GATE 2024 Question Paper for Humanities & Social Sciences - Psychology (XH-C5)

GATE
2024
Question Paper | Answer Key
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering
(GATE) is a prestigious national-level exam
that assesses candidates for
comprehensive understanding in various
undergraduate-level subjects in
Engineering, Technology, Science,
Architecture, and Humanities.

General Aptitude (GA)
Q.1 – Q.5 Carry ONE mark Each

Q.1 If ‘→’ denotes increasing order of intensity, then the meaning of the words

[simmer → seethe → smolder] is analogous to [break → raze → ________ ].

Which one of the given options is appropriate to fill the blank?

(A) obfuscate

(B) obliterate

(C) fracture

(D) fissure

Page 1 of 38

Q.2 In a locality, the houses are numbered in the following way:

The house-numbers on one side of a road are consecutive odd integers starting from
301, while the house-numbers on the other side of the road are consecutive even
numbers starting from 302. The total number of houses is the same on both sides of
the road.

If the difference of the sum of the house-numbers between the two sides of the road
is 27, then the number of houses on each side of the road is

(A) 27

(B) 52

(C) 54

(D) 26

Q.3 𝑝 𝑝
𝑝 𝑝 𝑞 ( −1)
For positive integers 𝑝 and 𝑞 , with ≠ 1 , ( ) = 𝑝 𝑞 . Then,
𝑞 𝑞

(A) 𝑞 𝑝 = 𝑝𝑞

(B) 𝑞𝑝 = 𝑝2𝑞

(C) √𝑞 = √𝑝

𝑝 𝑞
(D) √𝑞 = √𝑝

Page 2 of 38

Q.4 Which one of the given options is a possible value of x in the following sequence?

3, 7, 15, x, 63, 127, 255

(A) 35

(B) 40

(C) 45

(D) 31

Q.5 On a given day, how many times will the second-hand and the minute-hand of a
clock cross each other during the clock time 12:05:00 hours to 12:55:00 hours?

(A) 51

(B) 49

(C) 50

(D) 55

Page 3 of 38

Q.6 – Q.10 Carry TWO marks Each

Q.6 In the given text, the blanks are numbered (i)−(iv). Select the best match for
all the blanks.

From the ancient Athenian arena to the modern Olympic stadiums,
(i) (ii)
athletics the potential for a spectacle. The crowd with bated
breath as the Olympian artist twists his body, stretching the javelin behind him.
(iii)
Twelve strides in, he begins to cross-step. Six cross-steps in an abrupt
(iv)
stop on his left foot. As his body like a door turning on a hinge, the
javelin is launched skyward at a precise angle.

(A) (i) hold (ii) waits (iii) culminates (iv) pivot

(B) (i) holds (ii) wait (iii) culminates (iv) pivot

(C) (i) hold (ii) wait (iii) culminate (iv) pivots

(D) (i) holds (ii) waits (iii) culminate (iv) pivots

Page 4 of 38

Q.7 Three distinct sets of indistinguishable twins are to be seated at a circular table that
has 8 identical chairs. Unique seating arrangements are defined by the relative
positions of the people.

How many unique seating arrangements are possible such that each person is sitting
next to their twin?

(A) 12

(B) 14

(C) 10

(D) 28

Page 5 of 38

Q.8 The chart given below compares the Installed Capacity (MW) of four power
generation technologies, T1, T2, T3, and T4, and their Electricity Generation
(MWh) in a time of 1000 hours (h).

Installed Capacity Electricity Generation
14000 70
13000 65
12000 60
Electricity Generation (MWh)

11000 55

Installed Capacity (MW)
10000 50
9000 45
8000 40
7000 35
6000 30
5000 25
4000 20
3000 15
2000 10
1000 5
0 0
T1 T2 T3 T4
Power Generation Technology

The Capacity Factor of a power generation technology is:

Electricity Generation (MWh)
Capacity Factor =
Installed Capacity (MW) × 1000 (h)

Which one of the given technologies has the highest Capacity Factor?

(A) T1

(B) T2

(C) T3

(D) T4

Page 6 of 38

Q.9 In the 4 × 4 array shown below, each cell of the first three columns has either a
cross (X) or a number, as per the given rule.

Rule: The number in a cell represents the count of crosses around its immediate
neighboring cells (left, right, top, bottom, diagonals).

As per this rule, the maximum number of crosses possible in the empty column is

(A) 0

(B) 1

(C) 2

(D) 3

Page 7 of 38

Q.10 During a half-moon phase, the Earth-Moon-Sun form a right triangle. If the
Moon-Earth-Sun angle at this half-moon phase is measured to be 89.85°, the ratio
of the Earth-Sun and Earth-Moon distances is closest to

(A) 328

(B) 382

(C) 238

(D) 283

Page 8 of 38

Reasoning and Comprehension (XH-B1)
XH-B1: Q.11– Q.17 Carry ONE mark Each

Q.11 Amma’s tone in the context of the given passage is that of:

For Amma, the difference between men and women was a kind of discrimination
and inequality; she felt strongly about women’s rights but was not familiar with
concepts like gender and patriarchy. She would have dismissed Betty Friedan
because she was predominantly dealing with the problems of white middle-class
women in the United States. Amma, and women of her generation, could de-link
the oppression of women from the wider struggle for the liberation of human beings
from class exploitation and imperialism. So Amma continued to play her role as
mother and wife, but would often complain: ‘I am a doormat on which everyone
wipes their emotional dirt off’.

(A) Compromise

(B) Protest

(C) Contentment

(D) Resignation

Page 9 of 38

Q.12 Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct sequence for the following passage:

I am wearing for the first time some (i)________ that I have never been able to wear
for long at a time, as they are horribly tight. I usually put them on just before giving
a lecture. The painful pressure they exert on my feet goads my oratorical capacities
to their utmost. This sharp and overwhelming pain makes me sing like a nightingale
or like one of those Neapolitan singers who also wear (ii)____ that are too tight.
The visceral physical longing, the overwhelming torture provoked by my
(iii)_____, forces me to extract from words distilled and sublime truths, generalized
by the supreme inquisition of the pain my (iv)____ suffer.

(A) (i) patent-leather belt (ii) belts (iii) patent-leather belt (iv) waist

(B) (i) patent-leather shoes (ii) bands (iii) patent-leather bands (iv) wrist

(C) (i) patent-leather shoes (ii) shoes (iii) patent-leather shoes (iv) feet

(D) (i) patent-leather jacket (ii) jacket (iii) patent-leather jacket (iv) body

Q.13 The appropriate synonym for the word ‘ignite’ in the following passage will be:

Spirituality must be integrated with education. Self-realization is the focus. Each
one of us must become aware of our higher self. We are links of a great past to a
grand future. We should ignite our dormant inner energy and let it guide our lives.
The radiance of such minds embarked on constructive endeavor will bring peace,
prosperity and bliss to this nation.

(A) Encourage

(B) Simulate

(C) Dissipate

(D) Engross

Page 10 of 38

Q.14 Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

(A) One day, I’ll write a book, ‘I said’. Not just a thriller but a real book, about real
people.

(B) ‘One day I’ll write a book’, I said, ‘not just a thriller, but a real book, about real
people.’

(C) ‘One day I’ll write a book’, I said. ‘Not just a thriller but, a real book, about real
people’.

(D) ‘One day I’ll write a book’, I said, not just a thriller, but a real book, about real
people.’

Q.15 Fill in the blanks with the correct combination of tenses for the given sentence:

Darwin’s work (i)______ a related effect that (ii)______ influenced the
development of environmental politics – a ‘decentering’ of the human being.

(A) (i) have (ii) had

(B) (i) had (ii) have

(C) (i) had (ii) has

(D) (i) has (ii) have

Page 11 of 38

Q.16 Which of the following options holds similar relationship as the words, ‘Music:
Notes’?

(A) Water: Cold drink

(B) Paper: Class Notes

(C) House: Bricks

(D) Graphite: Charcoal

Q.17 In a particular code, if “RAMAN” is written as 52 and “MAP” is written as 33,
then how will you code “CLICK”?

(A) 37

(B) 43

(C) 51

(D) 38

Page 12 of 38

XH-B1: Q.18 – Q26 Carry TWO marks Each

Q.18 On the basis of the statements given below, which valid assumption(s) can be
made?

Statements:

• Life has suffering
• Desire is the cause of suffering
• The end of desire is the end of suffering
• Desire can be reduced by following the noble eightfold path

Assumptions:

1. Suffering is because of wants

2. Life is not always full of suffering

3. The eightfold path can reduce suffering

4. Suffering is caused by life

(A) Only 1, 3 and 4

(B) Only 1, 2 and 3

(C) Only 1 and 4

(D) Only 2 and 3

Page 13 of 38

Q.19 If ‘KARAMCHAND’ is coded as ‘ICPCKEFCLF’ what should be the code of
‘CREATION’?

(A) ATCCRKMP

(B) ETGCVKQP

(C) APCCRJMP

(D) ETCGKRPM

Page 14 of 38

Q.20 Given an input line of numbers and words, a machine rearranges them following a
particular rule in each step. Here is an illustration of an input and rearrangement
sequence (Step 1 to Step 5):

Input: 61 wb ob 48 45 29 34 sb pb lb

Step 1: lb wb ob 48 45 29 34 sb pb 61

Step 2: lb ob wb 45 29 34 sb pb 61 48

Step 3: lb ob pb wb 29 34 sb 61 48 45

Step 4: lb ob pb sb wb 29 61 48 45 34

Step 5: lb ob pb sb wb 61 48 45 34 29

Step 5 is the last step of the above arrangement.

Based on the rules followed in the above steps, answer the following question:

Input: cb kb eb 58 49 23 38 jb nb gb 69 82

Which of the following represents the position of 58 in the fourth step? (Step-5 is
the last step of the arrangement.)

(A) Second from the left

(B) Fourth from the right

(C) Third from the right

(D) Seventh from the left

Page 15 of 38

In a certain type of code, ‘they play cricket together’ is written as ‘mv kb lb iv’;
Q.21 ‘they score maximum points’ is written as ‘gb lb mb kv’; ‘cricket score earned
points’ is written as ‘mb gv kb kv’ and ‘points are earned together’ is written as
‘kv mv ob gv.’

What is the code for ‘earned maximum points’?

(A) gv gb kv

(B) mv kb mb

(C) lb iv ob

(D) ob mb iv

Page 16 of 38

Q.22 Which of the statement(s) about the passage weaken(s) the argument presented?

Scientists associate large brains with greater intelligence. However, in the
evolutionary context it has also been identified that beyond a point, the size of the
brain has not increased and yet after a particular period, in spite of no significant
change in brain size humans have made significant progress. Certain researchers
propose that this is because, while the overall brain size may not have changed,
marked structural changes can be noticed in specific structures that run parallel to
increase in human intelligence.

(A) Recent studies refute the hypothesis that region-specific brain development is
necessarily associated with rapid human progress

(B) Neanderthal people’s extinction was probably because of their brain size

(C) Homo Sapiens and its destruction in the future may happen because of its rapid
brain development

(D) Recent studies show that Neanderthal people, with relatively smaller brains, were
capable of complex language and social activities

Page 17 of 38

Q. 23 The narrator’s use of ‘I’ in the given passage is/are:

I have never been any good at the more lurid sort of writing. Psychopathic killers,
impotent war-heroes, self-tortured film stars, and seedy espionage agents must exist
in the world, but strangely enough I do not come across them, and I prefer to write
about the people and places I have known and the lives of those whose paths I have
crossed. This crossing of paths makes for stories rather than novels, and although I
have worked in both mediums, I am happier being a short-story writer than a
novelist.

(A) Self-conscious

(B) Apologetic and regretful

(C) Confessional and communicating

(D) Egotistical and vain

Q.24 Which of the following recommended action(s) seem to be appropriate with the
stated problem?

Stated problem : Many students at educational institutes do not attend classes in the
post-pandemic scenario.

(A) Disciplinary action against all students should be taken as a warning.

(B) Counselling sessions should be organized to address the issues such students face.

(C) Surveys should be conducted to identify the reasons for their absence.

(D) Course content should immediately be changed.

Page 18 of 38

Q.25 Read the passage and identify the statement(s) which follow(s) from it:

The purpose of this work is to inform educators about the brain science related to
emotion and learning, and, more important, to offer strategies to apply these
understandings to their own teaching. Although many of the approaches I describe
will be familiar, integrating the lens of emotion and the brain may be a new concept.
As an educator I had been trained in how to deliver content and organize my lessons,
but I had not been taught how to design learning experiences that support emotions
for learning.

(A) The author wishes, through his work, to inform us about brain science and learning.

(B) The author, through his work, wishes to offer strategies to apply our learnings to
our teaching.

(C) The author feels that the newness of his approach lies in linking emotion oriented
approach to brain.

(D) The author wants to use emotions as a strategy for learning.

Q.26 If A says that his mother is the daughter of B’s mother, then how is B related to
A?

(A) Uncle

(B) Aunt

(C) Father

(D) Brother

Page 19 of 38

Psychology (XH-C5)
XH-C5: Q.27– Q.44 Carry ONE mark Each

Q.27 In a sampling design, where every Kth case is selected from a random starting
point with the value K kept constant throughout, is an example of _________.

(A) Convenient sampling

(B) Systematic sampling

(C) Stratified sampling

(D) Cluster sampling

Q.28 Which among the following correlation coefficient values represents the strongest
relationship between two variables?

(A) − 0.86

(B) + 0.68

(C) + 0.59

(D) − 0.05

Page 20 of 38

Q.29 A researcher performs an experiment to learn if room temperature affects the
amount of aggression displayed by college students under crowded conditions in a
simulated prison environment. In this experiment, the independent variable is:

(A) Aggression

(B) Crowding

(C) Room temperature

(D) Simulated prison

Q.30 If the data distribution is skewed to the left, it means:

(A) More scores have low values than have high values

(B) Fewer scores have low values than have high values

(C) Fewer scores have high values than have low values

(D) More scores have high values than have low values

Page 21 of 38

Q.31 The theory of psychoanalysis is based on __________method.

(A) Survey

(B) Observation

(C) Case study

(D) Introspection

Q.32 If a court acquits the criminal for lack of evidence and sentences the victim for
2 years of rigorous imprisonment in a case, it is an example of:

(A) Type I error only

(B) Type II error only

(C) Type I and Type II error, respectively

(D) Type II and Type I error, respectively

Page 22 of 38

Q.33 In the Darwinian sense, _________ refers to the ability of an organism to survive
and produce a large number of fertile offspring.

(A) Selection

(B) Intersexual competition

(C) Evolution

(D) Fitness

Q.34 Which theory states that people try to regulate their emotions to minimize the
distress caused by a situation?

(A) Problem-focused coping

(B) General Adaptation Syndrome

(C) Cognitive appraisal

(D) Emotion-focused coping

Page 23 of 38

Q.35 Which of the following is a suitable description of “grounded theory”?

(A) Theoretical ideas and concepts should emerge from the data.

(B) Theory precedes the data.

(C) Integration of data with researchers’ interpretations.

(D) Conducting in-depth interviews and focus groups.

Q.36 Percentage of scores between the mean and ± 1 standard deviation in a normal
distribution is closest to

(A) 68%

(B) 34%

(C) 95%

(D) 99%

Page 24 of 38

Q.37 Which of the following is a binocular cue for depth perception?

(A) Motion parallax

(B) Texture gradient

(C) Linear perception

(D) Convergence

Q.38 Match the following schedule of reinforcement with their description.

Schedule of
Description
reinforcement
Where a reinforcement is provided after an
I Fixed ratio a
unpredictable number of responses
Varying amount of time passes between two
II Fixed interval b
reinforcements
Number of responses required for
III Variable ratio c
reinforcement is always the same
The interval of time that must pass before
IV Variable interval d
reinforcement is always the same

(A) I-c, II-d, III-a, IV-b

(B) I-b, II-c, III-d, IV-a

(C) I-a, II-b, III-c, IV-d

(D) I-d, II-c, III-b, IV-a

Page 25 of 38

Q.39 While retrieving a long-term memory, bits and pieces of information are gathered
from various sources and put back together in a process called

(A) Consolidation

(B) Reintegration

(C) Constructive processing

(D) Automatic processing

Q.40 Which model of decision making relies on simplifying strategies or rules of thumb
based on past experiences, fairness, past events and aversion to loss?

(A) Bounded rationality model

(B) Judgment heuristics and biases model

(C) Social model

(D) Economic rationality model

Page 26 of 38

Q.41 When Monkey-A sees Monkey-B touching four pictures in a certain order to gain
a banana on a screen, Monkey-A learns to imitate that order even when shown a
different configuration. This process is known as _____________.

(A) Social imitation

(B) Classical imitation

(C) Cognitive arousal

(D) Cognitive imitation

Q.42 Match the following.

Theory of Learning Psychologist
I Classical conditioning a E. L. Thorndike
II Instrumental conditioning b Ivan Pavlov
III Insightful learning c B. F. Skinner
IV Trial & Error learning d W. Kohler

(A) I-b, II-c, III-d, IV-a

(B) I-c, II-a, III-d, IV-b

(C) I-d, II-c, III-a, IV-b

(D) I-a, II-b, III-c, IV-d

Page 27 of 38

Q.43 Match the following.

Psychologist Theory of Intelligence
I Charles Spearman a Level-I & Level-II abilities
II Arthur Jensen b Triarchic theory of intelligence
III L. L. Thurstone c Structure of intelligence
IV Robert Sternberg d Two factor theory of intelligence
V J.P. Guilford e Primary mental abilities

(A) I-b, II-a, III-c, IV-e, V-d

(B) I-d, II-a, III-e, IV-b, V-c

(C) I-e, II-d, III-c, IV-b, V-a

(D) I-c, II-d, III-a, IV-e, V-b

Q.44 Which theory emphasizes individual’s subjective frame of reference?

(A) Behaviouristic

(B) Dispositional

(C) Phenomenological

(D) Psychoanalytic

Page 28 of 38

XH-C5: Q.45 – Q.65 Carry TWO marks Each

Q.45 Tentative answer(s) to a simple research problem that is/are expressed in the form
of a clearly stated relationship between independent and dependent variables is/are
called:

(A) Alternate Hypothesis

(B) Null Hypothesis

(C) Phi-Hypothesis

(D) Nil Hypothesis

Q.46 Independent variable(s) is/are also known as:

(A) Explanatory variable

(B) Explainable variable

(C) Exogenous variable

(D) Explicit variable

Page 29 of 38

Q.47 Which of the following is/are not considered as unethical research practice(s)?

(A) Data fabrication

(B) Salami slicing

(C) Data collection

(D) Statistical analysis

Q.48 In which of the following methods are variables not actively manipulated?

(A) Observational

(B) Experimental

(C) Correlational

(D) Descriptive

Page 30 of 38

Q.49 Which of the following is/are distribution free test(s)?

(A) Pearson correlation

(B) Spearman’s rho

(C) Kruskal-Wallis H test

(D) Analysis of variance

Q.50 Which of the following hormones do/does not increase hunger?

(A) Leptin

(B) Insulin

(C) Ghrelin

(D) Melanocortin

Page 31 of 38

Q.51 Component(s) of Peripheral Nervous System is/are

(A) Somatic Nervous System

(B) Central Nervous System

(C) Automatic Nervous System

(D) Autonomic Nervous System

Q.52 Which of the following tests are post hoc?

(A) Neuman-Keuls test

(B) t-test

(C) Duncan Multiple Range test

(D) Tukey test

Page 32 of 38

Q.53 The component(s) of a vertebrate motor neuron is/are:

(A) Axon

(B) Myelin sheath

(C) Soma

(D) Cortisol

Q.54 Which of the following is/are measure(s) of dispersion?

(A) Variance

(B) ANOVA

(C) Correlation

(D) Range

Page 33 of 38

Q.55 Jagruti’s mother was upset to find that Jagruti used her crayons to draw the picture
of an animal on the wall of the drawing room. Her mother took away the crayons
from her and made Jagruti wash the drawings off the wall. Which of the following
statements is/are true?

(A) Having her crayons taken away was a form of punishment by removal.

(B) Having her crayons taken away was a form of negative reinforcement.

(C) Being made to wash off the drawing was a form of punishment by application.

(D) Being made to wash off the drawing was a form of punishment by removal.

Q.56 Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding memory?

(A) Visual sensory memory last for a fraction of a second.

(B) Selective attention moves the information from short-term memory to long-term
memory.

(C) In short-term memory, the information is held for a brief period of time while
being used.

(D) Echoic memory capacity is limited to two seconds but smaller than the capacity of
iconic memory.

Page 34 of 38

Q.57 Which of the following is/are correct regarding the pre-operational stage
(2-7 years) of the cognitive development theory of Piaget?

(A) Infants develop a sense of object permanence.

(B) Tendency of a child to focus only on one feature of an object, while ignoring other
relevant features.

(C) The inability of the young child to mentally reverse an action.

(D) The child can conserve, reverse their thinking and classifying objects in terms of
various characteristics.

Q.58 Which of the following statements is/are correct about “item-response theory”?

(A) It talks about how items should function based on the knowledge of an ability or
trait.

(B) It compares responses to items to determine how well the items function.

(C) It is based on the assumption that many latent traits underlie test performance.

(D) It is a logistic function having, one, two or three parameters.

Page 35 of 38

Q.59 Which of the following is/are characteristic(s) of groupthink?

(A) There is excessive optimism and risk taking.

(B) Silence is interpreted as consent.

(C) Members reduce their efforts and performance levels while acting as a part of the
group.

(D) People do not know what they are supposed to be doing.

Q.60 Which of the following dimensions is/are related to Fiedler’s Contingency Model
of Leadership Effectiveness?

(A) Leader-member relationship

(B) Leader’s position power

(C) Leader’s personal power

(D) Individual consideration

Page 36 of 38

Q.61 Which of the following is/are not culture-fair test(s)?

(A) Ravens Progressive Matrices

(B) Dynamic Progressive Matrices

(C) Advanced Progressive Matrices

(D) Millennium Progressive Matrices

Q.62 Which of the following is/are related to reliability?

(A) A test is administered to same set of people in two different occasions.

(B) A test administered once is scored by two or more than two evaluators.

(C) A test administered once is scored by splitting it into two equal-halves.

(D) A test measures what it intends to measure.

Page 37 of 38

Q.63 Which of the following is/are not defense mechanism(s)?

(A) Projection

(B) Frustration

(C) Introspection

(D) Rationalization

Q.64 On a standard test, the population is known to have a mean of 500 and a standard
deviation of 100. Those receiving an experimental treatment have a mean of 540.
The effect size is ________ . (rounded off to two decimal places)

Q.65 The standard deviation for the following scores:

8, 6, 6, 9, 6, 5, 6, 2

is ________ (rounded off to two decimal places)

Page 38 of 38

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