UPSC CSE Prelims CSAT (Paper II) Reading Comprehension questions asked in 2015, with answers. There are 30 questions in this post. Read each passage, attempt the questions, then click Show Answer to check.
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Directions for the following 8 (eight) items
Read the following six passages and answer the items that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only,
Passage — 1
Human history abounds in claims and theories confining the right of governing to a few select citizens. Exclusion of the many is justified on the ground that human beings may be rightfully segregated for the good of society and viability of the political process.
1] Which one of the following statements is least essential as a part of the argument in the above passage? [2015/1]
(a) Man seeks control over external things affecting him.
(b) In society, there are ‘super’ and ‘sub’ human beings.
(c) Exceptions to universal citizen participation are conducive to systemic efficacy.
(d) Governing implies recognition of disparities in individual capacities.
Show Answer
Ans: (a) Man seeks control over external things affecting him.
Passage — 2
By 2050, the Earth’s population will likely have swelled from seven to nine billion people. To fill all those stomachs while accounting for shifting consumption patterns, climate change, and a finite amount of arable land and potable water — some experts say food production will have to double. How can we make the numbers add up? Experts say higher yielding crop varieties and more efficient farming methods will be crucial. So will waste reduction. Experts urge cities to reclaim nutrients and water from waste Streams and preserve farmland. Poor countries, they say, can improve crop storage and packaging and rich nations could cut back on resource-intensive foods like meat.
2] Which one of the following statements best sums up the above passage? [2015/2]
(a) The population of the world is growing very fast.
(b) Food security is a perennial problem only in developing countries.
(c) The world does not have enough resources to meet the impending food scarcity.
(d) Food security is increasingly a collective challenge.
Show Answer
Ans: (d) Food security is increasingly a collective challenge.
Passage — 3
Many people in India feel that if we cut our defence expenditure on weapon-building, we can create a climate of peace with our neighbours, subsequently reducing the conflict or creating a no-war situation. People who proclaim such ideas are either the victims of war or the propagators of false argument,
3] With reference to the above passage, which of the following is the most valid assumption? [2015/3]
(a) Building of weapons systems by us has instigated our neighbours to wage wars against us.
(b) The greater spending on weapon-building by us would lessen the possibility of armed conflict with our neighbours.
(c) It is necessary to have state of the art weapons systems for national security.
(d) Many people in India believe that we are wasting our resources on weapon-building.
Show Answer
Ans: (b) The greater spending on weapon-building by us would lessen the possibility of armed conflict with our neighbours.
Passage — 4
India accounts for nearly a fifth of the world’s child deaths. In terms of numbers, it is the highest in the world — nearly 16 lakhs every year. Of these, more than half die in the first month of life. Officials believe that the reason for this is the absence of steps to propagate basic health practices relating to breast feeding and immunisation. Also, the large reproductive population of 2.6 crore remains bereft of care during the critical phases of pregnancy and post-delivery. Added to this is the prevalence of child marriages, anaemia among young women and lack of focus on adolescent sanitation, all of which impact child death rates.
4] Which is the critical inference that can be made from the above passage? [2015/4]
(a) A lot of Indians are illiterate and hence 1do not recognize the value of basic health practices.
(b) India has a very huge population and the government alone cannot manage public health services.
(c) Universalization and integration of maternal health and child health services can effectively address the problem.
(d) The nutrition of women in child bearing age does not affect child mortality rate.
Show Answer
Ans: (c) Universalization and integration of maternal health and child health services can effectively address the problem.
Passage — 5
Foods travel more than the people who eat them. Grocery stores and supermarkets are loaded with preserved and processed foods. This, however, often leads to environmental threats, such as pollution generated by long distance food transportation and wastage of food during processing and transportation, destruction of rain forests, reduced nutritional content, increased demand for preservation and packaging. Food insecurity also increases as the produce comes from regions that are not feeding their own population properly.
5] With reference to the above passage, which of the following statements is/are true? [2015/5]
1. Consuming regionally grown food and not depending on long travelled food is a part of eco-friendly behaviour.
2. Food processing industry puts a burden on our natural resources,
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Ans: (c) Both 1 and 2
Passage — 6
I must say that, beyond occasionally exposing me to laughter, my constitutional shyness has been of no disadvantage whatever. In fact, I can see that, on the contrary, it has been all to my advantage. My hesitancy in speech, which was once an annoyance, is now a pleasure. Its greatest benefit has been that it has taught me the economy of words. I have naturally formed the habit of restraining my thoughts. And I can now give myself the certificate that a thoughtless word hardly ever escapes my tongue or pen. I do not recollect ever having had to regret anything in my speech or writing. I have thus been spared many a mishap and waste of time. Experience has taught me that silence is part of the spiritual discipline of a votary of truth. Proneness to exaggerate, to suppress or modify the truth, wittingly or unwittingly, is a natural weakness of man, and silence is necessary in order to surmount it. A man of few words will rarely be thoughtless in his speech; he will measure every word. We find so many people impatient to talk. There is no chairman of a meeting who is not pestered with notes for permission to speak. And whenever the permission is given the speaker generally exceeds the time-limit, asks for more time, and keeps on talking without permission. All this talking can hardly be said to be of any benefit to the world. It is so much waste of time. My shyness has been in reality my shield and buckler. It has allowed me to grow. It has helped me in my discernment of truth.
6] The author says that a thoughtless word hardly ever escapes his tongue or pen. Which one of the following is not a valid reason for this? [2015/6]
(a) He has no intention to waste his time.
(b) He believes in the economy of words.
(c) He believes in restraining his thoughts.
(d) He has hesitancy in his speech.
Show Answer
Ans: (a) He has no intention to waste his time.
7] The most appropriate reason for the author to be spared many a mishap is that [2015/7]
(a) he hardly utters or writes a thoughtless word.
(b) he is a man of immense patience.
(c) he believes that he is a spiritual person.
(d) he is a votary of truth.
Show Answer
Ans: (a) he hardly utters or writes a thoughtless word.
8] For the author, silence is necessary in order to surmount [2015/8]
(a) constitutional shyness.
(b) hesitancy in speech.
(c) suppression of thoughts.
(d) tendency to overstate.
Show Answer
Ans: (d) tendency to overstate.
Directions for the following 8 (eight) items:
Read the following seven passages and answer the items that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.
Passage — 1
The richer States have a responsibility to cut down carbon emissions and promote clean energy investments. These are the States that got electricity, grew faster and now have high per capita income, making them capable of sharing India’s burden of becoming eco-friendly. Delhi, for example, can help by generating its own clean electricity using solar rooftop panels or even help poor States finance their clean energy projects. It is no secret that State Electricity Boards, which control 95% of the distribution network, are neck-deep in losses. These losses further discourage State utilities from adopting renewable energy as it is more expensive than fossil fuels.
9] Which among the following is the most logical and rational assumption that can be made from the above passage? [2015/21]
(a) The richer States must lead in the production and adoption of renewable energy
(b) The poor States always have to depend on rich States for electricity.
(c) The State Electricity Boards can improve their finances by undertaking clean energy project.
(d) The high economic disparity between the rich and poor States is the major cause of high carbon emissions in India.
Show Answer
Ans: (a) The richer States must lead in the production and adoption of renewable energy
Passage — 2
Set against a rural backdrop, ‘Stench of kerosene’ is the story of a couple, Guleri and Manak, who have been happily married for several years but do not have a child. Manak’s mother is desperate to have a grandchild to carry on the family name. Hence, she gets Manak remarried in Guleri’s absence. Manak, who acts as a reluctant but passive spectator, is meanwhile, informed by a friend that, Guleri, on hearing about her husband’s second marriage, poured kerosene on her clothes and set fire to them. Manak is heartbroken and begins to live as if he were a dead man. When his second wife delivers a son, Manak stares at the child for a long time and blurts out, “Take him away! He stinks of kerosene.”
10] This is a sensitive issue-based Story which tries to sensitise the readers about [2015/22]
(a) Male chauvinism and infidelity
(b) Love and betrayal
(c) Lack of legal safeguards for women
(d) Influence of patriarchal mindset
Show Answer
Ans: (d) Influence of patriarchal mindset
Passage — 3
The ultimate aim of government is not to rule or control by fear, nor to demand obedience, but conversely, to free every man from fear, that he may live in all possible security. In other words, to strengthen his natural right to exist and work without injury to himself or others. The object of government is not to change men from rational beings into beasts or puppets. It should enable them to develop their minds and bodies in security, and to employ their reason unshackled.
11] Which among the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage? [2015/23]
(a) The true aim of government is to secure the citizens their social and political freedom.
(b) The primary concern of government is to provide absolute social security to all its citizens.
(c) The best government is the one that allows the citizens to enjoy absolute liberty in all matters of life,
(d) The best government is the one that provides absolute physical security to the people of the country.
Show Answer
Ans: (a) The true aim of government is to secure the citizens their social and political freedom.
Passage — 4
Our municipal corporations are understaffed. The issue of skills and competencies of the staff poses an even greater challenge. Urban services delivery and infrastructure are complex to plan and execute. They require a high degree of specialization and professionalism. The current framework within which municipal employees, including senior management, are recruited does not adequately factor in the technical and managerial competencies required. Cadre and recruitment rules only specify the bare minimum in academic qualifications. There is no mention of managerial or technical competencies, or of relevant work experience. This is the case with most municipal corporations. They also suffer from weak organisation design and structure.
12] Among the following is the most logical and rational assumption that can be made from the above passage [2015/24]
(a) The task of providing urban services is a complex issue which requires the organisational expansion of municipal bodies all over the country.
(b) Our cities can provide better quality of life if our local government bodies have adequate staff with required skills and competencies.
(c) Lack of skilled staff is due to the absence of institutions which offer the requisite skills in city management.
(d) Our country is not taking advantage of the demographic dividend to manage the problems associated with rapid urbanization.
Show Answer
Ans: (b) Our cities can provide better quality of life if our local government bodies have adequate staff with required skills and competencies.
Passage — 5
Flamingos in large flocks in the wild are social and extremely loyal. They perform group mating dances. Parents are very fond of their chicks, gathering them into creches for protection while both males and females fly off to search for food.
13] Which among the following is the most logical corollary to the above passage [2015/25]
(a) Mass nesting in all species of birds is essential to ensure complete survival of their offspring.
(b) Only birds have the capacity to develop social behaviour and thus can do mass nesting to raise their chicks in safety.
(c) Social behaviour in some species of birds increases the odds of survival in an unsafe world.
(d) All species of birds set up creches for their chicks to teach them social behaviour and loyalty.
Show Answer
Ans: (c) Social behaviour in some species of birds increases the odds of survival in an unsafe world.
Passage — 6
Vast numbers Of Indian citizens without bank accounts live in rural areas, are financially and functionally illiterate, and have little experience with technology. A research study was conducted in a particular area in which electronic wage payments in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) are meant to go directly to the poor. It was observed that recipients often assume that the village leader needs to mediate the process, as was the case under the previous paper-based system. Among households under this research study area who claimed to have at least one bank account, over a third reported still receiving MGNREGS wages in cash directly from a village leader.
14] What is the most logical, rational and crucial message that is implied in the above passage? [2015/26]
(a) MGNREGS should be extended only to those who have a bank account.
(b) The paper-based system of payments is more efficient than electronic payment in the present scenario.
(c) The goal of electronic wage payments was not to eliminate mediation by village leaders.
(d) It is essential to provide financial literacy to the rural poor.
Show Answer
Ans: (d) It is essential to provide financial literacy to the rural poor.
Passage — 7
Individuals, groups, and leaders who promote human development operate under strong institutional, structural, and political constraints that affect policy options. But experience suggests broad principles for shaping an appropriate agenda for human development. One important finding from several decades of human development experience is that focusing exclusively on economic growth is problematic. While we have good knowledge about how to advance health and education, the causes of growth are much less certain and growth is often elusive. Further, an unbalanced emphasis on growth is often associated with negative environmental consequences and adverse distributional effects. The experience of China, with its impressive growth record, reflects these broader concerns and underlines the importance of balanced approaches that emphasize investments in the non-income aspects of human development.
15] With reference to the above passage, consider the following statements:
1. In developing countries, a strong institutional framework is the only requirement for human development and policy options.
2. Human development and economic growth are not always positively inter-related.
3. Focusing only on human development should be the goal of economic growth.
Which of the above statements is/are correct? [2015/27]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Ans: (c) 2 only
16] With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. Higher economic growth is essential to ensure reduction in economic disparity.
2. Environmental degradation is sometimes a consequence of economic growth.
Which of the above is/are valid assumption/assumptions? [2015/28]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 2 only
Directions for the following 7 (seven) items:
Read the following six passages and answer the items that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.
Passage — 1
Climate change is already making many people hungry all over the world, by disrupting crop yields and pushing up prices. And it is not just food but nutrients that are becoming scarcer as the climate changes. It is the poorest communities that will suffer the worst effects of climate change, including increased hunger and malnutrition as crop production and livelihoods are threatened. On the other hand, poverty is a driver of climate change, as desperate communities’ resort to unsustainable use of resources to meet current needs.
17] Which among the following is the most logical corollary to the above passage? [2015/41]
(a) Government should allocate more funds to poverty alleviation programmes and increase food subsidies to the poor communities.
(b) Poverty and climate impacts reinforce each other and therefore we have to reimagine our food systems.
(c) All the countries of the world must unite in fighting poverty and malnutrition and treat poverty as a global problem.
(d) We must stop unsustainable agricultural practices immediately and control food prices.
Show Answer
Ans: (b) Poverty and climate impacts reinforce each other and therefore we have to reimagine our food systems.
Passage — 2
The Global Financial Stability Report finds that the share of portfolio investments from advanced economies in the total debt and equity investments in emerging economies has doubled in the past decade to 12 percent. The phenomenon has implications for Indian policy makers as foreign portfolio investments in the debt and equity markets have been on the rise. The phenomenon is also flagged as a threat that could compromise global financial stability in a chain reaction, in the event of United States Federal Reserve’s imminent reversal of its “Quantitative Easing” policy.
18] Which among the following is the most rational and critical inference that can be made from the above passage? [2015/42]
(a) Foreign portfolio investments are not good for emerging economies.
(b) Advanced economies undermine global financial stability.
(c) India should desist from accepting foreign portfolio investments in the future.
(d) Emerging economies are at a risk of shock from advanced economies.
Show Answer
Ans: (d) Emerging economies are at a risk of shock from advanced economies.
Passage — 3
Open defecation is disastrous when practised in very densely populated areas, where it is impossible to keep away human faeces from crops, wells, food and children’s hands. Groundwater is also contaminated by open defecation. Many ingested germs and worms spread diseases. They prevent the body from absorbing calories and nutrients. Nearly one-half of India’s children remain malnourished. Lakhs of them die from preventable conditions. Diarrhoea leaves Indians’ bodies smaller on average than those of people in some poorer countries where people eat fewer calories, Underweight mothers produce stunted babies prone to sickness who may fail to develop their full cognitive potential. The germs released into environment harm rich and poor alike, even those who use latrines.
19] Which among the following is the most critical inference that can be made from the above passage? [2015/43]
(a) The Central and State governments in India do not have enough resources to afford a latrine for each household.
(b) Open defecation is the most important public health problem of India.
(c) Open defecation reduces the human capital of India’s workforce.
(d) Open defecation is a public health problem in all developing countries.
Show Answer
Ans: (c) Open defecation reduces the human capital of India’s workforce.
Passage — 4
We generally talk about democracy but when it comes to any particular thing, we prefer a belonging to our caste or community or religion. So long as we have this kind of temptation, our democracy will remain a phoney kind of democracy. We must be in a position to respect a man as a man and to extend opportunities for development to those who deserve them and not to those who happen to belong to our community or race. This fact of favouritism has been responsible for much discontent and ill-will in our country.
20] Which one of the following statements best sums up the above passage? [2015/44]
(a) Our country has a lot of diversity with its many castes, communities and religions.
(b) True democracy could be established by providing equal opportunities to all.
(c) So far none of us have actually understood the meaning of democracy.
(d) It will never be possible for us to establish truly democratic governance in our country.
Show Answer
Ans: (b) True democracy could be established by providing equal opportunities to all.
Passage — 5
The existence/establishment of formal financial institutions that offer safe, reliable, and alternative financial instruments is fundamental in mobilising savings. To save, individuals need access to safe and reliable financial institutions, such as banks, and to appropriate financial instruments and reasonable financial incentives. Such access is not always available to all people in developing countries like India and more so, in rural areas. Savings help poor households manage volatility in cash flow. smoothen consumption, and build working capital. Poor households without access to a formal savings mechanism encourage immediate spending temptations.
21] With reference to the above passage, consider the following statements:
1. Indian financial institutions do not offer any financial instruments to rural households to mobilise their savings.
2. Poor households tend to spend their earnings/savings due to lack of access to appropriate financial instruments.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [2015/45]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Ans: (b) 2 only
22] What is the crucial message conveyed in the passage? [2015/46]
(a) Establish more banks
(b) Increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate
(c) Increase the interest rate of bank deposits
(d) Promote financial inclusion
Show Answer
Ans: (d) Promote financial inclusion
Passage — 6
Governments may have to take steps which would otherwise be an infringement on the Fundamental Rights of individuals, such as acquiring a person’s land against his will, or refusing permission for putting up a building, but the larger public interest for which these are done must be authorized by the people (Parliament). Discretionary powers to the administration can be done away with. It is becoming more and more difficult to keep this power within limits as the government has many number of tasks to perform. Where discretion has to be used, there must be rules and safeguards to prevent misuse of that power. Systems have to be devised which minimise, if not prevent, the abuse of discretionary power. Government work must be conducted within a framework of recognised rules and principles, and decisions should be similar and predictable.
23] Which among the following is the most logical assumption that can be made from the above passage? [2015/47]
(a) Government should always be given wide discretionary power in all matters of administration.
(b) The supremacy of rules and safeguards should prevail as opposed to the influence of exclusive discretion of authority.
(c) Parliamentary democracy is possible only if the Government has wider discretionary power.
(d) None of the above statements is a logical assumption that can be made from this passage.
Show Answer
Ans: (b) The supremacy of rules and safeguards should prevail as opposed to the influence of exclusive discretion of authority.
Directions for the following 7 (seven) items:
Read the following four passages and answer the items that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.
Passage — 1
India has suffered from persistent high inflation. Increase in administered prices, demand and supply imbalances, imported inflation aggravated by rupee depreciation, and speculation — have combined to keep high inflation going. If there is an element common to all of them, it is that many of them are the outcomes of economic reforms, India’s vulnerability to the effects of changes in international prices has increased with trade liberalisation. The effort to reduce subsidies has resulted in a continuous increase in the prices of commodities that are administered.
24] What is the most logical, rational and crucial message that is implied in the above passage? [2015/61]
(a) Under the present circumstances, India should completely avoid all trade liberalisation policies and all subsidies.
(b) Due to its peculiar socio-economic situation, India is not yet ready for trade liberalisation process.
(c) There is no solution in sight for the problems of continuing poverty and inflation in India in the near future.
(d) Economic reforms can often create a high inflation economy
Show Answer
Ans: (d) Economic reforms can often create a high inflation economy
Passage — 2
No Right is absolute, exclusive, or inviolable. The Right to personal property, similarly, has to be perceived in the larger context of its assumed legitimacy. The Right of personal property should unite the principle of liberty with that of equality, and both with the principle of cooperation.
25] In the light of the argument in the above passage, which one of the following statements is the most convincing explanation? [2015/62]
(a) The Right of personal property is a Natural Right duly supported by statutes and scriptures.
(b) Personal property is a theft and an instrument of exploitation. The Right of personal property is therefore violative of economic justice.
(c) The Right of personal property is violative of distributive justice and negates the principle of cooperation.
(d) The comprehensive idea of economic justice demands that the Right of each person to acquisition of property has to be reconciled with that of others.
Show Answer
Ans: (d) The comprehensive idea of economic justice demands that the Right of each person to acquisition of property has to be reconciled with that of others.
Passage — 3
The conflict between man and State is as old as State history. Although attempts have been made for centuries to bring about a proper adjustment between the competing claims of State and the individual, the solution seems to be still far off. This is primarily because of the dynamic nature of human society where old values and ideas constantly yield place to new ones. It is obvious that if individuals are allowed to have absolute freedom of speech and action, the result would be chaos, ruin and anarchy.
26] The author’s viewpoint can be best summed up in which of the following statements? [2015/63]
(a) The conflict between the claims of State and individual remains unresolved.
(b) Anarchy and chaos are the obvious results of democratic traditions.
(c) Old values, ideas and traditions persist despite the dynamic nature of human society.
(d) Constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech is not in the interest of society
Show Answer
Ans: (a) The conflict between the claims of State and individual remains unresolved.
Passage — 4
Climate change is a complex policy issue with major implications in terms of finance. All actions to address climate change ultimately involve costs. Funding is vital for countries like India to design and implement adaptation and mitigation plans and projects. Lack of funding is a large impediment to implementing adaptation plans. The scale and magnitude of the financial support required by developing countries to enhance their domestic mitigation and adaptation actions are a matter of intense debate in the multilateral negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Convention squarely puts the responsibility for provision of financial support on the developed countries, taking into account their contribution to the stock of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. Given the magnitude of the task and the funds required, domestic finances are likely to fall short of the current and projected needs of the developing countries. Global funding through the multilateral mechanism of the Convention will enhance their domestic capacity to finance the mitigation efforts.
27] According to the passage, which of the following is/are a matter of intense debate in the multilateral negotiations under UNFCCC regarding the role of developing countries in climate change?
1. The scale and size of required financial support.
2. The crop loss due to climate change in the developing countries.
3. To enhance the mitigation and adaptation actions in the developing countries.
Select the correct answer using the code given below: [2015/64]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Ans: (c) 1 and 3 only
28] In this passage. the Convention puts the responsibility for the provision of financial support on the developed countries because of
1. their higher level of per capita incomes.
2. their large quantum of GDP.
3. their large contribution to the stock of GHGs in the atmosphere.
Select the correct answer using the code given below: [2015/65]
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Ans: (c) 3 only
29] With regards to developing countries, it can be inferred from the passage that climate change is likely to have implications on their
1. domestic finances-
2. capacity for multilateral trade
Select the correct answer using the code given below [2015/66]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Ans: (a) 1 only
30] Which one of the following is essentially discussed in the passage? [2015/67]
(a) Conflict between developed and developing countries regarding support for mitigation
(b) Occurrence of climate change due to excessive exploitation of natural resources by the developed countries
(c) Lack of political will on the part of all the countries to implement adaptation plans
(d) Governance problems of developing countries as a result of climate change
Show Answer
Ans: (a) Conflict between developed and developing countries regarding support for mitigation
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