RBI Grade B Phase I - Question Paper with Solutions (2016) | RBI Grade B Mock Test Series & Past Year Papers 2024 - Bank Exams PDF Download

 Page 1


RBI Grade B Previous Year Question Paper 2016 
English Language (Questions & Answers) 
Directions Q. (1 - 7): In the given passage, there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. 
Against each, five words are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. 
 
We all have a ___ (1) ___ in the infrastructure surrounding us-the roads, buildings, power lines and 
telephone networks that we __ (2) _____ on daily. How well they are built and operated is __ (3) ____ 
to economic growth and is a key arbiter of an economy's competitiveness- and yet, virtually every 
economy faces an array of infrastructure challenges. Just a few examples illustrate some of the 
pressing issues. South Africa's power distribution network has an estimated maintenance backlog of $4 
billion- equivalent to half of the country's total investment in electronic power generation and distribution 
in 2011. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that 15% of the country's roads are in an 
unacceptable condition and says that road congestion costs the US an estimated $100 billion per year. 
Just to keep _____ (4) _____ with anticipated global GDP growth, the world needs to spend $57 trillion, 
or on average $3.2 trillion a year, on infrastructure over the next 18 years. That is more than the entire 
worldwide stock of infrastructure on the ground today-and nearly 60% more than the world has invested 
over the past 18 years. Tackling maintenance backlogs, future-proofing infrastructure to cope with 
climate change and ___ (5) _____development goals such as access to clean water and all-weather 
roads to transport goods to markets would cost a great deal. The bill for all of that looks prohibitive at a 
time when many governments are highly indebted and capital is tight. A focus on both, the huge need 
for additional investment and potential difficulties in financing it, ___ (6) ____ the debate Pessimism 
rules, but it needn't be that way. There are ways of cutting the bill down to size and dealing with the 
challenge. The answer ___ (7) ____ in improving the way we plan, build and operate infrastructure- in 
other words, we need to boost its productivity.  
 
Q. (1) 
1. Stake 
2. Interest 
3. Compromise 
4. Decision 
5. Subsidy 
Page 2


RBI Grade B Previous Year Question Paper 2016 
English Language (Questions & Answers) 
Directions Q. (1 - 7): In the given passage, there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. 
Against each, five words are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. 
 
We all have a ___ (1) ___ in the infrastructure surrounding us-the roads, buildings, power lines and 
telephone networks that we __ (2) _____ on daily. How well they are built and operated is __ (3) ____ 
to economic growth and is a key arbiter of an economy's competitiveness- and yet, virtually every 
economy faces an array of infrastructure challenges. Just a few examples illustrate some of the 
pressing issues. South Africa's power distribution network has an estimated maintenance backlog of $4 
billion- equivalent to half of the country's total investment in electronic power generation and distribution 
in 2011. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that 15% of the country's roads are in an 
unacceptable condition and says that road congestion costs the US an estimated $100 billion per year. 
Just to keep _____ (4) _____ with anticipated global GDP growth, the world needs to spend $57 trillion, 
or on average $3.2 trillion a year, on infrastructure over the next 18 years. That is more than the entire 
worldwide stock of infrastructure on the ground today-and nearly 60% more than the world has invested 
over the past 18 years. Tackling maintenance backlogs, future-proofing infrastructure to cope with 
climate change and ___ (5) _____development goals such as access to clean water and all-weather 
roads to transport goods to markets would cost a great deal. The bill for all of that looks prohibitive at a 
time when many governments are highly indebted and capital is tight. A focus on both, the huge need 
for additional investment and potential difficulties in financing it, ___ (6) ____ the debate Pessimism 
rules, but it needn't be that way. There are ways of cutting the bill down to size and dealing with the 
challenge. The answer ___ (7) ____ in improving the way we plan, build and operate infrastructure- in 
other words, we need to boost its productivity.  
 
Q. (1) 
1. Stake 
2. Interest 
3. Compromise 
4. Decision 
5. Subsidy 
 
Answer: 1 (We all have a stake in the infrastructure) 
 
Q. (2)  
1. Use 
2. Rely 
3. Confide 
4. Commute 
5. Charge    
 
Answer: 2 (We all have a stake in the infrastructure surrounding us-the roads, buildings, power lines 
and telephone networks that we rely on daily) 
 
Q. (3) 
1. Close 
2. Deciding 
3. Trivial 
4. Crucial 
5. Insistent 
 
Answer: 4 (How well they are built and operated is crucial to economic growth and is a key arbiter of 
an economy's competitiveness- and yet, virtually every economy faces an array of infrastructure 
challenges) 
 
Q. (4)  
1. Gait 
2. Stride 
3. Walk 
4. Tread 
5. pace 
 
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RBI Grade B Previous Year Question Paper 2016 
English Language (Questions & Answers) 
Directions Q. (1 - 7): In the given passage, there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. 
Against each, five words are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. 
 
We all have a ___ (1) ___ in the infrastructure surrounding us-the roads, buildings, power lines and 
telephone networks that we __ (2) _____ on daily. How well they are built and operated is __ (3) ____ 
to economic growth and is a key arbiter of an economy's competitiveness- and yet, virtually every 
economy faces an array of infrastructure challenges. Just a few examples illustrate some of the 
pressing issues. South Africa's power distribution network has an estimated maintenance backlog of $4 
billion- equivalent to half of the country's total investment in electronic power generation and distribution 
in 2011. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that 15% of the country's roads are in an 
unacceptable condition and says that road congestion costs the US an estimated $100 billion per year. 
Just to keep _____ (4) _____ with anticipated global GDP growth, the world needs to spend $57 trillion, 
or on average $3.2 trillion a year, on infrastructure over the next 18 years. That is more than the entire 
worldwide stock of infrastructure on the ground today-and nearly 60% more than the world has invested 
over the past 18 years. Tackling maintenance backlogs, future-proofing infrastructure to cope with 
climate change and ___ (5) _____development goals such as access to clean water and all-weather 
roads to transport goods to markets would cost a great deal. The bill for all of that looks prohibitive at a 
time when many governments are highly indebted and capital is tight. A focus on both, the huge need 
for additional investment and potential difficulties in financing it, ___ (6) ____ the debate Pessimism 
rules, but it needn't be that way. There are ways of cutting the bill down to size and dealing with the 
challenge. The answer ___ (7) ____ in improving the way we plan, build and operate infrastructure- in 
other words, we need to boost its productivity.  
 
Q. (1) 
1. Stake 
2. Interest 
3. Compromise 
4. Decision 
5. Subsidy 
 
Answer: 1 (We all have a stake in the infrastructure) 
 
Q. (2)  
1. Use 
2. Rely 
3. Confide 
4. Commute 
5. Charge    
 
Answer: 2 (We all have a stake in the infrastructure surrounding us-the roads, buildings, power lines 
and telephone networks that we rely on daily) 
 
Q. (3) 
1. Close 
2. Deciding 
3. Trivial 
4. Crucial 
5. Insistent 
 
Answer: 4 (How well they are built and operated is crucial to economic growth and is a key arbiter of 
an economy's competitiveness- and yet, virtually every economy faces an array of infrastructure 
challenges) 
 
Q. (4)  
1. Gait 
2. Stride 
3. Walk 
4. Tread 
5. pace 
 
Answer: 5 (Just to keep pace with anticipated global GDP growth, the world needs to spend $57 
trillion, or on average $3.2 trillion a year, on infrastructure over the next 18 years) 
 
Q. (5)  
1. Competing 
2. Meeting 
3. Succeeding 
4. Engaging 
5. Agreeing 
 
Answer: 2 (Tackling maintenance backlogs, future-proofing infrastructure to cope with climate change 
and meeting development goals such as access to clean water and all-weather roads to transport 
goods to markets would cost a great deal) 
 
Q. (6)  
1. Convey 
2. Subject 
3. Dominates 
4. Command 
5. Prompt 
 
Answer: 3 (A focus on both, the huge need for additional investment and potential difficulties in 
financing it, dominates the debate Pessimism rules, but it needn't be that way) 
 
Q. (7)  
1. Reclines 
2. Lay 
3. Expects 
4. Lies 
5. Belongs 
 
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RBI Grade B Previous Year Question Paper 2016 
English Language (Questions & Answers) 
Directions Q. (1 - 7): In the given passage, there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. 
Against each, five words are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. 
 
We all have a ___ (1) ___ in the infrastructure surrounding us-the roads, buildings, power lines and 
telephone networks that we __ (2) _____ on daily. How well they are built and operated is __ (3) ____ 
to economic growth and is a key arbiter of an economy's competitiveness- and yet, virtually every 
economy faces an array of infrastructure challenges. Just a few examples illustrate some of the 
pressing issues. South Africa's power distribution network has an estimated maintenance backlog of $4 
billion- equivalent to half of the country's total investment in electronic power generation and distribution 
in 2011. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that 15% of the country's roads are in an 
unacceptable condition and says that road congestion costs the US an estimated $100 billion per year. 
Just to keep _____ (4) _____ with anticipated global GDP growth, the world needs to spend $57 trillion, 
or on average $3.2 trillion a year, on infrastructure over the next 18 years. That is more than the entire 
worldwide stock of infrastructure on the ground today-and nearly 60% more than the world has invested 
over the past 18 years. Tackling maintenance backlogs, future-proofing infrastructure to cope with 
climate change and ___ (5) _____development goals such as access to clean water and all-weather 
roads to transport goods to markets would cost a great deal. The bill for all of that looks prohibitive at a 
time when many governments are highly indebted and capital is tight. A focus on both, the huge need 
for additional investment and potential difficulties in financing it, ___ (6) ____ the debate Pessimism 
rules, but it needn't be that way. There are ways of cutting the bill down to size and dealing with the 
challenge. The answer ___ (7) ____ in improving the way we plan, build and operate infrastructure- in 
other words, we need to boost its productivity.  
 
Q. (1) 
1. Stake 
2. Interest 
3. Compromise 
4. Decision 
5. Subsidy 
 
Answer: 1 (We all have a stake in the infrastructure) 
 
Q. (2)  
1. Use 
2. Rely 
3. Confide 
4. Commute 
5. Charge    
 
Answer: 2 (We all have a stake in the infrastructure surrounding us-the roads, buildings, power lines 
and telephone networks that we rely on daily) 
 
Q. (3) 
1. Close 
2. Deciding 
3. Trivial 
4. Crucial 
5. Insistent 
 
Answer: 4 (How well they are built and operated is crucial to economic growth and is a key arbiter of 
an economy's competitiveness- and yet, virtually every economy faces an array of infrastructure 
challenges) 
 
Q. (4)  
1. Gait 
2. Stride 
3. Walk 
4. Tread 
5. pace 
 
Answer: 5 (Just to keep pace with anticipated global GDP growth, the world needs to spend $57 
trillion, or on average $3.2 trillion a year, on infrastructure over the next 18 years) 
 
Q. (5)  
1. Competing 
2. Meeting 
3. Succeeding 
4. Engaging 
5. Agreeing 
 
Answer: 2 (Tackling maintenance backlogs, future-proofing infrastructure to cope with climate change 
and meeting development goals such as access to clean water and all-weather roads to transport 
goods to markets would cost a great deal) 
 
Q. (6)  
1. Convey 
2. Subject 
3. Dominates 
4. Command 
5. Prompt 
 
Answer: 3 (A focus on both, the huge need for additional investment and potential difficulties in 
financing it, dominates the debate Pessimism rules, but it needn't be that way) 
 
Q. (7)  
1. Reclines 
2. Lay 
3. Expects 
4. Lies 
5. Belongs 
 
Answer: 4 (The answer lies in improving the way we plan, build and operate infrastructure- in other 
words, we need to boost its productivity) 
 
Directions Q. (8 - 10): Select the phrase/connector from the given three options which can be used to 
form a single sentence from the two sentences given below, implying the same meaning expressed in 
the statement sentences.  
 
Q. (8) Higher prices of cereals, rice, fruits and pulses led to an increase in food inflation. Non – food 
inflation was driven mainly by fibres and oilseeds. 
A. While higher prices of cereals 
B. Despite the higher price of rice, fruits and pulses 
C. Non- food inflation was always driven by 
 
1. Both A and B 
2. Only B 
3. Both B and C 
4. Only A 
5. None of these 
 
Answer: 4  
 
Q. (9) The entrepreneurship ethos in India has come a long way and has made rapid strides in recent 
years. It now ranks in the top five start-up communities in the world. 
A. India ranks fifth among the start-up communities in the world 
B. he country has made rapid strides in recent years because 
C. Moreover, the entrepreneurship ethos in India has come a long way 
 
1. Both A and B 
2. Only B 
3. Only C 
4. Only A 
5. None of these 
Page 5


RBI Grade B Previous Year Question Paper 2016 
English Language (Questions & Answers) 
Directions Q. (1 - 7): In the given passage, there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. 
Against each, five words are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. 
 
We all have a ___ (1) ___ in the infrastructure surrounding us-the roads, buildings, power lines and 
telephone networks that we __ (2) _____ on daily. How well they are built and operated is __ (3) ____ 
to economic growth and is a key arbiter of an economy's competitiveness- and yet, virtually every 
economy faces an array of infrastructure challenges. Just a few examples illustrate some of the 
pressing issues. South Africa's power distribution network has an estimated maintenance backlog of $4 
billion- equivalent to half of the country's total investment in electronic power generation and distribution 
in 2011. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that 15% of the country's roads are in an 
unacceptable condition and says that road congestion costs the US an estimated $100 billion per year. 
Just to keep _____ (4) _____ with anticipated global GDP growth, the world needs to spend $57 trillion, 
or on average $3.2 trillion a year, on infrastructure over the next 18 years. That is more than the entire 
worldwide stock of infrastructure on the ground today-and nearly 60% more than the world has invested 
over the past 18 years. Tackling maintenance backlogs, future-proofing infrastructure to cope with 
climate change and ___ (5) _____development goals such as access to clean water and all-weather 
roads to transport goods to markets would cost a great deal. The bill for all of that looks prohibitive at a 
time when many governments are highly indebted and capital is tight. A focus on both, the huge need 
for additional investment and potential difficulties in financing it, ___ (6) ____ the debate Pessimism 
rules, but it needn't be that way. There are ways of cutting the bill down to size and dealing with the 
challenge. The answer ___ (7) ____ in improving the way we plan, build and operate infrastructure- in 
other words, we need to boost its productivity.  
 
Q. (1) 
1. Stake 
2. Interest 
3. Compromise 
4. Decision 
5. Subsidy 
 
Answer: 1 (We all have a stake in the infrastructure) 
 
Q. (2)  
1. Use 
2. Rely 
3. Confide 
4. Commute 
5. Charge    
 
Answer: 2 (We all have a stake in the infrastructure surrounding us-the roads, buildings, power lines 
and telephone networks that we rely on daily) 
 
Q. (3) 
1. Close 
2. Deciding 
3. Trivial 
4. Crucial 
5. Insistent 
 
Answer: 4 (How well they are built and operated is crucial to economic growth and is a key arbiter of 
an economy's competitiveness- and yet, virtually every economy faces an array of infrastructure 
challenges) 
 
Q. (4)  
1. Gait 
2. Stride 
3. Walk 
4. Tread 
5. pace 
 
Answer: 5 (Just to keep pace with anticipated global GDP growth, the world needs to spend $57 
trillion, or on average $3.2 trillion a year, on infrastructure over the next 18 years) 
 
Q. (5)  
1. Competing 
2. Meeting 
3. Succeeding 
4. Engaging 
5. Agreeing 
 
Answer: 2 (Tackling maintenance backlogs, future-proofing infrastructure to cope with climate change 
and meeting development goals such as access to clean water and all-weather roads to transport 
goods to markets would cost a great deal) 
 
Q. (6)  
1. Convey 
2. Subject 
3. Dominates 
4. Command 
5. Prompt 
 
Answer: 3 (A focus on both, the huge need for additional investment and potential difficulties in 
financing it, dominates the debate Pessimism rules, but it needn't be that way) 
 
Q. (7)  
1. Reclines 
2. Lay 
3. Expects 
4. Lies 
5. Belongs 
 
Answer: 4 (The answer lies in improving the way we plan, build and operate infrastructure- in other 
words, we need to boost its productivity) 
 
Directions Q. (8 - 10): Select the phrase/connector from the given three options which can be used to 
form a single sentence from the two sentences given below, implying the same meaning expressed in 
the statement sentences.  
 
Q. (8) Higher prices of cereals, rice, fruits and pulses led to an increase in food inflation. Non – food 
inflation was driven mainly by fibres and oilseeds. 
A. While higher prices of cereals 
B. Despite the higher price of rice, fruits and pulses 
C. Non- food inflation was always driven by 
 
1. Both A and B 
2. Only B 
3. Both B and C 
4. Only A 
5. None of these 
 
Answer: 4  
 
Q. (9) The entrepreneurship ethos in India has come a long way and has made rapid strides in recent 
years. It now ranks in the top five start-up communities in the world. 
A. India ranks fifth among the start-up communities in the world 
B. he country has made rapid strides in recent years because 
C. Moreover, the entrepreneurship ethos in India has come a long way 
 
1. Both A and B 
2. Only B 
3. Only C 
4. Only A 
5. None of these 
 
Answer: 2  
 
Q. (10) There are enough dirges being sung for public sector banks, but strangely the performance of 
their stocks does not reflect this. Five out of the seven public sector banks made losses and the profit – 
makers showed a worse bad loans ratio. 
A. On account of the fact that five out of seven public sector banks made losses 
B. The performance of public sector banks does not reflect 
C. Although dirges are being sung for public sector banks 
 
1. Both A and B 
2. Only B 
3. Only C 
4. Only A 
5. None of these 
 
 Answer: 4  
 
Directions Q. (11 - 15): Each question given below has two blanks, each blank indicates that 
something has been omitted. Choose the word that best fits in the meaning of the sentence as a 
whole.  
 
Q. (11) Most auto-rickshaw drivers in the city __________ to ply for short distances since doing so 
does not ________ them much. 
1. agree, profit 
2. Refuse, earn 
3. disagree, revenue 
4. accept, affects 
5. ask, comfort 
 
Answer: 2 (Most auto-rickshaw drivers in the city refuse to ply for short distances since doing so does 
not earn them much)