MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
You are working as a Section officer in a government organisation. One day two of your co-workers start fighting over some petty issue creating lots of nuisance in the office. You will:
A)
Take side of one of the co-workers, who is also your good friend.
B)
Leave them and let the situation be resolved on its own.
C)
Try to mediate and make both of them understand not to fight and create nuisance in the office.
D)
Call the police to control the situation.
This is a situational judgment question designed to test leadership, conflict resolution skills, and professional ethics of a government official.
1. **Role Analysis**: As a Section Officer, you hold a supervisory position. It is your responsibility to maintain decorum, discipline, and a productive working environment within your section.
2. **Evaluating Option (a)**: Taking sides based on personal friendship is a violation of professional neutrality and impartiality. It would likely escalate the conflict and damage your credibility as a leader.
3. **Evaluating Option (b)**: Ignoring the situation (laissez-faire approach) is a dereliction of duty. Allowing nuisance to continue disrupts the office's functioning and may lead to physical violence or a toxic work culture.
4. **Evaluating Option (c)**: This is the most professional response. Mediation is the first step in conflict management. By intervening calmly, you address the immediate nuisance and attempt to resolve the 'petty issue' through communication, which preserves the professional relationship between co-workers.
5. **Evaluating Option (d)**: Calling the police is an extreme overreaction for a 'petty issue.' Police intervention should be a last resort only if there is a threat of serious violence or a crime being committed. Doing so prematurely would create unnecessary panic and bad publicity for the department.
Therefore, option (c) demonstrates the ideal balance of authority, diplomacy, and administrative responsibility.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
The number of planks of dimensions (4m x 5m x 2m) that can be stored in a pit which is 40 m long, 12m wide and 160m deep is :
A)
1800
B)
1840
C)
1900
D)
1920
Volume of the pit = 40m * 12m * 160m = 76,800 cubic meters. Volume of a plank = 4m * 5m * 2m = 40 cubic meters. Number of planks = Total Volume / Plank Volume = 76,800 / 40 = 1920.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Statement : Should a total ban be put on trapping wild animals? Arguments: I. Yes, trappers are making a lot of money. II. No, bans on hunting and trapping are not effective.
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 illogical as commercial profits do not justify a ban, and Argument II is weak because implementation challenges do not disprove the need for wildlife protection.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Find the odd word: (a) Tongue (b) Lips (c) Brain (d) Nose
A)
Tongue
B)
Lips
C)
Brain
D)
Nose
Tongue, lips, and nose are external facial features and sense organs, whereas the brain is an internal organ situated within the skull.
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
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
How many terms are there in the AP 7, 13, 19, …, 205?
A)
20
B)
42
C)
34
D)
27
For the AP with first term a = 7 and common difference d = 6: 205 = 7 + (n - 1) * 6 => 198 = 6(n - 1) => n - 1 = 33 => n = 34.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Based on the passage provided, how does the housewife, described by the writer, feel when she saves money?
A)
Is content to be so thrifty.
B)
Wishes life were less burdensome.
C)
Is still troubled by a sense of guilt.
D)
Wishes she could sometimes be extravagant.
The passage describes the thrifty housewife facing daily expenses with equanimity and satisfaction, content in avoiding unpaid bills and overspending.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Based on the passage provided, the phrase ‘lavish with his hospitality’ signifies
A)
miserliness in dealing with his friends
B)
considerateness in spending on guests and strangers
C)
extravagance in entertaining guests
D)
indifference in treating his friends and relatives
The word 'lavish' means profuse, very generous, or extravagant. Thus, being 'lavish with his hospitality' signifies extravagance and generous spending in welcoming and entertaining guests.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Based on the passage provided, as far as money is concerned, we get the impression that the writer
A)
is incapable of saving anything
B)
is never inclined to be extravagant
C)
would like to be considered extravagant
D)
doesn’t often have enough to spare
In the reading comprehension passage, the author states that being 'hard up' is 'usually the case,' indicating that the author does not frequently have spare funds to spend freely or save.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
You have recently joined as a District Magistrate. General elections have been ordered in your District, but you find that many of your subordinates are not politically neutral. You have called a meeting. What will be the most appropriate decision?
A)
You will punish those who are not neutral as election laws recommend heavy punishment for such behaviour.
B)
You will tell them that everybody will be watching them, so they will get caught.
C)
You will tell them to appear neutral, but they may take sides.
D)
You will tell them to follow the instructions of the Election Commission of India strictly.
As the District Magistrate / District Election Officer, the most legally appropriate, objective, and institutional decision is to formally instruct all staff to strictly adhere to the Election Commission of India's statutory directives and Model Code of Conduct, ensuring complete political neutrality.
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.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
If 20% of x = 90, find the value of x.
A)
350
B)
450
C)
250
D)
550
20% of x = 90 => (20/100) * x = 90 => x = (90 * 100) / 20 = 450.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Five children were administered psychological tests to know their intellectual levels. In the report, psychologists pointed out that the child A is less intelligent than the child B. The child C is less intelligent than the child D. The child B is less intelligent than the child C and child A is more intelligent than child E. Which child is most intelligent?
A)
A
B)
B
C)
D
D)
E
From the given intelligence inequalities: A < B, B < C, C < D, and E < A. Combining these gives E < A < B < C < D. Therefore, child D is the most intelligent.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
The total compound interest earned after 2 years at the rate of 12% annual is Rs 228.96, then the principal amount is
A)
1200
B)
1100
C)
1000
D)
900
Effective compound interest rate for 2 years at 12% is 12 + 12 + (12*12)/100 = 25.44%. Principal = 228.96 / 0.2544 = Rs. 900.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
The given pie chart shows the monthly expenses of a family on various items. The expenditure on education per month is Rs. 1600. Find the total expenditure of the family.
A)
Rs. 15000
B)
Rs. 15500
C)
Rs. 16000
D)
Rs. 16500
In the family monthly expenditure pie chart, the sector allocated for education represents 36° (or 10% of the total 360°). Since the monthly education expenditure is Rs. 1,600, the total monthly expenditure of the family is 1600 / 0.10 = Rs. 16,000.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
While conducting an interview, use closed questions when you want to:
A)
Maintain control over the interview situation
B)
Save time, energy and money
C)
Encourage a shy person to talk
D)
All of these
In communication skills and interviewing techniques, questions are categorized as 'Open' or 'Closed'.
1. **Closed Questions** are those that can be answered with a simple 'Yes', 'No', or a specific piece of factual information (e.g., 'Do you have a driver's license?'). Because they limit the respondent's range of answers, the interviewer retains strict control over the direction, pace, and focus of the conversation. This is why option (a) is correct.
2. **Evaluating Option (b):** While closed questions are faster to answer, the primary purpose of using them in a professional interview is not to 'save money' or 'energy', but to gather specific data or steer the conversation. 'Saving money' is not a standard pedagogical reason for choosing a question type in communication theory.
3. **Evaluating Option (c):** Closed questions are actually detrimental when dealing with shy people. A shy person is more likely to give one-word answers to closed questions, effectively shutting down the conversation. To encourage a shy person to talk, an interviewer should use 'Open-ended questions' (e.g., 'Can you tell me more about...'), which require descriptive responses.
Since (b) and (c) are incorrect, (d) is also incorrect. Therefore, the only logically and professionally sound reason to use closed questions among the choices is to maintain control over the interview.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Praise, recognition and attention are part of which source of power:
A)
Legitimate power
B)
Expert power
C)
Reward power
D)
Referent power
Reward power stems from an individual's ability to provide positive incentives or rewards, such as praise, recognition, and attention.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Statement : Should we impart sex education in schools? Arguments : I. Yes, all the progressive nation do so. II. No, we cannot impart it in co-educational school.
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 strong as it cites a standard practice among progressive nations. Argument II is weak as co-education is not an insurmountable barrier to imparting sex education.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Cultural implications should always be considered when using
A)
Empathy
B)
Active listening
C)
Non-verbal communication skills
D)
Persuasion
Cultural implications require empathy to understand and respect diverse perspectives, norms, and social contexts during communication.
MCSCCE • 2023 • Paper-II
Puii ranks 18th in a class of 49 students. What is rank from the last ?
A)
31
B)
18
C)
32
D)
19
Rank from the last = (Total number of students) - (Rank from the top) + 1 = 49 - 18 + 1 = 32.
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
Liana takes 4 hours to cover a distance of 15 km. The time taken by him to travel 25 km is –
A)
6 hrs 20 mins
B)
6 hrs 30 mins
C)
6 hrs 40 mins
D)
6 hrs 45 mins.
Speed = 15km / 4hr = 3.75 km/hr. Time = 25km / 3.75km/hr = 6.666 hours = 6 hours 40 minutes.
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
Statement : Should public holidays be declared on demise of important national leaders? Arguments : I. No, such unscheduled holidays hamper national progress. II. Yes, people would like to pay their homage to the departed soul.
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 strong because unscheduled and sudden public holidays directly disrupt administrative, educational, and economic activities, resulting in significant national productivity losses. Homage can be paid through official mourning protocols without shutting down productive activity, making Argument II weak.
