Question

The man who is perpetually hesitating which of the two things he will do first, will do neither. The man who resolves, but suffers his resolution to be changed by the first counter Suggestion of a friend—who fluctuates from opinion to opinion and veers from plan to plan-can never accomplish anything. He will at best be stationary and probably retrograde in all. It is only the man who first consults wisely, then resolves firmly and then executes his purpose with inflexible perseverance, undismayed by those petty difficulties which daunt a weaker spirit—that can advance to eminence in any line.

The keynote that seems to be emerging from the passage is that 

(a) we should first consult wisely and then resolve firmly 

(b) we should reject suggestions of friends and remain unchanged 

(c) we should always remain broad-minded 

(d) we should be resolute and achievement-oriented

Answer 1

Correct option (d) we should be resolute and achievement-oriented

Explanation:

Keynote could be understood as the central theme or gist of the passage. 

Option (b) and (c) are contradictory to the passage. 

Option (a) is factually correct but does not represent the central theme. Option (d) contains two words which represent the beginning and concluding ideas of the passage, ie “not being perpetually hesitant” and “advance to eminence…”