Directions (Q.Nos. 1 –2): In each of the following questions a short passage is given with one of the lines in the passage missing and represented by a blank. Select the best out of the five answer choices given, to make the passage complete and coherent.
1.It is well known that the power sector is a serious drag on India’s competitive cost advantage, with the potential to short-circuit the economic growth story. Industrial power tariffs in India are probably the highest, amongst major emerging markets, around 57% of rural households and 12% urban households still do not have access to electricity; even as most of the downstream distribution continues to be the monopoly of State Electricity Boards, with mounting losses and poor services. (…………………… ) So, the need for urgent corrective action and a holistic development of the power market are assuming increased importance. The overhaul of the current regulatory environment and making investments viable in a sector is crucial. While interventions at resurrecting the sector have mostly followed the top-down approach, plugging the leak right at the bottom holds the key to a sustainable and efficient electricity market. (3)
(1) Yet, the per capita availability of electricity is rising though not evenly distributed
(2) There is no gain saying that the carriage of fast track growth is pulled by horse power
(3) Cold comfort, for a country said to be on the threshold of an economic miracle
(4) A major overhaul of the SEBs is long overdue
(5) Privatisation of the power sector is now being sounded as a panacea to all these ills
2.(…………………….) This question tormented the Russian writer Tolstoy, prompting him to write the popular short story with the same name. Though he sarcastically said it was just six feet that a man needs, what actually he meant was that one should be reasonable and rational. A similar issue, again related to land, being discussed intensely is — what is a reasonable price for seed. The seed in question, obviously, is cotton seed. With the kharif season fastapproaching, seed companies, seed growers and farmers are locked in conflict in Andhra Pradesh. The issue, however, is not confined to the State alone. The entire seed industry and all cotton farmers are keenly watching developments because any decision here could well be a bellwether to the whole country. Ever since it waged a pitched battle with Mahyco-Monsanto on trait value a few years ago, the State began to attract attention on the issue. So much so that other cotton-growing States wait for its call on seed pricing before announcing their own prices. (2)
(1) How much money one needs to be happy?
(2) How much land does a man need?
(3) How tall would you like to grow in your life?
(4) How to use your time the best?
(5) How to keep misery and dejection away from you?
