Prepare for the UPSC Prelims with comprehensive Level 1 comprehension questions, organized by topic. This resource is tailored to enhance your understanding and retention, ensuring thorough preparation for the exam. Dive into a curated selection of questions covering various subjects, designed to test your grasp of fundamental concepts. With clear, concise explanations and a focus on comprehension, you’ll develop a strong foundation to tackle the exam confidently. Elevate your study experience with these meticulously crafted questions, aimed at sharpening your analytical skills and honing your ability to interpret information effectively. Get ready to navigate through the complexities of UPSC Prelims with ease, equipped with the knowledge and insights gained from practicing these topic-wise comprehension questions.
Passage
The miseries of the world cannot be cured by physical help only. Until man’s nature changes, his physical needs will always arise, and miseries will always be felt, and no amount of physical help will remove them completely. The only solution of the problem is to make mankind pure. Ignorance is the mother of evil and of all the misery we see. Let men have light, let them be pure and spiritually strong and educated; then alone will misery cease in the world. We may convert every house in the country into a charitable asylum, we may fill the land with hospitals, but human misery will continue until man’s character changes. (2013)
Q1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is most likely to be true as the reason for man’s miseries?
(a) The poor economic and social conditions prevailing in society
(b) The refusal on the part of man to change his character
(c) The absence of physical and material help from his society
(d) Ever increasing physical’ needs due to changing social structure
Ans. (b)
The persistence of human reluctance to alter one’s character contributes to the suffering experienced by humanity. The passage distinctly asserts that the alleviation of human suffering is contingent upon individuals modifying their character traits.
Q2. With reference to the passage, the following assumptions have been made.
1. The author gives primary importance to physical and material help in eradicating human misery.
2. Charitable homes, hospitals, etc. can remove human misery to a great extent.
Which of the assumption(s) is/are valid?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. (d)
According to the passage, neither assumption (1) nor (2) holds true. It asserts that solely offering physical and material assistance will not suffice in eliminating human suffering unless there is a transformation in human character. Moreover, it is emphasized that the establishment of hospitals and charitable institutions alone will not result in the eradication of human suffering unless there is a fundamental shift in human character.
Passage
The subject of democracy has become severely muddled because of the way the rhetoric surrounding it has been used in recent years. There is, increasingly, an oddly confused dichotomy between those who want to ‘impose’ democracy on countries in the non-Western world (in these countries’ ‘own interest’, of course) and those, who are opposed to such ‘imposition’ (because of the respect for the countries’ ‘own ways’). But the entire language of ‘imposition’, used by both sides, is extraordinarily inappropriate since it makes the implicit assumption that democracy belongs exclusively to the West, taking it to be a quintessentially ‘Western’ idea which has originated and flourished only in the West. But the thesis and the pessimism it generates about the possibility of democratic practice in the world would be extremely hard to justify There were several experiments in local democracy in ancient India. Indeed, in understanding the roots of democracy in the world, we have to take an interest in the history of people participation and public reasoning in different parts of the world. We have to look beyond chinking of democracy only in terms of European and American evolution. We would fail to understand the pervasive demands for participatory living, on which Aristotle spoke with far-reaching insight, if we take democracy to be a kind of a specialised cultural product of the West. It cannot, of course, be doubted that the institutional structure of the contemporary practice of democracy is largely the product of European and American experience over the last few centuries. This is extremely important to recognise since these developments in institutional formats were immensely innovative and ultimately effective. There can be little doubt that there is a major ‘Western’ achievement here. (2013)
Q3. Which of the following is closest to the view of democracy as mentioned in the above passage?
(a) The subject of democracy is a muddle due to a desire to portray it as a Western concept, ‘alien’ to non-Western countries
(b) The language or imposition of democracy is inappropriate. There is, however, a need to consider this concept in the backdrop of culture of ‘own ways’ of non-Western society.
(c) While democracy is not essentially a Western idea belonging exclusively to the West, the institutional structure of current democratic practices has been their contribution
(d) None of the above
Ans. (c)
The passage suggests that democracy isn’t inherently Western, despite the fact that its institutional framework has predominantly evolved in Western contexts. While democracy isn’t intrinsically tied to the West, the current institutional framework of democratic governance largely stems from Western contributions.
Passage
Malnutrition most commonly occurs between the ages of six months and two years. This happens despite the child’s food requirements being less than that of an older child. Malnutrition is often attributed to poverty, but it has been food that even in households where adults at adequate quantities of food, more than 50% of children-under-five do not consume enough food. The child’s dependencies on someone else to feed him/her is primarily responsible for the malnutrition. Very often the mother is working and the responsibility of feeding the young child is left to an older sibling. It is therefore crucial to increase awareness regarding the child’s food needs and how to satisfy them. (2013)
Q4. According to the passage, malnutrition in children can be reduced
(a) if the children have regular intake of food
(b) after they cross the age of five
(c) if the food needs of younger children are known
(d) if the responsibility of feeding younger children is given to adults
Ans. (c)
The concluding statement of the passage explicitly indicates that addressing malnutrition is feasible when the dietary requirements of children are properly understood.
Q5. According to the author, poverty is not the main cause of malnutrition but the fact that
1. taking care of younger ones is not a priority for working mothers.
2. awareness of nutritional needs is not propagated by the public health authorities.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. (a)
Statement (1) is accurate as it reflects the common practice of older siblings assuming caretaking responsibilities for young children in households where mothers are employed. However, there is no reference in the passage to public health authorities.
Passage
A number of empirical studies find that farmers are risk averse, though only moderately in many cases. There is also evidence to show that farmers risk aversion results in cropping patterns and input use designed to reduce risk rather than to maximise income. Farmers adopt a number of strategies to manage and cope with agricultural risks. These include practices like crop and field diversification, non-farm employment, storage of stocks and strategic migration of family members.
There are also institutions ranging from share tenancy to kinship, extended family and informal credit agencies. One major obstacle to risk sharing by farmers is that the same type of risks can affect a large number of farmers in the region. Empirical studies show that the traditional methods are not adequate. Hence, there is a need for policy interventions, especially measures that cut across geographical regions
Policies may aim at tackling agricultural risks directly or indirectly. Examples of risk-specific policies are crop insurance, price stabilisation and the development of varieties resistant to pests and diseases. Policies which affect risk indirectly are irrigation, subsidised credit and access to information. No single risk specific policy is sufficient t specific to reduce risk and is without side – effects, whereas policies not specific to risk influence the general situation and affect risks onl indirectly. Crop insurance, as a policy measure to tackle agricultural risk directly, deserves careful consideration in the Indian context and in many other developing countries because the majority of farmers depend on rain-fed ariculture and in man areas yield variability is the predominant cause of their income instability. (2013)
Q6. The need for policy intervention to mitigate risks in agriculture is because
(a) farmers are extremely risk-averse
(b) farmers do not know how to mitigate risks
(c) the methods adopted by farmers and existing risk sharing institutions are not adequate
(d) majority of farmers depend on rain-fed agriculture
Ans. (c)
According to the passage, policy intervention to address risks in agriculture is deemed necessary due to the inadequacy of the methods employed by farmers and the existing institutions for risk sharing.
Q7. Which of the following observations emerges from the above passage?
(a) One can identify a single policy that can reduce risk without any side-effect
(b) No single risk-specific policy is sufficient to reduce agricultural risk
(c) Policies which affect risk indirectly can eliminate it
(d) Government’s policy intervention can mitigate agricultural risk completely
Ans. (b)
Statement (b) is indeed accurate, as the passage previously elucidates the limitations of relying solely on a single policy to mitigate risks.
Passage
Crude mineral oil comes out of the Earth as a thick brown or black liquid with a strong smell. It is a complex mixture of many different substances, each with its own individual qualities. Most of them are combinations of hydrogen and carbon in varying proportions. Such hydrocarbons are also found in other forms such as bitumen, asphalt and natural gas. Mineral oil originates from the carcasses of tiny animals and from plants that live in the sea. Over millions of years, these dead creatures form large deposits under the sea-bed; and ocean currents cover them with a blanket of sand and silt. As this mineral hardens, it becomes sedimentary rock and effectively shuts out the oxygen, so preventing the complete decomposition of the marine deposits underneath. The layers of sedimentary rock become thicker and heavier. Their pressure produces heat, which transforms the tiny carcasses into crude oil in a process that is still going on today. (2013)
Q8. Mineral oil deposits under the sea do not get completely decomposed because they
(a) are constantly washed by the ocean currents
(b) become rock and prevent oxygen from entering them
(c) contain a mixture of hydrogen and carbon
(d) are carcasses of organisms lying in saline conditions
Ans. (b)
Mineral oil deposits beneath the ocean floor undergo incomplete decomposition as they solidify into rock formations, inhibiting the penetration of oxygen. This lack of oxygen prevents full decomposition from occurring. Over time, the organic matter within the sedimentary rocks undergoes transformation into crude oil under the influence of pressure and heat.
Q9. Sedimentary rock leads to the formation of oil deposits because
(a) there are no saline conditions below it
(b) it allows some dissolved oxygen to enter the dead organic matter below it
(c) weight of overlying sediment layers causes the production of heat
(d) it contains the substances that catalyse the chemical reactions required to change dead organisms into oil
Ans. (c)
The passage explicitly states that the heat generated within the sedimentary rocks facilitates the transformation of organic carcasses into crude oil.
Passage
Human history abounds in claims and theories confining the right of governing to a few select citizens. Exclusion of the many is justified on the ground that human beings may be rightfully segregated for the good of society and viability of the political process. (2015)
Q10. Which one of the following statements is least essential as a part of the argument in the above passage?
(a) Man seeks control over external things affecting him
(b) In society, there are ‘super’ and ‘sub’ human beings
(c) Exceptions to universal citizen participation are conducive to systemic efficacy
(d) Governing implies recognition of disparities in individual capacities
Ans. (a)
The passage discusses a historical pattern of division between rulers and the ruled. However, it does not address or provide any explanation regarding the necessity for humans to exercise control over anything.
Passage
Many people in India feel that if we cut our defence expenditure on weapon-building, we can create a climate of peace with our neighbours, subsequently reducing the conflict or creating a no-war situation. People who proclaim such ideas are either the victims of war or the propagators of false argument. (2015)
Q11. With reference to the above passage, which of the following is the most valid assumption?
(a) Building of weapons system by us has instigated our neighbours to wage wars against us
(b) The greater spending on weapon-building by us would lessen the possibility of armed conflict with our neighbours
(c) It is necessary to have state of the art weapons system for national security
(d) Many people in India believe that we are wasting our resources on weapon-building
Ans. (a)
According to the passage, decreasing the production of weapons could potentially lessen the occurrence of wars. This statement operates on the assumption that the escalation of weaponry production may provoke neighbouring nations to initiate conflicts.
Passage
India accounts for nearly a fifth of the world’s child deaths. In terms of numbers, it is the highest in the world nearly 16 lakh every year. Of these, more than half die in the first month of life. Officials believe that the reason for this is the absence of steps to propagate basic health practices relating to breast feeding and immunisation.
Also, the large reproductive population of 2.6 crore remains bereft of care during the critical phases of pregnancy and post-delivery. Added to this is the prevalence of child marriages, anaemia among young women and lack of focus on adolescent sanitation, all of which impact child death rates. (2015)
Q12. Which is the critical inference that can be made from the above passage?
(a) A lot of Indians are illiterate and hence do not recognise the value of basic health practices
(b) India has a very huge population and the government alone cannot manage public health services
(c) Universalisation and integration of maternal health and child health services can effectively address the problem
(d) The nutrition of women in child bearing age does not affect child mortality rate
Ans. (c)
In the passage, the issue of child mortality in India and its various causes are elucidated. Therefore, option (c) would be the correct answer as it provides an effective solution to address the problem of child mortality.
Passage
Foods travel more than the people who eat them. Grocer stores and supermarkets are loaded with preserved and processed foods. This, however, often leads to environmental threats, such as pollution generated by long distance food transportation and wastage of food during processing and transportation, destruction of rain forests, reduced nutritional content, increased demand for preservation and packaging. Food insecurity also increases as the produce comes from regions that are feeding their own population properly. (2016)
Q13. With reference to the above passage, which of following statement(s) is/are true?
1. Consuming regionally grown food and not depending on long travelled food is a part of eco-friendly behaviour.
2. Food processing industry puts a burden on our natural resources.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. (c)
In the passage, there is a discussion about ecological issues stemming from food transportation and preservation in supermarkets. Therefore, both statements are accurate within the context of the passage.
Passage
In a free country, the man who reaches the one of position of leader is usually one of outstanding character and ability. Moreover, it is usually possible to foresee that he will reach such a position, since early in life one can see his qualities of character. But this is not always true in the case of a dictator, often he reaches his position of power through chance, very often through the unhappy state of his country. (2017)
Q14. The passage seems to suggest that
(a) a leader foresees his future position
(b) a leader is chosen only by a free country
(c) a leader must see that his country is free from despair
(d) despair in a country sometimes leads to dictatorship
Ans. (c)
Statement (c) is indeed accurate because the passage implies that in free countries, individuals who attain leadership positions typically possess exceptional character and ability.
Passage
The greatest blessing that technological progress has in store for mankind is not, of course, an accumulation of material possessions. The amount of these that can be effectively enjoyed by one individual in one lifetime is not great. But there is not the same narrow limit to the possibilities of the enjoyment of leisure.
The gift of leisure may be abused by people who have had no experience of making use of it. Yet the creative use of leisure by a minority in societies has been the mainspring of all human progress beyond the primitive level. (2017)
Q15. With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made.
1. People always see the leisure time as a gift and use it for acquiring more material possessions.
2. Use of leisure by some people to produce new and original things has been the chief source of human progress.
Which of these assumptions is/are valid?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. (b)
Technology has endowed humanity with abundant material possessions and has also simplified our lives by granting us ample leisure time. However, only a small fraction of individuals are capable of utilizing this leisure time creatively and for the advancement of human society. Therefore, only assumption (2) is deemed valid within the context of the passage.
Passage
There is more than a modicum of truth in the assertion that “a working knowledge of ancient history is necessary to the intelligent interpretation of current events”. But the sage who uttered these words of wisdom might well have added something on the benefits of studying particularly the famous battles of history for the lessons they contain for those of us who lead or aspire to leadership. Such a study will reveal certain qualities and attributes which enabled the winners to win-and certain deficiencies which caused the losers to lose. And the student will see that the same pattern recurs consistently, again and again, throughout the centuries. (2017)
Q16. With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made.
1. A study of the famous battles of history would help us understand the modern warfare.
2. Studying the history is essential for anyone who aspires to be a leader.
Which of these assumption(s) is/are valid?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. (b)
Only assumption (2) is considered valid as per the passage, given that it asserts the importance of studying history for anyone aspiring to assume a leadership role.
Passage
What climate change will undeniably do is cause or amplify events that hasten the reduction of resources. Competition over these diminishing resources would ensue in the form of political or even violent conflict. Resource-based conflicts have rarely been overt and are thus difficult to isolate. Instead they take on veneers that appear more politically palatable. Conflicts over resources like water are often cloaked in the guise of identity or ideology. (2017)
Q17. What does the above passage imply?
(a) Resource-based conflicts are always politically motivated.
(b) There are no political solutions to resolve environmental and resource-based conflicts.
(c) Environmental issues contribute to resource stresses and political conflict.
(d) Political conflict based on identity or ideology cannot be resolved
Ans. (c)
According to the provided passage, the death of a countess can result in a reduction of resources, potentially leading to the depletion of resources and political ramifications.
Passage
The man who is perpetually hesitating which of the two things he will do first, will do neither. The man who resolves, but suffers his resolution to be changed by the first counter-suggestion of friend – who fluctuates from opinion to opinion and veers from plan to plan – can never accomplish anything. He will at best be stationary and probably retrograde in all. It is only the man who first consults wisely, then resolves firmly and then executes his purpose with inflexible perseverance, undismayed by those petty difficulties which daunt a weaker spirit – that can advance to eminence in any line. (2017)
Q18. The keynote that seems to be emerging from the passage is that
(a) we should first consult wisely and then resolve firmly
(b) we should reject suggestions of friends and remain unchanged
(c) we should always remain broad-minded
(d) we should be resolute and achievement-oriented
Ans. (a)
The passage emphasizes the significance of firm determination. It suggests seeking the counsel of experienced and wise individuals before making decisions. Once a decision is made, the passage advocates for pursuing it with utmost dedication and steadfastness.
Passage
During the summer in the Arctic ocean, sea ice has been melting earlier and faster, and the winter freeze has been coming later. In the last three decades, the extent of summer ice has declined by about 30 per cent. The lengthening period of summer melt threatens to undermine the whole Arctic food web, atop which stand polar bears. (2017)
Q19. Which among the following is the most crucial message conveyed by the above passage?
(a) Climate change has caused Arctic summer to be short but temperature to be high.
(b) Polar bears can be shifted to South Pole to ensure their survival.
(c) Without the presence of polar bears, the food chains in Arctic region will disappear.
(d) Climate change poses a threat to the survival of polar bears.
Ans. (d)
The passage contemplates the consequences of climate change or global warming in the Arctic region, particularly concerning polar bears, which face severe threats. The duration of winter freeze has diminished, resulting in repercussions for the ecosystem.
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