Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below the passage.

Joe Biden’s scientific advisers will meet with vaccine makers in coming days as the presidential transition remains stalled because of President Donald Trump’s refusal to acknowledge that he lost the election. That delayed handoff is especially problematic during a public health crisis, the government’s top infectious disease expert said.

The President-Elect’s outreach to the vaccine manufacturers comes as the coronavirus pandemic in the United States has entered perhaps its most dangerous phase. The seven-day rolling average for new daily cases stood at 145,400 on Saturday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. That means the U.S. is adding about 1 million new cases a week, and deaths averaged 820 a day as of Saturday, a 33% increase in just two weeks.

Dr. Fauci stressed the arrival of vaccines won’t be like flipping a switch to return to normal life. The first doses will become available for people in high-risk groups later this year. He said Americans will have to keep up preventive measures such as wearing masks, observing social distancing and frequently washing their hands well into next year.

"Everyone is sensitive to what we call ‘COVID fatigue,’ ” Dr. Fauci said. “People are worn out about this. But we have got to hang in there a bit longer. ... We have got to hang together on this.” Other vaccine makers are also in the final phase of testing their formulations, and Dr. Fauci said he expects those vaccines will also be highly effective. The government has launched a program called “Operation Warp Speed,” backed by the White House, to quickly manufacture and distribute tens of millions of doses of vaccines. The shots will be free to Americans, and the goal is to have most people vaccinated by about this time next year. Many people will need two doses. Initial access to the vaccine will be limited to high-priority groups such as hospital and nursing home workers.

A top Trump administration health official said 20 million doses could be available by the end of this month, and an additional 20 million by the end of the year. But Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant HHS secretary, seconded Dr. Fauci’s admonition that Americans must keep following basic public health precautions such as wearing masks.

1) Which of the following statements is/are true according to the passage?

a)The U.S. is adding about 1 million new cases a week

b)The U.S. is adding a 33% increase in just two weeks

c)The seven-day rolling average for new daily cases stood at 145,400 on Saturday

d) All of these

e) None of these

2) Which of the following statements is/are false according to the passage?

a)Joe Biden’s scientific advisers will not meet with vaccine makers in coming days

b)President Donald Trump accepted to acknowledge that he lost the election.

c)That delayed handoff is especially unproblematic during a public health crisis

d) All of these

e) None of these

3) Fill the blank with information from the passage.

The President-Elect’s outreach to the vaccine manufacturers comes as the coronavirus pandemic in the United States has entered perhaps______________________.

a)its most improving phase

b)its most interesting phase

c)its most dangerous phase

d) its most hopeful phase

e) None of these

4) Which of the following is the synonym of the phrase “worn out” given in bold in the passage?

a)exhausted

b) blissful

c) spur

d) encouraged

e) None of these

5) Which of the following is the antonym of the word “stalled” given in bold in the passage?

a) obstructed

b) hampered

c) afoot

d) hindered

e) None of these

Answers :

1) Answer: D

All the statements are true according the passage and mentioned in the 2^nd paragraph of the passage “The seven-day rolling average for new daily cases stood at 145,400 on Saturday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. That means the U.S. is adding about 1 million new cases a week, and deaths averaged 820 a day as of Saturday, a 33% increase in just two weeks.”

2) Answer: D

All the statements are false according to the passage.

Refer to the 1^st paragraph of the passage “Joe Biden’s scientific advisers will meet with vaccine makers in coming days as the presidential transition remains stalled because of President Donald Trump’s refusal to acknowledge that he lost the election. That delayed handoff is especially problematic during a public health crisis, the government’s top infectious disease expert said.”

3) Answer: C

It is mentioned in the 2^nd paragraph of the passage “The President-Elect’s outreach to the vaccine manufacturers comes as the coronavirus pandemic in the United States has entered perhaps its most dangerous phase.”

4) Answer: A

Worn out-extremely tired; exhausted.

Hence (a) is correct.

5) Answer: C

Stall-stop or cause to stop making progress.

Afoot-in preparation or progress; happening or beginning to happen.

Hence, (c) is correct.