Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension: English Reading Comprehension Exercises with Answers, Sample Passages for Reading Comprehension Test for GRE, CAT, IELTS preparation
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English Reading Comprehension Test Questions and Answers. Improve your ability to read and comprehend English Passages
Q311. > A few weeks ago, I ran into an old friend who is currently one of the
> mandarins deciding India’s economic and financial policies. He asked
> “And so, how is IIT doing?” As one can only indulge in friendly banter
> at such gatherings, I responded with ‘Not so well actually. Your
> market-friendly policies have forced up to raise the fee, so we have
> 50% fewer Ph.D. applicants this year’. Not batting an eyelid, he shot
> back: “Obviously. Your Ph.D. students don’t have any market value.”
> Taken aback, I shifted to a more serious tone and tried to start a
> discussion on the need for research in these globalised times. But he
> had already walked away. The last word on the imperatives of the
> ‘market’ had been spoken. This view of higher education should not
> have surprised me. Worthies who look at everything as consumer
> products classify higher education as a ‘non-merit’ good. Non-merit
> goods are those where only the individual benefits from acquiring them
> and not the society as a whole. Multilateral agencies like The World
> Bank have too been pushing countries like India to stop subsidies to
> higher education.
>
> When Ron Brown, former US commerce secretary visited India, a public
> meeting was organized at IIT Delhi. At that meeting I asked him: “I
> understand that since the 19th century all the way up to the 1970s,
> most land grant and State universities in the US virtually provided
> free education to State citizens. Was that good for the economy, or
> should they have charged high fees in the early 20th century? “He
> replied,” it was great for the economy. It was one of the best things
> that the US government did at that particular time in American
> history-building institutions of higher education which were
> accessible to the masses of the people. I think it is one of the
> reasons why our economy grew and prospered, one of the way in which
> the US was able to close some of its social gaps. So people who lived
> in rural areas would have the same kind of access to higher education
> as people living in other parts of the country. It was one of the
> reasons for making America strong.” Our policy-makers seem unaware
> that their mentors in the US did not follow policies at home which
> they now prescribe for other countries. Ron Brown’s remarks summarise
> the importance policy-makers in the US place on higher education as a
> vehicle for upward mobility for the poorer sectors of their
> population. Even today, a majority of Americans study in State-run
> institutions. Some of these institutions, like Berkeley and the
> Universities of Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and Taxas are
> among the best in the world. The annual tuition charged from State
> residents (about $5000 a year) is about a month’s salary paid to a
> lecturer. Even this fee is waived for most students. In addition,
> students receive stipends for books, food and hostel charges. The
> basic principle is that no student who gets admission to a university
> should have to depend on parental support if it is not available. Ron
> Brown’s remarks went unnoticed in India. Every other day some luminary
> or the other opines that universities and technical education
> institutions should increase their charges and that such education
> should not be subsidized. Most editorials echo these sentiments.
> Eminent industrialists pontificate that we should run educational
> institutions like business houses. Visiting experts from the Bank and
> the IMF, in their newly emerging concern for the poor, advise us to
> divert funds from higher education to primary education.
The author of the passage seems to be a/an
- official working in economic affairs department
- financial advisor to government or a bureaucrat in finance department
- social activist devoted to illiteracy eradication programme
- educationist in IIT or some such Educational Institution
- industrialist employing highly qualified technocrats
Solution : educationist in IIT or some such Educational Institution
Q312. > A few weeks ago, I ran into an old friend who is currently one of the
> mandarins deciding India’s economic and financial policies. He asked
> “And so, how is IIT doing?” As one can only indulge in friendly banter
> at such gatherings, I responded with ‘Not so well actually. Your
> market-friendly policies have forced up to raise the fee, so we have
> 50% fewer Ph.D. applicants this year’. Not batting an eyelid, he shot
> back: “Obviously. Your Ph.D. students don’t have any market value.”
> Taken aback, I shifted to a more serious tone and tried to start a
> discussion on the need for research in these globalised times. But he
> had already walked away. The last word on the imperatives of the
> ‘market’ had been spoken. This view of higher education should not
> have surprised me. Worthies who look at everything as consumer
> products classify higher education as a ‘non-merit’ good. Non-merit
> goods are those where only the individual benefits from acquiring them
> and not the society as a whole. Multilateral agencies like The World
> Bank have too been pushing countries like India to stop subsidies to
> higher education.
>
> When Ron Brown, former US commerce secretary visited India, a public
> meeting was organized at IIT Delhi. At that meeting I asked him: “I
> understand that since the 19th century all the way up to the 1970s,
> most land grant and State universities in the US virtually provided
> free education to State citizens. Was that good for the economy, or
> should they have charged high fees in the early 20th century? “He
> replied,” it was great for the economy. It was one of the best things
> that the US government did at that particular time in American
> history-building institutions of higher education which were
> accessible to the masses of the people. I think it is one of the
> reasons why our economy grew and prospered, one of the way in which
> the US was able to close some of its social gaps. So people who lived
> in rural areas would have the same kind of access to higher education
> as people living in other parts of the country. It was one of the
> reasons for making America strong.” Our policy-makers seem unaware
> that their mentors in the US did not follow policies at home which
> they now prescribe for other countries. Ron Brown’s remarks summarise
> the importance policy-makers in the US place on higher education as a
> vehicle for upward mobility for the poorer sectors of their
> population. Even today, a majority of Americans study in State-run
> institutions. Some of these institutions, like Berkeley and the
> Universities of Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and Taxas are
> among the best in the world. The annual tuition charged from State
> residents (about $5000 a year) is about a month’s salary paid to a
> lecturer. Even this fee is waived for most students. In addition,
> students receive stipends for books, food and hostel charges. The
> basic principle is that no student who gets admission to a university
> should have to depend on parental support if it is not available. Ron
> Brown’s remarks went unnoticed in India. Every other day some luminary
> or the other opines that universities and technical education
> institutions should increase their charges and that such education
> should not be subsidized. Most editorials echo these sentiments.
> Eminent industrialists pontificate that we should run educational
> institutions like business houses. Visiting experts from the Bank and
> the IMF, in their newly emerging concern for the poor, advise us to
> divert funds from higher education to primary education.
What was the net tangible impact of raising fees on the higher level of technological research?
- The number of prospective researchers was reduced to almost a half
- The market value of Ph.D. students was almost lost
- Research studies attained a higher market value
- Research became more and more relevant to market demands
- In the current globalised times, the need for research was less than ever
Solution : The number of prospective researchers was reduced to almost a half
Q313. > A few weeks ago, I ran into an old friend who is currently one of the
> mandarins deciding India’s economic and financial policies. He asked
> “And so, how is IIT doing?” As one can only indulge in friendly banter
> at such gatherings, I responded with ‘Not so well actually. Your
> market-friendly policies have forced up to raise the fee, so we have
> 50% fewer Ph.D. applicants this year’. Not batting an eyelid, he shot
> back: “Obviously. Your Ph.D. students don’t have any market value.”
> Taken aback, I shifted to a more serious tone and tried to start a
> discussion on the need for research in these globalised times. But he
> had already walked away. The last word on the imperatives of the
> ‘market’ had been spoken. This view of higher education should not
> have surprised me. Worthies who look at everything as consumer
> products classify higher education as a ‘non-merit’ good. Non-merit
> goods are those where only the individual benefits from acquiring them
> and not the society as a whole. Multilateral agencies like The World
> Bank have too been pushing countries like India to stop subsidies to
> higher education.
>
> When Ron Brown, former US commerce secretary visited India, a public
> meeting was organized at IIT Delhi. At that meeting I asked him: “I
> understand that since the 19th century all the way up to the 1970s,
> most land grant and State universities in the US virtually provided
> free education to State citizens. Was that good for the economy, or
> should they have charged high fees in the early 20th century? “He
> replied,” it was great for the economy. It was one of the best things
> that the US government did at that particular time in American
> history-building institutions of higher education which were
> accessible to the masses of the people. I think it is one of the
> reasons why our economy grew and prospered, one of the way in which
> the US was able to close some of its social gaps. So people who lived
> in rural areas would have the same kind of access to higher education
> as people living in other parts of the country. It was one of the
> reasons for making America strong.” Our policy-makers seem unaware
> that their mentors in the US did not follow policies at home which
> they now prescribe for other countries. Ron Brown’s remarks summarise
> the importance policy-makers in the US place on higher education as a
> vehicle for upward mobility for the poorer sectors of their
> population. Even today, a majority of Americans study in State-run
> institutions. Some of these institutions, like Berkeley and the
> Universities of Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and Taxas are
> among the best in the world. The annual tuition charged from State
> residents (about $5000 a year) is about a month’s salary paid to a
> lecturer. Even this fee is waived for most students. In addition,
> students receive stipends for books, food and hostel charges. The
> basic principle is that no student who gets admission to a university
> should have to depend on parental support if it is not available. Ron
> Brown’s remarks went unnoticed in India. Every other day some luminary
> or the other opines that universities and technical education
> institutions should increase their charges and that such education
> should not be subsidized. Most editorials echo these sentiments.
> Eminent industrialists pontificate that we should run educational
> institutions like business houses. Visiting experts from the Bank and
> the IMF, in their newly emerging concern for the poor, advise us to
> divert funds from higher education to primary education.
According to the author, the US policy-makers consider education as a
- hindrance in the way to economic growth and prosperity
- means for achieving upward mobility for the poor
- wastage of resources and a totally futile exercise
- matter of concern only for the parents of the students
- None of these
Solution : means for achieving upward mobility for the poor
Q314. > A few weeks ago, I ran into an old friend who is currently one of the
> mandarins deciding India’s economic and financial policies. He asked
> “And so, how is IIT doing?” As one can only indulge in friendly banter
> at such gatherings, I responded with ‘Not so well actually. Your
> market-friendly policies have forced up to raise the fee, so we have
> 50% fewer Ph.D. applicants this year’. Not batting an eyelid, he shot
> back: “Obviously. Your Ph.D. students don’t have any market value.”
> Taken aback, I shifted to a more serious tone and tried to start a
> discussion on the need for research in these globalised times. But he
> had already walked away. The last word on the imperatives of the
> ‘market’ had been spoken. This view of higher education should not
> have surprised me. Worthies who look at everything as consumer
> products classify higher education as a ‘non-merit’ good. Non-merit
> goods are those where only the individual benefits from acquiring them
> and not the society as a whole. Multilateral agencies like The World
> Bank have too been pushing countries like India to stop subsidies to
> higher education.
>
> When Ron Brown, former US commerce secretary visited India, a public
> meeting was organized at IIT Delhi. At that meeting I asked him: “I
> understand that since the 19th century all the way up to the 1970s,
> most land grant and State universities in the US virtually provided
> free education to State citizens. Was that good for the economy, or
> should they have charged high fees in the early 20th century? “He
> replied,” it was great for the economy. It was one of the best things
> that the US government did at that particular time in American
> history-building institutions of higher education which were
> accessible to the masses of the people. I think it is one of the
> reasons why our economy grew and prospered, one of the way in which
> the US was able to close some of its social gaps. So people who lived
> in rural areas would have the same kind of access to higher education
> as people living in other parts of the country. It was one of the
> reasons for making America strong.” Our policy-makers seem unaware
> that their mentors in the US did not follow policies at home which
> they now prescribe for other countries. Ron Brown’s remarks summarise
> the importance policy-makers in the US place on higher education as a
> vehicle for upward mobility for the poorer sectors of their
> population. Even today, a majority of Americans study in State-run
> institutions. Some of these institutions, like Berkeley and the
> Universities of Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and Taxas are
> among the best in the world. The annual tuition charged from State
> residents (about $5000 a year) is about a month’s salary paid to a
> lecturer. Even this fee is waived for most students. In addition,
> students receive stipends for books, food and hostel charges. The
> basic principle is that no student who gets admission to a university
> should have to depend on parental support if it is not available. Ron
> Brown’s remarks went unnoticed in India. Every other day some luminary
> or the other opines that universities and technical education
> institutions should increase their charges and that such education
> should not be subsidized. Most editorials echo these sentiments.
> Eminent industrialists pontificate that we should run educational
> institutions like business houses. Visiting experts from the Bank and
> the IMF, in their newly emerging concern for the poor, advise us to
> divert funds from higher education to primary education.
Who among the following support the view that higher education should be free to everyone aspiring for it?
(A) Editors and Journalists’
(B) Industrialists
(C) Visiting Experts from Banks and IMF
- A only
- B only
- C only
- All the three
- None of these
Solution : None of these
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Q315. > A few weeks ago, I ran into an old friend who is currently one of the
> mandarins deciding India’s economic and financial policies. He asked
> “And so, how is IIT doing?” As one can only indulge in friendly banter
> at such gatherings, I responded with ‘Not so well actually. Your
> market-friendly policies have forced up to raise the fee, so we have
> 50% fewer Ph.D. applicants this year’. Not batting an eyelid, he shot
> back: “Obviously. Your Ph.D. students don’t have any market value.”
> Taken aback, I shifted to a more serious tone and tried to start a
> discussion on the need for research in these globalised times. But he
> had already walked away. The last word on the imperatives of the
> ‘market’ had been spoken. This view of higher education should not
> have surprised me. Worthies who look at everything as consumer
> products classify higher education as a ‘non-merit’ good. Non-merit
> goods are those where only the individual benefits from acquiring them
> and not the society as a whole. Multilateral agencies like The World
> Bank have too been pushing countries like India to stop subsidies to
> higher education.
>
> When Ron Brown, former US commerce secretary visited India, a public
> meeting was organized at IIT Delhi. At that meeting I asked him: “I
> understand that since the 19th century all the way up to the 1970s,
> most land grant and State universities in the US virtually provided
> free education to State citizens. Was that good for the economy, or
> should they have charged high fees in the early 20th century? “He
> replied,” it was great for the economy. It was one of the best things
> that the US government did at that particular time in American
> history-building institutions of higher education which were
> accessible to the masses of the people. I think it is one of the
> reasons why our economy grew and prospered, one of the way in which
> the US was able to close some of its social gaps. So people who lived
> in rural areas would have the same kind of access to higher education
> as people living in other parts of the country. It was one of the
> reasons for making America strong.” Our policy-makers seem unaware
> that their mentors in the US did not follow policies at home which
> they now prescribe for other countries. Ron Brown’s remarks summarise
> the importance policy-makers in the US place on higher education as a
> vehicle for upward mobility for the poorer sectors of their
> population. Even today, a majority of Americans study in State-run
> institutions. Some of these institutions, like Berkeley and the
> Universities of Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and Taxas are
> among the best in the world. The annual tuition charged from State
> residents (about $5000 a year) is about a month’s salary paid to a
> lecturer. Even this fee is waived for most students. In addition,
> students receive stipends for books, food and hostel charges. The
> basic principle is that no student who gets admission to a university
> should have to depend on parental support if it is not available. Ron
> Brown’s remarks went unnoticed in India. Every other day some luminary
> or the other opines that universities and technical education
> institutions should increase their charges and that such education
> should not be subsidized. Most editorials echo these sentiments.
> Eminent industrialists pontificate that we should run educational
> institutions like business houses. Visiting experts from the Bank and
> the IMF, in their newly emerging concern for the poor, advise us to
> divert funds from higher education to primary education.
Which of the following makes the policy-makers classify education as “non-merit” commodity?
- The tendency of people to seek any individual benefits
- The attitude of giving unreasonably more weightage to society
- The tendency of viewing everything as mere consumer product
- Undue pressure from International Agencies like the World Bank, etc.
- None of these
Solution : Undue pressure from International Agencies like the World Bank, etc.
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