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TONES || Reading Comprehension|| CAT 2021 || 31 March

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Question 1

Direction: Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

The recently unveiled Open Acreage Licensing Policy and the National Data Repository together are a significant and welcome step towards opening up the hydrocarbon exploration and production industry in India. By placing greater discretion in the hands of explorers and operators, the Licensing Policy attempts to address a major drawback in the New Exploration Licensing Policy, which forced energy explorers to bid for blocks chosen by the government. Companies can now apply for particular areas they deem to be attractive to invest in, and the Centre will put those areas up for bids.

This is more attractive for prospective operators because, in the past, the blocks are chosen by the government, often were large swathes of land or sea in which only a small fraction had hydrocarbon reserves. By offering companies the freedom to choose exactly the areas they want to explore, and their size, the government has a better chance to woo serious energy investors in an effort to help achieve a more cohesive framework of the country’s energy security. Tied to this is the National Data Repository, which is envisaged as a centralized database of geological and hydrocarbon information that will be available to all. Besides allowing potential investors to make informed decisions, this will open up a new sector in India. There are a number of companies around the world that make it their business to simply explore hydrocarbon basins and sell the information they gather. The new initiative seeks to incentivize such prospectors.

Companies may also submit applications through the year and not just at designated and often infrequent points, as was the case earlier. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons has said that while the auctions will be held twice a year, for now, the frequency could be increased as soon as the industry grows accustomed to the new system. This, too, will lend more flexibility to the industry. However, there are still some concerns about the implementation of the overall Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy.

The policy awards an extra five points to bidders for acreage if they have already invested in the exploration and development of that area, but it is doubtful if this is enough of an incentive, since the investment needed to simply explore is significant. By contrast, no such preference is given to mineral explorers while auctioning mining rights — instead, a revenue-share from mining operations is their recompense for exploration efforts. This could be considered for the hydrocarbon sector as well. Another concern is whether India can attract enough investment to meet the government’s objective of reducing oil imports by 10% by 2022, especially given the past experience investors have had with large projects such as KG-D6. There are after all proven reserves in other parts of the world, such as the Gulf of Mexico, that could still keep investor appetite for Indian acreage weak.

Source: www.businessline.com
What is the general tone of the passage?

Question 2

Direction: Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

The recently unveiled Open Acreage Licensing Policy and the National Data Repository together are a significant and welcome step towards opening up the hydrocarbon exploration and production industry in India. By placing greater discretion in the hands of explorers and operators, the Licensing Policy attempts to address a major drawback in the New Exploration Licensing Policy, which forced energy explorers to bid for blocks chosen by the government. Companies can now apply for particular areas they deem to be attractive to invest in, and the Centre will put those areas up for bids.

This is more attractive for prospective operators because, in the past, the blocks are chosen by the government, often were large swathes of land or sea in which only a small fraction had hydrocarbon reserves. By offering companies the freedom to choose exactly the areas they want to explore, and their size, the government has a better chance to woo serious energy investors in an effort to help achieve a more cohesive framework of the country’s energy security. Tied to this is the National Data Repository, which is envisaged as a centralized database of geological and hydrocarbon information that will be available to all. Besides allowing potential investors to make informed decisions, this will open up a new sector in India. There are a number of companies around the world that make it their business to simply explore hydrocarbon basins and sell the information they gather. The new initiative seeks to incentivize such prospectors.

Companies may also submit applications through the year and not just at designated and often infrequent points, as was the case earlier. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons has said that while the auctions will be held twice a year, for now, the frequency could be increased as soon as the industry grows accustomed to the new system. This, too, will lend more flexibility to the industry. However, there are still some concerns about the implementation of the overall Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy.

The policy awards an extra five points to bidders for acreage if they have already invested in the exploration and development of that area, but it is doubtful if this is enough of an incentive, since the investment needed to simply explore is significant. By contrast, no such preference is given to mineral explorers while auctioning mining rights — instead, a revenue-share from mining operations is their recompense for exploration efforts. This could be considered for the hydrocarbon sector as well. Another concern is whether India can attract enough investment to meet the government’s objective of reducing oil imports by 10% by 2022, especially given the past experience investors have had with large projects such as KG-D6. There are after all proven reserves in other parts of the world, such as the Gulf of Mexico, that could still keep investor appetite for Indian acreage weak.

Source: www.businessline.com
Which of the following is a suggestion that the author would certainly not give to the government?

Question 3

Direction: Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

The recently unveiled Open Acreage Licensing Policy and the National Data Repository together are a significant and welcome step towards opening up the hydrocarbon exploration and production industry in India. By placing greater discretion in the hands of explorers and operators, the Licensing Policy attempts to address a major drawback in the New Exploration Licensing Policy, which forced energy explorers to bid for blocks chosen by the government. Companies can now apply for particular areas they deem to be attractive to invest in, and the Centre will put those areas up for bids.

This is more attractive for prospective operators because, in the past, the blocks are chosen by the government, often were large swathes of land or sea in which only a small fraction had hydrocarbon reserves. By offering companies the freedom to choose exactly the areas they want to explore, and their size, the government has a better chance to woo serious energy investors in an effort to help achieve a more cohesive framework of the country’s energy security. Tied to this is the National Data Repository, which is envisaged as a centralized database of geological and hydrocarbon information that will be available to all. Besides allowing potential investors to make informed decisions, this will open up a new sector in India. There are a number of companies around the world that make it their business to simply explore hydrocarbon basins and sell the information they gather. The new initiative seeks to incentivize such prospectors.

Companies may also submit applications through the year and not just at designated and often infrequent points, as was the case earlier. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons has said that while the auctions will be held twice a year, for now, the frequency could be increased as soon as the industry grows accustomed to the new system. This, too, will lend more flexibility to the industry. However, there are still some concerns about the implementation of the overall Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy.

The policy awards an extra five points to bidders for acreage if they have already invested in the exploration and development of that area, but it is doubtful if this is enough of an incentive, since the investment needed to simply explore is significant. By contrast, no such preference is given to mineral explorers while auctioning mining rights — instead, a revenue-share from mining operations is their recompense for exploration efforts. This could be considered for the hydrocarbon sector as well. Another concern is whether India can attract enough investment to meet the government’s objective of reducing oil imports by 10% by 2022, especially given the past experience investors have had with large projects such as KG-D6. There are after all proven reserves in other parts of the world, such as the Gulf of Mexico, that could still keep investor appetite for Indian acreage weak.

Source: www.businessline.com
Why does the author feel that the Indian hydrocarbon might not attract the investors easily?

Question 4

Direction: Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

The recently unveiled Open Acreage Licensing Policy and the National Data Repository together are a significant and welcome step towards opening up the hydrocarbon exploration and production industry in India. By placing greater discretion in the hands of explorers and operators, the Licensing Policy attempts to address a major drawback in the New Exploration Licensing Policy, which forced energy explorers to bid for blocks chosen by the government. Companies can now apply for particular areas they deem to be attractive to invest in, and the Centre will put those areas up for bids.

This is more attractive for prospective operators because, in the past, the blocks are chosen by the government, often were large swathes of land or sea in which only a small fraction had hydrocarbon reserves. By offering companies the freedom to choose exactly the areas they want to explore, and their size, the government has a better chance to woo serious energy investors in an effort to help achieve a more cohesive framework of the country’s energy security. Tied to this is the National Data Repository, which is envisaged as a centralized database of geological and hydrocarbon information that will be available to all. Besides allowing potential investors to make informed decisions, this will open up a new sector in India. There are a number of companies around the world that make it their business to simply explore hydrocarbon basins and sell the information they gather. The new initiative seeks to incentivize such prospectors.

Companies may also submit applications through the year and not just at designated and often infrequent points, as was the case earlier. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons has said that while the auctions will be held twice a year, for now, the frequency could be increased as soon as the industry grows accustomed to the new system. This, too, will lend more flexibility to the industry. However, there are still some concerns about the implementation of the overall Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy.

The policy awards an extra five points to bidders for acreage if they have already invested in the exploration and development of that area, but it is doubtful if this is enough of an incentive, since the investment needed to simply explore is significant. By contrast, no such preference is given to mineral explorers while auctioning mining rights — instead, a revenue-share from mining operations is their recompense for exploration efforts. This could be considered for the hydrocarbon sector as well. Another concern is whether India can attract enough investment to meet the government’s objective of reducing oil imports by 10% by 2022, especially given the past experience investors have had with large projects such as KG-D6. There are after all proven reserves in other parts of the world, such as the Gulf of Mexico, that could still keep investor appetite for Indian acreage weak.

Source: www.businessline.com
Why was the conventional method of acreage allocation unfavorable for the investors?

Question 5

Direction: Read the passage given below and answer the questions given under it.

People tell me that Singapore is not worth examining because it is small. But being small doesn’t guarantee success. Singapore became successful only because of the genius of Lee Kuan Yew (LKY), a grandmaster of governance on par with Kautilya. LKY was Singapore’s prime minister from 1959 to 1990 from age 35 to 67 and continued mentoring Singapore till he was 87 years old. Both LKY and Nehru started out as socialists, being personally influenced by Harold Laski. But LKY was obviously much smarter. He learnt a lot from Nehru’s colossal failures: “It was my good fortune that I had several of these failed economies to warn me of this danger before I was in a position to do any harm in government.”

Unlike Nehru who repeatedly rejected any advice from classical economists, LKY was much more open to new learnings. There is no welfare state in Singapore, only minimal social insurance. People pay for healthcare and pensions from their savings, but since taxes are low they are able to save a lot. The administrative system of Singapore is not just about paying high salaries. Unlike in India where Part 14 of our Constitution makes it next to impossible to dismiss corrupt (leave alone incompetent) officials, Singapore has extremely strong mechanisms of accountability. And there is no relationship between a particular role and age. Headmasters are often appointed in their 30s and rewarded with merit pay if they do well but moved on quickly if their schools underperform.

One must, of course, reject Singapore’s limits to freedom of expression and its limited democracy. Singapore also depended critically on having one good person at the helm, which is not a sustainable strategy. The Temasek model tells us something very important about LKY’s approach – that he was always innovating incentive-compatible policy solutions, something unheard of in India’s policy circles. All policies in Singapore are worth studying closely, even if India doesn’t adopt them all.
The writer’s tone is

Question 6

Direction: Read the passage given below and answer the questions given under it.

People tell me that Singapore is not worth examining because it is small. But being small doesn’t guarantee success. Singapore became successful only because of the genius of Lee Kuan Yew (LKY), a grandmaster of governance on par with Kautilya. LKY was Singapore’s prime minister from 1959 to 1990 from age 35 to 67 and continued mentoring Singapore till he was 87 years old. Both LKY and Nehru started out as socialists, being personally influenced by Harold Laski. But LKY was obviously much smarter. He learnt a lot from Nehru’s colossal failures: “It was my good fortune that I had several of these failed economies to warn me of this danger before I was in a position to do any harm in government.”

Unlike Nehru who repeatedly rejected any advice from classical economists, LKY was much more open to new learnings. There is no welfare state in Singapore, only minimal social insurance. People pay for healthcare and pensions from their savings, but since taxes are low they are able to save a lot. The administrative system of Singapore is not just about paying high salaries. Unlike in India where Part 14 of our Constitution makes it next to impossible to dismiss corrupt (leave alone incompetent) officials, Singapore has extremely strong mechanisms of accountability. And there is no relationship between a particular role and age. Headmasters are often appointed in their 30s and rewarded with merit pay if they do well but moved on quickly if their schools underperform.

One must, of course, reject Singapore’s limits to freedom of expression and its limited democracy. Singapore also depended critically on having one good person at the helm, which is not a sustainable strategy. The Temasek model tells us something very important about LKY’s approach – that he was always innovating incentive-compatible policy solutions, something unheard of in India’s policy circles. All policies in Singapore are worth studying closely, even if India doesn’t adopt them all.
Why does the author thinks that LKY was much smarter?

Question 7

Direction: Read the passage given below and answer the questions given under it.

People tell me that Singapore is not worth examining because it is small. But being small doesn’t guarantee success. Singapore became successful only because of the genius of Lee Kuan Yew (LKY), a grandmaster of governance on par with Kautilya. LKY was Singapore’s prime minister from 1959 to 1990 from age 35 to 67 and continued mentoring Singapore till he was 87 years old. Both LKY and Nehru started out as socialists, being personally influenced by Harold Laski. But LKY was obviously much smarter. He learnt a lot from Nehru’s colossal failures: “It was my good fortune that I had several of these failed economies to warn me of this danger before I was in a position to do any harm in government.”

Unlike Nehru who repeatedly rejected any advice from classical economists, LKY was much more open to new learnings. There is no welfare state in Singapore, only minimal social insurance. People pay for healthcare and pensions from their savings, but since taxes are low they are able to save a lot. The administrative system of Singapore is not just about paying high salaries. Unlike in India where Part 14 of our Constitution makes it next to impossible to dismiss corrupt (leave alone incompetent) officials, Singapore has extremely strong mechanisms of accountability. And there is no relationship between a particular role and age. Headmasters are often appointed in their 30s and rewarded with merit pay if they do well but moved on quickly if their schools underperform.

One must, of course, reject Singapore’s limits to freedom of expression and its limited democracy. Singapore also depended critically on having one good person at the helm, which is not a sustainable strategy. The Temasek model tells us something very important about LKY’s approach – that he was always innovating incentive-compatible policy solutions, something unheard of in India’s policy circles. All policies in Singapore are worth studying closely, even if India doesn’t adopt them all.
LKY’s approach was

Question 8

Read the following passage carefully and then answer questions that follow:

There is a pressing need to deal with the threat of air pollution. Many large cities across the world are suffocating in smog. Particles with a diameter of less than two-and-half microns — about one-thirtieth of the width of a human hair — are known as PM 2.5s.

They are capable of burrowing deep into the respiratory tract. In November. schools in Delhi were closed thanks to concentrations of PM 2.5 particles that peaked at more than 30 times the maximum level advised by the World Health Organization (WHO). Residents of cities such as London. Beijing and Madrid suffer seasonal problems. All told. air pollution around the world is causing an increased risk of an enormous number of maladies, from lung cancer, respiratory infection and stroke, to cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. Staying indoors can be worse because of harmful chemicals given off by cooking, candles and cleaning products. Scientists have devised a number of ways to remove pollutants from air. Foam and fiberglass filters can strip out small particles. Absorbent materials like activated charcoal can trap odors on their surface. But no consumer technology has so far proved capable of removing much nitrogen dioxide. which is known to cause a range of respiratory problems. AirLabs believes that it has found a solution by combining traditional methods with a new proprietary filter that uses carbon nano-particles. Scrubbed air from units inside products, such as garden furniture, create clean-air zones outside. Cars, too, are prone to accumulating high levels of contaminants while drivers are idling in traffic. so the firm has developed Air bubble. a unit that will work inside the cabin, removing 95% of the pollutants. The market for anti-pollution technology is growing fast. One attractive idea comes from Velux, the window-maker, which is developing automated roof windows. Air pollution sensors will monitor the air inside and outdoors; if the air outside is cleaner than indoors, the windows will open. It is not just the wealthy who can benefit from this technology. The Grameen Trust, a not-for-profit organization. has developed, in conjunction with Intel 's charitable arm, a cheap. smart bangle with an integrated carbon-monoxide detector. When it detects dangerous levels of this toxic gas, a red LED flashes and a recording warns the wearer to open the doors and get outside. This inexpensive jewelry could save countless lives, especially those of women in developing countries at risk from dangerous cooking fumes.

Addressing the problem – smog that fills our lungs – should thus allow future generations to breathe more easily.

Identify and select the correct option and complete the statement:

The writer’s tone throughout is………….

Question 9

Read the following passage carefully and then answer questions that follow:

There is a pressing need to deal with the threat of air pollution. Many large cities across the world are suffocating in smog. Particles with a diameter of less than two-and-half microns — about one-thirtieth of the width of a human hair — are known as PM 2.5s.

They are capable of burrowing deep into the respiratory tract. In November. schools in Delhi were closed thanks to concentrations of PM 2.5 particles that peaked at more than 30 times the maximum level advised by the World Health Organization (WHO). Residents of cities such as London. Beijing and Madrid suffer seasonal problems. All told. air pollution around the world is causing an increased risk of an enormous number of maladies, from lung cancer, respiratory infection and stroke, to cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. Staying indoors can be worse because of harmful chemicals given off by cooking, candles and cleaning products. Scientists have devised a number of ways to remove pollutants from air. Foam and fiberglass filters can strip out small particles. Absorbent materials like activated charcoal can trap odors on their surface. But no consumer technology has so far proved capable of removing much nitrogen dioxide. which is known to cause a range of respiratory problems. AirLabs believes that it has found a solution by combining traditional methods with a new proprietary filter that uses carbon nano-particles. Scrubbed air from units inside products, such as garden furniture, create clean-air zones outside. Cars, too, are prone to accumulating high levels of contaminants while drivers are idling in traffic. so the firm has developed Air bubble. a unit that will work inside the cabin, removing 95% of the pollutants. The market for anti-pollution technology is growing fast. One attractive idea comes from Velux, the window-maker, which is developing automated roof windows. Air pollution sensors will monitor the air inside and outdoors; if the air outside is cleaner than indoors, the windows will open. It is not just the wealthy who can benefit from this technology. The Grameen Trust, a not-for-profit organization. has developed, in conjunction with Intel 's charitable arm, a cheap. smart bangle with an integrated carbon-monoxide detector. When it detects dangerous levels of this toxic gas, a red LED flashes and a recording warns the wearer to open the doors and get outside. This inexpensive jewelry could save countless lives, especially those of women in developing countries at risk from dangerous cooking fumes.

Addressing the problem – smog that fills our lungs – should thus allow future generations to breathe more easily.

Identify and select the correct option and complete the statement:

What will save the lives of women in developing countries at risk from dangerous cooking fumes?

Question 10

Read the following passage carefully and then answer questions that follow:

There is a pressing need to deal with the threat of air pollution. Many large cities across the world are suffocating in smog. Particles with a diameter of less than two-and-half microns — about one-thirtieth of the width of a human hair — are known as PM 2.5s.

They are capable of burrowing deep into the respiratory tract. In November. schools in Delhi were closed thanks to concentrations of PM 2.5 particles that peaked at more than 30 times the maximum level advised by the World Health Organization (WHO). Residents of cities such as London. Beijing and Madrid suffer seasonal problems. All told. air pollution around the world is causing an increased risk of an enormous number of maladies, from lung cancer, respiratory infection and stroke, to cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. Staying indoors can be worse because of harmful chemicals given off by cooking, candles and cleaning products. Scientists have devised a number of ways to remove pollutants from air. Foam and fiberglass filters can strip out small particles. Absorbent materials like activated charcoal can trap odors on their surface. But no consumer technology has so far proved capable of removing much nitrogen dioxide. which is known to cause a range of respiratory problems. AirLabs believes that it has found a solution by combining traditional methods with a new proprietary filter that uses carbon nano-particles. Scrubbed air from units inside products, such as garden furniture, create clean-air zones outside. Cars, too, are prone to accumulating high levels of contaminants while drivers are idling in traffic. so the firm has developed Air bubble. a unit that will work inside the cabin, removing 95% of the pollutants. The market for anti-pollution technology is growing fast. One attractive idea comes from Velux, the window-maker, which is developing automated roof windows. Air pollution sensors will monitor the air inside and outdoors; if the air outside is cleaner than indoors, the windows will open. It is not just the wealthy who can benefit from this technology. The Grameen Trust, a not-for-profit organization. has developed, in conjunction with Intel 's charitable arm, a cheap. smart bangle with an integrated carbon-monoxide detector. When it detects dangerous levels of this toxic gas, a red LED flashes and a recording warns the wearer to open the doors and get outside. This inexpensive jewelry could save countless lives, especially those of women in developing countries at risk from dangerous cooking fumes.

Addressing the problem – smog that fills our lungs – should thus allow future generations to breathe more easily.

Identify and select the correct option and complete the statement:

What is special about Velux windows?
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