11th Nov: 13 Days to CAT Verbal Bootcamp

CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC

Passage 1: Arrangement
Falsifiability doesn’t work as a blanket restriction in science for the simple reason that there are no
genuinely falsifiable scientific theories. I can come up with a theory that makes a prediction that looks
falsifiable, but when the data tell me it’s wrong, I can conjure some fresh ideas to plug the hole and
save the theory. The history of science is full of examples of this ex post facto intellectual engineering.
In 1781, William and Caroline Herschel discovered the planet Uranus. Physicists of the time promptly
set about predicting its orbit using Sir Isaac Newton’s law of universal gravitation. But in the following
decades, as astronomers followed Uranus’s motion in its slow 84-year orbit around the Sun, they
noticed that something was wrong. Uranus didn’t quite move as it should. Puzzled, they refined their
measurements, took more and more careful observations, but the anomaly didn’t go away. Newton’s
physics simply didn’t predict the location of Uranus over time. But astronomers of the day didn’t claim
that the unexpected data falsified Newtonian gravity. Instead, they proposed another explanation for
the strange motion of Uranus: something large and unseen was tugging on the planet. Calculations
showed that it would have to be another planet, as large as Uranus and even farther from the Sun. In
1846, the French astrophysicist Urbain Le Verrier predicted the location of this hypothetical planet.
Unable to get any French observatories interested in the hunt, he sent the details of his prediction to
colleagues in Germany. That night, they pointed their telescopes where Le Verrier had told them to
look, and within half an hour they spotted the planet Neptune. Newtonian physics, rather than being
falsified, had been fabulously vindicated – it had successfully predicted the exact location of an entire
unseen planet.Once again, Newtonian gravity was not thrown out as falsified – at least, not
immediately. Instead, Le Verrier tried the same trick again: pinning the anomaly on an unseen planet,
a tiny rock so close to the Sun that it had been missed by all other astronomers throughout human
history. He called the planet Vulcan, after the Roman god of the forge. Le Verrier and others sought
Vulcan for years, lugging powerful telescopes to solar eclipses in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the
unseen planet in the brief minutes of totality while the Sun was blocked by the Earth’s moon.It’s
certainly true that observation plays a crucial role in science. But this doesn’t mean that scientific
theories have to deal exclusively in observable things. For one, the line between the observable and
unobservable is blurry – what was once ‘unobservable’ can become ‘observable’, as the neutrino
shows. Sometimes, a theory that postulates the imperceptible has proven to be the right theory, and
is accepted as correct long before anyone devises a way to see those things.

Question 1: Based on the passage, which of the following best describes the author’s primary
argument regarding falsifiability in science?
A. Falsifiability is essential for the advancement of scientific theories.
B. No scientific theories are genuinely falsifiable.
C. Newtonian physics was ultimately falsified by the discovery of Neptune.
D. Observation is the only crucial element in scientific theory development.

Answer: B

Explanation: Option A: Falsifiability is essential for the advancement of scientific theories.

Explanation: This option suggests that the ability to falsify theories is crucial for scientific progress.
However, the author argues that no scientific theories are genuinely falsifiable because scientists

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
Arrangement
often find ways to adjust theories when anomalies arise. Therefore, this option is incorrect as it
misrepresents the author's primary argument.
Option B: No scientific theories are genuinely falsifiable.
Explanation: This option aligns with the author's primary argument. The author explains that theories
can be adjusted with new ideas to account for anomalies, as illustrated by the historical examples
involving Newtonian physics and the discovery of Neptune. Thus, this is the correct option as it
accurately reflects the author's stance on falsifiability.
Option C: Newtonian physics was ultimately falsified by the discovery of Neptune.
Explanation: This option is incorrect because the passage describes how the discovery of Neptune
actually vindicated Newtonian physics. When an anomaly in Uranus's orbit was observed, the
existence of Neptune was predicted and discovered based on Newtonian physics, thus supporting
rather than falsifying the theory.
Option D: Observation is the only crucial element in scientific theory development.
Explanation: While the passage acknowledges the importance of observation in science, it also
emphasizes that theories do not have to deal exclusively with observable things. The author argues
that scientific theories often involve unobservable elements and that what is considered
unobservable can become observable over time. Therefore, this option is incorrect because it
oversimplifies the author's view on the role of observation in science.

Question 2: What is the author's likely opinion on the use of ex post facto intellectual engineering in
science?
A. It is a valuable tool that enables the refinement and advancement of scientific theories.
B. It compromises the credibility and reliability of scientific research.
C. It should be minimized to preserve the falsifiability and objectivity of scientific theories.
D. It has rarely been beneficial and often obstructs genuine scientific progress.

Answer: A

Explanation: Option A: It is a valuable tool that enables the refinement and advancement of scientific
theories.
Explanation: This option suggests that the author views ex post facto intellectual engineering
positively, seeing it as a method for improving and advancing scientific theories. The passage
discusses how scientists often modify theories to account for new data and anomalies, such as the
discovery of Neptune. This indicates that the author sees this process as an integral and valuable part
of scientific progress. Therefore, this option is correct.
Option B: It compromises the credibility and reliability of scientific research.
Explanation: This option suggests that ex post facto intellectual engineering undermines the
trustworthiness of scientific research. The author does not indicate this viewpoint; instead, they
provide examples where modifying theories in light of new evidence led to significant scientific
advancements. Thus, this option is incorrect as it does not align with the author's perspective.
Option C: It should be minimized to preserve the falsifiability and objectivity of scientific theories.
Explanation: This option suggests that minimizing ex post facto intellectual engineering is necessary to
maintain the integrity of scientific theories. The author argues that no scientific theories are genuinely
falsifiable and highlights how theories are often adapted to fit new data. Therefore, this option is

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
incorrect because it contradicts theArrangement
author's argument that adapting theories is a natural and
essential part of scientific practice.
Option D: It has rarely been beneficial and often obstructs genuine scientific progress.
Explanation: This option suggests that ex post facto intellectual engineering is seldom useful and
typically hinders scientific advancement. The author's examples, such as the prediction and discovery
of Neptune, demonstrate how this process has led to significant scientific discoveries. Hence, this
option is incorrect as it misrepresents the author's view on the usefulness of this practice.

Question 3: What is the purpose of the example of Uranus's orbital anomaly given in the passage?
A. To illustrate how anomalies can lead to the dismissal of scientific theories.
B. To demonstrate the persistence of scientists in refining existing theories despite anomalies.
C. To show how scientific theories can predict new phenomena and be vindicated.
D. To highlight the limitations and inaccuracies in Newtonian physics.

Answer: B

Explanation: Option A: To illustrate how anomalies can lead to the dismissal of scientific theories.
Explanation: This option suggests that the example of Uranus's orbital anomaly demonstrates how
scientific theories are dismissed when anomalies are found. However, the passage shows that instead
of dismissing Newtonian physics, scientists refined their theories and proposed the existence of an
unknown planet, which led to the discovery of Neptune. Therefore, this option is incorrect.
Option B: To demonstrate the persistence of scientists in refining existing theories despite anomalies.
Explanation: This option highlights the scientists' efforts to refine and adjust existing theories in
response to anomalies. The passage discusses how scientists did not abandon Newtonian physics but
instead looked for explanations, such as the presence of another planet, to account for the observed
anomalies. This persistence ultimately led to significant discoveries. Therefore, this option is correct
as it accurately reflects the author's intent.
Option C: To show how scientific theories can predict new phenomena and be vindicated.
Explanation: This option suggests that the example shows how scientific theories can be validated by
predicting new phenomena. While the discovery of Neptune based on Newtonian physics did validate
the theory to an extent, the primary purpose of the example is to illustrate the process of refining
theories in light of new data, rather than solely predicting new phenomena. Hence, this option is not
the main focus of the passage and is incorrect.
Option D: To highlight the limitations and inaccuracies in Newtonian physics.
Explanation: This option implies that the example is meant to point out the flaws in Newtonian
physics. While the passage does mention that Newtonian physics initially failed to account for
Uranus's motion accurately, it ultimately emphasizes that the theory was validated by the discovery of
Neptune. Therefore, this option is incorrect as it does not fully capture the purpose of the example.

Question 4: The discovery of Uranus by William and Caroline Herschel has resulted in all of the
following EXCEPT:
A. The use of Newton's law of universal gravitation to predict Uranus's orbit.
B. The eventual discovery of the planet Neptune.
C. The immediate falsification of Newtonian physics due to orbital anomalies.
D. The proposal of another unseen planet to explain Uranus’s irregular motion.

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
Answer: C Arrangement
Explanation: Option A: The use of Newton's law of universal gravitation to predict Uranus's orbit.
Explanation: This option is correct because after the discovery of Uranus, scientists used Newton's law
of universal gravitation to predict its orbit. The passage clearly states that physicists attempted to
apply Newtonian physics to Uranus's motion. Therefore, this option accurately reflects the historical
events described in the passage.
Option B: The eventual discovery of the planet Neptune.
Explanation: This option is correct because the passage describes how the anomalies in Uranus's orbit
led scientists to propose the existence of another planet, which was eventually discovered and named
Neptune. The discovery of Neptune was a direct consequence of the efforts to understand Uranus's
irregular motion.
Option C: The immediate falsification of Newtonian physics due to orbital anomalies.
Explanation: This option is incorrect because the passage explains that instead of immediately
falsifying Newtonian physics, scientists refined their theories and proposed the existence of another
planet to explain the anomalies. Newtonian physics was not dismissed but rather adapted to account
for the new data. Hence, this option does not align with the passage and is the correct answer to the
question.
Option D: The proposal of another unseen planet to explain Uranus’s irregular motion.
Explanation: This option is correct because the passage details how scientists proposed the existence
of an unseen planet (Neptune) to account for the anomalies in Uranus's orbit. This proposal was
based on the assumption that another planet's gravitational influence was affecting Uranus's motion.

Passage 2:
Comparison, as Francesco De Sanctis said over a century ago, is the baby talk of criticism, even if it
comes out of the mouths of mature men.
As an evasion of the difficulty of being truthful, however, comparison is understandable. Stevens
knew that the difficulty of writing "a poem of the act of the mind" stemmed from the fact that such a
poem
“has to face the men of the time and to meet
The women of the time. It has to think about war
And it has to find what will suffice.’
Criticism of such arduous, truth-rendering poetry is itself extremely difficult. All critics must at times
be tempted to evade this difficulty by reducing the poem to a mere term in some arbitrarily fixed
relationship of comparison with another poem. For maximum comfort Bloom erects the temptation
into a theory of poetry and criticism. His theory that every poet is the son of another poet and that
the very life of his poems is that filial relationship is an evasion of reality for the sake of pleasure. It is
analogous to the pleasurable illusion-which must in part explain the popularity of psychiatry now in
America-that each of us has a father in relation to whom the essence of his life is manifest, whereas in
reality our anxiety is the result of our not, any of us, having such a father.
The essence of the action of a man-in contrast to the act of "Psychological Man"-is that, as part of the
experience of articulating his deepest feelings (inclusive of all the burdens of the past, the present,
and the future) in poetry or criticism or in action, he is active questioningly judging that articulation
and modifying it in accordance with that judging. The individuality, the uniqueness, of any truly
human action is a quality of that normative, criteriological, adjudicating act of thinking. In themselves,

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
Arrangement
one's feelings and even his articulation of those feelings are almost certain to be commonplace and
conventional. They take on depth and sharpness only as part of the shaping action of one's most
strenuous thinking. The psyche is by definition criteriological, and much psychology has been limited
to noncriteriological behavior, the behavior of men who have broken down men and are acting like
rats and pigeons. Freudian psychology, however, inflates the psyche so that it encompasses all human
behaviour; at a stroke, it wipes out the possibility of judging one's acts and thoughts individually as a
crucial part of those very acts and thoughts.
The main strength of ‘The Anxiety of Influence’ is Bloom's conception of poetic composition as a
dramatic conflict between a late poet and his precursor. Because of his Freudian model, however
Bloom is incapable of recognizing a poem as dramatic for either late poet or his precursor; it is so only
for the even later critic-analyst of the poem in question.
In the act of making which is embodied in a poem, the poet is for Bloom solipsistic; he does not
embody the living otherness of his precursor, but only a distortion of that otherness that makes it a
part of the poet's own self-begotten self. Because the poet lacks both self- and other-awareness, the
truth that reveals his distortion to be error can be discerned only by a later critic-analyst. Of course,
because the critic-analyst will be unaware of his own precursor, his discernment of truth will itself be
revealed to be another error.
So, as Bloom claims, all interpretation is misinterpretation, and criticism is prose poetry.

Question 5: Which one of the following sets of words is closest to mapping the main arguments of
the passage?
A. Psychological conflict; Psychoanalysis; Distortion.
B. Artistic creation; Criticism; Misinterpretation.
C. Poetic expression; Authority; Self-awareness.
D. Influence; Authorial intent; Literary theory.

Answer: B

Explanation:
Correct Answer: B. Artistic creation; Criticism; Misinterpretation
Why it’s correct: The passage discusses the act of creating poetry (artistic creation), the difficulty of
truthful criticism, and how all interpretation is ultimately misinterpretation. These themes align well
with the words "Artistic creation," "Criticism," and "Misinterpretation."
Option A: Psychological conflict; Psychoanalysis; Distortion
Why it’s incorrect: While there is some mention of psychological elements (Freudian influence), the
passage is not primarily about psychological conflict or psychoanalysis. The focus is more on literary
creation, criticism, and misinterpretation, not on psychological analysis or distortion.
Option C: Poetic expression; Authority; Self-awareness
Why it’s incorrect: "Poetic expression" is a theme, but "authority" and "self-awareness" are not
central to the passage. The focus is on literary influence and the challenges of criticism, not on
authority or self-awareness in the way this option suggests.
Option D: Influence; Authorial intent; Literary theory
Why it’s incorrect: Influence is discussed, but "authorial intent" is not a primary focus. The passage
critiques Bloom's theory, but it doesn’t emphasize "authorial intent" or "literary theory" in the sense

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
and misinterpretation.
Arrangement
this option implies. The passage is more concerned with the relationship between criticism, creation,

Question 6: "Bloom's theory that every poet is the son of another poet and that the very life of his
poems is that filial relationship is an evasion of reality for the sake of pleasure." Which one of the
following interpretations of this sentence would be closest in meaning to the original passage?
A. Bloom’s theory presents an oversimplified view of poetic creation, reducing it to a mere imitation
of past poets.
B. Bloom’s theory contends that poetry is a direct continuation of prior works, which stifles creativity.
C. Bloom’s theory focuses on the emotional bond between poets and their precursors rather than
objective creation.
D. Bloom’s theory suggests that the nature of poetry is psychological and rooted in familial
relationships.

Answer: D

Explanation: Option A: Bloom’s theory presents an oversimplified view of poetic creation, reducing it
to a mere imitation of past poets.
Why it’s incorrect: While Bloom’s theory may involve influence, it’s not necessarily about mere
imitation. The theory suggests a complex relationship between poets, not simply reducing it to
imitation. The sentence does not imply that Bloom's theory is oversimplified in that way.
Option B: Bloom’s theory contends that poetry is a direct continuation of prior works, which stifles
creativity.
Why it’s incorrect: The original sentence doesn’t focus on "stifling creativity." It focuses on the filial
relationship between poets and suggests that Bloom’s theory avoids the real complexity of poetic
creation. The idea of direct continuation is mentioned but isn't the central critique.
Major point to note is that its not reducing creativity it is evading from reality.
Option C: Bloom’s theory focuses on the emotional bond between poets and their precursors rather
than objective creation.
Why it’s incorrect: The original sentence critiques Bloom’s theory as an evasion of reality and
mentions filial relationship, but it does not suggest that Bloom’s theory is about focusing on an
emotional bond instead of objective creation. The issue is not about emotions, but rather how the
theory simplifies and avoids the true complexity of poetry.
Option D: Bloom’s theory suggests that the nature of poetry is entirely psychological and rooted in
familial relationships.
Why it’s correct: The sentence mentions that Bloom's theory sees poets as the "sons" of other poets,
with their poems being defined by this familial relationship. The theory is indeed psychological
(rooted in Freudian thought) and involves a familial framework. The critique is that this evasion of
reality for pleasure simplifies the complexity of poetic creation, which aligns with the meaning of this
option.
Conclusion:
The correct answer is D. It directly captures the psychological and familial nature of Bloom’s theory,
which is critiqued as an evasion of reality for comfort.

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
EXCEPT:
Arrangement
Question 7: All of the following statements may be considered valid inferences from the passage,

A. It is not inaccurate to say that the poet's relationship with their precursor is an inherent part of the
creative process.
B. It is not untrue to claim that Bloom's theory suggests poetic creation is inherently conflict-driven,
with the poet constantly negotiating their predecessor’s influence.
C. It is correct to argue that criticism serves as a vehicle for revealing the poet’s misinterpretation of
their precursor's influence.
D. It is not incorrect to suggest that the passage supports the idea that criticism inherently exposes
objective truths about the poet's work.

Answer: D

Explanation: Option A: It is not inaccurate to say that the poet's relationship with their precursor is an
essential and inherent part of the creative process.
Why it’s valid: The passage acknowledges Bloom’s theory, which holds that the relationship between
the poet and their precursor is crucial in the poetic process. Even though the passage critiques this
theory as an evasion of reality, it does not deny that this relationship is central to Bloom’s theory.
Therefore, this inference is valid because it reflects the idea that Bloom views this relationship as
essential.
Option B: It is not untrue to claim that Bloom's theory suggests poetic creation is inherently conflict-
driven, with the poet constantly negotiating their predecessor’s influence.
Why it’s valid: The passage describes Bloom’s theory as portraying poetic creation as a conflict
between poets and their precursors. The poet is seen as negotiating and responding to the influence
of past poets. This conflict is indeed central to Bloom's theory and accurately reflected in the passage.
So, this inference is valid.
Option C: It is correct to argue that criticism serves as a vehicle for revealing the poet’s
misinterpretation of their precursor's influence.
Why it’s valid: The passage clearly states that criticism reveals misinterpretation. The passage even
argues that all interpretation is a misinterpretation, and that criticism helps identify this misreading.
Therefore, this inference is valid.
Option D: It is not incorrect to suggest that the passage supports the idea that criticism inherently
exposes objective truths about the poet's work.
Why it’s invalid: This is where the discrepancy lies. The passage does not suggest that criticism reveals
objective truths. Rather, it argues that criticism is flawed and often reveals misinterpretation. The
passage mentions that criticism, due to its inability to recognize its own influences, cannot expose
objective truths, and instead leads to further misinterpretation. Therefore, the passage contradicts
the idea that criticism reveals objective truths.
Conclusion:
Option D is the correct answer because it misrepresents the passage’s argument. The passage argues
that criticism does not reveal objective truths but is instead an act of misinterpretation, making this
option the incorrect inference.

Question 8: Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument in the penultimate
paragraph?

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
than reveal, any deeper truth.
Arrangement
A. If poetry is truly a distortion of the precursor’s influence, then it must inherently obscure, rather

B. If Bloom’s theory of poetic influence accurately reflects the creative process, the poet’s failure to
embody their precursor’s living otherness could be excused as part of their inevitable self-expression.
C. If the poet’s relationship to their precursor is entirely self-begotten, then the act of distortion
becomes irrelevant in the creative process.
D. If the notion of a critic misinterpreting the poet’s work is inherently flawed, then criticism would
have no value in the analysis of a poem’s true meaning.

Answer: A

Explanation: Penultimate Paragraph Recap:

The penultimate paragraph discusses how, according to Bloom, the poet does not truly embody their
precursor's influence but instead distorts it, making it a part of their own self-begotten self. The poet
lacks both self-awareness and awareness of their precursor, and the truth about this distortion can
only be recognized by a later critic-analyst. This view presents the poet’s act as solipsistic and
emphasizes misinterpretation.
Option A: If poetry is truly a distortion of the precursor’s influence, then it must inherently obscure,
rather than reveal, any deeper truth.
Why it weakens the argument: This option directly challenges the idea that the poet’s distortion of
their precursor’s influence can reveal deeper truth. The argument in the penultimate paragraph
depends on the idea that the poet distorts their precursor’s influence, and this misinterpretation
(distortion) leads to a further understanding, as revealed by a critic. If the distortion obscures rather
than reveals truth, it would undermine the argument about the critic’s role in revealing truth from
this distortion. This would weaken the claim in the penultimate paragraph, as it contradicts the idea
that misinterpretation can eventually be illuminated by criticism.
Option B: If Bloom’s theory of poetic influence accurately reflects the creative process, the poet’s
failure to embody their precursor’s living otherness could be excused as part of their inevitable self-
expression.
Why it doesn't weaken the argument: This option suggests that the poet’s failure to accurately
embody their precursor’s influence could be justified as part of the poet’s personal expression. While
it challenges Bloom’s theory, it does not directly weaken the argument in the penultimate paragraph.
The paragraph argues that the poet’s distortion of their precursor’s influence is due to a lack of
awareness, and this idea remains intact in this option, which only addresses the nature of the failure
rather than undermining the role of misinterpretation in Bloom's theory.
Option C: If the poet’s relationship to their precursor is entirely self-begotten, then the act of
distortion becomes irrelevant in the creative process.
Why it weakens the argument: This option suggests that if the poet’s relationship to the precursor is
entirely self-begotten, there is no need for distortion. If the act of distortion is irrelevant, then the
whole argument in the penultimate paragraph, which revolves around distortion being central to the
poet’s creation, becomes undermined. The self-begotten nature of the poet’s work would remove the
need for any conflict or distortion, weakening the argument that criticism can reveal truth through
this distortion. Therefore, this option weakens the argument in the penultimate paragraph.
Option D: If the notion of a critic misinterpreting the poet’s work is inherently flawed, then criticism
would have no value in the analysis of a poem’s true meaning.

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
Why it weakens the argument: TheArrangement
penultimate paragraph relies heavily on the idea that critics
misinterpret the poet's work (i.e., criticism itself is often flawed and results in misinterpretation). If
this misinterpretation is inherently flawed, then the critic’s role in revealing deeper truths through
this misinterpretation would be undermined. This would significantly weaken the argument that
criticism can uncover the truth about the poet’s work, since it negates the possibility of critics
providing meaningful insights. Therefore, this option weakens the argument in the penultimate
paragraph.
Conclusion:
The correct answer is Option A because it most directly weakens the central claim of the penultimate
paragraph: that the poet's distortion of their precursor's influence can ultimately reveal deeper
truths. If distortion only obscures truth, then the entire process of misinterpretation and revelation
falls apart.

Actual CAT Passage 3:

War, natural disasters and climate change are destroying some of the world's most precious cultural
sites. Google is trying to help preserve these archaeological wonders by allowing users access to 3D
images of these treasures through its site.
But the project is raising questions about Google's motivations and about who should own the digital
copyrights. Some critics call it a form of "digital colonialism."
When it comes to archaeological treasures, the losses have been mounting. ISIS blew up parts of the
ancient city of Palmyra in Syria and an earthquake hit Bagan, an ancient city in Myanmar, damaging
dozens of temples, in 2016. In the past, all archaeologists and historians had for restoration and
research were photos, drawings, remnants and intuition.
But that's changing. Before the earthquake at Bagan, many of the temples on the site were scanned. .
. . [These] scans . . . are on Google's Arts & Culture site. The digital renditions allow viewers to virtually
wander the halls of the temple, look up-close at paintings and turn the building over, to look up at its
chambers. . . . [Google Arts & Culture] works with museums and other nonprofits . . . to put high-
quality images online.
The images of the temples in Bagan are part of a collaboration with CyArk, a nonprofit that creates
the 3D scanning of historic sites. . . . Google . . . says [it] doesn't make money off this website, but it
fits in with Google's mission to make the world's information available and useful.
Critics say the collaboration could be an attempt by a large corporation to wrap itself in the sheen of
culture. Ethan Watrall, an archaeologist, professor at Michigan State University and a member of the
Society for American Archaeology, says he's not comfortable with the arrangement between CyArk
and Google. . . . Watrall says this project is just a way for Google to promote Google. "They want to
make this material accessible so people will browse it and be filled with wonder by it," he says. "But at
its core, it's all about advertisements and driving traffic." Watrall says these images belong on the site
of a museum or educational institution, where there is serious scholarship and a very different
mission. . . .
[There's] another issue for some archaeologists and art historians. CyArk owns the copyrights of the
scans — not the countries where these sites are located. That means the countries need CyArk's
permission to use these images for commercial purposes.
Erin Thompson, a professor of art crime at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, says
it's the latest example of a Western nation appropriating a foreign culture, a centuries-long battle. . . .
CyArk says it copyrights the scans so no one can use them in an inappropriate way. The company says

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
Arrangement
it works closely with authorities during the process, even training local people to help. But critics like
Thompson are not persuaded. . . . She would prefer the scans to be owned by the countries and
people where these sites are located. (CAT 2019)

Question 9: Based on his views mentioned in the passage, one could best characterise Dr. Watrall as
being:
A. opposed to the use of digital technology in archaeological and cultural sites in developing
countries.
B. dismissive of laypeople’s access to specialist images of archaeological and cultural sites.
C. uneasy about the marketing of archaeological images for commercial use by firms such as Google
and CyArk.
D. critical about the links between a non-profit and a commercial tech platform for distributing
archaeological images.

Answer - D

Explanation: The passage states that Dr. Watrall is ‘not comfortable’ about the arrangement between
CyArk and Google as he sees the project as ‘a way for Google to promote Google’, and, at its core,
‘about advertisements and driving traffic.’
Options A is easily ruled out, as Dr. Watrall is not opposed to the use digital technology in
archaeological sites.
Option B is also incorrect. The fact that Dr. Watrall would like the images to belong to a museum or
educational institution ‘where there is serious scholarship’ does not automatically imply that he is
dismissive of laypeople’s access to specialist images.
Option C is incorrect as well. From the passage we gather that CyArk is a non-profit organisation that
creates the 3D scanning of historic sites and that Google does not make money off the website.
Option 3 labels both Google and CyArk as firms interested in the marketing of archaeological images
for commercial use. This is false.
Option D—that Dr. Watrall is critical about the links between a non-profit and a commercial tech
platform for distributing archaeological images—is the correct choice.

Question 10: By “digital colonialism”, critics of the CyArk–Google project are referring to the fact
that:
A. CyArk and Google have been scanning images without copyright permission from host countries.
B. the scanning process can damage delicate frescos and statues at the sites.
C. countries where the scanned sites are located do not own the scan copyrights.
D. CyArk and Google have not shared the details of digitisation with the host countries.

Answer - C

Explanation: Note the context in which ‘digital colonialism’ is mentioned in the passage: ‘...the project
is raising questions about Google's motivations and about who should own the digital copyrights.
Some critics call it a form of "digital colonialism."’ The problem, according to the passage, is that the
countries need CyArk's permission to use the images for commercial purposes.’ So, ‘digital
colonialism’ is about the appropriation of the scan copyrights by CyArk-Google.

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
objections?
Arrangement
Question 11: Which of the following, if true, would most strongly invalidate Dr. Watrall’s

A. Google takes down advertisements on its website hosting CyArk’s scanned images.
B. There is a ban on CyArk scanning archeological sites located in other countries.
C. CyArk does not own the copyright on scanned images of archaeological sites.
D. CyArk uploads its scanned images of archaeological sites onto museum websites only.

Answer - D

Explanation: In Dr. Watrall’s view, the CyArk-Google project is about Google promoting itself and
benefitting through advertisements and traffic. Dr. Watrall believes these images, instead, belong on
the site of a museum or educational institution, ‘where there is serious scholarship and a very
different mission’. His concern relates, primarily, to how the images are put to use.
If CyArk uploads its scanned images of archaeological sites onto museum websites, Dr. Watrall’s
objections are invalidated.
Option A talks about Google’s advertisements on the website hosting CyArk’s scanned images. This
only addresses a very small part of the issue raised by Dr. Watrall.
Option B too is incorrect. Dr. Watrall is not opposed to CyArk scanning archaeological sites but is
concerned about how the images are used.
Option C is tempting, but incorrect. Dr. Watrall does not raise the issue of copyrights—this is
discussed later in the passage.

Question 12: In Dr. Thompson’s view, CyArk owning the copyright of its digital scans of
archaeological sites is akin to:
A. tourists uploading photos of monuments onto social media.
B. the seizing of ancient Egyptian artefacts by a Western museum.
C. the illegal downloading of content from the internet.
D. digital platforms capturing users’ data for market research.

Answer - B

Explanation: Option b aligns with Dr. Thompson’s view that CyArk’s ownership of the digital scans is a
form of cultural appropriation, similar to how Western museums historically took possession of
artifacts from other cultures. She suggests that these digital scans should belong to the countries and
people from where these cultural sites originate, rather than a Western organization retaining
control. The other options do not capture the same sense of cultural ownership and appropriation.

Question 13: Of the following arguments, which one is LEAST likely to be used by the companies
that digitally scan cultural sites?
A. It enables people who cannot physically visit these sites to experience them.
B. It helps preserve precious images in case the sites are damaged or destroyed.
C. It allows a large corporation to project itself as a protector of culture.
D. It provides images free of cost to all users.

Answer - C

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
Arrangement
Explanation: The question asks us to choose the argument that is least likely to be used by the
companies that digitally scan cultural sites.
Companies that digitally scan cultural sites will choose to argue that it enables people who cannot
physically visit these sites to experience them, that it helps to preserve precious images in case the
sites are damaged or destroyed and that it provides images free of cost to all users.
These companies, however, would not like it to be generally known that this project is a good way for
them acquire a sheen of culture.

Actual CAT Passage 4:

Back in the early 2000s, an awesome thing happened in the New X-Men comics. Our mutant heroes
had been battling giant robots called Sentinels for years, but suddenly these mechanical overlords
spawned a new threat: Nano-Sentinels! Not content to rule Earth with their metal fists, these tiny
robots invaded our bodies at the microscopic level. Infected humans were slowly converted into
machines, cell by cell.
Now, a new wave of extremely odd robots is making at least part of the Nano-Sentinels story come
true. Using exotic fabrication materials like squishy hydrogels and elastic polymers, researchers are
making autonomous devices that are often tiny and that could turn out to be more powerful than an
army of Terminators. Some are 1-centimetre blobs that can skate over water. Others are flat sheets
that can roll themselves into tubes, or matchstick-sized plastic coils that act as powerful muscles. No,
they won't be invading our bodies and turning us into Sentinels - which I personally find a little
disappointing - but some of them could one day swim through our bloodstream to heal us. They could
also clean up pollutants in water or fold themselves into different kinds of vehicles for us to drive. . . .
Unlike a traditional robot, which is made of mechanical parts, these new kinds of robots are made
from molecular parts. The principle is the same: both are devices that can move around and do things
independently. But a robot made from smart materials might be nothing more than a pink drop of
hydrogel. Instead of gears and wires, it's assembled from two kinds of molecules - some that love
water and some that avoid it - which interact to allow the bot to skate on top of a pond.
Sometimes these materials are used to enhance more conventional robots. One team of researchers,
for example, has developed a different kind of hydrogel that becomes sticky when exposed to a low-
voltage zap of electricity and then stops being sticky when the electricity is switched off. This putty-
like gel can be pasted right onto the feet or wheels of a robot. When the robot wants to climb a sheer
wall or scoot across the ceiling, it can activate its sticky feet with a few volts. Once it is back on a flat
surface again, the robot turns off the adhesive like a light switch.
Robots that are wholly or partly made of gloop aren't the future that I was promised in science fiction.
But it's definitely the future I want. I'm especially keen on the nanometre-scale "soft robots" that
could one day swim through our bodies. Metin Sitti, a director at the Max Planck Institute for
Intelligent Systems in Germany, worked with colleagues to prototype these tiny, synthetic beasts
using various stretchy materials, such as simple rubber, and seeding them with magnetic
microparticles. They are assembled into a finished shape by applying magnetic fields. The results look
like flowers or geometric shapes made from Tinkertoy ball and stick modelling kits. They're guided
through tubes of fluid using magnets, and can even stop and cling to the sides of a tube. (CAT 2021)

Question 14: Which one of the following statements best summarises the central point of the
passage?

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
A. Once the stuff of science fiction,Arrangement
nano-robots now feature in cutting-edge scientific research.
B. Robots will use nano-robots on their feet and wheels to climb walls or move on ceilings.
C. The field of robotics is likely to be featured more and more in comics like the New X-Men.
D. Nano-robots made from molecules that react to water have become increasingly useful.

Answer - A

Explanation: Option a best captures the main idea of the passage, which is the emergence of nano-
robots, once imagined in science fiction, as real tools in advanced scientific research. The passage
discusses various types of tiny robots and their potential applications, linking these developments to
science fiction concepts like Nano-Sentinels. Options b, c, and d focus on specific details that do not
encompass the central theme of the passage.

Question 15: Which one of the following statements best captures the sense of the first paragraph?
A. People who were infected by Nano-Sentinel robots became mutants who were called X-Men.
B. None of the options listed here.
C. Tiny sentinels called X-Men infected people, turning them into mutant robot overlords.
D. The X-Men were mutant heroes who now had to battle tiny robots called Nano-Sentinels.

Answer - D

Explanation: About the New X-Men, the first paragraph says that 'Our mutant heroes had been
battling giant robots called Sentinels for years, but suddenly these mechanical overlords spawned a
new threat: Nano-Sentinels!' So, option D is true

Question 16: Which one of the following scenarios, if false, could be seen as supporting the
passage?
A. Nano-Sentinel-like robots are likely to be used to inject people to convert them into robots, cell by
cell.
B. There are two kinds of molecules used to make some nano-robots: one that reacts positively to
water and the other negatively.
C. Robots made from smart materials are likely to become part of our everyday lives in the future.
D. Some hydrogels turn sticky when an electric current is passed through them; this potentially has
very useful applications.

Answer - A

Explanation: The passage mentions that while Nano-Sentinels (tiny robots) could be useful in
applications such as swimming through the bloodstream to heal people, it humorously dismisses the
idea of them turning humans into robots, which is what the X-Men comic scenario portrayed. If A
were false — meaning that Nano-Sentinels are not likely to be used for converting people into robots
— it would support the passage, which does not suggest the robots would turn people into machines
but rather serve positive purposes like healing or pollution cleanup.
B, C, and D all align with details in the passage and are not scenarios that would challenge or
contradict its content.

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
Arrangement
Question 17: Which one of the following statements, if true, would be the most direct extension of
the arguments in the passage?
A. In the future, robots will be used to search and destroy diseases even in the deepest recesses of
the human body.
B. Sentinel robots will be used in warfare to cause large-scale destructive mutations amongst civilians.
C. X-Men may be created by injecting people with mutant nano-gels that will respond to the brain's
magnetic field.
D. 1-centimetre blobs of gel that have nano-robots in them will be used to send messages.

Answer - A

Explanation: The passage discusses the potential for nano-robots, particularly soft robots, to swim
through the bloodstream and perform tasks like healing or even cleaning up pollutants. The extension
of this idea into using robots to “search and destroy diseases” aligns directly with the passage’s theme
of using such robots in medical applications to improve health and function within the body.
B, C, and D introduce ideas that are either speculative in a negative, fictional sense (like warfare or
mutation) or not supported by the passage’s focus on beneficial uses of nano-robots (like sending
messages), so they don’t directly extend the passage’s main argument.

Actual CAT Passage 5:

A game of strategy, as currently conceived in game theory, is a situation in which two or more
“players” make choices among available alternatives (moves). The totality of choices determines the
outcomes of the game, and it is assumed that the rank order of preferences for the outcomes is
different for different players. Thus the “interests” of the players are generally in conflict. Whether
these interests are diametrically opposed or only partially opposed depends on the type of game.
Psychologically, most interesting situations arise when the interests of the players are partly
coincident and partly opposed, because then one can postulate not only a conflict among the players
but also inner conflicts within the players. Each is torn between a tendency to cooperate, so as to
promote the common interests, and a tendency to compete, so as to enhance his own individual
interests. Internal conflicts are always psychologically interesting. What we vaguely call “interesting”
psychology is in very great measure the psychology of inner conflict. Inner conflict is also held to be an
important component of serious literature as distinguished from less serious genres. The classical
tragedy, as well as the serious novel, reveals the inner conflict of central figures. The superficial
adventure story, on the other hand, depicts only external conflict; that is, the threats to the person
with whom the reader (or viewer) identifies stem in these stories exclusively from external obstacles
and from the adversaries who create them. On the most primitive level this sort of external conflict is
psychologically empty. In the fisticuffs between the protagonists of good and evil, no psychological
problems are involved or, at any rate, none are depicted in juvenile representations of conflict.
The detective story, the “adult” analogue of a juvenile adventure tale, has at times been described as
a glorification of intellectualized conflict. However, a great deal of the interest in the plots of these
stories is sustained by withholding the unraveling of a solution to a problem. The effort of solving the
problem is in itself not a conflict if the adversary (the unknown criminal) remains passive, like Nature,
whose secrets the scientist supposedly unravels by deduction. If the adversary actively puts obstacles
in the detective’s path toward the solution, there is genuine conflict. But the conflict is psychologically

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
interesting only to the extent that itArrangement
contains irrational components such as a tactical error on the
criminal’s part or the detective’s insight into some psychological quirk of the criminal or something of
this sort. Conflict conducted in a perfectly rational manner is psychologically no more interesting than
a standard Western. For example, Tic-tac-toe, played perfectly by both players, is completely devoid
of psychological interest. Chess may be psychologically interesting but only to the extent that it is
played not quite rationally. Played completely rationally, chess would not be different from Tic-tac-
toe.
In short, a pure conflict of interest (what is called a zero-sum game) although it offers a wealth of
interesting conceptual problems, is not interesting psychologically, except to the extent that its
conduct departs from rational norms. (CAT 2005)

Question 18: According to the passage, internal conflicts are psychologically more interesting than
external conflicts because
A. internal conflicts, rather than external conflicts, form an important component of serious literature
as distinguished from less serious genres.
B. only juveniles or very few “adults” actually experience external conflict, while internal conflict is
more widely prevalent in society.
C. in situations of internal conflict, individuals experience a dilemma in resolving their own
preferences for different outcomes.
D. there are no threats to the reader (or viewer in case of external conflicts

Answer - C

Explanation: Option c best explains why internal conflicts are psychologically more interesting. The
passage suggests that internal conflicts involve a dilemma within individuals as they struggle to
balance competing preferences, making such conflicts complex and relatable. This aligns with the
passage’s point that internal conflicts are engaging because they reveal the individual’s inner struggle.

Question 19: Which, according to the author, would qualify as interesting psychology?
A. A statistician’s dilemma over choosing the best method to solve an optimisation problem.
B. A chess player’s predicament over adopting a defensive strategy against an aggressive opponent.
C. A mountaineer’s choice of the best path to Mt. Everest from the base camp.
D. A finance manager’s quandary over the best way of raising money from the market

Answer - B

Explanation: Option b qualifies as interesting psychology according to the author because it involves a
situation where the chess player must choose between competing strategies (defensive vs.
aggressive) in response to an opponent’s tactics. This creates an inner conflict influenced by external
factors, which aligns with the author’s view that psychologically interesting situations arise from
internal conflicts influenced by external dynamics. The other options are more technical decisions
without the element of psychological conflict.

Question 20: According to the passage, which of the following options about the application of
game theory to a conflict of-interest situation is true?

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
A. Assuming that the rank order of Arrangement
preferences for options is different for different players.
B. Accepting that the interests of different players are often in conflict.
C. Not assuming that the interests are in complete disagreement.
D. All of the above.

Answer - D

Explanation: Option d is correct because the passage states that game theory assumes (1) the rank
order of preferences differs between players, (2) players’ interests are often in conflict, and (3)
interests may not always be in complete opposition. Therefore, all the statements in options a, b, and
c are true according to the passage, making option d the best answer.

Question 21: The problem-solving process of a scientist is different from that of a detective because
A. scientists’ study inanimate objects, while detectives deal with living criminals or law offenders.
B. scientists study known objects, while detectives have to deal with unknown criminals or law
offenders.
C. scientists study phenomena that are not actively altered, while detectives deal with phenomena
that have been deliberately influenced to mislead.
D. scientists study psychologically interesting phenomena, while detectives deal with
“adult”analogues of juvenile adventure tales.

Answer - C

Explanation: Option c best captures the difference between the problem-solving processes of a
scientist and a detective, as described in the passage. Scientists study natural phenomena that remain
unchanged and unaltered, whereas detectives investigate cases where criminals may have actively
introduced misleading elements. This intentional alteration in a detective’s case adds complexity that
differs from the natural, passive nature of scientific inquiry.

Actual CAT Passage 6:

Understanding where you are in the world is a basic survival skill, which is why we, like most species
come hard-wired with specialized brain areas to create cognitive maps of our surroundings. Where
humans are unique, though, with the possible exception of honeybees, is that we try to communicate
this understanding the world with others. We have along history of doing this by drawing maps – the
earliest version yet discovered were scrawled on cave walls 14,000 years ago. Human cultures have
been drawing them on stone tablets, papyrus, paper and now computer screens ever since.
Given such a long history of human map-making, it perhaps surprising that is only within the last few
hundred years that north has been consistently considered to be at the top. In fact, for much of
human history, north almost never appeared at the top, according to Jerry Brotton, a map historian...
“North was rarely put at the top for the simple fact that north is where darkness comes from,” he
says. “West is also very unlikely o be put at the top because west is where the sun disappears.”
Confusingly, early Chinese maps seem to buck this trend. But, Brotton, says, even though they did
have compasses at the time, that isn’t the reason that they placed north at the top. Early Chinese
compasses were actually oriented to point south, which was considered to be more desirable than
deepest darkest north. But in Chinese maps, the emperor, who lived in the north of the country was

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
Arrangement
always put at the top of the map, with everyone else, his loyal subjects, looking up towards him. “In
Chinese culture the Emperor looks south because it’s where the winds come from, it’s a good
direction. North is not very good but you are in a position of the subjection to the emperor, so you
look up to him,” says Brotton.
Given that each culture has a very different idea of who, or what, they should look upto it’s perhaps
not surprising that there is very little consistency in which way early maps pointed. In ancient Egyptian
times the top of the world was east, the position of sunrise. Early Islamic maps favoured south at the
top because most of the early Muslim cultures were north of Mecca, so they imagined looking up
(south) towards it Christian maps from the same era (called Mappa Mundi) put east at the top,
towards the Garden of Eden and with Jerusalem in the centre.
So when did everyone get together and decide that north was the top? It’s tempting to put it down to
European explorers like Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Megellan who were navigating by the
North Star. But Brotton argues that these early explorers didn’t think of the world like that at all.
“When Columbus describes the world it is in accordance with east being at the top,” he says
“Columbus says he is going towards paradise, so his mentality is from a medieval mappa mundi.”
We’ve got to remember, adds Brotton, that at the time, “no one knows what they are doing and
where they are going.”

Question 22: Which one of the following best describes what the passage is trying to do?
A. It questions on explanation about how maps are designed.
B. It corrects a misconception about the way maps are designed.
C. It critiques a methodology used to create maps.
D. It explores some myths about maps.

Answer - B

Explanation: The passage discusses the misconception that maps have always been designed with
north at the top. It explains that, historically, maps have been oriented in different directions based
on cultural and contextual preferences, and that the practice of consistently placing north at the top is
a relatively recent development. Thus, the passage is primarily correcting a misconception about the
way maps are designed.
Options A, C and D are clearly wrong. The passage does not question any one explanation about how
maps are designed, or critique any one methodology used to create it, or explore any 'myths' about
maps.

Question 23: Early maps did NOT put north at the top for all the following reasons EXCEPT
A. North was the source of darkness
B. South was favoured by some emperors
C. East and south were more important for religious reasons for some civilisations
D. East was considered by some civilisations to be a more positive direction

Answer - B

Explanation: The passage explains that north was not placed at the top of early maps for several
reasons, including that north was associated with darkness, south and east had religious or cultural

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
Arrangement
significance for some civilizations, and east was sometimes viewed as a more positive direction.
However, option B is incorrect, as it does not directly state that south was favored by emperors in
general; rather, it explains that the Chinese emperor positioned himself in the north to have his
subjects look up to him from the south.

Question 24: According to the passage, early Chinese maps placed north at the top because
A. the Chinese invented the compass and were aware of magnetic north.
B. they wanted to show respect to the emperor.
C. the Chinese emperor appreciated the winds from the south.
D. north was considered the most desirable direction.

Answer - B

Explanation: The passage states that early Chinese maps placed north at the top because the emperor
lived in the north, and maps were oriented to have his subjects look up toward him, showing respect.
It also mentions that south was considered desirable because of the winds, but this is not why north
was placed at the top.

Question 25: It can be inferred from the passage that European explorers like Columbus and
Megellan
A. set the precedent for north-up maps.
B. navigated by the compass.
C. used an eastward orientation for religious reasons.
D. navigated with the help of early maps.

Answer - C

Explanation: The passage suggests that Columbus navigated with an eastward orientation because he
associated it with going toward paradise, which reflects a religious perspective. It also mentions that
at the time, explorers like Columbus didn’t adhere to a north-up orientation, so options a and d can
be eliminated. While b could be partially true, it is not the main inference regarding their orientation
according to the passage.

Question 26: Which one of the following about the northern orientation of modern maps is
asserted in the passage
A. The biggest contributory factor was the understanding of magnetic north
B. The biggest contributory factor was the role of European explorers
C. The biggest contributory factor was the influence of Christian maps
D. The biggest contributory factor is not stated in the passage

Answer - D

Explanation: The passage does not state a single “biggest contributory factor” for why modern maps
have a northern orientation. It mentions various influences, including early explorers like Columbus

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
Arrangement
and cultural or religious factors from different civilizations, but it stops short of asserting a definitive
reason for the current north-up convention. Thus, option d is the correct answer.

Question 27: The role of natural phenomena in influencing map-making conventions is seen most
clearly in
A. early Egyptian maps
B. early Islamic maps
C. early Chinese maps
D. early Christian maps

Answer - A

Explanation: The passage mentions that early Egyptian maps placed east at the top, aligning with the
position of the sunrise. This choice was directly influenced by a natural phenomenon (the sunrise in
the east), making option a the correct answer.

Actual CAT Passage 7:

Scientists have long recognised the incredible diversity within a species. But they thought it reflected
evolutionary changes that unfolded imperceptibly, over millions of years. That divergence between
populations within a species was enforced, according to Ernst Mayr, the great evolutionary biologist
of the 1940s, when a population was separated from the rest of the species by a mountain range or a
desert, preventing breeding across the divide over geologic scales of time. Without the separation,
gene flow was relentless. But as the separation persisted, the isolated population grew apart and
speciation occurred.
In the mid-1960s, the biologist Paul Ehrlich - author of The Population Bomb (1968) - and his Stanford
University colleague Peter Raven challenged Mayr's ideas about speciation. They had studied
checkerspot butterflies living in the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve in California, and it soon became
clear that they were not examining a single population. Through years of capturing, marking and then
recapturing the butterflies, they were able to prove that within the population, spread over just 50
acres of suitable checkerspot habitat, there were three groups that rarely interacted despite their
very close proximity.
Among other ideas, Ehrlich and Raven argued in a now classic paper from 1969 that gene flow was
not as predictable and ubiquitous as Mayr and his cohort maintained, and thus evolutionary
divergence between neighbouring groups in a population was probably common. They also asserted
that isolation and gene flow were less important to evolutionary divergence than natural selection
(when factors such as mate choice, weather, disease or predation cause better-adapted individuals to
survive and pass on their successful genetic traits). For example, Ehrlich and Raven suggested that,
without the force of natural selection, an isolated population would remain unchanged and that, in
other scenarios, natural selection could be strong enough to overpower gene flow...

Question 28: Which of the following best sums up Ehrlich and Raven's argument in their classic 1969
paper?
A. Ernst Mayr was wrong in identifying physical separation as the cause of species diversity
B. Checkerspot butterflies in the 50-acre Jasper Ridge Preserve formed three groups that rarely
interacted with each other

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
C. While a factor, isolation was not Arrangement
as important to speciation as natural selection
D. Gene flow is less common and more erratic than Mayr and his colleagues claimed

Answer - C

Explanation: Option c best sums up Ehrlich and Raven’s argument by stating that while isolation could
contribute to speciation, they believed natural selection played a more critical role in driving
evolutionary divergence. This captures the essence of their challenge to Mayr’s emphasis on physical
separation as the main driver of speciation.

Question 29: All of the following statements are true according to the passage EXCEPT
A. Gene flow contributes to evolutionary divergence.
B. The Population Bomb questioned dominant ideas about species diversity.
C. Evolutionary changes unfold imperceptibly over time.
D. Checkerspot butterflies are known to exhibit speciation while living in close proximity.

Answer - B

Explanation: Option b is incorrect according to the passage. While The Population Bomb is mentioned
as a well-known work by Paul Ehrlich, it did not specifically question dominant ideas about species
diversity; rather, the challenge to those ideas came from Ehrlich and Raven’s separate research on
checkerspot butterflies, not from The Population Bomb itself.

Question 30: The author discusses Mayr, Ehrlich and Raven to demonstrate that
A. Evolution is a sensitive and controversial topic.
B. Ehrlich and Raven's ideas about evolutionary divergence are widely accepted by scientists.
C. The causes of speciation are debated by scientists.
D. Checkerspot butterflies offer the best example of Ehrlich and Raven's ideas about speciation.

Answer - C

Explanation: Option c best captures the author’s purpose in discussing Mayr, Ehrlich, and Raven, as it
highlights the scientific debate over the causes of speciation. The passage outlines differing views on
whether physical separation or natural selection is the primary driver of evolutionary divergence,
indicating an ongoing debate among scientists.

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888

 CAT 2024 Verbal Bootcamp 3: RC
Arrangement

We are here to help: [email protected] |+91 74 7888 2888