Management Aptitude Test (MAT)
2016 Question Paper (Fully Solved)
Conducted By All India Management Association
English Comprehension
Passage I
The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil Triangle, is a region of the north western Atlantic Ocean in which a number of aircraft and surface vessels have disappeared. Some people have claimed that these disappearances fall beyond the boundaries of human error or acts of nature. Some of these disappearances have been attributed to the paranormal, a suspension of the laws of physics, or activity by extraterrestrial beings by popular culture. Though a substantial documentation exists showing numerous incidents to have been inaccurately reported or embellished by later authors, and numerous official agencies have gone on record as stating the number and nature of disappearances to be similar to any other area of ocean, many have remained unexplained despite considerable investigation. The boundaries of the Triangle vary with the author; some stating its shape is akin to a trapezoid covering the Straits of Florida, the Bahamas, and the entire Caribbean island area east to the Azores; others add to it the Gulf of Mexico. The more familiar, triangular boundary in most written works has as its points somewhere on the Atlantic coast of Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and the mid-Atlantic island of Bermuda, with most of the accidents concentrated along the southern boundary around the Bahamas and the Florida Straits. The area is one of the most heavily-sailed shipping lanes in the world, with ships crossing through it daily for ports in the Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean Islands. Cruise ships are also plentiful and pleasure craft regularly go back and forth between Florida and the islands. It is also a heavily flown route for commercial and private aircraft heading towards Florida, the Caribbean, and South America from points north. Sudden storms can and do appear, and in the summer to late fall hurricanes strike the area. The combination of heavy maritime traffic and tempestuous weather makes it inevitable that vessels could flounder in storms and be lost without a trace-especially before improved telecommunication, radar, and satellite technology arrived late in the 20the century.
1. What is strange about vessels disappearing from the area called Bermuda triangle?
(1) Only vessels have disappeared and no other transport vehicles.
(2) The disappearance is out of the realms of human error and nature’s acts.
(3) Only big vessels have disappeared from this area.
(4) Any mode of transport passing through this area disappears.
2. What is the main purpose to writing the passage?
(1) The author wants to create a fear in the minds of his readers.
(2) It’s a story on a fictitious topic.
(3) A simple article on Bermuda Triangle.
(4) To warn people before going on the route.
3. What does the word ‘embellished’ mean?
(1) Changed
(2) Delayed
(3) Enhanced
(4) Decorated
4. Most of the disappearances at Bermuda Triangle have occurred in which area ?
(1) Mid-Atlantic island of Bahamas.
(2) Atlantic coast of Florida.
(3) San Juan, Puerto Rico
(4) Southern Bahamas and Florida Straits
Passage II
The Indian Economy is expected to grow by over eight percent per annum until 2020. It can become the second largest in the world, ahead of the United States, by 2050 and the third largest after China and the US by 2032. However, industry experts believe this target would be difficult to achieve without the active participation of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMFs). At present, the SME sector contributes around 15 to 16 percent to India’s GDP and is expected to touch a figure to 22 percent in the next three years. However, a lot is expected and much needs to be done if the figure needs to be achieved. Nearly 60 percent of the SMEs in India fall in the unorganized sector. Once this untapped potential becomes the source for growth of these units, the size of Indian GDP can surpass that of the developed nations. The SME sector at times fails on achieving its full potential due to lack of direction. A small entrepreneur faces several difficulties including access to finance to expand their operation. In addition, the loans that they get are not on preferential rates but are available around 15-18 percent rate of interest which adds to their cost of operation. In several Asian countries, loans are available on interest as low as three percent annually. India should take such steps. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) offers loans to SMEs without collateral to the tune of around Rs. 1 crore. However, many are of the opinion that this limit needs to be increased to Rs. 2.5 crore. The government is also taking several steps to boost manufacturing sector growth as it would lead to job creation and boost the country’s economy. At present the SMEs share in the manufacturing sector is just to the tune of around seven percent. This is a very important sector and creates lot of employment opportunities both directly and indirectly. The Central Government on its part has also set up National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council to suggest ways to enhance competitiveness in the Manufacturing sector. The government has already announced a National Manufacturing Policy that aims at raising share of manufacturing to 25 percent of GDP by 2022.
5. What is the target of the Indian Economy?
(1) Active participation of SME.
(2) Organization of SME.
(3) Growth by 8% per annum until 2020.
(4) Decrease the interest rate on loan.
6. The growth of manufacturing sector would
(1) boost the country’s economy.
(2) surpass the GDP of developed nations.
(3) fail on achieving its full potential.
(4) set up National Manufacturing Competitive Council.
7. According to the passage, SME sector
(1) doesn’t lead to job creation.
(2) plays a vital role in the growth of Indian economy.
(3) is a setback to manufacturing sector.
(4) provides loans on preferential rates.
8. What step can be taken by the Indian Government to enhance the potential of Indian economy?
(1) Provide loans on interest as low as 3% per year.
(2) Shift focus to other sectors.
(3) Decrease competitiveness in manufacturing sector.
(4) Ban small entrepreneurship.
Passage III
Sugar lowering drugs prescribed to patients with diabetes may pose an increased risk of heart failure in these patients, a comprehensive study examining 95,000 patients has claimed. Dr. Jacob Udell, the study’s principal investigator, states patients randomized to new or more intensive blood sugar lowering drugs or strategies to manage diabetes showed an overall 14% increased risk for heart failure. This increased risk was directly associated with the type of diabetes therapy that was chosen, with some drugs more likely to cause heart attack than others, compared with placebo or standard care. While some drugs showed n increased risk, other strategies tested, such as intensive weight loss to control blood sugar, showed a trend towards a lower risk for heart failure. Overall the study found that for every one kilogram of weight gain attributed to a sugar lowering diabetes medication or strategy, there was an associated 7% increased risk of heart failure directly linked to that medication strategy. The results of this study could prove to be the catalyst for how diabetes patients at risk for heart disease are managed moving forward. The study reviewed and analyzed data from 14 trails involving 95,502 patients. Four percent of patients suffered a heart failure event while being followed in the individual trails, while 9.8 of patients in the study endured a major adverse cardiovascular event. The relative increase in the risk of heart failure outweighed a 5% reduction in heart attacks. The numbers show that for about every 200 patients treated, one additional hospital admission for heart failure was seen after an average of 4 years of follow-up. Heart failure events are common occurrences for patients with Type 2 diabetes and have a major impact on one’s life expectancy and quality of life as well as representing a major driver of health-care costs.
9. What primary issue is being discussed in the passage?
(1) Types of diabetes therapy & drugs.
(2) Intensive weight loss in patients.
(3) Treatment of 92,502 patients.
(4) Increasing risk of cardiovascular event due to diabetic drugs.
10. Who is the principal investigator of the study ?
(1) The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
(2) Dr. Michael Farkouh.
(3) Dr. Jacob Udell.
(4) Dr. Barry Rubib.
11. Sugar controlling drugs can increase the risk of heart failure by_____.
(1) 9.8%
(2) 14%
(3) 5%
(4) 7%
12. According to the study, the increased cardiovascular risk is directly associated with
(1) blood sugar level.
(2) diabetes drugs and therapy.
(3) weight gain attribution.
(4) None of these
Passage IV
Antibiotic resistance data from four big hospitals is being studied and analyzed for the first time in India to help forecast drug resistance patterns that may surface in future. The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has been on the resistance trail since last year. It had set up six nodal centres at four hospitals – two at PGI, Chandigarh, and Christian Medical College, Vellore, and one each at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi and JIPMER , Puducherry. The ICMR’s antimicrobial surveillance and research network has been tracking resistance patterns of six pathogens causing diarrhoea, typhoid, fungal infections and infections that patients acquire in hospitals. “We initiated these projects in early 2014 and we are now analyzing the first year’s data. We did not have a national representative data on pathogens that cause 80% of infections It is important to get a handle on what is the drug resistance prevalence in these six pathogenic group,” said Dr. Kamini Walia from the division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, ICMR. The data will be used to forecast the drug resistance pattern to guide clinicians, she added. There is alarm over rising resistance to antibiotics in India, largely attributed to their indiscriminate use to treat routine infections like cough, cold and fever and their over-the-counter availability. Using antibiotics inappropriately, such as stopping the dosage midcourse has added to the resistance. There are broad estimates and observations so far- resistance to carbapenem (the strongest class of antibiotics) is 50-60% and in the case of acenotobacter (a hospital bug) seen among ICU patients, the resistance is 70-80%. However, there is no accurate resistance data, with most hospitals not reporting such figures, fearing an impact on patients footfall. “The project would help design a standard treatment guideline and physicians will be able to decide what antibiotic should be given”, Dr. Walia said. The surveillance and research network will expand to 15 more hospitals across the country, which will feed their data into these centres that will in turn map the resistance pattern. “In India, there are no statistics. Anyone who comes to the clinic or OPD is not tested for microbiological examination. A test is conducted only in the case of in-patients”, V. Balaji, Head to Microbiology, CMC, Vellore said. Though there is an antibiotic policy in place since 2012, official said that surveys have revealed the compliance was only in a few hospitals.
13. The study conducted in various hospitals will
(1) divide epidemiology and communicable diseases.
(2) be used to forecast the drug resistance patterns.
(3) help to set up six nodal centers.
(4) be used for microbiological examination.
14. The study on antibiotic resistance was initiated in
(1) 2011
(2) 2014
(3) 2010
(4) 2012
15. Which of the following statements is not true ?
I. The project would help design a standard treatment guideline.
II. The research will cover 15 more hospitals in India.
III. There is no antibiotic policy in India.
IV. Rising resistance to antibiotics is a matter of concern in India.
(1) I & II are not true
(2) III & IV are not true
(3) Only I is not true
(4) Only III is not true
16. Which disease is not covered in the research ?
(1) Diarrhoea
(2) Heart disease
(3) Typhoid
(4) Fungal infections
Passage V
India has managed to woo China for additional supplies of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine for expansion of the government’s immunization programme. However, Indian may have to pay more for the additional supplies, official sources said. China has earlier refused to supply more vaccines to India than what is being supplied, citing capacity constraints and commitments to other countries. “Problems have been taken care of. They have agreed for the additional supplies. We are comfortable on that issue. But still much more is needed as we would like to take more stocks (JE Vaccine). We are in continuous dialogue with them”, said Union Minister J. P. Nadda. Nadda, who left for China to attend International Interministerial Conference on Population and Development, said the two countries need to discuss and deliberate on the health issues before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Beijing. P. M. Modi is expected to visit China around May-June 2015. According to official sources, trade of pharmaceuticals between the two countries is going to be one of the key issues on the agenda. India’s overdependence on key vaccines and mainly for sourcing of raw material used in medicines has become a cause of concern for the government. Though India itself is a major producer of generic medicines, it imports more than 80% bulk drugs or active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), used in medicines formulations, from China. Even intelligence agencies have warned that overdependence on China on such medicine can cause severe shortage in India. On the other hand, non-trade barriers have held back Indian drug companies from exporting formulations to the Chinese market. Now the government is trying to support the democratic pharmaceutical industry to rebuild API clusters and start manufacturing of key vaccines in public sector enterprises to avoid a crisis.
17. Why does India need additional supply of Japanese Encephalitis vaccine?
(1) To control population and development.
(2) To discuss on health issues.
(3) For expansion of immunization programme.
(4) To help drug companies.
18. What will be the agenda of PM Modi’s visit to China?
(1) A dialogue with J.P. Nadda.
(2) International Interministerial Conference.
(3) Non-trade barriers on drug companies.
(4) Pharmaceutical trade with China.
19. What is the matter of concern for India ?
(1) India’s overdependence on China for vaccines.
(2) Visit of PM Modi to China in May-June 2015.
(3) Continuous dialogue between India & China.
(4) Production of low cost generic medicines.
20. What is being done by Indian Government to avoid the crisis?
(1) India is paying a huge amount of money to China.
(2) International Conference is being organized by J.P. Nadda.
(3) India is supporting key vaccines manufacturing in public sector.
(4) None of these.
Directions (Qs. 21-24) : In each of these questions, choose the option that best captures the essence of the text.
21. The Roman Emperor was in the wrong who ordered on e of his subject executed because the latter dreamt that he killed the Emperor. He should first have endeavoured to discover the significance of the dream. And even if a dream of different content had the significance of this offence against majesty, he should have remembered that the virtuous man contents himself with dreaming that which a wicked man does in actual life.
(1) The content of dreams corresponds to harmless psychic states and does not constitute reality.
(2) The content of dreams corresponds to harmless psychic states and does not constitute reality but only a release mechanism for man to feel better.
(3) The content of dreams corresponds to harmful psychic states and does not constitute reality but only a release mechanism for a man to feel better.
(4) The content of dreams does not correspond to psychic states and does not constitute reality but only a release mechanism for a man to feel better.
22. By this work “light would be thrown on the origin of man and his history;” and this implies that man must be included with other organic beings in any general conclusion respecting his manner of appearance on this earth. Now the case wears as wholly different aspect.
(1) Man must be included with other organic beings in any general conclusion respecting his manner of appearance on this earth.
(2) Man need not be included with other inorganic beings in any general conclusion respecting his manner of appearance on this earth.
(3) Man must be included with other organic beings.
(4) Man must be excluded from other organic beings in any general conclusions respecting manner of appearance on this earth.
23. The sole object of this work is to consider, first, whether man, like every other species, is descended from some pre-existing form; secondly, the manner of his development; and thirdly, the value of the differences between the so-called race of man.
(1) The work seems to locate whether man is descended from some pre-existing form.
(2) The work will not locate whether man is descended from some preexisting form, but the manner of his development.
(3) The work seems to locate whether man is descended from gods, the manner of his development, and the value of the differences between the so-called races of mammals.
(4) The work seems to locate whether man is descended from some preexisting form, the manner of his development, and the value of the differences between the so-called races of man.
24. The sense of smell is of the highest importance to the greater number of mammals. But the sense of smell is of extremely slight service, if any, even to the dark coloured races of men, in whom it is much more highly developed than in the white and civilized races. M. Houzeau asserts that he repeatedly made experiments, and proved that Negroes Africans could recognize persons in the dark by their odour.
(1) Sense of smell, as experiments have shown, is directly related to the colour of the skin and the darker the skin, the greater the sense will be.
(2) Sense of smell, as experiments have shown, is not related to the colour of the skin at all.
(3) Sense of smell, as experiments have shown, is directly related to the colour of the skin and the darker the skin, the lesser the sense will be.
(4) Sense of smell, theory suggests, is directly related to race and the darker the skin, the lesser the sense will be.
Directions (Qs. 25-27) : Fill in the blanks.
25. We ________ to inform you that we cannot include your thesis in our library, on the _____ of not receiving permissions from your supervisor.
(1) saddened, reason
(2) repent, justification
(3) lament, pretext
(4) regret, ground
26. When her illness took a turn for the worse, the doctors took _____ to ___ the situation.
(1) steps, ameliorate
(2) modes, improve
(3) approaches, better
(4) measures, enhance
27. The public relations agency _____ out all the stops to ensure a _____ attendance at the gala.
(1) gave, phenomenal
(2) pulled, spectacular
(3) took, marvellous
(4) forked, staggering
Directions (Qs. 28-31) : Each of these question has a group of sentences marked A, B, C, D and E. Arrange these to form a logical sequence.
28. A. Drupada says, “In the past we were equals. Now we are not. So we cannot be friends. Do not ask for wealth as if it is your right. Ask for charity and I shall consider.”
B. The Mahabharata tells story of two childhood friends who always share what they have and promise to do so even when they are grown up.
C. Drona, in desperate poverty, visits his rich friend, reminds Drupada of his childhood promise and demands wealth.
D. This comment angers Drona and he swears to teach Drupada a lesson by becoming an equal.
E. One friend, Drupada, grows up to be rich king and the other, Drona, remains a poor priest.
(1) ACEBD
(2) BECAD
(3) EDCAB
(4) BCDEA
29. A. But as emotions give way to cold calculation sand analyses, two points are emerging powerfully.
B. One, there’s no reason for India to be paranoid as the economics of outsourcing is too compelling for American companies and the US government can do little to stem it.
C. Two, Indian companies should increase their employee strength in the US with more locals, a strategy that come companies have already said they would adopt.
D. This will help to calm American nerves, and also eventually make Indian companies a more global force with a better understanding of the US market.
E. India reacted strongly to the US increase in work visa costs and the Ohio governor’s statements against offshoring.
(1) DEBAC
(2) ABECD
(3) EABCD
(4) ABCDE
30. A. With her first child, a girl, she went on maternity leave a month before the birth, which was paid for by her employer.
B. When she had her son she waited until the day she went into labour to stop work and paid for the caesarean section herself.
C. Han Mei knew when she fell pregnant for the second time that she was facing on extortionate fine, a salary drop and even the loss of her job for having flouted China’s infamous one-called policy.
D. The risks Han faced were severe and she said, “ Anyone who illegally gave birth to a second child would be punished, and the penalties would be dismissal from school, a downgrade in wages or a fine.”
E. The ‘population control law’ that limits many in China to one child in a bid to improve people’s lives marks its own 30th birthday on Saturday, having been formally implemented in 1980.
(1) ACDEB
(2) ADBEC
(3) CABDE
(4) CABED
31. A. It occurs widely in the tropics including continental USA and increasingly in southern China and almost 100 other countries.
B. Unlike malaria, dengue is just as prevalent in the urban districts of its range as in rural areas.
C. It is also known as ‘breakbone fever’. since it can be extremely painful.
D. Dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) are acute febrile diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, which occur in the tropics, can be life-threatening, and are caused by four closely related virus serotypes of the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae.
E. The mosquitoes that spread dengue usually bite at dusk and dawn but may bite at any time during the day, especially indoors, in shady areas, or when the weather is cloudy.
(1) DCABE
(2) DBECA
(3) EDCBA
(4) CDEAB
Directions (Qs. 32-34): Rearrange the letters of the jumbled word and select the word which is opposite in meaning to the rearranged word.
32. ADETIGAT
(1) fearful
(2) serene
(3) angry
(4) lazy
33. OCTNENIN
(1) sharp
(2) smart
(3) guilty
(4) crime
34. CNUINOSFO
(1) clarity
(2) simple
(3) bold
(4) easy
Directions (Qs. 35-37) : Identify the best way of writing the sentence in the context of correct usage of standard written English.
35. (1) John said that he will visit me now.
(2) John said that he will visit me then.
(3) John said that he would visit me now.
(4) John said that he would visit me then.
36. (1) Excess knowledge is a dangerous thing.
(2) Excessive knowledge is a dangerous thing.
(3) A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
(4) A less knowledge is a dangerous thing.
37. (1) His house consists three bed rooms and a toilet.
(2) His house comprises of three bed rooms and a toilet.
(3) His house comprises three bed rooms and a toilet.
(4) His house consists with three bed rooms and a toilet.
Directions (Qs. 38-40) : Rearrange the jumbled alphabets in the following four options and find the odd word among them.
38. (1) OYECHK
(2) ORESKON
(3) TCERIKC
(4) NIOL
39. (1) PISH
(2) TAOH
(3) REOS
(4) ENIRSBUAM
40. (1) PREPOC
(2) ESOUH
(3) DLOG
(4) SREVIL