Reading comprehension – mindfulness and social action passage: why does the author call care for others’ well-being a moral responsibility?

Introduction / Context:
This reading comprehension question is based on a passage that connects mindfulness, spirituality, and social responsibility. The author explains that our personal journey and social action are intertwined. A key sentence states that recognising the dependence of our well-being on others makes caring for their well-being a moral responsibility. Your task is to identify that reasoning among the options.

Given Data / Assumptions:

In the passage:
- Mindfulness is described as a way to become aware of our own fears and others’ fears.
- The spiritual path and social action are seen as parts of one whole.
- The author says that acknowledging our well-being depends on others leads to the conclusion that caring for others is a moral responsibility.
- Exercises like the “mindful citizen” activity are mentioned as tools for building a sense of common humanity.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this question, you must focus on cause and effect: what is the reason given for calling care of others a moral duty? Instead of guessing based on general moral ideas, you should recall the exact connection the author draws. Options that introduce new reasons not mentioned in the text, such as constitutional duties or upbringing, should be treated with suspicion.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Locate the part of the passage where moral responsibility is mentioned. Step 2: Note that the author explicitly states that when we acknowledge our own well-being depends on others, caring for others becomes a moral responsibility. Step 3: Compare this cause-and-effect statement with the options provided. Step 4: Choose the option that directly reflects the idea that dependence of our well-being on others is the reason.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you mentally replace the phrase in the passage with each option, only one retains the original implication: “Acknowledging that our well-being depends on others makes caring for others’ well-being a moral responsibility.” This sentence is almost directly mirrored in option b, giving a strong verification that b is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a) “Because of our naturally concerned and sensitive nature” is vague and not directly mentioned. While concern may be part of moral life, the passage gives a different, more specific reason.
Option c) “Because it depends entirely on one’s upbringing” introduces an idea that the passage never emphasises. Upbringing may shape us, but it is not cited as the basis for moral responsibility here.
Option d) “Because it is written as a fundamental duty in the Constitution” is completely external to the text. The passage does not refer to any legal or constitutional framework; it argues from interdependence and shared humanity, not law.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to choose an option that sounds morally lofty but is unsupported by the actual passage. Another pitfall is overgeneralising from personal beliefs about duty instead of staying inside the evidence given by the text. Careful reading of the key sentence prevents these mistakes.

Final Answer:
Because our own well-being depends on the well-being of others