Reading Comprehension Practice Sets for SBI PO Prelims 2022

Preparing hard for the upcoming SBI PO prelims 2022 exam? We sincerely hope that candidates soon will be done with their exam syllabus and shall start with the SBI PO prelims revision strategy. No matter whether you are still in the exam preparation mode or have already started with the exam revision practicing mock tests is an integral part of the entire SBI PO Prelims exam journey. The SBI PO prelims exam is scheduled for Dec 17, 2022 and those who are willing to give this exam must start preparing for it right away. Here in this article we are giving you with reading comprehension practice sets for SBI PO Prelims 2022 examination.  

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Reading Comprehension as we all know is one of the most important parts of the English section, thus aspirants need to practice it really well so that they are able to solve the questions well with 100% accuracy. RC basically assesses the level of a candidate’s proficiency and ability to answer the questions with speed and accuracy. Usually 1 or 2 sets of Reading Comprehension are asked in the SBI PO Prelims exam thus, we need the aspirants to be prepared for it. This is the reason we are giving you here 2 RC practice sets.

SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern

SBI PO Prelims 2022 free mock

English Reading Comprehension for SBI PO Prelims 2022

• While working on RC candidates will have to ensure that proper attention is being paid to the vocabulary part.
• Questions on synonyms and antonyms are usually asked in the RC
• Attempt RC quiz by downloading the PracticeMock App.

There are multiple ways to approach RC for SBI PO Prelims exam. Either you approach the RC first and then the questions or you approach the questions first and then read the passage. Both has their own benefits that we are mentioned below:

Read RC first and then move onto Questions

• First reading the passage and then moving onto reading and answering questions.
• Since you have read the RC passage first you will be easily come across the answers in the passage as you will now have an idea as where the answer may be lying.
• If you are not getting answer to any question then go back and read the passage again.
• Try and read the passage fast and for this enhance your reading speed while you are preparing for the examination.

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Read Questions first and then move onto the Passage

• Read all questions first with or without options
• After reading the passage if you will go through the questions you will surely be able to get the answer right.
• Continue reading the questions and try to answer all questions in this way.

Reading Comprehension Practice Sets for SBI PO Prelims

Directions (Qs.1-7): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Lawmakers in Australia have recently made it illegal to arrange or advertise for sale certain cheating services, namely paid essay writing, also known as contract cheating. Paid essays are usually bespoke, written on demand based on student and assignment requirements. Visit a paid essay site and post an ad that you need 700 words on the battle of Yorktown, for example, and you’ll get dozens of people quoting competitive prices, fast results and guarantees of originality. There are hundreds of sites that offer the service, representing thousands of writers. Many heavily advertise to college students. It’s a form of cheating that’s shockingly common, difficult to catch, and fueling a billion dollar global market of dishonesty. So, Australia passed a law prohibiting it. The law went into effect in early September and carries some stiff sanctions – up to two years in jail and a fine of up to $74,000 (A$100,000). And you’ll never guess what’s happened as a result. According to recent reports, many of the biggest and best-known essay mills are ending their operations there.

It is definitely good news. Essay peddlers are a pernicious stain on academia and perhaps retreating from Australia will crimp their customer base and strain the market. But even if it does not, it’s good to put some distance between dishonest students seeking shortcuts and those who profit by providing them. And the timing could not be better. With millions of students suddenly shuffled online to combat Covid-19, away from the eyes of professors and encouraged by the loose nature of online learning, cheating has spiked. It’s a good time to be seen as cracking down.

And the optics may be the most important part of the new law. Ample research on academic cheating shows that one of the best ways to reduce it is to talk about it, making students aware of your awareness, sending the message that those in authority know it’s happening. In fact, when schools and teachers don’t send that message, when they ignore it, students take silence as permission to cheat – they actually think teachers want them to. Therefore, simply having the law, talking about it, setting penalties, is probably, all on its own, deterring misconduct. 

Though the news coverage does not mention it directly, Australia isn’t necessarily being proactive against cheating as much as it’s being reactive, responding to a major cheating scandal that erupted there a few years ago. The contours were that a media outlet found that about 100 students had paid for essays and stand-in test-takers for online tests at some of the country’s top schools. Frankly, all anyone had to do was look. Nonetheless, there were expulsions, degree revocations and firings. It was enormous news and deeply embarrassing. Now, five years later, much of what triggered that scandal is illegal — in Australia anyway.

The major news outlet outside Australia to cover the law and its impact, Times Higher Ed, has a global focus but is based in the U.K. It wrote in its coverage that the Australia law was, “highlighting how countries including the UK risk falling behind” in the fight against essay mills. It said that essay mills could still be accessed without penalty in the UK and therefore, repeating, “it was at risk of falling behind.”

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Question 1

Topic: Reading comprehension

Subtopic: Normal

Level – 1

With which of the following statements is the author most likely to agree?

a) Cheating is an indispensable part of academia. 

b) Students indulging in cheating do it mostly because of peer pressure. 

c) Australian law against essay mills has been ineffective. 

d) Essay mills often target gullible students who are unaware that what they are doing is dishonest. 

e) The law against cheating in Australia will check the rise in cheating due to the shift to online learning. 

Ans: (e)

Solution: (e) is the right answer. Refer to the lines: With millions of students suddenly shuffled online to combat Covid-19, away from the eyes of professors and encouraged by the loose nature of online learning, cheating has spiked. It’s a good time to be seen as cracking down. The author believes that the new law will make students aware that the authorities are taking actions and this would discourage them from cheating. Thus, the author is likely to agree with the statement. 

A is incorrect. If you say that someone or something is indispensable, you mean that they are absolutely essential and other people or things cannot function without them. The author does not believe that cheating is an important part of academia.

B is incorrect. The passage does not talk about peer pressure. 

C is incorrect. The information given in the passage tells us that the law has been effective. 

D is incorrect. The passage tells us that the students pay for these services, therefore it is unlikely they do not know that what they are doing is dishonest.  

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Question 2

Topic: Reading comprehension

Subtopic: Normal

Level – 1

Why did Times Higher Ed report that the UK was at risk of falling behind Australia?

a) The Australian law against cheating has been a revelation and if other countries do not not adopt it, they may suffer in terms of quality. 

b) Students and teachers do not interact much in the UK.

c) The issue of cheating has only been discussed in schools and not in the universities. 

d) Essay mills are still operational in the UK and there is no penalty that discourages students from using them.

e) The news outlet was concerned with the falling academic standards in the universities of the UK.
Ans: (d)

Solution: (d) is the right answer. This is a question that is based directly on the information given in the passage. It is a straightforward question that can be solved even based on a simple reading of the passage. Refer to the lines:  The major news outlet outside Australia to cover the law and its impact, Times Higher Ed, has a global focus but is based in the U.K. It wrote in its coverage that the Australia law was, “highlighting how countries including the UK risk falling behind” in the fight against essay mills. It said that essay mills could still be accessed without penalty in the UK and therefore, repeating, “it was at risk of falling behind.” It is clear that the news outlet has talked about how the essay mills are still at large in the UK and no law exists to stop them. In this way, the UK is falling behind Australia as it is already acting against these essay mills. 

A and E are simply incorrect because the objective of the law is to prevent cheating and it is not related to quality in any way. 

B is incorrect. Nothing in the passage suggests that students and teachers in the UK do not interact. 

C is incorrect because the passage does not tell us that the subject has not been discussed in universities. 

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Question 3

Topic: Reading comprehension

Subtopic: Normal

Level – 1

Each of the following was a consequence of the implementation of the Australian law against essay mills, EXCEPT:

1. Many essay mills are shutting up shops in Australia. 

2. Many students were disappointed with the law and protested against it.

3. Parents were happy with the law and appreciated the government’s move.

a) Only 1

b) Only 2 and 3

c) Only 1 and 2

d) Only 1 and 3

e) All 1,2 and 3
Ans: (b)

Solution: (b) is the right answer. Refer to the lines: The law went into effect in early September and carries some stiff sanctions – up to two years in jail and a fine of up to $74,000 (A$100,000). And you’ll never guess what’s happened as a result. According to recent reports, many of the biggest and best-known essay mills are ending their operations there. The phrase SHUT UP SHOPS means to stop doing business and close permanently. Thus, (1) is the only consequence of the law. (2) and (3) have not been mentioned in the passage. Thus, B is the right answer. It is important to understand here that the question asks us to identify the statements which do not highlight the consequences of the law.   

Question 4

Topic: Reading comprehension

Subtopic: Normal

Level – 1

Which of the following statements can be inferred from the information given in the passage?

a) Every country in the world requires legislation to combat the menace of cheating. 

b) The legislation against cheating in Australia was a proactive measure adopted by the government to address the issue of cheating.

c) The legislation may dent the business of essay mills in Australia and it will deter students from using their services.

d) Parents need to play a greater role in the education of their children if they want them to acquire the virtue of honesty. 

e) It is not possible to eliminate cheating from academia as it is a part of human nature.
Ans: (c)

Solution: (c) is the right answer. An inference is a conclusion that can be reached on the basis of the information given in the passage. Refer to the lines: The law went into effect in early September and carries some stiff sanctions – up to two years in jail and a fine of up to $74,000 (A$100,000). And you’ll never guess what’s happened as a result……Essay peddlers are a pernicious stain on academia and perhaps retreating from Australia will crimp their customer base and strain the market. But even if it does not, it’s good to put some distance between dishonest students seeking shortcuts and those who profit by providing them. It is clear from the passage that the law and the penalty will deter students from accessing the service of these companies. The author goes on to say that even if the law does not put an end to this menace, it will create distance between students and these companies. 

A is incorrect. The passage talks about Australia and the UK. We cannot generalise this to mean that every country needs legislation.

B is incorrect. Refer to the lines: Though the news coverage does not mention it directly, Australia isn’t necessarily being proactive against cheating as much as it’s being reactive, responding to a major cheating scandal that erupted there a few years ago. It is clear that the measure was not proactive as it has been explicitly stated in the passage. 

D is incorrect as the passage does not talk about the participation of parents. 

E is incorrect as the passage does not comment on human nature. 

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Question 5

Topic: Reading comprehension

Subtopic: Normal

Level – 1

Based on the information given in the passage, it is clear that ______________.

a) academic cheating shows that even the brightest minds are corruptible. 

b) it is impossible to make students understand the importance of honesty through academics. 

c) asking the students to not indulge in cheating can ensure that they do not. 

d) it is important for educational institutions to make the curriculum more adaptive so that the students do not feel the need to cheat. 

e) in order to deter students from cheating, it is important to make them realise that the teachers and those in authority are aware that it is happening. 

Ans: (e)

Solution: (e) is the right answer. Refer to the lines: Ample research on academic cheating shows that one of the best ways to reduce it is to talk about it, making students aware of your awareness, sending the message that those in authority know it’s happening. …Therefore, simply having the law, talking about it, setting penalties, is probably, all on its own, deterring misconduct. The passage explicitly tells us that if the students are aware that the teachers and authority figures are aware of the cheating and other related malpractices then they may be deterred to indulge. 

A is incorrect as the passage talks about dishonest students and not the brightest minds.

D is incorrect as the passage does not talk about teaching honesty. 

C is incorrect because just asking the students can’t be enough else a law would not have been required.

D is incorrect as the passage does not tell us that students are cheating because they feel burdened by the curriculum. 

Question 6

Topic: Reading comprehension

Subtopic: Normal

Level – 1

Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word ‘pernicious’ as used in the passage?

a) amenable

b) harmful

c) illicit

d) amicable

e) ecstatic
Ans: (b)

Solution: (b) is the right answer. If you describe something as pernicious, you mean that it is very harmful. Amenable- open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled; Illicit- forbidden by law; Amicable- characterized by friendliness and absence of discord; Ecstatic- feeling or expressing overwhelming happiness or joyful excitement.

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Question 7

Topic: Reading comprehension

Subtopic: Normal

Level – 1

Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word ‘ample’ as used in the passage?

a) composite

b) antique

c) adequate

d) immense

e) terse
Ans: (c)

Solution: (c) is the right answer. AMPLE means enough or more than enough. ADEQUATE is the synonym. Composite- made up of several parts or elements; Antique- having a high value because of age and quality.; Immense- extremely large or great, especially in scale or degree; Terse- sparing in the use of words. 

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Directions (Qs.8-13): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

This year has been an enormous economic challenge for our country. The Covid pandemic has forced businesses to close and lay off workers in droves, and caused sharp changes in how and where people work – disrupting families and careers. But one of the few silver linings of 2020 has been companies transitioning to remote work en masse, a development so significant it has the power to reshape how tech — the most powerful industry in our economy — operates. Silicon Valley has long been a cradle of tec innovation, and the region’s grasp on the industry has only tightened over the past decade. The tech industry is the primary driver of the U.S. economy and the industry is overwhelmingly located in the Bay Area. Of the seven most profitable companies in tech, five of them (Apple, Cisco, Facebook, Google and Intel) are based in Silicon Valley, and the majority of venture capital investments are in companies based in the region.

For decades, tech visionaries thought this concentration of talent was a necessary condition for success, but recently tech firms have come to recognize its downsides. By focusing operations in the Bay Area, the tech sector was not only limiting its talent pool but also driving down the quality of life in the region. These problems escalated  during the startup boom of the past 20 years, as people flocked to the Bay Area, making housing increasingly unaffordable and driving up the cost of living. Housing affordability in the Bay Area hit historic lows in the late 2010s. It’s no wonder that the biggest companies in Silicon Valley have created outposts in cities not typically associated with tech. This migration out of Silicon Valley has accelerated during the pandemic, as the transition to remote work has made physical proximity increasingly irrelevant. The shift could fundamentally change how the tech industry, the economy, and the country function.

The real estate crunch in Silicon Valley applied to companies, too. Not only did companies pay exorbitant rates for office space, but they had to offer employees increasingly higher salaries to make it affordable for them to move and live in the Bay. It was unsustainable. Remote work can decrease overhead even further. By allowing employees to work from virtually anywhere, tech companies no longer need to pay salaries that are commensurate with living in expensive coastal cities. It’s also a good deal for workers who can decrease their cost of living. Workers can now reap the benefits of working in tech without having to live in a prohibitively expensive city. So while their salaries might be less than the average San Francisco tech worker, their overall quality of life is higher. When employees are happy, they’re more productive and employee retention increases, resulting in even further benefits for the companies that employ them. 

By adopting remote work, tech companies are no longer limited to hiring people in their immediate vicinity. Rather, they can hire the best workers in the country, regardless of geography. This will contribute to a more intellectually diverse workforce. The concentration of tech workers in Silicon Valley facilitates collaboration, but it inhibits diversity of thought. By creating a healthy exchange of ideas, companies avoid echo chambers that reward groupthink and encourage more innovative thinking instead. By expanding their geographic footprints, firms can access new employees with different life experiences and fresh ideas.

Question 8

Topic: Reading comprehension

Subtopic: Normal

Level – 1

Refer to the sentence: It’s no wonder that the biggest companies in Silicon Valley have created outposts in cities not typically associated with tech.

Which of the following statements strengthen the argument presented in the above statement?

1. Apple’s second largest office is now in Austin.

2. The Intel Tower in Indianapolis is the tallest building in the state of Indiana. 

3. Other cities of the US like Salt Lake and Denver are emerging as tech hubs.

a) Only 1  

b) Only 2 and 3

c) Only 1 and 2

d) Only 1 and 3

e) All 1,2 and 3
Ans: (e)

Solution: (e) is the right answer. The passage tells us about different factors that have driven big companies in Silicon valley to other regions. The statements given in the option talk about big companies of the Silicon valley that have set up their offices in other cities. All the three statements made in the passage. 

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Question 9

Topic: Reading comprehension

Subtopic: Normal

Level – 1

All of the following was a consequence of the concentration of tech companies in the Bay area, EXCEPT:

a) Limited talent pool was available to the companies 

b) Decline in the quality of life in the region 

c) Housing became unaffordable

d) Companies had to pay high rates for office space.

e) Employees could not save much as salaries offered were quite low.
Ans: (e)

Solution: (e) is the right answer. Refer to the sentence: The real estate crunch in Silicon Valley applied to companies, too. Not only did companies pay exorbitant rates for office space, but they had to offer employees increasingly higher salaries to make it affordable for them to move and live in the Bay. The passage tells us that companies offered higher salaries to employees so that they could live in the Bay Area. Thus, E is the right answer. 

For A & B: Refer to the sentence: By focusing operations in the Bay Area, the tech sector was not only limiting its talent pool but also driving down the quality of life in the region. 

For C: Refer to the sentence: These problems escalated  during the startup boom of the past 20 years, as people flocked to the Bay Area, making housing increasingly unaffordable and driving up the cost of living.

For decades, tech visionaries thought this concentration of talent was a necessary condition for success, but recently tech firms have come to recognize its downsides. Housing affordability in the Bay Area hit historic lows in the late 2010s.

Question 10

Topic: Reading comprehension

Subtopic: Normal

Level – 1

Based on the information given in the passage, which of the following options represent the benefits of the transition to remote work?

1. Lower costs for companies and Increased quality of life for workers

2. A more talented, diverse workforce

3. A more unified country

a) Only 1 and 2

b) Only 2

c) Only 1 and 3

d) Only 1 and 3

e) All 1,2 and 3

Ans: (a)

Solution: (a) is the right answer. 

(1) is correct. Refer to the sentence: Remote work can decrease overhead even further. By allowing employees to work from virtually anywhere, tech companies no longer need to pay salaries that are commensurate with living in expensive coastal cities…..So while their salaries might be less than the average San Francisco tech worker, their overall quality of life is higher. Shifting to remote work will decrease the expenses of the companies and increase the quality of life of workers.

(2) is correct. Refer to the sentence: By adopting remote work, tech companies are no longer limited to hiring people in their immediate vicinity. Rather, they can hire the best workers in the country, regardless of geography. It is clear that transition to remote work can help countries get access to the best talent anywhere in the country. 

(3) is incorrect as the passage does not talk about how transition to remote work may unify the country. 

Question 11

Topic: Reading comprehension

Subtopic: Normal

Level – 1

What is the tone of the author of the passage?

a) Critical

b) Optimistic

c) Skeptical

d) Humorous

e) Laudatory
Ans: (b)
Solution: (b) is the right answer. Someone who is OPTIMISTIC is hopeful about the future or the success of something in particular. The passage talks about how the pandemic has forced the companies to transition to remote work and how it may help both the companies as well as the employees. Thus, the author is optimistic that this transition will be advantageous. 

A is incorrect. A CRITICAL tone implies that the author has expressed his disapproval in the passage. However, this is not the case with the given passage.

C is incorrect. A SKEPTICAL tone implies that the author has expressed doubts related to certain issues, which is not the case here. 

D is incorrect. A HUMOROUS tone implies that the author has used witty remarks and the subject of the discussion is light hearted. 

E is incorrect. A LAUDATORY piece of writing or speech expresses praise or admiration for someone.

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Question 12

Topic: Reading comprehension

Subtopic: Normal

Level – 1

Which of the following statements is TRUE as per the passage?

a) The salaries offered by tech companies are not commensurate with the housing prices in the US.

b) Coastal cities in the US are expensive. 

c) The impact of the transition to remote work will be limited to the tech industry. 

d) Decrease in salaries due to shift to remote work may not go down well with the employees.

e) The transition to remote work may worsen the real estate crunch in the US. 

Ans: (b)

Solution: (b) is the right answer. Refer to the lines: By allowing employees to work from virtually anywhere, tech companies no longer need to pay salaries that are commensurate with living in expensive coastal cities.

A is false. Refer to the lines: Not only did companies pay exorbitant rates for office space, but they had to offer employees increasingly higher salaries to make it affordable for them to move and live in the Bay.

C is false. Refer to the lines: The shift could fundamentally change how the tech industry, the economy, and the country function.

D is false. Refer to the lines: So while their salaries might be less than the average San Francisco tech worker, their overall quality of life is higher.

E is false. Refer to the lines: This migration out of Silicon Valley has accelerated during the pandemic, as the transition to remote work has made physical proximity increasingly irrelevant. This would decrease the burden on the real estate sector.

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Question 13

Topic: Reading comprehension

Subtopic: Normal

Level – 1

Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word ‘exorbitant’ as used in the passage?

a) exhaustive

b) splendid

c) excessive

d) affluent

e) immaculate
Ans: (c)

Solution: (c) is the right answer. If you describe something such as a price or fee as EXORBITANT, you are emphasizing that it is much greater than it should be. Thus, EXCESSIVE is the synonym. 

Exhaustive-comprehensive; Splendid- magnificent; very impressive; Affluent- wealthy; Immaculate- neat and clean.

SBI PO Prelims 2022 free mock

This brings us to the end of the article. Keep preparing and practicing for SBI PO Prelims 2022 free mock.

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