Multiple choice

Directions: The passage given below is followed by four alternative summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage. Key in the number of the option you choose as your answer.

When one starts an institution, opens up an organisation, has followers, conducts conferences, writes books, meets people and does various things, it is very easy for the mind to miss its main purpose in the background and be carried away by the books that are written, the glory that comes as a consequence of one’s importance, the largeness of the institution, the number of the followers, and the facilities or comforts which are provided to the body and to the ego. No one loves anything more than comfort. Physical, psychological and social comfort is what we seek. It is very easy to interpret comfort in a very convenient manner, going on a tangent and totally missing the point, and in a way deceiving oneself. This is something one has to guard against, especially when one takes to a spiritual path and a religious life, and regards oneself as a spiritual seeker, a humble disciple of a great Master or perhaps a servant of God.

  1. Social interactions are bound to create hindrances to achievement of spiritual goals.

  2. The author cautions the reader against missing out on the larger objectives of life in the midst of life’s conveniences.

  3. The author urges a spiritual seeker to be wary of the temptations that may deviate him from the path to his divine goal.

  4. Material comforts that result from achievements and glory feed the ego eventually obscuring the main objective.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
  1. It is not the social interactions but the comfort that comes from specific roles that can create hindrances to spiritual goals.
    1. The author is cautioning the reader that he might misconstrue comfort and thus deviate from spiritual path.
    2. This is what the author intends.
    3. This is true of material comforts according to the passage. However, this is not the essence of the passage.

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