Q. In a recent report, the gross enrolment ratios at the primary level, that is, the number of children enrolled in classes one to five as a proportion of all children aged six to ten, were shown to be very high for most states; in many cases they were way above 100 per cent! These figures are not worth anything, since they are based on the official enrolment data compiled from school records. They might as well stand for 'gross exaggeration ratios'.
Which one of the following options best supports the claim that the ratios are exaggerated?
The definition of gross enrolment ratio does not exclude, in its numerator, children below six years or above ten years enrolled in classes one to five.
A school attendance study found that many children enrolled in the school records were not meeting a minimum attendance requirement of 80 per cent.
A study estimated that close to 22 per cent of children enrolled in the class one records were below 6 years of age and still to start going to school.
Demographic surveys show shifts in the population profile which indicate that the number of children in the age group six to ten years is declining.
Ans . C
Q. Szymanski suggests that the problem of racism in football may be present even today. He begins by verifying an earlier hypothesis that clubs' wage bills explain 90 per cent of their performance. Thus, if players' salaries were to be only based on their abilities, clubs that spend more should finish higher. If there is pay discrimination against some group of players — fewer teams bidding for black players thus lowering the salaries for blacks with the same ability as whites — that neat relation may no longer hold. He concludes that certain clubs seem to have achieved much less than what they could have, by not recruiting black players.
Which one of the following findings would best support Szymanski's conclusion?
Certain clubs took advantage of the situation by hiring above-average shares of black players.
Clubs hired white players at relatively high wages and did not show proportionately good performance.
During the study period, clubs in towns with a history of discrimination against blacks, under- performed relative to their wage bills.
Clubs in one region, which had higher proportions of black players, had significantly lower wage bills than their counterparts in another region which had predominantly white players.
Ans . B
Q. The pressure on Italy's 257 jails has been increasing rapidly. These jails are old and overcrowded. They are supposed to hold up to 43,000 people — 9,000 fewer than now. San Vittore in Milan, which has 1,800 inmates, is designed for 800. The number of foreigners inside jails has also been increasing. The minister-in-charge of prisons fears that tensions may snap, and so has recommended to the government an amnesty policy.
Which one of the following, if true, would have most influenced the recommendation of the minister?
Opinion polls have indicated that many Italians favour a general pardon.
The opposition may be persuaded to help since amnesties must be approved by a two-thirds majority in parliament.
During a recent visit to a large prison, the Pope, whose pronouncements are taken seriously, appealed for 'a gesture of clemency'.
Shortly before the recommendation was made, 58 prisons reported disturbances in a period of two weeks.
Ans . D
Q. The offer of the government to make iodised salt available at a low price of one rupee per kilogram is welcome, especially since the government seems to be so concerned about the ill effects of noniodised salt. But it is doubtful whether the offer will actually be implemented. Way back in 1994, the government, in an earlier effort, had prepared reports outlining three new and simple but experimental methods for reducing the costs of iodisation to about five paise per kilogram. But these reports have remained just those — reports on paper.
Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the author's contention that it is doubtful whether the offer will be actually implemented?
The government proposes to save on costs by using the three methods it has already devised for iodisation.
The chain of fair-price distribution outlets now covers all the districts of the state.
Many small-scale and joint-sector units have completed trials to use the three iodisation methods for regular production.
The government which initiated the earlier effort is in place even today and has more information on the effects of non-iodised salt.
Ans . C
Q. About 96 per cent of Scandinavian moths have ears tuned to the ultrasonic pulses that bats, their predators, emit. But the remaining 4 per cent do not have ears and are deaf. However, they have a larger wingspan than the hearing moths, and also have higher wing-loadings — the ratio between a wing's area and its weight — meaning higher manoeuvrability.
Which one of the following can be best inferred from the above passage?
A higher proportion of deaf moths than hearing moths fall prey to bats.
Deaf moths may try to avoid bats by frequent changes in their flight direction.
Deaf moths are faster than hearing moths, and so are less prone to becoming a bat's dinner than hearing moths.
The large wingspan enables deaf moths to better receive and sense the pulses of their bat predators.
Ans . B
Q. Argentina's beef cattle herd has dropped to under 50 million from 57 million ten years ago in 1990. The animals are worth less too: prices fell by over a third last year, before recovering slightly. Most local meat packers and processors are in financial trouble, and recent years have seen a string of plant closures. The Beef Producers Association has now come up with a massive advertisement campaign calling upon Argentines to eat more beef — their 'juicy, healthy, rotund, plate-filling' steaks
Which one of the following, if true, would contribute most to a failure of the campaign?
There has been a change in consumer preference towards eating leaner meats like chicken and fish.
Prices of imported beef have been increasing, thus making locally grown beef more competitive in terms of pricing.
The inability to cross-breed native cattle with improved varieties has not increased production to adequate levels.
Animal rights pressure groups have come up rapidly, demanding better and humane treatment of farmyard animals like beef cattle.
Ans . A
Q. The problem of traffic congestion in Athens has been testing the ingenuity of politicians and town planners for years. But the measures adopted till date have not succeeded in decreasing the number of cars on the road in the city centre. In 1980, an odds and evens number-plate legislation was introduced, under which odd and even plates were banned in the city centre on alternate days, thereby expecting to halve the number of cars in the city centre. Then in 1993, it was decreed that all cars in use in the city centre must be fitted with catalytic converters; a regulation had just then been introduced, substantially reducing import taxes on cars with catalytic converters, the only condition being that the buyer of such a 'clean' car offered for destruction a car at least 15-year-old.
Which one of the following options, if true, would best support the claim that the measures adopted to date have not succeeded?
In the 1980s, many families purchased second cars with the requisite odd or even number plate.
In the mid-1990s, many families found it feasible to become first-time car owners by buying a car more than 15-year-old and turning it in for a new car with catalytic converters
Post-1993, many families seized the opportunity to sell their more than 15-year-old cars and buy 'clean' cars from the open market, even if it meant forgoing the import tax subsidy.
All of the above
Ans . D
Q. Although in the limited sense of freedom regarding appointments and internal working, the independence of the Central Bank is unequivocally ensured, the same cannot be said of its right to pursue monetary policy without coordination with the Central Government. The role of the Central Bank has turned out to be subordinate and advisory in nature.
Which one of the following best supports the conclusion drawn in the passage?
A decision of the chairman of the Central Bank to increase the bank rate by two percentage points sent shock-waves in industry, academic and government circles alike.
Government has repeatedly resorted to monetisation of the debt despite the reservations of the Central Bank
The Central Bank does not need the Central Government's nod for replacing soiled currency notes.
The inability to remove coin shortage was a major shortcoming of this government.
Ans . B
Q. The Shveta-chattra or the 'White Umbrella' was a symbol of sovereign political authority placed over the monarch's head at the time of the coronation. The ruler so inaugurated was regarded not as a temporal autocrat but as the instrument of protective and sheltering firmament of supreme law. The white umbrella symbol is of great antiquity and its varied use illustrates the ultimate common basis of non-theocratic nature of states in the Indian tradition. As such, the umbrella is found, although not necessarily a white one, over the head of Lord Ram, the Mohammedan sultans and Chatrapati Shivaji.
Which one of the following best summarises the above passage?
The placing of an umbrella over the ruler's head was a common practice in the Indian subcontinent.
The white umbrella represented the instrument of firmament of the supreme law and the non- theocratic nature of Indian states.
The umbrella, not necessarily a white one, was a symbol of sovereign political authority
The varied use of the umbrella symbolised the common basis of the non-theocratic nature of states in the Indian tradition.
Ans . D
Q. The theory of games is suggested to some extent by parlour games such as chess and bridge. Friedman illustrates two distinct features of these games. First, in a parlour game played for money, if one wins the other (others) loses (lose). Second, these games are games involving a strategy. In a game of chess, while choosing what action is to be taken, a player tries to guess how his/her opponent will react to the various actions he or she might take. In contrast, the card-pastime, 'patience' or 'solitaire' is played only against chance.
Which one of the following can best be described as a 'game'?
The team of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary climbing Mt. Everest for the first time in human history.
A national level essay writing competition.
A decisive war between the armed forces of India and Pakistan over Kashmir.
Oil Exporters' Union deciding on world oil prices, completely disregarding the countries which have at most minimal oil production
Ans . C
Q.A. If India has embarked on the liberalization route, she cannot afford to go back.
B. Under these circumstances, being an active supporter of WTO policies will be a good idea.
C. The WTO is a global organization aiming at freer trade.
D. Many member countries have already drafted plans to simplify tariff structures.
Ans.c
Q.A. The Minister definitely took the wrong step.
B. Under the circumstances, he had many other alternatives.
C. The Prime Minister is embarrassed due to the Minister's decision.
D. If he has put the government in jeopardy, the Minister must resign.
Ans.a
Q.A. The ideal solution will be to advertise aggressively.
B. One brand is already popular amongst the youth.
C. Reducing prices will mean trouble as our revenues are already dwindling.
D. The correct solution will be to consolidate by aggressive marketing
Ans.a
Q.A. If democracy is to survive the people must develop a sense of consumerism.
B. Consumerism has helped improve the quality of goods in certain countries.
C. The protected environment in our country is helping the local manufacturers.
D. The quality of goods suffers if the manufacturers take undue advantage of this.
Ans.b
Q.A. Unless the banks agree to a deferment of the interest, we cannot show profits this year.
B. This would not have happened had we adopted a stricter credit scheme.
C. The revenues so far cover only the cost and salaries.
D. Let us learn a lesson: we cannot make profits without complete control over credit.
Ans.d
Q.A. Qualities cannot be injected into one's personality.
B. They are completely dependent on the genetic configuration that one inherits.
C. Hence changing our inherent traits is impossible as the genes are unalterable.
D. The least one can do is to try and subdue the “bad qualities”.
Ans.c
Q.A. Everything is purposeless.
B. Nothing before and after the existence of the universe is known with certainty.
C. Man is a part of the purposeless universe; hence man is also purposeless.
D. There is only one way of adding purpose to this universe: Union with Him.
Ans.a
Q.A. Everyday social life is impossible without interpersonal relationships.
B. The root of many misunderstandings has been cited in poor relations among individuals.
C. Assuming the above to be true, social life will be much better if people understand the importance
of good interpersonal relations.
D. A study reveals that interpersonal relations and hence life in general can be improved with a little
effort on the part of individuals.
Ans.b
Q.A. The prices of electronic goods are falling.
B. Since we have substantial reductions in import duties, this is obvious.
C. The trend is bound to continue in the near future.
D. But the turnover of the electronic industry is still rising, because the consumers are increasing
at a rapid rate.
Ans.c
Q.A. In the past, it appears, wealth distribution, and not wealth creation has dominated the economic
policy.
B. Clearly, the government has not bothered to eradicate poverty.
C. Today's liberalization is far from the hitherto Nehruvian socialism.
D. Results are evident in the form of a boom in the manufacturing sector output and turnover of all
industries.
Ans.d
Q.Unless you dedicate your whole life to it, you will never learn to speak the language of another country to perfection; you will never know its people and its literature with complete intimacy. Which of the following is likely to undermine the above argument?
Ans.d
Q.The writer can only be fertile if he renews himself and he can only renew himself, if his soul is constantly enriched by fresh experience. Which of the following is most likely to support the above thought?
Ans.a
Q.But because the idea of private property has been permitted to override with its selfishness, the common good of humanity it does not follow that there are not limits within which that idea can function for the general convenience and advantage. Which of the following is most likely to weaken the argument?
Ans.a
Q.Now the audience is a very curious animal. It is shrewd rather than intelligent. Its mental capacity is less than that of its most intellectual members. If these were graded from A to Z, decreasing with succeeding letters to the zero of the hysterical shop-girl, I should say its mental capacity would come around about the letter O. According to the above statement,
Ans.d
Q.I have been studying it, consciously and subconsciously, for 40 years and I still find men unaccountable; people I know intimately can surprise me by some action of theirs which I never thought them capable of or by the discovery of some trait which exhibit a side of themselves that I never even suspected. The idea in this sentence can be best summarised as
Ans.c
| Person A |
Person B |
|
Situation: A girl is out late night. |
Situation: A boy is going to a temple. |
| Inference: That girl has a loose character. | Inference: That boy is of a good character. |
|
Assumption: Only girls with loose characters go out late night. |
Assumption: Anyone going to a temple is of good character. |
A. Most lawyers who advertise specific services do not lower their fee for those services when they begin to advertise.
Score more than 80% marks and move ahead else stay back and read again!