2025 Prelims Paper 2 UPSC Question Paper

UPSC Prelims Paper 2 Question Papers

2025 Prelims Paper 2 UPSC Questions

41.
Directions for the following 2 (two) items:
Read the following two passages and answer the items that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.
Passage -1
A single number for inflation is an aggregate across different commodities and services- the price rise differs for different services - the price rise differs for different items of consumption. So, the single number is arrived at by assigning weights to different commodities and services. For WPI, the weights in production are used; for CPI, the consumption basket is used. But people are not homogeneous. The consumption basket is vastly different for the poor, the middle classes, and the rich. Hence, the CPI is different for each of these classes and a composite index requires averaging the baskets.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical, rational and crucial message conveyed by the passage?
A.
We must use WPI exclusively in measuring price rise and CPI should be done away with.
B.
The present calculation of inflation rate does not correctly measure price rise of individual item/commodity.
C.
Inflation data under-presents services in the consumption basket.
D.
Knowledge of inflation rate is not really of any use to anybody in the country.
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ANSWER :
B. The present calculation of inflation rate does not correctly measure price rise of individual item/commodity.
42.
Passage-2
Trust stands commonly defined as being vulnerable to others. Entrepreneurship implies trust in others and willingness to expose oneself to betrayal. Trust in expert systems is the essence of globalizing behaviors; trust itself emerges as a super-commodity in the social market and defines the characteristics of goods and services in a global market. Trusting conduct also means holding others in good esteem, and an optimism that they are, or will be, competent in certain respects.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the passage?
A.
Trustworthiness cannot be expected in entrepreneurship.
B.
Trustworthy people are the most vulnerable people.
C.
No economic activity is possible without being exposed to betrayal.
D.
Trust is important though it entails risk.
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ANSWER :
D. Trust is important though it entails risk.
43.
A question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements and mark the correct option.
Question:
In a football match, team P playing against Q was behind by 3 goals with 10 minutes remaining. Does team P win the match?
Statement I: Team P scored 4 goals in the last 10 minutes.
Statement II: Team Q scored a total of 4 goals in the match.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements?
A.
The Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other statement alone.
B.
The Question can be answered by using either Statement alone.
C.
The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone.
D.
The Question cannot be answered even using any of the Statements.
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ANSWER :
D. The Question cannot be answered even using any of the Statements.
44.
A question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements and mark the correct option.
Question:
Is (p + q)² - 4pq, where p, q are natural numbers, positive?
Statement I: p < q.
Statement II: p > q.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements?
A.
The Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other statement alone.
B.
The Question can be answered by using either Statement alone.
C.
The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone.
D.
The Question can be answered even without using any of the Statements.
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ANSWER :
B. The Question can be answered by using either Statement alone.
45.
In a T20 cricket match, three players X, Y and Z scored a total of 37 runs. The ratio of number of runs scored by X to the number of runs scored by Y is equal to the ratio of number of runs scored by Y to number of runs scored by Z.
Value-I = Runs scored by X
Value-II = Runs scored by Y
Value-III = Runs scored by Z
Which one of the following is correct?
A.
Value-I < Value-II < Value-III
B.
Value-III < Value-II < Value-I
C.
Value-I < Value-III < Value-II
D.
Cannot be determined due to insufficient data
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ANSWER :
D. Cannot be determined due to insufficient data
46.
Let p + q = 10, where p, q are integers.
Value-I = Maximum value of p × q when p, q are positive integers.
Value-II = Maximum value of p × q when p ≥- 6, q ≥ -4.
Which one of the following is correct?
A.
Value-I < Value-II
B.
Value-II < Value-I
C.
Value-I = Value-II
D.
Cannot be determined due to insufficient data
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ANSWER :
C. Value-I = Value-II
47.
Consider a set of 11 numbers:
Value-I = Minimum value of the average of the numbers of the set when they are consecutive integers ≥ –5.
Value-II = Minimum value of the product of the numbers of the set when they are consecutive non-negative integers.
Which one of the following is correct?
A.
Value-I < Value-II
B.
Value-II < Value-I
C.
Value-I = Value-II
D.
Cannot be determined due to insufficient data
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ANSWER :
C. Value-I = Value-II
48.
The average of three numbers p, q and r is k. p is as much more than the average as q is less than the average. What is the value of r?
A.
k
B.
k – 1
C.
k + 1
D.
k/2
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ANSWER :
A. k
49.
Let x be a real number between 0 and 1.
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
I. x² > x³
II. x > √x
Select the correct answer using the code given below
A.
I only
B.
II only
C.
Both I and II
D.
Neither I nor II
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ANSWER :
A. I only
50.
The difference between any two natural numbers is 10. What can be said about the natural numbers which are divisible by 5 and lie between these two numbers?
A.
There is only one such number.
B.
There are only two such numbers.
C.
There can be more than one such number.
D.
No such number exists.
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ANSWER :
C. There can be more than one such number.