IBPS English Language model test paper - 1

IBPS English Language model test paper - 1

1) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it.

MECE (pronounced as “me-see”) stands for “mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive” and it is a sine qua non of the problem-solving process at McKinsey. MECE gets pounded into every new associate’s head from the moment of entering the firm. Every document (including internal memos), every presentation, every e-mail and voice mail produced by a McKinsey-ite is supposed to be MECE. Ask any number of McKinsey alumni what they remember the most about the way the firm solves problems and they will tell you, “MECE, MECE, and MECE.”

MECE structures your thinking with maximum clarity (hence minimum confusion) and maximum completeness. MECE starts at the top level of your solution - the list of issues making up the problem you have to solve. When you have to think you have determined the issues, take a hard look at them. Is each one a separate and distinct issue? If so, then your issue list is mutually exclusive. Does every aspect of the problem come under one (and only one) of these issues- that is, have you thought of everything? If so, then your issues are collectively exhaustive.

Suppose your team is working on a study for those famous American manufacturing firm Acme widgets. The problem you face is “we need to sell more widgets”. Your tem might come up with a list of the following ways to increase widget sales:

• Changing the way we sell our widgets to retail outlets.
• Improving the way we market our widgets to consumers.
• Reducing the unit cost of our widgets.

Once you have a list in which all the items are separate and distinct (i.e., mutually exclusive), you have to check that it also includes every issue or item relevant to the problem (i.e., it is collectively exhaustive.) Go back for a moment to “Reengineering our widget process.” You put this under “reducing the unit cost”. Now one of your team member says, “we should think about ways to improve widget quality through the production process.” Now you have something that looks like this:

• Changing the way we sell our widget to retail outlets.
• Improving the way we market our widget to consumers – reengineering the production process to improve widget quality.
• Reducing the unit cost of our widgets – reengineering the production process to reduce unit cost.

I. How does MECE help in structuring your thinking?

a. Maximum clarity
b. Maximum indistinctness
c. Minimum lucidity
d. All of the above

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II. What does MECE stands for?

a. Mutually exhaustive, Collectively exclusive
b. Mutually exclusive, Collectively exhaustive
c. Maximum exclusive, Minimum exhaustive
d. None of the above

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III. Which of the below mentioned statement is true for the above mentioned passage?

a. MECE is used for increasing the widget sales
b. MECE is used to structure your thinking
c. MECE is used for problem solving process at MCKinsey
d. All of the above

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IV. Which of the below mentioned option is one of the way to increase widget sales:

a. Changing the way we sell our widget to retail outlets
b. Reducing the unit cost of the widgets
c. Improving the packaging of the widgets
d. All of the Above

a. a & b
b. a & c
c. c & d
d. b & c

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2) Pick up the correct synonym for the word given below:

I. Labyrinth

a. Complicated
b. Maze
c. Tangle
d. Muddle

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3) From the below mentioned sentence, choose the correct alternative which best expresses the meaning of the word printed in bold in the sentence:

I. Family pressure, social customs, gender bias, and a shortage of role models are just some of the impediments almost all of us face.

a. obstruction
b. impairments
c. barriers
d. hindrance

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4) Choose the word opposite in meaning to the below given word.

i. Discommode

a. Inconvenience
b. Comfort
c. Expediency
d. Pragmatism

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5) The following question consists of a word marked in bold in the sentence given. Out of the given alternatives, choose the one which is closest to the opposite in the meaning of the

marked bold word.

i. Let me reiterate that you do not have to use a particular structure if you are not comfortable with it.

a. Take back
b. Echo
c. Ingeminate
d. Recapitulate

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6) Pick out the word that is either most nearly the same in meaning or opposite of the word printed in capitals.

i. SALUBRIOUS

a. Unhealthy (Antonym)
b. Tarnished
c. Resourceful
d. Essential

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ii. SCALLYWAG

a. Taint
b. Scam
c. Mischievous (Synonym)
d. Scamper

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7) Choose from the given words below the two sentences, that word which has the same meaning and can be used in the same context as the part given in italics in both the sentences.

i. A. Anil has got a friendly personality

B. The warm welcome filled my heart with love

a. Pleasing
b. Happy
c. Easy
d. Tranquil

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8) In each question below are given two sentences numbered I and II. In these sentences, two homonyms are given in italics type, which may be either mis-spelt or inappropriate in the context of the sentences. Read both the sentences carefully and decide on their correctness on the basis of the italicised words.

i. I. The effect of these medications will wear off after a few hours but may temporarily blur your vision preventing you from reading or driving.

II. Blurb on the back of the booklet suggests the tapes are 1984.

(a) If only sentence I is correct
(b) If only sentence II is correct
(c) If both the sentences I and II are correct
(d) if I as well as II are incorrect, but both could be made correct by interchanging the italicised words
(e) If neither I nor II is correct and the sentence could not be made correct by interchanging the italicised words

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ii. I. Coop plan is excellent value.

II. The traffic cops were imposing fines on drunken drivers.

(a) If only sentence I is correct
(b) If only sentence II is correct
(c) If both the sentences I and II are correct
(d) if I as well as II are incorrect, but both could be made correct by interchanging the italicised words
(e) If neither I nor II is correct and the sentence could not be made correct by interchanging the italicised words

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9) From the below given question, out of the four alternatives, choose the one which can be substituted for the given word/ sentence.

i. A person who is unable to read and understand.

a. Indecipherable
b. Unintelligible
c. Scrawled
d. Inarticulate

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10) In the question below, a phrase is given below which some alternatives are given. One of these is the most appropriate word i.e. it best conveys the meaning of the phrase. Find out the most appropriate word in each case.

i. The study of plant life and is a branch of biology.

a. Pathology
b. Horticulture
c. Botany
d. Ethology

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11) This question contains a small paragraph followed by a question on it. Read each paragraph carefully and answer the question given below it:

i. Let’s begin with a closer look at the sales force. It’s organised geographically (Northeast, Mid – Atlantic, Southeast, etc.) and sells primarily to three types of retail outlets:

superstores, department stores and speciality stores. The team believes that the sales force ought to be organised by customer type – that’s one issue.
This passage best supports the statement that:

a. Sales force at retail outlets
b. The different types of retail outlets
c. Geographic arrangement of the retail outlets
d. None of the above

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12) The passage given below is followed by some questions. Each question comprises of three statements (A), (B), (C). In the context of the passage, decide which one, two, three or none of the statements is/ are true.

i. Every consulting firm has developed a number of problem – solving methods and given them fancy names: Analysis of Value added, Business process Redesign, Product Market scan, and so

on. These techniques are immensely powerful. They allow the consultants to very rapidly fit the raw data that lands on their desks into a coherent framework and give them insights into the

nature of the client’s problem. The consultants can then focus their thinking on the “drivers” of the problem and start working toward a solution.

A. The techniques allow them to take care of the client’s problem
B. It tells us about the Business process redesign importance.
C. The passage focuses on the different problem solving methods adopted by the consultants

a. A, B and C
b. A & B
c. B & C
d. A & C
e. None of the above

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13) In each of the following questions, a sentence is given with a blank to be filled in with an appropriate word. Four alternatives are suggested for each question. Choose the correct

alternative.

i. As a__________________to avoiding cookie – cutter solutions, be careful about blindly trusting your gut

a. Corollary
b. Upshot
c. Repercussion
d. Aftermath

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14) Pick out the most effective word from the given words to fill in the blank to make the sentence meaningfully complete.

i. Businesses are full of real people, with real strength and weaknesses and __________________

a. Precincts
b. Inhibitions
c. Margins
d. Reticence
e. Limitations

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15) In each sentence below, there are two blank spaces. Below each sentence some pairs of words are given which are numbered (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e). Pick out the most appropriate pair to fill in the blanks in same order, to complete the sentence meaningfully.

i. Like and strong firm, the organisation has a powerful corporate culture based on shared_____________and common ____________

a. Ethics and understandings
b. Values and experiences
c. Principles and practices
d. Philosophies and ideologies

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16) Fill in the blank with the appropriate option given below.

i. The participants then_____________any relevant ideas they have, one idea per note, and hand them over to the leader.
a. Written
b. Write down
c. Write out
d. Wrote down

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17) Fill in the blank with the appropriate grammar from the alternatives mentioned below.

i. My mom______________me to avoid boilerplate thank you notes.

a. Teaches
b. Teach
c. Trained
d. Taught

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18) In each of the following passages, there are blanks each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each, some words are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate words.

i. Brainstorming is about generating new ideas. If all the team members 1. into the room saying the same old things and agreeing 2. one another, 3. you’ve gained nothing and wasted time. Even worse, if the team leader comes in and imposes her view 4. everyone else, the team has 5. an opportunity to achieve a solution 6. more creative and, possibly, better.

Brainstorming requires the 7. of everyone in the room, from the 8. senior director to the most junior analyst and there is no guarantee on any given day that the former will

have better ideas than the 9.No one should be afraid 10. speak his mind in the brainstorming room. So along with your preconception, check your hierarchy and deference at the door.

1. (a) Come (b) Came (c) called (d) comes

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2. (a) along with (b) herewith (c)with (d) within

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3. (a) that (b) then (c) now (d) when

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4. (a) in (b) at (c) of (d) on

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5. (a) missed (b)misses (c) missing (d) been missing

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6. (a) then (b) they (c) that’s (d)that

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7. (a) participative (b) participation (c) participate (d) involve

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8. (a) most (b) most of (c) mostly (d) topmost

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9. (a) later (b) lately (c) latter (d) litter

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10. (a) in (b) while (c) onto (d) to

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19) In each of the following questions, an incomplete statement followed by some filler is given. Pick out the best one which can complete the incomplete statement correctly and meaningfully.

i. I would appreciate if you don’t ____________

a. Interfere in our family matter
b. Get involved in our family
c. Talk in our matter
d. None of the above

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20) In each question below, a theme is partially presented in two or three sentences. The complete theme comprises three, four or five logically arranged sentences. Out of these, the middle one or two sentences are not given. Three possible fillers denoted by A, B and C are given below the partially provided theme. You have to find out which one or two or either or none can fill up the gap between the given sentences in order to make the theme complete. Study the five alternatives (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) carefully and select the best out of them.

i. It’s impossible to do everything yourself all the time. (…………..)Once you fail to meet expectations, it is very difficult to regain credibility.

A. You raise unrealistic expectations if you manage to multitask
B. Multitasking is not a good option at work-front
C. You will lose the quality of work by multitasking

a. Only A
b. Only B
c. Only C
d. Either A or b
e. Neither of these

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21) In each of the following questions, find out which part of the sentence has an error, idiomatic or grammatical. If there is no mistake, the answer is “ No error”

i. This rule is really (a) / about satisfying (b) / customer in a long term relationship (c) / No error (d)

The correct form is about satisfying your

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22) In each question, a part of sentence is printed in italics. Below each sentence, some phrases are given which can substitute the italicised part of the sentence. Find out the phrase which can correctly substitute that part of the sentence. If the sentence is correct as it is, the answer is “No correction required” or “no improvement”.

i. The outdoor restaurant is snug under a canopy of trees of the same name.

a. Snug in
b. Snugged in
c. Snugged off
d. Snug with
e. No correction required

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23) In the following question, some sentences are given which are on the same theme. Decide which sentence is the most preferable with respect to grammar, meaning and usage, suitable for a formal writing in English.

i.

a. When I first suggested that we do this analysis, my people said, “We have no idea”.
b. When we first suggest that we do this analysis, my people said, “We have no idea”.
c. When I firstly suggested that we do this analysis, my people said, “We have no idea”.
d. When I first suggested that we do this analysis, my people said, “that they had no idea”.

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24) In each question there are four sentences given. Arrange these to a form a coherent paragraph.

i.

A. You will learn how to put together a presentation that conveys your ideas to your audience.
B. You will discover how to manage internal communications so everyone on your team can stay “on message”
C. To get your clients to buy into your solution, you have to sell it to them.
D. That’s what we will cover in part three.

a. ACBD b. CDAB c. DCAB d. BCAD

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25) Arrange the below given sentences A, B, C, D between sentences 1 and 6, to form a logical sequence of six sentences.

1. The Last category of difficult interview is also the hardest to handle.

A. You just have to reach down inside yourself and push on through
B. You have to do your job, and you have to get the interviewee to help you
C. You can’t become angry or upset, despite the unfairness of it all
D. In a way, there is no effective strategy

6. No one ever said life was fair.

a. ABCD b. DCBA c. BCDA d. CBDA


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26) Read the following statements to decide their sequence to make a meaningful passage and then answer the questions given below them

A. Some of my colleagues were amazed at how I would get upgraded, or would get a bag on after the plane was full – things like that.
B. Treat everyone with tremendous respect
C. It also keeps your stress level down – it’s easier to be friendly than frustrated – so it’s a win / win
D. Sometimes people can be demanding and impatient; then they fail to understand why they don’t get what they want
E. Flight attendants, concierges, assistants at clients – these people have more authority than you realize and want to help those who show respect for them.

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Questions 1 to 4:

1. Which of the following sentence should be the first sentence?

a. A b. B c. C d. D e. E

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2. Which of the following sentence should be the second sentence?

a. A b. B c. C d. D e. E


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3. Which of the following sentence should be the third sentence?

a. A b. B c. C d. D e. E

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4. Which of the following sentence should be the fourth sentence?

a. A b. B c. C d. D e. E

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27) In the following questions, a sentence has been broken up into different parts. The parts have been scrambled and numbered as given below. Choose the correct order of these parts from the given alternatives.

i. By the end of the process
ii. The gadgets director
iii. May be convinced
iv. Or he may come up
v. With some fact you had not known
vi. About the alters
vii. Your recommendation or he may
viii. Refuse to accept your recommendation

a. I, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, vii, viii
b. viii, vii, vi, v, iv, iii, ii, i
c. iii, ii, iv, vi, v, viii, viii, i
d. v, viii, i, iii, ii, vii, vi, iv

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28) Select the combination of numbers so that letters are arranged accordingly to form a meaningful word.

i. S G N E A L A
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

a. 1, 2 , 4, 5, 3, 7, 6
b. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
c. 6, 7, 1, 5, 2, 3, 4
d. 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

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29) In the following question the sentence has been given in active voice. Out of the four alternatives suggested select the one which best expresses the same sentence in passive voice.



i. You can also prepare by brainstorming in your own, ahead of time.
a. You could also prepare by brainstorming on your own ahead of time
b. She prepared much ahead of time by brainstorming
c. She prepared ahead of time by brainstorming
d. I saw her preparing ahead of time by brainstorming

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30) Complete the phrases from the below given options

i. With its head cut off

a. Like a Hen
b. Like a coward
c. Like a reluctant
d. Like a chicken

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