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31.

The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures
the essence of the passage.
Lyric poetry is a genre of private meditation rather than public commitment. The impulse in Marxism toward
changing a society deemed unacceptable in its basic design would seem to place demands on lyric poetry
that such poetry, with its tendency toward the personal, the small scale, and the idiosyncratic, could never
answer. There is within Marxism, however, also a strand of thought that would locate in lyric poetry
alternative modes of perception and description that call forth a vision of worlds at odds with a repressive
reality or that draw attention to the workings of ideology within the hegemonic culture. The poetic
imagination may indeed deflect larger social concerns, but it may also be implicitly critical and utopian.

A.
The focus of lyric poetry is largely personal while that of Marxism is bringing change in society. Unless
the difference is resolved, poetry will remain largely utopian.
B.
Marxism has internal contradictions due to which one strand of Marxism sees no merit in lyric poetry
while another appreciates the alternative modes of perception in poetry.
C.
The focus of lyric poetry as personal may not seem compatible with Marxism. However, it is possible to
envisage lyric poetry as a symbol of resistance against an oppressive culture.
D.
Marxism makes unreasonable demands on lyric poetry. However, lyric poetry has its own merits that are
largely ignored by Marxism due to its personal nature.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The passage contrasts the personal, introspective nature of lyric poetry with Marxism's outward focus on
societal change. At first glance, the characteristics of lyric poetry - being personal, small-scale, and
idiosyncratic - seem incompatible with Marxism's demand for a transformative critique of an unjust society.
However, the passage introduces a nuanced perspective within Marxist thought, which recognises lyric poetry
as having an implicit critical and utopian function. Through its imaginative and alternative modes of perception,
lyric poetry can challenge dominant ideologies and suggest a vision of resistance to oppression. Thus, while
lyric poetry does not directly engage with large-scale social concerns, it can still align with Marxist ideals by
offering subtle forms of critique and hope for change. Option C most effectively captures this idea.
None of the other choices present a valid interpretation of the passage. For instance, Option A oversimplifies
the issue by portraying lyric poetry as merely ‘utopian,” ignoring its critical and resistant potential as described
in the passage. It misses the nuanced compatibility suggested between lyric poetry and Marxism. Option B
inaccurately suggests that Marxism has “internal contradictions,” which is not the focus of the passage.
Similarly, Option D frames Marxism as dismissive of lyric poetry, ignoring the strand of Marxist thought that
finds value in poetry's alternative perspectives; this misrepresentation makes it a weaker summary

32.

The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures
the essence of the passage.
When the tradwife puts on that georgic, pinstriped dress, she is not just admiring the visual cues of a
fantastical past. She takes these dreams of storybook bliss literally, tracing them backward in time until she
reaches a logical conclusion that satisfies her. And by doing so, she ends up delivering an unhappy
reminder of just how much our lives consist of artifice and playacting. The tradwife outrages people
because of her deliberately regressive ideals. And yet her behaviour is, on some level, indistinguishable
from the non-tradwife’s. The tradwife’s trollish genius is to beat us at our own dress-up game. By insisting
that the idyllic cottage daydream should be real, right down to the primitive gender roles, she leaves others
feeling hollow, cheated. The hullabaloo and headaches she causes may be the price we pay for taking too
many things at face value: our just deserts, served Instagram-perfect by a manicured hand on a gorgeous
ceramic dish, with fat, mouthwatering maraschino cherries on top.

A.
The tradwife’s commitment to outdated gender roles and retro fashion critiques the superficiality of
today's societal ideals.
B.
By promoting an idealized past, the tradwife exposes the artifice of contemporary values and mocks
societal norms.
C.
The tradwife, with her vintage dress and traditional roles, highlights the superficiality of modern life and
challenges current societal norms.
D.
The tradwife’s vintage dress and adherence to traditional roles reveal the artificial nature of modern life
and its superficial values.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Option C is the correct answer. This option best captures the essence of the passage. The tradwife’s embrace
of traditional roles and vintage fashion naturally contrasts with and highlights the superficiality of modern life.
The passage emphasizes that she is not overtly critiquing society but rather embodying a regressive ideal that
challenges contemporary norms. This fits with how the passage describes her actions—her existence itself is a
challenge to modern societal expectations.
Option A:The passage does not suggest that the tradwife is actively critiquing modern society. Instead, the
tradwife embodies a lifestyle and set of ideals that are in contrast to contemporary values. The critique comes
from others' reactions to her behavior, not from her intentions.
Option B: The passage does not show her as actively trying to expose or mock anything. She simply lives in a
way that contrasts with modern expectations. The "mockery" is a reaction from others, not her goal. Therefore,
this option overstates her intentions.
Option D: This focuses on the tradwife's dress and adherence to traditional roles as the means of revealing
modern life’s artificial nature. While the tradwife does embody these traditional values, the passage is more
focused on how her actions highlight societal superficiality rather than "revealing" it. Additionally, the passage
suggests that her behaviour is not an overt revelation but rather something that others react to—making this
option somewhat distorted.

33.

The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for
each question.
Languages become endangered and die out for many reasons. Sadly, the physical annihilation of communities
of native speakers of a language is all too often the cause of language extinction. In North America, European
colonists brought death and destruction to many Native American communities. This was followed by US
federal policies restricting the use of indigenous languages, including the removal of native children from their
communities to federal boarding schools where native languages and cultural practices were prohibited. As
many as 75 percent of the languages spoken in the territories that became the United States have gone extinct,
with slightly better language survival rates in Central and South America ...
Even without physical annihilation and prohibitions against language use, the language of the "dominant"
cultures may drive other languages into extinction; young people see education, jobs, culture and technology
associated with the dominant language and focus their attention on that language. The largest language
"killers" are English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Russian, Hindi, and Chinese, all of which have privileged
status as dominant languages threatening minority languages.
When we lose a language, we lose the worldview, culture and knowledge of the people who spoke it,
constituting a loss to all humanity. People around the world live in direct contact with their native environment,
their habitat. When the language they speak goes extinct, the rest of humanity loses their knowledge of that
environment, their wisdom about the relationship between local plants and illness, their philosophical and
religious beliefs, as well as their native cultural expression (in music, visual art and poetry) that has enriched
both the speakers of that language and others who would have encountered that culture ...
As educators deeply immersed in the liberal arts, we believe that educating students broadly in all facets of
language and culture ... yields immense rewards. Some individuals educated in the liberal arts tradition will
pursue advanced study in linguistics and become actively engaged in language preservation, setting out for the
Amazon, for example, with video recording equipment to interview the last surviving elders in a community to
record and document a language spoken by no children.
Certainly, though, the vast majority of students will not pursue this kind of activity. For these students, a liberal
arts education is absolutely critical from the twin perspectives of language extinction and global citizenship.
When students study languages other than their own, they are sensitized to the existence of different cultural
perspectives and practices. With such an education, students are more likely to be able to articulate insights
into their own cultural biases, be more empathetic to individuals of other cultures, communicate successfully
across linguistic and cultural differences, consider and resolve questions in a way that reflects multiple cultural
perspectives, and, ultimately extend support to people, programs, practices, and policies that support the
preservation of endangered languages.
There is ample evidence that such preservation can work in languages spiraling toward extinction. For example,
Navajo, Cree, and Inuit communities have established schools in which these languages are the language of
instruction, and the number of speakers of each has increased.

31.

In the context of the passage, which one of the following hypothetical scenarios, if true, is NOT an example
of the kind of loss that occurs when a language becomes extinct?

A.
The Nicobarese language describes 20 different moods of the ocean. By the time the last speaker is
educated in a Central Board school, they will have forgotten their language.
B.
The Lamkangs of Manipur have only 3 remaining native speakers of the language. When they die, we will
lose one more group from the government list of indigenous tribes.
C.
The Andamanese language has a word to describe someone who has lost a step-sister. When the
language dies, we will lose the concept of the word and the emotions it evokes.
D.
The Inuits of Alaska have 35 different words to describe the texture of snow. When the language
becomes extinct, we will lose that understanding of nature

Option B is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The question asks us to identify the hypothetical scenario that does not reflect the kind of loss described in the
passage. The passage discusses cultural, ecological, and intellectual losses caused by language extinction,
including the loss of:
Unique cultural expressions (e.g., music, art, and emotions tied to language).
Knowledge about the environment (e.g., relationships between plants and illness).
Worldviews and philosophical insights.
We need to identify a scenario that doesn’t align with these themes. Let us examine the options based on this
understanding -
Option A: This scenario reflects the loss of unique cultural knowledge - in this case, the ability to describe the
“20 different moods of the ocean,” which likely represents detailed ecological and environmental
understanding.
Option B: This scenario focuses on some form of administrative or statistical change in a government list; the
focus is not on the cultural, ecological, or intellectual loss emphasised in the passage. Therefore, the option
does not reflect the deeper, humanity-wide loss described in the passage.
Option C: This scenario aligns with the loss of unique cultural concepts and the emotional depth tied to a word
or phrase. In the author’s perspective, losing this concept would diminish humanity's understanding of the
complexity of human relationships.
Option D: This scenario reflects the loss of ecological knowledge about snow textures, which likely has
practical implications for living in the Arctic environment. This aligns with the passage's discussion of losing
environmental wisdom when languages die.
Hence, Option B is the correct choice

32.

Which one of the following hypothetical scenarios, if true, would most strongly undermine the central ideas
of the passage?

A.
Most liberal arts students will pursue jobs in publishing and human resource management rather than
doctorates in linguistics.
B.
A liberal arts education requires that, in addition to being fluent in English, students gain fluency in two
of the top five most spoken languages globally.
C.
Schools that teach endangered languages can preserve the language only for a generation
D.
Recording a dying language that has only a few remaining speakers freezes it in time: it stops evolving
further.

Option B is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The central idea of the passage is that endangered languages, as carriers of unique cultural perspectives and
human knowledge, must be preserved to benefit humanity. The author argues that liberal arts education plays a
vital role in this preservation, both by fostering global citizenship and by encouraging some individuals to

directly engage in preservation efforts. Liberal arts education, as framed in the passage, sensitises students to
cultural diversity and equips them with the tools to support endangered languages and cultures.
We observe that Option B, however, directly undermines this central idea by redefining the focus of liberal arts
education. Requiring fluency in two of the most widely spoken global languages (e.g., English, Spanish,
Mandarin) would prioritise dominant languages rather than endangered ones. This hypothetical scenario shifts
resources and attention away from the preservation of linguistic diversity, which is central to the passage's
argument. Such a requirement would reinforce the dominance of already powerful languages, the very
phenomenon identified as a major “language killer” in the passage. By institutionalizing the focus on dominant
languages, it would erode the argument that liberal arts education fosters support for endangered languages
and cultural preservation, ultimately weakening the role of liberal arts in addressing language extinction.
In contrast, the remaining choices either align with the discussion or do not serve as strong counterarguments
to the points presented in the passage. For instance, Option A acknowledges that most liberal arts students will
not directly engage in language preservation but does not challenge the broader idea that liberal arts education
fosters empathy and support for endangered languages. Option C limits the long-term success of language
preservation but does not negate its immediate benefits or the potential for renewal in subsequent generations.
Similarly, Option D highlights a limitation of recording dying languages but does not undermine the broader
argument that documentation is a valuable and necessary tool in preservation.

33.

It can be inferred from the passage that it is likely South America had a slightly better language survival rate
than North America for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

A.
European colonists allowed children of native speakers to stay at home with their families.
B.
the colonial government was unable to mainstream the locals.
C.
not many native speakers were killed by European colonists.
D.
locals were provided job opportunities in the colonial administration

Option D is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The passage highlights the widespread extinction of indigenous languages in North America due to
colonisation, physical annihilation, and assimilation policies while noting slightly better survival rates in Central
and South America. It implies that language survival may be influenced by factors such as social policies,
cultural integration, and the extent of physical and cultural displacement.
Evaluating the choices, we note that Option A is plausible since allowing children to stay with families would
help preserve native languages, unlike the North American policy of removing children to boarding schools, as
discussed in the passage. Option B is also reasonable, as less effective assimilation efforts by colonial
governments could lead to better language retention. Option C also aligns with the passage’s context, as it
discusses physical annihilation as a significant driver of language extinction, but the survival rate being slightly
better in South America could suggest marginally less physical annihilation.
However, Option D is problematic; while providing locals with jobs in the colonial administration might seem like
a factor that supports language retention, this scenario is not consistent with the passage. The passage
emphasises that dominant languages often replace indigenous ones through socio-economic pressures, and
employment in colonial administration would likely reinforce the use of the dominant language rather than
preserve native languages.
Hence, Option D is the best choice.

34.

The author believes that a liberal arts education combined with participation in language preservation
empower students in all of the following ways EXCEPT that they will

A.
overcome cultural barriers to communication
B.
learn different languages.
C.
establish schools to preserve languages spiralling towards extinction.
D.
develop a better understanding of their own culture

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The author discusses how a liberal arts education, combined with participation in language preservation
efforts, empowers students in several significant ways. He highlights that such an education broadens
students' cultural understanding, helps them communicate across linguistic barriers (Option A), and enables
them to gain insights into both their own and others' cultures (Option D). Option B is an implicit aspect of this
discussion. The passage also suggests that some students may even become involved in active language
preservation, though it emphasises that the majority might not pursue this path. Contrarily, Option C is not
explicitly mentioned or understood: while the passage provides examples of communities that have established
such schools, it does not suggest that students themselves will take on this role.

34.

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: Taken outside the village of Trang Bang on June 8, 1972, the picture captured the trauma and
indiscriminate violence of a conflict that claimed, by some estimates, a million or more civilian lives.
Paragraph: The horrifying photograph of children fleeing a deadly napalm attack has become a defining
image not only of the Vietnam War but the 20th century. ___(1)___. Dark smoke billowing behind them, the
young subjects’ faces are painted with a mixture of terror, pain and confusion. ___(2)___. Soldiers from the
South Vietnamese Army’s 25th Division follow helplessly behind. ___(3)___. The picture was officially titled
“The Terror of War,” but the photo is better known by the nickname given to the naked 9-year-old at its
centre: “Napalm Girl”. ___(4)___.

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

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

To determine where the given sentence fits best, we must consider the logical flow of ideas between
sentences. The sentence in question provides important historical and contextual information about the
photograph. The author begins by describing the image and ends the paragraph by mentioning the official title
of the photo. While sentences offering historical context are typically placed at the beginning, inserting the
sentence in either Blank 1 or 2 would create a disruption in the flow of the image's description. This suggests
that the sentence must fit in either Blank 3 or 4. Offering contextual information after mentioning the title at the
end seems odd; thus, we can eliminate Blank 4.
When we refocus on Blank 3, we see that by this point in the paragraph, the author has just described the
soldiers from the South Vietnamese Army’s 25th Division following behind the children. This sets up a moment
of helplessness that emphasises the chaos and brutality of the scene. The sentence about the trauma and
violence of the war logically follows the description of the soldiers because it explains the broader implications
of the photo’s content, providing a context for the violence and its far-reaching consequences. After discussing
the soldiers, the sentence connects the personal and immediate suffering in the photograph with the larger
scope of the Vietnam War’s impact, which then leads into the official title of the photograph. The official title,
"The Terror of War," is directly linked to the broader theme of violence and destruction that the sentence
describes. Thus, the given sentence naturally sets the stage for introducing the official title and the iconic
nickname, "Napalm Girl," ensuring a smooth and coherent transition.
Hence, Option C is the correct choice.

35.

The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for
each question.
Moutai has been the global booze sensation of the decade. A bottle of its Flying Fairy, which sold in the 1980s
for the equivalent of a dollar, now retails for $400. Moutai’s listed shares have soared by almost 600% in the
past five years, outpacing the likes of Amazon ...
It does this while disregarding every Western marketing mantra. It is not global, has meagre digital sales and
does not appeal to millennials. It scores pitifully on environmental, social and government measures. In the Boy
Scout world of Western business, it would leave a bad taste in more ways than one.
Moutai owes its intoxicating success to three factors—not all of them easy to emulate. First, it profits from
Chinese nationalism. Moutai is known as the “national liquor”. It was used to raise spirits and disinfect wounds
in Mao’s Long March. It was Premier Zhou Enlai’s favourite tipple, shared with Richard Nixon in 1972. Its
centuries-old craftsmanship—it is distilled eight times and stored for years in earthenware jars—is a source of
national pride. It also claims to be hangover-proof, which would make it an invention to rival gunpowder ...
Second, it chose to serve China’s super-rich rather than its middle class. Markets are littered with the corpses of
firms that could not compete in the cut-throat battle for Chinese middle-class wallets. And the country’s
premium market is massive—at 73m-strong, bigger than the population of France, notes Euan McLeish of
Bernstein, an investment firm, and still less crowded with prestige brands than advanced economies. Moutai is
to these well-heeled drinkers what vintage champagne is to the rest of the world ...
Third, Moutai looks beyond affluent millennials and digital natives. The elderly and the middle-aged, it found,
can be just as lucrative. Its biggest market now is (male) drinkers in their mid-30s. Many have no siblings,
thanks to four decades of China’s one-child policy—which also means their elderly parents can splash out on
weddings and banquets. Moutai is often a guest of honour.
Moutai has succeeded thanks to nationalism, elitism and ageism, in other words—not in spite of this unholy
trinity. But it faces risks. The government is its largest shareholder—and a meddlesome one. It appears to want
prices to remain stable. Exorbitantly priced booze is at odds with its professed socialist ideals. Yet minority
investors—including many foreign funds—lament that Moutai’s wholesale price is a third of what it sells for in
shops. Raising it could boost the company’s profits further. Instead, in what some see as a travesty of
corporate governance, its majority owner has plans to set up its own sales channel ...
In the long run, its biggest risk may be millennials. As they grow older, health concerns, work-life balance and
the desire for more wholesome pursuits than binge-drinking may curb the“Ganbei!” toasting culture [heavy
drinking] on which so much of the demand for Moutai rests. For the time being, though, the party goes on.

31.

The phrase “would make it an invention to rival gunpowder” has been used in the passage in a sense that is

A.
literal
B.
substantive
C.
metaphorical
D.
synonymical

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The statement in the question draws a comparison between Moutai’s claimed hangover-proof quality and a
groundbreaking historical invention (gunpowder). The use of "would make it" suggests a hypothetical scenario,
and the comparison is meant to emphasise significance, not an actual invention. This indicates that the
comparison is metaphorical/figurative (Option C), conveying the liquor’s potential impact on culture and
society; hence, we can eliminate Option A.
Option B also implies that the comparison is based on actual substance or tangible qualities. Though the claim
about being hangover-proof is substantive, the comparison to gunpowder is not grounded in tangible,
measurable terms but rather in its significance. Similarly, Option D suggests that the phrase equates Moutai
directly with gunpowder, which is incorrect: the phrase does not treat the two as synonyms but draws a
symbolic comparison.
Hence, Option C is the correct choice

32.

Which one of the following is both a reason for Moutai’s success as well as a possible threat to that
success?

A.
Chinese love of liquor filled celebration.
B.
Government involvement in its business
C.
Its appeal to the rich.
D.
Its appeal to the older age group.

Option D is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

To identify the factor that is both a reason for Moutai’s success and a potential threat, we could consider
aspects that currently drive demand while also holding the potential to hinder it in the future. Looking at the
given choices, Option A may be a contributing factor to Moutai’s success, as cultural practices around drinking
play a role in its popularity. However, the passage does not explicitly frame this as a threat, especially since it is
deeply ingrained in Chinese society, making this option less fitting. Option C is also a significant reason for
Moutai's success, as it targets the super-wealthy, but the passage does not indicate that this would become a
threat in the future. Option B is presented more as a hurdle to Moutai’s success, while the explicit benefits
remain to be discussed.
On the other hand, we can deduce that Option D is both a key reason for Moutai’s success - by tapping into the
spending power of older consumers - and a potential threat, as the younger generations, with different healthconscious lifestyles, could move away from the heavy drinking culture that has driven Moutai's demand. The
passage specifically highlights this generational shift as a risk to Moutai’s long-term success.
Hence, Option D is the best choice.

33.

In the context of the passage, it is most likely that the author refers to Moutai’s marketing strategy as “the
unholy trinity” because

A.
there is nothing holy about marketing techniques for liquor.
B.
it profits from Chinese nationalist feelings.
C.
it contradicts the Western strategy of marketing.
D.
it exposes the firm to long term risks.

Option C is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The author uses the phrase “the unholy trinity” to describe Moutai’s marketing strategy, which relies on three
factors: nationalism, elitism, and ageism. The word “unholy” implies that these factors may be unconventional
or controversial, which could be why they are described as such. The author presents this idea in the context of
Western marketing, suggesting that Moutai might have succeeded due to these factors, even though they seem
to defy conventional Western norms. Thus, the phrase reflects how Moutai’s marketing strategy is in stark
contrast to Western business practices (Option C).
Contrarily, Options A, B, and D either do not address the contrast with Western strategies or misinterpret the
focus of the passage. For instance, Option A is not the best choice because the phrase “unholy trinity” isn’t a
comment on the morality of marketing liquor itself but rather on the controversial nature of Moutai’s specific
strategy. Options B and D focus on tangential aspects that are irrelevant to the question.

34.

In the context of the passage, we can infer that to succeed in the liquor industry in China, a marketing firm
must consider all of the following factors affecting the Chinese liquor market EXCEPT that

A.
there is money to be made from marketing to the middle class.
B.
the government may control the pricing of products.
C.
there are few competitors to meet the demands of high end liquor consumers.
D.
the competition for winning over the middle class is very stiff

Option A is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Let's evaluate the given choices and check if they are consistent with the information in the passage -
Option A: According to the passage, this is not true. The author emphasises that Moutai deliberately avoids
targeting the middle class, as the competition in that market is intense, and instead focuses on the super-rich.
This suggests that marketing to the middle class is not as lucrative or straightforward as it might appear.
Option B: The passage mentions that the Chinese government is Moutai's largest shareholder and potentially
plays a role in controlling the prices of products, which is a key factor for any firm in this market to consider.
Furthermore, the author discusses how the government might further interfere with the operations in this
space: [“... in what some see as a travesty of corporate governance, its majority owner has plans to set up its
own sales channel ...”]
Option C: The author highlights that the premium market in China is still growing and not overcrowded with
luxury brands, indicating a potential opportunity for firms targeting high-end consumers.
Option D: The passage states that many firms have failed in their attempt to cater to the middle class due to
fierce competition. This is a valid consideration for any firm looking to enter the market.
Hence, Option A is the correct choice.

36.

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. Part of the appeal of forecasting is not just that it seems to work, but that you don’t seem to need
specialized expertise to succeed at it.
2. The tight connection between forecasting and building a model of the world helps explain why so much of
the early interest in the idea came from the intelligence community.
3. This was true even though the latter had access to classified intelligence.
4. One frequently cited study found that accurate forecasters’ predictions of geopolitical events, when
aggregated using standard scientific methods, were more accurate than the forecasts of members of the US
intelligence community who answered the same questions in a confidential prediction market.
5. The aggregated opinions of non-experts doing forecasting have proven to be a better guide to the future
than the aggregated opinions of experts.

Answer : 2

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Here, Sentences 1, 4, and 5 discuss the general theme of how non-experts or forecasters without specialized
expertise can make accurate predictions, often outperforming experts. Sentence 3 adds context by highlighting
that this success occurs even when experts have access to classified information.
Contrarily, Sentence 2 shifts the focus to the “intelligence community's interest in forecasting models” rather
than continuing the discussion on the accuracy and success of forecasters versus experts. This makes it
unrelated to the main flow of the paragraph.
Let us examine the points presented in each sentence to further understand how the statements link. Sentence
1 introduces the main idea that forecasting is appealing because it works even without requiring specialized
expertise. Building on this idea, Sentence 5 highlights that non-experts can often outperform experts in
forecasting; this, in a way, relates to the appeal of forecasting introduced in the first sentence. Sentence 4
provides evidence to support the claim made in Sentence 5. It refers to a specific study where non-experts
outperformed experts in predicting geopolitical events, solidifying the argument that non-expert forecasting can
be more reliable. Sentence 3 strengthens the previous claim by highlighting that the experts, despite having
access to classified intelligence, were still outperformed by non-experts. In this manner, the arrangement 1-5-4-
3 renders a coherent paragraph.
Hence, Sentence 2 is the odd one out.

37.

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: Many have had to leave their homes behind, with more than 1.3 million people being displaced
due to the drought.
Passage: Somalia has been dealing with an enormous humanitarian catastrophe, driven by the longest and
most severe drought the country has experienced in at least 40 years. ___(1)___. Five consecutive rainy
seasons have failed, causing more than 8 million people - almost half of the country’s population - to
experience acute food insecurity. ___(2)___. More than 43,000 people are believed to have lost their lives, with
half of the lives lost likely being children under five. The damage the drought has caused is far-reaching.
___(3)___. Farmers have lost all their agricultural income, while pastoralists have lost more than 3 million
livestock, impoverishing entire communities, and leaving them on the brink of famine. ___(4)___. Some, like
the pastoralists, may never be able to go back as their livelihoods have been irreversibly wiped out.

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

Option A is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

A useful strategy for determining where the given sentence best fits is to look for places where the flow of
ideas feels awkward or disconnected. When we examine the sentences around Blank 1, we see that they are
well-linked, moving smoothly from the broader issue of the drought to its immediate consequence, food
insecurity. The same logic applies to Blanks 2 and 3 - there are no noticeable disruptions in the flow of ideas
here. The structure remains clear and coherent even without inserting the given sentence into these blanks.

However, when we look at Blank 4, we notice a discrepancy. The sentence before Blank 4 mentions farmers and
pastoralists, and the sentence following it continues discussing pastoralists, but there’s a slight gap in the
connection. If the sentences were closely linked, the author could have used pronouns or rephrased the second
sentence to refer to pastoralists more naturally. Additionally, there’s a shift in focus: the paragraph moves from
talking about "leaving them on the brink of famine" to "never being able to go back as their livelihoods have
been irreversibly wiped out." This jump in ideas suggests the need for a transitional sentence to bridge the two
concepts - enter the given sentence. Moreover, the "Many... Some..." structure works well here. First, the author
mentions the larger group of farmers and pastoralists and how they were displaced. Then, the sentence
narrows the focus to a smaller portion of this group, highlighting how, even for those who were not displaced,
their livelihoods were so affected that they may never recover. This progression makes the insertion of the
given sentence at Blank 4 both logical and necessary for maintaining coherence.
Hence, Option A is the correct choice.

38.

The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for
each question.
Fears of artificial intelligence (AI) have haunted humanity since the very beginning of the computer age.
Hitherto, these fears focused on machines using physical means to kill, enslave or replace people. But over the
past couple of years, new AI tools have emerged that threaten the survival of human civilisation from an
unexpected direction. AI has gained some remarkable abilities to manipulate and generate language, whether
with words, sounds or images. AI has thereby hacked the operating system of our civilisation.
Language is the stuff almost all human culture is made of. Human rights, for example, aren’t inscribed in our
DNA. Rather, they are cultural artefacts we created by telling stories and writing laws. Gods aren’t physical
realities. Rather, they are cultural artefacts we created by inventing myths and writing scriptures….What would
happen once a non-human intelligence becomes better than the average human at telling stories, composing
melodies, drawing images, and writing laws and scriptures? When people think about Chatgpt and other new AI
tools, they are often drawn to examples like schoolchildren using AI to write their essays. What will happen to
the school system when kids do that? But this kind of question misses the big picture. Forget about school
essays. Think of the next American presidential race in 2024, and try to imagine the impact of AI tools that can
be made to mass-produce political content, fake news stories and scriptures for new cults…
Through its mastery of language, AI could even form intimate relationships with people, and use the power of
intimacy to change our opinions and worldviews. Although there is no indication that AI has any consciousness
or feelings of its own, to foster fake intimacy with humans, it is enough if the AI can make them feel emotionally
attached to it….
What will happen to the course of history when AI takes over culture, and begins producing stories, melodies,
laws and religions? Previous tools like the printing press and radio helped spread the cultural ideas of humans,
but they never created new cultural ideas of their own. AI is fundamentally different. AI can create completely
new ideas, completely new culture….Of course, the new power of AI could be used for good purposes as well. I
won’t dwell on this because the people who develop AI talk about it enough….
We can still regulate the new AI tools, but we must act quickly. Whereas nukes cannot invent more powerful
nukes, AI can make exponentially more powerful AI.… Unregulated AI deployments would create social chaos,
which would benefit autocrats and ruin democracies. Democracy is a conversation, and conversations rely on
language. When AI hacks language, it could destroy our ability to have meaningful conversations, thereby
destroying democracy …. And the first regulation I would suggest is to make it mandatory for AI to disclose that
it is an AI. If I am having a conversation with someone, and I cannot tell whether it is a human or an AI—that’s
the end of democracy. This text has been generated by a human. Or has it?

31.

The author identifies all of the following as dire outcomes of the capture of language by AI EXCEPT that it
could

A.
spawn a completely new culture through its ability to create new ideas and opinions.
B.
out-strip human creativity and endeavours in the spheres such as art and music and,in the formulation
of laws
C.
eventually subvert democratic processes through the mass creation and spread offake political content
and news.
D.
apply its mastery of language to create strong emotional ties which could exacerbate the polarization of
political views.

Option D is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Let us evaluate the given choices -
Option A: The creation of new culture and ideas is a central theme of the passage, highlighted as a potential
outcome of AI's linguistic capabilities: [“...AI can create completely new ideas, completely new culture…”]
Option B: The author hints that AI could surpass human creativity in areas like storytelling, composing music,
and drafting laws or scriptures: [“...What would happen once a non-human intelligence becomes better than the
average human at telling stories, composing melodies, drawing images, and writing laws and scriptures?...”]
Option C: The threat to democracy through the mass production of fake news and political content is a major
concern raised by the author: [“...Think of the next American presidential race in 2024, and try to imagine the
impact of AI tools that can be made to mass-produce political content, fake-news stories…”]
Option D: The passage does discuss AI's ability to create emotional connections with individuals: [“...form
intimate relationships with people, and use the power of intimacy to change our opinions and worldviews…”]
However, it does not explicitly connect this capability to ‘exacerbating the polarization’ of political views. The
focus is on fostering fake intimacy to influence opinions, not specifically on worsening political polarization.
Hence, Option D is the correct choice.

32.

The author terms language “the operating system of our civilization” for all the following reasons EXCEPT
that it

A.
can influence political views and opinions as it engenders close emotional ties among people
B.
is the basis of AI tools like ChatGPT which can be used to generate academic content and opinion.
C.
is fundamental to the articulation and spread of human values and culture in our society
D.
has laid the foundation for the creation of cultural artefacts through writing and telling of stories

Option B is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The author emphasises that language is foundational to human culture and civilisation because it:
articulates and spreads human values and culture (as noted in Option C).
lays the groundwork for creating cultural artefacts through storytelling and laws (as noted in Option D).
influences political views and fosters emotional ties (as noted in Option A).
Option B, however, does not align with the rationale behind the “operating system” metaphor: the author does
not suggest that language is the "operating system" of civilisation because it underpins AI tools. Instead, the
passage treats AI tools like ChatGPT as leveraging language's existing role in civilization.

33.

We can infer that the author is most likely to agree with which of the following statements?

A.
People’s fears of the dangers of students using ChatGPT and other new AI tools are unfounded.
B.
The commonly expressed fear that future AI developments will fatally harm humans is unfounded.
C.
Apart from its drawbacks, AI tools have been beneficial in boosting technological and industrial advance
worldwide.
D.
One of the biggest casualties from the spread of unregulated AI is likely to be the democratic process.

Option D is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

Let us evaluate the choices based on the information in the passage -
Option A: The author does not dismiss fears about students using AI but instead deems such concerns
possibly trivial compared to AI’s larger societal threats.
Option B: The author doesn’t argue that fears of AI harming humans physically are unfounded, but shifts focus
to the linguistic and cultural dangers AI presents. It’s unclear whether he will explicitly support the view
presented here.
Option C: Though the author briefly acknowledges that AI can be used for good, this idea is not a central focus
of the passage; he also does not emphasise technological or industrial benefits. Therefore, it’s unclear whether
the author will support his view.
Option D: The concern stated here has been clearly underlined in the passage. We are informed of the threat AI
poses to democracy through its manipulation of language and ability to generate misinformation, fake intimacy,
and propaganda. The author explicitly states that democracy relies on meaningful human conversations, which
are undermined when AI becomes indistinguishable from humans. Therefore, this option aligns most closely
with the author's argument.
Hence, Option D is the correct choice.

34.

The tone of the passage could best be described as

A.
cautionary, because the author lays out some adverse effects of the proliferation of unregulated AI
tools.
B.
prescient, as the author analyses the future impact of the use of new AI tools on crucial areas of our
society and culture.
C.
alarmist, because the passage discusses scenarios of the influence of new AI tools on language and
human emotions.
D.
quizzical, as the passage poses several questions, concluding with the question of whether or not the
passage content has been generated by AI.

Option A is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The passage clearly highlights the potential risks associated with AI's linguistic capabilities, urging action to
regulate its use. While the passage does present hypothetical scenarios and employs rhetorical questions, its
tone is primarily grounded in a warning, not sensationalism or mere speculation. This points us towards Option
A. The author systematically explains the dangers of unregulated AI tools, particularly their capacity to
manipulate language and influence human culture. The warnings are thoughtful and aim to provoke awareness
and a sense of urgency without excessive dramatisation. The tone is serious and measured, which aligns with a
cautionary style.
The remaining tones do not describe the discussion appropriately. For instance, consider Option B: though the
passage discusses AI's future implications, the focus is less on prediction and more on warning about what
could happen if action is not taken. "Prescient" implies a focus on foresight and vision, but the passage
emphasises immediate concerns and actionable advice. Similarly, the passage is not “alarmist” (Option C), as it
avoids overly exaggerated or emotional claims. It uses logical arguments and examples rather than
fearmongering. Option D is also a poor fit: although the passage concludes with a rhetorical question, this is a
stylistic device rather than a defining characteristic of the tone. The primary goal is to issue a warning, not to
leave the reader in a state of curiosity or wonder, making “quizzical” an incorrect characterisation.
Hence, Option A is the best choice.

39.

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: This reality is putting stress on employees who have to pay for transport, desk lunches, more
childcare, clothing and that after-work socialisation - costs they haven’t incurred for nearly two years.
Paragraph: ___(1)___. Prices are rising at their fastest rate in 40 years; consequently, return-to-office-related
costs have shot up - think petrol and food, for instance.___(2)___. Yet wages haven’t kept up with inflation -
even despite the salary growth many workers have enjoyed during a favourable pandemic labour market.
___(3)___.This is especially jarring for workers who were able to save during remote work, when these
expenditures weren’t a factor. ___(4)___. In April 2022, Umus, a London university lecturer, told BBC Worklife
that they were spending nearly a quarter of what they made every day on return-to-work costs.

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

Option B is the correct answer.

Video Explanation

Explanatory Answer

The given sentence focuses on the impact of these rising costs on employees - an idea that hasn’t yet been
introduced here. Placing this in Blank 1 would prematurely shift the focus from a general economic observation
to the employee-specific consequences, disrupting the logical flow. Similarly, Blank 2 would be a poor choice
since it would interrupt the argument about wages not keeping pace with inflation. The broader context of
inflation and wages needs to be fully established before narrowing the discussion to employee struggles.
Blank 3 could be a good fit. We observe that the preceding sentence sets up the problem: wages are lagging
behind rising costs. The subsequent sentence emphasises the stark contrast between remote work savings
and current financial stress; the anecdote from the London University lecturer is further linked to this. Therefore,
Blank 4 is also unsuitable. By placing the given sentence in Blank 3, we bridge the two ideas presented above by
specifying how these rising costs and stagnant wages directly impact employees. It introduces the tangible
pressures employees face, which makes the subsequent sentence about savings during remote work even
more impactful.
Hence, Option B is the correct choice

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