EPFO APFC 2023 ( 02/07/2023 )

PART A

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the five questions that follow by selecting your answers based solely on the content of the passage and the opinion of the author only.

The millet project of the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation had three objectives-to preserve crop diversity in local millet varieties, to increase production and the consumption of millets, and to enhance farm incomes. The Kolli Hills block of Namakkal district, the project area, is a distinct geographic and agroecological region of the Eastern Ghats, populated by income-poor Scheduled Tribe households.

There had been a rapid decline in minor millet cultivation, and a shift in land use towards more profitable crops such as cassava (tapioca), pineapple, coffee, and pepper. As the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has pointed out, the area under nutri-cereals has declined steeply in India since the mid-1980s-from 41 million hectares in the 1980s to 24 million hectares in 2017-18.

The reasons for a shift in land use include low yields. Further, processing of millets is a time-consuming and laborious task, undertaken by women. Additionally, very little was marketed, and a tiny share of grain was processed into value-added products.

The project intervened in three areas. First, yield enhancement was attempted, using a combination of participatory varietal trials for improved seeds, new agronomic practices, and new technology. Community seed banks were designed and constructed to conserve, restore, revive, strengthen and improve local seed systems.

Second, customized post-harvest machineries (pulverizers and dehullers) were introduced. The introduction of small-scale localized mechanical milling, operated by self-help groups, was a game-changer.

The third major initiative was training. The Kolli Hills Agrobiodiversity Conservers' Federation (KHABCOFED) was formed to oversee all activities relating to training and value-addition Ready-to-cook products were branded under the Kolli Hills Natural Foods label and market links established. Net returns from value-added products were five to ten times higher than those from grains.

Yields have risen as a result of improved seeds, agronomic practices and intercropping. There have been significant improvements in incomes from millet farming. The shift from hand-pounding to milling has reduced the drudgery for women and encouraged millet consumption. The number of private mills with customized dehullers and pulverizers has risen (and the technology has been marketed to Krishi Vigyan Kendras across Tamil Nadu).

1. What does "agroecological region of the Eastern Ghats mean in the passage?

(a) Area marked by excessive agricultural yield

(b) Area suitable for developing tourism

(c) Area with pollution-free characteristics

(d) Area meant for sustainable farming that works in tandem with nature

Ans - (d) Area meant for sustainable farming that works in tandem with nature

2. There has been a rapid decline in minor millet cultivation because

(a) the millet crop requires special manures to grow

(b) the land of Namakkal district is not suitable for growing millet

(c) there has been shift towards growing more profitable crops

(d) the land is declared as not climate-resilient for the production of millet

Ans -(c) there has been shift towards growing more profitable crops

3. What does "a tiny share of grain was processed into value-added products" mean in the passage?

(a) Enough was not done for the marketing of millet as a diverse food product.

(b) A small quantity of millet is used with other grains.

(c) The demand for millet is not very encouraging.

(d) Millet does not have potential health benefits.

Ans -(a) Enough was not done for the marketing of millet as a diverse food product.

4. The introduction of small-scale localized mechanical milling, operated by self- help groups, was a game-changer." What does it mean in the passage?

(a) Machinery for processing millets is not advanced enough.

(b) Self-help groups are active in improving machinery for various crops.

(c) The use of improvised local machines for removing husk from millets has been a turning point for millet farming.

(d) The process of milling the millets is at a small scale.

Ans -(c) The use of improvised local machines for removing husk from millets has been a turning point for millet farming.

5. Millet yield has increased because

(a) sustainable farming practices are being followed

(b) farmers are exporting millet

(c) more labour is employed for farming

(d) easy bank loans are available now

Ans -(a) sustainable farming practices are being followed

Directions: Each of the following five items in this section consists of a sentence, parts of which have been jumbled. These parts are labelled as P. Q. R and S. Given below each sentence are four sequences, namely (a), (b), (c) and (d). You are required to rearrange the jumbled parts to form the most appropriate sentence and mark your response in the Answer Sheet accordingly.

6. before the judge

P

given that he was clearly innocent

Q

was incomprehensible

R

his decision to plead guilty

S

(a) SQRP

(b) QPSR

(c) QSPR

(d) SRQP

Ans - (c) QSPR

7. when your stated principles

P

it is difficult

Q

are at odds with your ground realities

R

to practise what you preach

S

(a) PRSQ

(b) SPRO

(c) QPRS

(d) QSPR

Ans - (c) QSPR

8. people in dire need

P

it is a truth universally acknowledged that

Q

for assistance

R

reach out to their friends and family

S

(a) QPSR

(b) PSRQ

(c) QRPS

(d) RQPS

Ans- (a) QPSR

9. his vengeful

P

by the expression on his face

Q

and diabolical nature

R

were clearly revealed

S

(a) QSPR

(b) QPRS

(c) PSQR

(d) PRSQ

Ans- (d) PRSQ

10. bitter fights

P

between the two rival teams

Q

on more than one occasion

R

I have witnessed

S

(a) SRQP

(b) RSPQ

(c) QPRS

(d) SQRP

Ans- (a) SRQP

Directions: Each of the five items given below has a phrase given in italics. Choose the one from among the options (a), (b), (c) and (d) that best describes the phrase and mark your response in the Answer Sheet accordingly.

11. Her poetry not only succeeds in brilliantly capturing the beauty of nature but also carries the power to suggest that which is too great and beautiful to be expressed in words.

(a) the unknown

(b) the proscribed

(c) the intangible

(d) the ineffable

Ans -(d) the ineffable

12. The Government's policies were aimed at relieving the distress of the homeless, the unemployed and the poverty- stricken sections of society.

(a) needy

(b) indigent

(c) disadvantaged

(d) challenged

Ans - (b) indigent

13. The organizers refused to allow him to speak at the function since he was known to make speeches that tended to provoke and ignite passions.

(a) irreverent speeches

(b) incendiary speeches

(e) unsubstantiated speeches

(d) irrelevant speeches

Ans -(b) incendiary speeches

14. She was criticized for her views that were often restricted to small local issues and ignored matters of national importance.

(a) unilateral

(b) illiberal

(c) parochial

(d) limited

Ans - (c) parochial

15. When profits began dropping steeply all of a sudden he realized that he ought to wind up his business soon.

(a) precipitously

(b) instantaneously

(c) cataclysmically

(d) dramatically

Ans -(c) cataclysmically

Directions: Given below are five items, comprising sentences in which one word has been underlined. Choose the response (a), (b), (c) or (d) which is closest to the meaning of the underlined word and mark your response in the Answer Sheet accordingly.

16. The essay was badly researched and contained several platitudes and generalizations.

(a) Incorrect statements

(b) Imprecise comments

(c) Often used and unoriginal ideas

(d) Vague, subjective statements

Ans - (c) Often used and unoriginal ideas

17. The judgment of beauty is based on the human capacity for disinterested pleasure in the natural world.

(a) Indifference

(b) Free of all self-interest

(c) Not caring for something

(d) Extremely focused

Ans - (b) Free of all self-interest or (c) Not caring for something

18. The hundred-year old college building was now in a derelict state.

(a) Preserved for historical value

(b) Unsafe for occupation

(c) Neglected and broken down

(d) Retaining its original beauty

Ans -(c) Neglected and broken down

19. My serendipitous encounter with the man on the bus was to have a profound impact on my life.

(a) Fortunate

(b) Of historical significance

(c) Sudden and abrupt

(d) A chance event

Ans - (d) A chance event

20. Notwithstanding our victory today we must be careful to avoid a feeling of complacency.

(a) Smug and self-satisfied

(b) A defensive attitude

(c) Pride

(d) Feeling of superiority

Ans -(a) Smug and self-satisfied