Instructions
Read the following passage and answer the TWO questions that follow.
But as the behavioral economists like to remind us, we are already prone to all sorts of reductions as a species. It’s not just the scientists. We compress complex reality down into abbreviated
heuristics that often work beautifully in everyday life for high-frequency, low-significance decisions. Because we are an unusually clever and self-reflective species, we long ago realized that we needed help overcoming those reductive instincts when it really matters. And so we invented a tool called storytelling. At first, some of our stories were even more reductive than the sciences would prove to be: allegories and parables and morality plays that compressed the flux of real life down to archetypal moral messages. But over time the stories grew more adept at describing the true complexity of lived experience, the whorls and the threadlike pressures. One of the crowning achievements of that growth is the realist novel. That, of course, is the latent implication of Prince Andrei’s question: “innumerable conditions made meaningful only in unpredictable moments” would fare well as a description of both War and Peace and Middlemarch, arguably the two totemic works in the realist canon. What gives the novel the grain of truth lies precisely in the way it doesn’t quite run along the expected grooves, the way it dramatizes all the forces and unpredictable variables that shape the choices humans confront at the most meaningful moments of their lives.
When we read those novels—or similarly rich biographies of historical figures—we are not just entertaining ourselves; we are also rehearsing for our own real-world experiences….
But as the behavioral economists like to remind us, we are already prone to all sorts of reductions as a species. It’s not just the scientists. We compress complex reality down into abbreviated
heuristics that often work beautifully in everyday life for high-frequency, low-significance decisions. Because we are an unusually clever and self-reflective species, we long ago realized that we needed help overcoming those reductive instincts when it really matters. And so we invented a tool called storytelling. At first, some of our stories were even more reductive than the sciences would prove to be: allegories and parables and morality plays that compressed the flux of real life down to archetypal moral messages. But over time the stories grew more adept at describing the true complexity of lived experience, the whorls and the threadlike pressures. One of the crowning achievements of that growth is the realist novel. That, of course, is the latent implication of Prince Andrei’s question: “innumerable conditions made meaningful only in unpredictable moments” would fare well as a description of both War and Peace and Middlemarch, arguably the two totemic works in the realist canon. What gives the novel the grain of truth lies precisely in the way it doesn’t quite run along the expected grooves, the way it dramatizes all the forces and unpredictable variables that shape the choices humans confront at the most meaningful moments of their lives.
When we read those novels—or similarly rich biographies of historical figures—we are not just entertaining ourselves; we are also rehearsing for our own real-world experiences….
Question 14.
Which of the following is the BEST interpretation regarding reductive instincts?
A
Reductive instincts tell us to reduce every situation to a heuristic.
B
After the invention of storytelling, humans have overcome their reductive instincts.
C
Reductive instincts can help us in handling uncertainty
D
Reductive instincts have to be overcome for survival in the real world
Question Explanation
Text Explanation
The main essence of the text can be understood from the lines: "Because we are an unusually clever and self-reflective species, we long ago realized that we needed help overcoming those reductive instincts when it really matters. And so we invented a tool called storytelling. "
This suggests that while reduction might be helpful in some places, in more complex and relevant situations, we need to look for detail, hence the invention of storytelling.
Looking at the options:
(A) This statement is extreme; while the reductive instincts are implied to simplify a complex situation, this is neither the main point nor does it apply to everything.
(B) This option suggests humans overcoming their reductive instincts after the invention of storytelling, although nothing of the sort has been mentioned in the text.
(C) While true, the text's main focus is on where the reductive instincts are harmful rather than pointing out its benefits in moments of "uncertainty"
(D)This comes closest to capturing the main idea that there was a need to do away with this instinct of reducing everything into a simplistic context.
(E) This also is somewhat true, but the passage isn't about how reductive instinct has led to the compression of stories into fables and how storytelling keeps away the reductive instinct.
Therefore, Option D is the correct answer.
Video Explanation
The main essence of the text can be understood from the lines: "Because we are an unusually clever and self-reflective species, we long ago realized that we needed help overcoming those reductive instincts when it really matters. And so we invented a tool called storytelling. "
This suggests that while reduction might be helpful in some places, in more complex and relevant situations, we need to look for detail, hence the invention of storytelling.
Looking at the options:
(A) This statement is extreme; while the reductive instincts are implied to simplify a complex situation, this is neither the main point nor does it apply to everything.
(B) This option suggests humans overcoming their reductive instincts after the invention of storytelling, although nothing of the sort has been mentioned in the text.
(C) While true, the text's main focus is on where the reductive instincts are harmful rather than pointing out its benefits in moments of "uncertainty"
(D)This comes closest to capturing the main idea that there was a need to do away with this instinct of reducing everything into a simplistic context.
(E) This also is somewhat true, but the passage isn't about how reductive instinct has led to the compression of stories into fables and how storytelling keeps away the reductive instinct.
Therefore, Option D is the correct answer.
No video explanation yet — we're on it and uploading soon!
Master CAT Preparation with Previous Year Papers
Practicing CAT previous year papers is one of the most effective strategies for CAT exam preparation. By solving questions from CAT 2024 valr-slot-1 and other previous years, you can understand the exam pattern, difficulty level, and types of questions asked in the Common Admission Test.
Why Practice CAT Previous Year Questions?
- Understand Exam Pattern: CAT previous papers help you familiarize yourself with the question format, marking scheme, and time management required for the actual exam.
- Identify Important Topics: By analyzing CAT solved questions from multiple years, you can identify frequently asked topics and focus your preparation accordingly.
- Improve Speed and Accuracy: Regular practice of CAT previous year papers enhances your problem-solving speed and accuracy, which are crucial for scoring well in the exam.
- Build Confidence: Solving CAT previous year questions builds confidence and reduces exam anxiety by making you comfortable with the exam format.
How to Use CAT Previous Papers Effectively
- Solve Under Exam Conditions: Attempt CAT previous year papers in a timed environment to simulate the actual exam experience.
- Analyze Your Performance: After solving each CAT previous paper, analyze your mistakes and identify areas that need improvement.
- Review Solutions Thoroughly: Study the detailed solutions and explanations provided for each question to understand the correct approach and methodology.
- Focus on Weak Areas: Use CAT solved questions to identify your weak areas and dedicate more time to improving them.
CAT Exam Sections Covered
Our comprehensive collection of CAT previous papers covers all three sections of the exam:
- VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension): Practice reading comprehension passages, para jumbles, and other verbal ability questions from CAT previous years.
- DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning): Master DI and LR questions with detailed solutions from CAT previous year papers.
- QA (Quantitative Ability): Solve arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and other quantitative ability questions from CAT solved papers.
Additional CAT Preparation Resources
Looking for more CAT preparation materials? Explore our comprehensive collection of:
- CAT Previous Papers Archive - Access questions from multiple years and slots
- CAT 2024 valr-slot-1 Solved Solutions - Complete slot-wise solutions with explanations
- CAT Preparation Courses - Enroll in structured courses for comprehensive CAT preparation
Note: Regular practice of CAT previous year papers, combined with a structured study plan, is essential for achieving a high percentile in the CAT exam. Make sure to solve questions from all sections and review the solutions thoroughly to maximize your preparation effectiveness.
