Ready for Prelims 2025? Try CSAT Practice Set 13 for a quick check of your exam prep

Indian Express

11-05-2025

Dear UPSC aspirants,
A well-planned strategy and consistent practice are crucial for CSAT success. Enhance your preparation with Practice Set 13.
Haven't tried the previous sets yet? Check out CSAT Practice Set 1 (click here), Practice Set 2 (click here), Practice Set 3 (click here), Practice Set 4 (click here),Practice Set 5 (click here) , Practice Set 6 (click here) , Practice Set 7 (click here) , Practice Set 8 (click here) ,Practice Set 9 (click here), Practice Set 10 (click here)., Practice Set 11 (click here) and Practice Set 12 (click here).
—Mudit Gupta
Read the following passage and answer the item that follows. Your answer should be based on the passage only.
When students enter college, they often conflict with their professors. The former believe they are capable of independent thinking, while the latter may insist on strict adherence to traditional methods of learning. Professors often consider academic discipline and rigor to be their primary responsibility. However, their approach can sometimes be so rigid that students feel discouraged from expressing their ideas openly, leading them to seek alternative ways of learning.
Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. The student feels constrained by the professor's rigid teaching methods, which hinder open communication.
2. The student of modern times lacks respect for academic authority figures.
Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
The above paragraph mentions the difference in the thought process between the students and their teachers in the colleges. Teachers prefer sticking to the traditional disciplined approach. However, the students like to think out of the box and try to communicate new ideas. Such new ideas are generally discouraged by professors at the college level. However, the difference in the opinion of the students and the professors doesn't imply disrespect. It simply shows the difference in mindsets.
Based on this explanation of the paragraph, the assumption 1 is correct however, the assumption 2 is incorrect.
Therefore, (a) is the correct answer.
A certain number of men can complete a piece of work in 6k days, where k is a natural number. By what percent should the number of men be increased so that the work can be completed in 5k days?
(a) 10%
(b) (50/3)%
(c) 20%
(d) 25%
Using the concept of 'Man-Hours' in Time and Work we can use the following equation:
Number of Men X Number of Days (In case 1) = Number of Men X Number of Days (in case 2)
We are given that a certain number of men can complete the work in 6k days (where k is a natural number). Let us assume the value of K = 1 (since 1 is a natural number), and also let us assume the number of men to be 10. So, after making 2 assumptions, we conclude that 10 men can complete the work in 6 days.
In the second case, we are given that a certain number of men can complete the same work in 5K days. Since we have assumed the value of K = 1, so in this case, the work can be completed in 5 days. We have to find out the number of men required to complete the work in 5 days.
Substituting the values in the above equation, we get:
So, in the first case when the work was to be completed in 6 days, we required 10 men and now when the work is to be completed in 5 days, we need 12 men.
The question is by how much the number of men should be increased:
Therefore, (c) is the correct answer.
How many different words can be formed with the letters of the word NAINITAL such that each word begins with L and ends with T?
(a) 90
(b) 80
(c) 88
(d) 82
We have to find out the number of words that can be created using all the letters of the word NAINITAL such that the word begins with L and ends with T.
If we look at the arrangement, it will be L (NAINIA) T such that the first letter L and the last letter T are fixed at their respective places. We have to now shuffle the alphabets in the middle. Because the order of words is important here, so we will use permutation (and not combination).
To arrange NAINIA in different ways, we can do so in 6P6 ways (6 letters are to be arranged at 6 places) however, since the letters N, I, and A are repeated twice, we will have to divide 6P6 by 2! three times to factor-in for the repetition of alphabets.
Therefore, (a) is the correct answer.
Consider the following: Weight of 6 boys = Weight of 3 men = Weight of 7 girls = Weight of 4 women If the average weight of the women is 63 kg, then what is the average weight of the boys?
(a) 40 kg
(b) 42 kg
(c) 45 kg
(d) 63 kg
Weight of 1 woman = 63 Kg
Weight of 4 women = 63 X 4 = 252 Kg
We are given that weight of 4 women = weight of 6 boys
Weight of 6 boys = 252 Kg
Weight of 1 boy = (252/6) = 42 Kg
Therefore, (b) is the correct answer.
Two pencils are 24cm and 42cm. If we want to break them into smaller pencils of equal size, then how many different sizes are possible?
(a) 3
(b) 4
(c) 2
(d) 6
We want to break the bigger pencils into equal pencils of smaller sizes. This can be done by finding the Highest Common Factor (HCF) of the lengths of both pencils.
HCF (24, 42) = 6
It means that we can break the bigger pencils into smaller pencils of 6cm each. However, the requirements of the question are different. The question is asking us as to in how many sizes the pencils can be broken down.
It means that we have to find the number of factors of the HCF i.e. 6 to be able to answer the question.
Factors of 6 are: 1, 2, 3, and 6. Hence, there are 4 factors of the number 6 and hence, the bigger pencils can be broken down into smaller pencils of 4 different sizes.
Therefore, (b) is the correct answer.
(About our Expert: Mudit Gupta has been a mentor and faculty for the UPSC Civil Services exam for 8 years with expertise in CSAT, Polity, International Relations, and Current Affairs. He is known to break complex concepts into simpler ones that allow UPSC aspirants to develop a grip over the subject matter.)
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