2023 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2023 · CSAT

Question 58: Data Interpretation

In a party, 75 persons took tea, 60 persons took coffee and 15 persons took both tea and coffee. No one taking milk takes tea. Each person takes at least one drink. Question : How many persons attended the party ?

  1. Statement-150 persons took milk.
  2. Statement-2Number of persons who attended the party is five times the number of persons who took milk only.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements ?

aThe Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other Statement alone.
bThe Question can be answered by using either Statement alone.
cThe Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone.
dThe Question cannot be answered even by using both the Statements together.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

People taking tea or coffee: 75 + 60 - 15 = 120. Milk drinkers do not take tea, and milk with coffee is already inside those 120, so everyone else is a milk-only person. Total = 120 + M, where M is the number who took only milk. Statement 1: 50 took milk, but some may also take coffee, so M is unknown. Statement 2: total = 5M, so 120 + M = 5M, M = 30 and the total is 150. Statement 2 alone is enough.

How you could have got this

No shortcut here: in a “how many” question, ruling out options doesn’t help. Every statement has to be judged.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Right: statement 2 alone gives 150; statement 1 alone cannot, since milk drinkers may also take coffee.
  • (b) Wrong: statement 1 alone does not fix the number of milk-only drinkers.
  • (c) Wrong: statement 2 is enough by itself.
  • (d) Wrong: statement 2 fixes the total at 150.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2023, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.