RBI Assistant Model Paper 10

Directions (89-93): In the following passage some words have been omitted and a blank is given in its place. Each of the blank has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each, four options are given. Three out of four options fit in the blank grammatically and contextually. Find the word which does not fit the blank. If all the options fit in the blank mark (e) none of these as your answer. The modest turnouts in Maharashtra and Haryana on Monday could have been expected, considering the - __________ 89 __________ that had loomed over the Assembly election campaigns in both States. As the first test of public opinion after the Lok Sabha election and given the fact that both these States have been under Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule for the last five years, this could have been an occasion to test the party’s overall performance in government. However, that was not how the campaign turned out as the BJP sought to focus the public attention on selective components of its track record related to national security and the Opposition collapsed in both States. Central investigative agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate appeared to be trying to tilt the scale in the ruling party’s favor as they enthusiastically pursued old cases against Opposition leaders, in the midst of the campaign. The BJP has __________ 90 __________ cited military operations to score brownie points in domestic politics always, and the claim of a muscular and militarist foreign policy was the mainstay of its campaign this time too. Given that context, the Indian Army’s announcement on the eve of the election that it had conducted another raid on terrorist targets in Pakistan-controlled __________ 91 __________ could have helped the BJP. The BJP made fresh promises to the electorate, while it successfully __________ 92 __________ any discussion on some of the previous promises that remain undelivered. Far from showing any sign of recovery since their crushing defeat in the Lok Sabha election, Opposition parties have sunk further, as they continue to grope in the dark for an organizing principle. They went to the polls with tired faces and old slogans, as if unaware of the intense appeal of Hindutva hyper nationalism that has __________ 93 __________ the public to the economic situation.