Previous Years' Papers of CLAT, AILET

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 Previous Years’ Papers of

3
t
Lates of

CLAT, AILET
rs
THIRD pape and
EDITION CLAT T
AILE
AND OTHER LAW ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS WITH ANSWER KEYS

A.P. Bhardwaj

CLAT, AILET
Previous Years’ Papers of
3
10 CLAT papers 2008–2017
3
10 AILET papers 2008–2017
3
Mastering the previous years’ papers is a sure-shot method of ensuring better performance in 23 papers from other key examinations, such as PU
3
the actual examination. Along with it, the detailed section-wise examination analysis provides (CET), PU (OCET), HP (NLU), SET (Law) and DU (Law)
knowledge of trends, pattern and types of questions that have been featured over the years.
This edition provides a comprehensive set of 43 papers from key examinations, such as CLAT, THIRD
AILET and other important Law Entrance Examinations, such as PU (CET), PU (OCET), HP (NLU)
and SET (Law). Hence, proving to be a one-stop solution to master all key examination patterns. EDITION
The book covers over 6000 questions with answer keys and few OMR sheets.

Previous Years’ Papers of

CLAT, AILET
COVERAGE
w
10 CLAT papers 2008–2017

Cover image: smolaw.Shutterstock.com 3

w
10 AILET papers 2008–2017
w
23 papers from other key examinations, such as PU (CET),
PU (OCET), HP (NLU), SET (Law) and DU (Law) THIRD
EDITION AND OTHER LAW ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS WITH ANSWER KEYS

Also useful for PU, DU, HPU, KU BHU, AIL, MAH (CET), HP (NLU) & SYMBIOSIS

Bhardwaj
in.pearson.com

ISBN 978-93-528-6669-4

A.P. Bhardwaj
9 789352 866694

Size: 203x254 mm Spine: 24 mm ISBN: 9789352866694 Territory line mQuest

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This page is intentionally left blank.
 Previous Years’ Papers of
CLAT, AILET and Other Law
Entrance Examinations
With Answer Keys
3rd Edition

A. P. BHARDWAJ
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Dedicated to My Daughter
Anaadi
The Driving Force of My Life
This page is intentionally left blank.
 Contents
Prefaceix HP (NLU) 2017 413
About the Author x PU (CET) 2017 425
Examination Analysis–CLAT and AILET xi PU (CET) 2016 433

CLAT 2017 1 PU (CET) 2015 440

CLAT 2016 25 PU (CET) 2014 447

CLAT 2015 46 PU (CET) 2013 454

CLAT 2014 70 PU (CET) 2012 461

CLAT 2013 96 PU (CET) 2011 468

CLAT 2012 120 PU (CET) 2010 475

CLAT 2011 143 PU (CET) 2009 482

CLAT 2010 174 PU (OCET) 2016 488

CLAT 2009 190 PU (OCET) 2013 492

CLAT 2008 206 PU (OCET) 2012 496

AILET 2017 229 PU (OCET) 2011 501

AILET 2016 249 PU (OCET) 2010 505

AILET 2015 268 PU (OCET) 2009 509

AILET 2014 290 SET (LAW) 2012 513

AILET 2013 311 SET (LAW) 2011 530

AILET 2012 329 SET (LAW) 2010 550

AILET 2011 345 SET (LAW) 2009 567

AILET 2010 363 DU (LAW) 2010 583

AILET 2009 382 DU (LAW) 2009 600

AILET 2008 397 DU (LAW) 2008 614

This page is intentionally left blank.
 Preface
It gives me immense pleasure to present the third edition of Previous Years’ Papers of CLAT, AILET and Other Law
Entrance Examinations with Answer Keys.
All efforts have been made to ensure this book delivers complete papers (from inception to present) of CLAT and
AILET. These papers will acquaint students with all the aspects of the examination along with the changing trends,
patterns and style. In addition to it, examination papers from P.U. (LAW), D.U. (LAW), HP (NLU) and Symbiosis [SET
(LAW)] have also been included to provide wide range of questions with their answers.
The book mainly presents previous year examination of following papers:
1. COMMON LAW ADMISSION TEST (CLAT) solved papers from 2008 to 2017
2. ALL INDIA LAW ENTRANCE TEST (AILET) from 2008 to 2017
3. PANJAB UNIVERSITY (COMMON ENTRANCE TEST) (LAW) [P.U. CET (LAW)]—5 Year B.A./B.Com. LL.B.
from 2009 to 2017
4. PU OTHER COMMON ENTRANCE TEST (LAW) [P.U. OCET (LAW)]—3 Year LL.B. from 2009 to 2013 and 2016
5. HIMACHAL PRADESH NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY [HP (NLU)] of 2017
6. SYMBIOSIS ENTRANCE TEST (LAW) [SET (LAW)] from 2009 to 2012
7. DELHI UNIVERSITY (LAW) [D.U. (LAW)] from 2008 to 2010
The legal aptitude section of various papers highlights the subject’s importance and illustrates that to crack any
law entrance test, one should be well versed with legal awareness, legal GK and legal reasoning.
General Knowledge (G.K.) especially Static G.K. plays a crucial role in all these examinations. With its range
being very wide and diverse, students need to focus on important topics from History, Geography, Science, Polity,
Economy as well as from General Awareness, such as current information about UNO, awards, honours, books and
sports to name a few.
In English section, vocabulary plays a significant role in CLAT, SET, AILET, CET and OCET.
To score well in Mathematics, students would need to understand the trends from various solved papers of differ-
ent universities. The solved logical ability sections of various exams clearly indicates that there is no clear cut alloca-
tion of any particular topic but they must be acquainted with basic arithmetical topics and rigorously practice too.
Having gone through these papers of premier law entrances, the students will be well conversant with varying
trends and pattern, and it will assist them to plan and prepare accordingly to score well in the exam with ease and
comfortability.
I hope the students will be greatly benefited with this new edition.
Suggestions are welcome.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I must acknowledge Pearson who always welcome quality and innovative books. None of the great work can be
accomplished single-handedly. It always demands inputs from various quarters to make any book a brand and a
success.
I would like to thank Pearson team for giving their best. I also acknowledge the well wishes of all my near and
dear ones.
A. P. Bhardwaj
 About the Author
About the Author

A.P. Bhardwaj is the Director of Innovation,

A. P. Bhardwaj is Director,aInnovation,
popular institute
a well-known known for which
institute mentoring
provides
students for CLAT, SET,coaching
LSAT and to students
other forlawCLAT, SET, LSAT
entrance test and for other Law
preparations. InEntrance
the pastTest
preparations.
decade, he has successfully He has coached
guided numerous thousands
students to getof students tointo
admission getnational
admissionlaw into
national law schools, colleges and universities. He has also
schools, colleges and universities across India. He has also enabled a lot of candidates to enabled hundreds
of candidates to enter into civil and judicial services as he is well known in
enter civil and judicial services. He is well known in the tricity of Chandigarh, Panchkula
the tricity of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali for imparting quality coach-
and Mohali for imparting ingquality guidance
for Compulsory for Compulsory
English and Essay PaperEnglish andand
for Civil Essay Paper
Judicial for
Services
civil and judicial serviceExaminations.
examinations.
He is also a regular contributor
He has in newspapers
authored 10 bookslike
forThe Hindu,
various Hindustanexaminations.
competitive Times, The TimesHe is
of India and Amar Ujala, also
anda in monthly
regular journals
contributor for all competitive
in newspapers like The Hindu,examinations
Hindustan Times, like
The
India and
Times of Sahitya.
Pratiyogita Darpan and Pratiyogita HeAmar
has Ujala,
authoredand 10
in monthly
books for journals
variousforcompetitive
all competitive
examinations. Studentsexams like Pratiyogita
can visit his site at Darpan and Pratiyogita Sahitya. Students
www.innovationiasclat.com for more candetails.
also visit
his site at www.innovationiasclat.com.

A01_9789332524804_FM.indd viii 1/7/2014 3:35:43 PM

 Examination Analysis–
CLAT and AILET
CLAT AND AILET—AN INDEPTH ANALYSIS
COMMON LAW ADMISSION TEST (CLAT) is conducted every year for admission to the 19 National Law
Universities (NLU) of our country. On the other hand, All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) is held for NLU,
Delhi. CLAT paper consists of 200 marks where as AILET is made up of 150 Marks. Introduced in 2008, CLAT
was started with a humble beginning of 8000 applicants but within a span of 10 years, this number has crossed
50,000 applicants and is still multiplying with every passing year.
The inclination for legal field is soaring high and so is the popularity of CLAT and AILET. With every passing year,
not only is the number of applicants increasing, but the difficulty level of examination pattern is also going up at
meteoric speed. The students, irrespective of their background, are getting attracted towards the legal field and
consequently making CLAT and AILET further more popular and tougher at the same time. Nonetheless, cracking
CLAT and AILET is not an easy task as it requires perfect blend of hard work and smart work. Hard work, obviously,
has no substitute but, at the same time, smart work is also required to get away from over flooded undesirable
materials in the market which may steal away your precious time, money and energy.
To assist you in your decision as to what to study and how, topic/section-wise description has been provided
along with tables depicting section-wise bifurcation of 200 marks of CLAT and 150 marks of AILET in the core
sections.

CLAT Pattern AILET Pattern

Total Questions: 200 Total Questions: 150
Duration: 120 minutes Total Time: 90 Minutes
Negative Marking: Yes (0.25 marks) Negative Marking: No

CLAT 200 MARKS AILET 150 MARKS

LEGAL APTITUDE 50 LEGAL APTITUDE 35
GK and CA 50 GK and CA 35

ENGLISH 40 ENGLISH 35

MATHS 20 MATHS 10

LEGAL REASONING 40 LEGAL REASONING 35

Total 150
Total 200
xii | Examination Analysis– CLAT and AILET

LEGAL APTITUDE
Legal aptitude—comprising legal awareness and legal reasoning—is the main component of CLAT and
AILET and other major law entrances examinations.
The tables provided are suggestive of the weightage given to legal awareness and legal reasoning under the legal
aptitude section that carries 50 marks in CLAT and 35 marks in AILET.
Since the introduction of CLAT in 2008, the trend of questions of legal aptitude has been varying.
1. From 2015 to 2017, a very serious balancing attempt is being made to bring the weightage to both the verti-
cals at par.
2. In 2008, all legal aptitude questions were from legal reasoning.
3. In 2009 and 2010, there was a total reversal of trend and all legal aptitude questions were from legal awareness.
4. 2011 was again like 2008.
5. 2012 showed impartial division.
6. 2013 and 2014 were like 2008 and 2011, respectively.
7. Since 2015, equal weightage is being given to both the verticals.
It may be expected that this pattern may remain preferable in the future. The trends of previous years’ papers
clearly indicate that Constitutional Law and Law of Torts are given the highest precedence as compared to other
components of Legal Aptitude.

CLAT—Legal Aptitude Section 5 Years’ Examination Analysis – 50 Marks

Number of Questions Each Year
Section Topics 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Legal List of Legal Terms 15 6 5
Awareness Constitutional Law 9 12
Legal GK 10
Total Marks 15 15 27
Legal Law of Torts 10 11 5 13 8
Reasoning Civil Law 14 13 4 15 18
Criminal Law 11 11 9 15 14
Miscellaneous (Hindu Marriage and 5 7 10
Adoption Act, Environmental Pollution,
Copyright Violation)
Total Marks 35 35 23 50 50
Legal Aptitude Weightage 50 50 50 50 50
 Examination Analysis– CLAT and AILET | xiii

AILET—Legal Aptitude Section 5 Years’ Examination Analysis – 35 Marks

Number of Questions Each Year
Section Topics 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Legal Legal Terms 5
Awareness Constitutional 26 16 10 8 15
G.A. and G.K.
Total Questions 26 16 10 8 20
Total Marks 26 16 10 8 20
Torts 5 2 8 7 10
Legal Civil Law 3 2 3 10
Reasoning Criminal Law 0 9 5 5
Miscellaneous 1 15 5 4
Total Marks 9 19 25 27 15
Grand Total Marks 35 35 35 35 35

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE (GK)

General Knowledge is one of the most important and equally tricky section because of its vastness. GK has broadly
two components, i.e., static GK and current affairs (CA).
In CLAT, GK’s weightage is of 50 marks making it equally important to that of legal section. These two sections
together comprise 100 marks—half of the 200 marks score.On the other hand, AILET has 35 marks of GK.
Static GK includes it history, polity, geography, general science, economy and above all, the unending general
awareness. It requires thorough study and preparing of short notes along with practicing lot of multiple choice
questions (MCQ).

CLAT—General Knowledge and Current Affairs Section 5 Years’ Examination Analysis – 50 Marks

Number of Questions Each Year

Section Topics 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Static G.K. History 3 10 10
Polity 10 7 3
Geography 5 4 4 2
Science 2 4 3
Economy 2 3 2
General Awareness (Books, UNO, 10 6 5 10
Records, First and Last, Highest,
Tallest, Smallest, Biggest)
Total Marks 25 17 33 30
Current Affairs Total Marks 50 25 33 17 20
Gross Total Marks 50 50 40 50 50
xiv | Examination Analysis– CLAT and AILET

AILET—G.K. and Current Affairs Section 5 Years’ Examination Analysis – 35 Marks

Number of Questions Each Year
Section Topics 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
G. K. 1. History 5
2. Geography 5 4 2 5 4
3. Science 10 4 2 3 4
4. Economic 5
5. Polity 5 6
6. General Awareness 7 5 3
Total Marks 15 15 4 18 27
C.A. Total Marks 20 20 31 17 8
Grand Total Marks 35 35 35 35 35

TEST OF ENGLISH
The test of English language has a weightage of 40 marks in CLAT and 35 in AILET. If one happens to make a
cursory look on the previous year papers, one can easily make out that vocabulary covers sizeable portion. 50%
questions are directly asked on various forms of vocabulary, such as synonyms, antonyms, idioms and phrases,
spellings, finding odd word and the closest meaning, therefore, a word bank storage is an inevitable requirement
for the legal field. Comprehension consumes 25% share and is designed such that students who have very vast
reading habits and consequent vast vocabulary knowledge (with ability to decipher the meanings in proper con-
text and perspective) will be able to comprehend and answer the questions correctly. The remaining 25% focuses
on grammar, usage, errors, ordering and reordering of sentences. Nonetheless, one can easily become proficient
in these topics with the help of adequate practice.

CLAT—English Section 5 Years’ Examination Analysis – 40 Marks

Number of Questions Each Year
Section Topics 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Vocabulary Spellings 10 5 5 5
Synonyms 4 5 5 5
Antonyms 3
Idioms and Phrases 3 5 5
One Word Substitution 3
Total Marks 10 9 14 15 15
Comprehension I 5 10
II 5 10 10 10
Total Marks 10 10 10 10 10
Grammar and Test of Usage 10 10 11 10 10
Errors Errors 5
Ordering of Sentences Ordering of Sentences
Preposition 10 4 3
Pronouns 2
Article 2 5 5
Total Marks 20 21 16 15 15
Grand Total Marks 40 40 40 40 40
 Examination Analysis– CLAT and AILET | xv

AILET—English Section 5 Years’ Examination Analysis – 35 Marks

Number of Questions Each Year

Section Topics 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Vocabulary Synonyms 2 5 4 4
Antonyms 3 4 4
Idioms 3 3 5 2 2
One Word Substitution 5 4
Spellings/Odd word
Grammar and Usage 9 13 10 5 11
Error 4 5
Re-ordering 3 5 4 3
Comprehension 9 6 7 6
Filling the passage with words 11 5 9
Total Marks 35 35 35 35 35

MATHEMATICAL ABILITY
This section comprises 20 questions of 1 mark each in CLAT and 10 questions of 10 marks in AILET. The topics
invariably covered are average, simplification, ration/proportion, simple interest/compound interest, (time-work-
distance), partnership, area/ volume, probability, surds and indices. For this purpose, refreshing your fundamentals
from 9th and 10th standard school books and bit of practice will be sufficient.

CLAT—Mathematics Section 5 Years’ Examination Analysis – 20 Marks

Number of Questions Each Year

Section Topics 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Mathematics Average
Simplification
Simple Interest/ Compound Interest
Time, Work and Distance
Profit and Loss
20 20 20 20 20
Ration and Proportion
Probability
Area of Volume
Probability
Surds and Indices
Total Marks 20 20 20 20 20
xvi | Examination Analysis– CLAT and AILET

AILET—Mathematics Section 5 Years’ Examination Analysis – 10 Mark

Number of Questions Each Year
Section Topics 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Mathematics Average
Simple
Interest
SI/CI
Ratio Proportion
Loss/Profit 10 10 10 10 10
Partnership
Time, Work and Distance
Probability
Area/volume
Surds and Indices
Total Marks 10 10 10 10 10

LOGICAL REASONING
CLAT covers 40 marks weightage whereas AILET 35 marks for this subject. The most important topics (where mul-
tiple questions are asked) are blood relations, distance, direction, sitting arrangements. In addition to these, the
other important topics are series, analogy, classification, Venn diagram, statement assumption and statement
arguments.
This section demands lot of regular practice.

CLAT—Logical Reasoning Section 5 Years’ Examination Analysis – 40 Marks

Number of Questions Each Year

Section Topics 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Logical Reasoning Series
Analogy
Venn Diagrams
Blood Relations
Sitting Arrangement
40 40 40 40 40
Distance and Directions
Statement and Assumptions
Statement and Argument
Cause and Effect
Logical Deductions
Total Marks 40 40 40 40 40
 Examination Analysis– CLAT and AILET | xvii

AILET—Logical Reasoning Section 5 Years’ Examination Analysis – 35 Marks

Number of Questions Each Year
Section Topics 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Logical Reasoning Series
Analogy
Venn Diagrams
Blood Relations
Sitting Arrangement
35 35 35 35 35
Distance and Directions
Statement and Assumptions
Statement and Argument
Cause and Effect
Logical Deductions
Total Marks 35 35 35 35 35

IMPORTANT TIPS
1. Time management is life management. It is the most productive element of preparation if used wisely and
meaningfully. Try to avoid diversions especially social media.
2. Just quantitative studies in any way from anywhere will not suffice, rather specialized, guided, qualitative and
organized studies from standard and rich resource materials is required.
3. Make brief notes, these will strengthen your base.
4. Regular revision is a necessary nuisance.
5. Vocabulary building is an inevitable necessity.
6. Continuous practice of MCQs necessary to reinforce the concepts.
7. Learn short cuts for mathematics and reasoning.
8. Periodic & objective evaluation would act on a timely reminder.
9. Maintaining confidence level is the greatest challenge throughout the preparation period.
10. Above all, positive attitude can bring unimaginable results. Avoid negative thoughts and negative people
throughout the examination preparation period.
This page is intentionally left blank.
 CLAT 2017
SECTION I: ENGLISH 8. The passengers were very happy _________ the
friendly and warm treatment.
Directions (questions 1–10): Fill in the blank by choosing
(a) to (b) from
the most appropriate option.
(c) about (d) by
1. We shall fail ________we are industrious.
(a) whether (b) unless 9. If they want to succeed, they ___________ have to
(c) until (d) though work very hard.
(a) should (b) ought
2. She stood _______ Amit, but could not utter a (c) will (d) must
single word for quite some time.
(a) before (b) for 10. Sunita decided to set _______some time every
(c) about (d) to day for prayers.
(a) up (b) in
3. Kanak is endowed _________ many great qualities. (c) aside (d) on
(a) by (b) with
(c) in (d) of Directions (questions 11–15): Read the given passage care-
fully and choose the most appropriate option to the questions
4. The minister flew ___________ the flooded areas
given below.
in a helicopter.
(a) along (b) over The World Trade Organization (WTO) was created in
(c) in (d) about the early 1990s as a component of the Uruguay Round
negotiation. However, it could have been negotiated
5. You have played a great role, for _______ your as part of the Tokyo Round of the 1970s, since negotia-
help I possible would have landed myself into a tion was an attempt at a ‘constitutional reform’ of the
problem. General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Or it
(a) without (b) although could have been put off to the future, as the US gov-
(c) despite (d) after ernment wanted. What factors led to the creation of
the WTO in the early 1990s? One factor was the pattern
6. The doctor advised him to go ___________several
of multilateral bargaining that developed late in the
medical tests.
Uruguay Round. Like all complex international agree-
(a) about (b) under
ments, the WTO was a product of a series of trade-offs
(c) through (d) into
between principal actors and groups. For the United
7. Would anybody __________a mother have risked States, which did not want a new organization, the dis-
her life for the baby? puted settlement part of the WTO package achieved its
(a) but (b) rather longstanding goal of a more effective and more legal
(c) than (d) however dispute settlement system. For the Europeans, who by
the 1990s had come to view GATT dispute settlement
2 | CLAT 2017
less in political terms add more as a regime of legal
obligations, the WTO package was acceptable as a
means to discipline the resort to unilateral measures by
the United States. Countries like Canada and other mid-
dle and smaller trading partners were attracted by the
expansion of a rule-based system and by the symbolic
value of a trade organization, both of which inherently
support the weak against the strong. The developing
countries were attracted due to the provisions banning
unilateral measures. Finally, and perhaps most impor-
tant, many countries at the Uruguay Round came to put
a higher priority on the export gains than on the import
losses that the negotiation would produce, and they
came to associate the WTO and a rule-based system
with those gains. This reasoning—replicated in many
countries—was contained in U. S. Ambassador Kantor’s
defence of the WTO, and it announced to recognition
that international trade and its benefits cannot be
enjoyed unless trading nations accept the discipline of
a negotiated rule-based environment. A second factor
in the creation of the WTO was pressure from lawyers
and the legal process. The dispute settlement system of
the WTO was seen as a victory of legalists but the matter
went deeper than that. The GATT, and the WTO, is con-
tract organizations based on rules, and it is inevitable
that an organization creating a further rule will in turn
be influenced by legal process. Robert Hudee has writ-
ten of the ‘momentum of legal development’, but what
is this precisely? Legal development can be defined as
promotion of the technical legal values of consistency,
clarity (or certainty) and effectiveness; these are val-
ues that those responsible for administering any legal
system will seek to maximize. As it played out in the
WTO, consistency meant integrating under one roof the
whole lot of separate agreements signed under GATT
auspices; clarity meant removing ambiguities about
the powers of contracting parties to make certain deci-
sions or to undertake waivers; and effectiveness meant
eliminating exceptions arising out of grandfather-rights
and resolving defects in dispute settlement procedures
and institutional provisions. Concern for these values
is inherent in any rule-based system of co-operation,
since without these value rules would be meaningless
in the first place, therefore, create their own incentive
for fulfilment. The moment of legal development has
occurred in other institutions besides the GATT, most
notably in the European Union (EU). Over the past two
decades the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has con-
sistently rendered decisions that have expanded incre-
mentally the EU’s internal market, in which the doctrine
of ‘mutual recognition’ handed down in Cassis de Dijon
case in 1979 was a key turning point. The court is now
widely recognized as a major player in European inte-
gration, even though arguably such a strong role was
not originally envisaged in the Treaty of Rome, which
initiated the current European Union. One means the
Court used to expand integration was the ‘teleological
method of interpretation’, whereby the actions of mem-
ber states were evaluated against ‘the accomplishment
of the most elementary goals set forth in the Preamble
to the (Rome) treaty. The teleological method repre-
sents an effort to keep current policies consistent with
slated goals, and it is analogous to the effort in GATT to
keep contracting party trade practices consistent with
slated rules. In both cases legal concerns and proce-
dures are an independent force for further co-operation.
In the large part the WTO was an exercise in consoli-
dation. In the context of a trade negotiation that created
a near-revolutionary expansion of international trade
rules, the formation of the WTO was a deeply conserva-
tive act needed to ensure that the benefits of the new
rules would not be lost. The WTO was all about insti-
tutional structure and dispute settlement: these are
the concerns of conservatives and not revolutionaries
that is why lawyers and legalists took the lead on these
issues. The WTO codified the GATT institutional prac-
tice that had developed by custom over three decades,
and it incorporated a new dispute settlement system
that was necessary to keep both old and new rules from
becoming a sham. Both the international structure
and the dispute settlement system were necessary to
preserve and enhance the integrity of the multilateral
trade regime that had been built incrementally from the
1940s to the 1990s.
11. In the statement ‘... it amounted to a recognition
that international trade and its benefits cannot be
enjoyed unless trading nations accept the disci-
pline of a negotiated rule-based environment’, it
refers to

(a) The export gains many countries came to
associate with a rule-based system.
(b) The higher priority on export gains placed by
many countries at the Uruguay Round.
(c) The provision of a rule-based system by the
WTO.
(d) Ambassador Kantor’s defence of the WTO.
12. What would be the closest reason why WTO was
not formed in 1970s?
(a) The US government did not like it.
(b) Important players did not find it in their best
interest to do so.
(c) Lawyers did not work for the dispute settle-
ment system.
(d) The Tokyo Round negotiations was an attempt
at constitutional reform.
13. In the method of interpretation of the European
Court of Justice:
(a) Actions against member states needed to be
evaluated against the said community goals.
(b) Enunciation of the most elementary commu-
nity goals needed to be emphasized.
(c) Current policies need to be consistent with
stated goals.
(d) Contracting party trade practices need to be
consistent with stated rules.
14. According to the passage, WTO promoted the
technical legal values partly through.
(a) Integrating under one roof the agreements
signed under GATT.
(b) Rules that create their own incentive for
fulfilment.
(c) Ambiguities about the powers of contracting
parties to make certain decisions.
(d) Grandfather-rights exceptions and defects in
dispute settlement procedures.
15. The most likely reason for the acceptance of the
WTO package by nations was that:
(a) It has the means to prevent the US from
­taking unilateral measures.
(b) Its rule-based system leads to export gains.
(c) It settles disputes more legally and more
effectively.
CLAT 2017 | 3
(d) They recognized the need for a rule-based
environment to protect the benefits of
increased trade.
Directions (questions 16–20): In each of the following sen-
tences, some part of the sentence or the entire sentence is under-
lined. Beneath each sentence, you will find four ways of phrasing
the underlined part. Choose the most appropriate option given in
each of the sentences given below that is the best version than the
underlined part of the sentence.
16. Two valence states of uranium, one with a deficit
of four electrons and the other one with a defi-
cit of six occurs in nature and contributes to the
diversity of uranium’s behaviour.
(a) The other one a deficit of six, occur in Nature
and contribute.
(b) The other with a deficit of six, occurs in Nature
and contributes.
(c) The other with a deficit of six, occur in Nature
and contribute.
(d) One with six occurs in Nature and contributes.
17. Initiative and referendum, is a procedure that
allows voters to propose and pass laws as well as
to repeal them.
(a) Allows voters to propose, pass and to repeal
laws.
(b) Will allow laws on be proposed, passed, as
well as repealed by voters.
(c) Allows voters to propose to pass, and repeal
laws.
(d) Will allow voter to propose, pass, as well as to
repeal laws.
18. Plausible though it sounds, the weakness of the
hypothesis is that it does not incorporate all rel-
evant facts.
(a) The weakness of the hypothesis which sounds
plausible.
(b) Though the hypothesis sounds plausible, its
weakness.
(c) Even though it sounds plausible, the weak-
ness of the hypothesis.
(d) Though plausible, the hypothesis’ weakness.
4 | CLAT 2017

19. Many of them chiselled from solid rock centuries Directions (questions 25–28): Choose the correct spellings in
ago the mountainous regions are dotted with questions given below.
hundreds of monasteries:
25. Choose the correct spellings in options given
(a) The mountainous regions are dotted with
below.
hundreds of monasteries, many of which are
(a) Hyphothecation (b) Hypathecation
chiselled from solid rock centuries ago.
(c) Hypothecation (d) Hypthacation
(b) The mountainous regions are dotted with
hundreds of monasteries, many of them 26. Choose the correct spellings in options given
­chiselled from solid rock centuries ago. below.
(c) Hundreds of monasteries, many of them (a) Gratuitous (b) Gratitious
­chiselled from solid rock centuries ago, are (c) Gratetious (d) Gratuitus
dotting the mountainous regions.
27. Choose the correct spellings in options given
(d) Chiselled from solid rock centuries ago, the
below.
mountainous regions are dotted with many
(a) Interrogation (b) Interogetion
hundreds of monasteries.
(c) Interogation (d) Interagation
20. During her lecture, the speaker tried to clarify
28. Choose the correct spellings in options given
directional terms, for not everyone in attendance
below.
was knowledgeable that winds are designed by
(a) Annulement (b) Anulment
the direction from which they come.
(c) Annulment (d) Annulmant
(a) With everyone in attendance not knowing.
(b) For everyone in attendance did not know. Directions (questions 29–30): Choose the correct spellings in
(c) With everyone attending not knowledgeable. questions given below.
(d) For not everyone attending knew. 29. Choose the correct spellings in options given
below.
Directions (questions 21–24): Choose the correct spellings in
(a) Abhayence (b) Abheyance
questions given below.
(c) Abeyance (d) Abeyence
21. Choose the correct spellings in options given
30. Choose the correct spellings in options given
below.
below.
(a) Accommedation (b) Accommodation
(a) Moratarium (b) Moretorium
(c) Accomadation (d) Accomedation
(c) Maratorium (d) Moratorium
22. Choose the correct spellings in options given
Directions (questions 31–40): In each of the following sen-
below.
tences four words or phrases are underlined. If there is any mis-
(a) Ghallows (b) Gallows
take with regard to grammar or usage, it is in the underlined
(c) Ghellows (d) Gellows
part only. Identify the incorrect part.
23. Choose the correct spellings in options given
31. Evidently our product is the most unique in the
below.
market.
(a) Renumeration (b) Remuneration
(a) C (b) D
(c) Remunaration (d) Renumaration
(c) B (d) A
24. Choose the correct spellings in options given
32. The most difficult job is to bend and then lifting
below.
the weight.
(a) Blashphemy (b) Bleshphemy
(a) D (b) B
(c) Blasphamy (d) Blasphemy
(c) A (d) C
 CLAT 2017 | 5

33. The hope to go through the book today I have (c) Solar powered space craft
almost read half of it. (d) Atomic powered submarine
(a) A (b) B
42. Who has been selected for 2016 BC Roy Award?
(c) D (d) C
(a) Dr P. Raghu Ram (b) Dr J. Rajendra
34. Out boss always asks us to pay full attention to (c) Dr N. Bhaskaran (d) Dr Jagat Ram
the work at hand.
43. The first country to have announced euthanasia of
(a) B (b) A
a child is
(c) D (d) C
(a) Belgium (b) Denmark
35. On listening to the confession of love the she (c) Finland (d) Norway
blushed until she was purple.
44. The Japanese Prime Minister who offered ‘sincere
(a) A (b) C
and everlasting condolences’ to the people of the
(c) D (d) B
United States for killing more than 2400 soldiers
36. After being finished she last chapter of the book in the attack on Pearl harbour was
return it to me. (a) Kakuei Tanaka (b) Shinzo Abe
(a) C (b) A (c) Juniciro Koizumi (d) Hayato Ikeda
(c) D (d) B
45. In terms of steel production in the world during
37. Since I have forgotten all equations I will have to 2015–2016, India stood at
start from the scratch. (a) Fourth (b) Second
(a) B (b) A (c) Fifth (d) Third
(c) C (d) D
46. According to the Survey Report released by
38. He gave me a ticket so that I may visit the book Transparency International during March 2017 on
fair. India, the most corrupt are
(a) C (b) A (a) Government officials
(c) B (d) D (b) Business executives
(c) Local Councillors
39. Five gallons of petrol are not enough to cover the
(d) Police
distance.
(a) A (b) B 47. Among the following who was crowned as ‘Miss
(c) D (d) C Supernational’ during 2016?
(a) Srinidhi Shetty (b) Shilpa Shetty
40. The officer asked that the report be submitted
(c) Alia Butt (d) Aishwarya Rai
immediately.
(a) D (b) C 48. Japan is threatening to drag India to WTO on
(c) A (d) B issues relating to the export of its
(a) Electronic goods (b) Tea
SECTION II: GENERAL KNOWLEDGE (c) Small ships (d) Steel
49. COIN, a software programme developed by
Directions (questions 41–90): Choose the most appropriate J. P. Morgan supports
option. (a) Robotic surgery
41. Juno is the name of a (b) Financial accounting
(a) Hydrogen fuelled submarine (c) Bit coin
(b) Hydrogen fuelled space craft (d) Interpreting commercial documents
6 | CLAT 2017

50. Which of the following country enacted a law 58. The bowler who has claimed the fastest 250 ­wickets
­during August 2016 providing for the right to reg- in Cricket test matches is
ister the marriages of Hindus? (a) Ravichandran Ashwin
(a) Saudi Arabia (b) Iran (b) Dennis Lillee
(c) Afghanistan (d) Pakistan (c) Rangana Herath
51. The first elected civilian President in Myanmar is (d) Anil Kumble
(a) Aung San (b) Khin Ayi
59. The top destination for domestic tourists in India
(c) Htin Kyaw (d) Aung San Suu Kyi
for the past three consecutive years has been
52. Among the following professors of Indian origin (a) Tamil Nadu (b) Orissa
who has received Knighthood for the work as a (c) Rajasthan (d) Kerala
co-inventor of next generation DNA Sequencing
called Solexa Sequencing? 60. Name the President elect of France who is likely to
(a) P. C. Mahalanobis take the oath on 14 May 2017.
(b) Shankar Balasubramanian (a) Francois Fill on
(c) Mehnad Saha (b) Emmanuel Macron
(d) Satyendra Nath Bose (c) Francois Holland
(d) Marine Le Pen
53. Which court has stayed the execution of death
sentence of Kulbhushan Jadhav in May 2017? 61. With the development of Terahertz (THz) trans-
(a) International Criminal Court mitter, it is expected to be faster than 5G mobile
(b) International Court of Justice networks by
(c) Supreme Court of India (a) Two times (b) Ten times
(d) Supreme Court of Pakistan (c) Four times (d) Five times
54. The world’s longest rail tunnel is about
62. India’s third largest trading partner during 2016 is
(a) 32 km (b) 57 km
(a) Dubai (b) Saudi Arabia
(c) 23 km (d) 47 km
(c) Kuwait (d) UAE
55. The Hubble telescope of NASA is located in
63. The first country in the world to have begun shut-
(a) Iceland (b) Space
ting down the entire Frequency Modulation (FM)
(c) Canada (d) NASA headquarters
radio network to be replaced by Digital Audio
56. The first Commercial Court and Commercial Broadcasting is
Disputes Resolution Centre was inaugurated at (a) Norway
(a) Ahmedabad, Gujarat (b) Switzerland
(b) Raipur, Chhattisgarh (c) United States of America
(c) Mumbai, Maharashtra
(d) China
(d) Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
64. The Happiness Index Department or a Wing has
57. As on 31st January 2016, the highest number of
been established in the states of
law colleges were present in
(a) Madhya Pradesh (a) Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu
(b) Andhra Pradesh (b) Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh
(c) Uttar Pradesh (c) Andhra Pradesh and Sikkim
(d) Maharashtra (d) Madhya Pradesh and Goa
 CLAT 2017 | 7

65. Volvo has launched the world’s largest bus that 73. Which country offered asylum seekers 1200 Euros
can carry up to to leave by withdrawing their application for
(a) 320 passengers (b) 260 passengers protection?
(c) 300 passengers (d) 150 passengers (a) Italy (b) Germany
(c) Denmark (d) France
66. Donald Trump is _____________ President of the
United States. 74. During 2017, which SAARC country has notified
(a) 43rd (b) 44th the Right to Information Act?
(c) 46th (d) 45th (a) Nepal (b) Sri Lanka
(c) Afghanistan (d) Bhutan
67. The 2016 Nobel Peace Prize was won by the
President of 75. Highest number of open prisons in India as on
(a) United States of America 2015 are in
(b) Columbia (a) Kerala (b) Maharashtra
(c) Sri Lanka (c) Tamil Nadu (d) Rajasthan
(d) South Africa 76. India’s voting rights at the International Monetary
Fund increased from 2.3 % to
68. The World Bank had cut India’s GDP growth for
(a) 2.5% (b) 2.6%
2016–2017 to
(c) 2.8% (d) 2.4%
(a) 7% (b) 8.6%
(c) 8% (d) 7.6% 77. Which of the following individuals was called
a ‘deceptive actor’ by China’s foreign ministry
69. Solar Impulse–2 is
­during March 2017?
(a) Solar powered ship
(a) Dalai Lama (b) Donald Trump
(b) Solar powered airplane that completed the (c) Narendra Modi (d) Sirisena
first around the world
(c) Hybrid airplane 78. ‘Scorpion kick’ is a phrase used in
(d) Impact of climate change for overall increase (a) Kalari Fight (b) Kung Fu
of 2º C a year (c) Kick Boxing (d) Kabaddi
79. Immediately before Antonio Guterres was
70. The Union Cabinet has recently approved the set-
appointed the UN Secretary General in October
ting up of a Permanent Tribunal for resolving
2016, he was
(a) Complaints from three services
(a) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(b) Inter-state water disputes
(b) Commissioner General of UNRWA
(c) Inter-state boundary disputes (c) The Prime Minister of Portuguese
(d) Election disputes (d) United Nations High Commissioner for
71. Which country 3D–Printed a home of 37 square Human Rights
metres? 80. How many billionaires India has lost since demon-
(a) Spain (b) South Korea etization on 8 November 2016?
(c) Russia (d) Taiwan (a) Eleven (b) Eight
72. ‘World’s longest-all women Non-stop flight’ from (c) Two (d) Eighteen
New Delhi to San Francisco covering 14,500 km 81. The world’s first artificial intelligence lawyer, a
was operated by robot, is named as
(a) Air India (b) American Airlines (a) Boss (b) Watson
(c) Jet Airways (d) United Airlines (c) Ross (d) None of the above
8 | CLAT 2017

82. Till the end of 2016, the total number of UNESCO’s 90. Among the following MLAs who was disqualified
World Heritage Sites in India is by the Governor during January 2017 under Article
(a) 18 (b) 21 192 of the Constitution for undertaking govern-
(c) 42 (d) 35 ment contracts?
(a) P. C. George of Kerala
83. India emerged as ___________ largest holder of
the US Government Securities at the end of 2016. (b) Jayalalithaa of Tamil Nadu
(a) 12th (b) 28th (c) Srinivas Prasad of Karnataka
(c) 15th (d) 24th (d) Uma Shankar Singh of Bihar

84. Prithvi Defence Vehicle is

(a) The name of a newly developed tank. SECTION III: MATHEMATICS
(b) The name of a single seated aircraft devel-
oped by HAL. Directions (questions 91–110): Choose the most appropri-
(c) The name of an amphibious Naval vessel. ate option.
(d) The name of India’s Nuclear Interceptor
91. Keerthi’s father gave him some money to buy
Missile.
books. He spent half of the money equally to
85. Which shoe company in the United States of buy books and entertaining his friends. Whatever
America has won an IPR dispute against China amount left with him, he deposited half in his
recently for using their logo? savings account and gave ` 5 to a poor person as
(a) Adidas (b) Reebok charity. Finally, Keerthi was left with ` 20 which he
(c) Nike (d) New Balance returned to his father. What amount did his father
give him initially?
86. Among the following, who has won maximum
(a) ` 120 (b) ` 100
number of titles?
(a) Gopichand (b) P. V. Sindhu (c) ` 200 (d) ` 160
(c) Saina Nehwal (d) Srikant 92. Praveen has ` 4662 in the form of 2, 5 and 10 rupee
87. NASA rediscovered India’s lunar spacecraft that notes. If these notes are in the ratio of 3 : 5 : 8, the
was lost in the space during the past eight years number of five rupees notes with him is
known as: (a) 250 (b) 336
(a) Mangalayaan – I (b) Chandrayan – II (c) 210 (d) 84
(c) Chandrayan – I (d) Mangalayaan – II 93. A train ‘X’ leaves station ‘A’ at 3 p.m. and reaches
88. Who called the immigration the ‘Trojan horse of station ‘B’ at 4.30 p.m., while another train ‘Y’
Terrorism’? leaves station ‘B’ at 3.00 p.m. and reaches sta-
(a) Theresa May, Prime Minister of U.K tion ‘A’ at 4.00 p.m. These two trains cross each
(b) Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany other at
(c) Donald Trump, President of the U.S (a) 3.30 p.m. (b) 3.20 p.m.
(d) Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary (c) 3.40 p.m. (d) 3.36 p.m.

89. The first statue of a woman in Parliament Square 94. The difference between simple interest and
in England is that of compound interest at the same rate for rupees
(a) Queen Elizabeth – II 5000 for two years is rupees 98. The rate of inter-
(b) Margaret Thatcher est is
(c) Millicent Fawcett (a) 10% (b) 14%
(d) Mother Theresa (c) 12% (d) 10 ½%
 CLAT 2017 | 9

95. Gold and copper are as heavy as water by 19 and is filled completely in exactly 30 minutes, if tap ‘B’
9 times respectively. The ratio in which these two is turned off after
metals be mixed so that the mixture is 17 times as (a) 9 minutes (b) 10 minutes
heavy as water is (c) 15 minutes (d) 12 minutes
(a) 2 : 3 (b) 3 : 2 102. A boat travels upstream from A to B and back from
(c) 4 : 1 (d) 3 : 4 B to A in 5 hours. The speed of the boat in still
96. There are two urns. One contains two white balls water is 8 km/hour and the speed of the current is
and four red balls; the other contains three white 4 km/hour. Then, the distance from A to B is
and nine red balls. All balls are of the same shape (a) 9 km (b) 10 km
and size. From each urn, one ball is drawn. What (c) 12 km (d) 15 km
is the probability of getting both the balls of the 103. Age of father 10 years ago was three times the age
same colour? of his son. After 10 years, father’s age is twice that
(a) 1/24 (b) 7/12 of his son. The ratio of their present ages is
(c) 1/12 (d) 1/2 (a) 7 : 3 (b) 9 : 5 (c) 7 : 4 (d) 11: 7
97. Two men and seven boys can do a work in 14 days. 104. A clock was set correct at 12 O’ clock. It loses
Three men and eight boys can do the same work 10 minutes per hour. What will be the angle
in 11 days. Further eight men and six boys can do between the hour and minute hands of the clock
three times the amount of this work in after one hour?
(a) 21 days (b) 18 days (a) 75º (b) 85º (c) 105º (d) 90º
(c) 24 days (d) 30 days
105. A trader sells rice at a profit of 20% and uses
98. A piece of cloth costs rupees 75. If the piece is four weights which are 10% less than the correct
meters longer and each meter costs rupees 5 less, weight. The total gain earned by him is
the cost remains unchanged. What is the length of 1 2
the piece? (a) 33 % (b) 22 %
3 9
(a) 8 meters (b) 10 meters
(c) 30% (d) 35%
(c) 12 meters (d) 6 meters
106. The average weight of three men ‘X’, ‘Y’ and ‘Z’
99. A man rows to a place 45 k.ms distant and back
is 75 kg. Another man ‘A’ joins the group and the
in 12 hours. He realizes that he can row 5 km
average weight now becomes 80 kg. If another per-
downstream in the same time as 3 km against the
son ‘B’ whose weight is 5 kg more than ‘A’ replaces
stream. The velocity of the stream is:
‘X’, then the average weight of ‘Y’, ‘Z’, ‘A’ and ‘B’
(a) 2 km/hr (b) 1.5 km/hr
will be 85 kg. What is the weight of ‘X’?
(c) 1 km/hr (d) 4 km/hr
(a) 80 kg (b) 84 kg
100. In an office, 1/3 of the workers are Men, ½ of the (c) 82 kg (d) 78 kg
men are married and 1/3 of the married men have 107. ‘A’ and ‘B’ complete a work in 12 days, ‘B’ and ‘C’ in
children. If ¾ of the women are married and 2/3 of 8 days and ‘C’ and ‘A’ in 16 days. ‘A’ left after work-
the 2/3 of the married women have children, then ing for 3 days. In how many days more will ‘B’ and
the part of workers without children are: ‘C’ finish the remaining work?
(a) 17/36 (b) 4/9
(c) 5/18 (d) 11/18 5 3
(a) 3 (b) 3
6 4
101. Taps ‘A’ and ‘B’ can fill a tank in 37 ½ minutes and
45 minutes respectively. Both taps are opened 3 3
(c) 7 (d) 4
and after some time tap ‘B’ is turned off. The tank 4 4
10 | CLAT 2017
108. A vessel contains a mixture of milk and water in the
ratio of 5 : 3, respectively. How much of the mixture
must be siphoned off and replaced with water, so
that the mixture may be half milk and half water?
(a) 1/3 (b) 1/4
(c) 1/7 (d) 1/5
109. A can do a piece of work in 8 days and B alone can
do the same work in 10 days. A and B agreed to
do the work together for ` 720. With the help of C,
they finished the work in 4 days. How much C is to
be paid?
(a) ` 80 (b) ` 82
(c) ` 72 (d) ` 70
110. The Banker’s discount on a sum of money for
18 months is ` 600 and the true discount on the
same sum for 3 years is ` 750/-. The rate percent-
age is
(a) 10% (b) 20%
112. Principle: Ownership in property consists of right
(c) 12% (d) 15%
SECTION IV: LEGAL APTITUDE
Question numbers 1–35 consists of legal proposition(s)/
principle(s) (hereinafter referred to as ‘principle’) and
facts. Such principles may or may not be true in the real
and legal sense, yet you have to conclusively assume them
to be true for the purposes of this section. In other words,
in wiring these questions, you must not rely on any princi-
ple except the principles those are given herein below for
every question. Further, you must not assume any facts
other than those stated in the question. The objective of
this section is to test your interest towards study of law,
research aptitude and problem solving ability, even if the
113. Principle: Every agreement, by which any party
‘most reasonable conclusion’ arrived at may be absurd or
unacceptable for any other reason. It is not the objective
of this section to test your knowledge of law.
Therefore, to were a question, principle is to be
applied to the given facts and to choose the most
appropriate option.
111. Principle: The concept of natural justice is against
bias and for the right to a fair hearing. While the
term natural justice is often retained as a gen-
eral concept and it has largely been replaced and
extended by the general ‘duty to act fairly’.
Fact: ‘X’, a male employee of a company was dis-
missed by the employer just on the basis of a com-
plaint by ‘Y’, a female employee of the company that
‘X’ was trying to be too friendly with her and often
requested her to accompany him to the canteen.
Is the dismissal of ‘X’ valid?
(a) No, because in the modern times this type of
behaviour is common.
(b) No, because the employer did not give a
chance to ‘X’ to explain his side, there by vio-
lated the principles of natural justice.
(c) Yes, moral law is antique and therefore, not
applicable in modern times, therefore the
termination is valid and no violations of the
principles of natural justice occurred.
(d) Yes, because men are not supposed to behave
improperly with women and hence there is no
violation of any principles of law.
to possess, right to use, right to alienate and right
to exclude others. Sale is complete when property
gets transferred from the seller to the buyer on
sale.
Facts: ‘A’ sold his car to ‘B’. After this, ‘B’ requested
‘A’ to keep the car in his care on behalf ‘B’ for one
month. ‘A’ agreed.
(a) Sale of car is not complete.
(b) Sale will be completed when ‘B’ will take the
delivery of the car.
(c) Sale of car is complete.
(d) Sale will be automatically completed after the
expiry of one month.
is restricted absolutely from enforcing his right
in respect of any contract, by the usual legal pro-
ceedings in the ordinary Tribunals, is void to that
extent. The law also provides that nobody can
confer jurisdiction to a civil court by an agreement
between parties.
Facts: A and B entered into a valid contract for
rendering certain service. A clause in the contract
was that in case of any dispute arose out of the
contract; it shall be referred to for Arbitration
only. Is the contract valid?

(a) Arbitration is also valid dispute settlement
machinery recognized by law and hence the
entire contract is valid.
(b) The parties were trying to confer jurisdiction
to some authority to decide a dispute and
hence the clause would be invalid.
(c) Arbitrator cannot be termed as an ordinary
Tribunal. Hence, the agreement is void and
would be unenforceable.
(d) The contract is valid but the clause regarding
Arbitration is void.
114. Principle: It is a case of fraud where a party to a
contract knows or believes a fact to be true, but
conceals it actively from the other party with a view
to induce that person to enter into the contract.
Facts: While taking a life insurance policy, in reply
to questions by the insurance company during
the inquiry into his proposal, Zameer deliberately
concealed the fact of his medical treatment for a
serious ailment, which he had undergone only a
few weeks ago.
(a) The act of Zameer did not amount to fraud,
as disclosing the fact would have resulted in
exposure of his privacy.
(b) The act of Zameer amounted to innocent
misrepresentation.
(c) The act of Zameer did not amount to any
misrepresentation.
(d) The concealment of fact by Zameer amounted
to fraud.
115. Principle: Contract is a written or spoken agree-
ment, with specific terms between two or more
persons or entities in which there is a promise
to do something in return for a valuable benefit
known as consideration. Such an agreement is
intended to be enforceable by law. A unilateral
contract is one in which there is a promise to pay
or give other consideration in return for actual
performance.
Facts: A Toilet Soap Manufacturing Company
in India in order to promote the sale of their
product published an advertisement in all the
Newspapers on 1 January 2017 that the company
has kept a model ignition key of an Audi A3 car.
CLAT 2017 | 11
The advertisement also stated that whoever gets
the said key before 31 December 2017 from a soap
bar will be gifted with the Audi A3 car. Mr Martin,
a foreigner who came to India as a Tourist who
was staying in a hotel found a key similar to same
car ignition key. Mr Martin brought this matter
to the notice of the Hotel Manager. The Manager
informed Mr Martin about the Company’s adver-
tisement on 1 January 2017. Mr Martin wants to
claim the car. Will he succeed?
(a) No. The Soap Company has not entered into
a contract with Mr Martin as he was not in
India on 1 January 2017 when the advertise-
ment was published.
(b) No. Actual intention of the Company was to
promote the sale of the soap.
(c) The Hotel Manager who could legally claim
the car as he was the one actually purchased
the soap for the use in the Hotel.
(d) Mr Martin obtained the key before the stipu-
lated date from the soap bar. So he is covered
by the offer of the soap company and can
claim the car.
116. Principle: When a person who has made a prom-
ise to another person to do something does not
fulfil his promise, the other person becomes enti-
tled to receive, from the person who did not fulfil
his promise, compensation in the form of money.
Facts: ‘X’ made a promise to ‘Y’ to repair his car
engine. ‘Y’ made the payment for repair. After the
repair, ‘Y’ went for a drive in the same car. While
driving the car, ‘Y’ met with an accident due to
bursting of a tyre.
(a) ‘Y’ will be entitled to receive compensation
from ‘X’ in the form of money.
(b) ‘X’ will not be entitled to receive compensation.
(c) ‘X’ will be entitled to receive compensation
from ‘Y’ in the form of money.
(d) ‘Y’ will not be entitled to receive compensa-
tion from ‘X’.
117. Principle: In criminal law, misappropriation is the
intentional, illegal use of the property or funds
of another person for one’s own use or other
unauthorized purpose, particularly by a public
­
12 | CLAT 2017
official, a trustee of a trust, an executor or admin-
istrator of a dead person’s estate or by any per-
son with a responsibility to care for and protect
another’s assets. Embezzlement is misappropria-
tion when the funds involved have been lawfully
entrusted to the embezzler. On the contrary, theft
is the illegal taking of another person’s property
or services without that person’s permission or
consent with the intent to deprive the rightful
owner of it.
Facts: A went for swimming at the Municipal
Swimming Pool. A handed over all his valuables,
including some cash to X, the guard on duty for
safe custody, as notified by the Municipality. After
swimming for an hour, A came out and searched
for X. He found another guard on duty and that
guard informed A that X had gone home after
completing his shift and did not hand over any-
119. Principle: If a party to a contract agrees to it under
thing to be given to A. A registered a complaint
with the police. X was traced but he told the police
that he sold all the valuables and the entire cash
was used for drinking liquor. What offence, if any,
Facts: A, a rich youngster became a member of a
was/were committed by X?
(a) X is not guilty of criminal misappropriation
as he did not make any personal gain out of
those items with him.
(b) X is liable for criminal misappropriation and
embezzlement.
(c) X is liable for theft as he took A’s property
without X’s permission.
(d) If at all X is liable, it is for criminal misappro-
priation only.
118. Principle: Under the Employees Compensation
Act, 1923, an employer is liable to pay compensa-
tion to his workmen for injuries sustained by them
by an accident arising out of and in the course of
employment.
Facts: M, the Manager of SRK Industries asked his
secretary S to submit a report at the Government
Labour Office. ‘S’ submitted the report as directed.
On his way back S met one of his class mates. He
then decided to have a cup of tea together on a
way side restaurant. Sometime later, ‘S’ got a mes-
sage from his office to report back as it was long
time since he left the office. ‘S’ rushed back on
his Motor Cycle. On his way back a Truck which
was coming from a side road hit ‘S’. He was admit-
ted in a nearby hospital with multiple injuries.
He claims compensation under the Employees
Compensation Act from his employer.
(a) The employer is not liable as the truck driver
was negligent.
(b) The employer is liable as S had to rush back
to the office, because of the message from the
office.
(c) The employer is liable to pay compensation
as the accident took place arising out of and
in the course of employment.
(d) The employer is not liable as he was admitted
in a private hospital and not a government
hospital.
undue influence of any other party then the party
under the undue influence may refuse to perform
in accordance with the agreement.
religious group and soon he was appointed by P
the head of the group as his personal secretary. As
per the rules of the group, all officials and staff of
the group were supposed to stay in the group’s offi-
cial premises itself. Some days later, A was asked
by P to execute a Gift deed in favour of P, in which
it was mentioned that all immovable properties in
his name are being gifted to P. A was unwilling to
execute the deed, but he was forcefully restrained
by P and his body guards in P’s office and made A
sign the gift deed. Soon after this A left the group
and refused to hand over the property as agreed to
in the gift deed. Is A’s action valid?
(a) A executed the deed, under compulsion and
undue influence, and was right in with draw-
ing from the contract.
(b) It is illegal for religious groups acquire prop-
erty from its members.
(c) As the gift deed was executed by A, he cannot
refuse.
(d) As Gift is also a contract, the consent of A was
not obtained by P while executing the deed.

120. Principle: Penal laws provide that whoever volun-
tarily has carnal intercourse against the order of
nature with any man or woman, shall be punished
for rape.
Facts: A police officer found a man engaged in
carnal intercourse with an animal. The police offi-
cer arrested the man and produced him before the
Court.
(a) Court will punish the police officer.
(b) Court will not punish the man for rape.
(c) Court will punish the man for rape.
(d) Court will not punish the police officer.
121. Principle: According to law, a person who find
goods belonging to another and takes them into
his custody, is subject to the same responsibility
as a bailee. Bailee is a person or party to whom
goods are delivered for a purpose, such as custody
or repair, without trfer of ownership. The finder
of the goods legally can sell the goods found by
him under certain circumstances including the
situation that the owner refuses to pay the lawful
charges of the finder.
Facts: P, a college student, while coming out of
a cricket stadium found a necklace, studded with
apparently precious diamonds. P kept it for two
days thinking that the owner would notify it in a
local newspaper. Since he did not notice any such
notification, P published a small classified adver-
tisement in a local newspaper. In two days’ time,
P was contacted by a film actor claiming that it
was her Necklace and requested P to return it to
her. P told her that she should compensate him
for the advertisement charges then only he would
return it otherwise he will sell it and make good
his expenses. The film star told P that she had
advertised in a national newspaper about her lost
Necklace which was lost somewhere in the cricket
Stadium. The advertisement was published for
three consecutive days incurring a large expendi-
ture for her. Mentioning all this she refuses to pay
P and claims the Necklace back. Which among the
following is the most appropriate answer to this?
(a) P was requesting the film star for the actual
expenditure incurred by him before returning
the necklace. This request is legally sustainable.
CLAT 2017 | 13
(b) The film star was right in refusing P, as she did
not offer any reward for anyone who would
return the necklace.
(c) As it was wrong on the part of P to bargain
over a property belonging to a celebrity and
he should have accepted some gift which
might have been given by the film star and
returned the necklace instead of threatening
her that he would sell it.
(d) As the film star had notified in the newspa-
per, P ought to have read it and contacted her
instead of publishing another notification. So
he cannot claim any compensation.
122. Principle: A violation of a legal right of some-
one, whether results in a legal injury or not, gives
rise to an action in tort for compensation. At the
same time, an action by someone, which results
in some loss or damage to somebody else is not
actionable, if there is no violation of a right of that
somebody.
Facts: AB Coaching Centre was a popular CLAT
coaching academy with several good trainers. A
lot of aspirants used to attend its coaching classes
from all over and was making good profit. This
was going on for the past several years. During
a session, T, one of the very good and popular
trainers of ABCC, had some difference of opinion
with the owner of ABCC and left the coaching cen-
tre. In August 2016, T started another Entrance
Coaching Centre closer to ABCC which resulted in
a substantial drop in its students and huge finan-
cial loss. The owner of ABCC wants to file a case
against T for the loss sustained by ABCC. What do
you think is the right legal position?
(a) T has not violated any of ABCC’s legal right
though they sustained some financial loss
and not legally bound to compensate ABCC.
(b) T will be liable to compensate the loss to
ABCC.
(c) T started the new coaching centre near ABCC
intentionally, and shall be liable to compen-
sate the loss of ABCC.
(d) ‘T’ should have consulted ABCC before start-
ing his coaching centre.
14 | CLAT 2017
123. Principle: An offer made by one party when
accepted by another makes it a contract.
Transactions:
1. P offered to sell his house for ` 20 lakhs to R;
R told P that he was interested to buy a house for
15 lakhs only.
2. C was looking for a house for not more than
25 lakhs; P informed C that his house was avail-
able for 20 lakhs.
3. K wanted to buy some old furniture; L told K that
he would sell his furniture for ` 10, 000.
4. R advertised to sell his old car for a price of ` Three
lakhs; S found the advertisement and offered to
buy it for ` 2 lakhs 50 thousand; R agrees to sell it
to S.
Which among the above is actually a contract?
(a) Situations 1 and 2 are contracts
(b) Situation 4 only is a contract
(c) Situation 3 only is a contract
(d) Situations 2 and 4 are contracts
124. Principle: Every agreement, of which the object or
consideration is opposed to public policy, is void.
An agreement which has the tendency to injure
public interest or public welfare is one against
public policy. What constitutes an injury to public
interest or public welfare would depend upon the
times and the circumstances.
Facts: ‘A’ promises to obtain for ‘B’ an employ-
ment in the public service, and ‘B’ promises to pay
rupees 5,00,000/- to ‘A’.
(a) The agreement is void, as the object and con-
sideration for it is opposed to public policy.
(b) The agreement is void because rupees
5,00,000/- is excessive.
(c) The agreement is valid, as it is with consider-
ation for public service.
(d) The agreement is valid, as it is a contract
between two parties with their free consent.
125. Principle: According to the law of trade unions in
India, no suit or other legal proceeding shall be
maintainable in any civil court against any regis-
tered trade union or any officer or member thereof
in respect of any act done in contemplation or in
furtherance of a trade dispute.
Facts: Soloman, the Secretary of a registered
Trade Union, took a loan from a bank for the
higher education of his daughter. Soon after com-
pleting the course she was married to an NRI
Engineer. Solomon did not repay the loan. The
bank demanded the payments from Soloman and
warned him that the bank will take suitable legal
action against him. Identify the legal position in
this regard.
(a) The bank can file a suit for recovery of the
loan amount against Soloman as he took the
loan for a personal purpose and in such case
no immunity will work.
(b) The bank can recover the loan amount from
the Trade Union as Soloman is the Secretary
of the Union.
(c) The bank cannot initiate any action against
Soloman as he is the Secretary of a Registered
Trade Union.
(d) As Soloman did not use the loan amount for
his use and hence, no action can be initiated
against him.
126. Principle: When a person makes such a state-
ment which lowers other person’s reputation in
the estimation of other persons, is liable for com-
mitting defamation.
Facts: ‘A’ writes a letter to ‘B’ in which he uses
abusive language against ‘B’ and also states that
‘B’ is a dishonest person. ‘A’ put the letter in a
sealed envelope and delivered it to ‘B’.
(a) ‘A’ has committed defamation.
(b) ‘A’ has committed a moral wrong.
(c) ‘A’ has not committed moral wrong.
(d) ‘A’ has not committed defamation.
127. Principle: Nothing is an offence which is done in
the exercise of the right of private defence.
Facts: ‘A’, under the influence of madness,
attempts to kill ‘B’. ‘B’ to save his life kills ‘A’.
(a) ‘B’ has not committed any offence.
(b) ‘B’ has committed an offence.
(c) ‘A’ has not committed an offence because he
was mad.
(d) ‘A’ has committed the offence of attempt to
murder.

128. Principle: An agreement, the terms of which are
not certain, or capable of being made certain, is
void.
Facts: Sunder agreed to take Bhola’s penthouse
on rent for three years at the rate of rupees
12,00,000/- per annum provided the house was
put to thorough repairs and the living rooms were
decorated according to contemporary style.
(a) There is a valid contract because there is an
offer from Sunder and acceptance from Bhola.
(b) There is a valid contract because all the
terms of contract are certain and not vague
as the rent is fixed by both of them and the
term ‘present style’ only can be interpreted to
mean the latest style.
(c) There is no valid contract because it has
vague and uncertain terms, as the term ‘pres-
ent style’ may mean one thing to Sunder and
another to Bhola.
(d) It is voidable contract at the option of Bhola.
129. Principle: A master shall be liable for the fraudu-
lent acts of his servants committed in the course of
employment. However, the master and third par-
ties must exercise reasonable care in this regard.
Facts: Rahul was a door to door salesman with
United Manufacturing Company (the Company).
The Company was manufacturing Water Purifiers.
Rahul, along with the company’s products, used to
carry Water Purifiers manufactured by his cousin
in a local Industrial Estate. He used to sell the
local product at a lower rate giving the impression
to the buyers that he is offering a discount on the
company’s product. The company management
detected the fraudulent activity of Rahul and dis-
missed him from service. Rahul still continued to
carry on with his activity of selling the local prod-
uct pretending that he was still a salesman of the
company. Several customers got cheated in this
process. The fraud was noticed by the company
when the customers began to complain about the
product. The customers demanded the company
to compensate their loss.
(a) The company is liable to the customers who
purchased the local product from Rahul only
till he remained as a salesman of the company.
CLAT 2017 | 15
(b) The company is not liable as Rahul was
­dismissed by the company.
(c) The company is liable to compensate all the
customers as it did not inform the p ­ ublic
about Rahul’s fraudulent conduct and the
subsequent dismissal.
(d) The liability rests with the local manufacturer
as it was a defective product.
130. Principle: According to law, a person is deemed
to have attained the age of majority when he com-
pletes the age of 18 years, except in the case of a
person where a guardian of a minor’s person or
property has been appointed under the Guardi and
Wards Act, 1890 or where the superintendence of a
minor’s property is assumed by a Court of Wards.
Indian law expressly forbids a minor from entering
into a contract. Hence, any contract entered into
by a minor is void-ab-initio regardless of whether
the other party was aware of his minority or not.
Further, though a minor is not competent to con-
tract, nothing in the Contract Act prevents him
from making the other party bound to the minor.
Facts: Lal executed a promissory note in favour
of Gurudutt, aged 16 years stating that he would
pay Gurudutt a sum of ` 2 Lakhs when he attains
the age of majority. On attaining the age of 18,
Gurudutt demanded the amount from Lal, who
refused to pay.
Gurudutt wants to take legal action against Lal.
Identify the most appropriate legal position from
the following:
(a) A promissory note duly executed in favour of
a minor is not void and can be sued upon by
him, because he though incompetent to con-
tract, may yet accept a benefit.
(b) Gurudutt should not have entered into a con-
tract with Lal when he was a minor.
(c) Lal was not aware of the fact that Gurudutt
was a minor.
(d) Lal argues that as per the Guardi and Wards
Act, 1890, Gurudutt can claim the money only
after he attains the age of 21.
131. Principle: Section 34 of Indian Penal Code pro-
vides that ‘When a criminal act is done by several
persons in furtherance of the common intention
16 | CLAT 2017

of all, each of such persons is liable for that act in (a) Committed an assault on Sheetal
the same manner as if it were done by him alone’. (b) Insulted Sheetal
Facts: Three vagabonds, Sanju, Dilbag and Sushil (c) Not committed an assault on Sheetal
decided to commit burglary. In the night, Sushil (d) Rightly showed his anger
opened the lock and they broke into a rich man’s
133. Principle: According to section 2 of the Industrial
house when the entire family was on a pilgrim-
Disputes Act, 1947, ‘Industrial dispute means any
age. Sanju had gone to that house earlier in con-
dispute or difference between employers and
nection with some cleaning job. There was only a
employers or between employers and workmen
servant lady in the house. Hearing some sounds
or between workmen and workmen, which is con-
from the master bed room, the servant switched
nected with the employment or non-employment
on the lights and went up to the room from where
or the terms of employment or with the condi-
she heard the sound. Noticing that the servant
tions of labour of any person’.
was going to cry for help, Sanju grabbed her and
Facts: The employees of DK Enterprises met the
covered her mouth with his hands and dragged
management and requested half a day leave to
her into the nearby room. The other two were
allow them to celebrate a lunar eclipse, which was
collecting whatever they could from the room.
going to happen two days later. The management
When they were ready to go out of the house, they
refused the request. Does this situation amount
looked for Sanju and found him committing rape
to an ‘industrial dispute’?
on the servant. They all left the house and the ser-
(a) Yes, because there is some difference of opin-
vant reported the matter to the police and identi-
ion it would be an industrial dispute.
fied Sanju. Subsequently, all three were arrested
(b) No, as declaring holidays is a prerogative of
in connection with the offences of house break-
the employer. So no industrial dispute.
ing, burglary and rape. Identify the legal liability
(c) No, as Lunar eclipse is unconnected with
of the three.
employment.
(a) All three are liable for all the offences as
(d) As the difference of opinion between the
there was common intention to commit the
employees and employer is on declaration
crimes.
of holiday, it amounts to an issue connected
(b) Sanju will be liable only for housebreak-
with employment or with the terms of employ-
ing and rape as he did not participate in the
ment and hence, an industrial dispute.
burglary.
(c) Only Sanju will be liable for rape as he was 134. Principle: When a person falsifies something with
the one who actually committed the offence. the intent to deceive another person or entity is
(d) Only Dilbag and Sushil are liable for burglary forgery and is a criminal act. Changing or adding
in looting the house, and all three will be the signature on a document, deleting it, using
liable for housebreaking and rape as they did or possessing the false writing is also consid-
not stop Sanju from committing the offence ered forgery. In the case of writing/painting to fall
and hence were accomplice to the offence. under the definition, the material included must
have been fabricated or altered significantly in
132. Principle: Assault is causing bodily injury to
order to represent something it is actually not.
another person by use of physical force.
Facts: David made a living traveling from city to city;
Facts: Rustum while entering into compartment
selling paintings that he claimed were done by great
of a train raised his fist in anger towards a person
artists. Since the artists’ signatures were in place,
Sheetal, just in front of him in the row, to get way
many people fell for them and purchased the paint-
to enter into the train first, but did not hit him.
ings. One of these artists saw three of his alleged
Rustum has:
paintings in a City gallery containing his name.
 CLAT 2017 | 17

He knew these were not his works and he complained (c) Circular issued by a company amounts to law
to the police. Police traced David and initiated legal in the constitutional sense and hence the High
proceedings. Is David guilty of any offence? Court can issue a writ as pleaded for by Navin.
(a) David is guilty of forgery as the addition of (d) The circular interferes with the freedom guar-
the signature was with an intention to make anteed by the Constitution and hence the
people believe that those were the paintings High Court can issue an appropriate writ.
of the great artists.
136. Principle: When a person interferes with peace-
(b) There is no point in taking legal action against
ful possession of another person without the
David as the signature has not done any alter-
permission of the person in possession of those
ation to the art work.
­premises, commits trespass to land.
(c) Those who buy the art pieces from David
Facts: ‘T’ just walked over the land of ‘P’ to reach
ought to have been careful in checking it and
his house as it was a short cut. ‘P’ had displayed
ensuring that they were originals before pur-
a notice that it is not a thoroughfare. ‘P’ did not
chasing it.
cause any damage to the land.
(d) David is not guilty of any offence as he was
(a) ‘T’ has violated privacy of ‘P’.
selling the art pieces for his living.
(b) ‘T’ has not committed any trespass on the
135. Principle: The Constitution of India guarantees land of ‘P’.
certain fundamental rights to its citizens. The (c) ‘T’ has committed trespass to land.
Constitution also provides that these rights can- (d) ‘T’ has created nuisance for ‘P’.
not be taken away by state even by a law. For vio-
137. Principle: A contract would be invalid and
lation of this, the person adversely affected by the
unlawful, if the contract is for an immoral or
­
law may approach the High Court or the Supreme
­illegal purpose.
Court for the issuance of an appropriate writ.
Facts: P was a young and helpless widow, ­living
One of these rights includes the freedom to
on the pavement. R, a neighbour gave her a
form association that implies the right to join an
house, registered in her name, on the condition
association or not to join such an association.
that she should allow R to keep his smuggled
Facts: Owing to some industrial disturbances cre-
goods and drugs in her house. After the registra-
ated by XATU, one of the several trade unions in
tion was done, according to the condition in the
AB Chemicals (Pvt) Ltd., the Company issued a
contract, R’s agents went to keep some packets in
circular to all its employees that as far as possible
her house, she refused. R told her the condition
the employees may disassociate with XATU. Navin
under which the house was given to her. She still
is an employee of AB Chemicals and the current
refused. Is P justified in her action?
General Secretary of XATU. Aggrieved by this cir-
(a) P is not justified as she did not have the right
cular, which affected the fundamental rights of his
to deny R’s request.
and other members of the Union, approaches the
(b) As R was making the contract for illegal activi-
High Court of the state for a relief. Identify the
ties, P’s stand is valid in law.
most reasonable legal proposition.
(c) R can take back the house by cancelling the
(a) The company’s circular is illegal and has to be
transfer deed.
quashed by the Court.
(d) P is right as she did not like smuggled goods
(b) The prohibition against any imposition of
to be kept in her house.
restriction against a fundamental right is not
applicable to anybody other than the state 138. Principle: When a person falsifies something with
and hence Navin will not get any relief from the intent to deceive another person or entity is
the High Court. forgery and is a criminal act. Changing or adding
18 | CLAT 2017
the signature on a document, deleting it, using
or possessing the false writing is also considered
forgery. In the case of writing to fall under the
definition, the material included must have been
fabricated or altered significantly in order to rep-
resent something it is actually not.
Facts: John was a publisher of ancient books and
papers. In one of his books on the World Wars,
he gave photograph of some letters written by
famous historic personalities. A researcher in
history noted that in the pictures of some of the
letters printed in the book, John had added some
words or sentences in his own handwriting to give
completeness to the sentences, so that the read-
ers will get a clear picture of the writer’s intention.
The researcher challenges the originality of those
pictures and claims that the book containing the
forged letters should be banned. Examine the
validity of the researcher’s demand.
(a) The additions in the letters were made by
the publisher in his own handwriting would
have made material alteration to the original
meaning and hence amounted to forgery.
(b) Allowing forged publications to be circulated
among the public is as good as committing
fraud on the public, so the publication should
be banned.
(c) As forgery amounts to adding or deleting any-
thing from an original document, the demand
of the researcher is valid.
(d) The additions were made to give clarity to the
original document and did not in any sense
change the contents of the documents and
hence there is no forgery as alleged by the
researcher.
139. Principle: Whoever takes away with him any
minor less than sixteen years of age if a male, or
less than eighteen years of age if a female, out
of the custody of parents of such minor without
the consent of such parents, is said to commit no
offence.
Facts: ‘A’, a man, took away a girl below sixteen
years to Mumbai without informing the parents of
the girl.
(a) ‘A’ committed no offence against the parents
of the girl.
(b) ‘A’ committed no offence against the girl as
well as her parents.
(c) ‘A’ committed an offence against the girl as
well as her parents.
(d) ‘A’ committed an offence against the girl.
140. Principle: Acceptance of a proposal must be
absolute and unqualified.
Facts: ‘A’ made a proposal to sell his motorcycle
to ‘B’ for rupees 25,000/-. ‘B’ agreed to buy it for
rupees 24,000/-. ‘A’ sold his motorcycle to ‘C’ for
26,000/- the next day. ‘B’ sues ‘A’ for damages.
(a) ‘B’ will get damages from ‘A’.
(b) ‘B’ will get the difference of rupees 1,000/- only.
(c) ‘B’ can proceed against ‘C’.
(d) ‘B’ will not get any damages from ‘A’.
141. Principle: A person is said to do a thing fraudu-
lently, if he does that thing with intent to defraud,
but not otherwise.
Facts: ‘A’ occasionally hands over his ATM card to
‘B’ to withdraw money for ‘A’. On one occasion ‘B’
without the knowledge of ‘A’, uses ‘A’s ATM card to
find out the balance in ‘A’s account, but does not
withdraw any money.
(a) B’ has not committed the act fraudulently.
(b) ‘B’ has committed the act fraudulently.
(c) ‘B’ has committed breach of faith.
(d) ‘B’ has committed misappropriation.
142. Principle: Where one of the parties to a contract
was in a position to dominate the decision of the
other party, the contract is enforceable only at the
option of the party who was in a position to domi-
nate the decision of the other party.
Facts: A doctor asked his patient to make a pay-
ment of rupees Ten Lakh for treatment of his fever.
The patient paid an amount of rupees Five Lakh
and promised to pay the remaining amount after
the treatment. After treatment the patient recov-
ered from fever. The doctor demanded the remain-
ing amount from the patient. The patient refused
to pay.

(a) The contract is not enforceable without the
consent of the patient.
(b) The contract is not enforceable as doctor was
in dominating position.
(c) The contract is enforceable against the doctor.
(d) The contract is enforceable against the
patient by the doctor.
143. Principle: Negligence is actionable in law. In sim-
ple terms, negligence is the failure to take proper
care over something.
Facts: A, a doctor, conducted a hysterectomy sin-
cerely on B and left a small cotton swab inside
the abdomen. As a consequence of which B devel-
oped some medical problems and had to undergo
another surgery. Is A liable?
(a) A is not liable as he did not foresee any con-
sequences at the time of surgery.
(b) A is liable for the negligence as he failed to
take proper care during the surgery.
(c) Liability for negligence does not arise here as
A performed the operation sincerely
(d) As only a small swab was left in the abdomen,
there was no negligence.
144. Principle: When a person consented to an act to
be done by another, he cannot claim any damages
resulting from doing that act, provided the act
done is the same for which consent is given.
Facts: ‘P’ submitted a written consent to a sur-
geon ‘S’ for undergoing a surgical operation for
removal of appendicitis. The surgeon while doing
surgery also removed the gall bladder of ‘A’:
(a) ‘P’ can claim damages from ‘S’.
(b) ‘P’ is required to pay expenses for surgery for
appendicitis but not for gall bladder.
(c) ‘P’ cannot claim damages from ‘S’.
(d) ‘P’ is not bound to pay expenses of the surgery.
145. Principle: There are legal provisions to give
authority to a person to use necessary force
against an assailant or wrong-doer for the pur-
pose of protecting one’s own body and property
as also another’s body and property when imme-
diate aid from the state machinery is not readily
available; and in so doing he is not answerable in
law for his deeds.
CLAT 2017 | 19
Facts: X, a rich man was taking his morning walk.
Due to the threat of robbers in the locality, he was
carrying his pistol also. From the opposite direc-
tion, another person was coming with a ferocious
looking dog. All of a sudden, the dog which was
on a chain held by the owner started barking at X.
The owner of the dog called the dog to be calm.
They crossed each other without any problem.
But suddenly, the dog started barking again from
a distance. X immediately took out his pistol. By
seeing the pistol the dog stopped barking and
started walking with the owner. However, X shot at
the dog which died instantly. The owner of the dog
files a complaint against X, which in due course
reached the Magistrate Court. X pleads the right
of private defence.
(a) Shooting a fierce dog is not to be brought
under the criminal law. So the case should be
dismissed.
(b) There was no imminent danger to X as the
dog stopped barking and was walking with
the owner. Hence, shooting it amounted to
excessive use of the right of private defence
and hence liable for killing the dog.
(c) The right of private defence is available to
persons against assailants or wrongdoers
only and a dog does not fall in this category.
(d) As there was no guarantee that the dog would
not bark again, shooting it was a precaution-
ary measure and hence within the right avail-
able to X under law.
Directions (questions 36–50): Legal phrases are f­ollowed by
four meanings. Choose the most appropriate option:
146. Per incuriam means
(a) Mistaken identity
(b) Mistaken decision
(c) Supremacy of the constitution
(d) Supremacy of law
147. Autrefois convict means
(a) Formerly convicted
(b) Failed prosecution
(c) To be convicted
(d) Doubtful conviction
20 | CLAT 2017

148. Lex loci means 157. Caveat venditor means

(a) Domestic laws (b) Law of a place (a) Buyer beware
(c) Latin regulations (d) Italian laws (b) Seller beware
(c) Transporter beware
149. Lis pendens means
(d) Manufacturer beware
(a) Pending suit
(b) Decided case 158. Sine die means
(c) No legal issues involved (a) Adjourned without fixing any date for the next
(d) Facts of case proved meeting.
(b) Adjourned for the day and scheduled to meet
150. Faux pas means
next day again.
(a) Passage of time (b) Tactless mistake
(c) Adjourned for the day and meet after one
(c) Pausing for a while (d) Cheating
month.
151. Bona vacantia means (d) Adjourned for the day and meet after one
(a) Order of the court for eviction week.
(b) Vacant land
159. Animus posssidendi means
(c) Goods that have no owner
(a) Intention to harm
(d) Vacant building
(b) Intent to contract
152. In pari delicto means (c) Intention to possess
(a) Where the lawyer is at fault (d) Intention to return
(b) Where the petitioner is at fault
160. Malus animus means
(c) Where the judge is at fault
(a) Good intention (b) Bad intention
(d) Where both parties to a dispute are equally at
(c) Animal farm (d) Physical force
fault
153. Pari passu means SECTION V: LOGICAL REASONING
(a) Diverse nature
(b) On an unequal status Directions (questions 161–163): Read the following infor-
(c) Supremacy of law mation carefully and choose the appropriate option in the ques-
(d) On equal footing tions given below.
154. ‘Jus Gentium’ means A. There is a group of five persons – A, B, C, D
(a) Law of Societies and E.
(b) Law among Nations B. One of them is a Singer, one is a Dancer, one
(c) Global justice is a Painter, one is a Teacher and one is a
(d) Global administrative law Doctor.
C. Three of them—A, C and Doctor—prefer
155. ‘Punctum Temporis’ means rice to chapatti and two of them – B and the
(a) Point of time Painter—prefer chapatti to rice.
(b) Temporary position D. The Teacher, D and A are friends to one another
(c) Timely assistance but two of these prefer chapatti to rice.
(d) Functional authority E. The Singer is C’s brother.
156. Turpis arbiter means 161. Who is a Dancer?
(a) Corrupt prosecutor (b) Inefficient judge (a) D (b) C
(c) Corrupt judge (d) Inefficient lawyer (c) A (d) E
 CLAT 2017 | 21

162. Who is a Teacher? (a) Some men are naturally good.

(a) B (b) E (b) Some men are not naturally good.
(c) C (d) D (c) All men are naturally good.
(d) No men are good.
163. Who is a Singer?
(a) C (b) D Directions (questions 169–170): Find the odd one out from
(c) A (d) B the following:
Directions (questions 164–166): Read the following infor- 169. Find the odd one out from the following:
mation carefully and choose the most appropriate option in the (a) Exact estimate (b) Only choice
questions given below (c) Clearly visible (d) Open secret
A. Six flats on a floor in two rows facing north
170. Find the odd one out from the following:
and south are allotted to P, Q, R, S, T and U.
(a) Expedition (b) Crusade
B. Q gets a north-facing flat and is not next to S.
(c) Cruise (d) Campaign
C. S and U get diagonally opposite flats.
D. R, next to U gets a south-facing flat and T gets Directions (questions 171–200): Choose the most appropri-
a north-facing flat. ate option for each of the following questions.
164. If the flats of T and P are interchanged, who’s flat 171. How many times from 4 pm to 10 pm, the hands of
will be next to that of U? a clock are at right angles?
(a) R (b) Q (a) 9 (b) 10
(c) P (d) T (c) 11 (d) 6
165. Whose flat is between Q and S? 172. _______ is a hater of knowledge and learning.
(a) T (b) R (a) Misologist (b) Misogynist
(c) U (d) P (c) Mystique (d) Moroccan
166. Which of the following combination gets south- 173. Ravi was showing a photograph to his friend,
facing flats? Gopi. Pointing at a boy in the photograph, Ravi
(a) U, R, P (b) Q, T, S said: ‘The boy sitting at the left is the son of the
(c) U, P ,T (d) data inadequate wife of the only son of the grand-mother of my
Directions (questions 167–168): Which alternative applies younger brother’.
to the following Statement or Assumptions? Choose the most What is the relation between the boy in the pho-
appropriate option. tograph and Ravi?
167. ‘Only ignorant people believe in witchcraft’ is (a) First cousins (b) Ravi’s brother-in-law
equivalent to (c) Brothers (d) Nephew and uncle
(a) All persons who believe in witchcraft are
174. In a company, 60 % workers are males. If the num-
ignorant.
ber of female workers in the company is 800, what
(b) No ignorant persons are those who do not
is the number of male workers in the company?
believe in witchcraft.
(a) 1200 (b) 1900
(c) Some ignorant persons are not those who
(c) 1400 (d) 1600
believe in witchcraft.
(d) There is no link between ignorance and 175. ‘Some of the valuable books are seldom read’,
witchcraft. means:
(a) Some of the valuable books are not read.
168. ‘There is no man that is not naturally good’ is
(b) All the valuable books are not read.
equivalent to the proposition
22 | CLAT 2017

(c) Some of the valuable books are read. (a) East (b) West
(d) All the valuable books are read. (c) South (d) North
176. Coding and decoding 9: 72 : : 8 : ? 184. If 27 March, 2011 was Sunday, what was the day on
(a) 34 (b) 64 27 June 2011?
(c) 18 (d) 43 (a) Sunday (b) Tuesday
(c) Monday (d) Saturday
177. A girl introduced a boy as the son of the daughter
of the father of her uncle. The boy is girl`s 185. Pointing to a girl in the photograph, Ram said,
(a) Uncle (b) Son ‘Her mother`s brother is the only son of my moth-
(c) Brother (d) Son-in-law er’s father’. How is the girl`s mother related to
Ram?
178. Sunil’s school bus is facing north when it reaches
(a) Sister (b) Mother
his school. After starting from Sunil’s house, it
(c) Grandmother (d) Aunt
turned right twice and then left before reaching
the school. What direction the bus was facing 186. Wave : Crest as _________ : Peak.
when it left the bus stop in front of Sunil’s house? (a) Land (b) Water
(a) East (b) South (c) River (d) Mountain
(c) North (d) West
187. Vaishnavi prefers Economics to Maths, English to
179. When Ravi saw Ramesh, he recalled, ‘He is the Social science and Political Science to History. If
son of the father of my daughter’. Who is Ramesh? she prefers Maths to History, and Social science
(a) Uncle (b) Brother-in-law to Maths, which is Vaishnavi’s least preferred
(c) Cousin (d) Brother subject?
(a) History
180. If in a certain code, the word MILITARY is writ-
(b) Economics
ten as 12324567, then in the same code, the word
(c) Maths
TAIL will be written as
(d) Social science
(a) 2345 (b) 5432
(c) 3254 (d) 4523 188. Pointing to a photograph, Prakash said, “She is
the daughter of my grandfather’s only son”. How
181. Crumb : Bread is as
is Prakash related to the girl in the photograph?
(a) Water : Vessel (b) Inch : Unit
(a) Brother (b) Uncle
(c) Splinter : Wood (d) Powder : Face
(c) Father (d) Cousin
182. A man walks 1 km. towards east and then he turns
189. In a military secret service map, South-East is
to south and walks 5 km. Again he turns to East
shown as North, North-East as West and so on.
and walks 2 km. After this he turns to north and
What will West become?
walks 9 km. Now, how far is he from his starting
(a) North-East (b) South-West
point?
(c) North-West (d) South-East
(a) 0 km (b) 4 km
(c) 9 km (d) 5 km 190. No parrots are black. All crows are black. From the
above premises which one of the following con-
183. John wants to go the university. He starts from his
clusions is true?
house which is in the east and comes to a cross-
(a) No crows are parrots.
ing. The road to his left ends in a theatre, straight
(b) Some parrots are not crows.
ahead is the hospital. In which direction is the
(c) Some crows are not parrots.
University?
(d) No conclusion can be drawn.
 CLAT 2017 | 23

191. If South-East becomes North, North-East (c) The occurrence of the same letter or sound
becomes West and so on, what will West become? at the beginning of adjacent or closely con-
(a) North-West (b) North nected words.
(c) South-East (d) East (d) Words which sound alike but have different
meanings.
192. If in a code language, ‘ABANDON’ is written as
‘aramoim’; ‘BORE’ is written as ‘rits’ and ‘BASIL’ 197. Two ladies and two men are playing bridge and
is written as ‘rabut’, then what is the original word seated at north, east, south and west of a table.
for the code: ‘bituo’? No lady is facing east. Persons sitting opposite to
(a) SOMAD (b) SOLID each other are not of the same sex. One man is
(c) NASIA (d) SOFIA facing south. Which direction are the ladies facing
to?
193. Mare is to Horse as
(a) South and east (b) None of these
(a) Sow is to Boar
(c) East and west (d) North and west
(b) Geese is to Duck
(c) Pony is to Donkey 198. Identify the statement which cannot be accepted.
(d) Deer is to Buck (a) Odyssey is an ancient epic.
(b) Almost one third of the human body is made
194. There were twelve dozens of chocolates with a
up of water.
shopkeeper. Ten chocolates were distributed
(c) The earth revolves around the sun in 366
by the shopkeeper to the children of his colony.
days.
The shopkeeper then added two more dozens of
(d) Human race will become extinct sooner or
chocolates in his stock. If the shopkeeper divided
later.
the total chocolates equally in two different pack-
ets, then how many chocolates were there in each 199. The birthday of Ms. Y was celebrated six days
packet? before Ms. X, who was born on 4th October 1999.
(a) 152 (b) 89 The independence day of that year fell on Sunday.
(c) 79 (d) 158 On which day did Ms. Y celebrate her birthday, if it
was not a leap year?
195. In the series of alphabets given below, which is
(a) Sunday (b) Monday
the missing alphabet series?
(c) Wednesday (d) Tuesday
AX, DU, GR, ____, ML
(a) JN (b) JO 200. A person who renounces religious or political
(c) IK (d) HQ belief or principle is called
(a) Ascetic (b) Apostate
196. What is meant by ‘Alliteration’?
(c) Antiquarian (d) Apostle
(a) Act of literary modification.
(b) Acts of an environmentally conscious person.
24 | CLAT 2017

ANSWER KEY

English
1. (b) 7. (a) 13. (a) 19. (b) 25. (c) 31. (c) 37. (d)
2. (a) 8. (c) 14. (a) 20. (d) 26. (a) 32. (d) 38. (a)
3. (b) 9. (c) 15. (d) 21. (b) 27. (a) 33. (c) 39. (b)
4. (b) 10. (c) 16. (b) 22. (b) 28. (c) 34. (c) 40. (b)
5. (a) 11. (a) 17. (a) 23. (b) 29. (c) 35. (c)
6. (c) 12. (b) 18. (b) 24. (d) 30. (d) 36. (b)

General Knowledge
41. (c) 49. (d) 57. (c) 65. (c) 73. (b) 81. (c) 89. (c)
42. (a) 50. (d) 58. (a) 66. (d) 74. (b) 82. (d) 90. (d)
43. (a) 51. (c) 59. (a) 67. (b) 75. (d) 83. (a)
44. (b) 52. (b) 60. (b) 68. (a) 76. (b) 84. (d)
45. (d) 53. (b) 61. (b) 69. (b) 77. (a) 85. (d)
46. (d) 54. (b) 62. (d) 70. (b) 78. (d) 86. (c)
47. (a) 55. (b) 63. (a) 71. (c) 79. (a) 87. (c)
48. (d) 56. (b) 64. (b) 72. (a) 80. (a) 88. (d)

Mathematics
91. (b) 94. (b) 97. (a) 100. (d) 103. (a) 106. (a) 109. (c)
92. (c) 95. (c) 98. (d) 101. (a) 104. (b) 107. (d) 110. (b)
93. (d) 96. (b) 99. (a) 102. (d) 105. (a) 108. (d)

Legal Aptitude/Reasoning
111. (b) 119. (a) 127. (a) 135. (b) 143. (b) 151. (c) 159. (c)
112. (c) 120. (b) 128. (c) 136. (c) 144. (a) 152. (d) 160. (b)
113. (a) 121. (a) 129. (c) 137. (b) 145. (b) 153. (d)
114. (d) 122. (a) 130. (a) 138. (d) 146. (b) 154. (b)
115. (d) 123. (b) 131. (c) 139. (b) 147. (a) 155. (a)
116. (d) 124. (a) 132. (c) 140. (d) 148. (b) 156. (c)
117. (b) 125. (a) 133. (d) 141. (a) 149. (a) 157. (b)
118. (c) 126. (d) 134. (a) 142. (d) 150. (b) 158. (a)

Logical Reasoning
161. (a) 167. (a) 173. (c) 179. (b) 185. (d) 191. (c) 197. (d)
162. (c) 168. (c) 174. (a) 180. (d) 186. (d) 192. (b) 198. (b)
163. (c) 169. (c) 175. (a) 181. (c) 187. (a) 193. (a) 199. (d)
164. (a) 170. (c) 176. (b) 182. (d) 188. (a) 194. (c) 200. (b)
165. (a) 171. (c) 177. (c) 183. (d) 189. (d) 195. (b)
166. (a) 172. (a) 178. (d) 184. (c) 190. (a) 196. (c)
 CLAT 2016
SECTION I: ENGLISH 9. Professor Ahmed ____ teaching us _____ August
2012.
Directions (questions 1–10): Fill up the blanks by choosing
the most appropriate option: (a) was, for
(b) had been, since
1. I like reading journals _______ novels.
(c) has been, since
(a) the best (b) more than
(d) has been, for
(c) most than (d) the less than
10. The method and practice of teaching is called
2. There isn’t _______ water in the overhead tank. ____.
(a) lot of (b) any (a) Paediatrics
(c) little (d) something (b) Pedagogy
3. They always give the available seats to _______ (c) Training
comes first. (d) Philately
(a) whomever (b) whom
Directions (questions 11–15): Complete the ­sentences with
(c) whichever (d) whoever
the correct options:
4. A fire broke _____ in the neighbourhood. 11. Her parents have arrived _____ the airport.
(a) off (b) out (a) to (b) at
(c) away (d) from
(c) on (d) in
5. If you promise _______ angry with me, I’ll tell you 12. They returned home _____ a taxi.
what I broke. (a) in (b) from
(a) not to get (b) get out
(c) on (d) with
(c) not getting (d) not get
13. I have never come _______ any one as rude as
6. A thief does not ______ the door. him.
(a) Knock at (b) knock on (a) across (b) to
(c) knock to (d) knock
(c) around (d) at
7. There is a lot of work ______ hand. Let’s cancel
14. I can’t bear ____ late.
______ picnic.
(a) been (b) be
(a) upon, the (b) in, a
(c) to (d) being
(c) in, the (d) on, a
15. Mani, along with his friends, _____ for basketball
8. It’s unfortunate that he died _____ cancer.
practice every morning.
(a) by (b) of
(a) were going (b) are going
(c) from (d) with
(c) goes (d) go
26 | CLAT 2016

Directions (questions 16–20): Choose the correct spellings in Directions (questions 25–28): Choose the correct option for
questions given below: each of the following questions:
16. Choose the correct spellings. 25. Choose the correct option.
(a) Sacribegous (b) Saereligious (a) Please stop interfering into my romantic life.
(c) Sacrilegious (d) Sacrilegiuos (b) Please stop interfering in my romantic life.
(c) Please stop interfering with my romantic life.
17. Choose the correct spellings.
(d) Please stop interfering for my romantic life.
(a) Deceive (b) Deceeve
(c) Diecieve (d) Decieve 26. Choose the correct option.
(a) The Titanic did not reach their destination.
18. Choose the correct spellings.
(b) The Titanic did not reach her destination.
(a) Collaborate (b) Colaborate
(c) The Titanic did not reach his destination.
(c) Colaborate (d) Collaborrate
(d) The Titanic did not reach its destination.
19. Choose the correct spellings.
27. Choose the correct option.
(a) Integrity (b) Integerety
(a) The film star climbed off the car and smiled at
(c) Intigerity (d) Integerity
the people.
20. Choose the correct spellings. (b) The film star come out of the car and smiled
(a) Berrister (b) Barrister at the people.
(c) Barisster (d) Berister (c) The film star got out of the car and smiled at
the people.
Directions (questions 21–24): Choose the most appropriate
(d) The film star got off the car and smiled at the
option for each of the following questions:
people.
21. Faux pas means:
28. Choose the correct option.
(a) Expected to happening
(a) Your grammar is very good, but you need to
(b) False
work on correcting your pronunciation.
(c) Social blunder
(b) Your grammar is very good, but you need to
(d) Fake identity
work on managing your pronunciation.
22. Ab initio means: (c) Your grammar is very good, but you need to
(a) In continuation with work on repairing your pronunciation.
(b) From the beginning (d) Your grammar is very good, but you need to
(c) In defence of a comment work on modifying your pronunciation.
(d) In connection with the future
Directions (questions 29–30): Complete the proverb, in the
23. To bury the hatchet means: following questions:
(a) To end a feud with an enemy
29. When _____ is bliss, it is _____ to be wise.
(b) To cremate carcass of an animal
(a) romance, boring
(c) To plant grass in the field
(b) ignorance, folly
(d) To hid some treasure
(c) knowledge, better
24. Amicus curiae means: (d) bachelorhood, single
(a) One of the judges of the court
30. ______ waters run _____.
(b) A friend of the court
(a) Hot, fast (b) Muddy, slow
(c) One among the parties to the dispute
(c) Stagnant, leisurely (d) Still, deep
(d) One among the expert witnesses in a case
Another random document with
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 Elftes Kapitel.

F rau Therese Tiefenbrunner brachte es tatsächlich zustande, daß

der Herr Patscheider seine Mithülfe zusagte. In einem der
größten Säle wurde endlich die Ausstellung veranstaltet.
Felix schwelgte in Glückseligkeit. Auf den Rat seiner Frau war er
mit der Wahl seiner Werke sehr vorsichtig gewesen. Es waren
hauptsächlich Landschaften und einzelne Porträtstudien. Lauter gute
und wertvolle Bilder. Bilder, die ein großes Können, eine feine
Beobachtung und kühne Auffassung verrieten. Aber sie gefielen dem
Patscheider trotzdem nicht. Weder ihm, noch den meisten der
andern, die zur Besichtigung der Ausstellung sich eingefunden
hatten.
„Es ist doch ein verrücktes Zeug!“ behauptete der Patscheider.
„Wär’ er g’scheiter in München blieben, er paßt nit herein zu uns!“
Auch die Kritik der Lokalblätter verhielt sich kühl und ablehnend,
und der Erfolg, den die Ausstellung hatte, war gleich Null.
Ein einziges Bild wurde verkauft, und das am allerletzten Tag der
Ausstellung, da Felix und Adele schon jede Hoffnung auf einen
materiellen Ertrag aufgegeben hatten.
Das Bild war eine feine Landschaft, und der Erlös daraus sicherte
die Existenz des jungen Künstlerpaares für die nächsten Monate. Es
war ein großer Freudentag für Felix und Adele. Ein Tag, an dem
ihnen die Hoffnung auf kommende bessere Zeiten wieder Kraft und
Mut verlieh.
Der alte Rat Leonhard war der Käufer dieses Bildes gewesen. Es
gefiel ihm zwar nicht, aber er kaufte es trotzdem. Er kaufte es, weil
es das teuerste unter allen Bildern war. Er wußte auch nicht, was er
damit anfangen sollte. Aufhängen mochte er es nicht, und er hätte
auch keinen Platz dafür gehabt. Um es in einen Kasten zu legen,
dafür war das Bild entschieden zu groß. Die Frage der
Aufbewahrung kostete dem alten Herrn viel Kopfzerbrechen. Fast
soviel, als es ihm Selbstüberwindung und schwere Seelenkämpfe
verursacht hatte, sich zu dieser entscheidenden Tat aufzuraffen.
In dem geheimsten Winkel seiner Seele war der Herr Rat nämlich
ein alter Geizhals. Er sparte, sparte für sich selbst und gönnte sich
nur das Allernotwendigste. Für so etwas wie Kunst hätte er unter
normalen Umständen keinen Kreuzer übrig gehabt. Aber der alte
Herr Rat war nicht mehr ganz geistig normal. Wenigstens fing er das
jetzt selber zu glauben an, nachdem er sich zu dieser kühnen Tat
durchgerungen hatte.
Er kaufte das Bild einzig und allein wegen seines kleinen
goldblonden Lieblings und freute sich schon im vorhinein auf das
glückliche Jauchzen des Kindes ... „Papa hat ein Bild verkauft, Onkel
Rat! Denk nur einmal, so viel Geld!“ Und dann würde sie ihre
zierlichen, magern Ärmchen auseinanderbreiten, wie das ihre Art
war, um damit zu zeigen, daß ihre Eltern eine ganze Welt von Geld
ihr eigen nannten ...
Das kleine Mädchen war es auch, das unbewußt die ganze Not
ihrer Eltern dem alten Herrn verriet. Dora war eine kleine
Plaudertasche. Sie mußte immerzu plappern. Alles Mögliche und
Unmögliche. Der Rat Leonhard kannte gar bald alle ihre
Spielsachen, wußte, wie ihre Puppen hießen, und erhielt jeden Tag
genauen Bericht über die eingenommenen Mahlzeiten. Ohne daß er
sie fragte, erzählte es ihm das Kind.
Dieses Redebedürfnis des kleinen Mädchens mochte wohl daher
stammen, daß Dora fast den größten Teil des Tages sich selber
überlassen blieb. Die gedrückte Stimmung, in der die Eltern lebten,
ließ sie nicht dazu kommen, sich viel mit ihrem Kinde zu
beschäftigen. Felix schon gar nicht. Der war zu nervös, zu aufgeregt
und zu verzweifelt, um dem Kinde viel Beachtung zu schenken. Und
Adele, die von Natur aus ohnedies sehr schweigsam war, hing jetzt
viel ihren eigenen sorgenvollen Gedanken nach. Sie spielte wohl mit
dem Kinde, aber Dora fühlte es instinktiv, daß ihre Mutter nie ganz
bei der Sache war ... daß es ihr nicht Freude machte wie dem Onkel
Rat, wenn sie immerzu ihre kindlichen Fragen stellte und drauflos
plapperte.
Vor der Tante Therese hatte Dora eine Art Scheu. Sie ging ihr
nicht zu. Und Frau Therese, die nie ein eigenes Kind gehabt hatte,
verstand es auch nicht, sich mit Dora abzugeben.
Der alte Rat Leonhard aber verstand das viel besser und lebte
mit dem kleinen Mädchen in ihrem Phantasiereich. Redete mit ihr in
ihrer eigenen Sprache, interessierte sich für ihren Gedankenkreis,
lachte mit ihr und tat, was sie ihn hieß.
So wurde der alte Herr der einzige Spielgefährte des Kindes.
Immer länger wurden die Ständchen, die er droben auf dem Weg zur
Weiherburg mit dem kleinen Mädchen abhielt. Es war schwer zu
sagen, wer von den beiden sich mehr auf diese tägliche
Zusammenkunft freute.
Adele sah es gerne, daß ihr Kind so viel Anwert bei dem alten
Sonderling gefunden hatte. Aber davon, daß Dora zur Verräterin
ihrer verschämten Armut wurde, hatte die junge Frau keine
Ahnung ...
Das Geld, das Felix durch den Verkauf seines Bildes
eingenommen hatte, ging zur Neige. Die alte Not hielt Einkehr in
dem kleinen, sonnigen Häuschen und lastete noch drückender und
schwerer auf Felix und Adele.
Es kamen Tage, an denen Adele ihrem Kind das Brot vorzählen
mußte. Sie mußte sich jedes Stückchen Brot, jeden Schluck Milch,
den sie Dora gab, berechnen, um mit dem wenigen Geld, das sie
noch übrig hatten, so lange als möglich wirtschaften zu können.
„Mutti, warum gibst du mir jetzt so wenig Brot?“ fragte das Kind
einmal und sah betrübt auf die dünne Scheibe, die sie in ihren
Händchen hielt. „Ich hab’ mehr Hunger, ich will noch ein Brot.“
Und Adele schnitt ein größeres Stück für das Kind herunter. Sie
konnte den Klageton nicht hören. Jetzt noch nicht. Auf sich selbst
vergaß die junge Frau. Es war lange her, seit sie sich das letztemal
sattgegessen hatte. Aber das machte nichts, wenn nur Felix und das
Kind genug hatten.
„Mutti, gibst du mir nicht gerne Brot?“ frug Dora und sah mit
großen, forschenden Augen in das ernste Gesicht der Mutter.
„Doch, mein Liebling, mein Schatz, mein süßer!“ versicherte
Adele und küßte mit stürmischer Zärtlichkeit ihr kleines Mädchen.
Dabei fielen ihr heiße Tränen über das blasse Gesicht.
„Warum weinst du denn?“ fragte die kleine Dora. „Hast du wieder
kein Geld?“
„Nein, Schatzi, bald gar keines mehr. Wir müssen den lieben Gott
bitten, daß er uns wieder welches schickt!“ sagte Adele.
Das kleine Mädchen nickte verständig mit dem goldlockigen
Köpfchen. Dann biß sie heißhungrig in das große Brotstück. Die Luft
da droben auf der Weiherburg ist besonders frisch und macht
kleinen Kindern einen gesunden Appetit. Ernst und nachdenklich sah
Dora mit ihren großen blauen Augen auf die Mutter, die noch immer
leise vor sich hin weinte ...
„Du, Onkel Rat,“ sagte Dora am Nachmittag desselben Tages zu
dem alten Herrn, „hast du Kuchen mitgebracht?“
Der Rat Leonhard mußte bei solchen Fragen des Kindes stets
laut lachen. Dora stellte diese Fragen in einem so drollig
gebieterischen Ton und machte dabei ein so ernstkomisches
Gesichtchen, daß der alte Rat ein lautes Lachen nicht unterdrücken
konnte.
„Nur zwei Orangen,“ sagte er dann, „in jedem Sack eine. Such’
sie dir nur!“
Das kleine Mädchen besorgte das Suchen mit einer Gründlichkeit
und mit einem Eifer, daß die Manteltaschen des Herrn Rat Gefahr
liefen, aufgerissen zu werden.
„Morgen mußt du viel Kuchen mitbringen, Onkel Rat!“ sagte das
Kind. „Die Mama hat kein Geld, weißt du, und kann mir kein Brot
mehr geben. Und der liebe Gott hat kein Geld geschickt, und ich
hab’ Hunger!“ erzählte Dora und sah mit ihrem zarten Gesichtchen,
das so weiß und rosig war wie die feinste Blüte eines Apfels und
einen ungewöhnlich innigen Ausdruck besaß, ernsthaft zu dem alten
Herrn empor.
Bei der Rede des Kindes war der Rat Leonhard tief erschrocken.
Stand es wirklich so schlimm bei den Altwirths? Hunger ... das Kind
hatte Hunger. Ganz verstört war der alte Herr geworden. Er konnte
sich für den Augenblick gar nicht fassen und hörte nur zerstreut auf
die Neuigkeiten, die ihm Dora noch mitzuteilen hatte. Lauter liebe,
kleine Angelegenheiten von den Puppenkindern waren es.
„Bringt dir die Tante Therese nie Kuchen?“ forschte dann der Rat
Leonhard.
„Oh ja, manchmal schon, aber ich darf sie nicht bitten. Mama
hat’s verboten.“
„Und mich, mich darfst du schon bitten?“
Das Kind schüttelte das Köpfchen und sah schalkhaft zu dem
alten Manne auf. „Weißt du, das weiß die Mama ja gar nicht. Die
weiß nicht, was ich dir erzähle. Darum tu’ ich’s ja!“ lachte Dora listig.
Am nächsten Tag brachte der Rat Leonhard einen großen
Gugelhupf mit und am übernächsten Tag eine mächtig große Torte.
„Sagst der Mama, ich hab’ so viel Bäckerei geschickt bekommen von
meiner Schwester, daß ich sie nicht allein essen kann!“ trug er dem
Kinde auf. Der Rat Leonhard besaß zwar gar keine Schwester, aber
das konnte Frau Adele doch nicht wissen.
Adele war aber trotzdem mißtrauisch geworden, hatte Verdacht
geschöpft und unterzog ihr kleines Töchterchen einem Verhör. Und
mit hochrotem Gesichtchen hatte dann die kleine Sünderin ihre
Schuld gebeichtet.
„Ja, Mutti, wenn uns der liebe Gott doch kein Geld schickt ...“
hatte sie entschuldigend hinzugefügt. „Der Onkel Rat ist so gut und
kann schon Kuchen bringen.“ —
In den nächsten Tagen machte sich der Rat Leonhard abends
nach dem Stammtisch beim Weißen Hahn an den Apotheker
Tiefenbrunner heran. Das war ganz gegen seine Gewohnheit. Denn
für gewöhnlich pflegte sich der alte Herr mit einem kurzen Gruß und
beinahe fluchtartig vom Stammtisch zu entfernen, damit es ja
keinem der Herren einfiele, ihn etwa ein Stück des Weges zu
begleiten.
Heute aber wartete der Rat Leonhard sogar auf den Apotheker
und war freundlich mit ihm. Sprach mit ihm, bis sie aus dem Lokal
gegangen waren. Dann blieb der Rat stehen und sagte: „Begleiten
jetzt Sie mich oder muß ich mit Ihnen gehen?“ Der Entschluß, einen
kleinen Umweg zu machen, kam den alten Sonderling noch im
letzten Augenblick recht hart an.
„Aber ich bitte, ich bitte!“ beeilte sich Simon Tiefenbrunner zu
versichern. „Ich gehe gern mit Ihnen. Es tut mir gut, so ein kleiner
Rundgang in der Nacht.“ Innerlich war der Apotheker jedoch gar
nicht so begeistert von dem „kleinen Rundgang“. Er sehnte sich
ganz gewaltig nach Hause ins Bett.
Der Rat Leonhard wohnte ziemlich weit droben in Wilten. Er
liebte es, seinen Heimweg stets so einzurichten, daß er beim
Gerichtsgebäude, der Stätte seines einstigen Wirkens, vorüberkam.
Teilweise aus Anhänglichkeit und teilweise aus Gewohnheit.
Wenn der Herr Rat einmal auf der Straße neben einem
Menschen zu gehen hatte, so pflegte er dieses ungewohnte Ereignis
stets mit allerhand vorbereitenden Zeremonien einzuleiten. So einen
Menschen neben sich gehen zu hören, mit ihm Schritt halten zu
müssen und ihn gar noch in ein Gespräch zu verwickeln, das war
dem alten Herrn im höchsten Grade zuwider. Aber es mußte heute
eben sein. Damit hatte er sich abzufinden.
Der Herr Rat und der Apotheker Tiefenbrunner wanderten eine
Weile schweigend nebeneinander her. Gingen durch die engen
Gäßchen, die vom Weißen Hahn auf den Marktplatz führten, und
sprachen kein Wort. Das heißt, der Apotheker wartete geduldig auf
das, was ihm der Rat zu sagen haben würde. Denn daß es etwas
ungewöhnlich Wichtiges sein müsse, das wußte Simon
Tiefenbrunner sofort.
 Der alte Rat Leonhard hatte aber vorderhand keine Zeit zum
Reden. Er mußte sich zuerst damit vertraut machen, daß ein
Mensch neben ihm ging, mit dem er sich jetzt zu unterhalten hatte.
Daher wanderte der alte Herr schweigend dahin. Die Hände auf dem
Rücken und den Kopf in der Höhe, als habe er angelegentlich den
Mond zu studieren. Der goß sein mildes Licht auf die hohen,
schwarzgrauen Häuser und ließ die dunkeln Scheiben der Fenster
ab und zu aufleuchten, als ob dahinter die Geister jener Menschen,
die hier in alten Zeiten einmal gehaust hatten, im fahlen Schimmer
ihr nächtliches Spiel trieben.
Nachdem der alte Herr mit seinen eingehenden Betrachtungen
des Mondes zu Ende war, fing er plötzlich mit der Nase zu
schnauben an. Schnaubte und pustete und spuckte um sich, als
befände er sich in der höchsten Erstickungsnot. Manchmal
unterbrach er diese sonderbare Beschäftigung dadurch, daß er sich
plötzlich um seine eigene Achse drehte. Einmal, zweimal und
dreimal, wie ein Kreisel. Dabei neigte er stets seinen Kopf auf eine
Seite und schielte ganz ingrimmig und erbost zum Mond hinauf, als
habe dieser ein Verbrechen begangen, das nun den alten Herrn aus
seinem seelischen Gleichgewicht brachte.
Der Apotheker, der an alle Eigenheiten des Herrn Rates gewöhnt
war, fand nichts Außerordentliches mehr an diesen Rundtänzen mit
Spucken und Hustenanfällen. Dieses Spucken und Hüsteln hielt an,
bis die beiden schon ein Stück des Weges über den Marktgraben
zurückgelegt hatten.
Da blieb der Herr Rat plötzlich stehen, sah nach rechts und sah
nach links, steuerte dann mit dem Aufgebot seiner ganzen Energie
hastig auf einen Laternenpfahl los, lehnte sich dort mit dem Rücken
an und rieb den Rücken an dem Pfahl aus Leibeskräften. Es mußte
den Rat Leonhard offenbar ganz gehörig am Rücken jucken, weil er
gar nicht mehr mit Reiben aufhören wollte.
Der Apotheker, der geduldig auf den Rat wartete, bis dieser ihm
endlich seine Mitteilungen machen würde, dachte unterdessen mit
großer Sehnsucht an sein Heim, das er draußen am Innrain hatte,
und überlegte, unter welchem Vorwand er wohl am ehesten dem
Herrn Rat entwischen könnte.
Aber es gab kein Entrinnen. Der alte Herr, der jetzt ersichtlich alle
einleitenden Zeremonien beendigt hatte, fing nun auf einmal ganz
unvermittelt zu reden an. „Sie müssen Ihnen um Ihnere Verwandten
besser kümmern!“ sagte er in seiner mürrischen Art. „Der Altwirth,
der hat kein Leben nit. Verdient nix und hat nix. Von was soll er denn
leben?“ fragte der alte Herr brüsk.
Der kleine Apotheker befand sich wieder einmal in einem
Stadium ratlosester Verzweiflung: „Den Felix meinen Sie?“ stotterte
er verlegen. „Ja ...“
„Ja, ich weiß schon, was Sie sagen wollen. Ich weiß schon, ich
weiß alles! Ich weiß überhaupt alles!“ unterbrach ihn der alte Herr
mürrisch. „Aber ich sag’ Ihnen, daß das mit den Altwirthischen nit so
weiter gehen kann. Verstehen’s mich? K a n n , hab’ ich g’sagt! Die
haben ja bald nix mehr zum Leben!“ Und wiederum blieb der alte
Herr stehen und sah so sprühgiftig auf den kleinen Apotheker, als
hätte er gute Lust, diesen schon in der nächsten Minute anzufallen
und tüchtig zu beuteln, um seiner Empörung einigermaßen Luft zu
verschaffen.
„Aber ich bitte, Herr Rat, ich ...“
„Ja, ja, ja!“ unterbrach ihn der alte Herr grimmig. „Alles
Entschuldigungen, alles Ausflüchte! Der Maler Altwirth braucht Geld,
sag’ ich Ihnen, und das muß er kriegen! Das geht nit, daß man ihn
mit Weib und Kind verhungern laßt! Das ist keine Wirtschaft nit!“ Der
alte Herr stieß plötzlich seinen grauen Regenschirm, von dem er
unzertrennlich war, mit voller Wucht auf das Steinpflaster, daß es
klirrte. Und immer wieder stieß er den Schirm gegen das Pflaster
und machte dabei ein ganz verbissenes, obstinates Gesicht.
„Unerhört ist das da, sag’ ich Ihnen! Hocken auf ihre Geldsäck’ die
Leut’ und kümmern sich an Schmarrn um einen Künstler!“ rief der
alte Herr aufgebracht.
In seiner furchtbaren Empörung hustete und spuckte der Herr
Rat in so grimmiger Weise um sich, daß der Apotheker, so schnell er
konnte, einige Schritte nach rückwärts machte, um von diesem
Zornausbruch seines Begleiters nicht getroffen zu werden ...
Noch in derselben Nacht weckte der Apotheker seine Gattin
Therese und berichtete ihr den Vorfall. Frau Therese Tiefenbrunner
setzte sich schlaftrunken in ihrem Bette auf. Sie verstand es zuerst
gar nicht, was der Simon ihr erzählen wollte. Sie rieb sich die Augen
aus, knöpfte ihre Nachtjacke auf und dann wieder zu, machte sich
ihre Haare zurecht, die sie unter einer weißen, gehäkelten Haube
trug, und schüttelte verständnislos den Kopf. Dann aber hatte sie
den Sinn der Rede mit einem Male erfaßt, und ein ehrlicher Zorn
bemächtigte sich ihrer.
Das war eine Gemeinheit, eine Unverschämtheit! Zum Rat waren
sie gelaufen, der Felix und die Adele, und hatten sich über die
Verwandten beklagt. So was! Sicher war es nur die Adele gewesen,
das eingebildete Frauenzimmer, das hochnasige! Als ob die nicht zur
Tante hätte kommen können und sie bitten. Ein Wort nur hätte
genügt! Aber nein, zu stolz, zu eingebildet war sie dazu. Nachrennen
sollte man ihr wohl und ihr das Geld noch nachtragen! So eine
unverschämte Gemeinheit! Kein Auge konnte die Apothekerin mehr
schließen in dieser Nacht vor lauter Wut.
In heller Empörung lief sie gleich am frühen Morgen hinauf zu
Felix und Adele und machte ihnen einen fürchterlichen Krach. Es
waren harte Worte, die sie den beiden sagte, Worte, die so wehe
taten, daß sie mit nichts mehr gut zu machen waren.
Es war das Mundwerk der echten Kothlacknerin, das da zum
Vorschein kam. Beide Arme in die Hüften gestemmt und hochrot vor
Zorn im Gesicht, so pflanzte sich die Apothekerin vor dem jungen
Paar auf und schrie Felix mit lauter Stimme an.
Ganz schrill klang diese sonst so behagliche, fettige Stimme, und
rasch und überstürzend kamen die Worte aus dem Munde der Frau
Therese Tiefenbrunner ... „Was glabst denn du, ha? Vom Dreck hab’
i di außer zogen, di und dei’ Muatter! Nix hast g’habt! Nix bist! Alles,
was du bist und hast, verdankst du mir und mein’ Mann! An Herrn
haben wir aus dir g’macht, an Maler, an feinen! Freilich, daß der Herr
Neffe nix zu arbeiten braucht! Warst a Schreiber g’worden oder a
Schuster oder a Schneider, dös war g’scheiter g’wesen! Da hattest
immer an Arbeit g’funden. Oder warst an Apotheker g’worden! Aber
natürlich, dös hat ihm nit gepaßt, dem Herrn, dem noblen! Arbeiten,
dös ...“
„Hinaus! Auf der Stelle hinaus aus meinem Zimmer!“ rief nun
Felix in höchster Erregung. „Ich werf’ dich hinaus, wenn du nicht
freiwillig gehst! Ich ...“
„Felix, lieber Felix, ich bitte dich!“ Es war Adele, die sich ins Mittel
legte. „Sie meint’s ja nicht so! Schau, sie ist ja nur zornig. Es reut sie
ja alles wieder, was sie gesagt hat. Nicht so bös sein. Nicht so bös
reden. Es muß ein Mißverständnis vorliegen. Irgendetwas, das ...“
„Gar kein Mißverständnis liegt vor!“ sagte die Apothekerin, die
jetzt bedeutend ruhiger geworden war. Die vernünftige Sprache der
jungen Frau hatte auch ihr wieder die Besinnung gegeben.
Adele hatte schmeichelnd und wie schützend ihren Arm um den
Hals des Gatten gelegt und umschlang ihn nun mit beiden Armen
weich und innig, als wollte sie durch ihre warmherzige Güte das
bittere Weh dieser Stunde aus seinem Leben bannen.
Mit guten Worten und viel Zureden erreichte sie es auch, daß der
endgültige Bruch zwischen Tante und Neffe verhindert wurde ...
Frau Adele hatte sich durch ihre Vermittlung kein besseres Leben
eingetauscht. Wohl hatte sie jetzt nicht mehr mit der Not zu kämpfen.
Frau Tiefenbrunner sorgte gut und anständig für die Altwirths. Sie
gab ihnen alles Geld, das sie zu ihrem Unterhalt brauchten, und sie
bestand darauf, daß sie es nahmen.
Es war hart für die Altwirths, diese Gaben von der Apothekerin
anzunehmen. Sie fühlten es tief. Es demütigte sie beide, und doch
forderte es die Not und der Selbsterhaltungstrieb, daß sie es taten.
„Wir werden es ihr zurückzahlen, wenn wir einmal Geld haben!“
versuchte die junge Frau ihren Gatten zu trösten.
Felix aber schüttelte traurig den Kopf: „Wir werden nie Geld
haben, Adele. Gar nie!“ sagte er niedergeschlagen. „Es ist wie ein
Fluch, der auf mir lastet.“
 Diese tiefe Melancholie wechselte bei Felix mit den Ausbrüchen
wildester Verzweiflung. Dann wurde er hart und ungerecht auch
gegen Adele. Überhäufte sie mit Vorwürfen und bedachte nicht, daß
es gerade ihm nicht zukam, ihr Vorwürfe zu machen.
„Hätte ich doch nie geheiratet!“ fing Felix dann wohl zu klagen an.
„Wie frei wäre ich! Könnte herumwandern, ungebunden, nicht
gefesselt und gedemütigt, wie ich es jetzt bin. Die Ehe ist nichts für
einen Künstler. Sie ist ein Hemmnis und ein Unglück. Ein Künstler
muß frei sein! In erster Linie frei! Nur dann, als freier, ungebundener
Mann, kann er sich entwickeln, kann schaffen und arbeiten. Und
wenn er Not leidet, so darbt er für sich allein. Jetzt habe ich für drei
zu sorgen ... für drei zu arbeiten. Eine Fessel ist es, eine
Zuchthauskette, die ich durchs Leben schleifen muß!“
In immer größere Wut redete sich Felix hinein. Er war von all
dem, was er sagte, überzeugt. Wenigstens für den Augenblick.
Wenn diese Verzweiflungsanfälle und der Zorn über sein
unverdientes Schicksal verraucht waren, dann war er wieder lieb und
gut zu Adele und weich und biegsam wie Wachs.
Die Witwe Altwirth, seine Mutter, hatte ihr Kind genau gekannt.
Ihre große Sorge um ihn war nicht unbegründet gewesen. „Ist a
guater Bua, aber a schwacher Mensch ...“ hatte sie von ihm noch
wenige Stunden vor ihrem Tod gesagt. „Er braucht a Leitung, a
starke Hand ...“
Adele besaß diese starke Hand nicht. Darin hatte Frau Therese
recht. Adele war zu nachgiebig, zu rücksichtsvoll und aufopfernd. Sie
vergaß sich selber ihrem Gatten zuliebe. Sein Wille war bestimmend
für sie. Jetzt erst sah sie es ein, daß sie damals, als sie ihr kleines,
sicheres Heim in München aufgab, um einer unsicheren Existenz
entgegenzugehen, den größten Fehler begangen hatte.
Sie hätte nicht nachgeben dürfen. Sie hätte ihrem innersten
Gefühl, das sie bleiben hieß, folgen müssen. Hätte mit ruhiger
Sicherheit ihren Willen den Plänen ihres Gatten entgegensetzen
sollen.
 Jetzt, da es zu spät war, reifte in Adele diese Erkenntnis. Jetzt
erst, da die graue Sorge die Gatten immer mehr entfremdete, statt
sie inniger zueinander zu führen, kam die junge Frau zu der
Überzeugung, daß es ein schwerer Irrtum von beiden gewesen war,
sich fürs Leben aneinander zu ketten.
Adele war gerecht genug, in all den Vorwürfen, die Felix in seiner
Erregung gegen sie schleuderte, auch die Wahrheit zu erfassen. Sie
wußte, daß er in vielem recht hatte, und trotzdem sträubte sie sich in
tiefster Seele gegen diese Auffassung. Sie war ihm gefolgt, bewußt,
als freies, erkennendes Weib. Eine Gefährtin wollte sie ihm sein und
war ihm eine Last geworden.
Ihr ganzer Frauenstolz bäumte sich dagegen auf. Fort wollte sie
von Innsbruck. Fort mit dem Kind, wieder zurück nach München.
Allein sein wollte sie und Felix wieder jene Freiheit geben, nach der
er sich sehnte.
Als sie aber einmal davon sprach, da bat er sie so mild und
weich: „Geh nicht von mir, Adele! Ich bitte dich. Du bist mir ja das
Liebste auf Erden, du und das Kind. Bleibe bei mir! Ich bin ein Narr!
Ich weiß, daß ich dir weh getan. Ich will dir nicht weh tun, Adele.
Verzeih es!“
Die junge Frau erkannte es immer deutlicher ... sie durfte den
Gatten nicht verlassen. Jetzt nicht ... er war haltlos. Wenn sie ihn
jetzt aufgab, jetzt nicht zu ihm hielt, dann verlor er die letzte Stütze
im Leben ...
So litt Adele schweigend und für sich allein. Aber oft und oft
fragte sie sich in den bittern Stunden ihrer seelischen Einsamkeit ...
War das die Ehe, ihre Ehe? ... War dieses das Endziel einer großen
Liebe, die sie und ihren Gatten als Mann und Weib
zusammengeführt hatte ... das Endziel, daß sie schließlich in
seelischer Qual einander bekämpfen und aufreiben sollten? ...
Kameraden hätten sie werden sollen und waren sich immer mehr zu
Gegnern geworden ...
Aber Adele hielt an sich. Sie wollte tapfer sein ... ausharren, so
lange es ging. Der Gedanke an ihr Kind und ein starkes
Pflichtbewußtsein gab ihr Kraft und Lebensmut. Innerlich jedoch
entfremdete sich das Weib in ihr dem Gatten. Sie war keine
Kampfnatur. Sie liebte den Frieden um des Friedens willen. Sie stritt
und kämpfte nicht mit Felix; aber alles Unrecht, das er ihr in seinen
quälenden Vorwürfen antat, traf sie mit überwältigender Macht und
Wucht, zerstörte die starke Liebe, die sie zu dem Manne fühlte, und
zehrte an ihrem Lebensmark.
Felix merkte die innere Wandlung nicht, die sich mit der jungen
Frau vollzog. Und hätte er sie gesehen, so hätte er sie nicht richtig
zu deuten gewußt. Er besaß den Egoismus des Künstlers, jene Art,
die keinem andern Menschen außer sich selber das Recht
zugesteht, seelische Stimmungen zu haben und diesen
nachzuhängen.
Und je deutlicher dieser selbstische Zug bei Felix zum Vorschein
kam, desto fremder wurde er der Seele seines Weibes. Ihre ganze
Kraft nahm sie zusammen, um dem Manne noch dasjenige zu sein,
was sie ihm ehrlich sein konnte ... ein guter und treuer Kamerad.
Sie stand für Felix ein und verteidigte ihn gegen alle hämischen
Angriffe der Tante, die immer mehr an ihm auszusetzen und zu
bemängeln fand. Und unerschütterlich und fest glaubte Adele an die
hohe Künstlerschaft ihres Gatten. Ein fast heiliger Glaube war es,
der sie erfüllte. Der Glaube, daß trotz aller Not das Große in ihm,
seine Kunst, sich unfehlbar Bahn brechen müsse.
Dieser unerschütterliche, feste Glaube an die Kunst ihres
Mannes war es auch, der Adele einmal so weit brachte, daß sie in
hoher Empörung Frau Tiefenbrunner die Tür wies. Stolz und aufrecht
hieß sie die Apothekerin nie mehr wieder kommen, nie mehr im
Leben die Schwelle ihres Hauses betreten.
Adele Altwirth wußte genau, was sie tat. Sie wußte, daß sie sich
und die Ihren nun endgültig einem bitteren, ungewissen Schicksal
ausgeliefert hatte. Sie wußte, daß die Not nun lauerte, düster und
grausam ...
 Zwölftes Kapitel.

W ieder einmal stand Frau Sophie Rapp an der Spitze einer

öffentlichen Veranstaltung. Schon seit Monaten wurden
Vorbereitungen dazu getroffen, Damenkomitees gebildet und
Sitzungen abgehalten. Es sollte eine große Feier werden, ein
Wohltätigkeitsbazar, und die besten Kreise der Stadt waren daran
beteiligt. Auch Frau Patscheider und Frau Professor Haidacher
hatten führende Rollen. Die Apothekerin und noch einige Damen
machten sich dadurch sehr verdient, daß sie buchstäblich von Haus
zu Haus gingen und Geld und Gaben sammelten für den guten
Zweck. Ganz Innsbruck stand bereits im Zeichen dieses
gesellschaftlichen Ereignisses, das den Höhepunkt des Karnevals
darstellen sollte.
Die Apothekerin konnte sich nicht genug tun, anläßlich ihrer
Besuche droben bei den Altwirths immer und immer wieder von
dieser Festlichkeit zu erzählen. Es interessierte da oben in dem
einsamen Häuschen zwar niemanden. Weder Felix noch Adele.
In Felix weckten diese Erzählungen nur neue Verbitterung. Sie
brachten es ihm noch mehr zum Bewußtsein, daß da, wo alle waren,
für ihn, den Künstler, kein Platz mehr übrig blieb. So fremd und
unbeachtet ging er nun schon seit zwei Jahren in seiner Vaterstadt
herum. Und wenn man Feste feierte in der Stadt, so drangen nur
ganz verschollene Töne zu dem Maler und seiner Frau herauf.
Es war nicht Böswilligkeit und kein absichtliches Versehen, daß
man Felix und seine Frau ausschloß. Man dachte gar nicht an das
junge Künstlerpaar. Man wußte, daß Felix Altwirth sich in Innsbruck
niedergelassen hatte, daß er zurückgezogen lebte, Bilder malte, die
er einmal ausstellte und die niemandem gefielen. Mehr wußte man
nicht von ihm und wollte auch nicht mehr wissen.
Auch Frau Sophie Rapp interessierte sich jetzt nicht mehr für den
Künstler Felix Altwirth. Nicht ein einziges Mal wäre es ihr in den Sinn
gekommen, ihn zu einer ihrer Veranstaltungen einzuladen. Wenn er
kommen wollte, dann sollte er den Weg zu ihr nur selber suchen.
Im Grunde genommen war doch auch gekränkte Eitelkeit dabei
im Spiele. Die junge, gefeierte Frau hatte es erwartet, daß Felix zu
ihr kommen würde, um ihr seinen Besuch zu machen. Er war nicht
gekommen. Nur einige Male war sie ihm am Weg begegnet und
hatte flüchtig mit ihm gesprochen. Das war alles. Sogar seine Frau
hatte ihr Felix nicht vorgestellt. Sophie kannte Frau Altwirth kaum
dem Sehen nach. Sie interessierte sich auch gar nicht für sie.
Aber in dem geheimsten Winkel ihres Herzens hatte Frau Sophie
Rapp stets gehofft, daß wenigstens noch ein Rest jener großen
Verehrung in Felix Altwirth zurückgeblieben sei, die er einmal für sie
gehegt hatte. Von jener Verehrung, die sie so warm umschmeichelt
hatte und die ihn eigentlich doch hätte zu ihr führen müssen. Da
Felix nicht kam, begrub sie die schöne Erinnerung an ihn. Kümmerte
sich nicht um ihn und beachtete ihn nicht, wie ihn die andern nicht
beachteten.
Der Apotheker Tiefenbrunner und seine Frau fingen an, sich des
Neffen zu schämen. Seit er mit der Ausstellung jenen Mißerfolg
gehabt hatte, seitdem hatten sie den ganzen Glauben an sein
Künstlertum verloren. Sie waren beide nicht imstande, sich über
seine Leistungen ein eigenes Urteil zu bilden, und es gab niemand
aus ihrem Bekanntenkreise, der ihnen eine Aufklärung hätte geben
können.
Was Adele sagte, das glaubte die Apothekerin schon gar nicht.
Die Adele! Mein Gott! Was die Person verstand! Die Apothekerin
zuckte mitleidig die Achseln, wenn sie einmal in ganz vertrautem
Kreis sich über ihre Nichte ehrlich aussprach. Denn nach und nach
fing Frau Therese Tiefenbrunner an, sich zu äußern. Es „kochte“, wie
sie sich ausdrückte, wirklich zu viel in ihr. Ein ganzer Vesuv von Gift
und Galle türmte sich mit der Zeit in der guten Frau auf.
 Alles ging ihr bei Felix und Adele auf die Nerven. Daß der Felix
nichts verdiente, daß er nicht arbeitete, daß er sich nicht nach einem
andern Beruf umsah, wenn doch bei der Malerei nichts
herausschaute ... So und ähnlich redete sie fortwährend auch auf
Adele ein.
Die Apothekerin war, seitdem sie die vollen Lasten des
Hausstandes der Altwirths trug, zu einem rechten Hauskreuz für die
junge Frau geworden. Innerlich verachtete sie ja Adele vom Grunde
ihres ganzen Herzens. Sie verachtete sie, weil Adele noch immer
nicht in ihren Wirtschaftssorgen aufging. Weil sie trotz allem stets die
Zeit fand, ihre Musik zu pflegen, geistig frisch und rege blieb und für
alle künstlerischen Interessen ein tiefes Verständnis besaß.
Das ärgerte die Apothekerin und erzeugte in ihr ein häßliches,
neidisches Gefühl, das wohl seine Ursachen im Unterbewußtsein
der eigenen geistigen Minderwertigkeit haben mochte. Und um sich
selber in ein besseres Licht zu setzen, prunkte Frau Tiefenbrunner
geradezu mit der einzigen Eigenschaft, die sie vor Adele voraus
hatte. Sie protzte mit ihrem gründlichen Wissen in der Kunst des
Haushaltens. Die junge Frau empfand das um so peinlicher und
quälender, als sie ja in vollständiger Abhängigkeit von der
Apothekerin lebte.
Eine wahre Knechtschaft übte Frau Therese gegen Adele aus.
Sie verlangte Rechenschaft für jeden verbrauchten Kreuzer und tat
sich keinen Zwang mehr an, Adele offen und in groben, wenig
gewählten Worten ins Gesicht zu sagen, was sie von ihr und Felix
hielt.
„Ihr könnt halt auch nicht wirtschaften!“ sagte sie dann. „Der
Felix, der hat das ja eben nie gelernt. Hat nie sparen können, weil
er’s nicht nötig gehabt hat ... natürlich!“ Dieses eine Wort „natürlich“
betonte die Apothekerin derart, daß es geradezu Bände der
Anschuldigungen gegen Felix sprach. „Der Felix hat halt immer
klecksen müssen und klecksen und mit Farben herumschmieren und
viel Geld verbrauchen und ...“
„Aber Tante, so hör’ doch endlich damit auf, bitte!“ hatte Adele
einmal ganz entschieden geantwortet. „Ich kenne ja jedes Wort
schon auswendig!“ Und angeekelt von all dem Widerwärtigen hielt
sie sich mit beiden Händen die Ohren zu.
Die junge Frau brauchte wahrhaft ihre ganze
Selbstbeherrschung, um die täglichen Nörgeleien der Apothekerin zu
ertragen. Frau Tiefenbrunner schaute sich jetzt überall im Hause
gründlich um. Da war kein Winkelchen und kein Stäubchen, das
ihrem Spürsinn entging. Mit dem Aufgebot unsagbarer Überwindung
ertrug Adele diese Frau, ertrug die Reden und Vorwürfe solange, bis
das Maß voll war. Und das geschah so ...
Frau Therese Tiefenbrunner kam strahlend hinauf zu Adele und
eröffnete ihr, es sei ihr nun gelungen, eine Arbeit für Felix zu finden.
„Weißt, Adele, für das Fest, von dem ich dir immer erzähl’!“
berichtete sie mit wichtigem Ernst. „Da ist jetzt nämlich alles schon
so weit fertig gestellt. Der Saal ist schon gemietet; eigentlich sind es
ja, wie du weißt, mehrere Säle; und jetzt brauchen wir halt noch
einen Maler zum Ausmalen.“
„Tante, du wirst doch nicht ...“ Adele war kreideweiß im Gesicht
geworden. Sie zitterte und bebte am ganzen Leib. „Du wirst doch
nicht ...“
Frau Therese Tiefenbrunner hatte sich in ihrer ganzen Breite vor
Adele aufgepflanzt und sah verständnislos auf die erregte junge
Frau. Etwas wie eine teuflische Freude über den Schrecken, den sie
ihr offenbar verursacht hatte, kam über die Apothekerin. Sie weidete
sich geradezu daran und sah mit ruhigem, aber boshaftem und
schadenfrohem Blick zu Adele empor. Weil sie diese unausstehliche,
hochnasige Person nur endlich einmal demütigen konnte! Sie
verstand es zwar nicht, warum ihr Angebot eine Demütigung sein
sollte, aber sie fühlte, daß es Adele als eine solche empfand, und
das steigerte ihr inneres Behagen.
„Ich hab’ die Damen vom Komitee gebeten,“ fuhr Frau Therese
mit langsamer, breiter Stimme zu reden fort, „daß sie dem Felix die
Malerarbeit übertragen ... und dieser meiniger Antrag ist auch
angenommen worden!“ fügte sie mit stolzer Genugtuung hinzu.
 „Aber Tante, du wirst doch nicht glauben, daß Felix ...“ Adele war
so erregt, daß sie mit ihren Zähnen auf die Lippen biß, um ja kein
unüberlegtes Wort zu sagen. Ihre Hände krampften sich fest in die
Falten ihres Kleides.
„Daß es der Felix auch tun wird, das glaub’ ich allerdings!“
versetzte die Apothekerin mit Nachdruck und sah kampfbereit zu der
jungen Frau empor. Ihre dunklen Augen wurden dabei immer größer
und rundeten sich wie die Augen einer fetten Henne, die einer
andern ein Stückchen Futter streitig machen will. „Denn, wenn man
einmal eine Gelegenheit findet,“ fuhr Frau Therese jetzt energischer
werdend fort, „sich ein Geld zu verdienen, dann tut man halt eben
arbeiten und nicht immer den noblen Herrn spielen und spazieren
gehen und ...“
„Aber Felix ist ein Künstler!“ stieß die junge Frau fast keuchend
hervor. „Begreifst du denn gar nicht, Tante, er ist doch kein
Anstreicher!“
„Künstler hin, Künstler her! Hör’ du mir mit der ganzen
Künstlerschaft auf! Ein Anstreicher ist besser dran und überhaupt ...“
Adele Altwirth trat jetzt mit ruhiger Entschlossenheit ganz nahe
vor die Apothekerin hin und sah mit stolzem Ernst zu der kleinen,
gedrungenen Gestalt herab. Es lag etwas hoheitsvoll Gebieterisches
in der Haltung der jungen Frau.
„Tante,“ sprach Adele mit einer unheimlichen Ruhe, „ich erkläre
dir hiermit, daß ich dem Felix kein Wort von dieser unerhörten
Zumutung sagen werde.“
„So? Das tust du also nicht? Und warum nicht, wenn ich fragen
darf?“
„Weil Felix ein Künstler ist! Weil ihn so ein Antrag entehrt,
demütigt, beschmutzt! Aber das verstehst du ja alles nicht!“
unterbrach sich Adele selbst unwillig.
„Weißt aber, was ich versteh’?“ sagte da die Apothekerin und
stemmte ihre beiden Arme fest und herausfordernd in die Hüften.
„Daß du a überspanntes Frauenzimmer bist, a narrisches! Jetzt
weißt du’s, was du bist! Du Nocken, du eingebildete!“ fing die
Apothekerin nun in ihrem schönsten Kothlacknerdeutsch zu
schimpfen an.
Die lange aufgespeicherte Galle brach sich jetzt mit elementarer
Kraft Bahn. Es war Frau Therese Tiefenbrunner ein dringendes
Herzensbedürfnis, sich einmal Luft zu machen und ihren ganzen
Ärger und ihre Enttäuschung herauszuschreien. In einem rasend
schnellen Tempo, das seltsam abstach zu ihrer sonstigen
langsamen, breiten Redeweise, schrie sie nun auf die junge Frau ein
... „A unverschämte Bande seid’s, alle miteinander! Bettelvolk!
Tagdiab’! Die nix haben und ander’ Leut auf der Schüssel sitzen!
Schamen muaß man si’ mit enk. Nix können tuat er! Gar nix kann er!
Daß du’s woaßt!“ Mit hämischer Freude betonte die Apothekerin
dieses noch besonders nachdrücklich: „Der Patscheider hat’s aa
g’sagt, daß er nix kann! Alle sagen sie’s in Innsbruck! Und wahr
ist’s!“
Adele stand jetzt ganz ruhig vor der Frau, die ihr in diesem
Augenblick so klein, so erbärmlich und so gemein vorkam. Fast
mitleidig sah sie auf Frau Therese Tiefenbrunner herab. Eine
tödliche Blässe bedeckte noch immer die strengen, regelmäßigen
Züge der jungen Frau. Aber die große Aufregung, in der sie sich
befunden hatte, war mit einem Male vergangen und hatte einer
ruhigen Überlegung Platz gemacht.
Je mehr sich die Apothekerin in Zorn schrie, je mehr sie es
unternahm, Felix und Adele zu erniedrigen, desto freier, ruhiger und
sicherer überlegte Adele. Und ohne die Spur einer inneren Erregung
frug sie ganz ruhig: „Du glaubst also nicht an Felix, Tante?“
Frau Therese Tiefenbrunner schüttelte den Kopf, so fest sie
konnte. „Naa!“ sagte sie dann. Das klang so ehrlich, so energisch, so
überzeugt, daß ein Irrtum unmöglich war.
„Dann war es ein großes Unrecht von uns, daß wir Geld von dir
nahmen, Tante!“ fuhr Adele mit ihrer schönen, weichen Stimme zu
reden fort. „Wir glaubten, du schätztest den Künstler, du wolltest ihm
helfen, über die Zeit der Not hinweg. Darum durften wir dein Geld
nehmen, aber ein Almosen nehmen wir nicht!“