CAT 2017 Question Paper

Directions for questions 25 to 27:

The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best captures the author’s position.

Questions 25 to 34 carry 3 marks each.

Q. 1.

A fundamental property of language is that it is slippery and messy and more liquid than solid, a gelatinous mass that changes shape of fit. As Wittgenstein would remind us, “usage has no sharp boundary”.
Oftentimes, the only way to determine the meaning of a word is to examine how it is used. This insight is often described as the “meaning is use” doctrine. There are differences between the “meaning is use” doctrine and a dictionary-first theory of meaning. “The dictionary’s careful fixing of words to definitions, like butterflies pinned under glass, can suggest that this is how language works. The definitions can seem to ensure and fix the meaning of words, just as the gold standard can back a country’s currency”. What Wittgenstein found in the circulation of ordinary language, however, was a free-floating currency of meaning. The value of each word arises out of the exchange. The lexicographer abstracts a meaning from that exchange, which is then set within the conventions of the dictionary definition.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

A).
Dictionary definitions are like ‘gold standards’-artificial, theoretical and dogmatic. Actual meaning of words is their free-exchange value.
B).
Language is already slippery; given this, accounting for ‘meaning is use’ will only exasperate the problem. That is why lexicographers ’fix’ meaning.
C).
Meaning is dynamic; definitions are static. The ‘meaning in use’ theory helps us understand that definitions of words are culled from their meaning in exchange and use and not vice versa.
D).
The meaning of words in dictionaries is clear, fixed and less dangerous and ambiguous than the meaning that arises when words are exchanged between people.

Explanation :

The main points in the précis are:

The meaning of a word is often ambiguous and it is only from examining its use in real life that we can come to an understanding of the meaning of that word – this is the ‘meaning in use’ doctrine.
The dictionary meaning of a word on the other hand, is ‘fixed’ by the lexicographer who derives its meaning from certain exchanges.
The ‘meaning in use’ approach to words is a fluid one that leaves it to the usage of words whereas the dictionary approach to words fixes the meaning of words from the usage of the words.

Option 1 is incorrect. The précis makes a comparison between the two approaches and suggests that the ‘meaning in use’ approach makes more sense. However, it does not state that the ‘actual’ meaning of words is to be decided by free-exchange alone and not by references. Eliminate option 1.
Option 2 is inaccurate. The précis favours the flexible approach to the meaning of words and not the fixed one. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is correct. It sums up the précis accurately by stating that the meaning of words is to be derived from their usage and that this approach is unfortunately reversed in the dictionary use where usage is observed only to “fix” meaning. Retain option 3.
Option 4 is incorrect. The précis clearly favours the ‘meaning in use’ approach to the dictionary one. Eliminate option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.

Directions for questions 25 to 27:

The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best captures the author’s position.

Questions 25 to 34 carry 3 marks each.

Q. 2.

Both Socrates and Bacon were very good at asking useful questions. In fact, Socrates is largely credited with coming up with a way of asking questions, ‘the Socratic method’, which itself is at the core of the ‘scientific method’, popularized by Bacon. The Socratic method disproves arguments by finding exceptions to them, and can therefore lead your opponent to a point where they admit something that contradicts their original position. In common with Socrates, Bacon stressed it was as important to disprove a theory as it was to prove one-and real-world observation and experimentation were key to achieving both aims Bacon also saw science as a collaborative affair, with scientists working together, challenging each other.

A).
Both Socrates and Bacon advocated clever questioning of the opponents to disprove their argument and theories.
B).
Both Socrates and Bacon advocated challenging arguments and theories by observation and experimentation.
C).
Both Socrates and Bacon advocated confirming arguments and theories by finding exceptions.
D).
Both Socrates and Bacon advocated examining arguments and theories from both sides to prove them.

Explanation :

The main points in the précis are:

Socrates and Bacon were both skilled at asking the right questions
The Socratic method helps disproves theories and is a cornerstone of what is known as the Scientific method
Bacon used real-world observation and experimentation as key to disproving theories
Option 1 is incorrect. Socrates and Bacon advocated the use of the right questions, not clever questions, to validate arguments. Eliminate option 1.

Option 2 is incorrect. Bacon thought it was as important to disprove an argument as it was to prove it and he advocated the use of observation and experiment, not Socrates. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is incorrect. Exceptions were used by Socrates to disprove arguments and not to confirm them. Eliminate option 3.
Option 4 is correct. Both Socrates and Bacon are credited, in the précis, with developing the right mode to questioning an argument so that invalid arguments could be disproved. Retain option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.

Directions for questions 22 to 24:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 22 to 24 carry 3 marks each.

Despite their fierce reputation, Vikings may not have always been the plunderers and pillagers popular culture imagines them to be. In fact, they got their start trading in northern European markets, researchers suggest.

Combs carved from animal antlers, as well as comb manufacturing waste and raw antler material has turned up at three archaeological sites in Denmark, including a medieval marketplace in the city of Ribe. A team of researchers from Denmark and U.K.hoped to identify the species of animal to which the antlers once belonged by analyzing collagen proteins in the samples and comparing them across the animal kingdom, Laura Geggel reports for liveScience.

Somewhat surprisingly, molecular analysis of the artifacts revealed that some combs and other material had been carved from reindeer antlers…. Given that reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) don’t live in Denmark, the researchers posit that it arrived on Viking ships from Norway. Antler craftsmanship, in the form of decorative combs, was part of Viking culture. Such combs served as symbols of good health, Geggel writes. The fact that the animals shed their antlers also made them easy to collect from the large herds that inhabited Norway.

Since the artifacts were found in marketplace areas at each site it’s more likely that the Norsemen came to trade rather than pillage. Most of the artifacts also date to the 780s, but some are as old as 725. That predates the beginning of Viking raids on great Britain by about 70 years. (Traditionally, the so-called “Viking Age” began with these raids in 793 and ended with Norman conquest of Great Britain in 1066.) Archaeologists had suspected that the Viking had experience with ling maritime voyages [that] might have preceded their raiding days. Beyond Norway, these combs would have been a popular industry in Scandinavia as well. It’s possible that the antler comb’s represent a larger trade network, where the Norsemen supplied raw material to craftsmen in Denmark and elsewhere.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 3.

North American walnut sphinx moth caterpillars (Amorpha juglandis ) look like easy meals for birds, but they have a trick up their sleeves- they produce whistles that sound like bird alarm calls, scaring potential predators away. At first, scientists suspected birds were simply started by the loud noise. But a new study suggests a more sophisticated mechanism the caterpillar’s whistle appears to mimic a bird alarm call, sending avian predators scrambling for cover. When pecked by a bird, the caterpillars whistle by compressing their bodies like an accordion and forcing air out through specialized holes in their sides. The whistles are impressively loud-they have been measured at over 80 dB from 5cm away from the caterpillar-considering they are made by a two-inch long insect.

A).
North American walnut sphinx moth caterpillars will whistle periodically to ward off predator birds-they have a specialized vocal tract that helps them whistle.
B).
North American walnut sphinx moth caterpillars can whistle very loudly; the loudness of their whistles is shocking as they are very small insects.
C).
North American walnut sphinx moth caterpillars, in a case of acoustic deception, produce whistles that mimic bird alarm calls to defend themselves.
D).
North American walnut sphinx moth caterpillars, in a case of deception and camouflage, produce whistles that mimic bird alarm calls to defend themselves.

Explanation :

The main points in the précis are:

The North American walnut sphinx moth caterpillars scare off potential predators by producing a whistle that imitates bird alarm calls
Initially the whistle was thought to be just a startling sound but it was found that the whistle mimicked a bird alarm call
The whistles are quite loud for such a tiny creature

Option 1 is incorrect. It does not mention that the caterpillars are a surprising example of how the sound produced is not a random sound but one that mimics alarm calls for birds. Eliminate option 1.
Option 2 is incorrect as the option misses the most important point of the précis – that the caterpillar sounds mimic avian alarm calls. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is correct. The caterpillars use “acoustic deception” to defend themselves by making bird alarm calls. This is the precise point of the précis. Retain option 3.
Option 4 is incorrect. The writer does not indicate that caterpillars resort to camouflage in the use of this defence mechanism. Eliminate option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.

Directions for questions 22 to 24:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 22 to 24 carry 3 marks each.

Despite their fierce reputation, Vikings may not have always been the plunderers and pillagers popular culture imagines them to be. In fact, they got their start trading in northern European markets, researchers suggest.

Combs carved from animal antlers, as well as comb manufacturing waste and raw antler material has turned up at three archaeological sites in Denmark, including a medieval marketplace in the city of Ribe. A team of researchers from Denmark and U.K.hoped to identify the species of animal to which the antlers once belonged by analyzing collagen proteins in the samples and comparing them across the animal kingdom, Laura Geggel reports for liveScience.

Somewhat surprisingly, molecular analysis of the artifacts revealed that some combs and other material had been carved from reindeer antlers…. Given that reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) don’t live in Denmark, the researchers posit that it arrived on Viking ships from Norway. Antler craftsmanship, in the form of decorative combs, was part of Viking culture. Such combs served as symbols of good health, Geggel writes. The fact that the animals shed their antlers also made them easy to collect from the large herds that inhabited Norway.

Since the artifacts were found in marketplace areas at each site it’s more likely that the Norsemen came to trade rather than pillage. Most of the artifacts also date to the 780s, but some are as old as 725. That predates the beginning of Viking raids on great Britain by about 70 years. (Traditionally, the so-called “Viking Age” began with these raids in 793 and ended with Norman conquest of Great Britain in 1066.) Archaeologists had suspected that the Viking had experience with ling maritime voyages [that] might have preceded their raiding days. Beyond Norway, these combs would have been a popular industry in Scandinavia as well. It’s possible that the antler comb’s represent a larger trade network, where the Norsemen supplied raw material to craftsmen in Denmark and elsewhere.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 4.

All of the following hold true for Vikings EXCEPT

A).
Vikings brought reindeer from Norway to Denmark for trade purposes.
B).
Before becoming the raiders of northern Europe, Vikings had trade relations with European nations.
C).
Antler combs, regarded by the Vikings as a symbol of good health, were part of the Viking culture.
D).
Vikings, once upon a time, had trade relations with Denmark and Scandinavia.

Explanation :

Option 1 is not true about the Vikings and is therefore, correct. Vikings are said to have carried reindeer antlers and other comb-making material from Norway to Denmark. The passage states: “Combs carved from animal antlers, as well as comb manufacturing waste and raw antler material has turned up at three archaeological sites in Denmark….” Later in the passage it is also mentioned that: “The fact that the animals shed their antlers also made them easy to collect from the large herds that inhabited Norway.” Thus, it is clear that reindeer antlers and not reindeers were brought by Vikings from Norway, to Denmark. Retain option 1. Option 2 is incorrect. It is true that the Vikings had trade relations with European nations before raiding Northern Europe. Therefore option 2 is not an exception. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is incorrect. The writer states: “Antler craftsmanship, in the form of decorative combs, was part of Viking culture. Such combs served as symbols of good health…” Option 3 is not an exception. Eliminate option 3.
Option 4 is incorrect. The writer states: “Beyond Norway, these combs would have been a popular industry in Scandinavia as well.” Option 4 is true about Vikings and is therefore an incorrect option. Eliminate option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 1.

Directions for questions 22 to 24:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 22 to 24 carry 3 marks each.

Despite their fierce reputation, Vikings may not have always been the plunderers and pillagers popular culture imagines them to be. In fact, they got their start trading in northern European markets, researchers suggest.

Combs carved from animal antlers, as well as comb manufacturing waste and raw antler material has turned up at three archaeological sites in Denmark, including a medieval marketplace in the city of Ribe. A team of researchers from Denmark and U.K.hoped to identify the species of animal to which the antlers once belonged by analyzing collagen proteins in the samples and comparing them across the animal kingdom, Laura Geggel reports for liveScience.

Somewhat surprisingly, molecular analysis of the artifacts revealed that some combs and other material had been carved from reindeer antlers…. Given that reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) don’t live in Denmark, the researchers posit that it arrived on Viking ships from Norway. Antler craftsmanship, in the form of decorative combs, was part of Viking culture. Such combs served as symbols of good health, Geggel writes. The fact that the animals shed their antlers also made them easy to collect from the large herds that inhabited Norway.

Since the artifacts were found in marketplace areas at each site it’s more likely that the Norsemen came to trade rather than pillage. Most of the artifacts also date to the 780s, but some are as old as 725. That predates the beginning of Viking raids on great Britain by about 70 years. (Traditionally, the so-called “Viking Age” began with these raids in 793 and ended with Norman conquest of Great Britain in 1066.) Archaeologists had suspected that the Viking had experience with ling maritime voyages [that] might have preceded their raiding days. Beyond Norway, these combs would have been a popular industry in Scandinavia as well. It’s possible that the antler comb’s represent a larger trade network, where the Norsemen supplied raw material to craftsmen in Denmark and elsewhere.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 5.

The evidence- “Most of the artifacts also date to the 780s, but some are as old as 725”- has been used in the passage to argue that:

A).
the beginning date of the Viking Age should be changed from 793 to 725.
B).
the Viking raids started as early as 725.
C).
some of the antler artifacts found in Denmark and Great Britain could have come from Scandinavia.
D).
the Vikings’ trade relations with Europe pre-dates the Viking raids.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. The evidence is used not to argue for changing the date of the Viking age but to highlight the fact that Vikings were traders before they were known to be raiders. Eliminate option 1. Option 2 is incorrect. The raids are said to start about 70 years after 725. Eliminate option 2
Option 3 is incorrect. The evidence is cited to show that the Vikings had been traders before they were raiders and not to show that the antler artefacts could have come from Scandinavia. Eliminate option 3.
Option 4 is correct. The evidence is cited in order to show that the Vikings’ trade relations with Europe, predates the Viking raids. The reason for mentioning the evidence is stated right afterwards in the passage – “Most of the artefacts also date to the 780s, but some are as old as 725. That predates the beginning of Viking raids on Great Britain by about 70 years.” Retain option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.

Directions for questions 22 to 24:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 22 to 24 carry 3 marks each.

Despite their fierce reputation, Vikings may not have always been the plunderers and pillagers popular culture imagines them to be. In fact, they got their start trading in northern European markets, researchers suggest.

Combs carved from animal antlers, as well as comb manufacturing waste and raw antler material has turned up at three archaeological sites in Denmark, including a medieval marketplace in the city of Ribe. A team of researchers from Denmark and U.K.hoped to identify the species of animal to which the antlers once belonged by analyzing collagen proteins in the samples and comparing them across the animal kingdom, Laura Geggel reports for liveScience.

Somewhat surprisingly, molecular analysis of the artifacts revealed that some combs and other material had been carved from reindeer antlers…. Given that reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) don’t live in Denmark, the researchers posit that it arrived on Viking ships from Norway. Antler craftsmanship, in the form of decorative combs, was part of Viking culture. Such combs served as symbols of good health, Geggel writes. The fact that the animals shed their antlers also made them easy to collect from the large herds that inhabited Norway.

Since the artifacts were found in marketplace areas at each site it’s more likely that the Norsemen came to trade rather than pillage. Most of the artifacts also date to the 780s, but some are as old as 725. That predates the beginning of Viking raids on great Britain by about 70 years. (Traditionally, the so-called “Viking Age” began with these raids in 793 and ended with Norman conquest of Great Britain in 1066.) Archaeologists had suspected that the Viking had experience with ling maritime voyages [that] might have preceded their raiding days. Beyond Norway, these combs would have been a popular industry in Scandinavia as well. It’s possible that the antler comb’s represent a larger trade network, where the Norsemen supplied raw material to craftsmen in Denmark and elsewhere.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 6.

The primary purpose of the passage is:

A).
to explain the presence of reindeer antler combs in Denmark.
B).
to contradict the widely-accepted beginning date for the Viking Age in Britain, and propose an alternate one.
C).
to challenge the popular perception of Vikings as raiders by using evidence that suggests their early trade relations with Europe.
D).
to argue that besides being violent pillagers, Vikings were also skilled craftsmen and efficient traders.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. The reindeer antler combs are incidental to explaining that Vikings were traders before they became raiders. The passage does not aim to explain how the reindeer antlers came to be in Denmark. Eliminate option 1. Option 2 is incorrect. The passage’s central purpose is not to correct any perceptions about when a Viking age began in Britain. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is correct. The passage essentially aims to explain the reasons why one may review the perception of Vikings as raiders in light of the new evidence which shows that they had earlier been trading. Retain option 3.
Option 4 is incorrect. The passage does not endorse or eliminate the view that Vikings were pillagers. Eliminate option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.

Directions for questions 19 to 21:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 19 to 21 carry 3 marks each.

Typewriters are the epitome of a technology that has been comprehensively rendered obsolete by the digital age. The ink comes off the ribbon, they weigh a ton, and second thoughts are a disaster. But they are also personal, portable and, above all, private. Type a document and lock it away and more or less the only ways anyone else can get it is if you give it to them. That is why the Russians have decided to go back to typewriters in some government offices, and why in the US, some departments have never abandoned them. Yet it is not just their resistance to algorithms and secret surveillance that keeps typewriter production lines-well one, at least-in business (the last British one closed a year ago). Nor is it only the nostalgic appeal of the mental body and the stout well-defined keys that make them popular on eBay. A typewriter demands something particular: attentiveness. By the time paper is loaded, the ribbon tightened, the carriage returned, the spacing and the margins set, there’s a big premium on hitting the right key. That means sorting out ideas, pulling together a kind of order and organizing details before actually striking off. There can be no thinking of screen with a typewriter. Nor are there any easy distractions. No online shopping. No urgent emails. No Twitter. No need even for electricity -perfect for writing in a remote hideaway. The thinking process is accompanied by the encouraging clack of keys, and the ratchet of the carriage return. Ping!.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 7.

The writer praises typewriters for all the following reasons EXCEPT

A).
Unlike computers, they van only be used for typing.
B).
You cannot revise what you have typed on a typewriter.
C).
Typewriters are noisier than computers.
D).
Typewriters are messier to use than computers.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. The author implies that unlike computers that can be used for other distractions, typewriters can only be used for typing. Thus option 1 is not an exception. Eliminate option 1. Option 2 is incorrect. The passage states that the need for attentiveness comes from the fact that you cannot revise what you have typed on a typewriter. Option 2 is not an exception. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is incorrect. The writer does praise the typewriter for its noisy quality. Option 3 is not an exception. Eliminate option 3.
Option 4 is correct. The writer does not praise the typewriter for being messier to use than computers. Retain option 4
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.

Directions for questions 19 to 21:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 19 to 21 carry 3 marks each.

Typewriters are the epitome of a technology that has been comprehensively rendered obsolete by the digital age. The ink comes off the ribbon, they weigh a ton, and second thoughts are a disaster. But they are also personal, portable and, above all, private. Type a document and lock it away and more or less the only ways anyone else can get it is if you give it to them. That is why the Russians have decided to go back to typewriters in some government offices, and why in the US, some departments have never abandoned them. Yet it is not just their resistance to algorithms and secret surveillance that keeps typewriter production lines-well one, at least-in business (the last British one closed a year ago). Nor is it only the nostalgic appeal of the mental body and the stout well-defined keys that make them popular on eBay. A typewriter demands something particular: attentiveness. By the time paper is loaded, the ribbon tightened, the carriage returned, the spacing and the margins set, there’s a big premium on hitting the right key. That means sorting out ideas, pulling together a kind of order and organizing details before actually striking off. There can be no thinking of screen with a typewriter. Nor are there any easy distractions. No online shopping. No urgent emails. No Twitter. No need even for electricity -perfect for writing in a remote hideaway. The thinking process is accompanied by the encouraging clack of keys, and the ratchet of the carriage return. Ping!.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 8.

According to the passage, some government still use typewriters because:

A).
they do not want to abandon old technologies that may be useful in the future.
B).
they want to ensure that typewriter production lines remain in business.
C).
they like the nostalgic appeal of typewriter.
D).
they can control who reads the document.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. The passage makes no mention of technology that may be useful in the future. Eliminate option 1. Option 2 is incorrect. The passage does not imply any relation between government and typewriter production lines. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is incorrect. Nostalgic appeal is not the reason governments use typewriters. Eliminate option 3.
Option 4 is correct. The passage states: “Type a document and lock it away and more or less the only way anyone else can get it is if you give it to them.” Retain option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.

Directions for questions 19 to 21:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 19 to 21 carry 3 marks each.

Typewriters are the epitome of a technology that has been comprehensively rendered obsolete by the digital age. The ink comes off the ribbon, they weigh a ton, and second thoughts are a disaster. But they are also personal, portable and, above all, private. Type a document and lock it away and more or less the only ways anyone else can get it is if you give it to them. That is why the Russians have decided to go back to typewriters in some government offices, and why in the US, some departments have never abandoned them. Yet it is not just their resistance to algorithms and secret surveillance that keeps typewriter production lines-well one, at least-in business (the last British one closed a year ago). Nor is it only the nostalgic appeal of the mental body and the stout well-defined keys that make them popular on eBay. A typewriter demands something particular: attentiveness. By the time paper is loaded, the ribbon tightened, the carriage returned, the spacing and the margins set, there’s a big premium on hitting the right key. That means sorting out ideas, pulling together a kind of order and organizing details before actually striking off. There can be no thinking of screen with a typewriter. Nor are there any easy distractions. No online shopping. No urgent emails. No Twitter. No need even for electricity -perfect for writing in a remote hideaway. The thinking process is accompanied by the encouraging clack of keys, and the ratchet of the carriage return. Ping!.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 9.

Which one of the following best describes what the passage is trying to do?

A).
It describes why people continue to use typewriters even in the digital age.
B).
It argues that typewriters will continue to be used even though they are an obsolete technology.
C).
It highlights the personal benefits of using typewriters.
D).
It shows that computers offer fewer options than typewriters.

Explanation :

Option 1 is correct. The passage lists out the benefits of typewriters in the digital age. Retain option 1. Option 2 is incorrect. The passage makes no argument for concluding that they will continue to be used in the future. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is incorrect. The passage does point out the benefits of using typewriters but these benefits are not “personal” in nature. Eliminate option 3.
Option 4 is incorrect. The passage does not imply that computers offer fewer options than typewriters. Eliminate option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 1.

Directions for questions 13 to 18:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 13 to 18 carry 3 marks each.

The end of age of the internal combustion engine is in sight. There are small signs everywhere: the shift to hybrid vehicles is already under way among manufacturers. Volvo has announced it will make no purely petrol-engined cars after 2019…and Tesla has just started selling its first electric car aimed squarely at the middle classes: the Tesla 3 sells for $35,000 in the US, and 400,000 people have put down a small, refundable deposit towards one . Several thousand have already taken delivery, and the company hopes to sell half a million more next year. This is a remarkable figure for a machine with a fairly short range and a very limited number of specialized charging stations.

Some of it reflects the remarkable abilities of Elon musk, the company’s founder, as a salesman, engineer, and a man able to get the most out his factory workers and the government he deals with …Mr. Musk is selling a dream that the world wants to believe in.

This last may be the most important factor in the story. The private car is…a device of immense practical help and economic significance, but at the same time a theatre for myths of unattainable self-fulfilment. The one thing you will never see in a car advertisement is traffic, even though that is the element in which drivers spend their lives. Every single driver in a traffic jam is trying to escape from it, yet it is the inevitable consequence of mass car ownership.
The sleek and swift electric car is at one level merely the most contemporary fantasy of autonomy and power. But it might also disrupt our exterior landscapes nearly as much as the fossil fuel -engined car did in the last century. Electrical cars would of course pollute far less than fossil fuel-driven ones; instead of oil reserves, the rarest materials for batteries would make undeserving despots and their dynasties fantastically rich. Petrol stations would disappear. The air in cities would once more be breathable and their streets as quite as those of Venice. This isn’t an unmixed good. Cars that were as silent as bicycles would still be as dangerous as they are now to anyone they hit without audible warning.

The dream goes further that that. The electric cars of the future will be so thoroughly equipped with sensors and reaction mechanisms that they will never hit anyone. Just as brakes don’t let you skid today, the steering wheel of tomorrow will swerve you away from danger before you have even noticed it....

This is where the fantasy of autonomy comes full circle. The logical outcome of cars which need no driver is that they will become cars which need no owner either. Instead, they will works taxis do, summoned at will but only for the journeys we actually need. This the future towards which Uber….is working. The ultimate development of the private car will be to reinvent public transport. Traffic jams will be abolished only when the private car becomes a public utility. What then will happen to our fantasies of independence? We’ll all have to take to electrically powered bicycles.

Q. 10.

In paragraph 6, the author mentions electrically powered bicycles to argue that

A).
if Elon Musk were a true visionary, he would invest funds in developing electric bicycles.
B).
our fantasies of autonomy might unexpectedly require us to consider electric bicycles.
C).
in terms of environmental friendliness and safety, electric bicycles rather than electric cars are the future.
D).
electric buses are the best form of public transport.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. The passage contains no implication for what Elon Musk would have done if he were a true visionary. Eliminate option 1. Option 2 is correct. The passage states that the private car represents the myth of autonomy which is in fact, unattainable. Since the private car cannot gratify this myth, the writer humorously suggests that we would all have to take electrically powered bicycles instead. Thus, the statement “our fantasies of autonomy may unexpectedly require us to consider electric bicycles” correctly sums up why the author mentions electric bicycles. Retain option 2.
Option 3 is incorrect. Electrical bicycles are mentioned in a humorous context and not as a serious alternative to cars. Eliminate option 3.
Option 4 is incorrect. This is entirely unsupported by the passage. Eliminate option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2.

Directions for questions 13 to 18:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 13 to 18 carry 3 marks each.

The end of age of the internal combustion engine is in sight. There are small signs everywhere: the shift to hybrid vehicles is already under way among manufacturers. Volvo has announced it will make no purely petrol-engined cars after 2019…and Tesla has just started selling its first electric car aimed squarely at the middle classes: the Tesla 3 sells for $35,000 in the US, and 400,000 people have put down a small, refundable deposit towards one . Several thousand have already taken delivery, and the company hopes to sell half a million more next year. This is a remarkable figure for a machine with a fairly short range and a very limited number of specialized charging stations.

Some of it reflects the remarkable abilities of Elon musk, the company’s founder, as a salesman, engineer, and a man able to get the most out his factory workers and the government he deals with …Mr. Musk is selling a dream that the world wants to believe in.

This last may be the most important factor in the story. The private car is…a device of immense practical help and economic significance, but at the same time a theatre for myths of unattainable self-fulfilment. The one thing you will never see in a car advertisement is traffic, even though that is the element in which drivers spend their lives. Every single driver in a traffic jam is trying to escape from it, yet it is the inevitable consequence of mass car ownership.
The sleek and swift electric car is at one level merely the most contemporary fantasy of autonomy and power. But it might also disrupt our exterior landscapes nearly as much as the fossil fuel -engined car did in the last century. Electrical cars would of course pollute far less than fossil fuel-driven ones; instead of oil reserves, the rarest materials for batteries would make undeserving despots and their dynasties fantastically rich. Petrol stations would disappear. The air in cities would once more be breathable and their streets as quite as those of Venice. This isn’t an unmixed good. Cars that were as silent as bicycles would still be as dangerous as they are now to anyone they hit without audible warning.

The dream goes further that that. The electric cars of the future will be so thoroughly equipped with sensors and reaction mechanisms that they will never hit anyone. Just as brakes don’t let you skid today, the steering wheel of tomorrow will swerve you away from danger before you have even noticed it....

This is where the fantasy of autonomy comes full circle. The logical outcome of cars which need no driver is that they will become cars which need no owner either. Instead, they will works taxis do, summoned at will but only for the journeys we actually need. This the future towards which Uber….is working. The ultimate development of the private car will be to reinvent public transport. Traffic jams will be abolished only when the private car becomes a public utility. What then will happen to our fantasies of independence? We’ll all have to take to electrically powered bicycles.

Q. 11.

In paragraphs 5 and 6, the author provides the example of Uber to argue that

A).
in the future, electric cars will be equipped with mechanisms that prevent collision.
B).
in the future, traffic jams will not exist.
C).
in the future, the private car will be transformed into a form of public transport.
D).
in the future, Uber rides will outstrip Tesla sales.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. The passage does not state that electric cars will be equipped with mechanisms that prevent collisions. Eliminate option 1. Option 2 is incorrect. The final paragraph states that unless the private cars are used as public transport, traffic jams will exist. Thus the example of Uber is not given to show that traffic jams will not exist. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is correct. The example of Uber is given in the last paragraph to show the possibility of using private cars as public transport. Retain option 3.
Option 4 is incorrect. The passage makes no such mention. Eliminate option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.

Directions for questions 13 to 18:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 13 to 18 carry 3 marks each.

The end of age of the internal combustion engine is in sight. There are small signs everywhere: the shift to hybrid vehicles is already under way among manufacturers. Volvo has announced it will make no purely petrol-engined cars after 2019…and Tesla has just started selling its first electric car aimed squarely at the middle classes: the Tesla 3 sells for $35,000 in the US, and 400,000 people have put down a small, refundable deposit towards one . Several thousand have already taken delivery, and the company hopes to sell half a million more next year. This is a remarkable figure for a machine with a fairly short range and a very limited number of specialized charging stations.

Some of it reflects the remarkable abilities of Elon musk, the company’s founder, as a salesman, engineer, and a man able to get the most out his factory workers and the government he deals with …Mr. Musk is selling a dream that the world wants to believe in.

This last may be the most important factor in the story. The private car is…a device of immense practical help and economic significance, but at the same time a theatre for myths of unattainable self-fulfilment. The one thing you will never see in a car advertisement is traffic, even though that is the element in which drivers spend their lives. Every single driver in a traffic jam is trying to escape from it, yet it is the inevitable consequence of mass car ownership.
The sleek and swift electric car is at one level merely the most contemporary fantasy of autonomy and power. But it might also disrupt our exterior landscapes nearly as much as the fossil fuel -engined car did in the last century. Electrical cars would of course pollute far less than fossil fuel-driven ones; instead of oil reserves, the rarest materials for batteries would make undeserving despots and their dynasties fantastically rich. Petrol stations would disappear. The air in cities would once more be breathable and their streets as quite as those of Venice. This isn’t an unmixed good. Cars that were as silent as bicycles would still be as dangerous as they are now to anyone they hit without audible warning.

The dream goes further that that. The electric cars of the future will be so thoroughly equipped with sensors and reaction mechanisms that they will never hit anyone. Just as brakes don’t let you skid today, the steering wheel of tomorrow will swerve you away from danger before you have even noticed it....

This is where the fantasy of autonomy comes full circle. The logical outcome of cars which need no driver is that they will become cars which need no owner either. Instead, they will works taxis do, summoned at will but only for the journeys we actually need. This the future towards which Uber….is working. The ultimate development of the private car will be to reinvent public transport. Traffic jams will be abolished only when the private car becomes a public utility. What then will happen to our fantasies of independence? We’ll all have to take to electrically powered bicycles.

Q. 12.

The author comes to the conclusion that

A).
car drivers will no longer own cars but will have to use public transport.
B).
car will be controlled by technology that is more efficient that car drivers.
C).
car drivers dream of autonomy but the future may be public transport.
D).
electrically powered bicycles are the only way to achieve autonomy in transportation.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. The author believes that the likelihood that the private car will be used for public transport is high. He does not conclude that “car drivers will no longer own cars but will have to use public transport”. Eliminate option 1 Option 2 is incorrect. The author does not speculate on the efficiency of technology over a driver. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is correct. The passage concludes that the myth of autonomy remains unattainable as the likelihood is high that in the future, private cars will be used as public transport. Retain option 3
Option 4 is incorrect. The sentence is said in sarcasm as the writer clearly states that autonomy aided by technology is a myth. Eliminate option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.

Directions for questions 13 to 18:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 13 to 18 carry 3 marks each.

The end of age of the internal combustion engine is in sight. There are small signs everywhere: the shift to hybrid vehicles is already under way among manufacturers. Volvo has announced it will make no purely petrol-engined cars after 2019…and Tesla has just started selling its first electric car aimed squarely at the middle classes: the Tesla 3 sells for $35,000 in the US, and 400,000 people have put down a small, refundable deposit towards one . Several thousand have already taken delivery, and the company hopes to sell half a million more next year. This is a remarkable figure for a machine with a fairly short range and a very limited number of specialized charging stations.

Some of it reflects the remarkable abilities of Elon musk, the company’s founder, as a salesman, engineer, and a man able to get the most out his factory workers and the government he deals with …Mr. Musk is selling a dream that the world wants to believe in.

This last may be the most important factor in the story. The private car is…a device of immense practical help and economic significance, but at the same time a theatre for myths of unattainable self-fulfilment. The one thing you will never see in a car advertisement is traffic, even though that is the element in which drivers spend their lives. Every single driver in a traffic jam is trying to escape from it, yet it is the inevitable consequence of mass car ownership.
The sleek and swift electric car is at one level merely the most contemporary fantasy of autonomy and power. But it might also disrupt our exterior landscapes nearly as much as the fossil fuel -engined car did in the last century. Electrical cars would of course pollute far less than fossil fuel-driven ones; instead of oil reserves, the rarest materials for batteries would make undeserving despots and their dynasties fantastically rich. Petrol stations would disappear. The air in cities would once more be breathable and their streets as quite as those of Venice. This isn’t an unmixed good. Cars that were as silent as bicycles would still be as dangerous as they are now to anyone they hit without audible warning.

The dream goes further that that. The electric cars of the future will be so thoroughly equipped with sensors and reaction mechanisms that they will never hit anyone. Just as brakes don’t let you skid today, the steering wheel of tomorrow will swerve you away from danger before you have even noticed it....

This is where the fantasy of autonomy comes full circle. The logical outcome of cars which need no driver is that they will become cars which need no owner either. Instead, they will works taxis do, summoned at will but only for the journeys we actually need. This the future towards which Uber….is working. The ultimate development of the private car will be to reinvent public transport. Traffic jams will be abolished only when the private car becomes a public utility. What then will happen to our fantasies of independence? We’ll all have to take to electrically powered bicycles.

Q. 13.

According t the author, the main reason for Tesla’s remarkable sales is that

A).
in the long run, the Tesla is more cost effective than fossil fuel-driven cars.
B).
the US government has announced a tax subsidy for Tesla buyers.
C).
the company is rapidly upscaling the number of specialized charging stations for customer convenience.
D).
people believe I the autonomy represented by private cars.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. The passage does not state that Tesla’s cars are more cost effective than fossil fuel-driven cars. Eliminate option 1.

Option 2 is incorrect. The author mentions that Musk’s enterprises have benefited from government subsidies – this does not imply a subsidy for Tesla buyers. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is not correct as the passage does not make this assertion. Eliminate option 3.
Option 4 is correct. The passage states that “The private car is ... a theatre for myths of unattainable self-fulfilment.” Thus, it is the myth of autonomy that is primarily responsible for the sales of Tesla. Retain option 4
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.

Directions for questions 13 to 18:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 13 to 18 carry 3 marks each.

The end of age of the internal combustion engine is in sight. There are small signs everywhere: the shift to hybrid vehicles is already under way among manufacturers. Volvo has announced it will make no purely petrol-engined cars after 2019…and Tesla has just started selling its first electric car aimed squarely at the middle classes: the Tesla 3 sells for $35,000 in the US, and 400,000 people have put down a small, refundable deposit towards one . Several thousand have already taken delivery, and the company hopes to sell half a million more next year. This is a remarkable figure for a machine with a fairly short range and a very limited number of specialized charging stations.

Some of it reflects the remarkable abilities of Elon musk, the company’s founder, as a salesman, engineer, and a man able to get the most out his factory workers and the government he deals with …Mr. Musk is selling a dream that the world wants to believe in.

This last may be the most important factor in the story. The private car is…a device of immense practical help and economic significance, but at the same time a theatre for myths of unattainable self-fulfilment. The one thing you will never see in a car advertisement is traffic, even though that is the element in which drivers spend their lives. Every single driver in a traffic jam is trying to escape from it, yet it is the inevitable consequence of mass car ownership.
The sleek and swift electric car is at one level merely the most contemporary fantasy of autonomy and power. But it might also disrupt our exterior landscapes nearly as much as the fossil fuel -engined car did in the last century. Electrical cars would of course pollute far less than fossil fuel-driven ones; instead of oil reserves, the rarest materials for batteries would make undeserving despots and their dynasties fantastically rich. Petrol stations would disappear. The air in cities would once more be breathable and their streets as quite as those of Venice. This isn’t an unmixed good. Cars that were as silent as bicycles would still be as dangerous as they are now to anyone they hit without audible warning.

The dream goes further that that. The electric cars of the future will be so thoroughly equipped with sensors and reaction mechanisms that they will never hit anyone. Just as brakes don’t let you skid today, the steering wheel of tomorrow will swerve you away from danger before you have even noticed it....

This is where the fantasy of autonomy comes full circle. The logical outcome of cars which need no driver is that they will become cars which need no owner either. Instead, they will works taxis do, summoned at will but only for the journeys we actually need. This the future towards which Uber….is working. The ultimate development of the private car will be to reinvent public transport. Traffic jams will be abolished only when the private car becomes a public utility. What then will happen to our fantasies of independence? We’ll all have to take to electrically powered bicycles.

Q. 14.

The author points out all of the following about electric cars EXCEPT

A).
Their reliance on rare materials for batteries will support despotic rule.
B).
They will reduce air and noise pollution.
C).
They will not decrease the number of traffic jam.
D).
They will ultimately undermine rather than further driver autonomy.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. The passage states – “... the rarest materials for batteries would make undeserving despots and their dynasties fantastically rich.” Thus, option 1 is not an exception. Eliminate option 1. Option 2 is incorrect. The passage states that after electric cars, “The air in cities would once more be breathable and their streets as quiet as those of Venice.” Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is incorrect. In the last paragraph, the author states that “Traffic jams will be abolished only when the private car becomes a public utility.” Eliminate option 3.
Option 4 is correct. The passage does not state anywhere that the economy itself will be undermined by electric cars. Retain option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.

Directions for questions 13 to 18:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 13 to 18 carry 3 marks each.

The end of age of the internal combustion engine is in sight. There are small signs everywhere: the shift to hybrid vehicles is already under way among manufacturers. Volvo has announced it will make no purely petrol-engined cars after 2019…and Tesla has just started selling its first electric car aimed squarely at the middle classes: the Tesla 3 sells for $35,000 in the US, and 400,000 people have put down a small, refundable deposit towards one . Several thousand have already taken delivery, and the company hopes to sell half a million more next year. This is a remarkable figure for a machine with a fairly short range and a very limited number of specialized charging stations.

Some of it reflects the remarkable abilities of Elon musk, the company’s founder, as a salesman, engineer, and a man able to get the most out his factory workers and the government he deals with …Mr. Musk is selling a dream that the world wants to believe in.

This last may be the most important factor in the story. The private car is…a device of immense practical help and economic significance, but at the same time a theatre for myths of unattainable self-fulfilment. The one thing you will never see in a car advertisement is traffic, even though that is the element in which drivers spend their lives. Every single driver in a traffic jam is trying to escape from it, yet it is the inevitable consequence of mass car ownership.
The sleek and swift electric car is at one level merely the most contemporary fantasy of autonomy and power. But it might also disrupt our exterior landscapes nearly as much as the fossil fuel -engined car did in the last century. Electrical cars would of course pollute far less than fossil fuel-driven ones; instead of oil reserves, the rarest materials for batteries would make undeserving despots and their dynasties fantastically rich. Petrol stations would disappear. The air in cities would once more be breathable and their streets as quite as those of Venice. This isn’t an unmixed good. Cars that were as silent as bicycles would still be as dangerous as they are now to anyone they hit without audible warning.

The dream goes further that that. The electric cars of the future will be so thoroughly equipped with sensors and reaction mechanisms that they will never hit anyone. Just as brakes don’t let you skid today, the steering wheel of tomorrow will swerve you away from danger before you have even noticed it....

This is where the fantasy of autonomy comes full circle. The logical outcome of cars which need no driver is that they will become cars which need no owner either. Instead, they will works taxis do, summoned at will but only for the journeys we actually need. This the future towards which Uber….is working. The ultimate development of the private car will be to reinvent public transport. Traffic jams will be abolished only when the private car becomes a public utility. What then will happen to our fantasies of independence? We’ll all have to take to electrically powered bicycles.

Q. 15.

Which of the following statements best reflects the author’s argument?

A).
Hybrid and electric vehicles signal the end of the age of internal combustion engines.
B).
Elon Musk is a remarkable gifted salesman.
C).
The private car represents an unattainable myth of independence.
D).
The future Uber car will be environmentally friendlier than even the Tesla.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. This option is used as a premise for the author’s argument. It does not reflect the author’s argument. Eliminate option 1.

Option 2 is incorrect. This not the central point of the passage but just an observation on the reasons why the electric car is the new dream. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is correct. The passage argues that the private car, was not really an enabler of independence when it relied on the internal combustion engine and continues to pander to the “myth” of independence in its electric avatar. Refer para 3 –”This last may be the most important factor in the story. The private car is – like the smartphone – a device of immense practical help and economic significance, but at the same time a theatre for myths of unattainable self-fulfilment.” Retain option 3.
Option 4 is incorrect. The passage makes no such reference to the superiority of the Uber car. Eliminate option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.

Directions for questions 7 to 12:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 7 to 12 carry 3 marks each.

During the frigid seasons….it’s often necessary to nestle under a blanket to try to stay warm. The temperature difference between the blanket and the air outside is so palpable that we often have trouble leaving our warm refuge. Many plants and animals similarly hunker down, relying on snow cover for safety form winter’s harsh conditions. The small area between the snowpack and the ground, called the subnivium…might be the most important ecosystem that you have never heard of.

The subnivium is so well-insulated and stable that its temperature holds steady at around 32 degree Fahrenheit (0 degree Celsius). Although that might still sound cold, a constant temperature of 32 degree Fahrenheit can often be 30 to 40 degrees warmer than the air temperature during the peak of winter. Because of this large temperature difference, a wide variety of species…depend on the subnivium for winter protection.

For many organisms living in temperate and Arctic regions, the difference between being under the snow or outside it is a matter of life and death. Consequently, disruptions to the subnivium brought about by climate change will affect everything from population dynamics to nutrient cycling through the ecosystem.

The formation and stability of the subnivium requires more than a few flurries. Winter ecologists have suggested that eight inches of snow is necessary to develop a stable layer of insulation. Depth is not the only factor, however. More accurately, the stability of the subnivium depends on the interaction between snow depth and snow density. Imagine being under a stack of blankets that are all flattened and pressed together. When compressed, the blankets essentially from one compacted layer. In contrast, when they are lightly placed on top of one another, their insulative capacity increases because the air pockets between them trap heat. Greater depths of low-density snow are therefore better at insulating the ground.

Both depth and density of snow are sensitive to temperature. Scientists are now beginning to explore how climate change will affect the subnivium, as well as the species that depend on it. At first glance, warmer winters seem beneficial for species that have difficulty surviving subzero temperature; however, as with most ecological phenomena, the consequences are not so straightforward. Research has shown that the snow season (the period when snow is more likely than rain) has become shorter since 1970. When rain falls on snow, it increases the density of the snow and reduces its insulative capacity. Therefore, even though winters are expected to become warmer overall from future climate change, the subnivium will tend to become colder and more variable with less protection from the above-ground temperatures.

The effects of a colder subnivium are complex….For example, shrubs such as crowberry and alpine azalea that grow along the forest floor tend to block the wind and so retain higher depths of snow around them. This captured snow helps to keep soils insulated and in turn increases plant decomposition and nutrient release. In field experiments, researcher removed a portion of the snow cover to investigate the importance of the subnivium’s insulation. They found that soil frost in the snow-free area resulted in damage to plant roots and sometimes even the depth of the plant.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 16.

In paragraph 1, the author uses blankets as a devise to

A).
evoke the bitter cold of winter in the minds of readers.
B).
explain how blankets work to keep us warm.
C).
draw an analogy between blankets and the snowpack.
D).
alter readers to the fatal effects of excessive exposure to the cold.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. The reference to blankets is not intended to evoke the bitter cold of winter. Eliminate option 1. Option 2 is incorrect. The point of using blankets as an example is not to elaborate on the function of blankets. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is correct. The blanket, like the subnivium, acts as a barrier and causes a temperature difference between the cold of the atmosphere and the area below it. Retain option 3.
Option 4 is incorrect. The fatal effects of exposure to the cold are not the reason why blankets are mentioned. Eliminate option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.

Directions for questions 7 to 12:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 7 to 12 carry 3 marks each.

During the frigid seasons….it’s often necessary to nestle under a blanket to try to stay warm. The temperature difference between the blanket and the air outside is so palpable that we often have trouble leaving our warm refuge. Many plants and animals similarly hunker down, relying on snow cover for safety form winter’s harsh conditions. The small area between the snowpack and the ground, called the subnivium…might be the most important ecosystem that you have never heard of.

The subnivium is so well-insulated and stable that its temperature holds steady at around 32 degree Fahrenheit (0 degree Celsius). Although that might still sound cold, a constant temperature of 32 degree Fahrenheit can often be 30 to 40 degrees warmer than the air temperature during the peak of winter. Because of this large temperature difference, a wide variety of species…depend on the subnivium for winter protection.

For many organisms living in temperate and Arctic regions, the difference between being under the snow or outside it is a matter of life and death. Consequently, disruptions to the subnivium brought about by climate change will affect everything from population dynamics to nutrient cycling through the ecosystem.

The formation and stability of the subnivium requires more than a few flurries. Winter ecologists have suggested that eight inches of snow is necessary to develop a stable layer of insulation. Depth is not the only factor, however. More accurately, the stability of the subnivium depends on the interaction between snow depth and snow density. Imagine being under a stack of blankets that are all flattened and pressed together. When compressed, the blankets essentially from one compacted layer. In contrast, when they are lightly placed on top of one another, their insulative capacity increases because the air pockets between them trap heat. Greater depths of low-density snow are therefore better at insulating the ground.

Both depth and density of snow are sensitive to temperature. Scientists are now beginning to explore how climate change will affect the subnivium, as well as the species that depend on it. At first glance, warmer winters seem beneficial for species that have difficulty surviving subzero temperature; however, as with most ecological phenomena, the consequences are not so straightforward. Research has shown that the snow season (the period when snow is more likely than rain) has become shorter since 1970. When rain falls on snow, it increases the density of the snow and reduces its insulative capacity. Therefore, even though winters are expected to become warmer overall from future climate change, the subnivium will tend to become colder and more variable with less protection from the above-ground temperatures.

The effects of a colder subnivium are complex….For example, shrubs such as crowberry and alpine azalea that grow along the forest floor tend to block the wind and so retain higher depths of snow around them. This captured snow helps to keep soils insulated and in turn increases plant decomposition and nutrient release. In field experiments, researcher removed a portion of the snow cover to investigate the importance of the subnivium’s insulation. They found that soil frost in the snow-free area resulted in damage to plant roots and sometimes even the depth of the plant.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 17.

Which one of the following statements can be inferred from the passage?

A).
In an ecosystem, altering any one element has a ripple effect on all others.
B).
Climate change affects temperate and Artic regions more than equational or arid ones.
C).
A compact layer of wool is warmer than a similarly compact layer of goose down.
D).
The loss of the subnivium, while tragic, will affect only temperate and Artic regions.

Explanation :

Option 1 is correct. From the example of the shrubs, we realise that changes in density of snow has such a serious impact, and this goes to show that altering any one element has a ripple effect on all others. Retain option 1. Option 2 is incorrect. The passage makes no mention of equatorial or arid zones. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is incorrect. We cannot infer anything about the warmth of two different materials with the same density. Eliminate option 3.
Option 4 is incorrect. The passage does not state anything that can lead to an understanding of the geographical extent of the impact of the subnivium’s loss. Eliminate option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.

Directions for questions 7 to 12:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 7 to 12 carry 3 marks each.

During the frigid seasons….it’s often necessary to nestle under a blanket to try to stay warm. The temperature difference between the blanket and the air outside is so palpable that we often have trouble leaving our warm refuge. Many plants and animals similarly hunker down, relying on snow cover for safety form winter’s harsh conditions. The small area between the snowpack and the ground, called the subnivium…might be the most important ecosystem that you have never heard of.

The subnivium is so well-insulated and stable that its temperature holds steady at around 32 degree Fahrenheit (0 degree Celsius). Although that might still sound cold, a constant temperature of 32 degree Fahrenheit can often be 30 to 40 degrees warmer than the air temperature during the peak of winter. Because of this large temperature difference, a wide variety of species…depend on the subnivium for winter protection.

For many organisms living in temperate and Arctic regions, the difference between being under the snow or outside it is a matter of life and death. Consequently, disruptions to the subnivium brought about by climate change will affect everything from population dynamics to nutrient cycling through the ecosystem.

The formation and stability of the subnivium requires more than a few flurries. Winter ecologists have suggested that eight inches of snow is necessary to develop a stable layer of insulation. Depth is not the only factor, however. More accurately, the stability of the subnivium depends on the interaction between snow depth and snow density. Imagine being under a stack of blankets that are all flattened and pressed together. When compressed, the blankets essentially from one compacted layer. In contrast, when they are lightly placed on top of one another, their insulative capacity increases because the air pockets between them trap heat. Greater depths of low-density snow are therefore better at insulating the ground.

Both depth and density of snow are sensitive to temperature. Scientists are now beginning to explore how climate change will affect the subnivium, as well as the species that depend on it. At first glance, warmer winters seem beneficial for species that have difficulty surviving subzero temperature; however, as with most ecological phenomena, the consequences are not so straightforward. Research has shown that the snow season (the period when snow is more likely than rain) has become shorter since 1970. When rain falls on snow, it increases the density of the snow and reduces its insulative capacity. Therefore, even though winters are expected to become warmer overall from future climate change, the subnivium will tend to become colder and more variable with less protection from the above-ground temperatures.

The effects of a colder subnivium are complex….For example, shrubs such as crowberry and alpine azalea that grow along the forest floor tend to block the wind and so retain higher depths of snow around them. This captured snow helps to keep soils insulated and in turn increases plant decomposition and nutrient release. In field experiments, researcher removed a portion of the snow cover to investigate the importance of the subnivium’s insulation. They found that soil frost in the snow-free area resulted in damage to plant roots and sometimes even the depth of the plant.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 18.

In paragraph 6, the author provides the examples of crowberry and alpine azalea to demonstrate that

A).
Despite frigid temperatures, several species survive in temperate and Arctic regions.
B).
Due to frigid temperatures in the temperate and Arctic regions, plant species that survive tend to be shrubs rather than trees.
C).
The crowberry and alpine azalea are abundant in temperate and Arctic regions.
D).
The stability of the subnivium depends on several interrelated factors, including shrubs on the forest floor.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. The example of these shrubs is provided in the passage to show the complexity of the workings of the subnivium. Eliminate option 1.

Option 2 is incorrect. The idea that shrubs are more likely to survive than trees is not one that may be inferred from anything stated in the passage. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is incorrect. The abundance of the two types of shrubs is not indicated in the passage. Eliminate option 3.
Option 4 is correct. The paragraph starts by stating that the effects of a colder subnivium are very complex and then proceeds to give the example of the two types of shrubs and their processes as examples of this complexity. It is therefore used to show that “the stability of the subnivium depends on several interrelated factors, including shrubs on the forest floor”.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4

Directions for questions 7 to 12:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 7 to 12 carry 3 marks each.

During the frigid seasons….it’s often necessary to nestle under a blanket to try to stay warm. The temperature difference between the blanket and the air outside is so palpable that we often have trouble leaving our warm refuge. Many plants and animals similarly hunker down, relying on snow cover for safety form winter’s harsh conditions. The small area between the snowpack and the ground, called the subnivium…might be the most important ecosystem that you have never heard of.

The subnivium is so well-insulated and stable that its temperature holds steady at around 32 degree Fahrenheit (0 degree Celsius). Although that might still sound cold, a constant temperature of 32 degree Fahrenheit can often be 30 to 40 degrees warmer than the air temperature during the peak of winter. Because of this large temperature difference, a wide variety of species…depend on the subnivium for winter protection.

For many organisms living in temperate and Arctic regions, the difference between being under the snow or outside it is a matter of life and death. Consequently, disruptions to the subnivium brought about by climate change will affect everything from population dynamics to nutrient cycling through the ecosystem.

The formation and stability of the subnivium requires more than a few flurries. Winter ecologists have suggested that eight inches of snow is necessary to develop a stable layer of insulation. Depth is not the only factor, however. More accurately, the stability of the subnivium depends on the interaction between snow depth and snow density. Imagine being under a stack of blankets that are all flattened and pressed together. When compressed, the blankets essentially from one compacted layer. In contrast, when they are lightly placed on top of one another, their insulative capacity increases because the air pockets between them trap heat. Greater depths of low-density snow are therefore better at insulating the ground.

Both depth and density of snow are sensitive to temperature. Scientists are now beginning to explore how climate change will affect the subnivium, as well as the species that depend on it. At first glance, warmer winters seem beneficial for species that have difficulty surviving subzero temperature; however, as with most ecological phenomena, the consequences are not so straightforward. Research has shown that the snow season (the period when snow is more likely than rain) has become shorter since 1970. When rain falls on snow, it increases the density of the snow and reduces its insulative capacity. Therefore, even though winters are expected to become warmer overall from future climate change, the subnivium will tend to become colder and more variable with less protection from the above-ground temperatures.

The effects of a colder subnivium are complex….For example, shrubs such as crowberry and alpine azalea that grow along the forest floor tend to block the wind and so retain higher depths of snow around them. This captured snow helps to keep soils insulated and in turn increases plant decomposition and nutrient release. In field experiments, researcher removed a portion of the snow cover to investigate the importance of the subnivium’s insulation. They found that soil frost in the snow-free area resulted in damage to plant roots and sometimes even the depth of the plant.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 19.

Based on this extract, the author would support which one of the following actions?

A).
The use of snow machines in winter to ensure snow cover of at least eight inches.
B).
Government action to curb climate change.
C).
Adding nutrients to the soil in winter.
D).
Planting more shrubs in areas of short snow season.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. The passage states that both snow depth of snow density matter. So the suggestion to use snow machines to ensure snow cover of at least eight inches is not something that the author is likely to do. Eliminate option 1. Option 2 is correct. The author discusses how climate change is the cause of adverse effects on the subnivium. Any action that helps to control climate change should therefore, be what he would most likely recommend. Among the given options, only option 2 suggests such a course of action. The others are both specific and not supported by the passage. Retain option 2.
Option 3 is incorrect. The author does not also suggest that there is a possibility of coping with climate change by taking any such action as addition of nutrients to the soil. Eliminate option 3.
Option 4 is incorrect. Planting more shrubs is not indicated as an action that will relieve the effects of climate change. Eliminate option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2

Directions for questions 7 to 12:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 7 to 12 carry 3 marks each.

During the frigid seasons….it’s often necessary to nestle under a blanket to try to stay warm. The temperature difference between the blanket and the air outside is so palpable that we often have trouble leaving our warm refuge. Many plants and animals similarly hunker down, relying on snow cover for safety form winter’s harsh conditions. The small area between the snowpack and the ground, called the subnivium…might be the most important ecosystem that you have never heard of.

The subnivium is so well-insulated and stable that its temperature holds steady at around 32 degree Fahrenheit (0 degree Celsius). Although that might still sound cold, a constant temperature of 32 degree Fahrenheit can often be 30 to 40 degrees warmer than the air temperature during the peak of winter. Because of this large temperature difference, a wide variety of species…depend on the subnivium for winter protection.

For many organisms living in temperate and Arctic regions, the difference between being under the snow or outside it is a matter of life and death. Consequently, disruptions to the subnivium brought about by climate change will affect everything from population dynamics to nutrient cycling through the ecosystem.

The formation and stability of the subnivium requires more than a few flurries. Winter ecologists have suggested that eight inches of snow is necessary to develop a stable layer of insulation. Depth is not the only factor, however. More accurately, the stability of the subnivium depends on the interaction between snow depth and snow density. Imagine being under a stack of blankets that are all flattened and pressed together. When compressed, the blankets essentially from one compacted layer. In contrast, when they are lightly placed on top of one another, their insulative capacity increases because the air pockets between them trap heat. Greater depths of low-density snow are therefore better at insulating the ground.

Both depth and density of snow are sensitive to temperature. Scientists are now beginning to explore how climate change will affect the subnivium, as well as the species that depend on it. At first glance, warmer winters seem beneficial for species that have difficulty surviving subzero temperature; however, as with most ecological phenomena, the consequences are not so straightforward. Research has shown that the snow season (the period when snow is more likely than rain) has become shorter since 1970. When rain falls on snow, it increases the density of the snow and reduces its insulative capacity. Therefore, even though winters are expected to become warmer overall from future climate change, the subnivium will tend to become colder and more variable with less protection from the above-ground temperatures.

The effects of a colder subnivium are complex….For example, shrubs such as crowberry and alpine azalea that grow along the forest floor tend to block the wind and so retain higher depths of snow around them. This captured snow helps to keep soils insulated and in turn increases plant decomposition and nutrient release. In field experiments, researcher removed a portion of the snow cover to investigate the importance of the subnivium’s insulation. They found that soil frost in the snow-free area resulted in damage to plant roots and sometimes even the depth of the plant.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 20.

All of the following statements are true EXCEPT

A).
Snow depth and snow density both influence the stability of the subnivium.
B).
Climate change has some positive effects on the subnivium.
C).
The subnivium maintains a steady temperature that can be 30 to 40 degrees warmer than the winter air temperature.
D).
Researchers have established the adverse effects of dwindling snow cover on the subnivium.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. One can conclude from the passage that snow depth and snow density both influence the stability of the subnivium. Therefore the option is not an exception to what is true. Eliminate option 1. Option 2 is an exception to what is true, based on the passage. We cannot conclude from the passage that climate change has some positive effects on the subnivium. Climate change is said to adversely affect the subnivium by changing the duration of snowfall. The passage does not state any instance of how climate change may have some positive effects on the subnivium. Therefore, retain option 2.
Option 3 is incorrect. It is clearly stated in the passage that the subnivium’s temperature holds steady at around 32°F (0°C). Eliminate option 3.
Option 4 is incorrect. The passage mentions that researchers removed a portion of the snow cover to investigate the importance of the subnivium’s insulation. Eliminate option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2.

Directions for questions 7 to 12:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 7 to 12 carry 3 marks each.

During the frigid seasons….it’s often necessary to nestle under a blanket to try to stay warm. The temperature difference between the blanket and the air outside is so palpable that we often have trouble leaving our warm refuge. Many plants and animals similarly hunker down, relying on snow cover for safety form winter’s harsh conditions. The small area between the snowpack and the ground, called the subnivium…might be the most important ecosystem that you have never heard of.

The subnivium is so well-insulated and stable that its temperature holds steady at around 32 degree Fahrenheit (0 degree Celsius). Although that might still sound cold, a constant temperature of 32 degree Fahrenheit can often be 30 to 40 degrees warmer than the air temperature during the peak of winter. Because of this large temperature difference, a wide variety of species…depend on the subnivium for winter protection.

For many organisms living in temperate and Arctic regions, the difference between being under the snow or outside it is a matter of life and death. Consequently, disruptions to the subnivium brought about by climate change will affect everything from population dynamics to nutrient cycling through the ecosystem.

The formation and stability of the subnivium requires more than a few flurries. Winter ecologists have suggested that eight inches of snow is necessary to develop a stable layer of insulation. Depth is not the only factor, however. More accurately, the stability of the subnivium depends on the interaction between snow depth and snow density. Imagine being under a stack of blankets that are all flattened and pressed together. When compressed, the blankets essentially from one compacted layer. In contrast, when they are lightly placed on top of one another, their insulative capacity increases because the air pockets between them trap heat. Greater depths of low-density snow are therefore better at insulating the ground.

Both depth and density of snow are sensitive to temperature. Scientists are now beginning to explore how climate change will affect the subnivium, as well as the species that depend on it. At first glance, warmer winters seem beneficial for species that have difficulty surviving subzero temperature; however, as with most ecological phenomena, the consequences are not so straightforward. Research has shown that the snow season (the period when snow is more likely than rain) has become shorter since 1970. When rain falls on snow, it increases the density of the snow and reduces its insulative capacity. Therefore, even though winters are expected to become warmer overall from future climate change, the subnivium will tend to become colder and more variable with less protection from the above-ground temperatures.

The effects of a colder subnivium are complex….For example, shrubs such as crowberry and alpine azalea that grow along the forest floor tend to block the wind and so retain higher depths of snow around them. This captured snow helps to keep soils insulated and in turn increases plant decomposition and nutrient release. In field experiments, researcher removed a portion of the snow cover to investigate the importance of the subnivium’s insulation. They found that soil frost in the snow-free area resulted in damage to plant roots and sometimes even the depth of the plant.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 21.

The purpose of this passage is to

A).
introduce readers to a relatively unknown ecosystem: the subnivium.
B).
explain how the subnivium works to provide shelter and food to several species.
C).
outline the effects of climate change on the subnivium.
D).
draw an analogy between the effect of blankets on humans and of snow cover on species living in the subnivium.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. An introduction to the subnivium is not the purpose of the passage. Eliminate option 1. Option 2 is incorrect. The purpose of the passage is not to “explain” how the subnivium operates to provide food and shelter to various species. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is correct. Refer para 3 where it states: “For many organisms living in temperate and Arctic regions, the difference between being under the snow or outside it is a matter of life and death. Consequently, disruptions to the subnivium brought about by climate change will affect everything from population dynamics to nutrient cycling through the ecosystem.” The passage goes on to broadly state the consequences of this disruption on the species living in the subnivium. Retain option 3.
Option 4 is incorrect. The analogy between the effect of blankets on humans and of snow cover on species living in the subnivium is used to explain the subnivium. It clearly does not form the purpose of the passage. Eliminate option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.

Directions for questions 1 to 6:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 1 to 6 carry 3 marks each.

Creativity is at once our most precious resource and our most inexhaustible one. As anyone who has ever spent any time with children knows , every single human being is born creative ; every human being is innately endowed with the ability to combine and recombine date, perception , materials and ideas, and devise new way of thinking and doing. What fosters creativity? More than anything else: the presence of other creative people. The big myth is that creativity is the province of great individual geniuses. In fact creativity is a social process. Our biggest creative breakthroughs come when people learn from, compete with, and collaborate with other people.

Cities are the true fonts of creativity… With their diverse populations, dense social networks, and public spaces where people can meet spontaneously and serendipitously, they spark and catalyzed new ideas. With their infrastructure for finance, organization and trade, they allow those ideas to be swiftly actualized.

As for what staunches creativity, that’s easy, if ironic. it’s the very institutions that we build to manage, exploit and perpetuate the fruits of creativity -our big bureaucracies, and sad to say, too many of our schools. Creativity is disruptive; schools and organizations are regimented, standardized and stultifying.

The education expert Sir Ken Robinson points to a 1968 study reporting on a group of 1,600 children who were tested over time for their ability to think in out- of- the- box- ways. When the children were between 3 and 5 years old, 98 percent achieved positive scores. When they were 8 to 10, only 32 percent passed the same test, and only 10 percent at 13 to 15. When 280,000 25-year-olds took the test, just 2 percent passed. By the time we are adults, our creativity has been wrung out of us.

I once asked the great urbanist Jane Jacobs what makes some places more creative than others. She said, essentially, that the question was an easy one. All cities, she said ,were filled with creative people; that’s our default state as people. But some cities had more than their shares of leaders, people and institutions that blocked out that creativity. She called them “squelchers.”

Creativity (or the lack of it) follows the same general contours of the great socio-economic divide-our rising inequality-that plagues us. According to my own estimates, roughly a third of us across the United state, and perhaps as much as half of us in our most creative cities-are able to do work which engages our creative faculties to some extent whether as artist, musician, writers techies, innovators, entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, journalists, or educators, -those of us who work with our minds. That leaves a group that I term “the other 66 percent,” who toil in low -wage rote and rotten jobs-if they have jobs at all-in which their creativity is subjugated, ignored or wasted.

Creativity itself is not in danger. It’s flourishing is all around us -in science and technology, arts and culture, in our rapidly revitalizing cities. But we still have a long way to go if we want to build a truly creative society that supports and rewards the creativity of each and every one of us.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 22.

The author’s conclusions about the most ‘creative cities ‘in the US (paragraph 6) are based on his assumption that

A).
people who work with their hands are not doing creative work.
B).
more than half the population works in non-creative jobs.
C).
only artists, musicians, writers, and so on should be valued in a society
D).
most cities ignore or waste the creativity of low-wage workers

Explanation :

Option 1 is correct. Refer the passage where it states: “According to my own estimates, roughly a third of us across the United States, and perhaps as much as half of us in our most creative cities – are able to do work which engages our creative faculties to some extent, whether as artists, musicians, writers, techies, innovators, entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, journalists or educators – those of us who work with our minds.” The writer thus states clearly that it is only those who work with their minds, who are counted as creative workers, contributing to the most creative cities in the US. Retain option 1. Option 2 is incorrect. The author does not “assume” that more than half the population works in non-creative jobs. Instead, the writer adds the conclusion that “the other 66 percent” works at rote jobs. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is incorrect. The discussion of what adds value is not part of the passage which restricts itself to the subject of what constitutes creativity. Eliminate option 3.
Option 4 is incorrect. The writer mentions that low wage workers’ creativity goes unutilised in cities. However this does not form the basis of any conclusions. Eliminate option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.

Directions for questions 1 to 6:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 1 to 6 carry 3 marks each.

Creativity is at once our most precious resource and our most inexhaustible one. As anyone who has ever spent any time with children knows , every single human being is born creative ; every human being is innately endowed with the ability to combine and recombine date, perception , materials and ideas, and devise new way of thinking and doing. What fosters creativity? More than anything else: the presence of other creative people. The big myth is that creativity is the province of great individual geniuses. In fact creativity is a social process. Our biggest creative breakthroughs come when people learn from, compete with, and collaborate with other people.

Cities are the true fonts of creativity… With their diverse populations, dense social networks, and public spaces where people can meet spontaneously and serendipitously, they spark and catalyzed new ideas. With their infrastructure for finance, organization and trade, they allow those ideas to be swiftly actualized.

As for what staunches creativity, that’s easy, if ironic. it’s the very institutions that we build to manage, exploit and perpetuate the fruits of creativity -our big bureaucracies, and sad to say, too many of our schools. Creativity is disruptive; schools and organizations are regimented, standardized and stultifying.

The education expert Sir Ken Robinson points to a 1968 study reporting on a group of 1,600 children who were tested over time for their ability to think in out- of- the- box- ways. When the children were between 3 and 5 years old, 98 percent achieved positive scores. When they were 8 to 10, only 32 percent passed the same test, and only 10 percent at 13 to 15. When 280,000 25-year-olds took the test, just 2 percent passed. By the time we are adults, our creativity has been wrung out of us.

I once asked the great urbanist Jane Jacobs what makes some places more creative than others. She said, essentially, that the question was an easy one. All cities, she said ,were filled with creative people; that’s our default state as people. But some cities had more than their shares of leaders, people and institutions that blocked out that creativity. She called them “squelchers.”

Creativity (or the lack of it) follows the same general contours of the great socio-economic divide-our rising inequality-that plagues us. According to my own estimates, roughly a third of us across the United state, and perhaps as much as half of us in our most creative cities-are able to do work which engages our creative faculties to some extent whether as artist, musician, writers techies, innovators, entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, journalists, or educators, -those of us who work with our minds. That leaves a group that I term “the other 66 percent,” who toil in low -wage rote and rotten jobs-if they have jobs at all-in which their creativity is subjugated, ignored or wasted.

Creativity itself is not in danger. It’s flourishing is all around us -in science and technology, arts and culture, in our rapidly revitalizing cities. But we still have a long way to go if we want to build a truly creative society that supports and rewards the creativity of each and every one of us.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 23.

The 1968 study is used here to show that

A).
as they get older, children usally learn to be more creative.
B).
schooling today does not encourage creative thinking in children.
C).
the more children learn, the less creative they become.
D).
technology today prevents children from being creative.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. It states the 1968 study as an example of how creativity declines rapidly from birth to adulthood. Eliminate option 1. Option 2 is correct. The passage states that – “When the children were between 3 and 5 years old, 98 percent achieved positive scores. When they were 8 to 10, only 32 percent passed the same test, and only 10 percent at 13 to 15………... By the time we are adults, our creativity has been wrung out of us.” So, the study is mentioned to lead to the conclusion that schooling today does not encourage creative thinking in children. Retain option 2.
Option 3 is incorrect. It is not learning which is said to result in the decline of creativity in children, but schooling. Eliminate option 3.
Option 4 is incorrect. The 1968 study is not said to involve technology as a parameter. Eliminate option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2.

Directions for questions 1 to 6:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 1 to 6 carry 3 marks each.

Creativity is at once our most precious resource and our most inexhaustible one. As anyone who has ever spent any time with children knows , every single human being is born creative ; every human being is innately endowed with the ability to combine and recombine date, perception , materials and ideas, and devise new way of thinking and doing. What fosters creativity? More than anything else: the presence of other creative people. The big myth is that creativity is the province of great individual geniuses. In fact creativity is a social process. Our biggest creative breakthroughs come when people learn from, compete with, and collaborate with other people.

Cities are the true fonts of creativity… With their diverse populations, dense social networks, and public spaces where people can meet spontaneously and serendipitously, they spark and catalyzed new ideas. With their infrastructure for finance, organization and trade, they allow those ideas to be swiftly actualized.

As for what staunches creativity, that’s easy, if ironic. it’s the very institutions that we build to manage, exploit and perpetuate the fruits of creativity -our big bureaucracies, and sad to say, too many of our schools. Creativity is disruptive; schools and organizations are regimented, standardized and stultifying.

The education expert Sir Ken Robinson points to a 1968 study reporting on a group of 1,600 children who were tested over time for their ability to think in out- of- the- box- ways. When the children were between 3 and 5 years old, 98 percent achieved positive scores. When they were 8 to 10, only 32 percent passed the same test, and only 10 percent at 13 to 15. When 280,000 25-year-olds took the test, just 2 percent passed. By the time we are adults, our creativity has been wrung out of us.

I once asked the great urbanist Jane Jacobs what makes some places more creative than others. She said, essentially, that the question was an easy one. All cities, she said ,were filled with creative people; that’s our default state as people. But some cities had more than their shares of leaders, people and institutions that blocked out that creativity. She called them “squelchers.”

Creativity (or the lack of it) follows the same general contours of the great socio-economic divide-our rising inequality-that plagues us. According to my own estimates, roughly a third of us across the United state, and perhaps as much as half of us in our most creative cities-are able to do work which engages our creative faculties to some extent whether as artist, musician, writers techies, innovators, entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, journalists, or educators, -those of us who work with our minds. That leaves a group that I term “the other 66 percent,” who toil in low -wage rote and rotten jobs-if they have jobs at all-in which their creativity is subjugated, ignored or wasted.

Creativity itself is not in danger. It’s flourishing is all around us -in science and technology, arts and culture, in our rapidly revitalizing cities. But we still have a long way to go if we want to build a truly creative society that supports and rewards the creativity of each and every one of us.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 24.

Jane Jacobs believed that cities that are more creative.

A).
have to struggle to retain their creativity.
B).
have to ‘squelch’ unproductive people and promote creative ones.
C).
have leaders and institutions that do not block creativity
D).
typically do not start off as creative hubs.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. Jane Jacobs does not talk about cities struggling to retain their creativity. Eliminate option 1. Option 2 is incorrect. Jane Jacobs does not suggest squelching the unproductive or promoting creative ones. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is correct. Refer para 5 – “All cities, she said, were filled with creative people; that’s our default state as people. But some cities had more than their shares of leaders, people and institutions that blocked out that creativity. She called them “squelchers”. This is the same as saying that cities that have people and institutions that do not block creativity will be more creative.
Option 4 is incorrect. The passage does not state any relation between cities that are more creative and their start-off.
Hence, the correct answer is option 3.

Directions for questions 1 to 6:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 1 to 6 carry 3 marks each.

Creativity is at once our most precious resource and our most inexhaustible one. As anyone who has ever spent any time with children knows , every single human being is born creative ; every human being is innately endowed with the ability to combine and recombine date, perception , materials and ideas, and devise new way of thinking and doing. What fosters creativity? More than anything else: the presence of other creative people. The big myth is that creativity is the province of great individual geniuses. In fact creativity is a social process. Our biggest creative breakthroughs come when people learn from, compete with, and collaborate with other people.

Cities are the true fonts of creativity… With their diverse populations, dense social networks, and public spaces where people can meet spontaneously and serendipitously, they spark and catalyzed new ideas. With their infrastructure for finance, organization and trade, they allow those ideas to be swiftly actualized.

As for what staunches creativity, that’s easy, if ironic. it’s the very institutions that we build to manage, exploit and perpetuate the fruits of creativity -our big bureaucracies, and sad to say, too many of our schools. Creativity is disruptive; schools and organizations are regimented, standardized and stultifying.

The education expert Sir Ken Robinson points to a 1968 study reporting on a group of 1,600 children who were tested over time for their ability to think in out- of- the- box- ways. When the children were between 3 and 5 years old, 98 percent achieved positive scores. When they were 8 to 10, only 32 percent passed the same test, and only 10 percent at 13 to 15. When 280,000 25-year-olds took the test, just 2 percent passed. By the time we are adults, our creativity has been wrung out of us.

I once asked the great urbanist Jane Jacobs what makes some places more creative than others. She said, essentially, that the question was an easy one. All cities, she said ,were filled with creative people; that’s our default state as people. But some cities had more than their shares of leaders, people and institutions that blocked out that creativity. She called them “squelchers.”

Creativity (or the lack of it) follows the same general contours of the great socio-economic divide-our rising inequality-that plagues us. According to my own estimates, roughly a third of us across the United state, and perhaps as much as half of us in our most creative cities-are able to do work which engages our creative faculties to some extent whether as artist, musician, writers techies, innovators, entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, journalists, or educators, -those of us who work with our minds. That leaves a group that I term “the other 66 percent,” who toil in low -wage rote and rotten jobs-if they have jobs at all-in which their creativity is subjugated, ignored or wasted.

Creativity itself is not in danger. It’s flourishing is all around us -in science and technology, arts and culture, in our rapidly revitalizing cities. But we still have a long way to go if we want to build a truly creative society that supports and rewards the creativity of each and every one of us.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 25.

The central idea of this passage is that

A).
social interaction is necessary to nurture creativity.
B).
creativity and ideas are gradually declining in all societies.
C).
the creativity divide is widening in societies in line with socio-economic trend.
D).
more people should work in jobs that engage their creative faculties.

Explanation :

Option 1 is correct. The passage states that creativity is our most important social resource and that it is a social process. The fundamental idea contained in the passage is that social interaction is the basis of creativity. Retain option 1. Option 2 is incorrect. The passage does not state that creativity and ideas are declining. Eliminate option 2.
Option 3 is incorrect. The passage offers a passing observation about creativity following the general outlines of socio-economic divide. However, this is not the main contention of the passage. Eliminate option 3.
Option 4 is incorrect. The author does not focus on how or why more people should work in creative jobs.
Hence, the correct answer is option 1.

Directions for questions 1 to 6:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 1 to 6 carry 3 marks each.

Creativity is at once our most precious resource and our most inexhaustible one. As anyone who has ever spent any time with children knows , every single human being is born creative ; every human being is innately endowed with the ability to combine and recombine date, perception , materials and ideas, and devise new way of thinking and doing. What fosters creativity? More than anything else: the presence of other creative people. The big myth is that creativity is the province of great individual geniuses. In fact creativity is a social process. Our biggest creative breakthroughs come when people learn from, compete with, and collaborate with other people.

Cities are the true fonts of creativity… With their diverse populations, dense social networks, and public spaces where people can meet spontaneously and serendipitously, they spark and catalyzed new ideas. With their infrastructure for finance, organization and trade, they allow those ideas to be swiftly actualized.

As for what staunches creativity, that’s easy, if ironic. it’s the very institutions that we build to manage, exploit and perpetuate the fruits of creativity -our big bureaucracies, and sad to say, too many of our schools. Creativity is disruptive; schools and organizations are regimented, standardized and stultifying.

The education expert Sir Ken Robinson points to a 1968 study reporting on a group of 1,600 children who were tested over time for their ability to think in out- of- the- box- ways. When the children were between 3 and 5 years old, 98 percent achieved positive scores. When they were 8 to 10, only 32 percent passed the same test, and only 10 percent at 13 to 15. When 280,000 25-year-olds took the test, just 2 percent passed. By the time we are adults, our creativity has been wrung out of us.

I once asked the great urbanist Jane Jacobs what makes some places more creative than others. She said, essentially, that the question was an easy one. All cities, she said ,were filled with creative people; that’s our default state as people. But some cities had more than their shares of leaders, people and institutions that blocked out that creativity. She called them “squelchers.”

Creativity (or the lack of it) follows the same general contours of the great socio-economic divide-our rising inequality-that plagues us. According to my own estimates, roughly a third of us across the United state, and perhaps as much as half of us in our most creative cities-are able to do work which engages our creative faculties to some extent whether as artist, musician, writers techies, innovators, entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, journalists, or educators, -those of us who work with our minds. That leaves a group that I term “the other 66 percent,” who toil in low -wage rote and rotten jobs-if they have jobs at all-in which their creativity is subjugated, ignored or wasted.

Creativity itself is not in danger. It’s flourishing is all around us -in science and technology, arts and culture, in our rapidly revitalizing cities. But we still have a long way to go if we want to build a truly creative society that supports and rewards the creativity of each and every one of us.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 26.

The author uses ‘ironic’ in the third paragraph to point out that

A).
people need social contact rather than isolation to nurture their creativity
B).
institutions created to promote creativity eventually stifle it
C).
the larger the creative population in a city, the more likely it is to be stifled
D).
large bureaucracies and institutions are the inevitable outcome of successful cities.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. The passage does not refer to social contact or isolation as ironic. Eliminate option 1. Option 2 is correct. The third para states clearly – “As for what staunches creativity, that’s easy, if ironic. It’s the very institutions that we build to manage, exploit and perpetuate the fruits of creativity.” Retain option 2.
Option 3 is incorrect. The author nowhere states any correlation between large creative population and creativity being stifled. Eliminate option 3.
Option 4 is incorrect. The passage does not state that the creation of bureaucracies is ironic. Eliminate option 4.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2.

Directions for questions 1 to 6:

Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Questions 1 to 6 carry 3 marks each.

Creativity is at once our most precious resource and our most inexhaustible one. As anyone who has ever spent any time with children knows , every single human being is born creative ; every human being is innately endowed with the ability to combine and recombine date, perception , materials and ideas, and devise new way of thinking and doing. What fosters creativity? More than anything else: the presence of other creative people. The big myth is that creativity is the province of great individual geniuses. In fact creativity is a social process. Our biggest creative breakthroughs come when people learn from, compete with, and collaborate with other people.

Cities are the true fonts of creativity… With their diverse populations, dense social networks, and public spaces where people can meet spontaneously and serendipitously, they spark and catalyzed new ideas. With their infrastructure for finance, organization and trade, they allow those ideas to be swiftly actualized.

As for what staunches creativity, that’s easy, if ironic. it’s the very institutions that we build to manage, exploit and perpetuate the fruits of creativity -our big bureaucracies, and sad to say, too many of our schools. Creativity is disruptive; schools and organizations are regimented, standardized and stultifying.

The education expert Sir Ken Robinson points to a 1968 study reporting on a group of 1,600 children who were tested over time for their ability to think in out- of- the- box- ways. When the children were between 3 and 5 years old, 98 percent achieved positive scores. When they were 8 to 10, only 32 percent passed the same test, and only 10 percent at 13 to 15. When 280,000 25-year-olds took the test, just 2 percent passed. By the time we are adults, our creativity has been wrung out of us.

I once asked the great urbanist Jane Jacobs what makes some places more creative than others. She said, essentially, that the question was an easy one. All cities, she said ,were filled with creative people; that’s our default state as people. But some cities had more than their shares of leaders, people and institutions that blocked out that creativity. She called them “squelchers.”

Creativity (or the lack of it) follows the same general contours of the great socio-economic divide-our rising inequality-that plagues us. According to my own estimates, roughly a third of us across the United state, and perhaps as much as half of us in our most creative cities-are able to do work which engages our creative faculties to some extent whether as artist, musician, writers techies, innovators, entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, journalists, or educators, -those of us who work with our minds. That leaves a group that I term “the other 66 percent,” who toil in low -wage rote and rotten jobs-if they have jobs at all-in which their creativity is subjugated, ignored or wasted.

Creativity itself is not in danger. It’s flourishing is all around us -in science and technology, arts and culture, in our rapidly revitalizing cities. But we still have a long way to go if we want to build a truly creative society that supports and rewards the creativity of each and every one of us.

[CAT 2017 SLOT II]

Q. 27.

In the author’s view, cities promote human creativity for all the following reasons EXCEPT that they

A).
contain spaces that enable people to meet and share new ideas.
B).
expose people to different and novel ideas, because they are home to varied groups of people.
C).
provide the financial and institutional netwroks that enable ideas to become reality.
D).
provide access to cultural activities that promote new and creative ways of thinking.

Explanation :

Option 1 is incorrect. This option is mentioned in paragraph 2. Therefore, option 1 cannot be an exception. Eliminate option 1. Option 2 is also incorrect. Paragraph 2 mentions that cities spark and catalyze new ideas. Eliminate Option 2.
Option 3 is incorrect. Again, this option is mentioned in paragraph 2. So, eliminate option 3.
Option 4 is correct. The passage nowhere states “access to cultural activities” as a reason why cities promote creativity. It is therefore an exception. Retain option 4.

Hence, the correct answer is option 4.

CAT 2017 Question Paper | CAT VA
CAT Question Paper | CAT Previous Year Paper

Related Blogs

CAT 2017 Question Paper | CAT VA CAT Question Paper | CAT Previous Year Paper

Related Blogs

CAT 2017 Question Paper | CAT VA
CAT Question Paper | CAT Previous Year Paper