UPSC Insta–DART (Daily Aptitude and Reasoning Test) 12 Aug 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
Considering the alarming importance of CSAT in UPSC CSE Prelims exam and with enormous requests we received recently, InsightsIAS has started Daily CSAT Test to ensure students practice CSAT Questions on a daily basis. Regular Practice would help one overcome the fear of CSAT too.We are naming this initiative as Insta– DART – Daily Aptitude and Reasoning Test. We hope you will be able to use DART to hit bull’s eye in CSAT paper and comfortably score 100+ even in the most difficult question paper that UPSC can give you in CSP-2021. Your peace of mind after every step of this exam is very important for us.
Looking forward to your enthusiastic participation (both in sending us questions and solving them on daily basis on this portal).
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• Question 1 of 5 1. Question With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: I. Emotional and intuitive responses are integral to human cognition, especially in uncertain situations. II. Designing education and policy without accounting for the embodied nature of cognition may lead to ineffective outcomes. III. Artificial intelligence must fully replicate human emotional heuristics to be considered truly intelligent. Which of the above assumptions is/are valid? (a) I and II only (b) II and III only (c) I and III only (d) All three (I, II and III) Correct Answer: a Explanation: Assumption I is valid: The passage states that “decision-making under uncertainty often relies on emotion-driven heuristics.” This validates I. Assumption II is valid: The last line—“This has significant implications for education, policy design…”—supports the idea that ignoring embodied cognition leads to suboptimal decisions in such areas. Assumption III is not valid: While the passage references AI, it does not assert that AI must replicate emotion-driven heuristics. That would be a speculative extrapolation. Hence, only I and II are valid, making (a) the correct answer. Incorrect Answer: a Explanation: Assumption I is valid: The passage states that “decision-making under uncertainty often relies on emotion-driven heuristics.” This validates I. Assumption II is valid: The last line—“This has significant implications for education, policy design…”—supports the idea that ignoring embodied cognition leads to suboptimal decisions in such areas. Assumption III is not valid: While the passage references AI, it does not assert that AI must replicate emotion-driven heuristics. That would be a speculative extrapolation. Hence, only I and II are valid, making (a) the correct answer.
#### 1. Question
With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
I. Emotional and intuitive responses are integral to human cognition, especially in uncertain situations. II. Designing education and policy without accounting for the embodied nature of cognition may lead to ineffective outcomes. III. Artificial intelligence must fully replicate human emotional heuristics to be considered truly intelligent.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?
• (a) I and II only
• (b) II and III only
• (c) I and III only
• (d) All three (I, II and III)
Answer: a
Explanation:
• Assumption I is valid: The passage states that “decision-making under uncertainty often relies on emotion-driven heuristics.” This validates I.
• Assumption II is valid: The last line—“This has significant implications for education, policy design…”—supports the idea that ignoring embodied cognition leads to suboptimal decisions in such areas.
• Assumption III is not valid: While the passage references AI, it does not assert that AI must replicate emotion-driven heuristics. That would be a speculative extrapolation.
Hence, only I and II are valid, making (a) the correct answer.
Answer: a
Explanation:
• Assumption I is valid: The passage states that “decision-making under uncertainty often relies on emotion-driven heuristics.” This validates I.
• Assumption II is valid: The last line—“This has significant implications for education, policy design…”—supports the idea that ignoring embodied cognition leads to suboptimal decisions in such areas.
• Assumption III is not valid: While the passage references AI, it does not assert that AI must replicate emotion-driven heuristics. That would be a speculative extrapolation.
Hence, only I and II are valid, making (a) the correct answer.
• Question 2 of 5 2. Question The widespread use of smartphones has significantly altered the way people allocate attention. Notifications, infinite scrolling, and app-switching erode the ability to engage in deep, focused thought. Though connectivity has increased, the price seems to be paid in cognitive fragmentation. Many users report feeling anxious or restless without their devices, suggesting not empowerment but dependency. In such an environment, silence and sustained concentration have become rare commodities, often replaced by compulsive interaction with screens. *Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: Smartphone usage contributes to reduced capacity for deep and sustained thinking. People feel empowered by being constantly connected to digital content. Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid? a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Correct Answer: a Explanation: Assumption 1 is valid. The passage explicitly links smartphone usage to reduced attention span and cognitive fragmentation, clearly supporting this assumption. Assumption 2 is invalid. The passage suggests the opposite—that people’s dependence on connectivity may indicate anxiety and compulsive behavior, not empowerment. Hence, this assumption contradicts the passage. Incorrect Answer: a Explanation: Assumption 1 is valid. The passage explicitly links smartphone usage to reduced attention span and cognitive fragmentation, clearly supporting this assumption. Assumption 2 is invalid. The passage suggests the opposite—that people’s dependence on connectivity may indicate anxiety and compulsive behavior*, not empowerment. Hence, this assumption contradicts the passage.
#### 2. Question
The widespread use of smartphones has significantly altered the way people allocate attention. Notifications, infinite scrolling, and app-switching erode the ability to engage in deep, focused thought. Though connectivity has increased, the price seems to be paid in cognitive fragmentation. Many users report feeling anxious or restless without their devices, suggesting not empowerment but dependency. In such an environment, silence and sustained concentration have become rare commodities, often replaced by compulsive interaction with screens.
*Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:*
• Smartphone usage contributes to reduced capacity for deep and sustained thinking.
• People feel empowered by being constantly connected to digital content.
Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?
• c) Both 1 and 2
• d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: a
Explanation:
• Assumption 1 is valid. The passage explicitly links smartphone usage to reduced attention span and cognitive fragmentation, clearly supporting this assumption.
• Assumption 2 is invalid. The passage suggests the opposite—that people’s dependence on connectivity may indicate anxiety and compulsive behavior, not empowerment. Hence, this assumption contradicts the passage.
Answer: a
Explanation:
• Assumption 1 is valid. The passage explicitly links smartphone usage to reduced attention span and cognitive fragmentation, clearly supporting this assumption.
• Assumption 2 is invalid. The passage suggests the opposite—that people’s dependence on connectivity may indicate anxiety and compulsive behavior, not empowerment. Hence, this assumption contradicts the passage.
• Question 3 of 5 3. Question *Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the above passage? a) Smartphones have increased productivity by enabling multitasking and better time management. b) Smartphone addiction is a rising public health concern needing urgent regulation. c) The constant connectivity offered by smartphones has come at the cost of our attention and inner stillness. d) Smartphone overuse has led to higher levels of loneliness and social detachment. Correct Answer: C Explanation: Option (a) is incorrect as the passage does not praise smartphones for multitasking or time management. Option (b) introduces the idea of regulation and public health, which the passage does not directly mention. Option (c) is correct: It captures the central message of the passage—connectivity has led to cognitive fragmentation and loss of focused thought and silence. Option (d) introduces loneliness, which is not discussed in the passage. Incorrect Answer: C Explanation: Option (a) is incorrect as the passage does not praise smartphones for multitasking or time management. Option (b) introduces the idea of regulation and public health, which the passage does not directly mention. Option (c) is correct: It captures the central message of the passage—connectivity has led to cognitive fragmentation and loss of focused thought and silence. Option (d) introduces loneliness, which is not discussed* in the passage.
#### 3. Question
*Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the above passage?*
• a) Smartphones have increased productivity by enabling multitasking and better time management.
• b) Smartphone addiction is a rising public health concern needing urgent regulation.
• c) The constant connectivity offered by smartphones has come at the cost of our attention and inner stillness.
• d) Smartphone overuse has led to higher levels of loneliness and social detachment.
Answer: C
Explanation:
• Option (a) is incorrect as the passage does not praise smartphones for multitasking or time management.
• Option (b) introduces the idea of regulation and public health, which the passage does not directly mention.
• Option (c) is correct: It captures the central message of the passage—connectivity has led to cognitive fragmentation and loss of focused thought and silence.
• Option (d) introduces loneliness, which is not discussed in the passage.
Answer: C
Explanation:
• Option (a) is incorrect as the passage does not praise smartphones for multitasking or time management.
• Option (b) introduces the idea of regulation and public health, which the passage does not directly mention.
• Option (c) is correct: It captures the central message of the passage—connectivity has led to cognitive fragmentation and loss of focused thought and silence.
• Option (d) introduces loneliness, which is not discussed in the passage.
• Question 4 of 5 4. Question Consider the following question and statements: Question: What is the minimum number of people in the queue if A, B, and C are standing somewhere in it? Statement I: There are 5 people between A and B, and 7 people between B and C. Statement II: There are 3 people ahead of C and 15 behind A. Which of the following is correct? (a) Statement I alone is sufficient (b) Statement II alone is sufficient (c) Both statements together are not sufficient (d) Both statements together are sufficient Correct Answer: D Statement I: 5 between A & B, 7 between B & C. Multiple orders possible → insufficient Statement II: Only tells us relative positions of A and C to start and end of queue → insufficient Combine both: positioning C in front (since only 3 ahead of C), then test cases: C + 3 → then B → 7 → A → 5 → rest Trying multiple orders. Among all, the arrangement that minimizes total is: → 3 (ahead of C) + C + 7 + B + 5 + A + 15 = 3 + 1 + 7 + 1 + 5 + 1 + 15 = 33 Hence option (d) —is correct. Incorrect Answer: D Statement I: 5 between A & B, 7 between B & C. Multiple orders possible → insufficient Statement II: Only tells us relative positions of A and C to start and end of queue → insufficient Combine both: positioning C in front (since only 3 ahead of C), then test cases: C + 3 → then B → 7 → A → 5 → rest Trying multiple orders. Among all, the arrangement that minimizes total is: → 3 (ahead of C) + C + 7 + B + 5 + A + 15 = 3 + 1 + 7 + 1 + 5 + 1 + 15 = 33 Hence option (d) —is correct.
#### 4. Question
Consider the following question and statements:
Question: What is the minimum number of people in the queue if A, B, and C are standing somewhere in it?
Statement I: There are 5 people between A and B, and 7 people between B and C. Statement II: There are 3 people ahead of C and 15 behind A.
Which of the following is correct?
• (a) Statement I alone is sufficient
• (b) Statement II alone is sufficient
• (c) Both statements together are not sufficient
• (d) Both statements together are sufficient
Answer: D
• Statement I: 5 between A & B, 7 between B & C. Multiple orders possible → insufficient
• Statement II: Only tells us relative positions of A and C to start and end of queue → insufficient
• Combine both:
positioning C in front (since only 3 ahead of C), then test cases:
• C + 3 → then B → 7 → A → 5 → rest Trying multiple orders. Among all, the arrangement that minimizes total is:
→ 3 (ahead of C) + C + 7 + B + 5 + A + 15 = 3 + 1 + 7 + 1 + 5 + 1 + 15 = 33
Hence option (d) —is correct.
Answer: D
• Statement I: 5 between A & B, 7 between B & C. Multiple orders possible → insufficient
• Statement II: Only tells us relative positions of A and C to start and end of queue → insufficient
• Combine both:
positioning C in front (since only 3 ahead of C), then test cases:
• C + 3 → then B → 7 → A → 5 → rest Trying multiple orders. Among all, the arrangement that minimizes total is:
→ 3 (ahead of C) + C + 7 + B + 5 + A + 15 = 3 + 1 + 7 + 1 + 5 + 1 + 15 = 33
Hence option (d) —is correct.
• Question 5 of 5 5. Question Six persons – A, B, C, D, E, and F – are sitting in a straight line facing North. Question: Who is sitting exactly in the middle? Statement I: D is sitting second to the left of A. B is sitting to the immediate right of D. Statement II: C is not sitting at either end and is third to the right of F. Statement III: E is sitting to the right of A but not adjacent to B. How many of the given statements is/are required to answer the question? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Correct Answer: C Explanation: Statement I gives two positions: B is to the right of D and D is 2nd left of A. This partially helps. Statement II places C relative to F, and says C is not at an end. Narrowed placement. Statement III puts a constraint on E: must be right of A, but not next to B. Only when all three statements are combined, we can construct a unique arrangement like: F – A – D – B – C – E Middle = D Incorrect Answer: C Explanation: Statement I gives two positions: B is to the right of D and D is 2nd left of A. This partially helps. Statement II places C relative to F, and says C is not at an end. Narrowed placement. Statement III puts a constraint on E: must be right of A, but not next to B. Only when all three statements are combined, we can construct a unique arrangement like: F – A – D – B – C – E Middle = D
#### 5. Question
Six persons – A, B, C, D, E, and F – are sitting in a straight line facing North. Question: Who is sitting exactly in the middle?
Statement I: D is sitting second to the left of A. B is sitting to the immediate right of D. Statement II: C is not sitting at either end and is third to the right of F. Statement III: E is sitting to the right of A but not adjacent to B.
How many of the given statements is/are required to answer the question?
• (a) Only one
• (b) Only two
• (c) All three
Explanation:
• Statement I gives two positions: B is to the right of D and D is 2nd left of A. This partially helps.
• Statement II places C relative to F, and says C is not at an end. Narrowed placement.
• Statement III puts a constraint on E: must be right of A, but not next to B.
Only when all three statements are combined, we can construct a unique arrangement like:
F – A – D – B – C – E Middle = D
Explanation:
• Statement I gives two positions: B is to the right of D and D is 2nd left of A. This partially helps.
• Statement II places C relative to F, and says C is not at an end. Narrowed placement.
• Statement III puts a constraint on E: must be right of A, but not next to B.
Only when all three statements are combined, we can construct a unique arrangement like:
F – A – D – B – C – E Middle = D
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