UPSC Prelims 2017 CSAT Paper II · Q8 of 79 Comprehension easy

Passage

Passage—8 There is no harm in cultivating habits so long as they are not injurious. Indeed, most of us are little more than bundle of habits. Take away our habits and the residuum would hardly be worth bothering about. We could not get on without them. They simplify the mechanism of life. They enable us to do a multitude of things automatically, which, if we had to give fresh and original thought to them each time, would make existence an impossible confusion.

The author suggests that habits

  1. (a) tend to make our lives difficult
  2. (b) add precision to our lives
  3. (c) make it easier for us to live ✓ UPSC's answer
  4. (d) tend to mechanize our lives

Why the answer is (c)

• The passage states that habits 'simplify the mechanism of life,' which directly implies they reduce complexity and effort in daily activities.

• It further explains that habits allow us to perform a multitude of things 'automatically,' preventing the need for fresh and original thought each time.

• The author argues that without habits, existence would be an 'impossible confusion,' indicating that habits are essential for manageable living.

• Therefore, the core suggestion is that habits facilitate the process of living by making routine actions effortless and organized.

• This aligns with option (c), as the text emphasizes the utility and ease provided by habits rather than their negative or mechanical aspects.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) tend to make our lives difficult
The passage explicitly states that without habits, existence would be an 'impossible confusion,' meaning habits make life easier, not difficult.
(b) add precision to our lives
The text focuses on simplification and automaticity, not on adding precision or accuracy to our actions.
(d) tend to mechanize our lives
While the text mentions simplifying the 'mechanism' of life, it does not suggest that habits negatively 'mechanize' or dehumanize our lives; rather, it presents this simplification as beneficial.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2017, held on 18 June 2017. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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