UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

The maxim “from concrete to abstract” advises teachers to begin with tangible,observable examples before moving to symbolic or theoretical descriptions. Real objects and models give learners direct experience that helps them understand later abstract ideas. The stem explicitly describes this sequence,so concrete is the correct word.

Option A:
Whole appears in the maxim “from whole to part,”which concerns presenting an overview before analysing components and is different from concrete experiences.

Option B:
Complex is part of the maxim “from simple to complex,”which deals with difficulty level,not with tangibility.

Option C:
Concrete refers to real and specific materials that can be seen or handled,which perfectly matches the use of objects and models.

Option D:
Unknown would belong to the maxim “from known to unknown,”which focuses on familiarity rather than concreteness,so it is not appropriate here.

Apoha is a Buddhist theory of word meaning that avoids real universals by explaining general terms through exclusion. According to this view, a word like “cow” signifies its referent by excluding non cows rather than by denoting a positive universal “cowness.” This allows Buddhists, who emphasise momentary particulars, to account for meaningful language. The theory thus focuses on semantics and conceptual construction rather than on perception alone.

Option A:
Option A misrepresents apoha, because Buddhists generally deny that perception presents universals; apoha addresses language and concepts, not direct perception.

Option B:
Option B correctly captures apoha as explaining word meaning through exclusion of what the word does not apply to. This is why it is often summarised as “meaning by exclusion.”

Option C:
Option C pertains to the reliability of scripture, which is a different epistemic issue and not the target of apoha theory.

Option D:
Option D concerns the dependence of inference on perception; although Buddhists discuss this, apoha specifically tackles how words manage to refer without real universals.