Question

Read the following passage and answer the question that follows.
That’s how life plays out for all of us. We lose some. Like sportspersons, we too pack our gear and go to work. But unlike them, the gaze of the world is not upon us. Most of us do our business in anonymity, very few of us are emotionally wired to the outcomes of our day jobs. We don’t come back feeling like winners. Or losers. As sports fans we can summon empathy for those who stretch their bodies and minds to the limit in the pursuit of athletic excellence and provide such joys in the process. 
But we will never experience the highs that are their reward. And we will never know the depth of their lows, which are their burden. Still, no one will know better than Rohit and Dravid that its already a new day. There might never be a World Cup win for them. But there are loved ones to go to. Life awaits still. 
Which of the following statements BEST summarizes the above passage?

• A. Life moves on, and as sports fans, we should do too.
• B. The wins and loss in sports do not exist in other professions.
• C. We should treat winning and losing as imposters.
• D. Just because we enjoy sports does not mean we understand the sportspersons.
• E. We should put ourselves in others shoes rather than judge them for performance.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The passage provides a comparison between the experiences of sportspersons and those engaged in other professions. It highlights that while the pressures and emotional responses to outcomes are more visible and intense in sports, they are not as pronounced or publicly scrutinized in other fields. Let’s evaluate the given options to find the best summary of the passage.

1. The option "Life moves on, and as sports fans, we should do too." is partially correct but does not capture the full extent of the comparison between sports and other professions described in the passage.
2. The option "The wins and losses in sports do not exist in other professions." is incorrect because the passage acknowledges that everyone experiences wins and losses, albeit to different degrees of scrutiny and emotional investment.
3. The option "We should treat winning and losing as imposters." references a famous idea from Rudyard Kipling's poem "If—" but is not directly related to the passage, which does not address this concept directly.
4. The option "Just because we enjoy sports does not mean we understand the sportspersons." best summarizes the passage. The passage emphasizes that while spectators appreciate the joy and achievements of sportspersons, they do not truly comprehend the emotional highs and lows experienced by athletes.
5. The option "We should put ourselves in others' shoes rather than judge them for performance." suggests empathy, which is an element of the passage, but it doesn't specifically address the key contrast emphasized—the joy and emotional complexity unique to sportspersons.

Hence, the correct answer is "Just because we enjoy sports does not mean we understand the sportspersons." This choice succinctly captures the essence of the passage by highlighting the disconnect between the external appreciation of sports and the personal, emotional experiences of athletes.

Answer 2

The passage discusses the emotional ups and downs faced by sportspersons and compares it to the relatively anonymous and less emotionally intense experiences in other professions. Let's analyze the options provided to determine which statement best summarizes the passage:

1. Option 1: Life moves on, and as sports fans, we should do too.
   • This option suggests a general attitude towards moving past events, which captures part of the passage's sentiment, but it does not encompass the main theme about understanding sportspersons' experiences.
2. Option 2: The wins and loss in sports do not exist in other professions.
   • While the passage highlights differences in emotional intensity, it does not imply that other professions lack successes and failures altogether, making this option inaccurate.
3. Option 3: We should treat winning and losing as imposters.
   • This option refers to a famous quote by Rudyard Kipling, which is not specifically addressed in the passage. The passage focuses more on the unique emotional journey of athletes.
4. Option 4: Just because we enjoy sports does not mean we understand the sportspersons.
   • This captures the essence of the passage. It highlights the difference between enjoying sports as a spectator and truly understanding the emotional highs and lows experienced by the athletes.
5. Option 5: We should put ourselves in others shoes rather than judge them for performance.
   • While this is a valid perspective, the passage emphasizes understanding the unique experiences of sportspersons rather than general empathy across all professions.

Thus, the best summary of the passage is Option 4: Just because we enjoy sports does not mean we understand the sportspersons, as it encapsulates the passage's focus on the emotional journey and reality of sportspersons beyond what fans perceive.