Comprehension
The passage below is accompanied by a set of questions. Choose the best answer to each question.
Stories concerning the Undead have always been with us. From out of the primal darkness of Mankind’s earliest years, come whispers of eerie creatures, not quite alive (or alive in a way which we can understand), yet not quite dead either. These may have been ancient and primitive deities who dwelt deep in the surrounding forests and in remote places, or simply those deceased who refused to remain in their tombs and who wandered about the countryside, physically tormenting and frightening those who were still alive. Mostly they were ill-defined—strange sounds in the night beyond the comforting glow of the fire, or a shape, half-glimpsed in the twilight along the edge of an encampment. They were vague and indistinct, but they were always there with the power to terrify and disturb. They had the power to touch the minds of our early ancestors and to fill them with dread. Such fear formed the basis of the earliest tales although the source and exact nature of such terrors still remained very vague.
And as Mankind became more sophisticated, leaving the gloom of their caves and forming themselves into recognizable communities—towns, cities, whole cultures—so the Undead travelled with them, inhabiting their folklore just as they had in former times. Now they began to take on more definite shapes. They became walking cadavers; the physical embodiment of former deities and things which had existed alongside Man since the Creation. Some still remained vague and ill-defined but, as Mankind strove to explain the horror which it felt towards them, such creatures emerged more readily into the light.
In order to confirm their abnormal status, many of the Undead were often accorded attributes, which defied the natural order of things—the power to transform themselves into other shapes, the ability to sustain themselves by drinking human blood, and the ability to influence human minds across a distance. Such powers—described as supernatural—only [lent] an added dimension to the terror that humans felt regarding
them.
And it was only natural, too, that the Undead should become connected with the practice of magic. From very early times, Shamans and witchdoctors had claimed at least some power and control over the spirits of departed ancestors, and this has continued down into more “civilized” times. Formerly, the invisible spirits and forces that thronged around men’s earliest encampments, had spoken “through” the tribal Shamans but now, as entities in their own right, they were subject to magical control and could be physically summoned by a competent sorcerer. However, the relationship between the magician and an Undead creature was often a very tenuous and uncertain one. Some sorcerers might have even become Undead entities once they died, but they might also have been susceptible to the powers of other magicians when they did.
From the Middle Ages and into the Age of Enlightenment, theories of the Undead continued to grow and develop. Their names became more familiar—werewolf, vampire, ghoul—each one certain to strike fear into the hearts of ordinary humans.
Stories concerning the Undead have always been with us. From out of the primal darkness of Mankind’s earliest years, come whispers of eerie creatures, not quite alive (or alive in a way which we can understand), yet not quite dead either. These may have been ancient and primitive deities who dwelt deep in the surrounding forests and in remote places, or simply those deceased who refused to remain in their tombs and who wandered about the countryside, physically tormenting and frightening those who were still alive. Mostly they were ill-defined—strange sounds in the night beyond the comforting glow of the fire, or a shape, half-glimpsed in the twilight along the edge of an encampment. They were vague and indistinct, but they were always there with the power to terrify and disturb. They had the power to touch the minds of our early ancestors and to fill them with dread. Such fear formed the basis of the earliest tales although the source and exact nature of such terrors still remained very vague.
And as Mankind became more sophisticated, leaving the gloom of their caves and forming themselves into recognizable communities—towns, cities, whole cultures—so the Undead travelled with them, inhabiting their folklore just as they had in former times. Now they began to take on more definite shapes. They became walking cadavers; the physical embodiment of former deities and things which had existed alongside Man since the Creation. Some still remained vague and ill-defined but, as Mankind strove to explain the horror which it felt towards them, such creatures emerged more readily into the light.
In order to confirm their abnormal status, many of the Undead were often accorded attributes, which defied the natural order of things—the power to transform themselves into other shapes, the ability to sustain themselves by drinking human blood, and the ability to influence human minds across a distance. Such powers—described as supernatural—only [lent] an added dimension to the terror that humans felt regarding
them.
And it was only natural, too, that the Undead should become connected with the practice of magic. From very early times, Shamans and witchdoctors had claimed at least some power and control over the spirits of departed ancestors, and this has continued down into more “civilized” times. Formerly, the invisible spirits and forces that thronged around men’s earliest encampments, had spoken “through” the tribal Shamans but now, as entities in their own right, they were subject to magical control and could be physically summoned by a competent sorcerer. However, the relationship between the magician and an Undead creature was often a very tenuous and uncertain one. Some sorcerers might have even become Undead entities once they died, but they might also have been susceptible to the powers of other magicians when they did.
From the Middle Ages and into the Age of Enlightenment, theories of the Undead continued to grow and develop. Their names became more familiar—werewolf, vampire, ghoul—each one certain to strike fear into the hearts of ordinary humans.
Question: 1
Which one of the following observations is a valid conclusion to draw from the statement, “From out of the primal darkness of Mankind’s earliest years, come whispers of eerie creatures, not quite alive (or alive in a way which we can understand), yet not quite dead either.”?
Which one of the following observations is a valid conclusion to draw from the statement, “From out of the primal darkness of Mankind’s earliest years, come whispers of eerie creatures, not quite alive (or alive in a way which we can understand), yet not quite dead either.”?
Updated On: Jan 15, 2026
- Mankind’s primal years were marked by creatures alive with eerie whispers, but seen only in the darkness
- We can understand the lives of the eerie creatures in Mankind’s early years through their whispers in the darkness
- Mankind’s early years were marked by a belief in the existence of eerie creatures that were neither quite alive nor dead.
- Long ago, eerie creatures used to whisper in the primal darkness that they were not quite dead
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
The passage discusses the conceptualization of eerie creatures in the primitive years of Mankind. These creatures, described as neither quite alive nor dead, stem from ancient beliefs about entities outside ordinary human understanding. The key element here is the word "belief," indicating these were likely mythological or legendary creatures embedded in early human lore. Therefore, the correct inference from the statement provided aligns with the notion that these creatures were part of primitive belief systems rather than literal beings witnessed by early humans.
The statement from the question refers to whispers about creatures that were neither fully alive nor dead, echoing this belief system.
Given the options:
Mankind’s primal years were marked by creatures alive with eerie whispers, but seen only in the darkness
We can understand the lives of the eerie creatures in Mankind’s early years through their whispers in the darkness
Mankind’s early years were marked by a belief in the existence of eerie creatures that were neither quite alive nor dead.
Long ago, eerie creatures used to whisper in the primal darkness that they were not quite dead
The correct conclusion, as per our analysis, is:
Mankind’s early years were marked by a belief in the existence of eerie creatures that were neither quite alive nor dead.
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Question: 2
All of the following statements, if false, could be seen as being in accordance with the passage, EXCEPT:
All of the following statements, if false, could be seen as being in accordance with the passage, EXCEPT:
Updated On: Jan 15, 2026
- the transition from the Middle Ages to the Age of Enlightenment saw new theories of the Undead.
- the Undead remained vague and ill-defined, even as Mankind strove to understand the horror they inspired.
- the relationship between Shamans and the Undead was believed to be a strong and stable one.
- the growing sophistication of Mankind meant that humans stopped believing in the Undead
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
The question asks us to identify which statement, if false, could not be consistent with the passage. To solve this, we need to evaluate each option against the passage content:
1. Transition from the Middle Ages to the Age of Enlightenment saw new theories of the Undead.
This is consistent with the passage: "From the Middle Ages and into the Age of Enlightenment, theories of the Undead continued to grow and develop."
This is consistent with the passage: "From the Middle Ages and into the Age of Enlightenment, theories of the Undead continued to grow and develop."
2. The Undead remained vague and ill-defined, even as Mankind strove to understand the horror they inspired.
Consistent with: "They were vague and indistinct...such creatures emerged more readily into the light" indicating some remained vague.
Consistent with: "They were vague and indistinct...such creatures emerged more readily into the light" indicating some remained vague.
3. The relationship between Shamans and the Undead was believed to be a strong and stable one.
False as per the passage which states: "the relationship between the magician and an Undead creature was often a very tenuous and uncertain one."
False as per the passage which states: "the relationship between the magician and an Undead creature was often a very tenuous and uncertain one."
4. The growing sophistication of Mankind meant that humans stopped believing in the Undead.
False according to: "Mankind became more sophisticated...so the Undead travelled with them, inhabiting their folklore."
False according to: "Mankind became more sophisticated...so the Undead travelled with them, inhabiting their folklore."
The correct answer is the first option, as it could not be seen as false from the passage since the transition was indeed associated with the development of new theories about the Undead.
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Question: 3
Which one of the following statements best describes what the passage is about?
Which one of the following statements best describes what the passage is about?
Updated On: Jan 15, 2026
- The passage describes the failure of human beings to fully comprehend their environment.
- The writer discusses the transition from primitive thinking to the Age of Enlightenment.
- The passage discusses the evolution of theories of the Undead from primitive thinking to the Age of Enlightenment.
- The writer describes the ways in which the Undead come to be associated with Shamans and the practice of magic
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
To determine which statement best describes the passage, we analyze the given text and options:
The passage describes the evolution of human understanding and cultural explanations of the Undead from primitive beliefs to more structured concepts during the Age of Enlightenment. Initially, the Undead were linked to primitive deities in early human cultures and remained mostly indefinable. As human societies evolved, the Undead became part of folklore, gaining distinct forms and supernatural attributes. The link between the Undead and magic was explored, revealing an evolving narrative from ancient to more modern times.
Evaluating the options:
- The passage describes the failure of human beings to fully comprehend their environment.
- The writer discusses the transition from primitive thinking to the Age of Enlightenment.
- The passage discusses the evolution of theories of the Undead from primitive thinking to the Age of Enlightenment.
- The writer describes the ways in which the Undead come to be associated with Shamans and the practice of magic.
The best statement is the third option: "The passage discusses the evolution of theories of the Undead from primitive thinking to the Age of Enlightenment." This option best captures the progressive exploration and development of Undead theories from ancient times to the Enlightenment, as described in the passage.
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Question: 4
“In order to confirm their abnormal status, many of the Undead were often accorded attributes, which defied the natural order of things . . .” Which one of the following best expresses the claim made in this statement?
“In order to confirm their abnormal status, many of the Undead were often accorded attributes, which defied the natural order of things . . .” Which one of the following best expresses the claim made in this statement?
Updated On: Jan 15, 2026
- The Undead are deified in nature’s order by giving them divine attributes.
- Human beings conceptualise the Undead as possessing abnormal features
- According the Undead an abnormal status is to reject the natural order of things
- The natural attributes of the Undead are rendered abnormal by changing their status
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
The statement presented discusses how many of the Undead were accorded attributes that defied the natural order of things, such as transformation abilities, sustenance through drinking human blood, and influence over human minds across distances. These attributes are described as supernatural and add to the terror they evoke in humans. The discussion suggests a conceptualization by humans attributing abnormal features to the Undead, rather than any divine or natural change in their status.
The correct option that best expresses the statement is: Human beings conceptualise the Undead as possessing abnormal features. This option accurately reflects how humans perceive and describe the Undead by assigning them supernatural characteristics, thereby acknowledging their abnormality in contrast to the natural order.
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Top Questions on Historical Events
- The adoption of the Non-Cooperation Movement by the Congress gave it a new energy and from January 1921, it began to register considerable success all over the country. Gandhiji undertook a nation-wide tour during which he addressed hundreds of meetings and met a large number of political workers. In the first month, thousands of students left their educational institutions and joined more than 800 national schools and colleges that had sprung up all over the country. Gandhiji had promised Swaraj within a year, if his programme was adopted.
The Non-Cooperation Movement demonstrated that it commanded the support and sympathy of vast sections of the Indian people. Its reach among many sections of Indian peasants, workers, artisans etc., had been demonstrated. The spatial spread of the movement was also nationwide. Some areas were more active than others, but there were few that showed no signs of activity at all.
The capacity of the ‘poor dumb millions’ of India to take part in modern nationalist politics was also demonstrated. This was the first time that nationalists from the towns, students from schools and colleges or even the educated and politically aware in the villages had made a serious attempt to bring the ideology and the movement into their midst.
The tremendous participation of different communities in the movement, and the maintenance of communal unity, despite the Malabar developments, was in itself no mean achievement. There is hardly any doubt that it was minority participation that gave the movement its truly mass character in many areas. And it was, indeed, unfortunate that this most positive feature of the movement was not to be repeated in later years once communalism began to take its toll. [324 words]
[Extracted, with edits and revisions, from India’s Struggle for Independence 1857-1947, by Bipin Chandra and Others, Penguin Books, 1989.]- CLAT - 2026
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- In 1973, only 45 of the world's 151 countries were counted as 'free' by Freedom House, a nongovernmental organization that produces quantitative measures of civil and political rights for countries around the world. The following generation saw momentous political change, with democracies and market-oriented economies spreading in virtually every part of the world except for the Arab Middle East. This transformation was Samuel Huntington’s third wave of democratization: liberal democracy as the default form of government became part of the accepted political landscape at the beginning of the twenty-first century.
Underlying these changes in political systems was a massive social transformation as well. The shift to democracy was a result of millions of formerly passive individuals around the world organizing themselves and participating in the political life of their societies. This social mobilization was driven by a host of factors: greatly expanded access to education that made people more aware of themselves and the political world around them; information technology, which facilitated the rapid spread of ideas and knowledge; cheap travel and communications that allowed people to vote with their feet if they didn’t like their government; and greater prosperity, which induced people to demand better protection of their rights.
The third wave crested after the late 1990s; however, a ‘democratic recession’ emerged in the first decade of the twenty-first century. Approximately one in five countries that had been part of the third wave either reverted to authoritarianism or saw a significant erosion of democratic institutions. Freedom House noted that 2009 marked the fourth consecutive year in which freedom had declined around the world, the first time this had happened since it established its measures of freedom in 1973. [279 words]
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In the dynamic realm of creativity, artists often find themselves at the crossroads between drawing inspiration from diverse cultures and inadvertently crossing into the territory of cultural appropriation. Inspiration is the lifeblood of creativity, driving artists to create works that resonate across borders. In a globalized era of the modern world, artists draw from a vast array of cultural influences. When approached respectfully, inspiration becomes a bridge, fostering understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity. However, the line between inspiration and cultural appropriation can be thin and easily blurred.
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