Thursday, 15 October 2015

OAs - VARC 01 - OCT 16

31. b The entire paragraph talks about how extinction

occurs. Statements A, D and B all discuss how the

commoner species quickly overpower the more rare

ones. Statements E and C are conclusions based on

these statements. Mandatory pairs would be (A-D)

and (B-C).

 

 

32. a The word in the first blank has to be a negative one.

We have clues in phrases like 'toxic mixture of

secrecy'. Out of the options 'hobbled', 'paralysed' and

'beleaguered would all fit the first blank. However, the

second blank is the decisive factor. Option (d) can be

eliminated as 'persecuted' means 'oppressed' or

'tormented'. This is inappropriate in the given context

as 'persecution' implies an agent that is acting to grieve

or injure somebody. Here we need a word like

'hampered', which would mean being held back or

impeded by something. Option (c) comes the closest.

However, the use of the word 'scuttled' would be too

extreme in the given context. 'Scuttled' means

'destroyed or wrecked'. An organization paralysed by

secrecy and then destroyed by too much information?

'Bedevilled' fits best out of the options. It means 'cause

great and continual trouble'

 

 

33. b Option (a) is too vague, nowhere in the passage do

we find any evaluation of 'the most important aspect'.

Option (d) can also be eliminated. Although supported

by the passage, it does not sufficiently explain why

the title works. Out of options (b) and (c), (c) can be

eliminated, as the narrative is not through the eyes of

the protagonist. It is a third person narrative but the

way the book seems to be written in his (Hannibal's)

'voice'. Refer to the lines "It's a voice of culture and

intelligence; of terror and menace…" and "We also

see things with an almost clinically unprejudiced and

sometimes uncomfortably uncensored eye;

unwavering, unblinking. Harris's prose is elegant and

economic". This makes option (b) more appropriate.

34. a Option (b) is incorrect. Anthony Hopkins' portrayal is

mentioned by the author as a reason for the character

becoming more popular, but the author does not admit

it was the reason the third book was written. Option

(c) is a very general inference from just one example

–Hannibal. It is true but nowhere admitted by the author.

Option (d) cannot be inferred, as the author has not

called 'Hannibal' a more interesting read than 'Silence

of the lambs'. Option (a) is correct. Refer to the lines

"Harris does not write of these atrocities from the

moral standpoint of someone who thinks the things

Hannibal does are wrong; we all know what he does

is wrong." The author has clearly said that Hannibal's

actions are wrong. But the narration is not from that

standpoint.

 

 

35. c Option (a) is incorrect. The fascination with Hannibal

can be ascribed to the skills of Harris. It cannot be

inferred that morality is no longer popular with people.

Option (b) cannot be inferred as nothing is given in detail about the other novels. Some aspects about

Hannibal's past may have been revealed but we are

not given enough information. Option (d) is incorrect

as there's no mention of Hannibal's turbulent past and

the sympathy it evokes. Option (c) can be inferred.

Refer to the lines where the well-rounded touch given

to Hannibal is highlighted. "We find him fascinating,

sympathetic and — despite his dietary habits and

penchant for killing (and consuming) only the "rude"

— a likable character. I like the well rounded character

that Harris has created, even if he's somewhat

outlandish, flamboyant and deeply disturbed. Hannibal

loves the finer things in life: classical music, ancient

literature, fine art, a tidy evisceration..."

 

36. a Option (b) is incorrect. 'misguiding incentives' does

not convey the appropriate meaning. Option (c) has a

subject verb agreement error. It should be 'allow fraud

to be more common'. Option (d) is also incorrect, as

the parallel form is not maintained.

 

37. c The key to this answer is the word 'however' at the

beginning of option (c). This word marks the shift in

the author's tone from appreciation of the government's

decision to an observation of possible outcomes of

this decision. Option (a) looks close, but it brings in the

concept of legal certainty in environmental regulations.

The precedent to 'This' in the beginning of the sentence

is also not very clear. The passage is applauding a

certain decision. Option (a) seems to be an abrupt

shift as it says that this indicates that we need to

establish legal certainty in regulations. There are no

grounds in the passage on which we can base this

assertion. Option (d) presents a very bleak picture

and is inconsistent with the flow of the paragraph.

Option (b) brings up an altogether different issue –

that of media attention. The word "sensational' in this

option is too far-fetched.

 

 

46. b (B-D) is a mandatory pair as it discusses the idea of

social life as a survival device. This pair is only present

in option (b).

47. b The clue to this question lies in the phrase - 'However,

with all its flaws'. The first word should highlight

something negative in Britain's actions. 'Complicit in

the kind of economic growth that strangulates the

poor' fits well. In the second sentence, since it starts

with 'however' we are looking for something that has

a positive connotation. 'Conscientious' therefore is

appropriate. Another option, which can be considered

is (b). 'Involved' would fit the first blank but 'judicious'

is primarily used to imply 'wise' or 'of sound judgement'.

This does not set up the contrast with the actions of

other western peers that well. 'Conscientious' on the

other hand means 'having moral integrity'. This is a

much better contrast with the actions of other nations,

which are acting to serve their own purposes. Options

(a) and (d) can be eliminated as the words 'persuasive'

and 'prudent' are inappropriate in the context.

48. a In the paragraph the author describes the body

language displayed by people in certain situations. He

begins by describing 'small actions' performed by

'insulters' and calls it 'an exaggerated version of high

status displays'. In the last line he describes how

ordinary displays are for the dominant and the

submissive. Since they are ordinary and not

exaggerated, the difference between them is very

subtle this is what option (a) is. Option (b) does the

opposite. Options (c) and (d) seem to shift the focus

of the discussion to other topics.

 

 

49. d Option (a) is not indicated or implied anywhere in the

passage. All that we can infer is that the primary subject

is digitized. Option (b) again is the opposite of what is

implied in the passage. The author praises the use of

Dunnett's self-images and has never said that it

becomes a limitation. Option (c) is incorrect as

Dunnett's features play a role in drawing the viewer's

attention away from the harshness of death. Option

(d) can be inferred from the last paragraph "The

juxtaposition of death against the aesthetics of comic

imagery is striking, almost as much as the multiplicity

of presentations of Dunnett's own self. It's that

combination which maintains the viewer's awe of and

transfixation upon her work."

 

50. a Option (b) is incorrect as Dunnett had used a

photograph of someone else in one of her experimental

works. Refer to the lines in paragraph 3 "But that red

one over there, textured with corn husks from tamales,

it's an experiment, using a face that's not my own — I

think it's best if I stick to my own face." Also, it is clear

from paragraph 3 that Dunnett wants to shoot others,

but was reluctant and shy to do so. Hence option (c)

is incorrect. Option (d) cannot be inferred from the

passage. Option (a) can be inferred from paragraph

6. Refer to the lines "Death here seems to be an

everyday thing, and attitudes towards death are so

different than from where you and I come from, not so

hidden away."

51. b Dunnett's work seems to be an interaction of three

different- even opposing elements, for e.g. images of

death, comic images and also photo- portraits of

Dunnet herself in different moods. This is what draws

the viewers' attention. Option (a) is more of a

harmonious blend – not opposing or contrasting

elements. Options (c) and (d) have only 2 elements

and the picture is again of harmonious elements. It is in

only option (b) that there are musicians of different

genres. Hence, there is a chance of experiencing an

effect arising out of the combination of different or

even contrasing /opposing elements.

For questions 52 and 53:

A, C, E and F can be arranged amongst themselves in two

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