Practice IBPS Clerk 2025 Prelims Question Paper – 4 Oct 2025 Shift 3 (Memory-Based, with Solutions)

Read the following passage and answer the given questions.

Colonel Arvind Mehta had spent thirty-two years commanding men across mountain passes and desert frontiers before the sea claimed his imagination entirely. Retirement, rather than slowing him down, had redirected his disciplined energy toward an altogether different kind of mission. Within a year of hanging up his uniform, he had enrolled in an advanced oceanography programme at a coastal research institute, driven by a conviction that the world _________________ the ocean surface remained one of the last genuinely unexplored frontiers available to a curious and determined mind. It was during this programme that he met Dr. Samuel Okafor, a Nigerian marine scientist with a quiet brilliance and an infectious enthusiasm for deep-sea ecosystems. The two men, separated by decades of different life experiences yet united by a shared obsession with the unknown, formed an unlikely but highly effective partnership. Their friendship deepened over shared meals, late-night research discussions, and a mutual frustration with how little attention policymakers paid to the health of the world's oceans.

Together, they designed an ambitious experiment aimed at studying bioluminescent organisms living at extreme ocean depths — creatures that produce their own light in an environment where sunlight never reaches. Securing funding and institutional support took two exhausting years, but Colonel Mehta's persistence, sharpened by decades of military planning, eventually prevailed. The duo boarded a specialised marine research vessel equipped with remotely operated underwater vehicles and a pressure-resistant sampling chamber capable of descending four thousand metres below the surface. The experiment was designed to enable scientists to collect living bioluminescent specimens without exposing them to pressure changes that would destroy their cellular structure — a technical challenge that had defeated previous research attempts. Critically, the team was determined not to exploit the fragile deep-sea environment beyond what minimal scientific sampling required, embedding strict ecological protocols into every stage of their methodology.

Three weeks into the voyage, their equipment captured footage of an entirely unknown species glowing in absolute darkness — a discovery that would eventually appear in one of the world's most respected marine science journals and remind both men why curiosity, at any age, remains worth following.

What does the passage suggest about Colonel Arvind Mehta's transition from military life to oceanography?

Read the following passage and answer the given questions.

Colonel Arvind Mehta had spent thirty-two years commanding men across mountain passes and desert frontiers before the sea claimed his imagination entirely. Retirement, rather than slowing him down, had redirected his disciplined energy toward an altogether different kind of mission. Within a year of hanging up his uniform, he had enrolled in an advanced oceanography programme at a coastal research institute, driven by a conviction that the world _________________ the ocean surface remained one of the last genuinely unexplored frontiers available to a curious and determined mind. It was during this programme that he met Dr. Samuel Okafor, a Nigerian marine scientist with a quiet brilliance and an infectious enthusiasm for deep-sea ecosystems. The two men, separated by decades of different life experiences yet united by a shared obsession with the unknown, formed an unlikely but highly effective partnership. Their friendship deepened over shared meals, late-night research discussions, and a mutual frustration with how little attention policymakers paid to the health of the world's oceans.

Together, they designed an ambitious experiment aimed at studying bioluminescent organisms living at extreme ocean depths — creatures that produce their own light in an environment where sunlight never reaches. Securing funding and institutional support took two exhausting years, but Colonel Mehta's persistence, sharpened by decades of military planning, eventually prevailed. The duo boarded a specialised marine research vessel equipped with remotely operated underwater vehicles and a pressure-resistant sampling chamber capable of descending four thousand metres below the surface. The experiment was designed to enable scientists to collect living bioluminescent specimens without exposing them to pressure changes that would destroy their cellular structure — a technical challenge that had defeated previous research attempts. Critically, the team was determined not to exploit the fragile deep-sea environment beyond what minimal scientific sampling required, embedding strict ecological protocols into every stage of their methodology.

Three weeks into the voyage, their equipment captured footage of an entirely unknown species glowing in absolute darkness — a discovery that would eventually appear in one of the world's most respected marine science journals and remind both men why curiosity, at any age, remains worth following.

According to the passage, what made the experiment designed by Colonel Mehta and Dr. Okafor particularly challenging?

Read the following passage and answer the given questions.

Colonel Arvind Mehta had spent thirty-two years commanding men across mountain passes and desert frontiers before the sea claimed his imagination entirely. Retirement, rather than slowing him down, had redirected his disciplined energy toward an altogether different kind of mission. Within a year of hanging up his uniform, he had enrolled in an advanced oceanography programme at a coastal research institute, driven by a conviction that the world _________________ the ocean surface remained one of the last genuinely unexplored frontiers available to a curious and determined mind. It was during this programme that he met Dr. Samuel Okafor, a Nigerian marine scientist with a quiet brilliance and an infectious enthusiasm for deep-sea ecosystems. The two men, separated by decades of different life experiences yet united by a shared obsession with the unknown, formed an unlikely but highly effective partnership. Their friendship deepened over shared meals, late-night research discussions, and a mutual frustration with how little attention policymakers paid to the health of the world's oceans.

Together, they designed an ambitious experiment aimed at studying bioluminescent organisms living at extreme ocean depths — creatures that produce their own light in an environment where sunlight never reaches. Securing funding and institutional support took two exhausting years, but Colonel Mehta's persistence, sharpened by decades of military planning, eventually prevailed. The duo boarded a specialised marine research vessel equipped with remotely operated underwater vehicles and a pressure-resistant sampling chamber capable of descending four thousand metres below the surface. The experiment was designed to enable scientists to collect living bioluminescent specimens without exposing them to pressure changes that would destroy their cellular structure — a technical challenge that had defeated previous research attempts. Critically, the team was determined not to exploit the fragile deep-sea environment beyond what minimal scientific sampling required, embedding strict ecological protocols into every stage of their methodology.

Three weeks into the voyage, their equipment captured footage of an entirely unknown species glowing in absolute darkness — a discovery that would eventually appear in one of the world's most respected marine science journals and remind both men why curiosity, at any age, remains worth following.

Which of the following statements is/are correct according to the passage?

(I) Colonel Mehta and Dr. Okafor shared a mutual frustration about inadequate policymaker attention toward ocean health.

(II) The research vessel was equipped with a sampling chamber capable of descending four thousand metres below the surface.

(III) The discovered species had previously been documented in marine science journals before their voyage began.

Read the following passage and answer the given questions.

Colonel Arvind Mehta had spent thirty-two years commanding men across mountain passes and desert frontiers before the sea claimed his imagination entirely. Retirement, rather than slowing him down, had redirected his disciplined energy toward an altogether different kind of mission. Within a year of hanging up his uniform, he had enrolled in an advanced oceanography programme at a coastal research institute, driven by a conviction that the world _________________ the ocean surface remained one of the last genuinely unexplored frontiers available to a curious and determined mind. It was during this programme that he met Dr. Samuel Okafor, a Nigerian marine scientist with a quiet brilliance and an infectious enthusiasm for deep-sea ecosystems. The two men, separated by decades of different life experiences yet united by a shared obsession with the unknown, formed an unlikely but highly effective partnership. Their friendship deepened over shared meals, late-night research discussions, and a mutual frustration with how little attention policymakers paid to the health of the world's oceans.

Together, they designed an ambitious experiment aimed at studying bioluminescent organisms living at extreme ocean depths — creatures that produce their own light in an environment where sunlight never reaches. Securing funding and institutional support took two exhausting years, but Colonel Mehta's persistence, sharpened by decades of military planning, eventually prevailed. The duo boarded a specialised marine research vessel equipped with remotely operated underwater vehicles and a pressure-resistant sampling chamber capable of descending four thousand metres below the surface. The experiment was designed to enable scientists to collect living bioluminescent specimens without exposing them to pressure changes that would destroy their cellular structure — a technical challenge that had defeated previous research attempts. Critically, the team was determined not to exploit the fragile deep-sea environment beyond what minimal scientific sampling required, embedding strict ecological protocols into every stage of their methodology.

Three weeks into the voyage, their equipment captured footage of an entirely unknown species glowing in absolute darkness — a discovery that would eventually appear in one of the world's most respected marine science journals and remind both men why curiosity, at any age, remains worth following.

Choose the most appropriate word to fill in the blank given in the passage.

Read the following passage and answer the given questions.

Colonel Arvind Mehta had spent thirty-two years commanding men across mountain passes and desert frontiers before the sea claimed his imagination entirely. Retirement, rather than slowing him down, had redirected his disciplined energy toward an altogether different kind of mission. Within a year of hanging up his uniform, he had enrolled in an advanced oceanography programme at a coastal research institute, driven by a conviction that the world _________________ the ocean surface remained one of the last genuinely unexplored frontiers available to a curious and determined mind. It was during this programme that he met Dr. Samuel Okafor, a Nigerian marine scientist with a quiet brilliance and an infectious enthusiasm for deep-sea ecosystems. The two men, separated by decades of different life experiences yet united by a shared obsession with the unknown, formed an unlikely but highly effective partnership. Their friendship deepened over shared meals, late-night research discussions, and a mutual frustration with how little attention policymakers paid to the health of the world's oceans.

Together, they designed an ambitious experiment aimed at studying bioluminescent organisms living at extreme ocean depths — creatures that produce their own light in an environment where sunlight never reaches. Securing funding and institutional support took two exhausting years, but Colonel Mehta's persistence, sharpened by decades of military planning, eventually prevailed. The duo boarded a specialised marine research vessel equipped with remotely operated underwater vehicles and a pressure-resistant sampling chamber capable of descending four thousand metres below the surface. The experiment was designed to enable scientists to collect living bioluminescent specimens without exposing them to pressure changes that would destroy their cellular structure — a technical challenge that had defeated previous research attempts. Critically, the team was determined not to exploit the fragile deep-sea environment beyond what minimal scientific sampling required, embedding strict ecological protocols into every stage of their methodology.

Three weeks into the voyage, their equipment captured footage of an entirely unknown species glowing in absolute darkness — a discovery that would eventually appear in one of the world's most respected marine science journals and remind both men why curiosity, at any age, remains worth following.

Choose the word most similar in meaning to "highly" as used in the passage.

Read the following passage and answer the given questions.

Colonel Arvind Mehta had spent thirty-two years commanding men across mountain passes and desert frontiers before the sea claimed his imagination entirely. Retirement, rather than slowing him down, had redirected his disciplined energy toward an altogether different kind of mission. Within a year of hanging up his uniform, he had enrolled in an advanced oceanography programme at a coastal research institute, driven by a conviction that the world _________________ the ocean surface remained one of the last genuinely unexplored frontiers available to a curious and determined mind. It was during this programme that he met Dr. Samuel Okafor, a Nigerian marine scientist with a quiet brilliance and an infectious enthusiasm for deep-sea ecosystems. The two men, separated by decades of different life experiences yet united by a shared obsession with the unknown, formed an unlikely but highly effective partnership. Their friendship deepened over shared meals, late-night research discussions, and a mutual frustration with how little attention policymakers paid to the health of the world's oceans.

Together, they designed an ambitious experiment aimed at studying bioluminescent organisms living at extreme ocean depths — creatures that produce their own light in an environment where sunlight never reaches. Securing funding and institutional support took two exhausting years, but Colonel Mehta's persistence, sharpened by decades of military planning, eventually prevailed. The duo boarded a specialised marine research vessel equipped with remotely operated underwater vehicles and a pressure-resistant sampling chamber capable of descending four thousand metres below the surface. The experiment was designed to enable scientists to collect living bioluminescent specimens without exposing them to pressure changes that would destroy their cellular structure — a technical challenge that had defeated previous research attempts. Critically, the team was determined not to exploit the fragile deep-sea environment beyond what minimal scientific sampling required, embedding strict ecological protocols into every stage of their methodology.

Three weeks into the voyage, their equipment captured footage of an entirely unknown species glowing in absolute darkness — a discovery that would eventually appear in one of the world's most respected marine science journals and remind both men why curiosity, at any age, remains worth following.

Choose the word most similar in meaning to "exploit" as used in the passage.

Read the following passage and answer the given questions.

Colonel Arvind Mehta had spent thirty-two years commanding men across mountain passes and desert frontiers before the sea claimed his imagination entirely. Retirement, rather than slowing him down, had redirected his disciplined energy toward an altogether different kind of mission. Within a year of hanging up his uniform, he had enrolled in an advanced oceanography programme at a coastal research institute, driven by a conviction that the world _________________ the ocean surface remained one of the last genuinely unexplored frontiers available to a curious and determined mind. It was during this programme that he met Dr. Samuel Okafor, a Nigerian marine scientist with a quiet brilliance and an infectious enthusiasm for deep-sea ecosystems. The two men, separated by decades of different life experiences yet united by a shared obsession with the unknown, formed an unlikely but highly effective partnership. Their friendship deepened over shared meals, late-night research discussions, and a mutual frustration with how little attention policymakers paid to the health of the world's oceans.

Together, they designed an ambitious experiment aimed at studying bioluminescent organisms living at extreme ocean depths — creatures that produce their own light in an environment where sunlight never reaches. Securing funding and institutional support took two exhausting years, but Colonel Mehta's persistence, sharpened by decades of military planning, eventually prevailed. The duo boarded a specialised marine research vessel equipped with remotely operated underwater vehicles and a pressure-resistant sampling chamber capable of descending four thousand metres below the surface. The experiment was designed to enable scientists to collect living bioluminescent specimens without exposing them to pressure changes that would destroy their cellular structure — a technical challenge that had defeated previous research attempts. Critically, the team was determined not to exploit the fragile deep-sea environment beyond what minimal scientific sampling required, embedding strict ecological protocols into every stage of their methodology.

Three weeks into the voyage, their equipment captured footage of an entirely unknown species glowing in absolute darkness — a discovery that would eventually appear in one of the world's most respected marine science journals and remind both men why curiosity, at any age, remains worth following.

Choose the word most similar in meaning to "enable" as used in the passage.

Read the following passage and answer the given questions.

Colonel Arvind Mehta had spent thirty-two years commanding men across mountain passes and desert frontiers before the sea claimed his imagination entirely. Retirement, rather than slowing him down, had redirected his disciplined energy toward an altogether different kind of mission. Within a year of hanging up his uniform, he had enrolled in an advanced oceanography programme at a coastal research institute, driven by a conviction that the world _________________ the ocean surface remained one of the last genuinely unexplored frontiers available to a curious and determined mind. It was during this programme that he met Dr. Samuel Okafor, a Nigerian marine scientist with a quiet brilliance and an infectious enthusiasm for deep-sea ecosystems. The two men, separated by decades of different life experiences yet united by a shared obsession with the unknown, formed an unlikely but highly effective partnership. Their friendship deepened over shared meals, late-night research discussions, and a mutual frustration with how little attention policymakers paid to the health of the world's oceans.

Together, they designed an ambitious experiment aimed at studying bioluminescent organisms living at extreme ocean depths — creatures that produce their own light in an environment where sunlight never reaches. Securing funding and institutional support took two exhausting years, but Colonel Mehta's persistence, sharpened by decades of military planning, eventually prevailed. The duo boarded a specialised marine research vessel equipped with remotely operated underwater vehicles and a pressure-resistant sampling chamber capable of descending four thousand metres below the surface. The experiment was designed to enable scientists to collect living bioluminescent specimens without exposing them to pressure changes that would destroy their cellular structure — a technical challenge that had defeated previous research attempts. Critically, the team was determined not to exploit the fragile deep-sea environment beyond what minimal scientific sampling required, embedding strict ecological protocols into every stage of their methodology.

Three weeks into the voyage, their equipment captured footage of an entirely unknown species glowing in absolute darkness — a discovery that would eventually appear in one of the world's most respected marine science journals and remind both men why curiosity, at any age, remains worth following.

Which of the following is incorrect according to the passage?

Read the following passage and answer the given questions.

Colonel Arvind Mehta had spent thirty-two years commanding men across mountain passes and desert frontiers before the sea claimed his imagination entirely. Retirement, rather than slowing him down, had redirected his disciplined energy toward an altogether different kind of mission. Within a year of hanging up his uniform, he had enrolled in an advanced oceanography programme at a coastal research institute, driven by a conviction that the world _________________ the ocean surface remained one of the last genuinely unexplored frontiers available to a curious and determined mind. It was during this programme that he met Dr. Samuel Okafor, a Nigerian marine scientist with a quiet brilliance and an infectious enthusiasm for deep-sea ecosystems. The two men, separated by decades of different life experiences yet united by a shared obsession with the unknown, formed an unlikely but highly effective partnership. Their friendship deepened over shared meals, late-night research discussions, and a mutual frustration with how little attention policymakers paid to the health of the world's oceans.

Together, they designed an ambitious experiment aimed at studying bioluminescent organisms living at extreme ocean depths — creatures that produce their own light in an environment where sunlight never reaches. Securing funding and institutional support took two exhausting years, but Colonel Mehta's persistence, sharpened by decades of military planning, eventually prevailed. The duo boarded a specialised marine research vessel equipped with remotely operated underwater vehicles and a pressure-resistant sampling chamber capable of descending four thousand metres below the surface. The experiment was designed to enable scientists to collect living bioluminescent specimens without exposing them to pressure changes that would destroy their cellular structure — a technical challenge that had defeated previous research attempts. Critically, the team was determined not to exploit the fragile deep-sea environment beyond what minimal scientific sampling required, embedding strict ecological protocols into every stage of their methodology.

Three weeks into the voyage, their equipment captured footage of an entirely unknown species glowing in absolute darkness — a discovery that would eventually appear in one of the world's most respected marine science journals and remind both men why curiosity, at any age, remains worth following.

What can be most reasonably inferred about the partnership between Colonel Mehta and Dr. Okafor?

In the question below, a part is omitted which is then replaced by a blank. Choose the word from the given options that will fit into the blank most appropriately.

The committee decided to ________ the implementation of the new policy until all stakeholders had been consulted.