Comprehension : Comprehension

Q 14 / 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 conclusions are valid?
  1. Sport is more than just games; it is a way of life.
  2. Sport can help mitigate the problems of seclusion among the young.
  3. Earning laurels in sport can help one secure a job on the basis of an assigned quota.
  4. Standard corporate sector skills cannot be learnt through sport.
Select the answer using the code given below.

EXPLANATION

The correct option is D - 1, 2 and 3.

[as per provisional answerkey]

Why this is correct

The passage explicitly supports the first three statements through direct mentions and logical inferences:

  • Statement 1: The passage concludes by stating we need to develop a culture where sport is seen as a "way of life" to build a healthier society.
  • Statement 2: The text mentions that children are "inactive and rarely leave the house" (seclusion) and that sport can help "tackle these problems," making this a valid conclusion.
  • Statement 3: While the passage argues sport is more than just jobs, it acknowledges the reality of "getting jobs through a sports quota" as a functional aspect of sports in the very first sentence.
Since statements 1, 2, and 3 are supported by the text, Option (d) is the correct choice.

Why the other options are incorrect

  • Option (a) - 1 and 3 only: This option is incorrect because it excludes Statement 2. The passage specifically links sports to solving the problem of children being inactive and staying indoors, which directly relates to mitigating seclusion.
  • Option (b) - 2 and 4 only: This option is incorrect because Statement 4 is factually contradicted by the passage. Furthermore, it excludes Statement 1, which is the central theme of the text.
  • Option (c) - 1, 2 and 4: This option is incorrect because Statement 4 claims corporate skills cannot be learnt through sport. However, the passage explicitly states that one can learn "time management, teamwork, and coordination"-all of which are standard corporate/professional skills.

Key Concept

This question tests the ability to distinguish between the primary argument of a passage (sports as a way of life) and the secondary facts or contradictions presented within the text.