UPSC - Aptitude Test - Comprehension Test

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Question - 1

Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.

Faith in progress is deep within our culture. We have been taught to believe that our lives are better than the lives of those who came before us. The ideology of modern economics suggests that material progress has yielded enhanced satisfaction and well-being. But much of our confidence about our own well-being comes from the assumption that our lives are easier than those of earlier 6 generations.

The lives of the so-called primitive peoples are thought to be harsh-their existence dominated by the 'incessant quest for food'. In fact. primitives did very little work. By contemporary standards, we'd have to judge them very lazy.

The key to understanding why these 'stone-age people' failed to act like us - increasing their work effort to get more things is that they had limited desires. In the race between wanting and having, they had kept their wanting low-end, in this way ensured their own kind of satisfaction. They were materially poor by contemporary standards, but in at least one dimension- time we have to count them richer.

What is the basis for progress and growth according to the writer?

  • A Faith in progress is deep-rooted in our culture.
  • B We have been taught that progress in necessary.
  • C Material progress has given us strength.
  • D We have assumed to progress.

Question - 2

Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.
Faith in progress is deep within our culture. We have been taught to believe that our lives are better than the lives of those who came before us. The ideology of modern economics suggests that material progress has yielded enhanced satisfaction and well-being. But much of our confidence about our own well-being comes from the assumption that our lives are easier than those of earlier 6 generations.

The lives of the so-called primitive peoples are thought to be harsh-their existence dominated by the 'incessant quest for food'. In fact. primitives did very little work. By contemporary standards, we'd have to judge them very lazy.

The key to understanding why these 'stone-age people' failed to act like us - increasing their work effort to get more things-is that they had limited desires. In the race between wanting and having, they had kept their wanting low-and, in this way ensured their own kind of satisfaction. They were materially poor by contemporary standards, but in at least one dimension- time-we have to count them richer.
What does the writer attribute to modern economics?

  • A That our lives are easier than before
  • B The progress is a natural process
  • C That material progress leads to higher satisfaction and well-being
  • D That it forces us to assume progress.

Question - 3

Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.

Faith in progress is deep within our culture. Wehave been taught to believe that our lives are better than the lives of those who came before us. The ideologyof modern economics suggests that material progress has yielded enhanced satisfaction and well-being. But much of our confidence about our own well-being comes from the assumption that our lives are easier than those of earlier 6 nerations.

The lives ofthe so-called primitive peoples are thought to be harsh-their existence dominated by the 'incessant quest for food'. In fact. primitives did very little work. By contemporary standards we'd have to judge them very lazy.

The key to understanding why these 'stone-age people' failed to act like us - increasing their work effort to get more things-is that they had limited desires. In the race between wanting and having, they had kept their wanting low-and, in this way ensured their own kind of satisfaction. They werematerially poor by contemporary standards, but in at least one dimension- time-we have to count them richer.
What is the writer's image of the primitive people?

  • A Their life was harsh.
  • B They did no work.
  • C They were lazy.
  • D Search for food was their primary focus in life.

Question - 4

Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.

Faith in progress is deep within our culture. Wehave been taught to believe that our lives are better than the lives of those who came before us. The ideologyof modern economics suggests that material progress has yielded enhanced satisfaction and well-being. But much of our confidence about our own well-being comes from the assumption that our lives are easier than those of earlier 6 nerations.

The lives ofthe so-called primitive peoples are thought to be harsh-their existence dominated by the 'incessant quest for food'. In fact. primitives did very little work. By contemporary standards we'd have to judge them very lazy.

The key to understanding why these 'stone-age people' failed to act like us - increasing their work effort to get more things-is that they had limited desires. In the race between wanting and having, they had kept their wanting low-and, in this way ensured their own kind of satisfaction. They werematerially poor by contemporary standards, but in at least one dimension- time-we have to count them richer.
What is the key to understanding the primitive people's behaviour according to the passage?

  • A They had no desires.
  • B They had everything they needed.
  • C They had limited desires.
  • D They kept their wants high.

Question - 5

Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.

Faith in progress is deep within our culture. Wehave been taught to believe that our lives are better than the lives of those who came before us. The ideologyof modern economics suggests that material progress has yielded enhanced satisfaction and well-being. But much of our confidence about our own well-being comes from the assumption that our lives are easier than those of earlier 6 nerations.

The lives ofthe so-called primitive peoples are thought to be harsh-their existence dominated by the 'incessant quest for food'. In fact. primitives did very little work. By contemporary standards we'd have to judge them very lazy.

The key to understanding why these 'stone-age people' failed to act like us - increasing their work effort to get more things-is that they had limited desires. In the race between wanting and having, they had kept their wanting low-and, in this way ensured their own kind of satisfaction. They werematerially poor by contemporary standards, but in at least one dimension- time-we have to count them richer.
How does the writer appreciate the primitives?

  • A They have a low degree of wants.
  • B They are the masters of their time owing to their contentedness.
  • C They are materially poor.
  • D They are highly satisfied.

Question - 6

All of us have enormous capabilities. In many of us however,our achievements fail to correlate with our potential, because of lack of self-discipline-the effort needed to channel our energy for productive uses. To maximisc your effectivenessyou must "learn to put your nose to the grindstone. work against boredom and learn to take the long, hard way in life rather than the short, easy way".

Here are a few suggestions that focus on "Howto do what you want to do> Take risks. It is important to realise that nothing in life is achieved unless you risk something. That's how self-confidence develops. Every chance you take, offers you valuable spinoffs in terms of learning. Earn a reward. Sometime back I had to face the rather unenviable task of preparing for two examinations simultaneously. I had to be ruthless in driving myself from one goal to another. Hard nosed attitude saw me sail through the courses. I rewarded myself at the end of it indulging in my favourite pastime and ,taking a short holiday:

Why do our achievements fail to correlate with our potential?

  • A Because of mck of intelligence
  • B Because of lack of discipline.
  • C Because of lack of external help.
  • D Because of lack of self-discipllne.

Question - 7

Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.

All of us have enormous capabilities. In many of us however, our achievements fail to correlate with our potential, because of lack of self-discipline-the effort needed to channel our energy for productive uses. To maximise your effectiveness you must "learn to put your nose to the grindstone. work against boredom and learn to take the long, hard way in life rather than the short, easy way".

Here are a few suggestions that focus on "How to do what you want to do> Take risks. It is important to realise that nothing in life is achieved unless you risk something. That's how self-confidence develops. Every chance you take, offers you valuable spinoffs in terms of learning. Earn a reward. Sometime back I had to face the rather unenviable task of preparing for two examinations simultaneously. I had to be ruthless in driving myself from one goal to another. Hardnosed attitude saw me sail through the courses. I rewarded myself at the end of it indulging in my favourite pastime and ,taking a short holiday:

How does one's self-confidence develop?

  • A By taking risks.
  • B By always meeting with success
  • C By being cautious.
  • D By being garrulous.

Question - 8

Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.

All of us have enormous capabilities. In many of us however, our achievements fail to correlate with our potential, because of lack of self-discipline-the effort needed to channel our energy for productive uses. To maximise your effectiveness you must "learn to put your nose to the grindstone. work against boredom and learn to take the long, hard way in life rather than the short, easy way".

Here are a few suggestions that focus on "How to do what you want to do> Take risks. It is important to realise that nothing in life is achieved unless you risk something. That's how self-confidence develops. Every chance you take, offers you valuable spinoffs in terms of learning. Earn a reward. Sometime back I had to face the rather unenviable task of preparing for two examinations simultaneously. I had to be ruthless in driving myself from one goal to another. Hardnosed attitude saw me sail through the courses. I rewarded myself at the end of it indulging in my favourite pastime and ,taking a short holiday:

What does every chance in our life teach us?

  • A It helps us to become philosophical.
  • B It helps us to become idealistic.
  • C It helps us to learn.
  • D It shows us our limitation .

Question - 9

Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.

All of us have enormous capabilities. In many of us however, our achievements fail to correlate with our potential, because of lack of self-discipline-the effort needed to channel our energy for productive uses. To maximise your effectiveness you must "learn to put your nose to the grindstone. work against boredom and learn to take the long, hard way in life rather than the short, easy way".

Here are a few suggestions that focus on "How to do what you want to do> Take risks. It is important to realise that nothing in life is achieved unless you risk something. That's how self-confidence develops. Every chance you take, offers you valuable spinoffs in terms of learning. Earn a reward. Sometime back I had to face the rather unenviable task of preparing for two examinations simultaneously. I had to be ruthless in driving myself from one goal to another. Hardnosed attitude saw me sail through the courses. I rewarded myself at the end of it indulging in my favourite pastime and ,taking a short holiday:

How does the author reward him after his success?

  • A By taking a short holiday.
  • B By doing more work.
  • C By visiting friends.
  • D By thanking God.

Question - 10

Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.
All of us have enormous capabilities. In many of us however, our achievements fail to correlate with our potential, because of lack of self-discipline-the effort needed to channel our energy for productive uses. To maximise your effectiveness you must "learn to put your nose to the grindstone. work against boredom and learn to take the long, hard way in life rather than the short, easy way".

Here are a few suggestions that focus on "How to do what you want to do> Take risks. It is important to realise that nothing in life is achieved unless you risk something. That's how self-confidence develops. Every chance you take, offers you valuable spinoffs in terms of learning. Earn a reward. Sometime back I had to face the rather unenviable task of preparing for two examinations simultaneously. I had to be ruthless in driving myself from one goal to another. Hardnosed attitude saw me sail through the courses. I rewarded myself at the end of it indulging in my favourite pastime and ,taking a short holiday:

What does the author try to convey?

  • A One has to be complacent about his present self.
  • B One has to work hard and learn at least from failures.
  • C Only inborn genius brings success in life.
  • D One has to believe in luck.