Read the given passage and answer the six questions that follow.
Free will is the ability to decide and act free from any influence of past events or environment. It implies complete freedom to make any choice absolutely. We clearly don't have free will. Our decisions and actions are never divorced from our past.
We have a conditioned mind. Our memories, past impressions and experiences bias and shape our thoughts and actions in the present. It is our karmic imprint. Not just what we are born with, but also what we accumulate while living. We can consider it as the result of our genetic code, upbringing and environment. It's our backstory.
The only way to experience free will is to get rid of all such conditioning; to neutralise our karmic imprint; to be independent of our psychological coding. That's possible only if we can purify our mind by letting go of all our ego, attachments and fixed beliefs. Then we can reside in the truth of our being.
The above is an exacting definition of free will. What we commonly mean by free will is that we have a choice in most situations like, who you choose to marry, what profession you pursue or how you react to someone's aggression. Sounds reasonable. But here's the catch. Our ability to make that choice too is significantly restricted, dictated by our predispositions.
This applies even to our ability to bring about change within ourselves. Despite a strong resolve to be calmer, kinder or less anxious, our ability to manifest that change depends, partly on our emotional and mental wiring. That's why some people succeed in such efforts more than the others.
If you wish to expand the scope of your agency, explore ways to engage in sustained inner work, deepen your self-awareness, examine and reform your conditioned beliefs. But then, I wonder if your inclination to embark on that journey too depends on your current karmic coding.
What do you think could be a suitable title for this passage?
Choose the most appropriate option.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Do human beings really have "Free Will"?
The whole passage tests the idea of free will. It says plainly that we do not have free will in the strict sense, shows that even ordinary choices are restricted by our predispositions, and ends by wondering whether even the wish to change depends on our karmic coding. A title that asks whether human beings really have free will covers the whole passage.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: The Power of Positive Thinking — Incorrect. Not mentioned: the passage says nothing about positive thinking. It is about conditioning and choice.
Option 2: Our backstory - key to a successful life. — Incorrect. Contradicted: our backstory is mentioned only as what limits our choices. The passage does not call it the key to success.
Option 4: Making Choices - Every Man's Prerogative! — Incorrect. Contradicted: a prerogative is a special right that belongs to a person. The passage argues the opposite: our ability to choose is significantly restricted.
Example: Choosing the venue is the host's prerogative.
Note: In the original NTA paper, Option 1 read "Definition of ‘Free Will’". NTA accepted this option as a correct answer as well. To leave only one correct answer and avoid confusion for students, it has been changed here to "The Power of Positive Thinking".
Advice for the exam: In the real exam, mark the answer that is grammatically or factually correct. If NTA’s provisional answer key marks a different option, challenge it during the answer-key challenge window and give the reason in one or two lines.