. The functioning of shelters in several places has been uneven
across States and metropolitan cities. With the ongoing lockdown hurting the
economy, the Finance Ministry’s relief measures have been insufficient in
providing for their needs. Some migrant workers, who stare at a continuing loss of
livelihoods in their adopted places of work, are better off depending upon the
social safety nets and familial support structures in their native places. They
should be allowed to avail these in a dignified and humane way. Restarting work
under the MGNREGA that went dormant in the earlier period of the lockdown,
has provided an incentive for workers to leave for their native places. It is evident
that the option of keeping workers at their respective places is no longer viable
and the Centre must work at ways to allow for their transport to their native
places.
India, among other Asian countries such as its neighbours in the subcontinent,
Malaysia and others, has managed to avoid the high fatalities and infection rates
that have been seen in Europe and North America. The lockdown has helped, but
it has come at a huge humanitarian and economic cost. The question of whether
to extend a lockdown amid an economic crisis is a moral dilemma that can be
resolved only through practical steps that compensate the poor and the workers
in the unorganised sector, and protect the old and the infirm. Maharashtra, the
State with the highest incidence of COVID-19 cases, besides having the largest
number of migrant workers, has urged the Centre to plan and resume railway
services for the labourers once the lockdown ends on May 3; it is a request the
Centre must heed. It is futile trying to blame workers for flocking to railway
stations as had happened in mid-April. States such as Madhya Pradesh and Uttar
Pradesh are also gearing up to facilitate their return. These steps are welcome.
Allowing migrant travel in a safe way by train that provides for the necessary
physical distancing is the least that the government can do.
Some Important Words From the EDITORIAL
1.TRAVAILS (n) -the difficulties that are experienced as part of a particular

situation.कि
2.EXODUS (n) -a mass departure of people.वनगणमन
3.STRANDED (adj) -stuck somewhere and unable to leave.फाँ सा हुआ
4.HUMANE (adj) -showing kindness, care, and sympathy towards others,

especially those who are suffering.दयापूर्ण
5.FATALITIES (n) -an occurrence of death by accident, in war, or from

disease.घातक पररर्ाम
6.FLOCKING (v) -move or go together in a crowd.
7.GEAR UP (phrasal verb) -to prepare yourself, or to prepare something for an

activity or event.

2020
Virtual, yet open: on nationwide lockdown
Amidst the national lockdown, the Supreme Court and several other courts have
been holding virtual proceedings. X**A question of concern to the Bar is(a)
/whether virtual courts have become the “new normal” and (b) /whether it
means a move to from the idea of open courts towards (c) /technology-based
administration of justice without the physical presence of lawyers and
litigants(d) . Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde emphasises that virtual courts are
open courts too; and that one cannot __A__ them as closed or in camera
proceedings. The correct way of framing the difference, he says, is to call them
virtual courts as distinct from “courts in CONGREGATION”. A three-judge Bench
headed by the CJI, in an order earlier this month, LAID DOWN broad norms for
courts using video-conferencing and __B__ the validity of virtual judicial
proceedings. Two aspects are not in dispute: the vital necessity to keep the courts
open even during a national lockdown so that access to justice is not denied to
anyone; and second, the need to maintain physical distancing. The Supreme Court
Bar Association has written to the CJI and other judges that open court hearings
should be restored at the earliest, subject of course to the lockdown ending.
Citing earlier judgments on the importance of open court hearings, the SCBA has
requested that the use of video conferencing should be __C__ to the duration of
the current crisis, and not become the “new normal” or go on to replace open
court hearings.
Y**The SCBA also has a specific request: that proceedings (a) /held virtually may
also be streaming live so (b) /that access is not limited to the lawyers (c)
/concerned, but is also available to the litigants and the public(d) . The court
administration should readily agree to this. Advocates appearing in a particular
case are now barred __D__ sharing the passwords given to them to join the
proceedings through video conference. While it is theoretically possible for the
parties to join their lawyers during the hearing, in practice they may be unable to
travel to their offices. Media access is also limited. These issues can
be __E__ through live-streaming. And in the longer term, it should become the
general practice. As the use of technology is stepped up, courts should consider
other steps that will speed up the judicial process and reduce courtroom
crowding. In the lower courts, evidence could be recorded, with the consent of
parties, by virtual means. In the higher courts, a system based on advance
submission of written briefs and allocation of time slots for oral arguments can be
put in place. It may even lead to more concise judgments. Despite the possibility
of technical and connectivity issues affecting the process, one must recognise that
virtual hearings are no different from open court conversations, provided access
is not limited. The opportunity now to improve the judicial process must be
utilised well.
meaningful.
a) close
b) lock
c) customize
d) describe
e) outsmart
meaningful.
a) gratified
b) levelled
c) politicized
d) ratified
e) energized
meaningful.
a) detrimental
b) notified
c) superseded
d) extended
e) limited

meaningful.
a) to
b) again
c) up
d) into
e) from
meaningful.
a) exaggerated
b) aggravated
c) enriched
d) annoyed
e) resolved
Q6. According to the passage, what is the correct way of framing the difference
between virtual courts and open courts ?
A.The correct way of framing the difference is to call them virtual courts as similar
to “courts online”.
B. The correct way of framing the difference, he says, is to call them virtual courts
as distinct from “courts in congregation”.
C.The correct way of framing the difference, he says, is to call them virtual courts
as similar to “courts in congregation”.

1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
CONGREGATION
a) gathering of people
b) main body
c) faithfulness
d) compassionate
e) department
LAY DOWN
a) specify
b) to fire someone
c) to desist
d) consider
SOLUTION
1) Describe fits into the context appropriately. Rest of the options can be easily
eliminated if you are aware of the meaning of the given options.
Customize(v) - to build or alter according to personal preferences.

Outsmart(v) - outwit;to beat in a competition of wits.

Based on their out of context meanings, customize and outsmart can be easily
eliminated.
Rest of the two options(close, lock) go against the context.
Hence, describe is the most apt word that makes the sentence contextually and
2) Ratified(v) , which means 'made officially valid', fits into the context
context, provided you have read the passage carefully.
3) limited fits into the context appropriately.Rest of the options can be easily
eliminated if you have read the passage carefully and are aware of the meaning of
the given options and, you will figure out that they either don't fit into the context
or go against the context.
Extended- elongated
Detrimental- harmful
Superseded- set something aside
Extended Clearly goes against the context, so it can be easily eliminated and Rest
of the three options have nothing to do with the context.
Hence, limited is the most apt word that makes the sentence contextually and
4) from, bar takes preposition 'from'.

Bar(v) -to obstruct the passage of something
5) Resolved, which means 'solved;to find a solution', fits into the context
appropriately.Rest of the options can be easily eliminated, provided you have
read the passage carefully.
If you read the passage carefully, you will easily figure out that rest of the options
go against the context.
mistakes and then rectifying those mistakes so that you don't make any mistake
in the exam.

6) b, It's clearly mentioned in the 2nd paragraph of the passage that that virtual
courts are open courts too; and that one cannot describe them as closed or in
camera proceedings. The correct way of framing the difference is to call them
virtual courts as distinct from “courts in congregation”.
7) The error is in c, replace 'move to' with 'move away' to make the sentence
contextually and grammatically correct.
8) The error is in c, replace 'streaming' with 'streamed' to make the sentence

9) CONGREGATION - gathering of people
10) LAY DOWN - to specify, institute enact
Complete EDITORIAL
Virtual, yet open: on nationwide lockdown
Amidst the national lockdown, the Supreme Court and several other courts have
been holding virtual proceedings. A question of concern to the Bar is whether
virtual courts have become the “new normal” and whether it means a move away
from the idea of open courts towards technology-based administration of justice
without the physical presence of lawyers and litigants. Chief Justice of India S.A.
Bobde emphasises that virtual courts are open courts too; and that one cannot
describe them as closed or in camera proceedings. The correct way of framing the
difference, he says, is to call them virtual courts as distinct from “courts in
congregation”. A three-judge Bench headed by the CJI, in an order earlier this
month, laid down broad norms for courts using video-conferencing and ratified
the validity of virtual judicial proceedings. Two aspects are not in dispute: the vital
necessity to keep the courts open even during a national lockdown so that access
to justice is not denied to anyone; and second, the need to maintain physical
distancing. The Supreme Court Bar Association has written to the CJI and other
judges that open court hearings should be restored at the earliest, subject of
course to the lockdown ending. Citing earlier judgments on the importance of
open court hearings, the SCBA has requested that the use of video conferencing
should be limited to the duration of the current crisis, and not become the “new
normal” or go on to replace open court hearings.
The SCBA also has a specific request: that proceedings held virtually may also be
streamed live so that access is not limited to the lawyers concerned, but is also
available to the litigants and the public. The court administration should readily
agree to this. Advocates appearing in a particular case are now barred from
sharing the passwords given to them to join the proceedings through video
conference. While it is theoretically possible for the parties to join their lawyers
during the hearing, in practice they may be unable to travel to their offices. Media
access is also limited. These issues can be resolved through live-streaming. And in
the longer term, it should become the general practice. As the use of technology
is stepped up, courts should consider other steps that will speed up the judicial
process and reduce courtroom crowding. In the lower courts, evidence could be
recorded, with the consent of parties, by virtual means. In the higher courts, a
system based on advance submission of written briefs and allocation of time slots
for oral arguments can be put in place. It may even lead to more concise
judgments. Despite the possibility of technical and connectivity issues affecting
the process, one must recognise that virtual hearings are no different from open
court conversations, provided access is not limited. The opportunity now to
improve the judicial process must be utilised well.
1.CONGREGATION (n) -a large number of things or people gathered

together.एकत्रीकरर्, सभा
2.LAY DOWN (phrasal verb) -to officially establish a rule, or to officially say how
something should be done.
3.VITAL (adj) -very important, necessary, or essential.महत्िपूर्ण
4.CONSENT (n) -permission for something to happen or agreement to do

something.सहमवत

2020
Signalling support: On RBI relief for mutual funds
The Reserve Bank of India’s decision to open a special facility to ensure the
availability of adequate liquidity for the mutual fund industry is a timely move in
__A__ to investors that the central bank is alert to the need to preserve financial
stability in these challenging times. In assigning ₹50, 000 crore exclusively for
commercial banks to lend to mutual funds, the RBI made clear on Monday that it
wants to TAMP DOWN on any build-up of liquidity strains at mutual fund houses
in the wake of heightened volatility in the capital markets and increased
redemption pressures as a/an __B__ of the COVID-19 pandemic. X**The
proximately trigger for the central bank’s move was last(a) / week’s
announcement by Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund(b) / that it was WINDING
UP six debt funds — funds that(c) / collectively had assets under management
(AUM) amounting to about ₹26, 000 crore(d) . The RBI has rightly recognised the
urgent need to ward off any incipient contagion impact from the closure of these
six funds. With the overall industry-wide AUM for debt funds at about ₹15-lakh
crore, it was crucial for the banking regulator to reassure investors that liquidity
need not be a concern while deciding on whether to retain or redeem their
investments in these mutual funds. The Association of Mutual Funds in India
(AMFI) had, separately, last week, sought to assure investors that a majority of
debt fund schemes had “invested in superior credit quality securities” and had
appropriate liquidity to back their normal operations.
Y**While the facility is a straightforward 90-day repo-based lending (a)

/window from which banks can avail credit to provide loans to mutual funds,
there(b) / are concerns about the banking industry’s willingness to expose(c) /
itself to the credit risk involved in making these fresh loan(d) . That the RBI was
cognisant of this is evident in the way that the norms have been tailor-made to
__C__ the banks to lend. From allowing banks to breach their 25% ceiling on held-
to-maturity investments as a consequence of lending to mutual funds, to
exempting the support extended from banks’ overall capital market exposure
limits, the central bank has __D__ to ease the flow of credit to the fund houses.
Still, if the recent experience of getting lenders to support the non-banking
financial companies through a targeted long-term repo operation backed by ₹50,
000 crore is any pointer, clearly the banking industry — beset by bad loans —
appears to have little __E__ for adding any credit that it deems risky. Moreover,
with the economy still in lockdown and the credit ratings of even relatively well-
established companies facing a real and not-too-distant threat of downgrades,
how willing banks would be to use this facility to lend to debt mutual funds
remains to be seen. The Centre may need to be ready to step in with direct
intervention if the RBI’s gambit fails to ease the pressure on mutual funds.
Directions (1-5) : In the given passage, some words have been omitted. Choose
meaningful.
a) getting
b) endorsing
c) enforcing
d) managing
e) signalling
meaningful.
a) measure
b) precaution
c) rollout
d) fallout
e) demand
meaningful.

a) suit
b) notify
c) supersede
d) extend
e) incentivise
meaningful.
a) selected
b) breached
c) informed
d) sought
e) opportunities
meaningful.
a) knowledge
b) resources
c) work
d) appetite
e) logic
Q6. According to the passage, what did RBI made clear by assigning ₹50, 000
crore exclusively for commercial banks to lend to mutual funds?
A.that it wants to reduce any build-up of liquidity strains at mutual fund houses in
the wake of heightened volatility in the capital markets and increased redemption
pressures.
B. that it wants to tamp down on any build-up of liquidity strains at mutual fund
houses in the wake of lowered volatility in the capital markets and increased
redemption pressures.
C.that it wants to tamp down on any build-up of liquidity strains at mutual fund
houses in the wake of heightened volatility in the capital markets and increased
redemption pressures.

1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
TAMP DOWN
a) arise
b) elevate
c) suppress
d) conclude
e) desolate

WINDING UP
a) completing
b) firing someone
c) desisting
d) considering
SOLUTION
1) Signalling , which means 'sending signals', fits into the context appropriately.
Rest of the options can be easily eliminated , provided that you are aware of the
meaning of the given options and have comprehended the passage.
Endorsing- giving one's approval to , especially officially.
Enforcing- putting in motion or action
Hence, signalling is the most apt word that makes the sentence contextually and
mistakes and then rectifying those mistakes in order to not make any mistake in
the exam.
2) Fallout(n) , which means 'a negative side effect', fits into the context
context, provided that you have comprehended the passage.
3) incentivise(v) , which means'to provide with an incentive', fits into the

context appropriately.Rest of the options can be easily eliminated provided that
you have read the passage carefully and are aware of the meaning of the given
options, you will figure out that they either don't fit into the context or go against
the context.
Extend- elongate
Supersede -set something aside

Hence, incentivise(v) is the most apt word that makes the sentence contextually
and grammatically correct.
4) Sought(v) , which means 'aimed at', fits into the context appropriately
5) Appetite , which means 'desire , passion', fits into the context

appropriately.Rest of the options can be easily eliminated, provided that you
have read the passage carefully.
One can easily figure out that rest of the options don't fit into the context at all.
6) e, It's clearly mentioned in the 1st paragraph of the passage that RBI made
clear on Monday that it wants to tamp down on any build-up of liquidity strains at
mutual fund houses in the wake of heightened volatility in the capital markets
and increased redemption pressures as a fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
7) The error is in a, replace 'proximately' with 'proximate' as we need an adjective

to qualify the noun 'trigger' to make the sentence grammatically correct.
8) The error is in d, replace 'loan' with 'loans' to make the sentence grammatically
correct.
9) TAMP DOWN - suppress , reduce
10) WINDING UP - finishing, completing
Complete EDITORIAL
The Reserve Bank of India’s decision to open a special facility to ensure the
availability of adequate liquidity for the mutual fund industry is a timely move in
signalling to investors that the central bank is alert to the need to preserve
financial stability in these challenging times. In assigning ₹50, 000 crore
exclusively for commercial banks to lend to mutual funds, the RBI made clear on
Monday that it wants to tamp down on any build-up of liquidity strains at mutual
fund houses in the wake of heightened volatility in the capital markets and
increased redemption pressures as a fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The
proximate trigger for the central bank’s move was last week’s announcement by

Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund that it was winding up six debt funds — funds
that collectively had assets under management (AUM) amounting to about ₹26,
000 crore. The RBI has rightly recognised the urgent need to ward off any
incipient contagion impact from the closure of these six funds. With the overall
industry-wide AUM for debt funds at about ₹15-lakh crore, it was crucial for the
banking regulator to reassure investors that liquidity need not be a concern while
deciding on whether to retain or redeem their investments in these mutual funds.
The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) had, separately, last week,
sought to assure investors that a majority of debt fund schemes had “invested in
superior credit quality securities” and had appropriate liquidity to back their
normal operations.
While the facility is a straightforward 90-day repo-based lending window from
which banks can avail credit to provide loans to mutual funds, there are concerns
about the banking industry’s willingness to expose itself to the credit risk involved
in making these fresh loans. That the RBI was cognisant of this is evident in the
way that the norms have been tailor-made to incentivise the banks to lend. From
allowing banks to breach their 25% ceiling on held-to-maturity investments as a
consequence of lending to mutual funds, to exempting the support extended
from banks’ overall capital market exposure limits, the central bank has sought to
ease the flow of credit to the fund houses. Still, if the recent experience of getting
lenders to support the non-banking financial companies through a targeted long-
term repo operation backed by ₹50, 000 crore is any pointer, clearly the banking
industry — beset by bad loans — appears to have little appetite for adding any
credit that it deems risky. Moreover, with the economy still in lockdown and the
credit ratings of even relatively well-established companies facing a real and not-
too-distant threat of downgrades, how willing banks would be to use this facility
to lend to debt mutual funds remains to be seen. The Centre may need to be
ready to step in with direct intervention if the RBI’s gambit fails to ease the
pressure on mutual funds.
Some Important Words from the EDITORIAL
1.HINGE ON (phrasal verb) -to depend on (something) .
2.TAMP DOWN (phrasal verb) -to reduce the amount, level, size, or importance of
something.

3.IN THE WAKE OF (phrase) -happening after an event or as a result of it.के

पररर्ामस्िरूप
4.VOLATILITY (n) -a tendency to change quickly and unpredictably.अवस्थरता
5.REDEMPTION (n) -the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in

exchange for payment, or clearing a debt.छु टकारा, ऋर्मुवि
6.FALLOUT (n) -the adverse results of a situation or action.नतीजा
7.PROXIMATE (adj) -nearly accurate; approximate.वनकटस्थ
8.WIND UP (phrasal verb) -the process of closing a business that is not successful
and has debts that it cannot manage or end something.समापन
9.WARD OFF (phrasal verb) -to prevent someone or something unpleasant from
harming or coming close to you.से बचना
10.INCIPIENT (adj) -beginning to happen or develop.प्रारं भी
11.INCENTIVISE (v) -motivate or encourage (someone) to do something; provide

with an incentive.प्रोत्सावहत
12.BREACH (v) -to be breaking a particular law or rule.उल्लंघन

2020
Strategic shift: On home isolation of mild coronavirus cases
On March 28, only 130 districts of India’s 736 had reported COVID-19 cases. The
Health Ministry’s strategy then, after the national lockdown, was to ensure State
supervision of those who manifested symptoms— as well as their high-risk
contacts — and who had a travel history. X**Suspected high-risk contacts or
those likely(a) / to have exposed to the(b) / infection were subjected to (c)
/varying degrees of State quarantine(d) . Those not showing signs of the disease
or ‘mild’ manifestations, were put in care centres and those noticeably sicker, in
hospitals. The idea always was that if the sick and their contacts were __A__ from
the community long enough, the transmission chain would be broken and the
disease extinguished. As April ends, the number of affected districts stands at 401
and confirmed cases have risen by a 1, 000 a day; the daily death count
hovers between 50 and 60. In a __B__ strategy tweak, those with a mild form of
the disease, or are presymptomatic, would have the option of home quarantining.
But their homes ought to have self-isolation facilities, a full-time caregiver, and
daily health-status reports given to the district surveillance officer.
The Health Ministry has not explained what prompted this relative relaxation.
However, anecdotal evidence suggests doctors and health-care workers have
been disproportionately __C__ to the infection and a single case leads to entire
hospitals being shut down. Unlike in the U.S. and western Europe, India’s
hospitals are not yet __D__ with seriously ill patients. It could be due to India’s
relatively low case-count and also people not turning up fearing infection.
Allowing home quarantine could be seen as health authorities inferring that
quarantining in public facilities posed more risks. The presymptomatics (mild
illness) and ASYMPTOMATICS (no signs) did not benefit from treatment and were
potent virus spreaders, and therefore endangered the staff and health workers.
They also stretched State resources in maintenance. The Ministry also found that
among those who tested positive, there were two presymptomatics or
asymptomatics for every symptomatic. Y**The disease spread, it appears, is now
beyond the(a) / ability of the state to contain, by quarantine, and (b) /it was far
more prudent to fortify health workers and (c) /hospitals to the best facilities
available to handle patients(d) . Officially, there is no community transmission in
India but at this magnitude of cases, it does not practically matter. Gujarat,
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi are powering the spread of cases and
only consistent declines here can __E__ discussion on the end of the pandemic.
From a month ago, India, on paper, is equipped with better supply channels of
personal protective equipment, infusion pumps (for oxygen) , hospital beds,
laboratories for testing and PCR kits. If the lockdown is lifted on May 3, the
rationale behind the government’s containment strategy will be put to a stringent
test.
Direction(1-5) : In the given passage, some words have been omitted. Choose
meaningful.
a) treated
b) naturalized
c) managed
d) segregated
e) signalled
meaningful.
a) diluted
b) powerful
c) precise
d) containment
e) careful
meaningful.
a) aggrandized
b) exalted
c) assaulted
d) vulnerable
e) introduced

meaningful.
a) selected
b) breached
c) occupied
d) sought
e) clogged
meaningful.
a) stop
b) enrage
c) mug up
d) broach
e) track
Q6. According to the passage, what could have prompted The Health Ministry to
make a strategic shift in the containment strategy of COVID-19 pandemic?
A.doctors and health-care workers being vulnerable to the infection and a single
case leading to entire hospitals being shut down.
B.Increasing daily death counts due to Coronavirus
C. relatively low case-count and also people not turning up fearing infection.
Q7. According to the passage, Unlike in the U.S. and western Europe, India’s
hospitals are not yet clogged with seriously ill patients. What could be the
reasons?

A. It could be due to India’s moderate case-count and also people not turning up
fearing infection.
B. It could be due to India’s relatively moderate case-count and also people

turning up fearing infection.
C. It could be due to India’s relatively low case-count and also people not turning
up fearing infection.
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error
1) a
2) b
3) c
4) d
5) No error

Asymptotatic
a) showing symptoms
b) mild symptoms
c) symptomless
d) desolate
SOLUTION
1) Segregated, which means 'separated, isolated', fits into the context

appropriately.The idea was that if the sick and their contacts were segragated
from the community long enough, the transmission chain would be broken and
the disease extinguished.
Rest of the options can be easily eliminated , provided that you have
Naturalized- to make natural
Signalled- indicated
Hence, segregated is the most apt word that fits into the context appropriately.
mistakes and then rectifying those mistakes in order to not make any mistake in
the exam.
2) Containment fits into the context appropriately.

Containment strategy(for COVID-19 pandemic) is being talked about in the
passage.
3) Vulnerable , which means'unguarded, unprotected', fits into the context

appropriately.Rest of the options can be easily eliminated provided that you have
read the passage carefully and are aware of the meaning of the given options, you
will figure out that they either don't fit into the context or go against the context.
aggrandized- enlarged, made great
Exalted -held in high esteem
Assaulted- onfall, onrush

Hence, vulnerable is the most apt word that makes the sentence contextually and
4) Clogged, which means 'having an obstructed flow;blocked, fits into the context
appropriately
5) Broach , which means 'to begin discussion about something', fits into the
context appropriately.Rest of the options can be easily eliminated, provided that
you have read the passage carefully.
One can easily figure out that rest of the options don't fit into the context at all.
6) a, It's clearly mentioned in the 1st paragraph of the passage that The Health
Ministry has not explained what prompted this relative relaxation. However,
anecdotal evidence suggests doctors and health-care workers have been
disproportionately vulnerable to the infection and a single case leads to entire
hospitals being shut down.
7) c, It's clearly mentioned in the 1st paragraph of the passage that Unlike in the
U.S. and western Europe, India’s hospitals are not yet clogged with seriously ill
patients. It could be due to India’s relatively low case-count and also people not
turning up fearing infection.
8) The error is in b, replace 'have' with 'have been' to make the sentence
grammatically correct.The given sentence should be in passive voice.
9) The error is in d, replace 'to' with 'with' to make the sentence grammatically
correct.
(fortify.....with)
10) Asymptomatic - symptomless
Complete EDITORIAL
On March 28, only 130 districts of India’s 736 had reported COVID-19 cases. The
Health Ministry’s strategy then, after the national lockdown, was to ensure State
supervision of those who manifested symptoms — as well as their high-risk

contacts — and who had a travel history. Suspected high-risk contacts or those
likely to have been exposed to the infection were subjected to varying degrees of
State quarantine. Those not showing signs of the disease or ‘mild’ manifestations,
were put in care centres and those noticeably sicker, in hospitals. The idea always
was that if the sick and their contacts were segregated from the community long
enough, the transmission chain would be broken and the disease extinguished. As
April ends, the number of affected districts stands at 401 and confirmed cases
have risen by a 1, 000 a day; the daily death count hovers between 50 and 60. In a
containment strategy tweak, those with a mild form of the disease, or are
presymptomatic, would have the option of home quarantining. But their homes
ought to have self-isolation facilities, a full-time caregiver, and daily health-status
reports given to the district surveillance officer.
The Health Ministry has not explained what prompted this relative relaxation.
However, anecdotal evidence suggests doctors and health-care workers have
been disproportionately vulnerable to the infection and a single case leads to
entire hospitals being shut down. Unlike in the U.S. and western Europe, India’s
hospitals are not yet clogged with seriously ill patients. It could be due to India’s
relatively low case-count and also people not turning up fearing infection.
Allowing home quarantine could be seen as health authorities inferring that
quarantining in public facilities posed more risks. The presymptomatics (mild
illness) and asymptomatic (no signs) did not benefit from treatment and were
potent virus spreaders, and therefore endangered the staff and health workers.
They also stretched State resources in maintenance. The Ministry also found that
among those who tested positive, there were two presymptomatics or
asymptomatics for every symptomatic. The disease spread, it appears, is now
beyond the ability of the state to contain, by quarantine, and it was far more
prudent to fortify health workers and hospitals with the best facilities available to
handle patients. Officially, there is no community transmission in India but at this
magnitude of cases, it does not practically matter. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya
Pradesh and Delhi are powering the spread of cases and only consistent declines
here can broach discussion on the end of the pandemic. From a month ago, India,
on paper, is equipped with better supply channels of personal protective
equipment, infusion pumps (for oxygen) , hospital beds, laboratories for testing
and PCR kits. If the lockdown is lifted on May 3, the rationale behind the
government’s containment strategy will be put to a stringent test.

1.MANIFESTATION(n) -a symptom of an ailment or a sign of something existing or

happening.
2.CONTAINMENT (n) -the action of keeping something harmful under control or

within limits.रोकथाम
3.TWEAK (v) -a slight alteration.सुिारना
4.PRESYMPTOMATIC (n) -relating to or describing a symptom that occurs before

the typical symptoms of a disease.
5.ANECDOTAL (adj) -based on someone’s personal experience or information

rather than on facts that can be checked.
6.CLOGGED -blocked or filled with something.भरा हुआ
7.ASYMPTOMATICS (n) -showing no symptoms of a particular disease.
8.FORTIFY (v) -to make something stronger, especially in order to protect it.सशि
करना

VOCABULARY with Synonyms & Antonyms (April)
1. JINGOISTIC (adj) -related to the belief that your own country is always best.
(कट्टर देशभवि )
Synonyms — nationalistic, dedicated
Antonyms — unpatriotic, disloyal
2. GLORIOUS (adj) : very beautiful and impressive (शानदार, श्रेष्ठ)

Synonyms — brilliant, splendid
Antonyms — obscure, ugly
3. EXPECTANT (adj) : hoping for something (आशावन्ित)

Synonyms — anticipant, expectant
Antonyms — nonpregnant, hopeless
4. EXULTANT (adj) : feeling or showing that you are very proud or happy (उल्लवसत,
प्रसन्न)
Synonyms — disdainful, haughty
Antonyms — dejected, miserable
5. DISTRAUGHT (adj) -very worried and upset. (व्याकु ल, विवक्षप्त)

Synonyms — overwrought, agitated
Antonyms — balanced, composed
6. FRENZIED (adj) -wildly excited or uncontrolled. (उन्मुि)

Syn: delirious, frantic
Ant: balanced, calm

7. INDULGENCE (n) : something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely

necessary (विलावसता, अवतभोग)
Syn: luxury, amenity
Ant: essential, basic
8. INCEPTION (n) -the beginning of an organization or official activity. (प्रारं भ,

शुरुआत)
Syn: Initiation, outset
Ant: conclusion, finish
9. INTRINSIC (adj) : belonging to or part of the real nature of

something/somebody (मूलभूत, िास्तविक)
Synonyms — inherent, innate
Antonyms — adventitious, extraneous
10. QUIBBLE (n) -a slight objection or criticism about a trivial matter. (ऐतराज,
आपवि)
Syn: pun, clinch
Ant: approval, directness
11. WANE (v) -to become weaker in strength or influence. (कम होना)
Syn: abate, shrink
Ant: enhance, strengthen
12. Congregation(n) : an assemblage of people or things collected together (समूह)

Syn: gathering, crowd
Ant: division, separation
13. Spike (v) : to augment or increase sharply (स्पि रूप से बढ जाना)

Syn: accelerate, magnify
Ant: attenuate, weaken

14. Culpable (adj) : deserving blame or censure as being wrong or evil or injurious
(दंडनीय, दोषपूर्)ण
Syn: guilty, reprehensible
Ant: immune, irresponsible
15. Prohibition(n) : refusal to approve or assent to (मनाही, रोक)

Syn: constraint, restriction
Ant: allowance, permission
16. Contain(v) : to keep within limits (वनयंवत्रत करना)

Syn: curb, restrain
Ant: continue, encourage
17. Alarming(adj) : frightening because of an awareness of danger (ख़तरनाक,

भयप्रद)
Syn: frightening, distressing
Ant: comforting, nonintimidating
18. Meticulous(adv) : extremely careful and thorough (सतकण , सूक्ष्माििायी)

Syn: scrupulous, attentive
Ant: unwary, negligent
19. LAX (adj) : lacking in rigor or strictness (बेपरिाह, वशवथल)

Syn: slack, negligent
Ant: attentive, concerned
20. CONTAGION (n) -the communication of disease from one person or organism
to another by close contact. (छू त, रोग-संचार)
Syn: contamination, plague
Ant: purification, cleanliness
21. LETHAL (adj) - Very harmful or destructive. (जानलेिा, घातक)

Syn: fatal, dangerous

Ant: innocuous, beneficial
22. IMPEDIMENT (n) -a hindrance or obstruction in doing something. (बािा,

अिरोि)
Syn: deterrent, hurdle
Ant: assistance, strength
23. ABRUPT (adj) -sudden and unexpected, and often unpleasant. (आकवस्मक)
Syn: hasty, unforeseen
Ant: anticipated, expected
24. EXPLOITATION (n) -the use of something in order to get an advantage from it
or misuse. (शोषर्, दोहन)
Syn: Misuse, abuse
Ant: altruism, compassion
25. CRIPPLING (adj) -causing a severe and almost insuperable problem. (अशि कर
देने िाला, हावनकारक)
Syn: – weakening, damaging
Ant: Rehabilitating, healing
26. UNDERSCORE (v) : to make more apparent (महत्ि दशाणना, बल देना)

Syn: accentuate, emphasize
Ant: diminish, weaken
27. SCOURGES (n) -something or someone that causes great suffering or a lot of
trouble. (विपवि, आफ़त)
Syn: afflictions, banes
Ant: benefits, boons

28. VIABLE (adj) – having the ability to grow, expand, develop, etc. (व्यिहायण,
जीिनक्षम)
Syn: applicable, feasible
Ant: unlikely, impractical
29. RECKLESS (adj) -

Acting or done with a lack of care or caution; careless or irresponsible. (लापरिाह)
Syn: careless, thoughtless
Ant: attentive, cautious
30. STAGGERING (adj) – Causing great astonishment, amazement, or dismay (चौंका

देने िाला)
Syn: astonishing, prodigious
Ant: boring, ordinary
31. DIRE (adj) – Dire refers to situations or events that cause great fear and
worry.(भीषर्)
Syn: terrible, awful, distressing.
Ant: calm, mild
32. HASTY (adj) – done or happening suddenly or quickly. (आतुर, उतािला)

Syn: rash, reckless, impulsive.
Ant: slow, long
33. ENFEEBLED (adj) – lacking bodily strength (ढीला छोड़ना, कमजोर बनाना)
Syn: weakened, debilitated
Ant: Mighty, vigorous
34. UNLEASH (v) – to free from or as if from a leash: let loose. (खोलना, उन्मुि
करना)
Syn: release, set free.
Ant: keep, restrain
35. MOUNTING (adj) – Becoming larger in size, degree or intensity. (बढना)

Syn: growing, escalating.
Ant: declining, waning
36. PRISTINE (adj) – immaculately clean and unused. (नया, साफ-सुथरा)

Syn: pure, spotless
Ant: affected, dirty
37. SUSTAINABLE (adj) – able to continue over a period of time. (सतत)

Syn: defendable, reasonable
Ant: temporary, unsuitable
38. SCURRY (v) – to move quickly with small short steps. (जल्दी से भागना)
Syn: hurry, rush
Ant: Slow, Dawdle
39. STRANDED (adj) – stuck (in difficulties) , left without the means to move from
somewhere (असहाय)
Syn: helpless, abandoned
Ant: Reclaimed, Salvaged
40. ALOOF (adj) – at distance specially in feeling and interest; (न्यारा, परे )
Syn: detached, unresponsive.
Ant: Compassionate, friendly
41. RHETORIC (n) – art of speaking or writing in a convincing way (भाषर्कला)

Syn: bombast, eloquence
Ant: Inarticulateness, quiet
42. COMBAT (n) – an attempt to stop something bad or to solve a difficult

problem (वमलकर सामना करना)
Syn: cope, withstand
Ant: support, yield

43. FORMIDABLE (adj) – causing fear or respect for someone/something because

that is large, powerful or difficult ( डरािना)
Syn: intimidating, daunting
Ant: calm, unimportant
44. GRIEVANCE (n) – a complaint about being treated in an unfair way (वशकायत)
Syn: complaint, resentment
Ant: delight, assistance
45. POSE (v) –to set before mind for consideration, to puzzle or baffle.
(प्रस्तुतकरना)
Syn: propose, offer
Ant: refrain, withhold
46. AMICABLE (adj) – having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest.(
मैत्रीपूर्)ण
Syn: friendly, collegial
Ant: alienated, estranged
47. APPREHENSION (n) – suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune. (शंका)

Syn: dread, foreboding
Ant: Anticipation, optimism
48. PROMULGATED (v) – to make known to many people by open declaration; put
into effect, implement. (प्रख्यावपत)
Syn: proclaimed, Enact
Ant: confidential, revoked
49. IRONY (n) –use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite to its literal
meaning, sarcasm (व्यंग्य)
Syn: paradox, incongruity
Ant: compliment, seriousness

50. MOOT (adj) – open to discussion or debate (वििाद - ग्रस्त)

Syn: debatable, disputable, arguable; disputed, controversial.
Ant: resolved, definite
51. INFLICT (v) : to impose (anything unwelcome) (थोपना)

Syn: levy, wreak
Ant: keep, withhold
52. ALLEGED (adj) : to assert without proof (कवथत तौर पर)

Syn: supposed, professed
Ant: definite, certain
53. UNMINDFUL (adj) : not conscious or attentive (भूलने िाला)

Syn: oblivious, forgetful
Ant: Reminiscent, heedful
54. PLAGUE (v) : to cause persistent pain, or suffering to (पीड़ा होना)

Syn: anguish, excruciate
Ant: content, solace
55. CALIBRATED (adj) – carefully assessed/analyzed. (जांच करना)

Syn: evaluate, compute
Ant: guess, disorder
56. CONTAIN (v) – to keep within limits

Syn: curb, restrain. (वनयंवत्रत करना)
Ant: liberate, unleash
57. EXODUS (n) – a flowing or going out, mass departure (वनकास)

Syn: gush, evacuation

Ant: influx, inrush
58. CESSATION (n) – the fact or process of ending or being brought to an end.
(समावप्त)
Syn: suspension, stopping.
Ant: Initiation, persistence
59. CONGREGATION (n) – a religious gathering (जनसमूह)

Syn: assembly, meeting
Ant: Division, Separation
60. CURBS (n) – to control or limit something that is not wanted (प्रवतबंि)
Syn: restraint, impede
Ant: permit, assist
61. FEASIBLE (adj) – capable of being done or carried out (संभि)

Syn: practicable, viable
Ant: absurd, impractical
62. CONTAINMENT (n) – an act of keeping something (harmful) under control.

(रोकथाम)
Syn: isolation, segregation
Ant: allowance, liberation
63. UNDERMINE (v) – lessen the effectiveness, power or ability of, often gradually
(कमजोर)
Syn: reduce, impede
Ant: strengthen, encourage
64. ENTITLEMENT (n) – the fact of having a right to something (हकदारी)

Syn: allowance, privilege
Ant: responsibility, limitation
65. CONFER (v) – to consult, to bestow upon as a gift, favor or honor (प्रदान करना)
Syn: discourse, grant
Ant: refuse, deprive
66. PROCUREMENT (n) – the act of obtaining something (खरीदी)

Syn: Acquisition, retention
Ant: Relinquishment, transferal
67. REDOUND (v) – to produce a particular result that is benefit to someone

(सहायता करना)
Syn: contribute to, effect.
Ant: defeat, disappoint
68. DISENCHANTMENT (n) –freeing from false belief or illusion (मोहभंग, वनराश)
Syn: perturbed, discontent.
Ant: gratified, elated
69. ALACRITY (n) – promptness in response (तत्परता)

Syn: readiness, eagerness
Ant: sluggishness, pokiness
70. PATRONAGE (n) – support and money given by someone to a person or

organization(संरक्षर्)
Syn: backing, sponsorship
Ant: disapproval, obstruction
71. ABROGATION (n) – abolition, cancellation (of a law/agreement) . (वनराकरर्)

Syn: annulment, revocation
Ant: establishment, enactment
72. RETALIATION (n) -action taken in return for an injury or offense (प्रवतशोि)
Syn: revenge, vengeance

Ant: compassion, pardon
73. SOUGHT-AFTER (adj) – popular, in demand, desired. (लोक- वप्रय)

Syn: prominent, favored
Ant: obscure, unknown
74. LIKELIHOOD (n) -the chance that something will happen. ( संभािना)
Syn: possibility, tendency
Ant: doubtfulness, improbability
75. ANECDOTAL (adj) -based on reports or things someone saw rather than on
proven facts. (िास्तविक)
Syn: unreliable, unscientific
Ant: factual, objective
76. EFFICACY (n) -the ability to produce a desired or intended result. (गुर्कार)
Syn: adequacy, potency
Ant: enervation, incapacity
77. SOLIDARITY (n) – Feeling of unity between people who have the same
interests and goals etc. (एकजुटता)
Syn: unity, harmony
Ant: enmity, hostility
78. SENTINEL (n) -an indicator of the presence of disease.(रखिाली)

Syn: patrol, spotter
Ant: Attacker, assailant
79. ACUTE (adj) - (of a disease) sudden and severe.(तीव्र)

Syn: keen, intense

Ant: slow, blunt
80. EXPOSURE (n) -the state of having no protection from something harmful.(
अनािरर्)
Syn: vulnerability, jeopardy
Ant: protection, cover
81. IMPERATIVE (n) -an essential or urgent thing. (अवनिायण)

Syn: indispensable, vital
Ant: trivial, needless
82. CONTAINMENT (n) -the action of keeping something harmful under control or
within limits. (रोकथाम)
Syn: confinement, control
Ant: exclusion, banishment
83. IMMINENT (adj) : likely to occur at any moment (वनकटस्थ)

Syn: impending, looming
Ant: distant, remote
84. SUSTENANCE (n) : -food and drink regarded as a source of strength;

nourishment. (भरर्पोषर्)
Syn: support, livelihood
Ant: deprivation, starvation
85. UBIQUITOUS (adj) : present, appearing or found everywhere. (सिणव्यापक)

Syn: omnipresent, pervasive
Ant: rare, scarce
86. SEMINAL (adj) : strongly influencing later developments(लाभदायक)

Syn: influential, formative
Ant: unoriginal, hackneyed
87. INEXORABLE (adj) : impossible to stop or prevent. (हिीला)

Syn: Relentless, rigid
Ant: flexible, avoidable
88. REINVIGORATING (v) : give new energy or strength to. (पुनजीवित)

Syn: stimulating, Revitalizing
Ant: unexciting, depressing
89. TATTERS (v) : to rend or tears into rags

Syn: breach, discord (वचथड़े)
Ant: agreement, unity
90. ACKNOWLEDGE (v) – admit the existence or truth of, recognize the
importance or quality of (स्िीकार करना)
Syn: admit, accept, realize, recognize.
Ant: contradict, decline
91. UNPRECEDENTED (adj) - never done or known before. ( अभूतपूिण)

Syn: unusual, bizarre
Ant: familiar, ordinary
92. MERCHANDISE (n) -the commodities or goods that are bought and sold in
business. (व्यापार करना)
Syn: commodity, stock
Ant: trash, litter
93. PLUMMET (v) -to go down in amount or value very quickly and suddenly. (तेजी
से वगरना)
Syn: fall, descend

Ant: escalate, climb
94. CAVEAT (n) -a warning or proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or

limitations. (चेतािनी)
Syn: admonition, caution
Ant: imprudence, delinquency
95. SLUMP (n) -a sudden severe or prolonged fall in the price, value, or amount of
something. (अकस्मातपतन)
Syn: sink, collapse
Ant: surge, increase
96. SLIVER (n) -a small, thin, narrow piece of something cut or split off a larger
piece. (टु टकर अलग हो जाना)
Syn: shred, piece
Ant: whole, complete
97. BLEAK (adj) -not giving much hope for the future. (उदास)
Syn: dreary, gloomy
Ant: bright, pleasant
98. AFTERMATH(n) – the consequences or after effect of some unpleasant event

(पररर्ाम)
Syn: outcome, repercussion.
Ant: antecedent, cause
99. REVIVE (verb) – to come or bring something back to life, health, existence or
use(पुनजीवित)
Syn: recover, invigorate.
Ant: dissuade, weaken

100. INSULAR (adj) -interested only in your own country or group and not willing
to accept different or foreign ideas or people. (संकुवचत विचार का )
Syn: provincial, isolated
Ant: multicultural, unprejudiced
101. DELIBERATIONS (n) -considering or discussing something. (विचार -विमशण)

Syn: speculation, consultation
Ant: imprudence, disregard
102. UNDERSCORE (v) -to emphasize the importance something. (बलदेना)

Syn: accentuate, intensify
Ant: alleviate, diminish
103. PLEDGED (v) -commit (a person or organization) by a solemn promise.

(प्रवतज्ञा)
Syn: sworn, promised
Ant: breached, uncommitted
104. HAILED (v) -to call someone in order to attract their attention. (अवभिादन
करना)
Syn: commended, acclaimed
Ant: criticized, trickled
105. STOKED (adj) -to cause something to increase. (इकट्ठा करना)

Syn: excited, anxious
Ant: apathetic, uneager
106. MELTDOWN (n) -a disastrous collapse or breakdown.(वपघलना)

Syn: disruption, turmoil
Ant: array, harmony

107. APPREHENSIONS (n) -anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will
happen. (डर)
Syn: suspicion, dread
Ant: certainty, belief
108. INTRUSIVE (adj) -becoming involved in something in a way that is not

welcome. (दखल)
Syn: meddlesome, invasive
Ant: unobtrusive
109. LUKEWARM (adj) -showing little enthusiasm. (उदासीन)

Syn: apathetic, tepid
Ant: interested, responsive
110. Orthodox (adj) - those beliefs, ideas or activities which are considered
traditional, normal and accepted by most people.(परम्परािादी)
Syn: conventional, regular
Ant: casual, informal
111. UNPRECEDENTED (adj) -never having happened or existed in the past.

(अभूतपूि)ण
Syn: novel, unique
Ant: familiar, prosaic
112. SOLIDARITY (n) -the support that people in a group give each other because
they have the same opinions or aims. (एकजुटता)
Syn: accord, harmony
Ant: feud, rivalry
113. OUTBREAKS (n) -a sudden occurrence of something unwelcome, such as war

or disease. (प्रकोप)
Syn: eruption, plague
Ant: conclusion, calmness
114. EPIDEMIC (n) -a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a

community at a particular time. (महामारी)
115. SHORTCOMINGS (n) -a fault or problem that makes someone or something

less effective. (कवमयााँ)
Syn: drawback, flaw
Ant: perfection, advantage
116. FERVENTLY (adj) -very enthusiastically or passionately. (उत्साह से)

Syn: ardent, intense
Ant: impassive, cool
117. STRANDED (adj) -unable to leave somewhere because of a problem such as

not having any transport or money. (असहाय)
Syn: helpless, wrecked
Ant: found, freed
118. REMITTANCES (n) -the act of sending payment to someone. (भेजा हुआ िन)
Syn: compensation, remuneration
Ant: debt, penalty
119. ASSIMILATION (n) -the process of becoming a part, or making someone

become a part, of a group, country, society, etc. (वमलाना)
Syn: integration, osmosis
Ant: elimination, exclude
120. SUBSISTENCE (n) -enough money or food to keep yourself alive. (जीविका)
Syn: livelihood, sustenance
Ant: extinction, poverty, debt

121. PROCURING (v) -to obtain something, especially with effort or difficulty.
(खरीदना)
Syn: acquiring, gaining
Ant: failing, losing
122. ABANDON (v) -cease to support or look after (someone) .(त्याग करना)
Syn: relinquish, forsake
Ant: acquire, bear
123. SUCCOUR (n) -help given to someone, especially someone who is suffering or
in need. (विपवि में सहायता करना)
Syn: assistance, support
Ant: hindrance, blockage
124. REPATRIATE (v) -send (someone) back to their own country. (स्िदेश भेजना)
Syn: deportee, refugee
Ant: native, citizen
125. EVACUATED (v) -remove (someone) from a place of danger to a safer place.
(खाली करना)
Syn: emptied, vacated
Ant: filled, loaded
126. DIASPORA (n) – the people who spread/scatter from their own country to
places across the world. (प्रिासी)
Syn: exodus, dispersion
Ant: concentration
127. ENDURANCE (n) – staying power, lasting power, tenacity, determination,

longevity/stability. (सहनशवि)
Syn: persistence, abidance
Ant: cessation, expiration
128. CUE (n) -a signal or reminder. (संकेत)

Syn: hint, indication
Ant: answer, solution
129. COMBAT (v) -take action to reduce or prevent (something bad or

undesirable) . (सामना करना)
Syn: cope, withstand
Ant: support, yield
130. LIFEBLOOD (n) -the indispensable factor or influence that gives something its
strength and vitality. (जीिन के वलए आिश्यकरि/प्रार्शवि )
Syn: driving force, essence
Ant: abstract, exterior
131. CALIBRATE (v) -to measure precisely. (जांच करना)

Syn: regulate, adjust
Ant: disorder, ignore
132. OVERARCHING (adj) -comprehensive or all-embracing. (व्यापक)

Syn: overall, complete
Ant: restricted, particular
133. AFLOAT (adj) -out of debt or difficulty. (ऋर्मुि)

Syn: solvent, adrift
Ant: bankrupt, moored
134. STANDSTILL (n) -a situation or condition in which there is no movement or

activity at all. (िहराि)
Syn: halt, stop
Ant: continuation, motion

135. MORATORIUM (n) -a temporary prohibition of an activity. (प्रवतबंि)

Syn: embargo, ban.
Ant: persistence, motion
136. INFUSE (v) – to add, to soak. (भरदेना/तरकरना)

Syn: inculcate, steep
Ant: deprive, eliminate
137. STIMULUS (n) – something that causes growth or activity. (प्रोत्साहन)

Syn: impulse, spur
Ant: hindrance, deterrent
138. CURB (v) : to control or limit something that is not wanted. (वनयंत्रर्)
Syn: constrain, regulate
Ant: allow, facilitate
139. PROHIBIT (v) : to prevent from doing something (रोक लगाना)

Syn: forbid, proscribe
Ant: allow, permit
140. HALT (v) : to cause the discontinuance of (स्र्कािट)

Syn: conclude, terminate
Ant: continue, persist
141. COMPLY (v) : act in accordance with a wish or command (पालन करना)
Syn: obey, consent
Ant: refuse, resist
142. PLUMMET (v) : a steep and rapid fall or drop (आकवस्मक रूप से घटने)
Syn: collapse, decline
Ant: ascend, grow

143. ACQUISITION (n) : the act of acquiring or gaining possession. (अजणन)

Syn: procurement, gain
Ant: loss, forfeit
144. VULNERABLE (adj) : lacking protection from danger or resistance against

attack(असुरवक्षत)
Syn: susceptible, exposed
Ant: protected, shielded
145. COMPLY (v) : abide by, follow agreement or instructions (आज्ञापालन करना)
Syn: obey, bear
Ant: repudiate, disallow
146. TAKEOVER (n) – gaining of control, change of ownership, acquisition. (कब्जा)

Syn: undertake, acquire
Ant: renounce, abdicate
147. BLURRED (v) : to make (something) unclear to the understanding(िुंिला)

Syn: obfuscated, complicated
Ant: deciphered, simplified
148. JUNK (v) -discard or abandon unceremoniously. (कचरा)

Syn: exorcise, dump
Ant: adopt, embrace
49. MERE (adj) -used to emphasize how small or insignificant someone or

something is. (एकमात्र)
Syn: bare, very
Ant: unspecified, ample
150. BLINDSIDED (v) -to surprise someone, usually with harmful results.
(आश्चयणचककत)
Syn: astonished, dismayed

Ant: casual, nonchalant
151. OPTIMISTICALLY (adv) -in a way that shows hope and confidence about the
future. (आशािादी)
Syn: hopefully, promisingly
Ant: miserably, adversely
152. UNWOUND (v) -to relax after a period of work or anxiety. (खुला हुआ)
Syn: quieten, recline
Ant: agitated, twist
153. JETTISON (v) -to get rid of (something or someone) as useless or undesirable.
(वनकाल फें कना)
Syn: abdicate, discard
Ant: defend, retain
154. STIMULUS (n) -something that causes growth or activity.(प्रोत्साहन)

Syn: impetus, boost
Ant: hinderance, deterrent
155. PRUNE (v) - to reduce something by removing things that are not necessary.
(छाँटाई करना)
Syn: snip, eliminate
Ant: accept, include
156. ANTICIPATED (v) -to imagine or expect that something will happen. (अपेवक्षत)
Syn: awaited, expected
Ant: delinquent, tardy

157. NUANCED (adj) -a subtle difference in meaning or expression or response,

fine detail. (सूक्ष्म)
Syn: distinction, gradation
Ant: roughness, inexactness
158. EXPLOIT (v) -to use someone or something unfairly for your own advantage.
(शोषर् करना)
Syn: abuse, manipulate
Ant: protect, cherish
159. MISSIVES (n) -a letter, especially a long or official one. (औपचाररक पैगाम)
Syn: note, memorandum
Ant: silence, speech
160. TAKEOVER (n) – gaining of control, change of ownership, acquisition. (कब्जा)

Syn: undertake, acquire
Ant: renounce, abdicate
161. CURB (v) – to control or limit something that is not wanted. (वनयंत्रर् करना)
Syn: restrain, contain
Ant: allow, assist
162. PURVIEW (n) – range or scope of something(पररवि)

Syn: domain, ambit.
Ant: extreme, limitation
163. POSE (v) – raise, ask, put (a question/matter for consideration) .(वस्थवत)
Syn: propose, present
Ant: refrain, withhold
164. PLUG (v) – to stop or fill with (डाट लगाना)

Syn: seal, close.

Ant: open, allow
165. TAP (v) – make use of, put to use, use, utilize. (लाभ उिाना)
Syn: consume, implement
Ant: avoid, misuse
166. EMBARGO (v) -impose an official ban on (trade or a country or commodity) .

(व्यापार प्रवतषेि)
Syn: ban, prohibition
Ant: consent, permission
167. SKYROCKETING (v) - (of a price, rate, or amount) increase very steeply or
rapidly. (ऊपर चलना, बढना)
Syn: escalate, rise
Ant: lessen, descend
168. GLUT (n) -a supply of something that is much greater than can be sold or is
needed or wanted. (भरमार)
Syn: surplus, excess
Ant: lack, insufficiency
169. TUMBLED (v) -to fall quickly and without control. (वगरना)
Syn: descend, plummet
Ant: ascend, increase
170. CURTAIL (v) -to reduce or limit something. (संवक्षप्त करना)

Syn: halt, diminish
Ant: develop, enlarge
171. PROTRACTED (adj) -lasting for a long time or made to last longer than
necessary. (दीघण)

Syn: extended, lengthy

Ant: short, fleeting
172. REMITTANCES (n) -an amount of money that you send to someone. (भेजा हुआ
िन)
Syn: settlements, compensations
Ant: evasions, bankruptcies
173. EXACERBATE- to make worse, increase severity. (ख़राब करना)

Syn: aggravate, intensify
Ant: alleviate, soothe
174. UNPRECDENTED (adj) : never done or known before(अभूतपूिण)

Syn: novel, exceptional
Ant: common, familiar
175. PREJUDICES (n) -preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual
experience. (पक्षपात)
Syn: preconception, discrimination
Ant: fairness, impartiality
176. CREED (n) -a set of religious beliefs. (पंथ)

Syn: dogma, faith
Ant: skepticism, atheism
177. AXIOMATIC (adj) -self-evident or obvious. (स्ियंवसद्ध)

Syn: apparent, clear
Ant: dubious, contestable
178. WOES (n) -things that cause sorrow or distress; troubles. (संकट)
Syn: afflictions, agonies
Ant: comforts, solaces
179. CALAMITOUS (adj) -causing great damage or suffering. (नुक़सानदेह)

Syn: catastrophic, disastrous
Ant: innocuous, constructive
180. PRIMACY (n) -the state of being the most important thing. (प्रिानता)
Syn: dominance, preponderance
Ant: inferiority, obscurity
181. RESILIENCE (n) -the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
(लचीलता)
Syn: determination, fortitude
Ant: vulnerability, weakness1
182. STIGMATISATION (n) -the act of treating someone or something unfairly by

publicly disapproving of them. (दोषारोपर्)
Syn: accusation, denunciation
Ant: citation, commendation
189. AGGRAVATED (v) -To make worse or more troublesome. (और बढा देना)
Syn: agitated, triggered
Ant: alleviated, eased
190. PROPONENTS (n) -a person who advocates a theory, proposal, or course of

action. (समथणकों)
Syn: apostles, promoters
Ant: critics, rivals
191. ODIOUS (adj) - arousing or deserving hatred or repugnance(वघनौना)

Syn: hateful, obnoxious
Ant: alluring, pleasant

192. DIATRIBE (n) -a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or
something. (अवभयोगात्मक भाषर्)
Syn: rant, tirade
Ant: accolade, citation
193. PRODIGIOUS (adj) - remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or

degree. (बहुत बड़ा)
Syn: huge, unusual.
Ant: small, ordinary
194. CONTAGION (n) -a disease spread by close contact. (रोग-संचार)

Syn: contamination, illness
Ant: cleanliness, advantage
195. DESPICABLE (adj) -deserving hatred and contempt. (वघनौना)

Syn: disgraceful, loathsome
Ant: reputable, good
196. Rage (n) – a violent and uncontrolled anger (क्रोि)

Syn: fury, anger, wrath, aggression.
Ant: delight, pleasure
197. Tout (v) – to describe or advertise boastfully; publicize or promote; praise

extravagantly (दलाली, शेखी बघारना)
Syn: endorse, praise.
Ant: blame, conceal
198. LOOM (v) –to be about to happen (देख पड़ना)

Syn: emerge, appear, become visible, take a threatening shape.
199. CONSPIRACY (n) –A secret agreement between two or more people to

perform an unlawful act(सावजश)
Syn: plot, intrigue

Ant: honesty, loyalty
200. SCRUTINY (n) – through inspection of a situation or case, critical

observation(जांच)
Syn: inspection, surveillance
Ant: disdain, ignorance
201. SHORTCOMINGS (n) – a failure, defect, or deficiency in conduct, condition,

thought, ability, etc.(कवमयां)
Syn: fault, dereliction
Ant: merit, virtue
202. AMPLIFY (v) – to make larger or greater (as in amount, importance, or

intensity) (बढाना)
Syn: intensify, escalate.
Ant: abate, moderate
203. QUANDARY (n) -to be not certain what decision to take about something.
(व्याकु लता)
Syn: confusion, predicament
Ant: contentment, peace
204. RIGOROUS (adj) -extremely thorough and careful. (किोर)

Syn: severe, intense
Ant: Flexible, lenient
205. PRUDENT (adj) – having or showing good judgment and restraint especially in
conduct or speech(वििेकी)
Syn: judicious, discreet
Ant: unwise, careless

206. RELIABLE (adj) : someone or something suitable or fit to be relied

on(विश्वसनीय)
Syn: trustworthy, dependable
Ant: Uncertain, fraudulent
207. OVERZEALOUS (adj) -too enthusiastic and eager. (ज्यादा)

Syn: ardent, extremist
Ant: reticent, aloof
208. ANATHEMA (n) -something that is considered completely wrong and

offensive. (अवभशाप)
Syn: bane, abomination
Ant: affection, fondness
209. LAUDABLE (adj) -deserving to be praised or admired. (प्रशंसनीय)

Syn: praiseworthy, commendable
Ant: reprehensible, censurable
210. DEPRIVED (adj) -(of a person) lacking a specified benefit that is considered
important. (िंवचत)
Syn: impoverished, destitute
Ant: fortunate, privileged
211. QUASH (v) -to officially reject (something, such as a judgment or decision) as
invalid. (समाप्त करना)
Syn: abrogate, annul
Ant: approve, validate
212. DETRIMENTAL (adj) -causing harm or damage. (हावनकारक)

Syn: pernicious, destructive
Ant: beneficial, favorable

213. AJAR (adj) -slightly open. (अिखुला)

Syn: unfastened, free
Ant: closed, secure
214. RATIONALE (n) – the reasons or intentions that cause a particular set of
beliefs or actions(तकण )
Syn: reason, logic
Ant: proof, reality
215. CAP (v) – to set an upper or maximum limit on something

Syn: limit, restrict (उच्चतम सीमा)
Ant: exceed, surpass
216. INNATE (adj) – existing in, belonging to, or determined by factors present in
an individual from birth (कु दरती)
Syn: natural, inherent
Ant: acquired, learned
217. SANCTITY (n) – the quality or state of being holy or sacred ( पवित्रता)
Syn: divinity, righteousness
Ant: impiety, unholiness
218. IMPERATIVE (adj) – extremely important or urgent (अवनिायण)

Syn: incumbent, mandatory
Ant: elective, voluntary
219. TRICKLE DOWN (effect) – passing on benefits to the people at the bottom of
the pyramid (by those at top of the system) . Or gradually benefit the poorest as a
result of the increasing wealth of the richest. (अमीरों द्वारा गरीबों को लाभ पहुचाना)
220. TRAVAILS (n) -the difficulties that are experienced as part of a particular
situation. (गम)
Syn: agony, anguish

Ant: comfort, happiness
221. EXODUS (n) -a mass departure of people. (बवहगणमन )

Syn: migration, evacuation
Ant: inflow, arrival
222. STRANDED (adj) -stuck somewhere and unable to leave. (असहाय)

Syn: helpless, wrecked
Ant: mighty, invulnerable
223. HUMANE (adj) -showing kindness, care, and sympathy towards others,
especially those who are suffering. (दयालु)
Syn: compassionate, benevolent
Ant: barbarous, atrocious
224. FLOCKING (v) -move or go together in a crowd (झुण्ड लगाना)

Syn: gathering, congregating
Ant: dispersing, scattering
225. LIVELIHOOD (n) – means of making a living with the basic necessities (food,
water, shelter and clothing) . (आजीविका)
Syn: subsistence, living
Ant: avocation, recreation
226. DORMANT (adj) – not being in a state of use, activity, or employment

(वनवष्क्रय)
Syn: inactive, passive
Ant: assiduous, vigorous
227. INCENTIVE (n) – something that motivates, rouses or encourages (उिेजना)

Syn: encouragement, stimulus
Ant: deterrent, hindrance
228. FATALITY (n) : the quality or state of causing death or destruction (मृत्युसंख्या)
Syn: death, casualty
Ant: birth, inception
229. DILEMMA (n) – a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made

between two or more alternatives, especially ones that are equally undesirable. (
असमंजस)
Syn: quandary, predicament
Ant: advantage, boon
230. INFIRM (adj) – feeble or weak in body or health, especially because of age;
ailing. (दुबणल)
Syn: weak, feeble
Ant: healthy, strong
231. HEED (v) –to give consideration or pay attention to (ध्यान लगाना)
Syn: attention, deliberation
Ant: disdain, ignorance
232. FUTILE (adj) – Incapable of producing results; doomed not to be successful;

not worth attempting.(वनरथणक)
Syn: Useless, pointless
Ant: fruitful, profitable
233. CONGREGATION (n) -a large number of things or people gathered together.

(जनसमूह)
Syn: gathering, assembly
Ant: separation, scattering

234. CONSENT (n) -permission for something to happen or agreement to do

something. (सम्मवत देना)
Syn: approval, assent
Ant: prohibition, opposition
235. RATIFY (v) – to confirm by expressing consent, approval, or formal sanction

(संपुवि करना)
Syn: confirm, sanction
Ant: disapprove, reject
236. CONCISE (adj) – brief, yet including all important information(संवक्षप्तता)

Syn: compact, succinct
Ant: verbose, loquacious
237. VOLATILITY (n) -a tendency to change quickly and unpredictably. (अवस्थरता)

Syn: irregularity, fickleness
Ant: stability, equilibrium
238. REDEMPTION (n) -the action of regaining or gaining possession of something

in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt. (छु ड़ाना)
Syn: recovery, reclamation
Ant: abandonment, dereliction
239. FALLOUT (n) -the adverse results of a situation or action. (वििाद)

Syn: repercussions, consequence
Ant: commencement, inception
240. INCIPIENT (adj) -beginning to happen or develop. (प्रारं वभक अिस्था में वस्थत )
Syn: nascent, emergent
Ant: developed, veteran

241. INCENTIVISE (v) -motivate or encourage (someone) to do something; provide

with an incentive. (प्रोत्सावहत)
Syn: encourage, boost
Ant: deter, dissuade
242. BREACH (v) -to be breaking a particular law or rule. (उल्लंघन)

Syn: violate, contravene
Ant: obey, serve
243. MANIFESTATION(n) -a symptom of an ailment or a sign of something existing

or happening. (घोषर्ा)
Syn: Indication, demonstration
Ant: concealment, hiding
244. CONTAINMENT (n) -the action of keeping something harmful under control
or within limits. (रोकथाम)
Syn: curb, restriction
Ant: expansion, liberation
245. TWEAK (v) -a slight alteration.

Syn: adjustment, modification (तबदीली)
Ant: fixation, stabilization
246. ANECDOTAL (adj) -based on someone’s personal experience or information

rather than on facts that can be checked. ( िास्तविक)
Syn: unscientific, informal
Ant: reliable, scientific
247. CLOGGED (v) -blocked or filled with something. (मैला करना)

Syn: obstruct, congest
Ant: loosen, release

248. FORTIFY (v) -to make something stronger, especially in order to protect it. (
मजबूत करना)
Syn: strengthen, reinforce
Ant: weaken, dissuade
249. HOVER (v) – fluctuate around a given point (मंडराना)

Syn: drift, glide
Ant: settle, sink
250. VULNERABLE (adj) – liable or exposed to disease, disaster etc. (चपेट में आना)
Syn: susceptible, exposed
Ant: secure, guarded
251. INFER (v) – To form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and
information (पररर्ाम वनकालना)
Syn: conclude, deduce
Ant: assume, speculate
252. POTENT (adj) – having great power or influence strong, powerful, vigorous.
(प्रबल)
Syn: strong, mighty
Ant: feeble, incompetent
253. PRUDENT (adj) – having or showing good judgment and restraint especially in
conduct or speech(चतुर)
Syn: judicious, discreet
Ant: unwise, careless
254. BROACH (v) – to present or bring forward for discussion. (चचाण करना)
Syn: introduce, bring up
Ant: censor, suppress

255. STRINGENT (adj) – having a very severe effect, or being extremely limiting
(सख्त)
Syn: strict, rigorous
Ant: flexible, relaxed

The Hindu Phrasal Verbs compilation (April)
1. WHIP UP -to cause (someone or something)to feel strong emotions about

something. (उत्तेजित होना)
2. BOTTLED UP -to slow the growth or progress of. (दबाए रखना)
3. ROLL BACK– reverse the progress of something (वापस ले ना)
4. CALLS OUT– ask, request, advise, order. (अनुरोध करना)
5. DROWN OUT– overpower, overwhelm, override, engulf; make inaudible.

(रफ्तार)
6. CALL FOR– require, publicly ask/necessitate, demand. (बुलवाना)
7. FALL FOR– be deceived by, be duped by, be fooled by. (धोखा खाना)
8. OPEN UP– make available (to create/start something) . (खुलना)
9. COME UP WITH– present, produce, devise, propose. (प्रस्ताजवत करना)
10. BUILD UP – increase, intensify, multiply, develop. (बनाना)
11. CALL OUT – to speak/say loudly, criticize, draw attention to (someone’s bad
actions) .(अनुरोध करना)
12. STRIKE DOWN – abolish, annul, nullify (a law or regulation) . (रद्द करना)

13. ENCROACH ON – influence, have an effect on, impose oneself. ( अजतक्रमण

करना)
14. BOWED TO -to finally agree to do something, even though you do not want to
do it. (जकसी के सामने झुकना)
15. RAMPING UP-a large increase in activity or in the level of something. (तै यार
करना)
16. CARRIED OUT (phrasal verb) -to complete or fulfil. (जनष्पाजदत)
17. BROUGHT ON-to be the cause of. (लाना)
18. GEAR UP-to prepare yourself, or to prepare something for an activity or event.
(खुद को तै यार करना)
19. BETTER OFF – in an advantageous position. (अजधक धनी)
20. LAY DOWN -to officially establish a rule, or to officially say how something
should be done.(जनधाा ररत करना)
21. STEP UP – increase, strengthen, scale up. (आगे बढाना)
22. FACE OFF– fight with; come into confrontation, be in opposition. (मुकाबला)
23. TURN OUT – transpire, emerge; happen/occur. (उभरना)
24. CALL FOR– require, publicly ask/necessitate, demand. (बुलवाना)
25. FEND OFF-to defend oneself against (someone or something) . (रद्द करना)

26. NARROW DOWN -to reduce the number of possibilities or choices. (सीजमत कर
ले ना)
27. BELONG TO– be in, be part of, have a home. (संबंजधत)
28. COME UP WITH– produce, put forward, present/submit. (प्रस्ताजवत करना)
29. HINGE ON -to depend on (something) . (आजित होना)
30. TAMP DOWN-to reduce the amount, level, size, or importance of something.
(ठं सना)
31. WIND UP-the process of closing a business that is not successful and has debts
that it cannot manage or end something. (समापन)
32. WARD OFF -to prevent someone or something unpleasant from harming or
coming close to you. (जपछे हटना)
33. TURN UP – come, arrive, appear, be present, turn out.
34. PROP UP - to support, assist, fund/finance (सहायता दे ना)
35. SET OUT: To organize, present, or lay out some information (वणा न करना)
36. BOTTOMING OUT -To reach the lowest or worst point. (न्यनतम स्तर पर पहं चना)
37. SEND OUT – give out, announce, deliver/release. (बाहर भेिना)
38. PICK UP– acquire, obtain, buy something. (मालम कर ले ना)
39. KEPT OUT -To avoid discussing someone or something. (बाहर जनकालना)

40. RAMP UP-to increase or cause to increase. (बढाना)

The Hindu Idioms and Phrases compilation (April)
1. COME TO AN HALT – to stop moving/working. (समापन करना)
2. FRAYED NERVES– feeling worried/tensed. (घबराई हुई)
3. ON THE RISE– becoming greater over a period of time; increasing, growing.

(उफान पर)
4. BRING SOMETHING TO A HALT – stop, conclude, terminate. (रोकना, समापन

करना)
5. AT THE SIGHT OF– (just) by seeing. (देखते ही)
6. CARRY WEIGHT– be most important, be influential, be significant. (प्रभािशाली

होना)
7. POINT OF VIEW – perspective, viewpoint, standpoint, opinion. (दृविकोर्)
8. ROUND THE CORNER – about to happen; coming soon; close by, close at
hand.(पास ही में)
9. AHEAD OF THE CURVE– above average; performing well, be better than (of its
kind) .( अच्छा प्रदशणन करना)
10. THE WAY FORWARD – something (a plan/action) that leads to success in the
future. (आगे बढने का रास्ता)
11. TAKE INTO ACCOUNT – consider, bear in mind, take account of. (विचार करना)

12. AT FIRST BLUSH – at the first glimpse (glance, sight) .(प्रथम संकोच पर)
13. OVER THE COUNTER – by a normal retail sale (without a prescription

demanded) .(वबना पची का)
14. IN ALL LIKELIHOOD– most likely, in all probably, no doubt. (सभी संभािना में)
15. BE BEST SERVED– be more successful. (सिोिम बनना)
16. IN TATTERS – shattered, destroyed; ruined, in disarray (वचथड़े)
17. IN THE WAKE OF – as a result of, in the aftermath of, as a consequence of.
(पररर्ामस्िरूप)
18. AT SOMEONE’S COMMAND/DISPOSAL – ready to assist the person concerned

in any way they wish. (वनयंत्रर्)
19. LEND A HAND – support, assist, help. (सहायता करना)
20. KEEP OUT OF ONE’S WAY- avoid, do not block or get involved in someone’s
route.
21. SIT/WAIT IN THE WINGS – someone who is not active at this time, but ready
to do something very soon. (काया को तै यार)
22. STEP IN SOMEONE’S SHOES – take control of a task/job from another person.
(जिम्मेदारी अपने ऊपर ले ना)
23. RUN OUT OF -To be depleted of something; to use or sell all of something that
is available. (समाप्त कर दे ना)

24. WASH HIS HANDS OF - To absolve oneself of or distance oneself from

responsibility for something. (जिम्मेदारी ले ने से इनकार करना)
25. RAISED EYEBROWS -to cause other people to react with surprise or mild
disapproval. (आश्चया या हल्के अस्वीकृजत का कारण)
26. FANNED THE FLAMES -to make a situation worse or make something more
intense. (उत्तेजित करना)
27. RUN AFOUL OF - to do something that you are not allowed to do (esp.
breaking a law or rule, etc.) (उलझन में पडना)
28. OILING THE WHEELS – to make things happen smoothly. (चीिो को सुचारू रूप
दे ना)
29. PULL THE TRIGGER – to make a final decision or commit to a course of action.
(एक अपररितणनीय वनर्णय लेना)
30. ON THE CARDS – likely, possible, expected, in the offing. (संभािना)
31. IN THE FACE OF – when confronted with. (सामना होना)
32. TAKE INTO ACCOUNT– consider, note, bear in mind, take account of. (विचार
करना)
33. LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN – to allow for the possibility of something. (ककसी चीज
की संभािना के वलए अनुमवत देना)
34. IN THE WAKE OF-happening after an event or as a result of it. (पररर्ामस्िरूप)


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‘English Hotspot’- The Hindu Editorials April 2020

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Weaker, later : on olympics postponement

Sport at its best is a glorious indulgence that blends adrenaline rush,

1) Jingoistic, meaning-overly patriotic or nationalistic, fits into the context

2) Serve fits into the context appropriately.

3) Distraught, meaning-distressed, fits into the context appropriately as we

4) Quibble, meaning- minor complaint, objection or argument, fits into the

5) Concurred, meaning-‘agreed ’, fits into the context appropriately as

6) Statements A and B are correct.

8) CHEQUERED– varied, mixed

9) FRENZIED– a state of wild activity or panic;frantic

10) The error is in c part.

Weaker, later: On Olympics postponement

Important words from the Editorial

BEDROCK (n) -the fundamental principles on which something is based. आिार

DISTRAUGHT (adj) -very worried and upset. व्याकु ल, विवक्षप्त

FRENZIED (adj) -wildly excited or uncontrolled. उन्मुि

DISRUPTION (n) -disturbance or problems which interrupt an event, activity, or

INCEPTION (n) -the beginning of an organization or official activity. शुरुआत, स्थापना

QUIBBLE (n) -a slight objection or criticism about a trivial matter.

WANE (v) -to become weaker in strength or influence.कम होना

BALM (n) -something that gives comfort.

Beyond the blame game

Nizamuddin in Delhi has turned into a large __A__ of novel coronavirus

demonstrated how meticulous tracing of contacts of a church event, isolation and

A.WHO called COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11.

Q7.According to the passage, which countries have demonstrated how

A.Southern Italy and Spain

1) Cluster, meaning- a number of individuals grouped together, fits into the

2) Spectre, meaning-something widely feared as a possible dangerous

3) Culpable, meaning- blameworthy, fits into the context appropriately as we

5) Alarming (meaning- frightening) fits into the context appropriately as we

6) Statements A and B are correct.

8) Meticulous– careful, precise, painstaking

9) The error is in a part.

10) The error is in c part.

Beyond the blame game

Nizamuddin in Delhi has turned into a large cluster of novel coronavirus

SOME IMPORTANT WORDS FROM THE EDITORAL

1. Congregation (N) – The act of congregating or collecting together. मंडली

2. Outbreak (N) - An eruption; the sudden appearance of a rash, disease, etc.

4. Prevent (V) – to stop( an outcome) . बािा डालना

5. Postpone (V) – to delay or to put off an event. स्थवगत करना

6. Rule out (phrasal verb) - to disallow or, to make unavailable.

Safe forests, safe people: On diseases of animal origin

Biodiversity in forests harmlessly retains dangerous viruses and other

phenomenon makes clear is that governments should stop viewing undisturbed

Q.7 According to the passage, In spite of repeated warnings of crippling

A governments paid little attention

Nizamuddin in Delhi has turned into a large A of novel coronavirus