Verbal Ability
Q1Reading comprehension
Passage: That large animals require luxuriant vegetation has been a general assumption which has passed from one work to another, but I do not hesitate to say that it is completely false and that it has vitiated the reasoning of geologists on some points of great interest in the ancient history of the world. The prejudice has probably been derived from India and the Indian islands where troops of elephants, noble forests and impenetrable jungles are associated together in every one's mind. If however we refer to any work of travels through the southern parts of Africa we shall find allusions in almost every page either to the desert character of the country or to the numbers of large animals inhabiting it. The same thing is rendered evident by the many engravings, which have been published of various parts of the interior. Dr. Andrew Smith, who has lately succeeded in passing the Tropic of Capricorn, informs me that taking into consideration the whole of the southern part of Africa there can be no doubt of its being a sterile country. On the southern coasts there are some fine forests, but with these exceptions the traveller may pass for days together through open plains covered by a poor and scanty vegetation. Now if we look to the animals inhabiting these wide plains we shall find their numbers extraordinarily great and their bulk immense. It may be supposed that although the species are numerous the individuals of each kind are few. By the kindness of Dr. Smith I am enabled to show that the case is very different. He informs me that in lat. 24 in one day's march with the bullock-wagons he saw without wandering to any great distance on either side between one hundred and one hundred and fifty rhinoceroses, and the same day he saw several herds of giraffes amounting together to nearly a hundred. At the distance of a little more than one hour's march from their place of encampment on the previous night his party actually killed at one spot eight hippopotamuses and saw many more. In this same river there were likewise crocodiles. Of course it was a case quite extraordinary to see so many large animals crowded together, but it evidently proves that they must exist in great numbers. Dr. Smith describes the country passed through that day as being thinly covered with grass and bushes about four feet high and still more thinly with mimosa-trees. Besides these large animals, anyone the least acquainted with the natural history of the Cape has read of the herds of antelopes which can be compared only with the flocks of migratory birds. The numbers indeed of the lion, panther and hyena and the multitude of birds of prey plainly speak of the abundance of the smaller quadrupeds: one evening seven lions were counted at the same time prowling round Dr. Smith's encampment. As this able naturalist remarked to me, the carnage each day in Southern Africa must indeed be terrific! I confess it is truly surprising how such a number of animals can find support in a country producing so little food. The larger quadrupeds no doubt roam over wide tracts in search of it, and their food chiefly consists of underwood which probably contains much nutriment in a small bulk. Dr. Smith also informs me that the vegetation has a rapid growth; no sooner is a part consumed than its place is supplied by a fresh stock. There can be no doubt however that our ideas respecting the apparent amount of food necessary for the support of large quadrupeds are much exaggerated. The belief that where large quadrupeds exist the vegetation must necessarily be luxuriant is the more remarkable because the converse is far from true. Mr. Burchell observed to me that when entering Brazil nothing struck him more forcibly than the splendour of the South American vegetation contrasted with that of South Africa, together with the absence of all large quadrupeds. In his travels he has suggested that the comparison of the respective weights (if there were sufficient data) of an equal number of the largest herbivorous quadrupeds of each country would be extremely curious. If we take on the one side the elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, buffalo, eland, five species of rhinoceros, and on the American side two tapirs, the guanaco, three deer, the vicuna, peccari, capybara, after which we must choose from the monkeys to complete the number, and then place these two groups alongside each other, it is not easy to conceive ranks more disproportionate in size. After the above facts, we are compelled to conclude that, anterior probability aside, among the mammalia there exists no close relation between the bulk of the species and the quantity of the vegetation in the countries which they inhabit.
What is the primary concern of the author?
- aDiscussing the relationship between the size of mammals and the nature of vegetation in their habitats
- bContrasting ecological conditions in India and Africa
- cProviding that large animals do not require much food
- dDescribing the size of the animals in various parts of the world
Answer (a): The author argues against the belief that large animals need rich vegetation and finally concludes that the bulk of the species has no close relation with the vegetation of their countries. So the main concern is the link between animal size and vegetation.
Q3Reading comprehension
Passage: That large animals require luxuriant vegetation has been a general assumption which has passed from one work to another, but I do not hesitate to say that it is completely false and that it has vitiated the reasoning of geologists on some points of great interest in the ancient history of the world. The prejudice has probably been derived from India and the Indian islands where troops of elephants, noble forests and impenetrable jungles are associated together in every one's mind. If however we refer to any work of travels through the southern parts of Africa we shall find allusions in almost every page either to the desert character of the country or to the numbers of large animals inhabiting it. The same thing is rendered evident by the many engravings, which have been published of various parts of the interior. Dr. Andrew Smith, who has lately succeeded in passing the Tropic of Capricorn, informs me that taking into consideration the whole of the southern part of Africa there can be no doubt of its being a sterile country. On the southern coasts there are some fine forests, but with these exceptions the traveller may pass for days together through open plains covered by a poor and scanty vegetation. Now if we look to the animals inhabiting these wide plains we shall find their numbers extraordinarily great and their bulk immense. It may be supposed that although the species are numerous the individuals of each kind are few. By the kindness of Dr. Smith I am enabled to show that the case is very different. He informs me that in lat. 24 in one day's march with the bullock-wagons he saw without wandering to any great distance on either side between one hundred and one hundred and fifty rhinoceroses, and the same day he saw several herds of giraffes amounting together to nearly a hundred. At the distance of a little more than one hour's march from their place of encampment on the previous night his party actually killed at one spot eight hippopotamuses and saw many more. In this same river there were likewise crocodiles. Of course it was a case quite extraordinary to see so many large animals crowded together, but it evidently proves that they must exist in great numbers. Dr. Smith describes the country passed through that day as being thinly covered with grass and bushes about four feet high and still more thinly with mimosa-trees. Besides these large animals, anyone the least acquainted with the natural history of the Cape has read of the herds of antelopes which can be compared only with the flocks of migratory birds. The numbers indeed of the lion, panther and hyena and the multitude of birds of prey plainly speak of the abundance of the smaller quadrupeds: one evening seven lions were counted at the same time prowling round Dr. Smith's encampment. As this able naturalist remarked to me, the carnage each day in Southern Africa must indeed be terrific! I confess it is truly surprising how such a number of animals can find support in a country producing so little food. The larger quadrupeds no doubt roam over wide tracts in search of it, and their food chiefly consists of underwood which probably contains much nutriment in a small bulk. Dr. Smith also informs me that the vegetation has a rapid growth; no sooner is a part consumed than its place is supplied by a fresh stock. There can be no doubt however that our ideas respecting the apparent amount of food necessary for the support of large quadrupeds are much exaggerated. The belief that where large quadrupeds exist the vegetation must necessarily be luxuriant is the more remarkable because the converse is far from true. Mr. Burchell observed to me that when entering Brazil nothing struck him more forcibly than the splendour of the South American vegetation contrasted with that of South Africa, together with the absence of all large quadrupeds. In his travels he has suggested that the comparison of the respective weights (if there were sufficient data) of an equal number of the largest herbivorous quadrupeds of each country would be extremely curious. If we take on the one side the elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, buffalo, eland, five species of rhinoceros, and on the American side two tapirs, the guanaco, three deer, the vicuna, peccari, capybara, after which we must choose from the monkeys to complete the number, and then place these two groups alongside each other, it is not easy to conceive ranks more disproportionate in size. After the above facts, we are compelled to conclude that, anterior probability aside, among the mammalia there exists no close relation between the bulk of the species and the quantity of the vegetation in the countries which they inhabit.
Why are the flocks of migratory birds mentioned in the passage?
- aTo describe an aspect of the fauna of South Africa
- bTo illustrate a possible source of food for large carnivores
- cTo contrast with the habits of the antelope
- dTo suggest the size of antelope herds
Answer (d): The herds of antelopes are said to be comparable only with flocks of migratory birds. The comparison is used to show how huge the antelope herds are.
Q4Reading comprehension
Passage: That large animals require luxuriant vegetation has been a general assumption which has passed from one work to another, but I do not hesitate to say that it is completely false and that it has vitiated the reasoning of geologists on some points of great interest in the ancient history of the world. The prejudice has probably been derived from India and the Indian islands where troops of elephants, noble forests and impenetrable jungles are associated together in every one's mind. If however we refer to any work of travels through the southern parts of Africa we shall find allusions in almost every page either to the desert character of the country or to the numbers of large animals inhabiting it. The same thing is rendered evident by the many engravings, which have been published of various parts of the interior. Dr. Andrew Smith, who has lately succeeded in passing the Tropic of Capricorn, informs me that taking into consideration the whole of the southern part of Africa there can be no doubt of its being a sterile country. On the southern coasts there are some fine forests, but with these exceptions the traveller may pass for days together through open plains covered by a poor and scanty vegetation. Now if we look to the animals inhabiting these wide plains we shall find their numbers extraordinarily great and their bulk immense. It may be supposed that although the species are numerous the individuals of each kind are few. By the kindness of Dr. Smith I am enabled to show that the case is very different. He informs me that in lat. 24 in one day's march with the bullock-wagons he saw without wandering to any great distance on either side between one hundred and one hundred and fifty rhinoceroses, and the same day he saw several herds of giraffes amounting together to nearly a hundred. At the distance of a little more than one hour's march from their place of encampment on the previous night his party actually killed at one spot eight hippopotamuses and saw many more. In this same river there were likewise crocodiles. Of course it was a case quite extraordinary to see so many large animals crowded together, but it evidently proves that they must exist in great numbers. Dr. Smith describes the country passed through that day as being thinly covered with grass and bushes about four feet high and still more thinly with mimosa-trees. Besides these large animals, anyone the least acquainted with the natural history of the Cape has read of the herds of antelopes which can be compared only with the flocks of migratory birds. The numbers indeed of the lion, panther and hyena and the multitude of birds of prey plainly speak of the abundance of the smaller quadrupeds: one evening seven lions were counted at the same time prowling round Dr. Smith's encampment. As this able naturalist remarked to me, the carnage each day in Southern Africa must indeed be terrific! I confess it is truly surprising how such a number of animals can find support in a country producing so little food. The larger quadrupeds no doubt roam over wide tracts in search of it, and their food chiefly consists of underwood which probably contains much nutriment in a small bulk. Dr. Smith also informs me that the vegetation has a rapid growth; no sooner is a part consumed than its place is supplied by a fresh stock. There can be no doubt however that our ideas respecting the apparent amount of food necessary for the support of large quadrupeds are much exaggerated. The belief that where large quadrupeds exist the vegetation must necessarily be luxuriant is the more remarkable because the converse is far from true. Mr. Burchell observed to me that when entering Brazil nothing struck him more forcibly than the splendour of the South American vegetation contrasted with that of South Africa, together with the absence of all large quadrupeds. In his travels he has suggested that the comparison of the respective weights (if there were sufficient data) of an equal number of the largest herbivorous quadrupeds of each country would be extremely curious. If we take on the one side the elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, buffalo, eland, five species of rhinoceros, and on the American side two tapirs, the guanaco, three deer, the vicuna, peccari, capybara, after which we must choose from the monkeys to complete the number, and then place these two groups alongside each other, it is not easy to conceive ranks more disproportionate in size. After the above facts, we are compelled to conclude that, anterior probability aside, among the mammalia there exists no close relation between the bulk of the species and the quantity of the vegetation in the countries which they inhabit.
Why does Darwin quote Burchell's observations?
- aTo counter a popular misconception
- bTo describe a region of great splendor
- cTo prove a hypothesis
- dTo illustrate a well-known phenomenon
Answer (a): Burchell's remark about splendid vegetation with no large animals in South America, set against bare Africa full of large animals, goes against the popular belief that big animals need lush plants.
Q5Reading comprehension
Passage: That large animals require luxuriant vegetation has been a general assumption which has passed from one work to another, but I do not hesitate to say that it is completely false and that it has vitiated the reasoning of geologists on some points of great interest in the ancient history of the world. The prejudice has probably been derived from India and the Indian islands where troops of elephants, noble forests and impenetrable jungles are associated together in every one's mind. If however we refer to any work of travels through the southern parts of Africa we shall find allusions in almost every page either to the desert character of the country or to the numbers of large animals inhabiting it. The same thing is rendered evident by the many engravings, which have been published of various parts of the interior. Dr. Andrew Smith, who has lately succeeded in passing the Tropic of Capricorn, informs me that taking into consideration the whole of the southern part of Africa there can be no doubt of its being a sterile country. On the southern coasts there are some fine forests, but with these exceptions the traveller may pass for days together through open plains covered by a poor and scanty vegetation. Now if we look to the animals inhabiting these wide plains we shall find their numbers extraordinarily great and their bulk immense. It may be supposed that although the species are numerous the individuals of each kind are few. By the kindness of Dr. Smith I am enabled to show that the case is very different. He informs me that in lat. 24 in one day's march with the bullock-wagons he saw without wandering to any great distance on either side between one hundred and one hundred and fifty rhinoceroses, and the same day he saw several herds of giraffes amounting together to nearly a hundred. At the distance of a little more than one hour's march from their place of encampment on the previous night his party actually killed at one spot eight hippopotamuses and saw many more. In this same river there were likewise crocodiles. Of course it was a case quite extraordinary to see so many large animals crowded together, but it evidently proves that they must exist in great numbers. Dr. Smith describes the country passed through that day as being thinly covered with grass and bushes about four feet high and still more thinly with mimosa-trees. Besides these large animals, anyone the least acquainted with the natural history of the Cape has read of the herds of antelopes which can be compared only with the flocks of migratory birds. The numbers indeed of the lion, panther and hyena and the multitude of birds of prey plainly speak of the abundance of the smaller quadrupeds: one evening seven lions were counted at the same time prowling round Dr. Smith's encampment. As this able naturalist remarked to me, the carnage each day in Southern Africa must indeed be terrific! I confess it is truly surprising how such a number of animals can find support in a country producing so little food. The larger quadrupeds no doubt roam over wide tracts in search of it, and their food chiefly consists of underwood which probably contains much nutriment in a small bulk. Dr. Smith also informs me that the vegetation has a rapid growth; no sooner is a part consumed than its place is supplied by a fresh stock. There can be no doubt however that our ideas respecting the apparent amount of food necessary for the support of large quadrupeds are much exaggerated. The belief that where large quadrupeds exist the vegetation must necessarily be luxuriant is the more remarkable because the converse is far from true. Mr. Burchell observed to me that when entering Brazil nothing struck him more forcibly than the splendour of the South American vegetation contrasted with that of South Africa, together with the absence of all large quadrupeds. In his travels he has suggested that the comparison of the respective weights (if there were sufficient data) of an equal number of the largest herbivorous quadrupeds of each country would be extremely curious. If we take on the one side the elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, buffalo, eland, five species of rhinoceros, and on the American side two tapirs, the guanaco, three deer, the vicuna, peccari, capybara, after which we must choose from the monkeys to complete the number, and then place these two groups alongside each other, it is not easy to conceive ranks more disproportionate in size. After the above facts, we are compelled to conclude that, anterior probability aside, among the mammalia there exists no close relation between the bulk of the species and the quantity of the vegetation in the countries which they inhabit.
What struck Mr. Burchell when he entered Brazil?
- aSouth African vegetation
- bPresence of all large quadrupeds
- cSouth American vegetation contrasted with that of South Africa
- dEqual number of the largest herbivorous quadrupeds
Answer (c): The passage says nothing struck him more forcibly than the splendour of the South American vegetation as contrasted with that of South Africa.
Q6Tenses
Marry ______ a question to Mohan yesterday.
- awas asked
- basked
- chad asked
- dasking
Answer (b): 'Yesterday' needs the simple past, and Marry is the doer, so the active form 'asked' fits.
Q7Quantifiers
He has been seriously injured. There is ______ hope for his survival.
- aa little
- ba few
- clittle
- dfew
Answer (c): Hope is uncountable, and the sense is negative (almost no hope), so 'little' is correct. 'A little' would mean some hope.
Q8Subjunctive mood
______ I were the richest person of the world!
- aIf
- bUnless
- cWhen
- dNot any
Answer (a): A wish about an unreal situation uses 'If I were'.
Q10Quantifiers
______ know about whether the soul goes after the death.
- aFew
- bA few
- clittle
- dA little
Answer (a): People are countable and the sense is that almost nobody knows, so 'Few' (plural verb 'know') is right.
Q11Synonyms
Choose the appropriate synonym: Fostering
- asafeguarding
- bneglecting
- cignoring
- dnurturing
Answer (d): To foster means to encourage the growth of something, which is nurturing.
Q12Synonyms
Choose the appropriate synonym: Propel
- adrive
- bJettison
- cburst
- dmodify
Answer (a): Propel means to push or drive forward.
Q13Synonyms
Choose the appropriate synonym: Massive
- alump sum
- bstrong
- cgaping
- dhuge
Answer (d): Massive means very large, so 'huge'.
Q14Synonyms
Choose the appropriate synonym: Stumbling Block
- aargument
- bfrustration
- cadvantage
- dhurdle
Answer (d): A stumbling block is an obstacle, a hurdle.
Q15Synonyms
They were totally unaware of the <u>impending</u> disaster.
- athreatening
- bimminent
- cterrible
- dpossible
Answer (b): Impending means about to happen, which is 'imminent'.
Q16Idioms
He <u>rides the high horse</u> because of his connection.
- ais famous
- btalk flatteringly
- cputs on airs
- dis prosperous
Answer (c): To ride the high horse means to act in a proud, superior way, i.e. to put on airs.
Q18Idioms
He <u>threw cold water over</u> the project that the secretary had prepared.
- aencouraged
- bdiscouraged
- ccleared
- drejected
Answer (b): To throw cold water on a plan means to discourage it.
Q19Idioms
I won't mind even if he <u>goes to dogs</u>.
- agoes mad
- bis insulted
- cis ruined
- dbecomes brutal
Answer (c): To go to the dogs means to fall into ruin or decline.
Q20Idioms
Rita might <u>scream blue murder</u>, but I feel Ritu should get the promotion since she is better qualified for the job.
- asuffer from persecution complex
- btry to prove herself as more suitable to the job
- cregard it as an act of partiality
- dmake a great deal of noise and object vehemently
Answer (d): To scream blue murder means to protest loudly and angrily.
Q21Direct and indirect speech
Kiran asked me, "Did you see the cricket match on television last night?"
- aKiran asked me whether I saw the cricket match on television the earlier night.
- bKiran asked me whether I had seen the cricket match on television the earlier night.
- cKiran asked me did I see the cricket match on television the last night.
- dKiran asked me whether I had seen the cricket match on television the last night.
Answer (b): A simple past question becomes past perfect and is introduced by 'whether': 'had seen'. 'Last night' shifts to 'the earlier night' (the night before). Option a keeps the simple past, c has direct question order, and d keeps 'the last night', which is not shifted.
Q22Direct and indirect speech
David said to Anna, "Mona will leave for her native place tomorrow."
- aDavid told Anna that Mona will leave for her native place tomorrow.
- bDavid told Anna that Mona left for her native place the next day.
- cDavid told Anna that Mona would be leaving for her native place tomorrow.
- dDavid told Anna that Mona would leave for her native place the next day.
Answer (d): 'Will' becomes 'would' and 'tomorrow' becomes 'the next day' in reported speech.
Q23Direct and indirect speech
I said to him, "Why are you working so hard?"
- aI asked him why he was working so hard.
- bI asked him why he working so hard.
- cI asked him why had he been working so hard.
- dI asked him why he had been working so hard.
Answer (a): Present continuous goes to past continuous, and the reported question uses normal word order: 'why he was working so hard'.
Q25Direct and indirect speech
The tailor said to him, "Will you have the suit ready by tomorrow evening?"
- aThe tailor asked him that he will have the suit ready by the next evening.
- bThe tailor asked him that he would had the suit ready by the next evening.
- cThe tailor asked him if he would have the suit ready by the next evening.
- dThe tailor asked him if he will like to have the suit ready by the next evening.
Answer (c): A yes/no question is reported with 'if', 'will' changes to 'would', and 'tomorrow evening' becomes 'the next evening'.
Quantitative Ability
Q26Statistics
Which of the following is not a measure of dispersion?
- aRange
- bStandard deviation
- carithmetic mean
- dvariance
Answer (c): Range, standard deviation and variance show spread. The arithmetic mean is a measure of central tendency.
Q27Statistics
The sum of all deviations of the data from its mean is
- aAlways positive
- bAlways negative
- czero
- dNon-zero integer
Answer (c): $\sum (x_i-\bar{x})=\sum x_i-n\bar{x}=0$.
Q28Probability
Which of the following is incorrect?
- a$p(A)>1$
- b$0\le p(A)\le 1$
- c$p(A)=0$
- d$p(A)+p(\bar{A})=1$
Answer (a): A probability can never exceed 1, so $p(A)>1$ is impossible. The others are valid statements.
Q29Probability
The probability that a red marble selected at random from a jar containing $p$ red, $q$ blue and $r$ green marbles is
- a$\frac{q}{p+q+r}$
- b$\frac{p}{p+q+r}$
- c$\frac{p+q}{p+q+r}$
- d$\frac{p+r}{p+q+r}$
Answer (b): Favourable outcomes are the $p$ red marbles out of $p+q+r$ in all, giving $\frac{p}{p+q+r}$.
Q30Probability
Henry went to play a lucky draw contest. 135 tickets of the lucky draw were sold. If the probability of Henry winning is $\frac{1}{9}$, then the number of tickets bought by Henry is
- a5
- b10
- c15
- d20
Answer (c): Henry's tickets $=\frac{1}{9}\times 135=15$.
Q31Operations research
The objective of the transportation problem which is to be maximized is to
- aMaximize the total profit
- bMinimize the total loss
- cneither maximize nor minimize
- dOptimal cost
Answer (a): When the transportation objective is a maximization one, it is to maximize total profit (the usual cost model is a minimization problem). Minimizing loss or 'optimal cost' does not describe a maximization objective.
Q32Determinants
Cramer's rule is also known as ______
- aInverse matrix method
- bMatrix method
- cdeterminant method
- dInverse method
Answer (c): Cramer's rule solves linear equations using ratios of determinants, so it is the determinant method.
Q33Accounting basics
The lender's are also known as ______
- acreditor's
- bdebtor's
- cbuyer's
- dNone of the above
Answer (a): A lender is owed money, so he is a creditor. The paper's printed key (b, debtor) is wrong.
Q34Determinants
If any two rows and columns of a determinant are identical, the value of the determinant is ______
- a1
- b0
- c-1
- dunaltered
Answer (b): A determinant with two identical rows (or columns) is zero.
Q35Arithmetic
$51-46+3(5)=$ ______
- a40
- b20
- c41
- d52
Answer (b): $51-46=5$ and $3(5)=15$, so $5+15=20$.
Q36Logarithms
What is the value of the following expression? $\log\frac{9}{14}-\log\frac{15}{16}+\log\frac{35}{24}$
- a0
- b1
- c2
- d3
Answer (a): Combine: $\log\left(\frac{9}{14}\times\frac{16}{15}\times\frac{35}{24}\right)=\log\frac{5040}{5040}=\log 1=0$.
Q37Business basics
An association of 2 or more persons to carry on a business for the purpose of earning profit is known as
- aPartnership
- bLegal entity
- cinsurance
- dNone of above
Answer (a): This is the standard definition of a partnership.
Q39Statistics
If the maximum value in a series is 25 and its range is 15, the minimum value of the series is
- a10
- b15
- c25
- d35
Answer (a): Range = max - min, so min $=25-15=10$.
Q40Triangles
If the square of 1 side of a triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the other 2 sides, then the triangle is
- aIsosceles triangle
- bscalene triangle
- cright angle triangle
- dreflection triangle
Answer (c): The paper prints 'sum of the other 2 sides', a misprint for 'sum of the squares of the other 2 sides'. That is the Pythagorean relation, so the triangle is right angled.
Q41Linear programming
Unbounded solution in an LPP is ______
- aWhere the objective function can be decreased indefinitely
- bWhich maximizes the objective function
- cWhere the objective function can be increased or decreased indefinitely
- dWhere the objective function can be increased indefinitely
Answer (c): In general an LPP is unbounded when the objective function can be increased (maximization) or decreased (minimization) without limit. Option c states the general definition; a and d describe only one of the two cases, and b is not a definition.
Q43Partnership
Three partners A, B and C start a business. B's capital is four times C's capital and twice A's capital is equal to thrice B's capital. If the total profit is Rs. 16,500 at the end of a year, find B's share in it.
- aRs. 4,000
- bRs. 5,000
- cRs. 6,000
- dRs. 7,000
Answer (c): From $2A=3B$, $A=1.5B$, and $C=B/4$. Ratio $A:B:C=1.5:1:0.25=6:4:1$. B's share $=\frac{4}{11}\times 16500=6000$.
Q44Permutations
How many permutations of the letters of the word APPLE are there?
- a600
- b120
- c240
- d60
Answer (d): Five letters with P repeated twice: $\frac{5!}{2!}=60$.
Q45Permutations and combinations
A man positioned at the origin of the coordinate system. The man can take steps of unit measure in the direction north, east, west or south. Find the number of ways he can reach the point $(5,6)$ covering the shortest possible distance.
- a252
- b432
- c462
- d504
Answer (c): He needs 5 steps east and 6 steps north in any order: $\binom{11}{5}=462$.
Q46Stocks and shares
In order to obtain an income of Rs. 650 from 10% stock at Rs. 96, one must make an investment of
- aRs. 3,100
- bRs. 6,240
- cRs. 6,500
- dRs. 9,600
Answer (b): Rs. 10 income comes from Rs. 96 invested, so investment $=\frac{650\times 96}{10}=6240$.
Q47Ages
The sum of ages of 5 children born at the intervals of 3 years each is 50 years. What is the age of youngest child?
- a4 years
- b8 years
- c10 years
- dNone of these
Answer (a): Let the youngest be $x$: $5x+3(1+2+3+4)=50$, so $5x=20$ and $x=4$.
Q48Clocks
An accurate clock shows 8 o'clock in the morning. Through how many degrees will the hour hand rotate when the clock shows 2 o'clock in the afternoon?
- a144
- b150
- c168
- d180
Answer (d): From 8 am to 2 pm is 6 hours and the hour hand turns $30^\circ$ per hour: $6\times 30=180^\circ$.
Q50Profit and loss
By selling a bicycle for Rs. 2,850, a shopkeeper gains 14%. If the profit is reduced to 8%, then the selling price will be
- aRs. 2,600
- bRs. 2,700
- cRs. 2,800
- dRs. 3,000
Answer (b): Cost price $=\frac{2850}{1.14}=2500$. New selling price $=2500\times 1.08=2700$.
Logical Reasoning
Q51Coding-decoding
If TOUR is written as 1234, CLEAR is written as 56784 and SPARE is written as 90847, find the code for CARE.
- a1247
- b4847
- c5247
- d5847
Answer (d): From the codes: C=5, A=8, R=4, E=7. So CARE is 5847.
Q52Coding-decoding
In a code sign DRLAL is coded as 62014314. How CAMEL is coded?
- a5315714
- b35729310
- c5313613
- dNone of these
Answer (a): Each letter is coded as its position in the alphabet plus 2 (D=4 gives 6, R=18 gives 20, L=12 gives 14, A=1 gives 3). CAMEL: C=5, A=3, M=15, E=7, L=14, giving 5315714.
Q53Blood relations
E is the son of C. D is the husband of C. B and G is the only brother and daughter of D respectively. F is the maternal aunt of E and G. How is B related to E?
- auncle
- bnephew
- cniece
- daunt
Answer (a): C and D are the parents of E. B is the brother of D, so B is E's father's brother, an uncle.
Q54Logical puzzles
In a group of five persons A, B, C, D and E, one plays tennis, one plays chess and one hockey. A and D are unmarried women and play no game. There is a couple among them where E is husband of C. No women play either chess or hockey. B is the brother of C and he neither plays tennis nor chess. Who plays hockey here?
- aA
- bB
- cC
- dD
Answer (b): Only B, C and E play. C is a woman, so she cannot play chess or hockey and plays tennis. B does not play tennis or chess, so B plays hockey.
Q55Venn-type reasoning
A, B and C are intelligent. A, D and E are laborious. D, C and E are honest. A, B and E are ambitious. Who is neither laborious nor honest?
- aA and D
- bB only
- cE only
- dC only
Answer (b): Laborious: A, D, E. Honest: D, C, E. People in neither list: only B.
Q57Inference
Statements: (a) I know a professor of a university. (b) He has beard.
Inference: All the professors of the university have beard.
- aThe inference is definitely true
- bThe inference is definitely false
- cThe inference is neither true nor false
- dInference cannot be drawn
Answer (d): One bearded professor says nothing about all professors, so the inference cannot be drawn.
Q59Strengthening the conclusion
One of the warmest winters on record has put consumers in the mood to spend money. The consumers' intent of spending is seen to be the strongest in 13 years. During the month of January, sales of existing single family homes hit an annual record rate of 5.70 million. This paragraph best supports the statement that:
- aDuring the winter months, the prices of single-family homes are the lowest.
- bWarm winter weather is likely to affect the rate of home sales.
- cConsumer spending will be higher thirteen years from now than it is today
- dThere were about 5 million homes for sale during the month of January.
Answer (b): Warm winter, strong spending and record home sales are put together, which supports the idea that warm weather affects home sales.
Q60Strengthening the conclusion
Mathematics allows us to expand our consciousness and tells us about the growth of populations, economic trends and the patterns of disease. Mathematics is good at exposing the truth, but it can also perpetuate misunderstandings and untruths. Figures have the power to mislead people. This paragraph best supports the statement that:
- aFigure are sometimes used to deceive people.
- bThe study of mathematics is dangerous.
- cThe power of numbers is that they cannot lie.
- dWords are more truthful than figures.
Answer (a): The paragraph says figures have the power to mislead, so sometimes they are used to deceive.
Q61Analogy
Soldier : gun :: blacksmith : ?
- awood
- bsword
- ciron
- dhammer
Answer (d): A soldier's tool is a gun, a blacksmith's tool is a hammer.
Q62Analogy
Petal : Flower
- asalt : pepper
- btire : bicycle
- cbase : ball
- dsandals : shoes
Answer (b): A petal is part of a flower, a tire is part of a bicycle.
Q63Analogy
Odometer : Distance
- aScale : weight
- blength : width
- cinch : foot
- dmileage : speed
Answer (a): An odometer measures distance, a scale measures weight.
Q64Analogy
Fish : School
- awolf : pack
- bcow : farm
- cherd : peacock
- delephant : jungle
Answer (a): A group of fish is a school, a group of wolves is a pack.
Q65Analogy
Sound : Cacophony
- aspeech : oration
- btouch : massage
- csmell : stench
- dtaste : style
Answer (c): Cacophony is an unpleasant sound, stench is an unpleasant smell.
Q67Statement and arguments
Statement: Should students study in early hours of morning?
Argument I: Yes, mind is fresh and alert at this time.
Argument II: No, early rises feel sleepy throughout the day.
- aI is strong
- bOnly argument II is strong
- cboth the arguments are strong
- dNeither I nor II is strong
Answer (a): A fresh, alert mind is a sound reason for studying early. Feeling sleepy is a personal habit, not a general reason.
Q68Statement and arguments
Statement: Should all workers be allowed to participate in the management of factories in Nepal?
Argument I: Yes, it is the present management theory.
Argument II: No, many workers are illiterate and their contribution will not be of value.
- aOnly I is strong
- bOnly argument II is strong
- cboth the arguments are strong
- dNeither I nor II is strong
Answer (b): Argument I only cites a theory and gives no reason. Argument II gives a practical reason: many workers are illiterate, so their input may not be of value. Only II is strong (the printed key agrees).
Q69Odd one out
In the following question, select the odd word from the given alternatives.
- aherb
- bflower
- ctree
- dshrub
Answer (b): Herb, tree and shrub are kinds of plants by size and growth habit. A flower is only a part of a plant.
Q70Odd one out
In the following question, select the odd word pair from the given alternatives.
- apen
- bpaper
- cmarker
- dhighlighter
Answer (b): Pen, marker and highlighter are writing tools. Paper is the surface written on.
Q71Odd one out
Three of the following four are alike in a certain way and so form a group. Which is the one that does not belong to that group?
- a125
- b130
- c131
- d138
Answer (c): 125, 130 and 138 are composite, while 131 is a prime number.
Q72Odd one out
In the following question, select the odd word pair from the given alternatives.
- apetrol-car
- boil-lamp
- ccoal-lamp
- dsmoke-fire
Answer (d): Petrol, oil and coal are fuels for car and lamps. Smoke is produced by fire, which is a cause-effect pair.
Q73Symbol-based inequality
Directions: In the question symbols $, #, % are used with different meanings as follows. $ means 'neither greater nor equal to' (<), # means 'neither greater nor smaller than' (=), % means 'neither smaller nor equal to' (>). In each of the following questions, assuming the given statements to be true, find which of the two conclusions I and II given below them is/are definitely true.
Statements: T % I, I # L, L % U
Conclusions: I. T $ L II. U $ T
- aOnly I is true
- bOnly II is true
- ceither I or II is true
- dNeither I nor II is true
Answer (b): The symbols give T>I=L>U. So T>L (conclusion I, T<L, is false) and U<T (II is true). Only II is true; the printed key (a) is wrong.
Q74Symbol-based inequality
Directions: In the question symbols $, #, % are used with different meanings as follows. $ means 'neither greater nor equal to' (<), # means 'neither greater nor smaller than' (=), % means 'neither smaller nor equal to' (>). In each of the following questions, assuming the given statements to be true, find which of the two conclusions I and II given below them is/are definitely true.
Statements: M # K, K % P, P $ R
Conclusions: I. R $ M II. P % M
- aOnly I is true
- bOnly II is true
- ceither I or II is true
- dNeither I nor II is true
Answer (d): We get $M=K>P<R$. $R$ and $M$ cannot be compared, and $P>M$ is false, so neither is true.
Q75Symbol-based inequality
Directions: In the question symbols $, #, % are used with different meanings as follows. $ means 'neither greater nor equal to' (<), # means 'neither greater nor smaller than' (=), % means 'neither smaller nor equal to' (>). In each of the following questions, assuming the given statements to be true, find which of the two conclusions I and II given below them is/are definitely true.
Statements: N $ B, B # D, D % C
Conclusions: I. D $ N II. B % C
- aOnly I is true
- bOnly II is true
- ceither I or II is true
- dNeither I nor II is true
Answer (b): The symbols give N<B=D>C. So D>N (conclusion I, D<N, is false) and B>C (II is true). Only II is true; the printed key (c) is wrong.
General Awareness
Q76Computer basics
A light sensitive device that converts drawing, printed text or other images into digital form is
- aKeyboard
- bScanner
- cOMR
- dNone of these
Answer (b): A scanner uses light sensors to turn images and text into digital data.
Q77Computer history
The basic architecture of computer was developed by
- aJohn von Neumann
- bCharles Babbage
- cBlaise Pascal
- dGordon Moore
Answer (a): The stored-program design of modern computers is called the von Neumann architecture.
Q78Sports
Former Australian captain Mark Taylor has had several nicknames over his playing career. Which of the following was not one of them?
- aTubby
- bStodge
- cHelium Bat
- dStumpy
Answer (d): Mark Taylor's nicknames were Tubby, Stodge and Helium Bat. Stumpy was not one of them.
Q79Sports
How many players are consisted in each team of basketball?
- a6
- b7
- c4
- d5
Answer (d): A basketball team has 5 players on court.
Q80Days
When is the international workers' day?
- a15th April
- b12th December
- c1st May
- d1st August
Answer (c): International Workers' Day is on 1 May.
Q81Days
4th February is celebrated as
- aThinking day
- bWorld Radio day
- cWorld cancer day
- dWorld wildlife day
Answer (c): World Cancer Day is on 4 February.
Q82Computer basics
'Os' computer abbreviation usually means?
- aOrder of significance
- bOpen software
- cOperating system
- dOptical sensor
Answer (c): OS stands for Operating System.
Q83Science terms
Entomology is the science that studies
- aThe origin and history of technical and scientific terms
- bBehavior of human beings
- cInsects
- dThe formation of rocks
Answer (c): Entomology is the study of insects.
Q84Economics
Free market is
- aA condition in the international market where nations do not impose customs duty or other takes on import of goods.
- bMarket where the price of a commodity is determined by free play of the forces of supply and demand.
- cPorts that are exempted from payment of customs duty on articles of commerce, primarily to encourage tourism.
- dNone of the above
Answer (b): In a free market, prices are set by supply and demand without government control.
Q85World geography
Yokohama and Kobe are the main centers of ship building industry in:
- aJapan
- bSouth Korea
- cNorth Korea
- dChina
Answer (a): Yokohama and Kobe are major port and shipbuilding cities of Japan.
Q86Soil science
The process that creates a sub layer, which is white to gray in colour and composes of silica sand in the A horizon is called
- aPodsolosation
- bCalcification
- cLaterisation
- dGleisation
Answer (a): Podzolisation leaches iron and humus out of the A horizon, leaving a pale silica-rich layer.
Q87International organizations
Which of the following is not associated with the UNO?
- aILO
- bWHO
- cASEAN
- dAll of the above
Answer (c): ILO and WHO are UN agencies. ASEAN is a regional group of Southeast Asian nations.
Q88Electronics
The transformer that develops the high voltage in a home television is commonly called as:
- aTesla coil
- bFlyback
- cYoke
- dVan de Graff
Answer (b): The flyback transformer produces the high voltage for the picture tube.
Q89International organizations
Permanent secretariat to coordinate the implementation of SAARC programme is located at
- aDhaka
- bNew Delhi
- cColombo
- dKathmandu
Answer (d): The SAARC Secretariat is in Kathmandu.
Q90Finance terms
"Bulls and bears" is a term associated with
- aParliamentary Affairs
- bBullfights
- cRacing
- dStock exchange
Answer (d): Bulls and bears describe rising and falling markets on the stock exchange.
Q91Inventions
Who invented the ballpoint pen?
- aBiro brothers
- bWaterman brothers
- cBic brothers
- dWrite brothers
Answer (a): The ballpoint pen was invented by the Hungarian Biro brothers (Laszlo and Georg).
Q92Human body
The hardest metal of the human body is
- aBones
- bEnamel
- cNails
- dHead
Answer (b): The paper says 'metal' loosely; it means the hardest substance in the body, which is tooth enamel. Bone, nails and head are all softer.
Q94Science history
Which scientist discovered the radioactive element radium?
- aIsaac Newton
- bAlbert Einstein
- cBenjamin Franklin
- dMarie Curie
Answer (d): Marie Curie and Pierre Curie discovered radium in 1898.
Q95Nepal GK
Who is the first president of Nepal?
- aMrs. Bidhya Bhandari
- bRam Raja Prasad Singh
- cDr. Rambaran Yadav
- dRam Prit Paswan
Answer (c): Dr. Ram Baran Yadav became the first president of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal in 2008. At the time of the exam; Bidya Devi Bhandari was the sitting president and later Ram Chandra Paudel.
Q96Chemistry in daily life
Which of the following things is known by its chemical name sodium chloride?
- aWashing soda
- bBaking soda
- cSalt used in kitchen
- dChilli power used in the kitchen
Answer (c): Common kitchen salt is sodium chloride, NaCl. Washing soda is sodium carbonate and baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. The printed key (b) is wrong.
Q97Reasoning
Women are better teacher at primary level because
- aThey behave more patiently with children.
- bThey are ready to work with low salary.
- cHigher qualifications is not needed in this profession.
- dThey have less chances in other profession.
Answer (a): The only reason that relates to teaching quality is patience with young children.
Q98Inventions
What now ubiquitous device was invented by Zenith engineer Eugene Polley in 1955?
- aMicrowave oven
- bRemote control
- cVCR
- dCalculator
Answer (b): Eugene Polley invented the Flash-Matic, the first wireless TV remote control.
Q99Nepal GK
The longest river in Nepal is
- aKarnali
- bKoshi
- cArun
- dTrishuli
Answer (a): The Karnali is the longest river within Nepal.
Q100General knowledge
"Lingonberry" is a kind of
- aGrain
- bAnimal
- cGame
- dFruit
Answer (d): Lingonberry is a small red edible berry, a fruit.