CAT 50 Day Streak Day 11

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CAT 50 Day Streak – Day 11

30 questions across VARC, DILR & QA · +3 for a correct answer · −1 for a wrong MCQ · no negative marking for TITA

0/30Attempted

0Correct

0Wrong

0Score / 90

VARC · Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

Q1 – Q10 0/10

Passage · Q1 – Q4

Jordan Peterson’s ambitious new work, We Who Wrestle with God, is, by his own admission, a direct "response to the brilliant Nietzsche." For the Canadian psychologist and leading voice of the counter-cultural right, the crisis afflicting Western civilization isn't fundamentally caused by the "woke" movements he so often critiques. Instead, he diagnoses a far deeper malady of the West: the collapse of meaning that occurs when human values are completely unmoored from any transcendental order—the very condition Nietzsche termed nihilism.

The remedy Peterson proposes is not easy: it requires a fearless, agonizing struggle of self-examination against despair, a spiritual ascent that points to a realm beyond the self. But this raises a central question: Is the realm Peterson ultimately discovers a truly separate, objective truth? Or is it a form of therapeutic fiction, an internal structure invented to rebuild a self-shattered by traumatic encounters with the "madness of the age"?

This compendious volume—the first of two planned books, taking thirteen years to create—largely consists of commentaries on Jewish and Christian scripture. Peterson takes readers through reflections on the Genesis story of the Fall, the meaning of sacrifice, the tragedy of Cain and Abel, and a sprawling, one-hundred-page-plus meditation on Moses. The book concludes with the tale of Jonah, swallowed by a whale after failing his instruction to convert Nineveh.

In his analysis of the Exodus narrative, Peterson references the Israelites who "regressed to the paganism of possession by instinct" by worshipping the golden calf while Moses communed with God. He extracts a key philosophical principle from this: "The narrative here... indicates the fundamental problem of truth or even social agreement arising from mere consensus, in the absence of any true correspondence with an intrinsically structured reality or a priori cosmic order."

The use of terms like an "a priori cosmic order" introduces a crucial tension. This concept suggests something far more impersonal than the specific creator God of the Abrahamic tradition; it could just as easily be Plato’s timeless realm of "forms" or, as Peterson himself acknowledges through citation, the impersonal "Way" of Taoist thought. Why, then, does he choose to anchor this "intrinsically structured reality" exclusively to the God of the Bible?

Peterson attempts to justify this in his introduction, or "Foreshadowing," stating: "The Bible is the library of stories on which the most productive, freest and most stable and peaceful societies the world has ever known are predicated—the foundation of the West, plain and simple."

This perspective, however, risks undermining his own argument. Reducing Christianity to a collection of inspiring legends and a bulwark for a particular civilization fails to exorcise the very spectre of nihilism it is meant to combat. If the Christian religion is merely a cultural foundation to be shored up, it ceases to be a universal truth, dangerously skirting the very cultural relativism Peterson condemns in "woke" thinkers.

Q1MCQ

It can be inferred from the passage that the author believes Peterson's argument would be more logically consistent if he:

Afocused exclusively on critiquing "woke" movements instead of diagnosing a deeper malady.

Badmitted that his work is primarily a form of therapeutic fiction designed to help individuals.

Cacknowledged that the "a priori cosmic order" he describes could be grounded in philosophical or non-Western traditions, not just the Bible.

Dprovided more extensive commentary on a wider range of biblical stories, such as the tale of Jonah.

Solution Answer: C

The author points to a “crucial tension”: Peterson’s “a priori cosmic order” is impersonal and could just as easily be Plato’s forms or the Taoist “Way”, yet he anchors it “exclusively” to the God of the Bible. Admitting that this order isn’t tied to one tradition would remove the inconsistency.

A narrows his project in a way the author doesn’t endorse. B would confirm the “therapeutic fiction” worry and weaken his claim to objective truth. D is about scope, not logical consistency.

Q2MCQ

The author's central critique of Peterson would be most seriously weakened if Peterson had argued which of the following in his book?

AThat the Bible is not only the foundation of the West but that its stories contain unique, divinely revealed truths that are universally applicable and superior to all other traditions.

BThat the "a priori cosmic order" is best understood through a combination of Taoist, Platonic, and Abrahamic thought.

CThat the primary cause of the West's decline is economic inequality, not a collapse of meaning.

DThat his commentaries on scripture are intended purely as psychological, not theological, interpretations.

Solution Answer: A

The central critique is that Peterson justifies the Bible by its usefulness to one civilisation. That reduces Christianity to a cultural foundation and slides into the relativism he condemns. If he had claimed the Bible holds universal, divinely revealed truth, his justification would no longer be cultural, and the critique would lose its force.

B would answer a side question (why only the Bible) but not the relativism charge. C changes the diagnosis rather than defending it. D makes the “therapeutic fiction” reading stronger.

Q3MCQ

The author's tone toward Jordan Peterson's project can best be described as:

Ascornfully dismissive.

Banalytically critical.

Cneutral and reportorial.

Dcautiously optimistic.

Solution Answer: B

The author summarises Peterson’s work fairly and calls it “ambitious”. He then identifies a specific logical tension and explains why it “risks undermining his own argument”. That is reasoned criticism.

The tone has no contempt, so it isn’t scornful. It takes a clear critical position, so it isn’t neutral. And it shows no hope for the project, so it isn’t optimistic.

Q4MCQ

The passage identifies a central paradox in Peterson's work, which is that he attempts to:

Asolve the problem of nihilism using the very biblical texts that Nietzsche critiqued.

Bcritique "woke" movements while being a leading voice of the counter-cultural right.

Cspend thirteen years writing a book that is largely a commentary on ancient scripture.

Dcombat cultural relativism by appealing to a set of values justified by their utility to one particular culture.

Solution Answer: D

The last paragraph spells out the paradox. Peterson defends the Bible as “the foundation of the West”, i.e. by its value to one civilisation, and that is the same cultural relativism he condemns in “woke” thinkers.

A is not the tension the passage identifies. B is no contradiction, since a right-wing voice critiquing “woke” movements is consistent. C is a fact about the book, not a paradox.

Q5TITA

The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) given below, when properly sequenced, would yield a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper sequencing of the order of the sentences and key in the sequence of the four numbers as your answer.

Some parasites have also evolved thicker-shelled eggs that are less likely to crack when hastily dropped.
“They swoop into the nest and they squeeze out an egg in three seconds flat,” says Rosalyn Gloag, an evolutionary biologist from the University of Sydney.
And while nonparasitic birds take about 20 minutes to lay an egg, parasites like cuckoos and honeyguides are fast.
When a parasite makes it into another family’s nest, it usually will nudge out one or two of the host’s eggs to make space for its own.

Solution Answer: 4321

The order runs like this:

4: Sets the scene: the parasite enters a host nest and nudges out eggs.
3: “And” adds the next adaptation: parasites lay eggs fast.
2: The quote (“three seconds flat”) illustrates that speed.
1: “Also” adds a related adaptation: thick shells that survive a hasty drop.

Q6MCQ

The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.

Passage Some believe that the pinnacle of philosophical excellence was reached in the Vedanta school of philosophy, a view that is contestable. For precisely this reason, one of the questions that has often come up for discussion in scholarly circles is whether Indian culture and civilisation recognised an independent domain of discourse or a discipline of study called “philosophy” – a discursive analytic tradition that has features that typically characterise it as philosophical. Frank Thilly, in the introductory chapter of his book A History of Philosophy, claims that oriental thoughts like those of the Hindus do not go beyond faith, mythology and poetry. More precisely, the implication of this contention is the question of whether there is some Indian analogue to what Western civilisation, derived from Greek thought, has called “philosophy”.

AThe debatable superiority of Vedanta necessitates a critical examination of whether Indian traditions possess a distinct analytical discipline that corresponds to the rational and discursive nature of Greek philosophy.

BFrank Thilly’s dismissal of Hindu thought as mere mythology and poetry strengthens the argument that Vedanta cannot be considered the highest form of philosophical achievement in Indian culture.

CIndian intellectual history is fundamentally different from that of the West because its focus on faith and poetry, as opposed to pure reasoning, precludes the existence of a robust, independent philosophical tradition.

DScholarly debate persists regarding the true nature of Indian philosophical traditions, with some arguing that its complexity rivals Western thought, while others restrict it to religious and mythological texts.

Solution Answer: A

The passage moves from the contestable claim about Vedanta (“For precisely this reason”) to the scholarly question of whether India has an analytic discipline that corresponds to Greek-derived “philosophy”. A captures that link.

B links Thilly and Vedanta in a way the passage doesn’t. C presents Thilly’s claim as a settled conclusion. D adds a “rivals Western thought” side that the passage never mentions.

Q7TITA

Five jumbled-up sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5), related to a topic, are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a coherent paragraph. Identify the odd sentence and key in the number of that sentence as your answer.

In all of these settings, officials introduced mandatory posture exams, which became a rudimentary surveillance technique for sorting the healthy from the unhealthy.
At the same time, the rising rates of back and neck pain through the 20th century were blamed on individuals not doing enough to prevent these issues.
If you wished to pass as nondisabled and gain entry to schools, universities and the workplace, you needed to keep your posture in check.
One can understand why the market for posture correction bloomed in the first two-thirds of the 20th century.
Those who missed out on the gospel of good posture or could not afford to spend the time or money on such improvement measures were further marginalised.

Solution Answer: 1

The coherent paragraph is 4 → 3 → 2 → 5:

4: Topic: why the market for posture correction bloomed.
3: Reason one: good posture was needed to pass as nondisabled.
2: “At the same time”, reason two: pain was blamed on individuals.
5: Result: those who couldn’t afford the time or money for correction were marginalised.

The paragraph explains individual pressure and the market for correction. Sentence 1 shifts to officials and institutional surveillance through posture exams, which is a different angle on the topic.

Q8TITA

Being virtuous is not a one-time thing for Aristotle; it’s a state of character.
Aristotle highlights the importance of hexis, often translated as “habit.”
A person must not only do the right thing when required but also have the right motivations and feelings about it.
One should aim for, say, courage and be wise enough to be courageous at the right time.

Solution Answer: 2134

The order runs like this:

2: Introduces the concept: hexis, or “habit”.
1: Explains it: virtue is a lasting state of character, not a one-time act.
3: Adds what that requires: the right action plus the right motives and feelings.
4: Gives an example: courage, shown at the right time.

Q9MCQ

There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.

Sentence When not pushed to enhance food security in a crowded and hungry world, policymakers are urged to plan for a future where the populace contracts too much and the functioning of entire communities is jeopardized.

Paragraph Birthrates are retreating and, in some major economies, are well below levels historically regarded as desirable. ___(1)___. This development, years in the making, either terrifies us or amuses us. ___(2)___. There’s also a burgeoning market for exotica, like the stroller boom in South Korea, for getting around with poodles, not children. ___(3)___. The extremes are unhelpful and can’t obscure a broader point: Women have experienced the freedom of having fewer children, or none at all, and there is no going back for them. ___(4)___. We should proceed deliberately with responses that buttress the ability to live a good life in a world that’s a touch smaller, not one that’s empty.

AOption 1

BOption 2

COption 3

DOption 4

Solution Answer: B (Option 2)

“Either terrifies us or amuses us” sets up two reactions. The missing sentence illustrates the alarmed one (policymakers fearing a collapsing population). “There’s also a burgeoning market for exotica” then illustrates the amusing one, and “The extremes are unhelpful” sums up both. So the sentence belongs at blank 2.

At blank 1 the reactions haven’t been introduced yet. Blanks 3 and 4 come after the amusing example or after “the extremes” have already been dismissed.

Q10TITA

So, if you ask us not to think about a pink elephant, we won’t visualise one, because we can’t.
When people first learn they have aphantasia, they are often upset, as they realise other people can do things they cannot.
People with aphantasia cannot voluntarily imagine seeing things in your mind’s eye.
Where aphantasics have no capacity, most people would have an average ability.
Aphantasia is typically described as a deficit.

Solution Answer: 4

The coherent paragraph is 5 → 3 → 1 → 2:

5: Aphantasia is usually described as a deficit.
3: What it means: no voluntary mental imagery.
1: “So” gives the pink-elephant illustration.
2: The emotional response on learning one has it.

Sentence 4 brings in a comparison of ability levels across the general population. It doesn’t connect to the definition, the example or the personal reaction.

DILR · Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

Q11 – Q20 0/10

Set 1 · Q11 – Q15

Six batchmates, Ajay, Balwant, Cyrus, Dev, Ezra and Farhan got engaged on the same day. They had invited a total of 80 guests. The total number of guests attending their engagement was 150. The graph below shows the number of people who attended two, three, four or five functions.

Bar graph of number of persons by number of functions attended: 2 functions – 7, 3 functions – 11, 4 functions – 8, 5 functions – 5

Q11TITA

What is the minimum possible number of guests who attended exactly one of the functions?

Solution Answer: 4

The 150 counts attendances: a guest at 3 functions is counted 3 times. The graph covers guests at 2–5 functions, but some guests could also have attended all 6.

Functions attended	Guests	Attendances
2	7	14
3	11	33
4	8	32
5	5	25
Total	31	104

Let a guests attend exactly one function and s attend all six. Then a + 6s = 150 − 104 = 46. The number attending none is n = 80 − 31 − a − s = 49 − a − s.

s (all six)	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
a (exactly one)	46	40	34	28	22	16	10	4
n (none)	3	8	13	18	23	28	33	38

The minimum number attending exactly one function is 4 (when s = 7).

Q12MCQ

What is the maximum possible number of guests who attended none of the functions?

A38

B40

C41

D43

Solution Answer: A

From Q11, n = 49 − a − s = 3 + 5s. This is largest at s = 7, giving 38.

Q13TITA

If the maximum possible number of guests attended at most 3 functions, how many guests did not attend any function?

Solution Answer: 3

Guests attending at most 3 functions = 80 − 8 − 5 − s, which is largest when s = 0. Then a = 46 and n = 49 − 46 − 0 = 3.

Q14MCQ

If Farhan’s engagement was attended by 50 guests, what is the minimum number of guests who attended only his engagement?

B11

C12

D14

Solution Answer: D

At most 31 + s multi-function guests can be at Farhan’s engagement: all 31 from the graph plus the s who attended everything. So “only Farhan” ≥ 50 − 31 − s = 19 − s.

But “only Farhan” guests are among the a = 46 − 6s single-function guests. So 19 − s ≤ 46 − 6s, which gives s ≤ 5.

The minimum is 19 − 5 = 14, with s = 5 and a = 16.

Q15MCQ

If Farhan’s engagement was attended by 50 guests, what is the minimum number of guests who attended at least one other function?

Solution Answer: C

Of Farhan’s 50 guests, those who attended another function = 50 − (only Farhan). To minimise this, maximise “only Farhan”, which can be at most a = 46 − 6s. That is largest at s = 0, giving 46.

So at least 50 − 46 = 4 of his guests attended another function.

Set 2 · Q16 – Q20

Seven people – Amba, Bina, Chhaya, Diya, Ekta, Fatima, and Gurmeet live in a building that has no more than 15 floors. Only one person lives on each floor. The floors are numbered from 1, starting from the lowermost floor. There are two lifts, P and Q, in the basement. Lift P stops at the even-numbered floors and Lift Q stops at the odd-numbered floors. The lifts take 10 seconds to cross one floor and halt on the selected floor for 10 seconds.

Amba's floor number is twice that of Diya's floor number. Chhaya lives below Diya, and her floor number is a multiple of three. There is one floor between Amba's floor and Fatima's floor. Bina's floor number is exactly half of Fatima's floor number. There are four floors between the floors on which Bina and Gurmeet live. Fatima lives on the topmost floor. Not more than two people live on consecutive floors. The number of persons living between Ekta and Fatima is the same as the number of floors between Chhaya and Gurmeet. Ekta does not live on an odd-numbered floor.

Q16MCQ

On which floor number does Ekta live?

DCannot be determined

Solution Answer: C

Fatima is on the top floor F, and Bina = F/2, so F is even. Amba is two floors below Fatima, so A = F − 2 and Diya = A/2.

F = 14: A = 12, D = 6, B = 7, C = 3, and G = 2 (since 12 is taken). There are no floors between C and G, so no one can be between Ekta and Fatima. Ekta would have to be on 13, which is odd ✗.
F = 12: A = 10, D = 5, B = 6, C = 3, and G = 1 or 11.
- G = 11 puts 7 floors between C and G, but at most 5 people can be between Ekta and Fatima ✗.
- G = 1 puts 1 floor between C and G, so exactly one person is between Ekta and Fatima. Ekta = 8, with Amba (10) in between ✓.
F = 10: A = 8, D = 4, B = 5, C = 3. Floors 3, 4 and 5 are three consecutive occupied floors ✗.
F ≤ 8: Diya ≤ 3, so there is no multiple of 3 below her for Chhaya ✗.

Floor	1	3	5	6	8	10	12
Person	Gurmeet	Chhaya	Diya	Bina	Ekta	Amba	Fatima
Lift	Q	Q	Q	P	P	P	P

Ekta lives on floor 8.

Q17MCQ

Who lives on the 6th floor?

ABina

BDiya

CEkta

DThe 6th floor is empty

Solution Answer: A

From the table in Q16, Bina = 12/2 = 6. Bina lives on the 6th floor.

Q18TITA

How many of the given people live on odd-numbered floors?

Solution Answer: 3

Gurmeet (1), Chhaya (3) and Diya (5) live on odd floors: 3 people.

Q19MCQ

If all of them are standing in the basement, how much time will Amba take to reach her floor?

A10 seconds

B20 seconds

C30 seconds

D40 seconds

Solution Answer: B

Detailed solution coming soon.

Q20MCQ

Bina met Chhaya, Diya, and Ekta in the basement. Both the lifts arrived simultaneously, but Bina accidentally boarded the wrong lift. She could return only when the lift dropped the last person. How long will it take to reach her floor from the moment she entered the wrong lift?

A170 seconds

B180 seconds

C230 seconds

D240 seconds

Solution Answer: D

Bina (floor 6) should take Lift P, but she boards Lift Q with Chhaya (3) and Diya (5). Ekta (8) takes Lift P.

Lift Q: reaches floor 3 at 30 s and halts until 40 s. Reaches floor 5 at 60 s and halts until 70 s. Back in the basement at 120 s.
Lift P: reaches floor 8 at 80 s and halts until 90 s. Back in the basement at 170 s.
Bina: boards Lift P, which halts 10 s in the basement (180 s). It then climbs 6 floors (60 s) and reaches floor 6 at 240 s.

QA · Quantitative Ability

Q21 – Q30 0/10

Q21MCQ

Som and Mangal started a business together. Som invested his capital for 11 months, while Mangal invested for 12 months. Som, being the active partner, receives 20% of the total profit upfront. The remaining profit is then distributed between Som and Mangal in proportion to their investments and the time period of investment. At the end, it turns out that Som and Mangal receive equal total profit shares. If Som’s initial investment was Rs. 18,000, what was Mangal’s initial investment?

A27500

B24500

C22000

DCannot be determined

Solution Answer: A

Let Som’s capital-months be s = 18000 × 11 = 198000 and Mangal’s be m = 12M. Of the remaining 80% of the profit, Som gets the fraction s/(s + m) and Mangal gets m/(s + m).

Equal totals: 0.2 + 0.8 × s/(s + m) = 0.8 × m/(s + m). Multiplying by (s + m) gives s = 0.6m, so m = 330000.

12M = 330000, so M = Rs. 27,500.

Q22MCQ

From a point on the ground, the angle of elevation of a jet fighter is initially 60˚. After 15 seconds, the angle of elevation decreases to 30˚. If the jet is flying horizontally at a constant speed of 720 km/h, determine the constant height at which it is flying.

A2.4 km

B2.5 km

C2.6 km

D2.7 km

Solution Answer: C

720 km/h = 200 m/s, so in 15 s the jet covers 3000 m = 3 km.

h cot 30° − h cot 60° = 3, so h(√3 − 1/√3) = 3, i.e. h × 2/√3 = 3.

h = 3√3/2 ≈ 2.6 km.

Q23MCQ

A function f(x) = ax + b has the properties f(f(0)) = 0 and f(f(f(4))) = 9, where a and b are integers. What is the value of f(f(f(f(f(8)))))?

A18

C13

Solution Answer: B

f(f(0)) = f(b) = b(a + 1) = 0, so b = 0 or a = −1.

If b = 0, then f(f(f(4))) = 4a³ = 9, which has no integer solution. So a = −1 and f(x) = b − x. Applying f twice gives back x.

So f(f(f(4))) = f(4) = b − 4 = 9, giving b = 13. Then f applied five times to 8 equals f(8) = 13 − 8 = 5.

Q24TITA

Some men worked on a task for 2 days, and for the remaining 80% task, they were joined by 5 women. The entire task was completed in 5 days. 2 men and 3 women are 60% as efficient as 6 men and 1 woman. Find the number of men in the workforce.

Solution Answer: 2

Let M and W be the daily work of one man and one woman. 2M + 3W = 0.6(6M + W) gives 2.4W = 1.6M, so W = (2/3)M.

With n men and the whole task = 1: in 2 days, 2nM = 0.2, so nM = 0.1. In the next 3 days, 3(nM + 5W) = 0.8.

So 0.1 + 5W = 0.8/3, giving W = 1/30 and M = 1/20. Then n = 0.1 ÷ (1/20) = 2.

Q25MCQ

If x is a positive integer, what is the unit’s digit of the product: 34^2x+7 × 23^x+17 × 17^x+22 × 49^2x?

DCannot be uniquely determined

Solution Answer: A

34^2x+7: 4 raised to an odd power ends in 4.
23^x+17 × 17^x+22 = (23 × 17)^x+17 × 17⁵. Since 23 × 17 = 391 ends in 1, this ends in the same digit as 7⁵, which is 7.
49^2x = 2401^x, which ends in 1.

4 × 7 × 1 = 28, so the unit’s digit is 8, whatever the value of x.

Q26MCQ

A dishonest dealer purchases goods at a 20% discount and further cheats his wholesaler by obtaining 20% extra goods through false weighing. He then marks up the goods by 80%, but allows a 25% discount to customers. In addition, he cheats customers by delivering 10% less quantity than what they pay for. What is his overall profit percentage?

A90%

B100%

C120%

D125%

Solution Answer: D

Let the wholesale price be ₹100 per kg. The dealer pays ₹80 but receives 1.2 kg, so his cost is 80/1.2 = ₹66.67 per kg.

The marked price is 80% above ₹100, i.e. ₹180. After the 25% discount the customer pays ₹135, but receives only 0.9 kg. So the dealer gets 135/0.9 = ₹150 per kg actually delivered.

Profit = (150 − 66.67)/66.67 × 100 = 125%.

Q27MCQ

If x + y + z = 3, x² + y² + z² = 9, find the value of xyz + xzy + yzx.

A-4

B-6

Solution Answer: B

Square x + y + z = 3: 9 = 9 + 2(xy + yz + zx), so xy + yz + zx = 0.

Over the common denominator xyz, the expression becomes (x²y² + x²z² + y²z²)/xyz.

(xy + yz + zx)² = x²y² + y²z² + z²x² + 2xyz(x + y + z), so x²y² + y²z² + z²x² = 0 − 2xyz × 3 = −6xyz.

Expression = −6xyz/xyz = −6.

Q28MCQ

A spinning wheel has 8 numbers on it, and the probability that the spinning wheel will land on each number is equal. If you spin the spinning wheel 8 times, what is the probability that each spin will result in a different number?

A1¹⁶C₈

B88!

C8!8⁸

D18⁸

Solution Answer: C

There are 8⁸ possible outcomes in total. Outcomes where all 8 spins differ are arrangements of the 8 numbers: 8! of them.

Probability = 8!/8⁸.

Q29TITA

The simple interest on a certain sum of money for 3 years at 8% per annum is twice the compound interest on Rs. 4300 for 2 years at 10% per annum. Find the principal amount.

Solution Answer: 7525

CI on 4300 for 2 years at 10% = 4300 × (1.21 − 1) = 903. Twice that is 1806.

P × 8 × 3/100 = 1806, so 0.24P = 1806 and P = Rs. 7,525.

Q30MCQ

In the given figure, ABCD is a trapezium with AB||CD. ∠BAD = ∠ADC = 90˚. BE is the bisector of ∠ABC. Find the length of AD.