Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the question that follows. My kinsman and I were returning to Calcutta from our Puja trip when we encountered an unusual man on the train. At first, judging from his dress and bearing, we mistook him for an up-country boorish man. But as soon as he began to speak, our impression changed. He discoursed on every subject with such confidence that one might think the ’Disposer of All Things’ sought his counsel in every decision. Until then, we had been perfectly content, unaware of hidden forces shaping the world—that the Russians were advancing, that the English were pursuing secret policies, and that confusion among native chiefs had reached its peak. Our new acquaintance, however, hinted at such matters with a sly smile, remarking:
”There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are reported in your newspapers.” Having never before travelled beyond our homes, we were struck dumb with wonder at his manner. No matter how trivial the topic, he could quote science, comment on the Vedas, or recite quatrains from Persian poets. Since we possessed no real knowledge of science, the Vedas, or Persian literature, our admiration for him only grew. My kinsman, a theosophist, became convinced that our fellow passenger was inspired by some strange magnetism, occult power, or astral body. He listened with devotional rapture even to the most common place remarks and secretly noted down his words. I suspect our extraordinary companion noticed this and was quietly pleased. When the train reached the junction, we gathered in the waiting room to await our connection. It was 10 p.m., and as the train was expected to be delayed owing to some fault in the lines, I spread my bed on the table and prepared to sleep. But just then, the extraordinary man began spinning a tale, and of course, I could not close my eyes all night. (307 words)
[Extracted with edits from Rabindranath Tagore’s ”The Hungry Stones”]
The narrator and his kinsman’s initial impression of the ”unusual man” highlights which theme most strongly?
Correct Answer :
The deceptive nature of appearances
Solution :
The correct answer is The deceptive nature of appearances.
Step-by-Step Explanation:
1. Analyze the passage:
In the opening lines of the passage, the narrator states: "At first, judging from his dress and bearing, we mistook him for an up-country boorish man. But as soon as he began to speak, our impression changed."
2. Identify the central theme:
The narrator and his kinsman initially judged the passenger solely by his outward appearance (dress and bearing) and assumed he was an uneducated or "boorish" person. However, once he began speaking, his eloquence, confidence, and vast knowledge in science, the Vedas, and Persian literature completely overturned their initial judgment.
3. Evaluate the options:
- The deceptive nature of appearances: This directly aligns with the initial misjudgment based on physical appearance versus the reality of his intellect and speech. Outer appearances can be misleading.
- The superiority of Western education: The passage mentions science, the Vedas, and Persian literature, but does not suggest Western education is superior.
- The danger of blind faith: While the kinsman becomes overly fascinated, the initial impression specifically highlights how outer looks deceive.
- The reliability of cultural stereotypes: The story refutes the stereotype rather than proving it reliable, as their initial stereotype was completely wrong.
Therefore, the initial impression most strongly highlights the deceptive nature of appearances.
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