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UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2024, General Studies Paper II (CSAT)

Series A. Questions and answers from the official UPSC paper and answer key:सीरीज़ A। प्रश्न और उत्तर आधिकारिक UPSC पेपर और उत्तर-कुंजी से: question paperप्रश्न-पत्र, answer keyउत्तर-कुंजी.

Take this paper as a test: answer as many as you like, then see your score with real UPSC marking and which subjects cost you marks. Your answers stay on this device.

All questions with answersउत्तरों के साथ सभी प्रश्न

  1. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally. Food is lost or wasted throughout the supply chain, from initial agricultural production to final household consumption. The increasing wastage also results in land degradation by about 45%, mainly due to deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, and excessive groundwater extraction. The energy spent over wasted food results in about 3.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide production every year. Decay also leads to harmful emissions of other gases in the atmosphere. Addressing the loss and wastage of food in all forms is critical to complete the cycle of food sufficiency and food sustainability.

    Which of the following statements best reflect the most logical and rational inferences that can be made from the passage? 1. The current methods of food distribution are solely responsible for the loss and wastage of food. 2. Land productivity is adversely affected by the prevailing trend of food loss and wastage. 3. Reduction in the loss and wastage of food results in lesser carbon footprint. 4. Post-harvest technologies to prevent or reduce the loss and wastage of food are not available. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1, 2 and 3
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1, 3 and 4
    4. 1, 2 and 4
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (b) 2 and 3 only

    The passage links growing food wastage to land degradation of about 45%, so land productivity suffers (2 follows). It also says the energy spent on wasted food produces about 3.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year and decay releases other gases, so cutting waste lowers the carbon footprint (3 follows). Statement 1 fails because of the word 'solely': the passage says food is lost all along the chain, from production to household use, not only in distribution. Statement 4 is never discussed; the passage says nothing about whether post-harvest technologies exist. Hence 2 and 3 only.

  2. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally. Food is lost or wasted throughout the supply chain, from initial agricultural production to final household consumption. The increasing wastage also results in land degradation by about 45%, mainly due to deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, and excessive groundwater extraction. The energy spent over wasted food results in about 3.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide production every year. Decay also leads to harmful emissions of other gases in the atmosphere. Addressing the loss and wastage of food in all forms is critical to complete the cycle of food sufficiency and food sustainability.

    Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. The food distribution mechanism needs to be reimagined and made effective to reduce the loss and wastage of food. 2. Ensuring the reduction of wastage and loss of food is a social and moral responsibility of all citizens. Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) Both 1 and 2

    The passage says food is wasted throughout the supply chain and that addressing loss 'in all forms' is critical. This takes for granted that the way food moves from farm to consumer must be improved (assumption 1). It also includes final household consumption as a stage of waste, so the author assumes ordinary citizens share the responsibility for cutting waste (assumption 2). Both assumptions underlie the call to address waste in all forms, so both are valid.

  3. As inflation rises, even governments previously committed to budget discipline are spending freely to help households. Higher interest rates announced by central banks are supposed to help produce modest fiscal austerity, because to maintain stable debts while paying more to borrow, governments must cut spending or raise taxes. Without the fiscal backup, monetary policy eventually loses traction. Higher interest rates become inflationary, not disinflationary, because they simply lead governments to borrow more to pay rising debt-service costs. The risk of monetary unmooring is greater when public debt rises, because interest rates become more important to budget deficits.

    Which of the following statements best reflects/reflect the most logical and rational inference/inferences that can be made from the passage? 1. Central banks cannot bring down inflation without budgetary backing. 2. The effects of monetary policy depend on the fiscal policies pursued by the government. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) Both 1 and 2

    The passage says that 'without the fiscal backup, monetary policy eventually loses traction' and that higher rates can even become inflationary if governments simply borrow more. So a central bank cannot bring down inflation on its own without budget support (1 follows), and whether monetary policy works depends on what the government does with its spending and taxes (2 follows). Both inferences are drawn directly from the passage.

  4. As inflation rises, even governments previously committed to budget discipline are spending freely to help households. Higher interest rates announced by central banks are supposed to help produce modest fiscal austerity, because to maintain stable debts while paying more to borrow, governments must cut spending or raise taxes. Without the fiscal backup, monetary policy eventually loses traction. Higher interest rates become inflationary, not disinflationary, because they simply lead governments to borrow more to pay rising debt-service costs. The risk of monetary unmooring is greater when public debt rises, because interest rates become more important to budget deficits.

    Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. Fiscal policies of governments are solely responsible for higher prices. 2. Higher prices do not affect the long-term government bonds. Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    The passage discusses how fiscal and monetary policy interact; it never says government spending is the only cause of inflation, so the word 'solely' makes assumption 1 invalid. Long-term government bonds and the effect of prices on them are not discussed at all, so assumption 2 has no basis either. Neither assumption is needed for the argument.

  5. What is the least possible number of cuts required to cut a cube into 64 identical pieces?

    1. 8
    2. 9
    3. 12
    4. 16
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (b) 9

    64 identical small cubes means 4 x 4 x 4 pieces, so each edge must be divided into 4 parts. Dividing an edge into 4 parts needs 3 cuts, and this is needed along each of the three directions. Least number of cuts = 3 + 3 + 3 = 9.

  6. In the expression 5 * 4 * 3 * 2 * 1, * is chosen from +, -, x each at most two times. What is the smallest non-negative value of the expression?

    1. 3
    2. 2
    3. 1
    4. 0
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) 0

    Try to reach 0. Choose the four signs as -, -, + and x: 5 - 4 - 3 + 2 x 1 = 5 - 4 - 3 + 2 = 0. Here minus is used twice, plus once and times once, which is allowed. Since 0 is the smallest non-negative value possible, the answer is 0.

  7. A certain number of men can complete a piece of work in 6k days, where k is a natural number. By what percent should the number of men be increased so that the work can be completed in 5k days?

    1. 10%
    2. (50/3)%
    3. 20%
    4. 25%
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) 20%

    For a fixed job, the number of men is inversely proportional to the number of days. So new men : old men = 6k : 5k = 6 : 5. The increase is 1 part on 5, that is 1/5 = 20%.

  8. X, Y and Z can complete a piece of work individually in 6 hours, 8 hours and 8 hours respectively. However, only one person at a time can work in each hour and nobody can work for two consecutive hours. All are engaged to finish the work. What is the minimum amount of time that they will take to finish the work?

    1. 6 hours 15 minutes
    2. 6 hours 30 minutes
    3. 6 hours 45 minutes
    4. 7 hours
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) 6 hours 45 minutes

    Take the work as 24 units (LCM of 6 and 8). X does 4 units per hour, Y and Z do 3 units per hour each. To finish fastest, use X, the quickest, in every other hour: X, Y, X, Z, X, Y. In 6 hours they do 4 + 3 + 4 + 3 + 4 + 3 = 21 units. The 7th hour is X's turn; the remaining 3 units take X 3/4 hour = 45 minutes. Total = 6 hours 45 minutes.

  9. How many consecutive zeros are there at the end of the integer obtained in the product 1^2 x 2^4 x 3^6 x 4^8 x ... x 25^50?

    1. 50
    2. 55
    3. 100
    4. 200
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) 200

    The general term is n^(2n) for n = 1 to 25. Trailing zeros come from pairs of 2 and 5, and 5s are far fewer than 2s, so count the 5s. Only multiples of 5 contribute: 5^10 gives 10, 10^20 gives 20, 15^30 gives 30, 20^40 gives 40, and 25^50 = 5^100 gives 100. Total = 10 + 20 + 30 + 40 + 100 = 200 zeros.

  10. On January 1st, 2023, a person saved ₹ 1. On January 2nd, 2023, he saved ₹ 2 more than that on the previous day. On January 3rd, 2023, he saved ₹ 2 more than that on the previous day and so on. At the end of which date was his total savings a perfect square as well a perfect cube?

    1. 7th January, 2023
    2. 8th January, 2023
    3. 9th January, 2023
    4. Not possible
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (b) 8th January, 2023

    He saves 1, 3, 5, 7, ... rupees, the odd numbers. The sum of the first n odd numbers is n^2, so after n days the total is n^2, always a perfect square. For n^2 to also be a perfect cube it must be a sixth power, so n itself must be a perfect cube. Apart from the trivial n = 1 (total 1), the first such day is n = 8: total 64 = 8^2 = 4^3. So the date is 8th January, 2023.

  11. Today, if we consider cities such as New York, London and Paris as some of the most iconic cities in the world, it is because plans carrying a heavy systems approach were imposed on their precincts. The backbone of the systems theory is the process of translating social, spatial and cultural desirables into mathematical models using computing, statistics, optimization and an algorithmic way of formulating and solving problems. The early universities of the West which began to train professionals in planning, spawned some of the most ingenious planners, who were experts in these domains. This was because these very subjects were absorbed into the planning curriculum that had its roots in the social sciences, geography and architecture. Planning in India, and its education differ from the West.

    Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?

    1. Curriculum for urban planning courses should have diverse and interdisciplinary approach.
    2. In India, city administration is under bureaucracy which lacks formal training in urban planning and management.
    3. In India, the management of urban areas is a local affair with a chronic problem of insufficient funds.
    4. With high density of population and widespread poverty in our urban areas, planned development in them is very difficult.
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (a) Curriculum for urban planning courses should have diverse and interdisciplinary approach.

    The passage credits the success of iconic Western cities to planners trained in a curriculum that combined computing, statistics and optimization with social sciences, geography and architecture, and then notes that Indian planning education is different. The natural inference is that planning courses should be diverse and interdisciplinary. Options (b), (c) and (d) bring in bureaucracy, funding, population density and poverty, none of which the passage mentions.

  12. Today, if we consider cities such as New York, London and Paris as some of the most iconic cities in the world, it is because plans carrying a heavy systems approach were imposed on their precincts. The backbone of the systems theory is the process of translating social, spatial and cultural desirables into mathematical models using computing, statistics, optimization and an algorithmic way of formulating and solving problems. The early universities of the West which began to train professionals in planning, spawned some of the most ingenious planners, who were experts in these domains. This was because these very subjects were absorbed into the planning curriculum that had its roots in the social sciences, geography and architecture. Planning in India, and its education differ from the West.

    Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. India needs a new generation of urban professionals with knowledge relevant to modern urban practice. 2. Indian universities at present have no capacity or potential to impart training in systems approach. Which of the assumptions given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (a) 1 only

    By contrasting well-trained Western planners with the different state of Indian planning education, the author implicitly assumes that India needs planners trained in modern, systems-based urban practice (1 is valid). The passage only says Indian planning education differs from the West; it does not say Indian universities have no capacity or potential to teach the systems approach. That is an extreme claim, so 2 is not valid.

  13. Not every voice on the internet commands the same kind of audience. When anonymous private entities with high capital can pay for more space for their opinions, they are effectively buying a louder voice. If political discourse in the digital sphere is a matter of outshining one's opponent till the election is won, then the quality of politics suffers. The focus of social media is restricted to the promotion of content that generates more user engagement, regardless of how inflammatory the content may be.

    Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the above passage?

    1. Constructed as a marketplace of views, social media ensures instant access to information.
    2. Social media are not ideal or moral institutions but the products built by companies to make profits.
    3. Social media have been created to strengthen democracies.
    4. In today's world, social media are inevitable for well-informed social life.
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (b) Social media are not ideal or moral institutions but the products built by companies to make profits.

    The passage stresses that wealthy players can buy a louder voice and that platforms promote whatever generates engagement, however inflammatory. The point is that social media work as commercial products driven by money and engagement, not as neutral or moral spaces, which is option (b). Options (a), (c) and (d) praise social media, which is the opposite of the passage's critical tone.

  14. Not every voice on the internet commands the same kind of audience. When anonymous private entities with high capital can pay for more space for their opinions, they are effectively buying a louder voice. If political discourse in the digital sphere is a matter of outshining one's opponent till the election is won, then the quality of politics suffers. The focus of social media is restricted to the promotion of content that generates more user engagement, regardless of how inflammatory the content may be.

    Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. Internet is not inclusive enough. 2. Internet can adversely affect the quality of politics in a country. Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) Both 1 and 2

    The opening line says not every voice on the internet gets the same audience, and those with money can buy a louder voice, so the internet does not give equal space to all (1 is valid). The passage also says that if digital political discourse is about outshining opponents, the quality of politics suffers (2 is valid). Both are valid.

  15. 222^333 + 333^222 is divisible by which of the following numbers?

    1. 2 and 3 but not 37
    2. 3 and 37 but not 2
    3. 2 and 37 but not 3
    4. 2, 3 and 37
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (b) 3 and 37 but not 2

    222 = 2 x 3 x 37 and 333 = 3 x 3 x 37. Both terms are multiples of 3 and of 37, so their sum is divisible by 3 and 37. For 2: 222^333 is even but 333^222 is odd, so the sum is odd and not divisible by 2.

  16. What percent of water must be mixed with honey so as to gain 20% by selling the mixture at the cost price of honey?

    1. 20%
    2. 10%
    3. 5%
    4. 4%
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (a) 20%

    Let honey cost ₹ 1 per litre and water be free. To gain 20%, the selling price must be 1.2 times the cost. Selling at ₹ 1 per litre, ₹ 1.2 is received for 1.2 litres of mixture that contains only 1 litre of honey (cost ₹ 1). So 0.2 litre of water is added per litre of honey, which is 20% of the honey.

  17. What is the rightmost digit preceding the zeros in the value of 30^30?

    1. 1
    2. 3
    3. 7
    4. 9
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) 9

    30^30 = 3^30 x 10^30. The 10^30 gives the zeros, so the digit before them is the units digit of 3^30. Units digits of powers of 3 repeat in the cycle 3, 9, 7, 1. Since 30 leaves remainder 2 when divided by 4, the units digit is 9.

  18. 421 and 427, when divided by the same number, leave the same remainder 1. How many numbers can be used as the divisor in order to get the same remainder 1?

    1. 1
    2. 2
    3. 3
    4. 4
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) 3

    The divisor must divide 421 - 1 = 420 and 427 - 1 = 426, so it divides HCF(420, 426) = 6. The divisors of 6 are 1, 2, 3, 6, but a remainder of 1 needs a divisor greater than 1. So 2, 3 and 6 work: 3 numbers.

  19. A can X contains 399 litres of petrol and a can Y contains 532 litres of diesel. They are to be bottled in bottles of equal size so that whole of petrol and diesel would be separately bottled. The bottle capacity in terms of litres is an integer. How many different bottle sizes are possible?

    1. 3
    2. 4
    3. 5
    4. 6
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (b) 4

    The bottle size must divide both 399 and 532. 399 = 3 x 7 x 19 and 532 = 4 x 7 x 19, so HCF = 133 = 7 x 19. Its divisors are 1, 7, 19 and 133, giving 4 possible bottle sizes.

  20. Consider the following statements in respect of the sum S = x + y + z, where x, y and z are distinct prime numbers each less than 10: 1. The unit digit of S can be 0. 2. The unit digit of S can be 9. 3. The unit digit of S can be 5. Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) 1 and 3 only

    The primes below 10 are 2, 3, 5 and 7. The possible sums of three distinct ones are 2 + 3 + 5 = 10, 2 + 3 + 7 = 12, 2 + 5 + 7 = 14 and 3 + 5 + 7 = 15. The unit digit can be 0 (from 10) and 5 (from 15) but never 9. So statements 1 and 3 are correct.

  21. By the time children reach class 8, the bulk of them tend to be in the age range of 13 years to 15 years. But in our country, about a quarter of all children in class 8 struggle with reading simple texts and more than half are still unable to do basic arithmetic operations like division. Every year about 25 million young boys and girls from elementary school move into the life that lies for them beyond compulsory schooling. They cannot enter the workforce at least in the organized sector till they are 18. For many families, these children are the first from their families ever to get this far in school. Parents and children expect that such 'graduates' from school will go on to high school and college. Hardly anyone wants to go back to agriculture. On the other hand, abilities in terms of academic competencies are far lower than they should be even based on curricular expectations of class 8.

    Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. For effective school education, parents have greater role than the governments. 2. School curriculum that conforms to today's requirements and is uniform for the entire country may address the issues brought out. Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    The passage describes the gap between what class 8 children can actually do and what they and their parents expect. It does not compare the roles of parents and governments, so 1 is not assumed. It also does not blame the curriculum or suggest a uniform national curriculum; in fact it says competencies are low even against the existing class 8 curricular expectations, so the problem is learning, not the design of the syllabus. Neither assumption is valid.

  22. By the time children reach class 8, the bulk of them tend to be in the age range of 13 years to 15 years. But in our country, about a quarter of all children in class 8 struggle with reading simple texts and more than half are still unable to do basic arithmetic operations like division. Every year about 25 million young boys and girls from elementary school move into the life that lies for them beyond compulsory schooling. They cannot enter the workforce at least in the organized sector till they are 18. For many families, these children are the first from their families ever to get this far in school. Parents and children expect that such 'graduates' from school will go on to high school and college. Hardly anyone wants to go back to agriculture. On the other hand, abilities in terms of academic competencies are far lower than they should be even based on curricular expectations of class 8.

    Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea conveyed by the passage?

    1. Total eradication of poverty in the country will resolve the issue of under-performance of our school-children.
    2. Monetary incentives to parents and teachers is a strategy to improve the children's academic performance.
    3. Public policy should ensure that competencies and achievements of young people are aligned with their expectations.
    4. India is not going to take advantage of the demographic dividend unless some school pass-outs go back to agriculture.
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) Public policy should ensure that competencies and achievements of young people are aligned with their expectations.

    The passage sets high expectations (high school, college, no return to agriculture) against very low actual abilities (poor reading and arithmetic in class 8). The central concern is this mismatch, so policy should bring competencies in line with expectations, option (c). Poverty, monetary incentives and the demographic dividend are not discussed, and the passage does not argue that pass-outs should return to farming.

  23. We take it for granted now that science has a social responsibility. The idea would not have occurred to Newton or Galileo. They thought of science as an account of the world as it is, and the only responsibility that they acknowledged was to tell the truth. The idea that science is a social enterprise is modern, and it begins at the industrial revolution. We are surprised that we cannot trace a social sense further back, because we nurse the illusion that the industrial revolution ended a golden age.

    Which one of the following statements best reflects the thinking of the author about the science?

    1. Science must value the commitment of the scientists.
    2. Science is a product of civilized society and must be used for the promotion of scientific awareness in people.
    3. Industrial revolution was made possible by the advancements in science.
    4. Science must pursue truth but be responsible for social welfare.
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) Science must pursue truth but be responsible for social welfare.

    The author contrasts the old view (Newton and Galileo, whose only duty was to tell the truth) with the modern view, taken for granted now, that science has a social responsibility. Together these give option (d): science still pursues truth but must also answer for social welfare. Option (c) reverses the passage, which says the social idea of science began at the industrial revolution, not that science caused it; (a) and (b) are not discussed.

  24. Consider the sequence A _ BCD _ BBCDABC _ DABC _ D that follows a certain pattern. Which one of the following completes the sequence?

    1. B, A, D, C
    2. B, A, C, D
    3. A, A, C, D
    4. A, A, D, C
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) A, A, C, D

    Filling A, A, C, D gives AABCD ABBCD ABCCD ABCDD. The series is made of blocks of ABCD in which one letter is doubled, moving one step each time: first A, then B, then C, then D. So the blanks are A, A, C, D.

  25. Two persons P and Q enter into a business. P puts ₹ 14,000 more than Q, but P has invested for 8 months and Q has invested for 10 months. If P's share is ₹ 400 more than Q's share out of the total profit of ₹ 2,000, what is the capital contributed by P?

    1. ₹ 30,000
    2. ₹ 26,000
    3. ₹ 24,000
    4. ₹ 20,000
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (a) ₹ 30,000

    Profit shares: P + Q = 2000 and P - Q = 400, so P gets 1200 and Q gets 800, a ratio of 3 : 2. Profit is in the ratio of capital x time: 8P : 10Q = 3 : 2, so 16P = 30Q and P = 15Q/8. Then P - Q = 7Q/8 = 14,000, so Q = 16,000 and P = 30,000.

  26. P's salary is 20% lower than Q's salary which is 20% lower than R's salary. By how much percent is R's salary more than P's salary?

    1. 48.75%
    2. 56.25%
    3. 60.50%
    4. 62.25%
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (b) 56.25%

    Let R = 100. Then Q = 80 and P = 80 x 0.8 = 64. R is more than P by 36, and 36/64 x 100 = 56.25%.

  27. A number is mistakenly divided by 4 instead of multiplying by 4. What is the percentage change in the result due to this mistake?

    1. 25%
    2. 50%
    3. 72.75%
    4. 93.75%
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) 93.75%

    Correct result = 4x; wrong result = x/4. Change = 4x - x/4 = 15x/4. As a percentage of the correct result: (15x/4) / 4x = 15/16 = 93.75% (a decrease).

  28. In an examination, 80% of students passed in English, 70% of students passed in Hindi and 15% failed in both the subjects. What is the percentage of students who failed in only one subject?

    1. 15%
    2. 20%
    3. 25%
    4. 35%
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (b) 20%

    Passed in at least one subject = 100 - 15 = 85%. Passed in both = 80 + 70 - 85 = 65%. Students who failed in exactly one subject are those who passed exactly one: 85 - 65 = 20%.

  29. A father said to his son, "n years back I was as old as you are now. My present age is four times your age n years back". If the sum of the present ages of the father and the son is 130 years, what is the difference of their ages?

    1. 30 years
    2. 32 years
    3. 34 years
    4. 36 years
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (a) 30 years

    Let present ages be F and S. From F - n = S, the age gap is n = F - S. From F = 4(S - n) = 4(S - F + S) = 4(2S - F), we get 5F = 8S. With F + S = 130: S = 50 and F = 80. Difference = 30 years.

  30. Consider the following: 1. 1000 litres = 1 m^3 2. 1 metric ton = 1000 kg 3. 1 hectare = 10000 m^2 Which of the above are correct?

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) 1, 2 and 3

    1 m^3 = 100 cm x 100 cm x 100 cm = 10^6 cm^3 = 1000 litres. A metric ton (tonne) is 1000 kg. A hectare is 100 m x 100 m = 10,000 m^2. All three are correct.

  31. "The history of science is the real history of mankind." In this striking epigram, a nineteenth-century writer links science with its background. Like most epigrams, its power lies in emphasizing by contrast an aspect of truth which may be easily overlooked. In this case, it is easy to overlook the relations between science and mankind, and to treat the former as some abstract third party, which can sometimes be praised for its beneficial influences, but frequently and conveniently blamed for the horrors of war. Science and mankind cannot be divorced from time to time at men's convenience. Yet we have seen that, in spite of countless opportunities of improvement, the opening years of the present period of civilization have been dominated by international conflict. Is this the inevitable result of the progress of science or does the fault lie elsewhere?

    Which of the following is/are emphatically conveyed by the author of the passage? 1. Without science, mankind could not have continued to exist till today. 2. It is the science that will ultimately determine the destiny of mankind. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    The author's point is that science and mankind are bound together and that science should not be treated as a separate third party to be praised or blamed at our convenience. He does not claim that mankind could not have survived without science (1), nor that science alone will decide humanity's future (2); indeed he asks whether the fault for conflict lies elsewhere, that is, with people. Neither statement is conveyed.

  32. "The history of science is the real history of mankind." In this striking epigram, a nineteenth-century writer links science with its background. Like most epigrams, its power lies in emphasizing by contrast an aspect of truth which may be easily overlooked. In this case, it is easy to overlook the relations between science and mankind, and to treat the former as some abstract third party, which can sometimes be praised for its beneficial influences, but frequently and conveniently blamed for the horrors of war. Science and mankind cannot be divorced from time to time at men's convenience. Yet we have seen that, in spite of countless opportunities of improvement, the opening years of the present period of civilization have been dominated by international conflict. Is this the inevitable result of the progress of science or does the fault lie elsewhere?

    Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. The horrors of modern life are the inevitable result of the progress of science. 2. The aspect of truth likely to be overlooked is that science is what man has made it. Which of the assumptions given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (b) 2 only

    The passage says the easily overlooked truth is the relation between science and mankind: science is not an abstract third party but a human creation, so it reflects what people make of it (2 is correct). Assumption 1 is only raised as a question at the end ('Is this the inevitable result...?'), and the author hints that the fault may lie elsewhere, so it is not assumed.

  33. Only with long experience and opening of his wares on many a beach where his language is not spoken, will the merchant come to know the worth of what he carries, and what is parochial and what is universal in his choice. Such delicate goods as justice, love and honour, courtesy, and indeed all the things we care for, are valid everywhere but they are variously moulded and often differently handled, and sometimes nearly unrecognizable if you meet them in a foreign land, and the art of learning fundamental common values is perhaps the greatest gain of travel to those who wish to live at ease among their fellows.

    When we meet other people while we travel, we learn to differentiate between

    1. imagination and understanding
    2. communities and nationalities
    3. local values and universal values
    4. friends and foes
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) local values and universal values

    The passage says that by opening his wares on many foreign beaches the merchant learns 'what is parochial and what is universal in his choice'. Parochial means local, so travel teaches us to tell local values from universal ones, option (c). The other pairs are not mentioned.

  34. Only with long experience and opening of his wares on many a beach where his language is not spoken, will the merchant come to know the worth of what he carries, and what is parochial and what is universal in his choice. Such delicate goods as justice, love and honour, courtesy, and indeed all the things we care for, are valid everywhere but they are variously moulded and often differently handled, and sometimes nearly unrecognizable if you meet them in a foreign land, and the art of learning fundamental common values is perhaps the greatest gain of travel to those who wish to live at ease among their fellows.

    With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. Travel leads to an understanding of humans. 2. Travel helps those who wish to learn fundamental common values. 3. A person with long experience in travel can resolve differences amongst people. Which of the assumptions given above are valid?

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (a) 1 and 2 only

    Through travel one learns how values like justice, love and courtesy are moulded differently in different places, which is an understanding of people (1 is valid). The passage says learning fundamental common values is the greatest gain of travel for those who wish to live at ease among others (2 is valid). It never says that an experienced traveller can resolve differences among people; travel helps the traveller himself live at ease, so 3 goes beyond the passage.

  35. Let X be a two-digit number and Y be another two-digit number formed by interchanging the digits of X. If (X + Y) is the greatest two-digit number, then what is the number of possible values of X?

    1. 2
    2. 4
    3. 6
    4. 8
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) 8

    If X = 10a + b, then Y = 10b + a and X + Y = 11(a + b). The greatest two-digit number is 99, so a + b = 9. Since Y must also be a two-digit number, b cannot be 0, so neither digit is 0. The possibilities are 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81: 8 values.

  36. Consider the following: Weight of 6 boys = Weight of 7 girls = Weight of 3 men = Weight of 4 women If the average weight of the women is 63 kg, then what is the average weight of the boys?

    1. 40 kg
    2. 42 kg
    3. 45 kg
    4. 63 kg
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (b) 42 kg

    Weight of 4 women = 4 x 63 = 252 kg. This equals the weight of 6 boys, so the average weight of a boy = 252 / 6 = 42 kg.

  37. How many times the hour hand and the minute hand coincide in a clock between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. (same day)?

    1. 3 times
    2. 4 times
    3. 5 times
    4. 6 times
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (a) 3 times

    The hands coincide once in every 12/11 hours, at about 10:54:33, 12:00 noon and 1:05:27 in this interval. The next coincidence after that is at about 2:10:54, which is after 2:00 p.m. So they coincide 3 times.

  38. The calendar for the year 2025 is same for

    1. 2029
    2. 2030
    3. 2031
    4. 2033
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) 2031

    2025 is an ordinary year beginning on a Wednesday. Each ordinary year moves the starting day by 1 and a leap year by 2: 2026 Thursday, 2027 Friday, 2028 Saturday (leap year), 2029 Monday, 2030 Tuesday, 2031 Wednesday. 2031 is also an ordinary year starting on Wednesday, so its calendar is the same as 2025.

  39. Let p, q, r and s be distinct positive integers. Let p, q be odd and r, s be even. Consider the following statements: 1. (p - r)^2 (qs) is even. 2. (q - s)q^2 s is even. 3. (q + r)^2 (p + s) is odd. Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) 1, 2 and 3

    1: qs contains the even factor s, so the product is even. 2: the factor s is even, so the product is even. 3: q + r is odd + even = odd, so its square is odd; p + s is odd + even = odd; odd x odd = odd. All three statements are correct.

  40. What is the angle between the minute hand and hour hand when the clock shows 4:25 hours?

    1. 12.5°
    2. 15°
    3. 17.5°
    4. 20°
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) 17.5°

    Angle = |30H - 5.5M| = |30 x 4 - 5.5 x 25| = |120 - 137.5| = 17.5°. (Minute hand at 25 x 6 = 150°, hour hand at 120 + 25 x 0.5 = 132.5°.)

  41. Conventional classrooms, by emphasizing fixed duration over learning effectiveness, resign themselves to variable outcomes. The tyranny of the classroom is that every learner is subjected to the same set of lectures in the same way for the same duration. In the end, a few learners shine, some survive, and the rest are left behind. After the fixed duration, the classroom model moves on, with not a thought spared for those left behind. This is how we end up with 10 percent employability in our graduates after a decade and half of formal education. Repeating the same ineffectual script in the realm of skill education will not produce different results.

    Which of the following statements best reflects/reflect the most logical and rational inference/inferences that can be made from the passage? 1. In conventional classroom learning, the central goal is duration of learning rather than attainment of competency. 2. Conventional classrooms encourage one-size-fits-all approach and stamp out all differentiation. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) Both 1 and 2

    The passage says conventional classrooms emphasize 'fixed duration over learning effectiveness' and move on after the fixed time regardless of who has learnt, so duration rather than competency is the goal (1 follows). It also calls it the tyranny of the classroom that every learner gets the same lectures in the same way for the same time, which is a one-size-fits-all approach that ignores differences between learners (2 follows). Both inferences are supported.

  42. Conventional classrooms, by emphasizing fixed duration over learning effectiveness, resign themselves to variable outcomes. The tyranny of the classroom is that every learner is subjected to the same set of lectures in the same way for the same duration. In the end, a few learners shine, some survive, and the rest are left behind. After the fixed duration, the classroom model moves on, with not a thought spared for those left behind. This is how we end up with 10 percent employability in our graduates after a decade and half of formal education. Repeating the same ineffectual script in the realm of skill education will not produce different results.

    Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. As a large number of workers in our country are employed in unorganized sector, India does not need to change its present conventional classroom system of education. 2. Even with its present conventional classroom system of education, India produces sufficient number of skilled workers to fully realize the benefits of demographic dividend. Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    Both assumptions go against the passage. The author criticises the conventional classroom and warns against repeating it in skill education, so he clearly thinks it must change (1 is invalid). He also points to only 10 percent employability among graduates, which contradicts the claim that the present system produces enough skilled workers (2 is invalid). The unorganized sector and the demographic dividend are not mentioned at all.

  43. When a child reaches adolescence, there is apt to be a conflict between the parents and the child, since the latter considers himself to be by now quite capable of managing his own affairs, while the former are filled with parental solicitude, which is often a disguise for love of power. Parents consider, usually, that the various moral problems which arise in adolescence are peculiarly their province. The options they express, however, are so dogmatic that the young seldom confide in them, and usually go their own way in secret.

    Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. The adolescent does not feel comfortable with his parents because they tend to be dominating and assertive. 2. The adolescent of modern times does not have much respect for parents. Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (a) 1 only

    The passage says parental concern is often a disguise for love of power and that parents' views are so dogmatic that the young seldom confide in them. So the adolescent is uncomfortable because the parents are dominating and assertive (1 is valid). The passage does not speak of 'modern times' or of a lack of respect; the young simply avoid confiding and go their own way, so 2 is not supported.

  44. When a child reaches adolescence, there is apt to be a conflict between the parents and the child, since the latter considers himself to be by now quite capable of managing his own affairs, while the former are filled with parental solicitude, which is often a disguise for love of power. Parents consider, usually, that the various moral problems which arise in adolescence are peculiarly their province. The options they express, however, are so dogmatic that the young seldom confide in them, and usually go their own way in secret.

    Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the above passage?

    1. Parents in general may not be of much help when children are on their way to becoming adults.
    2. When children reach adolescence, involvement of parents in their lives is unnecessary.
    3. Modern-day nuclear families are not capable of bringing up children properly.
    4. In modern societies, adolescents tend to be stubborn, disobedient and careless.
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (a) Parents in general may not be of much help when children are on their way to becoming adults.

    Because parents are dogmatic, adolescents seldom confide in them and go their own way in secret, so parents usually end up being of little help as children grow into adults, option (a). Option (b) is too strong: the passage does not say parental involvement is unnecessary, only that it is often ineffective. Nuclear families (c) and stubborn adolescents (d) are not discussed.

  45. What is the number of fives used in numbering a 260-page book?

    1. 55
    2. 56
    3. 57
    4. 60
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (b) 56

    Count the digit 5 in page numbers 1 to 260. In the units place: 5, 15, 25, ..., 255, which is 26 numbers. In the tens place: 50 to 59, 150 to 159 and 250 to 259, which is 30 numbers. No page number from 1 to 260 has 5 in the hundreds place. Total = 26 + 30 = 56.

  46. What is the sum of the first 28 terms in the following sequence? 1, 1, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1, 5, 4, 3, 2, ...

    1. 83
    2. 84
    3. 85
    4. 86
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (b) 84

    Group the terms as 1 | 1 | 2, 1 | 3, 2, 1 | 4, 3, 2, 1 | 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 | 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 | 7, 6, ... The first seven groups have 1 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 = 22 terms with sum 1 + 1 + 3 + 6 + 10 + 15 + 21 = 57. Terms 23 to 28 are 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 with sum 27. Total = 57 + 27 = 84.

  47. A person buys three articles P, Q and R for ₹ 3,330. If P costs 25% more than R and R costs 20% more than Q, then what is the cost of P?

    1. ₹ 1,000
    2. ₹ 1,200
    3. ₹ 1,250
    4. ₹ 1,350
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) ₹ 1,350

    Let Q = x. Then R = 1.2x and P = 1.25 x 1.2x = 1.5x. Total = x + 1.2x + 1.5x = 3.7x = 3330, so x = 900. P = 1.5 x 900 = ₹ 1,350.

  48. If the sum of the two-digit numbers AB and CD is the three-digit number 1CE, where the letters A, B, C, D, E denote distinct digits, then what is the value of A?

    1. 9
    2. 8
    3. 7
    4. Cannot be determined due to insufficient data
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (a) 9

    AB + CD = 1CE. In the tens column, A + C + (carry from units) must give C in the tens place and 1 carried to the hundreds, so A + carry = 10. A is a single digit, so the carry must be 1 and A = 9. For example, 96 + 47 = 143 fits, with A = 9, B = 6, C = 4, D = 7, E = 3.

  49. Three numbers x, y, z are selected from the set of the first seven natural numbers such that x > 2y > 3z. How many such distinct triplets (x, y, z) are possible?

    1. One triplet
    2. Two triplets
    3. Three triplets
    4. Four triplets
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) Four triplets

    x is at most 7, so 2y is at most 6 and y is at most 3. If z = 1, then 2y > 3 gives y = 2 or 3. For y = 2, x > 4 gives x = 5, 6, 7 (3 triplets). For y = 3, x > 6 gives x = 7 (1 triplet). If z = 2, 2y > 6 needs y at least 4, which is impossible. Total = 4 triplets.

  50. The total cost of 4 oranges, 6 mangoes and 8 apples is equal to twice the total cost of 1 orange, 2 mangoes and 5 apples. Consider the following statements: 1. The total cost of 3 oranges, 5 mangoes and 9 apples is equal to the total cost of 4 oranges, 6 mangoes and 8 apples. 2. The total cost of one orange and one mango is equal to the cost of one apple. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) Both 1 and 2

    Let the prices be o, m, a. 4o + 6m + 8a = 2o + 4m + 10a gives 2o + 2m = 2a, so o + m = a (statement 2 is correct). Then (4o + 6m + 8a) - (3o + 5m + 9a) = o + m - a = 0, so the two totals are equal (statement 1 is correct). Both are correct.

  51. When an international team of scientists pumped a carbon dioxide and water mix into underground basalt rocks, basic chemistry took over. The acidic mixture dissolved rocks' calcium and magnesium and formed limestone. Basically carbon dioxide is converted into stone, exclaimed the scientists.

    Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical, rational and practical suggestion implied by the passage?

    1. It is a cheap and practical method to produce limestone at commercial level for building purposes.
    2. This can be used as one of the methods of carbon sequestration.
    3. Basalt rock can be made a good source of calcium and magnesium minerals by this method.
    4. Good rock-dissolving acid can be produced by mixing carbon dioxide and water.
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (b) This can be used as one of the methods of carbon sequestration.

    The key result is that carbon dioxide pumped underground is turned into stone, that is, locked away permanently. The practical suggestion is to use this to capture and store carbon (carbon sequestration), option (b). The passage says nothing about cost or commercial limestone production (a), the calcium and magnesium are used up rather than obtained (c), and the acid is only a step in the process, not the useful outcome (d).

  52. Geographers analyzed 175 satellite images of ocean colour, which is an indicator of phytoplankton productivity at the ocean's surface, and found that giant icebergs are responsible for storing up to 20 percent of carbon in the Southern Ocean. The researchers discovered that melting water from giant icebergs which contains iron and other nutrients, supports hitherto unexpectedly high levels of phytoplankton growth.

    Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. Giant icebergs have a bearing on primary productivity and food chains of the Southern Ocean. 2. Melting of giant icebergs can produce climate change effects and impact world fisheries. Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) Both 1 and 2

    Melt water from giant icebergs brings iron and nutrients that support unexpectedly high phytoplankton growth. Phytoplankton are the primary producers at the base of ocean food chains, so icebergs affect primary productivity and food chains (1 is valid). The icebergs also account for storing up to 20 percent of carbon in the Southern Ocean, so changes in them affect carbon storage and hence climate, and greater plankton growth affects fish stocks (2 is valid). The official key treats both as valid.

  53. Evolution has endowed caterpillars that feed on corn with a unique ability, they can induce the plant to turn off its defence against insect predators. This helps caterpillars to eat more and grow faster. The agent that causes this effect is the caterpillar's faeces or frass. The find could throw new light on compounds associated with plant response to pathogens like fungi or bacteria.

    Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical, rational and practical message conveyed by the passage?

    1. Farmers can use caterpillars to feed on weeds in their crop fields/plantations.
    2. This finding can help in the development of clinically useful antimicrobial compounds.
    3. This finding can help in the development of organic, ecologically sustainable pesticides.
    4. Caterpillars can be genetically modified to be predators of the other plant pests.
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) This finding can help in the development of organic, ecologically sustainable pesticides.

    The passage is about how a natural substance (caterpillar frass) switches a plant's defences on or off, and says the find could throw light on compounds linked to how plants respond to fungi and bacteria. Understanding and managing plant defence with natural compounds points to organic, ecologically sustainable pest control, option (c). Option (b) is tempting because of 'fungi or bacteria', but the passage is about plant responses, not clinical (medical) drugs. Options (a) and (d) are not suggested.

  54. 32^5 + 2^27 is divisible by

    1. 3
    2. 7
    3. 10
    4. 11
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) 10

    32 = 2^5, so 32^5 = 2^25. Then 2^25 + 2^27 = 2^25 (1 + 2^2) = 2^25 x 5 = 2^24 x 10. So the number is divisible by 10.

  55. Let p and q be positive integers satisfying p < q and p + q = k. What is the smallest value of k that does not determine p and q uniquely?

    1. 3
    2. 4
    3. 5
    4. 6
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) 5

    k = 3: only (1, 2). k = 4: only (1, 3), since (2, 2) fails p < q. k = 5: (1, 4) and (2, 3), two possibilities. So 5 is the smallest k for which p and q are not unique.

  56. A person walks 100 m straight from his house, turns left and walks 100 m, again turns left and walks 300 m, then turns right and walks 100 m to reach his office. In which direction does he walk initially from his house if his office is exactly in the North-East direction?

    1. North-West
    2. West
    3. South
    4. South-West
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) South

    Test starting South: 100 m South, turn left so face East and walk 100 m, turn left so face North and walk 300 m, turn right so face East and walk 100 m. Net movement: 300 - 100 = 200 m North and 100 + 100 = 200 m East, so the office is exactly North-East. Hence he started walking South.

  57. A person walks 100 m Westward, then turns left and walks 100 m. He then takes 225° turn clockwise. In which direction is he walking now?

    1. South-West
    2. South-East
    3. North-West
    4. North-East
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) North-East

    Walking West, a left turn makes him face South. Turning clockwise from South: 90° gives West, 180° gives North, and a further 45° (total 225°) gives North-East.

  58. A Statement is given followed by two Conclusions numbered I and II. Consider the Statement and the Conclusions. Statement: India is the world's largest producer of milk. Conclusion-I: India is the world's largest exporter of milk. Conclusion-II: India does not import milk. Which one of the following is correct?

    1. Only Conclusion-I follows
    2. Only Conclusion-II follows
    3. Both Conclusion-I and Conclusion-II follow
    4. Neither Conclusion-I nor Conclusion-II follows
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) Neither Conclusion-I nor Conclusion-II follows

    Being the largest producer says nothing about trade. A large producer may consume most of its output at home, so it need not be the largest exporter (I does not follow), and it may still import some milk or milk products (II does not follow). Neither conclusion follows.

  59. A Question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements. Question: What are the values of m and n, where m and n are natural numbers? Statement-I: m + n > mn and m > n. Statement-II: The product of m and n is 24. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements?

    1. The Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other Statement alone
    2. The Question can be answered by using either Statement alone
    3. The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone
    4. The Question cannot be answered even by using both the Statements together
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone

    Statement I: m + n > mn means mn - m - n + 1 < 1, that is (m - 1)(n - 1) < 1, so (m - 1)(n - 1) = 0 and one of them is 1. With m > n, n = 1 and m can be any number from 2 upward, so I alone is not enough. Statement II alone allows (1, 24), (2, 12), (3, 8), (4, 6) and so on, so it is not enough. Together: n = 1 and mn = 24 give m = 24, n = 1 (check: 25 > 24). Both statements together are needed.

  60. A Question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements. Question: What is the time required to download the software? Statement-I: The size of the software is 12 megabytes. Statement-II: The transfer rate is 2.4 kilobytes per second. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements?

    1. The Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other Statement alone
    2. The Question can be answered by using either Statement alone
    3. The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone
    4. The Question cannot be answered even by using both the Statements together
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone

    Time = size / transfer rate. Statement I gives only the size and Statement II only the rate, so neither alone is enough. Together: 12 megabytes = 12 x 1024 = 12,288 kilobytes, and 12,288 / 2.4 = 5,120 seconds (about 85 minutes). So both statements together answer the question.

  61. In a robust democracy, reality, howsoever inconvenient it may be, finds its expression both in the speech of political leaders and the other social forms of assertion. The existence of the real has to be transparent, both through its circulation in and by the media as well as its argumentative articulation in deliberative democracy. A normatively responsible media through its communication effect has the responsibility to circulate the content of reality without distortion.

    Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the above passage?

    1. Responsible media should not distort the real in an ideal democracy.
    2. Fake news seems inherent in the life of an ideal democracy.
    3. There should not be any kind of restrictions on the freedom of expression in an ideal democracy.
    4. Irresponsible media and political leaders cannot be effectively controlled in an ideal democracy.
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (a) Responsible media should not distort the real in an ideal democracy.

    The passage ends by saying a normatively responsible media has the responsibility to circulate the content of reality without distortion, in a robust democracy where reality must be transparent. That is option (a). Fake news (b) is never described as inherent, the passage does not argue against all restrictions (c), and it says nothing about controlling irresponsible media or leaders (d).

  62. Now-a-days there is a growing trend to use interconnected home devices. As consumers increasingly network their homes, the connected home device manufacturers and service providers will seek to overcome "thin profit margins by gathering more of our personal data - with or without our agreement - turning the home into a corporate storefront". Corporate marketers will have powerful incentives to observe consumer behaviour to understand the buying needs and preferences of the device owners.

    Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical, rational and practical message implied by the passage?

    1. Knowledge of consumer behaviour leads to more capital expenditure in manufacturing sector.
    2. Knowledge of consumer behaviour stimulates the growth of commerce and trade and thus helps in the overall economic development of the country.
    3. Interconnected devices give a lot of comfort to home users and improve the overall quality of life.
    4. Interconnected devices can be at security risk and home users may have privacy risk.
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) Interconnected devices can be at security risk and home users may have privacy risk.

    The passage warns that device makers and service providers will gather more personal data 'with or without our agreement' and that marketers will watch consumer behaviour inside the home. The practical message is that connected home devices carry privacy and security risks for users, option (d). Options (a) and (b) see data gathering as an economic benefit, which is not the passage's concern, and (c) praises comfort, which is not mentioned.

  63. Green growth involves rethinking growth strategies with regard to the impacts on environmental sustainability and the environmental resources available to poor and vulnerable groups. In rethinking growth, we need to focus on the current reality of a resource-constrained world. Resource intensive and, in particular energy intensive processes will need to make way for more efficient and resource frugal development strategies if we are to avoid an economic dead end or a world in which only a small elite is able to enjoy affluence in the midst of a sea of poverty.

    Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the above passage?

    1. Environmental sustainability is inimical to our objective of achieving a high rate of GDP growth.
    2. Poverty eradication is not possible without a rapid economic growth and the consequent environmental degradation.
    3. Maintaining high environmental standards is now a prerequisite for achieving a steady, sufficient and inclusive growth.
    4. With large populations, rampant poverty and limited resources of today's world, environmental degradation cannot be prevented and inequalities are inevitable.
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) Maintaining high environmental standards is now a prerequisite for achieving a steady, sufficient and inclusive growth.

    The passage argues that in a resource-constrained world, resource and energy intensive processes must give way to efficient, frugal strategies, or we face an economic dead end and a small affluent elite amid widespread poverty. So caring for the environment is a precondition for growth that lasts and includes the poor, option (c). Options (a) and (b) set environment against growth, which the passage rejects, and (d) is fatalistic, while the passage says the bad outcomes can be avoided.

  64. A Question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements. Question: What are the unique values of x and y, where x, y are distinct natural numbers? Statement-I: x / y is odd. Statement-II: xy = 12 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements?

    1. The Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other Statement alone
    2. The Question can be answered by using either Statement alone
    3. The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone
    4. The Question cannot be answered even by using both the Statements together
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone

    Statement I alone allows endless pairs such as (3, 1), (5, 1), (6, 2). Statement II alone allows (1, 12), (12, 1), (2, 6), (6, 2), (3, 4), (4, 3). Together, x/y must be an odd whole number: 12/1 = 12 is even, 6/2 = 3 is odd, and the other ratios are fractions. So x = 6, y = 2 uniquely. Both statements together are needed.

  65. A Question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements. A certain amount was distributed among X, Y and Z. Question: Who received the least amount? Statement-I: X received 4/5 of what Y and Z together received. Statement-II: Y received 2/7 of what X and Z together received. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements?

    1. The Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other Statement alone
    2. The Question can be answered by using either Statement alone
    3. The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone
    4. The Question cannot be answered even by using both the Statements together
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone

    Let the total be T. Statement I gives X = 4/9 of T but says nothing about how Y and Z share the rest. Statement II gives Y = 2/9 of T but nothing about X and Z separately. Together: X = 4T/9, Y = 2T/9, so Z = 3T/9. Y received the least. Both statements are needed.

  66. A Question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements. Question: If the average marks in a class are 60, then what is the number of students in the class? Statement-I: The highest marks in the class are 70 and the lowest marks are 50. Statement-II: Exclusion of highest and lowest marks from the class does not change the average. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements?

    1. The Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other Statement alone
    2. The Question can be answered by using either Statement alone
    3. The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone
    4. The Question cannot be answered even by using both the Statements together
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) The Question cannot be answered even by using both the Statements together

    Neither statement gives a total of marks or any count. Even together, the highest and lowest marks (70 and 50) themselves average 60, so removing them leaves the average at 60 whatever the class size is. A class of 3, 10 or 50 students fits equally well, so the number of students cannot be found.

  67. A Question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements. There are three distinct prime numbers whose sum is a prime number. Question: What are those three numbers? Statement-I: Their sum is less than 23. Statement-II: One of the numbers is 5. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements?

    1. The Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other Statement alone
    2. The Question can be answered by using either Statement alone
    3. The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone
    4. The Question cannot be answered even by using both the Statements together
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (a) The Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other Statement alone

    If 2 were one of the primes, the sum would be even and greater than 2, so not prime; hence all three are odd primes. Statement I: odd-prime triples with sum below 23 are 3 + 5 + 7 = 15, 3 + 5 + 11 = 19, 3 + 5 + 13 = 21 and 3 + 7 + 11 = 21; only 19 is prime, so the numbers are 3, 5, 11 uniquely. Statement II alone is not enough: 3 + 5 + 11 = 19 and 5 + 7 + 11 = 23 both work. So Statement I alone answers the question but Statement II alone does not.

  68. A Question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements. Question: Is (x + y) an integer? Statement-I: (2x + y) is an integer. Statement-II: (x + 2y) is an integer. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements?

    1. The Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other Statement alone
    2. The Question can be answered by using either Statement alone
    3. The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone
    4. The Question cannot be answered even by using both the Statements together
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) The Question cannot be answered even by using both the Statements together

    Adding the two expressions gives 3(x + y), so together they only tell us that 3(x + y) is an integer. Take x = y = 1/3: 2x + y = 1 and x + 2y = 1 are integers but x + y = 2/3 is not. Take x = y = 1: both are integers and x + y = 2 is an integer. Since both answers are possible, the question cannot be answered even with both statements.

  69. A Question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements. A person buys three articles p, q and r for ₹ 50. The price of the article q is ₹ 16 which is the least. Question: What is the price of the article p? Statement-I: The cost of p is not more than that of r. Statement-II: The cost of r is not more than that of p. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements?

    1. The Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other Statement alone
    2. The Question can be answered by using either Statement alone
    3. The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone
    4. The Question cannot be answered even by using both the Statements together
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone

    p + r = 50 - 16 = 34, and both p and r are more than 16. Statement I (p not more than r) only gives p at most 17, so p can be any price above 16 up to 17, such as 16.50 or 17. Statement II (r not more than p) only gives p at least 17. Together p is both at most and at least r, so p = r = 34/2 = ₹ 17. Both statements are needed. (This reading treats prices as not necessarily whole rupees, as the official key does.)

  70. A Question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements. P, Q, R and S appeared in a test. Question: Has P scored more marks than Q? Statement-I: The sum of the marks scored by P and Q is equal to the sum of the marks scored by R and S. Statement-II: The sum of the marks scored by P and S is more than the sum of the marks scored by Q and R. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements?

    1. The Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other Statement alone
    2. The Question can be answered by using either Statement alone
    3. The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone
    4. The Question cannot be answered even by using both the Statements together
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) The Question cannot be answered even by using both the Statements together

    Combining the two statements only tells us P > R and S > Q; it says nothing about P against Q. Example 1: P = 10, Q = 5, R = 4, S = 11 gives 15 = 15 and 21 > 9, with P > Q. Example 2: P = 5, Q = 10, R = 4, S = 11 gives 15 = 15 and 16 > 14, with P < Q. Both fit the statements, so the question cannot be answered even with both.

  71. Unlike religion and science, poetry does not posit or expect any belief in absolute truths. Those forces or individuals who claim to have absolute truths in their grasp tend to turn dictatorial and tyrannical. Truth usually does not admit any contradictions or imperfections. It is unitarian. It is, therefore, not of much use for poetry. Poetry abides by the plurality of life and existence. Perhaps poetry follows reality which is plural, anachronistic, full of contradictions. Against the tyranny of truth, poetry remains a partisan of democratic reality. Against the arrogance of power, wealth and hierarchy, poetry proposes both humility and defiance.

    Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical and rational message conveyed by the above passage?

    1. It is the poetry, not science or religion, which recognizes and accepts imperfections in humans.
    2. Truth is revealed through science or religion and poetry is anathema to truth.
    3. Poetry is romantic, imaginary and is about feeling whereas science and religion are about truth.
    4. In a world of violence, tyranny and bigotry, poetry is a form of dynamic resistance.
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) In a world of violence, tyranny and bigotry, poetry is a form of dynamic resistance.

    The passage ends with poetry standing against the 'tyranny of truth' and proposing humility and defiance against the arrogance of power, wealth and hierarchy. Its message is that poetry resists tyranny and absolutism, option (d). Option (a) is tempting because the passage mentions imperfections, but it speaks of contradictions in reality, not imperfections in humans. Option (b) overstates the point and (c) brings in romance and feeling, which are not discussed.

  72. The flower was not invented to please us. It flaunted its petals and spread its perfume to attract an insect. The insect carries the pollen from flower to flower so that pollen is not carried away by wind and thus not wasted. What we call a flower's beauty is merely a by-product and a human invention. The perfume is not there to please us, it pleases us because it is there and we have been conditioned to it.

    Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. The author of the passage believes that flowers are creations of Nature's luxury. 2. The author of the passage does not believe in the usefulness of flowers except as things of beauty. Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    The author explains that petals and perfume serve a practical purpose: attracting insects that carry pollen efficiently. So flowers are functional, not a luxury of Nature (1 is invalid). The author also treats beauty as a mere by-product and a human invention, and stresses the flower's use in pollination, which is the opposite of statement 2. Neither assumption is valid.

  73. A Question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements. Age of each of P and Q is less than 100 years but more than 10 years. If you interchange the digits of the age of P, the number represents the age of Q. Question: What is the difference of their ages? Statement-I: The age of P is greater than the age of Q. Statement-II: The sum of their ages is 11/6 times their difference. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements?

    1. The Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other Statement alone
    2. The Question can be answered by using either Statement alone
    3. The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone
    4. The Question cannot be answered even by using both the Statements together
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (a) The Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other Statement alone

    Let the ages be 10a + b and 10b + a (both digits non-zero, since both ages are two-digit). Sum = 11(a + b) and difference = 9 x (difference of digits). Statement II: 11(a + b) = (11/6) x 9 x (difference of digits), so 2(a + b) = 3 x (difference of digits). Taking the larger digit as 5 times the smaller, the only digits that work are 5 and 1, so the ages are 51 and 15 and the difference is 36, whichever is older. So II alone answers the question. Statement I alone only says P is older, which allows many pairs (21 and 12, 31 and 13, ...), so it is not enough.

  74. A Main Statement is followed by four Statements labelled P, Q, R and S. Choose the ordered pair of the Statements where the first Statement implies the second, and the two Statements are logically consistent with the Main Statement. Main Statement: Pradeep becomes either a Director or a Producer. Statement P: Pradeep is a Director. Statement Q: Pradeep is a Producer. Statement R: Pradeep is not a Director. Statement S: Pradeep is not a Producer. Select the correct answer.

    1. SP only
    2. RQ only
    3. Both SP and RQ
    4. Neither SP nor RQ
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (c) Both SP and RQ

    For an 'either A or B' statement, denying one option forces the other. If Pradeep is not a Producer (S), he must be a Director (P), so SP is valid. If he is not a Director (R), he must be a Producer (Q), so RQ is valid. Both pairs are correct.

  75. If a + b means a - b; a - b means a x b; a x b means a ÷ b; a ÷ b means a + b, then what is the value of 10 + 30 - 100 x 50 ÷ 25? (Operations are to be replaced simultaneously)

    1. 15
    2. 0
    3. -15
    4. -25
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) -25

    Replace each sign at once: + becomes -, - becomes x, x becomes ÷, ÷ becomes +. The expression becomes 10 - 30 x 100 ÷ 50 + 25. Using BODMAS: 30 x 100 = 3000, 3000 ÷ 50 = 60, so 10 - 60 + 25 = -25.

  76. If P means 'greater than (>)'; Q means 'less than (<)'; R means 'not greater than (≯)'; S means 'not less than (≮)' and T means 'equal to (=)', then consider the following statements: 1. If 2x(S)3y and 3x(T)4z, then 9y(P)8z. 2. If x(Q)2y and y(R)z, then x(R)z. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    Statement 1: 2x is not less than 3y, so 2x ≥ 3y; and 3x = 4z, so x = 4z/3 and 2x = 8z/3. Then 8z/3 ≥ 3y, that is 8z ≥ 9y, so 9y is not greater than 8z; the claim 9y > 8z is wrong. Statement 2: x < 2y and y ≤ z only give x < 2z. For example y = z = 10 and x = 15 satisfy both conditions but x > z, so 'x not greater than z' need not hold. Neither statement is correct.

  77. If in a certain code, 'ABCD' is written as 24 and 'EFGH' is written as 1680, then how is 'IJKL' written in that code?

    1. 11880
    2. 11240
    3. 7920
    4. 5940
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (a) 11880

    The code is the product of the alphabet positions of the letters. ABCD = 1 x 2 x 3 x 4 = 24 and EFGH = 5 x 6 x 7 x 8 = 1680. So IJKL = 9 x 10 x 11 x 12 = 11880.

  78. If in a certain code, 'POT' is written as ATOP and 'TRAP' is written as APART, then how is 'ARENA' written in that code?

    1. AARENA
    2. AANREA
    3. AANEAR
    4. AANERA
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (d) AANERA

    The word is written in reverse and the letter A is placed in front: POT reversed is TOP, giving ATOP; TRAP reversed is PART, giving APART. ARENA reversed is ANERA, so the code is AANERA.

  79. What will come in place of * in the sequence 3, 14, 39, 84, *, 258?

    1. 150
    2. 155
    3. 160
    4. 176
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (b) 155

    The n-th term is n(n^2 + n + 1): 1 x 3 = 3, 2 x 7 = 14, 3 x 13 = 39, 4 x 21 = 84, 5 x 31 = 155, 6 x 43 = 258. (Equivalently, the differences 11, 25, 45, 71, 103 grow by 14, 20, 26, 32.) So * = 155.

  80. In some code, letters P, Q, R, S, T represent numbers 4, 5, 10, 12, 15. It is not known which letter represents which number. If Q - S = 2S and T = R + S + 3, then what is the value of P + R - T?

    1. 1
    2. 2
    3. 3
    4. Cannot be determined due to insufficient data
    Answer and explanationउत्तर और व्याख्या

    Answer:उत्तर: (b) 2

    Q - S = 2S means Q = 3S, so (S, Q) is (4, 12) or (5, 15). If S = 4, Q = 12, the rest are 5, 10, 15 and T = R + 7 has no solution among them. If S = 5, Q = 15, the rest are 4, 10, 12 and T = R + 8 gives R = 4, T = 12, leaving P = 10. So P + R - T = 10 + 4 - 12 = 2.

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