SSC Multi-Tasking Staff (Non Technical) Exam Mock Test -2 (General English)
Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions. Govind’s father was a rich landlord, who was loved and respected by all his tenants. When he died, he left large tracts of land to Govind. But Govind did not spend a single day looking after his land. He had a funny idea, that there existed a magic potion which, if it was poured on any object would turn it into gold. He spent all his time trying to learn about this potion. People took advantage of him and cheated him. His wife grew anxious. Given the amount of money Govind was spending, she was sure that they would soon be paupers.
One day, a widely respected sage who had been to the Himalayas came to their town. Govind asked him about the potion. To his surprise the sage answered, “I have learnt how to brew such a potion. But it is a difficult process.” “Tell me!” insisted Govind, hardly able to believe his luck. “You have to collect the dew which settles on the leaves of a banana tree every morning during winter. There is a condition though. The tree should be planted and watered regularly with your own hands. Store the collected dew in an earthen vessel and when you have five litres, bring it to me. I will recite a sacred mantra to transform the dew into the potion. A drop of the potion will be sufficient to change any object into gold.”
Govind was worried. “Winter is only for a few months in the year. It will take me years to collect the dew.” “You can plant as many trees as you want,” replied the sage., Govind went home and after talking to his wife, began clearing the large fields which has been lying vacant for years. He planted rows of banana saplings. He tended them with great care. His wife helped him too. She would take the banana crop to market and get a good price. Over the years the plantation grew and finally after six years Govind had five litres of dew. He went to the sage who smiled, uttered a mantra and sprinkled a few drops of dew on a copper vessel. To Govind’s dismay, nothing happened. “You have cheated me!” he shouted at the sage.
The sage, however, smiled. Govind’s wife then came forward with a box. The sage opened it and revealed stacks of gold coins inside. Turning to Govind he said, “You worked hard on your land and created a plantation. Your wife sold the produce in the market. It was your hard work which created this wealth, not magic. If I had told you this earlier, you would not have listened.” Govind understood the wisdom behind the sage’s words and worked even harder from that day on.
51. Why did Govind decide to cultivate a banana crop?
(a) The soil of his land was suitable only for cultivating bananas
(b) It was the most highly priced commodity in the region
(c) It could be grown at any time of the year including winter
(d) The ingredient for the magic potion could only be obtained from a banana tree.
52. What made Govind angry with the sage?
(a) The sage had conspired with Govind’s wife against him
(b) He had forgotten the magic spell and all Govind’s hard work was in vain
(c) He had lost a good deal of money in cultivating bananas
(d) None of these.
53. How did Govind acquire his dream of gold finally?
(a) The sage gave him gold as a reward for his hard work was in vain
(b) His wife diligently saved the gold he had received from his father
(c) By selling the banana plantation
(d) None of these.
54. Which of the following is TRUE in the context of the passage?
A. Govind was easily fooled by people.
B. Govind was preserving by nature.
C. The sage had never actually been to the Himalayas.
(a) Only A
(b) Both A and B
(c) Only B
(d) Both A and C
55. Why did Govind’s father give him large plots of land?
(a) It was his way of instilling a sense of responsibility in his son
(b) Govind was his only son and sole heir
(c) To provide Govind with sufficient funds to pursue his interest of discovering a magic potion
(d) He wanted Govind to continue to look after the tenants
56. Which of the following can be said about the sage?
(a) He was cunning and plotted with Govind’s wife to cheat him
(b) He had no magical powers as such and used to swindle people
(c) He was a good judge of people
(d) He did not deserve his good reputation
57. Why was Govind’s wife worried?
(a) Govind had no knowledge of farming and could not cultivate the land he had inherited from his father
(b) Govind had not friends because he was obsessed with finding a potion which would turn anything into gold
(c) Govind was only interested in studying under different sages and neglected his family duties
(d) Since Govind had devoted all his time and wealth to finding a magic potion they would soon be poor
58. Why did Govind’s wife help him in the fields?
A. To support her husband in his endeavour to find a magic potion.
B. The sage had advised her to help her husband succeed.
C. He needed someone to help him collect the dew.
(a) None
(b) Only A
(c) Both A and B
(d) All A, B and C
Directions: Choose the word which is most similar in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
59. lying
(a) sleeping
(b) dishonest
(c) relaxing
(d) remaining
60. spend
(a) pay
(b) bought
(c) devote
(d) settle
Directions: Choose the word which is most opposite in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
61. tended
(a) negligible
(b) watched
(c) inclined
(d) ignored
62. dismay
(a) joy
(b) interest
(c) desire
(d) humour
