The Sole use and Sole Object of Existence is Enjoyment or Pleasure, Which Two Words will Here be Treated as Synonymous

Reading Passage Question

The sole use and sole object of existence is enjoyment or pleasure, which two words will here be treated as synonymous; happiness, also, though not quite identical in meaning, being occasionally substituted for them. Enjoyment, it must be observed, is of various kinds, measures, and degrees. It may be sensual, or emotional, or imaginative, or intellectual, or moral. It may be momentary or eternal; intoxicating delight or sober satisfaction. It may be unmixed and undisturbed, in which case, however short of duration or coarse in quality, it may in strictness be called happiness; or it may be troubled and alloyed, although of a flavour which would be exquisite if pure, and if there were nothing to interfere with the perception of it. Understood, however, in a sufficiently comprehensive sense, enjoyment or pleasure may be clearly perceived to be the sole object of existence. The whole value of life plainly consists of the enjoyment, present or future, which life affords, or is capable of affording or securing. Now, the excellence of all rules depends on their conduciveness to the object they have in view. The excellence of all rules of life must, therefore, depend on their conduciveness to the sole object which life has in view, viz., enjoyment. But the excellence of rules of life, or of conduct or modes of acting, would seem to be but another name for their morality, and the morality of actions obviously depends on their conformity to moral rules. Whence, if so much be admitted, it necessarily follows that the test of the morality of actions is their conduciveness to enjoyment.

“The sole use and sole object of existence is enjoyment or pleasure, which two words will here be treated as synonymous”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.

This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 6 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analysing, 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 main purpose of the author in writing the passage?

(A) To define a term by giving examples
(B) To put forward a point of view and explain its implication
(C) To describe several interpretations of a belief
(D) To present an unusual interpretation of a well-known fact
(E) To evaluate two competing beliefs

Question 2
The author of the passage would agree with each of the following EXCEPT:

(A) Pleasure always leads to happiness.
(B) Pleasure can be of different types.
(C) Enjoyment is no different from pleasure.
(D) Unmixed enjoyment cannot strictly be called enjoyment.
(E) The sole purpose of life is the quest for happiness.

Question 3
The passage provides information in support of which of the following assertions?

(A) An act of crime cannot be considered an immoral act if a person derives enjoyment from that act.
(B) The terms ‘enjoyment’ and ‘happiness’ can never be used interchangeably.
(C) Alloyed pleasure is not pleasure in the actual sense of the word.
(D) The morality of actions cannot solely be judged by their perceived enjoyment.
(E) The excellence of all rules of life depends on their morality.

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