Reading Passage Question
Let us consider a hypothetical pair of communicants, utterer and interpreter, from the operation point of view. We shall assume that our utterer has six hats: red, blue, yellow, black, gray, and white. If the rods and cones (the tiny end organs packed together on what corresponds to the sensitive films in the stereoscopic or double-lens camera) of the retinae of his eyes are not defective, he will be able to see that the six hats differ even though they are of the same shape and material. If we reduce the light so that he can barely see, the white and the yellow will seem to be the same. But as the light grows stronger he will be able to see that the red, blue, and yellow affect him differently from black, gray, and white. He now has sufficient experience (remember, this is all grossly oversimplified) to conceive of color and shade. But he can also distinguish the red hat from the blue and yellow hats, the yellow from the blue and red, and so forth.
He is thus ready for the concepts red, blue, and yellow if, for example, we provide him with a red feather, a blue feather, and a yellow feather. Indeed, he may have the human impulse to decorate the hat with the corresponding feather. And if the feathers seem to have more in common with the white hat than the color hats have in common with the white hat, he can see that his concept of shade will determine the difference between the two reds, the two blues, or the two yellows, and he will have need of the concepts of light and dark. And as we increase the number of shades, he will require relation concepts like those expressed in the suffixes –er and –est. By repeating the conventional symbols “hat” and “red” with the red hat, he conditions the sound of the words to the sight of the hat. If he sees that the relation of each feather to its hat is similar to the other two, he has need of a relation concept like the one expressed by the preposition “in,” and he is thus prepared to say to himself “light red feather in dark red hat.” Now in the dark he is not able to tell one hat or one feather from another, but in the middle of a moonless night he is able to think “red feather in red hat” simply by uttering the appropriate symbols to himself. And with his human impulse to try new combinations, he can even think, “yellow feather in blue hat” without ever having seen them thus combined.
“Let us consider a hypothetical pair of communicants, utterer and interpreter” is a GMAT Critical reasoning passage with sets of answers. The candidates ought to have a thorough understanding in order to grasp English GMAT reading comprehension. This extract of GMAT Reading Comprehension emerges with four sets of questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions ask the candidates to analyze and identify the author’s purpose by applying skills and ideas. The candidates can improve their skills and concepts by actively practising GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.
Solutions and Explanation
- By discussing the different effects of reduced and increased light, the author is
- pointing to a limitation in the dependence on perception by sight.
- preparing to discuss the concepts of light and dark.
- laying the ground for the distinction between what can be seen and what can be thought.
- III only
- I and II only
- I and III only
- II and III only
- I, II, and III
Answer: (C)
Explanation: The passage discusses the way the perception by sight is specified by the different effects of light. The author of the passage is suggesting a limitation in the reliance on perception by sight. The author concludes in the passage that the imagination can function in darkness. Therefore option C is the correct answer as it satisfies the criteria of the passage.
- Of the following, the most plausible criticism that could be directed at the “hats” example is that it is
- too difficult to follow.
- irrelevant.
- too hypothetical.
- too dependent on the esoteric language.
- unreasonable.
Answer: (C)
Explanation: According to the passage, the “hats” example is regarded as relevant, reasonable, simply written and pointed. Therefore all the above options except C get eliminated as they do not match the criteria of the passage. However, the critics also claimed that the example does not depict any “real” situation. Thus, Option C is the correct answer.
- According to the passage, the acquisition of symbols allows us not only to communicate, but also to
- argue logically.
- imagine.
- respond to unconditioned stimuli.
- respond to conditioned stimuli.
- decorate hats.
Answer: (B)
Explanation: The final line of the passage depicts that any individual can consider a yellow feather in a blue hat without observing or witnessing items together. Therefore, the acquisition of symbols enables us to communicate and imagine. Option B is thus the correct answer and thereby rest of the options get eliminated.
- The passage is most relevant to which of the following areas of study?
- aesthetics of logic
- literature and history
- sociology
- linguistics and psychology
- anthropology
Answer: (D)
Explanation: As per the discussion of the passage, the subject matter of the passage is relevant to linguistics and psychology. Linguistics is determined as the science of language whereas psychology is the science that deals with mental processes and the mind. Therefore, option D is the correct answer as it holds the accurate information cited in the passage.
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