XAT 2021 RC Passages | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) - CAT PDF Download

Passage - 1

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
Most of recorded human history is one big data gap. Starting with the theory of Man the Hunter, the chroniclers of the past have left little space for women’s role in the evolution of humanity, whether cultural or biological. Instead, the lives of men have been taken to represent those of humans overall. When it comes to the lives of the other half of humanity, there is often nothing but silence.
And these silences are everywhere. Our entire culture is riddled with them. Films, news, literature, science, city planning, economics. The stories we tell ourselves about our past, present and future. They are all marked—disfigured—by a female-shaped ‘absent presence’. This is the gender data gap.
The gender data gap isn’t just about silence. These silences, these gaps, have consequences. They impact on women’s lives every day. The impact can be relatively minor. Shivering in offices set to a male temperature norm, for example, or struggling to reach a top shelf set at a male height norm. Irritating, certainly. Unjust, undoubtedly.
But not life-threatening. Not like crashing in a car whose safety measures don’t account for women’s measurements. Not like having your heart attack go undiagnosed because your symptoms are deemed ‘atypical’. For these women, the consequences of living in a world built around male data can be deadly.
One of the most important things to say about the gender data gap is that it is not generally malicious, or even deliberate. Quite the opposite. It is simply the product of a way of thinking that has been around for millennia and is therefore a kind of not thinking. A double not thinking, even: men go without saying, and women don’t get said at all. Because when we say human, on the whole, we mean man.
This is not a new observation. Simone de Beauvoir made it most famously when in 1949 she wrote, ‘humanity is male and man defines woman not in herself, but as relative to him; she is not regarded as an autonomous being. [...] He is the Subject, he is the Absolute—she is the Other.’ What is new is the context in which women continue to be ‘the Other’. And that context is a world increasingly reliant on and in thrall to data. Big Data. Which in turn is panned for Big Truths by Big Algorithms, using Big Computers. But when your big data is corrupted by big silences, the truths you get are half-truths, at best. And often, for women, they aren’t true at all. As computer scientists themselves say: ‘Garbage in, garbage out.’

Q1: Based on the passage, which of the following statements BEST explains “absent presence”?
A. The presence is felt due to the specificity of the absence.
B. The absence makes the case for the need for presence.
C. By its sheer absence, it is present.
D. Because of the absence, one can recognise its presence.
E. The absence is female-shaped, making it present.

Ans: A
Sol:
"Instead, the lives of men have been taken to represent those of humans overall. When it comes to the lives of the other half of humanity, there is often nothing but silence.
And these silences are everywhere[...] They are all marked—disfigured—by a female-shaped 'absent presence'. This is the gender data gap."
It can be understood from the above lines that 'absent presence' is used to showcase the value of women as a part of humanity. Although present, they are specifically not recognized as part of it. The presence of the gender data gap shows something is missing; in essence, something is missing (the presence of women in these narratives) is specifically felt as they are currently absent, hence absent presence.
Let's take a look at the options:
Option A: This is exactly what the idea of absent presence means in the context of the passage.
Options B, C and D suffer from the same issue: they focus on the magnitude of absence, whereas the text is focused on the specific nature of absence; it is not that many views were not part, only the part from the perspective of women were missing. This specific nature of the data absence makes it so that it becomes present in the conversation.
Option E: This is too literal and not what the passage is talking about, and hence can be easily eliminated.
Therefore, Option A is the correct answer.

Q2: Based on the passage, which of the following options BEST describes “double not thinking”?
A. Men, over millennia, always confused human with being only male.
B. Men not thinking and women not being allowed to think is due to double not thinking.
C. Over millennia, men and women have been conditioned to treat women as unequal.
D. Whenever humans are mentioned, it is men; further, women are not mentioned.
E. Men’s rejection of women as humans and women’s acceptance of it is the double not thinking.

Ans: D
Sol:
"One of the most important things to say about the gender data gap is that it is not generally malicious, or even deliberate[...] A double not thinking, even: men go without saying, and women don't get said at all. Because when we say human, on the whole, we mean man.".
From the above lines this can be inferred that whenever there is a discussion regarding humanity, men were hitherto the face, while women didn't even get considered. This is a typical case of "double not thinking".
Since only D captured this thought most aptly,
The correct option is D.

Q3: Which of the following statements can be BEST concluded from the passage?
A. Women have never been treated as distinct identities which causes the gender data gap.
B. The need of the hour is to revisit the past, and reduce the gender data gap at the earliest.
C. The gender data gap is amplified by data-based decision making.
D. Over millennia, men ignored women, which resulted in the gender data gap and deadly consequences.
E. Emphasis on data-based decision making, can be devastating to women, given the gender data gap.

Ans: E
Sol:
Option A: This is refuted in paragraph 4 of the passage.
Option B: This is nowhere stated or implied in the passage.
Option C: The gender data gap is not amplified by data-based decision-making; rather, it can lead to incomplete deductions and half-truths. Thus, this is not the correct option.
Option D: The deadly consequences part is refuted in paragraph 4 of the passage.
Option E: Since this can be inferred from the last paragraph of the passage,
The correct option is E.

Passage - 2

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

Multitasking has been found to increase the production of the stress hormone cortisol as well as the fight-or-flight hormone adrenaline, which can overstimulate your brain and cause mental fog or scrambled thinking. Multitasking creates a dopamine addiction feedback loop, effectively rewarding the brain for losing focus and for constantly searching for external stimulation. To make matters worse, the prefrontal cortex has a novelty bias, meaning that its attention can be easily hijacked by something new—the proverbial shiny objects we use to entice infants, puppies, and kittens. The irony here for those of us who are trying to focus amid competing activities is clear: The very brain region we need to rely on for staying on task is easily distracted. We answer the phone, look up something on the Internet, check our email, send an SMS, and each of these things tweaks the novelty-seeking, reward-seeking centers of the brain, causing a burst of endogenous opioids (no wonder it feels so good!), all to the detriment of our staying on task. It is the ultimate empty-caloried brain candy. Instead of reaping the big rewards that come from sustained, focused effort, we instead reap empty rewards from completing a thousand little sugarcoated tasks.
In the old days, if the phone rang and we were busy, we either didn’t answer or we turned the ringer off. When all phones were wired to a wall, there was no expectation of being able to reach us at all times—one might have gone out for a walk or be between places, and so if someone couldn’t reach you (or you didn’t feel like being reached), that was considered normal. Now more people have cell phones than have toilets. This has created an implicit expectation that you should be able to reach someone when it is convenient for you, regardless of whether it is convenient for them. This expectation is so ingrained that people in meetings routinely answer their cell phones to say, “I’m sorry, I can’t talk now, I’m in a meeting.” Just a decade or two ago, those same people would have let a landline on their desk go unanswered during a meeting, so different were the expectations for reachability.

Q1: According to the passage, why do people in meetings routinely answer their cell phones to say, “I’m sorry, I can’t talk now, I’m in a meeting.”?
A. Because, it is convenient for people to send a message.
B. Because, it conveys that the receiver is a busy person.
C. Because, people don’t mind if somebody takes a brief phone call.
D. Because, in meetings, cell phones allow people to multitask.
E. Because, if you carry a cell phone, you have to reply.

Ans: E
Sol: 
The author mentions this because it is related to the main idea of the final paragraph: that when phones were connected to walls, we would let them ring if we were busy, but now that they are with us at all times, we are expected to reply no matter what. 
The author exemplifies this with the meeting example. Now, you pick up and say that you are in a meeting because you have your phone and can actually reply. If it were a landline, no one would expect you to reply. This is best captured in option E. 
Option A is not a point the author wants to make. The passage also does not present the illusion of business (Option B). Option C might be accurate, but it is not mentioned or implied in the passage and is not of the author's concern. Option D is not implied in the passage.  

Q2: What does the author BEST intend to convey when he says, “Now more people have cell phones than have toilets?”
A. Everybody wants to stay connected, using cell phones.
B. The need to be connected is more pronounced now.
C. Cell phones have become a bigger necessity.
D. The usage of toilets is limited, while cell phones are used all the time.
E. The number of cell phone users has increased over time.

Ans: A
Sol: 
“Now more people have cell phones than have toilets.” By this, the author implies that even the people who don't have toilets available to them have access to smartphones, making it so that there are now no reasons not to reply to a call. 
We are to find the intention behind the author's statement. It can be understood that the author is saying that people want to be connected at all times now, making phones more prevalent and common than a basic necessity like a toilet. 
Let's take a look at the options:
Option A: This most closely captures the reason behind the author writing the sentence. The author wants to convey that people will be connected and reach out to each other at their whim. Is so pronounced that even people who do not have access to toilets have somehow managed access to cellphones. 
Option B: The statement has little to do with the "need to be connected" and more to do with the idea and use of cell phones themselves 
Option C: While taken in solitude this might seem like a good options but we an see from the rest of the passage that the author is not really presenting cell phones as a necessity but rather a choice which people ar making, such as picking up the phone during a meeting. The sentence in context also does not talk about necessity but the priorities that people have now 
Option D: This is way too limited in scope. Further, the author does not talk about the tie of use but access. 
Option E: Although this statement would be true, and the author would agree with this, this is not the purpose or the intention behind the sentence.  The sentence has to do more with the prevalence than the sheer number. 
Therefore, Option A is the correct answer. 

Q3: Which of the following can be BEST inferred from the passage?
A. Multitasking helps you complete thousands of tasks, single-tasking makes you do one.
B. Multitasking helps you move towards different goals, single-tasking helps you achieve the one.
C. Multitasking gives you happiness, single-tasking gives you satisfaction.
D. Multitasking gives you a feeling of achieving many things, single-tasking enables actually achieving something.
E. Multitasking takes you all over, single-tasking helps you achieve some goals.

Ans: D
Sol: 
The last line of the first paragraph is, "Instead of reaping the big rewards that come from sustained, focused effort, we reap empty rewards from completing a thousand little sugarcoated tasks."
Essentially, this means that if we focused, we would be able to complete a task, but the rush of these small, insignificant tasks (like checking your phone) in companies gives the feeling of completing tasks when you have actually done nothing. 
Option A: "Thousands of tasks" is an exaggeration, so the option should be eliminated. 
Option B: While this is close, this is opposite to what the text says: multitasking makes you feel like you are moving towards different goals. 
Option C: Happiness and satisfaction are broad terms; the passage only deals in terms of dopamine releases. 
Option D: This option most aligns with the passage's ideas. 
Option E: This is similar to option D but vaguer in nature and doesn't capture the concept of the illusion of doing tasks when accomplishing nothing. 
Therefore, Option D is the correct answer.

Passage - 3

Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow.

Para 1: We plan to right-size our manufacturing operations to align to the new strategy and take advantage of integration opportunities. We expect to focus phone production mainly in Hanoi, with some production to continue in Beijing and Dongguan. We plan to shift other Microsoft manufacturing and repair operations to Manaus and Reynosa respectively, and start a phased exit from Komaron, Hungary.
Para 2: In short, we will focus on driving Lumia volume in the areas where we are already successful today in order to make the market for Windows Phone. With more speed, we will build on our success in the affordable smart phone space with new products offering more differentiation. We’ll focus on acquiring new customers in the markets where Microsoft’s services and products are most concentrated. And, we will continue building momentum around applications.
Para 3: We plan that this would result in an estimated reduction of 12500 factory direct and professional employees over the next year. These decisions are difficult for the team, and we plan to support departing team members with severance benefits.

Q1: Which of the following can be BEST described as the core message of the excerpt?
A. Microsoft is reducing its cost of operations, marketing and human resources while staying the course on Lumia.
B. Microsoft is shifting its base of production for Lumia along with the places it is interested in selling them.
C. Microsoft is reducing its cost of operations and downsizing staff while staying optimistic about the future.
D. Microsoft is closing poorly performing factories and personnel though it thinks Lumia has a future.
E. Microsoft is reducing cost of operations and the number of staff involved in operations.

Ans: C
Sol:
Option A: This is a distorted version of the main point of the passage. Thus, this is not the correct option.
Option B: This option is incomplete and has no mention of the laying off part.
Option C: This option aptly captures the essence of the passage and hence is the correct choice.
Option D: This is a distorted inference and hence is not a correct option.
Option E: This option misses the future aspirations of the company and hence is not the correct option.
Thus, the correct option is C.

Q2: In conveying the core message, the Para 2
A. Digresses from the line of thought
B. Elaborates the core message
C. Assuages panic
D. Reassures a promising future
E. Predicts a rosy picture

Ans: D
Sol: 
The main motive of paragraph 2 is to reassure the employees of a better and promising future, and since only D captured this thought,
The correct option is D.

Passage - 4

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

And that has to do with the question of uncertainty and doubt. A scientist is never certain. We all know that. We know that all our statements are approximate statements with different degrees of certainty; that when a statement is made, the question is not whether it is true or false but rather how likely it is to be true or false. We must discuss each question within the uncertainties that are allowed. And as evidence grows it increases the probability perhaps that some idea is right or decreases it. But it never makes absolutely certain one way or the other. Now, we have found that this is of paramount importance in order to progress. We absolutely must leave room for doubt or there is no progress and there is no learning. There is no learning without having to pose a question. And a question requires doubt. People search for certainty. But there is no certainty. People are terrified- how can you live and not know? It is not odd at all. You only think you know as a matter of fact. And most of your actions are based on incomplete knowledge and you really don’t know what it is all about or what the purpose of the world is or know a great deal of other things. It is possible to live and not know.

Q1: What does the author BEST mean when he says, “We must discuss each question within the uncertainties that are allowed?”
A. The uncertainties are limited by the nature of the answers sought.
B. The uncertainties should be relevant to the question.
C. We must be prepared to accept errors in the answers we seek.
D. There is a finite set of uncertainties for any question.
E. The question decides the amount of uncertainties that are allowed.

Ans: C
Sol: 
"We must discuss each question within the uncertainties that are allowed. And as evidence grows it increases the probability perhaps that some idea is right or decreases it. But it never makes absolutely certain one way or the other"
From the above lines, the author wants us to be open to accepting errors while answering the questions. With every piece of evidence, the probability of the veracity of the answer will either increase or decrease.
Thus, the correct answer is C.

Q2: Which of the following BEST describes the essence of the passage?
A. Science can never give a conclusive answer to a question.
B. Reasonable discomfort with certainty is the path for progress.
C. Progress involves questioning accepted truths.
D. Reasonable scepticism is the characteristic of a scientific mind.
E. Doubting the established world order is the purpose of science.

Ans: D
Sol: 
The main argument of the author is made in the line, "We absolutely must leave room for doubt, or there is no progress, and there is no learning". The main idea is that for a scientist, there is always scepticism; we are never certain, and all we say is how likely we are to be true. 
Option A: This is not what is stated in the text, it is not that science can never give a conclusive answer but that "A scientist is never certain. "
Option B: This option is close but focuses on the discomfort with certain things rather than the importance of questioning by a scientist, as presented in the passage. 
Option C: While the statement follows the general idea presented, the text is not about questioning just the accepted truths but everything in general. 
Option D: This is precisely the message conveyed by the passage: the importance of reasonable scepticism in a scientist.  
Option E: This is entirely out of scope and, hence, can easily be eliminated 

Thus, the correct option is D.

Passage - 5

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

We stand before this great world. The truth of our life depends upon our attitude of mind towards it - an attitude which is formed by our habit of dealing with it according to the special circumstance of our surroundings and our temperaments. It guides our attempts to establish relations with the universe either by conquest or by union, either through the cultivation of power or through that of sympathy. And thus, in our realization of the truth of existence, we put our emphasis either upon the principle of dualism or upon the principle of unity.

Q1: Which of the following statements can be BEST inferred from the passage?
A. Conquest and union are two ways of realising the truth of our life.
B. Principle of dualism is inferior to the principle of unity.
C. Our habits and surroundings determine the truth of our life.
D. War and conquest are a part of the truth of our life.
E. The truth of our life co-evolved with our quest for sympathetic supremacy.

Ans: A
Sol: 
The passage primarily deals with the two ways our attitudes help us in realising the truth of life: " It guides our attempts to establish relations with the universe either by conquest or by union"
Which is stated in option A.
Looking at the other options:
Option B: The text does not claim that one way is better than the other, and hence, this can be easily eliminated.
Option C: It slightly distorts what is given in the text. Our habits/attitudes make us either conquer the world or be one with it, and that union or conquest determines the truth about our lives.
Option D: The passage is not dealing with the idea of war and conquest. The conquest in the text is not literal but along the mental and spiritual lines.
Option E: This form of correlation is also not implied in the text and can be eliminated easily.
Therefore, Option A is the correct answer.

Q2: According to the passage, our emphasis on dualism or on unity is BEST guided by:
A. How we deal with our surroundings and our temperaments
B. Our desire to achieve versus our focus on contentment
C. Our deals with the universe, based on special circumstances
D. How powerful or sympathetic our surroundings and temperament are
E. Our attitude of mind, formed by our habits

Ans: A
Sol: 
The passage states: "an attitude which is formed by our habit of dealing with it according to the special circumstance of our surroundings and our temperaments"
The attitude which is formed by how we habitually deal with our surroundings. 
Looking at the options:
Option A: This captures the explanation given by the passage most aptly; it is the way we deal with our surroundings that guides our way forward. 
Option B: This is not a point discussed in the passage and can easily be eliminated. 
Option C: "Deals with the universe" is also an idea not presented as a factor in realising the truth. 
Option D: Although close, the emphasis of the passage is not on the surroundings but on the attitude we have towards how we deal with our surroundings. 
Option E: This, too, although close, is not simply our attitude of mind but our attitude towards our surroundings; this option misses the key idea of surroundings, which is the main focus of the text.

Passage - 6

Read the following poem and answer the questions that follow.

Sit, drink your coffee here; your work can wait awhile.
You're twenty-six, and still have some of life ahead.
No need for wit; just talk vacuities, and I'll
Reciprocate in kind, or laugh at you instead.
The world is too opaque, distressing and profound.
This twenty minutes' rendezvous will make my day:
To sit here in the sun, with grackles all around,
Staring with beady eyes, and you two feet away.

Q1: Which of the following BEST captures the essence of the poem?
A. Let’s celebrate our existence, not our work.
B. Let’s eat, drink and be merry in the lap of nature.
C. Let’s create our own meaning in life, no matter what.
D. Let’s be gibberish, not rational about life.
E. Let’s enjoy a moment of peace in this busy life.

Ans: E
Sol: 
The poem is about pausing work and important conversations for a moment and enjoying another person’s company.
Since only option E aptly catches the essence of the poem,
The correct option is E.

Q2: What does the poet BEST convey by mentioning grackles in these lines, “...with grackles all around, /Staring with beady eyes, and you two feet away.”?
A. Over witty discussions, grackles are the pleasant birds to look at.
B. Grackles love to stare at us; however, they maintain a two-feet distance.
C. A small bird like grackle can give us lots of happiness.
D. We should not care about grackles, but us.
E. Grackles, like humans, love to bask in the Sun.

Ans: D
Sol: 
In the last lines of the poem, the author asks her/his partner to sit with her/him without caring about anything else around them.
Grackles are also mentioned to exemplify the context of the situation.
Since only option D conveys a similar meaning,
The correct option is D.

Passage - 7

Read the following passage and answer the three questions that follow.

Considering the multitude of situations in which we humans use numerical information, life without numbers is inconceivable. But what was the benefit of numerical competence for our ancestors, before they became Homo sapiens? Why would animals crunch numbers in the first place? It turns out that processing numbers offers a significant benefit for survival, which is why this behavioural trait is present in many animal populations.
Several studies examining animals in their ecological environments suggest that representing number enhances an animal’s ability to exploit food sources, hunt prey, avoid predation, navigate in its habitat, and persist in social interactions. Before numerically competent animals evolved on the planet, single-celled microscopic bacteria — the oldest living organisms on earth — already exploited quantitative information. The way bacteria make a living is through their consumption of nutrients from their environment. Mostly, they grow and divide themselves to multiply. However, in recent years, microbiologists have discovered they also have a social life and are able to sense the presence or absence of other bacteria; in other words, they can sense the number of bacteria. Take, for example, the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri. It has a special property that allows it to produce light through a process called bioluminescence, similar to how fireflies give off light. If these bacteria are in dilute water solutions (where they are alone), they make no light. But when they grow to a certain cell number of bacteria, all of them produce light simultaneously. Therefore, Vibrio fischeri can distinguish when they are alone and when they are together.
Somehow they have to communicate cell number, and it turns out they do this using a chemical language. They secrete communication molecules, and the concentration of these molecules in the water increases in proportion to the cell number. And when this molecule hits a certain amount, called a quorum, it tells the other bacteria how many neighbours there are, and all bacteria glow. This behaviour is called “quorum sensing”: The bacteria vote with signalling molecules, the vote gets counted, and if a certain threshold (the quorum) is reached, every bacterium responds. This behavior is not just an anomaly of Vibrio fischeri; all bacteria use this sort of quorum sensing to communicate their cell number in an indirect way via signalling molecules.

Q1: Which of the following statements CANNOT be inferred from the passage?
A. Ancestors of Homo sapiens exploited resources in groups.
B. Ancestors of Homo sapiens sensed numbers.
C. Ancestors of Homo sapiens hunted in groups.
D. Ancestors of Homo sapiens interacted solely using numbers.
E. Ancestors of Homo sapiens used numerical competence.

Ans: D
Sol: 
In this question, we are to find the statement that cannot be inferred from the passage. 
Reading through the options, we see that most statements are hinted in the passage about ancestors of Homo sapiens using numbers to their advantage. and it gave them a significant benefit in their survival.  Option D, however, is an extreme statement. 
It would be incorrect to say that they relied solely on numbers. They might have used numbers to determine whether to attack, but that can not be said to be the only parameter they considered. 
Hence, we cannot infer Option D from the passage above. 

Q2: Based on the passage, which of the following statements BEST defines “quorum sensing” in bacteria?
A. Bacteria multiply only till they reach their required numbers.
B. Bacteria chat only when they are in groups.
C. Bacteria communicate only in numerical terms with others.
D. Bacteria do not communicate beyond certain numbers.
E. Bacteria respond when they discern enough numbers around them.

Ans: E
Sol: 
In the last paragraph, it is given that bacteria vote with signalling molecules, the vote gets counted, and if a certain threshold (the quorum) is reached, every bacterium responds. This is called quorum sensing. All bacteria use this sort of quorum sensing to communicate their cell number indirectly via signalling molecules.
Option A: The passage does not present the idea of multiplying being related to the current population.
Option B: "Chat" is something that is not in line with what is presented in the passage.
Option C: Communicating only in numerical terms can not be said to be true, and the definition of quorum sensing.
Option D: It is not clear whether they communicate beyond certain numbers. They signal only beyond a certain number.
Option E: This is the most appropriate description of the idea presented in the passage about bacteria responding in some manner when there are enough bacteria.
Therefore, Option E is the correct answer.

Q3: Which of the following statements is NOT based on the premises of the passage?
A. No one can whistle a symphony; it takes a whole orchestra to play it.
B. Teams fear a red card as it would present an advantage for the opponents.
C. Politicians rally with numbers to woo their undecided voters.
D. People protest in large numbers because it helps them get their voices heard.
E. To de-escalate a border tension, countries carry out mirror deployment.

Ans: A
Sol: 
The passage discusses the evolutionary significance of numerical competence in animals and bacteria for survival, emphasizing how processing numbers provides benefits in various aspects of life, such as exploiting food sources, hunting prey, avoiding predation, navigating in habitats, and engaging in social interactions. It specifically talks about how bacteria use numerical information (cell numbers) through a process called quorum sensing to coordinate their behaviour.
Option A appears to be more of a metaphorical statement about the collaborative effort required to achieve complex tasks than a statement about the practical application/benefits of numerical competence. Similarly, Option B is in line with the idea of using numerical information (the number of players on a team) to understand the advantage or disadvantage in a sports context; it reflects the concept of numerical competence, as discussed in the passage. Option C aligns with the passage's idea that representing numbers can enhance an entity's ability to influence or interact with others, in this case, politicians using numerical support to sway undecided voters. Option D matches with the idea in the passage - we are told that processing numbers offers benefits in social interactions: this statement corresponds to the idea that large numbers in protests can be a strategy to amplify voices and draw attention. Option E also aligns with the discussion - the concept of countries deploying forces in response to the numerical actions of other countries aligns with the broader theme of using numerical information for strategic decision-making, similar to how animals use numbers for survival.
Based on the above, we identify that Options B, C, D, and E are considered relevant because they are consistent with the passage's focus on the benefits of numerical competence in various contexts. Contrarily, it is unclear how Option A ties in with the idea that the passage is trying to convey.