Read the following passage and answer the items that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.

When a child reaches adolescence, there is apt to be a conflict between the parents and the child, since the latter considers himself to be by now quite capable of managing his own affairs, while the former are filled with parental solicitude, which is often a disguise for love of power. Parents consider, usually, that the various moral problems which arise in adolescence are peculiarly their province. The options they express, however, are so dogmatic that the young seldom confide in them, and usually go their own way in secret.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the above passage?

(a) Parents in general may not be of much help when children are on their way to becoming adults.

(b) When children reach adolescence, involvement of parents in their lives is unnecessary.

(c) Modern-day nuclear families are not capable of bringing up children properly.

(d) In modern societies, adolescents tend to be stubborn, disobedient and careless.

Read the following passages and answer the items that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.

When an international team of scientists pumped a carbon dioxide and water mix into underground basalt rocks, basic chemistry took over. The acidic mixture dissolved rocks’ calcium and magnesium and formed limestone. Basically carbon dioxide is converted into stone, exclaimed the scientists.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical, rational and practical suggestion implied by the passage?

Read the following passages and answer the items that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.

Geographers analyzed 175 satellite images of ocean colour, which is an indicator of phytoplankton productivity at the ocean’s surface, and found that giant icebergs are responsible for storing up to 20 percent of carbon in the Southern Ocean. The researchers discovered that melting water from giant icebergs which contains iron and other nutrients, supports hitherto unexpectedly high levels of phytoplankton growth.

Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

1. Giant icebergs have a bearing on primary productivity and food chains of the Southern Ocean.

2. Melting of giant icebergs can produce climate change effects and impact world fisheries.

Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?

Read the following passages and answer the items that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.

Evolution has endowed caterpillars that feed on corn with a unique ability, they can induce the plant to turn off its defence against insect predators. This helps caterpillars to eat more and grow faster. The agent that causes this effect is the caterpillar's faeces or frass. The find could throw new light on compounds associated with plant response to pathogens like fungi or bacteria.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical, rational and practical message conveyed by the passage?