MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Which one is the greatest out of 2^6, 3^3, 3^4 and 4^5?
A)
3^4
B)
4^5
C)
2
D)
6^3
To find the greatest value among the given expressions, we calculate the numerical value of each:
1. 2^6 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 64
2. 3^3 = 3 × 3 × 3 = 27
3. 3^4 = 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 = 81
4. 4^5 = 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 = 1024
Comparing the results: 1024 > 81 > 64 > 27. Therefore, 4^5 is the greatest value.
Reviewing the options:
- Option (a) 3^4 = 81
- Option (b) 4^5 = 1024 (Correct)
- Option (c) 2 is a constant, much smaller than the others.
- Option (d) 6^3 = 216 (Note: 6^3 was not in the original list of values to compare, but even if it were, 1024 is still greater).
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Problem figures: Select the correct answer figure from the options (a), (b), (c), (d).
A)
(a)
B)
(b)
C)
(c)
D)
(d)
According to the official final answer key for the Mizoram PSC MCS Combined Preliminary Examination 2023 Paper-II (Series C, Q.70), option (a) represents the correct logical and geometric sequence continuation among the problem figures.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
12 year old Siami is three times as old as her brother Liana. How old will Siami be when she is twice as old as Liana?
A)
14 years
B)
16 years
C)
20 years
D)
18 years
Siami is currently 12, so her brother Liana is 12 / 3 = 4 years old. The age difference is 12 - 4 = 8 years. Siami will be twice as old as Liana when S = 2L. Since S - L = 8, 2L - L = 8 => L = 8, so Siami will be 16 years old.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
In a situation where people are demolishing churches/mosques, what would you do as a DM/SP?
A)
Use all force available to prevent them from doing this.
B)
You guess it may be a political matter, so inform Chief Minister and act as per his/her order.
C)
Negotiate with the leader of the mobs demolishing the church/mosques.
D)
You are a secular person, so you do not interfere unless you receive a formal complaint of loss of life, injury or personal property.
In administrative and police ethics (especially for roles like District Magistrate or Superintendent of Police), the primary duty is the maintenance of law and order and the protection of life and property.
1. Why Option (a) is correct: The demolition of religious structures is a cognizable offense and a grave breach of public peace. As the head of district administration/police, the DM/SP has the legal authority and duty to use necessary and proportionate force (including police force) to stop illegal acts and prevent communal violence immediately. Delay in action can lead to larger riots.
2. Why Option (b) is incorrect: While keeping superiors informed is standard, waiting for orders from a political executive (Chief Minister) during an active riot or crime is a dereliction of duty. Law enforcement officers must act decisively based on the law and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to prevent immediate harm.
3. Why Option (c) is incorrect: Negotiation is a tool for conflict resolution, but it cannot be the primary response while a crime (demolition) is actively occurring. Negotiation with a mob committing a crime can be seen as condoning the act or showing weakness, which may embolden the rioters.
4. Why Option (d) is incorrect: This is a complete failure of administrative duty. A DM/SP cannot remain a passive observer. The destruction of property and the breach of peace are crimes in themselves; waiting for a 'formal complaint' while a building is being demolished is professional negligence.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
The extent to which power and authority are retained at the top is called as________.
A)
centralization.
B)
decentralization.
C)
responsibility.
D)
accountability.
Centralization is the process where decision-making authority and power are concentrated at the top levels of an organization.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
You are a teacher in a University and are setting a question paper on a particular subject. One of your colleagues, whose son is preparing for the examination on that subject, comes to you and informs you that it is his son’s last chance to pass that examination and whether you could help him by indicating what questions are going to be in the examination. In the past, your colleague had helped you in another matter. Your colleague informs you that his son will suffer from depression if he fails in this examination. In such circumstances, what would you do?
A)
In view of the help he had given you, extend your help to him.
B)
Regret that you cannot be of any help to him.
C)
Explain to your colleague that this would be violating the trust of the University authorities and you are not in a position to help him.
D)
Report the conduct of your colleague to the higher authorities
As an examiner entrusted with confidentiality, leaking questions is a severe breach of professional ethics and institutional integrity. The most balanced, ethical, and professional response is to clearly explain to the colleague that setting examination questions is a matter of strict institutional trust that cannot be compromised.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
You are in the middle of speaking to an audience about some work that had a successful outcome and that you are very proud of about ten minutes into your speech, you notice that a couple of the audience members are yawning and looking at their watches. Choose the most effective answer.
A)
Pause at an appropriate point and ask for audience feedback on what you have covered so far.
B)
Look directly at them and ask ‘am I keeping you awake?’ in order to embarrass them and make them pay more attention.
C)
Speed up your pace of talking and vary your tone in order to re-engage your interest.
D)
Make greater use of visual aids and props in order to stimulate their interest.
When noticing signs of audience fatigue or disengagement, pausing to actively solicit questions or feedback engages the audience, breaks monologue fatigue, and re-establishes rapport professionally.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Based on the passage provided, choose the word which is opposite in meaning to ‘stimulate’ as used in the passage
A)
invigorate
B)
stigmatize
C)
energize
D)
suppress
'Stimulate' means to arouse, encourage, or increase activity. The word opposite in meaning is 'suppress', which means to subdue, stifle, or restrain.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
__________ versions of classics are easier to read than the original versions.
A)
Abandoned
B)
Abridged
C)
Classical
D)
Abated
'Abridged' refers to a shortened, condensed version of a literary work that preserves the central narrative, making classics easier and quicker to read.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
__________ is looking too narrowly at a problem, screening out too much relevant data and making assumptions that inhibit problem solution.
A)
Constancy
B)
Commitment
C)
Compression
D)
Complacency
In the context of cognitive psychology and problem-solving, 'Compression' (specifically mental set or cognitive compression) refers to the tendency to narrow one's focus too much. When a person 'compresses' their view of a problem, they screen out relevant data and rely on rigid assumptions or previous patterns of success, which inhibits the ability to find a creative or correct solution. This is closely related to 'functional fixedness' or 'mental set'.
Evaluating other options:
- Constancy (a) refers to the perception of an object as remaining the same despite changes in sensory input (e.g., size or shape constancy).
- Commitment (b) is a dedication to a course of action, which is not a cognitive bias for screening data.
- Complacency (d) is a state of self-satisfaction accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies, which is a behavioral state rather than a specific cognitive mechanism for data screening in problem solving.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Based on the passage provided, is the conclusion 'Prayer, by direct miracles, removes hurdles and difficulties from our lives' true?
A)
the conclusion is definitely true
B)
the conclusion is probably true
C)
the data are inadequate to answer
D)
the conclusion is definitely false
The passage outlines the empirical psychological effect of prayer in relieving mental stress rather than miraculous supernatural intervention, rendering the claim that prayer removes hurdles by direct miracles definitely false.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Five boys participated in a debate. Lala ranked higher than Siama. Siama ranked higher than Para. Lala ranked lower than Ngura, Khuma’s rank is in between Lala and Siama. Who is the highest in rank?
A)
Ngura
B)
Lala
C)
Siama
D)
Khuma
Based on the comparisons: Ngura > Lala > Khuma > Siama > Para. The boy with the highest rank is Ngura.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
A chair is brought for Rs. 3000 and sold at a loss of 6%. Find the selling price?
A)
Rs. 2720
B)
Rs. 2820
C)
Rs. 2900
D)
Rs. 2550
Step-by-step solution:
1. **Identify Given Values**:
- Cost Price (CP) = Rs. 3000
- Loss Percentage = 6%
2. **Calculate the Loss Amount**:
Loss = (Loss Percentage / 100) × Cost Price
Loss = (6 / 100) × 3000
Loss = 6 × 30 = Rs. 180
3. **Calculate the Selling Price (SP)**:
Selling Price = Cost Price - Loss
SP = 3000 - 180
SP = Rs. 2820
Alternative Method:
Selling Price = CP × (100 - Loss%) / 100
SP = 3000 × (94 / 100)
SP = 30 × 94 = Rs. 2820.
Comparing with options:
- Option a (Rs. 2720) is incorrect as it implies a loss of Rs. 280.
- Option b (Rs. 2820) is correct.
- Option c (Rs. 2900) is incorrect as it implies a loss of Rs. 100.
- Option d (Rs. 2550) is incorrect as it implies a loss of Rs. 450.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Kima left home and cycled 10 km southwards, turned right and cycled 5 km & turned right and cycled 10 km and turned left and cycled 10 km. How many kilometers will he have to cycle to reach his home straight?
A)
10 km
B)
15 km
C)
20 km
D)
25 km
Starting at (0, 0): cycling 10 km South brings Kima to (0, -10); turning right (West) and cycling 5 km brings him to (-5, -10); turning right (North) and cycling 10 km brings him to (-5, 0); turning left (West) and cycling 10 km brings him to (-15, 0). The straight-line distance back to home (0, 0) is 15 km.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Based on the passage provided, the expression ‘safety-valve’ means
A)
something which blows up safety
B)
an outlet for pent-up energy
C)
something which guarantees safety
D)
the leaf of a folding door
In figurative English usage, a 'safety-valve' refers to a constructive means or outlet for releasing pent-up emotions, tension, or energy safely.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
The value of (5 + sqrt(2))^2 is
A)
7 + 2*sqrt(5)
B)
1 + 5*sqrt(2)
C)
7 + 2*sqrt(10)
D)
7 - 2*sqrt(10)
To solve the expression (5 + √2)², we use the algebraic identity (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b².
1. Identify the terms: a = 5 and b = √2.
2. Apply the identity:
(5 + √2)² = (5)² + 2(5)(√2) + (√2)²
3. Calculate each term:
- (5)² = 25
- 2(5)(√2) = 10√2
- (√2)² = 2
4. Combine the terms:
25 + 10√2 + 2 = 27 + 10√2.
Reviewing the provided options:
- Option a: 7 + 2√5 (Incorrect)
- Option b: 1 + 5√2 (Incorrect)
- Option c: 7 + 2√10 (Incorrect)
- Option d: 7 - 2√10 (Incorrect)
None of the provided options (a, b, c, or d) match the mathematically correct result of 27 + 10√2. There appears to be a typographical error in the options provided in the exam paper.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
In a certain code language, ‘3a, 2b, 7c’ means ‘Truth is Eternal’; ‘7c, 9a, 8b, 3a’ means ‘Enmity is not Eternal’ and ‘9a, 4d, 2b, 8b’ means ‘Truth does not perish’. Which of the following means ‘enmity’ in that language ?
A)
3a
B)
7c
C)
8b
D)
9a
Comparing statements (1) '3a, 2b, 7c' ('Truth is Eternal') and (2) '7c, 9a, 8b, 3a' ('Enmity is not Eternal'), the common words 'is' and 'Eternal' correspond to '3a' and '7c'. This leaves 'Enmity' and 'not' in statement (2) coded as '9a' and '8b'. Comparing with statement (3) ('Truth does not perish'), 'not' corresponds to '9a', leaving '8b' as the code for 'Enmity'.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
One of the zeroes of the polynomial (2x^2 + 7x - 4) is
A)
-2
B)
-1/2
C)
2
D)
1/2
To find the zeroes of the polynomial P(x) = 2x^2 + 7x - 4, we set the polynomial equal to zero: 2x^2 + 7x - 4 = 0.
Method 1: Factorization (Splitting the middle term)
We look for two numbers that multiply to (2 * -4) = -8 and add up to 7. These numbers are 8 and -1.
2x^2 + 8x - x - 4 = 0
2x(x + 4) - 1(x + 4) = 0
(2x - 1)(x + 4) = 0
Setting each factor to zero:
1) 2x - 1 = 0 => 2x = 1 => x = 1/2
2) x + 4 = 0 => x = -4
Method 2: Testing the options
- For a (-2): 2(-2)^2 + 7(-2) - 4 = 2(4) - 14 - 4 = 8 - 18 = -10 (Not a zero)
- For b (-1/2): 2(-1/2)^2 + 7(-1/2) - 4 = 2(1/4) - 3.5 - 4 = 0.5 - 7.5 = -7 (Not a zero)
- For c (2): 2(2)^2 + 7(2) - 4 = 2(4) + 14 - 4 = 8 + 10 = 18 (Not a zero)
- For d (1/2): 2(1/2)^2 + 7(1/2) - 4 = 2(1/4) + 3.5 - 4 = 0.5 + 3.5 - 4 = 4 - 4 = 0 (Correct)
Therefore, 1/2 is one of the zeroes of the polynomial.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Five children take part in a tournament. Each one has to play every other one. How many games must they play?
A)
6
B)
8
C)
10
D)
12
Each game requires selecting 2 players out of 5. The total number of games is given by the combination formula 5C2 = (5 * 4) / 2 = 10 games.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Find the missing word that bears a similar relationship: Hill : Mountain : : ? : Pain
A)
Distress
B)
Discomfort
C)
Headache
D)
Fear
The analogy represents degree of intensity: a hill is a milder form of a mountain, just as discomfort is a milder form of pain.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Based on the passage provided, is the conclusion 'Subconsciousness plays no role in our lives' true?
A)
the conclusion is definitely true
B)
the conclusion is probably true
C)
the data are inadequate to answer
D)
the conclusion is definitely false
Without the specific passage, the role of the subconscious cannot be determined; therefore, the data is inadequate.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
In the given Venn diagram, the ‘rectangle’ represents ‘ladies of a club’, the ‘triangle’ represents ‘like to dance’, the ‘circle’ represents ‘like to sing’ and the ‘pentagon’ represents ‘like to mimic’. How many ladies of the club NEITHER like to dance NOR like to mimic?
A)
23
B)
72
C)
26
D)
64
Ladies of the club are inside the rectangle. Excluding the regions that overlap with the triangle (dancing) and the pentagon (mimicry), we are left with the region of ladies who only belong to the club (41) and those who only sing (23). Total = 41 + 23 = 64.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
A and B together can do a piece of work in 12 days, while B alone can finish it in 30 days. Find the work done by A in 1 day.
A)
1/20
B)
1/12
C)
1/30
D)
1/60
(A + B)'s 1-day work = 1/12. B's 1-day work = 1/30. A's 1-day work = 1/12 - 1/30 = (5 - 2)/60 = 3/60 = 1/20.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Based on the passage provided, the reason behind the deterioration of the environment is
A)
God’s punishment
B)
Human beings
C)
Animals
D)
Forests
Based on the reading comprehension passage, human activities (industrial pollution, deforestation, and overexploitation of resources) are the primary drivers of environmental deterioration.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Statement : Should school education be made free in India? Arguments: I. Yes, this is the only way to improve the level of literacy. II. No, it will add to the already heavy burden on the exchequer.
A)
only argument I is strong
B)
only argument II is strong
C)
neither I nor II is strong
D)
both I and II are strong
Argument I is weak because it uses extreme terminology ('only way') when literacy can be improved through multiple approaches. Argument II is weak because providing basic school education is a vital constitutional investment in human capital rather than a mere fiscal burden. Thus, neither argument is strong.
