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 very nature of the mind is restlessness. It cannot stay at one place or hold one thought for long. For every thought that appears, there are comments, judgements and associations. Thinking is a continuous activity with the mind jumping from one thought to another from morning till night. Like clouds in the sky or waves in the ocean, thoughts appear and disappear as if in ceaseless activity.
However, all thoughts that pass through our mind do not affect us. But we get affected when our ego is hit. Then the mind whirls and creates a tornado of restlessness within. A variety of probable scenarios crop up 'how dare he insult me; what does she think of herself ? Where I am not respected, I will not go; if he speaks thus, I will reply so'. And so it goes on and on.
We have an inbuilt filter in our mind which chooses the types of thoughts or subjects that we like to brood upon. We are not born with this filter but we acquire it over the years with the kind of books we read, the company we keep and the subjects we are interested in.
That is why some people are obsessed with football, cricket or fashion while others could not care less for such things. This filter is built day by day by our actions, suggestions, teachings and influence of others. We can ultimately choose our own filter. So let us learn to build our filter wisely and strengthen it daily.
'as if in ceaseless activity'
The word 'ceaseless' means
- A.
permanent
- B.
continuous
- C.
temporary
- D.
flawless
Attempted by 1 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Concept
A vocabulary-in-context question tests whether a word's standard dictionary meaning also fits how the word functions in the surrounding passage. To find the correct synonym, first fix the word's dictionary sense, then confirm that sense against how the passage actually uses it.
Application
The passage compares thoughts to clouds in the sky or waves in the ocean that 'appear and disappear as if in ceaseless activity', and elsewhere calls thinking 'a continuous activity'. The word 'ceaseless' means never stopping, or continuing without any interruption. The option that captures precisely this sense of unending, uninterrupted action is 'continuous'.
Contrast
permanent — describes something that lasts forever or remains unchanged in status; this is about durability, not about an action repeating without any pause.
continuous — describes an action or process that proceeds without any break; this matches the meaning of 'ceaseless'.
temporary — describes something that lasts only for a short or limited time, the opposite sense of an unbroken, unending activity.
flawless — describes something free of any defect or imperfection, a quality of correctness unrelated to duration or continuity.