Q.1-5. Rearrange the following sentences (A),(B),(C), (D) and (E) in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph, then answer the questions given below them.
A. The focus on renewable energy is fine, but whether fossil fuel-based capacity other than what is already in the pipeline can be treated with the cavalier indifference
B. A plan that entails state governments taking on the accumulated losses of their electricity boards
(SEBs) worth Rs 3 lakh crore is being firmed up.
C. Since it is politics that creates the SEB loss in the first place, it is only fair that the state
governments take on the liability.
D. It is welcome that power minister is hard at work on getting the bankrupt electricity sector back on
the rails.
E. The minister envisages a big step-up in investment in the transmission and distribution
infrastructure to reduce technical losses. This is welcome, too.
F. the minister seems to reserve for it is open to question.
1. Which of the following would be the FOURTH statement after rearrangement?
1. D 2.E 3. B 4. C 5. A
2.Which of the following would be the THIRD statement after rearrangement?
1. C 2. F 3. E 4. B 5. D
3.Which of the following would be the SECOND statement after rearrangement?
1. E 2. B 3. F 4. D 5. C
4.Which of the following would be the SIXTH statement after rearrangement?
1. B 2. A 3. F 4. C 5. D
5.Which of the following would be the FIFTH statement after rearrangement?
1. C 2. B 3. F 4. D 5. A
Q.6-10. In the following passage there are blanks each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each five words have been suggested, one of which fits the blanks appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.
Public-private partnerships (PPPs), once supposed to be the silver bullet to solve the country’s
infrastructure woes, have largely turned out to be (6). The government wants to change that, after a
committee headed by technocrat Vijay Kelkar tells it how to do so. Some problems like government
clearances are common to all, but each sector has its own risks. The main (7) for electricity, where
plenty of generating capacity has been added but little sold, is the unwillingness of state governments to charge consumers rational tariffs. This problem has no quick fixes, apart from the hope that states begin to compete among themselves for investment and wake up to distribution reform.
Many road and highway projects are (8). Here, problems vary: contracts are poorly drafted, land acquisition fails, litigation leads to delays. State-owned banks are weighed down by bad loans made to infrastructure. As delays increase, bad loans turn worse. Are obituaries in order for PPPs? Not quite. The state should undertake the (9) initial stages of project implementation, facilitating clearances and (10) the risk premium in project financing costs. This effort, along with the land acquired for the project, can reflect as the state’s equity in the project. Private partners can be chosen based on the lowest annuity demanded or highest revenue share offered. Things could improve if New Delhi, the states and private players become equity holders in PPPs. Ownership could bring urgency to slow-moving administrations. Private players who build infrastructure bear operation and maintenance costs, which must be factored into financial bids for annuity, tolls or revenue shares submitted. Sound finances and a stakeholder culture can be the bedrock of infrastructure projects.
Q.6. (1) success (2) blanks (3) valid (4) litigious (5) flout
Q.7. (1) source (2) shortage (3) supply (4) bottleneck (5) distribution
Q.8. (1) sputtering (2) increasing (3) emerging (4) percolating (5) drafted
Q.9. (1) higher (2) riskier (3) new (4) financial (5) contract
Q.10. (1) slashing (2) tolerating (3) proliferating (4) diverting (5) adding
Answers
Q.1. (2)
Q.2. (1)
Q.3. (2)
Q.4. (3)
Q.5. (5) The correct rearrangement is - DBCEAF
Q.6. (2) blanks
For other options:
Litigious (ADJ) - quarrelsome
Flout (V) - show contempt for
Q.7. (4) bottleneck
Q.8. (1) sputtering
For other options:
Percolating (V) - seep, drip
Q.9. (2) riskier
Q.10. (1) slashing
For other options:
Proliferating (V) - increase quickly
