đ Whatâs Inside This CAT RC Practice Post?
đ Authentic CAT Reading Comprehension Passage: Practice with a real RC passage from a previous CAT exam.
â
Detailed Questions with Step-by-Step Solutions: Each question is explained thoroughly for better understanding.
đ In-Depth Passage Analysis: Gain insights through line-by-line and paragraph-wise analysis, supplemented with a quick summary table for efficient revision.
đ Vocabulary Enhancement: Get a separate post explaining all tough words from the passage.
RC Passage
Direction for the questions 5 to 8: The passage below is accompanied by a set of four questions. Choose the best answer to each question.
The Chinese have two different concepts of a copy. Fangzhipin . . . are imitations where the difference from the original is obvious. These are small models or copies that can be purchased in a museum shop, for example. The second concept for a copy is fuzhipin . . . They are exact reproductions of the original, which, for the Chinese, are of equal value to the original. It has absolutely no negative connotations. The discrepancy with regard to the understanding of what a copy is has often led to misunderstandings and arguments between China and Western museums. The Chinese often send copies abroad instead of originals, in the firm belief that they are not essentially different from the originals. The rejection that then comes from the Western museums is perceived by the Chinese as an insult.
The Far Eastern notion of identity is also very confusing to the Western observer. The Ise Grand Shrine [in Japan] is 1,300 years old for the millions of Japanese people who go there on pilgrimage every year. But in reality this temple complex is completely rebuilt from scratch every 20 years.
The cathedral of Freiburg Minster in southwest Germany is covered in scaffolding almost all year round. The sandstone from which it is built is a very soft, porous material that does not withstand natural erosion by rain and wind. After a while, it crumbles. As a result, the cathedral is continually being examined for damage, and eroded stones are replaced. And in the cathedralâs dedicated workshop, copies of the damaged sandstone figures are constantly being produced. Of course, attempts are made to preserve the stones from the Middle Ages for as long as possible. But at some point they, too, are removed and replaced with new stones.
Fundamentally, this is the same operation as with the Japanese shrine, except in this case the production of a replica takes place very slowly and over long periods of time. In the field of art as well, the idea of an unassailable original developed historically in the Western world. Back in the 17th century [in the West], excavated artworks from antiquity were treated quite differently from today. They were not restored in a way that was faithful to the original. Instead, there was massive intervention in these works, changing their appearance.
It is probably this intellectual position that explains why Asians have far fewer scruples about cloning than Europeans. The South Korean cloning researcher Hwang Woo-suk, who attracted worldwide attention with his cloning experiments in 2004, is a Buddhist. He found a great deal of support and followers among Buddhists, while Christians called for a ban on human cloning. Hwang legitimised his cloning experiments with his religious affiliation: âI am Buddhist, and I have no philosophical problem with cloning. And as you know, the basis of Buddhism is that life is recycled through reincarnation. In some ways, I think, therapeutic cloning restarts the circle of life.â
RC Line-wise Explanation
Paragraph 1
"The Chinese have two different concepts of a copy. Fangzhipin . . . are imitations where the difference from the original is obvious."
Explanation: In Chinese culture, one kind of copyâcalled fangzhipinâis intentionally different from the original, making it clear it is just a replica.
"These are small models or copies that can be purchased in a museum shop, for example."
Explanation: Such copies are often found in museum gift shops as souvenirs or miniature versions.
"The second concept for a copy is fuzhipin . . . They are exact reproductions of the original, which, for the Chinese, are of equal value to the original."
Explanation: The other kindâfuzhipinâis a precise replica that is considered just as valuable as the original by the Chinese.
"It has absolutely no negative connotations."
Explanation: These exact copies are not looked down upon; they are fully accepted and respected.
"The discrepancy with regard to the understanding of what a copy is has often led to misunderstandings and arguments between China and Western museums."
Explanation: Because the West sees copies differently, this difference in views has caused confusion and disputes between Chinese and Western museums.
"The Chinese often send copies abroad instead of originals, in the firm belief that they are not essentially different from the originals."
Explanation: Chinese institutions sometimes send high-quality copies overseas, believing theyâre just as good as originals.
"The rejection that then comes from the Western museums is perceived by the Chinese as an insult."
Explanation: When Western museums reject these copies, the Chinese view it as disrespectful or offensive.
Paragraph 2
"The Far Eastern notion of identity is also very confusing to the Western observer."
Explanation: Westerners often find the Eastern understanding of identity difficult to grasp.
"The Ise Grand Shrine [in Japan] is 1,300 years old for the millions of Japanese people who go there on pilgrimage every year."
Explanation: Japanese pilgrims see the Ise Shrine as being over a millennium old.
"But in reality this temple complex is completely rebuilt from scratch every 20 years. . . ."
Explanation: However, the shrine is actually torn down and fully reconstructed every two decades, even though its identity remains constant.
Paragraph 3
"The cathedral of Freiburg Minster in southwest Germany is covered in scaffolding almost all year round."
Explanation: In Germany, the Freiburg Minster is frequently under repair, with scaffolding present most of the time.
"The sandstone from which it is built is a very soft, porous material that does not withstand natural erosion by rain and wind."
Explanation: The cathedralâs materialâsoft sandstoneâgets worn down easily by the elements.
"After a while, it crumbles."
Explanation: Eventually, the stone deteriorates and falls apart.
"As a result, the cathedral is continually being examined for damage, and eroded stones are replaced."
Explanation: Because of this, the building is regularly inspected, and any damaged pieces are swapped out.
"And in the cathedralâs dedicated workshop, copies of the damaged sandstone figures are constantly being produced."
Explanation: Specialists make replacement copies of the cathedralâs decorative figures in a workshop just for this purpose.
"Of course, attempts are made to preserve the stones from the Middle Ages for as long as possible."
Explanation: Efforts are made to keep the original medieval stones intact for as long as they can.
"But at some point they, too, are removed and replaced with new stones."
Explanation: Still, even those ancient stones eventually have to be replaced.
Paragraph 4
"Fundamentally, this is the same operation as with the Japanese shrine, except in this case the production of a replica takes place very slowly and over long periods of time."
Explanation: This repair process is essentially like the rebuilding of the Japanese shrine, but it happens gradually in the case of the cathedral.
"In the field of art as well, the idea of an unassailable original developed historically in the Western world."
Explanation: Western culture has historically placed a high value on the concept of a sacred, untouchable original piece of art.
"Back in the 17th century [in the West], excavated artworks from antiquity were treated quite differently from today."
Explanation: In the 1600s, Westerners approached ancient art very differently than they do now.
"They were not restored in a way that was faithful to the original. Instead, there was massive intervention in these works, changing their appearance. . . ."
Explanation: Rather than restoring ancient works accurately, they often altered them significantly, changing how they looked.
Paragraph 5
"It is probably this intellectual position that explains why Asians have far fewer scruples about cloning than Europeans."
Explanation: This cultural difference in thinking might explain why Asians are more accepting of cloning than Europeans.
"The South Korean cloning researcher Hwang Woo-suk, who attracted worldwide attention with his cloning experiments in 2004, is a Buddhist."
Explanation: One prominent example is Hwang Woo-suk, a Korean Buddhist who became famous for cloning work in 2004.
"He found a great deal of support and followers among Buddhists, while Christians called for a ban on human cloning."
Explanation: Buddhists largely supported his research, whereas Christians opposed it and demanded a ban.
"Hwang legitimised his cloning experiments with his religious affiliation: âI am Buddhist, and I have no philosophical problem with cloning. And as you know, the basis of Buddhism is that life is recycled through reincarnation. In some ways, I think, therapeutic cloning restarts the circle of life.â"
Explanation: Hwang defended his work using Buddhist philosophy, stating that cloning fits with the idea of reincarnation and renewing the cycle of life.
RC Paragraph Explanation
Paragraph 1 Summary
Chinese culture distinguishes between obvious imitations (fangzhipin) and exact replicas (fuzhipin), the latter being viewed as equal to the original. This cultural difference in the concept of authenticity often leads to friction with Western institutions that reject copies, causing offense to the Chinese.
Paragraph 2 Summary
Eastern cultures like Japan maintain identity through cyclical renewal, exemplified by the Ise Grand Shrine, which is rebuilt every 20 years. Despite being physically new, it is still seen as the same ancient structure, challenging Western ideas of permanence and originality.
Paragraph 3 Summary
The Freiburg Minster cathedral in Germany undergoes continual repairs due to its fragile sandstone, with replicas replacing deteriorated parts. Although efforts are made to preserve originals, the process mirrors the Japanese shrineâs approach to renewalâjust over a longer time.
Paragraph 4 Summary
While Western art values the untouched original, this wasnât always the case; in earlier centuries, restoration often involved altering artworks significantly. This gradual shift reflects how the idea of originality developed differently in the West compared to the East.
Paragraph 5 Summary
Cultural and religious beliefs influence attitudes toward cloning, with Eastern philosophies like Buddhism being more accepting. This acceptance is demonstrated by researcher Hwang Woo-sukâs defense of cloning as consistent with the Buddhist belief in reincarnation.
RC Quick Table Summary
| Paragraph Number | Main Idea |
|---|---|
| Paragraph 1 | Chinese concepts of copies differ from the West, causing cultural misunderstandings. |
| Paragraph 2 | Japanese identity values cyclical rebuilding, not static preservation. |
| Paragraph 3 | Western restoration practices like those at Freiburg echo Eastern renewal. |
| Paragraph 4 | The West developed the notion of the âsacred originalâ over time. |
| Paragraph 5 | Eastern religions are more accepting of cloning, linking it to beliefs like reincarnation. |
RC Questions
Ques 5. Based on the passage, which one of the following copies would a Chinese museum be unlikely to consider as having less value than the original?
Ques 6. Which one of the following scenarios is unlikely to follow from the arguments in the passage?
Ques 7. Which one of the following statements does not correctly express the similarity between the Ise Grand Shrine and the cathedral of Freiburg Minster?
Ques 8. The value that the modern West assigns to âan unassailable originalâ has resulted in all of the following EXCEPT:
