2010

UPSC CSAT – READING

COMPREHENSION

Atul Lande
Synergy Study Point
07/12/2010
 UPSC CSAT – READING COMPREHENSION

CONTENTS

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................3
Types of Questions.............................................................................................................................4
Structure of different Questions.........................................................................................................5
Sample Passages ................................................................................................................................9
Important Tips .................................................................................................................................14

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READING COMPREHENSION
Introduction
Reading comprehension questions measure your ability to read with understanding. This type
of question explores your ability to analyze a written passage from different perspectives as -

A. your ability to recognize explicitly stated elements in the passage

B. ability to understand the assumptions underlying statements or arguments in the
passage
C. And also the implications of those statements or arguments.

The passages are drawn from a variety of academic disciplines within the humanities, natural
sciences, and social sciences. Based on a general analysis, most likely the topics will address one
of the 3 areas described below. Each type of passage needs a slightly different optimum test-
taking strategy. Regardless of what topic you encounter, you can rest assured that everything
you need to know will be included in the passage. CSE will try to minimize the chances of giving
someone with previous exposure to a particular topic an unfair advantage over others taking
the same version of the test.

A. Science Passages: These passages deal with topics including biology, chemistry, and
medicine. You should approach them by doing an initial quick reading/skimming of the text.
The mail aim is to understand how the passage is structured and to analyze its outline.

Passages of this type are often slightly difficult to understand but are also very factual and
straightforward. Hence, such passages will likely provide the easiest reading comprehension
questions you will encounter. There will be factual questions and the answers can be seen
in the passage in a very straight forward manner.

B. Social science passages: These passages deal with topics such as history, politics, and
geography. It can be seen that these passages are quite interesting to read and that is the
reason you can have questions based on inferences. Hence, you must read these passages
slowly in order to deal with the inferences.

C. Business passages: Business passages involve very difficult structures, and present
questions that require you to infer information and even to determine the authors'
thoughts and opinions. They need to be read slowly and carefully. Frequently, business
passages also include compound words and complex language which we do not use in our
day to day conversation. Don't get distracted when you run into such terms. They are not
very difficult to decipher if you break them down and examine each of their parts.

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Types of Questions

With this a very high level classification, let us now look at the different types of questions,

Factual Questions

•These questions the easiest ones to answer, but also the most time consuming.
consuming You
need to be careful because they often contain very close options.

Inference Questions

•Inference questions do not test your knowledge of explicitly-cited facts, but rather
your ability to draw conclusions. These questions may even ask you to make a
judgment about the author's opinions, or to guess what further conclusions the author
might draw

Applying Information Questions

•Like inference questions, applying information questions deal with topics that are not
explicitly mentioned in the passage. This type of question asks you to take the
information given in the passage and logically apply it to a context outside of the
passage

Main Idea Questions

•Main idea questions ask the aspirant to identify the passage's overall theme. It is
rather a difficult type of questions as all of the answer choices have been discussed in
the passage. it does not mean that every one of them can be called the passage's
central theme.

Supporting Idea Questions

•Questions of this type focus on specific ideas or pieces of information presented in the
passage. They require a more focused reading than do main idea questions.
questions

Logical Questions

•These questions examine your ability to analyze the structure of the passage and to
determine what role specific components play in the whole

Tone Questions

•The aspirant will ask to describe the tone of the passage. You need to apply the same
rule of negativity to find the correct choice. Mostly the tone is positive or neutral
rather than negative.

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Structure of different Questions

Let us look at the structure of the questions asked in the above mentioned types.

A. Factual Question:
These questions are based on the straight facts provided in the passage and can be like

- What are the two methods mentioned by the author for analysis?
- Which institute provides the base for research of neurological diseases?

B. Inference Questions:
Inference questions might look like –

- Based on the information given in the passage, it can be reasonably inferred that
Government is thinking of finalizing which of the following proposal

- The author of the passage would be most likely to agree with which of the
following statements?

- The author of the passage would most likely agree with which of the following
statements?

The trick to solve inference questions is to stick closely to the wording of the passage and to
keep your logic very clear. Inferences are the statements that must be true based on the
facts. These are common questions seen in the examinations where Reading
Comprehension is an important subject (like CSE)

C. Appling Information:
These questions are slightly more complex than the previous types. They require you to
figure out what the passage states about a particular topic, and then apply that information
to answer choices that contain new information. These questions do not appear as
frequently as the previous three. Some possible questions of this type include:

- Which of the following situations is most similar to the economic situation

described in the second paragraph?

- The Policy referred in the paragraph is most likely to suit which sector from the
following?

You need to take the same approach to this type of question as you take with inference
questions. However it will require an ability of making a larger logical conclusion. These
questions test your ability to recognize the structure of an argument or an idea, and then
apply the same structure in a different context.
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D. Main Idea Questions:

These questions revolve around the basic theme of the passage. You need to understand
the idea or concept which the passage speaks about. In most cases, the main idea will be
expressed in one or two sentences in the first paragraph. Occasionally it may be expressed
in the final paragraph or, rarely, in an interior paragraph. Sometimes the main idea is never
explicitly stated. If you cannot locate a clear theme, it is usually helpful to go through the
passage and determine how it gets derived from first paragraph to the final paragraph.

Typical main ideas questions look like the following:

- Which one of the following statements accurately captures the central idea of
the passage?

- Which would be most appropriate title for the contents of the passage?

- Which one of the following most accurately summarizes the passage?

- The passage can best be described as which of the following?

Main Idea questions are the most common questions asked. Hence it is advisable that you
summarize the idea of the passage in your words, on a scrap paper, while you complete the
reading of the passage. This will avoid your temptation to with the incorrect but tempting
answers. Such answers normally contain the central idea but with an additional
information.

E. Supporting Idea Questions:

These questions are based on specific concepts or examples provided in the passage and
therefore need more detailed understanding of the passage. Typically the questions are as
follows –

- According to the passage, the author believes in which of the following theories?

- According to the passage the current trends of economy can be characterized as

- Which government initiative is most fruitful since last five year’s plan, according
to the passage?

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Answers to such questions are always the statements in the paragraph. Identify the “Key-
words” from the question and read the passage around these keywords. For example, the
question asks for Current Trends of Economy, so look for these words in the passage.
Usually you will be able to find the statement which says the same thing as that of the
choices and the answer will come directly.

F. Logical Questions:

Here you will determine the role of a specific component in the context of entire passage.
Typically the question will be as below –

- Why author refers to the Supply Chain Theory mentioned in the second
paragraph?

G. Tone Questions:

These questions will ask you to draw a conclusion about author’s view or passage, based on
the language used in the passage. For example –

- What is the author’s view towards current economy?

- Which of the following best describes the passage?

Reading Comprehension questions are not at all like Quantitative questions, in which the
correctness of the best response can be proved with the help of a mathematical formula. There
are no specific rules that can be applicable to comprehension questions. For instance, consider
a central-idea question. A typical second-best answer choice might incorporate the passage's
central idea but go further to give a broader approach than the passage itself covers. Hence
there is a fundamental difference between the best answer choice and the others.

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Steps to Follow:

Read the psssage Form your analysis. Note ot

down. Note the central idea
analytically of the passage.

Assess the See in which of the above

mentioed type the question
question fall into. Your strategy will
differ from type to type

Instead of giving the answers

Use the passage based on your memory, read
the passage. It is like open
to answer book test. take an extra
minute and give right
answer.

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Sample Passages

Read the following passage and answer the question s below the passage.

The classical realist theory of international relations has long dominated both academic institutions and
the American government. Even at the birth of the nation, early political thinkers, such as Alexander
Hamilton, promoted a realist view of international relations and sought to influence the actions of the
government based on this perspective. While the classical realist school of international relations is not
entirely homogeneous in nature, there are certain premises that all classical realists share.

The primary principle underlying classical realism is a concern with issues of war and peace. Specifically,
classical realists ask, what are the causes of war and what are the conditions of peace? The members of
the classical realist school mainly attribute war and conflict to what is termed the security dilemma. In
the absence of any prevailing global authority, each nation is required to address its own security needs.
However, each nation’s quest for security—through military buildups, alliances, or territorial defenses—
necessarily unsettles other nations. These nations react to feelings of insecurity by engaging in their own
aggressive actions, which leads other nations to react similarly, perpetuating the cycle.

It is important to note that for realists, unlike idealists or liberal internationalists, international conflict is
a necessary consequence of the structural anarchy that nations find themselves in. Whereas other
schools may see international conflict as the result of evil dictators, historical chance, flawed
sociopolitical systems, or ignorance of world affairs, classical realists see war as the logical result of a
system that by its nature lacks a true central authority.

Hand in hand with this view of conflict as an inevitable condition of the global power structure is the
realists’ view of the nation as a unitary actor. Because classical realists see international relations as a
continuing struggle for dominance, the nation can not be viewed as a collection of individuals with
disparate wants, goals, and ideologies. The realist view requires the formulation of a national interest,
which in its simplest terms refers to the nation’s ability to survive, maintain its security, and achieve
some level of power relative to its competitors.

Realism is not without its critics, many of whom challenge the premise that war is the natural condition
of international relations or that there can be a truly national interest. However, the realist school of
international relations continues to shape foreign policy because of the successes it has had in
describing real world interactions between nations.

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Q.1 The formation of a national interest serves what function in the classical realist theory of war and
peace, based on the passage?

A. It is a convenience used by theorists to describe national interests where none exist.

B. It provides the necessary justification for the classical realist view of a continuous global power
struggle.
C. It is less important to the theory than is the idea of the nation as a unitary actor.
D. It is the part of the theory that receives the most criticism from opponents.

Answer: B.

Explanation:

This is a supporting idea question. Refer to the part of the passage that discusses “national interest.”
The answer to this question is in the fourth paragraph, where the author states “Because classical
realists see international relations as a continuing struggle for dominance, the nation can not be viewed
as a collection of individuals with disparate wants, goals, and ideologies. The realist view requires the
formulation of a national interest…” Hence, for this theory to work there must be the idea of a national
interest. Therefore the right choice is B.

Choice A is not supported. Choice C is not close enough, since there is no mention of any comparison or
relative importance. For Choice D; the passage says it receives criticism, but it never says “most.”

Q.2 From the passage, members of the classical realist school would be LEAST likely to support which of
the following argument?

A. an international policy based on building a strong military force to deter threats

B. an international policy that seeks to reduce threats of war by providing humanitarian aid to
potential aggressor countries
C. a domestic policy that attempts to unify the nation’s citizens behind a common cause
D. a domestic policy that allocates a majority of the country’s budget for defense spending
E. an international policy based on joining a common defense contract with other nations

Answer B

Explanation:

This is an Inference Type Question. Now let us find out a support for each statement in the passage. The
statements for which we can find the support should never be the answers.
Choices A and C are supported by the passage in the second paragraph which states that classical
realists believe that every nation must take care of its own security needs and that war is a constant
threat. Choice D is also supported because second paragraph speaks about “alliances”. That left us with
Option B as the correct answer. Also the passage mentioned that “classical realists see war as the logical
result of a system that by its nature lacks a true central authority” and not because of any flawed socio-
political systems.

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Q.3 Depending on the description provided in the passage, which of the following, if true, would best
support the classical realist theory of international conflict?

A. Some countries ruled by dictators maintain peaceful relations with their neighbors.
B. Despite the presence of a world superpower, many countries continue to fight wars with their
neighbors.
C. War has existed from the beginning of recorded history.
D. After the nations of the world form an authoritative world court, wars decrease dramatically.

Answer D

Explanation:

This is an apply information question. To answer it, you should first go to the passage to understand the
theory of conflict. We can find this information in the second paragraph where the passage says, “In the
absence of any prevailing global authority, each nation is required to address its own security needs.”
Now, you need to find which choice best supports this view.

Choice A doesn’t supports because the classical realist school isn’t concerned with the actions of
dictators. Choice B again is not in line with the theory. It states that there is a prevailing global authority
and yet conflict continues. Choice C states that war is a persistent problem, but it is not addressing the
causes of it. Choice D supports the theory because it shows that the presence of a global authority
reduces war.

Q.4 The author most likely regards the classical realist theory of international relations with

A. General lack of interest

B. Unconvinced dismissal
C. Indirect disapproval
D. Experienced acceptance

Answer D

Explanation:

This is a tone type question. You need to understand the direction of passage. If you see the last
paragraph of the passage, the author is more positive about realism and says – “However, the realist
school of international relations continues to shape foreign policy because of the successes it has had in
describing real world interactions between nations.”

Therefore the answer is D which is the only positive answer.

Q.5 According to the passage, what is the underlying principle of classic realism?

A. International Economic Conflicts

B. Removal of dictatorship from world

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C. Issues of War and Peace

D. Humanitarian aid to economically depressed nations
Answer C

Explanation:

This is a factual type question and you can find the answer directly in the passage. The start of second
paragraph says – “The primary principle underlying classical realism is a concern with issues of war and
peace”. Hence the answer is C

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Important Tips

Use your scrap paper. Since these passages can be long and present difficult sentence and
paragraph structures, you may want to use your scrap paper to take brief notes. You can note
down the main ideas of each paragraph.

It is particularly useful for remembering where to find factual information. For example,
paragraph 1 – types of bacterial diseases. Paragraph 2 – cause of harmonical disorder and
likewise.

Quickly read the questions before the passage. This will give you a better idea of what you
should be focusing on as you read, in order to answer the questions. Also this will help you in
identifying the types of questions and passage.

While answering a factual question, read the passage providing the data very carefully. Also
read few lines before that passage. This will save you from the misleading answers.

Tackle the questions with multiple options very carefully. For example, you will see the
questions with following choices in the examination -

a. I only
b. III only
c. I and II only
d. I, II and III only

There might be a catch here. You will find I and II in the passage and which are very close to
each other. But take out few minutes, read the passage carefully. You may find III as well
mentioned in the deeper text. You should review and consider each fact on its own merits.

Lastly and most importantly – Practice will make you perfect. More the number of passages
you will tackle, more the skill will get developed.

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