← Agri & Allied (CT)
Past Questions
In the recently concluded US Presidential election, the number of electoral college votes won by Donald Trump is-
A)
270
B)
293
C)
312
D)
323
In the 2024 US Presidential Election, Donald Trump secured a decisive victory by winning 312 electoral votes, surpassing the required threshold of 270 to win the presidency. Kamala Harris received 226 electoral votes.
Breakdown of options:
- a. 270: This is the minimum number of electoral votes required to win the presidency, not the specific number Trump won.
- b. 293: This is an incorrect figure.
- c. 312: This is the correct total of electoral votes won by Donald Trump.
- d. 323: This is an incorrect figure.
Which of the following countries is the largest exporter of crude oil?
A)
Russia
B)
Venezuela
C)
USA
D)
Saudi Arabia
To determine the largest exporter of crude oil, we look at the volume of net exports (total production minus domestic consumption).
1. **Saudi Arabia (Option d):** Historically and currently, Saudi Arabia is the world's leading exporter of crude oil. Due to its massive proven reserves and relatively low domestic consumption compared to its production capacity, it maintains the highest export volumes globally.
2. **Russia (Option a):** Russia is a top-tier exporter and often competes for the second or third spot, but its total export volumes generally remain below those of Saudi Arabia.
3. **USA (Option c):** While the USA is currently the world's largest *producer* of crude oil (due to the shale revolution), it also has very high domestic consumption. While it has become a major exporter in recent years, it does not surpass Saudi Arabia in total crude export volume.
4. **Venezuela (Option b):** Venezuela possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, but due to economic instability, sanctions, and infrastructure collapse, its actual export volumes have plummeted significantly.
Therefore, Saudi Arabia is the correct answer as the largest exporter of crude oil.
The Mauryan Emperor who embraced Buddhism and spread it across India was:
A)
Chandragupta Maurya
B)
Bindusara
C)
Ashoka
D)
Kanishka
Step-by-step reasoning:
1. Analysis of the Mauryan Dynasty: The Mauryan Empire was founded by Chandragupta Maurya. His son was Bindusara, and his grandson was Ashoka.
2. Evaluating Ashoka: After the bloody Kalinga War (c. 261 BCE), Emperor Ashoka experienced a profound change of heart and embraced Buddhism. He adopted the policy of 'Dhamma' (righteousness) and spent the rest of his reign promoting non-violence, tolerance, and the spread of Buddhist teachings across India and beyond (including Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia).
3. Evaluating other options:
- (a) Chandragupta Maurya: He was the founder of the empire and is traditionally associated with Jainism toward the end of his life, not Buddhism.
- (b) Bindusara: He is believed to have leaned toward the Ajivika sect and did not play a role in spreading Buddhism.
- (d) Kanishka: While Kanishka was a great patron of Buddhism and convened the Fourth Buddhist Council, he belonged to the Kushan Empire, not the Mauryan Empire.
Which mountain range separates northern India from the Deccan Plateau?
A)
Himalayas
B)
Vindhyas
C)
Satpura
D)
Aravallis
The Vindhya Range is a complex system of hills and mountains in central India that acts as a traditional geographical barrier separating the Indo-Gangetic plains (Northern India) from the Deccan Plateau (Southern India).
Analysis of options:
- a. Himalayas: These are located in the far north and separate the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau.
- b. Vindhyas: Correct. They form the northern boundary of the Deccan Plateau and separate it from the North Indian plains.
- c. Satpura: These run parallel to the Vindhyas to the south, separating the Narmada and Tapti river valleys.
- d. Aravallis: These are located in the northwest (primarily Rajasthan) and run diagonally, not serving as the primary divider between the North and the Deccan Plateau.
Firms where there is co-existence of large number of buyers and sellers alongside homogeneous products is called-
A)
Perfect Competition
B)
Monopolistic Competition
C)
Duopoly
D)
Oligopoly
The question describes the two primary characteristics of a Perfect Competition market structure: 1) A large number of buyers and sellers (meaning no single agent can influence the market price) and 2) Homogeneous products (meaning the goods are identical, and consumers perceive no difference between products from different sellers).
Why other options are incorrect:
- b. Monopolistic Competition: While there are many buyers and sellers, the products are 'differentiated' (not homogeneous), such as different brands of soap.
- c. Duopoly: This is a market structure where only two sellers dominate the market, contradicting the 'large number of sellers' condition.
- d. Oligopoly: This involves a few large firms dominating the market, which also contradicts the 'large number of sellers' condition.
What is the correct name of a ‘Shooting star’?
A)
Moon
B)
Meteor
C)
Asteroid
D)
Little star
A 'shooting star' is a common name for a meteor. A meteor is a streak of light that occurs when a meteoroid (a small piece of rock or dust from space) enters Earth's atmosphere at high speed. The friction between the meteoroid and the atmospheric gases generates intense heat, causing the object to vaporize and create a glowing trail of ionized gas, which appears as a falling star to an observer on the ground.
Why other options are incorrect:
- a. Moon: The Moon is Earth's natural satellite, a large celestial body that orbits the Earth; it does not 'shoot' across the sky.
- c. Asteroid: Asteroids are large rocky bodies that orbit the Sun, mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. While a piece of an asteroid can become a meteoroid, the 'shooting star' effect specifically refers to the atmospheric entry (the meteor).
- d. Little star: This is a descriptive term, not a scientific name. Shooting stars are not actually stars (which are massive balls of plasma), but small debris particles.
What is the largest saltwater lake in India?
A)
Dal Lake
B)
Wular Lake
C)
Chilika Lake
D)
Loktak Lake
Step-by-step analysis:
1. The question asks for the largest saltwater lake (lagoon) in India.
2. Chilika Lake, located in Odisha, is the largest brackish water lagoon in India and the second largest coastal lagoon in the world. It is a designated Ramsar site and a key wintering ground for migratory birds.
3. Evaluating other options:
- Dal Lake (Jammu & Kashmir): A freshwater lake known for its beauty and houseboats.
- Wular Lake (Jammu & Kashmir): One of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia, fed by the Jhelum River.
- Loktak Lake (Manipur): A freshwater lake famous for its floating islands called 'phumdis'.
4. Since Dal, Wular, and Loktak are all freshwater lakes, Chilika Lake is the only saltwater/brackish water option and the largest of its kind in the country.
The ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative primarily focuses on:
A)
Providing international loans
B)
Expanding imports
C)
Promoting self-reliance and strengthening the economy
D)
Reducing unemployment in rural areas
The 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan' (Self-Reliant India Mission) was launched by the Government of India in May 2020. The primary objective of this initiative is to make India self-reliant by reducing dependence on imports, promoting local manufacturing (Vocal for Local), and strengthening the domestic economy across five key pillars: Economy, Infrastructure, System, Vibrant Demography, and Demand.
Analysis of options:
- Option (a) is incorrect because the initiative focuses on domestic strength, not providing international loans.
- Option (b) is incorrect because the goal is to reduce dependence on imports, not expand them.
- Option (c) is correct as it directly aligns with the literal meaning of 'Atmanirbhar' (Self-Reliant) and the mission's goals.
- Option (d) is a potential outcome or a secondary goal of the economic stimulus packages associated with the mission, but it is not the primary overarching focus of the initiative itself.
The highest body responsible for the formation of public policy in India:
A)
The President
B)
The Parliament
C)
The Judiciary
D)
The Election Commission
In the Indian democratic system, public policy is formulated through the legislative process. The Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India. While the Executive (Council of Ministers) proposes policies and drafts bills, these policies only gain legal force and official status as 'public policy' once they are debated, voted upon, and passed by the Parliament. The Parliament represents the will of the people, making it the highest body responsible for the formal creation and authorization of public policy.
Why other options are incorrect:
- a. The President: The President is the nominal head of state. While bills are passed in the President's name and require their assent, the President does not formulate policy independently.
- c. The Judiciary: The Judiciary interprets laws and ensures they are constitutional (Judicial Review), but it does not formulate public policy; doing so would violate the principle of Separation of Powers.
- d. The Election Commission: This is a constitutional body responsible for the administration of elections, not for the formulation of general public policy for the nation.
As of November 2024, the state having the highest Mutual Fund Asset Under Management (MFAUM) is-
A)
Delhi
B)
Gujarat
C)
Maharashtra
D)
Tamil Nadu
Mutual Fund Assets Under Management (AUM) are typically concentrated in states with high urbanization, high per capita income, and a strong presence of financial hubs. Maharashtra, specifically Mumbai, serves as the financial capital of India. Most Asset Management Companies (AMCs), stock exchanges (BSE and NSE), and the headquarters of major banks and financial institutions are located in Mumbai. Consequently, Maharashtra consistently records the highest Mutual Fund AUM in India due to the high density of high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), corporate investments, and the physical presence of the financial industry's infrastructure. While states like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and the union territory of Delhi have significant investment activities, they do not match the scale of Maharashtra's financial ecosystem.
Which northeastern state recently became India’s first ODF Plus state?
A)
Mizoram
B)
Sikkim
C)
Arunachal Pradesh
D)
Nagaland
Mizoram became the first state in Northeast India to achieve 'ODF Plus' (Open Defecation Free Plus) status. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase II, ODF Plus status is granted to a state or village when it not only ensures that no one defecates in the open but also implements sustainable solid and liquid waste management systems. Mizoram's achievement was recognized for its comprehensive approach to sanitation and waste management across its districts. While other northeastern states like Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh have made significant strides in sanitation, Mizoram was the first in the region to be officially certified as an ODF Plus state.
Author of the famous book ‘Sialton Official’:
A)
Zikpuii Pa
B)
Lalzuithanga
C)
C.Thuamluaia
D)
KC Lalvunga
The book 'Sialton Official' is a well-known work in Mizo literature authored by KC Lalvunga. In the context of Mizo literary history and competitive examinations focusing on regional literature, KC Lalvunga is recognized as the writer of this specific title. The other options listed (Zikpuii Pa, Lalzuithanga, and C. Thuamluaia) are other figures or authors in Mizo literature, but they are not the authors of 'Sialton Official'.
Complete the sentence with suitable pronoun: Between you and ___, this film is going to be a flop.
Answer: me
The sentence requires a pronoun to follow the preposition 'Between'. In English grammar, prepositions (such as 'between', 'for', 'with', 'to') must be followed by the objective case of a pronoun, not the nominative (subject) case.
1. Identify the preposition: The word 'Between' is a preposition.
2. Determine the case: Prepositions take the objective case (me, us, him, her, them, whom).
3. Evaluate common errors: Many speakers mistakenly use 'I' (the nominative case) because it sounds more formal or because they are confused by similar structures, but 'Between you and I' is grammatically incorrect.
4. Conclusion: The correct objective pronoun to pair with 'you' in this context is 'me'.
Complete the sentence with suitable pronoun: Each person in the room turned ___ head to see who it was.
Answer: his or her
1. **Analyze the Subject**: The subject of the sentence is 'Each person'.
2. **Determine Number**: The word 'Each' is a distributive pronoun/determiner that always takes a singular verb and requires a singular possessive pronoun.
3. **Gender Neutrality**: Since 'person' is of an unspecified gender, the grammatically precise singular possessive pronoun is 'his or her'.
4. **Usage Note**: In traditional formal grammar, 'his' was often used as a generic singular; however, in modern standard English and competitive examinations, 'his or her' is the most accurate way to maintain singular agreement while remaining gender-neutral. While 'their' is commonly used in spoken English (singular they), in strict formal grammar tests, 'his or her' is preferred to match the singular 'Each'.
Complete the sentence with the right preposition that goes with the adjective before it: We got bored___doing the same thing every day.
ABOUT)
about
FOR)
for
ON)
on
WITH)
with
The sentence requires a preposition that correctly collocates with the adjective 'bored'. In English grammar, the standard preposition used to indicate the cause of boredom or the thing that has become tedious is 'with'.
1. 'Bored with' is the idiomatic expression used when someone loses interest in a repetitive activity or a situation (e.g., 'bored with the routine').
2. 'Bored about' is grammatically incorrect in this context.
3. 'Bored for' is not used to describe the source of boredom.
4. 'Bored on' is incorrect.
Therefore, the completed sentence is: 'We got bored with doing the same thing every day.'
Put the words/ determiners in the correct order to complete the sentence meaningfully: didn’t the/few/buy/customer/first/anything.
Answer: The first few customers didn’t buy anything.
To arrange these words into a meaningful sentence, we must follow standard English syntax (Subject + Verb + Object).
1. **Identifying the Subject**: The words 'the', 'first', 'few', and 'customer' (which should be plural 'customers' for grammatical correctness with 'few', though we must use the provided words) form the noun phrase. The correct order for determiners is: Article (The) + Ordinal Number (first) + Quantifier (few) + Noun (customer). Thus, the subject is 'The first few customer'.
2. **Identifying the Verb**: The auxiliary 'didn't' (did not) combined with the main verb 'buy' forms the negative past tense verb phrase: 'didn't buy'.
3. **Identifying the Object**: The word 'anything' serves as the direct object of the verb 'buy'.
Putting it all together: 'The first few customer didn’t buy anything.' (Note: While 'customer' is singular in the prompt, in a real-world context it would be 'customers'; however, based strictly on the provided word bank, this is the only logical structural arrangement).
Complete the sentence with suitable pronoun: Be sure that everyone brings ___ own book.
Answer: their
1. Analysis of the Subject: The subject of the clause is 'everyone'. In English grammar, 'everyone' is an indefinite pronoun.
2. Grammatical Number: Formally, 'everyone' is singular and traditionally required a singular pronoun (such as 'his' or 'his or her').
3. Modern Usage and Standardized Testing: In contemporary English and most modern competitive examinations, the 'singular they' (their) is the accepted standard for indefinite pronouns like 'everyone', 'someone', or 'anybody'. This is used to maintain gender neutrality and reflect natural spoken English.
4. Application: 'Be sure that everyone brings their own book.' Here, 'their' acts as the possessive pronoun referring back to the gender-neutral singular subject 'everyone'.
5. Comparison: Using 'his' is now considered outdated or biased; using 'his or her' is grammatically correct but often considered clunky in modern prose. 'Their' is the most suitable and widely accepted answer in current GE (General English) contexts.
Complete the sentence with the right preposition that goes with the adjective before it: I am sorry ___ the noise last night. I hope it didn’t disturb your sleep.
ABOUT)
about
IN)
in
OF)
of
WITH)
with
The sentence requires a preposition that follows the adjective 'sorry' to indicate the cause of the apology.
1. 'Sorry about' is the standard idiomatic expression used when apologizing for a situation, a mistake, or an event (e.g., 'I am sorry about the noise').
2. 'Sorry for' is also commonly used, but it is not provided as an option here.
3. 'Sorry in' is grammatically incorrect in this context.
4. 'Sorry of' is not a standard English construction for expressing apology.
5. 'Sorry with' is incorrect; 'with' usually denotes accompaniment or instrument, not the cause of regret.
Therefore, 'about' is the only grammatically correct and contextually appropriate preposition among the choices provided.
Answer the following question: Sania thought, ‘There is no hope of winning the match now’. (Change into reported speech)
Answer: Sania thought that there was no hope of winning the match then.
To convert the sentence from direct speech to reported (indirect) speech, the following grammatical rules must be applied:
1. **Reporting Verb**: The reporting verb 'thought' is in the past tense, which necessitates a change in the tense of the verb inside the quotation marks (backshifting).
2. **Conjunction**: The comma and quotation marks are replaced by the conjunction 'that' to introduce the reported clause.
3. **Tense Change**: The present simple 'is' changes to the past simple 'was' because the reporting verb is in the past.
4. **Time Expression**: The word 'now' is a temporal adverb that must be changed to 'then' in reported speech to reflect the shift in time perspective from the speaker's original moment to the moment of reporting.
Applying these steps: 'There is no hope of winning the match now' becomes 'that there was no hope of winning the match then'.
Answer the following question: A party was held to celebrate their victory. (Change into active voice)
Answer: They held a party to celebrate their victory.
Step-by-step conversion from Passive to Active Voice:
1. **Identify the Voice**: The original sentence 'A party was held to celebrate their victory' is in the Passive Voice. We know this because the subject ('A party') is receiving the action, and the verb phrase 'was held' consists of a form of 'to be' (was) + a past participle (held).
2. **Identify the Agent**: In the passive sentence, the agent (the person or group performing the action) is omitted. However, the possessive pronoun 'their' in 'their victory' provides a strong clue that the agent is 'They'.
3. **Determine the Tense**: The verb 'was held' is in the Simple Past tense. Therefore, the active verb must also be in the Simple Past tense ('held').
4. **Rearrange the Sentence**:
- Subject (Agent): They
- Verb (Simple Past): held
- Object: a party
- Purpose/Modifier: to celebrate their victory.
Result: 'They held a party to celebrate their victory.'
Complete the sentence with the right preposition that goes with the adjective before it: It was foolish___ her to go out without a coat in this weather.
FOR)
for
OF)
of
ON)
on
WITH)
with
In English grammar, when an adjective describes a person's character, behavior, or a specific action they took (such as being 'foolish', 'kind', 'generous', 'stupid', or 'brave'), the preposition 'of' is used to link that adjective to the person. The structure is: [It + be + adjective + of + person + to-infinitive]. In this sentence, 'foolish' describes the nature of the action taken by 'her', making 'of' the grammatically correct choice.
Comparison with other options:
- 'For' is used when the adjective describes a situation or a quality relative to someone (e.g., 'It was difficult for her to go out'), but not when judging the person's character/behavior.
- 'On' and 'With' are not used in this specific syntactic construction to attribute a character trait to a person.
Put the words/ determiners in the correct order to complete the sentence meaningfully: too/that/late/last/was/one.
Answer: That last one was too late.
To arrange these words into a meaningful sentence, we must identify the grammatical roles of each word:
1. 'That' and 'last' act as determiners modifying the noun 'one'.
2. 'One' serves as the subject of the sentence.
3. 'Was' is the linking verb.
4. 'Too' is an adverb of degree modifying the adjective 'late'.
5. 'Late' is the subject complement (adjective).
Following the standard English sentence structure (Subject + Verb + Complement), the arrangement is:
Subject ('That last one') + Verb ('was') + Complement ('too late').
Put the words/ determiners in the correct order to complete the sentence meaningfully: to/free/go/be/such/shouldn’t/allowed/people.
Answer: Such people shouldn’t be allowed to go free.
To solve this sentence structure question, we must arrange the words according to standard English syntax (Subject + Modal Verb + Passive Voice Construction + Infinitive Phrase).
1. **Identify the Subject**: 'Such people' acts as the subject of the sentence.
2. **Identify the Verb/Modal**: 'shouldn’t' (should not) is the modal verb indicating a lack of permission or propriety.
3. **Passive Voice Construction**: The phrase 'be allowed' follows the modal verb to indicate that the action is being imposed upon the subject.
4. **The Complement/Infinitive**: 'to go free' is the infinitive phrase that completes the meaning of what they should not be allowed to do.
Putting it all together: [Such people] (Subject) + [shouldn’t] (Modal) + [be allowed] (Passive Verb) + [to go free] (Infinitive phrase).
Answer the following question: To whom was the story told by you? (Change into active voice)
Answer: Whom did you tell the story to?
To convert the sentence from passive voice to active voice, we follow these steps:
1. **Identify the components of the passive sentence**:
- Object of the action (receiver): 'whom' (the person the story was told to).
- Verb phrase: 'was told' (Past Simple Passive).
- Agent (doer): 'by you'.
- Direct object: 'the story'.
2. **Determine the tense**: The phrase 'was told' indicates the Simple Past tense. In active voice, the Simple Past interrogative requires the auxiliary verb 'did' + base form of the verb ('tell').
3. **Rearrange for active voice**:
- The agent 'you' becomes the subject.
- The verb 'was told' becomes 'did tell'.
- The receiver 'whom' remains the object of the preposition 'to'.
4. **Construct the sentence**:
- Passive: 'To whom was the story told by you?'
- Active: 'Whom did you tell the story to?' (or 'To whom did you tell the story?').
In modern English, 'Whom did you tell the story to?' is the most natural active construction, while 'To whom did you tell the story?' is the formal equivalent.
Answer the following question: Liani lived outside her home for 5 years. (Is the underlined words phrase or clause)
Answer: phrase
To determine whether the underlined part of the sentence is a phrase or a clause, we must look at its grammatical structure.
1. **Definition of a Clause**: A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a finite verb (e.g., 'because she lived outside').
2. **Definition of a Phrase**: A phrase is a group of words that acts as a single unit of speech but does not contain a subject-verb pair (e.g., 'for 5 years').
In the sentence 'Liani lived outside her home for 5 years', the underlined part is 'for 5 years'.
- It contains a preposition ('for') and a noun phrase ('5 years').
- It does not have a subject performing an action (no subject-verb relationship).
- It functions as an adverbial of duration, modifying the verb 'lived'.
Since it lacks a subject and a finite verb, it is a **phrase** (specifically, a prepositional phrase).