IBPS PO Prelims Full Mock Test 03

1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given after it. Water is often described as the oil of the twenty-first century, but the comparison is misleading. Oil can be replaced by other sources of energy; water cannot be replaced by anything. Every crop, factory and household depends on it, and yet in much of India it is treated as if it were limitless. Agriculture uses the largest share of the country's fresh water, much of it through flood irrigation, in which fields are simply filled with water. Free or cheap electricity for pumps encourages farmers to draw groundwater faster than rain can refill it. In several states, water tables have fallen so far that wells must be dug ever deeper, raising costs and drying up shallow wells used by poorer families. Solutions exist, but they require changes in habit as much as in technology. Drip and sprinkler systems can cut water use sharply while keeping yields steady. Growing crops suited to the local climate, rather than water-hungry crops in dry regions, can ease the pressure further. In cities, fixing leaking pipes and reusing treated wastewater could save large volumes. None of these steps will succeed if water continues to be seen as free. Pricing that reflects its true value, combined with protection for the poorest users, may be the only way to make people treat every drop with care.

   Q1.Why does the author say the comparison between water and oil is misleading?

   • A.Oil is renewable and water is not
   • B.Water is more expensive than oil
   • C.Oil can be replaced by other energy sources, but water cannot be replaced
   • D.Water is used only in agriculture
   • E.Oil is found only in India

2. Q2.Which sector uses the largest share of India's fresh water, according to the passage?

   • A.Transport
   • B.Power plants
   • C.Industry
   • D.Households
   • E.Agriculture

3. Q3.What effect does cheap electricity for pumps have, according to the passage?

   • A.It encourages farmers to draw groundwater faster than it is refilled
   • B.It increases rainfall
   • C.It helps refill the water table
   • D.It stops farmers from using wells
   • E.It reduces the cost of digging wells

Start the test to answer these. Correct answers and explanations are shown after you submit.