UPSC Prelims 2013 · CSAT

Question 42: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “The miseries of the world cannot be…” — Passage – 2 · as printed by UPSC

According to the passage, which of the following statements is most likely to be true as the reason for man’s miseries ?

aThe poor economic and social conditions prevailing in society.

bThe refusal on the part of man to change his character.

cThe absence of physical and material help from his society.

dEver increasing physical needs due to changing social structure.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

The author says physical help alone cannot cure the world's miseries: as long as people's nature stays the same, needs and suffering keep recurring, and only a change of character, through purity, education and spiritual strength, ends them. So the reason for misery, as the author sees it, is that man's character does not change. Poor social conditions, lack of material help and growing needs are treated as symptoms that help alone can never remove.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Wrong. The author says social and economic help cannot end misery without a change in man.
(b) Right. Misery continues because man's character does not change.
(c) Wrong. Material help is called insufficient, so its absence is not the cause.
(d) Wrong. Social structure and growing needs are not given as the cause.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

Practise this paper timedPrevious question Next question

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2013, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.