New Pattern Reading Comprehension Part- 4

Today we are happy to share some comprehension passages with which you would be able to improve your vocabulary in short-term and easily score high marks in English section in any competitive exams. All the best.

Comprehension Exercise

We have inherited the tradition of secrecy about the budget from Britain where also the system has been strongly attacked by eminent economists and political scientists including Peter Jay. Sir Richard Wilson, who was the originating prodigy of nearly every significant growth in the British budgeting procedures during the last two decades, has spoken out about the abuse of budget confidentiality: ―The problems of long-term tax policy should surely be debated openly with the facts on the table. In my estimation, all governments should have just the same onus to publish their spending policy. Indeed, this obligation to public taxation policy is really essential for the control of public expenditure in order to get realistic taxation implications. Realising that democracy flourishes best on the ideologies of open government, more and more democracies are having an open public dispute on budget suggestions before announcing the appropriate Bill in the legislature. In the United States, the budget is conveyed in a message by the President to the Congress, which comes well in advance of the date when the Bill is introduced in the Congress. In Finland, the Parliament and the people are already conversing in June the tentative modest suggestions which are to be familiarized in the Finnish Parliament in September. Every budget contains a cartload of figures in black and white-but the dark figures represent the myriad lights and shades of India‘s life, the contrasting tones of poverty and wealth, and of bread so dear and flesh and blood so cheap, the deep tints of adventure and enterprise and man‘s ageless struggle for a brighter morning. The Union budget should not be an annual scourge but a part of presentation of annual accounts of a partnership between the Government and the people. That partnership would work much better when the ridiculous confidentiality is substituted by openness and public consultations, resulting in fair laws and the people‘s acceptance of their moral duty to pay.

Question 1.

How do the British economists and political scientists react to budget secrecy? They are

(a) in favour of having a mix of secrecy and openness.
(b) indifferent to the budgeting techniques and taxation policies.
(c) very critical about maintenance of budget secrecy.
(d) advocates of not disclosing in advance the budget contents.
(e) None of these 

Ans. (C)

Question 2.

The author thinks that openness in budget is essential as it leads to 

(a) prevention of tax implications
(b) People‘s reluctance to accept their moral duties
(c) exaggerated revelation of the strengths and weaknesses of economy
(d) making our country on par with Finland
(e) None of these 

Ans. (E)

Question 3.

The author seems to be in favour of 

(a) maintaining secrecy of budget
(b) judicious blend of secrecy and openness
(c) transparency in budget proposals
(d) replacement of public constitution by secrecy
(e) None of these 

Ans. (B)

New Pattern Reading Comprehension Part- 3

Question 4.

The secrecy of the budget is maintained by all of the following countries except
(A) Finland
(B) India
(C) United States
(a) Only A
(b) Only B
(c) Only C
(d) A and C
(e) B and C 

Ans. (D)

Question 5.

Which of the following statements is definitely TRUE in the context of the passage?

(a) The British Government has been religiously maintaining budget secrecy.
(b) Budget secrecy is likely to lead to corrupt practices.
(c) Consulting unjustifiable taxes with public helps make them accept those taxes.
(d) There should be no control on public expenditure in democratic condition.
(e) None of these 

Ans. (E)

Question 6.

Sir Richard Clarke seems to deserve the credit for

(a) transformation in the British budgetary techniques.
(b) Maintenance of secrecy of the British budget.
(c) detection of abuse of transparency in budget
(d) bringing down the tax load on British people.
(e) None of these 

Ans. (A)

Question 7.

From the contents of the passage, it can be inferred that the author is 

(a) authoritarian in his approach.
(b) a democratic person.
(c) unaware of India‘s recent economic developments
(d) a conservative person.
(e) None of these 

Ans. (B)

Question 8.

Which of the following statement(s) is/are definitely False in the context of the passage?
(A) Transparency helps unscrupulous elements to resort to corrupt practices.
(B) Open approach of Government is a sign of healthy democracy.
(C) People‘s acceptance of their moral duties can best be achieved through openness and public consultations. 

(a) Only A
(b) Only B
(c) Only C
(d) A and B
(e) B and C 

Ans. (A)

Question 9.

For making the budget realistic, the Government should

(a) refrain from making public the proposed provisions before finalization. 

(b) discuss it secretly within themselves.
(c) encourage the public to send in their suggestions.
(d) consult the public to send in their suggestions.
(e) None of these Directions 

Ans. (D)

(Q. 10-12): Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

Question 10.

SCOURGE
(a) Ritual
(b) Presentation
(c) Whip
(d) Compromise
(e) Remedy 

Ans. (C)

Question 11.

MYRIAD
(a) Adequate
(b) Functional
(c) incompatible
(d) Abundant
(e) Excellent 

Ans. (D)

Question 12.

DUTY
(a) obligation
(b) Imposition
(c) tax-liability
(d) Function
(e) Job Directions 

Ans. (A)

(Q. 13-15): Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage. 

Question 13.

FLOURISHES
(a) Disappears
(b) Degenerates
(c) Vanishes
(d) Blooms
(e) Opens 

Ans. (B)

Question 14.

DEBATED
(a) Questioned severely
(b) Opposed strongly
(c) Accepted unconditionally
(d) Discussed frankly
(e) Implemented forcibly 

Ans. (C)

Question 15.

IMPORTANT
(a) Major
(b) Uncountable
(c) Significant
(d) Unscheduled
(e) Trivial 

Ans. (E)