Reading - 2

Topic Covered
 Types of RC Questions
VARC
CEX-V-0252/23

Number of questions : 23

Reading Comprehension questions can be broadly Approach

categorized into six types, each employing different  Typically, the main idea appears at the
type of approaches in order to answer the question.
beginning or the end of the passage, so
Different entrance examinations stress on different
aspects of RC skills; for instance, CAT has pay special attention to these parts.
increasingly been focusing on inferential questions,  Eliminate any option that is either too
which demand a deep understanding of the logic (or general or too specific.
inference) employed by the author. These questions  Do not go back to read/skim the entire
are a little more challenging than the other categories. passage to find the answer.
A basic understanding of the question types would
help know what to look out for while reading the 2. SPECIFIED IDEA QUESTIONS
passage. It is also a tool that you can use to analyze These questions ask specific information
your performance, evaluate what kind of questions mentioned or stated in the passage. The
you struggle with, and then take steps to overcome answers are mentioned explicitly within the
them. passages.

1. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS Common question stems for these types of

These questions demand an understanding questions are:
of the overall idea presented in the passage  The author mentions which of the following?
and it is difficult to answer them unless you  Which of the following is true according
have captured the essence of the entire to the passage?
passage.  The author provides information that would
Common question stems for these types of answer which of the following questions?
questions are:
 Which of the following is the main idea of Approach
the passage?  As long as you know which part of the
 The primary purpose of the passage is passage contains the answer you can
to… answer these questions even if you
 The author is primarily concerned with... have read the passage cursorily.
 Which of the following best describes the
 Do not hesitate to refer back to the
content of the passage?
passage. These extra seconds will
 Which one of these is the best title for
the passage? ensure accuracy.

Reading - 2 Page 1
3. LOGICAL STRUCTURE QUESTIONS Approach
These questions test your understanding of  In this case, the emphasis is on testing
the overall logic of the author, i.e. how s/he your ability to read between the lines
uses it to develop the passage. i.e. inferring the author’s purpose in
A deeper level of reading is required in order stating something.
to answer these questions as it helps you  To ensure accuracy, you should use the
understand the author’s use of logic and process of elimination.
purpose.
Common question stems for these types of 5. FURTHER APPLICATION QUESTIONS
questions are: As the name reveals, these questions demand
 The author uses...example in order to application of logic to extend the passage from
illustrate... where it ended. This would again depend on
 The author develops the passage primarily your understanding of the author’s line of
by... thought and the logic used by him to develop
Approach the passage.
 Read the options, revisit the part of the Common question stems for these types of
passage where the information asked questions are:
in the question is stated (in case the  The next paragraph of the passage is
question asks you something specific) likely to deal with…
and then choose the correct option.  Which of these is similar to the example
 If you can phrase the answer before you used by the author?
look at the options, it will help you save  With which of the following statements
time. is the author most likely to agree/
disagree?
4. IMPLIED IDEA QUESTIONS  The passage is most likely an extract
These are the kind of questions where the from...
answers are not explicitly stated in the
passage, but they are implied. This again Approach
demands a higher level of comprehension.  Read the last paragraph carefully as this
An example of this question could be found would give you an idea of what may
in a passage where an author points out follow next.
various critiques of US’ foreign policy,  Think about the general progression of
especially US’ role in Iraq. Though the anti- the passage in terms of the ideas
US stance here is not stated explicitly, it is contained in each paragraph and apply
implied. CAT is now known to present these the same logic to extend the ideas of
kinds of questions in a higher percentage. the last paragraph.
The typical way these questions appear:
 It can be inferred that the author believes... 6. TONE QUESTIONS
 The author uses…to imply... An author uses a particular tone in a passage,
 Which of the following can/cannot be which relates to the overall attitude displayed
inferred from the passage? by the author in writing on a topic. Is the author
critical, argumentative, witty, nostalgic etc.?
The answer to this question is not explicitly
stated in the passage and answering this
question requires the ability to comprehend
the way the author has treated the subject.

Page 2 Reading - 2
 Common question stems for these types of Yet despite all the success, there’s a hitch - Jiang
questions are: Rong refuses to take part in the marketing of the
 The tone of the author in the passage book, regardless of whether it’s the Communist
is... Party’s propaganda machine or a foreign publishing
 The tone of the passage is... house. The aging author may have scored a best
seller his first time up to bat, but he’s no wolf. The
Approach 60-year-old sits on a rattan stool in a bamboo garden
 Remember, that in this case, you in Western Beijing - as shy and reserved as the
should not consider a paragraph in Panda bears for which his country is famous.
isolation to evaluate the tone. The tone
encompasses the overall attitude and ”Photos?” - No, not for publication, just for memories,
therefore should take the whole passage he says. “I hate all the hype. I almost had a heart
into account. attack just writing the thing.” He gave away the
 First, think of a description of the tone theatrical rights - an appearance at the premiere
of the passage.Then look at the options would have been a nightmare for him. Only five people
and choose the one that is the closest. - including his wife - know who is behind the
 Read the first and the last paragraph pseudonym. The author has not yet revealed his true
v ery thoroughly to answer such identity to Chinese journalists, and he spoke on the
questions condition that this publication also agree not to do
. so. Under his real name, the Chinese censors would
have never approved the book’s publication. Following
Passage - I
the student uprising and massacre at Tiananmen
Directions for questions 1 to 8: Read the following Square on June 4, 1989, Jiang was placed in jail for
passage carefully and answer the questions that two years. Today, he is still prohibited from teaching.
follow. Nor is he allowed to hold a passport or leave the
country.
Start Time:
The Communist Party accused him of belonging
to the circle of dissidents that sought to persuade
Are we wolves or just sheep? That is the subject of
the country’s Communists to introduce democratic
fiery discussions among China’s history obsessed
reforms during the spring of 1989. His intellectual
readers, its critical intellectuals and growth drunk
offense – attempting to peacefully transform the
industrial moguls.
Communist Party into one that adhered to the
The country’s Han Chinese, who make up a majority principles of social democracy.
of the population of the People’s Republic, are a
compliant herd of sheep that had to learn from the Understandably, he exercised great caution when
tyranny of Mongolian wolves - at least according to he sat down to write his book. Almost six years
the main theory of the 650-page tome “Wolf Totem.” ago, his wife, a major fixture on the Chinese cultural
The book is currently breaking all sales records and, scene, began noticing odd changes in her husband’s
except for the Mao Bible, no publication has attracted behavior. At first, she chalked it up to his age.
more readers in China. Since first appearing in 2004, “Suddenly he began locking himself in his office every
the book’s author, who hides behind the pseudonym day and refused to tell me what he was doing.”
Jiang Rong, has pulled in 10 literature prizes for his Inside the six square-meter room, and hemmed in
crude combination of autobiography, animal stories by towering bookshelves, the political scientist began
and ethnological observations of the Mongolian soul searching, helped along by behavioral studies,
plains. The best voices of Radio Beijing have read ecology and the history of the Mongolian plains. The
the 12-part audio book during the broadcaster’s “Gold result is a kind of Chinese wolf dance, an
Time,” its best time slots. Some 4 million volumes autobiography of a young Chinese man who tries to
are now in circulation. live with the wolves.

Reading - 2 Page 3
After growing up in Mao Zedong’s communist Beijing, (2) The author asks an unrelated question
Jiang Rong fled the madness of the Cultural to grab the reader’s attention.
Revolution by volunteering for work in the Mongolian (3) The first question throws up the issue of
grasslands, where he lived with a nomadic family. identity.
(4) The first question brings out the issue of
One day he decided to ignore the advice of the clan nature and people.
chief and set off mindlessly into the wilderness on
his own. Without realilzing it, he stumbled onto the 2. Initially, the author regards the book’s author
hunting grounds of a pack of wolves. Through a as being a
mixture of terror and fascination, a young Jiang (1) Wolf
watched as the predators cleverly chased a herd of (2) Sheep
sheep over a cliff to their death. The corpses were (3) Ox
dragged into a cave to be saved like frozen food to (4) Panda
provide winter nourishment for the wolves.
3. It can be inferred that the author uses the
He was fascinated, and from then on he began incident regarding the book’s author being
studying the wolves’ lives. His tragic and melancholic called a dissident to
attempt to domesticate one of the wild animals is (1) communicate a likely reason for the
perfect for the Hollywood screen - especially author’s reclusive nature.
the moment when he realizes that taming one of the (2) link his present anonymity to a crime he
clever beasts is akin to killing it. had committed in the past.
(3) force the author to acknowledge the
The book’s damning societal critique doesn’t begin correlation between literature and
until he describes how soldiers arrived on the steppe dissidence.
from the capital city and forced the Mongolian (4) showcase the triggers for the inspiration
nomads to abandon their nature-based lifestyle. Jiang for the book.
has to accompany the uniformed men during a wolf
hunt and watch as it transforms into a gory attempt 4. What does the author mean by saying “taming
at extermination. one of the clever beasts is akin to killing it”?
(1) Killing beasts means you are taming their
As more soldiers arrive, the number of wolves killed species as a whole.
increases. Just as in Tibet, the colonization by the (2) To corrupt a beast’s core identity is like
Chinese causes an ecological disaster for the intact killing it.
natural landscape of Inner Mongolia. Chinese settlers (3) To tame a beast means to control it.
transform the steppe into fields, but without (4) A beast that is controlled will soon revolt.
the wolves, rats quickly become a plague. Wild
sheep graze until the meadows are dust. Mongolian 5. What is the link between the Chinese settlers
sand storms glide over Beijing to Seoul. Once a mere reducing the surrounding areas to dust and
parable, the story is now reality every spring, an China’s economic recovery?
example of the serious impact China’s uncontrolled (1) In both cases, China is at the helm of a
explosive economic growth is having on its neighbors. major change.
(2) In both the cases, unchecked growth
End Time:
leads to undesirable outcomes.
(3) In both cases, people are sidelined in
1. How does the first line of the passage introduce the bigger interest of growth.
the main idea of the passage? (4) People’s voices are silenced to benefit a
(1) The main idea of the passage is about few elites.
the creation of great literature.

Page 4 Reading - 2
6. The passage is most likely an extract from Corcoran’s apparently inclusive survey, English
(1) A thesis on Chinese readership Poetry since 1940, devotes only one page to it. The
(2) An article about a Chinese best-seller dominance of books like Corcoran’s means that any
(3) Book Review section of a newspaper genuinely alert and representative account of post-
(4) An article on major Chinese authors war British poetry is obliged to go on rewriting and
re-righting literary history. Critical accounts of avant-
7. The tone of the passage is garde poetry are therefore condemned to mirror
(1) Discursive (2) Satiric black, feminist or gay narratives, perpetually
(3) Biased (4) Analytical reinscribing the struggle to overcome being silenced,
8. The author would most likely agree with which to come to consciousness, to come out or to gain
of the following? rights and recognition. Reinscription remains the
(1) Had it not been for the pseudonym, the paradigm in what might be termed ‘identity narratives’
book would have never been published not only because they are ‘happy ever after’ stories
(2) It is better to be a wolf than a sheep but more importantly because the priorities of the
(3) Jiang Rang fled from Beijing because he system in which such individual stories are
wanted to study the nature and behaviour constructed remain unchanged. And, of course,
of wolves because no-one can imagine what happens after
(4) The author of "Wolf Totem" used a recognition has been achieved.
pseudonym only because of his shy In other ways, Duncan’s focus on the 1960s and
nature and fear for publicity 1970s is less desirable because it has a curious
effect. It shuts British poetry — modernist-derived
Passage - II or otherwise — into a kind of pastness.
Consequently, it risks imprisoning latter-day
Directions for questions 9 to 12: Read the following
practitioners in an aftermath where, like nineteenth-
passage carefully and answer the questions that
century prisoners, they are obliged to walk the
follow.
treadmills and pick the oakum of old dissatisfactions
and disputes. Revisiting the past also risks allowing
Start Time: the priorities of the system in which those
dissatisfactions and disputes occurred to continue
to dominate. Duncan raises the issue in his
The Failure of Conservatism in Modern British Poetry
introduction — “If poetry is sold and publicised on
appears to be organised chronologically. For
the basis of what was happening thirty years ago,
example, Chapter Four is called ‘Blowing Your Mind:
what is there for new poets? What do they plug into?”
Immediacy in the Sixties’ and Chapter Eight is called
— but he seems to think that only what he terms
‘An era of rising property values: Conservatism 1979-
the ‘pop-conservative mainstream’ is guilty of it.
97’. However, throughout Duncan’s book something
curious is happening with dates in the discussion. End Time:
The first two chapters of the book sketch a post-war
background and contain 34 dates of which 67% are
9. The primary purpose of the passage is to
in the 1960s and 1970s. The last chapter of the book,
(1) explain the chronological layout of the
‘Poetry in the 1990s’, contains 27 dates: 52% of
work.
them are in the 1960s and 1970s and only 30% of
(2) explain the rise in conservatism.
them are in the 1990s.
(3) examine a post-war scenario.
(4) examine the allusion to the 1960s and
In some ways, this is perfectly understandable
the 1970s eras.
because what Eric Mottram called ‘The British
Poetry Revival 1960-1975’ continues to function as
the return of the repressed. For example, Neil

Reading - 2 Page 5
10. Which one of the following best describes the is going to produce a great work of art: “I write it
organization of the passage? because there is some lie I want to expose, some
(1) Two schools of thought are compared and fact to which I want to draw attention, and my initial
contrasted, and one is deemed to be concern is to get a hearing.” From the sketch of the
better than the other. political background to Animal Farm, it will be quite
(2) One school of thought is presented as clear that one of the purposes of the book is to
worse than another. Then evidence is expose the lie which (it seemed to Orwell) Stalinist
offered to support that claim. Russia had become. It was supposed to be a
(3) Two systems of poetry are analyzed, and Socialist Union of States, but it had become a
one specific example is examined in dictatorship. Not only that, there were socialists
detail. generally in Britain and in the West who were so
(4) A set of examples is furnished. Then a eager to advance the cause that everything the Soviet
conclusion is drawn from them. Union did had to be accepted. The Soviet Union, in
11. Based on the information in the passage, it fact, damaged the cause of true socialism. In a
can be inferred that which one of the following preface he wrote to Animal Farm he says that for
would most logically begin a paragraph the past ten years, I have been convinced that the
immediately following the passage? destruction of the Soviet myth was essential if we
(1) that there should be the demand for wanted a revival of the ‘socialist movement’. Animal
recognizing a need for revival in poetry. Farm attempts, through a simplification of Soviet
(2) that poetry remains a matter of what history, to clarify in the minds of readers, what Orwell
‘ought to be’ because of its past. felt Russia had become. The clarification is to get
(3) that poetry should emerge from the people to face the facts of injustice, of brutality. And
shadows of the 1960s and the 1970s. hopefully to get them to think out for themselves
(4) that we should alienate ourselves from some way in which a true and democratic socialism
World War based poetry. (in Orwell’s phrase) will be brought about. But Orwell’s
purpose goes beyond the particular example of
12. The author’s attitude towards the old school Russia’s Revolution. In Animal Farm, he criticizes
can best be described as: something inherent in all revolutions and he himself
(1) encouraged that it is moving forward in was conscious of this. Russia is the immediate
time. example, but the book, Orwell himself said, is
(2) concerned that it does not allow new intended as a satire on dictatorship in general. The
poetry to come up. time will come when the details of Russian history
(3) pleased that the pre-modern era saw that roused Orwell’s anger will be forgotten, and
some fine poetry. Animal Farm will be read for its bitter, ironic analysis
(4) hopeful that it will be replaced by the of the stages all revolutions tend to go through. In
postmodern poetry. Animal Farm Orwell is thinking of the French
Revolution and of the Spanish Civil War as well as
Passage - III the Bolshevik Rebellion of 1917. After the initial
excitement and enthusiasm, when personal interests
Directions for questions 13 to 17: Read the are almost forgotten, Orwell seems to say, the hard
following passage carefully and answer the questions facts of life begin to make themselves felt again. To
that follow. survive one must produce food, and to produce food
Start Time: one must organize. To organize one needs
administrators, and they will be among the most
In an essay called ‘Why I Write’ written in 1947, intelligent and the most ambitious. Administrative
Orwell says that his desire has been to make political authority gradually becomes power and power
writing into an art. He starts to write a book, he says, becomes tyranny. Orwell sees this process as
from “a sense of injustice”, not from the idea that he something that is almost inevitable in human affairs,

Page 6 Reading - 2
Revolution among them. In Animal Farm, this process 14. Which of the following statements does not
works itself out with a logic that is simple and represent the image of Orwell which the author
effective. Was it Orwell’s purpose then to present
wants to create in the minds of the readers?
the reader with a view of man’s inability to change
himself? Such a view would be directly contrary to (1) that Orwell despite being an Englishman
Orwell’s own very personal brand of socialism, but upheld and advocated the principles of
there is no doubt that part of him, at least, felt that socialism.
there was something wrong with human nature and (2) that he belongs to that breed of
that political systems because humans had a intellectuals who make use of their art
tendency towards corruption and tyranny. Animal
as a weapon against injustice, corruption
Farm is a powerful parable of that tendency. It would
also be possible to take the view that Animal Farm and tyranny.
confronts its readers with the tendencies towards (3) inspite of his cognizance of human
tyranny in Revolution so that they may be warned. tendencies to get corrupt amidst blanket
Such things having happened before, they may very power, he was hopeful that he could make
well happen again if care is not taken to avoid them, people think out for themselves to bring
next time. The reader will have to make up his own
about democratic socialism.
mind as to whether Orwell was a moral pessimist or
a moralistic socialist. It may be that they are the (4) that he had an exaggerated notion of
same thing. Animal Farm is a work that raises himself as the representative of the social
questions not just about political systems, but also and moral conscience in a world that was
about human nature itself. Can man change, or is bereft and oblivious of the same sublime
he condemned to a see-saw of systems that all end virtues.
up the same? Because one of Orwell’s deepest
purposes was primarily moral, it is not surprising
that he chose a form traditionally associated with 15. Which of the following is the most suitable
the moral as a means of achieving his purpose: the title for the passage?
animal fable. (1) A criticism of ‘Animal Farm’
End Time: (2) Orwell and Dictatorship
(3) Russia- A lie which needed to be
exposed
13. As per the passage, all of the following
statements indicate Orwell’s purpose(s) in (4) The purpose behind writing ‘Animal Farm’
writing Animal Farm except
(1) to expose the ‘Soviet myth’. As he saw 16. ‘Animal farm’ can be best categorized as:
that the mindless acceptance of (1) a political analysis of the Bolshevik
everything that Stalin did in the name of revolution of 1917.
socialism was damaging socialism itself.
(2) a socio-politico and ideological account
(2) to draw the attention of the oppressed
and get a hearing from the ideologues of the erstwhile Soviet Union.
and the socialists for having produced a (3) a political satire on the Russian brand of
great work of art. socialism and its rule of terror.
(3) to expose the inherent frailities of the (4) a moral fable a la Aesop’s mode narrated
human nature to usurp and misuse through animals.
power for corrupt motives.
(4) to forewarn his readers of the tyranny in
revolution that may endanger the future
of socialism and their society.

Reading - 2 Page 7
17. Why did Orwell choose animals to relate his is something in the way America thinks and talks
account and thoughts to his readers? about itself that enables widespread national loyalty
(1) To remind us that though we have been and astonishing diversity to coexist. Even its rioters
accepting the tradition of the animal fable, rarely shun their American identity; instead, they
the moral of the fable relates to us as assert their place in the nation.
humans
America, like Australia, New Zealand and Canada,
(2) Because relating humans with animals
is part of the New World and created from settlement
and vice versa was a novel literary practice
(or conquest) and migration. This creates a
in the genre of satire writing
fundamentally different dynamic, for it is immediately
(3) It’s easier to arouse the sympathy of the
apparent that there is nothing organic about these
reader with animal characters than that
nations. The vanquished indigenous aside, everyone
with the human.
is a migrant to some degree, which necessarily
(4) He probably wanted to escape any
fosters a more fluid, open notion of national identity:
counterattack by the soviet dictators.
one that is not so firmly anchored in ethnicity as in
Europe. Yet this does not explain why the United
Passage - IV States should be any different to Australia.
Directions for questions 18 to 20: The passage Rally says that America has its creed, but one that
given below is followed by a set of questions. Choose corresponds to no particular religious tradition. It is
the most appropriate answer to each question. a civil creed constructed on the central political idea
of individual liberty. The US was settled by people
Waleed Rally says that the genius of American
fleeing religious persecution in Europe; it was thus
patriotism is that it manages to be inclusive. The
almost inevitable that freedom, especially of religion,
same cannot easily be said of Australian patriotism,
would become the new nation's touchstone. A people
and certainly cannot be said of the European version,
who had struggled to attain religious freedom could
which is so often expressed in moral panics about
not easily found a nation on principles that denied
the supposed disloyalty of migrants. He then asks:
that right to others: Theirs is a sense of self that is
What accounts for the difference? At first blush, the
f orward-looking, oriented towards constant
answer is as simple as it is patriotically appealing:
improvement.
that the patriotism of minorities simply mirrors the
patriotism of the majority. That is, patriotism is a In contrast the message of Australia's staunchest
result of social pressure. If we only demand it patriots is that ours is a great country with a great
stridently enough, our minorities will learn to love history and no need for change. It is a message that
us. Or, to put it more acerbically, multiculturalism is replicates the European sense of national self, one
a death wish. Such has been the diagnosis of a bound in a fixed history. The history wars were so
thousand culture warriors in recent years. Europe's intense in Australia for the very reason that our sense
flirtation with multiculturalism has killed its sense of of national pride is not forward-looking.
self and allowed its recalcitrant minorities to
disappear into a fog of cultural relativism and escape 18. In the passage, the author is primarily
any sense of loyalty to the nation. Europe's concerned with which of the following?
multiculturalism is even said to have fostered (1) Criticizing European and Australian
subcultures hostile to it. patriotism
(2) Attempting to learn from American
There is something different operating in America, patriotism.
something more subtle, complex and ingenious than (3) Exploring the contrast between American
the brutish social politics of monoculturalism. and Australian patriotism.
Something that is not ultimately about (4) Appreciating American patriotism in
multiculturalism or migration, but about a more contrast with European and Australian
comprehensive phenomenon: national identity. There patriotism.

Page 8 Reading - 2
19. The contextual meaning of the word 'organic' An investigation by Kalpavriksh revealed that indeed
in the passage is closest to? the Soliga adivasis were angry and upset. The ban
(1) Being fluid in terms of cultural values on collection of produce like amla (gooseberry),
(2) Having rigid principles medicinal plants, honey, and lichen, had hit them
(3) Being traditional and having common badly. In some cases such produce comprised over
values 60 per cent of their income, apart from their own use
(4) Having evolved together with a common for food, health, housing, and other requirements.
history
Gauramma, an elder of Kaneri Colony, a Soliga
20. Which of the following cannot be inferred from
settlement, had this to say: "Ever since we have
the passage?
(1) Europe has supported the theme of been stopped from collecting forest produce, we are
multiculturalism which has led to a in a desperate situation. We used to have two full
fractured sense of national identity. meals a day, now even one is difficult to get." She
(2) The sense of national pride in America and her husband now migrate out of the sanctuary
makes American people identify with the to work, earning a meager amount as labour in the
nation more than anything else. fields of non-adivasis.
(3) America's sense of National Pride is
forward-looking. Our investigation found that the Soligas could not
(4) None of the above be blamed for most of the forest fires. However, the
alienation caused by the NTFP ban led to a lack of
Passage - V interest in reporting fires or helping the Forest
Department to douse them, as was the case earlier.
Directions for questions 21 to 23: The passage Additionally, local researchers reported that outsiders
given below is followed by a set of questions. Choose had chopped down several dozen amla (gooseberry)
the most appropriate answer to each question. trees in the WLS. In previous years, they would have
been stopped by the Soligas who had a stake in
Even as the tiger crisis makes the headlines,
protecting the trees. Clearly, the NTFP ban is not
conservationists should be doing all they can to
only causing widespread impoverishment and misery,
garner greater public support for wildlife conservation.
Instead, we are making many more enemies. Across but also backfiring on conservation itself. This will
the country in dozens of sites, the fragile livelihoods intensify if the anger among the Soligas grows, and
that communities living within forests have carved if, as some local social workers fear, "Naxalite"
out for themselves are being snatched away by groups active in nearby areas gain a foothold among
insensitive conservation laws and programmes. The the disgruntled adivasis. BRT WLS is not an isolated
people, who have for centuries considered forests example. A recent study revealed that thousands of
their mother, are being alienated from them. families in various protected areas of Orissa have
suffered a similar fate. In Baisipalli and Satkosia
In March this year, there were reports of widespread Sanctuaries, the ban on NTFP collection has reduced
forest fires in the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife already thin earnings, by 50 to 90 per cent. Many
Sanctuary, in Karnataka. Once famous as the hideout families are migrating to find work, with serious
of Veerappan, BRT WLS is a stronghold of the impact on social life and greater chances of
elephant and other wildlife, as also home to a few exploitation. The government has provided no
thousand Soliga adivasis. Newspaper reports cited alternatives. This is an issue of grave constitutional
forest officials blaming these adivasis for the fires, and human rights violation, as the right to life can
suggesting that they were probably taking out their
only be sustained if access to basic livelihood
anger on the government for having banned collection
resources is ensured.
of non-timber forest produce.

Reading - 2 Page 9
21. The main point from the author's view is that 22. The author's attitude as it is revealed in the
(1) there is a need for a more balanced language used is one of:
(1) Skepticism
approach to conservation and livelihoods.
(2) Hostility
(2) basic livelihood activities should be (3) Criticism
considered "bona f ide" and not (4) Indifference
"commercial".
(3) the effect of this widespread hostility 23. According to the passage the ban would result
because of the law may be more serious in
than it was in the absence of the law. (1) affecting the produce.
(2) rebounding on conservation.
(4) the anti-social elements will thrive under
(3) creating social stigma.
such laws.
(4) degrading the fauna.

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Page 10 Reading - 2
 VARC : Solutions CEX-V-0252/23
Reading - 2

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21 1 22 3 23 2

1. 3 The author opens with “Are we wolves or just sheep?” may not be the 'only' reasons for the author of the
W ith this question, he has rais ed the issue of book to pick up a pseudonym.
diametrically opposite identities. This makes option (3)
correct. 9. 4 The passage emphasizes the repeated references to
the 1960s and the 1970s and also emphasizes the
2. 4 The author makes this statement in the third paragraph prominence given to this period in the book.
where he comments on the reclusive, media-shy writer.
This makes option (4) correct. 10. 2 The pas sage highlights the func tioning of the
repressed class of poetry. It offers evidence in the
3. 1 The author mentions the incident in the fifth paragraph, form of poetry which still harks back to the olden times
while talking about the history of the author. This and has no time for modern poetry.
particular event reveals a lot about the atmosphere in
China, and therefore the need for people to exercise 11. 1 The passage talks continuously of the harking back
severe caution. This makes option (1) correct. into time at the cost of modern poetry, logically the next
passage should talk about the need for revival in poetry.
4. 2 The author makes this statement in the tenth paragraph
and it is clear that the book’s author means that if you 12. 2 The author is voicing s erious doubts about the
were to make a wolf into a timid animal, it has stopped influence of old times and the presence of references
being a wolf and hence can be considered dead. This being made to the past. The last lines of the passage
makes option (2) correct. view Duncan’s concern with anguish and the lack of
space for the new poetry to come up.
5. 2 The author makes this statement of analogy at the end
of the passage. He draws a parallel between the story 13. 2 You have to choose the statement that is incorrect.
and what is happening with China’s economic growth, The third line of the passage denies the statement in
which on the surface is good news, but also has option (2) that Orwell would do it for the sake of
undesirable effects on the neighbours. This makes producing a great work of art. Hence, option (2) is
option (2) correct. false, which makes it the correct answer.

6. 2 Option (1) is irrelavant. Option (4) is inept because the 14. 4 Option (4) is the correct answer as it cannot be
passage does not talk about “authors” other than Jiang concluded from the passage that Orwell had an
Rong. It cannot be option (3) because the book review exaggerated notion of himself. The other statements
of a newspaper talks only about the book being can be concluded from the passage.
reviewed but the scope of the passage is much wider
than that. 15. 4 The passage seems to be exploring the purpose behind
Orwell’s writing and more specifically - the purpose
7. 1 The tone of the passage is discursive. Discursive behind writing ‘Animal Farm’ The purpose is not to
means 'proceeding to a conclusion through reason criticize Animal Farm. Hence option (1) is ruled out.
rather than intuition'. The other options are too general or off the central
theme.
8. 1 Option (2) is incorrect because the passage doesn't
attempt to talk about identities in terms of deciding which 16. 3 It can be discerned from line 11 of the paragraph that
is better of the two. Option (3) is incorrect as Jiang Animal Farm attempts to clarify in the minds of readers,
Rang's 'stumbled' onto a pack of wolves and later his what Orwell felt Russia had become. It was also
intended to be a satire on dictatorship in general. A
fascination for them led him to study their lives (refer
to the 9th and the 10th paragraphs. Option (4) may holistic reading of the passage leads to option (c) as
only be partially correct. Shy nature and fear for publicity the best among the choices. Option (3) is best in terms
of tone and theme.

Reading - 2 Page 1
17. 1 Option (1) can be concluded from the last part of the (2) is incorrect as we are talking of common principles/
passage where the ‘moral’ purpose behind Orwell’s tradition/evolution and not ‘rigid principles’. As regards
work is connected to the form traditionally associated option (3), the author is not worried about the outlook
with the moral-the animal fable. Then, the passage of people— whether they are traditional/modern in
clearly indicates that the fable relates to humans outlook. But he is definitely indicating that the entire
although the chosen characters are animals. There is population has not evolved in a similar way and the
no reference to the other choices anywhere in the people do not have a common history, which renders
passage. option (4) correct.

18. 4 The author is exploring why patriotism in America is 20. 4 Option (1) can be inferred from the first paragraph.
different and more inclusive as compared to that in Option (2) can be inferred from the second paragraph.
Australia and Europe. This is the main theme. The Option (3) can be inferred from the last paragraph of
author also shows a slight preference for American the passage.
Patriotism to that of Europe and Australia. This leads
us to option (4). Option (1) is not the primary objective 21. 1 The passage examines both the aspects very minutely,
of the author. The author does not use harsh words to thus option (1) is most appropriate. Option (2) is a
criticize Europe or Australia. Option (2) is too general. suggestion whereas options (3) and (4) are the
The attempt is not to learn but to study the difference possible repercussions of the ban.
in patriotism among America, Australia and Europe.
Option (3) again is part of the discussion but does not 22. 3 The author is critical of the unjust conservation laws
encompass the whole of the passage. and programmes. He carries on with this tone through
a major portion of the passage. The tones mentioned
19. 4 The context here is that nations like America have in options (1), (2) and (4) are not reflected in the
been created from migration and settlement and hence passage.
there is nothing organic about them. ‘Organic’ in the
context would take a sense of ‘having a common 23. 2 The passage discusses the possibility of the ban
history/tradition/culture/ancestry’ for the people of a having a boomerang effect. All the other options are
particular country (of the ‘New W orld’). Option (1) untrue.
conveys the opposite of the intended meaning. Option

Page 2 Reading - 2