SBI PO 2019: Prelims Question Paper - 2 | SBI PO Mock Test Series & Past Year Papers 2024 - Bank Exams PDF Download

 Page 1


                                      
    
 
 
                          
 
 
Directions (1-5) Read the given passage carefully 
and answer the questions that follow. 
The withdrawal of Houthi rebels from three of 
Yemen’s ports as part of the December 2018 
ceasefire agreement should have been the basis for 
further talks to expand the truce to other parts of the 
country. But while the withdrawal was under way last 
week, Houthis, who are reportedly getting support 
from Iran, carried out a drone attack on a Saudi 
pipeline, and in retaliation Riyadh launched airstrikes 
on Sanaa, the capital city controlled by the rebels, 
killing at least six civilians, including children. Yemen 
now risks falling back to the pre-ceasefire days of 
conflict with fighting having broken out in parts of the 
government-controlled south. What makes the 
resumption of hostilities more dangerous is the 
regional angle. Tensions are on the rise in West Asia 
over the U.S.-Iran standoff. The U.S. had earlier 
warned against possible attacks by either Iran or 
Iran-backed militias against American interests or its 
allies in the region, and has deployed an aircraft 
carrier and a bomber squad to the Gulf. Immediately 
after the pipeline was attacked, the Saudis blamed 
Iran for ordering it, an allegation which both Tehran 
and the Houthis have refuted. Whether Iran was 
actually behind the attack or not, the incident and the 
subsequent Saudi airstrikes show how the Yemeni 
conflict is entangled with the regional rivalry between 
Iran and Saudi Arabia. 
Saudi Arabia started its Yemen military campaign in 
March 2015 with the goal of driving Houthis out of 
territories they captured. Four years of war have 
devastated the country. According to the UN, at least 
7,000 civilians have been killed. Thousands of others 
have died due to disease, poor health care and 
malnutrition. The blockade Saudi Arabia imposed on 
Yemen steadily worsened the country’s hunger 
problem and health-care crisis. The country is on the 
brink of a famine. It’s a shame that even when the 
ceasefire was holding, the Saudis did not halt 
bombing Yemen. Saudi Arabia appears to be 
frustrated that it is not able to defeat the Houthis even 
after years of heavy bombing. The Houthis, on their 
part, continue to provoke the Saudis through cross-
border rocket and drone attacks. The Yemenis are 
stuck in between. The way forward is the Hodeida 
model. The December ceasefire took effect in the 
Red Sea port city and both the rebels and 
government forces stuck to it till the rebels pulled out 
last week. They should continue talks under 
international mediation and replicate the Hodeida 
model elsewhere in Yemen. For this to be achieved, 
Page 2


                                      
    
 
 
                          
 
 
Directions (1-5) Read the given passage carefully 
and answer the questions that follow. 
The withdrawal of Houthi rebels from three of 
Yemen’s ports as part of the December 2018 
ceasefire agreement should have been the basis for 
further talks to expand the truce to other parts of the 
country. But while the withdrawal was under way last 
week, Houthis, who are reportedly getting support 
from Iran, carried out a drone attack on a Saudi 
pipeline, and in retaliation Riyadh launched airstrikes 
on Sanaa, the capital city controlled by the rebels, 
killing at least six civilians, including children. Yemen 
now risks falling back to the pre-ceasefire days of 
conflict with fighting having broken out in parts of the 
government-controlled south. What makes the 
resumption of hostilities more dangerous is the 
regional angle. Tensions are on the rise in West Asia 
over the U.S.-Iran standoff. The U.S. had earlier 
warned against possible attacks by either Iran or 
Iran-backed militias against American interests or its 
allies in the region, and has deployed an aircraft 
carrier and a bomber squad to the Gulf. Immediately 
after the pipeline was attacked, the Saudis blamed 
Iran for ordering it, an allegation which both Tehran 
and the Houthis have refuted. Whether Iran was 
actually behind the attack or not, the incident and the 
subsequent Saudi airstrikes show how the Yemeni 
conflict is entangled with the regional rivalry between 
Iran and Saudi Arabia. 
Saudi Arabia started its Yemen military campaign in 
March 2015 with the goal of driving Houthis out of 
territories they captured. Four years of war have 
devastated the country. According to the UN, at least 
7,000 civilians have been killed. Thousands of others 
have died due to disease, poor health care and 
malnutrition. The blockade Saudi Arabia imposed on 
Yemen steadily worsened the country’s hunger 
problem and health-care crisis. The country is on the 
brink of a famine. It’s a shame that even when the 
ceasefire was holding, the Saudis did not halt 
bombing Yemen. Saudi Arabia appears to be 
frustrated that it is not able to defeat the Houthis even 
after years of heavy bombing. The Houthis, on their 
part, continue to provoke the Saudis through cross-
border rocket and drone attacks. The Yemenis are 
stuck in between. The way forward is the Hodeida 
model. The December ceasefire took effect in the 
Red Sea port city and both the rebels and 
government forces stuck to it till the rebels pulled out 
last week. They should continue talks under 
international mediation and replicate the Hodeida 
model elsewhere in Yemen. For this to be achieved, 
                                      
    
 
 
                          
the Houthis should decouple themselves from the 
regional politics, and stay focussed on resolving 
differences with the government and rebuilding the 
war-torn country, while Saudi Arabia should get out of 
Yemen. 
1) Choose the option which is most opposite to the 
word in the question, as mentioned in the passage. 
 “refuted” 
a) negated 
b) disputed 
c) confuted  
d) verified 
e) None of these 
2) Which of the following is/are correct according to 
the passage? 
I.  According to the author, the withdrawal of Houthi 
rebels from three of Yemen’s ports as part of the 
December 2018 ceasefire agreement should have 
been the basis for further talks to expand the truce to 
other parts of the country. 
II.  The December ceasefire took effect in the Red 
Sea port city and both the rebels and government 
forces stuck to it till the rebels pulled out previous  
week. 
III.  Saudi Arabia started its Persian military campaign 
in March 2018 with the goal of driving Houthis out of 
territories they captured. 
a) only II 
b) II and III 
c) I and II 
d) I only 
e) None of these 
 
3) Which of the following is/are incorrect according to 
the passage? 
I.   Four years of war have devastated the country of 
Iran. 
II.  The U.S. had warned against probable  attacks by 
either Iran or Iran-backed militias against American 
interests or its allies in the region, and has deployed 
an aircraft carrier and a bomber squad to the Indian 
ocean. 
III.  It was not confirmed if  Iran was actually behind 
the attack or not, but the subsequent Saudi airstrikes 
show how the Yemeni conflict is entangled with the 
regional rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia. 
a) Only II 
b) II and III 
c) I and II 
d) I only 
e) None of these 
4) “The country is on the brink of a famine.’’  
Which of the following options explain the above 
statement of the author? 
a) The government has been exploiting the civilians 
and the present state of the country is in shambles. 
b) Thousands of civilians have been killed man 
others have died due to disease, poor health care 
and malnutrition.  
c) Thousands of civilians have left the country and 
emigrated to Europe via the Red sea. 
Page 3


                                      
    
 
 
                          
 
 
Directions (1-5) Read the given passage carefully 
and answer the questions that follow. 
The withdrawal of Houthi rebels from three of 
Yemen’s ports as part of the December 2018 
ceasefire agreement should have been the basis for 
further talks to expand the truce to other parts of the 
country. But while the withdrawal was under way last 
week, Houthis, who are reportedly getting support 
from Iran, carried out a drone attack on a Saudi 
pipeline, and in retaliation Riyadh launched airstrikes 
on Sanaa, the capital city controlled by the rebels, 
killing at least six civilians, including children. Yemen 
now risks falling back to the pre-ceasefire days of 
conflict with fighting having broken out in parts of the 
government-controlled south. What makes the 
resumption of hostilities more dangerous is the 
regional angle. Tensions are on the rise in West Asia 
over the U.S.-Iran standoff. The U.S. had earlier 
warned against possible attacks by either Iran or 
Iran-backed militias against American interests or its 
allies in the region, and has deployed an aircraft 
carrier and a bomber squad to the Gulf. Immediately 
after the pipeline was attacked, the Saudis blamed 
Iran for ordering it, an allegation which both Tehran 
and the Houthis have refuted. Whether Iran was 
actually behind the attack or not, the incident and the 
subsequent Saudi airstrikes show how the Yemeni 
conflict is entangled with the regional rivalry between 
Iran and Saudi Arabia. 
Saudi Arabia started its Yemen military campaign in 
March 2015 with the goal of driving Houthis out of 
territories they captured. Four years of war have 
devastated the country. According to the UN, at least 
7,000 civilians have been killed. Thousands of others 
have died due to disease, poor health care and 
malnutrition. The blockade Saudi Arabia imposed on 
Yemen steadily worsened the country’s hunger 
problem and health-care crisis. The country is on the 
brink of a famine. It’s a shame that even when the 
ceasefire was holding, the Saudis did not halt 
bombing Yemen. Saudi Arabia appears to be 
frustrated that it is not able to defeat the Houthis even 
after years of heavy bombing. The Houthis, on their 
part, continue to provoke the Saudis through cross-
border rocket and drone attacks. The Yemenis are 
stuck in between. The way forward is the Hodeida 
model. The December ceasefire took effect in the 
Red Sea port city and both the rebels and 
government forces stuck to it till the rebels pulled out 
last week. They should continue talks under 
international mediation and replicate the Hodeida 
model elsewhere in Yemen. For this to be achieved, 
                                      
    
 
 
                          
the Houthis should decouple themselves from the 
regional politics, and stay focussed on resolving 
differences with the government and rebuilding the 
war-torn country, while Saudi Arabia should get out of 
Yemen. 
1) Choose the option which is most opposite to the 
word in the question, as mentioned in the passage. 
 “refuted” 
a) negated 
b) disputed 
c) confuted  
d) verified 
e) None of these 
2) Which of the following is/are correct according to 
the passage? 
I.  According to the author, the withdrawal of Houthi 
rebels from three of Yemen’s ports as part of the 
December 2018 ceasefire agreement should have 
been the basis for further talks to expand the truce to 
other parts of the country. 
II.  The December ceasefire took effect in the Red 
Sea port city and both the rebels and government 
forces stuck to it till the rebels pulled out previous  
week. 
III.  Saudi Arabia started its Persian military campaign 
in March 2018 with the goal of driving Houthis out of 
territories they captured. 
a) only II 
b) II and III 
c) I and II 
d) I only 
e) None of these 
 
3) Which of the following is/are incorrect according to 
the passage? 
I.   Four years of war have devastated the country of 
Iran. 
II.  The U.S. had warned against probable  attacks by 
either Iran or Iran-backed militias against American 
interests or its allies in the region, and has deployed 
an aircraft carrier and a bomber squad to the Indian 
ocean. 
III.  It was not confirmed if  Iran was actually behind 
the attack or not, but the subsequent Saudi airstrikes 
show how the Yemeni conflict is entangled with the 
regional rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia. 
a) Only II 
b) II and III 
c) I and II 
d) I only 
e) None of these 
4) “The country is on the brink of a famine.’’  
Which of the following options explain the above 
statement of the author? 
a) The government has been exploiting the civilians 
and the present state of the country is in shambles. 
b) Thousands of civilians have been killed man 
others have died due to disease, poor health care 
and malnutrition.  
c) Thousands of civilians have left the country and 
emigrated to Europe via the Red sea. 
                                      
    
 
 
                          
d) Thousands of children have been rendered 
orphans because their families have been killed in 
the war. 
e) None of these 
5) Why did  Riyadh launch airstrikes on Sanaa, the 
capital of Yemen? 
a) Riyadh had retaliated to the recent violation of the 
truce between US and Iran by the rebels in Iran. 
b) Saudi Arabia wanted to capture the oilfields in the 
oil-rich northern province of Iran. 
c) The Houthis, who have been getting support from 
Iran, carried out a drone attack on a Saudi pipeline, 
so Riyadh launched airstrikes in retaliation. 
d) Saudi Arabia wanted to capture  the strait of 
Hormuz which is a strategic location with respect to 
transport of oil to other nations. 
e) None of these 
 
 
Directions (6-12): Match the following sentences in 
Part I with those given in Part II: 
6. 
I II 
A. The collegium has now 
repeated its 
recommendations, 
emphasising that there is 
nothing adverse against 
the two judges in terms of 
their  
D. keen to fill up the 
current vacancies. 
B.   In systemic terms, the E. “conduct, 
advisability of retaining  competence and 
integrity” and that there 
is no reason to agree 
with the government.  
C. The Supreme Court is  F. collaborative process 
involving the executive 
and the judiciary, and 
there cannot be a time 
frame for it. 
 
a) A-D 
b) B-D 
c) C-E, B-F 
d) A-E, C-D 
e) None of these 
7. 
I II 
A. It is true that the filling 
up of vacancies is a 
continuous and  
D. the collegium system of 
appointments is a major 
concern 
B.   Were tensions in 
trade policy to flare up 
again, it could result  
E. borne by American 
consumers and could 
result in U.S. 
C. The cost of these 
tariffs will, after all, 
eventually be  
F. in large disruptions to 
global supply chains and 
pose downside risks to 
global growth, the IMF 
warned.  
 
a) A-D 
b) B-D 
Page 4


                                      
    
 
 
                          
 
 
Directions (1-5) Read the given passage carefully 
and answer the questions that follow. 
The withdrawal of Houthi rebels from three of 
Yemen’s ports as part of the December 2018 
ceasefire agreement should have been the basis for 
further talks to expand the truce to other parts of the 
country. But while the withdrawal was under way last 
week, Houthis, who are reportedly getting support 
from Iran, carried out a drone attack on a Saudi 
pipeline, and in retaliation Riyadh launched airstrikes 
on Sanaa, the capital city controlled by the rebels, 
killing at least six civilians, including children. Yemen 
now risks falling back to the pre-ceasefire days of 
conflict with fighting having broken out in parts of the 
government-controlled south. What makes the 
resumption of hostilities more dangerous is the 
regional angle. Tensions are on the rise in West Asia 
over the U.S.-Iran standoff. The U.S. had earlier 
warned against possible attacks by either Iran or 
Iran-backed militias against American interests or its 
allies in the region, and has deployed an aircraft 
carrier and a bomber squad to the Gulf. Immediately 
after the pipeline was attacked, the Saudis blamed 
Iran for ordering it, an allegation which both Tehran 
and the Houthis have refuted. Whether Iran was 
actually behind the attack or not, the incident and the 
subsequent Saudi airstrikes show how the Yemeni 
conflict is entangled with the regional rivalry between 
Iran and Saudi Arabia. 
Saudi Arabia started its Yemen military campaign in 
March 2015 with the goal of driving Houthis out of 
territories they captured. Four years of war have 
devastated the country. According to the UN, at least 
7,000 civilians have been killed. Thousands of others 
have died due to disease, poor health care and 
malnutrition. The blockade Saudi Arabia imposed on 
Yemen steadily worsened the country’s hunger 
problem and health-care crisis. The country is on the 
brink of a famine. It’s a shame that even when the 
ceasefire was holding, the Saudis did not halt 
bombing Yemen. Saudi Arabia appears to be 
frustrated that it is not able to defeat the Houthis even 
after years of heavy bombing. The Houthis, on their 
part, continue to provoke the Saudis through cross-
border rocket and drone attacks. The Yemenis are 
stuck in between. The way forward is the Hodeida 
model. The December ceasefire took effect in the 
Red Sea port city and both the rebels and 
government forces stuck to it till the rebels pulled out 
last week. They should continue talks under 
international mediation and replicate the Hodeida 
model elsewhere in Yemen. For this to be achieved, 
                                      
    
 
 
                          
the Houthis should decouple themselves from the 
regional politics, and stay focussed on resolving 
differences with the government and rebuilding the 
war-torn country, while Saudi Arabia should get out of 
Yemen. 
1) Choose the option which is most opposite to the 
word in the question, as mentioned in the passage. 
 “refuted” 
a) negated 
b) disputed 
c) confuted  
d) verified 
e) None of these 
2) Which of the following is/are correct according to 
the passage? 
I.  According to the author, the withdrawal of Houthi 
rebels from three of Yemen’s ports as part of the 
December 2018 ceasefire agreement should have 
been the basis for further talks to expand the truce to 
other parts of the country. 
II.  The December ceasefire took effect in the Red 
Sea port city and both the rebels and government 
forces stuck to it till the rebels pulled out previous  
week. 
III.  Saudi Arabia started its Persian military campaign 
in March 2018 with the goal of driving Houthis out of 
territories they captured. 
a) only II 
b) II and III 
c) I and II 
d) I only 
e) None of these 
 
3) Which of the following is/are incorrect according to 
the passage? 
I.   Four years of war have devastated the country of 
Iran. 
II.  The U.S. had warned against probable  attacks by 
either Iran or Iran-backed militias against American 
interests or its allies in the region, and has deployed 
an aircraft carrier and a bomber squad to the Indian 
ocean. 
III.  It was not confirmed if  Iran was actually behind 
the attack or not, but the subsequent Saudi airstrikes 
show how the Yemeni conflict is entangled with the 
regional rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia. 
a) Only II 
b) II and III 
c) I and II 
d) I only 
e) None of these 
4) “The country is on the brink of a famine.’’  
Which of the following options explain the above 
statement of the author? 
a) The government has been exploiting the civilians 
and the present state of the country is in shambles. 
b) Thousands of civilians have been killed man 
others have died due to disease, poor health care 
and malnutrition.  
c) Thousands of civilians have left the country and 
emigrated to Europe via the Red sea. 
                                      
    
 
 
                          
d) Thousands of children have been rendered 
orphans because their families have been killed in 
the war. 
e) None of these 
5) Why did  Riyadh launch airstrikes on Sanaa, the 
capital of Yemen? 
a) Riyadh had retaliated to the recent violation of the 
truce between US and Iran by the rebels in Iran. 
b) Saudi Arabia wanted to capture the oilfields in the 
oil-rich northern province of Iran. 
c) The Houthis, who have been getting support from 
Iran, carried out a drone attack on a Saudi pipeline, 
so Riyadh launched airstrikes in retaliation. 
d) Saudi Arabia wanted to capture  the strait of 
Hormuz which is a strategic location with respect to 
transport of oil to other nations. 
e) None of these 
 
 
Directions (6-12): Match the following sentences in 
Part I with those given in Part II: 
6. 
I II 
A. The collegium has now 
repeated its 
recommendations, 
emphasising that there is 
nothing adverse against 
the two judges in terms of 
their  
D. keen to fill up the 
current vacancies. 
B.   In systemic terms, the E. “conduct, 
advisability of retaining  competence and 
integrity” and that there 
is no reason to agree 
with the government.  
C. The Supreme Court is  F. collaborative process 
involving the executive 
and the judiciary, and 
there cannot be a time 
frame for it. 
 
a) A-D 
b) B-D 
c) C-E, B-F 
d) A-E, C-D 
e) None of these 
7. 
I II 
A. It is true that the filling 
up of vacancies is a 
continuous and  
D. the collegium system of 
appointments is a major 
concern 
B.   Were tensions in 
trade policy to flare up 
again, it could result  
E. borne by American 
consumers and could 
result in U.S. 
C. The cost of these 
tariffs will, after all, 
eventually be  
F. in large disruptions to 
global supply chains and 
pose downside risks to 
global growth, the IMF 
warned.  
 
a) A-D 
b) B-D 
                                      
    
 
 
                          
c) C-E, B-F 
d) A-F, C-D 
e) None of these 
8. 
I II 
A. In the face of growing 
U.S. aggression on the 
issue, the government 
that takes office after the 
election will have  
D. will have to work 
closely with other 
countries to build 
alternative financial 
structures to avoid U.S. 
sanctions.  
B.    Where a compromise 
is not possible, the 
government  
E. to urgently consider 
its options ahead.  
C. A call by Afghanistan’s 
Loya Jirga, a grand 
assembly of senior 
politicians and tribal and 
religious leaders,  
F. want to resolve the 
17-year-long conflict. 
 
a) A-E 
b) B-D 
c) C-E, B-F 
d) A-F, C-D 
e) None of these 
9. 
I II 
A. Afghanistan’s leaders, 
from its rulers to tribal 
chieftains,  
D. should be ready to 
push back on 
unreasonable demands.  
B.   Over a four-day E. by the political class 
meeting that ended on 
May 2, the Jirga  
amid the Taliban’s rising 
clout.   
C. It also backed 
women’s rights, a critical 
issue being debated  
F. asked the government 
to set up a negotiating 
team with members from 
the assembly for talks 
with the insurgents. 
 
a) A-D 
b) B-D 
c) C-E, B-F 
d) A-F, C-D 
e) None of these 
10. 
I II 
A. It is unlikely that the 
Trump administration 
will temper its “my way 
or the highway” 
approach to Iranian oil 
sales, and New Delhi  
D. was that Washington 
may not be willing to meet 
India halfway on trade 
issues.  
B.   Perhaps the most 
worrying signal from 
Mr. Ross’s outburst  
E. the labelling of non-
vegetarian dairy products. 
C. The U.S. must 
understand the cultural 
differences over  
F. for a ceasefire 
between government troops 
and the Taliban 
underscores the mood in 
Kabul. 
 
a) A-D 
Page 5


                                      
    
 
 
                          
 
 
Directions (1-5) Read the given passage carefully 
and answer the questions that follow. 
The withdrawal of Houthi rebels from three of 
Yemen’s ports as part of the December 2018 
ceasefire agreement should have been the basis for 
further talks to expand the truce to other parts of the 
country. But while the withdrawal was under way last 
week, Houthis, who are reportedly getting support 
from Iran, carried out a drone attack on a Saudi 
pipeline, and in retaliation Riyadh launched airstrikes 
on Sanaa, the capital city controlled by the rebels, 
killing at least six civilians, including children. Yemen 
now risks falling back to the pre-ceasefire days of 
conflict with fighting having broken out in parts of the 
government-controlled south. What makes the 
resumption of hostilities more dangerous is the 
regional angle. Tensions are on the rise in West Asia 
over the U.S.-Iran standoff. The U.S. had earlier 
warned against possible attacks by either Iran or 
Iran-backed militias against American interests or its 
allies in the region, and has deployed an aircraft 
carrier and a bomber squad to the Gulf. Immediately 
after the pipeline was attacked, the Saudis blamed 
Iran for ordering it, an allegation which both Tehran 
and the Houthis have refuted. Whether Iran was 
actually behind the attack or not, the incident and the 
subsequent Saudi airstrikes show how the Yemeni 
conflict is entangled with the regional rivalry between 
Iran and Saudi Arabia. 
Saudi Arabia started its Yemen military campaign in 
March 2015 with the goal of driving Houthis out of 
territories they captured. Four years of war have 
devastated the country. According to the UN, at least 
7,000 civilians have been killed. Thousands of others 
have died due to disease, poor health care and 
malnutrition. The blockade Saudi Arabia imposed on 
Yemen steadily worsened the country’s hunger 
problem and health-care crisis. The country is on the 
brink of a famine. It’s a shame that even when the 
ceasefire was holding, the Saudis did not halt 
bombing Yemen. Saudi Arabia appears to be 
frustrated that it is not able to defeat the Houthis even 
after years of heavy bombing. The Houthis, on their 
part, continue to provoke the Saudis through cross-
border rocket and drone attacks. The Yemenis are 
stuck in between. The way forward is the Hodeida 
model. The December ceasefire took effect in the 
Red Sea port city and both the rebels and 
government forces stuck to it till the rebels pulled out 
last week. They should continue talks under 
international mediation and replicate the Hodeida 
model elsewhere in Yemen. For this to be achieved, 
                                      
    
 
 
                          
the Houthis should decouple themselves from the 
regional politics, and stay focussed on resolving 
differences with the government and rebuilding the 
war-torn country, while Saudi Arabia should get out of 
Yemen. 
1) Choose the option which is most opposite to the 
word in the question, as mentioned in the passage. 
 “refuted” 
a) negated 
b) disputed 
c) confuted  
d) verified 
e) None of these 
2) Which of the following is/are correct according to 
the passage? 
I.  According to the author, the withdrawal of Houthi 
rebels from three of Yemen’s ports as part of the 
December 2018 ceasefire agreement should have 
been the basis for further talks to expand the truce to 
other parts of the country. 
II.  The December ceasefire took effect in the Red 
Sea port city and both the rebels and government 
forces stuck to it till the rebels pulled out previous  
week. 
III.  Saudi Arabia started its Persian military campaign 
in March 2018 with the goal of driving Houthis out of 
territories they captured. 
a) only II 
b) II and III 
c) I and II 
d) I only 
e) None of these 
 
3) Which of the following is/are incorrect according to 
the passage? 
I.   Four years of war have devastated the country of 
Iran. 
II.  The U.S. had warned against probable  attacks by 
either Iran or Iran-backed militias against American 
interests or its allies in the region, and has deployed 
an aircraft carrier and a bomber squad to the Indian 
ocean. 
III.  It was not confirmed if  Iran was actually behind 
the attack or not, but the subsequent Saudi airstrikes 
show how the Yemeni conflict is entangled with the 
regional rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia. 
a) Only II 
b) II and III 
c) I and II 
d) I only 
e) None of these 
4) “The country is on the brink of a famine.’’  
Which of the following options explain the above 
statement of the author? 
a) The government has been exploiting the civilians 
and the present state of the country is in shambles. 
b) Thousands of civilians have been killed man 
others have died due to disease, poor health care 
and malnutrition.  
c) Thousands of civilians have left the country and 
emigrated to Europe via the Red sea. 
                                      
    
 
 
                          
d) Thousands of children have been rendered 
orphans because their families have been killed in 
the war. 
e) None of these 
5) Why did  Riyadh launch airstrikes on Sanaa, the 
capital of Yemen? 
a) Riyadh had retaliated to the recent violation of the 
truce between US and Iran by the rebels in Iran. 
b) Saudi Arabia wanted to capture the oilfields in the 
oil-rich northern province of Iran. 
c) The Houthis, who have been getting support from 
Iran, carried out a drone attack on a Saudi pipeline, 
so Riyadh launched airstrikes in retaliation. 
d) Saudi Arabia wanted to capture  the strait of 
Hormuz which is a strategic location with respect to 
transport of oil to other nations. 
e) None of these 
 
 
Directions (6-12): Match the following sentences in 
Part I with those given in Part II: 
6. 
I II 
A. The collegium has now 
repeated its 
recommendations, 
emphasising that there is 
nothing adverse against 
the two judges in terms of 
their  
D. keen to fill up the 
current vacancies. 
B.   In systemic terms, the E. “conduct, 
advisability of retaining  competence and 
integrity” and that there 
is no reason to agree 
with the government.  
C. The Supreme Court is  F. collaborative process 
involving the executive 
and the judiciary, and 
there cannot be a time 
frame for it. 
 
a) A-D 
b) B-D 
c) C-E, B-F 
d) A-E, C-D 
e) None of these 
7. 
I II 
A. It is true that the filling 
up of vacancies is a 
continuous and  
D. the collegium system of 
appointments is a major 
concern 
B.   Were tensions in 
trade policy to flare up 
again, it could result  
E. borne by American 
consumers and could 
result in U.S. 
C. The cost of these 
tariffs will, after all, 
eventually be  
F. in large disruptions to 
global supply chains and 
pose downside risks to 
global growth, the IMF 
warned.  
 
a) A-D 
b) B-D 
                                      
    
 
 
                          
c) C-E, B-F 
d) A-F, C-D 
e) None of these 
8. 
I II 
A. In the face of growing 
U.S. aggression on the 
issue, the government 
that takes office after the 
election will have  
D. will have to work 
closely with other 
countries to build 
alternative financial 
structures to avoid U.S. 
sanctions.  
B.    Where a compromise 
is not possible, the 
government  
E. to urgently consider 
its options ahead.  
C. A call by Afghanistan’s 
Loya Jirga, a grand 
assembly of senior 
politicians and tribal and 
religious leaders,  
F. want to resolve the 
17-year-long conflict. 
 
a) A-E 
b) B-D 
c) C-E, B-F 
d) A-F, C-D 
e) None of these 
9. 
I II 
A. Afghanistan’s leaders, 
from its rulers to tribal 
chieftains,  
D. should be ready to 
push back on 
unreasonable demands.  
B.   Over a four-day E. by the political class 
meeting that ended on 
May 2, the Jirga  
amid the Taliban’s rising 
clout.   
C. It also backed 
women’s rights, a critical 
issue being debated  
F. asked the government 
to set up a negotiating 
team with members from 
the assembly for talks 
with the insurgents. 
 
a) A-D 
b) B-D 
c) C-E, B-F 
d) A-F, C-D 
e) None of these 
10. 
I II 
A. It is unlikely that the 
Trump administration 
will temper its “my way 
or the highway” 
approach to Iranian oil 
sales, and New Delhi  
D. was that Washington 
may not be willing to meet 
India halfway on trade 
issues.  
B.   Perhaps the most 
worrying signal from 
Mr. Ross’s outburst  
E. the labelling of non-
vegetarian dairy products. 
C. The U.S. must 
understand the cultural 
differences over  
F. for a ceasefire 
between government troops 
and the Taliban 
underscores the mood in 
Kabul. 
 
a) A-D 
                                      
    
 
 
                          
b) B-D, C-E 
c) C-E, B-F 
d) A-F, C-D 
e) None of these 
11. 
I II 
A. The Taliban, for its 
part, immediately shot 
down the proposal, 
D. its capacity to strike 
anywhere, including in 
the most fortified of 
locations.  
B.   Without the Taliban’s 
reciprocity,  
E. vowing to continue 
attacks through the 
Ramzan month 
C. The group controls half 
of Afghanistan and has 
shown  
F. no ceasefire will hold. 
 
a) A-E, B-F, C-D 
b) B-D 
c) C-E, B-F 
d) A-F, C-D 
e) None of these 
12. 
I II 
A. The Taliban’s 
intransigence  
D. the U.S. special 
representative, are 
primarily focussed on 
withdrawing foreign troops 
from Afghanistan.  
B.   The talks between 
Taliban representatives 
E. Reversing course is a 
dire necessity to stave off 
and Zalmay Khalilzad,  disaster.  
C. The Taliban will 
change tack only if it is 
forced to do so  
F. has darkened the 
prospects for peace. 
 
a) A-D 
b) B-D, A-F 
c) C-E, B-F 
d) A-F, C-D 
e) None of these 
 
Direction (13-18): In each of the questions given 
below a sentence is given which is divided into five 
parts. Out of which, one is grammatically correct and 
the rest are not. It is then followed by options which 
gives one of the option as a correct one. Choose the 
option which is grammatically correct. 
13) After a US president through a presidential a)/ 
proclamation withdrew duty free benefits to b)/India 
exporters worth $6 billion, Indian government 
c)/termed the move unfortunate but vowed d)/to 
protect the country national interest e)/ 
a) a 
b) b 
c) c 
d) d 
e) e 
14) Several members of the US Congress and a)/US 
manufacturers have urged Trump not to b)/withdrew 
GSP benefits available to India since c)/India is a