Explanation : 

Q1: Correct Answer – (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation – The passage describes various factors that have been blamed for the increase in food prices, including high fuel prices, bad weather in key food producing countries, and the diversion of land to non-food production. It also mentions that increased emphasis has been placed on a surge in demand for food from the most populous emerging economies and that mass consumption in these countries could potentially create a food crisis.

Based on this information provided in the passage, neither assumption 1 nor assumption 2 is valid. Assumption 1 states that “Oil producing countries are one of the reasons for high food prices,” but the passage only mentions high fuel prices as a factor and does not specifically mention oil producing countries. Assumption 2 states that “If there is a food crisis in the world in the near future, it will be in the emerging economies,” but while the passage does mention that mass consumption in emerging economies could potentially create a food crisis, it does not state that this will necessarily happen or that it will only happen in emerging economies.

Therefore, statement (d) “Neither 1 nor 2” is correct.

Explanation : 

Q1: Correct Answer – (d) Antibiotics should only be used to treat diseases.

Explanation – The passage describes the issue of antibiotics being used as growth promoters in poultry and other livestock. It mentions that overusing these substances can create superbugs that are resistant to multiple drugs and could be passed along to humans. The passage also mentions that some farming companies have stopped using antibiotics to make chickens gain weight faster and that Denmark has banned antibiotic growth promoters in the 1990s, resulting in more pigs being produced and fewer diseases among the animals.

Based on this information provided in the passage, statement (d) “Antibiotics should only be used to treat diseases” best reflects the critical message conveyed by the passage. This statement acknowledges the potential negative consequences of overusing antibiotics as growth promoters while also recognizing that antibiotics can still play an important role in treating diseases.

Explanation : 

Q1: Correct Answer – (a) India’s energy decision-making process is ever more complex and interconnected.

Explanation – The passage describes the challenges that India faces in energy and climate policy-making. These challenges include sputtering fossil fuel production capability, limited access to electricity and modern cooking fuel for the poorest, rising fuel imports in an unstable global energy context, continued electricity pricing and governance challenges leading to its costly deficits or surplus supply, and growing environmental contestation around land, water and air. However, the passage also mentions some positive developments such as growing energy efficiency programmes; integrated urbanisation and transport policy discussions; inroads to enhancing energy access and security; and hold renewable energy initiatives.

Based on this information provided in the passage, statement (a) “India’s energy decision-making process is ever more complex and interconnected” best reflects the critical message conveyed by the passage. This statement acknowledges the multiple challenges that India faces in its energy decision-making process while also recognizing that there are positive developments taking place.

Explanation : 

Q1: Correct Answer – (b) Any form of government tends to deteriorate by excess of its basic principle.

Explanation – The statement that best reflects the crux of the passage given above is (b) “Any form of government tends to deteriorate by excess of its basic principle.” The passage describes how different forms of government – aristocratic, oligarchic and democratic – can ruin themselves by taking their basic principles to an extreme. For example, democracy can ruin itself “by excess of democracy” when people are not properly equipped by education to select the best rulers and the wisest courses. So the correct answer would be (b) Any form of government tends to deteriorate by excess of its basic principle.

Option (a) states that “Human societies experiment with different forms of governments.” While the passage does mention different forms of government – aristocratic, oligarchic and democratic – it does not explicitly state that human societies experiment with them.

Option © states that “Education of all citizens ensures a perfect, functional and sustainable democracy.” The passage does mention that democracy can become disastrous when people are not properly equipped by education to select the best rulers and the wisest courses. However, it does not state that education of all citizens ensures a perfect, functional and sustainable democracy.

Option (d) states that “Having a government is a necessary evil because tyranny is inherent in any form of government.” The passage does mention that democracy can become tyrannical or autocratic when people are not properly equipped by education to select the best rulers and the wisest courses. However, it does not state that having a government is a necessary evil because tyranny is inherent in any form of government.

So based on the information given in the passage, option (b) “Any form of government tends to deteriorate by excess of its basic principle” best reflects the crux of the passage while options (a), ©, and (d) are not explicitly supported by the text.

Explanation : 

Q1: Correct Answer – (c) 1 and 4 only

Explanation – According to the passage, assumptions 1 and 4 are valid. The passage states that “Inequality violates a basic democratic norm: the equal standing of citizens” and that “Right to equality should be incorporated into our values and day-to-day political vocabulary.” This supports assumption 1 that equality is a prerequisite for people to participate in society from a position of confidence and assumption 4 that right to equality should be incorporated into our values and day-to-day political vocabulary. So the correct answer would be c) 1 and 4 only.

Assumption 2 states that “Occurrence of inequality is detrimental to the survival of democracy.” While the passage does mention that “Inequality violates a basic democratic norm: the equal standing of citizens,” it does not explicitly state that inequality is detrimental to the survival of democracy. Therefore, assumption 2 may or may not be valid based on the information given in the passage.

Assumption 3 states that “Equal standing of all citizens is an idea that cannot actually be realized even in a democracy.” The passage does not provide any information to support this assumption. In fact, it suggests that equality should be incorporated into our values and day-to-day political vocabulary, implying that it is an achievable goal.

So based on the information given in the passage, assumptions 1 and 4 are valid while assumptions 2 and 3 are not explicitly supported by the text.

Explanation : 

Q1: Correct Answer – (c) That dominion is the best which pursues the aim of unity and has laws for good citizenship.

Explanation – The most logical and rational inference that can be made from the passage above is option c) : “That dominion is the best which pursues the aim of unity and has laws for good citizenship.” This is because the passage argues that sedition, wars, and contempt or breach of laws are more likely to occur in a dominion with a bad state rather than due to the wickedness of its subjects. The passage also suggests that men must be made fit for citizenship through proper laws and pursuit of unity.

Explanation : 

Religious denominations

Q1: Correct Answer – (c) Religious denominations tend to ignore the unity of man.
Explanation – The most logical assumption from the passage is © Religious denominations tend to ignore the unity of man.

This option suggests that different religious denominations may focus on their own beliefs and practices rather than recognizing the commonalities among all people. In other words, religious denominations may overlook the fact that all humans share a common bond and instead focus on their differences.

Explanation : 

10th October 2027 Day ?

We know that, 10th October 2021 is a Sunday. (The day of UPSC CSE, 2021 Preliminary exam)

So, 10th October 2022 will be Sunday + 1, i.e. Monday.
10th October 2023 will be Monday + 1, i.e. Tuesday.
10th October 2024 will be Tuesday + 2, i.e. Thursday. We added 2, as 2024 is a leap year.
10th October 2025 will be Thursday + 1, i.e. Friday.
10th October 2026 will be Friday + 1, i.e. Saturday.
10th October 2027 will be Saturday + 1, i.e. Sunday.

Explanation : 

Given Information:

1. Statement 1: Month ends on Wednesday

2. Statement 2: Third Saturday is on 17th

Using Statement 1 alone:
– Only knows last day is Wednesday
– Month could be 30 or 31 days
– First day could vary
– Cannot determine 14th day
– Not sufficient

Using Statement 2 alone:
– Third Saturday = 17th
– Second Saturday = 10th
– First Saturday = 3rd
– Working backwards:
1st day must be Thursday
14th must be Wednesday
– Sufficient to answer

Using Both Statements:
– Statement 2 alone gives the answer
– Statement 1 not needed

Answer: (b) Statement 2 alone is sufficient

The 14th of the month is Wednesday, determined solely from Statement 2.

Explanation : 

Half of the villagers of a certain village

The correct answer is (b) Some villagers under 25 years of age are literate. This is because the given information states that one-third of the villagers are literate and four-fifth of the villagers are under 25 years of age.

Therefore, it is possible that some villagers who are under 25 years of age are also literate because one third is larger than one-fifth.