CAT 2025 VARC Practice Questions with Solutions - Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

CAT VARC Section – Exam Overview

Going through the CAT VARC 2025 exam pattern is one of the steps towards perfecting the CAT VARC 2025 preparation. The CAT exam pattern of the VARC section comprises only two topics, CAT Verbal Ability and CAT Reading Comprehension. As per the CAT VARC previous year question paper analysis, the candidates are provided with the CAT VARC exam pattern in the table below.

CAT VARC 2025 Syllabus

When compared to the other CAT sections, such as the CAT DILR and CAT Quantitative Aptitude sections, the CAT VARC syllabus is comparatively less broad and can be covered in a shorter time. The candidates are strongly recommended to go through the CAT VARC syllabus before planning their CAT 2025 timetable and prepare accordingly. The candidates are recommended to start with the various CAT reading comprehension topics due to the fact that the maximum number of questions are asked from this topic alone in the CAT VARC section. The CAT VARC syllabus, after analysing the CAT previous year questions, is provided below for the reference of the candidates. This year, the CAT exam will be conducted by IIM Kozhikode.

CAT VARC 2025 Practice Questions

Solving the CAT VARC practice questions is the best strategy to secure good CAT percentiles. Consistently solving the CAT VARC practice questions will help candidates get acquainted with the CAT questions asked in the VARC section. This will help the candidates to avoid any possible surprises on the CAT exam day. A few of the CAT VARC Practice questions are provided below for the reference of the candidates.

CAT VARC 2025 Practice Questions: Verbal Ability Section

DIRECTIONS for the question: The passage below is accompanied by a set of questions. Choose the best answer to each question.

The biggest challenge [The Nutmeg's Curse by Chosh] throws down is the prevailing understanding of when the climate crisis started. Most of us have accepted . . . that it started with the widespread use of coal at the beginning of the Industrial Age in the 18th century and worsened with the mass adoption of oil and natural gas in the 20th, Ghosh takes this history at least three centuries back, to the start of European colonialism in the 15th century. He [starts] the book with a 1621 massacre by Dutch invaders determined to impose a monopoly on nutmeg cultivation and trade in the Banda islands in today's Indonesia. Not only do the Dutch systematically depopulate the islands through genocide, but they also try their best to bring nutmeg cultivation into plantation mode. These are the two points to which Ghosh returns through examples from around the world. One, is how European colonialists decimated not only indigenous populations but also indigenous understanding of the relationship between humans and Earth. Two, how this was an invasion not only of humans but of the Earth itself, and how this continues to the present day by looking at nature as a 'resource' to exploit. . .

We know we are facing more frequent and more severe heatwaves, storms, floods, droughts and wildfires due to climate change. We know our expansion through deforestation, dam building, and canal cutting - in short, terraforming, the word Ghosh uses - has brought us repeated disasters... Are these the responses of an angry Gaia who has finally had enough? By using the word 'curse' in the title, the author makes it clear that he thinks so. use the pronoun 'who' knowingly, because Chosh has quoted many non-European sources to enquire into the relationship between humans and the world around them so that he can question the prevalent way of looking at Earth as an inert object to be exploited to the maximum.

As Ghosh" 's text, notes and bibliography show once more, none of this is new. There have always been challenges to the way European colonialists looked at other civilisations and at Earth. It is just that the invaders and their myriad backers in the fields of economics, politics, anthropology, philosophy, literature, technology, physics, chemistry, and biology have dominated global intellectual discourse....

There are other points of view that we can hear today if we listen hard enough. Those observing global climate negotiations know about the Latin American way of looking at Earth as Pachamama (Earth Mother). They also know how such a framing is just provided lip service and is ignored in the substantive portions of the negotiations. In The Nutmeg's Curse, Ghosh explains why. He shows the extent of the vested interest in the oil economy - not only for oil-exporting countries but also for a superpower like the US that controls oil drilling, oil prices and oil movement around the world. Many of us know power utilities are sabotaging decentralised solar power generation today because it hits their revenues and control. And how the other points of view are so often drowned out.
Question 1:
All of the following can be inferred from the reviewer's discussion of "The Nutmeg" 's Curse", EXCEPT:

1. The history of climate change is deeply intertwined with the history of colonialism.

2. the contemporary dominant perception of nature and the environment was put in place by processes of colonialism.

3. Environmental preservation policy makers can learn a lot from non-European and/or pre-colonial societies.

4. academic discourses have always served the function of raising awareness about environmental preservation.

Solution

Explanation: The passage suggests that academic discourses often supported colonial viewpoints rather than consistently raising awareness about environmental preservation.

Option 1 is incorrect as the passage implies a link between colonialism and climate change.
Option 2 is incorrect because the passage suggests contemporary views of nature stem from colonialist processes.

Option 3 is incorrect because the passage indicates that non-European and pre-colonial societies offer valuable insights into environmental policy.

Hence, the correct answer is the option(4).

Question 2:

Which one of the following best explains the primary purpose of the discussion of the colonisation of the Banda Islands In "The Nutmeg's Curse"?

1. To illustrate how systemic violence against the colonized constituted the cornerstone of colonialism.

2. To illustrate the first instance in history when the processes responsible for climate change were initiated.

3. To illustrate how colonialism represented and perpetuated the mindset that has led to climate change.

4. To illustrate the role played by the cultivation of certain crops in the plantation mode in contributing to climate change.

Solution

Explanation: The passage uses the Dutch colonization of the Banda Islands as an example of how European colonialism's exploitation of Earth contributed to the current climate crisis.

Option 1 is incorrect because systemic violence is not the main focus in the context of climate change.

Option 2 is incorrect as the passage does not suggest this was the first instance of climate change.

Option 4 is incorrect because the passage does not primarily focus on crop cultivation's role in climate change.

Hence, the correct answer is the option(3).

Question 3:

Which one of the following, if true, would make the reviewer's choice of the pronoun "who" for Gala inappropriate?

1. There is a direct cause-effect relationship between human activities and global climate change.

2. Ghosh's book has a different title: "The Nutmeg's Revenge".

3. Modem western science discovers new evidence for the Earth being an inanimate object.

4. Non-European societies have perceived the Earth as a non-living source of all resources.

Solution

Explanation: Using the pronoun "who" for Gaia reflects viewing Earth as a living entity, consistent with Ghosh's perspective. If non-European societies saw Earth solely as a non-living resource, this would contradict the use of a personifying pronoun.

Option 1 is incorrect because establishing a cause-effect relationship between human activities and climate change supports, rather than contradicts, personifying the Earth.

Option 2 is incorrect as Ghosh's book title is not relevant to the pronoun's appropriateness.
Option 3 is incorrect because new evidence about Earth being inanimate from Western science does not relate to the pronoun issue in the context of Ghosh's focus.

Hence, the correct answer is the option(4).

Question 4:

On the basis of information in the passage, which one of the following is NOT a reason for the failure of policies seeking to address climate change?

1. The marginalised status of non-European ways of looking at nature and the environment.

2. The greed of organisations benefiting from non-renewable energy resources.

3. The global dominance of oil economies and international politics built around it.

4. The decentralised characteristic of renewable energy resources like solar power.

Solution

Explanation: The passage suggests that the decentralized nature of renewable resources like solar power is not the reason for climate change policy failures. Instead, it points to power utilities undermining decentralized solar power for their own benefit.

Option 1 is incorrect because the marginalization of non-European perspectives is mentioned as a factor in policy failures.

Option 2 is incorrect as greed benefiting from non-renewable resources is discussed as a challenge.

Option 3 is incorrect as the global dominance of oil economies is cited as a significant obstacle.

Hence, the correct answer is the option(4).

Directions: The passage below is accompanied by a set of questions. Choose the best answer to each question.

Umberto Eco, an Italian writer, was right when he said the language of Europe is translation. Netflix and other deep-pocketed global firms speak it well. Just as the EU employs a small army of translators and interpreters to turn intricate laws or impassioned speeches of Romanian MEPs into the EU's 24 official languages, so do the likes of Netflix. It now offers dubbing in 34 languages and subtitling in a few more....

The economics of European productions are more appealing, too. American audiences are more willing than before to give dubbed or subtitled viewing a chance. This means shows such as "Lupin", a French crime caper on Netflix, can become global hits. In 2015, about 75 % of Netflix's original content was American; now the figure is half, according to Ampere, a media- analysis company. Netflix has about 100 productions under way in Europe, which is more than big public broadcasters in France or Germany....

Not everything works across borders. Comedy sometimes struggles. Whodunits and bloodthirsty maelstroms between arch Romans and uppity tribesmen have a more universal appeal. Some do it better than others. Barbarians aside, German television is not always built for export, says one executive, being polite. A bigger problem is that national broadcasters still dominate. Streaming services, such as Netflix or Disney+, account for about a third of all viewing hours, even in markets where they are well-established. Europe is an ageing continent. The generation of teens staring at phones is outnumbered by their elders who prefer to gawp at the box.

In Brussels and national capitals, the prospect of Netflix as a cultural hegemon is seen as a threat. "Cultural sovereignty" is the watchword of European executives worried that the Americans will eat their lunch. To be fair, Netflix content sometimes seems stuck in an uncanny valley somewhere in the mid-Atlantic, with local quirks stripped out. Netflix originals tend to have fewer specific cultural references than shows produced by domestic rivals, according to Enders, a market analyst. The company used to have an imperial model of commissioning, with executives in Los Angeles cooking up ideas French people might like. Now Netflix has offices across Europe. But ultimately the big decisions rest with American executives. This makes European politicians nervous.

They should not be. An irony of European integration is that it is often American companies that facilitate it. Google Translate makes European newspapers comprehensible, even if a little clunky, for the continent's non-polyglots. American social-media companies make it easier for Europeans to talk politics across borders. (That they do not always like to hear what they say about each other is another matter.) Now Netflix and friends pump the same content into homes across a continent, making culture a cross-border endeavour, too. If Europeans are to share a currency, bail each other out in times of financial need and share vaccines in a pandemic, then they need to have something in common-even if it is just bingeing on the same series. Watching fictitious northern and southern Europeans tear each other apart 2,000 years ago beats doing so in reality.

Question No 1:
Based only on information provided in the passage, which one of the following hypothetical Netflix shows would be most successful with audiences across the EU?

1. An Italian comedy show hosted by an international star.

2. An original German TV science fiction production.

3. A murder mystery drama set in North Africa and France.

4. A trans-Atlantic romantic drama set in Europe and America.

Explanation:

The correct answer is 3. The passage states that genres like "whodunits" and "bloodthirsty maelstroms" have a more universal appeal across borders. A murder mystery (whodunit) drama set in North Africa and France would likely align with this preference for universally appealing content. Additionally, its multicultural setting might resonate with a broader European audience.

• 1: The passage suggests that comedy struggles to work across borders, even if hosted by an international star.

• 2: The passage implies that German productions, aside from standout examples, are not always designed for export.

• 4: While the romantic drama genre might be popular, the passage does not highlight trans-Atlantic stories as particularly appealing across the EU. Instead, it criticizes Netflix originals for sometimes lacking specific cultural references.

Hence, the answer is option 3.

Question No 2:

Based on information provided in the passage, all of the following are true, EXCEPT:

1. European television productions have the potential to become global hits.

2. national broadcasters dominate in the EU in terms of total television viewing hours.

3. only half of Netflix's original programming in the EU is now produced in America.

4. Netflix has been able to transform itself into a truly European entity.

Solution

The correct answer is 4) Netflix has been able to transform itself into a truly European entity.

Explanation: While Netflix has increased its production in Europe, the passage makes it clear that "the big decisions rest with American executives" at Netflix, and European executives are still nervous about the company’s influence. This suggests that Netflix has not fully transformed into a "truly European entity."

The other options are all supported by the passage:

• European television productions (e.g., Lupin) have the potential to become global hits.

• National broadcasters still dominate in terms of total television viewing hours in the EU.

• Only half of Netflix’s original programming is American, a figure mentioned in the passage.

Hence, the answer is option 4.

Question No 3:

Which one of the following research findings would weaken the author's conclusion in the final paragraph?

1. Research shows there is a wide variance in the popularity and viewing of Netflix shows across different EU countries.

2. Research shows that Netflix has been gradually losing market share to other streaming television service providers.

3. Research shows that Netflix hits produced in France are very popular with North American audiences.

4. Research shows that older women across the EU enjoy watching romantic comedies on Netflix, whereas younger women prefer historical fiction dramas.

Explanation:

The author’s conclusion in the final paragraph is that Netflix helps unify Europe by providing shared cultural experiences across the continent. If research shows a wide variance in the popularity and viewing of Netflix shows across EU countries, it would suggest that Netflix is not fostering a shared cultural experience as effectively as the author argues, thereby weakening their conclusion.

The other options do not directly challenge the idea of Netflix as a unifying force:

• B speaks to competition but not cultural unification.

• C is about Netflix's global popularity and does not impact European integration.

• D highlights different preferences among groups but still shows that people across Europe use Netflix, supporting the author's claim.

Hence, the answer is option (1).

Question No 4:

The author sees the rise of Netflix in Europe as:

1. a looming cultural threat.

2. a unifying force.

3. filling an entertainment gap.

4. an economic threat.

Explanation:

The author acknowledges concerns about Netflix's influence on European culture but ultimately concludes that platforms like Netflix help unify Europe by providing shared cultural experiences. The passage mentions that Netflix facilitates cross-border cultural integration, similar to other American technologies like Google Translate and social media, and argues that such shared experiences can foster a sense of commonality among Europeans.

Hence, the answer is option 2.

CAT VARC 2025 Practice Questions: Verbal Ability

1. Directions: Five jumbled up sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5), related to a topic, are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a coherent paragraph. Identify the odd sentence and key in the number of that sentence as your answer.

Question:
1. Self-care particularly links to loneliness, behavioural problems, and negative academic outcomes.
2. "Latchkey children" refers to children who routinely return home from school to empty homes and take care of themselves for extended periods of time.
3. Although self-care generally points to negative outcomes, it is important to consider that the bulk of research has yet to track long-term consequences.
4. In research and practice, the phrase "children in self-care" has come to replace latchkey in an effort to more accurately reflect the nature of their circumstances.
5. Although parents might believe that self-care would be beneficial for development, recent research has found quite the opposite.

1. Sentence 1

2. Sentence 2

3. Sentence 3

4. Sentence 4

Explanation:

The odd sentence is: 1. Sentences 2, 3, 4, and 5 work together to discuss the concept of "latchkey children" (or "children in self-care"), its implications, and the research findings related to self-care. Sentence 1, while tangentially related to self-care, introduces specific outcomes like loneliness and negative academic results without integrating smoothly into the central theme of the terminology or broader research findings. It disrupts the flow of the paragraph.

Hence. The answer is option (1).

2. DIRECTIONS for the question: The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.

Question:
The weight of society's expectations is hardly a new phenomenon but it has become particularly draining over recent decades, perhaps because expectations themselves are so multifarious and contradictory. The perfectionism of the 1950 s was rooted in the norms of mass culture and captured in famous advertising images of the ideal white American family that now seem self- satirising. In that era, perfectionism meant seamlessly conforming to values, behaviour and appearance: chiselled confidence for men, demure graciousness for women. The perfectionist was under pressure to look like everyone else, only more so. The perfectionists of today, by contrast, feel an obligation to stand out through their idiosyncratic style and wit if they are to gain a foothold in the attention economy.

1. The desire to attract attention is so deep-rooted in individual consciousness that people are willing to go to any lengths to achieve it.

2. Though long-standing, the pressure to appear perfect and thereby attract attention, has evolved over time from one of conformism to one of non-conformism.

3. The image of perfectionism is reflected in and perpetuated by the media; and people do their best to adhere to these ideals.

4. The pressure to appear perfect has been the cause of tension and conflict because the idea itself has been in a state of flux and hard to define.

Explanation: Option 2 accurately reflects the passage's discussion on the shift from conformity to individuality in societal perfectionism. The other options either oversimplify, focus on the media's role, or emphasize tensions not central to the passage's main point.

Hence, the correct answer is option(2).

3. Directions: There is a sentence missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.

Question:
Sentence: And probably much earlier, moving the documentation for kissing back 1,000 years compared to what was acknowledged in the scientific community.

Paragraph: Research has hypothesised that the earliest evidence of human lip kissing originated in a very specific geographical location in South Asia 3,500 years ago._(1)_. From there it may have spread to other regions, simultaneously accelerating the spread of the herpes simplex virus 1. According to Dr Troels Pank Arbøll and Dr Sophie L. Rasmussen, who in a new article in the journal Science draw on a range of written sources from the earliest Mesopotamian societies, kissing was already a well-established practice 4,500 years ago in the Middle East._(2)_. In ancient Mesopotamia, people wrote in cuneiform script on clay tablets._(3)_. Many thousands of these clay tablets have survived to this day, and they contain clear examples that kissing was considered a part of romantic intimacy in ancient times._(4)_. "Kissing could also have been part of friendships and family members' relations," says Dr Troels Pank Arbøll, an expert on the history of medicine in Mesopotamia.

1. Sentence 1

2. Sentence 2

3. Sentence 3

4. Sentence 4

Explanation:

The sentence fits best in option (2). The sentence discusses how the evidence for kissing shifts its timeline back by 1,000 years based on research findings. It logically follows the mention of Dr. Troels Pank Arbøll and Dr. Sophie L. Rasmussen’s argument that kissing was a well-established practice 4,500 years ago, thereby refining and extending the historical timeline. Placing it in option (2) ensures the flow of ideas about the revised historical understanding of kissing.

Hence, the answer is option (2).

4. DIRECTIONS FOR THE QUESTION:

The question consists of four statements labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4, which when logically ordered, form a coherent paragraph. Rearrange the statements to construct a coherent paragraph and then type your answer in the box provided.

Question:
1. Centuries later formal learning is still mostly based on reading, even with the widespread use of other possible education-affecting technologies such as film, radio, and television.
2. One of the immediate and recognisable impacts of the printing press was on how people learned; in the scribal culture it primarily involved listening, so memorization was paramount.
3. The transformation of learners from listeners to readers was a complex social and cultural phenomenon, and it was not until the industrial era that the concept of universal literacy took root.
4. The printing press shifted the learning process, as listening and memorization gradually gave way to reading and learning no longer required the presence of a mentor; it could be done privately.

1. Sequence - 2,4,3,1

2. Sequence- 2,3,4,1

3. Sequence-4,3,2,1

4. Sequence- 1,2,3,4

Explanation: The sequence 2-4-3-1 is logical. Begin with the historical context of learning methods (2), then discuss the impact of the printing press (4), follow with the shift to reading and literacy (3), and end with the lasting influence on the present day (1).

Hence, the correct answer is the option(1).

CAT VARC Important Topics and Practice Questions

Although the syllabus of the CAT VARC section might not seem to be vast, it is important that the candidates understand the various CAT VARC important topics and structure their CAT VARC preparation accordingly. The candidates with low language proficiency are strongly advised to solve as many CAT VARC questions as possible to enhance their CAT VARC understanding. After analysing the previous year's CAT VARC questions, a set of topics was found to be the most repetitive. A set of CAT VARC topics and a set of CAT previous year questions asked under it are provided in the table below.

CAT 2025 Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Best Books

Choosing the best books for CAT VARC is necessary for the candidates to prepare in the right manner for the CAT examination. The candidates have access to a lot of CAT preparation materials written by various authors. After extensive research, including various parameters, Careers360 has shortlisted a set of CAT VARC books that the candidates can learn from. The list is provided below.

CAT Practice Resources by Careers360

The candidates can go through the various CAT practice resources designed by Careers360 using the links given in the table below.