IBPS Clerk 2016 Previous Year Question Paper

Passage

Every morning before sunrise, Bhola untied his boat and waited at the ghat for the first passengers to the market across the river. Most of them were vegetable sellers who paid him in coins, and some paid nothing at all until their goods were sold. For years Bhola kept these debts in his head. He was proud of his memory, but each season a few fares slipped away, and he could never be sure whether he had forgotten them or the passengers had.

When a young teacher began crossing the river daily, she noticed Bhola frowning over his counting. She offered to show him how to keep a simple notebook: one page for each regular passenger, a line for every crossing, and a tick when the fare was paid. Bhola laughed at first. A boatman, he said, needed strong arms, not a pencil. But he agreed to try it for one month, mainly to avoid offending her.

At the end of the month he was surprised. The notebook showed that he was owed nearly twice what he had believed, and most passengers paid at once when he showed them their pages. Nobody argued with a written line. By the end of the year Bhola had saved enough to repair his boat, and the teacher found a new pupil waiting at the ghat each evening: the boatman's daughter, who wanted to keep the notebook herself.

1. Why did Bhola laugh at the teacher's offer at first?

   1. He could not read or write
   2. He thought a boatman needed strong arms, not record-keeping
   3. He did not trust the teacher
   4. He already kept a notebook
   5. He felt the passengers would be offended
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: B (He thought a boatman needed strong arms, not record-keeping)

   Bhola said a boatman 'needed strong arms, not a pencil', showing he thought record-keeping was not part of his work.

2. What did Bhola discover at the end of the month?

   1. Most passengers had already paid him
   2. He was owed nearly twice what he had believed
   3. His memory had been accurate all along
   4. The teacher had made errors in the notebook
   5. His boat needed to be replaced
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: B (He was owed nearly twice what he had believed)

   The notebook 'showed that he was owed nearly twice what he had believed'.

3. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

   1. The teacher charged Bhola for the lessons
   2. Bhola sold his boat at the end of the year
   3. Passengers usually paid at once when shown their written pages
   4. Bhola's daughter refused to learn the notebook
   5. All passengers paid their fares before crossing
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: C (Passengers usually paid at once when shown their written pages)

   'Most passengers paid at once when he showed them their pages. Nobody argued with a written line.' The other options contradict the passage.

Cloze test

Small savings, when made regularly, can (1) ______ into a sizeable amount over time. Many families in rural areas still (2) ______ cash at home, where it earns no interest and can easily be lost. Banks have tried to (3) ______ this habit by opening accounts that need no minimum balance.

4. Choose the word that fits blank (1).

   1. grow
   2. shrink
   3. divide
   4. collapse
   5. waste
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: A (grow)

   Regular small savings 'grow into' a sizeable amount; the other words contradict the idea of accumulation.

5. Choose the word that fits blank (2).

   1. keep
   2. spend
   3. borrow
   4. lend
   5. invest
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: A (keep)

   The cash 'earns no interest and can easily be lost' at home, so families 'keep' it there.

6. Choose the word that fits blank (3).

   1. change
   2. encourage
   3. reward
   4. ignore
   5. celebrate
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: A (change)

   Banks want people to stop hoarding cash, so they try to 'change' the habit; 'encourage' or 'reward' would mean the opposite.

Error spotting

Find the part of the sentence that has an error. If there is no error, choose (E).

7. Each of the students / have submitted / the project report / before the deadline.

   1. (A) Each of the students
   2. (B) have submitted
   3. (C) the project report
   4. (D) before the deadline.
   5. (E) No error
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: B ((B) have submitted)

   'Each' is singular and takes a singular verb: 'has submitted'.

8. The bank has introduced / a new scheme / for the benefit of / the senior citizens of the town.

   1. (A) The bank has introduced
   2. (B) a new scheme
   3. (C) for the benefit of
   4. (D) the senior citizens of the town.
   5. (E) No error
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: E ((E) No error)

   The sentence is grammatically correct as written.

Simplification and approximation

Find the exact value in Q1–Q2 and the approximate value in Q3–Q4.

9. 35% of 480 + 2/5 of 365 = ?

   1. 304
   2. 310
   3. 314
   4. 318
   5. 324
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: C (314)

   35% of 480 = 168; 2/5 of 365 = 146; 168 + 146 = 314.

10. (17 × 24) − (156 ÷ 12) + 9² = ?

    1. 462
    2. 468
    3. 476
    4. 482
    5. 490
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (476)

    17 × 24 = 408; 156 ÷ 12 = 13; 9² = 81; 408 − 13 + 81 = 476.

11. 449.97 ÷ 15.02 × 7.99 ≈ ?

    1. 200
    2. 220
    3. 240
    4. 260
    5. 280
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (240)

    ≈ 450 ÷ 15 × 8 = 30 × 8 = 240.

12. √624 + 39.95% of 750.2 ≈ ?

    1. 305
    2. 315
    3. 325
    4. 335
    5. 345
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (325)

    √624 ≈ 25 and 40% of 750 = 300; 25 + 300 = 325.

Number series

What will come in place of the question mark (?)

13. 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?

    1. 40
    2. 42
    3. 44
    4. 45
    5. 48
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B (42)

    Terms are 1×2, 2×3, 3×4, 4×5, 5×6, so next = 6×7 = 42.

14. 5, 9, 25, 61, 125, ?

    1. 189
    2. 205
    3. 216
    4. 225
    5. 245
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D (225)

    Differences are 2², 4², 6², 8², 10² (4, 16, 36, 64, 100): 125 + 100 = 225.

Data interpretation

The table gives the number of scooters sold by four showrooms in January and February.

15. Total February sales of showrooms X and Z are what percent of the total January sales of all four showrooms?

    1. 55%
    2. 60%
    3. 62.5%
    4. 64%
    5. 66.67%
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (62.5%)

    X + Z in February = 135 + 165 = 300; total January = 120 + 90 + 160 + 110 = 480; 300 ÷ 480 × 100 = 62.5%.

16. By how much does the average February sales per showroom exceed the average January sales per showroom?

    1. 22.5
    2. 25
    3. 27.5
    4. 30
    5. 32.5
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (27.5)

    February total = 590, average 147.5; January total = 480, average 120; difference = 27.5.

Arithmetic

17. A and B start a business with ₹24,000 and ₹36,000. After 6 months A adds ₹12,000 more. Out of a profit of ₹26,400 at the end of the year, what is B's share?

    1. ₹12,000
    2. ₹13,200
    3. ₹14,400
    4. ₹15,840
    5. ₹16,000
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (₹14,400)

    A's capital-months = 24,000 × 6 + 36,000 × 6 = 3,60,000; B's = 36,000 × 12 = 4,32,000. Ratio 5 : 6, so B gets 26,400 × 6/11 = ₹14,400.

18. A 60-litre mixture has milk and water in the ratio 7 : 3. How many litres of water must be added to make the ratio 3 : 2?

    1. 6
    2. 8
    3. 10
    4. 12
    5. 14
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (10)

    Milk = 42 L, water = 18 L. For 42 : (18 + x) = 3 : 2, 18 + x = 28, so x = 10 L.

Puzzle 1

Five friends A, B, C, D and E visit a library on five different days from Monday to Friday, one each day. Each reads a different subject: History, Physics, Economics, Poetry and Law.

A visits on the day immediately after C. The one who reads Poetry visits on Wednesday. Only one person visits between A and the one who reads Economics. B visits on the day immediately before D. C reads Law and does not visit on Wednesday. E reads neither History nor Physics. A reads History.

19. Who visits the library on Wednesday?

    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    5. E
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: E (E)

    Arrangement: Monday: C (Law); Tuesday: A (History); Wednesday: E (Poetry); Thursday: B (Economics); Friday: D (Physics). A reads History, so A is not on Wednesday (Poetry). A is the day after C and C is not on Wednesday, so (C, A) is (Mon, Tue) or (Thu, Fri). If A is on Friday, Economics must be on Wednesday, which is the Poetry day, which is impossible. So C is Monday and A Tuesday, and Economics is Thursday. B–D are then Wed–Thu or Thu–Fri. If B is Wednesday (Poetry) and D Thursday (Economics), E on Friday would have to read Physics, which E cannot. So B is Thursday (Economics), D Friday, E Wednesday (Poetry), and D reads the remaining Physics.

20. Which subject does D read?

    1. History
    2. Physics
    3. Economics
    4. Poetry
    5. Law
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B (Physics)

    Arrangement: Monday: C (Law); Tuesday: A (History); Wednesday: E (Poetry); Thursday: B (Economics); Friday: D (Physics). D visits on Friday and is left with Physics.

21. Who reads Economics?

    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
    5. E
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B (B)

    Arrangement: Monday: C (Law); Tuesday: A (History); Wednesday: E (Poetry); Thursday: B (Economics); Friday: D (Physics). Economics falls on Thursday, which is B's day.

Puzzle 2

Five persons J, K, L, M and N sit in a straight row facing north.

N sits exactly in the middle of the row. K sits at one of the extreme ends. L sits immediately to the left of K. M is not an immediate neighbour of N.

22. Who sits second from the left end?

    1. J
    2. K
    3. L
    4. M
    5. N
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A (J)

    Order from left: M, J, N, L, K. K cannot be at the left end (no seat for L to its left), so K is at the right end with L to its left. M cannot sit next to N (seats 2 and 4), so M takes seat 1 and J seat 2.

23. Who sits between N and K?

    1. J
    2. K
    3. L
    4. M
    5. N
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (L)

    Order from left: M, J, N, L, K, so L is between N and K.

Inequality

In each question a statement is followed by two conclusions. Decide which conclusion(s) definitely follow.

24. Statement: P > Q ≥ R, R = S < T, T ≤ U Conclusions: I. P > S II. U > S

    1. Only conclusion I follows
    2. Only conclusion II follows
    3. Either I or II follows
    4. Neither I nor II follows
    5. Both I and II follow
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: E (Both I and II follow)

    P > Q ≥ R = S gives P > S. U ≥ T > S gives U > S. Both follow.

25. Statement: G ≤ H < I, I ≥ J > K Conclusions: I. H < J II. G < I

    1. Only conclusion I follows
    2. Only conclusion II follows
    3. Either I or II follows
    4. Neither I nor II follows
    5. Both I and II follow
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B (Only conclusion II follows)

    H < I and I ≥ J do not relate H and J, so I does not follow. G ≤ H < I gives G < I, so II follows.

Miscellaneous

26. In a certain code, TABLE is written as UZCKF. How is CHAIR written in that code?

    1. DGBHS
    2. DIBJS
    3. BGZHQ
    4. DGBJS
    5. DHBHS
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A (DGBHS)

    Letters are shifted +1, −1, +1, −1, +1 alternately: C→D, H→G, A→B, I→H, R→S.

27. In the series K 4 % 7 B @ M 2 # E 9 R $ 6 A & 3 how many symbols are immediately followed by a number?

    1. 1
    2. 2
    3. 3
    4. 4
    5. 5
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (3)

    % is followed by 7, $ by 6 and & by 3; @ is followed by M and # by E. So 3 symbols.

28. A is the brother of B. B is the daughter of C. D is the father of C. How is A related to D?

    1. Son
    2. Grandson
    3. Nephew
    4. Brother
    5. Son-in-law
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B (Grandson)

    B is C's daughter and A is B's brother, so A is C's son. D is C's father, so A is D's grandson.