Kabir and Ishaan are cousins studying in Class IX at the same school in Lucknow. Kabir follows a difficult science lesson the first time it is taught and can work out a hard puzzle step by step. When his family shifted to a new town last year, he settled into the new school and neighbourhood within a few weeks. If a plan of his fails once, he changes his method the next time. When the road to school was dug up, he found another route and still reached on time. Ishaan needs far more time and help in all these areas.
The differences between Kabir and Ishaan described in the passage mainly reflect differences in which psychological attribute?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Intelligence
Option (1) Aptitude — Incorrect. An aptitude is a person's potential to learn skill in one specific field, such as music or mechanics, after training. Kabir's lead is spread over lessons, puzzles, a new town and daily problems.
Option (2) Personality — Incorrect. Personality covers traits such as being outgoing or withdrawn, dominant or submissive. The passage compares how well the cousins understand and solve problems, which is an ability.
Option (3) Creativity — Incorrect. Creativity is the ability to produce ideas or products that are new and original. The passage shows no original work or new idea; it shows how well Kabir understands, reasons and copes.
Option (4) Intelligence — Correct. Intelligence covers the ability to understand complex ideas, adapt, learn from experience, reason and overcome obstacles. Kabir's quick grasp of the lesson, step-by-step puzzle solving, settling in a new town, changing a failed plan and finding another route match these abilities, so the cousins differ in intelligence.
Note: Intelligence is a general ability seen across many areas; aptitude is the potential to do well in one specific field.
NCERT (2026-27): “INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN HUMAN FUNCTIONING … |