Read the given passage carefully and attempt the questions that follow.
The work which Gandhiji had taken up was riot only regarding the achievement of political freedom but also the establishment of a new social order based on truth and nonviolence, unity and peace, equality and universal brotherhood and maximum freedom for all. This unfinished part of his experiment was perhaps even more difficult to achieve than the achievement of political freedom. In the political struggle, the fight was against a foreign power and all one could do was either join it or wish it success and give it his/her moral support. In establishing a social order on this pattern, there was a strong possibility of a conflict arising between diverse groups and classes of our own people. Experience shows that man values his possessions even more than his life because in the former he sees the means for perpetuation and survival of his descendants even after his body is reduced to ashes. A new order cannot be established without radically changing (he mind and attitude of men towards properly and, at some stage or the other, the 'haves' have to yield place to the 'havenots'. We have seen, in our time, attempts to achieve a kind o( egalitarian society and the picture of it after it was achieved. But this was done, by and large, through the use of physical force.
In the ultimate analysis it is difficult, if not impossible, to say that the instinct to possess has been rooted out or that it will not reappear in an even worse form under a different guise. if may even be that, like a gas kept confined within containers under great pressure, or water held back by a big dam, once the barrier breaks, the reaction will one day sweep back with a violence equal in extent and intensity to what was used to establish and maintain the outward egalitarian form. This enforced Egalitarianism contains, in its bosom, the seed of its own destruction.
The root cause of class conflict is possessive emeses or the acquisitive instinct. So long as the ideal that is to be achieved is one of securing the maximum material satisfaction, possessiveness is neither suppressed nor eliminated but grows on what it feeds. Nor does it cease to be possessiveness, whether it is confined to only a few or is shared by many. If egalitarianism is to endure, it has to be based not on the possession of the maximum material goods by a few or by all but on voluntary, enlightened renunciation of those goods which cannot be shared by others or can be enjoyed only at the expense of others. This calls for substitution of material values by purely spiritual ones. The paradise of material satisfaction, 'which is sometimes equated with progress these days, neither spells peace nor progress Mahatma Gandhi has shown us how the acquisitive instinct inherent in man can be transmuted by the adoption of the ideal of trusteeship by those who 'have' for the benefit of all those who 'have not' so that, instead of leading to exploitation and conflict, it would become a means and incentive for the amelioration and progress of society respectively.
According to the passage, egalitarianism will not survive if:
Show Hint
- It is based on voluntary renunciation
- It is achieved by resorting to physical force.
- Underprivileged people are not involved in its establishment.
- People's outlook towards it is not radically changed.
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Let us examine each option:
(a) Voluntary renunciation, while not the most effective way, does not guarantee failure of egalitarianism; it may still work under idealistic conditions.
(b) Resorting to physical force may be undesirable, but it does not necessarily prevent the survival of egalitarianism; it depends on the context and implementation.
(c) Non-involvement of underprivileged people could affect the establishment, but not necessarily the survival, which is a long-term aspect.
(d) If people’s outlook towards egalitarianism is not radically changed, it means society is not fundamentally aligned with its principles. In such a case, egalitarianism cannot survive because it lacks the necessary ideological and cultural support. This is explicitly emphasized in the passage. Thus, option (d) directly addresses the sustainability of egalitarianism and is the correct choice.
According to the passage, why does man value his possessions more than his life?
Show Hint
- He has inherent desire to share his possession with others.
- He is endowed with the possessive instinct.
- Only his possession helps him earn love and respect from his descendants.
- Through his possessions he can preserve his name even after his death
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Let’s analyze the options:
(a) The desire to share possessions is altruistic, but it is not the reason man values possessions more than life. The passage does not mention this motivation.
(b) While the possessive instinct may drive ownership, it does not explain the higher value placed on possessions over life itself. This is more about instinct, not lasting legacy.
(c) Earning love and respect from descendants is related but limited; the passage goes beyond this to emphasize immortality through possession.
(d) This is the correct answer. According to the passage, possessions are valued because they allow a man to preserve his name and identity even after death. This notion of preserving legacy or being remembered is key to understanding why possessions are considered more valuable than life itself. Thus, the correct interpretation of the passage leads to option (d) as the most accurate.
According to the passage, which was the unfinished part of Gandhi's experiment?
Show Hint
- Educating people to conflict.
- Achieving total political freedom for the country
- Establishment of an egalitarian society
- Radically changing the mind and attitude of men towards truth and non-violence.
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Let's break down each option for clarity:
(a) "Educating people to conflict" contradicts Gandhi’s principles of peace and non-violence. Gandhi never sought to promote conflict; thus, this option is incorrect.
(b) "Achieving total political freedom" was already accomplished during Gandhi’s lifetime. It was not the unfinished part of his mission.
(c) This is the correct answer. Gandhi envisioned a society where equality prevailed — both economically and socially. However, this egalitarian society was not realized, and hence, it remained the unfinished part of his broader social experiment.
(d) Although Gandhi did aim to transform people's attitudes towards truth and non-violence, the passage indicates that this change was part of his vision. The end goal or visible outcome was the establishment of a just and equal society — i.e., an egalitarian society. Therefore, (d) is not the best choice. In conclusion, the establishment of an egalitarian society was Gandhi’s ultimate, yet unfulfilled, social experiment.
Which of the following statements is 'not true' in the context of the passage?
Show Hint
- True egalitarianism can be achieved by giving up one's possessions under compulsion.
- Man values his life more than his possessions.
- Possessive instinct is a natural desire of human beings
- In the political struggle, the fight was against alien rule.
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Let’s evaluate each statement:
(a) The passage discusses compulsion and voluntary renunciation, making this statement contextually plausible.
(b) Incorrect, as per the passage. Man values possessions more than life, not less.
(c) Correct. The possessive instinct is described as natural.
(d) Correct. The passage references alien rule in the political struggle.
According to the passage, true egalitarianism will last only if
Show Hint
- It is thrust upon people.
- It is based on truth and non-violence.
- People inculcate spiritual values instead of material values.
- 'Haves' and 'have-nots' live together peacefully
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
(a) Imposing egalitarianism is contrary to its principles.
(b) Truth and non-violence are means, not the key condition for longevity.
(c) Correct. Spiritual values are necessary for sustaining egalitarianism.
(d) Coexistence is a result, not the core requirement for survival.
According to the passage, people ultimately overturn a social order...
Show Hint
- Which is based on coercion and oppression
- Which does not satisfy their basic needs
- Which is based upon conciliation and rapprochement
- Which is not congenital to the spiritual values of the people
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
(a) Correct. Coercive systems provoke rebellion.
(b) While relevant, the passage stresses oppression more strongly.
(c) Conciliation promotes peace, not revolt.
(d) Spiritual incongruence is important but secondary to coercion.
According to the passage, the root cause of class conflict is
Show Hint
- The paradise of material satisfaction
- Dominant inherent acquisitive instinct in man.
- Exploitation of the 'have-nots' by the 'haves'.
- A social order where the unprivileged are not a part of the establishment.
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
(a) Material satisfaction is a result, not the root cause.
(b) Correct. The innate urge to acquire creates social divisions.
(c) Exploitation is a symptom of this instinct, not the root cause.
(d) Exclusion is a consequence, not the fundamental cause.
Which of the following statements is 'not true' in the context of the passage?
Show Hint
- A new order can be established by radically changing the outlook of people towards it.
- Adoption of the ideal of trusteeship can minimize possessive instinct.
- Enforced egalitarianism can be the cause of its own destruction
- Ideal of new order is to secure maximum material satisfaction.
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
(a) Correct — changing people's outlook is essential.
(b) Correct — trusteeship helps reduce materialism.
(c) Correct — forced equality can be unstable.
(d) Incorrect. The new order seeks spiritual growth, not material gains.
Which of the following conclusions can be deduced from the passage?
Show Hint
- A social order based on truth and nonviolence alone can help the achievement of political freedom.
- After establishing the social order of Gandhiji pattern, the possibility of a conflict between different classes of society will hardly exist.
- It is difficult to change the mind and attitude of men towards property.
- In an egalitarian society, material satisfaction can be enjoyed only at the expense of others.
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Let’s assess the conclusions:
(a) The passage recognizes truth and non-violence but says they are insufficient alone; achieving political freedom also needs deeper societal change.
(b) Correct. Gandhiji's social order promotes harmony, reducing class conflict. The passage supports this deduction.
(c) While possibly true, this is a challenge, not a deduced conclusion from the passage’s core message.
(d) The passage promotes shared satisfaction in an egalitarian society, not exploitation, making this incorrect. Thus, the conclusion that reflects the passage accurately is (b).
According to the passage, what does "adoption of the ideal of trusteeship" mean?
Show Hint
- Equating peace and progress with material satisfaction.
- Adoption of the ideal by the 'haves' for the benefit of 'have-nots'.
- Voluntary enlightened remuneration of the possessive instinct by the privileged class.
- Substitution of spiritual values by material ones by those who live in the paradise of material satisfaction.
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Evaluating the options:
(a) Incorrect. Material satisfaction is not equated with peace in Gandhian philosophy.
(b) Correct. The 'haves' adopt trusteeship to support the 'have-nots'. This aligns with the passage.
(c) Overly complex and not clearly expressed in the passage.
(d) Incorrect. Trusteeship promotes spiritual over material values, not the reverse. Therefore, trusteeship is about moral responsibility and equitable distribution for social harmony.
Top Questions on Reading Comprehension
- State whether the following statements are true or false: (i) Global warming is creating a lot of problems
True or False (ii) Many species have not become extinct
True or False (iii) Air and sound pollution are the main causes of animal extinction
True or False (iv) Animals live in forests and oceans
True or False- Maharashtra Class X Board - 2026
- English
- Reading Comprehension
Write any four problems faced by the animals that thrive in forests and oceans:
- Maharashtra Class X Board - 2026
- English
- Reading Comprehension
Verbal to Non-Verbal:
A stain is an unwanted mark of discolouration on a fabric caused due to contact with another substance which cannot be removed by the normal washing process. Stains can be grouped on the basis of their origin, e.g. tea, coffee and fruits come from vegetable source. Stains from shoe polish, tar, oil paints come under grease stains. Animal stains comprise of stains formed by milk, blood and eggs, whereas marks on your clothes after sitting on an iron bench are those of rust and come under mineral stains. Then there are stains that are formed due to dye, into perspiration which can be categorised under miscellaneous stains. Read the given passage and complete the table. Suggest a suitable title.
- Maharashtra Class X Board - 2026
- English
- Reading Comprehension
- Each of these questions has a text portion followed by four alternative summaries. best captures the essence of the text.
Some decisions will be fairly obvious "no brainers". Your bank account is low, but you have a two-week vacation coming up and you want to get away to someplace warm to relax with your family. Will you accept your in-laws' offer of free use of their Florida beachfront condo? Sure. You like your employer and feel ready to move forward in your career. Will you step in for your boss for three weeks while she attends a professional development course? Of course.- MAT - 2026
- English Language Comprehension
- Reading Comprehension
- Shown below are letters ‘e’ taken from four popular logos, arranged in a sequence. Which of the options is the correct sequence?
- UCEED - 2026
- English Language Comprehension
- Reading Comprehension
Questions Asked in CLAT exam
- In a language laboratory, students were given an interesting puzzle involving the word "ELECTROCARDIOGRAPH." The teacher explained that such exercises not only test logical skills but also sharpen attention to detail. According to the challenge, the word had to undergo a series of transformations. First, the class was asked to take the first half of the letters, reverse their order and make the arrangement of letters look quite different from the original. Next, the students were told to identify the last but one letter of the original word and place it at the very beginning, a step that changed the opening appearance of the sequence completely. Finally, as a finishing touch, they had to add the letter 'S' at the end. Following these steps carefully would lead them to the correct transformed word, and only those who adhered to each condition in the exact order could solve the puzzle successfully. (150 words)
- CLAT - 2026
- Coding Decoding
On the night of October 12th, the "Sunburst Medallion" was stolen from the highly secured display case in the city museum. The theft occurred sometime between the museum closing at 10:00 PM and the night guard, Mr. Hemant, completing his final round at 1:00 AM. Three primary suspects were identified, all of whom had recently been dismissed from their museum positions: Anjali, the former curator; Bharat, the former security expert; and Chitra, the former exhibits designer.
Here are the established facts and their alibis:
- The security system logs show that the display case was opened using a specific five-digit code, which only Anjali and the museum director (who was out of the country) knew.
- Bharat's alibi is that he was at a distant relative's birthday party from 8:00 PM to 1:30 AM. Multiple independent witnesses confirmed his presence throughout the entire period.
- Chitra's alibi is that she was working late at a downtown graphic design studio. A time-stamped security camera from the studio's entrance shows her entering at 7:00 PM and exiting at 11:45 PM. The studio is a 20-minute drive from the museum.
- Mr. Hemant, the night guard, stated he checked the medallion at 10:30 PM, and it was still there.
Further investigation revealed that a small, distinctive silver button was found near the display case. Anjali is known to frequently wear a coat with similar unique silver buttons. The security expert, Bharat, had previously boasted that he could remotely disable a certain type of magnetic lock—the same type used on the medallion's case—without needing the code, though the log suggests the code was used. (269 words)
- CLAT - 2026
- Assertion and Reason
In a small town lived a close-knit family where every relation could be expressed through simple symbols. For instance, when they said \( A \times B \), it meant \( A \) is the father of \( B \), while \( A \div B \) meant \( A \) is the mother of \( B \). The younger ones were often introduced with \( A + B \), meaning \( A \) was the daughter of \( B \), and the bond of brotherhood was shown by \( A - B \) (A is brother of B).
One day, the children in the family turned these symbols into a playful code. Instead of introducing their parents and siblings in words, they spoke only in symbols. “Look,” giggled little Meena, “\( M + N \div O \)!” Everyone laughed, because they knew it meant Meena was the daughter of \( N \), and \( N \) was the mother of \( O \), making her \( O \)’s sister. What started as a code soon became a family game, making the bonds of father, mother, daughter, and brother not just relations, but symbols of love and togetherness. (165 words)
- CLAT - 2026
- Blood Relations
Four teams – Red (R), Blue (B), Green (G), and Yellow (Y) – are competing in the final four rounds of the Inter-School Science Olympiad, labeled Round A, Round B, Round C, and Round D. Each round consists of one match between two teams, and every team plays exactly two matches. No team plays the same opponent more than once.
The final schedule must adhere to the following rules:
- Rule 1 (Consecutive Play): The Green team (G) must play their two matches in consecutive rounds.
- Rule 2 (Fixed Appearance): The Yellow team (Y) must play in Round B.
- Rule 3 (Positional Constraint): The Red team (R) must play against the Blue team (B) in a round that is immediately before a round in which neither R nor B is playing.
- Rule 4 (Timing): The Blue team's (B) first match must occur in an earlier round than the Green team's (G) first match.
- Rule 5 (Opponent Link): The team that plays against the Red team (R) in the round that is not against the Blue team (B), is the same team that plays in Round D.
(193 words)
- CLAT - 2026
- Seating Arrangement
Health insurance plays a vital role in ensuring financial protection and access to quality healthcare. In India, however, the extent and nature of health insurance coverage vary significantly between urban and rural areas. While urban populations often have better access to organized insurance schemes, employer-provided coverage, and awareness about health policies, rural populations face challenges such as limited outreach of insurance schemes, inadequate infrastructure, and lower awareness levels. This urban-rural divide in health insurance coverage highlights the broader issue of healthcare inequality, making it essential to analyze the factors contributing to this gap and explore strategies for more inclusive health protection. A state-level health survey was conducted.
The survey covered 1,80,000 adults across urban and rural areas. Urban residents formed 55% of the sample (that is, 99,000 people) while rural residents made up 45% (that is, 81,000 people). In each area, coverage was classified under four heads – Public schemes, Private insurance, Employer-provided coverage, and Uninsured. In urban areas, Public coverage accounted for 28% of the urban population, Private for 22%, Employer for 18%, and the remaining 32% were Uninsured. In rural areas, where formal coverage is generally lower, Public coverage stood at 35%, Private at 10%, Employer at 8%, while 47% were Uninsured.
For this survey, “Insured” includes everyone covered by Public + Private + Employer schemes, and “Uninsured” indicates those with no coverage at all. Officials noted that public schemes remain the backbone of rural coverage, while employer and private plans are relatively more prevalent in urban centres. (250 words)
- CLAT - 2026
- Ratio and Proportion