English Questions: Reading Comprehension Set – 30

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Welcome to Online English Section with explanation in AffairsCloud.com. Here we are creating question sample in Reading comprehension, which is BASED ON IBPS PO/CLERK/LIC AAO/RRB & SSC CGL EXAM and other competitive exams.

The United Nations was set up 70 years ago to save future generations from the scourge of war. While it has arguably succeeded in preventing another great war, its track record on peace and security has not always been stellar.
Assessments on the vitality, durability and success of diplomacy in any year — including 2015 — are best carried out away from high-decibel levels and cantankerous TV anchors. Preferably, assessments are best when undertaken by those who are not themselves camp followers and cheerleaders. Diplomacy is a fine art when well-practised and fashioned by the mature; not by those seeking the thrill of tomorrow’s headlines. Subjectivity will, by definition, find its way into any human endeavour. The seasoned practitioner is trained to guard against premature excitement, euphoria and hubris.
How does 2015 stand out as a year of success amongst all others? The successes that stand out: The adoption of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, the conference of parties (COP 21) climate change agreement and the US-Iran nuclear deal, which passed despite stiff domestic and Israeli opposition. This bore fruit in 2016, as epitomised by the recent prisoner exchange that took place over the weekend.
A closer look at some of these successes indicates that 2015 has reinforced the need for multilateralism. The 2030 agenda, for example, unlike the Millennium Development Goals of 2000, reflect a bottom-up negotiation process by the entire UN membership. Their impact could well prove to be transformational, even as issues relating to their financing and implementation need to be resolved. Equally, decisions taken by the
COP 21 in Paris represent a decisive victory against the irresponsible, particularly the climate sceptics.The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, stated after COP 21: “For the first time, every country in the world has pledged to curb their emissions, strengthen resilience and act internationally and domestically to address climate change.” But, here again, follow-up action to ensure that global warming can be limited to meet the ambitious targets will need to be demonstrated.
At the multilateral level, 2015 also marked the 15th anniversary of Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. Resolution 2242, passed in September 2015, affirms the essential role of women in conflict prevention, peacemaking, and peace-building. Along with the establishment of UN Women in 2010, this has firmly entrenched the centrality of women’s empowerment and gender equality in the international discourse, a big plus for diplomacy in 2015.
Among the major bilateral diplomatic successes of the year was the decision for the normalisation of relations between the US and Cuba. The apology by Japan and the offer of $8 million to Korean “comfort women” during World War II were widely welcomed as an initiative designed to deal with a troublesome past.
2015 has hopefully also driven home to the main stakeholders the fact that the major threats to international peace and security are best handled collectively. These are beyond the capability of any one of them. A lot went wrong in 2015 precisely because this principle was not always upheld: The continued stalemate on Syria with devastating humanitarian consequences, the inability to deal with the Islamic State (IS) adequately, the situation in Yemen, where there has been more physical destruction in five months than in Syria in five years. The roadmap for collective action against the IS produced by the UN Security Council provides just that glimmer of hope. If the Turks can overcome their desire to first go after the Kurds, and the Americans and Russians come to genuinely believe that the IS constitutes a bigger threat than Bashar al-Assad, cooperation may result in some hope for Syria. For this, the Saudis and their followers also need to play ball.

1. According to the passage, what Went wrong in 2015?
1) Physical destruction in Yemen.
2) IS constituted a bigger threat in 2015.
3) The inability to deal with the Islamic State (IS) adequately.
4) All of above
5) None of these

2. Find the incorrect statement on the basis of the given passage?
1) The United Nations was set up 70 years.
2) Resolution 2242, affirms the essential role of women in conflict prevention, peacemaking, and peace-building.
3) Physical destruction in Yemen five months than in Syria in five years.
4) Either 1 or 2
5) None of these

3. According to the author, what world has pledged for the first time?
1) Adoption of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
2) The US-Iran nuclear deal.
3) To curb their emissions, strengthen resilience and act internationally and domestically to address climate change.
4) Affirms the essential role of women in conflict prevention, peacemaking, and peace-building.
5) None of these

4. According to the Author, What were widely welcome initiative in 2015?
1) As issues relating to their financing and implementation has been resolved among many countries.
2) Americans and Russians come to genuinely believe that the IS constitutes a bigger threat than Bashar al-Assad.
3) Apology by Japan and the offer of $8 million to Korean “comfort women”.
4) Major bilateral diplomatic success between US and Cuba.
5) None of these

5. Which of the following is ‘true’ in the context of the passage?
1) Resolution 2242, passed in December 2015.
2) UN Women Established in 2009.
3) 2015 has strengthened the need for multilateralism.
4) All of Above
5) None of these

Directions (Q. 6-8): Choose the word that is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the word given in bold as used in the passage.

6. Sceptics
1) Fraud
2) Establish
3) Doubt
4) Crucial
5) Forsake

7. Scourge
1) Praise
2) Pity
3) Vulnerable
4) Threat
5) Pleasure

8. Stellar
1) Dearth
2) Distinct
3) Dissipate
4) major
5) Common
Answer – 4) major

Directions (Q. 9-10): Select the word which is most nearly the OPPOSITE in meaning of the word as used in the passage.

9. Stalemate
1) Dead-end
2) Blocked
3) Progress
4) Impasse
5) Pause

10. Cantankerous
1) Good-natured
2) Amiable
3) Ill-natured
4) Peevish
5) Cranky