Read the given passage and answer the four questions that follow.
It's essential to focus on what you control, especially when life feels difficult. This mindset is often overshadowed by the flood of information we consume daily. For instance, I spent 30 minutes this morning going down a rabbit hole after reading about Bitcoin. I ended up lost in unrelated Wikipedia pages.
Stoicism teaches us that time is our most valuable resource. While it's nice to know many things, most of the information we consume has little real value. We waste time on trivial pursuits, like reading negative news, stalking social media profiles, or watching shows just to "kill time." Why kill something so precious?
We're quick to get upset by things we can't control. Responding to every little thing we encounter is a habit. But true happiness comes from accepting that we don't control most things. Worrying about global issues like recessions, wars, or natural disasters is unproductive. Indifference to things outside our control is the key to happiness.
Happiness comes from meaningful activities: good friendships, enjoyable work, reading thought-provoking books, walking in nature, working out, or watching a great movie. For example, a recent Saturday was fulfilling because I spent time reading, writing, walking, and enjoying meals with family.
Contrast that with another day when I got caught up in negative conversations about COVID. The negativity drained me, and I accomplished nothing useful. Things are the way they are. The best we can do is focus on what matters and how we spend our time.
Select the central idea of the passage from the options given below:-
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Time is a valuable resource we should use it wisely.
The passage keeps returning to one idea: time is our most valuable resource, so we should not waste it on trivial pursuits or on worrying about things we cannot control. It ends with the line that the best we can do is focus on what matters and how we spend our time. This is the central idea.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Consuming more information leads to happiness. — Incorrect. Contradicted: the writer says the flood of information we consume has little real value and pulls us away from what matters.
Option 2: Responding to global issues is essential. — Incorrect. Contradicted: the passage calls worrying about global issues unproductive and says responding to every little thing is a bad habit.
Option 3: Happiness comes from following current events. — Incorrect. Contradicted: following negative news is given as a waste of time; happiness comes from meaningful activities such as reading, walking and time with family.