88 questions from the UPSC 2015 examination.
88 questions
In a 500 metres race, B starts 45 metres ahead of A, but A wins the race while B is still 35 metres behind. What is the ratio of the speeds of A to B assuming that both start at the same time?
Two men, Anil and David, and two women, Shabnam and Rekha are in a sales group. Only two speak Tamil. The other two speak Marathi. Only one man and one women can drive a car. Shabnam speaks Marathi. Anil speaks Tamil. Both Rekha and David can drive.Which of the following statements is true?
Examine the following statements:i. Lady's Finger is tastier than Cabbage.ii. Cauliflower is tastier than Lady's Finger.iii. Cabbage is not tastier than Peas.The conclusion that can be drawn from these statements is that
A society consists of only two types of people - fighters and coward. Two cowards are always friends. A fighter and a coward are always enemies. Fighters are indifferent to one another. If A and B are enemies, C and D are friends, E and F are indifferent to each other, A and E are not enemies, while B and F are enemies.Which of the following statements is correct?
Out of 130 students appearing in an examination, 62 failed in English, 52 failed in Mathematics, whereas 24 failed in both English and Mathematics. The number of students who passed finally is
A selection is to be made for one post of Principal and two posts of Vice-Principal. Amongst the six candidates called for the interview, only two are eligible for the post of Principal while they all are eligible for the post of Vice-Principal. The number of possible combinations of selectees is
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only. .The conflict between man and State is as old as State history. Although attempts have been made for centuries to bring about a proper adjustment between the competing claims of State and the individual, the solution seems to be still far off. This is primarily because of the dynamic nature of human society where old values and ideas constantly yield place to new ones. It is obvious that if individuals are allowed to have absolute freedom of speech and action, the result would be chaos, ruin and anarchy.The author's viewpoint can be best summed up in which of the following statements?
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.India has suffered from persistent high inflation. Increase in administered prices, demand and supply imbalances, imported inflation aggravated by rupee depreciation, and speculation - have combined to keep high inflation going. If there is an element common to all of them, it is that many of them are the outcomes of economic reforms. India's vulnerability to the effects of changes in international prices has increased with trade liberalisation. The effort to reduce subsidies has resulted in a continuous increase in the prices of commodities that are administered.What is the most logical, rational and crucial message that is implied in the above passage?
There are 5 tasks and 5 persons. Task-1 cannot be assigned to either person-1. or person-2. Task-2 must be assigned to either person-3 or person-4. Every person is to be assigned one task. In how many ways can the assignment be done?
According to the passage, which of the following is/are a matter of intense debate in the multilateral negotiations under UNFCCC regarding the role of developing countries in climate change?1. The scale and size of required financial support.2. The crop loss due to climate change in the developing countries.3. To enhance the mitigation and adaptation actions in the developing countries.Select the correct answer using the code given below:
If ABC × DEED = ABCABC; where A, B, C, D and E are different digits, what are the values of D and E?
The author says that a thoughtless word hardly ever escapes his tongue or pen. Which one of the following is not a valid reason for this?
In this passage, the Convention puts the responsibility for the provision of financial support on the developed countries because of1. Their higher level of per capita incomes.2. Their large quantum of GDP.3. Their large contribution to the stock of GHGs in the atmosphere.Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Amnesty International is: [2015]
Earnings of A and B over 2000–2010 are shown. From the graph, which can be concluded? [2015/52]
Among the following which were frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of Ebola virus recently? [2015]
The proportion of expenditure on various items by two families A and B are represented in the following Bar Charts:From these charts, we can conclude that
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.No Right is absolute, exclusive or inviolable. The Right of personal property, similarly, has to be perceived in the larger context of its assumed legitimacy. The Right of personal property should unite the principle of liberty with that of equality, and both with the principle of cooperation.In the light of the argument in the above passage, which one of the following statements is the most convincing explanation ?
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.Government may have to take steps which would otherwise be an infringement on the Fundamental Rights of individuals, such as acquiring a person's land against his will, or refusing permission for putting up a building, but the larger public interest for which these are done must be authorized by the people (Parliament). Discretionary powers to the administration can be done away with. It is becoming more and more difficult to keep this power within limits as the government has many number of tasks to perform. Where discretion has to be used, there must be rules and safeguards to prevent misuse of that power. Systems have to be devised which minimise, if not prevent, the abuse of discretionary power. Government work must be conducted within a framework of recognised rules and principles, and decisions should be similar and predictable.Which among the following is the most logical assumption that can be made from the above passage?
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.Human history abounds in claims and theories confining the right of governing to a few select citizens. Exclusion of the many is justified on the ground that human beings may be rightfully segregated for the good of society and viability of the political process.Which on of the following statements is least essential as a part of the argument in the above passage?
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.The richer States have a responsibility to cut down carbon emissions and promote clean energy investments. These are the States that got electricity, grew faster and now have high per capita income, making them capable of sharing India's burden of becoming eco-friendly. Delhi, for example, can help by generating its own clean electricity using solar rooftop panels or even help poor States finance their clean energy projects. It is no secret that State Electricity Boards, which control 95% of the distribution network, are neck-deep in losses. These losses further discourage State utilities from adopting renewable energy as it is more expensive than fossile fuels.Which among the following is the most logical and rational assumption that can made from the above passage?
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.Set against rural backdrop. 'Stench of kerosene' is the story of a couple, Guleri and Manak, who have been happily married for several years but do not have a child. Manak's mother is desperate to have a grandchild to carry on the family name. Hence, she gets Manak remarried in Guleri's absence. Manak, who acts as a reluctant but passive spectator, is meanwhile, informed by a friend that Guleri, on hearing about her husband's second marriage, poured kerosene on her clothes and set fire to them. Manak is heartbroken and begins to live as if he were a dead man. When his second wife delivers a son, Manak stares at the child for a long time and blurts out, "Take him away! He stinks of kerosene."This is a sensitive issue-based story which tries to sensitise the readers about,
Which one of the following is essentially discussed in the passage?
In a test, a candidate attempted only 8 questions and secured 50% marks in each of the questions. If he obtained a total of 40% in the test and all questions in the test carried equal marks, how many questions were there in the test?
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.The ultimate aim of government is not to rule or control by fear, nor to demand obedience, but conversely, to free every man from fear, that he may live in all possible security. In other words, to strengthen his natural right to exist and work without injury to himself or others. The object of government is not to change men from rational beings into beasts or puppets. It should enable them to develop their minds and bodies in security, and to employ their reason unshackled.Which among the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage?
Consider the following matrix:38102?1656902200What is the missing number at "?" in the matrix?
Shahid and Rohit start from the same point in opposite directions. After each 1 km, Shahid always turns left and Rohit always turns right. Which of the following statements is correct?
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.Flamingos in large flocks in the wild are social and extremely loyal. They perform group mating dances. Parents are very fond of their chicks, gathering them into creches for protection while both males and females fly off to search for food.Which among the following is the most logical corollary to the above passage?
Consider the following statements:i. Some claim to have seen UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects).ii. Life on other heavenly bodies is considered to be a possibility.iii. Voyage to space is now an established fact.From the above statements, it may be concluded that
Two cities A and B are 360 km apart. A car goes from A to B with a speed of 40 km/hr and returns to A with a speed of 60 km/hr. What is the average speed of the car?
A person ordered 5 pairs of black socks and some pairs of brown socks. The price of a black pair was thrice that of a brown pair. While preparing the bill, the bill clerk interchanged the number of black and brown pairs by mistake which increased the bill by 100%. What was the number of pairs of brown socks in the original order?
Which one of the following is possible?
What is the number of logically possible orders of all six cousins in terms of increasing age?
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.Climate change is already making many people hungry all over the world, by disrupting crop yields and pushing up prices. And it is not just food but nutrients that are becoming scarcer as the climate changes. It is the poorest communities that will suffer the worst effects of climate change, including increased hunger and malnutrition as crop production and livelihoods are threatened. On the other hand, poverty is a driver of climate change, as desperate communities resort to unsustainable use of resources to meet current needs.Which among the following is the most logical corollary to the above passage?
Two pipes A and B can independently fill a tank completely in 20 and 30 minutes respectively. If both the pipes are opened simultaneously, how much time will they take to fill the tank completely?
The most appropriate reason for the author to be spared many a mishap is that
Twelve people form a club. By picking lots, one of them will host a dinner for all once in a month. The number of dinners a particular member has to host in one year is
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.We generally talk about democracy but when it comes to any particular thing, we prefer a belonging to our caste or community or religion. So long as we have this kind of temptation, our democracy will remain a phoney kind of democracy. We must be in a position to respect a man as a man and to extend opportunities for development to those who deserve them and not to those who happen to belong to our community or race. This fact of favouritism has been responsible for much discontent and ill-will in our country.Which one of the following statements best sums up the above passage?
In a town, 45% population read magazine A, 55% read magazine B, 40% read magazine C, 30% read magazines A and B, 15% read magazines B and C, 25% read magazines A and C; and 10% read all the three magazines. What percentage do not read any magazine?
Consider the figures given below:To fit the question mark, the correct answer is
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.India accounts for nearly a fifth of the world's child deaths. In terms of numbers, it is the highest in the world-nearly 16 lakhs every year. Of these, more than half die in the first month of life. Officials believe that the reason for this is the absence of steps to propagate basic health practices relating to breast feeding and immunization. Also the large reproductive population of 2⋅6 crore remains bereft of care during the critical phases of pregnancy and post-delivery. Added to this is the prevalence of child marriages, anaemia among young women and lack of focus on adolescent sanitation, all of which impact child death rates.Which is the critical inference that can be made from the above passage?
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.Our municipal corporations are understaffed. The issue of skills and competencies of the staff poses an even greater challenge. Urban services delivery and infrastructure are complex to plan and execute. They require a high degree of specialization and professionalism. The current framework within which municipal employees, including senior management, are recruited does not adequately factor in the technical and managerial competencies required. Cadre and recruitment rules only specify the bare minimum in academic qualifications. There is no mention of managerial or technical competencies, or of relevant work experience. This is the case with most municipal corporations. They also suffer from weak organisation design and structure.Which among the following is the most logical and rational assumption that can be made from the above passage?
A cow costs more than 4 goats but less than 5 goats. If a goat costs between Rs.600 and Rs.800, which of the following is a most valid conclusion ?
In a society it is customary for friends of the same sex to hug and for friends of opposite sex to shake hands when they meet. A group of friends met in a party and there were 24 handshakes.Which one among the following numbers indicates the possible number of hugs?
With reference to the above passage, consider the following statements:1. Indian financial institutions do not offer any financial instruments to rural households to mobilise their savings.2. Poor households tend to spend their earnings/savings due to lack of access to appropriate financial instruments.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The area known as ‘Golan Heights’ sometimes appears in the news in the context of the events related to: [2015]
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.Individuals, groups and leaders who promote human development operate under strong institutional, structural and political constraints that affect policy options. But experience suggests broad principles for shaping an appropriate agenda for human development. One important finding from several decades of human development experience is that focusing exclusively on economic growth is problematic. While we have good knowledge about how to advance health and education, the causes of growth are much less certain and growth is often elusive. Further, an unbalanced emphasis on growth is often associated with negative environmental consequences and adverse distributional effects. The experience of China, with its impressive growth record, reflects these broader concerns and underlines the importance of balanced approaches that emphasize investments in the non-income aspects of human development.With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:1. Higher economic growth is essential to ensure reduction in economic disparity.2. Environmental degradation is sometimes a consequence of economic growth.Which of the above is/are valid assumption /assumptions?
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.Open defecation is disastrous when practised in very densely populated areas, where it is impossible to keep away human faeces from crops, wells, food and children's hands. Groundwater is also contaminated by open defecation. Many ingested germs and worms spread diseases. They prevent the body from absorbing calories and nutrients. Nearly on-half of India's children remain malnourished. Lakhs of them die from preventable conditions. Diarrhoea leaves Indians' bodies smaller on average than those of people in some poorer countries where people eat fewer calories. Underweight mothers produce stunted babies prone to sickness who may fail to develop their full cognitive potential. The germs released into environment harm rich and poor alike, even those who use latrines.Which among the following is the most critical inference that can be made from the above passage?
Geeta: Naresh has become a better boxer since he started meditation.Radha: Impossible. A boxer's most important asset is his aggressiveness.Radha's statement reflects her belief that
In a box of marbles, there are three less white marbles than the red ones and five more white marbles than the green ones. If there are a total of 10 white marbles, how many marbles are there in the box?
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.Individuals, groups and leaders who promote human development operate under strong institutional, structural and political constraints that affect policy options. But experience suggests broad principles for shaping an appropriate agenda for human development. One important finding from several decades of human development experience is that focusing exclusively on economic growth is problematic. While we have good knowledge about how to advance health and education, the causes of growth are much less certain and growth is often elusive. Further, an unbalanced emphasis on growth is often associated with negative environmental consequences and adverse distributional effects. The experience of China, with its impressive growth record, reflects these broader concerns and underlines the importance of balanced approaches that emphasize investments in the non-income aspects of human development.With reference to the above passage, consider the following statements:1. In developing countries, a strong institutional framework is the only requirement for human development and policy options.2. Human development and economic growth are not always positively inter-related.3. Focusing only on human development should be the goal of economic growth.Which of the above statements is/are correct?
In a group of persons travelling in a bus, 6 persons can speak Tamil, 15 can speak Hindi and 6 can speak Gujarati. In that group none can speak any other language. If 2 persons in the group can speak two languages only and one person can speak all the three languages, then how many persons are there in the group?
Four persons A, B, C and D consisting of two married couples are in a group. Both the women are shorter than their respective husbands. A is the tallest among the four. C is taller than B. D is B's brother. In this context, which one of the following statements is not correct?
The number of persons who read magazine X only is thrice the number of persons who read magazine Y. The number of persons who read magazine Y only is thrice the number of persons who read magazine X. Then, which of the following conclusions can be drawn?i. The number of persons who read both the magazines is twice the number of persons who read only magazine X.ii. The total number of persons who read either one magazine or both the magazines is twice the number of persons who read both the magazines.Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.The Global Financial Stability Report finds that the share of portfolio investments from advanced economies in the total debt and equity investments in emerging economies has doubled in the past decade to 12 percent. The phenomenon has implications for Indian policy makers as foreign portfolio investments in the debt and equity markets have been on the rise. The phenomenon is also flagged as a threat that could compromise global financial stability in a chain reaction, in the event of United States Federal Reserve's imminent reversal of its "Quantitative Easing" policy.Which among the following is the most rational and critical inference that can be made from the above passage?
All good athletes want to win and all athletes who want to win eat a well-balanced diet; therefore all athletes who do not eat a well-balanced diet are bad athletes.The best conclusion from this statement is that
Two equal glasses of same type are respectively 1/3 and 1/4 full of milk. They are then filled up with water and the contents are mixed in a pot. What is the ratio of milk and water in the pot?
Consider the following statements followed by two conclusions:Statements:Some men are greatSome men are wise.Conclusion I: Men are either great or wise.Conclusion II: Some men are neither great nor wise.Which one of the following is correct?
An automobile owner reduced his monthly petrol consumption when the prices went up. The price-consumption relationship is as follows: Price (in Rs. per litre)40506075 Monthly consumption (in litres)60484032If the price goes up to Rs.80 per litre, his expected consumption (in litres) will be
A father is nine times as old as his son and the mother is eight times as old as the son. The sum of the father's and the mother's age is 51 years. What is the age of the son?
Year-wise variation of the price of a certain commodity is shown in the following graph:The price of the commodity in the year 1990
For the author, silence is necessary in order to surmount
In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of living tree into robust bridges across the streams. As time passes these bridges become stronger. These unique ‘Living Root Bridges’ are found in: [2015]
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.Foods travel more than the people who eat them. Grocery stores and supermarkets are loaded with preserved and processed foods. This, however, often leads to environmental threats, such as pollution generated by long distance food transportation and wastage of food during processing and transportation, destruction of rain forests, reduced nutritional content, increased demand for preservation and packaging. Food insecurity also increases as the produce comes from regions that are not feeding their own population properly.With reference to the above passage, which of the following statements is/are true?1. Consuming regionally grown food and not depending on long travelled food is a part of eco-friendly behaviour.2. Food processing industry puts a burden on our natural resources.Select the correct answer using the code given below:
The monthly incomes of Peter and Paul are in the ratio of 4 ∶ 3. Their expenses are in the ratio of 3 ∶ 2. If each saves Rs.6,000 at the end of the month, their monthly incomes respectively are (in Rs.)
With regards to developing countries, it can be inferred from the passage that climate change is likely to have implication on their1. Domestic finances.2. Capacity for multilateral trade.Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Usha runs faster than Kamala, Priti runs slower than Swati, Swati runs slower than Kamala. Who is the slowest runner?
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.Many people in India feel that if we cut our defence expenditure on weapon-building, we can create a climate of peace with our neighbours, subsequently reducing the conflict or creating a no-war situation. People who proclaim such ideas are either the victims of war or the propagators of false argument.With reference to the above passage, which of the following is the most valid assumption ?
Indira Gandhi Peace Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2014 was given to which of the following? [2015]
The mangroves can shed tons of leaves per acre every year; fungi and bacteria break down this leaf litter and consume it, they then are consumed by tiny worms and crustaceans, which in turn feed small fish, which feed larger fish and birds and crocodiles.Which among the following is the most logical inference of the above statement?
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.Vast numbers of Indian citizens without bank accounts live in rural areas, are financially and functionally illiterate, and have little experience with technology. A research study was conducted in a particular area in which electronic wage payments in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) are meant to go directly to the poor. It was observed that recipients often assume that the village leader needs to mediate the process, as was the case under the previous paper-based system. Among households under this research study area who claimed to have at least one bank account, over a third reported still receiving MGNREGS wages in cash directly from a village leader.What is the most logical, rational and crucial message that is implied in the above passage?
Each of the six different faces of a cube has been coated with a different colour i.e., V, I, B, G, Y and O. Following information is given:i. Colours Y, O and B are on adjacent faces.ii. Colours I, G and Y are on adjacent faces.iii. Colours B, G and Y are on adjacent faces.iv. Colours O, V and B are on adjacent faces.Which is the colour of the face opposite to the face coloured with O?
In a plane, line X is perpendicular to line Y and parallel to line Z; line U is perpendicular to both lines V and W; line X is perpendicular to line V.Which one of the following statements is correct?
If A runs less fast than B, and B runs as fast but not faster than C; then, as compared to A, C runs
Between 6 PM and 7 PM the minute hand of a clock will be ahead of the hour hand by 3 minutes at
What is the missing number 'X' of the series 7, X, 21, 31, 43?
What is the crucial message conveyed in the passage?
Year-wise variation of commodity price shown. The price in 1990 [2015/58] 
Candidates in a competitive examination consisted of 60% men and 40% women. 70% men and 75% women cleared the qualifying test and entered the final test where 80% men and 70% women were successful.Which of the following statements is correct?
‘Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action’ often seen in the news, is: [2015]
The graph below depicts the earnings of A and B over the period 2000 to 2010:From the graph, which one of the following can be concluded?
A student has to opt for 2 subjects out of 5 subjects for a course, namely, Commerce, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics I and Mathematics II. Mathematics II can be offered only if Mathematics I is also opted. The number of different combinations of two subjects which can be opted is
"By liberty I mean the eager maintenance of that atmosphere in which men have the opportunity to be their best selves."Which one of the following expresses the view implied in the above statement?
Consider the following statements:i. A man had a wife, two sons and two daughters in his family.ii. The daughters were invited to a feast and the male members of the family went out to take part in a picnic.iii. The man's father did not return from his work.Which of the following statements is true?
In a parking area, the total number of wheels of all the cars (four-wheelers) and scooters/motorbikes (two-wheelers) is 100 more than twice the number of parked vehicles. The number of cars parked is
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answer to this question should be based on the passage only.By 2050, the Earth's population will likely have swelled from seven to nine billion people. To fill all those stomachs-while accounting for shifting consumption patterns, climate change, and a finite amount of arable land and potable water-some experts say food production will have to double. How can we make the numbers add up? Experts say higher yielding crop varieties and more efficient farming methods will be crucial. So will waste reduction. Experts urge cities to reclaim nutrients and water from waste streams and preserve farmland. Poor countries, they say, can improve crop storage and packaging and rich nations could cut back on resource-intensive foods like meat.Which one of the following statements best sums up the above passage?
Four cardboard pieces of specific shapes are shown in the following figure:Which one of the following figures given can be formed by joining these pieces together?
Each of A, B, C and D has Rs.100. A pays Rs.20 to B, who pays Rs.10 to C, who gets Rs.30 from D. In this context, which one of the following statements is not correct?