UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

The maxim “from known to unknown” advises teachers to start with ideas,examples or experiences that learners already understand and gradually lead them to new or unfamiliar concepts. This builds on existing cognitive structures and reduces anxiety. The stem states that the lesson begins with familiar examples and then moves to new ideas,which fits this maxim exactly.

Option A:
Simple belongs to the maxim “from simple to complex,”which focuses on degree of difficulty rather than familiarity. Although often related,it is not the phrase quoted in the question.

Option B:
Known indicates what is already familiar to learners; introducing new concepts by relating them to what students already know helps create meaningful connections. Because the stem stresses familiar examples leading to new ideas,known is the correct completion.

Option C:
Concrete is used in the maxim “from concrete to abstract,”emphasising movement from tangible experiences to conceptual understanding,yet the stem speaks about familiarity rather than concreteness.

Option D:
Whole is part of the maxim “from whole to part,”which involves presenting an overview before details,and does not best describe the pattern of starting with familiar and moving to unfamiliar.

The maxim "from known to unknown" guides teachers to begin instruction with ideas and experiences that learners already understand. By building on what is familiar, teachers can gradually introduce new and more complex concepts. This approach reduces anxiety and cognitive overload while providing meaningful connections. Hence, the blank in the well-known maxim is correctly filled by the word known.

Option A:
Known indicates the existing knowledge, experiences or concepts that students hold before instruction. Effective teachers elicit this prior knowledge and then connect it to new content, making learning more meaningful. Because the maxim literally uses the phrase "from known to unknown," this option precisely matches the stem and is correct.

Option B:
Simple refers to the degree of complexity rather than familiarity. Although another maxim advises teachers to move from simple to complex, the stem specifically quotes wording that contrasts known and unknown, not simple and complex.

Option C:
Concrete relates to tangible, sensory-based experiences. There is also a maxim "from concrete to abstract," but this is different from the maxim cited in the question. Therefore, concrete is not appropriate here.

Option D:
Particular suggests moving from specific instances to general principles, which corresponds to the maxim "from particular to general." That is a separate principle and does not match the quoted phrase.