After reading the following passage, answer the questions which follow:
I must say that, beyond occasionally exposing me to laughter, my constitutional shyness has been of no great disadvantage to me. In fact, I can see that, on the contrary, it has been all to my advantage. My hesitancy in speech, which was once an annoyance, is now a pleasure. Its greatest pleasure has been that it has taught me the economy of words. I have naturally formed the habit of restraining my thoughts. And I can now, give myself the certificate that a thoughtless word hardly ever escapes my tongue or pen. I do not recollect ever having had to regret anything in my speech or writing. I have thus been spared many a mishap and waste of time. Experience has taught me that silence is part of the spiritual discipline of a votary of truth. Proneness to exaggerate, to suppress or modify the truth, wittingly or unwittingly, is a natural weakness of man and silence is necessary in order to surmount it. A man of few words will rarely be thoughtless in his speech; he will measure every word.
From the options given below, select the one which will answer the following question:
Experience has taught the author that
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Silence is part of the spiritual discipline
The passage states, "Experience has taught me that silence is part of the spiritual discipline of a votary of truth." A votary is a devoted follower; a person devoted to truth needs silence to avoid exaggerating or twisting the truth.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Silence is better than laughter to stay fit — Incorrect. Not mentioned: the author mentions laughter only as something his shyness exposed him to; fitness is not discussed.
Option 3: Silence is to be avoided at all costs — Incorrect. Contradicted: the author values silence; he says it is necessary to overcome the weakness of exaggerating the truth.
Option 4: Silence can never be attained by man — Incorrect. Contradicted: the passage never says silence is impossible; it presents silence as a discipline that can be practised.