DSAT R&W Practice Question-Information and Ideas-Central Ideas and Details - Medium
DSAT R&W Practice Question-Information and Ideas-Central Ideas and Details – Medium
DSAT R&W Practice Question-Information and Ideas-Central Ideas and Details – Medium is part of Expression of Ideas : This section evaluates students’ ability to identify main ideas in a passage and the ability to make inferences about what the text implies, not just stating the obvious facts. Interpreting, evaluating, and combining different pieces of information from multiple sources is tested
Weightage : 26%
Subtopic: Information and ideas
▶️ Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
The text’s main idea centers on how fossil evidence advances our understanding of ancient arthropod nervous systems:
- General principle: “Researchers have gained insights…from traces found in various fossils”
- Specific example: Mollisonia symmetrica fossils showing nerve cord and possible brain structure
- Future direction: Hopes for more discoveries as additional fossils are found
Why C is correct:
This option captures the text’s focus on fossils as a window into prehistoric neuroanatomy.
Why others are incorrect:
- A) Misstates content: Never mentions spines (focus is on nervous system)
- B) Too narrow: Compares modern species rather than discussing fossil evidence
- D) Partial scope: While mentioned, finding more fossils isn’t the main idea
This question tests the ability to distinguish a passage’s central thesis from supporting details and tangential information.
▶️ Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
The text primarily describes how Padre Florentino’s melancholic music expresses his inner sadness (“gave free rein to the sadness in his heart”). While the setting is isolated (A), this is contextual rather than the main focus. The text doesn’t compare playing vs. listening (B) or discuss musical dedication (C) – it notes he’s already “an accomplished musician.” The emotional connection between music and feeling (D) is the central idea.
▶️ Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
The text contrasts the Seine’s character in Paris (where it’s blocked by the viaduct and urban structures) with its character in the countryside (where it “suddenly spread out” and became “peaceful”). This matches option B’s description of the river being more confined in Paris and more open in the countryside. The other options either misrepresent the text (A’s “gradual clearing” isn’t mentioned, C’s comparison to Paris’ beauty isn’t made, D’s “heavy current” contradicts the peaceful description) or introduce unsupported details.
Question
A common assumption among art historians is that the invention of photography in the mid-nineteenth century displaced the painted portrait in the public consciousness. The diminishing popularity of the portrait miniature, which coincided with the rise of photography, seems to support this claim. However, photography’s impact on the portrait miniature may be overstated. Although records from art exhibitions in the Netherlands from 1820 to 1892 show a decrease in the number of both full-sized and miniature portraits submitted, this trend was established before the invention of photography.
Based on the text, what can be concluded about the diminishing popularity of the portrait miniature in the nineteenth century?
A. Factors other than the rise of photography may be more directly responsible for the portrait miniature’s decline.
B. Although portrait miniatures became less common than photographs, they were widely regarded as having more artistic merit.
C. The popularity of the portrait miniature likely persisted for longer than art historians have assumed.
D. As demand for portrait miniatures decreased, portrait artists likely shifted their creative focus to photography.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans. A
Correct Answer: A
Rationale
Choice A is the best answer. The text says that the impact of photography on the portrait miniature might be “overstated,” as some records show a decrease in the number of portrait miniatures before the invention of photography. From this, we can conclude that factors other than the rise of photography may be more directly responsible for the portrait miniature’s decline.
Choice B is incorrect. The text never discusses the “artistic merit” of either art form. Choice C is incorrect. The text never suggests that the portrait miniature was popular for longer than historians thought—if anything, it suggests that the portrait miniature started losing its popularity earlier than historians thought. Choice D is incorrect. The text never suggests that portrait painters shifted to become photographers.
Question
Biologists have predicted that birds’ feather structures vary with habitat temperature, but this hadn’t been tested in mountain environments. Ornithologist Sahas Barve studied feathers from 249 songbird species inhabiting different elevations—and thus experiencing different temperatures—in the Himalaya Mountains. He found that feathers of high-elevation species not only have a greater proportion of warming downy sections to flat and smooth sections than do feathers of low-elevation species, but high-elevation species’ feathers also tend to be longer, providing a thicker layer of insulation.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
A. Barve’s investigation shows that some species of Himalayan songbirds have evolved feathers that better regulate body temperature than do the feathers of other species, contradicting previous predictions.
B. Barve found an association between habitat temperature and feather structure among Himalayan songbirds, lending new support to a general prediction.
C. Barve discovered that songbirds have adapted to their environment by growing feathers without flat and smooth sections, complicating an earlier hypothesis.
D. The results of Barve’s study suggest that the ability of birds to withstand cold temperatures is determined more strongly by feather length than feather structure, challenging an established belief.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans. B
Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is the best answer. The text describes how Barve found an association between habitat temperature and feather structure among Himalayan songbirds, which supports the general prediction that birds’ feather structures vary with habitat temperature.
Choice A is incorrect. Barve’s study isn’t said to contradict previous predictions. In fact, the study supports the prediction described in the first sentence, which is that birds’ feather structures vary with habitat temperature. Choice C is incorrect. Barve’s study isn’t said to “complicate an earlier hypothesis.” In fact, the study supports the earlier prediction described in the first sentence, which is that birds’ feather structures vary with habitat temperature. Choice D is incorrect. The text doesn’t compare the importance of feather length and feather structure, and it doesn’t say that Barve’s study challenges any established beliefs. In fact, the study supports the prediction described in the first sentence, which is that birds’ feather structures vary with habitat temperature.