MAT Exam 2025 Paper

Question Numbers: 1-5SECTION-A : English LanguageDIRECTIONS (Qs. 1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.Humans naturally seek order and structure in their lives. Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory aligns with this tendency by organizing human motivation into five progressive levels. First introduced in 1943, this theory proposes that people are driven by a series of needs that range from basic survival to personal growth.The five levels, arranged from most to least fundamental, are: physiological needs (like food and shelter), safety and security, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. These are grouped into three broader categories: basic needs(physiological and safety),psychological needs(love/belonging andesteem), and self-fulfilment needs (self-actualization).Maslow distinguished between "deficiency needs," which arise from deprivation, and "growth needs," which emerge from the desire to achieve personal potential. While originally Maslow suggested people must meet lower-level needs before progressing upward, later updates acknowledged that needs can overlap and shift depending on circumstances. For instance, eating dinner with loved ones may satisfy both physiological and emotional needs.Similarly, feeling respected (an esteem need) might occur even when basic needs like food or shelter are insecure. The top tier, self-actualization, refers to achieving one's full potential and living in alignment with core values. This need varies among individuals but generally involves personal growth and fulfilment. Critics have pointed out that Maslow's model isn't always linear-some people prioritize higher-tier needs even if their basic needs remain unmet. Maslow later accepted this flexibility. Despite criticisms, his hierarchy remains a foundational concept in motivation theory.