CAT 2018 Slot 1 VARC RC Passage 6 Q29–Q31

A reading comprehension passage from the Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) section of CAT 2018 Slot 1, with 3 questions (RC · Science & Technology). Answers are CAT's official key.

The passage

The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the author's position

Question 29

Artificial embryo twinning is a relatively low-tech way to make clones. As the name suggests, this technique mimics the natural process that creates identical twins. In nature, twins form very early in development when the embryo splits in two. Twinning happens in the first days after egg and sperm join, while the embryo is made of just a small number of unspecialized cells. Each half of the embryo continues dividing on its own, ultimately developing into separate, complete individuals. Since they developed from the same fertilized egg, the resulting individuals are genetically identical.
  1. A
    Artificial embryo twinning is low-tech and mimetic of the natural development of genetically identical twins from the embryo after fertilization.
  2. B
    Artificial embryo twinning is just like the natural development of twins, where during fertilization twins are formed.
  3. C
    Artificial embryo twinning is low-tech unlike the natural development of identical twins from the embryo after fertilization.
  4. D
    Artificial embryo twinning is low-tech and is close to the natural development of twins where the embryo splits into two identical twins.

Answer: (A) Artificial embryo twinning is low-tech and mimetic of the natural development of genetically identical twins from the embryo after fertilization. RC · Science & Technology MCQ

Solution

  1. The passage: artificial twinning is a low-tech cloning method that mimics natural twinning, where the embryo splits soon after fertilisation into genetically identical individuals.
  2. A keeps all of this: low-tech, mimetic, identical twins from the embryo after fertilisation.
  3. B says twins form 'during fertilization', which is wrong. C says 'unlike', which contradicts the passage. D's 'close to' weakens 'mimics' and drops the point about timing after fertilisation.

Question 30

Production and legitimation of scientific knowledge can be approached from a number of perspectives. To study knowledge production from the sociology of professions perspective would mean a focus on the institutionalization of a body of knowledge. The professions-approach informed earlier research on managerial occupation, business schools and management knowledge. It however tends to reify institutional power structures in its understanding of the links between knowledge and authority. Knowledge production is restricted in the perspective to the selected members of the professional community, most notably to the university faculties and professional colleges. Power is understood as a negative mechanism, which prevents the nonprofessional actors from offering their ideas and information as legitimate knowledge.
  1. A
    The study of knowledge production can be done through many perspectives.
  2. B
    The professions-approach has been one of the most relied upon perspective in the study of management knowledge production.
  3. C
    Professions-approach aims at the institutionalisation of knowledge but restricts knowledge production as a function of a select few.
  4. D
    Professions-approach focuses on the creation of institutions of higher education and disciplines to promote knowledge production

Answer: (C) Professions-approach aims at the institutionalisation of knowledge but restricts knowledge production as a function of a select few. RC · Science & Technology MCQ

Solution

  1. The passage mainly describes the professions approach: it focuses on institutionalising knowledge but restricts knowledge production to selected professionals and shuts out non-professionals.
  2. C captures both halves. A is only the opening line, B makes an unstated 'most relied upon' claim, and D distorts the focus.

Question 31

The conceptualization of landscape as a geometric object first occurred in Europe and is historically related to the European conceptualization of the organism, particularly the human body, as a geometric object with parts having a rational, three-dimensional organization and integration. The European idea of landscape appeared before the science of landscape emerged, and it is no coincidence that Renaissance artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, who studied the structure of the human body, also facilitated an understanding of the structure of landscape. Landscape which had been a subordinate background to religious or historical narratives, became an independent genre or subject of art by the end of sixteenth century or the beginning of the seventeenth century.
  1. A
    The study of landscape as an independent genre was aided by the Renaissance artists.
  2. B
    The three-dimensional understanding of the organism in Europe led to a similar approach towards the understanding of landscape.
  3. C
    The Renaissance artists were responsible for the study of landscape as a subject of art.
  4. D
    Landscape became a major subject of art at the turn of the sixteenth century.

Answer: (A) The study of landscape as an independent genre was aided by the Renaissance artists. RC · Science & Technology MCQ

Solution

  1. The passage traces how landscape went from 'a subordinate background to religious or historical narratives' to 'an independent genre or subject of art'.
  2. The decisive agents in that shift are Renaissance artists such as da Vinci, whose study of the body's structure 'facilitated an understanding of the structure of landscape'.
  3. A captures this end point and how it came about: Renaissance artists aided the treatment of landscape as an independent genre.
  4. B states only the background analogy (organism to landscape) and leaves out the passage's conclusion about landscape becoming a genre. C overstates 'aided' as 'responsible for', and D drops the main idea and misdates the change.

More RC · Science & Technology questions from CAT

All 138 RC · Science & Technology questions asked since 2017.