Question

Direction: Read the following passage and answer the THREE questions that follow.
It is harder and harder to make sense of life. Everything is changing, all the time, at a faster and faster pace. Our civilization is struggling to keep up with exponential technology and disruptive change. Our age-old institutions, politics, economics, ethics, religion and laws, even our environment, are so fundamentally challenged, that we risk collapse. Our stories have gotten so divorced from reality, so divisive, so inflexible and so inept to adapt to and explain our present, let alone guide us towards a better future, that we often feel like helpless passengers on a Titanic spaceship Earth. No wonder Aristotle observed that “When the storytelling goes bad in a society, the result is decadence.”
But why is this the case? And, perhaps more importantly, how is it that bad storytelling can keep, if not bring, a whole society down? Is that not simply overstating the power of story?
Literary theorist Kenneth Burke famously noted: “Stories are equipment for human living. We need storytelling in order to make certain sense out of life.” If that is true then our equipment for living has gone obsolete. And unless we upgrade it we are going to go obsolete too.
It was this process that Fred Polak had in mind in 1961 while observing:
Any student of the rise and fall of cultures cannot fail to be impressed by the role played in this historical succession by the image of the future. The rise and fall of images precede or accompany the rise and fall of cultures. As long as a society’s image is positive and flourishing, the flower of culture is in full bloom. Once the image begins to decay and lose its vitality, however, the culture does not long survive.
That is why we desperately need a new story. A story that will not only help us make sense of the world today but also unite us as a species of human beings. A story that will motivate us to stop bickering and resolve our common problems. A story that will inspire us to achieve our common goals and guide us towards a better future for all sentient beings on our planet.
We have to rewrite the human story. Because the old stories that brought us thus far are no longer useful. They’ve lost their vision and grandeur. They’ve become petty and short-sighted. They’re stuck in a past that never was at the expense of a future that can be. They divide us and keep us bickering while our civilization is facing unprecedented diversity and depth of existential challenges. Those stories are not simply our history. They are now our chains. And unless we break them, they will be our death sentence.
So, it is worth exploring if or how new stories, good stories can bring us up.
The human story that brought us into the 21st century was written and rewritten several times. The latest major update was perhaps during the industrial revolution. It is time to rewrite it again. We need a new story. A brave story. An unreasonable story. A story that can inspire, unite and motivate us to break free from the past and create the best possible future.
According to the passage, which of the following is NOT associated with bad storytelling in a society?

• A. It is inclusive
• B. Its ability to create a compelling goal for some sections
• C. It’s inability to create a future image that is positive and flourishing
• D. They were written before the 21st Century
• E. It cannot stop bickering

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The question requires us to determine which option is NOT associated with bad storytelling in a society, based on the provided passage. To find the correct answer, we need to analyze each option in relation to the characteristics of bad storytelling mentioned in the passage.

1. Option: "It is inclusive"

The passage criticizes current storytelling for being divisive and inflexible, emphasizing the need for stories that unite rather than divide. Therefore, being "inclusive" is not a feature of bad storytelling. This makes it a likely candidate for the correct answer, as inclusivity contrasts with the negative aspects described in the passage.

1. Option: "Its ability to create a compelling goal for some sections"

This reflects the idea that bad storytelling fails to create goals that are widely accepted or beneficial, thus feeding division and bickering. The passage argues for the opposite — stories that inspire common goals for all, not just some sections.

1. Option: "It’s inability to create a future image that is positive and flourishing"

The passage explicitly states that the failure of storytelling to produce a positive future image leads to societal decay. Hence, associating bad storytelling with a lack of a flourishing future image aligns with the passage’s main argument.

1. Option: "They were written before the 21st Century"

The passage suggests that current stories, developed prior to the 21st century, are inadequate because they are outdated and incapable of addressing modern challenges. Thus, this is indeed a criticism found within the text.

1. Option: "It cannot stop bickering"

The text emphasizes that present storytelling fosters division and bickering, rather than unity, which is a direct cause of societal issues as mentioned in the passage.

Based on the discussion above, the correct answer is "It is inclusive", as this characteristic is not associated with the negative impact of bad storytelling according to the given passage. The other options reflect criticisms and issues that the passage attributes to poor or outdated storytelling.

Answer 2

To determine which option is NOT associated with bad storytelling in a society according to the passage, we need to analyze the provided text and the options thoroughly.

Passage Analysis:The passage emphasizes the negative impact of bad storytelling on society, highlighting the challenges it creates such as divisiveness, inability to adapt, and lack of vision for the future. Bad storytelling is described as obsolete and powerless in facilitating a positive, united and flourishing future.

Options Analysis:

It is inclusive

Its ability to create a compelling goal for some sections

It’s inability to create a future image that is positive and flourishing

They were written before the 21st Century

It cannot stop bickering

Let’s review each option in the context of the passage:

It is inclusive: This trait is generally positive and not mentioned as associated with bad storytelling in the passage.

Its ability to create a compelling goal for some sections: While not directly mentioned, it can imply partiality, which is contrary to the passage’s call for unity.

It’s inability to create a future image that is positive and flourishing: The passage explicitly states that without positive future images, cultures decline.

They were written before the 21st Century: The passage refers to outdated stories needing revision.

It cannot stop bickering: Bickering is directly mentioned as a problem associated with bad storytelling.

After the analysis, the statement that is NOT associated with bad storytelling is:

It is inclusive