SSC CPO 4th Oct 2023 Shift 1

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

It is said that everyone lives (1)________ selling something. What you can (2)________ from
this statement is that teachers live by selling knowledge, philosophers live by selling wisdom
and priests earn their living by selling spiritual comfort. Though it may be possible to measure
the value of material goods in terms of money, it is extremely difficult to (3)________ the true
value of the services which people perform for us. There are times when we would
(4)________ give everything we possess to save our lives, yet we might grudge paying a
surgeon a high fee for offering us precisely the same service. The (5)________ of society are
such that skills have to be paid for in the same way that goods are paid for at a shop.

Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

As a society, we have come a long way in terms of progress and development. We have
eradicated diseases, explored space, and created technological wonders that were once
thought impossible. Yet, there is still one issue that continues to plague us: stupidity.
Yes, stupidity. The thing that seems to be contagious and has been spreading faster than the
common cold. It's everywhere you look - on social media, in politics, in the workplace. You
can't escape it.

It's as if we've all collectively decided that intelligence and common sense are no longer
important. Why bother using your brain when you can just rely on your gut feelings and
conspiracy theories?

Take politics, for example. It used to be that politicians were expected to be knowledgeable
and well-informed about the issues they were dealing with. Now, it seems that all you need is
a catchy slogan and some empty promises to win an election.
And don't even get me started on social media. It's a breeding ground for stupidity. People will
believe anything they read as long as it confirms their preconceived biases. And don't even
think about trying to present them with actual facts and evidence. That's just a waste of time.
But it's not just individuals who are to blame for this epidemic of stupidity. Our education
system is failing us as well. We're teaching our kids how to pass tests instead of how to think
critically and solve problems. It's no wonder we have a generation of adults who can't even
find their way around a basic math problem.
Of course, there are some who would argue that stupidity is just a different way of thinking.
That it's a valid perspective that deserves to be respected. To those people, I say this: if you
want to be stupid, go ahead. Just don't expect the rest of us to respect your opinions when
they're based on nothing but ignorance and misinformation.

It's time for us to take a stand against stupidity. We need to start valuing intelligence and
critical thinking again. We need to hold our leaders accountable for their actions and demand
that they be knowledgeable and well-informed. We need to teach our children how to think,
not just how to memorise.

It won't be easy, but it's a fight worth fighting. Because if we don't, we'll be stuck in a world
where stupidity reigns supreme, and there's no telling what kind of damage that could do. So
let's all do our part and start using our brains again. It's time to put an end to the epidemic of
stupidity once and for all.