Passage 1
(1) On 8 November 2016, the Indian government decided to demonetise the 500- and 1,000-rupee notes, the two biggest denominations of the Indian currency system. These notes accounted for 86% of the country’s circulating cash. With little warning, India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi announced to the citizenry that these notes would be rendered ineffective with immediate effect. People were given time till the end of the year to deposit or exchange them for newly introduced 2,000 and 500-rupee notes.
(2) The government’s goal was to combat India’s thriving underground economy on several fronts: eradicate counterfeit currency, fight tax evasion (only 1% of the population pays taxes), eliminate black money accumulated from money laundering and terrorist-financing activities, and to promote a cashless economy. Individuals and entities with huge sums of black money acquired from parallel cash systems were forced to take their large-denomination notes to a bank, and account for them satisfactorily and submit the proof of tax paid. If the individual could not provide the proof of making any tax payments on the cash he/she possessed, a penalty of 200% on the tax due was to be imposed.
(3) Demonetisation had a severe impact on the gold market. The extraordinary demand for the yellow metal brought a stiff hike in its cost. However, the government made it mandatory that every buyer had to submit his/her PAN card details for purchases made.
(4) Many Indians switched to alternative payment methods. The biggest gainers were mobile wallet companies that offered easy transactions through a large network of partners. Alibaba-backed Paytm saw a sevenfold increase in overall traffic. Customers found the option of prepaid cash cards useful. Other alternatives included mobile payment systems linked to e-commerce businesses like Ola Money, FreeCharge, and Flipkart Wallet.
Questions and Answers
(a). Why did the government decide to demonetise the 500- and 1,000-rupee notes?
(a) To eradicate counterfeit currency
(b) To fight tax evasion
(c) To eliminate black money
(d) All of these
Answer: (d) All of these
Explanation: Paragraph 2 lists eradicating counterfeit currency, fighting tax evasion and eliminating black money among the goals.
(b). Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE, according to the passage?
(a) Demonetisation had a severe impact on the stock market.
(b) Alibaba-backed Paytm saw a sevenfold increase in overall traffic.
(c) On 8 November 2016, the Indian government decided to demonetise the two biggest denominations of the Indian currency system.
(d) People were given time till the end of the year to deposit or exchange the notes.
Answer: (a) Demonetisation had a severe impact on the stock market.
Explanation: Paragraph 3 says demonetisation had a severe impact on the gold market, not the stock market.
(c). What did the government make mandatory for every buyer to purchase gold?
(a) To submit the proof of tax paid
(b) To submit the PAN card details
(c) To opt for mobile payment systems
(d) To submit the proof of citizenship
Answer: (b) To submit the PAN card details
Explanation: Paragraph 3 says every gold buyer had to submit PAN card details.
(d). What was the impact of demonetisation on the entities with huge sums of black money?
(a) They were forced to take their large-denomination notes to bank.
(b) They were asked to submit the proof of tax paid.
(c) A penalty of 200% on the black money was to be imposed.
(d) Both (i) and (ii)
Answer: (d) Both (i) and (ii)
Explanation: Paragraph 2 says they had to take the notes to a bank and submit proof of tax paid; the 200% penalty was on tax due, not on the money.
(e). Customers found the option of ______ useful.
(a) prepaid cash cards
(b) submitting PAN card details
(c) paying tax
(d) money laundering
Answer: (a) prepaid cash cards
Explanation: Paragraph 4 says customers found the option of prepaid cash cards useful.
Passage 2
(1) In the early 1900s, settlers came to Alaska looking for gold. They travelled by boat to the coastal towns of Seward and Knik, and from there, by land, into the gold fields. The trail they used to travel inland is known today as the Iditarod Trail, one of the National Historic Trails designated by the Congress of the United States. The Iditarod Trail quickly became a major thoroughfare in Alaska, as the mail and supplies were carried across this Trail. People also used it to get from place to place, including the priests, ministers, and judges who had to travel between villages. In winter, the settlers’ only means of travel down this trail was via dog sleds.
(2) Once the gold rush ended, many gold-seekers went back to where they had come from, and suddenly, there was much less travel on the Iditarod Trail. The introduction of the airplane in the late 1920s meant dog teams were no longer the standard mode of transportation, and of course, with the airplane carrying the mail and supplies, there was less need for land travel in general. The final blow to the use of the dog teams was the appearance of snowmobiles.
(3) By the mid-1960s, most Alaskans didn’t even know the Iditarod Trail existed, or that dog teams had played a crucial role in Alaska’s early settlements. Dorothy G. Page, a self-made historian, recognised that only a few people knew about the former use of sled dogs as working animals and about the Iditarod Trail’s role in Alaska’s colourful history. To raise awareness about this aspect of Alaskan history, she came up with the idea to have a dog sled race over the Iditarod Trail. She presented her idea to an enthusiastic musher, as dog sled drivers are known, named Joe Redington Sr. Soon Page and Redington were working together to promote the idea of the Iditarod race, and in 1967, the first Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race became a reality.
Questions and Answers
(a). Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE about the Iditarod Trail?
(a) People used the trail to get from place to place.
(b) The Iditarod Trail is one of the National Historic Trails designated by the Congress of the United States.
(c) In winters, the trail was not used much by the settlers.
(d) The trail became a major thoroughfare in Alaska.
Answer: (c) In winters, the trail was not used much by the settlers.
Explanation: Paragraph 1 says in winter dog sleds were the settlers’ only means of travel on the trail, so it was used, not neglected.
(b). What was the final blow to the use of the dog teams?
(a) The appearance of railways
(b) The appearance of airplanes
(c) The appearance of mobiles
(d) The appearance of snowmobiles
Answer: (d) The appearance of snowmobiles
Explanation: Paragraph 2 says the final blow was the appearance of snowmobiles.
(c). ‘Suddenly, there was much less travel on the Iditarod Trail.’ Why?
(a) Because of the introduction of airplane
(b) Because many gold seekers went back to where they had come from, once the gold rush ended
(c) Because only few people knew about the Iditarod Trail
(d) Because mails and supplies were carried via dog sleds
Answer: (b) Because many gold seekers went back to where they had come from, once the gold rush ended
Explanation: Paragraph 2 links the sudden drop in travel to gold-seekers going home after the gold rush ended.
(d). Why did Dorothy G. Page come up with the idea to have a dog sled race over the Iditarod Trail?
(a) To use sled dogs as working animals
(b) To encourage dog sled drivers
(c) To raise awareness about the Alaskan history
(d) All of these
Answer: (c) To raise awareness about the Alaskan history
Explanation: Paragraph 3 says she proposed the race to raise awareness about this aspect of Alaskan history.
(e). The first Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race became a reality in:
(a) 1920
(b) 1967
(c) 1897
(d) 1960
Answer: (b) 1967
Explanation: Paragraph 3 ends by saying the first race became a reality in 1967.
Passage 3
(1) After water, tea is the most popular beverage in the world. Its popularity has survived thousands of years and has played an important role in many cultures. It is enjoyed both hot and cold, as a refreshing drink, as part of a ceremony, or as a tonic to improve health.
(2) The drink of Asia for hundreds of years, tea is believed to have been brought to Europe by the Dutch. Today, from remote Ladakh in India to Buckingham Palace in London, tea is synonymous with cheer. It is rightly said that there will be no agreement on a perfect cup of tea. Though for tea drinkers, the brew is addictive, the preferred method of preparation and taste differs from person to person and region to region. From traditional black teas, to the newer, and extraordinarily healthy white teas, and recognisable flavoured teas, such as Earl Grey, to exotic blends such as Rooibos Love, there is a flavour and a blend for everyone. Today, many varieties of tea and tea brands are available in the market. An innovation is the tea-bag that is easy, quick, and less messy than the traditional way of brewing tea. Green tea is popular in China and the Far East.
(3) In Japan, the tea ceremony is a traditional way of greeting guests and is a social occasion. Unlike the tea we are familiar with, green tea is not drunk with sugar or milk. It is an olive-coloured liquid served in porcelain cups. In Morocco, green tea is infused with freshly-plucked mint.
(4) Some scientists believe that tea prevents tooth decay because it is a rich source of fluoride. Tea is also a folk remedy for stomach upsets and flu. In addition, tea is said to have antioxidants that fight cancer and also has anti-ageing properties that fight the free radicals in our bodies. Research suggests that drinking tea reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer, and lowers cholesterol levels in the blood. A welcome thought for inveterate tea drinkers: tea is the new apple-a-day to keep the doctor away.
Questions and Answers
(a). What does the line, “Tea is synonymous with cheer” mean?
(a) Tea makes people cheerful.
(b) Tea means cheer.
(c) ‘Cheer’ is a type of tea.
(d) Tea is the synonym of cheer.
Answer: (a) Tea makes people cheerful.
Explanation: In paragraph 2 the phrase means that tea is closely associated with good spirits, i.e. it makes people cheerful.
(b). What are the benefits of drinking tea? Choose the correct option from the following.
(1) Lowers cholesterol
(2) Reduces the risk of heart disease
(3) Prevents hairfall
(4) Fights cancer
(5) Keeps the liver healthy
(a) (1) and (5)
(b) Only (4)
(c) Only (2)
(d) (1), (2) and (4)
Answer: (d) (1), (2) and (4)
Explanation: Paragraph 4 says tea lowers cholesterol, reduces heart-disease risk and fights cancer; hair fall and the liver are not mentioned.
(c). Choose the statement which is NOT TRUE according to the passage.
(a) Tea is believed to have been brought to Europe by the Dutch.
(b) In Morocco, green tea is infused with milk.
(c) Tea is also a folk remedy for stomach upsets and flu.
(d) Tea’s popularity has survived thousands of years.
Answer: (b) In Morocco, green tea is infused with milk.
Explanation: Paragraph 3 says in Morocco green tea is infused with freshly-plucked mint, not milk.
(d). Which type of tea is popular in the Far East?
(a) White tea
(b) Flavoured tea
(c) Black tea
(d) Green tea
Answer: (d) Green tea
Explanation: Paragraph 2 ends by saying green tea is popular in China and the Far East.
(e). How is tea served in Japan?
(a) Earthen pots
(b) Porcelain cups
(c) China dish
(d) None of these
Answer: (b) Porcelain cups
Explanation: Paragraph 3 says Japanese green tea is served in porcelain cups.