Directions : Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow…
2021
Directions : Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct / most appropriate options.
The goal of independence was achieved in India through a prolonged struggle, during which, the far-sightedness of the leaders of the freedom movement resulted in giving a final shape to our social and economic goals to be achieved after freedom. This vision imagined to build a self-reliant nation through maximum utilization of the resources in men and materials, and the establishment of a noble and liberal society. It has been an article of faith amongst the policy planners in India that while economic strength determined the scope and quality of political freedom for millions, the quality of freedom depends on increased work and production in factories. It leads to just and equal distribution of wealth among the people so that the poor can also enjoy the benefit of freedom. This, it is recognized, is possible only through increased employment opportunities in the society.
In human terms, democracy means availability of equal opportunities to all the people irrespective of caste, creed, sex and religion to develop their personalities. It means access to education in Arts, Science and Humanities and also awareness of our age old values and traditions. It needs to be emphasized that the Indian policy has been based on a concern for the individual not only as a worker working for the economic development of the society but also as an end in itself.
In the Indian context, the concept of national development goes far beyond economic growth; it is concerned with the creation of a nation united in one purpose, of people speaking different languages, professing different religions and rooted in a variety of cultures.
‘our social and economic goal’
Part of speech of the underlined word is
- A.
Pronoun
- B.
Determiner
- C.
Interjection
- D.
Conjunction
Attempted by 4 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
A conjunction is a word that joins two or more words, phrases, or clauses of the same grammatical kind — for example, two adjectives, two nouns, or two independent clauses (and, but, or, because, and so on). This differs from a pronoun, which stands in for a noun already mentioned; a determiner, which is placed before a noun to specify it; and an interjection, which expresses a sudden emotion or exclamation (e.g. Oh!, Wow!).
In the passage, the underlined word appears in the phrase "our social and economic goal". Here "and" sits between two adjectives, "social" and "economic", both of which describe the noun "goal". Because "and" links these two coordinate adjectives of the same grammatical kind, it is functioning as a conjunction.
Ruling out the other options:
Pronoun: A pronoun stands in for a noun already mentioned (e.g. it, they, this). "And" does not replace any noun in the sentence, so this does not fit.
Determiner: A determiner is placed before a noun to specify it (e.g. the, this, our). "And" does not precede or specify "goal" — it sits between the two adjectives, not before the noun — so this does not fit.
Interjection: An interjection expresses sudden emotion or exclamation and stands apart from the sentence's grammar (e.g. Alas!, Wow!). "And" carries no exclamatory function and is grammatically integrated into the clause, so this does not fit.
Since "and" joins two coordinate adjectives within the noun phrase, its part of speech is Conjunction.