Read the passage given below and answer the question that follow:
A stereotype is a generalised characteristic which is applied to all members of a group regardless of whether that feature is true for the particular individual or not. For example, a common stereotype is that the average man is aggressive and the average woman gentle. In reality, this is not true; some men are gentle and some women are aggressive. If stereotypes are used during interviews as a basis for judgement, some very wrong and dangerous decision can be made.
Using stereotypes, rather than gathering evidence from individuals about their abilities, can lead to costly mistakes. It is not easy to suspend judgement, for it is normal to predict what an unknown person will look like and how they are likely to behave. That is why it is so important that major decisions, especially those concerning appointments, make use of data-gathering techniques that are known to be good predictors of subsequent performance.
The words 'prejudice' and 'prejudgement' have the same roots: both those decisions that are made in advance. As the whole process of selection involves making decisions about the applicants on very small amounts of detail, care is needed to ensure that it is possible to discriminate between those candidates who do not meet the criteria and those who are likely to do the job. Difficulties occur when decisions are made on factors other than job-related criteria.
What does the author mean by the word 'costly' in the passage?
(A) Expensive
(B) Very expensive
(C) Grave
(D) Very cheap
(E) Serious
Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (C) and (E) Only
Costly usually means expensive, but it also means causing serious harm, loss or trouble. The passage says that judging by stereotypes instead of evidence "can lead to costly mistakes", that is, wrong appointments with grave results, not mistakes that cost a lot of money.
Example: Dropping the catch proved a costly error, as the batsman went on to score a century.
(A) Expensive — Incorrect.
- Wrong meaning: the passage is about wrong decisions in selection, not about money spent.
(B) Very expensive — Incorrect.
- Wrong meaning: it is the same money sense, only stronger.
(C) Grave — Correct.
- Grave means very serious and worrying.
- A costly mistake is a grave one.
(D) Very cheap — Incorrect.
- Wrong meaning: it is the opposite of costly in its money sense and has nothing to do with the passage.
(E) Serious — Correct.
- Serious means having important or harmful results, the sense of costly here.