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Passage - 3
A stout old lady was walking with her basket down the middle of a street in Petrograd to the great confusion of the traffic and no small peril to herself. It was pointed out to her that the pavement was the place for foot-passengers, but she replied, "I m going to walk where I like. We've got liberty now." It did not occur to the dear lady that if liberty entitled the foot-passenger to walk down the middle of the road it also entitled the taxi-driver to drive on the pavement, and that the end of such liberty would be universal chaos. Everything would be getting in everybody else's way and nobody would get anywhere. Individual liberty would have become social anarchy.
 
Q.The old lady failed to realise that 
  • a)
    she was not really free.
  • b)
    her liberty was not unlimited.
  • c)
    she was an old person.
  • d)
    roads are made for motor vehicles only
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Passage - 3A stout old lady was walking with her basket down the middl...
D could have been the answer, but she knew and realized that the roads were for motor vehicles only, yet choose to walk there. So B is the more appropriate response.
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Passage - 3A stout old lady was walking with her basket down the middl...
Introduction
The passage describes a situation where a stout old lady is walking down the middle of a street in Petrograd, causing confusion and danger to herself and traffic. When it is pointed out to her that she should be walking on the pavement, she asserts her liberty to walk wherever she likes. However, the passage suggests that the old lady fails to realize that her liberty is not unlimited and that it can lead to social anarchy.

Explanation
The old lady's failure to realize that her liberty is not unlimited can be understood in the following ways:

1. Misunderstanding of Liberty
The old lady seems to have a misunderstanding of what liberty actually entails. She believes that having liberty means she can do whatever she wants without any restrictions or regard for others. However, true liberty is not absolute freedom but rather the ability to exercise one's rights and freedoms within the boundaries of a society's laws and regulations.

2. Lack of Consideration for Others
The old lady's insistence on walking in the middle of the road shows a lack of consideration for others. She fails to recognize that her actions are causing confusion and peril to herself as well as other road users. Liberty should not be exercised at the expense of others' safety and well-being. It requires a balance between personal freedom and social responsibility.

3. Potential for Chaos
The passage highlights the potential consequences of unlimited liberty. If everyone were to exercise their liberty without any regard for others, chaos would ensue. For example, if the foot-passenger can walk down the middle of the road, then the taxi-driver could also drive on the pavement. This would lead to a situation where everyone is getting in each other's way, and nobody would be able to reach their destinations efficiently. In this scenario, individual liberty would result in social anarchy.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the old lady in the passage fails to realize that her liberty is not unlimited. True liberty requires a balance between personal freedom and social responsibility. The exercise of liberty should not infringe upon the rights and safety of others. If everyone were to exercise their liberty without any regard for others, it would lead to social chaos and anarchy. Thus, it is important to understand the limitations of liberty and act in a manner that respects the rights and well-being of others.
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Passage - 3A stout old lady was walking with her basket down the middle of a street in Petrograd to the great confusion of the traffic and no small peril to herself. It was pointed out to her that the pavement was the place for foot-passengers, but she replied, "I m going to walk where I like. We've got liberty now." It did not occur to the dear lady that if liberty entitled the foot-passenger to walk down the middle of the road it also entitled the taxi-driver to drive on the pavement, and that the end of such liberty would be universal chaos. Everything would be getting in everybody else's way and nobody would get anywhere. Individual liberty would have become social anarchy.Q.The old lady failed to realise thata)she was not really free.b)her liberty was not unlimited.c)she was an old person.d)roads are made for motor vehicles onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
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Passage - 3A stout old lady was walking with her basket down the middle of a street in Petrograd to the great confusion of the traffic and no small peril to herself. It was pointed out to her that the pavement was the place for foot-passengers, but she replied, "I m going to walk where I like. We've got liberty now." It did not occur to the dear lady that if liberty entitled the foot-passenger to walk down the middle of the road it also entitled the taxi-driver to drive on the pavement, and that the end of such liberty would be universal chaos. Everything would be getting in everybody else's way and nobody would get anywhere. Individual liberty would have become social anarchy.Q.The old lady failed to realise thata)she was not really free.b)her liberty was not unlimited.c)she was an old person.d)roads are made for motor vehicles onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about Passage - 3A stout old lady was walking with her basket down the middle of a street in Petrograd to the great confusion of the traffic and no small peril to herself. It was pointed out to her that the pavement was the place for foot-passengers, but she replied, "I m going to walk where I like. We've got liberty now." It did not occur to the dear lady that if liberty entitled the foot-passenger to walk down the middle of the road it also entitled the taxi-driver to drive on the pavement, and that the end of such liberty would be universal chaos. Everything would be getting in everybody else's way and nobody would get anywhere. Individual liberty would have become social anarchy.Q.The old lady failed to realise thata)she was not really free.b)her liberty was not unlimited.c)she was an old person.d)roads are made for motor vehicles onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Passage - 3A stout old lady was walking with her basket down the middle of a street in Petrograd to the great confusion of the traffic and no small peril to herself. It was pointed out to her that the pavement was the place for foot-passengers, but she replied, "I m going to walk where I like. We've got liberty now." It did not occur to the dear lady that if liberty entitled the foot-passenger to walk down the middle of the road it also entitled the taxi-driver to drive on the pavement, and that the end of such liberty would be universal chaos. Everything would be getting in everybody else's way and nobody would get anywhere. Individual liberty would have become social anarchy.Q.The old lady failed to realise thata)she was not really free.b)her liberty was not unlimited.c)she was an old person.d)roads are made for motor vehicles onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for Passage - 3A stout old lady was walking with her basket down the middle of a street in Petrograd to the great confusion of the traffic and no small peril to herself. It was pointed out to her that the pavement was the place for foot-passengers, but she replied, "I m going to walk where I like. We've got liberty now." It did not occur to the dear lady that if liberty entitled the foot-passenger to walk down the middle of the road it also entitled the taxi-driver to drive on the pavement, and that the end of such liberty would be universal chaos. Everything would be getting in everybody else's way and nobody would get anywhere. Individual liberty would have become social anarchy.Q.The old lady failed to realise thata)she was not really free.b)her liberty was not unlimited.c)she was an old person.d)roads are made for motor vehicles onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for UPSC. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for UPSC Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of Passage - 3A stout old lady was walking with her basket down the middle of a street in Petrograd to the great confusion of the traffic and no small peril to herself. It was pointed out to her that the pavement was the place for foot-passengers, but she replied, "I m going to walk where I like. We've got liberty now." It did not occur to the dear lady that if liberty entitled the foot-passenger to walk down the middle of the road it also entitled the taxi-driver to drive on the pavement, and that the end of such liberty would be universal chaos. Everything would be getting in everybody else's way and nobody would get anywhere. Individual liberty would have become social anarchy.Q.The old lady failed to realise thata)she was not really free.b)her liberty was not unlimited.c)she was an old person.d)roads are made for motor vehicles onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of Passage - 3A stout old lady was walking with her basket down the middle of a street in Petrograd to the great confusion of the traffic and no small peril to herself. It was pointed out to her that the pavement was the place for foot-passengers, but she replied, "I m going to walk where I like. We've got liberty now." It did not occur to the dear lady that if liberty entitled the foot-passenger to walk down the middle of the road it also entitled the taxi-driver to drive on the pavement, and that the end of such liberty would be universal chaos. Everything would be getting in everybody else's way and nobody would get anywhere. Individual liberty would have become social anarchy.Q.The old lady failed to realise thata)she was not really free.b)her liberty was not unlimited.c)she was an old person.d)roads are made for motor vehicles onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Passage - 3A stout old lady was walking with her basket down the middle of a street in Petrograd to the great confusion of the traffic and no small peril to herself. It was pointed out to her that the pavement was the place for foot-passengers, but she replied, "I m going to walk where I like. We've got liberty now." It did not occur to the dear lady that if liberty entitled the foot-passenger to walk down the middle of the road it also entitled the taxi-driver to drive on the pavement, and that the end of such liberty would be universal chaos. Everything would be getting in everybody else's way and nobody would get anywhere. Individual liberty would have become social anarchy.Q.The old lady failed to realise thata)she was not really free.b)her liberty was not unlimited.c)she was an old person.d)roads are made for motor vehicles onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Passage - 3A stout old lady was walking with her basket down the middle of a street in Petrograd to the great confusion of the traffic and no small peril to herself. It was pointed out to her that the pavement was the place for foot-passengers, but she replied, "I m going to walk where I like. We've got liberty now." It did not occur to the dear lady that if liberty entitled the foot-passenger to walk down the middle of the road it also entitled the taxi-driver to drive on the pavement, and that the end of such liberty would be universal chaos. Everything would be getting in everybody else's way and nobody would get anywhere. Individual liberty would have become social anarchy.Q.The old lady failed to realise thata)she was not really free.b)her liberty was not unlimited.c)she was an old person.d)roads are made for motor vehicles onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Passage - 3A stout old lady was walking with her basket down the middle of a street in Petrograd to the great confusion of the traffic and no small peril to herself. It was pointed out to her that the pavement was the place for foot-passengers, but she replied, "I m going to walk where I like. We've got liberty now." It did not occur to the dear lady that if liberty entitled the foot-passenger to walk down the middle of the road it also entitled the taxi-driver to drive on the pavement, and that the end of such liberty would be universal chaos. Everything would be getting in everybody else's way and nobody would get anywhere. Individual liberty would have become social anarchy.Q.The old lady failed to realise thata)she was not really free.b)her liberty was not unlimited.c)she was an old person.d)roads are made for motor vehicles onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice UPSC tests.
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