Task reminder: Read the passage then select all correct answers. Negative marking applies — do not guess randomly. Each correct answer scores +1, each incorrect answer scores −1.

1. Sample Text 1

The concept of Universal Basic Income (UBI) proposes that governments provide all citizens with a regular, unconditional cash payment regardless of employment status or income. Proponents argue that UBI would eliminate poverty, reduce the bureaucratic complexity of existing welfare systems, provide a safety net during economic transitions driven by automation, and support unpaid but socially valuable activities such as caregiving and community work. Critics raise concerns about affordability, potential inflationary effects, the risk of reducing work incentives, and whether universal payments are an efficient way to support those most in need compared with targeted benefits.

Q. Which of the following are mentioned as arguments in favour of Universal Basic Income?

A. It would eliminate poverty
B. It would reduce welfare bureaucracy
C. It would increase government tax revenue
D. It supports unpaid socially valuable activities
E. It provides a safety net during automation-driven transitions

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2. Sample Text 2

Bees are among the most economically important insects on Earth. They pollinate approximately seventy of the one hundred crop species that provide ninety percent of the world’s food. Honey bee colonies are declining globally due to a combination of factors known collectively as Colony Collapse Disorder: pesticide exposure, habitat loss, parasites such as the Varroa mite, viral diseases, and monoculture farming that reduces the diversity of pollen available. The loss of wild bee populations alongside managed honeybees compounds the risk to global food systems, as wild bees pollinate many plant species that honeybees do not.

Q. Which of the following are mentioned as causes of bee population decline?

A. Pesticide exposure
B. Climate change reducing flowering seasons
C. Varroa mite parasites
D. Monoculture farming
E. Habitat loss

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3. Sample Text 3

Critical thinking is the ability to analyse information objectively and make reasoned judgements. It involves questioning assumptions, evaluating evidence, identifying logical fallacies, and considering alternative perspectives before reaching conclusions. Educators increasingly regard critical thinking as one of the most important skills schools should develop, particularly in an era of widespread misinformation and algorithmically curated information environments. Research suggests that students who receive explicit instruction in critical thinking show improved academic performance, better decision-making in everyday life, and greater resilience to manipulation by misleading content.

Q. According to the passage, which of the following are components of critical thinking?

A. Questioning assumptions
B. Accepting expert opinion without evaluation
C. Evaluating evidence
D. Identifying logical fallacies
E. Considering alternative perspectives

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