Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage :
To bifurcate life into immutable dichotomies of joy and sorrow is to misread its most intrinsic rhythm. Human existence unfolds not as a linear progression of happiness or despair, but as a dynamic interplay where each emotion deepens the resonance of the other. The ecstasy of triumph is never as poignant as when preceded by failure; likewise, the pang of loss finds contour only because we have once cherished the presence of what is now absent. Joy and sorrow, then, are not adversaries but co-authors of the same narrative. From antiquity to modernity, philosophical traditions have acknowledged this existential polarity. The Stoics embraced the inevitability of suffering as a precursor to tranquility, while Eastern philosophies like Buddhism anchor themselves in the impermanence of all experiences. In both frameworks, the pursuit of enduring happiness necessitates an acceptance of transience. Without sorrow, joy would be indistinct—a flat and shallow sensation lacking contrast or value. This interdependence is vividly manifest in the mundane. The delight of spring is intensified by the memory of a harsh winter; the serenity of solitude is meaningful only to one who has tasted the cacophony of crowds. Even our personal growth often emerges from crucibles of pain—grief chisels depth into our emotional landscape, refining our capacity for empathy, resilience, and gratitude. To demand unbroken happiness is to seek a monochromatic life—an existence devoid of emotional texture. The beauty of being lies not in circumventing sorrow, but in embracing it as a necessary foil to joy. These twin sentiments coalesce to form the chiaroscuro of consciousness, rendering our lives more vivid, more intricate, more human.
Based on the passage, what can be reasonably inferred about the author's perspective on human emotions?
- AOption (a)
Life should be devoid of emotional pain
- BOption (b)
Emotions exist in strict binaries
- COption (c)
Sorrow deepens the meaning of joy
- DOption (d)
Joy is an artificial construct
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Correct answer
Sorrow deepens the meaning of joy
Why this answer is correct
The correct answer is Option 3.
Key Points
- The central thesis of the passage is the interdependence of joy and sorrow, rather than their separation.
- The author argues that emotions are not "adversaries" but "co-authors," meaning that sorrow provides the necessary contrast to make joy distinct and meaningful.
- The text explicitly states that "without sorrow, joy would be indistinct" and that pain "chisels depth" into our emotional landscape, refining our capacity for positive sentiments like gratitude.
- Therefore, it is a direct inference that sorrow serves a functional role in deepening the resonance and meaning of joy.
Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.
Correct Sentence from Text: "Human existence unfolds... as a dynamic interplay where each emotion deepens the resonance of the other."
Additional Information
- Option 1: Incorrect. The author claims that "the beauty of being lies not in circumventing sorrow," suggesting pain is a necessary part of life.
- Option 2: Incorrect. The author explicitly warns against "bifurcating life into immutable dichotomies" (strict binaries) at the very start of the passage.
- Option 4: Incorrect. The passage treats joy as a real, "vivid" emotion, but emphasizes that it requires contrast to have value.