Comprehension

Household finance in India is unique, we have a tendency to invest heavily in physical assets such as golden property. Step to encourage the financialization of savings are critical. A populace accustomed to traditional processes will not simply jump into financialization. Hurdles to changes include onerous bureaucracy, a scepticism of organized financial institutions, a lack of basic information about which of the myriad services and providers is best for each family, and how (and even if) one can make the transition between them if necessary.

Regarding the financialization of household savings, which of the following statements best reflect the solutions that are implied by the passage?

Select the correct answer using the code given below

Along with sustainable lifestyles, climate justice is regarded as a significant principle in environmental parlance. Both the principles have bearings on political and economic choices of the nation. So far, in our climate change summits or compacts —both the principle have eluded consensus among nations Justice, in the judicial sense, is well defined. However, in the context of climate change, it has scientific as well as socio-political connotations. The crucial question in the next few years will be how resources, technologies and regulations are used to support the victims of climate change. Justice in climate, is not confined to actions relating to mitigation, but includes the wider notion of support for adaptation to climate change and compensation for loss and damage.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical, rational and crucial message conveyed by the passage?

In India, the segregation of municipal waste at source is rare. Recycling is mostly with the informal sector. More than three-fourths of the municipal budget goes into collection and transportation, which leaves very little for processing/resource recovery and disposal. Where does waste-to-energy fit into all this? Ideally it fits in the chain after segregation (between wet waste and the rest), collection, recycling, and before getting to the landfill, technology is most appropriate in converting waste to energy depends on what is in the waste (that is biodegradable versus non-biodegradable component) and its calorific value. The biodegradable component of India municipal solid waste is a little over 50 per cent, and biomethanation offers a major solution for processing this.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the passage?

Benefits of good quality school education accrue only when students complete and leave school after having acquired the gateway skills. Like one learns to walk before running, similarity one picks up advanced skills only after picking the basic foundational skills. The advent of the knowledge economy poses new challenges, and one of the severe consequences of having an uneducated workforce will be our inability to keep pace with the global. economy. Without a strong learning foundation at the primary level, there can be no improvement in higher education or skill development.

Which one of-the following statements best reflects the crux of the passage?

A global analysis of nitrogen use efficiency a measure of the amount of nitrogen a plant takes in to grow versus what is left behind as pollution says that using too much fertilizers will lead to increased pollution of waterways and the air. Currently, the global average for nitrogen use efficiency is approximately 0.4, meaning 40 per cent of the total nitrogen added cropland goes into the to the environment, says as study. More than half of the world's population is nourished by food grown with fertilizers containing synthetic nitrogen, which is needed to produce high crop yields. Plants take the nitrogen they need to grow, and the excess is left in the ground, water and air. This results in significant emissions of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse and ozone depleting gas, and other forms of nitrogen pollution, including eutrophication of lakes and rivers and contamination of river water.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical, rational and crucial message implied by the passage?

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 infrastructure. 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.

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

For two or three generations past, ever-increasing numbers of
individuals have been living as workers merely, not as human beings. An
excessive amount of labour 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 dependant more on centaur than on
theatre, more on newspapers, magazines and crime stories than on serious
literature.
Man does not seek self-improvement because he:

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.

Which one or the following best reflects the practical, rational and lasting solution?

For two or three generations past, ever-increasing numbers of
individuals have been living as workers merely, not as human beings. An
excessive amount of labour 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 dependant more on centaur than on
theatre, more on newspapers, magazines and crime stories than on serious
literature.
The passage is based on the idea that

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
environmental adversity. This failure to survive, in modem terms, 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,
pale-ontological, genetic or physical evidence has refuted either of the
central two main Darwinian ideas. If religion is not taken into
consideration, Darwinian Jaws are acceptable just like the laws proposed
by Copernicus, Galileo, Newton and Einstein-sets of natural laws that
explain natural phenomena in the universe.
According to the passage, natural selection cannot anticipate -
future environments on the earth as:

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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 infrastructure. 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.

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

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 area in Rajasthan-are a grim reminder of the consequences of large-scale deforestation. Pockets of desert-like landscape are now appearing in other parts of the country including the Sutlej-Ganga Plains and the 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 season.

According to the passage given above, deforestation ultimately lead to which of the following?

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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 fullness of the joy of giving, and with it the fullness of the
joy of receiving. Children's fears are poignant, their miseries are
acute, 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 proposition. 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.

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

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 fullness of the joy of giving, and with it the fullness of the
joy of receiving. Children's fears are poignant, their miseries are
acute, 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 proposition. 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.
The author of the passage is against

The demographic dividend, which has begun in India and is
expected to last another few decades, is a great window of 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 since 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.

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 bought 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. Much 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 adapted. 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 small holders 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.

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

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

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 rearrangement of existing materials, where its object is not scientific but literary or historical, then there is a risk of the whole business becoming merely futile.

According to the author:

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.
What is the main idea of the passage?

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 bought 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. Much 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 adapted. 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 small holders 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.

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

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

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
environmental adversity. This failure to survive, in modem terms, 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,
pale-ontological, genetic or physical evidence has refuted either of the
central two main Darwinian ideas. If religion is not taken into
consideration, Darwinian Jaws are acceptable just like the laws proposed
by Copernicus, Galileo, Newton and Einstein-sets of natural laws that
explain natural phenomena in the universe.
With reference to the passage, the following assumptions have been
made:

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

“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 conventions.”

With reference to the above passage, which of the following statement is/are correct?

Select the correct answer using the code given below

"In simple matters like shoe-making, we think" only a specially trained person will service 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?"

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

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
environmental adversity. This failure to survive, in modem terms, 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,
pale-ontological, genetic or physical evidence has refuted either of the
central two main Darwinian ideas. If religion is not taken into
consideration, Darwinian Jaws are acceptable just like the laws proposed
by Copernicus, Galileo, Newton and Einstein-sets of natural laws that
explain natural phenomena in the universe.
The passage suggests that Darwinian theory of evolution is not - a
theory at all because

The demographic dividend, which has begun in India and is expected to last another few decades, is a great window of 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 since 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.

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

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

In an economic organization, allowing mankind to benefit 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.

Which of the following statements best reflects the underlying tone
of the passage?

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 bought 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. Much 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 adapted. 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 small holders 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.

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

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

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 other 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.

Why is the methodology adopted in India to count the 'poor' debatable?

With steady economic growth, higher literacy and increasing skill levels, the number of Indian middle-class 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.

Which one of the following statements best rejects the crux of the passage?

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 rearrangement of existing materials, where its object is not
scientific but literary or historical, then there is a risk of the whole
business becoming merely futile.
The author's assumption about scientific research is that

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 other 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.

Why is income poverty only one measure of counting the 'poor'?

Our cities are extremely vulnerable to climate change because of large concentrations of populations and poor infrastructure. Moreover, population densities are increasing in them but we have not yet developed the systems to address climate change impacts. Our cities contribute 65 per cent of the GDP, but there are not enough facilities to cater to the needs of the people- It is important to address the issues of air quality, transport, etc., that are vital to identifying sustainable solutions. We need to involve citizens in city planning and create an ecosystem that meets the needs of the people.

Which among the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the -passage given above?

At the heart of agro ecology is the idea that agroecosystems should mimic the biodiversity levels and functioning of natural ecosystems. Such agricultural mimics, like their natural models, can be productive, pest-resistant, nutrient conserving, and resilient to shocks and stresses. In ecosystems there is no 'waste, nutrients are recycled indefinitely. Agro ecology aims at closing nutrient loops, i.e., returning all nutrients that come out of the soil back to the soil such as through application of farmyard manure. It also harnesses natural processes to control pests and build soil fertility i.e., through intercropping. Agro ecological practices include integrating trees with livestock and crops.

Consider the following:

Which of the above fanning practices can be compatible with agro ecology, as implied by the passage?

India faces a challenging immediate future in energy and climate policy-making. The problems are multiple: sputtering fossil fuel production' capabilities; limited access to electricity and modern cooking fuel for the poorest; rising fuel imports in an unstable global energy context; continued electricity pricing and governance challenges leading to its costly deficits or surplus supply; and not least, growing environmental contestation around land, water and air. But all is' not bleak: growing energy efficiency programmes, integrated urbanisation and transport policy discussions; inroads to, enhancing energy access and security; and bold renewable energy initiatives, even if not fully conceptualised, suggest the promise of transformation.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message conveyed by the passage given above?

A social and physical environment riddled with poverty, inequities, unhygienic and insanitary conditions generates the risk of infectious diseases, Hygiene has different levels : Personal, domestic and community hygiene. There is no doubt that personal cleanliness brings down the rate of infectious diseases. But the entry of the market into this domain has Created a false sense of security that gets Conditioned and reinforced by the onslaught of advertisements. Experience in Western Europe Shows that along with personal hygiene, general improvements in environmental conditions and components like clean water, sanitation and food security have brought down infant/child death/infection rates considerably. The obsession with hand hygiene also brings in the persisting influence of the market on personal health, overriding or marginalising the negative impact on ecology and the emergence of resistant germs.

On the basis of the passage given above, the following assumptions have been made:

Which of the above assumptions are valid?

It is certain, that seditions, wars, and contempt or breach of the laws are not so much to be imputed to the wickedness of the subject, a to the bad state of a dominion. For men are not born fir for citizenship but must be made so. Besides, men’s natural passions are everywhere the same; and if wickedness more prevails, and more offences are committed in one commonwealth than in another, it is certain that the former has neither enough pursued the end of unity, nor framed its laws sufficient forethought; and that, therefore, it has failed in making quite good its right as a commonwealth.

Which among the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the passage given above?

In the immediate future, we will see the increasing commodification of many new technologies-artificial intelligence and robotics, 3D manufacturing, custom made biological and pharmaceutical products, lethal autonomous weapons and driverless cars. This will pose conundrums. The moral question of how a driverless car will decide between hitting jaywalker and swerving and damaging the car has often been debated. The answer is both simple save the human life and complex. At which angle should the car swerve just enough to save the jaywalker or more than enough? If the driverless car is in Dublin, who would take the decision? The Irish Government, or the car’s original code writer in California, or a software programmer in Hyderabad to whom maintenance is outsourced? If different national jurisdictions have different fine print on prioritizing a human life, how will it affect insurance and investment decisions, including transnational ones?

Which of the following statements best reflect the rational, plausible, and practical implications that can be derived from the passage given above?

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The best Universities like Harvard and MIT, despite having the luxury of having some truly excellent teachers on their payroll, are increasingly embracing the "flipped classroom" format, where students listen to video lectures at home, and spend class time applying their knowledge, solving Problems, discussing examples, etc. Professors guide that discussion and fill in wherever necessary, explaining those bits that Seem to be eluding the students and throwing in advanced ideas that happen to be topical. These universities have made their video lectures available free for anyone. in the world. They are also encouraging colleges and universities all over the world to integrate these online, courses into their own pedagogy, picking the pieces that are appropriate for their needs and building a package around them.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the passage given above?

Approximately 80 percent of all flowering plant species are pollinated by animals, including birds and mammals, but the main pollinators are insects. Pollination is responsible for providing us with a wide variety of food, as well as many plant-derived medicines. At least one-third of the world's agricultural crops depend upon pollination. Bees are the most dominant taxa when it comes to pollination and they are crucial to more than four hundred crops. Pollination is an essential service that is the result of intricate relationships between plants and animals, and the reduction or loss of either affects the survival of both. Effective pollination requires resources, such as refuges of pristine natural vegetation.

On the basis of the passage given above, the following assumptions have been made:

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Medieval merchants risked the hazards of the silk Road to reach the markets of China; Portuguese caravels in the 15th century sailed beyond the bounds of the known world, searching less for knowledge than for gold and Spices. Historically, the driver for opening frontiers has always been the search for resources. Science and curiosity are weaker drivers. The only way to open up space, whether the space of solar system or 'interstellar space is to create an. economic engine, and that engine is resource extraction.

Which one of the following statements best sums up the passage given above?

Aristocratic government ruins itself by limiting too narrowly the circle within which power is confined; oligarchic government ruins itself by the incautions scramble for immediate wealth. But even democracy ruins itself by excess of democracy. Its basic principle is the equal right of all to hold office and determine public policy. This is, at first glance, a delightful arrangement; it becomes disastrous because the people are not properly equipped by education to select the best rulers and the wisest courses. The people have no understanding and only repeat what their rulers are pleased to tell them. Such a democracy is tyranny or autocracy— Plato

Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the passage given above?

Computers increasingly deal not just with abstract data like Credit card details and databases, but also with the real world of physical objects and Vulnerable human bodies. A modem car 'is a Computer on wheels; an aeroplane is a computer on Wings. The arrival of the "Internet of Things" will see computers baked into everything from road signs and MIU scanners to Prosthetics and insulin pumps. There is little evidence that these gadgets will be any more trustworthy than their desktop counterparts. Hackers have already proved that they can take remote control of internet connected cars and pacemakers.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most critical inference that can be made from the passage given above?

“……. Most people would agree that telling deliberate lies is wrong, except perhaps in certain special situations where more harm will be done by telling the truth. Even the most truthful people probably tell a good many more lies that might be regarded asemantic lies; their use of words contains some measure of falsehood, more or less deliberate." The idea which the first part of the passage mentions is

In India, the objective of macroeconomics policy is to enhance the economic welfare of the people, and any one wring of such macro policy, monetary or fiscal, cannot independently work without active support of another.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the corollary to the passage given above?

Inequality violates a basic democratic norm: the equal standing of citizens. Equality is a relation that obtains between persons in respect of some fundamental characteristic that they share in common. Equality is, morally speaking, a default principle. Therefore, persons should not be discriminated on grounds such as race, caste, gender, ethnicity, disability, or class. These features of human condition are morally irrelevant. The idea that one should treat persons with respect not only because some of these persons possess some special features or talent, for example skilled cricketers, gifted musicians, or literary giants, but because persons are human beings, is by now part of common-sense morality.

Which of the above assumptions are valid?

Researchers simulated Street lighting on artificial grassland plots containing pea-aphids, sap-sucking insects, at night. These were exposed to two different types of light a white light similar to newer commercial LED lights and an amber light similar to sodium street lamps. The low intensity amber light was shown to inhibit, rather than induce, flowering in a wild plant of the pea family which is a source of food for the pea-aphids in grasslands. The number of aphids was also significantly suppressed under the light treatment due to the limited amount of food available.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most critical inference that can be made from the passage given above?

There are reports that some of the antibiotics sold in the market are fed to poultry and other livestock 45 growth promoters. Overusing these Substances can create superbugs, pathogens that are resistant to multiple drugs and could be passed along humans. Mindful of that,' some farming companies have stopped using the drugs to make chickens gain weight faster. Since Denmark banned antibiotic growth promoters in the 1990s, the major pork exporter says it is producing more pigs — and the animals get fewer diseases.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message conveyed by the passage given above?

A study conducted on the impacts of climate change over the Cauvery basin of Tamil Nadu using regional climate models showed an increasing trend for maximum and minimum temperatures, and decrease in the number of rainy days. These climatic shifts will have an impact on the hydrological cycles in the region, lead to more run-off and less recharge, and affect the groundwater tables. Further, there has been an increase in the frequency of droughts in the State. This has driven farmers to increase dependency on groundwater resources to secure their crops.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the passage given' above?

Nothing can exist in a natural state which can be called good or bad by common assent, since every man who is in natural state consults only his own advantage, and determines what is good or bad according to his own fancy and insofar as he has regard for his own advantage alone, and holds himself responsible to no one save himself by any law; and therefore sin cannot be conceived in a natural state, but only a civil state, which is decreed by common consent what is good or bad, and each one holds himself responsible to the state.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the passage given above?

A central message of modern development economics is the importance of income growth, by which meant growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In theory, rising GDP creates employment and investment opportunities. As incomes grow in a country where the level of GDP was once low, households, communities, and governments are increasingly able to set aside some funds for the production of things that make for a good life. Today GDP has assumed such a significant place in the development lexicon, that if someone mentions "economic growth", we know they mean growth in GDP.

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

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Researchers were able to use Stem cells to gauge the neurotoxic effects of the environmental pollutant Bisphenol A (BPA). They used a combination of biochemical and cell-based assays to examine the gene expression profile during the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells upon treatment with BPA, a compound known to cause heart diseases, diabetes, and developmental abnormalities in humans. They were able to detect and measure BPA toxicity towards the proper specification of primary germ layers, such as endoderm and ectoderm, and the establishment of neural progenitor cells.

On the basis of the passage given above, the following assumptions have been made:

Which of the above assumptions are valid?

In our schools, we teach our children all that is there to know about physics, maths and history and what-have-you. But do we teach them about the bitter caste divide that plagues the country, about the spectre of famine that stalks large parts of our land, about gender sensitivity, about the possibility of atheism as a choice, etc.? Equally important, do we teach them to ask questions, or do we teach them only to passively receive our wisdom? From the cocooned world of school, suddenly, the adolescent finds himself/herself in the unfettered world of university. Here he/she is swept up in a turmoil of ideas, influences arid ideologies. For someone who has been discouraged from asking questions and forming an opinion, this transition can be painful.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the passage given above?

With respect, to what are called denominations of religion, if everyone is left to be a judge of his own religion, there is no such thing as religion that is wrong; but if they are to be a judge of each other's religion, there is no such thing as a religion that is right, and therefore all the world is right or all the world is wrong in the matter of religion.

What is the most logical assumption that can be made from the passage given above?

The resolution of bankruptcy cases of Indian banks under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code should help bring non-performing assets (NPA) situation under some control Despite the slow pace of resolutions by the National Company Law Tribunal, the Code can be helpful in cleaning up bank books, in future credit cycles. The recapitalisation of public sector banks too can help increase the capital cushion of banks and induce them to lend more and boost economic activity. But bad debt resolution and recapitalisation are only a-part of the solution as they, by themselves, can do very little to rein in reckless lending that has pushed the Indian banking system to its current sorry state. Unless there are systemic reforms that address the problem of unsustainable lending, future credit cycles will continue to stress the banking system.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical, rational and practical suggestion implied by the passage given above?

Fig trees (genus Ficus) are considered sacred in India, East Asia and Africa and are common in agricultural and urban landscapes where other large trees are absent. In natural forests, fig trees provide food for wildlife when other resources are scarce and support a high density and diversity of frugivores (fruit-eating animals). If frugivorous birds and bats continue to visit fig trees located in Sites with high human disturbance, sacred fig trees may promote frugivore abundance. Under favourable microclimate, plenty of seedings of other tree species would grow around fig trees.

On the basis of the passage given above, the following assumptions have been made:

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Can a democracy avoid being a welfare state for long? Why cannot mass welfare be left entirely to the markets? There is a built-in tension between markets and democracy, Markets do not work on a one-person-one-vote principle as democracies do What one gets out of the market place depends on one's endowments, skills, purchasing power and the forces of demand and supply. Markets reward individual initiative and skill, and may also lift many from the bottom rungs of society, but some people never get the opportunity to develop skills that markets demand; they are simply too poor and too handicapped; or skill formation takes too long. By creating jobs, markets may be able to help even unskilled people, but capitalism has always witnessed bursts of unemployment.

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

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Policy makers and media have placed the blame for skyrocketing food prices on a variety of factors, including high fuel prices, had weather in key food producing countries, and the diversion of land to non-food production. Increased emphasis, however, has been placed on a surge in demand for food from the most populous emerging economies. It seems highly probable that mass consumption in these countries could be well poised to create a food crisis.

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

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Our urban bodies cannot possibly ensure sustainable delivery of water in our cities unless financing mechanisms are put in place. Water delivery requires heavy investment in collecting it from a natural source, treating it to make it potable, and laying a distribution network of pipes for delivery to the users. It also requires investments in sewerage infrastructure and sewage treatment plants so that the sewers can carry the wastewater to these plants to ensure that no untreated sewage is discharged back into natural water bodies. If our cities were rich enough to meet the entire cost, water could be delivered free. They are not.

What is the most logical and crucial message conveyed by the passage?

Although most of the Genetically Modified (GM) crops cultivated now are genetically engineered for a single trait, in future, crops genetically engineered for more than one trait will be the norm. Thus, biotechnology's role in agriculture and the regulation of the same cannot be understood solely in the context of the current generation of GM crops. Instead, there is a need to take a comprehensive look, taking into account various aspects, including socio-economic impacts, so that the potential of the technology can be harnessed while minimizing negative impacts. Given the importance of biotechnology in developing varieties that can help in climate change mitigation and adaptation, not using biotechnology as a part of the climate change action plan; Domestic regulation of biotechnology cannot be viewed in isolation of trade policy and obligations under various international treaties and conventions.

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

Which of the above assumptions are valid?

India has tremendous potential for solar energy. We all realize that we have to stop burning fossil fuels to meet our energy needs. But certain renewable resources are still going through their cost curves and learning curves to get required amount of output. The Indian Government has strongly committed to its targets of reducing emissions by 33 percent by 2030, and towards this it has initiated a strong push towards a gas-based economy and has also invested heavily in renewable energy. However,, business housed are wary of investing too heavily in renewable energy at a time when the technology is not yet ready.

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

Which' of the above assumptions is/are valid?

In India, agriculture still engages about half of its workforce, and about 85 percent of its farms are small and marginal. Compared to China and Vietnam, which have experienced fast structural and rural transformation, India's story is of slow transformation. As a result, poverty reduction in India was at a much slower pace during 1988-2014, compared to China and Vietnam. India's poverty reduction was slow during 1988-2005, but during 2005-2012, it accelerated dramatically—almost three times faster than during the earlier period. What did India do during this period? Research reveals that the relative price scenario changed significantly (by more than 50%) in favour of agriculture in the wake of rising global prices. This boosted private investments in agriculture by more than 50%. As a result, agri-GDP growth touched 4.1% during 2007-20 12 as against 2.4% during 2002-2007. The net surplus of agri-trade touched $25 billion in 2013-2014; real farm wages rose 6y 7% per annum. All this led to unprecedented fall in poverty.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message of the passage?

One of the biggest ironies around water is that it comes from rivers and other wetlands. Yet it is seen as divorced from them While water is used as a resource, public policy does not always grasp that it is a part of the natural ecosystem. Efforts at engineering water systems are thus efforts at augmenting water supply rather than strengthening the capacities of ecological systems.

Which one the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?

In India, authorities always look to store the maximum amount of water in reservoirs during the monsoon season, which is then used for irrigation and generation of electricity during the summer months. It is an internationally accepted practice that the water level of a reservoir should be kept below a certain level before the onset of monsoon season. This is so that when monsoon rains come, there is space to store the excess rain water and also so that water can be released in a regulated manner. But the authorities store the maximum amount of water in reservoirs even before the close of the monsoon, only to ensure greater electricity generation and irrigation:

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

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

India has tremendous potential for solar energy. We all realize that we have to stop burning fossil fuels to meet our energy needs. But certain renewable resources are still going through their cost curves and learning curves to get required amount of output. The Indian Government has strongly committed to its targets of reducing emissions by 33 percent by 2030, and towards this it has initiated a strong push towards a gas-based economy and has also invested heavily in renewable energy. However,, business housed are wary of investing too heavily in renewable energy at a time when the technology is not yet ready.

Which one the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?

Private investment, in general, is volatile. Foreign private investment is more volatile because the available investment avenues are significantly greater (i.e., the entire world). Therefore, the responsibility of providing employment cannot be left to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The current FDI inflows are volatile over time and across sectors and regions, which is a necessary consequence of their search for the highest returns. The adverse consequences are unstable employment and accentuation of income and regional inequalities. A probable positive consequence of foreign investment is the inflow of new technology and its subsequent diffusion. However, the technology diffusion is not at all certain because the existing state of physical and human capital in India may prove inadequate for the diffusion.

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

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

People will invest in education whenever they are granted economic freedom to fully enjoy its benefits. Again, this is for the obvious reason that the return on education increases as the level of economic freedom rises. When people, thanks to lower tax rates, are allowed to retain most of the higher income that they gain from each incremental level of education, it makes eminent sense to invest in education. On the other hand, when the government decides to tax the higher income of educated individuals at even higher rates, it makes very little sense to invest in educating oneself further. The same incentives apply to parents who decide on whether to invest in their children’s education.

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

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Many opportunities to harness the highly skewed, seasonal and spatial distribution of monsoon flows, which occur in a four-month period from June to September annually, have been lost. Since these few months account for most of the rainfall and consequent freshwater availability, the need for holding rainwater in reservoirs, for subsequently releasing it for use over the year, is a necessity nobody can afford to overlook. Climate change will continue to affect weather conditions and create water shortages and excesses. While millions suffer from droughts and floods, waters in the country's many rivers flow unutilized, and are discharged into the sea every year.

With reference to the above passage, which of the following could be the most rational and practical implications for India?

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Economic liberalization in India was shaped Iargely.by the economic problems of the government than by the economic priorities of the people or by the long-term development objectives. Thus, there were limitations in conception and design which have been subsequently validated by experience. Jobless growth, persistent poverty and rising inequality have mounted as problems since economic liberalization began. And all these years later, four quiet crises confront the economy; agriculture, infrastructure, industrialization and education as constraints on the country's future prospects. These problems must be resolved if economic growth has to be sustained and transformed into meaningful development.

Which of the following is/are the most rational and logical inference/inferences that can be made from the passage?

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Although most of the Genetically Modified (GM) crops cultivated now are genetically engineered for a single trait, in. future, crops genetically engineered for more than one trait will be the norm. Thus, biotechnology's role in agriculture and the regulation of the same cannot be understood solely in the context of the current generation of GM crops. Instead, there is a need to take a comprehensive look, taking into account various aspects, including socio-economic impacts, so that the potential of the technology can be harnessed while minimizing negative impacts. Given the importance of biotechnology in developing varieties that can help in climate change mitigation and adaptation, not using biotechnology as a part of the climate change action plan; Domestic regulation of biotechnology cannot be viewed in isolation of trade policy and obligations under various international treaties and conventions.

Which one of following Statements best implies the crux of the passage?

Economic liberalization in India was shaped Iargely.by the economic problems of the government than by the economic priorities of the people or by the long-term development objectives. Thus, there were limitations in conception and design which have been subsequently validated by experience. Jobless growth, persistent poverty and rising inequality have mounted as problems since economic liberalization began. And all these years later, four quiet crises confront the economy; agriculture, infrastructure, industrialization and education as constraints on the country's future prospects. These problems must be resolved if economic growth has to be sustained and transformed into meaningful development.

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

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

In India, agriculture still engages about half of its workforce, and about 85 percent of its farms are small and marginal. Compared to China and Vietnam, which have experienced fast structural and rural transformation, India's story is of slow transformation. As a result, poverty reduction in India was at a much slower pace during 1988-2014, compared to China and Vietnam. India's poverty reduction was slow during 1988-2005, but during 2005-2012, it accelerated dramatically—almost three times faster than during the earlier period. What did India do during this period? Research reveals that the relative price scenario changed significantly (by more than 50%) in favour of agriculture in the wake of rising global prices. This boosted private investments in agriculture by more than 50%. As a result, agri-GDP growth touched 4.1% during 2007-20 12 as against 2.4% during 2002-2007. The net surplus of agri-trade touched $25 billion in 2013-2014; real farm wages rose 6y 7% per annum. All this led to unprecedented fall in poverty.

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

Which of the above assumptions are valid?

Genome editing is different from genome modification. Genome editing typically involves finding the part of a plant genome that could be changed to render it less vulnerable to disease, or resistant to certain herbicides, or to increase yields, Researchers use 'molecular scissors' to dissect the genome and repair it, which is a process that occurs naturally when plants are under attack from diseases and can throw up new mutations that enable the plant to survive future attacks. This evolutionary process can effectively be speeded up now that it is possible to examine plant genomes in detail in laboratories, and create mechanisms through which the relevant genes can be altered very precisely.

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

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Our urban bodies cannot possibly ensure sustainable delivery of water in our cities unless financing mechanisms are put in place. Water delivery requires heavy investment in collecting it from a natural source, treating it to make it potable, and laying a distribution network of pipes for delivery to the users. It also requires investments in sewerage infrastructure and sewage treatment plants so that the sewers can carry the wastewater to these plants to ensure that no untreated sewage is discharged back into natural water bodies. If our cities were rich enough to meet the entire cost, water could be delivered free. They are not.
With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Asset allocation is the most important investment decision we will ever make, and sadly, most of us do not give that decision the importance it deserves. We are adamant about seeking predictability with our future. We tend to thing of investing in risky assets as extremely volatile and value cording. We also dislike fluctuating returns and the loss of control of investment. We think our money is best left idle, unproductive but safe. There is no asset that is risk-free. We could lose our jobs, our homes can lose value, our banks can go bankrupt, our bonds can default, the government can collapse and companies we chose fondly may cease to exist. But we cannot live life assuming that all these extreme events are waiting to. happen, and all at the same time. All these extreme forms of risks we know will not manifest at the same time.

Which one of the following statements best implies the suggestion given by the author of the passage?

In India, the current focus on the right to privacy is based on some new realities of the digital age. A right is a substantive right only if it works in all situations, and for everyone. A right to free expression for an individual about her exploitation, for instance, is meaningless without actual availability of security that guarantees that private force cannot be used to thwart this right. The role of the State, therefore, is not just to abstain from preventing rightful free expression, but also to actively ensure that private parties are not able to block it.

On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Many people understand the connection between solid waste management and health in terms of the consequences of unattended heaps of dry garbage which become home for flies and other vermin. However, there is another aspect that is no well-understood, that is, what happens when unscientific solid waste management combines with poor drainage and dumping of untreated sewage into drain which are meant to carry storm water during rains. The result is choked drains which are full of stagnant water breeding mosquitoes, resulting in the spread of water-borne diseases.

In the context of India, which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message of the passage?

In Part III of the Constitution, which assures people certain fundamental rights, Article 25 proclaims that "all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion". What people fail to notice is that this proclamation is prefixed with the words "subject to public order, morality, health and to the Other provisions of this Part", which set conditions precedent for the legal protection of religious practices of any community. The closing words of this prefatory rider in Article 25 virtually constitute a subordination clause placing other fundamental rights mentioned in Part III over and above the right to religious freedom. Among those other fundamental rights is the right to equality before law and equal protection of laws—assured at the outset and elaborated in later articles to mean, inter alia, that the State shall not deny equal protection of laws to any person or group of persons on the basis of religion alone. What is the most logical inference from the above passage?

Spanish ships in the late 16th century first brought the potato tuber from South America to Europe whereby in the early 19th century, it had become a reliable backup to cereal crops, particularly in the cold, rain-soaked soils of Ireland. The Irish were soon almost wholly dependent on the potato as their staple food. And they were planting primarily one prodigious variety, the 'Lumper' potato, whose genetic frailty would be cruelly exposed by the fungus 'Phytophthora infestans'. In 1845, spores of the deadly fungus began spreading across the country, destroying nearly all the Lumpers in its path. The resulting famine killed or displaced millions.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message of the passage?

In India, over the last decade or so, labour has been departing agriculture, but is only going to construction and unregistered manufacturing which are not markedly better jobs. Services, where labour tends to be most productive, are not generating the additional jobs the country needs. India will need 24 million or so jobs over the next decade. The new sector, e-commerce, can at best close only half the jobs gap. Only those sectors that drive domestic demand such as health and education can comfortably fill the other half.

Which one the following is best implied in the passage?

Bank credit to the industrial sector has started shrinking. Its decline has been a serious concern as credit growth is essential to revive investment. The problem's origins lie in the incomplete reforms of the last 25 years. An institutional change that should have followed. the 1991 reforms should have been setting up of a resolution corporation for banks. In a market economy with booms and busts, banks should be allowed to be set up and to fall. Today, we cannot shut down banks because there is no proper system to shut them down. Weak loss-making banks continue to need more capital.

Which one of the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?

Education plays a great transformatory role in life, particularly so in this rapidly changing and globalizing world. Universities are the custodians of the intellectual capital and promoters of culture and specialized knowledge. Culture is an activity of thought, and receptiveness to beauty and human feelings. A merely well-informed man is only a bore on God's earth. What we should aim at is producing men who possess both culture and expert knowledge. Their expert knowledge will give them a firm ground to start from and their culture will lead them as deep as philosophy and as high as art. Together it will impart meaning to human existence.

On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Around 56 million years ago, the Atlantic Ocean had not fully opened and animals, perhaps including our primate ancestors, could walk from Asia to North America through Europe and across Greenland. Earth was warmer than it is today, but as the Palaeocene epoch gave way to Eocene, it was about to get much warmer still — rapidly and radically. The cause was a massive geologically sudden release of carbon. During this period called Palaeocene — Eocene Thermal Maximum or PETM, the carbon injected into the atmosphere was roughly the amount that would be injected today if humans burned all the Earth's reserves of coal, oil and natural gas. The PETM lasted for about 1,50,000 years, until the excess carbon was reabsorbed. It brought on drought, floods, insect plagues and a few extinctions.

Life on Earth survived — indeed, it prospered — but it was drastically different.

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

Which of the assumptions given above are valid?

Temperatures have risen nearly five times as rapidly on the Western Antarctic Peninsula than the global average over the past five decades. Researchers have now found that melting glaciers are causing a loss of species diversity among benthos in the coastal waters off the Antarctic Peninsula, impacting an entire seafloor ecosystem. They believe increased levels of suspended sediment in water to be the cause of the dwindling biodiversity in the coastal region.

On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Diarrhoeal deaths among Indian children are mostly due to food and water contamination. Use of contaminated groundwater and unsafe chemicals in agriculture, poor hygiene in storage and handling of food items to food cooked and distributed in unhygienic surroundings; there are myriad factors that need regulation and monitoring. People need to have awareness of adulteration and ways of complaining to the relevant authorities. Surveillance of food-borne diseases involves a number of government agencies and entails a good training of inspection staff. Considering the proportion of the urban population that depends on street food for its daily meals, investing in training and education of street vendors is of great significance.

On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

The rural poor across the world, including India, have contributed little to human-induced climate change, yet they are on the frontline in coping with its effects. Farmers can no longer rely on historical averages for rainfall and temperature, and the more frequent and extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, can spell disaster. And there are new threats, such as sea level rise and the impact of melting glaciers on water supply. How significant are small farms? As many as two billion people worldwide depend on them for their food and livelihood. Small-holder farmers in India produce 41 percent of the country's food grains, and other food items that contribute to local and national food security.

What is the most logical and rational corollary to the above passage?

Access to schooling for those coming of school age is close to universal, but access to quality exhibits a sharp gradient with socio-economic status Quotas for the weaker sections in private schools is a provision introduced by the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. The quotas have imposed a debate on issues of social integration and equity in education that private actors had escaped by and large. The idea of egalitarian education system with equality of opportunity as its primary goal appears to be outside the space that private school principals inhabit. Therefore, the imposition of the quotas has led to resistance, sometimes justified.

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

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

India has banking correspondents, who help bring people in the hinterland into the banking fold. For them to succeed, banks cannot crimp on costs. They also cannot afford to ignore investing in financial education and literacy. Banking correspondents are way too small to be viewed as a systemic risk. Yet India's banking regulator has restricted them to serving only one bank, perhaps to prevent arbitrage. Efforts at banking outreach may succeed only if there are better incentives at work for such last-mile workers and also those providers who ensure not just basic bank accounts but also products such as accident and life insurance and micro pension schemes.

Which one of the following is the most logical, rational and crucial inference that can be derived from the above passage?

With the digital phenomenon restructuring most social sectors, it is little surprise that global trade negotiations are now eyeing the digital area in an attempt to pre-emptively colonise it; Big Data is freely collected or mined from developing countries, and converted into digital intelligence in developed countries. This intelligence begins to control different sectors and extract monopoly rents. A large foreign company providing cab service, for instance is not a network of cars and drivers; it is digital intelligence about commuting, public transport, roads, traffic, city events, personal behavioural characteristics of commuters and drivers and so on.

Which of the following is most definitively implied by the above passage?

Low-end IoT (Internet of Things) devices are cheap commodity items : addressing security would add to the Cost. This class of items is proliferating with new applications; many home appliances, thermostats, security and monitoring devices and persona convenience devices are part of the IoT. So are fitness trackers, certain medical implants and computer-like devices in automobiles. The IoT is expected to expand exponentially — but new security challenges are daunting.

Which one of the following statements is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?

In a study, scientists compared the microbiomes of poorly nourished and well nourished infants and young children. Gut microbes were isolated from faecal samples of malnourished and healthy children. The microbiome was "immature" and less diverse in malnourished children compared to the better developed "mature" microbiome found in healthy children of the same age. According to some studies, the chemical composition of mother's milk has shown the presence of a modified sugar (salivated Oligosaccharides). This is not utilized by the baby for its own nutrition However, the bacteria constituting the infant's microbiome thrive on this sugar which serves as their food. Malnourished, mothers have low levels of this sugar in their milk. Consequently, the microbiomes of their infants fail to mature. That in turn, leads to malnourished babies.

Which one of the following is the most logical, rational and crucial inference that can be derived from the above passage?

Climate change may actually benefit some plants by lengthening growing seasons and increasing carbon dioxide. Yet other effects of a warmer world, such as more pests, droughts, and flooding, will be less benign. How will the world adapt? Researchers project that by 2050, suitable croplands for four commodities — maize, potatoes, rice and wheat — will shift, in some cases pushing farmers to plant new crops. Some farmlands may benefit from warming, but others won't. Climate alone does not dictate yields; political Shifts, global demand, and agricultural practices will influence how farms fare in the future.

Which one of the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?

What stands in the way of the widespread and careful adoption of 'Genetic Modification (GM)' technology is an 'Intellectual Property Rights' regime that seeks to create private monopolies for such technologies. If GM technology is largely corporate driven, it seeks to maimi7e profits and that too in the. short run. That is why corporations make major investments for herbicide tolerant and pest-resistant crops. Such properties have only a short window, as soon enough, pests and weeds will evolve to overcome such resistance. This Suits the corporations. The National Farmers Commission pointed out that priority must be given in genetic modification to the incorporation of genes that can help impart resistance to drought, salinity and other stresses.

On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

India’s economic footprint, given its population, still remains small compared to the US, the European Union or China. It has much to learn from other economies, yet must implement solutions that fit its unique circumstances. India especially needs an effective long-term regulatory system based on collaboration rather than the ‘current top-down approach. Regulations seek desirable outcomes yet are repeatedly used as political tools to push one agenda or another. Often, regulations fail to consider impacts on jobs and economic growth—or less restrictive alternatives. Regulations may be used to protect local markets at the expense of more widely shared prosperity in the future. Additionally, regulations inevitably result in numerous unintended consequences. In today’s hyper competitive global economy, regulations need to be viewed as ‘weapons’ that seek cost-justified social and environmental benefits while improving the economic well-being of most citizens.

Which one of the following is the most logical, rational and crucial inference that can be derived from the above passage?

Food varieties extinction is happening all over the world — and its happening fast. For example, of the 7,000 apple varieties that were grown during the nineteenth century. fewer than a hundred remain. In the Philippines, thousands of varieties of rice once thrived now only up to a hundred are grown there. In China, 90 percent of the wheat varieties cultivated just a century ago have disappeared. Farmers in the past painstakingly bred and developed crops well suited to the peculiarities of their local climate and environment. In the recent past; our heavy dependence on a few high yielding varieties and technology-driven production and distribution of food is causing the dwindling of diversity in food crops. If some mutating crop disease or future climate change decimates the few crop plants we have come to depend onto feed our growing population, we might desperately need some of those varieties we have let go extinct.

On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions. have been made:

Which of the above assumptions are valid?

With the digital phenomenon restructuring most social sectors, it is little surprise that global trade negotiations are now eyeing the digital area in an attempt to pre-emptively colonise it; Big Data is freely collected or mined from developing countries, and converted into digital intelligence in developed countries. This intelligence begins to control different sectors and extract monopoly rents. A large foreign company providing cab service, for instance is not a network of cars and drivers; it is digital intelligence about commuting, public transport, roads, traffic, city events, personal behavioural characteristics of commuters and drivers and so on.

Which one of the following is the most logical and rational corollary to the above passage?

What stands in the way of the widespread and careful adoption of 'Genetic Modification (GM)' technology is an `Intellectual Property Rights' regime that seeks to create private monopolies for such technologies. If GM technology is largely corporate driven, it seeks to maximize profits and that too in the short run. That is why corporations make major investments for herbicide-tolerant and pest-resistant crops. Such properties have only a short window, as soon enough, pests and weeds will evolve to overcome such resistance. This suits the corporations. The National Farmers Commission pointed out that priority must be given in genetic modification to the incorporation of genes that can help impart resistance to drought, salinity and other stresses.
On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

India’s economic footprint, given its population, still remains small compared to the US, the European Union or China. It has much to learn from other economies, yet must implement solutions that fit its unique circumstances. India especially needs an effective long-term regulatory system based on collaboration rather than the ‘current top-down approach. Regulations seek desirable outcomes yet are repeatedly used as political tools to push one agenda or another. Often, regulations fail to consider impacts on jobs and economic growth—or less restrictive alternatives. Regulations may be used to protect local markets at the expense of more widely shared prosperity in the future. Additionally, regulations inevitably result in numerous unintended consequences. In today’s hyper competitive global economy, regulations need to be viewed as ‘weapons’ that seek cost-justified social and environmental benefits while improving the economic well-being of most citizens.
On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
In today’s global economy,

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?