Verbal For XAT 2017 - CAT MCQ

The First paragraph talks about food inflation and vegetable inflation rising and also states that the food inflation has an overwhelming impact on overall inflation. The second paragraph talks about how this data concerns RBI. For RBI this data i.e. trend is a concern since if the trend continues, RBI will have to explain to the government. As of now, the trend is a concern for RBI and therefore the data offers a potential application (use) to RBI. Thus, the most appropriate Option is B. Options A is wrong since there is no cause and effect relationship between the two paragraphs. Option C is wrong, since no assertion is made in the first paragraph. In Option E, while the first paragraph discusses pain points, the second paragraph does not discuss any remedy. Option D is wrong since the second paragraph does not hint at any inefficiency on the part of RBI other than the possibility of RBI giving an explanation in the future if and only if the trend continues in the future and crosses 11%. Even then it may not hint at any inefficiency on the part of RBI. At this point in time it is inappropriate to label RBI inefficient. As of now, therefore the trend is a concern for RBI and therefore the data offers a potential application to RBI. But we cannot make any inference beyond this. Since the acceptable upper limit of inflation is 11%, the current trend may not mean that RBI is effective or ineffective in managing inflation. Also since how much resources RBI had in its arsenal to control inflation is not given in the first or second paragraphs, and how much was put to use is also not discussed in both the paragraphs, so, the second paragraph does not hint at anything about efficiency or inefficiency.

The last two lines of the poem talk about a sense of identification (word “my” is used) that poets may have towards her parents.

This hints that fond memories were attributed to parents and not to the surroundings or the beautiful house. Surroundings and house became beautiful because of my parents. Option A is wrong as “mountains” are not mentioned anywhere. Option B is wrong as there is no mention of the “community”. Option C is again wrong as there is no mention of “climate”, there is mention of only “steam” and “brazier”, which is not climate.

Option D is wrong because it captures the essence only of the first three lines from the stanza and not the entire passage.

Hence, Option E is the best answer.

Statements 3, 4 and 5 cannot be the opening statement since the usage of “Here” implies that the subject of the discussion has already been introduced; nor can statement 1, since statement 1 begins with “This” and that too implies the subject has been introduced. The introduction to the passage can only be through Statement 2. Statement 1 labels/describes the area that has been introduced in statement 3. Therefore, the sequence should start from 2, proceed to statement 3 and then on to 1. Statement 3 after statement 4 is awkward as emphasis shifts from races to mountains. Hence, Option B is the correct answer.

Statement 4 asks a specific query, which is illustrated by an example given in the statement 3 therefore creating a pattern of 4 followed by 3. Alternatively, statement 4 raises a question and statement 3 raises the same question in a different and a general manner (“In other words”). It again shows that 3 should follow 4. Statement 1 talks about why do elements get their property, while statement 4 describes a specific case.

As stated in the statement 1, the properties can only be derived from the periodic table. Hence, statement 4 should follow statement 1. Statement 2 is a conclusive statement and hence should be the last statement. Statement 1 cannot flow from statement 3 because statement 1 does not give any hint about an answer to the question raised by statement 3. Statement 1 should also come before statement 3 as statement 1 mentions ‘order’ in periodic table while statement 3 asks justification behind the ‘order’, which is answered in statement 2. Hence, Option B is the correct answer.

The second sentence/line in the passage can be completed by either 1) “unproductive” or 3) “overstated”. But the following sentence (third) questions the perception of “change of attitudes” contained in the second sentence/line.

The serious study of popular films by critics implies that the critics are compelled to rationalize their “penchant for” and hence, 3 will be followed by 4. By rationalizing their penchant for popular films, they unwittingly reveal their continued investment in the categorization of popular and art films.

Hence, the appropriate sequence of words should start with 3, follow it with 4 and then by 6. Hence, option C is the correct answer

A is the correct answer as the first and second part of the sentence should have the same grammatical structure. Option C is also grammatically correct but it has no meaning as “MBA college” cannot be “best in Job”. Options B, D and E are combined sentences as “I” gets repeated in the second part of the sentence, like in the first part. Moreover, the article “a” is missing before “good job” in options B, D and E.

The poem talks about seemingly dissimilar items actually seeking each other and also connected with each other.

Invisible atoms which may be of different types, such as seeds and earth, or stars and seas, each of these groups of dissimilar items are finally connected. Hence, Option E best captures the spirit of the stanza. Options A and B are specific examples related to stars, rivers and seas. Option C is wrong as there is nothing mentioned about division in the stanza.

Option D is wrong as the stanza does not talk about religious differences.

All the sentences are grammatically correct. Hence, option E is correct.

The question is, among the five options which would imply that the stock price increase is “fair”? Increase in the stock price took place after the company agreed to pay 200 million and not when punishment was announced by the commission. Even assuming commission and court are the same, given that complying with the commission is mandatory/ statutory behaviour, compliance is no “fair” reason for stock price to increase based on compliance behaviour. Hence, option E cannot be the right answer. When the company agreed to pay the fine, the market perceived it as acknowledgement of deceit and the valuation of such deceit is clear (from the fine amount). This acknowledgement of behaviour (deceit) and specifically the valuation or price of such behaviour becoming clear, gives lots more information to the market thereby increasing the stock price. Hence, D is the answer. Options A and B are wrong since stock price did not increase when the organization was exposed, but when the organization acknowledged. Option C is wrong as there is no data on stock price movement when the organization’s “fraud” was exposed.

The paragraph says 2 million hectares of world‘s current tomato cultivation areas are lost in the most favourable areas of cultivation. Therefore, the favourable area under cultivation is reducing. Given that favourable areas have more production per hectare and extended areas have lesser production per hectare, the overall production per hectare will reduce though total global production may increase. Hence, Option C is the correct inference. Option A and E are not correct since going by the discussion above, increase in ‘per hectare production of tomato’ or production remaining the same is not possible. Options B and D are wrong because there is no mention of ‘wastage of tomato’ in the passage.

Grotesque and macabre both mean/signify unpleasant, out of the normal and hideous. But Macabre while being unpleasant specifically focuses on death or is related to death. Among the options given below, all the right hand side words signify or are related to death/dead. But among options, the words on the left hand side, only sorcery is unpleasant and therefore similar to grotesque. Hence D.

In all these words, the emphasis is on the second syllable “fect”. Hence, options with the first part emphasised are wrong.

This makes C as the right answer. Further, generally, affect is used as verb, while effect is used as noun. Hence, C is the correct answer.

The last paragraph of the passage gives away that “I” is a pencil, as the one object among the options given, that can satisfy the passage completely. Thus, Option D is the correct answer.

Supercilious is arrogant or contemptuous attitude. In the passage, it is used w.r.t. pencil. Since, pencil looks simple and trivial, people might develop supercilious attitude towards it. Hence, B is the right answer.

The essence of passage is how we are forced to upgrade in order to stay relevant. Hence, up gradation is forced rather than left to our choices. Hence, C is the best answer. Option A is wrong because the second law of thermodynamics, as mentioned in the paragraph, talks about things falling apart and not about “energy required”. B and E are contradictory to the ideas mentioned in the passage. D is partially incorrect as up-gradation is not simple.

In the passage, the author is making two points. The first is that change is constant and the second is how to adapt to the change so as to survive. In other words, the first is more of an observation by the author while the second part is his/ her core argument/exhortation. Thus, the essence of the passage is the second point (i.e. how to adapt) while keeping in mind the existence of the first.

Based on the argument above, Option A is the closest since it includes both the points and hence, the correct answer.

Option B contains only the first point, while Option C is irrelevant. Option D and E are reactive and would be a consequence of non-adherence of the author‘s exhortation.

If the CEO were to consult the author, then going by the passage, life-time employment does not guarantee continuous up-gradation. Also, the tenure of an employee does not guarantee up-gradation. Similarly, inferring from the passage, those who do not upgrade should be fired and be replaced with new employees. The other solution can be providing regular training in place of firing. Hence, the correct option is D.

As per Existentialists, we are completely plastic when we are born, and we are products of growing up and what we do. If we extend this logic, then our behaviour would be more determined by what we do in the recent past than the distant past. Hence, the right option is E.

…So I shall sometimes speak of it, not as Existentialist, but as Libertarian—meaning that those holding it do not just (like all of us) think liberty important, but think it supremely important and believe that our having a nature would infringe it. …

The above excerpt from the passage suggests that while existentialists hold liberty important, libertarians hold liberty supremely important. Therefore, existentialism can be extended to Libertarianism. Therefore, A is the correct answer.

Option A is wrong since PETA activists interfere with animal related experiments, impeding better understanding of animal behaviour and subsequently, human behaviour. Save the Tiger activists, broadly concerned about illegal poaching are irrelevant to the passage. Where they are concerned about the way tigers are being ill-treated, they are similar to PETA and hence would not earn the sympathy of the author.

Architect, Physicists are irrelevant to the passage. The passage clearly states, in the last line, that we need to compare human studies with animal studies for better understanding of human behaviour. Since zoologists study animals, the author is most likely to agree with them. Hence, E is the best answer.

Animal behaviour is farthest from “culture”, as used in the first sentence of the second paragraph. Hence, B is the right option.

Psychopaths hide their deficits as long as possible, thereby pretending to be normal. There are many symptoms of psychopathy, which they can hide for long. But the core deficit viz. lack of indifference or compassion is something they cannot hide for long. The passage directly mentions that compassion, the core deficit is missing among psychopath towards the end of the first paragraph. Hence, C is the correct option.

According to the author empathy and compassion exist not as freak biological accidents but for a reason. They have a function. Hence, option A is right. The above argument rules out Option B. Empathy according to the author is the product of moral choice and not the cause of it. Therefore, Option C is wrong. Psychopaths‘ lack of regard of others, as stated in the passage makes option D wrong. Option E is not discussed in the passage so it is irrelevant and therefore, wrong.

As the faculty is not changing the grade for a particular student as others might get affected, he is clearly showing empathy to that student as well as to other students. But at the same time, he is not displaying compassion to any student in this situation (though we cannot conclude that he is not compassionate). It is difficult to conclude whether the faculty is a psychopath or not. Hence, Option D is correct.