Question

According to the passage, the spectre, is being chased by all except which one of the following :

• A. Religious leaders and artists
• B. Environmental activists and globalisation critics.
• C. Communists and socialists.
• D. Politicians and trade unionists
• A. Because they cannot face it alone
• B. Because it is easy to collaborate against it.
• C. Because they resent its spread.
• D. Because they fear the misuse of the world.
• A. That neoliberalism defies conceptualization
• B. That neoliberalism is vague
• C. That neoliberalism has not been accepted
• D. That neoliberalism has not been understood by people
• A. neoliberal
• B. libertine- immoral
• C. conservative
• D. liberal- favouring individual liberty

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1 — Recall the central image of the passage:
The author begins by recalling Marx and Engels’ famous line from the Communist Manifesto (1848): “A spectre is haunting Europe.” In their case it was the spectre of communism. In this passage, however, the “spectre” refers to neoliberalism. Just as alliances once arose to fight communism, the author describes a wide-ranging alliance today that seeks to oppose neoliberalism.

Step 2 — Identify who is part of the alliance against neoliberalism:
The passage clearly lists the following groups as part of the “curious alliance” against neoliberalism:
- Religious leaders
- Artists
- Environmental activists
- Globalisation critics
- Politicians of the left and the right
- Trade unionists
- Commentators
- Academics

Step 3 — Compare with the given options:
From the above list, we notice that communists and socialists are not explicitly mentioned. The passage makes a general reference to older ideological battles where socialists and conservatives were openly identified, but in the present context of fighting neoliberalism, communists and socialists are not listed as part of the alliance.

Step 4 — Interpret the meaning:
Therefore, although many diverse groups are opposing neoliberalism, communists and socialists are not directly counted among those mentioned in the current alliance. The question asks for the exception, and that is exactly what communists and socialists represent in this context.

Final Answer:
The correct option is (C) : Communists and socialists

Answer 2

Step 1 — Revisit the passage:
The passage explains that many different groups such as religious leaders, artists, activists, politicians, trade unionists and academics have joined together to oppose neoliberalism.

Step 2 — Reason for opposition:
These groups see neoliberalism as inhuman, anti-social and even misanthropic. They also believe it is a cynical plan by hidden forces who want to exploit the world for their own benefit.

Step 3 — Main idea:
Because of this fear that neoliberalism will be misused by powerful groups to control and harm society, a common alliance has been formed against it.

Final Answer:
Because they fear the misuse of the world.

Answer 3

Step 1 — Revisit the passage:
The author describes how a wide alliance of people opposes neoliberalism, but at the same time there is no clear or single definition of what neoliberalism actually means.

Step 2 — Key observation:
The passage explains that neoliberalism is a broad umbrella term. Different groups oppose it for their own reasons, which shows that people do not share a common understanding of it.

Step 3 — Identity issue:
The author also points out that very few, if any, individuals identify themselves as neoliberal. People prefer to call themselves liberal, classical liberal, or libertarian instead. This again shows that the concept of neoliberalism is vague and not well understood.

Step 4 — Conclusion:
Therefore, the author implies that neoliberalism has not been properly understood by people, which explains both the wide opposition and the lack of self-identification.

Final Answer:
The correct option is (D) : That neoliberalism has not been understood by people.

Answer 4

Step 1 — Recall the context:
In the passage, the author explains that people accused of being neoliberals often reject the label. Instead, they prefer to call themselves liberal, classical liberal, or libertarian.

Step 2 — Meaning of ‘libertarian’:
A libertarian is someone who strongly values individual freedom and minimal interference from the government in personal and economic life. The focus is on giving maximum liberty to the individual rather than relying on collective control.

Step 3 — Fit in the passage:
When people reject the word ‘neoliberal’ and call themselves libertarian, they want to highlight that their real belief is in freedom of the individual and not in an ideology that critics label as neoliberalism.

Step 4 — Substitution:
Thus, the word ‘libertarian’ can best be substituted with the phrase liberal – favouring individual liberty.

Final Answer:
The correct option is (D) : liberal – favouring individual liberty.