A fact that draws our attention is that, according to his position in life, an…
2025
A fact that draws our attention is that, according to his position in life, an extravagant man is either admired or loathed. A successful business man does nothing to increase his popularity by being prudent with his money. A person who is wealthy is expected to lead a luxurious life and to be lavish with his hospitality. If he is not so, he is considered mean, and his reputation in business may even suffer in consequence. The paradox remains that he had not been careful with his money in the first place; he would never have achieved his present wealth.
Among the low income group, a different set of values exists. The young clerk, who makes his wife a present of a new dress when he has not paid his house rent, is condemned as extravagant. Carefulness with money to the point of meanness is applauded as a virtue.
Nothing in his life is considered more worthy than paying his bills. The ideal wife for such a man separates her housekeeping money into joyless little piles – so much for rent, for food, for the children’s shoes, she is able to face the milkman with equanimity every, month satisfied with her economizing ways , and never knows the guilt of buying something she can’t really afford .
As for myself, I fall neither of these categories. If I have money to spare I can be extravagant, but when, as is usually the case, I am hard up and then I am the meanest man imaginable.
According to the passage the person, who is a successful businessman and wealthy.
- A.
Is expected to have lavish lifestyle
- B.
Should not bother about popularity.
- C.
Is more popular if he appears to be wasting away his time.
- D.
Must be extravagant before achieving success.
Attempted by 5 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Answer: Is expected to have lavish lifestyle
Explanation: The passage explicitly states that a wealthy person is expected to lead a luxurious life and to be lavish with his hospitality. This directly supports the answer that a successful businessman who is wealthy is expected to have a lavish lifestyle.
Supporting quotation from the passage: A person who is wealthy is expected to lead a luxurious life and to be lavish with his hospitality.
Why the other choices are incorrect:
The statement that being prudent should not increase popularity only says prudence does nothing to increase popularity; it does not claim the businessman should not care about popularity.
There is no suggestion that a businessman becomes more popular by appearing to waste time; popularity in the text relates to expectations about spending, not idleness.
Although the passage mentions a paradox about past money habits, it does not assert that extravagance is a necessary condition for achieving success.