SBI PO 2018 Previous Year Question Paper

Reading comprehension

When a city replaces a diesel bus with an electric one, the most visible change is at the kerb: the bus pulls away without a cloud of smoke and with barely a hum. The bigger changes happen out of sight. An electric bus costs much more to buy than a diesel one but far less to run, because electricity is cheaper per kilometre than fuel and an electric motor has few moving parts to wear out. Whether the switch saves money therefore depends on how many kilometres the bus covers in its working life.

That calculation has pushed several transport undertakings away from buying buses outright. Under a gross-cost contract, a private operator buys and maintains the buses and the city pays it a fixed amount for every kilometre run. The city avoids the large upfront bill, and the operator, who bears the cost of repairs, has every reason to keep the fleet on the road.

Charging is the harder problem. A bus that must return to the depot for several hours in the middle of the day is a bus that is not carrying passengers, and depots in crowded city centres rarely have room for dozens of chargers or the power connections they need. Cities that plan their routes, depots and power supply together have made the transition far more smoothly than those that treat the electric bus as a simple replacement for its diesel predecessor.

1. According to the passage, whether replacing a diesel bus with an electric one saves money depends mainly on

   1. the colour and design of the new bus
   2. how many kilometres the bus runs over its working life
   3. the number of passengers who notice the lower noise
   4. whether the city owns its own power station
   5. the price of diesel buses in other cities
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: B (how many kilometres the bus runs over its working life)

   Paragraph 1: the electric bus costs more to buy but less to run, so 'whether the switch saves money therefore depends on how many kilometres the bus covers in its working life'.

2. Which of the following is true of a gross-cost contract as described in the passage?

   1. The city buys the buses and the operator only drives them
   2. The operator is paid a share of the fares collected
   3. The city pays for all repairs to the buses
   4. The operator buys and maintains the buses and is paid a fixed amount per kilometre
   5. The operator must build charging stations in every depot
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: D (The operator buys and maintains the buses and is paid a fixed amount per kilometre)

   Paragraph 2: 'a private operator buys and maintains the buses and the city pays it a fixed amount for every kilometre run'; the operator bears the cost of repairs.

3. What is the main point of the last paragraph?

   1. Electric buses should never be charged during the day
   2. Diesel buses are easier to charge than electric buses
   3. Charging is a serious constraint, and cities that plan routes, depots and power together cope with it better
   4. City-centre depots have plenty of room for chargers
   5. Electric buses carry fewer passengers than diesel buses
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: C (Charging is a serious constraint, and cities that plan routes, depots and power together cope with it better)

   The paragraph calls charging 'the harder problem' (idle buses, cramped depots, power connections) and concludes that cities planning routes, depots and power supply together have made the transition more smoothly.

Error spotting

4. Find the part of the sentence that contains an error: If I would have known about the strike, (A) / I would have taken (B) / the earlier train (C) / to the airport. (D) / No error (E)

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

   Answer: A (A)

   In a third conditional the if-clause takes the past perfect: 'If I had known about the strike'. 'Would have' does not belong in the if-clause, so part A is wrong.

5. Find the part of the sentence that contains an error: Neither of the two proposals (A) / was found suitable, so (B) / the board asked for (C) / fresh bids from the vendors. (D) / No error (E)

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

   Answer: E (E)

   'Neither of the two proposals' is singular and correctly takes 'was'; 'asked for fresh bids' is correct. The sentence has no error.

Fill in the blank

6. Choose the word that best fills the blank: The bank's decision to waive the processing fee for flood-hit borrowers was a ______ gesture that won it much goodwill.

   1. petty
   2. hostile
   3. magnanimous
   4. miserly
   5. futile
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: C (magnanimous)

   A gesture that wins goodwill by waiving fees for people in trouble is generous: 'magnanimous'. Petty, hostile and miserly are the opposite, and 'futile' contradicts 'won it much goodwill'.

Para jumble

Rearrange the sentences into a meaningful paragraph.

A. Residents now pay a small fee for each can, which covers the cost of maintenance. B. Until last year, families in the colony bought drinking water from private tankers at high prices. C. The council then installed a purification plant with a card-operated dispenser. D. Tests had shown that the colony's groundwater was unsafe to drink without treatment. E. Since the plant opened, the tanker trade in the colony has almost disappeared.

7. Which sentence comes THIRD after rearrangement?

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

   Answer: C (C)

   The paragraph runs B-D-C-A-E: the old dependence on tankers (B), the tests showing the groundwater was unsafe (D), the council's response, introduced by 'then' (C), the fee that pays for upkeep (A), and the result (E). The background sentences B and D must come before C, so C is third.

Sentence improvement

8. Choose the option that best replaces the part in capitals; choose 'No improvement' if it is correct: The manager insisted that every employee COMPLETES the training by Friday.

   1. completed
   2. will complete
   3. has completed
   4. complete
   5. No improvement
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: D (complete)

   After verbs such as 'insist', 'demand' and 'recommend', formal English uses the base form of the verb (the subjunctive): 'insisted that every employee complete the training'.

Data interpretation (table)

The table shows the total number of students in five schools A, B, C, D and E and the percentage of girls among them. All other students are boys.

9. What is the total number of girls in the five schools together?

   1. 2826
   2. 2954
   3. 2916
   4. 2862
   5. 2788
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: D (2862)

   Girls: A 540, B 480, C 600, D 594, E 648. Total = 2862.

10. What is the ratio of the number of boys in school C to the number of girls in school E?

    1. 18 : 25
    2. 5 : 4
    3. 25 : 18
    4. 25 : 16
    5. 3 : 2
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (25 : 18)

    Boys in C = 1500 − 600 = 900; girls in E = 48% of 1350 = 648. Ratio = 900 : 648 = 25 : 18.

11. What is the average number of boys per school?

    1. 645.6
    2. 652.4
    3. 638.8
    4. 646
    5. 660
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A (645.6)

    Boys: A 660, B 480, C 900, D 486, E 702; total 3228. Average = 3228 ÷ 5 = 645.6.

12. In school B, 85% of the girls and 80% of the boys passed the annual examination. How many students of school B passed?

    1. 768
    2. 804
    3. 792
    4. 816
    5. 780
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (792)

    Girls in B = 480, boys = 480. Passed = 85% of 480 + 80% of 480 = 408 + 384 = 792.

Quantity comparison

Each question gives two quantities. Work out both and choose the correct relation between Quantity I and Quantity II.

13. Quantity I: The speed (in km/h) of a train that crosses a pole in 12 seconds and a 240 m long platform in 24 seconds. Quantity II: 75

    1. Quantity I > Quantity II
    2. Quantity I < Quantity II
    3. Quantity I ≥ Quantity II
    4. Quantity I ≤ Quantity II
    5. Quantity I = Quantity II or the relation cannot be established
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B (Quantity I < Quantity II)

    The extra 12 seconds are needed to cover the 240 m platform, so speed = 240 ÷ 12 = 20 m/s and the train is 20 × 12 = 240 m long. 20 m/s = 20 × 18/5 = 72 km/h. Quantity I = 72 < 75 = Quantity II.

14. Quantity I: The value of x, where x² − 9x + 20 = 0. Quantity II: 4

    1. Quantity I > Quantity II
    2. Quantity I < Quantity II
    3. Quantity I ≥ Quantity II
    4. Quantity I ≤ Quantity II
    5. Quantity I = Quantity II or the relation cannot be established
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (Quantity I ≥ Quantity II)

    x² − 9x + 20 = (x − 4)(x − 5) = 0, so x = 4 or 5. Both values are greater than or equal to 4, so Quantity I ≥ Quantity II.

Data sufficiency

The question is followed by two statements. Decide whether the data in the statements are sufficient to answer the question.

15. What is the two-digit number? I. The sum of its digits is 9. II. The number formed by reversing its digits is 27 more than the number.

    1. Statement I alone is sufficient, but statement II alone is not
    2. Statement II alone is sufficient, but statement I alone is not
    3. Either statement I alone or statement II alone is sufficient
    4. Both statements I and II together are needed
    5. Even statements I and II together are not sufficient
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D (Both statements I and II together are needed)

    I alone allows 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90: not unique. II: (10b + a) − (10a + b) = 9(b − a) = 27, so b − a = 3, allowing 14, 25, 36, 47, 58, 69: not unique. Together: a + b = 9 and b − a = 3 give b = 6, a = 3, so the number is 36. Both statements together are needed.

Approximation, quadratic and series

16. What approximate value should come in place of the question mark? 44.89 × 15.12 + 359.7 ÷ 12.05 = ?

    1. 690
    2. 705
    3. 745
    4. 725
    5. 680
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B (705)

    ≈ 45 × 15 + 360 ÷ 12 = 675 + 30 = 705.

17. Solve both equations and choose the correct relationship between x and y. I. x² + 9x + 18 = 0 II. y² + 3y = 0

    1. x > y
    2. x ≥ y
    3. x < y
    4. x ≤ y
    5. x = y or the relationship cannot be established
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D (x ≤ y)

    I: x = -6, -3. II: y = -3, 0. Comparing every pair of values gives: x ≤ y.

18. What should come in place of the question mark? 1, 2, 6, 15, 31, ?

    1. 57
    2. 49
    3. 55
    4. 62
    5. 56
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: E (56)

    Differences are 1², 2², 3², 4² (1, 4, 9, 16); the next difference is 5² = 25, so ? = 31 + 25 = 56.

Box stacking puzzle

Seven boxes P, Q, R, S, T, U and V are stacked one above another, position 1 being the bottom and position 7 the top. Each box has a different colour: Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Pink, White and Orange.

Only two boxes are placed above U. S is placed above P, with only two boxes between them. V is placed immediately below P. The Pink box is placed below P, with only one box between them. The Yellow box is immediately above U. Only one box is placed between the Red box and U. The Blue box is immediately below the Green box, and U is not Green. R is placed immediately above the White box, and the White box is below the Pink box. T is placed somewhere below R.

19. Which box is Red?

    1. Q
    2. S
    3. V
    4. T
    5. P
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B (S)

    U is at position 5, so the Yellow box is at 6. S is three places above P: P = 1 is impossible (V must be below P), P = 2 would put S on U, so P is 3 or 4. If P = 3, the Pink box is at 1 and the White box could not be below it; so P = 4, S = 7, V = 3 and the Pink box is at 2. The White box is below Pink, at 1, and R, immediately above White, is at 2 (Pink). T is below R, so T is at 1 (White), and Q takes 6 (Yellow). Blue is immediately below Green among V(3), P(4), U(5); U is not Green, so V is Blue and P Green. Red is two places from U, at 7 (S), and U is Orange. Top to bottom: 7: S (Red); 6: Q (Yellow); 5: U (Orange); 4: P (Green); 3: V (Blue); 2: R (Pink); 1: T (White).

20. How many boxes are placed between Q and R?

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

    Answer: A (3)

    U is at position 5, so the Yellow box is at 6. S is three places above P: P = 1 is impossible (V must be below P), P = 2 would put S on U, so P is 3 or 4. If P = 3, the Pink box is at 1 and the White box could not be below it; so P = 4, S = 7, V = 3 and the Pink box is at 2. The White box is below Pink, at 1, and R, immediately above White, is at 2 (Pink). T is below R, so T is at 1 (White), and Q takes 6 (Yellow). Blue is immediately below Green among V(3), P(4), U(5); U is not Green, so V is Blue and P Green. Red is two places from U, at 7 (S), and U is Orange. Top to bottom: 7: S (Red); 6: Q (Yellow); 5: U (Orange); 4: P (Green); 3: V (Blue); 2: R (Pink); 1: T (White). Q is at 6 and R at 2, so 3 boxes lie between them.

21. What is the colour of the box placed immediately below U?

    1. Blue
    2. Orange
    3. Yellow
    4. Green
    5. White
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D (Green)

    U is at position 5, so the Yellow box is at 6. S is three places above P: P = 1 is impossible (V must be below P), P = 2 would put S on U, so P is 3 or 4. If P = 3, the Pink box is at 1 and the White box could not be below it; so P = 4, S = 7, V = 3 and the Pink box is at 2. The White box is below Pink, at 1, and R, immediately above White, is at 2 (Pink). T is below R, so T is at 1 (White), and Q takes 6 (Yellow). Blue is immediately below Green among V(3), P(4), U(5); U is not Green, so V is Blue and P Green. Red is two places from U, at 7 (S), and U is Orange. Top to bottom: 7: S (Red); 6: Q (Yellow); 5: U (Orange); 4: P (Green); 3: V (Blue); 2: R (Pink); 1: T (White). Immediately below U (5) is P (4), which is Green.

22. Which box is placed immediately above the Pink box?

    1. T
    2. P
    3. U
    4. Q
    5. V
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: E (V)

    U is at position 5, so the Yellow box is at 6. S is three places above P: P = 1 is impossible (V must be below P), P = 2 would put S on U, so P is 3 or 4. If P = 3, the Pink box is at 1 and the White box could not be below it; so P = 4, S = 7, V = 3 and the Pink box is at 2. The White box is below Pink, at 1, and R, immediately above White, is at 2 (Pink). T is below R, so T is at 1 (White), and Q takes 6 (Yellow). Blue is immediately below Green among V(3), P(4), U(5); U is not Green, so V is Blue and P Green. Red is two places from U, at 7 (S), and U is Orange. Top to bottom: 7: S (Red); 6: Q (Yellow); 5: U (Orange); 4: P (Green); 3: V (Blue); 2: R (Pink); 1: T (White). The Pink box is R at 2; immediately above it, at 3, is V.

Syllogism

23. Statements: All cars are buses. Some buses are trains. Conclusions: I. Some cars are trains. II. No cars are trains. Decide which conclusion(s) logically follow from the statements, disregarding commonly known facts.

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

    Answer: C (Either conclusion I or II follows)

    All cars are buses, and only some buses are trains; those trains may or may not overlap with cars. Neither conclusion is certain, but I and II form a complementary pair (Some / No) about cars and trains, so one of them must be true. Answer: Either conclusion I or II follows.

24. Statements: Some trams are trains. No trains are cars. All cars are buses. Conclusions: I. Some trams are not cars. II. Some buses are trains. Decide which conclusion(s) logically follow from the statements, disregarding commonly known facts.

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

    Answer: A (Only conclusion I follows)

    The trams that are trains cannot be cars (no train is a car), so some trams are not cars: I follows. Cars are inside buses, but trains are only kept away from cars, so the buses outside cars may or may not be trains: II does not follow. Answer: Only conclusion I follows.

Inequality

25. Statements: J > K ≤ L, L = M > N. Conclusions: I. J > N II. K < M. Which conclusion(s) is/are definitely true?

    1. Only conclusion I is true
    2. Only conclusion II is true
    3. Either conclusion I or II is true
    4. Neither conclusion I nor II is true
    5. Both conclusions I and II are true
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D (Neither conclusion I nor II is true)

    J > K and N < M with K ≤ L = M give no link between J and N, so I is not definite. K ≤ L = M gives K ≤ M, so K could equal M and II is not definite. Answer: Neither conclusion I nor II is true.

26. Statements: F ≥ G > H, H = I ≥ W. Conclusions: I. F > W II. G > I. Which conclusion(s) is/are definitely true?

    1. Only conclusion I is true
    2. Only conclusion II is true
    3. Either conclusion I or II is true
    4. Neither conclusion I nor II is true
    5. Both conclusions I and II are true
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: E (Both conclusions I and II are true)

    F ≥ G > H = I ≥ W gives F > W (I true) and G > H = I gives G > I (II true). Answer: Both conclusions I and II are true.

Direction sense and letter pairs

27. Point A is 12 m to the west of point B. Point C is 5 m to the north of B, and point D is 4 m to the south of A. What is the distance between C and D, and in which direction is C from D?

    1. 13 m, north-east
    2. 15 m, north-west
    3. 17 m, north-east
    4. 15 m, north-east
    5. 15 m, south-east
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D (15 m, north-east)

    Take B as (0, 0): A = (−12, 0), C = (0, 5), D = (−12, −4). C is 12 m east and 9 m north of D. Distance = √(12² + 9²) = √225 = 15 m, direction north-east.

28. How many pairs of letters in the word 'MONITOR' have as many letters between them in the word as in the English alphabet (in either direction)?

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

    Answer: C (3)

    M O N I T O R: O and N are adjacent in the word and in the alphabet; N and R have three letters between them in both (I, T, O in the word; O, P, Q in the alphabet); T and R have one letter between them in both (O in the word; S in the alphabet). No other pair matches, so there are 3 such pairs.