SBI PO Reading Comprehension Mock Test 01

1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given after it. Every year, millions of young Indians finish school or college and begin looking for work, and many find that their certificates do not match what employers want. Firms complain that graduates lack practical skills; graduates complain that firms want experience without offering a chance to gain it. Apprenticeship is meant to break this circle by letting young people learn on the job while earning a stipend. The idea is old, but its scale in India has been small compared with countries such as Germany, where a large share of school leavers enter formal apprenticeships. Part of the reason is cost: a firm that trains an apprentice bears the expense, while the trained worker may later join a rival. Part of it is perception: in many families, an apprenticeship is seen as a second-best option for those who could not get into college. Recent policy has tried to address the first problem by sharing part of the stipend with employers and by simplifying registration, especially for smaller firms. The second problem is harder. Changing how families view vocational paths takes time, and it depends on apprentices actually finding better jobs at the end. Evidence from firms that run good programmes is encouraging. Apprentices who are given real tasks, a mentor and a clear path to a permanent post often stay with the employer, which lowers the firm's hiring costs. In such cases, training stops being a charity and becomes a sound business decision.

   Q1.What 'circle' does apprenticeship aim to break, according to the passage?

   • A.Firms hire only from rival firms.
   • B.Students keep changing colleges.
   • C.Graduates refuse to accept stipends.
   • D.Employers want experience, but young people cannot get experience without a job.
   • E.Families prefer government jobs only.

2. Q2.Which of the following is given as a reason for the small scale of apprenticeship in India?

   • A.Germany has banned Indian apprentices.
   • B.Apprentices are paid more than permanent staff.
   • C.There are no young people seeking jobs.
   • D.College education is free for everyone.
   • E.Firms bear the cost of training workers who may later join rivals.

3. Q3.How has recent policy tried to reduce the cost problem?

   • A.By paying apprentices nothing
   • B.By closing vocational institutes
   • C.By sharing part of the stipend with employers and simplifying registration
   • D.By making apprenticeship compulsory for all students
   • E.By banning workers from changing jobs

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