Passage-1

The main threat to maintaining progress in human development comes from the increasingly evident unsustainability of production and consumption patterns. Current production models rely heavily on fossil fuels. We now know that this is unsustainable because the resources are finite. The close link between economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions needs to be severed for human development to become truly sustainable. Some developed countries have begun to alleviate the worst effects by expanding recycling and investing in public transport and infrastruture. But most developing countries are hampered by the high costs and low availability of clean energy sources. Developed countries need to support developing countries transition to sustainable human development.

1. Unsustainability in production pattern is due to which of the following?

1. Heavy dependence on fossil fuels.
2. Limited availability of resources.
3. Expansion of recycling.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

2. Consider the following statements: ‘Developed countries can support developing countries’ transition to sustainable human development by

1. Making clean energy sources available at low cost.
2. Providing loans for improving their public transport at nominal interest rates.
3. Encouraging them to change their production and consumption patterns.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Passage-2

Unless the forces and tendencies which are responsible for destroying the country’s environment are checked in the near future and afforestation of denuded areas is taken up on a massive scale, the harshness of the climatic conditions and soil erosion by wind and water will increase to such an extent that agriculture, which is the mainstay of our people, will gradually become impossible. The desert countries of the world and our own desert areas in Rajastan are a grim reminder of the consensus of large-scale deforestation. Pockets of desert like landscape are appearing in other parts of the country including the Sutlej-Ganga Plains and Deccan Plateau. Where only a few decades back there used to be lush green forests with perennial streams and springs, there is only brown earth, bare of vegetation, without any water in the streams and springs except in the rainy reason.

3. According to the passage given above, deforestation and denudation will ultimately lead to which of the following?

1. Depletion of soil resource.
2. Shortage of land for the common man.
3. Lack of water for cultivation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Passage-3

“In simple matters like shoemaking, we think only a specially trained person will serve our purpose, but in politics, we presume that everyone who knows how to get votes knows how to administer a State. When we are ill, we call for a trained physician, whose degree is a guarantee of specific preparation and technical competence – we do not ask for the handsomest physician, or the most eloquent one: well then, when the whole state is ill should we not look for the service and guidance of the wisest and the best?”

4. Which one of the following statements best reflects the message of the author of the passage?

1. We assume that in a democracy, any politician is qualified to administer s state.
2. Politicians should be selected from those trained in administration.
3. We need to device a method of barring incompetence from public office.
4. As voters select their administrators, the eligibility of politicians to administer a State cannot be questioned.

Passage-4

The poverty line is quite unsatisfactory when it comes to grasping the extent of poverty in India. It is not only because of its extremely narrow definition of ‘who is poor’ and the debatable methodology used to count the poor, but also because of a more fundamental assumption underlying it. It exclusively relies on the notion of poverty as insufficient income or insufficient purchasing power. One can better categorize it by calling it income poverty. If poverty is ultimately about deprivations affecting human well-being, then income poverty is only one aspect of it. Poverty of a life, in our view, lies not merely in the impoverished state in which the person actually lives, but also in the lack of real opportunity given by social constraints as well as personal circumstances-to choose othr types of living. Even the relevance of low incomes, meagre possessions, and other aspects of what are standardly seen as economic poverty relate ultimately to their role in curtailing capabilities, i.e., their role in severely restricting the choices people have to lead variable and valued lives.

5. Why is the methodology adopted in india to count the ‘poor’ debatable?

1. There is some confusion regarding what should constitute the ‘poverty line’.
2. There are wide diversities in the condition of the rural and urban poor.
3. There is no uniform global standard for measuring income poverty.
4. It is based on the proposition of poverty as meagre income or buying capacity.

6. Why is income poverty only one measure of counting the ‘poor’?

1. It talks of only one kind of deprivation ignoring all others.
2. Other deprivations in a human life have nothing to do with lack of purchasing power.
3. Income poverty is not a permanent condition, it changes from time to time.
4. Income poverty restricts human choices only at a point of time.

7. What does the author mean by ‘poverty of a life’?

1. All deprivations in a human life which stem not only from lack of income but lack of real opportunities.
2. Impoverished state of poor people in rural and urban areas.
3. Missed opportunities in diverse personal circumstance.
4. Material as well as non-material deprivations in a human life which restrict human choices permanently.

Passage-5

In some places in the world, the productivity of staples such as rice and wheat has reached a plateau. Neither new strains nor fancy agrochemicals are raising the yields. Nor is there much unfarmed land left that is suitable to be brought under the plough. If global temperature continues to rise, some places will become unsuitable for farming. Application of technology can help overcome these problems. Agricultural technology is changing fast. Must of this change is brought about by affluent farmers in the West/Americas. Techniques developed in the West are being adapted in some places to make tropical crops more productive. Technology is of little use if it is not adopted. In the developing world, that applies as much to existing farming techniques as it does to the latest advances in genetic modification. Extending to the smallholders and subsistence farmers of africa and Asia the best of today’s agricultural practices, in such simple matters as how much fertilizers to apply and when. would lead to a greatly increased availability of food for humanity. So would things like better roads and storage facilities, to allow for the carriage of surpluses to markets and reduce wastage.

8. Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

1. Development of agricultural technology is confined to developed countries.
2. Agricultural technology is not adapted in developing countries.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

9. Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

1. Poor countries need to bring about change in their existing farming techniques.
2. Developed countries have better infrastruture, and they waste less food.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

10. Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

1. Growing enough food for future generation will be a challenge.
2. Corporate farming is a viable option for food security in poor countries.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Passage-6

Natural selection cannot anticipate future environments on the earth. Therefore, the set of existing organisms can never be fully prepared for environmental catastrophes that await life. An outcome of this is the extinction of those species which cannot overcome of this is the extinction of those species which cannot overcome environmentaladversity. This failure to survive, in modern times, can be attributed to the genomes which are unable to withstand geological vagaries or biological mishaps(infections diseases and so on). In biological evolution on the earth, extinction of species has been a major feature. The earth may presently have up to ten million species, yet more than 90% of species that have ever lived on the earth are now extinct. Once again, the creationist doctrines fail to satisfactorily address why a divine creator will firstly bother to create millions of species and then allow them to perish. The Darwinian Explanation for extinct life is once again simple, elegant and at once convincing organisms go extinct as a function of environmental or biological assaults for which their inheritance deems them ill-equipped. Therefore, the so-called Darwinian theory of evolution is not a theory at all. Evolution happens – this is a fact. The mechanism of evolution (Darwin proposed natural selection) is amply supported by scientific data. Indeed, to date no single zoological, botanical, geological, paleontological, genetic or physical evidence has refuted either of the central two main Darwin ideas. If religion is not taken into consideration, Darwin laws are acceptable just like the laws proposed by Copernicus, Galileo, Newton and Einstein-sets of natural laws that exxplain natural phenomena in the universe.

11. According to the passage, natural selection cannot anticipate future environments on the earth as

1. Species not fully prepared to face the environmental changes that await them will face extinction.
2. All the existing species would get extinct as their genomes will not withstand biological mishaps.
3. Inability of the genome to withstand environmental changes would result in extinction.
4. Extinction of species is a coomon feature.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1, 2 and 3
2. 2, 3 and 4
3. 1, 3 and 4
4. 1, 2 and 4

12. The passage suggests that Darwinian theory of evolution is not a theory at all because

1. it does not satisfy the creationist doctrine.
2. extinction is a function of environment and biological assaults.
3. there are no evidence to refuse it.
4. existence of organisms is attributed to a creator.

13. With reference to the passage, the following assumptions have been made:

1. Only species that have the ability to overcome environmental catastrophes will survive and perpetuate.
2. More than 90% of the species on the earth are in the danger of getting extinct due to drastic changes in the environment.
3. Darwin’s theory explains all the natural phenomena.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Passage-7

With steady economic growth, higher literacy and increasing skill levels, the number of Indian middleclass families has gone up exponentially. Direct results of the affluence have been changes in dietary patterns and energy consumption levels. People have moved to a higher protein-based diet like milk products, fish, and meat, all of which need significantly more water to produce than cereal-based diets. Increasing use of electronic and electric machines/gadgets and motor vehicles needs more and more energy and generation of energy needs water.

14. Which one of the following best reflects the crux of the passage?

1. People should be persuaded to continue with the mainly indian traditional cereal-based diets.
2. India needs to focus on developing agricultural productivity and capacity for more energy generation in the coming years.
3. Modern technological developments result in the change of cultural and social behaviour of the people.
4. Water management practices in India need to change dramatically in the coming years.

Passage-8

For two or three generations past, ever-increasing number if individuals have been living as workers merely, not as human beings. As excessive amount of labor is rule today in every circle of society, with the result that man’s spiritual element cannot thrive. He finds it very difficult to spend his little leisure in serious activities. He does not want to think; or he cannot even if he wants to. He seeks not Self-improvement, but entertainment which would enable him to be mentally idle and to forget his usual activities. Therefore, the so-called culture of our age is dependent more on cinema than on theatre, more on newspapers, magazines and crime stories than on serious literature.

15. The passage is based on the idea that

1. man should not work hard.
2. the great evil of our age is overstrain.
3. man cannot think well
4. man cannot care for his spiritual welfare.

16. Man does not seek self-improvement because he

1. is not intellectually capable.
2. has no time to do so.
3. is distracted by materialism.
4. loves amusement and is mentally idle.

Passage-9

The demographic dividend, which has begun in India and is expected to last another few decades, is a great window od opportunity. The demographic dividend is basically a swelling in the working age population, which conversely means that the relative ratio of very young and very old will, for a while, be on the decline. From the experience of Ireland and China, we know that this can be a source of energy and an engine of economic growth. The demographic dividend tends to raise a nation’s savings rate in any nation, it is the working age population that is the main saver. And since the savings rate is an important driver of growth, this should help elevate our growth rate. However, the benefits of demographic dividend depend on the quality of the working age population. And this implies bringing back the importance of education, acquisition of skills and human capital.

17. Which of the following would invariably happen in a country when the demographic dividend has begun to operate?

1. The number of illiterate people will decrease.
2. The ratio of very old and very young will decrease for a while.
3. Population growth rate will quickly stabilize. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

18. With reference to the passage, which of the following inferences can be drawn?

1. Demographic dividend is an essential condition for a country to rapidly increase its economic growth rate.
2. Promotion of higher education is an essential condition for a country for its rapid economic growth.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Passage-10

In an economic organization, allowing mankind to benifit by the productivity of machines should lead to a very good life of leisure, and much leisure is apt to be tedious except to those who have intelligent activities and interests. If a leisured population is to be happy, it must be an educated population, and must be educated with a view to enjoyment as well as to the direct usefulness of technical knowledge.

19. Which of the following best reflects the underlying tone of the passage?

1. Only an educated population can best make use of the benefits of economic progress.
2. All economic development should be aimed at the creation of leisure.
3. An increase in the educated population of a country leads to an increase in the happiness of its people.
4. Use of machines should be encouraged in order to create a large leisured population.

Passage-11

If presents bring less thrill now that we are grown up, perhaps it is because we have too much already, or perhaps it is because we have lost the fullnes of the joy of giving and with it the fullness of the joy of receiving. Children’s fears are poignant, their miseries are acutw, but they do not look too forward nor too far backward. Their joys are clear and complete, because they have not yet learnt always to add ‘but’ to every preposition. Perhaps we are too cautious, too anxious, too sceptical. Perhaps some of our cares would shrink if we thought less about them and entered with more single-minded enjoyment into the happiness that come our way.

20. With reference to the passage, which one of the following statements is correct?

1. It is not possible for adults to feel thrilled by presents.
2. There can be more than one reason why adults feel less thrilled by presents.
3. The author does not know why adults feel less thrilled by presents.
4. Adults have less capacity to feel the joy of loving or being loved.

21. The author of the passage is against

1. worrying too much about the past and future.
2. being in the habit of thinking about presents.
3. not being thrilled by new things.
4. giving and receiving joy only partially.

Passage-12

The majority of people who fail to accumulate money sufficient for their needs, are generally, easily influenced by the opinions of others. They permit the newspapers and the gossiping neighbours to do their thinking for them. Opinions are the cheapest commodities on the earth. Everyone has a flock of opinions ready to be wished upon by anyone who will accept them. If you are influenced by opinions when you reach decisions, you will not succeed in any undertaking.

22. Which one of the following is implied by the passage?

1. Most of the people do not accumulate money for their needs.
2. Most of the people never fail to accumulate money.
3. There are people who fail to accumulate money for their needs.
4. There is no need to accumulate money.

21. What is the main idea of the passage?

1. People should not be influenced by the opinions of others.
2. People should accumulate as much money as they can.
3. People should neither give nor accept the opinions
4. People will succeed in any undertaking if they do not accept any opinion at all.

Passage-13

“The social order is a sacred right which is the basis of all other rights. Nevertheless, this right does not come from nature, and must therefore be founded on convenions.”

22. With reference to the above passage which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Conventions are the sources of rights of man.
2. Rights of man can be exercised only when there is a social order.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Passage-14

To encourage research is one of the functions of a university. Contemporary universities have encouraged research, not only in those cases where research is necessary, but on all sorts of entirely unprofitable subjects as well. scientific research is probably never completely valueless. However silly and insignificant it may seem, however mechanical and unintelligent the labours of the researchers, there is always a chance that the results may be of value to the investigator of talent, who can use the facts collected for him by uninspired but industrious researchers as the basis of some fruitful generalization. But where research is not original, but consists in the mere rearrangements of existing materials, where its objects is not scientific but literary or historical, then there is a risk of the whole business becoming merely futile.

23. The author’s assumption about scientific research is that

1. It is never very valuable.
2. It is sometimes very valuable.
3. It is never without some value.
4. It is always very valuable.

24. According to the author

1. not many research results can be of value to an intelligent investigator.
2. a research result is always valuable to an intelligent investigator.
3. any research result can be of value to an intelligent investigator.
4. a research result must always be of some value to an intelligent investigator.

Passage-15

How best can the problems of floods and droughts be addressed so that the losses are minimal and the system becomes resilient? In this context, one important point that needs to be noted is that India gets too much water (about 75% of annual precipitation) during 120 days (June to September) and too little for the remaining 245 days. This skewed water availability has to be managed and regulated for its consumption throughout the year.

25. Which one of the following best reflect the practical, rational, and lasting solutions?

1. Constructing huge concrete storage tanks and canals across the country.
2. Changing the cropping patterns and farming practices.
3. Interlinking of rivers across the country.
4. Buffer stocking of water through dams and recharging acquifers.