Line Graphs MCQs for UPSC Prelims

88 practice questions on Line Graphs from the Data Interpretation section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus. 88 come with a written explanation and 18 are actual previous year questions. Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.

22 Easy 52 Medium 14 Hard 18 from past papers

Sample questions

Q1
Previous year question easy

The following graph shows the average profit of two fruit-sellers A and B in thousands (Rs.) per year from the year 1995 to 2000. Approximate values read from the graph (in thousands of rupees): Year: 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 A: 3.0 4.0 5.0 3.4 4.0 6.0 B: 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 5.0 5.4 What is the trend of the average profit of B from the year 1997 to the year 2000?

  1. A Non-increasing
  2. B Non-decreasing
  3. C Steady
  4. D Fluctuating
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - Non-decreasing

B's values from 1997 to 2000 are 4, 4, 5, 5.4. The sequence never falls: it stays the same from 1997 to 1998, then rises in 1999 and again in 2000. A series that never decreases (some steps flat, some rising) is called non-decreasing. It is not steady because it does change, and not fluctuating because it never goes down.

Q2
Previous year question hard

Consider the following Velocity-Time graph. It shows two trains, Train A and Train B, starting simultaneously on parallel tracks. The two velocity curves rise and meet (have equal velocity) at time t0, and the area under each curve is equal at time t1. With reference to the above graph, which one of the following statements is NOT correct? (a) Train B has an initial acceleration greater than that of Train A. (b) Train B is faster than Train A at all times. (c) Both trains have the same velocity at time t0. (d) Both trains travel the same distance in time t1 units.

  1. A Train B has an initial acceleration greater than that of Train A.
  2. B Train B is faster than Train A at all times.
  3. C Both trains have the same velocity at time t0.
  4. D Both trains travel the same distance in time t1 units.
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - Train B is faster than Train A at all times.

On a velocity-time graph, slope is acceleration and area under the curve is distance. Train B rises more steeply at the start, so its initial acceleration is greater (statement a is correct). The two curves meet at time t0, so the trains have the same velocity there (statement c is correct). The areas under the two curves become equal at t1, so they travel the same distance in that time (statement d is correct). However, since the curves cross/meet at t0, Train B is NOT faster than Train A at all times; beyond the crossing point their relative speeds change. Therefore statement (b) is not correct and is the answer.

Q3
Previous year question medium

Consider the following distance-time graph. The graph shows three athletes A, B and C running side by side for a 30 km race. (The graph plots Distance in km on the horizontal axis from 0 to 45, and Time in min on the vertical axis from 0 to 35. Curve A rises steeply at first and then flattens; curve B starts slow and rises sharply later, crossing A near the 25 km mark; curve C climbs gently throughout and stays well below the others over most of the race.) With reference to the above graph, consider the following statements: 1. The race was won by A. 2. B was ahead of A up to the 25 km mark. 3. C ran very slowly from the beginning. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A 1 only
  2. B 1 and 2 only
  3. C 2 and 3 only
  4. D 1, 2 and 3
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - 1 and 2 only

The winner is whoever covers 30 km in the least time. From the graph, A reaches the 30 km mark in the shortest time, so the race was won by A (statement 1 correct). Up to about the 25 km mark, B records less elapsed time than A for the same distance, meaning B was ahead of A until the 25 km mark, after which A pulls ahead and finishes first (statement 2 correct). Statement 3 is wrong: C did not run slowly from the very beginning; C kept pace early on and only fell behind later in the race, so describing C as very slow from the start is incorrect. Hence only statements 1 and 2 are correct.

Q4
Previous year question medium

Average hourly earnings per year (E) of the workers in a firm are represented in figures A and B as follows. In Figure A, the earnings E are plotted on a y-axis scaled from 20 to 40 (gridlines at 20, 25, 30, 35, 40) against the years 2013, 14, 15, 16, 17, rising as a straight line from 20 to 40. In Figure B, the same earnings data is plotted on a y-axis scaled from 10 to 40, against the same years, rising as a straight line from 20 to 40. From the figures, it is observed that the

  1. A values of E are different
  2. B ranges (i.e., the difference between the maximum and the minimum) of E are different
  3. C slopes of the graphs are same
  4. D rates of increase of E are different
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - slopes of the graphs are same

Both figures plot exactly the same data: earnings rise from 20 to 40 over the same years 2013 to 2017. Only the y-axis scaling differs (Figure A starts at 20, Figure B starts at 10), which makes the line look steeper or flatter visually. The actual values of E are identical, the range (40 minus 20 = 20) is identical, and the rate of increase is identical. The real slope, defined by the same change in E over the same change in time, is therefore the same in both graphs. Options about different values, ranges, or rates are wrong because the underlying data is unchanged. Answer: the slopes of the graphs are same.

Q5
Previous year question medium

The following graph indicates the composition of our tax revenue for a period of two decades. (The graph shows, year by year from around 1990-91 to 2010-11, the per cent of gross tax revenue contributed by Excise, Customs, Corporate tax, Personal income tax and Service tax.) With reference to the above graph, which of the following is/are the most logical and rational inference/inferences that can be made? 1. During the given period, the revenue from Direct Taxes as percentage of gross tax revenue has increased while that of Indirect Taxes decreased. 2. The trend in the revenue from Excise Duty demonstrates that the growth of manufacturing sector has been negative during the given period. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A 1 only
  2. B 2 only
  3. C Both 1 and 2
  4. D Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - 1 only

Direct taxes (Corporate tax + Personal income tax) rise as a share of gross tax revenue over the period, while indirect taxes (Excise + Customs + Service tax taken together) fall as a share, so statement 1 is a valid inference. Statement 2 is not: a falling SHARE of excise duty in total tax revenue does not by itself prove the manufacturing sector grew negatively. Excise share can shrink simply because other tax heads (income, corporate, service) grew faster, or because of rate/policy changes, even while manufacturing output rises in absolute terms. Sectoral output data is not given, so no conclusion about manufacturing growth can be drawn. Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Q6
Previous year question medium

The graph given below indicates the changes in key policy rates (Repo Rate, Reverse Repo Rate and Cash Reserve Ratio) made by the Central Bank several times in a year, with the rates being progressively raised over the period shown. Which one of the following can be the most likely reason for the Central Bank for such an action?

  1. A Encouraging foreign investment
  2. B Increasing the liquidity
  3. C Encouraging both public and private savings
  4. D Anti-inflationary stance
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - Anti-inflationary stance

The graph shows the Central Bank repeatedly raising its key policy rates (Repo, Reverse Repo and CRR) over the year. Raising these rates makes borrowing costlier and reduces the money available in the system. This is a contractionary monetary policy whose primary purpose is to curb excess money supply and rein in rising prices, that is, to fight inflation. Increasing rates reduces liquidity rather than increasing it (ruling out option b), and the chief macroeconomic motive for tightening is to control inflation. Hence the most likely reason is an anti-inflationary stance.

Q7
Previous year question medium

Read the passage given below, study the graph that follows and answer the item given below the figure. During a party, a person was exposed to contaminated water. A few days later, he developed fever and loose motion. He suffered for some days before going to a doctor for treatment. On starting the treatment, he soon became better and recovered completely a few days later. The graph plots the Number of Bacteria (vertical axis) against Time (horizontal axis). The curve is divided into successive regions labelled A, B, C, D and E: in region A the bacteria count is very low and rising slowly; in region B it rises steeply; in region C it is at its peak; in region D it falls after treatment begins; and in region E it returns to a very low level. Which region of the curve indicates that the person began showing symptoms of infection?

  1. A A
  2. B B
  3. C C
  4. D D
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - B

Symptoms such as fever and loose motion appear once the bacterial load crosses a threshold and starts multiplying rapidly. This corresponds to region B, where the curve climbs steeply. Region A is the symptom-free incubation phase, region C is the peak of full-blown illness (symptoms already present), and region D is recovery after treatment. The first appearance of symptoms therefore coincides with the steep rise, region B.

Q8
Previous year question easy

The following graph shows the average profit of two fruit-sellers A and B in thousands (Rs.) per year from the year 1995 to 2000. Approximate values read from the graph (in thousands of rupees): Year: 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 A: 3.0 4.0 5.0 3.4 4.0 6.0 B: 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 5.0 5.4 What is the difference between the average profit of B and A in the year 1998?

  1. A - Rs. 100
  2. B - Rs. 1,000
  3. C + Rs. 600
  4. D - Rs. 300
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - + Rs. 600

In 1998 B is at 4 thousand (4000) while A dips to about 3.4 thousand (3400). Difference of B minus A = 4000 - 3400 = +600. B earns Rs. 600 more than A, so the signed difference (B - A) is positive 600.

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