Read the following paragraph and answer the question that follows.
Fear is the greatest motivator of all time. Conflict born of fear is behind our every action, driving us forward like the cogs of a clock. Fear is desire’s dark dress, its doppelgänger. “Love and dread are brothers,” says Julian of Norwich. As desire is wanting and fear is not-wanting, they become inexorably linked; just as desire can be destructive (the desire for power), fear can be constructive (fear of hurting another); fear of poverty becomes desire for wealth.
Which of the following statements can be BEST concluded from the paragraph?
The paragraph emphasizes the constructive nature of fear despite its negative perception. The author begins by describing fear as a powerful motivator that influences all our actions. While fear is often viewed as dark and undesirable, the paragraph illustrates how it can lead to positive outcomes.
For instance, the "fear of hurting another" encourages compassion, and the "fear of poverty" motivates individuals to strive for wealth. This dual nature of fear—being seen as negative but acting as a force for good—is central to the discussion.
Let's look at the other options as well:
Option A: The claim is not that positive actions have a foundation of fear. This is simply not implied in the paragraph.
Option B: The paragraph talks only about the role of fear, not the interplay of fear and desire.
Option C: While this might be true, this is not what the paragraph says; the "extraordinary achievements" is an extreme of what is presented.
Option E: This again talks about both fear and desire together, while the paragraph only talks about the role of fear.
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
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