Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.

The stark observation made in the Economic Survey of 2015-16 that “Indian agriculture, is in a way, a victim of its own past success – especially the green revolution”, shows the dark reality of the agriculture sector at present and the havoc that has been wreaked by the green revolution.

The green revolution, which is often characterised by the introduction of high-yielding variety of seeds and fertilisers, undoubtedly increased the productivity of land considerably. But the growth in the productivity has been stagnant in recent years, resulting in a significant decline in the income of farmers. There have also been negative environmental effects in the form of depleting water table, emission of greenhouse gases, and the contamination of surface and ground water. Needless to say, the agriculture sector is in a state of distress, which is severely affecting peasants and marginal farmers, and urgent policy interventions are required to protect their interests.

The government has responded to the problem by constituting a panel, which will recommend ways to double the income of farmers by 2022. While this may be an overtly ambitious target, if we want to boost stagnated agricultural growth a shift has to be made from food security of the nation to income security of the farmers. However, there are many hurdles that have to be crossed if we want to achieve this objective.

The first major barrier to overcome is declining productivity. Data from 2013 reveals that India’s average yield of cereal per hectare is far less than that of many countries (including several low income countries), but the difference is huge when compared to China. For instance, our average yield per hectare is 39% below than that of China and for rice this figure is 46%. Even Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia fare better than India in case of rice yield. Further, there is a huge inter-regional variation; the wheat and rice yield from Haryana and Punjab is much higher than from the other states.

In order to cross the declining productivity barrier there is a need to herald a rainbow revolution by making a shift from wheat-rice cycle to other cereals and pulses. Since wheat and rice coupled with other crops are backed by minimum support prices (MSP) and input subsidy (whether water, fertiliser or power) regime, there is a huge incentive for the farmers in the irrigated region of Northwest India to grow these crops.

As per the passage, what is the main cause of decline in the income of farmers?

Direction: In the given question, a word has been printed in bold. Below the sentence, alternatives to the emboldened word have been given as (A), (B), (C) and (D), which may help improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative out of the five given options. In case the given sentence is correct as it is, your answer will be option (E), i.e., "No replacement required".

The modern publishing industry is dominated by a small number of large companies that have abandoned on more or less the same business model for decades

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

The Union Budget, 2018-19, has proposed to treat school education holistically without (1)__________ from pre-nursery to Class 1b: Samagra Shiksha - an overarching programme for the school education sector extending from pre-school to class 12 has been, therefore, (2) ______ with the broader goal of improving school effectiveness measured in terms of equal opportunities (3) _______ schooling and equitable learning outcomes. The Goal SDG-4.1 states that, “By 2030, ensure that all boys and girls complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education (4) _______ to relevant and effective learning outcomes”. Further the SDG 4.5 states that, “By 2030, eliminate gender (5)___________ in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations”.

Select the most appropriate option to fill blank 4.

Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.

Total area sown under Rabi crops has increased by 3.25% from 697.98 lakh hectares in 2021-22 to 720.68 lakh hectares in 2022-23. This is 22.71 lakh hectares more this year compared to corresponding period of 2021-22. Comparing with normal sown area(average of the last five years), the increase is to the tune of 13.71% from 633.80 to 720.68 lakh hectares. The increase in area is across all crops, - highest being in rice. Out of 22.71 lakh hectares increase in all Rabi crops, increase in rice area is 11.20 lakh hectares from 35.05 lakh hectares in 2021-22 to 46.25 lakh hectares in 2022-23. However, this is lower than normal sown area of 47.71 lakh hectares. Maximum increase in area under rice is in states of Telangana and West Bengal.

Area under oilseeds increased by 7.31% from 102.36 lakh hectares during 2021-22 to 109.84 lakh hectares this year. The increase in area under oilseeds at the rate of 7.31% is more than double the rate of increase of 3.25% in all crops together. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh accounted for major expansion in area of oilseeds. Rapeseed & Mustard contributed maximum in increasing oilseeds area during this Rabi season. Mustard area increased by 6.77 lakh hectares from 91.25 lakh hectares in 2021-22 to 98.02 lakh hectares in 2022-23. Thus, out of 7.49 lakh hectares increase in area under oilseeds, rapeseed & mustard alone accounted for 6.44 lakh hectares. Pulse production is being focused to make country self-sufficient in these commodities. Area under pulses increased by 0.56 lakh hectares from 167.31 to 167.86 lakh hectares. Mung bean and lentil accounted for increase in area under pulses.

The United Nations General Assembly has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets and India is at the forefront in celebrating the event in a big way. In order to create awareness about the benefits of millets as superfood and to meet its growing demand around the world, the Government is promoting millet production through the NFSM-Nutri Cereals component of National Food Security Mission programme in 212 districts of 14 states. Coarse cum Nutri-cereals saw an increase of 2.08 lakh hectares in area under cultivation from 51.42 lakh hectares in 2021-22 to 53.49 lakh hectares in 2022-23.

On which of the following crops, is the Indian Government specially focussing this year?

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

The Government is taking seriously the (1) ______ of road safety and is committed to reducing the number of people killed in accidents. Forums are being conducted (2) ______ to bring law-makers, law enforcement officers and road users together to discuss ways to (3) ______ the rise in road accidents. Everyone agrees that more needs to be done on road safety in its determination to (4) ______ the rate of road accidents in the country. The Government, with the cooperation of relevant agencies, is making serious (5) ______ to instill proper road culture in children, young adults and the public in general.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 3.

Given below are four jumbled sentences. Select the option that gives their correct order.

A. It produced a squeaky little note that startled a line parrot out of the mango tree.

B. Kamala took the flute and blew on it.

C. Romi laughed.

D. While he was laughing, Kamala turned and ran through the fields.

Directions: The following sentences form a paragraph. The rest of the sentences are marked as A, B, C, D, E, and F. Sentence 'C' is in the correct place. The rest of the sentences are not given in their proper order. Read the sentences and answer the following questions.

A. It is scheduled to take place in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December 2022.

B. In addition, the tournament will be the last to involve 32 teams, with an increase to 48 teams scheduled for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

C. This will be the first World Cup ever to be held in the Arab world, and the second World Cup held entirely in Asia after the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan.

D. The final is due to be held on 18 December 2022, which also is Qatar National Day.

E. The 2022 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to be the 22nd running of the FIFA World Cup competition.

F. The first match played at the tournament will be contested between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor.

Which sentence should be the SIXTH sentence in the paragraph?

Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.

The giraffe is the tallest land mammal alive, its long legs and neck contributing to its impressive stature. Males can be up to 18ft (5.5m tall), females a little less.

In the wild, these beautiful creatures stretch their necks beyond those of antelope, kudu and even elephants to strip leaves from the untouched upper reaches of trees. The French zoologist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck is usually credited as the first person to suggest that long necks have evolved in giraffes because they allow them to get to the parts other herbivores cannot reach.

As the giraffe lives "in places where the soil is nearly always arid and barren, it is obliged to browse on the leaves of trees and to make constant efforts to reach them," he wrote in his 1809 book ‘Philosophie Zoologique’. "From this habit long maintained in all its race, it has resulted that the animal's fore-legs have become longer than its hind legs, and that its neck is lengthened."

The English naturalist Charles Darwin also thought the giraffe's extraordinary legs and neck must have something to do with foraging. "The giraffe, by its lofty stature, much elongated neck, fore-legs, head and tongue, has its whole frame beautifully adapted for browsing on the higher branches of trees," he wrote in ‘On the Origin of Species’ in 1859. In short, giraffes' long necks are the result of generation upon generation of repeated stretching and inheritance.

During the dry season when feeding competition should be most intense giraffe generally feed from low shrubs, not tall trees. What's more, giraffes feed most often and faster with their necks bent

Male giraffes often fight for access to females, a ritual referred to as "necking". The rivals stand flank to flank, then start to whack each other with their heads. The top or back of the well-armoured skull is used as a club to strike the neck, chest, ribs, or legs of the opponent with a force capable of knocking a competitor off balance or unconscious. The largest males usually win these battles and do most of the breeding, says zoologist Anne Innis Dagg of the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, who has been studying giraffes since the 1950s. "The other giraffes don't get much breeding opportunity." There is also evidence that females are more receptive to advances from larger males.

How does a giraffe knock its opponent off balance or unconscious?