CAT Past Year Question Paper Solution - 1990 | Additional Study Material for CAT PDF Download

 Page 1


Page 1 CAT 1990 Actual Paper

	






1 d 21 c 41 c 61 a 81 d 101 d 121 a 141 c 161 c 
2 c 22 c 42 c 62 b 82 c 102 d 122 a 142 c 162 c 
3 c 23 c 43 d 63 c 83 b 103 c 123 a 143 d 163 c 
4 b 24 b 44 a 64 c 84 a 104 b 124 d 144 c 164 c 
5 b 25 c 45 b 65 a 85 d 105 b 125 d 145 b 165 c 
6 b 26 b 46 c 66 a 86 d 106 b 126 c 146 d 166 a 
7 b 27 c 47 d 67 b 87 a 107 b 127 c 147 d 167 c 
8 a 28 b 48 c 68 b 88 c 108 a 128 b 148 c 168 a 
9 d 29 d 49 d 69 a 89 d 109 a 129 c 149 c 169 b 
10 a 30 a 50 b 70 b 90 a 110 b 130 c 150 c 170 c 
11 b 31 a 51 b 71 a 91 a 111 c 131 d 151 c 171 b 
12 d 32 d 52 c 72 a 92 a 112 b 132 b 152 d 172 c 
13 b 33 a 53 c 73 c 93 b 113 b 133 d 153 b 173 a 
14 a 34 d 54 c 74 b 94 c 114 b 134 d 154 d 174 c 
15 a 35 c 55 d 75 c 95 b 115 b 135 c 155 d    
16 b 36 d 56 d 76 c 96 d 116 a 136 d 156 a     
17 a 37 d 57 d 77 b 97 c 117 c 137 d 157 b     
18 a 38 b 58 b 78 a 98 d 118 b 138 b 158 b     
19 b 39 b 59 a 79 b 99 c 119 d 139 b 159 c     
20 c 40 d 60 d 80 a 100 d 120 b 140 b 160 d     
 
Page 2


Page 1 CAT 1990 Actual Paper

	






1 d 21 c 41 c 61 a 81 d 101 d 121 a 141 c 161 c 
2 c 22 c 42 c 62 b 82 c 102 d 122 a 142 c 162 c 
3 c 23 c 43 d 63 c 83 b 103 c 123 a 143 d 163 c 
4 b 24 b 44 a 64 c 84 a 104 b 124 d 144 c 164 c 
5 b 25 c 45 b 65 a 85 d 105 b 125 d 145 b 165 c 
6 b 26 b 46 c 66 a 86 d 106 b 126 c 146 d 166 a 
7 b 27 c 47 d 67 b 87 a 107 b 127 c 147 d 167 c 
8 a 28 b 48 c 68 b 88 c 108 a 128 b 148 c 168 a 
9 d 29 d 49 d 69 a 89 d 109 a 129 c 149 c 169 b 
10 a 30 a 50 b 70 b 90 a 110 b 130 c 150 c 170 c 
11 b 31 a 51 b 71 a 91 a 111 c 131 d 151 c 171 b 
12 d 32 d 52 c 72 a 92 a 112 b 132 b 152 d 172 c 
13 b 33 a 53 c 73 c 93 b 113 b 133 d 153 b 173 a 
14 a 34 d 54 c 74 b 94 c 114 b 134 d 154 d 174 c 
15 a 35 c 55 d 75 c 95 b 115 b 135 c 155 d    
16 b 36 d 56 d 76 c 96 d 116 a 136 d 156 a     
17 a 37 d 57 d 77 b 97 c 117 c 137 d 157 b     
18 a 38 b 58 b 78 a 98 d 118 b 138 b 158 b     
19 b 39 b 59 a 79 b 99 c 119 d 139 b 159 c     
20 c 40 d 60 d 80 a 100 d 120 b 140 b 160 d     
 
Page 2
CAT 1990 Actual Paper
1. d The first blank should have a plural. Hence either b or
d is the right choice. And genes are hereditary particles,
making d. the right option.
2. c ‘Backed up’ a claim is the correct idiomatic usage.
3. c Only ‘ventured’ fits in the first blank properly.
4. b A scarcity of goods is usually accompanied by or
causes a rise in prices. So (d) does not follow logically.
(glut means an excessive supply of something)
Destitution (poverty) cannot be applied to inanimate
objects. So (c) is also eliminated. Accompaniment
means something incidental or added for ornament,
symmetry, etc. This does not fit the context of the
sentence. So (a) is also eliminated. Concomitant as a
noun is used to mean “a phenomenon that naturally
accompanies or follows something.” This makes (b)
the correct option.
5. b The correct usage is - disturbances ‘blow over’ (which
means to fade away without serious consequences).
6. b Misalliance refers to an alliance between people not
normally looked upon as suitable for each other.
7. b ‘Reflexes’ implies a movement made in response to
something.
8. a The art and science of good eating and drinking is
called gastronomy.
9. d ‘Horror’ as a noun can mean an enjoyable feeling of
fear from listening to a story or from watching a movie,
and is thus different from ‘terror’, which cannot be
enjoyable.
10. a ‘Phalanx’ means a number of people standing close
together for a specific purpose.
11. b “Enhanced’ means to increase or improve the quality
or value of something. The correct usage here would
be ‘increased’. The contracted form ‘its’ and not ‘it’s’
shows the possessive form of the pronoun.
12. d The sentence is divided into three different clauses
hence each should be separated by a semicolon.
13. b We need to use ‘who’ for the subject Mr. Som. Choice
d. is not correct due to the wrong placement of the
comma after ‘who’.
14. a The plural pronoun ‘those’ should take a plural verb
‘believe’.
15. a ‘Its’ and not ‘it’s’ is the correct contracted possessive
form for ‘it’.’It’s’ means ‘it is’.
16. b The nouns or pronouns used  after a preposition are
treated as an object so they are not subjects. So the
verb is going to agree with the noun or pronoun used
before the preposition. The subject is “state” which is
singular in number, so the verb must be “was”.
17. a If we use ‘one’ as our subject all following pronouns
must be according to ‘one’ i.e One (Subjective); One
(Objective); One’s (Possessive); Oneself (Emphatic
or Reflexive) etc.
18. a We are talking about each individual student among a
group of students, so the verb should be singular.
19. b None can be used as a singular or a plural number
pronoun. In this sentence it is used to represent ‘no
one’ so requires a singular number verb. Therefore,
the right answer is (b).
20. c Because we are talking about a particular king we
should use ‘the king’. Moreover the verb should be
consistent with the noun after ‘nor’. The noun is a
plural one hence should take a plural verb desire.
21. c Here “marginal performance” has to be emphasized.
The sentence in option (c) does that most convincingly.
In option (b), using “of” after the possessive makes
the sentence awkward. Option (a) and (d) talk about
the marginal nature of performance as additional
information rather than foregrounding it.
22. c The constructions in (a) and (d) are wordy and
awkward. The use of the concessive clause in (c)
(Although we know that some things are dear) clearly
communicates why we can still enjoy festivals.
23. c Choice (c) uses the simplest and most concise words.
‘Conceptual grasp’ is incomplete and needs to be
followed by a preposition and an object.
24. b Choice (b) uses the appropriate degree of politeness.
Choice (d) is wrong as it does not tell how much milk
powder is required. Others are overtly polite.
25. c ‘Whenever’ implies at any time, hence (c) is a better
choice than (d). Other choices are unnecessarily
wordy.
26. b ‘Unexpected’ and ‘unanticipated’ are synonyms, so
using both in a sentence is redundant. Moreover
‘consequence’ is a better word to suggest the result
of something on something else.
27. c The appropriate idiomatic use is ‘definition should agree
with’.
28. b “Much obliged’ serves the same purpose as ‘very much
obliged’ and is thus preferable.
Page 3


Page 1 CAT 1990 Actual Paper

	






1 d 21 c 41 c 61 a 81 d 101 d 121 a 141 c 161 c 
2 c 22 c 42 c 62 b 82 c 102 d 122 a 142 c 162 c 
3 c 23 c 43 d 63 c 83 b 103 c 123 a 143 d 163 c 
4 b 24 b 44 a 64 c 84 a 104 b 124 d 144 c 164 c 
5 b 25 c 45 b 65 a 85 d 105 b 125 d 145 b 165 c 
6 b 26 b 46 c 66 a 86 d 106 b 126 c 146 d 166 a 
7 b 27 c 47 d 67 b 87 a 107 b 127 c 147 d 167 c 
8 a 28 b 48 c 68 b 88 c 108 a 128 b 148 c 168 a 
9 d 29 d 49 d 69 a 89 d 109 a 129 c 149 c 169 b 
10 a 30 a 50 b 70 b 90 a 110 b 130 c 150 c 170 c 
11 b 31 a 51 b 71 a 91 a 111 c 131 d 151 c 171 b 
12 d 32 d 52 c 72 a 92 a 112 b 132 b 152 d 172 c 
13 b 33 a 53 c 73 c 93 b 113 b 133 d 153 b 173 a 
14 a 34 d 54 c 74 b 94 c 114 b 134 d 154 d 174 c 
15 a 35 c 55 d 75 c 95 b 115 b 135 c 155 d    
16 b 36 d 56 d 76 c 96 d 116 a 136 d 156 a     
17 a 37 d 57 d 77 b 97 c 117 c 137 d 157 b     
18 a 38 b 58 b 78 a 98 d 118 b 138 b 158 b     
19 b 39 b 59 a 79 b 99 c 119 d 139 b 159 c     
20 c 40 d 60 d 80 a 100 d 120 b 140 b 160 d     
 
Page 2
CAT 1990 Actual Paper
1. d The first blank should have a plural. Hence either b or
d is the right choice. And genes are hereditary particles,
making d. the right option.
2. c ‘Backed up’ a claim is the correct idiomatic usage.
3. c Only ‘ventured’ fits in the first blank properly.
4. b A scarcity of goods is usually accompanied by or
causes a rise in prices. So (d) does not follow logically.
(glut means an excessive supply of something)
Destitution (poverty) cannot be applied to inanimate
objects. So (c) is also eliminated. Accompaniment
means something incidental or added for ornament,
symmetry, etc. This does not fit the context of the
sentence. So (a) is also eliminated. Concomitant as a
noun is used to mean “a phenomenon that naturally
accompanies or follows something.” This makes (b)
the correct option.
5. b The correct usage is - disturbances ‘blow over’ (which
means to fade away without serious consequences).
6. b Misalliance refers to an alliance between people not
normally looked upon as suitable for each other.
7. b ‘Reflexes’ implies a movement made in response to
something.
8. a The art and science of good eating and drinking is
called gastronomy.
9. d ‘Horror’ as a noun can mean an enjoyable feeling of
fear from listening to a story or from watching a movie,
and is thus different from ‘terror’, which cannot be
enjoyable.
10. a ‘Phalanx’ means a number of people standing close
together for a specific purpose.
11. b “Enhanced’ means to increase or improve the quality
or value of something. The correct usage here would
be ‘increased’. The contracted form ‘its’ and not ‘it’s’
shows the possessive form of the pronoun.
12. d The sentence is divided into three different clauses
hence each should be separated by a semicolon.
13. b We need to use ‘who’ for the subject Mr. Som. Choice
d. is not correct due to the wrong placement of the
comma after ‘who’.
14. a The plural pronoun ‘those’ should take a plural verb
‘believe’.
15. a ‘Its’ and not ‘it’s’ is the correct contracted possessive
form for ‘it’.’It’s’ means ‘it is’.
16. b The nouns or pronouns used  after a preposition are
treated as an object so they are not subjects. So the
verb is going to agree with the noun or pronoun used
before the preposition. The subject is “state” which is
singular in number, so the verb must be “was”.
17. a If we use ‘one’ as our subject all following pronouns
must be according to ‘one’ i.e One (Subjective); One
(Objective); One’s (Possessive); Oneself (Emphatic
or Reflexive) etc.
18. a We are talking about each individual student among a
group of students, so the verb should be singular.
19. b None can be used as a singular or a plural number
pronoun. In this sentence it is used to represent ‘no
one’ so requires a singular number verb. Therefore,
the right answer is (b).
20. c Because we are talking about a particular king we
should use ‘the king’. Moreover the verb should be
consistent with the noun after ‘nor’. The noun is a
plural one hence should take a plural verb desire.
21. c Here “marginal performance” has to be emphasized.
The sentence in option (c) does that most convincingly.
In option (b), using “of” after the possessive makes
the sentence awkward. Option (a) and (d) talk about
the marginal nature of performance as additional
information rather than foregrounding it.
22. c The constructions in (a) and (d) are wordy and
awkward. The use of the concessive clause in (c)
(Although we know that some things are dear) clearly
communicates why we can still enjoy festivals.
23. c Choice (c) uses the simplest and most concise words.
‘Conceptual grasp’ is incomplete and needs to be
followed by a preposition and an object.
24. b Choice (b) uses the appropriate degree of politeness.
Choice (d) is wrong as it does not tell how much milk
powder is required. Others are overtly polite.
25. c ‘Whenever’ implies at any time, hence (c) is a better
choice than (d). Other choices are unnecessarily
wordy.
26. b ‘Unexpected’ and ‘unanticipated’ are synonyms, so
using both in a sentence is redundant. Moreover
‘consequence’ is a better word to suggest the result
of something on something else.
27. c The appropriate idiomatic use is ‘definition should agree
with’.
28. b “Much obliged’ serves the same purpose as ‘very much
obliged’ and is thus preferable.
Page 3 CAT 1990 Actual Paper
29. d The sentence in (a) features a comma splice error. A
comma has been used to connect two independent
clauses. (b) and (c) feature awkward sentence
constructions. In sentence (d) the simple present tense
is used to talk about a future event/ schedule.
30. a “Looking back’ is the correct idiomatic usage. It means
“remembering” or “reflecting” something.
31. a Just as a road is a medium for a car, a cable is a
medium for electricity.
32. d Both the pairs are synonyms with two nouns.
33. a A fleet is a part of navy, just as a chapter is a part of
a book. Moreover, both a fleet and a chapter are
complete entities in themselves unlike a drop, a letter
or a chair.
34. d Many feathers together make a wing and many bricks
together make a wall.
35. c Just as sugar goes into tea, a button goes into the
buttonhole.
36. d Just as one pays rent when one takes something on a
lease, one pays interest on borrowing something, pays
salary on employing someone and pays a price to buy
something. But one does not pay tax on governing
someone.
37. d In all other pairs the first word is used to measure the
second.
38. b Just as a progressive person leads to progress, the
second word of the pair in all other choices except b.
leads to the first word of the pair. A sympathizer ‘gives’,
and not ‘leads to’ sympathy.
39. b All others pairs have words that are opposites of
each other. “Amoral” means not caring about right or
wrong; neither moral nor immoral.
40. d In all other pairs, the first word holds the second
together. For example clips hold papers together and
a ribbon holds hair together. But vegetables are put
inside a bag.
41. c
Close 
Friends
Disapprove
Aardvarks
42. c
Happy
Good end
Young
43. d
Merit
Learned Candid
44. a
Air
Plants
Roses
45. b
Scientific 
genius
Men
Artistic
Ability
46. c
Lungs
Whales
Fish
47. d Mammals
Aquatic Whales
Page 4


Page 1 CAT 1990 Actual Paper

	






1 d 21 c 41 c 61 a 81 d 101 d 121 a 141 c 161 c 
2 c 22 c 42 c 62 b 82 c 102 d 122 a 142 c 162 c 
3 c 23 c 43 d 63 c 83 b 103 c 123 a 143 d 163 c 
4 b 24 b 44 a 64 c 84 a 104 b 124 d 144 c 164 c 
5 b 25 c 45 b 65 a 85 d 105 b 125 d 145 b 165 c 
6 b 26 b 46 c 66 a 86 d 106 b 126 c 146 d 166 a 
7 b 27 c 47 d 67 b 87 a 107 b 127 c 147 d 167 c 
8 a 28 b 48 c 68 b 88 c 108 a 128 b 148 c 168 a 
9 d 29 d 49 d 69 a 89 d 109 a 129 c 149 c 169 b 
10 a 30 a 50 b 70 b 90 a 110 b 130 c 150 c 170 c 
11 b 31 a 51 b 71 a 91 a 111 c 131 d 151 c 171 b 
12 d 32 d 52 c 72 a 92 a 112 b 132 b 152 d 172 c 
13 b 33 a 53 c 73 c 93 b 113 b 133 d 153 b 173 a 
14 a 34 d 54 c 74 b 94 c 114 b 134 d 154 d 174 c 
15 a 35 c 55 d 75 c 95 b 115 b 135 c 155 d    
16 b 36 d 56 d 76 c 96 d 116 a 136 d 156 a     
17 a 37 d 57 d 77 b 97 c 117 c 137 d 157 b     
18 a 38 b 58 b 78 a 98 d 118 b 138 b 158 b     
19 b 39 b 59 a 79 b 99 c 119 d 139 b 159 c     
20 c 40 d 60 d 80 a 100 d 120 b 140 b 160 d     
 
Page 2
CAT 1990 Actual Paper
1. d The first blank should have a plural. Hence either b or
d is the right choice. And genes are hereditary particles,
making d. the right option.
2. c ‘Backed up’ a claim is the correct idiomatic usage.
3. c Only ‘ventured’ fits in the first blank properly.
4. b A scarcity of goods is usually accompanied by or
causes a rise in prices. So (d) does not follow logically.
(glut means an excessive supply of something)
Destitution (poverty) cannot be applied to inanimate
objects. So (c) is also eliminated. Accompaniment
means something incidental or added for ornament,
symmetry, etc. This does not fit the context of the
sentence. So (a) is also eliminated. Concomitant as a
noun is used to mean “a phenomenon that naturally
accompanies or follows something.” This makes (b)
the correct option.
5. b The correct usage is - disturbances ‘blow over’ (which
means to fade away without serious consequences).
6. b Misalliance refers to an alliance between people not
normally looked upon as suitable for each other.
7. b ‘Reflexes’ implies a movement made in response to
something.
8. a The art and science of good eating and drinking is
called gastronomy.
9. d ‘Horror’ as a noun can mean an enjoyable feeling of
fear from listening to a story or from watching a movie,
and is thus different from ‘terror’, which cannot be
enjoyable.
10. a ‘Phalanx’ means a number of people standing close
together for a specific purpose.
11. b “Enhanced’ means to increase or improve the quality
or value of something. The correct usage here would
be ‘increased’. The contracted form ‘its’ and not ‘it’s’
shows the possessive form of the pronoun.
12. d The sentence is divided into three different clauses
hence each should be separated by a semicolon.
13. b We need to use ‘who’ for the subject Mr. Som. Choice
d. is not correct due to the wrong placement of the
comma after ‘who’.
14. a The plural pronoun ‘those’ should take a plural verb
‘believe’.
15. a ‘Its’ and not ‘it’s’ is the correct contracted possessive
form for ‘it’.’It’s’ means ‘it is’.
16. b The nouns or pronouns used  after a preposition are
treated as an object so they are not subjects. So the
verb is going to agree with the noun or pronoun used
before the preposition. The subject is “state” which is
singular in number, so the verb must be “was”.
17. a If we use ‘one’ as our subject all following pronouns
must be according to ‘one’ i.e One (Subjective); One
(Objective); One’s (Possessive); Oneself (Emphatic
or Reflexive) etc.
18. a We are talking about each individual student among a
group of students, so the verb should be singular.
19. b None can be used as a singular or a plural number
pronoun. In this sentence it is used to represent ‘no
one’ so requires a singular number verb. Therefore,
the right answer is (b).
20. c Because we are talking about a particular king we
should use ‘the king’. Moreover the verb should be
consistent with the noun after ‘nor’. The noun is a
plural one hence should take a plural verb desire.
21. c Here “marginal performance” has to be emphasized.
The sentence in option (c) does that most convincingly.
In option (b), using “of” after the possessive makes
the sentence awkward. Option (a) and (d) talk about
the marginal nature of performance as additional
information rather than foregrounding it.
22. c The constructions in (a) and (d) are wordy and
awkward. The use of the concessive clause in (c)
(Although we know that some things are dear) clearly
communicates why we can still enjoy festivals.
23. c Choice (c) uses the simplest and most concise words.
‘Conceptual grasp’ is incomplete and needs to be
followed by a preposition and an object.
24. b Choice (b) uses the appropriate degree of politeness.
Choice (d) is wrong as it does not tell how much milk
powder is required. Others are overtly polite.
25. c ‘Whenever’ implies at any time, hence (c) is a better
choice than (d). Other choices are unnecessarily
wordy.
26. b ‘Unexpected’ and ‘unanticipated’ are synonyms, so
using both in a sentence is redundant. Moreover
‘consequence’ is a better word to suggest the result
of something on something else.
27. c The appropriate idiomatic use is ‘definition should agree
with’.
28. b “Much obliged’ serves the same purpose as ‘very much
obliged’ and is thus preferable.
Page 3 CAT 1990 Actual Paper
29. d The sentence in (a) features a comma splice error. A
comma has been used to connect two independent
clauses. (b) and (c) feature awkward sentence
constructions. In sentence (d) the simple present tense
is used to talk about a future event/ schedule.
30. a “Looking back’ is the correct idiomatic usage. It means
“remembering” or “reflecting” something.
31. a Just as a road is a medium for a car, a cable is a
medium for electricity.
32. d Both the pairs are synonyms with two nouns.
33. a A fleet is a part of navy, just as a chapter is a part of
a book. Moreover, both a fleet and a chapter are
complete entities in themselves unlike a drop, a letter
or a chair.
34. d Many feathers together make a wing and many bricks
together make a wall.
35. c Just as sugar goes into tea, a button goes into the
buttonhole.
36. d Just as one pays rent when one takes something on a
lease, one pays interest on borrowing something, pays
salary on employing someone and pays a price to buy
something. But one does not pay tax on governing
someone.
37. d In all other pairs the first word is used to measure the
second.
38. b Just as a progressive person leads to progress, the
second word of the pair in all other choices except b.
leads to the first word of the pair. A sympathizer ‘gives’,
and not ‘leads to’ sympathy.
39. b All others pairs have words that are opposites of
each other. “Amoral” means not caring about right or
wrong; neither moral nor immoral.
40. d In all other pairs, the first word holds the second
together. For example clips hold papers together and
a ribbon holds hair together. But vegetables are put
inside a bag.
41. c
Close 
Friends
Disapprove
Aardvarks
42. c
Happy
Good end
Young
43. d
Merit
Learned Candid
44. a
Air
Plants
Roses
45. b
Scientific 
genius
Men
Artistic
Ability
46. c
Lungs
Whales
Fish
47. d Mammals
Aquatic Whales
Page 4
CAT 1990 Actual Paper
48. c
Eligible to enter
 for the prize
University 
students
College 
students
First 
year
49. d
Uncertain
Beliefs
Worth dying for
50. b
Jury
Logic
Sane
51. b From the question we can figure out that P lies between
2371 and 2379.
Using statement I: P = 2372 or 2376
Using statement II: P = 2376
Hence, Statement II alone is sufficient to get a unique
value of R.
52. c As 43 is neither a multiple of 5 nor 6, either statement
alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
Using both statements together: Let the number
of children older than 5 years be ‘a’ and that of 5 years
or younger be ‘b’.
As per the given information, 5a + 6b = 43.
As a and b are non-negative integer, only possible
value: a = 5 and b = 3.
53. c None of the statements alone is sufficient to answer
the question.
Using both statements together: Let the distance
and average speed between Calcutta and Madras be
‘x’ km and ‘y’ kmph respectively.
Total Dstance
Average speed = 
Total Time
1.3x 1.3
=  =  = 40 kmph
x0.3x 1 0.3
  +  + 
y2y y 2y
??? ?
??? ?
??? ?
Since y is the only unknown, its value can be
determined and hence the average speed between
Madras and Trivandrum can be found. Thus we require
both statements to answer the question.
54. c As none of the statement gives information about all
three – x, y and z, they alone are not sufficient to
answer the question.
Using both statements together: x, y and z are
three consecutive odd integers.
Therefore x + z is not divisible by 4.
55. d Although using both the statements we can find out
by how much has the price of P1 and P2 changed
over the 5 years, we cannot answer the question
that is being asked as it is no where mentioned that
the rate of change is uniform.
56. d X > Y, Z < W and V > Y. If we were to look at all of
them we can say that, X,V > Y & W > Z. The first
statement gives a uncertain situation using “may”,
hence we cannot definitely say about the answer.
The second statement says, V > W and hence V > Z.
This again does not say anything because we do not
know whether X>Z or X<Z. Hence the answer is (d)
57. d From statement I we can find that the stopping time
was()
22 2 2 2
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + + 10 

minutes
But this statement alone is not sufficient to answer
the question.
From statement II, average speed between stopovers
can be determined but we cannot find total time from
the source stop to the destination stop. Thus, this
statement alone is also not sufficient.
We cannot answer the question even by using both
the statement together.
58. b
()
()
-1 -1
-2 -2
22
11
 – 
x – y
xy
 = 
11 x – y
 – 
xy
??
?? ??
??
??
??
??
??
????
??
??
11
 – 
xy
= 
11 1 1
  –  + 
xy x y
??
??
??
?? ??? ?
?? ??? ?
??? ? ??
1
= 
11
 + 
xy
??
??
??
For above expression to be > 1, 
11
 + 
xy
??
??
??
 has to be
less than 1.
For this both ‘x’ and ‘y’ have to be greater than 2.
Statement I  doesn’t give any information about this,
but statement II clearly specifies this. Hence, only
statement II is required to answer the given question.
Page 5


Page 1 CAT 1990 Actual Paper

	






1 d 21 c 41 c 61 a 81 d 101 d 121 a 141 c 161 c 
2 c 22 c 42 c 62 b 82 c 102 d 122 a 142 c 162 c 
3 c 23 c 43 d 63 c 83 b 103 c 123 a 143 d 163 c 
4 b 24 b 44 a 64 c 84 a 104 b 124 d 144 c 164 c 
5 b 25 c 45 b 65 a 85 d 105 b 125 d 145 b 165 c 
6 b 26 b 46 c 66 a 86 d 106 b 126 c 146 d 166 a 
7 b 27 c 47 d 67 b 87 a 107 b 127 c 147 d 167 c 
8 a 28 b 48 c 68 b 88 c 108 a 128 b 148 c 168 a 
9 d 29 d 49 d 69 a 89 d 109 a 129 c 149 c 169 b 
10 a 30 a 50 b 70 b 90 a 110 b 130 c 150 c 170 c 
11 b 31 a 51 b 71 a 91 a 111 c 131 d 151 c 171 b 
12 d 32 d 52 c 72 a 92 a 112 b 132 b 152 d 172 c 
13 b 33 a 53 c 73 c 93 b 113 b 133 d 153 b 173 a 
14 a 34 d 54 c 74 b 94 c 114 b 134 d 154 d 174 c 
15 a 35 c 55 d 75 c 95 b 115 b 135 c 155 d    
16 b 36 d 56 d 76 c 96 d 116 a 136 d 156 a     
17 a 37 d 57 d 77 b 97 c 117 c 137 d 157 b     
18 a 38 b 58 b 78 a 98 d 118 b 138 b 158 b     
19 b 39 b 59 a 79 b 99 c 119 d 139 b 159 c     
20 c 40 d 60 d 80 a 100 d 120 b 140 b 160 d     
 
Page 2
CAT 1990 Actual Paper
1. d The first blank should have a plural. Hence either b or
d is the right choice. And genes are hereditary particles,
making d. the right option.
2. c ‘Backed up’ a claim is the correct idiomatic usage.
3. c Only ‘ventured’ fits in the first blank properly.
4. b A scarcity of goods is usually accompanied by or
causes a rise in prices. So (d) does not follow logically.
(glut means an excessive supply of something)
Destitution (poverty) cannot be applied to inanimate
objects. So (c) is also eliminated. Accompaniment
means something incidental or added for ornament,
symmetry, etc. This does not fit the context of the
sentence. So (a) is also eliminated. Concomitant as a
noun is used to mean “a phenomenon that naturally
accompanies or follows something.” This makes (b)
the correct option.
5. b The correct usage is - disturbances ‘blow over’ (which
means to fade away without serious consequences).
6. b Misalliance refers to an alliance between people not
normally looked upon as suitable for each other.
7. b ‘Reflexes’ implies a movement made in response to
something.
8. a The art and science of good eating and drinking is
called gastronomy.
9. d ‘Horror’ as a noun can mean an enjoyable feeling of
fear from listening to a story or from watching a movie,
and is thus different from ‘terror’, which cannot be
enjoyable.
10. a ‘Phalanx’ means a number of people standing close
together for a specific purpose.
11. b “Enhanced’ means to increase or improve the quality
or value of something. The correct usage here would
be ‘increased’. The contracted form ‘its’ and not ‘it’s’
shows the possessive form of the pronoun.
12. d The sentence is divided into three different clauses
hence each should be separated by a semicolon.
13. b We need to use ‘who’ for the subject Mr. Som. Choice
d. is not correct due to the wrong placement of the
comma after ‘who’.
14. a The plural pronoun ‘those’ should take a plural verb
‘believe’.
15. a ‘Its’ and not ‘it’s’ is the correct contracted possessive
form for ‘it’.’It’s’ means ‘it is’.
16. b The nouns or pronouns used  after a preposition are
treated as an object so they are not subjects. So the
verb is going to agree with the noun or pronoun used
before the preposition. The subject is “state” which is
singular in number, so the verb must be “was”.
17. a If we use ‘one’ as our subject all following pronouns
must be according to ‘one’ i.e One (Subjective); One
(Objective); One’s (Possessive); Oneself (Emphatic
or Reflexive) etc.
18. a We are talking about each individual student among a
group of students, so the verb should be singular.
19. b None can be used as a singular or a plural number
pronoun. In this sentence it is used to represent ‘no
one’ so requires a singular number verb. Therefore,
the right answer is (b).
20. c Because we are talking about a particular king we
should use ‘the king’. Moreover the verb should be
consistent with the noun after ‘nor’. The noun is a
plural one hence should take a plural verb desire.
21. c Here “marginal performance” has to be emphasized.
The sentence in option (c) does that most convincingly.
In option (b), using “of” after the possessive makes
the sentence awkward. Option (a) and (d) talk about
the marginal nature of performance as additional
information rather than foregrounding it.
22. c The constructions in (a) and (d) are wordy and
awkward. The use of the concessive clause in (c)
(Although we know that some things are dear) clearly
communicates why we can still enjoy festivals.
23. c Choice (c) uses the simplest and most concise words.
‘Conceptual grasp’ is incomplete and needs to be
followed by a preposition and an object.
24. b Choice (b) uses the appropriate degree of politeness.
Choice (d) is wrong as it does not tell how much milk
powder is required. Others are overtly polite.
25. c ‘Whenever’ implies at any time, hence (c) is a better
choice than (d). Other choices are unnecessarily
wordy.
26. b ‘Unexpected’ and ‘unanticipated’ are synonyms, so
using both in a sentence is redundant. Moreover
‘consequence’ is a better word to suggest the result
of something on something else.
27. c The appropriate idiomatic use is ‘definition should agree
with’.
28. b “Much obliged’ serves the same purpose as ‘very much
obliged’ and is thus preferable.
Page 3 CAT 1990 Actual Paper
29. d The sentence in (a) features a comma splice error. A
comma has been used to connect two independent
clauses. (b) and (c) feature awkward sentence
constructions. In sentence (d) the simple present tense
is used to talk about a future event/ schedule.
30. a “Looking back’ is the correct idiomatic usage. It means
“remembering” or “reflecting” something.
31. a Just as a road is a medium for a car, a cable is a
medium for electricity.
32. d Both the pairs are synonyms with two nouns.
33. a A fleet is a part of navy, just as a chapter is a part of
a book. Moreover, both a fleet and a chapter are
complete entities in themselves unlike a drop, a letter
or a chair.
34. d Many feathers together make a wing and many bricks
together make a wall.
35. c Just as sugar goes into tea, a button goes into the
buttonhole.
36. d Just as one pays rent when one takes something on a
lease, one pays interest on borrowing something, pays
salary on employing someone and pays a price to buy
something. But one does not pay tax on governing
someone.
37. d In all other pairs the first word is used to measure the
second.
38. b Just as a progressive person leads to progress, the
second word of the pair in all other choices except b.
leads to the first word of the pair. A sympathizer ‘gives’,
and not ‘leads to’ sympathy.
39. b All others pairs have words that are opposites of
each other. “Amoral” means not caring about right or
wrong; neither moral nor immoral.
40. d In all other pairs, the first word holds the second
together. For example clips hold papers together and
a ribbon holds hair together. But vegetables are put
inside a bag.
41. c
Close 
Friends
Disapprove
Aardvarks
42. c
Happy
Good end
Young
43. d
Merit
Learned Candid
44. a
Air
Plants
Roses
45. b
Scientific 
genius
Men
Artistic
Ability
46. c
Lungs
Whales
Fish
47. d Mammals
Aquatic Whales
Page 4
CAT 1990 Actual Paper
48. c
Eligible to enter
 for the prize
University 
students
College 
students
First 
year
49. d
Uncertain
Beliefs
Worth dying for
50. b
Jury
Logic
Sane
51. b From the question we can figure out that P lies between
2371 and 2379.
Using statement I: P = 2372 or 2376
Using statement II: P = 2376
Hence, Statement II alone is sufficient to get a unique
value of R.
52. c As 43 is neither a multiple of 5 nor 6, either statement
alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
Using both statements together: Let the number
of children older than 5 years be ‘a’ and that of 5 years
or younger be ‘b’.
As per the given information, 5a + 6b = 43.
As a and b are non-negative integer, only possible
value: a = 5 and b = 3.
53. c None of the statements alone is sufficient to answer
the question.
Using both statements together: Let the distance
and average speed between Calcutta and Madras be
‘x’ km and ‘y’ kmph respectively.
Total Dstance
Average speed = 
Total Time
1.3x 1.3
=  =  = 40 kmph
x0.3x 1 0.3
  +  + 
y2y y 2y
??? ?
??? ?
??? ?
Since y is the only unknown, its value can be
determined and hence the average speed between
Madras and Trivandrum can be found. Thus we require
both statements to answer the question.
54. c As none of the statement gives information about all
three – x, y and z, they alone are not sufficient to
answer the question.
Using both statements together: x, y and z are
three consecutive odd integers.
Therefore x + z is not divisible by 4.
55. d Although using both the statements we can find out
by how much has the price of P1 and P2 changed
over the 5 years, we cannot answer the question
that is being asked as it is no where mentioned that
the rate of change is uniform.
56. d X > Y, Z < W and V > Y. If we were to look at all of
them we can say that, X,V > Y & W > Z. The first
statement gives a uncertain situation using “may”,
hence we cannot definitely say about the answer.
The second statement says, V > W and hence V > Z.
This again does not say anything because we do not
know whether X>Z or X<Z. Hence the answer is (d)
57. d From statement I we can find that the stopping time
was()
22 2 2 2
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + + 10 

minutes
But this statement alone is not sufficient to answer
the question.
From statement II, average speed between stopovers
can be determined but we cannot find total time from
the source stop to the destination stop. Thus, this
statement alone is also not sufficient.
We cannot answer the question even by using both
the statement together.
58. b
()
()
-1 -1
-2 -2
22
11
 – 
x – y
xy
 = 
11 x – y
 – 
xy
??
?? ??
??
??
??
??
??
????
??
??
11
 – 
xy
= 
11 1 1
  –  + 
xy x y
??
??
??
?? ??? ?
?? ??? ?
??? ? ??
1
= 
11
 + 
xy
??
??
??
For above expression to be > 1, 
11
 + 
xy
??
??
??
 has to be
less than 1.
For this both ‘x’ and ‘y’ have to be greater than 2.
Statement I  doesn’t give any information about this,
but statement II clearly specifies this. Hence, only
statement II is required to answer the given question.
Page 5 CAT 1990 Actual Paper
For questions 59 and 60:
Students please note that the best way to answer this question
is by finding generally what would ensure a win for B. If B has
to win, A has to pickup the last matchstick. This can be forced
upon A if there are 2 or 3 matchsticks left on the table when it
is B’s turn. As then, B could pick-up 1 or 2 matchsticks and
force upon A to pick-up the last one. For this to happen there
should always be odd number of matchsticks initially. Eg. If
there are 7 match sticks initially any of the following
combinations will leave either 2 or 3 matchsticks on the table
when it is B’s turn.
ABBA ABBAA
1234567 1234567
AABA AABAA
1234567 1234567
Hence the smallest value of N (greater than 5) to
ensure a win for B is 7. Also the largest value of N
(less than 50) to ensure a win for B is 49.
59. a
60. d
61. a For the bird keeper to figure out that at least 1 pigeon
had escaped, the number of mynahs has to be less
than 7. In other words, y < 7. Hence, the pair (10,8) is
not a valid one.
62. b Rem 
()
15
4
60 2
2
Rem
55
??
??
??
= ??
??
??
?? ??
??
15
1
Rem 1.
5
??
== ??
??
??
63. c Repeated square root of positive integer y
()
1
1 1 2
1
2
2
0
2
yyy1.
8
8
??
?? ??
?? ?? ??
?? ?? ?? ====
?? ?? ??
??
??
??
??
??
??

64. c
()()() ()
11 1 1
12 2 3 3 4 100 101
+ + +---+
××× ×
11111
1
22334
??? ?? ?
=- + - + -
??? ?? ?
??? ?? ?
11 1 1 1 100
+--- +  – +  –  = 1– = .
99 100 100 101 101 101
??? ?
??? ?
??? ?
65. a
()()
()()
24
11 2 4
1x 1 x
1x 1x
++ +
-+
++
()()()()()
22 4 4 4
22 4 4 4
=
1–x1x1x 1x 1x
++ = +
++ - +
()
8
8
=.
1– x
66. a When x = 0, 
() 1x x
ab b
-
=
When x = 1,
() 1x x
ab a
-
=
Only option (a) always satisfies the given constraints.
67. b If there is only one box containing black ball, the boxes
can be filled in 6 ways.
If there are two boxes containing black ball, the boxes
can be filled in 5 ways. (The two black balls can be in
either of the boxes (1,2), (2,3), (3,4), (4,5) or (5,6)).
If there are 3 boxes containing black ball the boxes
can be filled in 4 ways viz.(123), (234), (345), (456).
Similarly if there are 4 boxes, it can be done in 3 ways
viz.(1234), (2345), (3456), if there are 5 boxes it can
be done in 2 ways viz.(12345), (23456) and all 6
boxes can have a black ball only in 1 way.
Hence, total number of ways = 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 =
21.
68. b The successive values of x and y are as follows:
Cycle X Y XY Y+1
11223
22364
364 24 5
4245
69. a Let there be 100 products in the stockpile.
Hence products from M1 = 40, from M2 = 30 and from
M3 = 30. Number of defective products from M1
= 0.03 x 40 = 1.2, from M2 = 0.01 x 30 = 0.3 and
from M3 = 0.05 x 30 = 1.5.
Therefore total number of defective products = 3,
Percentage of defective stockpile = 3.