CAT 2020 Slot 3 — VARC Question 25
The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.
Aesthetic political representation urges us to realize that ‘the representative has autonomy with regard to the people represented’ but autonomy then is not an excuse to abandon one’s responsibility. Aesthetic autonomy requires cultivation of ‘disinterestedness’ on the part of actors which is not indifference. To have disinterestedness, that is, to have comportment towards the beautiful that is devoid of all ulterior references to use – requires a kind of aesthetic commitment; it is the liberation of ourselves for the release of what has proper worth only in itself.
1. Disinterestedness is different from indifference as the former means a non-subjective evaluation of things which is what constitutes aesthetic political representation.
2. Aesthetic political representation advocates autonomy for the representatives manifested through disinterestedness which itself is different from indifference.
3. Disinterestedness, as distinct from indifference, is the basis of political representation.
4. Aesthetic political representation advocates autonomy for the representatives drawing from disinterestedness, which itself is different from indifference
Answer & solution
Answer: 4
Hard
Three terms govern the passage: aesthetic political representation, autonomy, and disinterestedness (which is distinct from indifference). The right summary keeps all three and states their relationship precisely — autonomy is what the representation advocates, and disinterestedness is the source it draws on.
Central idea. Aesthetic political representation gives the representative autonomy (not an excuse to shirk responsibility); that autonomy requires cultivating disinterestedness — a commitment to what has worth in itself — which is explicitly “not indifference.”
Option 1 — distorts. It makes disinterestedness “what constitutes aesthetic political representation,” dropping autonomy and misstating the relationship. Eliminate.
Option 3 — omits. “Disinterestedness… is the basis of political representation” drops the crucial word aesthetic and the idea of autonomy. Too thin. Eliminate.
Options 2 vs 4 — the fine cut. Both keep all three terms and note disinterestedness differs from indifference. The difference is one verb: option 2 says autonomy is “manifested through disinterestedness” (disinterestedness dominates / is the outward form), while option 4 says autonomy is “drawing from disinterestedness” (disinterestedness is a source to be cultivated, not the dominant face).
Option 4 — precise. The passage says disinterestedness must be “cultivated” and is “required” for autonomy — a source one draws on, not the thing through which autonomy is wholly expressed. “Drawing from” matches this better than “manifested through.” Keep 4.
The best summary is option 4.