UPSC Prelims 2017 · CSAT

Question 41: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “Disruption of traditional institutions, identifications and…” — Passage—1 · as printed by UPSC

Which one of the following is the best explanation of the above passage?

aPolitical development is not a unilinear process for it involves both growth and decay.

bTraditional societies succeed in resisting positive aspects of political development.

cIt is impossible for traditional societies to break away from lingering loyalties.

dSustenance of traditional loyalties is conducive to political development.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

The passage says disrupting traditional loyalties produces mixed reactions: some people re-commit to old groups, others join new groups and symbols that emerge, and the process also raises awareness of many group identities such as class, tribe, region and language. So political development is not a single straight path; it brings both the decay of old ties and the growth of new ones. The other options claim resistance, impossibility or benefit of old loyalties, none of which is stated.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Correct: renewal of old identities and alignment with new groups both occur, so the process is not one-directional.
(b) The passage does not say traditional societies resist the positive aspects of development.
(c) Some people are said to align with new groups, so breaking away is possible.
(d) Traditional loyalties are not said to aid development.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.