CAT Questions | CAT Reading Comprehension

The question is from CAT Reading Comprehension. RC for CAT. RC Passages that appear in the verbal section of CAT test on the Reading ability of the candidate. Solve CAT RC Passages to get more practice and 2IIMs CAT questions bank provides you with CAT questions that can help you gear for CAT Exam .

Question 3: With regard to the novel ‘Pamela’, the author states that Richardson’s artifice “ was a lie, but not a hoax�. What does he mean?

1. It was an unintentional deception that contained the truth of human nature and was hence acceptable to readers.
2. It was just a ploy to capture the imagination of the readers with the truth of the possible.
3. It was a deception perpetrated simply to make money.
4. It was a mere prank, and did not generate public interest.

Explanatory Answer

Method of solving this CAT Question from Reading Comprehension:

Statement a - It was an unintentional deception but it stated the truth of human nature and was hence acceptable.

The deception by Richardson in ‘Pamela’ was clearly intentional, so this statement is not correct.

Statement b - It was just a ploy to capture the imagination of the readers with the truth of the possible.

Richardson’s authorship of Pamela’s letters was, according to the author, only a stratagem or ploy to captivate readers. Because the writing contained the truth of the possible- the truth of human nature- this was merely a lie and not a hoax. So statement b is correct.

Statement c - It was a deception perpetrated simply to make money.

A deception perpetrated to make money is a hoax. The author believes Richardson did not attempt a hoax. So we rule out this option.

Statement d - It was a mere prank, and did not generate public interest.

Again, we can rule out option d. We know from the passage that Richardson’s authorship was revealed shortly after the novel was published and that he was “hailed as an innovator�. Statement d also does not explain the author’s comment.

The question is "Choose the Correct option "

Hence, the answer is B

Choice B is the correct answer.