Reading Passage Question
Let us take the terms “subjective” and “objective” and see if we can make up our minds what we mean by them in a statement like this: “Philosophers and artists are subjective; scientists, objective.” First, the two terms make up a semantic pair. The one has no meaning without the other. We may define each by antonym with the other. We may define them by synonym by translating the last syllable and say that “subjective” pertains to a subject, and “objective” pertains to an object. By operation analysis we may say that subjects perceive or conceive objects in the process of knowing. The word “knowing” reminds us that we are talking about the central nervous system and should waste no time in examining our terms for their sensory, affective, and logical components. The terms are primarily logical. What, then, is the basic logical relation that establishes whatever meaning they have? What goes on in the world when a poet is being subjective, and how does it differ from what goes on when a scientist is being objective?
When the poet sings “Drink to me only with thine eyes,” he is responding immediately or in retrospect to an object, his beloved, outside himself; but he is fundamentally concerned with the sensations and emotions which that object stimulates in him; and whether the object justifies his praise in the opinion of others, or indeed whether there actually is such an object, is quite irrelevant to his purpose, which is the weaving of a beautiful pattern of sound and imagery into a richly affective concept of feminine loveliness. This is to be subjective.
Now the scientist is primarily concerned with the identity and continuity of the external object that stimulates his response. It need not seem absurd to locate the Eiffel Tower, or Everest, or the Grand Canyon, for that matter, in the mind because it is so perfectly obvious that they can exist as the Eiffel Tower, Everest, or the Grand Canyon nowhere else. Perhaps we can move a little closer to our definition of “objective” by suggesting a distinction between an object and thing. Let us define object as the external cause of a thing. Whether objects “exist” is obviously not discussable, for the word “object” as used here must necessarily stand not for a thing but for a hypothesis. There is, for example, no way of telling whether objects are singular or plural, whether one should say the stimulus of the Eiffel Tower experience or the stimuli of the Eiffel Tower experience. If then, it is impossible even for the scientist to escape the essential subjectivity of his sensations, generalizations, and deductions, what do we mean by calling him objective?
“Let us take the terms “subjective” and “objective” and see if we can make up our minds” - is a GMAT reading comprehension passage. The candidates must gain proper knowledge and understanding of English GMAT reading Comprehension. There exists a series of seven questions along with answers in this GMAT reading Comprehension section. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are prepared to measure candidates’ aptitudes to analyse and identify the author’s motive in composing the passage. The candidates can practice by answering these GMAT Reading Comprehension practice Questions.
Solutions and Explanation
- Which of the following is NOT a semantic pair?
- chaos/order
- fact/fiction
- sitting/standing
- light/darkness
- virtue/vice
Answer: (C)
Explanation: The first paragraph of the passage discusses the nature of a semantic pair. The author illustrates that one word does not have any meaning without the other word. Each word can be defined on the basis of the antonym of the other. The semantic pairs mainly demonstrate the pair of opposite words with respect to the other. Therefore option C is the correct answer since both words are pairs of direct opposites.
- Which of the following pairs best exemplifies the subjective/objective opposition as defined by the passage?
- art/philosophy
- knower/known
- object/thing
- stimulus/stimuli
- emotion/sensation
Answer: (B)
Explanation: The author of the passage illustrates the difference between “subjective” and “objective”. The author defines that subjective is concerned with a subject and objective is concerned with an object. The subject mainly creates or senses objects in the approach of knowing. Therefore, Option B suits well with the discussion of the passage and thus it is the correct answer.
- The passage refers to “Drink to me only with thine eyes” (Highlighted) primarily in order to
- suggest the affective powers of sound and imagery.
- exemplify the objective.
- exemplify the subjective.
- demonstrate how art can bestow universal significance on an object.
- illustrate the difference between literal and metaphorical language.
Answer: (C)
Explanation: The passage suggests “Drink to me only with thine eyes” in order to reveal that poet is concerned with his emotions and sensations. This is a perfect example of the subjective since the poet is reacting to an object. Therefore, option C is the correct answer as it depicts the same as mentioned in the passage.
- Given the content of the first and second paragraphs, the reader expects that the third paragraph will
- explain how the scientist is objective.
- define the identity and conformity of external objects.
- analyze what it is to be subjective.
- discriminate between an object and a thing.
- explore the implications of objectivity.
Answer: (A)
Explanation: The first paragraph of the passage illustrates the idea that the artist is subjective whereas the scientist is objective. The second paragraph depicts the subjectivity of the artist. Therefore the reader anticipates that the third paragraph of the passage will be about the objectivity of the scientist. Option A is thus the correct answer.
- According to the passage, “objectivity” depends on the assumption that
- discrete objects exist external to the mind.
- one’s vocation in life should be logical.
- subjectivity is a cognitive weakness.
- science is a viable discipline.
- the Eiffel Tower is a singular stimulus, not a diffuse experience.
Answer: (A)
Explanation: The author of the passage suggests that the scientists whom the author depicts as objective are involved with individuality. The author implies that scientists are concerned with the continuity of the external object that facilitates response. Hence to remain objective, the individual must consider the world as a cluster of stable objects of similar appearance. Therefore, option A is the correct answer as it satisfies the argument of the passage. The remaining options are irrelevant since it does not match the passage criteria.
- Faced with this statement, “What you see is just in your head,” the author of the passage would be likely to
- strongly disagree.
- agree that the statement is probably true.
- argue against the appropriateness of the word “just.”
- assume that the person making the statement is not a scientist.
- argue that what is seen cannot be located outside or inside the mind.
Answer: (C)
Explanation: The author infers by suggesting that it is almost impossible for scientists to get rid of essential subjectivity of his generalization, deductions & sensations. The individual can devalue the case since each thing is subjective and every person has a different perception of observing the same thing. The author has argued against the suitability of the word “just” since “in your head” is an important place as per the passage discussion. Therefore option C is the correct answer.
- According to the definitions of the third paragraph, which of the following is (are) true of an object?
- The reality of an object is hypothetical.
- Whether objects are plural or singular is uncertain.
- An object is the external cause of a thing.
- III only
- I and II only
- I and III only
- II and III only
- I, II, and III
Answer: (E)
Explanation: The third paragraph of the passage describes an object as the external grounds of a thing. The object is defined as a hypothesis where the plurality or singularity can not be determined. Therefore, option E is the correct answer as it illustrates all the above options mentioned in the passage. The rest of the options thereby go irrelevant as they do not hold sufficient information about the object suggested in the passage.
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