CAT Past Year Question Paper Solution - 1999. | Additional Study Material for CAT PDF Download

 Page 1


Page 1
CAT 1999 Actual Paper
EU + RC  1 to 55 55
QA 56 to 110 55
 CR + DI + DS 111 to 165 55
T otal 165
T otal
questions
T otal
attempted
T otal
correct
T otal
wrong
Net
Score
 Time
T aken
Question
number

	





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


Page 1
CAT 1999 Actual Paper
EU + RC  1 to 55 55
QA 56 to 110 55
 CR + DI + DS 111 to 165 55
T otal 165
T otal
questions
T otal
attempted
T otal
correct
T otal
wrong
Net
Score
 Time
T aken
Question
number

	






1 a 2 d 3 b 4 a 5 c 6 c 7 b 8 c 9 c 10 b
11 c 12 a 13 b 14 d 15 a 16 d 17 a 18 c 19 b 20 a
21 b 22 d 23 c 24 b 25 b 26 a 27 d 28 c 29 d 30 d
31 c 32 b 33 c 34 a 35 c 36 b 37 d 38 a 39 b 40 a
41 d 42 d 43 b 44 c 45 d 46 b 47 a 48 d 49 a 50 c
51 c 52 b 53 d 54 a 55 a 56 a 57 a 58 b 59 c 60 a
61 b 62 a 63 d 64 d 65 a 66 c 67 b 68 c 69 c 70 c
71 d 72 b 73 c 74 a 75 d 76 b 77 a 78 c 79 c 80 b
81 c 82 a 83 b 84 b 85 d 86 a 87 a* 88 *d 89 d 90 b
91 b 92 c 93 d 94 b 95 d 96 a 97 d 98 d 99 c 100 c
101 c 102 a 103 b 104 a 105 b 106 c 107 a 108 a 109 b 110 d
111 b 112 d 113 a 114 b 115 a 116 d 117 b 118 a 119 b 120 c
121 d 122 d 123 a 124 d 125 c 126 a 127 b 128 c 129 b 130 a
131 c 132 c 133 b 134 d 135 a 136 d 137 b 138 d 139 c 140 b
141 a 142 a 143 b 144 b 145 a 146 c 147 d 148 b 149 c 150 b
151 c 152 a 153 d 154 a 155 c 156 d 157 c 158 c 159 a 160 b
161 d 162 d 163 c 164 c 165 d
Page 2 CAT 1999 Actual Paper
1. a (a) ADBC is the correct answer choice. AD is a closely-
connected pair. A introduces the shift from functional
model in organization theory to a political model and D
defines the political model.
‘Thus’ in B and ‘At the extreme’ in C carry the discussion
on the political model further, and C ends by highlighting
that the organization structure develops unrelated to
functional requirements, in the extreme case.
(b) CBAD also has the linked pair AD, but the overall
flow of thoughts is not logical. Starting with A and
ending with C takes us logically from rejection of one
model to discussion on another, as in ADBC.
(c) DBCA: Though DBC flows smoothly, A at the end is
out of place.
(d) ABDC: B intrudes between A and D as we cannot
talk of ‘analysis of power resources’ in B, unless we
have defined the political model in D first.
2. d (d) BDCA is the correct answer choice.
BD is a mandatory pair, as the pronoun ‘this’ delicate
balance in D refers to nature’s delicate balance in B.
The ‘also’ in C guides us towards the analogy between
institutions and nature, both requiring a system of
checks and balances. And A ends by stating that group
decision-making is not necessarily the answer
because groups can also function  like individuals.
(a) CDAB and (c) CABD: The ‘also’ in C disqualifies it
as a contender for the introductory sentence.
(b) BCAD: Though C can also follow B smoothly, D at
the end is then totally out of place.
3. b (b) CADB is the correct answer choice.
C makes a good introductory sentence as it introduces
Bennis and his predicament . A, B and D all use
pronouns: ‘he’, ‘him’, ‘his’ and ‘himself’, all referring to
Bennis.
4. a (a) DCBA is the correct answer choice.
D introduces the intention of the person ‘to stage a
gastric attack’ and the rest explain the sequence of
events:  D: I ... asked for shampoo mixture ...
C: ‘Then’ feigns gastric attack and asks for some
medicine.
B: uses shop-telephone to inform the Consulate of his
location (probably he also informs the Consulate of
his gastric attack).
A:  ‘With that’, swallows the shampoo to induce actual
gastric attack.
The reason for the author’s intention, however, remains
unclear.
(b) DACB also correctly starts with D, but A cannot
follow D as he cannot swallow the shampoo mixture
in A, untill he gets it from the pharmacist in C.
(c) BDAC and (d) BCDA. B can possibly start the
paragraph, but A cannot come directly after D.
5. c (c) EDACB is the correct answer choice.
DA is a mandatory pair, as ‘in the early 1990s’ in D links
chronologically with ‘since then’ in A links
chronologically with ‘in the early 1900s’ in D.
Furthermore, D refers to ‘such tests’ and, therefore
cannot start the paragraph.
CB also emerges as a closely-linked pair. ‘In other
words’ in B summarizes succinctly the idea introduced
in C.
Other options do not meet all the above requirements
and hence do not flow logically from start to finish.
6. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
All three airlines have reduced their fares to make up
for this loss in increased volumes. This decision is
obviously based on the general belief or assumption
that air travellers in India are price-conscious. If there
is a market research study that shows exactly that,
then it would add credence to the general belief.
(a) The general belief relates reduced fares to
increased volumes, not to increased profitability. It is
possible to increase profitability by cutting costs, even
if volumes do not increase. Hence, the cause – and –
effect relationship between reduced fares and
increased volumes is not directly supported by this
statement.
(b) and (d) are irrelevant and do not in any way support
or weaken the general belief.
7. b (b) is the correct answer choice
Apparently McNeill is a Westerner who is doing some
sort of research on the role of the Brahmin priest in
ancient Indian society. From the way his thoughts are
evolving in the passage (recite–memorize–
dissemination–duplicated), McNeill can only
understand the role of a Vedic priest by drawing a
direct analogy between the Vedic priest, whom he
does not understand except superficially, and a
recorded audio casette, which is an essential and
ubiquitous item in McNeill’s world.
(a) and (d) are more or less stated in the passage, so
there is no inference involved. ‘... practice of reciting
Vedas was essential ...’ means that it was an obligation
and ‘... when the Vedas had not yet been written
down ...’ means Vedic hymns had not been scripted.
(c) also is less of an inference and more of a surmise.
8. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
The arrangement emerges somewhat like this:-
Premise – I: If developed country, then social security
for the elderly.
Premise – II: No social security for the elderly in India,
as it is not a developed country and also the traditional
support system for them is vanishing.
Conclusion: Therefore, working people in India must
save  for their old age.
(c) announces the good news for Indian working
people:
‘India will become a developed country in the future,’
implying social security for the elderly, thereby
weakening the conclusion.
(a) and (b) indicate some encouraging future trends,
but do not obviate the necessity for Indian working
people to save for their old age.
(d) Strengthens the conclusion, rather than weakening
it.
9. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
The surmise or hypothesis in the passage implies that:
biodiversity is inversely proportional to educational
performance, with poverty playing no role in this
relationship.
(d) merely confirms the inverse relationship, at all levels
of poverty.
(a) relates good education performance with high
levels of poverty, regardless of biodiversity (variety
of flora).  It  is, therefore, irrelevant.
(b) and (c) also support the inverse relationship
Page 3


Page 1
CAT 1999 Actual Paper
EU + RC  1 to 55 55
QA 56 to 110 55
 CR + DI + DS 111 to 165 55
T otal 165
T otal
questions
T otal
attempted
T otal
correct
T otal
wrong
Net
Score
 Time
T aken
Question
number

	






1 a 2 d 3 b 4 a 5 c 6 c 7 b 8 c 9 c 10 b
11 c 12 a 13 b 14 d 15 a 16 d 17 a 18 c 19 b 20 a
21 b 22 d 23 c 24 b 25 b 26 a 27 d 28 c 29 d 30 d
31 c 32 b 33 c 34 a 35 c 36 b 37 d 38 a 39 b 40 a
41 d 42 d 43 b 44 c 45 d 46 b 47 a 48 d 49 a 50 c
51 c 52 b 53 d 54 a 55 a 56 a 57 a 58 b 59 c 60 a
61 b 62 a 63 d 64 d 65 a 66 c 67 b 68 c 69 c 70 c
71 d 72 b 73 c 74 a 75 d 76 b 77 a 78 c 79 c 80 b
81 c 82 a 83 b 84 b 85 d 86 a 87 a* 88 *d 89 d 90 b
91 b 92 c 93 d 94 b 95 d 96 a 97 d 98 d 99 c 100 c
101 c 102 a 103 b 104 a 105 b 106 c 107 a 108 a 109 b 110 d
111 b 112 d 113 a 114 b 115 a 116 d 117 b 118 a 119 b 120 c
121 d 122 d 123 a 124 d 125 c 126 a 127 b 128 c 129 b 130 a
131 c 132 c 133 b 134 d 135 a 136 d 137 b 138 d 139 c 140 b
141 a 142 a 143 b 144 b 145 a 146 c 147 d 148 b 149 c 150 b
151 c 152 a 153 d 154 a 155 c 156 d 157 c 158 c 159 a 160 b
161 d 162 d 163 c 164 c 165 d
Page 2 CAT 1999 Actual Paper
1. a (a) ADBC is the correct answer choice. AD is a closely-
connected pair. A introduces the shift from functional
model in organization theory to a political model and D
defines the political model.
‘Thus’ in B and ‘At the extreme’ in C carry the discussion
on the political model further, and C ends by highlighting
that the organization structure develops unrelated to
functional requirements, in the extreme case.
(b) CBAD also has the linked pair AD, but the overall
flow of thoughts is not logical. Starting with A and
ending with C takes us logically from rejection of one
model to discussion on another, as in ADBC.
(c) DBCA: Though DBC flows smoothly, A at the end is
out of place.
(d) ABDC: B intrudes between A and D as we cannot
talk of ‘analysis of power resources’ in B, unless we
have defined the political model in D first.
2. d (d) BDCA is the correct answer choice.
BD is a mandatory pair, as the pronoun ‘this’ delicate
balance in D refers to nature’s delicate balance in B.
The ‘also’ in C guides us towards the analogy between
institutions and nature, both requiring a system of
checks and balances. And A ends by stating that group
decision-making is not necessarily the answer
because groups can also function  like individuals.
(a) CDAB and (c) CABD: The ‘also’ in C disqualifies it
as a contender for the introductory sentence.
(b) BCAD: Though C can also follow B smoothly, D at
the end is then totally out of place.
3. b (b) CADB is the correct answer choice.
C makes a good introductory sentence as it introduces
Bennis and his predicament . A, B and D all use
pronouns: ‘he’, ‘him’, ‘his’ and ‘himself’, all referring to
Bennis.
4. a (a) DCBA is the correct answer choice.
D introduces the intention of the person ‘to stage a
gastric attack’ and the rest explain the sequence of
events:  D: I ... asked for shampoo mixture ...
C: ‘Then’ feigns gastric attack and asks for some
medicine.
B: uses shop-telephone to inform the Consulate of his
location (probably he also informs the Consulate of
his gastric attack).
A:  ‘With that’, swallows the shampoo to induce actual
gastric attack.
The reason for the author’s intention, however, remains
unclear.
(b) DACB also correctly starts with D, but A cannot
follow D as he cannot swallow the shampoo mixture
in A, untill he gets it from the pharmacist in C.
(c) BDAC and (d) BCDA. B can possibly start the
paragraph, but A cannot come directly after D.
5. c (c) EDACB is the correct answer choice.
DA is a mandatory pair, as ‘in the early 1990s’ in D links
chronologically with ‘since then’ in A links
chronologically with ‘in the early 1900s’ in D.
Furthermore, D refers to ‘such tests’ and, therefore
cannot start the paragraph.
CB also emerges as a closely-linked pair. ‘In other
words’ in B summarizes succinctly the idea introduced
in C.
Other options do not meet all the above requirements
and hence do not flow logically from start to finish.
6. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
All three airlines have reduced their fares to make up
for this loss in increased volumes. This decision is
obviously based on the general belief or assumption
that air travellers in India are price-conscious. If there
is a market research study that shows exactly that,
then it would add credence to the general belief.
(a) The general belief relates reduced fares to
increased volumes, not to increased profitability. It is
possible to increase profitability by cutting costs, even
if volumes do not increase. Hence, the cause – and –
effect relationship between reduced fares and
increased volumes is not directly supported by this
statement.
(b) and (d) are irrelevant and do not in any way support
or weaken the general belief.
7. b (b) is the correct answer choice
Apparently McNeill is a Westerner who is doing some
sort of research on the role of the Brahmin priest in
ancient Indian society. From the way his thoughts are
evolving in the passage (recite–memorize–
dissemination–duplicated), McNeill can only
understand the role of a Vedic priest by drawing a
direct analogy between the Vedic priest, whom he
does not understand except superficially, and a
recorded audio casette, which is an essential and
ubiquitous item in McNeill’s world.
(a) and (d) are more or less stated in the passage, so
there is no inference involved. ‘... practice of reciting
Vedas was essential ...’ means that it was an obligation
and ‘... when the Vedas had not yet been written
down ...’ means Vedic hymns had not been scripted.
(c) also is less of an inference and more of a surmise.
8. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
The arrangement emerges somewhat like this:-
Premise – I: If developed country, then social security
for the elderly.
Premise – II: No social security for the elderly in India,
as it is not a developed country and also the traditional
support system for them is vanishing.
Conclusion: Therefore, working people in India must
save  for their old age.
(c) announces the good news for Indian working
people:
‘India will become a developed country in the future,’
implying social security for the elderly, thereby
weakening the conclusion.
(a) and (b) indicate some encouraging future trends,
but do not obviate the necessity for Indian working
people to save for their old age.
(d) Strengthens the conclusion, rather than weakening
it.
9. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
The surmise or hypothesis in the passage implies that:
biodiversity is inversely proportional to educational
performance, with poverty playing no role in this
relationship.
(d) merely confirms the inverse relationship, at all levels
of poverty.
(a) relates good education performance with high
levels of poverty, regardless of biodiversity (variety
of flora).  It  is, therefore, irrelevant.
(b) and (c) also support the inverse relationship
Page 3
CAT 1999 Actual Paper
between  biodiversity and educational performance,
but each reserves a role for poverty in this relationship.
(c) summarizes better, hence (c).
10. b (b) is the only option that explains how reducing
taxes will broaden the tax base. If taxes on cigarettes
(which constitute 90% of the revenues) are reduced,
the prices of cigarettes will come down, thereby
increasing the demand for cigarettes. More the
cigarette smokers, the broader the tax base. Options
(a) and (c) mention peripheral matters. (d) is talking
about increasing duties (taxes) whereas the last
sentence of the paragraph has only looked at
“reducing taxes”.
11. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
(a) undermines Mathews’ theory by showing how
population need not follow geometric rate of growth
and (b) undermines it by showing how food need not
follow arithmetic rate of growth.
(d) undermines his theory by pointing out that the
inability of our planet to support the growing human
population need not lead to disastrous consequences
for humans. There are ways that these can be averted.
(c) is the only option that does not undermine his theory.
It also does not support his theory by referring to the
different rates of growth in human and natural
systems, but merely asserts that these rates of growth
remain constant and cannot be changed.
12. a (a) is the correct answer choice.
The picture that emerges from the passage is:
Year     Production % increase over
     (in tonnes) previous year
1970 – 71 6,089 ___
___ ___ ___
1997 – 98 5,830 ___
1998 – 99 8,079 38.58%
This shows that the average production has remained
well below 6,000 tonnes in the previous years. The
significant increase of over 2,000 tonnes in 1998–99
was achieved by using all possible productivity
enhancing measures.
If all areas have been properly irrigated, if all
unproductive coffee bushes have been replaced, if
intensive refilling and improved agricultural practices
have been used — how much more can be done?
Obviously, the target of 10,000 tonnes (about 70%
increase over average of less than 6000 tonnes) is
unrealistic, as explained by option (a). Options (b) and
(c) also indirectly contribute to making the target of
10,000 tonnes unrealistic. But (a) contributes MOST.
(d), on the other hand, supports the target as realistic,
by placing faith in the soundness of the target-selling
produces.
13. b (b) is the correct answer choice.
The first sentence of the passage asserts that:
Intelligence of animals is proportionate to the extent of
their socializing.
Then the passage gives examples of how animals are
effective when they are in their own social group and
ineffective when they are alone.
This is exactly what is given in option (b).
(a) and (c) are partly stated in the passage, but do not
convey the central message.
(d) cannot be inferred as the passage does not
compare the behaviour of elephants and beavers with
the behaviour of bees and ants.
14. d (d) is the correct answer choice.
It is an example of doing the right thing, ‘at the wrong
time.’
In (d), telling a long story could be entertaining or
interesting, but not when others have heard it many
times before. The intention in (b) and (c) contradicts
the definition of an unseasonable man. (a) is irrelevant.
15. a (a) is the correct answer choice.
It is also an example of doing the right thing, ‘at the
wrong time.’
In (a), getting a higher bidder is helpful to the salesman,
but not when he has just closed a deal. He will only
curse himself and you. (d) is a matter of choice, not
unseasonableness. (b) may be undesirable, but not
unseasonable. There is nothing unseasonable about
(c) either.
16. d (d) is the correct answer choice.
The question relates to choosing the correct pronoun
case: Subjective (we) or objective (us). The answer
to the question ‘who had left before he arrived?’ is
‘we’, not ‘us’: ‘We’ is the subject of the verb ‘had left’
and the referent of the relative pronoun ‘who,’ which
is also in the subjective case.
(b) and (c) are incorrect because they use ‘Us’ the
objective case. They also have other obvious errors.
(a) Uses the correct pronoun case (We), but
incorrectly places both verbs ‘had left’ and ‘had arrived’
in the past perfect tenses. For indicating that one event
has occurred in the past before another, the former
should be placed in past perfect tense, while the latter
in simple past tense.
17. a (a) is the correct answer, as it corrects all the errors
in the original sentence. Other options do not.
Redundancy:
(i) ‘rose up’: ‘rise’ includes the idea of upward motion.
(ii) ‘in her opinion, she thought’: use either ‘in her opinion’
or ‘she thought’.
Idiom (iii) ‘passed on’: Bills are always ‘passed’ in
Parliament. ‘Pass on’ is a phrasal verb and has its own
uses.
18. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
This question tests you for parallelism. There are two
possible parallel structures:
(i) Mr Pillai, X and Y, will be ... (phrase X and Y placed
in apposition).
(ii) Mr Pillai, who is X and also Y, will be ... (use of
who-clause)
There are also other ways to express the same idea
but with different shades of meaning/emphasis:
(iii) Since Mr Pillai is X and Y, he will be ... (two main
clauses joined by ‘some’ as a conjunction).
(iv) Being X and Y , Mr Pillai will be ...   (use of participial
clause).
Answer choice (c) matches with (i) above. Other
choices do not match with any of the other possible
grammatical structures.
Page 4


Page 1
CAT 1999 Actual Paper
EU + RC  1 to 55 55
QA 56 to 110 55
 CR + DI + DS 111 to 165 55
T otal 165
T otal
questions
T otal
attempted
T otal
correct
T otal
wrong
Net
Score
 Time
T aken
Question
number

	






1 a 2 d 3 b 4 a 5 c 6 c 7 b 8 c 9 c 10 b
11 c 12 a 13 b 14 d 15 a 16 d 17 a 18 c 19 b 20 a
21 b 22 d 23 c 24 b 25 b 26 a 27 d 28 c 29 d 30 d
31 c 32 b 33 c 34 a 35 c 36 b 37 d 38 a 39 b 40 a
41 d 42 d 43 b 44 c 45 d 46 b 47 a 48 d 49 a 50 c
51 c 52 b 53 d 54 a 55 a 56 a 57 a 58 b 59 c 60 a
61 b 62 a 63 d 64 d 65 a 66 c 67 b 68 c 69 c 70 c
71 d 72 b 73 c 74 a 75 d 76 b 77 a 78 c 79 c 80 b
81 c 82 a 83 b 84 b 85 d 86 a 87 a* 88 *d 89 d 90 b
91 b 92 c 93 d 94 b 95 d 96 a 97 d 98 d 99 c 100 c
101 c 102 a 103 b 104 a 105 b 106 c 107 a 108 a 109 b 110 d
111 b 112 d 113 a 114 b 115 a 116 d 117 b 118 a 119 b 120 c
121 d 122 d 123 a 124 d 125 c 126 a 127 b 128 c 129 b 130 a
131 c 132 c 133 b 134 d 135 a 136 d 137 b 138 d 139 c 140 b
141 a 142 a 143 b 144 b 145 a 146 c 147 d 148 b 149 c 150 b
151 c 152 a 153 d 154 a 155 c 156 d 157 c 158 c 159 a 160 b
161 d 162 d 163 c 164 c 165 d
Page 2 CAT 1999 Actual Paper
1. a (a) ADBC is the correct answer choice. AD is a closely-
connected pair. A introduces the shift from functional
model in organization theory to a political model and D
defines the political model.
‘Thus’ in B and ‘At the extreme’ in C carry the discussion
on the political model further, and C ends by highlighting
that the organization structure develops unrelated to
functional requirements, in the extreme case.
(b) CBAD also has the linked pair AD, but the overall
flow of thoughts is not logical. Starting with A and
ending with C takes us logically from rejection of one
model to discussion on another, as in ADBC.
(c) DBCA: Though DBC flows smoothly, A at the end is
out of place.
(d) ABDC: B intrudes between A and D as we cannot
talk of ‘analysis of power resources’ in B, unless we
have defined the political model in D first.
2. d (d) BDCA is the correct answer choice.
BD is a mandatory pair, as the pronoun ‘this’ delicate
balance in D refers to nature’s delicate balance in B.
The ‘also’ in C guides us towards the analogy between
institutions and nature, both requiring a system of
checks and balances. And A ends by stating that group
decision-making is not necessarily the answer
because groups can also function  like individuals.
(a) CDAB and (c) CABD: The ‘also’ in C disqualifies it
as a contender for the introductory sentence.
(b) BCAD: Though C can also follow B smoothly, D at
the end is then totally out of place.
3. b (b) CADB is the correct answer choice.
C makes a good introductory sentence as it introduces
Bennis and his predicament . A, B and D all use
pronouns: ‘he’, ‘him’, ‘his’ and ‘himself’, all referring to
Bennis.
4. a (a) DCBA is the correct answer choice.
D introduces the intention of the person ‘to stage a
gastric attack’ and the rest explain the sequence of
events:  D: I ... asked for shampoo mixture ...
C: ‘Then’ feigns gastric attack and asks for some
medicine.
B: uses shop-telephone to inform the Consulate of his
location (probably he also informs the Consulate of
his gastric attack).
A:  ‘With that’, swallows the shampoo to induce actual
gastric attack.
The reason for the author’s intention, however, remains
unclear.
(b) DACB also correctly starts with D, but A cannot
follow D as he cannot swallow the shampoo mixture
in A, untill he gets it from the pharmacist in C.
(c) BDAC and (d) BCDA. B can possibly start the
paragraph, but A cannot come directly after D.
5. c (c) EDACB is the correct answer choice.
DA is a mandatory pair, as ‘in the early 1990s’ in D links
chronologically with ‘since then’ in A links
chronologically with ‘in the early 1900s’ in D.
Furthermore, D refers to ‘such tests’ and, therefore
cannot start the paragraph.
CB also emerges as a closely-linked pair. ‘In other
words’ in B summarizes succinctly the idea introduced
in C.
Other options do not meet all the above requirements
and hence do not flow logically from start to finish.
6. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
All three airlines have reduced their fares to make up
for this loss in increased volumes. This decision is
obviously based on the general belief or assumption
that air travellers in India are price-conscious. If there
is a market research study that shows exactly that,
then it would add credence to the general belief.
(a) The general belief relates reduced fares to
increased volumes, not to increased profitability. It is
possible to increase profitability by cutting costs, even
if volumes do not increase. Hence, the cause – and –
effect relationship between reduced fares and
increased volumes is not directly supported by this
statement.
(b) and (d) are irrelevant and do not in any way support
or weaken the general belief.
7. b (b) is the correct answer choice
Apparently McNeill is a Westerner who is doing some
sort of research on the role of the Brahmin priest in
ancient Indian society. From the way his thoughts are
evolving in the passage (recite–memorize–
dissemination–duplicated), McNeill can only
understand the role of a Vedic priest by drawing a
direct analogy between the Vedic priest, whom he
does not understand except superficially, and a
recorded audio casette, which is an essential and
ubiquitous item in McNeill’s world.
(a) and (d) are more or less stated in the passage, so
there is no inference involved. ‘... practice of reciting
Vedas was essential ...’ means that it was an obligation
and ‘... when the Vedas had not yet been written
down ...’ means Vedic hymns had not been scripted.
(c) also is less of an inference and more of a surmise.
8. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
The arrangement emerges somewhat like this:-
Premise – I: If developed country, then social security
for the elderly.
Premise – II: No social security for the elderly in India,
as it is not a developed country and also the traditional
support system for them is vanishing.
Conclusion: Therefore, working people in India must
save  for their old age.
(c) announces the good news for Indian working
people:
‘India will become a developed country in the future,’
implying social security for the elderly, thereby
weakening the conclusion.
(a) and (b) indicate some encouraging future trends,
but do not obviate the necessity for Indian working
people to save for their old age.
(d) Strengthens the conclusion, rather than weakening
it.
9. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
The surmise or hypothesis in the passage implies that:
biodiversity is inversely proportional to educational
performance, with poverty playing no role in this
relationship.
(d) merely confirms the inverse relationship, at all levels
of poverty.
(a) relates good education performance with high
levels of poverty, regardless of biodiversity (variety
of flora).  It  is, therefore, irrelevant.
(b) and (c) also support the inverse relationship
Page 3
CAT 1999 Actual Paper
between  biodiversity and educational performance,
but each reserves a role for poverty in this relationship.
(c) summarizes better, hence (c).
10. b (b) is the only option that explains how reducing
taxes will broaden the tax base. If taxes on cigarettes
(which constitute 90% of the revenues) are reduced,
the prices of cigarettes will come down, thereby
increasing the demand for cigarettes. More the
cigarette smokers, the broader the tax base. Options
(a) and (c) mention peripheral matters. (d) is talking
about increasing duties (taxes) whereas the last
sentence of the paragraph has only looked at
“reducing taxes”.
11. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
(a) undermines Mathews’ theory by showing how
population need not follow geometric rate of growth
and (b) undermines it by showing how food need not
follow arithmetic rate of growth.
(d) undermines his theory by pointing out that the
inability of our planet to support the growing human
population need not lead to disastrous consequences
for humans. There are ways that these can be averted.
(c) is the only option that does not undermine his theory.
It also does not support his theory by referring to the
different rates of growth in human and natural
systems, but merely asserts that these rates of growth
remain constant and cannot be changed.
12. a (a) is the correct answer choice.
The picture that emerges from the passage is:
Year     Production % increase over
     (in tonnes) previous year
1970 – 71 6,089 ___
___ ___ ___
1997 – 98 5,830 ___
1998 – 99 8,079 38.58%
This shows that the average production has remained
well below 6,000 tonnes in the previous years. The
significant increase of over 2,000 tonnes in 1998–99
was achieved by using all possible productivity
enhancing measures.
If all areas have been properly irrigated, if all
unproductive coffee bushes have been replaced, if
intensive refilling and improved agricultural practices
have been used — how much more can be done?
Obviously, the target of 10,000 tonnes (about 70%
increase over average of less than 6000 tonnes) is
unrealistic, as explained by option (a). Options (b) and
(c) also indirectly contribute to making the target of
10,000 tonnes unrealistic. But (a) contributes MOST.
(d), on the other hand, supports the target as realistic,
by placing faith in the soundness of the target-selling
produces.
13. b (b) is the correct answer choice.
The first sentence of the passage asserts that:
Intelligence of animals is proportionate to the extent of
their socializing.
Then the passage gives examples of how animals are
effective when they are in their own social group and
ineffective when they are alone.
This is exactly what is given in option (b).
(a) and (c) are partly stated in the passage, but do not
convey the central message.
(d) cannot be inferred as the passage does not
compare the behaviour of elephants and beavers with
the behaviour of bees and ants.
14. d (d) is the correct answer choice.
It is an example of doing the right thing, ‘at the wrong
time.’
In (d), telling a long story could be entertaining or
interesting, but not when others have heard it many
times before. The intention in (b) and (c) contradicts
the definition of an unseasonable man. (a) is irrelevant.
15. a (a) is the correct answer choice.
It is also an example of doing the right thing, ‘at the
wrong time.’
In (a), getting a higher bidder is helpful to the salesman,
but not when he has just closed a deal. He will only
curse himself and you. (d) is a matter of choice, not
unseasonableness. (b) may be undesirable, but not
unseasonable. There is nothing unseasonable about
(c) either.
16. d (d) is the correct answer choice.
The question relates to choosing the correct pronoun
case: Subjective (we) or objective (us). The answer
to the question ‘who had left before he arrived?’ is
‘we’, not ‘us’: ‘We’ is the subject of the verb ‘had left’
and the referent of the relative pronoun ‘who,’ which
is also in the subjective case.
(b) and (c) are incorrect because they use ‘Us’ the
objective case. They also have other obvious errors.
(a) Uses the correct pronoun case (We), but
incorrectly places both verbs ‘had left’ and ‘had arrived’
in the past perfect tenses. For indicating that one event
has occurred in the past before another, the former
should be placed in past perfect tense, while the latter
in simple past tense.
17. a (a) is the correct answer, as it corrects all the errors
in the original sentence. Other options do not.
Redundancy:
(i) ‘rose up’: ‘rise’ includes the idea of upward motion.
(ii) ‘in her opinion, she thought’: use either ‘in her opinion’
or ‘she thought’.
Idiom (iii) ‘passed on’: Bills are always ‘passed’ in
Parliament. ‘Pass on’ is a phrasal verb and has its own
uses.
18. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
This question tests you for parallelism. There are two
possible parallel structures:
(i) Mr Pillai, X and Y, will be ... (phrase X and Y placed
in apposition).
(ii) Mr Pillai, who is X and also Y, will be ... (use of
who-clause)
There are also other ways to express the same idea
but with different shades of meaning/emphasis:
(iii) Since Mr Pillai is X and Y, he will be ... (two main
clauses joined by ‘some’ as a conjunction).
(iv) Being X and Y , Mr Pillai will be ...   (use of participial
clause).
Answer choice (c) matches with (i) above. Other
choices do not match with any of the other possible
grammatical structures.
Page 4 CAT 1999 Actual Paper
19. b (b) is the correct answer choice.
This question tests you for use of the correct verb
tense. Possible constructions could be:
(i) At the beginning of this decade, X took a giant stride
...
(ii) Use present perfect, when we talk of a period of
time extending from a point in the past and completion
of an action ‘since’ then, as seen from today’s
perspective.
(b) matches with (ii) above and correctly uses the
present perfect tense. The phrase ‘at the beginning of
this decade’ is merely placed in opposition to inform us
about the ‘advent of cable television,’ and does not in
any way affect the structure of the sentence.
20. a (a) is the correct answer choice.
The main verb ‘made great sacrifices’ in the main clause
is modified by both participial clauses to explain the
sacrifices she made:
(i) ‘moving house on three occasions’.
(ii) ‘severing the thread ... to make him understand the
need to persevere.’
In (b) and (c), ‘severed’ (simple past tense) is used
parallel with ‘made’, thereby producing two parallel
main clauses. This is not grammatically incorrect, but
changes the intended meaning, which was to highlight
‘severing of the thread ...’ as a ‘sacrifice’ the mother
made.
(d) uses ‘severing’ correctly, but incorrectly replaces
‘him’  referring to Mencius by ‘them.’
21. b (b) is the correct answer choice.
The question tests you for the correct positioning of
the adverbial phrase ‘in two weeks.’ Since this phrase
relates to ‘putting together a programme,’ it should be
positioned closest to the verb phrase it modifies. The
possible positions are examined below:
(i) ‘You’ve put together (in two weeks) a
programme ...’
[Incorrect. Adverb cannot come between the verb
and its object.]
(ii) ‘You’ve put together a programme (in two weeks)
that solves ...’
[Incorrect. Here the adverb cannot separate the noun
‘program’ and the relative pronoun. ‘that’, which
modifies it.]
(iii) ‘(in two weeks) you’ve put together a programme
...’
[Correct. The adverbial phrase is close to the verb it
modifies and is not intrusive in this position.]
In (a) and (c), the intended meaning changes. It appears
that ‘the problem is solved in two weeks,’ rather than
‘the programme being put together in two weeks’.
(d) in incorrect as the adverbial phrase ‘in two weeks’
should be cordoned off by two commas, and
introduction of “only” changes the meaning.
22. d (d) is the correct answer choice.
The question tests you for the correct idiomatic
structure to be used with the verb ‘proclaim.’ ‘Proclaim,’
unlike ‘claim,’ cannot be followed by a to-infinitive. It
should be followed by a that-clause in this case.
Therefore, (d) is correct, while (a) and (c) are incorrect.
Though (b) correctly uses the that-clause, the present
continuous tense ‘are saving’ changes the meaning.
The simple present tense ‘save’ is appropriate here to
indicate a general sense. Furthermore, ‘less’ itself is a
comparative (little ? less ? least) and need not be
replaced by the double comparative ‘lesser,’ which is
used only in certain standard idiomatic phrases, such
as, ‘the lesser of the two evils.’
23. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
The question tests you for the correct use of passive
voice and the positioning  of adverbs. First, ‘end’ cannot
be the doer of the action: ‘would delay,’ but it should
correctly be at the receiving end: ‘would be delayed
(passive voice).’ Second, both the adverbs ‘otherwise’
and ‘only’ are required for the intended meaning to
emerge clearly. Third, these adverbs should be
positioned closest to the verb they modify. What better
place than to be sandwiched between the auxiliary
verb and the main verb: ‘Would be otherwise only
delayed.’
24. b (b) is the correct answer choice: This answer emerges
from para 2, second sentence: “... WTO was a product
of a series of trade-offs between principal actors and
groups.” The important players were essentially the
United  States; Europeans; countries like Canada and
other middle  and smaller trading partners; and the
developing countries, which continued negotiations
as part of the Uruguay Round till the 1990s. The Tokyo
Round of the 1970s was an attempt at a ‘constitutional
reform’ of the GATT, while what the important players
eventually settled for in the WTO was the evolution of
a rules–based system through multiple negotiations
which obviously required time.
(a): Though it is mentioned in para 1 that ‘the US
government wanted to put off the Tokyo Round of the
1970s to the future’, but it is clear from para 2 that
other important players also first wanted to evolve a
rules-based system through negotiations before
agreeing to anything binding on them.
(c) is factually incorrect in light of para 3, and as such
has no relevance to the non-formation of WTO in the
1970s. (d) is incomplete as ‘the T okyo Round negotiation
was an attempt at constitutional reform of GATT,’ and
not related to formation of a new organization, WTO,
as such.
25. b (b) is the summary of what is discussed in the second
paragraph and emerges from the last sentence of the
paragraph. (a), (c) and (d) are also stated in the second
paragraph but as individual considerations that went
into the formulation of the WTO package. (b) sums it
up succinctly.
26. a (a) is the correct answer choice.
In paragraph 3, the passage defines ‘legal development’
as ‘the promotion of the technical legal values of
consistency, clarity and effectiveness. And these
values were achieved in the WTO through (a)
consistency: integrating under one roof the agreements
signed under GATT.
(b) Clarity: removing ambiguities about the powers of
constructing parties to make certain decisions.
(c) Effectiveness: eliminating grandfather rights
exceptions and defects in dispute settlement
procedure.
Option (a) only covers how the value of consistency
was achieved, option (c) relates to the value of
effectiveness, but omits the word ‘eliminating’ and
Page 5


Page 1
CAT 1999 Actual Paper
EU + RC  1 to 55 55
QA 56 to 110 55
 CR + DI + DS 111 to 165 55
T otal 165
T otal
questions
T otal
attempted
T otal
correct
T otal
wrong
Net
Score
 Time
T aken
Question
number

	






1 a 2 d 3 b 4 a 5 c 6 c 7 b 8 c 9 c 10 b
11 c 12 a 13 b 14 d 15 a 16 d 17 a 18 c 19 b 20 a
21 b 22 d 23 c 24 b 25 b 26 a 27 d 28 c 29 d 30 d
31 c 32 b 33 c 34 a 35 c 36 b 37 d 38 a 39 b 40 a
41 d 42 d 43 b 44 c 45 d 46 b 47 a 48 d 49 a 50 c
51 c 52 b 53 d 54 a 55 a 56 a 57 a 58 b 59 c 60 a
61 b 62 a 63 d 64 d 65 a 66 c 67 b 68 c 69 c 70 c
71 d 72 b 73 c 74 a 75 d 76 b 77 a 78 c 79 c 80 b
81 c 82 a 83 b 84 b 85 d 86 a 87 a* 88 *d 89 d 90 b
91 b 92 c 93 d 94 b 95 d 96 a 97 d 98 d 99 c 100 c
101 c 102 a 103 b 104 a 105 b 106 c 107 a 108 a 109 b 110 d
111 b 112 d 113 a 114 b 115 a 116 d 117 b 118 a 119 b 120 c
121 d 122 d 123 a 124 d 125 c 126 a 127 b 128 c 129 b 130 a
131 c 132 c 133 b 134 d 135 a 136 d 137 b 138 d 139 c 140 b
141 a 142 a 143 b 144 b 145 a 146 c 147 d 148 b 149 c 150 b
151 c 152 a 153 d 154 a 155 c 156 d 157 c 158 c 159 a 160 b
161 d 162 d 163 c 164 c 165 d
Page 2 CAT 1999 Actual Paper
1. a (a) ADBC is the correct answer choice. AD is a closely-
connected pair. A introduces the shift from functional
model in organization theory to a political model and D
defines the political model.
‘Thus’ in B and ‘At the extreme’ in C carry the discussion
on the political model further, and C ends by highlighting
that the organization structure develops unrelated to
functional requirements, in the extreme case.
(b) CBAD also has the linked pair AD, but the overall
flow of thoughts is not logical. Starting with A and
ending with C takes us logically from rejection of one
model to discussion on another, as in ADBC.
(c) DBCA: Though DBC flows smoothly, A at the end is
out of place.
(d) ABDC: B intrudes between A and D as we cannot
talk of ‘analysis of power resources’ in B, unless we
have defined the political model in D first.
2. d (d) BDCA is the correct answer choice.
BD is a mandatory pair, as the pronoun ‘this’ delicate
balance in D refers to nature’s delicate balance in B.
The ‘also’ in C guides us towards the analogy between
institutions and nature, both requiring a system of
checks and balances. And A ends by stating that group
decision-making is not necessarily the answer
because groups can also function  like individuals.
(a) CDAB and (c) CABD: The ‘also’ in C disqualifies it
as a contender for the introductory sentence.
(b) BCAD: Though C can also follow B smoothly, D at
the end is then totally out of place.
3. b (b) CADB is the correct answer choice.
C makes a good introductory sentence as it introduces
Bennis and his predicament . A, B and D all use
pronouns: ‘he’, ‘him’, ‘his’ and ‘himself’, all referring to
Bennis.
4. a (a) DCBA is the correct answer choice.
D introduces the intention of the person ‘to stage a
gastric attack’ and the rest explain the sequence of
events:  D: I ... asked for shampoo mixture ...
C: ‘Then’ feigns gastric attack and asks for some
medicine.
B: uses shop-telephone to inform the Consulate of his
location (probably he also informs the Consulate of
his gastric attack).
A:  ‘With that’, swallows the shampoo to induce actual
gastric attack.
The reason for the author’s intention, however, remains
unclear.
(b) DACB also correctly starts with D, but A cannot
follow D as he cannot swallow the shampoo mixture
in A, untill he gets it from the pharmacist in C.
(c) BDAC and (d) BCDA. B can possibly start the
paragraph, but A cannot come directly after D.
5. c (c) EDACB is the correct answer choice.
DA is a mandatory pair, as ‘in the early 1990s’ in D links
chronologically with ‘since then’ in A links
chronologically with ‘in the early 1900s’ in D.
Furthermore, D refers to ‘such tests’ and, therefore
cannot start the paragraph.
CB also emerges as a closely-linked pair. ‘In other
words’ in B summarizes succinctly the idea introduced
in C.
Other options do not meet all the above requirements
and hence do not flow logically from start to finish.
6. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
All three airlines have reduced their fares to make up
for this loss in increased volumes. This decision is
obviously based on the general belief or assumption
that air travellers in India are price-conscious. If there
is a market research study that shows exactly that,
then it would add credence to the general belief.
(a) The general belief relates reduced fares to
increased volumes, not to increased profitability. It is
possible to increase profitability by cutting costs, even
if volumes do not increase. Hence, the cause – and –
effect relationship between reduced fares and
increased volumes is not directly supported by this
statement.
(b) and (d) are irrelevant and do not in any way support
or weaken the general belief.
7. b (b) is the correct answer choice
Apparently McNeill is a Westerner who is doing some
sort of research on the role of the Brahmin priest in
ancient Indian society. From the way his thoughts are
evolving in the passage (recite–memorize–
dissemination–duplicated), McNeill can only
understand the role of a Vedic priest by drawing a
direct analogy between the Vedic priest, whom he
does not understand except superficially, and a
recorded audio casette, which is an essential and
ubiquitous item in McNeill’s world.
(a) and (d) are more or less stated in the passage, so
there is no inference involved. ‘... practice of reciting
Vedas was essential ...’ means that it was an obligation
and ‘... when the Vedas had not yet been written
down ...’ means Vedic hymns had not been scripted.
(c) also is less of an inference and more of a surmise.
8. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
The arrangement emerges somewhat like this:-
Premise – I: If developed country, then social security
for the elderly.
Premise – II: No social security for the elderly in India,
as it is not a developed country and also the traditional
support system for them is vanishing.
Conclusion: Therefore, working people in India must
save  for their old age.
(c) announces the good news for Indian working
people:
‘India will become a developed country in the future,’
implying social security for the elderly, thereby
weakening the conclusion.
(a) and (b) indicate some encouraging future trends,
but do not obviate the necessity for Indian working
people to save for their old age.
(d) Strengthens the conclusion, rather than weakening
it.
9. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
The surmise or hypothesis in the passage implies that:
biodiversity is inversely proportional to educational
performance, with poverty playing no role in this
relationship.
(d) merely confirms the inverse relationship, at all levels
of poverty.
(a) relates good education performance with high
levels of poverty, regardless of biodiversity (variety
of flora).  It  is, therefore, irrelevant.
(b) and (c) also support the inverse relationship
Page 3
CAT 1999 Actual Paper
between  biodiversity and educational performance,
but each reserves a role for poverty in this relationship.
(c) summarizes better, hence (c).
10. b (b) is the only option that explains how reducing
taxes will broaden the tax base. If taxes on cigarettes
(which constitute 90% of the revenues) are reduced,
the prices of cigarettes will come down, thereby
increasing the demand for cigarettes. More the
cigarette smokers, the broader the tax base. Options
(a) and (c) mention peripheral matters. (d) is talking
about increasing duties (taxes) whereas the last
sentence of the paragraph has only looked at
“reducing taxes”.
11. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
(a) undermines Mathews’ theory by showing how
population need not follow geometric rate of growth
and (b) undermines it by showing how food need not
follow arithmetic rate of growth.
(d) undermines his theory by pointing out that the
inability of our planet to support the growing human
population need not lead to disastrous consequences
for humans. There are ways that these can be averted.
(c) is the only option that does not undermine his theory.
It also does not support his theory by referring to the
different rates of growth in human and natural
systems, but merely asserts that these rates of growth
remain constant and cannot be changed.
12. a (a) is the correct answer choice.
The picture that emerges from the passage is:
Year     Production % increase over
     (in tonnes) previous year
1970 – 71 6,089 ___
___ ___ ___
1997 – 98 5,830 ___
1998 – 99 8,079 38.58%
This shows that the average production has remained
well below 6,000 tonnes in the previous years. The
significant increase of over 2,000 tonnes in 1998–99
was achieved by using all possible productivity
enhancing measures.
If all areas have been properly irrigated, if all
unproductive coffee bushes have been replaced, if
intensive refilling and improved agricultural practices
have been used — how much more can be done?
Obviously, the target of 10,000 tonnes (about 70%
increase over average of less than 6000 tonnes) is
unrealistic, as explained by option (a). Options (b) and
(c) also indirectly contribute to making the target of
10,000 tonnes unrealistic. But (a) contributes MOST.
(d), on the other hand, supports the target as realistic,
by placing faith in the soundness of the target-selling
produces.
13. b (b) is the correct answer choice.
The first sentence of the passage asserts that:
Intelligence of animals is proportionate to the extent of
their socializing.
Then the passage gives examples of how animals are
effective when they are in their own social group and
ineffective when they are alone.
This is exactly what is given in option (b).
(a) and (c) are partly stated in the passage, but do not
convey the central message.
(d) cannot be inferred as the passage does not
compare the behaviour of elephants and beavers with
the behaviour of bees and ants.
14. d (d) is the correct answer choice.
It is an example of doing the right thing, ‘at the wrong
time.’
In (d), telling a long story could be entertaining or
interesting, but not when others have heard it many
times before. The intention in (b) and (c) contradicts
the definition of an unseasonable man. (a) is irrelevant.
15. a (a) is the correct answer choice.
It is also an example of doing the right thing, ‘at the
wrong time.’
In (a), getting a higher bidder is helpful to the salesman,
but not when he has just closed a deal. He will only
curse himself and you. (d) is a matter of choice, not
unseasonableness. (b) may be undesirable, but not
unseasonable. There is nothing unseasonable about
(c) either.
16. d (d) is the correct answer choice.
The question relates to choosing the correct pronoun
case: Subjective (we) or objective (us). The answer
to the question ‘who had left before he arrived?’ is
‘we’, not ‘us’: ‘We’ is the subject of the verb ‘had left’
and the referent of the relative pronoun ‘who,’ which
is also in the subjective case.
(b) and (c) are incorrect because they use ‘Us’ the
objective case. They also have other obvious errors.
(a) Uses the correct pronoun case (We), but
incorrectly places both verbs ‘had left’ and ‘had arrived’
in the past perfect tenses. For indicating that one event
has occurred in the past before another, the former
should be placed in past perfect tense, while the latter
in simple past tense.
17. a (a) is the correct answer, as it corrects all the errors
in the original sentence. Other options do not.
Redundancy:
(i) ‘rose up’: ‘rise’ includes the idea of upward motion.
(ii) ‘in her opinion, she thought’: use either ‘in her opinion’
or ‘she thought’.
Idiom (iii) ‘passed on’: Bills are always ‘passed’ in
Parliament. ‘Pass on’ is a phrasal verb and has its own
uses.
18. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
This question tests you for parallelism. There are two
possible parallel structures:
(i) Mr Pillai, X and Y, will be ... (phrase X and Y placed
in apposition).
(ii) Mr Pillai, who is X and also Y, will be ... (use of
who-clause)
There are also other ways to express the same idea
but with different shades of meaning/emphasis:
(iii) Since Mr Pillai is X and Y, he will be ... (two main
clauses joined by ‘some’ as a conjunction).
(iv) Being X and Y , Mr Pillai will be ...   (use of participial
clause).
Answer choice (c) matches with (i) above. Other
choices do not match with any of the other possible
grammatical structures.
Page 4 CAT 1999 Actual Paper
19. b (b) is the correct answer choice.
This question tests you for use of the correct verb
tense. Possible constructions could be:
(i) At the beginning of this decade, X took a giant stride
...
(ii) Use present perfect, when we talk of a period of
time extending from a point in the past and completion
of an action ‘since’ then, as seen from today’s
perspective.
(b) matches with (ii) above and correctly uses the
present perfect tense. The phrase ‘at the beginning of
this decade’ is merely placed in opposition to inform us
about the ‘advent of cable television,’ and does not in
any way affect the structure of the sentence.
20. a (a) is the correct answer choice.
The main verb ‘made great sacrifices’ in the main clause
is modified by both participial clauses to explain the
sacrifices she made:
(i) ‘moving house on three occasions’.
(ii) ‘severing the thread ... to make him understand the
need to persevere.’
In (b) and (c), ‘severed’ (simple past tense) is used
parallel with ‘made’, thereby producing two parallel
main clauses. This is not grammatically incorrect, but
changes the intended meaning, which was to highlight
‘severing of the thread ...’ as a ‘sacrifice’ the mother
made.
(d) uses ‘severing’ correctly, but incorrectly replaces
‘him’  referring to Mencius by ‘them.’
21. b (b) is the correct answer choice.
The question tests you for the correct positioning of
the adverbial phrase ‘in two weeks.’ Since this phrase
relates to ‘putting together a programme,’ it should be
positioned closest to the verb phrase it modifies. The
possible positions are examined below:
(i) ‘You’ve put together (in two weeks) a
programme ...’
[Incorrect. Adverb cannot come between the verb
and its object.]
(ii) ‘You’ve put together a programme (in two weeks)
that solves ...’
[Incorrect. Here the adverb cannot separate the noun
‘program’ and the relative pronoun. ‘that’, which
modifies it.]
(iii) ‘(in two weeks) you’ve put together a programme
...’
[Correct. The adverbial phrase is close to the verb it
modifies and is not intrusive in this position.]
In (a) and (c), the intended meaning changes. It appears
that ‘the problem is solved in two weeks,’ rather than
‘the programme being put together in two weeks’.
(d) in incorrect as the adverbial phrase ‘in two weeks’
should be cordoned off by two commas, and
introduction of “only” changes the meaning.
22. d (d) is the correct answer choice.
The question tests you for the correct idiomatic
structure to be used with the verb ‘proclaim.’ ‘Proclaim,’
unlike ‘claim,’ cannot be followed by a to-infinitive. It
should be followed by a that-clause in this case.
Therefore, (d) is correct, while (a) and (c) are incorrect.
Though (b) correctly uses the that-clause, the present
continuous tense ‘are saving’ changes the meaning.
The simple present tense ‘save’ is appropriate here to
indicate a general sense. Furthermore, ‘less’ itself is a
comparative (little ? less ? least) and need not be
replaced by the double comparative ‘lesser,’ which is
used only in certain standard idiomatic phrases, such
as, ‘the lesser of the two evils.’
23. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
The question tests you for the correct use of passive
voice and the positioning  of adverbs. First, ‘end’ cannot
be the doer of the action: ‘would delay,’ but it should
correctly be at the receiving end: ‘would be delayed
(passive voice).’ Second, both the adverbs ‘otherwise’
and ‘only’ are required for the intended meaning to
emerge clearly. Third, these adverbs should be
positioned closest to the verb they modify. What better
place than to be sandwiched between the auxiliary
verb and the main verb: ‘Would be otherwise only
delayed.’
24. b (b) is the correct answer choice: This answer emerges
from para 2, second sentence: “... WTO was a product
of a series of trade-offs between principal actors and
groups.” The important players were essentially the
United  States; Europeans; countries like Canada and
other middle  and smaller trading partners; and the
developing countries, which continued negotiations
as part of the Uruguay Round till the 1990s. The Tokyo
Round of the 1970s was an attempt at a ‘constitutional
reform’ of the GATT, while what the important players
eventually settled for in the WTO was the evolution of
a rules–based system through multiple negotiations
which obviously required time.
(a): Though it is mentioned in para 1 that ‘the US
government wanted to put off the Tokyo Round of the
1970s to the future’, but it is clear from para 2 that
other important players also first wanted to evolve a
rules-based system through negotiations before
agreeing to anything binding on them.
(c) is factually incorrect in light of para 3, and as such
has no relevance to the non-formation of WTO in the
1970s. (d) is incomplete as ‘the T okyo Round negotiation
was an attempt at constitutional reform of GATT,’ and
not related to formation of a new organization, WTO,
as such.
25. b (b) is the summary of what is discussed in the second
paragraph and emerges from the last sentence of the
paragraph. (a), (c) and (d) are also stated in the second
paragraph but as individual considerations that went
into the formulation of the WTO package. (b) sums it
up succinctly.
26. a (a) is the correct answer choice.
In paragraph 3, the passage defines ‘legal development’
as ‘the promotion of the technical legal values of
consistency, clarity and effectiveness. And these
values were achieved in the WTO through (a)
consistency: integrating under one roof the agreements
signed under GATT.
(b) Clarity: removing ambiguities about the powers of
constructing parties to make certain decisions.
(c) Effectiveness: eliminating grandfather rights
exceptions and defects in dispute settlement
procedure.
Option (a) only covers how the value of consistency
was achieved, option (c) relates to the value of
effectiveness, but omits the word ‘eliminating’ and
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CAT 1999 Actual Paper
option (d) relates to the value of clarity, but omits the
word ‘removing’. This omissions render these options
incomplete, and hence disqualifies them as possible
correct answers. Thus, option (a) ‘partly’ (as in the
question stem) answers the question how technical
legal values were promoted in the WTO.
Option (b) is an observation, not a step.
27. d (d) is the correct answer choice
The question stem alludes to the ‘teleological method
of interpretation,’ whereby action of member states
were evaluated against the accomplishment of
community goals. (paragraph 4, lines 7 and 8). The
other choices (a), (b) and (c) do not touch this main
point.
28. c (c) is the correct answer choice. The ‘benefits of
international trade’ (para 2, lines 11 and 12)  refer to
‘the export gains’ (para 2, line 14) as brought out in
option (c). Whereas option (b) only talks about the
export gains and option (d) only about a rule-based
system. (a) is a misleading choice.
29. d (d) is the correct answer choice.
Since ‘the doctrine of mutual recognition handed down
(by the European Court and Justice) in the case Cassis
de Dijon was a key turning point,’ and ‘the court is
recognized as a major player in European integration’,
join these together and you get option (d) as the correct
option (para 4, lines 3 to 5). Options (a), (b) and (c)
are also mentioned in para 4, but are not directly related
to the Cassis de Dijon case as such.
30. d (d) is the correct answer choice.
All the three issues raised in options (a), (b) and (c)
are arguments against abstract art, as discussed in
para 2.
31. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
It echoes the words in para 1, lines 7 and 8. ‘Something
they can relate to and understand immediately without
too much thought’. (a), (b) and (d) are peripheral
observations.
32. b (b) is the correct answer choice.
This can be inferred from para 3, lines 6 and 7. ‘If he
had used representational images and colour, much
of the emotional content would have been lost and the
piece (Guernica) would not have caused the demand
for justice that it did.’ (c) is a shocking choice. (d) is
not true at all. (a) is just the background for the painting.
33. c (c) is the correct answer choice and directly emerges
from para 3, last two lines. (a) may be an isolated
opinion. (b) and (d) are irrelevant to the question.
34. a (a) is the correct answer choice.
Para 4 discusses how each deals with ‘reality’ on
canvas:-
(i) Representational artist: What he sees with his eyes
– he reproduces on canvas.
(ii) Abstract artist: What he feels about what his eyes
see – he interprets on canvas.
Option (b) is incorrect as nowhere in the passage
does the author talk about one being superior to the
other. The author’s point of view is that the critics of
abstract art fail to see its merit, both forms are different
and have their own merits.
Options (c) and (d) are irrelevant to the question asked.
(c) is refuted in the passage and (d) is rather a tall
claim. (a) is a lopsided observation.
35. c (c) is the correct answer choice.
The concept that because humans can perceive the
world around them, they are the ‘revealers’ of reality,
has been highlighted in the second para: ‘... that man
is the means by which things are manifested’. — ‘With
each of our acts, the world reveals to us a new face’.
Option (a), though implicit in the passage, is not the
central point of the author.
Option (b) and (d) talk of the unity of nature, but it is
not relevant to the central idea of the passage.
36. b (b) is the correct answer choice.  Refer para 3, lines
4 - 6 especially the fifth line.
37. d (d) is the correct answer choice.
The author distinguishes between perception and
creation in the following manner:-
i) Perception: Man, the subject, is essential as ‘revealer’
of objects around him but not essential to the existence
of the objects.
In other words, if there is no object, there is nothing
for men to perceive or ‘reveal’, but object can exist
whether man is there to perceive it or not.
(ii) creation: Man creates in order to feel essential in
the world around him. So, it is the creative activity that
is essential, not man’s creations (paintings, writing,
etc.)
All other options are either irrelevant or do not capture
the essence of the meaning.
38. a (a) is the correct answer.
The writer is the creator (subject) of the ‘literary work’
(object). To the writer, the very act of writing is
essential, not his literary work. On the other hand, the
reader (subject) is essential as the revealer of this
literary work/the object of someone else’s creation.
But the reader is not essential to the existence of this
literary work, which can exist even if these is no one
to read it. This is how the dialectic of perception and
creation manifests itself in the art of writing. Only
option (a) captures the essence.
39. b (b) is the correct answer choice, because the writer
makes us (readers) essential as revealers of what is
written in the writer’s  literary work (the created object
which is now part of the world around us). Can be
inferred from para 2. (a), (c) and (d) are not accurate
inferences from the passage.
40. a (a) is the correct answer choice.
The nation-state was expected to guarantee the
happiness of individuals in the name of (para 1, lines 2
and 3):-
– Modernization in the West [not development in the
West, as in option (c).]
– Socialism in the Eastern Bloc [not modernization in
the Eastern Bloc, as in option (d).]
– Development in the Third World (as in option (a), not
socialism in the Third World, as in option (b).]