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 activity that contributes to happiness from the options given below:-
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Reading thought-provoking books
The fourth paragraph lists the meaningful activities that bring happiness: good friendships, enjoyable work, reading thought-provoking books, walking in nature, working out and watching a great movie. Reading thought-provoking books is named in this list.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Watching random TV shows — Incorrect. Contradicted: the passage calls watching shows just to "kill time" a trivial pursuit that wastes time.
Option 2: Arguing on social media — Incorrect. Contradicted: the writer says negative conversations drained him and he accomplished nothing useful; arguing online is that kind of negativity.
Option 4: Browsing the internet for news — Incorrect. Contradicted: reading negative news and getting lost in unrelated web pages are given as examples of wasting time, not of happiness.