Based on the above passage, which one of the following terms expresses the ultimate goal of the state?

1. A. Personal safety
2. B. Health of body and mind
3. C. Communal harmony
4. D. Liberty

Answer: D

Explanation

The passage describes the ultimate goal of the state as freeing individuals from fear, enabling them to live with security, and crucially, to ‘lead men to live by, and to exercise, a free reason.’ While personal safety, health of body and mind, and communal harmony are mentioned as components or consequences, the overarching theme of ‘free reason’ and acting without restraint (other than not injuring others) points directly to the concept of liberty. The state’s role is to create conditions where individuals can exercise their freedom responsibly. Liberty encompasses the ability to act freely, think rationally, and live securely without undue fear or domination, which is the essence of the passage’s message. This question tests the ability to synthesize various elements into a single, overarching concept, a common requirement in CSAT reading comprehension.