Direction: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow: Paragraph 1:…
Direction: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:
Paragraph 1: It is difficult to recognise the new generation of terrorists as a mere extension of the earlier lot of radical Islamist terrorists who were influenced by the teachings of Islamist preachers and theologians. There is less theology today and the new age terrorist seems to belong to an altogether different genre of terrorism.
Paragraph 2: A large number of terror attacks in the past three years have been attributed to the handiwork of the Islamic State (IS), and reveal its leaning towards the “nihilism” of Sayyid Qutb. It is this which distinguishes the IS from many of the other
radical Islamist groups such as al-Qaeda and its affiliates. The IS’s recruitment techniques, especially its ability to proselytize over the Internet, including “direct to home jihad” as also its more sanguinary brand of violence, set it apart from earlier variants of radical Islamist terror.
Paragraph 3: Even while the IS has gained a great deal of prominence due to its brand of violence, other terror networks have continued to be no less active. For example, Al-Qaeda and its affiliates. The Boko Haram in Africa has been responsible for more killings than most people would realise. Closer home, the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network have carried out several spectacular attacks inside Afghanistan. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi have carried out several attacks inside Pakistan. Pakistan provides the wherewithal and the support to terror outfits such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammad to launch well-planned attacks on Indian targets.
Paragraph 4: Most of these outfits continue to adopt earlier methodologies. These have proved no less effective than those followed by the IS. The terror attack on a mosque in North Sinai, Egypt in November this year, which killed over 230 persons, is one such example. In December, the TTP was responsible for a terror attack on an agricultural training institute in Peshawar, Pakistan. Differences among terror outfits, do not, however, preclude a complicated pattern of relationships when it comes to operational aspects.
Which of the following is/are synonyms of 'Nihilism' ?
I. Anarchy
II. Atheism
III. Ratification
IV. Optimism
Answer: A. Only II — Answer: Only 'Atheism'. Explanation: Nihilism is the philosophical position that life, values, or moral principles lack inherent meaning or objective basis;…
- A.
Only II
- B.
Only II and IV
- C.
Only II and III
- D.
Only I and III
Attempted by 6 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Answer: Only 'Atheism'.
Explanation:
Nihilism is the philosophical position that life, values, or moral principles lack inherent meaning or objective basis; it often involves the rejection of established beliefs and values.
Anarchy — means lawlessness or absence of government; this is not a synonym of nihilism.
Atheism — means non-belief in deities; while not identical to nihilism, it is the closest match among the given choices because both involve rejecting religious belief or doctrine.
Ratification — means formal approval or confirmation; this is unrelated and opposite in sense to rejection, so not a synonym.
Optimism — means hopefulness or a positive outlook; this is the opposite of the outlook implied by nihilism.
Therefore, among the listed choices, only 'Atheism' is a correct match for the sense of rejecting religious belief or doctrines.