PlacementPrepWhat do psychometric tests mainly try to measure?
Solution
The passage says the tests measure how the candidate thinks and behaves, not subject knowledge.
Answer: (D) How a candidate thinks and behaves
Verbal Ability · Reading
Reading Comprehension: placement practice questions
30 moderate questions in the pattern of campus placement tests. Pick an option to check your answer, then open the step-by-step solution.
Passage 1
Many companies today use psychometric tests during recruitment. These tests do not measure what a candidate knows about a subject; instead, they try to measure how the candidate thinks and behaves. Some sections check reasoning ability, while others ask about preferences, such as whether the candidate enjoys working in a team or prefers working alone. Recruiters argue that such tests help them find people who will fit well into the company's culture. Critics, however, point out that candidates sometimes answer in the way they think the company wants, rather than honestly. For this reason, most companies use the results only as one input, alongside interviews and academic records.
Questions 1–5 are based on this passage.
Why do recruiters use these tests, according to the passage?
Solution
Recruiters argue the tests help find people who will fit well into the company's culture.
Answer: (A) To find people who fit the company's culture
What criticism of the tests is mentioned?
Solution
Critics say candidates sometimes answer the way they think the company wants.
Answer: (B) Candidates may give answers they think the company wants
How do most companies use the test results?
Solution
The last sentence says the results are used only as one input.
Answer: (C) As one input along with interviews and records
Which word is closest in meaning to 'critics' as used in the passage?
Solution
Critics are people who point out faults.
Answer: (B) People who find fault
Passage 2
The Indian Railways is one of the largest railway networks in the world. It carries more than two crore passengers every day, which is more than the population of many countries. Apart from passengers, it also transports huge quantities of coal, iron ore, food grains and cement. In recent years, the railways has worked on electrifying its tracks, which reduces both fuel costs and pollution. It has also introduced faster trains on busy routes. Despite these improvements, overcrowding remains a problem on many routes, especially during festivals, when millions of people travel home at the same time.
Questions 6–10 are based on this passage.
About how many passengers does the Indian Railways carry each day?
Solution
The passage says it carries more than two crore passengers every day.
Answer: (C) More than two crore
Which of these is NOT mentioned as goods carried by the railways?
Solution
Coal, iron ore, food grains and cement are mentioned; petroleum is not.
Answer: (A) Petroleum
What are the benefits of electrifying tracks, according to the passage?
Solution
Electrification 'reduces both fuel costs and pollution'.
Answer: (D) Lower fuel costs and less pollution
When is overcrowding especially bad?
Solution
The passage mentions overcrowding during festivals, when millions travel home.
Answer: (B) During festivals
The passage is mainly about:
Solution
It describes the size of the network, recent improvements and a remaining problem.
Answer: (A) The scale, improvements and problems of Indian Railways
Passage 3
Habits are actions we perform almost automatically. Researchers describe a habit as a loop of three parts: a cue, a routine and a reward. The cue is a trigger, such as feeling bored. The routine is the action that follows, such as picking up a phone. The reward is the pleasant feeling that makes the brain want to repeat the loop. To change a bad habit, experts suggest keeping the same cue and reward but replacing the routine. For example, someone who reaches for snacks when stressed might go for a short walk instead, which also relieves stress. Over time, the new routine can become just as automatic as the old one.
Questions 11–15 are based on this passage.
According to the passage, how many parts does a habit loop have?
Solution
A cue, a routine and a reward: three parts.
Answer: (D) Three
In the passage, 'feeling bored' is an example of:
Solution
The cue is a trigger, such as feeling bored.
Answer: (D) A cue
What do experts suggest to change a bad habit?
Solution
The passage says to keep the same cue and reward but replace the routine.
Answer: (C) Keep the cue and reward but change the routine
Why is going for a walk a good replacement for snacking when stressed?
Solution
The walk 'also relieves stress', so it gives the same reward.
Answer: (A) It also relieves stress
Which statement can be inferred from the passage?
Solution
The last sentence says the new routine can become just as automatic as the old one.
Answer: (B) New habits can become automatic with time
Passage 4
Cloud computing allows companies to rent computing power and storage over the internet instead of buying their own servers. A small start-up, for instance, can begin with very little infrastructure and pay only for what it uses. As the business grows, it can increase its resources within minutes. This flexibility has made cloud services popular with businesses of all sizes. However, storing data with an outside provider raises concerns about security and privacy. Companies must therefore choose providers carefully and decide which data should remain on their own systems. Many large firms now use a mix of both approaches, known as a hybrid model.
Questions 16–20 are based on this passage.
What does cloud computing allow companies to do?
Solution
The first sentence defines cloud computing this way.
Answer: (B) Rent computing power and storage over the internet
Why is cloud computing useful for a start-up?
Solution
A start-up 'can begin with very little infrastructure and pay only for what it uses'.
Answer: (A) It can start small and pay only for what it uses
What concern about cloud computing does the passage mention?
Solution
Storing data with an outside provider raises concerns about security and privacy.
Answer: (D) Security and privacy of data
What is a 'hybrid model', according to the passage?
Solution
A mix of both approaches is called a hybrid model.
Answer: (D) Using both cloud services and own systems
The word 'flexibility' in the passage refers to the ability to:
Solution
The flexibility described is increasing resources within minutes as the business grows.
Answer: (B) Change resources quickly as needed
Passage 5
Kavya grew up in a small town where few girls went to college. Her parents ran a grocery shop and could not afford coaching classes. Kavya studied from borrowed books and solved old question papers late into the night after helping at the shop. When her results came, she had topped the district in the engineering entrance exam. A local trust offered her a scholarship, and she joined a reputed college in the city. Four years later, she was placed in a well-known company. Today, she sponsors the education of two girls from her town every year.
Questions 21–25 are based on this passage.
How did Kavya prepare for the entrance exam?
Solution
Her parents could not afford coaching; she used borrowed books and old papers.
Answer: (B) By studying borrowed books and old question papers
Why could Kavya study only late at night?
Solution
She studied 'late into the night after helping at the shop'.
Answer: (C) She helped at her parents' shop
How did Kavya pay for college?
Solution
A local trust offered her a scholarship.
Answer: (A) With a scholarship from a local trust
What does Kavya do today for girls from her town?
Solution
The last sentence says she sponsors two girls' education every year.
Answer: (B) She sponsors the education of two girls every year
Which quality of Kavya does the passage mainly show?
Solution
Studying late after work and succeeding against the odds shows determination.
Answer: (C) Determination
Passage 6
Solar power is one of the fastest-growing sources of energy in India. The country receives strong sunlight for most of the year, which makes it well suited to solar panels. The cost of panels has fallen sharply over the past decade, so solar electricity is now cheaper than electricity from many new coal plants. Rooftop panels allow homes and offices to generate their own power and even sell the extra to the grid. The main challenge is that the sun does not shine at night or on cloudy days. Storing energy in batteries can help, but batteries are still costly. Researchers are therefore working on cheaper storage methods.
Questions 26–30 are based on this passage.
Why is India well suited for solar power?
Solution
The passage says the country receives strong sunlight for most of the year.
Answer: (C) It gets strong sunlight for most of the year
What has happened to the cost of solar panels?
Solution
The cost of panels has fallen sharply over the past decade.
Answer: (C) It has fallen sharply
What can homes with rooftop panels do with extra power?
Solution
They can 'sell the extra to the grid'.
Answer: (C) Sell it to the grid
What is the main challenge of solar power mentioned?
Solution
The passage names this as the main challenge.
Answer: (C) The sun does not shine at night or on cloudy days
Why are researchers working on cheaper storage?
Solution
Batteries can help but are still costly, so cheaper storage is needed.
Answer: (D) Because batteries are still costly
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