Comprehension
Around the world, capital cities are disgorging bureaucrats. In the post-colonial fervour of the 20th century, coastal capitals picked by trade-focused empires were spurned for “regionally neutral” new ones . . . . But decamping wholesale is costly and unpopular; governments these days prefer piecemeal dispersal. The trend reflects how the world has changed. In past eras, when information travelled at a snail’s pace, civil servants had to cluster together. But now desk-workers can ping emails and video-chat around the world. Travel for face-to-face meetings may be unavoidable, but transport links, too, have improved. . . .
Proponents of moving civil servants around promise countless benefits. It disperses the risk that a terrorist attack or natural disaster will cripple an entire government. Wonks in the sticks will be inspired by new ideas that walled-off capitals cannot conjure up. Autonomous regulators perform best far from the pressure and lobbying of the big city. Some even hail a cure for ascendant cynicism and populism. The unloved bureaucrats of faraway capitals will become as popular as firefighters once they mix with regular folk.
Beyond these sunny visions, dispersing central-government functions usually has three specific aims: to improve the lives of both civil servants and those living in clogged capitals; to save money; and to redress regional imbalances. The trouble is that these goals are not always realized. 
The first aim—improving living conditions—has a long pedigree. After the second world war Britain moved thousands of civil servants to “agreeable English country towns” as London was rebuilt. But swapping the capital for somewhere smaller is not always agreeable. Attrition rates can exceed 80%. . . . The second reason to pack bureaucrats off is to save money. Office space costs far more in capitals. . . .
Agencies that are moved elsewhere can often recruit better workers on lower salaries than in capitals, where well-paying multinationals mop up talent. 
The third reason to shift is to rebalance regional inequality. . . . Norway treats federal jobs as a resource every region deserves to enjoy, like profits from oil. Where government jobs go, private ones follow. . . . Sometimes the aim is to fulfil the potential of a country’s second-tier cities. Unlike poor, remote places, bigger cities can make the most of relocated government agencies, linking them to local universities and businesses and supplying a better-educated workforce. The decision in 1946 to set up America’s Centres for Disease Control in Atlanta rather than Washington, D.C., has transformed the city into a hub for health-sector research and business.
 The dilemma is obvious. Pick small, poor towns, and areas of high unemployment get new jobs, but it is hard to attract the most qualified workers; opt for larger cities with infrastructure and better-qualified residents, and the country’s most deprived areas see little benefit. . . . Others contend that decentralization begets corruption by making government agencies less accountable. . . . A study in America found that state-government corruption is worse when the state capital is isolated—journalists, who tend to live in the bigger cities, become less watchful of those in power.
Question: 1

According to the passage, colonial powers located their capitals:

Updated On: Jul 26, 2025
  • based on political expediency.
  • to promote their trading interests.
  • where they had the densest populations.
  • to showcase their power and prestige.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

To determine why colonial powers located their capitals, we need to focus on the relevant parts of the passage and understand the context. The passage mentions that coastal capitals were chosen by trade-focused empires and later deemed unsuitable for regional neutrality as nations sought independence. This informs us that the original decision to place capitals was influenced by the empires' trade interests.
Explanation:
  1. Review the beginning of the passage, which discusses the transition from coastal capitals to regionally neutral ones.
  2. Identify the reason for the initial choice of capitals: the passage states they were picked by "trade-focused empires."
  3. The choices made by these empires strongly indicate that trade was a primary consideration.
The correct answer, aligning with this passage information, is that colonial powers located their capitals "to promote their trading interests."
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Question: 2

The “dilemma” mentioned in the passage refers to:

Updated On: Jul 26, 2025
  • relocating government agencies to boost growth in remote areas with poor amenities or to relatively larger cities with good amenities.
  • keeping government agencies in the largest city with good infrastructure or moving them to a remote area with few amenities.
  • concentrating on decongesting large cities or focusing on boosting employment in relatively larger cities.
  • encouraging private enterprises to relocate to smaller towns or not incentivising them in order to keep government costs in those towns low. 

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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

The dilemma in the passage refers to the decision-making challenge faced by governments when relocating government agencies. The core issue is choosing between:
  • Relocating to remote areas with poor amenities, which can boost growth and employment but may struggle to attract qualified workers due to lack of infrastructure and amenities.
  • Relocating to relatively larger cities with good amenities, which are better equipped and can support the agencies' needs effectively, linking them to local businesses and universities. However, this option doesn't significantly benefit the most deprived or remote areas in terms of job creation or regional development.
The passage outlines the benefits and drawbacks of each option, emphasizing the complexity of achieving the desired goals of improving living conditions, saving money, and addressing regional imbalances. Ultimately, the correct answer to the question is:
  • Relocating government agencies to boost growth in remote areas with poor amenities or to relatively larger cities with good amenities.
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Question: 3

People who support decentralising central government functions are LEAST likely to cite which of the following reasons for their view?

Updated On: Jul 26, 2025
  • It reduces expenses as infrastructure costs and salaries are lower in smaller cities
  • Policy makers may benefit from fresh thinking in a new environment.
  • More independence could be enjoyed by regulatory bodies located away from political centres. 

  • It could weaken the nexus between bureaucrats and media in the capital.
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

The question asks to identify which reason is least likely to support the argument for decentralizing central government functions. Let's evaluate the given options against the provided comprehension text:

1. It reduces expenses as infrastructure costs and salaries are lower in smaller cities: The comprehension mentions that office space costs more in capitals and agencies can recruit better workers on lower salaries elsewhere, supporting this reason. 

2. Policy makers may benefit from fresh thinking in a new environment: The text states that wonks in decentralized locations will be inspired by new ideas, substantiating this reason.

3. More independence could be enjoyed by regulatory bodies located away from political centres: Independence from lobbying and pressure in capitals is discussed in support of decentralization, validating this reason.

4. It could weaken the nexus between bureaucrats and media in the capital: While decentralization might affect the relationship between bureaucrats and media, weakening this nexus is not explicitly cited as a primary aim in the comprehension text.

Given the context, decentralization is supported by reasons like cost reduction, fresh ideas, and increased independence, while weakening the bureaucrat-media nexus receives minimal focus. Hence, the reason least likely cited is: It could weaken the nexus between bureaucrats and media in the capital.

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Question: 4

The “long pedigree” of the aim to shift civil servants to improve their living standards implies that this move: 

Updated On: Jul 26, 2025
  • takes a long time to achieve its intended outcomes.
  • has become common practice in several countries worldwide. 

  • is supported by politicians and the ruling elites.
  • is not a new idea and has been tried in the past.
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

The phrase "long pedigree" refers to something that has been established or practiced for a considerable length of time. In the context of the given comprehension, the discussion revolves around the attempts to shift civil servants as part of strategies to improve their living standards. This has historical references, such as post-World War II Britain when thousands of civil servants were moved to English country towns. The information highlights that similar strategies have been attempted in the past, indicating it is not a new concept. Therefore, the correct interpretation of the "long pedigree" in this context is that the idea of relocating civil servants to improve living standards is a notion with a history, having been tried previously. Thus, the correct option in this context is:

is not a new idea and has been tried in the past.

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Question: 5

According to the author, relocating government agencies has not always been a success for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

Updated On: Jul 26, 2025
  • high staff losses, as people may not be prepared to move to smaller towns.
  • the difficulty of attracting talented, well-skilled people in more remote areas.
  • increased avenues of corruption away from the capital city.
  • a rise in pollution levels and congestion in the new locations. 

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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

To tackle this question, we must identify which reason is NOT cited by the author as causing relocation failures in government agencies.
The comprehension passage discusses various issues that arise when government agencies are relocated from capital cities to other areas, specifically:
  • High staff losses due to reluctance to move to smaller towns—evidence in the passage mentions attrition rates exceeding 80%.
  • The challenge of attracting talented individuals to remote areas—highlighted by the issue of getting qualified workers to smaller or poorer towns.
  • Potential decentralization leading to increased corruption—decentralization may decrease accountability, fostering corruption.
Conversely, the passage does not mention:
  • A rise in pollution levels and congestion in new locations—there's no reference to pollution or congestion resulting from relocating government agencies.
This aligns with the correct choice: a rise in pollution levels and congestion in new locations.
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