Comprehension
Analyse the following passage and provide an appropriate answer for the questions that follow.
Fashion is different from custom, or rather is a particular species of it. That is not the fashion which everybody wears, but which those wear who are of a high rank, or character. The graceful, the easy, and the commanding manners of the great, joined to the usual richness and magnificence of their dress, give a grace to the very form which they happen to bestow upon it. As long as they continue to use this form, it is connected in our imaginations with the idea of something that is genteel and magnificent, and though in itself it should be indifferent, it seems, on account of this relation, to have something about it that is genteel and magnificent too. As soon as they drop it, it loses all the grace, which it had appeared to possess before, and being now used only by the inferior ranks of people, seems to have something of their meanness and awkwardness.
Fashion is different from custom, or rather is a particular species of it. That is not the fashion which everybody wears, but which those wear who are of a high rank, or character. The graceful, the easy, and the commanding manners of the great, joined to the usual richness and magnificence of their dress, give a grace to the very form which they happen to bestow upon it. As long as they continue to use this form, it is connected in our imaginations with the idea of something that is genteel and magnificent, and though in itself it should be indifferent, it seems, on account of this relation, to have something about it that is genteel and magnificent too. As soon as they drop it, it loses all the grace, which it had appeared to possess before, and being now used only by the inferior ranks of people, seems to have something of their meanness and awkwardness.
Question: 1
Which phrase would be the best title of the passage?
Which phrase would be the best title of the passage?
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When asked for the “best title,” always look for an option that captures the central relationship described. Here, the relationship is not “clothes → man” but “man → clothes.”
Updated On: Aug 25, 2025
- Proletariat fashion models and fashion shows
- Scourge of fashion
- The clothes maketh the man
- The man maketh the cloth
- Predicting fashion-trends and character
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Identify the main idea of the passage.
The author explains that fashion is not universal custom. Instead, it is defined by the high-ranked or people of great character. Their grace, dignity, and magnificence give charm and value to a particular fashion style. When they abandon it, the same fashion loses its charm and becomes awkward when used by the lower ranks.
Step 2: Match options with the passage.
- Option (A): Talks about models and shows, which is irrelevant.
- Option (B): “Scourge of fashion” has a negative connotation, but the passage does not attack fashion itself — it describes its dependence on high-rank users.
- Option (C): “The clothes maketh the man” suggests that clothing determines a person’s status. But the passage suggests the opposite — status and character give meaning to clothes.
- Option (D): “The man maketh the cloth” aligns perfectly with the argument. The passage asserts that people of high rank give grace and meaning to fashion, not the other way around.
- Option (E): Predicting fashion trends is not the subject here. The focus is on the influence of rank and character.
Step 3: Conclude.
The best title is “The man maketh the cloth,” because fashion’s significance is derived from the rank and character of the wearer. \[ \boxed{\text{Option D — The man maketh the cloth}} \]
The author explains that fashion is not universal custom. Instead, it is defined by the high-ranked or people of great character. Their grace, dignity, and magnificence give charm and value to a particular fashion style. When they abandon it, the same fashion loses its charm and becomes awkward when used by the lower ranks.
Step 2: Match options with the passage.
- Option (A): Talks about models and shows, which is irrelevant.
- Option (B): “Scourge of fashion” has a negative connotation, but the passage does not attack fashion itself — it describes its dependence on high-rank users.
- Option (C): “The clothes maketh the man” suggests that clothing determines a person’s status. But the passage suggests the opposite — status and character give meaning to clothes.
- Option (D): “The man maketh the cloth” aligns perfectly with the argument. The passage asserts that people of high rank give grace and meaning to fashion, not the other way around.
- Option (E): Predicting fashion trends is not the subject here. The focus is on the influence of rank and character.
Step 3: Conclude.
The best title is “The man maketh the cloth,” because fashion’s significance is derived from the rank and character of the wearer. \[ \boxed{\text{Option D — The man maketh the cloth}} \]
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Question: 2
Which is nearest to the central idea in the passage?
Which is nearest to the central idea in the passage?
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Central idea questions usually ask you to go beyond surface detail. Here, the deeper point is that fashion’s charm is borrowed from the wearer’s character, not inherent in the clothing.
Updated On: Aug 25, 2025
- Fashion improves grace of a person.
- Grace is indicated by the fashion adopted.
- Grace is a characteristic of imaginative persons.
- The contemporary nature of fashion portrays the society.
- Grace is a reflection of the person’s rank or character.
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The Correct Option is
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Re-examine the passage.
The passage highlights that fashion receives grace and magnificence because of the high-ranked people who wear it. As soon as they abandon it, the fashion loses grace and becomes awkward when used by lower ranks. Thus, grace is not inherent in fashion itself but is derived from the rank and character of the wearer.
Step 2: Evaluate options.
- Option (A): Incorrect — the passage says the person’s grace lends charm to fashion, not the other way around.
- Option (B): Incorrect — fashion is not the indicator; it is the wearer’s status and character that matter.
- Option (C): Irrelevant — nothing about “imaginative persons” is mentioned.
- Option (D): Incorrect — the passage does not analyze society as a whole, but focuses on individuals of high rank.
- Option (E): Correct — directly matches the message that grace is tied to rank or character, not to clothing itself.
Step 3: Conclude.
The central idea is that the elegance of fashion is only a reflection of the wearer’s social standing or character. \[ \boxed{\text{Option E — Grace is a reflection of the person’s rank or character}} \]
The passage highlights that fashion receives grace and magnificence because of the high-ranked people who wear it. As soon as they abandon it, the fashion loses grace and becomes awkward when used by lower ranks. Thus, grace is not inherent in fashion itself but is derived from the rank and character of the wearer.
Step 2: Evaluate options.
- Option (A): Incorrect — the passage says the person’s grace lends charm to fashion, not the other way around.
- Option (B): Incorrect — fashion is not the indicator; it is the wearer’s status and character that matter.
- Option (C): Irrelevant — nothing about “imaginative persons” is mentioned.
- Option (D): Incorrect — the passage does not analyze society as a whole, but focuses on individuals of high rank.
- Option (E): Correct — directly matches the message that grace is tied to rank or character, not to clothing itself.
Step 3: Conclude.
The central idea is that the elegance of fashion is only a reflection of the wearer’s social standing or character. \[ \boxed{\text{Option E — Grace is a reflection of the person’s rank or character}} \]
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