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UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - UPSC MCQ


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UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 1

What climate change will undeniably do is cause of amplify events that hasten the reduction of resources. Competition over these diminishing resources would ensue in the form of political or even violent conflict. Resource based conflicts have rarely been overt and are thus difficult to isolate. Instead they take on veneers that appear more politically palatable. Conflicts over resources like water are often cloaked in the guise of identity or ideology.
Q. What does the above passage imply?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 1

Option (c) is the only option supported by the passage. Rest all cannot be seen drom the passage. Further, this statement represents the key message of the passage. Hence, Option (c) is the correct answer.

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 2

The man who is perpetually hesitating which of the two things he will do first, will do neither. The man who resolves, but suffers his resolution to be changed by the first counter-suggestion of a friend—who fluctuates from opinion to opinion and veers from plan to plan-can never accomplish anything. He will at best be stationary and probably retrograde in all. It is only the man who first consults wisely, then resolves firmly and then executes his purpose with inflexible perseverance, undismayed by those petty difficulties which daunt a weaker spirit—that can advance to eminence in any line. 
Q. The keynote that seems to be emerging from the passage is that

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 2

Again summing-up the passage – we should take wise consul, then take a resolution and stand our ground. If we keep vacillating we will never reach anywhere.

Now let us evaluate the options:

(a) we should first consult wisely and then resolve firmly…YES, it is a contender for answer choice but let us go on with other options first.

(b) we should reject suggestions of friends and remain unchanged….The passage is about our ability to stay focused and not about rejecting the suggestions of friends. In fact rejecting a suggestion just for the sake of it might be counter-productive as it may be a wise suggestion.

(c) we should always remain broad-minded……………It is not really clear what the option means by being ‘broad-minded’ so this option can be avoided at this stage.

(d) we should be resolute and achievement-oriented…..YES, this is another contender for the answer choice and but compared with option (a), we see that what option (a) says is stated very clearly in the passage and thus it should be preferred over option (d).

Hence option (a) should be marked as answer choice as the most appropriate among the options given.

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UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 3

During the summer in the Arctic Ocean, sea ice has been melting earlier and faster, and the winter freeze has been coming later. In the last three decades, the extent of summer ice has declined by about 30 per cent. The lengthening period of summer melt threatens to undermine the whole Arctic food web, atop which stand polar bears.
Q. Which among the following is the most crucial message conveyed by the above passage?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 3

Option (a), (c) and (b) cannot be deduced from the passage.
Option (d) can be inferred from the passage and comes out as the most crucial message conveyed by the passage.
Hence, Option (d) is the correct answer

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 4

Why do people prefer open defecation and not want toilets or, if they have them, only use them sometimes? Recent research has shown two critical elements: ideas of purity and pollution, and not wanting pits or septic tanks to fill because they have to be emptied. These are the issues that nobody wants to talk about, but if we want to eradicate the practice of open defection, they have to be confronted and dealt properly.
Q. Which among the following is the most crucial message conveyed by the above passage?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 4

The passage talks about confronting and dealing with the ideas of purity and pollution. In this context, the most crucial message conveyed by the passage is option (b), “People have to perceive toilet use and pit-emptying as clean and not polluting.”

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 5

In the last two decades, the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) has increased 50 percent, whereas inclusive wealth has increased by a mere 6 percent. In recent decades, GDP-driven economic performance, has only harmed inclusive wealth like human capital; and natural capital like forests, land and water. While the world’s human capital which stands at 57 percent of total inclusive wealth grew by only 8 percent, the natural which is 23 percent of total inclusive wealth declined by 30 per cent worldwide in the last two decades. 
Q. Which of the following is the most crucial inference from the above passage?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 5

Option (c) does not resonate with the passage and hence incorrect.
Options (a) and (d) are only partially correct as they talk about either natural or human capital.
The best choice and the most crucial inference seems to be option (b)

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 6

By 2020, when the global economy is expected to run short of 56 million young people, India, with its youth surplus of 47 million, could fill the gap. It is in this context that labour reforms are often cited as the way to unlock double-digit growth in India. In 2014, India’s labour force was estimated to be about 40 per cent of the population, but 93 per cent of this force was in unorganized sector. Over the last decade, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of employment has slowed to 0.5 per cent, with about 14 million jobs created during last year when the labour force increased by about 15 million. 
Q. Which of the following is the most rational inference from the above passage?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 6

Option (d) can be ruled out for being too specific where the passage is silent.
Options (a) and (c) cannot be inferred directly from the passage.
Option (b) is supported by the passage overall, especially line 2 of the passage.
Hence, Option (b) is the correct answer

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 7

The very first lesson that should be taught to us when are old enough to understand it, is that complete freedom from the obligation to work is unnatural, and ought to be illegal, as we can escape our share of the burden of work only by throwing it on someone else’s shoulders. Nature ordains that the human race shall perish of famine if it stops working. We cannot escape from this tyranny. The question we have to settle is how much leisure we can afford to allow ourselves.
Q. The main idea of the passage is that:

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 7

Main idea of a passage is the brief, but all-encompassing summary. It covers everything the paragraph talks about, but nothing in particular.
The passage explains that though we desire leisure, working is essential and ends by prodding extent of amount of leisure time.
Hence, the main idea here is “there should be a balance between work and leisure”.
Option (b) is the correct answer

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 8

There is no harm in cultivating habits so long as they are not injurious. Indeed, most of us are little more than bundle of habits. Take away our habits and the residuum would hardly be worth bothering about. We could not get on without them. They simplify the mechanism of life. They enable us to do a multitude of things automatically, which, if we had to give fresh and original thought to them each time, would make existence an impossible confusion. 
Q. The author suggests that habits:

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 8

As per the passage, habits make it easier for us to live, as seen clearly in the last line “…make it easier for us to live.”
Hence option (c) is correct

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 9

No supporters of 'party X', who knew Z and supported his campaign strategy, agreed for the alliance with 'party Y’; but some of them had friends in 'party Y'.

With reference to the above information, which one among the following statements must be true?

From the data given, we know
1. some supporters of party X -> knew Z -> none agreed for alliance with party Y
2. some supporters of party X -> knew Z -> some had friends in party Y

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 9

Option (a) is incorrect because we are not given information about opinion of supporters of party Y
Similarly, given data does not support option (c) or (d)
From 2, we can say that “There is at least one supporter of `party Y' who knew some supporters of 'party X' as a friend”. Hence option (b) is correct

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 10

No supporters of 'party X', who knew Z and supported his campaign strategy, agreed for the alliance with 'party Y’; but some of them had friends in 'party Y'.

With reference to the above information, which one among the following statements
1. Some supporters of 'party X' knew Z
2. Some supporters of 'party X', who opposed Z's campaign strategy, knew Z.
3. No supporters of 'party X' supported Z's campaign strategy.
Which of the statements given above, is/are not correct?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 10

Statement 1 is correct as per 1 and 2 both
Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect as using the data they cannot be concluded satisfactorily.
Hence option (b) is correct

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 11

If second and fourth Saturdays and ,all the Sundays are taken as only holidays for an office, what would be the minimum number of possible working days of any month of any year?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 11

To minimize the number of working days let us consider February month of a non-leap year, i.e. a month of 28 days. 

In it all the Sundays, i.e. 1, 8, 15 and 22 will be holidays. Also, 2nd and 4th Saturdays, i.e. 14 and 28 will be holidays too.
Hence, minimum possible working days of any month of any year = 28 – 6 = 22 days

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 12

If there is a policy that 1/3 rd of population of a community has migrated every year from one place, to some other place, what is the leftover population of that community after the sixth year, if there is no further growth in the population during this period?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 12

One third of the population migrates every year. If initially the population was x, after the first year it will be x – x/3 = x (1 – 1/3) = 2x/3
After second year, population = (2x/3) × (1 – 1/3) = (2/3)2 x
Similarly, after sixth year, population = (2/3)6 x = (64/729) x, i.e. 64/729th part of the original population. 

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 13

Four tests—Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology are to be conducted on four consecutive days, not necessarily in the same order. The Physics test is held before the test which is conducted after Biology. Chemistry is conducted exactly after two tests are held. Which is the last test held?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 13

Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology tests have to be held on four consecutive days. Chemistry is conducted exactly after two tests are held, i.e. it is the 3rd test to be held. 

Now, Physics test is held before test which is conducted after Biology, i.e. neither Physics nor Biology is the last test. Hence, Mathematics must be the test which is held last. 

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 14

The sum of income of A and B is more than that of C and D taken together. The sum of income of A and C is the same as that of B and D taken together. Moreover, A earns half as much as the sum of the income of B and D. Whose income is the highest?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 14

As per the question, A + B > C + D  ……………..(i)
A + C = B + D  …………………(ii)
A = (B + D)/2
Or B + D = 2A  …………………….(iii)
Putting value of (B + D) in (ii), we get:
A + C = 2A
Or A = C
Using (i), we get: A + B > C + D 
or B > D
As per equation (iii), A (or C) is the mean of the values of B and D. Hence, its value must fall between B and D.
Hence, B > A = C > D. So, B’s income is the highest. 

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 15

Consider the following
Statement:
Good voice is a natural gift but one has to keep practicing to improve and well in the field of music.
Conclusions:
1. Natural gifts need nurturing and care.
2. Even though one’s voice is not good, one can keep practicing.
Which one of the following is correct, in respect of the above statement and conclusions?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 15

The charateristic of good voice may not be applicable to all natural gifts. Hence, statement 1 cannot be concluded.
Statement 2 can also not be concluded as passage does not comment on cases where voice is not good.
Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 16

There are three pillars X, Y and Z of different heights. Three spiders A, B and C start to climb on these pillars simultaneously. In one chance, A climbs on X by6 cm but slips down 1 cm. B climbs on Y by7 cm but slips down3 cm. C climbs on Z by6.5 cm but slips down2 cm. If each of them requires40 chances to reach the top of the pillars, what is the height of the shortest pillar?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 16

Pillar X: In one chance, A climbs on X by 6 cm but slips down 1 cm.
Hence, in one chance A climbs 6 – 1 = 5 cm. Height attained after 39 chances = 39 × 5 = 195 cm
Thereafter in the 40th and last chance it will climb 6 cm to reach the top. So, height of pillar X = 195 + 6 = 201 cm
Pillar Y: In one chance, B climbs on Y by 7 cm but slips down 3 cm. Hence, in one chance B climbs 7 – 3 = 4 cm.
Height attained after 39 chances = 39 × 4 = 156 cm
Thereafter in the 40th and last chance it will climb 7 cm to reach the top. So, height of pillar Y = 156 + 7 = 163 cm
Pillar Z: In one chance, C climbs on Z by 6.5 cm but slips down 2 cm.
Hence, in one chance C climbs 6.5 – 2 = 4.5 cm.
Height attained after 39 chances = 39 × 4.5 = 175.5 cm
Thereafter in the 40th and last chance it will climb 6.5 cm to reach the top. So, height of pillar Z = 175.5 + 6.5 = 182 cm
So, height of the shortest pillar (i.e. pillar Y) = 163 cm

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 17

“Rights are certain advantageous conditions of social well being indispensable to the true development of the citizen.” In the light of this statement, which one of the following is the correct understanding of rights?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 17

The statement links the social well being with individual development. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 18

15 students failed in a class of 52. After removing the names of failed students, a merit order list has been prepared in which the position of Ramesh is 22nd from the top. What is his position from the bottom?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 18

15 students failed in a class of 52. Hence, number of students that passed = 52 – 15 = 37
In the list of passed students, position of Ramesh is 22nd from the top.
So, his position from the bottom = (37 + 1) – 22 = 38 – 22 = 16th

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 19

Consider the following.
A+ B means A is the son of B.
A – B means A is the wife of B.
What does the expression P + R – Q mean? 

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 19

A + B means A is the son of B; A - B means A is the wife of B
So, P + R – Q may be depicted as:

It’s clear that Q is the father of P.

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 20

Gopal bought a cell phone and sold it to Ram at 10% profit. Then Ram wanted to sell it back to Gopal at 10% loss. What will be Gopal’s position if he agreed?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 20

Let cost price for Gopal = Rs. 100
He sold it to Ram at 10% profit. So, his selling price = 100 + 10% of 100 = 100 + 10 = Rs. 110 Now, if Ram resales it to Gopal at 10% loss, his selling price = 110 – 10% of 110 = 110 – 11 = Rs. 99
As far as Gopal is concerned, in this second transaction, by buying a Rs. 100 pen at Rs 99, he registers a gain of 1%.

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 21

We have hard work ahead. There is no resting for any of us till we redeem our pledge in full, till we make all the people of India what destiny intends them to be. We are citizens of a great country, on the verge of bold advance, and we have to live up to that high standard. All of us, to whatever religion we may belong, are equally the children of India with, equal rights, privileges and obligations. We cannot encourage communalism or narrow-mindedness, for no nation can be great whose people are narrow in thought or action.
Q. The challenge the author of the above passage throws to the public is to achieve

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 21

In first glance, the passage seems to be some kind of exhortation by the author to work for the achievement of the high ideals. Now let us evaluate the options:

(a) a high standard of living, progress and privileges….The tone and tenor of the exhortation suggests that is not about standard of living but is about greater things…OUT

(b) equal privileges, fulfilment of destiny and political tolerance…..privilege and political tolerance is not what the challenge is about. The author does use the word destiny but the usage appears to be more figurative in the sense that people should achieve what they are capable of….OUT

(c) spirit of adventure and economic parity….spirit of adventure? The passage does not exhort people to become adventurous…OUT

(d) hard work, brotherhood and national unity….This gels most with the tone of the passage…ANSWER

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 22

“The individual, according to Rousseau, puts his person and all his power in common under the supreme direction of the General Will and in our corporate capacity we receive each member as an indivisible part of the whole.”
Q. In the light of the above passage, the nature of General Will is best described as

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 22

In common parlance, the passage means, individuals are part of a whole which is guided by the ‘General Will’ or, in more general terms, by the collective good that overrides the individual good. 
Hence, the answer option is option (c).
 

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 23

In a democratic State, where a high degree of Political maturity of the people obtains, the conflict between the will of the sovereign law-making body and the organized will of the people seldom occurs. 
Q. What does the above passage imply?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 23

A tangential look at the option leads to the consternation about what is the relevance of words like ‘force’ and ‘sovereignty’ which find no mention at all in the passage. But if we read the passage again and try to connect it with the options, we realize that the passage is really about the fact that conflict seldom occurs in mature democracy and the use of ‘force’ is minimal and yet again the force is not obliterated completely. Now under the aegis of our such mature understanding of the passage let us evaluate the options:

(a) In a democracy, force is the main phenomenon in the actual exercise of sovereignty…force as main phenomenon?…OUT

(b) In a mature democracy, force to a great extent is the main phenomenon in the actual exercise of sovereignty…force to great extent?….OUT

(c) In a mature democracy, use of force is irrelevant in the actual exercise of sovereignty…force is irrelevant?..OUT

(d) In a mature democracy, force is narrowed down to a marginal phenomenon in the actual exercise of sovereignty…force is there but is minimal…ANSWER

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 24

A successful democracy depends upon widespread interest and participation in politics, in which voting is an essential part. To deliberately refrain from taking such an interest, and from voting, is a kind of implied anarchy, it is to refuse one’s political responsibility while enjoying the benefits of a free political society. 
Q. This passage relates to:

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 24

The passage is in the form of a commentary on the people who take democracy for granted and shy away from their responsibility and duty to vote to ensure a healthy vibrant democracy. Here there is no need to evaluate each option separately and the answer is clearly option (a).

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 25

In a free country, the man who reaches the position of leader is usually one of outstanding, character and ability. Moreover, it is usually possible to foresee that he will reach such a position, since early in life one can see his qualities of character. But this is not always true in the case of a dictator; often he reaches his position of power through chance, very often through the unhappy state of his country. 
Q. The passage seems to suggest that:

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 25

Options (a), (b) and (c) cannot be deduced from the passage. Moreover, the defintive words like “only” , “must” etc. force a rethink over these options.
According to the passage, only option (d) seems correct, also seen from the lines “…very often through the unhappy state of his country”.

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 26

The greatest blessing that technological progress has in store for mankind is not, of course, an accumulation of material possessions. The amount of these that can be effectively enjoyed by one individual in one lifetime is not great. But there is not the same narrow limit to the possibilities of the enjoyment of leisure. The gift of leisure may be abused by people who have had no experience of making use of it. Yet the creative use of leisure by a minority in societies has been the mainspring of all human progress beyond the primitive level.
With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. People always see the leisure time as a gift and use it for acquiring more material possessions.
2. Use of leisure by some people to produce new and original things has been the chief source of human progress.
Q. Which of these assumptions is/are valid?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 26

Statement 1 is contradictory to the passage as seen from the last two lines of the passage Statement 2 is a valid assumption as seen from the passage, especilly the last line.
Hence, the correct answer is option (b)

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 27

There is more than a modicum of truth in the assertion that “a working knowledge of ancient history is necessary to the intelligent interpretation of current events”. But the sage who uttered these words of wisdom might well have added something on the benefits of studying particularly the famous battles of history for the lessons they contain for those of us who lead or aspire to leadership. Such a study will reveal certain qualities and attributes which enabled the winners to win—and certain deficiencies which caused the losers to lose and the student will see that the same pattern recurs consistently, again and again, throughout the centuries.
With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made.
1. A study of the famous battles in history would help us understand the modern warfare.
2. Studying the history is essential fin anyone who aspires to be a leader. 
Q. Which of these assumptions is/are valid?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 27

Here we are evaluating the validity of the assumptions made. Now, see that eventually assumptions may or may not come out to be true but we need to only check whether we can make these assumptions from the passage or not without bothering about their eventual outcome. For example, if we consider the second assumption, we cannot discard it by countering it by claiming that it is not true that every leader must study history but we can certainly say from the passage that for an aspiring leader a study of history is essential! Did that make sense? I hope it did.

As for the first assumption, the passage does not make out a case suggesting that studying past battle shall help us understand modern warfare.

Hence answer is

(b) 2 only

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 28

Suppose the average weight of 9 persons is 50 kg. The average weight of the first5 persons is 45 kg, whereas the average weight of the last 5 persons is 55 kg. Then the weight of the5th person will be

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 28

The average weight of 9 persons is 50 kg. So, total weight of all the persons = 50 × 9 = 450 kg
The average weight of the first 5 persons is 45 kg. So, their total weight = 45 × 5 = 225 kg
The average weight of the last 5 persons is 55 kg. So, their total weight = 55 × 5 = 275 kg
The fifth person has been included in both the last cases. Hence, the weight of the fifth person = (275 + 225) – 450 = 50 kg

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 29

In a group of six women, there are four tennis players, four postgraduates in Sociology, one postgraduate in Commerce and three bank employees. Vimala and Kamla are the bank employees while Amala and Komala are unemployed. Komala and Nirmala are among the tennis players. Amala, Kamla, Komala and Nirmala are postgraduates in Sociology of whom two are bank employees. If Shyamala is a postgraduate in Commerce, who among the following is both a tennis player and a bank employee?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 29

Let’s list down the information given in the question in tabular format.

Now, there were 4 post graduates in sociology and one in commerce. All have been accounted for. Hence, Vimla is not a post graduate either in sociology or commerce. Among Kamla, Amala, Komala and Nirmala there are 2 bank employees. We already know that Kamla is a bank employee and Amala and Komala are not. Hence, Nirmala must be a bank employee too. Hence, all the three bank employees are accounted for too.
However, there are still two tennis players unaccounted for. The updated information can again be shown in the form of a table:

Nirmala is both a tennis player and a bank employee. 

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 30

P = (40% of A) + (65% of B) and Q = (50% of A) + (50% of B), where A is greater than B. In this context, which of the following statements is correct? 

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2017: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 30

According to the question, P = (40% of A) + (65% of B) and
Q = (50% of A) + (50% of B), where A > B Now, P – Q = (40% of A) + (65% of B) - (50% of A) - (50% of B) = (15% of B) - (10% of A)
We know that A > B, but not by how much. Hence, all three cases are possible, as illustrated below:
1. If B = 100 and A = 110, then P – Q = (15% of B) - (10% of A) = 15 – 11 = 4. So, P > Q
2. If B = 100 and A = 150, then P – Q = (15% of B) - (10% of A) = 15 – 15 = 0. So, P = Q
3. If B = 100 and A = 200, then P – Q = (15% of B) - (10% of A) = 15 – 20 = -5. So, P < Q
Hence, nothing can be said about the relation between P and Q. 

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