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XAT 2019 answer key with solutions

This is the complete XAT 2019 question paper with answer key and solutions — 99 questions across Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, General Knowledge, 3h under XAT Part 1 → Part 2 timing. Part 1 (170m): VA & LR, Decision Making, QA & DI with free navigation. Part 2 (10m): GK only (no essay). +1 / −0.25; −0.10 after 8 free skips in Part 1; GK has no negatives. Browse the full paper free here; attempting it under timed conditions on MBACracked requires Pro.

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Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning(26 questions)

Q1Verbal Ability·Fill in the Blanks

Choose the option that would fill in the blanks meaningfully in the sentence(s) below: __.... the importance of ‘horizontal stratification’ ______ higher education is widely acknowledged, ______ attention has been applied to horizontal stratification ______ compulsory schooling.

  • AWhereas; with: too less; to
  • BWhile; within: far less; withinCorrect answer
  • CWhile; without: further less; within
  • DWhile; on: far fewer; about
  • EWhereas; about: for less; of

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (While; within: far less; within) What to find. Insert / choose the sentence that supplies the paragraph’s logical hinge. Steps. Read one sentence before and after the blank. Decide whether the gap needs contrast, example, cause, or conclusion — then test each option for reference and tone. Why B. “While; within: far less; within” is the only sentence that preserves continuity without adding facts the paragraph never earned. Why the others fail. • A (“Whereas; with: too less; to”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim. • C (“While; without: further less; within”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim. • D (“While; on: far fewer; about”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim. • E (“Whereas; about: for less; of”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim.
Q2Verbal Ability·Fill in the Blanks

Please study the paragraph given below: In 1942, the French writer Albert Carus composed an essay, ‘The Myth of Sisyphus’. It draws on the Greek fable of a man condemned to roll a rock up a mountain only to have it roll back down under its own weight, a _----- that lasts for eternity. Camus argues that this image ______ the human condition in a world where we can no longer make sense of events; but instead of cornmitting suicide, we should ______ ourselves to this ‘elusive feeling of absurdity’ and bear it as best we can. In this sense, Sisyphus is the ideal hero. Consider the following words: 1. surrender 2. choice 3. symbolises 4. quandary 5. attune 6. option 7. reconcile 8. depicts

Which of the following options is the most appropriate sequence that best fits the blanks in the above paragraph?

  • A4, 2, 6
  • B4, 3, 7Correct answer
  • C2, 3, 1
  • D4, 5, 1
  • E2, 5, 7

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (4, 3, 7) What to find. Insert / choose the sentence that supplies the paragraph’s logical hinge. Steps. Read one sentence before and after the blank. Decide whether the gap needs contrast, example, cause, or conclusion — then test each option for reference and tone. Why B. “4, 3, 7” is the only sentence that preserves continuity without adding facts the paragraph never earned. Why the others fail. • A (“4, 2, 6”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim. • C (“2, 3, 1”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim. • D (“4, 5, 1”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim. • E (“2, 5, 7”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim.
Q3Verbal Ability·Vocabulary & Usage

Study the first sentence and then identify from among the options given the closest antonym of the highlighted word in the second sentence: It’s conventional wisdom that procreation between first cousins is unhealthy. But what are the actual genetic risks?

  • AunfoundedCorrect answer
  • Brelative
  • Ctangible
  • Dhard
  • Eabstract

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (unfounded) What to find. Insert / choose the sentence that supplies the paragraph’s logical hinge. Steps. Read one sentence before and after the blank. Decide whether the gap needs contrast, example, cause, or conclusion — then test each option for reference and tone. Why A. “unfounded” is the only sentence that preserves continuity without adding facts the paragraph never earned. Why the others fail. • B (“relative”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim. • C (“tangible”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim. • D (“hard”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim. • E (“abstract”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim.
Q4Verbal Ability·Paragraph Jumbles

Read the following statements and answer the question that follows: 1. They subjected the residues from sherds of the rhyta- vessels to radiocarbon dating to determine their ages and chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) - to identify their structure and isotopic composition and found that the vessels were used to store cheese. 2. In many Neolithic sites near the Adriatic Sea, researchers unearthed cone-shaped clay vessels, known as rhyta, with four legs on the bottom and a round opening on the side. 3. Fresh milk couldn’t be kept for long without going bad; cheese, on the other hand, could be stored for months at a time, providing much-needed calories to early farmers between harvests. 4. Archaeologists who used to assume animals such as cows and goats were mainly used for meat early in their domestication history are thus forced to admit that humans might have been using animals for dairy quite early in their domestication history. 5. ‘If you kill one cow, you eat meat for about a week until it goes off; but by milking the animals, the farmer would be spreading the food gain from that anirnal over several months rather than just one week”

Rank the above five statements so as to make it a logical sequence:

  • A4, 5, 2, 1, 3
  • B2, 1, 5, 4, 3
  • C2, 1, 3, 5, 4Correct answer
  • D4, 1, 2, 5, 3
  • E4, 2, 1, 3, 5

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C (2, 1, 3, 5, 4) What to find. Verbal ability — grammar / logic of the blank or insertion point. Steps. Check (1) what the blank must do in the argument, (2) pronoun/antecedent fit, (3) tone continuity. Why C. “2, 1, 3, 5, 4” is the only choice that preserves all three. Why the others fail. • A (“4, 5, 2, 1, 3”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • B (“2, 1, 5, 4, 3”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • D (“4, 1, 2, 5, 3”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • E (“4, 2, 1, 3, 5”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank.
Q5Verbal Ability·Fill in the Blanks

Carefully read the following paragraph: Who could resist the idea of remembering everything they wanted to, without trying? Learning would be made easy, exams a ______ and you would never forget where you left your keys. And memory-related disorders like Alzheimer’s would have met their match. So, it is of little surprise that scientists have turned their attention to ways of _____. human memory using techniques that ______, supplement or even mimic parts of the brain. The immediate goal is to treat memory disorders, but the idea of a memory ______ for everyday life is gaining ground.

Fill in the blanks in the above paragraph, with the best option from among the following:

  • A​joy; augmenting; awaken; crutch
  • Broutine; expanding; invigorate; crutch
  • Cbreeze; enhancing; stimulate; prosthesisCorrect answer
  • Droutine; expanding; trigger; support
  • Ebreeze; exploring; simulate; aid

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C (breeze; enhancing; stimulate; prosthesis) What to find. Insert / choose the sentence that supplies the paragraph’s logical hinge. Steps. Read one sentence before and after the blank. Decide whether the gap needs contrast, example, cause, or conclusion — then test each option for reference and tone. Why C. “breeze; enhancing; stimulate; prosthesis” is the only sentence that preserves continuity without adding facts the paragraph never earned. Why the others fail. • A (“​joy; augmenting; awaken; crutch”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim. • B (“routine; expanding; invigorate; crutch”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim. • D (“routine; expanding; trigger; support”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim. • E (“breeze; exploring; simulate; aid”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim.
Q6Verbal Ability·Paragraph Jumbles

Read the following statements and answer the question that follows: 1. An in-depth exploration of the Indian case and case studies of early adopters of mobile technology will provide spectrum managers a pragmatic and modern approach whereby they could utilize their resources efficiently and optimally. 2. Even as spectrum management regimes are moving from a command and control regime to a flexible use regime, new technological developments are suggesting that there are significant opportunities in managing large swathes of spectrum as a common property resource, in addition to flexible use. 3. Political legacies and market realities in different regimes pose unique challenges for spectrum managers who must negotiate a tricky path to the land promised by technological possibility. 4. On the other hand, supply of spectrum is restricted due to competing nature of uses and vested interests of incurnbent holders. 5. The demand for spectrum has never been so acute as today's communication services extend beyond simple voice to complex data and video, augmented by evolving technologies such as peer-to-peer sharing, social networking, Fourth and Fifth Generation networks, Big Data, and cloud computing.

Rank the above five statements so as to make it a logical sequence:

  • A5, 2, 3, 1, 4
  • B1, 2, 4, 5, 3
  • C3, 4, 5, 2, 1
  • D2, 5, 4, 3, 1Correct answer
  • E4, 5, 2, 3, 1

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (2, 5, 4, 3, 1) What to find. Verbal ability — grammar / logic of the blank or insertion point. Steps. Check (1) what the blank must do in the argument, (2) pronoun/antecedent fit, (3) tone continuity. Why D. “2, 5, 4, 3, 1” is the only choice that preserves all three. Why the others fail. • A (“5, 2, 3, 1, 4”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • B (“1, 2, 4, 5, 3”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • C (“3, 4, 5, 2, 1”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • E (“4, 5, 2, 3, 1”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank.
Q7Verbal Ability·Paragraph Jumbles

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow. Does having a mood disorder make you more creative? That's the most frequent question I hear about the relationship. But because we cannot control the instance of a mood disorder (that is, we can't turn it on and off, and measure that person's creativity under both conditions), the question should really be: Do individuals with a mood disorder exhibit greater creativity than those without? Studies that attempt to answer this question by comparing the creativity of individuals with a mood disorder against those without, have been well, mixed. Studies that ask participants to complete surveys of creative personality, behavior or accomplishment, or to complete divergent thinking measures (where they are asked to generate lots of ideas) often find that individuals with mood disorders do not differ from those without. However, studies using "creative occupation" as an indicator of creativity (based on the assumption that those employed in these occupations are relatively more creative than others) have found that people with bipolar disorders are overrepresented in these occupations. These studies do not measure the creativity of participants directly, rather they use external records (such as censuses and medical registries) to tally the number of people with a history of mood disorders (compared with those without) who report being employed in a creative occupation at some time. These studies incorporate an enormous number of people and provide solid evidence that people who have sought treatment for mood disorders are engaged in creative occupations to a greater extent than those who have not. But can creative occupations serve as a proxy for creative ability? The creative occupations considered in these studies are overwhelmingly in the arts, which frequently provide greater autonomy and less rigid structure than the average nine-to-five job. This makes these jobs more conducive to the success of individuals who struggle with performance consistency as the result of a mood disorder. The American psychiatrist Arnold Ludwig has suggested that the level of emotional expressiveness required to be successful in various occupations creates an occupational drift and demonstrated that the pattern of expressive occupations being associated with a greater incidence of psychopathology is a selfrepeating pattern. For example, professions in the creative arts are associated with greater psychopathology than professions in the sciences whereas, within creative arts professions, architects exhibit a lower lifetime prevalence rate of psychopathology than visual artists and, within the visual arts, abstract artists exhibit lower rates of psychopathology than expressive artists. Therefore, it is possible that many people who suffer from mood disorders gravitate towards these types of professions, regardless of creative ability or inclination.

Go through the following: 1.Mood disorders do not lead to creativity 2.The flexibility of creative occupations makes ther more appealing to people with mood disorder 3.Mood swings in creative professions is less prevalent than in non-creative professions Which of the following would undermine the passage’s main argument?

  • A3 onlyCorrect answer
  • B1, 2 & 3
  • C2 only
  • D2 & 3
  • E1 & 2

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (3 only) What to find. Verbal ability — grammar / logic of the blank or insertion point. Steps. Check (1) what the blank must do in the argument, (2) pronoun/antecedent fit, (3) tone continuity. Why A. “3 only” is the only choice that preserves all three. Why the others fail. • B (“1, 2 & 3”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • C (“2 only”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • D (“2 & 3”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • E (“1 & 2”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank.
Q8Verbal Ability·Paragraph Jumbles

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow. Does having a mood disorder make you more creative? That's the most frequent question I hear about the relationship. But because we cannot control the instance of a mood disorder (that is, we can't turn it on and off, and measure that person's creativity under both conditions), the question should really be: Do individuals with a mood disorder exhibit greater creativity than those without? Studies that attempt to answer this question by comparing the creativity of individuals with a mood disorder against those without, have been well, mixed. Studies that ask participants to complete surveys of creative personality, behavior or accomplishment, or to complete divergent thinking measures (where they are asked to generate lots of ideas) often find that individuals with mood disorders do not differ from those without. However, studies using "creative occupation" as an indicator of creativity (based on the assumption that those employed in these occupations are relatively more creative than others) have found that people with bipolar disorders are overrepresented in these occupations. These studies do not measure the creativity of participants directly, rather they use external records (such as censuses and medical registries) to tally the number of people with a history of mood disorders (compared with those without) who report being employed in a creative occupation at some time. These studies incorporate an enormous number of people and provide solid evidence that people who have sought treatment for mood disorders are engaged in creative occupations to a greater extent than those who have not. But can creative occupations serve as a proxy for creative ability? The creative occupations considered in these studies are overwhelmingly in the arts, which frequently provide greater autonomy and less rigid structure than the average nine-to-five job. This makes these jobs more conducive to the success of individuals who struggle with performance consistency as the result of a mood disorder. The American psychiatrist Arnold Ludwig has suggested that the level of emotional expressiveness required to be successful in various occupations creates an occupational drift and demonstrated that the pattern of expressive occupations being associated with a greater incidence of psychopathology is a selfrepeating pattern. For example, professions in the creative arts are associated with greater psychopathology than professions in the sciences whereas, within creative arts professions, architects exhibit a lower lifetime prevalence rate of psychopathology than visual artists and, within the visual arts, abstract artists exhibit lower rates of psychopathology than expressive artists. Therefore, it is possible that many people who suffer from mood disorders gravitate towards these types of professions, regardless of creative ability or inclination.

All of the following can be inferred from the passage except:

  • AIndividuals with mood disorder often do better in creative job profiles than in regular nine-to-five jobs.
  • BIn creative professions, people with mood disorder are more creative than those without mood disorder.Correct answer
  • CMood disorder is more prevalent among people in creative occupations than in non-creative occupations.
  • DAn architect is more likely to have mood disorder than a botanist.
  • EAn abstract painter is less likely to have mood disorder than an interpretive dance performer.

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B What to find. Verbal ability — grammar / logic of the blank or insertion point. Steps. Check (1) what the blank must do in the argument, (2) pronoun/antecedent fit, (3) tone continuity. Why B. “In creative professions, people with mood disorder are more creative than those without mood disorder.” is the only choice that preserves all three. Why the others fail. • A (“Individuals with mood disorder often do better in creative job profiles than in regular nine-to-fiv…”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • C (“Mood disorder is more prevalent among people in creative occupations than in non-creative occupatio…”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • D (“An architect is more likely to have mood disorder than a botanist.”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • E (“An abstract painter is less likely to have mood disorder than an interpretive dance performer.”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank.
Q9Verbal Ability·Paragraph Jumbles

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow. Does having a mood disorder make you more creative? That's the most frequent question I hear about the relationship. But because we cannot control the instance of a mood disorder (that is, we can't turn it on and off, and measure that person's creativity under both conditions), the question should really be: Do individuals with a mood disorder exhibit greater creativity than those without? Studies that attempt to answer this question by comparing the creativity of individuals with a mood disorder against those without, have been well, mixed. Studies that ask participants to complete surveys of creative personality, behavior or accomplishment, or to complete divergent thinking measures (where they are asked to generate lots of ideas) often find that individuals with mood disorders do not differ from those without. However, studies using "creative occupation" as an indicator of creativity (based on the assumption that those employed in these occupations are relatively more creative than others) have found that people with bipolar disorders are overrepresented in these occupations. These studies do not measure the creativity of participants directly, rather they use external records (such as censuses and medical registries) to tally the number of people with a history of mood disorders (compared with those without) who report being employed in a creative occupation at some time. These studies incorporate an enormous number of people and provide solid evidence that people who have sought treatment for mood disorders are engaged in creative occupations to a greater extent than those who have not. But can creative occupations serve as a proxy for creative ability? The creative occupations considered in these studies are overwhelmingly in the arts, which frequently provide greater autonomy and less rigid structure than the average nine-to-five job. This makes these jobs more conducive to the success of individuals who struggle with performance consistency as the result of a mood disorder. The American psychiatrist Arnold Ludwig has suggested that the level of emotional expressiveness required to be successful in various occupations creates an occupational drift and demonstrated that the pattern of expressive occupations being associated with a greater incidence of psychopathology is a selfrepeating pattern. For example, professions in the creative arts are associated with greater psychopathology than professions in the sciences whereas, within creative arts professions, architects exhibit a lower lifetime prevalence rate of psychopathology than visual artists and, within the visual arts, abstract artists exhibit lower rates of psychopathology than expressive artists. Therefore, it is possible that many people who suffer from mood disorders gravitate towards these types of professions, regardless of creative ability or inclination.

Which of the following will make the authors contention in the passage fallacious?

  • AEveryone in a mental asylum is potentially a great artist.
  • BPatients in mental asylums prefer time-bound repetitive jobs.Correct answer
  • CCreative geniuses never end up in mental asylum.
  • DThose with a creative spark will land up in a mental asylum.
  • ECreativity is a form of bipolar disorder.

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (Patients in mental asylums prefer time-bound repetitive jobs.) What to find. Verbal ability — grammar / logic of the blank or insertion point. Steps. Check (1) what the blank must do in the argument, (2) pronoun/antecedent fit, (3) tone continuity. Why B. “Patients in mental asylums prefer time-bound repetitive jobs.” is the only choice that preserves all three. Why the others fail. • A (“Everyone in a mental asylum is potentially a great artist.”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • C (“Creative geniuses never end up in mental asylum.”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • D (“Those with a creative spark will land up in a mental asylum.”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • E (“Creativity is a form of bipolar disorder.”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank.
Q10Reading Comprehension·Tone & Attitude

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow it: Lately it seems everyone’s got an opinion about women’s speech. Everybody has been getting his two cents in about vocal fry, up-speak, and women’s allegedly over-liberal use of apologies. The ways women live and move in the world are subject to relentless scrutiny, their modes of speech are assessed against a (usually) masculine standard. This is increasingly true as women have entered previously male-dominated fields like industry and politics. In his essay “On Speech and Public Release,” Joshua Gunn highlights the field of public address as an important arena where social roles and norms are contested, reshaped, and upheld. Gunn argues that the field of public address is an important symbolic arena where we harbor an “ideological bias against the ferninine voice,” a bias, that is rooted in positive primal associations with masculinity (and the corresponding devaluation of fernininity, the voice that constrains and nags—the mother, the droning Charlie Brown schoolteacher, the wife). Gunn contends that masculine speech is the cultural standard. It’s what we value and respect. The low pitch and assertive demeanor that characterize the adult male voice signify reason, control, and authority, suitable for the public domain. Women’s voices are higher pitched, like those of immature boys, and their characteristic speech patterns have a distinctive cadence that exhibits a wider range of ernotional expression. In Western cultures, this is bad because it comes across as uncontrolled. We associate uncontrolled speech - “the cry, the grunt, the scream, and the yawp” - with things that happen in the private, domestic spheres (both coded as ferninine). Men are expected to repress passionate, emotional speech, Gunn explains, precisely because it threatens norms of masculine control and order. The notion of control also relates to the cultural ideal of eloquence. S. are cornplex and highly prescriptive, but not formal or explicit. , telling little girls not to “be so bossy” and boys to “act like gentlemen”), and sanctions imposed by peers. These norms becorme most obvious when they are violated. When men fall off the “control and reason” wagon, they suffer for it. Gunn recalls Howard Dean’s infarnous 2004 “I Have a Scream” speech, in which Dean emitted a spontaneous high-pitched screech of joy after he rattled off a list of planned campaign stops. The rest, as they say, is history. Wornen face a different dilemma— how to please like a woman and impress like a man. Wornen in the public sphere have, historically, been expected to “perform” femininity and they usually do this by adopting a personal tone, giving anecdotal evidence, using domestic metaphors, and making emotional appeals to ideals of wifely virtue and motherhood. Gunn arrives at the conclusion that “eloquence” is, essentially, code for values associated with masculinity, saying, “Performances of femininity are principally vocal and related, not to arguments, but to tone; not to appearance, but to speech; not to good reasons, but to sound. This implies that the ideology of sexism is much more insidious, much more deeply ingrained than many might suppose.”

Which of the following statements if true, is contrary to the ideas developed in the passage?

  • AStudies show that male followers of powerful women political leaders in Indian states imitate their leaders’ cadence, rhetoric and rhythm.Correct answer
  • BWomen in their communicative behavior are said to prefer a high-involvement style and men a high-considerate style.
  • CIn certain hierarchically organized Indian political parties, women can participate in discussions as long as they appeal, persuade, and support others, and not initiate new ones.
  • DWomen who use the lowest frequency of women's vocal traits have an unusually high status and are well educated professionals with middle class backgrounds.
  • EThe linguistic ideology in vogue in ancient North India allowed only men of highercastes and ruling dynasties to use Sanskrit; women and servants spoke Prakrit or Pali.

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A What to find. This is a reading-comprehension item whose job is a inference. Ignore decorative examples and focus on the sentence(s) that actually decide the stem. Steps. 1. Paraphrase the author’s claim in one plain line (scope + attitude). 2. Match each option against that paraphrase — keep only what the text warrants. 3. Drop choices that need outside knowledge, flip the author’s tone, or promote a side detail into the main point. Why A. “Studies show that male followers of powerful women political leaders in Indian states imitate their leaders’ cadence, rhetoric and rhythm.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • B (“Women in their communicative behavior are said to prefer a high-involvement style and men a high-co…”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“In certain hierarchically organized Indian political parties, women can participate in discussions …”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“Women who use the lowest frequency of women's vocal traits have an unusually high status and are we…”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“The linguistic ideology in vogue in ancient North India allowed only men of highercastes and ruling…”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q11Verbal Ability·Fill in the Blanks

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow it: Lately it seems everyone’s got an opinion about women’s speech. Everybody has been getting his two cents in about vocal fry, up-speak, and women’s allegedly over-liberal use of apologies. The ways women live and move in the world are subject to relentless scrutiny, their modes of speech are assessed against a (usually) masculine standard. This is increasingly true as women have entered previously male-dominated fields like industry and politics. In his essay “On Speech and Public Release,” Joshua Gunn highlights the field of public address as an important arena where social roles and norms are contested, reshaped, and upheld. Gunn argues that the field of public address is an important symbolic arena where we harbor an “ideological bias against the ferninine voice,” a bias, that is rooted in positive primal associations with masculinity (and the corresponding devaluation of fernininity, the voice that constrains and nags—the mother, the droning Charlie Brown schoolteacher, the wife). Gunn contends that masculine speech is the cultural standard. It’s what we value and respect. The low pitch and assertive demeanor that characterize the adult male voice signify reason, control, and authority, suitable for the public domain. Women’s voices are higher pitched, like those of immature boys, and their characteristic speech patterns have a distinctive cadence that exhibits a wider range of ernotional expression. In Western cultures, this is bad because it comes across as uncontrolled. We associate uncontrolled speech - “the cry, the grunt, the scream, and the yawp” - with things that happen in the private, domestic spheres (both coded as ferninine). Men are expected to repress passionate, emotional speech, Gunn explains, precisely because it threatens norms of masculine control and order. The notion of control also relates to the cultural ideal of eloquence. S. are cornplex and highly prescriptive, but not formal or explicit. , telling little girls not to “be so bossy” and boys to “act like gentlemen”), and sanctions imposed by peers. These norms becorme most obvious when they are violated. When men fall off the “control and reason” wagon, they suffer for it. Gunn recalls Howard Dean’s infarnous 2004 “I Have a Scream” speech, in which Dean emitted a spontaneous high-pitched screech of joy after he rattled off a list of planned campaign stops. The rest, as they say, is history. Wornen face a different dilemma— how to please like a woman and impress like a man. Wornen in the public sphere have, historically, been expected to “perform” femininity and they usually do this by adopting a personal tone, giving anecdotal evidence, using domestic metaphors, and making emotional appeals to ideals of wifely virtue and motherhood. Gunn arrives at the conclusion that “eloquence” is, essentially, code for values associated with masculinity, saying, “Performances of femininity are principally vocal and related, not to arguments, but to tone; not to appearance, but to speech; not to good reasons, but to sound. This implies that the ideology of sexism is much more insidious, much more deeply ingrained than many might suppose.”

An American female politician might not be expected to exhibit the features of public discourse discussed in the passage while ______.

  • Aconversing with members of her community
  • Bspeaking to members of a congregation
  • Cgiving testimony
  • Dchatting with intimate colleaguesCorrect answer
  • Eaddressing her colleagues

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (chatting with intimate colleagues) What to find. Verbal ability — grammar / logic of the blank or insertion point. Steps. Check (1) what the blank must do in the argument, (2) pronoun/antecedent fit, (3) tone continuity. Why D. “chatting with intimate colleagues” is the only choice that preserves all three. Why the others fail. • A (“conversing with members of her community”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • B (“speaking to members of a congregation”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • C (“giving testimony”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • E (“addressing her colleagues”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank.
Q12Reading Comprehension·Tone & Attitude

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow it: Lately it seems everyone’s got an opinion about women’s speech. Everybody has been getting his two cents in about vocal fry, up-speak, and women’s allegedly over-liberal use of apologies. The ways women live and move in the world are subject to relentless scrutiny, their modes of speech are assessed against a (usually) masculine standard. This is increasingly true as women have entered previously male-dominated fields like industry and politics. In his essay “On Speech and Public Release,” Joshua Gunn highlights the field of public address as an important arena where social roles and norms are contested, reshaped, and upheld. Gunn argues that the field of public address is an important symbolic arena where we harbor an “ideological bias against the ferninine voice,” a bias, that is rooted in positive primal associations with masculinity (and the corresponding devaluation of fernininity, the voice that constrains and nags—the mother, the droning Charlie Brown schoolteacher, the wife). Gunn contends that masculine speech is the cultural standard. It’s what we value and respect. The low pitch and assertive demeanor that characterize the adult male voice signify reason, control, and authority, suitable for the public domain. Women’s voices are higher pitched, like those of immature boys, and their characteristic speech patterns have a distinctive cadence that exhibits a wider range of ernotional expression. In Western cultures, this is bad because it comes across as uncontrolled. We associate uncontrolled speech - “the cry, the grunt, the scream, and the yawp” - with things that happen in the private, domestic spheres (both coded as ferninine). Men are expected to repress passionate, emotional speech, Gunn explains, precisely because it threatens norms of masculine control and order. The notion of control also relates to the cultural ideal of eloquence. S. are cornplex and highly prescriptive, but not formal or explicit. , telling little girls not to “be so bossy” and boys to “act like gentlemen”), and sanctions imposed by peers. These norms becorme most obvious when they are violated. When men fall off the “control and reason” wagon, they suffer for it. Gunn recalls Howard Dean’s infarnous 2004 “I Have a Scream” speech, in which Dean emitted a spontaneous high-pitched screech of joy after he rattled off a list of planned campaign stops. The rest, as they say, is history. Wornen face a different dilemma— how to please like a woman and impress like a man. Wornen in the public sphere have, historically, been expected to “perform” femininity and they usually do this by adopting a personal tone, giving anecdotal evidence, using domestic metaphors, and making emotional appeals to ideals of wifely virtue and motherhood. Gunn arrives at the conclusion that “eloquence” is, essentially, code for values associated with masculinity, saying, “Performances of femininity are principally vocal and related, not to arguments, but to tone; not to appearance, but to speech; not to good reasons, but to sound. This implies that the ideology of sexism is much more insidious, much more deeply ingrained than many might suppose.”

Which one of the following, if true, would make the core argument of the passage irrelevant?

  • AToday, sharing of emotions and elaborations is more important than sharing information and being brief.Correct answer
  • BWhen a wife tells her husband that she's unwell, he normally offers to take her to a doctor. Invariably, she is disappointed, as what she looks for is sympathy.
  • CWhere a management decision seems unattractive, men will often resist it vocally, while women may appear to accede, but complain subsequently.
  • DUnlike men who use and prefer to hear direct imperatives, women prefer 'indirections.'
  • EMen seek to gain upper hand in conversation as they consider themselves competitive, while women use them as a way to gain confirmation and support

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A What to find. This is a reading-comprehension item whose job is a inference. Ignore decorative examples and focus on the sentence(s) that actually decide the stem. Steps. 1. Paraphrase the author’s claim in one plain line (scope + attitude). 2. Match each option against that paraphrase — keep only what the text warrants. 3. Drop choices that need outside knowledge, flip the author’s tone, or promote a side detail into the main point. Why A. “Today, sharing of emotions and elaborations is more important than sharing information and being brief.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • B (“When a wife tells her husband that she's unwell, he normally offers to take her to a doctor. Invari…”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“Where a management decision seems unattractive, men will often resist it vocally, while women may a…”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“Unlike men who use and prefer to hear direct imperatives, women prefer 'indirections.'”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“Men seek to gain upper hand in conversation as they consider themselves competitive, while women us…”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q13Reading Comprehension·Specific Detail

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow it: Elevation has always existed but has just moved out of the realm of philosophy and religion and been recognized as a distinct emotional state and a subject for psychological study. Psychology has long focused on what goes wrong, but in the past decade there has been an explosion of interest in “positive psychology” — what makes us feel good and why. University of Virginia moral psychologist Jonathan Haidt, who coined the term elevation, writes, “Powerful moments of elevation sometimes seem to push a mental ‘reset button,’ wiping out feelings of cynicism and replacing them with feelings of hope, love, and optimism, and a sense of moral inspiration.” Haidt quotes first-century Greek philosopher Longinus on great oratory: “The effect of elevated language upon an audience is not persuasion but transport.” Such feeling was once a part of our public discourse. After hearing Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address, former slave Frederick Douglass said it was a “sacred effort.” But uplifting rhetoric carne to sound anachronistic, except as practiced by the occasional master like Martin Luther King Jr. It was while looking through the letters of Thomas Jefferson that Haidt first found a description of elevation. Jefferson wrote of the physical sensation that comes from witnessing goodness in others: It is to “dilate the breast and elevate the sentiments ... and privately covenant to copy the fair example.” Haidt took this description as a mandate. Elevation can so often give us chills or a tingling feeling in the chest. This noticeable, physiological response is important. In fact, this physical reaction is what can tell us most surely that we have been moved. This reaction, and the prosocial inclinations it seems to inspire, has been linked with a specific hormone, oxytocin, emitted from Vagus nerve which works with oxytocin, the hormone of connection. The nerve’s activities can only be studied indirectly. Elevation is part of a family of self-transcending emotions. Some others are awe, that sense of the vastness of the universe and smallness of self that is often invoked by nature; another is admiration, that goose-burp- making thrill that comes from seeing exceptional skill in action. While there is very little lab work on the elevating emotions, there is quite a bit on its counterpart, disgust. It started as a survival strategy: Early humans needed to figure out when food was spoiled by contact with bacteria or parasites. From there disgust expanded to the social realm—people became repelled by the idea of contact with the defiled or by behaviors that seemed to belong to lower people. “Disgust is probably the most powerful emotion that separates your group from other groups.” Haidt says disgust is the bottom floor of a vertical continuum of emotion; hit the up button, and you arrive at elevation. Another response to something extraordinary in another person can be envy, with all its downsides. Envy is unlikely, however, when the extraordinary aspect of another person is a moral virtue (uch as acting in a just way, bravery and = self-sacrifice, and caring for others).

Which of the options below is false according to the passage?

  • AElevation is admiration of virtue; admiration for skill is known as admiration: awe inheres in admiration and is generally caused by the majesty of nature.
  • BElevation results in a sense of moral inspiration and purges us of negative emotions.
  • CElevated language is highly persuasive.
  • DAdmiration is a more appropriate antonym of disgust than elevation.
  • EReactions to extraordinary external stimuli inevitably purge us of evil.Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E What to find. This is a reading-comprehension item whose job is a detail check. Ignore decorative examples and focus on the sentence(s) that actually decide the stem. Steps. 1. Paraphrase the author’s claim in one plain line (scope + attitude). 2. Match each option against that paraphrase — keep only what the text warrants. 3. Drop choices that need outside knowledge, flip the author’s tone, or promote a side detail into the main point. Why E. “Reactions to extraordinary external stimuli inevitably purge us of evil.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Elevation is admiration of virtue; admiration for skill is known as admiration: awe inheres in admi…”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • B (“Elevation results in a sense of moral inspiration and purges us of negative emotions.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“Elevated language is highly persuasive.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“Admiration is a more appropriate antonym of disgust than elevation.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q14Verbal Ability·Fill in the Blanks

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow it: Elevation has always existed but has just moved out of the realm of philosophy and religion and been recognized as a distinct emotional state and a subject for psychological study. Psychology has long focused on what goes wrong, but in the past decade there has been an explosion of interest in “positive psychology” — what makes us feel good and why. University of Virginia moral psychologist Jonathan Haidt, who coined the term elevation, writes, “Powerful moments of elevation sometimes seem to push a mental ‘reset button,’ wiping out feelings of cynicism and replacing them with feelings of hope, love, and optimism, and a sense of moral inspiration.” Haidt quotes first-century Greek philosopher Longinus on great oratory: “The effect of elevated language upon an audience is not persuasion but transport.” Such feeling was once a part of our public discourse. After hearing Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address, former slave Frederick Douglass said it was a “sacred effort.” But uplifting rhetoric carne to sound anachronistic, except as practiced by the occasional master like Martin Luther King Jr. It was while looking through the letters of Thomas Jefferson that Haidt first found a description of elevation. Jefferson wrote of the physical sensation that comes from witnessing goodness in others: It is to “dilate the breast and elevate the sentiments ... and privately covenant to copy the fair example.” Haidt took this description as a mandate. Elevation can so often give us chills or a tingling feeling in the chest. This noticeable, physiological response is important. In fact, this physical reaction is what can tell us most surely that we have been moved. This reaction, and the prosocial inclinations it seems to inspire, has been linked with a specific hormone, oxytocin, emitted from Vagus nerve which works with oxytocin, the hormone of connection. The nerve’s activities can only be studied indirectly. Elevation is part of a family of self-transcending emotions. Some others are awe, that sense of the vastness of the universe and smallness of self that is often invoked by nature; another is admiration, that goose-burp- making thrill that comes from seeing exceptional skill in action. While there is very little lab work on the elevating emotions, there is quite a bit on its counterpart, disgust. It started as a survival strategy: Early humans needed to figure out when food was spoiled by contact with bacteria or parasites. From there disgust expanded to the social realm—people became repelled by the idea of contact with the defiled or by behaviors that seemed to belong to lower people. “Disgust is probably the most powerful emotion that separates your group from other groups.” Haidt says disgust is the bottom floor of a vertical continuum of emotion; hit the up button, and you arrive at elevation. Another response to something extraordinary in another person can be envy, with all its downsides. Envy is unlikely, however, when the extraordinary aspect of another person is a moral virtue (uch as acting in a just way, bravery and = self-sacrifice, and caring for others).

Which of the options will complete the statement given below meaningfully and appropriately, according to the passage? Disgust is not a self-transcending emotion because it ________.

  • Ais linked to invocation of nature
  • Bis about experiencing a moment when the ‘self’ reigns supreme
  • Csprings from love
  • Dis the antonym of elevation
  • Eit creates 'us versus them' divide based on group identitiesCorrect answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (it creates 'us versus them' divide based on group identities) What to find. Verbal ability — grammar / logic of the blank or insertion point. Steps. Check (1) what the blank must do in the argument, (2) pronoun/antecedent fit, (3) tone continuity. Why E. “it creates 'us versus them' divide based on group identities” is the only choice that preserves all three. Why the others fail. • A (“is linked to invocation of nature”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • B (“is about experiencing a moment when the ‘self’ reigns supreme”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • C (“springs from love”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • D (“is the antonym of elevation”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank.
Q15Reading Comprehension·Structure & Organization

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow it: Elevation has always existed but has just moved out of the realm of philosophy and religion and been recognized as a distinct emotional state and a subject for psychological study. Psychology has long focused on what goes wrong, but in the past decade there has been an explosion of interest in “positive psychology” — what makes us feel good and why. University of Virginia moral psychologist Jonathan Haidt, who coined the term elevation, writes, “Powerful moments of elevation sometimes seem to push a mental ‘reset button,’ wiping out feelings of cynicism and replacing them with feelings of hope, love, and optimism, and a sense of moral inspiration.” Haidt quotes first-century Greek philosopher Longinus on great oratory: “The effect of elevated language upon an audience is not persuasion but transport.” Such feeling was once a part of our public discourse. After hearing Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address, former slave Frederick Douglass said it was a “sacred effort.” But uplifting rhetoric carne to sound anachronistic, except as practiced by the occasional master like Martin Luther King Jr. It was while looking through the letters of Thomas Jefferson that Haidt first found a description of elevation. Jefferson wrote of the physical sensation that comes from witnessing goodness in others: It is to “dilate the breast and elevate the sentiments ... and privately covenant to copy the fair example.” Haidt took this description as a mandate. Elevation can so often give us chills or a tingling feeling in the chest. This noticeable, physiological response is important. In fact, this physical reaction is what can tell us most surely that we have been moved. This reaction, and the prosocial inclinations it seems to inspire, has been linked with a specific hormone, oxytocin, emitted from Vagus nerve which works with oxytocin, the hormone of connection. The nerve’s activities can only be studied indirectly. Elevation is part of a family of self-transcending emotions. Some others are awe, that sense of the vastness of the universe and smallness of self that is often invoked by nature; another is admiration, that goose-burp- making thrill that comes from seeing exceptional skill in action. While there is very little lab work on the elevating emotions, there is quite a bit on its counterpart, disgust. It started as a survival strategy: Early humans needed to figure out when food was spoiled by contact with bacteria or parasites. From there disgust expanded to the social realm—people became repelled by the idea of contact with the defiled or by behaviors that seemed to belong to lower people. “Disgust is probably the most powerful emotion that separates your group from other groups.” Haidt says disgust is the bottom floor of a vertical continuum of emotion; hit the up button, and you arrive at elevation. Another response to something extraordinary in another person can be envy, with all its downsides. Envy is unlikely, however, when the extraordinary aspect of another person is a moral virtue (uch as acting in a just way, bravery and = self-sacrifice, and caring for others).

Which of the options below correctly identifies the function of elevation?

  • AIt helps us in creating national identities.
  • BIt helps leaders to attract followers.
  • CIt helps us become religious.
  • DIt helps to enforce moral and ethical values in a society.
  • EIt helps transcendence to a higher plane.Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (It helps transcendence to a higher plane.) What to find. This is a reading-comprehension item whose job is a structure / function. Ignore decorative examples and focus on the sentence(s) that actually decide the stem. Steps. 1. Paraphrase the author’s claim in one plain line (scope + attitude). 2. Match each option against that paraphrase — keep only what the text warrants. 3. Drop choices that need outside knowledge, flip the author’s tone, or promote a side detail into the main point. Why E. “It helps transcendence to a higher plane.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“It helps us in creating national identities.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • B (“It helps leaders to attract followers.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“It helps us become religious.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“It helps to enforce moral and ethical values in a society.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q16Verbal Ability·Odd Sentence Out

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow it: There are no Commandments in art and no easy axioms for art appreciation. “Do I like this?” is the question anyone should ask themselves at the moment of confrontation with the picture. But if “yes,” why “yes”? and if “no,” why “no”? The obvious direct emotional response is never simple, and ninety-nine times out of a hundred, the “yes” or “no” has nothing at all to do with the picture in its own right. “I don’t understand this poem” and “I don’t like this picture” are statements that tell us something about the speaker. That should be obvious, but in fact, such statements are offered as criticisms of art, as evidence against, not least because the ignorant, the lazy, or the plain confused are not likely to want to admit themselves as such. We hear a lot about the arrogance of the artist but nothing about the arrogance of the audience. The audience, who have given no thought to the mediurn or the method, will glance up, flick through, chatter over the opening chords, then snap their fingers and walk away like sore monstrous Roman tyrant. This is not arrogance; of course, they can absorb in a few moments, and without any effort, the sum of the artist and the art. Admire me is the sub-text of so much of our looking; the demand put on art that it should reflect the reality of the viewer. The true painting, in its stubborn independence, cannot do this, except coincidentally. Its reality is imaginative not mundane. When the thick curtain of protection is taken away; protection of prejudice, protection of authority, protection of trivia, even the most familiar of paintings can begin to work its power. There are very few people who could manage an hour alone with the Mona Lisa. Our poor art-lover in his aesthetic laboratory has not succeeded in freeing himself from the protection of assumption. What he has found is that the painting objects to his lack of concentration; his failure to meet intensity with intensity. He still has not discovered anything about the painting, but the painting has discovered a lot about him. He is inadequate, and the painting has told him so. ,” you might be right, because you are looking at a fad, or you might be wrong because the work falls so outside of the safety of your own experience that in order to keep your own world intact, you must deny the other world of the painting. This denial of imaginative experience happens at a deeper level than our affirmation of our daily world. Every day, in countless ways, you and I convince ourselves about ourselves. True art, when it happens to us, challenges the “l’ that we are and you say, “This work has nothing to do with me.” Art is not a little bit of evolution that late-twentieth-century city dwellers can safely do without. Strictly, art does not belong to our evolutionary pattern at all. It has no biological necessity. Time taken up with it was time lost to hunting, gathering, mating, exploring, building, surviving, thriving. We say we have no time for art. If we say that art, all art. is no longer relevant to our lives, then we might at least risk the question “What has happened to our lives?” The usual question, “What has happened to art?” is too easy an escape route.

A young man visits a critically acclaimed modern art exhibition in his city and finds that he doesn’t like any of the exhibits. If he were to share his experience with the author of the passage, which of the following is most likely to be the author’s response?

  • A“Your feelings about art are totally insignificant because they are definitely prejudiced.”
  • B“Don’t deny the other world of art to hide your inadequacies.”
  • C“You are as arrogant as the artists who produced those modern art exhibits.”Correct answer
  • D“Modern art is, indeed, distasteful because of its abstract nature, and because it shows us up.”
  • E“You didn’t like modern art, that’s fine, but maybe you will like classical art forms.”

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C What to find. Verbal ability — grammar / logic of the blank or insertion point. Steps. Check (1) what the blank must do in the argument, (2) pronoun/antecedent fit, (3) tone continuity. Why C. ““You are as arrogant as the artists who produced those modern art exhibits.”” is the only choice that preserves all three. Why the others fail. • A (““Your feelings about art are totally insignificant because they are definitely prejudiced.””) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • B (““Don’t deny the other world of art to hide your inadequacies."”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • D (““Modern art is, indeed, distasteful because of its abstract nature, and because it shows us up.””) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • E (““You didn’t like modern art, that’s fine, but maybe you will like classical art forms.””) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank.
Q17Verbal Ability·Odd Sentence Out

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow it: There are no Commandments in art and no easy axioms for art appreciation. “Do I like this?” is the question anyone should ask themselves at the moment of confrontation with the picture. But if “yes,” why “yes”? and if “no,” why “no”? The obvious direct emotional response is never simple, and ninety-nine times out of a hundred, the “yes” or “no” has nothing at all to do with the picture in its own right. “I don’t understand this poem” and “I don’t like this picture” are statements that tell us something about the speaker. That should be obvious, but in fact, such statements are offered as criticisms of art, as evidence against, not least because the ignorant, the lazy, or the plain confused are not likely to want to admit themselves as such. We hear a lot about the arrogance of the artist but nothing about the arrogance of the audience. The audience, who have given no thought to the mediurn or the method, will glance up, flick through, chatter over the opening chords, then snap their fingers and walk away like sore monstrous Roman tyrant. This is not arrogance; of course, they can absorb in a few moments, and without any effort, the sum of the artist and the art. Admire me is the sub-text of so much of our looking; the demand put on art that it should reflect the reality of the viewer. The true painting, in its stubborn independence, cannot do this, except coincidentally. Its reality is imaginative not mundane. When the thick curtain of protection is taken away; protection of prejudice, protection of authority, protection of trivia, even the most familiar of paintings can begin to work its power. There are very few people who could manage an hour alone with the Mona Lisa. Our poor art-lover in his aesthetic laboratory has not succeeded in freeing himself from the protection of assumption. What he has found is that the painting objects to his lack of concentration; his failure to meet intensity with intensity. He still has not discovered anything about the painting, but the painting has discovered a lot about him. He is inadequate, and the painting has told him so. ,” you might be right, because you are looking at a fad, or you might be wrong because the work falls so outside of the safety of your own experience that in order to keep your own world intact, you must deny the other world of the painting. This denial of imaginative experience happens at a deeper level than our affirmation of our daily world. Every day, in countless ways, you and I convince ourselves about ourselves. True art, when it happens to us, challenges the “l’ that we are and you say, “This work has nothing to do with me.” Art is not a little bit of evolution that late-twentieth-century city dwellers can safely do without. Strictly, art does not belong to our evolutionary pattern at all. It has no biological necessity. Time taken up with it was time lost to hunting, gathering, mating, exploring, building, surviving, thriving. We say we have no time for art. If we say that art, all art. is no longer relevant to our lives, then we might at least risk the question “What has happened to our lives?” The usual question, “What has happened to art?” is too easy an escape route.

What according to the passage is the prerequisite to appreciate art?

  • APreconceived notions of how we would be affected
  • BParticipation with an open-mindCorrect answer
  • CPrior knowledge of the art in question
  • DProtection of assumption
  • EParticipation of the artist

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (Participation with an open-mind) What to find. Verbal ability — grammar / logic of the blank or insertion point. Steps. Check (1) what the blank must do in the argument, (2) pronoun/antecedent fit, (3) tone continuity. Why B. “Participation with an open-mind” is the only choice that preserves all three. Why the others fail. • A (“Preconceived notions of how we would be affected”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • C (“Prior knowledge of the art in question”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • D (“Protection of assumption”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • E (“Participation of the artist”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank.
Q18Verbal Ability·Fill in the Blanks

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow it: There are no Commandments in art and no easy axioms for art appreciation. “Do I like this?” is the question anyone should ask themselves at the moment of confrontation with the picture. But if “yes,” why “yes”? and if “no,” why “no”? The obvious direct emotional response is never simple, and ninety-nine times out of a hundred, the “yes” or “no” has nothing at all to do with the picture in its own right. “I don’t understand this poem” and “I don’t like this picture” are statements that tell us something about the speaker. That should be obvious, but in fact, such statements are offered as criticisms of art, as evidence against, not least because the ignorant, the lazy, or the plain confused are not likely to want to admit themselves as such. We hear a lot about the arrogance of the artist but nothing about the arrogance of the audience. The audience, who have given no thought to the mediurn or the method, will glance up, flick through, chatter over the opening chords, then snap their fingers and walk away like sore monstrous Roman tyrant. This is not arrogance; of course, they can absorb in a few moments, and without any effort, the sum of the artist and the art. Admire me is the sub-text of so much of our looking; the demand put on art that it should reflect the reality of the viewer. The true painting, in its stubborn independence, cannot do this, except coincidentally. Its reality is imaginative not mundane. When the thick curtain of protection is taken away; protection of prejudice, protection of authority, protection of trivia, even the most familiar of paintings can begin to work its power. There are very few people who could manage an hour alone with the Mona Lisa. Our poor art-lover in his aesthetic laboratory has not succeeded in freeing himself from the protection of assumption. What he has found is that the painting objects to his lack of concentration; his failure to meet intensity with intensity. He still has not discovered anything about the painting, but the painting has discovered a lot about him. He is inadequate, and the painting has told him so. ,” you might be right, because you are looking at a fad, or you might be wrong because the work falls so outside of the safety of your own experience that in order to keep your own world intact, you must deny the other world of the painting. This denial of imaginative experience happens at a deeper level than our affirmation of our daily world. Every day, in countless ways, you and I convince ourselves about ourselves. True art, when it happens to us, challenges the “l’ that we are and you say, “This work has nothing to do with me.” Art is not a little bit of evolution that late-twentieth-century city dwellers can safely do without. Strictly, art does not belong to our evolutionary pattern at all. It has no biological necessity. Time taken up with it was time lost to hunting, gathering, mating, exploring, building, surviving, thriving. We say we have no time for art. If we say that art, all art. is no longer relevant to our lives, then we might at least risk the question “What has happened to our lives?” The usual question, “What has happened to art?” is too easy an escape route.

When the writer observes, ‘This is not arrogance; of course, they can absorb in a few moments, and without any effort, the surn of the artist and the art’, he is being _____.

  • Anaive
  • Bironical
  • Chyperbolic
  • DsarcasticCorrect answer
  • Eobjective

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (sarcastic) What to find. Verbal ability — grammar / logic of the blank or insertion point. Steps. Check (1) what the blank must do in the argument, (2) pronoun/antecedent fit, (3) tone continuity. Why D. “sarcastic” is the only choice that preserves all three. Why the others fail. • A (“naive”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • B (“ironical”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • C (“hyperbolic”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • E (“objective”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank.
Q19Reading Comprehension·Poem & Literary Analysis

Read the poem given below and answer the question that follows it: Black lake, black boat, two black, cut-paper people Where do the black trees go that drink here? Their shadows must cover Canada. A little light is filtering from the water flowers Their leaves do not wish us to hurry They are round and flat and full of dark advice. Cold words shake from the oar. The spirit of blackness is in us, it is in the fishes. A snag is lifting a valedictory, pale hand; Stars opening among the lilies. Are you not blinded by such expressionless sirens? This is the silence of abandoned souls.

Which of the following options best explains the effect of the images in Line 1?

  • AThe first line encapsulates the theme of the poem.
  • BThe images are suffused with an overpowering sense of rebellion.
  • CThe atmosphere indicates a cyclical nature of life and death.
  • DThe black lake lacks regenerative potential; ‘black boat’ connotes the funerary boat; cut-paper people are unreal.Correct answer
  • EThe repeated use of black suggests evil.

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D What to find. This is a reading-comprehension item whose job is a passage-supported choice. Ignore decorative examples and focus on the sentence(s) that actually decide the stem. Steps. 1. Paraphrase the author’s claim in one plain line (scope + attitude). 2. Match each option against that paraphrase — keep only what the text warrants. 3. Drop choices that need outside knowledge, flip the author’s tone, or promote a side detail into the main point. Why D. “The black lake lacks regenerative potential; ‘black boat’ connotes the funerary boat; cut-paper people are unreal.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“The first line encapsulates the theme of the poem.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • B (“The images are suffused with an overpowering sense of rebellion.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“The atmosphere indicates a cyclical nature of life and death.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“The repeated use of black suggests evil.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q20Reading Comprehension·Poem & Literary Analysis

Read the poem given below and answer the question that follows it: Black lake, black boat, two black, cut-paper people Where do the black trees go that drink here? Their shadows must cover Canada. A little light is filtering from the water flowers Their leaves do not wish us to hurry They are round and flat and full of dark advice. Cold words shake from the oar. The spirit of blackness is in us, it is in the fishes. A snag is lifting a valedictory, pale hand; Stars opening among the lilies. Are you not blinded by such expressionless sirens? This is the silence of abandoned souls.

Which of the following options presents a convincing evaluation of the line, ‘Stars opening among the lilies’?

  • AThe stars are flowers in the sky and the flowers in the lake are stars in water.
  • BThe ethereal light of the stars gets reflected among the lilies.
  • CThe spirit of blackness does not hinder the appearance of beauty in nature which is symbolic of hope blossoming in the soul.Correct answer
  • DThe mirror images, the worlds above and overlap.
  • ELilies purify the ‘dark’ into ‘light’ as symbolized in and by stars.

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C What to find. This is a reading-comprehension item whose job is a passage-supported choice. Ignore decorative examples and focus on the sentence(s) that actually decide the stem. Steps. 1. Paraphrase the author’s claim in one plain line (scope + attitude). 2. Match each option against that paraphrase — keep only what the text warrants. 3. Drop choices that need outside knowledge, flip the author’s tone, or promote a side detail into the main point. Why C. “The spirit of blackness does not hinder the appearance of beauty in nature which is symbolic of hope blossoming in the soul.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“The stars are flowers in the sky and the flowers in the lake are stars in water.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • B (“The ethereal light of the stars gets reflected among the lilies.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“The mirror images, the worlds above and overlap.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“Lilies purify the ‘dark’ into ‘light’ as symbolized in and by stars.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q21Verbal Ability·Critical Reasoning

Which of the statements below is least fallacious?

  • ACheating in examinations is wrong because God will punish you.
  • BMitigating risks often comes with costs.Correct answer
  • CThe snake in the temple likes milk because devotees offer it milk.
  • DEducated people do not oppose sale of hard drinks by governments. So drinking cannot be illegal.
  • EMarlon Brando was such a great actor because everyone liked him.

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (Mitigating risks often comes with costs.) What to find. Verbal ability — grammar / logic of the blank or insertion point. Steps. Check (1) what the blank must do in the argument, (2) pronoun/antecedent fit, (3) tone continuity. Why B. “Mitigating risks often comes with costs.” is the only choice that preserves all three. Why the others fail. • A (“Cheating in examinations is wrong because God will punish you.”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • C (“The snake in the temple likes milk because devotees offer it milk.”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • D (“Educated people do not oppose sale of hard drinks by governments. So drinking cannot be illegal.”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • E (“Marlon Brando was such a great actor because everyone liked him.”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank.
Q22Reading Comprehension·Specific Detail

Read the following paragraph and answer the question that follows: Empirical observation told us years ago that goats were slowly becoming the new dog, and according toa new study, they are truly qualified to be man’s best friend. The Royal Society released heart-warming research showing that just like humans, goats have no desire to interact with people who come off as angry or upset, and that they’re much more attracted to those with big smiles plastered across their faces. When 12 males and 8 fernales were released into a pen decorated with images of happy and angry humans, the scientists learned that goats can “distinguish between happy and angry images of the same person,” and in general, they prefer their humans to be happy.

Which of the following statements is definitely true according to the passage?

  • AWhen they look at a smiling person, the goats are happy.Correct answer
  • BWhen they look at a frowning person, goats are afraid of him.
  • CWhen they look at a straight-faced person, goats remain passive.
  • DWhen they look at a frowning person, the goats are sad.
  • EWhen they look at a smiling person, goats run towards him.

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (When they look at a smiling person, the goats are happy.) What to find. This is a reading-comprehension item whose job is a detail check. Ignore decorative examples and focus on the sentence(s) that actually decide the stem. Steps. 1. Paraphrase the author’s claim in one plain line (scope + attitude). 2. Match each option against that paraphrase — keep only what the text warrants. 3. Drop choices that need outside knowledge, flip the author’s tone, or promote a side detail into the main point. Why A. “When they look at a smiling person, the goats are happy.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • B (“When they look at a frowning person, goats are afraid of him.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“When they look at a straight-faced person, goats remain passive.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“When they look at a frowning person, the goats are sad.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“When they look at a smiling person, goats run towards him.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q23Verbal Ability·Critical Reasoning

Which option does not reflect the relationship implicit in ‘Emendation : Editor’?

  • ADiscipline : Coach
  • BInjunction : Judge
  • CExamination : Doctor
  • DRenunciation : Saint
  • EIllumination : UsherCorrect answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (Illumination : Usher) What to find. Verbal ability — grammar / logic of the blank or insertion point. Steps. Check (1) what the blank must do in the argument, (2) pronoun/antecedent fit, (3) tone continuity. Why E. “Illumination : Usher” is the only choice that preserves all three. Why the others fail. • A (“Discipline : Coach”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • B (“Injunction : Judge”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • C (“Examination : Doctor”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • D (“Renunciation : Saint”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank.
Q24Reading Comprehension·Inference

Read the following paragraph and answer the question that follows: An accurate measure of drug efficacy would require comparing the response of patients taking it with that of patients taking placebos; the drug effect could then be calculated by subtracting the placebo response from the overall response, much as a deli-counter worker subtracts the weight of the container to determine how much lobster salad you're getting. In the last half of the 1950s, this calculus gave rise to a new way to evaluate drugs: the double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, in which neither patient nor clinician knew who was getting the active drug and who the placebo.

Which of the options is a wrong answer to this question: How does a double blind ensure a better trial of a new drug?

  • AIt increases the overall response to the drug.Correct answer
  • BThe patient does not know whether he/she is getting a placebo.
  • CIt reflects the calculus exemplified by the deli-counter episode.
  • DThe clinician cannot pick and choose patients to whom placebos can be administered.
  • EIt gives rise to an unbiased testing of drugs.

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (It increases the overall response to the drug.) What to find. This is a reading-comprehension item whose job is a passage-supported choice. Ignore decorative examples and focus on the sentence(s) that actually decide the stem. Steps. 1. Paraphrase the author’s claim in one plain line (scope + attitude). 2. Match each option against that paraphrase — keep only what the text warrants. 3. Drop choices that need outside knowledge, flip the author’s tone, or promote a side detail into the main point. Why A. “It increases the overall response to the drug.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • B (“The patient does not know whether he/she is getting a placebo.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“It reflects the calculus exemplified by the deli-counter episode.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“The clinician cannot pick and choose patients to whom placebos can be administered.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“It gives rise to an unbiased testing of drugs.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q25Reading Comprehension·Inference

Read the following paragraph and answer the question that follows: Alligators are freshwater reptiles. However, people have come face to face with them in mud in a salt marsh in Georgia. Finding alligators in the salt marsh is not a mystery or a miracle. At least 23 species of predator have been spotted living in surprising habitats. Predators such as alligators, otters, mountain lions, wolves and raptors are thriving in places they shouldn't, revealing some serious misunderstandings about their behaviour and how to protect them. Scientific literature divulges that these creatures are actually returning to places they once occupied. It gives us astonishing insights into the lives of animals and helps conservationists improve the old stomping grounds of these creatures.

Which of the following statements provides the most plausible explanation of the predators' behaviour?

  • APredators prefer to occupy different habitats, depending on the season and prevailing weather.
  • BPredators migrate to a habitat different from where they were born.
  • CPredators are fully aware of where they were born.
  • DPredators have a genetic memory of their traditional stomping grounds.Correct answer
  • EPredators have no awareness of where they were born.

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (Predators have a genetic memory of their traditional stomping grounds.) What to find. This is a reading-comprehension item whose job is a passage-supported choice. Ignore decorative examples and focus on the sentence(s) that actually decide the stem. Steps. 1. Paraphrase the author’s claim in one plain line (scope + attitude). 2. Match each option against that paraphrase — keep only what the text warrants. 3. Drop choices that need outside knowledge, flip the author’s tone, or promote a side detail into the main point. Why D. “Predators have a genetic memory of their traditional stomping grounds.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Predators prefer to occupy different habitats, depending on the season and prevailing weather.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • B (“Predators migrate to a habitat different from where they were born.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“Predators are fully aware of where they were born.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“Predators have no awareness of where they were born.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q26Verbal Ability·Critical Reasoning

Study the text given below and answer the question that follows it: Dense, dirty air laced with grease best describes the atrnosphere of most Lagos streets. Drive from one corner of this great west African city to another and in no time you will find surfaces lightly dusted, like a soft sprinkling of icing on cakes. Under the half-moons of fingernails, thick grime settles. It's a scene taken as typically African: polluted, bedraggled, unhealthy. This has only ever been made possible by the exploitation of Africa’s people. This week five west African countries, Nigeria included, announced plans to end the practice of European oil companies and traders exporting “African quality” diesel. “Dirty fuel” has earned the name because it is imported diesel with sulphur levels as high as 3,000 parts per million when the European maximum is 10ppm. To be clear, “African quality” fuel, is fuel not fit for European humans.

Which of the options is not necessarily the underlying assumption of the author in the paragraph above?

  • AEconomic exploitation, until challenged runs smoothly.
  • BAfrican nations had accepted ‘dirty fuel’ as the norm.
  • CTypically, African cities today are not fit for human habitation.
  • DRacism makes it easy for Europeans to justify the exploitation of inferior races.Correct answer
  • EEuropean oil companies dump their fuel on African countries.

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D What to find. Pick the summary that keeps the author’s scope and drops examples/asides. Steps. Write a one-line gist first; then eliminate options that invent causality, flip tone, or zoom into a minor illustration. Why D. “Racism makes it easy for Europeans to justify the exploitation of inferior races.” matches that gist without padding. Why the others fail. • A (“Economic exploitation, until challenged runs smoothly.”) — overclaims, underclaims, or elevates a supporting detail into the main point. • B (“African nations had accepted ‘dirty fuel’ as the norm.”) — overclaims, underclaims, or elevates a supporting detail into the main point. • C (“Typically, African cities today are not fit for human habitation.”) — overclaims, underclaims, or elevates a supporting detail into the main point. • E (“European oil companies dump their fuel on African countries.”) — overclaims, underclaims, or elevates a supporting detail into the main point.

Decision Making(21 questions)

Q27Decision Making·Ethical Dilemma

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: You are a Human Resource (HR) Manager in the HR Department of Vikash Educational Charitable Trust. You organize and support recruitment and training, provide secretarial support for disciplinary investigations and keep personnel records of staff. You report to Ms. Deelipa, one of the two Senior HR Managers who reports to the HR Director.

For the post of Consultant Professor in the Trust, two internal candidates, Mr. Rana and Mr. Charan were interviewed. Mr. Charan was selected as he was considered to be academically gifted with impressive leadership skills, even though he had less experience than the other. Three days later, Mr. Rana came to your office complaining that the selection was unfair as he had more experience than Mr. Charan.

Which of the following is the best way to handle the issue raised by Rana?

  • ATell Mr. Rana, that you empathize with him, but the process was fair, and details of the assessment could be shared with him.Correct answer
  • BTell Mr. Rana that the Institute finds the right person for the job, not the one who has been around the longest.
  • CWarn Mr. Rana that his complaint will be construed as misdemeanour and held against him in the next promotion cycle.
  • DTell Mr. Rana that if he is interested, he could write to the HR Director and you would act as per the directives received.
  • EOffer tea to Mr. Rana and say that you can understand why he is upset. Let him have a bit of a moan and help him get it out of his system.

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: You are a Human Resource (HR) Manager in the HR Department of Vikash Educational Charitable Trust. You organize and support recruitment and training, prov… Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why A. “Tell Mr. Rana, that you empathize with him, but the process was fair, and details of the assessment could be shared with him.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • B (“Tell Mr. Rana that the Institute finds the right person for the job, not the one who has been aroun…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Warn Mr. Rana that his complaint will be construed as misdemeanour and held against him in the next…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Tell Mr. Rana that if he is interested, he could write to the HR Director and you would act as per …”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Offer tea to Mr. Rana and say that you can understand why he is upset. Let him have a bit of a moan…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q28Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: You are a Human Resource (HR) Manager in the HR Department of Vikash Educational Charitable Trust. You organize and support recruitment and training, provide secretarial support for disciplinary investigations and keep personnel records of staff. You report to Ms. Deelipa, one of the two Senior HR Managers who reports to the HR Director.

Ms. Deelipa has asked you to conduct a Non Teaching Staff Induction Training. You are to call for a tender from various agencies with specifications that include the contents, duration, experience, budget and other relevant information. You then need to shortlist five agencies from the list of 20 and make a presentation within two days. Review the following responses: 1. Rate all 20 agencies on a scale of 1 to 5 on information available and select the top 5. 2. Select the five lowest bids based on the price quoted 3. Seek selection criteria from Deelipa and the HR Director and shortlist the bidders accordingly. 4. Follow the advise of a person who has completed a similar task. Select the best of the following responses in the descending order of effectiveness?

  • A1 , 2 , 3
  • B3 , 1 , 2Correct answer
  • C1 , 3 , 4
  • D3 , 2 , 4
  • E4 , 1 , 3

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (3 , 1 , 2) What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: You are a Human Resource (HR) Manager in the HR Department of Vikash Educational Charitable Trust. You organize and support recruitment and training, prov… Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why B. “3 , 1 , 2” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“1 , 2 , 3”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“1 , 3 , 4”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“3 , 2 , 4”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“4 , 1 , 3”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q29Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: You are a Human Resource (HR) Manager in the HR Department of Vikash Educational Charitable Trust. You organize and support recruitment and training, provide secretarial support for disciplinary investigations and keep personnel records of staff. You report to Ms. Deelipa, one of the two Senior HR Managers who reports to the HR Director.

The Vikash Trust has recently been plagued by a high turnover of teaching assistants with many looking for higher salary and better facilities. You have been asked to design and run a campaign to attract and appoint 10 teaching assistants. One of your measures of success will be the retention of the new recruits. You have 4 weeks for the interview. Review the following: 1. Shortlist apt candidates who reflect values of the Trust from among respondees to your wide advertisement campaign. 2.Design an ad that attracts candidates with values that matches the Trust's, release it at an appropriate tire and re-validate the candidates' credentials at the time of shortlisting. 3. Repeat the process that was followed by the Trust last time. 4. Seek expert advice on drafting an attractive advertisement. Select the best of the following responses in the descending order of effectiveness?

  • A4 , 1 , 2
  • B2 , 1 , 3Correct answer
  • C4 , 3 , 1
  • D1 , 2 , 3
  • E2 , 3 , 4

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (2 , 1 , 3) What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: You are a Human Resource (HR) Manager in the HR Department of Vikash Educational Charitable Trust. You organize and support recruitment and training, prov… Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why B. “2 , 1 , 3” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“4 , 1 , 2”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“4 , 3 , 1”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“1 , 2 , 3”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“2 , 3 , 4”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q30Decision Making·Data-based Decision

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: You are a Human Resource (HR) Manager in the HR Department of Vikash Educational Charitable Trust. You organize and support recruitment and training, provide secretarial support for disciplinary investigations and keep personnel records of staff. You report to Ms. Deelipa, one of the two Senior HR Managers who reports to the HR Director.

The new induction training program has been a roaring success. All new induction courses for the next 12 months have been tightly scheduled. This morning, you receive a call from Mr. Surya, the Head of the Trust requesting you to train eight newly recruited teaching assistants before they start their job next month. You explain that all the slots are fully booked for the next 3 months, but he insists that the new teaching assistants be trained immediately, to hopefully reduce turnover among them. You speak to Deelipa, who wants you to deal with the issue on your own. Review the following responses that you wish to cormmunicate to Mr. Surya: 1. Inform him that once the schedules are drawn up, it is not possible to effect any change as the reputation of the Trust would be at stake. 2. Suggest that a new agency may be permitted to run induction sessions for these teaching assistants, as a special case. 3. Tell him that if some inductees dropout in the first month, at least some teaching assistants can be accommodated. 4. Tell him that since no space is available in the induction training sessions for three months, you, as the HR manager would conduct induction sessions for them after office hours. Select the best of the following responses in the descending order of effectiveness.

  • A3 , 2 , 4 , 1
  • B2 , 1 , 3 , 4
  • C2 , 4 , 3 , 1Correct answer
  • D3 , 2 , 1 , 4
  • E2 , 3 , 1 , 4

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C (2 , 4 , 3 , 1) What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: You are a Human Resource (HR) Manager in the HR Department of Vikash Educational Charitable Trust. You organize and support recruitment and training, prov… Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why C. “2 , 4 , 3 , 1” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“3 , 2 , 4 , 1”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“2 , 1 , 3 , 4”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“3 , 2 , 1 , 4”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“2 , 3 , 1 , 4”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q31Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happiness Policy” provides quality education to many needy students from low income neighborhood for free. She received a strange complaint from some of the affluent parents regarding their discomfort with allowing poor children to study along with their kids. They were concerned more about their manners, habits and language than about schooling. They wanted the trust to either start a separate shift for such children or remove them from the school since they are supporting them. On the other hand, the parents of the poor children complained of bullying and teasing and shared their concern regarding the mental trauma their children undergo. While Mrs. Bhalla, by no means wants to yield to the dernands of the affluent parents, she also cannot ignore them since some of them have been making substantial donations to the school.

Which of the following is most likely to get the affluent parents to accept the school’s policy?

  • AInvite professionals to conduct workshop for the poorer children so that they learn basic manners, habits and language.
  • BShare the fact, that the government instituted school ranking, places 25% weight to policies similar to the school's.Correct answer
  • CInvite the founder of the school to clarify to all parents the school’s policy.
  • DMeet the two parent groups separately, understand their key concerns and seek solutions from both.
  • EAccept the suggestion of affluent parents to start a separate shift for the poor students.

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happines… Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why B. “Share the fact, that the government instituted school ranking, places 25% weight to policies similar to the school's.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Invite professionals to conduct workshop for the poorer children so that they learn basic manners, …”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Invite the founder of the school to clarify to all parents the school’s policy.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Meet the two parent groups separately, understand their key concerns and seek solutions from both.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Accept the suggestion of affluent parents to start a separate shift for the poor students.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q32Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happiness Policy” provides quality education to many needy students from low income neighborhood for free. She received a strange complaint from some of the affluent parents regarding their discomfort with allowing poor children to study along with their kids. They were concerned more about their manners, habits and language than about schooling. They wanted the trust to either start a separate shift for such children or remove them from the school since they are supporting them. On the other hand, the parents of the poor children complained of bullying and teasing and shared their concern regarding the mental trauma their children undergo. While Mrs. Bhalla, by no means wants to yield to the dernands of the affluent parents, she also cannot ignore them since some of them have been making substantial donations to the school.

While Mrs. Bhalla understands the problems of overcrowded classrooms and classroom management, she foresees in them an opportunity to develop more sensitive and self-motivated learners. Mrs. Bhalla is considering the following actions: 1. Take the student and teacher councils on board and seek their ideas to redress the challenge the school faces. 2. Brainstorm with teachers and students on a strategy to engage all learners in teams for meaningful learning and healthy relationships. 3. Encourage students for self-learning and teachers into more supervisory roles to ensure discipline. 4. Engage students in a process of periodic reflection so that they can get in touch with their thoughts, feelings and actions towards self and others. 5. Create achievement based student groups to encourage competition and ease classroom management.

Which of the following combination of actions would be most effective in developing sensitive and self- motivated learners?

  • A1 , 2 , 3
  • B1 , 3 , 5
  • C1 , 2 , 4Correct answer
  • D5 , 4 , 3
  • E2 , 1 , 5

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C (1 , 2 , 4) Mrs. Bhalla wants sensitive, self-motivated learners — not tighter supervision or competition. Action 1 (student/teacher councils) builds buy-in. Action 2 (team-based meaningful learning) develops empathy and collaboration. Action 4 (periodic reflection) develops self-awareness. Action 3 pushes self-learning with supervisory teachers (discipline, not motivation). Action 5 creates achievement-based competition, which undercuts sensitivity. Hence the best combination is 1, 2 and 4 → C.
Q33Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happiness Policy” provides quality education to many needy students from low income neighborhood for free. She received a strange complaint from some of the affluent parents regarding their discomfort with allowing poor children to study along with their kids. They were concerned more about their manners, habits and language than about schooling. They wanted the trust to either start a separate shift for such children or remove them from the school since they are supporting them. On the other hand, the parents of the poor children complained of bullying and teasing and shared their concern regarding the mental trauma their children undergo. While Mrs. Bhalla, by no means wants to yield to the dernands of the affluent parents, she also cannot ignore them since some of them have been making substantial donations to the school.

Which of the following options will empower students the most?

  • AEnsure no kid from poor income group is detained.
  • BMaximise students learning achievement.
  • CHelp students relate learning to their real life experiences.Correct answer
  • DEnsure rich kids to get to know those on whom their money is spent.
  • EEncourage students to ask questions that teacher find difficult to answer.

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C (Help students relate learning to their real life experiences.) What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happines… Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why C. “Help students relate learning to their real life experiences.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Ensure no kid from poor income group is detained.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“Maximise students learning achievement.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Ensure rich kids to get to know those on whom their money is spent.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Encourage students to ask questions that teacher find difficult to answer.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q34Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happiness Policy” provides quality education to many needy students from low income neighborhood for free. She received a strange complaint from some of the affluent parents regarding their discomfort with allowing poor children to study along with their kids. They were concerned more about their manners, habits and language than about schooling. They wanted the trust to either start a separate shift for such children or remove them from the school since they are supporting them. On the other hand, the parents of the poor children complained of bullying and teasing and shared their concern regarding the mental trauma their children undergo. While Mrs. Bhalla, by no means wants to yield to the dernands of the affluent parents, she also cannot ignore them since some of them have been making substantial donations to the school.

If Thakur Raja wants to create a lasting impact, the most reasonable option for him is to:

  • AForce the Racket Club to accept all regulations relating to drug testing.
  • BEnforce drug testing while providing adequate security to all players.Correct answer
  • CGet popular Racket players to endorse Soccer.
  • DBan Racket as a sport, citing its negative influence on youth.
  • EAlign with Counter Racket Club and reinforce their initiatives.

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (Enforce drug testing while providing adequate security to all players.) What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happines… Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why B. “Enforce drug testing while providing adequate security to all players.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Force the Racket Club to accept all regulations relating to drug testing.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Get popular Racket players to endorse Soccer.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Ban Racket as a sport, citing its negative influence on youth.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Align with Counter Racket Club and reinforce their initiatives.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q35Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happiness Policy” provides quality education to many needy students from low income neighborhood for free. She received a strange complaint from some of the affluent parents regarding their discomfort with allowing poor children to study along with their kids. They were concerned more about their manners, habits and language than about schooling. They wanted the trust to either start a separate shift for such children or remove them from the school since they are supporting them. On the other hand, the parents of the poor children complained of bullying and teasing and shared their concern regarding the mental trauma their children undergo. While Mrs. Bhalla, by no means wants to yield to the dernands of the affluent parents, she also cannot ignore them since some of them have been making substantial donations to the school.

Identify the best argument for Raja to decide in favor of the IRA.

  • ARaja is interested in making Racket less popular in the country.
  • BThe next World cup is scheduled to be held in a country which has made DTC mandatory.Correct answer
  • CRaja can justify his decision citing his position as a cabinet minister.
  • DRaja and the President of the Racket Club are political opponents and could use the present issue to settle their mutual scores.
  • EThree of the top international teams are keen on implementing DTC.

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happines… Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why B. “The next World cup is scheduled to be held in a country which has made DTC mandatory.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Raja is interested in making Racket less popular in the country.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Raja can justify his decision citing his position as a cabinet minister.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Raja and the President of the Racket Club are political opponents and could use the present issue t…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Three of the top international teams are keen on implementing DTC.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q36Decision Making·Data-based Decision

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happiness Policy” provides quality education to many needy students from low income neighborhood for free. She received a strange complaint from some of the affluent parents regarding their discomfort with allowing poor children to study along with their kids. They were concerned more about their manners, habits and language than about schooling. They wanted the trust to either start a separate shift for such children or remove them from the school since they are supporting them. On the other hand, the parents of the poor children complained of bullying and teasing and shared their concern regarding the mental trauma their children undergo. While Mrs. Bhalla, by no means wants to yield to the dernands of the affluent parents, she also cannot ignore them since some of them have been making substantial donations to the school.

According to DTC, each athlete/sportsperson needs to submit their schedule for the next three months specifying an hour each day when they can be randomly tested for drugs. DTC also ensures the confidentiality of the submitted schedule by: i. Limiting access of player-supplied information only to two senior officers. ii. Allowing these officers to access the schedule of only those sports persons who are randomly selected for testing. iii. Introducing similar security features for DTC database as is the case with financial institutions. The top three popular players realize security is the only reason for them to get a favorable decision from Raja. Hence during discussions, they should focus on all options except:

  • AIt is difficult to provide adequate security coverage in large stadiums where Racket is played.Correct answer
  • BAny leak of their private schedules may result in huge public gathering and it will make the job of security agencies very difficult.
  • CDTC is unwilling to share details with security agencies of officers involved in background check.
  • DRecent report includes their country to be among the top five nations vulnerable to data security breach.
  • EPopular Racket players are on the hit list of terrorist organizations.

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happines… Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why A. “It is difficult to provide adequate security coverage in large stadiums where Racket is played.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • B (“Any leak of their private schedules may result in huge public gathering and it will make the job of…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“DTC is unwilling to share details with security agencies of officers involved in background check.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Recent report includes their country to be among the top five nations vulnerable to data security b…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Popular Racket players are on the hit list of terrorist organizations.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q37Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: The Public Relations Department of an organization has spent only 4 crores of its allocated 16 crores on publicity. There are 2 months left in the financial year. Due to shortage of officers, the Assistant Director, Operations has been given an additional charge of publicity. Because of his other cormmitments, he is unable to find time to undertake tasks such as baseline study, ascertaining communication needs, testing proposed messages and media channels, deciding optimum periodicity, measuring impact, etc. He also argues spending the rest of the budget is unnecessary because their regular prograrns are already widely known. His boss, the Director, however, feels that only by utilizing the entire budget can a similar amount be dernanded the next year. He also thinks that there is nothing like enough publicity

Which of these is the best course of action for the department?

  • ASurrender the budget right away so it can be utilized by other departments.
  • BHire a specialized external agency which will study the gaps and needs within a fortnight and follow it's recommendations.Correct answer
  • CRequest higher authorities to reallocate the remaining amount to other departments of the organization.
  • DRepeat the advertising done so far 3 times over and thus exhaust the entire amount.
  • ERely on the operational experience of the Director and the Assistant Director and start spending the optimal amount right away.

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: The Public Relations Department of an organization has spent only 4 crores of its allocated 16 crores on publicity. There are 2 months left in the financi… Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why B. “Hire a specialized external agency which will study the gaps and needs within a fortnight and follow it's recommendations.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Surrender the budget right away so it can be utilized by other departments.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Request higher authorities to reallocate the remaining amount to other departments of the organizat…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Repeat the advertising done so far 3 times over and thus exhaust the entire amount.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Rely on the operational experience of the Director and the Assistant Director and start spending th…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q38Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: The Public Relations Department of an organization has spent only 4 crores of its allocated 16 crores on publicity. There are 2 months left in the financial year. Due to shortage of officers, the Assistant Director, Operations has been given an additional charge of publicity. Because of his other cormmitments, he is unable to find time to undertake tasks such as baseline study, ascertaining communication needs, testing proposed messages and media channels, deciding optimum periodicity, measuring impact, etc. He also argues spending the rest of the budget is unnecessary because their regular prograrns are already widely known. His boss, the Director, however, feels that only by utilizing the entire budget can a similar amount be dernanded the next year. He also thinks that there is nothing like enough publicity

Which of these new developments, if true, would most justify a larger utilization of the advertising budget?

  • AAdvertising agencies have announced a 25% reduction in rates.
  • BAn internal committee of the organization has made strong recommendations to improve service delivery.
  • CThe organization has approved a new major scheme for immediate implementation.Correct answer
  • DThe findings of a baseline study on assessing communication needs are now available.
  • EA new Assistant Director has been posted to exclusively look after publicity.

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: The Public Relations Department of an organization has spent only 4 crores of its allocated 16 crores on publicity. There are 2 months left in the financi… Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why C. “The organization has approved a new major scheme for immediate implementation.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Advertising agencies have announced a 25% reduction in rates.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“An internal committee of the organization has made strong recommendations to improve service delive…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“The findings of a baseline study on assessing communication needs are now available.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“A new Assistant Director has been posted to exclusively look after publicity.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q39Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happiness Policy” provides quality education to many needy students from low income neighborhood for free. She received a strange complaint from some of the affluent parents regarding their discomfort with allowing poor children to study along with their kids. They were concerned more about their manners, habits and language than about schooling. They wanted the trust to either start a separate shift for such children or remove them from the school since they are supporting them. On the other hand, the parents of the poor children complained of bullying and teasing and shared their concern regarding the mental trauma their children undergo. While Mrs. Bhalla, by no means wants to yield to the dernands of the affluent parents, she also cannot ignore them since some of them have been making substantial donations to the school.

Which of the following options, if true, would most likely interest Divya to start a franchise?

  • ADoctors of the area do not consider Ice cream to be a major cause of obesity.
  • BA bank is ready to give her a quick loan.
  • CShe can charge high prices for her ice creams without losing customers.Correct answer
  • DHer friend who runs a restaurant recently in Kazipet is doing good business.
  • EIn recent times, a couple of franchisees shut down within months of starting.

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happines… Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why C. “She can charge high prices for her ice creams without losing customers.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Doctors of the area do not consider Ice cream to be a major cause of obesity.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“A bank is ready to give her a quick loan.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Her friend who runs a restaurant recently in Kazipet is doing good business.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“In recent times, a couple of franchisees shut down within months of starting.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q40Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happiness Policy” provides quality education to many needy students from low income neighborhood for free. She received a strange complaint from some of the affluent parents regarding their discomfort with allowing poor children to study along with their kids. They were concerned more about their manners, habits and language than about schooling. They wanted the trust to either start a separate shift for such children or remove them from the school since they are supporting them. On the other hand, the parents of the poor children complained of bullying and teasing and shared their concern regarding the mental trauma their children undergo. While Mrs. Bhalla, by no means wants to yield to the dernands of the affluent parents, she also cannot ignore them since some of them have been making substantial donations to the school.

Which of the following is least likely to demotivate Divya?

  • AInvesting a huge amount may not bring expected returns.
  • BThe bank would insist on loan repayment on a monthly basis.
  • CThe property rentals would soon go up in Kazipet.
  • DUnlike Hyderabad, people in Kazipet don’t seem to like Rollover ice cream.
  • ERollover franchise in Hyderabad is making huge profits.Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (Rollover franchise in Hyderabad is making huge profits.) What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happines… Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why E. “Rollover franchise in Hyderabad is making huge profits.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Investing a huge amount may not bring expected returns.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“The bank would insist on loan repayment on a monthly basis.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“The property rentals would soon go up in Kazipet.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Unlike Hyderabad, people in Kazipet don’t seem to like Rollover ice cream.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q41Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happiness Policy” provides quality education to many needy students from low income neighborhood for free. She received a strange complaint from some of the affluent parents regarding their discomfort with allowing poor children to study along with their kids. They were concerned more about their manners, habits and language than about schooling. They wanted the trust to either start a separate shift for such children or remove them from the school since they are supporting them. On the other hand, the parents of the poor children complained of bullying and teasing and shared their concern regarding the mental trauma their children undergo. While Mrs. Bhalla, by no means wants to yield to the dernands of the affluent parents, she also cannot ignore them since some of them have been making substantial donations to the school.

What could be the most likely reason for Divya opting for Kazipet?

  • ASpiralling real-estate prices in Kazipet.
  • BNo branded outlets is likely to come up in Jangaon in the near future.
  • CHigh percentage of teenagers in Kazipet attracted to Rollover ice cream.
  • DHigh density of population in both Warangal and Jangaon.
  • EShe felt, college going crowd is excited about the latest in ice creams.Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happines… Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why E. “She felt, college going crowd is excited about the latest in ice creams.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Spiralling real-estate prices in Kazipet.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“No branded outlets is likely to come up in Jangaon in the near future.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“High percentage of teenagers in Kazipet attracted to Rollover ice cream.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“High density of population in both Warangal and Jangaon.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q42Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happiness Policy” provides quality education to many needy students from low income neighborhood for free. She received a strange complaint from some of the affluent parents regarding their discomfort with allowing poor children to study along with their kids. They were concerned more about their manners, habits and language than about schooling. They wanted the trust to either start a separate shift for such children or remove them from the school since they are supporting them. On the other hand, the parents of the poor children complained of bullying and teasing and shared their concern regarding the mental trauma their children undergo. While Mrs. Bhalla, by no means wants to yield to the dernands of the affluent parents, she also cannot ignore them since some of them have been making substantial donations to the school.

Which is the most important decision criterion for Divya to consider in such a business situation?

  • AAttracting customers through big discounts in the initial phase of business.
  • BConsistent increase in the number of customers in the future.Correct answer
  • CRange and variety of ice-cream flavours.
  • DAvailability of space in premium locality.
  • EAvailability of loan at low interest rate.

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (Consistent increase in the number of customers in the future.) What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as part of their “Spread Happines… Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why B. “Consistent increase in the number of customers in the future.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Attracting customers through big discounts in the initial phase of business.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Range and variety of ice-cream flavours.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Availability of space in premium locality.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Availability of loan at low interest rate.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q43Decision Making·Policy & Governance

Read the following caselet and answer questions that follow: Sanchit group of Hospitals seeks to improve the success rate and patient satisfaction rate by 100% in the next year. However, the management can't afford to send doctors for professional development outside the country nor afford purchasing more equipment. As an in-house measure, the managing board thought of having doctors with high patient satisfaction to mentor those with less. Most of the doctors found it an interference by the management, judgmental and an expression of distrust. There were, however, some isolated few who found it a novel way of learning from each other. The doctors felt the management should instead increase consultancy fees and spend more on recruiting more pararnedics who could spend time with patients, rather than blame doctors and decided to call it quits. For the management, this would mean loss of patients.

Consider the following actions: 1. Conduct a survey of all stakeholders and ascertain their needs and suggestions. 2. Build consensus arnong doctors and paramedics on a possible way forward. 3. Prepare an action plan that details the road map along with financial implications. 4. Design differential service packages based on the affordability of the patients. 5. Run a brainstorming session among the leading doctors of the area.

Which of the following sequence of actions is most appropriate for the hospital administration in achieving their goal?

  • A4 , 5 , 2
  • B4 , 2 , 1
  • C1 , 2 , 3Correct answer
  • D1 , 5 , 3
  • E5 , 4 , 2

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C (1 , 2 , 3) What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer questions that follow: Sanchit group of Hospitals seeks to improve the success rate and patient satisfaction rate by 100% in the next year. However, the management can't afford to s… Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why C. “1 , 2 , 3” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“4 , 5 , 2”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“4 , 2 , 1”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“1 , 5 , 3”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“5 , 4 , 2”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q44Decision Making·Policy & Governance

Read the following caselet and answer questions that follow: Sanchit group of Hospitals seeks to improve the success rate and patient satisfaction rate by 100% in the next year. However, the management can't afford to send doctors for professional development outside the country nor afford purchasing more equipment. As an in-house measure, the managing board thought of having doctors with high patient satisfaction to mentor those with less. Most of the doctors found it an interference by the management, judgmental and an expression of distrust. There were, however, some isolated few who found it a novel way of learning from each other. The doctors felt the management should instead increase consultancy fees and spend more on recruiting more pararnedics who could spend time with patients, rather than blame doctors and decided to call it quits. For the management, this would mean loss of patients.

Which of the following decisions is most likely to satisfy all the stakeholders?

  • AIncrease the income of doctors and paramedics, and the ambiance of the hospital.Correct answer
  • BGive 30% discount on medicines purchased from the hospital store.
  • CIncrease the income of doctors and the number of paramedics.
  • DRaise income of doctors and reduce the waiting time of patients.
  • EAllow doctors to choose patients based on income levels, thus profiting both patients and the organization.

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer questions that follow: Sanchit group of Hospitals seeks to improve the success rate and patient satisfaction rate by 100% in the next year. However, the management can't afford to s… Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why A. “Increase the income of doctors and paramedics, and the ambiance of the hospital.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • B (“Give 30% discount on medicines purchased from the hospital store.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Increase the income of doctors and the number of paramedics.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Raise income of doctors and reduce the waiting time of patients.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Allow doctors to choose patients based on income levels, thus profiting both patients and the organ…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q45Decision Making·Policy & Governance

Read the following caselet and answer questions that follow: Sanchit group of Hospitals seeks to improve the success rate and patient satisfaction rate by 100% in the next year. However, the management can't afford to send doctors for professional development outside the country nor afford purchasing more equipment. As an in-house measure, the managing board thought of having doctors with high patient satisfaction to mentor those with less. Most of the doctors found it an interference by the management, judgmental and an expression of distrust. There were, however, some isolated few who found it a novel way of learning from each other. The doctors felt the management should instead increase consultancy fees and spend more on recruiting more pararnedics who could spend time with patients, rather than blame doctors and decided to call it quits. For the management, this would mean loss of patients.

Given the current situation, which of the following is the most interactive and effective way to increase the learning among paramedics and doctors?

  • AImplement professional development standards for staff linking it with an accountability framework.
  • BCreate groups of paramedics and doctors, to meet everyday and discuss their insights and experience of the day.Correct answer
  • CEncourage paramedics and doctors to pursue courses over MOOC platform, at their own cost, which shall be partially subsidized after successful completion.
  • DGet doctors and paramedics with high satisfaction rates document their success stories for use of others.
  • EAsk doctors and paramedics with high satisfaction rate to give lectures to others before start of work.

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer questions that follow: Sanchit group of Hospitals seeks to improve the success rate and patient satisfaction rate by 100% in the next year. However, the management can't afford to s… Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why B. “Create groups of paramedics and doctors, to meet everyday and discuss their insights and experience of the day.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Implement professional development standards for staff linking it with an accountability framework.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Encourage paramedics and doctors to pursue courses over MOOC platform, at their own cost, which sha…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Get doctors and paramedics with high satisfaction rates document their success stories for use of o…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Ask doctors and paramedics with high satisfaction rate to give lectures to others before start of w…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q46Decision Making·Data-based Decision

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Due to increased competition, Electro Automobiles, the Indian subsidiary of Robert Automobile Company (RAC) reported lower sales and profits. RAC expects its new model Limo, developed especially for value conscious customers of India and China, would revive its fortunes. In order to prevent customers from buying competing products, RAC announced the launch of Limo six months ahead of schedule. Unrest in its Indian supplier resulted in delayed delivery of essential components to its main plant. Hence, Limo was launched on schedule only in China. Within a short span, Limo captured 30% of the Chinese market, which was 200% higher than expectation. Indian customers were becoming increasingly restless because they couldn't get a Limo in India. Electro’s dealers were worried, customers might switch to other cars

The indian subsidiary is concerned that the delay in launching the product will give undue advantage to some competitor. The organization was considering the following strategies to keep customers engaged with the company: 1. Ask the dealers to encourage their prospective customers to seek similar products from the competition, rather than wait for Limo’s launch. 2. Suggest the dealers to accept booking for Limo, announcing the launch within six months of booking, while in reality plan to keep postponing launch indefinitely 3. Run full page advertisements in the papers, every month, to keep the interest in the model from ebbing, with no mention of the launch date. 4. Import parts from outside India, and launch the product, at a 30% premium, planning a relaunch a few years later of the indianized version. 5. Go against its worldwide policy of non-interference in supplier plants, and announce a hefty bonus to the employees of the supplier with a hope to temporarily bring the plant to life. 6. Promise the supplier plant (that has some unrest) a higher margin share of about 5% compared to what was shared earlier, with an eye to stern the unrest.

Which of the following combination of responses above, will most likely keep the prospective customers engaged with the company and not jump to some competitor’s product?

  • A1 , 2 , 3
  • B1 , 3 , 5
  • C1 , 2 , 4
  • D5 , 4 , 3
  • E2 , 1 , 5Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (2 , 1 , 5) What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Due to increased competition, Electro Automobiles, the Indian subsidiary of Robert Automobile Company (RAC) reported lower sales and profits. RAC expects … Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why E. “2 , 1 , 5” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“1 , 2 , 3”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“1 , 3 , 5”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“1 , 2 , 4”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“5 , 4 , 3”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q47Decision Making·Data-based Decision

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Due to increased competition, Electro Automobiles, the Indian subsidiary of Robert Automobile Company (RAC) reported lower sales and profits. RAC expects its new model Limo, developed especially for value conscious customers of India and China, would revive its fortunes. In order to prevent customers from buying competing products, RAC announced the launch of Limo six months ahead of schedule. Unrest in its Indian supplier resulted in delayed delivery of essential components to its main plant. Hence, Limo was launched on schedule only in China. Within a short span, Limo captured 30% of the Chinese market, which was 200% higher than expectation. Indian customers were becoming increasingly restless because they couldn't get a Limo in India. Electro’s dealers were worried, customers might switch to other cars

Mr. Murugan from Chennai experienced the comfort of Limo during his visit to China. He was willing to deposit an approximate price of Limo to buy the first available unit from Mr. Ahmed, a dealer in Chennai. Electro Automobile is yet to announce the actual price, and the process for allocation of the vehicles. Which of the following is the best option for Ahmed?

  • ACollect the entire amount Mr. Murugan is willing to deposit after clarifying that delivery and price is subject to the company policy.Correct answer
  • BCollect the amount from Mr. Murugan. Later when the delivery is delayed, blame it on RAC’s problems.
  • CCollect the amount and transfer it to the account of Electro Automobiles, instead of keeping it in his personal account.
  • DCollect 50% of the entire amount Mr. Murugan is willing to deposit as advance and the remaining at the time of launch.
  • ENot collect the amount, but suggest to Mr. Murugan to write to Electro Automobiles.

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow: Due to increased competition, Electro Automobiles, the Indian subsidiary of Robert Automobile Company (RAC) reported lower sales and profits. RAC expects … Steps. 1. List who is affected and what duty/role the decision-maker holds. 2. Score each option on fairness, feasibility, ethics/transparency, and long-term organisational interest (not short-term peace alone). 3. Prefer options that disclose material facts, stay within authority, and avoid unnecessary escalation or concealment. Why A. “Collect the entire amount Mr. Murugan is willing to deposit after clarifying that delivery and price is subject to the company policy.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • B (“Collect the amount from Mr. Murugan. Later when the delivery is delayed, blame it on RAC’s problems.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Collect the amount and transfer it to the account of Electro Automobiles, instead of keeping it in …”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Collect 50% of the entire amount Mr. Murugan is willing to deposit as advance and the remaining at …”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Not collect the amount, but suggest to Mr. Murugan to write to Electro Automobiles.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation(27 questions)

Q48Quantitative Ability·Surds & Indices

If ∛(7a × 35b+1 × 20c+2) is a whole number then which one of the statements below is consistent with it?

  • Aa = 3, b = 2, c = 1Correct answer
  • Ba = 3, b = 1, c = 1
  • Ca = 2, b = 1, c = 2
  • Da = 2, b = 1, c = 1
  • Ea = 1, b = 2, c = 2

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (a = 3, b = 2, c = 1) Prime-factorise the quantity inside the cube root: 7^a × 35b+1 × 20c+2 = 7^a × (5×7)b+1 × (22×5)c+2. Thus the exponents of 2, 5 and 7 are respectively 2c+4, b+c+3 and a+b+1. The cube root is a whole number only if each exponent is divisible by 3. For A, these become 6, 6 and 6, so the radicand is 2^6×5^6×7^6 = (22×52×72)^3. Hence its cube root is an integer. The close choices fail one divisibility test: in B the exponent of 5 is 5, while in C the exponent of 7 is 4. Therefore A is the consistent assignment.
Q49Quantitative Ability·Percentages

A, B, C, D and E are five employees working in a company. In two successive years, each of them got hikes in his salary as follows A: p% and (p+1)%, B: (p+2)% and (p-1)%, C: (p+3)% and (p-2)%, D: (p+4)% and (p-3)%, E: (p+5)% and (p-4)%. If all of them have the same salary at the end of two years, who got the least hike in his salary?

  • AECorrect answer
  • BB
  • CD
  • DA
  • EC

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (E) A person's two-year multiplication factor is (1+r1/100)(1+r2/100). Here every employee has r1+r2 = 2p+1, so the only varying part is the product r1r2. For A through E, those products are: p(p+1), (p+2)(p−1), (p+3)(p−2), (p+4)(p−3), (p+5)(p−4). Writing the paired rates around their common midpoint p+12, the products successively equal (p+12)2−(12)2, (p+12)2−(32)2, …, (p+12)2−(92)2. Hence E has the smallest product and therefore the smallest compounded hike factor. Since all final salaries are equal, this comparison directly identifies who received the least percentage hike. D is close but its spread is smaller than E's, so its compounded increase is larger.
Q50Quantitative Ability·Ratio & Proportion

Two numbers a and b are inversely proportional to each other. If a increases by 100%, then b decreases by:

  • A200%
  • B50%Correct answer
  • C100%
  • D80%
  • E150%

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (50%) Inverse proportionality gives ab = k, a constant. Let the original values be a and b. A 100% increase doubles a, so the new value is 2a. If the corresponding new value of b is b′, then 2a·b′ = ab ⇒ b′ = b/2. The fall in b is therefore b−b/2 = b/2. As a percentage of the original b, the decrease is b/2b × 100 = 50%. A common trap is to mirror the 100% increase and mark a 100% decrease; that would make b zero and destroy the constant product. Likewise, 200% or 150% decreases would make b negative. Hence doubling one variable halves the other, giving a 50% decrease.
Q51Quantitative Ability·Mensuration

A gold ingot in the shape ofa cylinder is melted and the resulting molten metal molded into a few identical conical ingots. If the height of each cone is half the height of the original cylinder and the area of the circular base of each cone is one fifth that of the circular base of the cylinder, then how many conical ingots can be made?

  • A40
  • B30Correct answer
  • C60
  • D20
  • E10

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (30) What to find. How many identical cones can be cast from one cylindrical gold ingot? Let the cylinder have base area A and height h, so volume = Ah. Each cone has base area A/5 and height h/2, hence V_cone = (13)·(A/5)·(h/2) = Ah/30. Gold is conserved, so the number of cones is n = AhAh/30 = 30 → B. A/C (4060) come from dropping the cone factor 13 or mishandling the height ratio. DE are unrelated fraction slips.
Q52Quantitative Ability·Quadratic Equations

Given that a and b are integers and that 5 + 27 is a root of the polynomial x2 − ax + b + 27 in x, what is the value of b?

  • A14
  • B9
  • C7
  • D2Correct answer
  • E5

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (2) Let r = 5+2 7. Since r is a root, r2 − ar + b + 2 7 = 0. Now r2 = (5+2 7)2 = 53+20 7. Substituting gives (53−5a+b) + (20−2a+2) 7 = 0. Because a and b are integers and 7 is irrational, the rational and irrational parts must separately vanish. Hence 22−2a = 0 ⇒ a = 11, and then 53−55+b = 0 ⇒ b = 2. So D is correct. The values 7 and 14 are tempting because they occur in the surd, but they do not satisfy the rational-part equation after a is fixed. The condition that a and b are integers is what permits coefficient comparison.
Q53Quantitative Ability·Percentages

A firm pays its five clerks Rs. 15,000 each, three assistants Rs. 40,000 each and its accountant Rs. 66,000. Then the mean salary in the firm comprising of these nine employees exceeds its median salary by rupees

  • A14600
  • B14000Correct answer
  • C15480
  • D15200
  • E14720

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (14000) Arrange the nine salaries ascending: five clerks at 15,000, then three assistants at 40,000, then the accountant at 66,000. With an odd count, the median is the 5th value ⇒ 15,000. Total pay = 5 × 15,000 + 3 × 40,000 + 66,000 = 75,000 + 120,000 + 66,000 = 261,000. Mean = 261,0009 = 29,000. Mean − median = 29,000 − 15,000 = 14,000 → B. Nearby options (14,60015,200 / …) are typical off-by-one-employee or wrong-median-position traps.
Q54Quantitative Ability·Logarithms

log (97 − 563)log 7 + 43 equals which of the following?

  • A-5
  • B-3
  • CNone of the others
  • D-4Correct answer
  • E-2

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (-4) Use the conjugate pair 2±3, whose product is 1. First, 7−4 3 = (2−3)2, so 97−56 3 = (7−4 3)2 = (2−3)^4. Also 7+4 3 = (2+3)2, and because 2+3 is positive, 7+4 3 = 2+3. Since 2−3 = 12+3, the numerator's logarithm is log[(2−3)^4] = log[(2+3)^−4] = −4 log(2+3). Dividing by log(2+3) gives −4. Thus D is correct. Options −2 and −3 typically result from stopping after only one of the two squaring steps in the numerator.
Q55Quantitative Ability·Coordinate Geometry

Let P be the point of intersection of the lines 3x + 4y = 2a and 7x + 2y = 2018 and Q the point of intersection of the lines 3x + 4y = 2018 and 5x + 3y = 1. If the line through P and Q has slope 2, the value of a is:

  • A12
  • B1
  • C4035
  • D1009
  • E3026Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (3026) First find Q. Solving 3x+4y=2018 and 5x+3y=1 gives Q=(−550,917). Let P=(u,v). Because PQ has slope 2, v−917u+550=2 ⇒ v−2u=2017. (1) At P, the two defining equations are 3u+4v=2a and 7u+2v=2018. Subtract the first from the second: 4u−2v = 2018−2a ⇒ v−2u = a−1009. (2) Equating (1) and (2), a−1009=2017 ⇒ a=3026. Hence E is correct. The distractor 1009 comes from retaining only the constant in equation (2), while 4035 results from adding rather than equating the two offsets.
Q56Quantitative Ability·Profit, Loss & Discount

An article is marked x% above the cost price. A discount of 23x% is given on the marked price. If the profit is 4% of the cost price and the value of x lies between 25 and 50, then the value of 50% of x is:

  • A15Correct answer
  • B13
  • C20
  • D16
  • E12

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (15) Take cost price = 100. Marked price = 100 + x. Discount = 23x% on MP gives SP = (100 + x)(1 − 2x300). 4% profit ⇒ SP = 104, so (100 + x)(300 − 2x) = 31,200 ⇒ 2x2 − 100x + 1200 = 0 ⇒ (x − 20)(x − 30) = 0. With 25 < x < 50, x = 30. Hence 50% of x = 15 → A.
Q57Quantitative Ability·Number Systems

When opening his fruit shop for the day a shopkeeper found that his stock of apples could be perfectly arranged in a complete triangular array: that is, every row with one apple more than the row immediately above, going all the way up ending with a single apple at the top. During any sales transaction, apples are always picked from the uppermost row, and going below only when that row is exhausted When one customer walked in the middle of the day she found an incomplete array in display having 126 apples totally.

How many rows of apples (complete and incomplete) were seen by this customer? (Assume that the initial stock did not exceed 150 apples.)

  • A14
  • B13
  • C15
  • D11
  • E12Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (12) A complete triangular stack with n rows contains T_n=n n+12 apples. The initial stock exceeded the observed 126 but was at most 150. T_15=120<126, T_16=136, and T_17=153>150. Hence the shop opened with exactly 16 rows and 136 apples. By the time the customer arrived, 136−126=10 apples had been sold. Apples are removed row by row from the top, and 1+2+3+4=10. Thus the first four rows were exhausted exactly, leaving 16−4=12 rows visible. Hence E is correct. The distractor 11 would require five rows to have disappeared, which means 15 apples sold; 13 would correspond to only six apples sold from the first three rows.
Q58Quantitative Ability·Circles

Let C bea circle of radius V20 cm. Let 1, 1p be the lines given by 2x - y -1 = Oandx + 2y-18 = 0, respectively. Suppose that 1 passes through the center of C and that 15 is tangent to C at the point of intersection of rT and Ip.

If (a,b) is the center of C, which of the following is a possible value of a + b?

  • A11
  • B14
  • C17Correct answer
  • D8
  • E20

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C (17) Let the two lines be L1: 2x−y−1=0 and L2: x+2y−18=0. Their intersection is found from y=2x−1: x+2(2x−1)=18 ⇒ 5x=20 ⇒ P=(4,7). The centre (a,b) lies on L1, so b=2a−1. Since L2 is tangent at P, CP is a radius of length 20: (a−4)2+(b−7)2=20. Substitute b=2a−1: (a−4)2+(2a−8)2=20 ⇒ 5(a−4)2=20 ⇒ a=2 or 6. Then b=3 or 11, giving a+b=5 or 17. Only 17 appears among the options, so C is correct. Values 14 and 20 do not satisfy both the line and radius conditions.
Q59Quantitative Ability·Number Systems

When opening his fruit shop for the day a shopkeeper found that his stock of apples could be perfectly arranged in a complete triangular array: that is, every row with one apple more than the row immediately above, going all the way up ending with a single apple at the top. During any sales transaction, apples are always picked from the uppermost row, and going below only when that row is exhausted When one customer walked in the middle of the day she found an incomplete array in display having 126 apples totally.

In the picture below, EFGH, ABCD are squares, and ABE, BCF, CDG, DAH are equilateral triangles. What is the ratio of the area of the square EFGH to that of ABCD? H G VA] KO E F

  • A2+2
  • B3+2
  • C2+3
  • D2+3Correct answer
  • E1+3

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (2+3) Ignore the unrelated apple text introduced by extraction. Let the side of inner square ABCD be s. The four outward equilateral triangles each have area (34)s2, so together they contribute 3s2. The remaining four corner regions inside EFGH are congruent triangles such as AHE. Here AH=AE=s and ∠HAE = 360°−60°−90°−60° = 150°. Thus each corner triangle has area (12)s2sin150° = s2/4, and all four contribute s2. Therefore area(EFGH)=s2+3s2+s2=(2+3)s2. Since area(ABCD)=s2, the required ratio is 2+3, giving D. Option E omits the inner square's extra s2 contribution, while A uses 2 where the equilateral-triangle geometry requires 3.
Q60Quantitative Ability·Trigonometry

In the trapezium ABCD the sides AB and CD are parallel. The value of sin∠BACsin∠BAD is

  • ABCAD
  • BABCD
  • CACCD
  • DADACCorrect answer
  • EACAD

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (ADAC) Because AB∥CD, vertices C and D are at the same perpendicular distance h from line AB. Drop perpendiculars from C and D to AB (or its extension). In the right triangle containing AC, sin∠BAC = h/AC. Similarly, in the right triangle containing AD, sin∠BAD = h/AD. Therefore sin∠BAC / sin∠BAD = h/ACh/AD = AD/AC. Hence D is correct. The equal-height observation is the key; no information about BC or the parallel-side lengths is required. Option E, AC/AD, reverses the division and is the closest distractor. Options involving AB or CD confuse the common altitude with the bases of the trapezium.
Q61Quantitative Ability·Simple & Compound Interest

A computer is sold either for Rs.19200 cash or for Rs.4800 cash down payment together with five equal monthly installments. If the rate of interest charged is 12% per annum, then the amount of each installment (nearest to a rupee) is:

  • ARs. 2965Correct answer
  • BRs. 2990
  • CRs.3016
  • DRs. 2896
  • ERs. 2880

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (Rs. 2965) The financed amount is 19,200−4,800=Rs. 14,400. At 12% per annum, the monthly rate is 1%. Let each month-end installment be I. Move all amounts to the end of month 5 using simple monthly accumulation, as intended here: 14,400(1+0.01×5)=I(1.04+1.03+1.02+1.01+1). Thus 15,120=5.10I ⇒ I=15,120/5.10≈Rs. 2,964.71. Rounded to the nearest rupee, this is Rs. 2,965, so A is correct. Rs. 2,880 merely divides the principal by five and ignores interest. The nearby Rs. 2,990 and Rs. 3,016 overstate the financing charge by effectively applying interest for too long.
Q62Quantitative Ability·Miscellaneous Quant

If x2 + x + 1 = 0, then x2018 + x2019 equals which of the following?

  • A-xCorrect answer
  • Bx
  • CNone of the others
  • Dx - 1
  • Ex + 1

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (-x) From x2+x+1=0, multiply by x−1: (x−1)(x2+x+1)=x3−1=0. Since x=1 does not satisfy the original equation, x is a non-real cube root of unity and x3=1. Reduce the powers modulo 3: 2018≡2 (mod 3), while 2019≡0 (mod 3). Therefore x^2018+x^2019 = x2+1. Using x2+x+1=0 gives x2+1=−x. Hence A is correct. Option x results from using the wrong residue for 2018, while x+1 equals −x2 and corresponds to dropping the x^2019=1 term incorrectly.
Q63Quantitative Ability·Trigonometry

Let ABC be an isosceles triangle. Suppose that the sides AB and AC are equal and let the length of AB be x cm. Let θ denote the angle ∠ABC and sin θ = 35. If the area of triangle ABC is M sq. cm, then which of the following is true about M?

  • Ax24 ≤ M ≤ x22Correct answer
  • B3x24 ≤ M ≤ x2
  • CM ≥ x2
  • Dx22 ≤ M ≤ 3x24
  • EM ≤ x24

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (x24 ≤ M ≤ x22) Drop altitude AD from A to BC. Since AB=AC=x, this altitude bisects BC. In right triangle ABD, with θ at B, AD=x sinθ=3x/5, BD=x cosθ=4x/5. Hence BC=2BD=8x/5, and the area is M=(12)(BC)(AD) =(12)(8x/5)(3x/5) =12x2/25=0.48x2. Now x2/4=0.25x2 and x2/2=0.50x2, so M lies within the interval in A. In particular, it is just below the upper bound. Option E is too small, and D incorrectly places M at or above x2/2. Hence A matches the computed area.
Q64Quantitative Ability·Circles

What is the maximum number of points that can be placed on a circular disk of radius 1 metre (Some of the points could be placed on the bounding circle of the disk) such that no two. points are at a distance of less than 1 metre from each other?

  • A5
  • B8
  • C6
  • D9
  • E7Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (7) Seven points are achievable: place one at the centre and six at the vertices of a regular hexagon on the boundary. Every boundary point is 1 metre from the centre. Adjacent boundary points subtend 60°, so their chord is 2(1)sin30°=1 metre; all other pairs are farther apart. For maximality, divide directions around an interior reference into six 60° sectors. Two boundary candidates inside the same open sector would subtend less than 60° and hence have chord less than 1. Thus at most six suitably separated outer points can accompany a central point; shifting points inward cannot create an additional sector and only shortens relevant distances. Therefore the hexagon-plus-centre construction is optimal, giving 7. Option 6 omits the feasible centre, while 8 would force two outer directions closer than 60°.
Q65Quantitative Ability·Number Systems

When opening his fruit shop for the day a shopkeeper found that his stock of apples could be perfectly arranged in a complete triangular array: that is, every row with one apple more than the row immediately above, going all the way up ending with a single apple at the top. During any sales transaction, apples are always picked from the uppermost row, and going below only when that row is exhausted When one customer walked in the middle of the day she found an incomplete array in display having 126 apples totally.

The figure below shows two right angled triangles AOAB and AOQP with right angles at vertex A and P, respectively, having the common vertex O, The lengths of some of the sides are indicated in the figure. (Note that the figure is not drawn to scale.) AB and OP are parallel. What is 2QOB? P1 Q 2 B i Oo BS A

  • Atan–1(23)
  • B45°Correct answer
  • C60°
  • D30°
  • Etan–1(32)

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (45°) Use the lengths encoded in the figure: the right triangles give OQ=12+22=5, and OB=12+32=10. Because AB∥OP, the horizontal/vertical offsets between Q and B form another right triangle with legs 2 and 1, so QB=5. Consequently, OQ2+QB2=5+5=10=OB2. By the converse of Pythagoras, triangle OQB is right-angled at Q. Moreover OQ=QB, so it is an isosceles right triangle. Its remaining two angles are equal and sum to 90°, giving ∠QOB=45°. Hence B is correct. The inverse-tangent distractors use one of the smaller right triangles in isolation; they do not account for the parallel-line placement that determines QB.
Q66Quantitative Ability·Functions & Graphs

Consider the function f(x) = ( + 4) + 6) + 8) -- (& + 98). The number of integers x for which f(x) < Ois:

  • A48
  • B26
  • C49
  • D24Correct answer
  • E23

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (24) Interpret the corrupted expression as f(x)=(x+4)(x+6)(x+8)…(x+98), with 48 linear factors and roots −4,−6,…,−98. The leading coefficient is positive and the degree is even, so f(x)>0 to the right of −4. Crossing each simple root flips the sign. Thus f(x)<0 on alternating gaps: (−6,−4), (−10,−8), …, (−98,−96). Each such open interval contains exactly one integer: −5,−9,…,−97. This arithmetic progression has [97−54]+1=24 terms. Roots themselves are excluded because f(x)=0 there. Hence D is correct. Option 48 counts every gap or root, while 23 misses one of the two end intervals.
Q67Data Sufficiency·Quant DS

A bag contains marbles of three colours-red, blue and green. There are 8 blue marbles in the bag. There are two additional statement of facts available: 1. If we pull out marbles from the bag at random, to guarantee that we have at least 3 green marbles, we need to extract 17 marbles. 2. If we pull out marbles from the bag at random, to guarantee that we have at least 2 red marbles, we need to extract 19 marbles. Which of the two statements above, alone or in combination shall be sufficient to answer the question “how many green marbles are there in the bag”?

  • AStatement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
  • BStatement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.Correct answer
  • CStatements 1 and 2 together are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question.
  • DEach statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.
  • EBoth statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (Statement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.) Let the numbers of red and green marbles be R and G; blue marbles are 8. Statement 1 alone: to guarantee the third green, the worst case draws all non-green marbles first, then three greens. Hence R+8+3=17 ⇒ R=6. This does not determine G (apart from G≥3), so statement 1 is insufficient. Statement 2 alone: to guarantee the second red, one may first draw every non-red marble. Therefore G+8+2=19 ⇒ G=9. This directly answers the question, so statement 2 is sufficient. Together, of course, G remains 9, but combination is unnecessary. Hence B is correct. Option E overlooks that statement 2 already fixes G; option A reverses what each worst-case count determines.
Q68Data Sufficiency·Quant DS

We have two unknown positive integers m and n, whose product is less than 100. There are two additional statements of fact available: 1. mn is divisible by six consecutive integers {j, j + 1, …, j + 5} 2. m + n is a perfect square Which of the two statements above, alone or in combination, shall be sufficient to determine the numbers m and n?

  • AEach statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.
  • BBoth statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.Correct answer
  • CStatement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
  • DStatements 1 and 2 together are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question.
  • EStatement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (Both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.) Statement 1 alone: mn<100 and is divisible by six consecutive positive integers. The only possible block is 1 through 6, whose LCM is 60; any shifted block has LCM at least lcm(2,…,7)=420. Hence mn=60. But factor pairs (1,60), (2,30), (3,20), (4,15), (5,12), (6,10) remain, so statement 1 is insufficient. Statement 2 alone: many positive pairs below product 100 have square sums, so it is insufficient. Together, test the sums of the factor pairs: 61, 32, 23, 19, 17 and 16. Only 16 is a perfect square, selecting {m,n}={6,10}. Thus the two numbers are determined up to order. Hence both statements together, but neither alone, are sufficient, giving B.
Q69Data Interpretation·Pie Charts

The break-up of the students in a university by subject major is given in the polar pie-chart. The bar chart shows the number of students who major in physics by geographic location.

XAT 2019 pie chart of majors and bar chart of physics locations

How many students major in chemistry?

  • A200
  • B180
  • C190
  • D170
  • E175Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (175) Read the shared charts in two stages. The location bars for physics total 225 students, while the polar pie-chart assigns 18% of all students to physics. Therefore the university population is 225/0.18=1,250. Chemistry occupies 14% in the subject chart, so Chemistry students = 0.14×1,250 = 175. Hence E is correct. A useful cross-check is that each 1% of the pie represents 12.5 students; 14% therefore represents 14×12.5=175. Option 180 would correspond to 14.4%, while 200 would correspond to 16%, neither of which matches the chemistry sector. The bar chart is needed only to establish the total population; its city-wise split should not be applied directly to chemistry.
Q70Data Interpretation·Pie Charts

The break-up of the students in a university by subject major is given in the polar pie-chart. The bar chart shows the number of students who major in physics by geographic location.

XAT 2019 pie chart of majors and bar chart of physics locations

If the proportion of physics majors who are from Delhi is the same as the proportion of engineering majors who are from Delhi, how many engineering majors are from Delhi?

  • A22
  • B26
  • C18
  • D20Correct answer
  • E24

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (20) From the shared bar chart, physics has 225 students in total and 18 of them are from Delhi. The subject chart shows physics as 18% of the university, so total enrolment is 225/0.18=1,250. Engineering is 20% of all students, giving 0.20×1,250=250 engineering majors. The Delhi proportion among physics majors is 18225=0.08. Applying the same proportion to engineering, Delhi engineering majors = 0.08×250=20. Equivalently, x/250=18225 ⇒ x=20. Hence D is correct. The distractor 18 simply transfers the physics count without adjusting for the larger engineering cohort; 22 and 24 result from using a rounded or incorrect Delhi percentage.
Q71Data Interpretation·Pie Charts

The break-up of the students in a university by subject major is given in the polar pie-chart. The bar chart shows the number of students who major in physics by geographic location.

XAT 2019 pie chart of majors and bar chart of physics locations

12% of all students are from Chennai. What is the largest possible percentage of economics students that can be from Chennai, rounded off to the nearest integer?

  • A69%
  • B71%
  • C75%
  • D73%Correct answer
  • E77%

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (73%) The shared charts give 225 physics majors, representing 18% of the university. Hence total students =225/0.18=1,250. Chennai contributes 12% of all students, so there are 0.12×1,250=150 students from Chennai. The location bar shows that 40 of these are physics majors. To maximise Chennai economics students, assign every remaining Chennai student to economics. Thus the maximum economics count from Chennai is 150−40=110. The requested percentage is being taken within the 150 Chennai students: 110150×100=73.33…%, which rounds to 73%. Hence D is correct. The 75% option would require 112.5 students and is not feasible; 71% unnecessarily leaves additional Chennai students outside economics when a maximum is requested.
Q72Data Interpretation·Tables

Given below is the time table for a trans-continental train that cuts across several time zones. All timings are in local time in the respective cities. The average speed of the train between any two cities is the same in both directions.

↓ Arrival↓ DepartureCity↑ Arrival↑ Departure
06:00 AMZut12:40 PM
07:45 AM07:50 AMYag10:50 AM10:55 AM
02:45 PM02:50 PMVaq11:50 PM11:55 PM
07:40 PM07:45 PMSab12:55 PM01:00 PM
10:40 PMRaz08:00 AM

Which of the following pairs of cities are in the same time zone?

  • AYag and Vaq
  • BVaq and Sab
  • CZut and YagCorrect answer
  • DNo pair of cities are in the same time zone.
  • ESab and Raz

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C (Zut and Yag) For adjacent cities, compare the timetable's local elapsed times in opposite directions. If these are t1 and t2, equal physical travel time implies actual travel time=t1+t22, time-zone gap=t1t22. For Zut–Yag, the two displayed elapsed times are equal, so their difference is zero and the cities share a time zone. The other comparisons produce non-zero gaps: Yag is 2 hours ahead of Vaq, Vaq is 3 hours ahead of Sab, and Sab is 1 hour ahead of Raz. Hence only Zut and Yag have zero offset, giving C. Yag–Vaq is a close distractor because it is the next adjacent pair, but its forward and reverse local durations differ by four hours, implying a two-hour zone difference rather than equality.
Q73Data Interpretation·Tables

Given below is the time table for a trans-continental train that cuts across several time zones. All timings are in local time in the respective cities. The average speed of the train between any two cities is the same in both directions.

↓ Arrival↓ DepartureCity↑ Arrival↑ Departure
06:00 AMZut12:40 PM
07:45 AM07:50 AMYag10:50 AM10:55 AM
02:45 PM02:50 PMVaq11:50 PM11:55 PM
07:40 PM07:45 PMSab12:55 PM01:00 PM
10:40 PMRaz08:00 AM

What is the total time taken in minutes by the train to go from Zut to Raz?

  • A28 hours, 40 minutes
  • B22 hours, 40 minutesCorrect answer
  • C24 hours, 40 minutes
  • D20 hours, 40 minutes
  • E16 hours, 40 minutes

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (22 hours, 40 minutes) Average the forward and reverse local elapsed times for each adjacent leg; this cancels the time-zone offset. The resulting actual running times from Zut toward Raz are: Zut–Yag 1 h 45 m, Yag–Vaq 8 h 55 m, Vaq–Sab 7 h 50 m, Sab–Raz 3 h 55 m. Their sum is 22 h 25 m. The timetable also shows a 5-minute halt at each of the three intermediate stations Yag, Vaq and Sab, adding 15 minutes. Total elapsed journey time =22 h 25 m+15 m=22 h 40 m. Hence B is correct. Option D omits substantial running time, while C overstates the trip by two hours. A common error is also to omit the station halts and stop at 22 h 25 m.
Q74Data Interpretation·Tables

Given below is the time table for a trans-continental train that cuts across several time zones. All timings are in local time in the respective cities. The average speed of the train between any two cities is the same in both directions.

↓ Arrival↓ DepartureCity↑ Arrival↑ Departure
06:00 AMZut12:40 PM
07:45 AM07:50 AMYag10:50 AM10:55 AM
02:45 PM02:50 PMVaq11:50 PM11:55 PM
07:40 PM07:45 PMSab12:55 PM01:00 PM
10:40 PMRaz08:00 AM

What time is it at Yag when it is 12:00 noon at Sab?

  • A5:00 pmCorrect answer
  • B7:00 pm
  • C9:30 pm
  • D2:30 pm
  • E12:00 pm

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (5:00 pm) Use the same forward-versus-reverse comparison as in the shared timetable. Between Yag and Vaq, the two local elapsed times differ by 4 hours, so the time-zone gap is half of that: Yag is 2 hours ahead of Vaq. Between Vaq and Sab, the displayed elapsed times differ by 6 hours, giving a 3-hour gap, with Vaq ahead of Sab. Therefore Yag−Sab = 2 hours+3 hours=5 hours. When Sab's local clock shows 12:00 noon, Yag's clock is five hours later: 12:00+5:00=5:00 pm. Hence A is correct. The 7:00 pm distractor incorrectly uses the full four-hour timetable difference for Yag–Vaq instead of halving it; 2:30 pm does not match the derived zone offsets.

General Knowledge(25 questions)

Q75General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

Name the Russian leader whose name is synonymous with the two reforms of Glasnost and Perestroika.

  • AYuri Andropov
  • BLeonid Brezhnev
  • CKonstantin Chernenko
  • DBoris Yeltsin
  • EMikhail GorbachevCorrect answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (Mikhail Gorbachev) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Name the Russian leader whose name is synonymous with the two reforms of Glasnost and Perestroika. Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why E. “Mikhail Gorbachev” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Yuri Andropov”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Leonid Brezhnev”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Konstantin Chernenko”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Boris Yeltsin”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q76General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

Which of the following countries does not border the Mediterranean Sea?

  • APortugalCorrect answer
  • BGreece
  • CSpain
  • DItaly
  • EFrance

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (Portugal) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Which of the following countries does not border the Mediterranean Sea? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why A. “Portugal” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • B (“Greece”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Spain”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Italy”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“France”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q77General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Awards & Personalities

Of the five members listed from the erstwhile royal families of Kerala, one was a nationally known painter and artist. In his name, every year the government of Kerala award people for their excellence in the field of art and culture. Name this painter.

  • AMarthanda Varma
  • BChitra Thirunal
  • CAvittom Thirunal
  • DSree Mulam Thirunal
  • ERaja Ravi VarmaCorrect answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (Raja Ravi Varma) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Of the five members listed from the erstwhile royal families of Kerala, one was a nationally known painter and artist. In his name, every year the government of Kerala award people for their excellen… Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why E. “Raja Ravi Varma” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Marthanda Varma”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Chitra Thirunal”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Avittom Thirunal”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Sree Mulam Thirunal”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q78General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

Sequence these four rivers in terms of their point of meeting the Bay of Bengal from north to south (i.e. from Kolkata down southwards to Kanyakumari)

  • AMahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, Cauvery
  • BMahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, CauveryCorrect answer
  • CKrishna, Godavari, Mahanadi, Cauvery
  • DGodavari, Krishna, Mahanadi, Cauvery
  • EMahanadi, Godavari, Cauvery, Krishna

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Sequence these four rivers in terms of their point of meeting the Bay of Bengal from north to south (i.e. from Kolkata down southwards to Kanyakumari) Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why B. “Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, Cauvery”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Krishna, Godavari, Mahanadi, Cauvery”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Godavari, Krishna, Mahanadi, Cauvery”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Mahanadi, Godavari, Cauvery, Krishna”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q79General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

Which of the following liquids demonstrates a convex meniscus when confined within a glass tube?

  • AWater in an anomalous expansion state between 0-4° C
  • BWater at room temperature
  • COlive oil
  • DPetroleum
  • EMercuryCorrect answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (Mercury) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Which of the following liquids demonstrates a convex meniscus when confined within a glass tube? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why E. “Mercury” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Water in an anomalous expansion state between 0-4° C”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Water at room temperature”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Olive oil”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Petroleum”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q80General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

Name the Indian saint who wrote ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’.

  • ASatya Sai Baba
  • BSwami Abhedananda
  • CSri Aurobindo
  • DParamhansa YoganandaCorrect answer
  • EHanuman Das Baba

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (Paramhansa Yogananda) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Name the Indian saint who wrote ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’. Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why D. “Paramhansa Yogananda” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Satya Sai Baba”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Swami Abhedananda”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Sri Aurobindo”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Hanuman Das Baba”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q81General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Current Affairs

The prestigious Horlicks brand of GlaxoSmithKline has been recently brought over by another mega FMCG brand. Name the buyer company.

  • ACavinkare
  • BPatanjali
  • CNestle
  • DDabur
  • EHindustan UnileverCorrect answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (Hindustan Unilever) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. The prestigious Horlicks brand of GlaxoSmithKline has been recently brought over by another mega FMCG brand. Name the buyer company. Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why E. “Hindustan Unilever” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Cavinkare”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Patanjali”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Nestle”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Dabur”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q82General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

Which of the mobile service providers is going to launch GigaFiber broadband?

  • AAirtel
  • BIdea
  • CVodafone
  • DJioCorrect answer
  • EBSNL

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (Jio) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Which of the mobile service providers is going to launch GigaFiber broadband? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why D. “Jio” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Airtel”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Idea”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Vodafone”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“BSNL”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q83General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Current Affairs

Which of the following countries is the largest source of imports to India as on 31st March 2018?

  • ASwitzerland
  • BPakistan
  • CChinaCorrect answer
  • DSaudi Arabia
  • EUSA

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C (China) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Which of the following countries is the largest source of imports to India as on 31st March 2018? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why C. “China” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Switzerland”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Pakistan”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Saudi Arabia”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“USA”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q84General Knowledge / Current Affairs·History & Polity

What is Article 356 of Indian Constitution?

  • AProvision of special status to the state of Manipur.
  • BProvision of special status to the state of J & K.
  • CSuspension of Financial autonomy to a state.
  • DProvision of special status to the state of Arunachal.
  • EImposition of President's Rule after the suspension of a state government.Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. What is Article 356 of Indian Constitution? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why E. “Imposition of President's Rule after the suspension of a state government.” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Provision of special status to the state of Manipur.”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Provision of special status to the state of J & K.”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Suspension of Financial autonomy to a state.”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Provision of special status to the state of Arunachal.”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q85General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

The ‘Kyoto Protocol’ which was adopted in 1997 by several countries in Kyoto, Japan focusses on which of the following aspects?

  • AClimate ChangeCorrect answer
  • BRepatriation of criminals
  • CAnti-terrorism
  • DDenuclearisation
  • EFree Trade Agreements

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (Climate Change) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. The ‘Kyoto Protocol’ which was adopted in 1997 by several countries in Kyoto, Japan focusses on which of the following aspects? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why A. “Climate Change” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • B (“Repatriation of criminals”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Anti-terrorism”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Denuclearisation”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Free Trade Agreements”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q86General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Current Affairs

Of the five people listed below, four are Managing Directors and one is the Chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI) as of October 2018. Who arnong the five is the Chairman of SBI?

  • ARajnish KumarCorrect answer
  • BArijit Basu
  • CPK Gupta
  • DDinesh Kumar Khara
  • EAnshula Kant

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (Rajnish Kumar) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Of the five people listed below, four are Managing Directors and one is the Chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI) as of October 2018. Who arnong the five is the Chairman of SBI? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why A. “Rajnish Kumar” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • B (“Arijit Basu”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“PK Gupta”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Dinesh Kumar Khara”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Anshula Kant”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q87General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Current Affairs

Name the European country that signed a pact with India in March 2018 to deepen the cooperation in the field of environment management. The deal also affirms a commitment to fight climate change.

  • AFranceCorrect answer
  • BUK
  • CNetherlands
  • DPortugal
  • ESpain

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (France) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Name the European country that signed a pact with India in March 2018 to deepen the cooperation in the field of environment management. The deal also affirms a commitment to fight climate change. Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why A. “France” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • B (“UK”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Netherlands”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Portugal”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Spain”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q88General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Geography & Environment

Name the city which was the capital of the ‘undivided’ Assam state immediately after independence.

  • AAizawl
  • BAgartala
  • CKohima
  • DImphal
  • EShillongCorrect answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (Shillong) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Name the city which was the capital of the ‘undivided’ Assam state immediately after independence. Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why E. “Shillong” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Aizawl”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Agartala”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Kohima”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Imphal”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q89General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

What is the common name of the acidic combination of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid that can actually dissolve metals like gold and platinum?

  • AAqua Pura
  • BAqua RegiaCorrect answer
  • CAqua Fina
  • DAuro Dissolvo
  • EAqua Aura

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (Aqua Regia) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. What is the common name of the acidic combination of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid that can actually dissolve metals like gold and platinum? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why B. “Aqua Regia” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Aqua Pura”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Aqua Fina”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Auro Dissolvo”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Aqua Aura”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q90General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Arts & Culture

The name of this dance and the name of the community that performs this dance is the same. It isa Rajasthani folk dance and the intricate dance movements mimic the movement of snakes. Which dance are we talking about?

  • ALambadi dance
  • BKalbelia danceCorrect answer
  • CChhau dance
  • DPhag dance
  • EBihu dance

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (Kalbelia dance) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. The name of this dance and the name of the community that performs this dance is the same. It isa Rajasthani folk dance and the intricate dance movements mimic the movement of snakes. Which dance are… Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why B. “Kalbelia dance” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Lambadi dance”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Chhau dance”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Phag dance”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Bihu dance”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q91General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Business & Economy

According to the World Bank, which country is the highest recipient of rernittances?

  • AChina
  • BMexico
  • CPhilippines
  • DIndiaCorrect answer
  • EEgypt

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (India) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. According to the World Bank, which country is the highest recipient of rernittances? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why D. “India” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“China”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Mexico”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Philippines”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Egypt”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q92General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Sports

Which of the following countries is not a member of Union of European Football Association (UEFA)?

  • AGeorgia
  • BKazakhstan
  • CAzerbaijan
  • DTurkey
  • EUzbekistanCorrect answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (Uzbekistan) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Which of the following countries is not a member of Union of European Football Association (UEFA)? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why E. “Uzbekistan” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Georgia”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Kazakhstan”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Azerbaijan”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Turkey”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q93General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

Arrange these historical events in the order of their occurrence: 1. Introduction of Ryotwari System in India 2. Vernacular Press Act 3. Permanent settlement of Bengal 4. Introduction of Rowlatt Act

  • Aiii, i, ii, ivCorrect answer
  • Bi, ii, iv, iii
  • Ci, iii, ii, iv
  • Di, iii, iv, ii
  • Eiii, ii, i, iv

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (iii, i, ii, iv) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Arrange these historical events in the order of their occurrence: 1. Introduction of Ryotwari System in India 2. Vernacular Press Act 3. Permanent settlement of Bengal 4. Introduction of Rowlatt Act Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why A. “iii, i, ii, iv” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • B (“i, ii, iv, iii”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“i, iii, ii, iv”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“i, iii, iv, ii”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“iii, ii, i, iv”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q94General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

The Mumbai Interbank Bid Rate (MIBID) and the Mumbai Interbank Offer Rate (MIBOR) are yardsticks that control which of the following financial markets?

  • AFOREX marketsCorrect answer
  • BCommodities markets
  • CDerivatives market
  • DInsurance market
  • ECall Money market

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (FOREX markets) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. The Mumbai Interbank Bid Rate (MIBID) and the Mumbai Interbank Offer Rate (MIBOR) are yardsticks that control which of the following financial markets? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why A. “FOREX markets” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • B (“Commodities markets”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Derivatives market”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Insurance market”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Call Money market”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q95General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

Republic of Armenia is a UN member state but is not recognized by one of the UN member states. Identify the state.

  • ARussia
  • BGeorgia
  • CAzerbaijan
  • DPakistanCorrect answer
  • EIran

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (Pakistan) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Republic of Armenia is a UN member state but is not recognized by one of the UN member states. Identify the state. Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why D. “Pakistan” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Russia”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Georgia”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Azerbaijan”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Iran”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q96General Knowledge / Current Affairs·History & Polity

Which are the three sessions of the Parliament of India?

  • ANew Year Session, Summer Session and Winter Session
  • BBudget Session, Diwali Session and Winter Session
  • CBudget Session, Monsoon Session and Winter SessionCorrect answer
  • DSummer Session, Monsoon Session and Winter Session
  • ESpring Session, Summer Session and Winter Session

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C (Budget Session, Monsoon Session and Winter Session) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Which are the three sessions of the Parliament of India? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why C. “Budget Session, Monsoon Session and Winter Session” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“New Year Session, Summer Session and Winter Session”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Budget Session, Diwali Session and Winter Session”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Summer Session, Monsoon Session and Winter Session”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Spring Session, Summer Session and Winter Session”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q97General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Sports

Which of the following is a winter game which is very similar to Ice Hockey and is often considered as the national sport of Russia?

  • APato
  • BBandyCorrect answer
  • CTejo
  • DArnis
  • EBubkashi

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (Bandy) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Which of the following is a winter game which is very similar to Ice Hockey and is often considered as the national sport of Russia? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why B. “Bandy” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Pato”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Tejo”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Arnis”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Bubkashi”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q98General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

Viacom18 is a popular entertainment network of India. Which of these channels does not belong to Viacom18?

  • AColorsCorrect answer
  • BRishtey
  • CMTV
  • DNickelodeon
  • EDisney International

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (Colors) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Viacom18 is a popular entertainment network of India. Which of these channels does not belong to Viacom18? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why A. “Colors” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • B (“Rishtey”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“MTV”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Nickelodeon”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Disney International”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q99General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Current Affairs

Name the two countries with which India has inked agreements to enable the successful mission called ‘Gaganyaan’ that is slated for 2022

  • AUSA and China
  • BUK and USA
  • CFrance and Russia
  • DUSA and FranceCorrect answer
  • ERussia and China

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (USA and France) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Name the two countries with which India has inked agreements to enable the successful mission called ‘Gaganyaan’ that is slated for 2022 Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why D. “USA and France” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“USA and China”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“UK and USA”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“France and Russia”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Russia and China”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.

Answer key

Quick reference — click a question number to jump to the full solution.

Q#SectionAnswerTopic
1Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningBVerbal Ability
2Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningBVerbal Ability
3Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningAVerbal Ability
4Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningCVerbal Ability
5Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningCVerbal Ability
6Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningDVerbal Ability
7Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningAVerbal Ability
8Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningBVerbal Ability
9Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningBVerbal Ability
10Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningAReading Comprehension
11Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningDVerbal Ability
12Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningAReading Comprehension
13Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningEReading Comprehension
14Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningEVerbal Ability
15Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningEReading Comprehension
16Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningCVerbal Ability
17Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningBVerbal Ability
18Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningDVerbal Ability
19Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningDReading Comprehension
20Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningCReading Comprehension
21Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningBVerbal Ability
22Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningAReading Comprehension
23Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningEVerbal Ability
24Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningAReading Comprehension
25Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningDReading Comprehension
26Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningDVerbal Ability
27Decision MakingADecision Making
28Decision MakingBDecision Making
29Decision MakingBDecision Making
30Decision MakingCDecision Making
31Decision MakingBDecision Making
32Decision MakingCDecision Making
33Decision MakingCDecision Making
34Decision MakingBDecision Making
35Decision MakingBDecision Making
36Decision MakingADecision Making
37Decision MakingBDecision Making
38Decision MakingCDecision Making
39Decision MakingCDecision Making
40Decision MakingEDecision Making
41Decision MakingEDecision Making
42Decision MakingBDecision Making
43Decision MakingCDecision Making
44Decision MakingADecision Making
45Decision MakingBDecision Making
46Decision MakingEDecision Making
47Decision MakingADecision Making
48Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
49Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
50Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationBQuantitative Ability
51Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationBQuantitative Ability
52Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationDQuantitative Ability
53Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationBQuantitative Ability
54Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationDQuantitative Ability
55Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationEQuantitative Ability
56Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
57Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationEQuantitative Ability
58Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationCQuantitative Ability
59Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationDQuantitative Ability
60Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationDQuantitative Ability
61Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
62Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
63Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
64Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationEQuantitative Ability
65Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationBQuantitative Ability
66Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationDQuantitative Ability
67Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationBData Sufficiency
68Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationBData Sufficiency
69Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationEData Interpretation
70Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationDData Interpretation
71Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationDData Interpretation
72Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationCData Interpretation
73Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationBData Interpretation
74Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAData Interpretation
75General KnowledgeEGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
76General KnowledgeAGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
77General KnowledgeEGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
78General KnowledgeBGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
79General KnowledgeEGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
80General KnowledgeDGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
81General KnowledgeEGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
82General KnowledgeDGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
83General KnowledgeCGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
84General KnowledgeEGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
85General KnowledgeAGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
86General KnowledgeAGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
87General KnowledgeAGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
88General KnowledgeEGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
89General KnowledgeBGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
90General KnowledgeBGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
91General KnowledgeDGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
92General KnowledgeEGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
93General KnowledgeAGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
94General KnowledgeAGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
95General KnowledgeDGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
96General KnowledgeCGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
97General KnowledgeBGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
98General KnowledgeAGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
99General KnowledgeDGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are there in XAT 2019?

XAT 2019 has 99 questions across Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, General Knowledge, with a total duration of 3h.

Is this the official XAT 2019 question paper?

Yes — this page hosts the past-year XAT paper for 2019, with the full question set, answer key, and explanations for revision.

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XAT 2019 is free to browse with answers here. Timed attempts on MBACracked require Pro. Free accounts include recent CAT and XAT past papers.

Does this page include the XAT 2019 answer key?

Yes. Every question shows the correct answer, with a collapsible explanation. A full answer-key table is also available at the bottom of the page.

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