Critical Reasoning (CR)

Q. Poland and Hungary’s domestic laws are incompatible with the European Union’s core values, however, both countries enjoy impunity. The latest infringement proceedings against the two countries underscore the EU’s limits in enforcing compliance with common democratic standards given the bloc’s stringent requirement of unanimity among all member states to punish offending members. In theory, both states can be stripped of their voting rights in the EU and face financial sanctions. But each also knows that a unanimous decision by the bloc, under Article 7 of the Lisbon Treaty, could be vetoed by the other.

Which one of the following captures the essence of the given paragraph?

1. Both Poland and Hungary enjoy impunity despite their laws infringing on the EU’s core values.
2. A unanimous decision by the EU, taken under Article 7 of the Lisbon Treaty, can be vetoed by both Poland and Hungary.
3. The EU must remove the unanimous decision clause to be able to punish offending members.
4. The EU does not have an adequate enforcement mechanism for its democratic standards.

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Verbal Question of the Day: 46

Verbal Question of the Day: 45

OUT OF CONTEXT

Five sentences related to a topic are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a meaningful and coherent short paragraph. Identify the odd one out. Choose its number as your answer and key it in.

1. Shanghai in the 1930’s has been widely shown to have had smoke filled nightclubs, back alley gambling houses, and dark, seedy opium dens, all frequented by Chinese mobsters, Russian emigres and at least one gorgeous femme fatale with a past.
2. Though the book shows signs of being exhaustively researched, much of the material, by the author’s own admission, has been freely embroidered.
3. “City of Devils”, a new narrative history of the city, is not likely to clear matters up.
4. Just how much of Shanghai’s notorious reputation is historical fact and how much is Hollywood fantasy is hard to say.
5. “City of Devils” is based on real people and real events, but because of the sub-rosa nature of the episodes described, “assumptions have been made”.

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Verbal Question of the Day: 45

Verbal Question of the Day: 44

FILL IN THE BLANKS

The following question has a sentence with two blanks. Given below it are four pairs of words. Choose the pair that best completes the sentence.

For comedian Kunal Kamra, it has meant a/an _____________ goldmine in the everyday tragicomic events and incidents that lend themselves easily to political __________.

1. irresistible, satire
2. philandering, lampoon
3. tempting, pantomime
4. coquettish, parody

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Verbal Question of the Day: 44

Verbal Question of the Day: 43

PARAJUMBLE

The five sentences (labelled 1,2,3,4, and 5) given in this question, when properly sequenced, form a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper order for the sentences and key in this sequence of five numbers as your answer.

1. He uses his Mumbaikar Hindi, with its potentially funny drawl, to crack politically loaded jokes that are thoroughly enjoyed by a loyal, albeit niche, following.
2. Comedy is no laughing matter in India, where taking umbrage at the funny and not-so-funny is second nature to one and all.
3. Take Kunal Kamra, for instance, who affects a bit of a “slowcoach” persona.
4. But in the process, he has earned disapprobation- he was asked by his landlady to vacate his house over “political issues” earlier this year.
5. This has become particularly endemic under the current political dispensation as public opinion has been polarized to an extent where dissent is equated with a lack of patriotism.

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Verbal Question of the Day: 43

Verbal Question of the Day: 42

Critical Reasoning (CR)

Q. India offers reassuring evidence of the safety of GM products. Many farmers grow Bt-cotton carelessly without observing recommended safety measures. GM foods are also being consumed, even if unknowingly, as revealed by a CSE report. Yet, no deleterious fallout has been observed until now. The government should lift the ill-advised embargo on the approval of new GM seeds. If not put to the gainful use of farmers, consumers and biotech-based industries, the valuable biotechnological expertise acquired over years would go to waste.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the gist of the argument given above?

1. There is sufficient proof of the safety of GM products available in India to remove suspicions of any harmful effects.
2. The government should allow the use of new GM seeds as no detrimental effects of GM products being used in India have been seen.
3. There will be no benefit derived from GM-related biotechnological expertise unless it is put to the gainful use of farmers, consumers and biotech-based industries.
4. The ban imposed on the approval of new GM seeds by the government should be revoked.

Please Note: The answer to this question will be posted tomorrow morning as a comment below.

See our previous ‘Questions of the Day’:  

Verbal Question of the Day: 42

Verbal Question of the Day: 41