2024 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2024 · CSAT

Question 42: Reading Comprehension

Passage—1 · as printed by UPSC
Passage beginning “Conventional classrooms, by emphasizing fixed…”

Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made :

  1. 1.As a large number of workers in our country are employed in unorganized sector, India does not need to change its present conventional classroom system of education.
  2. 2.Even with its present conventional classroom system of education, India produces sufficient number of skilled workers to fully realize the benefits of demographic dividend.

Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?

a1 only
b2 only
cBoth 1 and 2
dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).

Assumption 1 contradicts the passage, which criticises the conventional classroom for poor results (very low employability among graduates) and warns that repeating it in skill education will not help. Assumption 2 also contradicts it: if only a small fraction of graduates are employable, the system is not producing enough skilled workers. Neither is valid. Remember: check an assumption against the passage's overall direction, not just a keyword.

  • 1. The passage argues against the present classroom model.
  • 2. Low employability shows the present system falls short of supplying skilled workers.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.

    What you needed to know: The passage argues against the present classroom model.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) goes: it includes 2.

    What you needed to know: Low employability shows the present system falls short of supplying skilled workers.

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. The passage argues for change, not for keeping the system.
  • (b) Wrong. The passage says the system does not produce enough employable graduates.
  • (c) Wrong. Both assumptions contradict the passage.
  • (d) Right. Both assumptions conflict with the passage.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2024, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.