Pie Charts MCQs for UPSC Prelims

84 practice questions on Pie Charts from the Data Interpretation section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus. 84 come with a written explanation and 6 are actual previous year questions. Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.

38 Easy 33 Medium 13 Hard 6 from past papers

Sample questions

Q1
Previous year question medium
The following pie charts show the break-up of disease categories recorded in the patients from two towns, Town A and Town B. The pie charts plot the disease categories as a percentage of the total number of patients in each town (categories: Diabetes, High BP, Obesity, Heart Disease, Others). Based on these, which of the two towns has a higher number of persons with Diabetes? (a) Town A (b) Town B (c) Same in Town A and Town B (d) No inference can be drawn
  1. A Town A
  2. B Town B
  3. C Same in Town A and Town B
  4. D No inference can be drawn
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - No inference can be drawn

The pie charts give only the percentage of patients in each disease category, not the actual number of patients in each town. To compare the absolute number of diabetic persons, we would need the total number of patients in Town A and Town B, which is not provided. A higher percentage in one town can still mean fewer people if its total patient count is smaller. Therefore no inference about the actual number can be drawn.
Q2
Previous year question easy
A pie diagram shows the percentage distribution of proteins, water and other dry elements in the human body. Given that proteins correspond to 16% and water corresponds to 70%. If both proteins and the other dry elements correspond to p%, then what is the central angle of the sector representing p on the pie diagram?
  1. A 54°
  2. B 96°
  3. C 108°
  4. D 120°
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - 108°

The three components must total 100%. With proteins at 16% and water at 70%, other dry elements account for 100 - 16 - 70 = 14%. Then p = proteins + other dry elements = 16 + 14 = 30%. The central angle for 30% of a pie is 0.30 x 360 = 108 degrees, option (c). Option (a) 54 degrees corresponds to 15%, option (b) 96 degrees to about 26.7%, and option (d) 120 degrees to 33.3% - none matches the 30% sector.
Q3
Previous year question medium
The following pie charts show the break-up of disease categories recorded in the patients from two towns, Town A and Town B. The pie charts plot the disease categories as a percentage of the total number of patients in each town. What can we say about persons with more than one disease from these graphs? (a) There are likely to be persons with more than one disease in Town A. (b) There are likely to be persons with more than one disease in Town B. (c) There are likely to be persons with more than one disease in both Towns A and B. (d) No inference can be drawn.
  1. A There are likely to be persons with more than one disease in Town A.
  2. B There are likely to be persons with more than one disease in Town B.
  3. C There are likely to be persons with more than one disease in both Towns A and B.
  4. D No inference can be drawn.
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - No inference can be drawn.

Each pie chart's categories add up to 100 percent of the patients, with every patient placed in exactly one disease slice. The charts do not tell us whether any individual patient is counted in more than one category, nor do they give any overlap data. With no information on individuals having multiple diseases, no inference about persons with more than one disease can be drawn from these graphs.
Q4
Previous year question easy
Study the data from two figures, given here as tables, and answer the item that follows. Number of professors in selected disciplines in a University, by sex:
DisciplineMaleFemale
Physics328
Mathematics288
Chemistry1622
Botany1014
Psychology46
Economics248
Age of Physics professors (from a pie chart):
Age groupShare of Physics professors
25-34 years30%
35-44 years40%
45-59 years20%
60-65 years10%
How many Physics professors belong to the age group 35-44?
  1. A 18
  2. B 16
  3. C 14
  4. D 12
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - 16

Total number of Physics professors equals male plus female, which is 32 + 8 = 40. From the pie chart, the age group 35-44 accounts for 40% of Physics professors. So 40% of 40 = 0.40 x 40 = 16 professors.
Q5
Previous year question easy
A pie chart gives the expenditure on five different items A, B, C, D and E in a household. If B, C, D and E correspond to 90 degrees, 50 degrees, 45 degrees and 75 degrees respectively, then what is the percentage of expenditure on item A?
  1. A 112/9
  2. B 125/6
  3. C 155/9
  4. D 250/9
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - 250/9

The four given items B, C, D and E correspond to 90 + 50 + 45 + 75 = 260 degrees, so item A's sector is 360 - 260 = 100 degrees. Its share of expenditure is (100/360) x 100 = 250/9 percent, about 27.8%, option (d). Option (a) 112/9 would need a sector of about 44.8 degrees, option (b) 125/6 a sector of 75 degrees (that is item E), and option (c) 155/9 a sector of 62 degrees; none equals A's 100 degrees.
Q6
Previous year question medium
Study the data from two figures, given here as tables, and answer the item that follows. Number of professors in selected disciplines in a University, by sex:
DisciplineMaleFemale
Physics328
Mathematics288
Chemistry1622
Botany1014
Psychology46
Economics248
Age of Physics professors (from a pie chart):
Age groupShare of Physics professors
25-34 years30%
35-44 years40%
45-59 years20%
60-65 years10%
If the number of female Physics professors in the age group 25-34 equals 25% of all the Physics professors in that age group, then what is the number of male Physics professors in the age group 25-34?
  1. A 9
  2. B 6
  3. C 3
  4. D 2
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - 9

Total Physics professors = 32 + 8 = 40. The age group 25-34 is 30% of these, which is 0.30 x 40 = 12 professors. Female professors in this group equal 25% of 12 = 3. Therefore male professors in this group = 12 - 3 = 9.
Q7
easy
A pie chart of a family's monthly budget allots: Food 30 percent, Rent 25 percent, Transport 15 percent, Education 20 percent, Savings 10 percent. If the total monthly income is Rs. 40,000, how much more is spent on Food than on Transport?
  1. A Rs. 12,000
  2. B Rs. 4,000
  3. C Rs. 6,000
  4. D Rs. 8,000
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - Rs. 6,000

Food = 30 percent of 40,000 = 12,000. Transport = 15 percent of 40,000 = 6,000. Difference = 12,000 - 6,000 = 6,000. Rs. 4,000 would be a 10 percent gap; Rs. 8,000 a 20 percent gap; Rs. 12,000 is the Food amount itself, not the difference.
Q8
medium
A library catalogues 7,200 books as a pie chart by category: Science 35%, Fiction 25%, History 15%, Arts 10% and Reference 15%. The library decides to add new Arts books so that the number of Arts books becomes equal to the number of Fiction books, with all other categories unchanged. How many Arts books must be added?
  1. A 1,080
  2. B 1,800
  3. C 720
  4. D 900
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - 1,080

Fiction = 25% of 7,200 = 1,800 books. Arts = 10% of 7,200 = 720 books. To raise Arts to match Fiction, add 1,800 - 720 = 1,080 books. Hence 1,080 is correct. 720 is the current Arts count, not the addition. 1,800 is the final Fiction/Arts target, not the increase. 900 corresponds to a wrong 12.5% gap. Only 1,080 equals the required increase.

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