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SSC CGL 2025 PYQ — Question 22

SSC CGL - 21 Sep 2025 - Shift 3 • English • Q22

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Read the passage and answer the questions:

The annals of mountaineering history are adorned with figures whose daring transcended mere athleticism, embodying philosophical quests for transcendence against Earth’s most formidable landscapes. Each mountaineer — whether treading the snows of Everest, the granite of Patagonia, or the arid heights of the Atlas Mountains — etched a distinct narrative of audacity and introspection.

'Tenzing Norgay' and 'Sir Edmund Hillary’s' epochal 1953 Everest ascent immortalized human perseverance, but figures such as 'Reinhold Messner' redefined the boundaries further. Rejecting supplemental oxygen, Messner’s minimalist ethos emphasized purity over conquest, portraying mountains not as trophies but as sentient entities commanding reverence. Similarly, 'Junko Tabei', the first woman to summit Everest, symbolized the intersection of resilience and quiet defiance in an era resistant to female adventurers.

The ethos of mountaineering diversified through the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Climbers like 'Kilian Jornet', blending ultra-marathon endurance with technical ascents, and 'Nirmal Purja', whose record-breaking summits shattered temporal assumptions, reveal a contemporary paradigm: mountains as arenas of rapid, almost transcendental athleticism. Meanwhile, indigenous climbers, long relegated to footnotes in expedition histories, increasingly assert their rightful place as stewards of sacred peaks.

Thus, the saga of mountaineering resists reduction to mere feats of strength. It weaves a tapestry of cultures, philosophies, and personal odysseys — each ascent a dialectic between human fragility and the immutable majesty of the mountains.

Which of the following best summarizes the primary argument of the passage?

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C

Explanation

The correct answer is option 3 i.e. Montaineering represents a confluence of physical challenge, cultural identity, and philosophical exploration.

 

Analysis of the Passage:

  • Physical Challenge: The passage mentions 'daring,' 'athleticism,' and 'feats of strength,' referencing specific physical achievements like those of Kilian Jornet and Nirmal Purja.

  • Cultural Identity: It discusses the role of indigenous climbers as 'stewards of sacred peaks' and Junko Tabei’s defiance of gender norms, showing how the activity intersects with different cultures and social identities.

  • Philosophical Exploration: The text highlights Messner’s 'minimalist ethos' and the idea of mountains as 'sentient entities,' describing the sport as a 'philosophical quest for transcendence' and a 'dialectic between human fragility and immutable majesty.'

Why this is the best summary: The final paragraph explicitly states that the saga 'resists reduction to mere feats of strength' and instead 'weaves a tapestry of cultures, philosophies, and personal odysseys.' This directly supports the idea of a confluence (a coming together) of these various elements.

Hence, the chosen option is correct.