Comprehension
RESIDENTS of Lozère, a hilly department in southern France, recite complaints familiar to many rural corners of Europe. In remote hamlets and villages, with names such as Le Bacon and Le Bacon Vieux, mayors grumble about a lack of local schools, jobs, or phone and internet connections. Farmers of grazing animals add another concern: the return of wolves. Eradicated from France last century, the predators are gradually creeping back to more forests and hillsides. "The wolf must be taken in hand," said an aspiring parliamentarian, Francis Palombi, when pressed by voters in an election campaign early this summer. Tourists enjoy visiting a wolf park in Lozère, but farmers fret over their livestock and their livelihoods.
As early as the ninth century, the royal office of the Luparii-wolf-catchers-was created in France to tackle the predators. Those official hunters (and others) completed their job in the 1930s, when the last wolf disappeared from the mainland. Active hunting and improved technology such as rifles in the 19th century, plus the use of poison such as strychnine later on, caused the population collapse. But in the early 1990s the animals reappeared. They crossed the Alps from Italy, upsetting sheep farmers on the French side of the border. Wolves have since spread to areas such as Lozère, delighting environmentalists, who see the predators' presence as a sign of wider ecological health. Farmers, who say the wolves cause the deaths of thousands of sheep and other grazing animals, are less cheerful. They grumble that green activists and politically correct urban types have allowed the return of an old enemy.
Various factors explain the changes of the past few decades. Rural depopulation is part of the story. In Lozère, for example, farming and a once-flourishing mining industry supported a population of over 140,000 residents in the mid- 19th century. Today the department has fewer than 80,000 people, many in its towns. As humans withdraw, forests are expanding. In France, between 1990 and 2015, forest cover increased by an average of 102,000 hectares each year, as more fields were given over to trees. Now, nearly one-third of mainland France is covered by woodland of some sort. The decline of hunting as a sport also means more forests fall quiet. In the mid-to-late 20th century over 2m hunters regularly spent winter weekends tramping in woodland, seeking boars, birds and other prey. Today the Fédération Nationale des Chasseurs, the national body, claims 1.1 m people hold hunting licences, though the number of active hunters is probably lower. The mostly protected status of the wolf in Europe-hunting them is now forbidden, other than when occasional culls are sanctioned by the state-plus the efforts of NGOs to track and count the animals, also contribute to the recovery of wolf populations.
As the lupine population of Europe spreads westwards, with occasional reports of wolves seen closer to urban areas, expect to hear of more clashes between farmers and those who celebrate the predators' return. Farmers' losses are real, but are not the only economic story. Tourist venues, such as parks where wolves are kept and the animals' spread is discussed, also generate income and jobs in rural areas.
Question: 1

Which one of the following has NOT contributed to the growing wolf population in Lozère?

Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
  • The granting of a protected status to wolves in Europe.
  • A decline in the rural population of Lozère.
  • The shutting down of the royal office of the Luparii.
  • An increase in woodlands and forest cover in Lozère
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The passage indicates that the royal office of the Luparii, established in the ninth century to manage wolves, became obsolete after the last wolf was eliminated. Consequently, the reappearance of wolves cannot be attributed to the dissolution of this office.

Alternative explanations offer greater clarity:
Option A: The recovery of wolf populations is also facilitated by their protected status in Europe, which prohibits hunting except for authorized state culls, and by NGO initiatives for tracking and population monitoring.
Option B: Rural depopulation plays a role. For instance, in Lozère, the population has decreased from over 140,000 in the mid-19th century to under 80,000 currently due to the decline in agriculture and mining.

Option D: As human presence diminishes, forests are expanding. Between 1990 and 2015, France experienced an annual increase of 102,000 hectares in forest cover, with approximately one-third of mainland France now forested.

The correct option is (C): The closure of the royal Luparii office.

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Question: 2

The inhabitants of Lozère have to grapple with all of the following problems, EXCEPT:

Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
  • decline in the number of hunting licences.
  • poor rural communication infrastructure.
  • livestock losses.
  • lack of educational facilities.
Show Solution

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Residents in the rural, hilly region of Lozère, southern France, express common local grievances. In isolated hamlets such as Le Bacon and Le Bacon Vieux, mayors report shortages of schools, employment opportunities, and telecommunications infrastructure. Farmers are also apprehensive due to the resurgence of wolves, which, after being eliminated from France in the past century, are now re-establishing themselves in the woodlands and uplands. Francis Palombi, a parliamentary candidate, highlighted this concern during his election campaign, stating, "The wolf must be managed." Although tourists find a wolf sanctuary in Lozère appealing, farmers fear for their livestock and economic stability.

Options B, C, and D are directly supported by the provided text:

  • Option B: Rural depopulation is implicated, as the stated local issues include a scarcity of jobs and essential services.
  • Option C: The reintroduction of wolves is generating anxiety among agricultural producers.
  • Option D: An expansion of wooded environments is suggested by the return of wolves to increased forest and hillside coverage.

The text also notes that despite many individuals possessing hunting permits, active hunting participation is low. Consequently, Option A, asserting a reduction in the quantity of hunting licenses, is deemed inaccurate.

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Question: 3

Which one of the following statements, if true, would weaken the author's claims?

Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
  • Unemployment concerns the residents of Lozère.
  • The old mining sites of Lozère are now being used as grazing pastures for sheep.
  • Having migrated out in the last century, wolves are now returning to Lozère.
  • Wolf attacks on tourists in Lozère are on the rise
Show Solution

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

To challenge the author's argument, we must find a statement that contradicts the passage's assertions or implications. The author addresses the reintroduction of wolves in Lozère, stating:

  1. Concerns exist among farmers regarding livestock predation.
  2. The wolf's return has intensified disputes between conservationist and agricultural factions.
  3. Despite these difficulties, wolves might enhance regional tourism.

A potent method to discredit these points is to present outcomes of the wolf's return that oppose the author's sanguine perspective, particularly concerning tourism. The assertion, "Wolf attacks on tourists in Lozère are on the rise", directly refutes the third point. If wolves represent a threat to tourists, this would likely discourage visitors, resulting in adverse economic and social repercussions, and consequently undermining the author's favorable depiction of tourism prospects.

Conclusion: This statement introduces a significant issue that the author neglects, positioning it as a robust means to weaken the overall argument.

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Question: 4

The author presents a possible economic solution to an existing issue facing Lozère that takes into account the divergent and competing interests of:

Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
  • politicians and farmers.
  • tourists and environmentalists
  • environmentalists and politicians.
  • farmers and environmentalists.
Show Solution

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

"With the European wolf population expanding westward and wolves appearing near urban centers, anticipate increased conflict between agriculturalists and proponents of the predators' reintroduction. While farmers incur genuine losses, this is not the sole economic consideration. Tourist destinations, such as wolf parks and educational centers on wolf range expansion, also contribute to rural economies through revenue and employment."

The text indicates that farmers in Lozère are concerned about wolf resurgence and its impact on livestock. Conversely, conservationists view wolf presence as an indicator of ecosystem well-being. The suggested economic strategy proposes developing wolf-themed tourist facilities, such as parks. These initiatives aim to mitigate farmers' economic challenges by creating revenue streams and resonate with conservationists' objectives regarding wolf recovery. Consequently, Option D accurately encapsulates the cooperative approach between farmers and environmentalists in the proposed resolution.

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Question: 5

Directions: There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (Option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit. 

Sentence: This philosophical cut at one's core beliefs, values, and way of life is difficult enough.  

Paragraph:
The experience of reading philosophy is often disquieting. When reading philosophy, the values around which one has heretofore organised one's life may come to look provincial, flatly wrong, or even evil. __(1)__ When beliefs previously held as truths are rendered implausible, new beliefs, values, and ways of living may be required. __(2)__ What's worse, philosophers admonish each other to remain unsutured until such time as a defensible new answer is revealed or constructed. Sometimes philosophical writing is even strictly critical in that it does not even attempt to provide an alternative after tearing down a cultural or conceptual citadel. __(3)__ The reader of philosophy must be prepared for the possibility of this experience. While reading philosophy can help one clarify one's values, and even make one self-conscious for the first time of the fact that there are good reasons for believing what one believes, it can also generate Un remediated doubt that is difficult to live with.

Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
  • Option 1
  • Option 3
  • Option 4
  • Option 2
Show Solution

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

The sentence, "This philosophical cut at one's core beliefs, values, and way of life is difficult enough.", is best placed at Option 2 within the paragraph because it effectively bridges the preceding and subsequent points. The paragraph first addresses how philosophical engagement can challenge existing values and beliefs, potentially rendering them implausible. The inserted sentence then highlights the inherent difficulty of this introspective philosophical process. Subsequently, the text discusses the further challenge posed by philosophers who may present critical arguments without offering alternatives. The structural placement at Option 2 therefore creates a coherent flow, linking the unsettling nature of philosophical inquiry with the reader's potential exposure to unresolved doubt. The paragraph's arrangement with the inserted sentence is as follows:

The experience of reading philosophy is often disquieting. When reading philosophy, the values around which one has heretofore organised one's life may come to look provincial, flatly wrong, or even evil. When beliefs previously held as truths are rendered implausible, new beliefs, values, and ways of living may be required. This philosophical cut at one's core beliefs, values, and way of life is difficult enough. What's worse, philosophers admonish each other to remain unsutured until such time as a defensible new answer is revealed or constructed. Sometimes philosophical writing is even strictly critical in that it does not even attempt to provide an alternative after tearing down a cultural or conceptual citadel. The reader of philosophy must be prepared for the possibility of this experience. While reading philosophy can help one clarify one's values, and even make one self-conscious for the first time of the fact that there are good reasons for believing what one believes, it can also generate unremediated doubt that is difficult to live with.  

Consequently, the placement at Option 2 provides a concise transition between the ideas of philosophical disruption and the potential for unresolved uncertainty.

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Top Questions on Reading Comprehension

Questions Asked in CAT exam

The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.
In the dynamic realm of creativity, artists often find themselves at the crossroads between drawing inspiration from diverse cultures and inadvertently crossing into the territory of cultural appropriation. Inspiration is the lifeblood of creativity, driving artists to create works that resonate across borders. In a globalized era of the modern world, artists draw from a vast array of cultural influences. When approached respectfully, inspiration becomes a bridge, fostering understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity. However, the line between inspiration and cultural appropriation can be thin and easily blurred.
Cultural appropriation occurs when elements from a particular culture are borrowed without proper understanding, respect, or acknowledgment. This leads to the commodification of sacred symbols, the reinforcement of stereotypes, and the erasure of the cultural context from which these elements originated. It is essential to recognize that the impact of cultural appropriation extends beyond the realm of artistic expression, influencing societal perceptions and perpetuating power imbalances.
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