CSAT, IAS 2015. UPSC 2015

CSAT DAILY MISSION #57

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:

The Food and Drug Administration has recently proposed severe restrictions on the use of antibiotics to promote the health and growth of meat animals. Medications added to feeds kill many microorganisms but also encourage the appearance of bacterial strains that are resistant to anti-infectious drugs. Already, for example, penicillin and the tetracyclines are not as effective therapeutically as they once were. The drug resistance is chiefly conferred by tiny circlets of genes, called plasmids that can be exchanged between different strains and even different species of bacteria. Plasmids are also one of the two kinds of vehicles (the other being viruses) that molecular biologists depend on when performing gene transplant experiments. Even present guidelines forbid the laboratory use of plasmid-bearing genes for resistance to antibiotics. Yet, while congressional debate rages over whether or not to toughen these restrictions on scientists in their laboratories, little congressional attention has been focused on an ill-advised agricultural practices that produce known deleterious effects.

Question 1

The author is primarily concerned with
1. Discovering methods of eliminating drug-resistant bacteria
2. Regulation of gene transplant experiments
3. Problematic agricultural practice and their serious genetic consequences
4. Ineffectiveness of anti-infectious drugs

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 2 only

(C) 3 only

(D) 1 and 4 only

Question 2

Which of the following happens as a result in the exchange of plasmids between different bacteria?

(A) Viruses become obsolete for gene transplantation experiments

(B) Microorganisms get killed

(C) The bacteria lose their potency

(D) Microorganisms develop resistance to drugs

Question 3

Those in favor of stiffening the restrictions on gene transplant should

(A) Boost experiments with any plasmids, except those with genes for antibiotic resistance

(B) Discuss the restrictions imposed on scientists in lab experiments

(C) Encourage the development of meatier livestock through the use of antibiotics

(D) Favor congressional debate and discussion of all health issues of meat animals

Question 4

The author’s outlook toward the progress of developing bacterial strains that render ineffective antibiotic drugs can be labeled as

(A) insincere

(B) apprehensive

(C) indifferent

(D) perplexed

Question 5

What is the meaning of the word “deleterious” used in the passage?

(A) Functional

(B) Severe

(C) Destructive

(D) Forgiving



SOLUTIONS TO DAILY CSAT MISSION # 58

1.(A) 2.(C) 3.(B) 4.(D) 5.(A)

Explanations
1. Let the younger person’s age be ‘x’ years. Then, older person’s age = x + 16.
As per the question, six years ago, 3(x – 6) = [(x + 16) – 6], which gives x = 14.

2. Since sun is towards the East in the morning, and he walks away from the sun, James is walking due West. His travels start from A, then to B and the to C:

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Distance from C to A = square root of (13*13 + 5*5) = 13.9 km. Direction is due North-East.

3. If it is cut into 512 smaller cubes, it means each edge of the cube was cut into 8 pieces. (512 = 8*8*8).
Each face of the original cube will look like:

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Each side of the cube will have 64 visible small cube faces. 4 of these are corners (marked with red ‘X’) and will have three faces coloured green. 24 more are edges (marked with black ‘X’) and will have two faces coloured green. So, out of 64, there will be only 36 cubes that will have one side coloured green.
Since the original cube has 6 such sides, the total number of smaller cubes that will have one green face = 36 * 6 = 216.

4. The following is a scenario that satisfies all given conditions but disproves option (A):

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The following is a scenario that satisfies all given conditions but disproves option (B):

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The following is a scenario that satisfies all given conditions but disproves option (C):

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5.  Let 60 L of each sample be taken.
The first sample will have 40 L milk and 20 L water.
The second sample will have 45 L milk and 15 L water.
The third sample will have 48 L milk and 12 L water.
Total milk in the mixture = 133 L. Total water in the mixture = 47 L.


Comments

6 responses to “CSAT DAILY MISSION #57”

  1. Naveen Shekhar Avatar
    Naveen Shekhar

    @ Nikhil
    For easy calculation and solution,we generally take common volume and it is lcm of 3(2:1,so 2 plus 1),4(3:1,so 3 plus 1) and 5(4:1,so 4 plus 1) which equals to 60.
    Now distribute every vessel accordingly,and so on….
    Note that all multiples of 60 like 120,180,240 etc will also give easy and quick solution.

  2. Rishabh Singh Avatar
    Rishabh Singh

    C..D..D..B..C

  3. BDBBC

  4. 1.B 2.D 3.A 4.B 5.C

  5. Nikhil Avatar
    Nikhil

    Please explain q5 of csat daily mission 58
    How you let 60? Why not some other no.

  6. Ashwin Avatar
    Ashwin

    D
    D
    D
    B
    C

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