Passage Cattle from the nearby villages came to the common ground to graze, and there was still a cool freshness in the air. Hori…

Reading Comprehension ·Previously asked in UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026

View the full solved paper: GS Paper II

Question

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 conclusions is/are correct?

1. All landlords essentially have some goodness trapped within them.

2. The common grazing grounds of a village are intended for use by the cattle of that village.

3. Landlords who believe in tradition tend to be more concerned about their tenants.

4. Winds later in the day tend to be cooler post the hot winds of the morning.

Select the answer using the code given below.

  1. A. 1 and 3
  2. B. 2 and 4
  3. C. 3 only (Correct answer)
  4. D. 2 only

Correct Answer

Option C — 3 only

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Option C.

Key Points

  • Only conclusion 3 is valid.
  • 3 — Rai Sahib held to old values and felt a landlord who neglects tenants is "less than human", showing tradition-minded landlords are more concerned about tenants.

Additional Information

  • 1 is wrong — the passage contrasts Rai Sahib with selfish Zamindars, so not all landlords are good.
  • 2 is an over-generalisation — grazing was by cattle from nearby villages, not strictly "that village".
  • 4 is wrong — the loo (hot wind) comes later in the day, so winds get hotter, not cooler. Hence Option C.