Q1. Answer in two to three sentences.

1. What is the skimming technique of reading?

2. What is the purpose of an ellipsis in writing, and provide an example of its correct usage?
3. Differentiate between a simile and a metaphor, and offer examples for each.
4. Explain the concept of subject-verb agreement and provide an example illustrating proper
agreement.
5. Define the term "antonym" and offer three pairs of antonyms as examples.
6. Describe the function of a colon in a sentence and provide an example showcasing its proper
usage.
7. Define Phonetics and give examples.
8. Explain the term ‘Conjunctions’, share examples of the same.
9. State the three levels of reading.
10. What is paraphrasing? Explain the use of the same.
11. Explain the difference between "its" and "it's" in terms of grammar usage.
12. Differentiate between active and passive voice, and provide an example of each.
13. Define homophones and provide three sets of examples.
14. Explain the term ‘citation’, State the use for the same.
15. What is the significance of punctuation marks in writing? Offer examples of their correct
usage.

Q2. Comprehension (Read the Following Passage and Answer the questions given below)

In terms of labour, for decades the relatively low cost and high quality of Japanese workers conferred
considerable competitive advantage across numerous durable goods and consumer electronics
industries (eg. Machinery, automobiles, televisions, radios). Then labour-based advantages shifted to
South Korea, then to Malaysia, Mexico and other nations. Today, China appears to be capitalizing
best on the basis of labour. Japanese firms still remain competitive in markets for such durable goods,
electronics and other products, but the labour force is no longer sufficient for competitive advantage
over manufacturers in other industrializing nations. Such shifting of labour-based advantage is clearly
not limited to manufacturing industries. Today, a huge number of IT and service jobs are moving
from Europe and North America to India, Singapore, and other countries with relatively well-
educated, low-cost workforces possessing technical skills. However, as educational levels and
technical skills continue to rise in other countries, India, Singapore, and like nations enjoying labour-
based competitive advantage today are likely to find such an advantage cannot be sustained through
the emergence of new competitors.

In terms of capital, for centuries the days of gold coins and later even paper money restricted financial
flows. Subsequently regional concentrations were formed where large banks, industries and markets
coalesced. But today capital flows internationally at rapid speed. Global commerce no longer requires
regional interactions among business players. Regional capital concentrations in places such as New
York, London and Tokyo still persist, of course, but the capital concentrated there is no longer
sufficient for competitive advantage over other capitalists distributed worldwide. Only if an
organization is able to combine, integrate and apply its resources (eg. Land, labour, capital, IT) in an
effective manner that is not readily imitable by competitors can such an organization enjoy
competitive advantage sustainable overtime.
In a knowledge-based theory of the firm, this idea is extended to view organizational knowledge as a
resource with at least the same level of power and importance as the traditional economic inputs. An
organization with superior knowledge can achieve competitive advantage in markets that appreciate
the application of such knowledge. Semiconductors, genetic engineering, pharmaceuticals, software,
military warfare, and like knowledge-intensive competitive arenas provide both time-proven and
current examples. Consider semiconductors (e.g. computer chips), which are made principally of sand
and common metals. These ubiquitous and powerful electronic devices are designed within common
office buildings, using commercially available tools, and fabricated within factories in many
industrialized nations. Hence, land is not the key competitive resource in the semiconductor industry.

Based on the passage answer the following questions:

1. Which country enjoyed competitive advantages in the automobile industry for decades?

(1) South Korea

(2) Japan

(3) Mexico

(4) Malaysia

2. Why labour-based competitive advantages of India and Singapore cannot be sustained in IT and
service sectors?

(1) Due to diminishing levels of skill.

(2) Due to capital-intensive technology making inroads.

(3) Because of new competitors.

(4) Because of shifting labour-based advantages in manufacturing industries.

3. How can an organisation enjoy competitive advantage and sustainable overtime?

(1) Through regional capital flows.

(2) Through regional interactions among business players.

(3) By making large banks, industries and markets coalesce.

(4) By effective use of various instrumentalities.

4. What is required to ensure competitive advantages in specific markets?

(1) Access to capital

(2) Common office buildings

(3) Superior knowledge

(4) Common metals

5. The passage also mentions about the trend of

(1) Global financial flow

(2) Absence of competition in manufacturing industry

(3) Regionalisation of capitalists

(4) Organizational incompatibility

Women all over the world in general and Indian women in particular have been facing different
problems. A recent report titled 'Women and children in India' and a nearly simultaneous report on
‘Indian women their Health and Economic productivity' highlight the international importance given
to the problems of the Indian women.
Unfortunately, both the reports fail to either convey a fresh understanding of the issues or to suggest
innovative and workable approaches for women’s development. The former is because the reports
restrict themselves to old statistics. We are told, for example, that the ratio of women to men remains
below its natural level and that it is related to other parameters, such as the level of literacy and the
availability of primary health care.

The failure to suggest a fresh approach is less understandable given that a variety of approaches to
women’s development has been tried out all over the world. In India, the State has made a strong
political and economic commitment to women. In 1990, the National Commitment to Women was
established. In 1969 two major policy documents were released. Ever since the Sixth Five-year plan
there has been a special section on socio-economic programmes for women. Poverty alleviation
programmes have a 30% target for women. Special programmes like Development of women and
children in Rural Areas have also been started. These government and other approaches have had
mixed results. For example, a certain organization’s approach of using bank credit to organize self-
employed women has worked well. So did women’s literacy programmes in Kerala. On the other
hand, some of the legislated reforms like dowry prohibition have not worked well. The issue of
whether women should be identified as separate participants in the development process is also not
free from controversy. In this context, it is disappointing to read in one of the reports that one of the
government’s target for 1991-95 ought to be to foster “an ethos of caring in the community- not to let
a child go to bed hungry, be subjected to a preventable disease or remain without learning
opportunity-this could not mark the beginning of a social process towards a more humane order”. Is
the report saying then, that Indians do not love their children, as a matter of cultural practice? Both the
reports are likely to be highly influential on opinion leaders and policy makers. It is very unfortunate
that these reports have become superficial and do not delve sufficiently deep into the real problems.
Q1. Which of the following statement (s) is / are correct in the context of the passage in regard to
development schemes?

1. All people are of the opinion that women should be given special status.
2. No one feels that women should be given special status.
3. There is no controversy regarding women being given special status.

A. Only 1
B. Only 2
C. Only 3
D. All the three
E. None of these

Q2. Which of the following is not put forward by the author of the passage as a defect of the report?

A. They highlight the problems of Indian women

B. They contain outdated statistical data
C. The reports have not suggested any new measures
D. Some of the suggestions in the reports are superficial
E. The reports are not analytical

Q3. Which of the following is specifically put forward as a reason for the unequal sex ratio in the
population?

A. Natural causes
B. Economic development
C. Literacy level and healthcare
D. Socio-economic programmes
E. Poverty alleviation programmes

Q4. Which of the following is FALSE according to the passage?

1. The problem of women in general is attracting attention the world over.

2. Indian people do not love their children as much as they should.
3. Right from independence women have been receiving special attention for development.

A. Only 1
B. Only 2
C. Only 3
D. Only 2 and 3
E. Only 1 and 2

Q5. Which of the following would correctly reflect the tone of the author of the passage to the two
reports mentioned in the first paragraph?

A. Biased
B.Critical
C.Neutral
D. Praiseful
E. Appreciative

If India has to develop her internal strengths, the nation has to focus on the technological imperatives,
keeping in mind three dynamic dimensions: the people, the overall economy and the strategic
interests. These technological imperatives also take into account a ‘fourth’ dimension, time, an
offshoot of modern day dynamism in business, trade, and technology that leads to continually shifting
targets. We believe that technological strengths are especially crucial in dealing with this fourth
dimension underlying continuous change in the aspirations of the people, the economy in the global
context, and the strategic interests. The progress of technology lies at the heart of human history.
Technological strengths are the key to creating more productive employment in an increasingly
competitive market place and to continually upgrade human skills. Without a pervasive use of
technologies, we cannot achieve overall development of our people in the years to come. The direct
linkages of technology to the nation’s strategic strengths are becoming more and more clear,
especially since 1990s. India’s own strength in a number of core areas still puts it in a position of
reasonable strength in geo-political context. Any nation aspiring to become a developed one needs to
have strengths in various strategic technologies and also the ability to continually upgrade them
through its own creative strengths. For people-oriented actions as well, whether for the creation of
large scale productive employment or for ensuring nutritional and health security for people, or for
better living conditions, technology is the only vital input. The absence of greater technological
impetus could lead to lower productivity and wastage of precious natural resources. Activities with
low productivity or low value addition, in the final analysis hurt the poorest most. The technological
imperatives to lift our people to a new life, and to a life they are entitled to is important. India,
aspiring to become a major economic power in terms of trade and increase in GDP, cannot succeed on
the strength of turnkey projects designed and built abroad or only through large-scale imports of plant
machinery, equipment and know how. Even while being alive to the short-term realities, medium and
long-term strategies to develop core technological strengths within our industry are vital for
envisioning a developed India.

More productive employment demands:

(1) Pervasive use of technology

(2) Limiting competitive market place

(3) Geo-political considerations

(4) Large industries

The advantage of technological inputs would result in:

(1) Unbridled technological growth

(2) Importing plant machinery

(3) Sidelining environmental issues

(4) Lifting our people to a life of dignity

Envisioning a developed India requires:

(1) Aspiration to become a major economic player

(2) Dependence upon projects designed abroad

(3) Focus on short-term projects

(4) Development of core technological strengths

The progress of technology lies at

(1) at the base of human history.

(2) at the heart of human history.
(3) at the core of human history.
(4) at the heart of human philosophy.

India’s own strength in a number of core areas still puts it in a position of reasonable strength in
___________ context.
(1) Geo-Political
(2) Socio-Economical
(3) Regional
(4) Geographical

Q3. Creative Writing

1. Write an email to your manager to propose the implementation of an Employee Wellness

Program within the organisation.
2. Write an email to your head of the department to allocate a new id card to you as you lost the
previous one.
3. Write an essay on the topic “Indian History and Culture”
4. Write an essay on the topic “Impact of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystems.”
5. Write an essay on the topic “Globalisation and exchange of cultures”
6. Write a Blog on Advantages and Disadvantages of traditional education versus online
learning.
7. Write a Blog on “India’s love for Tea”
8. Write a Blog on Advantages and Disadvantages of traditional newspaper versus online news
sources.
9. Write a Report for the college magazine on the Diwali Rangoli Workshop hosted by the
college.
10. Write a Report for the college magazine on the Halloween Event hosted by the college.
11. Write a Report for the college magazine on the Annual Fest hosted by the college.
12. Write an email to your college professor regarding your absence in class for a month due to
medical reasons.
13. Write an essay on the topic “India- A Land of Diversity.”
14. Write a Blog on Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Phones.
15. Write a Report for the college magazine on the Navaratri Event hosted by the college.