SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I · 18 September 2025, Shift 2 · English Comprehension · Question 20 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 11 September 2026.

Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage :
In contemporary discourse, “free will” is often celebrated as the cornerstone of individual autonomy and democratic agency. Yet, a deeper examination reveals that this perceived freedom may be more constructed than authentic. Modern society, while outwardly championing liberty, subtly engineers conformity through systems of social conditioning, digital surveillance, and algorithmic manipulation. The choices we make—what to wear, what to consume, even what to believe—are frequently shaped less by volition than by invisible frameworks of control. Consumer behavior is a telling example. Market forces, armed with behavioral data and predictive analytics, sculpt preferences before individuals are even conscious of them. Personalization engines masquerade as facilitators of choice, but in reality, they nudge individuals toward decisions already engineered to optimize corporate profit. Similarly, social media platforms curate information ecosystems that reinforce existing biases, creating cognitive echo chambers that masquerade as informed choice. Even political decisions—arguably the most significant expression of agency—are susceptible to manipulation. Campaign strategies leveraging psychographic profiling can influence voting behavior by exploiting psychological vulnerabilities rather than rational deliberation. The illusion of participation, thus, replaces genuine engagement. Moreover, societal norms, instilled through education, media, and cultural traditions, define the boundaries within which ‘freedom’ operates. A person may “choose” a career path, but that choice is often filtered through expectations shaped by socioeconomic class, geography, and familial pressures. What appears voluntary is often a conditioned response disguised as self-determination. To be clear, this is not an argument for fatalism, but rather a call for awareness. Recognizing the architecture that underpins our choices is the first step toward reclaiming autonomy. True agency, therefore, is not the absence of influence but the conscious interrogation of it. Without such reflection, free will in modern society may remain a comforting mirage rather than an existential reality.

What tone best describes the author’s perspective?

(a)Fatalistic and passive
(b)Neutral and historical
(c)Reflective and critical
(d)Optimistic and persuasive

Answer

Why

Correct — C. Both halves of the pair have to fit, and both do.

Critical: the author doubts an accepted idea — the perceived freedom 'may be more constructed than authentic', and free will 'may remain a comforting mirage'.

Reflective: the author asks for self-examination — 'this is not an argument for fatalism, but rather a call for awareness' — and its last sentence opens 'Without such reflection' → option (c).

Why the others are wrong

(a)
Fatalistic and passive — The author rules this out in so many words: 'this is not an argument for fatalism, but rather a call for awareness'. Passive fails too — the goal is 'reclaiming autonomy'.
(b)
Neutral and historical — Not neutral: 'masquerade', 'engineered' and 'comforting mirage' take a side. Not historical either — the passage deals with 'contemporary discourse' and modern society, not the past.
(d)
Optimistic and persuasive — Persuasive half-fits — the author argues a case — but optimistic does not. The closing line warns that free will 'may remain a comforting mirage rather than an existential reality'.

Concept

A tone question asks how the author sounds, and the evidence is word choice. 'Masquerade', 'engineered' and 'mirage' show distrust of the accepted view of free will — a critical tone.

When an option pairs two adjectives, test each one. One wrong half sinks the option, so 'persuasive' cannot rescue 'optimistic'.

Also watch for sentences where the author states their own stance, like 'To be clear, this is not…'.

The passage describes people as heavily conditioned, which can make 'Fatalistic' look tempting. The author anticipates that reading and rejects it, so the text itself settles the choice.

Key facts

Fatalism is the belief that events are fixed in advance and cannot be changed by human action.
The passage rejects fatalism explicitly: 'this is not an argument for fatalism, but rather a call for awareness'.
The author's closing sentence uses the word reflection: 'Without such reflection'.
A critical tone questions or finds fault with an accepted view — here, that free will is authentic.

Study next

Tone words: reflective, critical, fatalistic, cynical, didacticTesting both halves of a paired-adjective tone optionStance markers such as 'To be clear' and 'not … but rather'

Common traps

Choosing 'Fatalistic and passive' because the passage says choices are shaped by outside forces — the author denies arguing for fatalism.
Accepting 'Optimistic and persuasive' on the persuasive half alone — the ending is a warning, not reassurance.

A two-adjective tone option is also keyed at 14 Sep 2025, 12:30, English Q.18: 'Hopeful and critical', for the author's tone toward the preservation of Test cricket.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage :
In contemporary discourse, “free will” is often celebrated as the cornerstone of individual autonomy and democratic agency. Yet, a deeper examination reveals that this perceived freedom may be more constructed than authentic. Modern society, while outwardly championing liberty, subtly engineers conformity through systems of social conditioning, digital surveillance, and algorithmic manipulation. The choices we make—what to wear, what to consume, even what to believe—are frequently shaped less by volition than by invisible frameworks of control. Consumer behavior is a telling example. Market forces, armed with behavioral data and predictive analytics, sculpt preferences before individuals are even conscious of them. Personalization engines masquerade as facilitators of choice, but in reality, they nudge individuals toward decisions already engineered to optimize corporate profit. Similarly, social media platforms curate information ecosystems that reinforce existing biases, creating cognitive echo chambers that masquerade as informed choice. Even political decisions—arguably the most significant expression of agency—are susceptible to manipulation. Campaign strategies leveraging psychographic profiling can influence voting behavior by exploiting psychological vulnerabilities rather than rational deliberation. The illusion of participation, thus, replaces genuine engagement. Moreover, societal norms, instilled through education, media, and cultural traditions, define the boundaries within which ‘freedom’ operates. A person may “choose” a career path, but that choice is often filtered through expectations shaped by socioeconomic class, geography, and familial pressures. What appears voluntary is often a conditioned response disguised as self-determination. To be clear, this is not an argument for fatalism, but rather a call for awareness. Recognizing the architecture that underpins our choices is the first step toward reclaiming autonomy. True agency, therefore, is not the absence of influence but the conscious interrogation of it. Without such reflection, free will in modern society may remain a comforting mirage rather than an existential reality.