Reading Passage Question
Political ideals must be based upon ideals for the individual life. The aim of politics should be to make the lives of individuals as good as possible. There is nothing for the politician to consider outside or above the various men, women, and children who compose the world. The problem of politics is to adjust the relations of human beings in such a way that each severally may have as much of good in his existence as possible. And this problem requires that we should first consider what it is that we think is good in the individual life.
To begin with, we do not want all men to be alike. We do not want to lay down a pattern or type to which men of all sorts are made by some means or another to approximate. This is the ideal of the impatient administrator. A bad teacher will aim at imposing his opinion, and turning out a set of pupils all of whom will give the same definite answer on a doubtful point. Mr. Bernard Shaw is said to hold that Troilus and Cressida is the best of Shakespeare's plays. Although I disagree with this opinion, I should welcome it in a pupil as a sign of individuality but most teachers would not tolerate such a heterodox view. Not only teachers but all commonplace persons in authority desire in their subordinates that kind of uniformity which makes their actions easily predictable and never inconvenient. The result is that they crush initiative and individuality when they can, and when they cannot, they quarrel with it.
It is not one ideal for all men, but a separate ideal for each separate man, that has to be realized if possible. This is because every man has it in his or her being to develop into something good or bad: there is a best possible for him, and a worst possible. His circumstances will determine whether his capacities for good are developed or crushed, and whether his bad impulses are strengthened or gradually diverted into better channels.
“Political ideals must be based upon ideals for the individual life.”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.
This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 3 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.
Solution and Explanation
Question 1
What is the function of the second paragraph in the passage?
- To prove a point stated earlier in the passage
- To explain one way in which a particular aim cannot be achieved
- To criticise the teaching style of certain teachers
- To conclude that people in general like uniformity in their subordinates
- To describe why individual initiative needs to be encouraged
Answer: B
Explanation: The author talks about the desire for uniformity to explain that this is one way by which good cannot be done for people. Hence (B) is the best answer. Option A is ruled out. There is no such point stated earlier in the passage. Option C and D are too specific. It is asked why the author does this and not what he does. This description actually comes in the 3rd paragraph. Hence ruler out option E.
Question 2
Which of the following is implied by the information in the passage?
- It would lead to a lot of confusion if every individual was to have his or her own views
- External forces do not determine whether a man turns out good or bad
- Most teachers prefer homogeneity among their students‘ views
- The most important duty of a politician is to ensure the happiness of people
- Bernard Shaw was a big fan of Shakespeare‘s works
Answer: C
Explanation: The 2nd paragraph clearly states that most teachers prefer that their students have a common view on some doubtful point and that they do not like heterodox or unorthodox views. Thus option C should be the best answer. The passage never states option A. So incorrect. The last para states that an individuals‘ circumstances, i.e. external forces, determine whether he turns out good or bad. Hence rule out B. According to the passage the most important duty of a politician is to make the lives of people. As good as possible but that may not necessarily mean making their lives happy. So D is incorrect. There is nothing in the passage to suggest this option E. So rule out.
Question 3
Which of the following can be concluded about the author of the passage?
- He dislikes politicians who don‘t try to make the lives of people good
- He would be happy if people disagreed with his views
- He is not too fond of Shakespeare‘s works
- He has an oversimplified view of politics
- He would be critical of a teacher who encourages his pupils to ask questions
Answer: B
Explanation: The passage never implies that the author dislikes such politicians. Hence option A is incorrect. The passage never states option C. Ruled out. There is nothing in the passage to suggest this and we cannot use outside knowledge while answering questions. Option D incorrect. Option E is the opposite of what the passage says. The author clearly supports the point of view that every individual should have his or her own views so he would not want everyone to agree with his views. Option B is the right choice.
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