Read the following passage and answer the given questions. If we walk back to…
2017
Read the following passage and answer the given questions.
If we walk back to the past, sensitivity to torture of any kind is a rather contemporary phenomenon, showing up first in the 19th century. Till then, worldwide, the torture of both humans and animals was accepted as normal.
During 1807-50, as if making up for past injustices, our collective consciousness suddenly woke up to ethically question the torture of all living beings. Around this time, in Britain for example, slave trade was abolished, the 1832 Reform Act was passed, and bear-baiting, even dog fights, became illegal.
With the increase in democratic awareness, we also became mindful of animal life. 19th-century attitudes were inclined towards accepting humans and animals as somewhat continuous creations. Therefore, what applied to us was now being extended to include other living creatures too.
Again, it was in the mid-19th century that the hangman's rope was lengthened so that death would be quick; the earlier short drop left the condemned person dangling for long. Crucifixion and stoning were no longer considered civilized.
All of this is off the charts today, but in our past, it was seen as normal, even fun. Though we still continue with capital punishment, yet we strive to make it as pain-free as modern medical knowledge will allow - enter the lethal injection. No more howling and cheering from a frenzied crowd; the sentence is now delivered within prison confines.
All these changes have happened in recent times as old-fashioned torture is no longer acceptable. Humans and beasts, individually and singly, are not to be put in pain, and if they have to die because we must punish, or we must eat, let us deliver the blow as softly as we can. Yet, when man and beast are performing together in acts that involve pain, sometimes death, there has been much stronger resistance against banning them. This is true of Jallikattu and the bullfight. Jallikattu is a popular sport that has become culture as it pits men against bulls. The Spanish bullfight has always been a spectacular public sport. It is almost as if we are compelled to demonstrate our mastery over nature at regular intervals.
Which of these is NOT a civilized way of putting someone to death?
- A.
delivering a death sentence within the prison
- B.
hanging with a long rope
- C.
giving a lethal injection
- D.
hanging with a short rope
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept
In this passage, a method of putting someone to death is called "civilized" only when it minimises the pain and suffering of the condemned - the blow is delivered "as softly as we can" and death is made "as pain-free as modern medical knowledge will allow." A method that prolongs agony is, by the passage's own standard, uncivilised. The question uses NOT, so the right choice is the method that increases suffering rather than reducing it.
Applying it to the passage
Test each method against the pain-minimising standard, using the passage's own descriptions:
Lethal injection - explicitly offered as the modern, pain-free replacement ("as pain-free as modern medical knowledge will allow"): a humane, civilised method.
Delivering the sentence within prison confines - the passage presents this approvingly, ending the public "howling and cheering from a frenzied crowd": a civilised reform.
A long hangman's rope - the passage says the rope "was lengthened so that death would be quick": the longer drop is the humane improvement, hence civilised.
A short hangman's rope - the passage says "the earlier short drop left the condemned person dangling for long": it prolongs suffering, which is exactly what the civilised reforms moved away from.
Cross-check
The passage contrasts two ropes directly: lengthening the rope made death quick, whereas the earlier short drop caused prolonged dangling. So among the four methods, hanging with a short rope is the one that increases suffering and is therefore NOT civilised - which is what the question asks for.