Dear BA'ians,
As seen in today's first day slots of an exam, Reading comprehension was based on the "Economy" section. So, We thought of providing the same for our readers.
This is one practice Reading comprehension for all of you based on Economy. Hope this will help you all in tomorrow's and future exams.
Directions for questions 1 to 10: The passage given below is followed a set of four questions. Choose the most appropriate answer to each question.
One of the most significant changes in policies after the liberalization of the economy in the early 1990s has been the shift away from land reform to that of the removal of government protection to agricultural land in order to use it for a variety of industrial/commercial purposes. This fundamental change has attracted much controversy and in fact a large number of problems. However, just stating it as a “nexus of legality, state power and neo-liberal capital” (Sampath 2008) or a form of “corporate imperialism” (Srivastava 2010) or the “biggest land-grab movement in the history of modern India” does not throw up a solution in itself. The purpose of land acquisition from from farmers and the issue of alternate livelihood for them remain unanswered.
In the competitive electoral politics of the day, any and all episodes of agitation and demands are politicized in such a way that instead of a solution the masses make do with a few more dharnas and bandhs, only to politicize them further. Farmers allege that they are entrapped in a situation where leaders rush to encourage and support their agitations but do very little to tackle these problems. Despite a bill pending in Parliament since 2007, there has been little effort by political economy of land acquisition – when, why, how, how much and what kind of land should be acquired? The only issue that is raised time and again is compensation. Political parties, in the name of supporting the demand of the agitators and in the name of democratic and peaceful movements, only intend to create space for their divisive politics in order to ensure their vote bank based on apolitical affiliations. And in the process even the genuine struggles to expose those hungry for power get marginalized. There is an urgent need to decide the purpose for which prime agricultural land has to be acquired – special economic zones (SEZs), infrastructure and industry or housing projects for the upper/middle class.
The mainstream media seems to be intent only on looking for opportunities to get video footage of episodes of violence to create space for studio discussions later. “Nandigram of Uttar Pradesh” was the caption that several news channels used to describe the recent agitation Bhatta-Parsaul. There are very few discerning viewers who critically examine what appears in the media especially on television. The news stories instead of providing the socio-economic and political context personalize and politicize the events. The role of the media in obfuscating these issues does need to be probed. It also leads us to question the fate of democracy in society where the fourth estate subverts the reality.
1.Which of the following is the most suitable title for the passage?
a. The Politics of Land Acquisition
b. The Battle for Land: Unaddressed Issues
c. Obfuscating Issues in Land Acquisition
d. Land Acquisition: Are Dharnas Enough?
e. None of these
2.What is the author’s attitude on the role of the mainstream media?
a. Pessimistic
b. Investigative
c. Disapproving
d. Objective
e. Critical
3.According to the passage, which of these is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately?
a. The issue of compensation to be paid to farmers in exchange of the land.
b. Inclusion of the socio-economic and political context in news stories.
c. Provision of alternate livelihood for farmers.
d. Non-politicization of issues related to land acquisition.
e. None of these
4.According to the passage, which of these could have led to what is called the “biggest land-grab movement in the history of modern India”?
a. Changes in policies after the liberalization of the economy in the early 1990s.
b. Little effort by political parties to evolve a consensus on the political economy of land acquisition.
c. The removal of government protection to agricultural land in order to use it for a variety of industrial/commercial purposes.
d. The intention of political parties to create space for their divisive politics in order to ensure their vote bank on apolitical affiliations.
e. None of these
5.Which of the following is Not True according to the given passage?
I.Purpose of land acquisition has been not answered by the government.
II.(SEZs), infrastructure and industry or housing projects are only for upper class.
III.Compensation issue raises time to time.
b.II & III
c.I, II & III
Directions (6 to 7): Choose the word which is most SIMILAR in meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
6.Subverts
a.Undermine
b.Encourage
e.Enervate
7.Obfuscating
a.Explicit
b.Pristine
c.Bewilder
8.Imperialism
a.Development
c.Decrease
d.Authority
e.Suppress
Directions ( 9– 10): Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
9.Entrapped
a.Entangle
c.Prevalent
10.Divisive
a.Dissension
c.Mutinous
d.Disorder
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