Comprehension : Comprehension

Q 5 / 466

UPSC CSE Prelims 2026

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the items that follow. Your answers should be based solely on the passage.
Passage: Sport is not just about winning medals or getting jobs through a sports quota. Today's generation is struggling with issues like depression and anxiety. Parents often say that their children are inactive and rarely leave the house. Sport can help tackle these problems. From sport you can learn time management, fitness, teamwork, coordination, and so much more. We need to develop a culture in which sport is seen as a way of life - a path to building a healthier, happier society.
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
  1. Parents are not encouraging enough when it comes to children playing sport.
  2. Participation in sporting activities can help develop life skills.
  3. Sport as a way of life can help evolve the very nature of society itself.
Select the answer using the code given below.

EXPLANATION

The correct option is B - 2 and 3.

[as per provisional answerkey]

Why this is correct

The passage explicitly highlights the multifaceted benefits of sports beyond professional gains.
Statement 2 is correct: The passage states, "From sport you can learn time management, fitness, teamwork, coordination, and so much more." These are fundamental life skills that contribute to personal development.
Statement 3 is correct: The author concludes by advocating for a culture where sport is a "way of life," describing it as a "path to building a healthier, happier society." This directly supports the idea that sports can evolve the nature and well-being of society as a whole.

Why the other options are incorrect

  • Statement 1 - Parents are not encouraging enough: This is an unsupported inference. While the passage mentions parents "say that their children are inactive," it does not comment on the parents' level of encouragement or their role in the children's inactivity. It only reports their observation.
  • Option (a) - 1 and 3: Incorrect because Statement 1 cannot be logically derived from the text; the passage focuses on the benefits of sports rather than blaming parental behavior.
  • Option (c) - 2 only: Incorrect because it ignores Statement 3, which is clearly supported by the final sentence of the passage regarding the transformation of society.
  • Option (d) - 3 only: Incorrect because it ignores Statement 2, which is explicitly backed by the list of skills (teamwork, time management, etc.) mentioned in the text.

Key Concept

Passage-based inference requires distinguishing between direct evidence provided in the text and external assumptions or value judgments not explicitly stated.