Questions

A hard copy of a document is a physical object which is printed on printer.

In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, Reserve Bank of India directs that with effect from April 1, 2012, banks should not make payment of cheques/drafts/pay orders/banker’s cheques bearing that date or any subsequent date, if they are presented beyond the period of three months from the date of such instrument. Accordingly, cheques, Drafts, Pay Orders and Banker’s Cheques are “valid for 3 months from the date of instrument”, with effect from 01.04.2012. 

Populism had a lasting effect on the style of politics.

The idiom “blow off steam” means to express one’s anger, usually noisily and harmlessly, thereby relieving one’s tension. The above sentence states that one should not waste one’s time and utilise it in releasing negative energies to get charged up. Only option 1 goes with this meaning, hence option 1 is correct.