[Mission 2024] Insta–DART (Daily Aptitude and Reasoning Test) 8 April 2024

Visual aids portray—vividly and instantly—things that would take volumes to explain verbally. They save time, create interest, add variety and help your audience remember your main points. The audience learns better when they receive information using more senses than one. But, always remember that you are your own visual aid as well. The way you look, walk or move and your facial expressions (and other body language) are key parts of your talk. Aids also diffuse your tension and nervousness. Thus, well-planned, well-suited and well-designed illustrations can do much to enliven even a dull and long talk. They can draw attention, focus thinking, retain memory and stir imagination. The visual that will work best for any speech is one that is creative and clear.

Since visual aids support your presentation, select and design them after you have completed your outline. At the time of reviewing the main points of your outline, you will be able to see where and how a visual could supplement your main points. Although the visual aids used in speeches and presentations are similar in many respects to those used in documents, they also differ significantly. The visuals in speeches and presentations must be simple enough so that the audience can understand them within a moment or two, because it is difficult for people to read and listen at the same time. Thus, visual aids used in speeches are simplified versions of those that appear in written documents. Eliminate anything that is not absolutely essential to the message.

Effective use of visual support helps you present technical or numerical information well. Large quantities of information can be condensed precisely in graphs, tables and charts and you are able to cover more information. Using visual support also helps you:

1. make physical movement.
2. vary the pace of your presentation.
3. create interest among listeners.
4. stimulate thought processes.
5. transmit the information quickly and accurately.
6. reinforce the verbal analysis.
7. present the information clearly.                                     (324 words)

What is the most logical and critical inference that can be drawn from the passage?

Most of us start our day by going through the newspaper. The daily news brings a lot of opinions. Why do you believe in some of these and why do you disagree with a few? The opinions we create as a process of what is fed to us need careful examination. With the advent of social media and easy availability of news online, it is very important to understand which source of news can be trusted and which can’t be taken seriously. We must learn to abstain from forwarding unverified information. We use our critical thinking for all of this.

Critical thinking can be defined as a process which helps to carefully evaluate any argument through a rational process involving logical reasoning. Critical thinking is one faculty which helps in developing out of the box and logical solutions. It is this kind of thinking that encourages in-depth study and that in turn, leads to inventions and discoveries.

To begin with, let’s clarify one thing. Critical thinking is not equal to criticizing. It is not using criticism to block one’s argument. It is more of judicious or rational thinking.

Critical thinking comes to play when the decisions to be taken or a position to be assumed in an argument has far more depth and complexities, and the decisions have far reaching implications. The following are some of the characteristics of critical thinking:

1. It is an active, deliberate, purposeful thinking.
2. It is often focused on complex issues and consumes considerable time.

It does not involve deciding on a simple yes or no, but evaluating all possibilities for a problem.

(267 words)

Which of the following is the most logical corollary to the above passage?

Critical thinking improves with the nature and the complexity that surrounds us. Naturally, young children do not use much of critical thinking. However, as we grow, we evolve through various stages depending on the need and experience that we gather.

Let’s see the stages involved in changing from an unreflective thinker to an accomplished thinker.

Stage 1: Unreflective Thinker

• These individuals are basically ignorant of the role of critical thinking or the potential issues they have with their own lack of reasonin
• They do not use logic in creating their views or conclusion
• Even if they have developed thinking skills, the application is inefficient and inconsisten
• They may have a prejudiced or biased process of thinkin
• Irrespective of their educational qualifications, they have a tendency to struggle in fixing

problems by thinking or finding new solutions to existing problems.

Stage 2: Challenged Thinker

These individuals display improved awareness of what critical thinking can do in day-to-day living

.

• They are aware of their current issues with log They estimate the efforts and attention that

are required for overcoming this trouble in thinking.

• They know the main blocks of reasoning: construct of concepts, role of assumptions, usage of questions to probe the issue, establishing a purpose, assimilating points of views, seeking and gathering information, evaluating implications and consequences and the standards like clarity, precision, and relevance
• However, their understanding on these concepts is not in-dep

Stage 3: Beginning Thinker

• These individuals are able to actively control the quality of thinking related to their daily life.
• They recognize their areas of difficulty with reasoning and problem solving; and take

deliberate and defined steps to measure and improve these faculties.

• While they are aware of the need to measure their thinking so as to improve it, they still “lack a methodical approach” for advancing their thinkin Hence, they have mixed results with their approach.
• They improvise  when  it  comes  to  internalizing  the  need  for  critical  thinking  and  its application.
• They are open to and often welcome critici They also function as very effective self-critiques; however their monitoring may be irregular.

Stage 4: Practicing Thinker

• These individuals display a very high awareness of the flaws in their own thinking syst
• They are often precise in defining the assessment standards for their reasoning, by picking

the right things to be monitored.

• They often challenge themselves to overcome challenges and assumption
• They actively monitor and analyze the application of their thinking in many avenues of their

daily life through their not so evolved systems of monitoring.

• However, they are limited in their insights and still don’t display deeper though

Stage 5: Advanced Thinker

• These individuals have already been successful in consistent application of their thinking

systems, thus establishing a series of good thinking habits which benefit them.

• They tend to display an active and deeper understanding of problems and limitations in their own process of thinkin
• They have successfully been able to apply elements and measures of good thinkin However, they still lack the effort in using them in high level problems in their areas.
• They can very well self-regulate their own biases or double standards by quick responses; and display a fair level of intellectuality. They are skilled in connecting their thoughts, feelings, emotions, needs and desire to form a meaningful and fruitful thinking proces
• However, they still occasionally lack the will power to do so.

Stage 6: Accomplished Thinker

• These individuals have successfully created a system which effectively assesses their thinkin
• They have corrective measures to control any problems in their thinking proces
• They have been able to positively and continually conduct self-criticism and progressively

improve their thinking process.

• They have  successfully  internalized  the  fundamentals  of  reasoning  and  standards  for

monitoring their logic and sense.

• They consciously and intuitively apply these fundamentals on a consistent basis leading them to a state of self-awareness and thinkin
• They can integrate their behaviour to show their thinkin
• They continuously raise challenges to their thinking, to improve it further.
• They can easily see through blocks in arguments which are caused by one sided opinions,              personal bias or myths.

• They consistently apply critical thinking skills and traits, and create new insights for deeper

thoughts.

• They become problem solvers by connecting people together. They seek possibilities and alternatives; use sound judgement; and always take the lead as an example for other

(722 words)

Which of the following statements corroborates the given passage?

Increase in disposable income: Average wages have risen over the last 30 years across the world, particularly in emerging economies like India with a vast middle class population which now wants to improve its living. This population is fueling consumption of goods and services and is looking for choices.

Take an example of the air conditioner. Over the years the market for these machines has grown manifold across the nation largely due to the increased consumption from middle class families. The same is true for passenger cars and two wheelers.

Increase in number of individuals within a family with independent income: The age of

the single breadwinner in a family is gone. Today almost all adults in a family tend to have an independent income. This drives the consumption even higher as each individual seeks goods and services for himself.

Need  for  self-gratification  (hedonistic  thinking  among  customers):  Combined  with  an

increase in the number of individuals with independent income, the “Me First” attitude of consumers has triggered a drive for customer satisfaction among all sectors.

High  awareness  aided  by  the  advent  of  internet  and  social  networking:  Products and services were once pushed by the salesperson, later through advertisement and through celebrity endorsements. In the millennium, consumers are much more educated, thanks to the availability of honest customer reviews on the internet. Through the various forums available, buyers can reach out to existing customers and get a first-hand neutral feedback on the product or service.

Market oriented economy: There is a sizeable number of companies who have benefited from the market economy. However, the markets today are sensitive to customer reaction. A series of bad reviews of products or services of a company among customers can have a spiralling effect. Any company perceived to have superior customer retention is bound to have a great market capitalization; hence companies strive to satisfy customers.                                          (311 words)

Which is the most logical inference that can be made from the given passage?

Ample Choice for Customers

Given the fact that there are over 20 manufacturers and hundreds of models of passenger cars in India now, it would be hard for young readers to even imagine a time where there were just two manufacturers with a handful of models. In fact, to buy a car one would have to wait for over a year after booking it. Today the consumer is spoilt by choice. From food to travel, from household shopping to health care, today the consumer is offered multiple choices.

Solutions Addressed to a Specific Need

The products or services offered today are targeted to solving the problems of customer.

For instance, mobile phones gave the freedom to move around while still being connected. The services offered by the telecom operators now address specific individual needs of customers like flexible billing or an option to customize the service and so on.

Take another example: the hospitals today are innovating around the needs of the urban man who finds it difficult to even find time for medical care. So they have an increased number of day care procedures. Products can no longer be pushed down to customers unless they are resolving a problem for them.

Customer Engagement and Loyalty Programmes

The other significant feature which is part of modern consumerism is the focus on customer retention. Almost all leading firms strive to stay connected with their customers. They are reaching out to customers for product and service ideas, feedback for improvement of service, and even to propagate their new products and services through customers on social media.

Also most companies offer loyalty programmes which try to retain customers as it is becoming difficult and expensive to acquire new customers. Loyalty programs range from cash backs to foreign trips to specialized rewards. However, these programs succeed only when they have satisfied customers.           (308 words)

Which of the following scenarios, if false, could be seen as supporting the passage?

1. Companies need to ensure customer retention due to increased competition in the market.
2. The lack of choice for customers leads to a long wait for their needs to be met.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.