Verbal and Reading Comprehension “VRC” has been made a separate section in CAT 2015 and in only 60 minutes , 34 questions needs to be answered. The VRC will include Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) as well as Non-MCQs on English Verbal Ability and 4 Reading Comprehension passages without any question on Logical Reasoning.
A student needs to be cautious of the time and has to have strong ability of reading quickly and grasping the gist of it. CAT exam pattern includes several other changes and can be found on the link – CAT 2015 Changes are as follows
For the preparation of VRC section in CAT 2015 , kindly find questions below for the preparation . Test your skills of Verbal and Reading Comprehension.
How to Prepare for CAT 2015 Verbal and Reading Comprehension Test –
Verbal Ability Section –
Let’s understand what sort of questions you can expect in VA, and then look at how preparation can be taken up for the next few months.
Practice with following Questions and answers with solutions for Verbal Ability (VA)
Direction (for Q.No. 1):
In the following the questions choose the word which best expresses the meaning of the given word.
1. MOROSE
A. Annoyed B. Gloomy C. Moody D. Displeased
Ans – B
Direction (for Q.Nos. 2 – 4):
Read the each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error in it. The error, if any will be in one part of the sentence. The letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is ‘D’. (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any).
2. (solve as per the direction given above)
A. He explained the matter B. at great length C. but I was not the wiser D. No error.
Ans – B
3. (solve as per the direction given above)
A. Since India has gained Independence B. 49 years ago.
C. much progress has been made in almost every field. D. No error.
Ans – A
4. (solve as per the direction given above)
A. Our conception of B. what should a science of mental life be
C. has changed considerably since James’ time. D. No error.
Ans – B
Direction (for Q.No. 5):
Pick out the most effective word(s) from the given words to fill in the blank to make the sentence meaningfully complete.
5. this brand of TV is quite inferior …… that one.
A. than B. to C. with D. over
Ans – B
Direction (for Q.Nos. 6 – 7):
Read the each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error in it. The error, if any will be in one part of the sentence. The letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is ‘D’. (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any).
6. (solve as per the direction given above)
A. Do you know B. to play C. the guitar? D. No error.
Ans – B
7. (solve as per the direction given above)
A. After leaving his office B. he went directly C. to a restaurant. D. No error.
Ans – D
Direction (for Q.Nos. 8 – 9):
Read the each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error in it. The error, if any will be in one part of the sentence. The letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is ‘E’. (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any).
8. (solve as per the direction given above)
A. The observers felt that B. the stronger team had to face C. defeat because the players
D. didn’t play whole hearted. E. No error.
Ans – D
9. (solve as per the direction given above)
A. Ramesh did not like B. leaving his old parents alone in the house C. but he had no alternative
D. as he has to go out to work. E. No error.
Ans – D
Direction (for Q.No. 10):
In each of the sentences given below a word is printed in bold. Below it four choices are given. Pick up the one which is most nearly the same in meaning as the word printer in bold and can replaces it without altering the meaning of the sentence.
10. Swift is known in the world of letters for his misogynism.
A. hate for mankind B. hate for womankind C. love for the reasonable D. love for the womankind
Ans – B
Reading Comprehension Section –
Passage 1 (1 to 4)
In nearly all human populations a majority of individuals can taste the artificially synthesized chemical phenylthiocarbonide (PTC). However, the percentage varies dramatically–from as low as 60% in India to as high as 95% in Africa. That this polymorphism is observed in non-human primates as well indicates a long evolutionary history which, although obviously not acting on PTC, might reflect evolutionary selection for taste discrimination of other, more significant bitter substances, such as certain toxic plants.
A somewhat more puzzling human polymorphism is the genetic variability in earwax, or cerumen, which is observed in two varieties. Among European populations 90% of individuals have a sticky yellow variety rather than a dry, gray one, whereas in northern China these numbers are approximately the reverse. Perhaps like PTC variability, cerumen variability is an incidental expression of something more adaptively significant. Indeed, the observed relationship between cerumen and odorous bodily secretions, to which non-human primates and, to a lesser extent humans, pay attention suggests that during the course of human evolution genes affecting body secretions, including cerumen, came under selective influence.
Questions
- It can be inferred from the passage that human populations vary considerably in their
- sensitivity to certain bodily odors
- ability to assimilate artificial chemicals
- vulnerability to certain toxins found in plants
- ability to discern bitterness in taste
- Which of the following provides the most reasonable explanation for the assertion in the first paragraph that evolutionary history “obviously” did not act on PTC?
- PTC is not a naturally occurring chemical but rather has been produced only recently by scientists.
- Most humans lack sufficient taste sensitivity to discriminate between PTC and bitter chemicals occurring naturally.
- Variability among humans respecting PTC discrimination, like variability respecting earwax, cannot be explained in terms of evolutionary adaptivity.
- Unlike non-human primates, humans can discriminate intellectually between toxic and non-toxic bitter substances.
- Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?
- Artificially synthesized chemicals might eventually serve to alter the course of evolution by desensitizing humans to certain tastes and odors.
- Some human polymorphisms might be explained as vestigial evidence of evolutionary adaptations that still serve vital purposes in other primates.
- Sensitivity to taste and to odors have been subject to far greater natural selectivity during the evolution of primates than previously thought.
- Polymorphism among human populations varies considerably from region to region throughout the world.
- It can be inferred from the passage that
- The amount of bodily odours and secretion that take place reduce at each stage of evolution.
- The extent of attention paid by non-human primates to body secretions is much higher than that of the more evolved human species.
- Artificially sythesized chemicals have impaired the extent of sensitivity that human beings have to body secretions.
- All of these
Correct Answer
1. (4), 2. (1), 3. (2), 4. (2)
Passage 2 (5 to 10)
There are two theories that have often been used to explain ancient and modern tragedy. Neither quite explains the complexity of the tragic process or the tragic hero, but each explains important elements of tragedy, and, because their conclusions are contradictory, they represent extreme views.
and of the limitation of human effort. But this theory of tragedy is an oversimplification, primarily because it confuses the tragic condition with the tragic process: the theory does not acknowledge that fate, in a tragedy, normally becomes external to the hero only after the tragic process has as a heroism that creates the splendor and exhilaration that is unique to tragedy. The tragic hero quality of an honest person, but the external antagonist of the criminal. Secondarily, this theory of tragedy does not distinguish tragedy from irony. Irony does not need an exceptional central figure: the original destiny never quite fades out of the tragedy.
as a rule, the more ignoble the hero the sharper the irony, when irony alone is the objective. It is heroism that creates the splendor and exhilaration that is unique to tragedy. The tragic hero normally has an extraordinary, often a nearly divine, destiny almost within grasp, and the glory of the original destiny never quite fades out of the tragedy.
The second theory of tragedy states that the act that sets the tragic process in motion must be primarily a violation of normal law, whether human or divine; in short, that the tragic hero must have a flaw that has an essential connection with sin. Again it is true that the great majority of tragic heroes do possess hubris, or a proud and passionate mind that seems to make the hero’s downfall morally explicable. But such hubris is only the precipitating agent of catastrophe, just as in comedy the cause )f the happy ending is usually some act of humility often performed by a noble character who is meanly disguised.
This theory of tragedy as morally explicable runs into the question of whether an innocent sufferer in a tragedy, such as Iphigenia, or Socrates in Plato Apology, is a tragic figure. They are, of course, even though it is not very easy to find crucial moral flaws in them. Cordelia shows sincerity and high spirit in refusing to flatter her faber, and Cordelia is 30 hanged. Tragedy, in short, is ambiguous and cannot be reduced to the opposition between human effort. and external fate, just as it cannot be reduced to the opposition between good and evil.
Questions
1. The primary purpose of the passage is. to
A) compare and criticize two theories of tragedy.
B) develop a new theory of tragedy.
C) summarize the thematic content of tragedy.
D) reject one theory of tragedy and offer another theory in its place.
E) distinguish between tragedy and iron
2. The author states that the theories discussed in the passage “represent extreme views”
because their conclusions are
(A) unpopular (B) complex (C) paradoxical
(D) contradictory. (E) imaginative
3. Which of the following comparisons of the tragic with the ironic hero is best supported by information contained in the’ passage?
A) A tragic hero’s fate is an external condition, but an ironic hero’s fate is an internal one.
B) A tragic hero must be controlled by fate, but an ironic hero cannot be.
C) A tragic hero’s moral flaw surprises the, audience, but an ironic hero’s sin does not.
D) A tragic hero and an ironic hero cannot both be virtuous figures in the same tragedy.
E) A tragic hero is usually extraordinary, but an ironic hero may be cowardly or even villainous.
4. The author contrasts an honest person and a criminal primarily in order to
A) prove that fate cannot be external to the tragic hero.
B) establish a criterion that allows a distinction to be made between irony and tragedy.
C) develop the distinction between the tragic condition and the tragic process.
D) introduce the concept of sin as the cause of tragic action.
E) argue that the theme of omnipotent external fate is shared by comedy and tragedy.
5. According to the. author, Cordellia is an example of a figure who
A) transcended both the laws of ‘fate and the laws of society.
B) sinned, but whose sin did not set the tragic process in motion.
C) disobeyed a moral law, but was not punished for doing so.
D) submitted willingly to fate, even though her submission caused her death.
E) did not set the tragic process in motion, but is still a tragic figure.
6. In the author’s opinion, an act of humility in comedy is most analogous to
A) a catastrophe in tragedy.
B) an ironic action in tragedy.
C) a tragic hero’s pride and passion
D) a tragic hero’s aversion to sin.
E) a tragic hero’s pursuit of an unusual destiny.
Correct Answer
1. (A), 2. (D), 3. (E), 4. (C), 5. (E), 6. (C)