Paragraph Completion Exercise - VII

In each of the following questions a short passage is given with one of the lines in the passage missing and represented by a blank. Select the best answer choices given, to make the passage complete.

Paragraph 1.
The Firefox project had undergone several name changes. Originally titled Phoenix, it was renamed because of trademark issues with Phoenix Technologies. ____________________________________. In response, the Mozilla Foundation stated that the browser should always bear the name Mozilla Firebird to avoid confusion with the database software. Continuing pressure from the database server’s development community forced another change; on February 9, 2004, Mozilla Firebird became Mozilla Firefox, often referred to as simply Firefox.

(A) As of August 2011, Firefox was the second most widely used browser, with approximately 30% of worldwide usage share of web browsers.
(B) The Mozilla Foundation, after lengthy deliberations with trademark lawyers, came up with the name Firebird which had not, at that time, been trademarked.
(C) Phoenix Technologies sued the Mozilla Foundation for trademark infringement.
(D) The replacement name, Firefox, provoked an intense response from the Firefox free database software project.
Answers :
Correct Option: D
Option D fits in the context and maintains continuity in the paragraph.

Paragraph 2.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) crossed an important milestone with the successful launch of weather satellite INSAT-3DR using a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle equipped with the indigenous cryogenic upper stage. ___________________________________. That September 8 launch marks the third consecutive success; the fact that it is the first operational flight by the GSLV carrying the indigenous cryogenic upper stage is confirmation that India now belongs to the elite club of countries that have mastered the cryogenic technology.

(A) ISRO is a research and development organisation and not a production organisation, but the lack of greater industry participation has resulted in it being unable to launch more satellites in a year using the GSLV.
(B) Unlike in the case of the PSLV where industry participation is around 80 per cent, it is only about half in the case of the GSLV.
(C) The successful launch marks a departure from the long history of failures with the GSLV; except for the first, every launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), the workhorse of ISRO, has been a success.
(D) With an ability to provide double the thrust compared with the current cryogenic technology, the vehicle would be able to carry payloads up to four tonnes.
Answers :
Correct Option: C
In we read the paragraph carefully, we can observe that the first three sentences - the one preceding the blank, the one for the blank, and the one following the blank speak of three consecutive success with respect to ISRO.
Among the given choices, Option C is the best fit for the blank as it takes the discussion further and points to the second success in a row.

Paragraph 3.
Nine years is perhaps too short a time for deep wounds to heal, but it is enough time to begin to introspect. However, going by the polarised views around the anniversary of the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war, there are few signs of that. For the Tamils who gathered in Mullaitivu district in the Northern Province, it was a day to remember loved ones killed in those savage final days of the war that ended on May 18, 2009. _________________________.

(A) The two disparate narratives of trauma and triumph can never meet, and in such a context, the chances for fruitfully negotiating this hard-won peace will remain slim.
(B) Even this year, national leaders saluted the soldiers for their sacrifice, while offering nothing but silence to the civilians who were caught in the conflict.
(C) Time will only make it harder for the two communities to resolve the ethnic division that has outlived the war.
(D) The southern Sinhalese political leadership, on the other hand, makes it a point to celebrate “war heroes” around the same time, hailing their efforts to bring peace.
Answers :
Correct Option: D
The original passage talks about Sri Lanka’s civil war that ended in 2009. The second statement talks about ‘polarized views’ and hints at two different viewpoints. The third statement talks about one of the views and hence ideally, the blank should the other side of the coin.

Paragraph 4.
Each year a specific aspect of water is highlighted while observing International World Water Day; this year’s theme was “wastewater”, which is defined as any water that has been adversely affected in quality by anthropogenic influences and as a result of domestic, industrial, commercial and agricultural activities. _____________________________. Most of our freshwater sources are under threat. When public awareness of pollution is limited, the cost of pollution to our health and the ecosystem is huge. The victims are generally the poor or socially vulnerable communities, and the end result is a high financial burden on the community and government.

(A) In recent decades, population growth, accelerated urbanisation and economic development have resulted in an increase in the quantity of wastewater and the overall pollution load being generated.
(B) The opportunities for exploiting wastewater as a resource are enormous.
(C) The benefits to our health and in terms of economic development and environmental sustainability, business opportunities and ‘green’ jobs far outweigh the costs of wastewater management.
(D) Another fact is that 1.8 billion people use drinking water contaminated with faeces which increases their risk of contracting cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio.
Answers :
Correct Option: A
The following statement points to the most of our freshwater sources being under threat. And if we read the sentences given as options carefully, we can observe that the only statement that talks about the occurrences that may lead to this possible ‘threat’ is statement A.