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’s suspicion that the extraordinary man was ”quietly pleased” suggests:
Correct Answer :
The man derived satisfaction from impressing and influencing others
Solution :
The correct answer is: The man derived satisfaction from impressing and influencing others
Step-by-step Explanation:
1. Understanding the passage details:
In the provided passage, the stranger speaks on every topic with immense confidence, quoting science, the Vedas, and Persian literature. The narrator's kinsman listens with "devotional rapture" and secretly notes down his words due to sheer admiration.
2. Analyzing the specific phrase:
The narrator states, "I suspect our extraordinary companion noticed this and was quietly pleased." The act of taking notes in awe shows how deeply impressed and influenced the kinsman was by the man's grand commentary. Observing that his audience was captivated and treating his words with such high regard gave the man a sense of quiet gratification or pride.
3. Evaluating the options:
• The man was genuinely humble and embarrassed by the attention: Incorrect. His confident, self-assured manner of speaking on every subject shows he was not humble or embarrassed.
• The man wished to avoid any recognition of his authority: Incorrect. He willingly discoursed on complex topics to display knowledge and authority.
• The man was indifferent to how others perceived him: Incorrect. Feeling "pleased" when noticed and listened to shows he cared about how he was perceived.
• The man derived satisfaction from impressing and influencing others: Correct. Being pleased by the kinsman's rapture and note-taking directly indicates he enjoyed making a strong impression and exerting influence on his listeners.
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