General Comprehension (UPSC) (Part-III)

Total Questions: 50

11. This is a sensitive issue-based story which tries to sensitise the readers about: [2015-11]

Set against a 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."

(a) Male chauvinism and infidelity
(b) Love and betrayal
(c) Lack of legal safeguards for women
(d) Influence of patriarchal mindset

Correct Answer: (d) Influence of patriarchal mindset

Solution:(d) is correct as discussed in the paragraph. The real reason behind this situation was Manak's mother. He could not realise her wife's love as he was under the influence of her mother's mindset.

12. Which among the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage? [2015-11]

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.

(a) The true aim of government is to secure the citizens their social and political freedom.
(b) The primary concern of government is to provide absolute social security to all its citizens.
(c) The best government is the one that allows the citizens to enjoy absolute liberty in all matters of life.
(d) The best government is the one that provides absolute physical security to the people of the country.

Correct Answer: (a) The true aim of government is to secure the citizens their social and political freedom.

Solution:For the holistic development of citizens the triad of social, political and economic security is of prime importance and it should reflect in the aims and goals of any government.

13. 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. [2015-11]

Which among the following in the most logical and rational assumption that can be made from the above passage?

(a) The task of providing urban services is a complex issue which requires the organisational expansion of municipal bodies all over the country.
(b) Our cities can provide better quality of life if our local government bodies have adequate staff with required skills and competencies.
(c) Lack of skilled staff is due to the absence of institutions which offer the requisite skills in city management.
(d) Our country is not taking advantage of the demographic dividend to manage the problems associated with rapid urbanization.

Correct Answer: (b) Our cities can provide better quality of life if our local government bodies have adequate staff with required skills and competencies.

Solution:(b) is correct as the passage clearly talks about lack of adequate staff with required skills and competencies in the municipal corporations or local government bodies and that these skills are very much required as the operations are quite complex. Hence, the assumption that our cities can provide better quality of life with quality staff is clearly marked out.

14. Which among the following is the most logical corollary to the above passage? [2015-11]

Flamingos in large flocks in the wild are social extremely loyal. They perform group mating dances. Parents are very fond of their chicks, gathering them into crèches for protection while both males and females fly off to search for food.

(a) Mass nesting in all species of birds is essential to ensure complete survival of their off spring.
(b) Only birds have the capacity to develop social behaviour and thus can do mass nesting to raise their chicks in safety.
(c) Social behaviour in some species of birds increases the odds of survival in an unsafe world.
(d) All species of birds set up creches for their chicks to teach them social behaviour and loyalty.

Correct Answer: (c) Social behaviour in some species of birds increases the odds of survival in an unsafe world.

Solution:(a), (b) and (d) are wrong as they talk about birds in general. The passage talks specifically about Flamingos. (c) is correct as it talks about some species of birds.

15. What is the most logical, rational and crucial message that is implied in the above passage? [2015-11]

(a) MGNREGS should be extended only to those who have a bank account.
(b) The paper-based system of payments is more efficient than electronic payment in the present scenario.
(c) The goal of electronic wage payments was not to eliminate mediation by village leaders.
(d) It is essential to provide financial literacy to the rural poor.

Correct Answer: (d) It is essential to provide financial literacy to the rural poor.

Solution:(a) is wrong as it is out of context of the passage. Further extended MGNREGS only to those who have a bank account would go against the very essence of the scheme.

(b) is wrong in spite of the paper-based system of payments being more efficient than electronic payment system. This is not the main message of the passage.

(c) is wrong as it negates the fact mentioned in the passage. Refer the second sentence which says, 'electronic wage payments in MGNREGS are meant to go directly to the poor.'

(d) is absolutely correct as the opening sentence clearly says that citizens living in rural areas, are financially illiterate. So, it is essential to provide financial literacy to the rural poor.

16. With reference to the above passage, consider the following statements: [2015-11]

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 ?

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.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 & 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1,2 & 3

Correct Answer: (c) 2 only

Solution:3 is wrong as the passage does not talk about focusing only on human development. It do talks about an unbalanced emphasis on growth but that, in any case, does not mean focusing only on human development.

2 is absolutely correct as the passage clearly says an unbalanced emphasis on growth is often associated with negative environmental consequences and adverse distributional effects. 1 is wrong as it is completely out of context of the passage,

17. With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: [2015-11]

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?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only

Solution:1 is wrong as the passage nowhere talks about economic disparity rather it talks about health, education or other non-income aspects of human development. The passage is essentially about drawing a balance between economic growth and human development.

2 is the correct assumption as unbalanced growth sometimes leads to environmental degradation.

18. Which one of the following statements is least essential as a part of the argument in the above passage? [2015-11]

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.

(a) Man seeks control over external things affecting him.
(b) In society, there are 'super' and 'sub' human beings.
(c) Exceptions to universal citizen participation are conducive to systemic efficacy.
(d) Governing implies recognition of disparities in individual capacities.

Correct Answer: (a) Man seeks control over external things affecting him.

Solution:(a) is not or least essential as a part of the argument because it is irrelevant in the context of the passage.

(b) is essential as a part of the argument as the 'super' and 'sub' human beings refers to the 'few select citizens' and the 'excluded ones'..

(d) is essential as the recognition of disparities in individual capacities leads to the exclusion policies.

19. Which one of the following statements best sums up the above passage? [2015-11]

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.

(a) The population of the world is growing very fast.
(b) Food security is a perennial problem only in developing countries.
(c) The world does not have enough resources to meet the impending food scarcity.
(d) Food security is increasingly a collective challenge.

Correct Answer: (d) Food security is increasingly a collective challenge.

Solution:(d) correctly sums up the passage. Food security is increasingly a collective challenge and the passage suggests means to combat it.

20. (b) The greater spending on weapon-building by us would lessen the possibility of armed conflict with our neighbours. [2015-11]

Many people in India feel that if we cut our defence expenditure on weapon-building, we can create a climate of peace with our neigh bours, 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.

(a) Building of weapons systems by us has instigated our neighbours to wage wars against us.
(b) The greater spending on weapon-building by us would lessen the possibility of armed conflict with our neighbours.
(c) It is necessary to have state of the art weapons systems for national security.
(d) Many people in India believe that we are wasting our resources on weapon-building.

Correct Answer: (b) The greater spending on weapon-building by us would lessen the possibility of armed conflict with our neighbours.

Solution:(b) is correct as the passage supports weapon-building by India. It can also be inferred from the passage that India wants to establish peace with our neighbours. So 'weapon-building would lessen the possibility of armed conflict with our neighbours' is the most valid assumption.

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