Multiple choice

In the passage, the author has

Directions: The passage below is followed by a question based on its content. Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

Passage – II
That time has many dimensions is a concept often advanced to account for certain inexplicable happenings. The gist of the idea is that time - which seems to unfold in a linear way, with the past coming before the present and the present before the future - might, in another dimension, not be experienced sequentially. The past, present and future could exist simultaneously.
The concept that there are unfamiliar dimensions of time is most easily approached by way of those dimensions with which we are already familiar, those of length, height, and breadth. These, in turn, are best approached, quite literally, from a starting point, which, geometrically speaking, has a location but no dimensions. It does, however, relate to figures with dimensions in the following way: If a point is moved through space, it marks a line, with the one dimension of length. If a line is moved through space, it traces the figure of a plane, with the two dimensions of length and breadth. And if a plane is moved in space, it traces a figure with the three dimensions of length, breadth, and height.
We can also work backward from a three-dimensional body and find that the cross-section of the three- dimensional cube is a two-dimensional plane, the cross-section of the two-dimensional plane is a one-dimensional line, and that the cross-section of the line is a dimensionless point. From this we can infer that a body of three dimensions is the cross-section of a body, when moved in a certain way, of four dimensions. Then comes the question, of what sort of body could a three-dimensional shape be the cross-section? And in what sort of new direction could a three-dimensional shape be moved to produce one of four dimensions, since a movement other than up and down, backward and forward, or side to side would simply produce a larger figure, not one of a different dimension. The answer, of course, is the feature duration. For as soon as something ceases to endure, it ceases to exist. To the three familiar dimensions, then, we should add duration in time as a fourth dimension. Ordinary three-dimensional bodies should therefore be properly described as having only length, breadth & height but no duration. Is such a thing possible? It is, but only hypothetically. For in fact, the point, line, and plane do not truly exist as such. Any line that can be seen has breadth as well as length (and duration), just as any physical plane has a certain thickness as well as length and breadth. What movement, then, must a figure of three dimensions undergo to produce a body of four dimensions?
We moved a plane in the dimension of height to produce a cube; so the movement of a (hypothetical) cube in the dimension of time should produce a (real) figure of four dimensions. What does movement in the dimension of time mean? As we said, it must mean movement in a new direction, not up down or sideways. Are there any other kinds of movement? For a start, there is the movement that the earth's rotation imparts to everything upon it and that puts even apparently motionless bodies in motion. Thus, we may say that the cross-section of a real body, whose fourth dimension is duration, is inseparable from the motion that the turning world inevitably imparts to everything. Further inevitable notions are that of the earth around the sun, of the sun around the centre of the galaxy, and, perhaps, of the galaxy itself around some unknown point. Since any perceptible body is, in fact, undergoing all these motions simultaneously, we can say that it is ordinarily imperceptible. Because motions and the dimensions they imply are only perceptible in a framework of time, they can be referred to as dimensions of time.
If duration is one aspect of time; what might the others be? Among several possibilities, we can suggest appearance and disappearance, change and recurrence. Of all possibilities, only duration is perceptible. When we say that something is perceptible, we mean that we suddenly note its existence; when something disappears we note its lack of existence. We perceive no intermediate condition of "appearing" or "disappearing”. In the same way, we talk of change but actually only develop the concept, as we perceive aggregates of characteristics that exist - or cease to exist. And so we infer, but do not observe, the recurrence of sunset and sunrise, the passage of seasons, the growth of a child. And yet, things really do appear and disappear, change and recur, although not actually perceived to do so. They are, so to speak, hypothetical to us and must have their reality in other dimensions of time, just as the hypothetical three-dimensional body becomes real, that is, perceptible, in the dimension of time we call duration.
If access to higher dimensions of time belongs to one body, it is at least theoretically possible that it belongs, though invisibly, to all bodies. We can further assume that such access is by way of unfamiliar modes or levels of consciousness – and that the name we give to one of these is prophecy.

  1. categorically denied existence of dimensions of time

  2. specifically approved the existence of several dimensions of time

  3. intentionally hypothesized about the dimensions of time

  4. speculated about the various aspects of time like duration etc.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Options (1), (2) and (3) can be rejected in context to this question because of usage of strong words namely 'categorically”, “specifically” and “intentionally” which is certainly not the case as discussed in passage. Answer option (5) stands controverted by the opening line of the second last paragraph: “If duration is one aspect of time; what might the others be? Among several possibilities, we can suggest appearance and disappearance, change and recurrence.” The author has speculated about time to be considered as a dimension and has discussed its various aspects. This deems (1) to be the most appropriate answer for this question.