XAT 2025 RC Passages | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) - CAT PDF Download

Passage - 1

Read the following passage and answer the question that follows.
The lovely thing about the unsayable is that it is unsaid. As soon as it is said, it is sayable and loses all its mystery and ambiguity. Art exists so that the unsayable can be said without having to actually say it. We cloud it in secrecy and obfuscation. The mind is free to roam and all things can be imagined, under the cover of darkness. How nice that is. The unsayable. How tired we are of having things explained to us. Having things said. How nice it is when people just shut … up."
Which of the following options can be BEST inferred from the passage?
A. Art unfolds the mystery of human tongues.
B. Any piece of art defies expression.
C. Art echoes the language that is unintelligible
D. Explaining an art metamorphoses into another piece of art.
E. Art expresses what humans cannot communicate in words

Ans: E
Sol: Let us understand what the passage is trying to convey, 
We see that the first line talks about the beauty of unsaid things, the author is trying to emphasize the charm of unsaid things and how that charm is lost when it spoken out by stating that it loses all mystery and ambiguity when it is said out loud. 
They then bring in the idea of art, and how art acts as a tool that can convey ideas and thoughts without saying it. 
They mention that it is clouded in secrecy and obfuscation and the fact that the interpretation of a piece of art lies in the eyes of the beholder. 
They conclude by stating the beauty of unsayable things and how things are better when they are left unsaid. 
After understanding the passage, taking a look at the options we see
Option C: Art echoes the language that is unintelligible can be eliminated as it is out of context and brings in the idea of intelligence out of nowhere. 
Option D: Explaining an art metamorphoses into another piece of art can be eliminated too as this actually goes against what the author is trying to convey; by explaining the art you are tainting the beauty of the art according to the author. 
Option B: Any piece of art defies expression this too is wrong as it defies the author, the author clearly states that art expresses things while leaving it unsaid. 
Option A: Art unfolds the mystery of human tongues, this option emphasizes on the human tongue over the beauty of unsaid things and the charm of art, which cannot be inferred. 
Option E: Art expresses what humans cannot communicate in words, this can be inferred as the author talks about the beauty of art as it can convey unsaid thoughts and ideas. 
Therefore, Option E is the correct answer. 

Passage - 2

Read the following passage and answer the question that follows.
Employees complaining about mundane tasks are often ignored. There is a listlessness that settles around them. A bored employee may continue to produce good results, but that can also be because the tasks are repetitive, and the outcomes are expected.
Which of the following options can be BEST inferred from the passage?
A. Mundane tasks create listlessness around good performers
B. Boredom is a serious problem that needs immediate attention
C. Listlessness settles around good performers who are bored
D. A bored employee must be a bad performer for the organization to take notice
E. Good performance makes organizations overlook their employees’ state of mind.

Ans: E
Sol: Let's look at each option individually:
Option A: Although close, this option introduces the idea that listlessness is produced only around good performers, while the passage implies that it affects employees in general. While not a sure shot elimination, we can look at other options. 
Option B: This sense of urgency by "immediate" and the call for action is absent from the text and can be eliminated as an option. 
Option C: This has the same flaw as option A, where it focuses on the good employees, and the idea of boredom is not said to be the cause but the mundane tasks creating listlessness, which results in boredom.
Option D: This extreme option can not be inferred from the text. 
Option E: This is what the passage is hinting towards. Since outcomes are consistent, even if the employees are listless and bored, the organization might not find out about this and might overlook this change since performance is maintained. 
Hence, of all the given options, only E can be inferred from the text. 

Passage - 3

Read the following passage and answer the THREE questions that follow.
You may laugh at a hat, but what you are making fun of, in this case, is not the piece of felt or straw, but the shape that men have given it, -- the human caprice whose mould it has assumed. It is strange that so important a fact, and such a simple one too, has not attracted to a greater degree the attention of philosophers. Several have defined man as "an animal which laughs." They might equally well have defined him as an animal which is laughed at; for if any other animal, or some lifeless object, produces the same effect, it is always because of some resemblance to man, of the stamp he gives it or the use he puts it to.
Here I would point out, as a symptom equally worthy of notice, the ABSENCE OF FEELING which usually accompanies laughter. It seems as though the comic could not produce its disturbing effect unless it fell, so to say, on the surface of a soul that is thoroughly calm and unruffled. Indifference is its natural environment, for laughter has no greater foe than emotion. I do not mean that we could not laugh at a person who inspires us with pity, for instance, or even with affection, but in such a case we must, for the moment, put our affection out of court and impose silence upon our pity. In a society composed of pure intelligences there would probably be no more tears, though perhaps there would still be laughter; whereas highly emotional souls, in tune and unison with life, in whom every event would be sentimentally prolonged and re-echoed, would neither know nor understand laughter. Try, for a moment, to become interested in everything that is being said and done; act, in imagination, with those who act, and feel with those who feel; in a word, give your sympathy its widest expansion: as though at the touch of a fairy wand you will see the flimsiest of objects assume importance, and a gloomy hue spread over everything. Now step aside, look upon life as a disinterested spectator: many a drama will turn into a comedy. It is enough for us to stop our ears to the sound of music, in a room where dancing is going on, for the dancers at once to appear ridiculous. How many human actions would stand a similar test? Should we not see many of them suddenly pass from grave to gay, on isolating them from the accompanying music of sentiment? To produce the whole of its effect, then, the comic demands something like a momentary anesthesia of the heart. Its appeal is to intelligence, pure and simple.

Q1: What does the author BEST mean when they say, “it seems as though the comic could not produce its disturbing effect unless it fell, so to say, on the surface of a soul that is thoroughly calm and unruffled?”
A. Comics are the most effective when the audience is unaware of the context.
B. Unless one is emotionally detached from the event, it is impossible to appreciate a comical view.
C. Relaxed people tend to find edgy or disturbing comedy funnier.
D. To appreciate humour with an unsettling tone, people benefit from being in a calm state.
E. Comical behaviour disturbs those more deeply whose minds are calm and composed.

Ans: B
Sol: Through the line, the author is essentially saying that a comic can have its effect only on a calm person, as in a person who is not himself meddled by the problem at hand. (It would be difficult to make a person laugh at a phone falling off a building when it is his phone. )
Looking at the options:
Option A: It is not that he wants them to be unaware but unaffected; this is inaccurate. 
Option B: This is precisely what the author is trying to convey not only from this particular line but from the entire penultimate paragraph. Only when one is unruffled, which is unaffected or detached, can it fully let the comic do its work. 
Option C: It is not about actually relaxed people or edgy or disturbing things; this can be easily eliminated. 
Option D: This comes close, but the idea of an unsettling tone is not accurate. The disturbing effect is not about the joke itself being dark or unsettling. 
Option E: This is also unrelated to what the author is trying to say. 
Therefore, Option B is the correct answer. 

Q2: Based on the passage, which of the following statements CANNOT be inferred?
A. Comic happens in a setting of emotional detachment, having a sense of distance.
B. Inanimate objects can become a subject of laughter because they may project human characteristics.
C. When strong emotions are involved, laughter cannot be evoked.
D. When you laugh at a hat, you laugh at a human being it represents.
E. Humour only springs from experiences that demand momentary anesthesia.

Ans: E
Sol:
Let's look at each option individually: 
Option A: This is what the entire penultimate paragraph builds towards, that comedy works when one is indifferent and not close to the situation being laughed at. Hence, this statement can be inferred. 
Option B: This is what the first paragraph talks about. A hat is laughed at because of the traits humans have given it and what human characteristics it resembles; no squirrel is laughing at a "hat"; hence, this too can be inferred. 
Option C: While this might seem like an extreme option, this is what the passage conveys, "In a society composed of pure intelligences there would probably be no more tears, though perhaps there would still be laughter; whereas highly emotional souls, in tune and unison with life, in whom every event would be sentimentally prolonged and re-echoed, would neither know nor understand laughter." Hence, this, too, can be inferred. 
Option D: Similar to option B, this can be inferred from the passage's first paragraph. "...if any other animal, or some lifeless object, produces the same effect, it is always because of some resemblance to man, of the stamp he gives it or the use he puts it to." Hence, this too can be inferred from the passage. 
Option E: Although the penultimate paragraph has the line: "To produce the whole of its effect, then, the comic demands something like a momentary anesthesia of the heart."  The options distort it by omitting the heart; it is not that we need actual anaesthesia but that we need to put our feelings and pity on hold. 
Hence, of all the given statements only option E can not be inferred and would be the correct answer. 

Q3: Based on the passage, which of the following statements will the author BEST agree with?
A. Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up but a comedy in long-shot.
B. Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious.
C. Comedy is but tragedy, cunningly disguised and popularized for the multitude.
D. A person who knows how to laugh at himself will never cease to be amused.
E. Comedy is an escape, not from truth but from despair.

Ans: A
Sol:
We can refer to the lines "Indifference is its natural environment, for laughter has no greater foe than emotion."
" Now step aside, look upon life as a disinterested spectator: many a drama will turn into a comedy." and the example of dancing looking comical when you look from far away.
The author is essentially trying to say that life can be full of emotions and pity, but we can laugh only when we silence our pity. While dancing in a room with music blasting and people syncing themselves to it might seem a piece of art, a ballet performance on a street with no music (especially for someone who does not know what ballet is) would seem comical.
Option A: "Life is a tragedy when seen close up but a comedy in long shots" is a famous quote by Chalie Chaplin. The author is trying to get across the same point: If you look at each event very closely and minutely, it might seem serious and tragic, say slipping while going for a walk or a dog chasing you while on a morning jog, but when you look from far away (in a temporal sense), it seems funny. Hence, the author would most agree with this. 
The other options are not something the author has implied or hinted towards, and would not agree with them. Option B is incorrect, as comedy is not said to be a way of being "serious", Option C and E have similar flaws as in they are not presented as disguises or escapes, and option D is self-humor which again is not implied. 
Therefore, Option A is the correct answer. 

Passage - 4

Read the following passage and answer the question that follow.
This fluidity and situational dependence is uniquely human. In other species, in-group/outgroup distinctions reflect degrees of biological relatedness, or what evolutionary biologists call “kin selection.” Rodents distinguish between a sibling, a cousin, and a stranger by smell—fixed, genetically determined pheromonal signatures—and adapt their cooperation accordingly. Those murderous groups of chimps are largely made up of brothers or cousins who grew up together and predominantly harm outsiders. Humans are plenty capable of kin-selective violence themselves, yet human group mentality is often utterly independent of such instinctual familial bonds. Most modern human societies rely instead on cultural kin selection, a process allowing people to feel closely related to what are, in a biological sense, total strangers. Often, this requires a highly active process of inculcation, with its attendant rituals and vocabularies. Consider military drills producing “bands of brothers,” unrelated college freshmen becoming sorority “sisters,” or the bygone value of welcoming immigrants into “the American family.” This malleable, rather than genetically fixed, path of identity formation also drives people to adopt arbitrary markers that enable them to spot their cultural kin in an ocean of strangers—hence the importance various communities attach to flags, dress, or facial hair. The hipster beard, the turban, and the “Make America Great Again” hat all fulfill this role by sending strong signals of tribal belonging. Moreover, these cultural communities are arbitrary when compared to the relatively fixed logic of biological kin selection. Few things show this arbitrariness better than the experience of immigrant families, where the randomness of a visa lottery can radically reshuffle a child’s education, career opportunities, and cultural predilections. Had my grandparents and father missed the train out of Moscow that they instead barely made, maybe I’d be a chain-smoking Russian academic rather than a Birkenstock-wearing American one, moved to tears by the heroism during the Battle of Stalingrad rather than that at Pearl Harbor. Scaled up from the level of individual family histories, our big-picture group identities—the national identities and cultural principles that structure our lives—are just as arbitrary and subject to the vagaries of history.
Q1: Based on the passage, how are rodents and humans similar to each other?
A. Both rodents and humans carry a genetically determined pheromonal signature.
B. Both rodents and humans can reign their instincts.
C. Both rodents and humans make their groups exclusive of brothers and cousins.
D. Both rodents and humans divide the world between “us” and “them.” 
E. Both rodents and humans are hostile towards outsiders.

Ans: D
Sol:
Let us try understanding the passage, 
The author contrasts human flexibility in group identity with the fixed, biology-based kin selection seen in other species. While animals like rodents and chimpanzees form groups strictly based on genetic relatedness—with cooperation or aggression dictated by pheromonal signals and familial bonds—humans exhibit a much more fluid and context-dependent approach to grouping.
The focus then shifts to how humans establish group bonds beyond mere biological kinship. Although capable of kin-based loyalty, modern societies predominantly engage in "cultural kin selection," where rituals, shared language, and collective practices foster feelings of deep kinship among unrelated individuals. 
Question asks: Based on the passage, how are rodents and humans similar to each other?
We look at the options seeing which of the following we can infer. 
A cannot be inferred, it is stated that Rodents have a signature scent, nothing is mentioned about humans. 
B cannot be inferred as this is not mentioned throughout
C is inherently wrong and goes against the main idea of the passage
E cannot be inferred as there is no mention of behavior to outsiders. 
D can be inferred as both humans and rodents create groups although on different basis but nevertheless still divide themselves from others using different criterion. 

Q2: What does the author BEST mean when they say, “This fluidity and situational dependence is uniquely human?”
A. Humans' kin selection is not based on instinctual familial bonds while relating to strangers.
B. Humans use cognitive architecture to detect any potential cues about social coalitions and alliances.
C. Humans are uniquely progressive and ever evolving.
D. The implicit traits that humans associate with can change over time.
E. Humans’ in-group/out-group thinking is influenced by their space and time.

Ans: E
Sol:
Let us try understanding the passage,an identity formation is culturally driven rather than genetically pre-determined, people adopt arbitrary symbols—like specific clothing, hairstyles, or even political hats—to signal their membership in a group. These markers serve as visual cues of belonging and tribal affiliation in a diverse society.
The author also illustrates that cultural communities and identities are inherently arbitrary and shaped by chance historical events, using the example of immigrant families. .
The questions ask: What does the author BEST mean when they say, “This fluidity and situational dependence is uniquely human?”
We are asked about the initial part of the paragraph, mentioning the fluidity of humans that is not present with other animals. The central idea of the passage is the fact that humans create bonds not just biologically and how their association is fluid in nature. 
We look at the options and only two of them are remotely relevant to the question asked, 
"The implicit traits that humans associate with can change over time" and "Humans’ in-group/out-group thinking is influenced by their space and time"
The passage does not mention anything about ideals and associations changing with time, the author only talks about the different associations humans can have and how they are at times arbitrary or the result of certain events or actions. Hence the former option can be eliminated. The latter option is the correct one as it clearly outlines what the author is trying to convey by mentioning the fluid nature of human association and how it can change according to space and time. 

Q3: What does the author BEST mean when they refer to the Battle of Stalingrad and Pearl Harbour?
A. Our identities and emotional attachments are subject to erratic interpretation of history.
B. Humans’ relationship with any specific place depends upon their lineage and ancestry.
C. Humans do not follow any specific logic when they develop association with a particular cultural community.
D. Humans’ interpretation of specific events depends on their emotional association with them. 
E. Humans are capable of selective violence towards each other.

Ans: D
Sol: 
Let us try to understand the passage. Identity formation is culturally driven rather than genetically pre-determined. People adopt arbitrary symbols—like specific clothing, hairstyles, or even political hats—to signal their membership in a group. These markers are visual cues of belonging and tribal affiliation in a diverse society.
Using the example of immigrant families, the author also illustrates that cultural communities and identities are inherently arbitrary and shaped by chance historical events. The unpredictable nature of immigration outcomes can drastically alter an individual's life path and identity, highlighting how national and cultural identities emerge from factors beyond genetic ties and are subject to the random twists of history.
The question asks about the association with historical events. Here, it is important to note that the historical events were not "interpreted." The author clearly mentions that he might have different views about the same historical event if he were born elsewhere. This inference rules out the fact that history is being interpreted; rather, the person (in this case, immigrants) is associated with certain historical events depending on their location and their cultural ties. 
The only correct option is "Humans' interpretation of specific events depends on their emotional association with them." 
There is no "erratic interpretation"; rather, there is an understanding of a certain event based on emotion, cultural, and geographic association.

Passage - 5

Read the following poem and answer the question that follow.
Look how you turned on
the ceiling fan—it’s too high,
see how it shakes and trembles.
You walk into this room
with your hot ideas
and the ceiling fan has to work harder
to cool down the room
for us. You walk into this room
with your crazy eyes
and the ceiling fan
wants to fly loose. It dreams
of becoming a spider lily.

Q1: Which of the following statements BEST conveys the theme of the poem?
A. The poem talks about inner conflict resolved by an attempt to restore balance
B. The poem conveys fear and anxiety due to the loss of stability.
C. The poem conveys a subtle art of argumentation and counter-argumentation
D. The poem talks about a conflict between transformation and escapism
E. The poem conveys quest for self during emotional turmoil

Ans: B
Sol: 
The poem builds tension through several key elements:

• The unstable, shaking ceiling fan
• The "hot ideas" causing the fan to work harder
• "Crazy eyes" intensifying the fan's instability
• The fan's dream of transforming into a spider lily

Looking at the given options:

a) While there is conflict, there's no clear resolution or balance being restored
b) The imagery strongly supports fear and instability - the trembling fan, the destabilizing presence, the sense of impending chaos
c) This doesn't fit - there's no clear argumentative structure
d) While transformation is present (fan to spider lily), it's more about instability than escape
e) There is emotional turmoil, but not necessarily a quest for self

Option B appears to best capture the poem's central theme. The entire piece builds a sense of mounting instability and anxiety - from the physical shaking of the fan to the destabilizing effect of the "hot ideas" and "crazy eyes," culminating in the surreal image of the fan wanting to break free. The progression from physical instability to emotional/psychological unease effectively conveys fear and anxiety due to the loss of stability.
The spider lily image at the end, rather than suggesting escape or transformation as its primary meaning, serves to heighten this sense of instability - it's an impossible transformation that further emphasizes the loss of natural order and stability.

Q2: What does the author BEST mean, when she says, “You walk into this room with your hot ideas and the ceiling fan has to work harder to cool down the room for us?”
A. That the person’s presence makes the ceiling fan lose its ability to handle intense energy.
B. That the person brings with him passionate intellectual and emotional energy
C. That the person’s presence develops self-doubt in others.
D. That the person’s hostile presence makes others feel unwelcomed
E. That the person’s presence creates palpable tension in the room.

Ans: E
Sol:
Analysing the imagery in the poem to help us answer the question better, 
"Hot ideas": The phrase suggests that the person brings very intense, passionate, and possibly provocative thoughts or energy with them.
"Ceiling fan has to work harder to cool down the room": This isn't about the literal operation of the fan, but instead serves as a metaphor. The fan struggling to cool the room represents the room itself reacting to the heat (intensity) brought by the person’s ideas and presence.
Using the metaphors in the poem to help understand the author better, 
The person’s arrival raises the "temperature" in the room—not in a physical sense, but emotionally and intellectually.
The ceiling fan, which symbolizes the environment or the collective calm of the room, has to increase its effort (work harder) to counteract this rising intensity.
This struggle suggests that the atmosphere becomes charged, uneasy, or tense due to the person's intense energy or controversial ideas.
Looking through the options: 
Options a, c, and d focus on different interpretations (physical inability, self-doubt, hostility) that don't fully align with the metaphorical language of the poem.
Option b suggests "passionate intellectual and emotional energy," which is close but doesn’t capture the full consequence—the palpable tension—that option e does. The poem emphasizes not just the presence of passion but the tangible impact it has on the room.
Option E fits best: The description of the fan shaking, trembling, and wanting to “fly loose” implies that the environment feels the strain of the person’s energy. This strain is not just a simple reaction but something that impacts the whole room, creating an almost tangible tension. The phrase “creates palpable tension” captures the overall effect that the person’s "hot ideas" and intense presence have on everyone around them. The environment feels as though it’s under pressure, much like a room growing hot and requiring more cooling - which fits perfectly with the imagery used.

Passage - 6

Read the following passage and answer the question that follow.
No one argues that the rich should be rich because they were born to wealthy parents. Critics of inequality may complain that those who would abolish inheritance taxes, say, are implicitly endorsing hereditary privilege. But no one defends hereditary privilege outright or disputes the principle that careers should be open to talents. 
Most of our debates about access to jobs, education, and public office proceed from the premise of equal opportunity. Our disagreements are less about the principle itself than about what it requires. For example, critics of affirmative action in hiring and college admissions argue that such policies are inconsistent with equality of opportunity, because they judge applicants on factors other than merit. Defenders of affirmative action reply that such policies are necessary to make equality of opportunity a reality for members of groups that have suffered discrimination or disadvantage.
At the level of principle at least, and political rhetoric, meritocracy has won the day. In democracies throughout the world, politicians of the center-left and center-right claim that their policies are the ones that will enable all citizens, whatever their race or ethnicity, gender or class, to compete on equal terms and to rise as far as their efforts and talents will take them. When people complain about meritocracy, the complaint is usually not about the ideal but about our failure to live up to it: The wealthy and powerful have rigged the system to perpetuate their privilege; the professional classes have figured out how to pass their advantages on to their children, converting the meritocracy into a hereditary aristocracy; colleges that claim to select students on merit give an edge to the sons and daughters of the wealthy and the well-connected. According to this complaint, meritocracy is a myth, a distant promise yet to be redeemed.

Q1: Based on the passage, which of the following inferences CANNOT be drawn?
A. Though the wealthy can pass their advantages to their children, wealth and privilege cannot undermine meritocracy.
B. Equality of opportunity is widely accepted in principle, but there is disagreement about how to achieve it.
C. Meritocracy is a popular ideal in political rhetoric, promoted across the political spectrum.
D. Hereditary privilege is not openly defended but can be perpetuated through policies like the abolition of inheritance taxes.
E. Meritocracy is seen by some as an unfulfilled promise, with the system still skewed in favour of the well-connected.

Ans: A
Sol: 
Let us evaluate the given choices - 
Option A: This is contrary to the idea presented in the passage: we are told that wealth and privilege do undermine meritocracy by rigging the system, enabling the wealthy to pass on advantages to their children, and turning meritocracy into a hereditary aristocracy.
Option B: This is consistent with the discussion. The author states that “our disagreements are less about the principle itself than about what it requires,” clearly highlighting a consensus on the principle but debates about its implementation.
Option C: The passage explicitly mentions that “politicians of the center-left and center-right” claim their policies promote meritocracy. This somewhat establishes its popularity across political ideologies (since members from opposing sides of the spectrum are involved).
Option D: This is also a valid point: the author notes that “no one defends hereditary privilege outright” while also suggesting that policies like abolishing inheritance taxes implicitly endorse it.
Option E: The passage states that “meritocracy is a myth, a distant promise yet to be redeemed,” and critiques that the system favours the wealthy and well-connected. Thus, the statement here aligns with the discussion.
Hence, Option A is the correct choice.

Q2: Which of the following can be BEST concluded from the passage?
A. Meritocracy is a utopian system that is difficult to implement as the wealthy rigs the system.
B. In an unequal society, any attempt to execute meritocracy perpetuates inequality.
C. Meritocracy is desired by everybody, but despised by those rejected by it.
D. Meritocracy is accepted by everyone, but not understood by anyone.
E. Everybody admires meritocracy, until it is they or their children’s career on the line.

Ans: B
Sol: 
Among the given choices, Option B offers an apt summary of the author’s intended message. The passage critiques the implementation of meritocracy in unequal societies. While meritocracy is upheld as an ideal, the passage underscores that in practice, structural inequalities - such as the wealthy rigging the system and passing privileges to their children - subvert its execution. The very institutions that claim to promote meritocracy (e.g., colleges) often end up perpetuating inequality by giving advantages to the wealthy and well-connected. This implies that any attempt to establish meritocracy in an unequal society is compromised by existing disparities, thus perpetuating inequality rather than eliminating it.
Contrarily, the remaining choices are either not implied or stated in the passage. For instance, while the passage critiques the wealthy's manipulation, it does not frame meritocracy as inherently “utopian,” as suggested in Option A. The emphasis is on practical shortcomings, not on it being an unattainable ideal. Option D also distorts the message: the passage shows that people understand meritocracy well but disagree on its practical implementation; the critique focuses on execution, not comprehension. 
Option E is out of scope: the passage does not delve into selfish motivations for rejecting meritocracy. Similarly, Option C is not understood from the passage: the author focuses on systemic critiques rather than individual resentment. Critics argue meritocracy has failed to deliver fairness due to structural flaws, not because they are personally “rejected.”

Q3: Based on the passage, which of the following will the defenders of affirmative action identify as the main problem in the implementation of the meritocratic system?
A. Meritocratic system does not acknowledge the initial disadvantages in opportunities.
B. Meritocratic system supports those having hereditary privileges.
C. Meritocratic system rewards individuals based on the outcome they produce.
D. Meritocratic system intentionally favours the rich.
E. Meritocratic system is based on structural bias.

Ans: A
Sol:
The passage explicitly mentions that defenders of affirmative action argue that such policies are necessary to make equality of opportunity a reality for groups that have suffered discrimination or disadvantage. This suggests that they see the meritocratic system as failing to account for initial disadvantages faced by certain groups, which prevents genuine equality of opportunity. Option A aligns with this idea the most.
The points presented in the other choices are either tangential or inconsistent with the view of those defending affirmative action. For example, though hereditary privilege is criticized in the passage (Option B), it is not the primary focus of affirmative action defenders. Similarly, structural bias may play a role in the criticism of meritocracy (Option E), but defenders of affirmative action emphasize addressing initial disadvantages, making Option A the more precise answer. Options C and D are not implied in the passage: there is no focus on meritocracy being based on outcomes or on meritocratic systems intentionally favouring the rich.

Passage - 7

Read the following passage and answer the question that follow.
Work, for many on the career track, is greedy. The individual who puts in overtime, weekend time, or evening time will earn a lot more—so much more that, even on an hourly basis, the person is earning more.…The greediness of work means that couples with children or other care responsibilities would gain by doing a bit of specialization. This specialization doesn’t mean catapulting back to the world of Leave It to Beaver. Women will still pursue demanding careers. But one member of the couple will be on call at home, ready to leave the office or workplace at a moment’s notice. That person will have a position with considerable flexibility and will ordinarily not be expected to answer an e-mail or a call at ten p.m. That parent will not have to cancel an appearance at soccer practice for an M&A. The other parent, however, will be on call at work and do just the opposite. The potential impact on promotion, advancement, and earnings is obvious. The work of professionals and managers has always been greedy. Lawyers have always burned the midnight oil. Academics have always been judged for their cerebral output and are expected not to turn their brains off in the evenings. Most doctors and veterinarians were once on call 24/7. The value of greedy jobs has greatly increased with rising income inequality, which has soared since the early 1980s. Earnings at the very upper end of the income distribution have ballooned. The worker who jumps the highest gets an ever-bigger reward. The jobs with the greatest demands for long hours and the least flexibility have paid disproportionately more, while earnings in other employments have stagnated. Thus, positions that have been more difficult for women to enter in the first place, such as those in finance, are precisely the ones that have seen the greatest increases in income in the last several decades. The private equity associate who sees the deal through from beginning to end, who did the difficult modeling, and who went to every meeting and late-night dinner, will have maximum chance for a big bonus and the sought-after promotion. Rising inequality in earnings may be one important reason why the gender pay gap among college graduates has remained flat in the last several decades, despite improvements in women’s credentials and positions. It may be the reason why the gender earnings gap for college graduates became larger than that between men and women in the entire population in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Women have been swimming upstream, holding their own but going against a strong current of endemic income inequality. Greedy work also means that couple equity has been, and will continue to be, jettisoned for increased family income. And when couple equity is thrown out the window, gender equality generally goes with it, except among same-sex unions. Gender norms that we have inherited get reinforced in a host of ways to allot more of the childcare responsibility to mothers, and more of the family care to grown daughters.

Q1: Which of the following statements CANNOT be inferred from the passage?
A. Flexibility in work may result in relatively lesser income.
B. The root of all problems in the world is greed.
C. Women can be equally greedy as men.
D. Many of those toiling hard on the career track are greedy
E. Jobs that extract the most out of the workforce also pay more

Ans: B
Sol:
If questions cannot be inferred, we should look for extreme statements. 
Option A: The general tone of the text and the line "The private equity associate who sees the deal through from beginning to end, who did the difficult modelling, and who went to every meeting and late-night dinner, will have the maximum chance for a big bonus and the sought-after promotion." hint towards the idea the one who is willing to stay at home and not pick up calls after 10 is less likely for promotion and result in relatively less income. 
Option B: This is a way too extreme statement. The author is mainly concerned with greed in terms of jobs and work and how it negatively affects women. Calling it the source of all problems is too far-fetched and can not be inferred. 
Option C: The line "Women will still pursue demanding careers" suggests that both men and women can be greedy regarding careers. However, it is a matter of who will stay home when the norm poses a problem. Women, however, can be as greedy (in terms of work) as men. 
Option D: This is close to the central idea of the passage and can be inferred from the tone. 
Option E: The passage's examples of private equity associates and other professions show that longer working hours, demanding more from employees, tend to pay more. 
Therefore, Option B is the correct answer. 

Q2: Which of the following about greedy work is CORRECT, as per the passage?
A. Organizations prefer only those who surrender their everything to the organization
B. With more women coming into the workforce, work itself is becoming greedier.
C. Work that requires more time investment and dedication tend to pay more, and hence are sought after
D. Greedy work is a result of greedy corporations, who reward greedy people
E. Employees willing to sacrifice their leisure and time with families must be rewarded with higher pay

Ans: C
Sol:
Option A: the words "surrender their everything" is extreme and hence can be eliminated.
Option B: This is nowhere implied that the influx of women in a field makes the field greedier and can be eliminated.
Option C: This is true according to the passage and hence would be the correct answer.
Option D: The greedy work resulting from the corporation is not implied, and this too can be eliminated.
Option E: "must be awarded" while they are generally awarded, saying that they must be awarded would be incorrect.
Therefore, Option C is the correct answer.

Q3: Based on the passage, which of the following options BEST summarizes the author’s views?
A. In heterosexual unions, women must pay a price to see their husbands rise to fame.
B. Greedy work reinforces extant gender norms, leading to gender pay gap.
C. Greedy work is the single most important reason for the gender pay gap we see in the society.
D. Greedy work results in a men’s club, ensuring that women do not get to be a part.
E. As women try to fight against gender norms, greedy work is their most formidable enemy

Ans: B
Sol:
Option A: This is not the point the author is trying to make; the main idea is that in heterosexual couples, one person has to sacrifice for the sake of the family (children) and hence is not able to do the greedy jobs, not for their husband's "rise to fame".
Option B: This is the point the author tries to make in the last few sentences: "It may be the reason why the gender earnings gap for college graduates became larger than that between men and women in the entire population in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Women have been swimming upstream, holding their own but going against a strong current of endemic income inequality." This aptly captures the author's views and hence would be the correct answer.
Option C: Although the author attributes the gender pay gap to the idea of greedy work, saying it would be the most important reason is not something that the author wants to get across or something that summarises the main idea.
Option D: Although not completely disconnected, the picture painted by the author is not of a men's club being formed but the problems posed by the idea of greedy work for women.
Option E: This option comes close, but greedy work as the "most formidable enemy can not be inferred and hence can not be said to be an apt summary of the author's views.
Therefore, Option B is the correct answer.

Passage - 8

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
Recently, a team of social scientists launched an experiment to test that hypothesis. They recruited 1,500 entrepreneurs in West Africa—a mix of women and men in their 30s, 40s, and 50s—who were running small startups in manufacturing, service, and commerce. They randomly assigned the founders to one of three groups. One was a control group: they went about their business as usual. The other two were training groups: they spent a week learning new concepts, analyzing them in case studies of other entrepreneurs, and applying them to their own startups through role-play and reflection exercises. What differed was whether the training focused on cognitive skills or character skills. In cognitive skills training, the founders took an accredited business course created by the International Finance Corporation. They studied finance, accounting, HR, marketing, and pricing, and practiced using what they learned to solve challenges and seize opportunities. In character skills training, the founders attended a class designed by psychologists to teach personal initiative. They studied proactivity, discipline, and determination, and practiced putting those qualities into action. Character skills training had a dramatic impact. After founders had spent merely five days working on these skills, their firms’ profits grew by an average of 30 percent over the next two years. That was nearly triple the benefit of training in cognitive skills. Finance and marketing knowledge might have equipped founders to capitalize on opportunities, but studying proactivity and discipline enabled them to generate opportunities. They learned to anticipate market changes rather than react to them. They developed more creative ideas and introduced more new products. When they encountered financial obstacles, instead of giving up, they were more resilient and resourceful in seeking loans. Along with demonstrating that character skills can propel us to achieve greater things, this evidence reveals that it’s never too late to build them … Character doesn’t set like plaster—it retains its plasticity. Character is often confused with personality, but they’re not the same. Personality is your predisposition—your basic instincts for how to think, feel, and act. Character is your capacity to prioritize your values over your instincts. Knowing your principles doesn’t necessarily mean you know how to practice them, particularly under stress or pressure. It’s easy to be proactive and determined when things are going well. The true test of character is whether you manage to stand by those values when the deck is stacked against you. If personality is how you respond on a typical day, character is how you show up on a hard day. Personality is not your destiny—it’s your tendency. Character skills enable you to transcend that tendency to be true to your principles. It’s not about the traits you have—it’s what you decide to do with them. Wherever you are today, there’s no reason why you can’t grow your character skills starting now.
Q1: Which of the following views would the author BEST agree with?
A. Putting our values and principles to practice requires transcending our personality.
B. Our values and principles are always put to test by our personality.
C. Our behavior is a function of our character not our personality.
D. Character skills risk abandoning your personality along with your instincts.
E. Because principles clash with your personality, character is needed.

Ans: A
Sol:
Option A: This aligns with the ideas presented in the passage. The author differentiates personality (our predispositions or instincts) from character (the ability to prioritize values over instincts). The passage emphasizes that practising values often requires overcoming the limitations of personality (instincts), particularly under stress or adverse conditions. The author notes:

• “Character is your capacity to prioritize your values over your instincts.”
• “Character skills enable you to transcend that tendency to be true to your principles.”

Option B: While personality can create challenges in practising values, the author does not emphasize a constant “test” dynamic. Instead, the focus is on pushing past the limitations of personality, not necessarily being "tested" by it.
Option C: The passage does not claim that behaviour is exclusively shaped by character. Instead, it recognizes both personality and character as influential, with character allowing us to act beyond our predispositions.
Option D: This misinterprets the passage. The author does not suggest abandoning personality but rather channelling it to align with principles.
Option E: This is an inaccurate representation of the idea in the passage. The need for character is not premised on the conflict of principles with instincts. Instead, the author simply discusses how character enables the application of values in alignment with principles, especially under pressure.

Q2: Which of the following can be BEST inferred from the passage?
A. Cognitive skills unlike character skills are always reactive.
B. Being aware of your character skills enable you to exercise them.
C. Sustainable success in life requires strong character skills.
D. Character skills can compensate for poor cognitive skills.
E. Character skills can be built only if one believes in them.

Ans: C
Sol:
Let us evaluate the given choices - 
Option A: Though the passage mentions that cognitive skills help entrepreneurs react to opportunities, it does not claim they are always reactive or that this is a defining characteristic of cognitive skills. This overgeneralizes the distinction.
Option B: The author emphasizes that knowing principles doesn’t necessarily equate to practising them, especially under pressure. Awareness alone isn’t sufficient; action is required. This statement is inaccurate based on the text.
Option C: The passage repeatedly highlights the transformative impact of character skills on long-term success, such as resilience, proactivity, and determination in overcoming challenges. It also concludes with a call to develop these skills for personal growth and achievement, strongly supporting this inference.
Option D: The author does not suggest that character skills can fully compensate for a lack of cognitive skills; this idea misrepresents the point being made
Option E: The passage states that character skills can be developed at any stage, but it does not tie their development to belief. This is an unwarranted assumption. 

Q3: Based on the passage, why would character skills help entrepreneurs more than cognitive skills?
A. Character skills are industry agnostic in application.
B. One can be poor in finance and quantitative skills but really good in character skills
C. Character skills prepare you for an uncertain future.
D. Entrepreneurs are already aware of their business and are only missing character skills.
E. Character skills enable you to generate opportunities rather than capitalize on existing ones.

Ans: C
Sol: 
The study discussed in the passage found that character skills, such as proactivity, discipline, and determination, had a far more significant impact on entrepreneurs’ success - leading to a 30% increase in profits over two years - than cognitive skills, which involved business-related knowledge like finance and marketing. Character skills helped entrepreneurs generate new opportunities, stay resilient in the face of adversity, and adapt to changing circumstances, all of which are crucial for navigating an uncertain future. 
Option C correctly emphasises this idea: character skills prepare entrepreneurs to anticipate and adapt to future challenges.
The focus on character skills being industry agnostic (Option A) is misplaced: while these skills may be broadly applicable, the passage doesn’t emphasize this as the primary reason for their effectiveness.
Options B and D are not relevant points: the author does not argue that entrepreneurs can be poor in cognitive skills but excel in character skills alone, nor does he suggest that entrepreneurs are already aware of their business and only lack character skills. Both these are not presented in the passage, and thus, they can be eliminated.
Option E is partially true but contains additional information: though character skills enable entrepreneurs to generate opportunities, it is not implied that this dissuades them from capitalizing on existing opportunities.