NICL AO Prelims 2026 Full Mock Test 2

Read the passage and answer the question. As Indian cities expand, many are growing measurably hotter than the countryside around them. This phenomenon, known as the urban heat island effect, occurs because concrete, asphalt and glass absorb sunlight during the day and release it slowly through the night. In dense neighbourhoods, night-time temperatures can remain several degrees higher than in nearby rural areas, denying residents the relief that cooler nights once provided. The consequences extend well beyond discomfort. Prolonged exposure to high night-time temperatures strains the body's ability to recover from daytime heat, raising the risk of illness among the elderly, young children and outdoor workers. Rising demand for air conditioning adds to the problem: the machines push hot air into the streets, and the electricity they consume is often generated by burning fossil fuels, which further warms the planet. The burden is not shared equally. Wealthier households can afford cooling appliances and live in leafy colonies, while residents of informal settlements often occupy tin-roofed homes with little ventilation. For daily-wage labourers, a working day lost to heat means a day's income lost. Several cities have begun to respond. Ahmedabad pioneered a heat action plan that issues early warnings, opens cooling shelters and adjusts working hours during extreme heat. Elsewhere, municipalities have experimented with 'cool roofs', coating rooftops with reflective white paint that can lower indoor temperatures noticeably at a modest cost. Expanding tree cover and protecting urban water bodies also help, since vegetation and lakes cool their surroundings through evaporation. Experts caution, however, that piecemeal measures will not be enough. Heat must be treated as a planning concern from the outset, influencing building codes, the spacing of structures and the materials used in construction. Without such foresight, cities risk locking in designs that will trap heat for decades to come. Q. What is the main purpose of the passage?

Solution: The passage moves from cause (heat-absorbing materials) to consequences, unequal burden, current responses and the need for planning.

Read the passage and choose the most appropriate word for blank (1). Over the past two decades, self-help groups have (1)______ the lives of millions of rural women. By pooling small savings, members gain access to credit that formal banks were once (2)______ to provide. Many women have used these loans to start small (3)______ such as tailoring units, dairy farms and grocery shops. Beyond income, participation has (4)______ their confidence and given them a stronger voice in household decisions. However, experts warn that loans must be matched with training, or borrowers may fall into a (5)______ of debt.

Solution: The passage describes positive change, so 'transformed' fits.

Study the information and answer the question. Eight persons, Ishaan, Jaya, Kunal, Lata, Mohit, Neha, Om and Pooja, sit around a circular table facing the centre. Kunal sits second to the left of Ishaan. Mohit sits opposite Ishaan. Neha sits between Ishaan and Kunal. Jaya sits immediately to the left of Mohit. Lata sits second to the left of Jaya. Pooja is an immediate neighbour of Kunal. Q. If Neha and Om interchange their seats, who sits immediately to the left of Om?

Solution: Om moves into Neha's seat, between Ishaan and Kunal. The seat to its left (clockwise) is Kunal's.

Study the numbers and answer the question. 572 846 391 638 925 Q. If the digits within each number are arranged in ascending order, which original number will become the highest?

Solution: Rearranged: 257, 468, 139, 368, 259. The highest is 468, which came from 846.

The data shows the online orders received by five restaurants on Saturday, the percentage of Saturday orders that were veg, and the change in orders on Sunday compared to Saturday. R1: Saturday 400, Veg 35%, Sunday +25% R2: Saturday 600, Veg 40%, Sunday +10% R3: Saturday 500, Veg 60%, Sunday +20% R4: Saturday 800, Veg 25%, Sunday −15% R5: Saturday 450, Veg 20%, Sunday +40% Q. Find the total number of orders received by all five restaurants on Sunday.

Solution: Sunday orders: 500 + 660 + 600 + 680 + 630 = 3070.