Sample Questions for CLAT 2023: English Section

In Urapmin, all adult deaths are caused by sorcery. One Urapmin village saw a number of deaths in fairly rapid succession over the last few years, and it was assumed that a sorcerer must have a vendetta against it. Christian ritual specialists had planted small crosses around the village and prayed to God to block the sorcerers, but another death had occurred.

In the wake of this most recent attack, someone mentioned that they knew that a group living far to the West of Urapmin—a group the Urapmin saw as less “modern” and less fully Christianized than themselves—had a traditional ritual that would put a village plagued by death “in the dark” so that the sorcerers could not “see” their victims. He noted that some people still knew how to practice this ritual and could come and perform it for this village.

This suggestion was controversial as many thought of this ritual as a huge step in a backsliding direction. But people in Urapmin constantly bemoan their tiny population, and the village did seem under siege. During the period the filmmakers were in Urapmin, public opinion shifted, and arrangements were made to have the foreign ritual specialists come after they had left.

a. Has provided sufficient evidence to prove the existence of sorcery.
b. Believes the Urapmin to be unsophisticated.
c. Believes the Urapmin to be fully Christianized.
d. Has highlighted a social evil.

a. The existence of the ritual
b. The vendetta of a sorcerer
c. Multiple unexplained deaths
d. All of the above

a. The village was threatened by the prospect of more deaths.
b. The film makers campaigned against it.
c. The ritual was seen as a regressive step by many.
d. They did not trust outsiders.

Everyone agrees that the women should be playing more, yet no one knows when they will play next. The question of why women’s cricket is so starved of oxygen is an Escher staircase, where every argument meets itself coming in the opposite direction. Sponsors say they are not showing interest because there is no “product” — in other words, no
calendar of events. The BCCI, through its ventriloquists in the media, makes the argument that women’s cricket is not commercially viable. No audience, therefore no advertiser interest, therefore no cricket.

a. Very few people are interested in watching women play.
b. There are very few scheduled games.
c. It is a complicated problem without a single definable source.
d. It is difficult to find sponsors, or advertisers to make the games
commercially viable.

a. Spokespersons
b. Friends
c. Representatives
d. Stooge

According to Maoist ideology, economically oppressed peasants/working class will triumph over the oppressive capitalist bourgeois class to establish a classless society. For them, the only strategy to establish a classless society is through armed revolution. The operational tactics to give shape to that strategy is protracted guerrilla warfare.

a. Revolution will create a classless society
b. The way to create a classless society is through violence
c. The capitalist bourgeois are oppressive
d. The capitalist bourgeois are the only source of oppression

For the last one year, brands have been working on minimizing the impact of the pandemic and the resultant lockdown on their organizations. For most, agility and adaptability has been the answer to the lockdown. Most brands that have been able to adapt to the dynamically changing conditions of the world we live in, have been able to cope well.

a. Small, home run businesses teaming up with delivery giants.
b. Restaurants encouraging customers to visit.
c. Companies hiring more staff.
d. Brands increasing the quality of their products.

Large global supply chains create economic efficiencies. Food is grown in large farms across the world, each specializing in different vegetables and fruits. However, these large global chains consume more energy, cause more damage to the environment, and create more risk than local networks. The average morsel of food eaten by an American travels about 1,500 miles from these large farms to reach his fork.

a. Data on large quantities of oil burnt for refrigeration and transportation.
b. Evidence of disease in tomatoes imported from Italy.
c. Evidence of health benefits in imported vegetables and fruits.
d. None of the above.

Failure to eliminate barriers to disabled people is just as discriminatory as intentionally refusing entry, providing unequal service, or categorically denying opportunities to disabled people. It’s the equivalent of a sign on the door reading, “We don’t serve disabled people.” This is an important concept, since discrimination is traditionally thought of as a hostile act between people, not a passive result of door widths, counter heights, and text readability.

a. Diversity
b. Access
c. Obligation
d. Privilege

a. To explain the various types of discrimination.
b. To explain the meaning of discrimination.
c. To highlight the issues faced by persons with disability.
d. To create awareness on discrimination.

1. Answer: d.
The author has only tried to explain a phenomenon. There is no evidence of any
personal judgment.

2. Answer: c.
Options a and c are superstitious beliefs, not evidence.

3. Answer: a.
The author notes that arrangements were made to bring the specialists after the film
makers had gone. This rules out options c and d. The reason for the change in opinion
was possibly that the ‘village seemed under siege’. This is mentioned in the preceding
line.

4. Answer: c.
The author clearly calls the issue an ‘Escher’s staircase’ and explains it as well. This
means that it is difficult to pin point the exact source of the issue. This logic is also supported by the following paragraph detailing the complicated system of
stakeholders.

5. Answer: d.
The author uses the phrase to connote someone who speaks through another, typically
to say unpleasant things that may not be traced back to the true source. The nature of
the statement holds the clue. As spokespersons, friends and representatives all have
essentially the same meaning, the only possible answer is stooge.

6. Answer: d.
Maoist ideology, in making the aforementioned statements, creates the assumption
that without the capitalist bourgeois, there would be no oppression, i.e. power, social structures and institutional evils have nothing to do with oppression. [For a solid rebuttal of this assumption read Animal Farm by George Orwell] The remaining statements have already been made in the passage so there is no need to assume.

7. Answer: a.
The only option that demonstrates the ability of companies to ‘adapt and cope’ is option a. The remaining are only marketing strategies.

8. Answer: d.
Options a and b strengthen the argument instead of weakening it. Option c is incorrect because in order to counter the author’s claim, the evidence would have to show the INCREASED health benefits in imported food compared to local.

9. Answer: b
The passage clearly mentions that the primary issue that disabled people face is lack of opportunity, or ‘access’ to services otherwise available to all.

10. Answer: a.
The passage explains the two types of discrimination: overt and covert. You will learn more about these concepts in law school.