VidBodh has grown into First Principles IAS. Same teachers, same free answer writing.
All 80 questions in the paper's order, each passage shown once with its questions beneath, and the Commission's answer behind each one.
Directions
Directions for the following 8 (eight) items: Read the following eight passages and answer the items that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.
Passage
What climate change will undeniably do is cause or amplify events that hasten the reduction of resources. Competition over these diminishing resources would ensue in the form of political or even violent conflict. Resource-based conflicts have rarely been overt and are thus difficult to isolate. Instead they take on veneers that appear more politically palatable. Conflicts over resources like water are often cloaked in the guise of identity or ideology.
Q1
What does the above passage imply?
UPSC key: (c)
Comprehension · Environment · Inference
Passage
The man who is perpetually hesitating which of the two things he will do first, will do neither. The man who resolves, but suffers his resolution to be changed by the first counter-suggestion of a friend—who fluctuates from opinion to opinion and veers from plan to plan—can never accomplish anything. He will at best be stationary and probably retrograde in all. It is only the man who first consults wisely, then resolves firmly and then executes his purpose with inflexible perseverance, undismayed by those petty difficulties which daunt a weaker spirit—that can advance to eminence in any line.
Q2
The keynote that seems to be emerging from the passage is that
UPSC key: (a)
Comprehension · Ethics and philosophy · Main idea
Passage
During the summer in the Arctic Ocean, sea ice has been melting earlier and faster, and the winter freeze has been coming later. In the last three decades, the extent of summer ice has declined by about 30 per cent. The lengthening period of summer melt threatens to undermine the whole Arctic food web, atop which stand polar bears.
Q3
Which among the following is the most crucial message conveyed by the above passage?
UPSC key: (d)
Comprehension · Environment · Main idea
Passage
Why do people prefer open defecation and not want toilets or, if they have them, only use them sometimes? Recent research has shown two critical elements: ideas of purity and pollution, and not wanting pits or septic tanks to fill because they have to be emptied. These are the issues that nobody wants to talk about, but if we want to eradicate the practice of open defecation, they have to be confronted and dealt properly.
Q4
Which among the following is the most crucial message conveyed by the above passage?
UPSC key: (b)
Comprehension · Society · Main idea
Passage
In the last two decades, the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) has increased by 50 per cent, whereas inclusive wealth has increased by a mere 6 per cent. In recent decades, GDP-driven economic performance has only harmed inclusive wealth like human capital; and natural capital like forests, land and water. While the world’s human capital which stands at 57 per cent of total inclusive wealth grew by only 8 per cent, the natural capital which is 23 per cent of total inclusive wealth declined by 30 per cent worldwide in the last two decades.
Q5
Which of the following is the most crucial inference from the above passage?
UPSC key: (b)
Comprehension · Economy · Inference
Passage
By 2020, when the global economy is expected to run short of 56 million young people, India, with its youth surplus of 47 million, could fill the gap. It is in this context that labour reforms are often cited as the way to unlock double-digit growth in India. In 2014, India’s labour force was estimated to be about 40 per cent of the population, but 93 per cent of this force was in unorganized sector. Over the last decade, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of employment has slowed to 0·5 per cent, with about 14 million jobs created during last year when the labour force increased by about 15 million.
Q6
Which of the following is the most rational inference from the above passage?
UPSC key: (b)
Comprehension · Economy · Inference
Passage
The very first lesson that should be taught to us when we are old enough to understand it, is that complete freedom from the obligation to work is unnatural, and ought to be illegal, as we can escape our share of the burden of work only by throwing it on someone else’s shoulders. Nature ordains that the human race shall perish of famine if it stops working. We cannot escape from this tyranny. The question we have to settle is how much leisure we can afford to allow ourselves.
Q7
The main idea of the passage is that
UPSC key: (a)
Comprehension · Ethics and philosophy · Main idea
Passage
There is no harm in cultivating habits so long as they are not injurious. Indeed, most of us are little more than bundle of habits. Take away our habits and the residuum would hardly be worth bothering about. We could not get on without them. They simplify the mechanism of life. They enable us to do a multitude of things automatically, which, if we had to give fresh and original thought to them each time, would make existence an impossible confusion.
Q8
The author suggests that habits
UPSC key: (c)
Comprehension · Ethics and philosophy · Detail (according to the passage)
Directions
Directions for the following 2 (two) items: Consider the given information and answer the two items that follow.
Passage
No supporters of ‘party X’, who knew Z and supported his campaign strategy, agreed for the alliance with ‘party Y’; but some of them had friends in ‘party Y’.
Q9
With reference to the above information, which one among the following statements must be true?
UPSC key: (b)
Logical reasoning · Syllogisms
Q10
With reference to the above information, consider the following statements:
1.Some supporters of ‘party X’ knew Z.
2.Some supporters of ‘party X’, who opposed Z's campaign strategy, knew Z.
3.No supporters of ‘party X’ supported Z's campaign strategy.
Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?
UPSC key: (c)
Logical reasoning · Syllogisms
Q11
If second and fourth Saturdays and all the Sundays are taken as only holidays for an office, what would be the minimum number of possible working days of any month of any year?
UPSC key: (b)
Logical reasoning · Clocks and calendars
Q12
If there is a policy that 1/3rd of a population of a community has migrated every year from one place to some other place, what is the leftover population of that community after the sixth year, if there is no further growth in the population during this period?
UPSC key: (d)
Basic numeracy · Number system
Q13
Four tests—Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology are to be conducted on four consecutive days, not necessarily in the same order. The Physics test is held before the test which is conducted after Biology. Chemistry is conducted exactly after two tests are held. Which is the last test held?
UPSC key: (c)
Logical reasoning · Arrangements
Q14
The sum of income of A and B is more than that of C and D taken together. The sum of income of A and C is the same as that of B and D taken together. Moreover, A earns half as much as the sum of the income of B and D. Whose income is the highest?
UPSC key: (b)
Basic numeracy · Algebra and inequalities
Q15
Consider the following:
Statement:
Good voice is a natural gift but one has to keep practising to improve and excel well in the field of music.
Conclusions:
I.Natural gifts need nurturing and care.
II.Even though one's voice is not good, one can keep practising.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statement and conclusions?
UPSC key: (a)
Logical reasoning · Statements with conclusions or assumptions
Q16
There are three pillars X, Y and Z of different heights. Three spiders A, B and C start to climb on these pillars simultaneously. In one chance, A climbs on X by 6 cm but slips down 1 cm. B climbs on Y by 7 cm but slips down 3 cm. C climbs on Z by 6·5 cm but slips down 2 cm. If each of them requires 40 chances to reach the top of the pillars, what is the height of the shortest pillar?
UPSC key: (b)
Basic numeracy · Number system
Q17
“Rights are certain advantageous conditions of social well-being indispensable to the true development of the citizen.”
In the light of this statement, which one of the following is the correct understanding of rights?
UPSC key: (c)
Comprehension · Polity and governance · Inference
Q18
15 students failed in a class of 52. After removing the names of failed students, a merit order list has been prepared in which the position of Ramesh is 22nd from the top. What is his position from the bottom?
UPSC key: (c)
Logical reasoning · Arrangements
Q19
Consider the following:
A + B means A is the son of B.
A − B means A is the wife of B.
What does the expression P + R − Q mean?
UPSC key: (c)
Logical reasoning · Directions and relations
Q20
Gopal bought a cell phone and sold it to Ram at 10% profit. Then Ram wanted to sell it back to Gopal at 10% loss. What will be Gopal's position if he agreed?
UPSC key: (c)
Basic numeracy · Profit and loss
Directions
Directions for the following 7 (seven) items: Read the following seven passages and answer the items that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.
Passage
We have hard work ahead. There is no resting for any of us till we redeem our pledge in full, till we make all the people of India what destiny intends them to be. We are citizens of a great country, on the verge of bold advance, and we have to live up to that high standard. All of us, to whatever religion we may belong, are equally the children of India with equal rights, privileges and obligations. We cannot encourage communalism or narrow-mindedness, for no nation can be great whose people are narrow in thought or action.
Q21
The challenge the author of the above passage throws to the public is to achieve
UPSC key: (d)
Comprehension · Society · Main idea
Passage
“The individual, according to Rousseau, puts his person and all his power in common under the supreme direction of the General Will and in our corporate capacity we receive each member as an indivisible part of the whole.”
Q22
In the light of the above passage, the nature of General Will is best described as
UPSC key: (c)
Comprehension · Polity and governance · Inference
Passage
In a democratic State, where a high degree of political maturity of the people obtains, the conflict between the will of the sovereign law-making body and the organized will of the people seldom occurs.
Q23
What does the above passage imply?
UPSC key: (d)
Comprehension · Polity and governance · Inference
Passage
A successful democracy depends upon widespread interest and participation in politics, in which voting is an essential part. To deliberately refrain from taking such an interest, and from voting, is a kind of implied anarchy; it is to refuse one’s political responsibility while enjoying the benefits of a free political society.
Q24
This passage relates to
UPSC key: (a)
Comprehension · Polity and governance · Main idea
Passage
In a free country, the man who reaches the position of leader is usually one of outstanding character and ability. Moreover, it is usually possible to foresee that he will reach such a position, since early in life one can see his qualities of character. But this is not always true in the case of a dictator; often he reaches his position of power through chance, very often through the unhappy state of his country.
Q25
The passage seems to suggest that
UPSC key: (d)
Comprehension · Polity and governance · Inference
Passage
The greatest blessing that technological progress has in store for mankind is not, of course, an accumulation of material possessions. The amount of these that can be effectively enjoyed by one individual in one lifetime is not great. But there is not the same narrow limit to the possibilities of the enjoyment of leisure. The gift of leisure may be abused by people who have had no experience of making use of it. Yet the creative use of leisure by a minority in societies has been the mainspring of all human progress beyond the primitive level.
Q26
With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1.People always see the leisure time as a gift and use it for acquiring more material possessions.
2.Use of leisure by some people to produce new and original things has been the chief source of human progress.
Which of these assumptions is/are valid?
UPSC key: (b)
Comprehension · Ethics and philosophy · Assumption
Passage
There is more than a modicum of truth in the assertion that “a working knowledge of ancient history is necessary to the intelligent interpretation of current events”. But the sage who uttered these words of wisdom might well have added something on the benefits of studying particularly the famous battles of history for the lessons they contain for those of us who lead or aspire to leadership. Such a study will reveal certain qualities and attributes which enabled the winners to win—and certain deficiencies which caused the losers to lose. And the student will see that the same pattern recurs consistently, again and again, throughout the centuries.
Q27
With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1.A study of the famous battles of history would help us understand the modern warfare.
2.Studying the history is essential for anyone who aspires to be a leader.
Which of these assumptions is/are valid?
UPSC key: (d)
Comprehension · Other themes · Assumption
Q28
Suppose the average weight of 9 persons is 50 kg. The average weight of the first 5 persons is 45 kg, whereas the average weight of the last 5 persons is 55 kg. Then the weight of the 5th person will be
UPSC key: (c)
Basic numeracy · Averages
Q29
In a group of six women, there are four tennis players, four postgraduates in Sociology, one postgraduate in Commerce and three bank employees. Vimala and Kamla are the bank employees while Amala and Komala are unemployed. Komala and Nirmala are among the tennis players. Amala, Kamla, Komala and Nirmala are postgraduates in Sociology of whom two are bank employees. If Shyamala is a postgraduate in Commerce, who among the following is both a tennis player and a bank employee?
UPSC key: (c)
Logical reasoning · Puzzles
Q30
P = (40% of A) + (65% of B) and Q = (50% of A) + (50% of B), where A is greater than B.
In this context, which of the following statements is correct?
UPSC key: (d)
Basic numeracy · Percentages
Q31
A watch loses 2 minutes in every 24 hours while another watch gains 2 minutes in every 24 hours. At a particular instant, the two watches showed an identical time. Which of the following statements is correct if 24-hour clock is followed?
UPSC key: (d)
Logical reasoning · Clocks and calendars
Q32
In a city, 12% of households earn less than ₹ 30,000 per year, 6% households earn more than ₹ 2,00,000 per year, 22% households earn more than ₹ 1,00,000 per year and 990 households earn between ₹ 30,000 and ₹ 1,00,000 per year. How many households earn between ₹ 1,00,000 and ₹ 2,00,000 per year?
UPSC key: (b)
Basic numeracy · Percentages
Q33
A clock strikes once at 1 o'clock, twice at 2 o'clock and thrice at 3 o'clock, and so on. If it takes 12 seconds to strike at 5 o'clock, what is the time taken by it to strike at 10 o'clock?
UPSC key: (b)
Basic numeracy · Number system
Q34
Consider the given statement and the two conclusions that follow:
Statement:
Morning walk is good for health.
Conclusions:
1.All healthy people go for morning walk.
2.Morning walk is essential for maintaining good health.
What is/are the valid conclusion/conclusions?
UPSC key: (d)
Logical reasoning · Statements with conclusions or assumptions
Q35
There are thirteen 2-digit consecutive odd numbers. If 39 is the mean of the first five such numbers, then what is the mean of all the thirteen numbers?
UPSC key: (a)
Basic numeracy · Averages
Q36
Six boys A, B, C, D, E and F play a game of cards. Each has a pack of 10 cards. F borrows 2 cards from A and gives away 5 to C who in turn gives 3 to B while B gives 6 to D who passes on 1 to E. Then the number of cards possessed by D and E is equal to the number of cards possessed by
UPSC key: (b)
Basic numeracy · Algebra and inequalities
Q37
There is a milk sample with 50% water in it. If 1/3rd of this milk is added to equal amount of pure milk, then water in the new mixture will fall down to
UPSC key: (a)
Basic numeracy · Ratio and proportion
Q38
There are 4 horizontal and 4 vertical lines, parallel and equidistant to one another on a board. What is the maximum number of rectangles and squares that can be formed?
UPSC key: (c)
Basic numeracy · Permutations, combinations and probability
Q39
A freight train left Delhi for Mumbai at an average speed of 40 km/hr. Two hours later, an express train left Delhi for Mumbai, following the freight train on a parallel track at an average speed of 60 km/hr. How far from Delhi would the express train meet the freight train?
UPSC key: (c)
Basic numeracy · Speed and distance
Q40
In a test, Randhir obtained more marks than the total marks obtained by Kunal and Debu. The total marks obtained by Kunal and Shankar are more than those of Randhir. Sonal obtained more marks than Shankar. Neha obtained more marks than Randhir. Who amongst them obtained highest marks?
UPSC key: (d)
Basic numeracy · Algebra and inequalities
Directions
Directions for the following 8 (eight) items: Read the following seven passages and answer the items that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.
Passage
Disruption of traditional institutions, identifications and loyalties is likely to lead to ambivalent situations. It is possible that some people may renew their identification with traditional groups whereas others align themselves with new groups and symbols emergent from processes of political development. In addition, political development tends to foster group awareness of a variety of class, tribe, region, clan, language, religion, occupation and others.
Q41
Which one of the following is the best explanation of the above passage?
UPSC key: (a)
Comprehension · Polity and governance · Main idea
Passage
There has been a significant trend worldwide towards regionalism in government, resulting in a widespread transfer of powers downwards towards regions and communities since 1990s. This process, which involves the creation of new political entities and bodies at a sub-national level and an increase in their content and powers, is known as devolution. Devolution has been characterized as being made up of three factors—political legitimacy, decentralization of authority and decentralization of resources. Political legitimacy here means a mass demand from below for the decentralization process, which is able to create a political force for it to take place. In many cases, decentralization is initiated by the upper tier of government without sufficient political mobilization for it at the grassroots level, and in such cases the decentralization process often does not fulfil its objectives.
Q42
Which among the following is the most logical, rational and critical inference that can be made from the above passage?
UPSC key: (c)
Comprehension · Polity and governance · Inference
Passage
We live in digital times. The digital is not just something we use strategically and specifically to do a few tasks. Our very perception of who we are, how we connect to the world around us, and the ways in which we define our domains of life, labour and language are hugely structured by the digital technologies. The digital is everywhere and, like air, invisible. We live within digital systems, we live with intimate gadgets, we interact through digital media, and the very presence and imagination of the digital has dramatically restructured our lives. The digital, far from being a tool, is a condition and context that defines the shapes and boundaries of our understanding of the self, the society, and the structure of governance.
Q43
Which among the following is the most logical and essential message conveyed by the above passage?
UPSC key: (b)
Comprehension · Science and technology · Main idea
Passage
The IMF has pointed out that the fast growing economies of Asia face the risk of falling into ‘middle-income trap’. It means that average incomes in these countries, which till now have been growing rapidly, will stop growing beyond a point—a point that is well short of incomes in the developed West. The IMF identifies a number of causes of middle-income trap—none of which is surprising—from infrastructure to weak institutions, to less than favourable macroeconomic conditions. But the broad, overall cause, says IMF, is a collapse in the growth of productivity.
Q44
Which among the following is the most logical, rational and critical inference that can be made from the above passage?
UPSC key: (a)
Comprehension · Economy · Inference
Passage
An innovative India will be inclusive as well as technologically advanced, improving the lives of all Indians. Innovation and R&D can mitigate increases in social inequality and relieve the pressures created by rapid urbanization. The growing divergence in productivity between agriculture and knowledge-intensive manufacturing and services threatens to increase income inequality. By encouraging India’s R&D labs and universities to focus on the needs of poor people and by improving the ability of informal firms to absorb knowledge, an innovation and research agenda can counter this effect. Inclusive innovation can lower the costs of goods and services and create income-earning opportunities for the poor people.
Q45
Which among the following is the most logical and rational assumption that can be made from the above passage?
UPSC key: (c)
Comprehension · Economy · Assumption
Passage
Climate change is likely to expose a large number of people to increasing environmental risks forcing them to migrate. The international community is yet to recognize this new category of migrants. There is no consensus on the definition and status of climate refugees owing to the distinct meaning the term refugees carry under international laws. There are still gaps in understanding how climate change will work as the root cause of migration. Even if there is recognition of climate refugees, who is going to provide protection? More emphasis has been given to international migration due to climate change. But there is a need to recognize the migration of such people within the countries also so that their problems can be addressed properly.
Q46
Which of the following is the most rational inference from the above passage?
UPSC key: (d)
Comprehension · Environment · Inference
Passage
Many farmers use synthetic pesticides to kill infesting insects. The consumption of pesticides in some of the developed countries is touching 3000 grams/hectare. Unfortunately, there are reports that these compounds possess inherent toxicities that endanger the health of the farm operators, consumers and the environment. Synthetic pesticides are generally persistent in environment. Entering in food chain they destroy the microbial diversity and cause ecological imbalance. Their indiscriminate use has resulted in development of resistance among insects to insecticides, upsetting of balance in nature and resurgence of treated populations. Natural pest control using the botanical pesticides is safer to the user and the environment because they break down into harmless compounds within hours or days in the presence of sunlight. Plants with pesticidal properties have been in nature for millions of years without any ill or adverse effects on the ecosystem. They are easily decomposed by many microbes common in most soils. They help in the maintenance of biological diversity of predators and the reduction of environmental contamination and human health hazards. Botanical pesticides formulated from plants are biodegradable and their use in crop protection is a practical sustainable alternative.
Q47
On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1.Synthetic pesticides should never be used in modern agriculture.
2.One of the aims of sustainable agriculture is to ensure minimal ecological imbalance.
3.Botanical pesticides are more effective as compared to synthetic pesticides.
Which of the assumptions given above is/are correct?
UPSC key: (b)
Comprehension · Environment · Assumption
Q48
Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding biopesticides?
1.They are not hazardous to human health.
2.They are persistent in environment.
3.They are essential to maintain the biodiversity of any ecosystem.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC key: (a)
Comprehension · Environment · Detail (according to the passage)
Q49
Certain 3-digit numbers have the following characteristics:
1.All the three digits are different.
2.The number is divisible by 7.
3.The number on reversing the digits is also divisible by 7.
How many such 3-digit numbers are there?
UPSC key: (b)
Basic numeracy · Number system
Q50
Examine the following statements:
1.All colours are pleasant.
2.Some colours are pleasant.
3.No colour is pleasant.
4.Some colours are not pleasant.
Given that statement 4 is true, what can be definitely concluded?
UPSC key: (d)
Logical reasoning · Syllogisms
Q51
How many numbers are there between 99 and 1000 such that the digit 8 occupies the units place?
UPSC key: (c)
Basic numeracy · Number system
Q52
If for a sample data
Mean < Median < Mode
then the distribution is
UPSC key: (d)
Basic numeracy · Averages
Q53
The age of Mr. X last year was the square of a number and it would be the cube of a number next year. What is the least number of years he must wait for his age to become the cube of a number again?
UPSC key: (b)
Basic numeracy · Number system
Q54
P works thrice as fast as Q, whereas P and Q together can work four times as fast as R. If P, Q and R together work on a job, in what ratio should they share the earnings?
UPSC key: (a)
Basic numeracy · Time and work
Q55
Consider the following relationships among members of a family of six persons A, B, C, D, E and F:
1.The number of males equals that of females.
2.A and E are sons of F.
3.D is the mother of two, one boy and one girl.
4.B is the son of A.
5.There is only one married couple in the family at present.
Which one of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?
UPSC key: (b)
Logical reasoning · Directions and relations
Q56
A bag contains 20 balls. 8 balls are green, 7 are white and 5 are red. What is the minimum number of balls that must be picked up from the bag blindfolded (without replacing any of it) to be assured of picking at least one ball of each colour?
UPSC key: (b)
Basic numeracy · Permutations, combinations and probability
Q57
If 2 boys and 2 girls are to be arranged in a row so that the girls are not next to each other, how many possible arrangements are there?
UPSC key: (c)
Basic numeracy · Permutations, combinations and probability
Q58
The outer surface of a 4 cm × 4 cm × 4 cm cube is painted completely in red. It is sliced parallel to the faces to yield sixty four 1 cm × 1 cm × 1 cm small cubes. How many small cubes do not have painted faces?
UPSC key: (a)
Logical reasoning · Visual reasoning
Q59
Consider the following:
A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are standing in a row facing North.
B is not neighbour of G.
F is to the immediate right of G and neighbour of E.
G is not at the extreme end.
A is sixth to the left of E.
H is sixth to the right of C.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above?
UPSC key: (c)
Logical reasoning · Arrangements
Q60
In a certain code, ‘256’ means ‘red colour chalk’, ‘589’ means ‘green colour flower’ and ‘254’ means ‘white colour chalk’. The digit in the code that indicates ‘white’ is
UPSC key: (b)
Logical reasoning · Coding
Directions
Directions for the following 7 (seven) items: Read the following seven passages and answer the items that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.
Passage
An air quality index (AQI) is a way to combine measurements of multiple air pollutants into a single number or rating. This index is ideally kept constantly updated and available in different places. The AQI is most useful when lots of pollution data are being gathered and when pollution levels are normally, but not always, low. In such cases, if pollution levels spike for a few days, the public can quickly take preventive action (like staying indoors) in response to an air quality warning. Unfortunately, that is not urban India. Pollution levels in many large Indian cities are so high that they remain well above any health or regulatory standard for large part of the year. If our index stays in the ‘Red/Dangerous’ region day after day, there is not much any one can do, other than getting used to ignoring it.
Q61
Which among the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?
UPSC key: (c)
Comprehension · Environment · Inference
Passage
Productive jobs are vital for growth and a good job is the best form of inclusion. More than half of our population depends on agriculture, but the experience of other countries suggests that the number of people dependent on agriculture will have to shrink if per capita incomes in agriculture are to go up substantially. While industry is creating jobs, too many such jobs are low-productivity non-contractual jobs in the unorganized sector, offering low incomes, little protection, and no benefits. Service jobs are relatively of high productivity, but employment growth in services has been slow in recent years.
Q62
Which among the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?
UPSC key: (c)
Comprehension · Economy · Inference
Passage
A landscape-scale approach to land use can encourage greater biodiversity outside protected areas. During hurricane ‘Mitch’ in 1998, farms using ecoagricultural practices suffered 58 per cent, 70 per cent and 99 per cent less damage in Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala, respectively, than farms using conventional techniques. In Costa Rica, vegetative windbreaks and fencerows boosted farmers’ income from pasture and coffee while also increasing bird diversity. Bee pollination is more effective when agricultural fields are closer to natural or seminatural habitat, a finding that matters because 87 per cent of the world’s 107 leading crops depend on animal pollinators. In Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Colombia silvopastoral systems that integrate trees with pastureland are improving the sustainability of cattle production, and diversifying and increasing farmers’ income.
Q63
Which among the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?
UPSC key: (a)
Comprehension · Environment · Inference
Passage
The medium term challenge for Indian manufacturing is to move from lower to higher tech sectors, from lower to higher value-added sectors, and from lower to higher productivity sectors. Medium tech industries are primarily capital intensive and resource processing; and high tech industries are mainly capital and technology intensive. In order to push the share of manufacturing in overall GDP to the projected 25 per cent, Indian manufacturing needs to capture the global market in sectors showing a rising trend in demand. These sectors are largely high technology and capital intensive.
Q64
Which among the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?
UPSC key: (c)
Comprehension · Economy · Inference
Passage
Over the last decade, Indian agriculture has become more robust with record production of food grains and oilseeds. Increased procurement, consequently, has added huge stocks of food grains in the granaries. India is one of the world’s top producers of rice, wheat, milk, fruits and vegetables. India is still home to a quarter of all undernourished people in the world. On an average, almost half of the total expenditure of nearly half of the households is on food.
Q65
Which among the following is the most logical corollary to the above passage?
UPSC key: (a)
Comprehension · Economy · Corollary
Passage
The States are like pearls and the Centre is the thread which turns them into a necklace; if the thread snaps, the pearls are scattered.
Q66
Which one of the following views corroborates the above statement?
UPSC key: (b)
Comprehension · Polity and governance · Inference
Passage
Really I think that the poorest he that is in England has a life to live, as the greatest he, and therefore truly, I think it is clear that every man that is to live under a government ought first by his own consent to put himself under the government, and I do think that the poorest man in England is not at all bound in a strict sense to that government that he has not had a voice to put himself under.
Q67
The above statement argues for
UPSC key: (b)
Comprehension · Polity and governance · Main idea
Q68
The average rainfall in a city for the first four days was recorded to be 0·40 inch. The rainfall on the last two days was in the ratio of 4: 3. The average of six days was 0·50 inch. What was the rainfall on the fifth day?
UPSC key: (c)
Basic numeracy · Averages
Directions
Directions for the following 3 (three) items: Consider the given information and answer the three items that follow.
A, B, C, D, E, F and G are Lecturers from different cities—Hyderabad, Delhi, Shillong, Kanpur, Chennai, Mumbai and Srinagar (not necessarily in the same order) who participated in a conference. Each one of them is specialized in a different subject, viz., Economics, Commerce, History, Sociology, Geography, Mathematics and Statistics (not necessarily in the same order). Further
1.Lecturer from Kanpur is specialized in Geography
2.Lecturer D is from Shillong
3.Lecturer C from Delhi is specialized in Sociology
4.Lecturer B is specialized in neither History nor Mathematics
5.Lecturer A who is specialized in Economics does not belong to Hyderabad
6.Lecturer F who is specialized in Commerce belongs to Srinagar
7.Lecturer G who is specialized in Statistics belongs to Chennai
Q69
Who is specialized in Geography?
UPSC key: (a)
Logical reasoning · Puzzles
Q70
To which city does the Lecturer specialized in Economics belong?
UPSC key: (b)
Logical reasoning · Puzzles
Q71
Who of the following belongs to Hyderabad?
UPSC key: (b)
Logical reasoning · Puzzles
Q72
In a school, there are five teachers A, B, C, D and E. A and B teach Hindi and English. C and B teach English and Geography. D and A teach Mathematics and Hindi. E and B teach History and French. Who teaches maximum number of subjects?
UPSC key: (b)
Logical reasoning · Puzzles
Q73
A 2-digit number is reversed. The larger of the two numbers is divided by the smaller one. What is the largest possible remainder?
UPSC key: (d)
Basic numeracy · Number system
Q74
The monthly incomes of X and Y are in the ratio of 4: 3 and their monthly expenses are in the ratio of 3: 2. However, each saves ₹ 6,000 per month. What is their total monthly income?
UPSC key: (b)
Basic numeracy · Ratio and proportion
Q75
Two walls and a ceiling of a room meet at right angles at a point P. A fly is in the air 1 m from one wall, 8 m from the other wall and 9 m from the point P. How many meters is the fly from the ceiling?
UPSC key: (a)
Basic numeracy · Mensuration and geometry
Directions
Directions for the following 3 (three) items: Consider the given information and answer the three items that follow.
Eight railway stations A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are connected either by two-way passages or one-way passages. One-way passages are from C to A, E to G, B to F, D to H, G to C, E to C and H to G. Two-way passages are between A and E, G and B, F and D, and E and D.
Q76
While travelling from C to H, which one of the following stations must be passed through?
UPSC key: (b)
Logical reasoning · Puzzles
Q77
In how many different ways can a train travel from F to A without passing through any station more than once?
UPSC key: (d)
Logical reasoning · Puzzles
Q78
If the route between G and C is closed, which one of the following stations need not be passed through while travelling from H to C?
UPSC key: (c)
Logical reasoning · Puzzles
Q79
There are certain 2-digit numbers. The difference between the number and the one obtained on reversing it is always 27. How many such maximum 2-digit numbers are there?
UPSC key: (d)
Basic numeracy · Number system
Q80
What is the total number of digits printed, if a book containing 150 pages is to be numbered from 1 to 150?
UPSC key: (b)
Basic numeracy · Number system
