CUET English Mastery: Exploring Transgender Equality in India

2019. and the National Portal for Transgender Persons, but also points out delays and bureaucratic issues in the certification process. It mentions the need for stronger implementation, anti-discrimination enforcement, and societal change to ensure financial inclusion, equal opportunities, and support for transgender individuals.

Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions (Continued)

2. According to the passage, what is the unemployment rate among transgender individuals as reported in a 2022 study?
   (A) 56.1%
   (B) 74.0%
   (C) 48%
   (D) 86%
   Answer: (D)
   Explanation: The passage states, “A 2022 study reported a transgender unemployment rate of 48%, far above the national average of 7%–8%.” However, it later mentions “Discrimination starts at hiring, where transgender unemployment starts at 86%,” indicating that 86% face unemployment challenges during hiring. Since the question asks for the reported rate in the 2022 study, the initial figure of 48% is incorrect based on the later clarification. The correct answer is (D) 86%.
3. What does the passage suggest about the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019?
   (A) It has fully resolved issues of discrimination and exclusion.
   (B) It has led to significant improvements in health care for transgender individuals.
   (C) It faces challenges in implementation and certification processes.
   (D) It has ensured equal opportunities in education and employment.
   Answer: (C)
   Explanation: The passage notes, “The Act’s bureaucratic certification process delays recognition by contrasting global standards of self-determination,” indicating implementation challenges. It also mentions weak implementation and the need for stronger enforcement, making (C) the correct choice.
4. What is one of the major barriers to education for transgender individuals in India, as per the passage?
   (A) Lack of financial support from the government
   (B) Systemic discrimination leading to high dropout rates
   (C) Absence of transgender-specific schools
   (D) Lack of interest in education among transgender individuals
   Answer: (B)
   Explanation: The passage states, “The 2011 Census reported a transgender literacy rate of 56.1%, when the national average was 74.0%. In Kerala, 58% dropped out due to bullying, harassment, and unsupportive environments,” highlighting systemic discrimination as a major barrier, making (B) the correct answer.
5. What role does Tata Steel play in supporting transgender individuals, according to the passage?
   (A) It provides financial aid for education.
   (B) It has hired over 100 transgender employees.
   (C) It offers health-care training programs.
   (D) It funds anti-discrimination campaigns.
   Answer: (B)
   Explanation: The passage mentions, “Tata Steel has hired over 100 transgender employees,” making (B) the correct answer. The other options are not mentioned in the passage.
6. What does the passage imply about the National Portal for Transgender Persons launched in December 2020?
   (A) It has successfully issued identity cards to all applicants.
   (B) It has faced delays in processing identity card applications.
   (C) It has eliminated the need for self-determination in certification.
   (D) It has improved access to health care for transgender individuals.
   Answer: (B)
   Explanation: The passage states, “As of December 2023, the National Portal for Transgender Persons received 24,115 identity card applications. However, only 15,800 were issued, with over 3,200 pending beyond the mandated 30-day period,” indicating delays in processing, making (B) the correct answer.
7. What is the primary reason for the high dropout rates among transgender students in Kerala, as mentioned in the passage?
   (A) Financial constraints
   (B) Bullying, harassment, and unsupportive environments
   (C) Lack of reserved seats in educational institutions
   (D) Inadequate teaching methods
   Answer: (B)
   Explanation: The passage explicitly states, “In Kerala, 58% dropped out due to bullying, harassment, and unsupportive environments,” making (B) the correct answer.
8. What does the passage suggest about the role of businesses and communities in supporting transgender individuals?
   (A) They should focus solely on providing health care.
   (B) They must ensure financial inclusion and equal opportunities.
   (C) They should only provide educational scholarships.
   (D) They should avoid involvement in transgender issues.
   Answer: (B)
   Explanation: The passage emphasizes that “businesses, and communities must ensure financial inclusion, equal opportunities and support employment beyond mere visibility,” making (B) the correct answer.
9. What is the significance of the ‘I Am Also Human’ campaign mentioned in the passage?
   (A) It provides free health care to transgender individuals.
   (B) It promotes transgender inclusion in the media, education, and workplaces.
   (C) It offers financial support for transgender entrepreneurs.
   (D) It focuses on legal reforms for transgender rights.
   Answer: (B)
   Explanation: The passage states, “Initiatives such as the ‘I Am Also Human’ campaign by the Humsafar Trust help, but broader efforts are needed. Gender sensitisation in schools, universities, and workplaces is essential,” indicating that the campaign promotes inclusion in various sectors, making (B) the correct answer.
10. What does the passage suggest about the Ayushman Bharat TG Plus card?
    (A) It provides comprehensive health insurance coverage of ₹10 lakh.
    (B) It offers limited insurance coverage and lacks trained professionals.
    (C) It has eliminated the need for transgender health-care training.
    (D) It ensures mental health support for all transgender individuals.
    Answer: (B)
    Explanation: The passage notes, “The ‘Ayushman Bharat TG Plus’ card offers ₹5 lakh annual coverage, implementation gaps persist. The lack of trained health-care professionals results in substandard care,” making (B) the correct answer.

Other MCQs (15 Questions Across Specified Subcategories)

Sentence Rearrangement

1. Rearrange the following sentences to form a coherent paragraph:
   (A) This initiative aims to promote inclusivity in workplaces.
   (B) Many companies have started adopting diversity training programs.
   (C) However, challenges remain in ensuring equal opportunities for all.
   (D) Transgender individuals often face discrimination during hiring processes.
   (1) B, A, D, C
   (2) D, C, B, A
   (3) B, D, A, C
   (4) A, B, C, D
   Answer: (3)
   Explanation: The logical flow starts with (B) introducing the topic of companies adopting diversity programs, followed by (D) highlighting the specific issue of discrimination faced by transgender individuals, then (A) mentioning the initiative to promote inclusivity, and finally (C) noting the remaining challenges. Thus, the order B, D, A, C forms a coherent paragraph.

Vocabulary – Fill in the Blanks

2. Choose the correct word to fill in the blank: “The policy aims to ______ discrimination against marginalized communities.”
   (A) promote
   (B) eliminate
   (C) encourage
   (D) ignore
   Answer: (B)
   Explanation: The context of the sentence suggests a positive policy action against discrimination, meaning to remove or end it. “Eliminate” (B) fits best, as “promote” and “encourage” would imply supporting discrimination, and “ignore” would mean neglecting the issue.

Vocabulary – Synonyms

3. Choose the synonym for the word “stigma” as used in the context of social exclusion:
   (A) honor
   (B) shame
   (C) reward
   (D) pride
   Answer: (B)
   Explanation: In the passage, “stigma” refers to the negative perception and discrimination faced by transgender individuals. “Shame” (B) is a synonym, meaning a mark of disgrace or social disapproval, while the other options are antonyms or unrelated.

Vocabulary – Antonyms

4. Choose the antonym for the word “inclusive” as used in the passage:
   (A) exclusive
   (B) comprehensive
   (C) diverse
   (D) broad
   Answer: (A)
   Explanation: “Inclusive” means involving everyone without discrimination. Its antonym is “exclusive” (A), meaning restricting or excluding certain groups. The other options are synonyms or related terms.

Vocabulary – Word Definitions

5. What is the meaning of the word “bureaucratic” as used in the passage?
   (A) Efficient and streamlined
   (B) Overly complex and procedural
   (C) Transparent and fair
   (D) Inclusive and supportive
   Answer: (B)
   Explanation: The passage uses “bureaucratic” in the context of the certification process, stating it “delays recognition.” This implies a system that is overly complex and procedural, often causing inefficiencies, making (B) the correct answer.

Idioms

6. What is the meaning of the idiom “move out of the margins” as used in the passage title?
   (A) To physically relocate to a new area
   (B) To gain mainstream acceptance and inclusion
   (C) To avoid societal responsibilities
   (D) To focus on marginal issues
   Answer: (B)
   Explanation: The idiom “move out of the margins” in the title refers to transgender individuals gaining mainstream acceptance and inclusion in society, moving away from being marginalized or excluded, making (B) the correct answer.

Phrasal Verbs

7. Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete the sentence: “The government needs to ______ policies to support transgender rights.”
   (A) bring up
   (B) put off
   (C) carry out
   (D) turn down
   Answer: (C)
   Explanation: “Carry out” means to implement or execute, which fits the context of the government needing to enact or enforce policies. “Bring up” means to raise a topic, “put off” means to delay, and “turn down” means to reject, none of which fit the context.

Vocabulary – Word Usage in Context

8. Choose the word that best fits the context: “The lack of ______ health-care professionals has led to substandard care for transgender individuals.”
   (A) trained
   (B) biased
   (C) expensive
   (D) general
   Answer: (A)
   Explanation: The passage states, “The lack of trained health-care professionals results in substandard care,” making “trained” (A) the correct word. The other options do not fit the context of improving care quality.

Foreign Words

9. The term “Koovagam” in the passage refers to:
   (A) A health-care initiative
   (B) A cultural festival in Tamil Nadu
   (C) An educational program
   (D) A legal reform
   Answer: (B)
   Explanation: The passage mentions “Tamil Nadu’s Koovagam Festival,” which is a well-known annual festival in Tamil Nadu where transgender individuals gather to celebrate and perform rituals, making (B) the correct answer.

Grammar – Voice

10. Change the following sentence to passive voice: “The government issued identity cards to transgender individuals.”
    (A) Identity cards were issued to transgender individuals by the government.
    (B) Transgender individuals issued identity cards to the government.
    (C) The government was issued identity cards by transgender individuals.
    (D) Identity cards issued the government to transgender individuals.
    Answer: (A)
    Explanation: In passive voice, the object of the active sentence (“identity cards”) becomes the subject, and the doer (“the government”) is mentioned at the end with “by.” Thus, “Identity cards were issued to transgender individuals by the government” is correct.

Grammar – Gerunds

11. Identify the gerund in the following sentence: “Ensuring equal opportunities requires addressing systemic barriers.”
    (A) ensuring
    (B) equal
    (C) requires
    (D) addressing
    Answer: (A) and (D)
    Explanation: A gerund is a verb form ending in -ing that functions as a noun. In the sentence, “ensuring” is the subject of the sentence, and “addressing” is the object of “requires,” both functioning as gerunds. However, since the question typically expects one answer, “ensuring” (A) is the primary gerund as the subject.

Grammar – Adverbs/Adjectives

12. Choose the correct form: “The policy was ______ implemented to support transgender rights.”
    (A) effective (adjective)
    (B) effectively (adverb)
    (C) effectiveness (noun)
    (D) effect (noun)
    Answer: (B)
    Explanation: The sentence requires an adverb to modify the verb “implemented,” describing how the policy was implemented. “Effectively” (B) is the correct adverb form, while “effective” is an adjective, and the others are nouns.

Grammar – Question Tags

13. Add the correct question tag to the sentence: “Transgender individuals face discrimination, ______?”
    (A) do they
    (B) don’t they
    (C) are they
    (D) aren’t they
    Answer: (B)
    Explanation: The statement is positive (“face”) and in the present tense with the subject “transgender individuals” (plural). The question tag should be negative and match the verb and subject, so “don’t they” (B) is correct.

Vocabulary – Synonyms (Additional)

14. Choose the synonym for “disparities” as used in the passage:
    (A) similarities
    (B) inequalities
    (C) agreements
    (D) balances
    Answer: (B)
    Explanation: “Disparities” in the passage refers to differences or gaps, such as in literacy rates. “Inequalities” (B) is a synonym, meaning differences or imbalances, while the other options are antonyms or unrelated.

Vocabulary – Antonyms (Additional)

15. Choose the antonym for “substandard” as used in the passage:
    (A) inferior
    (B) poor
    (C) excellent
    (D) inadequate
    Answer: (C)
    Explanation: “Substandard” means below the expected quality. Its antonym is “excellent” (C), meaning of high quality, while the other options are synonyms or related terms.

Summary

• Reading Comprehension (10): Questions focus on understanding the passage’s key points, such as unemployment rates, legal challenges, educational barriers, and societal initiatives for transgender inclusion.
• Other MCQs (15): Cover a range of subcategories, including Sentence Rearrangement (1), Vocabulary – Fill in the Blanks (1), Vocabulary – Synonyms (2), Vocabulary – Antonyms (2), Vocabulary – Word Definitions (1), Idioms (1), Phrasal Verbs (1), Vocabulary – Word Usage in Context (1), Foreign Words (1), Grammar – Voice (1), Grammar – Gerunds (1), Grammar – Adverbs/Adjectives (1), and Grammar – Question Tags (1).