ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -The police car, which is revealed to have no occupants, cannot understand why Mead would be out walking for no reason, and so it decides to take him to the Psychiatric Center for Research on Regressive Tendencies.

Detailed explanation-2: -Leonard Mead’s “regressive tendencies” are that he has “reverted” to walking around outside for no purpose other than to get some fresh air and look around. The police are shocked that he isn’t sitting at home, zombified in front of a TV like the other “progressive” members of society.

Detailed explanation-3: -Answer and Explanation: The setting is a city at night in a world that is focused on watching television. The roads are in disrepair and no one walks the streets at night. Because of this, the mood of the story is not positive and can seem gloomy or depressed.

Detailed explanation-4: -returning to a previous way of reacting to something: Regressive behavior-bed-wetting, throwing tantrums, waking in the night-is common.

Detailed explanation-5: -Mead, the only named character in the story, is an adult male living in an unnamed city in the middle of the 21st century. He is unique among city dwellers; he lives alone, doesn’t own a television, and his profession as a writer is outdated, since no one reads anymore.