Verbal Preparation

Verbal Preparation -> Reading Comprehension

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Verbal Section: Reading Comprehension

6. Certain scraps of evidence bear out those who hold a very high opinion of the average level of culture among the Athenians of the great age. Pericles's funeral speech is undoubtedly the most famous evidence from Athenian literature, that its level was indeed high. However, Pericles was a politician, and it is possible that he was flattering his audience. We know that thousands of Athenians sat hour after hour in the theater listening to the plays of the great Greek dramatists. The Greek plays, particularly the tragedies, maintained an extremely high intellectual level throughout, with no letdowns, no concessions to the lowbrows or to the demands of ''realism'', like the gravediggers scene in Shakespeare's Hamlet. The music and dancing seen in these plays were also of an equally high level. The best modern parallel can be seen in the restrained, difficult opera of the 18th century. The comparison is no doubt dangerous, but can you imagine almost the entire population of an American city (in suitable installments, of course) sitting through performances of Mozart's Don Giovanni or Gluck's Orpheus? Perhaps the Athenian masses went to these plays because of a lack of other amusements. They could at least understand something of what went on, since the subjects were part of their folklore. Undoubtedly the theme of grand opera is not part of the folklore of the American people. [i] From the passage it is evident that the author seems to question the sincerity of (a) politicians (b) playwrights (c) opera goers (d) ''low brows'' (e) gravediggers. Ans : (a) [ii] According to the author the average American (a) Enjoys Hamlet (b) Loves folklore (c) Is not able to understand grand opera (d) Seeks a high cultural level (e) Lacks entertainment. Ans : (c) [iii] From the passage, we can say that the author's attitude toward Greek plays is one of (a) Qualified approval (b) Grudging admiration (c) Studied indifference (d) Partial hostility (e) Great respect. Ans : (e) [iv] The author makes a suggestion that Greek plays (a) Were demanding on the actors (b) Flattered their audiences (c) Were focussed on a limited audience (d) Were dominated by music and dancing (e) Stimulated their audiences. Ans : (e) 7. There was in increase of about 10 % in the investment in the public sector, like electricity, irrigation quarrying, public services and transport; even though the emphasis leaned towards transport and away from the other sectors mentioned. A 16-17% growth in investment, including a 30% increase in investment in business premises has been recorded in trade and services. Although there continued to be a decline in the share of agriculture in total gross investment in the economy, investment grew by 9% in absolute terms, largely spurred on by a 23% expansion of investment in agriculture equipment. Housing construction had 12% more invested in it in 1964, not so much owing to increase demand, as to fears of impending new taxes and limitation of building. There was a rise of close to 11% in the total consumption in real terms during 1964 and per capita personal consumption by under 7%, as in 1963. The undesirable trend towards a rapid rise in consumption, evident in previous years, remains unaltered. Since at current prices consumption rose by 16% and disposable income by 13%, there was evidently a fall in the rate of saving in the private sector of the economy. Once again a swift advance in the standard of living was indicated in consumption patterns. Though fruit consumption increased, expenditure on food, especially bread and staple items, declined significantly. There was a continuing increase in the outlay on furniture and household equipment, health, education and recreation. The greatest proof of altered living standards was the rapid expansion of expenditure on transport (including private cars) and personal services of all kinds, which occurred during 1964. The changing composition if purchased durable goods demonstrated the progressive affluence of large sectors of the public. On the one hand increased purchase of automobiles and television sets were registered, a point of saturation was rapidly being approached for items like the first household radio, gas cookers, and electric refrigerators. [i] It is possible to to conclude from this passage, that the people of the country were (a) spending more money than they earn (b) investing and consuming at an accelerated pace (c) saving more money than previously (d) spending their money wisely (e) lacking in necessities Ans : (b) [ii] According to the author the trend towards a rapid rise in consumption is "undesirable" as: (a) there was an increase in the expenditure on frills and luxuries (b) the people were affluent (c) there was a rise in the standard of living (d) people were eating less (e) people were saving less Ans : (e) [iii] It is possible to conclude that the United States is not the discussed country as: (a) there was a decline in the expenditures for food (b) From the statement that the saturation point was rapidly being approached for first household radios (c) there is no mention of military expenditures (d) the people were affluent (e) the people were not saving their money Ans : (b) [iv] The area, which saw the greatest expenditure of investment funds was (a) The public sector (b) Business premises (c) Housing construction (d) Agricultural equipment (e) A field which cannot be determined Ans : (e)

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