IBPS Clerk Prelims Model Paper 12

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ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Directions (Q. No.1 to 5):
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are printed in BOLD to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.
A pundit was visiting a remote town. The people of the town worried him everyday with invitations for lunch or dinner. "I will only eat in a house where no one has ever told a lie," said the pundit. A very rich man stepped up and said, "Come to my house, Oh Master. No one in my home has ever told a lie." The pundit accepted the invitation. Before going to the rich man's house, the pundit inquired about the rich man and learned everything he could about him. Walking along with the rich man, the pundit asked, 'How many children do you have?" Only one son,' replied the rich man. “The people of this town said he had three sons! Why is he saying he has only one? Is he lying'?" wondered the Pundit, "but I should not be too hasty to judge him. Perhaps he is telling the truth. Let me wait." "How old are you now?" asked the Pundit. "I am ten years old," answered the rich man. There he goes again! His hair is grey, his face was wrinkles, he can barely walk, and he says he is only ten years old! No, No. I should not come to a rushed conclusion, I shall give him one more chance," decided the pundit. "How many acres of land do you have?" asked the pundit. "I have only six feet of land for myself," said the rich man. 'This is like trying to hide a whole pumpkin in a spoonful of rice!" thought the pundit. 'This man is indeed the king of liars! How can I eat in his house? Will it turn me into a liar as well? Let me see how far he can go."
When they arrived at the house the rich man told his wife, we have a special guest today so make him your best lunch. I will take him to the lake for a walk. We will be back soon. On their way back from the river, they passed an orchard. The rich man plucked two ripe mangoes, and cut a bunch of ripe bananas. "Whose orchard is this?" asked the Pundit. 'This orchard belongs to the ones who do not sleep a wink at night : replied the rich man. At the house, the rich man's wife had laid out the lunch. "Please come and eat" she said. "I need to clarify a few things first," declared the pundit. "What is it?" asked the rich man. "I know you have three sons, why did you say you had only one?" Demanded the pundit. The rich man immediately called for his sons and gave them a task. The eldest and the youngest both said, "Father, you are forever ordering us around". Only the middle son promptly agreed to obey. "Did you see that, Oh Master?" asked the rich man. "I do have three sons, but only one of them truly listens to me." "Fine, but why did you claim that you were only ten years old?" asked the pundit. "I am over sixty," replied the rich man. "But for the last ten years, I have devoted myself to a spiritual life. I believe that it is only then since I have truly lived," replied the rich man.
Excellent answer applauded the pundit. "But you own thousands of acres of fertile land. Why did you claim to have only six feet?" "I have acquired thousands of acres of land. I did every trick in the trade to become rich, but it has only made my sons proud and arrogant. What use is all this wealth to me? When I die, the six feet of land where I will be buried is all that will truly be mine," said the rich man.
The pundit sat down to eat. As he was taking his leave: he asked the rich man, "What did you mean when you said the orchard belongs to the ones who do not sleep a wink at night?" "I do own the orchard and work hard tending to my trees, but at night, I am so tired that I fall asleep. Meanwhile the thieves, who stay awake all night, steal most of my yield. So in truth the orchard belongs to them. The ones who do not sleep a wink at night" said the rich man.
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