Question

Read the following text:

(1)	Creativity is our most precious resource and the most inexhaustible one. As anyone who has ever spent any time with children knows, every single human being is born creative; every human being is innately endowed with the ability to combine data and perceptions, materials and ideas, and devise new ways of thinking and doing. What fosters creativity? More than anything else: the presence of other creative people; contrary to that, creativity is the province of great individual geniuses. In fact, creativity is a social process. Our biggest creative breakthrough comes when people learn from, compete with, and collaborate with other people.
(2)	Cities are centres of creativity. With their diverse populations, dense social networks and public spaces, people can meet spontaneously and spark or catalyse new ideas. With their infrastructure for finance, organization and trade, they allow the idea to swiftly reach its destination.
(3)	A study tracking the decline of unconventional thinking ability as children age states that while 98 percent of 3 to 5 year olds exhibited creative thinking, this dwindled to 10 percent among 13 to 15 year olds and a mere 2 percent among 25 year olds. Thus, adulthood witnesses the erosion of innate creativity. There is variance in creative vitality across cities. Although all cities harbour creative individuals by default, some are saturated with leaders, institutions, and people that inhibit creativity.
(4)	Creativity (or the lack of it) follows the same general contours of the great socio-economic divide – our rising inequality – that plagues us. According to estimates, roughly one-third of people are able to do work which engages our creative faculties to some extent, whether as artists, musicians, writers, techies, innovators, entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, journalists,. That leaves a group termed "the other 66 percent," in which their creativity is subjugated, ignored or wasted.
(5)	Creativity itself is not in danger. It is flourishing all around us – in science and technology, arts and culture, in our rapidly revitalizing cities. But we still have a long way to go if we want to build a truly creative society that supports and rewards the creativity of each one of us.

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above:

1. The central idea of this passage is that:   [1]
   1. Social interaction is necessary to nurture creativity.
   2. Creativity and ideas are gradually declining in all societies.
   3. The creativity divide is widening in societies in line with socio-economic trends.
   4. More people should work in jobs that engage their creative faculties.
2. Select the option that is true for the assertion and reason given below:   [1]
   Assertion: Creativity is the province of great individual genius is not true.
   Reason: Creativity is a social process.
   1. Both the Assertion and Reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation and assertion.
   2. Both the Assertion and Reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
   3. The Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.
   4. The Assertion is false, but the Reason is true.
3. Identify the word in paragraph 1 which means something that cannot be used-up or depleted.   [1]
4. What important trends does a study tracking the decline in creative thinking ability in children reveal? Answer in about 40 words.   [2]
5. Read the given prompt and select the correct option in the brackets to fill in the blank.   [1]
   Our biggest creative breakthrough comes when people learn from, compete with, and collaborate with other people.
   Creativity is thus a ______ (economic, industrial, social) process.
6. According to the passage, where does creativity thrive apart from arts and culture?    [1]
7. Complete the following with a suitable reason:
   About thirty-three percent citizens engage their creative faculties in tasks that use _______.    [1]
8. In the context of the last paragraph, explain how does the passage view the future of creativity in society.     [2]

Answer 1

1. 
   A. Social interaction is necessary to nurture creativity.
2. 
   A. Both the Assertion and Reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
3. Inexhaustible
4. The study states that 98% of children aged 3-5 exhibit creative thinking, but this declines to 10% in teenagers (13-15 years) and only 2% in adults (25 years). This suggests that innate creativity diminishes with age.
5. Creativity is thus a social process.
6. Creativity also thrives in science and technology as well as in rapidly revitalising cities, where diverse social networks and dynamic environments foster innovative ideas.
7. About thirty-three percent of citizens engage their creative faculties in tasks that use innate imaginative and problem-solving abilities. This engagement drives innovation and contributes significantly to advancements in fields such as art, science, technology, and entrepreneurship.
8. "The passage is optimistic yet cautionary. It suggests that although creativity is flourishing in various sectors like science, technology, arts, and urban environments, there remains a significant challenge: building a society that fully nurtures, supports, and rewards the creative potential of every individual."