Passage

Medium

It was a chilly evening in November when Arjun stood on the deserted platform of the old railway station. The clock read 10:15 PM, and the last train was expected soon. He had missed the earlier ones due to an unexpected delay at work. The platform was eerily quiet, the only sound being the distant hum of the city. A cold breeze swept through, making him pull his coat tighter.

Arjun felt physically and emotionally drained. His life had been consumed by work and responsibilities, leaving little time for reflection and joy. Recently, a personal setback had left him questioning his choices. He wondered; What was the point of all the struggles if they didn't lead to fulfillment? The train, in some way, symbolised an escape, a way to leave behind everything that weighted on him and start afresh.

As he stood there, the train's headlights appeared in the distance, cutting the mist like a beacon. The rumbling sound grew louder, and as it approached, Arjun's heart raced, unsure whether he was avoiding his reality. He stepped onto the train, the doors closing behind him with a soft hiss.

Lost in thought, he gazed out of the window at the passing landscape, a mix of darkness and scattered lights. The journey ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of possibility. Arjun realised that he wasn't running away; he was heading toward finding a chance to rediscover himself. Change wasn't the end-it was the beginning.

The passage primarily emphasises _____________.

the importance of hard work over reflection

the futility of running away from problems

the challenges of urban life

the need to embrace change for personal growth

✅ Correct Option: 4

Option 1 -> While Arjun’s work and responsibilities are mentioned, the passage highlights how this lifestyle exhausts him and pushes him toward reflection, not that hard work is more important than reflection.

Option 2 -> Though Arjun initially sees the train as an “escape,” the passage clearly states he isn’t running away; it reframes the journey as moving toward self-discovery, not the futility of escape.

Option 3 -> The city hum and deserted platform create mood and setting, but the core focus is Arjun’s internal shift, not broader urban-life challenges.

Option 4 -> Lines like “he felt a sense of possibility,” “chance to rediscover himself,” and “Change wasn’t the end—it was the beginning” directly stress embracing change as a path to personal growth.

Hence, Option 4: the need to embrace change for personal growth -> The passage traces Arjun’s shift from burnout and doubt to seeing the journey as a beginning, showing that embracing change can lead to rediscovery and growth -> correct

Question 9

In the last paragraph — 'The passing landscape, a mix of darkness and scattered lights' truly reflects Arjun's state of mind, which is a mix of _________ and _________.

Question 10

Complete the given statement:

For Arjun, the train approaching through the mist symbolised _______________.

Question 12

The literary device used in the expression — 'the doors closing behind him with a soft hiss' is _________.

The passage primarily emphasises _____________.

Solution

More from this set:

Keyboard Shortcuts

CUET English Past Year Questions (Topic-Wise)