SBI Clerk Mains Memory Based Paper (Held On: 05 Aug 2018) (Previous Year Paper)

Defending champions Indian Women's Hockey Team lost to hosts South Korea 0-1 in the final match of the Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2018. The win for South Korea saw them lift the title for the third time after having won in the 2010 and 2011 editions of the tournaments. India's Vandana Katariya was declared the player of the tournament.

Union Cabinet has approved corpus of Rs. 5,000 crore for setting up of a dedicated “Micro Irrigation Fund” with NABARD under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana. The fund seeks to provide states financial assistance on concessional rate of interest to promote micro-irrigation. The lending rate under MIF has been proposed at 3% lower than the cost of raising the fund by NABARD.

Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting, Rajyavardhan Rathore will inaugurate the ASEAN India Film Festival in New Delhi on May 25, 2018. It will be a platform for people of the film industry of member countries to explore areas of cooperation in domain of cinema & cultural cooperation. The tagline of the Festival is proposed to be ‘Friendship through Films’.

United Nations Development Programme will soon set up a skill development centre at 'Bharosa,' in Hyderabad. 'Bharosa,' an initiative of Hyderabad City Police, is a state-of-the-art centre to support women and children who are victims of violence. The centre will empower vulnerable & marginalised women by imparting skills training.

• Ajay Thakur is a star player and raider of Indian International Kabaddi Team.
• On 30 June 2018, under his captaincy India has won 2018 Dubai Kabaddi Masters.
• In the 6^th season of Pro Kabaddi league 2018 he will serve as the captain of ‘Tamil Thalaivas’.

• The headquarters of International Organization for Migration (IOM) is in Geneva, Switzerland.
• IOM is an inter-governmental organisation that works in the field of migration including migrant workers, refugees and forced migration.
• Initially it was set up in 1951 as the Inter-governmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) to resettle people displaced by World War II.
• In 2016, IOM became a related organisation of the United Nations (UN).

• The headquarters of AIIB is in Beijing, China.
• The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) provides finance for infrastructure development in Asia-Pacific region.
• The bank was proposed in China in 2013, and is seen as Asia’s response to World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

• Digital gold is an initiative of Paytm to store, sell and buy gold online.
• In ‘Digital Gold’ initiative user can buy 24 Karat gold from MMTC-PAMP (India’s only Internationally Accredited Refinery) on Paytm and store it at no additional charge.
• Paytm allows user to buy and sell gold for as little as Rs.1.

• COMCASA is a bilateral pact between India and USA for the transfer of communication security equipment to India.
• These communication equipments will be installed on military platforms to secure data links.
• It was earlier called as Communication and Information on Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and later was renamed to COMCASA, to reflect its India-specific nature.

• The secretariat office of SAARC Development Fund (SDF) is in Thimphu, Bhutan.
• The SDF Secretariat was established in April 2010 during the sixteenth SAARC summit in Bhutan.
• SDF works as an umbrella financial institute for all SAARC developmental projects and programmes.
• It funds the projects in the South Asia region by its three windows namely Social, Economic and Infrastructure Window.
• Note: SAARC HQ is in Kathmandu,Nepal
• SAARC member states comprise Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first informal summit in the city of Sochi, Russia.
• The leaders decided to intensify consultation and coordination with each other.
• The two leaders agreed to institute a Strategic Economic Dialogue between NITI Aayog of India and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

• National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is an umbrella organisation for all retail payments in India
• It governs various payments methods like National Financial Switch (NFS), Immediate Payment System (IMPS), Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), BHIM etc.

• The theme of World Environment Day 2018 was ‘Beat plastic pollution’
• World Environment Day is celebrated on 5^th June every year to spread awareness for the protection of our environment.
• India globally hosted World Environment Day 2018.

• Sanskrit was the least spoken language of 8^th schedule of Indian Constitution, according to census 2011.
• Only 24,821 persons listed Sanskrit as their mother tongue.
• Hindi was listed as the most spoken language in India with 44% people followed by Bengali.

• The United States, Canada,and Mexico will organise 23^rd FIFA World Cup in 2026.
• FIFA World Cup is an international football competition contested after every 4 years.
• Uruguay hosted and won 1^st FIFA World Cup organised in 1930.
• Qatar will organisethe 22^nd FIFA World Cup in 2022 from 21 November to 18 December.
• Brazil is the most successful team in FIFA World Cup with 5 titles.

• Bhumi Pednekar won best actress award at the DadasahebPhalke Film Foundation Awards 2018for her movie “Toilet: Ek Prem Katha”.
• Akshay Kumar won the best actor award for his performance in Padman.

• Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is located in 3 districts namely Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich districts of Uttar Pradesh.
• Uttar Pradesh has 3 tiger reserves, the other two are Dudhwa Tiger Reserve and Amangarh Tiger Reserve.

• The two day ‘Kabir Mahotsav’ was organized by the Ministry of Culture.
• The festival was organised to commemorate the 500^th year of death anniversary of Saint Kabir.
• Kabir was a 15^th century mystic poet and saint. His verses were incorporated into Adi Granth (a religious scripture of Sikhism).

• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has charted a plan to promote micro-enterprises in 115 aspirational districts of India.
• According to Government of India, micro-enterprises are the business on a very small scale with a total investment between 25 lakh to 10 crores in the manufacturing sector and 10 lakhs to 5 crores in the service sector.
• SIDBI decided these 115 aspirational districts and made District Magistrates as ‘prabhari’ officers to implement the program.

• National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has approved the merger of Telenor India with Bharti Airtel.
• Telenor, a Norwegian telecommunication company runs operations in seven telecom circles in India.
• National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) is a quasi-judicial body that makes decisionin issues relating to Indian companies.

• Shujaat Bukhari was a journalist and the editor of Srinagar based newspaper ‘Rising Kashmir’.
• He was shot dead on 14, June 2018 outside his office in Srinagar.

• Bharat Inclusion Initiative is launched by Centre for Innovation, Incubation,and Entrepreneurship (CIIE) of IIM Ahmedabad.
• The initiative will support incubating startups that work in the field of livelihood, education and health partnering with industry experts, mentors,and corporates.

• 25^th International Conference on Telecommunications (ICT) was hosted in Saint-Malo, France in June 2018.
• The theme of ICT 2018 was ‘Terahertz (THz) technology’.
• The topic of interest includes 5G mobile communications, Software radio, Big data network etc.

• Salvage value is the title given to an asset for its diminished value.
• It is defined as the estimated resale value of an asset at the end of its useful life.
• Suppose ‘A’ buy a car for 5 lakh rupees, after using it for 10 years the car met with an accident and damage is beyond repair. Now A sells it to the junkyard for 10,000. The value of its metal, body and left parts that A gained is termed as salvage value or residual value.

• Hirakud Dam is built across Mahanadi river in Odisha.
• It is one of the biggest dams in India.
• The 5 biggest dams in India are as follows-

• The headquarters of ADB is in Manila, Philippines.
• ADB was established on 19 December 1966 on the recommendations of the Economic Commission for Asia-Pacific Region (ECAFE) to promote social and economic development in Asia.
• It provides loans, technical assistance, grants and investments to all projects in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Currently, ADB has 68 members of which 49 are from within the Asia-Pacific region and 19 from outside.

• Dudhwa National Park is located in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points

• Dudhwa Tiger Reserve was established in the year 1987.
• It is spread over the areas of Lakhimpur and Bahraich district.
• Total area: 1093.79 km sq.
• It shares its north-eastern boundary with Nepal.
• It is home to 400 bird species, cheetah, elephants, tigers, leopards, swamp deer, etc.

Additional Information

• Uttar Pradesh has 3 Tiger Reserves in the state.
• Dhudhwa Tiger Reserve
• Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
• Amangarh Tiger Reserve
• Pilibhit Tiger Reserve:-
• ​Established in the year 2008.
• Spread over Pilibhit, Lakhimpur, and Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh.
• Total area: 602.79 km sq.
• Amangarh Tiger Reserve:-
• Established in the year 2012.
• Located in Amangarh in the Bijnor district.
• Total area: 80.06 sq km.

• Uttarakhand Sanskrit University, Haridwar, Uttarakhand will host the 5^th International Conference on Human Excellence through Yoga in February 2019.
• The conference will be organised by Indian Association of Yoga, New Delhi.
• The conference will provide an international platform to Yoga aspirants, Yoga experts to come together and share their experience and the ideas for the betterment of the society.
• The 2-day conference has various sub-themes like Spiritual excellence and Yoga, Human Values and Yoga, Corporate excellence and Yoga etc.

• LSR stands for Liquidity Stress Ratio (LSR).
• LSR is the ratio of potential money outflow to the actual money inflow during a certain period.
• LSR calculates the liquidity shortfall, a mismatch in the bank’s balance sheets of a Bank Holding Company (BHC) during the financial crisis.
• LSR is used to describe the liquidity condition of the banking sector and may offer an early warning signal of a liquidity or financial crisis.

• Lusaka is the capital city of Zambia (a landlocked country in South-Central Africa).
• In April 2018, 14^th President of India Ram Nath Kovind visited Lusaka and met Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu.
• During the visit, India’s President launched $289 million projects to decongest Lusaka roads$.

• In fiscal 2018-19, NABARD has increased its lending to ₹80,000 crore against ₹65,000 crore in fiscal 2017-2018.
• National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is an agricultural development financial institute in India, that provides funds for promotion and development of agricultural, cottage and village industries, handicrafts, small-scale industries in India.

NABARD was set up in 1982, with its headquarters at Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• West Indies will host the 6^th edition of ICC Women's World Twenty20 in November 2018.
• The tournament will include 10 participating teams divided into two groups.
• The 5^th edition of ICC Women's World Twenty20 was hosted by India in 2016.
• West Indies won 5^th edition by defeating Australia in the finals.

• A 27 member committeere-constituted by SEBI to suggest a roadmap for developing the corporate bond market in the country is headed by Harun R Khan (Deputy Governor, RBI).
• The committee has representation from government, banks, mutual funds, stock exchange, market regulators.
• Corporate bonds are debt securities issued by the corporation to raise money in the corporation for various expansion purposes of the company.

• Rani Rampal is the captain of Indian women hockey team.
• Recently she lead the Indian women hockey team in 2018 Women’s Hockey World Cup, where Indian team managed to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament.

• CAGR stands for Compound Annual Growth Rate.
• It is defined as the mean annual growth rate of an investment over a specified period of time longer than one year.
• $CAGR = {\left( {\frac{{Ending;Value}}{{Beginning;Value}}} \right)^{\left( {\frac{1}{{Number\ of\ years}}} \right)}} - 1$
• Suppose you invested Rs.10,000 in a business. After completion of 3 years value becomes Rs.19,000.

Initial value = Rs.10,000

Final value = Rs.19,000

Time = 3 years

CAGR= .23 or 23%

• Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs) deal to tackle the problem of Non-Performing Assets (NPAs).
• ARCs are the companies that purchase bad assets or NPAs from the bank at a negotiable price.
• These ARCs then start a legal procedure to sell the asset or they may also provide a settlement offer to the borrower.
• ARCs help a bank to tackle the problem of NPA by clearing their balance sheets.

• The headquarters of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development(OECD) is in Paris, France.
• OECD is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1961 to develop and improve economic and social policies around the world.
• At present, it has 36 member countries from all over the world.

• A debenture is a type of debt instrument that is not secured by physical assets.
• Collateral is defined as a property or asset that a borrower offers to the lender as security for repayment of a loan.
• Bond is a signed promise to pay a certain sum of money on a certain date or fulfillment of a specific condition. Bonds may or may not be secured by collateral.
• Indenture is a legal document published by the issuer of a security giving details about the terms and conditions about the agreement.

• A forward contract is a customized contract between two parties to buy or sell assets on a specified price on a future date.
• Suppose a farmer has 10 hectares of land planted with wheat, he is concerned about the decline in production of wheat. He, therefore, enters into a contract with a financial institution to sell the total productivity of 10 hectares of land at ₹1,00,000 after 6 months. This agreement is termed as a Forward contract.

• Indira Sagar is built across Narmada river in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh.
• In terms of water storage, it has the largest reservoir in India.
• The dam also has a power station with an installed capacity of 1,000 MW.

• Securitization is defined as the process where an issuer designs a financial instrument and list them as securities to earn money.
• These securities include shares, debentures, bonds etc.
• Securities are issued by companies to raise capitals for their projects and in return, company pays an interest or a share in the company.

• Malabo is the capital city of Equatorial Guinea.
• Equatorial Guinea is a country on the west coast of Africa sharing boundaries with Gabon and Cameroon.

• A company that exists only on paper and has no office and no employees, it may have a bank account, these type of companies are known as shell companies.
• They neither manufacture anything nor render any service.
• They are generally used to make financial transactions and could be used in money laundering, tax evasion, and other illegal activities.

• Reverse Mortgage system is defined as the loan for a senior citizen, who has a self-acquired or self-occupied home.
• It is designed for retired people who are not able to support themselves but have assets in the form of house properties.
• In a Reverse Mortgage, a senior citizen mortgages his property to a lender (bank), which then makes periodic payments to the borrower so that borrower can meet his monthly expenses.

• ‘PMLA’ stands for Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
• It is an act of parliament to prevent money laundering came into effect on July 1, 2005.
• Money laundering is the process of obtaining money from criminal activity like drugs dealing, terror activity etc.
• If found guilty in the Money Laundering Act, PMLA defines rigorous punishment from five to ten years.

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the merger of Bharat Financial Inclusion with IndusInd Bank.
• Bharat Financial Inclusion is a non-banking-finance company that provides financial services to the poor borrowers.
• BFI focus on microfinance and provides small loans starting from ₹2,000 to ₹12,000.

• Union Finance Minister serves as the chairperson of Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC).
• The council deals with issues relating to financial stability, financial sector development.
• It was formed on the recommendation of Raghuram Rajan Committee in 2010.

The correct answer is Bankruptcy

Important Points

• When a company or a person is unable to repay their outstanding debts, it is known as bankruptcy.
• Bankruptcy is imposed by court order and often initiated by borrowers.
• Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 is the law of India that implement and governs single law for insolvency and bankruptcy.

Key Points

• A bankruptcy filing is a legal course undertaken by the company to free itself from debt obligations. Debts that are not paid to creditors in full are forgiven for the owners. Bankruptcy filing varies in different countries.
• In India, if you file for bankruptcy it will not go down well with your credit rating, which means that it may be tough for you to get a new loan if you plan to start afresh. However, it would save you from any financial trouble.

• Dilip C Chakraborty is the head of committee formed by Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to help the new Risk Based Capital (RBC) norms.
• Risk Based Capital (RBC) is a method to measure the minimum amount of capital that an insurance company needs to support its overall business operations.
• It is the additional money that the insurance companies must keep aside to meet the contingency if it arises.This money cannot be used for any other purpose.

• Gold Rush has been launched by Stock Holding Corporation of India Ltd.
• It is a simple way to own physical gold and store with most secured storage facility at Gold & Silver Refinery at, Mewat, Haryana.
• GoldRush offers customer to purchase gold starting from Rs.1,000.
• Buyer can withdraw and take physical possession of all or part of his gold holding at any time.
• Gold can be bought or withdrawn online 24 hours a day.
• Stock Holding is a Public Limited Company and a subsidiary of Industrial Finance Corporation of India Ltd (IFCI).

It is mentioned in the passage that the author is strictly against American laws which are inclined more towards increased work and greater returns. 'There's a balance to be struck where it comes to work and rest, but in the United States, values and laws are already slanted drastically in favor of work.'  Thus only III is correct. I and II mention statements which are not correct and are not mentioned in the passage. Thus option 3 is the correct answer.

It is mentioned in the passage 'If you’re not the type who can and wants this kind of schedule, that’s something to consider before accepting a job. So before accepting an offer, research the position and make sure you fully understand the hours that are expected in the role, where and how you can get their work done, and the overall nature of the job.' Thus option 4 is the correct answer.  The author advises the readers to accept a job carefully only after understanding the responsibilities included in it. This avoids stress later and helps to have a proper work-life balance. Thus option 4 is the correct answer.

The context here is the overuse of technology by humans which has deteriorated the standard of lives. It has enslaved people and the author is sarcastically criticizing the use of technology. Thus only II is correct. The other options are incorrect here. Option 1 is the correct answer.

Statement I and II are mentioned in the passage. 

'Here in the United States, people already work more hours per year than their English- speaking counterparts in Britain, Canada and Australia - not to mention those enviable denizens of European social democracies, who enjoy the kind of leisure time only their highest-paid workers can afford.'

'*I would advise those concerned about Americans' dignity, freedom and independence to not focus on compelling work for benefits or otherwise trying to marshal people into jobs when what they really need are health care, housing assistance, unemployment benefits and so forth. Instead, we should focus more of our political energies on making sure that American workers have the dignity of rest, the freedom to enjoy their lives outside of labor and independence from the whims of their employers.'*This clearly hints that work lives are so hectic in America that they lack independence and proper mental peace.

Thus option 2 is the correct answer.

It is mentioned in the passage 'From how-to books to meditation apps and even company-sponsored initiatives like unlimited vacation, employers and employees alike have been trying to strike a balance between their personal and professional lives. And it seems to be working. Or is it?' It clearly hints that these initiatives and apps have been of no use. Thus option 3 is the correct answer.

The passage focuses on the difficulties of business in the fashion industry and how huge risks need to be taken in order to be successful here. It states how hard it is for startups to compete in this field. Thus option 3 is the correct answer.

The passage states the fact that huge capital is needed to invest in the business of the fashion industry. From the very beginning to establishing one's own company money is needed in the industry. Thus statement I is correct. 

Statement II is incorrect as marketing is important for making a brand successful and it is mentioned in the passage.

Statement III is incorrect as it is mentioned in the passage that small businesses need to invest more than the big ones.

Thus option 2 is the correct answer.

The passage has a critical tone which states the disadvantages of investment in the fashion industry. It mostly talks about the cons and the associated financial and social risks. Thus option 4 is the correct answer.

It is mentioned in the passage ' The fashion industry demands long hours to network, market, design and exhibit your work. In the initial stages, you have to work longer hours as you often take on multiple responsibilities. The long hours you spend may also limit your creative input especially if you design. You also have to sacrifice time away from your family, friends and social life.' Thus statements II and III are correct.

The sentence states how difficult it is for small businesses to get coverage in the media. It can be understood from the statement that proper marketing is essential and media plays a major role here. Thus II and III are correct. Statement I is not correct.

Thus option 3 is the correct answer.

The correct answer is Option 4. 

Key Points

• B has to be the first sentence as it introduces us to the topic which is men's fashion being uncomfortable.
• A should come after C as the word 'even' is written which hints that a similar fact is mentioned before.
• Thus BCA is the correct order. Option 4 is the correct answer.

The meanings of the words are:

Abnegated => renounced or rejected

Decapitated => to cut off the head of a person or animal

Thus only B fits here. The word 'punished' is not applicable in case of the deer. 

Option 1 is the correct answer.

The sentence talks about negative things affecting different people thus the word here should be alike which expresses a negative meaning. The meanings of the words are:

Gormandize => to eat lots of food greedily

Menace => a danger;threat

Estoppel => a legal rule of evidence that prevents a party from making statements that contradict what one previously stated

Thus only B fits here making option 2 the correct answer.

The meanings of the words are:

Vicarious => experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person

Voracious => insatiable

Penury => poverty

Thus only A fits here in the context as the sentence mentions various people experiencing emotions through something or someone else. Option 3 is the correct answer.

The meanings of the words are:

Recline => rest

Abutment => a structure built to support the lateral pressure of an arch or span, e.g. at the ends of a bridge.

Jaundice => prejudice

The sentence talks about construction and bridges thus only B fits here. Option 4 is thus the correct answer.

The idiom 'a chip on one's shoulder' means 'Being upset for something that happened in the past. ' Thus I is correct here. Option 1 is the correct answer.

The idiom 'cat got your tongue' is sued to compel someone to speak or to point out their silence when they're being unusually taciturn. Thus II is the correct statement. Option 4 is the correct answer.

The correct answer is Option 1 i.e. 'Only I'

Key Points

• Under the weather means to be ill or feel ill
• For e.g.- I did not go to work today, as I was feeling a bit under the weather.
• Hence, according to the meaning of the given Idioms, only the statement 1 conveys the correct meaning
• Thus, the correct option is 1 and therefore the answer-  I know you are under the weather so I suggest you go to the doctor immediately.

The idiom 'get pear-shaped' is used to describe something that has gone wrong. Thus II & III is the correct statement. Option 4 is the correct answer.

The correct answer is Option 1 i.e. Only III.

Key Points

• The phrase 'go cold turkey' means to suddenly stop using or doing something that is addictive. (किसी लत को अचानक पूरी तरह से छोड़ देना).
• Example: After years of smoking, he decided to go cold turkey and hasn't touched a cigarette since.
• The correct usage of the idiom in the given sentences is found in sentence III, which correctly demonstrates someone choosing to abruptly stop a habit (in this case, eating Nutella). (किसी आदत को अचानक और पूरी तरह से छोड़ देना.)
• Example: Knowing the health risks, she decided to go cold turkey on sugar to improve her diet.

Therefore, the correct answer is- Only III.

Additional Information

• Sentence I: "The team 'went cold turkey' after the manager said the project was canceled." This use is incorrect because 'going cold turkey' is typically used in the context of stopping an addictive behavior, not an activity like working on a project.
• Sentence II: "He became 'a cold turkey' after marriage and we hardly found him in the clubs any day." This sentence misuses the phrase altogether. 'A cold turkey' is not idiomatic English in describing someone's behavior or lifestyle changes. The correct expression would involve the person making a choice to stop a habit or addiction suddenly.

The word 'indubitable' means 'undoubted or unquestionable.' Thus option 3 is the correct answer. The meanings of some words are:

Savory => appetizing

Impugn => question;challenge

Relevant => closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered

The correct answer is Incite.

Key Points

• 'Foment' means 'instigate or incite.', therefore, Incite is the correct synonym.
• ​Let's look at the meaning and examples of the given words.

• Therefore, by reading the above explanation we find that the correct answer is Option 2.

• आइए दिए गए शब्दों के अर्थ और उदाहरण देखें।

The correct answer is Insult.

Key Points

• 'Umbrage' means 'insult or offence', therefore, Insult is the correct synonym.
• ​Let's look at the meaning and examples of the given words.

• Therefore, by reading the above explanation we find that the correct answer is Option 4.

• आइए दिए गए शब्दों के अर्थ और उदाहरण देखें।

The word 'fracas' means 'a noisy disturbance or quarrel.' Thus 'tranquility' which means 'peace' is the correct answer.

Schism => a split

Abstruse => difficult to understand

Ligneous => woody

Thus option 4 is the correct answer.

The word 'fiendish' means 'an evil person.' Thus 'altruist' which means 'someone who is unselfishly concerned for or devoted to the welfare of others' is the correct answer.

Amenable => submissive

Instinct => an innate, typically fixed pattern of behaviour in animals in response to certain stimuli.

Renegade => deserter

Benefactor => a person who gives money or other help to a person or cause.

Thus option 4 is the correct answer.

The sentence mentions using models for products thus selling is correct here and needs no change.

The word 'billing' means 'the process of preparing or sending invoices' thus 'branding' which means 'assign a brand name to' makes a better meaning here.

The word 'boorish' means 'ill-tempered' and makes no sense here. The word 'barely' means 'hardly' and conveys the correct meaning here that the models are hardly developed.

Option 3 is thus the correct answer.

The word 'hope' is correct here and needs no change.

The word 'encounter' means 'meet (someone) unexpectedly' and fits here correctly.

The word 'doleful' means 'sorrowful' and is incorrect here as the sentence mentions something positive. The person was benefited by the encounter thus 'fortuitous' which means 'happening by chance rather than intention' is the correct word here.

Option 2 is the correct answer.

The word 'majority' means 'most' and fits here correctly. 

The sentence talks about clothing thus 'acoustic' which means 'relating to sound or the sense of hearing' is incorrect here and 'apparel' which means 'clothes' fits here correctly.

The word 'while' makes it understood that the fact mentioned later should be opposite in meaning thus 'developing' is correct here. Since US is developed the word 'developing' is opposite and fits here. Thus option 1 is the correct answer.

The meanings of the used words are:

Emphasis => special importance, value, or prominence given to something.

Trends => fashion

Materialistic => excessively concerned with material possessions; money-oriented.

The words fit in the context used thus no replacement is needed. Option 5 is thus the correct answer.

The passage criticizes the consumers and the evils of the fashion industry. Thus option 3 is the correct adjective.

Didactic => instructive

Sarcastic => marked by or given to using irony in order to mock or convey contempt.

Here we have to consider the correct word in association with ''-off.'' All these words given in the options mean different when used with 'off.' Like ''Put off'' means an evasive reply. Pushed-off is not a phrasal verb, but it can be used like ''pushed off the table.'' Paid off means ''when something yields favorable result.'' Clean off means ''to take something off something.'' But the correct phrasal verb here is ''pulled off.'' It means to be able to successfully do something, which appeared difficult.

The correct words here is 'victory' which means 'win' which is true because it is used in context of a party who has won an election.  

veracity: conformity to facts; accuracy.

valor: courage

viceroy: ruler exercising authority in a colony on behalf of a sovereign.

war: Battle

The sentence that follows up to the blank says ''King would sign his letter of appointment as Prime Minister.'' So the correct word must be 'monarchy' which means ''a form of government with a monarch or king at the head'' 

obligations: duty 

right: correct

ministerial: relating to a government minister or ministers.

volunteer: a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task.

Here the correct word is 'alliance.' It fits well when we are considering a passage written on elections, because ''alliance'' means ''a union or association formed for mutual benefit, especially a political one.''  

reminiscence: a story told about a past event remembered by the narrator

conveyance: the action or process of transporting or carrying someone or something from one place to another.

defiance: open resistance; bold disobedience

reliance: dependence on or trust in someone or something.

Here the correct word is 'coalition.' The government that comes into being because of an alliance is called a 'coalition government.'  Coalition means a temporary alliance for combined action, especially of political parties forming a government. 

Alliance means a union or association formed for mutual benefit. In fact all teh other words like association, faction or accumulation means things coming together to form a group.

The correct word here is ''Plunged.'' It means ''fall suddenly and uncontrollably.'' Since we talking about the support base of someone who lost the elections. the use of this words makes sense. 

On the other hand ''warranted, assured, vowed and pledged' mean 'tell someone something positively to dispel any doubts.''

Whenever a point of time in the past is taken, we must use 'since.' So since is the correct word here.

The correct word here is ''sprightly.'' It means '' lively; full of energy.'' Since the word ''jubilant' which means ''feeling or expressing great happiness and triumph'' has also been used in the same sentence, we can understand that the next word too is a positive one.  

incessant: continuing without pause or interruption.

rejoice: feel or show great joy or delight.

frightful: very unpleasant, serious, or shocking.

slightly: a small degree; not considerably.

The correct word here is ''ruffle.' It means ''disturb the smoothness of.'' Since the elections results were not what financial markets expected, the result must have disturbed the market just like any other major event that occurs in the country. So option  is correct. 

muffle: wrap or cover for warmth.

scuffle: a short, confused fight or struggle at close quarters.

trivial: of little value or importance

grapple: engage in a close fight or struggle without weapons; wrestle.

The correct word here is ''weakened.'' It means ''become weak.'' From the statement ''with the ringgit one-month non-deliverable forward falling 1.7 pct'' it is clear that weakened is the correct word.  

strengthen: make strong

weekend: Saturday and Sunday

heightened: make more intense

likened: point out the resemblance

Let their investments for first 7 months be x, 3x and 2x respectively.

And their investments for last 5 months be 3y, 7y and 3y respectively.

The average investment of Aman and Rakesh is Rs. 3500

(x × 7 + 3x × 7 + 3y × 5 + 7y × 5)/2 = 3500

28x + 50y = 7000      -----(i)

The average investment of Vinay and Rakesh is Rs. 4200.

(2x × 7 + 3x × 7 + 3y × 5 + 7y × 5)/2 = 4200

35x + 50y = 8400      -----(ii)

Solve equation (i) and (ii)

x = 200 and y = 28

Total investment of Vinay = 2 × 200 × 7 + 28 × 3 × 5 = Rs. 3220.

Let their investments for first 7 months be x, 3x and 2x respectively.

And their investments for last 5 months be 3y, 7y and 3y respectively.

The average investment of Aman and Rakesh is Rs. 3500

(x × 7 + 3x × 7 + 3y × 5 + 7y × 5)/2 = 3500

28x + 50y = 7000      -----(i)

The average investment of Vinay and Rakesh is Rs. 4200.

(2x × 7 + 3x × 7 + 3y × 5 + 7y × 5)/2 = 4200

35x + 50y = 8400      -----(ii)

Solve equation (i) and (ii)

x = 200 and y = 28

Total investment of Aman = 1 × 200 × 7 + 28 × 3 × 5 = Rs. 1820

Total investment of Rakesh = 3 × 200 × 7 + 28 × 7 × 5 = Rs. 5180

Total investment of Vinay = 2 × 200 × 7 + 28 × 3 × 5 = Rs. 3220.

Investment ratio = 1820 : 5180 : 3220 = 91 : 259 : 161

Aman share in the profit is = 11242 × (91/511) = Rs. 2002

Let their investments for first 7 months be x, 3x and 2x respectively.

And their investments for last 5 months be 3y, 7y and 3y respectively.

The average investment of Aman and Rakesh is Rs. 3500

(x × 7 + 3x × 7 + 3y × 5 + 7y × 5)/2 = 3500

28x + 50y = 7000      -----(i)

The average investment of Vinay and Rakesh is Rs. 4200.

(2x × 7 + 3x × 7 + 3y × 5 + 7y × 5)/2 = 4200

35x + 50y = 8400      -----(ii)

Solve equation (i) and (ii)

x = 200 and y = 28

Total investment of Aman = 1 × 200 × 7 + 28 × 3 × 5 = Rs. 1820

Total investment of Rakesh = 3 × 200 × 7 + 28 × 7 × 5 = Rs. 5180

Total investment of Vinay = 2 × 200 × 7 + 28 × 3 × 5 = Rs. 3220.

Investment ratio = 1820 : 3220 : 5180 = 91 : 161 : 259

Let their investments for first 7 months be x, 3x and 2x respectively.

And their investments for last 5 months be 3y, 7y and 3y respectively.

The average investment of Aman and Rakesh is Rs. 3500

(x × 7 + 3x × 7 + 3y × 5 + 7y × 5)/2 = 3500

28x + 50y = 7000      -----(i)

The average investment of Vinay and Rakesh is Rs. 4200.

(2x × 7 + 3x × 7 + 3y × 5 + 7y × 5)/2 = 4200

35x + 50y = 8400      -----(ii)

Solve equation (i) and (ii)

x = 200 and y = 28

Total investment of Aman = 1 × 200 × 7 + 28 × 3 × 5 = Rs. 1820

Total investment of Rakesh = 3 × 200 × 7 + 28 × 7 × 5 = Rs. 5180

Total investment of Vinay = 2 × 200 × 7 + 28 × 3 × 5 = Rs. 3220.

Investment ratio = 1820 : 5180 : 3220 = 91 : 259 : 161

Aman share in the profit is = Total profit × (91/511) = 8350

Total profit = 46888.46 ≈ 46888.5

Total profit of Rakesh and Vinay = 46888.5 - 8350 = Rs. 38538.5

Let their investments for first 7 months be x, 3x and 2x respectively.

And their investments for last 5 months be 3y, 7y and 3y respectively.

The average investment of Aman and Rakesh is Rs. 3500

(x × 7 + 3x × 7 + 3y × 5 + 7y × 5)/2 = 3500

28x + 50y = 7000      -----(i)

The average investment of Vinay and Rakesh is Rs. 4200.

(2x × 7 + 3x × 7 + 3y × 5 + 7y × 5)/2 = 4200

35x + 50y = 8400      -----(ii)

Solve equation (i) and (ii)

x = 200 and y = 28

Total investment of Aman = 1 × 200 × 7 + 28 × 3 × 5 = Rs. 1820

Total investment of Rakesh = 3 × 200 × 7 + 28 × 7 × 5 = Rs. 5180

Total investment of Vinay = 2 × 200 × 7 + 28 × 3 × 5 = Rs. 3220

Investment difference between Rakesh and Vinay = 5180 - 3220 = Rs. 1960

Shortcut Trick

Upstream Speed = Speed in still water − Stream Speed

Speed in still water = 18 + 4 = 22 km/hr

Downstream Speed = Speed in still water + Stream Speed

Downstream Speed = 22 + 4 = 26 km/hr

∴ The correct answer is 26 km/hr.

Alternate Method

Given:

Direction (1) = Upstream

Upstream Speed (2) = 18 km/hr

Stream Speed (3) = 4 km/hr

Formula Used:

Speed Upstream (S_up) = u − v

Speed Downstream (S_down) = u + v

Where u = Speed of boat in still water and v = Speed of stream.

Calculations:

⇒ S_up = u − v

⇒ 18 = u − 4

⇒ u = 18 + 4 = 22 km/hr

⇒ S_down = u + v

⇒ S_down = 22 + 4

⇒ S_down = 26 km/hr

∴ The correct answer is 26 km/hr.

Additional Information

Still Water Speed Calculation

Speed in still water (u) = (Downstream speed + Upstream speed) ÷ 2.

Stream Speed Calculation

Speed of stream (v) = (Downstream speed − Upstream speed) ÷ 2.

Relative Speed of Boats

When two boats move towards each other, the effective speed is the sum of their still water speeds, as stream effects cancel out.

Shortcut Trick

Upstream Speed = Still Water Speed − Stream Speed

Upstream Speed = 30 − 3 = 27 km/hr

Distance (5) = Upstream Speed × Time (6)

Distance = 27 × 12 = 324 km

∴ The correct answer is 324 km.

Alternate Method

Given:

Direction (1) = Upstream

Speed of stream (3) = 3 km/hr

Speed of boat in still water (4) = 30 km/hr

Time taken (6) = 12 hr

Formula Used:

Speed_upstream = Speed_{still water} − Speed_stream

Distance = Speed × Time

Calculations:

⇒ Upstream speed of Boat A = 30 − 3 = 27 km/hr

⇒ Distance (5) is the distance covered from Point A to Point B.

⇒ Distance (5) = Upstream Speed × Time taken (6)

⇒ Distance (5) = 27 × 12

⇒ Distance (5) = 324 km

∴ The correct answer is 324 km.

Additional Information

Upstream Speed

It is the net speed of the boat when it travels against the flow of the stream. Speed = u − v.

Downstream Speed

It is the net speed of the boat when it travels in the direction of the stream flow. Speed = u + v.

Still Water Speed Calculation

If downstream speed (D) and upstream speed (U) are known, speed in still water = (D + U) ÷ 2.

Shortcut Trick

Speed Downstream = 24 + 4 = 28 km/hr

Time (6) = 224 ÷ 28 = 8 hr

Speed Upstream = (24 − 4) − 4 = 16 km/hr

Time (7) = 224 ÷ 16 = 14 hr

Total Time (6) + (7) = 8 + 14 = 22 hr

∴ The correct answer is 22 hr.

Alternate Method

Given:

Direction (1) = Downstream

Speed in still water (4) = 24 km/hr

Speed of stream (3) = 4 km/hr

Distance (5) = 224 km

Reduced still water speed (returning) = 24 − 4 = 20 km/hr

Calculations:

⇒ Forward Speed (Downstream) = Speed in still water + Speed of stream

⇒ Speed Downstream = 24 + 4 = 28 km/hr

⇒ Time taken to reach B (6) = Distance ÷ Speed Downstream = 224 ÷ 28

⇒ (6) = 8 hr

⇒ Return Speed (Upstream) = New speed in still water − Speed of stream

⇒ Speed Upstream = (24 − 4) − 4 = 20 − 4 = 16 km/hr

⇒ Time taken to return to A (7) = Distance ÷ Speed Upstream = 224 ÷ 16

⇒ (7) = 14 hr

⇒ Value of (6) + (7) = 8 + 14 = 22 hr

∴ The correct answer is 22 hr.

Additional Information

Relative Speed in Water

Downstream speed = u + v and Upstream speed = u − v, where u is boat speed in still water and v is stream speed.

Average Speed for Round Trip

If distances are equal, Average Speed = (2 × S_up × S_down) ÷ (S_up + S_down).

Time and Distance Relation

Time = Distance ÷ Speed. When distance is constant, time is inversely proportional to speed.