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Paragraph Summary Questions
22. The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.
Creativity is now viewed as the engine of economic progress. Various organizations are devoted to its study and promotion; there are encyclopedias and handbooks surveying creativity research. But this proliferating success has tended to erode creativityâs stable identity: it has become so invested with value that it has become impossible to police its meaning and the practices that supposedly identify and encourage it. Many people and organizations committed to producing original thoughts now feel that undue obsession with the idea of creativity gets in the way of real creativity.
A. The obsession with original thought, how it can be promoted and researched, has made it impossible for people and organizations to define the concept anymore.
B. The industry that has built up around researching what comprises and encourages creativity has destroyed the creative process itself.
C. Creativity has proliferated to the extent that is no longer a stable process, and its mutating identity has stifled the creative process.
D. The value assigned to creativity today has assumed such proportions that the concept itself has lost its real meaning and this is hampering the engendering of real creativity.
Solution with Explanation
Correct Answer: D
Detailed explanation by Wordpandit:The central theme of the passage revolves around the concept of creativity. Through the passage, a few critical observations are made:
- Creativity has garnered significant attention, becoming a focal point for many organizations and forming the subject matter of countless books.
- However, there's a downside. The excessive emphasis and value placed on creativity have inadvertently diluted its essence. This disproportionate attention is not only altering its inherent definition but also affecting the methods used to identify and foster it.
- As a result of this overemphasis, genuine creative processes are being stymied.
Let's evaluate the provided options in the context of the passage's main points:
- Option A: Posits that the relentless pursuit of unique ideas has rendered its definition elusive. However, it doesn't fully capture that the exaggerated importance placed on creativity is actually stifling it.
- Option B: Suggests that the research industry around creativity has destroyed the process, which is too strong and not quite aligned with the passageâs nuanced tone.
- Option C: Mentions a "mutating identity," which is not a phrase or concept used in the passage. It also lacks clarity.
- Option D: Accurately summarizes the main ideaâthat the overvaluation of creativity has caused its meaning to erode, thereby obstructing genuine creativity.
Thus, Option D is the most accurate representation of the passage.
Word 1: Engine
Context:
"Creativity is now viewed as the engine of economic progress. Various organizations are devoted to its study and promotion; there are encyclopedias and handbooks surveying creativity research."
Explanatory Paragraph:
The word "engine" is often associated with machines, but it also has a powerful metaphorical use. In this context, "engine" refers to the driving force behind something. When we say that creativity is the engine of economic progress, we mean that it is the primary force that propels development and innovation forward, much like how an engine powers a vehicle. It suggests that creativity is central and indispensable to progress.
Meaning: A person or thing that brings about a particular result (noun)
Pronunciation: EN-jin
Difficulty Level: ââ Basic
Etymology: From Old French *engin*, meaning "skill, cleverness," and from Latin *ingenium*, meaning "native talent or mental power."
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Understand that "engine" is a metaphor here. It's not a physical machine but a symbol of what drives or powers progressâthis is a classic case of abstract usage of a concrete word.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: driver, catalyst, force, motor, stimulus
Antonyms: hindrance, obstacle, impediment, block
Usage Examples:
- Education has always been considered the engine of social mobility.
- Technology serves as the engine of innovation in the modern world.
- Entrepreneurs are the engines behind many economic transformations.
- His passion became the engine that drove him to succeed against all odds.
Cultural Reference:
"Railroads were the engines of industrialization in the 19th century, shaping economies and societies." - History Channel Documentary
Think About It:
What qualities make a person an 'engine' in their team or organization?
Quick Activity:
Write a sentence using "engine" in both a literal and metaphorical way. Compare how the meanings differ.
Memory Tip:
Think of an engine in a carâit makes things move forward. Similarly, in ideas or society, the "engine" is what drives progress.
Real-World Application:
In business and marketing, creativity is often called the "engine" of brand innovation, as new ideas push companies to the forefront of their industries.
Word 2: Proliferating
Context:
"But this proliferating success has tended to erode creativityâs stable identity: it has become so invested with value that it has become impossible to police its meaning and the practices that supposedly identify and encourage it."
Explanatory Paragraph:
The word "proliferating" refers to something that is rapidly increasing or spreading. In the context of the sentence, "proliferating success" suggests that the success of creativity is growing quickly and widely. However, this widespread success comes at a costâit's becoming harder to define and manage what creativity actually is. The word highlights a double-edged situation: while growth is occurring, itâs also causing complexity and ambiguity.
Meaning: Increasing rapidly in number or spreading quickly (verb - present participle)
Pronunciation: pro-LIF-er-ay-ting
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin *proles* meaning "offspring" and *ferre* meaning "to bear or carry"; originally referring to the rapid reproduction of cells.
Prashant Sir's Notes:
This is a great academic word often used in sociological, biological, and economic texts. Keep in mind its connotation of rapid multiplicationâit doesnât just mean âmore,â but âspreading fast.â
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: multiplying, spreading, escalating, mushrooming, expanding
Antonyms: declining, reducing, shrinking, diminishing
Usage Examples:
- Fake news has been proliferating across social media platforms.
- The city saw proliferating construction sites during the economic boom.
- Proliferating technologies have changed how we communicate and work.
- Concerns are rising over the proliferating use of surveillance tools in public spaces.
Cultural Reference:
"Weapons of mass destruction are proliferating in regions with unstable governments." - A common phrase in international relations discourse.
Think About It:
Can the unchecked proliferation of ideas or technologies do more harm than good?
Quick Activity:
List three things in society that you think are currently proliferating. Describe whether their spread is beneficial or harmful.
Memory Tip:
Think of "pro-lifers" (a completely different term) who spread their message widelyâ"proliferating" is all about spreading or multiplying fast.
Real-World Application:
In environmental studies, scientists talk about "proliferating algae blooms" which can harm aquatic lifeâthis highlights how proliferation isn't always positive.
Word 3: Erode
Context:
"But this proliferating success has tended to erode creativityâs stable identity:"
Explanatory Paragraph:
The word "erode" generally means to wear away or gradually destroy something. It originates in geology, where natural forces like wind or water erode rocks. In this sentence, it's used metaphorically to describe how the growing success of creativity is gradually weakening or undermining its once-clear and stable definition. The steady expansion of its applications and interpretations is subtly breaking down the boundaries of what creativity originally meant.
Meaning: To gradually wear away or destroy (verb)
Pronunciation: ih-ROHD
Difficulty Level: ââ Basic
Etymology: From Latin *erodere*, meaning "to gnaw away," from *e-* (away) + *rodere* (to gnaw)
Prashant Sir's Notes:
âErodeâ is often used in abstract settingsâvalues, trust, or identity can be eroded over time. It suggests slow, often unnoticed, damage that accumulates over a period.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: wear down, weaken, undermine, corrode, disintegrate
Antonyms: build, strengthen, fortify, reinforce
Usage Examples:
- Years of corruption began to erode public trust in the institution.
- The shoreline continues to erode due to rising sea levels.
- His constant criticism started to erode her confidence.
- Digital misinformation can erode democratic values if left unchecked.
Cultural Reference:
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." â This famous quote by Lord Acton suggests how unchecked power can erode moral principles over time.
Think About It:
What are the consequences of letting trust or values erode silently over timeâboth personally and socially?
Quick Activity:
Think of something intangible (like a value or belief) that could erode over time. Write a sentence using "erode" to describe that process.
Memory Tip:
Think of âEâ for âeating awayââerode means something is slowly being eaten away, just like water erodes rock.
Real-World Application:
In the workplace, constant stress and unrealistic expectations can erode employee motivation and job satisfaction over time.
Word 4: Invested
Context:
"It has become so invested with value that it has become impossible to police its meaning and the practices that supposedly identify and encourage it."
Explanatory Paragraph:
The word "invested" in this context means that something has been imbued or filled with great importance or value. Unlike the financial meaning of putting money into something, here "invested" implies that creativity has been emotionally or ideologically loaded with meaning and significance. So much value has been assigned to creativity that it is now difficult to clearly define or control what it actually means or how it should be applied.
Meaning: Endowed or filled with a quality or value (verb - past participle)
Pronunciation: in-VES-tid
Difficulty Level: ââ Basic
Etymology: From Latin *investire*, meaning "to clothe" or "to endow"; evolved into Middle English with the idea of assigning authority or value.
Prashant Sir's Notes:
Don't limit "invested" to just financial usage. It often appears in abstract and emotional contextsâsomeone can be "invested" in a cause, a belief, or even an idea, as in this case.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: endowed, filled, imbued, loaded, saturated
Antonyms: deprived, stripped, emptied, divested
Usage Examples:
- She is deeply invested in her studentsâ success.
- The artwork was invested with cultural and spiritual meaning.
- Over the years, the tradition has been invested with great emotional value.
- The narrative was invested with a sense of urgency and passion.
Cultural Reference:
"The Constitution is invested with the hopes of a democratic society." â A common phrase in legal and civic education.
Think About It:
Can assigning too much value or meaning to something actually make it harder to understand or use effectively?
Quick Activity:
Write a sentence using âinvestedâ in a non-financial context. Now rewrite it in a financial one. Compare the difference in tone and usage.
Memory Tip:
Think of "invested" like putting your heart into something, not just your money. You can be "emotionally invested" just like financially.
Real-World Application:
In leadership roles, being invested in your team's growth and well-being often leads to better performance and trust.
Word 5: Obsession
Context:
"The obsession with original thought, how it can be promoted and researched, has made it impossible for people and organizations to define the concept anymore."
Explanatory Paragraph:
The word "obsession" refers to a state where someone is preoccupied or fixated on a particular idea, feeling, or objectâoften to an unhealthy or excessive degree. In the context given, the focus on original thought has become so intense and relentless that it has distorted the ability to clearly define or understand creativity. This highlights how too much attention or effort in one direction can actually blur clarity instead of sharpening it.
Meaning: An idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person's mind (noun)
Pronunciation: uhb-SESH-un
Difficulty Level: âââ Intermediate
Etymology: From Latin *obsessio*, meaning "a siege," from *obsidere* ("to besiege"); evolved into the psychological sense of being mentally 'besieged' by thoughts.
Prashant Sir's Notes:
While "obsession" often carries a negative tone, it can also indicate passion or deep commitmentâcontext is key. However, in academic or critical thinking, it's usually used to warn against one-sided or unbalanced focus.
Synonyms & Antonyms:
Synonyms: fixation, compulsion, mania, preoccupation, infatuation
Antonyms: indifference, detachment, apathy, disinterest
Usage Examples:
- His obsession with perfection often delayed the project deadlines.
- Social media has become a modern-day obsession for many teenagers.
- The artistâs obsession with symmetry is evident in all her paintings.
- Thereâs a growing obsession with productivity that overlooks well-being.
Cultural Reference:
"Obsession is the wellspring of genius and madness alike." â Paraphrased from multiple creative thinkers including Salvador DalĂ and Steve Jobs.
Think About It:
At what point does passion become obsessionâand how can you tell the difference?
Quick Activity:
List three personal interests you are passionate about. Reflect on whether any could become obsessions. Write one sentence describing that transformation.
Memory Tip:
Think of âobsessionâ as something that âsits onâ your mind and refuses to leaveâlike an idea camping out in your head rent-free!
Real-World Application:
In advertising, brands often aim to create an obsession among consumersâAppleâs product launches are a classic example of turning a product into a cultural fixation.
