SBI PO 2019 Previous Year Question Paper

Reading comprehension

An old mobile phone lying in a drawer looks like rubbish, but it holds small amounts of gold, silver, copper and palladium, along with plastics and a battery that can catch fire if crushed. Most discarded electronics in India are handled not by formal recyclers but by an informal network of collectors and small workshops. This network is remarkably good at gathering waste: a collector will buy a dead laptop from a household for a few hundred rupees, something formal recyclers, who depend on occasional bulk collection drives, rarely manage.

The weakness of the informal chain lies in what happens next. To recover copper, workers often burn cables in the open; to recover gold, they soak circuit boards in acid in rooms without ventilation. A large share of the metal is lost in the process, and the fumes and waste water damage the health of the workers and their neighbours.

Rules that make producers responsible for collecting a share of the devices they sell were meant to shift waste towards formal recyclers. Progress has been slow, partly because formal recyclers cannot match the reach of the informal collectors. Some experts therefore argue for linking the two: letting informal collectors continue to gather waste, but paying them to deliver it to authorised units for safe processing.

1. What, according to the passage, is the main strength of the informal e-waste network?

   1. It recovers almost all the metal in each device
   2. It processes waste safely in ventilated workshops
   3. It reaches individual households and collects waste efficiently
   4. It is funded by electronics producers
   5. It runs bulk collection drives every month
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: C (It reaches individual households and collects waste efficiently)

   Paragraph 1: the network is 'remarkably good at gathering waste', buying a dead laptop directly from a household, which formal recyclers relying on bulk drives rarely manage.

2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as a problem of informal processing?

   1. Burning cables in the open
   2. Soaking circuit boards in acid without ventilation
   3. Losing a large share of the metal
   4. Harm to the health of workers and neighbours
   5. Employing children in the workshops
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: E (Employing children in the workshops)

   Paragraph 2 mentions open burning of cables, acid baths in unventilated rooms, loss of much of the metal, and damage to the health of workers and neighbours. Child labour is not mentioned.

3. What do some experts propose, according to the last paragraph?

   1. Banning informal collectors altogether
   2. Letting informal collectors keep gathering waste but paying them to hand it to authorised recyclers
   3. Making households deliver their e-waste directly to producers
   4. Scrapping the rules on producer responsibility
   5. Allowing informal workshops to process waste without supervision
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: B (Letting informal collectors keep gathering waste but paying them to hand it to authorised recyclers)

   The last sentence: experts argue for 'letting informal collectors continue to gather waste, but paying them to deliver it to authorised units for safe processing'.

Phrase replacement

Choose the option that should replace the part in capitals to make the sentence correct. If no change is needed, choose 'No replacement required'.

4. The new branch head is strict and does not tolerate SLOPPY WORKS from anyone on her team.

   1. a sloppy works
   2. sloppy worked
   3. sloppy work
   4. sloppiest works
   5. No replacement required
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: C (sloppy work)

   'Work' in the sense of effort or output is uncountable, so it takes no plural '-s' and no 'a': 'does not tolerate sloppy work'.

5. She is one of those officers who HAS NEVER MISSED a deadline.

   1. has never been missed
   2. never missing
   3. had never been missing
   4. No replacement required
   5. have never missed
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: E (have never missed)

   The relative pronoun 'who' refers to 'those officers' (plural), not to 'one', so the verb must be plural: 'who have never missed a deadline'.

Sentence connector

6. Choose the word that can begin a single sentence combining the two sentences without changing their meaning. (i) The branch extended its working hours. (ii) Queues at the counters remained long.

   1. Because
   2. Therefore
   3. Although
   4. Since
   5. So that
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: C (Although)

   The second fact happens despite the first, so a concessive connector is needed: 'Although the branch extended its working hours, queues at the counters remained long.' Because, since and therefore imply cause; 'so that' implies purpose.

Error identification

7. Find the part of the sentence that contains an error: The children were (A) / so excited that they (B) / could not hardly sleep (C) / on the night before the trip. (D) / No error (E)

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

   Answer: C (C)

   'Hardly' is already negative, so 'could not hardly' is a double negative. Part C should read 'could hardly sleep'.

Fill in the blank

8. Choose the word that best fills the blank: The speaker's argument was so ______ that even the sceptics in the audience were won over.

   1. feeble
   2. tedious
   3. incoherent
   4. evasive
   5. cogent
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: E (cogent)

   An argument that convinces even sceptics must be strong and clear: 'cogent'. Feeble, tedious, incoherent and evasive would not win them over.

Data interpretation (table)

The table shows the monthly income of five employees and the percentages of that income they spend on rent and on food. Each saves the rest of the income.

9. What is the total monthly rent paid by the five employees together?

   1. ₹62400
   2. ₹60900
   3. ₹61800
   4. ₹58800
   5. ₹59400
   Answer and explanation

   Answer: B (₹60900)

   Rent: Arora 12000, Bose 10800, Das 12000, Gill 12600, Iyer 13500. Total = ₹60900.

10. What is the ratio of the monthly amount Bose spends on food to the amount Iyer spends on food?

    1. 9 : 5
    2. 5 : 6
    3. 2 : 3
    4. 5 : 9
    5. 3 : 5
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D (5 : 9)

    Bose: 25% of 36000 = 9000; Iyer: 30% of 54000 = 16200. Ratio = 9000 : 16200 = 5 : 9.

11. Iyer's monthly savings are what percentage more than Bose's monthly savings?

    1. 55%
    2. 40%
    3. 60%
    4. 45%
    5. 50%
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: E (50%)

    Savings = income − rent − food. Iyer: 54000 × 45% = 24300; Bose: 36000 × 45% = 16200. Excess = 8100, which is 50% of 16200.

12. What are the average monthly savings of the five employees?

    1. ₹25140
    2. ₹25620
    3. ₹24980
    4. ₹25380
    5. ₹26100
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D (₹25380)

    Savings: Arora 26400, Bose 16200, Das 39000, Gill 21000, Iyer 24300; total ₹126900. Average = 126900 ÷ 5 = ₹25380.

Arithmetic word problems

13. The difference between the compound interest (compounded annually) and the simple interest on a sum for 2 years at 8% per annum is ₹96. What is the sum?

    1. ₹15000
    2. ₹18000
    3. ₹14400
    4. ₹16000
    5. ₹12000
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A (₹15000)

    For 2 years, CI − SI = P × (r/100)² = P × 0.0064. So P = 96 ÷ 0.0064 = ₹15000.

14. The ages of Pooja and Qadir are in the ratio 5 : 7. After 6 years the ratio will be 7 : 9. What is Qadir's present age?

    1. 18 years
    2. 24 years
    3. 21 years
    4. 28 years
    5. 35 years
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (21 years)

    Let the ages be 5x and 7x. (5x + 6) : (7x + 6) = 7 : 9 gives 45x + 54 = 49x + 42, so x = 3. Qadir is 7 × 3 = 21 years old.

15. Pipe A can fill a tank in 20 hours and pipe B in 30 hours, while pipe C can empty the full tank in 60 hours. If all three are opened together on an empty tank, in how many hours will it be filled?

    1. 20 hours
    2. 18 hours
    3. 12 hours
    4. 16 hours
    5. 15 hours
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: E (15 hours)

    Net rate = 1/20 + 1/30 − 1/60 = (3 + 2 − 1)/60 = 1/15 of the tank per hour, so the tank fills in 15 hours.

Quadratic, series and approximation

16. Solve both equations and choose the correct relationship between x and y. I. x² − 21x + 110 = 0 II. y² − 19y + 90 = 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: B (x ≥ y)

    I: x = 10, 11. II: y = 9, 10. Comparing every pair of values gives: x ≥ y.

17. What should come in place of the question mark? 4, 6, 15, 49, 201, ?

    1. 1005
    2. 1010
    3. 1206
    4. 1011
    5. 1006
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D (1011)

    Rule: ×1 + 2, ×2 + 3, ×3 + 4, ×4 + 5, so the next step is ×5 + 6: ? = 201 × 5 + 6 = 1011.

18. What approximate value should come in place of the question mark? (√624 + 11.98) × 3.02 = ?

    1. 111
    2. 105
    3. 117
    4. 99
    5. 123
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A (111)

    √624 ≈ 25, 11.98 ≈ 12, 3.02 ≈ 3: (25 + 12) × 3 = 111.

Puzzle: years of birth

Seven persons Anil, Bela, Chitra, Dinesh, Ekta, Farhan and Gauri were born in different years: 1958, 1963, 1969, 1974, 1981, 1987 and 1995. All ages are to be calculated as on the same date in 2019, the reference year, and the date of birth is the same day and month for everyone.

The difference between the ages of Anil and Farhan is 18 years, Anil being the older. Gauri was born in an odd-numbered year, after Anil. Only two persons are older than Gauri. The sum of the ages of Chitra and Dinesh is 56 years, and Chitra is older than Dinesh. Bela's age is a multiple of 9.

19. Who is the oldest of the seven?

    1. Anil
    2. Bela
    3. Gauri
    4. Ekta
    5. Farhan
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D (Ekta)

    Ages in 2019 for the seven years are 61, 56, 50, 45, 38, 32 and 24. Only two persons are older than Gauri, so Gauri is third oldest: 1969 (an odd year, age 50). Anil is older than Gauri, and the only pairs 18 years apart are 56/38 and 50/32; 50 is Gauri's, so Anil is 56 (1963) and Farhan 38 (1981). From the remaining ages 61, 45, 32 and 24, only 32 + 24 = 56, so Chitra (older) is 32 (1987) and Dinesh 24 (1995). Of 61 and 45, only 45 is a multiple of 9, so Bela was born in 1974 and Ekta in 1958. Oldest to youngest: Ekta 1958 (age 61); Anil 1963 (age 56); Gauri 1969 (age 50); Bela 1974 (age 45); Farhan 1981 (age 38); Chitra 1987 (age 32); Dinesh 1995 (age 24).

20. What was Farhan's age in 2019?

    1. 36 years
    2. 38 years
    3. 45 years
    4. 40 years
    5. 32 years
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B (38 years)

    Ages in 2019 for the seven years are 61, 56, 50, 45, 38, 32 and 24. Only two persons are older than Gauri, so Gauri is third oldest: 1969 (an odd year, age 50). Anil is older than Gauri, and the only pairs 18 years apart are 56/38 and 50/32; 50 is Gauri's, so Anil is 56 (1963) and Farhan 38 (1981). From the remaining ages 61, 45, 32 and 24, only 32 + 24 = 56, so Chitra (older) is 32 (1987) and Dinesh 24 (1995). Of 61 and 45, only 45 is a multiple of 9, so Bela was born in 1974 and Ekta in 1958. Oldest to youngest: Ekta 1958 (age 61); Anil 1963 (age 56); Gauri 1969 (age 50); Bela 1974 (age 45); Farhan 1981 (age 38); Chitra 1987 (age 32); Dinesh 1995 (age 24). Farhan: 2019 − 1981 = 38.

21. How many persons are younger than Bela?

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

    Answer: E (3)

    Ages in 2019 for the seven years are 61, 56, 50, 45, 38, 32 and 24. Only two persons are older than Gauri, so Gauri is third oldest: 1969 (an odd year, age 50). Anil is older than Gauri, and the only pairs 18 years apart are 56/38 and 50/32; 50 is Gauri's, so Anil is 56 (1963) and Farhan 38 (1981). From the remaining ages 61, 45, 32 and 24, only 32 + 24 = 56, so Chitra (older) is 32 (1987) and Dinesh 24 (1995). Of 61 and 45, only 45 is a multiple of 9, so Bela was born in 1974 and Ekta in 1958. Oldest to youngest: Ekta 1958 (age 61); Anil 1963 (age 56); Gauri 1969 (age 50); Bela 1974 (age 45); Farhan 1981 (age 38); Chitra 1987 (age 32); Dinesh 1995 (age 24). Farhan, Chitra and Dinesh were born after 1974: 3 persons.

22. What is the sum of the ages of Anil and Gauri in 2019?

    1. 110 years
    2. 112 years
    3. 106 years
    4. 101 years
    5. 94 years
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C (106 years)

    Ages in 2019 for the seven years are 61, 56, 50, 45, 38, 32 and 24. Only two persons are older than Gauri, so Gauri is third oldest: 1969 (an odd year, age 50). Anil is older than Gauri, and the only pairs 18 years apart are 56/38 and 50/32; 50 is Gauri's, so Anil is 56 (1963) and Farhan 38 (1981). From the remaining ages 61, 45, 32 and 24, only 32 + 24 = 56, so Chitra (older) is 32 (1987) and Dinesh 24 (1995). Of 61 and 45, only 45 is a multiple of 9, so Bela was born in 1974 and Ekta in 1958. Oldest to youngest: Ekta 1958 (age 61); Anil 1963 (age 56); Gauri 1969 (age 50); Bela 1974 (age 45); Farhan 1981 (age 38); Chitra 1987 (age 32); Dinesh 1995 (age 24). Anil 56 + Gauri 50 = 106 years.

Syllogism

23. Statements: Some phones are tablets. All tablets are laptops. Conclusions: I. All phones are laptops. II. Some laptops are phones. 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: B (Only conclusion II follows)

    Only some phones are tablets, so other phones may lie outside laptops: I does not follow. The phones that are tablets are laptops, so some laptops are phones: II follows. Answer: Only conclusion II follows.

24. Statements: No laptops are monitors. Some monitors are printers. Conclusions: I. Some printers are not laptops. II. All printers being laptops is a possibility. 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 printers that are monitors cannot be laptops, so some printers are not laptops: I follows. For the same reason it is impossible for all printers to be laptops, so II does not follow. Answer: Only conclusion I follows.

Inequality

25. Statements: R < S ≥ T, T > U ≤ V. Conclusions: I. S > V II. S > U. 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: B (Only conclusion II is true)

    S ≥ T > U and V ≥ U give no link between S and V, so I is not definite. S ≥ T > U gives S > U, so II is true. Answer: Only conclusion II is true.

26. Statements: K ≤ L = M, M ≤ N. Conclusions: I. K < N II. K = N. 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: C (Either conclusion I or II is true)

    K ≤ L = M ≤ N gives K ≤ N, so K is either less than or equal to N: one of I and II must be true, though neither is certain on its own. Answer: Either conclusion I or II is true.

Coded relations and letter order

27. In a certain code, 'P × Q' means P is the mother of Q, 'P + Q' means P is the brother of Q, and 'P − Q' means P is the husband of Q. If 'J + K × L − M', how is J related to L?

    1. Father
    2. Brother
    3. Cousin
    4. Uncle
    5. Grandfather
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D (Uncle)

    J + K: J is K's brother. K × L: K is L's mother. So J is the brother of L's mother, i.e. L's maternal uncle. (L − M only tells us L is M's husband.)

28. If the letters of the word 'PLANET' are rearranged in alphabetical order, how many letters will remain in the same position?

    1. 2
    2. 1
    3. 3
    4. 0
    5. 4
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A (2)

    Alphabetical order: AELNPT. Comparing P-L-A-N-E-T with A-E-L-N-P-T position by position, only N (4th) and T (6th) stay in place: 2 letters.