Read the passage given below and then answer the questions given below the…
20252023
Read the passage given below and then answer the questions given below the passage. Some words may be highlighted for your attention. Read carefully.
A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the question, “Half empty or half full?” Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: “How heavy is this glass of water?”
Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.
She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”
She continued, “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed- incapable of doing anything.”
It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!
The longer the glass (problems) is held, the tougher it becomes for the _________.
- A.
Students
- B.
Psychologist
- C.
People
- D.
Mind
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation: The passage compares holding a glass to holding life's problems. The example shows that although the weight (or problem) stays the same, the longer it is held the more it hurts and can paralyze a person’s ability to act.
The sentence asks what becomes tougher when problems are held longer; this is describing an effect on a person's mental state. Therefore, the word that best completes the sentence is 'mind'.
The psychologist’s demonstration is an illustration, not the thing being affected.
Terms like 'students' or 'people' refer to persons or groups but do not specifically name the inner mental effect described.
The passage focuses on how worries wear down one’s mental capacity over time, so 'mind' is the precise and correct completion.
Therefore, the correct answer is 'Mind'.