MAT Sample Questions with Answers

A few sample questions are given below for the guidance of the candidates in the preparation. These samples do not necessarily indicate either the types or the difficulty levels of questions that can be in the actual test. In general the preparation standard expected is that of a graduate from an Indian University having completed 10 + 2 + 3 pattern of education. However, the knowledge level required for attempting the section on Mathematical Skills is that of 10th standard under Central Board of Secondary Education. 

SECTION I
LANGUAGE COMPREHENSION
Directions : Read the passage carefully to answer the questions that follow. Procrastination is a costly and draining problem for all of us. The easiest way to deal with procrastination is to never let it get started in the first place. Procrastination plagues us all. More plans go astray, more dreams go unfilled, and more time is wasted. It is a major stumbling block for almost everyone seeking to improve his use of time. For many, this becomes an insidious habit that can ruin their careers, destroy their happiness, and even shorten their lives. Procrastination is respectful of no one. All of us suffer from it at one time or another. Procrastination is doing low priority actions or tasks rather than higher priority ones. It is straightening your desk when you should be working on the report; watching TV when you should be exercising; calling on the friendly customer who buys very little when you should be preparing a sales presentation for that tough prospect who could buy much more; avoiding a co-worker rather than telling him the bad news; staying away from office to avoid disciplining a subordinate; and postponing activities with your children, because there always seems to be something “more urgent”, until suddenly they’re grown and you realize it’s too late to do any of the things you’ve always talked about doing together.

1. Which of the following best describes ‘procrastination’?
(1) linger on (2) stop
(3) delay (4) wait

2. Why is procrastination said to be a stumbling block?
(1) It prevents fulfillment of goals.
(2) It hinders effectiveness and efficiency.
(3) It stops one from working.
(4) It makes one lazy.

Directions : Choose a word or phrase nearly similar in meaning to the given word.
3. Self-esteem
(1) Self-respect (2) Dignity
(3) Decorum (4) Self-awareness
4. Sobriety
(1) Abstinence (2) Sober
(3) Moderate (4) Dry
Directions : A word in capital letters is followed by four words. Choose the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in capital letters.
5. OBLOQUY
(1) praise (2) crue
(3) slander (4) dialogue
Directions : The sentence has four underlined parts marked A, B, C and D. Identify the one underlined part that must be changed for the sentence to be correct.
6. The book is well-printed and attractively bound A B making altogether on attractive volume. C D
(1) A (2) B
(3) C (4) D

Directions : In the following question a related pair of words is followed by four pairs of words. Select the pair that best expresses a relationship similar to that expressed in the original pair.
7. APHORISM : SENTENTIOUS : :
(1) criticism : redundant
(2) eulogy : laudatory
(3) adage : symbolic
(4) maxim : allegorical
SECTION II
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
8. A screwdriver and a hammer currently have the same price. If the price of a screwdriver rises by 5% and the price of a hammer goes up by 3%, how much more will it cost to buy 3 screwdrivers and 3 hammers?
(1) 3% (2) 4%
(3) 5% (4) 8%
9. If n and p are both odd numbers, which of the following numbers must be an even number?
(1) n+p (2) np
(3) np+2 (4) n+p+1
10. There are 30 socks in a drawer. 60% of the socks are red and the rest are blue. What is the minimum number of socks that must be taken from the drawer without looking in order to be certain that at least two blue socks have been chosen?
(1) 2 (2) 3
(3) 14 (4) 20
11. The ratio of chickens to pigs to horses on a farm can be expressed as the triple ratio 20 :
4 : 6. If there are 120 chickens on the farm, then the number of horses on the farm is
(1) 4 (2) 6
(3) 24 (4) 36

12. If x2 – y2 = 15 and x + y = 3, then x – y is
(1) -3 (2) 0
(3) 3 (4) 5
13. The hexagon ABCDEF is regular. That means all its sides are the same length and all its interior angles are the same size. Each side of the hexagon is 2 m. What is the area of the rectangle BCEF?

(1) 4 m2 (2) 4√3– m2
(3) 8 m2 (4) 4+4√3– m2
14. A worker is digging a ditch. He gets 2 assistants who work 2/3 as fast as he does. If all 3 work on a ditch they should finish it in what fraction of the time that the worker takes working alone?
(1) 3/7 (2) 1/2
(3) 3/4 (4) 4/3
SECTION III
DATA ANALYSIS & SUFFICIENCY
Directions: The table below gives the Human Development Index (HDI). The HDI value is between 0 and 1.

15. Select the incorrect statement.
(1) Kerala has consistently reported the highest HDI.
(2) Bihar has consistently reported the worst HDI.
(3) Assam has maintained stability in its comparative ranking among states.
(4) Rajasthan has shown an improvement in its comparative ranking among other states.
16. Which states improved the HDI value in 2001 to match the all India value?
(1) Tamil Nadu (2) Orissa
(3) Rajasthan (4) West Bengal
Directions: The following problem has a question followed by two statements labeled A and B. Use the data given in the statements to decide whether the statements are sufficient to answer the question. Choose your answer as
(1) if statement ‘A’ alone is sufficient to answer the problem.
(2) if statement ‘B’ alone is sufficient to answer the problem.
(3) if statements ‘A’ and ‘B’ are together needed to answer the problem.
(4) if statements ‘A and ‘B’ are not sufficient to answer the problem.

17. C is a circle with centre D and radius 2. E is a circle with centre F and radius R. Are there any points which are on both E and C?
A : The distance from D to F is 1 + R
B : R = 3
Directions: The bar graph below pertains to estimates of incidence of poverty in India. It is given as percentage. The accompanying table gives population of India during 1971-2001 as per census.

18. The total number of poor in 2000 is approximately (1) 268 millions. (2) 278 millions.

SECTION IV
INTELLIGENCE & CRITICAL
REASONING
Directions: The question below is followed by two arguments numbered I and II. You have to decide which of the given arguments is a “strong’ argument. Give your answer as
(1) if only argument I is strong.
(2) if the argument II is strong.
(3) if both I and II are strong.
(4) if neither I nor II is strong.
20. Should telecasting feature films be stopped?
Arguments :
I Yes, the feature films misguide young children.
II No, this is the only way to educate the masses.
Directions: Find out the correct group of letters from the answer options (1) to (4) to represent the same relationship among the group of letters as established among the sets at the top.
21. AEZ : EIY : IOX : ………………
(1) UYZ (2) AEX
(3) EIX (4) OUW
22. Isha is older than Sunder. Misa is older than Harbans. Harbans is younger than Gyan. Sunder and Gyan are of the same age. If the above facts are true, which of the following conditions must also be true?
(1) Misa is older than Gyan.
(2) Misa is older than Isha.
(3) Sunder is younger than Misa.
(4) Isha is older than Harbans.

Directions: There are two statements followed by two possible inferences A and B. Assume the statements to be correct even if they vary with facts. Choose your answer as
(1) if only inference A follows.
(2) if only inference B follows.
(3) if both inferences A and B follow.
(4) if neither inference A nor B follows.
23. Every minister is a student. Every student is inexperienced.
A : Every minister is inexperienced.
B : Some inexperienced are students.
24. Seven men, A, B, C, D, E, F and G are standing in a queue in that order. Each one is wearing a cap of different colour like violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. D is able to see in front of him green and blue, but not violet. E can see violet and yellow, but not red. G can see caps of all colours other than orange. If E is wearing an indigo coloured cap, then the colour of the cap worn by F is
(1) blue. (2) violet.
(3) red. (4) orange.
SECTION V
INDIAN & GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT
25. What does the acronym CTBT stand for?
(1) Continued Test Ban Treaty
(2) Commercial Tax Based Tariff
(3) Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
(4) None of these

26. Which newspaper has the motto – Journalism of Courage?
(1) The Hindustan Times
(2) The Washington Post
(3) The Indian Express
(4) The Guardian
27. The Indian Railways is one of the largest railway systems with an extensive network of over 63,000 route kilometers. Approximately ……………..of the network is electrified.
(1) 50% (2) 25%
(3) 45 % (4) 60%
28. The National Literacy Mission (NLM) seeks to achieve full literacy i.e. a sustainable threshold level of 75% literacy by year
(1) 2005 (2) 2010
(3) 2015 (4) None of the above
Answers to MAT Sample Questions
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