Comprehension: It is difficult to reconcile the ideas of different schools of…
2026
Comprehension:
It is difficult to reconcile the ideas of different schools of thought on the question of education. Some people maintain that pupils of school should concentrate on a narrow range of subjects which will benefit them directly in their subsequent careers. Others contend that they should study a wide range of subjects so that they not only have the specialized knowledge necessary for their chosen careers but also sound general knowledge about the world they will have to work and live in. Supporters of the first theory state that the greatest contributions to civilization are made by those who are expert in their trade or profession. Those on the other side say that, unless they have a broad general education, the experts will be too narrow in their outlook to have sympathy with their fellows or a proper sense of responsibility towards humanity as a whole.
According to the second school of thought education will not be very effective, if students :
- A.
do not have a wide general education
- B.
have inadequate knowledge of their own work
- C.
ignore the study of fine arts
- D.
concentrate on only a few subjects
Attempted by 2 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept: In a reading-comprehension question that asks "according to X, ...", the correct option must restate the exact condition the passage attributes to that specific viewpoint — not a condition belonging to a different viewpoint mentioned nearby, and not content that is absent from the passage altogether. When a passage sets up two competing positions, first isolate which sentences belong to which side, then match the stem to that side only.
Application: The passage sets up two schools of thought on education. The first favours narrow specialisation: "pupils of school should concentrate on a narrow range of subjects... the greatest contributions to civilization are made by those who are expert in their trade or profession." The second favours breadth: "they should study a wide range of subjects so that they not only have the specialized knowledge necessary for their chosen careers but also sound general knowledge." The question asks specifically for the second school's stated condition for ineffective education, and the passage gives it directly: "unless they have a broad general education, the experts will be too narrow in their outlook to have sympathy with their fellows or a proper sense of responsibility towards humanity as a whole." This condition — lacking a wide general education — is exactly what the correct option states.
Cross-check — matching each option against the two schools:
"do not have a wide general education" — restates the second school's own stated condition.
"have inadequate knowledge of their own work" — this is the first school's concern about expertise in one's trade, not the second school's condition.
"ignore the study of fine arts" — fine arts are never mentioned anywhere in the passage.
"concentrate on only a few subjects" — this is the approach the first school advocates, not the risk the second school warns against.