Cat model ques

The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 1
THE PRINCETON REVIEW CAT SAMPLE PAPER 1
INSTRUCTIONS – Please read these carefully before attempting the test
1. This test is based on pattern of previous years’ CAT papers.
2. There are three sections.
Section 1- English & Reading Comprehension (50 questions)
Section 2- Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (50 questions)
Section 3- Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency (50 questions)
3. The total time allotted is 2 hours exactly. Please note your start time and end
time on the answer sheet. Do not take more than 2 hours, or you will get a
wrong assessment.
4. Please fill all the details, as asked on top of the answer sheet.
5. Please try to maximize your attempt overall, but you need to do well in all
sections.
6. There is 1 mark for every right answer and 0.25 negative mark for every
wrong one.
7. There is no sectional time limit.
8. Since it is a time constrained test and you have 2 hours, and all questions carry
equal marks, please do not get stuck on any question, move fast to try and do
easier ones.
9. Please do all scratch work on paper only, no extra sheets to be used. Put all
your answers on the answer sheet.
10. Relax. You are competing against yourself.
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 2
SECTION I
Number of Questions: 50
DIRECTIONS for Questions 1 to 5: In each of the questions, four different ways of presenting an idea are
given. Choose the one that conforms most closely to standard English usage.
1. A. We are forced to fall back on fatalism as an explanation of irrational events.
B. We are forced to falling back on the fatalism as an explanation of irrational events.
C. We are forced to fall back on fatalism as explanations of irrational events.
D. We are forced to fall back to fatalism as an explanation of irrational events.
[1] A [2] B [3] C [4] D
2. A. Creativity in any field is regarded not only as valuable for itself but also as a service to the
nation.
B. Creativity in any field is not regarded only as valuable on its own, but also as a service to the
nation.
C. Creativity, in any field, is not only regarded as valuable, but also as a service to the nation. [3]
D. Creativity in any field is regarded not only as valuable in itself but also as a service to the
nation.
[1] A [2] B [3] C [4] D
3. A. The running of large businesses consist of getting somebody to make something that somebody
else sold to somebody else for more than its cost.
B. The running of a large business consists of getting somebody to make something that
somebody else will sell to somebody else for more than it costs.
C. The running of a large business consists of getting somebody to sell something that somebody
else made for more than it cost.
D. The running of large businesses consist of getting somebody to make something else that
somebody else will sell to somebody else for more than it costs.
[1] A [2] B [3] C [4] D
4. A. From the sixteenth century onwards, people started feeling disdainful and self-conscious about
their body and its products that led to a heightened focus on emotional and bodily regulations.
B. The heightened focus on controlling the body and emotions comes from disdain and selfconsciousness
about the body and its products, found in the sixteenth century.
C. From the sixteenth century onwards, a growing disdain for and self-consciousness about the
body and its products took hold, leading to a heightened focus on emotional and bodily regulation.
D. The heightened focus on emotional and bodily regulations started from the sixteenth century
onwards, when people felt disdain and self-consciousness about the body and its products.
[1] A [2] B [3] C [4] D
5. A. If precision of thought had facilitated precision of behaviour, and if reflection had preceded
action, it would be ideal for humans.
B. It would be ideal for humans if reflection preceded action and precision of thought facilitated
precision of behaviour.
C. It would be ideal for humans if precedence of reflection was followed by action and precision
of thought, by precise behaviour.
D. It would have been ideal for humans, if precise action and behaviour preceded precise
reflection.
[1] A [2] B [3] C [4] D
Directions for Questions 6 to 10: In each question, the word at the top of the table is used in four different
ways, numbered 1 to 4. Choose the option in which the usage of the word is INCORRECT or
INAPPROPRIATE.
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 3
6. Bundle
[1] The newborn baby was a bundle of joy for the family.
[2] Mobile operators are offering a bundle of additional benefits.
[3] He made a bundle in the share market.
[4] It was sheer luck that brought a bundle of boy-scouts to where I was lying wounded.
7. Host
[1] If you host the party, who will foot the bill?
[2] Kerala’s forests are host to a range of snakes.
[3] Ranchi will play the host to the next national film festival.
[4] A virus has infected the host computer.
8. Distinct
[1] He is distinct about what is right and what is wrong.
[2] Mars became distinct on the horizon in the month of August.
[3] The distinct strains of Ravi’s violin could be heard above the general din.
[4] Ghoshbabu’s is a distinct case of water rising above its own level.
9. Sort
[1] What sort of cheese do you use in pizza?
[2] Farmers of all sort attended the rally.
[3] They serve tea of a sort on these trains.
[4] Let’s sort these boys into four groups.
10. Implication
[1] Everyone appreciated the headmaster’s implication in raising flood relief in the village.
[2] This letter will lead to the implication of several industrialists in the share market scam.
[3] Several members of the audience missed the implication of the minister’s promise.
[4] Death, by implication, is the only solution the poem offers the reader.
DIRECTIONS for Questions 11 to 15: The sentences given in each question, when properly sequenced,
form a coherent paragraph. Each sentence is labeled with a letter. Choose the most logical order of
sentences from among the given choices to construct a coherent paragraph.
11. A. Surrendered, or captured, combatants cannot be incarcerated in razor wire cages; this ‘war’ has
a dubious legality.
B. How can then one characterize a conflict to be waged against a phenomenon as war?
C. The phrase ‘war against terror’, which has passed into the common lexicon, is a huge
misnomer.
D. Besides, war has a juridical meaning in international law, which has confided the laws of war,
imbuing them with a humanitarian content.
E. Terror is a phenomenon, not an entity – either State or non-State.
[1] ECDBA [2] BECDA [3] EBCAD [4] CEBDA
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 4
12. A. I am much more intolerant of a human being’s shortcomings than I am of an animal’s, but in
this respect I have been lucky, for most of the people I have come across have been charming.
B. Then you come across the unpleasant human animal – the District Officer who drawled, ‘We
chaps are here to help you chaps,’ and then proceeded to be as obstructive as possible.
C. In these cases of course, the fact that you are an animal collector helps; people always seem
delighted to meet someone with such an unusual occupation and go out of their way to assist you.
D. Fortunately, these types are rare, and the pleasant ones I have met more than compensated for
them – but even so, I think I will stick to animals.
E. When you travel round the world collecting animals you also, of necessity, collect human
beings.
[1] EA CBD [2] ABDCE [3] ECBDA [4] ACBDE
13. A. Four days later, Oracle announced its own bid for PeopleSoft, and invited the firm's board to a
discussion.
B. Furious that his own plans had been endangered, PeopleSoft's boss, Craig Conway, called
Oracle's offer "diabolical", and its boss, Larry Ellison, a “sociopath".
C. In early June, PeopleSoft said that it would buy J .D. Edwards, a smaller rival.
D. Moreover, said Mr. Conway, he “could imagine no price nor combination of price and other
conditions to recommend accepting the offer."
E. On June 12th, PeopleSoft turned Oracle down.
[1] CABDE [2] CADBE [3] CEDAB [4] CAEBD
14. A. A few months ago I went to Princeton University to see what the young people who are going
to be running our country in a few decades are like.
B. I would go to sleep in my hotel room around midnight each night, and when I awoke, my
mailbox would be full of replies—sent at 1:15 a.m., 2:59 a.m., 3:23 a.m.
C. One senior told me that she went to bed around two and woke up each morning at seven; she
could afford that much rest because she had learned to supplement her full day of work by
studying in her sleep.
D. Faculty members gave me the names of a few dozen articulate students, and I sent them emails,
inviting them out to lunch or dinner in small groups.
E. As she was falling asleep she would recite a math problem or a paper topic to herself; she
would then sometimes dream about it, and when she woke up, the problem might be solved.
[1] DABCE [2] DACEB [3] ADBCE [4] AECBD
15. A. To avoid this, the QWERTY layout put the keys most likely to be hit in rapid succession on
opposite sides. This made the keyboard slow, the story goes, but that was the idea.
B. A different layout, which had been patented by August Dvorak in 1936, was shown to be much
faster.
C. The QWERTY design (patented by Christopher Sholes in 1868 and sold to Remington in 1873)
aimed to solve a mechanical problem of early typewriters.
D. Yet the Dvorak layout has never been widely adopted, even though (with electric typewriters
and then PCs) the anti-jamming rationale for QWERTY has been defunct for years.
E. When certain combinations of keys were struck quickly, the type bars often jammed.
[1] BDACE [2] CEABD [3] BCDEA [4] CAEBD
DIRECTIONS for Questions 16 to 20: There are two gaps in each of the following sentences. From the
pairs of words given, choose the one that fills the gaps most appropriately. The first word in the pair should
fill the first gap.
16. Early _____ of maladjustment to college culture is _____ by the tendency to develop friendship
networks outside college which mask signals of maladjustment.
[1] treatment, compounded [2] detection, facilitated
[3] identification, complicated [4] prevention, helped
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 5
17. The British retailer, M&S, today formally _____ defeat in its attempt to _____ King's, its US
subsidiary, since no potential purchasers were ready to cough up the necessary cash.
[1] admitted, acquire [2] conceded, offload
[3] announced, dispose [4] ratified, auction
18. Companies that try to improve employees' performance by _____ rewards encourage negative
kinds of behaviour instead of _____ a genuine interest in doing the work well.
[1] giving, seeking [2] bestowing, discouraging
[3] conferring, discrediting [4] withholding, fostering
19. A growing number of these expert professionals ________ having to train foreigners as the
students end up _____ the teachers who have to then unhappily contend with no jobs at all or new
jobs with drastically reduced pay packets.
[1] resent, replacing [2] resist, challenging
[3] welcome, assisting [4] are, supplanting
20. The _____ regions of Spain all have unique cultures, but the _____ views within each region make
the issue of an acceptable common language of instruction an even more contentious one.
[1] different, discrete [2] distinct, disparate
[3] divergent, distinct [4] different, competing
DIRECTIONS for Questions 21 to 25: The poem given below is followed by five questions. Choose the
best answer to each question.
As you set out for Ithaka
hope the journey is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - don't be afraid of them:
you'll never find things like that on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement
stirs your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
wild Poseidon - you won't encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.
Hope the voyage is a long one,
may there be many a summer morning when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you come into harbours seen for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stations
to buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
sensual perfume of every kind -
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
and may you visit many Egyptian cities
to gather stores of knowledge from their scholars.
Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 6
Arriving there is what you are destined for.
But do not hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you are old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.
Ithaka gave you the marvellous journey,
without her you would not have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka won't have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you will have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.
21. Which of the following best reflects the central theme of this poem?
[1] If you don't have high expectations, you will not be disappointed.
[2] Don't rush to your goal; the journey is what enriches you.
[3] The longer the journey the greater the experiences you gather.
[4] You cannot reach Ithaka without visiting Egyptian ports.
22. The poet recommends a long journey. Which of the following is the most comprehensive reason
for it?
[1] You can gain knowledge as well as sensual experience.
[2] You can visit new cities and harbours.
[3] You can experience the full range of sensuality.
[4] You can buy a variety of fine things.
23. In the poem, Ithaka is a symbol of
[1] the divine mother. [2] your inner self.
[3] the path to wisdom. [4] life's distant goal.
24. What does the poet mean by 'Laistrygonians' and 'Cyclops'?
[1] Creatures which, along with Poseidon, one finds during a journey.
[2] Mythological characters that one should not be afraid of.
[3] Intra -personal obstacles that hinder one’ s journey.
[4] Problems that one has to face to derive the most from one's journey.
25. Which of the following best reflects the tone of the poem?
[1] Prescribing. [2] Exhorting. [3] Pleading. [4] Consoling.
DIRECTIONS for Questions 26 to 50: Each of the five passages given below is followed by five
questions. Choose the best answer to each question.
PASSAGE I
The controversy over genetically-modified food continues unabated in the West. Genetic modification
(GM) is the science by which the genetic material of a plant is altered, perhaps to make it more resistant to
pests or killer weeds, or to enhance its nutritional value. Many food biotechnologists claim that GM will be
a major contribution of science to mankind in the 21st century. On the other hand, large numbers of
opponents, mainly in Europe, claim that the benefits of GM are a myth propagated by multinational
corporations to increase their profits, that they pose a health hazard, and have therefore called for
governments to ban the sale of genetically-modified food.
The anti-GM campaign has been quite effective in Europe, with several European Union member countries
imposing a virtual ban for five years over genetically-modified food imports. Since the geneticallyThe
Princeton Review CAT sample paper 7
modified food industry is particularly strong in the United States of America, the controversy also
constitutes another chapter in the US-Europe skirmishes which have become particularly acerbic after the
US invasion of Iraq.
To a large extent, the GM controversy has been ignored in the Indian media, although Indian
biotechnologists have been quite active in GM research. Several groups of Indian biotechnologists have
been working on various issues connected with crops grown in India. One concrete achievement which has
recently figured in the news is that of a team led by the former vice-chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru
University, Asis Datta—it has successfully added an extra gene to potatoes to enhance the protein content
of the tuber by at least 30 percent. Not surprisingly, the new potato has been called the protato. The protato
is now in its third year of field trials. It is quite likely that the GM controversy will soon hit the headlines in
India since a spokesperson of the Indian Central government has recently announced that the government
may use the protato in its midday meal programme for schools as early as next year.
Why should "scientific progress", with huge potential benefits to the poor and malnourished, be so
controversial? The anti-GM lobby contends that pernicious propaganda has vastly exaggerated the benefits
of GM and completely evaded the costs which will have to be incurred if the genetically-modified food
industry is allowed to grow unchecked. In particular, they allude to different types of costs.
This group contends that the most important potential cost is that the widespread distribution and growth of
genetically-modified food will enable the corporate world (alias the multinational corporations—MNCs) to
completely capture the food chain. A "small" group of biotech companies will patent the transferred genes
as well as the technology associated with them. They will then buy up the competing seed merchants and
seed-breeding centres, thereby controlling the production of food at every possible level. Independent
farmers, big and small, will be completely wiped out of the food industry. At best, they will be reduced to
the status of being subcontractors.
This line of argument goes on to claim that the control of the food chain will be disastrous for the poor
since the MNCs, guided by the profit motive, will only focus on the high-value food items demanded by
the affluent. Thus, in the long run, the production of basic staples which constitute the food basket of the
poor will taper off. However, this vastly overestimates the power of the MNCs. Even if the research
promoted by them does focus on the high-value food items, much of biotechnology research is also funded
by governments in both developing and developed countries. Indeed, the protato is a by-product of this type
of research. If the protato passes the field trials, there is no reason to believe that it cannot be marketed in
the global potato market. And this type of success story can be repeated with other basic food items.
The second type of cost associated with the genetically-modified food industry is environmental damage.
The most common type of "genetic engineering" involves gene modification in plants designed to make
them resistant to applications of weed-killers. This then enables farmers to use massive dosages of weedkillers
so as to destroy or wipe out all competing varieties of plants in their fields. However, some weeds
through genetically-modified pollen contamination may acquire resistance to a variety of weed-killers. The
only way to destroy these weeds is through the use of ever-stronger herbicides which are poisonous and
linger on in the environment.
26. The author doubts the anti-GM lobby's contention that MNC control of the food chain will be
disastrous for the poor because
[1] MNCs will focus on high-value food items.
[2] MNCs are driven by the motive of profit maximization.
[3] MNCs are not the only group of actors in genetically-modified food research.
[4] economic development will help the poor buy MNC-produced food.
27. Using the clues in the passage, which of the following countries would you expect to be in the
forefront of the anti-GM campaign?
[1] USA and Spain. [2] India and Iraq.
[3] Germany and France. [4] Australia and New Zealand.
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 8
28. Genetic modification makes plants more resistant to killer weeds. However, this can lead to
environmental damage by
[1] wiping out competing varieties of plants which now fall prey to killer weeds.
[2] forcing application of stronger herbicides to kill weeds which have become resistant to weak
herbicides.
[3] forcing application of stronger herbicides to keep the competing plants weed-free.
[4] not allowing growth of any weeds, thus reducing soil fertility.
29. Which of the following about the Indian media's coverage of scientific research does the passage
seem to suggest?
[1] Indian media generally covers a subject of scientific importance when its mass application is
likely.
[2] Indian media's coverage of scientific research is generally dependent on MNCs' interests.
[3] Indian media, in partnership with the government, is actively involved in publicizing the
results of scientific research.
[4] Indian media only highlights scientific research which is funded by the government.
30. According to the passage, biotechnology research
[1] is of utility only for high value food items.
[2] is funded only by multinational corporations.
[3] allows multinational corporations to control the food basket of the poor.
[4] is funded mainly by the government of both the rich and poor countries.
PASSAGE II
Social life is an outflow and meeting of personality, which means that its end is the meeting of
temperament, and sensibility, in which our thoughts and feelings, and sense perceptions are brought into
their lightest and yet keenest.
This aspect, to my thinking, is realized as much in large parties composed of casual acquaintances
strangers, as in intimate meetings of old friends. I am not one of those superior persons who hold cocktail
in contempt, looking upon them as barren or at best as very tryingly kaleidoscopic places for gathering, of
the strangers one has to meet in them; which is no argument, for even our most intimate friends must at one
time have been strangers to us. These large gatherings will be only what we make of them—if not better,
they can be as good places to collect new friends from as the slave-markets of Istanbul were for slaves or
New Market for race horses.
But they do offer more immediate enjoyment. For one thing, in them one can see the external expression
life in appearance and behaviour at its widest and most varied—where one can admire beauty of body or
voices remarkable either for sweetness or refinement, look on elegance of clothes or deportment. What
these parties are schools for training in sociability, for in them we have to treat strangers as friends. So, in
them we see social sympathy in widest commonalty spread, or at least should. We show an atrophy of the
natural human instinct of getting pleasure and happiness out of other human beings if we cannot treat
strangers for the moment. And I would go further and paraphrase Pater to say that not to be able to
discriminate every moment some passionate attitude in those about us, even when we meet them casually,
is on this short day of frost and sun which our life is, to sleep before evening.
So, it will be seen that my conception of social life is modest, for it makes no demands on what we have,
thought it does make some on what we are. Interest, wonder, sympathy, and love, the first two leading to
the last the psychological prerequisites for social life; and the need for the first two must not be underrated.
We make the most even of our intimate social life unless we are able to make strangers of our oldest friends
by discovering unknown areas in their personality, and transform them into new friends. In sum, social life
is a function of vitality.
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 9
It is tragic, however, to observe that it is these very natural springs of social life which are drying up among
us. It is becoming more and more difficult to come across fellow-feeling for human beings as such in our
society – and in all its strata. In the poor middle class, in the course of all my life, I have hardly seen any
social life so-called. Not only has the grinding routine of making a living killed all desire for it in them, it
generated a standing mood of peevish hostility to other human beings. Increasing economic distress in
recent years has infinitely worsened this state of affairs, and has also brought a sinister addition—class
hatred, become the greatest collective emotional enjoyment of the poor middle class, and indeed they feel
more when they form a pack, and snarl or howl at people who are better off than they.
Their most innocent exhibition of sociability is seen when they spill out from their intolerable homes streets
and bazaars. I was astonished to see the milling crowds in the poor suburbs of Calcutta. But even there a
group of flippant young loafers would put on a conspiratorial look if they saw a man in good clothes pass
them either on foot or in a car. I had borrowed a car from a relative to visit a friend in one of these suburbs
he became very anxious when I had not returned before dusk. Acid and bombs, he said, were thrown almost
every evening in that area. I was amazed. But I also know as a fact that my brother was blackmailed to pay
five rupees on a trumped up charge when passing in a car through one such locality.
The situation is differently inhuman, but not a whit more human, among the well-to-do. Kindliness for
fellow-human beings has been smothered in them, taken as a class, by the arrogance of worldly position,
which among the Bengalis who show this snobbery is often only a third-class position.
31. The word 'they' in the first sentence of the third paragraph refers to
[1] Large parties consisting of casual acquaintances and strangers.
[2] Intimate meetings of old friends.
[3] New friends.
[4] Both l & 2.
32. The author's conception of 'social life' requires that
[1] people attend large gatherings.
[2] people possess qualities like wonder and interest.
[3] people do not spend too much time in the company of intimate friends.
[4] large parties consist of casual acquaintances and intimate friends.
33. In this passage the author is essentially
[1] showing how shallow our social life is.
[2] poking fun at the lower middle class people who howl at better off people.
[3] lamenting the drying up of our real social life.
[4] criticizing the upper class for lavish showy parties.
34. The word 'discriminate' in the last sentence of the third paragraph means
[1] recognise. [2] count. [3] distinguish. [4] analyse.
35. What is the author trying to show through the two incidents in the paragraph beginning, "Their
most innocent exhibition of sociability...?”
[1] The crowds in poor Calcutta suburbs can turn violent without any provocation.
[2] Although poor, the people of poor Calcutta suburbs have a rich social life .
[3] It is risky for rich people to move around in poor suburbs.
[4] Achieving a high degree of sociability does not stop the poor from hating the rich.
PASSAGE III
At the heart of the enormous boom in wine consumption that has taken place in the English-speaking world
over the last two decades or so is a fascinating, happy paradox. In the days when wine was exclusively the
preserve of a narrow cultural elite, bought either at auctions or from gentleman wine merchants in wing
collars and bow-ties, to be stored in rambling cellars and decanted to order by one's butler, the ordinary
drinker didn't get a look-in. Wine was considered a highly technical subject, in which anybody without the
necessary ability could only fall flat on his or her face in embarrassment. It wasn't just that you needed a
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 10
refined aesthetic sensibility for the stuff if it wasn't to be hopelessly wasted on you. It required an intimate
knowledge of what came from where, and what it was supposed to taste like.
Those were times, however, when wine appreciation essentially meant a familiarity with the great French
classics, with perhaps a smattering of other wines—like sherry and port. That was what the wine trade dealt
in. These days, wine is bought daily in supermarkets and high-street chains to be consumed that evening,
hardly anybody has a cellar to store it in and most don't even possess a decanter. Above all, the wines of
literally dozens of countries are available on our market. When a supermarket offers its customers a couple
of fruity little numbers from Brazil, we scarcely raise an eyebrow.
It seems, in other words, that the commercial jungle that wine has now become has not in the slightest
deterred people from plunging adventurously into the thickets in order to taste and see. Consumers are no
longer intimidated by the thought of needing to know their Pouilly-Fume from their Pouilly-Fuisse, just at
the very moment when there is more to know than ever before.
The reason for this new mood of confidence is not hard to find. It is on every wine label from Australia,
New Zealand, South Africa and the United States: the name of the grape from which the wine is made. At
one time that might have sounded like a fairly technical approach in itself. Why should native Englishspeakers
know what Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay were? The answer lies in the popularity that wines
made from those grape varieties now enjoy. Consumers effectively recognize them as brand names, and
have acquired a basic lexicon of wine that can serve them even when confronted with those Brazilian
upstarts.
In the wine heartlands of France, they are scared to death of that trend—not because they think their wine
isn't as good as the best from California or South Australia (what French winemaker will ever admit that?)
but because they don't traditionally call their wines Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay. They call them
Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou or Corton-Charlemagne, and they aren't about to change. Some areas, in the
middle of southern France, have now produced a generation of growers using the varietal names on their
labels and are tempting consumers back to French wine. It will be an uphill struggle, but there is probably
no other way if France is to avoid simply becoming a specialty source of old-fashioned wines for oldfashioned
connoisseurs.
Wine consumption was also given a significant boost in the early 1990s by the work of Dr. Serge Renaud,
who has spent many years investigating the reasons for the uncannily low incidence of coronary heart
disease in the south of France. One of his major findings is that the fat-derived cholesterol that builds up in
the arteries and can eventually lead to heart trouble, can be dispersed by the tannins in wine. Tannin is
derived from the skins of grapes, and is therefore present in higher levels in red wines, because they have to
be infused with their skins to attain the red colour. That news caused a huge upsurge in red wine
consumption in the United States. It has not been accorded the prominence it deserves in the UK, largely
because the medical profession still sees all alcohol as a menace to health, and is constantly calling for it to
be made prohibitively expensive. Certainly, the manufacturers of anticoagulant drugs might have
something to lose if we all got the message that we would do just as well by our hearts by taking half a
bottle of red wine every day!
36. Which one of the following CANNOT be reasonably attributed to the labelling strategy followed
by wine producers in English-speaking countries?
[1] Consumers buy wines on the basis of their familiarity with a grape variety's name.
[2] Even ordinary customers now have more access to technical knowledge about wine.
[3] Consumers are able to appreciate better quality wines.
[4] Some non-English speaking countries like Brazil indicate grape variety names on their labels.
37. The tone that the author uses while asking "What French winemaker will ever admit that?" is best
described as
[1] caustic. [2] satirical. [3] critical. [4] hypocritical.
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 11
38. What according to the author should the French do to avoid becoming a producer of merely oldfashioned
wines?
[1] Follow the labelling strategy of the English-speaking countries.
[2] Give their wines English names.
[3] Introduce fruity wines as Brazil has done.
[4] Produce the wines that have become popular in the English-speaking world.
39. Which one of the following, if true, would provide most support for Dr. Renaud's findings about
the effect of tannins?
[1] A survey showed that film celebrities based in France have a low incidence of coronary heart
disease.
[2] Measurements carried out in southern France showed red wine drinkers had significantly
higher levels of coronary heart incidence than white wine drinkers did.
[3] Data showed a positive association between sales of red wine and incidence of coronary heart
disease.
[4] Long-term surveys in southern France showed that the incidence of coronary heart disease was
significantly lower in red wine drinkers than in those who did not drink red wine.
40. The development which has created fear among winemakers in the wine heartlands of France is
the
[1] tendency not to name wines after the grape varieties that are used in the wines.
[2] 'education' that consumers have derived from wine labels from English-speaking countries.
[3] new generation of local winegrowers who use labels that show names of grape varieties.
[4] ability of consumers to understand a wine's qualities when confronted with "Brazilian
upstarts".
PASSAGE IV
Right through history, imperial powers have clung to their possessions to death. Why, then, did Britain in
1947 give up the jewel in its crown, India? For many reasons. The independence struggle exposed the
hollowness of the white man's burden. Provincial self-rule since 1935 paved the way for full self-rule.
Churchill resisted independence, but the Labour government of Atlee was anti-imperialist by ideology.
Finally, the Royal Indian Navy mutiny in 1946 raised fears of a second Sepoy mutiny, and convinced
Britis h waverers that it was safer to withdraw gracefully. But politico-military explanations are not enough.
The basis of empire was always money. The end of empire had much to do with the fact that British
imperialism had ceased to be profitable. World War II left Britain victorious but deeply indebted, needing
Marshall Aid and loans from the World Bank. This constituted a strong financial case for ending the nolonger-
profitable empire.
Empire building is expensive. The US is spending one billion dollars a day in operations in Iraq that fall
well short of full-scale imperialism. Through the centuries, empire building was costly, yet constantly
undertaken because it promised high returns. The investment was in armies and conquest. The returns came
through plunder and taxes from the conquered.
No immorality was attached to imperial loot and plunder. The biggest conquerors were typically revered
(hence titles like Alexander the Great, Akbar the Great, and Peter the Great). The bigger and richer the
empire, the more the plunderer was admired. This mindset gradually changed with the rise of new ideas
about equality and governing for the public good, ideas that culminated in the French and American
revolutions. Robert Clive was impeached for making a little money on the side, and so was Warren
Hastings. The white man's burden came up as a new moral rationale for conquest. It was supposedly for the
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 12
good of the conquered. This led to much muddled hypocrisy. On the one hand, the empire needed to be
profitable. On the other hand, the white man's burden made brazen loot impossible.
An additional factor deterring loot was the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny. Though crushed, it reminded the British
vividly that they were a tiny ethnic group who could not rule a gigantic subcontinent without the support of
important locals. After 1857, the British stopped annexing one princely state after another, and instead
treated the princes as allies. Land revenue was fixed in absolute terms, partly to prevent local unrest and
partly to promote the notion of the white man's burden. The empire proclaimed itself to be a protector of
the Indian peasant against exploitation by Indian elites. This was denounced as hypocrisy by nationalists
like Dadabhoy Naoroji in the 19th century, who complained that land taxes led to an enormous drain from
India to Britain. Objective calculations by historians like Angus Maddison suggest a drain of perhaps 1.6
percent of Indian Gross National Product in the 19th century.
But land revenue was more or less fixed by the Raj in absolute terms, and so its real value diminished
rapidly with inflation in the 20th century. By World War II, India had ceased to be a profit centre for the
British Empire.
Historically, conquered nations paid taxes to finance fresh wars of the conqueror. India itself was asked to
pay a large sum at the end of World War I to help repair Britain's finances. But, as shown by historian
Indivar Kamtekar, the independence movement led by Gandhiji changed the political landscape, and made
mass taxation of India increasingly difficult. By World War II, this had become politically impossible. Far
from taxing India to pay for World War II, Britain actually began paying India for its contribution of men
and goods. Troops from white dominions like Australia, Canada and New Zealand were paid for entirely by
these countries, but Indian costs were shared by the British government. Britain paid in the form of nonconvertible
sterling balances, which mounted swiftly. The conqueror was paying the conquered,
undercutting the profitability on which all empire is founded. Churchill opposed this, and wanted to tax
India rather than owe it money. But he was overruled by India hands who said India would resist payment,
and paralyze the war effort. Leo Amery, Secretary of State for India, said that when you are driving in a
taxi to the station to catch a life-or-death train, you do not loudly announce that you have doubts whether to
pay the fare. Thus, World War II converted India from a debtor to a creditor with over one billion pounds
in sterling balances. Britain, meanwhile, became the biggest debtor in the world. It's not worth ruling over
people you are afraid to tax.
41. Which of the following was NOT a reason for the emergence of the 'white man's burden' as a new
rationale for empire-building in India?
[1] The emergence of the idea of the public good as an element of governance.
[2] The decreasing returns from imperial loot and increasing costs of conquest
[3] The weakening of the immorality attached to an emperor's looting behaviour.
[4] A growing awareness of the idea of equality among peoples.
42. Which one of the following best expresses the main purpose of the author?
[1] To present the various reasons that can lead to the collapse of an empire and the granting of
independence to the subjects of an empire.
[2] To point out the critical role played by the 'white man's burden' in making a colonizing power
give up its claims to native possessions.
[3] To highlight the contradictory impulse underpinning empire building which is a costly
business but very attractive at the same time.
[4] To illustrate how erosion of the financial basis of an empire supports the granting of
independence to an empire's constituents.
43. What was the main lesson the British learned from the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857?
[1] That the local princes were allies, not foes.
[2] That the land revenue from India would decline dramatically.
[3] That the British were a small ethnic group.
[4] That India would be increasingly difficult to rule.
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 13
44. Which of the following best captures the meaning of the 'white man's burden', as it is used by the
author?
[1] The British claim to a civilizing mission directed at ensuring the good of the natives.
[2] The inspiration for the French and American revolutions.
[3] The resource drain that had to be borne by the home country's white population.
[4] An imperative that made open looting of resources impossible.
45. Why didn't Britain tax India to finance its World War II efforts?
[1] Australia, Canada and New Zealand had offered to pay for Indian troops.
[2] India had already paid a sufficiently large sum during World War I.
[3] It was afraid that if India refused to pay, Britain's war efforts would be jeopardised.
[4] The British empire was built on the premise that the conqueror pays the conquered.
PASSAGE V
Modern science, exclusive of geometry, is a comparatively recent creation and can be said to have
originated with Galileo and Newton. Galileo was the first scientist to recognize clearly that the only way to
further our understanding of the physical world was to resort to experiment. However obvious Galileo's
contention may appear in the light of our present knowledge, it remains a fact that the Greeks, in spite of
their proficiency in geometry, never seem to have realized the importance of experiment. To a certain
extent this may be attributed to the crudeness of their instruments of measurement. Still, an excuse of this
sort can scarcely be put forward when the elementary nature of Galileo's experiments and observations is
recalled, Watching a lamp oscillate in the cathedral of Pisa, dropping bodies from the leaning tower of Pisa,
rolling balls down inclined planes, noticing the magnifying effect of water in a spherical glass vase, such
was the nature of Galileo's experiments and observations. As can be seen, they might just as well have been
performed by the Greeks. At any rate, it was thanks to such experiments that Galileo discovered the
fundamental law of dynamics, according to which the acceleration imparted to a body is proportional to the
force acting upon it.
The next advance was due to Newton, the greatest scientist of all time if account be taken of his joint
contributions to mathematics and physics. As a physicist, he was of course an ardent adherent of the
empirical method, but his greatest title to fame lies in another direction. Prior to Newton, mathematics,
chiefly in the form of geometry, had been studied as a fine art without any view to its physical applications
other than in very trivial cases. But with Newton all the resources of mathematics were turned to advantage
in the solution of physical problems. Thenceforth mathematics appeared as an instrument of discovery, the
most powerful one known to man, multiplying the power of thought just as in the mechanical domain the
lever multiplied our physical action. It is this application of mathematics to the solution of physical
problems, this combination of two separate fields of investigation, which constitutes the essential
characteris tic of the Newtonian method. Thus problems of physics were metamorphosed into problems of
mathematics.
But in Newton's day the mathematical instrument was still in a very backward state of development. In this
field again Newton showed the mark of genius by inventing the integral calculus. As a result of this
remarkable discovery, problems, which would have baffled Archimedes, were solved with ease. We know
that in Newton's hands this new departure in scientific method led to the discovery of the law of gravitation.
But here again the real significance of Newton's achievement lay not so much in the exact quantitative
formulation of the law of attraction, as in his having established the presence of law and order at least in
one important realm of nature, namely, in the motions of heavenly bodies. Nature thus exhibited rationality
and was not mere blind chaos and I uncertainty. To be sure, Newton's investigations had been concerned
with but a small group of natural phenomena, but it appeared unlikely that this mathematical law and order
should turn out to be restricted to certain special phenomena; and the feeling was general that all the
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 14
physical processes of nature would prove to be unfolding themselves according to rigorous mathematical
laws.
When Einstein, in 1905, published his celebrated paper on the electrodynamics of moving bodies, he
remarked that the difficulties, which surrounded the equations of electrodynamics, together with the
negative experiments of Michelson and others, would be obviated if we extended the validity of the
Newtonian principle of the relativity of Galilean motion, which applied solely to mechanical phenomena,
so as to include all manner of phenomena: electrodynamics, optical, etc. When extended in this way the
Newtonian principle of relativity became Einstein's special principle of relativity. Its significance lay in its
assertion that absolute Galilean motion or absolute velocity must ever escape all experimental detection.
Henceforth absolute velocity should be conceived of as physical meaningless, not only in the particular
realm of mechanics, as in Newton’s day, but in the entire realm of physical phenomena. Einstein's special
principle, by adding increased emphasis to this relativity of velocity, making absolute velocity
metaphysically meaningless, created a still more profound distinction between velocity and accelerated or
rotational motion. This latter type of motion remained absolute and real as before. It is most important to
understand this point and to realize that Einstein's special principle is merely an extension of the validity of
the classical Newtonian principle to all classes of phenomena.
46. The statement "Nature thus exhibited rationality and was not mere blind chaos and uncertainty"
suggests that
[1] problems that had baffled scientists like Archimedes were not really problems.
[2] only a small group of natural phenomena was chaotic.
[3] physical phenomena conformed to mathematical laws.
[4] natural phenomena were evolving towards a less chaotic future.
47. According to the author, why did the Greeks NOT conduct experiments to understand the physical
world?
[1] Apparently they did not think it necessary to experiment.
[2] They focused exclusively on geometry.
[3] Their instruments of measurement were very crude.
[4] The Greeks considered the application of geometry to the physical world more important.
48. Newton may be considered one of the greatest scientists of all time because he
[1] discovered the law of gravitation.
[2] married physics with mathematics.
[3] invented integral calculus.
[4] started the use of the empirical method in science. .
49. Which of the following statements about modern science best captures the theme of the passage?
[1] Modem science rests firmly on the platform built by the Greeks.
[2] We need to go back to the method of enquiry used by the Greeks to better understand the laws
of dynamics.
[3] Disciplines like Mathematics and Physics function best when integrated into one.
[4] New knowledge about natural phenomena builds on existing knowledge.
50. The significant implication of Einstein's special principle of relativity is that
[1] absolute velocity was meaningless in the realm of mechanics.
[2] Newton's principle of relativity needs to be modified.
[3] there are limits to which experimentation can be used to understand some physical phenomena.
[4] it is meaningless to try to understand the distinction between velocity and accelerated or
rotational motion.
SECTION II
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 15
Number of Questions: 50
DIRECTIONS for Questions 51 to 53: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given below.
Details of the top 20 MBA schools in the US as ranked by US News and World Report, 1997 are given
below.
School Overall
ranking
Ranking by
Academics
Ranking
by
recruiters
Ranking
by
placement
Median
starting
salary
%
employed
Annual
tuition
fee
Standard
University
1 1 3 1 $82,000 98.9 $23,100
Harvard university 2 1 2 4 $80,000 96.4 $23,840
University of
Pennsylvania
3 1 4 2 $79,000 100.0 $24,956
Massachusetts
Institute of
Technology
4 1 4 3 $78,000 98.8 $23,900
University of
Chicago
5 1 8 10 $65,000 98.4 $23,930
Northwestern
University
6 1 1 11 $70,000 93.6 $23,025
Columbia
University
7 9 10 5 $83,000 96.2 $23,830
Dartmouth
College
8 12 11 6 $70,000 98.3 $23,700
Duke University 9 9 7 8 $67,500 98.5 $24,380
University of
California –
Berkeley
10 7 12 12 $70,000 93.7 $18,788
University of
Virginia
11 12 9 9 $66,000 98.1 $19,627
University of
Michigan – Ann
Arbor
12 7 6 14 $65,000 99.1 $23,178
New York
University
13 16 19 7 $70,583 97.0 $23,554
Carnegie Mellon
University
14 12 18 13 $67,200 96.6 $22,200
Yale University 15 18 17 22 $65,000 91.5 $23,220
University of
North Carolina –
Chapel Hill
16 16 16 16 $60,000 96.8 $14,333
University of
California – Los
Angeles
17 9 13 38 $65,000 82.2 $19,431
University of
Texas – Austin
18 18 13 24 $60,000 97.3 $11,614
Indiana University
– Bloomington
19 18 20 17 $61,500 95.2 $15,613
Cornell University 20 12 15 36 $64,000 85.1 $23,151
51. Madhu has received admission in all schools listed above. She wishes to select the highest overall
ranked school whose a) annual tuition fee does not exceed $23,000 and b) median starting salary is
at least $70,000. Which school will she select?
[1] University of Virginia. [2] University of Pennsylvania.
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 16
[3] Northwestern University [4] University of California - Berkeley.
52. In terms of starting salary and tuition fee, how many schools are uniformly better (higher median
starting salary AND lower tuition fee) than Dartmouth College?
[1] 1 [2] 2 [3] 3 [4] 4
53. How many schools in the list above have single digit rankings on at least 3 of the 4 parameters
(overall ranking, ranking by academics, ranking by recruiters and ranking by placement)?
[1] 10 [2] 5 [3] 7 [4] 8
DIRECTIONS for Questions 54 to 56: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given below.
Table A below provides data about ages of children in a school. For the age given in the first column, the
second column gives the number of children not exceeding that age. For example, first entry indicates that
there are 9 children aged 4 years or less. Tables B and C provide data on the heights and weights
respectively of the same group of children in a similar format. Assuming that an older child is always taller
and weighs more than a younger child, answer the following questions.
Table A
Age
(years)
Number
4 9
5 12
6 22
7 35
8 42
9 48
10 60
11 69
12 77
13 86
14 100
54. What is the number of children of age 9 years or less whose height does not exceed 135 cm?
[1] 48 [2] 45 [3] 3 [4] Cannot be determined
55. How many children of age more than 10 years are taller than 150 cm. and do not weigh more than
48 kg.?
[1] 16 [2] 40 [3] 9 [4] Cannot be determined
56. Among the children older than 6 years but not exceeding 12 years, how many weigh more than 38
kg?
[1] 34 [2] 52 [3] 44 [4] Cannot be determined
DIRECTIONS for Questions 57 to 59: In each question, there are two statements: A and B, either of
which can be true or false on the basis of the information given below.
A research agency collected the following data regarding the admission process of a reputed management
school in India.
Year Gender Number
bought
application
forms
Number
appeared for
written test
Number called
for interviews
Number
selected for the
course
2002 Male 61205 59981 684 171
Female 19236 15389 138 48
Table B
Height
(cm.)
Number
115 6
120 11
125 24
130 36
135 45
140 53
145 62
150 75
155 81
160 93
165 100
Table C
Weight
(kg.)
Number
30 8
32 13
34 17
36 28
38 33
40 46
42 54
44 67
46 79
48 91
50 100
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 17
2003 Male 63298 60133 637 115
Female 45292 40763 399 84
Choose [1] if only A is true
Choose [2] if only b is true
Choose [3] if both A and B are true
Choose [4] if neither A nor B is true
57.
Statement A: The success rate of moving from written test to interview stage for males was worse than
for females in 2003.
Statement B: The success rate of moving from written test to interview stage for females was better in
2002 than in 2003.
58.
Statement A: In 2002, the number of females selected for the course as a proportion of the number of
females who bought application forms, was higher than the corresponding proportion for
males.
Statement B: In 2002, among those called for interview, males had a greater success rate than females.
59.
Statement A: The percentage of absentees in the written test among females decreased from 2002 to
2003.
Statement B: The percentage of absentees in the written test among males was larger than among
females in 2003.
DIRECTIONS for Questions 60 to 62: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given below.
Each point in the graph below shows the profit and turnover data for a company. Each company belongs to
one of the three industries: textile, cement and steel.
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 18
60. For how many companies does the profit exceed 10% of turnover?
[1] 8 [2] 7 [3] 6 [4] 5
61. For how many steel companies with a turnover of more than 2000 is the profit less than 300?
[1] 0 [2] 1 [3] 2 [4] 7
62. An investor wants to buy stock of only steel or cement companies with a turnover more than 1000
and profit exceeding 10% of turnover. How many choices are available to the investor?
[1] 4 [2] 5 [3] 6 [4] 7
DIRECTIONS for Questions 63 and 64: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given
below.
An industry comprises four firms (A, B, C, and D). Financial details of these firms and of the industry as a
whole for a particular year are given below. Profitability of a firm is defined as profit as a percentage of
sales.
Figures in Rs. A B C D Total
Sales 24568 25468 23752 15782 89570
Operating costs 17198 19101 16151 10258 62708
Interest costs 2457 2292 2850 1578 9177
Profit 4914 4075 4750 3946 17684
63. Which firm has the highest profitability?
[1] A [2] B [3] C [4] D
64. If Firm A acquires Firm B, approximately what percentage of the total market (total sales) will
they corner together?
[1] 55% [2] 45% [3] 35% [4] 50%
DIRECTIONS for Questions 65 to 67: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given below.
One of the functions of the Reserve Bank of India is to mobilize funds for the Government of India by
issuing securities. The following table shows details of funds mobilized during the period July 2002 – July
2003. Notice that on each date there were two rounds of issues, each with a different maturity.
Date of
issue
Notified
amount
Matur
ity
Competit
ive bids
received
Noncompetiti
ve bids
received
Competitive
bids
accepted
Noncompetitive
bids
accepted
Total
amount
mobiliz
ed
Coupon
rate %
Implicit
yield %
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 19
Rs.
crore
Years No. No. No. Value
.
No. Value
.
Rs.
crore
17-Jul-02 40 15 229 23 66 15.21 23 0.37 16 8.07 7.80
17-Jul-02 30 10 145 12 90 29.88 12 0.12 30 6.72 6.72
05-Aug-
02
50 9 324 13 105 49.68 13 0.33 50 9.39 7.24
05-Aug-
02
20 24 163 9 34 19.81 9 0.19 20 10.18 7.93
28-Aug-
02
50 15 260 26 157 48.92 26 1.08 50 7.46 7.46
28-Aug-
02
20 30 119 15 67 19.61 15 0.39 20 7.95 7.95
11-Sep-
02
40 15 261 22 152 38.93 22 1.07 40 7.46 7.44
11-Sep-
02
30 20 131 20 98 29.44 20 0.56 30 8.35 7.70
09-Oct-
02
40 11 361 26 119 39.22 26 0.78 40 7.27 7.14
09-Oct-
02
30 30 91 15 39 29.52 15 0.48 30 7.95 7.89
07-Nov-
02
40 17 245 14 20 39.71 14 0.29 40 10.03 7.26
07-Nov-
02
30 24 166 11 49 29.70 11 0.31 30 10.18 7.48
09-Apr-
03
40 20 245 25 65 39.53 25 1.47 40 6.30 6.30
09-Apr-
03
50 11 236 24 201 49.40 24 0.60 50 7.37 5.98
23-Apr-
03
50 15 319 26 134 48.98 26 1.02 50 6.25 6.10
23-Apr-
03
20 29 131 19 9 19.39 19 0.61 20 7.95 6.33
05-may-
03
60 10 314 14 98 59.69 14 0.31 60 7.27 5.97
05-May-
03
30 20 143 14 118 29.58 14 0.42 30 6.30 6.35
04-Jun-
03
30 25 187 19 15 28.50 19 1.50 30 6.13 6.13
04-Jun-
03
60 9 378 21 151 59.09 21 0.91 60 6.85 5.76
02-Jul-03 50 11 298 20 116 49.05 20 0.95 50 7.37 5.76
02-Jul-03 30 25 114 20 45 28.64 20 1.36 30 6.31 6.10
16-Jul-03 60 17 371 29 115 57.00 29 3.10 60 6.35 5.97
16-Jul-03 30 29 134 22 12 29.32 22 0.68 30 7.95 6.20
Total 930 906
65. How many times was the issue of securities under-subscribed, i.e., how often did the total amount
mobilized fall short of the amount notified?
[1] 0 [2] 1 [3] 2 [4] 3
66. Which of the following is true?
[1] The second round issues have a higher maturity than the first round for all dates.
[2] The second round issue of any date has a lower maturity only when the first round notified
amount exceeds that of the second round.
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 20
[3] On at least one occasion, the second round issue having lower maturity received a higher
number of competitive bids.
[4] None of the above three statements is true.
67. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
[1] Competitive bids received always exceed non-competitive bids received.
[2] The number of competitive bids accepted does not always exceed the number of noncompetitive
bids accepted.
[3] The value of competitive bids accepted on any particular date is never higher for higher
maturity.
[4] The value of non-competitive bids accepted in the first round is always greater than that in the
second round.
DIRECTIONS for Questions 68 to 70: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given below.
Spam that enters our electronic mailboxes can be classified under several spam heads. The following table
shows the distribution of such spam worldwide over time. The total number of spam emails received during
December 2002 was larger than the number received in June 2003. The total number of spam emails
received during September 2002 was larger than the number received in March 2003. The figures in the
table represent the percentage of all spam emails received during that period, falling into those respective
categories.
68. In which category was the percentage of spam emails increasing but at a decreasing rate?
[1] Financial [2] Scams [3] Products [4] none of these
69. In the health category, the number of spam emails received in December 2002 as compared to
June 2003
[1] was larger [2] was smaller
[3] was equal [4] cannot be determined
70. In the financial category, the number of spam emails received in September 2002 as compared to
March 2003
[1] was larger [2] was smaller
[3] was equal [4] cannot be determined
DIRECTIONS for Questions 71 to 74: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given below.
The length of an infant is one of the measures of his/her development in the early stages of his/her life. The
figure below shows the growth chart of four infants in the first five months of life.
Category Sep 2002 Dec 2002 Mar 2003 Jun 2003
Adult
Financial
Health
Internet
Products
Scams
Others
38
25
11
5
3
5
13
33
30
19
3
7
6
2
19
37
5
10
10
11
8
17
45
18
6
11
2
1
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 21
71. After which month did Seeta’s rate of growth start to decline?
[1] Second month[2] Third month [3] Fourth month [4] Never
72. Who grew at the fastest rate in the first two months of life?
[1] Geeta [2] Seeta [3] Ram [4] Shyam
73. The rate of growth during the third month was the lowest for
[1] Geeta [2] Seeta [3] Ram [4] Shyam
74. Among the four infants, who grew the least in the first five months of life?
[1] Geeta [2] Seeta [3] Ram [4] Shyam
DIRECTIONS for Questions 75 to 77: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given below.
The table below provides certain demographic details of 30 respondents who were part of a survey. The
demographic characteristics are: gender, number of children, and age of respondents. The first number in
each cell is the number of respondents in that group. The minimum and maximum age of respondents in
each group is given in brackets. For example, there are five female respondents with no children and among
these five, the youngest is 34 years old, while the oldest is 49.
No. of
children
Male Female Total
0 1 (38, 38) 5 (34, 49) 6
1 1 (32, 32) 8 (35, 57) 9
2 8 (21, 65) 3 (37, 63) 11
3 2 (32, 33) 2 (27, 40) 4
Total 12 18 30
75. The percentage of respondents aged less than 40 years is at least
[1] 10% [2] 16.67% [3] 20.0% [4] 30%
76. Given the information above, the percentage of respondents older than 35 can be at most
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 22
[1] 30% [2] 73.33% [3] 76.67% [4] 90%
77. The percentage of respondents that fall into the 35 to 40 years age group (both inclusive) is at least
[1] 6.67% [2] 10% [3] 13.33% [4] 26.67%
DIRECTIONS for Questions 78 to 80: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given below.
Rang Barsey Paint Company (RBPC) is in the business of manufacturing paints. RBPC buys RED,
YELLOW, WHITE, ORANGE, and PINK paints. ORANGE paint can be also produced by mixing RED
and YELLOW paints in equal proportions. Similarly, PINK paint can also be produced by mixing equal
amounts of RED and WHITE paints. Among other paints, RBPC sells CREAM paint, (formed by mixing
WHITE and YELLOW in the ratio 70:30) AVOCADO paint (formed by mixing equal amounts of
ORANGE and PINK paint) and WASHEDORANGE paint (formed by mixing equal amounts of ORANGE
and WHITE paint). The following table provides the price at which RBPC buys paints.
78. The cheapest way to manufacture AVOCADO paint would cost
[1] Rs.19.50 per litre [2] Rs.19.75 per litre
[3] Rs.20.00 per litre [4] Rs.20.25 per litre
79. WASHEDORANGE can be manufactured by mixing
[1] CREAM and RED in the ratio 14:10
[2] CREAM and RED in the ratio 3:1
[3] YELLOW and PINK in the ratio 1:1
[4] RED, YELLOW, and WHITE in the ratio 1:1:2
80. Assume that AVOCADO, CREAM, and WASHEDORANGE each sells for the same price.
Which of the three is the most profitable to manufacture?
[1] AVOCADO. [2] CREAM.
[3] WASHEDORANGE. [4] Sufficient data is not available.
DIRECTIONS for Questions 81 to 83: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given below.
Seven varsity basketball players (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G) are to be honoured at a special luncheon. The
players will be seated on the dais in a row. A and G have to leave the luncheon early and so must be seated
at the extreme right. B will receive the most valuable player's trophy and so must be in the centre to
facilitate presentation. C and D are bitter rivals and therefore must be seated as far apart as possible.
81. Which of the following cannot be seated at either end?
[1] C [2] D [3] F [4] G
82. Which of the following pairs cannot be seated together?
[1] B&D [2] C&F [3] D&G [4] E & A
83. Which of the following pairs cannot occupy the seats on either side of B?
[1] F&D [2] D&E [3] E&G [4] C & F
DIRECTIONS for Questions 84 and 85: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given
below.
Color Rs./litre
RED
YELLOW
WHITE
ORANGE
PINK
20.00
25.00
15.00
22.00
18.00
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 23
The Head of a newly formed government desires to appoint five of the six elected members A, B, C, D,.E
and F to portfolios of Home, Power, Defence, Telecom and Finance. F does not want any portfolio if D gets
one of the five. C wants either Home or Finance or no portfolio. B says that if D gets either Power or
Telecom then she must get the other one. E insists on a portfolio if A gets one.
84. Which is a valid assignment?
[1] A-Home, B-Power, C-Defence, D-Telecom, E-Finance.
[2] C-Home, D-Power, A-Defence, B-Telecom, E-Finance.
[3] A-Home, B-Power, E-Defence, D-Telecom, F-Finance.
[4] B-Home, F-Power, E-Defence, C-Telecom, A -Finance.
85. If A gets Home and C gets Finance, then which is NOT a valid assignment for Defence and
Telecom?
[1] D-Defence, B-Telecom. [2] F-Defence, B-Telecom.
[3] B-Defence, E-Telecom. [4] B-Defence, D-Telecom.
DIRECTIONS for Questions 86 and 87: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given
below.
Some children were taking free throws at the basketball court in school during lunch break. Below are
some facts about how many baskets these children shot.
i. Ganesh shot 8 baskets less than Ashish.
ii. Dhanraj and Ramesh together shot 37 baskets.
iii. Jugraj shot 8 baskets more than Dhanraj.
iv. Ashish shot 5 baskets more than Dhanraj.
v. Ashish and Ganesh together shot 40 baskets.
86. Which of the following statements is true?
[1] Ramesh shot 18 baskets and Dhanraj shot 19 baskets.
[2] Ganesh shot 24 baskets and Ashish shot 16 baskets.
[3] Jugraj shot 19 baskets and Dhanraj shot 27 baskets.
[4] Dhanraj shot 11 baskets and Ashish shot 16 baskets.
87. Which of the following statements is true?
[1] Dhanraj and Jugraj together shot 46 baskets.
[2] Ganesh shot 18 baskets and Ramesh shot 21 baskets.
[3] Dhanraj shot 3 more baskets than Ramesh.
[4] Ramesh and Jugraj together shot 29 baskets.
DIRECTIONS for Questions 88 to 91: In each question there are two statements: A and B.
Choose [1] if the question can be answered by one of the statements alone but not by the other.
Choose [2] if the question can be answered by using either statement alone.
Choose [3] if the question can be answered by using both the statements together but cannot be answered
using either statement alone.
Choose [4] if the question cannot be answered even by using both the statements A and B.
88. F and M are father and mother of S, respectively. S has four uncles and three aunts. F has two
siblings. The siblings of F and M are unmarried. How many brothers does M have?
A. F has two brothers. B. M has five siblings.
89. A game consists of tossing a coin successively. There is an entry fee of Rs. 10 and an additional
fee of Re. 1 for each toss of the coin. The game is considered to have ended normally when the
coin turns heads on two consecutive throws. In this case the player is paid Rs. 100. Alternatively,
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 24
the player can choose to terminate the game prematurely after any of the tosses. Ram has incurred
a loss of Rs 50 by playing this game. How many times did he toss the coin?
A. The game ended normally.
B. The total number of tails obtained in the game was 138.
90. Each packet of SOAP costs Rs 10. Inside each packet is a gift coupon labelled with one of the
letters S, O, A, and P. If a customer submits four such coupons that make up the word SOAP, the
customer gets a free SOAP packet. Ms. X kept buying packet after packet of SOAP till she could
get one set of coupons that formed the word SOAP. How many coupons with label P did she get in
the above process?
A. The last label obtained by her was S and the total amount spent was Rs 210.
B. The total number of vowels obtained was 18.
91. If A and B run a race, then A wins by 60 seconds. If B and C run the same race, then B wins by 30
seconds. Assuming that C maintains a uniform speed what is the time taken by C to finish the
race?
A. A and C run the same race and A wins by 375 metres.
B. The length of the race is 1 km
DIRECTIONS for Questions 92 to 94: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given below.
A, B, C, D, E, and F are a group of friends. There are two housewives, one professor, one engineer, one
accountant and one lawyer in the group. There are only two married couples in the group. The lawyer is
married to D, who is a housewife. No woman in the group is either an engineer or an accountant. C, the
accountant, is married to F, who is a professor. A is married to a housewife. E is not a housewife.
92. Which of the following is one of the married couples?
[1] A &B [2] B&E [3] D&E [4] A & D
93. What is E's profession?
[1] Engineer [2] Lawyer [3] Professor [4] Accountant
94. How many members of the group are males?
[1] 2 [2] 3 [3] 4 [4] Cannot be determined.
DIRECTIONS for Questions 95 to 97: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given below.
Five friends meet every morning at Sree Sagar restaurant for an idli-vada breakfast. Each consumes a
different number of idlis and vadas. The number of idlis consumed are 1, 4, 5, 6, and 8, while the number
of vadas consumed are 0, 1, 2,4, and 6. Below are some more facts about who eats what and how much.
i. The number of vadas eaten by Ignesh is three times the number of vadas consumed by the
person who eats four idlis.
ii. Three persons, including the one who eats four vadas, eat without chutney.
iii. Sandeep does not take any chutney.
iv. The one who eats one idli a day does not eat any vadas or chutney. Further, he is not Mukesh.
v. Daljit eats idli with chutney and also eats vada.
vi. Mukesh, who does not take chutney, eats half as many vadas as the person who eats twice as
many idlis as he does.
vii. Bimal eats two more idlis than Ignesh, but Ignesh eats two more vadas than Bimal.
95. Which of the following statements is true?
[1] Mukesh eats 8 idlis and 4 vadas but no chutney.
[2] The person who eats 5 idlis and 1 vada does not take chutney.
[3] The person who eats equal number of vadas and idlis also takes chutney.
[4] The person who eats 4 idlis and 2 vadas also takes chutney.
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 25
96. Which one of the following statements is true?
[1] Daljit eats 5 idlis. [2] Ignesh eats 8 idlis.
[3] Bimal eats 1 idli. [4] Bimal eats 6 idlis.
97. Which of the following statements is true?
[1] Sandeep eats 2 vadas. [2] Mukesh eats 4 vadas.
[3] Daljeet eats 6 vadas. [4] Bimal eats 4 vadas.
DIRECTIONS for Questions 98 to 100: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given below.
Five women decided to go shopping to M.G. Road, Bangalore. They arrived at the designated meeting
place in the following order: 1. Archana, 2. Chellamma, 3. Dhenuka, 4. Helen, and 5. Shahnaz. Each
woman spent at least Rs.1000. Below are some additional facts about how much they spent during their
shopping spree.
i. The woman who spent Rs. 2234 arrived before the lady who spent Rs. 1193.
ii. One woman spent Rs. 1340 and she was not Dhenuka.
iii. One woman spent Rs. 1378 more than Chellamma.
iv. One woman spent Rs. 2517 and she was not Archana.
v. Helen spent more than Dhenuka.
vi. Shahnaz spent the largest amount and Chellamma the smallest.
98. The woman who spent Rs. 1193 is
[1] Archana. [2] Chellamma. [3] Dhenuka. [4] Helen.
99. What was the amount spent by Helen?
[1] Rs. 1193. [2] Rs. 1340. [3] Rs.2234. [4] Rs.2517.
100. Which of the following amounts was spent by one of them?
[1] Rs. 1139. [2] Rs. 1378. [3] Rs.2571. [4] Rs.2718.
SECTION III
Number of Questions: 50
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 26
DIRECTIONS for Questions 101 to 113: Answer the questions independently of each other.
101. Let A and B be two solid spheres such that the surface area of B is 300% higher than the surface
area of A. The volume of A is found to be k% lower than the volume of B. The value of k must be
[1] 85.5 [2] 92.5 [3] 90.5 [4] 87.5
102. A test has 50 questions. A student scores 1 mark for a correct answer, -1/3 for a wrong answer,
and –1/6 for not attempting a question. If the net score of a student is 32, the number of questions
answered wrongly by that student cannot be less than
[1] 6 [2] 12 [3] 3 [4] 9
103. The sum of 3rd and 15th elements of an arithmetic progression is equal to the sum of 6th, 11th and
13th elements of the same progression. Then which element of the series should necessarily be
equal to zero?
[1] 1st [2] 9th [3] 12th [4] None of the above.
104. When the curves y = log10 x and y = x-1 are drawn in the x-y plane, how many times do they
intersect for values x ? 1?
[1] Never [2] Once [3] Twice [4] More than twice.
105. At the end of year 1998, Shepard bought nine dozen goats. Henceforth, every year he added p% of
the goats at the beginning of the year and sold q% of the goats at the end of the year where p>0
and q>0. If Shepard had nine dozen goats at the end of year 2002, after making the sales for that
year, which of the following is true?
[1] p = q [2] p <> q [4] p = q/2
106. A leather factory produces two kinds of bags, standard and deluxe. The profit margin is Rs.20 on a
standard bag and Rs.30 on a deluxe bag. Every bag must be processed on machine A and on
machine B. The processing times per bag on the two machines are as follows:
Time required (Hours / bag)
Machine A Machine B
Standard Bag 4 6
Deluxe Bag 5 10
The total time available on machine A is 700 hours and on machine B is 1250 hours. Among the
following production plans, which one meets the machine availability constraints and maximizes
the profit?
[1] Standard 75 bags, Deluxe 80 bags
[2] Standard 100 bags, Deluxe 60 bags
[3] Standard 50 bags, Deluxe 100 bags
[4] Standard 60 bags, Deluxe 90 bags
107. The function f(x) = |x – 2| + |2.5 – x| + |3.6 – x|, where x is a real number, attains a minimum at
[1] x = 2.3 [2] x = 2.5 [3] x = 2.7 [4] None of the above.
108. In a 4000 meter race around a circular stadium having a circumference of 1000 meters, the fastest
runner and the slowest runner reach the same point at the end of the 5th minute, for the first time
after the start of the race. All the runners have the same starting point and each runner maintains a
uniform speed throughout the race. If the fastest runner runs at twice the speed of the slowest
runner, what is the time taken by the fastest runner to finish the race?
[1] 20 min [2] 15 min [3] 10 min [4] 5 min
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 27
109. A positive whole number M less than 100 is represented in base 2 notation, base 3 notation, and
base 5 notation. It is found that in all three cases the last digit is 1, while in exactly two out of the
three cases the leading digit is 1. Then M equals
[1] 31 [2] 63 [3] 75 [4] 91
110. Which one of the following conditions must p, q and r satisfy so that the following system of
linear simultaneous equations has at least one solution, such that p + q + r ? 0?
x + 2y – 3z = p
2x + 6y – 11z = q
x – 2y + 7z = r
[1] 5p – 2q – r = 0 [2] 5p + 2q + r = 0
[3] 5p + 2q – r = 0 [4] 5p – 2q + r = 0
111. How many even integers n, where 100 ? n ? 200, are divisible neither by seven nor by nine?
[1] 40 [2] 37 [3] 39 [4] 38
112. Twenty-seven persons attend a party. Which one of the following statements can never be true?
[1] There is a person in the party who is acquainted with all the twenty-six others.
[2] Each person in the party has a different number of acquaintances.
[3] There is a person in the party who has an odd number of acquaintances.
[4] In the party, the is no set of three mutual acquaintances.
113. Let g(x) = max(5 – x, x + 2). The smallest possible value of g(x) is
[1] 4.0 [2] 4.5 [3] 1.5 [4] None of the above.
DIRECTIONS for Questions 114 and 115: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given
below.
New Age Consultants have three consultants Gyani, Medha and Buddhi. The sum of the number of projects
handled by Gyani and Buddhi individually is equal to the number of projects in which Medha is involved.
All three consultants are involved together in 6 projects. Gyani works with Medha in 14 projects. Buddhi
has 2 projects with Medha but without Gyani, and 3 projects with Gyani but without Medha. The total
number of projects for New Age Consultants is one less than twice the number of projects in which more
than one consultant is involved.
114. What is the number of projects in which Medha alone is involved?
[1] Uniquely equal to zero [2] Uniquely equal to 1
[3] Uniquely equal to 4 [4] Cannot be determined uniquely
115. What is the number of projects in which Gyani alone is involved?
[1] Uniquely equal to zero [2] Uniquely equal to 1
[3] Uniquely equal to 4 [4] Cannot be determined uniquely
DIRECTIONS for Questions 116 to 133: Answer the ques tions independently of each other.
116. Given that -1 ? v ? 1, -2 ? u? -0.5 and -2 ? z ? -0.5 and w = vz/u, then which of the following is
necessarily true?
[1] –0.5 ? w ? 2 [2] -4 ? w ? 4 [3] -4 ? w ? 2 [4] -2 ? w ? -0.5
117. If the product of n positive real numbers is unity, then their sum is necessarily
[1] a multiple of n [2] equal to n +
n
1
[3] never less than n [4] a positive integer
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 28
118. There are 8436 steel balls, each with a radius of 1 centimeter, stacked in a pile, with 1 ball on top,
3 balls in the second layer, 6 in the third layer, 10 in the fourth, and so on. The number of
horizontal layers in the pile is
[1] 34 [2] 38 [3] 36 [4] 32
119. In the figure below, the rectangle at the corner measures 10 cm ? 20 cm. The corner A of the
rectangle is also a point on the circumference of the circle. What is the radius of the circle in cm?
A
[1] 10 cm [2] 40 cm [3] 50 cm [4] None of the above
120. A vertical tower OP stands at the center O of a square ABCD. Let h and b denote the length OP
and AB respectively. Suppose ? APB = 60o then the relationship between h and b can be
expressed as
[1] 2b2 = h2 [2] 2h2 = b2 [3] 3b2 = 2h2 [4] 3h2 = 2b2
121. How many three digit positive integers, with digits x, y and z in the hundred’s, ten’s and unit’s
place respectively, exist such that x < y, z < y and x ? 0?
[1] 245 [2] 285 [3] 240 [4] 320
122. In the figure given below, AB is the chord of a circle with center O. AB is extended to C such that
BC = OB. The straight line CO is produced to meet the circle at D. If ? ACD = y degrees and
? AOD = x degrees such that x = ky, then the value of k is
A
B
D C
O
[1] 3 [2] 2 [3] 1 [4] None of the above
123. If log32, log3(2x – 5), log3(2x – 7/2) are in arithmetic progression, then the value of x is equal to
[1] 5 [2] 4 [3] 2 [4] 3
124. In the diagram given below, ? ABD = ? CDB = ? PQD = 90o. If AB : CD = 3 : 1, the ratio of
CD : PQ is
A
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 29
C
P
B Q D
[1] 1 : 0.69 [2] 1 : 0.75 [3] 1 : 0.72 [4] None of the above.
125. In a triangle ABC, AB = 6, BC = 8 and AC = 10. A perpendicular dropped from B, meets the side
AC at D. A circle of radius BD (with center B) is drawn. If the circle cuts AB and BC at P and Q
respectively, then AP : QC is equal to
[1] 1 : 1 [2] 3 : 2 [3] 4 : 1 [4] 3 : 8
126. Each side of a given polygon is parallel to either the X or the Y axis. A corner of such a polygon is
said to be convex if the internal angle is 90o or concave if the internal angle is 270o. If the number
of convex corners in such a polygon is 25, the number of concave corners must be
[1] 20 [2] 0 [3] 21 [4] 22
127. Let p and q be the roots of the quadratic equation x2 – (? - 2) x - ? - 1 = 0. What is the minimum
possible value of p2 + q2?
[1] 0 [2] 3 [3] 4 [4] 5
128. The 288th term of the series a, b, b, c, c, c, d, d, d, d, e, e, e, e, e, f, f, f, f, f, f…. is
1. u [2] v [3] w [4] x
129. There are two concentric circles such that the area of the outer circle is four times the area of the
inner circle. Let A, B and C be three distinct points on the perimeter of the outer circle such that
AB and AC are tangents to the inner circle. If the area of the outer circle is 12 square centimeters
then the area (in square centimeters) of the triangle ABC would be
[1] ? 12 [2]
?
9
[3]
?
9 3
[4]
?
6 3
130. Let a, b, c, d be four integers such that a + b + c + d = 4m + 1 where m is a positive integer. Given
m, which one of the following is necessarily true?
[1] The minimum possible value of a2 + b2 + c2 + d2 is 4m2
– 2m + 1
[2] The minimum possible value of a2 + b2 + c2 + d2 is 4m2 + 2m + 1
[3] The maximum possible value of a2 + b2 + c2 + d2 is 4m2 - 2m + 1
[4] The maximum possible value of a2 + b2 + c2 + d2 is 4m2 + 2m + 1
131. In the figure below, ABCDEF is a regular hexagon and ? AOF = 90o. FO is parallel to ED. What
is the ratio of the area of the triangle AOF to that of the hexagon ABCDEF?
A B
F O C
E D
[1]
12
1
[2]
6
1
[3]
24
1
[4]
18
1
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 30
132. The number of non-negative real roots of 2x – x – 1 = 0 equals
[1] 0 [2] 1 [3] 2 [4] 3
133. Three horses are grazing within a semi-circular field. In the diagram given below, AB is the
diameter of the semi-circular field with centre at O. Horses are tied up at P, R and S such that PO
and RO are the radii of semi-circles with centers at P and R respectively, and S is the centre of the
circle touching the two semi-circles with diameters AO and OB. The horses tied at P and R can
graze within the respective semi -circles and the horse tied at S can graze within the circle centred
at S. The percentage of the area of the semi-circle with diameter AB that cannot be grazed by the
horses is nearest to
A P O R B
S
[1] 20 [2] 28 [3] 36 [4] 40
DIRECTIONS for Questions 134 to 136: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given
below.
A city has two perfectly circular and concentric ring roads, the outer ring road (OR) being twice as long as
the inner ring road (IR). There are also four (straight line) chord roads from E1, the east end point of OR to
N2, the north end point of IR; from N1, the north end point of OR to W2, the west end point of IR; from
W1, the west end point of OR, to S2, the south end point of IR; and from S1, the south end point of OR to
E2, the east end point of IR. Traffic moves at a constant speed of 30 ? km/hr on the OR road, 20 ? km/hr
on the IR road, and 15 5 km/hr on all the chord roads.
134. Amit wants to reach N2 from S1. It would take him 90 minutes if he goes on minor arc S1 – E1 on
OR, and then on the chord road E1 – N2. What is the radius of the outer ring road in kms?
[1] 60 [2] 40 [3] 30 [4] 20
135. Amit wants to reach E2 from N1 using first the chord N1 – W2 and then the inner ring road. What
will be his travel time in minutes on the basis of information given in the above question?
[1] 60 [2] 45 [3] 90 [4] 105
136. The ratio of the sum of the lengths of all chord roads to the length of the outer ring road is
[1] 5: 2 [2] 5: 2? [3] 5: ? [4] None of the above.
DIRECTIONS for Questions 137 to 143: Answer the questions independently of each other.
137. The number of positive integers n in the range 12 ? n? 40 such that the product (n – 1) (n –
2)…3.2.1 is not divisible by n is
[1] 5 [2] 7 [3] 13 [4] 14
138. If x, y, z are distinct positive real numbers then
? ? ? ? ? ?
xyz
x2 y ? z ? y 2 x ? z ? z 2 x ? y
would be
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 31
[1] greater than 4 [2] greater than 5
[3] greater than 6 [4] None of the above
139. In a certain examination paper, there are n questions. For j = 1, 2 …n, there are 2n-j students who
answered j or more questions wrongly. If the total number of wrong answers is 4095, then the
value of n is
[1] 12 [2] 11 [3] 10 [4] 9
140. Consider the following two curves in the x-y plane:
y = x3 + x2 + 5
y = x2 + x + 5
Which of the following statements is true for -2 ? x ? 2?
[1] The two curves intersect once [2] The two curves intersect twice
[3] The two curves do not intersect [4] The two curves intersect thrice
141. Let T be the set of integers {3, 11, 19, 27,…451, 459, 467} and S be a subset of T such that the
sum of no two elements of S is 470. The maximum possible number of elements in S is
[1] 32 [2] 28 [3] 29 [4] 30
142. A graph may be defined as a set of points connected by lines called edges. Every edge connects a
pair of points. Thus, a triangle is a graph with 3 edges and 3 points. The degree of a point is the
number of edges connected to it. For example, a triangle is a graph with three points of degree 2
each. Consider a graph with 12 points. It is possible to reach any point from any other point
through a sequence of edges. The number of edges, e, in the graph must satisfy the condition
[1] 11 ? e ? 66 [2] 10 ? e ? 66 [3] 11 ? e ? 65 [4] 0 ? e? 11
143. There are 6 boxes numbered 1, 2, …6. Each box is to be filled up either with a red or a green ball
in such a way that at least 1 box contains a green ball and the boxes containing green balls are
consecutively numbered. The total number of ways in which this can be done is
[1] 5 [2] 21 [3] 33 [4] 60
DIRECTIONS for Questions 144 and 145: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given
below.
A certain perfume is available at a duty-free shop at the Bangkok international airport. It is priced in the
Thai currency Baht but other currencies are also acceptable. In particular, the shop accepts Euro and US
Dollar at the following rates of exchange:
US Dollar 1 = 41 Bahts
Euro 1 = 46 Bahts
The perfume is priced at 520 Bahts per bottle. After one bottle is purchased, subsequent bottles are
available at a discount of 30%. Three friends S, R and M together purchase three bottles of the perfume,
agreeing to share the cost equally. R pays 2 Euros. M pays 4 Euros and 27 Thai Bahts and S pays the
remaining amount in US Dollars.
144. How much does M owe to S in US Dollars?
[1] 3 [2] 4 [3] 5 [4] 6
145. How much does R owe to S in Thai Baht?
[1] 428 [2] 416 [3] 334 [4] 324
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 32
DIRECTIONS for Questions 146 to 150: Each question is followed by two statements, A and B. Answer
each question using the following instructions.
Choose [1] if the question can be answered by one of the statements alone but not by the other.
Choose [2] if the question can be answered by using either statement alone.
Choose [3] if the question can be answered by using both the statements together, but cannot be answered
by using either statement alone.
Choose [4] if the question cannot be answered even by using both the statements together.
146. Is a44 < b11, given that a = 2 and b is an integer?
A. b is even
B. b is greater than 16
147. What are the unique values of b and c in the equation 4x2 + bx + c = 0 if one of the roots of the
equation is (-1/2)?
A. The second root is 1/2
B. The ratio of c and b is 1
148. AB is a chord of a circle. AB = 5 cm. A tangent parallel to AB touches the minor arc AB at E.
What is the radius of the circle?
A. AB is not a diameter of the circle
B. The distance between AB and the tangent at E is 5 cm.
149. Is .... ?
1 1 1
....
1 1 1
2 4 6 3 5 ?
?
?
??
? ? ? ? ? ?
?
?
??
? ? ? ?
a a a a a a
A. -3 ? a ? 3
B. One of the roots of the equation 4x2-4x+1 = 0 is a.
150. D, E, F are the mid points of the sides AB, BC and CA of triangle ABC respectively. What is the
area of DEF in square centimeters?
A. AD = 1 cm, DF = 1 cm and perimeter of DEF = 3cm
B. Perimeter of ABC = 6 cm, AB = 2 cm, and AC = 2 cm
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 33
ANSWER KEY
SECTION I
1. [1] 2. [4] 3. [2] 4. [3] 5. [2]
6. [4] 7. [3] 8. [1] 9. [2] 10. [1]
11. [4] 12. [1] 13. [1] 14. [3] 15. [2]
16. [3] 17. [2] 18. [1] 19. [1] 20. [1]
21. [2] 22. [1] 23. [4] 24. [3] 25. [2]
26. [3] 27. [3] 28. [2] 29. [1] 30. [4]
31. [1] 32. [2] 33. [3] 34. [1] 35. [4]
36. [3] 37. [2] 38. [1] 39. [4] 40. [2]
41. [2] 42. [4] 43. [3] 44. [1] 45. [3]
46. [3] 47. [1] 48. [2] 49. [4] 50. [3]
SECTION II
51. [4] 52. [2] 53. [4] 54. [2] 55. [1]
56. [3] 57. [4] 58. [4] 59. [1] 60. [2]
61. [2] 62. [2] 63. [4] 64. [1] 65. [2]
66. [3] 67. [4] 68. [3] 69. [1] 70. [4]
71. [2] 72. [1] 73. [1] 74. [4] 75. [4]
76. [3] 77. [3] 78. [2] 79. [4] 80. [2]
81. [3] 82. [4] 83. [3] 84. [2] 85. [4]
86. [1] 87. [1] 88. [1] 89. [2] 90. [3]
91. [3] 92. [4] 93. [1] 94. [2] 95. [3]
96. [1] 97. [4] 98. [3] 99. [2] 100. [1]
SECTION III
101. [4] 102. [3] 103. [3] 104. [2] 105. [3]
106. [1] 107. [2] 108. [3] 109. [4] 110. [1]
111. [3] 112. [2] 113. [4] 114. [2] 115. [4]
116. [2] 117. [3] 118. [3] 119. [3] 120. [2]
121. [3] 122. [1] 123. [4] 124. [2] 125. [4]
126. [3] 127. [4] 128. [4] 129. [3] 130. [2]
131. [1] 132. [3] 133. [2] 134. [3] 135. [4]
136. [3] 137. [2] 138. [3] 139. [1] 140. [4]
141. [4] 142. [1] 143. [2] 144. [3] 145. [4]
146. [1] 147. [2] 148. [1] 149. [1] 150. [2]
SOLUTIONS
1. [1] — You fall back on something. Again, fatalism goes with explanation.
2. [4] — is regarded should go together. Valuable in itself is the right expression. Not only as …but also as has
parallel construction.
3. [2] — running …consists and more than it costs should give the answer.
4. [3] — C has the most precise language structure.
5. [2] — it would be ideal expresses a satisfactory proposition. Reflection should precede action, and thought
should facilitate behavior, though what happens in real life is exactly the opposite.
6. [4] — group of boy-scouts would have been a better expression.
7. [3] — Ranchi will play host would have been a better expression.
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 34
8. [1] — He is clear about what is would have been a better expression.
9. [2] — Farmers of all sorts would have been a better expression.
10. [1] — appreciated the headmaster’s gesture of raising would have been a better expression.
11. [4] — C is the best beginning to the paragraph. EBD gives the justification. incarcerated in A follows from
D.
12. [1] The “these types are rare” of D should follow B. AC also is mandatory as “these cases” of C is an
explanation of A. Also D looks like the logical ending and E the logical beginning. Hence the correct ans. is
[1]
13. [1] — CA gives the sequence of action. BD follows with reaction. The outcome is in E.
14. [3] — ADB is a clear sequence. So is CE.
15. [2] — CE gives the problem. A gives the solution. BD gives the Dvorak angle.
16. [3] — If you have friends outside college, they tend to mask adjustment problems with college colleagues.
17. [2] — conceded and offloaded are the most appropriate pair of words to fit here.
18. [4] — Negative reinforcements foster negative behavior.
19. [1] — resent and replacing are the most appropriate pair of words to fit here.
20. [1] — In the first blank the confusion could be between “different” and “distinct”. However once you know
that certain regions of Spain are unique, only then can you call them distinct, not before. Which is why the
first blank can’t be distinct. So the first blank should be different. Now between [1] and [4] the correct
answer is [1] because discrete means distinct and so we are carrying forward the thought of difference
between regions and then in the regions themselves.
21. [2] — Refer to the part better if it lasts for years …wealthy with all you have gained on the way.
22. [1] — Refer to the part as many sensual perfumes as you can … to gather stores of knowledge.
23. [4] — Refer to the part Keep Ithika always in your mind. Arriving there is what you are destined for.
24. [3] — Refer to the part you bring them along inside your soul.
25. [2] — Refer to the part Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey, without her you would not have set out.
26. [3] — Refer to the part much of biotechnology research is also funded by governments.
27. [3] — Refer to the part anti-GM campaign has been quite effective in Europe.
28. [2] — Refer to the part use of ever-stronger herbicides which are poisonous.
29. [1] — Refer to the part GM controversy will son hit the headlines in India … use the protato in its midday
meal program for schools.
30. [4] — Refer to the part much of biotechnology research is also funded by governments in both developing
and developed countries.
31. [1] — Refer to the part these large gatherings.
32. [2] — Refer to the part Interest, wonder … the need of the first two must not be underrated.
33. [3] — Refer to the part It is tragic … social life which are drying up.
34. [1] — Discriminate means to recognize passionate attitude.
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 35
35. [4] — The correct ans. is 4. as can be seen by the first line of the second last para. If you read the previous
para also you’ll find that what the author is actually saying is that the so called social life is not as per the real
definitions. 1. is not right as the author is nowhere showing that the crowds in poor Calcutta can turn violent
anytime. He is just giving a couple of instances to prove his point. We can’t generalize like this.2.is the
opposite of what the author is trying to show. 3. again is a generalization.
36. [3] — Only a connoisseur can appreciate better quality wines, taste is not written on labels.
37. [2] — The writer is using satire to mildly tease the French winemaker.
38. [1] — Refer to the part some areas … have now produced a generation of growers using the varietal names
on their labels.
39. [4] — Option 4 is the most substantiated reason to support Dr. Renaud’s findings.
40. [2] — Refer to the part it is on every wine label … the name of the grape from which the wine is made …
acquired a basic lexicon.
41. [2] —1, 3 and 4 are stated in the third paragraph.
42. [4] — Refer to the last line of the first paragraph, the second paragraph and the last line of the passage.
43. [3] — Refer to the part it reminded the British vividly.
44. [1] — Refer to the part it was supposedly for the good of the conquered.
45. [3] — Refer to the part India would resist payment, and paralyze the war effort.
46. [3] — Refer to the part physical processes of nature would prove to be unfolding themselves according to
rigorous mathematical laws.
47. [1] — Refer to the part Still, an excuse of this sort can scarcely be put forward.
48. [2] — Refer to the part account be taken of his joint contributions to mathematics and physics.
49. [4] — Refer to the part extension of the validity.
50. [3] — the correct ans is [3]. If you read the 6th line of last para it’s given that the principle’s assertion was
that “absolute velocity must ever escape all experimental detection.” Which means that sometimes we can’t
experiment. This is very similar to 3. Ans. choice [1]. is a fact and not an “implication”. [2]. Is again a fact
and in [4]. The word “meaningless” is too strong and this choice is a generalization from a specific point.
Generalizations need not be correct.
51. [4] — By looking up the table, in University of California – Berkeley median starting salary is $70,000 and
annual tuition fee is $18,788.
52. [2] — By looking up the table, the number of schools, uniformly better than Dartmouth College is 2 i.e.
Stanford and New York.
53. [4] — By counting from the table, eight rows of first nine row schools satisfy the given condition.
54. [2] — There are 45 children of height not exceeding 135 and 48 children of age not exceeding 9 yrs.
Consider the tallest child of the 45 children with height not exceeding 135. We can be very sure that his age
is less than 9 yrs as taller children have higher weights. Thus all 45 children of heights not exceeding 135 will
have age not exceeding 9 yrs.
55. [1] — Using the same logic as above, there are 25 children taller than 150 cms and more than 10 years of age.
There are 9 children of weights more than 38. These 9 children are surely included in the 25 children taller
than 150 cms and more than 10 years of age because of the assumption given. Thus 25 – 9 = 16 children
satisfy the condition.
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 36
56. [3] — There are 55 children not exceeding 12 years but older than 6 years. Again 33 children weigh less than
or equal to 38. Of these, 22 are those who are less than 6 years of age. Thus 11 of the 55 students weigh less
than or equal to 38 years. So the answer is 55 – 11 = 44.
57. [4] — From the data both statements are false.
58. [4] — From the data both statements are false.
59. [1] — From the data statement “A” is true.
60. [2] — Just draw a diagonal line from bottom left point to top right point. All companies lying above this line
have profit in excess of 10% of turnover.
From the graph there are 7 companies, has the profit 10% of turnover.
61. [3] — From the graph there are 2 steel companies with a turnover of more than 2000 and profit less than 300.
62. [2] — From the graph there are 5 companies.
63. [4] — Profitability is defined as percentage of sales. Approximately Firm A has 25% profit, B has 16.66%, C
has 20% and D has approximately 30% profit.
64. [1] — x100 55%
89570
24568 25468 ? ?
65. [2] — It happened only once i.e; on 17–Jul-02
66. [3] — It is evident from the given data.
67. [4] — Compare and see.
68. [3] — Incase of Products, percentage of spam emails is increasing but at decreasing rate, from Sep 2002 to
Dec 2002 products increased more than 100% and in Mar 2003 about 45% and in Jun 2003 10%
69. [1] — Was larger as in Dec 2002 it is a higher percentage of a higher base compared to June 2003.
70. [4] — Cannot be determined as in Sept 2002 it is a lower percentage than March 2003, however the base in
Sept 2003 is higher than that in March 2002. Thus we cannot say anything.
71. [2] — It is evident from graph Seeta’s growth rate decreased from third month as this is the first time the
slope has decreased.
72. [1] — Geeta grew at fastest rate in first two months (the slope of the line in this period is steepest for Geeta).
73. [1] — Geeta grew lowest in third month (during this period, the slope was least for Geeta).
74. [4] — Seeta increased 7cm on 50 and shyam 7cm on 53cm, Hence Shyam grew least.
75. [4] — x100 30%
30
9 ?
76. [3] — x100 76.67%
30
23 ?
77. [3] — x100 13.33%
30
4 ?
78. [2] — AVOCADO paint is mixture of ORANGE and PINK in equal quantities.
If ORANGE is made using RED and YELLOW, then the cost of ORANGE would be
(20+25)/2 = 22.5 which is greater than the cost of the ORANGE.
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 37
If we make PINK by RED and WHITE, the cost of PINK would be (20+15)/2 = 17.5 which is less than the
cost of the PINK paint.
Hence, the cost of the AVOCADO is (22+17.5)/2 = 19.75
79. [4] — Mixing equal amounts of ORANGE and WHITE can make WASHEDORANGE, ORANGE can be
made by mixing equal amounts of RED and YELLOW. So the ratio of RED, YELLOW and WHITE is 1:1:2
80. [2] — If cost of AVOCADO paint is Rs.19.75
The cost of the CREAM is [(7 x 15)+(3 x 75)]/10 = Rs. 18
And cost of WASHEDORANGE is Rs.18.50
So CREAM is the most profitable.
81. [3] — From given options F is the only possibility.
82. [4] — If we look at the options D & G can sit together, C & F can sit together, B & D can sit together and E
& A is the only option which is not possible.
83. [3] — E & G is the only possibility.
84. [2] — From the above information we can infer that option (2) is correct.
85. [4] — B-Defence, D – Telecom
86. [1]
87. [1] — D + J = 46
88. [1] — From statement A.
89. [2] — From both statements individually. If x is the number of tosses he took, from statement I we get the
equation 10 + x –100 = 50. Thus x = 140. From statement II individually, we have x > 138. Thus we are sure
he has paid up more than 148. If he incurs a loss of only Rs. 50, the game has to end normally. Thus the
above state of his taking 150 shots with first 138 as tails and 139 and 140 throw as tails is the scenario. With
no other scenario will a loss of just 50 and 138 tails show up.
90. [3] — Using both statements.
91. [3] — Using both statements.
92. [4]
93. [1]
94. [3]
95. [3]
96. [1]
97. [3, 4]
98. [3]
99. [2]
100. [1]
101. [4] — The surface area of a sphere is proportional to the square of the radius.
Thus, B ?
A
S 4
S 1
(S. A. of B is 300% higher than A)
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 38
? B?
A
r 2
r 1
The volume of a sphere is proportional to the cube of the radius.
Thus, B ?
A
V 8
V 1
Or, VA is
7 th
8
less than B i.e. 87.5%
102. [3] — Let the number of correct answers be ‘x’, number of wrong answers be ‘y’ and number of questions
not attempted be ‘z’.
Thus, x + y + z = 50 … (i)
And ? x–y–z 32
3 6
The second equation can be written as,
6x – 2y – z = 192 … (ii)
Adding the two equations we get,
242
7 x – y = 2 4 2 o r x= + y
7
Since, x and y are both integers, y cannot be 1 or 2. The minimum value that y can have is 3.
103. [3] — If we consider the third term to be ‘x”
The 15th term will be (x + 12d)
6th term will be (x + 3d)
11th term will be (x + 8d) and 13th term will be (x + 10d)
Thus, as per the given condition, 2x + 12d = 3x + 21d.
Or x + 9d = 0
x + 9d will be the 12th term.
104. [2] — For the curves to intersect, –1
log10x = x
Thus, ? x?
10
1
log x orx 10
x
This is possible for only one value of x (2< x < 3).
105. [3] — The number of goats remain the same.
If the percentage that is added every time is equal to the percentage that is sold, then there should
be a net decrease. The same will be the case if the percentage added is less than the percentage
sold.
The only way, the number of goats will remain the same is if p > q.
106. [1] — Let ‘x’ be the number of standard bags and ‘y’ be the number of deluxe bags.
Thus, 4x + 5y ? 700 and 6x + 10y ? 1250
Among the choices, 3 and 4 do not satisfy the second equation.
Choice 2 is eliminated as, in order to maximize profits the number of deluxe bags should be higher
than the number of standard bags.
107. [2] — Case 1: If x < 2, then y = 2 – x + 2.5 – x + 3.6 – x = 8.1 – 3x.
This will be least if x is highest i.e. just less than 2.
In this case y will be just more than 2.1
Case 2: If 2? x?2.5 , then y = x – 2 + 2.5 – x 3.6 – x = 4.1 – x
Again, this will be least if x is the highest case y will be just more than 1.6.
Case 3: If 2.5?x?3.6 , then y = x – 2 + x – 2.5 + 3.6 – x = x – 0.9
This will be least if x is least i.e. X = 2.5.
Case 4: If In this case y = 1.6 X? 3.6 , then
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 39
6
8
3 2
Giani Medha
Buddhi
G M
B
y = x – 2 + x – 2.5 + x – 3.6 = 3x – 8.1
The minimum value of this will be at x = 3.6 = 27
Hence the minimum value of y is attained at x = 2.5
108. [3] — The ratio of the speeds of the fastest and the slowest runners is 2 : 1. Hence they should meet at only
one point on the circumference i.e. the starting point (As the difference in the ratio in reduced form is 1). For
the two of them to meet for the first time, the faster should have completed one complete round over the
slower one. Since the two of them meet for the first time after 5 min, the faster one should have completed 2
rounds (i.e. 2000 m) and the slower one should have completed 1 round. (i.e. 1000 m) in this time. Thus, the
faster one would complete the race (i.e. 4000 m) in 10 min.
109. [4] — Since the last digit in base 2, 3 and 5 is 1, the number should be such that on dividing by either 2, 3 or
5 we should get a remainder 1. The smallest such number is 31. The next set of numbers are 61, 91.
Among these only 31 and 91 are a part of the answer choices.
Among these, (31)10 ? (11111)2?(1011)3?(111)5
Thus, all three forms have leading digit 1.
Hence the answer is 91.
110. [1] — It is given that p? q? r? 0, if we consider the first option, and multiply the first equation by 5,
second by –2 and third by –1, we see that the coefficients of x, y and z all add up-to zero.
Thus, 5p – 2q – r = 0
No other option satisfies this.
111. [3] — There are 101 integers in all, of which 51 are even.
From 100 to 200, there are 14 multiples of 7, of which 7 are even.
There are 11 multiples of 9, of which 6 are even.
But there is one integer (i.e. 126) that is a multiple of both 7 and 9 and also even.
Hence the answer is (51 – 7 – 6 + 1) = 39
112. [2] — The number 27 has no significance here. Statement 2, will never be true for any number of people.
Let us the case of 2 people.
If A knows B and B only knows A, both of them have 1 acquaintance each. Thus, B should be
knowing atleast one other person.
Let us say he knows ‘C’ as well. So now ‘B’ has two acquaintances (A and C), but C has only
acquaintance (B), which is equal to that of A.
To close this loop, C will have to know A as well. In which case he will have two acquaintances,
which is the same as that of C.
Thus the loop will never be completed unless atleast two of them have the same number of
acquaintances.
Besides, statements 1, 3 and 4 can be true.
Note: If we consider the other wise, to satisfy condition 2, the first person must have 26 acquaintances, the
second 25, third 24 and so on. If we continue, the last one should have 0 acquaintance, which is not possible.
113. [4] — We can see that x + 2 is an increasing function and 5 – x is a decreasing function. This system of
equation will have smallest value at the point of intersection of the two. i.e. 5 – x = x + 2 or x = 1.5. Thus
smallest value of g(x) = 3.5
114. [2] — As per the given data we get the following:
G + B = M + 16
Also, M + B + G + 19 = (2 x 19) – 1
i.e. (G + B) = 18 – M
Thus, M + 16 = 18 – M
i.e. M = 1
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 40
115. [4] — Putting the value of M in either equation, we get G + B = 17.
Hence neither of two can be uniquely determined.
116. [2] — u is always negative. Hence, for us to have a minimum value of vz/u, vz should be positive. Also for
the least value, the numerator has to be the maximum positive value and the denominator has to be the
smallest negative value. In other words, vz has to be 2 and u has to be –0.5. Hence the minimum value of
vz/u = 2/–0.5 = –4.
For us to get the maximum value, vz has to be the smallest negative value and u has to be the highest
negative value. Thus, vz has to be –2 and u has to be –0.5. Hence the maximum value of vz/u = –2/–0.5 = 4.
117. [3] — The best way to do this is to take some value and verify.
E.g. 2, 1/2 and 1. Thus, n = 3 and the sum of the three numbers = 3.5.
Thus options 1, 2 and 4 get eliminated.
118. [3] — Assume the number of horizontal layers in the pile be n.
So 8436
2
n(n 1)
?
?
?
[ n n] 8436
2
? 1 ? 2 ? ? ?
8436
4
n(n 1)
12
n(n 1) (2n 1)
?
?
?
? ?
?
2n 4
n(n 1) 8436
12
? ? ??? ? ????
8436
6
n(n 1)(n 2) ? ? ? ?
? n(n ? 1) (n ? 2) ? 36? 37 ? 38
So n = 36
119. [3] —
20
10
r
r – 20
r – 10
Let the radius be r. Thus we have (r – 10)2 + (r – 20)2 = r2
i.e. r2 – 60r + 500 = 0. Thus r = 10 or 50.
It would be 10, if the corner of the rectangle had been lying on the inner circumference. But as per the
given diagram, the radius of the circle should be 50 cm.
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 41
120. [2] —
A B
P
Q
60°
Given ? APB = 60° and AB = b.
3
2
b
? PQ ? ?
Next, ,
2
b
h and PQ form a right angle triangle.
4
3b
h
4
b 2
2
2
? ? ?
? 2h2 ? b2
121. [3] — If y = 2 (it cannot be 0 or 1), then x can take 1 value and z can take 2 values.
Thus with y = 2, a total of 1 X 2 = 2 numbers can be formed. With y = 3, 2 X 3 = 6 numbers can be
formed. Similarly checking for all values of y from 2 to 9 and adding up we get the answer as 240.
122. [1] — If y = 10o,
? BOC = 10o (opposite equal sides)
? OBA = 20o (external angle of ?BOC )
? OAB = 20 (opposite equal sides)
? AOD = 30o (external angle of ?AOC )
Thus k = 3
123. [4] — Using log a – log b = log a/b, 2 / (y–5) = (y–5)/(y –3.5) where y = 2x
Solving we get y = 4 or 8 i.e. x = 2 or 3. It cannot be 2 as log of negative number is not defined (see
the second expression).
124. [2] — Using the Basic Proportionality Theorem, AB/PQ = BD/QD and PQ/CD = BQ/BD. Multiplying the
two we get, AB/CD = BQ/QD = 3 : 1.
Thus CD : PQ = BD : BQ = 4 : 3 = 1 : 0.75
125. [4] —
B A
C
D
P
Q
8
6
10
Triangle ABC is a right angled triangle.
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 42
Thus 1/2 × BC × AB = 1/2 × BD × AC
Or, 6 × 8 = BD × 10. Thus BD = 4.8. Therefore, BP = BQ = 4.8.
So, AP = AB – BP = 6 – 4.8 = 1.2 and CQ = BC – BQ = 8 – 4.8 = 3.2.
Thus, AP : CQ = 1.2 : 3.2 = 3 : 8
126. [3] — In this kind of polygon, the number of convex angles will always be exactly 4 more than the number of
concave angles (why?).
Note : The number of vertices should be even. Hence the number of concave and convex corners should add
up to an even number. This is true only for the answer choice 3.
127. [4] — p + q = ? –2 and pq = –? – 1
(p + q)2 = p 2 + q2 + 2pq,
Thus (? –2)2 = p 2 + q2 + 2(–? – 1)
p2 + q2 = ? 2 – 4? + 4 +2? + 2
p2 + q2 = ? 2 – 2? + 6
p2 + q2 = ? 2 – 2? + 1 + 5
p2 + q2 = (? 2 – 1)2 + 5
Thus, minimum value of p2 + q2 is 5.
128. [4] — The number of terms of the series forms the sum of first n natural numbers i.e.
n(n + 1)/2.
Thus the first 23 letters will account for the first (23 x 24)/2 = 276 terms of the series.
The 288th term will be the 24th letter viz. x.
129. [3] —
A
B C
r
2r
Since the area of the outer circle is 4 times the area of the inner circle, the radius of the outer circle
should be 2 times that of the inner circle.
Since AB and AC are the tangents to the inner circle, they should be equal. Also, BC should be a
tangent to inner circle. In other words, triangle ABC should be equilateral.
The area of the outer circle is 12. Hence the area of inner circle is 3 or the radius is
?
3
The area
of equilateral triangle = 3?3 r2, where r is the inradius.
Hence the answer is 9?3/?
130. [2] — (a + b + c + d)2 = (4m + 1)2
Thus, a2 + b2 + c2 + d2 + 2(ab + ac + ad + bc + bd + cd) = 16m2 + 8m + 1
a2 + b2 + c2 + d2 will have the minimum value if (ab + ac + ad + bc + bd + cd) is the maximum.
This is possible if a = b = c = d = (m + 0.25) ……….since a + b + c + d = 4m + 1
In that case 2((ab + ac + ad + bc + bd + cd) = 12(m + 0.25)2 = 12m2 + 6m + 0.75 Thus, the
minimum value of a2 + b2 + c2 + d2 = (16m2 + 8m + 1) – 2(ab + ac + ad + bc + bd + cd)
= (16m2 + 8m + 1) – (12m2 + 6m + 0.75)
= 4m2 + 2m + 0.25
Since it is an integer, the actual minimum value = 4m2 + 2m + 1
131. [1] — It is very clear, that a hexagon can be divided into six equilateral triangles. And triangle AOF is half
of an equilateral triangle. Hence the required ratio = 1 : 12
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 43
132. [3] — 2x – x – 1 = 0
? 2x – 1 = x
If we put x = 0, then this is satisfied and we put x = 1, then this is also satisfied.
Now we put x = 2, then this is not valid.
133. [2] — If the radius of the field is r, then the total area of the field = ?r2 /2.
The radius of the semi-circles with centre’s P and R = r/2.
Hence, their total area = ? r2/4
Let the radius if the circle with centre S be x. Thus, OS = (r – x), OR = r/2 and RS = (r/2 + x).
Applying Pythagoras theorem, we get (r – x)2 + (r/2)2 = (r/2 + x)2
Solving this, we get x = r/3.
Thus the area of the circle with centre S = ? r2/9.
The total area that can be grazed = ? r2(1/4 + 1/9) = 13? r2/36
Thus the fraction of the field that can be grazed = 26/36 (area that can be grazed / area of the field)
The fraction that cannot be grazed = 10/36 = 28% (approx.)
Answers 134 to 136
N2
S2
W2
W1 E2 E1
N1
S1
If the radius of the inner ring road is r, then the radius of the outer ring road will be 2r (since the
circumference is double).
The length of IR = 2? r, that of OR = 4? r and that of the chord roads are r?5 (Pythagoras theorem)
The corresponding speeds are 20?, 30? and 15?5 kmph.
Thus time taken to travel one circumference of IR = (r/10) hr., one circumference of OR = (r/7.5) hr. and
one length of the chord road = r/15
134. The total time taken by the route given = (r/30) + (r/15) = 3/2 (i.e. 90 min.)
Thus, r = 15 km. The radius of OR = 2r = 30 kms
135. The total time taken = (r/20) + r/15 = 7r/60.
Since r = 15, total time taken = 7/4 hr. = 105 min.
136. Sum of the length of the chord roads = 4r?5 and the length of OR = 4? r.
Thus the required ratio = ?5 : ?
137. [2] — From 12 to 40, there are 7 prime number, i.e. 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, which is not divisible by (n–
1)!
138. [3] — Here x, y, z are distinct positive real number
So
xyz
x2(y ? z) ? y2(x ? 2) ? z2 (x ? y)
y
z
x
z
z
y
x
y
z
x
y
x
? ? ? ? ? ?
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 44
??
?
??
? ? ? ? ?
?
?
? ??
?
? ? ? ?
?
?
? ??
?
? ?
z
x
x
z
y
z
z
y
x
y
y
x
[We know that 2
a
b
b
a ? ? if a and b are distinct numbers
> 2 + 2 + 2
> 6
139. [1] — Let us say there are only 3 questions. Thus there are 23–1 = 4 students who have done 1 or more
questions wrongly, 23–2 = 2 students who have done 2 or more questions wrongly and 23–3 = 1 student who
must have done all 3 wrongly. Thus total number of wrong answers = 4 + 2 + 1 = 7 = 23 – 1 = 2n – 1.
In our question, the total number of wrong answers = 4095 = 212 – 1. Thus n = 12.
140. [4] — When we substitute two values of x in the above curves, at x = –2 we get
y = –8 + 4 + 5 = 1
y = 4 – 2 + 5 = 7
Hence at x = –2 the curves do not intersect.
At x = 2, y = 17 and y = 11
At x = –1, y = 5 and 5
When x = 0, y = 5 and y = 5
And at x = 1, y = 7 and y = 7
Therefore, the two curves meet thrice when x = –1, 0 and 1.
141. [4] – Tn = a + (n – 1)d
467 = 3 + (n – 1)8
n = 59
Half of n = 29 terms
29th term is 227 and 30th term is 243 and when these two terms are added the sum is more than 470.
Hence the maximum possible values the set S can have are 30.
142. [1] —The least number of edges will be when one point is connected to each of the other 11 lines, giving a
total of 11 lines. One can move from any point to any other point via the common point. The maximum edges
will be when a line exists between any two points. Two points can be selected from 12 points in 12C2 i.e. 66
lines.
143. [2] — GRRRRR, RGRRRR, RRGRRR, RRRGRR, RRRRGR, RRRRRG
GGRRRR, RGGRRR, RRGGRR, RRRGGR, RRRRGG
GGGRRR, RGGGRR, RRGGGR, RRRGGG
GGGGRR, RGGGGR, RRGGGG
GGGGGR, RGGGGG
GGGGGG
Hence 21 ways.
Answers 144 and 145
144. [3]
145. [4]
S, M and R in all spend 1248 bahts.
Initially M pays 211 bahts and R pays 92 bahts.
Remaining is born by S i.e; 945 bahts
If 1248 is divided equally among S,M and R each has to spend 415 bahts
Hence M has to pay S 205 bahts which is 5 Dollars.
And R has to pay 324 bahts to S.
146. [1] — Solution cannot be found by using only Statement A since b can take any even number 2,4,6 ……..
But we can arrive at solution by using statement B alone.
If b > 16, say b = 17
Hence 244 < (16 + 1)11
244 < (24 + 1)11
147. [2] — Solution can be found using Statement A as we know both the roots for the equation (viz. 1/2 and –
1/2).
Also statement B is sufficient. Since ratio of c and b = 1, c = b.
The Princeton Review CAT sample paper 45
Thus the equation = 4x2 + bx + b = 0. Since x = –1/2 is one of the roots, substituting we get 1 –
b/2 + b = 0 or b = –2. Thus c = –2.
148. [1] —
A B
O
E
C
r
2.5 2.5
We can get the answer using the second statement only. Let the radius be r.
AC = CB = 2.5 and using statement B, CE = 5, thus OC = (r – 5).
Using Pythagoras theorem, (r – 5)2 + (2.5)2 = r2
We get r = 3.125
NOTE: You will realize that such a circle is not possible (if r = 3.125 how can CE be 5). However
we need to check data sufficiency and not data consistency. Since we are able to find the value of r
uniquely using second statement the answer is 1.
149. [1] — Both the series are infinitely diminishing series.
For the first series: First term = 1/a2 and r = 1/a2
For the second series: First term = 1/a and r = 1/a2
The sum of the first series = (1/a2) / (1 – 1/a2) = 1 / (a2 – 1)
The sum of the second series = (1/a) / (1 – 1/a2) = a / (a2 – 1)
Now, from the first statement, the relation can be anything (depending on whether a is positive or
negative).
But the second statement tells us, 4a2 – 4a + 1 = 0 or a = ½. For this value of a, the sum of second
series will always be greater than that of the first.
150. [2] — The question tells us that the area of triangle DEF will be 1/4th the area of triangle ABC. Thus by
knowing either of the statements, we get the area of the triangle DEF.