Directions (46-53) : Read the following passage and answer the given questions. Certain words/phrases have been given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions. Though global multinationals account for only 2% of the world's jobs, they own or orchestrate the supply chains that account for over 50% of world trade, they make up 40% of the value of the West's stock markets; and they own most of the world intellectual property. Although the idea of being at the top of the food chain makes these companies sound all-conquering, rickety and overextended are often more fitting adjectives. Companies became obsessed with internationalizing their customers, production, capital and management. In 2016 multinationals cross-border investment fell by 10 15%, the share of trade accounted for by cross-border supply chains has stagnated since 2007 and the proportion of sales that Western firms make outside their home region has shrunk. They are in retreat. To understand why this is, consider the three parties that made the boom possible, investors, the “headquarters countries” in which global firms are domiciled, and the “host countries" that received multinational investment. Each thought that multinational firms would provide superior financial or economic performance. Investors saw a huge potential for economies of scale. As China, India and the Soviet Union Opened up, and as Europe liberalized itself into a single market, firms could sell the same product to more people. Moreover, they saw 'geographical arbitrage' is. from the rich world they could get management. capital, brands and technology and from the emerging world they could get cheap workers and raw materials as well as lighter rules on pollution. These advantages led investors to think global firms would grow faster and make higher. profits. That was true for a while, not today. The profits of the top 700-odd multinational firms have dropped by 25% over the past five years, according to FTSE, an index 'firm. The weakness of many currencies against the dollar is part of the story; the stump in commodity prices, and thus the profits of oil firms, mining firms and the like is a factor too. Another 10% of deterioration is due to the collapse of banks. Individual bosses will often blame one off factors, currency moves, the economic collapse of Venezuela, currency swaps and the like can be thought of, a depression in Europe, a crackdown on graft in China and so on. But the deeper explanation is that both the advantages of scale and those of arbitrage have worn away. As a result, firms with a domestic focus are winning market share by 2%. In Brazil, two local banks have trounced global lenders. What about the “headquarters countries” ? In the 1990s and 2000s they wanted their national champions to go global in order to become bigger and brainier. The mood changed after the financial crisis. Multinational firms started to be seen as agent of inequality. They created jobs abroad, but not at home. As a result, the tapestry of rules designed to help business globally is fraying. Takeovers of Western firms now often come With strings attached by governments to safeguard local jobs and plants. There are gathering clouds in host Countries as well. China has been turning the screws on foreign firms in a push for “Indigenous innovation”. Bosses say that more Products have to be sourced locally and intellectual property Often ends up handed over to local partners. Strategic industries, including the internet, are out of bounds to foreign investment. Many fear that China's approach will be mimicked around the developing world, forcing multinational firms to invest more locally and create more jobs-a mirror image of the pressure placed on them at home.
|
51). Which of the following words is/are the opposite of the word 'lighter' as used in the passage ?
A. Tighter
B. Stricter
C. Insignificant
D. Robust
| A). Only A |
| B). A and B |
| C). Only C |
| D). A and C |
| E). None |
|
52). Which of the following cannot be said about 'geographical arbitrage' ?
| A). It has facilitated the spread of cross border trade. |
| B). It caused stagnation of trade in the 1990s. |
| C). Its effects have worn off. |
| D). Western firms could increase profits. |
| E). All the given options can be said. |
|
53). Which of the following does the passage centrally address ?
A. Prosperity of multinational firms
B. Governments' increasingly protecting the interests of local firms
C. Concern for global trade and industry
| A). A and C |
| B). Only B |
| C). Only C |
| D). A and B |
| E). All A, B and C |
|
Directions (54-58) : In these questions, a sentence is given with , three words/group of words in bold type. One or more of them may have a certain error. Below the sentence are given three combinations of words/group of words i.e. (A), (B) and (C). You have to find out the correct word/group of words from among (A), (B) and (C) given below each sentence to replace the incorrect words and make the sentence grammatically correct and meaningful. One, two, all three or none of them may be correct. Decide upon which is/are correct, Ifany and mark the correct option which denotes your answer. If the sentence is correct as it is, mark 'No correction required' as your answer..
|
54). In 2015, two years after Hurricane Sandy hit his city, the mayor announced to set up a $3 billion restoration fund, partly was intended to pay for sea walls that would help city from storms ahead.
A. He was setting up-which-any storms in the future
B. The setting up of-that-storms
C. The creation of-part of which future storms
| A). Only A |
| B). All A, B and C |
| C). A and B |
| D). Only C |
| E). No correction required |
|
55). Since ancient times, medics have relied on their sense of smell to , help them work out what is wrong with their patients fruity odours on the breath, for example, let them monitor the condition of diabetics, while foul odours assist in the diagnosis of respiratory-tract infections.
A. relying-to work out anything-diagnosing
B. were reliant-work out whether anything-how to diagnose .
C. had to rely-in working out anything-any diagnosis
| A). Only A |
| B). All A,B and C |
| C). A and B |
| D). Only C |
| E). Np correction required |
|
56). Thailand's performing dismally is not drastically out of step with countries of similar incomes, not strange given its unusually generous spending on education.
A. dismal performance-but it is-expenditure on
B. having a, dismal performance-being-budget
C. dismally performing is not amount spent on
| A). Only C |
| B). All A, B and C |
| C). A and B |
| D). Only A |
| E). No correction required |
|
57). There is a government survey, about 12.6 million Japanese aged 60 or older now opting working, up from 8.7 million in 2000 and two thirds of Japan's over 65s want to stay gainfully employed.
A. In have an option-and gain employment
B. As revealed by-are opting gains from employment
C. According to opt to keep-gainfully employed
| A). Only B |
| B). All A, B and C |
| C). A and B |
| D). Only C |
| E). No correction required |
|
58). The hope is that the torrents of data which generate will contain some crucial nuggets that let neuroscientists get more understanding how exactly the brain does all it does.
A. These schemes-closer to-what it does
B. Which will able to-function
C. That these studies-a better-work
| A). Only A |
| B). All A, B and C |
| C). A and B |
| D). Other than those given as options |
| E). None |
|
Directions (59-63) : In these questions, there are four/five sentences (A), (B), (C), (D) and/or (E). Three or four of these sentences contribute to one main idea when these sentences are formed into a paragraph. One sentence does not contribute to that main idea. That sentence is your answer.
|
59). Which of the following cities not contribute to the main idea of the given passage ?
A. The cost of production for luxury goods is not usually a prime concern and capital investment is generally modest, except for watches.
B. Some of the normal rules do not apply to luxury goods makers, even though in many ways they are similar to other consumer goods companies.
C. To view the world through the lens of luxury is to see it subtly offered.
D. A really prestigious item can be a 'Veblen good', named after an American economist born in themed 19th century who noticed that demand for some goods actually rises as they get more expensive because they confer yet more status.
| A). Only A |
| B). Only B |
| C). A and B |
| D). B and C |
| E). B and D |
|
60). Which of the following does not contribute to the main idea of the given passage ?
A. These present drivers Of its economy, however, are under threat from technology.
B. Africa is a hopeful continent with an exuberance driven by minerals, hydrocarbon and commodities.
C. Without the ability to create knowledge through hands on learning the quality of education, in the country is unlikely to improve.
D. The long-view trajectory of electric vehicles in Africa suggests a future where electrons .will power more cars than carbon compounds.
| A). Only A |
| B). Only C |
| C). Only B |
| D). Both B and c |
| E). All those given as options contribute |
|
