Read the given passage and answer the four questions that follow: -
It was a chilly evening in November when Arjun stood on the deserted platform of the old railway station. The clock read 10:15 PM, and the last train was expected soon. He had missed the earlier ones due to an unexpected delay at work. The platform was eerily quiet, the only sound being the distant hum of the city. A cold breeze swept through, making him pull his coat tighter.
Arjun felt physically and emotionally drained. His life had been consumed by work and responsibilities, leaving little time for reflection and joy. Recently, a personal setback had left him questioning his choices. He wondered; What was the point of all the struggles if they didn't lead to fulfillment? The train, in some way, symbolised an escape, a way to leave behind everything that weighted on him and start afresh.
As he stood there, the train's headlights appeared in the distance, cutting the mist like a beacon. The rumbling sound grew louder, and as it approached, Arjun's heart raced, unsure whether he was avoiding his reality. He stepped onto the train, the doors closing behind him with a soft hiss.
Lost in thought, he gazed out of the window at the passing landscape, a mix of darkness and scattered lights. The journey ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of possibility. Arjun realised that he wasn't running away; he was heading toward finding a chance to rediscover himself. Change wasn't the end-it was the beginning.
In the last paragraph -- 'The passing landscape, a mix of darkness and scattered lights' truly reflects Arjun's state of mind, which is a mix of _____ and _____.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → uncertainty: hope for rediscovery
The landscape is a mix of darkness and scattered lights. The very next lines say the journey ahead was uncertain (the darkness), but Arjun felt a sense of possibility and was heading toward a chance to rediscover himself (the lights). So the scene mirrors a mind full of uncertainty with a hope of rediscovery.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: confusion: joy at clarity — Incorrect. Overstated: Arjun has not yet found clarity; the lights are only scattered and he feels a possibility, not the joy of having everything clear.
Option 2: conflict: struggle for resolution — Incorrect. Wrong time: the struggles belong to his past life. In the last paragraph he is lost in thought and calm, not fighting an inner battle.
Option 4: escape: effort for retention — Incorrect. Contradicted: retention means keeping or holding on to something. Arjun wants to leave behind what weighed on him and start afresh, and he realises he wasn't running away; neither escape nor retention fits.
Example: The company offered bonuses for the retention of its best workers.