CAT 2024 Slot 1: Past Year Question Paper - CAT MCQ

The correct answer is C: A type of bandicoots was nearly wiped out by invasive species but rescuers now pin hopes on a remnant island population.

The passage discusses the near extinction of the western barred bandicoot due to invasive species:

“Several of the dozen-odd bandicoot species went extinct, and by the 1940s the western barred bandicoot … persisted only on two predator-free islands.”

It then describes efforts to revive the population using the island survivors: "Wild Deserts is using descendants of those few thousand island survivors … to seed a mainland bandicoot revival." Option C captures this narrative best. Options A and B exaggerate the focus on British colonists, while Option D incorrectly attributes extinction to British negligence.

The passage describes "two fenced ‘exclosures,’ cleared of invasive rabbits and of feral cats.” The purpose of these exclosures is to protect the bandicoots by preventing the entry of harmful invasive species. Options A, B, and D misinterpret the function or apply it to incorrect contexts (e.g., excluding animals from islands).

The passage provides a detailed description of the western barred bandicoot:

• Long thin nose: "Slender-snooted marsupials.”
• Black striped back: "Nicknamed … ‘zebra rat’ because of its black-striped rump."
• Pouch for joeys and shallow diggers: "Breath-mint-size babies in a backward-facing pouch … dig shallow, camouflaged shelters."

Option B is inaccurate because it describes the bandicoot as “black-striped marsupial” without mentioning essential details like its long thin nose or its pouch.

The correct answer is A: aided in altering an arid environment.

The passage highlights how the bandicoots’ digging benefits the ecosystem:

“With their constant digging, the bandicoots trap moisture and allow for seed germination so the cattle-damaged desert can restore itself.”

This ecological role has earned them the nickname “ecosystem engineers.” Options B, C, and D misinterpret the nickname’s basis, focusing on population growth or species preservation rather than their environmental contributions.

The sentence, “Understanding central Asia’s role helps developments make more sense not only across Asia but in Europe, the Americas, and Africa,” provides a concluding thought. The paragraph builds on Central Asia’s historical and geographical importance, and the sentence ties it to a broader perspective, making Position 4 the most appropriate placement.

The correct answer is B: linking emotions and rational behavior without considering the mediation of social institutions.

The author critiques Shiller’s approach for ignoring institutions:

"Institutions have been stripped from Shiller’s account, to reveal a bare dynamic of emotions and economics."

Option 1 highlights this omission. Options A, C, and D either overstate or misinterpret the critique.

The correct answer is B: sarcastic about how economists, who earlier shunned other disciplines, are now beginning to incorporate them in their analyses.

The passage contrasts economists’ past imperialism with their current openness:

"Times have changed for the once almighty discipline. Economics has been taken to task, within and beyond its ramparts."

Option B reflects this tone. Options A, C, and D misrepresent the author’s nuanced perspective.

The correct answer is C: makes rational decisions based on their own preferences.

The passage explains homo economicus as a caricature of Rational Man who bases decisions on calculated preferences:

"Economists have presumed that people have interests—‘preferences’—that get revealed in the course of peoples’ choices."

Option C aligns with this description. Options A and D are unrelated, and Option B contradicts the exclusion of external influences.

The correct answer is A: used economics to analyze non-market behavior, without incorporating perspectives from other areas of inquiry.

The passage critiques Gary Becker for applying economic methods to non-market phenomena but ignoring insights from other disciplines:

"He projected economics outward into new realms … but he did not borrow from anthropology or history."

Option A reflects this critique. Options B, C, and D misrepresent the focus on Becker’s one-sided approach.

The sentence, “The brain isn’t organized the way you might set up your home office or bathroom medicine cabinet,” serves as an introductory statement, setting up the discussion about the brain’s haphazard architecture:

"The evolved architecture of the brain is haphazard and disjointed, and incorporates multiple systems."

Placing it at the beginning (Position 1) provides a logical lead-in to the subsequent details.

The correct answer is B: The similarity in brain structure explains why animals show emotions typically associated with humans.

The passage highlights shared brain structures between humans and animals as the basis for emotional similarities:

"It’s not surprising that animals share many emotions with us because we also share brain structures, located in the limbic system."

Option B captures this relationship. Option C is incomplete, and Option A incorrectly attributes emotions to advanced sensory abilities. Option D shifts focus to intelligence rather than emotions.

The odd sentence is 1
Sentence 4 introduces Singer’s work on animal rights, followed by Sentence 2 discussing his utilitarian perspective. Sentence 3 expands on his moral theory, and Sentence 5 concludes with its implications. Sentence 1 shifts focus to basic needs, diverging from the paragraph’s philosophical discussion.

The correct answer is C: Language and visual signs are codes. However, some of the codes are so widespread that they not only seem naturally given but also hide the mechanism of coding behind the signs.

The passage explains how widespread codes appear natural but conceal their constructed nature:

"They produce apparently ‘natural’ recognitions. This has the (ideological) effect of concealing the practices of coding."

Option C succinctly captures this idea. Options A, B, and D either misinterpret or oversimplify the passage.

The main argument of the passage revolves around the ephemeral nature of digital media, where access is controlled by streaming platforms, potentially leading to loss of content due to geo-blocking, DRM restrictions, or corporate decisions. The passage states:

"The news seemed like vindication to those who had long warned that streaming was more about controlling access to the cultural commons than expanding it."

If studios and streaming services committed to giving perpetual, platform-independent access, this would directly invalidate the argument that streaming platforms control access to digital media. Options B, C, and D address related issues but do not undermine the main argument about controlled access as thoroughly as Option A.

The example of editing Stranger Things illustrates the lack of permanence and control over digital art:

"The news seemed like vindication to those who had long warned that streaming was more about controlling access to the cultural commons than expanding it."

Option B accurately reflects how this example justifies mistrust of streaming platforms. Option A generalizes the issue, while Options C and D mischaracterize the purpose of the example.

The passage discusses how digital media has made access less secure due to issues such as DRM restrictions, platform-specific rights, and the perishability of physical and digital formats. For instance:

"Any film ‘bought’ on iTunes could disappear if you move to another territory with a different rights agreement."

Option A captures this point, emphasizing that the shift to digital has not guaranteed access. Option B generalizes the argument too much, while Option D  introduces the idea of public ownership, which is not discussed. Option C focuses on creators' efforts, which is tangential to the passage.

The passage contrasts cinema's ephemerality in the past with current expectations of accessibility:

"Back then, at least, cinema was defined by its ephemerality: the sense that a film was as good as gone once it left your local cinema."

This suggests that in modern times, films are no longer expected to vanish after theatrical release. Option A overstates the issue of removal, while Option C focuses on technological improvements rather than expectations. Option B discusses attitudes from the past, not the present.

The correct answer is 1: did not necessarily promote creativity.

The passage notes that both mass production and medieval crafts guilds stifled creativity:

• "The link between crafts and creativity is not automatic. Medieval craft guilds … resisted new entrants."
• Mass production also limits creativity due to its focus on standardization and efficiency.

Option C captures this similarity. Option B, though true of medieval guilds, is not discussed in relation to mass production. Option D inaccurately suggests excessive focus on product quality, and Option C conflates guild rules with innovation restrictions, which were a by-product, not a primary feature.

The correct answer is C: Creativity in the crafts could be stifled if the market for artisan goods becomes too organized.

The author warns against excessive organization in the crafts sector:

“Craft workers can thrive in the modern era, but only if they don’t get too organised.”

Option C is consistent with this view. Option A implies unconditional support for crafts, which the author does not advocate.Option B misinterprets the inspiration behind the Arts and Crafts movement, which was a reaction to mass production, not an adoption of its principles.
Option D incorrectly equates the agile movement with medieval guilds, which were hierarchical and resistant to innovation.

The author raises concerns about whether crafts can create substantial employment, highlighting two challenges:

Retraining workers in automated sectors like trucking: "Will it be easy to retrain workers in sectors that might get automated (such as truck drivers) to take advantage?"
Regulatory barriers favoring large companies: "In a world where products and services often have to pass through regulatory hoops, large companies will usually have the advantage."
Option B addresses this latter issue, directly reflecting the passage. Options A and C are plausible concerns but are not explicitly supported as major barriers, while Option D refers to medieval guilds, which are historical examples, not contemporary concerns.

The correct answer is C: support for individual creations as opposed to mass-produced objects.

The passage discusses three main reasons for the revival of interest in crafts:

• Environmental concerns: "A third crafts movement is emerging as people become aware of the environmental impact of conventional industry."
• Niche markets for quality goods: "Consumers who are willing to pay a premium price for goods that are deemed to be of extra quality."
• Support for local goods: "Consumers who wish to use their purchases to support local workers or to reduce their environmental impact."

The passage does not mention support for individual creations as a direct factor driving the revival. While the human touch and creativity are emphasized, these are framed as appeals of craftsmanship rather than reasons for its resurgence.

The correct placement is C.

The missing sentence describes Renaissance music’s balanced portrayal of emotions. It fits logically after: “Renaissance music was mostly polyphonic in texture,” because it expands on Renaissance music’s characteristics.

Placing it at Position C ensures coherence with the following sentence, which continues the discussion of Renaissance music’s dynamics: “Extreme use of and contrasts in dynamics, rhythm, and tone colour do not occur.” Positions A, B, and D disrupt the logical flow of ideas.

The correct answer is B: Today, cartographers also need to look into the usability of maps because of the new technological developments.

The passage discusses how societal and technological changes have influenced cartographers to focus on usability:

"Cartographers, who are also influenced by these trends, are now more interested in seeing if their products are efficient, effective, and appreciated."

Option B encapsulates this idea. Options A, C, and D either oversimplify or deviate from the central point.

The odd sentence is 2, and the sequence is 5341.

Sentence 5 introduces the trend of declining urban public transport usage. Sentence 3 discusses possible causes, such as service deterioration, while Sentence 4 explores structural changes like reduced travel needs due to technology. Sentence 1 adds another explanation by highlighting alternate transport options. Sentence 2 focuses on improved public transport services, contradicting the central theme.

So 29 - 12√5 is the positive square root of (29 - 12√5).

So 29 - 12√5 = (a + b√n)²

29 - 12√5 = a² + b²n + 2ab√n

a² + b²n = 29

ab√n = -6√5

a²b²n² = 180

b²n = 180 / a²

Substituting this in the above equation:

a² + b²n = 29

a² + (180 / a²) = 29

a⁴ - 29a² + 180 = 0

a² = (29 ± √(29² - 4*180)) / 2

a² = 9 or 20

That means one of a² or b²n is 9 or 20.

We also have ab√n = -6√5; that means one of a or b should be negative.

And also the fact that this is a positive root, and we need to maximize the value of a, b, and n.

We can have a = -3, b = 1, and n = 20.

This satisfies all the above equations, and the value of a + b + n = 18

Let Renu and Seema do r and s 
units of work daily.

ATQ,
r × 15 × 4 = s × 8 × 5
r / s = 2 / 3
Let the total number of work be 120 units.
So, Renu’s one day’s work = 2 units
Seema’s one day’s work = 3 units
Now, according to new agreement:
Renu works 2 hours a day for 2d while Seema works 4 hours a day for d days.
So,
2 × 2 × 2d + 3 × 4 × d = 120
20d = 120
d = 6 days
Hence, Seema works for 6 days.