Q1-3. Instructions
Socrates believed that akrasia (meaning procrastination) was, strictly speaking, impossible, since we could not want what is bad for us; if we act against our own interests, it must be because we don’t know what’s right. Loewenstein, similarly, is inclined to see the procrastinator as led astray by the “visceral” rewards of the present. As the nineteenth century Scottish economist John Rae put it, “The prospects of future good, which future years may hold on us, seem at such a moment dull and dubious, and are apt to be slighted, for objects on which the daylight is falling strongly, and showing us in all their freshness just within our grasp.” Loewenstein also suggests that our memory for the intensity of visceral rewards is deficient: when we put off preparing for that meeting by telling ourselves that we’ll do it tomorrow, we fail to take into account that tomorrow the temptation to put off work will be just as strong.
Ignorance might also affect procrastination through what the social scientist Jon Elster calls “the planning fallacy.” Elster thinks that people underestimate the time “it will take them to complete a given task, partly because they fail to take account of how long it has taken them to complete similar projects in the past and partly because they rely on smooth scenarios in which accidents or unforeseen problems never occur.”
1. According to the passage, in regard to time, which of the following statements gives the BEST reason for procrastination?
A Time is estimated according to the new task
B Time is taken as linear in the task
C Time is not planned according to the task
D Time is underestimated for a particular task
E Time is not taken into account
EXPLANATION
D
The passage suggests that procrastination can be influenced by the tendency of individuals to underestimate the time required to complete a given task. This underestimation is attributed to a failure to consider past experiences with similar projects and a reliance on overly optimistic scenarios where potential obstacles or
unforeseen problems are not taken into account. Therefore, the passage implies that one of the reasons for procrastination is a systemic miscalculation of the time needed for specific tasks, making option D the most accurate and comprehensive choice.
The passage doesn’t emphasize estimation based on the novelty of the task (Option A) nor does it discuss a linear perception of time within a task (Option B).
Option C:The passage discusses the planning fallacy, where time is inadequately planned, not the absence of planning.
Option D:The passage highlights the planning fallacy, indicating that time is considered but often underestimated for specific tasks.
2. Which of the following statements can be BEST inferred from the passage about procrastination?
A It is a success of self-regulation and planning.
B It is a mistake that happens due to myopic vision and linear thinking.
C It is an act against our own interests because of our ignorance.
D It is a tendency of postponing the present work to the future.
E It is an irrational delay of task despite potentially negative consequences.
EXPLANATION
C
Option C is a correct inference based on the passage’s discussion of Socrates’ perspective on akrasia (procrastination). The passage suggests that Socrates believed procrastination to be strictly impossible because individuals would not willingly choose what is bad for them. Instead, procrastination, according to this
view, is attributed to ignorance of what is right. Therefore, the inference that procrastination is an act against our own interests due to ignorance aligns with the passage’s exploration of philosophical perspectives on the phenomenon.
Option A: The passage emphasizes the planning fallacy and underestimation of time, portraying procrastination as a failure in planning rather than a success.
Option B: While myopic vision and linear thinking are discussed, the passage suggests that procrastination involves more than just a simple mistake, encompassing complex psychological factors.
Option D is somewhat accurate but lacks the depth of understanding that procrastination involves irrational delays influenced by various factors beyond simple postponement.
Option E, while generally accurate, does not highlight the ignorance aspect as explicitly as Option C.
3. Which of the following is the meaning that comes CLOSEST to “our memory for the intensity of visceral rewards is deficient” as suggested by Loewenstein?
A Our brain does not differentiate memories of different rewards we get by procrastinating.
B Our brain does not support us with memories which can stop us from procrastinating further.
C Our brain partially captures the memory of rewards we get by procrastination.
D Our brain does not support us in recalling intense memories while procrastinating further.
E Our brain does not capture the intensity of pleasure we get by procrastination.
EXPLANATION
B
Option B aligns with the idea that Loewenstein suggests: deficient memory for the intensity of visceral rewards. It implies that our brain lacks the support or ability to furnish memories that would act as deterrents to further procrastination. In other words, the deficiency in memory inhibits our capacity to recall negative aspects or consequences associated with past procrastination experiences, potentially contributing to the continuation of procrastinating behavior. While it doesn’t explicitly address the deficient memory for the pleasure intensity, it
captures the impact of this deficiency on our ability to use memories as a deterrent to procrastination.
Q4-6. Instructions : Read the following passage and answer the THREE questions that follow.
Corporations continue to ignore the threat of global warming, probably because global warming is a hyperobject, very difficult to touch and feel. Because hyper-objects have much wider time-space boundaries than human beings, we tend to consider hyper-objects as given and non-existent. Therefore, it is very difficult to deal with hyper-objects as their common understanding is lacking. Some of us continue to believe that global warming is blown out of proportion-it is not a serious threat. Even those who understood hyper-objects have yet to figure out right response to them.
The lack of understanding and response from corporations to “climate change” is evident from the fact that most of businesses have remained largely human-centric. Some businesses have adopted green practices voluntarily, or involuntary. These efforts attempt to reduce emissions through better energy efficiency. Though laudable, the efforts have failed to make any significant dent at the global level; the planet continues to get warmer. Moreover, most of the efforts are still in the sphere of “business as usual” and “what is good for us”.
Business as usual, the current model of economic production and distribution is deeply flawed as it is based mainly on the capitalistic ethos of free-market legitimized through private property, competition, and unlimited consumption. The word “free” has come to mean that there are no constraints on individuals, and the word market has come to mean that buying and selling are the primary mechanisms, and everything is a transaction. Private property gives individuals/nations a chance to create legal rights to own more and more, subject to very little constraints. It is evident in income inequalities witnessed across the world. The very notion of ownership is control-oriented and human-centric that promotes unlimited extraction from environment, hyper-nationalism, and hyper-individualism. The extraction and exploitation of the environment has served our economic interests, and led to the growth and survival of businesses. However, it has also led to the destruction of environment. Global warming is the response of nature to human actions driven by businesses operating on the principles of
surplus, predictability, control, hyper-rationality, linearity, and quantification. In other words, “business as usual” has yet to dance to the rhythm of nature.
4. According to the passage, which of the following will be closest to the idea of hyper-object?
A How temperature fluctuates because of seasons.
B How regular exercise makes our body healthy.
C How hard work leads to better grades for students.
D How the Earth, over centuries, takes less time to revolve around the Sun.
E How a technology company contributed to the development of a mobile phone technology.
EXPLANATION
D
Option D is the correct answer because it aligns with the concept of a hyper-object as described in the passage.
A hyper-object is characterized by extensive time-space boundaries that are challenging for humans to fully comprehend. The changing orbit of the Earth over centuries involves a broad time-scale and complex spatial dynamics, making it closer to the idea of a hyper-object compared to the other options.
Option A involves a cyclical and relatively more immediate phenomenon, not reflecting the extensive time-space boundaries associated with hyper-objects.
Option B is a more localized cause-and-effect relationship, lacking the complexity and broader scope of a hyper object.
Option C represents a specific cause-and-effect scenario within a limited context, not meeting the criteria of a hyper-object.
Option E involves a specific and relatively more immediate technological contribution, not encompassing the extensive time-space boundaries characteristic of hyper-objects.
5. Based on the passage, which of the following is NOT an example of human-centric statement?
A We should respect nature for its inherent intelligence.
B We should use natural resources for economic growth.
C We should plant trees as they provide us with Oxygen.
D We should preserve nature for our future generations.
E We should not cut trees as it causes excessive floods, destroying crops and human habitats.
EXPLANATION
A
The passage criticizes a human-centric perspective that prioritizes human interests and exploits nature for economic growth. Option A, on the other hand, suggests an approach that values nature for its inherent intelligence, emphasizing a more intrinsic and non-exploitative perspective. Therefore Option A is the correct answer.
Option B reflects a human-centric perspective by emphasizing the utilization of natural resources for economic gain, which is in line with the passage’s critique of human-centric approaches contributing to environmental degradation.
Option C is incorrect as while promoting tree planting for oxygen is environmentally positive, the statement still centers on the benefit to humans, aligning with a human-centric viewpoint.
Option D, although advocating for preservation, is still framed in terms of human interests, focusing on the wellbeing of future generations.
Option E , despite addressing environmental consequences, is ultimately centered around the negative impacts on humans.
6. Which of the following statement(s) is NOT in consonance with the author’s views, as expressed in the passage?
- Patents should be respected.
- Trading of shares on the free stock markets should be promoted.
- Building a beautiful resort on a hilltop.
A 1 & 3 only
B 3 only
C 1, 2 & 3
D 1 & 2 only
E 2 & 3 only
EXPLANATION
C
Statement 1 The passage does not explicitly discuss patents, and there is no clear indication of the author’s view on this matter. Without information on the author’s stance, it cannot be concluded whether this statement
is in consonance with the author’s views or not.
Statement 2 The passage criticises the flaws in the current economic model, particularly the capitalist ethos of free-market trading, suggesting that it contributes to environmental problems. Therefore, this statement is not
in line with the author’s views either.
Statement 3: This is also not in line with the author’s views as the passage implies a critique of human-centric activities that exploit nature for economic gain, and building a resort on a hilltop could be seen as an example of such exploitation.
Therefore the correct answer is Option C : 1,2 and 3
Q7-9. Instructions: Read the following passage and answer the THREE questions that follow.
It is harder and harder to make sense of life. Everything is changing, all the time, at a faster and faster pace. Our civilization is struggling to keep up with exponential technology and disruptive change. Our age-old institutions,
politics, economics, ethics, religion and laws, even our environment, are so fundamentally challenged, that we risk collapse. Our stories have gotten so divorced from reality, so divisive, so inflexible and so inept to adapt to and explain our present, let alone guide us towards a better future, that we often feel like helpless passengers on a Titanic spaceship Earth. No wonder Aristotle observed that “When the storytelling goes bad in a society,
the result is decadence.”
But why is this the case? And, perhaps more importantly, how is it that bad storytelling can keep, if not bring, a whole society down? Is that not simply overstating the power of story? Literary theorist Kenneth Burke famously
noted: “Stories are equipment for human living. We need storytelling in order to make certain sense out of life.” If that is true then our equipment for living has gone obsolete. And unless we upgrade it we are going to go obsolete too.
It was this process that Fred Polak had in mind in 1961 while observing: Any student of the rise and fall of cultures cannot fail to be impressed by the role played in this historical succession by the image of the future. The rise and fall of images precede or accompany the rise and fall of cultures. As long as a society’s image is positive and flourishing, the flower of culture is in full bloom. Once the image begins to decay and lose its vitality, however, the culture does not long survive.
That is why we desperately need a new story. A story that will not only help us make sense of the world today but also unite us as a species of human beings. A story that will motivate us to stop bickering and resolve our
common problems. A story that will inspire us to achieve our common goals and guide us towards a better future for all sentient beings on our planet.
We have to rewrite the human story. Because the old stories that brought us thus far are no longer useful. They’ve lost their vision and grandeur. They’ve become petty and short-sighted. They’re stuck in a past that never was at the expense of a future that can be. They divide us and keep us bickering while our civilization is
facing unprecedented diversity and depth of existential challenges. Those stories are not simply our history.
So, it is worth exploring if or how new stories, good stories can bring us up. The human story that brought us into the 21st century was written and rewritten several times. The latest major update was perhaps during the industrial revolution. It is time to rewrite it again. We need a new story. A brave story. An unreasonable story. A story that can inspire, unite and motivate us to break free from the past and create the best possible future. They are now our chains. And unless we break them, they will be our death sentence.
7. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT associated with bad storytelling in a society?
A It’s inability to create a future image that is positive and flourishing.
B They were written before 21st Century.
C It cannot stop bickering.
D It is inclusive.
E Its ability to create a compelling goal for some sections.
EXPLANATION
D
Option D is the correct answer because the passage does not attribute bad storytelling in a society to its lack of inclusivity. The passage highlights issues with existing stories, such as their inability to create a positive future image, their divisiveness leading to bickering, and their outdated nature. However, the concept of inclusivity is not explicitly linked to the problems associated with bad storytelling. Instead, the passage emphasizes the need for a new, unifying narrative to address societal challenges and inspire collaborative efforts. Therefore, the absence of inclusivity as a problem aligns with the passage’s context and makes Option D the correct choice.
Options A, B, C and D have been mentioned in the passage and hence can be associated with bad storytelling.
8. Which of the following options BEST captures the essence of a GOOD STORY?
A Everyone and I are a part of the universe.
B Compared to other nations, our nation has played a special role in progress of humanity.
C Laying of railways led to economic and industrial development of India.
D Life is full of sorrows and only death can provide a solution.
E India has a glorious past, it had 25% share of global economy before arrival of the British
EXPLANATION
A
Option A is the correct answer as it captures the essence of a good story by emphasizing the theme of universal interconnectedness. A compelling narrative often transcends individual perspectives, fostering a sense of unity and shared experience among diverse individuals. This option implies a broader, inclusive
worldview, aligning with the idea that a good story should resonate with the common humanity that connects everyone, highlighting the interconnected nature of individuals and the universe. It reflects a positive and unifying theme, which is a characteristic often associated with powerful and impactful storytelling.
Option B emphasizes a national perspective, which might not resonate universally and could be seen as exclusive rather than inclusive.
Option C focuses on a specific event and its consequences, lacking the universal and inclusive nature often associated with a broader, impactful narrative.
Option D eans towards a pessimistic perspective, lacking the uplifting and unifying qualities typically associated with a good story.
Option E highlights a specific historical aspect, but its emphasis on a national achievement may not encompass a universally resonant theme, potentially excluding a global audience.
9. Read the following statements:
- A story without connections and coherence.
- A story that talks about recreating the past glory.
- A story may not be factually true.
- A story that is meaningful and compelling for humanity
Which of the above statements can be ASSOCIATED with the meaning of
“unreasonable story”, as used in the passage?
A 1&2
B 2&3
C 2&4
D 1&3
E 3&4
EXPLANATION
E
Statement 3 aligns with the concept of an “unreasonable story” because an unreasonable story may prioritize emotional or symbolic truth over strict factual accuracy. It suggests a departure from conventional or rational narratives, allowing for creative or unconventional interpretations that might not strictly adhere to factual details.
Statement 4 is associated with an “unreasonable story” as the passage calls for a new, unreasonable narrative that inspires and unites humanity. An unreasonable story, in this context, goes beyond conventional or predictable narratives and seeks to be compelling in a way that motivates positive action and fosters a sense of shared purpose among diverse individuals.
Therefore the correct answer is Option E: 3&4
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