Only with long experience and opening of his wares on many a beach where his language is not spoken, will the merchant come to know the worth of what he carries, and what is parochial and what is universal in his choice.
Such delicate goods as justice, love and honour, courtesy, and indeed all the things we care for, are valid everywhere but they are variously moulded and often differently handled, and sometimes nearly unrecognizable if you meet them in a foreign land, and the art of learning fundamental common values is perhaps the greatest gain of travel to those who wish to live at ease among their fellows.
Q1. When we meet other people while we travel, we learn to differentiate between
a) imagination and understanding
b) communities and nationalities
c) local values and universal values
d) friends and foes
Correct answer: c) local values and universal values
Q2. With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. Travel leads to an understanding of humans.
2. Travel helps those who wish to learn fundamental common values.
3. A person with long experience in travel can resolve differences amongst people.
Which of the assumptions given above are valid?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct answer: a) 1 and 2 only
Question from UPSC Prelims 2024 CSAT Paper
Explanation Q1:
The correct answer to this question is: c) local values and universal values
This can be inferred from the passage, which discusses how traveling and interacting with people from different cultures helps us understand the distinction between what is “parochial” (local or provincial) and what is “universal” in our values and experiences.
Explanation Q2:
Let’s analyze each assumption based on the information provided in the passage:
1. Travel leads to an understanding of humans.
This assumption is implied in the passage. The text suggests that through travel and interaction with people from different cultures, one gains insight into how universal values are expressed differently across cultures.
2. Travel helps those who wish to learn fundamental common values.
This assumption is explicitly supported by the passage. The text states, “the art of learning fundamental common values is perhaps the greatest gain of travel to those who wish to live at ease among their fellows.”
3. A person with long experience in travel can resolve differences amongst people.
This assumption is not directly supported by the passage. While the text implies that travel leads to better understanding, it doesn’t explicitly state that this understanding leads to an ability to resolve differences.
Based on this analysis, the correct answer is: a) 1 and 2 only