Solution
✅ Correct Option: 1,2
Explanation of why statements 1 and 2 are incorrect:
- Statement 1: "Steering clear of challenges and grief can help us rise about life's hardships"
- Why it's incorrect: The passage explicitly states that it is impossible to avoid days of anguish caused by ill health, worry, or grief. Instead of avoiding or steering clear of them, the passage says we must rise above them through inner strength and a sound philosophy.
- Statement 2: "Happiness, like a purse, should be guarded from negative influences."
- Why it's incorrect: The passage uses the purse analogy as a negative example of how not to handle happiness. It states, "Some people carry their happiness like a purse, easily stolen by ill winds..." The author is criticizing this fragile mindset, implying that happiness should be an un-stealable inner standard, rather than something external that needs to be fragilely guarded like a physical object.
Why statements 3 and 4 are correct (and therefore not selected):
- Statement 3 is directly supported by the text: "Instead, negativity should be treated with humour, and happiness should remain self-determined."
- Statement 4 is directly supported by Timothy Dwight's quote and the conclusion: "The happiest person is the person who thinks the most interesting thoughts," and "Rising above pain is possible through inner strength and thinking interesting thoughts."