Comprehension
TO EACH WHAT SHE DESERVES
The second plan we now have to examine is that of giving each person what she deserves. Many people, especially those who are comfortably off, think that this is what happens at present: that the industrious and sober and thrifty are never in want, and that poverty is due to idleness, extravagance, drink, betting, dishonesty, and bad character generally.
They can point to the fact that a labourer whose character is bad finds it more difficult to get employment than one whose character is good; that a farmer or country gentleman who gambles and bets heavily, and mortgages his land to live wastefully and extravagantly, is soon reduced to poverty; and that a man of business who is lazy and does not attend to it becomes bankrupt.
But this proves nothing but that you cannot eat your cake and have it too: it does not prove that your share of the cake was a fair one.
It shows that certain vices and weaknesses make us poor, but it forgets that certain other vices make us rich. People who are hard, grasping, selfish, cruel, and always ready to take advantage of their neighbours become very rich if they are clever enough not to overreach themselves.
On the other hand, people who are generous, public-spirited, friendly, and not always thinking of the main chance, stay poor when they are born poor unless they have extraordinary talents.
Also, as things are today, some are born poor and others are born with silver spoons in their mouths: that is to say, they are divided into rich and poor before they are old enough to have any character at all.
The notion that our present system distributes wealth according to merit, even roughly, may be dismissed at once as ridiculous. Everyone can see that it generally has the contrary effect; it makes a few idle people very rich, and a great many hardworking people very poor.
The second plan we now have to examine is that of giving each person what she deserves. Many people, especially those who are comfortably off, think that this is what happens at present: that the industrious and sober and thrifty are never in want, and that poverty is due to idleness, extravagance, drink, betting, dishonesty, and bad character generally.
They can point to the fact that a labourer whose character is bad finds it more difficult to get employment than one whose character is good; that a farmer or country gentleman who gambles and bets heavily, and mortgages his land to live wastefully and extravagantly, is soon reduced to poverty; and that a man of business who is lazy and does not attend to it becomes bankrupt.
But this proves nothing but that you cannot eat your cake and have it too: it does not prove that your share of the cake was a fair one.
It shows that certain vices and weaknesses make us poor, but it forgets that certain other vices make us rich. People who are hard, grasping, selfish, cruel, and always ready to take advantage of their neighbours become very rich if they are clever enough not to overreach themselves.
On the other hand, people who are generous, public-spirited, friendly, and not always thinking of the main chance, stay poor when they are born poor unless they have extraordinary talents.
Also, as things are today, some are born poor and others are born with silver spoons in their mouths: that is to say, they are divided into rich and poor before they are old enough to have any character at all.
The notion that our present system distributes wealth according to merit, even roughly, may be dismissed at once as ridiculous. Everyone can see that it generally has the contrary effect; it makes a few idle people very rich, and a great many hardworking people very poor.
Question: 1
Choose the correct statement: The passage says that
Choose the correct statement: The passage says that
Updated On: Apr 14, 2026
- the hard-working, sober and thrifty people never want something for themselves
- bad people always lose their money, and stay poor ever after
- especially those who are comfortably off think that what one gets is what one deserves
- the poor never want to be rich anyway; they prefer to be idle rather than work
- we must make a plan to give each person what she deserves
Show Solution
Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Concept: Identify statement directly supported by passage.
Step 1: Locate key line.
\[ \text{``Many people, especially those who are comfortably off, think that this is what happens at present''} \]
Step 2: Interpret.
- Rich people believe that people get what they deserve
Step 3: Option analysis.
- (A) Not fully supported $\times$
- (B) Incorrect $\times$
- (C) Matches exactly \checkmark
- (D) Incorrect $\times$
- (E) Not stated $\times$
Conclusion:
Thus, the correct answer is
Option (C).
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Question: 2
In the passage, which kind of people are not mentioned as likely to get rich quickly?
In the passage, which kind of people are not mentioned as likely to get rich quickly?
Updated On: Apr 14, 2026
- Selfish
- Cruel
- Grasping
- Hard
- Ambitious
Show Solution
Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is
Solution and Explanation
Concept: Identify traits mentioned in passage.
Step 1: Locate key line.
\[ \text{``People who are hard, grasping, selfish, cruel... become very rich''} \]
Step 2: Check options.
- (A) Selfish \checkmark
- (B) Cruel \checkmark
- (C) Grasping \checkmark
- (D) Hard \checkmark
- (E) Ambitious $\times$ (not mentioned)
Step 3: Conclusion.
Thus, the trait not mentioned is
Ambitious.
Conclusion:
Thus, the correct answer is
Option (E).
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Question: 3
What, according to the author, do generous and public-spirited people need to become rich?
What, according to the author, do generous and public-spirited people need to become rich?
Updated On: Apr 14, 2026
- A criminal mind
- To be born with silver spoon
- Extraordinary talent
- Strength of character
- Cruel nature
Show Solution
Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Concept: Direct extraction from passage.
Step 1: Locate key line.
\[ \text{``people who are generous... stay poor... unless they have extraordinary talents''} \]
Step 2: Interpret.
- Generous people become rich only if they possess extraordinary talent
Step 3: Option analysis.
- (A) Incorrect $\times$
- (B) Not exact condition $\times$
- (C) Correct \checkmark
- (D) Incorrect $\times$
- (E) Opposite idea $\times$
Conclusion:
Thus, the correct answer is
Option (C).
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Question: 4
Which of the following about the author's thinking may be inferred from the passage?
Which of the following about the author's thinking may be inferred from the passage?
Updated On: Apr 14, 2026
- The poor should work harder to become rich
- The present system of distribution of wealth is biased in favour of rich
- The honest men should resort to trickery if they want to become rich
- The present system of government should give way to more progressive one
- There is nothing good or bad in making money
Show Solution
Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Concept: Inference based on author's viewpoint.
Step 1: Key idea from passage.
\[ \text{``system makes a few idle people very rich, and hardworking people very poor''} \]
Step 2: Interpret.
- Wealth distribution is unfair
- System favors already rich or undeserving people
Step 3: Option analysis.
- (A) Not stated $\times$
- (B) Correct inference \checkmark
- (C) Not suggested $\times$
- (D) Not discussed $\times$
- (E) Incorrect $\times$
Conclusion:
Thus, the correct answer is
Option (B).
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Question: 5
Which of the following is not a vice attributed to the poor by the rich?
Which of the following is not a vice attributed to the poor by the rich?
Updated On: Apr 14, 2026
- Idleness
- Drug Addiction
- Gambling
- Alcoholism
- Bad character
Show Solution
Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Concept: Identify vices listed in passage.
Step 1: Locate key line.
\[ \text{``poverty is due to idleness, extravagance, drink, betting, dishonesty, and bad character''} \]
Step 2: Match options.
- Idleness \checkmark
- Gambling (betting) \checkmark
- Alcoholism (drink) \checkmark
- Bad character \checkmark
Step 3: Find missing.
- Drug addiction $\times$ (not mentioned)
Conclusion:
Thus, the correct answer is
Option (B).
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Top MAH MBA CET Questions
If in a special coded language : BOOK is written as 8 ; TABLE is written as 7 ; & BOTTLE is written as 1 ; Then, how would COMPUTER be written in that language ?
- Determine : What is the ratio of diesel cars in State 4 to electric cars in State 3 ?
If 45% of the electric cars in State 4 are air conditioned (AC) and remaining are non-AC, what is the total number of non-AC cars ?
- Which of the following is a correct arrangement in the given scenario ?
- Determine who is the Plumber ?
View More Questions