How to crack Application based questions in RC

How to crack Application based questions in RC The first thing to bear in mind while taking a RC and while preparing is that RCs test your reading and comprehending skills. CAT especially, in these questions, tests your comprehension rigorously. Verbal is a section which most engineers dread as they trust themselves with the quantitative and logical reasoning, at least for the knowledge part. However this is the section where many find themselves lost amidst the mirage of word lists, variety of suggestions and convoluted procedures to mug vocabulary. However, what is required is a systematic approach towards preparations for this section based on ones strengths and improvement areas. In this post ,we will look upon the “application questions” asked in RC Passages.   APPLICATION QUESTIONS takes the logic a step further that is involved in inference questions. This ask you to take information and conclusions in the passage and extrapolate them to similar situations or ideas. The key to this question type is the ability to identify the crux of an argument and see how it relates to a similar situation.These questions are slightly more complex. They require you to figure out what the passage states about a particular topic, and then apply that information to answer choices that contain new information. These are sometimes quite tricky as once again, these are pure inference-type questions, with no explicit answer stated in the passage. Not only do they test your comprehension skills, but you have to put yourself in the author’s shoes and try to understand his attitude or views towards the topic.   KEYWORDS: 1.The author of the passage would be most likely to agree with which of the following? 2.Which of the following statements would provide the most logical continuation of the final paragraph? 3.An idea or action described in the passage is most similar to which of the following? 4.Which of the following is likely to be the title of the next article written by author?   STRATEGY: To handle these questions, one must narrow down the options keeping an eye on the main idea,scope and tone of the passage.These questions should be touched only when has developed a clear understanding of the passage.For the last one,read the last paragraph and find out carefully where the author leaves the passages ,what are the un-explained issues or explaination which leave room for further discussion ,analysis or elucidation. Let’s try a sample problem. Attempt the problem on your own before viewing the answer and explanation. The passage is typical of what you will find in CAT. PASSAGE: Under Danish control since 1388, the Faroe Islands have long been governed by the Danish Amtmand (administrative overseer), with the unicameral Faroese Løgting (parliament) serving as an advisory body. Niels Winther was among those who sought a greater role for the Løgting. In July 1851, the Faroese narrowly rejected the “official” candidate and instead chose Winther to represent them in the Danish Folketing (parliament). Winther introduced a bill for Faroese home rule, but was out-maneuvered by Danish Interior Minister Frederik Tillisch. In 1852, Winther started a newspaper in which he criticized the Danish monopoly over Faroese trade in a way the officials found defamatory. He was fined heavily, and the newspaper ceased publication. Embittered by the difficulty of getting anything done for the Faroese, he retired from the Folketing. Despite its limited political authority, the Løgting became the political platform for the Faroese secession movement in the next century. The secession movement was not so much a reaction to Danish hegemony as to the threatened demise of Faroese traditions and the rise of a native intelligentsia. A consultative referendum was held in September 1946 on the question of secession. The result of the vote was a narrow majority in favor of secession, but the coalition in the Løgting could not reach agreement on how this outcome should be interpreted and implemented. Because of these irresoluble differences, the coalition fell apart. A compromise was ultimately reached, however, and the Folketing passed a home-rule law that went into effect in March 1948. Which of the following would the author of the passage most likely agree with? (A)The Faroese felt oppressed by the Danish. (B)Some Faroese believed that the home-rule law passed by the Folketing did not go far enough. (C)A unicameral parliament is a preferred form of government. (D)Based on the results of the 1946 referendum, the Faroese should have been granted the right of secession. (E)Niels Winther was an unappreciated hero of the Faroese. CORRECT ANSWER:B Explanation: (A)This answer is actually the opposite of what is stated in the passage. The second paragraph says, “The secession movement was not so much a reaction to Danish hegemony as to…” So the Faroese were not very concerned with Danish control and therefore would not have felt oppressed by the Danish. (B)This is our correct answer. The second paragraph states that in the consultative referendum, a majority favored secession, which is a more extreme measure than the home-rule law that was ultimately adopted as a compromise. So we can reasonably state that some Faroese favored a measure that went further than the home-rule law. (C)The word unicameral is used in the first paragraph to describe the Faroese parliament, called the Løgting. We know that some favored a greater role for the Løgting. But the author does not discuss a unicameral parliament in general or compare a unicameral parliament with other forms of government anywhere within the passage. (D)This is a descriptive passage, not an argumentative one. In the second paragraph, the author describes in a neutral tone the results of the referendum and the ultimate outcome. But nowhere in the passage does the author offer his/her support for secession. (E)The first paragraph describes the roles that Winther played to support the Faroese. The author does not discuss, however, whether Winther was appreciated or not. We know that in the end Winther was embittered by the difficulty in making real accomplishments, but one can be appreciated while still feeling frustrated by the lack of accomplishment. Furthermore, in this descriptive passage, it is too strong to infer that the author believes that Winther was a hero. TWO KEY TO SUCCESS: PRACTICE AND PERSEVERANCE Success comes through preparation.Never be a lazy bum.Remember that RC is all about perseverance and practice.At the end of the day, you must read a number of passages on different topics on a daily basis. There is no short-cut for RC, and it requires sustained effort-it is advised that you read around 5-6 passages every day while preparing for CAT. Start with a dedication of practicising atleast 1hour a day.If you are not much comfortable with the Reading Comprehension Questions, you may begin with 2 questions a day for the first week (basic level).As you become more comfortable increase the number gradually. GOOD LUCK.. How to crack Application based questions in RC