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.

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.”?

Updated On: Aug 20, 2024
  • 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 statement in quotes doesn't claim the actual existence of eerie creatures; it emphasizes mankind's belief. "From primal darkness" suggests something handed down from the distant past. What could this be? Only beliefs and stories are passed through generations, not literal creatures. Therefore, options 1, 2, and 4 are ruled out, making option 3 the best choice.The Correct option is (C): 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:

Updated On: Aug 20, 2024
  • 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

To facilitate our understanding, let's rephrase this question. If any of the following statements are untrue, they could be perceived as aligning with the passage's content: If any of the following statements are true, they could be perceived as contradicting the ideas presented in the passage. Therefore, our initial focus should be on selecting choices that oppose the arguments in the passage. However, since this is an "except" question, the correct answer will be the one that does not contradict the passage. The passage mentions that "...this has continued down into more 'civilized' times," which contradicts statement 4. The second-to-last paragraph disputes option 3. Option 1 is accurate, evident from the first sentence of the last paragraph. Regarding option 2, the latter part appears somewhat inaccurate as the passage states, "the source and exact nature of the terror remained vague," indicating that while humanity understood the horror they inspired, they were unclear about its source and nature. Both options 1 and 2 appear correct according to the passage, although there is some distortion in the wording of option 2. For this reason, option 1 is identified as the correct answer.

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Question: 3

Which one of the following statements best describes what the passage is about?

Updated On: Aug 20, 2024
  • 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

This question is quite straightforward. Option 4, with its use of the word 'shamans', becomes overly specific and misses the broader concept of the passage, so it can be eliminated. Option 3 appears promising because the passage primarily focuses on theories of the undead, and it discusses their evolution across time from ancient times to the age of Enlightenment. In option 2, the term 'undead' is not mentioned; instead, it uses 'primitive thinking'. Option 1, which includes the phrase 'comprehending their environment,' is out of context, overly broad, and doesn't address the key theme of 'theories of the undead.'The Correct Option is (C): The passage discusses the evolution of theories of the Undead from primitive thinking to the Age of Enlightenment.

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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?

Updated On: Aug 20, 2024
  • 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

Options 3 and 4 might imply something but don't assert the statement definitively. A claim is a statement considered true, even if the evidence is not robust. Option 1 seems plausible, but the use of 'divine' makes the claim too specific. The passage doesn't state that the undead were specifically attributed divine qualities; it could have been either divine or terrifying. Both possibilities exist, but since they defy the natural order, they are abnormal. Hence, option 2 is the correct and optimal choice.

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