Line Graphs MCQs for UPSC Prelims

83 practice questions on Line Graphs from the Data Interpretation section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus. 83 come with a written explanation and 14 are actual previous year questions. Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.

21 Easy 48 Medium 14 Hard 14 from past papers

Sample questions

Q1
Previous year question easy
A 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):
Year199519961997199819992000
A3.04.05.03.44.06.0
B4.04.04.04.05.05.4
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, described here in words. It shows two trains, Train A and Train B, starting simultaneously on parallel tracks. At the start Train B's velocity curve rises more steeply than Train A's. The two velocity curves meet (have equal velocity) at time t0, and the areas under the two curves up to time t1 are equal. With reference to this graph, which one of the following statements is NOT correct?
  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's curve is steeper at the start, so its initial acceleration is greater. The curves meet at t0, so the velocities are equal there. Equal areas up to t1 mean equal distances in that time. If Train B were faster at all times, its area would always be larger, so the areas could never be equal at t1; the claim that Train B is faster at all times is the incorrect statement.
Q3
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.
Q4
Previous year question medium
A graph, described here in words, indicates the composition of our tax revenue for a period of two decades. (The graph, described here in words, shows year by year from 1990-91 to 2010-11 the per cent of gross tax revenue contributed by Excise, Customs, Corporate tax, Personal income tax and Service tax. Over the period the shares of Excise and Customs both fall steadily, together dropping from about three-quarters of gross tax revenue to about one-third. The shares of Corporate tax and Personal income tax both rise, together climbing from under one-fifth to over one-half. Service tax, which appears only from the mid-1990s, grows to under one-tenth.) With reference to this 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.
Q5
Previous year question medium
A graph 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 Central Bank repeatedly raised its key policy rates (Repo, Reverse Repo and CRR) over the year. Higher rates make borrowing costlier and pull money out of the system. This is contractionary monetary policy, used to curb excess money supply and rising prices, that is, an anti-inflationary stance. Raising rates reduces liquidity rather than increasing it, and neither attracting foreign investment nor encouraging savings is the chief motive for such repeated tightening.
Q6
Previous year question medium
Read the passage given below, which also describes a graph in words, and answer the item that follows. 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.
Q7
Previous year question easy
A 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):
Year199519961997199819992000
A3.04.05.03.44.06.0
B4.04.04.04.05.05.4
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.
Q8
Previous year question easy
A 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):
Year199519961997199819992000
A3.04.05.03.44.06.0
B4.04.04.04.05.05.4
In which year is the average profit of A and B same?
  1. A 1995
  2. B 1996
  3. C 1997
  4. D 1998
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - 1996

The two curves intersect (have equal value) where A and B both stand at 4 thousand rupees. Reading the graph year by year, A is 3 in 1995, 4 in 1996, 5 in 1997, then dips to about 3.4 in 1998. B stays flat at 4 from 1995 through 1998. The only year both are equal at 4 is 1996. In 1995 A is 3 versus B at 4; in 1997 A is 5 versus B at 4; in 1998 A is about 3.4 versus B at 4. So the matching year is 1996.

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