STRATEGY OF SOLVING IBPS PO PRELIMS

Direction (1-7) : Read the following passage carefully and answer the
questions given below.

If there was any doubt about the _____(A)______ of the BRICS grouping
(Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa), which held its 15th Summit in
Johannesburg this week, the massive global interest in its outcomes should have put
those to rest. Ever since the grouping, set up as a coalition of emerging economies,
said last year that it was open to new members, as many as 40 countries from the
global south have evinced interest in joining, with at least 22 formal applications. The
decision to more than double its membership overnight, from 5 to 11, by inducting
four major middle eastern players, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Emirates, as well as Ethiopia and Argentina, from Africa and South America,
respectively, is significant. The enthusiasm is obvious.
BRICS has weathered several storms and is today seen, if not as any alternative, as
a counter-narrative creator to the western-led G-7 club on diverse issues: from
climate change commitments and UN reform to its rejection of unilateral western
sanctions against Iran, Russia and Venezuela. By also creating the New
Development Bank, which has funded nearly 100 projects so far, instituting a
Contingent Reserve Arrangement, and other institutional mechanisms, the BRICS
countries have also shown their ability to work on practical initiatives. While the
grouping may not yet rival the wealth of the G-7, it does now rival its share of the
global GDP (approximately 30% each), and represents a more equitable
representation across 40% of the world’s population to the G-7 countries that make
up just 10%. Once the new members join, six of 10 of the biggest global oil suppliers
will be BRICS countries, giving BRICS new heft in the field of energy.
While the battle of proving its reason for existence may have been substantially won,
the BRICS countries still fall short in showing a coherence of purpose, and are still
mired by inner contradictions.
The rivalry between India and China has no doubt slowed the grouping down and
the induction of arch rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia-UAE, despite their recent
acceptance, could well create similar issues for the group in the future. In addition,
any overtly political, anti-western stance by BRICS will make India, and other
countries in the grouping who walk a tightrope between the global powers, including
Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Brazil, uncomfortable. Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine too has caused uneasiness, and BRICS members did not vote as a bloc on
any of the UN votes; nor did any of the other members support Russia’s actions.
Above all, any attempts by China to overpower the group with its strategic or
economic vision will require a firm pushback if the foundational idea of BRICS, to
assert the strategic autonomy of its members, is to be followed. Eventually it is the
promise of shared prosperity and a more democratic model of global governance
that attracts so many in the global south to the grouping, and will provide the mortar
for an expanded line-up of BRICS countries.
If there was any doubt about the A. Only a
_____(A)______ of the BRICS grouping B. Both a and b
(Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa), which C. Only c
held its 15th Summit in Johannesburg this week, D. Both a and c
the massive global interest in its outcomes E. All of a, b and c.
should have put those to rest.

1. Choose the most suitable word to fill the given

blank (A) to make the sentence grammatically
and contextually correct.
a. importance
b. relevance
c. significance
2. What is the driving force behind the A. Only a
expansion of the BRICS grouping's B. Both a and b
member countries? C. Only c
D. Both b and c
a. The desire to rival the G-7 in terms E. All of a, b and c.
of economic strength.
b. The need to address inner
contradictions and rivalries.
c. The idea of everyone benefiting
together and a fairer way to govern the
world globally.
3. What could be a problem if A. Only a
BRICS countries openly take a B. Both a and b
political stance against the West? C. Both b and c
D. Only b
a. It might lead to a loss of E. None of a, b and c.
membership for BRICS countries.
b. It could cause discomfort among
countries that have complex
relationships with global powers.
c. It could lead to a stronger alliance
with the G-7.
4. What key initiatives have the BRICS A. Both b and c
countries undertaken to showcase their B. Only b
ability to work on practical projects? C. Both a and c
D. Only c
a. Establishing a unified currency E. All of a, b and c.
system and a joint military force.
b. Tackling climate change and
reforming the UN to oppose Western
sanctions.
c. Establishing the New Development
Bank and setting up a Contingent
Reserve Arrangement.
5. What potential challenge does China's A. Both a and b
role pose to the BRICS grouping's B. Only b
foundational idea? C. Both b and c
D. Only a
a. China's dubious stance might alienate E. None of a, b and c.
Western countries.
b. China's economic vision could
undermine the autonomy of member
countries.
c. China's lack of commitment to shared
prosperity might cause divisions.
6. What is the primary reason for concerns and potential
challenges within the BRICS grouping?

A. The lack of economic strength compared to the G-7

countries.
B. Inner contradictions and rivalries among member countries.
C. The absence of a restrictive stance against Western nations.
D. The inability to attract new members from developed
economies.
E. None of the above.
The decision to more than double its A. Both a and b
membership overnight, from 5 to 11, by B. Only a
inducting four major middle eastern players, C. Both b and c
Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab D. Only b
Emirates, as well as Ethiopia and Argentina, E. All of a, b and c.
from Africa and South America, respectively, is
significant.

7. Which of the following options can be the

appropriate Synonym (s) of the word
‘inducting’, as used in the above passage?
a. discovering
b. enrolling
c. expelling
Directions(8-12): In each of the questions, a sentence
has been divided into four parts, one of which may
contain an error. Identify that fragment and mark it as
your answer. Mark (E) if the sentence contains no error.
8. Delhi Traffic Police on Friday adviced people to use the metro for commuting
during the two days of G20 Summit since bus movement will be restricted in the
Lutyens' Delhi – where the venues of the summit are located.

A. Delhi Traffic Police on Friday adviced people to use

B. the metro for commuting during the two days of G20
C. Summit since bus movement will be restricted in the
D. Lutyens' Delhi – where the venues of the summit are located.
E. No error
9. The researchers from the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain
found that ChatGPT scored nine out of ten on average for accuracy, the rest
of the time it was correct but left some gaps in the information provided.

A. The researchers from the University of Santiago de

B. Compostela in Spain found that ChatGPT scored nine
C. out of ten on average for accuracy, the rest of the time it
D. was correct but left some gaps in the information provided.
E. No error
10. The rainstorm that hit the Black Rock Desert near the end of last
week has been the longest and heavy rainfall since the festival began
more than 30 years ago.

A. The rainstorm that hit the Black Rock Desert

B. near the end of last week
C. has been the longest and heavy rainfall since
D. the festival began more than 30 years ago.
E. No error
11. Climate policy is one of several fronts where Britain’s beleaguered
Conservative government is drawing sharp lines on emotive issues,
hoping to set themself apart from the Opposition Labour Party.

A. Climate policy is one of several fronts where

B. Britain’s beleaguered Conservative government is
C. drawing sharp lines on emotive issues, hoping to
D. set themself apart from the Opposition Labour Party.
E. No error.
12. Evacuations from one of the most inhospitable area of the
planet are often complex, expensive, fraught with danger and can
require assistance from international partners.

A. Evacuations from one of the most inhospitable

B. area of the planet are often complex,
C. expensive, fraught with danger and can
D. require assistance from international partners.
E. No error
Direction (13-17): Below are some statements,
given in a random order. When these statements
are sequenced properly, they’ll form a coherent and
meaningful paragraph.
(P) Aditya-L1 will study the sun using a suite of seven instruments, including both
remote-sensing and in situ tools.
(Q) The mission aims to uncover the mysteries of the sun, such as the nature of the
solar wind and the coronal heating problem.
(R) Shortly after this lunar mission, ISRO launched India's first space mission
dedicated to studying the sun, called Aditya-L1.
(S) Aditya-L1 will also aim to travel to the L1 Lagrange point, 1.5 million kilometres
from Earth, to observe the sun unobstructed and transmit data for analysis by
scientists.
(T) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently soft-landed a robotic
lander and rover on the moon's south polar region.
13. Which of the following A. PSQ
combinations is the combination of B. TRS
THREE CONSECUTIVE statements C. RPQ
after the correct rearrangement? D. RQS
E. TQS
14. Which of the following options A. TR
is the pair of the B. RS
INTRODUCTORY statement and C. PQ
the TERMINAL statement, D. TS
respectively, after the correct E. PS
rearrangement?
15. Which of the following options is A. RQ
the pair of the ANTEPENULTIMATE B. PQ
statement and the PENULTIMATE C. PS
statement, respectively, after the D. QS
correct rearrangement? E. RS
16. Which of the following A. TQ
options is the pair of the First B. RP
and Fourth statement, C. PQ
respectively, after the correct D. PS
rearrangement? E. RS
17. Which of the following options A. P
is the Second Statement, after B. Q
the correct rearrangement? C. R
D. S
E. T
Directions(18-24): The passage given below contains
some blanks wherein the words have been removed.
Find the word from the given options that is suitable for
each blank and mark that as your answer.
The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, that is being ____(A)______ upon by
a Joint Committee of Parliament, is a contentious piece of legislation that signals the
complex challenges involved in ____(B)______ industrial development and the
conservation of forests. While industrialisation inevitably means _____(C)_____ greater
tracts of forest land and ecosystems, the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 has been the
mantelpiece legislation that has _____(D)______ the state to regulate this and impose
costs on such industrial exploitation. Originally meant for notified forests, a landmark
Supreme Court judgement, in the T.N. Godavarman Thirumalpad case (1996), among
other things, broadened the scope of such protection to even those not officially
classified so. India’s forest cover has seen only _____(E)_____ increases, as biennial
reports of the Forest Survey of India illustrate. Growth in forest cover inside officially
recorded forests is stagnant, or at best incremental. It is tree cover in orchards,
plantations and village homesteads that has been on the rise and ______(F)______
India’s claim that 24% of its area is under forest and tree cover. India has committed to
increasing this number to 33% and adding a carbon sink of 2.5 billion to 3 billion tons of
carbon dioxide this way, by 2030, as part of its international climate _____(G)______.
The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, A. Only a
that is being ____(A)______ upon by a Joint B. Both a and b
Committee of Parliament, is a contentious piece of C. Only c
legislation that signals the complex challenges D. Both a and c
involved in ____(B)______ industrial development E. All of a, b and c.
and the conservation of forests.
18. Which of the following appropriately fits in
Option A?
a. pondered
b. skimmed
c. deliberated
The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, A. Only a
2023, that is being ____(A)______ upon by B. Only b
a Joint Committee of Parliament, is a C. Both a and c
contentious piece of legislation that signals D. Both b and c
the complex challenges involved in E. All of a, b and c.
____(B)______ industrial development and
the conservation of forests.

19. Which of the following appropriately fits

in Option B?
a. levelling
b. balancing
c. moderating
While industrialisation inevitably means A. Only a
_____(C)_____ greater tracts of forest land B. Both b and c
and ecosystems, the Forest (Conservation) C. Only c
Act, 1980 has been the mantelpiece D. Both a and b
legislation that has _____(D)______ the E. All of a, b and c.
state to regulate this and impose costs on
such industrial exploitation.

20. Which of the following appropriately fits

in Option C?
a. usurping
b. relinquishing
c. granting
While industrialisation inevitably means A. Both a and b
_____(C)_____ greater tracts of forest land and B. Only b
ecosystems, the Forest (Conservation) Act, C. Both b and c
1980 has been the mantelpiece legislation that D. Only c
has _____(D)______ the state to regulate this E. All of a, b and c.
and impose costs on such industrial exploitation.

21. Which of the following appropriately fits in

Option D?
a. subjugated
b. authorised
c. empowered
India’s forest cover has seen only A. Only a
_____(E)_____ increases, as biennial B. Both b and c
reports of the Forest Survey of India
C. Only c
illustrate.
D. Both a and b
22. Which of the following E. All of a, b and c.
appropriately fits in Option E?
a. major
b. key
c. marginal
It is tree cover in orchards, plantations and A. Both a and b
village homesteads that has been on the rise B. Only c
and ______(F)______ India’s claim that 24%
C. Both b and c
of its area is under forest and tree cover.
D. Only b
23. Which of the following appropriately fits E. All of a, b and c.
in Option F?
a. bolstering
b. supplementing
c. challenging
 India has committed to increasing this A. Only a
number to 33% and adding a carbon sink of B. Both b and c
2.5 billion to 3 billion tons of carbon dioxide
C. Only b
this way, by 2030, as part of its international
climate _____(G)______. D. Both a and b
E. All of a, b and c.
24. Which of the following appropriately fits
in Option G?
a. pledges
b. commitments
c. departments
Direction(25-26): In the questions given below, a sentence
has been broken down into five fragments labelled (P), (Q),
(R), (S) and (T) and arranged, not necessarily in the correct
order. You have to find the correct order of arrangement from
the options given below. In case, the sentence is correct in
its original form, then select (E) as you answer.
25. (P) and concerning national security” A. RSQPT
within 100 km of / (Q) railway lines or B. PQSTR
“strategic linear projects of national C. SQPRT
importance / (R) India’s international D. TQRPS
borders or lines of control, without / (S) E. No rearrangement is
the amendment allows the diversion of required.
forest land for roads, / (T) a forest
clearance under the Forest
(Conservation) Act (FCA) 1980
26. (P) in the latest blow to efforts by A. PSQTR
its ruling generals to gain / (Q) B. RQPTS
southeast asian leaders decided that
C. SPRTQ
Myanmar won’t take / (R)
international recognition after D. QTSPR
violently seizing power in 2021 / (S) E. No rearrangement is required.
in 2026, Asian diplomats and a
leader said on Tuesday, / (T) over
the rotating leadership of their
regional bloc as scheduled
Directions(27-28) :In the following questions two columns, Column 1 and
Column 2 are given with three sentences/ phrases each. Column 1 consists
of sentences/ phrases A, B and C whereas Column 2 consists of sentences/
phrases D, E and F. Each question consists of five options, four of which
display the possible sequence in which the given sentences/phrases can be
joined to form a grammatically and contextually correct sentence. If no option
provides with a correct sentence after combination, mark (e), i.e. “None of
these'' as your answer
 Column 1 Column 2 27.
(A) The occurrence of (D) little investment and
waterlogging increases the thought is going into their A. Only A-E
chances of contracting planning.
gastrointestinal
B. A-E, B-F and C-D
C. C-D and B-E
(B) It is hoped that the (E) infections caused by
South Korean side will bacteria, viruses, and D. A-F, B-D and C-E
abide by the one-China parasites. E. None of these
principle
(C) Cities may be the driver (F) and handle it prudently
of India’s transformation but and properly.
very
 Column 1 Column 2 28.
(A) Plants that had (D) helped turn her textile
struggled to survive collection into an
through years of academic interest and a A. Only A-E
professional one.
B. A-F and C-E
(B) The pathology would (E) hives from the more
help him distinguish the destructive phototoxic
C. B-E AND C-D
inflammation of reaction, which destroys D. A-F and B-D
the skin cells.
E. None of these
(C) Ms. Komara was (F) as a new blast of heat
married to an threatens to settle over
archaeologist and the Southwest over the
anthropologist, who coming week.
Directions(29-30): Select the phrase/Starters from the
given three options which can be used to form a single
sentence from the two sentences given below,
implying the same meaning as expressed in the
statement sentences.
29. a) Only i
I. The patient's condition is deteriorating. b) Both i and iii
II. The doctors are considering an emergency c) Only ii
surgery.
d) Both i and ii
e) All of i, ii and iii
i. In light of the patient's deteriorating condition,
the doctors .................................
ii. Unless the patient's condition deteriorates, the
doctors .............................
iii. As the patient's condition is deteriorating, the
doctors .............................
30. a) Only i
I. The company's profits have been b) Both ii and iii
steadily decline. c) Only iii
II. The CEO will call for a strategic review. d) Both i and ii
e) All of i, ii and iii
i. Likewise the company's declining profits,
the CEO , the CEO ...............................
ii. If the company's profits continue to
decline, the CEO ..............................
iii. Since the company’s profit have been
steadily declining, the CEO
........................................
ANSWER READING COMPREHENSION
1.Ans: E
Explanation:
Relevance: Important to the matter at hand.
All options are appropriate for the Blank A.

2.Ans: C
Explanation:
The passage indicates that it is the promise of shared prosperity and a more democratic model of global
governance that attracts so many in the global south to the grouping, and will provide the mortar for an
expanded line-up of BRICS countries. This suggests that countries from the global south are attracted to BRICS
because they see it as a pathway to economic growth and greater participation in shaping international policies.

3.Ans: D
Explanation:
The passage suggests that an overtly political, anti-western stance by BRICS could cause discomfort among
member countries like India, Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil. These countries often navigate complex
relationships with global powers, including Western nations. An anti-Western stance might put them in an
awkward position and strain their diplomatic and economic ties.
4.Ans: A
Explanation:
The passage mentions that the BRICS countries have undertaken key initiatives to demonstrate
their ability to work on practical projects. From climate change commitments and UN reform to its
rejection of unilateral western sanctions against Iran, Russia and Venezuela. Specifically, they
have created the New Development Bank, which has funded nearly 100 projects, and established
a Contingent Reserve Arrangement. These initiatives showcase their commitment to collaboration
and their capacity to implement tangible projects that contribute to development and financial
stability.

5.Ans: B
Explanation:
The passage suggests that if China were to overpower the BRICS grouping with its strategic or
economic vision, it could undermine the foundational idea of BRICS, which is to assert the
strategic autonomy of its member countries. While the BRICS grouping aims to challenge
Western dominance, it also values the autonomy of its individual members.
6.Answer: B
Explanation:
The passage highlights that despite its successes, the BRICS grouping faces challenges related
to inner contradictions and rivalries among member countries. For example, the rivalry between
India and China has slowed down the group's progress, and the induction of countries with
historical tensions like Iran and Saudi Arabia-UAE could create similar issues in the future. These
internal disagreements could hinder the group's ability to present a coherent and unified front on
various global issues.

7.Ans: D
Explanation:
Inducting: to formally introduce a new member into a group or an organisation.
Enrolling is the synonym.
Discovering: to find information, a place, or an object.
Expelling: to force somebody to leave a country, school, club, etc.