SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I · 13 September 2025, Shift 2 · English Comprehension · Question 15 of 100

We transcribed this text from the pictures on a candidate's response sheet for this shift; the answer is the key SSC colour-marked on that sheet. Solution last reviewed 13 September 2026.

Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage:
In contemporary discourse, the debate between entrepreneurship and conventional employment has gained remarkable traction. While traditional employment offers predictability, structured growth, and a defined career trajectory, entrepreneurship appeals to those seeking autonomy, innovation, and the potential for exponential returns. However, both paths are fraught with distinct advantages and inherent uncertainties. Employment, particularly within established organizations, provides financial stability, social recognition, and institutional support. Employees are not burdened with existential risks such as capital loss or market unpredictability. Instead, they operate within frameworks of responsibility and hierarchy, where risk is absorbed at higher managerial levels. For many, this structure offers psychological comfort and a clear roadmap for progression. Conversely, entrepreneurship demands resilience, resourcefulness, and a high tolerance for ambiguity. Entrepreneurs must navigate volatile markets, regulatory complexities, and the absence of assured income—challenges often underestimated by aspirants. Yet, for those with a risk appetite and creative acumen, entrepreneurship promises a unique form of fulfillment. It allows individuals to disrupt existing paradigms, build ventures from the ground up, and possibly shape industries. Societal perceptions further complicate the dichotomy. In many cultures, steady employment is seen as the hallmark of success, while entrepreneurial endeavors are often perceived as reckless or unstable—until they succeed. This perception, however, is gradually shifting as global startup ecosystems mature and innovation becomes synonymous with progress. The real decision, therefore, lies not in which path is superior but in aligning one’s temperament, values, and long-term goals with the demands of each route. Entrepreneurship may offer liberation, but it is not without sacrifice. Employment may provide security, but it can come at the cost of creative constraint. A reflective, context-aware approach—not blind aspiration—is essential for navigating this professional crossroads.

According to the passage, which quality is most crucial for entrepreneurs?

(a)Obedience
(b)Resilience
(c)Delegation
(d)Conformity

Answer

Why

Correct — B. The passage says it directly: "Conversely, entrepreneurship demands resilience, resourcefulness, and a high tolerance for ambiguity."

Resilience heads that list of what entrepreneurship demands. Obedience, delegation and conformity are never named as demands on entrepreneurs.

So resilience is the quality the passage itself names → option (b).

Why the others are wrong

(a)
Obedience — Obedience is never mentioned. The passage places hierarchy on the employment side and says entrepreneurship appeals to those seeking autonomy, the opposite of following orders.
(c)
Delegation — Delegation does not appear in the passage. Its entrepreneurs must navigate volatile markets and regulatory complexities, with nothing said about handing work to others.
(d)
Conformity — Conformity runs against the passage, which says entrepreneurship lets individuals "disrupt existing paradigms". Disrupting norms is the opposite of conforming to them.

Concept

This is a detail question: the answer is stated in one sentence, and the task is to find it.

The stem's key word is entrepreneurs. Scan for where the passage turns from employment to entrepreneurship, the sentence opening Conversely, and read what it says entrepreneurship demands.

An option named in that sentence beats one that merely sounds plausible for business.

The stem says most crucial, but the passage does not rank the qualities it lists. The question is settled by which option the passage names at all.

Key facts

The passage lists what entrepreneurship demands: resilience, resourcefulness and a high tolerance for ambiguity.
Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from setbacks.
Conversely signals a turn to the opposite side of a contrast.

Study next

Detail questions: matching a stem keyword to the sentence that answers itContrast markers in passages: conversely, however, while, yet

Common traps

Choosing delegation because it sounds like a management skill, when the passage never mentions it
Reading most crucial as a demand to rank qualities the passage only lists

The same passage returns at 13 Sep 2025, 12:30, English Q.18, which asks what "absence of assured income" implies. That phrase sits in the sentence right after the one that answers this question.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

Topic: Reading comprehension — all 128 SSC CGL questions on it, every solved shift.

Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage:
In contemporary discourse, the debate between entrepreneurship and conventional employment has gained remarkable traction. While traditional employment offers predictability, structured growth, and a defined career trajectory, entrepreneurship appeals to those seeking autonomy, innovation, and the potential for exponential returns. However, both paths are fraught with distinct advantages and inherent uncertainties. Employment, particularly within established organizations, provides financial stability, social recognition, and institutional support. Employees are not burdened with existential risks such as capital loss or market unpredictability. Instead, they operate within frameworks of responsibility and hierarchy, where risk is absorbed at higher managerial levels. For many, this structure offers psychological comfort and a clear roadmap for progression. Conversely, entrepreneurship demands resilience, resourcefulness, and a high tolerance for ambiguity. Entrepreneurs must navigate volatile markets, regulatory complexities, and the absence of assured income—challenges often underestimated by aspirants. Yet, for those with a risk appetite and creative acumen, entrepreneurship promises a unique form of fulfillment. It allows individuals to disrupt existing paradigms, build ventures from the ground up, and possibly shape industries. Societal perceptions further complicate the dichotomy. In many cultures, steady employment is seen as the hallmark of success, while entrepreneurial endeavors are often perceived as reckless or unstable—until they succeed. This perception, however, is gradually shifting as global startup ecosystems mature and innovation becomes synonymous with progress. The real decision, therefore, lies not in which path is superior but in aligning one’s temperament, values, and long-term goals with the demands of each route. Entrepreneurship may offer liberation, but it is not without sacrifice. Employment may provide security, but it can come at the cost of creative constraint. A reflective, context-aware approach—not blind aspiration—is essential for navigating this professional crossroads.