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.
Which of the following statements is incorrect based on the passage?
Answer: B. Women’s relational strengths are particularly well-suited for competitive, high-pressure roles in leadership. — ConceptIn a reading-comprehension "which statement is incorrect" question, every option must be tested only against what the passage actually states—not…
- A.
Men’s assertiveness and self-regard give them an advantage in hierarchical leadership positions
- B.
Women’s relational strengths are particularly well-suited for competitive, high-pressure roles in leadership.
- C.
Boys are often encouraged to be decisive and assertive from an early age.
- D.
Socialization influences the development of emotional competencies for both genders.
- E.
Emotional intelligence skills learned in childhood are reinforced by societal norms as individuals grow older.
Attempted by 2 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Concept
In a reading-comprehension "which statement is incorrect" question, every option must be tested only against what the passage actually states—not against outside knowledge or what sounds plausible. A statement is "incorrect" when it either contradicts the passage or attributes a claim the passage never makes (often by swapping the context a quality belongs to).
Application
The passage assigns each gender's strengths to a specific kind of work setting. Read each option and match it to the passage:
The passage says men's assertiveness and self-regard give them an advantage in competitive environments and help them excel in leadership positions — so a statement saying exactly that is supported.
The passage says boys are encouraged from an early age to be competitive, confident, assertive, and decisive — so a statement about boys being encouraged to be decisive and assertive early is supported.
The passage says socialization plays a significant role in determining gender-specific strengths and shapes emotional-competency development for both boys and girls — so a statement about socialization influencing both genders is supported.
The passage says learned childhood behaviours are reinforced by societal norms and expectations as people grow into adults — so a statement about childhood EI skills being reinforced by societal norms later is supported.
The passage explicitly ties women's empathy and relational strengths to teamwork and collaborative, team-oriented settings — it never says these strengths suit competitive, high-pressure leadership roles. A statement claiming women's relational strengths are well-suited for competitive, high-pressure leadership directly contradicts the passage.
Contrast / Cross-check
Four of the statements restate the passage faithfully and are therefore correct (i.e., not the answer to an "incorrect" question). The fifth swaps the setting the passage assigns: the passage pairs women's relational strengths with collaboration and teamwork, while it reserves competitive, high-pressure advantage for men's assertiveness. The statement that re-labels women's relational strengths as suited for competitive, high-pressure leadership is the one that does not match the passage.
Therefore the statement that is incorrect based on the passage is: "Women’s relational strengths are particularly well-suited for competitive, high-pressure roles in leadership."