Free Verbal Reasoning - 08 Practice Test - CAT 

Question 1

Characters are also part of deep structure. Characters tie events in a story together and provide a thread of continuity and meaning. Stories can be about individuals, groups, projects, or whole organizations, so from an organizational studies perspective, the focal actor(s) determine the level and unit of analysis used in a study. Stories of mergers and acquisitions, for example, are commonplace. In these stories, whole organizations are personified as actors. But these macro-level stories usually are not told from the perspective of the macro-level participants, because whole organizations cannot narrate their experiences in the first person.

A. More generally, data concerning the identities and relationships of the characters in the story are required, if one is to understand role structure and social networks in which that process is embedded.
B. Personification of a whole organization abstracts away from the particular actors and from traditional notions of level of analysis,
C. The personification of a whole organization is important because stories differ depending on who is enacting various events.
D. Every story is told from a particular point of view, with a particular narrative voice, which is not regarded as part of the deep structure.
E. The personification of a whole organization is a textual device we use to make macro-level theories more comprehensible.

SOLUTION

Solution : E

Option: (e)

The paragraph talks of role of characters in a story. The last line mentions the macro-level stories and the personification of organizations thus making answer option (e) the most befitting statement to follow the last line.

Question 2

Nevertheless, photographs still retain some of the magical allure that the earliest daguerreotypes inspired. As objects, our photographs have changed; they have become physically flimsier as they have become more technologically sophisticated. Daguerre produced pictures on copperplates; today many of our photographs never become tangible things, but instead remain filed away on computers and cameras, part of the digital ether that envelops the modern world. At the same time, our patience for the creation of images has also eroded. Children today are used to being tracked from birth by digital cameras and video recorders and they expect to see the results of their poses and performances instantly. The space between life as it is being lived and life as it is being displayed shrinks to a mere second. (2007)

A. Yet, despite these technical developments, photographs still remain powerful because they are reminders of the people and things we care about.
B. Images, after all, are surrogates carried into battle by a soldier or by a traveller on holiday.
C. Photographs, be they digital or traditional, exist to remind us of the absent, the beloved, and the dead.
D. In the new era of the digital image, the images also have a greater potential for fostering falsehood and trickery, perpetuating fictions that seem so real we cannot tell the difference.
E. Anyway, human nature being what it is, little time has passed after photography's invention became means of living life through images.

SOLUTION

Solution : A

OPTION :(a)

The entire paragraph talks of technical developments in photography. So answer option (a) matches the flow of the passage best and hence is the correct answer choice.

Question 3

MmaRamotswe has a detective agency in Africa, at the foot of Kgale Hill. These were its assets: a tiny white van, two desks, two chairs, a telephone, and an old typewriter. Then there was a teapot, in which MmaRamostswe - the only private lady detective in Botswana - brewed redbush tea. And three mugs - one for herself, one for her secretary, and one for the client. What else does a detective agency really need? Detective agencies rely on human intuition and intelligence, both of which MmaRamotswe had in abundance. (2007)

A. But there was also the view, which again would appear on no inventory.
B. She had an intelligent secretary too.
C. No inventory would ever include those, of course.
D. She was a good detective and a good woman.
E. What she lacked in possessions was more than made up by a natural shrewdness.

SOLUTION

Solution : C

OPTION : (c)

The last statement of the paragraph highlights MmaRamotswe's qualities. Answer option (c) seems to be the best possible continuation.

Question 4

Relations between the factory and the dealer are distant and usually strained as the factory tries to force cars on the dealers to smooth out production. Relations between the dealer and the customer are equally strained because dealers continuously adjust prices -make deals-to adjust demand with supply while maximizing profits. This becomes a system marked by a lack of long-term commitment on either side, which maximizes feelings of mistrust. In order to maximize their bargaining positions, everyone holds back information the dealer about the product and the consumer about his true desires. (2006)

A. As a result, 'deal making' becomes a concern for customer satisfaction.
B. As a result, inefficiencies creep into the supply chain.
C. As a result, everyone treats the other as an adversary, rather than as an ally.
D. As a result, fundamental innovations are becoming scarce in the automobile industry.
E. As a result, everyone loses in the long run.

SOLUTION

Solution : E

Option: (e)

The passage emphasizes on how, to fulfill their short term expectations, factories, dealers and customers are not true to themselves. It is then that their relationships start becoming strained. This strain leads to feelings of mistrust and lack of commitment. So, the longer this continues, the more the chances of everyone succeeding to this vicious trap and they would soon realize that they have sacrificed long-term stability and gains for short-term benefits. Hence option (e) is the correct answer choice. Option (d) is too specific to the industry. Option (b) does not add anything. Option (a) takes into account only 2 players and repeats what is stated in the passage about "dealers adjusting prices and making deals" in the term "deal making". Option (c) seems close but can be eliminated as the word "adversary" is a very strong word.

Question 5

We can usefully think of theoretical models as maps, which help us navigate unfamiliar territory. The most accurate map that is possible to construct would be of no practical use whatsoever, for it would be an exact replica, on exactly the same scale, of the place where we were. Good maps pull out the most important features and throw away a huge amount of much less valuable information. Of course, maps can be bad as well as good-witness the attempts by medieval Europe to produce a map of the world. In the same way, a bad theory, no matter how impressive it may seem in principle, does little or nothing to help us understand a problem.(2006)

A. But good theories, just like good maps, are invaluable, even if they are simplified.
B. But good theories, just like good maps, will never represent unfamiliar concepts in detail.
C. But good theories, just like good maps, need to balance detail and feasibility of representation.
D. (d) But good theories, just like good maps, are accurate only at a certain level of abstraction.
E. But good theories, just like good maps, are useful in the hands of a user who knows their limitations.

SOLUTION

Solution : A

Option: (a)

The passage heads towards describing the functions that bad/good maps serve. Just as "bad theory" does not help us understand a problem, "good theory" is invaluable to us though it may be simplified. 'Simplified' here implies that less valuable information is left out. According to the logic, options (b), (c), (d) get eliminated. Option (e) is close but more negative in tone than required.

Question 6

In the evolving world order, the comparative advantage of the United States lies in its military force. Diplomacy and international law have always been regarded as annoying encumbrances, unless they can be used to advantage against an enemy. Every active player in world affairs professes to seek only peace and to prefer negotiation to violence and coercion. (2006)

A. However, diplomacy has often been used as a mask by nations which intended to use force.
B. However, when the veil is lifted, we commonly see that diplomacy is understood as a disguise for the rule of force.
C. However, history has shown that many of these nations do not practice what they profess.
D. However, history tells us that peace is professed by those who intend to use violence
E. However, when unmasked, such nations reveal a penchant for the use of force.

SOLUTION

Solution : B

Option: (b)

Going with the flow of the passage, the last line states that now all players "profess" to seek only peace. "Profess" means to mask or to pretend. Thus, option (b) which talks about the veil being lifted is the most logical completion of the passage.

Question 7

A.However, the real challenge today is in unlearning, which is much harder.

B.   But the new world of business behaves differently from the world in which we grew up.
C.   Learning is important for both people and organizations.
D.   Each of us has a 'mental model' that we've used over the years to make sense.

A. CADB
B. BDAC
C. CDAB
D. ABCD

SOLUTION

Solution : A

Option (a)

 

(C) begins the para by explaining the significance of 'LEARNING' to people and organizations.

(A) states the , real challenge as 'UNLEARNING', which follows statement C. Only option (a) has the CA link.

Alternate Method:-

We first choose the first statement out of the given choices ie the opening statement will not have any pronouns nor any structure word. Going through the answer options, A and B cannot be an opening statement because they are beginning with a structure word. Options B and D gets eliminated. Opening statement is statement C where the author talks about the importance of "Learning". It will be followed by statement A in which he talks about "Unlearning". In statement C, he describes why unlearning is harder. Hence answer option "A".

 

Question 8

A.   Alex had never been happy with his Indian origins. B.He set about rectifying this grave injustice by making his house in his own image of a country manor.
C.   Fate had been unfair to him, if he had his wish, he would have been a count or an Earl on some English estate, or a medieval monarch in a chateau in France.
D.   This illusion of misplaced grandeur, his wife felt, would be Alex's undoing.

A. ACDB
B. ABDC
C. ACBD
D. CABD

SOLUTION

Solution : C

Option (c)

(A) initiates the passage explaining the reason for unhappiness of Alex as Indian origins (C) explains what he would rather have been (B) tells how Alex rectifies his grave injustice.   (D) concludes thepassage by explaining the wife's reaction.

Alternate Method:-

Statement A will be the opening statement because other statements have pronouns in them. Option D gets eliminated. Statement A talks about Alex being un-happy with his Indian origins. Statement C talks about why Alex is unhappy.   Logically statement A is followed by statement B. This combination is available in only one answer option ie answer option "C".

Question 9

A.   The influence is reflected the most in beaded evening wear.
B.   Increasingly, the influence of India's colours and cuts can be seen on western styles.
C.   And even as Nehru jackets and jodhpurs remain staples of the fashion world, designers such as Armani and McFadden have turned to the sleek silhouette of the churidar this year.
D.   Indian hot pink, paprika and saffron continue to be popular colours year in and year out.

A. BADC
B. ABCD
C. BCAD
D. DABC

SOLUTION

Solution : A

Option (a)

(B) starts the passage by explaining the impact of Indian colours and cuts on western style.   (A) elaborates that the influence is mostly seen in breaded evening wears.   (D) emphasises pink, paprika and saffron. (C) States how the international fashion scene is being affected by Indian outfits.

Alternate Method:-

Statement A talks about some influence. But what is influencing is not discussed. Now we scroll through other statements and get the info that only statement B is talking what is influencing. Hence we have a combination that statement B is followed by statement A ie"BA". This combination is available in only one answer option ie answer option "A".

Question 10

A.   Such a national policy will surely divide and never unite the people.
B.   In fact, it suits the purpose of the politicians; they can drag the people into submission by appealing to them in the name of religion.
C.   In order to inculcate the unquestioning belief they condemn the other states which do not follow their religion.
D.   The emergence of the theocratic states where all types of crimes are committed in the name of religion, has revived the religion of the Middle Ages.

A. ABCD
B. DBCA
C. DBAC
D. CDAB

SOLUTION

Solution : B

Option (b)

(D) Begins the paragraph by explaining the meaning and emergence of theocratic states.   (B) Explains the trick followed by politicians.   (C) Shows how politicians act, the "they" in the sentence, refers to "politicians" (A) concludes the paragraph by explaining the impact of such a national policy.

Alternate Method:-

Statement D will be an opening statement because other statements have pronouns in them. Hence we eliminate answer options "A" and "D". Now in both the answer options, statement "D" is followed by statement "B". Statement B talks about politicians. We have statement C having a pronoun "they" which refers logically to politicians. Hence B is followed be C. Moreover, the national policy of condemning of states on the basis of religion will divide people. Hence we have answer option "B".

Question 11

1.   Picture a termite colony occupying a tall mud hump on an African plain.
A.   Hungry predators often invade the colony and unsettle the balance.
B.   The colony flourishes only if the portion of soldiers to workers remain roughly the same, so that the queen and the workers can be protected by the soldiers, and the queen and the soldiers can be serviced by workers.
C.   But its fortunes are presently restored, because the immobile queen, walled in well below ground level, lays eggs not only in large enough numbers, but also in the varying proportions required.
D.   The hump is alive with worker termites and soldier termites going about their distinct kind of business.
6.   How can we account for her mysterious ability to respond like this to events on the distant surface?

A. BADC
B. DBAC
C. ADCB
D. BDCA

SOLUTION

Solution : B

Option (b)

Statement (D) starts the paragraph by explaining the business of worker and soldier termites. Statement (B) pay attention to the needs of the soldier and worker proportionality (A) describes the role of the predator. Statement (C) concludes telling quantity of eggs laid by queen.

Alternate Explanation:-

In the statement number "6", pronoun "her" is used for the queen. This means that the statement just before statement "6" must have queen as the subject. Only statement "C" fulfills this criteria. Statement "C" is the second last statement of the given passage. Hence we eliminate answer option "C" and   "D". Statement B after statement 1 seems illogical because statement B describes the number of soldiers and workers and how they making sure the colony works properly. The name soldiers and workers must be discussed before statement B. Going through the answer option we find that only statement D fulfills this criteria. Hence we have a combination "DB". Going through the answer options we find that only answer option B has this combination. Hence answer option "B" is the answer.

Question 12

1.   According to recent research, the critical period for developing language skills is between the ages of three and five and a half years.
A.   The read-to child already has a large vocabulary and a sense of grammar and sentence structure.
B.   Children who are read to in these years have a far better chance of reading well in school, indeed, of doing well in all subject.
C.   And the reason is actually quiet simple.
D.   This correlation is far and away the highest yet found between home influences and school success.
6.   His comprehension of language is therefore very high.

A. DACB
B. ADCB
C. ABCD
D. BDCA

SOLUTION

Solution : D

Option (d)

(1) and (B) is a mandatory pair because of presence of the pronoun "these" in statement B.   Only answer option D fulfills this criteria. Hence answer option "D".

Question 13

1.   The reconstruction of history by post-revolutionary science texts involves more than a multiplication of historical misconstructions.
A.   Because they aim quickly to acquaint the student with the contemporary scientific community "thinks it knows", textbooks treat the various experiments, concepts, laws and theories of the current normal science as separately as possible.
B.   Those misconstructions render revolutions invisible; the arrangement of the still visible material in science texts implies a process that, if it existed, would deny revolutions a function.
C.   But when combined with the generally unhistorical air of science writing and with the occasional systematic misconstruction, one impression is likely to follow.
D.   As pedagogy, this technique of presentation is unexceptionable.
6.   Science has reached its present state by series of individual discoveries and inventions that when gathered together, constitute the modern body of technical knowledge.

A. BADC
B. ADCB
C. DACB
D. CBDA

SOLUTION

Solution : A

Option: (a)

(1) states reconstruction of history involves more than a multiplication of historical misconstruction (B) clears misconstruction renders revolution invisible (A) explains the technique of presentation.   (D) states such technique to be unexceptionable.   (C) states result on combination of science writing with occasional systematic misconstruction.   (6) follows telling science as outcome of individual discoveries and Inventions.

Question 14

1.   Security inks exploit the same principle that causes the vivid and constantly changing colours of film of oil on water.
A.   When two rays of light meet each other after being reflected from these different surfaces, they have each travelled slightly different distances.
B.   The key is that the light is bouncing off two surfaces, that of the oil and that of the water layer below it.
C.   The distance between the two rays determines which wavelengths, and hence colours, interfere constructively and look bright.
D.   Because light is an electromagnetic wave, the peaks and troughs of each ray then interfere either constructively, to appear bright, or destructively, to appear dim.
6.   Since the distance the rays travel changes with the angle as you look at the surface, different colours look bright from different viewing angles.

A. ABCD
B. BADC
C. BDAC
D. DCAB

SOLUTION

Solution : B

Option: (b)

(B) clearly follows (1) with 'oil and water'.   (A) continues to explain the concept.   (C) has to be followed by (6).   (D) has to settle in between, after (A).

Question 15

Managers especially the successful ones, should guard against ascribing to themselves qualities and attributes which they may not have, or may have in a measure much less than what they think they have.
A.   External appearances can be deceptive.
B. To initiate action, without being in possession of full facts, can lead to disastrous results.
C.   Also, one should develop confidants who can be used as sounding boards, in order to check one's own thinking against that of the others.
D.   It is also useful to be open to receive feedback about oneself so that a real understanding of the 'self' exists.
6.   A false perception can be likened to wearing coloured glasses "“ all facts get tainted by colour of the glass and the mind interprets them wrongly to fit into the perception.

A. DCAB
B. BADC
C. DABC
D. BCAD

SOLUTION

Solution : A

Option: (a)

From the answer options; the starting can only be D or B. D is a more logical continuation after the opening sentence. This eliminates option (b) and (d). The concluding sentence elaborates on a false perception, thus the preceding sentence should talk about the disastrous effects of false perception which happens due to not being in possession of full facts. Answer is option (a)

Question 16

1.   Making people laugh is tricky
A.   At times, the intended humour may simply not come off.
B.   Making people laugh while trying to sell them something is a tougher challenge, since the commercial can fall flat on two grounds.
C.   There are many advertisements which do amuse but do not even begin to set the cash registers ringing.
D.   Again, it is rarely sufficient for an advertiser simply to amuse the target audience in order to reap the sales benefit.
6.   There are indications that in substituting the hard sell for more entertaining approach, some agencies have rather thrown out the baby with the bath water.

A. CDBA
B. ABCD
C. BADC
D. DCBA

SOLUTION

Solution : C

Option: (c)

(1) and (B) follow each other.   (B) Begins the paragraph by explaining marketer's trickiness.   (AD) explain how the advertisers prepare its customers.   (C) concludes by commenting on the nature of advertisements.