Para Completion Questions for CAT

There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit. Sentence: In the last week of May, the bodies of Asiya and her sister-in-law Nelofar were found in Shopian after they went missing from an orchard.

Paragraph: The large-scale protests over the recent incidents in Shopian and Baramullah should serve as a wake-up call for the political establishment to creatively and imaginatively build on proposals for autonomy, as well as political and administrative reforms which were incubated by this very dispensation during its previous term in office. (1) . These proposals, enjoying a fair degree of consensus, will address the more pressing demands of peace, dignity and security while also providing a model of federalisation for the Indian union. (2) . Will the government of India show some initiative at last, or will it allow conditions to drift as usual? (3) . It has taken two unfortunate incidents in Shopian and Baramulla to demonstrate, once again, the continuing sense of anger and alienation of the people of Kashmir. (4) .

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

Sentence: Emotional intelligence plays a vital role in personal and professional success, enabling individuals to navigate social interactions and manage emotions effectively.

Paragraph: Developing emotional intelligence requires self-awareness, empathy, and the ability to regulate one’s own emotions. (1) Additionally, recognizing and understanding the emotions of others can foster stronger relationships and effective communication. (2) By continuously developing emotional intelligence, individuals can enhance their interpersonal skills and make positive contributions to their personal and professional lives. (3) It is essential to invest time and effort in cultivating emotional intelligence for personal growth and well-being. (4)

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

Sentence: Effective communication is the foundation of strong relationships, both personal and professional.

Paragraph: Communication requires active listening, empathy, and clarity in conveying messages. (1) Additionally, adapting communication styles to different contexts and individuals is crucial for effective interaction. (2) By fostering open and honest communication, individuals can build trust, resolve conflicts, and enhance collaboration. (3) It is important to continuously refine communication skills and seek feedback to improve the quality of interpersonal connections. (4)

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

Sentence: But I realised that taking it further would be at the expense of my mental health.

Paragraph: I had an unpleasant experience a few weeks ago in my local supermarket, which shows this heartlessness is carrying over into everyday life. _ (1) _ . As I went to leave the store after using the self-service checkouts, three staff members and a security guard blocked my exit. They demanded my receipt and searched my bag; the security guard said they’d seen me on CCTV putting meat inside it. I hadn’t taken anything, and the whole experience was humiliating. The store refused my request to access its policies and procedures regarding bag searches. _ (2) _ . I expect it doesn’t have one, and I firmly believe that others will experience the same treatment. I accepted a modest amount of compensation in the form of a voucher after two weeks of doggedly pursuing my request for more information. _ (3) _ . I now feel uncomfortable going into shops, and this particular supermarket was one that I shopped at regularly. _ (4) _ .

Each question has a paragraph from which the last sentence has been deleted. From the given options, choose the sentence that completes the paragraph in the most appropriate way.

The stolid, gloomy churches of the early Middle Ages were in a style we now call Romanesque. This was the predominant building style throughout Europe until the twelfth century, and the challenge for architectural historians is to explain how and why Romanesque was transformed into Gothic. A change of this magnitude could not have happened simply because of the human urge to innovate. The design of a church was too important a matter to have been decided by mere artistic experimentation. But before we explore the possible reasons for this transformation, we need to see what it entailed: How is the change in style actually manifested in bricks and mortar? What distinguishes a Romanesque church from a Gothic one?

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

Sentence: That includes how cultural artefacts are understood, presented, and stored in museums – and if they are displayed at all.

Passage: Objects that once adorned display cases in museums around the world are disappearing from view. A few such removals are political, enacted in the name of decolonisation and the right to selfdetermination of Native peoples. _ (1) . By way of restitution, argues the museum scholar Janet Marstine of the University of Leicester, ‘Institutions need to develop long-term relationships with source communities built on trust. _ (2) _ . ‘Source communities’ is the buzzword for groups of people, or tribes, considered to be affiliated to the artefacts, and Marstine believes that they should control the interpretation of the past. _ (3) _ . The idea that one culture ‘owns’ a particular heritage is having a profound impact on museums. (4) _.

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

Sentence: Because the early historical and ethnographic accounts of cannibalism are riddled with doubts, and because ethnographic observation is no longer possible, archaeology is the only remaining tool for investigating the existence and extent of cannibalism.

1. How is cannibalism recognized in the archaeological record? A long history of work on faunal remains from archaeological contexts provides the answer. 2. The faunal analyst studies the context of the nonhuman bone assemblages from archaeological sites and the composition and modifications to these assemblages (cut marks, hammer-stone percussion marks for marrow removal, and other trauma). 3 The butchery and consumption of animals can be understood from these observations of faunal remains. __4__When human remains from an archaeological site are consistent with a nutritionally motivated breakdown—when patterns of burning, cut marks, percussion marks, crushing, and other fracture on human remains match what is seen on faunal remains—the assemblage is usually interpreted as evidence of cannibalism.

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

Sentence: It is this failure that underlies the spurt in rural violence that has highlighted once again the issue of the poor's access to land, water and forests.

Paragraph: The national economy is growing at near double-digit rates but neither industry nor non-agricultural activities in rural India have been able to provide livelihoods for millions of rural workers. (1) . It is gradually being recognised that further deterioration of economic, social and political conditions of the rural poor can neither be arrested nor reversed without a significant policy shift towards a comprehensive land reform programme. (2) . Land reform means the disempowerment of a small but very powerful number of people. (3) . In a democratic society land reform can be undertaken sans bloodshed but not without tears. (4) .

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

Sentence: Most scenarios are first generated with a core idea, a “kernel” that is then fleshed out by discussion in an iterative fashion, with creative redesign or minor technical modifications.

It is easy to suggest a scenario on paper but more difficult to translate it into an effective scenario for actual use. 1 Limitations and constraints of the available simulators, personnel resources at hand, the props or external systems that would be needed, and the time needed to set up and run the proposed scenario must be considered. 2. Ideally the new, redefined scenario is tested out first by instructors and technical staff, or pilot-tested with a volunteer group of participants from the target population. 3. With highly experienced instructors a new scenario may need only a technical walkthrough before it is run for real participants. 4. All scenarios can get better with time as glitches are found and refinements made.

Choose the sentence that best completes the paragraph.

Mathematical maturity is the ability to think critically and creatively about mathematical concepts, not just to perform calculations. It is about understanding the 'why' behind the 'how,' about seeing the connections between different areas of mathematics, and about being able to formulate and solve problems on your own. It's a way of thinking that goes beyond rote memorization and mechanical application of formulas. To foster this, educators should encourage students to ask questions, to explore different approaches, and to grapple with challenging ideas.

Choose the sentence that best completes the paragraph.

International commerce is not a purely economic activity; it is deeply embedded in a political context. The principle of free trade, which holds that goods and services should flow across borders without restriction, is often breached in practice. Nations frequently use trade policy as a tool of strategic competition, favoring allies and penalizing rivals. Tariffs, subsidies, and other protectionist measures are deployed not just to protect domestic industries, but also to advance geopolitical goals.

Choose the sentence that best completes the paragraph.

Ask someone to pick a 'random' number between 1 and 10, and they are most likely to choose 7. Why this particular number? The answer seems to lie in its arithmetical uniqueness. It is the only number in the group that cannot be multiplied or divided within the group. You can't multiply it by 2 and stay under 10, and you can't divide 10 by it to get a whole number. This makes it stand out, giving it a special status.

Choose the sentence that best completes the paragraph.

The concept of zero was a revolutionary development in mathematics, but it emerged in two distinct stages. The first was the use of a placeholder to denote an empty spot in a number, such as the '0' in 101. This allowed for a positional number system, where the value of a digit depends on its place. The second, more profound stage was the treatment of zero as a number in its own right, with its own properties and rules of arithmetic. This leap required a shift in thinking, from numbers as simple counters of objects to a more abstract understanding.

Age has a curvilinear relationship with the exploitation of opportunity. Initially, age will increase the likelihood that a person will exploit an entrepreneurial opportunity because people gather much of the knowledge necessary to exploit opportunities over the course of their lives, and because age provides credibility in transmitting that information to others. However, as people become older, their willingness to bear risks declines, their opportunity costs rise, and they become less receptive to new information. ______

Choose the Sentence that completes the Paragraph.

The 16th century in Europe was a period of profound transformation, marked by the Renaissance's emphasis on humanism and individualism. Thinkers and artists began to look back to classical antiquity for inspiration, celebrating human potential and achievement. This intellectual shift challenged the medieval worldview, which had been dominated by religious dogma and a focus on the afterlife. The era fostered a new sense of self-awareness and a belief in the power of human reason to understand and shape the world.

Choose the sentence that best completes the paragraph.

In his book The Selfish Gene, Richard Dawkins presented a radical idea: that living creatures are merely 'survival machines' for their genes. The fundamental unit of selection, he argued, is not the species or the individual, but the gene. Our bodies and behaviors are simply the vehicles that genes use to replicate and pass themselves on to the next generation. Dawkins later expressed regret for his choice of the word 'selfish,' as it led to misunderstandings. He clarified that he did not mean to imply that genes have conscious motives or personalities. He preferred the term 'immortal genes' to emphasize their continuity through generations.

Choose the Sentence that completes the Paragraph.

The Islamic State (ISIS) is not just a collection of psychopathic killers. It is a religious group with a carefully considered ideology, one that is apocalyptic and millenarian. It is also a multi-ethnic, transnational, and multilingual society. It is medieval in its sensibilities, yet modern in its propaganda and recruitment. It appeals to a sense of dispossession and humiliation, offering a vision of a restored caliphate where believers can live according to a pure and uncompromising version of Islam.

Choose the Sentence that completes the Paragraph.

Whether the plunge in oil prices is good or bad for the world economy is not a simple question. The answer depends on why prices are falling. If the primary cause is weak global demand, then falling oil prices are a symptom of a larger economic malaise, signaling a potential slide into recession. This scenario offers little to cheer about, as lower energy costs would not be enough to offset the broader economic slowdown.

Choose the Sentence that completes the Paragraph.

Contemporary capitalism, with its inherent instabilities and growing inequalities, poses a significant threat to political and social order. As the gap between the rich and the poor widens, the risk of social unrest increases. Governments are aware that the economically excluded masses can become a volatile political force. To maintain stability, it's not enough to simply provide welfare; there is a perceived need to manage the aspirations and behaviors of the poor to prevent them from challenging the existing system.

Choose the Sentence that completes the Paragraph.

For all the talk of worker power, there is a paradox at the heart of the recent surge in unionization: the very laws that unions have championed may be undermining their reason for existence. Unions have historically fought for and won protections like minimum wage laws and workplace safety regulations. These victories, while benefiting all workers, reduce the unique advantages of union membership. If non-union workers receive many of the same benefits without paying union dues, the incentive to join a union weakens. Thus, the success of the union movement in achieving broad-based labor reforms can ironically erode its own power base.