Factual Passage - 10 | English Grammar Advanced - Class 10 PDF Download

Read the passage given below.
I. Over the last five years, more companies have been actively looking for intern profiles, according to a 2018-19 survey by an online internship and training platform. This survey reveals that India had 80% more internship applications — with 2.2 million applications received in 2018 compared to 1.27 million in the year before. The trend was partly due to more industries looking to have fresh minds and ideas on existing projects for better productivity. What was originally seen as a western concept, getting an internship before plunging into the job market, is fast gaining momentum at Indian workplaces.
II. According to the survey data, India’s National Capital Region has been the top provider of internships, with a total of 35% internship opportunities, followed by Mumbai and Bengaluru at 20% and 15%, respectively. This includes opportunities in startups, MNCs and even government entities. The survey also revealed popular fields to find internships in (Fig 1). There has been growing awareness among the students about the intern profiles sought by hiring companies that often look for people with real-time experience in management than B- school masters.

III. The stipend has been an important factor influencing the choice of internships. The survey data reveals that the average stipend offered to interns was recorded as Rs. 7000 while the maximum stipend went up to Rs. 85,000. According to statistics, a greater number of people considered virtual internships than in-office internships. Virtual internships got three times more applications than in-office, since a large chunk of students were the ones already enrolled in various courses, or preferred working from home.
IV. Internship portals have sprung up in the last three to four years and many of them already report healthy traffic per month. Reports suggest that on an average, an internship portal company has around 200,000-plus students and some 8,000 companies registered on it. It gets around two lakh visits online every month. The Managing Director of a leading executive search firm says that though these web platforms are working as an effective bridge between the industry and students, most established companies are still reluctant to take too many interns on board for obvious reasons. (355 words)
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct option.

Q1: The phrase ‘healthy traffic’ refers to the
(a) monthly data about the health of internship applicants.
(b) updates from portals about health and road safety.
(c) sizeable number of visitors to the portal per month.
(d) statistics about adherence to traffic rules by the portals.
Ans: (c)

Q2: Read the two statements given below and select the option that suitably explains them.
(1) Established companies are reluctant to take too many interns on board.
(2) Probability of interns leaving the company for a variety of reasons, is high.
(a) (1) summarises (2).
(b) (1) is the problem and (2) is the solution for (1).
(c) (1) is true and (2) is the reason for (1).
(d) (1) is false but (2) correctly explains (1).
Ans: (c)

Q3: Select the option that displays the true statement with reference to Fig 1.
(a) Management internships’ popularity is more than twice that for Media.
(b) Internships for Engineering and Management are the top two favourites.
(c) Design & Architecture internships are significantly more popular than Others.
(d) Internships for Media and Others have nearly equal popularity percentage.
Ans: (a)

Q4: The survey statistics mention the average stipend, indicating that
(a) Rs.7,000 was the lowest and Rs.85,000 was the highest.
(b) 50% interns were offered Rs. 85,000.
(c) No intern was offered more than Rs. 7,000.
(d) most interns were offered around Rs.7,000.
Ans: (d)

Q5: Based on your reading of paragraphs II-III, select the appropriate counter- argument to the given argument. ARGUMENT: I don’t think you’ll be considered for an internship just because you’ve been the student editor and Head of Student Council.
(a) I have real-time experience in managing a team and many companies consider it more meritorious than a degree in Management.
(b) Lot of metro-cities have a good percentage of positions open and I think I should definitely take a chance.
(c) I know that my stipend might be on the lower side but I think that it’s a good ‘earn while you learn’ opportunity.
(d) I think I have a fair chance because I’m applying for a virtual position than an in office one.
Ans: (a)

Q6: Select the option that displays the correct cause-effect relationship.

(a) C
(b) B
(c) A
(d) D
Ans: (c)

Q7: Select the central idea of the paragraph likely to precede paragraph I.
(a) Startups and internships
(b) Process of registering for internships
(c) Knowing more about internships
(d) Dos and Don’ts for an internship interview
Ans: (c)

Q8: Select the correct inference with reference to the following: Over the last five years, more companies have been actively looking for intern profiles…
(a) The activity for intern profiling by the companies has reached a gradual downslide over the past five years.
(b) There were lesser companies searching for intern profiles earlier, as compared to those in the recent five years.
(c) The past five years have seen active applications by interns to several companies.
(d) Several companies have initiated intern profiling five times a year in the recent past.
Ans: (b)