Read the following passage and answer the item that follows. Your answers to this item should be based on the passage only. There is more than a modicum of truth in the assertion that "a working knowledge of ancient history is necessary to the intelligent interpretation of current events". But the sage who uttered these words of wisdom might well have added something on the benefits of studying particularly the famous battles of history for the lessons they contain for those of us who lead or aspire to leadership. Such a study will reveal certain qualities and attributes which enabled the winners to win-and certain deficiencies which caused the losers to lose. And the student will see that the same pattern recurs consistently, again and again, throughout the centuries. With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1.A study of the famous battles of history would help us understand the modern warfare. 2.Studying the history is essential for anyone who aspires to be a leader. Which of these assumptions is/are valid? Correct Answer Neither 1 nor 2 The correct answer is Neither 1 and 2. Key Points The first assumption is invalid as it compares the modern and historical warfare techniques. Modern warfare is caused due to modern problems, and hence they require modern technologies, weapons, strategies, etc., while historical battles included strategies, weapons, defensive formations, etc., that used to be helpful in those times only. As different types of problems need different solutions with time; hence, experiences and strategies of historical warfare can't be beneficial to modern warfare because of technological advancements. The usage of historical warfare strategies will be futile for modern warfare. The second statement is invalid as it restricts the idea of gaining leadership skills. It is not necessary that to learn leadership skills; one should read the history, but it can be beneficial for those who aspire to be a leader. One can upgrade his leadership skills by reading about the historical battles and learning from the experiences, strategies, and mistakes of the historic leaders. But this is not the only way to learn leadership skills as the quality of leadership can be gained and improved with own experiences and efforts. Hence, the correct choice is option 4. Additional Information Let's understand the meaning of this word: Modicum: a small quantity of a particular thing, especially something considered desirable or valuable. Example: Anyone with a modicum of common sense could have seen that the plan wouldn't work. Synonyms: speck, fragment, scrap Antonyms: profusion, lot, abundance