CSE Preliminary Exam: Mock Test for Practice
Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) - Part-II
QUESTIONS 41–60Comprehension Passage 5
Public policy frequently involves balancing competing objectives. Measures designed to improve efficiency may sometimes reduce equity, while policies aimed at greater equity may entail efficiency costs. The challenge for policymakers is not to maximize one objective while ignoring the other, but to identify institutional arrangements that reconcile both to the greatest extent possible. Consequently, policy debates should focus less on choosing between efficiency and equity and more on understanding the conditions under which the two can be mutually reinforcing.
41.
What is the central argument of the passage?
(a) Equity should always be preferred over efficiency.
(b) Efficiency and equity are inherently incompatible.
(c) Policymaking should seek ways to balance efficiency and equity.
(d) Institutional arrangements are ineffective in resolving trade-offs.
42.
Which statement is most consistent with the passage?
(a) Every policy that improves equity reduces efficiency.
(b) Efficiency and equity can sometimes complement each other.
(c) Policymakers should focus exclusively on growth.
(d) Trade-offs are unavoidable in all circumstances.
43.
Which of the following, if true, would strengthen the author's argument?
(a) Some welfare programmes increase both productivity and income equality.
(b) Economic growth is difficult to measure.
(c) Governments frequently disagree on policy priorities.
(d) Equity is harder to define than efficiency.
44.
The author would most likely agree that:
(a) policy choices should be guided by a single objective.
(b) institutions matter in determining policy outcomes.
(c) efficiency is more measurable than equity.
(d) equity can be achieved only through redistribution.
45.
A, B, C, D, E, F and G are standing in a line facing north.
- C is third to the right of A.
- B is second to the left of C.
- D is immediately right of B.
- E is between D and G.
- F is at one end.
Who is in the middle position?
(a) A
(b) D
(c) E
(d) G
46.
If:
All artists are creative.
Some creative people are scientists.
No scientist is lazy.
Which conclusion necessarily follows?
(a) Some artists are scientists.
(b) Some creative people are not lazy.
(c) No artist is lazy.
(d) All creative people are scientists.
47.
A man points to a woman and says:
"She is the daughter of the only son of my grandfather."
How is the woman related to the man?
(a) Sister
(b) Daughter
(c) Niece
(d) Cousin
48.
The average of 15 numbers is 48. If one number was incorrectly recorded as 62 instead of 26, the correct average is:
(a) 45.6
(b) 46.4
(c) 47.2
(d) 48.8
Questions 49–51
Study the following information carefully:
Seven persons P, Q, R, S, T, U and V sit around a circular table facing the centre.
- P sits second to the right of Q.
- R sits opposite P.
- S sits immediately left of R.
- T sits second to the left of S.
- U is not adjacent to P.
- V is adjacent to Q.
49.
Who sits opposite Q?
(a) S
(b) T
(c) U
(d) V
50.
Who sits immediately right of P?
(a) V
(b) U
(c) T
(d) S
51.
Which of the following pairs are adjacent?
(a) P and U
(b) R and T
(c) Q and S
(d) U and V
Comprehension Passage 6
Scientific knowledge advances not merely by accumulating facts but by continuously subjecting explanations to criticism and testing. A theory may survive repeated attempts at refutation and thereby gain credibility, but it remains open to revision if new evidence emerges. Thus, scientific certainty differs fundamentally from absolute certainty.
52.
According to the passage, scientific theories:
(a) become permanently true once tested.
(b) are accepted without criticism.
(c) remain open to revision.
(d) depend only on the number of facts collected.
53.
Which statement is most strongly supported?
(a) Scientific knowledge is provisional.
(b) Facts are unimportant in science.
(c) Refutation weakens science.
(d) Scientific certainty is absolute.
54.
The author's view implies that:
(a) uncertainty is incompatible with science.
(b) criticism contributes to scientific progress.
(c) theories should not be revised frequently.
(d) evidence is less important than opinion.
55.
A train 240 metres long crosses a platform in 24 seconds and a pole in 12 seconds. The length of the platform is:
(a) 240 m
(b) 320 m
(c) 480 m
(d) 600 m
56.
Statement:
"All applicants must submit their documents before 5 p.m."
Which assumption is implicit?
(a) Documents submitted after 5 p.m. will never be accepted under any circumstance.
(b) Applicants are capable of submitting documents before 5 p.m.
(c) All applicants have already submitted documents.
(d) Submission time is irrelevant.
57.
A sum invested at compound interest grows by 21% in two years. What is the annual rate?
(a) 9%
(b) 10%
(c) 11%
(d) 12%
58.
Find the missing term:
3, 8, 18, 38, 78, ?
(a) 148
(b) 156
(c) 158
(d) 168
59.
In a certain code:
MOUNTAIN = 95
RIVER = 72
Then FOREST = ?
(Using the rule: sum of positions of letters in the alphabet)
(a) 79
(b) 81
(c) 83
(d) 85
60.
A cube is painted on all sides and cut into 216 equal cubes. How many cubes have no face painted?
(a) 64
(b) 125
(c) 27
(d) 96
QUESTIONS 61–80
Comprehension Passage 7
Democratic governance relies not only on formal institutions but also on informal norms of cooperation and trust. Constitutions may define powers and procedures, yet their effectiveness often depends upon the willingness of political actors to exercise restraint and respect unwritten conventions. When such norms weaken, institutions may continue to exist formally while functioning less effectively in practice.
61.
Which one of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?
(a) Constitutions are more important than political norms.
(b) Informal norms play a significant role in the functioning of democratic institutions.
(c) Political actors should have fewer constitutional powers.
(d) Formal institutions are unnecessary in a democracy.
62.
The passage suggests that institutions may become ineffective when:
(a) constitutions are amended.
(b) political actors ignore informal norms.
(c) citizens demand accountability.
(d) governments become larger.
63.
Which statement is most consistent with the author's argument?
(a) Written rules alone can guarantee effective governance.
(b) Trust and restraint can strengthen institutional performance.
(c) Democratic institutions depend solely on elections.
(d) Informal norms are legally enforceable.
64.
Which of the following, if true, would strengthen the passage?
(a) Countries with similar constitutional structures often display different governance outcomes because of political culture.
(b) Constitutions are usually written documents.
(c) Elections are expensive to conduct.
(d) Political parties compete for power.
65.
A statement is followed by two courses of action.
Statement:
A city has witnessed a sharp increase in road accidents involving school-going children.
Courses of Action:
- Introduce mandatory road-safety awareness programmes in schools.
- Close all schools located near busy roads.
Which course(s) of action is/are appropriate?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
66.
A person starts from point A and walks 8 km north, then 6 km east, then 8 km south, and finally 10 km east. How far and in which direction is he from point A?
(a) 16 km East
(b) 10 km East
(c) 8 km East
(d) 14 km East
67.
If all poets are dreamers, some dreamers are philosophers, and no philosopher is careless, which conclusion necessarily follows?
(a) No poet is careless.
(b) Some dreamers are not careless.
(c) Some poets are philosophers.
(d) All dreamers are philosophers.
Questions 68–70
Study the following information:
Eight persons A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H are sitting around a circular table facing the centre.
- A sits third to the left of B.
- C sits opposite A.
- D sits immediately right of C.
- E sits second to the right of D.
- F is not adjacent to A.
- G sits opposite E.
68.
Who sits opposite B?
(a) D
(b) E
(c) F
(d) H
69.
Who sits immediately left of A?
(a) F
(b) G
(c) H
(d) D
70.
Which pair sits opposite each other?
(a) A and D
(b) B and H
(c) E and G
(d) C and F
71.
A train travelling at 72 km/h crosses another train travelling in the opposite direction at 54 km/h in 12 seconds. The lengths of the trains are 180 m and 240 m respectively. Which statement is correct?
(a) Data inconsistent; crossing time should be 10 s.
(b) Data consistent.
(c) Crossing time should be 8 s.
(d) Crossing time should be 15 s.
Comprehension Passage 8
Many organisations seek innovation by investing heavily in research and development. Yet innovation frequently emerges from interactions among individuals with diverse experiences and perspectives. Excessive standardisation can improve efficiency, but it may also reduce opportunities for experimentation. Therefore, organisations that value innovation often attempt to balance structure with flexibility.
72.
What is the central theme of the passage?
(a) Research spending guarantees innovation.
(b) Efficiency is more important than innovation.
(c) Innovation often requires a balance between order and flexibility.
(d) Standardisation should be eliminated.
73.
Which statement is most strongly supported?
(a) Diversity of perspectives may contribute to innovation.
(b) Innovation occurs only through formal research.
(c) Flexibility always reduces efficiency.
(d) Standardisation prevents organisational growth.
74.
The author would most likely agree that:
(a) experimentation has a role in innovation.
(b) organisations should avoid structure.
(c) efficiency and innovation cannot coexist.
(d) research expenditure is unnecessary.
75.
A sum becomes ₹14,400 in 4 years and ₹15,600 in 5 years at simple interest. The principal is:
(a) ₹9,600
(b) ₹10,800
(c) ₹11,400
(d) ₹12,000
76.
Find the missing term:
2, 6, 15, 31, 56, ?
(a) 92
(b) 90
(c) 94
(d) 96
77.
A bag contains 5 red, 4 blue and 3 green balls. Two balls are drawn at random without replacement. What is the probability that both are red?
(a) 5/33
(b) 10/33
(c) 2/11
(d) 3/22
78.
A clock is set correctly at noon. It loses 10 minutes every hour. What time will it show when the actual time is 6:00 p.m.?
(a) 5:00 p.m.
(b) 5:10 p.m.
(c) 5:20 p.m.
(d) 5:30 p.m.
79.
A cube is painted on all faces and divided into 343 equal cubes. How many cubes have exactly one face painted?
(a) 150
(b) 126
(c) 96
(d) 54
80.
A statement is followed by two assumptions.
Statement:
"The public library has extended its operating hours to encourage greater usage."
Assumptions:
- Limited operating hours were a factor discouraging some potential users.
- Extending operating hours may increase library usage.
Which assumption(s) is/are implicit?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2