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CSAT 2017 paper

UPSC CSE CSAT 2017 · Question 25 · Reading comprehension

The passage seems to suggest that

Passage—5

In a free country, the man who reaches the position of leader is usually one of outstanding character and ability. Moreover, it is usually possible to foresee that he will reach such a position, since early in life one can see his qualities of character. But this is not always true in the case of a dictator; often he reaches his position of power through chance, very often through the unhappy state of his country.

CSAT 2017 · Q25

Reading comprehension Easy

The passage seems to suggest that

Answer & explanation

Answer: (d) despair in a country sometimes leads to dictatorship

A dictator often reaches power by chance, and 'very often through the unhappy state of his country'. So despair in a country can lead to dictatorship.

  • ✗ (a) It is others who can foresee a leader's rise from his character; the passage does not say he foresees it himself.
  • ✗ (b) The passage contrasts leaders in free countries with dictators; it does not say only a free country chooses leaders.
  • ✗ (c) No duty of a leader is discussed.
  • ✓ (d) The 'unhappy state' of a country is named as a frequent route to power for a dictator; 'sometimes' keeps the claim within the passage.

Remember · Pick the option that restates a cause-and-effect link the passage gives; a modest qualifier ('sometimes') is safe when the passage says 'often'.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·

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