CAT 2025 VARC Slot 1 Paper
Q. 1 Five jumbled sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5), related to a topic, are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a coherent paragraph. Identify the odd sentence out and key in the number of that sentence as your answer.
1. Developments both technological and sociocultural have afforded us far greater freedom over death than we had in the past, and while we are still adapting ourselves to that freedom, we now appreciate the moral importance of this freedom.
2. But I believe that a type of freedom we can call freedom over death – that is, a freedom in which we shape the timing and circumstances of how we die – should be central to this conversation.
3. Legalising assisted dying is but a further step in realising this freedom over death.
4. Many people endorse, through their opinions or their choices, our freedom over death, encompassing a right to medical assistance in hastening our deaths.
5. Freedom is a notoriously complex and contested philosophical notion, and I won’t pretend to settle any of the big controversies it raises.
Check Solution
Ans: 4
All five statements center on a philosophical exploration of autonomy concerning mortality: its implications, significance, and influence on discussions like end-of-life choices. The majority of these statements construct an argument for freedom as a moral and philosophical concept, transcending mere popular sentiment.
Statements 5, 1, 2, and 3 exhibit a coherent sequence. Statement 5 initiates the discourse by acknowledging the philosophical intricacy of freedom, establishing a contemplative mood. Statement 1 subsequently zeroes in on a particular facet of liberty, the capacity to influence one’s own death, contextualizing it historically and ethically. Statement 2 expands upon this by asserting that this liberty ought to be a core element of the wider discussion. Statement 3 then posits legalized assisted dying as a policy or ethical advancement towards actualizing this liberty.
Statement 4 disrupts this progression. Instead of contributing to the author’s conceptual framework, it offers an observational assertion regarding what “a considerable number of individuals advocate for” in practical terms. This reference to public sentiment is neither essential nor linked to the philosophical trajectory of the other statements. Consequently, it appears extraneous rather than supportive of the primary thesis. Therefore,
statement 4 is the outlier.
Q. 2 Instructions
The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question.
Often the well intentioned music lover or the traditionally-minded professional composer asks two basic questions when faced with the electronic music phenomena: (1) . . . is this type of artistic
creation music at all? and, (2) given that the product is accepted as music of a new type or order, is not such music “inhuman”? . . . As Lejaren Hiller points out in his book Experimental Music (coauthor Leonard M. Isaacson), two questions which often arise when music is discussed are: (a) the substance of musical communication and its symbolic and semantic significance, if any, and (b) the particular processes, both mental and technical, which are involved in creating and responding to musical composition. The ever-present popular concept of music as a direct, open, emotional expression and as a subjective form of communication from the composer, is, of course still that of the nineteenth century, when composers themselves spoke of music in those terms . . . But since the third decade of our century many composers have preferred more objective definitions of music, epitomized in Stravinsky’s description of it as “a form of speculation in terms of sound and time”. An acceptance of this more characteristic twentieth-century view of the art of musical composition will of course immediately bring the layman closer to an understanding of, and sympathetic response to, electronic music, even if the forms, sounds and approaches it uses will still be of a foreign nature to him.
A communication problem however will still remain. The principal barrier that electronic music presents at large, in relation to the communication process, is that composers in this medium are employing a new language of forms . . . where terms like ‘densities’, ‘indefinite pitch relations’, ‘dynamic serialization’, ‘permutation’, etc., are substitutes (or remote equivalents) for the traditional concepts of harmony, melody, rhythm, etc. . . . When the new structural procedures of electronic music are at last fully understood by the listener the barriers between him and the work he faces will be removed. . . .
The medium of electronic music has of course tempted many kinds of composers to try their hand at it . . . But the serious-minded composer approaches the world of electronic music with a more sophisticated and profound concept of creation. Although he knows that he can reproduce and employ melodic, rhythmic patterns and timbres of a traditional nature, he feels that it is in the exploration of sui generis languages and forms that the aesthetic magic of the new medium lies. And, conscientiously, he plunges into this search.
The second objection usually levelled against electronic music is much more innocent in nature. When people speak—sometimes very vehemently—of the ‘inhuman’ quality of this music they seem to forget that the composer is the one who fires the machines, collects the sounds, manipulates them, pushes the buttons, programs the computer, filters the sounds, establishes pitches and scales, splices tape, thinks of forms, and rounds up the over-all structure of the piece, as well as every detail of it.
The goal of the author over the course of this passage is to:
Check Solution
Ans: D
Explanation:The passage addresses two primary questions concerning electronic music: whether it is “music at all” and if it is “inhuman.” The author then proceeds to explain the shift in compositional perspectives from the 19th century to the 20th century, highlighting that the latter embraces more objective definitions of music. The passage also discusses the communication barrier presented by the new language of electronic music and refutes the “inhuman” charge by detailing the composer’s active role in its creation. This systematic approach demonstrates that the author’s main intent is to counter common criticisms and misconceptions surrounding electronic music, thereby defending it. Option A is partially addressed as context but not the primary goal. Option B is related, but the focus is on defending electronic music, not just differentiating it. Option C is incorrect; the author uses Hiller and Stravinsky to support the 20th-century view, not to defend against them.
Correct_Option:D
Q. 3 What relation does the “communication problem” mentioned in paragraph 2 have to the questions that the author recounts at the beginning of the passage?
Check Solution
Ans: A
Explanation:The passage states that a “communication problem however will still remain” and that “The principal barrier that electronic music presents at large, in relation to the communication process, is that composers in this medium are employing a new language of forms”. It also mentions that when “the new structural procedures of electronic music are at last fully understood by the listener the barriers between him and the work he faces will be removed.” This directly addresses the first question mentioned at the beginning of the passage: “is this type of artistic creation music at all?”. The communication problem, stemming from the new language and forms, hinders the initial acceptance of electronic music as music, but understanding these new structures can overcome this barrier. Option A accurately reflects this. Option B is incorrect because the passage implies that understanding the new language can lead to acceptance, not that it inherently prevents it. Option C is incorrect as the passage explicitly links the communication problem to the initial questions about whether electronic music is music at all. Option D is incorrect as the passage does not suggest that difficulty in understanding is a prerequisite for music.
Correct_Option:A
Q. 4 The mention of Stravinsky’s description of music in the first paragraph does all the following EXCEPT:
Check Solution
Ans: A
This question requires identifying a statement that *is not* supported by Stravinsky’s portrayal in the initial paragraph.
Let’s examine each choice:
Choice B: “respond to and expand upon earlier understandings of music”. Stravinsky’s characterization of music as “a form of speculation in terms of sound and time” implies engagement with and development of existing musical concepts. Therefore, this choice can be excluded.
Choice C: This concept is also present within Stravinsky’s commentary, leading to its elimination.
Choice D: The notion presented here is reinforced by the statement: “characteristic twentieth-century view of the art of musical composition will of course immediately bring the layman closer to an understanding of,…”. Consequently, this option can be disregarded.
Choice A: The idea that this choice proposes, namely “Helping us to determine which sounds are musical and which are not”, is not found within Stravinsky’s explanation. Thus, this represents the accurate selection.
Q. 5 From the context in which it is placed, the phrase “sui generis” in paragraph 3 suggests which one of the following?
Check Solution
Ans: A
Explanation:The passage states that serious-minded composers “plunges into this search” for the aesthetic magic of electronic music by exploring “sui generis languages and forms.” This implies that these languages and forms are unique and specific to the new medium, rather than being common or general. The word “particular” aligns with this meaning of unique or specific. “Generic” is the opposite, “unaesthetic” contradicts the idea of aesthetic magic, and “indescribable” doesn’t fit the context of exploring new forms.
Correct_Option:A
Q. 6 The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, and 4) given below, when properly sequenced, would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and key in the sequence of the four numbers as your answer.
1. It can in fact be integrated into any function (education, medical treatment, production, punishment); it can increase the effect of this function, by being linked closely with it; it can constitute a mixed mechanism in which relations of power (and of knowledge) may be precisely adjusted, in the smallest detail, to the processes that are to be supervised; it can establish a direct proportion between ‘surplus power’ and ‘surplus production’.
2. It’s a case of ‘it’s easy once you’ve thought of it’ in the political sphere.
3. The panoptic mechanism is not simply a hinge, a point of exchange between a mechanism of power and a function; it is a way of making power relations function in a function, and of making a function function through these power relations
4. In short, it arranges things in such a way that the exercise of power is not added on from the outside, like a rigid, heavy constraint, to the functions it invests, but is so subtly present in them as to increase their efficiency by itself increasing its own points of contact.
Check Solution
Ans: 2143
The four statements collectively elucidate the concept of the panoptic mechanism and its operational principles. Initially, they situate it within the political domain, subsequently demonstrating its linkage between authority and societal roles, detailing its practical outcomes, and concluding with a precise, conceptual encapsulation of its rationale.
To determine the appropriate sequence, we commence with statement 2. Despite its less formal phrasing, it establishes the context by locating the subject within the political arena and asserting the viability of the concept from this perspective. Statement 1 follows, elaborating on the mechanism’s functions and its applicability across fields such as pedagogy, healthcare, correctional systems, and manufacturing. It further illustrates the recalibration of influence and information for the purposes of oversight and output enhancement. Statement 4 then provides a concise summary. Beginning with the phrase “In essence,” it articulates that authority is intrinsically embedded rather than externally imposed, thereby fostering increased efficacy. Statement 3 concludes the sequence, offering the most generalized characterization, revealing that the panoptic mechanism represents not merely a connection between authority and function, but a dynamic where each facilitates the operation of the other. The statements progress from a broad overview to a refined conceptualization. Therefore, the correct arrangement is:
2143.
Q. 7 The given sentence is missing in the paragraph below. Decide where it best fits among the options 1, 2, 3, or 4 indicated in the paragraph.
Sentence: “Everything is old-world, traditional techniques from Mexico,” Ava emphasizes.
Paragraph: The sisters embrace the ways their great-grandfather built and repaired instruments. ____(1) ____. When crafting a Mexican guitarron used in mariachi music, they use tacote wood for the top of the instrument. Once the wood is cut, they carve the neck and heel from a single block using tools like hand saws, chisels and sandpaper rather than modern power tools — and believe that this traditional method improves the tone of the instrument. ____(2) ____. Their store has a three-year waitlist for instruments that take months to create. ____(3) ____. The family’s artisanship has attracted stars like Los Lobos, who own custom guitars made by all three generations of the Delgado family. ____(4) ____. For the sisters, involvement in the family business started at an early age. They each built their first instruments at age 9.
Check Solution
Ans: A
Explanation:The sentence “Everything is old-world, traditional techniques from Mexico,” Ava emphasizes” directly relates to the sisters’ approach to instrument building. It elaborates on their commitment to traditional methods mentioned in the preceding sentence, which discusses how they follow their great-grandfather’s building and repairing techniques. Therefore, placing it at option 1 provides a natural flow and emphasis on the traditional aspect of their craft.
Correct_Option:A
Q. 8 The given sentence is missing in the paragraph below. Decide where it best fits among the options 1, 2, 3, or 4 indicated in the paragraph.
Sentence: Historically, silver has been, and still is, an important element in the business of ‘show’ visible in private houses, churches, government and diplomacy.
Paragraph: ____(1) ____. Timothy Schroder put it succinctly in suggesting that electric light and eating in the kitchen eroded this need. As he explained to the author, ‘Silver, when illuminated by flickering candlelight, comes alive and almost dances before the eyes, but when lit by electric light, it becomes flat and dead.’ ____(2) ____. Domestic and economic changes may have worked against the market, but the London silver trade remained buoyant, thanks to the competition of collectors seeking grand display silver at the top end, and the buyers of ‘collectables’, like spoons and wine labels and ‘novelties’, at the bottom. ____(3) ____. Another factor that came into play was the systematic collection building of certain American museums over the period. Boston, Huntington Art Gallery and Williamsburg, among others, were largely supplied by London dealers. ____(4) ____.
Check Solution
Ans: B
The explanation examines the societal function and commercial sphere of silver. It initially clarifies silver’s past significance, subsequently its diminished relevance, and finally the factors sustaining its commerce. The statement under consideration provides historical perspective by illustrating silver’s former importance: it served as a conspicuous emblem in personal, spiritual, and diplomatic contexts. This concept facilitates the linkage between the reduction in household utility and the reasons for the trade’s continuation.
Considering the paragraph’s organization, following discussions on electric illumination and shifts in domestic life, the text states: “
While domestic and economic shifts might have negatively impacted the market, the London silver trade continued to thrive…
” Prior to this juncture, a recollection of silver’s established purpose is necessary, as this lends greater significance to its decline and underscores the unexpected resilience of its trade.
Inserting the statement at location (3) fulfills this objective. It revisits silver’s enduring role in ostentatious display, which aids in rendering the subsequent discourse on collectors, repositories, and institutional purchasers coherent and pertinent. The statement is less effective at (1), as the decline has not yet been presented. It is also unsuitable for (2), as this position follows an excerpt concerning visual aspects. By point (4), the paragraph has already transitioned to acquisitions by American institutions. Therefore, the statement is most appropriately placed at position 3 (option 3).
Q. 9 Instructions
The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question.
Understanding the key properties of complex systems can help us clarify and deal with many new and existing global challenges, from pandemics to poverty . . . A recent study in Nature Physics found transitions to orderly states such as schooling in fish (all fish swimming in the same direction), can be caused, paradoxically, by randomness, or ‘noise’ feeding back on itself. That is, a misalignment among the fish causes further misalignment, eventually inducing a transition to schooling. Most of us wouldn’t guess that noise can produce predictable behaviour. The result invites us to consider how technology such as contact-tracing apps, although informing us locally, might negatively impact our collective movement. If each of us changes our behaviour to avoid the infected, we might generate a collective pattern we had aimed to avoid: higher levels of interaction between the infected and susceptible, or high levels of interaction among the asymptomatic.
Complex systems also suffer from a special vulnerability to events that don’t follow a normal distribution or ‘bell curve’. When events are distributed normally, most outcomes are familiar and don’t seem particularly striking. Height is a good example: it’s pretty unusual for a man to be over 7 feet tall; most adults are between 5 and 6 feet, and there is no known person over 9 feet tall. But in collective settings where contagion shapes behaviour – a run on the banks, a scramble to buy toilet paper – the probability distributions for possible events are often heavy-tailed. There is a much higher probability of extreme events, such as a stock market crash or a massive surge in infections. These events are still unlikely, but they occur more frequently and are larger than would be expected under normal distributions.
What’s more, once a rare but hugely significant ‘tail’ event takes place, this raises the probability of further tail events. We might call them second-order tail events; they include stock market gyrations after a big fall and earthquake aftershocks. The initial probability of second-order tail events is so tiny it’s almost impossible to calculate – but once a first-order tail event occurs, the rules change, and the probability of a second-order tail event increases.
The dynamics of tail events are complicated by the fact that they result from cascades of other unlikely events. When COVID-19 first struck, the stock market suffered stunning losses followed by an equally stunning recovery. Some of these dynamics are potentially attributable to former sports bettors, with no sports to bet on, entering the market as speculators rather than investors. The arrival of these new players might have increased inefficiencies and allowed savvy long-term investors to gain an edge over bettors with different goals. . . .
One reason a first-order tail event can induce further tail events is that it changes the perceived costs of our actions and changes the rules that we play by. This game-change is an example of another key complex systems concept: nonstationarity. A second, canonical example of nonstationarity is adaptation, as illustrated by the arms race involved in the coevolution of hosts and parasites [in which] each has to ‘run’ faster, just to keep up with the novel solutions the other one presents as they battle it out in evolutionary time.
All of the following inferences are supported by the passage EXCEPT that:
Check Solution
Ans: D
Explanation:The passage discusses how tail events can lead to second-order tail events, implying a change in the system’s dynamics and probabilities. Option A correctly interprets how contagion can lead to unexpected system-wide patterns, aligning with the passage’s discussion of collective settings and unexpected outcomes. Option B accurately reflects the idea that a rare event can alter payoffs and increase the probability of subsequent large disturbances, supporting the concept of second-order tail events. Option C correctly summarizes the nature of heavy-tailed events and their implications for forecasting in contagious collective settings. Option D, however, makes an extreme claim that the passage *solely* attributes the market rebound to displaced sports bettors and treats their entry as the *overriding* cause. The passage states, “Some of these dynamics are *potentially attributable* to former sports bettors,” indicating it’s a contributing factor, not the sole or overriding one. Therefore, this inference is not supported by the passage.
Correct_Option:D
Q. 10 Which one of the options below best summarises the passage?
Check Solution
Ans: B
Explanation:The passage discusses complex systems and their properties. It starts by explaining how randomness can paradoxically lead to order, using the example of fish schooling. It then shifts to discuss the vulnerability of complex systems to “heavy-tailed” distributions, where extreme events are more probable than in normal distributions. The passage elaborates on “tail events,” explaining that a first-order tail event can increase the probability of second-order tail events, changing the rules of the system (nonstationarity). It provides examples like stock market crashes, pandemics, and the coevolution of hosts and parasites. Option B accurately summarizes these key points: noise creating order, vulnerability to heavy-tailed cascades, and nonstationarity illustrated by the market during COVID-19. Option A is incorrect as the passage explicitly states that complex systems *do not* generally follow normal distributions and that extreme events are significant. Option C makes a sweeping generalization about speculative entrants and profit that is not directly supported as a sole takeaway. Option D misinterprets the passage by stating it rejects applications in markets or public health and claims adaptation is exclusive to parasite-host systems, which is contradicted by the passage’s broader discussion of complex systems.
Correct_Option:B
Q. 11 Which one of the following observations would most strengthen the passage’s claim that a first-order tail event raises the probability of further tail events in complex systems?
Check Solution
Ans: C
Explanation:The question asks which observation would strengthen the claim that a first-order tail event raises the probability of further tail events. Let’s analyze the options:
Option A describes isolated spikes in epidemic networks followed by outbreak sizes matching baseline distributions, implying no increase in subsequent extreme events. This weakens the claim.
Option B states that river discharge records fit a normal distribution, suggesting that extreme events are rare and don’t necessarily lead to more extreme events, which contradicts the passage’s point about heavy-tailed distributions. This option doesn’t directly address the strengthening of the claim about first-order events leading to subsequent ones.
Option C describes a major equity crash (a first-order tail event) followed by dense clusters of large daily moves and extreme days occurring far more often than usual. This directly supports the passage’s claim that a tail event raises the probability of further tail events, as it shows an increase in extreme events after an initial extreme event.
Option D states that seismic activity returns to baseline with no aftershock sequence, suggesting independence across events. This contradicts the passage’s claim about increased probability of further tail events after a first-order event.
Therefore, Option C provides the strongest support for the passage’s claim.
Correct_Option:C
Q. 12 The passage suggests that contact tracing apps could inadvertently raise risky interactions by altering local behaviour. Which one of the assumptions below is most necessary for that suggestion to hold?
Check Solution
Ans: B
Explanation:The passage states that contact-tracing apps, while informing us locally, might negatively impact our collective movement. It explains this by suggesting that if each person changes their behavior to avoid the infected, this could generate a collective pattern of higher interaction levels between the infected and susceptible, or among the asymptomatic. This implies that individual local responses to avoid infection interact and can lead to unintended large-scale patterns that may not achieve the intended aim of risk reduction. Option B directly reflects this mechanism by stating that individuals base movement choices on observed infections and others’ behavior, leading to local responses that interact and create large-scale patterns that can frustrate risk reduction efforts. Option A is contrary to the passage’s suggestion. Option C presents an ideal scenario not discussed in the passage and irrelevant to the core mechanism. Option D describes a simplified, predictable environment that doesn’t align with the complex systems discussed, especially how individual choices and social signals influence movement in collective settings.
Correct_Option:B
Q. 13 The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, and 4) given below, when properly sequenced, would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and key in the sequence of the four numbers as your answer.
1. But man, woman or otherwise, there is no denying that the quality of our life and character will be significantly shaped by the way we handle our anger.
2. Once the taboos have been broken, women usually experience letting their fists fly as intensely liberating.
3. Though this might seem a stereotype, women—unlike men, who are frequently applauded for unbridled aggression—are often socialized to keep a lid on their ire.
4. Many of them are so at odds with their aggressive feelings that, as a coach, I often have to stop them from pulling their punches and encourage them to extend their arms so their blows might actually reach their fleshy target.
Check Solution
Ans: 3421
Explanation:Sentence 3 introduces the idea that women are socialized to suppress anger, contrasting them with men. Sentence 4 elaborates on this by describing a specific instance where women, at odds with their aggressive feelings, need encouragement to express their anger physically. Sentence 2 follows logically by stating the positive outcome women experience once they overcome these inhibitions and express their anger. Finally, sentence 1 provides a concluding thought, universally applicable to everyone, emphasizing the significant impact of anger management on life and character.
Final_Answer:3421
Q. 14 The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.
Zombie cells may contribute to age-related chronic inflammation: this finding could help scientists understand more about the aging process and why the immune system becomes less effective as we get older. Zombie or “senescent” cells are damaged cells that can no longer divide and grow like normal cells. Scientists think that these cells can contribute to chronic health problems when they accumulate in the body. In younger people, the immune system is more effective at clearing senescent cells from the body through a process called apoptosis, but as we age, this process becomes less efficient. As a result, there is an accumulation of senescent cells in different organs in the body, either through increased production or reduced clearance by the immune system. The zombie cells continue to use energy though they do not divide, and often secrete chemicals that cause inflammation, which if persistent for longer periods of time can damage healthy cells leading to chronic diseases.
Check Solution
Ans: C
Explanation:The passage explains that “zombie” or senescent cells are damaged cells that can no longer divide. It highlights that these cells accumulate with age because the immune system’s ability to clear them (through apoptosis) becomes less efficient. This accumulation leads to chronic inflammation, which can damage healthy cells and contribute to age-related diseases.
Option A is too general and doesn’t explain the *consequences* of these cells.
Option B is partially correct about the immune system and accumulation but doesn’t fully capture the link to inflammation and chronic diseases.
Option D uses the incorrect term “dead cells” and oversimplifies the process.
Option C accurately summarizes the core argument: aging reduces apoptosis, causing zombie cell accumulation, leading to inflammation and chronic diseases, which in turn can accelerate aging.
Correct_Option:C
Q. 15 Instructions
The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question.
How can we know what someone else is thinking or feeling, let alone prove it in court? In his 1863 book, A General View of the Criminal Law of England, James Fitzjames Stephen, among the most celebrated legal thinkers of his generation, was of the opinion that the assessment of a person’s mental state was an inference made with “little consciousness.” In a criminal case, jurors, doctors, and lawyers could watch defendants—scrutinizing clothing, mannerisms, tone of voice—but the best they could hope for were clues. . . . Rounding these clues up to a judgment about a defendant’s guilt, or a defendant’s life, was an act of empathy and imagination. . . . The closer the resemblance between defendants and their judges, the easier it was to overlook the gap that inference filled. Conversely, when a defendant struck officials as unlike themselves, whether by dint of disease, gender, confession, or race, the precariousness of judgments about mental state was exposed.
In the nineteenth century, physicians who specialized in the study of madness and the care of the insane held themselves out as experts in the new field of mental science. Often called alienists or mad doctors, they were the predecessors of modern psychiatrists, neurologists, and psychologists. . . . The opinions of family and neighbors had once been sufficient to sift the sane from the insane, but a growing belief that insanity was a subtle condition that required expert, medical diagnosis pushed physicians into the witness box. . . . Lawyers for both prosecution and defense began to recruit alienists to assess defendants’ sanity and to testify to it in court.
Irresponsibility and insanity were not identical, however. Criminal responsibility was a legal concept and not, fundamentally, a medical one. Stephen explained: “The question ‘What are the mental elements of responsibility?’ is, and must be, a legal question. It cannot be anything else, for the meaning of responsibility is liability to punishment.” . . . Nonetheless, medical and legal accounts of what it meant to be mentally sound became entangled and mutually referential throughout the nineteenth century. Lawyers relied on medical knowledge to inform their opinions and arguments about the sanity of their clients. Doctors commented on the legal responsibility of their patients. Ultimately, the fields of criminal law and mental science were both invested in constructing an image of the broken and damaged psyche that could be contrasted with the whole and healthy one. This shared interest, and the shared space of the criminal courtroom, made it nearly impossible to consider responsibility without medicine, or insanity without law. . . .
Physicians and lawyers shared more than just concern for the mind. Class, race, and gender bound these middle-class, white, professional men together, as did family ties, patriotism, Protestantism, business ventures, the alumni networks of elite schools and universities, and structures of political patronage. But for all their affinities, men of medicine and law were divided by contests over the borders of criminal responsibility, as much within each profession as between them. Alienists steadily pushed the boundaries of their field, developing increasingly complex and capacious definitions of insanity. Eccentricity and aggression came to be classified as symptoms of mental disease, at least by some.
The last paragraph of the passage refers to “middle-class, white, professional men”. Which one of the following qualities best describes the connection among them?
Check Solution
Ans: A
The final section examines the social and professional relationships among physicians and legal professionals in the 1800s, including factors like social standing, ethnicity, sex, organizational memberships, and influence. Within this select circle, their engagement revolved around a common professional concern: the establishment and enforcement of culpability. This was a subject on which their views frequently diverged.
Option A provides the most accurate portrayal of this relationship. The text indicates that despite their shared characteristics, these individuals were “separated by disputes regarding the boundaries of criminal culpability,” both internally within their respective fields and in their interactions with each other. This phrasing highlights that discussions concerning the scope of criminal responsibility were fundamental to their engagements in legal proceedings and academic discourse.
Conversely, the remaining options fail to capture the relationship between these men as depicted in the provided text. Option B references a prior era where sanity was assessed by family and community members, preceding the involvement of medical specialists in legal matters. Option C points to attributes that psychiatrists began to frame as medical conditions, but it doesn’t address what united lawyers and physicians socially or professionally. Finally, Option D describes how juries infer mental states, as discussed in the initial paragraph, rather than the elite circles or professional dialogues presented in the concluding section.
Q. 16 According to the passage, who or what was an “alienist”?
Check Solution
Ans: B
Explanation:The passage explicitly states, “In the nineteenth century, physicians who specialized in the study of madness and the care of the insane held themselves out as experts in the new field of mental science. Often called alienists or mad doctors, they were the predecessors of modern psychiatrists, neurologists, and psychologists.” This directly defines an alienist as a physician specializing in madness and the care of the insane. Option B accurately reflects this definition. Option A is too broad and not supported by the text’s specific definition. Options C and D introduce concepts of immigrants, ‘aliens’ (in the extraterrestrial sense), and responsibility for them, which are not mentioned in the passage in relation to alienists.
Correct_Option:B
Q. 17 Study the following sets of concepts and identify the set that is conceptually closest to the concerns and arguments of the passage.
Check Solution
Ans: D
Explanation:The passage discusses how the legal system has historically attempted to understand and assess a person’s mental state, particularly in criminal cases. It highlights the role of legal thinkers like James Fitzjames Stephen, the rise of alienists (predecessors of psychiatrists) as experts, and the entanglement of legal concepts like criminal responsibility and punishment with medical concepts of insanity. The passage emphasizes the difficulty of truly knowing someone’s thoughts and feelings, the reliance on inference, empathy, and imagination, and how judgments about mental state were influenced by social factors like disease, gender, confession, and race. It also points out the complex relationship between legal responsibility and medical definitions of insanity, and how both professions worked towards constructing an image of the “broken psyche.”
Let’s analyze the options:
* **Option A: Empathy, Prosecution, Knowledge, Business.** “Empathy” and “Prosecution” are present in the passage. “Knowledge” is too general. “Business” is mentioned as a binding factor among professionals, but not a core concept of the passage’s argument.
* **Option B: Judgement, Belief, Accounts, Patronage.** “Judgement” and “Belief” are related to the process of assessment. “Accounts” refers to medical and legal accounts of mental state. “Patronage” is mentioned as a binding factor among professionals, but not a core concept.
* **Option C: Assessment, Empathy, Prosecution, Patriotism.** “Assessment” is central to how mental states are evaluated. “Empathy” is crucial for making inferences. “Prosecution” is a context for these assessments. “Patriotism” is mentioned as a binding factor but not a core concept of the argument.
* **Option D: Judgement, Insanity, Punishment, Responsibility.** “Judgement” is the outcome of the assessment process. “Insanity” and “Responsibility” are the central medical and legal concepts debated and intertwined. “Punishment” is directly linked to legal responsibility as explained by Stephen. These four concepts are deeply embedded in the passage’s core arguments about the legal and medical understanding of mental states in criminal law.
Option D most accurately captures the fundamental concepts that the passage revolves around: the difficulty and methods of judging mental states, the medical concept of insanity, the legal concept of responsibility, and the ultimate consequence of punishment which defines legal responsibility.
Correct_Option:D
Q. 18 “Conversely, when a defendant struck officials as unlike themselves, whether by dint of disease, gender, confession, or race, the precariousness of judgments about mental state was exposed.” Which one of the following best describes the use of the word “confession” in this sentence?
Check Solution
Ans: A
Explanation:The sentence in question states: “Conversely, when a defendant struck officials as unlike themselves, whether by dint of disease, gender, confession, or race, the precariousness of judgments about mental state was exposed.” The phrase “by dint of” means “by reason of” or “because of.” Therefore, the sentence is listing factors that could make a defendant seem unlike the officials and thus expose the subjective nature of judging their mental state. These factors are disease, gender, confession, and race. In this context, “confession” is used as a characteristic of the defendant that might differentiate them from the officials. It refers to the defendant’s religious affiliation or belief system, which could be a point of difference. Option A accurately captures this usage, where “confession” metaphorically refers to the religion of the defendant. Option B is incorrect because “confession” here is not about claiming a gender, race, or disease as a defense, but rather a characteristic that might distinguish the defendant. Option C misinterprets “dint” and the role of confession in relation to a false confession. Option D describes an action and confession, which is not the intended meaning in the sentence.
Correct_Option:A
Q. 19 Five jumbled sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5), related to a topic, are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a coherent paragraph. Identify the odd sentence out and key in the number of that sentence as your answer.
1. The Bayeux tapestry was, therefore, an obvious way to tell people about the downfall of the English and the rise of the Normans.
2. So if we take expert in Anglo-Saxon culture Gale Owen- Crocker’s idea that the tapestry was originally hung in a square with certain scenes facing each other, people would have stood in the centre.
3. Art historian Linda Neagley has argued that pre-Renaissance people interacted with art visually, kinaesthetically (sensory perception through bodily movement) and physically.
4. That would make it an 11th-century immersive space with scenes corresponding and echoing each other, drawing the viewer’s attention, playing on their senses and understanding of the story they thought they knew.
5. The Bayeux tapestry would have been hung at eye level to enable this.
Check Solution
Ans: 1
Explanation:The sentences discuss how people interacted with art, specifically the Bayeux Tapestry, in the 11th century. Sentences 2, 3, 4, and 5 all contribute to building the idea of an immersive, multi-sensory viewing experience of the tapestry, suggesting how it might have been displayed and how viewers would have engaged with it. Sentence 1, however, focuses on the *purpose* of the tapestry (to inform about historical events) rather than the *experience* of viewing it. While related to the tapestry, it doesn’t directly support the argument about its immersive viewing qualities presented in the other sentences. Therefore, sentence 1 is the odd one out.
Final_Answer:1
Q. 20 Instructions
The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question
Studies showing that income inequality plays a positive role in economic growth are largely based on three arguments. The first argument focuses on investment indivisibilities wherein large sunk costs are required when implementing new fundamental innovations. Without stock markets and financial institutions to mobilize large sums of money, a high concentration of wealth is needed for individuals to undertake new industrial activities accompanied by high sunk costs . . . [One study] shows the relation between economic growth and income inequality for 45 countries during 1966-1995. [It was found] that the increase in income inequality has a significant positive relationship with economic growth in the short and medium term. Using system GMM, [another study estimated] the relation between income inequality and economic growth for 106 countries during 1965- 2005 period. The results show that income inequality has a positive impact on economic growth in the short run, but the two are negatively correlated in the long run. The second argument is related to moral hazard and incentives . . . Because economic performance is determined by the unobservable level of effort that agents make, paying compensations without taking into account the economic performance achieved by individual agents will fail to elicit optimum effort from the agents. Thus, certain income inequalities contribute to growth by enhancing worker motivation . . . and by giving motivation to innovators and entrepreneurs . . . Finally, [another study] point[s] out that the concentration of wealth or stock ownership in relation to corporate governance contributes to growth. If stock ownership is distributed and owned by a large number of shareholders, it is not easy to make quick decisions due to the conflicting interests among shareholders, and this may also cause a free-rider problem in terms of monitoring and supervising managers and workers. . . .
Various studies have examined the relationships between income inequality and economic growth, and most of these assert that a negative correlation exists between the two. . . . Analyzing 159 countries for 1980-2012, they conclude that there exists a negative relation between income inequality and economic growth; when the income share of the richest 20% of population increases by 1%, the GDP decreases by 0.08%, whereas when the income share of the poorest 20% of population increases by 1%, the GDP increases by 0.38%. Some studies find that inequality has a negative impact on growth due to poor human capital accumulation and low fertility rates . . . while [others] point out that inequality creates political instability, resulting in lower investment. . . . [Some economists] argue that widening income inequality has a negative impact on economic growth because it negatively affects social consensus or social capital formation. One important research topic is the correlation between democratization and income redistribution. [Some scholars] explain that social pressure for income redistribution rises as income inequality increases in a democratic society. In other words, when democratization extends suffrage to a wider class of people, the increased political power of low- and middle-income voters results in broader support for income redistribution and social welfare expansion. However . . . if the rich have more political influence than the poor, the democratic system actually worsens income inequality rather than improving it.
Which one of the options below best summarises the passage?
Check Solution
Ans: D
Explanation:The passage presents two main perspectives on the relationship between income inequality and economic growth. The first perspective, supported by three arguments (investment indivisibilities, moral hazard and incentives, and corporate governance), suggests that income inequality can play a positive role in economic growth, particularly in the short to medium term. The second perspective, supported by several studies, argues that income inequality has a negative correlation with economic growth. The passage then delves into reasons for this negative correlation, including poor human capital accumulation, low fertility rates, political instability, and the impact on social consensus. Finally, it touches upon the interaction between democratization and income redistribution, noting that while democratization can lead to redistribution, the influence of the rich can perpetuate inequality.
Option A: This is partially true as the passage does mention short-term vs. long-term effects, but it doesn’t make it the central, overarching claim or the “best summary.” The passage presents a more nuanced debate.
Option B: This option is incorrect because the passage does not confine its discussion to financing gaps and corporate control; it also discusses moral hazard and incentives. Furthermore, it does not undercut cross-country evidence, but rather presents studies with such evidence. It also doesn’t overlook the significance of human capital, fertility, and redistribution; these are discussed as reasons for negative correlations.
Option C: This option is incorrect because the passage does not definitively argue that income inequality *accelerates* economic growth. It presents arguments for *how* it *may* support growth, alongside arguments for negative impacts. It also incorrectly implies that the passage emphasizes the significance of concerns regarding human capital accumulation, fertility rates, and political instability as positive contributors to growth, when they are presented as reasons for negative impacts.
Option D: This option accurately summarizes the passage. It correctly identifies the “investment, incentive, and governance channels” through which income inequality might support growth. It also captures the nuance of “short-term gains while noting long-term drawbacks” which is a key finding mentioned for the investment indivisibilities argument. The passage presents both sides of the argument, highlighting the potential positive mechanisms and then contrasting them with negative impacts and contrary research.
Correct_Option: D
Q. 21 The passage refers to “democratization”. Choose the one option below that comes closest to the opposite of this process.
Check Solution
Ans: A
Explanation:Democratization is characterized by the extension of suffrage (the right to vote) to a wider class of people and the increased political power of ordinary citizens. Option A describes a shift away from this by narrowing suffrage and deregistering opposition parties, which are direct reversals of democratic principles and move towards authoritarianism. Option B discusses corporate donations and public funding, which are aspects of campaign finance and don’t directly oppose democratization. Option C mentions participatory budgeting and recall elections, which are often considered democratic or even hyper-democratic processes, not the opposite of democratization. Option D describes term limits and judicial review, which can be found in various forms of government, including autocratic ones, but don’t necessarily represent the direct opposite of the fundamental principles of democratization in the same way as Option A.
Correct_Option:A
Q. 22 The primary function of the three-part case for a positive income inequality-economic growth link in the first half of the passage is to show that:
Check Solution
Ans: C
Explanation:The first half of the passage presents three arguments for a *positive* role of income inequality in economic growth. These arguments are:
1. **Investment indivisibilities:** High wealth concentration is needed for large sunk costs associated with new innovations, especially without developed financial markets.
2. **Moral hazard and incentives:** Inequality can enhance worker motivation and incentivize innovators and entrepreneurs by linking compensation to performance.
3. **Corporate governance:** Concentrated stock ownership facilitates quicker decisions and better monitoring compared to dispersed ownership.
The question asks about the *primary function* of these three arguments. Let’s evaluate the options:
* **Option A:** This is too broad. The passage doesn’t claim inequality boosts growth in *every* period and type of economy, nor does it disregard finance or governance conditions (in fact, it uses them as supporting points).
* **Option B:** This misinterprets the passage. The passage suggests that *without* mature stock markets, wealth concentration is needed. It doesn’t say mature markets make wealth concentration unnecessary, nor does it claim they are harmful to investment.
* **Option C:** This option accurately summarizes the conditions under which the presented arguments suggest inequality can aid growth. It highlights the short-term aspect (as indicated by one study finding positive correlation in the short and medium term) and the specific mechanisms (high sunk costs, incentive alignment, and concentrated ownership) discussed in the first half of the passage.
* **Option D:** This is the opposite of what the passage states regarding corporate governance. The passage argues that *dispersed* ownership can hinder decision-making and lead to free-rider problems, implying concentrated ownership is beneficial for these aspects.
Therefore, the primary function of the three arguments is to illustrate scenarios where inequality *can* be beneficial for economic growth, specifically under certain conditions related to investment, incentives, and corporate structure, often in the short to medium term.
Correct_Option:C
Q. 23 According to the incentive or moral hazard argument, which one of the designs below is most consistent with the claim that some inequality can raise growth?
Check Solution
Ans: A
Explanation:The passage states that “Certain income inequalities contribute to growth by enhancing worker motivation . . . and by giving motivation to innovators and entrepreneurs . . .”. This is linked to the “moral hazard and incentives” argument, which suggests that economic performance is tied to unobservable effort, and compensation needs to reflect this to elicit optimal effort. Option A, “Pay rewards on verifiable performance for highly productive workers,” directly aligns with this by incentivizing high performance, which is a key driver of growth according to this argument. Options B, C, and D do not directly support the idea that inequality, through incentives and motivation, can lead to growth. Option B suggests rents without linking pay to results, which is counter to the incentive argument. Option C prioritizes equity over output, contradicting the idea of performance-based motivation. Option D relates to corporate governance and stock ownership concentration, which is a separate argument in the passage, not directly tied to the moral hazard and incentives for individual workers or entrepreneurs.
Correct_Option:A
Q. 24 The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.
In the dynamic realm of creativity, artists often find themselves at the crossroads between drawing inspiration from diverse cultures and inadvertently crossing into the territory of cultural appropriation. Inspiration is the lifeblood of creativity, driving artists to create works that resonate across borders. The globalized nature of the modern world invites artists to draw from a vast array of cultural influences. When approached respectfully, inspiration becomes a bridge, fostering understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity. However, the line between inspiration and cultural appropriation can be thin and easily blurred. Cultural appropriation occurs when elements from a particular culture are borrowed without proper understanding, respect, or acknowledgement. This leads to the commodification of sacred symbols, the reinforcement of stereotypes, and the erasure of the cultural context from which these elements originated. It’s essential to recognize that the impact of cultural appropriation extends beyond the realm of artistic expression, influencing societal perceptions and perpetuating power imbalances.
Check Solution
Ans: A
Explanation:The passage discusses the fine line between artistic inspiration from diverse cultures and cultural appropriation. It highlights that inspiration, when done respectfully, fosters understanding, while appropriation involves borrowing without proper understanding or acknowledgement, leading to negative consequences like commodification and stereotype reinforcement. Option A accurately captures these nuances: it mentions the navigation between respectful inspiration and appropriation, defines appropriation by the lack of acknowledgement, and correctly notes its broader societal impacts, including perpetuating power imbalances. Option B is too simplistic and focuses only on “acknowledging works” which isn’t the primary focus of inspiration. Option C is inaccurate as it suggests the goal is to appeal to “all” and doesn’t fully explain the negative aspects of appropriation. Option D is good, but it focuses more on the artistic consequences (commodification, stereotypes) and doesn’t as strongly emphasize the broader societal impacts mentioned in the passage, particularly power imbalances, as Option A does.
Correct_Option:A