Read the following passage and answer the given questions. Certain words are…
2024
Read the following passage and answer the given questions.
Certain words are highlighted to answer some of the questions. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is increasingly recognized as a key component of success in both personal and professional realms. While men and women may possess similar overall levels of EQ, research consistently shows that they tend to excel in different emotional competencies. Women often score higher in areas such as empathy, interpersonal relationships, and social responsibility, whereas men tend to perform better in assertiveness, stress tolerance, and self-regard (or confidence). These differences lay the foundation for the distinct emotional approaches each gender brings to the workplace, shaped by both biological factors and the powerful process of socialization.
Socialization plays a significant role in determining these gender-specific strengths. From an early age, boys and girls receive different messages about how they should behave. Boys are often ___________ to be competitive, confident, assertive, and decisive, and are taught that winning is of primary importance. Girls, on the other hand, are socialized to be nurturing, empathetic, and emotionally expressive. They learn to value relationships and cooperation over competition. These early experiences influence the development of specific emotional intelligence skills, with boys becoming more assertive and confident and girls excelling in empathy and interpersonal communication.
As boys and girls grow into adults, these learned behaviors are reinforced by societal norms and expectations. In the workplace, these socialized behaviors manifest in ways that can impact professional roles and leadership opportunities. Men’s strengths in assertiveness and self-regard often give them an advantage in competitive environments, helping them excel in leadership positions. Meanwhile, women’s strengths in empathy and interpersonal relationships make them highly effective in teamwork and collaborative settings, though these skills are sometimes undervalued in leadership hierarchies. These gender-based differences in emotional intelligence may contribute to the leadership gender gap. Men's natural tendencies toward assertiveness and confidence can help them rise in hierarchical structures, while women’s empathy and relational strengths are often better suited for team-oriented roles. Recognizing and valuing these differences can help organizations leverage the diverse emotional strengths of both genders, fostering a more balanced and inclusive leadership landscape.
According to the passage, which of the following statement(s) is/ are true?
(I) Women’s emotional intelligence strengths are undervalued in hierarchical structures, particularly in leadership positions.
(II) Men tend to perform better in teamwork and collaborative settings due to their confidence.
(III) Societal expectations reinforce the emotional competencies that boys and girls develop early in life.
- A.
Only (I) is true
- B.
Both (I) and (III) are true
- C.
Both (II) and (III) are true
- D.
Only (II) is true
- E.
All statements are true
Attempted by 1 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Concept
In a reading-comprehension "which statement(s) is/are true" item, you do not reason from outside knowledge. Each candidate statement is verified ONLY against what the passage actually asserts: a statement is true if the passage states it (in the same or paraphrased terms), and false if the passage contradicts it, reverses it, or never makes that claim. The correct option is the combination whose member statements all pass this test.
Application
Test each statement against the passage:
Statement (I) - Women's EQ strengths are undervalued in hierarchical/leadership structures: the passage says women's strengths in empathy and interpersonal relationships are "sometimes undervalued in leadership hierarchies." This matches, so (I) is supported.
Statement (II) - Men perform better in teamwork and collaborative settings due to confidence: the passage assigns teamwork and collaborative effectiveness to women's empathy and relational strengths, and links men's confidence/assertiveness to competitive and leadership settings. The passage reverses this claim, so (II) is not supported.
Statement (III) - Societal expectations reinforce the emotional competencies formed early: the passage states that as boys and girls grow, "these learned behaviors are reinforced by societal norms and expectations." This matches, so (III) is supported.
The statements supported by the passage are (I) and (III); statement (II) is contradicted.
Cross-check
Re-scan for the disqualifier: "teamwork and collaborative settings" is tied in the passage to women, not men, which alone rules out any option that endorses (II). The combination containing exactly (I) and (III) is the one fully grounded in the text.