In our schools, we teach our children all that is there to know about Physics, maths and history and what-have you. But do we teach them about the bitter caste divide that plagues the country, about the spectre of famine that stalks large part of our land, about gender sensitivity, about the possibility of atheism as a choice, etc.? Equally important, do we teach them to ask question, or do we teach them only to passively receive our wisdom? From the cocooned world of school, suddenly, the adolescent finds himself/herself in the unfettered world of university. Here he/she is swept up in a turmoil of ideas and influences and ideologies. For someone who has been discouraged from asking questions and forming an opinion, this transition can be painful.

Which one of the following best reflects the central idea of the passage given above ?

Option (a) is incorrect: The passage does not discuss the expectations of either parents or children. Therefore, this option goes beyond the scope of the passage.

Option (b) is incorrect: The passage does not delve into the allocation of time between academics and skill development activities.

Option (c) is close but incorrect: The passage does not address whose responsibility it should be to provide holistic education to children. Although it highlights that schools fail to fulfill this role adequately and that values and such education should be imparted not only at college but also at school, it does not definitively state where the ultimate responsibility should lie.

Option (d) is the best answer: The passage explicitly mentions the demands of the present world order and the significance of societal and life-coping skills alongside academic content. The present world order is referenced in lines such as “But do we teach them about the bitter caste divide that plagues the country, about the specter of famine that stalks large parts of our land, about gender sensitivity, about the possibility of atheism as a choice, etc.?”.

Societal and life-coping skills are discussed, with the author questioning whether children are taught to ask questions or merely to passively receive wisdom. Additionally, the author mentions “From the cocooned world of school”, aligning with the assertion made in option (d).