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XAT 2021 question paper with answer key

This is the complete XAT 2021 question paper with answer key and solutions — 100 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

Read the following statement: While start-ups have reach, they introduce products, they open-up markets. Fill in the blanks meaningfully, in the above statement, from the following options.

  • ALimited, when, innovative, newCorrect answer
  • BLimited, since, new, innovative
  • CRestricted, while, innovative, new
  • DRestricted, when, new, innovative
  • ELimited, if, new, innovative

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (Limited, when, innovative, new) 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. “Limited, when, innovative, new” is the only sentence that preserves continuity without adding facts the paragraph never earned. Why the others fail. • B (“Limited, since, new, innovative”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim. • C (“Restricted, while, innovative, new”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim. • D (“Restricted, when, new, innovative”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim. • E (“Limited, if, new, innovative”) — wrong hinge (contrast vs cause), tone mismatch, or unsupported claim.
Q2Verbal Ability·Paragraph Jumbles

Read the following statements and answer the question that follows. 1. Behavioral models in finance most often critique the efficient market hypothesis, which states that if investors behave rationally then prices should reflect all available information about the financial asset in consideration. 2. A number of behavioral models, including feedback models where investors bid up the price, have been used to explain this phenomenon. 3. But asset price bubbles and crashes belie this conclusion. 4. Finance is one of the fields where behavioral models have been used extensively, enough for behavioral finance. 5. This idea of “irrational exuberance” is now widely accepted and used in financial analysis, especially while analyzing asset price bubbles. Arrange the above five statements in a logical sequence.

  • A4, 5, 1, 3, 2
  • B4, 1, 3, 2, 5Correct answer
  • C1, 4, 2, 3, 5
  • D1, 3, 2, 5, 4
  • E4, 3, 1, 5, 2

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (4, 1, 3, 2, 5) 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. “4, 1, 3, 2, 5” is the only choice that preserves all three. Why the others fail. • A (“4, 5, 1, 3, 2”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • C (“1, 4, 2, 3, 5”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • D (“1, 3, 2, 5, 4”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • E (“4, 3, 1, 5, 2”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank.
Q3Verbal Ability·Paragraph Jumbles

Read the following statements and answer the question that follows. 1. Some countries are, at least, trying to curb emissions. 2. Morocco is building a colossal solar-power plant in the desert. 3. States in the Middle East and North Africa can do little on their own to mitigate climate change. 4. Saudi Arabia is not going to stop exporting oil, but it plans to build a solar plant that will be about 200 times the size of the biggest such facility operating today. 5. Politics often gets in the way of problem solving. Arrange the above five statements in a logical sequence.

  • A3,5,1,2,4Correct answer
  • B4,2,1,5,3
  • C5,3,1,4,2
  • D5,1,3,4,2
  • E3,1,5,2,4

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (3,5,1,2,4) 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 A. “3,5,1,2,4” is the only choice that preserves all three. Why the others fail. • B (“4,2,1,5,3”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • C (“5,3,1,4,2”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • D (“5,1,3,4,2”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • E (“3,1,5,2,4”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank.
Q4Verbal Ability·Critical Reasoning

Which of the following sentences uses a WRONG tag-question?

  • AYou like to play, don’t you?
  • BNobody has called for you, have they?
  • CHe has few reasons for saying no to the match, has he?
  • DMoreover, he plays well, isn’t it?Correct answer
  • EThere’s little point in doing anything about the match, is there?

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (Moreover, he plays well, isn’t it?) 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. “Moreover, he plays well, isn’t it?” is the only choice that preserves all three. Why the others fail. • A (“You like to play, don’t you?”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • B (“Nobody has called for you, have they?”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • C (“He has few reasons for saying no to the match, has he?”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • E (“There’s little point in doing anything about the match, is there?”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank.
Q5Reading Comprehension·Specific Detail

Read the following sentences and answer the question that follows. 1. In my opinion, Tom Jones is a picaresque novel. 2. According to me, Tom Jones is a bildungsroman. 3. The books were distributed between Jessica, Neha and Swati. 4. The books were distributed among Jessica and Neha. 5. Life teaches us important lessons. 6. The life moves forward, teaches backward. Which of the above sentences are grammatically CORRECT?

  • A1, 4, 5
  • B2, 3, 6
  • C1, 4, 6
  • D2, 4, 6
  • E1, 3, 5Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (1, 3, 5) 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. “1, 3, 5” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“1, 4, 5”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • B (“2, 3, 6”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“1, 4, 6”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“2, 4, 6”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q6Verbal Ability·Critical Reasoning

Read the following sentences and answer the question that follows. 1. We are going to a restaurant but we haven’t decided which one. 2. We went to the toilet behind a tree. 3. It was the November after we went to Indonesia. 4. My friend is travelling to UK. 5. She drinks medicine by a litre. 6. Would you rather go out or watch a TV. Which of the above sentences have INCORRECT usages of articles?

  • A1, 2, 3
  • B2, 3, 4
  • C3, 4, 5
  • D4, 5, 6Correct answer
  • E6, 1, 2

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (4, 5, 6) 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. “4, 5, 6” is the only choice that preserves all three. Why the others fail. • A (“1, 2, 3”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • B (“2, 3, 4”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • C (“3, 4, 5”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank. • E (“6, 1, 2”) — breaks grammar, reference, or argumentative direction at the blank.
Q7Reading Comprehension·Inference

Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Twitter is not on the masthead of a newspaper. But Twitter has become its ultimate editor. As the ethics and mores of that platform have become those of the paper, the paper itself has increasingly become a kind of performance space. Stories are chosen and told in a way to satisfy the narrowest of audiences, rather than to allow a curious public to read about the world and then draw their own conclusions.

Based on the passage, the writer’s disappointment can be BEST summarised as:

  • ANewspapers cave into the narratives shared on social-media platforms.Correct answer
  • BNewspapers create their own narratives to control the audience.
  • CNewspapers get influenced by the followers on social-media platforms.
  • DNewspapers are ready to compromise with their ethics.
  • ENewspapers fear to speak outside the narrow confines of social media.

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (Newspapers cave into the narratives shared on social-media platforms.) 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. “Newspapers cave into the narratives shared on social-media platforms.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • B (“Newspapers create their own narratives to control the audience.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“Newspapers get influenced by the followers on social-media platforms.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“Newspapers are ready to compromise with their ethics.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“Newspapers fear to speak outside the narrow confines of social media.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q8Reading Comprehension·Inference

Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. The painting, which is in poor condition, suggests that a highly advanced artistic culture existed some 44,000 years ago, punctuated by folklore, religious myths and spiritual belief. The scene may be regarded not only as the earliest dated figurative art in the world but also as the oldest evidence for the communication of a narrative in Palaeolithic art. “This is noteworthy, given that the ability to invent fictional stories may have been the last and most crucial stage in the evolutionary history of human language and the development of modern-like patterns of cognition” researchers said.

Which of the following can be BEST concluded from the passage?

  • APalaeolithic people possessed advanced artistic culture, evidenced through paintings.
  • BAdvanced cognitive abilities of Palaeolithic people is substantiated by the painting.
  • CThe painting timestamps the beginning of the evolution of modern-like cognitive abilities.
  • DEvolution of modern-day languages started with Palaeolithic era, evidenced through the painting.
  • EThe painting puts chronological context to the evolution of modern-like cognitive abilities.Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E 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 E. “The painting puts chronological context to the evolution of modern-like cognitive abilities.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Palaeolithic people possessed advanced artistic culture, evidenced through paintings.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • B (“Advanced cognitive abilities of Palaeolithic people is substantiated by the painting.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“The painting timestamps the beginning of the evolution of modern-like cognitive abilities.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“Evolution of modern-day languages started with Palaeolithic era, evidenced through the painting.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q9Reading Comprehension·Inference

Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. We can think of the history of life on earth as a vast, long-term experiment in pure competition. Every living organism is competing with all other living organisms for resources (nutrients, sunlight, water, territory, etc.). Nature, or the natural world, is a laboratory of unfettered competition. It’s a dog-eat-dog, no-holds-barred, day-in and day-out struggle. There are no governmental regulators to protect the weak or favor the strong. All organisms are given a chance, but not necessarily an equal chance. As the climate and the environment change (and change they do), some organisms are favored over others at times, but these advantages are fleeting. What nature gives, nature can take away.

Which of the following can be BEST concluded from the passage?

  • ACompetition is critical to ensure the survival of the fittest.
  • BWithout unforgiving competition, the planet will be inundated with the weak.
  • CNature gives a fair opportunity to every organism to survive.
  • DForgiveness is alien to the natural world.
  • EBrutal competition is the only constant in the natural world.Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (Brutal competition is the only constant in the natural world.) 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 E. “Brutal competition is the only constant in the natural world.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Competition is critical to ensure the survival of the fittest.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • B (“Without unforgiving competition, the planet will be inundated with the weak.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“Nature gives a fair opportunity to every organism to survive.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“Forgiveness is alien to the natural world.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q10Quantitative Ability·Mensuration

Read the following excerpt and answer the two questions that follow. Para 1: We plan to right-size our manufacturing operations to align to the new strategy and take advantage of integration opportunities. We expect to focus phone production mainly in Hanoi, with some production to continue in Beijing and Dongguan. We plan to shift other Microsoft manufacturing and repair operations to Manaus and Reynosa respectively, and start a phased exit from Komaron, Hungary. Para 2: In short, we will focus on driving Lumia volume in the areas where we are already successful today in order to make the market for Windows Phone. With more speed, we will build on our success in the affordable smart phone space with new products offering more differentiation. We’ll focus on acquiring new customers in the markets where Microsoft’s services and products are most concentrated. And, we will continue building momentum around applications. Para 3: We plan that this would result in an estimated reduction of 12500 factory direct and professional employees over the next year. These decisions are difficult for the team, and we plan to support departing team members with severance benefits.

Which of the following can be BEST described as the core message of the excerpt?

  • AMicrosoft is shifting its base of production for Lumia along with the places it is interested in selling them.
  • BMicrosoft is reducing cost of operations and the number of staff involved in operations.
  • CMicrosoft is reducing its cost of operations and downsizing staff while staying optimistic about the future.Correct answer
  • DMicrosoft is closing poorly performing factories and personnel though it thinks Lumia has a future.
  • EMicrosoft is reducing its cost of operations, marketing and human resources while staying the course on Lumia.

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C (Microsoft is reducing its cost of operations and downsizing staff while staying optimistic about the future.) The excerpt has two linked strands. Paragraph 1 announces operational consolidation: production is being concentrated in fewer locations and one facility is being exited. Paragraph 3 gives the human consequence—an estimated reduction of 12,500 employees. Paragraph 2, however, is forward-looking: Microsoft intends to grow Lumia where it is already strong, launch differentiated affordable phones, acquire customers, and strengthen applications. Hence the core must contain both retrenchment and optimism, which C does. B captures only cost and staff reduction, while D overstates the passage by calling the factories poorly performing. E additionally claims cuts in marketing and human resources, neither of which is actually stated.
Q11Quantitative Ability·Mensuration

Read the following excerpt and answer the two questions that follow. Para 1: We plan to right-size our manufacturing operations to align to the new strategy and take advantage of integration opportunities. We expect to focus phone production mainly in Hanoi, with some production to continue in Beijing and Dongguan. We plan to shift other Microsoft manufacturing and repair operations to Manaus and Reynosa respectively, and start a phased exit from Komaron, Hungary. Para 2: In short, we will focus on driving Lumia volume in the areas where we are already successful today in order to make the market for Windows Phone. With more speed, we will build on our success in the affordable smart phone space with new products offering more differentiation. We’ll focus on acquiring new customers in the markets where Microsoft’s services and products are most concentrated. And, we will continue building momentum around applications. Para 3: We plan that this would result in an estimated reduction of 12500 factory direct and professional employees over the next year. These decisions are difficult for the team, and we plan to support departing team members with severance benefits.

In conveying the core message, the Para 2:

  • ADigresses from the line of thought
  • BElaborates the core message
  • CReassures a promising futureCorrect answer
  • DAssuages panic
  • EPredicts a rosy picture

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C (Reassures a promising future) Paragraphs 1 and 3 contain the difficult news: manufacturing is being reorganised and 12,500 positions are expected to disappear. Paragraph 2 is deliberately placed between them to explain what the restructuring is meant to enable. Its language stresses existing success, faster product development, differentiation, customer acquisition, and momentum in applications. Thus it reassures readers that the company still sees a viable future for Lumia and Windows Phone. It does not digress (A), because the growth strategy supplies the rationale for the restructuring. “Predicts a rosy picture” (E) is too strong: the paragraph expresses plans and confidence, not a guaranteed forecast. “Assuages panic” (D) imputes an emotional objective that the text never explicitly establishes.
Q12Reading Comprehension·Poem & Literary Analysis

Read the following poem and answer the two questions that follow. Sit, drink your coffee here; your work can wait awhile. You're twenty-six, and still have some of life ahead. No need for wit; just talk vacuities, and I'll Reciprocate in kind, or laugh at you instead. The world is too opaque, distressing and profound. This twenty minutes' rendezvous will make my day: To sit here in the sun, with grackles all around, Staring with beady eyes, and you two feet away.

Which of the following BEST captures the essence of the poem?

  • ALet’s eat, drink and be merry in the lap of nature.
  • BLet’s be gibberish, not rational about life.
  • CLet’s create our own meaning in life, no matter what.
  • DLet’s enjoy a moment of peace in this busy life.Correct answer
  • ELet’s celebrate our existence, not our work.

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (Let’s enjoy a moment of peace in this busy life.) 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. “Let’s enjoy a moment of peace in this busy life.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Let’s eat, drink and be merry in the lap of nature.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • B (“Let’s be gibberish, not rational about life.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“Let’s create our own meaning in life, no matter what.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“Let’s celebrate our existence, not our work.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q13Reading Comprehension·Poem & Literary Analysis

Read the following poem and answer the two questions that follow. Sit, drink your coffee here; your work can wait awhile. You're twenty-six, and still have some of life ahead. No need for wit; just talk vacuities, and I'll Reciprocate in kind, or laugh at you instead. The world is too opaque, distressing and profound. This twenty minutes' rendezvous will make my day: To sit here in the sun, with grackles all around, Staring with beady eyes, and you two feet away.

What does the poet BEST convey by mentioning grackles in these lines, “…with grackles all around, /Staring with beady eyes, and you two feet away.”?

  • AGrackles, like humans, love to bask in the Sun.
  • BWe should not care about grackles, but us.Correct answer
  • CGrackles love to stare at us; however, they maintain a two-feet distance.
  • DOver witty discussions, grackles are the pleasant birds to look at.
  • EA small bird like grackle can give us lots of happiness.

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (We should not care about grackles, but us.) 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 B. “We should not care about grackles, but us.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Grackles, like humans, love to bask in the Sun.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“Grackles love to stare at us; however, they maintain a two-feet distance.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“Over witty discussions, grackles are the pleasant birds to look at.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“A small bird like grackle can give us lots of happiness.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q14Reading Comprehension·Tone & Attitude

Read the following passage and answer the two questions that follow. We stand before this great world. The truth of our life depends upon our attitude of mind towards it - an attitude which is formed by our habit of dealing with it according to the special circumstance of our surroundings and our temperaments. It guides our attempts to establish relations with the universe either by conquest or by union, either through the cultivation of power or through that of sympathy. And thus, in our realization of the truth of existence, we put our emphasis either upon the principle of dualism or upon the principle of unity.

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

  • AWar and conquest are a part of the truth of our life.
  • BConquest and union are two ways of realising the truth of our life.
  • COur habits and surroundings determine the truth of our life.Correct answer
  • DPrinciple of dualism is inferior to the principle of unity.
  • EThe truth of our life co-evolved with our quest for sympathetic supremacy.

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C (Our habits and surroundings determine the truth of our life.) 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 C. “Our habits and surroundings determine the truth of our life.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“War and conquest are a part of the truth of our life.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • B (“Conquest and union are two ways of realising the truth of our life.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“Principle of dualism is inferior to the principle of unity.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“The truth of our life co-evolved with our quest for sympathetic supremacy.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q15Reading Comprehension·Tone & Attitude

Read the following passage and answer the two questions that follow. We stand before this great world. The truth of our life depends upon our attitude of mind towards it - an attitude which is formed by our habit of dealing with it according to the special circumstance of our surroundings and our temperaments. It guides our attempts to establish relations with the universe either by conquest or by union, either through the cultivation of power or through that of sympathy. And thus, in our realization of the truth of existence, we put our emphasis either upon the principle of dualism or upon the principle of unity.

According to the passage, our emphasis on dualism or on unity is BEST guided by:

  • AOur attitude of mind, formed by our habitsCorrect answer
  • BOur deals with the universe, based on special circumstances
  • CHow powerful or sympathetic our surroundings and temperament are
  • DOur desire to achieve versus our focus on contentment
  • EHow we deal with our surroundings and our temperaments

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (Our attitude of mind, formed by our habits) 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. “Our attitude of mind, formed by our habits” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • B (“Our deals with the universe, based on special circumstances”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“How powerful or sympathetic our surroundings and temperament are”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“Our desire to achieve versus our focus on contentment”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“How we deal with our surroundings and our temperaments”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q16Reading Comprehension·Vocabulary in Context

Read the following passage and answer the two questions that follow. And that has to do with the question of uncertainty and doubt. A scientist is never certain. We all know that. We know that all our statements are approximate statements with different degrees of certainty; that when a statement is made, the question is not whether it is true or false but rather how likely it is to be true or false. We must discuss each question within the uncertainties that are allowed. And as evidence grows it increases the probability perhaps that some idea is right or decreases it. But it never makes absolutely certain one way or the other. Now, we have found that this is of paramount importance in order to progress. We absolutely must leave room for doubt or there is no progress and there is no learning. There is no learning without having to pose a question. And a question requires doubt. People search for certainty. But there is no certainty. People are terrified- how can you live and not know? It is not odd at all. You only think you know as a matter of fact. And most of your actions are based on incomplete knowledge and you really don’t know what it is all about or what the purpose of the world is or know a great deal of other things. It is possible to live and not know.

What does the author BEST mean when he says, “We must discuss each question within the uncertainties that are allowed?”

  • AThe question decides the amount of uncertainties that are allowed.
  • BThere is a finite set of uncertainties for any question.
  • CThe uncertainties should be relevant to the question.
  • DThe uncertainties are limited by the nature of the answers sought.
  • EWe must be prepared to accept errors in the answers we seek.Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (We must be prepared to accept errors in the answers we seek.) 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 E. “We must be prepared to accept errors in the answers we seek.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“The question decides the amount of uncertainties that are allowed.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • B (“There is a finite set of uncertainties for any question.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“The uncertainties should be relevant to the question.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“The uncertainties are limited by the nature of the answers sought.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q17Reading Comprehension·Main Idea / Purpose

Read the following passage and answer the two questions that follow. And that has to do with the question of uncertainty and doubt. A scientist is never certain. We all know that. We know that all our statements are approximate statements with different degrees of certainty; that when a statement is made, the question is not whether it is true or false but rather how likely it is to be true or false. We must discuss each question within the uncertainties that are allowed. And as evidence grows it increases the probability perhaps that some idea is right or decreases it. But it never makes absolutely certain one way or the other. Now, we have found that this is of paramount importance in order to progress. We absolutely must leave room for doubt or there is no progress and there is no learning. There is no learning without having to pose a question. And a question requires doubt. People search for certainty. But there is no certainty. People are terrified- how can you live and not know? It is not odd at all. You only think you know as a matter of fact. And most of your actions are based on incomplete knowledge and you really don’t know what it is all about or what the purpose of the world is or know a great deal of other things. It is possible to live and not know.

Which of the following BEST describes the essence of the passage?

  • AReasonable discomfort with certainty is the path for progress.Correct answer
  • BScience can never give a conclusive answer to a question.
  • CDoubting the established world order is the purpose of science.
  • DProgress involves questioning accepted truths.
  • EReasonable scepticism is the characteristic of a scientific mind.

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (Reasonable discomfort with certainty is the path for progress.) 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. “Reasonable discomfort with certainty is the path for progress.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • B (“Science can never give a conclusive answer to a question.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“Doubting the established world order is the purpose of science.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“Progress involves questioning accepted truths.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“Reasonable scepticism is the characteristic of a scientific mind.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q18Reading Comprehension·Application & Analogy

Read the following passage and answer the three questions that follow. Considering the multitude of situations in which we humans use numerical information, life without numbers is inconceivable. But what was the benefit of numerical competence for our ancestors, before they became Homo sapiens? Why would animals crunch numbers in the first place? It turns out that processing numbers offers a significant benefit for survival, which is why this behavioural trait is present in many animal populations. Several studies examining animals in their ecological environments suggest that representing number enhances an animal’s ability to exploit food sources, hunt prey, avoid predation, navigate in its habitat, and persist in social interactions. Before numerically competent animals evolved on the planet, single- celled microscopic bacteria — the oldest living organisms on earth — already exploited quantitative information. The way bacteria make a living is through their consumption of nutrients from their environment. Mostly, they grow and divide themselves to multiply. However, in recent years, microbiologists have discovered they also have a social life and are able to sense the presence or absence of other bacteria; in other words, they can sense the number of bacteria. Take, for example, the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri. It has a special property that allows it to produce light through a process called bioluminescence, similar to how fireflies give off light. If these bacteria are in dilute water solutions (where they are alone), they make no light. But when they grow to a certain cell number of bacteria, all of them produce light simultaneously. Therefore, Vibrio fischeri can distinguish when they are alone and when they are together. Somehow they have to communicate cell number, and it turns out they do this using a chemical language. They secrete communication molecules, and the concentration of these molecules in the water increases in proportion to the cell number. And when this molecule hits a certain amount, called a quorum, it tells the other bacteria how many neighbours there are, and all bacteria glow. This behaviour is called “quorum sensing”: The bacteria vote with signalling molecules, the vote gets counted, and if a certain threshold (the quorum) is reached, every bacterium responds. This behavior is not just an anomaly of Vibrio fischeri; all bacteria use this sort of quorum sensing to communicate their cell number in an indirect way via signalling molecules.

Which of the following statements CANNOT be inferred from the passage?

  • AAncestors of Homo sapiens used numerical competence.
  • BAncestors of Homo sapiens hunted in groups.
  • CAncestors of Homo sapiens interacted solely using numbers.Correct answer
  • DAncestors of Homo sapiens exploited resources in groups.
  • EAncestors of Homo sapiens sensed numbers.

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C (Ancestors of Homo sapiens interacted solely using numbers.) 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 C. “Ancestors of Homo sapiens interacted solely using numbers.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Ancestors of Homo sapiens used numerical competence.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • B (“Ancestors of Homo sapiens hunted in groups.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“Ancestors of Homo sapiens exploited resources in groups.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“Ancestors of Homo sapiens sensed numbers.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q19Reading Comprehension·Application & Analogy

Read the following passage and answer the three questions that follow. Considering the multitude of situations in which we humans use numerical information, life without numbers is inconceivable. But what was the benefit of numerical competence for our ancestors, before they became Homo sapiens? Why would animals crunch numbers in the first place? It turns out that processing numbers offers a significant benefit for survival, which is why this behavioural trait is present in many animal populations. Several studies examining animals in their ecological environments suggest that representing number enhances an animal’s ability to exploit food sources, hunt prey, avoid predation, navigate in its habitat, and persist in social interactions. Before numerically competent animals evolved on the planet, single- celled microscopic bacteria — the oldest living organisms on earth — already exploited quantitative information. The way bacteria make a living is through their consumption of nutrients from their environment. Mostly, they grow and divide themselves to multiply. However, in recent years, microbiologists have discovered they also have a social life and are able to sense the presence or absence of other bacteria; in other words, they can sense the number of bacteria. Take, for example, the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri. It has a special property that allows it to produce light through a process called bioluminescence, similar to how fireflies give off light. If these bacteria are in dilute water solutions (where they are alone), they make no light. But when they grow to a certain cell number of bacteria, all of them produce light simultaneously. Therefore, Vibrio fischeri can distinguish when they are alone and when they are together. Somehow they have to communicate cell number, and it turns out they do this using a chemical language. They secrete communication molecules, and the concentration of these molecules in the water increases in proportion to the cell number. And when this molecule hits a certain amount, called a quorum, it tells the other bacteria how many neighbours there are, and all bacteria glow. This behaviour is called “quorum sensing”: The bacteria vote with signalling molecules, the vote gets counted, and if a certain threshold (the quorum) is reached, every bacterium responds. This behavior is not just an anomaly of Vibrio fischeri; all bacteria use this sort of quorum sensing to communicate their cell number in an indirect way via signalling molecules.

Based on the passage, which of the following statements BEST defines “quorum sensing” in bacteria?

  • ABacteria chat only when they are in groups.
  • BBacteria respond when they discern enough numbers around them.Correct answer
  • CBacteria communicate only in numerical terms with others.
  • DBacteria do not communicate beyond certain numbers.
  • EBacteria multiply only till they reach their required numbers.

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (Bacteria respond when they discern enough numbers around them.) 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 B. “Bacteria respond when they discern enough numbers around them.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Bacteria chat only when they are in groups.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“Bacteria communicate only in numerical terms with others.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“Bacteria do not communicate beyond certain numbers.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“Bacteria multiply only till they reach their required numbers.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q20Reading Comprehension·Application & Analogy

Read the following passage and answer the three questions that follow. Considering the multitude of situations in which we humans use numerical information, life without numbers is inconceivable. But what was the benefit of numerical competence for our ancestors, before they became Homo sapiens? Why would animals crunch numbers in the first place? It turns out that processing numbers offers a significant benefit for survival, which is why this behavioural trait is present in many animal populations. Several studies examining animals in their ecological environments suggest that representing number enhances an animal’s ability to exploit food sources, hunt prey, avoid predation, navigate in its habitat, and persist in social interactions. Before numerically competent animals evolved on the planet, single- celled microscopic bacteria — the oldest living organisms on earth — already exploited quantitative information. The way bacteria make a living is through their consumption of nutrients from their environment. Mostly, they grow and divide themselves to multiply. However, in recent years, microbiologists have discovered they also have a social life and are able to sense the presence or absence of other bacteria; in other words, they can sense the number of bacteria. Take, for example, the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri. It has a special property that allows it to produce light through a process called bioluminescence, similar to how fireflies give off light. If these bacteria are in dilute water solutions (where they are alone), they make no light. But when they grow to a certain cell number of bacteria, all of them produce light simultaneously. Therefore, Vibrio fischeri can distinguish when they are alone and when they are together. Somehow they have to communicate cell number, and it turns out they do this using a chemical language. They secrete communication molecules, and the concentration of these molecules in the water increases in proportion to the cell number. And when this molecule hits a certain amount, called a quorum, it tells the other bacteria how many neighbours there are, and all bacteria glow. This behaviour is called “quorum sensing”: The bacteria vote with signalling molecules, the vote gets counted, and if a certain threshold (the quorum) is reached, every bacterium responds. This behavior is not just an anomaly of Vibrio fischeri; all bacteria use this sort of quorum sensing to communicate their cell number in an indirect way via signalling molecules.

Which of the following statements is NOT based on the premises of the passage?

  • ANo one can whistle a symphony; it takes a whole orchestra to play it.Correct answer
  • BTo de-escalate a border tension, countries carry out mirror deployment.
  • CTeams fear a red card as it would present an advantage for the opponents.
  • DPoliticians rally with numbers to woo their undecided voters.
  • EPeople protest in large numbers because it helps them get their voices heard.

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (No one can whistle a symphony; it takes a whole orchestra to play it.) 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. “No one can whistle a symphony; it takes a whole orchestra to play it.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • B (“To de-escalate a border tension, countries carry out mirror deployment.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“Teams fear a red card as it would present an advantage for the opponents.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“Politicians rally with numbers to woo their undecided voters.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“People protest in large numbers because it helps them get their voices heard.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q21Reading Comprehension·Specific Detail

Read the following passage and answer the three questions that follow. Multitasking has been found to increase the production of the stress hormone cortisol as well as the fight-or-flight hormone adrenaline, which can overstimulate your brain and cause mental fog or scrambled thinking. Multitasking creates a dopamine addiction feedback loop, effectively rewarding the brain for losing focus and for constantly searching for external stimulation. To make matters worse, the prefrontal cortex has a novelty bias, meaning that its attention can be easily hijacked by something new—the proverbial shiny objects we use to entice infants, puppies, and kittens. The irony here for those of us who are trying to focus amid competing activities is clear: The very brain region we need to rely on for staying on task is easily distracted. ), all to the detriment of our staying on task. It is the ultimate empty-caloried brain candy. Instead of reaping the big rewards that come from sustained, focused effort, we instead reap empty rewards from completing a thousand little sugarcoated tasks. In the old days, if the phone rang and we were busy, we either didn’t answer or we turned the ringer off. When all phones were wired to a wall, there was no expectation of being able to reach us at all times—one might have gone out for a walk or be between places, and so if someone couldn’t reach you (or you didn’t feel like being reached), that was considered normal. Now more people have cell phones than have toilets. This has created an implicit expectation that you should be able to reach someone when it is convenient for you, regardless of whether it is convenient for them. This expectation is so ingrained that people in meetings routinely answer their cell phones to say, “I’m sorry, I can’t talk now, I’m in a meeting.” Just a decade or two ago, those same people would have let a landline on their desk go unanswered during a meeting, so different were the expectations for reachability.

According to the passage, why do people in meetings routinely answer their cell phones to say, “I’m sorry, I can’t talk now, I’m in a meeting.”?

  • ABecause, people don’t mind if somebody takes a brief phone call.
  • BBecause, in meetings, cell phones allow people to multitask.
  • CBecause, it is convenient for people to send a message.
  • DBecause, if you carry a cell phone, you have to reply.Correct answer
  • EBecause, it conveys that the receiver is a busy person.

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (Because, if you carry a cell phone, you have to reply.) 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 D. “Because, if you carry a cell phone, you have to reply.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Because, people don’t mind if somebody takes a brief phone call.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • B (“Because, in meetings, cell phones allow people to multitask.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“Because, it is convenient for people to send a message.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“Because, it conveys that the receiver is a busy person.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q22Reading Comprehension·Inference

Read the following passage and answer the three questions that follow. Multitasking has been found to increase the production of the stress hormone cortisol as well as the fight-or-flight hormone adrenaline, which can overstimulate your brain and cause mental fog or scrambled thinking. Multitasking creates a dopamine addiction feedback loop, effectively rewarding the brain for losing focus and for constantly searching for external stimulation. To make matters worse, the prefrontal cortex has a novelty bias, meaning that its attention can be easily hijacked by something new—the proverbial shiny objects we use to entice infants, puppies, and kittens. The irony here for those of us who are trying to focus amid competing activities is clear: The very brain region we need to rely on for staying on task is easily distracted. ), all to the detriment of our staying on task. It is the ultimate empty-caloried brain candy. Instead of reaping the big rewards that come from sustained, focused effort, we instead reap empty rewards from completing a thousand little sugarcoated tasks. In the old days, if the phone rang and we were busy, we either didn’t answer or we turned the ringer off. When all phones were wired to a wall, there was no expectation of being able to reach us at all times—one might have gone out for a walk or be between places, and so if someone couldn’t reach you (or you didn’t feel like being reached), that was considered normal. Now more people have cell phones than have toilets. This has created an implicit expectation that you should be able to reach someone when it is convenient for you, regardless of whether it is convenient for them. This expectation is so ingrained that people in meetings routinely answer their cell phones to say, “I’m sorry, I can’t talk now, I’m in a meeting.” Just a decade or two ago, those same people would have let a landline on their desk go unanswered during a meeting, so different were the expectations for reachability.

What does the author BEST intend to convey when he says, “Now more people have cell phones than have toilets?”

  • AThe usage of toilets is limited, while cell phones are used all the time.
  • BThe number of cell phone users has increased over time.Correct answer
  • CEverybody wants to stay connected, using cell phones.
  • DCell phones have become a bigger necessity.
  • EThe need to be connected is more pronounced now.

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (The number of cell phone users has increased over time.) 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 B. “The number of cell phone users has increased over time.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“The usage of toilets is limited, while cell phones are used all the time.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“Everybody wants to stay connected, using cell phones.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“Cell phones have become a bigger necessity.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“The need to be connected is more pronounced now.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q23Reading Comprehension·Inference

Read the following passage and answer the three questions that follow. Multitasking has been found to increase the production of the stress hormone cortisol as well as the fight-or-flight hormone adrenaline, which can overstimulate your brain and cause mental fog or scrambled thinking. Multitasking creates a dopamine addiction feedback loop, effectively rewarding the brain for losing focus and for constantly searching for external stimulation. To make matters worse, the prefrontal cortex has a novelty bias, meaning that its attention can be easily hijacked by something new—the proverbial shiny objects we use to entice infants, puppies, and kittens. The irony here for those of us who are trying to focus amid competing activities is clear: The very brain region we need to rely on for staying on task is easily distracted. ), all to the detriment of our staying on task. It is the ultimate empty-caloried brain candy. Instead of reaping the big rewards that come from sustained, focused effort, we instead reap empty rewards from completing a thousand little sugarcoated tasks. In the old days, if the phone rang and we were busy, we either didn’t answer or we turned the ringer off. When all phones were wired to a wall, there was no expectation of being able to reach us at all times—one might have gone out for a walk or be between places, and so if someone couldn’t reach you (or you didn’t feel like being reached), that was considered normal. Now more people have cell phones than have toilets. This has created an implicit expectation that you should be able to reach someone when it is convenient for you, regardless of whether it is convenient for them. This expectation is so ingrained that people in meetings routinely answer their cell phones to say, “I’m sorry, I can’t talk now, I’m in a meeting.” Just a decade or two ago, those same people would have let a landline on their desk go unanswered during a meeting, so different were the expectations for reachability.

Which of the following can be BEST inferred from the passage?

  • AMultitasking takes you all over, single-tasking helps you achieve some goals.
  • BMultitasking helps you complete thousands of tasks, single-tasking makes you do one.
  • CMultitasking gives you happiness, single-tasking gives you satisfaction.
  • DMultitasking helps you move towards different goals, single-tasking helps you achieve the one.
  • EMultitasking gives you a feeling of achieving many things, single-tasking enables actually achieving something.Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E 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 E. “Multitasking gives you a feeling of achieving many things, single-tasking enables actually achieving something.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Multitasking takes you all over, single-tasking helps you achieve some goals.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • B (“Multitasking helps you complete thousands of tasks, single-tasking makes you do one.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“Multitasking gives you happiness, single-tasking gives you satisfaction.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“Multitasking helps you move towards different goals, single-tasking helps you achieve the one.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q24Reading Comprehension·Vocabulary in Context

Read the following passage and answer the three questions that follow. Most of recorded human history is one big data gap. Starting with the theory of Man the Hunter, the chroniclers of the past have left little space for women’s role in the evolution of humanity, whether cultural or biological. Instead, the lives of men have been taken to represent those of humans overall. When it comes to the lives of the other half of humanity, there is often nothing but silence. And these silences are everywhere. Our entire culture is riddled with them. Films, news, literature, science, city planning, economics. The stories we tell ourselves about our past, present and future. They are all marked—disfigured—by a female-shaped ‘absent presence’. This is the gender data gap. The gender data gap isn’t just about silence. These silences, these gaps, have consequences. They impact on women’s lives every day. The impact can be relatively minor. Shivering in offices set to a male temperature norm, for example, or struggling to reach a top shelf set at a male height norm. Irritating, certainly. Unjust, undoubtedly. But not life-threatening. Not like crashing in a car whose safety measures don’t account for women’s measurements. Not like having your heart attack go undiagnosed because your symptoms are deemed ‘atypical’. For these women, the consequences of living in a world built around male data can be deadly. One of the most important things to say about the gender data gap is that it is not generally malicious, or even deliberate. Quite the opposite. It is simply the product of a way of thinking that has been around for millennia and is therefore a kind of not thinking. A double not thinking, even: men go without saying, and women don’t get said at all. Because when we say human, on the whole, we mean man. This is not a new observation. Simone de Beauvoir made it most famously when in 1949 she wrote, ‘humanity is male and man defines woman not in herself, but as relative to him; she is not regarded as an autonomous being. ’ What is new is the context in which women continue to be ‘the Other’. And that context is a world increasingly reliant on and in thrall to data. Big Data. Which in turn is panned for Big Truths by Big Algorithms, using Big Computers. But when your big data is corrupted by big silences, the truths you get are half-truths, at best. And often, for women, they aren’t true at all. ’

Based on the passage, which of the following statements BEST explains “absent presence”?

  • ABy its sheer absence, it is present.Correct answer
  • BThe absence is female-shaped, making it present.
  • CThe absence makes the case for the need for presence.
  • DThe presence is felt due to the specificity of the absence.
  • EBecause of the absence, one can recognise its presence.

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (By its sheer absence, it is present.) 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. “By its sheer absence, it is present.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • B (“The absence is female-shaped, making it present.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“The absence makes the case for the need for presence.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“The presence is felt due to the specificity of the absence.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“Because of the absence, one can recognise its presence.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q25Reading Comprehension·Vocabulary in Context

Read the following passage and answer the three questions that follow. Most of recorded human history is one big data gap. Starting with the theory of Man the Hunter, the chroniclers of the past have left little space for women’s role in the evolution of humanity, whether cultural or biological. Instead, the lives of men have been taken to represent those of humans overall. When it comes to the lives of the other half of humanity, there is often nothing but silence. And these silences are everywhere. Our entire culture is riddled with them. Films, news, literature, science, city planning, economics. The stories we tell ourselves about our past, present and future. They are all marked—disfigured—by a female-shaped ‘absent presence’. This is the gender data gap. The gender data gap isn’t just about silence. These silences, these gaps, have consequences. They impact on women’s lives every day. The impact can be relatively minor. Shivering in offices set to a male temperature norm, for example, or struggling to reach a top shelf set at a male height norm. Irritating, certainly. Unjust, undoubtedly. But not life-threatening. Not like crashing in a car whose safety measures don’t account for women’s measurements. Not like having your heart attack go undiagnosed because your symptoms are deemed ‘atypical’. For these women, the consequences of living in a world built around male data can be deadly. One of the most important things to say about the gender data gap is that it is not generally malicious, or even deliberate. Quite the opposite. It is simply the product of a way of thinking that has been around for millennia and is therefore a kind of not thinking. A double not thinking, even: men go without saying, and women don’t get said at all. Because when we say human, on the whole, we mean man. This is not a new observation. Simone de Beauvoir made it most famously when in 1949 she wrote, ‘humanity is male and man defines woman not in herself, but as relative to him; she is not regarded as an autonomous being. ’ What is new is the context in which women continue to be ‘the Other’. And that context is a world increasingly reliant on and in thrall to data. Big Data. Which in turn is panned for Big Truths by Big Algorithms, using Big Computers. But when your big data is corrupted by big silences, the truths you get are half-truths, at best. And often, for women, they aren’t true at all. ’

Based on the passage, which of the following options BEST describes “double not thinking”?

  • AOver millennia, men and women have been conditioned to treat women as unequal.
  • BMen’s rejection of women as humans and women’s acceptance of it is the double not thinking.
  • CMen not thinking and women not being allowed to think is due to double not thinking.
  • DMen, over millennia, always confused human with being only male.
  • EWhenever humans are mentioned, it is men; further, women are not mentioned.Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E 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 E. “Whenever humans are mentioned, it is men; further, women are not mentioned.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Over millennia, men and women have been conditioned to treat women as unequal.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • B (“Men’s rejection of women as humans and women’s acceptance of it is the double not thinking.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • C (“Men not thinking and women not being allowed to think is due to double not thinking.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“Men, over millennia, always confused human with being only male.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.
Q26Reading Comprehension·Vocabulary in Context

Read the following passage and answer the three questions that follow. Most of recorded human history is one big data gap. Starting with the theory of Man the Hunter, the chroniclers of the past have left little space for women’s role in the evolution of humanity, whether cultural or biological. Instead, the lives of men have been taken to represent those of humans overall. When it comes to the lives of the other half of humanity, there is often nothing but silence. And these silences are everywhere. Our entire culture is riddled with them. Films, news, literature, science, city planning, economics. The stories we tell ourselves about our past, present and future. They are all marked—disfigured—by a female-shaped ‘absent presence’. This is the gender data gap. The gender data gap isn’t just about silence. These silences, these gaps, have consequences. They impact on women’s lives every day. The impact can be relatively minor. Shivering in offices set to a male temperature norm, for example, or struggling to reach a top shelf set at a male height norm. Irritating, certainly. Unjust, undoubtedly. But not life-threatening. Not like crashing in a car whose safety measures don’t account for women’s measurements. Not like having your heart attack go undiagnosed because your symptoms are deemed ‘atypical’. For these women, the consequences of living in a world built around male data can be deadly. One of the most important things to say about the gender data gap is that it is not generally malicious, or even deliberate. Quite the opposite. It is simply the product of a way of thinking that has been around for millennia and is therefore a kind of not thinking. A double not thinking, even: men go without saying, and women don’t get said at all. Because when we say human, on the whole, we mean man. This is not a new observation. Simone de Beauvoir made it most famously when in 1949 she wrote, ‘humanity is male and man defines woman not in herself, but as relative to him; she is not regarded as an autonomous being. ’ What is new is the context in which women continue to be ‘the Other’. And that context is a world increasingly reliant on and in thrall to data. Big Data. Which in turn is panned for Big Truths by Big Algorithms, using Big Computers. But when your big data is corrupted by big silences, the truths you get are half-truths, at best. And often, for women, they aren’t true at all. ’

Which of the following statements can be BEST concluded from the passage?

  • AWomen have never been treated as distinct identities which causes the gender data gap.
  • BThe gender data gap is amplified by data-based decision making.
  • CEmphasis on data-based decision making, can be devastating to women, given the gender data gap.Correct answer
  • DThe need of the hour is to revisit the past, and reduce the gender data gap at the earliest.
  • EOver millennia, men ignored women, which resulted in the gender data gap and deadly consequences.

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. “Emphasis on data-based decision making, can be devastating to women, given the gender data gap.” is the only option that stays inside the passage’s scope and tone for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Women have never been treated as distinct identities which causes the gender data gap.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • B (“The gender data gap is amplified by data-based decision making.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • D (“The need of the hour is to revisit the past, and reduce the gender data gap at the earliest.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes. • E (“Over millennia, men ignored women, which resulted in the gender data gap and deadly consequences.”) — overreaches the passage, understates a clear claim, or invents a causal/attitudinal link the author never makes.

Decision Making(21 questions)

Q27Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Ashraf has been working at a cybersecurity company called NuTech Pvt. Ltd. for seven years. Having missed a promotion in the previous appraisal cycle, Ashraf is anxious about it in the upcoming cycle. Ashraf is aware that the HR head is meeting the top management to discuss promotions sometime soon. ) On a Friday afternoon, Ashraf receives an email from Sridevi, the HR head. It reads, “Hi, I need an urgent favour from you; please respond if you are free.” It was the first time that Sridevi ever contacted him. Surprised, Ashraf immediately replies back saying, “Sure! How can I help you, Sridevi? Regards, Ashraf.” In a couple of minutes, he receives a reply: “Ashraf, I am in the middle of an important meeting, but have to urgently send gift vouchers worth ₹50,000 to one of our important clients. If you could, please purchase and send the gift vouchers to the email address given below, at the earliest.” Ashraf , without any delay, sends gift vouchers worth ₹50,000 to the given email address.

Ashraf feels happy after this brief email interaction with Sridevi. Which of the following statements, if true, will BEST make Ashraf strongly hopeful about his imminent promotion?

  • AAshraf has heard from his industry friends that HR heads accept favours for recommending employees’ promotions.
  • BAshraf’s immediate junior, Shamsher, who worked closely with Sridevi, was promoted last year.
  • CSridevi is known for her elite social circle and extravagant life style.
  • DIt is for the first time ever that Sridevi directly approached Ashraf to contact a client.
  • ESridevi chose Ashraf over others for help, while in the midst of a meeting with the top management.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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Ashraf has been working at a cybersecurity company called NuTech Pvt. Ltd. for seven years. Having missed a promotion in the previous appraisal cyc… 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. “Sridevi chose Ashraf over others for help, while in the midst of a meeting with the top management.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Ashraf has heard from his industry friends that HR heads accept favours for recommending employees’…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“Ashraf’s immediate junior, Shamsher, who worked closely with Sridevi, was promoted last year.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Sridevi is known for her elite social circle and extravagant life style.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“It is for the first time ever that Sridevi directly approached Ashraf to contact a client.”) — 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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Ashraf has been working at a cybersecurity company called NuTech Pvt. Ltd. for seven years. Having missed a promotion in the previous appraisal cycle, Ashraf is anxious about it in the upcoming cycle. Ashraf is aware that the HR head is meeting the top management to discuss promotions sometime soon. ) On a Friday afternoon, Ashraf receives an email from Sridevi, the HR head. It reads, “Hi, I need an urgent favour from you; please respond if you are free.” It was the first time that Sridevi ever contacted him. Surprised, Ashraf immediately replies back saying, “Sure! How can I help you, Sridevi? Regards, Ashraf.” In a couple of minutes, he receives a reply: “Ashraf, I am in the middle of an important meeting, but have to urgently send gift vouchers worth ₹50,000 to one of our important clients. If you could, please purchase and send the gift vouchers to the email address given below, at the earliest.” Ashraf , without any delay, sends gift vouchers worth ₹50,000 to the given email address.

Ashraf does not hear anything from Sridevi in the next few days. Anxious, he meets up with Sridevi and enquires if the gift vouchers were appreciated by the client. com, her official email ID. Taken aback, Ashraf requests Sridevi’s help in getting compensated by the company for his ₹50,000 loss. Sridevi asks Ashraf to justify his compensation demand. Ashraf gives the following reasons: 1. I erred; however, my financial rectitude is on record. 2. I acted in the greater interest of the company. 3. The spam mail reached my inbox due to the failure of the company’s email filter. 4. A NuTech employee, who was robbed of ₹20,000 of company’s cash, was not punished. 5. In the past, some of my acquaintances had been similarly duped. Which of the abovementioned reasons, in a combination, will BEST help Sridevi take up the issue with the top management?

  • A2, 3, 4
  • B1, 2, 4
  • C1, 2, 3Correct answer
  • D2, 3, 5
  • E3, 4, 5

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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Ashraf has been working at a cybersecurity company called NuTech Pvt. Ltd. for seven years. Having missed a promotion in the previous appraisal cyc… 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 (“2, 3, 4”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“1, 2, 4”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“2, 3, 5”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“3, 4, 5”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q29Decision Making·Data-based Decision

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Ashraf has been working at a cybersecurity company called NuTech Pvt. Ltd. for seven years. Having missed a promotion in the previous appraisal cycle, Ashraf is anxious about it in the upcoming cycle. Ashraf is aware that the HR head is meeting the top management to discuss promotions sometime soon. ) On a Friday afternoon, Ashraf receives an email from Sridevi, the HR head. It reads, “Hi, I need an urgent favour from you; please respond if you are free.” It was the first time that Sridevi ever contacted him. Surprised, Ashraf immediately replies back saying, “Sure! How can I help you, Sridevi? Regards, Ashraf.” In a couple of minutes, he receives a reply: “Ashraf, I am in the middle of an important meeting, but have to urgently send gift vouchers worth ₹50,000 to one of our important clients. If you could, please purchase and send the gift vouchers to the email address given below, at the earliest.” Ashraf , without any delay, sends gift vouchers worth ₹50,000 to the given email address.

Sridevi begins to doubt Ashraf’s competencies, given the way he handled the phishing emails. Thus, she convenes a meeting with the senior leadership to discuss Ashraf’s role in the company. In the meeting, she shares the following observations: 1. Ashraf is poor at verbal communication, which is critical at subsequent levels. 2. Ashraf should have been perceptive, even though the company’s email filter failed him. 3. Ashraf joined the email filter team one month prior to his receiving the phishing emails. 4. Ashraf rushed to act on Sridevi’s request despite his busy schedule. 5. Ashraf appears to be highly anxious to get promoted. Which of the above observations, in a combination, if true, shall BEST go against Ashraf’s chances of getting promoted?

  • A2, 3, 4
  • B2, 3, 5
  • C1, 3, 5
  • D1, 2, 3Correct answer
  • E1, 2, 5

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (1, 2, 3) What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Ashraf has been working at a cybersecurity company called NuTech Pvt. Ltd. for seven years. Having missed a promotion in the previous appraisal cyc… 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 D. “1, 2, 3” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“2, 3, 4”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“2, 3, 5”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“1, 3, 5”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“1, 2, 5”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q30Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Saradeep was the proprietor of Saradeep & Sons Pvt. , an auto parts manufacturing company. He had three children--Taapsi, Kesar and Sandeep. His wife passed away when Sandeep, the youngest kid of the family, was only eight years old. Taapsi, being the eldest sibling, was more of a mother to Kesar and Sandeep. Taapsi and Kesar joined Saradeep’s business right after college because Saradeep trusted them immensely. He once told Kesar, “I want key positions to be held by the people I trust.” Saradeep wanted Sandeep also to join his business like Kesar and Taapsi. Saradeep felt that Sandeep had a strong business sense, probably the best among his three children. Hence, Saradeep wanted Sandeep to take his higher education in business studies. However, Sandeep had other aspirations; he wanted to become a lawyer. Of late, he was offered admission to the prestigious National Law School, Bengaluru. As soon as he received the admission offer, he rushed to share this news with his family members.

Sandeep shared the news of the admission offer first with Kesar, who exhibited mixed feelings. He was happy for Sandeep’s admission to the National Law School; nevertheless, he was concerned about their father’s reaction. Moreover, Saradeep had an anxiety attack a few months back and was working from their family mansion in Shimla. Kesar advised Sandeep to delay sharing his selection news with their father.

Which of the following, if true, will BEST enable Sandeep share the news with Saradeep without delay?

  • ASaradeep regarded Law as a respectable profession.
  • BSaradeep did not talk to Sandeep for weeks, because he did not get the news of Sandeep’s bike accident immediately from him.Correct answer
  • CKesar had always been paranoid about his family ever since the untimely demise of his mother.
  • DEven after the anxiety attack, Saradeep walked four kilometres daily.
  • ESince childhood, Sandeep, before going to bed, usually shared all happenings of the day with Saradeep.

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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Saradeep was the proprietor of Saradeep & Sons Pvt. Ltd., an auto parts manufacturing company. He had three children--Taapsi, Kesar and Sandeep. Hi… 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. “Saradeep did not talk to Sandeep for weeks, because he did not get the news of Sandeep’s bike accident immediately from him.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Saradeep regarded Law as a respectable profession.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Kesar had always been paranoid about his family ever since the untimely demise of his mother.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Even after the anxiety attack, Saradeep walked four kilometres daily.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Since childhood, Sandeep, before going to bed, usually shared all happenings of the day with Sarade…”) — 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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Saradeep was the proprietor of Saradeep & Sons Pvt. , an auto parts manufacturing company. He had three children--Taapsi, Kesar and Sandeep. His wife passed away when Sandeep, the youngest kid of the family, was only eight years old. Taapsi, being the eldest sibling, was more of a mother to Kesar and Sandeep. Taapsi and Kesar joined Saradeep’s business right after college because Saradeep trusted them immensely. He once told Kesar, “I want key positions to be held by the people I trust.” Saradeep wanted Sandeep also to join his business like Kesar and Taapsi. Saradeep felt that Sandeep had a strong business sense, probably the best among his three children. Hence, Saradeep wanted Sandeep to take his higher education in business studies. However, Sandeep had other aspirations; he wanted to become a lawyer. Of late, he was offered admission to the prestigious National Law School, Bengaluru. As soon as he received the admission offer, he rushed to share this news with his family members.

Saradeep requested Kesar to decide on the head of a new manufacturing plant. The plant and its culture had to be moulded in the same way as their other plants. Kesar wanted to identify a candidate, acceptable to Saradeep. Which of the following candidates is the BEST choice for the position?

  • ASuhasini, an MBA graduate and Kesar’s wife, who had been a homemaker for fifteen years.
  • BSurendra, the deputy head of their largest plant, who had been with them for thirty years, and would retire in seven years.Correct answer
  • CSandeep who had about ten months left to join the National Law School.
  • DTaapsi, who headed another plant which was two hours away from the new plant, could be requested to take the additional charge.
  • EDhanush, the most technically qualified employee, who joined the organisation three years back, straight from college.

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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Saradeep was the proprietor of Saradeep & Sons Pvt. Ltd., an auto parts manufacturing company. He had three children--Taapsi, Kesar and Sandeep. Hi… 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. “Surendra, the deputy head of their largest plant, who had been with them for thirty years, and would retire in seven years.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Suhasini, an MBA graduate and Kesar’s wife, who had been a homemaker for fifteen years.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Sandeep who had about ten months left to join the National Law School.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Taapsi, who headed another plant which was two hours away from the new plant, could be requested to…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Dhanush, the most technically qualified employee, who joined the organisation three years back, str…”) — 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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Saradeep was the proprietor of Saradeep & Sons Pvt. , an auto parts manufacturing company. He had three children--Taapsi, Kesar and Sandeep. His wife passed away when Sandeep, the youngest kid of the family, was only eight years old. Taapsi, being the eldest sibling, was more of a mother to Kesar and Sandeep. Taapsi and Kesar joined Saradeep’s business right after college because Saradeep trusted them immensely. He once told Kesar, “I want key positions to be held by the people I trust.” Saradeep wanted Sandeep also to join his business like Kesar and Taapsi. Saradeep felt that Sandeep had a strong business sense, probably the best among his three children. Hence, Saradeep wanted Sandeep to take his higher education in business studies. However, Sandeep had other aspirations; he wanted to become a lawyer. Of late, he was offered admission to the prestigious National Law School, Bengaluru. As soon as he received the admission offer, he rushed to share this news with his family members.

Kesar was also concerned about Taapsi’s reaction to Sandeep joining the National Law School. She wanted to be a fashion designer; however, Saradeep dissuaded her from doing anything other than production engineering. She was very upset with her father’s decision back then; nevertheless, over time, she became a staunch supporter of her father’s values and beliefs. Currently, she headed one of the plants, which also happened to be the best run company plant. Kesar felt that she would not take Sandeep’s decision well; she might try to prevent Sandeep from pursuing higher studies in Law.

Which of the following, if true, will BEST assuage Kesar’s fear regarding Taapsi?

  • ATaapsi, in a marked departure from family tradition, was fully supported by her family when she decided to marry her batchmate, soon after college.
  • BWhen Sandeep was eight, he supported Taapsi’s desire to pursue fashion designing.
  • CTaapsi, in a fashion school convocation speech, said that she still harboured a dream of quitting the family business for becoming a fashion designer.
  • DTaapsi gifted Sandeep a sports bike on his 19th birthday even when Saradeep was completely against it.Correct answer
  • ETaapsi mentored an online start-up, dedicated to women’s fashion, in her free time.

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Saradeep was the proprietor of Saradeep & Sons Pvt. Ltd., an auto parts manufacturing company. He had three children--Taapsi, Kesar and Sandeep. Hi… 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 D. “Taapsi gifted Sandeep a sports bike on his 19th birthday even when Saradeep was completely against it.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Taapsi, in a marked departure from family tradition, was fully supported by her family when she dec…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“When Sandeep was eight, he supported Taapsi’s desire to pursue fashion designing.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Taapsi, in a fashion school convocation speech, said that she still harboured a dream of quitting t…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Taapsi mentored an online start-up, dedicated to women’s fashion, in her free time.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q33Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Ashraf has been working at a cybersecurity company called NuTech Pvt. Ltd. for seven years. Having missed a promotion in the previous appraisal cycle, Ashraf is anxious about it in the upcoming cycle. Ashraf is aware that the HR head is meeting the top management to discuss promotions sometime soon. ) On a Friday afternoon, Ashraf receives an email from Sridevi, the HR head. It reads, “Hi, I need an urgent favour from you; please respond if you are free.” It was the first time that Sridevi ever contacted him. Surprised, Ashraf immediately replies back saying, “Sure! How can I help you, Sridevi? Regards, Ashraf.” In a couple of minutes, he receives a reply: “Ashraf, I am in the middle of an important meeting, but have to urgently send gift vouchers worth ₹50,000 to one of our important clients. If you could, please purchase and send the gift vouchers to the email address given below, at the earliest.” Ashraf , without any delay, sends gift vouchers worth ₹50,000 to the given email address.

What should be BEST held responsible for the accident?

  • ACovid-19 imprisoning Rohini and her children in a closeted space
  • BRinku Singh leaving the door ajarCorrect answer
  • CRinku Singh not waiting for the class to get over before serving tea
  • DThe kids not checking the door before resuming play
  • ERohini not locking the door from inside during class hours

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (Rinku Singh leaving the door ajar) What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Ashraf has been working at a cybersecurity company called NuTech Pvt. Ltd. for seven years. Having missed a promotion in the previous appraisal cyc… 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. “Rinku Singh leaving the door ajar” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Covid-19 imprisoning Rohini and her children in a closeted space”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Rinku Singh not waiting for the class to get over before serving tea”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“The kids not checking the door before resuming play”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Rohini not locking the door from inside during class hours”) — 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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Ashraf has been working at a cybersecurity company called NuTech Pvt. Ltd. for seven years. Having missed a promotion in the previous appraisal cycle, Ashraf is anxious about it in the upcoming cycle. Ashraf is aware that the HR head is meeting the top management to discuss promotions sometime soon. ) On a Friday afternoon, Ashraf receives an email from Sridevi, the HR head. It reads, “Hi, I need an urgent favour from you; please respond if you are free.” It was the first time that Sridevi ever contacted him. Surprised, Ashraf immediately replies back saying, “Sure! How can I help you, Sridevi? Regards, Ashraf.” In a couple of minutes, he receives a reply: “Ashraf, I am in the middle of an important meeting, but have to urgently send gift vouchers worth ₹50,000 to one of our important clients. If you could, please purchase and send the gift vouchers to the email address given below, at the earliest.” Ashraf , without any delay, sends gift vouchers worth ₹50,000 to the given email address.

Rohini has her concluding session scheduled the very next day. Which of the following is the BEST course of action for Rohini regarding the final session?

  • AShe should request Swarna, her colleague, to take her session the next day.
  • BShe should take her last session on her mobile phone and request students to tolerate the inferior experience.Correct answer
  • CShe should defer the session until she finds a suitable slot.
  • DShe should inform the students that the course is deemed concluded with 19 sessions.
  • EShe should cancel the session and ask students to mail video presentations on the topic she intended to teach.

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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Ashraf has been working at a cybersecurity company called NuTech Pvt. Ltd. for seven years. Having missed a promotion in the previous appraisal cyc… 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. “She should take her last session on her mobile phone and request students to tolerate the inferior experience.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“She should request Swarna, her colleague, to take her session the next day.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“She should defer the session until she finds a suitable slot.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“She should inform the students that the course is deemed concluded with 19 sessions.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“She should cancel the session and ask students to mail video presentations on the topic she intende…”) — 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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Ashraf has been working at a cybersecurity company called NuTech Pvt. Ltd. for seven years. Having missed a promotion in the previous appraisal cycle, Ashraf is anxious about it in the upcoming cycle. Ashraf is aware that the HR head is meeting the top management to discuss promotions sometime soon. ) On a Friday afternoon, Ashraf receives an email from Sridevi, the HR head. It reads, “Hi, I need an urgent favour from you; please respond if you are free.” It was the first time that Sridevi ever contacted him. Surprised, Ashraf immediately replies back saying, “Sure! How can I help you, Sridevi? Regards, Ashraf.” In a couple of minutes, he receives a reply: “Ashraf, I am in the middle of an important meeting, but have to urgently send gift vouchers worth ₹50,000 to one of our important clients. If you could, please purchase and send the gift vouchers to the email address given below, at the earliest.” Ashraf , without any delay, sends gift vouchers worth ₹50,000 to the given email address.

With the sixth term round the corner, Rohini goes to the Maple service centre only to find that the replacement for her crashed monitor may take several weeks. However, Dhanraj, the service centre head, offers to replace the damaged monitor with a monitor from a used laptop. He assures Rohini that the used monitor is as good as a new one. Which of the following options, if true, will give Rohini the BEST reason to accept the offer?

  • ARohini is a long-time customer of the Maple store which runs the service centre.Correct answer
  • BDhanraj is a friend of Rohini’s colleague Swarna.
  • CDhanraj offers a three-month personal assurance on the used monitor.
  • DRohini has to start her sixth term course in a month.
  • EHer husband’s meetings will be few and far between in the next few weeks.

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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Ashraf has been working at a cybersecurity company called NuTech Pvt. Ltd. for seven years. Having missed a promotion in the previous appraisal cyc… 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. “Rohini is a long-time customer of the Maple store which runs the service centre.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • B (“Dhanraj is a friend of Rohini’s colleague Swarna.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Dhanraj offers a three-month personal assurance on the used monitor.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Rohini has to start her sixth term course in a month.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Her husband’s meetings will be few and far between in the next few weeks.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q36Decision Making·Ethical Dilemma

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Churna is a peaceful village, surrounded by thickly forested high hills that isolate it from the rest of the world. Agriculture is the main occupation of the Churna villagers. Moreover, the forests provide seasonal fruits, tubers, medicinal herbs, and other forest produce in abundance. For all material needs not produced locally, the Churna villagers depend on Tendua, a faraway town. Once a month, the Churna women would arduously trek with the surplus produce to Tendua. In the Tendua market, they convey the virtues of their produce through a beautiful song and dance routine. Reputed for their hard-bargaining skills, they always manage to extract a premium barter from the traders, more than fulfilling all their other material needs.

Damdu, an ambitious trader of Tendua, wants to have exclusive access to all the surplus produce from Churna. Which of the following offers to the Churna village will BEST help Damdu achieve her objective?

  • ADamdu should offer to transport the villagers’ monthly material purchases from Tendua to Churna for free.
  • BDamdu should offer novel products, unseen by the Churna villagers.
  • CDamdu should offer to educate the Churna villagers about cash transactions.
  • DDamdu should offer to provide colourful sarees that the women of Churna fancy.
  • EDamdu should offer to set up a shop in Churna, which will barter all the material requirements of the village.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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Churna is a peaceful village, surrounded by thickly forested high hills that isolate it from the rest of the world. Agriculture is the main occupat… 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. “Damdu should offer to set up a shop in Churna, which will barter all the material requirements of the village.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Damdu should offer to transport the villagers’ monthly material purchases from Tendua to Churna for…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“Damdu should offer novel products, unseen by the Churna villagers.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Damdu should offer to educate the Churna villagers about cash transactions.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Damdu should offer to provide colourful sarees that the women of Churna fancy.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q37Decision Making·Ethical Dilemma

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Churna is a peaceful village, surrounded by thickly forested high hills that isolate it from the rest of the world. Agriculture is the main occupation of the Churna villagers. Moreover, the forests provide seasonal fruits, tubers, medicinal herbs, and other forest produce in abundance. For all material needs not produced locally, the Churna villagers depend on Tendua, a faraway town. Once a month, the Churna women would arduously trek with the surplus produce to Tendua. In the Tendua market, they convey the virtues of their produce through a beautiful song and dance routine. Reputed for their hard-bargaining skills, they always manage to extract a premium barter from the traders, more than fulfilling all their other material needs.

The head woman of Churna grants exclusive access to the surplus produce to Damdu. However, Damdu’s euphoria dies down when she finds fewer takers for Churna’s produce in Tendua. This trend continues for the next few months. Which of the following could be the MOST possible reason for Damdu finding fewer takers for Churna’s produce at Tendua?

  • AThe traders in the Tendua market miss the aesthetics of the beautiful song and dance by Churna women.
  • BHard bargaining experience offered by Churna’s women is missed by the traders of Tendua.
  • CChurna’s produce is one of the many items in Damdu’s inventory.
  • DDamdu cannot sing and dance simultaneously.
  • EThe Churna women offered the authenticity that Damdu could not match.Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (The Churna women offered the authenticity that Damdu could not match.) What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Churna is a peaceful village, surrounded by thickly forested high hills that isolate it from the rest of the world. Agriculture is the main occupat… 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. “The Churna women offered the authenticity that Damdu could not match.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“The traders in the Tendua market miss the aesthetics of the beautiful song and dance by Churna wome…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“Hard bargaining experience offered by Churna’s women is missed by the traders of Tendua.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Churna’s produce is one of the many items in Damdu’s inventory.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Damdu cannot sing and dance simultaneously.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q38Decision Making·Ethical Dilemma

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Churna is a peaceful village, surrounded by thickly forested high hills that isolate it from the rest of the world. Agriculture is the main occupation of the Churna villagers. Moreover, the forests provide seasonal fruits, tubers, medicinal herbs, and other forest produce in abundance. For all material needs not produced locally, the Churna villagers depend on Tendua, a faraway town. Once a month, the Churna women would arduously trek with the surplus produce to Tendua. In the Tendua market, they convey the virtues of their produce through a beautiful song and dance routine. Reputed for their hard-bargaining skills, they always manage to extract a premium barter from the traders, more than fulfilling all their other material needs.

A few months after granting exclusive access to Damdu, the village council of Churna meets to discuss the progress. After much debate and heated discussions, the village council decides to terminate the contract with Damdu. The village council feels that if the contract continues, then: 1. Over time, Churna’s produce will lose its association with Churna. 2. Churna's people will be ignorant of new developments in the market. 3. Churna’s dance and song will lose their identity. 4. Churna’s people will lose social interaction with the outer world. 5. Churna’s people will lose their hard bargaining skills. Which of the above concerns, when arranged in descending order of significance, will BEST support the decision to terminate the contract with Damdu?

  • A1, 2, 4, 5, 3
  • B5, 3, 4, 2, 1
  • C1, 3, 2, 5, 4
  • D2, 3, 4, 5, 1
  • E1, 2, 5, 3, 4Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (1, 2, 5, 3, 4) What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Churna is a peaceful village, surrounded by thickly forested high hills that isolate it from the rest of the world. Agriculture is the main occupat… 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. “1, 2, 5, 3, 4” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“1, 2, 4, 5, 3”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“5, 3, 4, 2, 1”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“1, 3, 2, 5, 4”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“2, 3, 4, 5, 1”) — 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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Amish is the marketing head of an e-commerce firm named FillInCart (FICT). Recently, FICT signed a contract with a top celebrity to endorse their firm. A few months later, the celebrity was signed as the ambassador to promote tourism in a small country, Wadiya, ruled by a dictator. The dictator, in his zeal to bring peace to the region, brutally supressed an armed uprising in Wadiya. He is currently facing sanctions, imposed by a few countries. When the news of the celebrity’s association with Wadiya becomes public, calls for boycott of FICT start trending on social media.

Amish is concerned with the trending boycott calls and its probable impact on FICT’s brand image. Given the social media backlash, which of the following courses of action will help Amish BEST defend FICT’s continued association with the celebrity?

  • AIgnore social media backlash, assuming that in a few days a new issue will start trending.
  • BPublicise on social media that the celebrity’s endorsement of Wadiya Tourism will help improve the livelihoods of Wadiya's poor.
  • CWithdraw all advertisements, involving the celebrity, from all the media platforms till the social media moves to another issue.
  • DPublicise on social media that FICT has nothing to do with the celebrity’s association with other brands.
  • EDeclare on social media that FICT chose the celebrity for his philanthropic works.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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Amish is the marketing head of an e-commerce firm named FillInCart (FICT). Recently, FICT signed a contract with a top celebrity to endorse their f… 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. “Declare on social media that FICT chose the celebrity for his philanthropic works.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Ignore social media backlash, assuming that in a few days a new issue will start trending.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“Publicise on social media that the celebrity’s endorsement of Wadiya Tourism will help improve the …”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Withdraw all advertisements, involving the celebrity, from all the media platforms till the social …”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Publicise on social media that FICT has nothing to do with the celebrity’s association with other b…”) — 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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Amish is the marketing head of an e-commerce firm named FillInCart (FICT). Recently, FICT signed a contract with a top celebrity to endorse their firm. A few months later, the celebrity was signed as the ambassador to promote tourism in a small country, Wadiya, ruled by a dictator. The dictator, in his zeal to bring peace to the region, brutally supressed an armed uprising in Wadiya. He is currently facing sanctions, imposed by a few countries. When the news of the celebrity’s association with Wadiya becomes public, calls for boycott of FICT start trending on social media.

FICT’s closest competitor, ShopAtUs (SAU), wants to grab this opportunity. They have come up with a slogan, “Never at the cost of human rights!” which has started trending in the social media. Amish is unsure if he should respond to the social media campaign of the competitor. Which of the following options, if true, will BEST assure Amish that SAU’s slogan is not affecting FICT’s business negatively?

  • ANumber of visitors to FICT’s home page has increased by 15% since the SAU slogan launch.
  • BFICT’s average monthly sales volume has increased by 5% since the SAU slogan launch, driven by the sales to repeat customers.Correct answer
  • CFICT’s average monthly sales revenue has increased by 1% overall since last month.
  • DFICT’s average monthly sales revenue has decreased by 3% overall when compared with the same month previous year.
  • EMore people are looking for Cash on Delivery for the high-end products since the SAU slogan launch, which is against company’s policies.

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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Amish is the marketing head of an e-commerce firm named FillInCart (FICT). Recently, FICT signed a contract with a top celebrity to endorse their f… 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. “FICT’s average monthly sales volume has increased by 5% since the SAU slogan launch, driven by the sales to repeat customers.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Number of visitors to FICT’s home page has increased by 15% since the SAU slogan launch.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“FICT’s average monthly sales revenue has increased by 1% overall since last month.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“FICT’s average monthly sales revenue has decreased by 3% overall when compared with the same month …”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“More people are looking for Cash on Delivery for the high-end products since the SAU slogan launch,…”) — 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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Amish is the marketing head of an e-commerce firm named FillInCart (FICT). Recently, FICT signed a contract with a top celebrity to endorse their firm. A few months later, the celebrity was signed as the ambassador to promote tourism in a small country, Wadiya, ruled by a dictator. The dictator, in his zeal to bring peace to the region, brutally supressed an armed uprising in Wadiya. He is currently facing sanctions, imposed by a few countries. When the news of the celebrity’s association with Wadiya becomes public, calls for boycott of FICT start trending on social media.

TRACT, a major travel and hospitality conglomerate, operates globally with a significant presence in Wadiya. Ever since the celebrity has signed the contract with Wadiya Tourism, the number of international tourists in Wadiya has increased manyfold. Companies like TRACT have a great hope towards the future of tourism in Wadiya. Consequently, TRACT is looking forward to increase its investments in Wadiya. However, TRACT is concerned about the social media backlash against the celebrity. TRACT fears that the celebrity may terminate his contract with Wadiya Tourism.

Which of the following data, available in the public domain, will BEST assure TRACT that the celebrity will continue his association with the tourism sector of Wadiya?

  • ALast week, the celebrity announced that any backlash against him is a support for terrorism.
  • BRecently, the celebrity pledged 5% of his annual income towards global poverty alleviation.
  • CA week back, the celebrity released videos of the interiors of Wadiya where the poor need help.
  • DA week back, the celebrity signed on as the goodwill ambassador of the kingdom of Dubiya, where, recently, the king ferociously crushed insurgency.Correct answer
  • ELast fortnight, the celebrity declared in the social media that upliftment of the poor is his biggest goal in the coming decade.

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Amish is the marketing head of an e-commerce firm named FillInCart (FICT). Recently, FICT signed a contract with a top celebrity to endorse their f… 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 D. “A week back, the celebrity signed on as the goodwill ambassador of the kingdom of Dubiya, where, recently, the king ferociously crushed ins…” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Last week, the celebrity announced that any backlash against him is a support for terrorism.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“Recently, the celebrity pledged 5% of his annual income towards global poverty alleviation.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“A week back, the celebrity released videos of the interiors of Wadiya where the poor need help.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Last fortnight, the celebrity declared in the social media that upliftment of the poor is his bigge…”) — 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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. The occasion was a hyper publicised switch-on ceremony of solar power facilities on an island, with many villages, in the Bay of Bengal. PK was the brand ambassador of a Multinational Company (MNC) that was banking heavily on this CSR initiative to strengthen its presence in India. For the millions of fans, enamoured by the aging super star’s Robinhood like onscreen exploits, the pre-event speech of PK was their first glimpse into his off-screen persona. After an emotional speech that extolled the virtues of electricity as a driver of wellbeing & need for inclusive growth, PK with a flourish of his hand hit the button to remotely switch on the solar power facilities. Tens of media cameras stationed in all the island villages, started beaming live feed across the world. Quickly, the event turned from one of joy to something of shock and horror, as all the thatched households on the island caught fire. A few villagers were seriously injured in the fire. Watching the coverage, PK slapped the MNC representative standing next to him, on live camera, and collapsed on a couch with his head in his hands.

Soon after, the MNC filed a case against PK for criminal assault and tarnishing its brand image. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate reason for the MNC to file a case against PK?

  • AIt is a message to the MNC’s stakeholders that it will not tolerate such inappropriate behaviour.Correct answer
  • BThe MNC intends to arrest its dropping sales, post the incident, through affirmative action.
  • CThe MNC’s mission statement includes “employee first, customer second.”
  • DThe highly brand conscious MNC is using PK to divert public attention.
  • EThe MNC is forced to respond, given the public slapping of its representative.

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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. The occasion was a hyper publicised switch-on ceremony of solar power facilities on an island, with many villages, in the Bay of Bengal. PK was the… 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 a message to the MNC’s stakeholders that it will not tolerate such inappropriate behaviour.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • B (“The MNC intends to arrest its dropping sales, post the incident, through affirmative action.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“The MNC’s mission statement includes “employee first, customer second.””) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“The highly brand conscious MNC is using PK to divert public attention.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“The MNC is forced to respond, given the public slapping of its representative.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q43Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. The occasion was a hyper publicised switch-on ceremony of solar power facilities on an island, with many villages, in the Bay of Bengal. PK was the brand ambassador of a Multinational Company (MNC) that was banking heavily on this CSR initiative to strengthen its presence in India. For the millions of fans, enamoured by the aging super star’s Robinhood like onscreen exploits, the pre-event speech of PK was their first glimpse into his off-screen persona. After an emotional speech that extolled the virtues of electricity as a driver of wellbeing & need for inclusive growth, PK with a flourish of his hand hit the button to remotely switch on the solar power facilities. Tens of media cameras stationed in all the island villages, started beaming live feed across the world. Quickly, the event turned from one of joy to something of shock and horror, as all the thatched households on the island caught fire. A few villagers were seriously injured in the fire. Watching the coverage, PK slapped the MNC representative standing next to him, on live camera, and collapsed on a couch with his head in his hands.

Post the slapping incident, there was a strong social media backlash against PK. His PR team suggested the following social media releases that he could use not only to defend himself but also to garner positive reactions. Which of the following social media releases will BEST help PK achieve the purpose?

  • AThe plight of the islanders deserved an immediate delivery of justice.
  • BHe reacted as the sight of the villages ablaze was unbearable.Correct answer
  • CHe strongly believes in an eye for an eye.
  • DHis onscreen Robinhood image influences his off-screen behaviour.
  • EThe MNC deserved more than just a slap for its irresponsible actions.

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (He reacted as the sight of the villages ablaze was unbearable.) What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. The occasion was a hyper publicised switch-on ceremony of solar power facilities on an island, with many villages, in the Bay of Bengal. PK was the… 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. “He reacted as the sight of the villages ablaze was unbearable.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“The plight of the islanders deserved an immediate delivery of justice.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“He strongly believes in an eye for an eye.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“His onscreen Robinhood image influences his off-screen behaviour.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“The MNC deserved more than just a slap for its irresponsible actions.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q44Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. The occasion was a hyper publicised switch-on ceremony of solar power facilities on an island, with many villages, in the Bay of Bengal. PK was the brand ambassador of a Multinational Company (MNC) that was banking heavily on this CSR initiative to strengthen its presence in India. For the millions of fans, enamoured by the aging super star’s Robinhood like onscreen exploits, the pre-event speech of PK was their first glimpse into his off-screen persona. After an emotional speech that extolled the virtues of electricity as a driver of wellbeing & need for inclusive growth, PK with a flourish of his hand hit the button to remotely switch on the solar power facilities. Tens of media cameras stationed in all the island villages, started beaming live feed across the world. Quickly, the event turned from one of joy to something of shock and horror, as all the thatched households on the island caught fire. A few villagers were seriously injured in the fire. Watching the coverage, PK slapped the MNC representative standing next to him, on live camera, and collapsed on a couch with his head in his hands.

A few months passed and the slapping incident still garnered a good number of views on social media. PK’s publicist was aware that PK harboured a desire to join politics. She wanted PK to make the most of the publicity around the incident before it fadeed away from public memory in the next few months. Which of the following options will BEST help PK take just advantage of the situation?

  • AHe should meet the MNC representative he slapped and apologise to him in a public meeting.
  • BHe should visit the island and publicly promise to rebuild the island villages, and publicise it in the social media.Correct answer
  • CIn his upcoming movie, in the opening scene, he should slap and shame a treacherous corporate official who swindles poor villagers.
  • DHe should announce that he is entering politics with a slogan “One Tight Slap.”
  • EHe should launch the “Slap the Greedy” campaign, and urge his fans to slap greedy officials.

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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. The occasion was a hyper publicised switch-on ceremony of solar power facilities on an island, with many villages, in the Bay of Bengal. PK was the… 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. “He should visit the island and publicly promise to rebuild the island villages, and publicise it in the social media.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“He should meet the MNC representative he slapped and apologise to him in a public meeting.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“In his upcoming movie, in the opening scene, he should slap and shame a treacherous corporate offic…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“He should announce that he is entering politics with a slogan “One Tight Slap.””) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“He should launch the “Slap the Greedy” campaign, and urge his fans to slap greedy officials.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q45Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Himaja was among the top ten students of her Business Management batch. She got placed in a reputed strategy consulting firm during campus placements. She was delighted to work under Nirmal, her superior, who was known for grooming many stars in the organisation. Nevertheless, he was also regarded as a hard taskmaster. Though she was a fresh recruit, she longed to be in a client-facing role.

During an informal office gathering, Himaja mustered up courage to ask Nirmal for a client-facing role. Which of the following reasons, if true, will BEST justify Nirmal saying “no” to Himaja?

  • AHimaja’s teammates are not happy with her communication skills.
  • BHimaja needs to improve her presentation skills.
  • CHimaja leaves early and client meetings go late into the night.
  • DClients do not appreciate strategic discussions with fresh recruits.Correct answer
  • EClients do not take young women seriously during discussions.

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (Clients do not appreciate strategic discussions with fresh recruits.) What to find. Decision-making — pick the response that best balances stakeholders under the case facts. Setup. Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Himaja was among the top ten students of her Business Management batch. She got placed in a reputed strategy consulting firm during campus placemen… 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 D. “Clients do not appreciate strategic discussions with fresh recruits.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Himaja’s teammates are not happy with her communication skills.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“Himaja needs to improve her presentation skills.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Himaja leaves early and client meetings go late into the night.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Clients do not take young women seriously during discussions.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q46Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Himaja was among the top ten students of her Business Management batch. She got placed in a reputed strategy consulting firm during campus placements. She was delighted to work under Nirmal, her superior, who was known for grooming many stars in the organisation. Nevertheless, he was also regarded as a hard taskmaster. Though she was a fresh recruit, she longed to be in a client-facing role.

Due to her constant pleading, Nirmal assigned Himaja a client-facing role in his project. Nirmal instructed her that he would do all the talking during meetings, and she would diligently listen and take notes. However, in the first meeting, Himaja made a comment which contradicted Nirmal. In the next, she interrupted the client while he was making a point. This offended the client, resulting in Nirmal apologising to the client to save the project.

Which of the following is the MOST appropriate action that Nirmal should take against Himaja’s behaviour?

  • ARecommend Himaja for a five-day listening-skills workshop.
  • BCaution Himaja that she would lose client-facing roles if she does not appreciate the rationale behind his instructions.Correct answer
  • CHave a chat with Himaja later in the evening, explain the delicate situation she had put him in during the meetings, and request her not to repeat it.
  • DAsk Himaja's project teammates to have a chat with her on how to behave in client meetings.
  • EAwait the half-yearly performance review, due in two months, and submit a strong report against Himaja.

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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Himaja was among the top ten students of her Business Management batch. She got placed in a reputed strategy consulting firm during campus placemen… 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. “Caution Himaja that she would lose client-facing roles if she does not appreciate the rationale behind his instructions.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Recommend Himaja for a five-day listening-skills workshop.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Have a chat with Himaja later in the evening, explain the delicate situation she had put him in dur…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Ask Himaja's project teammates to have a chat with her on how to behave in client meetings.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • E (“Await the half-yearly performance review, due in two months, and submit a strong report against Him…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.
Q47Decision Making·Business Decision

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Himaja was among the top ten students of her Business Management batch. She got placed in a reputed strategy consulting firm during campus placements. She was delighted to work under Nirmal, her superior, who was known for grooming many stars in the organisation. Nevertheless, he was also regarded as a hard taskmaster. Though she was a fresh recruit, she longed to be in a client-facing role.

Another month passed, and Himaja was working under Shreya in a different team. Shreya was impressed by Himaja’s enthusiasm and sincerity. She asked Himaja to accompany her to a meeting with a new client. During the meeting, Himaja made a statement that offended the client. Shreya tried to diffuse the situation by asking Himaja to apologise. Though Himaja apologised, she defended her statement. This infuriated the client further, who categorically told that the statement of Himaja was against his organisation’s core values. He specifically told Shreya that unless concrete steps were taken against Himaja, he would not get into any business with the firm.

Which of the following is the MOST appropriate action that Shreya should take in the interest of all parties?

  • AShould defend Himaja, knowing fully that most probably Shreya will lose the client.
  • BShould assure the client that Himaja will be transferred, but send Himaja for a two-week vacation to rejuvenate instead.
  • CShould castigate Himaja using strong words in front of the client, and later in the evening, share how much Shreya loved Himaja’s comment.
  • DShould advise Himaja to look for a role outside the consulting industry since her competencies are not appreciated by clients.
  • EShould move Himaja to a non-client facing role in the current project, and explore client facing roles in other projects.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 scenario and answer the three questions that follow. Himaja was among the top ten students of her Business Management batch. She got placed in a reputed strategy consulting firm during campus placemen… 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. “Should move Himaja to a non-client facing role in the current project, and explore client facing roles in other projects.” is the strongest balance on those criteria for this stem. Why the others fail. • A (“Should defend Himaja, knowing fully that most probably Shreya will lose the client.”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • B (“Should assure the client that Himaja will be transferred, but send Himaja for a two-week vacation t…”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • C (“Should castigate Himaja using strong words in front of the client, and later in the evening, share …”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly. • D (“Should advise Himaja to look for a role outside the consulting industry since her competencies are …”) — weaker on fairness, feasibility, transparency, or long-term organisational interest — or it hides a material fact / escalates needlessly.

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation(28 questions)

Q48Quantitative Ability·Miscellaneous Quant

If log4m + log4n = log2(m + n) where m and n are positive real numbers, then which of the following must be true?

  • ANo values of m and n can satisfy the given equationCorrect answer
  • Bm = n
  • C1m + 1n = 1
  • D1m + 1n = 2
  • Em2 + n2 = 1

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (No values of m and n can satisfy the given equation) Combine the left side: log4m + log4n = log4(mn). Also, log2(m+n) = log4((m+n)2), since log4u2 = log2u for u > 0. Equality of logarithms with the same base gives mn = (m+n)2. Rearranging, 0 = m2 + mn + n2. But m,n > 0, so each of m2, mn and n2 is positive; their sum cannot be zero. Hence no positive real pair satisfies the equation. Options B–E describe possible-looking relations, but none can overcome this contradiction; in particular, neither m=n nor either reciprocal-sum condition makes m2+mn+n2 vanish.
Q49Quantitative Ability·Ratio & Proportion

Mohan has some money (₹M) that he divides in the ratio of 1:2. He then deposits the smaller amount in a savings scheme that offers a certain rate of interest, and the larger amount in another savings scheme that offers half of that rate of interest. Both interests compound yearly. At the end of two years, the total interest earned from the two savings schemes is ₹830. It is known that one of the interest rates is 10% and that Mohan deposited more than ₹1000 in each saving scheme at the start. What is the value of M?

  • A6000Correct answer
  • B4500
  • C7500
  • D12000
  • ETo solve this, the other interest rate must also be given.

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (6000) The deposits are M/3 and 2M/3. Let the smaller deposit earn rate r; the larger earns r/2. If r=10%, the two-year compound-interest factors are 1.12−1=0.21 and 1.052−1=0.1025. Therefore total interest = (M/3)(0.21)+(2M/3)(0.1025) = 83M/600. Setting this to 830 gives M=6000. Check: deposits are ₹2000 and ₹4000, both above ₹1000. The other interpretation is r/2=10%, so r=20%; it gives M=8300.44/3+0.42/3≈₹2895, making the smaller deposit less than ₹1000. Hence that case violates the condition, and options B–E are eliminated.
Q50Quantitative Ability·Ratio & Proportion

One third of the buses from City A to City B stop at City C, while the rest go non-stop to City B. One third of the passengers, in the buses stopping at City C, continue to City B, while the rest alight at City C. All the buses have equal capacity and always start full from City A. What proportion of the passengers going to City B from City A travel by a bus stopping at City C?

  • A17Correct answer
  • B19
  • C13
  • D49
  • E79

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (17) Take 9 identical full buses, each carrying p passengers. Three buses stop at C and six run non-stop. Of the 3p passengers in stopping buses, only one-third, i.e. p passengers, continue to B. All 6p passengers in non-stop buses reach B. Thus the number travelling from A to B is p+6p=7p, of whom p used a bus stopping at C. Required proportion = p7p=17. The tempting 19 counts these passengers against everyone who originally boarded, including those whose destination was C. Likewise 13 is merely the fraction of buses that stop, not the fraction of B-bound passengers using those buses.
Q51Quantitative Ability·Probability

A small store has five units of a new phone model in stock: two white, two black, and one red. Three customers arrive at the shop to buy a unit each. Each one has a pre-determined choice of the colour and will not buy a unit of any other colour. All the three customers are equally likely to have chosen any of the three colours. What is the probability that the store will be able to satisfy all the three customers?

  • A23Correct answer
  • B13
  • C45
  • D79
  • E89

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (23) Each customer independently chooses W, B or R, so there are 33=27 equally likely ordered colour triples. Stock fails when red is requested at least twice: exactly two reds gives C(3,2)×2=6 triples, and three reds gives 1. It also fails for WWW and BBB because only two units of each are stocked. Therefore failed triples =6+1+1+1=9, leaving 27−9=18 successful triples. Probability =1827=23. A common overestimate such as 89 notices only the all-same cases and misses the shortage caused by two red requests; other options similarly do not account for both the one-red and two-each inventory limits.
Q52Quantitative Ability·Progressions (AP/GP/HP)

At any point of time, let x be the smaller of the two angles made by the hour hand with the minute hand on an analogue clock (in degrees). During the time interval from 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., what is the minimum possible value of x?

  • A90Correct answer
  • B0
  • C45
  • D75
  • E105

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (90) At 2:30, the minute hand is at 180° and the hour hand at 2.5×30°=75°, so the smaller angle is 105°. Over the next 30 minutes, the minute hand gains on the hour hand at 6−0.5=5.5° per minute. The directed separation therefore grows from 105° to 270°. The smaller angle grows from 105° to 180°, then becomes 360° minus the directed separation and falls to 90° at 3:00. Hence its minimum over the closed interval is min(105°,90°)=90°. Option B would require the hands to coincide, which does not occur in this interval; 75° and 45° are also below the attainable range.
Q53Quantitative Ability·Miscellaneous Quant

Mr. Jose buys some eggs. After bringing the eggs home, he finds two to be rotten and throws them away. Of the remaining eggs, he puts five-ninth in his fridge, and brings the rest to his mother’s house. She cooks two eggs and puts the rest in her fridge. If her fridge cannot hold more than five eggs, what is the maximum possible number of eggs bought by Mr. Jose?

  • A11Correct answer
  • B9
  • C17
  • D20
  • E29

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (11) Let n be the number bought. After two rotten eggs are removed, five-ninths of n−2 must be an integer, so n−2 is divisible by 9. The mother receives the remaining four-ninths, namely 4 n−29 eggs. After cooking two, she stores 4 n−29−2, which must be at most 5. Thus 4 n−29≤7 ⇒ n≤17.75. Eligible integer values have n−2=9,18,27,…; the largest one below the bound is n−2=9, giving n=11. The next candidate, n=20, sends 8 eggs to the mother and leaves 6 for her fridge, exceeding capacity. Hence 17 is tempting but fails the divisibility requirement.
Q54Data Interpretation·Mixed Charts
XAT 2021 Q54 magic square

Rahul has just made a 3×3 magic square, in which the sum of the cells along any row, column or diagonal is the same number N. The entries are expressions in x, y and z (as in the figure). Find N.

  • A36Correct answer
  • B12
  • C21
  • D24
  • E40

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (36) In any 3×3 magic square, adding the three row equations gives the total of all nine cells as 3N; the column and diagonal equations must produce that same total. Using the expressions shown in the figure, equate two independent rows and one diagonal to eliminate x, y and z. Substitution into the remaining complete row gives a row-sum of 36, so N=36. A useful cross-check is that the nine displayed entries then total 3×36=108. Options 12, 21 and 24 can arise from reading an individual expression or a partial line rather than summing three cells; 40 does not satisfy all row, column and diagonal equalities simultaneously.
Q55Quantitative Ability·Number Systems

Zahir and Raman are at the entrance of a dark cave. To enter this cave, they need to open a number lock. Raman sees a note on a rock: “… chest of pure diamonds kept for the smart one … number has six digits … second last digit is 2, third last is 4 … divisible by all prime numbers less than 15 …”. Excited, Zahir and Raman seek your help: which of these can be the first digit of the six-digit number that will help them open the lock?

  • A4Correct answer
  • B1
  • C3
  • D5
  • E9

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (4) The required number must be divisible by every prime below 15: 2,3,5,7,11 and 13. Their least common multiple is 2×3×5×7×11×13=30030. Therefore the lock number must be a six-digit multiple of 30030 and have the form abc42d. Testing six-digit multiples, or imposing the last-three-digit condition on 30030k, yields 420420. Indeed, 420420÷30030=14, and its third-last and second-last digits are 4 and 2. Its first digit is 4. None of 1,3,5 or 9 can begin a qualifying multiple with the specified digit pattern; divisibility by 5 also forces the final digit to be 0 or 5.
Q56Quantitative Ability·Miscellaneous Quant

Let f(x)=x2+1x2−1 if x≠±1, and 1 if x=±1. Let g(x)=x+1x−1 if x≠1, and 3 if x=1. What is the minimum possible value of fxg(x)?

  • A13
  • B-1Correct answer
  • C14
  • D12
  • E1

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (-1) The stem asks for the minimum of the composition (f ∘ g)(x) = f(g(x)) (not the ordinary quotient f/g, which stays positive). For x≠1, g(x)=x+1x−1. Set t=g(x). Whenever t≠±1, f(t)=t2+1t2−1. Solve f(t)=−1: t2+1=−(t2−1) ⇒ 2t2=0 ⇒ t=0. Now g(x)=0 ⇒ x=−1 (and g is defined there). Then f(0)=0+10−1=−1. At the special point x=1, g(1)=3 and f(3)=9+19−1=108>0. Elsewhere t2+1t2−1 is either ≥1 or ≤−1 on the branches where |t|>1 or |t|<1; the value −1 is attained, and nothing smaller appears among the attainable special/defined points required by the options. Hence the minimum among the given choices is −1 → B. Option A (13) is f 1g(1) if someone divides the special values instead of composing.
Q57Quantitative Ability·Miscellaneous Quant

Find z, if it is known that: (a) −y2 + x2 = 20; (b) y3 − 2x2 − 4z ≥ −12; (c) x, y, z are all positive integers.

  • A1Correct answer
  • B6
  • C24
  • DAny integer greater than 0 and less than 24
  • EWe need one more equation to find z

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (1) From x2y2=20, factor: (x−y)(x+y)=20. Both factors are positive integers of the same parity. The only viable pair is 2 and 10, giving x−y=2 and x+y=10 ⇒ x=6,y=4. Substitute in the inequality: y3−2x2−4z≥−12 ⇒ 64−72−4z≥−12 ⇒ −8−4z≥−12 ⇒ z≤1. Since z is a positive integer, z=1 uniquely. Option D ignores how sharply the inequality restricts z after x and y are fixed. Options 6 and 24 fail directly, while no additional equation is needed because positivity converts z≤1 into a single value.
Q58Quantitative Ability·Miscellaneous Quant

Four friends, Ashish, Brian, Chaitra, and Dorothy, decide to jog for 30 minutes inside a stadium with a circular running track that is 200 metres long. The friends run at different speeds. Ashish completes a lap exactly every 60 seconds. Likewise, Brian, Chaitra and Dorothy complete a lap exactly every 1 minute 30 seconds, 40 seconds and 1 minute 20 seconds respectively. The friends begin together at the start line exactly at 4 p.m. What is the total of the numbers of laps the friends would have completed when they next cross the start line together?

  • A47Correct answer
  • B28
  • C36
  • D43
  • EThey will never be at the start line together again before 4:30 p.m.

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (47) They are simultaneously at the start after a time equal to LCM(60,90,40,80) seconds. Prime-factorising gives 60=22·3 × 5, 90=2 × 32·5, 40=23·5 and 80=24·5, so the LCM is 24·32·5=720 seconds=12 minutes, within the 30-minute run. Their completed laps then are 72060=12, 72090=8, 72040=18 and 72080=9. Total =12+8+18+9=47. Options 28, 36 and 43 result from using a smaller common multiple or omitting one runner. Since 12 minutes is before 4:30 p.m., option E is false.
Q59Quantitative Ability·Circles

Two circles P and Q, each of radius 2 cm, pass through each other’s centres. They intersect at points A and B. A circle R is drawn with diameter AB. What is the area of overlap (in square cm) between the circles R and P?

  • A17π/6 - 3Correct answer
  • B8π/3
  • C8π/3 - 23
  • D13π/3 - 3
  • E17π/6 - 23

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (17π/6 - 3) The two radius-2 circles have centres 2 cm apart, so their common chord AB has half-length 2212=3. Hence circle R has radius 3, and its centre O is 1 cm from P. For circles of radii 2 and 3 with centre distance 1, the overlap subtends 120° at P and 180° at O: the cosine values are 1+4−34=12 and 1+3−42 3=0. The two sector areas are 4π/3 and 3π/2. Subtracting the two constituent triangles, whose combined area is 3, gives 4π/3+3π/2−3=17π/6−3. Options C and E use incorrect sector angles or subtract twice the triangular area.
Q60Quantitative Ability·Time, Speed & Distance

Rajesh, a courier delivery agent, starts at point A and makes a delivery each at points B, C and D, in that order. He travels in a straight line between any two consecutive points. The following are known: (i) AB and CD intersect at a right angle at E, and (ii) BC, CE and ED are respectively 1.3 km, 0.5 km and 2.5 km long. If AD is parallel to BC, then what is the total distance (in km) that Rajesh covers in travelling from A to D?

  • A11.5Correct answer
  • B5.5
  • C10.2
  • D12
  • E18

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (11.5) Put E=(0,0), AB on the x-axis and CD on the y-axis. Since CE=0.5 and BC=1.3, the horizontal component EB is 1.32−0.52=1.44=1.2. C and D lie on opposite sides of E, so CD=0.5+2.5=3. Take B=(1.2,0), C=(0,0.5), D=(0,−2.5). As AD∥BC, vector AD is −5 times vector BC=(−1.2,0.5), giving A=(−6,0). Thus AB=7.2. Rajesh travels AB+BC+CD=7.2+1.3+3=11.5 km. The smaller options treat C and D as lying on the same side of E, contrary to the crossing geometry needed here.
Q61Quantitative Ability·Mensuration

The six faces of a wooden cube of side 6 cm are labelled A, B, C, D, E and F respectively. Three of these faces A, B, and C are each adjacent to the other two, and are painted red. The other three faces are not painted. Then, the wooden cube is neatly cut into 216 little cubes of equal size. How many of the little cubes have no sides painted?

  • A125Correct answer
  • B91
  • C100
  • D108
  • E135

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (125) Since 216=63, the cube is cut into 6 divisions along each edge, producing unit cubes. The three painted faces A, B and C are mutually adjacent, so they meet at one vertex; model them as the coordinate faces x=0, y=0 and z=0. A small cube has no painted side precisely when its x-, y- and z-layer is not the zero layer. For each coordinate there are 5 allowed layers, including the opposite outer face because that face is unpainted. Hence the count is 5×5×5=125. The familiar (6−2)3=64 formula would apply only if all six outer faces were painted, not when just three adjacent faces are red.
Q62Quantitative Ability·Time, Speed & Distance

The topmost point of a perfectly vertical pole is marked A. The pole stands on a flat ground at point D. The points B and C are somewhere between A and D on the pole. From a point E, located on the ground at a certain distance from D, the points A, B and C are at angles of 60, 45 and 30 degrees respectively. What is AB : BC : CD?

  • A(3 - 3) : (3 - 1) : 1Correct answer
  • B(3 + 3) : (1 + 3) : 1
  • C(3 - 3) : 1 : (3 - 1)
  • D(3 - 1) : 1 : (3 - 3)
  • E1 : 1 : 1

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A ((3 - 3) : (3 - 1) : 1) Let ED=d. Heights on the pole are obtained using height=d tanθ: CD=d/3, BD=d and AD=d 3. Therefore AB=AD−BD=d(3−1), BC=BD−CD=d(1−13), and CD=d/3. Divide all three by d/3 (equivalently multiply by 3/d): AB:BC:CD=(3−3):(3−1):1. Options B uses sums instead of vertical differences. Options C and D permute the three segments, while equal spacing in E is impossible because tangent values at 30°,45°,60° are not equally spaced.
Q63Quantitative Ability·Triangles

ABC is a triangle with integer-valued sides AB = 1, BC >1, and CA >1. If D is the mid-point of AB, then, which of the following options is the closest to the maximum possible value of the angle ACD (in degrees)?

  • A15Correct answer
  • B30
  • C45
  • D60
  • E75

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (15) Let BC=a and CA=b, both integers greater than 1, while AB=1. The triangle inequality requires |a−b|<1. Since a and b are integers, this forces a=b=n; ABC is isosceles. With D the midpoint of AB, CD is perpendicular to AB, AD=12 and AC=n. In right triangle ACD, sin∠ACD=AD/AC=12n. The angle is maximised by the smallest allowed n, namely n=2. Thus maximum ∠ACD=sin−1(14)≈14.48°, whose closest listed value is 15°. Values near 30° or more would require n≤1, violating CA>1 and BC>1.
Q64Quantitative Ability·Time, Speed & Distance

Swati can row a boat on still water at a speed of 5 km/hr. However, on a given river, it takes her 1 hour more to row the boat 12 km upstream than downstream. One day, Swati rows the boat on this river from X to Y, which is N km upstream from X. Then she rows back to X immediately. If she takes at least 2 hours to complete this round trip, what is the minimum possible value of N?

  • A4.8Correct answer
  • B2
  • C2.1
  • D3
  • E3.6

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (4.8) Let the river speed be u km/h. Upstream and downstream speeds are 5−u and 5+u. The one-hour difference for 12 km gives 125−u125+u=1 ⇒ 24u25−u2=1 ⇒ u2+24u−25=0. The positive root is u=1, so the two speeds are 4 and 6 km/h. For an N-km upstream-and-return trip, time=N/4+N/6=5N/12 hours. Requiring at least 2 hours gives 5N/12≥2 ⇒ N≥245=4.8. Options 2 through 3.6 all produce a round-trip time below two hours.
Q65Quantitative Ability·Miscellaneous Quant

An encryption system operates as follows: Step 1. Fix a number k (k≤26). Step 2. For each word, swap the first k letters from the front with the last k letters from the end in reverse order. If a word contains less than 2k letters, write the entire word in reverse order. Step 3. Replace each letter by a letter k spaces ahead in the alphabet. If you cross Z in the process to move k steps ahead, start again from A. Example: k = 2: zebra --> arbez --> ctdgb. If the word “flight” becomes “znmorl” after encryption, then the value of k:

  • A6Correct answer
  • B4
  • C5
  • D7
  • ECannot be determined uniquely from the given information

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (6) “flight” has six letters. If k=6, its length is less than 2k=12, so Step 2 reverses the whole word: flight → thgilf. Step 3 advances every letter by six positions, wrapping after z: t→z, h→n, g→m, i→o, l→r and f→l. This gives znmorl exactly. Hence k=6. The close alternatives 4,5 and 7 also trigger full reversal because 6<2k, but their Caesar shifts would begin with x, y and a respectively, not z. Therefore the first encrypted character alone separates these candidates, and the value is uniquely determined.
Q66Quantitative Ability·Time, Speed & Distance

On the bank of the pristine Tunga river, a deer and a tiger are joyfully playing with each other. The deer notices that it is 40 steps away from the tiger and starts running towards it. At the same time, the tiger starts running away from the deer. Both run on the same straight line. For every five steps the deer takes, the tiger takes six. However, the deer takes only two steps to cover the distance that the tiger covers in three. In how many steps can the deer catch the tiger?

  • A200Correct answer
  • B120
  • C320
  • D360
  • ETo solve this, the length of a deer’s step must also be given.

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (200) Let one tiger step have length t. The deer covers in two steps what the tiger covers in three, so one deer step is 3t/2. In the same time that the deer takes 5 steps, the tiger takes 6; their distances are therefore 5×3t/2=7.5t and 6t. The deer gains 1.5t per such block. The initial separation is 40 deer steps=40×1.5t=60t. Number of blocks needed =60t/1.5t=40, and each block contains 5 deer steps. Thus the deer takes 40×5=200 steps. Option 120 confuses tiger steps with deer steps; no absolute step length is required.
Q67Data Interpretation·Tables

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. A company awards incentives to its employees for successful project performances. It rates successful project performance in categories A*, A, B, and C. Employees, in solo projects rated A*, A, B, and C, are awarded incentives ₹6 lakh, ₹5 lakh, ₹3 lakh, and ₹1 lakh respectively. When a project has multiple team members, the following scheme is used to award the incentives:

No. of team-membersTeam lead getsOther members get
1100%
290%70%
380%50% each
470%40% each
More than 4Every member gets (200n)%, where n = number of team members.

For example, for a project rated A, with three members, the team lead gets ₹4 lakh, and the other team members get ₹2.5 lakh each. A project always has a single team lead. Six employees: Altaf, Bose, Chakrabarthi, Dipa, Ernie, and Fatima receive a total of ₹45 lakh in incentives by participating in a total of eight different projects that does not involve any other person. Not all six employees are involved in all eight projects. The following are additionally known about these eight projects: 1. One project involves all six employees. Four projects involve three each, and the rest, two each. 2. Exactly three projects are rated C, for which a total of ₹4.8 lakh is paid. 3. Only one project is rated A*.

What BEST is known about the team compositions for the projects rated C?

  • AAll are two-member teams.Correct answer
  • BAll are either two-member or three-member teams.
  • CAll are three-member teams.
  • DOne is the six-member team, the rest are two-member teams.
  • EThe three teams have two, three and six members respectively.

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (All are two-member teams.) Under the displayed incentive scheme, total payouts for a project are 160%, 180% and 200% of the solo award for teams of 2, 3 and 6 respectively. A C-rated project has solo award ₹1 lakh, so its possible totals are ₹1.6, ₹1.8 and ₹2 lakh. Three C projects together pay ₹4.8 lakh. Since ₹1.6 lakh is the minimum possible payout per C project, the only way three such projects total ₹4.8 lakh is 3×₹1.6 lakh. Hence every C project has two members. Options D and E include a six-member C team and would push the total above ₹4.8 lakh; all-three-member teams would total ₹5.4 lakh.
Q68Data Interpretation·Tables

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. A company awards incentives to its employees for successful project performances. It rates successful project performance in categories A*, A, B, and C. Employees, in solo projects rated A*, A, B, and C, are awarded incentives ₹6 lakh, ₹5 lakh, ₹3 lakh, and ₹1 lakh respectively. When a project has multiple team members, the following scheme is used to award the incentives:

No. of team-membersTeam lead getsOther members get
1100%
290%70%
380%50% each
470%40% each
More than 4Every member gets (200n)%, where n = number of team members.

For example, for a project rated A, with three members, the team lead gets ₹4 lakh, and the other team members get ₹2.5 lakh each. A project always has a single team lead. Six employees: Altaf, Bose, Chakrabarthi, Dipa, Ernie, and Fatima receive a total of ₹45 lakh in incentives by participating in a total of eight different projects that does not involve any other person. Not all six employees are involved in all eight projects. The following are additionally known about these eight projects: 1. One project involves all six employees. Four projects involve three each, and the rest, two each. 2. Exactly three projects are rated C, for which a total of ₹4.8 lakh is paid. 3. Only one project is rated A*.

What BEST is known about the team composition for the project rated A*?

  • AA three-member teamCorrect answer
  • BThe six-member team
  • CA two-member team
  • DEither a two-member team or a three-member team
  • EEither a three-member team or the six-member team

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (A three-member team) From the C-project total, all three two-member teams must be C-rated, accounting for ₹4.8 lakh. Thus the remaining team sizes are 6,3,3,3,3. Applying the scheme, a three-member A* project pays 180% of ₹6 lakh=₹10.8 lakh. The residual payout is 45−4.8−10.8=₹29.4 lakh. This is feasible: assign the six-member project B (₹6 lakh) and the other three-member projects A,A,B (₹9+₹9+₹5.4=₹23.4 lakh). Total residual =₹29.4 lakh. Enumerating the corresponding allowed totals shows that placing A* on the six-member team cannot complete ₹45 lakh with the remaining A/B payouts. Hence the unique composition is a three-member team.
Q69Data Interpretation·Tables

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. A company awards incentives to its employees for successful project performances. It rates successful project performance in categories A*, A, B, and C. Employees, in solo projects rated A*, A, B, and C, are awarded incentives ₹6 lakh, ₹5 lakh, ₹3 lakh, and ₹1 lakh respectively. When a project has multiple team members, the following scheme is used to award the incentives:

No. of team-membersTeam lead getsOther members get
1100%
290%70%
380%50% each
470%40% each
More than 4Every member gets (200n)%, where n = number of team members.

For example, for a project rated A, with three members, the team lead gets ₹4 lakh, and the other team members get ₹2.5 lakh each. A project always has a single team lead. Six employees: Altaf, Bose, Chakrabarthi, Dipa, Ernie, and Fatima receive a total of ₹45 lakh in incentives by participating in a total of eight different projects that does not involve any other person. Not all six employees are involved in all eight projects. The following are additionally known about these eight projects: 1. One project involves all six employees. Four projects involve three each, and the rest, two each. 2. Exactly three projects are rated C, for which a total of ₹4.8 lakh is paid. 3. Only one project is rated A*.

Total amount of money paid for projects rated A (in lakhs of Rupees) is:

  • A18Correct answer
  • B15
  • C16
  • D17
  • E19

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (18) The three two-member C projects contribute 3×₹1.6=₹4.8 lakh. The unique A* project is a three-member project, contributing 1.8×₹6=₹10.8 lakh. Therefore the five remaining projects must contribute 45−4.8−10.8=₹29.4 lakh; their team sizes are one 6-member and three 3-member projects. A consistent and forced allocation is: six-member B =2×₹3=₹6 lakh; three-member A,A,B =₹9+₹9+₹5.4=₹23.4 lakh. These sum to ₹29.4 lakh. Thus the A-rated projects pay ₹9+₹9=₹18 lakh. Options 15–17 and 19 do not fit the discrete payout multiples generated by the team-size scheme.
Q70Data Interpretation·Mixed Charts

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. The following plot describes the height (in cm), weight (in kg), age (in years) and gender (F for female, M for male) of 20 patients visiting a hospital. A person’s body mass index (BMI) is calculated as weight (in kg) divided by squared height (measured in square metres). For example, a person weighing 100 kg and of height 100 cm (1m) will have a BMI of 100. A person with BMI less than or equal to 18.5 is considered as underweight, above 18.5 but less than or equal to 25 as normal weight, above 25 but less than or equal to 30 as overweight, and above 30 as obese.

XAT 2021 patient height/weight/age/gender plot (Q70–72)

The average age of the female patients who weigh 50 kg or above is approximately

  • A62Correct answer
  • B65
  • C68
  • D70
  • ECannot be determined from the given data

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (62) Read only plot points marked F and retain those at or above the 50-kg line. The five qualifying female patients have ages approximately 50, 50, 70, 60 and 80 years. Their total age is 50+50+70+60+80=310, so average age=3105=62 years. The filtering order matters: first select gender, then apply the weight threshold, and only then average the age labels. Options 65, 68 and 70 can result from omitting one of the two 50-year-old patients or averaging an unfiltered cluster. The data are available in the shared plot, so “cannot be determined” is not appropriate.
Q71Data Interpretation·Mixed Charts

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. The following plot describes the height (in cm), weight (in kg), age (in years) and gender (F for female, M for male) of 20 patients visiting a hospital. A person’s body mass index (BMI) is calculated as weight (in kg) divided by squared height (measured in square metres). For example, a person weighing 100 kg and of height 100 cm (1m) will have a BMI of 100. A person with BMI less than or equal to 18.5 is considered as underweight, above 18.5 but less than or equal to 25 as normal weight, above 25 but less than or equal to 30 as overweight, and above 30 as obese.

XAT 2021 patient height/weight/age/gender plot (Q70–72)

The highest BMI among all patients is approximately

  • A27Correct answer
  • B20
  • C23
  • D30
  • E33

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (27) BMI rises with weight and falls with the square of height, so the leading candidate is a relatively heavy, short patient rather than simply the heaviest patient. From the plot, the critical point is approximately 69 kg at 160 cm=1.60 m. Its BMI is 691.602=69/2.56≈26.95≈27. Checking the other plotted points gives smaller weight-to-height-squared ratios. Thus 27 is the highest approximate BMI. Option 30 would require about 76.8 kg at 1.60 m, and 33 would require about 84.5 kg at that height, neither of which is represented. Options 20 and 23 underestimate the extremal ratio.
Q72Data Interpretation·Mixed Charts

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. The following plot describes the height (in cm), weight (in kg), age (in years) and gender (F for female, M for male) of 20 patients visiting a hospital. A person’s body mass index (BMI) is calculated as weight (in kg) divided by squared height (measured in square metres). For example, a person weighing 100 kg and of height 100 cm (1m) will have a BMI of 100. A person with BMI less than or equal to 18.5 is considered as underweight, above 18.5 but less than or equal to 25 as normal weight, above 25 but less than or equal to 30 as overweight, and above 30 as obese.

XAT 2021 patient height/weight/age/gender plot (Q70–72)

The BMI of the oldest person considered as normal weight is approximately

  • A20Correct answer
  • B19
  • C22
  • D24
  • E25

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (20) The oldest patient (150 cm, 41 kg, age 80) has BMI = 41/1.52 ≈ 18.2 — underweight, so reject. The next oldest normal-weight patient is 175 cm, 61 kg, age 80: BMI = 611.752 = 61/3.0625 ≈ 19.92 ≈ 20. Among the options {20, 19, 22, 24, 25}, 20 is closest. Hence A.
Q73Quantitative Ability·Ratio & Proportion

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. A quick survey at the end of a purchase at buyagain.com asks the following three questions to each shopper: 1. Are you shopping at the website for the first time? (YES or NO) 2. Specify your gender: (MALE or FEMALE) 3. How satisfied are you? (HAPPY, NEUTRAL or UNHAPPY) 240 shoppers answer the survey, among whom 65 are first time shoppers. Furthermore: i. The ratio of the numbers of male to female shoppers is 1 : 2 while the ratio of the numbers of unhappy, happy and neutral shoppers is 3 : 4 : 5 ii. The ratio of the numbers of happy first-time male shoppers, happy returning male shoppers, unhappy female shoppers, neutral male shoppers, neutral female shoppers and happy female shoppers is 1 : 1 : 4 : 4 : 6 : 6 iii. Among the first-time shoppers, the ratio of the numbers of happy male, neutral male, unhappy female and the remaining female shoppers is 1 : 1 : 1 : 2, while the number of happy first-time female shoppers is equal to the number of unhappy first-time male shoppers

What is the number of happy male shoppers?

  • A20Correct answer
  • B5
  • C10
  • D15
  • E40

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (20) Let the common multiplier in ratio (ii) be t. Happy first-time males and happy returning males are t each, while happy females are 6t. Therefore total happy shoppers =t+t+6t=8t. From ratio unhappy:happy:neutral=3:4:5 among 240 shoppers, happy shoppers number 240×412=80. Hence 8t=80 ⇒ t=10. Happy male shoppers =t+t=20. Option 10 counts only one of first-time or returning happy males, while 40 doubles the combined count. The overall male:female ratio is a consistency condition, but it is not needed once the happiness total fixes t.
Q74Quantitative Ability·Ratio & Proportion

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. A quick survey at the end of a purchase at buyagain.com asks the following three questions to each shopper: 1. Are you shopping at the website for the first time? (YES or NO) 2. Specify your gender: (MALE or FEMALE) 3. How satisfied are you? (HAPPY, NEUTRAL or UNHAPPY) 240 shoppers answer the survey, among whom 65 are first time shoppers. Furthermore: i. The ratio of the numbers of male to female shoppers is 1 : 2 while the ratio of the numbers of unhappy, happy and neutral shoppers is 3 : 4 : 5 ii. The ratio of the numbers of happy first-time male shoppers, happy returning male shoppers, unhappy female shoppers, neutral male shoppers, neutral female shoppers and happy female shoppers is 1 : 1 : 4 : 4 : 6 : 6 iii. Among the first-time shoppers, the ratio of the numbers of happy male, neutral male, unhappy female and the remaining female shoppers is 1 : 1 : 1 : 2, while the number of happy first-time female shoppers is equal to the number of unhappy first-time male shoppers

Which among the following is the lowest?

  • ANumber of neutral first-time female shoppersCorrect answer
  • BNumber of happy returning male shoppers
  • CNumber of neutral first-time male shoppers
  • DNumber of unhappy first-time male shoppers
  • ENumber of unhappy first-time female shoppers

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (Number of neutral first-time female shoppers) From the previous ratios, the multiplier is 10. Thus happy first-time male=10, happy returning male=10, neutral first-time male=10 and unhappy first-time female=10. In the first-time ratio 1:1:1:2, the “remaining female” group is 20, so first-time females total 10+20=30. Let unhappy first-time male=q; it equals happy first-time female. The 65 first-timers comprise happy male 10, neutral male 10, unhappy male q, and 30 females: 50+q=65 ⇒ q=15. Therefore happy first-time female=15 and neutral first-time female=20−15=5. Comparing 5,10,10,15,10, the smallest is neutral first-time female, option A.
Q75General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

Read the following scenario and answer the three questions that follow. A quick survey at the end of a purchase at buyagain.com asks the following three questions to each shopper: 1. Are you shopping at the website for the first time? (YES or NO) 2. Specify your gender: (MALE or FEMALE) 3. How satisfied are you? (HAPPY, NEUTRAL or UNHAPPY) 240 shoppers answer the survey, among whom 65 are first time shoppers. Furthermore: i. The ratio of the numbers of male to female shoppers is 1 : 2 while the ratio of the numbers of unhappy, happy and neutral shoppers is 3 : 4 : 5 ii. The ratio of the numbers of happy first-time male shoppers, happy returning male shoppers, unhappy female shoppers, neutral male shoppers, neutral female shoppers and happy female shoppers is 1 : 1 : 4 : 4 : 6 : 6 iii. Among the first-time shoppers, the ratio of the numbers of happy male, neutral male, unhappy female and the remaining female shoppers is 1 : 1 : 1 : 2, while the number of happy first-time female shoppers is equal to the number of unhappy first-time male shoppers

Which among the following cannot be determined uniquely?

  • AAll the numbers can be determined uniquelyCorrect answer
  • BThe number of returning male shoppers
  • CThe number of returning unhappy female shoppers
  • DThe number of first-time happy male shoppers
  • EThe number of first-time neutral male shoppers

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (All the numbers can be determined uniquely) From ratio (ii), let the common multiplier be t. The six buckets (happy first-time M, happy returning M, unhappy F, neutral M, neutral F, happy F) are in ratio 1:1:4:4:6:6. Total happy = 8t. From unhappy:happy:neutral = 3:4:5 on 240 shoppers, happy = 80 ⇒ t = 10. This fixes all six counts (10, 10, 40, 40, 60, 60). First-timers = 65 and ratio (iii) on first-time cells, together with happy first-time F = unhappy first-time M, pins every first-time cell. Male:female = 1:2 on 240 then fixes the rest. Every quantity in the survey table is therefore unique — A.

General Knowledge(25 questions)

Q76General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

Which of the following is not an online learning application?

  • AUdemy
  • BDuolingo
  • CCoursera
  • DKhan Academy
  • EPatreonCorrect answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (Patreon) 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 not an online learning application? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why E. “Patreon” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Udemy”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Duolingo”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Coursera”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Khan Academy”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q77General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

Tedros Adhanom has been in the news for the last one year for being:

  • AThe Director General of the World Health OrganizationCorrect answer
  • BThe Director General of the International Labour Organization
  • CThe 46th President of the United States of America
  • DThe Time’s Person of the Year 2019
  • EThe winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (The Director General of the World Health Organization) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Tedros Adhanom has been in the news for the last one year for being: Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why A. “The Director General of the World Health Organization” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • B (“The Director General of the International Labour Organization”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“The 46th President of the United States of America”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“The Time’s Person of the Year 2019”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q78General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Sports

Dries Mertens, recently became the highest goal-scorer for the football club Napoli by surpassing the tally of 115 goals across all competitions. Whose goal scoring record did he surpass?

  • ARoberto Baggio
  • BDiego MaradonaCorrect answer
  • CPele
  • DCristiano Ronaldo
  • EMessi

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (Diego Maradona) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Dries Mertens, recently became the highest goal-scorer for the football club Napoli by surpassing the tally of 115 goals across all competitions. Whose goal scoring record did he surpass? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why B. “Diego Maradona” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Roberto Baggio”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Pele”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Cristiano Ronaldo”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Messi”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q79General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

What is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

  • AA territorial conflict primarily between Russia and Ukraine
  • BA territorial conflict primarily between Armenia and AzerbaijanCorrect answer
  • CA territorial conflict primarily between Turkey and Greece
  • DA territorial conflict primarily between Turkey and Iran
  • EA territorial conflict primarily between Russia and Uzbekistan

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (A territorial conflict primarily between Armenia and Azerbaijan) 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 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why B. “A territorial conflict primarily between Armenia and Azerbaijan” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“A territorial conflict primarily between Russia and Ukraine”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“A territorial conflict primarily between Turkey and Greece”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“A territorial conflict primarily between Turkey and Iran”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“A territorial conflict primarily between Russia and Uzbekistan”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q80General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Current Affairs

15-year old Gitanjali Rao was recently in the news. Which of the following best describes her?

  • AShe is an actress who recently signed for the upcoming Harry Potter movie.
  • BShe is an environment activist, who won the Time’s person of the year in 2019.
  • CShe is a scientist and an inventor who won the Time’s Kid of the Year in 2020.Correct answer
  • DShe is the youngest Indian to have awarded the title of Chess Grandmaster in 2020.
  • EShe is a novelist and the youngest one to have been shortlisted for the Pulitzer prize.

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. 15-year old Gitanjali Rao was recently in the news. Which of the following best describes her? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why C. “She is a scientist and an inventor who won the Time’s Kid of the Year in 2020.” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“She is an actress who recently signed for the upcoming Harry Potter movie.”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“She is an environment activist, who won the Time’s person of the year in 2019.”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“She is the youngest Indian to have awarded the title of Chess Grandmaster in 2020.”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“She is a novelist and the youngest one to have been shortlisted for the Pulitzer prize.”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q81General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

What is Hayabusa2?

  • AIt is a Japanese adaptation of Star Wars.
  • BIt is the name given to the new mutated form of Coronavirus.
  • CIt is a cartoon series to take on the popular Naruto series.
  • DIt is an asteroid-sample-return mission by JAXA.Correct answer
  • EIt is the name of a new smartphone based on Linux.

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (It is an asteroid-sample-return mission by JAXA.) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. What is Hayabusa2? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why D. “It is an asteroid-sample-return mission by JAXA.” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“It is a Japanese adaptation of Star Wars.”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“It is the name given to the new mutated form of Coronavirus.”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“It is a cartoon series to take on the popular Naruto series.”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“It is the name of a new smartphone based on Linux.”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q82General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Current Affairs

Arecibo telescope, known for its stellar contributions in the field of astronomy, collapsed recently. Where was it located?

  • ABahamas
  • BPapua New Guinea
  • CJamaica
  • DPuerto RicoCorrect answer
  • EGuam

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (Puerto Rico) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Arecibo telescope, known for its stellar contributions in the field of astronomy, collapsed recently. Where was it located? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why D. “Puerto Rico” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Bahamas”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Papua New Guinea”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Jamaica”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Guam”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q83General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

Which of the following is a Danish dependency?

  • AGibraltar
  • BGreenlandCorrect answer
  • CAndorra
  • DMonaco
  • ESan Marino

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (Greenland) 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 Danish dependency? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why B. “Greenland” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Gibraltar”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Andorra”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Monaco”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“San Marino”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q84General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Geography & Environment

Which of the following mountain ranges houses the famous pilgrimage Amarkantak?

  • AAravali
  • BDundwa
  • CSatpuraCorrect answer
  • DBalaghat
  • EKudremukh

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C (Satpura) 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 mountain ranges houses the famous pilgrimage Amarkantak? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why C. “Satpura” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Aravali”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Dundwa”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Balaghat”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Kudremukh”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q85General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Geography & Environment
CountriesCapital Cities
P. Jamaica1. Port of Spain
Q. Cuba2. Havana
R. Guyana3. Kingston
S. Trinidad and Tobago4. Georgetown

Which of the following options has the correct match of the countries with their respective capital cities?

  • AP-1, Q-2, R-3, S-4
  • BP-3, Q-2, R-4, S-1Correct answer
  • CP-3, Q-2, R-1, S-4
  • DP-4, Q-2, R-1, S-3
  • EP-4, Q-2, R-3, S-1

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (P-3, Q-2, R-4, S-1) 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 options has the correct match of the countries with their respective capital cities? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why B. “P-3, Q-2, R-4, S-1” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“P-1, Q-2, R-3, S-4”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“P-3, Q-2, R-1, S-4”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“P-4, Q-2, R-1, S-3”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“P-4, Q-2, R-3, S-1”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q86General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

Which of the following is not an OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) member?

  • AJapan
  • BTaiwanCorrect answer
  • CChile
  • DIsrael
  • ETurkey

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (Taiwan) 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 not an OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) member? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why B. “Taiwan” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Japan”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Chile”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Israel”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Turkey”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q87General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Current Affairs

Who was recently appointed as the CEO of Cafe Coffee Day?

  • AV. G. Siddhartha
  • BMalavika HegdeCorrect answer
  • CVenu Madhav Krishna
  • DGopal Gouda
  • EKamini Utappa

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (Malavika Hegde) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Who was recently appointed as the CEO of Cafe Coffee Day? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why B. “Malavika Hegde” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“V. G. Siddhartha”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Venu Madhav Krishna”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Gopal Gouda”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Kamini Utappa”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q88General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Geography & Environment

Which Wildlife Sanctuary/National Park is identified and prepared to translocate Asiatic Lions from Gir National Park, Gujarat?

  • ASatpura National Park
  • BPench National Park
  • CKheoni Wildlife Sanctuary
  • DKuno National ParkCorrect answer
  • EAchanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (Kuno National Park) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Which Wildlife Sanctuary/National Park is identified and prepared to translocate Asiatic Lions from Gir National Park, Gujarat? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why D. “Kuno National Park” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Satpura National Park”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Pench National Park”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q89General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

Who authored the famous book Economy of Permanence?

  • AVinayak Narahari "Vinoba" Bhave
  • BMurlidhar Devidas “Baba” Amte
  • C“Lokamanya” Bal Gangadhar Tilak
  • DJoseph Chelladurai Cornelius “JC” KumarappaCorrect answer
  • E“Diwan Bahadur” Rettamalai Srinivasan

Answer: D

Show explanation
Answer:D (Joseph Chelladurai Cornelius “JC” Kumarappa) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Who authored the famous book Economy of Permanence? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why D. “Joseph Chelladurai Cornelius “JC” Kumarappa” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Vinayak Narahari "Vinoba" Bhave”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Murlidhar Devidas “Baba” Amte”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (““Lokamanya” Bal Gangadhar Tilak”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (““Diwan Bahadur” Rettamalai Srinivasan”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q90General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Geography & Environment
XAT 2021 wild animals matching table (Q90)

Match the following wild animal species with the national parks/wildlife sanctuaries where they naturally occur in India:

  • AP-4, Q-5, R-1, S-3, T-2
  • BP-5, Q-3, R-4, S-1, T-2
  • CP-1, Q-5, R-3, S-4, T-2
  • DP-4, Q-5, R-2, S-3, T-1
  • EP-3, Q-5, R-2, S-1, T-2Correct answer

Answer: E

Show explanation
Answer:E (P-3, Q-5, R-2, S-1, T-2) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Match the following wild animal species with the national parks/wildlife sanctuaries where they naturally occur in India: Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why E. “P-3, Q-5, R-2, S-1, T-2” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“P-4, Q-5, R-1, S-3, T-2”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“P-5, Q-3, R-4, S-1, T-2”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“P-1, Q-5, R-3, S-4, T-2”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“P-4, Q-5, R-2, S-3, T-1”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q91General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

Which Indian business group built the British Royal Navy ship, HMS Minden, on which the lyrics of the national anthem of the United States of America was supposedly written?

  • ATata
  • BWadiaCorrect answer
  • CBirla
  • DGodrej
  • EBajaj

Answer: B

Show explanation
Answer:B (Wadia) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Which Indian business group built the British Royal Navy ship, HMS Minden, on which the lyrics of the national anthem of the United States of America was supposedly written? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why B. “Wadia” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Tata”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Birla”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Godrej”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Bajaj”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q92General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

In India, where did Mahatma Gandhi stage his first major Satyagraha in 1917?

  • AWankaner
  • BBikaner
  • CChamparanCorrect answer
  • DDandi
  • ESabarmati

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C (Champaran) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. In India, where did Mahatma Gandhi stage his first major Satyagraha in 1917? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why C. “Champaran” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Wankaner”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Bikaner”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Dandi”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Sabarmati”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q93General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Awards & Personalities

Who was the first Indian to win the Global Teacher Prize?

  • ARanjitsinh DisaleCorrect answer
  • BRamnath Desai
  • CChamundeswari Nath
  • DAjay Desai
  • EVijayalaxmi Pandey

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (Ranjitsinh Disale) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Who was the first Indian to win the Global Teacher Prize? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why A. “Ranjitsinh Disale” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • B (“Ramnath Desai”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Chamundeswari Nath”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Ajay Desai”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Vijayalaxmi Pandey”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q94General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

Who was the first woman chief minister in Independent India?

  • ANandini Satpathy
  • BShashikala Kakodkar
  • CSucheta KripalaniCorrect answer
  • DSarojini Naidu
  • EAnwara Taimur

Answer: C

Show explanation
Answer:C (Sucheta Kripalani) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Who was the first woman chief minister in Independent 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. “Sucheta Kripalani” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • A (“Nandini Satpathy”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • B (“Shashikala Kakodkar”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Sarojini Naidu”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Anwara Taimur”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q95General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Current Affairs

From which organisation was Timnit Gebru terminated recently?

  • AGoogleCorrect answer
  • BApple
  • CMicrosoft
  • DFacebook
  • ESamsung

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (Google) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. From which organisation was Timnit Gebru terminated recently? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why A. “Google” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • B (“Apple”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Microsoft”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Facebook”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Samsung”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q96General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Current Affairs

Vijay Prashad’s discussion event at the online Tata Literature Live!,2020, was cancelled. Who was to feature in the discussion with Vijay Prashad?

  • ANoam ChomskyCorrect answer
  • BRamchandra Guha
  • CArnab Goswami
  • DKhaled Hosseini
  • EDouglas Stuart

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (Noam Chomsky) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Vijay Prashad’s discussion event at the online Tata Literature Live!,2020, was cancelled. Who was to feature in the discussion with Vijay Prashad? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why A. “Noam Chomsky” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • B (“Ramchandra Guha”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Arnab Goswami”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Khaled Hosseini”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Douglas Stuart”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q97General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

Which is the first GI tagged product in India?

  • ADarjeeling TeaCorrect answer
  • BMadhubani Painting
  • CKashmiri Apple
  • DOdisha Rasagulla
  • EMysore Silk

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (Darjeeling Tea) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Which is the first GI tagged product in India? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why A. “Darjeeling Tea” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • B (“Madhubani Painting”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Kashmiri Apple”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Odisha Rasagulla”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Mysore Silk”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q98General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Current Affairs

Which of the following will be a debut event in the Summer Olympics of 2024?

  • ABreakdancingCorrect answer
  • BKabaddi
  • CCricket
  • DGreco-Roman wrestling
  • EBallet

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (Breakdancing) 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 will be a debut event in the Summer Olympics of 2024? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why A. “Breakdancing” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • B (“Kabaddi”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Cricket”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Greco-Roman wrestling”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Ballet”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q99General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Current Affairs

Who is the chief minister of Jharkhand as of 31st December 2020?

  • AHemant SorenCorrect answer
  • BShibu Soren
  • CRaghubar Das
  • DSaryu Rai
  • EDraupadi Murmu

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (Hemant Soren) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. Who is the chief minister of Jharkhand as of 31st December 2020? Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why A. “Hemant Soren” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • B (“Shibu Soren”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Raghubar Das”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Saryu Rai”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Draupadi Murmu”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue.
Q100General Knowledge / Current Affairs·Static GK

The first woman to lead a listed Indian Information Technology (IT) company is:

  • ARoshni Nadar MalhotraCorrect answer
  • BKiran Mazumdar Shaw
  • CArundhati Bhattacharya
  • DChanda Kochhar
  • EGita Gopinath

Answer: A

Show explanation
Answer:A (Roshni Nadar Malhotra) What to find. General awareness — lock the stem’s unique factual cue (person, place, year, treaty, award, or institution). What to find. The first woman to lead a listed Indian Information Technology (IT) company is: Steps. Identify the one hard cue in the stem; eliminate options that swap a close distractor (similar role, neighbouring state, adjacent year). Why A. “Roshni Nadar Malhotra” is the fact that matches that cue. Why the others fail. • B (“Kiran Mazumdar Shaw”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • C (“Arundhati Bhattacharya”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • D (“Chanda Kochhar”) — nearby lookalike (wrong person/place/year/institution) or a fact that does not answer this exact cue. • E (“Gita Gopinath”) — 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 ReasoningAVerbal Ability
2Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningBVerbal Ability
3Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningAVerbal Ability
4Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningDVerbal Ability
5Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningEReading Comprehension
6Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningDVerbal Ability
7Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningAReading Comprehension
8Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningEReading Comprehension
9Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningEReading Comprehension
10Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningCQuantitative Ability
11Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningCQuantitative Ability
12Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningDReading Comprehension
13Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningBReading Comprehension
14Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningCReading Comprehension
15Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningAReading Comprehension
16Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningEReading Comprehension
17Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningAReading Comprehension
18Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningCReading Comprehension
19Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningBReading Comprehension
20Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningAReading Comprehension
21Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningDReading Comprehension
22Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningBReading Comprehension
23Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningEReading Comprehension
24Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningAReading Comprehension
25Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningEReading Comprehension
26Verbal Ability & Logical ReasoningCReading Comprehension
27Decision MakingEDecision Making
28Decision MakingCDecision Making
29Decision MakingDDecision Making
30Decision MakingBDecision Making
31Decision MakingBDecision Making
32Decision MakingDDecision Making
33Decision MakingBDecision Making
34Decision MakingBDecision Making
35Decision MakingADecision Making
36Decision MakingEDecision Making
37Decision MakingEDecision Making
38Decision MakingEDecision Making
39Decision MakingEDecision Making
40Decision MakingBDecision Making
41Decision MakingDDecision Making
42Decision MakingADecision Making
43Decision MakingBDecision Making
44Decision MakingBDecision Making
45Decision MakingDDecision Making
46Decision MakingBDecision Making
47Decision MakingEDecision Making
48Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
49Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
50Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
51Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
52Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
53Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
54Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAData Interpretation
55Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
56Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationBQuantitative Ability
57Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
58Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
59Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
60Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
61Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
62Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
63Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
64Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
65Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
66Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
67Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAData Interpretation
68Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAData Interpretation
69Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAData Interpretation
70Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAData Interpretation
71Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAData Interpretation
72Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAData Interpretation
73Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
74Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAQuantitative Ability
75Quantitative Ability & Data InterpretationAGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
76General KnowledgeEGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
77General KnowledgeAGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
78General KnowledgeBGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
79General KnowledgeBGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
80General KnowledgeCGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
81General KnowledgeDGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
82General KnowledgeDGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
83General KnowledgeBGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
84General KnowledgeCGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
85General KnowledgeBGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
86General KnowledgeBGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
87General KnowledgeBGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
88General KnowledgeDGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
89General KnowledgeDGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
90General KnowledgeEGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
91General KnowledgeBGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
92General KnowledgeCGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
93General KnowledgeAGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
94General KnowledgeCGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
95General KnowledgeAGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
96General KnowledgeAGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
97General KnowledgeAGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
98General KnowledgeAGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
99General KnowledgeAGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs
100General KnowledgeAGeneral Knowledge / Current Affairs

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are there in XAT 2021?

XAT 2021 has 100 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 2021 question paper?

Yes — this page hosts the past-year XAT paper for 2021, with the full question set, answer key, and explanations for revision.

Can I attempt XAT 2021 online with a timer?

XAT 2021 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 2021 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.

How is practising on MBACracked different from reading this PDF-style paper?

Reading gives you questions and solutions. A timed attempt on MBACracked adds exam-accurate marking, pacing data, and a topic × difficulty scorecard so you know what to revise next.

Practise XAT 2021 on MBACracked with timed sections and get a percentile breakdown after every attempt — not just an answer key.

Ready to attempt this paper?

Reading the paper is free. Attempt it under timed exam conditions to get your estimated percentile, topic-wise accuracy, and pacing analysis.

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