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General Comprehension (UPSC) (Part-VII)

📆 April 8, 2025

Total Questions: 50

21. Which of the following would invariably happen in a country, when the demographic dividend has begun to operate? [2022-II]

1. The number of illiterate-people win decrease.

2. The ratio of very old and very young will decrease for a while.

3. Population growth rate will quickly stabilize.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The demographic dividend, which has begun in India and is expected to last another few decades, is a great window of opportunity. The demographic dividend is basically a swelling in the working age population, which conversely means that the relative ratio of very young and very old will, for a while, be on the decline. From the experience of Ireland and China, we know that this can be a source of energy and an engine of economic growth.

The demographic dividend tends to raise a nation's savings rate since in any nation, it is the working age population that is the main saver. And since the savings rate is an important driver of growth, this should help elevate our growth rate. However, the benefits of demographic dividend depend on the quality of the working age population. And this implies bringing back the importance of education, acquisition of skills and human capital.

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only
Solution:You need to identify the correct statement/s out of the three given statements.

1. Nowhere does the passage say that in a country when the demographic dividend has begun to operate the number of illiterate people will increase. On the contrary, the passage urges to focus on education and skill development.

2. The meaning of demographic dividend is clarified by this statement which is the ratio of very old and very young will decrease for a while. This is correct because in the passage the demographic dividend has been defined as a "swelling in the working-age population" "which conversely means that the relative ratio of very young and very old will, for a while, be on the decline.

3. The population growth rate will quickly stabilize. This statement is incorrect and it is also nowhere to be found in the passage. Also, the first sentence of the passage says that the demographic dividend is expected to last another few years. It means the working-age population will continue to expand for few decades, hence, the population will not quickly stabilize. Therefore, option (b) only 2 is correct.

22. With reference to the passage, which of the following inferences can be drawn? [2022-II]

1. Demographic dividend is an essential condition for a country to rapidly increase its economic growth rate.

2. Promotion of higher education is an essential condition for a country for its rapid economic growth.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The demographic dividend, which has begun in India and is expected to last another few decades, is a great window of opportunity. The demographic dividend is basically a swelling in the working age population, which conversely means that the relative ratio of very young and very old will, for a while, be on the decline. From the experience of Ireland and China, we know that this can be a source of energy and an engine of economic growth.

The demographic dividend tends to raise a nation's savings rate since in any nation, it is the working age population that is the main saver. And since the savings rate is an important driver of growth, this should help elevate our growth rate. However, the benefits of demographic dividend depend on the quality of the working age population. And this implies bringing back the importance of education, acquisition of skills and human capital.

Correct Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution:Neither of the inferences given can be drawn from the passage. This is because the passage says that we can use the demographic dividend as a source, thus giving examples of Ireland and China.

But it cannot imply that a demographic dividend is an essential condition for a country to rapidly increase its economic growth. Similarly, promotion of higher education may not necessarily help a country's rapid economic growth.

23. Which of the following statements best reflects the underlying tone of the passage? [2022-II]

In an economic organization, allowing mankind to benefit by the productivity of machines should lead to a very good life of leisure and much leisure is apt. to be tedious except to those who have intelligent activities and interests.

If a leisured population is to be happy, it must be an educated population, and must be educated with a view to enjoyment as well as to the direct usefulness of technical knowledge.

Correct Answer: (d) Use of machines should be encouraged in order to create a large leisured population.
Solution:We have to identify the underlying tone of the passage.

Option (a): Only an educated population can best make use of the benefits of the economic progress. This appears to be the underlying tone of the passage but let us wait till we examine the other options as well.

Option (b): All economic developments should be aimed at the creation of leisure. This cannot be the underlying tone because it doesn't answer why leisure is important and what uses can we have for leisure. Authors says that leisure is useless if the population is not educated.

Option (c): An increase in the educated population of a country leads to an increase in the happiness of its people. This is not the complete tone of the author/passage. It is only half the message. This ignores the importance of leisure, technology, and economic growth.

Option (d): Use of machines should be encouraged in order to create a large leisured population. This is not the underlying tone because it misses the underlying crux, which is about how the benefits of leisure can be had in a productive organization.

24. With reference to the passage, which one of the following statements is correct? [2022-II]

If presents bring less thrill now that we are grown up, perhaps it is because we have too much already; or perhaps it is because we have lost the fullness of the joy of giving, and with it the fullness of the joy of receiving. Children's fears are poignant, their miseries are acute, but they do not look too forward nor too far backward.

Their joys are clear and complete, because they have not yet learnt always to add 'but' to every proposition. Perhaps we are too cautious, too anxious, too skeptical. Perhaps some of our cares would shrink if we thought less about them and entered with more single minded enjoyment into the happiness that come our way.

Correct Answer: (b) There can be more than one reason why adults feel less thrilled by presents.
Solution:The author says in the very first sentence of the passage "If presents bring less thrill now that we are grown up, perhaps it is because we have too much already, or perhaps it is because we have lost the fullness of joy of giving and with it the fullness of the joy of receiving."

The above sentence clarifies that there is more than one reason why adults feel less thrilled by presents. If you read the passage further reasons are provided. So, option (b) is correct.

Option (a) is incorrect because the author does not say that adults do not feel thrilled by presents, rather the author maintains that they feel less thrilled.

Option (c) is incorrect because the author knows why adults feel less thrilled by presents which is explained in the passage.

Option (d) is incorrect because the author does not maintain that adults have less capacity to feel joy. The author, however, maintains that adults feel less joy because they are too cautious etc. There is a difference between not feeling joy and having less capacity to feel joy.

25. The author of the passage is against: [2022-II]

Correct Answer: (a) worrying too much about the past and future
Solution:As stated in the passage, 'children's fears are poignant, their miseries are acute, but they do not look too forward nor too far backward. Their joys are clear and complete, because they have not yet learnt always to add 'but' to every proposition'.

This indicates that we are often thinking much about looking too forward and too far backward. The remaining options are not true since the author feels that we are not thinking about 'presents' as an outcome of our habit of getting excited about receiving presents. The author feels less thrilled, rather not thrilled at all.

26. Which one of the following is implied by the passage? [2022-II]

The majority of people who fail to accumulate money sufficient for their needs, are generally, easily influenced by the opinions of others. They permit the newspapers and the gossiping neighbours to do their thinking for them.

Opinions are the cheapest commodities on the earth. Everyone has a flock of opinions ready to be wished upon by anyone who will accept them. If you are influenced by opinions when you reach decisions, you will not succeed in any undertaking.

Correct Answer: (c) There are people who fail to accumulate money for their needs.
Solution:Let us examine each option.

Option (a) is incorrect because the passage doesn't imply that most people do not accumulate money for their needs.

Why? Because the passage says that the majority of the people who do not accumulate sufficient money for their needs are generally influenced by the opinion of the others. It means according to

option (a) most people are influenced by the opinion of the others which is nowhere indicated in the passage.

Option (b) is eliminated for the same reason as above because the passage nowhere implies most people never fail to accumulate money for their needs which is most people accumulate money for their needs.

Option (c) is correct because it says there are people who fail to accumulate money for their needs. The sentence in the passage is that the majority of the people who do not accumulate sufficient money for their needs are generally influenced by the opinion of others.

The passage doesn't discuss anything about the need or no need of accumulating money. Therefore, option (d) is eliminated.

27. What is the main idea of the passage? [2022-II]

The majority of people who fail to accumulate money sufficient for their needs, are generally, easily influenced by the opinions of others. They permit the newspapers and the gossiping neighbours to do their thinking for them.

Opinions are the cheapest commodities on the earth. Everyone has a flock of opinions ready to be wished upon by anyone who will accept them. If you are influenced by opinions when you reach decisions, you will not succeed in any undertaking.

Correct Answer: (a) People should not be influenced by the opinions of others.
Solution:Let us examine each option one by one.

Option (a) is people should not be influenced by the opinion of others. Towards the end, the author explains, why? "Because if you are influenced...you will not succeed in any undertaking".

Option (b) is incorrect because the passage nowhere states or implies one should accumulate as much money as one can. (At best we can say the implication of the passage is that people should have sufficient for their needs so as not to be influenced by others' opinions.)

Option (c) is incorrect because this statement is in the nature of the recommendation. The author doesn't make any recommendations.

Option (d) is incorrect. There is likely to be some confusion based on the last line of the passage. The last line is "If you are influenced by opinions when you reach decisions, you will not succeed in any undertaking." This doesn't mean people will succeed in any undertaking if they do not accept the opinion at all.

28. With reference to the above passage, which of the following statements is/are correct? [2022-II]

1. Conventions are the sources of rights of man.

2. Rights of man can be exercised only when there is a social order.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

"The social order is a sacred right which is the basis of all other rights. Never the less, this right does not come from nature, and must therefore be founded on conventions"

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

29. The author's assumption about scientific research is that : [2022-II]

To encourage research is one of the functions of a university. Contemporary universities have encouraged research, not only in those cases where research is necessary, but on all sorts of entirely unprofitable subjects as well.

Scientific research is probably never completely valueless. However silly and insignificant it may seem, however mechanical and unintelligent the labours of the researchers, there is always a chance that the results may be of value to the investigator of talent who can use the facts collected for him by uninspired but industrious researchers as the basis of some fruitful generalization.

But where research is not original but consists in the mere rearrangement of existing materials, where its object is not scientific but literary or historical, then there is a risk of the whole business becoming merely futile.

Correct Answer: (c) it is never without some value
Solution:In this question you have to identify the author's assumption about research.

Read the following sentence/s in the passage.

"Scientific research is probably never completely valueless. However silly and insignificant it may seem, however mechanical and unintelligent....there is always a chance that the results may be of value....."

This point is exactly stated in option (c).

30. According to the author : [2022-II]

To encourage research is one of the functions of a university. Contemporary universities have encouraged research, not only in those cases where research is necessary, but on all sorts of entirely unprofitable subjects as well.

Scientific research is probably never completely valueless. However silly and insignificant it may seem, however mechanical and unintelligent the labours of the researchers, there is always a chance that the results may be of value to the investigator of talent who can use the facts collected for him by uninspired but industrious researchers as the basis of some fruitful generalization.

But where research is not original but consists in the mere rearrangement of existing materials, where its object is not scientific but literary or historical, then there is a risk of the whole business becoming merely futile.

Correct Answer: (c) any research result can be of value to an intelligent investigator.
Solution:From the passage, it can be inferred that 'scientific research is probably never completely valueless. However silly and insignificant it may seem, and mechanical and unintelligent the labour of researchers, there is always a chance that the results may be of value to the investigator of talent, who can use the facts collected for him by uninspired but industrious researchers as the basis of some fruitful generalization.

In the other three options, option 1 is incorrect because a research result is helpful to the intelligent investigator. From option 2, it can be stated that all research results are helpful to the investigator. Lastly, option 4 is not given in the passage.

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