Comprehension
India is poised for rapid economic growth, potentially spurred by a young population driving production and demand. In the process, inevitably, lifestyles are being dramatically altered for the worse. India now reports the highest growth of ultra-processed food consumption among the youth, as well as low levels of exercise and adequate sleep. Cultural changes, including smartphones and a preponderance of English in schools, are also associated with weakened family relationships. Until recently, in the absence of extensive data, the role of these factors on mental well-being, encompassing our full range of mental capability, was not well understood. Recent findings based on a large database of over 1,50,000 individuals in India are beginning to shed light on the correlates of mental well-being among adolescents. The findings are dire. There is a silent epidemic of mental ill-health in India. Previous studies have found that ownership of smartphones is” frying” the brain. Data also suggests that it is not merely the ownership of a phone but also the early age of access that is associated with worse cognition and mental well-being as young adults. The young brain is developing and must be nurtured. These gadgets are handed to adolescents, presumably more out of convenience than sound logic. The American philosopher David Henry Thoreau remarked over 175 years ago,” Technology is an improved means to an unimproved end.” This is an extreme position but one worth mulling. India reports the highest growth in consumption of ultra-processed foods. Some evidence suggests that these foods are as addictive as smoking. Recent data globally and from India shows a strong association between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and poor mental well-being, particularly the capacities for emotional and cognitive control.
Question: 1
Which of the following can be a plausible solution for better mental well-being among the youth?
Which of the following can be a plausible solution for better mental well-being among the youth?
Updated On: Sep 10, 2025
- Limiting the correlation between physical and mental health
- Limiting the records on excessive use of smartphones
- Limiting the widespread consumption of ultra-processed foods
- Limiting the informed use of smartphones across all age groups
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
The comprehension provided offers insight into the factors affecting mental well-being among the youth in India, highlighting significant lifestyle changes. The text underscores the rapid economic growth influenced by a young population, while pointing out the detrimental effects of increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, excessive smartphone use, and changing cultural dynamics. The link between ultra-processed foods and poor mental health is highlighted several times in the provided text, emphasizing their impact on emotional and cognitive control. This suggests that among the given options, the most plausible solution for improving mental well-being among the youth is:
Limiting the widespread consumption of ultra-processed foods
This choice is supported by recent findings that stress the correlation between high consumption of these foods and negative mental health outcomes. It is therefore a logical solution aimed at enhancing the mental capacities of young individuals.
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Question: 2
“Those gadgets are handed to adolescents, presumably more out of convenience than sound logic.” Which of the following is the most suitable explanation given by the author as per the given statement?
“Those gadgets are handed to adolescents, presumably more out of convenience than sound logic.” Which of the following is the most suitable explanation given by the author as per the given statement?
Updated On: Sep 10, 2025
- Logic prevails over reasoning
- Logic and emotions go hand in hand
- Logic taking a backseat over utility
- Logic and benefits can never be understood together
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
The question asks for the most suitable explanation that aligns with the author's perspective as per the given statement: “Those gadgets are handed to adolescents, presumably more out of convenience than sound logic.”
Based on the provided comprehension:
- India's rapid economic growth brings lifestyle changes, impacting mental well-being.
- The growing ownership and early age access to smartphones are associated with declining cognitive and emotional health among adolescents, as indicated by recent findings.
- This suggests that technology is adopted for convenience despite potential negative developmental impacts on the youth's mental faculties.
- The phrase “handed more out of convenience than sound logic” implies a prioritization of utility over rational consideration of consequences.
Given this context, the option that best matches this explanation is:
- Logic taking a backseat over utility
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Question: 3
Based on the above passage, which of the following should be the most suitable title for the passage?
Based on the above passage, which of the following should be the most suitable title for the passage?
Updated On: Sep 10, 2025
- Lifestyle and Mental Health
- Economic Growth and Mental Health
- Impact of Technology on the Youth
- Language and Cultural Change
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
The given passage discusses several key issues related to the youth in India, focusing particularly on the influence of technology and lifestyle changes. It emphasizes the rapid economic growth potentially driven by the young population and the subsequent alteration of lifestyles for the worse. One of the pivotal points highlighted is the high consumption of ultra-processed foods among the youth, the low levels of exercise, and inadequate sleep, all of which contribute to weakened mental well-being.
Moreover, the passage delves into cultural changes such as the proliferation of smartphones and the dominance of English in schools. These are associated with weakened family relationships and adversely affect mental health. Recent studies are shedding light on how these factors correlate with mental well-being, highlighting a ‘silent epidemic’ of mental ill-health in India. Specific emphasis is placed on the problematic relationship between smartphone ownership, early access, and reduced mental capabilities in young adults.
Given the above points, it is evident that the title 'Impact of Technology on the Youth' is the most suitable. The passage places significant emphasis on how technology, particularly smartphones, and cultural shifts, like increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, are affecting the youth's mental health. Topics like lifestyle, economic growth, and language are discussed but do not form the central theme.
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Question: 4
Consider the given statement: “Technology is an improved means to an unimproved end.” Which of the following closely reflects the meaning of the given statement?
Consider the given statement: “Technology is an improved means to an unimproved end.” Which of the following closely reflects the meaning of the given statement?
Updated On: Sep 10, 2025
- New technologies have to be accepted by primarily focusing on its positive results
- New technologies create a hindrance to the physical health of an individual
- Poor mental health is a result of the invention of new technologies
- New technologies should be looked upon with suspicion, considering its negative impact
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
The statement “Technology is an improved means to an unimproved end” suggests a critical perspective on technological advancements. It implies that while technology may enhance the means by which we accomplish tasks, it does not necessarily improve the outcomes or ends they serve. In other words, technology can be seen as focusing on refining methods without necessarily enhancing the broader goals or purposes.
In the context provided by David Henry Thoreau's philosophy, technology is seen as a tool that may not address the deeper issues or the final objectives of human endeavors. It questions whether technological progress truly leads to meaningful or improved ends.
Considering the options provided, the most fitting interpretation is: "New technologies should be looked upon with suspicion, considering its negative impact." This choice closely aligns with the idea that while technology is advanced and sophisticated, its actual benefit to end goals may be questionable or even detrimental. This perspective encourages a cautious approach to embracing new technologies, highlighting potential negative implications.
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Question: 5
Consider the given statement “Technology is an improved means to an unimproved end”. Which of the following closely reflects the meaning of the given statement?
Consider the given statement “Technology is an improved means to an unimproved end”. Which of the following closely reflects the meaning of the given statement?
Updated On: Sep 10, 2025
- New technologies have to be accepted by primarily focusing on its positive results
- New technologies create a hindrance to the physical health of an individual
- Poor mental health is a result of the invention of new technologies
- New technologies should be looked upon with suspicion, considering its negative impact
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
To understand the statement "Technology is an improved means to an unimproved end," it's essential to analyze what is meant by "means" and "end." The "means" refers to the methods or tools, whereas the "end" refers to the ultimate purpose or goal. The statement implies that while technology enhances the methods or tools available (making them more efficient or advanced), the ultimate purpose or goal towards which these tools are directed remains unchanged and unimproved.
Considering the options provided, let's align them with the meaning of the quote:
- New technologies have to be accepted by primarily focusing on its positive results: This option doesn't match the essence of the quote. The quote isn't about accepting technology for its positives but rather questioning the ultimate purpose it serves.
- New technologies create a hindrance to the physical health of an individual: While valid in some contexts, this doesn't reflect the existential and philosophical view in the quote which concerns the ends being unimproved.
- Poor mental health is a result of the invention of new technologies: This again focuses on a consequence (poor mental health) rather than the philosophical context of improved means vs. unimproved ends.
- New technologies should be looked upon with suspicion, considering its negative impact: This option reflects an alignment with the statement, as it suggests skepticism towards technology by considering its negative impact, encapsulating the notion of "unimproved ends."
Based on this analysis, the option that closely reflects the meaning of the statement "Technology is an improved means to an unimproved end" is: New technologies should be looked upon with suspicion, considering its negative impact.
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Question: 6
Which of the following statements strengthens the author’s argument regarding the negative use of smartphones among the youth?
Which of the following statements strengthens the author’s argument regarding the negative use of smartphones among the youth?
Updated On: Sep 10, 2025
- Excessive use of smartphones may lead to weakened family relationships
- There has to be an unhindered use of smartphones
- Smartphones have economic usefulness
- Ownership of smartphones at an early age results due to lack of care by parents
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
To determine which statement strengthens the author’s argument regarding the negative effects of smartphone use among the youth, first examine the context provided: India is experiencing significant lifestyle changes impacting the youth negatively, with cultural changes such as smartphone usage being linked to weakened family relationships, poor mental well-being, and cognitive issues.
Now, analyze the options:
1. Excessive use of smartphones may lead to weakened family relationships. - This directly connects to the author's point about smartphones affecting family dynamics, providing evidence that supports the negative impact mentioned.
2. There has to be an unhindered use of smartphones. - This contradicts the author's concern about harmful effects.
3. Smartphones have economic usefulness. - While it may be true, it doesn’t address the negative aspects highlighted by the author.
4. Ownership of smartphones at an early age results from lack of care by parents. - This implies a cause rather than reinforcing the negative effect on relationships or mental well-being.
Based on this analysis, the statement that effectively strengthens the author's argument is: Excessive use of smartphones may lead to weakened family relationships.
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Top CLAT Questions
- In the realm of contemporary literature, the interplay between character and setting is a nuanced dance that shapes the narrative’s essence. The setting, often described with painstaking detail, becomes more than a backdrop; it becomes a character, influencing the plot and character development.
Consider, for instance, the barren expanse of the desert in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake. The arid landscape mirrors the sense of isolation felt by the protagonist, Gogol, as he navigates his identity crisis in a foreign land. The relentless sun and vast sands are not mere descriptions; they are the silent witnesses to his inner turmoil.
On the other end of the literary spectrum, there is Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things. The lush, vibrant Kerala backwaters are not just the setting; they are a character woven into the fabric of the story. The teeming, humid landscape reflects the complex web of human relationships and secrets that unravel in the narrative. This interplay is not confined to contemporary literature alone. In Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy Macbeth, the eerie and foreboding setting of the Scottish moors casts a dark shadow over the characters’ actions. The moors, shrouded in mist and mystery, serve as an ever-present omen of the impending tragedy. - The crisis of justice that is the subject matter of discussion in the media today is in fact the crisis of “justice for the middle class”. The main difference between India and the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries is that whereas the middle class in these countries has reasonable access to justice, in India it does not. A vocal and powerful middle class has emerged in India since 1991. It is demanding reasonable access to justice. Much of the judicial reform effort will help meet this demand…
The question of justice for the poor is, however, an altogether different challenge. No country in the world has been able to secure justice for the poor. Most of the jails of the richest countries are filled with the poorest. The “masses” are more often victims of the criminal justice system than of crime. In India as well, jails are almost exclusively filled with the poor. The civil justice system is hardly accessible to them. They are often victimised by lawyers, touts and court staff. They are docket-excluded, a new type of untouchability. The language and the logic—and the colonial and feudal culture—of the judicial system are alien to them. It rarely takes cognisance of their needs and interests.
Their main concern, therefore, is to escape the attention of the justice system, criminal and civil. A landless Dalit person in the interior of Madhya Pradesh once gave me an insightful definition of a court from the perspective of the masses: “A court is a place where you are forcibly taken by the police to be punished; no one goes to a court.” In contrast, many lawyers and judges colloquially define a court as “a temple of justice where rights are protected”.
These sharply divergent visions mean that justice for one section is often injustice for another. Protecting the livelihood of traditional taxi and auto drivers from predatory pricing by corporate app-based taxi providers by imaginatively using the available tools of law to delay their incursion would be seen by the rich and by sections of the middle class as a failure of the judicial system, and possibly as also resulting in a downgrading of the “ease of doing business” measure. However, the masses would see such a judicial intervention as strong evidence of a good justice system. Although the conflict over competing visions of the nation and conflicting demands from social and economic segments have confined judicial reform of judicial administration mainly to “neutral” areas such as process reform, procedural law, technology, planning and court and case management, judge strength, and the workload of judges, there has been considerable improvement in these areas, and the judicial system has improved its performance.
[Extracted, with edits, from “Justice and the Two Ideas of India”, by G. Mohan Gopal, Frontline] - Everything she wanted was here, at Carignano, in Kasauli. Here, on the ridge of the mountain, in this quiet house. It was the place, and the time of life, that she had wanted and prepared for all her life-as she realized on the first day at Carignano, with a great, cool flowering of relief - and at last she had it. She wanted no one and nothing else. Whatever else came, or happened here, would be an unwelcome intrusion and distraction. This she tried to convey to the plodding postman with a cold and piercing stare from the height of the ridge onto his honest bull back. Unfortunately, he did not look up at her on the hilltop but stared stolidly down at the dust piling onto his shoes as he plodded on. A bullock-man, an oafish ox, she thought bitterly. She stepped backwards into the garden and the wind suddenly billowed up and threw the pine branches about as though to curtain her. She was grey, tall and thin and her silk sari made a sweeping, shivering sound and she fancied she could merge with the pine trees and be mistaken for one. To be a tree, no more and no less, was all she was prepared to undertake.
What pleased and satisfied her so, here at Carignano, was its barrenness. This was the chief virtue of all Kasauli of course-its starkness. It had rocks, it had pines, it had light and air. In every direction there was a sweeping view - to the north, of the mountains, to the south, of the plains. Occasionally an eagle swam through this clear unobstructed mass of light and air, that was all. And Carignano, her home on the ridge, had no more than that. Why should it? The sun shone on its white walls. Its windows were open the ones facing north opened on to the blue waves of the Himalayas flowing out and up to the line of ice and snow sketched upon the sky, while those that faced south looked down the plunging cliff to the plain stretching out, flat and sere to the blurred horizon.
Yes, there were some apricot trees close to the house. There were clumps of iris that had finished blooming. There was the kitchen with a wing of smoke lifting out of its chimney and a stack of wood outside its door. But these were incidental, almost unimportant.
[Extracted, with edits and revisions, from “Fire on the Mountain” by Anita Desai] - English literature is a vast and diverse field that has left an indelible mark on the world of letters. From the eloquent plays of William Shakespeare to the complex novels of Jane Austen and the profound poetry of William Wordsworth, English literature offers a window into the human experience. One of the luminaries of English literature is William Shakespeare, often hailed as the greatest playwright in the history of English language. His works, including Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet, are celebrated for their exploration of human nature, love, ambition, and tragedy. His characters, such as the tormented Hamlet and the star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet, continue to captivate readers and audiences worldwide.
The 19th century ushered in a new era of literary giants. Jane Austen’s novels, such as Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, provide incisive social commentary through the lens of wit and romance. Austen’s heroines, like Elizabeth Bennet and Elinor Dashwood, remain beloved literary figures known for their intelligence and resilience. The Romantic era brought forth poets like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who celebrated * 8 UG the beauty of nature and the emotional intensity of the individual. Wordsworth’s ‘‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’’ and Coleridge’s ‘‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’’ are testament to the power of the written words to evoke profound emotions and imagery. Moving towards 20th century, English literature continued to evolve. Virginia Woolf’s ground-breaking novel Mrs. Dalloway explored the inner thoughts and lives of its characters with a modernist narrative style. Dystopian visions, as seen in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four provided stark warnings about the dangers of totalitarianism and the erosion of individual freedom.
Today, English literature is a global phenomenon, transcending borders and languages. Indian authors like Arundhati Roy, with her novel The God of Small Things, have won prestigious international literary awards. The book not only explores intricate family dynamics but also delves into the broader socio-political landscape of India. In summary, English literature is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the written word. It encompasses an array of authors, themes, and styles that continue to captivate and inspire readers across the world. - On the evening of the 10th, General Dyer arrived at Amritsar, and the Deputy-Commissioner handed over the civil power to him. He issued a proclamation by word of mouth that no meetings should be held. Two days later, after there had been no sort of riot, nor murder, General Dyer heard that a meeting was to be held at the Jallianwala Bagh. He proceeded there with about fifty troops, half British, half Indian, and a certain number of Ghurkas, armed with their kukris. The Jallianwala Bagh is an open space, half a mile square, which has one entry wide enough for three persons. The troops got in and lined up on a mound of debris. The walls, seven feet high, and the surrounding houses enclosed the people. There were, too, three alleys through which the people might have been able to pass. Within thirty seconds of the troops getting in, General Dyer gave orders to fire, and the crowd of people, estimated at anything from 5,000 to 20,000, who were sitting on the ground peacefully listening to the mob oratory, were fired on. The result of the troops’ fire into the mass of people we do not know. But we do know that Dyer’s own estimate of the casualties resulting from ten minutes continual individual firing, was 400 to 500 killed and 1,500 wounded. The people were not able to escape. They were people who had not offered any violence and who had not been warned. These people were shot down. After ten minutes, the ammunition was exhausted and the troops marched off, and they left 1,500 wounded there. There were men lying there for two days, dying of thirst, eating the ground, bleeding to death and nobody to look after them. Those who lived nearby came and carried away some of the wounded from the heap of dead and dying, but the unfortunate country people died there miserably of their wounds. This is what is done in 1919 in British India…
Centuries hence you will find Indian children brought up to this spot, just as they visit now the Cawnpore Well, and you can imagine the feelings of these Indians for generations over this terrible business.
[Col. Wedgwood, MP, speaking in the British Parliament, 22 December 1919]
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