Question 55
ComprehensionJAMB 2016 Passage III: Fear and anxiety (cloze)
When a mother is afraid that her child will die when it has only a pimple or a slight headache; we speak of anxiety. But if she is afraid when the child has a serious illness, we call her reaction ________ (46). If someone is afraid whenever he stands on a height or when he has to discuss ________ (47) he knows well, we call his reaction ________ (48); if someone is afraid when he loses his way high up in the mountain during a heavy thunderstorm, we would speak of ________ (49). Thus far, we have a simple and neat distinction between the two, namely, one is a reaction that is proportionate to the danger one has to face whereas the other is ________ (50) reaction to danger, or even a reaction to ________ (51) danger. This distinction has one ________ (52), however, which is that the decision ________ (53) whether the reaction is proportionate depends on the average knowledge existing in the particular ________ (54). But, even if that knowledge proclaims a certain attitude to be unfounded, a neurotic will find no difficulty in giving his action a ________ (55) foundation.
Passage III, gap 55: a neurotic will find no difficulty in giving his action a ________ (55) foundation.
- A.rational
- B.reactional
- C.proactive
- D.radical
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: A (rational)
Explanation
A neurotic can always make up a reasonable-sounding (rational) basis for his fear.