XAT 2019

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 English
Instructions
For the following questions answer them individually

Question 1

Choose the option that would fill in the blanks meaningfully in the sentence(s) below:

______ the importance of ‘horizontal stratification’ ______ higher education is widely acknowledged, ______
attention has been applied to horizontal stratification ______ compulsory schooling.

A Whereas; with: too less; to

B While; within: far less; within

C While; without: further less; within

D While; on: far fewer; about

E Whereas; about: for less; of

Answer: B

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Question 2

Please study the paragraph given below:

In 1942, the French writer Albert Camus composed an essay, ‘The Myth of Sisyphus’. It draws on the
Greek fable of a man condemned to roll a rock up a mountain only to have it roll back down under its own
weight, a ______ that lasts for eternity. Camus argues that this image ______ the human condition in a world
where we can no longer make sense of events; but instead of committing suicide, we should ______
ourselves to this ‘elusive feeling of absurdity’ and bear it as best we can. In this sense, Sisyphus is the
ideal hero.

Consider the following words:

1. surrender
2. choice
3. symbolises
4. quandary
5. attune
6. option
7. reconcile
8. depicts

Which of the following options is the most appropriate sequence that best fits the blanks in the above
paragraph?

A 4, 2, 6

B 2, 3, 1

C 4, 5, 1

D 2, 5, 7

E 4, 3, 7

Answer: E

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Question 3

Study the first sentence and then identify from among the options given the closest antonym of the
highlighted word in the second sentence:

It’s conventional wisdom that procreation between first cousins is unhealthy. But what are the actual
genetic risks?

A tangible

B relative

C abstract

D hard

E unfounded

Answer: E

Question 4

Carefully read the following paragraph:

Who could resist the idea of remembering everything they wanted to, without trying? Learning would be
made easy, exams a ______ and you would never forget where you left your keys. And memory-related
disorders like Alzheimer’s would have met their match. So, it is of little surprise that scientists have
turned their attention to ways of ______ human memory using techniques that ______, supplement or even
mimic parts of the brain. The immediate goal is to treat memory disorders, but the idea of a memory
______ for everyday life is gaining ground.

Fill in the blanks in the above paragraph, with the best option from among the following:

A ​joy; augmenting; awaken; crutch

B routine; expanding; invigorate; crutch

C breeze; enhancing; stimulate; prosthesis

D routine; expanding; trigger; support

E breeze; exploring; simulate; aid

Answer: C

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Question 5

Read the following statements and answer the question that follows:

They subjected the residues from sherds of the rhyta- vessels to radiocarbon dating to determine their
ages and chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) - to identify their structure and isotopic
composition and found that the vessels were used to store cheese.
In many Neolithic sites near the Adriatic Sea, researchers unearthed cone-shaped clay vessels, known as
rhyta, with four legs on the bottom and a round opening on the side.
Fresh milk couldn’t be kept for long without going bad; cheese, on the other hand, could be stored for
months at a time, providing much-needed calories to early farmers between harvests.
Archaeologists who used to assume animals such as cows and goats were mainly used for meat early in
their domestication history are thus forced to admit that humans might have been using animals for dairy
quite early in their domestication history.
“If you kill one cow, you eat meat for about a week until it goes off; but by milking the animals, the
farmer would be spreading the food gain from that animal over several months rather than just one
week”

Rank the above five statements so as to make it a logical sequence:

A 2, 1, 5, 4, 3

B 4, 5, 2, 1, 3

C 4, 2, 1, 3, 5

D 2, 1, 3, 5, 4

E 4, 1, 2, 5, 3

Answer: D

Question 6

Read the following statements and answer the question that follows:

An in-depth exploration of the Indian case and case studies of early adopters of mobile technology will
provide spectrum managers a pragmatic and modern approach whereby they could utilize their resources
efficiently and optimally.
Even as spectrum management regimes are moving from a command and control regime to a flexible use
regime, new technological developments are suggesting that there are significant opportunities in
managing large swathes of spectrum as a common property resource, in addition to flexible use.
Political legacies and market realities in different regimes pose unique challenges for spectrum managers
who must negotiate a tricky path to the land promised by technological possibility.
On the other hand, supply of spectrum is restricted due to competing nature of uses and vested interests
of incumbent holders.
The demand for spectrum has never been so acute as today's communication services extend beyond
simple voice to complex data and video, augmented by evolving technologies such as peer-to-peer
sharing, social networking, Fourth and Fifth Generation networks, Big Data, and cloud computing.

Rank the above five statements so as to make it a logical sequence:

A 1, 2, 4, 5, 3

B 5, 2, 3, 1, 4

C 4, 5, 2, 3, 1

D 3, 4, 5, 2, 1

E 2, 5, 4, 3, 1

Answer: E

Instructions

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Read the poem given below and answer the question that follows it:

Black lake, black boat, two black, cut-paper people.

Where do the black trees go that drink here?
Their shadows must cover Canada.

A little light is filtering from the water flowers

Their leaves do not wish us to hurry:
They are round and flat and full of dark advice.

Cold words shake from the oar.

The spirit of blackness is in us, it is in the fishes.
A snag is lifting a valedictory, pale hand;
Stars opening among the lilies.
Are you not blinded by such expressionless sirens?
This is the silence of abandoned souls.

Question 7

Which of the following options best explains the effect of the images in Line 1?

A The first line encapsulates the theme of the poem.

B The images are suffused with an overpowering sense of rebellion.

C The atmosphere indicates a cyclical nature of life and death.

D The black lake lacks regenerative potential; ‘black boat’ connotes the funerary boat; cut-paper people are unreal.

E The repeated use of black suggests evil.

Answer: D

XAT Free Mock Test

Question 8

Which of the following options presents a convincing evaluation of the line, ‘Stars opening among the
lilies’?

A The stars are flowers in the sky and the flowers in the lake are stars in water.

B The ethereal light of the stars gets reflected among the lilies.

The spirit of blackness does not hinder the appearance of beauty in nature which is symbolic of hope blossoming in
C
the soul.

D The mirror images, the worlds above and overlap.

E Lilies purify the ‘dark’ into ‘light’ as symbolized in and by stars.

Answer: C

Instructions

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow it:

Does having a mood disorder make you more creative? That’s the most frequent question I hear about the relationship.
But because we cannot control the instance of a mood disorder (that is, we can’t turn it on and off, and measure that
person’s creativity under both conditions), the question should really be: Do individuals with a mood disorder exhibit
greater creativity than those without? Studies that attempt to answer this question by comparing the creativity of
individuals with a mood disorder against those without, have been well, mixed.

Studies that ask participants to complete surveys of creative personality, behavior or accomplishment, or to complete
divergent thinking measures (where they are asked to generate lots of ideas) often find that individuals with mood

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disorders do not differ from those without. However, studies using “creative occupation” as an indicator of creativity
(based on the assumption that those employed in these occupations are relatively more creative than others) have
found that people with bipolar disorders are overrepresented in these occupations. These studies do not measure the
creativity of participants directly, rather they use external records (such as censuses and medical registries) to tally
the number of people with a history of mood disorders (compared with those without) who report being employed in a
creative occupation at some time. These studies incorporate an enormous number of people and provide solid
evidence that people who have sought treatment for mood disorders are engaged in creative occupations to a greater
extent than those who have not. But can creative occupations serve as a proxy for creative ability?

The creative occupations considered in these studies are overwhelmingly in the arts, which frequently provide greater
autonomy and less rigid structure than the average nine-to-five job. This makes these jobs more conducive to the
success of individuals who struggle with performance consistency as the result of a mood disorder. The American
psychiatrist Arnold Ludwig has suggested that the level of emotional expressiveness required to be successful in
various occupations creates an occupational drift and demonstrated that the pattern of expressive occupations being
associated with a greater incidence of psychopathology is a self-repeating pattern. For example, professions in the
creative arts are associated with greater psychopathology than professions in the sciences whereas, within creative
arts professions, architects exhibit a lower lifetime prevalence rate of psychopathology than visual artists and, within
the visual arts, abstract artists exhibit lower rates of psychopathology than expressive artists. Therefore, it is possible
that many people who suffer from mood disorders gravitate towards these types of professions, regardless of creative
ability or inclination.

Question 9

Go through the following:

1.Mood disorders do not lead to creativity

2.The flexibility of creative occupations makes them more appealing to people with mood disorder
3.Mood swings in creative professions is less prevalent than in non-creative professions

Which of the following would undermine the passage’s main argument?

A 2&3

B 1&2

C 3 only

D 2 only

E 1, 2 & 3

Answer: C

Question 10

All of the following can be inferred from the passage except:

A Individuals with mood disorder often do better in creative job profiles than in regular nine-to-five jobs.

B In creative professions, people with mood disorder are more creative than those without mood disorder.

C Mood disorder is more prevalent among people in creative occupations than in non-creative occupations.

D An architect is more likely to have mood disorder than a botanist.

E An abstract painter is less likely to have mood disorder than an interpretive dance performer.

Answer: B

XAT Decision Making Mock Tests

Question 11

Which of the following will make the authors contention in the passage fallacious?

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A Everyone in a mental asylum is potentially a great artist.

B Patients in mental asylums prefer time-bound repetitive jobs.

C Creative geniuses never end up in mental asylum.

D Those with a creative spark will land up in a mental asylum.

E Creativity is a form of bipolar disorder.

Answer: B

Instructions

Lately it seems everyone’s got an opinion about women’s speech. Everybody has been getting his two cents in about
vocal fry, up-speak, and women’s allegedly over-liberal use of apologies. The ways women live and move in the world
are subject to relentless scrutiny, their modes of speech are assessed against a (usually) masculine standard. This is
increasingly true as women have entered previously male-dominated fields like industry and politics.

In his essay “On Speech and Public Release,” Joshua Gunn highlights the field of public address as an important arena
where social roles and norms are contested, reshaped, and upheld. Gunn argues that the field of public address is an
important symbolic arena where we harbor an “[ideological] bias against the feminine voice,” a bias, that is rooted in
positive primal associations with masculinity (and the corresponding devaluation of femininity, the voice that
constrains and nags—the mother, the droning Charlie Brown schoolteacher, the wife).

Gunn contends that masculine speech is the cultural standard. It’s what we value and respect. The low pitch and
assertive demeanor that characterize the adult male voice signify reason, control, and authority, suitable for the public
domain. Women’s voices are higher pitched, like those of immature boys, and their characteristic speech patterns have
a distinctive cadence that exhibits a wider range of emotional expression. In Western cultures, this is bad because it
comes across as uncontrolled. We associate uncontrolled speech - “the cry, the grunt, the scream, and the yawp” - with
things that happen in the private, domestic spheres (both coded as feminine). Men are expected to repress passionate,
emotional speech, Gunn explains, precisely because it threatens norms of masculine control and order.

The notion of control also relates to the cultural ideal of eloquence. Language ideologies in the U.S. are complex and
highly prescriptive, but not formal or explicit. They are internalized by osmosis, from early observations of adult
language use, criticism from teachers (i.e., telling little girls not to “be so bossy” and boys to “act like gentlemen”), and
sanctions imposed by peers. These norms become most obvious when they are violated. When men fall off the “control
and reason” wagon, they suffer for it. Gunn recalls Howard Dean’s infamous 2004 “I Have a Scream” speech, in which
Dean emitted a spontaneous high-pitched screech of joy after he rattled off a list of planned campaign stops. The rest,
as they say, is history. Women face a different dilemma—how to please like a woman and impress like a man. Women
in the public sphere have, historically, been expected to “perform” femininity and they usually do this by adopting a
personal tone, giving anecdotal evidence, using domestic metaphors, and making emotional appeals to ideals of wifely
virtue and motherhood.

Gunn arrives at the conclusion that “eloquence” is, essentially, code for values associated with masculinity, saying,
“Performances of femininity are principally vocal and related, not to arguments, but to tone; not to appearance, but to
speech; not to good reasons, but to sound. This implies that the ideology of sexism is much more insidious, much more
deeply ingrained than many might suppose.”

Question 12

Which of the following statements if true, is contrary to the ideas developed in the passage?

Women in their communicative behavior are said to prefer a high-involvement style and men a high-considerate
A
style.

Women who use the lowest frequency of women's vocal traits have an unusually high status and are well educated
B
professionals with middle class backgrounds.

In certain hierarchically organized Indian political parties, women can participate in discussions as long as they
C
appeal, persuade, and support others, and not initiate new ones.

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 The linguistic ideology in vogue in ancient North India allowed only men of higher-castes and ruling dynasties to
D use Sanskrit; women and servants spoke Prakrit or Pali.

Studies show that male followers of powerful women political leaders in Indian states imitate their leaders’
E
cadence, rhetoric and rhythm.

Answer: E

Question 13

An American female politician might not be expected to exhibit the features of public discourse discussed
in the passage while ______.

A addressing her colleagues

B chatting with intimate colleagues

C speaking to members of a congregation

D giving testimony

E conversing with members of her community

Answer: B

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Question 14

Which one of the following, if true, would make the core argument of the passage irrelevant?

Men seek to gain upper hand in conversation as they consider themselves competitive, while women use them as
A
a way to gain confirmation and support.

When a wife tells her husband that she's unwell, he normally offers to take her to a doctor. Invariably, she is
B
disappointed, as what she looks for is sympathy.

C Unlike men who use and prefer to hear direct imperatives, women prefer 'indirections.'

Where a management decision seems unattractive, men will often resist it vocally, while women may appear to
D
accede, but complain subsequently.

E Today, sharing of emotions and elaborations is more important than sharing information and being brief.

Answer: E

Instructions

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow it:

There are no Commandments in art and no easy axioms for art appreciation. “Do I like this?” is the question anyone
should ask themselves at the moment of confrontation with the picture. But if “yes,” why “yes”? and if “no,” why “no”?
The obvious direct emotional response is never simple, and ninety-nine times out of a hundred, the “yes” or “no” has
nothing at all to do with the picture in its own right. “I don’t understand this poem” and “I don’t like this picture” are
statements that tell us something about the speaker. That should be obvious, but in fact, such statements are offered
as criticisms of art, as evidence against, not least because the ignorant, the lazy, or the plain confused are not likely to
want to admit themselves as such. We hear a lot about the arrogance of the artist but nothing about the arrogance of
the audience. The audience, who have given no thought to the medium or the method, will glance up, flick through,
chatter over the opening chords, then snap their fingers and walk away like some monstrous Roman tyrant. This is not
arrogance; of course, they can absorb in a few moments, and without any effort, the sum of the artist and the art.

Admire me is the sub-text of so much of our looking; the demand put on art that it should reflect the reality of the
viewer. The true painting, in its stubborn independence, cannot do this, except coincidentally. Its reality is imaginative
not mundane.

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When the thick curtain of protection is taken away; protection of prejudice, protection of authority, protection of trivia,
even the most familiar of paintings can begin to work its power. There are very few people who could manage an hour
alone with the Mona Lisa. Our poor art-lover in his aesthetic laboratory has not succeeded in freeing himself from the
protection of assumption. What he has found is that the painting objects to his lack of concentration; his failure to meet
intensity with intensity. He still has not discovered anything about the painting, but the painting has discovered a lot
about him. He is inadequate, and the painting has told him so.

When you say “This work is boring/ pointless/silly/obscure/élitist etc.,” you might be right, because you are looking at a
fad, or you might be wrong because the work falls so outside of the safety of your own experience that in order to keep
your own world intact, you must deny the other world of the painting. This denial of imaginative experience happens at
a deeper level than our affirmation of our daily world. Every day, in countless ways, you and I convince ourselves about
ourselves. True art, when it happens to us, challenges the “I” that we are and you say, “This work has nothing to do
with me.”

Art is not a little bit of evolution that late-twentieth-century city dwellers can safely do without. Strictly, art does not
belong to our evolutionary pattern at all. It has no biological necessity. Time taken up with it was time lost to hunting,
gathering, mating, exploring, building, surviving, thriving. We say we have no time for art. If we say that art, all art. is
no longer relevant to our lives, then we might at least risk the question “What has happened to our lives?” The usual
question, “What has happened to art?” is too easy an escape route.

Question 15

A young man visits a critically acclaimed modern art exhibition in his city and finds that he doesn’t like
any of the exhibits. If he were to share his experience with the author of the passage, which of the
following is most likely to be the author’s response?

A “Your feelings about art are totally insignificant because they are definitely prejudiced.”

B “Don’t deny the other world of art to hide your inadequacies."

C “You are as arrogant as the artists who produced those modern art exhibits.”

D “Modern art is, indeed, distasteful because of its abstract nature, and because it shows us up.”

E “You didn’t like modern art, that’s fine, but maybe you will like classical art forms.”

Answer: B

Question 16

What according to the passage is the prerequisite to appreciate art?

A Prior knowledge of the art in question

B Participation with an open-mind

C Protection of assumption

D Preconceived notions of how we would be affected

E Participation of the artist

Answer: B

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Question 17

When the writer observes, ‘This is not arrogance; of course, they can absorb in a few moments, and
without any effort, the sum of the artist and the art’, he is being _____.

A ironical

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 sarcastic
B

C objective

D hyperbolic

E naive

Answer: B

Instructions

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow it:

Elevation has always existed but has just moved out of the realm of philosophy and religion and been recognized as a
distinct emotional state and a subject for psychological study. Psychology has long focused on what goes wrong, but in
the past decade there has been an explosion of interest in “positive psychology”—what makes us feel good and why.
University of Virginia moral psychologist Jonathan Haidt, who coined the term elevation, writes, “Powerful moments of
elevation sometimes seem to push a mental ‘reset button,’ wiping out feelings of cynicism and replacing them with
feelings of hope, love, and optimism, and a sense of moral inspiration.”

Haidt quotes first-century Greek philosopher Longinus on great oratory: “The effect of elevated language upon an
audience is not persuasion but transport.” Such feeling was once a part of our public discourse. After hearing Abraham
Lincoln’s second inaugural address, former slave Frederick Douglass said it was a “sacred effort.” But uplifting rhetoric
came to sound anachronistic, except as practiced by the occasional master like Martin Luther King Jr.

It was while looking through the letters of Thomas Jefferson that Haidt first found a description of elevation. Jefferson
wrote of the physical sensation that comes from witnessing goodness in others: It is to “dilate [the] breast and elevate
[the] sentiments … and privately covenant to copy the fair example.” Haidt took this description as a mandate.

Elevation can so often give us chills or a tingling feeling in the chest. This noticeable, physiological response is
important. In fact, this physical reaction is what can tell us most surely that we have been moved. This reaction, and
the prosocial inclinations it seems to inspire, has been linked with a specific hormone, oxytocin, emitted from Vagus
nerve which works with oxytocin, the hormone of connection. The nerve’s activities can only be studied indirectly.

Elevation is part of a family of self-transcending emotions. Some others are awe, that sense of the vastness of the
universe and smallness of self that is often invoked by nature; another is admiration, that goose-bump-making thrill
that comes from seeing exceptional skill in action. While there is very little lab work on the elevating emotions, there is
quite a bit on its counterpart, disgust. It started as a survival strategy: Early humans needed to figure out when food
was spoiled by contact with bacteria or parasites. From there disgust expanded to the social realm—people became
repelled by the idea of contact with the defiled or by behaviors that seemed to belong to lower people. “Disgust is
probably the most powerful emotion that separates your group from other groups.” Haidt says disgust is the bottom
floor of a vertical continuum of emotion; hit the up button, and you arrive at elevation. Another response to something
extraordinary in another person can be envy, with all its downsides. Envy is unlikely, however, when the extraordinary
aspect of another person is a moral virtue (such as acting in a just way, bravery and self-sacrifice, and caring for
others).

Question 18

Which of the options below is false according to the passage?

A Elevated language is highly persuasive.

B Elevation results in a sense of moral inspiration of and purges us of negative emotions.

C Reactions to extraordinary external stimuli inevitably purge us of evil.

D Admiration is a more appropriate antonym of disgust than elevation.

Elevation is admiration of virtue; admiration for skill is known as admiration: awe inheres in admiration and is
E
generally caused by the majesty of nature.

Answer: C

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Question 19

Which of the options will complete the statement given below meaningfully and appropriately, according
to the passage?

Disgust is not a self-transcending emotion because it ________.

A is the antonym of elevation

B springs from love

C is linked to invocation of nature

D it creates 'us versus them' divide based on group identities

E is about experiencing a moment when the ‘self’ reigns supreme

Answer: D

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Question 20

Which of the options below correctly identifies the function of elevation?

A It helps us in creating national identities.

B It helps leaders to attract followers.

C It helps us become religious.

D It helps to enforce moral and ethical values in a society.

E It helps transcendence to a higher plane.

Answer: E

Instructions
For the following questions answer them individually

Question 21

Which of the statements below is least fallacious?

A Cheating in examinations is wrong because God will punish you.

B Mitigating risks often comes with costs.

C The snake in the temple likes milk because devotees offer it milk.

D Educated people do not oppose sale of hard drinks by governments. So drinking cannot be illegal.

E Marlon Brando was such a great actor because everyone liked him.

Answer: B

Question 22

Which option does not reflect the relationship implicit in ‘Emendation : Editor’?

A Injunction : Judge

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 Examination : Doctor
B

C Discipline : Coach

D Illumination : Usher

E Renunciation : Saint

Answer: D

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Question 23

Read the following paragraph and answer the question that follows:

Empirical observation told us years ago that goats were slowly becoming the new dog, and according to a
new study, they are truly qualified to be man’s best friend. The Royal Society released heart-warming
research showing that just like humans, goats have no desire to interact with people who come off as
angry or upset, and that they’re much more attracted to those with big smiles plastered across their
faces. When 12 males and 8 females were released into a pen decorated with images of happy and angry
humans, the scientists learned that goats can “distinguish between happy and angry images of the same
person,” and in general, they prefer their humans to be happy.

Which of the following statements is definitely true according to the passage?

A When they look at a smiling person, the goats are happy.

B When they look at a frowning person, goats are afraid of him.

C When they look at a straight-faced person, goats remain passive.

D When they look at a frowning person, the goats are sad.

E When they look at a smiling person, goats run towards him.

Answer: A

Question 24

Read the following paragraph and answer the question that follows:

An accurate measure of drug efficacy would require comparing the response of patients taking it with
that of patients taking placebos; the drug effect could then be calculated by subtracting the placebo
response from the overall response, much as a deli-counter worker subtracts the weight of the container
to determine how much lobster salad you’re getting. In the last half of the 1950s, this calculus gave rise
to a new way to evaluate drugs: the double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, in which neither
patient nor clinician knew who was getting the active drug and who the placebo.

Which of the options is a wrong answer to this Question How does a double blind ensure a better trial of a
new drug?

A It increases the overall response to the drug.

B The patient does not know whether he/she is getting a placebo.

C It reflects the calculus exemplified by the deli-counter episode.

D The clinician cannot pick and choose patients to whom placebos can be administered.

E It gives rise to an unbiased testing of drugs.

Answer: A

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Question 25

Read the following paragraph and answer the question that follows:

Alligators are freshwater reptiles. However, people have come face to face with them in mud in a salt
marsh in Georgia. Finding alligators in the salt marsh is not a mystery or a miracle. At least 23 species of
predator have been spotted living in surprising habitats. Predators such as alligators, otters, mountain
lions, wolves and raptors are thriving in places they shouldn't, revealing some serious misunderstandings
about their behaviour and how to protect them. Scientific literature divulges that these creatures are
actually returning to places they once occupied. It gives us astonishing insights into the lives of animals
and helps conservationists improve the old stomping grounds of these creatures.

Which of the following statements provides the most plausible explanation of the predators' behaviour?

A Predators prefer to occupy different habitats, depending on the season and prevailing weather.

B Predators migrate to a habitat different from where they were born.

C Predators are fully aware of where they were born.

D Predators have a genetic memory of their traditional stomping grounds.

E Predators have no awareness of where they were born.

Answer: D

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Question 26

Study the text given below and answer the question that follows it:

Dense, dirty air laced with grease best describes the atmosphere of most Lagos streets. Drive from one
corner of this great west African city to another and in no time you will find surfaces lightly dusted, like a
soft sprinkling of icing on cakes. Under the half-moons of fingernails, thick grime settles. It’s a scene
taken as typically African: polluted, bedraggled, unhealthy. This has only ever been made possible by the
exploitation of Africa’s people. This week five west African countries, Nigeria included, announced plans
to end the practice of European oil companies and traders exporting “African quality” diesel. “Dirty fuel”
has earned the name because it is imported diesel with sulphur levels as high as 3,000 parts per million
when the European maximum is 10ppm. To be clear, “African quality” fuel, is fuel not fit for European
humans.

Which of the options is not necessarily the underlying assumption of the author in the paragraph above?

A European oil companies dump their fuel on African countries.

B Economic exploitation, until challenged runs smoothly.

C Racism makes it easy for Europeans to justify the exploitation of inferior races.

D Typically, African cities today are not fit for human habitation.

E African nations had accepted ‘dirty fuel’ as the norm.

Answer: C

XAT Daily Current Affairs

Decision Making
Instructions

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow:

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You are a Human Resource (HR) Manager in the HR Department of Vikash Educational Charitable Trust. You organize
and support recruitment and training, provide secretarial support for disciplinary investigations and keep personnel
records of staff. You report to Ms. Deelipa, one of the two Senior HR Managers who reports to the HR Director.

Question 27

For the post of Consultant Professor in the Trust, two internal candidates, Mr. Rana and Mr. Charan were
interviewed. Mr. Charan was selected as he was considered to be academically gifted with impressive
leadership skills, even though he had less experience than the other. Three days later, Mr. Rana came to
your office complaining that the selection was unfair as he had more experience than Mr. Charan.

Which of the following is the best way to handle the issue raised by Rana?

Tell Mr. Rana, that you empathize with him, but the process was fair, and details of the assessment could be
A
shared with him.

Tell Mr. Rana that if he is interested, he could write to the HR Director and you would act as per the directives
B
received.

Offer tea to Mr. Rana and say that you can understand why he is upset. Let him have a bit of a moan and help him
C
get it out of his system.

D Tell Mr. Rana that the Institute finds the right person for the job, not the one who has been around the longest.

Warn Mr. Rana that his complaint will be construed as misdemeanour and held against him in the next promotion
E
cycle.

Answer: A

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Question 28

Ms. Deelipa has asked you to conduct a Non Teaching Staff Induction Training. You are to call for a tender
from various agencies with specifications that include the contents, duration, experience, budget and
other relevant information. You then need to shortlist five agencies from the list of 20 and make a
presentation within two days.

Review the following responses:

1. Rate all 20 agencies on a scale of 1 to 5 on information available and select the top 5.
2. Select the five lowest bids based on the price quoted.
3. Seek selection criteria from Deelipa and the HR Director and shortlist the bidders accordingly.
4. Follow the advise of a person who has completed a similar task.

Select the best of the following responses in the descending order of effectiveness?

A 4,1,3

B 1,3,4

C 3,2,4

D 1,2,3

E 3,1,2
Answer: E

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Question 29

The Vikash Trust has recently been plagued by a high turnover of teaching assistants with many looking
for higher salary and better facilities. You have been asked to design and run a campaign to attract and
appoint 10 teaching assistants. One of your measures of success will be the retention of the new recruits.
You have 4 weeks for the interview.

Review the following:

1. Shortlist apt candidates who reflect values of the Trust from among respondees to your wide
advertisement campaign.
2.Design an ad that attracts candidates with values that matches the Trust's, release it at an appropriate
time and re-validate the candidates' credentials at the time of shortlisting.
3. Repeat the process that was followed by the Trust last time.
4. Seek expert advice on drafting an attractive advertisement.

Select the best of the following responses in the descending order of effectiveness?

A 4,1,2

B 2,1,3

C 4,3,1

D 1,2,3

E 2,3,4

Answer: B

Question 30

The new induction training program has been a roaring success. All new induction courses for the next 12
months have been tightly scheduled. This morning, you receive a call from Mr. Surya, the Head of the
Trust requesting you to train eight newly recruited teaching assistants before they start their job next
month. You explain that all the slots are fully booked for the next 3 months, but he insists that the new
teaching assistants be trained immediately, to hopefully reduce turnover among them. You speak to
Deelipa, who wants you to deal with the issue on your own.

Review the following responses that you wish to communicate to Mr. Surya:

1. Inform him that once the schedules are drawn up, it is not possible to effect any change as the
reputation of the Trust would be at stake.
2. Suggest that a new agency may be permitted to run induction sessions for these teaching assistants,
as a special case.
3. Tell him that if some inductees dropout in the first month, at least some teaching assistants can be
accommodated.
4. Tell him that since no space is available in the induction training sessions for three months, you, as the
HR manager would conduct induction sessions for them after office hours.

Select the best of the following responses in the descending order of effectiveness.

A 2,1,3,4

B 3,2,1,4

C 3,2,4,1

D 2,4,3,1

E 2,3,1,4

Answer: D

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 XAT Previous Papers
Instructions

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow:

The Public Relations Department of an organization has spent only 4 crores of its allocated 16 crores on publicity. There
are 2 months left in the financial year. Due to shortage of officers, the Assistant Director, Operations has been given an
additional charge of publicity. Because of his other commitments, he is unable to find time to undertake tasks such as
baseline study, ascertaining communication needs, testing proposed messages and media channels, deciding optimum
periodicity, measuring impact, etc. He also argues spending the rest of the budget is unnecessary because their
regular programs are already widely known. His boss, the Director, however, feels that only by utilizing the entire
budget can a similar amount be demanded the next year. He also thinks that there is nothing like enough publicity.

Question 31

Which of these is the best course of action for the department?

A Repeat the advertising done so far 3 times over and thus exhaust the entire amount.

Rely on the operational experience of the Director and the Assistant Director and start spending the optimal
B
amount right away.

C Surrender the budget right away so it can be utilized by other departments.

Hire a specialized external agency which will study the gaps and needs within a fortnight and follow it's
D
recommendations.

E Request higher authorities to reallocate the remaining amount to other departments of the organization.

Answer: D

Question 32

Which of these new developments, if true, would most justify a larger utilization of the advertising
budget?

A Advertising agencies have announced a 25% reduction in rates.

B An internal committee of the organization has made strong recommendations to improve service delivery.

C The organization has approved a new major scheme for immediate implementation.

D The findings of a baseline study on assessing communication needs are now available.

E A new Assistant Director has been posted to exclusively look after publicity.

Answer: C

Instructions

Read the following caselet and answer questions that follow:

Sanchit group of Hospitals seeks to improve the success rate and patient satisfaction rate by 100% in the next year.
However, the management can't afford to send doctors for professional development outside the country nor afford
purchasing more equipment. As an in-house measure, the managing board thought of having doctors with high patient
satisfaction to mentor those with less. Most of the doctors found it an interference by the management, judgmental
and an expression of distrust. There were, however, some isolated few who found it a novel way of learning from each
other. The doctors felt the management should instead increase consultancy fees and spend more on recruiting more
paramedics who could spend time with patients, rather than blame doctors and decided to call it quits. For the
management, this would mean loss of patients.

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Question 33

Consider the following actions:

1. Conduct a survey of all stakeholders and ascertain their needs and suggestions.
2. Build consensus among doctors and paramedics on a possible way forward.
3. Prepare an action plan that details the road map along with financial implications.
4. Design differential service packages based on the affordability of the patients.
5. Run a brainstorming session among the leading doctors of the area.

Which of the following sequence of actions is most appropriate for the hospital administration in
achieving their goal?

A 5,4,2

B 1,5,3

C 4,2,1

D 4,5,2

E 1,2,3

Answer: E

XAT Free Mock Test

Question 34

Which of the following decisions is most likely to satisfy all the stakeholders?

A Increase the income of doctors and paramedics, and the ambiance of the hospital.

B Give 30% discount on medicines purchased from the hospital store.

C Increase the income of doctors and the number of paramedics.

D Raise income of doctors and reduce the waiting time of patients.

E Allow doctors to choose patients based on income levels, thus profiting both patients and the organization.

Answer: A

Question 35

Given the current situation, which of the following is the most interactive and effective way to increase
the learning among paramedics and doctors?

A Get doctors and paramedics with high satisfaction rates document their success stories for use of others.

Encourage paramedics and doctors to pursue courses over MOOC platform, at their own cost, which shall be
B
partially subsidized after successful completion.

C Ask doctors and paramedics with high satisfaction rate to give lectures to others before start of work.

D Implement professional development standards for staff linking it with an accountability framework.

E Create groups of paramedics and doctors, to meet everyday and discuss their insights and experience of the day.

Answer: E

Instructions

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow:

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Thakur Raja, a young cabinet minister, glanced through the notes of his secretary regarding the recent controversies on
‘Racket’, the most popular game of the country. While International Racket Association (IRA) has agreed to implement
Drug Testing Code (DTC), the Racket Club which controls the entire Racket related activities had some reservations
regarding the initiative. A majority of the citizens eagerly awaited their country's participation and performance at the
international competitions during the Champions Trophy. Due to the popularity of the game, 70% of the total revenue
associated with the game originates from the country. Hence, the Racket Club has earned high bargaining power with
the IRA and can influence decisions not aligned with its interests. Three of the most popular and senior players of the
Club, including the captain, are against the imposition of DTC citing security reasons. A decision against the interests of
these players might result in law and order problems throughout the country. Other players support the decision of
their senior colleagues and if the Racket Club refuses, players may support the rebel Counter Racket Club, a new
national level initiative. The Counter Racket Club can challenge the monopoly of the Racket Club, if it succeeds in
attracting some popular players.

Raja was a great soccer player and has major reservations against racket. According to him, racket has negative
influence on the country’s youth and distracts them from productive work. He also considers drug testing as an
essential feature of any sports and games across the world. As the new cabinet minister for Youth and Sports, he needs
to take some important decisions on this contentious issue.

Question 36

If Thakur Raja wants to create a lasting impact, the most reasonable option for him is to:

A Force the Racket Club to accept all regulations relating to drug testing.

B Enforce drug testing while providing adequate security to all players.

C Get popular Racket players to endorse Soccer.

D Ban Racket as a sport, citing its negative influence on youth.

E Align with Counter Racket Club and reinforce their initiatives.

Answer: B

XAT Decision Making Mock Tests

Question 37

Identify the best argument for Raja to decide in favor of the IRA.

A Raja is interested in making Racket less popular in the country.

B Three of the top international teams are keen on implementing DTC.

C The next World cup is scheduled to be held in a country which has made DTC mandatory.

Raja and the President of the Racket Club are political opponents and could use the present issue to settle their
D
mutual scores.

E Raja can justify his decision citing his position as a cabinet minister.

Answer: C

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Question 38

According to DTC, each athlete/sportsperson needs to submit their schedule for the next three months
specifying an hour each day when they can be randomly tested for drugs. DTC also ensures the
confidentiality of the submitted schedule by:

i. Limiting access of player-supplied information only to two senior officers.

ii. Allowing these officers to access the schedule of only those sports persons who are randomly selected
for testing.
iii. Introducing similar security features for DTC database as is the case with financial institutions.

The top three popular players realize security is the only reason for them to get a favorable decision from
Raja. Hence during discussions, they should focus on all options except:

A Recent report includes their country to be among the top five nations vulnerable to data security breach.

B DTC is unwilling to share details with security agencies of officers involved in background check.

Any leak of their private schedules may result in huge public gathering and it will make the job of security agencies
C
very difficult.

D Popular Racket players are on the hit list of terrorist organizations.

E It is difficult to provide adequate security coverage in large stadiums where Racket is played.

Answer: E

Instructions

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow:

Mrs. Bhalla is the principal of ‘Happy Public School’. While it is a private school, the trust is socially sensitive and as
part of their “Spread Happiness Policy” provides quality education to many needy students from low income
neighborhood for free. She received a strange complaint from some of the affluent parents regarding their discomfort
with allowing poor children to study along with their kids. They were concerned more about their manners, habits and
language than about schooling. They wanted the trust to either start a separate shift for such children or remove them
from the school since they are supporting them. On the other hand, the parents of the poor children complained of
bullying and teasing and shared their concern regarding the mental trauma their children undergo. While Mrs. Bhalla,
by no means wants to yield to the demands of the affluent parents, she also cannot ignore them since some of them
have been making substantial donations to the school.

Question 39

Which of the following is most likely to get the affluent parents to accept the school’s policy?

A Accept the suggestion of affluent parents to start a separate shift for the poor students.

Invite professionals to conduct workshop for the poorer children so that they learn basic manners, habits and
B
language.

C Meet the two parent groups separately, understand their key concerns and seek solutions from both.

D Invite the founder of the school to clarify to all parents the school’s policy.

E Share the fact, that the government instituted school ranking, places 25% weight to policies similar to the school's.

Answer: E

Download XAT Syllabus PDF

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Question 40

While Mrs. Bhalla understands the problems of overcrowded classrooms and classroom management, she
foresees in them an opportunity to develop more sensitive and self-motivated learners.

Mrs. Bhalla is considering the following actions:

1. Take the student and teacher councils on board and seek their ideas to redress the challenge the
school faces.
2. Brainstorm with teachers and students on a strategy to engage all learners in teams for meaningful
learning and healthy relationships.
3. Encourage students for self-learning and teachers into more supervisory roles to ensure discipline.
4. Engage students in a process of periodic reflection so that they can get in touch with their thoughts,
feelings and actions towards self and others.
5. Create achievement based student groups to encourage competition and ease classroom management.

Which of the following combination of actions would be most effective in developing sensitive and self-
motivated learners?

A 1,2,3

B 1,3,5

C 2,1,5

D 5,4,3

E 1,2,4

Answer: E

Question 41

Which of the following options will empower students the most?

A Ensure no kid from poor income group is detained.

B Maximise students learning achievement.

C Help students relate learning to their real life experiences.

D Ensure rich kids to get to know those on whom their money is spent.

E Encourage students to ask questions that teacher find difficult to answer.

Answer: C

Instructions

Read the following caselet and answer questions that follow:

Divya grew up in a business family in Hyderabad. As a Systems engineer she travelled extensively on business deals
and later settled in her in-law’s place in Warangal. Once during her visit to Thailand she got to taste some roll over ice
cream. Interestingly, a few weeks later, she came across an advertisement from a reputed Bangalore based Rollover
Handcrafted Ice Cream Company calling for expression of interest from potential franchises.

Warangal did not have any quality ice cream parlour. The company wanted the potential franchisees to invest Rs. 20
lacs and 700 square feet space. Profits were to be shared in 3:7 ratio between the company and the franchisee. Divya
was excited, but was wondering if Rs. 20 lacs was too much to invest. Further, she did not have the entire amount and
was thinking of taking a loan. She enquired with the Rollover franchisees and found that a franchisee in Hyderabad had
sales revenue varying between 5 and 6 lacs rupees per month with a profit margin between 25-30%. Divya decided to
go ahead.

Warangal had three main areas -Kazipet, Jangaon and Warangal. All areas were linked by good roads. Kazipet was a
business area where most high end retail formats were located. It was also the education hub of the city. Jangaon, on
the other hand, was a growing lower middle class business area and Warangal was mostly residential.

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Divya favoured Kazipet. However, she soon encountered problems. Not only was it difficult to obtain space in Kazipet
but property rentals touched 30-40 rupees per square feet per month as against Jangaon and Warangal where it was
15-20 rupees per square feet per month. Divya’s friend, who lived in Jangaon, told her that a few branded outlets were
opening in Jangaon and it appeared to be the fastest growing market in Warangal with the highest percentage of
teenagers. But, Divya was not in favour of Jangaon. She hoped to target college going crowd of Kazipet. High real
estate prices in Kazipet and lower profitability estimate in Jangaon market confused Divya.

Question 42

Which of the following options, if true, would most likely interest Divya to start a franchise?

A Doctors of the area do not consider Ice cream to be a major cause of obesity.

B A bank is ready to give her a quick loan.

C She can charge high prices for her ice creams without losing customers.

D Her friend who runs a restaurant recently in Kazipet is doing good business.

E In recent times, a couple of franchisees shut down within months of starting.

Answer: C

XAT Preparation Tips

Question 43

Which of the following is least likely to demotivate Divya?

A Investing a huge amount may not bring expected returns.

B The bank would insist on loan repayment on a monthly basis.

C The property rentals would soon go up in Kazipet.

D Unlike Hyderabad, people in Kazipet don’t seem to like Rollover ice cream.

E Rollover franchise in Hyderabad is making huge profits.

Answer: E

Question 44

What could be the most likely reason for Divya opting for Kazipet?

A Spiralling real-estate prices in Kazipet.

B No branded outlets is likely to come up in Jangaon in the near future.

C High percentage of teenagers in Kazipet attracted to Rollover ice cream.

D High density of population in both Warangal and Jangaon.

E She felt, college going crowd is excited about the latest in ice creams.

Answer: E

Question 45

Which is the most important decision criterion for Divya to consider in such a business situation?

A Attracting customers through big discounts in the initial phase of business.

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 Consistent increase in the number of customers in the future.
B

C Range and variety of ice-cream flavours.

D Availability of space in premium locality.

E Availability of loan at low interest rate.

Answer: B

Important Formulas for XAT Download PDF

Instructions

Read the following caselet and answer the questions that follow:

Due to increased competition, Electro Automobiles, the Indian subsidiary of Robert Automobile Company (RAC)
reported lower sales and profits. RAC expects its new model Limo, developed especially for value conscious customers
of India and China, would revive its fortunes. In order to prevent customers from buying competing products, RAC
announced the launch of Limo six months ahead of schedule. Unrest in its Indian supplier resulted in delayed delivery
of essential components to its main plant. Hence, Limo was launched on schedule only in China. Within a short span,
Limo captured 30% of the Chinese market , which was 200% higher than expectation. Indian customers were becoming
increasingly restless because they couldn't get a Limo in India. Electro’s dealers were worried, customers might switch
to other cars.

Question 46

The indian subsidiary is concerned that the delay in launching the product will give undue advantage to
some competitor. The organization was considering the following strategies to keep customers engaged
with the company:

1. Ask the dealers to encourage their prospective customers to seek similar products from the
competition, rather than wait for Limo’s launch.
2. Suggest the dealers to accept booking for Limo, announcing the launch within six months of booking,
while in reality plan to keep postponing launch indefinitely.
3. Run full page advertisements in the papers, every month, to keep the interest in the model from
ebbing, with no mention of the launch date.
4. Import parts from outside India, and launch the product, at a 30% premium, planning a relaunch a few
years later of the indianized version.
5. Go against its worldwide policy of non-interference in supplier plants, and announce a hefty bonus to
the employees of the supplier with a hope to temporarily bring the plant to life.
6. Promise the supplier plant (that has some unrest) a higher margin share of about 5% compared to what
was shared earlier, with an eye to stem the unrest.

Which of the following combination of responses above, will most likely keep the prospective customers
engaged with the company and not jump to some competitor’s product?

A 1,2,3

B 2,3,4

C 3,2,5

D 1,5,6

E 3,4,5

Answer: E

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Question 47

Mr. Murugan from Chennai experienced the comfort of Limo during his visit to China. He was willing to
deposit an approximate price of Limo to buy the first available unit from Mr. Ahmed, a dealer in Chennai.
Electro Automobile is yet to announce the actual price, and the process for allocation of the vehicles.
Which of the following is the best option for Ahmed?

Collect 50% of the entire amount Mr. Murugan is willing to deposit as advance and the remaining at the time of
A
launch.

Collect the entire amount Mr. Murugan is willing to deposit after clarifying that delivery and price is subject to the
B
company policy.

Collect the amount and transfer it to the account of Electro Automobiles, instead of keeping it in his personal
C
account.

D Collect the amount from Mr. Murugan. Later when the delivery is delayed, blame it on RAC’s problems.

E Not collect the amount, but suggest to Mr. Murugan to write to Electro Automobiles.

Answer: B

Download XAT GK PDF

Quant
Instructions
For the following questions answer them individually

Question 48

A, B, C, D and E are five employees working in a company. In two successive years, each of them got hikes
in his salary as follows:

A : p% and (p+1)%,
B : (p+2)% and (p-1)%,
C : (p+3)% and (p-2)%,
D : (p+4)% and (p-3)%,
E : (p+5)% and (p-4)%.

If all of them have the same salary at the end of two years, who got the least hike in his salary?

A E

B D

C C

D A

E B

Answer: A

Explanation:
Let the initial salary of A,B,C,D,E be a, b, c, d, e respectively and let the final salary of everyone be x
p p+1
Now, a ∗ (1 + 100 ) ∗ (1 + 100 ) = x
p
x p+1
⇒a= (1+ 100 )∗(1+ 100 )

x∗100∗100
⇒a= (100+p)∗(100+p+1)

x∗100∗100
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 x∗100∗100
⇒a= (p+100)∗(p+101)

p+2
x p−1
Similarly, b = (1+ 100 )∗(1+ 100 )

x∗100∗100
⇒b= (p+102)∗(p+99)

p+3
x p−2
Similarly, c = (1+ 100 )∗(1+ 100 )

x∗100∗100
⇒c= (p+103)∗(p+98)

p+4
x p−3
Similarly, d = (1+ 100 )∗(1+ 100 )

x∗100∗100
⇒d= (p+104)∗(p+97)

p+5
x p−4
Similarly, e = (1+ 100 )∗(1+ 100 )

x∗100∗100
⇒e= (p+105)∗(p+96)

The numerators of the fractions are same, therefore the one with the smallest value of denominator will have the
greatest value. If we compare the denominators, we can find out the fraction with the highest value. The person with
the highest initial salary got the least raise, as we know that the final salary of all the candidates is same.

Thus, denominator of a, a den = (p + 100) ∗ (p + 101) = p2 + 201p + 100 ∗ 101

Similarly, bden = (p + 102) ∗ (p + 99) = p2 + 201p + 102 ∗ 99

cden = (p + 103) ∗ (p + 98) = p2 + 201p + 103 ∗ 98

dden = (p + 104) ∗ (p + 97) = p2 + 201p + 104 ∗ 97
eden = (p + 105) ∗ (p + 96) = p2 + 201p + 105 ∗ 96
We see that we need to compare only the last terms of the denominators as the other terms are same.

Thus, last term of a, a lt = 100 ∗ 101 = 100.52 − 0.52

last term of b, blt = 102 ∗ 99 = 100.52 − 1.52

last term of c, clt = 103 ∗ 98 = 100.52 − 2.52

last term of d, dlt = 104 ∗ 97 = 100.52 − 3.52

last term of e, dlt = 105 ∗ 96 = 100.52 − 4.52

Thus, we can see that since denominator of e is the smallest, therefore E has the highest initial salary.

Download XAT Current Affairs Questions & Answers PDF

Question 49

A firm pays its five clerks Rs. 15,000 each, three assistants Rs. 40,000 each and its accountant Rs. 66,000.
Then the mean salary in the firm comprising of these nine employees exceeds its median salary by rupees

A 14000

B 14600

C 15200

D 15480

E 14720

Answer: A

Explanation:

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There are 6 employees in the firm. Median of any set is the element which occurs in the middle of the set when the
elements are positioned in increasing or decreasing order. The number of elements in this set = 5+3+1 = 9
9+1
Thus, the middle element will be in the position 2 = 5th. Since we know that the clerks are paid the least so the clerk
salaries would be in the beginning of the set if arranged in ascending order. Thus, the 5th element will be a clerk's
salary as the number of clerks is 5.

Thus, median of the set = Rs 15,000.

To find the mean salary, we first need to find the sum total salary of the people involved.

Total salary = (Number of clerks*salary of 1 clerk) + (Number of assistants*salary of 1 assistant) + (Number of

accountants*salary of 1 accountant)

⇒ Total salary = (5*15,000)+(3*40,000)+(1*66,000)

⇒ Total salary = 75,000+1,20,000+66,000
⇒ Total salary = 2,61,000
Total Salary
Mean salary = Total number of employees
261000
⇒ Mean salary = 9

⇒ Mean salary = Rs 29,000 /-

Thus, difference between mean and median salary = 29,000-15,000 = Rs 14,000

Question 50

Two numbers a and b are inversely proportional to each other. If a increases by 100%, then b decreases
by:

A 200%

B 100%

C 150%

D 80%

E 50%

Answer: E

Explanation:
Inverse proportionality is expressed as follows :
1
a∝ b

⇒ a*b = constant
When value of a changes, the value of b changes accordingly such that their product remains same.
′
Thus, new value of a a = a + a = 2a
′
Thus, the new value of b b can be solved by :
′ ′
a ∗b =a∗b
′
⇒ 2a ∗ b = a ∗ b
′ b
⇒b = 2

Thus b decreases by 50%.

Question 51

If
3
7a × 35b+1 × 20c+2 is a whole number then which one of the statements below is consistent with it?

A a = 2, b = 1, c = 1

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 a = 1, b = 2, c = 2
B

C a = 2, b = 1, c = 2

D a = 3, b = 1, c = 1

E a = 3, b = 2, c = 1

Answer: E

Explanation:
In the given statement, the expression becomes a whole number only when the powers of all the prime numbers are
also whole numbers.

Let us first simplify the expression a bit by expressing all terms in terms of prime numbers.
3
7a × 35b+1 × 20c+2
⇒
3
7a × 5b+1 × 7b+1 × 22(c+2) × 5c+2
⇒
3
22c+4 × 5b+c+3 × 7a+b+1
2c+4 b+c+3 a+b+1
⇒2 3
5 3
7 3

Now, from the given options, we can put in values of the variables and check the exponents of all the numbers.

Option A : a = 2, b = 1, c = 1 :
b+c+3 5
In this case, we can see that exponent of 5 ie 3 = 3 is not a whole number.

Option B : a = 1, b = 2, c = 2
2c+4 8
In this case, we can see that exponent of 2 ie 3 = 3 is not a whole number.

Option C : a = 2, b = 1, c = 2
2c+4 8
In this case, we can see that exponent of 2 ie 3 = 3 is not a whole number.

Option D : a = 3, b = 1, c = 1
b+c+3 5
In this case, we can see that exponent of 5 ie 3 = 3 is not a whole number.

Option E : a = 3, b = 2, c = 1

In this case, we can see that all exponents are whole numbers.

Thus, option E is the correct option.

XAT Daily Current Affairs

Question 52

A gold ingot in the shape of a cylinder is melted and the resulting molten metal molded into a few
identical conical ingots. If the height of each cone is half the height of the original cylinder and the area
of the circular base of each cone is one fifth that of the circular base of the cylinder, then how many
conical ingots can be made?

A 60

B 10

C 30

D 20

E 40

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 Answer: C

Explanation:
Let the radius of the cylinder be r and height be h (as shown).

Let the dimensions of the cone be rc and hc (as shown).

h
It is given that hc = 2
2
Area of base of cone Ac = π × rc

Area of base of cylinder A = π × r2

1
Given, Ac = 5 × A
2 1
⇒ π × rc = 5 × π × r2
2 1
⇒ rc = 5 × r2
r22
⇒ rc =5
Now we know that the volume of cylinder = total volume of cones

Let the number of cones be n.

So, volume of cylinder = n x volume of each cone

⇒ V = n × Vc
1 2
⇒ π × r2 × h = n × 3 × π × rc × hc
1 2
⇒ r2 × h = n × 3 × rc × hc
r22 h
⇒ rc × hc ×3=n

⇒5× 2×3=n
⇒ 30 = n
Thus, 30 conical ingots can be made.

Question 53

Given that a and b are integers and that 5x + 2 7 is a root of the polynomial x2 − ax + b + 2 7 in x, what
is the value of b?

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A 5

B 2

C 9

D 7

E 14

Answer: A

Explanation:
Note: For this question, discrepancy is found in question/answer. Full Marks is being awarded to all candidates.

Question 54
2
An article is marked x% above the cost price. A discount of 3 x% is given on the marked price. If the profit
is 4% of the cost price and the value of x lies between 25 and 50, then the value of 50% of x is?

A 12

B 16

C 13

D 15

E 20

Answer: D

Explanation:
Let CP of object be a.
4
It is given that SP = (1 + 100 ) x CP

⇒ SP = 1.04 x CP
x
It is given that MP = (1 + 100 ) x CP
2x
3
It is also given that SP = (1 − 100 ) x MP
2x x
⇒ SP = (1 − 300 ) x (1 + 100 ) x CP
4 2x x
⇒ (1 + 100 ) x CP = (1 − 300 ) x (1 + 100 ) x CP
4 2x x
⇒ (1 + 100 ) = (1 − 300 ) x (1 + 100 )
104 2x x
⇒ 100 = (1 − 300 ) x (1 + 100 )
104 300−2x x+100
⇒ 100 = ( 300 ) x ( 100 )
104
⇒ 100 × 300 × 100 = (300 − 2x) x (x + 100)
⇒ 31200 = (300 − 2x) x (x + 100)
Now, we look at the options.
25
Since the question says that xϵ[25, 30] so 50% of x ie 0.5x cannot be less than 12.50 ie 2 and cannot be more than 25
50
ie 2

This eliminates option A.

Putting values of x given in the remaining options in the final expression, [here we need to be careful to use the value
of x and not the value of 50% of x as given in the expression]

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Look carefully in the remaining options : 16,13,15 as 0.5x ie 32,26,30 as possible values of x.
2x
In the question since the discount rate offered is 3 %, then a safer choice would be to check for the option of 30 in the
beginning. It is a safer choice because the percentage of discount that we get in the other options are not whole
numbers.

NOTE : THIS IS JUST A SAFE CHOICE AND NEVER MARK AN ANSWER DIRECTLY ON THIS PRESUMPTION WITHOUT
CHECKING IT.

Putting x=30 in the expression :

(300 - (2x30))x(30+100) = (300-60)x(100+30) = 240x130 = 24x13x100= 312x100 = 31200= LHS of expression.

Thus the value of x is 30.

Therefore value of 50% of x = 0.5x30 = 15

XAT previous papers (download pdf)

Question 55

A computer is sold either for Rs.19200 cash or for Rs.4800 cash down payment together with five equal
monthly installments. If the rate of interest charged is 12% per annum, then the amount of each
installment (nearest to a rupee) is:

A Rs.2880

B Rs.2965

C Rs.2896

D Rs.2990

E Rs.3016

Answer: B

Explanation:
Amount on which interest will be charged = 19200 - 4800 = 14400

The total amount paid will be equal to the sum of all monthly instalments. Therefore, we have

14400 ∗ k5a = I(k4a + k3a + k2a + ka + 1) .....(1)

12 1
where, k = 1 + 100 & a = 12

We know that, k5a − 1 = (k − 1)(k4a + k3a + k2a + ka + 1)

k5a−1
=>k4a + k3a + k2a + ka + 1 = k−1 ....(2)

Substituting in equation (1) we get

k−1
I = 14400 ∗ k5a ∗ [ k5a−1 ] ....(3)

On substituting the values of k and a in equation (3) we get

I ≈ 2965

Hence, option B.

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Question 56

When opening his fruit shop for the day a shopkeeper found that his stock of apples could be perfectly
arranged in a complete triangular array: that is, every row with one apple more than the row immediately
above, going all the way up ending with a single apple at the top.
During any sales transaction, apples are always picked from the uppermost row, and going below only
when that row is exhausted.
When one customer walked in the middle of the day she found an incomplete array in display having 126
apples totally. How many rows of apples (complete and incomplete) were seen by this customer? (Assume
that the initial stock did not exceed 150 apples.)

A 15

B 14

C 13

D 12

E 11

Answer: D

Explanation:
The stack of apples can be imagined as shown below. For every row, there is an increase of 1 apple from the previous
row.

This means that the sum total of the apples present in the stack will be sum of AP given as : 1,2,3,4.... ie the sum of
numbers from 1.
n×(n+1)
This is given by the formula S = 2

Since the initial number of apples was not more than 150, we find the maximum number of rows that was possible.

Let S be the total initial sum of apples in the cart.

We know that S ≤ 150

n×(n+1)
⇒ 2 ≤ 150
⇒ n × (n + 1) ≤ 300
⇒ n2 + n ≤ 300
Since the biggest number with square less than 300 is 17, we try to see if 17 works in the expression by hit and trial
method.

So, 17 x 18 = 306 > 300, therefore the maximum number of rows possible is not 17.

Since 306 is JUST over 300, let us check at 16.

So, 16 x 17 = 272 < 300, therefore the maximum number of rows possible is 16.

Let us tabulate the total number of apples present in the cart based on the number of rows :

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Since the total number of apples from row 15 is less than 126 (which was found by the customer), we can safely say
that the total number of rows of apples with the shopkeeper that day was 16.
16×17 n×(n+1)
Now, if 'n' rows of apples are sold, the total available apples can be calculated as : 2 − 2

Let us tabulate the result obtained in this case :

From the table we can see that when the customer saw 126 apples, the apples in the top 4 rows had been sold.

Therefore, the number of rows = 16 - 4 = 12 rows.

Question 57

Let P be the point of intersection of the lines

3x + 4y = 2a and 7x + 2y = 2018
and Q the point of intersection of the lines
3x + 4y = 2018 and 5x + 3y = 1
If the line through P and Q has slope 2, the value of a is:

A 4035

B 1/2

C 3026

D 1

E 1009

Answer: C

Explanation:
On solving for x and y from the equations

3x + 4y = 2018 and 5x + 3y = 1

we get Q(-550,917)

Let, P(x,y)
y−917
So, x+550 = 2

=> y - 2x = 2017 ....(1)

Considering the equations

3x + 4y = 2a ........(2)

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7x + 2y = 2018 .....(3)

On subtracting equation (2) from (3) we have,

4x - 2y = 2018 - 2a

=> 2x - y = 1009 - a

=> y - 2x = a -1009 .....(4)

From equation (1) and (4)

2017 = a - 1009

=> a = 3026

Hence, option C.

XAT Previous Papers

Question 58

Let C be a circle of radius 20 cm. Let L1, L2 be the lines given by 2x − y −1 = 0 and x + 2y−18 = 0,
respectively. Suppose that L1 passes through the center of C and that L2 is tangent to C at the point of
intersection of L1 and L2. If (a,b) is the center of C, which of the following is a possible value of a + b?

A 11

B 17

C 8

D 20

E 14

Answer: B

Explanation:

As mentioned in the question,

Lines L1 and L2 intersect at point P as shown in the figure.

On solving for x and y from equations

x + 2y - 18 = 0

2-y-1=0

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We get x = 4 and y =7.

Given, radius = 20
Using the equation of a circle, we have

(4 − a)2 + (7 − b)2 = 20
The only possible solution is 16 and 4.

Case 1:

(4 − a)2 = 16 & (7 − b)2 = 4

Possible values of a = 0,8 and b= 5,9 in any order

Possible sum values = 5,9,13 & 17

Case 2:

(4 − a)2 = 4 & (7 − b)2 = 16

Possible values of a = 2,6 and b= 3,11 in any order

Possible sum values = 5,9, 13 & 17

From the given options only B satisfies.

Hence, option B.

Question 59
log(97−56 3 )
log 7+4 3 equals which of the following?

A None of the others

B -2

C -4

D -3

E -5

Answer: C

Explanation:
Simplify the expression a bit to remove the root sign in the denominator

log 97 − 56 3
1
2 × (log 7 + 4 3)

log 97 − 56 3
⇒ 2 × log 7 + 4 3

To move further, let us see the root of the numerator.

Assume the root of the numberator to be a− b.

When we square it, we get a + b − (2 × a b) = a + b − 2 ab
comparing the value of terms under root with the terms in the numerator, we get

ab = 28 3 and a + b = 97
From solving this, we get to know that a = 7 and b = 4 3

log 7 − 4 3
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 log 7 − 4 3
Thus the expression can be written as 2 × 2 × log 7 + 4 3

log 7 − 4 3
⇒ 4 × log 7 + 4 3

Now, let us look at the reciprocal of the term in log in the denominator.
1 1 7−4 3
log 7 + 4 3 = log 7 + 4 3 × 7−4 3

7−4 3
⇒ 7 − (4 3)
2 2

7−4 3
⇒ 49 − 48 = 7 − 4 3

Thus the value of the expression can be further simplified as

(−1) × (7 + 4 3)
4× 7+4 3

⇒ 4 × (−1) = −4
Hence the correct answer is option C

Question 60
sin∠BAC
In the trapezium ABCD the sides AB and CD are parallel. The value of sin∠BAD is

BC
A AD

AB
B CD

AC
C CD

AD
D AC

AC
E AD

Answer: D

Explanation:
Construct a perpendicular in the trapezium. Let its height be 'h'

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 h
Now, sin∠BAC = AC

h
and sin∠BAD = AD
h
AC
sin∠BAC h AD
Thus, sin∠BAD = AD = AC

XAT Free Mock Test

Question 61

In the picture below, EFGH, ABCD are squares, and ABE, BCF, CDG, DAH are equilateral triangles. What is
the ratio of the area of the square EFGH to that of ABCD?

A 3+2

B 2+ 3

C 1+ 3

D 2+2

E 3+ 2
Answer: A

Explanation:
Let the sides of the smaller square be x units and the sides of the larger square be y units.

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Construct diagonal HF on the larger square. Let the point of intersection of AD and diagonal be I and point of
intersection of BC and diagonal be J.

We know that since EFGH is a square, the diagonal will bisect the angle. Therefore ∠EHF = 45o

Observe △AEH and △DHG :

AE=AH=DH=DG = x units and EH=HG= y units.

Thus by SSS property, △AEH ≅ △DHG

Thus, we know that ∠AHE= ∠DHG

Also, ∠AHE+ ∠DHG+∠AHD= 90o (angle of a square)

⇒ (2 × ∠AHE) + 60o = 90o (angle of an equilateral triangle)

⇒ (2 × ∠AHE) = 30o
⇒ ∠AHE = 15o
Since ∠AHE = 15o, ∠AHI = 45o − 15o = 30o
60o
Since 30o = 2 we can say that HF is the angle bisector of ∠AHD

Since △AHD is an equilateral triangle, we know that the angle bisector, median and altitude will all be the same line ie
HI in this case.

By symmetry, we know that JF will also be the angle bisector, median and altitude.
3×x
Also, length of altitude of equilateral triangle ie HI and JF = 2

Length of diagonal HF = 2×y

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From the figure, we can express the length of diagonal HF as given :
3×x 3×x
2×y= 2 +x+ 2

⇒ 2 × y = ( 3 × x) + x

⇒ 2 × y = x × ( 3 + 1)
3+1
⇒ y = x×( 2 )

y 3+1 4+2 3
2
Ratio of areas asked = ( x ) = ( 2 2
) = 2 =2+ 3

Question 62

What is the maximum number of points that can be placed on a circular disk of radius 1 metre (some of
the points could be placed on the bounding circle of the disk) such that no two points are at a distance of
less than 1 metre from each other?

A 6

B 9

C 7

D 8

E 5

Answer: C

Explanation:
In order to accommodate maximum number of points on the circular disk, all the points should be placed on the
boundary of the disk as any point if placed inside the boundary would be less than 1 metre apart from the centre of the
disk. Also, all the points have to be exactly 1 metre apart from each other to place maximum number of points. Hence,
a maximum of 6 points can be placed on the boundary of the disk (each adjacent points placed 60 degrees apart) and
1 point at the centre.

Hence, a total of 7 points can be placed on the disk.

Question 63

The figure below shows two right angled triangles ∆OAB and ∆OQP with right angles at vertex A and P,
respectively, having the common vertex O, The lengths of some of the sides are indicated in the figure.
(Note that the figure is not drawn to scale.) AB and OP are parallel.
What is ∠QOB?

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A tan−1 (2/3)

B 45°

C 30°

D tan−1 (3/2)

E 60°
Answer: B

Explanation:

The figure can be redrawn as shown above.

∵ AB and OP are parallel, POAC is a square.

In right △QCB, QB = 5
△QBO is an isosceles right angled triangle with ∠OQB = 90° (By Pythagoras theorem)
∴ ∠QOB = 45°

XAT Decision Making Mock Tests

Question 64

Consider the function f(x) = (x + 4)(x + 6)(x + 8) ⋯ (x + 98). The number of integers x for which f(x) < 0
is:

A 23

B 26

C 24

D 48

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E 49

Answer: C

Explanation:
The critical points of the function are -4, -6, -8, ... , -98 ( 48 points).

For all integers less than -98 and greater than -4 f(x) > 0 always .

for x= -5, f(x) < 0

Similarly, for x= -9, -13, ...., -97 (This is an AP with common difference -4)

Hence, in total there are 24 such integers satisfying f(x)< 0.

Question 65

Let ABC be an isosceles triangle. Suppose that the sides AB and AC are equal and let the length of AB be
x cm. Let b denote the angle ∠ABC and sin b = 3/5. If the area of the triangle ABC is M square cm, then
which of the following is true about M?

x2
A M< 4

3x2
B 4 ≤ M < x2

C M ≥ x2

x2 3x2
D 2 ≤M< 4

x2 x2
E 4 ≤M< 2

Answer: E

Explanation:

△ ABC can be represented as shown above where AD ⊥ BC

3
Given, Sin b = 5
3x 4x
Hence, AD = 5 and BD = 5
8x
Now, BC = 2 BD = 5
1 1 8x 3x 12x2
∴ area of △ ABC = 2 * BC * AD = 2 * 5 * 5 = 25

Only option E satisfies.

Hence, option E.

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Question 66

If x2 + x + 1 = 0, then x2018 + x2019 equals which of the following:

A x+1

B x

C −x

D None of the others

E x−1
Answer: C

Explanation:
We know that,

x3 − 1 = (x − 1)(x2 + x + 1)
Since, x2 + x + 1 = 0

∴ x3 − 1 = 0
=> x3 = 1

Now, x2018 + x2019

= (x3 )672 ∗ x2 + (x3 )673

= 1672 ∗ x2 + 1673

= x2 + 1

= -x

Hence, option C.

Download XAT Syllabus PDF

Question 67

We have two unknown positive integers m and n, whose product is less than 100.

There are two additional statement of facts available:

mn is divisible by six consecutive integers { j, j + 1,...,j + 5 }
m + n is a perfect square.

Which of the two statements above, alone or in combination shall be sufficient to determine the numbers
m and n?

A Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.

B Both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.

C Statement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

D Statements 1 and 2 together are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question.

E Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Answer: B

Explanation:
Given, m and n are two positive integers having product less than 100

Statement 1:

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mn is divisible by 6 consecutive integers. This means mn must be divisible by the LCM of these 6 integers its multiples.

Only numbers from 1 to 6 satisfy this with LCM 60. Any other set of 6 consecutive integers clearly exceeds 100 as its
LCM.

Only such number satisfying the condition is 60.

60 can further be expressed as the product of two positive integers in the following ways:

1 x 60, 2 x 30, 3 x 20, 4 x 15, 5 x 12 and 6 x 10.

So, no unique values of m and n can be determined from the above.

Statement 2:

m + n is a perfect square.

From this statement alone too no unique set of solutions can be determined.

From Statements 1 and 2:

Only the pair 6 x 10 satisfies the condition.

Hence, both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.

Question 68

A bag contains marbles of three colours-red, blue and green. There are 8 blue marbles in the bag.

There are two additional statement of facts available:

If we pull out marbles from the bag at random, to guarantee that we have at least 3 green marbles, we
need to extract 17 marbles.
If we pull out marbles from the bag at random, to guarantee that we have at least 2 red marbles, we need
to extract 19 marbles.

Which of the two statements above, alone or in combination shall be sufficient to answer the question
"how many green marbles are there in the bag"?

A Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

B Statement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

C Statements 1 and 2 together are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question.

D Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.

E Both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.

Answer: B

Explanation:
From statement 1:

Red + Blue + Green = 17

Since, this ensures that there are at least 3 green marbles, so, remaining marbles must be red and blue.

∴ Red + Blue = 17 - 3 = 14
Blue = 14 - Red = 14 - 8 = 6

But, this doesn't give us the total number of green marbles. So, statement 1 alone is not sufficient.

From statement 2:

Red + Blue + Green = 19

Since, this ensures that there are at least 2 red marbles, so, remaining marbles must be blue and green

∴ Blue + Green = 19 - 2 = 17
Again, Green = 17 - Blue = 17 - 8 = 9.

Hence, statement 2 alone is sufficient to answer the question.

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Instructions

The break-up of the students in a university by subject major is given in the polar pie-chart. The bar chart shows the
number of students who major in physics by geographic location.

Question 69

How many students major in chemistry?

A 200

B 175

C 170

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 190
D

E 180

Answer: B

Explanation:
Total number of Physics major from all locations = 225
225
∴ Total number of students = 0.18 = 1250

Number of students majoring in chemistry = 14 % * 1250 = 175

Hence, option B.

XAT Preparation Tips

Question 70

If the proportion of physics majors who are from Delhi is the same as the proportion of engineering
majors who are from Delhi, how many engineering majors are from Delhi?

A 22

B 26

C 18

D 20

E 24

Answer: D

Explanation:
Total number of Physics major from all locations = 225
225
∴ Total number of students = 0.18 = 1250

Number of engineering students = 20% * 1250 = 250

So, basis the given condition we have

18 x
225 = 250

=> x = 20

Hence, option D

(Note: This question has been presented as was in the actual paper and has been solved by the aid of visual inference)

Question 71

12% of all students are from Chennai. What is the largest possible percentage of economics students that
can be from Chennai, rounded off to the nearest integer?

A 73%

B 77%

C 75%

D 71%

E 69%

Answer: A

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Explanation:
Total number of Physics major from all locations = 225
225
∴ Total number of students = 0.18 = 1250

Students from Chennai = 12% * 1250 = 150

Given, number of Physics majors from chennai = 40

∴ maximum possible number of economic students from chennai = 150 - 40 = 110

110
Maximum percentage of students = 150 * 100 % = 73.33 %

Hence, option A.

Instructions

Given below is the time table for a trans-continental train that cuts across several time zones. All timings are in local
time in the respective cities. The average speed of the train between any two cities is the same in both directions.

Question 72

Which of the following pairs of cities are in the same time zone?

A Yag and Vaq

B Vaq and Sab

C Zut and Yag

D No pair of cities are in the same time zone.

E Sab and Raz

Answer: C

Explanation:

The above figure shows the time taken in hrs:min to travel between two consecutive cities both for upward and
downward journeys.

The difference in time between two consecutive cities will be the average of the difference in time taken for upward
and downward journeys.

So, the difference of time for different consecutive pairs can be found as below:

Z-Y:

For both up & down motions time difference is 0. Hence, Z & Y are in same time zone.

Y-V:

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Time taken for travelling from Y to V is less than that of from V to Y with a difference of 4 hrs. Hence, Y is 2 hours
ahead of V.

V-S:

Time taken for travelling from V to S is less than that of from S to V with a difference of 6 hrs. Hence, V is 3 hours
ahead of S.

S-R:

Time taken for travelling from S to R is less than that of from R to S with a difference of 2 hrs. Hence, S is 1 hour ahead
of R.

As shown above, only cities Zut and Yag are in same time-zone.

Hence, option C.

Important Formulas for XAT Download PDF

Question 73

What is the total time taken in minutes by the train to go from Zut to Raz?

A 22 hours, 40 minutes

B 28 hours, 40 minutes

C 16 hours, 40 minutes

D 20 hours, 40 minutes

E 24 hours, 40 minutes

Answer: A

Explanation:

The above figure shows the time taken in hrs:min to travel between two consecutive cities both for upward and
downward journeys.

The difference in time between two consecutive cities will be the average of the difference in time taken for upward
and downward journeys.

So, the difference of time for different consecutive pairs can be found as below:

Z-Y:

For both up & down motions time difference is 0. Hence, Z & Y are in same time zone.

Y-V:

Time taken for travelling from Y to V is less than that of from V to Y with a difference of 4 hrs. Hence, Y is 2 hours
ahead of V.

V-S:

Time taken for travelling from V to S is less than that of from S to V with a difference of 6 hrs. Hence, V is 3 hours
ahead of S.

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S-R:

Time taken for travelling from S to R is less than that of from R to S with a difference of 2 hrs. Hence, S is 1 hour ahead
of R.

Zut is 6 hours ahead of Rag. Also, the train departs from Zut at 6:00 am and arrives at Rag at 10:40 pm taking a total
of 16 hrs 40 min. Hence, the total time taken to travel from Zut to Rag is 22 hrs 40 min.

Hence, option A.

Question 74

What time is it at Yag when it is 12:00 noon at Sab?

A 5:00 pm

B 12:00 noon

C 9:30 am

D 7:00 am

E 2:30 pm

Answer: A

Explanation:

The above figure shows the time taken in hrs:min to travel between two consecutive cities both for upward and
downward journeys.

The difference in time between two consecutive cities will be the average of the difference in time taken for upward
and downward journeys.

So, the difference of time for different consecutive pairs can be found as below:

Z-Y:

For both up & down motions time difference is 0. Hence, Z & Y are in same time zone.

Y-V:

Time taken for travelling from Y to V is less than that of from V to Y with a difference of 4 hrs. Hence, Y is 2 hours
ahead of V.

V-S:

Time taken for travelling from V to S is less than that of from S to V with a difference of 6 hrs. Hence, V is 3 hours
ahead of S.

S-R:

Time taken for travelling from S to R is less than that of from R to S with a difference of 2 hrs. Hence, S is 1 hour ahead
of R.

It can be concluded that Yag is 5 hours ahead of Sab. Hence, it will be 5:00 Pm at Yag when it is 12 noon at Sab.

Hence, option A.

Download XAT GK PDF

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 General Knowledge
Instructions
For the following questions answer them individually

Question 75

Which of the following countries does not border the Mediterranean Sea?

A Portugal

B Greece

C Spain

D Italy

E France

Answer: A

Download XAT Current Affairs Questions & Answers PDF

Question 76

The Mumbai Interbank Bid Rate (MIBID) and the Mumbai Interbank Offer Rate (MIBOR) are yardsticks that
control which of the following financial markets?

A FOREX markets

B Commodities markets

C Derivatives market

D Insurance market

E Call Money market

Answer: E

Question 77

Name the city which was the capital of the ‘undivided’ Assam state immediately after independence.

A Aizawl

B Agartala

C Kohima

D Imphal

E Shillong

Answer: E

Question 78

Name the European country that signed a pact with India in March 2018 to deepen the cooperation in the
field of environment management. The deal also affirms a commitment to fight climate change.

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A France

B UK

C Netherlands

D Portugal

E Spain

Answer: A

XAT Daily Current Affairs

Question 79

Name the two countries with which India has inked agreements to enable the successful mission called
‘Gaganyaan’ that is slated for 2022.

A USA and China

B UK and USA

C France and Russia

D USA and France

E Russia and China

Answer: C

Question 80

The ‘Kyoto Protocol’ which was adopted in 1997 by several countries in Kyoto, Japan focusses on which of
the following aspects?

A Climate Change

B Repatriation of criminals

C Anti-terrorism

D Denuclearisation

E Free Trade Agreements

Answer: A

Question 81

Name the Russian leader whose name is synonymous with the two reforms of Glasnost and Perestroika.

A Yuri Andropov

B Leonid Brezhnev

C Konstantin Chernenko

D Boris Yeltsin

E Mikhail Gorbachev

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 Answer: E

XAT previous papers (download pdf)

Question 82

Name the Indian saint who wrote ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’.

A Satya Sai Baba

B Swami Abhedananda

C Sri Aurobindo

D Paramhansa Yogananda

E Hanuman Das Baba

Answer: D

Question 83

Sequence these four rivers in terms of their point of meeting the Bay of Bengal from north to south (i.e.
from Kolkata down southwards to Kanyakumari).

A Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, Cauvery

B Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery

C Krishna, Godavari, Mahanadi, Cauvery

D Godavari, Krishna, Mahanadi, Cauvery

E Mahanadi, Godavari, Cauvery, Krishna

Answer: B

Question 84

According to the World Bank, which country is the highest recipient of remittances?

A China

B Mexico

C Philippines

D India

E Egypt

Answer: D

XAT Previous Papers

Question 85

Of the five members listed from the erstwhile royal families of Kerala, one was a nationally known painter
and artist. In his name, every year the government of Kerala award people for their excellence in the field
of art and culture. Name this painter.

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A Marthanda Varma

B Chitra Thirunal

C Avittom Thirunal

D Sree Mulam Thirunal

E Raja Ravi Varma

Answer: E

Question 86

Of the five people listed below, four are Managing Directors and one is the Chairman of the State Bank of
India (SBI) as of October 2018. Who among the five is the Chairman of SBI?

A Rajnish Kumar

B Arijit Basu

C PK Gupta

D Dinesh Kumar Khara

E Anshula Kant

Answer: A

Question 87

The prestigious Horlicks brand of GlaxoSmithKline has been recently brought over by another mega
FMCG brand. Name the buyer company.

A Cavinkare

B Patanjali

C Nestle

D Dabur

E Hindustan Unilever

Answer: E

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Question 88

Which of the following countries is not a member of Union of European Football Association (UEFA)?

A Georgia

B Kazakhstan

C Azerbaijan

D Turkey

E Uzbekistan

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 Answer: E

Question 89

Which of the mobile service providers is going to launch GigaFiber broadband?

A Airtel

B Idea

C Vodafone

D Jio

E BSNL

Answer: D

Question 90

What is the common name of the acidic combination of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid that can actually
dissolve metals like gold and platinum?

A Aqua Pura

B Aqua Regia

C Aqua Fina

D Auro Dissolvo

E Aqua Aura

Answer: B

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Question 91

Viacom18 is a popular entertainment network of India. Which of these channels does not belong to
Viacom18?

A Colors

B Rishtey

C MTV

D Nickelodeon

E Disney International

Answer: E

Question 92

Republic of Armenia is a UN member state but is not recognized by one of the UN member states. Identify
the state.

A Russia

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 Georgia
B

C Azerbaijan

D Pakistan

E Iran

Answer: D

Question 93

The name of this dance and the name of the community that performs this dance is the same. It is a
Rajasthani folk dance and the intricate dance movements mimic the movement of snakes. Which dance
are we talking about?

A Lambadi dance

B Kalbelia dance

C Chhau dance

D Phag dance

E Bihu dance

Answer: B

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Question 94

Which of the following countries is the largest source of imports to India as on 31st March 2018?

A Switzerland

B Pakistan

C China

D Saudi Arabia

E USA

Answer: C

Question 95

Which of the following is a winter game which is very similar to Ice Hockey and is often considered as the
national sport of Russia?

A Pato

B Bandy

C Tejo

D Arnis

E Bubkashi

Answer: B

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Question 96

Which of the following liquids demonstrates a convex meniscus when confined within a glass tube?

A Water in an anomalous expansion state between 0-4° C

B Water at room temperature

C Olive oil

D Petroleum

E Mercury

Answer: E

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Question 97

Arrange these historical events in the order of their occurrence:

1. Introduction of Ryotwari System in India

2. Vernacular Press Act
3. Permanent settlement of Bengal
4. Introduction of Rowlatt Act

A iii, i, ii, iv

B i, ii, iv, iii

C i, iii, ii, iv

D i, iii, iv, ii

E iii, ii, i, iv

Answer: A

Question 98

What is Article 356 of Indian Constitution?

A Provision of special status to the state of Manipur.

B Provision of special status to the state of J & K.

C Suspension of Financial autonomy to a state.

D Provision of special status to the state of Arunachal.

E Imposition of President's Rule after the suspension of a state government.

Answer: E

Question 99

Which are the three sessions of the Parliament of India?

A New Year Session, Summer Session and Winter Session

B Budget Session, Diwali Session and Winter Session

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 Budget Session, Monsoon Session and Winter Session
C

D Summer Session, Monsoon Session and Winter Session

E Spring Session, Summer Session and Winter Session

Answer: C

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