Comprehension

If religion and community are associated with global violence in the minds of many people, then so are global poverty and inequality. There has, in fact, been an increasing tendency in recent years to justify policies of poverty removal on the ground that this is the surest way to prevent political strife and turmoil. Basing public policy — international as well as domestic —onsuch an understanding has some evident attractions. Given the public anxiety about wars and disorders in the rich countries in the world, the indirect justification of poverty removal — not for its own sake but for the sake of peace and quiet in the world — provides an argument that appeal to self-interest for helping the needy. It presents an argument for allocating more resources on poverty removal because of its presumed political, rather than moral relevance. 
While the temptation to go in that direction is easy to understand, it is a perilous route to take even for a worthy cause. Part of the difficulty lies in the possibility that if wrong, economic reductionism would not only impair our understanding of the world, but would also tend to undermine the declared rationale of the public commitment to remove poverty. This is a particularly serious concern, since poverty and massive inequality are terrible enough in themselves, and deserve priority even if there were no connection whatsoever with violence. Just as virtue is its own reward, poverty is at least its own penalty. This is not to deny that poverty and inequality can — and do — have far reaching consequences with conflict and strife, but these connections have to be examined and investigated with appropriate care and empirical scrutiny, rather than being casually invoked with unreasoned rapidity in support of a “good cause.”
Destitution can, of course, produce provocation for defying established laws and rules. But it need not give people the initiative, courage, and actual ability to do anything very violent. Destitution can be accompanied not only by economic debility, but also by political helplessness. A starving wretch can be too frail and too dejected to fight and battle, and even to protest and holler. It is thus not surprising that often enough intense and widespread suffering and misery have been accompanied by unusual peace and silence.
Indeed, many famines have occurred without there being much political rebellion or civil strife or intergroup, warfare. For example, the famine years in the 1840s in Ireland were among the most peaceful, and there was little attempt by the hungry masses to intervene even as ship after ship sailed down the river Shannon with rich food. Looking elsewhere, my own childhood memories in Calcutta during the Bengal famine of 1943 include the sight of starving people dying in front of sweetshops with various layers of luscious food displayed behind the glass windows, without a single glass being broken, or law or order being disrupted.

Question: 1

Select the statement that can be most plausibly inferred from the aforesaid passage:

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Inference questions often hinge on qualifiers like “not necessarily” — which signal partial truths, not absolutes.
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
  • A society plagued by recurrent famines can never witness political revolution.
  • Religious discrimination inevitably leads to violence and strife.
  • Destitution of the masses leads to peace and social stability.
  • Famines and starvation do not necessarily result in political rebellion.
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Refer to the examples given in the passage
The author mentions the Irish famine of the 1840s and the Bengal famine of 1943 as cases where severe suffering occurred without political upheaval. Step 2: Evaluate each option
(a) Incorrect – The author says rebellion does not “necessarily” follow, not that it’s impossible.
(b) Irrelevant – The passage does not focus on religion here.
(c) Incorrect – It’s not about “stability” but rather lack of rebellion due to helplessness.
(d) Correct – matches both examples and the main inference. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(d)} \]
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Question: 2

The author believes that it may not be advisable to emphasise on the connection between poverty and violence as:

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For author-opinion questions, rely on explicit language like “undermine,” “dangerous,” or “perilous.”
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
  • Emphasis on such connection appeals only to self-interest of persons.
  • Linking poverty and violence undermines the moral character of anti-poverty measures.
  • The absence of any essential connection between poverty and violence may then weaken the very rationale of anti-poverty policies.
  • There is no necessary link between poverty and inequality.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Identify the author’s caution
The passage states that fighting poverty must be motivated by its intrinsic moral value, not merely because it might prevent violence.
Using fear of violence as justification “undermines the declared rationale.” Step 2: Evaluate the choices
(a) True, but less direct than (b).
(b) Correct – clearly stated in paragraph 2.
(c) Misrepresents — it refers to absence of connection, not the consequence.
(d) Off-topic – inequality vs. poverty not compared here. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(b)} \]
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Question: 3

Which of the following best captures the central argument of this passage?

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Central arguments are supported by the entire passage — avoid options that reflect just one paragraph or example.
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
  • Religion is inextricably linked with violence
  • Famines may not necessarily result in civil unrest.
  • Global poverty and inequality are one of the fundamental causes of global violence and strife.
  • Basing anti-poverty programmes on the need for avoidance of violence and strife is dotted with many pitfalls.
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understand the thesis of the passage
The central idea critiques the argument that poverty should be tackled **only** to prevent violence.
Instead, the author defends the **moral urgency** of poverty alleviation. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect options
(a) Irrelevant – religion is mentioned only briefly.
(b) Partial – this supports one example, not the whole passage.
(c) Opposite – the passage cautions against assuming this.
(d) Correct – addresses the theme of flawed reasoning behind violence-based justifications. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(d)} \]
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Question: 4

In the given passage, the word ‘perilous’ means:

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Always use the full sentence context to determine tone — especially with emotionally loaded words like “perilous.”
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
  • Scared
  • Costly
  • Futile
  • Dangerous
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Read the sentence carefully
“It is a perilous route to take even for a worthy cause.” – clearly implies a **risky or dangerous** path.
Step 2: Eliminate wrong meanings
(a) “Scared” is a feeling, not a description of a situation.
(b) “Costly” is not the intended moral/emotional implication.
(c) “Futile” implies useless, not dangerous.
(d) “Dangerous” is correct. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(d)} \]
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Question: 5

The author refers to his own experience as a child during the Bengal famine of 1943 in order to:

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Look for personal anecdotes used to support previous claims — they’re often linked to strengthen author’s argument.
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
  • Illustrate how religious may instill passive acceptance of the worst forms of starvation among people.
  • Repudiate the argument that religious discrimination usually leads to violent protests.
  • Substantiate his assertion that it is not unusual to witness suffering and misery coexist with complete peace.
  • Demonstrate that people confronted with acute starvation are indeed forced to helpless protest ever at all.
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Recall his example of people dying silently
The author recounts how even in the face of visible food and extreme hunger, starving people “died in front of sweetshops” without breaking a single glass. Step 2: Evaluate the choices
(a) Irrelevant – no mention of religion here.
(b) Not about religion.
(c) Correct – supports earlier claim about suffering not causing rebellion.
(d) Opposite – they did not protest. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(c)} \]
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Question: 6

The word ‘destitution’ in this passage can be best substituted by:

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Use passage context to determine word meaning — especially when emotional tone and condition are described.
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
  • Dejection
  • Indigence
  • Default
  • Dereliction
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understand the word in context
The passage describes destitution as extreme poverty — people dying of hunger, lacking basic resources, and being powerless.
Step 2: Evaluate meanings
(a) Dejection – means sadness, not poverty.
(b) Indigence – means extreme poverty. Correct.
(c) Default – means failure to pay a debt. Irrelevant.
(d) Dereliction – means negligence. Incorrect. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(b)} \]
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Question: 7

Which of the following statement is least likely to be inferred from the passage?

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“Least likely” means eliminate options that are clearly supported and find one that misrepresents or exaggerates the author’s view.
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
  • History is replete with instances of famines that have occurred without there being much violent protest.
  • Many writers and critics are increasingly advocating for stronger policies on poverty removal on the ground that this would help prevent political turmoil.
  • The author believes that the links between poverty and violence must never be emphasized at all.
  • Economic debility in turn inhibits political freedom.
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Clarify author’s stance
The author does not reject all links between poverty and violence — he calls for “careful scrutiny,” not denial. Step 2: Evaluate options
(a) True – supported by historical examples like Irish and Bengal famines.
(b) True – mentioned as common modern justification.
(c) Incorrect – misrepresents author’s cautious approach.
(d) True – “economic debility leads to political helplessness.” % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(c)} \]
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Question: 8

The author asserts that basing anti-poverty measures on the avowed connections between poverty and violence has certain apparent benefits because:

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Focus on “why” the author thinks a flawed argument might still have practical value — here, self-interest is key.
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
  • Poverty is similar to religious exploitation in terms of the potential violent-consequences.
  • It leads to allocation of more resources on anti-poverty policies.
  • The widespread concern about war and violence provides a rationale for poverty-removal that appeals to the ‘self-interest’ of persons.
  • Otherwise, there would not have been the tendency to justify anti-poverty policies on the ground that they prevent political turmoil.
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Locate author’s main point on “apparent benefits”
The passage says: “appeals to self-interest for helping the needy... due to public anxiety about wars and disorders.”
This makes poverty alleviation appealing not for moral reasons but due to fear of unrest. Step 2: Evaluate options
(a) Not supported – no equivalence between poverty and religious exploitation is made.
(b) True, but less direct than (c).
(c) Correct – directly stated, matching author’s words.
(d) Circular reasoning – not an explanation. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(c)} \]
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Question: 9

‘Economic reductionism’ in this passage means:

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Reductionism means overly simplifying complex phenomena — always match such terms with the author's tone and argument.
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
  • Neglecting the economic connections between poverty and violence.
  • Excessive accent on poverty and inequality.
  • Emphasizing on the linkage between violence, poverty and economic equality.
  • The view that every conflict is caused by underlying economic tensions.
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understand the phrase ‘economic reductionism’
The passage warns against simplifying all forms of violence or unrest as arising purely from poverty or economic inequality. This is called “economic reductionism.” Step 2: Evaluate the options carefully
(a) Incorrect – economic reductionism doesn’t neglect the link; it exaggerates it.
(b) Vague – “excessive accent” is unclear and doesn’t match the passage exactly.
(c) Closer, but “emphasizing” isn't the same as reducing all issues to it.
(d) Correct – reductionism means attributing all conflict to economic causes, which matches the author’s warning. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(d)} \]
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Question: 10

“A sense of encroachment, degradation and humiliation can be even easier ______ mobilize of rebellion and revolt.” Select the most appropriate word out of the four options for filling the blank space.

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When filling grammar-based blanks, always test prepositions and verb forms within the sentence — aim for clarity and flow.
Updated On: Aug 11, 2025
  • for
  • as
  • into
  • to
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understand the sentence structure
We are looking for a preposition that fits with the phrase “mobilize of rebellion” — i.e., leads logically and grammatically into it. Step 2: Try each option in context
(a) “for mobilize of rebellion” – grammatically incorrect.
(b) “as mobilize” – doesn’t fit; incorrect part of speech.
(c) “into mobilize” – awkward and incorrect.
(d) “to mobilize of rebellion and revolt” – fits smoothly and grammatically. Step 3: Confirm the verb form
“To mobilize” is the infinitive form, correctly used here as a result or purpose structure. % Final Answer \[ \boxed{(d)} \]
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