_psa_ practice test

L.K. Gupta (Mathematics Classes) www.pioneermathematics.com Ph. 9815527721, 4617721

PIONEER EDUCATION (THE BEST WAY TO SUCCESS): S.C.O. 320, SECTOR 40–D, CHANDIGARH 1

PSA

SAMPLE PAPER

Instructions

1. Answers are to be given on the response sheet provided at the end of this paper. You

can tear this answer sheet along the cut marks provided. Fill in the particulars carefully in

the answer sheet provided.

2. The test is of 1½ hours or 90 min. duration.

3. The test Booklet consists of 60 questions. The maximum marks are 90.

4. Each question carries 1½ mark.

5. There is no negative marking for wrong answer.

6. There are three parts in the question paper.

The distribution of marks in each part is as under for each correct response.

Section: A- Qualitative Reasoning (30 Marks) – 18 Questions

Section: B - Quantitative Reasoning (30 Marks) – 18 Questions

Section: C - Language Conventions (30 Marks) – 24 Questions

7. Give the answers of the questions in real examination atmosphere.

8. Use Blue/Black Ball Point Pen only for writing particulars/marking responses on the Answer

Sheet. Use of pencil of strictly prohibited.

9. Rough work is to be done on the space provided for this purpose in the Test Booklet only.

Do not fold or make any stray marks on the Answer Sheet.



Section – A: Qualitative Reasoning

1. My neighbour’s dogs bark and howl every time their owner lets them outside. My CPA

told me that dogs tend to bark and howl when they see birds resting in the top

branches of their favourite trees. I personally believe they bark and howl because they

enjoy disrupting my meditations.

Which of the following can be inferred from the preceding passage?

(a) The dogs must be abused by their owners.

(b) The dogs’ owners do not care how they are viewed by their neighbours.

(c) There are many pedestrians who walk by this neighbour’s house, and the

dogs are starving for attention.

(d) The dogs will bark and howl at 3 a.m. if they are outside at that time.

DIRECTIONS (Qs. 2 & 3): In the given question followed by two arguments

numbered I and II. Decide which of the argument is ‘strong’ and which is ‘weak’.

2. Statement: Should all the professional colleges in India be encouraged to run their

own courses without affiliation to any university?

Arguments:

I. Yes, this is the only way to create more opportunities for those who seek professional

training.

II. No, this will dilute the quality of professional training as all such colleges may not be

equipped to conduct such courses.

(a) if only argument II is strong.

(b) if only argument I is strong.

(c) if either argument I or II is strong.

(d) if neither argument I nor II is strong.

3. Statement: Should the railways in India be privatised in a phased manner like other

public sector enterprises?

Arguments:

Yes, this is the only way to bring in competitiveness and provide better service to the



public. No, this will pose a threat to national security of our country as multinationals

will enter into the fray.

(a) if only argument I is strong.

(b) if only argument II is strong.

(c) if either argument I or II is strong.

(d) if neither argument I nor II is strong.

4. Town Y is populated almost exclusively by retired people and has almost no families

with small children. Yet Town Y is home to a thriving business specializing in the rental

of furniture for infants and small children.

Which of the following, if true, best reconciles the seeming discrepancy described

above?

(a) The business specializing in the rental of children’s furniture buys its furniture

from distributors outside of Town Y.

(b) The few children who do reside in Town Y all know each other and often stay

over night at each other’s houses,

(c) Many residents of Town Y who move frequently prefer to rent their furniture rather

than buy it outright.

(d) Many residents of Town Y must provide for the needs of visiting grandchildren

several weeks a year.

5. It is true that it is against international law to provide aid to certain countries that are

building nuclear programs. But, if Russian companies do not provide aid, companies in

other countries will.

Which of the following is most like the argument above in its logical structure?

(a) It is true that it is against United States policy to negotiate with kidnappers. But if the

United States wants to prevent loss of life, it must negotiate in some Cases.

(b) It is true that it is illegal to sell diamonds that originate in certain countries. But

there is a long tradition in Russia of stockpiling diamonds.



(c) It is true that it is illegal for an attorney to participate in a transaction in which there

is an apparent conflict of interest. But, if the facts are examined carefully, it will clearly

be seen that there is no actual conflict of interest in the defendant’s case.

(d) It is true that it is against the law to steal cars. But someone else certainly would

have stolen that car if the defendant had not done so first.

6. The company encourages its managers to interact regularly, without a pre-set agenda,

to discuss issues concerning the company and society. This idea has been borrowed

from the ancient Indian concept of religious congregation, called satsang. Designations

are forgotten during these mettings; hence, it is not uncommon in these meetings to find

a sales engineer questioning the CEO on some corporate policy or on his knowledge of

customers .Based on the information provided in the above passage, it can be inferred

that

(a) The company is concerned about its reputation with its employees.

(b) The company believes in fostering the spirit of dialogue without degenerating it into

a positjon-based debate.

(c) The company has some inter-personnel problems in the past due to which it felt the

need for these corporate satsangs.

(d) All of the above

DIRECTIONS (Qs. 7-12): Given passage followed by several possible inferences

which can be drawn from the facts stated in the passage. You have to examine

each inference separately in the context of the passage and decide upon its

degree of truth or falsity.

PASSAGE

Cotton acreage in India during the current year has fallen by 10% as cotton growers

have moved on cultivation of other cash crops. This is the result of the cotton glut in

world markets post-September 11 and the consequent slowdown in the world

economy. But this scenario brought with it benefits to one segment of the industry-yarn

manufacturers-as they get higher prices for their produce. Some yarn manufacturers



had stocked up low-priced cotton last year. The combined effect of all this is evident in

the rise in net profits and net margins of yarn manufacturers.

7. World economy witnessed an upward trend during pre- September 11 period.

(a) if the inference is ‘definitely true’, i.e. it properly follows from the statement of facts

given.

(b) if the inference is ‘probably true’ though not ‘definitely true’ in the light of the facts

given.

(c) if the ‘data are inadequate’, i.e. from the facts given you cannot say whether the

inference is likely to be true or false.

(d) if the inference is ‘probably false’ though not ‘definitely false’ in the light of the facts

given.

8. The farmers will again grow cotton next year due to increased price of cotton yarn.


given.


given.



(d) if the inference is ‘probably false’ though not ‘definitely false’ in the light of the facts

given.

9. Land used for growing cotton in India is conducive to grow other cash crops.


given.

(b) if the inference is ‘probably true’ though not’ definitely true’ in the light of the facts

given.





(d) if the inference is ‘definitely false’, i.e. it cannot possibly be drawn from the facts

given or it contradicts the given facts.

10. The yarn manufacturers have marginally suffered during post-September 11 period.


given.

(b) if the inference is ‘probably true’ though not’ definitely true’ in the light of the facts

given.





11. There has been a huge drop in the supply of cotton during the current year.


given.


given.



(d) if the inference is ‘probably false’ though not ‘definitely false’ in the light of

the facts given.

12. There has been shortage of cotton in the world market last year.

(a) if the inference is ‘probably true’ though not ‘definitely true’ in the light of the facts

given.

(b) if the ‘data are inadequate’, i.e. from the facts given you cannot say whether the


(c) if the inference is ‘probably false’ though not ‘definitely false’ in the light of

the facts given.





DIRECTIONS (Qs. 13-18) : Read the following information carefully and answer

the questions that follow:

I. P, Q, R, S, T and U are six students procuring their Master’s degree in six different

subjects — English, History, Philosophy, Physics, Statistics and Mathematics.

II. Two of them stay in hostel, two stay as paying guest (PG) and the remaining two

stay at their home.

III. R does not stay as PG and studies Philosophy.

IV. The students studying Statistics and History do not stay as PG.

V. T studies Mathematics and S studies Physics.

VI. U and S stay in hostel. T stays as PG and Q stays at home.

13. Who studies English?

(a) R

(b) S

(c) T

(d) None of these

14. Which of the following combinations of subjects and place of stay is not correct?

(a) English —Hostel

(b) Mathematics — PG

(c) Philosophy — Home

(d) None of these

15. Which of the following pairs of students stay one each at hostel and at home?

(a) QR

(b) SR

(c) US

(d) None of these

16. Which subject does Q study?

(a) History



(b) Statistics

(c) History or Statistics

(d) Data inadequate

17. Which of the following pairs of students stay at home?

(a) PQ

(b) QR

(c) RS

(d) None of these

18. Which subject U does study?

(a) Mathematics

(b) English

(c) Statistics or History

(d) Physics

Section – B: Quantitative Reasoning

19. A certain number of horses and an equal number of men are going somewhere.

Half of the owners are on their horses’ back while the remaining ones are

walking along leading their horses. If the number of legs walking on the ground

is 70, how many horses are there?

(a) 10

(b) 12

(c) 14

(d) 16

20. A is three times as old as B. C was twice as old as A four years ago. In four years’

time, A will be 31. What is the present age of B and C?

(a) 9,46

(b) 9,50

(c) 10,46



(d) 10,50

21. In a class, there are 18 boys who are over 160 cm tall. If these constitute

three-fourths of the boys and the total number of boys is two-thirds of the total

number of students in the class, what is the number of girls in the class?

(a) 6

(b) 12

(c) 18

(d) 24

22. Standing on a rock, Ravi said that Madurai was more than 3 km but less than 8

km from there. Prabhu said that it was more than 6 km but less than 10 km

from there. If both of them are correct, how far is Madurai from the rock ?

(a) 8km

(b) 6km

(c) 7km

(d) Cannot be determined

23. Keshav knows that Sudha’s marks are more than 3 but less than 8 in a unit test.

Sonia knows that these are more than 6 but less than 10. If both of them are

correct, which of the following statements about Sudha’s marks is definitely

true?

(a) It has only one value

(b) It has any of three values

(c) It has either of two values

(d) It has any of four values

24. In a line of boys, Ganesh is 12th from the left and Rajan is 15th from the right.

They interchange their positions. Now, Rajan is 20th from the right. What is the

total no. of boys in the class?

(a) 30

(b) 29



(c) 32

(d) 31

25. If you count 21 letters in the English alphabet from the end and 20 letters from

the beginning, which letter will exactly appear in the middle of the sequence

thus formed?

(a) N

(b) L

(c) K

(d) M

26. In a class of 100 students, 55 students have passed in Mathematics, 67 students

have passed in Physics and 22 students passed in both Physics and

Mathematics. Then the number of students who have passed in Physics only is:

(a) 22

(b) 33

(c) 10

(d) 45

27. A train consists of 12 boggies, each boggy 15 metres long. The train crosses a

telegraph post in 18 seconds. Due to some problem, two boggies were detached.

The train now crosses a telegraph post in

(a) 18 sec

(b) 12 sec

(c) 15 sec

(d) 20 sec

28. A train M leaves Meerut at 5 am and reaches Delhi at 9 am Another train N

leaves Delhi at 7 a.m. and reaches Meerut at 10: 30 am. At what time do the two

trains cross each other?

(a) 7: 36am

(b) 7: 56am



(c) 8 am

(d) 8:26 am

DIRECTIONS (Qs. 29-32): Read the information given below and answer

the questions that follow:

The tournament for ABC Cup is arranged as per the following rules: in the

beginning 16 teams are entered and divided in 2 groups of 8 teams each where

the team in any group plays exactly once with all the teams in the same group.

At the end of this round top four teams from each group advance to the next

round in which two teams play each other and the losing team goes out of the

tournament. The rules of the tournament are such that every match can result

only in a win or a loss and not in a tie. The winner in the first round takes one

point from the win and the loser gets zero. In case of tie on a position the rules

are very complex and include a series of deciding measures.

29. What is the total number of matches played in the tournament?

(a) 63

(b) 56

(c) 64

(d) 55

30. The maximum number of matches that a team going out of the tournament in

the first round itself can win is

(a) 1

(b) 2

(c) 3

(d) 4

31. The minimum number of matches that a team must win in order to qualify for

the second round is

(a) 4

(b) 5



(c) 6

(d) 7

32. Which of the following statements about a team which has already qualified for

the second round is true?

(a) To win the cup it has to win exactly 14 matches

(b) To win the cup it has to win exactly 3 matches

(c) To win the cup it has to win exactly 4 matches

(d) To win the cup it has to win exactly 5 matches

DIRECTIONS (Qs. 33 to 36): Study the following graphs carefully & answer

the questions given below.

33. What fraction of the total expenditure is spent on education? in family A?

(a) 13/21

(b) 2/3

(c) 9/13

(d) 1/5

34. If the total expenditure on family B is 10000, then money spent on clothes by

this family during the year is

(a) Rs. 200

(b) Rs. 600

(c) Rs. 2000

(d) Rs. 6000



35. If the total annual expenditure of family A is Rs. 30000, the money spent on

food, clothes and house rent is

(a) Rs. 18500

(b) Rs. 18000

(c) Rs. 21000

(d) Rs. 15000

36. If both the families have the same expenditure, which one spends more on

education and miscellaneous together?

(a) A

(b) B

(c) Both spends equal amount

(d) Data inadequate

Section: C (Language Conventions)

DIRECTIONS: Select the correct word or phrase to complete a grammatical

sentence. In case of more than one blank, the different words given in the

options shall fill in the corresponding order.

37. An increase in population, without an increase in economic level, ……….… result

in a lower standard of living.

(a) tends to

(b) tending to

(c) will tend

(d) tends

38. Encounters between people from different countries can result in

misunderstandings …………. different conceptions about space.

(a) because they

(b) is because they

(c) is because their

(d) of their



39. He is ………… tennis.

(a) fond to play

(b) fond of playing

(c) fond in playing

(d) fond at playing

DIRECTIONS: In the given sentence, a part of the sentence is underlined.

Beneath each sentence, four different ways of phrasing the underlined

part are indicated. Choose the best alternative.

40. The local library has recommended that the books put up for the used book sale

should be in good condition and should have no writing in them or be

underlined.

(a) and should have no writing in them or be underlined

(b) and should not have writing in them or not be underlined

(c) and contain no writing or underlining

(d) without containing writing or underlining

DIRECTIONS (Qs. 41 & 42): In each of the following questions, a part of the

sentence is italicised. Below are given alternatives to the italicised part

which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. If no

improvement is needed, mark your answer as ‘No improvement’ or ‘No

correction required’.

41. You have no idea what would happen if word of this leaked out.

(a) word of this leaks out

(b) word of this leaks out

(c) a word of this will leak out

(d) No improvement

42. When Vinod came home from the party, he found his wife had slept.

(a) sleeping

(b) was sleeping



(c) has been sleeping

(d) No correction required

DIRECTIONS: (Qs. 43 & 44) : In each of the following sentences four words

or phrases have been underlined. Only one underlined part in each

sentence is not acceptable in Standard English, Pick up the part 1, 2, 3 or 4.

43. Your information(a) may be correct but this

(b) type of behavior from a father

(c) is hard to be believed(d).

44. The monument has been erected(a) to the memory

(b) of John who

(c) was accidentally shot by this brother as a mark of affection(d).

DIRECTIONS (Qs. 45-47): Fill in the blanks with correct choice.

45. She was a devoted wife and looked __________ her husband very well.

(a) after

(b) at

(c) for

(d) upon

46. She had a terrible night caused by a(n) _________ during her sleep.

(a) incubus

(b) debility

(c) obsession

(d) delusion

47. That charming girl was the ________ of all eyes.

(a) target

(b) cynosure

(c) doggerel

(d) ambition

DIRECTIONS (Qs. 48 & 49): In each of the following questions, out of the given



alternatives, choose the one which best expresses the meaning of the italicised

bold part of the sentence.

48. The newly found drug on the epidemic was not at all deleterious.

(a) effective

(b) intoxicating

(c) noxious

(d) successful

49. He enjoys vicarious authority.

(a) tenuous

(b) limited

(c) delegated

(d) wide

DIRECTIONS (Qs. 50 & 51): In each of the following questions, a word is

given for which a usage is provided. Out of the given alternatives, choose

the one which best expresses the meaning of the given word.

50. CULPABILITY: The culpability of one, who unknowingly sins, has different

connotations in these Eastern regions.

(a) Accountability

(b) Laudatory

(c) Praiseworthiness

(d) Usefulness

51. ATROPHY: The brain like an unused limb, will atrophy f not exercised enough.

(a) thrive

(b) deteriorate

(c) succeed

(d) degenerate

52. Choose the option which contains a pair of words related to each other in the

same way as the pair given in capital letters.



DOUBT: FAITH

(a) atheist: religious

(b) sceptic : pious

(c) iconoclast: idol

(d) apostate : state

DIRECTIONS (Qs. 53 & 54): In the following questions a disarranged

sentence is given in which words or phrases are lettered A, B, C, D.... You

are to arrange these to form a meaningful sentence.

53. A. If caught in the act, they were punished, not for the crime, but for allowing

themselves to be caught another lash of the whip

B. The bellicose Spartans sacrificed all the finer things in life for military

expertise.

C. Those fortunate enough to survive babyhood were taken away from their

mothers at the age of seven to undergo rigorous military training.

D. This consisted mainly of beatings and deprivations of all kinds like going

around barefoot in winter, and worse starvation so that they would be forced to

steal food to survive.

E. Male children were examined at birth by the city council and those deemed to

weak to become soldiers were left to die or exposure.

(a) BECDA

(b) ECADB

(c) BCDAE

(d) ECDAB

54. A. Something magical is happening to our planet.

B. Some are calling it a paradigm shift.

C. It’s getting smaller.

D. Others call it business transformation.

(a) ABDC



(b) ACDB

(c) ABCD

(d) ACBD

DIRECTIONS (Qs. 55 & 56): Arrange the sentences A, B, C and D to form a logical

sequence between sentences 1 and 6.

55. 1. This is a company that prides itself on its carefully matured extensive

distribution blocks and mentor network.

A. The company also plans a foray into the service sector by setting up a chain

of launderettes across the country.

B. Yet today, pre-cooked chapatis and ready-made mixes are a big market.

C. And that’s not all.

D. Today the idea may appear a trifle ambitious but remember that it was not so

long ago that the same things were said about the market for ready-to-eat foods

and branded cereals.

6. Disposable incomes are rising in the metres and big cities and time is at a

premium.

(a) CADB

(b) ADBC

(c) ABDC

(d) CABD

56. 1. But the vessel kept going away.

A.He looked anxiously around.

B. There was nothing to see but the water and empty sky.

C. He could now barely see her funnel and masts when heaved up on a high

wave.

D. He did not know for what.

6. A breaking wave slapped him in the face, choking him.

(a) ADBC



(b) ACDB

(c) CADB

(d) ABCD

DIRECTIONS (Qs. 57 & 58): In each of the following questions a short

passage is given with one of the lines in the passage missing and

represented by a blank. Select the best out of the four answer choices

given, to make the passage complete and coherent.

57. Relations between the factory and the dealer are distant and usually strained as

the factory tries to force cars on the dealers to smooth out production.

Relations between the dealer and the customer are equally strained because

dealers continuously adjust prices - make deals - to adjust demand with supply

while maximizing profits. This becomes a system marked by a lack of long-term

commitment on either side, which maximize feelings of mistrust. In order to

maximize their bargaining positions, everyone holds back information-the

dealer about the product and the consumer about his true desires ……………..

(a) As a result, ‘deal making’ becomes rampant, without concern for customer

satisfaction.

(b) As a result, inefficiencies creep into the supply chain.

(c) As a result, everyone treats the other as an adversary, rather than as an ally

(d) As a result, fundamental innovations are becoming scarce in the automobile

industry.

58. The tax system of India encourages borrowing by granting its taxpayers tax

relief for interest paid on loans. The system also discourages saving by taxing

any interest earned on savings. Nevertheless, it is clear that India’s tax system

does not consistently favor borrowing over saving, for if it did, there would be

no …………..

(a) tax relief in India for those portions of a taxpayer’s income, if any, that are

set aside to increase that taxpayer’s total savings



(b) tax relief in India for the processing fees that taxpayers pay to lending

institutions when obtaining certain kinds of loans.

(c) tax relief in India for interest that taxpayers are charged on the unpaid

balance in credit card accounts

(d) taxes due in India on the cash value of gifts received by taxpayers from

banks trying to encourage people to open savings accounts.

DIRECTIONS (Qs. 59 & 60): The following questions consist of a single

sentence with one blank only. You are given five or six words as answer

choices you have to pick up correct pair in option, which will make the

sentence meaningfully complete.

59. Railways has made it ………………. for all passengers travelling in AC classes to

carry an identity proof during journey to stop misuse of tickets.

(I) Mandatory (II) Optional

(III) Compulsory (IV) Advisable

(V) Urgent (VI) Implied

(a) III & IV

(b) I & III

(c) II & III

(d) IV & VI

60. The Passengers are advised to not to try to ………… enter/ exit/obstruct the doors of

metro trains.

(I) Forcefully (II) Intentionally

(III) Vehemently (IV) Trespass

(V) Unintentionally (VI) Thrust fully

(a) I & VI

(b) II & V

(c) I & IV

(d) VI & III

_psa_ practice test

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