Comprehension
Direction for Reading Comprehension: The passages given here are followed by some questions that have four answer choices; read the passage carefully and pick the option whose answer best aligns with the passage.
Many people believe that truth conveys power. . . . Hence sticking with the truth is the best strategy for gaining power. Unfortunately, this is just a comforting myth. In fact, truth and power have a far more complicated relationship, because in human society, power means two very different things.
On the one hand, power means having the ability to manipulate objective realities: to hunt animals, to construct bridges, to cure diseases, to build atom bombs. This kind of power is closely tied to truth. If you believe a false physical theory, you won’t be able to build an atom bomb. On the other hand, power also means having the ability to manipulate human beliefs, thereby getting lots of people to cooperate effectively. Building atom bombs requires not just a good understanding of physics, but also the coordinated labor of millions of humans. Planet Earth was conquered by Homo sapiens rather than by chimpanzees or elephants, because we are the only mammals that can cooperate in very large numbers. And large-scale cooperation depends on believing common stories. But these stories need not be true. You can unite millions of people by making them believe in completely fictional stories about God, about race or about economics. The dual nature of power and truth results in the curious fact that we humans know many more truths than any other animal, but we also believe in much more nonsense. . . .
When it comes to uniting people around a common story, fiction actually enjoys three inherent advantages over the truth. First, whereas the truth is universal, fictions tend to be local. Consequently if we want to distinguish our tribe from foreigners, a fictional story will serve as a far better identity marker than a true story. . . . The second huge advantage of fiction over truth has to do with the handicap principle, which says that reliable signals must be costly to the signaler. Otherwise, they can easily be faked by cheaters. . . . If political loyalty is signalled by believing a true story, anyone can fake it. But believing ridiculous and outlandish stories exacts greater cost, and is therefore a better signal of loyalty. . . . Third, and most important, the truth is often painful and disturbing. Hence if you stick to unalloyed reality, few people will follow you. An American presidential candidate who tells the American public the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about American history has a 100 percent guarantee of losing the elections. . . . An uncompromising adherence to the truth is an admirable spiritual practice, but it is not a winning political strategy. . . .
Even if we need to pay some price for deactivating our rational faculties, the advantages of increased social cohesion are often so big that fictional stories routinely triumph over the truth in human history. Scholars have known this for thousands of years, which is why scholars often had to decide whether they served the truth or social harmony. Should they aim to unite people by making sure everyone believes in the same fiction, or should they let people know the truth even at the price of disunity?
Many people believe that truth conveys power. . . . Hence sticking with the truth is the best strategy for gaining power. Unfortunately, this is just a comforting myth. In fact, truth and power have a far more complicated relationship, because in human society, power means two very different things.
On the one hand, power means having the ability to manipulate objective realities: to hunt animals, to construct bridges, to cure diseases, to build atom bombs. This kind of power is closely tied to truth. If you believe a false physical theory, you won’t be able to build an atom bomb. On the other hand, power also means having the ability to manipulate human beliefs, thereby getting lots of people to cooperate effectively. Building atom bombs requires not just a good understanding of physics, but also the coordinated labor of millions of humans. Planet Earth was conquered by Homo sapiens rather than by chimpanzees or elephants, because we are the only mammals that can cooperate in very large numbers. And large-scale cooperation depends on believing common stories. But these stories need not be true. You can unite millions of people by making them believe in completely fictional stories about God, about race or about economics. The dual nature of power and truth results in the curious fact that we humans know many more truths than any other animal, but we also believe in much more nonsense. . . .
When it comes to uniting people around a common story, fiction actually enjoys three inherent advantages over the truth. First, whereas the truth is universal, fictions tend to be local. Consequently if we want to distinguish our tribe from foreigners, a fictional story will serve as a far better identity marker than a true story. . . . The second huge advantage of fiction over truth has to do with the handicap principle, which says that reliable signals must be costly to the signaler. Otherwise, they can easily be faked by cheaters. . . . If political loyalty is signalled by believing a true story, anyone can fake it. But believing ridiculous and outlandish stories exacts greater cost, and is therefore a better signal of loyalty. . . . Third, and most important, the truth is often painful and disturbing. Hence if you stick to unalloyed reality, few people will follow you. An American presidential candidate who tells the American public the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about American history has a 100 percent guarantee of losing the elections. . . . An uncompromising adherence to the truth is an admirable spiritual practice, but it is not a winning political strategy. . . .
Even if we need to pay some price for deactivating our rational faculties, the advantages of increased social cohesion are often so big that fictional stories routinely triumph over the truth in human history. Scholars have known this for thousands of years, which is why scholars often had to decide whether they served the truth or social harmony. Should they aim to unite people by making sure everyone believes in the same fiction, or should they let people know the truth even at the price of disunity?
Question: 1
The central theme of the passage is about the choice between:
The central theme of the passage is about the choice between:
Updated On: Jul 22, 2025
- truth and power.
- leaders who unknowingly spread fictions and those who intentionally do so.
- stories that unite people and those that distinguish groups from each other.
- attaining social cohesion and propagating objective truth.
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
The central theme of the passage revolves around the dichotomy between attaining social cohesion and propagating objective truth. The passage outlines two distinct forms of power:
- One that manipulates objective realities, relying on truth for practical accomplishments like building technology.
- Another that manipulates human beliefs, relying on shared fictional narratives to foster large-scale cooperation and social cohesion.
Fictional narratives often confer advantages in maintaining social cohesion as they function as strong identity markers and signals of loyalty, unlike the universal nature and disturbing potential of truths. Consequently, fictional stories often prevail historically over truth due to their ability to unite people, despite the inherent trade-off between unity and objective truth.
The passage encapsulates the historical conflict scholars face: whether to promote unity through fiction or to unveil reality, risking societal disunity. Ultimately, the central theme aligns with the choice between social cohesion and objective truth.
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Question: 2
Regarding which one of the following quotes could we argue that the author overemphasises the importance of fiction?
Regarding which one of the following quotes could we argue that the author overemphasises the importance of fiction?
Updated On: Jul 22, 2025
- "In fact, truth and power have a far more complicated relationship, because in human society, power means two very different things."
- “Hence sticking with the truth is the best strategy for gaining power. Unfortunately, this is just a comforting myth.”
- “On the one hand, power means having the ability to manipulate objective realities: to hunt animals, to construct bridges, to cure diseases, to build atom bombs.”
- “. . . scholars often had to decide whether they served the truth or social harmony. Should they aim to unite people by making sure everyone believes in the same fiction, or should they let people know the truth . . .?”
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
The passage discusses the relationship between truth and power. It highlights the dual nature of power: one that manipulates objective realities and one that manipulates human beliefs. Fiction is emphasized as a means to unite people through common stories, which do not necessarily have to be true. The duality results in the dilemma faced by scholars - whether to serve truth or social harmony.
The selected quote: “. . . scholars often had to decide whether they served the truth or social harmony. Should they aim to unite people by making sure everyone believes in the same fiction, or should they let people know the truth . . .?” emphasizes the role of fiction in achieving social cohesion by suggesting that scholars might overemphasize fiction to unite people, even if it sacrifices the truth. This aligns with the question, indicating an overemphasis on the importance of fiction in creating unity and harmony.
The selected quote: “. . . scholars often had to decide whether they served the truth or social harmony. Should they aim to unite people by making sure everyone believes in the same fiction, or should they let people know the truth . . .?” emphasizes the role of fiction in achieving social cohesion by suggesting that scholars might overemphasize fiction to unite people, even if it sacrifices the truth. This aligns with the question, indicating an overemphasis on the importance of fiction in creating unity and harmony.
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Question: 3
The author would support none of the following statements about political power EXCEPT that:
The author would support none of the following statements about political power EXCEPT that:
Updated On: Jul 22, 2025
- manipulating people’s beliefs is politically advantageous, but a leader who propagates only myths is likely to lose power.
- there are definite advantages to promoting fiction, but there needs to be some limit to a pervasive belief in myths.
- while unalloyed truth is not recommended, leaders should stay as close as possible to it.
- people cannot handle the unvarnished truth, so leaders retain power by deviating from it.
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
The author in the comprehension passage argues that while people often believe truth is aligned with power, the relationship between truth and political power is complex. Power is not solely dependent on truth but also involves manipulating beliefs for large-scale cooperation. Fiction, rather than truth, often serves as a better tool for uniting people due to its local nature, signaling of loyalty, and because truth can be painful and unsettling.
Considering the options given:
- Manipulating people’s beliefs is politically advantageous, but a leader who propagates only myths is likely to lose power. - The passage doesn't support losing power by propagating myths; rather, myths can aid in retaining power.
- There are definite advantages to promoting fiction, but there needs to be some limit to a pervasive belief in myths. - No direct limit to myths is discussed; the overall tone emphasizes the power gained through myths.
- While unalloyed truth is not recommended, leaders should stay as close as possible to it. - The passage suggests sticking to reality is not politically strategic.
- People cannot handle the unvarnished truth, so leaders retain power by deviating from it. - This statement is supported by the passage as it clearly mentions the challenge of sticking to reality politically.
Therefore, the author would support the statement that people cannot handle the unvarnished truth, so leaders retain power by deviating from it.
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Question: 4
The author implies that, like scholars, successful leaders:
The author implies that, like scholars, successful leaders:
Updated On: Jul 22, 2025
- know how to balance truth and social unity.
- use myths to attain the first type of power.
- today know how to create social cohesion better than in the past.
- need to leverage both types of power to remain in office.
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
The given comprehension passage delves into the complex relationship between truth and power and how these concepts are interpreted differently in human society. The passage outlines that power, in societal terms, is understood in two distinct ways: the ability to manipulate objective realities and the ability to manipulate human beliefs to achieve large-scale cooperation. It further elucidates how fictions, although not necessarily true, can powerfully unite people through shared beliefs, effectively creating social cohesion.
Successful leaders, much like scholars, are presented with the challenge of either promoting the truth or encouraging fictions that foster social unity. The comprehension goes on to highlight the inherent advantages that fictional stories hold over truth in human society for promoting unity and signaling loyalty. For leaders, this implies the necessity of balancing between conveying truths and propagating unifying myths.
The question asks what the author implies about successful leaders. Amidst the options given, the correct interpretation as per the passage is that "successful leaders know how to balance truth and social unity." This aligns with the author's commentary on the critical choice between promoting factual truth and fostering unity through shared stories or fictions.
Therefore, the correct answer is: know how to balance truth and social unity.
Successful leaders, much like scholars, are presented with the challenge of either promoting the truth or encouraging fictions that foster social unity. The comprehension goes on to highlight the inherent advantages that fictional stories hold over truth in human society for promoting unity and signaling loyalty. For leaders, this implies the necessity of balancing between conveying truths and propagating unifying myths.
The question asks what the author implies about successful leaders. Amidst the options given, the correct interpretation as per the passage is that "successful leaders know how to balance truth and social unity." This aligns with the author's commentary on the critical choice between promoting factual truth and fostering unity through shared stories or fictions.
Therefore, the correct answer is: know how to balance truth and social unity.
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