Multiple choice

The primary purpose of the passage is to show that

Directions: Answer the question based on the following passage:

The view of the "behaviourists" is that nothing can be known except by external observation. They deny altogether that there is a separate source of knowledge called "introspection", by which we can know things about ourselves which we could never observe in others. Many psychologists, especially those of the behaviorist school, tend to adopt what is essentially a materialistic position, as a matter of method if not of metaphysics.

They make psychology increasingly dependent on physiology and external observation, and tend to think of matter as something much more solid and indubitable than mind. Meanwhile the avant-garde physicists, especially Einstein and other exponents of the theory of relativity, have been making "matter" less and less material. Their world consists of "events", from which "matter" is derived by a logical construction. I think that what has permanent value in the outlook of the behaviorists is the feeling that physics is the most fundamental science at present in existence. But this position cannot be called materialistic, if, as seems to be the case, physics does not assume the existence of matter.

  1. physics and psychology are inconsistent

  2. physics and psychology are in accord with each other

  3. behaviourists do not by any means deny that all sorts of things may go on in our minds

  4. psychology as a science is only concerned with behaviour

  5. physics is a study of inanimate objects, while psychology is the study of animate beings
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B Correct answer
Explanation

Option (1): The author is trying to draw convergence, not differences, between these two. Option (2): The very existence of two options that are exactly antonymous is a pointer to the answer. The traditional view is given in the first paragraph: "Many psychologists, especially those of the behaviorist school, tend to adopt what is essentially a materialistic position". This contrasts with the modern view: "matter less and less material". The author’s purpose is to show that psychology and physics really are in tune. Option (3): This covers only one part of the passage. Hence, it should be ruled out. Option (4): It is self-contradictory and not mentioned in the passage. Option (5): It isn’t referred to in the passage.

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