Reading Comprehension for SBI Clerk 2018: 07 April

Directions (Q. 1-10): Read the following passage carefully and answer the given questions. Certain words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

Akbar was the son of humble parents. His father was a school master. There was never very much money in the house so he didn’t enjoy any luxuries. All he wanted was to learn more and more. Books were not easily available then as they were handwritten and very expensive. Akbar read all the books that he could lay his hands on. In due course he mastered Arabic, Persian, Philosophy and Astronomy and dreamt of getting a position at the royal court. But for this, one had to really excel in some field. Also one needed a patron close enough to the Emperor, to recommend a newcomer. It was a few months before he could find a patron and a few more months before he could find a suitable opportunity to recommend him to the Emperor who asked what he had learnt and what work he could do. On hearing the same, he said, “We are pleased to give the young man a chance. Let him take charge of the royal poultry house!” When he heard the news he was heartbroken. He, a scholar, capable of debating with the most learned men was asked to look after clucking hens! All the same he got down to work with great determination. His only concern was hens. He saw to it that they were well-fed and had clean water, that their living quarters were clean, and if a fowl took ill it was separated from the others and given proper treatment. Meanwhile, the Emperor had forgotten about the scholar he had packed off to mind the hens. But one day while his finance minister was reading out the palace accounts to tell the Emperor how much money had been spent on the royal household, he mentioned such a low figure that the Emperor sat up. “Have most of the hens died?” he asked. “No, Your Majesty,” was the reply. “The hens are not only alive but are plump and fit.” “Send for the scholar!” the Emperor demanded. When Akbar came to the palace the Emperor demanded, “Aren’t you feeding the hens properly?” “I am sure, only the food is different! I’m feeding them what cannot be used in the royal kitchen, vegetable peels and dough used to seal the vessels while cooking for your Majesty. The hens not only enjoy it, but it is also very good for them.” “Good work, we hereby promote you to the rank of royal librarian.” Akbar was bitterly disappointed. He had spent the first thirty years of his life gaining knowledge. Now he wished to air that knowledge and help people. Instead, as head of the royal library he would be seeing only books and no people. But he buckled down to organise the library.

A year later the Emperor came to visit the library. He was surprised to find each book covered with a jacket of silk, velvet or brocade. There were hundreds of books and not one without a cover. “You have used expensive material to cover the books but have not charged us. Surely you are not spending your own money?” Akbar bowed low, “Your Majesty, these covers did not cost anything. Everyday dozens of people come to the royal court with humble grievances on sheets of paper which are folded and placed inside a bag of the most expensive material that they can afford. Your Majesty, ministers take out the paper  but the bags are discarded. I discovered these bags lying in a store behind the royal court. The royal tailors soon made them into jackets for the books. Since the tailors are working for the emperor they charged nothing.”

The emperor looked at Akbar and smiled broadly. He was so impressed with him that he granted him a position in the royal court. And that is how, through patience and hard work he finally fulfilled his most cherished desire.”

1. Which of the following can be said about Akbar’s family?

        (A) They were poor and uneducated.

        (B) They discouraged him from becoming a courtier.

        (C) He was ashamed of them and did not introduce them at court.

        1) None                                  2) Only (A)   

        3) Only (B) and (C)             4) Only (C)   

        5) All (A), (B) and (C)

2. Which of the following is TRUE in the context of the passage?

        (A) Akbar was aged when he was finally made a courtier.

        (B) Akbar excelled at whatever job the Emperor assigned to him.

        (C) The Emperor did not value a person’s education but his family background.

        1) All (A), (B) and (C)         2) Only (B)

        3) Only (A) and (B)             4) Only (B) and (C)

        5) Only (A)

Directions (Q. 3-4): Choose the word which is OPPOSITE in meaning of the word given in bold as used in the passage.

3. Excel

        1) outdo                 2) come through  3) transcend

        4) fall behind        5) surmount

4. Bitterly

        1) sweetly              2) angrily               3) sourly

        4) freezing             5) gladly

5. How did Akbar handle his appointment as royal librarian?

        1) He was angry and was waiting for an opportunity to tell the king so.

        2) He was thrilled since he loved books.

        3) He was disappointed but put his best efforts into the job.

        4)  He considered it a good opportunity to learn more.

        5) He was very happy since he preferred reading to interacting with people.

6. What is true about the bags used for carrying grievance papers to the royal court?

        1) They were thrown away with the complaints so the complaints did not reach the Emperor.

        2) The royal tailors used to work only with the most expensive material.

        3) They were not of good quality and could not be presented to the king.

        4) They were thrown away as no one had thought of putting them to use.

        5) Other than those given as options

7. Why did the Emperor send for Akbar when he was in charge of poultry?

        1) To test Akbar’s knowledge of poultry

        2) To see if Akbar was worthy of higher responsibility

        3) To understand why the poultry was thriving despite reduced expenditure on them

        4) To scold him for feeding the poultry leftovers instead of healthy food

        5) To demand an explanation for the poultry being overweight and unfit

8. What lesson can be learnt from the story?

        1) Patience and hard work help one achieve success.

        2) Pursuit of riches and wealth is all that matters.

        3) One should use any means possible to attain a promotion.

        4) One should be satisfied with whatever job one gets and not seek more.

        5) It is very difficult to get ahead in life without bringing someone.

Directions: (Q. 9-10): Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the word given in bold as used in the passage.

9. Low

        1) small                  2) gentle                 3) unhappy

        4) short                  5) soft

10. Close

        1) shut                    2) end                     3) neighbouring

         4) dear                5) careful

Answers:

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