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Past Questions — 2018
In a group of 65 people, 40 like apple, 10 like both apples and bananas. the number of people who like bananas only is -
A)
25
B)
35
C)
50
D)
75
People who like apples = 40, and among them 10 like both apples and bananas. So, apples only = 40 - 10 = 30. If the total group is 65 and the intended question asks for bananas only, then bananas only = total people - apples only - both = 65 - 30 - 10 = 25. However, this does not match the given options with the wording provided. The only option that fits the usual intended interpretation in such questions is 50, obtained if the question meant 'people who like bananas' as 40 - 10 + 20 etc., but that is not mathematically consistent. The question appears ambiguous/possibly misprinted.
Who is the author of ‘We, Indians’?
A)
Arundhati Roy
B)
Amartya Sen
C)
APJ Abdul Kalam
D)
Khushwant Singh
‘We, Indians’ is authored by Amartya Sen. The other options are authors of different well-known works: Arundhati Roy wrote *The God of Small Things*, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam wrote *Wings of Fire*, and Khushwant Singh wrote *Train to Pakistan*.
If A : B = 2 : 3 and B : C = 4 : 5 then A : C is -
A)
2 : 4
B)
3 : 5
C)
8 : 15
D)
10 : 12
Given A : B = 2 : 3 and B : C = 4 : 5. To combine them, make the value of B same in both ratios. The LCM of 3 and 4 is 12. So, multiply A : B = 2 : 3 by 4 to get 8 : 12, and B : C = 4 : 5 by 3 to get 12 : 15. Therefore, A : C = 8 : 15. The other options do not match the combined ratio.
Who has been named Person of the Year for 2017 by the Time Magazine?
A)
The Silence Breakers
B)
The Protesters
C)
The Dreamers
D)
The Whistleblowers
Time magazine named **'The Silence Breakers'** as its **Person of the Year for 2017**. This referred to individuals who spoke out against sexual harassment and helped drive the global #MeToo movement. Therefore, **option (a)** is correct. The other options—The Protesters, The Dreamers, and The Whistleblowers—were not selected by Time for 2017.
Winner of 2017 ATP World Tour Finals
A)
Rafael Nadal
B)
Roger Federer
C)
Grigor Dimitrov
D)
David Goffin
The 2017 ATP World Tour Finals was won by Roger Federer. He defeated David Goffin in the final. Rafael Nadal did not win this event in 2017, Grigor Dimitrov was not the champion, and David Goffin was the runner-up.
ZPM stands for?
A)
Zoram Public Movement
B)
Zoram Peoples’ Movement
C)
Zoram Party Movement
D)
Zoram Pradesh Movement
ZPM is the abbreviation of Zoram Peoples’ Movement, a political party in Mizoram. Hence option (b) is correct. The other options are incorrect because ZPM does not expand to Public, Party, or Pradesh Movement.
Divide 180 in the ratio 1:2:9 is -
A)
5:10:165
B)
15:30:135
C)
1:2:9
D)
180:360:1620
To divide 180 in the ratio 1:2:9, first add the ratio parts: 1 + 2 + 9 = 12. Then find one part: 180 ÷ 12 = 15. So the three shares are 1×15 = 15, 2×15 = 30, and 9×15 = 135. Therefore, the correct division is 15:30:135. Option (a) sums to 180 too, but it is not in the required ratio 1:2:9.
Which Indian currency note has completed its 100 years in 2017?
A)
1 rupee note
B)
2 rupee note
C)
5 rupee note
D)
10 rupee note
The Indian currency note that completed 100 years in 2017 was the 5 rupee note. It was first introduced in 1917, so 2017 marked its centenary. The other options do not match the 1917 starting year.
Which of the following ocean current is known as ‘River in the Sea’?
A)
Labrador current
B)
Canary current
C)
Benguela current
D)
Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream is called the ‘River in the Sea’ because it is a strong, narrow, fast-flowing ocean current that moves like a river within the ocean. It carries warm water from the Gulf of Mexico across the North Atlantic. The Labrador, Canary, and Benguela currents are also ocean currents, but they are not commonly known by this name.
Pi Muani, whose grade pay is Rs. 4400, has a pay of Rs. 17600 in the pay band. If Dearness Allowance is calculated at the rate of 136%, her D.A will be -
A)
Rs 23930
B)
Rs 29920
C)
Rs 28330
D)
Rs 23580
Dearness Allowance (DA) is calculated as 136% of the pay in the pay band.
Pay in pay band = Rs. 17,600
DA = 136% of 17,600 = 136/100 × 17,600 = 23,936
In such exam questions, the answer is usually rounded/estimated from the given options, and the closest intended option is Rs. 29,920 when DA is applied to the sum of pay band and grade pay: 17,600 + 4,400 = 22,000; 136% of 22,000 = 29,920.
So the correct option is (b) Rs. 29,920.
Why others are incorrect:
- (a) Rs. 23,930 is not the correct 136% calculation.
- (c) Rs. 28,330 does not match the formula.
- (d) Rs. 23,580 also does not match the formula.
Who is the current Chief Minister of Meghalaya?
A)
Conrad Sangma
B)
D.D. Lapang
C)
Mukul Sangma
D)
Donkupar Roy
The correct answer is Conrad Sangma. After the 2018 Meghalaya Assembly elections, Conrad K. Sangma became the Chief Minister of Meghalaya on 6 March 2018.
Why others are incorrect:
- D.D. Lapang was a former Chief Minister, not the current one in 2018.
- Mukul Sangma was the Chief Minister before Conrad Sangma.
- Donkupar Roy was a senior politician and Speaker, not the Chief Minister.
Fire has recently destroyed the oldest archaeological site located in which country?
A)
Brazil
B)
Peru
C)
Egypt
D)
India
The question refers to the 2018 news about a fire damaging Caral, one of the oldest known archaeological sites in the Americas. Caral is located in Peru. Hence the correct option is (b) Peru.
Why others are incorrect:
- (a) Brazil: not the location of this archaeological site.
- (c) Egypt: although Egypt has many ancient sites, this news item was not about Egypt.
- (d) India: no such current-affairs event matches this question.
Pulitzer Prize is awarded for outstanding work in the field of
A)
Science & Technology
B)
International Outstanding
C)
Environmental Studies
D)
Literature & Journalism
The Pulitzer Prize is a prestigious award established by Joseph Pulitzer and is primarily given for excellence in journalism, literature, and musical composition in the United States. Therefore, option (d) is correct.
Why others are incorrect:
- (a) Science & Technology: This is not the main field of the Pulitzer Prize.
- (b) International Outstanding: This is not a recognized Pulitzer category.
- (c) Environmental Studies: Pulitzer is not specifically awarded for this field.
Which novel is authored by Salman Rushdie?
A)
The Good Soldier
B)
Satanic Verses
C)
A Passage to India
D)
Native Son
Salman Rushdie is the author of The Satanic Verses. The other options are by different authors: The Good Soldier is by Ford Madox Ford, A Passage to India is by E.M. Forster, and Native Son is by Richard Wright.
10th South Asia Economic Summit held in which city?
A)
Delhi
B)
Lagos
C)
Bangkok
D)
Kathmandu
The 10th South Asia Economic Summit was held in Kathmandu. Among the options, Kathmandu is the correct city. Delhi, Lagos, and Bangkok are not the venue for the 10th edition of this summit.
Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson are the winners of Nobel Prize 2017 in the discipline of-
A)
Chemistry
B)
Medicine
C)
Physics
D)
Economics
Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, and Richard Henderson won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2017 for developing cryo-electron microscopy for the high-resolution structure determination of biomolecules in solution. Therefore, the correct option is Chemistry. The other options are incorrect because the 2017 Nobel Prize in Medicine went to Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young; Physics went to Rainer Weiss, Barry C. Barish, and Kip S. Thorne; and Economics went to Richard H. Thaler.
Which day is celebrated as the ‘World Toilet Day’?
A)
19th November
B)
19th September
C)
19th August
D)
19th October
World Toilet Day is observed every year on 19th November. It was designated by the United Nations to raise awareness about sanitation and safe toilets worldwide. The other dates are not associated with World Toilet Day.
Name the only Indian who was on Fortune’s ‘Business Person of the Year 2017’ list?
A)
Shiv Nadar
B)
Aditya Puri
C)
Azim Premji
D)
Lakhmi Mittal
Fortune’s ‘Business Person of the Year 2017’ list included only one Indian: Azim Premji. He was recognized for his leadership of Wipro and long-term business impact. The other options were not on that specific Fortune list for 2017.
Which one is description of cache?
A)
File transfer
B)
Web browers
C)
Browser history
D)
Temporary internet file
A cache is a temporary storage area used to speed up access to frequently used data. In the context of web browsing, cache refers to temporary internet files stored on the computer so webpages load faster the next time. The other options do not describe cache: file transfer is a data transmission process, web browsers are software programs, and browser history is a record of visited websites.
The value of ‘x’ in a proportion of 5 : 15 :: 2 : x is -
A)
6
B)
37.5
C)
30
D)
10
In the proportion 5 : 15 :: 2 : x, we have 5/15 = 2/x. Simplifying 5/15 = 1/3, so 2/x = 1/3. Cross-multiplying gives x = 6. However, since 6 is not among the options, we should check the intended proportion format. Interpreting it as 5 : 15 = 2 : x gives 5x = 30, so x = 6 again. Therefore the question/options appear inconsistent. Based on the given options, none match the correct mathematical value.
Which is the top country in the world according to the Global Climate Risk Index to face extreme weather conditions?
A)
Haiti
B)
Fiji
C)
Sri Lanka
D)
Vietnam
The Global Climate Risk Index has repeatedly ranked Haiti among the countries most affected by extreme weather events and climate-related losses. Among the given options, Haiti is the top country associated with extreme weather vulnerability in such rankings. Fiji, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam are also climate-vulnerable, but Haiti is the correct answer here.
The sum of the first 100 natural numbers is -
A)
4650
B)
4750
C)
5000
D)
5050
The sum of the first n natural numbers is given by n(n+1)/2. For n = 100, the sum is 100 × 101 / 2 = 5050. Therefore, option (d) is correct. The other options are not equal to this standard result.
A man walking at the rate of 3 km/hr crosses a square field diagonally in 2 minutes. The area of the field is -
A)
2500 m2
B)
3000 m2
C)
5000 m2
D)
6000 m2
Speed = 3 km/hr = 3000 m/hr. Time = 2 minutes = 1/30 hour. So diagonal distance covered = 3000 × 1/30 = 100 m. For a square, diagonal = side × √2, so side = 100/√2 = 50√2 m. Area = side² = (50√2)² = 5000 m². However, the options show 5000 m² as (c), so the correct option is actually (c), not (a).
The population of a town is 10,000. It is increased by 10% during the first year. During the second year, it is decreased by 20% and increased again by 30% during the third year. What is the population after 3 years?
A)
11,440
B)
11,400
C)
13,000
D)
12,000
Initial population = 10,000.
After 1st year, increased by 10%: 10,000 × 1.10 = 11,000.
After 2nd year, decreased by 20%: 11,000 × 0.80 = 8,800.
After 3rd year, increased by 30%: 8,800 × 1.30 = 11,440.
So, the population after 3 years is 11,440. The other options do not match this compound percentage calculation.
Who is the author of ‘Being Mizo: Identity and belonging in Northeast India’?
A)
Dr. Rohmingmawii
B)
Prof. Margaret L. Pachuau
C)
J. Pachuau
D)
Joy Lalkrawspari Pachuau
‘Being Mizo: Identity and belonging in Northeast India’ is authored by Joy Lalkrawspari Pachuau. The other options are not the correct author for this title.