CLOZE TEST
The Union cabinet will further review gas prices and no immediate change is in the offing. While a calibration in the formula to work out natural gas prices that would _(1)_ it cheaper initially is needed, creating an environment for eventual market-based pricing of natural gas must remain at the heart of policy. This makes sense as we are in the midst of eventful changes in the global energy sector at a moment when India needs energy security to kick-start industrial_(2)_ .
Commercial exploitation of gas from shale formations in the US is set to loosen oil's chokehold on the global economy. In this fast-changing environment, India's _(3)_ are best served by transitioning to an _(4)_ regime where market determined prices provide the main signal in investment and consumption decisions. Most buyers of natural gas are power and fertiliser companies who do not have freedom to _(5)_ prices.
In this backdrop, a phased transition to market price is the best way forward. Recent gas discoveries in North America and _(6)_ massive investments in extraction technology there have begun to open hitherto unviable fields for exploitation. This is the right time for India to prepare itself to take advantage of new developments in natural gas. While North America leads the way in shale gas discoveries, NDA should take the initiative here to set right India's coal sector. Coal accounts for more than half of our primary commercial energy. India's power sector will remain _(7)_ dependent on coal. Yet, it is in coal that we remain in a rut and three governments in succession have been unable to make progress.
_(8)_ having large untapped reserves, India continues to import coal. The least NDA can do is revive and pass a legislative Bill, first introduced 14 years ago, to denationalise coal. Monopolies harm consumers and Coal India's shoddy performance has extracted an enormous economic toll. One of the lessons of the shale gas story is that innovations can quickly change the economics of a source of energy. Even if hydrocarbons continue their dominance, it would not be _(9)_ to write off renewable sources of energy. We could well be on the threshold of a wave of innovations that make them _(10)_ viable. India's energy policy must be tweaked to exploit such a scenario as policy flexibility remains the only constant in a fast-changing world.
1-preparing
produced
scatter
make
creates
For other option- scatter- strew
2-growth
advance
developing
cultivation
extension
For other options-
Cultivation- development of land for growing, Extension- enlargement
3-activity
enthusiasm
interests
boredom
vocation
For other options- Boredom- disinterest, Vocation- life's work
4-curiosity
passion
important
energy
toughness
For other option- Toughness- determination
5-addition
increase
development
abridgment
depletion
For other options- Depletion- exhaustion, Abridgment- condensation
6-happening
preceding
simultaneous
divided
together
For other option- preceding- earlier
7-laborious
lightly
easily
heavily
tediously
For other option- Tediously- laboriously
8-Although
Seldom
No sooner
Since
Despite
9-expensive
prudent
thrifty
judicious
homogeneous
For other options-
Homogeneous- similar, Judicious- wise
10-glutton
honorary
iconoclast
commercially
homicide
For other options- Honorary- honorific, Iconoclast- detractor
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MAHENDRA GURU