UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2015 - General Studies Paper II (CSAT) — question paper

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UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2015 - General Studies Paper II (CSAT)

Paper #3255 · 2015 · 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.

2015 CSAT structured study edition: 80 questions, 79 official-key answers and 80 concise KSLC explanations. 1 question was officially dropped and is explained without a scoring answer. 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/Paper-II.pdf

Which one of the following statements is least essential as a part of the argument in the above passage?
1. Man seeks control over external things affecting him.
2. In society, there are ‘super’ and ‘sub’ human beings.
3. Exceptions to universal citizen participation are conducive to systemic efficacy.
4. Governing implies recognition of disparities in individual capacities.
Which one of the following statements best sums up the above passage?
1. The population of the world is growing very fast.
2. Food security is a perennial problem only in developing countries.
3. The world does not have enough resources to meet the impending food scarcity.
4. Food security is increasingly a collective challenge.
With reference to the above passage, which of the following is the most valid assumption?
1. Building of weapons systems by us has instigated our neighbours to wage wars against us.
2. The greater spending on weapon-building by us would lessen the possibility of armed conflict with our neighbours.
3. It is necessary to have state of the art weapons systems for national security.
4. Many people in India believe that we are wasting our resources on weapon-building.
Which is the critical inference that can be made from the above passage?
1. A lot of Indians are illiterate and hence do not recognize the value of basic health practices.
2. India has a very huge population and the government alone cannot manage public health services.
3. Universalization and integration of maternal health and child health services can effectively address the problem.
4. The nutrition of women in child bearing age does not affect child mortality rate.
With reference to the above passage, which of the following statements is/are true? 1. Consuming regionally grown food and not depending on long travelled food is a part of eco-friendly behaviour. 2. Food processing industry puts a burden on our natural resources. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
The author says that a thoughtless word hardly ever escapes his tongue or pen. Which one of the following is not a valid reason for this?
1. He has no intention to waste his time.
2. He believes in the economy of words.
3. He believes in restraining his thoughts.
4. He has hesitancy in his speech.
The most appropriate reason for the author to be spared many a mishap is that
1. he hardly utters or writes a thoughtless word.
2. he is a man of immense patience.
3. he believes that he is a spiritual person.
4. he is a votary of truth.
For the author, silence is necessary in order to surmount
1. constitutional shyness.
2. hesitancy in speech.
3. suppression of thoughts.
4. tendency to overstate.
Twelve people form a club. By picking lots, one of them will host a dinner for all once in a month. The number of dinners a particular member has to host in one year is
1. One
2. Zero
3. Three
4. Cannot be predicted
An automobile owner reduced his monthly petrol consumption when the prices went up. The price-consumption relationship is as follows:
Price (₹/litre) — Monthly consumption (litres)
40 — 60
50 — 48
60 — 40
75 — 32
If the price goes up to ₹80 per litre, his expected consumption (in litres) will be
1. 30
2. 28
3. 26
4. 24
Consider the figures given below. To fit the question mark, the correct answer is
1. Figure A
2. Figure B
3. Figure C
4. Figure D
Consider the following matrix:
Row — Column 1 — Column 2 — Column 3 — Column 4 — Column 5 — Column 6
Top — 3 — 8 — 10 — 2 — ? — 1
Bottom — 6 — 56 — 90 — 2 — 20 — 0
What is the missing number at ‘?’ in the matrix?
1. 5
2. 0
3. 7
4. 3
What is the missing number ‘X’ of the series 7, X, 21, 31, 43?
1. 11
2. 12
3. 13
4. 14
Four cardboard pieces of specific shapes are shown in the following figure. Which one of the following figures given can be formed by joining these pieces together?
1. Figure A
2. Figure B
3. Figure C
4. Figure D
In a test, a candidate attempted only 8 questions and secured 50% marks in each of the questions. If he obtained a total of 40% in the test and all questions in the test carried equal marks, how many questions were there in the test?
1. 8
2. 10
3. 15
4. 16
A father is nine times as old as his son and the mother is eight times as old as the son. The sum of the father’s and the mother’s age is 51 years. What is the age of the son?
1. 7 years
2. 5 years
3. 4 years
4. 3 years
Four persons A, B, C and D consisting of two married couples are in a group. Both the women are shorter than their respective husbands. A is the tallest among the four. C is taller than B. D is B’s brother. In this context, which one of the following statements is not correct?
1. All four have family ties.
2. B is the shortest among the four.
3. C is taller than D.
4. A is B’s husband.
Consider the following statements: 1. A man had a wife, two sons and two daughters in his family. 2. The daughters were invited to a feast and the male members of the family went out to take part in a picnic. 3. The man’s father did not return from his work. Which of the following statements is true?
1. Only the man’s wife was left at home.
2. It is likely that the man’s wife was left at home.
3. None was left at home.
4. More than one person was left at home.
Geeta: Naresh has become a better boxer since he started meditation. Radha: Impossible. A boxer’s most important asset is his aggressiveness. Radha’s statement reflects her belief that
1. meditation tends to make a person less aggressive.
2. meditation has little or no effect on the person who practises it.
3. Naresh was a poor boxer earlier because he was not aggressive enough.
4. Naresh would not have taken to meditation as he was a boxer.
All good athletes want to win and all athletes who want to win eat a well-balanced diet; therefore all athletes who do not eat a well-balanced diet are bad athletes. The best conclusion from this statement is that
1. no bad athlete wants to win.
2. no athlete who does not eat a well-balanced diet is a good athlete.
3. every athlete who eats a well-balanced diet is a good athlete.
4. all athletes who want to win are good athletes.
Which among the following is the most logical and rational assumption that can be made from the above passage?
1. The richer States must lead in the production and adoption of renewable energy.
2. The poor States always have to depend on rich States for electricity.
3. The State Electricity Boards can improve their finances by undertaking clean energy projects.
4. The high economic disparity between the rich and poor States is the major cause of high carbon emissions in India.
This is a sensitive issue-based story which tries to sensitise the readers about
1. Male chauvinism and infidelity
2. Love and betrayal
3. Lack of legal safeguards for women
4. Influence of patriarchal mindset
Which among the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?
1. The true aim of government is to secure the citizens their social and political freedom.
2. The primary concern of government is to provide absolute social security to all its citizens.
3. The best government is the one that allows the citizens to enjoy absolute liberty in all matters of life.
4. The best government is the one that provides absolute physical security to the people of the country.
Which among the following is the most logical and rational assumption that can be made from the above passage?
1. The task of providing urban services is a complex issue which requires the organisational expansion of municipal bodies all over the country.
2. Our cities can provide better quality of life if our local government bodies have adequate staff with required skills and competencies.
3. Lack of skilled staff is due to the absence of institutions which offer the requisite skills in city management.
4. Our country is not taking advantage of the demographic dividend to manage the problems associated with rapid urbanization.
Which among the following is the most logical corollary to the above passage?
1. Mass nesting in all species of birds is essential to ensure complete survival of their offspring.
2. Only birds have the capacity to develop social behaviour and thus can do mass nesting to raise their chicks in safety.
3. Social behaviour in some species of birds increases the odds of survival in an unsafe world.
4. All species of birds set up crèches for their chicks to teach them social behaviour and loyalty.
What is the most logical, rational and crucial message that is implied in the above passage?
1. MGNREGS should be extended only to those who have a bank account.
2. The paper-based system of payments is more efficient than electronic payment in the present scenario.
3. The goal of electronic wage payments was not to eliminate mediation by village leaders.
4. It is essential to provide financial literacy to the rural poor.
With reference to the above passage, consider the following statements: 1. In developing countries, a strong institutional framework is the only requirement for human development and policy options. 2. Human development and economic growth are not always positively inter-related. 3. Focusing only on human development should be the goal of economic growth. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 2 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. Higher economic growth is essential to ensure reduction in economic disparity. 2. Environmental degradation is sometimes a consequence of economic growth. Which of the above is/are valid assumption/assumptions?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
If A runs less fast than B, and B runs as fast but not faster than C; then, as compared to A, C runs
1. slower than A
2. faster than A
3. with same speed as A
4. Given data is not sufficient to determine
Each of A, B, C and D has ₹100. A pays ₹20 to B, who pays ₹10 to C, who gets ₹30 from D. In this context, which one of the following statements is not correct?
1. C is the richest.
2. D is the poorest.
3. C has more than what A and D have together.
4. B is richer than D.
In a town, 45% population read magazine A, 55% read magazine B, 40% read magazine C, 30% read magazines A and B, 15% read magazines B and C, 25% read magazines A and C; and 10% read all the three magazines. What percentage do not read any magazine?
1. 10%
2. 15%
3. 20%
4. 25%
Examine the following statements: 1. Lady’s finger is tastier than cabbage. 2. Cauliflower is tastier than lady’s finger. 3. Cabbage is not tastier than peas. The conclusion that can be drawn from these statements is that
1. peas are as tasty as lady’s finger.
2. peas are as tasty as cauliflower and lady’s finger.
3. cabbage is the least tasty of the four vegetables.
4. cauliflower is tastier than cabbage.
Shahid and Rohit start from the same point in opposite directions. After each 1 km, Shahid always turns left and Rohit always turns right. Which of the following statements is correct?
1. After both have travelled 2 km, the distance between them is 4 km.
2. They meet after each has travelled 3 km.
3. They meet for the first time after each has travelled 4 km.
4. They go on without ever meeting again.
In a 500 metres race, B starts 45 metres ahead of A, but A wins the race while B is still 35 metres behind. What is the ratio of the speeds of A to B assuming that both start at the same time?
1. 25:21
2. 25:20
3. 5:3
4. 5:7
Two equal glasses of same type are respectively 1/3 and 1/4 full of milk. They are then filled up with water and the contents are mixed in a pot. What is the ratio of milk and water in the pot?
1. 7:17
2. 1:3
3. 9:21
4. 11:23
Out of 130 students appearing in an examination, 62 failed in English, 52 failed in Mathematics, whereas 24 failed in both English and Mathematics. The number of students who passed finally is
1. 40
2. 50
3. 55
4. 60
In a group of persons travelling in a bus, 6 persons can speak Tamil, 15 can speak Hindi and 6 can speak Gujarati. In that group none can speak any other language. If 2 persons in the group can speak two languages only and one person can speak all the three languages, then how many persons are there in the group?
1. 21
2. 22
3. 23
4. 24
In a parking area, the total number of wheels of all the cars (four-wheelers) and scooters/motorbikes (two-wheelers) is 100 more than twice the number of parked vehicles. The number of cars parked is
1. 35
2. 45
3. 50
4. 55
The mangroves can shed tons of leaves per acre every year; fungi and bacteria break down this leaf litter and consume it, they then are consumed by tiny worms and crustaceans, which in turn feed small fish, which feed larger fish and birds and crocodiles. Which among the following is the most logical inference of the above statement?
1. Coastal areas cannot have food chains without mangroves.
2. Mangroves are an essential component of all marine ecosystems.
3. Mangroves have a crucial role in some of the coastal food chains.
4. The composition of marine flora and fauna is largely determined by mangroves.
“By liberty I mean the eager maintenance of that atmosphere in which men have the opportunity to be their best selves.” Which one of the following expresses the view implied in the above statement?
1. Liberty is the absence of restraint on human action.
2. Liberty is what law permits people to perform.
3. Liberty is the ability to do what one desires.
4. Liberty is the maintenance of conditions for the growth of human personality.

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