Question 22

The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.

The human mind is wired to see patterns. Not only does the brain process information as it comes in, it also stores insights from all our past experiences. Every interaction, happy or sad, is catalogued in our memory. Intuition draws from that deep memory well to inform our decisions going forward. In other words, intuitive decisions are based on data, and not contrary to data as many would like to assume. When we subconsciously spot patterns, the body starts firing neurochemicals in both the brain and gut. These “somatic markers” are what give us that instant sense that something is right … or that it’s off. Not only are these automatic processes faster than rational thought, but our intuition draws from decades of diverse qualitative experience (sights, sounds, interactions, etc.) - a wholly human feature that big data alone could never accomplish.

Solution

The main points of the paragraph are as follows:

1. Intuition draws from a vast array of memories that our brain keeps in store.

2. When our brain recognises a pattern from past memories, neuron firing starts, which gives us the gut feeling of intuition.

A: Distortion: The passage does not give any detail about big data being based on rational thought.

B: Out of scope. The paragraph does not allude to whether the decisions based on intuition are better or worse.

C: Incorrect: The passage says that intuitive decisions are based on data.

D: Correctly covers the mentioned points and hence, is the answer.

Click on the Email ☝️ to Watch the Video Solution

Create a FREE account and get:

CAT Quant Questions | CAT Quantitative Ability