Question : Comprehension:

Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.

The number of Indian students going abroad for higher studies has increased by 68.79 per cent in the past year, according to data provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Subhas Sarkar. As per the data provided by him in the Lok Sabha, the number of Indians enrolled in foreign varsities increased from 4.44 lakh in 2021 to 7.5 lakh in 2022. He clarified that while the Bureau of Immigration and Ministry of Home Affairs maintain departure and arrival data of Indians, there is no index for capturing the category of Indians going abroad for higher education.

"Purpose of Indians going abroad for higher education is captured manually based either on their verbal disclosure or the type of visa of the destination country produced by them at the time of immigration clearance," Sarkar said.

According to the data provided by the ministry, the number of Indian nationals increased from 4.54 lakh in 2017 to 5.17 lakh in 2018. There was a significant increase in 2019 as well, with 5.86 lakh students flying out of the country. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of Indian nationals in foreign varsities saw a drastic dip as only 2.59 lakh students were registered. While the number continued to remain low, it saw a slight increase in 2021 with 4.44 lakh registrations. However, the number has significantly jumped to 7.5 lakh in 2022. The increase in the number of Indian nationals abroad corresponds with the latest immigration reports from some of the popular study-abroad destinations such as the US, UK, and Australia. For the UK, the Immigration Statistics Report states that 127,731 visas were granted to Indian students in September 2022, an increase of 93,470 (+273 per cent) against 34,261 in 2019. Similarly, in the US, the number of Indian students has more than doubled, and the Open Doors Report 2022 has predicted that the number of Indian students heading to America is likely to surpass those from China in 2022-23.

Question:

Which of the following countries is not very popular with Indian students for studies?

Option 1: Australia

Option 2: USA

Option 3: UK

Option 4: China

Question : Comprehension:

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

The hopping kangaroo is a (1) _______ sight in every snapshot relating to Australia. Members of the kangaroo family can be as small as a rat or as big as a man. Kangaroos are found mainly in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. Kangaroos, which are big-footed marsupials that evolved in Australia, use their short front legs like arms. The man-sized kangaroos of Australia are (2) ________of speeding up to 88 km/h for short distances, their means of (3)_______ being their powerful hind legs, which carry them over the ground in jumps of 9 m or more at a time. Weighing around 70 kg, they have an average lifespan of around six to eight years and a maximum lifetime of 20 years. When bothered by predators, kangaroos often (4) ______ for the water, standing submerged to the chest and attempting to drown the attacker by holding him under water. Another defensive technique is to get their back to a tree and kick at their (5)_________ with their clawed hind feet, sometimes with sufficient force to kill a man. Normally shy animals, they alert other kangaroos to danger by beating on the ground with their hind feet. This loud alarm signal carries over a long distance.

Question:

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank number 2.

Option 1: adept

Option 2: capable

Option 3: skilled

Option 4: ready

Question : At Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, India defeated Australia by how many wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series in March 2023?

Option 1: 4 wickets

Option 2: 6 wickets

Option 3: 2 wickets

Option 4: 5 wickets

Question : Which country hosted the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023?

Option 1: United States of America and Canada

Option 2: Australia and New Zealand

Option 3: Italy and France

Option 4: Japan and China

Question : Choose the incorrect statement related to monsoon.

Option 1: The southwest monsoon winds blow over the warm oceans, gather moisture and bring widespread rainfall over the mainland of India.

Option 2: The intensity and position of the high-pressure area, east of Madagascar, affect the Indian monsoon.

Option 3: The difference in pressure over Tahiti (Pacific Ocean), and Darwin in northern Australia (Indian Ocean) is computed to predict the intensity of the monsoons.

Option 4: The western cyclonic disturbances occur due to withdrawal or the retreat of the monsoon.

Question : Comprehension:
In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given. Select the most appropriate option for each number.

The Amazon is the world’s largest tropical rainforest. It is (1)______ the size of the continent of Australia and covers (2)______ area of nearly 2.8 million square miles. The Amazon rainforest gets its life from the (3)______ Amazon River which runs through the heart (4)______ the region. The rainforest is simply the drained basin for the river and its (5)______. The vast forest consists of four layers, each featuring its own ecosystems and specially adapted plants and animals.
Question:
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank no. 2.

Option 1: an

Option 2: a

Option 3: some

Option 4: one

Question : Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice.

We hope that we shall win the match against Australia.

Option 1: It is hoped that the match against Australia shall be won by us.

Option 2: It is expected that the match against Australia should be won by us.

Option 3: It is hoped that the match against Australia was won by us.

Option 4: It is sure that the match against Australia was won by us.

Question : Comprehension:
In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given. Select the most appropriate option for each number.

The Amazon is the world’s largest tropical rainforest. It is (1)______ the size of the continent of Australia and covers (2)______ area of nearly 2.8 million square miles. The Amazon rainforest gets its life from the (3)______ Amazon River which runs through the heart (4)______ the region. The rainforest is simply the drained basin for the river and its (5)______. The vast forest consists of four layers, each featuring its own ecosystems and specially adapted plants and animals.
Question:
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank no. 4.

Option 1: on

Option 2: of

Option 3: at

Option 4: in

Question : There are certain words missing in the passage given below. The options given contain an answer that will fit in those given blanks. Choose the correct word to be used to make the sentence coherent and grammatically correct.

The decision made by the goverment of India to purchase crude oil at a discounted rate from Russia,  when the Putin goverment is bombing civilians in Ukraine, is 1) __________________ by many. 2)________________ to the Narendra Modi administration’s request to not to politicise the issue, in the current scenario the decision is as much political as it is economic, however much we may wish it were not.

While the major countries like US, Europe , Japan and Australia have made no secret revelation that India should  join them in 3) _____________________ Putin’s war, as the goverment of 141 countries who voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution did. Russia has intentionally offered the discount at the oil to show that India is among the ‘many’ countries that resist the Atlantic alliance’s attempt to 4) __________________ and punish Putin. On the other hand Xi’s China has suddenly discovered that Modi’s India is worth talking to: it will provide cover for the Xi government to not only 5) ________________ attention from its own support for Russia, but also to position itself as someone who is more willing to engage with the Atlantic alliance than India.

Choose the correct word to be used in the blank 3

Option 1: exceling
 

Option 2: antiquated

Option 3: ubiquitous

Option 4:  condemning

Question : Summer rains in Australia broadly decreases from

Option 1: east to west

Option 2: west to east

Option 3: north to south

Option 4: south to north