UPSC Prelims 2015 CSAT Paper — 74 Questions with Answers

CSAT Paper II of the 2015 Preliminary examination, held on 23 August 2015. 80 questions · 200 marks · qualifying at 33%. The questions broke down as Comprehension 32, Logical Reasoning 20, Basic Numeracy 16, Mental Ability 5, Data Interpretation 1.

  1. Q1 Which one of the following statements is least essential as a part of the argument in the above passage ?
    Comprehension· hard
  2. Q2 Which one of the following statements best sums up the above passage ?
    Comprehension· medium
  3. Q3 With reference to the above passage, which of the following is the most valid assumption ?
    Comprehension· medium
  4. Q4 Which is the critical inference that can be made from the above passage ?
    Comprehension· medium
  5. Q5 With reference to the above passage, which of the following statements is/are true ? 1. Consuming regionally grown food and not depending on long travelled food is a part of eco-friendly behaviour. 2. Food processing industry puts a burden on our natural…
    Comprehension· easy
  6. Q6 The author says that a thoughtless word hardly ever escapes his tongue or pen. Which one of the following is not a valid reason for this ?
    Comprehension· medium
  7. Q7 The most appropriate reason for the author to be spared many a mishap is that
    Comprehension· medium
  8. Q8 For the author, silence is necessary in order to surmount
    Comprehension· medium
  9. Q9 Twelve people form a club. By picking lots, one of them will host a dinner for all once in a month. The number of dinners a particular member has to host in one year is
    Basic Numeracy· easy
  10. Q10 An automobile owner reduced his monthly petrol consumption when the prices went up. The price-consumption relationship is as follows : Price (in ₹ per litre) 40 50 60 75 Monthly consumption (in litres) 60 48 40 32 If the price goes up to ₹ 80 per litre, his…
    Data Interpretation· medium
  11. Q12 Consider the following matrix : | 3 | 8 | 10 | 2 | ? | 1 | | 6 | 56 | 90 | 2 | 20 | 0 | What is the missing number at '?' in the matrix ?
    Mental Ability· medium
  12. Q13 What is the missing number 'X' of the series 7, X, 21, 31, 43 ?
    Mental Ability· easy
  13. Q15 In a test, a candidate attempted only 8 questions and secured 50% marks in each of the questions. If he obtained a total of 40% in the test and all questions in the test carried equal marks, how many questions were there in the test ?
    Basic Numeracy· easy
  14. Q16 A father is nine times as old as his son and the mother is eight times as old as the son. The sum of the father's and the mother's age is 51 years. What is the age of the son ?
    Basic Numeracy· easy
  15. Q17 Four persons A, B, C and D consisting of two married couples are in a group. Both the women are shorter than their respective husbands. A is the tallest among the four. C is taller than B. D is B's brother. In this context, which one of the following…
    Logical Reasoning· medium
  16. Q18 Consider the following statements : 1. A man had a wife, two sons and two daughters in his family. 2. The daughters were invited to a feast and the male members of the family went out to take part in a picnic. 3. The man's father did not return from his work…
    Logical Reasoning· easy
  17. Q19 Geeta : Naresh has become a better boxer since he started meditation. Radha : Impossible. A boxer's most important asset is his aggressiveness. Radha's statement reflects her belief that
    Logical Reasoning· easy
  18. Q20 All good athletes want to win and all athletes who want to win eat a well-balanced diet; therefore all athletes who do not eat a well-balanced diet are bad athletes. The best conclusion from this statement is that
    Logical Reasoning· medium
  19. Q21 Which among the following is the most logical and rational assumption that can be made from the above passage ?
    Comprehension· medium
  20. Q22 This is a sensitive issue-based story which tries to sensitise the readers about
    Comprehension· medium
  21. Q23 Which among the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage ?
    Comprehension· medium
  22. Q24 Which among the following is the most logical and rational assumption that can be made from the above passage ?
    Comprehension· medium
  23. Q25 Which among the following is the most logical corollary to the above passage ?
    Comprehension· medium
  24. Q26 What is the most logical, rational and crucial message that is implied in the above passage ?
    Comprehension· medium
  25. Q27 With reference to the above passage, consider the following statements : 1. In developing countries, a strong institutional framework is the only requirement for human development and policy options. 2. Human development and economic growth are not always…
    Comprehension· medium
  26. Q28 With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made : 1. Higher economic growth is essential to ensure reduction in economic disparity. 2. Environmental degradation is sometimes a consequence of economic growth. Which of the above…
    Comprehension· medium
  27. Q29 If A runs less fast than B, and B runs as fast but not faster than C; then, as compared to A, C runs
    Logical Reasoning· easy
  28. Q30 Each of A, B, C and D has ₹ 100. A pays ₹ 20 to B, who pays ₹ 10 to C, who gets ₹ 30 from D. In this context, which one of the following statements is not correct ?
    Basic Numeracy· easy
  29. Q31 In a town, 45% population read magazine A, 55% read magazine B, 40% read magazine C, 30% read magazines A and B, 15% read magazines B and C, 25% read magazines A and C; and 10% read all the three magazines. What percentage do not read any magazine ?
    Basic Numeracy· medium
  30. Q32 Examine the following statements : 1. Lady's finger is tastier than cabbage. 2. Cauliflower is tastier than lady's finger. 3. Cabbage is not tastier than peas. The conclusion that can be drawn from these statements is that
    Logical Reasoning· easy
  31. Q33 Shahid and Rohit start from the same point in opposite directions. After each 1 km, Shahid always turns left and Rohit always turns right. Which of the following statements is correct ?
    Logical Reasoning· medium
  32. Q34 In a 500 metres race, B starts 45 metres ahead of A, but A wins the race while B is still 35 metres behind. What is the ratio of the speeds of A to B assuming that both start at the same time ?
    Basic Numeracy· medium
  33. Q35 Two equal glasses of same type are respectively 1/3 and 1/4 full of milk. They are then filled up with water and the contents are mixed in a pot. What is the ratio of milk and water in the pot ?
    Basic Numeracy· easy
  34. Q36 Out of 130 students appearing in an examination, 62 failed in English, 52 failed in Mathematics, whereas 24 failed in both English and Mathematics. The number of students who passed finally is
    Basic Numeracy· easy
  35. Q37 In a group of persons travelling in a bus, 6 persons can speak Tamil, 15 can speak Hindi and 6 can speak Gujarati. In that group none can speak any other language. If 2 persons in the group can speak two languages only and one person can speak all the three…
    Basic Numeracy· medium
  36. Q38 In a parking area, the total number of wheels of all the cars (four-wheelers) and scooters/motorbikes (two-wheelers) is 100 more than twice the number of parked vehicles. The number of cars parked is
    Basic Numeracy· easy
  37. Q39 The mangroves can shed tons of leaves per acre every year; fungi and bacteria break down this leaf litter and consume it, they then are consumed by tiny worms and crustaceans, which in turn feed small fish, which feed larger fish and birds and crocodiles…
    Logical Reasoning· medium
  38. Q40 “By liberty I mean the eager maintenance of that atmosphere in which men have the opportunity to be their best selves.” Which one of the following expresses the view implied in the above statement ?
    Logical Reasoning· medium
  39. Q41 Which among the following is the most logical corollary to the above passage ?
    Comprehension· medium
  40. Q42 Which among the following is the most rational and critical inference that can be made from the above passage ?
    Comprehension· medium
  41. Q43 Which among the following is the most critical inference that can be made from the above passage ?
    Comprehension· medium
  42. Q44 Which one of the following statements best sums up the above passage ?
    Comprehension· easy
  43. Q45 With reference to the above passage, consider the following statements : 1. Indian financial institutions do not offer any financial instruments to rural households to mobilise their savings. 2. Poor households tend to spend their earnings/savings due to lack…
    Comprehension· medium
  44. Q46 What is the crucial message conveyed in the passage ?
    Comprehension· easy
  45. Q47 Which among the following is the most logical assumption that can be made from the above passage ?
    Comprehension· medium
  46. Q48 A selection is to be made for one post of Principal and two posts of Vice-Principal. Amongst the six candidates called for the interview, only two are eligible for the post of Principal while they all are eligible for the post of Vice-Principal. The number of…
    Logical Reasoning· medium
  47. Q49 A student has to opt for 2 subjects out of 5 subjects for a course, namely, Commerce, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics I and Mathematics II. Mathematics II can be offered only if Mathematics I is also opted. The number of different combinations of two…
    Logical Reasoning· easy
  48. Q50 A person ordered 5 pairs of black socks and some pairs of brown socks. The price of a black pair was thrice that of a brown pair. While preparing the bill, the bill clerk interchanged the number of black and brown pairs by mistake which increased the bill by…
    Basic Numeracy· medium
  49. Q53 Two pipes A and B can independently fill a tank completely in 20 and 30 minutes respectively. If both the pipes are opened simultaneously, how much time will they take to fill the tank completely ?
    Basic Numeracy· easy
  50. Q54 Each of the six different faces of a cube has been coated with a different colour i.e., V, I, B, G, Y and O. Following information is given : 1. Colours Y, O and B are on adjacent faces. 2. Colours I, G and Y are on adjacent faces. 3. Colours B, G and Y are…
    Mental Ability· medium
  51. Q55 Consider the following statements followed by two conclusions : Statements : Some men are great. Some men are wise. Conclusion I : Men are either great or wise. Conclusion II : Some men are neither great nor wise. Which one of the following is correct ?
    Logical Reasoning· medium
  52. Q56 Consider the following statements : 1. Some claim to have seen UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects). 2. Life on other heavenly bodies is considered to be a possibility. 3. Voyage to space is now an established fact. From the above statements, it may be…
    Logical Reasoning· easy
  53. Q57 If ABC × DEED = ABCABC; where A, B, C, D and E are different digits, what are the values of D and E ?
    Mental Ability· medium
  54. Q60 Usha runs faster than Kamala, Priti runs slower than Swati, Swati runs slower than Kamala. Who is the slowest runner ?
    Logical Reasoning· easy
  55. Q61 What is the most logical, rational and crucial message that is implied in the above passage ?
    Comprehension· medium
  56. Q62 In the light of the argument in the above passage, which one of the following statements is the most convincing explanation ?
    Comprehension· medium
  57. Q63 The author's viewpoint can be best summed up in which of the following statements ?
    Comprehension· medium
  58. Q64 According to the passage, which of the following is/are a matter of intense debate in the multilateral negotiations under UNFCCC regarding the role of developing countries in climate change ? 1. The scale and size of required financial support. 2. The crop…
    Comprehension· medium
  59. Q65 In this passage, the Convention puts the responsibility for the provision of financial support on the developed countries because of 1. their higher level of per capita incomes. 2. their large quantum of GDP. 3. their large contribution to the stock of GHGs…
    Comprehension· medium
  60. Q66 With regards to developing countries, it can be inferred from the passage that climate change is likely to have implications on their 1. domestic finances. 2. capacity for multilateral trade. Select the correct answer using the code given below :
    Comprehension· medium
  61. Q67 Which one of the following is essentially discussed in the passage ?
    Comprehension· medium
  62. Q68 Between 6 PM and 7 PM the minute hand of a clock will be ahead of the hour hand by 3 minutes at
    Mental Ability· medium
  63. Q69 There are 5 tasks and 5 persons. Task-1 cannot be assigned to either person-1. or person-2. Task-2 must be assigned to either person-3 or person-4. Every person is to be assigned one task. In how many ways can the assignment be done ?
    Logical Reasoning· medium
  64. Q70 The monthly incomes of Peter and Paul are in the ratio of 4 : 3. Their expenses are in the ratio of 3 : 2. If each saves ₹ 6,000 at the end of the month, their monthly incomes respectively are (in ₹)
    Basic Numeracy· easy
  65. Q71 Two cities A and B are 360 km apart. A car goes from A to B with a speed of 40 km/hr and returns to A with a speed of 60 km/hr. What is the average speed of the car ?
    Basic Numeracy· easy
  66. Q72 Which one of the following is possible ?
    Comprehension· medium
  67. Q73 What is the number of logically possible orders of all six cousins in terms of increasing age ?
    Comprehension· medium
  68. Q74 In a society it is customary for friends of the same sex to hug and for friends of opposite sex to shake hands when they meet. A group of friends met in a party and there were 24 handshakes. Which one among the following numbers indicates the possible number…
    Logical Reasoning· medium
  69. Q75 Two men, Anil and David, and two women, Shabnam and Rekha are in a sales group. Only two speak Tamil. The other two speak Marathi. Only one man and one woman can drive a car. Shabnam speaks Marathi. Anil speaks Tamil. Both Rekha and David can drive. Which of…
    Logical Reasoning· medium
  70. Q76 In a plane, line X is perpendicular to line Y and parallel to line Z; line U is perpendicular to both lines V and W; line X is perpendicular to line V. Which one of the following statements is correct ?
    Logical Reasoning· medium
  71. Q77 A cow costs more than 4 goats but less than 5 goats. If a goat costs between ₹ 600 and ₹ 800, which of the following is a most valid conclusion ?
    Logical Reasoning· easy
  72. Q78 A society consists of only two types of people — fighters and cowards. Two cowards are always friends. A fighter and a coward are always enemies. Fighters are indifferent to one another. If A and B are enemies, C and D are friends, E and F are indifferent to…
    Logical Reasoning· medium
  73. Q79 In a box of marbles, there are three less white marbles than the red ones and five more white marbles than the green ones. If there are a total of 10 white marbles, how many marbles are there in the box ?
    Basic Numeracy· easy
  74. Q80 Candidates in a competitive examination consisted of 60% men and 40% women. 70% men and 75% women cleared the qualifying test and entered the final test where 80% men and 70% women were successful. Which of the following statements is correct ?
    Basic Numeracy· medium

Question paper and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanations: UPSC Answer Check. Practise this paper with a timer →