CAT Exam  >  CAT Questions  >  DIRECTIONSfor the question:Read the passage a... Start Learning for Free
DIRECTIONS for the question: Read the passage and answer the question based on it.
Until I was 35 years old I thought talking about the weather was for losers. A waste of time, insulting even. No one can do anything about the weather anyway. I believed that any comment  that does not offer new insight or otherwise advance the cause of humanity is just so much hot air. I might make an exception for intimate friends, but I sure did not want that kind of intimacy with the man on the street, or the one in my office.
Then something happened. Alone for the first time in a long time, living in challenging circumstances, experiencing a cold winter in New England, I noticed the weather. It affected me deeply and directly, every single day. Slowly it dawned on me that the weather affected everyone else, too. Maybe talking about it wasn't totally vacuous after all.
I started with the cashier at a gas station. I figured I'd never see her again, so it was pretty safe. She has no clue that I was a smart person with a lot of potential. Years of cynicism made me almost laugh as I said. 'Sure got a lot of snow this year so far. Yep, was her reply. Then she said, I could barely get my car out of the lot, be careful driving. Talking about the weather was easy, even effortless. An entree to at least one person on the planet who apparently cared about me, at least enough to share her small challenge and want me safe on the road.
Next time I tried it at work. It turned out to be even more effective with people I already knew. Talking about the weather acted as a little bridge, sometimes to further conversation and sometimes just to the mutual acknowledgment of shared experience. Whether it was rainy or snowy or sunny or damp for everyone, each had their own relationship with the weather. They might be achy, delighted, burdened, grumpy, relieved or simply cold or hot. Like anything of personal importance, most were grateful for the opportunity to talk about it.
Then something else happened. As talking about the weather became more natural, I found myself talking about a whole lot more. I found out about people's families, their frustrations at work, their plans and aspirations. Plus, I found out that the weather is not the same for everyone! And it's only one of many factors dependent on location that you'll never know about without engaging in casual conversation.
For a businessperson, there may be no better way to make a connection, continue a thread, or open a deeper dialogue. Honoring the simple reality of another person's experience is an instant link to the bigger world outside one's self. It's the seed of empathy, and it's free.
Q. In the fourth paragraph, what is meant by the phrase 'each had their own relationship with the weather'?
  • a)
    Though everyone experiences the same things, their reactions are different
  • b)
    Weather was a metaphor for the varied reactions that the author encountered
  • c)
    Though weather meant different things to different people, all handled the situation analogously
  • d)
    The reaction to the weather decided the extent of involvement of the person in his surroundings
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
DIRECTIONSfor the question:Read the passage and answer the question ba...
The way every person looked at the weather was different and the way they reacted to the weather was also different. The environment affects every person differently. People looked at weather from different perspectives and hence option 3 is incorrect. There is no talk of the involvement of people with their surroundings.
View all questions of this test
Most Upvoted Answer
DIRECTIONSfor the question:Read the passage and answer the question ba...
Understanding the Phrase
The phrase "each had their own relationship with the weather" signifies that while everyone experiences the same weather events—like rain or snow—their emotional and psychological responses to these events can differ significantly.
Key Points:
- Individual Interpretation: Each person interprets weather based on personal experiences, emotions, and circumstances. For some, a sunny day might bring joy, while for others, it might induce feelings of isolation or discomfort.
- Unique Experiences: The author highlights how people’s backgrounds, moods, and situations shape their reactions to the weather. A cold winter might be a challenge for one person, while another might find it invigorating.
- Empathy and Connection: Recognizing these varied responses fosters empathy. By acknowledging that weather affects everyone in different ways, it opens the door for deeper conversations and connections among individuals.
- Shared Experience: The acknowledgment of diverse reactions to a common experience (the weather) serves as a bridge for social interaction and understanding, allowing for a richer exchange of personal insights and feelings.
Conclusion:
In essence, option A accurately captures the essence of the author’s realization that while the weather is a universal experience, the individual responses to it are profoundly personal and varied. This understanding leads to greater empathy and connection among people.
Free Test
Community Answer
DIRECTIONSfor the question:Read the passage and answer the question ba...
A
Explore Courses for CAT exam

Similar CAT Doubts

DIRECTIONSfor the question:Read the passage and answer the question based on it.Until I was 35 years old I thought talking about the weather was for losers. A waste of time, insulting even. No one can do anything about the weather anyway. I believed that any comment that does not offer new insight or otherwise advance the cause of humanity is just so much hot air. I might make an exception for intimate friends, but I sure did not want that kind of intimacy with the man on the street, or the one in my office.Then something happened. Alone for the first time in a long time, living in challenging circumstances, experiencing a cold winter in New England, I noticed the weather. It affected me deeply and directly, every single day. Slowly it dawned on me that the weather affected everyone else, too. Maybe talking about it wasnt totally vacuous after all.I started with the cashier at a gas station. I figured Id never see her again, so it was pretty safe. She has no clue that I was a smart person with a lot of potential. Years of cynicism made me almost laugh as I said. Sure got a lot of snow this year so far. Yep, was her reply. Then she said, I could barely get my car out of the lot, be careful driving. Talking about the weather was easy, even effortless. An entree to at least one person on the planet who apparently cared about me, at least enough to share her small challenge and want me safe on the road.Next time I tried it at work. It turned out to be even more effective with people I already knew. Talking about the weather acted as a little bridge, sometimes to further conversation and sometimes just to the mutual acknowledgment of shared experience. Whether it was rainy or snowy or sunny or damp for everyone, each had their own relationship with the weather. They might be achy, delighted, burdened, grumpy, relieved or simply cold or hot. Like anything of personal importance, most were grateful for the opportunity to talk about it.Then something else happened. As talking about the weather became more natural, I found myself talking about a whole lot more. I found out about peoples families, their frustrations at work, their plans and aspirations. Plus, I found out that the weather is not the same for everyone! And its only one of many factors dependent on location that youll never know about without engaging in casual conversation.For a businessperson, there may be no better way to make a connection, continue a thread, or open a deeper dialogue. Honoring the simple reality of another persons experience is an instant link to the bigger world outside ones self. Its the seed of empathy, and its free.Q.Why does the author call a discussion about weather ‘a seed of empathy’?

DIRECTIONSfor the question:Read the passage and answer the question based on it.Until I was 35 years old I thought talking about the weather was for losers. A waste of time, insulting even. No one can do anything about the weather anyway. I believed that any comment that does not offer new insight or otherwise advance the cause of humanity is just so much hot air. I might make an exception for intimate friends, but I sure did not want that kind of intimacy with the man on the street, or the one in my office.Then something happened. Alone for the first time in a long time, living in challenging circumstances, experiencing a cold winter in New England, I noticed the weather. It affected me deeply and directly, every single day. Slowly it dawned on me that the weather affected everyone else, too. Maybe talking about it wasnt totally vacuous after all.I started with the cashier at a gas station. I figured Id never see her again, so it was pretty safe. She has no clue that I was a smart person with a lot of potential. Years of cynicism made me almost laugh as I said. Sure got a lot of snow this year so far. Yep, was her reply. Then she said, I could barely get my car out of the lot, be careful driving. Talking about the weather was easy, even effortless. An entree to at least one person on the planet who apparently cared about me, at least enough to share her small challenge and want me safe on the road.Next time I tried it at work. It turned out to be even more effective with people I already knew. Talking about the weather acted as a little bridge, sometimes to further conversation and sometimes just to the mutual acknowledgment of shared experience. Whether it was rainy or snowy or sunny or damp for everyone, each had their own relationship with the weather. They might be achy, delighted, burdened, grumpy, relieved or simply cold or hot. Like anything of personal importance, most were grateful for the opportunity to talk about it.Then something else happened. As talking about the weather became more natural, I found myself talking about a whole lot more. I found out about peoples families, their frustrations at work, their plans and aspirations. Plus, I found out that the weather is not the same for everyone! And its only one of many factors dependent on location that youll never know about without engaging in casual conversation.For a businessperson, there may be no better way to make a connection, continue a thread, or open a deeper dialogue. Honoring the simple reality of another persons experience is an instant link to the bigger world outside ones self. Its the seed of empathy, and its free.Q.As used in the third paragraph, the wordentreemost likely stands for

DIRECTIONSfor the question:Read the passage and answer the question based on it.Until I was 35 years old I thought talking about the weather was for losers. A waste of time, insulting even. No one can do anything about the weather anyway. I believed that any comment that does not offer new insight or otherwise advance the cause of humanity is just so much hot air. I might make an exception for intimate friends, but I sure did not want that kind of intimacy with the man on the street, or the one in my office.Then something happened. Alone for the first time in a long time, living in challenging circumstances, experiencing a cold winter in New England, I noticed the weather. It affected me deeply and directly, every single day. Slowly it dawned on me that the weather affected everyone else, too. Maybe talking about it wasnt totally vacuous after all.I started with the cashier at a gas station. I figured Id never see her again, so it was pretty safe. She has no clue that I was a smart person with a lot of potential. Years of cynicism made me almost laugh as I said. Sure got a lot of snow this year so far. Yep, was her reply. Then she said, I could barely get my car out of the lot, be careful driving. Talking about the weather was easy, even effortless. An entree to at least one person on the planet who apparently cared about me, at least enough to share her small challenge and want me safe on the road.Next time I tried it at work. It turned out to be even more effective with people I already knew. Talking about the weather acted as a little bridge, sometimes to further conversation and sometimes just to the mutual acknowledgment of shared experience. Whether it was rainy or snowy or sunny or damp for everyone, each had their own relationship with the weather. They might be achy, delighted, burdened, grumpy, relieved or simply cold or hot. Like anything of personal importance, most were grateful for the opportunity to talk about it.Then something else happened. As talking about the weather became more natural, I found myself talking about a whole lot more. I found out about peoples families, their frustrations at work, their plans and aspirations. Plus, I found out that the weather is not the same for everyone! And its only one of many factors dependent on location that youll never know about without engaging in casual conversation.For a businessperson, there may be no better way to make a connection, continue a thread, or open a deeper dialogue. Honoring the simple reality of another persons experience is an instant link to the bigger world outside ones self. Its the seed of empathy, and its free.Q.What is the main theme of the passage?

Top Courses for CAT

DIRECTIONSfor the question:Read the passage and answer the question based on it.Until I was 35 years old I thought talking about the weather was for losers. A waste of time, insulting even. No one can do anything about the weather anyway. I believed that any comment that does not offer new insight or otherwise advance the cause of humanity is just so much hot air. I might make an exception for intimate friends, but I sure did not want that kind of intimacy with the man on the street, or the one in my office.Then something happened. Alone for the first time in a long time, living in challenging circumstances, experiencing a cold winter in New England, I noticed the weather. It affected me deeply and directly, every single day. Slowly it dawned on me that the weather affected everyone else, too. Maybe talking about it wasnt totally vacuous after all.I started with the cashier at a gas station. I figured Id never see her again, so it was pretty safe. She has no clue that I was a smart person with a lot of potential. Years of cynicism made me almost laugh as I said. Sure got a lot of snow this year so far. Yep, was her reply. Then she said, I could barely get my car out of the lot, be careful driving. Talking about the weather was easy, even effortless. An entree to at least one person on the planet who apparently cared about me, at least enough to share her small challenge and want me safe on the road.Next time I tried it at work. It turned out to be even more effective with people I already knew. Talking about the weather acted as a little bridge, sometimes to further conversation and sometimes just to the mutual acknowledgment of shared experience. Whether it was rainy or snowy or sunny or damp for everyone, each had their own relationship with the weather. They might be achy, delighted, burdened, grumpy, relieved or simply cold or hot. Like anything of personal importance, most were grateful for the opportunity to talk about it.Then something else happened. As talking about the weather became more natural, I found myself talking about a whole lot more. I found out about peoples families, their frustrations at work, their plans and aspirations. Plus, I found out that the weather is not the same for everyone! And its only one of many factors dependent on location that youll never know about without engaging in casual conversation.For a businessperson, there may be no better way to make a connection, continue a thread, or open a deeper dialogue. Honoring the simple reality of another persons experience is an instant link to the bigger world outside ones self. Its the seed of empathy, and its free.Q.In the fourth paragraph, what is meant by the phrase each had their own relationship with the weather?a)Though everyone experiences the same things, their reactions are differentb)Weather was a metaphor for the varied reactions that the author encounteredc)Though weather meant different things to different people, all handled the situation analogouslyd)The reaction to the weather decided the extent of involvement of the person in his surroundingsCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
DIRECTIONSfor the question:Read the passage and answer the question based on it.Until I was 35 years old I thought talking about the weather was for losers. A waste of time, insulting even. No one can do anything about the weather anyway. I believed that any comment that does not offer new insight or otherwise advance the cause of humanity is just so much hot air. I might make an exception for intimate friends, but I sure did not want that kind of intimacy with the man on the street, or the one in my office.Then something happened. Alone for the first time in a long time, living in challenging circumstances, experiencing a cold winter in New England, I noticed the weather. It affected me deeply and directly, every single day. Slowly it dawned on me that the weather affected everyone else, too. Maybe talking about it wasnt totally vacuous after all.I started with the cashier at a gas station. I figured Id never see her again, so it was pretty safe. She has no clue that I was a smart person with a lot of potential. Years of cynicism made me almost laugh as I said. Sure got a lot of snow this year so far. Yep, was her reply. Then she said, I could barely get my car out of the lot, be careful driving. Talking about the weather was easy, even effortless. An entree to at least one person on the planet who apparently cared about me, at least enough to share her small challenge and want me safe on the road.Next time I tried it at work. It turned out to be even more effective with people I already knew. Talking about the weather acted as a little bridge, sometimes to further conversation and sometimes just to the mutual acknowledgment of shared experience. Whether it was rainy or snowy or sunny or damp for everyone, each had their own relationship with the weather. They might be achy, delighted, burdened, grumpy, relieved or simply cold or hot. Like anything of personal importance, most were grateful for the opportunity to talk about it.Then something else happened. As talking about the weather became more natural, I found myself talking about a whole lot more. I found out about peoples families, their frustrations at work, their plans and aspirations. Plus, I found out that the weather is not the same for everyone! And its only one of many factors dependent on location that youll never know about without engaging in casual conversation.For a businessperson, there may be no better way to make a connection, continue a thread, or open a deeper dialogue. Honoring the simple reality of another persons experience is an instant link to the bigger world outside ones self. Its the seed of empathy, and its free.Q.In the fourth paragraph, what is meant by the phrase each had their own relationship with the weather?a)Though everyone experiences the same things, their reactions are differentb)Weather was a metaphor for the varied reactions that the author encounteredc)Though weather meant different things to different people, all handled the situation analogouslyd)The reaction to the weather decided the extent of involvement of the person in his surroundingsCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? for CAT 2025 is part of CAT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the CAT exam syllabus. Information about DIRECTIONSfor the question:Read the passage and answer the question based on it.Until I was 35 years old I thought talking about the weather was for losers. A waste of time, insulting even. No one can do anything about the weather anyway. I believed that any comment that does not offer new insight or otherwise advance the cause of humanity is just so much hot air. I might make an exception for intimate friends, but I sure did not want that kind of intimacy with the man on the street, or the one in my office.Then something happened. Alone for the first time in a long time, living in challenging circumstances, experiencing a cold winter in New England, I noticed the weather. It affected me deeply and directly, every single day. Slowly it dawned on me that the weather affected everyone else, too. Maybe talking about it wasnt totally vacuous after all.I started with the cashier at a gas station. I figured Id never see her again, so it was pretty safe. She has no clue that I was a smart person with a lot of potential. Years of cynicism made me almost laugh as I said. Sure got a lot of snow this year so far. Yep, was her reply. Then she said, I could barely get my car out of the lot, be careful driving. Talking about the weather was easy, even effortless. An entree to at least one person on the planet who apparently cared about me, at least enough to share her small challenge and want me safe on the road.Next time I tried it at work. It turned out to be even more effective with people I already knew. Talking about the weather acted as a little bridge, sometimes to further conversation and sometimes just to the mutual acknowledgment of shared experience. Whether it was rainy or snowy or sunny or damp for everyone, each had their own relationship with the weather. They might be achy, delighted, burdened, grumpy, relieved or simply cold or hot. Like anything of personal importance, most were grateful for the opportunity to talk about it.Then something else happened. As talking about the weather became more natural, I found myself talking about a whole lot more. I found out about peoples families, their frustrations at work, their plans and aspirations. Plus, I found out that the weather is not the same for everyone! And its only one of many factors dependent on location that youll never know about without engaging in casual conversation.For a businessperson, there may be no better way to make a connection, continue a thread, or open a deeper dialogue. Honoring the simple reality of another persons experience is an instant link to the bigger world outside ones self. Its the seed of empathy, and its free.Q.In the fourth paragraph, what is meant by the phrase each had their own relationship with the weather?a)Though everyone experiences the same things, their reactions are differentb)Weather was a metaphor for the varied reactions that the author encounteredc)Though weather meant different things to different people, all handled the situation analogouslyd)The reaction to the weather decided the extent of involvement of the person in his surroundingsCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for CAT 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for DIRECTIONSfor the question:Read the passage and answer the question based on it.Until I was 35 years old I thought talking about the weather was for losers. A waste of time, insulting even. No one can do anything about the weather anyway. I believed that any comment that does not offer new insight or otherwise advance the cause of humanity is just so much hot air. I might make an exception for intimate friends, but I sure did not want that kind of intimacy with the man on the street, or the one in my office.Then something happened. Alone for the first time in a long time, living in challenging circumstances, experiencing a cold winter in New England, I noticed the weather. It affected me deeply and directly, every single day. Slowly it dawned on me that the weather affected everyone else, too. Maybe talking about it wasnt totally vacuous after all.I started with the cashier at a gas station. I figured Id never see her again, so it was pretty safe. She has no clue that I was a smart person with a lot of potential. Years of cynicism made me almost laugh as I said. Sure got a lot of snow this year so far. Yep, was her reply. Then she said, I could barely get my car out of the lot, be careful driving. Talking about the weather was easy, even effortless. An entree to at least one person on the planet who apparently cared about me, at least enough to share her small challenge and want me safe on the road.Next time I tried it at work. It turned out to be even more effective with people I already knew. Talking about the weather acted as a little bridge, sometimes to further conversation and sometimes just to the mutual acknowledgment of shared experience. Whether it was rainy or snowy or sunny or damp for everyone, each had their own relationship with the weather. They might be achy, delighted, burdened, grumpy, relieved or simply cold or hot. Like anything of personal importance, most were grateful for the opportunity to talk about it.Then something else happened. As talking about the weather became more natural, I found myself talking about a whole lot more. I found out about peoples families, their frustrations at work, their plans and aspirations. Plus, I found out that the weather is not the same for everyone! And its only one of many factors dependent on location that youll never know about without engaging in casual conversation.For a businessperson, there may be no better way to make a connection, continue a thread, or open a deeper dialogue. Honoring the simple reality of another persons experience is an instant link to the bigger world outside ones self. Its the seed of empathy, and its free.Q.In the fourth paragraph, what is meant by the phrase each had their own relationship with the weather?a)Though everyone experiences the same things, their reactions are differentb)Weather was a metaphor for the varied reactions that the author encounteredc)Though weather meant different things to different people, all handled the situation analogouslyd)The reaction to the weather decided the extent of involvement of the person in his surroundingsCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for DIRECTIONSfor the question:Read the passage and answer the question based on it.Until I was 35 years old I thought talking about the weather was for losers. A waste of time, insulting even. No one can do anything about the weather anyway. I believed that any comment that does not offer new insight or otherwise advance the cause of humanity is just so much hot air. I might make an exception for intimate friends, but I sure did not want that kind of intimacy with the man on the street, or the one in my office.Then something happened. Alone for the first time in a long time, living in challenging circumstances, experiencing a cold winter in New England, I noticed the weather. It affected me deeply and directly, every single day. Slowly it dawned on me that the weather affected everyone else, too. Maybe talking about it wasnt totally vacuous after all.I started with the cashier at a gas station. I figured Id never see her again, so it was pretty safe. She has no clue that I was a smart person with a lot of potential. Years of cynicism made me almost laugh as I said. Sure got a lot of snow this year so far. Yep, was her reply. Then she said, I could barely get my car out of the lot, be careful driving. Talking about the weather was easy, even effortless. An entree to at least one person on the planet who apparently cared about me, at least enough to share her small challenge and want me safe on the road.Next time I tried it at work. It turned out to be even more effective with people I already knew. Talking about the weather acted as a little bridge, sometimes to further conversation and sometimes just to the mutual acknowledgment of shared experience. Whether it was rainy or snowy or sunny or damp for everyone, each had their own relationship with the weather. They might be achy, delighted, burdened, grumpy, relieved or simply cold or hot. Like anything of personal importance, most were grateful for the opportunity to talk about it.Then something else happened. As talking about the weather became more natural, I found myself talking about a whole lot more. I found out about peoples families, their frustrations at work, their plans and aspirations. Plus, I found out that the weather is not the same for everyone! And its only one of many factors dependent on location that youll never know about without engaging in casual conversation.For a businessperson, there may be no better way to make a connection, continue a thread, or open a deeper dialogue. Honoring the simple reality of another persons experience is an instant link to the bigger world outside ones self. Its the seed of empathy, and its free.Q.In the fourth paragraph, what is meant by the phrase each had their own relationship with the weather?a)Though everyone experiences the same things, their reactions are differentb)Weather was a metaphor for the varied reactions that the author encounteredc)Though weather meant different things to different people, all handled the situation analogouslyd)The reaction to the weather decided the extent of involvement of the person in his surroundingsCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for CAT. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for CAT Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of DIRECTIONSfor the question:Read the passage and answer the question based on it.Until I was 35 years old I thought talking about the weather was for losers. A waste of time, insulting even. No one can do anything about the weather anyway. I believed that any comment that does not offer new insight or otherwise advance the cause of humanity is just so much hot air. I might make an exception for intimate friends, but I sure did not want that kind of intimacy with the man on the street, or the one in my office.Then something happened. Alone for the first time in a long time, living in challenging circumstances, experiencing a cold winter in New England, I noticed the weather. It affected me deeply and directly, every single day. Slowly it dawned on me that the weather affected everyone else, too. Maybe talking about it wasnt totally vacuous after all.I started with the cashier at a gas station. I figured Id never see her again, so it was pretty safe. She has no clue that I was a smart person with a lot of potential. Years of cynicism made me almost laugh as I said. Sure got a lot of snow this year so far. Yep, was her reply. Then she said, I could barely get my car out of the lot, be careful driving. Talking about the weather was easy, even effortless. An entree to at least one person on the planet who apparently cared about me, at least enough to share her small challenge and want me safe on the road.Next time I tried it at work. It turned out to be even more effective with people I already knew. Talking about the weather acted as a little bridge, sometimes to further conversation and sometimes just to the mutual acknowledgment of shared experience. Whether it was rainy or snowy or sunny or damp for everyone, each had their own relationship with the weather. They might be achy, delighted, burdened, grumpy, relieved or simply cold or hot. Like anything of personal importance, most were grateful for the opportunity to talk about it.Then something else happened. As talking about the weather became more natural, I found myself talking about a whole lot more. I found out about peoples families, their frustrations at work, their plans and aspirations. Plus, I found out that the weather is not the same for everyone! And its only one of many factors dependent on location that youll never know about without engaging in casual conversation.For a businessperson, there may be no better way to make a connection, continue a thread, or open a deeper dialogue. Honoring the simple reality of another persons experience is an instant link to the bigger world outside ones self. Its the seed of empathy, and its free.Q.In the fourth paragraph, what is meant by the phrase each had their own relationship with the weather?a)Though everyone experiences the same things, their reactions are differentb)Weather was a metaphor for the varied reactions that the author encounteredc)Though weather meant different things to different people, all handled the situation analogouslyd)The reaction to the weather decided the extent of involvement of the person in his surroundingsCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of DIRECTIONSfor the question:Read the passage and answer the question based on it.Until I was 35 years old I thought talking about the weather was for losers. A waste of time, insulting even. No one can do anything about the weather anyway. I believed that any comment that does not offer new insight or otherwise advance the cause of humanity is just so much hot air. I might make an exception for intimate friends, but I sure did not want that kind of intimacy with the man on the street, or the one in my office.Then something happened. Alone for the first time in a long time, living in challenging circumstances, experiencing a cold winter in New England, I noticed the weather. It affected me deeply and directly, every single day. Slowly it dawned on me that the weather affected everyone else, too. Maybe talking about it wasnt totally vacuous after all.I started with the cashier at a gas station. I figured Id never see her again, so it was pretty safe. She has no clue that I was a smart person with a lot of potential. Years of cynicism made me almost laugh as I said. Sure got a lot of snow this year so far. Yep, was her reply. Then she said, I could barely get my car out of the lot, be careful driving. Talking about the weather was easy, even effortless. An entree to at least one person on the planet who apparently cared about me, at least enough to share her small challenge and want me safe on the road.Next time I tried it at work. It turned out to be even more effective with people I already knew. Talking about the weather acted as a little bridge, sometimes to further conversation and sometimes just to the mutual acknowledgment of shared experience. Whether it was rainy or snowy or sunny or damp for everyone, each had their own relationship with the weather. They might be achy, delighted, burdened, grumpy, relieved or simply cold or hot. Like anything of personal importance, most were grateful for the opportunity to talk about it.Then something else happened. As talking about the weather became more natural, I found myself talking about a whole lot more. I found out about peoples families, their frustrations at work, their plans and aspirations. Plus, I found out that the weather is not the same for everyone! And its only one of many factors dependent on location that youll never know about without engaging in casual conversation.For a businessperson, there may be no better way to make a connection, continue a thread, or open a deeper dialogue. Honoring the simple reality of another persons experience is an instant link to the bigger world outside ones self. Its the seed of empathy, and its free.Q.In the fourth paragraph, what is meant by the phrase each had their own relationship with the weather?a)Though everyone experiences the same things, their reactions are differentb)Weather was a metaphor for the varied reactions that the author encounteredc)Though weather meant different things to different people, all handled the situation analogouslyd)The reaction to the weather decided the extent of involvement of the person in his surroundingsCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for DIRECTIONSfor the question:Read the passage and answer the question based on it.Until I was 35 years old I thought talking about the weather was for losers. A waste of time, insulting even. No one can do anything about the weather anyway. I believed that any comment that does not offer new insight or otherwise advance the cause of humanity is just so much hot air. I might make an exception for intimate friends, but I sure did not want that kind of intimacy with the man on the street, or the one in my office.Then something happened. Alone for the first time in a long time, living in challenging circumstances, experiencing a cold winter in New England, I noticed the weather. It affected me deeply and directly, every single day. Slowly it dawned on me that the weather affected everyone else, too. Maybe talking about it wasnt totally vacuous after all.I started with the cashier at a gas station. I figured Id never see her again, so it was pretty safe. She has no clue that I was a smart person with a lot of potential. Years of cynicism made me almost laugh as I said. Sure got a lot of snow this year so far. Yep, was her reply. Then she said, I could barely get my car out of the lot, be careful driving. Talking about the weather was easy, even effortless. An entree to at least one person on the planet who apparently cared about me, at least enough to share her small challenge and want me safe on the road.Next time I tried it at work. It turned out to be even more effective with people I already knew. Talking about the weather acted as a little bridge, sometimes to further conversation and sometimes just to the mutual acknowledgment of shared experience. Whether it was rainy or snowy or sunny or damp for everyone, each had their own relationship with the weather. They might be achy, delighted, burdened, grumpy, relieved or simply cold or hot. Like anything of personal importance, most were grateful for the opportunity to talk about it.Then something else happened. As talking about the weather became more natural, I found myself talking about a whole lot more. I found out about peoples families, their frustrations at work, their plans and aspirations. Plus, I found out that the weather is not the same for everyone! And its only one of many factors dependent on location that youll never know about without engaging in casual conversation.For a businessperson, there may be no better way to make a connection, continue a thread, or open a deeper dialogue. Honoring the simple reality of another persons experience is an instant link to the bigger world outside ones self. Its the seed of empathy, and its free.Q.In the fourth paragraph, what is meant by the phrase each had their own relationship with the weather?a)Though everyone experiences the same things, their reactions are differentb)Weather was a metaphor for the varied reactions that the author encounteredc)Though weather meant different things to different people, all handled the situation analogouslyd)The reaction to the weather decided the extent of involvement of the person in his surroundingsCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of DIRECTIONSfor the question:Read the passage and answer the question based on it.Until I was 35 years old I thought talking about the weather was for losers. A waste of time, insulting even. No one can do anything about the weather anyway. I believed that any comment that does not offer new insight or otherwise advance the cause of humanity is just so much hot air. I might make an exception for intimate friends, but I sure did not want that kind of intimacy with the man on the street, or the one in my office.Then something happened. Alone for the first time in a long time, living in challenging circumstances, experiencing a cold winter in New England, I noticed the weather. It affected me deeply and directly, every single day. Slowly it dawned on me that the weather affected everyone else, too. Maybe talking about it wasnt totally vacuous after all.I started with the cashier at a gas station. I figured Id never see her again, so it was pretty safe. She has no clue that I was a smart person with a lot of potential. Years of cynicism made me almost laugh as I said. Sure got a lot of snow this year so far. Yep, was her reply. Then she said, I could barely get my car out of the lot, be careful driving. Talking about the weather was easy, even effortless. An entree to at least one person on the planet who apparently cared about me, at least enough to share her small challenge and want me safe on the road.Next time I tried it at work. It turned out to be even more effective with people I already knew. Talking about the weather acted as a little bridge, sometimes to further conversation and sometimes just to the mutual acknowledgment of shared experience. Whether it was rainy or snowy or sunny or damp for everyone, each had their own relationship with the weather. They might be achy, delighted, burdened, grumpy, relieved or simply cold or hot. Like anything of personal importance, most were grateful for the opportunity to talk about it.Then something else happened. As talking about the weather became more natural, I found myself talking about a whole lot more. I found out about peoples families, their frustrations at work, their plans and aspirations. Plus, I found out that the weather is not the same for everyone! And its only one of many factors dependent on location that youll never know about without engaging in casual conversation.For a businessperson, there may be no better way to make a connection, continue a thread, or open a deeper dialogue. Honoring the simple reality of another persons experience is an instant link to the bigger world outside ones self. Its the seed of empathy, and its free.Q.In the fourth paragraph, what is meant by the phrase each had their own relationship with the weather?a)Though everyone experiences the same things, their reactions are differentb)Weather was a metaphor for the varied reactions that the author encounteredc)Though weather meant different things to different people, all handled the situation analogouslyd)The reaction to the weather decided the extent of involvement of the person in his surroundingsCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice DIRECTIONSfor the question:Read the passage and answer the question based on it.Until I was 35 years old I thought talking about the weather was for losers. A waste of time, insulting even. No one can do anything about the weather anyway. I believed that any comment that does not offer new insight or otherwise advance the cause of humanity is just so much hot air. I might make an exception for intimate friends, but I sure did not want that kind of intimacy with the man on the street, or the one in my office.Then something happened. Alone for the first time in a long time, living in challenging circumstances, experiencing a cold winter in New England, I noticed the weather. It affected me deeply and directly, every single day. Slowly it dawned on me that the weather affected everyone else, too. Maybe talking about it wasnt totally vacuous after all.I started with the cashier at a gas station. I figured Id never see her again, so it was pretty safe. She has no clue that I was a smart person with a lot of potential. Years of cynicism made me almost laugh as I said. Sure got a lot of snow this year so far. Yep, was her reply. Then she said, I could barely get my car out of the lot, be careful driving. Talking about the weather was easy, even effortless. An entree to at least one person on the planet who apparently cared about me, at least enough to share her small challenge and want me safe on the road.Next time I tried it at work. It turned out to be even more effective with people I already knew. Talking about the weather acted as a little bridge, sometimes to further conversation and sometimes just to the mutual acknowledgment of shared experience. Whether it was rainy or snowy or sunny or damp for everyone, each had their own relationship with the weather. They might be achy, delighted, burdened, grumpy, relieved or simply cold or hot. Like anything of personal importance, most were grateful for the opportunity to talk about it.Then something else happened. As talking about the weather became more natural, I found myself talking about a whole lot more. I found out about peoples families, their frustrations at work, their plans and aspirations. Plus, I found out that the weather is not the same for everyone! And its only one of many factors dependent on location that youll never know about without engaging in casual conversation.For a businessperson, there may be no better way to make a connection, continue a thread, or open a deeper dialogue. Honoring the simple reality of another persons experience is an instant link to the bigger world outside ones self. Its the seed of empathy, and its free.Q.In the fourth paragraph, what is meant by the phrase each had their own relationship with the weather?a)Though everyone experiences the same things, their reactions are differentb)Weather was a metaphor for the varied reactions that the author encounteredc)Though weather meant different things to different people, all handled the situation analogouslyd)The reaction to the weather decided the extent of involvement of the person in his surroundingsCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice CAT tests.
Explore Courses for CAT exam

Top Courses for CAT

Explore Courses
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev