Voluntary simplicity is not to be confused with poverty, which is involuntary, degrading and debilitating. Neither does it mean that people must live on a farm or reject progress or technology or do without what is necessary for their comfort and welfare. For example, we need food and shelter but we don't necessarily need to eat steak and lobster or to live in a palace. In today's world, most of us need a computer and an internet connection for work and school, but at home we don't need a computer in every room - and we don't need to spend our time endlessly surfing the internet.
To practice voluntary simplicity, one must differentiate between what one wants (psychological desires) and what one needs (basic requirements of life), and seek a healthy balance that is compatible with both. In a consumer society where advertising bombards us with the message that without this, that and the other product we are unsuccessful, undesirable and unimportant. Being clear on what you really need and resisting what you don't can be an ongoing struggle.
The beauty of voluntary simplicity is that it is a philosophy, and not a dogma. How one goes about it depends on an individual's character, cultural background and climate. Although there is no single right way to practice voluntary simplicity, there are some general guidelines that one can apply to one's individual circumstances:
Choose the correct option to complete the given sentence:
Voluntary simplicity may be applied to the individual based on his/her ______.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Individual character
The last paragraph says that how one goes about voluntary simplicity "depends on an individual's character, cultural background and climate." Of the options, only individual character is named in the passage.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Living in a palace — Incorrect. Contradicted: the passage says we need shelter but do not need to live in a palace; a palace is an example of what simplicity gives up.
Option 3: Individual wealth — Incorrect. Not mentioned: the factors named are character, cultural background and climate, not wealth. Voluntary simplicity is a choice, open to anyone, and it is set apart from poverty, not measured by money.
Option 4: Computer posses — Incorrect. Wrong focus: computers appear only as an example: we need one for work and school, but not one in every room. Owning computers is not the basis on which simplicity is applied.