IAS Prelims Exam 2016: CSAT Reading Comprehension Set 4
In Civil Services IAS Prelim Exam, the CSAT paper is qualifying in nature; however, the IAS aspirants should not take this paper as so easy affair to crack. If an aspirant could not qualify the CSAT paper then his/her General Studies paper will not be evaluated irrespective of attempting the GS Paper extraordinarily. So this is important to make sure that your preparation for the CSAT Paper is up to the mark and you will qualify it comfortably.
For the aspirants of Civil Services IAS Prelim Exam 2016, here, we have provided the practice sets of CSAT Reading Comprehensions:
Directions for Question 1 to 6: Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Passage – 7 (3 questions)
What’s in a name? For Connecticut, a lot. The state name comes from the Algonquin word for “on the long river.” Because this state’s first laws served as a model for the U.S. Constitution, Connecticut was nicknamed the Constitution State. It was also called the Provision State because during the American Revolution Connecticut provided supplies to the army. The state’s early spice trade also earned it the nickname the Nutmeg State. Connecticut could also be dubbed the Invention State. From pre-Revolutionary times, it was known for inventing and manufacturing useful items. These included Elias Howe’s sewing machine and Eli Whitney’s cotton gin (a machine that separated cotton seed from its fibers). Charles Goodyear developed a vulcanization process for rubber here. The vacuum cleaner, can opener, steamboat, Polaroid camera, helicopter, color TV, Frisbee, and lollipop came from Connecticut ingenuity. Hartford, Connecticut’s capital is famous for developing the first insurance company. Today, insurance is the state’s biggest industry.
1. Which of the following is not a nickname for Connecticut?
a) Provision State
b) Constitution State
c) Discovered State
d) Invention State
Answer: c)
Explanation: Third option is incorrect as Connecticut was named as the Invention State and not the Discovered State as it is known for inventing and manufacturing useful items.
2. Connecticut used to trade which of the following spice?
a) Cinnamon
b) Cardamom
c) Pepper
d) Nutmeg
Answer: d)
Explanation: The Connecticut’s early spice trade also earned it the nickname the Nutmeg State.
3. Which of the following was not invented in Connecticut?
a) Rubber vulcanization process
b) First insurance company
c) Digital Single Lens Reflex camera
d) Sewing machine
Answer: c)
Explanation: Polaroid camera was first invented in Connecticut. Hence, option c) is incorrect.
Passage – 8 (3 questions)
The Bombay High Court stumped India’s most powerful sporting body, BCCI, by ordering it to move the cash cow IPL out of the drought-stricken Maharashtra. The court orders struck a chord among many, including die-hard cricket fans. The stark contrast between parched lands and dry throats of rural and semi-urban Maharashtra and the manufactured euphoria around water-guzzling cricket pitches did shake people’s conscience. The arguments in the court captured the latent and at times, simmering unease in the public mind over the degeneration of cricket from a sport to a money-spinner and worse. Moreover, cricket, another colonial gift, had become the de facto national sport, crushing hockey and all other sports under its pitch rollers. On top of it, the mighty cricket board, perceived to be a hub of myriad commercial and political vested interests, became a law unto itself.
4. What does the term ‘cash cow’ mean in the passage?
a) Something that makes less money for a business.
b) Something that makes a lot of money for a business.
c) Something that generates less profit for a business.
d) Someone related to dairy business.
Answer: b)
Explanation: Cash cow is business jargon for a business venture that generates a steady return of profits that far exceed the outlay of cash required to acquire or start it.
5. The Bombay High Court mainly ordered not to conduct the IPL matches in Maharashtra because of:
a) Political conflicts
b) Legal issues
c) Drought conditions
d) Protest by Indian Cricket Boards
Answer: c)
Explanation: The first line of the passage clearly indicates that the Bombay High Court mainly ordered not to conduct the IPL matches in Maharashtra because of present drought situation in Maharashtra.
6. Why does the author mean by referring cricket as the ‘de facto national sport’ in the passage?
a) National sport elected by the Government and people of India
b) Generally accepted national sport of India chosen by formal decision
c) Not by formal decision but generally accepted national sport of India
d) Colonial gift to India
Answer: c)
Explanation: In the second last line of the passage, the author clearly states that cricket, another colonial gift, had become the de facto national sport, crushing hockey and all other sports under its pitch rollers.