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Reading Comprehension - Classic Maya Collapse

CAT 2008 Slot 1 · Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension · Medium · Reading Comprehension

This is a medium Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension question set from the CAT 2008 Slot 1 paper. It tests Reading Comprehension. The full answer key and a step-by-step explanation are below — try it yourself first, then reveal the solution.

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Passage / data set

To summarize the Classic Maya collapse, we can tentatively identify five strands... [Passage explaining environmental, demographic, and political factors leading to Maya collapse].

Question 1 of 5

According to the passage, which of the following best represents the factor that has been cited by the author in the context of Rwanda and Haiti?

  1. A.

    Various ethnic groups competing for land and other resources

  2. B.

    Various ethnic groups competing for limited land resources

  3. C.

    Various ethnic groups fighting with each other

  4. D.

    Various ethnic groups competing for political power

  5. E.

    Various ethnic groups fighting for their identity

Answer

A

Explanation

Population growth outstripping available resources (Malthusian mismatch).

Question 2 of 5

By an anthropogenic drought, the author means

  1. A.

    a drought caused by lack of rains.

  2. B.

    a drought caused due to deforestation.

  3. C.

    a drought caused by failure to prevent bracken ferns from overrunning the fields.

  4. D.

    a drought caused by actions of human beings.

  5. E.

    a drought caused by climate changes.

Answer

D

Explanation

Anthropogenic means resulting from human activity.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A.a drought caused by lack of rains. — does not satisfy the condition asked in this question, so it is not the correct answer.
  • B.a drought caused due to deforestation. — does not satisfy the condition asked in this question, so it is not the correct answer.
  • C.a drought caused by failure to prevent bracken ferns from overrunning the fields. — does not satisfy the condition asked in this question, so it is not the correct answer.
  • D.a drought caused by actions of human beings. — does not satisfy the condition asked in this question, so it is not the correct answer.
  • E.a drought caused by climate changes. — does not satisfy the condition asked in this question, so it is not the correct answer.

Question 3 of 5

According to the passage, the drought at the time of Maya collapse had a different impact compared to the droughts earlier because

  1. A.

    the Maya kings continued to be extravagant when common people were suffering.

  2. B.

    it happened at the time of collapse of leadership among Mayas.

  3. C.

    it happened when the Maya population had occupied all available land suited for agriculture.

  4. D.

    it was followed by internecine warfare among Mayans.

  5. E.

    irreversible environmental degradation led to this drought.

Answer

C

Explanation

In earlier droughts, uninhabited lands were available to move to, whereas by the final drought, the landscape was full.

Question 4 of 5

According to the author, why is it difficult to explain the reasons for Maya collapse?

  1. A.

    Copan inhabitants destroyed all records of that period.

  2. B.

    The constant deforestation and hillside erosion have wiped out all traces of the Maya kingdom.

  3. C.

    Archaeological sites of Mayas do not provide any consistent evidence.

  4. D.

    It has not been possible to ascertain which of the factors best explains as to why the Maya civilization collapsed.

  5. E.

    At least five million people were crammed into a small area.

Answer

D

Explanation

Archaeologists disagree as factors varied in importance across different parts of the Maya realm.

Question 5 of 5

Which factor has not been cited as one of the factors causing the collapse of Maya society?

  1. A.

    Environmental degradation due to excess population

  2. B.

    Social collapse due to excess population

  3. C.

    Increased warfare among Maya people

  4. D.

    Climate change

  5. E.

    Obsession of Maya population with their own short-term concerns

Answer

E

Explanation

It was the kings and nobles (leaders) who were obsessed with short-term concerns, not the entire population.

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