Passage Reading: GATE Mechanical 2022 Set 1 | GA Question: 6
Humans are naturally compassionate and honest. In a study using strategically placed wallets that appear "lost", it was found that wallets with a key are more likely to be returned than wallets without money. Similarly, wallets that had a key and money are more likely to be returned than wallets with the same amount of money alone. This suggests that people do not care about money. Wallets used in experiments are more likely to be returned than wallets that are really lost. Money is always more important than keys.
Which one of the following is the CORRECT logical inference based on the information in the above passage?
A. Wallets with a key are more likely to be returned because people do not care about money.
B. Wallets with a key are more likely to be returned because people relate to suffering of others.
C. Wallets used in experiments are more likely to be returned because of the emotional value of the key.
D. Money is always more important than keys.
GATE 2022 · General Aptitude · Passage Reading · medium
Answer: Option B is correct: wallets with a key are more likely to be returned because people relate to the suffering of others — consistent with the passage's claim that humans are naturally compassionate.
Identify the passage's central argument: The passage opens: 'Humans are naturally compassionate and honest.' The wallet study evidence is meant to illustrate this. Any correct inference must connect with compassion or honesty.
Evaluate each option: A — 'people do not care about money': contradicted; the passage acknowledges money matters but compassion overrides it. B — 'people relate to suffering of others': directly consistent with the compassion claim; a key signals the owner's potential distress (being locked out). C — 'emotional value of the key': introduces an idea not stated in the passage. D — 'money is always more important than keys': directly contradicted by the study finding.