HCS 2022 previous year paper practice · PYQ-pattern set

HCS 2022 PYQ-pattern questions

Showing 10 of the 19 PYQ-pattern questions in this set — freshly worded in that year's pattern, not the original questions. Answers and solutions open under each question.

1. Q1 · Indian and World Geography

   Which of the following statements about ocean currents is/are correct? 1. The Labrador Current is a cold current flowing along the east coast of North America. 2. The meeting of the warm Gulf Stream and cold Labrador Current creates ideal conditions for fog formation near Newfoundland. 3. The Kuroshio Current is a warm current in the Pacific Ocean similar to the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

   • A. 1 and 2 only
   • B. 2 and 3 only
   • C. 1 and 3 only
   • D. 1, 2 and 3
   Answer and solution

   Answer: D

   All three statements are correct. The Labrador Current is indeed a cold current along eastern North America. Its meeting with the warm Gulf Stream creates the foggy conditions near the Grand Banks. The Kuroshio is a warm Pacific current analogous to the Gulf Stream.

2. Q2 · Current Events of National and International Importance

   Consider the following statements regarding the 'Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)': 1. India and Pakistan both became full members of SCO in 2017. 2. The SCO-RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) is a permanent organ of SCO based in Tashkent. 3. All member states of SCO are also members of the Belt and Road Initiative. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   • A. 1 only
   • B. 1 and 2 only
   • C. 2 and 3 only
   • D. 1, 2 and 3
   Answer and solution

   Answer: B

   Statements 1 and 2 are correct: India and Pakistan became full SCO members in 2017, and SCO-RATS is headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Statement 3 is incorrect: India is an SCO member but has not formally joined the Belt and Road Initiative.

3. Q3 · General Mental Ability

   Find the missing number in the series: 3, 7, 15, 31, 63, ?

   • A. 95
   • B. 127
   • C. 125
   • D. 121
   Answer and solution

   Answer: B

   The pattern is each term = (previous term × 2) + 1. So 63 × 2 + 1 = 127.

4. Q4 · Basic Numeracy (Class X level)

   A train 150 meters long crosses a platform of length 250 meters in 20 seconds. What is the speed of the train in km/hr?

   • A. 60 km/hr
   • B. 72 km/hr
   • C. 80 km/hr
   • D. 90 km/hr
   Answer and solution

   Answer: B

   Total distance = 150 + 250 = 400 m. Speed = 400/20 = 20 m/s = 20 × (18/5) = 72 km/hr.

5. Q5 · Indian Polity and Governance

   Which Article of the Indian Constitution deals with the provisions related to the establishment of Inter-State Council?

   • A. Article 262
   • B. Article 263
   • C. Article 280
   • D. Article 352
   Answer and solution

   Answer: B

   Article 263 of the Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of an Inter-State Council to facilitate coordination between states and the Union government.

6. Q6 · Interpersonal Skills

   A team member consistently misses deadlines, affecting overall project delivery. As a team leader, what is the most effective first step to address this issue?

   • A. Report the team member to higher authorities immediately
   • B. Have a private conversation to understand the underlying reasons
   • C. Publicly criticize the team member during meetings
   • D. Ignore the issue and redistribute the workload
   Answer and solution

   Answer: B

   Effective interpersonal skills require understanding the root cause before taking action. A private conversation helps identify challenges the team member may be facing.

7. Q7 · Basic Numeracy (Class X level)

   If the price of sugar decreases by 20%, by what percentage can a household increase its consumption so that the expenditure on sugar remains the same?

   • A. 20%
   • B. 25%
   • C. 30%
   • D. 40%
   Answer and solution

   Answer: B

   Let original price be 100 and consumption be x. New price is 80. To keep expenditure same: 100x = 80y, so y = 1.25x, an increase of 25%.

8. Q8 · Economic and Social Development

   Which of the following factors can lead to cost-push inflation in an economy? 1. Increase in wages due to strong labor unions. 2. Rise in the prices of imported raw materials. 3. Increase in indirect taxes by the government. 4. Rise in agricultural productivity. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

   • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
   • B. 1 and 2 only
   • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
   • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
   Answer and solution

   Answer: A

   Cost-push inflation occurs when production costs increase. Statements 1, 2, and 3 correctly identify factors that raise production costs—higher wages, expensive imports, and increased taxes. Statement 4 is incorrect as higher agricultural productivity would reduce costs, not increase them.

9. Q9 · Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability

   Consider the following statements: Statement I: All officers are graduates. Statement II: Some graduates are teachers. Which of the following conclusions logically follows from the above statements?

   • A. All officers are teachers
   • B. Some officers are teachers
   • C. Some teachers are officers
   • D. None of the above follows
   Answer and solution

   Answer: D

   None of the conclusions necessarily follows. While all officers are graduates and some graduates are teachers, there is no definite relationship established between officers and teachers. The 'some graduates' who are teachers may or may not include any officers.

10. Q10 · Data Interpretation

    The following table shows the percentage distribution of employees in different departments of an organization: Department: HR - 15%, Finance - 20%, Operations - 35%, IT - 18%, Marketing - 12% If the number of employees in the Finance department is 80, what is the total number of employees in the organization?

    • A. 360
    • B. 380
    • C. 400
    • D. 420
    Answer and solution

    Answer: C

    If Finance department has 20% of total employees and that equals 80 employees, then Total = (80 × 100)/20 = 400 employees.