UPSC Prelims 2022 CSAT Paper II · Q52 of 78 Comprehension easy

Passage

If presents bring less thrill now that we are grown up, perhaps it is because we have too much already; or perhaps it is because we have lost the fullness of the joy of giving, and with it the fullness of the joy of receiving. Children's fears are poignant, their miseries are acute, but they do not look too forward nor too far backward. Their joys are clear and complete, because they have not yet learnt always to add 'but' to every proposition. Perhaps we are too cautious, too anxious, too sceptical. Perhaps some of our cares would shrink if we thought less about them and entered with more single-minded enjoyment into the happiness that come our way.

With reference to the passage, which one of the following statements is correct?

  1. (a) It is not possible for adults to feel thrilled by presents.
  2. (b) There can be more than one reason why adults feel less thrilled by presents. ✓ UPSC's answer
  3. (c) The author does not know why adults feel less thrilled by presents.
  4. (d) Adults have less capacity to feel the joy of loving or being loved.

Why the answer is (b)

• The passage opens by suggesting two possible reasons for the reduced thrill of presents in adulthood: having 'too much already' or losing the 'fullness of the joy of giving'.

• The use of the conjunction 'or' and the introductory phrase 'perhaps it is because' indicates that the author is presenting multiple plausible explanations rather than a single definitive cause.

• The text further elaborates on the second reason by contrasting adult caution and skepticism with the clear, complete joys of children who do not add 'but' to every proposition.

• Since the author explicitly lists at least two distinct potential causes (material excess and loss of emotional fullness), it is correct to state that there can be more than one reason for this phenomenon.

• Therefore, option (b) accurately reflects the passage's presentation of multiple possible reasons for the diminished thrill.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) It is not possible for adults to feel thrilled by presents.
The passage states that presents bring 'less' thrill, not that it is impossible for adults to feel thrilled at all.
(c) The author does not know why adults feel less thrilled by presents.
The author provides specific hypotheses such as having too much or losing the joy of giving, indicating they do have ideas about the cause.
(d) Adults have less capacity to feel the joy of loving or being loved.
The passage discusses the joy of giving and receiving in the context of presents, not specifically the capacity to feel the joy of loving or being loved.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2022, held on 5 June 2022. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

Reading the answer is not the same as getting it right under a clock. Practise this question with UPSC's negative marking, and anything you miss goes into an error notebook until you get it right twice.

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