Passages
Direction for Reading Comprehension: As defined by the geographer Yi-Fu Tuan, topophilia is the affective bond between people and place. His 1974 book set forth a wide-ranging exploration of how the emotive ties with the material environment vary greatly from person to person and in intensity, subtlety, and mode of expression. Factors influencing one’s depth of response to the environment include cultural background, gender, race, and historical circumstance, and Tuan also argued that there is a biological and sensory element. Topophilia might not be the strongest of human emotions— indeed, many people feel utterly indifferent toward the environments that shape their lives— but when activated it has the power to elevate a place to become the carrier of emotionally charged events or to be perceived as a symbol.
Aesthetic appreciation is one way in which people respond to the environment. A brilliantly colored rainbow after gloomy afternoon showers, a busy city street alive with human interaction—one might experience the beauty of such landscapes that had seemed quite ordinary only moments before or that are being newly discovered. This is quite the opposite of a second topophilia bond, namely that of the acquired taste for certain landscapes and places that one knows well. When a place is a home, or when a space has become the locus of memories or the means of gaining a livelihood, it frequently evokes a deeper set of attachments than those predicated purely on the visual. A third response to the environment also depends on the human senses but maybe tactile and olfactory, namely a delight in the feel and smell of the air, water, and the earth.
Topophilia—and it's a very close conceptual twin, sense of place—is an experience that, however elusive, has inspired recent architects and planners. Most notably, new urbanism seeks to counter the perceived placelessness of modern suburbs and the decline of central cities through neo-traditional design motifs. Although motivated by good intentions, such attempts to create places rich in meaning are perhaps bound to disappoint. As Tuan noted, purely aesthetic responses often are suddenly revealed, but their intensity rarely is long-lasting. Topophilia is difficult to design for and impossible to quantify, and its most articulate interpreters have been self-reflective philosophers such as Henry David Thoreau, evoking a marvelously intricate sense of place at Walden Pond, and Tuan, describing his deep affinity for the desert.
Topophilia connotes a positive relationship, but it often is useful to explore the darker affiliations between people and places. Patriotism, literally meaning the love of one’s terra Patria or homeland, has long been cultivated by governing elites for a range of nationalist projects, including war preparation and ethnic cleansing. Residents of upscale residential developments have disclosed how important it is to maintain their community’s distinct identity, often by casting themselves in a superior social position and by reinforcing class and racial differences. And just as a beloved landscape is suddenly revealed, so too may landscapes of fear cast a dark shadow over a place that makes one feel a sense of dread or anxiety—or tokophobia.
Question for CAT 2019 Reading Comprehension Questions- 10
Try yourself:The word “topophobia” in the passage is used:
Explanation
"And just as a beloved landscape is suddenly revealed, so too may landscapes of fear cast a dark shadow over a place that makes one feel a sense of dread or anxiety—or topophobia."
Option B speaks about topography, while Option C speaks about dread towards people.
Option D is unrelated to topophobia. Hence, all of them are incorrect
Option A clearly captures the essence of the last sentence in the passage.
Report a problem
Question for CAT 2019 Reading Comprehension Questions- 10
Try yourself:In the last paragraph, the author uses the example of “Residents of upscale residential developments” to illustrate the:
Explanation
"Residents of upscale residential developments have disclosed how important it is to maintain their community’s distinct identity, often by casting themselves in a superior social position and by reinforcing class and racial differences."
Option A: The option implies that the clients are made to feel at home. While the phrase “Residents of upscale residential developments” is used to capture the intent of social dominance of a particular class. Hence this option is incorrect.
Option B: The option implies that the jingoism of a certain class might lead to topophobia. The option is yet again unrelated.
Option C: Residents of upscale residential developments intend to promote their community by reinforcing sectarian differences. This exclusivism(Practice of being exclusive/important) is clearly captured in the option. Hence C is correct.
Option D: Sensitive response indicates a considerate response where others' sentiments are considered. While these residents are inconsiderate and consider themself superior. Also, the option doesn't capture the purpose clearly. Hence, incorrect
Report a problem
Question for CAT 2019 Reading Comprehension Questions- 10
Try yourself:Which of the following statements, if true, could be seen as not contradicting the arguments in the passage?
Explanation
Option A: "new urbanism seeks to... Although motivated by good intentions, such attempts to create places rich in meaning are perhaps bound to disappoint." The author says new urbanism that tries to induce a sense of place is bound to fail. Since there is no mention of clients, irrespectively new urbanism is going to fail. Hence, it is contradicting the author.
Option B: "His 1974 book set forth a wide-ranging exploration of how the emotive ties with the material environment vary greatly from person to person and in intensity, subtlety, and mode of expression." This option is contradicting the passage yet again.
Option C: The author lists out three ways of experiencing topophilia but doesn't emphasize any one way. Hence, even though not contradictory, this option is factually misquoting the passage.
Option D: "Topophilia connotes a positive relationship, but it often is useful to explore the darker affiliations between people and place. Patriotism, literally meaning the love of one’s terra Patria or homeland.." Clearly, the author has a negative intonation when he says "darker affiliation". He presents patriotism as a darker manifestation of topophilia. Hence, this statement is correct and does not contradict the author. Hence option D is correct.
Report a problem
Question for CAT 2019 Reading Comprehension Questions- 10
Try yourself:Which one of the following best captures the meaning of the statement, “Topophilia is difficult to design for and impossible to quantify . . .”?
Explanation
"As Tuan noted, purely aesthetic responses often are suddenly revealed, but their intensity rarely is longlasting. Topophilia is difficult to design for and impossible to quantify". The author says that people's response to aesthetics is short-lived and usually subsides over time. Hence, it is difficult to design or quantify.
Option A: "Amomie" means lack of morals or ethics. It is unrelated to the passage.
Option B: An objective analysis by architects does not explain the reason why it is difficult to quantify topophilia.
Option C: This statement is in the form of an opinion and does not explain the above statement.
Option D: Since every person has different topophilic attractions and has different responses to aesthetics. Capturing topophilia in the form of design is impossible. This option elaborates and explains the reason for quantifying topophilia. Hence option D is correct.
Report a problem
Question for CAT 2019 Reading Comprehension Questions- 10
Try yourself:Which one of the following comes closest in meaning to the author’s understanding of topophilia?
Explanation
Option A: The entire passage deals with "TOPOPHILIA" and "TOPOGRAPHY" is unrelated. Also, the author says that we experience topophilia in three forms and that we are not born with it.
Option C: An illustration of topophobia doesn't represent the author's view on topophilia
Option D: The option speaks about glossophilia(Love of language) and is unrelated to topophilia
Option B: "Topophilia connotes a positive relationship, but it often is useful to explore the darker affiliations between people and place. Patriotism, literally meaning the love of one’s terra Patria or homeland".
Despite a negative tone, the author says that one form of topophilia is patriotism. Even though not wholesome, it comes "closest" to the author's understanding of topophilia among the given options. Hence B is correct.
Report a problem
