UPSC Prelims 2022·CSAT·Reading Comprehension·Passage Comprehension

Read the following passages and answer the items that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only. If presents bring less thrill now that we are grown up, perhaps it is because we have too much already; or perhaps it is because we have lost the fullness of the joy of giving, and with it the fullness of the joy of receiving. Children's fears are poignant, their miseries are acute, but they do not look too forward nor too far backward. Their joys are clear and complete, because they have not yet learnt always to add 'but' to every proposition. Perhaps we are too cautious, too anxious, too sceptical. Perhaps some of our cares would shrink if we thought less about them and entered with more single-minded enjoyment into the happiness that come our way. With reference to the passage, which one of the following statements is correct?

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  1. AIt is not possible for adults to feel thrilled by presents
  2. BThere can be more than one reason why adults feel less thrilled by presentsCorrect
  3. CThe author does not know why adults feel less thrilled by presents
  4. DAdults have less capacity to feel the joy of loving or being loved.

Explanation

The passage explicitly states two reasons why presents bring less thrill to adults: "perhaps it is because we have too much already; or perhaps it is because we have lost the fullness of the joy of giving, and with it the fullness of the joy of receiving." This directly supports option B. A) Incorrect. The passage says "less thrill," not that it's "not possible" to feel thrilled. B) Correct. The passage lists two distinct reasons ("too much already" and "lost the joy of giving/receiving") using "or perhaps," indicating multiple possibilities. C) Incorrect. The author offers specific potential reasons, even if prefaced with "perhaps," showing knowledge of possible causes rather than a complete lack of understanding. D) Incorrect. The passage refers to the "joy of giving" and "receiving" in the context of presents, not a general capacity for loving or being loved.
Reading Comprehension: Read the following passages and answer the items that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based o
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