Cloze Test Questions for SBI PO PRE, IBPS PO PRE, SBI CLERK MAINS and

IBPS CLERK MAINS Exams.

Cloze Test Ex. 64
Direction: In the passage given below there are 10 blanks, each followed by a word given in
bold. Each blank has four alternative words given in options A, B, C and D. You have to tell
which word will best suit the respective blank. Mark E as your answer if the word given in
bold after the blank is your answer i.e “No change required”.

A (A) everlasting challenge facing all of the world's countries, regardless of their level of economic
development, is achieving financial stability, economic growth, and higher living standards. There are many
different paths that can be taken to achieve these objectives, and every country's path will be different given
the distinctive nature of national economies and political systems. The (B) ingredient contributing to China's
high growth rate over the past two decades have, for example, been very different from those that have
contributed to high growth in countries as (C) varied as Malaysia and Malta.

Yet, based on experiences throughout the world, several basic principles seem to (D) downgrade greater
prosperity. These include investment (particularly foreign direct investment), the spread of technology, strong
institutions, sound macroeconomic policies, an educated workforce, and the existence of a market economy.
Furthermore, a common (E) denominator which appears to link nearly all high-growth countries together is
their participation in, and integration with, the global economy.

There is (F) primary evidence, from countries of different sizes and different regions, that as countries
"globalize" their citizens benefit, in the form of access to a wider variety of goods and services, lower prices,
more and better-paying jobs, improved health, and higher overall living standards. It is probably no mere (G)
obvious that over the past 20 years, as a number of countries have become more open to global economic
forces, the percentage of the developing world living in extreme poverty —defined as living on less than $1
per day—has been cut in half.

As much as has been achieved in connection with globalization, there is much more to be done. Regional
disparities (H) pursue: while poverty fell in East and South Asia, it actually rose in sub-Saharan Africa. The UN's
Human Development Report notes there are still around 1 billion people (I) living on less than $1 per day—
with 2.6 billion living on less than $2 per day. Proponents of globalization argue that this is not because of too
much globalization, but rather too little. And the biggest (J) security to continuing to raise living standards
throughout the world is not that globalization will succeed but that it will fail. It is the people of developing
economies who have the greatest need for globalization, as it provides them with the opportunities that come
with being part of the world economy.
Questions :

1. A
A. inevitable B. yearning C. perennial D. underlying
E. No change required

2. B
A. ramifications B. aftermath C. surroundings D. elements
E. No change required

3. C
A. downtrodden B. terse C. haphazard D. different
E. No change required

4. D
A. upgrade B. underpin C. satisfy D. predicted
E. No change required

5. E
A. scenario B. registered C. drive D. goal
E. No change required

6. F
A. substantial B. distorted C. various D. phenomenal
E. No change required

7. G
A. incumbency B. coincidence C. judgement D. situation
E. No change required

8. H
A. provide B. states C. contemplate D. persist
E. No change required

9. I
A. surviving B. flourishing C. proliferating D. thriving
E. No change required
10. J
A. growth B. threat C. zenith D. lull
E. No change required

Correct Answers:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
C D E B E A B D A B

Explanations :
1. The given word ‘everlasting’ is grammatically incorrect as before it article ‘An’ must be used. However,
it is absolutely correct in the context of the passage and must be replaced by its synonym.

Among the choices given, only the word ‘perennial’ which refers to ‘lasting or existing for a long or
apparently infinite time’ fits the blank both grammatically and contextually.

Option C is hence the correct answer.

2. The word ‘ingredient’ is ungrammatical in the sentence as the verb ‘have’ is plural and must be
preceded by a subject plural in number. Option E and option B get eliminated.

‘Ramifications’ means ‘a complex or unwelcome consequence of an action or event’ and doesn’t make
sense here in the context. Similar is the case with the word ‘surroundings’.

The word ‘elements’ which means ‘an essential or characteristic part of something abstract’ is
meaningful and completes the idea being discussed.

Option D is hence the correct answer.

3. Here, the word ‘varied’ which refers to ‘incorporating a number of different types or elements;
showing variation or variety.’ is already meaningful in the context and thus needs no change.

‘Different’ has already been used once in the sentence and usage of it in place of the word ‘varied’ will
bring redundancy in the context.

None of the words ‘downtrodden’ which refers to ‘oppressed or treated badly by people in power’,
‘Terse’ which means ‘abrupt’ and the word ‘haphazard’ which means ‘lacking any obvious principle of
organization’ fits the blank appropriately.

Clearly, option E is the correct answer.

4. The word ‘downgrade’ which refers to ‘reduce to a lower grade, rank, or level of importance’ carries
negative connotation whereas the sentences following the word refer to the positive occurrences.
Clearly, the word ‘downgrade’ must be replaced by a positive one suitable in the context of the
passage.

The word ‘upgrade’ though positive in tone, doesn’t replace the bold word appropriately as
‘prosperity’ is not something that can be upgraded. Option A is hence eliminated.

Similarly, the word ‘satisfy’ is not meaningful either.

Use of ‘predicted’ will be ungrammatical as an infinitive takes the present form of a verb. Option D also
gets eliminated.

Clearly, the word ‘underpin’ which means ‘support, justify, or form the basis for’ replaces the bold
word most appropriately.

Option B is hence the correct answer.

5. The sentence seems to indicate that there is some sort of common element linking the high-growth
nations together. The term refers to something common/shared element between two or more
things. Clearly, the word in itself is meaningful and needs no replacement.

Option E is hence the correct answer.

6. The terms ‘Primary and distorted evidence’ are generally used during Police investigation and neither
of them makes sense in the given context of the passage. Option E and C get eliminated.

The word ‘various’ will be ungrammatical in place of the bold word as the noun following it has to be in
plural number which is not the case.
Option D gets eliminated too.

‘Phenomenal’ would be absurd as noting extraordinary is implied from the given sentence.

The sentence basically refers to ‘enough’ and ‘important’ evidence and the word ‘substantial’ goes well
with the context.

Option A is hence the correct answer.

7. We use the adjective ‘mere’ to emphasize that the fact of something being present in a situation is
enough to influence that situation. The word ‘obvious’, therefore, doesn’t make any sense here.

Among the given choices, only the word ‘coincidence’ replaces the bold part most appropriately.

Option B is hence the correct answer.

8. In this part of the passage, the writer talks about the regional disparities or differences that are still
there despite economic growth or globalization.

The only word that implies the same idea is ‘persist’.

Persist (Verb):
continue to exist; be prolonged.

Option D is hence the correct answer.

9. The phrase ‘living on’ is already used in the same sentence and hence it is not advisable to use it twice.
This eliminated option E. However, a synonym of the word ‘living’ will truly make sense here.

Further, among the available choices three words – ‘flourishing’, ‘thriving’ or even ‘proliferating’ are
synonymous and none of them is appropriate in the context.

Clearly, the word ‘surviving’ is the best suited one that replaces the bold word.

Option A is hence the correct answer.

10. The last part of the sentence ‘that it will fail’ implies that the word in place of the bold word has to be
one with negative connotation. Clearly, the options ‘security’, ‘zenith’ and ‘growth’ get eliminated
here.

Between ‘threat’ and ‘lull’ which means ‘respite’ or ‘pause’ the former seems to be replacing the bold
word more appropriately.

Option B is hence the correct answer.