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English Test 86

Directions for Questions from 1 to 4:

The passage given below is followed by a questions. Choose the most appropriate answer to the question.

Nothing about global warming is simple, alas. Meteorological models fry the circuits of the largest supercomputers. Feedback loops and anomalies
turbocharge an ill-tempered debate about what will happen where and when. And don’t even start on the politics of negotiating a global
agreement on emissions or the intricacies of cap-and-trade. Unfortunately, the technology of climate change is no simpler than anything else. A field
that you may think is governed by level-headed, spreadsheet-wielding engineers is alarmingly prone to zealotry and taboos.
Climate change is too important and too complex to yield to either. It is seductive to think a new technology can solve your problems at a stroke.
But zealotry has lately suffered a defeat. It used to be an article of faith in the motor industry that hydrogen-powered fuel cells were the green
future, and companies spent billions of dollars on the technology. But it turns out that fuel cells have three Achilles heels. The first is the chicken-
andegg problem that, as there are virtually no hydrogen filling-stations, there are no hydrogen cars—and hence there is no reason to build the
filling-stations. Then comes the cost of hydrogen-based vehicles. Just the platinum for the catalyst inside a fuel cell costs as much as an internal-
combustion engine of equivalent
power, according to a recent study. And producing hydrogen from natural gas creates a lot of carbon dioxide— about double what a small, petrol-
based car emits. One day hydrogen may be produced from the electrolysis of water. But it would have to be transported and stored, which would
require a new infrastructure. So, for the next few decades, at least, technological pragmatism will rule motoring. More efficient internal-combustion
engines will wring out mileage from every drop of fuel, and hybrid powertrains will combine an electric motor with a conventional engine. Soon there
will be “plug-in” hybrids, which can be recharged from the mains and call on a petrol-powered generator when needed. The plug-ins, in turn, are a
bridge towards all-electric vehicles. The plan mapped out by the car industry may not be as technologically elegant as the fuel cell, but it has the
merit that it is based on technology that works, is not expensive and can use existing infrastructure. Elsewhere, however, the taboos still rule.
Nowhere more so than in geo-engineering, the idea of combating global warming by altering the climate by,
say, absorbing carbon dioxide in the oceans, or reflecting sunlight back into space. This involves fantastic sounding schemes, such as fertilising the
oceans with iron (to cause a bloom of planktonic algae, thus sucking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere) or ejecting carbon from the poles using
lasers. Scientists and policymakers have been reluctant even to discuss the subject—much less research it, because they worry that it could cause
more problems than it solves and that it will give politicians an excuse to avoid curbing carbon emissions. Both fears are reasonable. The farmer
who introduced rabbits into Australia said the bunnies would do “little harm and might provide a touch of home, in addition to a spot of hunting.”
The rabbit went on to become a devastating pest. And the world’s politicians, they may well negotiate with less commitment if they feel that
they may one day be let off the hook. But neither reason should stop research as insurance. Some forms of geo-engineering may in fact turn out to
be easier and cheaper than widespread global curbs on climate emissions-though they may still be unacceptably risky. Only research can tell. As for
the politics, geo-engineering cannot just be put back in its box. And because research creates new information, it is as likely to disabuse those who
think they can avoid climate-change agreements as it is to offer them false hope. Just ask the people who have given their lives to the fuel cell. The
solution to climate change will probably involve an array of technologies, from renewables, nuclear, carbon sequestration, public transport to energy
conservation. It is too early to say whether geo-engineering or anything else will be part of this mix. Geo-engineering may turn out to be too risky,
however much is spent on researching it. Then again, there may come a time when it is needed. The world needs to be ready—and research is the
only way to prepare.

1. Which of the following statements best supports the argument in the passage that taboos still rule in geo-engineering ?

j Transportation and storage of hydrogen will require a new infrastructure.

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j Scientists and policymakers worry that it could cause more problems than it solves.
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j The idea of combating global warming by altering the climate is fantastic.
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j Forms of geo-engineering may be cheaper than curbs on climate emissions.
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j Geo-engineering cannot just be put back in its box and needs adequate research.
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2. Which of the following is not a reason for the debacle of the fuel cells in the passage?

j The platinum catalyst cell costs as much as an internal-combustion engine.

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j Producing hydrogen from natural gas creates a lot of carbondioxide.
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j There are virtually no hydrogen filling-stations and cars.
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j The cost of hydrogen-based vehicles is high.
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j The fuel cell technology combats climate change.
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3. According to the passage, why are the hydrogen-powered fuel cells no longer the green future?

j Because billions of dollars were spent on the technology.

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j Because there is the chicken-and-egg problem.
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j Because there are no hydrogen cars.
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 j Because there are three problems with the technology.
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j Because there a lack of faith in the technology.
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4. According to the passage the technology of climate change is not a simple field because

j It is governed by spreadsheet-wielding engineers.

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j It is too complicated and too vital to succumb to governance.
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j It is susceptible to zealotry and taboos.
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j It requires a global agreement on emissions.
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j It is governed by level-headed engineers.
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i Skip this question
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Directions for Questions from 5 to 6:

In the question, there are four sentences. Each sentence has pairs of words/phrases that are highlighted (in bold). From the highlighted word
(s)/phrase(s), select the most appropriate
word(s)/phrase(s) to form correct sentences. Then, from the options given, choose the best one.

5. He was baron [A] / barren [B] of tender feelings.

The kohl [A] / coal [B] glowed [A] / glowered [B] in the dark giving solace to many.
The pillars were decorated with a freeze [A] / frieze [B] of angels.
The malls want to be in sync [A] / sink [B] with the customers’ demands.

j ABAAA
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j BAABB
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j ABABA
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j BBABA
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j AABAB
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i Skip this question
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6. With that, he turns [A] / turned [B] on his heal [A] / heel [B] and fled.
The Maestro assented [A] / ascented [B] to the request for an encore.
It is, sometimes useful, to plumb [A] / plum [B] someone’s thoughts.
The school had a great interest in music and was forming a choral [A] / coral [B] society.

j AAABA
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j BBAAA
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j BBBBA
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j AABBA
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j BBBAA
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Directions for Questions from 7 to 10:

In following question, there are five sentences/paragraphs. The sentence/ paragraph labelled A is in its correct place. The four that follow are
labelled B, C, D and E, and need to be arranged in the logical order to form a coherent paragraph/passage. From the given options, choose the
most appropriate option.

7. A. By the turn of the century it did not seem extraordinary that managers should manage by walking
about.
B. The outside world filtered through via a secretary who, traditionally, sat like a guard dog in front of
their (usually closed) office door.
C. But in the 1950s many white-collar managers turned their offices into fortresses from which they
rarely emerged.
D. The technologies of mobile communications made it so much easier for them to both walk about
and stay in touch at the same time.
E. Edicts were sent out to the blue-collar workforce whom they rarely met face-to-face.

j CBDE
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j BCDE
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j CBED
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j DBCE
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j DCEB
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8. A. The paintings, sculptures, and balloons of Takashi Murakami are colourful and attractive, and
accessible in their reference to lovable cartoon characters.
B. Not stopping with the production of artworks, Murakami shocked the world with his entrepreneurial
collaboration with Louis Vuitton, when he challenged the divide between art and commerce.
C. As a curator, Murakami challenges our notions of history and culture.
D. Murakami uses his deep understanding of Western art to integrate his work into its structure; working from the inside to portray “Japanese-
ness” as a tool to bring about revolution in the world of art.
E. As an artist, Murakami questions the lines drawn between East and West, past and present, high art and popular culture

j BDEC
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j CBDE
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j CEBD
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j DEBC
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j BCDE
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9. A. The Vedic hymns are probably the earliest important religious documents of the human race.
B. Often the favours sought are of the nature of material blessings, such as long life, vigorous offspring,
cattle and horses, gold, etc.
C. The hymns of the Rig Veda, on the other hand, are often praises of various deities, who are frequently
mere personifications of the different powers of nature.
D. The prayers in these hymns are praises of the greatness and power, the mysterious nature, and the
exploits of these deities, as well as prayers for various favours.
E. The Atharva Veda contains among other things descriptions of charms for securing harmony and

j ECDB
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j CEBD
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j DBCE
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j BDCE
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j EBCD
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10. A. The most important part of the Analytical Engine was undoubtedly the mechanical method of
carrying the tens.
B. The difficulty did not consist so much in the more or less complexity of the contrivance as in the
reduction of the time required affecting the carriage.
C. At last I came to the conclusion that I had exhausted the principle of successive carriage.
D. On this I laboured incessantly, each succeeding improvement advancing me a step or two.
E. Twenty or thirty different plans and modifications had been drawn

j CBDE
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j BECD
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j DBEC
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j ECDB
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j EBCD
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