Indian Overseas Bank PO 2009 Solved Question Paper

Indian Overseas Bank PO 2009 Solved Question Paper
General Awareness

1. As we all know rise of the ‘BRICs’ has left a vast impact on almost all aspects of the global economy. However, which of the following cannot be called as the direct effect(s) of ‘Rise of the BRICs’ on global/other powerful economy/economies ?
1. Countries like China wish to learn more about outsourcing from India.
2. It has made countries to suffer from Sub-prime Crisis.
3. EURO has become a powerful currency and many non-Euro countries are in ‘Swap Agreement’ with various nations.

(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
(E) None of these

2. As per the reports published in the newspapers/journals how much amount the Govt. of India is planning to infuse in Public Sector Banks to make them competitive and strong globally ?
About—
(A) Rs. 10,000 crore
(B) Rs. 15,000 crore
(C) Rs. 20,000 crore
(D) Rs. 25,000 crore
(E) Rs. 30,000 crore

3. What is the maximum stake the Govt. of India has in any public sector bank at present ?
(A) 40%
(B) 49%
(C) 50%
(D) 64%
(E) 74%

4. Which of the following is not a major highlight of the Union Budget 2008-09 ?
1. A target of Rs. 2•80 lakhs crore is fixed for providing credit to agriculture sector.
2. Limit of the Banking Cash Transaction Tax is raised from present 1% to 1•5%.
3. PAN requirement is not mandatory for financial transactions. Other Ids are also acceptable.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Only 3
(D) Both 2 and 3
(E) All 1, 2 and 3

5. As per the news in major financial newspapers a ‘Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana’ is launched in Delhi and Haryana States for members of unorganized sectors. Under the scheme each family is likely to get the benefit of Rs.………
(A) 15,000
(B) 20,000
(C) 25,000
(D) 30,000
(E) 50,000

Indian Overseas Bank P.O. Exam. Solved Paper 2009

Indian Overseas Bank P.O. Exam., 2009
(Held on 5-4-2009)
English Language : Solved Paper

Directions—(Q. 1–15) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it.
Certain words have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the
questions.
Goldman Sachs predicted that crude oil price would hit $200 and just as it appeared that alternative
renewable energy had a chance of becoming an economically viable option, the international price of
oil fell by over 70%. After hitting the all-time high of $147 a barrel, a month ago, crude oil fell to less
than $40 a barrel. What explains this sharp decline in the international price of oil? There has not been
any major new discovery of a hitherto unknown source of oil or gas. The short answer is that the
demand does not have to fall by a very sizeable quantity for the price of crude to respond as it did. In
the short run, the price elasticity of demand for crude oil is very low. Conversely, in the short run, even
a relatively big change in the price of oil does not immediately lower consumption. It takes months, or
years, of high oil price to inculcate habits of energy conservation. World crude oil price had remained
at over $60 a barrel for most of 2005-2007 without making any major dent in demand.
The long answer is more complex. The economic slowdown in the US, Europe and Asia along with
dollar depreciation and commodity speculation have all had some role in the downward descent in the
international price of oil. In recent years, the supply of oil has been rising but not enough to catch up
with the rising demand, resulting in an almost vertical escalation in its price. The number of crude oil
futures and options contracts have also increased manifold which has led to significant speculation in
the oil market. In comparison, the role of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
in fixing crude price has considerably weakened. OPEC is often accused of operating as a cartel
restricting output thus keeping prices artificially high. It did succeed in setting the price of crude during
the 1970s and the first half of the 80s. But, with increased futures trading and contracts, the control of
crude pricing has moved from OPEC to banks and markets that deal with futures trading and contracts.
It is true that most oil exporting regions of the world have remained politically unstable fuelling
speculation over the price of crude. But there is little evidence that the geopolitical uncertainties in west
Asia have improved to weaken the price of oil. Threatened by the downward slide of oil price, OPEC
has, in fact, announced its decision to curtail output.
However most oil importers will heave a sigh of relief as they find their oil import bills decline except
for those who bought options to import oil at prices higher than market prices. Exporting nations, on
the other hand, will see their economic prosperity slip. Relatively low price of crude is also bad news
for investments in alternative renewable energy that cannot compete with cheaper and non-renewable
sources of energy.
1. Why are oil importing countries relieved ?
(A) Price of crude reached $ 147 not $ 200 as was predicted
(B) Discovery of oil reserves within their own territories
(C) Demand for crude has fallen sharply
(D) There is no need for them to invest huge amounts of money in alternative sources of energy
(E) None of these
Ans : (E)

INDIAN OVERSEAS BANK PO EXAM 2009

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) Probationary Officers P.O. Exam 2009
(Held on 5-4-2009)
General English : Solved Paper 

Directions—(Q. 1–15) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

Goldman Sachs predicted that crude oil price would hit $200 and just as it appeared that alternative renewable energy had a chance of becoming an economically viable option, the international price of oil fell by over 70%. After hitting the all-time high of $147 a barrel, a month ago, crude oil fell to less than $40 a barrel. What explains this sharp decline in the international price of oil?