Multiple choice

Directions: Read the paragraph and answer the question that follows.
The significance of life is living. Do we really live, is life worth living when there is fear, when our whole life is trained in imitation, in copying? In following authority, is there living? Are you living when you follow somebody, even if he is the greatest saint or the greatest politician or the greatest scholar?
If you observe your own ways, you will see that you do nothing but follow somebody or another. It is very difficult to put away authority. What is freedom from authority? You can break a law. That is not the freedom from authority. But there is freedom in understanding the whole process, how the mind creates authority, how each one of us is confused and therefore wants to be assured that he is living the right kind of life. Because we want to be told what to do, we are exploited by gurus, spiritual as well as scientific.
According to you, what is the theme of the passage?

  1. We do not know the significance of life as long as we are copying, imitating or following.

  2. To understand the full significance of living, we must understand the daily tortures of our life, we must not escape from them.

  3. Our gurus show us the right pathway, which is the path of happiness and success.

  4. The authority always assures us that we are living the right kind of life.

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

Let's scrutinize each option: (1) This is true according to the passage but it narrows down our approach as it highlights only the problem cited in the passage. Hence, (1) is ruled out. (2) This option answers the problem cited in the passage, thereby, summing up the theme of the passage. Hence, (2) is the answer. Option (3) is contrary to the passage (Last sentence of the passage gives the clue), hence (3) is ruled out. Option (4) is again contrary to the passage (“But there is freedom ... right kind of life” provides the clue), hence option (4) is also ruled out. So, (2) is the answer.

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