Directions for questions 106 to 135: Each set of questions in this section is based on the reasoning and
arguments set out in the preceding passage. Please answer each question on the basis of what is stated or
implied in the corresponding passage. Do not rely on any information or facts other than the ones supplied to you.
In some instances, more than one option may be the answer to the question; in such a case, please choose the
option that most accurately and comprehensively answers the question.
Passage – 1
Some readers wondered whether my reading of the crisis in the news media is about journalism or about the
news industry. Though the fortunes of the news industry have a bearing on journalism, there is, indeed, a difference
between looking at issues that govern journalism and the factors that contribute to the financial stress of the media
industry. Over the last few years, I have been discussing the impact of digitalisation on journalism. The pandemic
has accelerated the process of digital transformation of the news media. Therefore, these issues need close
scrutiny. One of the defining elements of analog journalism was the way two crucial functions of journalism —
bearing witness and making sense — complemented each other and helped people make informed choices.
When I talk about the strength of analog, I am neither romanticising the past nor am I a Luddite. Most importantly,
I do not believe in nostalgia. Many scholars have established “how rose-coloured glasses always leads to an unfair
distortion — looking back on the best of the past while comparing it to the worst of the present.” Hence, when I talk
about the digital information news environment, I am talking about how there needs to be a conducive atmosphere
for credible information to resonate with the people. Literature on misinformation, disinformation and malinformation
reveals a new distinction in the minds of the citizens. Editors and journalists have to contend with a new breed of
sceptics. These are the people who trust social media forwards more than evidence-based, data-driven journalism.
Their confirmation bias flows from encrypted social media platforms that are full of conspiracy theories.
[Excerpt from an Article by A.S. Panneerselvan, The Hindu, dated August 10, 2020]
Correct Answer
c
Explanation
Refer the lines, “These are the people who trust social media
forwards more than evidence-based, data-driven journalism.
.encrypted social media platforms that are full of conspiracy
theories.” The passage highlights the issues with digital media
and the misinformation propagated by it.
Correct Answer
c
Explanation
Both the assumptions are valid in the statement made by the
author – “Hence, when I talk about the digital information news
environment, I am talking about how there needs to be a conducive
atmosphere for credible information to resonate with the people”
Correct Answer
a
Explanation
Refer the statement, “Literature on misinformation, disinformation
and malinformation reveals a new distinction in the minds of the
citizens.” This will be strengthened by the statement that
conspiracy theories have become the alternate truth. The other
options will have no impact on the author’s argument.
Correct Answer
b
Explanation
The author says that when he talks about analog journalism he is
not romanticizing the past. This means that the author does not
have any disproportionate bias towards analog journalism.
Correct Answer
b
Explanation
Refer the lines, “Hence, when I talk about the digital information
news environment, I am talking about how there needs to be a
conducive atmosphere for credible information to resonate with
the people.” The author’s main issue is with the credibility of the
information disseminated by digital media.
Directions for questions 106 to 135: Each set of questions in this section is based on the reasoning and
arguments set out in the preceding passage. Please answer each question on the basis of what is stated or
implied in the corresponding passage. Do not rely on any information or facts other than the ones supplied to you.
In some instances, more than one option may be the answer to the question; in such a case, please choose the
option that most accurately and comprehensively answers the question.
Passage – 2
In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev, launched an ill-fated anti-alcohol campaign in the then Soviet Union. The anti-alcohol
campaign had some beneficial public health consequences: Crime fell and life expectancy rose. But the campaign
was a political and economic disaster. Gorbachev forgot that the addiction of the state to alcohol revenue was
even more incurable than the addiction of some citizens to alcohol itself. The budgetary losses created an economic
crisis. Historians suspect that more than the loss of the Soviet Empire, it was this campaign that delegitimised
Gorbachev. An old Soviet joke went like this: A disaffected and angry citizen, fed up of standing in lines for vodka,
decided to go assassinate Gorbachev. He soon came back and ruefully reported that the lines to assassinate
Gorbachev were even longer than the lines for Vodka. As the lockdown eased in India, and social distancing went
for a toss at alcohol outlets, we were reminded of how difficult an issue alcohol is to rationally discuss in India. The
stampede was caused by the ineptness with which the opening was handled in most cities. Alcohol has also
migrated from being a question of personal freedom and choice to an issue in broader cultural wars, an odd site on
which we measure progressivism in India. It is also a window on how liberalism has been misunderstood. Liberals
should, rightly, be suspicious of prohibition on moral and practical grounds. Government grossly exceeds its
legitimate power when it interferes with the rights of individuals to lead their lives as they please, and fashion their
selves after their own ideals, interests and preferences. And certainly, moralism or puritanism on alcohol cannot
be the basis of state policy. That moralism has no basis, and it violates the dignity and freedom of individuals.
[Excerpt from an Opinion by Bhanu Pratap Mehta, The Indian Express, May 7, 2020]
Correct Answer
b
Explanation
An analogy refers to a comparison between one thing and another,
typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification. In the
passage, the reference of Mikhail Gorbachev is given to present
an analogy between the anti-alcohol campaign organized by him
and the condition in India.
Correct Answer
d
Explanation
The use of ‘always’ and ‘any issue’ makes options (b) and (c)
incorrect. The first statement can also not be inferred. Thus,
none of the statements can be inferred.
Correct Answer
d
Explanation
Refer the line in the passage, “Government grossly exceeds its
legitimate power when it interferes with the rights of individuals
to lead their lives as they please, and fashion their selves after
their own ideals, interests and preferences.” However, if the
price of non-interference is greater social harms or other social
ills, there is a case for some forms of moderation to be practiced.
Thus, all the statements weaken the author’s claim.
Correct Answer
b
Explanation
The passage essentially states that application of moralistic ideals
is not relevant when it comes to the issue of alcohol. This indicates
that there might be some situations in which moralism might be
justified.
Correct Answer
c
Explanation
A ban on alcohol shops will go against the liberal ideas expressed
in the passage. The other choices are indicated by the passage
as possible aspects of state’s policy to regulate alcohol use in
India.
Directions for questions 106 to 135: Each set of questions in this section is based on the reasoning and
arguments set out in the preceding passage. Please answer each question on the basis of what is stated or
implied in the corresponding passage. Do not rely on any information or facts other than the ones supplied to you.
In some instances, more than one option may be the answer to the question; in such a case, please choose the
option that most accurately and comprehensively answers the question.
Passage – 3
Don’t miss the cloud behind the silver lining. The Class XII CBSE pass result has soared to an all-time high of
88.8%. The number of students scoring 95% and above has more than doubled. If only these higher marks were
a reflection of students getting more skilled and more competitive. Instead, the odds are they simply mirror an
assessment scheme relaxed to compensate students for the many disruptions originating in the pandemic. The
goal of reducing student stress levels during this turbulent time is excellent and laudable. But it is a fallacy that high
marks can accomplish this by themselves. The real stressor, after all, is shortage of opportunities. When every
bout of grade inflation raises cut-offs for higher education even higher, it is no succour. That India’s Gross Enrolment
Ratio is only 27% compared to Indonesia’s 36%, Thailand’s 49% and the US’s 88% is just one measure of the toll
taken by our failure to build adequate colleges and universities. Licence raj continues to suppress autonomy and
expansion in this sector. For example, a new national education policy is reportedly mulling at least 20% of students
being able to attend private higher educational institutions through freeships and another 30% through scholarships,
besides fee caps. On top of the stasis already wreaked by reservations, this would be disastrous. Browbeating the
private sector to make up for public sector deficiencies is counterproductive. As the pandemic has underlined the
key role of good government services in healthcare, so too is raising the standard of publicly funded schools and
universities essential. What the students need is an ecosystem where government institutions deliver quality
education and private options are plentiful. It is better prospects alone that will best alleviate students’ stress.
Meanwhile, crudely chopping syllabi will only worsen their disorientation and should be reconsidered.
[TOI Edit, Times of India Editorials, Dated July 15, 2020]
Correct Answer
c
Explanation
Refer to the first 3 sentences of the passage. The author believes
that getting good marks doesn’t reflect the ability of the candidate.
So, the excellent CBSE results don’t necessarily reflect the aptitude
of the students. The author also believes that the assessment
pattern has not been very strict and so, that explains the good
result. Options (b) and (d) are out of scope while option (a)
doesn’t refer to the quoted phrase in the question.
Correct Answer
d
Explanation
If the student doesn’t care about the syllabi, it will hardly matter if
the syllabi are reduced. Students who don’t study at all will not
study even if there is any change in the syllabus. Furthermore, if
the student studies only for grades, he will selectively study
sections of the syllabi. Hence, a reduction in the syllabus will not
affect him/her. Lastly, option (c) if true, won’t put pressure on
students. Therefore, it contradicts what has been stated in the
question. Therefore, all the 3 options weaken the statement given
in the question. So, option (d) is the answer.
Correct Answer
d
Explanation
All the 3 options, if true, explain the high marks. If the students
have become more serious, if the evaluation and marking pattern
have become more liberal and lastly, if the question paper was
easier to solve, the marks scored will be on the higher side.
Therefore, option (d) is the answer.
Correct Answer
d
Explanation
Refer to the third last and second last sentences of the passages
where the author mentions about the need for quality education
and building public schools and universities. Therefore, option (d)
is correct. The author feels that a mere reduction in the syllabi
won’t be of much use. Although the author mentions reservation,
it hasn’t been cited as the need of the hour.
Correct Answer
b
Explanation
In the light of the sentences, “The real stressor, after all, is shortage
of opportunities. When every bout of grade inflation raises cutoffs
for higher education even higher, it is no succour” it can be
inferred that option (b) is true. The author believes that license raj
suppresses autonomy. He doesn’t opine that it should be done
away with. Hence, option (d) is wrong. The author also doesn’t
mention if scoring high in the Class XII Board exam will reduce
stress. Hence, option (a) is wrong. There is no mention of
regulation of private institutions; hence, option (c) is incorrect.
Directions for questions 106 to 135: Each set of questions in this section is based on the reasoning and
arguments set out in the preceding passage. Please answer each question on the basis of what is stated or
implied in the corresponding passage. Do not rely on any information or facts other than the ones supplied to you.
In some instances, more than one option may be the answer to the question; in such a case, please choose the
option that most accurately and comprehensively answers the question.
Passage – 4
If anything, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has taught us to rethink our lifestyles and question
our need to travel to work every day. After all, in the age of internet, zoom meetings and webinars can be virtually
conducted and physical distancing is possible. A large nature of work in cities is of tertiary nature, a major part of
which can be done from home. This can affect the way offices function and reduce the need for all employees to
be physically present every day. Information Technology companies are already contemplating a move of making
many of its employees work from home and make this a ‘new normal’. If more firms follow suit, the need for huge
office buildings and central business districts would change. Apartments cannot get bigger at the same rate, and
people may not have the space or atmosphere to work from home. This would mean that more people would opt
for co-working spaces close to their homes. This could be a game changer, for it would provide the cities to better
distribute their activities throughout the spaces and rid themselves of the idea of zoning. Only a handful of
professionals are allowed to function from residential zones, including doctors, lawyers, architects, etc. This
needs serious rethinking. Many more professions of similar nature that do not disturb surrounding residence and
have no requirements of special services should be added to the list. This new work culture would bring associated
demand for food joints, cafés, stationary shops, etc.
[Excerpt from ‘Down to Earth’ Magazine, Blog authored by Sugeet Grover, August 17, 2020]
Correct Answer
c
Explanation
The author believes that the current work from home will contribute
to better systematisation of city planning. Refer to the sentences,
“Apartments cannot get bigger at the same rate, and people may
not have the space or atmosphere to work from home. This would
mean that more people would opt for co-working spaces close to
their homes. This could be a game changer, for it would provide
the cities to better distribute their activities throughout the spaces
and rid themselves of the idea of zoning.” Hence, option (c) is
correct. Option (a) is narrow in scope and not the main idea.
Options (b) and (d) are out of context and cannot be the central
idea of the passage.
Correct Answer
a
Explanation
Option (a) is right in the light of the second last sentence of the
passage. Working from home will mean that surrounding
residences are not disturbed. Option (b) states exactly the
opposite of what the passage suggests. Before the pandemic,
there was the concept of zoning but now, due to work from
home, there is a distribution of activities. The author mentions that
most of the work can be done from home. Therefore, there are
some job profiles that require working from conventional offices.
Hence, it would be wrong to infer that the routine work culture
doesn’t benefit the society in any way. Therefore, option (c) is
wrong.
Correct Answer
d
Explanation
Refer to the first sentence of the passage where the author
mentions that due to work from home, we don’t have to travel to
our work places. Hence, the commuting time is saved.
Furthermore, in the light of the sentence, “This could be a game
changer, for it would provide the cities to better distribute their
activities throughout the spaces ...” it can be inferred that the
city’s land can be used more efficiently. Refer to the last sentence
where the author believes that the current scenario will help
setting up of stationery shops, cafes, etc. Therefore, it can be
assumed that the crime rate will go down because there will be
an optimum use of public spaces. Therefore, all the 3 given options
are benefits of the work from home culture. Hence, option (d) is
correct.
Correct Answer
c
Explanation
Option (a) if correct, weakens the benefits of working from home.
If all work profiles cannot be conducted from home, it is obviously
a challenge of working from home. Furthermore, if working from
home impacts a person’s mental health, it implies that working
from home can be disadvantageous. Therefore, option (c) is the
answer.
Correct Answer
d
Explanation
The author supports co-working spaces. But if co-working spaces
creates confusion, it is a disadvantage of the work from home
culture. Furthermore, the author believes that the work from home
culture ensures better city planning but if city planning entails a
lot of other factors, it poses a question mark on the benefits of
working from home. Option (c) directly challenges the benefits of
working from home. If working from home affects the economy, it
should not be supported. Therefore, option (d) is the answer.
Directions for questions 106 to 135: Each set of questions in this section is based on the reasoning and
arguments set out in the preceding passage. Please answer each question on the basis of what is stated or
implied in the corresponding passage. Do not rely on any information or facts other than the ones supplied to you.
In some instances, more than one option may be the answer to the question; in such a case, please choose the
option that most accurately and comprehensively answers the question.
Following is an array of questions to test your reasoning ability in different situations. Answer each of them according
to the question asked in each of them respectively:
Correct Answer
c
Explanation
Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect. Only option (c) is the
assumption on which the conclusion in the first sentence depends
as it says that most trucks that are currently running in highway
have a capacity of more than 8 tons and the conclusion says that
if highways were restricted to cars and only those trucks with
capacity of less than 8 tons, most of the truck traffic would be
forced to run outside highways.
Correct Answer
b
Explanation
Freedom of speech is a characteristic of a democracy; however,
it is debatable as to whether the practice of negative
advertisements is good for democracy and politics. Thus, option
(b) is the answer. None of the other options is the main issue of
the debate.
Correct Answer
c
Explanation
Assumptions I and III are implicit in the given statement because
‘aeroplane’ and ‘quickly’ are mentioned. Assumption II is not implicit
because nothing is mentioned about other means to commute
between Chennai and Delhi.
Correct Answer
d
Explanation
Correct Answer
c
Explanation
Directions for questions 106 to 135: Each set of questions in this section is based on the reasoning and
arguments set out in the preceding passage. Please answer each question on the basis of what is stated or
implied in the corresponding passage. Do not rely on any information or facts other than the ones supplied to you.
In some instances, more than one option may be the answer to the question; in such a case, please choose the
option that most accurately and comprehensively answers the question.
Passage – 5
One of the biggest casualties of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown has been institutionalised
education. Schools have been shut to prevent the spread of the virus and this has given way to online classrooms,
a very new concept in India even for the most sophisticated schools. It is commendable how easily some educational
institutions have moved to virtual classrooms, all thanks to tools such as Zoom, Google Hangouts and Microsoft
Teams. But there are some still struggling to get online. The online classes, whatever the enabling technology, is
only as good as the teachers and the ability of the students to grasp the new teaching technique. One of the
teachers felt students are actually more responsive and active in online classrooms, compared to when they are
in physical ones. “This could be because this is a new concept and they are excited to explore it with the teachers.
They also don’t get distracted by their classmates, which frequently happens in a regular class.” Teachers do find
the absence of a blackboard a disadvantage and network connectivity a constant problem. “We miss the clarity
that a blackboard gives us, we are kind of making do with the virtual whiteboard on Zoom. Shweta Kawatra, a
parent who teaches in a New Delhi school, highlights that many students have not been able to take advantage of
the virtual platform because they do not have a suitable device at home or lack a good internet connection. “It has
its own share of disadvantages too. Too much screen time can be perilous for health. Prolonged online sessions can
be overwhelming and may lead to problems related to vision, body posture and sleep disorder,” Kawatra adds.
[Excerpt from an Article by Sneha Saha, The Indian Express, dated April 18, 2020]
Correct Answer
d
Explanation
Option (d) is the answer because the central idea of the given
passage is the advantages and disadvantages of switching from
institutionalized education to online education. Options (a), (b)
and (c) are incomplete because each of them talks about only one mode of education and does not look at both the advantages
and disadvantages of switching from institutionalized education
to online education.
Correct Answer
a
Explanation
Option (a) cannot be inferred. Option (b) can be inferred from
“Too much screen time can be perilous for health. Prolonged
online sessions can be overwhelming and may lead to problems
related to vision, body posture and sleep disorder…” Option (c)
can be inferred from “But there are some still struggling to get
online…” and “Teachers do find the absence of a blackboard a
disadvantage and network connectivity a constant problem.”
Correct Answer
a
Explanation
Only Assumptions I and II are implicit. Assumptions III and IV are
not implicit. Thus, option (a) is the answer.
Correct Answer
a
Explanation
Only option (a) can be inferred from “One of the teachers felt
students are actually more responsive and active in online
classrooms, compared to when they are in physical ones…”,
“…many students have not been able to take advantage of the
virtual platform because they do not have a suitable device at
home or lack a good internet connection…” and “It has its own
share of disadvantages too. Too much screen time can be perilous
for health. Prolonged online sessions can be overwhelming and
may lead to problems related to vision, body posture and sleep
disorder…” Options (b) and (c) cannot be inferred.
Correct Answer
c
Explanation
The statement says that virtual education provides for various
online seminars, opportunities to interact with learned experts,
pro-bono education classes etc., for students across India
irrespective of their economic status and background. So, options
that negate this statement would weaken it. Thus, Only I, II and IV
weaken the given statement. III is does not point out the nonavailability
of the internet connections, devices or cost of data
which students belonging to economically weaker section cannot
afford.
