Passage
Direction: In the following passage some words have been deleted. Fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given. Select the most appropriate option for each number.
Wild numbers of the vulnerable Hippopotamus amphibious are (1)__________ because of habitat loss and hunting for meat and ivory, so monitoring their population is (2)__________ for conservation management. (3)__________ methods of counting hippos include unreliable aerial surveys and hazardous land and water surveys, and ground-based observations are (4)__________ for surveyors because the hippo is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa and lives in (5)__________ areas. Furthermore, hippos also prefer an aquatic lifestyle and regularly submerge themselves in water, further complicating efforts to keep an (6)__________ on their population. These challenges (7)__________ UNSW researchers, in collaboration with conservation organization Elephants Without Borders, to take to the skies with drones to film hippo pods and thus more accurately estimate hippo numbers. The researchers eventually found the drone method just as effective as land surveys in estimating hippo numbers.
Solution & Explanation Ground-based observations are 'unsafe' for surveyors because hippos are among the most dangerous animals in Africa — making direct, close-range counting hazardous to surveyors. Answer: B.
Passage
India’s agricultural export sector has witnessed notable expansion in recent years, supported by growing global demand for processed and organic products. Experts believe that better quality control mechanisms and improved logistics can (A) _________ the competitiveness of Indian agricultural products in international markets. However, inconsistent quality standards and logistical bottlenecks continue to (B) _________ export efficiency in several regions. To address these concerns, policymakers have introduced measures intended to (C) _________ investment in export-oriented agricultural infrastructure. Industry analysts argue that such interventions may also (D) _________ farmers and agri-businesses to explore new market opportunities abroad. Nevertheless, experts emphasize that producers must (E) _________ international quality standards to ensure long-term export sustainability.
Solution & Explanation Attract investment is the standard and most suitable collocation in infrastructure and economic policy contexts.
Passage
Two weeks after the country's top court ordered the telecom industry to pay Rs. 92,000 crore in __(A)__ to the government, operators have pinned their hopes on a government panel that was set up to suggest relief measures for the sector that is struggling with heavy debt and mounting losses.
The relief measures, experts said, will not only help the telecom industry stay viable and protect billions of dollars in __(B)__, but also prevent the digital economy, which runs on the mobile services infrastructure, from being disrupted.
"The demand of Rs.92,000 crore will dampen the sentiment of telecom operators, and raising funds for broadband, network expansion and Digital India will hit a significant roadblock. The impact is not limited to telecom operators but will have a __(C)__ effect on the larger digital value chain. This requires immediate __(D)__ by all stakeholders to get the sector back in shape," said Prashant Singhal, emerging markets, technology, media and telecom leader, EY India.
Following the court verdict, the Centre last week set up a Committee of Secretaries under the cabinet secretary to suggest measures to alleviate __(E)__ stress in the sector.
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has sought an easier payment schedule for spectrum bought in previous auctions, __(F)__ penalty and interest arising out of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues, and a 14-year period to pay the principal amount of AGR dues.
Solution & Explanation This question requires careful elimination. 'Systemic stress' is a valid banking term but refers to economy-wide risk — the passage discusses stress within one specific sector (telecom), making 'systemic' contextually imprecise. 'Liquidity stress' refers specifically to cash-flow problems, which is narrower than what the passage describes (heavy debt AND mounting losses — a broader financial picture). 'Perpetual' and 'Operational' do not collocate naturally with 'stress' in this financial context. 'Financial stress' is the most accurate and broadly applicable term to describe the combined burden of debt and losses faced by the telecom sector.
Passage
Direction: In the following passage some words have been deleted. Fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given. Select the most appropriate option for each number.
Wild numbers of the vulnerable Hippopotamus amphibious are (1)__________ because of habitat loss and hunting for meat and ivory, so monitoring their population is (2)__________ for conservation management. (3)__________ methods of counting hippos include unreliable aerial surveys and hazardous land and water surveys, and ground-based observations are (4)__________ for surveyors because the hippo is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa and lives in (5)__________ areas. Furthermore, hippos also prefer an aquatic lifestyle and regularly submerge themselves in water, further complicating efforts to keep an (6)__________ on their population. These challenges (7)__________ UNSW researchers, in collaboration with conservation organization Elephants Without Borders, to take to the skies with drones to film hippo pods and thus more accurately estimate hippo numbers. The researchers eventually found the drone method just as effective as land surveys in estimating hippo numbers.
Solution & Explanation Keep an eye on' is the correct idiom meaning to watch or monitor closely. The passage refers to the difficulty of monitoring (keeping an eye on) the hippo population, and this is the phrase that fills blank (6) naturally.
Passage
India’s agricultural export sector has witnessed notable expansion in recent years, supported by growing global demand for processed and organic products. Experts believe that better quality control mechanisms and improved logistics can (A) _________ the competitiveness of Indian agricultural products in international markets. However, inconsistent quality standards and logistical bottlenecks continue to (B) _________ export efficiency in several regions. To address these concerns, policymakers have introduced measures intended to (C) _________ investment in export-oriented agricultural infrastructure. Industry analysts argue that such interventions may also (D) _________ farmers and agri-businesses to explore new market opportunities abroad. Nevertheless, experts emphasize that producers must (E) _________ international quality standards to ensure long-term export sustainability.
Solution & Explanation Hamper export efficiency is the most contextually appropriate phrase because quality inconsistencies and logistical bottlenecks obstruct smooth export operations. "Disrupt" is a close distractor but implies complete interruption.
