Passage 1
It is high time we regarded travel and tourism as an industry and launched action plans to accelerate the growth of tourism. A nodal financial institution catering to the specific needs of tourism industry should be established.
The main stumbling blocks in the development of tourism at present are lack of infrastructure, inadequate ways of reaching hotels, tourist sites, gateways, etc., paucity in the number of coaches and cars (specially air-conditioned ones), ill-maintained roads. Conferences, cultural exchanges, tourism exchanges, leisure trips, education trips, holiday trips or business trips should be segregated and facilities available be publicised as an attractive package.
The need and aspiration of the various categories of tourists should be carefully analysed and adhered to in the sphere of accommodation, food, entertainment and guided tours. Last but not least the hotel industry should adopt a business like attitude in greeting and sending off the visitors with a smile. Give them a pleasant experience and prepare them to undertake a repeat visit soon.
Questions and Answers
(a). According to WTTC, in 2018, tourism generated:
(a) 5.5% of India’s GDP
(b) 9.2% of India’s GDP
(c) 10.6% of India’s GDP
(d) 12.8% of India’s GDP
Answer: (b) 9.2% of India’s GDP
Explanation: The WTTC figure is Rs 16.91 lakh crore or 9.2% of India’s GDP in 2018.
(b). In the line, “______ a thriving business for earning”, the word ‘thriving’ DOES NOT refer to:
(a) flourishing
(b) dying
(c) progressing
(d) expanding
Answer: (b) dying
Explanation: ‘Thriving’ means flourishing or growing; ‘dying’ is its opposite.
(c). Based on your understanding of the passage, choose the option that lists the benefits of a booming tourism industry.
1. Helps to earn valuable foreign exchange
2. Increases credits
3. Provides opportunity for cultural exchange
4. Contributes to the rise in population
5. Generates employment
(a) 1, 2 and 5
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 4 and 5
(d) 1, 3 and 5
Answer: (d) 1, 3 and 5
Explanation: The opening sentence names foreign exchange, cultural exchange and employment as the benefits of tourism.
(d). Choose the option that lists the statement that is NOT TRUE.
(a) Publicity of the available facilities should be discouraged.
(b) Special attention to the needs of the tourists should be given.
(c) Tourism is important for a country’s economy.
(d) WTTC stands for World Travel and Tourism Council.
Answer: (a) Publicity of the available facilities should be discouraged.
Explanation: The passage says available facilities should be publicised as an attractive package, not discouraged.
(e). Which of these countries have promoted tourism as a trade?
(a) African countries
(b) South American countries
(c) European countries
(d) All of these
Answer: (c) European countries
Explanation: The first paragraph says many European countries have promoted tourism as a trade.
(f). Choose the option that lists the correct answer for the following:
City ‘A’ has many tourist sites, however it suffers from poor accommodation facilities in its hotels. What is the city likely to experience in tourism?
(a) Increase in the number of tourists visiting the city
(b) Increase in the number of newly constructed hotels
(c) A strong fall in the number of tourists visiting the city
(d) A pleasant and memorable experience
Answer: (c) A strong fall in the number of tourists visiting the city
Explanation: The passage names poor infrastructure as a stumbling block and stresses meeting tourists’ needs in accommodation, so poor hotels will drive tourists away.
(g). What makes tourism a thriving business?
Answer: Tourism earns valuable foreign exchange, provides an opportunity for cultural exchange and generates employment.
Explanation: The opening sentence gives these three benefits.
(h). How is tourism run in India?
Answer: Tourism in India is run in a non-professional or amateurish manner.
Explanation: The first paragraph says India runs tourism in an amateurish manner.
(i). What are the hurdles in the development of tourism in India?
Answer: Lack of infrastructure, inadequate ways of reaching hotels, tourist sites and gateways, paucity of coaches and cars (specially air-conditioned ones) and ill-maintained roads.
Explanation: The fourth paragraph lists these stumbling blocks.
(j). How many tourists from Western countries arrived in India in 2019?
Answer: 30 lakh tourists from Western countries arrived in India in 2019.
Explanation: The pie chart shows 30 lakh tourists from Western countries.
(k). What was the total number of domestic tourists in India in the year 2019?
Answer: About 155 crore domestic tourists visited the states and union territories in 2019.
Explanation: The second paragraph gives the figure of about 155 crore.
Passage 2
2. Apple dominates the global handset market by capturing 66% of industry profits and 52% of the overall handset revenue. The loyal premium user base in major markets like the USA, EU and Japan is one of the reasons that Apple can still operate at a profit level that its competitors can only wish for. Now, with a strong service strategy, Apple's overall ecosystem is strong enough to guarantee it a steady inflow of revenue in the coming years. In the immediate future, we believe that Apple's profit for the holiday season will increase with the new line-up of iPhones gaining good traction.
3. Samsung is a distant second, taking 17% of the overall handset industry profits. The increased mix of the Galaxy A Series along with the positive start of the Galaxy Note 10 Series was the key reason for the growth.
4. Chinese smartphone brands operate at low profit margins, but better than in previous years, even though they are expanding outside China and also penetrating high-tier price bands. Chinese brands offer attractive propositions to mature smartphone users with new feature-packed flagships at affordable prices. Some of these Chinese brands are also now looking at monetising their user base by launching services like financial services, IoT products and others. However, it is becoming a challenge for Chinese brands to increase their smartphone ASPs (Average Selling Prices) and margins due to a combination of a longer consumer holding period and Apple lowering pricing on some key SKUs (Stock Keeping Units), which has limited the headroom that Chinese vendors have used to increase their ASPs.
5. In the coming quarters the adoption of 5G will drive some upgrades. This will likely lead to revenue growth for OEMs, which are already preparing themselves ahead of full 5G commercialisation.
Questions and Answers
(a). Complete the following analogy appropriately, based on understanding of paragraphs 1 and 2.
We can say that Apple’s position in the handset industry is comparable with the lion of the jungle because ______
Answer: as the lion is the king of the jungle, similarly, Apple rules the handset industry, and nobody comes close to its profit.
Explanation: Paragraph 2 says Apple captures 66% of industry profits, a level its competitors can only wish for.
(b). Fill in the blanks with the appropriate option from those given in brackets, based on your understanding of paragraph 2.
The statement that Apple has a strong overall ecosystem because of its strong service strategy and will yield a strong revenue in the near future, is a ______ (fact/opinion) because it is a ______ (subjective judgement/objective detail).
Answer: opinion; subjective judgement
Explanation: It is a prediction about the future, introduced with 'we believe', so it is a subjective judgement.
(c). Justify the following in about 40 words.
The adoption of 5G will lead to revenue growth for OEMs and Apple will benefit the most.
Answer: The adoption of 5G will lead to revenue growth for OEMs as they are already preparing for its commercialisation. Apple will have the most growth because of its strong service strategy, strong overall ecosystem and loyal premium user base.
Explanation: Paragraph 5 links 5G to upgrades and revenue growth, and paragraph 2 explains Apple's lead.
(d). Based on the survey results, mention what could be the possible reason for the decline in the profit share of Apple in 2019 Q3 and the increase in the profit share of Samsung during the same time.
Answer: The increased mix of the Samsung Galaxy A Series along with the positive start of the Galaxy Note 10 Series was the key reason for the growth of Samsung and the decline in Apple’s share.
Explanation: Paragraph 3 names the Galaxy A and Note 10 series as the key reason for Samsung's growth.
(e). In the given graph, the profit share of Chinese companies is very low. State any one inference that can be drawn from this.
Answer: Chinese brands sell feature-packed phones at affordable prices and so operate at low profit margins; their large sales do not translate into a large share of industry profit.
Explanation: Paragraph 4 says Chinese brands operate at low profit margins and find it hard to raise their ASPs.
(f). Select the option that correctly displays what ‘mix’ signifies. (Reference: Paragraph 1)
(I) two arrows chasing each other in a circle
(II) two bands of lines twisting and blending into each other
(III) a band of lines bent into a U-turn
(IV) two arrows pointing away from each other on either side of a line
(V) one band of lines branching off in three directions
(a) (I), (II) and (III)
(b) Only (IV)
(c) Only (V)
(d) Only (II)
Answer: (d) Only (II)
Explanation: 'Mix' means a blend or combination, which is shown by two bands merging into each other.
(g). Infer one way how Chinese companies are preparing to increase their revenue growth and one way why it is hard for them to do so.
Answer: Chinese companies are planning to monetise their user base by launching financial services and IoT products, which can increase their revenue growth. However, it is a challenge because Apple’s lowering of prices of some key SKUs has limited the headroom that Chinese vendors had used to increase their ASPs.
Explanation: Both points are stated in paragraph 4.
(h). Which of the following is the main key takeaway from the study mentioned in the passage?
(a) The global handsets will lead to revenue growth for OEMs in the near future.
(b) The study needs to have more data to offer any result.
(c) The global handsets revenue will remain the same.
(d) Chinese companies will take over the other companies in handset revenue.
Answer: (a) The global handsets will lead to revenue growth for OEMs in the near future.
Explanation: The passage ends by predicting that 5G will drive upgrades and revenue growth for OEMs (paragraph 5).
Passage 3
1. "Cured yesterday of my disease, I died last night of my physician," says Matthew Prior, a celebrated poet, while talking about the deleterious effects of drugs in his work "The Remedy Worse than the Disease". There is no dearth of patients dying from misguided treatment.
2. In this era of drugs we must familiarise ourselves with the term "Iatrogenic disease (physician caused ailment)". When a physician administers medicines without a complete understanding of the patient's condition, drugs play havoc. A person may become the victim of a worse disease or even lose their life.
3. With Analgin, for instance, special precautions should be taken in case of pregnancy, bronchial asthma, renal and hepatic dysfunctions and blood-related disorders. It has been banned in several countries, including the USA and Sweden, because of its unexpected and negative effects that can lead to death through an anaphylactic shock. An anaphylactic shock is a process that leads to a severe fall in blood pressure, bronchi constriction, the swelling of blood and lymph vessels and sometimes death because of the loss of fluid in these vessels. Anaphylaxis usually occurs suddenly, minutes after the administration of a drug. The well-known drug, penicillin, and many other drugs, may cause anaphylaxis.
4. The term "side-effects" is part of an ailing layman's vocabulary, but adverse drug reactions are known only to a more aware and literate patient.
5. Ciprofloxacin, when given for an ear infection, may cause vertigo and amoxicillin, while fighting a throat infection, may hurt the stomach. Similarly, while chemotherapy given for cancer may lead to indigestion and hair loss, steroids administered continuously may lead to obesity and diabetes.
6. Drugs are meant to eliminate disease. In the quest to avoid the misery of sickness, man has invented medicines that may themselves cause diseases. The illness caused by a drug may be short-term or long-term. Side effects are short-term and predictable. The unpredictable and bizarre reactions are termed as adverse reactions. A variety of drugs cure many illnesses but are also known to cause irregular heartbeats and even sudden death.
7. A strong sense of responsibility on the physician's part and an attitude of extreme caution on the patient's part can substantially help in covering at least some of the risks of medicines, if not all.
There are many factors that influence a doctor's choice and use of the drug. The medical history of a patient, age, sex, personality, environment and education contribute to deciding the course of treatment. The very old and the very young are likely to suffer as their bodies are less tolerant. Older children may sometimes be more tolerant than adults. The elderly tend to respond better to standard drug dosages. But the lower body size, slow blood flow to vital organs, decreasing metabolic capacity, and the tendency to have multiple physical problems contribute to adverse reactions. Emily Jerry was two years old when she lost her life after a pharmacy technician filled her intravenous bag with more than 20 times the recommended dose of sodium chloride.
| Condition | Deaths | Cost | Author |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adverse Drug Reaction | 106,000 | USD 12 billion | Lazarou [1], Suh [49] |
| Medical error | 98,000 | USD 2 billion | IOM [6] |
| Bedsores | 115,000 | USD 55 billion | Xakellis [7], Barczak [8] |
| Infection | 88,000 | USD 5 billion | Weinstein [9], MMWR [10] |
| Malnutrition | 108,800 | ______ | Nurses Coalition [11] |
| Outpatients | 199,000 | USD 77 billion | Starfield [12], Weingart [12] |
| Unnecessary Procedures | 37,136 | USD 122 billion | HCUP [3, 13] |
| Surgery-Related | 32,000 | USD 9 billion | AHRQ [85] |
| Total | 783,936 | USD 282 billion |
Questions and Answers
(a). Fill in the blanks with the appropriate options from those given in brackets, based on your understanding of the passage:
The statement that drugs may cause adverse reactions leading to diseases and even death is a ______ (fact/opinion) because it is a/an ______ (subjective judgement/objective detail).
Answer: fact; objective detail
Explanation: The passage backs the claim with named drugs, their effects and death figures in the table.
(b). Which of the following is the main takeaway from the study mentioned in the passage?
(a) Adverse drug reactions can lead to severe consequences, including diseases and even death.
(b) Physicians should always conduct thorough patient assessments before administering medications.
(c) Patients should be aware of potential side effects.
(d) There are significant risks associated with the use of drugs, and caution should be exercised by both physicians and patients.
Answer: (a) Adverse drug reactions can lead to severe consequences, including diseases and even death.
Explanation: The whole passage and the table centre on drugs and treatment causing serious illness and death.
(c). Justify the claim, in about 40 words, that drugs can cause adverse reactions leading to diseases and even death.
Answer: Drugs can cause adverse reactions leading to diseases and even death, as shown by the examples in the passage: Analgin can cause death through anaphylactic shock and has been banned in several countries, and other drugs cause vertigo, obesity, diabetes, irregular heartbeats and even sudden death.
Explanation: Paragraphs 3, 5 and 6 give these examples.
(d). Complete the following analogy using a word from the passage:
Eliminate : Abolish :: Donate : ______
Answer: contribute
Explanation: Eliminate and abolish are synonyms, and 'contribute' (paragraph 7) is a synonym of donate.
(e). Based on the table, "Malnutrition has led to 108,800 deaths". State an inference that can be drawn from this.
Answer: The high number of deaths suggests that inadequate nutrition and a lack of essential nutrients have had a detrimental impact on the affected individuals' health, leading to fatal outcomes.
Explanation: Malnutrition causes more deaths than medical errors or infections in the table, so poor nutrition is a serious health risk.
(f). Explain, in about 40 words, what Matthew Prior means when he says, "Cured yesterday of my disease, I died last night of my physician".
Answer: Matthew Prior's statement suggests that while he may have been cured of his initial disease, the treatment administered by his physician ultimately led to his death. This highlights the deleterious effects of drugs and the risks associated with inappropriate medical treatment.
Explanation: Paragraph 1 uses the line to show that the remedy can be worse than the disease.
(g). From the information presented in the passage, what can be inferred about the importance of patient awareness and physician responsibility in relation to the use of drugs?
Answer: From the passage, it can be inferred that patient awareness and physician responsibility are crucial when it comes to using drugs. Patients should be aware of potential side effects and adverse reactions, while physicians should exercise caution and have a strong sense of responsibility.
Explanation: Paragraph 7 says responsibility from the physician and caution from the patient can cover some of the risks.
(h). Select the option that correctly displays what ‘havoc’ does NOT signify.
(I) a flame of fire
(II) a tilted scale with the globe on one side and destruction on the other
(III) two hands breaking a gun in half
(IV) a car burning on a street
(a) Only (I)
(b) (I) and (III)
(c) Only (III)
(d) (II) and (IV)
Answer: (c) Only (III)
Explanation: Havoc means great destruction; breaking a gun is a symbol of peace, so only (III) does not show havoc.