CAT 2024 Slot 2: Past Year Question Paper - CAT MCQ

The correct answer is C: While technological advances in the past have had innocuous or beneficial outcomes, more recent advances have the potential to be more threatening globally.

The passage warns about the growing threat of modern technological advances but does not claim that historical advances were predominantly innocuous or beneficial. For example, it discusses carbon-based climate change as a critical unintended consequence: “We live under the gathering storm of modern history’s most momentous unintended consequence….carbon-based climate change.” It also cites the dangers of CFCs and leaded fuel, which had visible health threats. This shows the author acknowledges harmful historical advances, making Option C incorrect. The other options align with the passage: its by-products contributed to carbon emissions (Option A), and technological advances today pose global risks (Option B), the dangers of leaded fuel were evident (Option D),

The correct answer is D: cooling and dehumidifying of factories through air-conditioning.

The passage defines externalities as unintended consequences of technological advances and provides several examples, such as Edison’s phonograph leading to musical recordings (Option A),  CFC emissions as a by-product of industrial advances (Option B) and animatronic dolls inspiring the Jacquard loom and programmable technology (Option C) . However, the cooling and dehumidifying of factories by air-conditioning is not an unintended consequence; it was the original intent of the technology. Thus, Option D does not qualify as an externality.

The correct answer is C: These inventors could not have visualized the eventual impact of their inventions on society.

The passage uses examples of Carrier, Edison, and Babbage to illustrate how the unintended consequences of inventions often go far beyond what their inventors anticipated. For instance, the passage states: “Carrier hit upon the idea of air-conditioning, … [which] touched off one of the largest migrations in the history of the United States.” Similarly, Edison envisioned his phonograph as a dictation tool, but “a much larger audience [was] willing to pay for musical recordings.” These cases show that the societal impacts of inventions were unpredictable, supporting Option C. Option A inaccurately implies that secondary effects mainly lead to new inventions, while Option B fails to account for negative unintended consequences. Option D narrowly focuses on the re-purposing of inventions.

The correct answer is B: The full impact of technological advances cannot be estimated in the short run as the ripple effects often extend far beyond the original intent.

The first paragraph highlights how technological advances lead to far-reaching, often unpredictable consequences, termed “externalities.” For instance, the invention of the printing press led to a rise in literacy and spectacles, which eventually contributed to the invention of the telescope and microscope. The paragraph states: “The history of any major technological or industrial advance is inevitably shadowed by … unintended consequences and secondary effects.” This emphasizes the difficulty of estimating long-term impacts, aligning with Option B. Option A narrowly focuses on technological advancement alone. Option C misinterprets the paragraph by suggesting a holistic judgment of inventions, which the passage does not advocate. Option D falsely generalizes that unintended effects are mostly beneficial.

The correct answer is A: Unleashing dogs by pet owners in areas with known high concentrations of large carnivores.

The passage highlights unleashed dogs as a frequent trigger for carnivore-human conflicts: “66% of coyote attacks involve a dog.” It explains that dogs provoke conflicts by chasing carnivores, being chased, or drawing their owners into dangerous situations near carnivore dens. This scenario directly exacerbates the frequency of conflicts.

Option B, implementing food waste management, is a preventive measure that would reduce conflicts. Option C, addressing climate change, is a long-term strategy rather than an immediate conflict escalator. Option D, photographing animals in secured zones, minimizes risks by keeping humans at a safe distance, unlike the risky behavior described in Option A.

The correct answer is A: The diversity and interspersion of working landscapes with carnivore habitats in rural areas increase the statistical probability of encounters between humans and carnivores.

The passage explains that heterogeneous landscapes, such as rural areas combining farmland and natural habitats, increase the chances of human-carnivore encounters: “There are a lot of working landscapes … interspersed with carnivore habitats, forests, and savannahs, which creates a lot more opportunity for these encounters.” This statistical likelihood supports Option A.

Option B erroneously attributes higher conflict rates to homogeneous landscapes, which are less prone to such encounters compared to diverse ones.Option C misrepresents low-income countries, which often have higher conflict rates due to proximity to wildlife habitats. Option D inaccurately claims that heterogeneous landscapes reduce conflicts, contradicting the evidence provided.

The correct answer is B: The reduction in carnivores’ instinctive fear response, resulting from their reliance upon human-provided food.

The passage explains that carnivores lose their instinctive fear of humans when they become accustomed to human-provided food sources, such as garbage or food at campsites: “Carnivores that recognise humans as a means to get food … become less avoidant of humans. Losing that instinctive fear response puts them into more situations where they could get into an altercation with a human.” This habituation increases the likelihood of dangerous encounters.

Option A mentions resource scarcity due to climate change, which does contribute to conflicts but does not directly address habituation. Option C refers to aggression-based conflicts, which can often be avoided, unlike the habituation issue discussed in the passage. Option D focuses on predatory attacks, which are rare, as the passage states that they account for only 17% of cases.

The correct answer should be A: Carnivores lose their instinctive fear of humans when consistently exposed to human food sources.

The question can be rephrased to “Which of the following statements, if true, would be consistent with the concerns raised in the passage….”

option C, is not consistent with the passage. The passage states that climate change plays a significant role in escalating conflicts: “Experts believe climate change also plays a part in the escalation of human-carnivore conflicts.” It further provides evidence such as droughts leading to increased lion attacks. Thus, claiming negligible effects contradicts the passage.

For option A, the passage explicitly mentions that carnivores losing their instinctive fear is a significant concern: “As they become more reliant on human food, they become less avoidant of humans.” This habituation leads to more frequent and dangerous conflicts. If this statement were false, it would contradict the core concerns raised in the passage about how human behavior (e.g., improper disposal of food) contributes to carnivore-human conflicts. Therefore, option A, if true, is consistent with the passage.

Option B aligns with the passage’s claim that avoiding risky behaviors reduces conflicts, as supported by the line: “50% of attacks could have been avoided if humans reacted differently.”

Option D is inconsistent with the passage since predatory attacks are rare (only 17%). Option 3 contradicts the passage’s discussion of climate change’s role in increasing conflicts, making it an acceptable answer to the original question.

The correct odd sentence is 2, and the coherent sequence is 1435. Sentence 1 introduces the balanced view that gender is influenced by both nature and nurture. Sentence 4 discusses the political pushback faced by researchers studying the biological basis of gender, while Sentence 3 addresses societal discomfort with the idea that gender is not entirely a social construct. Sentence 5 ties these ideas together by explaining the political preference for viewing gender as entirely malleable. These sentences collectively explore the interplay between biological and social perspectives on gender.

Sentence 2, while relevant, shifts focus to combating sexism, which deviates from the main theme of the paragraph. Thus, it is the odd one out.

The correct answer is A: It can tackle the problem of selecting appropriately qualified reviewers for academic writing.

The passage details multiple benefits of publicizing peer review data but does not mention improving the selection process for qualified reviewers. For instance, the passage highlights that publicizing data “could help root out bias,” noting issues like underrepresentation of women and non-Western reviewers, and that it could “help journals stamp out fraud, inefficiency, and systemic bias.” Fraudulent practices like fake reviews are addressed: “A minority of authors have been known to use phony email addresses to pose as an outside expert and review their own manuscripts.” However, there is no mention of how transparency might improve the process of selecting content-familiar reviewers. Thus, Option A represents a reason not discussed in the passage.

The correct answer is B: leaves the reviewers unexposed to unwarranted and unjustified criticism or comments from others.

The passage outlines concerns that reviewers might become reluctant to review if their reports are publicized: “Referees may be less critical of manuscripts if their reports are published, especially if they are revealing their identities by signing them.” It also states that reviewers might take longer due to fear of scrutiny: “Some also hold concerns that open reviewing may deter referees from agreeing to judge manuscripts in the first place, or that they’ll take longer to do so out of fear of scrutiny.” However, nowhere does the passage mention protecting reviewers from unwarranted or unjustified criticism. Thus, Option B is the correct answer.

The correct answer is B: It is seen as an opportunity to expand their influence in the academic community.

The passage provides specific reasons why academics engage in peer review, such as staying updated in their field: “Some do it as a way to keep abreast with developments in their field.” It also mentions peer review as a duty to the discipline: “Some simply see it as a duty to the discipline.” Additionally, it highlights how researchers use platforms like Publons to publicize their reviews: “Some scientists have begun posting their reviews online, mainly to claim credit for their work.” However, the idea of peer review being an opportunity to expand influence in the academic community is not mentioned, making Option B the correct answer.

The correct answer is A: greater transparency across the peer review process in academic publishing.

The author supports increased transparency in peer review processes, emphasizing its benefits throughout the passage. For example, the passage states, “Sharing peer review data could help journals stamp out fraud, inefficiency, and systemic bias in academic publishing,” and “Openly publishing peer review data could perhaps also help journals address another problem in academic publishing: fraudulent peer reviews.” These lines highlight the potential of transparency to address significant issues. While the author acknowledges the importance of confidentiality in some cases, they argue for a paradigm shift: “The norm should shift from opacity in all cases to opacity only when necessary.” Therefore, Option A aligns best with the author’s overarching argument. Options B and D focus on narrower aspects like publicizing data or preserving anonymity, while Option C discusses a separate concern not directly related to transparency.

The correct placement for the sentence is 2.

The sentence, “Science has officially crowned us superior to our early-rising brethren,” fits best at position 2 because it directly follows the contrast between night owls and morning larks, as mentioned in the preceding sentences: “My fellow night owls, grab a strong cup of coffee and gather around: I have great news. For a long time, our kind has been unfairly maligned.” This placement emphasizes the shift from societal bias against night owls to scientific validation of their cognitive strengths.

Positions 1, 3, and 4 disrupt the logical progression of the argument, which builds toward presenting the scientific study later in the paragraph.

The correct placement for the sentence is 3.

The missing sentence discusses how hens continued producing eggs with calcium-based shells despite the apparent absence of calcium in their environment. This observation fits best after the mention that no mica was found in the birds’ gizzards, providing a transition to Kervran’s discovery of elemental transmutation. Placing the sentence at position 3 creates a logical flow, connecting the mystery of the hens’ calcium source to Kervran’s eventual findings.

Positions 1 and 2 focus on the hens’ behavior and observations without delving into the scientific mystery. Position 4 transitions to Kervran’s conclusion, making it too late for this sentence.

The correct answer is Option D. If white peppercorns were introduced to Europe, Europeans might question the myth that pepper trees are guarded by snakes and must be burned to harvest the spice. The myth explains the appearance of black pepper but not other varieties like white or pink peppercorns. This inconsistency would make them doubt the authenticity of the story.

The other options are unlikely because the introduction of white peppercorns would not significantly impact the price of spices (Option A), medieval maps were highly symbolic and would not suddenly become practical navigational aids (Option B).or their exotic perception (Option C), as these qualities were deeply entrenched in European culture. Similarly,

The correct answer is Option A. The passage discusses the role of spices in driving colonial expansion and European voyages but does not provide evidence that India was colonized specifically for its spices and gold. This conclusion cannot be reached directly from the passage.

The other options are supported by the text. The passage explicitly mentions that the spice trade motivated colonialism (Options B and C) and highlights how products like tobacco and sugar eventually surpassed spices in marketability (Option D).

The passage emphasizes that factors such as changing culinary practices (Option B), the development of refrigeration (Option C), and transformations in medical treatment (Option D) reduced the historical reliance on spices, thereby diminishing their appeal. However, an increase in the availability of spices (Option A) would logically make them more accessible and desirable rather than contributing to their decline. Since this option contradicts the premise of the question, no answer choice accurately fits the context provided in the passage.

If forced to choose, the most plausible interpretation is to treat Option A as a distractor that erroneously fits into the list, highlighting a flaw in the question design. Therefore, this flaw means that none of the options fully aligns with the correct logical framework.

The correct answer is Option A. The story about pepper trees being guarded by snakes was a myth intended to explain the difficulty and danger involved in harvesting pepper, which justified its high price and limited supply. From this, scarce in supply (Option B), people would logically infer that pepper is costly (Option C) and dangerous to harvest personally (Option D), However, they would be least likely to associate the myth with the spice's heat (Option A), as the story centers around serpents and burning trees rather than any characteristics of the pepper itself.

The correct answer is Option D because it encapsulates the main idea of the passage, which highlights how collaborations between physicists and scholars from other disciplines have led to significant scientific discoveries despite the challenges arising from differing research approaches and methodologies. The passage acknowledges that physicists and non-physicists face cultural and methodological clashes, such as differences in the treatment of data and discomfort with mathematical models. However, these collaborations still yield substantial benefits.

Option A overly narrows the scope by focusing on data sets and mathematical models, ignoring other aspects of the collaboration. Option B focuses on the desire for diversification in research but does not sufficiently address the challenges and outcomes of these interdisciplinary efforts. Option C inaccurately implies that physicists have completely resolved their methodological differences with other disciplines, which is not supported by the passage.

The correct answer is D: As part of conducting information warfare as per the DIME model, many governments routinely monitor telecom data and communications networks, and use cyber troops on social media to manipulate public opinion.

The passage explains that governments engage in information warfare using the DIME model, targeting data and communication networks while employing cyber troops to manipulate public opinion: “It’s common for telecom data and communications networks to be routinely monitored by governments.” The passage also highlights the rise of cyber troops, defined as “government or political party actors tasked with manipulating public opinion online.” Option D accurately captures these points.

Option A inaccurately implies that inflicting pain and confusion is the sole goal of cyber troops. Option B conflates military operations with information warfare, whereas the passage distinguishes these components within the DIME model. Option C narrowly focuses on cyber troops, ignoring the broader context of the DIME model.

The correct answer is B: Freedom and creativity are essential for comedy. Fear about offending people hinders originality.

The passage emphasizes that creativity thrives in an atmosphere of freedom. John Cleese states, “You can only create in an atmosphere of freedom, where you’re not checking everything you say critically before you move on.” He highlights how fear of offending others hampers comedians: “A lot of comedians now are sitting there and when they think of something, they say something like, ‘Can I get away with it?’” This fear stifles creativity, which Cleese calls “the death of creativity.” Option B captures these points accurately. Option C misinterprets Cleese’s remarks about creativity and critical thinking. Option D overgeneralizes by suggesting comedians are entirely prevented from saying what they want. Option Aimplies a lack of critical thinking, which the passage does not advocate.

The correct placement for the missing sentence is Option 3. The paragraph discusses globalization's first phase, emphasizing how Southeast Asian economies reoriented to meet Chinese consumer demands. The missing sentence, which states that Europeans did not invent globalization, fits after the discussion of technological closeness in the year 1000 and before the statement that Europeans augmented pre-existing trade networks post-1492. This placement highlights that globalization predates European colonial expansion and connects the historical context to the subsequent European involvement.

The correct odd sentence is 4, and the coherent sequence of the remaining sentences is 5132. Sentence 5 introduces the importance of innovation in reducing the negative impacts of intensive animal agriculture, setting the context for the discussion. Sentence 1 highlights the UK’s leadership in the development of cultivated meat, aligning with the innovation theme introduced in Sentence 5. Sentence 3 discusses the current regulatory processes for cultivated meat, while Sentence 2 emphasizes the need for government investment to realize its potential benefits. Together, these sentences form a coherent narrative about the development, regulation, and potential of cultivated meat.

Sentence 4, on the other hand, discusses the previous government's intent to fast-track approval for human consumption, which diverges from the main theme of innovation and current processes. It introduces a tangential historical aspect that disrupts the logical flow of the paragraph.

f(16000) = f(2⁸ × 5⁴)
It is given that f(p) = 1 for any prime number p.
F(p²) = f(p) f(p) + f(p) + f(p) = 1 + 1 + 1 = 3
f(p³) = f(p²) + f(p) + f(p²) + f(p) = 3 + 3 + 1 = 7
Similarly,
f(p⁴) = 7 + 7 + 1 = 15
f(p⁵) = 15 + 15 + 1 = 31f
(p⁶) = 31 + 31 + 1 = 63
f(p⁷) = 63 + 63 + 1 = 127
f(p⁸) = 127 + 127 + 1 = 255
Now,
f(16000) = f(2⁸ × 5⁴) = f(2⁸)f(5⁴) + f(2⁸) + f(5⁴)
f(2⁸ × 5⁴) = (255 × 15) + 255 + 15 = 4095
Hence, 4095 is the required answer.

The value of a will be maximum, when both b and c will be maximum which is equal to 10 but, in that case a² will be equal to 200 which is not possible for the integer value of a.
So, the greatest possible value a² = 196.
So, the greatest possible integer value of a = 14
Hence, 14 is the required answer.

Given,
4x² + 4y² – 4xy – 6y + 3 = 0
The above can be written as,
(2x – y)² + 3(y – 1)² = 0
Giving, y = 1 and x = ½
So, the value of (4x + 5y) = (4 × ½ + 5 × 1) = 7
Hence, 7 is the required answer.

Let’s take the radius of the original circles to be R and that of the circle in between the three circles to be r …

When we join the centers of the three circles, we will get an equilateral triangle of side length 2R.
The distance between the smallest circle’s center and the biggest circle’s centre = R + r
Now, in the right angle triangle,

Hence, option A is the required answer.