CAT 2023 Slot 2 VARC Question 17

Multiple choice (+3 / −1) · Verbal Ability · Sentence Placement · Try it, then check the answer and solution below.

CAT 2023 Slot 2VARCVerbal Ability • Sentence PlacementModerate
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.
Paragraph: ___ (1) ___ At the core of development economics lies the idea of 'productive dualism': that poor countries' economies are split between a narrow 'modern' sector that uses advanced technologies and a larger 'traditional' sector characterized by very low productivity ___ (2) ___ . While this distinction between developing and advanced economies may have made some sense in the 1950s and 1960s, it no longer appears to be very relevant. A combination of forces have produced a widening gap between the winners and those left behind ___ (3) ___ . Convergence between poor and rich parts of the economy was arrested and regional disparities widened ___ (4) ___ . As a result, policymakers in advanced economies are now grappling with the same questions that have long pre-occupied developing economies: mainly how to close the gap with the more advanced parts of the economy.
Sentence: Dualism was long held as the defining feature of developing countries in contrast to developed countries, where frontier technologies and high productivity were assumed to prevail.
Answer and solution

Answer: B) Option 2

Step-by-Step Explanation:
1
Passage Context & Central Idea:
The paragraph discusses the concept of "productive dualism" in development economics, which distinguishes between a modern, high-tech sector and a traditional, low-productivity sector in poor countries. It argues that this distinction, relevant in the mid-20th century, has become less applicable due to growing economic disparities and the challenges policymakers face.
2
Question Stem Analysis:
The task is to determine where the given sentence fits best in the paragraph to maintain coherence and flow.
3
Option-by-Option Elimination:
Option 1: Fits perfectly as an introductory sentence defining dualism, aligning with the paragraph's opening explanation.
Option 2: Redundant, as the paragraph already explains dualism.
Option 3 & 4: Discuss current issues, unrelated to defining dualism.
4
Final Answer Confirmation:
The sentence logically introduces dualism, making Option 1 correct.
Correct Answer: Option 1

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