UPSC Prelims 2014 – Paper 2: General Studies II (CSAT): Solved Question Paper
80 questions, each with a model answer in Hindi and English.
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
In recent times, India has grown fast not only compared to its own past but also in comparison with other nations. But. there cannot be any room for complacency because it is possible for the Indian economy to develop even faster and also to spread the benefits of this growth more widely than has been done thus far. Before going into details of the kinds of micro-structural changes that we need to conceptualize and then proceed to implement, it is worthwhile elaborating on the idea of inclusive growth that constitutes the defining concept behind this Government's various economic policies and decisions. A nation interested in inclusive growth views the same growth differently depending on whether the gains of the growth are heaped primarily on a small segment or shared widely by the population. The latter is cause for celebration but not the former. In other words, growth must not be treated as an end in itself but as an instrument for spreading prosperity to all. India's own past experience and the experience of other nations suggests that growth is necessary for eradicating poverty but it is not a sufficient condition. In other words, policies growth, need to be complemented with policies to ensure that more and more people join in the growth process and, further, that there are mechanisms in place to redistribute some of the gains to those who are unable to partake in the market process and, hence, get left behind.
The author's central focus is on2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
In recent times, India has grown fast not only compared to its own past but also in comparison with other nations. But. there cannot be any room for complacency because it is possible for the Indian economy to develop even faster and also to spread the benefits of this growth more widely than has been done thus far. Before going into details of the kinds of micro-structural changes that we need to conceptualize and then proceed to implement, it is worthwhile elaborating on the idea of inclusive growth that constitutes the defining concept behind this Government's various economic policies and decisions. A nation interested in inclusive growth views the same growth differently depending on whether the gains of the growth are heaped primarily on a small segment or shared widely by the population. The latter is cause for celebration but not the former. In other words, growth must not be treated as an end in itself but as an instrument for spreading prosperity to all. India's own past experience and the experience of other nations suggests that growth is necessary for eradicating poverty but it is not a sufficient condition. In other words, policies growth, need to be complemented with policies to ensure that more and more people join in the growth process and, further, that there are mechanisms in place to redistribute some of the gains to those who are unable to partake in the market process and, hence, get left behind.
The author supports policies which will help2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
In recent times, India has grown fast not only compared to its own past but also in comparison with other nations. But. there cannot be any room for complacency because it is possible for the Indian economy to develop even faster and also to spread the benefits of this growth more widely than has been done thus far. Before going into details of the kinds of micro-structural changes that we need to conceptualize and then proceed to implement, it is worthwhile elaborating on the idea of inclusive growth that constitutes the defining concept behind this Government's various economic policies and decisions. A nation interested in inclusive growth views the same growth differently depending on whether the gains of the growth are heaped primarily on a small segment or shared widely by the population. The latter is cause for celebration but not the former. In other words, growth must not be treated as an end in itself but as an instrument for spreading prosperity to all. India's own past experience and the experience of other nations suggests that growth is necessary for eradicating poverty but it is not a sufficient condition. In other words, policies growth, need to be complemented with policies to ensure that more and more people join in the growth process and, further, that there are mechanisms in place to redistribute some of the gains to those who are unable to partake in the market process and, hence, get left behind.
Consider the following statements:\nAccording to the author, India's economy has grown but there is no room for complacency as\n1. growth eradicates poverty.\n2. growth has resulted in prosperity for all.2 Marks · Answer key: (D) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
It is easy for the government to control State-owned companies through nods and winks. So, what really needs to be done as a first step is to put petrol pricing on a transparent formula if the price of crude is x and the exchange rate y, then every month or fortnight, the government announces a maximum price of petrol, which anybody can work out from the x and the y. The rule has to be worked out to make sure that the oil-marketing companies can, in general, cover their costs. This will mean that if one company can innovate and cut costs, it will make greater profits. Hence, firms will be more prone to innovate and be efficient under this system. Once the rule is announced, there should be no interference by the government. If this is done for a while, private companies will re-enter this market. And once a sufficient number of them are in the fray, we can remove the rule-based pricing and leave it truly to the market (subject to, of course, the usual regulations of anti-trust and other competition laws).
According to the passage, an oil company can make greater profits, if a transparent formula for petrol pricing is announced every fortnight or month, by\n1. promoting its sales.\n2. undertaking innovation.\n3. Cutting costs.\n4. selling its equity shares at higher prices.2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
It is easy for the government to control State-owned companies through nods and winks...
According to the passage, private oil companies re-enter the oil producing market if\n1. a transparent rule-based petrol pricing exists.\n2. there is no government interference in the oil producing market.\n3. subsidies are given by the government.\n4. regulations of anti-trust are removed.2 Marks · Answer key: (A) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Climate change poses potentially devastating effects on India's agriculture. While the overall parameters of climate change are increasingly accepted -a 1 degree C average temperature increase over the next 30 years, sea level rise of less than 10.cm in the game period, and regional monsoon variations and corresponding droughts — the impacts in India are likely to be quite site and crop specific...
Consider the following statements:\nClimate change may force the shifting of locations of the existing crops due to\n1. melting of glaciers.\n2. water availability and temperature suitability at other locations.\n3. poor productivity of crops.\n4. wider adaptability of crop plants.2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Climate change poses potentially devastating effects on India's agriculture...
According to the passage, why is it important to promote agricultural research in India?2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
It is essential that we mitigate the emissions of greenhouse gases and thus avoid some of the worst impacts of climate change that would take place in coming years and decades...
According to the passage, which of the following would help in the mitigation of greenhouse gases?\n1. Reducing the consumption of meat\n2. Rapid economic liberalization\n3. Reducing the consumerism\n4. Modern management practices of livestock2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
It is essential that we mitigate the emissions of greenhouse gases...
Why do we continue to depend on the fossil fuels heavily?\n1. Inadequate technological development\n2. Inadequate funds for research and development\n3. Inadequate availability of alternative sources of energy2 Marks · Answer key: (D) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
It is essential that we mitigate the emissions of greenhouse gases...
According to the passage, how does the mitigation of greenhouse gases help us?\n1. Reduces expenditure on public health\n2. Reduces dependence on livestock\n3. Reduces energy requirements\n4. Reduces rate of global climate change2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
It is essential that we mitigate the emissions of greenhouse gases...
What is the essential message of the passage?2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
The Himalayan ecosystem is highly vulnerable to the stress caused by increased pressure of population, exploitation of natural resources and other related challenges. These pressures are causing fragmentation and degradation of landscape, loss of habitat and biodiversity, shifting of tree line, enhancing glacial melting and impacting the livelihoods of indigenous societies in a profound manner.\n\nThe rich biodiversity of the Himalayan ecosystem is under severe stress due to climate change. The fragmentation and degradation of the natural ecosystem is leading to loss of verifiable forest cover and assessed by Forest Survey of India's State of Forest Report. The impact of climate change is also affecting their livelihoods of communities of uplands and downstream dwellers across the country and beyond. Therefore, there is an urgent need for giving special attention to sustain the Himalayan ecosystem. This would require conscious efforts for conserving all the representative systems.\n\nFurther, it needs to be emphasized that the endemics with restricted distribution, and most open with specialized habitat requirements, are among the most vulnerable elements. In this respect the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, with rich endemic diversity, is vulnerable to climate change. threats include possible loss of genetic resources and species, habitats and concomitantly a decrease in ecosystem services. Therefore, conservation of endemic elements in representative ecosystem/habitats assumes a great significance while drawing conservation plans for the region.\n\nTowards achieving the above, we will have to shift toward contemporary conservation approaches, which include a paradigm of landscape level interconnectivity between protected area systems. The concept advocates a shift from the species-habitat focus to an inclusive focus on expanding the biogeographic range so that natural adjustments to climate change can proceed without being restrictive.
Consider the following statements\nAccording to the passage, the adverse impact of climate change on an ecosystem can be a\n1. permanent disappearance of some of its flora and fauna.\n2. permanent disappearance of ecosystem itself.\nWhich of the statements given above Ware correct?2 Marks · Answer key: (A) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
The Himalayan ecosystem is highly vulnerable to the stress caused by increased pressure of population, exploitation of natural resources and other related challenges. These pressures are causing fragmentation and degradation of landscape, loss of habitat and biodiversity, shifting of tree line, enhancing glacial melting and impacting the livelihoods of indigenous societies in a profound manner.\n\nThe rich biodiversity of the Himalayan ecosystem is under severe stress due to climate change. The fragmentation and degradation of the natural ecosystem is leading to loss of verifiable forest cover and assessed by Forest Survey of India's State of Forest Report. The impact of climate change is also affecting their livelihoods of communities of uplands and downstream dwellers across the country and beyond. Therefore, there is an urgent need for giving special attention to sustain the Himalayan ecosystem. This would require conscious efforts for conserving all the representative systems.\n\nFurther, it needs to be emphasized that the endemics with restricted distribution, and most open with specialized habitat requirements, are among the most vulnerable elements. In this respect the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, with rich endemic diversity, is vulnerable to climate change. threats include possible loss of genetic resources and species, habitats and concomitantly a decrease in ecosystem services. Therefore, conservation of endemic elements in representative ecosystem/habitats assumes a great significance while drawing conservation plans for the region.\n\nTowards achieving the above, we will have to shift toward contemporary conservation approaches, which include a paradigm of landscape level interconnectivity between protected area systems. The concept advocates a shift from the species-habitat focus to an inclusive focus on expanding the biogeographic range so that natural adjustments to climate change can proceed without being restrictive.
Which one of the following statements best implies the need to shift toward contemporary conservation approach?2 Marks · Answer key: (D) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
The Himalayan ecosystem is highly vulnerable to the stress caused by increased pressure of population, exploitation of natural resources and other related challenges. These pressures are causing fragmentation and degradation of landscape, loss of habitat and biodiversity, shifting of tree line, enhancing glacial melting and impacting the livelihoods of indigenous societies in a profound manner.\n\nThe rich biodiversity of the Himalayan ecosystem is under severe stress due to climate change. The fragmentation and degradation of the natural ecosystem is leading to loss of verifiable forest cover and assessed by Forest Survey of India's State of Forest Report. The impact of climate change is also affecting their livelihoods of communities of uplands and downstream dwellers across the country and beyond. Therefore, there is an urgent need for giving special attention to sustain the Himalayan ecosystem. This would require conscious efforts for conserving all the representative systems.\n\nFurther, it needs to be emphasized that the endemics with restricted distribution, and most open with specialized habitat requirements, are among the most vulnerable elements. In this respect the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, with rich endemic diversity, is vulnerable to climate change. threats include possible loss of genetic resources and species, habitats and concomitantly a decrease in ecosystem services. Therefore, conservation of endemic elements in representative ecosystem/habitats assumes a great significance while drawing conservation plans for the region.\n\nTowards achieving the above, we will have to shift toward contemporary conservation approaches, which include a paradigm of landscape level interconnectivity between protected area systems. The concept advocates a shift from the species-habitat focus to an inclusive focus on expanding the biogeographic range so that natural adjustments to climate change can proceed without being restrictive.
What is the most important message conveyed by the passage?2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
The Himalayan ecosystem is highly vulnerable to the stress caused by increased pressure of population, exploitation of natural resources and other related challenges. These pressures are causing fragmentation and degradation of landscape, loss of habitat and biodiversity, shifting of tree line, enhancing glacial melting and impacting the livelihoods of indigenous societies in a profound manner.\n\nThe rich biodiversity of the Himalayan ecosystem is under severe stress due to climate change. The fragmentation and degradation of the natural ecosystem is leading to loss of verifiable forest cover and assessed by Forest Survey of India's State of Forest Report. The impact of climate change is also affecting their livelihoods of communities of uplands and downstream dwellers across the country and beyond. Therefore, there is an urgent need for giving special attention to sustain the Himalayan ecosystem. This would require conscious efforts for conserving all the representative systems.\n\nFurther, it needs to be emphasized that the endemics with restricted distribution, and most open with specialized habitat requirements, are among the most vulnerable elements. In this respect the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, with rich endemic diversity, is vulnerable to climate change. threats include possible loss of genetic resources and species, habitats and concomitantly a decrease in ecosystem services. Therefore, conservation of endemic elements in representative ecosystem/habitats assumes a great significance while drawing conservation plans for the region.\n\nTowards achieving the above, we will have to shift toward contemporary conservation approaches, which include a paradigm of landscape level interconnectivity between protected area systems. The concept advocates a shift from the species-habitat focus to an inclusive focus on expanding the biogeographic range so that natural adjustments to climate change can proceed without being restrictive.
With reference to the passage, the following assumptions have been made:\n1. To maintain natural ecosystems, exploitation of natural resources should be completely avoided.\n2. Not only anthropogenic but also natural reason can adversely affect ecosystems.\nc. Lass of endemic diversity leads the extinction of ecosystems.\nWhich of the above assumptions is/are correct?2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
It is often forgotten that globalization is not only about policies on international economic relationships and transactions, but has equally to do with domestic policies of a nation. Policy changes necessitated by meeting the internationally set conditions (by WTO etc.) of free trade and investment flows obviously affect domestic producers and investors. But the basic philosophy underlying globalization emphasizes absolute freedom to markets to determine prices and production and distribution patterns, and view government interventions as processes that create distortions and bring in inefficiency. Thus, public enterprises have to be privatized through disinvestments and sales; sectors and activities hitherto reserved for the public sector have to be opened to the private sector. This logic extends to the social services like education and health. Any restrictions on the adjustments in workforce by way Of retrenchment Of workers should also be removed and exit should be made easier by removing any restrictions On closures. Employment and wages should be governed by free play of market forces, as any measure to regulate them can discourage investment and also create inefficiency in production. Above all, in line with the overall philosophy of reduction in the role of the State, fiscal reforms should be undertaken to have generally low levels of taxation and government expenditure should be kept to the minimum to abide by the principle of fiscal prudence. All these are policy actions on the domestic front and are not directly related to the core items of the globalization agenda, namely free international flow of goods and finance.
According to the passage, under the globalization, government interventions are viewed as processes leading to2 Marks · Answer key: (A) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
It is often forgotten that globalization is not only about policies on international economic relationships and transactions, but has equally to do with domestic policies of a nation. Policy changes necessitated by meeting the internationally set conditions (by WTO etc.) of free trade and investment flows obviously affect domestic producers and investors. But the basic philosophy underlying globalization emphasizes absolute freedom to markets to determine prices and production and distribution patterns, and view government interventions as processes that create distortions and bring in inefficiency. Thus, public enterprises have to be privatized through disinvestments and sales; sectors and activities hitherto reserved for the public sector have to be opened to the private sector. This logic extends to the social services like education and health. Any restrictions on the adjustments in workforce by way Of retrenchment Of workers should also be removed and exit should be made easier by removing any restrictions On closures. Employment and wages should be governed by free play of market forces, as any measure to regulate them can discourage investment and also create inefficiency in production. Above all, in line with the overall philosophy of reduction in the role of the State, fiscal reforms should be undertaken to have generally low levels of taxation and government expenditure should be kept to the minimum to abide by the principle of fiscal prudence. All these are policy actions on the domestic front and are not directly related to the core items of the globalization agenda, namely free international flow of goods and finance.
According to the passage, the basic philosophy of globalization is to2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
It is often forgotten that globalization is not only about policies on international economic relationships and transactions, but has equally to do with domestic policies of a nation. Policy changes necessitated by meeting the internationally set conditions (by WTO etc.) of free trade and investment flows obviously affect domestic producers and investors. But the basic philosophy underlying globalization emphasizes absolute freedom to markets to determine prices and production and distribution patterns, and view government interventions as processes that create distortions and bring in inefficiency. Thus, public enterprises have to be privatized through disinvestments and sales; sectors and activities hitherto reserved for the public sector have to be opened to the private sector. This logic extends to the social services like education and health. Any restrictions on the adjustments in workforce by way Of retrenchment Of workers should also be removed and exit should be made easier by removing any restrictions On closures. Employment and wages should be governed by free play of market forces, as any measure to regulate them can discourage investment and also create inefficiency in production. Above all, in line with the overall philosophy of reduction in the role of the State, fiscal reforms should be undertaken to have generally low levels of taxation and government expenditure should be kept to the minimum to abide by the principle of fiscal prudence. All these are policy actions on the domestic front and are not directly related to the core items of the globalization agenda, namely free international flow of goods and finance.
According to the passage, which of the following Ware necessary for ensuring globalization?\n1. Privatization of public enterprises\n2. Expansionary policy of public expenditure\n3. Free play of market forces to determine wages and employment\n4. Privatization of social services like education and health\nSelect the correct answer using the code given below:2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
It is often forgotten that globalization is not only about policies on international economic relationships and transactions, but has equally to do with domestic policies of a nation. Policy changes necessitated by meeting the internationally set conditions (by WTO etc.) of free trade and investment flows obviously affect domestic producers and investors. But the basic philosophy underlying globalization emphasizes absolute freedom to markets to determine prices and production and distribution patterns, and view government interventions as processes that create distortions and bring in inefficiency. Thus, public enterprises have to be privatized through disinvestments and sales; sectors and activities hitherto reserved for the public sector have to be opened to the private sector. This logic extends to the social services like education and health. Any restrictions on the adjustments in workforce by way Of retrenchment Of workers should also be removed and exit should be made easier by removing any restrictions On closures. Employment and wages should be governed by free play of market forces, as any measure to regulate them can discourage investment and also create inefficiency in production. Above all, in line with the overall philosophy of reduction in the role of the State, fiscal reforms should be undertaken to have generally low levels of taxation and government expenditure should be kept to the minimum to abide by the principle of fiscal prudence. All these are policy actions on the domestic front and are not directly related to the core items of the globalization agenda, namely free international flow of goods and finance.
According to the passage, in the process of globalization the State should have2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Many nations now place their faith in capitalism and governments choose it as the strategy to create wealth for their people. The spectacular economic growth seen in Brazil, China and India after the liberalisation of their economies is proof of its enormous potential and success. However, the global banking crisis and the economic recession have left many bewildered. The debates tend to focus on free market operations and forces, their efficiency and their ability for self-correction. Issues of justice, integrity and honesty are rarely elaborated to highlight the failure of the global banking system. The apologists of the system continue to justify the success of capitalism and argue that the recent crisis was a blip.\n\nTheir arguments betray an ideological bias with the assumptions that an unregulated market is fair and competent, and that the exercise of private greed Will be in the larger public interest. Few recognize the bidirectional relationship between capitalism and greed; that each reinforces the other. Surely, a more honest conceptualisation of the conflicts of interest among the rich and powerful players who have benefited from the system, their biases and ideology is needed; the focus on the wealth creation should also highlight the resultant gross inequity.
The apologists of the "Free Market System", according to the passage, believe in2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Many nations now place their faith in capitalism and governments choose it as the strategy to create wealth for their people. The spectacular economic growth seen in Brazil, China and India after the liberalisation of their economies is proof of its enormous potential and success. However, the global banking crisis and the economic recession have left many bewildered. The debates tend to focus on free market operations and forces, their efficiency and their ability for self-correction. Issues of justice, integrity and honesty are rarely elaborated to highlight the failure of the global banking system. The apologists of the system continue to justify the success of capitalism and argue that the recent crisis was a blip.\n\nTheir arguments betray an ideological bias with the assumptions that an unregulated market is fair and competent, and that the exercise of private greed Will be in the larger public interest. Few recognize the bidirectional relationship between capitalism and greed; that each reinforces the other. Surely, a more honest conceptualisation of the conflicts of interest among the rich and powerful players who have benefited from the system, their biases and ideology is needed; the focus on the wealth creation should also highlight the resultant gross inequity.
With reference to "ideological bias", the passage implies that2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Many nations now place their faith in capitalism and governments choose it as the strategy to create wealth for their people. The spectacular economic growth seen in Brazil, China and India after the liberalisation of their economies is proof of its enormous potential and success. However, the global banking crisis and the economic recession have left many bewildered. The debates tend to focus on free market operations and forces, their efficiency and their ability for self-correction. Issues of justice, integrity and honesty are rarely elaborated to highlight the failure of the global banking system. The apologists of the system continue to justify the success of capitalism and argue that the recent crisis was a blip.\n\nTheir arguments betray an ideological bias with the assumptions that an unregulated market is fair and competent, and that the exercise of private greed Will be in the larger public interest. Few recognize the bidirectional relationship between capitalism and greed; that each reinforces the other. Surely, a more honest conceptualisation of the conflicts of interest among the rich and powerful players who have benefited from the system, their biases and ideology is needed; the focus on the wealth creation should also highlight the resultant gross inequity.
The exercise of private greed will be in the larger public interest" from the passage\n1. refers to the false ideology of capitalism.\n2. underlies the righteous claims of the free market.\n3. shows the benevolent face of capitalism.\n4. ignores resultant gross inequity.\nWhich Of the statements given above is/are correct?2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Net profits are only 2.2% of their total assets for central public sector undertakings, lower than for the private corporate sector. While the public sector or the State-led entrepreneurship played an important role in triggering India's industrialization, our evolving development needs, comparatively less-than-satisfactory performance of the public sector enterprises, the maturing of our private sector, a much larger social base now available for expanding entrepreneurship and the growing institutional capabilities to enforce competition policies would suggest that the time has come to review the role of public sector...
According to the passage, what were the reason/reasons for saying that the time has come to review the role of public sector?\n1. Now public sector has lost its relevance in the industrialization process.\n2. Public sector does not perform satisfactorily.\n3. Entrepreneurship in private sector is expanding.\n4. Effective competition policies are available now.2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Net profits are only 2.2% of their total assets for central public sector undertakings, lower than for the private corporate sector. While the public sector or the State-led entrepreneurship played an important role in triggering India's industrialization, our evolving development needs, comparatively less-than-satisfactory performance of the public sector enterprises, the maturing of our private sector, a much larger social base now available for expanding entrepreneurship and the growing institutional capabilities to enforce competition policies would suggest that the time has come to review the role of public sector...
According to the passage, rural roads should be in the domain of public sector only. Why?2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Net profits are only 2.2% of their total assets for central public sector undertakings, lower than for the private corporate sector. While the public sector or the State-led entrepreneurship played an important role in triggering India's industrialization, our evolving development needs, comparatively less-than-satisfactory performance of the public sector enterprises, the maturing of our private sector, a much larger social base now available for expanding entrepreneurship and the growing institutional capabilities to enforce competition policies would suggest that the time has come to review the role of public sector...
The portfolio composition of the government refers to2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Net profits are only 2.2% of their total assets for central public sector undertakings, lower than for the private corporate sector. While the public sector or the State-led entrepreneurship played an important role in triggering India's industrialization, our evolving development needs, comparatively less-than-satisfactory performance of the public sector enterprises, the maturing of our private sector, a much larger social base now available for expanding entrepreneurship and the growing institutional capabilities to enforce competition policies would suggest that the time has come to review the role of public sector...
The author prefers government as the umpire and private sector as players because2 Marks · Answer key: (A) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
In front of us was walking a bare-headed old man in tattered clothes. He was driving his beasts. They were all laden with heavy loads of clay from the hills and looked tired. The man carried a long whip which perhaps he himself had made. As he walked down the road he stopped now and then to eat the wild berries that grew on bushes along the uneven road. When he threw away the seeds, the bold birds would fly to peck at them. Sometimes a stray dog watched the procession philosophically and then began to bark. When this happened, my two little sons would stand still holding my hands firmly. A dog can sometimes be dangerous indeed.
The author's children held his hands firmly because2 Marks · Answer key: (A) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
In front of us was walking a bare-headed old man in tattered clothes. He was driving his beasts. They were all laden with heavy loads of clay from the hills and looked tired. The man carried a long whip which perhaps he himself had made. As he walked down the road he stopped now and then to eat the wild berries that grew on bushes along the uneven road. When he threw away the seeds, the bold birds would fly to peck at them. Sometimes a stray dog watched the procession philosophically and then began to bark. When this happened, my two little sons would stand still holding my hands firmly. A dog can sometimes be dangerous indeed.
The expression "a stray dog watched the procession philosophically" means that2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Cynthia was a shy girl. She believed that she was plain and untalented. One day her teacher ordered the entire class to show up for audition for the school play. Cynthia nearly died of fright when she was told that she would have to stand on stage in front of the entire class and deliver dialogues. The mere thought of it made her feel sick. But a remarkable transformation occurred during the audition. A thin, shy girl, her knees quaking, her stomach churning in terror, began to stun everyone with her excellent performance. Her bored classmates suddenly stopped their noisy chat to stare at her slender figure on the stage. At the end of her audition, the entire room erupted in thunderous applause.
Cynthia was afraid to stand on stage because2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Cynthia was a shy girl. She believed that she was plain and untalented. One day her teacher ordered the entire class to show up for audition for the school play. Cynthia nearly died of fright when she was told that she would have to stand on stage in front of the entire class and deliver dialogues. The mere thought of it made her feel sick. But a remarkable transformation occurred during the audition. A thin, shy girl, her knees quaking, her stomach churning in terror, began to stun everyone with her excellent performance. Her bored classmates suddenly stopped their noisy chat to stare at her slender figure on the stage. At the end of her audition, the entire room erupted in thunderous applause.
Cynthia's classmates were chatting because2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Cynthia was a shy girl. She believed that she was plain and untalented. One day her teacher ordered the entire class to show up for audition for the school play. Cynthia nearly died of fright when she was told that she would have to stand on stage in front of the entire class and deliver dialogues. The mere thought of it made her feel sick. But a remarkable transformation occurred during the audition. A thin, shy girl, her knees quaking, her stomach churning in terror, began to stun everyone with her excellent performance. Her bored classmates suddenly stopped their noisy chat to stare at her slender figure on the stage. At the end of her audition, the entire room erupted in thunderous applause.
Cynthia's knees were quaking because2 Marks · Answer key: (A) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Cynthia was a shy girl. She believed that she was plain and untalented. One day her teacher ordered the entire class to show up for audition for the school play. Cynthia nearly died of fright when she was told that she would have to stand on stage in front of the entire class and deliver dialogues. The mere thought of it made her feel sick. But a remarkable transformation occurred during the audition. A thin, shy girl, her knees quaking, her stomach churning in terror, began to stun everyone with her excellent performance. Her bored classmates suddenly stopped their noisy chat to stare at her slender figure on the stage. At the end of her audition, the entire room erupted in thunderous applause.
The transformation that occurred during the audition refers to2 Marks · Answer key: (D) · View question →
The following table shows the marks obtained by two students in different subjects:
The different in the mean aggregate percentage marks of the students is2 Marks · Answer key: (D) · View question →
A gardener increased the area of his rectangular garden by increasing its length by 40% and decreasing its width by 20%. The area of the new garden
2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
If Sohan, while selling two goats at the same price, makes a profit of 10% on one goat and suffers a loss of 10% on the other.
2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Out of a total of 120 musicians in a club, 5% can play all the three instruments, guitar, violin and flute. It so happens that the number of musicians Who can play any two and only two of the above instruments is 30. The number of musicians who can play the guitar alone is 40. What is the total number of those who can play violin alone or flute alone?
2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
As per agreement with a bank, a businessman had to refund a loan in some equal instalments without interest. After paying 18 instalments he found that 60 percent of his loan was refunded. How many instalments were there in the agreement?
2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
A group of 630 children is seated in rows for a group photo session. Each row contains three less children than the row in front of it. Which one of the following number of rows is not possible?
2 Marks · Answer key: (D) · View question →
A straight-line segment is 36 cm long. Points are to be marked on the line from both the end points. From each end, the first point is at a distance of 1 cm from the end, the second point is at a distance of 2 cm from the first point and the third point is at a distance of 3 cm from the second point and so on. If the points on the ends are not counted and the common points are counted as one, what is the number of points?
2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
A and B decide to travel from place X to place Y by bus. A has Rs. 10 with him and he finds that it is 80% of the bus fare for two persons. B finds that he has Rs. 3 with him and hands it over to A. In this context, which one of the following statements is correct?
2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Four persons, Alok, Bhupesh, Chander and Dinesh have a total of 100 among themselves. Alok and Bhupesh between them have as much money as Chander and Dinesh between them, but Alok has more money than Bhupesh; and Chander has only half the money that Dinesh has. Alok has in fact 5 more than Dinesh has. Who has the maximum amount of money?
2 Marks · Answer key: (A) · View question →
For a charity show, the total tickets sold were 420. Half of these tickets were sold at the rate of Rs.5 each, one-third at the rate of Rs.3 each and the rest for Rs.2 each. What was the total amount received?
2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Five persons fire bullets at a target at an interval of 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 seconds respectively. The number of times they would fire the bullets together at the target in an hour is
2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
A bell rings every 18 minutes. A second bell rings every 24 minutes. A third bell rings every 32 minutes. If all the three bells ring at the same time at 8 o’clock in the morning, at what other time will they all ring together?
2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
There are 50 students admitted to a nursery class. Some students can speak only English and some can speak only Hindi. 10 students can speak both English and Hindi. If the number of students who can speak English is 21, then how many students can speak Hindi, how many can speak only Hindi and how many can speak only English?
2 Marks · Answer key: (D) · View question →
Six identical cards are placed on a table. Each card has number '1' marked on one side and number '2' marked on its other side. All the six cards are placed in such a manner that the number '1' is on the upper side. In one try, exactly four (neither more nor less) cards are turned upside down. In how many least number of tries can the cards be turned upside down such that all the six cards show number '2' on the upper side?
2 Marks · Answer key: (A) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
The following graph shows the average profit of two fråit-sellers A and B in thousands (O per year from the year 1995 to 2000. Consider the graph and answer the 4 (four) items that follow
In which year is the average profit of A and B same?2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
The following graph shows the average profit of two fråit-sellers A and B in thousands (O per year from the year 1995 to 2000. Consider the graph and answer the 4 (four) items that follow
What is the difference between the average profit Of B and A in the year 1998?2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
The following graph shows the average profit of two fråit-sellers A and B in thousands (O per year from the year 1995 to 2000. Consider the graph and answer the 4 (four) items that follow
How much more average profit did A make in the year 2000 than in the year 1999?2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
The following graph shows the average profit of two fråit-sellers A and B in thousands (O per year from the year 1995 to 2000. Consider the graph and answer the 4 (four) items that follow
What is the trend of the average profit of B from the year 1997 to the year 2000?2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
The following table gives population and total income of a city for four years:
Which one of the following statements is correct in respect Of the above data?2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Examine the following figure: Which one of the following figures has the above figures embedded in it? [2014/39]
2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Consider the following matrix: Which one of the following figures fits into the blank part of the above matrix? [2014/40]
2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Consider the table given below in which the numbers bear certain relationship among themselves along the rows: Which one of the following numbers is the missing number indicated above by X? [2014/42]
2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Consider the following matrix with one empty block in the tower extreme corner: Which of the following figures could fit in the empty block and thus complete the matrix? [2014/43]
2 Marks · Answer key: (A) · View question →
Consider the following figures: Change in positions of beads in the four figures above follows a sequence. Following the same sequence, which of the figures below should appear as the fifth figure above? [2014/45]
2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
The letters L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S and T in their order are substituted by nine integers 1 to 9 but not in that order. 4 is assigned to P. difference between P and T is 5, The difference between N and T is 3. What is the integer assigned to N? [2014/61]
2 Marks · Answer key: (D) · View question →
If the 3rd day of a month is Monday, which one of the following will be the fifth day from the 21st of this month?
2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Assume that 1. the hour and minute hands of a clock move without jerking. 2. the clock shows a time between 8 O'clock and 9 O'clock. 3. the two hands of the clock are one above the other. After how many minutes (nearest integer) will the two hands be again lying one above the other?
2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
A worker reaches his factory 3 minutes late if his speed from his house to the factory is 5 km/hr. If he walks at a speed of 6 km/hr, then he reaches the factory 7 minutes early. The distance of the factory from his house is:
2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Two cars start towards each other, from two places A and B which are at a distance of 160 km. They Start at the same time 08:10 AM. If the speeds of the cars are 50 km and 30 km per hour respectively, they will meet each other at:
2 Marks · Answer key: (A) · View question →
With reference to the figure given below, the number of different routes from S to T without retracing from U and/or V, is
2 Marks · Answer key: (D) · View question →
Consider the following statements: There are six villages A, B, C, D, E and F. F is 1 km to the west of D. B is 1 km to the east of E. A is 2 km to the north Of E. C is 1 km to the east Of A. D is 1 km to the south of A. Which three villages are in a line?
2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Location of B is north of A and location of C is east of A. The distances AB and AC are 5 km and 12 km respectively. The shortest distance (in km) between the locations B and C is
2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Price is not the same thing as value. Suppose that on a day the price of everything viz., coal, bread, postage stamps, a day's labour, the rent of houses, etc. were to double. Prices then would certainly rise, but values of all things except one would not.' The writer wants to say that if prices of all things were doubled
2 Marks · Answer key: (D) · View question →
Liberty, therefore, is never real unless the Government can be called to account when it invades rights.' Which one of the following is the best justification of the above statement?
2 Marks · Answer key: (A) · View question →
The number of deaths among the army personnel is 8 in 1000, but among the civilian population it is 20 per 1000. Which one of the following inferences can be drawn from this statement?
2 Marks · Answer key: (D) · View question →
Given the statement: 'Buses are the cause of more accidents than cars, and trucks cause fewer accidents than buses.' which of the following conclusions can we draw?
2 Marks · Answer key: (D) · View question →
If political leadership fails to emerge, there is likelihood of military taking over power in developing countries. Radical student groups or labour may try to raise revolution but they are not likely to compete with the military. Military intervention, rule, and withdrawal from politics is closely related to a society's level of political development. In the context of political development, the assumption in the above passage is that
2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
18. There are seven persons up on a ladders A, B, C, D, E, F and G (not in that order). A is further up than E but is lower than C. B is in the middle. G is between A and B. E is between B and F. If F is between E and D, the person on the bottom step of the ladder will be
2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
19. In a row 'A' is in the 11th position from the left and 'B' is in the 10th position from the right. If 'A' and 'B' interchange, then 'A' becomes 18th from the left. How many persons are there in the row other than 'A' and 'B'?
2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
20. Consider that:
1. A is taller than B.
2. C is taller than A.
3. D is taller than C.
4. E is the tallest of all.
If they are made to sit in the above order of their height, who will occupy the mid position?2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
6. Four children are sitting in a row. A is occupying the seat next to B but not next to C. If C is not sitting next to D, who is/are occupying seat/seats adjacent to D?
2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Six books are labelled A, B, C, D, E and F and are placed side by side. Books B, C, E and F have green covers while others have yellow covers. Books A, B and D are new while the rest are old volumes. Books A, B and C are law reports while the rest are medical extracts.
Which two books are old medical extracts and have green covers?2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
A question paper must have a question on one of the eight poets: A, B, C, D, E, F, G or H. First four belong to the medieval period while the rest are considered modern poets. Generally, modern poets figure in the question paper in alternate years. Generally, those who like H like G also; and those who like F like E also. Paper-setter does not like to ask about F as he has written a book on F, but he likes F. Last year, the paper contained a question on A.
On the basis of the information given, this year's paper is most likely to contain a question on2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
In a group of six women there are four dancers, four vocal musicians, one actress and three violinists. Girija and Vanaja are among the violinists while Jalaja and Shailaja do not know how to play on the violin. Shailaja and Tanuja are among the dancers. Jalaja, Vanaja, Shailaja and Tanuja are all vocal musicians and two of them are also violinists. If Pooja is an actress
Who among the following is certainly a dancer and a violinist?2 Marks · Answer key: (D) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Examine the following statements:\n1. George attends Music classes on Monday.\n2. He attends Mathematics classes on Wednesday.\n3. His Literature classes are not on Friday.\n4. He attends History classes on the day following the day of his Mathematics classes.\n5. On Tuesday, he attends his Sports classes.\nIf he attends just one subject in a day and his Sunday is free
Then he is also free on2 Marks · Answer key: (D) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
A, B, C, D, E, F are members of a family. They are engineer, stenographer, doctor, draughtsman, lawyer, and judge (not in order). A, the engineer is married to the lady stenographer. The judge is married to the lawyer. F, the draughtsman is the son of B and brother of E. C, the lawyer is the daughter-in-law of D. E is the unmarried doctor. D is the grandmother of F. There are two married couples in the family.
What is the profession of B?2 Marks · Answer key: (A) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
A, B, C, D, E, F are members of a family. They are engineer, stenographer, doctor, draughtsman, lawyer, and judge (not in order). A, the engineer is married to the lady stenographer. The judge is married to the lawyer. F, the draughtsman is the son of B and brother of E. C, the lawyer is the daughter-in-law of D. E is the unmarried doctor. D is the grandmother of F. There are two married couples in the family.
Which of the following is/are a couple/couples?2 Marks · Answer key: (C) · View question →
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
A, B, C, D, E, F are members of a family. They are engineer, stenographer, doctor, draughtsman, lawyer, and judge (not in order). A, the engineer is married to the lady stenographer. The judge is married to the lawyer. F, the draughtsman is the son of B and brother of E. C, the lawyer is the daughter-in-law of D. E is the unmarried doctor. D is the grandmother of F. There are two married couples in the family.
What is the profession of D?2 Marks · Answer key: (B) · View question →