Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questi...

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 31 to 40.

THE POLYCRISIS PHENOMENON: NAVIGATING A FRAGMENTED REALITY

The contemporary global landscape is increasingly defined by a "polycrisis," a term describing the intricate entanglement of disparate challenges that defy singular origins. [I] Unlike the ideological upheavals of the 1970s, today’s instability lacks a central taproot, leaving policymakers feeling as though they are in uncharted waters. This profound complexity has rendered the once-fanciful increasingly plausible, as events formerly deemed inconceivable now manifest as established facts. Consequently, the traditional mechanisms of crisis management appear obsolete against a backdrop of overlapping geopolitical tensions and chronic market volatility.

Optimism regarding universal solutions has largely evaporated, as the fragility of democratic institutions becomes undeniably apparent. In previous decades, proponents of neoliberalism believed that market forces could rectify any systemic imbalance; however, such confidence has been replaced by a pervasive sense of disorientation. [II] Furthermore, the staggering depletion of its global carbon budget, currently exceeding 35 billion metric tons annually, highlights the environmental precipice upon which humanity stands. The sheer scale of historical transformation is unprecedented, especially considering that the global population has doubled since the mid-twentieth century.

Despite the successful improvisation seen during past depressions, these reactive measures rarely address the subterranean trends driving current disruptions. Instead of providing a definitive resolution, successful management often inadvertently allows structural tensions to accumulate beneath the surface. This paradox suggests that our ability to mitigate immediate shocks may actually exacerbate the long-term precariousness of the global system. [III] As humanity attempts to reconcile sustainable development with contentious industrial policies, the margin for error continues to shrink.

Ultimately, the future resembles a metaphorical tightrope walk with no discernible end, characterized by a persistent state of high-stakes improvisation. The accumulation of over 12,000 nuclear weapons remains a chilling reminder of the existential risks inherent in this interconnected era. As overlapping shocks intensify, the global community must confront the reality that past fixes are insufficient for future stability. Navigating this nerve-racking trajectory requires a fundamental reassessment of how we perceive and respond to the compounding nature of modern catastrophes. [IV]

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Question 31: The phrase “uncharted waters” in paragraph 1 has the closest meaning to _________.

A. wind up                                        B. run into                                        C. venturing into                                D. fall through

Question 32: According to the passage, all of the following are characteristics of the "polycrisis" EXCEPT.

A. It originates from a singular, identifiable ideological taproot similar to the crises of the 1970s.

B. It involves an intricate entanglement of disparate global challenges that lack a central origin.

C. It has caused previously inconceivable events to be perceived as established and plausible facts.

D. It renders traditional crisis management mechanisms obsolete due to overlapping systemic shocks.

Question 33: Where in the paragraph does the following sentence best fit?

The market has consistently proven to be the most reliable tool for social engineering.

A. [I]                                                B. [II]                                                C. [III]                                                D. [IV]

Question 34: The word “its” in paragraph 2 refers to _________.

A. neoliberalism                                 B. humanity                                         C. the market                         D. social engineering

Question 35: Which of the following best summarises paragraph 3?

A. Temporary mitigation of immediate systemic shocks potentially intensifies underlying structural vulnerabilities.

B. Successful management of historical financial depressions ensures the long-term stability of global sectors.

C. Contentious industrial policies provide the definitive resolution required to attain sustainable development.

D. Reactive measures effectively eliminate subterranean disruptions by addressing the root causes of instability.

Question 36: The word “contentious” in paragraph 3 is OPPOSITE in meaning to _________.

A. disputatious                                B. acrimonious                                C. harmonious                                D. ambitious

Question 37: Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 4?

A. Historical solutions are increasingly reliable for maintaining long-term equilibrium amidst these escalating and interconnected global disturbances.

B. Current international stakeholders effectively utilize traditional frameworks to mitigate the detrimental impacts of modern and concurrent catastrophic events.

C. Escalating systemic shocks necessitate a complete reliance on established restorative protocols to ensure the continued resilience of global infrastructures.

D. Intensifying concurrent disruptions compel the world to acknowledge that legacy remedies are inadequate for ensuring enduring socioeconomic and political security.

Question 38: Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Modern instability originates from a singular ideological taproot like the 1970s.

B. Successful immediate mitigation may inadvertently intensify long-term global systemic precariousness.

C. Neoliberal proponents maintain absolute confidence that market forces rectify any imbalance.

D. Historical population growth remains a negligible factor within contemporary global transformation.

Question 39: Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. Contemporary global challenges are primarily managed through the restoration of traditional neoliberal economic frameworks.

B. The exponential growth of human populations has rendered nuclear disarmament an impossible geopolitical objective.

C. Short-term crisis stabilization might paradoxically compromise the foundational resilience of the international global system.

D. Sustainable development goals are increasingly attainable due to the consistent stability of democratic institutions.

Question 40: Which of the following best summarises the passage?

A. Persistent global instability necessitates a fundamental reassessment of reactive and inadequate crisis management frameworks.

B. Historical neoliberal economic models remain the most effective instruments for rectifying contemporary systemic imbalances.

C. Exponential population growth represents the primary catalyst for the current depletion of global resources.

D. Sustainable industrial policies provide a definitive resolution for reconciling environmental preservation with economic development.