Comprehension
The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question.
Over the past four centuries liberalism has been so successful that it has driven all its opponents off the battlefield. Now it is disintegrating, destroyed by a mix of hubris and internal contradictions, according to Patrick Deneen, a professor of politics at the University of Notre Dame. . . . Equality of opportunity has produced a new meritocratic aristocracy that has all the aloofness of the old aristocracy with none of its sense of noblesse oblige. Democracy has degenerated into a theatre of the absurd. And technological advances are reducing ever more areas of work into meaningless drudgery. “The gap between liberalism’s claims about itself and the lived reality of the citizenry” is now so wide that “the lie can no longer be accepted,” Mr Deneen writes. What better proof of this than the vision of 1,000 private planes whisking their occupants to Davos to discuss the question of “creating a shared future in a fragmented world”? . . .
Deneen does an impressive job of capturing the current mood of disillusionment, echoing left-wing complaints about rampant commercialism, right-wing complaints about narcissistic and bullying students, and general worries about atomisation and selfishness. But when he concludes that all this adds up to a failure of liberalism, is his argument convincing? . . . He argues that the essence of liberalism lies in freeing individuals from constraints. In fact, liberalism contains a wide range of intellectual traditions which provide different answers to the question of how to trade off the relative claims of rights and responsibilities, individual expression and social ties. . . . liberals experimented with a range of ideas from devolving power from the centre to creating national education systems.
Mr Deneen’s fixation on the essence of liberalism leads to the second big problem of his book: his failure to recognise liberalism’s ability to reform itself and address its internal problems. The late 19th century saw America suffering from many of the problems that are reappearing today, including the creation of a business aristocracy, the rise of vast companies, the corruption of politics and the sense that society was dividing into winners and losers. But a wide variety of reformers, working within the liberal tradition, tackled these problems head on. Theodore Roosevelt took on the trusts. Progressives cleaned up government corruption. University reformers modernised academic syllabuses and built ladders of opportunity. Rather than dying, liberalism reformed itself.
Mr Deneen is right to point out that the record of liberalism in recent years has been dismal. He is also right to assert that the world has much to learn from the premodern notions of liberty as self-mastery and self-denial. The biggest enemy of liberalism is not so much atomisation but old-fashioned greed, as members of the Davos elite pile their plates ever higher with perks and share options. But he is wrong to argue that the only way for people to liberate themselves from the contradictions of liberalism is “liberation from liberalism itself”. The best way to read “Why Liberalism Failed” is not as a funeral oration but as a call to action: up your game, or else.
Question: 1

The author of the passage is likely to disagree with all of the following statements, EXCEPT:

Updated On: Mar 23, 2026
  • if we accept that liberalism is a dying ideal, we must work to find a viable substitute.
  • liberalism was the dominant ideal in the past century, but it had to reform itself to remain so.
  • claims about liberalism’s disintegration are exaggerated and misunderstand its core features.
  • the essence of liberalism lies in greater individual self-expression and freedoms.
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

To solve the question "the author of the passage is likely to disagree with all of the following statements, EXCEPT," we need to identify the author's view on liberalism as presented in the text. Let's examine each statement:

1. If we accept that liberalism is a dying ideal, we must work to find a viable substitute. The author refutes the idea that liberalism is dying, indicating disagreement with this statement.

2. Liberalism was the dominant ideal in the past century, but it had to reform itself to remain so. The passage acknowledges liberalism's capacity for reform, suggesting the author agrees with this point and making it the exception.

3. Claims about liberalism’s disintegration are exaggerated and misunderstand its core features. While the passage discusses liberalism's challenges, the author's perspective on its adaptability might lead to disagreement with this broad claim.

4. The essence of liberalism lies in greater individual self-expression and freedoms. The author appears to question simplistic definitions of liberalism's core, implying disagreement with this statement.

Based on the passage and the author's expressed views, statement 2, "Liberalism was the dominant ideal in the past century, but it had to reform itself to remain so," is the exception the author is most likely to agree with.

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Question: 2

All of the following statements are evidence of the decline of liberalism today, EXCEPT:

Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
  • “‘The gap between liberalism’s claims about itself and the lived reality of the citizenry’ is now so wide that ‘the lie can no longer be accepted,’. . .”
  • “And technological advances are reducing ever more areas of work into meaningless drudgery.”
  • “. . . the creation of a business aristocracy, the rise of vast companies . . .”
  • “Democracy has degenerated into a theatre of the absurd.”
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

To identify the statement that does not demonstrate the decline of liberalism, we must assess if each option supports the decline mentioned in the passage. An analysis of each statement follows:

1. "'The gap between liberalism’s claims about itself and the lived reality of the citizenry' is now so wide that 'the lie can no longer be accepted,' . . .” This statement points to the divergence between liberalism's stated ideals and the population's actual experiences, signifying a negative perception and thus indicating a decline.

2. “And technological advances are reducing ever more areas of work into meaningless drudgery.” This statement addresses the impact of technological progress on work, leading to repetitive and unfulfilling jobs. While it describes a societal problem, it does not directly criticize liberalism as being at fault; rather, it identifies a consequence of technological development, which could occur irrespective of the prevailing political or economic system.

3. “. . . the creation of a business aristocracy, the rise of vast companies . . .” This indicates concerns about an entrenched elite controlling economic systems, suggesting a failure of liberalism to ensure equity and thereby supporting its decline.

4. “Democracy has degenerated into a theatre of the absurd.” This describes democracy, a fundamental aspect of liberalism, as nonsensical, clearly highlighting a perceived decline in liberalism.

Statement 2 stands apart, as it only notes a consequence of technological advancement without attributing this issue to a failure of liberalism. Consequently, the correct statement is:

“And technological advances are reducing ever more areas of work into meaningless drudgery.”

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Question: 3

The author of the passage faults Deneen’s conclusions for all of the following reasons, EXCEPT:

Updated On: Mar 20, 2026
  • its very narrow definition of liberalism limited to individual freedoms.
  • its failure to note historical instances in which the process of declining liberalism has managed to reverse itself.
  • its repeated harking back to premodern notions of liberty.
  • its extreme pessimism about the future of liberalism today and predictions of an ultimate decline.
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The provided text outlines criticisms of Deneen's conclusions on liberalism. To identify the exception, each point is examined against the passage's content.
  • A restricted understanding of liberalism, focusing solely on individual liberties: The passage critiques Deneen's singular focus on the core of liberalism, suggesting it narrowly defines it by individual freedoms and neglects its varied intellectual history. This is presented as a criticism.
  • The omission of historical examples of liberalism's self-correction: The author highlights historical periods where liberalism adapted and reformed, implying Deneen overlooks these instances. This constitutes another criticism.
  • A recurring reliance on pre-Enlightenment concepts of freedom: While the passage acknowledges the value of concepts like self-governance from earlier eras, it does not directly fault Deneen for referencing them. Instead, this is framed positively. Therefore, this is the exception to the criticisms.
  • An excessively bleak outlook on liberalism's present and its eventual downfall: The passage acknowledges Deneen's pessimistic outlook, indicating this view is subject to criticism.
Following this evaluation, the correct exception is:
its repeated harking back to premodern notions of liberty.
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Question: 4

The author of the passage refers to “the Davos elite” to illustrate his views on:

Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
  • the fact that the rise in liberalism had led to a greater interest in shared futures from unlikely social classes.
  • the hypocrisy of the liberal rich, who profess to subscribe to liberal values while cornering most of the wealth.
  • the unlikelihood of a return to the liberalism of the past as long as the rich continue to benefit from the decline in liberal values.
  • the way the debate around liberalism has been captured by the rich who have managed to insulate themselves from economic hardships.
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

The author's commentary on the "Davos elite" states: "As members of the Davos elite pile their plates ever higher with perks and share options, the biggest enemy of liberalism is not so much atomization but old-fashioned greed." Option B is correct as it alone addresses the avarice of the Davos elite.

Option A is incorrect. The passage critiques the hypocrisy of the Davos elite, not an increased interest in shared futures among disparate socioeconomic classes due to liberalism.

Option C is inaccurate. The paragraph discusses internal inconsistencies and arrogance, not a direct causal link between the rich profiting and the decline of liberal values.

Option D is incorrect. The passage focuses on the actions of the Davos elite, not on how the wealthy and powerful manipulate liberal discourse.

The correct option is (B): the hypocrisy of wealthy liberals who espouse liberal values while accumulating a disproportionate share of wealth.

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Top Questions on Reading Comprehension

Questions Asked in CAT exam

The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.
In the dynamic realm of creativity, artists often find themselves at the crossroads between drawing inspiration from diverse cultures and inadvertently crossing into the territory of cultural appropriation. Inspiration is the lifeblood of creativity, driving artists to create works that resonate across borders. In a globalized era of the modern world, artists draw from a vast array of cultural influences. When approached respectfully, inspiration becomes a bridge, fostering understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity. However, the line between inspiration and cultural appropriation can be thin and easily blurred.
Cultural appropriation occurs when elements from a particular culture are borrowed without proper understanding, respect, or acknowledgment. This leads to the commodification of sacred symbols, the reinforcement of stereotypes, and the erasure of the cultural context from which these elements originated. It is essential to recognize that the impact of cultural appropriation extends beyond the realm of artistic expression, influencing societal perceptions and perpetuating power imbalances.
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