Passage

Directions for the following 4 (four) items : Read the following two passages and answer the items that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only. Passage—1 “The history of science is the real history of mankind.” In this striking epigram, a nineteenth-century writer links science with its background. Like most epigrams, its power lies in emphasizing by contrast an aspect of truth which may be easily overlooked. In this case, it is easy to overlook the relations between science and mankind, and to treat the former as some abstract third party, which can sometimes be praised for its beneficial influences, but frequently and conveniently blamed for the horrors of war. Science and mankind cannot be divorced from time to time at men’s convenience. Yet we have seen that, in spite of countless opportunities of improvement, the opening years of the present period of civilization have been dominated by international conflict. Is this the inevitable result of the progress of science or does the fault lie elsewhere?

Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made : 1. The horrors of modern life are the inevitable result of the progress of science. 2. The aspect of truth likely to be overlooked is that science is what man has made it. Which of the assumptions given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only ✓ UPSC's answer
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Why the answer is (b)

• The passage explicitly states that it is easy to overlook the relations between science and mankind, treating science as an abstract third party rather than a human creation.

• This supports Assumption 2, which identifies the overlooked truth as the fact that science is what man has made it.

• The passage poses a rhetorical question asking if international conflict is the inevitable result of science or if the fault lies elsewhere, implying that it is not necessarily inevitable.

• Therefore, Assumption 1, which claims the horrors are an inevitable result of science, is not supported by the text, which suggests the fault may lie elsewhere.

• Since only Assumption 2 is valid, the correct option is (b).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) 1 only: Assumption 1 is incorrect because the passage questions whether conflict is inevitable, suggesting the fault may lie elsewhere rather than attributing it solely to science.
(c) Both 1 and 2: This option is incorrect because Assumption 1 is not supported by the passage, which does not state that the horrors of modern life are an inevitable result of scientific progress.
(d) Neither 1 nor 2: This option is incorrect because Assumption 2 is valid, as the passage clearly states that the relation between science and mankind is the aspect of truth easily overlooked.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024, held on 16 June 2024. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.