Read the given passage and answer the four questions that follow:
No matter one's nationality, sex, age, or religion, everyone seeks happiness. President Timothy Dwight defined it as: "The happiest person is the person who thinks the most interesting thoughts." This definition places happiness within, not dependent on external circumstances. Like virtue, happiness should come from an inner standard, not exterior factors or material possessions.
Virtue is not situational; it involves resisting all temptations, regardless of size. For example, if a man refuses a Rs.500 bribe but hesitates at a Rs. 1,000,000 offer, his virtue is questionable. Virtue is consistent, unchanging, and independent of temptation. Similarly, happiness should not rely on circumstances or others' actions. Some people carry their happiness like a purse, easily stolen by ill winds, malicious words, or random accidents. Allowing others to control one's peace of mind gives them undue power over one's emotions. Instead, negativity should be treated with humour, and happiness should remain self-determined. True happiness, like virtue, is resilient and should come from within. While it is impossible to feel exuberantly happy all the time, a sound philosophy can provide an invincible source of joy. Days of anguish caused by ill health, worry, or grief may come, but these should not permanently destroy happiness. Rising above pain is possible through inner strength and thinking interesting thoughts.
Happiness, like virtue, requires consistency and inner discipline. By maintaining a mindset of resilience, focusing on meaningful thoughts, and refusing to be controlled by external forces, one can rise above life's hardships and maintain lasting peace and joy.
Based on your reading of the passage, identify the incorrect statement.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Steering clear of challenges and grief can help us rise about life's hardships.
The passage says that days of anguish caused by ill health, worry or grief may come, but they should not destroy happiness. Rising above pain is possible through inner strength and interesting thoughts. It never says that one should avoid challenges and grief. So this statement goes against the passage and is the incorrect one.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: Like virtue, happiness should come from an inner standard rather than external circumstances. — Incorrect. True in the passage: the passage says that like virtue, happiness should come from an inner standard, not exterior factors.
Option 3: Humour helps treat negativity and maintain self-determined happiness. — Incorrect. True in the passage: negativity should be treated with humour, and happiness should remain self-determined.
Option 4: Resilience in maintaining happiness is rooted in one's ability to think creatively and interestingly. — Incorrect. True in the passage: the passage links rising above pain to inner strength and thinking interesting thoughts.
Note: In the original NTA paper, Option 2 read "Happiness, like a purse, should be guarded from negative influences". NTA accepted this option as a correct answer as well. To leave only one correct answer and avoid confusion for students, it has been changed here to "Like virtue, happiness should come from an inner standard rather than external circumstances".
Advice for the exam: In the real exam, mark the answer that is grammatically or factually correct. If NTA’s provisional answer key marks a different option, challenge it during the answer-key challenge window and give the reason in one or two lines.