Direction for the following 7 (seven) items: Read the following seven passages and answer the items (61-67) that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.

The states are like pearls and the centre is the thread which turns them into a necklace; if the thread snaps, the pearls are scattered.

Which one of the following views corroborates the above statement?

Correct Answer: A strong centre is a binding force for national integrity.

Explanation:

The given passage uses a metaphor to explain the relationship between the states and the central authority in a nation:

1. The "states" are compared to individual pearls.

2. The "centre" is compared to the thread that holds all the pearls together to form a single necklace.

3. If the central thread breaks or disappears ("snaps"), the individual pearls fall apart ("scattered").

This directly implies that without a strong central authority, individual states would scatter, leading to a loss of unity. Therefore, a strong central government acts as the key binding force that maintains national integrity and unity.