Solutions

Q1 Sol (D)
In the first paragraph author has mentioned in paragraph 1 that "Numerous species reduce the
density of their pollen grains through air cavities in their walls". Similarly in paragraph 2 "the pollen
grains of wind-pollinated plants are smooth and dry, to avoid clumping and precipitating, and the
stigma of the female is huge, sticky, and feathery, the better to catch any floating pollen grains".
Thus all the three characteristics are correct.

The passage is primarily describing wind pollination and related concepts.

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Q3 Sol (D)

Q2 Sol (B)

While three of the choices can be eliminated based on the text of the passage, (d) is an adaptation
with an entirely different function.

Preventing self-pollination is never discussed in the context of pollen loss; it's useful only to prevent
inbreeding.
Q4 Sol (D)

ee
a

As stated in paragraph 2 "The boomtown is characterized by inadequate public services, undesirable

labour conditions, confusion in community structure, and deterioration of the quality of life arising
from rapid population growth due to a major economic stimulus". Further in paragraph 3 "While the
boomtown promotes an - us against them mentality. Hence answer is (d).
Q5 Sol (B)

Is the only statement not suggested in the passage as a cause for lack of services. Although
resentment among "old timers versus persons brought to the community by the boom" can occur,
there's no rason why the lack of support from long-time residents would lead to a shortage of
schools, housing, etc.
Q6 Sol (B)

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The tone of author shows concern towards the effects of too few taxes on the development of town.
Q7 Sol (B)

The statement (b) suggests a mechanism for illness completely different from the parasitic
transmission the passage discusses.

Q8 Sol (C)

The statement (c) attributes the characteristic of the trypanosome parasite not the tsetse fly.
Q9 Sol (C)
As stated in the passage "Environmentalists and conservationists dread the day when cattle and
livestock, permitted to roam and graze freely, will uncontrollably devour plush African grasslands,
converting them into barren desert. They argue that the tsetse fly must remain for the sake of the
land". Hence option (c) is correct.

Q10 Sol (D)

The purpose of the author is to describe the competing theories on cloud charge and to describe
how they might help to control lightning.
Q11 Sol (A)
The passage states that lightning occurs after the breakdown potential is reached. Thus depict the
change polarity sufficient to cause lightening.

Q12 Sol (C)

Q13 Sol (D)

Q14 Sol (C)

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Though scientists differ on the causes of cloud electrification but agree that there's a charge
difference between cloud and ground.

Passage does not mention about the weakness of law and nature of investigation and character of
agencies involve in investigation. But it does talk about the nature of problem itself and lack of
evidences based on which judgment can be given by court of law.
Q15 Sol (B)

ee
a

Authors does not mention the various elements of criminality which should be separately
established. But he mentions that element of criminality should be clearly established.
Q16 Sol (C)

Q17 Sol (A)

Passage does not mention about the working of CBI. It mentions that due to the nature of crime and
lack of evidences prosecution is low.
Q18 Sol (B)

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assage discussed the nature of crime and problems associated with investigation and prosecution.
On this basis option b is most suitable.
Q19 Sol (A)

Ortelius is mentioned in the first paragraph, which discusses early versions of continental drift
theories. Hence answer is (a)

Q20 Sol (A)

As stated in the passage "Geologist Arthur Holmes proposed in 1929 that the hot and melted rocks
that made up the mantle of the Earth, the layer just beneath the Earth's thin crust, flowed upward,
downward, and laterally, pushing apart regions of ocean floor or allowing nearby regions to collide
and overrun each other." Thus option (a) is correct.
Q21 Sol (B)
The entire passage broadly describes the theory of plate tectonics and this theory came to be
accepted by scientists.

Q22 Sol (B)

Q23 Sol (A)
Q24 Sol (D)
Q25 Sol (D)

Q26 Sol (B)

Q27 Sol (A)

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As stated in the paragraph 1 "Rain water harvesting is a technology used for collecting and storing
rainwater from rooftops, the land surface or rock catchments using simple techniques such as jars
and pots as well as more complex techniques such as underground check dams. The techniques
usually found in Asia and Africa arise from practices employed by ancient civilizations within these
regions and still serve as a major source of drinking water supply in rural areas." Thus option (d) is
correct.

Reasonably pure rainwater can be collected from roofs constructed with galvanized corrugated iron,
aluminum or asbestos cement sheets, tiles and slates
Q28 Sol (B)

ee
a

Compared to rooftop catchment techniques, ground catchment techniques provide more

opportunity for collecting water form a large surface area. By retaining the flows (including flood
flows) of small creeks and streams in small storage reservoirs (on surface or underground) created
by low cost (e.g., earthen) dams, this technology can meet water demands during dry periods.
Q29 Sol (B)

Various techniques available for increasing the runoff within ground catchment areas involve
Bearing or altering vegetation cover, increasing the land slope with artificial ground cover, and
reducing soil permeability by the soil compaction and application of chemicals.
Q30 Sol (D)

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Permeability of water means its capacity to pass through the soil.

Q31 Sol (A)
Q32 Sol (A)

As stated in the passage "Overlords' income, despite the increase in rice production among their
tenant farmers, failed to keep pace with their expenses". Hence option (a) is correct.
Q33 Sol (D)
As stated in the passage "It was difficult for individual Samurai overlords to increase their income
because the amount of rice that farmers could be made to pay in taxes was not unlimited". Hence
option (d) is correct.
Q34 Sol (C)
Q35 Sol (B)
The concept of the whole paragraph is based on music itself.

Q36 Sol (D)

Question of application. And this was a basic ritual in almost every civilization.
Q37 Sol (C)
Q38 Sol (C)
Q39 Sol (A)

Obsolete means no longer in existence and too old to be used in original form.

Q41 Sol (D)

Q42 Sol (B)
Q43 Sol (A)
Q44 Sol (C)

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Q40 Sol (D)

As stated in paragraph 1 "Perhaps the least controversial assertion about the pterosaurs is that they
were reptiles." Hence answer is (c).
Q45 (B)

ee
a

As stated in the passage "The second hypothesis seems unlikely because large pterosaurs could not
have landed in trees without damaging their wings".
Q46 Sol (C)

The anatomy of their wings suggests that they did not evolve into the class of birds.
Q47 Sol (B)

Q48 Sol (D)

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Q49 Sol (D)

Q50 Sol (C)