2024 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2024 · CSAT

Question 62: Reading Comprehension

Passage—2 · as printed by UPSC
Passage beginning “Now-a-days there is a growing trend…”Passage beginning “Now-a-days there is a growing trend…”

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical, rational and practical message implied by the passage?

aKnowledge of consumer behaviour leads to more capital expenditure in manufacturing sector.
bKnowledge of consumer behaviour stimulates the growth of commerce and trade and thus helps in the overall economic development of the country.
cInterconnected devices give a lot of comfort to home users and improve the overall quality of life.
dInterconnected devices can be at security risk and home users may have privacy risk.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).

The passage warns that makers of connected home devices and service providers will be tempted to collect owners' personal data, with or without clear consent, to improve their margins, and will have strong reasons to study buyers' behaviour. The message is the risk to security and privacy for home users: option (d). Comfort, quality of life, economic growth and capital spending are not the passage's focus.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong. The passage does not link consumer knowledge to capital spending in manufacturing.
  • (b) Wrong. Growth of trade and the economy is not discussed.
  • (c) Wrong. The passage does not praise comfort or a better quality of life.
  • (d) Right. Data gathering without clear consent threatens users' privacy and security.

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.