Read the given passage and answer the six questions that follow.
On a chilly winter evening, nothing warms you up better than a cup of hot cocoa. Chocolate was first consumed in liquid form by the Olmec people of northwestern Central America around 1500 BCE. It was even enjoyed by the Aztec Emperor Montezuma, and the Aztec word for it (xocolatl, pronounced shoh-kwah-tl) evolved into the English word Chocolate.
But the Aztecs didn’t serve their cocoa hot. And since sugar had not yet arrived from Europe, back then, the drink was often flavoured with peppers and spices. It may not have been quite as indulgent as today’s version, but it was more palatable if you believed, as the Aztecs did, that chocolate was a gift from the Gods and had healing properties.
After the Spanish arrived in the Americas in the 1500s, liquid chocolate made its way across the pond, where wealthy Europeans added sugar and drank it warm. In Chocolate: History, Culture and Heritage, author Bertram Gordon says hot chocolate became ‘‘the beverage of the aristocracy,’’ as sugar was still a luxury.
Soon enough, though, hot choclate caught on with the masses. Chocolate houses — a cross between cafes and casinos — started popping up around 17th-century Europe. In these lively places, hot chocolate was poured from gilded pots into elegant cups (for a posh experience, one can still find it today at the famed Parisian tearoom Angelina’s, which is also in New York City). But by the end of the 18th century, chocolate houses had mostly died off, partly because the cost of chocolate was much higher than that of coffee or tea.
Taking a tour of international cups of cocoa, Italians serve it like a thick pudding. Colombians serve it with a dollop of soft cheese while Mexicans punch it up with vanilla, chilli powder and cinnamon. And Filipinos serve it with mango chunks.
Which of the following varieties of coffee is the most sold in the world?
- Coffea Canephora
- Coffea Arabica
- Coffea Eugenioides
- A blend of Coffea Canephora and Coffea Arabica
The Correct Option is B
Approach Solution - 1
Approach Solution -2
Coffea Arabica is the most sold variety of coffee worldwide.
Context: Coffea Arabica is the most popular and widely consumed variety of coffee across the globe. Known for its smooth flavor and aromatic qualities, Arabica coffee beans make up the majority of global coffee production and sales.
Characteristics of Coffea Arabica: Arabica coffee beans are generally considered to have a milder taste compared to other coffee varieties, such as Robusta. They are known for their delicate, fruity, and slightly acidic flavor profile, making them a favorite among coffee enthusiasts worldwide.
Global Popularity: Coffea Arabica is responsible for approximately 60-70% of the world's coffee production. It is grown primarily in higher altitudes in countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Costa Rica, where the climate conditions are ideal for its cultivation.
Final Thought: Due to its superior taste and popularity, Coffea Arabica remains the most sold and consumed coffee variety globally, shaping coffee culture in many countries.
Which of the following species of coffee has more than two copies of each chromosome?
- Arabica
- Robusta
- Coffea Eugenioides
- A blend of Arabica and Robusta
The Correct Option is A
Approach Solution - 1
The question asks which species of coffee has more than two copies of each chromosome. This relates to the concept of polyploidy in biology, where an organism has more than two paired (homologous) sets of chromosomes. Arabica coffee is known to have this characteristic.
Arabica (Coffea arabica) is an allotetraploid, meaning it has four sets of chromosomes, which is more than the diploid number found in species like Coffea eugenioides and Robusta (Coffea canephora). Coffea eugenioides and Robusta typically have two copies of each chromosome (diploid).
Therefore, the correct answer is Arabica, which is a polyploid coffee species.
Approach Solution -2
Coffea Arabica is polyploid, meaning it has more than two copies of each chromosome.
Context: Coffea Arabica, the most popular variety of coffee, is polyploid, which means it has multiple sets of chromosomes. Unlike most organisms that are diploid (with two copies of each chromosome), polyploid organisms have more than two sets, which can influence their genetic diversity and characteristics.
Polyploidy in Coffea Arabica: Coffea Arabica is a hybrid species, resulting from the interbreeding of two other coffee species: Coffea canephora (Robusta) and Coffea eugenioides. As a result of this hybridization, Arabica coffee has four sets of chromosomes instead of the typical two, making it a tetraploid species.
Implications of Polyploidy: The polyploid nature of Coffea Arabica contributes to its genetic stability and may influence its resilience, flavor profile, and adaptability to different growing conditions. Polyploid species often have increased genetic variation, which can result in greater biodiversity and improved characteristics in crops.
Final Thought: The polyploid nature of Coffea Arabica plays a crucial role in its widespread cultivation and popularity, offering benefits in terms of genetic diversity and coffee quality.
Which of the following statements is true about Coffea Arabica?
- Hybridization is the main source of its genetic variation.
- It has only two copies of each chromosome.
- It displays the phenomenon of polyploidy.
- It is easily interbred with other species.
The Correct Option is C
Approach Solution - 1
To determine the correct statement about Coffea Arabica, let's analyze the provided options based on what is generally known about its characteristics:
- Hybridization is the main source of its genetic variation. Hybridization can lead to genetic variation, but it's not the most significant factor for Coffea Arabica. This coffee species generally has less genetic diversity compared to other species.
- It has only two copies of each chromosome. This describes a diploid organism, but Coffea Arabica is not diploid.
- It displays the phenomenon of polyploidy. Coffea Arabica is known to exhibit polyploidy. It is a tetraploid species, meaning it has four sets of chromosomes, which is a direct result of polyploidy.
- It is easily interbred with other species. Coffea Arabica is generally not easily interbred with other coffee species due to reproductive barriers.
Based on this analysis, the statement "It displays the phenomenon of polyploidy." is true about Coffea Arabica.
Approach Solution -2
Coffea Arabica displays the phenomenon of polyploidy.
Context: Coffea Arabica is known for exhibiting the phenomenon of polyploidy, which refers to the presence of more than two sets of chromosomes in an organism. This characteristic sets Coffea Arabica apart from many other coffee species and contributes to its unique genetic makeup.
Polyploidy in Coffea Arabica: Coffea Arabica is a tetraploid species, meaning it has four sets of chromosomes, compared to the typical two sets found in diploid species. This is the result of a natural hybridization event between two other coffee species, Coffea canephora (Robusta) and Coffea eugenioides.
Significance of Polyploidy: Polyploidy in Coffea Arabica enhances its genetic diversity and stability, which can improve its adaptability to different growing conditions. Additionally, polyploidy can contribute to desirable traits such as increased size and resilience, which makes Arabica coffee a preferred variety for many consumers.
Final Thought: The polyploid nature of Coffea Arabica is a key factor in its cultivation and widespread popularity, influencing both its genetic characteristics and its suitability for global coffee production.
Which of the following species of coffee developed only in the last 50,000 years?
- Coffea Canephora
- Coffea Eugenioides
- Arabica
- Robusta
The Correct Option is C
Approach Solution - 1
The origin of various coffee species can be complex, but Coffea Arabica is known to be a relatively recent hybrid. It is a cross between Coffea Canephora (commonly known as Robusta) and Coffea Eugenioides. This natural hybridization is believed to have occurred only within the last 50,000 years. In contrast, other coffee species like Robusta and Eugenioides have ancient lineages that stretch back much further.
Approach Solution -2
Coffea Arabica developed as a hybrid in the last 50,000 years.
Context: Coffea Arabica, the most widely consumed coffee species, developed as a hybrid relatively recently in geological terms. This hybridization occurred within the last 50,000 years and has contributed to its unique characteristics and widespread popularity.
Hybridization of Coffea Arabica: Coffea Arabica is the result of the interbreeding between two species: Coffea canephora (Robusta) and Coffea eugenioides. This hybridization process occurred naturally and led to the development of a new species with enhanced traits, such as improved flavor and higher resilience compared to its parent species.
Significance of Hybridization: The hybrid nature of Coffea Arabica gives it a distinct genetic profile, which not only makes it more adaptable to different environmental conditions but also contributes to the smooth, aromatic flavor that is favored by coffee drinkers worldwide. The hybridization also played a role in its dominance in coffee markets globally.
Final Thought: The hybridization of Coffea Arabica within the last 50,000 years has played a significant role in its development, leading to the emergence of a coffee species that is both genetically unique and commercially valuable.
Which of the following types of variability is not very high for Coffea Arabica?
- Variability at the structural level
- Variability at the chromosomal level
- Variability at the level of deletions and insertions
- Variability at the DNA level
The Correct Option is D
Approach Solution - 1
To determine which type of variability is not very high for Coffea Arabica, we analyze the options provided:
- Variability at the structural level: This refers to the variations in the overall morphology and physical structure of the plant.
- Variability at the chromosomal level: This involves changes and differences in the number or structure of chromosomes, which can lead to significant genetic diversity.
- Variability at the level of deletions and insertions: These are specific types of mutations that can lead to genetic changes, typically high in many organisms.
- Variability at the DNA level: This refers to variations in the DNA sequence itself, which can impact a large number of genes and phenotypes.
The correct answer is Variability at the DNA level. Generally, Coffea Arabica exhibits relatively low DNA-level variability compared to other types of variations mentioned, which affects its adaptability and resilience.
Approach Solution -2
Coffea Arabica has low variability at the DNA level.
Context: Coffea Arabica, although a hybrid species, exhibits relatively low genetic variability compared to other coffee species. This is due to its polyploid nature, where the four sets of chromosomes result in less genetic diversity at the DNA level.
Genetic Characteristics of Coffea Arabica: As a tetraploid species, Coffea Arabica has a more stable genetic structure compared to diploid species like Coffea canephora (Robusta). While this stability is beneficial for maintaining consistent traits, it also means that there is less genetic variation within the species, which can make it more vulnerable to disease and environmental changes.
Implications of Low Variability: The low genetic variability in Coffea Arabica limits the potential for rapid adaptation to changing environmental conditions or new threats. However, it also ensures that the high-quality traits associated with Arabica coffee, such as its smooth flavor and aroma, are preserved across generations.
Final Thought: While the low genetic variability in Coffea Arabica provides consistency in flavor and quality, it also presents challenges in terms of resilience and adaptability. This characteristic is an important factor in the cultivation and breeding of Arabica coffee.
Choose the statement that is factually incorrect from the options given below.
- It is possible to roast the beans of a single species of coffee.
- Two species of coffee can be blended to make a brew.
- Due to its genetic make-up, novel mutations do not occur in the species Coffea Arabica.
- Variations in disease resistance can be seen in the Arabica coffee plant.
The Correct Option is C
Approach Solution - 1
To identify the factually incorrect statement from the given options, let's analyze each one based on general botanical and genetic knowledge related to coffee plants, specifically Coffea Arabica, a widely cultivated species of coffee:
- 1. It is possible to roast the beans of a single species of coffee: This statement is true as coffee beans from a single species, such as Coffea Arabica or Coffea Robusta, can indeed be roasted alone to produce coffee.
- 2. Two species of coffee can be blended to make a brew: This is a factual statement. Blending different species, such as Arabica and Robusta, is common to create varied flavors and strengths in coffee brews.
- 3. Due to its genetic make-up, novel mutations do not occur in the species Coffea Arabica: This is an incorrect statement. Mutations can occur in any species, including Coffea Arabica, due to genetic variation and environmental influences. Therefore, novel mutations can indeed occur in this species.
- 4. Variations in disease resistance can be seen in the Arabica coffee plant: This statement is correct as different strains of Coffea Arabica can show variations in resilience against diseases, influenced by genetic diversity and breeding.
Thus, the statement that is factually incorrect is: Due to its genetic make-up, novel mutations do not occur in the species Coffea Arabica.
Approach Solution -2
Novel mutations do occur in Coffea Arabica, despite its genetic make-up.
Context: Although Coffea Arabica has relatively low genetic variability due to its polyploid nature, novel mutations can still occur. These mutations contribute to small changes in its genetic make-up, which may influence various traits such as disease resistance, yield, and flavor characteristics.
Mutations in Coffea Arabica: Mutations are random genetic changes that can happen over time, even in species with low variability. In Coffea Arabica, these mutations can lead to new variations in traits, some of which may offer advantages, such as improved resistance to pests or environmental stresses.
Impact of Mutations: While the genetic stability of Coffea Arabica ensures consistency in its high-quality coffee production, the occurrence of novel mutations can introduce beneficial traits or unexpected challenges. These mutations may allow for the development of new coffee varieties, or in some cases, lead to unforeseen vulnerabilities.
Final Thought: Despite its low genetic variability, Coffea Arabica is not immune to novel mutations, which can play an important role in the evolution of the species, affecting everything from disease resistance to flavor profiles and growth characteristics.
Top Questions on Reading Comprehension
Meta is recalibrating content on its social media platforms as the political tide has turned in Washington, with Mark Zuckerberg announcing last week that his company plans to fire its US fact-checkers. Fact-checking evolved in response to allegations of misinformation and is being watered down in response to accusations of censorship. Social media does not have solutions to either. Community review — introduced by Elon Musk at X and planned by Zuckerberg for Facebook and Instagram — is not a significant improvement over fact-checking. Having Washington lean on foreign governments over content moderation does not benefit free speech. Yet, that is the nature of the social media beast, designed to amplify bias.
Information and misinformation continue to jostle on social media at the mercy of user discretion. Social media now has enough control over all other forms of media to broaden its reach. It is the connective tissue for mass consumption of entertainment, and alternative platforms are reworking their engagement with social media. Technologies are shaping up to drive this advantage further through synthetic content targeted precisely at its intended audience. Meta’s algorithm will now play up politics because it is the flavour of the season.
The Achilles’ Heel of social media is informed choice which could turn against misinformation. Its move away from content moderation is driven by the need to be more inclusive, yet unfiltered content can push users away from social media towards legacy forms that have better moderation systems in place. Lawmakers across the world are unlikely to give social media a free run, even if Donald Trump is working on their case. Protections have already been put in place across jurisdictions over misinformation. These may be difficult to dismantle, even if the Republicans pull US-owned social media companies further to the right.
Media consumption is, in essence, evidence-based judgement that mediums must adapt to. Content moderation, not free speech, is the adaptation mechanism. Musk and Zuckerberg are not exempt- IPMAT - 2025
- Verbal and Logical Ability
- Reading Comprehension
According to the French philosopher Jean Baudrillard, commodities available for consumption are not inherently negative things. Baudrillard tried to interpret consumption in modern societies by engaging with the ’cargo myth’ prevalent among the indigenous Melanesian people living in the South Pacific. The Melanesians did not know what aeroplanes were. However,they saw that these winged entities descended from the air for white people and appeared to make them happy. They also noted that aeroplanes never descended for the Melanesian people. The Melanesian natives noted that the white people had placed objects similar to the aeroplane on the ground. They concluded that these objects were attracting the aeroplanes in the air and bringing them to the ground. Through a magical process, the aeroplanes were bringing plenty to the white people and making them happy. The Melanesian people concluded that they would need to place objects that simulated the aeroplane on the ground and attract them from the air. Baudrillard believes that the cargo myth holds an important analogy for the ways in which consumers engage with objects of consumption.
According to Baudrillard, the modern consumer ”sets in place a whole array of sham objects, of characteristic signs of happiness, and then waits for happiness to alight”. For instance, modern consumers believe that they will get happiness if they buy the latest available version of a mobile phone or automobile. However, consumption does not usually lead to happiness. While consumers should ideally be blaming their heightened expectations for their lack of happiness, they blame the commodity instead.
They feel that they should have waited for the next version of a mobile phone or automobile before buying the one they did. The version they bought is somehow inferior and therefore cannot make them happy. Baudrillard argues that consumers have replaced ’real’ happiness with ’signs’ of happiness. This results in the endless deferment of the arrival of total happiness. In Baudrillard’s words, ”in everyday practice, the blessings of consumption are not experienced as resulting from work or from a production process; they are experienced as a miracle”. Modern consumers view consumption in the same magical way as the Melanesian people viewed the aeroplanes in the cargo myth. Television commercials also present objects of consumption as miracles. As a result, commodities appear to be distanced from the social processes which lead to their production. In effect, objects of consumption are divorced from the reality which produces them.- IPMAT - 2025
- Verbal and Logical Ability
- Reading Comprehension
CONVERSATION ANALYSIS: Read the following transcript and choose the answer that is closest to each of the questions that are based on the transcript.
Lucia Rahilly (Global Editorial Director, The McKinsey Podcast): Today we’re talking about the next big arenas of competition, about the industries that will matter most in the global business landscape, which you describe as arenas of competition. What do we mean when we use this term?
Chris Bradley (Director, McKinsey Global Institute): If I go back and look at the top ten companies in 2005, they were in traditional industries such as oil and gas, retail, industrials, and pharmaceuticals. The average company was worth about $250 billion. If I advance the clock forward to 2020, nine in ten of those companies have been replaced, and by companies that are eight times bigger than the old guards.
And this new batch of companies comes from these new arenas or competitive sectors. In fact, they’re so different that we have a nickname for them. If you’re a fan of Harry Potter, it’s wizards versus muggles.
Arena industries are wizardish; we found that there’s a set of industries that play by very different set of economic rules and get very different results, while the rest, the muggles (even though they run the world, finance the world, and energize the world), play by a more traditional set of economic rules.
Lucia Rahilly: Could we put a finer point on what is novel or different about the lens that you applied to determine what’s a wizard and what’s a muggle?
Chris Bradley: Wizards are defined by growth and dynamism. We looked at where value is flowing and the places where value is moving. And where is the value flowing? What we see is that this set of wizards, which represent about ten percent of industries, hog 45 percent of the growth in market cap. But there’s another dimension or axis too, which is dynamism. That is measured by a new metric we’ve come up with called the ”shuffle rate.” How much does the bottom move to the top? It turns out that in this set of wizardish industries, or arenas, the shuffle rate is much higher than it is in the traditional industry.
Lucia Rahilly: So, where are we seeing the most profit?
Chris Bradley: The economic profit, which is the profit you make minus the cost for the capital you employ is in the wizard industries. It’s where R&D happens; they’re two times more R&D intensive. They’re big stars, the nebulae, where new business is born.- IPMAT - 2025
- Verbal and Logical Ability
- Reading Comprehension
- On the first day of January 2025, the Indian Meteorological Department [IMD] announced that 2024 was the hottest year on record. A study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water shows that nearly eight out of ten Indians live in districts that are at risk of either a flood, a cyclone, or a drought. Nearly twenty three States in India are heatwave-prone. In the summer of 2024, India recorded more than 44,000 cases of heatstroke and over 300 heat-related mortalities, as per the bulletin of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Water reservoirs and the energy demand that keeps India powered are impacted too. During a ten-day long heatwave in Delhi, peak power demand was 16% higher than the previous year.
- IPMAT - 2025
- Verbal and Logical Ability
- Reading Comprehension
- What is a classical dance ?
A dance which is created or choreographed and performed according to the tenets of the Natya Shastra is called a classical dance. The two broad aspects of classical dancing are the tandava and the lasya. Power and force are typical of the tandava; grace and delicacy, of the lasya. Tandava is associated with Shiva, and lasya with Parvati. Dance which is pure in movement is called nritta, and dance which is interpretative in nature is called nritya. A dancer in the classical tradition has to have years of training before he or she can begin to perform on the stage.
What are the main schools of classical dancing ?
Bharata Natyam, Kathakali, Manipuri, Kathak. Bharata Natyam is the oldest and most popular dance-form of India. Earlier, it was known by various names. Some called it Bharatam, some Natyam some Desi Attam and some Sadir.
The districts of Tanjore and Kanchipuram of Tamil Nadu were the focal points in the development of Bharata Natyam. It was danced as a solo performance by devadasis (temple dancers) on all auspicious occasions. Later, kings and rich people lent their patronage to it and it started shedding its purely sacred character.- Maharashtra Class X Board - 2025
- English
- Reading Comprehension
Questions Asked in CUET exam
- A and B can complete a task in the ratio 3:2. If together they complete the task in 20 days, how long will A alone take?
- CUET (UG) - 2025
- Time and Work
Identify the part of the sentence that contains a grammatical error:
Each of the boys have submitted their assignment on time.- CUET (UG) - 2025
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- If \( 3 \times 4 = 25 \), \( 5 \times 2 = 27 \), \( 6 \times 3 = 39 \), then what is \( 7 \times 5 = ? \)
- CUET (UG) - 2025
- Logical Reasoning
Rearrange the following parts to form a meaningful and grammatically correct sentence:
P. a healthy diet and regular exercise
Q. are important habits
R. that help maintain good physical and mental health
S. especially in today's busy world- CUET (UG) - 2025
- Sentence Arrangement
- Rearrange the parts to form a logical sentence:
A) the city's new policy
B) has significantly improved
C) air quality
D) over the past year- CUET (UG) - 2025
- Sentence Arrangement