XAT 2024 Question Paper - VALR

Option B is the best fit for the blanks in the sentence based purely on grammatical and logical sense.

Feeling like a fake can be a sign of growth, and clinging too tightly to what feels like one’s authentic self can hinder that growth. This statement suggests that sometimes, feeling out of place or like you’re not being true to yourself can actually be a sign that you’re growing and evolving. However, if you cling too tightly to your current sense of self, it could prevent you from embracing that growth.

This option fills in the blanks while maintaining the sentence’s grammatical structure and logical coherence.

Option C may seem like a good fit at first glance. From a grammatical and idiomatic perspective, the phrase “behaving like a fake” is not a common idiom or phrase, and it doesn’t quite convey a clear meaning. Also, the second part of the sentence suggests that clinging to one’s authentic self can “support” growth. However, in the context of the sentence, this seems contradictory. If behaving like a fake is a sign of improvement, then clinging to one’s authentic self would more likely hinder than support this improvement.

The alternative choices, which involve actions such as acting, performing, or operating like a fake, lack idiomatic coherence. Furthermore, they suggest ideas that either contradict each other or don’t fit the context of personal growth.

Option B is the correct answer.

Option B, “generations, changed, other,” is correct because it fits grammatically and contextually into the sentence. The term “generations” refers to people over time, “changed” indicates a transformation or evolution in perception or behaviour, and “other” refers to other individuals. So, the sentence “As generations evolved and eventually moved to cities, close proximity changed how we viewed and assessed each other” makes sense both grammatically and idiomatically.

Option A “civilization, enhanced, situation” is incorrect because “enhanced” implies improvement or augmentation, which doesn’t necessarily follow from the close proximity of civilization. Also, “situation” is too vague in this context.

Option C, “culture, helped, life,” is incorrect because “helped” implies assistance or facilitation, which is not necessarily a result of cultural evolution or urban migration. Also, “life” is too broad and doesn’t fit well in this context.

Option D, “lives, destroyed, culture”, is incorrect because “destroyed” implies a negative impact or destruction, which is not necessarily a result of the evolution of lives. Also, “culture” doesn’t fit well in the context of assessing each other.

Option E, “people, helped, the nation”, is incorrect because while “people” could fit in the first blank, “helped” doesn’t necessarily follow from people moving to cities. Also, “nation” doesn’t fit well in the context of assessing each other.

Option A is the correct answer.

Statement A and B are incorrect.

In Statement A, It should be changed to 'I shall be there at around 9: 00 a.m.'

In Statement B, The correct sentence should be 'Keep off the grass.', 

Statements C,D and E are correct.

Option C is the correct answer.

Statements A,C and E are correct.

In Statement B,The subject “Nobody” is singular, so it should be followed by a singular verb (“has”) instead of “have.”

In Statement D,The subject “Both of the mice” is plural, so it should be followed by a plural verb (“are”) instead of “is.”

In Statement F,  The correct form should be “The teacher told him and me to leave early.” The objective pronouns “him” and “me” are needed here.

Option C is the correct answer.

• Statement B talks about the transition from computer mainframes to rooms and servers, which indicates an earlier stage.
• Statement A talks about the ownership of these servers by companies, which likely occurred concurrently with the transition mentioned in statement B.
• Statement D mentions the dominance of IBM and HP in providing chips for these servers, which suggests a subsequent stage.
• Statement C discusses the role of Intel in the server market by the mid-2000s, indicating further development.
• Statement E introduces Amazon's entry into the server market, marking a more recent development, making it the last in the sequence.

B-A-D-C-E is the most logically coherent order.

Statement B acknowledges the person's struggles but immediately offers a hopeful outlook by suggesting there's an explanation. This sets the context for the discussion to be followed.

Statement A logically follows B as it introduces the possibility of past experiences impacting the person's current state. It doesn't jump straight to trauma but presents it as a potential reason.

Now, In statement D, a specific example of past trauma (sudden death) is linked to a current fear (anxiety about loved ones' health). This builds on A by providing a concrete illustration.

Statement C then encourages the person to understand their reactions rather than blaming themselves. It follows logically after exploring the possibility of past trauma and its connection to current struggles.

Statement E circles back to the initial idea of strength (from statement B). It highlights the person's resilience by acknowledging the strength they've already shown in overcoming past challenges.

This order creates a supportive and logical flow. It starts with hope, explores reasons behind the struggles, encourages self-compassion, and ends by reinforcing the person's inner strength.

Option D is the correct answer.

The paragraph emphasizes the constructive nature of fear despite its negative perception. The author begins by describing fear as a powerful motivator that influences all our actions. While fear is often viewed as dark and undesirable, the paragraph illustrates how it can lead to positive outcomes.

For instance, the "fear of hurting another" encourages compassion, and the "fear of poverty" motivates individuals to strive for wealth. This dual nature of fear—being seen as negative but acting as a force for good—is central to the discussion.

The other options don’t fully capture the overall theme of the paragraph. While fear and desire are mentioned as being linked, the author focuses more on how fear, despite its perceived negativity, can produce constructive and positive results, making option d the best conclusion.

Option E is the correct answer.

In the first paragraph, the author introduces intriguing and somewhat humorous rules of thumb, such as avoiding self-proclaimed thought leaders and distrusting sockless men. These rules pique the reader’s curiosity and create interest. 

The second paragraph expands upon the topic, providing a more detailed critique of employee appreciation days and their lack of genuine appreciation. Thus, the second paragraph elaborates on the initial interest generated by the first paragraph.

Therefore,The first paragraph evokes interest, the second paragraph elaborates.

Option E is the correct answer.

The passage emphasises that recognising our ignorance, or what we don’t know, has been a significant discovery. This awareness of ignorance is what drives us to learn more, which aligns with option E. The other options, while they might seem related, do not capture the main idea of the passage as accurately as option e does.

Option A is the correct answer.

The paragraph emphasizes that simply accumulating knowledge is not enough. It suggests that one must think over the information for oneself and compare every truth with every other truth to fully possess the knowledge and get it into one’s power. This process of thinking over and comparing truths can be interpreted as reflecting on the information. Therefore, if she wants to master knowledge, she must reflect on the information.

The other options (B, C, D, E) are not necessarily true based on the given paragraph. Reflecting on the information is presented as a necessary condition for mastering knowledge, but it’s not stated as a sufficient condition. That is, while reflection is necessary, the paragraph does not guarantee that reflection alone will result in mastery of knowledge. Therefore, statements suggesting that reflection will definitely lead to mastery (Options B and E), that lack of mastery implies lack of reflection (Option C), or that mastery implies reflection (Option D) are not necessarily true based on the given information.

Option D is the correct answer.

The passage emphasizes the difference between the experiences of sportspersons and those of the fans who watch them. While fans may feel a connection to the sports they watch, they do not fully comprehend the highs and lows experienced by the athletes. The passage also highlights that, unlike athletes, most people do not have their work scrutinized by the public, and they are not as emotionally invested in their day-to-day jobs. Therefore, while fans can empathize with athletes, they can never truly understand their experiences. This is why option d) is the best summary of the passage. It captures the essence of the disconnect between athletes' experiences and fans' perceptions.

Option E is the correct answer.

The theme of the poem revolves around the woman's feeling of alienation.This is conveyed through the imagery of her inability to find her reflection in the mirror, symbolizing a disconnect with herself or her identity. The imagery of the “darkened room”, the “mirror” where she can’t see her reflection, and the “drunken yellow flames” of the oil lamp that “know where her lonely body hides” all suggest a sense of isolation and alienation.

It can be understood that these drunken flames that the woman holds truly know her, how she got there, and her current condition. We need to look at the options to see which would fit the best. 

Option A: This is too literal an interpretation. Further, the "forces" do not convey anything that the yellow flames would want to represent. 

Option B: This is a viable option. We can look at other options and come back to compare it with any other suitable ones we might have. 

Option C: This is taking the flames in a literal sense and hence can be eliminated 

Option D: This is the best option so far; the memories also connect with how the woman can not find her reflecting the mirror as she has lost her real identity somewhere, so now she lies, holding the memories of her identity to preserve what little she remembers of herself. 

Option E: This while in line with option D, is slightly incorrect, the flames are not the pursuit but the memories themselves, her action of holding them is the pursuit. Making E the better choice 

Option B might make sense in a vacuum but D fits better with the overall theme of the poem about the lost identity of a nameless woman. 

Therefore, Option D is the correct answer. 

The main essence of the text can be understood from the lines: "Because we are an unusually clever and self-reflective species, we long ago realized that we needed help overcoming those reductive instincts when it really matters. And so we invented a tool called storytelling. "

This suggests that while reduction might be helpful in some places, in more complex and relevant situations, we need to look for detail, hence the invention of storytelling. 

Looking at the options:

(A) This statement is extreme; while the reductive instincts are implied to simplify a complex situation, this is neither the main point nor does it apply to everything. 

(B) This option suggests humans overcoming their reductive instincts after the invention of storytelling, although nothing of the sort has been mentioned in the text. 

(C) While true, the text's main focus is on where the reductive instincts are harmful rather than pointing out its benefits in moments of "uncertainty"

(D)This comes closest to capturing the main idea that there was a need to do away with this instinct of reducing everything into a simplistic context. 

(E) This also is somewhat true, but the passage isn't about how reductive instinct has led to the compression of stories into fables and how storytelling keeps away the reductive instinct. 

Therefore, Option D is the correct answer. 

Option C is the correct answer.

A realist novel aims to depict life as it is, including the complexities, uncertainties, and unpredictability of human existence. By presenting "innumerable conditions made meaningful only in unpredictable moments," the novel captures the intricacies of human experience and the multifaceted nature of decision-making. This approach allows the reader to engage with the story on a deeper level, as it mirrors the complexities of real life and presents a more authentic representation of human behaviour and choices.

Option D is the correct answer.

The passage emphasizes that beauty is socially constructed, shaped by economic, political, and social systems. It argues that beauty is commodified, controlled by powerful interests, and used as a form of capital, suggesting that beauty is not merely a matter of individual perception or appreciation. Instead, it is influenced and defined by external forces, making D inconsistent with the passage.

Option A:  The passage discusses how beauty has been embodied and commodified, making it a tangible form of capital rather than an abstract idea. Thus, this can be inferred.

Option B: The passage describes how beauty is presented as something to aspire to, achieved through the "right prophets and their wisdoms with a side of products," making this inference valid.

Option C: The passage explicitly states that beauty is defined by "whatever power decides" and is influenced by economic and political conditions.

Option E:  The passage supports this by emphasizing that beauty is determined by external factors like politics and economics, rather than by those who are considered beautiful themselves.

Option D is the correct answer. In the passage, beauty is described as both a “blessing” (something inherent, perhaps genetic or divine) and a “site of conversion” (something that can be attained through effort, typically involving products and societal standards). This duality fits with the idea that beauty, though seen as a natural gift, is commodified and sold in capitalist society. 

The "blessing" becomes something that people strive to achieve, and in doing so, they often rely on the "providers" — those who sell beauty products, offer beauty standards, or promote transformation. This connection between beauty as a blessing and a site of conversion, particularly in capitalism, is captured well in option D.

The civilization-barbarism axis, as described in the passage, is best represented by option C: “It is how you behave, not who you are, that makes you acceptable.”

This axis is used by conservatives who view most favourably the institutions that they believe constrain and guide people toward civilized behaviour, and they view most unfavourably those people who they see as trying to tear down such institutions. Therefore, it’s more about behaviour (civilized vs barbaric) than about who the person is.

Options A, B, D and E cannot be inferred from the passage.

Option B best explains the author’s use of the term “moral frames:“The frames define what the believer believes as right or wrong. 

According to the passage, moral frames are simplified perspectives that people use to interpret political issues. Based on the axis of the frame (oppressor-oppressed, civilization-barbarism, or liberty-coercion), they create a sense of right and wrong, favourable and unfavourable. These frames guide the believer’s views and judgments about different groups and issues.

Option A is incorrect because the passage doesn’t suggest that moral frames give believers the right to question others’ behaviours. 

Option C is not correct, as the passage clearly explains the concept of moral frames, indicating they can be rationally explained. 

Option D is incorrect because the passage doesn’t state that what is right to the believer is wrong to those who do not share that belief. 

Option E is incorrect because the passage doesn’t suggest that moral frames make it easy for the believer to declare others as wrong.

The best conclusion from the passage is option A.

The passage emphasizes the importance of understanding different moral frames or axes (oppressor-oppressed, civilization-barbarism, liberty-coercion) that people use to form their political views. By learning these “languages”, one can better understand others’ perspectives, even if they don’t agree with them.

Option B is incorrect. The passage doesn’t suggest that all controversial issues can be simplified into the three axes, but rather these axes represent different perspectives.

Option C is incorrect. The passage doesn’t state that our assumptions lead to our dominant axis, but it does suggest that understanding these axes can help us understand others’ perspectives.

Option D is incorrect. While the passage does mention that certain problems might be better understood through a specific axis, it doesn’t claim that issues can be solved by looking at them from the right axis and questioning assumptions.

Option E is incorrect. The passage doesn’t state that most problems are caused by applying the wrong axis to a particular problem but rather that different perspectives might be more or less applicable in different situations.

Option E is the correct answer.

According to the passage, this statement is not true about an ignorant mind. The passage describes how an ignorant mind is filled with clutter of irrelevant or misleading experiences, theories, facts, etc., and it emphasizes the tendency of the ignorant mind to be unaware of its own limitations and to succumb to illusionary pattern detection and theorizing without robust evidence. However, it doesn't suggest that an ignorant mind often fuels scepticism. Instead, it suggests that the clutter in the ignorant mind can lead to situations that are embarrassing, unfortunate, or dangerous.

Options A, B, C and D could be inferred from the passage and hence true.

Option D is the correct answer.

This choice reflects the author's idea that we tend to create and spread beliefs, even when they're not entirely accurate because we often don't realize our own ignorance. The passage emphasizes how our minds can be cluttered with misleading information, leading us to accept and share beliefs that may not be true. So, when the author says "we are all engines of misbelief," it means that we have a natural inclination to form and spread beliefs that can be misleading or inaccurate.

Option A is opposite to what the author would agree with; it negates pattern recognition entirely, while the author clearly mentions it as one of the species' strengths. 

Option B: This option is close; however, while the author's main focus is on checking beliefs, the options focus on patterns. The author's main argument is not about keeping the pattern recognition/formation in check but not about making belie based on our intuitive pattern recognition. 

Option C: This option better represents the author's idea about how our beliefs need to be checked. 

Option D: This statement is too general and extreme; the author does not discuss all certainty; some beliefs could be accurate. The author is just asking us to check how prone we are to being misinformed; he would not say that all our beliefs are wrong.

Option E:  The author is concerned with misbeliefs in ourselves; this idea of detecting misbeliefs in "others" is beyond the scope of the discussion.

Thus, Options B and C are close, but the author would agree with C more. 

Therefore, Option C is the correct answer. 

Option B cannot be exactly concluded. While the passage discusses the concept of herd immunity, it does not explicitly state that our survival as a community is largely based on it. Therefore, it could be argued that option B cannot be exactly inferred from the passage.

Option A can be inferred from:“Any given vaccine can fail to produce immunity in an individual, and some vaccines, like the influenza vaccine, are less effective than others.

Option C can be inferred from: “But a vaccinated person surrounded by bodies that host disease is left vulnerable to vaccine failure or fading immunity.”

Option D can be inferred from:"The unvaccinated person is protected by the bodies around her, bodies through which disease is not circulating."

Option E can be inferred from: “But when enough people are vaccinated with even a relatively ineffective vaccine, viruses have trouble moving from host to host and cease to spread…”

The term "banking of immunity" refers to the idea that there is something we could rely upon, this immunity and sort of storing this into the system of society as a whole 

Option A is not what the author is saying. The idea of herd immunity is not that people will get a reserve of immunity but that the virus will spread less. 

Option B: This, too, is incorrect, as the passage does not state that when somebody is vaccinated, it is a "deposit of protection against a particular disease".

Option C: The idea of multiple vaccines preventing multiple diseases is also not in the passage. 

Option D: This is the closest to what the author means by the banking of immunity, that although someone who themselves might not be immune, would benefit from the increased immunity of others and could rely on them to some extent. 

Option E: This is a bit extreme of what is presented in D, the idea of herd immunity is not presented as a way to mitigate but likely to prevent or reduce the chances of a disease getting hold. 

Therefore, Option D is the correct answer. 

Option E is the correct answer.

Based on the last paragraph of the passage, the author would best agree with Option E.

The author emphasizes the interconnectedness of immunity within a community and the role each individual plays in maintaining it. The author states, “We are protected not so much by our own skin, but by what is beyond it,” and “Those of us who draw on collective immunity owe our health to our neighbors,” which underscores the importance of each individual’s role in a community’s health.

Option A is incorrect, as the passage does not specifically discuss the need for communities to come together during health crises.

Option B is incorrect as the author does not explicitly mention the importance of expressing gratitude to those who contribute to herd immunity.

Option C is incorrect. While the passage implies the importance of vaccination, it does not state that it is an ethical obligation of individuals.

Option D is incorrect.In the passage, the author does not describe immunity as transactional.