Passage 1
“It has become necessary to take certain emergency measures to prevent and contain the spread of the virus in the interest of public health,” the order by DDMA stated.
All Delhi government offices functioned with officers of the level of grade one and above to the extent of 100% strength while the remaining staff attended up to 50% as per requirement as assessed by head of the department while the remaining 50% were supposed to work from home. However, in health and family welfare and all related medical establishments, police, prisons, home guards, and other essential services were required to function without any restrictions.
There was no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of people and goods, including those for cross-land border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries. No separate permission was required for such movements.
| Bed type | Total | Occupied |
|---|---|---|
| Total Covid Beds | 5,834 | 5,768 |
| Total Covid ICU Beds with Ventilator | 779 | 373 |
| Total Covid ICU Beds without Ventilator | 1,267 | 555 |
| Patients | |
|---|---|
| No. of patients in home isolation | 15,266 |
| No. of patients admitted in hospitals | 7,880* |
| *Some patients are also admitted in Covid health centres and Covid care centres | |
| COVID COUNT | |
|---|---|
| Total Cases | 7,14,423 |
| New Cases on 11 April | 7,897 |
| Recovered | 6,74,415 |
| Deaths | 11,235 |
| Active cases | 28,773 |
The use of all swimming pools, except being used for training of sportspersons for participation in national and international events, was prohibited.
The CM also underlined the laxity which crept into the system and agencies after the third wave of Covid, which hit the capital in November 2020, passed and daily cases dropped significantly. “We are currently in comfortable position with reference to beds and ventilators. We will ensure that the people of Delhi stay safe to the best of our abilities. Lockdown is not an option. We will announce the restrictions in the coming few days. Covid centres are being rebuilt and some have already started functioning,” Delhi CM Kejriwal said. He announced that the Delhi government would do preparations like it did during the third Covid wave in November 2020 to tackle the fourth wave.
The CM said that Delhi has 7-10 days’ stock of Covid vaccines and again appealed to the Centre to remove the age restriction for taking the jab because inoculating everyone would help. He said, “The Delhi government is ready to vaccinate all within 2-3 months if the restrictions are removed.”
“Lok Nayak Hospital has 2,000 beds. During the last wave, all 2,000 were declared as Covid beds. Right now, we have declared 1,500 as Covid beds, 500 beds are still non-Covid. Slowly, the OPD will also be shut down at the hospital and, if the situation demands, all 2,000 will be made available for Covid patients,” the CM said.
[Source: The Times of India]
Questions and Answers
(a). In the line “… stagger the presence and quantum of staff”, the word ‘stagger’ refers to:
(a) slow speed of work in an office.
(b) presence of less number of staff in an office.
(c) presence of all staff on alternate days in an office.
(d) work from home for all staff.
Answer: (b) presence of less number of staff in an office.
Explanation: Staggering spreads out staff attendance so that fewer employees are in office at the same time, as the first paragraph explains.
(b). In the line “…certain emergency measures”, the term ‘emergency measures’ does NOT refer to:
(a) presence of 50% of staff in an office at the same time.
(b) proper functioning of all essential services for the restriction of Covid-19 cases.
(c) complete restrictions on travelling.
(d) shut down of schools, colleges and other educational institutions for a certain period of time.
Answer: (c) complete restrictions on travelling.
Explanation: The passage clearly says there was no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of people and goods.
(c). Which of these actions is/are must to prevent and contain the spread of Covid-19 cases?
(a) Wearing mask when going out of home
(b) Maintaining social distancing
(c) Washing hands with soap and water time and again
(d) All of these
Answer: (d) All of these
Explanation: Masks, distancing and hand hygiene are all standard Covid safety measures, so every option is needed.
(d). The number of new Covid-19 cases every day in our country indicates that:
(a) public are unaware of the consequences of Covid-19 virus.
(b) public are not following the protocols of safety measures properly.
(c) government is not taking any key step to prevent Covid-19 cases.
(d) it is impossible to control Covid-19 cases.
Answer: (b) public are not following the protocols of safety measures properly.
Explanation: The CM points to the laxity that crept in after the third wave, i.e. safety protocols were not being followed properly.
(e). Based on your understanding of the passage choose the option that lists the statements that are NOT TRUE.
1. There is no advantage of lockdown.
2. Most of the office staff should be said to work from home.
3. Covid vaccines are ineffective for preventing the spread of Covid-19 cases.
4. The Delhi Government wants to vaccinate every Delhiite against Covid-19.
5. There is no adverse impact of Covid-19 on students.
(a) 3 and 5
(b) 1 and 4
(c) 2 and 4
(d) 2 and 5
Answer: (a) 3 and 5
Explanation: The CM says inoculating everyone would help (so 3 is false) and schools stayed closed (so 5 is false), while 2 and 4 agree with the passage.
(f). The data given in the passage reveals that:
(a) most people who are Covid positive require ICU beds with ventilator.
(b) most people who are Covid positive get well at their homes.
(c) most of the Covid-19 patients succumb to death.
(d) the recovery rate is very low.
Answer: (b) most people who are Covid positive get well at their homes.
Explanation: The table shows 15,266 patients in home isolation against 7,880 in hospitals, and 6,74,415 of 7,14,423 cases recovered.
(g). Why were private organisations in the capital advised to follow the practice of work from home?
Answer: Private organisations in the capital were advised to follow the practice of work from home in order to reduce the number of employees attending office at the same time.
Explanation: The first paragraph gives this objective.
(h). Who were required to function without any restrictions?
Answer: Health and family welfare and all related medical establishments, police, prisons, home guards and other essential services were required to function without any restrictions.
Explanation: The third paragraph lists these services.
(i). How many total Covid beds are there in the capital?
Answer: There are total 5,834 Covid beds in the capital.
Explanation: The table gives 5,834 total Covid beds (5,768 occupied).
(j). Who are allowed to use swimming pools?
Answer: Sportspersons who are getting training for participation in national and international events are allowed to use swimming pools.
Explanation: The passage makes only this exception to the swimming pool ban.
(k). With what reference is the capital in comfortable position?
Answer: The capital is in comfortable position with reference to beds and ventilators.
Explanation: The CM’s statement mentions beds and ventilators.
Passage 2
Drug addiction causes immense human distress and the illegal production and distribution of drugs have spawned crime and violence worldwide. June 26 is celebrated as International Day against Drug Abuse. It is an exercise undertaken by the world community to sensitize the people in general and the youth in particular to the menace of drugs.The pattern of drug abuse in India has undergone changes over the years. Use of drugs like charas, ganja, and opium was a tradition in some places of India, where they were mainly used for ritualistic purposes.
According to a UN report, one million heroin addicts are registered in India, and unofficially there are as many as five million. Inhalation of heroin alone has given way to intravenous drug use that too in combination with other sedatives and painkillers. This has increased the intensity of the effect, hastened the process of addiction and complicated the process of recovery. A large number of people commit suicide due to drug/alcohol addiction. Drug abuse is a complex phenomenon, which has various social, cultural, biological, geographical, historical and economic aspects.
The disintegration of the old joint family system, absence of parental love and care in modern families where both parents are working, decline of old religious and moral values etc. lead to a rise in the number of drug addicts who take drugs to escape hard realities of life.
Drug abuse is primarily due to the nature of the drug abused, the personality of the individual and the addict’s immediate environment. The processes of industrialisation, urbanisation and migration have led to loosening of the traditional methods of social control rendering individual vulnerable to the stresses and strains of modern life. Drug abuse caused a detrimental impact on the society. It has led to increase in the crime rate. According to the World Health Organisation report 2002, 8.9% of the total burden of disease is due to use of psychoactive substances. Adolescent drug abuse is one of the major areas of concern in adolescent and young people’s behaviour. It is estimated that in India, by the time most boys reach ninth grade, about 40% of them have tried at least one of the substances of abusive nature.
Questions and Answers
(a). What are the factors that cause drug abuse in young generation?
(a) Changing cultural values
(b) Increasing economic stress
(c) Dwindling supportive bonds
(d) All of these
Answer: (d) All of these
Explanation: The first paragraph names all three as leading to initiation of drug abuse.
(b). What is/are the adverse impact(s) of drug addiction?
(a) Enormous human distress
(b) Illegal production of drugs
(c) Illegal distribution of drugs
(d) All of these
Answer: (d) All of these
Explanation: The second paragraph links drug addiction to immense human distress and the illegal production and distribution of drugs.
(c). According to the graph, how many people out of one crore committed suicide due to drug addiction in Maharashtra in 2019?
(a) Nearly 142
(b) Nearly 122
(c) Nearly 132
(d) Nearly 112
Answer: (b) Nearly 122
Explanation: The Maharashtra bar stands at about 120 per crore population, i.e. nearly 122.
(d). According to a UN report, how many heroin addicts are registered in India?
(a) One lakh
(b) Ten lakh
(c) One crore
(d) Ten crore
Answer: (b) Ten lakh
Explanation: The UN report says one million registered heroin addicts, and one million equals ten lakh.
(e). Based on your understanding of the passage, choose the option that lists the causes of the rise in the number of drug addicts.
1. Disintegration of joint family system
2. Absence of parental love
3. Decline of old religious and moral values
4. Absence of enough money
5. Stress in modern life
(a) 1, 2 and 4
(b) 2, 3 and 5
(c) 2, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: The passage names the break-up of joint families, absence of parental love and decline of old values as causes of the rise.
(f). Choose the option that lists the correct answers for the following:
1. Peter, a seventeen-year-old student believes that drugs can help to improve his focus in school. What kind of a person is Peter?
2. Mr Paul is a sports-person. He often consumes drugs to boost his performance. What kind of a person is Mr Paul?
(a) 1 is a drug addict and 2 is not a drug addict.
(b) 1 is not a drug addict and 2 is also not a drug addict.
(c) 1 is a drug addict and 2 may/may not be a drug addict.
(d) 1 may/may not be a drug addict and 2 often consumes drugs.
Answer: (d) 1 may/may not be a drug addict and 2 often consumes drugs.
Explanation: Peter only holds a belief about drugs, so he may or may not be an addict, while Mr Paul is stated to consume drugs often.
(g). What are the major causes that lead to initiation of drug abuse?
Answer: Changing cultural values, increasing economic stress and dwindling supportive bonds are the major causes that result in initiation of drug abuse.
Explanation: The first paragraph names these three causes.
(h). What is the motive behind celebrating 26 June as International Day against drug abuse?
Answer: The motive behind celebrating 26 June as International Day against drug abuse is to sensitise people in general and the youth in particular to the menace of drugs.
Explanation: The second paragraph states the purpose of the day.
(i). Name the drugs which were mainly used for ritualistic purposes in India?
Answer: Charas, ganja and opium.
Explanation: The passage says these were traditionally used for ritualistic purposes.
(j). Why do some people take drugs?
Answer: Some people take drugs to escape the hard realities of life.
Explanation: The passage says addicts take drugs to escape the hard realities of life.
(k). What does the WHO report 2002 say?
Answer: The WHO report 2002 says that 8.9% of the total burden of disease is due to use of psychoactive substances.
Explanation: The last paragraph quotes this WHO figure.
Passage 3
The year 2020 witnessed a shift of economic power and attention to the strengthening economies of the BRIC countries: Brazil, Russia, India and China. The growth rate of gross domestic product in the BRIC countries is overwhelmingly larger than in traditionally strong economies, such as the United States and Germany.
While the United States can claim the title of the largest economy in the world by almost any measure, China takes the second largest share of global GDP with India racing Japan for third-largest position. Despite the world-wide recession in 2008 and 2009, India still managed to record impressive GDP growth rates, especially when most of the world recorded negative growth in at least one of those years.
Part of the reason for India’s success is the economic liberalization that started in 1991 and encouraged trade, subsequently, ending some public monopolies. GDP growth has slowed in recent years, due in part to skyrocketing inflation. India’s workforce is expanding in the industry and service sectors, growing partially because of international outsourcing — a profitable venture for the Indian economy.
Questions and Answers
(a). According to the passage, the economy of India can be considered as a:
(a) high income developing market economy.
(b) middle income developing market economy.
(c) low income developing market economy.
(d) very low income developing market economy.
Answer: (b) middle income developing market economy.
Explanation: India is shown as a fast-growing emerging (BRIC) economy racing for third place, yet with slowing growth and high inflation, which fits a middle income developing market economy.
(b). What does GDP represent?
(a) The total monetary value of all final goods that a country possesses.
(b) The growth of monetary value a country within a period.
(c) The total earning capacity of a country.
(d) The total monetary value of all final goods and services produced within a period of time.
Answer: (d) The total monetary value of all final goods and services produced within a period of time.
Explanation: The first paragraph defines GDP as the total market value of all goods and services produced within a country per year.
(c). Real GDP is regarded as an important indicator for:
(a) population growth
(b) economic growth
(c) service growth
(d) All of these
Answer: (b) economic growth
Explanation: The first paragraph says real GDP is regarded as a key indicator for economic growth.
(d). Based on your understanding of the passage, choose the option that lists the correct statements about India.
1. India has to work hard to catch up with other super economic power.
2. India is the fastest growing economy in the world.
3. India’s economy has been going down for the last few years.
4. Now the Covid-19 pandemic has been affecting the economy of India.
5. The government of India is not making effort to increase GDP of India.
(a) 2, 4 and 5
(b) 1, 3 and 5
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 2, 3 and 5
Answer: (c) 1, 3 and 4
Explanation: India is still racing Japan for third place and its growth has slowed since 2016 (graph), while statements 2 and 5 are not supported by the passage.
(e). Which of these statements is NOT TRUE?
(a) The year 2010 had the highest GDP growth rate during 2009 to 2019.
(b) In 2019, India was at third rank in the world in terms of GDP growth rate.
(c) Indian economy includes service sector, agriculture sector and manufacturing sector.
(d) BPOs play a significant role in strengthening Indian economy.
Answer: (b) In 2019, India was at third rank in the world in terms of GDP growth rate.
Explanation: The passage says India is racing Japan for third-largest position by size of economy, not that it ranked third in growth rate in 2019.
(f). “Despite the world-wide recession in 2008 and 2009, India still managed to record impressive GDP growth rates.” It means that in 2008 and 2009, during the world-wide recession:
(a) India’s growth rate in GDP was not good.
(b) India’s GDP growth rate was disappointing.
(c) India’s GDP growth rate was satisfactory.
(d) India’s GDP growth rate went down immensely.
Answer: (c) India’s GDP growth rate was satisfactory.
Explanation: ‘Impressive’ growth while most of the world recorded negative growth means India’s growth was satisfactory.
(g). What does the term GDP refer to?
Answer: GDP refers to the total market value of all goods and services produced within a country per year.
Explanation: The first paragraph gives this definition.
(h). What was India’s real gross domestic product growth in 2019?
Answer: India’s real GDP growth in 2019 was about 4.23 percent.
Explanation: The first paragraph and the graph both show 4.23% for 2019.
(i). Name the two countries which are considered as strong economies.
Answer: The United States and Germany.
Explanation: The second paragraph calls them traditionally strong economies.
(j). Mention the years in which the world-wide recession took place.
Answer: The world-wide recession took place in 2008 and 2009.
Explanation: The third paragraph mentions the recession of 2008 and 2009.
(k). In which sectors is workforce expanding?
Answer: India’s workforce is expanding in the industry and service sectors.
Explanation: The last paragraph names these two sectors.