Practice Passages Set 3

Introduction

This set gives full-length passages of the kind CSAT uses, on governance, environment, economy and society. The first passages are solved in detail; then try the rest under time (about 6–7 minutes per passage) before checking the worked solutions.

Key concepts

How to use this set

1. Time yourself: aim for about 90 seconds per question including reading time.
2. Write a one-line summary of each passage before answering.
3. For each answer, point to the line in the passage that supports it.
4. After checking, classify each mistake: misread the question, used outside knowledge, chose an extreme option, or misunderstood a word.

Question types in this set

Solved passage 1: Courts and delay

Delays in Indian courts are often blamed on a shortage of judges, and vacancies are indeed a problem. But studies of case records show other causes as well: frequent adjournments granted at the request of lawyers, slow service of summons, and the lack of support staff and case-management systems. A case may be listed dozens of times before any substantive hearing occurs. Adding judges without changing these practices would raise capacity but might not cut delays proportionately. Reforms such as strict limits on adjournments, electronic filing and tracking, and specialised benches for commercial disputes address the way courts work, not just their size.

Question 1. According to the passage, the shortage of judges is:

(a) A real problem but not the only cause of delay (b) Not a problem at all (c) Solved by electronic filing (d) The only cause of delay

Question 2. Which of the following is cited as a cause of delay?

(a) Specialised benches (b) Frequent adjournments (c) Fast service of summons (d) Too many support staff

Question 3. What is the author's point about adding judges?

(a) It will eliminate delays (b) It will increase delays (c) It may not reduce delays proportionately unless practices change (d) It is unconstitutional

Question 4. The reforms mentioned at the end mainly target:

(a) Salaries of judges (b) The number of courts only (c) The number of lawyers (d) The way courts function

Solved passage 2: Coastal erosion

Parts of India's coastline are retreating as waves wash away beaches and land. Some erosion is natural, but human actions have accelerated it. Dams on rivers trap sediment that would otherwise replenish beaches; sand mining removes it directly; and hard structures such as sea walls protect one stretch while increasing erosion further along the coast. Mangroves and dunes, by contrast, absorb wave energy and trap sand. Coastal planners increasingly recommend 'soft' approaches – beach nourishment, dune restoration and mangrove planting – supported by limits on building close to the shore. Such approaches accept that the coastline is dynamic rather than trying to fix it in place.

Question 1. Which human action is said to accelerate erosion?

(a) Sand mining (b) Dune restoration (c) Beach nourishment (d) Mangrove planting

Question 2. Why can sea walls be problematic?

(a) They help mangroves grow (b) They can increase erosion elsewhere along the coast (c) They are too cheap (d) They trap too much sand

Question 3. The 'soft' approaches share the assumption that:

(a) Erosion is entirely natural (b) Building near the shore should increase (c) The coastline naturally changes and cannot be fixed in place (d) Concrete is always better

Practice passages

Time yourself: about 6–7 minutes per passage. Answers and explanations follow each passage.

Passage 1: Ethics of nudges

Governments increasingly use 'nudges' – changes in how choices are presented – to influence behaviour without banning options or changing prices. Making organ donation the default, or placing healthy foods at eye level, are examples. Nudges are cheap and preserve freedom of choice, which makes them attractive. Critics argue that they can be manipulative when people are unaware of being steered, and that they may distract from deeper reforms. A reasonable middle position is that nudges are acceptable when they are transparent, easy to opt out of, and aimed at goals that people themselves would endorse on reflection.

Q1. Which is an example of a nudge given in the passage?

(a) Placing healthy foods at eye level (b) Closing fast-food outlets (c) Banning sugary drinks (d) Raising taxes on tobacco

Q2. According to critics, nudges may be manipulative when:

(a) They are transparent (b) They are expensive (c) They are easy to opt out of (d) People are unaware that they are being steered

Q3. The author's own position is:

(a) Nudges should always be banned (b) Nudges are always better than laws (c) Nudges are acceptable under certain conditions (d) Nudges are irrelevant

Q4. Which of the following is NOT one of the author's conditions?

(a) Easy opting out (b) Nudges must be compulsory (c) Goals people would endorse (d) Transparency

Passage 2: Cooperative federalism

India's Constitution divides powers between the Union and the states, but many of the most important public services – health, schools, police, agriculture – are delivered by states, often with funds that flow from the Union. This creates both cooperation and friction. Centrally sponsored schemes bring money and national priorities but may impose uniform designs on very different states. States, for their part, argue for more untied funds that they can spend according to local needs. Bodies such as the Finance Commission and the GST Council are forums where these tensions are negotiated. A durable balance requires trust: the Union must respect states' choices, and states must be accountable for results.

Q1. According to the passage, who delivers most important public services?

(a) The states (b) The Finance Commission (c) Private companies (d) The Union alone

Q2. What is a criticism of centrally sponsored schemes mentioned in the passage?

(a) They are designed by states (b) They are negotiated in the GST Council only (c) They may impose uniform designs on diverse states (d) They bring no money

Q3. What do states argue for?

(a) Abolition of the Finance Commission (b) More uniform schemes (c) Fewer powers (d) More untied funds

Q4. The passage's conclusion emphasises:

(a) Complete centralisation (b) Mutual trust and accountability (c) Ending all transfers (d) Uniformity across states

Passage 3: Plastic waste

Single-use plastics are cheap and convenient, which is exactly why they are hard to give up. Bans on certain items have reduced visible litter in some places, but enforcement is uneven, and when substitutes are costlier, illegal use continues. A more lasting approach combines bans with extended producer responsibility, under which companies that put plastic packaging on the market must arrange for its collection and recycling. Informal waste pickers already recover much recyclable material; integrating them into formal systems with fair pay and safety equipment can improve both recovery rates and their livelihoods.

Q1. Why are single-use plastics hard to give up, according to the passage?

(a) They are banned everywhere (b) They are easy to recycle (c) Substitutes are cheaper (d) They are cheap and convenient

Q2. 'Extended producer responsibility' means:

(a) Consumers must stop buying plastic (b) Governments must burn waste (c) Companies must arrange collection and recycling of their packaging (d) Waste pickers must pay producers

Q3. The author suggests that integrating waste pickers would:

(a) Increase litter (b) Improve recovery rates and their livelihoods (c) Replace bans entirely (d) Reduce recycling

Q4. Which conclusion about bans is supported?

(a) Bans help but work better combined with other measures (b) Bans have no effect at all (c) Bans alone have solved the problem (d) Bans should be removed