Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

English

Chapter

Comprehension - (Narrative / Factual)

Question:

Read the passage given below and answer the question.

You seemed at first to take no notice of your school-fellows, or rather to set yourself against them because they were strangers they knew as little of you as you did of them; so that this would have been the reason for their keeping aloof from you which you would have felt as a hardship. Learn never to conceive a prejudice against others because you know nothing of them. It is bad reasoning and makes enemies of half the world. Do not think ill of them till they behave ill to you; and then strive to avoid the faults which you see in them. This will disarm their hostility sooner than pique or resentment or complaint. I thought you were disposed to criticize the dress of some of the boys as not so good as your own. Never despise any one for anything that he cannot help least of all, for his poverty. I would wish you to keep up appearances yourself as a defence against the idle sneers of the world, but I would not have you value yourself upon them. I hope you will neither be the dupe nor victim of vulgar prejudices. Instead of saying above "Never despise anyone for anything that he cannot help," I might have said, "Never despise anyone at all"; for contempt implies a triumph over and pleasure in the ill of another. It means that you are glad and congratulate yourself on their failings or misfortunes.

Choose the right option from the following for explaining the reason for 'Keeping aloof'.

Options:

Lack of familiarity

Too much knowledge

Misguided information

Misjudged information

Correct Answer:

Lack of familiarity

Explanation:
 The correct option is Lack of familiarity.

The passage states that the reason why the narrator's school-fellows kept aloof from him was because they were strangers and did not know him. The other options are not as relevant to the meaning of the phrase "keeping aloof." Too much knowledge suggests that someone knows too much about something, while misguided information suggests that someone's knowledge is incorrect. Misjudged information suggests that someone's assessment of a situation is incorrect.

Therefore, the most accurate and relevant interpretation of the phrase "keeping aloof" is that it was due to lack of familiarity.