General English

THEME DETECTION

Here, a paragraph will be given followed by certain statements which may or may not be inferred from the
passage. You are required to choose the statement which contains the jist or the theme of the passage. For
this you have to understand the passage completely. A small paragraph will be given. Read it twice or thrice
carefully and find out the main idea that the passage conveys.
Solved Examples
Passage : I
There is a shift in our economy from a manufacturing to a service orientation. The increase in the service
sector will require the manager to work more with people rather than with objects and things from the
assembly line.
This passage best supports the statement that
(1) managers should have a balanced mind
(2) assembly line will exist in service sector.
(3) interpersonal skills will become more important in the future work place.
(4) manufacturing organisations ignore importance of people
(5) service organisation will not deal with objects and things
The passage clearly tells that in the present age, service sector has been given more importance than the
manufacturing sector. And so the manager who works in the service sector will have to deal more with
people than with lifeless things and objects. This idea is clearly expressed in the third choice. So (3) is the
answer.
Passage II
Through advertising, manufacturing exercises a high degree of control over consumer's desires. However
the manufacturer assumes enormous risks in attempting to predict what consumers will want and in producing
goods in quantity and distributing them in advance of final selection by the consumers
The paragraph best supports the statement that manufacturers
(1) distribute goods directly to the consumers
(2) can eliminate the risk of overproducing by advertising
(3) always take moderate and calculated risk
(4) can predict with great accuracy the success of any product they put on the market
(5) None of these
According to the passage, it is always very difficult for the manufacturers to predict the consumers
response to his products. But by advertising he can stimulate the consumers to buy his product. Here
statement (2) conveys best the main theme of the given passage. So (2) is the answer.
PRACTICE SET
Directions : Each of the following questions contains a small paragraph followed by a question on it. Read
each paragraph carefully and answer the questions given below it.
1 Emerson said that the poet was landlord, sealord, airlord. The flight of imagination made the poet master
of land, sea and air. But a poet's dream of yesterday becomes today an actual achievement and a reality
for all men. Even those who invented, improved and perfected the aeroplane could hardly have dreamt of
the possibility of flight into outer space.
The passage best supports the statement that
(1) seemingly impossible imaginations make one a good poet.
(2) all imaginations become a reality some day
(3) what man imagined has never been impossible; he was always turned it a reality through his conception
of ideas and sheer hard labour
(4) man has reached the climax of technological development with his exploration into outer space
(5) None of these
2. To forgive an injury is often considered to be a sign of weakness; it is really a sign of strength. It is easy to
allow oneself to be carried away by resentment and hate into an act of vengeance; but it takes a strong
character to restrain those natural passions. The man who forgives an injury proves to be superior to the man
who wronged himself and puts the wrong-doer to shame.
The passage best supports the statement that
 (1) the sufferer alone knows the intensity of his sufferings.
(2) people tend to forgive the things happened in the past
(3) natural passions are difficult to suppress.
(4) mercy is the noblest form of revenge
(5) a person with calm and composed nature has depth of thought and vision.
3. Industrial exhibitions play a major role in a country's economy. Such exhibitions, now regularly held in
Delhi, enable us to measure the extent of our own less advanced industrial progress and the mighty
industrial power and progress of countries like the U.K., U.S.A. and Russia whose pavilions are the
centres of the greatest attention and attraction.
The passage best supports the statement that the industrial exhibitions
(1) greatly tax the poor economies
(2) are more useful for the developed countries like U.S.A whose products stand out superior to those of
the developing countries
(3) are not of much use to the countries who are industrially backward
(4) boost up production qualitatively and quantitatively by analytical comparison of a country's products
with those of the developed countries.
(5) None of these
4. Satisfaction with co-workers, promotion opportunities, the nature of work, and pay goes with high
performance among those with strong growth needs. Among those with weak growth needs, no such
relationship is present and, in fact, satisfaction with promotion opportunities goes with low performance.
This passage best supports the statement that
(1) satisfaction is an inevitable organisational variable.
(2) job satisfaction and performance are directly and closely related
(3) relationship between job satisfaction and performance is moderated by growth need.
(4) every organisation has few employees having weak growth need
(5) high performance is essential for organisational effectiveness
5. Exports and imports, a swelling favourable balance of trade, investments and bank-balances, are not an
index or a balance sheet of national prosperity. Till the beginning of the Second World War, English
exports were noticeably greater than what they are today. And yet England has greater national prosperity
today than it ever had. Because the income of average Englishmen, working as field and factory labour-
ers, clerks, policemen, petty shopkeepers and shop assistants, domestic workers and other low-paid
workers, has gone up.
The passage best supports the statement that
(1) a country's economic standard can be best adjudged by the per capita income
(2) a country's balance of trade is the main criteria of determining its economic prosperity

(3) a nation's economy strengthens with the increase in exports.

(4) English trade has continually increased since the Second World War.
(5) None of these
Directions : Each of the passages given below is followed by some questions. Each question comprises of
three statements (A), (B), (C). In the context of the passage , decide which, one, two, three or none of the
statements is/are true.
In the Pandit's complaint he asks why entries could not be made in the savings bank pass book on the
strength of the counterfoil of the pay-in-slip. This would save the customer from waiting until the actual
voucher passed through various desks/books. The use of the voucher is , in fact the correct procedure. The
delay experienced by Pandit on that day could have been avoided. On our instructions the branch manager
concerned has met the complaint and explained the matter. He has also emphasised the great risk to the
customer and the bank if entries are made on the basis of the counterfoils.
6. (A) The writer of this paragraph is another dissatisfied customer
(B) The paragraph emphasises that counterfoils should not be used instead of vouchers.
(C) Use of counterfoils alone may not lead to any risk.
(1) Only A (2) Only B (3) Only C (4) Only A and B (5) Only
B and C
7. (A) Mr. Pandit complains about a delay in some transaction at his bank.
(B) Mr. Pandit wants banks to make book entries on the basis of counterfoils.
(C) Entries made on the basis of voucher's do not involve risk.
 (1) A and B (2) B and C (3) A and C (4) A, B and C (5) None is true
8. (A) In following the correct procedure, unreasonable delays are always inevitable.
(B) Mr. Pandit's complaint was based on full knowledge of the banking procedure.
(C) Mr. Pandit's suggestion was appreciated by the bank authorities.
(1) Only A (2) Only B (3) Only C (4) A and B (5) None is true
9. (A) The delay experienced by Mr. Pandit was caused by some temporary problem.
(B) The entries relating to Mr. Pandit's case were not done according to proper procedure
(C) Mr. Pandit was already aware of the proper procedure
(1) Only A (2) Only B (3) Only C (4) A and B (5) B and C
5. (A) Using counterfoils instead of vouchers is risky not only to the customers but also to the bank.
(B) The bank authorities were not insensitive to Mr. Pandit's complaint
(C) The branch manager paid no heed to the authorities instructions.
(1) Only A (2) Only B (3) Only C (4) A and B (5) A and C

ANSWERS TO SET

1. (3) 2. (4) 3. (4) 4. (3) 5. (1) 6. (2) 7. (4) 8. (4) 9. (3) 10. (4)