Comprehension : Comprehension

Q 22 / 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: Cattle from the nearby villages came to the common ground to graze, and there was still a cool freshness in the air. Hori took several deep breaths and thought of sitting down for a while, since he'd be dying of heat in the scorching 'loo' wind the rest of the day. A number of farmers were eager to lease this bit of land and had offered a good price, but Rai Sahib - God bless him - had plainly told them it was reserved for grazing and would not be relinquished for any price. If he'd been one of those selfish Zamindars, he'd have said the cattle could go to hell, that there was no reason for him to miss the chance to make a little money. But the Rai Sahib still held to the old values, feeling that any landlord who didn't look after his tenants was less than human.
Which of the following statements are not correct?
  1. The landholdings of Rai Sahib were currently not being used for farming.
  2. Temperamentally, Rai Sahib was as greedy as other landlords.
  3. It cannot be ascertained that Rai Sahib could have made some money by leasing out the grazing land.
  4. It may be asserted that Rai Sahib valued his tenants and wanted to protect their livelihood.
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 question asks to identify which statements are not correct based on the passage. By analyzing the text, we find that statements 1, 2, and 3 are factually incorrect or unsupported by the passage, while only statement 4 is correct.

  • Statement 1 is incorrect: The passage mentions that a specific "bit of land" was reserved for grazing. It does not imply that all of Rai Sahib's landholdings were not being used for farming. In fact, the mention of "tenants" suggests agricultural activity was ongoing on his other lands.
  • Statement 2 is incorrect: The passage explicitly contrasts Rai Sahib with "selfish Zamindars." It states he "held to the old values" and refused to lease the grazing land for money, proving he was not as greedy as other landlords.
  • Statement 3 is incorrect: The passage clearly states that farmers "had offered a good price" for the land. Therefore, it can be ascertained that he could have made money; the statement claiming it "cannot be ascertained" is false.
  • Statement 4 is correct: The passage confirms Rai Sahib felt a landlord must "look after his tenants" and refused to relinquish grazing land despite the "good price," asserting his value for their welfare.

Since statements 1, 2, and 3 are the ones that are not correct, the answer is 1, 2, and 3.

Why the other options are incorrect

  • Option (a) - 1 and 2 only: This is incomplete because it fails to include statement 3, which is also incorrect based on the evidence that farmers had already offered a "good price."
  • Option (b) - 1 and 3 only: This is incomplete because it omits statement 2, which is clearly contradicted by the passage's description of Rai Sahib's selfless temperament.
  • Option (c) - 3 and 4: This is wrong because statement 4 is actually a correct statement according to the passage, and the question specifically asks for the not correct ones.

Key Concept

Critical reading and negative phrasing: In "not correct" questions, one must distinguish between explicit textual evidence and false inferences while ensuring all incorrect statements are included in the final selection.