Directions for Reading Comprehension: The passage given here is followed by some questions that have four answer choices; read the passage carefully and pick the option whose answer best aligns with the passage. The word ‘anarchy’ comes from the Greek anarkhia, meaning contrary to authority or without a ruler, and was used in a derogatory sense until 1840, when it was adopted by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon to describe his political and social ideology. Proudhon argued that organisation without government was both possible and desirable. In the evolution of political ideas, anarchism can be seen as an ultimate projection of both liberalism and socialism, and the differing strands of anarchist thought can be related to their emphasis on one or the other of these. Historically, anarchism arose not only as an explanation of the gulf between the rich and the poor in any community, and of the reason why the poor have been obliged to fight for their share of a common inheritance, but as a radical answer to the question ‘What went wrong?’ that followed the ultimate outcome of the French Revolution. It had ended not only with a reign of terror and the emergence of a newly rich ruling caste, but with a new adored emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, strutting through his conquered territories. The anarchists and their precursors were unique on the political Left in affirming that workers and peasants, grasping the chance that arose to bring an end to centuries of exploitation and tyranny, were inevitably betrayed by the new class of politicians, whose first priority was to re-establish a centralised state power. After every revolutionary uprising, usually won at a heavy cost for ordinary populations, the new rulers had no hesitation in applying violence and terror, a secret police, and a professional army to maintain their control. For anarchists, the state itself is the enemy, and they have applied the same interpretation to the outcome of every revolution of the 19th and 20th centuries. This is not merely because every state keeps a watchful and sometimes punitive eye on its dissidents, but because every state protects the privileges of the powerful. The mainstream of anarchist propaganda for more than a century has been anarchist communism, which argues that property in land, natural resources, and the means of production should be held in mutual control by local communities, federating for innumerable joint purposes with other communes. It differs from state socialism in opposing the concept of any central authority. Some anarchists prefer to distinguish between anarchist-communism and collectivist anarchism in order to stress the obviously desirable freedom of an individual or family to possess the resources needed for living, while not implying the right to own the resources needed by others. . . . There are, unsurprisingly, several traditions of individualist anarchism, one of them deriving from the ‘conscious egoism’ of the German writer Max Stirner (1806–56), and another from a remarkable series of 19th-century American figures who argued that in protecting our own autonomy and associating with others for common advantages, we are promoting the good of all. These thinkers differed from free-market liberals in their absolute mistrust of American capitalism and in their emphasis on mutualism.
Question for CAT 2020 Reading Comprehension Questions- 1
Try yourself:The author believes that the new ruling class of politicians betrayed the principles of the French Revolution, but does not specify in what way. In the context of the passage, which statement below is the likeliest explanation of that betrayal?
Explanation
Correct answer
D: The new ruling class rode to power on the strength of the workers’ revolutionary anger, but then turned to oppress that very class.
Explanation
The passage states that the French Revolution, driven by workers and peasants to end exploitation, ended with a new ruling class and Napoleon’s rise. Anarchists argue this class betrayed the revolution by re-establishing centralized power and using violence to control the same workers who supported them. Option D captures this betrayal: the new rulers gained power through the workers’ revolt but oppressed them afterward.
B: Incorrect—focuses on anarchists’ weakness, not the betrayal.
C: Incorrect—no evidence of a deal with the old class.
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Question for CAT 2020 Reading Comprehension Questions- 1
Try yourself:The author makes all of the following arguments in the passage, EXCEPT:
Explanation
Correct Answer
B: The popular perception of anarchism as espousing lawlessness and violence comes from a mainstream mistrust of collectivism.
Explanation
A: True—The author argues the French Revolution failed due to betrayal by the new ruling class, who re-established centralized power (e.g., Napoleon’s rise).
B: False—The passage doesn’t link the perception of anarchism as lawless/violent to a mistrust of collectivism. It traces anarchism’s origins and ideologies but doesn’t address mainstream perceptions or their causes.
C: True—The author mentions multiple traditions of individualist anarchism (e.g., Stirner, American thinkers), all emphasizing individual autonomy and mutualism.
D: True—The author states anarchists see the state as the enemy, as all states use violence, terror, and centralized power to maintain control.
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Question for CAT 2020 Reading Comprehension Questions- 1
Try yourself:According to the passage, what is the one idea that is common to all forms of anarchism?
Explanation
Answer Options Evaluation
A: There is no idea common to all forms of anarchism; that is why it is anarchic.
This is incorrect. The passage clearly identifies a shared theme: opposition to centralized state power. While anarchism has diverse strands (communist, individualist), they converge on this idea.
B: They all derive from the work of Pierre-Joseph Proudhon.
This is incorrect. While Proudhon popularized anarchism, the passage mentions other influences (e.g., Max Stirner, American individualists) that developed independently. Not all forms directly derive from Proudhon’s work.
C: They are all opposed to the centralisation of power in the state.
This aligns with the passage. Every form of anarchism described—whether communist or individualist—rejects centralized state power, viewing the state as an enemy that perpetuates inequality and control. This is the unifying idea across all strands.
D: They all focus on the primacy of the power of the individual.
This is partially true for individualist anarchism (e.g., Stirner’s egoism, American thinkers), but not for anarchist communism, which prioritizes collective control of resources by communities. The passage does not present individual power as the universal focus of all anarchism.
Correct Answer
C: They are all opposed to the centralisation of power in the state.
This option captures the core idea common to all forms of anarchism as described in the passage, making it the best choice.
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Question for CAT 2020 Reading Comprehension Questions- 1
Try yourself:Which one of the following best expresses the similarity between American individualist anarchists and free-market liberals as well as the difference between the former and the latter?
Explanation
Correct Answer
B: Both prioritise individual autonomy; but the former also emphasise mutual dependence, while the latter do not do so.
Explanation
The passage describes American individualist anarchists as focusing on "protecting our own autonomy" while "associating with others for common advantages," promoting mutualism. Free-market liberals also value individual autonomy but trust capitalism, which the anarchists mistrust.
B: Correct—Both groups prioritize individual autonomy, but American individualist anarchists emphasize mutual dependence (mutualism), while free-market liberals focus on individual freedom without this cooperative aspect.
A: Incorrect—Neither group favors a "people’s state" or state intervention; both reject state regulation.
C: Incorrect—Individualist anarchists don’t argue for capitalism (they mistrust it); free-market liberals don’t claim the market as the "only morality."
D: Incorrect—Neither is founded on altruism; the passage doesn’t describe the market as "mystical."
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Question for CAT 2020 Reading Comprehension Questions- 1
Try yourself:Of the following sets of concepts, identify the set that is conceptually closest to the concerns of the passage.
Explanation
Correct Answer
D: Anarchism, Betrayal, Power, State.
Explanation
The passage focuses on anarchism’s opposition to the state, the betrayal of revolutionary ideals by new ruling classes, and the state’s use of power to maintain control.
D: Matches the passage’s themes: anarchism as the central ideology, betrayal (e.g., post-French Revolution), power (centralized state authority), and the state as the enemy.
A: Strike is unrelated; egoism is only a small part (Stirner’s influence).
B: Protection and liberals are minor; the focus is on state opposition, not protection.
C: Individual and freedom are relevant but secondary to betrayal and power, which are more central.
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