UPSC Civil Service Prelims Paper II 2024 (CSAT) | UPSC Civil Service Year Wise Previous Years Questions

1

UPSC Civil Service Prelims Paper II 2024 (CSAT)

MCQ (Single Correct Answer)

+2.5

-0.833

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

Unlike religion and science, poetry does not posit or expect any belief in absolute truths. Those forces or individuals who claim to have absolute truths in their grasp tend to turn dictatorial and tyrannical. Truth usually does not admit any contradictions or imperfections. It is unitarian. It is, therefore, not of much use for poetry. Poetry abides by the plurality of life and existence. Perhaps poetry follows reality which is plural, anachronistic, full of contradictions. Against the tyranny of truth, poetry remains a partisan of democratic reality. Against the arrogance of power, wealth and hierarchy, poetry proposes both humility and defiance.

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

A

It is the poetry, not science or religion, which recognizes and accepts imperfections in humans.

B

Truth is revealed through science or religion and poetry is anathema to truth.

C

Poetry is romantic, imaginary and is about feeling whereas science and religion are about truth.

D

In a world of violence, tyranny and bigotry, poetry is a form of dynamic resistance.

2

UPSC Civil Service Prelims Paper II 2024 (CSAT)

MCQ (Single Correct Answer)

+2.5

-0.833

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

The flower was not invented to please us. It flaunted its petals and spread its perfume to attract an insect. The insect carries the pollen from flower to flower so that pollen is not carried away by wind and thus not wasted. What we call a flower’s beauty is merely a by-product and a human invention. The perfume is not there to please us, it pleases us because it is there and we have been conditioned to it.

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

1. The author of the passage believes that flowers are creations of Nature’s luxury.

2. The author of the passage does not believe in the usefulness of flowers except as things of beauty.

Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?

A

1 only

B

2 only

C

Both 1 and 2

D

Neither 1 nor 2

3

UPSC Civil Service Prelims Paper II 2024 (CSAT)

MCQ (Single Correct Answer)

+2.5

-0.833

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

By the time children reach class 8 , the bulk of them tend to be in the age range of 13 years to 15 years. But in our country, about a quarter of all children in class 8 struggle with reading simple texts and more than half are still unable to do basic arithmetic operations like division. Every year about 25 million young boys and girls from elementary school move into the life that lies for them beyond compulsory schooling. They cannot enter the workforce at least in the organized sector till they are 18. For many families, these children are the first from their families ever to get this far in school. Parents and children expect that such 'graduates' from school will go on to high school and college. Hardly anyone wants to go back to agriculture. On the other hand, abilities in terms of academic competencies are far lower than they should be even based on curricular expectations of class 8.

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

1. For effective school education, parents have greater role than the governments.

2. School curriculum that conforms to today's requirements and is uniform for the entire country may address the issues brought out.

Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?

A

1 only

B

2 only

C

Both 1 and 2

D

Neither 1 nor 2

4

UPSC Civil Service Prelims Paper II 2024 (CSAT)

MCQ (Single Correct Answer)

+2.5

-0.833

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

By the time children reach class 8 , the bulk of them tend to be in the age range of 13 years to 15 years. But in our country, about a quarter of all children in class 8 struggle with reading simple texts and more than half are still unable to do basic arithmetic operations like division. Every year about 25 million young boys and girls from elementary school move into the life that lies for them beyond compulsory schooling. They cannot enter the workforce at least in the organized sector till they are 18. For many families, these children are the first from their families ever to get this far in school. Parents and children expect that such 'graduates' from school will go on to high school and college. Hardly anyone wants to go back to agriculture. On the other hand, abilities in terms of academic competencies are far lower than they should be even based on curricular expectations of class 8.

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

A

Total eradication of poverty in the country will resolve the issue of under-performance of our schoolchildren.

B

Monetary incentives to parents and teachers is a strategy to improve the children's academic performance.

C

Public policy should ensure that competencies and achievements of young people are aligned with their expectations.

D

India is not going to take advantage of the demographic dividend unless some school pass-outs go back to agriculture.