Q.1-10. 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.
When stock prices (1), most investors are (2), to sell their shares and (3), the money somewhere safer. But the recent meltdown in gold prices has drawn quite a different reaction from most people: 'Great! Can I go out and buy gold, now that it is finally cheaper?'
The short answer is: Yes, you can. But do so after you understand the (4), that are set to drive gold prices.
Any asset that rockets up for 12 straight years and (5), eightfold in that time, as gold did, is setting itself up for a correction. This correction in the global gold (6), is likely to be sharp and messy as speculators (7), were betting on quick gains (8), to this fall and worsen it by retreating en masse But once the froth goes out of the market, it is gold's fundamentals as a commodity that will set the long-term direction for prices. We think three key factors will (9), the global gold price outlook over the next two-three years. One key trigger for the recent gold price (10), was the fear that troubled European central banks, tired of printing money, would now liquidate their gold reserves to raise cash.
Q.1. (1) fell (2) declined (3) tumble (4) risen (5) augment
Q.2. (1) indifferent (2) discouraged (3) persuade (4) attract (5) tempted
Q.3. (1) stash (2) collected (3) supplied (4) pile (5) borrow
Q.4. (1) measure (2) factors (3) rule (4) guideline (5) cause
Q.5. (1) loses (2) spends (3) paid (4) gains (5) take
Q.6. (1) markets (2) scene (3) retailed (4) wholesale (5) corporation
Q.7. (1) which (2) whom (3) those (4) who (5) they
Q.8. (1) ignore (2) pay (3) react (4) stop (5) move
Q.9. (1) say (2) look (3) tell (4) determined (5) decide
Q.10. (1) rise (2) meltdown (3) success (4) profits (5) benefits
ANSWERS
Q.1.(3) Q.2.(5) Q.3.(1) Q.4.(2) Q.5.(4) Q.6.(1) Q.7.(4) Q.8.(3) Q.9.(5) Q.10.(2)
