Competitions

CAT Prep

Upskill

Placements

MBA Co'26

RTI Response

Rankings

Score Vs. %ile

Salaries

Campus Tour

CAT Reading Comprehension: Best Reading Sources from 2017-2023

Jul 15, 2024 | 5 minutes |

Join InsideIIM GOLD

Webinars & Workshops

Compare B-Schools

Free CAT Course

Take Free Mock Tests

Upskill With AltUni

CAT Study Planner

Final 19 Days to CAT 2024 Test-26

Participants: 110

Final 20 Days to CAT 2024 Test-26

Participants: 172

Final 21 Days to CAT 2024 Test-25

Participants: 142

Final 22 Days to CAT 2024 Test-24

Participants: 163

Final 23 Days to CAT 2024 Test-23

Participants: 100

Final 24 Days to CAT 2024 Test-22

Participants: 154

Final 25 Days to CAT 2024 Test-21

Participants: 144

Final 26 Days to CAT 2024 Test-20

Participants: 191

Final 27 Days to CAT 2024 Test-19

Participants: 169

Final 28 Days to CAT 2024 Test-18

Participants: 167

Final 29 Days to CAT 2024 Test-17

Participants: 174

Final 30 Days to CAT 2024 Test-16

Participants: 192

Final 31 Days to CAT 2024 Test-15

Participants: 183

Final 32 Days to CAT 2024 Test-14

Participants: 190

Final 33 Days to CAT 2024 Test-13

Participants: 191

Final 34 Days to CAT 2024 Test-12

Participants: 224

CAT 2017 VARC SLOT- 2

Participants: 309

CAT 2017 DILR SLOT- 2

Participants: 153

CAT 2017 VARC SLOT- 1

Participants: 296

CAT 2017 DILR SLOT- 1

Participants: 105

CAT 2017 QUANT SLOT 1

Participants: 149

CAT 2017 QUANT SLOT 2

Participants: 69

CAT 2018 QUANT SLOT 2

Participants: 65

CAT 2018 QUANT SLOT 1

Participants: 106

CAT 2018 DILR SLOT- 2

Participants: 56

CAT 2018 DILR SLOT- 1

Participants: 81

CAT 2018 VARC SLOT- 2

Participants: 202

CAT 2018 VARC SLOT- 1

Participants: 293

Final 35 Days to CAT 2024 Test-11

Participants: 152

Final 36 Days to CAT 2024 Test-10

Participants: 127

While everyone focuses on AEON Essays, an excellent resource to build your reading habit and train your mind, these resources often get overlooked for a comprehensive VARC preparation. Here is a list of resources that have been the source of CAT VARC section Reading Comprehension questions in past years. We have compiled RC topics and their sources from 2017-2023 below. (scroll down to see year-wise data tables) These are renowned sources for high-quality journalism and in-depth articles. The complexity and variety of topics make them an excellent resource for enhancing reading skills. They cover a broad spectrum of reading material from politics and international affairs to science and culture. Reading these will be easier due to the shorter and more engaging content. 

Practice For CAT With InsideIIM's Free Mock Tests!


Smithsonian Magazine is a captivating publication that features a wide array of articles that integrate the realms of history, science, and, artistic creativity Most science-based articles and content on Animals are excerpts from the Smithsonian magazine.   The Economist covers global economics, politics, and current affairs. The content is more on the analytical side. It is also a beneficial resource to improve your G.K. for other exams and interviews. Other highly recommended blog posts to follow: JSTOR Magazine, Prospect Magazine, OReilley, and TIME. Crash Course is a YouTube channel that explains Philosophy, Sociology, Political science, and more.

Check out Gejo Sir’s Free VARC Master Class at Inside IIM


CAT 2023 Reading Comprehension Passages & Source Slot 1 
Title Source Genre
Wolf The Economist Environment
Geographic Determinism Journal Sociology
Indian Ocean Writing Ocean Worlds
(Book)
Literature
Sahlins- Society Public books.org Literature
Slot 2
Title Source Genre
Second Hand September Prospect Magazine Environment
Netflix The Economist Culture
Historians Richmond History
Liberalism The Economist Political Science
Slot 3
Title Source Genre
Romantic Aesthetics Stanford- Encyclopaedia of Philosophy Philosophy
Archaeology- Patrimony LA Times Archaeology
Nutmeg The Third Pole History
Rational Thinking Washington Literature
CAT 2022 Reading Comprehension Passages & Source
No. Slot 1 Slot 2 Slot 3
1 The Chinese Copy AEON Octopuses Superpowers on the shore- Sejal Mehta Automation Wall Street Journal
2 Stoicism Encyclopedia of Emotion (1) Philosophy of Social Sciences The Sage- Ian C. Jarvie Biology & Technology Design Indaba Magazine
3 Critical Theory of Technology OReilly Tech-Social Dualism Scientific American Website Orientalism JSTOR Website
4 Stories of Undead Atmostfear Entertainment Humans Make Music JSTOR Website The Great Migration i Research Net
CAT 2021 Reading Comprehension Passages & Source
No. Slot 1 Slot 2 Slot 3
1 Travelling of Utopians Marxist Internet Archive Why Fiction Trumps Truth NY times Ultra tiny nano-
machines
New Scientist
2 Cuttlefish Smithsonian Magazine Ways to keep languages alive Press
Reader
Measuring time accurately New Scientist
3 A rock, human & tree Aeon The women’s question in tradition American Ethnologist The hidden soul American Imago
4 The Thirst of Empire Book- Erika Rappaport Scandals of Knowledge Cambridge Core The language within us NY Times

Quick Links:
Preparation Strategies and Time Table for CAT 2024
List of Books for CAT Exam 2024
Free online cat exam coaching by ARKSS
Test Prep By InsideIIM for CAT preparation, strategy, and topper’s insights

CAT 2020 Reading Comprehension Passages & Source
No. Slot 1 Slot 2 Slot 3
1 Elephant Seal The Atlantic Visual Culture Journey of Visual Culture Screen Exposure NY Times
2 Vocabulary Excerpt from Stephen King’s Book Piracy The Spectator Economic Crisis Denver Post
3 China Tang Dynasty Britannica Aggression Multiple Sources Travel Book- Encyclopedia of Human Geography
4 Greek Anarchia Britannica Renewable Energy MIT Press Direct Political Philosophy The Guardian

Join InsideIIM's Complete CAT 2024 Preparation Roadmap


CAT 2019 Reading Comprehension Passages & Source
No. Slot 1 Slot 2
1 Topophilia Encyclopedia of Human Geography How slums can save the planet Prospect Magazine
2 Music of the People The Guardian British Colonialism The Atlantic
3 Internet Shopping The Atlantic Why do governments move civil servants The Economist
4 Alladin TIME Newsletter Embracing Linguistic Diversities TIME
5 Emperor Penguins Smithsonian Magazine 3D Scans help preserve history NPR Newsletter
CAT 2018 Reading Comprehension Passages & Source
No. Slot 1 Slot 2
1 Elephant NY Times Magazine Hiring Best People Big Think
2 Recycling won't solve pollution Scientific American Snails to trace stone age Smithsonian Magazine
3 Utilitarian Goal NY Times Against Metrics Aeon
4 Evolution Aeon Saturn Rings The Economist
5 Historians have scant interest in war Hindustan Times - -
CAT 2017 Reading Comprehension Passages & Source
No. Slot 1 Slot 2
1 Modern Maps BBC Cities are at the forefront of creativity NY Times
2 Phone is Smart NY Times Ecosystem -
3 Death of Malls TIME Car Drivers Dream The Guardian
4 London Olympics Infrastructure NY Times Bring Back Typewriters The Guardian
5 - - Vikings Smithsonian Magazine