In the following passage there are blanks each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each five words have been suggested, one of which fits the blanks appropriately. Find out the appropriate word in each case.
The European Union gave Warsaw a dressing down over concerns about the erosion of the rule of law in Poland. And with good reason. The conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS), which runs the government, has (1) tinkered with and undermined the institutions of democracy in the country, progressively tightening its grip over them.
The EU’s patience is running out, and it could eventually strip Poland of voting rights in the European Council, an (2) action. This is a (3) of grave concerns over the developments in Poland, especially the actions the PiS has taken since it came to power in October 2015 to control the Constitutional Tribunal, Poland’s highest court. In July, the EU made recommendations (4) at protecting the independence of the judiciary. These have been largely ignored. Examples of PiS action that have impacted judicial functioning include publishing judgments selectively (without which they do not have legal standing) and passing legislation to (5) appoint the head of the Constitutional Tribunal. The outgoing president of the court, alleged that the government was out to destroy the tribunal. While concerns are focussed around judicial independence, they are by no means limited to this.
Among the government’s moves are the replacement of heads of public bodies with its loyalists, a campaign to control NGOs, and curbs on media freedom. About 100 journalists from state media organisations have been (6), and the government, was proposing to (7) most journalists from entering the lower house of Parliament in 2017. This resulted in an opposition sit-in in the main hall of Parliament, while thousands protested (8), preventing the passage of the 2017 Budget. This led to the government passing the Budget in an anteroom, a move that has, understandably, not gone down well with the opposition. The EU has given Poland two months for a course correction. PiS was elected on a populist platform a little over a year ago, ousting the centre-right Civic Platform (PO). The party was (9) by the relatively benign economic conditions when it came to power, but the economy is slowing down even as (10) and unrest continue. The government, thus far unmoved by the interests of civil society and democracy, may be forced to tread a bit more carefully.
Q1.Choose the correct option for (1)
(1) repeatedly
(2) frequent
(3) regular
(4) rare
(5) unanticipated
Q.2 Choose the correct option for (2)
(1) unprecedented
(2) customary
(3) regular
(4) ordinary
(5) unexceptional
Q.3 Choose the correct option for (3)
(1) disdain
(2) waiver
(3) meditation
(4) introspection
(5) reflection
Q.4 Choose the correct option for (4)
(1) pittance
(2) pilferage
(3) macerated
(4) intend
(5) aimed
Q.5 Choose the correct option for (5)
(1) temporarily
(2) rigorously
(3) temporary
(4) rigorous
(5) limited
Q.6 Choose the correct option for (6)
(1) burned
(2) burning
(3) fired
(4) crazed
(5) appointed
Q.7 Choose the correct option for (7)
(1) sanction
(2) allowance
(3) ban
(4) in lieu of
(5) indolent
Q.8 Choose the correct option for (8)
(1) outside
(2) external
(3) external
(4) alfresco
(5) casual
Q.9 Choose the correct option for (9)
(1) help
(2) added
(3) helping
(4) service
(5) aided
Q.10 Choose the correct option for (10)
(1) chaos
(2) order
(3) peace
(4) neatness
(5) accuracy
Answer. 1. (1) 2. (1) 3. (5) 4. (5) 5. (1) 6. (3) 7. (3) 8. (1) 9. (5) 10. (1)
