Section A: Verbal and Logical Ability

Analyse the following passage and provide appropriate answer for the question 15

Passage - 1

“Whatever actions are done by an individual in different embodiments, [s]he reaps the fruit of those actions in those very bodies or embodiments (in future existences)”

A belief in karma entails, among other things, a focus on long run consequences, i.e., a long term orientation. Such an orientation implies that people who believe in karma may be more honest with themselves in general and in setting expectations in particular – a hypothesis we examine here. This research is based on three simple premises. First, because lower expectations often lead to greater satisfaction, individuals in general, and especially those who are sensitive to the gap between performance and expectations, have the incentive to and actually do “strategically” lower their expectations. Second, individuals with a long term orientation are likely to be less inclined to lower expectations in the hope of temporarily feeling better. Third, long term orientation and the tendency to lower expectations are at least partially driven by cultural factors. In India, belief in karma, with its emphasis on a longer term orientation, will therefore to some extent counter – act the tendency to lower expectations. The empirical results support our logic; those who believe more strongly in karma are less influenced by disconfirmation sensitivity and therefore have higher expectations.

Consumers make choices based on expectations of how alternative options will perform (i.e. expected utility). Expectations about the quality of a product also play a central role in subsequent satisfaction. These expectations may be based on a number of factors including the quality of a typical brand in a category, advertised quality, and disconfirmation sensitivity. Recent evidence suggests that consumers, who are more disconfirmation sensitive (i.e. consumers who are more satisfied when products perform better than expected or more dissatisfied when product perform worse than expected) have lower expectations. However, there is little research concerning the role of culture – specific variables in expectation formation, particularly how they relate to the impact of disconfirmation sensitivity on consumer expectations.

15. Which of the following statements, if true, would contradict the first of the three premises mentioned in the first paragraph?

A. Higher satisfaction leads to lower expectation.

B. Lower expectation leads to long term consequences

C. Satisfaction depends on achievement and not on expectation

D. Karma affects our immediate feelings

E. Lower expectation would lead to lower efforts

Explanatory Note:

The premise states clearly that expectations lead to satisfaction, and the calibration of the expectation happens because higher or lower level of expectation are indirectly proportionate to the satisfaction. The statement C says that it is not expectation but achievement that defines satisfaction, contradicting the premise. (Contradiction need not be reversal of statement) Choice (C)