GATE Mechanical 2022 Set 1 | GA | Question: 6

Question

Humans are naturally compassionate and honest. In a study using strategically placed wallets that appear "lost", it was found that wallets with money 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 the primary reason for this behavior is compassion and empathy.

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 than wallets that are really lost
• D. Money is always more important than keys

Answer 1

The study shows that wallets with money are more likely to be returned than empty ones, and wallets with both money and a key have the highest return rate.

This suggests people's compassion and empathy play a significant role in their decision to return lost items. The presence of a key likely increases the empathetic response, as it symbolizes personal belongings and potential inconvenience to the owner.

Hence, human compassion drives the honest behavior of returning lost items, especially when a key is involved.

Correct Answer: B