డెయిలీ క్విజ్ 40: English Language

Note: Read the following passage carefully and answer questions no. 1 to 5.

Passage 1: Some 2000 km down south of the Amazon, and about the same time when the tidal waves were at their highest as a consequence of the big clash of sea and fresh water at the Amazon delta most vigorously in March and April (2018), more than 40,000 people were talking about the power of water. Brasilia hosted the eighth edition of the World Water Forum (WWF – 8), where heads of states, civil societies and private sector gathered to discuss the present and future of mankind’s most valuable resource. This year’s theme was ‘Sharing Water’, and the government authorities expectedly put forth a political declaration, aimed at raising awareness about threats and opportunities associated with water resources. Deliberations here would play a decisive role in the periodic assessment of the sustainable development goals of Agenda 2030.




Brazil has established a solid institutional and legal framework for water management, based on the principle of multi-stakeholder participation. Brazil has also been conducting one of the boldest river inter-linking projects in which 500 km of canals will transfer abundant waters from the Sao Francisco basin to small rivers and weirs in one of Brazil’s most arid areas, benefitting more than 12 million people in almost 400 municipalities.

India, too, has a large variety of water resources. An institutional framework consisting of regional river boards and river cleansing missions has been set up, while successive Central Governments have made efforts to address the dire needs of irrigation and mitigation of ground water depletion. As in the case of Brazil, a lot remains to be done in India.

Adequate treatment of industrial waste-water, the fight against contamination of riverbeds and assistance to drought affected areas are high priority topics for both New Delhi and Brasilia. Due to these commonalities, there is ample room for bilateral co-operation. Water is a local, regional and global common and as such, collaboration is key to address most of its associated threats.

Today, mankind is faced with two facts : water is too powerful a force to be fought over, and too valuable a resource to be lost. To harmonise these two conflicting aspects, sharing water is perhaps the only meaningful motto for the ages to come.




1. As per the text of the passage, the eighth edition of the World Water Forum was concerned with
(1) Present and future of mankind
(2) The issue of high tidal waves
(3) The power of water
(4) The role of civil society in solving water-related problems




2. Deliberations on the theme ‘Sharing Water’ should facilitate
(1) Regular evaluation of sustainable development goals
(2) The role of private sector in preserving water resources
(3) The establishment of institutional framework
(4) Sensitisation of government authorities




3. The institutional framework of Brazil for water management
(1) Promotes bilateral collaboration
(2) Provides for multi-stakeholder participation
(3) Consists of regional river boards
(4) Addresses legal dimensions of water sharing




4. What would be of high priority to both New Delhi and Brasilia as regards river water ?
(1) Proposing water as a global common
(2) Sharing water
(3) Development of large water resources
(4) Fight against contamination of riverbeds




5. The main focus of the passage is on
(1) Resolution of water conflicts
(2) Encouraging bilateral co-operation
(3) Management of water as a valuable resource
(4) River inter-linking




Read the following passage carefully and answer questions from 6 to 10 :




Passage 2: If India has to develop her internal strengths, the nation has to focus on the technological imperatives, keeping in mind three dynamic dimensions : the people, the overall economy and the strategic interests. These technological imperatives also take into account a ‘fourth’ dimension, time, an offshoot of modern day dynamism in business, trade, and technology that leads to continually shifting targets. We believe that technological strengths are especially crucial in dealing with this fourth dimension underlying continuous change in the aspirations of the people, the economy in the global context, and the strategic interests. The progress of technology lies at the heart of human history. Technological strengths are the key to creating more productive employment in an increasingly competitive market place and to continually upgrade human skills. Without a pervasive use of technologies, we cannot achieve overall development of our people in the years to come. The direct linkages of technology to the nation’s strategic strengths are becoming more and more clear, especially since 1990s. India’s own strength in a number of core areas still puts it in a position of reasonable strength in geo-political context. Any nation aspiring to become a developed one needs to have strengths in various strategic technologies and also the ability to continually upgrade them through its own creative strengths. For people-oriented actions as well, whether for the creation of large scale productive employment or for ensuring nutritional and health security for people, or for better living conditions, technology is the only vital input. The absence of greater technological impetus could lead to lower productivity and wastage of precious natural resources. Activities with low productivity or low value addition, in the final analysis hurt the poorest most. The technological imperatives to lift our people to a new life, and to a life they are entitled to is important. India, aspiring to become a major economic power in terms of trade and increase in GDP, cannot succeed on the strength of turnkey projects designed and built abroad or only through large-scale imports of plant machinery, equipment and know how. Even while being alive to the short-term realities, medium and long-term strategies to develop core technological strengths within our industry are vital for envisioning a developed India.




6. According to the above passage, which of the following are indicative of the fourth dimension ?
(a) Aspirations of people
(b) Modern day dynamism
(c) Economy in the global context
(d) Strategic interests
Code :
(1) (a), (b) and (c) only
(2) (b), (c) and (d) only
(3) (a), (c) and (d) only
(4) (a), (b) and (d) only




7. More productive employment demands :
(1) Pervasive use of technology
(2) Limiting competitive market place
(3) Geo-political considerations
(4) Large industries




8. Absence of technology would lead to :
(a) Less pollution
(b) Wastage of precious natural resources
(c) Low value addition
(d) Hurting the poorest most
Code :
(1) (a), (b) and (c) only
(2) (b), (c) and (d) only
(3) (a), (b) and (d) only
(4) (a), (c) and (d) only




9. The advantage of technological inputs would result in :
(1) Unbridled technological growth
(2) Importing plant machinery
(3) Sidelining environmental issues
(4) Lifting our people to a life of dignity




10. Envisioning a developed India requires :
(1) Aspiration to become a major economic player
(2) Dependence upon projects designed abroad
(3) Focus on short-term projects
(4) Development of core technological strengths




Answers:




1. Answer: 3
2. Answer: 1
3. Answer: 2
4. Answer: 4
5. Answer: 3
6. Answer: 3
7. Answer: 1
8. Answer: 2
9. Answer: 4
10. Answer: 4