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Step-by-Step Learning for CAT 2023

CAT 2023 VARC - Slot 1 Past Year Questions

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Passage 1

DIRECTIONS for the question: Read the passage and answer the question based on it.

Many human phenomena and characteristics – such as behaviors, beliefs, economies, genes, incomes, life expectancies, and other things – are influenced both by geographic factors and by non-geographic factors. Geographic factors mean physical and biological factors tied to geographic location, including climate, the distributions of wild plant and animal species, soils, and topography. Non-geographic factors include those factors subsumed under the term culture, other factors subsumed under the term history, and decisions by individual people….

[T]he differences between the current economies of North and South Korea cannot be attributed to the modest environmental differences between [them] They are instead due entirely to the different [government] policies….. At the opposite extreme, the Inuit and other traditional peoples living north of the Arctic Circle developed warm fur clothes but no agriculture, while equatorial lowland peoples around the world never developed warm fur clothes but often did develop agriculture. The explanation is straightforwardly geographic, rather than a cultural or historical quirk unrelated to geography……. Aboriginal Australia remained the sole continent occupied only by hunter/gatherers and with no indigenous farming or herding [Here the] explanation is biogeographic: the Australian continent has no domesticable native animal species and few domesticable native plant species. Instead, the crops and domestic animals that now make Australia a food and wool exporter are all non-native (mainly Eurasian) species such as sheep, wheat, and grapes, brought to Australia by overseas colonists.

Today, no scholar would be silly enough to deny that culture, history, and individual choices play a big role in many human phenomena. Scholars don’t react to cultural, historical, and individual-agent explanations by denouncing “cultural determinism,” “historical determinism,” or “individual determinism,” and then thinking no further. But many scholars do react to any explanation invoking some geographic role, by denouncing “geographic determinism” . . .

Several reasons may underlie this widespread but nonsensical view. One reason is that some geographic explanations advanced a century ago were racist, thereby causing all geographic explanations to become tainted by racist associations in the minds of many scholars other than geographers. But many genetic, historical, psychological, and anthropological explanations advanced a century ago were also racist, yet the validity of newer non-racist genetic etc. explanations is widely accepted today.

Another reason for reflex rejection of geographic explanations is that historians have a tradition, in their discipline, of stressing the role of contingency (a favorite word among historians) based on individual decisions and chance. Often that view is warranted……But often, too, that view is unwarranted. The development of warm fur clothes among the Inuit living north of the Arctic Circle was not because one influential Inuit leader persuaded other Inuit in 1783 to adopt warm fur clothes, for no good environmental reason.

A third reason is that geographic explanations usually depend on detailed technical facts of geography and other fields of scholarship ……Most historians and economists don’t acquire that detailed knowledge as part of the professional training

1. All of the following can be inferred from the passage EXCEPT:

  1. several academic studies of human phenomena in the past involved racist interpretations.
  2. agricultural practices changed drastically in the Australian continent after it was colonised.
  3. while most human phenomena result from culture and individual choice, some have bio-geographic origins.
  4. individual dictat and contingency were not the causal factors for the use of fur clothing in some very cold climates.

It is not possible to derive Option C directly from the passage. Although the passage does mention the impact of both geographical factors, such as biogeography, and non-geographical factors like culture and history on human phenomena, the use of words like 'most' and 'some' cannot be justified based on the information provided in the passage. Therefore, Option C is the appropriate choice. Option 1- This statement is directly supported by the passage. The passage mentions that some geographic explanations advanced a century ago were racist, causing all geographic explanations to become tainted by racist associations in the minds of many scholars other than geographers. Option 2- There is a discussion that the crops and domestic animals that make Australia a food and wool exporter are non-native species brought by overseas colonists. Option 4- The passage mentions that the development of warm fur clothes among the Inuit living north of the Arctic Circle was not because one influential Inuit leader persuaded others in 1783 to adopt warm fur clothes for no good environmental reason. Instead, it attributes the development to straightforward geographic factors.

2. The author criticises scholars who are not geographers for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

  1. the importance they place on the role of individual decisions when studying human phenomena.
  2. their outdated interpretations of past cultural and historical phenomena.
  3. their labelling of geographic explanations as deterministic.
  4. their rejection of the role of biogeographic factors in social and cultural phenomena.

The passage does not directly condemn non-geographer scholars for possessing outdated interpretations of historical and cultural events. The primary critiques focus on their overemphasis on individual choices, labelling of geographic explanations as deterministic, and refusal to acknowledge the impact of geographic factors, including biogeographic factors, on social and cultural phenomena.

3. All of the following are advanced by the author as reasons why non-geographers disregard geographic influences on human phenomena EXCEPT their:

  1. belief in the central role of humans, unrelated to physical surroundings, in influencing phenomena.
  2. disciplinary training which typically does not include technical knowledge of geography.
  3. ismissal of explanations that involve geographical causes for human behaviour.
  4. lingering impressions of past geographic analyses that were politically offensive.

The passage does not imply that individuals who are not geographers reject explanations that attribute human behavior to geographical factors. Instead, it suggests that those who are not geographers often respond to such explanations by denouncing the concept of "geographic determinism." The reasons for this reaction include a belief in the central role of humans, a lack of technical knowledge of geography due to disciplinary training, and negative impressions of past geographic analyses that were considered politically offensive.

4. The examples of the Inuit and Aboriginal Australians are offered in the passage to show:

  1. how physical circumstances can dictate human behaviour and cultures.
  2. how environmental factors lead to comparatively divergent paths in livelihoods and development.
  3. that despite geographical isolation, traditional societies were self-sufficient and adaptive.
  4. human resourcefulness across cultures in adapting to their surroundings.

Option 1 accurately reflects the idea presented in the passage. The passage discusses the development of warm fur clothes among the Inuit and the absence of indigenous farming in Aboriginal Australia as outcomes influenced by physical circumstances, such as geographic and biogeographic factors. While option 2 is partially correct so eliminated. Yet a very close choice. For option 3 the passage does not explicitly convey the idea that traditional societies, specifically the Inuit and Aboriginal Australians, were self-sufficient and adaptive despite geographical isolation.

Correct Answer 1

Option C

Correct Answer 2

Option B

Correct Answer 3

Option C

Correct Answer 4

Option A
Video Explanation

Passage 2

DIRECTIONS for the question: Read the passage and answer the question based on it.

RESIDENTS of Lozère, a hilly department in southern France, recite complaints familiar to many rural corners of Europe. In remote hamlets and villages, with names such as Le Bacon and Le Bacon Vieux, mayors grumble about a lack of local schools, jobs, or phone and internet connections. Farmers of grazing animals add another concern: the return of wolves. Eradicated from France last century, the predators are gradually creeping back to more forests and hillsides. “The wolf must be taken in hand,” said an aspiring parliamentarian, Francis Palombi, when pressed by voters in an election campaign early this summer. Tourists enjoy visiting a wolf park in Lozère, but farmers fret over their livestock and their livelihoods.

As early as the ninth century, the royal office of the Luparii—wolf-catchers—was created in France to tackle the predators. Those official hunters (and others) completed their job in the 1930s, when the last wolf disappeared from the mainland. Active hunting and improved technology such as rifles in the 19th century, plus the use of poison such as strychnine later on, caused the population collapse. But in the early 1990s the animals reappeared. They crossed the Alps from Italy, upsetting sheep farmers on the French side of the border. Wolves have since spread to areas such as Lozère, delighting environmentalists, who see the predators’ presence as a sign of wider ecological health. Farmers, who say the wolves cause the deaths of thousands of sheep and other grazing animals, are less cheerful. They grumble that green activists and politically correct urban types have allowed the return of an old enemy.

Various factors explain the changes of the past few decades. Rural depopulation is part of the story. In Lozère, for example, farming and a once-flourishing mining industry supported a population of over 140,000 residents in the mid-19th century. Today the department has fewer than 80,000 people, many in its towns. As humans withdraw, forests are expanding. In France, between 1990 and 2015, forest cover increased by an average of 102,000 hectares each year, as more fields were given over to trees. Now, nearly one-third of mainland France is covered by woodland of some sort. The decline of hunting as a sport also means more forests fall quiet. In the mid-to-late 20th century over 2m hunters regularly spent winter weekends tramping in woodland, seeking boars, birds and other prey. Today the Fédération Nationale des Chasseurs, the national body, claims 1.1m people hold hunting licences, though the number of active hunters is probably lower. The mostly protected status of the wolf in Europe —hunting them is now forbidden, other than when occasional culls are sanctioned by the state—plus the efforts of NGOs to track and count the animals, also contribute to the recovery of wolf populations.

As the lupine population of Europe spreads westwards, with occasional reports of wolves seen closer to urban areas, expect to hear of more clashes between farmers and those who celebrate the predators’ return. Farmers’ losses are real, but are not the only economic story. Tourist venues, such as parks where wolves are kept and the animals’ spread is discussed, also generate income and jobs in rural areas.

5. Which one of the following has NOT contributed to the growing wolf population in Lozère?

  1. The shutting down of the royal office of the Luparii.
  2. The granting of a protected status to wolves in Europe.
  3. An increase in woodlands and forest cover in Lozère.
  4. A decline in the rural population of Lozère.

The passage does not mention the shutting down of the royal office of the Luparii as a contributing factor to the growing wolf population. Instead, it emphasizes factors such as the protected status of wolves in Europe, the decline of hunting as a sport, the efforts of NGOs to track and count the animals, and the increase in woodlands and forest cover in Lozère. Rest all options are mentioned in the context so can be eliminated.

6. The inhabitants of Lozère have to grapple with all of the following problems, EXCEPT:

  1. lack of educational facilities.
  2. livestock losses.
  3. poor rural communication infrastructure.
  4. decline in the number of hunting licences.

The passage discusses the decline in the number of hunting licenses and the quieter forests due to a decrease in hunting as a sport. However, it does not specifically state that the inhabitants of Lozère are grappling with this as a problem. On the other hand, the passage mentions issues such as a lack of local schools, jobs, phone and internet connections, and livestock losses due to the return of wolves. That helps us to conclude that 4 is the right choice.

7. The author presents a possible economic solution to an existing issue facing Lozère that takes into account the divergent and competing interests of:

  1. environmentalists and politicians.
  2. tourists and environmentalists.
  3. politicians and farmers.
  4. farmers and environmentalists.

The passage does not explicitly mention the divergent and competing interests of specific groups, but it does provide information that implies conflicts between different stakeholders. Based on the information provided, the option that best aligns with the potential conflicts discussed in the passage is the 4th one. The passage describes how farmers in Lozère are concerned about the return of wolves, as they claim the wolves cause livestock losses. On the other hand, environmentalists may celebrate the return of predators like wolves, considering it a sign of wider ecological health. This suggests a potential conflict of interests between farmers, who are concerned about their livelihoods and livestock, and environmentalists, who may prioritize the ecological balance.

8. Which one of the following statements, if true, would weaken the author’s claims?

  1. The old mining sites of Lozère are now being used as grazing pastures for sheep.
  2. Having migrated out in the last century, wolves are now returning to Lozère.
  3. Unemployment concerns the residents of Lozère.
  4. Wolf attacks on tourists in Lozère are on the rise.

The author's claims in the passage seem to revolve around the conflict between farmers and environmentalists regarding the return of wolves, with farmers expressing concerns about livestock losses. If there were reports of wolf attacks on tourists on the rise, it might suggest a different perspective on the impact of wolves in the area, potentially indicating a more immediate threat to human safety rather than just concerns about livestock. Only option 4 could weaken the emphasis on the environmental benefits mentioned in the passage. Option 1- This statement is not directly relevant to the author's claims about the conflict between farmers and environmentalists regarding the return of wolves. It doesn't necessarily weaken or strengthen the main arguments in the passage. Option 2- This statement aligns with the information presented in the passage and supports the author's claims about the return of wolves, which is a central theme in the discussion of conflicts between farmers and environmentalists. Option 3- This statement is mentioned briefly in the passage, but it doesn't directly relate to the author's claims about the conflict between farmers and environmentalists regarding the return of wolves. While unemployment concerns are mentioned, the primary focus is on the impact of the return of wolves on farmers.

Correct Answer 5

Option A

Correct Answer 6

Option D

Correct Answer 7

Option D

Correct Answer 8

Option D
Video Explanation

Passage 3

DIRECTIONS for the question: Read the passage and answer the question based on it.

For early postcolonial literature, the world of the novel was often the nation. Postcolonial novels were usually [concerned with] national questions. Sometimes the whole story of the novel was taken as an allegory of the nation, whether India or Tanzania. This was important for supporting anti-colonial nationalism, but could also be limiting – land-focused and inward- looking.

My new book “Writing Ocean Worlds” explores another kind of world of the novel: not the village or nation, but the Indian Ocean world. The book describes a set of novels in which the Indian Ocean is at the centre of the story. It focuses on the novelists Amitav Ghosh, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Lindsey Collen and Joseph Conrad [who have] centred the Indian Ocean world in the majority of their novels. Their work reveals a world that is outward-looking –full of movement, border-crossing and south-south interconnection. They are all very different – from colonially inclined (Conrad) to radically anti-capitalist (Collen), but together draw on and shape a wider sense of Indian Ocean space through themes, images, metaphors and language. This has the effect of remapping the world in the reader’s mind, as centred in the interconnected global south….

The Indian Ocean world is a term used to describe the very long-lasting connections among the coasts of East Africa, the Arab coasts, and South and East Asia. These connections were made possible by the geography of the Indian Ocean. For much of history, travel by sea was much easier than by land, which meant that port cities very far apart were often more easily connected to each other than to much closer inland cities. Historical and archaeological evidence suggests that what we now call globalisation first appeared in the Indian Ocean.

This is the interconnected oceanic world referenced and produced by the novels in my book…..

For their part Ghosh, Gurnah, Collen and even Conrad reference a different set of histories and geographies than the ones most commonly found in fiction in English. Those [commonly found ones] are mostly centred in Europe or the US, assume a background of Christianity and whiteness, and mention places like Paris and New York. The novels in [my] book highlight instead a largely Islamic space, feature characters of colour and centralise the ports of Malindi, Mombasa, Aden, Java and Bombay.

It is a densely imagined, richly sensory image of a southern cosmopolitan culture which provides for an enlarged sense of place in the world.

This remapping is particularly powerful for the representation of Africa. In the fiction, sailors and travellers are not all European. ……. African, as well as Indian and Arab characters, are traders, nakhodas (dhow ship captains), runaways, villains, missionaries and activists. This does not mean that Indian Ocean Africa is romanticised. Migration is often a matter of force; travel is portrayed as abandonment rather than adventure, freedoms are kept from women and slavery is rife. What it does mean is that the African part of the Indian Ocean world plays an active role in its long, rich history and therefore in that of the wider world.

9. All of the following statements, if true, would weaken the passage’s claim about the relationship between mainstream English-language fiction and Indian Ocean novels

  1. the depiction of Africa in most Indian Ocean novels is driven by a postcolonial nostalgia for an idyllic past.
  2. the depiction of Africa in most Indian Ocean novels is driven by an Orientalist imagination of its cultural crudeness.
  3. most mainstream English-language novels have historically privileged the Christian, white, male experience of travel and adventure.
  4. very few mainstream English-language novels have historically been set in American and European metropolitan centres.

The passage emphasizes that mainstream English-language fiction has historically privileged certain perspectives and settings. And the exception is statement 3. It supports the passage's claim by reinforcing the idea that mainstream English-language fiction has a specific focus on the experiences of a particular group rather than weakening it. For option 1- This statement weakens the passage's claim because it suggests that Indian Ocean novels may also have elements of nostalgia, similar to mainstream English-language fiction. For option, 2-This statement weakens the passage's claim as it implies that Indian Ocean novels may also fall into the trap of using Orientalist stereotypes, similar to mainstream English-language fiction. For option 4- This statement weakens the passage's claim because it suggests that there is a diversity in settings even within mainstream English-language novels. The exception is statement 3. It supports the passage's claim rather than weakening it.

10. All of the following claims contribute to the “remapping” discussed by the passage,

  1. Indian Ocean novels have gone beyond the specifics of national concerns to explore rich regional pasts.
  2. the global south, as opposed to the global north, was the first centre of globalisation.
  3. the world of early international trade and commerce was not the sole domain of white Europeans.
  4. cosmopolitanism originated in the West and travelled to the East through globalization

The passage discusses the "remapping" achieved by Indian Ocean novels. Let's evaluate each claim: Option 1- This claim contributes to the remapping by suggesting that the novels explore regional pasts rather than being confined to national concerns. Option 2- This claim contributes to the remapping by challenging the traditional focus on the global north and highlighting the global south as the first center of globalization. Option 3- This claim contributes to the remapping by challenging the Eurocentric view of early international trade and commerce. Option 4- This claim does not contribute to the remapping; in fact, it reinforces a Western-centric view by suggesting that cosmopolitanism originated in the West and traveled eastward. Therefore, the correct answer is 4.

11. Which one of the following statements is not true about migration in the Indian Ocean world?

  1. Geographical location rather than geographical proximity determined the choice of destination for migrants.
  2. The Indian Ocean world’s migration networks were shaped by religious and commercial histories of the region.
  3. Migration in the Indian Ocean world was an ambivalent experience.
  4. The Indian Ocean world’s migration networks connected the global north with the global south.

The passage discusses migration in the Indian Ocean world. Out of all options, 4 is the right one. As this statement is not true according to the passage. The passage emphasizes that the Indian Ocean world's migration networks are distinct from the commonly found narratives centered in Europe or the US. Instead, the novels highlight a largely Islamic space and feature characters of color, suggesting a different orientation from the global north. For option 1- This statement is consistent with the passage, which mentions that port cities far apart were often more easily connected to each other than too much closer inland cities due to the ease of travel by sea. For Option 2- This statement is consistent with the passage, which highlights that migration in the Indian Ocean world was shaped by the religious and commercial histories of the region. For option 3- This statement is consistent with the passage, which mentions that migration is often a matter of force, and travel is portrayed as abandonment rather than adventure.

12. On the basis of the nature of the relationship between the items in each pair below, choose the odd pair out:

  1. Indian Ocean world : Slavery
  2. Indian Ocean novels : Outward-looking
  3. Postcolonial novels : Border-crossing
  4. Postcolonial novels : Anti-colonial nationalism

The options 1 and 4 are not the right choice. As in option A the pair suggests a historical and thematic connection, as the Indian Ocean world is associated with historical aspects such as slavery. This pair does not seem to be odd. In option 4, this pair also represents a thematic connection, suggesting that postcolonial novels often explore anti-colonial nationalism. This aligns with the passage's discussion of the early postcolonial literature's concern with national questions. The lone instance of border crossing in the third one—which we can classify as peculiar—occurs in the Indian Ocean novel world rather than the Postcolonial novel world.

Correct Answer 9

Option C

Correct Answer 10

Option D

Correct Answer 11

Option C

Correct Answer 12

Option C
Video Explanation

Passage 4

DIRECTIONS for the question: Read the passage and answer the question based on it.

[Fift] years after its publication in English [in 1972], and just a year since [Marshall] Sahlins himself died—we may ask: why did [his essay] “Original Affluent Society” have such an impact, and how has it fared since? . . . Sahlins’s principal argument was simple but counterintuitive: before being driven into marginal environments by colonial powers, hunter-gatherers, or foragers, were not engaged in a desperate struggle for meager survival. Quite the contrary, they satisfied their needs with far less work than people in agricultural and industrial societies, leaving them more time to use as they wished. Hunters, he quipped, keep bankers’ hours. Refusing to maximize, many were “more concerned with games of chance than with chances of game.” . . . The so-called Neolithic Revolution, rather than improving life, imposed a harsher work regime and set in motion the long history of growing inequality . . .

Moreover, foragers had other options. The contemporary Hadza of Tanzania, who had long been surrounded by farmers, knew they had alternatives and rejected them. To Sahlins, this showed that foragers are not simply examples of human diversity or victimhood but something more profound: they demonstrated that societies make real choices. Culture, a way of living oriented around a distinctive set of values, manifests a fundamental principle of collective self-determination….

But the point [of the essay] is not so much the empirical validity of the data—the real interest for most readers, after all, is not in foragers either today or in the Paleolithic—but rather its conceptual challenge to contemporary economic life and bourgeois individualism. The empirical served a philosophical and political project, a thought experiment and stimulus to the imagination of possibilities.

With its title’s nod toward The Affluent Society (1958), economist John Kenneth Galbraith’s famously skeptical portrait of America’s postwar prosperity and inequality, and dripping with New Left contempt for consumerism, “The Original Affluent Society” brought this critical perspective to bear on the contemporary world. It did so through the classic anthropological move of showing that radical alternatives to the readers’ lives really exist. If the capitalist world seeks wealth through ever greater material production to meet infinitely expansive desires, foraging societies follow “the Zen road to affluence”: not by getting more, but by wanting less. If it seems that foragers have been left behind by “progress,” this is due only to the ethnocentric self-congratulation of the West. Rather than accumulate material goods, these societies are guided by other values: leisure, mobility, and above all, freedom….

Viewed in today’s context, of course, not every aspect of the essay has aged well. While acknowledging the violence of colonialism, racism, and dispossession, it does not thematize them as heavily as we might today. Rebuking evolutionary anthropologists for treating present-day foragers as “left behind” by progress, it too can succumb to the temptation to use them as proxies for the Paleolithic. Yet these characteristics should not distract us from appreciating Sahlins’s effort to show that if we want to conjure new possibilities, we need to learn about actually inhabitable worlds.

Viewed in today’s context, of course, not every aspect of the essay has aged well. While acknowledging the violence of colonialism, racism, and dispossession, it does not thematize them as heavily as we might today. Rebuking evolutionary anthropologists for treating present-day foragers as “left behind” by progress, it too can succumb to the temptation to use them as proxies for the Paleolithic. Yet these characteristics should not distract us from appreciating Sahlins’s effort to show that if we want to conjure new possibilities, we need to learn about actually inhabitable worlds.

13. The author of the passage mentions Galbraith’s “The Affluent Society” to:

  1. show how Galbraith’s theories refute Sahlins’s thesis on the contentment of pre-hunter- gatherer communities.
  2. document the influence of Galbraith’s cynical views on modern consumerism on Sahlins’s analysis of pre-historic societies.
  3. contrast the materialist nature of contemporary growth paths with the pacifist content ways of living among the foragers.
  4. show how Sahlins’s views complemented Galbraith’s criticism of the consumerism and inequality of contemporary society.

In the passage, the author mentions Galbraith’s “The Affluent Society” in the context of Marshall Sahlins's essay, "The Original Affluent Society." The purpose is to highlight how Sahlins's views complement Galbraith’s criticism of consumerism and inequality in contemporary society. So, option 4 is the right choice. The passage notes that Sahlins's essay challenges contemporary economic life and bourgeois individualism. By referencing Galbraith’s work, the author emphasizes that Sahlins's perspective aligns with the critical stance towards postwar prosperity and inequality presented by Galbraith. Sahlins's essay, with its title nodding toward Galbraith’s work, brings a critical perspective to the contemporary world, showing that alternative ways of living exist. It contrasts the capitalist pursuit of wealth through material production with the idea that foraging societies achieve affluence not by acquiring more but by desiring less. In summary, the mention of Galbraith’s “The Affluent Society” serves to illustrate how Sahlins’s views resonate with and complement Galbraith’s critique of consumerism and inequality in the modern world. While, Option 1 is incorrect. The passage does not suggest that Galbraith’s theories refute Sahlins’s thesis. Instead, it emphasizes how their views complement each other in criticizing contemporary society. Option 2 is incorrect. The passage does not suggest that Galbraith's views directly influenced Sahlins's analysis of prehistoric societies. The mention is about how their perspectives align in critiquing contemporary society. Option 3 is also incorrect. While the passage discusses the contrast between contemporary growth paths and foragers' ways of living, it does not specifically highlight a pacifist content in foragers' lives.

14. The author mentions Tanzania’s Hadza community to illustrate:

  1. that hunter-gatherer communities’ subsistence-level techniques equipped them to survive well into contemporary times.
  2. how pre-agrarian societies did not hamper the emergence of more advanced agrarian practices in contiguous communities.
  3. how two vastly different ways of living and working were able to coexist in proximity for centuries.
  4. that forager communities’ lifestyles derived not from ignorance about alternatives, but from their own choice.

The passage mentions the contemporary Hadza of Tanzania to demonstrate that forager communities, like the Hadza, were aware of alternatives (such as those of surrounding farmers) but actively chose to reject them. This serves as an illustration that foragers make real choices about their ways of living, emphasizing the principle of collective self-determination in societies. So it makes 4th right one.

15. The author of the passage criticises Sahlins’s essay for its:

  1. failure to supplement its thesis with robust empirical data.
  2. outdated values regarding present-day foragers versus ancient foraging communities.
  3. cursory treatment of the effects of racism and colonialism on societies.
  4. critique of anthropologists who disparage the choices of foragers in today’s society.

The passage mentions that, when viewed in today’s context, not every aspect of Sahlins’s essay has aged well. One of the criticisms is that the essay does not thematize the effects of racism, colonialism, and dispossession as heavily as might be expected today. Therefore, the critique is about the essay's treatment of these important issues, suggesting it is cursory or insufficient. This makes the 3rd as the right choice. For Option 1,it is not a criticism mentioned in the passage. The passage acknowledges that the point of the essay is not so much the empirical validity of the data but its conceptual challenge to contemporary economic life and bourgeois individualism. Option 2 is not explicitly mentioned as a criticism in the passage. The passage acknowledges that not every aspect of the essay has aged well but does not specifically criticize it for having outdated values. Option 4 also is not mentioned as a criticism in the passage. The passage does mention Sahlins rebuking evolutionary anthropologists for treating present-day foragers as “left behind” by progress, but it does not frame this as a criticism of Sahlins.

16. We can infer that Sahlins's main goal in writing his essay was to:

  1. put forth the view that, despite egalitarian origins, economic progress brings greater inequality and social hierarchies.
  2. hold a mirror to an acquisitive society, with examples of other communities that have chosen successfully to be non-materialistic.
  3. counter Galbraith’s pessimistic view of the inevitability of a capitalist trajectory for economic growth.
  4. highlight the fact that while we started off as a fairly contented egalitarian people, we have progressively degenerated into materialism.

The passage suggests that Sahlins's essay, "The Original Affluent Society," aimed to challenge contemporary economic life and bourgeois individualism. It held a critical perspective on the capitalist world's pursuit of wealth through material production and presented foraging societies as examples of an alternative path. The essay contrasts the desire for more material goods in the capitalist world with the foraging societies' pursuit of affluence through wanting less. This aligns with the idea of holding a mirror to an acquisitive society and presenting alternative ways of living.

Correct Answer 13

Option D

Correct Answer 14

Option D

Correct Answer 15

Option C

Correct Answer 16

Option B
Video Explanation

Question 17

DIRECTIONS for the question: There is a sentence missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.

Sentence:

This philosophical cut at one’s core beliefs, values, and way of life is difficult enough.

Paragraph:

: The experience of reading philosophy is often disquieting. When reading philosophy, the values around which one has heretofore organised one’s life may come to look provincial, flatly wrong, or even evil. ___(A)___. When beliefs previously held as truths are rendered implausible, new beliefs, values, and ways of living may be required. ___(B)___. What’s worse, philosophers admonish each other to remain unsutured until such time as a defensible new answer is revealed or constructed. Sometimes philosophical writing is even strictly critical in that it does not even attempt to provide an alternative after tearing down a cultural or conceptual citadel. ___(C)___. The reader of philosophy must be prepared for the possibility of this experience. While reading philosophy can help one clarify one’s values, and even make one self-conscious for the first time of the fact that there are good reasons for believing what one believes, it can also generate unremediated doubt that is difficult to live with. ___(D)___.

  1. Blank A
  2. Blank B
  3. Blank C
  4. Blank D

The sentence "This philosophical cut at one’s core beliefs, values, and way of life is difficult enough." would best fit at Option B because it logically follows the statement in Option A. Option A discusses how reading philosophy can make the values one has organized their life around appear provincial, wrong, or even evil. Following this, the sentence in Option B, "This philosophical cut at one’s core beliefs, values, and way of life is difficult enough," provides an explanation and emphasizes the challenging nature of the experience described in Option A. It helps to convey the emotional and intellectual difficulty that arises when one's fundamental beliefs are scrutinized by philosophical inquiry.

Correct Answer 17

Option B
Video Explanation

Question 18

18. DIRECTIONS for the question: There is a sentence missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.

Sentence:

The discovery helps to explain archeological similarities between the Paleolithic peoples of China, Japan, and the Americas.

Paragraph:

The researchers also uncovered an unexpected genetic link between Native Americans and Japanese people. ___(A)___. During the deglaciation period, another group branched out from northern coastal China and travelled to Japan. ___(B)___. “We were surprised to find that this ancestral source also contributed to the Japanese gene pool, especially the indigenous Ainus,” says Li. ___(C)___. They shared similarities in how they crafted stemmed projectile points for arrowheads and spears. ___(D)___. “This suggests that the Pleistocene connection among the Americas, China, and Japan was not confined to culture but also to genetics,” says senior author Qing-Peng Kong, an evolutionary geneticist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

  1. Blank A
  2. Blank B
  3. Blank C
  4. Blank D

The paragraph discusses the genetic link between Native Americans and Japanese people, the migration during the deglaciation period from northern coastal China to Japan, and the surprise that this ancestral source also contributed to the Japanese gene pool. After presenting these findings, the sentence "The discovery helps to explain archaeological similarities between the Paleolithic peoples of China, Japan, and the Americas" logically connects the genetic information to archaeological similarities. Option 3, which discusses the shared similarities in crafting projectile points, provides a context for introducing the archaeological aspect. Placing the sentence about archaeological similarities after this context makes more sense as it elaborates on the shared cultural aspects mentioned in Option 3.

Correct Answer 18

Option C
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Question 19

DIRECTIONS for the question: Five jumbled up 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 and key in the number of that sentence as your answers

  1. In English, there is no systematic rule for the naming of numbers; after ten, we have “eleven” and “twelve” and then the teens: “thirteen”, “fourteen”, “fifteen” and so on.
  2. Even more confusingly, some English words invert the numbers they refer to: the word “fourteen” puts the four first, even though it appears last.
  3. It can take children a while to learn all these words, and understand that “fourteen” is different from “forty”.
  4. For multiples of 10, English speakers switch to a different pattern: “twenty”, “thirty”, “forty” and so on.
  5. If you didn’t know the word for “eleven”, you would be unable to just guess it – you might come up with something like “one-teen”.

The theme of the provided sentences except the 3rd one revolves around the irregularities and complexities in the naming of numbers in the English language. It discusses the lack of a systematic rule, the specific patterns for teens and multiples of ten, and highlights the potential confusion that can arise, particularly for learners or those unfamiliar with the language's numerical conventions. The sentences collectively address the intricacies and variations in how numbers are named in English. While Sentence 3 shifts the focus to the learning process of children and their understanding of the differences between numbers like "fourteen" and "forty."

Correct Answer 19

3
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Question 20

DIRECTIONS for the question: Five jumbled up 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 and key in the number of that sentence as your answer.

  1. Having an appreciation for the workings of another person’s mind is considered a prerequisite for natural language acquisition, strategic social interaction, reflexive thought, and moral judgment.
  2. It is a ‘theory of mind’ though some scholars prefer to call it ‘mentalizing’ or ‘mindreading’, which is important for the development of one’s cognitive abilities.
  3. Though we must speculate about its evolutionary origin, we do have indications that the capacity evolved sometime in the last few million years.
  4. This capacity develops from early beginnings in the first year of life to the adult’s fast and often effortless understanding of others’ thoughts, feelings, and intentions.
  5. One of the most fascinating human capacities is the ability to perceive and interpret other people’s behaviour in terms of their mental states.

The theme of the provided sentences revolves around the concept of "theory of mind" or "mentalizing," which is the ability to understand and interpret the thoughts, feelings, and intentions of others. The sentences discuss the significance of this cognitive ability for various aspects of human development, including natural language acquisition, social interaction, reflexive thought, moral judgment, and cognitive abilities. The progression of this capacity from early beginnings to adulthood is also highlighted, and there is speculation about its evolutionary origin. Overall, the theme centers on the importance and development of the ability to understand the minds of others in human cognition and behavior. Here Sentence 2 differs from the rest because it provides alternative terms for the concept discussed in the other sentences. While the other sentences consistently use the term "theory of mind," Sentence 2 introduces synonyms such as 'mentalizing' or 'mindreading' to describe the same cognitive ability. This sentence essentially offers different labels for the concept without introducing new information or aspects of the theme discussed in the surrounding sentences.

Correct Answer 20

2
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Question 21

DIRECTIONS for the question: The four sentences (labelled 1,2,3 and 4) given in this question, when properly sequenced, form a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper order for the sentence and key in this sequence of four numbers as your answer.

  1. What precisely are the “unusual elements” that make a particular case so attractive to a certain kind of audience?
  2. It might be a particularly savage or unfathomable level of depravity, very often it has something to do with the precise amount of mystery involved.
  3. Unsolved, and perhaps unsolvable cases offer something that “ordinary” murder doesn’t.
  4. Why are some crimes destined for perpetual re-examination and others locked into permanent obscurity?

Sentence 4 serves as a general introduction, raising the question about the enduring interest in certain crimes. Then 1 follows logically from the introductory question, delving into the specifics of what makes a case attractive to a particular audience. Then the 2nd sentence provides reasons or factors that contribute to the attractiveness of certain cases, linking back to the question raised in Sentence 1.3rd further explores the nature of the cases in question, emphasizing the appeal of unsolved or mysterious cases.

Correct Answer 21

4123
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Question 22

DIRECTIONS for the question: The four sentences (labelled 1,2,3 and 4) given in this question, when properly sequenced, form a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper order for the sentence and key in this sequence of four numbers as your answer.

  1. Algorithms hosted on the internet are accessed by many, so biases in AI models have resulted in much larger impact, adversely affecting far larger groups of people.
  2. Though “algorithmic bias” is the popular term, the foundation of such bias is not in algorithms, but in the data; algorithms are not biased, data is, as algorithms merely reflect persistent patterns that are present in the training data.
  3. Despite their widespread impact, it is relatively easier to fix AI biases than human- generated biases, as it is simpler to identify the former than to try to make people unlearn behaviors learnt over generations.
  4. The impact of biased decisions made by humans is localised and geographically confined, but with

4123 is the sequence that forms a coherent flow, where each sentence logically follows the previous one, building a comprehensive discussion on the impact and sources of bias in AI. Sentence 4 sets the stage by highlighting the contrast between the localized impact of human-made biased decisions and the broader impact introduced by AI. Then sentence 1 builds upon the idea introduced in Sentence 4, emphasizing how algorithms, especially those hosted on the internet, can have a widespread impact affecting larger groups of people. Sentence 2 delves into the distinction between "algorithmic bias" and the actual source of bias, emphasizing that biases are rooted in the data rather than the algorithms themselves. Sentence 3 concludes by addressing the relative ease of fixing AI biases compared to human-generated biases, emphasizing the practical aspect of addressing biases in AI.

Correct Answer 22

4123
Video Explanation

Question 23

DIRECTIONS for the question: The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.

Colonialism is not a modern phenomenon. World history is full of examples of one society gradually expanding by incorporating adjacent territory and settling its people on newly conquered territory. In the sixteenth century, colonialism changed decisively because of technological developments in navigation that began to connect more remote parts of the world. The modern European colonial project emerged when it became possible to move large numbers of people across the ocean and to maintain political control in spite of geographical dispersion. The term colonialism is used to describe the process of European settlement, violent dispossession and political domination over the rest of the world, including the Americas, Australia, and parts of Africa and Asia.

  1. Colonialism, conceptualized in the 16th century, allowed colonizers to expand their territories, establish settlements, and exercise political power.
  2. Colonialism surged in the 16th century due to advancements in navigation, enabling British settlements abroad and global dominance.
  3. As a result of developments in navigation technology, European colonialism, led to the displacement of indigenous populations and global political changes in the 16th century.
  4. Technological advancements in navigation in the 16th century, transformed colonialism, enabling Europeans to establish settlements and exert political dominance over distant regions.

The passage discusses colonialism as a historical phenomenon, highlighting its evolution and the factors that led to its transformation in the sixteenth century. It emphasizes the role of technological developments in navigation during that period, which enabled the connection of more remote parts of the world. The emergence of the modern European colonial project is attributed to the newfound ability to move large numbers of people across oceans and maintain political control despite geographical dispersion. The term colonialism is defined in the passage as encompassing European settlement, violent dispossession, and political domination over various regions globally, including the Americas, Australia, and parts of Africa and Asia. Overall, the passage provides a historical context for colonialism, underlining its earlier forms and the significant changes that occurred during the sixteenth century due to advancements in navigation technology. So option 4th is the correct one.

Correct Answer 23

Option D
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Question 24

DIRECTIONS for the question: The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.

Manipulating information was a feature of history long before modern journalism established rules of integrity. A record dates back to ancient Rome, when Antony met Cleopatra and his political enemy Octavian launched a smear campaign against him with “short, sharp slogans written upon coins.” The perpetrator became the first Roman Emperor and “fake news had allowed Octavian to hack the republican system once and for all”. But the 21st century has seen the weaponization of information on an unprecedented scale. Powerful new technology makes the fabrication of content simple, and social networks amplify falsehoods peddled by States, populist politicians, and dishonest corporate entities. The platforms have become fertile ground for computational propaganda, ‘trolling’ and ‘troll armies’.

  1. Use of misinformation for attaining power, a practice that is as old as the Octavian era, is currently fueled by technology.
  2. People need to become critical of what they read, since historically, weaponization of information has led to corruption.
  3. Disinformation, which is mediated by technology today, is not new and has existed since ancient times.
  4. Octavian used fake news to manipulate people and attain power and influence, just as people do today.

The passage discusses the historical aspect of manipulating information, emphasizing that this practice predates the establishment of modern journalism and rules of integrity. It provides an example from ancient Rome, where political enemies used a smear campaign against Antony with slogans written on coins, illustrating the early use of fake news for political purposes. The passage then transitions to the 21st century, highlighting the unprecedented scale of information weaponization. It points out that powerful new technology simplifies the fabrication of content, and social networks play a significant role in amplifying falsehoods propagated by states, populist politicians, and dishonest corporate entities. The platforms are described as fertile ground for various manipulative practices, including computational propaganda, trolling, and the deployment of troll armies. Overall, the passage addresses the historical roots of information manipulation and its contemporary manifestations with advanced technology and social media platforms. So the correct choice is option 1.

Correct Answer 24

Option A
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