UPSC Prelims 2021 · CSAT

Question 32: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “It is certain, that seditions, wars…” — Passage – 2 · as printed by UPSC

Which among the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the passage given above ?

aSeditions, wars and breach of the laws are inevitable in every dominion.

bIt is not the people, but the sovereign who is responsible for all the problems of any dominion.

cThat dominion is the best which pursues the aim of unity and has laws for good citizenship.

dIt is impossible for men to establish a good dominion.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

The passage argues that disorder and lawbreaking owe more to how a state is run than to the wickedness of its people. Good citizenship has to be taught, not assumed at birth, and people's natural impulses are the same everywhere. So where wickedness is greater, the state has not pursued unity enough or framed its laws wisely. The best inference is that the best dominion is the one that pursues unity and has laws for good citizenship. Remember: pick the inference that follows the passage's chain of reasoning, and reject extremes such as 'inevitable', 'only the sovereign' or 'impossible'.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Contradicts the passage, which says such troubles come from a badly ordered state and are not inevitable.
(b) The passage blames the state's lack of unity and good laws, not the sovereign alone, and not the people alone either.
(c) Right: where unity and well-framed laws are lacking the state fails, so the best state pursues both.
(d) The passage treats a good commonwealth as achievable; it criticises states that fall short.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2021, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.