Question

Read the passage given below carefully and answer the question that follows: No one argues that the rich should be rich because they were born to wealthy parents. Critics of inequality may complain that those who would abolish inheritance taxes say, are implicitly endorsing hereditary privilege. But no one defends hereditary privilege outright or disputes the principle that careers should be open to talents. Most of our debates about access to jobs, education, and public office proceed from the premise of equal opportunity. Our disagreements are less about the principle itself than about what it requires. For example, critics of affirmative action in hiring and college admissions argue that such policies are inconsistent with equality of opportunity, because they judge applicants on factors other than merit. Defenders of affirmative action reply that such policies are necessary to make equality of opportunity a reality for members of groups that have suffered discrimination or disadvantage. At the level of principle at least, and political rhetoric, meritocracy has won the day. In democracies throughout the world, politicians of the center-left and center-right claim that their policies are the ones that will enable citizens, whatever their race or ethnicity, gender or class, to compete on equal terms and to rise as far as their efforts and talents will take them. When people complain about meritocracy, the complaint is usually not about the ideal but about our failure to live up to it. The wealthy and powerful have rigged the system to perpetuate their privilege; the professional classes have figured out how to pass their advantages on to their children, converting the meritocracy into a hereditary aristocracy; colleges that claim to select students on merit give an edge to the sons and daughters of the wealthy and well-connected. According to this complaint, meritocracy is a myth, a distant promise yet to be redeemed.

Question: Based on the passage, which of the following inferences cannot be drawn?

• A. Meritocratic system supports those having hereditary privileges.
• B. Meritocratic system does not acknowledge the initial disadvantages in opportunities.
• C. Meritocratic system rewards individuals based on the outcome they produce.
• D. Meritocratic system intentionally favours the rich.
• E. Meritocratic system is based on structural bias.

Hint:

Affirmative action defenders focus on the unequal starting conditions that make "equal opportunity" unequal in practice.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understand the perspective of defenders of affirmative action.
Step 2: Affirmative action advocates argue that meritocracy ignores unequal starting points.
Step 3: Evaluate each options: - Supports hereditary privileges - too strong. - Does not acknowledge initial disadvantages - core argument of affirmative action. - Rewards based on outcome - this is actually what meritocracy does, not the problem. - Intentionally favours the rich - too strong, likely not the main argument. - Based on structural bias - related but less precise than initial disadvantages.