XAT 2020 Question Paper | Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning

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Question 23 : Read the following paragraph and answer the question that follows:
If we can send a human to the Moon, why can’t we build sustainable cities? Defeat cancer? Tackle climate change? So, go the rallying cries inspired by one of humanity’s greatest achievements, the US effort that put Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the Moon on 20 July 1969.

Which of the following statements, if true, BEST communicates the intent of the paragraph?

1. America’s moonshot was more about race to the moon and less about solving problems.
2. America’s moonshot initiative was mainly a response to USSR’s competing initiative.
3. The complexity of developing sustainable cities and curing cancer is far more than sending a human to the moon.
4. The reason we celebrate 1969 moonshot is precisely because nothing significant has been done in that domain since then.
5. Moonshot has a definitive ownership, whereas creating sustainable cities and curing cancer are public-good problems.

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Explanatory Answer

A. America’s moonshot was more about race to the moon and less about solving problems. – Although factually it was a race to the moon, the passage does not convey anything about the race. The argument is about “the US effort” on sending people to moon as opposed to their seemingly trivial efforts on sustainable developments. Hence, this option can be eliminated.
B. America’s moonshot initiative was mainly a response to USSR’s competing initiative. – Again, a factual argument but not something that’s ben mentioned in the passage. Hence, this cannot be the right answer choice.
C. The complexity of developing sustainable cities and curing cancer is far more than sending a human to the moon. – This is the essence that is perfectly echoed right at the first sentence of the passage. This is the right answer choice.
D. The reason we celebrate 1969 moonshot is precisely because nothing significant has been done in that domain since then. – The paragraph’s intent is to convey the efforts on the moonshot vis a vis those towards sustainable development and cancer. This option, too, can be eliminated.
E. Moonshot has a definitive ownership, whereas creating sustainable cities and curing cancer are public-good problems. – The intent is not to wash hands off prevalent issues like cancer. The intent is to compare and point out the lack of effort in public good. Hence, this option can also be eliminated.

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Choice C is the correct answer.