Passage

In an economic organization, allowing mankind to benefit by the productivity of machines should lead to a very good life of leisure, and much leisure is apt to be tedious except to those who have intelligent activities and interests. If a leisured population is to be happy, it must be an educated population, and must be educated with a view to enjoyment as well as to the direct usefulness of technical knowledge.

Question

CSATMediumPrelims 2022Comprehension

Which of the following statements best reflects the underlying tone of the passage?

Explanation

Option A is correct: The passage emphasizes that for people to truly benefit from economic progress, they must be educated in a way that allows them to utilize their leisure time productively and happily. This directly aligns with the idea that "only an educated population can best make use of the benefits of economic progress."

Option B is incorrect: While the passage acknowledges that economic development leads to more leisure, it does not argue that the sole purpose of economic development should be to create leisure. The focus is on how to make that leisure meaningful through education.

Option C is incorrect: Although the passage suggests that education contributes to happiness by enabling people to enjoy their leisure, it does not make a direct claim that an increase in the educated population automatically leads to greater happiness in society as a whole.

Option D is incorrect: The passage does not argue that machines should be encouraged solely to create a large leisured population. Instead, it highlights the need for proper education to ensure that leisure is used effectively.