Comprehension
As defined by the geographer Yi-Fu Tuan, topophilia is the affective bond between people and place. His 1974 book set forth a wide-ranging exploration of how the emotive ties with the material environment vary greatly from person to person and in intensity, subtlety, and mode of expression. Factors influencing one’s depth of response to the environment include cultural background, gender, race, and historical circumstance, and Tuan also argued that there is a biological and sensory element. Topophilia might not be the strongest of human emotions— indeed, many people feel utterly indifferent toward the environments that shape their lives— but when activated it has the power to elevate a place to become the carrier of emotionally charged events or to be perceived as a symbol.
Aesthetic appreciation is one way in which people respond to the environment. A brilliantly colored rainbow after gloomy afternoon showers, a busy city street alive with human interaction—one might experience the beauty of such landscapes that had seemed quite ordinary only moments before or that are being newly discovered. This is quite the opposite of a second topophilic bond, namely that of the acquired taste for certain landscapes and places that one knows well. When a place is home, or when a space has become the locus of memories or the means of gaining a livelihood, it frequently evokes a deeper set of attachments than those predicated purely on the visual. A third response to the environment also depends on the human senses but may be tactile and olfactory, namely a delight in the feel and smell of air, water, and the earth.
Topophilia—and its very close conceptual twin, sense of place—is an experience that, however elusive, has inspired recent architects and planners. Most notably, new urbanism seeks to counter the perceived placelessness of modern suburbs and the decline of central cities through neo-traditional design motifs. Although motivated by good intentions, such attempts to create places rich in meaning are perhaps bound to disappoint. As Tuan noted, purely aesthetic responses often are suddenly revealed, but their intensity rarely is longlasting. Topophilia is difficult to design for and impossible to quantify, and its most articulate interpreters have been self-reflective philosophers such as Henry David Thoreau, evoking a marvelously intricate sense of place at Walden Pond, and Tuan, describing his deep affinity for the desert.
Topophilia connotes a positive relationship, but it often is useful to explore the darker affiliations between people and place. Patriotism, literally meaning the love of one’s terrapatria or homeland, has long been cultivated by governing elites for a range of nationalist projects, including war preparation and ethnic cleansing. Residents of upscale residential developments have disclosed how important it is to maintain their community’s distinct identity, often by casting themselves in a superior social position and by reinforcing class and racial differences. And just as a beloved landscape is suddenly revealed, so too may landscapes of fear cast a dark shadow over a place that makes one feel a sense of dread or anxiety—or topophobia.
Question: 1

The word “topophobia” in the passage is used

Updated On: Aug 20, 2024
  • to represent a feeling of dread towards particular spaces and places.
  • to signify the fear of studying the complex discipline of topography.
  • as a metaphor expressing the failure of the homeland to accommodate non-citizens.
  • to signify feelings of fear or anxiety towards topophilic people.
Hide Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

The term "topophobia" is employed in the text. This passage is the most straightforward among all.
The response to the initial question is located within the passage's concluding sentence, where the author presents the concept of 'topophobia.'
"And in the same way that a cherished landscape is unexpectedly unveiled, landscapes of fear may also cast a gloomy shadow over a location, eliciting a feeling of dread or anxiety—commonly known as topophobia."
Consequently, Option 1 is the correct selection.

Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Question: 2

In the last paragraph, the author uses the example of “Residents of upscale residential developments” to illustrate the:

Updated On: Sep 17, 2024
  • introduction of nationalist projects by such elites to produce a sense of dread or topophobia.
  • social exclusivism practised by such residents in order to enforce a sense of racial or class superiority.
  • manner in which environments are designed to minimise the social exclusion of their clientele.
  • sensitive response to race and class problems in upscale residential developments.
Hide Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

This question's resolution hinges on grasping the context in which the phrase is employed. The passage states:
"Residents of upscale residential developments have disclosed how important it is to maintain their community’s distinct identity, often by casting themselves in a superior social position and by reinforcing class and racial differences."
Undoubtedly, Option 2 is the correct answer. The simplicity of the question is evident, leaving no room for uncertainty.

Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Question: 3

Which one of the following best captures the meaning of the statement, “Topophilia is difficult to design for and impossible to quantify . . .”?

Updated On: Aug 20, 2024
  • People’s responses to their environment are usually subjective and so cannot be rendered in design.
  • The deep anomie of modern urbanisation led to new urbanism’s intricate sense of place.
  • Architects have to objectively quantify spaces and hence cannot be topophilic.
  • Philosopher-architects are uniquely suited to develop topophilic design.
Hide Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

The key to answering this question lies in examining the sentence that follows the given one. Subsequent to the provided sentence in the passage, it reads:
"Topophilia is difficult to design for and impossible to quantify, and its most articulate interpreters have been self-reflective philosophers such as Henry David Thoreau, evoking a marvelously intricate sense of place at Walden Pond, and Tuan, describing his deep affinity for the desert."
Henry David Thoreau appreciates the pond, whereas Tuan expresses his profound connection to the desert. This indicates subjectivity.
Consequently, Option 1 is the correct choice.

Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Question: 4

Which one of the following comes closest in meaning to the author’s understanding of topophilia?

Updated On: Aug 20, 2024
  • The tendency of many cultures to represent their land as “motherland” or “fatherland” may be seen as an expression of their topophilia
  • Nomadic societies are known to have the least affinity for the lands through which they traverse because they tend to be topophobic.
  • The French are not overly patriotic, but they will refuse to use English as far as possible, even when they know it well.
  • Scientists have found that most creatures, including humans, are either born with or cultivate a strong sense of topography.
Hide Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

The term "topophilia" denotes an affection or love for a specific place. Eliminating options based on this definition:
- Option 2 is eliminated as it expresses "least affinity for the place," which is contrary to the concept of love.
- Option 3 is ruled out because it implies that the French are not patriotic, and topophilia is associated with a love for a place, which often brings about a sense of patriotism.
- Topography, as mentioned, is unrelated to love for a place.
Therefore, Option 1 is the only choice aligning with the meaning of topophilia, as it reflects love for a particular place.

Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Question: 5

Which of the following statements, if true, could be seen as not contradicting the arguments in the passage?

Updated On: Sep 17, 2024
  • The most important, even fundamental, response to our environment is our tactile and olfactory response.
  • Generally speaking, in a given culture, the ties of the people to their environment vary little insignificance or intensity.
  • Patriotism, usually seen as a positive feeling, is presented by the author as a darker form of topophilia.
  • New Urbanism succeeded in those designs where architects collaborated with their clients.
Hide Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

This question presents a moderate level of difficulty, requiring careful consideration of the options to identify the one that does not contradict the author's stance. Options that go against the author's argument will be in conflict with the author's viewpoint.
Option 1 contradicts the author's statement because the author indicates that olfactory response is the third most important factor, while this option asserts it as the most important.
Option 2 is dismissible because the author, in the first paragraph, states that emotive ties with the material environment vary greatly among individuals, using the term 'vary greatly,' while the option suggests 'vary little.'
Option 3 aligns with the author's perspective, particularly evident in the last paragraph, making it a suitable choice that doesn't contradict the author's argument.
Option 4 is not consistent with the author's viewpoint. The author expresses skepticism about New Urbanism's ability to fulfill its intentions, whereas the option suggests its success in meeting client demand.
Therefore, Option 3 is the correct choice as it does not contradict the author's assertions.

Was this answer helpful?
0
0

Top Questions on Reading Comprehension

View More Questions

Questions Asked in CAT exam

View More Questions