Cognizant GenC Verbal Questions for Aptitude Test - Set 1

Directions for Questions 1 - 4

Read the following passage carefully and answer the question.

Until a hundred years ago as humans we had a simple, uncomplicated biological connect. It was a
straightforward equation: we drew roughly 3,000 calories each of energy out of the Earth for our
food and life's sustenance. Today that number per capita has grown to 1,00,000 calories. We still
need only 3,000 calories each to nourish life itself. All the rest of this energy is what we extract from
the Earth for everything else besides keeping ourselves alive. In some countries, like the US; this per
capita number runs at over 2,00,000 calories! Some of us are concerned about this. We fret over
what we could and should really be doing to soften this abuse of resources.

Little things fox us in the welter of things that we get to read. What is sustainable development?
How can it be started a tour homes? Beyond the ceremonial planting of green arid getting people to
run marathons of various lengths in support of the environment, is there- more that we can add to
the abstract value of "sustainability"? What are the little things we can do in our day-to-day lives, to
reduce demand for things that people make and market? Of course, we know that it helps to avoid a
plastic bag when you can use a newspaper bag, or a brown bag, or even a jute bag which you can
use for many more years unlike a plastic bag which you throw away in less than a week or after a
few uses. However, there's actually quite a bit more that you and I can do without compromise on
comfort, with very little as cost incurred, with financial savings that you can gain on energy and
water use, and with solutions that are very feasible and within your reach. It is possible to
understand our ecological footprint and its disastrous consequences, not merely in terms of our own
behaviour as consumers, but really in terms of the impact on the environment we make.

1) Why does the author ask his audience to use a jute bag?

A) Jute bags look more trendy and stylish.

B) It is the need of the hour, to save energy, to save our ecosystem.

C) Using jute bags helps in consuming only 3,000 calories from the Earth.

D) They are more easily available.

2) What is the primary concern of the passage?

A) There is a need to save energy, especially for our future.

B) All of us should not only plant trees but also run the marathon.

C) Use of plastic bags should be completely banned.

D) We need to respect the Earth and consume less of its calories.

3) A suitable title for the passage could be:

A) Let's Shift to Jute!

B) How to Consume Few Calories?

C) Save Energy, Save the Earth!

D) The Earth Heading for a Disaster.

4) Which one of the following statements cannot be inferred from the passage?

A) There are many little things we can do to save our Earth.

B) Only running marathons of various lengths do not help.

C) We do not depend on the Earth for our food and life sustenance.

D) A lot many years before, our association with Nature was quite simple.

5) Thieves steal Hondas and Toyotas from the 1990s more than other models because they can
chop them up and sell them for parts that are worth more than the car.

A) more than other models because they can chop them up and sell them for parts that are worth
more than the car

B) more than they steal other models because they can chop them up and sell them for parts that
are worth more than the car

C) more than they do other models because they can dismantle the cars and sell the parts that are
worth more than the car

D) more than other models because they can chop the cars up and sell them for parts that are worth
more than the car

6) If the books have been cataloged last week, why haven't they been placed on the shelf?

A) have been cataloged

B) would have been cataloged

C) was cataloged

D) were cataloged

7) Find out which part of the sentence contains an error.

A) Psychologists point out that

B) there are human processes

C) which does not involve

D) the use of words

8) Choose the best antonym for 'Exodus'

A) Influx

B) Homecoming

C) Return

D) Restoration

9) Choose the best antonym for Amused

A) Jolted
B) Frightened

C) Saddened

D) Astonished

10) Choose the best antonym for perfidious

A) Treacherous

B) Loyal

C) Humane

D) Religious

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it.

Over the past few decades, many Asian nations transformed from poverty into global competitors.
From 2003 to 2007, Asian economies expanded at an average annual rate of 8.1%, triple that of
advanced economies. Over the same period, inflation in Asia averaged only about 3.5%. But Asia
could be facing turbulent economic times. In May, the average inflation rate throughout the region
reached nearly 7%, led by spikes in oil and food prices. In India, inflation jumped to an 11.6% annual
rate in June, according to the latest government figures, the highest in 13 years.

Policymakers and central bankers are forced to raise interest rates and limit credit to get inflation
under control. But these same measures suppress the investment and consumption that generates
growth. The combination of slowing growth and soaring inflation makes economic policy-making
tricky. Inflation stirs up the middle classes because it can quickly erase years of hard won personal
gains. Inflation is cruel to the poor, because families have to spend a larger share of their meagre
incomes on necessities. In the Philippines, farmers, unable to afford fuel for tractors, use water
buffaloes top lough their fields.

But to avoid unrest, leaders cannot blindly adopt rigid anti-inflation measures. Voters wont hesitate
to remove from office any politician who doesnt deliver the goods. So they cannot overreact to the
inflation threat and scale down economic growth in the process. Developing nations need to grow
quickly to create jobs and increase incomes for their large populations. With prices soaring, doing
nothing is not an option. Most central banks in Asia have started raising interest rates. The Reserve
Bank of India increased its benchmark rate twice last month to a six year high of 8.5%.

The challenge is especially difficult because currently, inflation is not of domestic origin. Prices are
being driven higher by a global surge in oil and food prices, which individual governments can do
little to control. Of course, inflation is not just a problem in Asia. World Bank President Robert Zoel
lick called rising food and oil prices a man-made catastrophe that could quickly reverse the gains
made in overcoming poverty over the past seven years. For now, though, there is more talk than
action on the international front, so Asian governments are on their own. Even though inflation
throughout the region is likely to continue to rise in coming months, no one is expecting an
economic calamity. According to the Asian Development Bank Asian countries have large hard
currency reserves and relatively healthy banks, and so are far better prepared to absorb external
shocks than they were during the regions last recession ten years ago. Asian policymakers have
learned their lessons and are more alert.

11) Which of the following can be said about Asian economies during the period from 2003- 2007?

1) Though inflation was rising at the time politicians did not pay much attention.
2) Many of the poor countries were able to compete internationally.

3) The growth rate of Asian countries was facilitated by growth in advanced countries.

A) All 1, 2, and 3

B) Only 1

C) Only 2

D) Both 1 and 2

E) None of these

12) Which of the following is not an anti-inflation measure being used by Asian countries?

1) Increase in benchmark interest rate by a central bank.

2) Checks on lending.

3) Subsidising fuel for farmers.

(A) Only 3

(B) Both 1 and 2

(C) Both 2 and 3

(D) Only 2

(E) None of these

13) What makes it difficult for Asian countries to control inflation?

A) Restrictions by organizations like the Asian Development Bank

B) Governments are indecisive and adopt counterproductive measures

C) The problem is global in nature, not restricted to their individual countries

D) Countries have never faced a financial crisis

E) Economic growth rate cannot occur in the absence of inflation

14) Why are experts not very concerned about the impact of inflation on Asian economies?

1) Asian countries have not maintained substantial hard currency reserves.

2) The condition of Asian banks is currently both stable and strong.

3) The Asian Development Bank will bail them out of any trouble.

A) Only 1

B) Both 1 and 3

C) Both 1 and 2

D) Only 2

E) None of these
15) What is the authors advice to politicians regarding the handling of inflation?

A) They should focus on preventing agitations among their citizens not implementing anti-inflation
measures

B) They ought to implement anti-inflation measures even at the cost of losing office

C) They must focus on maintaining high economic growth rate as inflation will taper off on its own

D) Countries should handle the problem independently and not collectively

E) None of these

16) Rearrange the sentences into a meaningful paragraph.

A) The modus operand anonymous people deposited and swiftly transferred crores of rupees in the
society's accounts in the names of slum dwellers reflects poor regulatory oversight.

B) Multi-state cooperative credit societies, which accept deposits only from, and give loans to,
members, are regulated by the central registrar under the agriculture ministry.

C) A report in ET by Sugata Ghosh shows how income-tax sleuths have unearthed a case of large-
scale money laundering through a multi-state urban cooperative credit society's account

D) The civil servant in charge, typically a joint secretary-level officer, is ill-equipped and does not
have the wherewithal to handle supervision.

a) ABCD

b) DCBA

c) CADB

d) CABD

17) Philosophical problems arise when people and questions that, though very_______, have
certain characteristics in common.

A) relevant

B) elementary

C) abstract

D) diverse

18) Although the substance is normally quite______________, scientists found that when
tempered with other elements it could be stored safely in metal containers.

A) voluminous

B) caustic

C) insoluble

D) vapid

19) Choose the word which best expresses the meaning of the given word:

CORPULENT
A) Lean

B) Gaunt

C) Emaciated

D) Obese

20)REPERCUSSION(choose the word that expresses similar meaning)

A) Clever reply

B) Recollection

C) Remuneration

D) Reaction

Comprehension

1) Harry who is a professional had a fearful dream. He found himself in a land where he saw some
slug-like animals with tentacles living on human bodies. The people tolerated these creatures
because after many years they would grow into bulls which then be used for transportation. Harry
noticed that he himself was covered with these creatures and he woke up screaming.

Question 1: In the dream, Harry found the creatures

A. in his office

B. in a different land

C. in his kitchen

D. in a different planet

Question 2: what did the creatures look like?

A. slug-like animals with horns

B. insects with wings

C. insects with tentacles

D. slug-like animals with tentacles

Question 3: Harry's dream was fearful because

A. It brought him face to face with elephants

B. He found himself on a land full of snakes

C. He forgets the way home

D. He saw creatures feeding on human bodies

Question 4: The creatures will grow into bulls which then will be used for

A. digging
 B. hunting

C. transportation

D. flying

Question 5: Harry woke up

A. dancing

B. screaming

C. thinking

D. singing

Oriental Bank of Commerce Sample Test Paper

Directions: (Q. 1 to 15) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below
it. Certain words have been printed in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the
questions.

The Emperor’s brother-in-law was also his Prime Minister and his favourite courtier. He was not liked
by the other courtiers as a result. Jealous of the Emperor’s brother-in-law the courtiers once said,
“Your Majesty, why don’t you appoint one of us as Prime Minister? Subject us to a test to see who is
truly the right person to be Prime Minister. ” At the time the Prime Minister was out hunting with
another courtier. In pursuit of their prey, they mistakenly rode into the neighbouring kingdom. As
they were strangers and had weapons they were arrested as spies by the soldiers there and were
certain to be sentenced to death by the ruler, King Amir.

The courtier was petrified and bowed his head in prayer. The Prime Minister pretending to be
praying whispered something in his ear. The two of them then began arguing. I should be the one to
die first! each of them said. Those present were astonished to hear their argument. The soldiers
brought the two before King Amir. He was astonished to hear of their strange behaviour. “Tell me
why you are so eager to die? Pretending to be reluctant to reveal the reason the Prime Minister
bowed respectfully and said, Sir, our Emperor has a secret wish of annexing your kingdom. If you kill
us the emperor can attack your kingdom on the pretext of avenging our deaths. The emperor has
also promised us a great reward for our sacrifice. We felt that in case you changed your mind and set
one of us free to return home he would not get the reward. King Amir was worried when he heard
this. Concerned that the lives of his subjects would be lost in war, King Amir refused to kill either of
the two and sent them home. When they heard about the incident the emperor’s courtiers bowed
their heads. They were ashamed. They realised the emperor had made a wise choice in selecting his
Prime Minister.

1. Why were the courtiers not on good terms with the emperor’s brother-in-law?

(A) The emperor used to only heed his brother-in-law’s advice

(B) He was cleverer than they were and he would remind them of it

(C) He was empowered to take decisions on behalf of the emperor

(D) He had more power and prestige and earned more than they did

(E) None of these

2. Why did the emperor’s two courtiers enter the neighbouring kingdom?

(A) The emperor had asked them to deliver a message to its king

(B) They wanted to spy on the neighbouring kingdom

(C) They had accidentally wandered into neighbouring territory

(D) The other courtiers had set a trap for them

(E) Their curiosity about the kingdom led them to enter it

3. Why was the emperor’s brother-in-law not afraid when faced with death?

1. He felt that if he told King Amir the truth his life would be spared.

2. He was confident that he would be rescued.

3. He had prayed fervently asking God to save them.

(A) None

(B) Only 1

(C) Only 2

(D) Both 2 and 3

(E) Only 3

4. Which of the following can be said about the emperor?

(A) He reserved important posts for his family members

(B) He had chosen a worthy Prime Minister

(C) He was ruthless and wanted to conquer the neighbouring kingdom

(D) He treated all his courtiers shabbily except his brother-in-law

(E) He deliberately endangered the lives of his courtiers in order to test them

5. Why did the two courtiers begin to argue with each other?

(A) They wanted to distract the soldiers so they could escape

(B) It was a delaying tactic till they were rescued

(C) They blamed each other for the predicament they were in
(D) The Prime Minister wanted to stop the other courtier from divulging the emperors plan to the
enemy

(E) None of these

6. What surprised King Amir about the courtier’s behaviour?

1. They were very respectful to him although he had condemned them to death.

2. Each was volunteering to be killed first.

3. They had managed to convince the soldiers to set them free.

(A) Only 1

(B) Both 1 and 2

(C) Only 3

(D) Only 2

(E) None of these

7. Why did King Amir set the two courtiers free?

(A) He believed their story that the emperor was planning to attack

(B) He had great respect for their courage

(C) He had ascertained they were not spies so he set them free

(D) He was impressed by the wisdom of the emperors’ courtiers

(E) None of these

8. Which of the following does not describe the emperor’s reaction to the courtier’s request to
appoint one of them as Prime Minister?

1. He thought about asking his brother-in-law to resign.

2. He tested his brother-in-law to prove he was best suited for the post of Prime Minister.

3. He disregarded it completely and punished the courtiers.

(A) Only 1

(B) Only 3

(C) Both 1 and 3

(D) All 1, 2 and 3

(E) None of these

9. Which of the following is NOT true in the context of the passage?

(A) King Amir was concerned about the welfare of his people

(B) The emperor’s brother-in-law had enemies in court

(C) King Amir set the emperor’s brother-in-law free on account of his bravery

(D) The emperor’s brother-in-law was deserving of the post of Prime Minister

(E) The Prime Minister was a quick thinker

10. What was the courtier’s reaction when they heard about the Prime Ministers safe return?

(A) They were disappointed because their plan had failed

(B) They were ashamed of their plot to kill him

(C) They were upset to hear about his bad experience

(D) They bowed in respect and praised his wisdom

(E) None of these