PASSAGE PROBLEM SET - 1

Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.

The general recognition of this fact is shown in the proverbial

phrase,' It is the busiest man who has time to spare'. Thus, an

elderly lady at leisure can spend the entire day writing a postcard

to her niece.

An hour will be spent in writing a postcard , another

hunting for spectacles, half an hour to search for the address ,

an hour and a quarter in compositionand twenty minutes in deciding

whether or not to take an umbrella when going to the pillar box in the street. The total effort that could occupy a busy man for three minutes, all told may in this fashion leave another person completely exhausted after a day of doubt, anxiety and toil.

1.What happens when the time to be spent on some work increases?

a) the work is done smoothly.

b) the work is done leisurely.

c) work consumes all the time.

d) The work needs additional time.

Here the method of elimination and inference applies. A and D are

eliminated at the first reading. The description that the lady who

has enough leisure time takes the entire day in writing the postcard 

gives us the clue that the correct answer is (C)

2. Explain the sentence available work expands so as to fill the time

for its completion'.

a) The more work there is to be done , the more time needed.

b) whatever time is available for a given amount of work, all of it will be used.

c) If you have more time you can do some work.

d) If you have some important work to do , you should always have some additional time.

The answer here is b). This can be found out through simple inference. A statement is made right in the beginning of the passage and the story of the lady illustrates the fact that whatever time is available for a work people tend to use all of it.

3.Who is the person likely to take more time to do work.:

a) a busy man. 

b) a man of leisure.

c) an elderly person.

d)an exhausted person.

Here the answer is b). It requires inference from the facts given in the passage that more the time you have , the more you will need. Therefore, the answer is arrived at through complex inference.

4.What is the total time spent by the elderly lady in writing a

postcard?

a) Three minutes.

b) four hours and five minutes.

c) half day

d)the entire day.

The answer is d) .and it is based on the information given in the

passage.

5. What does the expression 'pillar box' stand for?

a) a box attached to the pillar.

b) a box in the pillar

c) box office.

d) a pillar type postbox.

The answer is d). It can be derived through implied information. The lady has to go to the pillar box to drop her letter.