NDA & Naval Academy Examination 2025 — General Ability Test (Shift II) (Previous Year Paper)

Twentieth-century agricultural advances, while productive, were often resource-intensive and led to ecological degradation, making them difficult to sustain long-term.

Rapid population growth increases the demand for food and land, often forcing farmers to cultivate in marginal or unsuitable areas.

While population growth, chemical use, and desertification are directly linked to ecological degradation in agricultural contexts, World War II is typically not cited as a primary cause in such passages.

Authors in academic passages regarding sustainability often present a balanced view, acknowledging potential for growth while remaining sceptical due to environmental challenges.

'Incursion' refers to a sudden or brief invasion or attack, making 'invasion' the closest synonym.

In indirect speech, 'said to' becomes 'told', 'we' changes to 'they', 'have had' becomes 'had had', 'today' becomes 'that day', and 'is' becomes 'was'.

The exclamatory word 'Alas' makes 'exclaimed' an appropriate reporting verb. The past simple 'lost' correctly changes to the past perfect 'had lost'.

In indirect questions, the question structure becomes a statement. 'were' (past simple) changes to 'had been' (past perfect), and 'last week' changes to 'the week before'.

The object 'the castle' becomes the subject in passive voice. 'built' (active) becomes 'was built' (passive), and the relative clause 'the people loved' becomes 'who was loved by the people'.

Both clauses are converted to passive: 'has recruited' becomes 'have been recruited', and 'will have to complete' becomes 'will have to be completed'.

'Seldom' is an adverb of frequency meaning rarely or 'hardly ever', while 'often' means frequently or 'time and again'.

An 'overview' is a high-level summary or general idea, while a 'review' involves a more detailed assessment or formal examination.

'Overcome' means to prevail or 'triumph over' a difficulty, whereas 'succeed' means to accomplish a goal or 'achieve something'.

'Embed' means to fix firmly into a mass (implant), while 'imbue' means to permeate or inspire with a quality or feeling (instil).

'Emancipate' means to set someone free from restrictions (liberate), while 'empower' means to give authority or power (authorise).

'Instil' and 'inculcate' both mean to gradually and firmly establish an idea or attitude in someone's mind.

'Allegiance' refers to loyalty or a strong sense of commitment to a leader, cause, or group.

'Inscrutability' is the quality of being impossible to understand or interpret, which is synonymous with 'mystery'.

'Dodgy' is an informal term for dishonest or unreliable; 'dubious' is the standard English synonym for untrustworthy behavior.

'Inclement' weather is unpleasantly stormy or wet. 'Squally' refers to weather with sudden strong winds or rain, fitting the context.

S1 introduces the English term. S provides the original Islamic term 'tasawwuf'. P transitions to the various interpretations (Q, R, and S6).

Following S1, R describes his education in Khwarizm. Q and S detail his linguistic expertise. P explains his move to Ghazni as a result of invasion.

The order is chronological: S (founding), P (heyday/expansion), R (destruction in 1565), and Q (aftermath/ruin), leading to the modern memory in S6.

P describes the initial crisis. S introduces the 1991 policy response. Q and R detail the specific internal and external measures taken.

R identifies exploitation of the marginalized. Q and S define two specific types of this exploitation. P states that 'both' of these are prohibited by law.

'In any case' adds a conclusive reason that makes the previous statement true regardless of other factors.

'Briefly' (as in 'put simply') is used here to provide a succinct explanation of a technical rule or situation.

'Incidentally' is used to introduce a remark or question that is not directly related to the current conversation (synonymous with 'by the way').

'To a large extent' is used to indicate the degree to which a statement is true.

'What is more' is used to introduce an additional and usually more important piece of information.

'In general' is used to introduce a statement that is true in most instances or as a broad policy.

'As per reports' indicates that the subsequent information is derived from reported sources.

'In that case' refers back to a specific scenario and suggests a logical course of action.

'Notably' is used to highlight a specific fact that is particularly interesting or important.

In this context, 'As such' is used to describe the records in their existing, undermined state.

'Infelicity' refers to a remark or statement that is inappropriate or unsuited to the circumstances.

A 'corollary' is a natural consequence or result; something that follows logically from another fact.

A 'quandary' is a state of uncertainty or perplexity about what to do in a difficult situation.

A 'presumption' is an assumption or opinion taken to be true even without full factual evidence.

'Smug' describes someone who is excessively self-satisfied or overconfident about their own success.

The correct structure is Q-S-P-R: 'Whereas traditional fairy tales were designed for the entertainment of children, they also contain deeply embedded moral lessons that are relevant even for adults.'

The correct structure is Q-P-S-R: 'That sporting activities are an integral part of school education is an ineluctable truth that underscores the learning process and contributes meaningfully towards the overall growth of a student.'

The correct structure is Q-S-P-R: 'The beneficial outcome of a virtuous life is peace of mind and contentment on account of a life lived well without retribution or rebuke.'

The correct structure is S-Q-R-P: 'It is widely believed that the parliamentary system differs from a non-parliamentary system in as much as the former is more representative than the latter.'

The correct structure is S-R-Q-P: 'When service is done for exhibition or for fear of public opinion, it stunts the person offering the same and crushes the spirit behind the service.'

'Further' is used for metaphorical distance (like progress). 'Any' is used to emphasize the degree in this negative comparison.

'Amid' is used to mean in the middle of or during a particular atmosphere or situation like 'confusion'.

A 'specialist' is a person who concentrates on a specific subject or activity, which is the required noun for describing a surgeon with specific expertise.

'Fewer' is the correct quantifier for countable nouns like 'students'. 'Than' is used for comparisons.

'Stranded' means to be left in a helpless or difficult position, such as being unable to move due to a landslide.

The power P of a lens is the reciprocal of its focal length f (in meters), given by P = 1/f. Since the lens is concave, its focal length is negative (f = -0.5 m). Thus, P = 1/(-0.5) = -2.0 D.

Fleming's left-hand rule is used to find the direction of the force acting on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field. The thumb represents the force, the index finger the magnetic field, and the middle finger the current.

One parsec is defined as the distance at which one astronomical unit subtends an angle of one arcsecond. It is approximately equal to 206,265 AU, which is roughly 2 x 10^5 AU.

Newton's second law states that the net force is proportional to the rate of change of momentum (F = dp/dt), not the momentum itself. While F = ma implies force is proportional to acceleration, it is the change in motion, not the motion (momentum) itself, that force determines.

The magnitude of a temperature interval is the same on both the Kelvin and Celsius scales. An increase of 30 K (340 - 310) corresponds exactly to an increase of 30°C.

Gravity is a conservative force, meaning the work done by it is independent of the path taken and depends only on the initial and final positions. Statement 3 is incorrect because it claims the work depends on the path.

Pressure is a scalar quantity (no direction). Pressure increases with depth in a liquid. Action and reaction forces always act on two different objects. One Pascal is defined as one Newton per square meter (1 Pa = 1 N/m^2).

X-rays typically have wavelengths in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers. 1 nm falls directly within this characteristic range, whereas 100 nm and 300 nm fall into the ultraviolet spectrum.

In an astronomical telescope, the objective lens has a large focal length and a large aperture to gather as much light as possible from distant objects and provide high resolution.

Planck's constant h has dimensions of Energy/Frequency = [ML^2T^-2]/[T^-1] = [ML^2T^-1]. Angular momentum L = mvr also has dimensions [M][LT^-1][L] = [ML^2T^-1].

Work is defined as W = Fd cos(θ). When the displacement is perpendicular to the force, θ = 90° and cos(90°) = 0, so the work done is zero.

Inside a long, closely wound solenoid, the magnetic field lines are parallel and uniformly spaced, indicating that the magnetic field is uniform in strength and direction.

Mercury freezes at -39°C and alcohol at -114°C, making them unsuitable for -250°C. Thermocouples, depending on the materials used, can measure extremely low temperatures near absolute zero.

Latent heat is the energy required for a phase change at constant temperature. For liquid to vapour, it is specifically called the specific latent heat of vaporization.

By definition, the boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which its vapour pressure equals the external pressure (atmospheric pressure in an open vessel).

Surface tension generally decreases as temperature increases because the kinetic energy of the molecules increases, weakening the intermolecular cohesive forces.

According to the principle of flotation, an object will sink if its density is greater than the density of the fluid it is placed in. Thus, it sinks when water's density is less than the body's density.

By pulling hands back, the fielder increases the time taken to bring the ball's velocity to zero. This reduces the rate of change of momentum, thereby reducing the force (and acceleration/deceleration) experienced by the hands.

The apparent shift in the position of the bottom of a water tank is due to the refraction of light as it travels from a denser medium (water) to a rarer medium (air).

SONAR is an acronym for SOund Navigation And Ranging. It is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect objects on or under the surface of the water.

In the electromagnetic spectrum, the order of increasing wavelength is X-rays < Ultraviolet < Infra-red < Microwave. Therefore, microwaves have the longest wavelength among the given options.

Static electricity can be held by both conductors and insulators. While conductors allow charge to flow, they can hold a net static charge if isolated. Insulators hold static charges locally because they do not allow the charge to move easily.

Myopia (nearsightedness) is a common vision condition in which you can see objects near to you clearly, but objects farther away are blurry.

An isolated system is one that does not exchange matter or energy with its surroundings. According to the law of conservation of energy, the total energy within such a system remains constant over time.

By the conservation of mechanical energy, the total energy at point A (entirely kinetic if A is the ground reference) equals the total energy at point B (entirely potential if B is the highest point where velocity is zero).

Swami Sahajanand Saraswati was the first president of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), which was founded at the Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress in 1936.

The Self-Respect Movement was a social movement aimed at achieving a society where backward castes have equal human rights. It was founded by E.

V. Ramaswami Naicker (popularly known as Periyar) in Tamil Nadu in 1925.

In Chola inscriptions, 'Shalabhoga' was land donated for the maintenance of a school. Other categories included Vellanvagai (land of non-Brahmana peasant proprietors) and Pallichhandam (land donated to Jaina institutions).

All three statements are historically accurate. Tilak started his league first in Belgaum (April 1916), followed by Besant in Madras (September 1916). They operated in separate geographical areas to maintain cooperation and avoid overlap.

While Vidyasagar was the primary champion of the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856, the 'Widow Remarriage Association' (Vidhavavivahottejak Mandali) was founded by Vishnu Shastri Pundit in 1850 in Maharashtra.

The correct matches are: Vishnu Shastri Pundit founded the Widow Remarriage Association (A-2). Karsondas Mulji published Satya Prakash (B-3). Debendranath Tagore established Tattvabodhini Sabha (C-4). Raja Ram Mohan Roy is associated with Vedic texts and reforms (D-1 in this context).

Traces of canals from the Harappan civilization have been found at the site of Shortughai in Afghanistan, though not in the main sites of Punjab or Sindh, suggesting irrigation was used in certain arid regions.

The correct chronological order is: Ibn Battuta (14^th century), Afanasii Nikitin (15^th century), Antonio Monserrate (16^th century, court of Akbar), and Peter Mundy (17^th century, reign of Shah Jahan).

The Bretton Woods system was based on a fixed exchange rate system where currencies were pegged to the US dollar, which was pegged to gold. It was not based on floating exchange rates, which became common only after the system's collapse in the early 1970s.

Senguttuvan was a famous ruler of the Chera dynasty (known as the Red Chera). While the options are slightly ambiguous as he was the king and not the city itself, in many classic competitive exam contexts, this specific question expects an association with the Cheras.

The Ramacharitam was written by Sandhyakara Nandi during the Pala Empire. It is a 'dvyasrya-kavya' that simultaneously tells the story of the epic Ramayana and the history of the Pala King Ramapala.

Pitt's India Act of 1784 established the Board of Control, creating a system of dual control by the British Government and the East India Company, where the Board managed political affairs and the Court of Directors managed commercial affairs.

Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, established the Khalsa Panth (the community of the pure) in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib during the Baisakhi festival.

The Second Five Year Plan (1956-1961) was based on the Mahalanobis model, which emphasized heavy industrialization and the development of capital goods as the basis for long-term economic growth.

Following the Indo-Pakistani War and two years of severe drought, the Fourth Five Year Plan was postponed, and three Annual Plans were implemented from 1966 to 1969 (often called the Plan Holiday).

The first BRICS summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia (2009). Brazil hosted the second. New Delhi hosted summits in 2012 and 2021 (the 2016 summit was in Goa). Thus, both statements are incorrect.

The chronological order is: Advent of ICBMs (1957), Launch of the first communication satellite (Score in 1958, Telstar in 1962), and the Introduction of the WWW (1989-1990).

Right to privacy is a Fundamental Right under Article 21. Right to work is a DPSP (Article 41). The Right to Education (Article 21A) is for the age bracket of 6 to 14 years, not 18.

The EU flag has a blue background (not white). The UN flag has one pair of olive branches. The ASEAN flag correctly features blue, red, white, and yellow colors representing peace, courage, purity, and prosperity respectively.

Balwant Rai Mehta, Ashok Mehta, and L.M. Singhvi committees all provided recommendations for Panchayati Raj. The Abhijit Sen committee was focused on long-term grain policy and agricultural issues.

When CO2 is passed through lime water (calcium hydroxide), it reacts to form calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and water. The insoluble calcium carbonate causes the lime water to turn milky.

Plaster of Paris is Calcium Sulphate Hemihydrate (CaSO4·1/2H2O). CaSO4·2H2O is the formula for Gypsum, from which Plaster of Paris is made.

Indigestion is often caused by excess acid in the stomach. Antacids are basic substances that neutralize this excess acid, providing relief.

Portland cement mainly consists of dicalcium silicate (2CaO·SiO2), tricalcium silicate (3CaO·SiO2), and tricalcium aluminate (3CaO·Al2O3). 4CaO·SiO2 is not a standard compound in cement (though tetracalcium aluminoferrite is).

Melting of ice is a physical change because it only involves a change in the state of matter (solid to liquid) without changing the chemical composition of the water molecules.

In a physical change, only the physical properties (like state or shape) change, while the chemical composition and identity of the substance remain the same.

Sulphur dissolves completely in carbon disulphide to form a true solution, which is a homogeneous mixture. The other options are mixtures where components remain physically separate.

Atomicity refers to the number of atoms in a molecule: Phosphorus is tetratomic (P4), Nitrogen is diatomic (N2), Neon is monoatomic (Ne), and Sulphur is polyatomic (S8).

N2H4 is the reducing agent because the oxidation state of Nitrogen increases from -2 in N2H4 to 0 in N2, meaning it is oxidized and reduces the other reactant.

Rainwater is considered the purest form of natural water as it is formed by the natural distillation process of evaporation and condensation, leaving behind non-volatile impurities.

Temporary hardness of water is specifically caused by the presence of dissolved bicarbonate minerals, primarily those of calcium and magnesium.

A is a combination reaction (two substances form one), B is decomposition (one substance breaks down), C is single displacement (Pb replaces Cu), and D is double displacement (exchange of ions).

The thermal decomposition of lead nitrate requires the absorption of heat energy from the surroundings to proceed, making it an endothermic reaction.

Water gas is a synthetic gas containing a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2), often used as a fuel or as a raw material for chemical synthesis.

Diamond is an insulator and does not conduct electricity because all its valence electrons are involved in rigid covalent bonds, leaving no free electrons for conduction.

Latitudinal extents are roughly: Equatorial (10°), Subarctic (11.5°), Tropical (13.5°), and Midlatitude (31.5°). The ascending order is 1-3-4-2.

Feldspar makes up about 50% of the crust and has distinct colors; however, it is a silicate of potassium, sodium, or calcium, and does not commonly contain magnesium.

Sedimentary rocks are classified by formation: Shale is mechanical (clastic), Chert is chemical/organic, and Geyserite (siliceous sinter) is often categorized as organically formed in standard geography texts.

Oceanic trenches mark subduction zones where plates converge, making them vital for plate tectonic studies and the site of significant volcanic and seismic activity.

The shadow zone for S-waves is much larger than for P-waves because S-waves cannot travel through the liquid outer core at all, resulting in a shadow zone from 105° to 180°.

The Hawaiian Islands are a product of a volcanic hotspot located in the interior of the Pacific Plate, independent of mid-oceanic ridges.

Wave characteristics are governed by wind dynamics; energy is proportional to the square of height; and waves efficiently transport energy across deep water with minimal loss.

Soil formation involves the movement and change of materials; specifically, eluviation is the leaching of particles from top layers, and illuviation is their accumulation in lower layers.

The troposphere is thickest at the equator due to convection, and the tropopause is warmer at poles; however, the lapse rate is 1°C (not 1°F) per 165 meters.

Insolation variation is caused by rotation, the angle of the sun's rays, and day length. Land/water distribution affects temperature but not the amount of incoming solar radiation.

Tropical storms require Coriolis force for rotation and upper-level divergence to sustain rising air; however, they require low vertical wind shear to develop.

Ocean currents are driven by a combination of primary forces including solar heating (expansion), atmospheric wind, gravity, and the Coriolis force.

The Alaska and Agulhas currents are warm currents flowing away from the equator, while the Falkland and West Australian currents are cold currents.

Assam shares international borders with Bhutan and Bangladesh, and domestic borders with 7 states: West Bengal, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.

The Narmada river basin marks the traditional northern boundary of the Deccan Plateau, separating it from the Central Highlands and the Vindhya range.

According to the NCERT Geography curriculum, laterite soils are rich in iron oxide and potash, but are deficient in nitrogen, phosphate, and calcium.

Both statements are correct as they accurately describe the soil requirements and the major production states for Bajra and Ragi in India.