According to the passage, a learned man, as described, ____.

Introduction / Context:
This reading comprehension question asks you to interpret how the author describes a learned man in the passage. The writer draws a sharp contrast between abstract book knowledge and practical awareness of people and real life. Understanding this contrast is crucial for choosing the correct option.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The passage describes a learned man who knows a lot about names, dates, and distant places. - It also states that he cares nothing about his neighbours and knows little about real people and things around him. - Options summarise different possible interpretations of this description.

Concept / Approach:
The passage clearly criticises the learned man for ignoring concrete reality. It says he prides himself in knowledge of names and dates, not of men or things. It adds that he thinks and cares nothing about his nextdoor neighbours. Therefore, the correct answer must reflect his lack of concern for real people and real objects, not the opposite.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the sentence that says the learned man prides himself in the knowledge of names and dates, not of men or things. Step 2: Note another line: He thinks and cares nothing about his nextdoor neighbours. Step 3: Recognise that the author is emphasising the man's indifference to actual people and concrete reality. Step 4: Examine the options: - Option A claims he cares about men and things, which is the opposite of what the passage says. - Option B states that he does not care about men and things, matching the passage directly. - Option C claims he cares about the shapes of objects, which is not supported by the text. - Option D says he cares about his neighbours, again contradicting the statement that he cares nothing about them. Step 5: Therefore, Option B is the correct choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
Re reading key lines, you find that the writer mentions knowledge of tribes, castes, and distant cities, but criticises the learned man for not knowing or caring about people close to him. The expression not of men or things is strong and direct. This leaves no room for interpreting the learned man as caring about men and things; instead it confirms his ignorance and indifference toward them.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A reverses the author's criticism and therefore cannot be correct. Option C introduces shapes of objects, which the passage does not mention as a concern for the learned man. Option D is directly contradicted by the statement that he thinks and cares nothing about his nextdoor neighbours.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes misread the passage and assume that a learned man must, by definition, care about men and things. However, comprehension questions often present a slightly ironic or critical view. Always rely on the exact statements in the text, even if they conflict with your expectations. In this case, the author is criticising a narrow type of learning by showing how disconnected such a man is from real life.

Final Answer:
According to the passage, a learned man, as described, does not care about men and things.