READING COMPREHENSION
In 2009, when Indian and American officials were finalising the terms of the End-User Verification Agreement, the BJP, then in the Opposition, had accused the UPA government of selling out to American interests.
Now, when a government led by the BJP has signed off on another of a set of so-called four foundational agreements, the Congress has repeated the same charge. The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (Lemoa), for India to sign off on which defence minister travelled to the US and met US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter, raises the level of defence cooperation between India and the US to a new level. It allows either country’s armed forces to use the other’s facilities, of course, with mutual consent.
If American planes or aircraft carriers needed to use an Indian facility en route to, say, South China Sea, they can. The pointed reference to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and respect for the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the joint statement on the second Indo-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue in New Delhi, for which US Secretary of State John Kerry was in town, certainly leaves no room for doubt on the operational dimensions of Indo-US defence cooperation. During the Cold War, India had to befriend the Soviet Union in order to ward off overt coercive pressure from the US.
In today’s world, it makes eminent sense for India to take up US cooperation to make sure that an overbearing China does not forget its own commitment to a peaceful rise. However, India’s defence cooperation is aimed at securing India’s interests, including regional stability, and not intended to target any power. Political class must learn to articulate this confidence regardless of whether they occupy the ruling benches or the Opposition. India’s challenge is not being roped in by any major power as its sidekick.
Rather, it is in being able to develop the institutional capacity to engage with the rest of the world on an ever-expanding range of issues with clarity on its own interests. It is not enough to muddle through.
Q.1. The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (Lemoa), for India to sign off on which___________
(1) UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) could join the meeting.
(2) Political class could learn to articulate the confidence.
(3) Prime Minister went for the growth of the nation.
(4) country can grow.
(5) defence minister travelled to the US and met US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter, raises the level of defence cooperation between India and the US to a new level.
EXPLANATION- Answer lies in the 2rd paragraph.
Q.2. Which of the following is possibly the most appropriate title for the passage?
(1) American planes
(2) China and its commitment
(3) End-User Verification Agreement
(4) Stop being defensive on Indo-US ties
(5) India and its neighbouring countries
Q.3. Which of the following is TRUE, according to the passage?
(A) New Delhi, for which US Secretary of State John Kerry was in town, certainly leaves no room for doubt on the operational dimensions of Indo-US defence cooperation.
(B) If American planes or aircraft carriers needed to use an Indian facility en route to, say, South China Sea, they can.
(C) India’s challenge is not being roped in by any major power as its sidekick.
(1) Only A
(2) Only C
(3) All A, B and C
(4) Only A and B
(5) Only B and C
Q.4. What should have India done during the Cold War?
(1) India should have already prepared for that.
(2) India should have signed off on which defence minister travelled to the US.
(3) India had to befriend the Soviet Union in order to ward off overt coercive pressure from the US.
(4) India should have taken US cooperation.
(5) India should have waited for the help.
EXPLANATION- Answer lies in the 3rd paragraph.
Q.5. Which of the following is FALSE, according to the passage?
(A) When a government led by the BJP has signed off on another of a set of so-called four foundational agreements, the Congress has repeated the same charge.
(B) During the Cold War, India had to befriend the Soviet Union in order to ward off overt coercive pressure from the US.
(C) India’s challenge is being roped in by any major power as its sidekick.
(1) Only A
(2) Only B
(3) Only C
(4) Only B and C
(5) All A, B and C
Q.6-8. Choose the word most SIMILAR in meaning to the word printed in bold, as used in the passage.
Q.6- EMINENT
(1) venial (2) obtuse (3) very important (4) extraordinary (5) common
Q.7- NAVIGATION
(1) system (2) satisfaction (3) abort (4) shipping (5) sailor
Q.8. SIGN OFF
(1) support (2) abandon (3) begin (4) disqualify (5) catch
Q.9-10.Choose the word most OPPOSITE in meaning to the word printed in bold, as used in the passage.
Q.9- OVERT
(1) open (2) state (3) different (4) unclear (5) manifest
Q.10- OCCUPY
(1) ignore (2) accept (3) enter (4) apply (5) absorb
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MAHENDRA GURU