CAT VA-RC 2021 Slot 3: RC Passage 3

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📝 Authentic CAT Reading Comprehension Passage: Practice with a real RC passage from a previous CAT exam.
✅ Detailed Questions with Step-by-Step Solutions: Each question is explained thoroughly for better understanding.
🔍 In-Depth Passage Analysis: Gain insights through line-by-line and paragraph-wise analysis, supplemented with a quick summary table for efficient revision.
📚 Vocabulary Enhancement: Get a separate post explaining all tough words from the passage.



RC Passage

Direction for the questions 9 to 12: The passage below is accompanied by a set of four questions. Choose the best answer to each question.

Back in the early 2000s, an awesome thing happened in the New X-Men comics. Our mutant heroes had been battling giant robots called Sentinels for years, but suddenly these mechanical overlords spawned a new threat: Nano-Sentinels! Not content to rule Earth with their metal fists, these tiny robots invaded our bodies at the microscopic level. Infected humans were slowly converted into machines, cell by cell.

Now, a new wave of extremely odd robots is making at least part of the Nano-Sentinels story come true. Using exotic fabrication materials like squishy hydrogels and elastic polymers, researchers are making autonomous devices that are often tiny and that could turn out to be more powerful than an army of Terminators. Some are 1-centimetre blobs that can skate over water. Others are flat sheets that can roll themselves into tubes, or matchstick-sized plastic coils that act as powerful muscles. No, they won’t be invading our bodies and turning us into Sentinels - which I personally find a little disappointing – but some of them could one day swim through our bloodstream to heal us. They could also clean up pollutants in water or fold themselves into different kinds of vehicles for us to drive. . . . Unlike a traditional robot, which is made of mechanical parts, these new kinds of robots are made from molecular parts. The principle is the same: both are devices that can move around and do things independently. But a robot made from smart materials might be nothing more than a pink drop of hydrogel.

Instead of gears and wires, it’s assembled from two kinds of molecules - some that love water and some that avoid it - which interact to allow the bot to skate on top of a pond. Sometimes these materials are used to enhance more conventional robots. One team of researchers, for example, has developed a different kind of hydrogel that becomes sticky when exposed to a low-voltage zap of electricity and then stops being sticky when the electricity is switched off. This putty-like gel can be pasted right onto the feet or wheels of a robot. When the robot wants to climb a sheer wall or scoot across the ceiling, it can activate its sticky feet with a few volts. Once it is back on a flat surface again, the robot turns off the adhesive like a light switch.

Robots that are wholly or partly made of gloop aren’t the future that I was promised in science fiction. But it’s definitely the future I want. I’m especially keen on the nanometre-scale “soft robots” that could one day swim through our bodies. Metin Sitti, a director at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Germany, worked with colleagues to prototype these tiny, synthetic beasts using various stretchy materials, such as simple rubber, and seeding them with magnetic microparticles. They are assembled into a finished shape by applying magnetic fields. The results look like flowers or geometric shapes made from Tinkertoy ball and stick modelling kits. They’re guided through tubes of fluid using magnets, and can even stop and cling to the sides of a tube.

RC Line-wise Explanation

Paragraph 1

"Back in the early 2000s, an awesome thing happened in the New X-Men comics. Our mutant heroes had been battling giant robots called Sentinels for years, but suddenly these mechanical overlords spawned a new threat: Nano-Sentinels!"

Explanation: In the early 2000s, a storyline in New X-Men introduced a new type of villain—Nano-Sentinels, tiny robotic enemies derived from the long-standing threat of the Sentinels.

"Not content to rule Earth with their metal fists, these tiny robots invaded our bodies at the microscopic level. Infected humans were slowly converted into machines, cell by cell."

Explanation: Unlike earlier robots, these Nano-Sentinels infiltrated humans and transformed them internally at the cellular level into machines.

Paragraph 2

"Now, a new wave of extremely odd robots is making at least part of the Nano-Sentinels story come true."

Explanation: Modern technology is now beginning to make similar ideas from the comic story a reality.

"Using exotic fabrication materials like squishy hydrogels and elastic polymers, researchers are making autonomous devices that are often tiny and that could turn out to be more powerful than an army of Terminators."

Explanation: Scientists are building very small, independent robots out of flexible materials that may be surprisingly powerful.

"Some are 1-centimetre blobs that can skate over water. Others are flat sheets that can roll themselves into tubes, or matchstick-sized plastic coils that act as powerful muscles."

Explanation: These new robots come in various shapes—some move on water, some curl up, and others act like artificial muscles.

"No, they won’t be invading our bodies and turning us into Sentinels - which I personally find a little disappointing – but some of them could one day swim through our bloodstream to heal us."

Explanation: Although they won’t turn people into machines like in the comics, some may enter our bodies to provide medical help.

"They could also clean up pollutants in water or fold themselves into different kinds of vehicles for us to drive."

Explanation: These robots might also help with environmental cleanup or transform into vehicles.

Paragraph 3

"Unlike a traditional robot, which is made of mechanical parts, these new kinds of robots are made from molecular parts."

Explanation: These modern robots are different because they are made from molecules instead of metal and wires.

"The principle is the same: both are devices that can move around and do things independently."

Explanation: Despite material differences, these soft robots still function independently like traditional ones.

"But a robot made from smart materials might be nothing more than a pink drop of hydrogel."

Explanation: A robot might look like just a soft gel drop, but it's made of advanced materials.

"Instead of gears and wires, it’s assembled from two kinds of molecules - some that love water and some that avoid it - which interact to allow the bot to skate on top of a pond."

Explanation: These bots work using molecules that behave differently in water, allowing the robot to move on its surface.

Paragraph 4

"Sometimes these materials are used to enhance more conventional robots."

Explanation: Smart materials can also improve traditional robotic designs.

"One team of researchers, for example, has developed a different kind of hydrogel that becomes sticky when exposed to a low-voltage zap of electricity and then stops being sticky when the electricity is switched off."

Explanation: Scientists have created a gel that turns sticky with electricity and stops being sticky when the electricity is off.

"This putty-like gel can be pasted right onto the feet or wheels of a robot."

Explanation: The gel is soft and can be attached to parts of a robot.

"When the robot wants to climb a sheer wall or scoot across the ceiling, it can activate its sticky feet with a few volts."

Explanation: Robots can use this sticky material to climb walls or hang upside down by turning it on.

"Once it is back on a flat surface again, the robot turns off the adhesive like a light switch."

Explanation: When climbing is done, the robot can deactivate the stickiness easily.

Paragraph 5

"Robots that are wholly or partly made of gloop aren’t the future that I was promised in science fiction. But it’s definitely the future I want."

Explanation: Though slimy robots may not match sci-fi fantasies, the author finds them exciting.

"I’m especially keen on the nanometre-scale “soft robots” that could one day swim through our bodies."

Explanation: The author is particularly interested in very tiny robots that could travel inside humans.

"Metin Sitti, a director at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Germany, worked with colleagues to prototype these tiny, synthetic beasts using various stretchy materials, such as simple rubber, and seeding them with magnetic microparticles."

Explanation: Sitti and his team created miniature robots from flexible materials embedded with magnetic particles.

"They are assembled into a finished shape by applying magnetic fields."

Explanation: Magnetic fields are used to mold these materials into robot shapes.

"The results look like flowers or geometric shapes made from Tinkertoy ball and stick modelling kits."

Explanation: The final robots resemble colorful, toy-like geometric models.

"They’re guided through tubes of fluid using magnets, and can even stop and cling to the sides of a tube."

Explanation: These robots move through liquids and can latch onto tube walls, directed by magnets.

RC Paragraph Explanation

Paragraph 1 Summary

The New X-Men comics introduced Nano-Sentinels—tiny machines that turned humans into robots. While fiction, modern science is developing similar microscopic robots, though for healing, not harm.

Paragraph 2 Summary

Using flexible materials like hydrogels, researchers are building tiny, shape-shifting, and autonomous robots that may someday heal our bodies, clean the environment, or transform into vehicles.

Paragraph 3 Summary

Unlike traditional robots made of mechanical parts, these new soft robots use molecular interactions to move, such as hydrogels that can skate on water using water-loving and water-avoiding molecules.

Paragraph 4 Summary

Smart materials are also improving traditional robots—for instance, a hydrogel that becomes sticky with electricity allows robots to climb walls and switch off the stickiness when not needed.

Paragraph 5 Summary

Despite lacking sci-fi flash, soft robots are fascinating, especially nanoscale ones developed by Metin Sitti’s team. These flexible, magnetic bots can swim through fluid tubes and grip surfaces inside the body.

RC Quick Table Summary
Paragraph NumberMain Idea
Paragraph 1Comics imagined Nano-Sentinels; science is now making similar but healing-focused robots.
Paragraph 2Researchers are building flexible, autonomous robots with broad potential applications.
Paragraph 3These soft robots use molecular structures instead of mechanical parts to move independently.
Paragraph 4Smart materials like electric-sensitive gels enhance robots' climbing and movement abilities.
Paragraph 5Nanoscale soft robots are being designed to navigate the body, using magnetic shaping and control.

RC Questions

Ques 9. Which one of the following statements best captures the sense of the first paragraph?

Correct Answer: (D) Detailed explanation by Wordpandit: In the early days of the 21st century, a captivating twist emerged within the narrative of the New X-Men comics. The backdrop had been dominated by the X-Men, our valiant mutant protagonists, persistently clashing with towering robotic adversaries known as Sentinels. These clashes were almost a rite of passage for our heroes. However, as the story evolved, a more insidious threat was introduced: the Nano-Sentinels. These minuscule mechanical foes, instead of solely resorting to external brute force, penetrated the very biology of humans. They infiltrated human bodies on a cellular scale, and with each passing moment, the infected host would undergo a transformation, transitioning from flesh and bone to a mechanized entity.Breaking down the narrative, the initial segment delves into the X-Men's age-old confrontations with the massive Sentinels. However, the plot thickens with the advent of the Nano-Sentinels, embodying a novel challenge for our mutants. Option D aptly encapsulates this storyline progression and stands out as the most fitting summary.Option A doesn't hit the mark accurately. While it touches upon the X-Men's confrontations, it doesn't capture the essence of their continuous battles predating the arrival of Nano-Sentinels. Their origin and the emergence of these tiny adversaries are distinct events.Option B, meanwhile, misinterprets the eventual fate of the humans subjugated by the Nano-Sentinels. The narrative suggests a mechanical transformation of the victims, but not necessarily their conversion into the very Sentinels or mechanical overlords that the X-Men initially grappled with.

Ques 10. Which one of the following scenarios, if false, could be seen as supporting the passage?

Correct Answer: (D) Detailed explanation by Wordpandit: To determine which option, when demonstrated to be incorrect, aligns with the context provided in the passage, let's scrutinize each option in depth:A: The notion of robots becoming an integral component of daily existence isn't directly addressed or contested in the passage. Therefore, Option A isn't the crux of our analysis and can be set aside.B: The passage explicitly describes a unique robot built differently from conventional metallic counterparts. This robot is comprised of two distinct types of molecules: those that are attracted to water and those that repel it. The interplay between these molecules equips the robot with the capability to gracefully glide atop a water body, much like skating. Should Option B be proven inaccurate, it would starkly conflict with the details laid out in the passage, and hence, Option B cannot be our choice.C: Further delving into innovative robotics, the passage mentions another research breakthrough. A specialized hydrogel has been crafted by scientists which exhibits adhesive properties upon exposure to a minimal electric charge. Interestingly, this stickiness dissipates once the electric current is discontinued. Given that this piece of information is directly extracted from the passage, debunking Option C would create a contradiction. Therefore, Option C isn't the answer we're seeking.D: The passage humorously assures readers that these newly developed robots won't be orchestrating an invasion within our bodies, transforming us into the likes of Sentinels. If Option D were proven wrong, it would mean the passage suggests the contrary, making it consistent with the content of the passage.Thus, by elaborating on the original content, Option D emerges as the option which, when proven erroneous, aligns perfectly with the narrative provided in the passage.

Ques 11. Which one of the following statements, if true, would be the most direct extension of the arguments in the passage?

Correct Answer: (C) Detailed explanation by Wordpandit: In the process of understanding the author's primary arguments:A: The reference to Sentinel robots serves as a fictional backdrop, merely used to illustrate and transition into the real-world advancements in robotics. These fictional robots aren't the central focus, but rather a clever narrative device. Thus, Option A doesn't capture the essence of the author's primary message and is set aside.B: The X-Men, a renowned fictional group, is used by the author as an illustrative example. The introduction of X-men is a means to draw the reader's attention, but the main crux of the passage isn't about their origins or purpose. The use of X-men is metaphorical, not literal. Hence, Option B doesn't follow the main trajectory of the passage and can be disregarded.C: One intriguing facet the author sheds light on is the potential of these emerging robotic technologies. The vision of the future painted by the author suggests a world where these minuscule robots could navigate our bloodstream, aiding in medical healing and interventions. This innovative concept is hinted at in phrases like "...could one day swim through our bloodstream to heal us." As this aligns closely with the overarching message of the passage, Option C stands out as the most fitting answer.D: While Option D touches upon a potential application of these robots, it doesn't encapsulate the central theme the author is conveying. It lacks the specific focus and direct implications present in Option C, which are deeply embedded in the passage. Therefore, despite its partial relevance, Option D isn't as closely aligned with the passage's main message as Option C.To sum up, by delving deeper into the passage and understanding its nuances, Option C emerges as the most appropriate extension of the author's central arguments, making it the correct choice.

Ques 12. Which one of the following statements best summarises the central point of the passage?

Correct Answer: (C) Detailed explanation by Wordpandit: Delving into the passage's narrative:A: A salient feature highlighted in the article is the intricate capabilities of modern nano-robots. However, this is only a fragment of the broader message the author seeks to convey, making it insufficient to encapsulate the core of the passage. As a result, Option A, while relevant, isn't a comprehensive representation of the article's main theme and is set aside.B: The concepts of "Hydrophilic" and "Hydrophobic" materials, though instrumental in defining the functionalities of the nano-robots, aren't the central pillars of the discourse. The mention of these materials sheds light on the robots' inherent design, but the passage's scope transcends these technical specifics. Consequently, Option B, although an informative piece of the puzzle, doesn't fully resonate with the crux of the article and is disregarded.C: The author artfully intertwines fiction with reality, employing the narrative arc of a comic book to underscore the rapid advancements in the realm of nano-robotics. He proceeds to illuminate the reader about the state-of-the-art features and potentialities of these tiny mechanical wonders. This synthesis of fiction leading to a factual exploration makes Option C a holistic reflection of the author's intentions, standing out as the most congruent choice.D: While the X-Men analogy serves as an engaging introduction, it's merely a springboard to dive into the real-world progress in nano-robotic technology. The passage doesn't revolve around the comic's content, nor does it probe how contemporary technological strides would influence its plotlines. Thus, Option D, although intriguing, doesn't encompass the article's primary emphasis and is deemed inapplicable.In summary, the author seamlessly weaves the allure of a fictional narrative with the marvels of current technological breakthroughs. This harmonious blend positions Option C as the most fitting representation of the passage's essence, marking it as the correct selection.

Actual CAT VA-RC 2021 Slot 3: Question-wise Index

Reading ComprehensionWords from the Passage
RC Passage 1 (Q 1 to 4) Must-Learn Words (Passage 1)
RC Passage 2 (Q 5 to 8) Must-Learn Words (Passage 2)
RC Passage 3 (Q 9 to 12) Must-Learn Words (Passage 3)
RC Passage 4 (Q 13 to 16) Must-Learn Words (Passage 4)
Verbal Ability
Ques 17 (Para-jumble) Ques 18 (Para-jumble)
Ques 19 (Misfit/Odd one out) Ques 20 (Paragraph Summary)
Ques 21 (Misfit/Odd one out) Ques 22 (Paragraph Summary)
Ques 23 (Paragraph Summary) Ques 24 (Para-jumble)

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