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CAT 2023 Slot 2 VARC Question 24

Multiple choice (+3 / −1) · Verbal Ability · Parasummary · Try it, then check the answer and solution below.

CAT 2023 Slot 2VARCVerbal Ability • ParasummaryModerate
The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.
People spontaneously create counterfactual alternatives to reality when they think "if only" or "what if" and imagine how the past could have been different. The mind computes counterfactuals for many reasons. Counterfactuals explain the past and prepare for the future, they implicate various relations including causal ones, and they affect intentions and decisions. They modulate emotions such as regret and relief, and they support moral judgments such as blame. The ability to create counterfactuals develops throughout childhood and contributes to reasoning about other people's beliefs, including their false beliefs.
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Answer and solution

Answer: C) Counterfactual alternatives to reality are created for a variety of reasons and is part of one's developmental process.

📌 1. Passage Context & Central Idea
The passage discusses the concept of counterfactual thinking, where people imagine alternative realities using phrases like "if only" or "what if." It highlights that counterfactuals serve multiple purposes, including explaining the past, preparing for the future, influencing emotions, and aiding moral judgments. The passage also notes that this ability develops during childhood and contributes to understanding others' beliefs, including false ones.
2. Question Stem Analysis
The question requires selecting the summary that best captures the essence of the passage. The focus is on identifying the key ideas about counterfactual thinking, its purposes, and its developmental aspects.
⚡ 3. Option-by-Option Elimination
Option A: While it mentions that counterfactuals are created for various reasons and include reasoning about others' beliefs, it does not explicitly address the developmental aspect of counterfactual thinking, which is a key point in the passage.
Option B: This option incorrectly states that counterfactual thinking helps "reverse past and future actions," which is not supported by the passage. The passage does not discuss reversing actions but rather explains how counterfactuals help in understanding and preparing for the future.
Option C: This option correctly captures the essence of the passage. It mentions that counterfactual alternatives are created for various reasons and highlights the developmental aspect of this ability, which aligns with the passage's discussion of how counterfactual thinking contributes to reasoning about others' beliefs and develops throughout childhood.
Option D: While it correctly identifies that counterfactuals help prepare for the future by understanding intentions and making decisions, it overlooks the broader scope of the passage, including the role of counterfactuals in explaining the past, modulating emotions, and supporting moral judgments.
🎯 4. Final Answer Confirmation
The correct answer is Option C, as it accurately and comprehensively summarizes the key points of the passage, including the variety of reasons for counterfactual thinking and its developmental aspect.
Correct Answer: C

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