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Trap Type Practice

Distractor Pairing

In match-the-following or assertion-reason questions, UPSC pairs correct items with incorrect ones. Getting one pair right doesn't mean the combination is correct.

64
Questions
11
Years
7
Subjects
6%
of All PYQs

By Subject

Geography
14
History
13
Environment
11
Art & Culture
8
Economics
7
Polity
7
Science & Tech
4

Practice Distractor Pairing Questions

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Sample Questions (2025)

2025 Q13Geography
Consider the following statements : Statement I : Scientific studies suggest that a shift is taking place in the Earth's rotation and axis. Statement II : Solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections bombarded the Earth's outermost atmosphere with tremendous amount of energy. Statement III : As the Earth's polar ice melts, the water tends to move towards the equator. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I
(b) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I
(c) Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
(d) Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct
Answer: (b)
Trap: Distractor Pairing
Statement II (solar flares) is factually correct but does NOT explain Earth's axial shift. The axial shift is caused by redistribution of mass (ice melt moving water equatorward - Statement III). Candidates may think solar energy bombardment causes rotation shifts, picking (a).
2025 Q27History
With reference to ancient India (600-322 BC), consider the following pairs : Territorial region — River flowing in the region I. Asmaka : Godavari II. Kamboja : Vipas III. Avanti : Mahanadi IV. Kosala : Sarayu How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All the four
Answer: (b)
Trap: Distractor Pairing
Kamboja was in the northwest (near modern Afghanistan/Tajikistan), not on the Vipas (Beas). Avanti's capital Ujjain was on the Sipra (tributary of Chambal), not Mahanadi. Asmaka was on Godavari (correct) and Kosala was on Sarayu (correct). Candidates may accept III thinking Avanti was in central India near Mahanadi.
2025 Q60Art & Culture
Consider the following statements : I. In the finals of the 45th Chess Olympiad held in 2024, Gukesh Dommaraju became the world's youngest winner after defeating the Russian player Ian Nepomniachtchi. II. Abhimanyu Mishra, an American chess player, holds the record of becoming world's youngest ever Grandmaster. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II
Answer: (b)
Trap: Distractor Pairing
Statement I mixes up multiple facts: Gukesh DID become youngest World Chess Champion in 2024, but (1) it was the World Chess Championship, NOT the Chess Olympiad, and (2) he defeated Ding Liren (Chinese), NOT Nepomniachtchi (Russian). These subtle swaps make I look correct to those with partial knowledge.
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