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1151.

Which one of the following statements best expresses the paradox of patrimony laws?

A.
They were intended to protect cultural property, but instead resulted in the neglect of historical sites.
B.
They were aimed at protecting cultural property, but instead reduced business for auctioneers like Sotheby's.
C.
They were aimed at protecting cultural property, but instead reduced new archaeological discoveries.
D.
They were intended to protect cultural property, but instead resulted in the withholding of national treasure from museums.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Easy question, relating to the key point made by the author in the passage. The author's study shows that in most cases, the number of discovered sites diminishes sharply after a country passes a cultural property law. Therein lies the paradox. Though patrimony laws were aimed at protecting cultural property, they instead reduced new archaeological discoveries.

1152.

The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question.

In 2006, the Met [art museum in the US] agreed to return the Euphronios krater, a masterpiece Greek urn that had been a museum draw since 1972. In 2007, the Getty [art museum in the US] agreed to return 40 objects to Italy, including a marble Aphrodite, in the midst of looting scandals. And in December, Sotheby's and a private owner agreed to return an ancient Khmer statue of a warrior, pulled from auction two years before, to Cambodia.

Cultural property, or patrimony, laws limit the transfer of cultural property outside the source country's territory, including outright export prohibitions and national ownership laws. Most art historians, archaeologists, museum officials and policymakers portray cultural property laws in general as invaluable tools for counteracting the ugly legacy of Western cultural imperialism.

During the late 19th and early 20th century — an era former Met director Thomas Hoving called "the age of piracy" — American and European art museums acquired antiquities by hook or by crook, from grave robbers or souvenir collectors, bounty from digs and ancient sites in impoverished but art-rich source countries. Patrimony laws were intended to protect future archaeological discoveries against Western imperialist designs. . . .

I surveyed 90 countries with one or more archaeological sites on UNESCO's World Heritage Site list, and my study shows that in most cases the number of discovered sites diminishes sharply after a country passes a cultural property law. There are 222 archaeological sites listed for those 90 countries. When you look into the history of the sites, you see that all but 21 were discovered before the passage of cultural property laws. . . .

Strict cultural patrimony laws are popular in most countries. But the downside may be that they reduce incentives for foreign governments, nongovernmental organizations and educational institutions to invest in overseas exploration because their efforts will not necessarily be rewarded by opportunities to hold, display and study what is uncovered. To the extent that source countries can fund their own archaeological projects, artifacts and sites may still be discovered. . . . The survey has far-reaching implications. It suggests that source countries, particularly in the developing world, should narrow their cultural property laws so that they can reap the benefits of new archaeological discoveries, which typically increase tourism and enhance cultural pride. This does not mean these nations should abolish restrictions on foreign excavation and foreign claims to artifacts.

China provides an interesting alternative approach for source nations eager for foreign archaeological investment. From 1935 to 2003, China had a restrictive cultural property law that prohibited foreign ownership of Chinese cultural artifacts. In those years, China's most significant archaeological discovery occurred by chance, in 1974, when peasant farmers accidentally uncovered ranks of buried terra cotta warriors, which are part of Emperor Qin's spectacular tomb system.

In 2003, the Chinese government switched course, dropping its cultural property law and embracing collaborative international archaeological research. Since then, China has nominated 11 archaeological sites for inclusion in the World Heritage Site list, including eight in 2013, the most ever for China.

1151.

From the passage we can infer that the author is likely to advise poor, but archaeologically-rich source countries to do all of the following, EXCEPT:

A.
to find ways to motivate other countries to finance archaeological explorations in their country.
B.
allow foreign countries to analyse and exhibit the archaeological finds made in the source country.
C.
adopt China's strategy of dropping its cultural property laws and carrying out archaeological research through international collaboration.
D.
fund institutes in other countries to undertake archaeological exploration in the source country reaping the benefits of cutting-edge techniques.

Option D is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The author argues that strict cultural patrimony laws reduce incentives for foreign governments, nongovernmental organizations and educational institutions to invest in overseas exploration. So, the author suggests, source countries, particularly in the developing world, should narrow their cultural property laws so that they can reap the benefits of new archaeological discoveries. The author also substantiates this point with the example of China, which has dropped its cultural property law and embraced collaborative international archaeological research, thereby greatly increasing the number of archaeological sites for inclusion in the World Heritage Site list.

Options A, B and C relate to the author's ideas stated in the passage.

The author is unlikely to advise poor source countries to fund institutes in other countries. So, option D is the correct answer choice.

1152.

It can be inferred from the passage that archaeological sites are considered important by some source countries because they:

A.
give a boost to the tourism sector.
B.
are a symbol of Western imperialism.
C.
generate funds for future discoveries.
D.
are subject to strict patrimony laws.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Note the lines, 'The survey has far-reaching implications. It suggests that source countries, particularly in the developing world, should narrow their cultural property laws so that they can reap the benefits of new archaeological discoveries, which typically increase tourism and enhance cultural pride'. So, it can be inferred from the passage that archaeological sites are considered important by some source countries because they give a boost to the tourism sector. Option A is the correct answer choice.

1153.

Which one of the following statements, if true, would undermine the central idea of the passage?

A.
Affluent archaeologically-rich source countries can afford to carry out their own excavations.
B.
Museums established in economically deprived archaeologically-rich source countries can display the antiques discovered there.
C.
Western countries will have to apologise to countries for looting their cultural property in the past century.
D.
UNESCO finances archaeological research in poor, but archaeologically-rich source countries.

Option D is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The central idea of the passage is that strict culture patrimony laws reduce incentives for foreign investment in archaeological research, thereby depriving poor, but archaeologically-rich source countries of the benefits of new archaeological research. If UNESCO finances archaeological research in poor, but archaeologically-rich source countries then there would be no need for these countries to drop strict cultural property laws. So, option D, if true, would undermine the central idea of the passage.

The author is specifically talking about the case of poor, but archaeologically-rich source countries. Option A, even if true, would not undermine the central idea of the passage.

Options B and C are not related to the central idea, which is about the need to drop strict cultural property laws.

1154.

Which one of the following statements best expresses the paradox of patrimony laws?

A.
They were intended to protect cultural property, but instead resulted in the neglect of historical sites.
B.
They were aimed at protecting cultural property, but instead reduced business for auctioneers like Sotheby's.
C.
They were aimed at protecting cultural property, but instead reduced new archaeological discoveries.
D.
They were intended to protect cultural property, but instead resulted in the withholding of national treasure from museums.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Easy question, relating to the key point made by the author in the passage. The author's study shows that in most cases, the number of discovered sites diminishes sharply after a country passes a cultural property law. Therein lies the paradox. Though patrimony laws were aimed at protecting cultural property, they instead reduced new archaeological discoveries.

1153.

From the passage we can infer that the author is likely to advise poor, but archaeologically-rich source countries to do all of the following, EXCEPT:

A.
to find ways to motivate other countries to finance archaeological explorations in their country.
B.
allow foreign countries to analyse and exhibit the archaeological finds made in the source country.
C.
adopt China's strategy of dropping its cultural property laws and carrying out archaeological research through international collaboration.
D.
fund institutes in other countries to undertake archaeological exploration in the source country reaping the benefits of cutting-edge techniques.

Option D is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The author argues that strict cultural patrimony laws reduce incentives for foreign governments, nongovernmental organizations and educational institutions to invest in overseas exploration. So, the author suggests, source countries, particularly in the developing world, should narrow their cultural property laws so that they can reap the benefits of new archaeological discoveries. The author also substantiates this point with the example of China, which has dropped its cultural property law and embraced collaborative international archaeological research, thereby greatly increasing the number of archaeological sites for inclusion in the World Heritage Site list.

Options A, B and C relate to the author's ideas stated in the passage.

The author is unlikely to advise poor source countries to fund institutes in other countries. So, option D is the correct answer choice.

1154.

The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question.

Steven Pinker's new book, "Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters," offers a pragmatic dose of measured optimism, presenting rationality as a fragile but achievable ideal in personal and civic life. . . . Pinker's ambition to illuminate such a crucial topic offers the welcome prospect of a return to sanity. . . . It's no small achievement to make formal logic, game theory, statistics and Bayesian reasoning delightful topics full of charm and relevance.

It's also plausible to believe that a wider application of the rational tools he analyzes would improve the world in important ways. His primer on statistics and scientific uncertainty is particularly timely and should be required reading before consuming any news about the [COVID] pandemic. More broadly, he argues that less media coverage of shocking but vanishingly rare events, from shark attacks to adverse vaccine reactions, would help prevent dangerous overreactions, fatalism and the diversion of finite resources away from solvable but less-dramatic issues, like malnutrition in the developing world.

It's a reasonable critique, and Pinker is not the first to make it. But analyzing the political economy of journalism — its funding structures, ownership concentration and increasing reliance on social media shares — would have given a fuller picture of why so much coverage is so misguided and what we might do about it.

Pinker's main focus is the sort of conscious, sequential reasoning that can track the steps in a geometric proof or an argument in formal logic. Skill in this domain maps directly onto the navigation of many real-world problems, and Pinker shows how greater mastery of the tools of rationality can improve decision-making in medical, legal, financial and many other contexts in which we must act on uncertain and shifting information. . . .

Despite the undeniable power of the sort of rationality he describes, many of the deepest insights in the history of science, math, music and art strike their originators in moments of epiphany. From the 19th-century chemist Friedrich August Kekulé's discovery of the structure of benzene to any of Mozart's symphonies, much extraordinary human achievement is not a product of conscious, sequential reasoning. Even Plato's Socrates — who anticipated many of Pinker's points by nearly 2,500 years, showing the virtue of knowing what you do not know and examining all premises in arguments, not simply trusting speakers' authority or charisma — attributed many of his most profound insights to dreams and visions. Conscious reasoning is helpful in sorting the wheat from the chaff, but it would be interesting to consider the hidden aquifers that make much of the grain grow in the first place.

The role of moral and ethical education in promoting rational behavior is also underexplored. Pinker recognizes that rationality "is not just a cognitive virtue but a moral one." But this profoundly important point, one subtly explored by ancient Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, doesn't really get developed. This is a shame, since possessing the right sort of moral character is arguably a precondition for using rationality in beneficial ways.

1151.

The author refers to the ancient Greek philosophers to:

A.
indicate the various similarities between their thinking and Pinker's conclusions.
B.
reveal gaps in Pinker's discussion of the importance of ethical considerations in rational behaviour.
C.
show how dreams and visions have for centuries influenced subconscious behaviour and pathbreaking inventions.
D.
highlight the influence of their thinking on the development of Pinker's arguments.

Option B is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Easy question. Refer to the lines, 'The role of moral and ethical education in promoting rational behavior is also underexplored. Pinker recognizes that rationality "is not just a cognitive virtue but a moral one." But this profoundly important point, one subtly explored by ancient Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, doesn't really get developed'. Option B is the correct choice.

1152.

The author mentions Kekulé's discovery of the structure of benzene and Mozart's symphonies to illustrate the point that:

A.
great innovations across various fields can stem from flashes of intuition and are not always propelled by logical thinking.
B.
unlike the sciences, human achievements in other fields are a mix of logical reasoning and spontaneous epiphanies.
C.
Pinker's conclusions on sequential reasoning are belied by European achievements which, in the past, were more rooted in unconscious bursts of genius.
D.
it is not just the creative arts, but also scientific fields that have benefitted from flashes of creativity.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Note the context in which the author mentions Kekulé's discovery of the structure of benzene and Mozart's symphonies: 'Despite the undeniable power of the sort of rationality he describes, many of the deepest insights in the history of science, math, music and art strike their originators in moments of epiphany. From the 19th-century chemist Friedrich August Kekulé's discovery of the structure of benzene to any of Mozart's symphonies, much extraordinary human achievement is not a product of conscious, sequential reasoning'. Here, the author is making the point that great innovations can stem from flashes of intuition and are not always propelled by logical thinking. Option A is the correct choice.

1153.

According to the author, for Pinker as well as the ancient Greek philosophers, rational thinking involves all of the following EXCEPT:

A.
the belief that the ability to reason logically encompasses an ethical and moral dimension.
B.
an awareness of underlying assumptions in an argument and gaps in one's own knowledge.
C.
the primacy of conscious sequential reasoning as the basis for seminal human achievements.
D.
arriving at independent conclusions irrespective of who is presenting the argument.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The passage states that unlike Pinker, whose main focus is on conscious, sequential reasoning, Socrates, while affirming the virtue of conscious, sequential reasoning, also 'attributed many of his most profound insights to dreams and visions'. Option C is the correct answer choice as the views of Pinker and ancient Greek philosophers differ on this point.

For both Pinker as well as the ancient Greek philosophers,the ability to reason logically encompasses an ethical and moral dimension: 'Pinker recognizes that rationality "is not just a cognitive virtue but a moral one." But this profoundly important point, one subtly explored by ancient Greek philosophers...'So, option A is true.

According to the passage, Socrates 'anticipated many of Pinker's points by nearly 2,500 years, showing the virtue of knowing what you do not know and examining all premises in arguments, not simply trusting speakers' authority or charisma'. So, options B and D are true.

1154.

The author endorses Pinker's views on the importance of logical reasoning as it:

A.
equips people with the ability to tackle challenging practical problems.
B.
focuses public attention on real issues like development rather than sensational events.
C.
provides a moral compass for resolving important ethical dilemmas.
D.
helps people to gain expertise in statistics and other scientific disciplines.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Note the author's comments on Pinker's views on the importance of logical reasoning: 'Skill in this domain maps directly onto the navigation of many real-world problems, and Pinker shows how greater mastery of the tools of rationality can improve decision-making in medical, legal, financial and many other contexts in which we must act on uncertain and shifting information'. So, option A is the correct answer choice.

1155.

The author refers to the ancient Greek philosophers to:

A.
indicate the various similarities between their thinking and Pinker's conclusions.
B.
reveal gaps in Pinker's discussion of the importance of ethical considerations in rational behaviour.
C.
show how dreams and visions have for centuries influenced subconscious behaviour and pathbreaking inventions.
D.
highlight the influence of their thinking on the development of Pinker's arguments.

Option B is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Easy question. Refer to the lines, 'The role of moral and ethical education in promoting rational behavior is also underexplored. Pinker recognizes that rationality "is not just a cognitive virtue but a moral one." But this profoundly important point, one subtly explored by ancient Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, doesn't really get developed'. Option B is the correct choice.

1156.

The author mentions Kekulé's discovery of the structure of benzene and Mozart's symphonies to illustrate the point that:

A.
great innovations across various fields can stem from flashes of intuition and are not always propelled by logical thinking.
B.
unlike the sciences, human achievements in other fields are a mix of logical reasoning and spontaneous epiphanies.
C.
Pinker's conclusions on sequential reasoning are belied by European achievements which, in the past, were more rooted in unconscious bursts of genius.
D.
it is not just the creative arts, but also scientific fields that have benefitted from flashes of creativity.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Note the context in which the author mentions Kekulé's discovery of the structure of benzene and Mozart's symphonies: 'Despite the undeniable power of the sort of rationality he describes, many of the deepest insights in the history of science, math, music and art strike their originators in moments of epiphany. From the 19th-century chemist Friedrich August Kekulé's discovery of the structure of benzene to any of Mozart's symphonies, much extraordinary human achievement is not a product of conscious, sequential reasoning'. Here, the author is making the point that great innovations can stem from flashes of intuition and are not always propelled by logical thinking. Option A is the correct choice.

1157.

According to the author, for Pinker as well as the ancient Greek philosophers, rational thinking involves all of the following EXCEPT:

A.
the belief that the ability to reason logically encompasses an ethical and moral dimension.
B.
an awareness of underlying assumptions in an argument and gaps in one's own knowledge.
C.
the primacy of conscious sequential reasoning as the basis for seminal human achievements.
D.
arriving at independent conclusions irrespective of who is presenting the argument.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The passage states that unlike Pinker, whose main focus is on conscious, sequential reasoning, Socrates, while affirming the virtue of conscious, sequential reasoning, also 'attributed many of his most profound insights to dreams and visions'. Option C is the correct answer choice as the views of Pinker and ancient Greek philosophers differ on this point.

For both Pinker as well as the ancient Greek philosophers,the ability to reason logically encompasses an ethical and moral dimension: 'Pinker recognizes that rationality "is not just a cognitive virtue but a moral one." But this profoundly important point, one subtly explored by ancient Greek philosophers...'So, option A is true.

According to the passage, Socrates 'anticipated many of Pinker's points by nearly 2,500 years, showing the virtue of knowing what you do not know and examining all premises in arguments, not simply trusting speakers' authority or charisma'. So, options B and D are true.

1158.

The author endorses Pinker's views on the importance of logical reasoning as it:

A.
equips people with the ability to tackle challenging practical problems.
B.
focuses public attention on real issues like development rather than sensational events.
C.
provides a moral compass for resolving important ethical dilemmas.
D.
helps people to gain expertise in statistics and other scientific disciplines.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Note the author's comments on Pinker's views on the importance of logical reasoning: 'Skill in this domain maps directly onto the navigation of many real-world problems, and Pinker shows how greater mastery of the tools of rationality can improve decision-making in medical, legal, financial and many other contexts in which we must act on uncertain and shifting information'. So, option A is the correct answer choice.

1159.

Question:

The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) below, when properly sequenced, would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and key in the sequence of the four numbers as your answer:

1. Fish skin collagen has excellent thermo-stability and tensile strength making it ideal for use as bandage that adheres to the skin and adjusts to body movements.
2. Collagen, one of the main structural proteins in connective tissues in the human body, is well known for promoting skin regeneration.
3. Fish skin swims in here as diseases and bacteria that affect fish are different from most human pathogens.
4. The risk of introducing disease agents into other species through the use of pig and cow collagen proteins for wound healing has inhibited its broader applications in the medical field.

Answer : 2431

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

2 is the best starting sentence. 24 is a strong link: 2 states that collagen promotes skin regeneration; 4 explains why, despite this, collagen has not been applied widely in the medical field.

43 is also a link: 4 is about pig and cow collagen proteins; 3 contrasts these with fish collagen.

1 adds to 3 and completes the paragraph.

So, 2431 is the correct order.

1160.

The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question.

The biggest challenge [The Nutmeg's Curse by Ghosh] throws down is to the prevailing understanding of when the climate crisis started. Most of us have accepted . . . that it started with the widespread use of coal at the beginning of the Industrial Age in the 18^th century and worsened with the mass adoption of oil and natural gas in the 20^th. Ghosh takes this history at least three centuries back, to the start of European colonialism in the 15^thcentury. He [starts] the book with a 1621 massacre by Dutch invaders determined to impose a monopoly on nutmeg cultivation and trade in the Banda islands in today's Indonesia.

Not only do the Dutch systematically depopulate the islands through genocide, they also try their best to bring nutmeg cultivation into plantation mode. These are the two points to which Ghosh returns through examples from around the world. One, how European colonialists decimated not only indigenous populations but also indigenous understanding of the relationship between humans and Earth. Two, how this was an invasion not only of humans but of the Earth itself, and how this continues to the present day by looking at nature as a 'resource' to exploit. . . . We know we are facing more frequent and more severe heatwaves, storms, floods, droughts and wildfires due to climate change. We know our expansion through deforestation, dam building, canal cutting – in short, terraforming, the word Ghosh uses – has brought us repeated disasters . . .

Are these the responses of an angry Gaia who has finally had enough? By using the word 'curse' in the title, the author makes it clear that he thinks so. I use the pronoun 'who' knowingly, because Ghosh has quoted many non-European sources to enquire into the relationship between humans and the world around them so that he can question the prevalent way of looking at Earth as an inert object to be exploited to the maximum. As Ghosh's text, notes and bibliography show once more, none of this is new. There have always been challenges to the way European colonialists looked at other civilisations and at Earth. It is just that the invaders and their myriad backers in the fields of economics, politics, anthropology, philosophy, literature, technology, physics, chemistry, biology have dominated global intellectual discourse. . . .

There are other points of view that we can hear today if we listen hard enough. Those observing global climate negotiations know about the Latin American way of looking at Earth as Pachamama (Earth Mother). They also know how such a framing is just provided lip service and is ignored in the substantive portions of the negotiations. In The Nutmeg's Curse, Ghosh explains why. He shows the extent of the vested interest in the oil economy – not only for oil-exporting countries, but also for a superpower like the US that controls oil drilling, oil prices and oil movement around the world. Many of us know power utilities are sabotaging decentralised solar power generation today because it hits their revenues and control. And how the other points of view are so often drowned out.

1151.

On the basis of information in the passage, which one of the following is NOT a reason for the failure of policies seeking to address climate change?

A.
The greed of organisations benefiting from non-renewable energy resources.
B.
The marginalised status of non-European ways of looking at nature and the environment.
C.
The decentralised characteristic of renewable energy resources like solar power.
D.
The global dominance of oil economies and international politics built around it.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Only option C does not relate to why policies seeking to address climate change fail.

The reasons mentioned in options A and D are stated in the last few lines: 'He shows the extent of the vested interest in the oil economy – not only for oil-exporting countries, but also for a superpower like the US that controls oil drilling, oil prices and oil movement around the world. Many of us know power utilities are sabotaging decentralised solar power generation today because it hits their revenues and control'.

Option B, too, is mentioned:'There have always been challenges to the way European colonialists looked at other civilisations and at Earth. It is just that the invaders and their myriad backers...have dominated global intellectual discourse. . . . There are other points of view that we can hear today if we listen hard enough...'

1152.

Which one of the following best explains the primary purpose of the discussion of the colonisation of the Banda islands in "The Nutmeg's Curse"?

A.
To illustrate how systemic violence against the colonised constituted the cornerstone of colonialism.
B.
To illustrate the first instance in history when the processes responsible for climate change were initiated.
C.
To illustrate the role played by the cultivation of certain crops in the plantation mode in contributing to climate change.
D.
To illustrate how colonialism represented and perpetuated the mindset that has led to climate change.

Option D is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Note the context in which the passage takes the case of Banda islands: 'The biggest challenge [The Nutmeg's Curse by Ghosh] throws down is to the prevailing understanding of when the climate crisis started. Most of us have accepted...that it started with the widespread use of coal..Ghosh takes this history at least three centuries back, to the start of European colonialism in the 15th century. He [starts] the book with a 1621 massacre by Dutch invaders determined to impose a monopoly on nutmeg cultivation and trade in the Banda islands in today's Indonesia.'

So, the primary purpose of the discussion of the colonisation of the Banda islands in "The Nutmeg's Curse" is to illustrate how colonialism represented and perpetuated the mindset that has led to climate change.

1153.

All of the following can be inferred from the reviewer's discussion of "The Nutmeg's Curse", EXCEPT:

A.
academic discourses have always served the function of raising awareness about environmental preservation.
B.
environmental preservation policy makers can learn a lot from non-European and/or pre-colonial societies.
C.
the contemporary dominant perception of nature and the environment was put in place by processes of colonialism.
D.
the history of climate change is deeply intertwined with the history of colonialism.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Option A is the exact opposite of what the passage states. The passage explains how European colonialists influenced the prevalent way of looking at Earth as a 'resource' to exploit. Though there have been challenges to this way of thinking, the passage says, 'the invaders and their myriad backers in the fields of economics, politics, anthropology, philosophy, literature, technology, physics, chemistry, biology have dominated global intellectual discourse.' Option A cannot be inferred; this is the correct answer choice.

All other options relate to key ideas that can be inferred from the passage..

1154.

Which one of the following, if true, would make the reviewer's choice of the pronoun "who" for Gaia inappropriate?

A.
Modern western science discovers new evidence for the Earth being an inanimate object.
B.
Ghosh's book has a different title: "The Nutmeg's Revenge".
C.
Non-European societies have perceived the Earth as a non-living source of all resources.
D.
There is a direct cause–effect relationship between human activities and global climate change.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Note the reason stated by the reviewer for the choice of the pronoun, "who":'I use the pronoun 'who' knowingly, because Ghosh has quoted many non-European sources to enquire into the relationship between humans and the world around them..' The reviewer justifies his choice based on the understanding of Earth as a living entity by non-European societies. So, if option C were true, it would make the reviewer's choice of the pronoun "who" for Gaia inappropriate.

1161.

On the basis of information in the passage, which one of the following is NOT a reason for the failure of policies seeking to address climate change?

A.
The greed of organisations benefiting from non-renewable energy resources.
B.
The marginalised status of non-European ways of looking at nature and the environment.
C.
The decentralised characteristic of renewable energy resources like solar power.
D.
The global dominance of oil economies and international politics built around it.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Only option C does not relate to why policies seeking to address climate change fail.

The reasons mentioned in options A and D are stated in the last few lines: 'He shows the extent of the vested interest in the oil economy – not only for oil-exporting countries, but also for a superpower like the US that controls oil drilling, oil prices and oil movement around the world. Many of us know power utilities are sabotaging decentralised solar power generation today because it hits their revenues and control'.

Option B, too, is mentioned:'There have always been challenges to the way European colonialists looked at other civilisations and at Earth. It is just that the invaders and their myriad backers...have dominated global intellectual discourse. . . . There are other points of view that we can hear today if we listen hard enough...'

1162.

Which one of the following best explains the primary purpose of the discussion of the colonisation of the Banda islands in "The Nutmeg's Curse"?

A.
To illustrate how systemic violence against the colonised constituted the cornerstone of colonialism.
B.
To illustrate the first instance in history when the processes responsible for climate change were initiated.
C.
To illustrate the role played by the cultivation of certain crops in the plantation mode in contributing to climate change.
D.
To illustrate how colonialism represented and perpetuated the mindset that has led to climate change.

Option D is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Note the context in which the passage takes the case of Banda islands: 'The biggest challenge [The Nutmeg's Curse by Ghosh] throws down is to the prevailing understanding of when the climate crisis started. Most of us have accepted...that it started with the widespread use of coal..Ghosh takes this history at least three centuries back, to the start of European colonialism in the 15th century. He [starts] the book with a 1621 massacre by Dutch invaders determined to impose a monopoly on nutmeg cultivation and trade in the Banda islands in today's Indonesia.'

So, the primary purpose of the discussion of the colonisation of the Banda islands in "The Nutmeg's Curse" is to illustrate how colonialism represented and perpetuated the mindset that has led to climate change.

1163.

All of the following can be inferred from the reviewer's discussion of "The Nutmeg's Curse", EXCEPT:

A.
academic discourses have always served the function of raising awareness about environmental preservation.
B.
environmental preservation policy makers can learn a lot from non-European and/or pre-colonial societies.
C.
the contemporary dominant perception of nature and the environment was put in place by processes of colonialism.
D.
the history of climate change is deeply intertwined with the history of colonialism.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Option A is the exact opposite of what the passage states. The passage explains how European colonialists influenced the prevalent way of looking at Earth as a 'resource' to exploit. Though there have been challenges to this way of thinking, the passage says, 'the invaders and their myriad backers in the fields of economics, politics, anthropology, philosophy, literature, technology, physics, chemistry, biology have dominated global intellectual discourse.' Option A cannot be inferred; this is the correct answer choice.

All other options relate to key ideas that can be inferred from the passage..

1164.

Which one of the following, if true, would make the reviewer's choice of the pronoun "who" for Gaia inappropriate?

A.
Modern western science discovers new evidence for the Earth being an inanimate object.
B.
Ghosh's book has a different title: "The Nutmeg's Revenge".
C.
Non-European societies have perceived the Earth as a non-living source of all resources.
D.
There is a direct cause–effect relationship between human activities and global climate change.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Note the reason stated by the reviewer for the choice of the pronoun, "who":'I use the pronoun 'who' knowingly, because Ghosh has quoted many non-European sources to enquire into the relationship between humans and the world around them..' The reviewer justifies his choice based on the understanding of Earth as a living entity by non-European societies. So, if option C were true, it would make the reviewer's choice of the pronoun "who" for Gaia inappropriate.

1165.

Question:

The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.

It's not that modern historians of medieval Africa have been ignorant about contacts between Ethiopia and Europe; they just had the power dynamic reversed. The traditional narrative stressed Ethiopia as weak and in trouble in the face of aggression from external forces, so Ethiopia sought military assistance from their fellow Christians to the north. But the real story, buried in plain sight in medieval diplomatic texts, simply had not yet been put together by modern scholars. Recent research pushes scholars of medieval Europe to imagine a much more richly connected medieval world: at the beginning of the so-called Age of Exploration, there is evidence that the kings of Ethiopia were sponsoring their own missions of diplomacy, faith and commerce.

A.
Medieval historical sources selectively promoted the narrative that powerful European forces were called on to protect weak African civilisations such as Ethiopia, but this is far from reality.
B.
Medieval texts have been 'cherry-picked' to promote a view of Ethiopia as weak and in need of Europe's military help with aggressive neighbours, but recent studies reveal it was a well-connected and outward-looking culture.
C.
Medieval texts have documented how strong connections between the Christian communities of Ethiopia and Europe were invaluable in establishing military and trade links between the two civilisations.
D.

Historians were under the illusion that Ethiopia needed military protection from their neighbours, but in fact the country had close commercial and religious connections with them.

Option B is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The paragraph given says that while historians have traditionally portrayed medieval Ethiopia as weak and seeking protection from Europe, the real story,"buried in plain sight" is that the medieval world was richly connected, with the kings of Ethiopia sponsoring their own missions of diplomacy, faith and commerce.

Of the given options, C and D can be eliminated right away. The main idea of the paragraph is not how strong connections between Christian communities of Ethiopia and Europe helped establish links between them but how traditional historical narratives are incorrect. So, option C is out. Option D is ruled out as it states historians were under an illusion. This is incorrect. They simply chose to ignore the real story, according to the given paragraph.

Options A and B are close. But between A and B, B is better. Option A says that powerful European forces were called upon to protect "weak African civilisations such as Ethiopia". The paragraph does not generalize this way. It is specific to relations between medieval Ethiopia and Europe.

1166.

Question:

There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.

Sentence: Easing the anxiety and pressure of having a "big day" is part of the appeal for many couples who marry in secret.

Paragraph: Wedding season is upon us and – after two years of Covid chaos that saw nuptials scaled back– you may think the temptation would be to go all out. ___(1)___. But instead of expanding the guest list, many couples are opting to have entirely secret ceremonies. With Covid case numbers remaining high and the cost of living crisis meaning that many couples are feeling the pinch, it's no wonder that some are less than eager to send out invites. ___(2)___. Plus, it can't hurt that in celebrity circles getting married in secret is all the rage. ___(3)___. "I would definitely say that secret weddings are becoming more common," says Landis Bejar, the founder of a therapy practice, which specialises in helping brides and grooms manage wedding stress. "People are looking for ways to get out of the spotlight and avoid the pomp and circumstance of weddings. ___(4)___. They just want to get to the part where they are married."

A.
Option 1
B.
Option 2
C.
Option 3
D.
Option 4

Option B is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Consider option 1. The transition of ideas from the previous sentence to the next is smooth here. Despite the Covid chaos pointing to a temptation to go all out, wedding lists are not expanding and couples are having secret ceremonies instead. So, we rule out this option.

The missing line explains why couples want to marry in secret. If you place this sentence in option 2, it fits right in with the idea in the previous sentence and transitions well into the next sentence, which gives one more reason why couples marry in secret. Also the 'anxiety' mentioned here relates to couples 'feeling the pinch', which the previous sentence refers to.

If the missing sentence is placed in option 3, it would follow a sentence which begins with 'plus'. The transition from celebrities marrying in secret to easing the anxiety and pressure of having a "big day" is not smooth.

The missing sentence does not fit in well at option 4. There is already a smooth transition of ideas from people wanting to avoid the spotlight and pomp to them wanting to get to the part where they are married.

So, option 2 is the best place to put the missing sentence.

1167.

Question:

The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) below, when properly sequenced, would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and key in the sequence of the four numbers as your answer:

1. The creative element in product design has become of paramount importance as it is one of the few ways a firm or industry can sustain a competitive advantage over its rivals.
2. In fact, the creative element in the value of world industry would be larger still, if we added the contribution of the creative element in other industries, such as the design of tech accessories.
3. The creative industry is receiving a lot of attention today as its growth rate is faster than that of the world economy as a whole.
4. It is for this reason that today's trade issues are increasingly involving intellectual property, as Western countries have an interest in protecting their revenues along with freeing trade in non-tangibles.

Answer : 3214

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

3 is the best starting sentence as it is the most general. 32 is a clear link: Sentence 3 states the creative industry is growing faster than the world economy and 2 adds to this saying that if the creative element in other industries is taken into consideration, the creative element in the value of world industry would be larger still.

Sentence 1 carries forward the idea in 32, explaining how the creative element in product design can help sustain a competitive advantage. Sentence 4 concludes the paragraph saying that this is reason why today's trade issues are focused on intellectual property.

3214 is the most logical order.

1168.

The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.

People spontaneously create counterfactual alternatives to reality when they think "if only" or "what if" and imagine how the past could have been different. The mind computes counterfactuals for many reasons. Counterfactuals explain the past and prepare for the future, they implicate various relations including causal ones, and they affect intentions and decisions. They modulate emotions such as regret and relief, and they support moral judgments such as blame. The ability to create counterfactuals develops throughout childhood and contributes to reasoning about other people's beliefs, including their false beliefs.

A.
People create counterfactual alternatives to reality for various reasons, including reasoning about other people's beliefs.
B.
Counterfactual thinking helps to reverse past and future actions and reason out false beliefs.
C.
Counterfactual alternatives to reality are created for a variety of reasons and is part of one's developmental process.
D.
Counterfactuals help people to prepare for the future by understanding intentions and making decisions.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The paragraph given lists the many reasons why the mind computes counterfactuals and states that this ability develops throughout childhood and contributes to reasoning about other people's beliefs. Option C is a good summary.

Option A suggests people intentionally create counterfactuals in order to reason about other people's beliefs. The paragraph, on the other hand, states counterfactuals are created spontaneously by the mind.

Option B is logically incorrect as it says counterfactual thinking helps to 'reverse' past and future actions.

Option D relates to specific reasons listed in the paragraph. C is a better summary.

1169.

Question:

There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.

Sentence: Having made citizens more and less knowledgeable than their predecessors, the Internet has proved to be both a blessing and a curse.

Paragraph: Never before has a population, nearly all of whom has enjoyed at a least a secondary school education, been exposed to so much information, whether in newspapers and magazines or through YouTube, Google, and Facebook. ___(1)___. Yet it is not clear that people today are more knowledgeable than their barely literate predecessors. Contemporary advances in technology offered more serious and inquisitive students access to realms of knowledge previously unimaginable and unavailable. ___(2)___. But such readily available knowledge leads many more students away from serious study, the reading of actual texts, and toward an inability to write effectively and grammatically. ___(3)___. It has let people choose sources that reinforce their opinions rather than encouraging them to question inherited beliefs. ___(4)___.

A.
Option 1
B.
Option 2
C.
Option 3
D.
Option 4

Option D is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

A new kind of VARC question. The best way to place the missing sentence in the paragraph is to identify the position where the transition of ideas looks abrupt from the previous sentence to the next. The missing sentence would fit in that position.

Considering option 1, we see that there is a smooth transition of ideas from the previous sentence to the next. Never before has a population been exposed to so much information; yet it is not clear people today are more knowledgeable than their barely literate predecessors. So, we rule out option 1.

Considering option 2, we see again that the previous sentence is about access to new realms of knowledge and the transition from here to 'But such readily available knowledge...' is smooth.

In case of option 3 too, both the sentence before and the one after are about the negative effects of readily available knowledge.

The missing sentence would make best sense as the concluding sentence of the paragraph, as the paragraph itself is about how the Internet has proved to be both a blessing and a curse.

1170.

The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.

Heatwaves are becoming longer, frequent and intense due to climate change. The impacts of extreme heat are unevenly experienced; with older people and young children, those with pre-existing medical conditions and on low incomes significantly more vulnerable. Adaptation to heatwaves is a significant public policy concern. Research conducted among at-risk people in the UK reveals that even vulnerable people do not perceive themselves as at risk of extreme heat; therefore, early warnings of extreme heat events do not perform as intended. This suggests that understanding how extreme heat is narrated is very important. The news media play a central role in this process and can help warn people about the potential danger, as well as about impacts on infrastructure and society.

A.
Protection from heat waves is important but current reports and public policies seem ineffective.
B.
Heatwaves pose an enormous risk; the media plays a pivotal role in alerting people to this danger.
C.
People are vulnerable to heatwaves caused due to climate change, measures taken are ineffective.
D.
News stories help in warning about heatwaves, but they have to become more effective.

Option B is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The main idea of the paragraph is that while heatwaves are becoming longer, frequent and intense due to climate change, even vulnerable people do not seem to perceive the risk of extreme heat and so news media should undertake to warn people about the potential danger. Option B sums up the paragraph best.

Option A talks about ineffective public policies on heatwaves. This is not what the paragraph is about.

Option C too, misses the key point about the role of news media and states 'measures' (which are not discussed in the paragraph at all) are ineffective. So, C is out.

Option D does not touch upon the risk heatwaves pose. Also, the paragraph does not talk about the effectiveness of news stories. B is a better summary than D.

1171.

Question:

The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) below, when properly sequenced, would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and key in the sequence of the four numbers as your answer:

1. Some company leaders are basing their decisions on locating offices to foster innovation and growth, as their best-performing inventors suffered the greatest productivity losses when their commutes grew longer.
2. Shorter commutes support innovation by giving employees more time in the office and greater opportunities for in-person collaboration, while removing the physical strain of a long commute.
3. This is not always the case: remote work does not automatically lead to greater creativity and productivity as office water-cooler conversations are also very important for innovation.
4. Some see the link between long commutes and productivity as support for work-from-home scenarios, as many workers have grown accustomed to their commute-free arrangements during the pandemic.

Answer : 2143

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

There is a clear link between sentences 1 and 2: both these sentences are about the positive effect of shorter commutes on employee performance.

Similarly, 43 is a strong link: sentence 4 says commute-free working is seen as key to improving productivity by some; 3 states that this is not always the case and explains why.

There is also a link between sentences 1 and 4: Sentence 4 starts with the pronoun 'some'. This clearly refers to some company leaders, the subject of sentence 1. So, 4 follows immediately after 1.

Given these links, we see that 2143 is the most logical order.

1172.

The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) given below, when properly sequenced, would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and key in the sequence of the four numbers as your answer.

1. Like the ants that make up a colony, no single neuron holds complex information like self-awareness, hope or pride.
2. Although the human brain is not yet understood enough to identify the mechanism by which emergence functions, most neurobiologists agree that complex interconnections among the parts give rise to qualities that belong only to the whole.
3. Nonetheless, the sum of all neurons in the nervous system generate complex human emotions like fear and joy, none of which can be attributed to a single neuron.
4. Human consciousness is often called an emergent property of the human brain.

Answer : 4132 is the correct order.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

4 is the best starting sentence.

13 is a strong link: 1 states that no single neuron holds complex information like self-awareness, hope or pride. 3 explains that, nonetheless, the sum of all neurons in the nervous system generates complex human emotions like fear and joy.

2 concludes the paragraph stating that though the mechanism by which emergence functions is not yet understood, most neurobiologists agree that complex interconnections among the parts give rise to qualities of the whole.

4132 is the correct order.

1173.

Question:

The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.

All that we think we know about how life hangs together is really some kind of illusion that we have perpetrated on ourselves because of our limited vision. What appear to be inanimate objects such as stones turn out not only to be alive in the same way that we are, but also in many infinitesimal ways to be affected by stimuli just as humans are. The distinction between animate and inanimate simply cannot be made when you enter the world of quantum mechanics and try to determine how those apparent subatomic particles, of which you and everything else in our universe is composed, are all tied together. The point is that physics and metaphysics show there is a pattern to the universe that goes beyond our capacity to grasp it with our brains.

A.
Arbitrary distinctions between inanimate and animate objects disappear at the scale at which quantum mechanics works.
B.
Quantum physics indicates that an astigmatic view of reality results in erroneous assumptions about the universe.
C.
The inanimate world is both sentient and cognizant like its animate counterpart.
D.

The effect of stimuli is similar in inanimate objects when compared to animate objects or living beings.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

According to the given paragraph, we can realize how limited our capacity to understand the universe is when we enter the world of quantum mechanics and find that arbitrary distinctions between animate and inanimate simply cannot be made. Option A captures all key ideas.

Option B does not touch upon the distinction between animate and inanimate.

Option C says the inanimate world is 'cognizant', which is not what the paragraph says.

Option D is incorrect: the paragraph does not say the effect of stimuli on the animate and inanimate is "similar"; it only says that in many infinitesimal ways, the inanimate seem to be affected by stimuli just as humans are.

1174.

The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) given below, when properly sequenced, would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and key in the sequence of the four numbers as your answer.

1. Contemporary African writing like 'The Bottled Leopard' voices this theme using two children and two backgrounds to juxtapose two varying cultures.
2. Chukwuemeka Ike explores the conflict, and casts the Western tradition as condescending, enveloping and unaccommodating towards local African practice.
3. However, their views contradict the reality, for a rich and sustaining local African cultural ethos exists for all who care, to see and experience.
4. Western Christian concepts tend to deny or feign ignorance about the existence of a genuine and enduring indigenous African tradition.

Answer : 4312 is the correct order.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Sentence 4 is the best opening sentence.

43 is a strong link: 4 states the Western Christian concepts tend to deny or ignore the existence of an indigenous African tradition. 3 explains that this view contradicts reality.

Sentence 1 offers an example to support 3 and sentence 2 adds to 1.

4312 is the correct order.

1175.

Five jumbled up sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5), related to a topic, are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a coherent paragraph. Identify the odd sentence and key in the number of that sentence as your answer.

1. The banning of Northern Lights could be considered a precursor to censoring books for "moral", world view or religious reasons.
2. Attempts to ban books are attempts to silence authors who have summoned immense courage in telling their stories.
3. Now the banning and challenging of books in the US has escalated to an unprecedented level.
4. The widely acclaimed fantasy novel Northern Lights was banned in some parts of the US, and was the second most challenged book in the US.
5. The American Library Association documented an unparalleled number of reported book challenges in 2022, about 2,500 unique titles.

Answer : The answer is '2'

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

All sentences except 2 focus on the banning and challenging of books in the US. Option 2 focuses on authors who have summoned courage in telling their stories. This is a related but slightly different idea.

Sentence 3 is the best opening sentence as it is the most general one. 5 adds to 3, supporting 3 with data. Sentences 4 and 1 discuss a specific case-- the banning of the book Northern Lights. 3541 makes a cogent paragraph.

1176.

Five jumbled up sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5), related to a topic, are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a coherent paragraph. Identify the odd sentence and key in the number of that sentence as your answer.

1. Self-care particularly links to loneliness, behavioural problems, and negative academic outcomes.
2. "Latchkey children" refers to children who routinely return home from school to empty homes and take care of themselves for extended periods of time.
3. Although self-care generally points to negative outcomes, it is important to consider that the bulk of research has yet to track long-term consequences.
4. In research and practice, the phrase "children in self-care" has come to replace latchkey in an effort to more accurately reflect the nature of their circumstances.
5. Although parents might believe that self-care would be beneficial for development, recent research has found quite the opposite.

Answer : Sentence 3 is the odd one out.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Of the given sentences, only sentence 3 maintains that self-care may not necessarily result in negative outcomes.

24 is a strong link. These sentences discuss the main focus of the paragraph-children who routinely return home from school to empty homes and take care of themselves for extended periods of time.

51 is also a strong link, with 5 stating that self-care is not beneficial for development and 1 explaining why so.

2451 makes a cogent paragraph.

Sentence 3 is the odd one out.

1177.

There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.

Sentence: Dualism was long held as the defining feature of developing countries in contrast to developed countries, where frontier technologies and high productivity were assumed to prevail.

Paragraph: ___(1)___. At the core of development economics lies the idea of 'productive dualism': that poor countries' economies are split between a narrow 'modern' sector that uses advanced technologies and a larger 'traditional' sector characterized by very low productivity.___(2)___. While this distinction between developing and advanced economies may have made some sense in the 1950s and 1960s, it no longer appears to be very relevant. A combination of forces have produced a widening gap between the winners and those left behind.___(3)___. Convergence between poor and rich parts of the economy was arrested and regional disparities widened.___(4)___. As a result, policymakers in advanced economies are now grappling with the same questions that have long preoccupied developing economies: mainly how to close the gap with the more advanced parts of the economy.

A.
Option 1
B.
Option 2
C.
Option 3
D.
Option 4

Option B is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The given sentence is about dualism, long held as a distinction between developing and developed countries. The sentence before option 2 introduces dualism and the sentence after it begins with 'while this distinction between developing and advanced economies..', making option 2 the best choice for fitting in the given sentence.

1178.

There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.

Sentence: And probably much earlier, moving the documentation for kissing back 1,000 years compared to what was acknowledged in the scientific community.

Paragraph: Research has hypothesised that the earliest evidence of human lip kissing originated in a very specific geographical location in South Asia 3,500 years ago.___(1)___. From there it may have spread to other regions, simultaneously accelerating the spread of the herpes simplex virus 1. According to Dr Troels Pank Arbøll and Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen, who in a new article in the journal Science draw on a range of written sources from the earliest Mesopotamian societies, kissing was already a well-established practice 4,500 years ago in the Middle East.___(2)___. In ancient Mesopotamia, people wrote in cuneiform script on clay tablets.___(3)___. Many thousands of these clay tablets have survived to this day, and they contain clear examples that kissing was considered a part of romantic intimacy in ancient times.___(4)___. "Kissing could also have been part of friendships and family members' relations," says Dr Troels Pank Arbøll, an expert on the history of medicine in Mesopotamia.

A.
Option 4
B.
Option 3
C.
Option 1
D.
Option 2

Option D is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The given sentence begins with 'and probably much earlier...', so the sentence before must have some reference to time. This narrows down the options to 1 and 2. Of these options 2 makes better sense as the given sentence talks about documentation for kissing and the sentence before 2 talks about written sources that confirm new research findings.

1179.

The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question.

Umberto Eco, an Italian writer, was right when he said the language of Europe is translation. Netflix and other deep-pocketed global firms speak it well. Just as the EU employs a small army of translators and interpreters to turn intricate laws or impassioned speeches of Romanian MEPs into the EU's 24 official languages, so do the likes of Netflix. It now offers dubbing in 34 languages and subtitling in a few more. . . .

The economics of European productions are more appealing, too. American audiences are more willing than before to give dubbed or subtitled viewing a chance. This means shows such as "Lupin", a French crime caper on Netflix, can become global hits. . . . In 2015, about 75% of Netflix's original content was American; now the figure is half, according to Ampere, a media-analysis company. Netflix has about 100 productions under way in Europe, which is more than big public broadcasters in France or Germany. . . .

Not everything works across borders. Comedy sometimes struggles. Whodunits and bloodthirsty maelstroms between arch Romans and uppity tribesmen have a more universal appeal. Some do it better than others. Barbarians aside, German television is not always built for export, says one executive, being polite. A bigger problem is that national broadcasters still dominate. Streaming services, such as Netflix or Disney+, account for about a third of all viewing hours, even in markets where they are well-established. Europe is an ageing continent. The generation of teens staring at phones is outnumbered by their elders who prefer to gawp at the box.

In Brussels and national capitals, the prospect of Netflix as a cultural hegemon is seen as a threat. "Cultural sovereignty" is the watchword of European executives worried that the Americans will eat their lunch. To be fair, Netflix content sometimes seems stuck in an uncanny valley somewhere in the mid-Atlantic, with local quirks stripped out. Netflix originals tend to have fewer specific cultural references than shows produced by domestic rivals, according to Enders, a market analyst. The company used to have an imperial model of commissioning, with executives in Los Angeles cooking up ideas French people might like. Now Netflix has offices across Europe. But ultimately the big decisions rest with American executives. This makes European politicians nervous.

They should not be. An irony of European integration is that it is often American companies that facilitate it. Google Translate makes European newspapers comprehensible, even if a little clunky, for the continent's non-polyglots. American social-media companies make it easier for Europeans to talk politics across borders. (That they do not always like to hear what they say about each other is another matter.) Now Netflix and friends pump the same content into homes across a continent, making culture a cross-border endeavour, too. If Europeans are to share a currency, bail each other out in times of financial need and share vaccines in a pandemic, then they need to have something in common—even if it is just bingeing on the same series. Watching fictitious northern and southern Europeans tear each other apart 2,000 years ago beats doing so in reality.

1151.

Based on information provided in the passage, all of the following are true, EXCEPT:

A.
European television productions have the potential to become global hits.
B.
only half of Netflix's original programming in the EU is now produced in America.
C.
national broadcasters dominate in the EU in terms of total television viewing hours.
D.
Netflix has been able to transform itself into a truly European entity.

Option D is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Easy question. All options except D are true, based on the passage.

Option A is true, based on the lines, 'The economics of European productions are more appealing, too. American audiences are more willing than before to give dubbed or subtitled viewing a chance. This means shows such as "Lupin", a French crime caper on Netflix, can become global hits.'

Option B is true, too: 'In 2015, about 75% of Netflix's original content was American; now the figure is half, according to Ampere, a media-analysis company.'

Option C is clearly stated in the passage:'A bigger problem is that national broadcasters still dominate. Streaming services, such as Netflix or Disney+, account for about a third of all viewing hours, even in markets where they are well-established.'

Only option D is incorrect: 'Now Netflix has offices across Europe. But ultimately the big decisions rest with American executives.'

1152.

The author sees the rise of Netflix in Europe as:

A.
a unifying force.
B.
a looming cultural threat.
C.
filling an entertainment gap.
D.
an economic threat.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The author clearly sees Netflix as a unifying force in Europe: 'Now Netflix and friends pump the same content into homes across a continent, making culture a cross-border endeavour, too. If Europeans are to share a currency, bail each other out in times of financial need and share vaccines in a pandemic, then they need to have something in common-even if it is just bingeing on the same series.'

1153.

Which one of the following research findings would weaken the author's conclusion in the final paragraph?

A.
Research shows that Netflix has been gradually losing market share to other streaming television service providers.
B.
Research shows there is a wide variance in the popularity and viewing of Netflix shows across different EU countries.
C.
Research shows that older women across the EU enjoy watching romantic comedies on Netflix, whereas younger women prefer historical fiction dramas.
D.
Research shows that Netflix hits produced in France are very popular with North American audiences.

Option B is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

In the last paragraph, the author concludes that Netflix is a unifying force in Europe, making culture "a cross-border endeavour". If there were a wide variance in the popularity and viewing of Netflix shows across different EU countries, then the author's assumption that Netflix is popular across Europe, giving Europeans something to share across borders, is weakened. Option B is the correct answer choice.

All other options are unrelated to the author's conclusion in the final paragraph.

1154.

Based only on information provided in the passage, which one of the following hypothetical Netflix shows would be most successful with audiences across the EU?

A.
A trans-Atlantic romantic drama set in Europe and America.
B.
An original German TV science fiction production.
C.
A murder mystery drama set in North Africa and France.
D.
An Italian comedy show hosted by an international star.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Talking about which shows have better appeal, the passage states, 'Not everything works across borders. Comedy sometimes struggles. Whodunits and bloodthirsty maelstroms between arch Romans and uppity tribesmen have a more universal appeal...'. So, a murder mystery drama set in North Africa and France is likely, according to the passage, to be successful with audiences across the EU.

Based on the lines above, option D is easily eliminated. The passage declares 'German television is not always built for export', so option B is also ruled out. The passage focuses on translations of European productions and their success. Option A does not relate to this.

1180.

Based on information provided in the passage, all of the following are true, EXCEPT:

A.
European television productions have the potential to become global hits.
B.
only half of Netflix's original programming in the EU is now produced in America.
C.
national broadcasters dominate in the EU in terms of total television viewing hours.
D.
Netflix has been able to transform itself into a truly European entity.

Option D is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Easy question. All options except D are true, based on the passage.

Option A is true, based on the lines, 'The economics of European productions are more appealing, too. American audiences are more willing than before to give dubbed or subtitled viewing a chance. This means shows such as "Lupin", a French crime caper on Netflix, can become global hits.'

Option B is true, too: 'In 2015, about 75% of Netflix's original content was American; now the figure is half, according to Ampere, a media-analysis company.'

Option C is clearly stated in the passage:'A bigger problem is that national broadcasters still dominate. Streaming services, such as Netflix or Disney+, account for about a third of all viewing hours, even in markets where they are well-established.'

Only option D is incorrect: 'Now Netflix has offices across Europe. But ultimately the big decisions rest with American executives.'

1181.

The author sees the rise of Netflix in Europe as:

A.
a unifying force.
B.
a looming cultural threat.
C.
filling an entertainment gap.
D.
an economic threat.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The author clearly sees Netflix as a unifying force in Europe: 'Now Netflix and friends pump the same content into homes across a continent, making culture a cross-border endeavour, too. If Europeans are to share a currency, bail each other out in times of financial need and share vaccines in a pandemic, then they need to have something in common-even if it is just bingeing on the same series.'

1182.

Which one of the following research findings would weaken the author's conclusion in the final paragraph?

A.
Research shows that Netflix has been gradually losing market share to other streaming television service providers.
B.
Research shows there is a wide variance in the popularity and viewing of Netflix shows across different EU countries.
C.
Research shows that older women across the EU enjoy watching romantic comedies on Netflix, whereas younger women prefer historical fiction dramas.
D.
Research shows that Netflix hits produced in France are very popular with North American audiences.

Option B is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

In the last paragraph, the author concludes that Netflix is a unifying force in Europe, making culture "a cross-border endeavour". If there were a wide variance in the popularity and viewing of Netflix shows across different EU countries, then the author's assumption that Netflix is popular across Europe, giving Europeans something to share across borders, is weakened. Option B is the correct answer choice.

All other options are unrelated to the author's conclusion in the final paragraph.

1183.

Based only on information provided in the passage, which one of the following hypothetical Netflix shows would be most successful with audiences across the EU?

A.
A trans-Atlantic romantic drama set in Europe and America.
B.
An original German TV science fiction production.
C.
A murder mystery drama set in North Africa and France.
D.
An Italian comedy show hosted by an international star.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Talking about which shows have better appeal, the passage states, 'Not everything works across borders. Comedy sometimes struggles. Whodunits and bloodthirsty maelstroms between arch Romans and uppity tribesmen have a more universal appeal...'. So, a murder mystery drama set in North Africa and France is likely, according to the passage, to be successful with audiences across the EU.

Based on the lines above, option D is easily eliminated. The passage declares 'German television is not always built for export', so option B is also ruled out. The passage focuses on translations of European productions and their success. Option A does not relate to this.

1184.

The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question.

The Positivists, anxious to stake out their claim for history as a science, contributed the weight of their influence to the cult of facts. First ascertain the facts, said the positivists, then draw your conclusions from them. . . . This is what may [be] called the common-sense view of history. History consists of a corpus of ascertained facts. The facts are available to the historian in documents, inscriptions, and so on . . . [Sir George Clark] contrasted the "hard core of facts" in history with the surrounding pulp of disputable interpretation forgetting perhaps that the pulpy part of the fruit is more rewarding than the hard core. . . . It recalls the favourite dictum of the great liberal journalist C. P. Scott: "Facts are sacred, opinion is free.". . .

What is a historical fact? . . . According to the common-sense view, there are certain basic facts which are the same for all historians and which form, so to speak, the backbone of history—the fact, for example, that the Battle of Hastings was fought in 1066. But this view calls for two observations. In the first place, it is not with facts like these that the historian is primarily concerned. It is no doubt important to know that the great battle was fought in 1066 and not in 1065 or 1067, and that it was fought at Hastings and not at Eastbourne or Brighton. The historian must not get these things wrong. But [to] praise a historian for his accuracy is like praising an architect for using well-seasoned timber or properly mixed concrete in his building. It is a necessary condition of his work, but not his essential function. It is precisely for matters of this kind that the historian is entitled to rely on what have been called the "auxiliary sciences" of history—archaeology, epigraphy, numismatics, chronology, and so forth. . . .

The second observation is that the necessity to establish these basic facts rests not on any quality in the facts themselves, but on an apriori decision of the historian. In spite of C. P. Scott's motto, every journalist knows today that the most effective way to influence opinion is by the selection and arrangement of the appropriate facts. It used to be said that facts speak for themselves. This is, of course, untrue. The facts speak only when the historian calls on them: it is he who decides to which facts to give the floor, and in what order or context. . . . The only reason why we are interested to know that the battle was fought at Hastings in 1066 is that historians regard it as a major historical event. . . . Professor Talcott Parsons once called [science] "a selective system of cognitive orientations to reality." It might perhaps have been put more simply. But history is, among other things, that. The historian is necessarily selective. The belief in a hard core of historical facts existing objectively and independently of the interpretation of the historian is a preposterous fallacy, but one which it is very hard to eradicate.

1151.

All of the following, if true, can weaken the passage's claim that facts do not speak for themselves, EXCEPT:

A.
the truth value of a fact is independent of the historian who expresses it.
B.
facts, like truth, can be relative: what is fact for person X may not be so for person Y.
C.
a fact, by its very nature, is objective and universal, irrespective of the context in which it is placed.
D.
the order in which a series of facts is presented does not have any bearing on the production of meaning.

Option B is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

If option B is true, that is, if facts are relative and subject to interpretation, then that strengthens the passage's claim that facts do not speak for themselves. So, option B is the right answer choice.

The passage claims that facts do not speak for themselves by arguing that while facts are objective and universal and hold true irrespective of the historian who expresses it, it is the historian who decides to which facts to give the floor, and in what order or context, thereby influencing their interpretation. So, all options except B, if true, weaken the passage's claim.

1152.

If the author of the passage were to write a book on the Battle of Hastings along the lines of his/her own reasoning, the focus of the historical account would be on:

A.
deriving historical facts from the relevant documents and inscriptions.
B.
providing a nuanced interpretation by relying on the auxiliary sciences.
C.
exploring the socio-political and economic factors that led to the Battle.
D.
producing a detailed timeline of the various events that led to the Battle.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The main idea of the passage is that facts speak only when the historian calls on them. The author says that it is because historians regard the Battle of Hastings as a major historical event that we are interested in knowing about it. It is the historian's interpretation of facts that we are interested in. So, if the author were to write a book on the Battle of Hastings, the focus of the account would be on subjective interpretations, like exploring the socio-political and economic factors that led to the Battle.

Options A and D are easily ruled out as they focus on the importance of facts.

Option B is close, as 'nuanced interpretation' is what the author says historians have to focus on. But option B, unlike option C, emphasizes the role of auxillary sciences in helping a historian do his work. The author says relying on facts that can be gathered from auxiliary sciences of history is "a necessary condition" of a historians' work, "but not his essential function". So, option C is better than B.

1153.

According to this passage, which one of the following statements best describes the significance of archaeology for historians?

A.
Archaeology helps historians to carry out their primary duty.
B.
Archaeology helps historians to interpret historical facts.
C.
Archaeology helps historians to ascertain factual accuracy.
D.
Archaeology helps historians to locate the oldest civilisations in history.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Note the context in which the author talks about archaeology and other the "auxiliary sciences" of history: 'But [to] praise a historian for his accuracy is like praising an architect for using well-seasoned timber or properly mixed concrete in his building. It is a necessary condition of his work, but not his essential function. It is precisely for matters of this kind that the historian is entitled to rely on what have been called the "auxiliary sciences" of history-archaeology, epigraphy, numismatics, chronology, and so forth...'

The author states auxiliary sciences like archaeology only help historians to ascertain the accuracy of facts. They do not help in the essential function of his work, which is to interpret the facts.

Option C is the correct choice.

1154.

All of the following describe the "common-sense view" of history, EXCEPT:

A.
history is like science: a selective system of cognitive orientations to reality.
B.
only the positivist methods can lead to credible historical knowledge.
C.
history can be objective like the sciences if it is derived from historical facts.
D.
real history can be found in ancient engravings and archival documents.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

According to the passage, the "common-sense" view of history is influenced by the positivist view and so it places great weight on facts. In this view, facts are available to the historian in documents, inscriptions, and so on and history can be objective like the sciences if it is derived from historical facts.

The author's view is in contrast to the common-sense view. The author believes history is a 'selective' system of cognitive orientations to reality. Facts only speak as the historian interprets them. Option A is the correct answer choice.

1185.

All of the following, if true, can weaken the passage's claim that facts do not speak for themselves, EXCEPT:

A.
the truth value of a fact is independent of the historian who expresses it.
B.
facts, like truth, can be relative: what is fact for person X may not be so for person Y.
C.
a fact, by its very nature, is objective and universal, irrespective of the context in which it is placed.
D.
the order in which a series of facts is presented does not have any bearing on the production of meaning.

Option B is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

If option B is true, that is, if facts are relative and subject to interpretation, then that strengthens the passage's claim that facts do not speak for themselves. So, option B is the right answer choice.

The passage claims that facts do not speak for themselves by arguing that while facts are objective and universal and hold true irrespective of the historian who expresses it, it is the historian who decides to which facts to give the floor, and in what order or context, thereby influencing their interpretation. So, all options except B, if true, weaken the passage's claim.

1186.

If the author of the passage were to write a book on the Battle of Hastings along the lines of his/her own reasoning, the focus of the historical account would be on:

A.
deriving historical facts from the relevant documents and inscriptions.
B.
providing a nuanced interpretation by relying on the auxiliary sciences.
C.
exploring the socio-political and economic factors that led to the Battle.
D.
producing a detailed timeline of the various events that led to the Battle.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The main idea of the passage is that facts speak only when the historian calls on them. The author says that it is because historians regard the Battle of Hastings as a major historical event that we are interested in knowing about it. It is the historian's interpretation of facts that we are interested in. So, if the author were to write a book on the Battle of Hastings, the focus of the account would be on subjective interpretations, like exploring the socio-political and economic factors that led to the Battle.

Options A and D are easily ruled out as they focus on the importance of facts.

Option B is close, as 'nuanced interpretation' is what the author says historians have to focus on. But option B, unlike option C, emphasizes the role of auxillary sciences in helping a historian do his work. The author says relying on facts that can be gathered from auxiliary sciences of history is "a necessary condition" of a historians' work, "but not his essential function". So, option C is better than B.

1187.

According to this passage, which one of the following statements best describes the significance of archaeology for historians?

A.
Archaeology helps historians to carry out their primary duty.
B.
Archaeology helps historians to interpret historical facts.
C.
Archaeology helps historians to ascertain factual accuracy.
D.
Archaeology helps historians to locate the oldest civilisations in history.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Note the context in which the author talks about archaeology and other the "auxiliary sciences" of history: 'But [to] praise a historian for his accuracy is like praising an architect for using well-seasoned timber or properly mixed concrete in his building. It is a necessary condition of his work, but not his essential function. It is precisely for matters of this kind that the historian is entitled to rely on what have been called the "auxiliary sciences" of history-archaeology, epigraphy, numismatics, chronology, and so forth...'

The author states auxiliary sciences like archaeology only help historians to ascertain the accuracy of facts. They do not help in the essential function of his work, which is to interpret the facts.

Option C is the correct choice.

1188.

All of the following describe the "common-sense view" of history, EXCEPT:

A.
history is like science: a selective system of cognitive orientations to reality.
B.
only the positivist methods can lead to credible historical knowledge.
C.
history can be objective like the sciences if it is derived from historical facts.
D.
real history can be found in ancient engravings and archival documents.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

According to the passage, the "common-sense" view of history is influenced by the positivist view and so it places great weight on facts. In this view, facts are available to the historian in documents, inscriptions, and so on and history can be objective like the sciences if it is derived from historical facts.

The author's view is in contrast to the common-sense view. The author believes history is a 'selective' system of cognitive orientations to reality. Facts only speak as the historian interprets them. Option A is the correct answer choice.

1189.

The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question.

Over the past four centuries liberalism has been so successful that it has driven all its opponents off the battlefield. Now it is disintegrating, destroyed by a mix of hubris and internal contradictions, according to Patrick Deneen, a professor of politics at the University of Notre Dame. . . . Equality of opportunity has produced a new meritocratic aristocracy that has all the aloofness of the old aristocracy with none of its sense of noblesse oblige. Democracy has degenerated into a theatre of the absurd. And technological advances are reducing ever more areas of work into meaningless drudgery. "The gap between liberalism's claims about itself and the lived reality of the citizenry" is now so wide that "the lie can no longer be accepted," Mr Deneen writes. What better proof of this than the vision of 1,000 private planes whisking their occupants to Davos to discuss the question of "creating a shared future in a fragmented world"? . . .

Deneen does an impressive job of capturing the current mood of disillusionment, echoing left-wing complaints about rampant commercialism, right-wing complaints about narcissistic and bullying students, and general worries about atomisation and selfishness. But when he concludes that all this adds up to a failure of liberalism, is his argument convincing? . . . He argues that the essence of liberalism lies in freeing individuals from constraints. In fact, liberalism contains a wide range of intellectual traditions which provide different answers to the question of how to trade off the relative claims of rights and responsibilities, individual expression and social ties. . . . liberals experimented with a range of ideas from devolving power from the centre to creating national education systems.

Mr Deneen's fixation on the essence of liberalism leads to the second big problem of his book: his failure to recognise liberalism's ability to reform itself and address its internal problems. The late 19th century saw America suffering from many of the problems that are reappearing today, including the creation of a business aristocracy, the rise of vast companies, the corruption of politics and the sense that society was dividing into winners and losers. But a wide variety of reformers, working within the liberal tradition, tackled these problems head on. Theodore Roosevelt took on the trusts. Progressives cleaned up government corruption. University reformers modernised academic syllabuses and built ladders of opportunity. Rather than dying, liberalism reformed itself.

Mr Deneen is right to point out that the record of liberalism in recent years has been dismal. He is also right to assert that the world has much to learn from the premodern notions of liberty as self-mastery and self-denial. The biggest enemy of liberalism is not so much atomisation but old-fashioned greed, as members of the Davos elite pile their plates ever higher with perks and share options. But he is wrong to argue that the only way for people to liberate themselves from the contradictions of liberalism is "liberation from liberalism itself". The best way to read "Why Liberalism Failed" is not as a funeral oration but as a call to action: up your game, or else.

1151.

The author of the passage faults Deneen's conclusions for all of the following reasons, EXCEPT:

A.
its repeated harking back to premodern notions of liberty.
B.
its failure to note historical instances in which the process of declining liberalism has managed to reverse itself.
C.
its very narrow definition of liberalism limited to individual freedoms.
D.
its extreme pessimism about the future of liberalism today and predictions of an ultimate decline.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

In considering whether Deneen's argument on liberalism is convincing, the author points out Deneen's narrow definition of liberalism is limited to individual freedoms: ' He argues that the essence of liberalism lies in freeing individuals from constraints. In fact, liberalism contains a wide range of intellectual traditions which provide different answers to the question of how to trade off the relative claims of rights and responsibilities, individual expression and social ties..'

The author also says Deneen fails to recognise liberalism's ability to reform itself: 'Mr Deneen's fixation on the essence of liberalism leads to the second big problem of his book: his failure to recognise liberalism's ability to reform itself and address its internal problems.'

Finally, in the last two lines of the passage, the author states Deneen is wrong in his extreme pessimism about the future of liberalism.

Options B, C and D are true.

The author does not say that Deneen harks back to premodern notions of liberty. So, option A is the correct answer choice.

1152.

The author of the passage is likely to disagree with all of the following statements, EXCEPT:

A.
the essence of liberalism lies in greater individual self-expression and freedoms.
B.
liberalism was the dominant ideal in the past century, but it had to reform itself to remain so.
C.
claims about liberalism's disintegration are exaggerated and misunderstand its core features.
D.
if we accept that liberalism is a dying ideal, we must work to find a viable substitute.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Consider option A. The author is likely to disagree with this. Note the lines, 'He argues that the essence of liberalism lies in freeing individuals from constraints. In fact, liberalism contains a wide range of intellectual traditions which provide different answers to the question of how to trade off the relative claims of rights and responsibilities, individual expression and social ties.'

Consider option B. The author starts the passage by saying, 'Over the past four centuries liberalism has been so successful that it has driven all its opponents off the battlefield'. He also argues in the penultimate paragraph that liberalism has the ability to reform itself to remain dominant. So, the author is likely to agree with this option. Option B is the correct choice.

Let us also consider options C and D to rule them out.

The author is likely to disagree with the statement that claims about liberalism's disintegration are exaggerated and misunderstand its core features. Note the lines, 'Mr Deneen is right to point out that the record of liberalism in recent years has been dismal. He is also right to assert that the world has much to learn from the premodern notions of liberty as self-mastery and self-denial.'

The author is also likely to disagree with the idea that if we accept that liberalism is a dying ideal, we must work to find a viable substitute. The author argues against liberation from liberalism and states the liberalism must heed the call to action and reform itself.

So, option B is the correct answer choice.

1153.

All of the following statements are evidence of the decline of liberalism today, EXCEPT:

A.
". . . the creation of a business aristocracy, the rise of vast companies . . ."
B.
"And technological advances are reducing ever more areas of work into meaningless drudgery."
C.
"Democracy has degenerated into a theatre of the absurd."
D.
"'The gap between liberalism's claims about itself and the lived reality of the citizenry' is now so wide that 'the lie can no longer be accepted,'. . ."

Option B is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

All options except B relate to liberalism and the problems caused by its disintegration. Technological advances cannot be considered evidence of the decline of liberalism.

1154.

The author of the passage refers to "the Davos elite" to illustrate his views on:

A.
the way the debate around liberalism has been captured by the rich who have managed to insulate themselves from economic hardships.
B.
the fact that the rise in liberalism had led to a greater interest in shared futures from unlikely social classes.
C.
the unlikelihood of a return to the liberalism of the past as long as the rich continue to benefit from the decline in liberal values.
D.
the hypocrisy of the liberal rich, who profess to subscribe to liberal values while cornering most of the wealth.

Option D is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Note the context in which the author talks about the 'Davos elite': 'The biggest enemy of liberalism is not so much atomisation but old-fashioned greed, as members of the Davos elite pile their plates ever higher with perks and share options.' Only option D relates to the greed of the Davos elite. This is the correct answer choice.

1190.

The author of the passage faults Deneen's conclusions for all of the following reasons, EXCEPT:

A.
its repeated harking back to premodern notions of liberty.
B.
its failure to note historical instances in which the process of declining liberalism has managed to reverse itself.
C.
its very narrow definition of liberalism limited to individual freedoms.
D.
its extreme pessimism about the future of liberalism today and predictions of an ultimate decline.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

In considering whether Deneen's argument on liberalism is convincing, the author points out Deneen's narrow definition of liberalism is limited to individual freedoms: ' He argues that the essence of liberalism lies in freeing individuals from constraints. In fact, liberalism contains a wide range of intellectual traditions which provide different answers to the question of how to trade off the relative claims of rights and responsibilities, individual expression and social ties..'

The author also says Deneen fails to recognise liberalism's ability to reform itself: 'Mr Deneen's fixation on the essence of liberalism leads to the second big problem of his book: his failure to recognise liberalism's ability to reform itself and address its internal problems.'

Finally, in the last two lines of the passage, the author states Deneen is wrong in his extreme pessimism about the future of liberalism.

Options B, C and D are true.

The author does not say that Deneen harks back to premodern notions of liberty. So, option A is the correct answer choice.

1191.

The author of the passage is likely to disagree with all of the following statements, EXCEPT:

A.
the essence of liberalism lies in greater individual self-expression and freedoms.
B.
liberalism was the dominant ideal in the past century, but it had to reform itself to remain so.
C.
claims about liberalism's disintegration are exaggerated and misunderstand its core features.
D.
if we accept that liberalism is a dying ideal, we must work to find a viable substitute.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Consider option A. The author is likely to disagree with this. Note the lines, 'He argues that the essence of liberalism lies in freeing individuals from constraints. In fact, liberalism contains a wide range of intellectual traditions which provide different answers to the question of how to trade off the relative claims of rights and responsibilities, individual expression and social ties.'

Consider option B. The author starts the passage by saying, 'Over the past four centuries liberalism has been so successful that it has driven all its opponents off the battlefield'. He also argues in the penultimate paragraph that liberalism has the ability to reform itself to remain dominant. So, the author is likely to agree with this option. Option B is the correct choice.

Let us also consider options C and D to rule them out.

The author is likely to disagree with the statement that claims about liberalism's disintegration are exaggerated and misunderstand its core features. Note the lines, 'Mr Deneen is right to point out that the record of liberalism in recent years has been dismal. He is also right to assert that the world has much to learn from the premodern notions of liberty as self-mastery and self-denial.'

The author is also likely to disagree with the idea that if we accept that liberalism is a dying ideal, we must work to find a viable substitute. The author argues against liberation from liberalism and states the liberalism must heed the call to action and reform itself.

So, option B is the correct answer choice.

1192.

All of the following statements are evidence of the decline of liberalism today, EXCEPT:

A.
". . . the creation of a business aristocracy, the rise of vast companies . . ."
B.
"And technological advances are reducing ever more areas of work into meaningless drudgery."
C.
"Democracy has degenerated into a theatre of the absurd."
D.
"'The gap between liberalism's claims about itself and the lived reality of the citizenry' is now so wide that 'the lie can no longer be accepted,'. . ."

Option B is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

All options except B relate to liberalism and the problems caused by its disintegration. Technological advances cannot be considered evidence of the decline of liberalism.

1193.

The author of the passage refers to "the Davos elite" to illustrate his views on:

A.
the way the debate around liberalism has been captured by the rich who have managed to insulate themselves from economic hardships.
B.
the fact that the rise in liberalism had led to a greater interest in shared futures from unlikely social classes.
C.
the unlikelihood of a return to the liberalism of the past as long as the rich continue to benefit from the decline in liberal values.
D.
the hypocrisy of the liberal rich, who profess to subscribe to liberal values while cornering most of the wealth.

Option D is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Note the context in which the author talks about the 'Davos elite': 'The biggest enemy of liberalism is not so much atomisation but old-fashioned greed, as members of the Davos elite pile their plates ever higher with perks and share options.' Only option D relates to the greed of the Davos elite. This is the correct answer choice.

1194.

According to the author, companies like ThredUP have not caught on in the UK for all of the following reasons EXCEPT that:

A.
recycling is currently not financially attractive for luxury brands.
B.
luxury brands do not like their product to be devalued.
C.
the British don't buy second-hand clothing.
D.
luxury brands want to maintain their brand image.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Refer to the last paragraph. All given reasons except C are mentioned. Option C contradicts what the passage says: ' There will always be a market for consignment...'

1195.

The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question.

The Second Hand September campaign, led by Oxfam . . . seeks to encourage shopping at local organisations and charities as alternatives to fast fashion brands such as Primark and Boohoo in the name of saving our planet. As innocent as mindless scrolling through online shops may seem, such consumers are unintentionally—or perhaps even knowingly—contributing to an industry that uses more energy than aviation. . . .

Brits buy more garments than any other country in Europe, so it comes as no shock that many of those clothes end up in UK landfills each year: 300,000 tonnes of them, to be exact. This waste of clothing is destructive to our planet, releasing greenhouse gasses as clothes are burnt as well as bleeding toxins and dyes into the surrounding soil and water. As ecologist Chelsea Rochman bluntly put it, "The mismanagement of our waste has even come back to haunt us on our dinner plate."

It's not surprising, then, that people are scrambling for a solution, the most common of which is second-hand shopping. Retailers selling consigned clothing are currently expanding at a rapid rate . . . If everyone bought just one used item in a year, it would save 449 million lbs of waste, equivalent to the weight of 1 million Polar bears. "Thrifting" has increasingly become a trendy practice. London is home to many second-hand, or more commonly coined 'vintage', shops across the city from Bayswater to Brixton.

So you're cool and you care about the planet; you've killed two birds with one stone. But do people simply purchase a second-hand item, flash it on Instagram with #vintage and call it a day without considering whether what they are doing is actually effective?

According to a study commissioned by Patagonia, for instance, older clothes shed more microfibres. These can end up in our rivers and seas after just one wash due to the worn material, thus contributing to microfibre pollution. To break it down, the amount of microfibres released by laundering 100,000 fleece jackets is equivalent to as many as 11,900 plastic grocery bags, and up to 40 per cent of that ends up in our oceans. . . . So where does this leave second-hand consumers? [They would be well advised to buy] high-quality items that shed less and last longer [as this] combats both microfibre pollution and excess garments ending up in landfills. . . .

Luxury brands would rather not circulate their latest season stock around the globe to be sold at a cheaper price, which is why companies like ThredUP, a US fashion resale marketplace, have not yet caught on in the UK. There will always be a market for consignment but there is also a whole generation of people who have been taught that only buying new products is the norm; second-hand luxury goods are not in their psyche. Ben Whitaker, director at Liquidation Firm B-Stock, told Prospect that unless recycling becomes cost-effective and filters into mass production, with the right technology to partner it, "high-end retailers would rather put brand before sustainability."

1151.

The central idea of the passage would be undermined if:

A.
Primark and Boohoo recycled their clothes for vintage stores.
B.
customers bought all their clothes online.
C.
second-hand stores sold only high-quality clothes.
D.
clothes were not thrown and burnt in landfills.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The passage states that though second-hand shopping can help reduce pollution due to clothing ending up in landfills, such purchases are actually effective in saving the planet only in the case of high-quality second hand clothes, as low-quality older clothes cause microfibre pollution.

If second-hand clothes only sold high-quality clothes, then the central idea of the passage, that not all second-hand clothing purchases are effective is saving the planet, would be undermined. Option C is the right choice.

Primark and Boohoo are, according to the passage, 'fast fashion' brands. That is, they sell inexpensive, low-quality trendy clothing. If option A were true, then it would support (not undermine) the central idea that people should not simply purchase second-hand clothes without considering whether what they are doing is effective.

Even if options B or D were true, these options do not directly undermine the question of effectiveness of second-hand purchases in saving the planet. So, these options are ruled out.

1152.

The act of "thrifting", as described in the passage, can be considered ironic because it:

A.
has created environmental problems.
B.
is an anti-consumerist attitude.
C.
is not cost-effective for retailers.
D.
offers luxury clothing at cut-rate prices.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

From the context in which the word 'thrifting' is used in the passage, we can conclude that it refers to the purchase of second-hand items at low costs, a practice which is now a trend as consumers get to be 'cool' while also caring for the planet. However, as explained in the passage, the act of thrifting can be considered ironic if, instead of saving the planet, it actually contributes to microfibre pollution of the rivers and oceans. Option A is the correct choice.

1153.

Based on the passage, we can infer that the opposite of fast fashion, 'slow fashion', would most likely refer to clothes that:

A.
do not shed microfibres.
B.
are of high quality and long lasting.
C.
are sold by genuine vintage stores.
D.
do not bleed toxins and dyes.

Option B is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Fast fashion refers to inexpensively priced, low-quality clothing that is produced fast to meet market trends. The opposite of this, slow fashion, would most likely refer to clothes that are high quality and long-lasting.

Note that while option C is easily eliminated, options A and D both relate to the quality of clothing and can be thought of as attributes of slow fashion. However, B is a better choice than these options as 'long-lasting' is the direct opposite of 'fast' fashion which is produced fast to meet trends without considering quality.

1154.

According to the author, companies like ThredUP have not caught on in the UK for all of the following reasons EXCEPT that:

A.
recycling is currently not financially attractive for luxury brands.
B.
luxury brands do not like their product to be devalued.
C.
the British don't buy second-hand clothing.
D.
luxury brands want to maintain their brand image.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Refer to the last paragraph. All given reasons except C are mentioned. Option C contradicts what the passage says: ' There will always be a market for consignment...'

1196.

The central idea of the passage would be undermined if:

A.
Primark and Boohoo recycled their clothes for vintage stores.
B.
customers bought all their clothes online.
C.
second-hand stores sold only high-quality clothes.
D.
clothes were not thrown and burnt in landfills.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The passage states that though second-hand shopping can help reduce pollution due to clothing ending up in landfills, such purchases are actually effective in saving the planet only in the case of high-quality second hand clothes, as low-quality older clothes cause microfibre pollution.

If second-hand clothes only sold high-quality clothes, then the central idea of the passage, that not all second-hand clothing purchases are effective is saving the planet, would be undermined. Option C is the right choice.

Primark and Boohoo are, according to the passage, 'fast fashion' brands. That is, they sell inexpensive, low-quality trendy clothing. If option A were true, then it would support (not undermine) the central idea that people should not simply purchase second-hand clothes without considering whether what they are doing is effective.

Even if options B or D were true, these options do not directly undermine the question of effectiveness of second-hand purchases in saving the planet. So, these options are ruled out.

1197.

The act of "thrifting", as described in the passage, can be considered ironic because it:

A.
has created environmental problems.
B.
is an anti-consumerist attitude.
C.
is not cost-effective for retailers.
D.
offers luxury clothing at cut-rate prices.

Option is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

From the context in which the word 'thrifting' is used in the passage, we can conclude that it refers to the purchase of second-hand items at low costs, a practice which is now a trend as consumers get to be 'cool' while also caring for the planet. However, as explained in the passage, the act of thrifting can be considered ironic if, instead of saving the planet, it actually contributes to microfibre pollution of the rivers and oceans. Option A is the correct choice.

1198.

Based on the passage, we can infer that the opposite of fast fashion, 'slow fashion', would most likely refer to clothes that:

A.
do not shed microfibres.
B.
are of high quality and long lasting.
C.
are sold by genuine vintage stores.
D.
do not bleed toxins and dyes.

Option B is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Fast fashion refers to inexpensively priced, low-quality clothing that is produced fast to meet market trends. The opposite of this, slow fashion, would most likely refer to clothes that are high quality and long-lasting.

Note that while option C is easily eliminated, options A and D both relate to the quality of clothing and can be thought of as attributes of slow fashion. However, B is a better choice than these options as 'long-lasting' is the direct opposite of 'fast' fashion which is produced fast to meet trends without considering quality.

1199.

The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.

The human mind is wired to see patterns. Not only does the brain process information as it comes in, it also stores insights from all our past experiences. Every interaction, happy or sad, is catalogued in our memory. Intuition draws from that deep memory well to inform our decisions going forward. In other words, intuitive decisions are based on data, and not contrary to data as many would like to assume. When we subconsciously spot patterns, the body starts firing neurochemicals in both the brain and gut. These "somatic markers" are what give us that instant sense that something is right ... or that it's off. Not only are these automatic processes faster than rational thought, but our intuition draws from decades of diverse qualitative experience (sights, sounds, interactions, etc.) - a wholly human feature that big data alone could never accomplish.

A.
Intuitions are automatic processes and are therefore faster than rational thought, and so decisions based on them are better.
B.
Intuition draws from deep memory, and may not be related to data, but to decades of diverse qualitative experience.
C.
Intuition is infinitely richer than big data which is based on rational thought and accomplishes more than what big data can.
D.
Intuitions are neuro-chemical firings based on pattern recognition and draw upon a rich and vast database of experiences.

Option D is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

This paragraph explains how intuition works: the human mind draws upon a 'deep memory well' based on decades of diverse qualitative experience to subconsciously spot patterns and fire neurochemicals in the brain and gut. Of the given options, D sums up the paragraph best.

Option A states that decisions based on intuitions are 'better'. The paragraph does not say so.

Option B is incorrect as it says intuitions 'may not be related to data'. This is the opposite of what the paragraph states.

Option C implies big data is based on rational thought while intuition is not. This is incorrect.

1200.

The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.

Brazil's growth rate has been low, yet most Brazilians say their financial situation has improved, and they expect it to get even better. This is because most incomes are rising fast, with higher minimum wages and very low unemployment. The result is falling inequality and a growing middle class - the result of economic stabilization, improved social security and universal primary education. But despite recent improvements the Brazilian economy is still painfully unequal, with poor Brazilians paying the biggest share of their income in taxes and getting the least back in government services.

A.
Most Brazilians feel they have benefitted from recent economic events, but the poor continue to be dealt unfairly by the state.
B.
Economic reforms have benefitted many Brazilians, but they are unaware of the impending problems from rising inequalities in their society.
C.
With rising incomes and falling unemployment, most Brazilians are being misled into thinking that their economy is doing well.
D.
Good economic indicators have masked the unfair taxation of the poor that is likely to destabilise the Brazilian economy in the next few years.

Option A is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

This paragraph states that while Brazilians have seen inequality falling and their financial situation improving due to economic stabilisation, the economy remains very unequal and the poor end up paying the biggest share of taxes despite getting the least services back from the government. Option A touches upon all key points and sums up the paragraph well.

Options B and C do not talk about the unfair taxation of the poor. So, they can be eliminated.

Option D states that the Brazilian economy is likely to be destabilised in the next few years. The paragraph makes no such prediction.

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