Indian Civil Services Exam CSAT 2011 Paper II Questions 44-62

Indian Civil Services Exam CSAT 2011 Paper II Questions 44-62

Directions for the following 4 (four) items:
Read the follouing passage and answer the items that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passage only.

Passage

A species that exerts an influence out of proportion to its abundance in an ecosystem is called a keystone species. The keystone species may influence both the species richness of communities and the flow of energy and materials through ecosystems. The sea star Pisaster the flow of energy and materials through ecosystems. The sea star Pisaster ochraceus, which lives in rocky intertidal ecosystems on the Pacific coast of North America, is also an example of a keystone species. Its preferred prey is the mussel Mytilus californianus . In the absence of sea- stars, these mussels crowd out other competitors in a broad belt of the intertidal zone. By consuming mussels, sea star creates bare spaces that are taken over by a variety of other species. A study at the University of washington demonstrated the influence of Pisaster on species richness by removing sea stars from selected parts of the intertidal zone repeatedly over a period of five years. Two major changes occured in the areas from which sea stars were removed. First, the lower edge of the 46. mussel bed extended farther down into the intertidal zone, showing that sea stars are able to eliminate mussels completely where they are covered with water most of the time. Second, and more dramatically, 28 species of animals and algae disappeared from the sea star removal zone. Eventually only Mytilus, the dominant competitor, occupied the entire substratum. Through its effect on competitive relationships, predation by Pisaster largely determines which species live in these rocky intertidal ecosystems.

44. What is the crux of the passage ?

(a) Sea star has a preferred prey.

(b) A preferred prey determines the survival of a keystone species.

(c) Keystone species ensures species diversity.

(d) Sea star is the only keystone species on the Pacific coast of North America.

Ans: c

45. With reference to the passage, consider the following statements:

1. Mussels-are generally the dominant species in intertidal ecosystems.
2. The survival of sea stars is generally determined by the abundance of mussels.

which of the statements given above is /are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: d

46. Which of the following is/are implied by the passage?

1. Mussels are always hard competitors for sea stars.
2. Sea stars of the Pacific coast have reached the climax of their evolution.
3. Sea stars constitute an important component in the energy flow in intertidal ecosystem.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only

Ans: d

47. Consider the following assumptions:

1. The food chains/food web in an influenced ecosystem are keystone species.
2. The presence of keystone species is a specific characteristic of aquatic ecosystems.
3. If the keystone species is completely removed from an ecosystem, it will lead to the collapse of the ecosystem.

With reference to the passage, which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: a

48. Consider the following argument:

"In, order to be a teacher one must graduate from college. All poets are poor. Some Mathematicians are poets. No college graduate is poor."

Which one of the following is not a valid conclusion regarding the above argument?

(a) Some Mathematicians are not teachers.
(b) Some teachers are not Mathematicians.
(c) Teachers are not poor.
(d) Poets are not teachers.

Ans: b

49. A student on her first 3 tests receives 4 an average score of N points. If she exceeds her previous average score b. 20 points on her fourth test, then what is the average score for the firs 4 tests ?'

(a) N + 20
(b) N + 10
(c) N + 4
(d) N + 5

Ans: d

50. In a group of persons, 70% of the persons are male and 30% of the persons are married. If two sevenths of males are married, what fraction of the females is single ?

(a) 2/7
(b) 1/3
(c) 3/7
(d) 2/3

Ans: d

51. The houses of A and B face each other on a road going north-south, A's being on the western side. A comes out of his house, turns left, travels 5 km, turns right, travels 5 km to the front of D's house. B does exactly the same and reaches the from t of C's house. In this context, which one of the following statements is correct?

(a) C and D live on the same street.
(b) C's house faces south.
(c) The houses of C than 20 km apart.
d) None of the above

Ans: c

Directions for the following 5 (five) items:
Read the following passage and answer the items that follow. Your answers to these items should-be based on the passage only.

Passage

Now India's children have a right to receive at least eight years of education, the gnawing question is whether' it will remain 'on paper' or 'become a reality. One hardly needs a reminder that this right is different from the others enshrined in the Constitution, that the beneficiary - a six year old child cannot demand it, nor can she or hefight a legal battle when the right is denied or violated. In all cases, it is the adult society which must act on behalf of the child. In another peculiarity, where a child's right to education is denied, no compensation offered later can be adequate or relevant. This is so because childhood does not last. if a legal battle fought on behalf of a child is eventually won, it may be of little use to the boy or girl because the opportunity missed at school during childhood cannot serve the same purpose later in life. This may be painfully true for girls because our society permits them only a short childhood, if at all. The Right to Education (RTE) has become law at a point in India's history when the ghastly practice of female infanticide has resurfaced in the form of foeticide. This is "symptomatic of a deeper turmoil" in society which compounding the traditional obstacles to the education of girls. "Tenacious prejudice against the intellectual potential of girls runs across our cultural diversity and the system of education has not been able to address it.

52. With reference to the passage, consider the following statements:

1. When children are denied education, adult society does not act on behalf of them.
2. Right to Education as a law cannot be enforced in the country.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: d

53. According to the passage, what could be 55 the traditional obstacles to the education of girls ?

1.  Inability of parents to fight a legal battle when the Right to Education  is denied to their children.

2. The traditional way of thinking about girl's role in society.

3. The prejudice against the intellectual potential of girls.

4. Improper system of education.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ans: b

54. On the basis of the passage, consider the following statements :

1. Right to Education is a legal right and not a fundamental right.
2. For realising the goal of universal education, the education system in the country must be made identical to that of developed countries.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: a

55. Which one of the following statements conveys the key message of the passage ?

(a) India has declared that education is compulsory for its children.
(b) Adult society is not keen on implementing the Right     to Education.
(c) The Right to Education, particularly of a girl child, needs to be safeguarded. 
(d) The system of education should be address the issue of right to education.

Ans: c

56. Which one of the following statements conveys the inference of the passage?

(a) The society has a tenacious prejudice against the intellectual potential of girls.
(b) Adults cannot be relied upon to fight on behalf of children for their Right to Education.
(c) The legal fight to get education for children is often protracted and prohibitive.
(d) There is no sufficient substitute for education received in childhood.

Ans: d

Read the following passage and answer (three) items that follow:

A, B, C, D and E are members of the same family. There are two fathers, two sons, two wives, three males and two females. The teacher was the, wife of a lawyer who was the son of a doctor. E is not male, neither also a wife of a professional. C is the youngest person in the family and D is the eldest. B is a male.

57. How is D realated to E?

(a) Husband
(b) Son
(c) Father
(d) Wife

Ans: a

58. Who are the females in the group?

(a) C and E
(b) C and D
(c) E and A
(d) D and E

Ans: c

59. Whose wife is the teacher?

(a) C
(b) D
(c) A
(d) B

Ans: d

Read the following passage and ans the 3 (three) items that follow:

In a survey regarding a proposal measure to be introduced, 2878 person took part of which 1652 were males. 12 persons voted against the proposal which 796 were males. 1425 persons vote for the proposal. 196 females wet undecided.

60. How many females voted for the proposal?

(a) 430
(b) 600
(c) 624
(d) 640

Ans: b

61. How many males were undecided?

(a) 31
(b) 227
(c) 426
(d) 581

Ans: a

62. How many females were not in favour the proposal?

(a) 430
(b) 496
(c) 586
(d) 1226

Ans: a