Passage-Based Questions on English for CLAT UG [Part 3]

Modern society places an extraordinary emphasis on productivity. From an early age, individuals are encouraged to measure their worth through output, grades achieved, hours worked, or goals met. Technological advancements, while intended to simplify tasks, have further intensified this culture by blurring the boundary between work and rest. Emails, notifications, and performance metrics ensure that individuals remain perpetually accessible and accountable. This obsession with constant productivity is often justified as a necessary response to economic competition. However, critics argue that it neglects the psychological costs of perpetual work. Burnout, anxiety, and declining creativity are increasingly recognised as consequences of an environment that leaves little room for reflection or rest. Ironically, a system designed to maximise efficiency may ultimately undermine long-term effectiveness.

At the same time, defenders of productivity culture contend that discipline and ambition are not inherently harmful. They argue that structured work environments provide purpose and motivation, particularly when individuals are given autonomy and meaningful goals. The problem, therefore, may not lie in productivity itself, but in the assumption that value must always be measurable. The passage suggests that rethinking productivity requires moving beyond numerical indicators and acknowledging forms of labour that are less visible but equally essential, such as caregiving, emotional labour, and creative exploration. A healthier balance would recognise rest not as laziness, but as a prerequisite for sustainable achievement.

1. What is the main idea of the passage?
a) It calls out how society prioritizes measurable output at the cost of mental well-being
b) It talks about how calculating productivity in numbers is motivating
c) It eliminates the need for discipline in work
d) It talks about how technological advancement has blurred the line between work and rest

2. The author suggests that productivity itself is a problem because?
a) It discourages creativity among individuals
b) It takes away autonomy from individuals
c) It assumes all value must be quantifiable
d) It promotes inefficiency among individuals

3. Which of the following best reflects the author’s view on discipline and ambition?
a) They are harmful and should be avoided
b) They are useful only in competitive economies
c) The both are contradictory to each other in terms of productivity
d) They are acceptable when combined with autonomy and purpose

4. Why is there a mention of caregiving and emotional labour in the passage?
a) To highlight aspects of work ignored by productivity metrics
b) To criticise traditional family roles
c) To not emphasise economic inefficiency
d) To argue against sa tructured work environment

5. Which of the following best describes the author’s tone in the passage?
a) Dismissive
b) Sarcastice
c) Pessimistic
d) Analytical

Scientific expertise plays a central role in shaping public policy, particularly in areas such as public health, climate change, and environmental regulation. Governments frequently rely on expert recommendations to justify decisions that affect millions. Yet, public trust in scientific authority has become increasingly fragile, challenged by misinformation, political polarisation, and past institutional failures.

One reason for this erosion of trust lies in the way scientific uncertainty is communicated. Scientific knowledge evolves through revision and debate, but shifting guidelines are often perceived by the public as incompetence or inconsistency. This gap between how science functions and how it is understood creates space for scepticism and denial.

At the same time, blind faith in expertise can be equally problematic. History offers examples where scientific authority was used to legitimise harmful practices, ranging from unethical medical experiments to discriminatory theories presented as objective fact. These episodes remind us that science operates within social and political contexts and is not immune to bias. The challenge, therefore, is to cultivate informed trust rather than unquestioning acceptance or outright rejection. This requires transparency, public engagement, and a willingness by institutions to acknowledge uncertainty without undermining credibility. Trust in science, the passage implies, is sustained not by authority alone but by accountability and dialogue.

6. What is the main idea of the passage?
a) To discuss about how science has played a key role in shaping public policy
b) To talk about misuse of science in politics
c) To show how the fragile nature of public trust in scientific authority
d) To discuss how since is superior to public opinion

7. Why is reference to historical misuse of scientific authority given in the passage?
a) To contend that science should not shape policies
b) To show how science has turned unreliable over time
c) To discuss how challenges shape science
d) To warn against blind acceptance of authority

8. Which of the following best describes the author’s attitude towards scientific expertise?
a) Skeptical
b) Criticial
c) Supportive
d) Hostile

9. What does the author suggest as the most appropriate public response to scientific expertise?
a) To outright reject it
b) To understand the situation and then decide accordingly
c) To trust with accountability
d) To replace it with public opinion

10. What does the phrase “blind faith in expertise” as used in the passage mean?
a) Excessive reliance on science
b) Trusting scientific authority without scrutiny
c) Misunderstanding between public opinion and science
d) Misuse of scientific authority due to political games

Traditions are often described as anchors of cultural identity, providing continuity in times of rapid change. Rituals, customs, and shared narratives offer individuals a sense of belonging and collective memory. In an increasingly globalised world, such traditions can serve as sources of stability amid social and technological transformation.

However, treating traditions as fixed and immutable can lead to exclusion and stagnation. Practices that once served specific social contexts may no longer align with contemporary values such as equality and individual autonomy. When traditions are defended solely on the basis of age or heritage, they risk becoming tools of resistance to necessary reform.

This tension between preservation and change is particularly evident in debates over cultural practices that intersect with legal and ethical norms. While some argue that external critique threatens cultural sovereignty, others maintain that cultures have always evolved through internal questioning and adaptation. The passage suggests that cultural identity is not weakened by change but reshaped through it. Traditions that endure are often those capable of reinterpretation rather than rigid preservation. In this sense, cultural continuity depends not on resisting change, but on engaging with it thoughtfully.

11. What is the central argument of the passage?
a) Traditions should be preserved without modification
b) Cultural traditions remain relevant through adaptation
c) Globalization and culture cannot go hand in hand
d) Laws need to be balanced with culture

12. According to the passage, why can rigid adherence to tradition be problematic?
a) It leads to exclusion and stagnancy
b) It discourages cultural exchange
c) It weakens collectivity
d) It cannot lead us to globalization

13. Which of the following best reflects the author’s view on cultural identity?
a) It is fixed and stagnant
b) It evolves with time
c) It cannot be reinterpreted
d) It rarely adapts to the change

14. What does the passage suggest about cultural practices facing external critique?
a) They should be rejected outright
b) They are immune from ethical evaluation
c) They have historically evolved through internal questioning
d) They must conform immediately to global standards

15. What does the phrase “tools of resistance to necessary reform” show about tradition as given in the passage?
a) Protect communities from external pressure
b) Justify avoiding social progress
c) Strengthen legal norms
d) Promote cultural diversity