SBI PO English Sectional Mock Test 02

1. Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below. Every evening, millions of households throw away food that was perfectly good when it was bought. Studies of household bins in several countries suggest that families waste far more food than restaurants or shops, largely because the waste happens out of sight, a little at a time. A few slices of bread, half a bowl of rice or a bunch of wilted coriander rarely feel like a loss, yet over a year they add up to a significant share of the family budget. The causes are surprisingly ordinary. People buy more than they need because large packs appear cheaper, or because they shop without checking what is already in the kitchen. Confusing date labels make matters worse. Many shoppers treat a 'best before' date as if it were a safety deadline, and discard food that is still fit to eat. In fact, a 'best before' date only indicates when the quality is likely to be at its peak, while a 'use by' date is the one that relates to safety. Some cities have begun to tackle the problem through simple campaigns rather than strict rules. Residents are shown how to plan weekly meals, store vegetables correctly and turn leftovers into fresh dishes. In one pilot programme, households that kept a weekly record of what they threw away reduced their waste by almost a third within three months, mainly because the record made the hidden waste visible. Local shops supported the effort by selling loose vegetables, so that customers could buy exactly the quantity they required. Reducing food waste is not only about saving money. Food that is thrown away carries with it the water, energy and labour that went into growing, transporting and cooking it, and rotting food in landfills releases gases that warm the planet. Experts therefore argue that small changes in millions of kitchens can achieve as much as large projects, provided that people understand why the changes matter.

   Q1.According to the passage, why does household food waste often go unnoticed?

   • A.Most households do not have dustbins.
   • B.Families deliberately under-report their waste.
   • C.Food prices have fallen sharply in recent years.
   • D.Restaurants hide the amount of food they waste.
   • E.It happens out of sight and in small amounts at a time.

2. Q2.Which of the following is mentioned as a reason why people buy more food than they need?

   • A.Families prefer to cook for guests every day.
   • B.Prices are expected to rise every week.
   • C.Date labels encourage people to buy in bulk.
   • D.Large packs appear to be cheaper.
   • E.Shops refuse to sell small quantities of any item.

3. Q3.According to the passage, what does a 'best before' date indicate?

   • A.When the quality of the food is likely to be at its best.
   • B.The last day on which the food is safe to eat.
   • C.The day on which the food was packed.
   • D.The date by which the food must be cooked.
   • E.The date after which the shop must remove the item.

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