SSC CHSL 2025 PYQ — Question 16

Read the passage and answer the following questions:
In the realm of childhood development, certain games transcend mere amusement, functioning instead as potent instruments for cognitive enhancement. Unlike passive entertainment, these activities engage neural circuits, fostering memory retention, logical reasoning, and adaptive problem solving.Classic strategy games such as chess compel young players to anticipate consequences several moves ahead, refining both foresight and decision-making acuity. Similarly, puzzles ranging from jigsaw assemblies to three-dimensional brainteasers demand spatial awareness and pattern recognition, skills transferable to mathematics and science. Even word-based games, including crosswords and Scrabble, enrich vocabulary and linguistic dexterity, thereby strengthening communicative competence.
Digital platforms, when judiciously curated, can also serve as catalysts for mental growth. Educational video games that simulate problem scenarios encourage children to synthesise information rapidly and experiment with multiple solutions, enhancing cognitive flexibility. Importantly, these benefits are maximised when gameplay is balanced with real-world interaction, mitigating the risks of social isolation and sedentary behaviour. Furthermore, such games cultivate patience, perseverance, and a tolerance for delayed gratification traits that underpin academic resilience. By embedding complex mental tasks within an enjoyable framework, they transform learning into an intrinsically motivating pursuit rather than an externally imposed obligation.
Ultimately, games that stimulate the intellect are not trivial diversions but dynamic tools, shaping neural architecture in ways that can confer lasting academic and personal advantages.

Identify the tense in 'can also serve as catalysts for mental growth'.