NATIONAL LAW SCHOOL OF INDIA UNIVERSITY

Law School Admission Test 1988

Name of the Center:
Admission Ticket Number
Date
Signature of Center Supervisor
Instructions to Candidates:
1. This book has 13 pages in which 79 questions are given. All 79 questions are to be answered in 11
/ 2 hours (90 minutes). The questions are grouped in eight Sections and the appropriate time one can
take to answer questions in each Section is indicated at the top of the section concerned
2. Specific instructions in answering the questions in different sections are also given. Read them
carefully and answer accordingly. While in many cases, your answer is to be indicated by a tick (V)
against one of the several possible answers given, in other cases you may have to write your answers
in the space provided within the number of words prescribed. No additional sheet is given nor can be
used. No duplicate book will be issued.
3. Answers must be written in ink and English only.
4. Adoption of any kind of unfair means during the Test will disqualify the candidate. The decision of
the Superintendent of the Center in this regard shall be final.
5. You will have 5 minutes to fill in your Admission Ticket number in the space above, and to have a
quick look generally of the pattern of questions and the style of answering them. Thereafter come
quickly back to the first Section and start answering within the time limit recommended for each
section.
6. For each right answer you will get 2 credit points excepting for questions in Sections III and VII.
Each question in Section VII carries only I credit point, and each question in Section VII carries 5
credit points. For a wrong answer there will be a penalty of one minus point.
In all there are 79 questions in eight Sections with a total of 150 points. They are as follows:
(1) Section I 10 Questions 5 Minutes 20 Points
(2) Section II 12 Questions 8 Minutes 24 Points
(3) Section III 20 Questions 10 Minutes 20 Points
(4) Section IV 10 Questions 10 Minutes 20 Points
(5) Section V 5 Questions 5 Minutes 10 Points
(6) Section VI 8 Questions 17 Minutes 16 Points
(7) Section VII 4 Questions 20 Minutes 20 Points
(8) Section VIII 10 Questions 10 Minutes 20 Points
Total Eight Section 79 Questions 85 Minutes 150 Points
NOW GO AHEAD AND ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS. KEEPING WATCH ON THE TIME
SCHEDULE.

SECTION I
Time 5 minutes
Here are 10 questions. Each question has four answers. Tick () mark the best answer.
1. Cats are useful because
(a) They look good (b) they catch rats
(c) They give company (d) they fight with dogs.
2. One should remain regular in life because
(a) It leads to longer life (b) it increases work efficiency
(c) Irregular people become mad (d) all religions tell us to do so
3. We make friends because
(a) We can borrow money whenever we need
(b) They keep us happy
(c) We can share our thoughts and feelings
(d) We cannot live without friends.
4. People should see cinema because
(a) It increases knowledge (b) it is an inexpensive recreation
(c) It is fashionable to do so (d) it helps to spend time
5. Children should not smoke because
(a) It is an expensive habit (b) it leads to diseases
(c) The law prohibits it (d) they do not earn
6. One should read History because
(a) It makes you wiser (b) it helps to pass examination
(c) It can inform and entertain (d) it leads to national integration
7. Physical exercises are essential because
(a) They make the limbs strong (b) they constitute a good habit
(c) They help to pass time (d) it leads to national integration
8. Children are allowed to travel on half tickets because
(a) They do not earn (b) they occupy little space
(c) They are the privileged persons (d) they increase the appetite
9. Houses are built of bricks because:
(a) They look good
(b) They are stronger than other building materials
(c) They are comfortable
(d) They are easy to build
10. Oranges are good because:
(a) They are easily digestible (b) they contain vitamins
(c) They are cheap (d) they are sweet and colorful
SECTION II
Time: 8 minutes
Here are 12 questions. In each question certain numbers are given with instructions as to what to
do with them. At the end of each question four or five alternate answers are also given. You are
required to tick (*/) against the correct answer calculated according to the instruction.
1. Add the two smaller numbers and divide the result by the largest of these numbers: - 5, 3, 8.
Tick the correct answer below:
(a) 3 (b) 3 (c) 1 (d) 0

2. Add the two larger numbers and divide the result by the smallest number: - 7, 3, 8
(a) 2 (b) 1 (c) 5 (d) 3
3. Subtract the smaller numbers from the largest and multiply the result by the smallest of
these numbers: - 9, 3, 5
(a) 15 (b) 12 (c) 16 (d) 18
4. Add the two smaller numbers and multiply the result by the largest of these number: - 3, 7,
4
a) 35
b) 49
c) 21
d) 40
5. A segment 15 meters long can be divided into how many segments 30 cm long?
(a) 50 (b) 20 (c) 5 (d) 2 (e)
6. What is the 0.5 per cent of 100,000?
(a) 0.05 (b) 0.5 (c) 5 (d) 50 (e) 500
7. If Mohans income consists of Rs. 150/- per month plus a commission of 6 per cent of total sale,
what has been the sale for the month if his income for the month was Rs. 600?
(a) Rs. 6000 (b) Rs. 7500 (c) 10,000 (d) Rs. 60,000 (e) Rs. 75,000
8. 1, 3, 9, 27, - what number comes next?
(a) 63 (b) 81 (c) 96 (d) 39 (e) 99
9. 23, 18, 14, 11, 9, - what number comes next?
(a) 8 (b) 11 (c) 7 (d) 4 (e) 10
10. If A is 1, D is 4 and H is 8, what the letter P will be: (a) 12 (b) 20 (c) 15 (d) 16 (e) 24
11. If A is 2, B is 4 and C is 16, what the letter D will be?
(a) 32 (b) 64 (c) 96 (d) 256 (e) 129
12. D, H, L, P, which letter comes next?
(a) S (b) M (c) T (d) W
SECTION III
Time : 10 Minutes
There are 20 questions and several possible answers given to each question. Pick up the correct
answer and fill in the blanks.
1. Imbalance between income flow and goods flow is called _____
(Inflation, Stagflation, Deficit)
2. There is _____ relationship between price and demand.
(Direct, inverse, indirect)
3. Judges of High Courts are appointed by _____
(Chief Minister, Governor, President, Prime Minister, Law Minister)
4. Secularism means _____
(Absence of religion, Impartiality towards all religions, Respect for minorities, Noninterference
by the state in religious affairs)
5. Public opinion in India is generally formulated by _____
(Politicians, News papers, religious leaders, Doordarshan)

6. Thomas Cup is associated with _____

(Football, hockey, Badminton, Cricket)
7. The author of Asian Drama is _____
(R.K. Narayan Kushwant Singh, Gunnar Myrdal, Nirad Chaudhari)
8. The last Mughal emperor was _____
(Siraz ud Daula, Aurangazed, Babar, Bahadur Shah Zafer)
9. Indian Constitution was adopted on _____
(26th January 1950, 26th November 1949., 15th August 1947)
10. Vice President of Indian is elected by _____
(Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, Both Houses of Parliament)
11. Amniocentesis is a medical test to determine _____
(Blood sugar, cancer, Sex of the fetus. Heart condition)
12. Reservations in services in intended to _____
(Democracies government. Ensure equality, correct imbalance in administration, promote
efficiency)
13. Lok Adalat is a mechanism for _____
(Avoiding litigation, dispensing justice, reduce court arrears, correct the administration)
14. Lok Ayukt is an institution for _____
(Control of administration, redressing citizens grievances, enquiring corruption in
government, building public opinion)
15. The name of the political movement started by the Congress party in 1942 was _____
(Swadeshi movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, Home rule movement, Quit India
Movement)
16. The purchasing power of money goes down fast during a period of _____
(Recession, depression, high production, I high inflation)
17. Which of the following persons do not suffer during inflation? ______
(Government servants, Lawyers, Debtors, Creditors)
18. Which of the following is the largest alternative source of energy? _____
(Geothermal energy, Tidal energy, Solar energy, Atomic energy)
19. The number of heart beat per minute in an average adult is _____
(a) 100 (b) 110 (c) 72 (d) 52
20. The number of states in the Indian Union is
(a) 22 (b) 25 (c) 20 (d) 18
SECTION IV
Time : 10 minutes
Here are 10 questions and several possible answers to each question. Choose the right answer by
putting a circle (O) round the right answer.
1. Shyam is taller than Mohan and Mohan is taller than Ram. If Chandra is taller than Ram but shorter
than Mohan, then who is the shortest?
(a) Shyam (b) Mohan (c) Ram (d) Chandra

2. In a race A surpassed B and C surpassed D. If B and C were equal, then who has won the race?
(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
3. Temple is one mile north from the post office and the bank is 2 miles east from the post
office. If the school is a mile south from the bank, them in what direction is the post office from
the school?
(a) East (b) West (c) North (d) South
4. Sunil is twice the age of Swaraj and Naveen is two years younger than Swaraj. If Manoj is one year
younger to Swaraj, who is youngest of all?
(a) Sunil (b) Swaraj (c) Naveen (d) Manoj
5. In a examination, Soni scored higher than Mona but lower than Pushpa. Pushpa got five marks less
than Shobha whereas Shobha and Vibha got equal marks. Who has got the lowest score I the
examination?
(a) Soni (b) Mona (c) Pushpa (d) Shobha (e) Vibha
6. Shankars income is more than that of Shekhar but is equal to that of santosh shekhars income is
less than that is Suresh but more than that of Raman. If Shankars income is less than that of Suresh.,
then whose income is the highest?
(a) Shekhat (b) Shankar (c) Santosh (d) Suresh (e) Raman
7. Rani and Shyam have some Rupees. Ram told Shyam that if he gave him one Rupee he would
have exactly double of what Shyam had. Shyam told Ram that if he (Ram) gave one rupee to him,
both would have an equal amount. How many Rupees Ram and Shyam have?
(a) 5 and 3 (b) 4 and 2 (c) 7 and 5 (d) 9 and 7
8. A, B, C and D are four wooden poles. If A is longer than C, B is smaller than D, and C longer than
D. which is the smallest pole?
(a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
9. White is to snow as black is to
(a) Colour (b) stone (c) coal (d) steel
10. Eye is to head as window is to
(a) Door (b) Room (c) Key (d) Wall
SECTION V
Time : 5 minutes
Here are five questions each followed by a set of propositions of which you are to choose the right
answer by encircling (O) the right answer.
1. Since all rabbits that I have seen have short tails, all rabbits probably have short tails. Which of the
following most closely parallels the kind of reasoning used in the sentence above?
(a) Since all social systems that I have studied have sexual taboos, all of these sexual taboos have
probably had survival value for the human race.
(b) Since all chemical reactions that I have seen did not make dramatic changes, only minor changes
took place in the substances involved.
(c) Since all kitchenware that I have seen are made of metal, metal is probably the most desirable
material for kitchenware.
2. Because most references to dogs by characters in Shakespears plays are derogatory, it has been
argued that Shakespear did not like dogs.
Which of the following is the strongest objection to the argument above?
(a) Characters in play by Shakespears contemporaries make laudatory references to dogs.
(b) Shakespeare also makes derogatory references to cats and tigers.
(c) There is no record of Shakespears having owned a dog.

(d) What a character in a play says need not reflect the authors own feelings.
(e) The characters making the derogatory references are the minor ones.
3. If Ram is born in the New York State, then he is a citizen of the United States. The statement
above can be deduced logically from which of the following statements:
(a) Everyone born in New York State is a Citizen of the United States.
(b) Every citizen of U.S. is a resident of one of the states of U.S.
(b) Some people born in New York are citizens of U.S.
4. There is no reason to rule out the possibility of life on Uranus. We must then undertake exploration
of the planet.
The argument above assumes which one of the following
(a) Life exists in Uranus.
(b) Uranus is capable of supporting life.
(c) The search for life is a sufficient motive for exploration of space
(d) No one has so far explored Uranus.
5. University officials have tried to suppress the amount of drugs used by students. However, one has
to only look at the decline in the success rate of students during the last decade to realize the full
extent of the drug problem in campuses.
Which of the following, if true, weakens the conclusion above for decline in success rate of students
independent of drug use by students:
(a) Present day students are far less able than their counterparts a decade ago.
(b) Abstention from classes has increased during the decade.
(c) Students are not motivated as before.
(d) There is a general decline in standards everywhere.
SECTION IV
Time : 17 minutes
This section consists of two passages and s set of questions after each based on the content of the
passage. After reading the passage, choose the best answer to each question by encircling (O) the
same. Answer all questions following a passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in that
passage.
Passage I
In its current, application to art, the term primitive is as vague and unspecific as the term heathen
is in its application to religion. A heathen sect is simply one which is not affiliated with one or another
of three or four organized systems of theology. Similarly, a primitive art is one which flourishes outside
the small number of cultures which we have chosen to designate as civilizations. Such arts differ
vastly more among themselves than do those of the civilizations in question, and it is correspondingly
difficult to generalize about them. Any statement which will hold true for such diverse aesthetic
experiences as the pictographs of the Australians, the woven designs of the Peruvians, and the
abstract sculptures of the African Negroes must be of the broadest and simplest sort. Moreover, the
problem is complicated by the meaning attached to the term primitive in its other uses. It stands for
something simple, undeveloped, and by implication, ancestral to more evolved forms. Its application
to arts and cultures other than our own is all unfortunate heritage from the nineteenth century
scientists who held the foundations of anthropology. Elated by the newly enunciated doctrines of
evolution, these students saw all cultures as stages in a single line of development and assigned
them to places in this series on the simple basis of the degree to which they differed form European
culture, which was blandly assumed to he final and perfect flower to the evolutionary process. This
idea has long since been abandoned by anthropologists, but before its demise it diffused to other
social sciences and became a part of the general body of popular misinformation. It still tinges a great
deal of the thought and writing about the arts of non European peoples and has been responsible
for many misunderstandings.

1. The main purpose of the passage is to (a) Explain the various definitions of the term Primitive.
(b) Show that the term Primitive can be applied validly to art.
(c) Deprecate the use of the term Primitive as applied to art.
(d) Show that Primitive arts vary greatly among themselves.
2. The nineteenth century scientists believed that the theory of evolution(a) Could be applied to the development of culture.
(b) Was demonstrated in all social sciences
(c) Was proved by the diversity of Primitive art
(d) Could be applied only to European culture
(e) Disproved the idea that some arts are more Primitive than others.
3. With which of the following would the author agree (a) The term Primitive is used only by the misinformed
(b) Primitive arts may be as highly developed as civilized arts
(c) The arts of a culture often indicate how advanced that culture is
(d) A simple culture is likely to have a simple art.
4. According to the author, many misunderstandings have been caused by the belief that (a) Most cultures are fundamentally different
(b) Primitive arts resemble one another
(c) Non European arts are diverse
(d) European civilization is the final product of the evolutionary process.
Passage II
Even though doctrine and conduct diverge it does not follow that to examine the former is to hunt
abstractions. That men should have thought as they did is sometimes as significant as that they
should have acted as significant as that they should have acted as they did, and is not least
significant when thought and practice are at variance. It may be true that theory is a criticism of
life only in (fie same sense as a good man is a criticism of a bad one. But the theorist does not
emphasize certain aspects and values arbitrarily; lie is an interpreter, and should his answers be
discounted, his questions are nonetheless evidence of the assumptions of the period in which
they ere asked, It would be paradoxical to dismiss Machiavellian and Bentham as irrelevant to the
political practice of their times merely on the ground that mankind has still to wait for the ideal
Prince or Utilitarian. It is not less paradoxical to dismiss those who formulated economic and social
theories in the Middle Ages or in the sixteenth Century merely because behind canon law and
sermons, behind the good ordinances of borough and gild, there lurked the immutable appetites of
economic man.
5. The author believes that the theories of Machiavellian are (a) Valuables as an index to the thought of Machiavellis time.
(b) A useful means for gauging social progress
(c) Relevant to the political practices of today
(d) Evidence that doctrine anticipates conduct
6. It may be inferred that the doctrine of any given period cannot be fully evaluated unless (a) Doctrine anticipates conduct
(b) The conduct of a period can he given several interpretations
(c) Conduct anticipates doctrine
(d) The conduct of the same period is taken into account
7. It may be inferred that the appetites of the economic man were evidenced in (a) The theories of the middle Ages and the Sixteenth Century
(b) Mans conduct in the Middle Ages and the Sixteenth Century
(c) Canon law aid sermons
(d) Political doctrine and practices in the middle Ages.

8. The authors thesis would be insupportable if

(a) An ideal Prince were to come into power
(b) Philosophical theory were considered a valid criticism of life
(c) Doctrine were always a restatement of conduct
(d) The concept of the economic man were proved invalid
SECTION VII
Time: 20 minutes
Instructions:
Given below is a statement of facts of a case. Following the statement are few principles of law given
in the form of certain propositions. Assuming those legal principles are valid, apply the principle to the
faces of the case and select the most reasonable answer out of the four alternatives given. Your
selection may be indicated by a Tick () mark against the answer of your choice.
Case
Mrs. Anand went to Mallazan Antique Shop to buy a vase. Mahazan showed her a vase and told her
that it was of the Gupta period. Actually is was older and much more valuable than Mahazan thought.
He added, and believed, that the vase was absolutely unbreakable. Mrs. Anand said she did not
care whether the vase was of the Gupta period, she bought it. Leaving the shop, she hailed a taxi
driven by Suresh, an employee of the Capital Taxi Company. Suresh had just completed his duties for
the day. However, he offered to drive Mrs. Anand home for his usual fee. Capital Taxi Company had a
firm policy prohibiting its employees from carrying passengers while off duty. Suresh carelessly drove
and took a turn without signaling. The taxi rammed into a truck carrying gasoline. Mrs. Anand was
thrown to the floor of the taxi and injured her back. The vase was smashed.
Principle of Law I
Fraud consists of a misrepresentation of existing fact upon which the defendant intends that the
plaintiffs will rely, and upon which the plaintiff justifiably relies to his detriment
1. In a suit for fraud brought by Mrs. Anand against Mahajan.
(a) Mrs. Anand will win because the vase was smasheds
(b) Mrs. Anand will win because the vase was not of the Gupta Period
(c) Mrs. Anand will lose because Mahajan believed that the vase was unbreakable.
(d) Mrs. Anand will lose because she did not care whether the vase was unbreakable.
Principle of Law II
An employer is liable for injuries caused by the careless acts of an employee, committed in the
course of his employment.
2. In a suit brought by Mrs. Anand against Capital Taxi Company for injuries caused by the
careless driving of Suresh.
(a) Mrs. Anand will win because Suresh was Capitals employee and his careless driving caused her
injury.
(b) Mrs. Anand will win because Suresh charged her the usual fee, even though lie was off duty.
(c) Mrs. Anand will lose because Suresh was off duty.
(d) Mrs. Anand will lose because Capital had a firm policy prohibiting its employees from caring
passengers while off duty.
Instructions:
In this part a principle of Law is first stated. It is followed by several sets of facts. Following each set of
facts ire four alternatives relating to possible applications of the principle to the particular set of facts.
Select the most reasonable alternative by a tick () mark against the answer of your choice.
Principle of Law
If, as a result of carelessness, one injures another, he is legally liable to the injured victim for
resulting damages, unless the victims own carelessness also contributed to causing the accident.
However, if one becomes aware that another has, through his own fault, placed himself in peril of

which lie is unaware or from which he cannot extricate himself, and the one so aware can still
avoid injury to the helpless victim through the exercise of reasonable care, the one so aware will be
liable for injuries which he causes the helpless victim through failure to take advantage of this ultimate
opportunity to save the victim from such injuries.
3. Chatterjee carelessly left a pole protruding across a public road. Mukherjee, riding a motorcycle,
saw the pole but, since he was driving at a speed substantially above the posted limit, lie collided with
the pole and was injured.
In an action by Mukherjee against Chatterjee.
(a) Mukherjee will win because if it had not been for Chatterjees carelessness, Mulherjee would not
have been injured.
(b) Mukherjee will because Chatterjee had an opportunity to prevent the injury by putting up a
warning.
(c) Mukherjee will lose because he was already breaking the law by driving too fast.
(d) Mukherjee will lose because if he had not been speeding, he would not have been injured.
4. Dwivedi ignored a red light and drove his car onto the railway tracks as a train was approaching.
The motor stalled and Dwivedi did not have sufficient time to get the car across the tracks. Trivedi, the
railway engine drive, saw Dwivedi and could have stopped the train had he not been waving at a
group of girls jogging along a road beside the track. They collided and Dwivedi was injured.
In an action by Dwivedi against Trivedi.
(a) Dwivedi will win because lie could not get to safety in time.
(b) Dwivedi will win because Trivedi was operating the train in a careless manner.
(c) Dwivedi will lose because Trivedi was relying on the warning signal.
(d) Dwivedi will lose because he did not obey the red signal.
SECTION VIII
Time : 10 minutes
In this section there are 10 questions. Each question is to be answered according to instructions given
by inserting the right wording. Filling the blank by choosing the right alternative or giving a one
sentence answer as the case may be:
1. Insert the missing letter and number in the last two boxes

_____

_____

2. The beginning and ending letters of a word are given. Fill in the middle five letters
UND _____ UND
3. A number is increased by 10% and then reduced by 10%. The number _____
(a) Dose not change; (b) decreases by 1%; (c) increases by1%
.
4. If three articles are sold for the cost price of four, the profit percentage is _____
(a) 25% (b) 33 1/3% (c) 50% (d) 40%
5. A sum of money at simple interest interest doubles itself in 20 years. The rate of interest is
(a) 20% (b) 10% (c) 5% (d) 7 %
Answer the following in one sentence in the space provided after each question:
6. Why do lawyers wear black coat and white bands?
7. Why is India called a Republic?
8. What is Sati?
9. What is the significance or the Chipko Movement?

10. What is legal aid?