These original practice items cover the main VARC question types: a short reading passage, para jumbles and odd sentence out. Tap a question to see the answer.
Reading comprehension passage
Many cities built wide roads for cars in the last century and assumed that more roads would mean less congestion. The opposite often happened: new lanes encouraged more people to drive, and traffic soon returned to the old levels. Planners now argue that cities should invest in buses, cycling lanes and walkable streets instead, because these move more people in the same amount of space. The change is slow, however, since drivers are a loud political group and the benefits of public transport appear only after years.
Q1.What is the main idea of the passage?+
The passage says new roads did not reduce congestion and that other options carry more people in less space.
Q2.What does the author suggest about why change is slow?+
The last sentence gives both reasons.
Para jumble and odd one out
Q1.Arrange in order:(A) As a result, many cities are now redesigning streets to give cyclists safe lanes.(B) Cycling is cheap, quiet and good for health.(C) However, narrow roads and heavy traffic make riding risky in most cities.(D) These benefits have made it popular with commuters.+
B introduces cycling, D (these benefits) follows, C (however) adds the risk and A (as a result) is the outcome.
Q2.Find the odd sentence out: (1) The monsoon reaches Kerala in early June. (2) It moves north and covers most of India by mid-July. (3) Farmers time sowing to the first rains. (4) The Himalayas contain some of the world's highest peaks. (5) A weak monsoon can reduce crop yields.+
Sentence 4 is about mountains, while the rest are about the monsoon and its effects.
Tips for VARC practice
- Read the passage once for the main idea, then answer from the passage only.
- In para jumbles, find the opening sentence and the pairs linked by words like however, these and therefore.
- For odd one out, find the central theme first and then the sentence that does not fit it.
CAT 2026 VARC Sample Paper FAQs
How long should one RC passage take?+
About 7 to 8 minutes including its questions, which fits about 25 to 30 minutes for four passages.
More on CAT 2026
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