Question

‘Friendship was indeed a value for the villagers, more for men than for women. Two good friends were said to be 'like brothers' (literally, 'like elder brother-younger brother', annatamman-dirahage). I heard this expression several times and I could not help recalling the statement of an elderly English colleague who had told me that he and his brother were very close and had written to each other every week. He had added, 'We are very good friends.' That is, friendship connoted intimacy in England while in Rampura (as in rural India everywhere), brotherhood conveyed intimacy'.

Which of the following best summarizes the conclusion of the argument of this paragraph?

a. Friendship has greater value for men than for women.
b. People in England have different attitudes to brotherhood and friendship than people in rural India.
c. Brother has greater value in rural India than in England.
d. Friendship has greater value in England than in India.

Answer 1

Hint: The student should find out which of the options is similar to the last line in the paragraph, which is the concluding line ‘That is, friendship connoted intimacy in England while in Rampura (as in rural India everywhere), brotherhood conveyed intimacy'.

Complete answer: Let us thus analyze the options given to us in this question -
Option (a.), 'Friendship has greater value for men than for women', is incorrect as it is not similar to ‘That is, friendship connoted intimacy in England while in Rampura (as in rural India everywhere), brotherhood conveyed intimacy'.

Option (b.), ‘People in England have different attitudes to brotherhood and friendship than people in rural India', is correct as it is similar to the last line and provides a clear conclusion.

Option (c.), ‘Brother has greater value in rural India than in England', is incorrect as it is not similar to ‘That is, friendship connoted intimacy in England while in Rampura (as in rural India everywhere), brotherhood conveyed intimacy'.

Option (d.), ‘Friendship has greater value in England than in India', is incorrect as it is not similar to ‘That is, friendship connoted intimacy in England while in Rampura (as in rural India everywhere), brotherhood conveyed intimacy'.

Note: In this question, it will be helpful for the student to remember that a conclusion is often provided at the end of a paragraph. A conclusion refers to a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration. For example - his conclusion took the evidence into account.