Question

The first thing the researcher looked at was whether the brain pays more attention to the sort of change that might be expected, or to changes that are unexpected. On the face of it, either might have turned out to be the case. Paying attention to the expected is probably best for everyday existence.________________________

• A. The question that needs to be addressed is whether such expectations are learnt or innate.
• B. Noticing the unexpected, though, might save your life.
• C. Prior knowledge of the expected, in the long run, makes life more meaningful.
• D. The positive side of the unexpected needs to be addressed as well.
• E. Knowing the unexpected can help in understanding the mysteries of life.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Noticing the unexpected, though, might save your life.

Option (b)

The passage discusses two aspects of change- the expected and the unexpected. The last sentence of the passage mentions how knowledge of the expected can help us. Options [c] and [e] are also about the expected changes and they add on to the information given in the last sentence, but in no way can they complete the paragraph. The paragraph should end with some discussion regarding the unexpected changes. [d] restricts itself to the ‘positive sides’ of the unexpected whereas the passage is concerned with general information about expected and unexpected changes. The passage does not indicate any questioning approach, hence [a] cannot be the correct answer. The concern in the last sentence is regarding everyday existence and nothing beyond that. ‘Saving one’s life’ is more basic than ‘understanding the mysteries of life’, so [b] connects better with the passage than [e]. Hence, [b].