Read the passage carefully and answer the questions: The true role of our…
2020
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions:
The true role of our energy is to gain personal power and operate from it at all times. Today, in many situations, people loose their personal power in relationships between boss-subordinate, client-customer, colleague-colleague, teacher-student, husband-wife, parent-child, Friend-Friend, etc. Often in these relationships someone plays the role of the oppressor while the other plays the role of the oppressed. But this is a great weakness in the relationship and it undermines people's capacity to be their authentic sieves and accomplish what they want in their lives. We need personal power to hold our self-esteem and go forward to succeed in our pursuits. Human relationships often deteriorate through these power struggles and ultimately both, whether they are playing the role of an oppressor or the oppressed, lose their personal power. Personal power can be seen as the result of an interplay between masculine and feminine forms of power. Both these forms of power can co-exist in both men and women. Both feminine and the masculine forms of power need to be honoured and expressed for a beautiful presence and creation in the world. We have to gain a deeper understanding of the characteristics of masculine and feminine forms of power.
The passage focuses on the idea of
- A.
Importance of power struggle
- B.
Different forms and structures of power
- C.
The need for power division in the society
- D.
Harnessing personal power in the interest of co-existence
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept: In a main-idea / central-theme question, the correct option must state the passage's overarching argument — the point every sentence in the passage builds toward — rather than a single supporting detail, an idea the passage never raises, or a misreading of the author's actual stance.
Application: The passage opens by stating that gaining and operating from personal power is essential, explains that power struggles (oppressor-oppressed dynamics) make both sides lose that personal power, and closes by stating that the masculine and feminine forms of power must both be honoured and expressed together for a "beautiful presence... in the world." Read end to end, the passage's overall argument is that personal power should be used constructively, in a way that lets both forms of power coexist harmoniously, rather than through domination or division.
Contrast (by value):
Importance of power struggle: the passage treats power struggle as something that causes both parties to lose their personal power, not as something to value.
Different forms and structures of power: the passage names masculine and feminine forms as components within personal power, but this description is one supporting detail inside the passage's larger argument, not the argument itself.
The need for power division in the society: the passage discusses personal power inside individual relationships (boss-subordinate, colleague-colleague, parent-child, etc.), not the division of power across society.
Result: Only harnessing personal power in the interest of co-existence draws together the passage's opening claim (gain personal power), its warning about power struggles (which erode personal power for both sides), and its closing call to honour both forms of power together — making it the passage's central focus.