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CAT VARC Practice Test 14

CAT VARC • Medium • 12 Questions
Progress 0 / 12
25:00

Measuring Happiness

For decades, governments judged progress largely by economic growth. Gross domestic product measures the value of goods and services produced, and it rose steadily in many countries. Yet rising GDP did not always bring a matching rise in how satisfied people said they were with their lives, and critics argued that a single economic figure left out much of what matters.

Some governments now publish measures of wellbeing alongside GDP, based on surveys that ask people how satisfied they are with their lives, as well as indicators such as health, education and environmental quality. Supporters say these measures direct attention to problems that growth figures hide, such as loneliness or long commuting times.

Sceptics raise practical objections. Answers to survey questions can be influenced by mood, culture and the wording of the question, which makes comparisons between countries difficult. There is also the risk that a government might target the indicator rather than the underlying reality. Most economists now favour a dashboard of measures, in which GDP remains one important figure among several, rather than replacing one number with another.

Passage 1 Questions Questions 1-4
1

The passage is mainly concerned with:

2

Critics of relying on GDP alone argue that:

3

Which objection do sceptics raise against wellbeing surveys?

4

According to the passage, most economists now favour:

The Repair Movement

Many electrical products are now cheaper to replace than to repair. Spare parts can be hard to find, devices are often glued rather than screwed together, and repair manuals are not always available to the public. As a result, items with a single fault are thrown away, adding to a growing volume of electronic waste.

A repair movement has grown in response. Volunteers run repair cafes where people bring broken items and learn to fix them, and campaigners have pressed for right to repair laws requiring manufacturers to supply parts and information for a number of years. Some laws of this kind have been introduced for certain products such as household appliances.

Manufacturers have raised concerns about safety and about protecting their designs, and some argue that sealed devices are more durable or water resistant. The debate is therefore not simply between waste and repair, but about how to balance design, safety and the length of a product's useful life. What has changed is that the life span of a product is now treated as a public question, not only a private one.

Passage 2 Questions Questions 5-8
5

According to the passage, items with a single fault are often thrown away because:

6

Right to repair laws, as described, require manufacturers to:

7

Manufacturers' concerns include:

8

The final sentence suggests that:

Type in the answer for the para-jumble and odd-sentence questions. For the rest, choose the best option.

Verbal Ability Questions Questions 9-12
9

The four sentences below, labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4, form a coherent paragraph when arranged in the right order. Type the correct order as a four-digit sequence (for example, 1234). 1. Mapmakers began to leave unknown areas blank instead of guessing. 2. The blank spaces, in turn, encouraged further exploration. 3. As explorers returned with measurements, these images were gradually replaced. 4. Early maps often filled unknown regions with sea monsters and imaginary lands.

10

Four of the five sentences below form a coherent paragraph; one is out of place. Type the number of the odd sentence. 1. Honey never spoils if it is stored in a sealed container. 2. Its low moisture and natural acidity prevent bacteria from growing. 3. Jars of edible honey have been found in ancient tombs. 4. Bees communicate through movements known as dances. 5. Its long shelf life made it valuable before refrigeration.

11

Choose the option that best summarises the following paragraph. Many people believe they work best under pressure, and deadlines do make some tasks happen. But studies of creative work suggest that intense time pressure often reduces the quality of ideas, because people focus on finishing rather than exploring. Moderate deadlines with time to think may produce better results.

12

Choose the option that best summarises the following paragraph. Public libraries were built for lending books, but many now offer computers, job advice and community classes. Some critics argue that libraries are drifting from their purpose, while supporters say the purpose was always access to information and opportunity, which these services still provide.

What is in this test

  • Passage 1, questions 1-4
  • Passage 2, questions 5-8
  • Verbal Ability, questions 9-12

12 questions in 25 minutes, marked +3 for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong multiple choice answer, with no penalty on type in the answer questions. When you finish you get your marks, a section breakdown and a written explanation for every question. Learn the method first on the topic practice pages and keep the formula sheet handy while you review.