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UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2018 - General Studies Paper II (CSAT) — question paper

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UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2018 - General Studies Paper II (CSAT)

Paper #3249 · 2018 · General Studies Paper II (CSAT) · 80 reviewed questions · Showing 1–40 of 80

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Accuracy note: This is a reviewed structured rendering of an official previous-year paper and may cover only part of it. Where available, explanatory notes describe unresolved source or answer issues without supplying a scoring answer. Official examination authority notices remain final.

2018 CSAT structured study edition: 80 questions, 80 official-key answers and 80 concise KSLC explanations. No questions were officially dropped. Shared passages, some tables/data and visuals are not yet fully included; questions depending on them must be read with the official PDF. Original questions and applicable copyright belong to UPSC and the respective rights holders. KSLC commentary is independent; KSLC is not affiliated with or endorsed by UPSC. Official source: https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/QP-CSP-18-GS-II-C.pdf Question numbers follow the reviewed Series A booklet. The linked official PDF may use a different booklet order; match the question text.

  1. Consider the following three-dimensional figure. How many triangles does the above figure have?
    1. 18
    2. 20
    3. 22
    4. 24
  2. Consider the following sum: ● + 1● + 2● + ●3 + ●1 = 21●. In the above sum, ● stands for
    1. 4
    2. 5
    3. 6
    4. 8
  3. Consider the following pattern of numbers:
    Top row: 8, 10, 15, 13
    Middle row: 6, 5, 7, 4
    Bottom row: 4, 6, 8, 8
    Result row: 6, 11, 16, ?
    What is the number at ? in the above pattern?
    1. 17
    2. 19
    3. 21
    4. 23
  4. How many diagonals can be drawn by joining the vertices of an octagon?
    1. 20
    2. 24
    3. 28
    4. 64
  5. The figure gives the velocity graphs of two vehicles A and B. Straight line OKP represents A’s velocity, while horizontal line CKD represents B’s velocity. The perpendicular from P meets CKD at D and the time axis at L, with PD = ½LD. What is the ratio between the distances covered by A and B in the time interval OL?
    1. 1 : 2
    2. 2 : 3
    3. 3 : 4
    4. 1 : 1
  6. A train 200 metres long is moving at the rate of 40 kmph. In how many seconds will it cross a man standing near the railway line?
    1. 12
    2. 15
    3. 16
    4. 18
  7. Which of the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?
    1. Prosperity of agriculture sector is of critical importance to India.
    2. Indian economy greatly depends on its agriculture.
    3. India should take strict measures to control its rapid population growth.
    4. India’s farming communities should switch over to other occupations to improve their economic conditions.
  8. Which of the following is the most logical corollary to the above passage?
    1. With more options for food come more risks.
    2. Food processing is the source of all foodborne illnesses.
    3. We should depend on locally produced food only.
    4. Globalization of food production should be curtailed.
  9. Which of the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?
    1. It is the faith and not science that can finally solve all the problems of mankind.
    2. Science and faith can be mutually complementary if their proper domains are understood.
    3. There are some very fundamental questions which cannot be answered by either science or faith.
    4. In today’s culture, scientific views are given more importance than spiritual views.
  10. The author wants India to rid herself of certain past bonds because
    1. he is not able to see the relevance of the past
    2. there is not much to be proud of
    3. he is not interested in the history of India
    4. they obstruct her physical and spiritual growth
  11. By how much (measured in thousands of tons) did the import of sheet steel exceed the import of coil steel in the first three months of the year?
    1. 11
    2. 15
    3. 19
    4. 23
  12. What was the approximate total value (in $) of sheet steel imported over the six months period?
    1. 45,555
    2. 50,555
    3. 55,550
    4. 65,750
  13. What was the approximate ratio of sheet steel and scrap steel imports in the first three months of the year?
    1. 1 : 1
    2. 1.2 : 1
    3. 1.4 : 1
    4. 1.6 : 1
  14. What is the symbol on the face opposite to that containing a single dot?
    1. Four dots
    2. Three dots
    3. Two dots
    4. Cross
  15. What is the symbol on the face opposite to that containing two dots?
    1. Single dot
    2. Three dots
    3. Four dots
    4. Line
  16. What is the symbol on the face opposite to that containing the cross?
    1. Single dot
    2. Two dots
    3. Line
    4. Four dots
  17. According to the passage, which of the following is/are of paramount importance under the Right to Education? 1. Sending of children to school by all parents 2. Provision of adequate physical infrastructure in schools 3. Curricular reforms for developing child-friendly learning system Select the correct answer using the code given below.
    1. 1 only
    2. 1 and 2 only
    3. 3 only
    4. None of the above
  18. With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. The Right to Education guarantees teachers’ accountability for the learning process of children. 2. The Right to Education guarantees 100% enrolment of children in the schools. 3. The Right to Education intends to take full advantage of demographic dividend. Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?
    1. 1 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
  19. According to the passage, which one of the following is critical in bringing quality in education?
    1. Ensuring regular attendance of children as well as teachers in school
    2. Giving pecuniary benefits to teachers to motivate them
    3. Understanding the socio-cultural background of children
    4. Inculcating learning through activities and discovery
  20. What is the essential message in this passage?
    1. The Right to Education now is a Fundamental Right.
    2. The Right to Education enables the children of poor and weaker sections of the society to attend schools.
    3. The Right to Free and Compulsory Education should include quality education for all.
    4. The Government as well as parents should ensure that all children attend schools.
  21. If LSJXVC is the code for MUMBAI, the code for DELHI is
    1. CCIDD
    2. CDKGH
    3. CCJFG
    4. CCIFE
  22. If RAMON is written as 12345 and DINESH as 675849, then HAMAM will be written as
    1. 92233
    2. 92323
    3. 93322
    4. 93232
  23. If X is between −3 and −1, and Y is between −1 and 1, then X² − Y² is in between which of the following?
    1. −9 and 1
    2. −9 and −1
    3. 0 and 8
    4. 0 and 9
  24. X and Y are natural numbers other than 1, and Y is greater than X. Which of the following represents the largest number?
    1. XY
    2. X/Y
    3. Y/X
    4. (X + Y)/XY
  25. If E sits in his office and faces the corridor, whose office is to his left?
    1. A
    2. B
    3. C
    4. D
  26. Who is/are F’s immediate neighbour/neighbours?
    1. A only
    2. A and D
    3. C only
    4. B and C
  27. According to the passage, which of the following are the consequences of decline in forest cover? 1. Loss of topsoil 2. Loss of smaller rivers 3. Adverse effect on agricultural production 4. Declining of groundwater Select the correct answer using the code given below.
    1. 1, 2 and 3 only
    2. 2, 3 and 4 only
    3. 1 and 4 only
    4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  28. Which of the following is/are the correct inference/inferences that can be made from the passage? 1. Deforestation can cause changes in the course of rivers. 2. Salinization of land takes place due to human activities only. 3. Intense monoculture practice in plains is a major reason for desertification in Tropical Asia, Africa and South America. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
    1. 1 only
    2. 1 and 2 only
    3. 2 and 3 only
    4. None of the above is a correct inference
  29. With reference to ‘desertification’, as described in the passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. Desertification is a phenomenon in tropical areas only. 2. Deforestation invariably leads to floods and desertification. Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?
    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
  30. With reference to the above passage, which of the following would assist us in coping with the climate change? 1. Conservation of natural water sources 2. Conservation of wider gene pool 3. Existing crop management practices 4. Migration corridors Select the correct answer using the code given below.
    1. 1, 2 and 3 only
    2. 1, 2 and 4 only
    3. 3 and 4 only
    4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  31. With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. Diversification of livelihoods acts as a coping strategy for climate change. 2. Adoption of monocropping practice leads to the extinction of plant varieties and their wild relatives. Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?
    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
  32. Which of the following is the most crucial and logical inference that can be made from the above passage?
    1. The Earth can meet only the basic needs of humans for food, clothing and shelter.
    2. The only way to meet environmental challenge is to limit human population.
    3. Reducing our consumerism is very much in our own interest.
    4. Knowledge of biological systems can only help us save this planet.
  33. The author of the passage holds the view that
    1. leadership can be taught through war experience only
    2. leadership can be acquired as well as taught
    3. the results of training show that more people acquire leadership than are expected
    4. despite rigorous instruction, very few leaders are produced
  34. A number consists of three digits of which the middle one is zero and their sum is 4. If the number formed by interchanging the first and last digits is greater than the number itself by 198, then the difference between the first and last digits is
    1. 1
    2. 2
    3. 3
    4. 4
  35. A solid cube of 3 cm side, painted on all its faces, is cut up into small cubes of 1 cm side. How many of the small cubes will have exactly two painted faces?
    1. 12
    2. 8
    3. 6
    4. 4
  36. While writing all the numbers from 700 to 1000, how many numbers occur in which the digit at hundred’s place is greater than the digit at ten’s place, and the digit at ten’s place is greater than the digit at unit’s place?
    1. 61
    2. 64
    3. 85
    4. 91
  37. If Pen ＜ Pencil, Pencil ＜ Book and Book > Cap, then which one of the following is always true?
    1. Pen > Cap
    2. Pen ＜ Book
    3. Pencil = Cap
    4. Pencil > Cap
  38. A bookseller sold a (the quantity) Geography textbooks at the rate of ₹x per book, (a + 2) History textbooks at the rate of ₹(x + 2) per book and (a − 2) Mathematics textbooks at the rate of ₹(x − 2) per book. What is his total sale in ₹?
    1. 3x + 3a
    2. 3ax + 8
    3. 9ax
    4. x³a³
  39. A bag contains 15 red balls and 20 black balls. Each ball is numbered either 1 or 2 or 3. 20% of the red balls are numbered 1 and 40% of them are numbered 3. Similarly, among the black balls, 45% are numbered 2 and 30% are numbered 3. A boy picks a ball at random. He wins if the ball is red and numbered 3 or if it is black and numbered 1 or 2. What are the chances of his winning?
    1. 1/2
    2. 4/7
    3. 5/9
    4. 12/13
  40. Two persons, A and B are running on a circular track. At the start, B is ahead of A and their positions make an angle of 30° at the centre of the circle. When A reaches the point diametrically opposite to his starting point, he meets B. What is the ratio of speeds of A and B, if they are running with uniform speeds?
    1. 6 : 5
    2. 4 : 3
    3. 6 : 1
    4. 4 : 2

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