UPSC Prelims 2024 · CSAT
Question 30: Basic Numeracy
Consider the following :
- 1.1000 litres = 1 m^3
- 2.1 metric ton = 1000 kg
- 3.1 hectare = 10000 m^2
Which of the above are correct?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).
All three conversions are standard. 1 m³ is a cube of 100 cm × 100 cm × 100 cm = 1,000,000 cm³, and 1 litre is 1000 cm³, so 1 m³ = 1000 litres. A metric ton is 1000 kg. A hectare is 100 m × 100 m = 10,000 m². All three statements are correct. Remember these three metric conversions; they recur in numerical questions.
- 1. 1 m³ = 1,000,000 cm³ = 1000 litres.
- 2. A metric ton is 1000 kg.
- 3. A hectare is a 100 m square, i.e. 10,000 m².
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) goes: it leaves 1 out.
What you needed to know: 1 m³ = 1,000,000 cm³ = 1000 litres.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (c) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: A metric ton is 1000 kg.
- Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 3 out.
What you needed to know: A hectare is a 100 m square, i.e. 10,000 m².
Only (d) is left. This one needs every statement.
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) Wrong. It leaves out statement 3, which is correct.
- (b) Wrong. It leaves out statement 1, which is correct.
- (c) Wrong. It leaves out statement 2, which is correct.
- (d) Right. All three are correct.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2024, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.