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CAT 2022 Slot 1 — VARC questions with answers

All 24 questions of the Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension section (21 MCQs, 3 TITA, 4 passages). Try each one, then open its answer and solution.

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Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

CAT 2022 Slot 1 · 40 minutes · +3 for a right answer, −1 for a wrong MCQ, 0 for a wrong TITA

Reading passage

Passage for questions 1–4

DIRECTIONS for questions 1-4: The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question. Stoicism was founded in 300 BC by the Greek philosopher Zeno and survived into the Roman era until about AD 300. According to the Stoics, emotions consist of two movements. The first movement is the immediate feeling and other reactions (e.g., physiological response) that occur when a stimulus or event occurs. For instance, consider what could have happened if an army general accused Marcus Aurelius of treason in front of other officers. The first movement for Marcus may have been (internal) surprise and anger in response to this insult, accompanied perhaps by some involuntary physiological and expressive responses such as face flushing and a movement of the eyebrows. The second movement is what one does next about the emotion. Second movement behaviors occur after thinking and are under one’s control. Examples of second movements for Marcus might have included a plot to seek revenge, actions signifying deference and appeasement, or perhaps proceeding as he would have proceeded whether or not this event occurred: continuing to lead the Romans in a way that Marcus Aurelius believed best benefited them. In the Stoic view, choosing a reasoned, unemotional response as the second movement is the only appropriate response. The Stoics believed that to live the good life and be a good person, we need to free ourselves of nearly all desires such as too much desire for money, power, or sexual gratification. Prior to second movements, we can consider what is important in life. Money, power, and excessive sexual gratification are not important. Character, rationality, and kindness are important. The Epicureans, first associated with the Greek philosopher Epicurus . . . held a similar view, believing that people should enjoy simple pleasures, such as good conversation, friendship, food, and wine, but not be indulgent in these pursuits and not follow passion for those things that hold no real value like power and money. As Oatley (2004) states, “the Epicureans articulated a view—enjoyment of relationship with friends, of things that are real rather than illusory, simple rather than artificially inflated, possible rather than vanishingly unlikely—that is certainly relevant today” . . . In sum, these ancient Greek and Roman philosophers saw emotions, especially strong ones, as potentially dangerous. They viewed emotions as experiences that needed to be [reined] in and controlled. As Oatley (2004) points out, the Stoic idea bears some similarity to Buddhism. Buddha, living in India in the 6th century BC, argued for cultivating a certain attitude that decreases the probability of (in Stoic terms) destructive second movements. Through meditation and the right attitude, one allows emotions to happen to oneself (it is impossible to prevent this), but one is advised to observe the emotions without necessarily acting on them; one achieves some distance and decides what has value and what does not have value. Additionally, the Stoic idea of developing virtue in oneself, of becoming a good person, which the Stoics believed we could do because we have a touch of the divine, laid the foundation for the three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam . . . As with Stoicism, tenets of these religions include controlling our emotions lest we engage in sinful behavior.

Q1MCQReading Comprehension

“Through meditation and the right attitude, one allows emotions to happen to oneself (it is impossible to prevent this), but one is advised to observe the emotions without necessarily acting on them; one achieves some distance and decides what has value and what does not have value.” In the context of the passage, which one of the following is not a possible implication of the quoted statement?
  1. “Meditation and the right attitude”, in this instance, implies an initially passive reception of all experiences.
  2. Meditation allows certain out-of-body experiences that permit us to gain the distance necessary to control our emotions.
  3. The observation of emotions in a distant manner corresponds to the second movement referred to earlier in the passage.
  4. Emotional responses can make it difficult to distinguish valuable experiences from valueless experiences.
Answer and solution

Answer: (B) Meditation allows certain out-of-body experiences that permit us to gain the distance necessary to control our emotions.

Option A: This is a possible implication because the passage states that through meditation and the right attitude, one allows emotions to happen to themselves, which implies a passive reception of those experiences. Option B: The passage does not state or imply that meditation allows for certain out-of-body experiences or that it allows an individual to gain distance from their emotions in that way. The passage specifically highlights that through meditation and the right attitude, one allows emotions to happen to themselves and then observes those emotions without necessarily acting on them, which allows one to achieve some distance and decide what has value and what does not have value. It does not mention anything about out-of-body experiences or any other kind of distance that is not achieved through the act of observing emotions. Option C: This is a possible implication because the passage states that the second movement is what one does next about the emotion and that it occurs after thinking and is under one's control. Observing emotions in a distant manner, as described in the quote, would involve thinking and control and would therefore correspond to the second movement referred to earlier. Option D: This is a possible implication because the quote mentions that observing emotions allows an individual to decide what has value and what does not have value, implying that emotional responses can make this distinction difficult. Hence, Option B is the correct answer.

Q2MCQReading Comprehension

Which one of the following statements would be an accurate inference from the example of Marcus Aurelius?
  1. Marcus Aurelius was humiliated by the accusation of treason in front of the other officers.
  2. Marcus Aurelius was a Stoic whose philosophy survived into the Roman era.
  3. Marcus Aurelius plotted revenge in his quest for justice.
  4. Marcus Aurelius was one of the leaders of the Roman army.
Answer and solution

Answer: (D) Marcus Aurelius was one of the leaders of the Roman army.

The example imagines an army general accusing Marcus Aurelius of treason in front of other officers. One possible second movement for Marcus is 'continuing to lead the Romans in a way that Marcus Aurelius believed best benefited them'. Someone accused of treason by an army general in front of 'other officers', and who then carries on leading the Romans, is himself an officer holding command in this military setting, so D is a sound inference. Option A is the strongest distractor, but the passage names only 'surprise and anger' as a possible first movement, and the whole scene is hypothetical ('consider what could have happened'). Humiliation is never mentioned. Option B confuses the history: it is Stoicism, founded by Zeno, that 'survived into the Roman era', and the passage never calls it Marcus's own philosophy. Option C turns one possible second movement, 'a plot to seek revenge', into something he actually did. Hence, option D (Marcus Aurelius was one of the leaders of the Roman army.).

Q3MCQReading Comprehension

Which one of the following statements, if false, could be seen as contradicting the facts/arguments in the passage?
  1. Despite practising meditation and cultivating the right attitude, emotions cannot ever be controlled.
  2. The Greek philosopher Zeno survived into the Roman era until about AD 300.
  3. In the Epicurean view, indulging in simple pleasures is not desirable.
  4. In the Stoic view, choosing a reasoned, unemotional response as the first movement is an appropriate response to emotional situations.
Answer and solution

Answer: (C) In the Epicurean view, indulging in simple pleasures is not desirable.

A statement that, if false, would contradict the passage must be one the passage affirms. So look for the option the passage supports. Option C: the Epicureans believed that people 'should enjoy simple pleasures, such as good conversation, friendship, food, and wine, but not be indulgent in these pursuits'. So in their view indulging in simple pleasures is not desirable. The passage affirms C, and if C were false it would contradict the passage. The other three are already at odds with the passage, so their being false agrees with it. Option A: the passage says that through meditation one can observe emotions 'without necessarily acting on them', so emotions can be controlled. Option B: it is Stoicism, not Zeno, that 'survived into the Roman era until about AD 300'. Option D: the Stoics held that a reasoned, unemotional response is appropriate as the second movement. The first movement is the immediate, involuntary reaction. Hence, option C (In the Epicurean view, indulging in simple pleasures is not desirable.).

Q4MCQReading Comprehension

On the basis of the passage, which one of the following statements can be regarded as true?
  1. The Stoics valorised the pursuit of money, power, and sexual gratification.
  2. The Stoic influences can be seen in multiple religions.
  3. The Epicureans believed in controlling all emotions.
  4. There were no Stoics in India at the time of the Roman civilisation.
Answer and solution

Answer: (B) The Stoic influences can be seen in multiple religions.

The passage says the Stoic idea of developing virtue 'laid the foundation for the three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam', and that, as with Stoicism, these religions teach control of emotions. So Stoic influence can be seen in multiple religions. Option C is the strongest distractor. The passage does say these philosophers saw emotions, 'especially strong ones', as dangerous and in need of control. But the Epicureans also wanted people to enjoy good conversation, friendship, food and wine, only without indulgence. 'Controlling all emotions' goes beyond the passage. Option A reverses the passage: the Stoics wanted people free of too much desire for money, power or sexual gratification. Option D is unsupported: the passage compares Stoicism with the teaching of Buddha in India, but says nothing about whether there were Stoics there. Hence, option B (The Stoic influences can be seen in multiple religions.).

Reading passage

Passage for questions 5–8

DIRECTIONS for questions 5-8: The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question. The Chinese have two different concepts of a copy. Fangzhipin . . . are imitations where the difference from the original is obvious. These are small models or copies that can be purchased in a museum shop, for example. The second concept for a copy is fuzhipin . . . They are exact reproductions of the original, which, for the Chinese, are of equal value to the original. It has absolutely no negative connotations. The discrepancy with regard to the understanding of what a copy is has often led to misunderstandings and arguments between China and Western museums. The Chinese often send copies abroad instead of originals, in the firm belief that they are not essentially different from the originals. The rejection that then comes from the Western museums is perceived by the Chinese as an insult. . . . The Far Eastern notion of identity is also very confusing to the Western observer. The Ise Grand Shrine [in Japan] is 1,300 years old for the millions of Japanese people who go there on pilgrimage every year. But in reality this temple complex is completely rebuilt from scratch every 20 years. . . . The cathedral of Freiburg Minster in southwest Germany is covered in scaffolding almost all year round. The sandstone from which it is built is a very soft, porous material that does not withstand natural erosion by rain and wind. After a while, it crumbles. As a result, the cathedral is continually being examined for damage, and eroded stones are replaced. And in the cathedral’s dedicated workshop, copies of the damaged sandstone figures are constantly being produced. Of course, attempts are made to preserve the stones from the Middle Ages for as long as possible. But at some point they, too, are removed and replaced with new stones. Fundamentally, this is the same operation as with the Japanese shrine, except in this case the production of a replica takes place very slowly and over long periods of time. . . . In the field of art as well, the idea of an unassailable original developed historically in the Western world. Back in the 17th century [in the West], excavated artworks from antiquity were treated quite differently from today. They were not restored in a way that was faithful to the original. Instead, there was massive intervention in these works, changing their appearance. . . . It is probably this intellectual position that explains why Asians have far fewer scruples about cloning than Europeans. The South Korean cloning researcher Hwang Woo-suk, who attracted worldwide attention with his cloning experiments in 2004, is a Buddhist. He found a great deal of support and followers among Buddhists, while Christians called for a ban on human cloning. . . . Hwang legitimised his cloning experiments with his religious affiliation: ‘I am Buddhist, and I have no philosophical problem with cloning. And as you know, the basis of Buddhism is that life is recycled through reincarnation. In some ways, I think, therapeutic cloning restarts the circle of life.’

Q5MCQReading Comprehension

Based on the passage, which one of the following copies would a Chinese museum be unlikely to consider as having less value than the original?
  1. Pablo Picasso’s painting of Vincent van Gogh’s original painting, bearing Picasso’s signature.
  2. Pablo Picasso’s painting of Vincent van Gogh’s original painting, identical in every respect.
  3. Pablo Picasso’s photograph of Vincent van Gogh’s original painting, printed to exactly the same scale.
  4. Pablo Picasso’s miniaturised, but otherwise faithful and accurate painting of Vincent van Gogh’s original painting.
Answer and solution

Answer: (B) Pablo Picasso’s painting of Vincent van Gogh’s original painting, identical in every respect.

The passage discusses cultural differences in the concept of a copy and the value placed on originality, particularly in relation to art and religious buildings. In China, copies (fuzhipin) are considered to be of equal value to the original and do not carry negative connotations, while in the Western world, the idea of an unassailable original has historically held more importance. This difference in perspective has led to misunderstandings and tensions between China and Western museums when Chinese museums send copies abroad. Based on the above, a Chinese museum would be unlikely to consider Option B [Pablo Picasso's painting of Vincent van Gogh's original painting, identical in every respect] as having less value than the original. This is because the Chinese concept of a copy (fuzhipin) refers to exact reproductions of the original that are considered to be of equal value to the original and do not carry negative connotations. Contrarily, Option A - a painting of Vincent van Gogh's original painting by Pablo Picasso with Picasso's signature - would not be considered a fuzhipin as it is not an exact reproduction of the original and bears the signature of a different artist. Similarly, Options C and D would also not be considered a fuzhipin since they are not an exact reproduction of the original [but merely different versions/formats]. Hence, Option B is the correct choice.

Q6MCQReading Comprehension

Which one of the following scenarios is unlikely to follow from the arguments in the passage?
  1. A 17th-century British painter would have no problem adding personal touches when restoring an ancient Roman painting.
  2. A 20th-century Japanese Buddhist monk would value a reconstructed shrine as the original.
  3. A 17th-century French artist who adhered to a Christian worldview would need to be completely true to the original intent of a painting when restoring it.
  4. A 21st-century Christian scientist is likely to oppose cloning because of his philosophical orientation.
Answer and solution

Answer: (C) A 17th-century French artist who adhered to a Christian worldview would need to be completely true to the original intent of a painting when restoring it.

The passage says that in the 17th century, in the West, excavated ancient artworks 'were not restored in a way that was faithful to the original. Instead, there was massive intervention in these works, changing their appearance.' The idea of an unassailable original developed later. So a 17th-century Western artist would not have been expected to stay completely true to the original when restoring a painting. Scenario C runs against the passage, and the artist's Christian worldview does not change this. The other scenarios do follow from the passage. Option A matches the 17th-century practice of massive intervention. Option B matches the Ise Grand Shrine, which Japanese pilgrims regard as 1,300 years old although it is rebuilt from scratch every 20 years. Option D matches the passage's report that Christians called for a ban on human cloning, while Hwang found support among Buddhists. Hence, option C (A 17th-century French artist who adhered to a Christian worldview would need to be completely true to the original intent of a painting when restoring it.).

Q7MCQReading Comprehension

Which one of the following statements does not correctly express the similarity between the Ise Grand Shrine and the cathedral of Freiburg Minster?
  1. Both were built as places of worship.
  2. Both can be regarded as very old structures.
  3. Both are continually undergoing restoration.
  4. Both will one day be completely rebuilt.
Answer and solution

Answer: (C) Both are continually undergoing restoration.

The question asks for the statement that is not a real similarity. Freiburg Minster is 'covered in scaffolding almost all year round': it is continually examined and its eroded stones are replaced. The Ise Grand Shrine is not described this way. It is 'completely rebuilt from scratch every 20 years', a periodic, complete rebuilding. 'Continually undergoing restoration' fits only Freiburg, so C does not express a similarity. The other statements hold for both. Option A: one is a shrine visited on pilgrimage and the other a cathedral, so both are places of worship. Option B: Ise is 1,300 years old for its pilgrims, and Freiburg still has stones from the Middle Ages. Option D, the strongest distractor, is also true. Even Freiburg's medieval stones are eventually 'removed and replaced with new stones', which the author calls 'fundamentally' the same operation as at Ise, only slower. Hence, option C (Both are continually undergoing restoration.).

Q8MCQReading Comprehension

The value that the modern West assigns to “an unassailable original” has resulted in all of the following EXCEPT:
  1. it discourages them from simultaneous displays of multiple copies of a painting.
  2. it allows regular employment for certain craftsmen.
  3. it discourages them from making interventions in ancient art.
  4. it discourages them from carrying out human cloning.
Answer and solution

Answer: (D) it discourages them from carrying out human cloning.

We need the one outcome the passage does not present as a result of the West's value on an unassailable original. Option A: Western museums reject the copies the Chinese send in place of originals, because in the West a copy is not equal to the original. Copies are therefore not shown as if they were the work itself. Option B: Freiburg Minster's dedicated workshop constantly produces copies of damaged sandstone figures, while attempts are made to keep the medieval stones as long as possible. This keeps craftsmen in regular work. Option C: in the 17th century ancient artworks underwent 'massive intervention'; the idea of the unassailable original developed later and now discourages such changes. Option D: on cloning the passage is tentative. It says 'It is probably this intellectual position that explains why Asians have far fewer scruples about cloning than Europeans', and reports that Christians called for a ban, a religious stand. It never says the West has actually been kept from carrying out cloning, so D is not presented as a result. Hence, option D (it discourages them from carrying out human cloning.).

Reading passage

Passage for questions 9–12

DIRECTIONS for questions 9-12: The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question. Stories concerning the Undead have always been with us. From out of the primal darkness of Mankind’s earliest years, come whispers of eerie creatures, not quite alive (or alive in a way which we can understand), yet not quite dead either. These may have been ancient and primitive deities who dwelt deep in the surrounding forests and in remote places, or simply those deceased who refused to remain in their tombs and who wandered about the countryside, physically tormenting and frightening those who were still alive. Mostly they were ill-defined—strange sounds in the night beyond the comforting glow of the fire, or a shape, half-glimpsed in the twilight along the edge of an encampment. They were vague and indistinct, but they were always there with the power to terrify and disturb. They had the power to touch the minds of our early ancestors and to fill them with dread. Such fear formed the basis of the earliest tales although the source and exact nature of such terrors still remained very vague. And as Mankind became more sophisticated, leaving the gloom of their caves and forming themselves into recognizable communities—towns, cities, whole cultures—so the Undead travelled with them, inhabiting their folklore just as they had in former times. Now they began to take on more definite shapes. They became walking cadavers; the physical embodiment of former deities and things which had existed alongside Man since the Creation. Some still remained vague and ill-defined but, as Mankind strove to explain the horror which it felt towards them, such creatures emerged more readily into the light. In order to confirm their abnormal status, many of the Undead were often accorded attributes, which defied the natural order of things—the power to transform themselves into other shapes, the ability to sustain themselves by drinking human blood, and the ability to influence human minds across a distance. Such powers—described as supernatural—only [lent] an added dimension to the terror that humans felt regarding them. And it was only natural, too, that the Undead should become connected with the practice of magic. From very early times, Shamans and witchdoctors had claimed at least some power and control over the spirits of departed ancestors, and this has continued down into more “civilized” times. Formerly, the invisible spirits and forces that thronged around men’s earliest encampments, had spoken “through” the tribal Shamans but now, as entities in their own right, they were subject to magical control and could be physically summoned by a competent sorcerer. However, the relationship between the magician and an Undead creature was often a very tenuous and uncertain one. Some sorcerers might have even become Undead entities once they died, but they might also have been susceptible to the powers of other magicians when they did. From the Middle Ages and into the Age of Enlightenment, theories of the Undead continued to grow and develop. Their names became more familiar—werewolf, vampire, ghoul—each one certain to strike fear into the hearts of ordinary humans.

Q9MCQReading Comprehension

“In order to confirm their abnormal status, many of the Undead were often accorded attributes, which defied the natural order of things . . .” Which one of the following best expresses the claim made in this statement?
  1. Human beings conceptualise the Undead as possessing abnormal features.
  2. The Undead are deified in nature’s order by giving them divine attributes.
  3. The natural attributes of the Undead are rendered abnormal by changing their status.
  4. According the Undead an abnormal status is to reject the natural order of things.
Answer and solution

Answer: (A) Human beings conceptualise the Undead as possessing abnormal features.

Option A best expresses the claim made in the statement - "In order to confirm their abnormal status, many of the Undead were often accorded attributes, which defied the natural order of things . . .” The passage states that in order to confirm their abnormal status, the Undead were often given attributes that defied the natural order of things. This suggests that humans conceptualize the Undead as possessing abnormal features to confirm their abnormal status. This differs from Options B and C, which suggest that the Undead are deified or that their natural attributes are rendered abnormal by changing their status. Option D is also inaccurate, as the passage does not mention that giving the Undead an abnormal status is a rejection of the natural order of things. Hence, Option A is the correct answer.

Q10MCQReading Comprehension

Which one of the following observations is a valid conclusion to draw from the statement, “From out of the primal darkness of Mankind’s earliest years, come whispers of eerie creatures, not quite alive (or alive in a way which we can understand), yet not quite dead either.”?
  1. Mankind’s early years were marked by a belief in the existence of eerie creatures that were neither quite alive nor dead.
  2. Long ago, eerie creatures used to whisper in the primal darkness that they were not quite dead.
  3. Mankind’s primal years were marked by creatures alive with eerie whispers, but seen only in the darkness.
  4. We can understand the lives of the eerie creatures in Mankind’s early years through their whispers in the darkness.
Answer and solution

Answer: (A) Mankind’s early years were marked by a belief in the existence of eerie creatures that were neither quite alive nor dead.

Option A is a valid conclusion to draw from the lines - "From out of the primal darkness of Mankind's earliest years, come whispers of eerie creatures, not quite alive (or alive in a way which we can understand), yet not quite dead either." The statement mentions that in Mankind's earliest years, there were whispers of eerie creatures that were not quite alive or dead. This suggests that in these early years, there was a belief in the existence of such creatures. Option A accurately captures this idea. Option B is not a valid conclusion as the given statement does not mention anything about eerie creatures whispering about their own death. Option C is also incorrect since the passage does not mention that the creatures were only seen in the darkness. Similarly, Option D is not a valid conclusion as the given statement offers no information on how we can understand the lives of the eerie creatures. Hence, Option A is the correct choice.

Q11MCQReading Comprehension

Which one of the following statements best describes what the passage is about?
  1. The writer discusses the transition from primitive thinking to the Age of Enlightenment.
  2. The passage discusses the evolution of theories of the Undead from primitive thinking to the Age of Enlightenment.
  3. The passage describes the failure of human beings to fully comprehend their environment.
  4. The writer describes the ways in which the Undead come to be associated with Shamans and the practice of magic.
Answer and solution

Answer: (B) The passage discusses the evolution of theories of the Undead from primitive thinking to the Age of Enlightenment.

The passage follows the Undead through stages. First come vague terrors from the 'primal darkness' of Mankind's earliest years. As people form towns, cities and cultures, the Undead take on more definite shapes. They are then given supernatural attributes and linked with magic and sorcerers. Finally, 'from the Middle Ages and into the Age of Enlightenment, theories of the Undead continued to grow and develop', with names such as werewolf, vampire and ghoul. Option B states exactly this. Option A covers the same span of time but drops the subject. The passage traces that span only for ideas about the Undead; it is not about a general change in human thinking. Option C picks up the fear of half-glimpsed shapes but makes a claim about understanding the environment that the passage never argues. Option D describes only the paragraph on Shamans and magic, one stage of the account. Hence, option B (The passage discusses the evolution of theories of the Undead from primitive thinking to the Age of Enlightenment.).

Q12MCQReading Comprehension

All of the following statements, if false, could be seen as being in accordance with the passage, EXCEPT:
  1. the Undead remained vague and ill-defined, even as Mankind strove to understand the horror they inspired.
  2. the transition from the Middle Ages to the Age of Enlightenment saw new theories of the Undead.
  3. the growing sophistication of Mankind meant that humans stopped believing in the Undead.
  4. the relationship between Shamans and the Undead was believed to be a strong and stable one.
Answer and solution

Answer: (B) the transition from the Middle Ages to the Age of Enlightenment saw new theories of the Undead.

A statement that, if false, is 'in accordance with the passage' is one the passage contradicts. The EXCEPT option is the one the passage supports, because its being false would clash with the passage. Option B: the passage says 'From the Middle Ages and into the Age of Enlightenment, theories of the Undead continued to grow and develop'. B is supported, so if B were false it would contradict the passage. B is the exception. The other three are contrary to the passage, so their being false agrees with it. Option A: as Mankind strove to explain its horror, the creatures 'emerged more readily into the light' and took on definite shapes; only some stayed vague. Option C: as Mankind grew more sophisticated, 'the Undead travelled with them, inhabiting their folklore', so belief did not stop. Option D: the relationship between the magician and an Undead creature 'was often a very tenuous and uncertain one', not strong and stable. Hence, option B (the transition from the Middle Ages to the Age of Enlightenment saw new theories of the Undead.).

Reading passage

Passage for questions 13–16

DIRECTIONS for questions 13-16: The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question. Critical theory of technology is a political theory of modernity with a normative dimension. It belongs to a tradition extending from Marx to Foucault and Habermas according to which advances in the formal claims of human rights take center stage while in the background centralization of ever more powerful public institutions and private organizations imposes an authoritarian social order. Marx attributed this trajectory to the capitalist rationalization of production. Today it marks many institutions besides the factory and every modern political system, including so-called socialist systems. This trajectory arose from the problems of command over a disempowered and deskilled labor force; but everywhere [that] masses are organized - whether it be Foucault’s prisons or Habermas’s public sphere - the same pattern prevails. Technological design and development is shaped by this pattern as the material base of a distinctive social order. Marcuse would later point to a “project” as the basis of what he called rather confusingly “technological rationality.” Releasing technology from this project is a democratic political task. In accordance with this general line of thought, critical theory of technology regards technologies as an environment rather than as a collection of tools. We live today with and even within technologies that determine our way of life. Along with the constant pressures to build centers of power, many other social values and meanings are inscribed in technological design. A hermeneutics of technology must make explicit the meanings implicit in the devices we use and the rituals they script. Social histories of technologies such as the bicycle, artificial lighting or firearms have made important contributions to this type of analysis. Critical theory of technology attempts to build a methodological approach on the lessons of these histories. As an environment, technologies shape their inhabitants. In this respect, they are comparable to laws and customs. Each of these institutions can be said to represent those who live under their sway through privileging certain dimensions of their human nature. Laws of property represent the interest in ownership and control. Customs such as parental authority represent the interest of childhood in safety and growth. Similarly, the automobile represents its users in so far as they are interested in mobility. Interests such as these constitute the version of human nature sanctioned by society. This notion of representation does not imply an eternal human nature. The concept of nature as non-identity in the Frankfurt School suggests an alternative. On these terms, nature is what lies at the limit of history, at the point at which society loses the capacity to imprint its meanings on things and control them effectively. The reference here is, of course, not to the nature of natural science, but to the lived nature in which we find ourselves and which we are. This nature reveals itself as that which cannot be totally encompassed by the machinery of society. For the Frankfurt School, human nature, in all its transcending force, emerges out of a historical context as that context is [depicted] in illicit joys, struggles and pathologies. We can perhaps admit a less romantic . . . conception in which those dimensions of human nature recognized by society are also granted theoretical legitimacy.

Q13MCQReading Comprehension

Which one of the following statements best reflects the main argument of the fourth paragraph of the passage?
  1. Technology, laws, and customs are comparable, but dissimilar phenomena.
  2. Technological environments privilege certain dimensions of human nature as effectively as laws and customs.
  3. Automobiles represent the interest in mobility present in human nature.
  4. Technology, laws, and customs are not unlike each other if considered as institutions.
Answer and solution

Answer: (D) Technology, laws, and customs are not unlike each other if considered as institutions.

The paragraph in question begins 'As an environment, technologies shape their inhabitants.' It says technologies 'are comparable to laws and customs', and that 'each of these institutions' represents the people who live under it by privileging certain dimensions of their human nature. Property laws represent the interest in ownership, parental authority the child's interest in safety and growth, and the automobile its users' interest in mobility. The main argument is that, seen as institutions, technology, laws and customs work alike. That is option D. Option B is the strongest distractor, but the paragraph never compares how effectively each one privileges human nature; 'as effectively as' is not in the passage. Option A stresses that they are 'dissimilar', while the paragraph stresses their likeness. Option C is true, since the automobile 'represents its users in so far as they are interested in mobility', but it is only one example, not the main argument. Hence, option D (Technology, laws, and customs are not unlike each other if considered as institutions.).

Q14MCQReading Comprehension

Which one of the following statements could be inferred as supporting the arguments of the passage?
  1. It is not human nature, but human culture that is represented by institutions such as law and custom.
  2. Technologies form the environmental context and shape the contours of human society.
  3. Nature decides the point at which society loses its capacity to control history.
  4. The romantic conception of nature referred to by the passage is the one that requires theoretical legitimacy.
Answer and solution

Answer: (B) Technologies form the environmental context and shape the contours of human society.

The passage says critical theory of technology 'regards technologies as an environment rather than as a collection of tools', that 'We live today with and even within technologies that determine our way of life', and that 'As an environment, technologies shape their inhabitants.' Option B restates this, so it supports the passage. Option A contradicts it. Laws and customs represent people 'through privileging certain dimensions of their human nature', so it is human nature, not merely culture, that they represent. Option C twists the Frankfurt School idea. Nature lies 'at the limit of history, at the point at which society loses the capacity to imprint its meanings on things and control them effectively'. Nature marks where society's control ends; the passage does not say nature decides that point, or speak of society controlling history. Option D reverses the last sentence. It is the 'less romantic' conception in which dimensions of human nature recognized by society 'are also granted theoretical legitimacy'. Hence, option B (Technologies form the environmental context and shape the contours of human society.).

Q15MCQReading Comprehension

Which one of the following statements contradicts the arguments of the passage?
  1. The problems of command over a disempowered and deskilled labour force gave rise to similar patterns of the capitalist rationalisation of production wherever masses were organised.
  2. Marx’s understanding of the capitalist rationalisation of production and Marcuse’s understanding of a “project” of “technological rationality” share theoretical inclinations.
  3. Masses are organised in patterns set by Foucault’s prisons and Habermas’ public sphere.
  4. Paradoxically, the capitalist rationalisation of production is a mark of so-called socialist systems as well.
Answer and solution

Answer: (C) Masses are organised in patterns set by Foucault’s prisons and Habermas’ public sphere.

Option A: This statement is consistent with the arguments of the passage, which claim that the pattern of the capitalist rationalization of production arises from the problems of command over a disempowered and deskilled labor force and is present in many different contexts, including the factory and socialist systems. Option B: This statement is consistent with the passage, which claims that Marx and Marcuse both contribute to the tradition of critical theory of technology, which seeks to understand the ways in which technological systems are shaped by and contribute to the reproduction of social and political hierarchies. Option C: This statement contradicts an element discussed in the passage. The passage states that the pattern of the capitalist rationalization of production, which is marked by the centralization of power in institutions and organizations and the deskilling of the labor force, arises in many different contexts, including the factory, prisons, and the public sphere. It does not claim that the patterns in these different contexts are set by Foucault's prisons and Habermas' public sphere. Option D: This statement is consistent with the passage, which claims that the pattern of the capitalist rationalization of production is present in many different contexts, including socialist systems. Hence, Option C is the correct choice.

Q16MCQReading Comprehension

All of the following claims can be inferred from the passage, EXCEPT:
  1. the significance of parental authority to children’s safety does not therefore imply that parental authority is a permanent aspect of human nature.
  2. the critical theory of technology argues that, as issues of human rights become more prominent, we lose sight of the ways in which the social order becomes more authoritarian.
  3. analyses of technologies must engage with their social histories to be able to reveal their implicit and explicit meanings for us.
  4. technologies seek to privilege certain dimensions of human nature at a high cost to lived nature.
Answer and solution

Answer: (D) technologies seek to privilege certain dimensions of human nature at a high cost to lived nature.

Check each claim against the passage. Option A can be inferred. Parental authority represents 'the interest of childhood in safety and growth', and the passage adds, 'This notion of representation does not imply an eternal human nature.' Option B can be inferred. In this tradition, human rights 'take center stage while in the background' ever more powerful institutions impose 'an authoritarian social order'. The attention on rights draws attention away from the growing authoritarianism. Option C can be inferred. A hermeneutics of technology must make explicit the meanings implicit in devices, social histories of technologies have contributed to this, and critical theory builds its method 'on the lessons of these histories'. Option D cannot be inferred. The passage says technologies, like laws and customs, privilege certain dimensions of human nature, but never says they 'seek' to do so or that this comes 'at a high cost to lived nature'. Lived nature is described only as what 'cannot be totally encompassed by the machinery of society'. Hence, option D (technologies seek to privilege certain dimensions of human nature at a high cost to lived nature.).

Q17MCQParagraph Completion & Placement

DIRECTIONS for the question: There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit. Sentence: Having made citizens more and less knowledgeable than their predecessors, the Internet has proved to be both a blessing and a curse. Paragraph: Never before has a population, nearly all of whom has enjoyed at a least a secondary school education, been exposed to so much information, whether in newspapers and magazines or through YouTube, Google, and Facebook. ___(1)___. Yet it is not clear that people today are more knowledgeable than their barely literate predecessors. Contemporary advances in technology offered more serious and inquisitive students access to realms of knowledge previously unimaginable and unavailable. ___(2)___. But such readily available knowledge leads many more students away from serious study, the reading of actual texts, and toward an inability to write effectively and grammatically. ___(3)___. It has let people choose sources that reinforce their opinions rather than encouraging them to question inherited beliefs. ___(4)___.
  1. Option 1
  2. Option 2
  3. Option 3
  4. Option 4
Answer and solution

Answer: (D) Option 4

The sentence is a verdict: the Internet has made citizens 'more and less knowledgeable', a blessing and a curse. A verdict like this belongs after both sides have been laid out. The paragraph builds that case step by step. People are exposed to more information than ever, yet it is unclear that they know more. Technology gave serious students access to new realms of knowledge, which is the blessing. But it leads many students away from serious study and good writing, and it lets people choose sources that reinforce their opinions, which is the curse. The last of these points comes just before blank 4, so the sentence fits there as the close. Blank 3 is the strongest alternative, but it would break up the list of drawbacks. 'It has let people choose sources...' is one more drawback, so the verdict would come before the evidence is complete. Blanks 1 and 2 come before any drawback is mentioned. Hence, option D (Option 4).

Q18MCQPara Summary

DIRECTIONS for the question: The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage. Petitioning is an expeditious democratic tradition, used frequently in prior centuries, by which citizens can bring issues directly to governments. As expressions of collective voice, they support procedural democracy by shaping agendas. They can also recruit citizens to causes, give voice to the voteless, and apply the discipline of rhetorical argument that clarifies a point of view. By contrast, elections are limited in several respects: they involve only a few candidates, and thus fall far short of a representative democracy. Further, voters’ choices are not specific to particular policies or laws, and elections are episodic, whereas the voice of the people needs to be heard and integrated constantly into democratic government.
  1. By giving citizens greater control over shaping political and democratic agendas, political petitions are invaluable as they represent an ideal form of a representative democracy.
  2. Citizens become less inclined to petitioning as it enables vocal citizens to shape political agendas, but this needs to change to strengthen democracies today.
  3. Petitioning has been important to democratic functioning, as it supplements the electoral process by enabling ongoing engagement with the government.
  4. Petitioning is definitely more representative of the collective voice, and the functioning of democratic government could improve if we relied more on petitioning rather than holding periodic elections.
Answer and solution

Answer: (C) Petitioning has been important to democratic functioning, as it supplements the electoral process by enabling ongoing engagement with the government.

The passage praises petitioning as an 'expeditious democratic tradition' that shapes agendas, recruits citizens to causes, gives voice to the voteless and clarifies points of view. It then notes the limits of elections: few candidates, choices not tied to particular policies or laws, and only episodic, 'whereas the voice of the people needs to be heard and integrated constantly'. So petitioning fills a gap that elections leave, by keeping citizens engaged with government between elections. Option C captures this. Option D is the strongest distractor. The passage does contrast petitions favourably with elections, but it never suggests relying on petitions 'rather than holding periodic elections'. It points out what elections lack, not that they should be replaced. Option A overstates: the passage never calls petitioning an ideal form of representative democracy. Option B invents a decline in petitioning and a reason for it; the passage mentions neither. Hence, option C (Petitioning has been important to democratic functioning, as it supplements the electoral process by enabling ongoing engagement with the government.).

Q19MCQParagraph Completion & Placement

DIRECTIONS for the question: There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit. Sentence: Easing the anxiety and pressure of having a “big day” is part of the appeal for many couples who marry in secret. Paragraph: Wedding season is upon us and - after two years of Covid chaos that saw nuptials scaled back—you may think the temptation would be to go all out. ___(1)___. But instead of expanding the guest list, many couples are opting to have entirely secret ceremonies. With Covid case numbers remaining high and the cost of living crisis meaning that many couples are feeling the pinch, it’s no wonder that some are less than eager to send out invites. ___(2)___. Plus, it can’t hurt that in celebrity circles getting married in secret is all the rage. ___(3)___. “I would definitely say that secret weddings are becoming more common,” says Landis Bejar, the founder of a therapy practice, which specialises in helping brides and grooms manage wedding stress. “People are looking for ways to get out of the spotlight and avoid the pomp and circumstance of weddings. ___(4)___. They just want to get to the part where they are married.”
  1. Option 1
  2. Option 2
  3. Option 3
  4. Option 4
Answer and solution

Answer: (B) Option 2

The first paragraph explains why many couples are choosing secret weddings. The line before blank 2 gives two reasons: high Covid numbers and the cost of living crisis, which leave couples less than eager to send out invites. The missing sentence adds a third reason, easing the anxiety and pressure of a 'big day'. At blank 2 it completes this list, and the next paragraph opens with 'Plus', adding one more reason, the celebrity trend. Blank 1 comes before secret ceremonies are even mentioned, so 'couples who marry in secret' would have nothing to refer to. At blank 3 the sentence would cut between the celebrity trend and the expert's remark that secret weddings are becoming more common, which follows from it. Blank 4 lies inside Landis Bejar's direct quotation. The sentence is in the writer's own voice, not hers, and she already makes the point in her own words. Hence, option B (Option 2).

Q20MCQPara Jumbles

DIRECTIONS for the question: The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage. It’s not that modern historians of medieval Africa have been ignorant about contacts between Ethiopia and Europe; they just had the power dynamic reversed. The traditional narrative stressed Ethiopia as weak and in trouble in the face of aggression from external forces, so Ethiopia sought military assistance from their fellow Christians to the north. But the real story, buried in plain sight in medieval diplomatic texts, simply had not yet been put together by modern scholars. Recent research pushes scholars of medieval Europe to imagine a much more richly connected medieval world: at the beginning of the so-called Age of Exploration, there is evidence that the kings of Ethiopia were sponsoring their own missions of diplomacy, faith and commerce.
  1. Medieval texts have documented how strong connections between the Christian communities of Ethiopia and Europe were invaluable in establishing military and trade links between the two civilisations.
  2. Historians were under the illusion that Ethiopia needed military protection from their neighbours, but in fact the country had close commercial and religious connections with them.
  3. Medieval texts have been ‘cherry-picked’ to promote a view of Ethiopia as weak and in need of Europe’s military help with aggressive neighbours, but recent studies reveal it was a well-connected and outward-looking culture.
  4. Medieval historical sources selectively promoted the narrative that powerful European forces were called on to protect weak African civilisations such as Ethiopia, but this is far from reality.
Answer and solution

Answer: (C) Medieval texts have been ‘cherry-picked’ to promote a view of Ethiopia as weak and in need of Europe’s military help with aggressive neighbours, but recent studies reveal it was a well-connected and outward-looking culture.

The passage says modern historians knew of contacts between Ethiopia and Europe but 'had the power dynamic reversed'. The traditional narrative showed Ethiopia as weak and seeking military help from fellow Christians to the north. The real story was 'buried in plain sight in medieval diplomatic texts' that scholars had not yet put together. Recent research shows Ethiopia's kings sponsoring their own missions of diplomacy, faith and commerce. Option C gives both halves: an old picture of a weak Ethiopia, built from an incomplete reading of the texts, and the corrected picture of a well-connected, outward-looking culture. Option B is the strongest distractor, since historians were indeed mistaken. But B ties Ethiopia closely to the very neighbours it feared, and it leaves out the central point that Ethiopia itself sponsored missions abroad. Option A says the texts show military and trade links built on Christian ties, which misses the reversal. Option D blames medieval sources, but the passage says those texts held the real story and modern scholars missed it. Hence, option C (Medieval texts have been ‘cherry-picked’ to promote a view of Ethiopia as weak and in need of Europe’s military help with aggressive neighbours, but recent studies reveal it was a well-connected and outward-looking culture.).

Q21TITAPara Jumbles

DIRECTIONS for the question: The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) below, when properly sequenced, would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and key in the sequence of the four numbers as your answer: 1. Some company leaders are basing their decisions on locating offices to foster innovation and growth, as their best-performing inventors suffered the greatest productivity losses when their commutes grew longer. 2. Shorter commutes support innovation by giving employees more time in the office and greater opportunities for in-person collaboration, while removing the physical strain of a long commute. 3. This is not always the case: remote work does not automatically lead to greater creativity and productivity as office water-cooler conversations are also very important for innovation. 4. Some see the link between long commutes and productivity as support for work-from-home scenarios, as many workers have grown accustomed to their commute-free arrangements during the pandemic.

Type in your answer (TITA). No negative mark for a wrong answer.

Answer and solution

Answer: 2143

Sentence 2 opens the paragraph with the general claim: shorter commutes support innovation, through more time in the office, more in-person collaboration and less physical strain. Sentence 1 shows some company leaders acting on this. They choose office locations to foster innovation, because their best-performing inventors lost the most productivity when commutes grew longer. It gives the evidence and the business response to the claim in 2, so it comes second. Sentence 4 turns to a different reading of the same evidence. 'The link between long commutes and productivity' refers back to the finding in 1, and 'some see' it as support for working from home. Sentence 3 answers 4: 'This is not always the case', because remote work does not automatically bring more creativity and productivity, and office conversations matter for innovation. It must follow 4, since 'this' refers to the work-from-home view. So the order is 2-1-4-3. The answer is 2143.

Q22TITAPara Jumbles

DIRECTIONS for the question: The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) below, when properly sequenced, would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and key in the sequence of the four numbers as your answer: 1. The creative element in product design has become of paramount importance as it is one of the few ways a firm or industry can sustain a competitive advantage over its rivals. 2. In fact, the creative element in the value of world industry would be larger still, if we added the contribution of the creative element in other industries, such as the design of tech accessories. 3. The creative industry is receiving a lot of attention today as its growth rate is faster than that of the world economy as a whole. 4. It is for this reason that today’s trade issues are increasingly involving intellectual property, as Western countries have an interest in protecting their revenues along with freeing trade in non-tangibles.

Type in your answer (TITA). No negative mark for a wrong answer.

Answer and solution

Answer: 3214

A brief reading of the sentences suggests that the paragraph is about the applications of the creative element in the world economy. Sentence 3 gives the introduction by contrasting the growth rate of the world economy and the creative industry. Statement 2 follows 3 by adding that the creative element in the value of world industry would be larger still if we also counted the contribution of the creative element in other industries, such as the design of tech accessories. Sentence 1 extends this idea by explaining how the creative element in product design can help sustain a competitive advantage. Sentence 4 concludes the paragraph by stating the implications of the application of the creative element mentioned in sentence 1. Thus, the correct order will be 3-2-1-4.

Q23MCQPara Jumbles

DIRECTIONS for the question: The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage. All that we think we know about how life hangs together is really some kind of illusion that we have perpetrated on ourselves because of our limited vision. What appear to be inanimate objects such as stones turn out not only to be alive in the same way that we are, but also in many infinitesimal ways to be affected by stimuli just as humans are. The distinction between animate and inanimate simply cannot be made when you enter the world of quantum mechanics and try to determine how those apparent subatomic particles, of which you and everything else in our universe is composed, are all tied together. The point is that physics and metaphysics show there is a pattern to the universe that goes beyond our capacity to grasp it with our brains.
  1. The effect of stimuli is similar in inanimate objects when compared to animate objects or living beings.
  2. Quantum physics indicates that an astigmatic view of reality results in erroneous assumptions about the universe.
  3. The inanimate world is both sentient and cognizant like its animate counterpart.
  4. Arbitrary distinctions between inanimate and animate objects disappear at the scale at which quantum mechanics works.
Answer and solution

Answer: (D) Arbitrary distinctions between inanimate and animate objects disappear at the scale at which quantum mechanics works.

The passage argues that our picture of how life hangs together is an illusion caused by 'our limited vision'. Its central example is the line between living and non-living things: stones turn out to be alive and responsive to stimuli, and 'the distinction between animate and inanimate simply cannot be made' in the world of quantum mechanics. It ends by saying the universe has a pattern beyond our capacity to grasp. Option D states this core claim: the animate/inanimate distinction is arbitrary and vanishes at the quantum scale. Option A is true to one line (stones are 'affected by stimuli just as humans are'), but that is a supporting detail, not the essence. Option B is the closest trap. It restates the 'limited vision' idea in vague terms but drops the animate–inanimate point the passage is built around, and 'astigmatic' (distorted) vision is not the same as limited vision. Option C overreaches: nothing says stones are 'cognizant'. Hence, option D (Arbitrary distinctions between inanimate and animate objects disappear at the scale at which quantum mechanics works).

Q24TITAPara Summary

DIRECTIONS for the question: The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) below, when properly sequenced, would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and key in the sequence of the four numbers as your answer: 1. Fish skin collagen has excellent thermo-stability and tensile strength making it ideal for use as bandage that adheres to the skin and adjusts to body movements. 2. Collagen, one of the main structural proteins in connective tissues in the human body, is well known for promoting skin regeneration. 3. Fish skin swims in here as diseases and bacteria that affect fish are different from most human pathogens. 4. The risk of introducing disease agents into other species through the use of pig and cow collagen proteins for wound healing has inhibited its broader applications in the medical field.

Type in your answer (TITA). No negative mark for a wrong answer.

Answer and solution

Answer: 2431

A brief reading of the sentences suggests that the paragraph is about the applications of a structural protein called Collagen. Sentence 2 introduces the paragraph by defining Collagen. 2-4 is an obvious link, as sentence 2 ends by stating that Collagen promotes skin regeneration, and sentence 4 explains why it is not widely used in the medical field despite this. Sentence 3 extends the idea given in sentence 4 by contrasting the bacteria affecting fish skins with human pathogens. Sentence 1 follows sentence 3 by providing the applications of fish skin collagen. Thus, the correct order will be 2-4-3-1.