Why do twentieth century advances not seem sustainable ?
- (a) They do not meet the human needs
- (b) Due to the increased cost of agricultural production
- (c) Because they are outdated for the current times
- (d) They are useful, but intensive
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Read the following passage carefully and answer the items that follow the passage. Your answers to these items should be based solely on the passage.
Can agricultural productivity meet human needs in the long run ? Since twentieth century advances, given increasing costs, do not seem sustainable, further increases in output will not be achieved easily. Global population growth, while showing signs of slowing down, has pushed farmers and herders into areas unsuited to intensive agriculture, accelerating worldwide ecological disruptions. Reserves of arable land and fresh water have diminished alarmingly. Chemical runoffs have compounded pollution problems. Invasion of natural habitats have hastened species extinction. Desertification has been severe in the last hundred years, especially in North Africa, southern portions of Africa, Australia, northern Mexico, and the American Southwest. Tropical forests have shrunk by one-half since World War II, with agricultural pressures causing three-quarters of that loss. Government inter- vention has produced its share of catastrophes, ranging from a terrible famine in China between 1958-1961 that may have killed 30 million people and destroyed the Aral Sea. Taking everything into consideration, we may remain hopeful about humankind’s agricultural prospects, but we can scarcely look forward optimistically at the end of the first quarter of the twenty-first century.
Why do twentieth century advances not seem sustainable ?
What pushes farmers into places unsuited for agriculture ?
Which one of the following is NOT true, according to the passage, for ecological degradation ?
What is the conclusion of the author in the passage about the prospects of agriculture in the world ?
Which one of the following words means ‘incursion’ ?
The following items have a sentence in direct or indirect speech, followed by four options. One of the options correctly converts the direct speech into indirect speech. Select the most appropriate option and mark your answer on the Answer Sheet.
Convert from direct into indirect speech.
Ayushi said to the group, “We have had enough of suffering today. It is time to march forward.”
Convert from direct speech into indirect speech.
“Alas! We lost the match by one point,” said the Captain
Convert from direct speech into indirect speech.
“Where were you last week ?” Alok asked Sheela
Following items have sentences in active voice with four options. One of the options converts the active voice into passive voice correctly. Select the most appropriate option and mark your answer on the Answer Sheet.
The king who the people loved built the castle five centuries ago
The company has recruited four hundred engineers who will have to complete an internship for three weeks
In the following items, a pair of words is provided. You are required to select the option that most appropriately describes the meaning of both the words and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
Seldom and Often
Overview and Review
Overcome and Succeed
Embed and Imbue
Emancipate and Empower
In the following items a sentence or a phrase is given with a word that is underlined, followed by four words or group of words. Select the option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
The Professor has been able to instil confidence in her students
The members of the group expressed their allegiance to their leader
The inscrutability surrounding the incident remains unresolved until the end of the movie
The dodgy behaviour of the leader led to her fall
People have been advised not to venture into sea as the weather is likely to be inclement
In this section each item consists of six sentences of a passage. The first and sixth sentences are given in the beginning as S1 and S6. The middle four sentences in each have been jumbled up and labelled as P, Q, R and S. You are required to find the proper sequence of the four sentences and mark your response accordingly on the Answer Sheet.
S1. Sufism is an English word coined in the Nineteenth Century
S6. It may also have been suffa, the platform outside a place of Islamic worship
P. Historians have understood this term in several ways
Q. According to some scholars, it is derived from suf, meaning wool
R. Others derive it from safa, meaning purity
S. The word used for Sufism in Islamic texts is tasawwuf
S1. Al-Biruni was born in 973, in Khwarizm in present-day Uzbekistan
S6. He arrived in Ghazni as a hostage, but gradually developed a liking for the city
P. In 1017, when Sultan Mahmud invaded Khwarizm, he took several scholars back to his capital, Ghazni : Al-Biruni was one among them
Q. He was well versed in several languages; Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, and Sanskrit
R. Khwarizm was an important centre of learning, and Al-Biruni received the best education available at the time
S. However he did not know Greek, although he was familiar with the works of Plato and other Greek philosophers
S1. Vijayanagara or ‘city of victory’ was the name of both a city and an empire
S6. They remembered it as Hampi, a name derived from that of the local mother goddess, Pampadevi
P. In its heyday it stretched from the river Krishna in the north to the extreme south of the Indian peninsula
Q. Although it fell into ruin in the seventeenth-eighteenth centuries, it continued to live in the memories of the people who inhabited the Krishna-Tungabhadra doab
R. In 1565 the city was sacked and subsequently deserted
S. The Empire was founded in the fourteenth century
S1. Liberalisation and globalisation freed India’s economy from the low GDP trap that had impeded India’s progress
S6. Today India has transformed into one of the largest economies of the world
P. India’s 3 pc rate of growth and a set of emergent circumstances led to a balance of payment crisis in the early 1990s
Q. Ease of business was ensured, and the requirement for import licences, and production quotas, were removed
R. Apart from these measures India also took a loan from the IMF to tide over the crisis, but after 1993, India has not taken another loan from the IMF
S. In a landmark budget in 1991, responding to the emergent crisis, India delicenced many industries and liberalised its economic policies
S1. In many countries, there are millions of people who are underprivileged and deprived
S6. In the past forced labour was imposed by landlords, moneylenders, and other wealthy persons
P. Both of these are prohibited under the Constitution of India
Q. One such form of exploitation in our country has been begar or forced labour without payment
R. The marginalised are often subjected to exploitation by their fellow human beings
S. Another closely related form of exploitation is buying and selling of human beings and using them as slaves
Given below are sentences that use discourse markers/expressions to make them complete. Identify the most appropriate discourse marker and mark your answer accordingly on the Answer Sheet.
I can’t be bothered to tell him what I think; ________ he would not listen to me.
________, if the referee points his fingers, this indicates that someone has done something wrong.
________, have you been to the local library yet ?
________, women are healthier and are living longer than ever before : indeed on an average, they can expect to live five years longer than men.
The difference is that I have been fortunate to find a career that I love and, ________, I am getting paid reasonably for it.
________, the Government of India has followed the policy of trying to improve relations with its neighbours.
________, this issue is likely to be discussed when the Council meets next.
________, you needed to consult a physician to have a clear idea of what the disease is about.
________, in the year-ago period the current account deficit stood at USD 1.3 billion or 0.2% of the GDP.
________, the records have been completely undermined by shoddy book-keeping.
Given below are words/expressions/jargons followed by four options. Identify the most appropriate option that defines the word/expression/jargon in each instance, and mark your response accordingly on the Answer Sheet.
Infelicity :
Corollary :
Quandary :
Presumption :
Smug :
Each of the following items in this section consists of a sentence, the parts of which have been jumbled. These parts have been labelled as P, Q, R and S. Each sentence is followed by four sequences, namely (a), (b), (c) and (d), indicating the rearrangement of the parts. You are required to select the most appropriate option and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
P : of children they also contain deeply embedded
Q : whereas traditional fairy tales
R : moral lessons that are relevant even for adults
S : were designed for the entertainment
P : of school education is an ineluctable truth
Q : that sporting activities are an integral part
R : meaningfully towards the overall growth of a student
S : that underscores the learning process and contributes
P : and contentment on account of a life lived
Q : the beneficial outcome of
R : well without retribution or rebuke
S : a virtuous life is peace of mind
P : more representative than the latter
Q : from a non-parliamentary system
R : in as much as the former is
S : it is widely believed that the parliamentary system differs
P : crushes the spirit behind the service
Q : it stunts the person offering the same and
R : exhibition or for fear of public opinion
S : when service is done for
Each of the following sentences in this section has a blank space, followed by four options. Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
It does not look like he is going ________ in his studies than what was predicted by his school principal.
________ all the confusion the thief made a quiet getaway.
The intricate operation on the patient required the expertise of a/an ________ surgeon.
There are ________ thirty students inside the classroom at any time.
There are many ________ vehicles on the highway due to a sudden landslide.
The focal length of a concave lens is . The power of the lens is
The rule to determine the direction of a force experienced by a straight current carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field which is perpendicular to it is
One parsec in astronomical units (A.U.) is about
Which one of the following statements for second law of motion is NOT correct ?
The temperature of a body increases from to . The temperature increase in degree Celsius is
Which one of the following statements for the work done by gravity on a body is NOT correct ?
Which one among the following statements is correct ?
Which one of the following wavelength radiations may correspond to an X-ray ?
In a Telescope, compared to the eyepiece lens the objective lens has
The energy, , of a photon can be expressed as where is the frequency and is Planck’s constant. The dimensions of are the same as that of
The work done by the force acting on an object is zero if the displacement of the object
The magnetic field inside a current carrying very long solenoid is
Which one of the following instruments can be used to measure temperature ?
The quantity of heat needed to change unit mass of a substance from liquid to vapour without changing the temperature, is called
The temperature at which “vapour pressure of the liquid in an open vessel becomes equal to the atmospheric pressure” is called
Which one of the following statements about surface tension is correct ?
A body sinks in water when
Why a fielder in the ground gradually pulls his hands backward while catching a fast moving cricket ball ?
Bottom of a tank containing water appears to be raised. It is due to
SONAR stands for
Which one of the following radiations has longer wavelength ?
For a material under static conditions, which one among the following statements is correct ?
A person can see nearby objects clearly but cannot see distant object distinctly, the person is suffering with
The energy is always conserved for a system which is
Suppose, a ball of mass is thrown upwards from a point and it reaches up to the highest point and returns back to point , which one among the following is correct ?
Who among the following presided over the first session of All India Kisan Sabha in Lucknow in April 1936 ?
Who among the following founded the ‘Self-Respect Movement’ ?
Chola inscriptions mention several categories of lands. Which one of the following was meant for the maintenance of school ?
Which of the following statements about the Home Rule League are correct ?
Lokamanya Tilak set up the Home Rule League at the Bombay Provincial Conference held at Belgaum in April 1916
Annie Besant announced the formation of Home Rule League in September 1916
To avoid friction, Tilak’s League was to work in Maharashtra (excluding Bombay city), Karnataka, Central Provinces and Berar and Besant’s League was given charge of the rest of India
Select the answer using the code given below :
Which one of the following statements about Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar is NOT correct ?
Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists :
| List I (Reformer) | List II (Social Work/Text) |
|---|---|
| A. Vishnu Shastri Pundit | 1. Vedic Physics : Scientific Origin of Hinduism |
| B. Karsondas Mulji | 2. Widow Remarriage Association |
| C. Debendranath Tagore | 3. Satya Prakash |
| D. Raja Ram Mohan Roy | 4. Tattvabodhini Sabha |
Code :
A B C D
In the Harappan Civilization, traces of canals have been found at
Arrange the following foreign travellers to India in chronological order, beginning with the earliest :
Peter Mundy
Antonio Monserrate
Afanasii Nikitich Nikitin
Ibn Battuta
Select the answer using the code given below :
With which of the following was the Bretton Woods System NOT associated
Senguttuvan is the name of
The Ramacharita, an example of dvyasrya-kavya, telling two stories simultaneously, was written by
Which of the following Acts established the Board of Control to guide and control the work of the Court of Directors and the Government of India ?
Who among the following Sikh Gurus laid the foundation of the Khalsa Panth ?
Which one among the following plans is also known as Mahalanobis Plan ?
Which of the following were the years of Annual Plans ?
Consider the following statements about BRICS Summits :
The first BRICS Summit was held in Brazil
BRICS Summits were held in New Delhi on three occasions
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Placing the earliest first, arrange the following international events in the chronological order :
Introduction of www (World Wide Web)
Advent of Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles
Launch of first communication satellite
Select the answer using the code given below :
Which of the following rights under the Constitution of India is/are Fundamental Right(s) ?
Right to work
Right to privacy
Right to free and compulsory education in the age bracket of six to eighteen years
Select the answer using the code given below :
Consider the following statements with regard to flags of International Organizations :
The flag of EU has a circle of gold stars on a white background
The Flag of the UN carries two pairs of olive tree branches
The ASEAN flag carries blue, red, white and yellow colours
How many of the above statements is/are correct ?
Which one of the following committees is NOT associated with decentralization of Panchayati Raj institutions in India ?
The reaction that occurs on passing carbon dioxide gas through lime water is
Which one of the following statements is NOT correct ?
Which one of the following type of medicines is used for treating indigestion ?
Which one of the following is NOT present in cement ?
Which one of the following is NOT a chemical change ?
Which one of the following statements is NOT correct ?
Which one of the following is NOT a heterogeneous mixture ?
Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists :
| List I (Element) | List II (Atomicity) |
|---|---|
| A. Phosphorus | 1. 2 |
| B. Nitrogen | 2. 1 |
| C. Neon | 3. 8 |
| D. Sulphur | 4. 4 |
Code :
A B C D
In the following redox reaction, which compound is acting as a reducing agent ?
Which one of the following is considered to be the purest source of water ?
Which one of the following salts is responsible for temporary hardness of water ?
Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists :
| List I (Reaction) | List II (Type) |
|---|---|
| A. | 1. Single displacement |
| B. | 2. Double displacement |
| C. | 3. Combination |
| D. | 4. Decomposition |
Code :
A B C D
Which one of the following is an endothermic reaction ?
Which one of the following is known as ‘water gas’ ?
Which one of the following statements is NOT correct ?
Arrange the following zones in ascending order in terms of their latitudinal extent on the Earth surface :
Equatorial zone
Midlatitude zone
Subarctic zone
Tropical zone
Select the answer using the code given below :
Consider the following statements with reference to Feldspar mineral :
Half of the earth’s crust is composed of feldspar
It has light cream to salmon pink colour
Magnesium is a common element in all types of feldspar
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Consider the following pairs with reference to sedimentary rocks and the process of their formation :
| Sedimentary Rock | Process of Formation |
|---|---|
| 1. Chert | Chemically formed |
| 2. Geyserite | Organically formed |
| 3. Shale | Mechanically formed |
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?
Which of the following statements is/are correct ?
Oceanic trenches are very significant in the study of plate movements
Oceanic trenches are associated with active volcanoes and strong earthquakes
Select the answer using the code given below :
Which of the following statements with reference to shadow zones in an event of an earthquake is/are correct ?
Zone between and from epicentre was identified as the shadow zone for both P-waves and S-waves
The shadow zone of P-waves is much larger than that of the S-waves
Select the answer using the code given below :
Which one among the following volcanic island chains is NOT associated with mid-oceanic ridge ?
Consider the following statements with reference to sea waves :
The height of waves is determined by wind speed, wind duration, and fetch
The energy of a wave is proportional to the square of its height
Waves retain most of their energy as they travel across the deep ocean
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Which of the following statements with reference to soil forming processes is/are correct ?
Translocation, enrichment, removal and transformation are different classes of soil forming processes
In translocation, fine particles are transported downward by eluviation and accumulate in lower horizons by illuviation
Select the answer using the code given below :
Consider the following statements with reference to structure of the Earth’s atmosphere :
Thickness of the troposphere is greatest at the equator
The air temperature of the tropopause is highest above the poles
The temperature in troposphere decreases at the rate of for every of height
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Which of the following are the factors that cause variation in the amount of insolation on the Earth ?
Rotation of the earth on its axis
Length of the day
Distribution of land and water on the earth
Select the answer using the code given below :
Consider the following conditions favourable for the formation and intensification of Tropical Storms :
Presence of the Coriolis force
Upper divergence above the sea level system
High variations in the vertical wind speed
Which of the conditions given above is/are correct ?
Which of the following factors influence the ocean currents ?
Coriolis force
Gravity
Heating by solar energy
Wind
Select the answer using the code given below :
Which of the following is/are warm ocean current(s) ?
Alaska Current
Agulhas Current
Falkland Current
West Australian Current
Select the answer using the code given below :
State of Assam shares borders with how many other countries and Indian states respectively ?
Which one of the following is the northernmost river basin of the Deccan Plateau ?
Laterite soil in India is rich in which of the following ?
Calcium
Nitrogen
Phosphate
Potash
Select the answer using the code given below :
Which of the following statements with reference to crops cultivated in India is/are correct ?
Bajra grows well in sandy and shallow black soils, whereas red and shallow black soil is suited for Ragi
Bajra is predominantly grown in states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, while Ragi is mainly cultivated in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh
Select the answer using the code given below :
Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists :
| List I (City) | List II (Mineral) |
|---|---|
| A. Bewar | 1. Manganese |
| B. Balaghat | 2. Mica |
| C. Bilaspur | 3. Iron-ore |
| D. Ballary | 4. Bauxite |
Code :
A B C D
Which one among the following is NOT a beneficiary state from the Vindhyachal Power Plant of the NTPC ?
Consider the following pairs with reference to Thermal Power Plants and their location in respective states in India :
| Thermal Power Plant | Located in State |
|---|---|
| I. Panki | Uttar Pradesh |
| II. Parli | Karnataka |
| III. Vijayawada | Telangana |
| IV. Vanakbari | Gujarat |
How many of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?
The book ‘The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection’ was authored by
The headquarters of World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is located at
The optimum at which the enzymes pepsin and trypsin of the human alimentary canal works are
The amount of air breathed in and out during a normal respiration by human lungs is referred to as
Which one among the following statements about arteries and veins in humans is NOT correct ?
Identify the functions that are controlled by the hind brain of human being
Iodized salt is a vital part of our diet as it is essential for the synthesis of
The menstrual cycle in females is controlled by hormones that are secreted by
Which one of the following blood cells type secrete large number of antibodies during an immune response of the body ?
Which of the following organelles have their own DNA and ribosomes ?
What is the nickname of the National Men’s Hockey Team of Australia ?
Which one of the following organisations has completed 150 years of service to the nation in the year 2025 ?
Which of the following statements about ‘Jalvahak’ is/are correct ?
It is a newly commissioned naval ship inducted into Indian Navy
It is a major policy for cargo promotion unveiled by the Government of India
Select the answer using the code given below :
How many rural districts does Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act cover as on 2024-25 ?
Under which one of the following initiatives does the NITI Aayog support interested States to establish a State Institution for Transformation (SIT) ?
Which one of the following Indian States account for the maximum deposits of Bauxite and Chromite ?
Consider the following statements with regard to National Technology Day :
It commemorates the momentous events of 11th May 1998, when India conducted successful nuclear tests under Operation Shakti
The official theme for National Technology Day 2025 is ‘School to Startups – Igniting Young Minds to Innovate’
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Which of the following were added in India as Ramsar Site in the year 2025 ?
Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary
Udhwa Lake
Rudrasagar Lake
Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary
Select the answer using the code given below :
Consider the following statements about Cricket player Virat Kohli :
He is the only captain to have scored seven double centuries in Test Cricket
He is the only Indian cricketer with most centuries as a captain
He is the first Indian captain to achieve twin centuries on captaincy debut
He holds the record for the most double centuries by an Indian in Test Cricket
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
Ethereum, Tether, Solana and Cardano are all forms of