UPSC Insta–DART (Daily Aptitude and Reasoning Test) 5 Oct 2024

In our society car sales work goes against the norms of trust in human relations. Customers are aware that salespersons are trained in impression management techniques based on empathy to win confidence or on aggressive intimidation to overcome resistance to high prices. In addition, the car business is unstable; the salesman and customers will probably never see each other again. This makes for transient relationships and an environment where the building of trust is problematic. In fact, throughout the whole social structure of sales interactions, there is little trust. Researchers find that persons who enter this occupation cope with dishonesty, distrust, and immoral dealings in various ways. One way is to concentrate on monetary goals as a measure of success and status. A second way is to suppress reflections on the unethical tasks they perform. A third way is to claim innocence through apparent unawareness of illicit doings. A fourth way is to claim, one merely followed orders. And lastly, workers blame the recipients or victims of their services for negative interactions.

1. Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

1. It is not possible for sales persons to fool car customers.
2. Improved trust between the salesman and the customer can help boost the car business.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Which of the following is/are the most rational and logical inference/inferences that can be drawn from the passage?

1. It is not possible to perform well in sales via dishonesty and distrust.
2. Some salesmen may prefer duty over morality.

Select the correct answer from the code given below:

In criminal cases, the availability of readable fingerprints is often critical in establishing evidence of a major crime. It is necessary, therefore, to follow proper procedures when taking fingerprints. In major cases, prints should be obtained from all persons who may have touched areas associated with a crime scene, for elimination purposes.

The main idea of the paragraph is that

Most net-zero emission (NZE) routes for steel and cement production are not yet commercially available, according to a new report. This is despite a few companies in the automotive sector committing themselves to use ‘green steel’ — manufacturing of steel with technologies that limit emissions — from 2025. Solar and wind energy units require more steel, aluminium and in some cases, cement per unit of capacity than fossil fuel-based generating technologies, highlighted the Energy Technology Perspectives 2023 report. The document was released January 12, 2023, by the intergovernmental organisation International Energy Agency. In order to manufacture technologies for renewable energy production, the steel and cement industry must target around 130 megatonnes (Mt) of primary steel and 370 Mt of cement production by 2030, the report said. Among certain project assessments that the researchers consider likely to achieve near-zero emission production immediately, they found only 10 per cent preparation towards a decarbonising effort for primary steel and 3 per cent for cement. These projects are mainly in Europe and North America, but demand grows most in emerging markets and developing economies, pointing to the need for increased international cooperation, the document observed on net-zero scenario projections. Key technologies such as carbon capture, utilisation and storage for cement and steel industries and hydrogenbased steel manufacturing are still in prototype and demonstration stages. “Experience shows that the innovation process usually takes 20 to 70 years from prototype to commercialisation, with large-scale process technologies taking typically longer than small modular technologies,” the report said. The NZE Scenario requires a shortening of innovation cycles, which can be partially achieved by improving the commercial advantage of clean energy technologies.

Which of the following statements can be inferred from the above passage?

1. Steel and cement production must increase in order to manufacture technologies for renewable energy production.
2. From prototype to commercialization, the innovation process can take decades.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Since its introduction about 15 years ago, plant biotechnology has achieved very important milestones in increasing global crop productivity and in reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture. With the world turning to agricultural technologies for solutions, the twenty-first century will witness a major development of genetically improved bioenergy crops that help to mitigate climate change and contribute to the cost-effective production of biofuels. The sequencing of genomes from several plant species and advances made in plant genetics and other aspects of agricultural sciences have led to technological breakthroughs that will provide the building blocks for what is likely to be major industries, with profound implications for agriculture. Not only will humankind benefit from these innovative technologies, but the efforts that spawned them are contributing to the existing body of scientific knowledge and the development of global biotechnology industries.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the passage?