UPSC Prelims 2014— Question 74

Correct answer: Option A. A crab is a crustacean, while mites, scorpions and spiders are arachnids. The distinguishing feature is therefore taxonomic class: crab belongs to Crustacea, whereas the other three belong to Arachnida. Hence crab is the odd one out. Option A: Correct. This option is consistent with the governing fact or the valid combination identified in the question. The option reads: “Crab” Option B: Incorrect. This option does not match the verified answer because its proposition, location, institution, sequence, or combination conflicts with the relevant fact tested in the question. The option reads: “Mite” Option C: Incorrect. This option does not match the verified answer because its proposition, location, institution, sequence, or combination conflicts with the relevant fact tested in the question. The option reads: “Scorpion” Option D: Incorrect. This option does not match the verified answer because its proposition, location, institution, sequence, or combination conflicts with the relevant fact tested in the question. The option reads: “Spider” The key Prelims lesson is to test each proposition independently before selecting the combination. Where the question uses words such as 'only', 'all', 'none', 'always' or a precise institutional/geographical association, a single inaccurate component is sufficient to eliminate the option. The answer recorded here follows the official answer key for the question-paper series represented by the uploaded source and has been cross-checked against an independent published key. The explanation is intended for conceptual revision rather than as a reproduction of any third-party solution.