Q.1-10. 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 questions.
The Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which leads international efforts to defeat hunger, said in its report that economic growth is not enough to reduce hunger and malnutrition. To beat the twin menace, it added, a country needs nutrition-sensitive agriculture, social protection and purposeful and decisive public policies. Both statements hold true for India. But the unfortunate part is that while the country has been spending more and more on tackling malnutrition and also strengthening its policies to force a change, it has not been getting the desired results. One reason for this dismal record, it is now clear, is rampant corruption. The office of the commissioners to the Supreme Court has said in a report that the Rs. 8,000 crore-a-year Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) under the Integrated Child Development Scheme, one of the country’s biggest flagship programmes, suffers from gross violation and misuse of rules and a lion’s share of the fund is going to private food contractors who are being used in violation of a Supreme Court order. The court had ordered that only self-help mahila mandals can supply food in the plan. The worst performing states — in other words, the most corrupt when it comes to feeding their children — are Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Meghalaya.
India’s malnutrition figures are shameful to say the least. According to the data released by the government, 48% of children under the age of five are stunted, which means that half of India’s children are chronically malnourished. It’s important to keep our focus on it because it has a damaging impact not only on a child’s future but also on the nation’s growth prospects. Malnutrition impedes motor sensory, cognitive, social development and such children are less likely to benefit from schooling and subsequently will have lower incomes as adults. So in other words, whatever funds the State spends on, say, schooling of each child under the Right to Education Act also goes to waste because a malnourished child will not be able to make best use of the opportunities. So the money we lose due to corruption in malnutrition schemes also ends up wasting money meant for other schemes.
The SC commissioners’ report states that a close nexus between politicians, contractors and bureaucrats has allowed the active subversion of “the letter and spirit of the SC orders”. In the case of UP, a powerful business group has been named. In the 12th Plan, the SNP will get Rs. 120,000 crore. Needlessly to say, such a huge amount will not have any impact on the health of India’s children unless the leaks are fixed and the corrupt are punished.
Q.1. Which of the following statements is TRUE in context of the passage?
(1) In the 13th Plan, the SNP will get Rs. 120,000 crore.
(2) No amount can help India unless the loopholes in our economy are fixed adequately.
(3) FAO stands for Food and Organization.
(4) 48% of children in India are chronically malnourished.
(5) FAO is Italy based organization.
Q.2. Which of the following statements is FALSE in context of the passage?
(1) FAO said that economic growth is not enough to reduce hunger and malnutrition.
(2) To discourage the danger posed by hunger, there is a need for nutrition-sensitive
Agriculture.
(3) Indian, despite its efforts, has failed to get the desired results.
(4) The most corrupt states, when it comes to feeding their children, are Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
(5) The most successful plan in India is the Integrated Child Development Scheme.
Q.3. What is meant by ‘lion’s share’ in the statement ‘a lion’s share of the fund is going to private food contractors’?
(1) the smallest part
(2) the unusual part
(3) the largest part
(4) the good part
(5) the bad part
Q.4. Which of the following is not an impact of malnourishment in India?
(A) Spoilt future of children
(B) Hindered national growth
(C) Children are less likely to benefit from schooling
(D) Reverse brain drain in our country.
(1) Only D (2) Only B (3) Both A&C (4) Both A&D (5) All of the above
Q.5. Why is the author saying that whatever the money State spends on a child’s education under Right to Education plan, goes awry?
(1) due to improper school conditions
(2) due to malnourishment
(3) due to social injustices
(4) due to child labour
(5) due to indifference towards diseases like polio
Q.6-7. Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
Q.6. defeat
(1) encourage (2) collapse (3) check (4) sidetrack (5) value
Q.7. dismal
(1) oriented (2) poor (3) demolished (4) successful (5) developing
Q.8-10.Choose the word which is most nearly the OPPOSITE in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
Q.8. rampant
(1) uncontrolled (2) contributing (3) temporary (4) restrained (5) furious
Q.9. shameful
(1) praiseworthy (2) disgraceful (3) diabolical (4) shocking (5) unworthy
Q.10. stunted
(1) action (2) stunned (3) diminishing (4) small (5) growing
Answers
Q.1.(2), Q.2.(4), Q.3.(3), Q.4.(1), Q.5.(2), Q.6.(3), Q.7.(2), Q.8.(4), Q.9.(1), Q.10.(5)
