Man does not seek self-improvement because he

UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2022, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Question 42 — Reading comprehension.

Directions for the following 4 (four) items: Read the following two passages and answer the items that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.

Passage—1

For two or three generations past, ever-increasing numbers of individuals have been living as workers merely, not as human beings. An excessive amount of labour is rule today in every circle of society, with the result that man’s spiritual element cannot thrive. He finds it very difficult to spend his little leisure in serious activities. He does not want to think; or he cannot even if he wants to. He seeks not self-improvement, but entertainment which would enable him to be mentally idle and to forget his usual activities. Therefore, the so-called culture of our age is dependant more on cinema than on theatre, more on newspapers, magazines and crime stories than on serious literature.

CSAT 2022 · Q42

Reading comprehension X-Ray · Core #3 Easy

Man does not seek self-improvement because he

Answer & explanation

Answer: (d) loves amusement and is mentally idle

The passage answers this directly: “He seeks not self-improvement, but entertainment which would enable him to be mentally idle.” The overworked man picks amusement that lets his mind rest.

✗ (a) His ability is never questioned; the passage says he does not want to think, or cannot after excessive labour.
✗ (b) He has “little leisure”, not none; the issue is how he spends it.
✗ (c) Materialism is not mentioned; the distraction the passage names is entertainment.
✓ (d) He seeks “entertainment which would enable him to be mentally idle and to forget his usual activities”.

Remember · When the passage answers the ‘why’ in one sentence, match that sentence; do not infer a new cause.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2022, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·

Cite this question: UPSC CSE CSAT 2022, Q42 — minimalistias.com/pyqs/csat/2022/q42

In the UPSC syllabus: Reading comprehension › Facts & details from the passage See it and tick it covered →

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Man does not seek self-improvement because he

Passage—1

CSAT 2022 · Q42

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