Q#1 Make a précis of the given passage and suggest a suitable heading.
The author of a work of imagination is trying to effect us wholly, as human beings, whether he knows it or not; and we are affected by it, as human beings, whether we intend to be or not. I suppose that everything we eat has some effect upon us than merely the pleasure of taste and mastication; it affects us during the process of assimilation and digestion; and I believe that exactly the same is true of anything we read.The fact that what we read does not concern merely something called our literary taste, but that it affects directly, though only amongst many other influences, the whole of what we are, is best elicited, I think, by a conscientious examination of the history of our individual literary education. Consider the adolescent reading of any person with some literary sensibility. Everyone, I believe, who is at all sensible to the seductions of poetry, can remember some moment in youth when he or she was completely carried away by the work of one poet. Very likely he was carried away by several poets, one after the other.The reason for this passing infatuation is not merely that our sensibility to poetry is keener in adolescence than in maturity. What happens is a kind of inundation, or invasion of the undeveloped personality, the empty (swept and garnished) room, by the stronger personality of the poet. The same thing may happen at a later age to persons who have not done much reading. One author takes complete possession of us for a time; then another, and finally they begin to affect each other in our mind. We weigh one against another; we see that each has qualities absent from others, and qualities incompatible with the qualities of others: we begin to be, in fact, critical: and it is our growing critical power which protects us from excessive possession by anyone literary personality.The good critic — and we should all try to critics, and not leave criticism to the fellows who write reviews in the papers — is the man who, to a keen and abiding sensibility, joins wide and increasingly discriminating. Wide reading is not valuable as a kind of hoarding, and the accumulation of knowledge or what sometimes is meant by the term “a well-stocked mind.” It is valuable because in the process of being affected by one powerful personality after another, we cease to be dominated by anyone, or by any small number. The very different views of life, cohabiting in our minds, affect each other, and our own personality asserts itself and gives each a place in some arrangement peculiar to our self.
Solution:
Title: The Formative Influence of Reading
Précis
A work of imagination influences us far beyond literary pleasure, shaping our whole personality just as food affects the body. Our reading history shows this clearly. In youth, readers often become intensely devoted to one poet after another because their still-forming personalities are overwhelmed by stronger literary minds. The same can happen to older, inexperienced readers. Gradually, as we encounter more writers, their differing qualities balance one another, and we develop critical judgment. A true critic — as everyone should strive to be — combines sensitivity with wide and discriminating reading. Such reading is not mere accumulation of knowledge; rather, by exposing us to many powerful personalities, it prevents domination by any single one and enables our own personality to emerge through a harmonious ordering of diverse views.
Q.2 Read the following passage and answere the questions that follow:
Strong section of industrials who still imagine that men can be mere machines and are at their best as machines if they are mere machines are already menacing what they call “useless” education. They deride the classics, and they are mildly contemptiois of history, philosophy, and English. They want our educational institutions, from the oldest universities to the youngest elementary schools, to concentrate on business or the things that are patently useful in business. Technical instruction is to be provided for adolescent artisans; book keeping and shorthand for prospective clerks; and the cleverest we are to set to “business methods”, to modern languages (which can be used in correspondence with foreign firms), and to science (which can be applied to industry).
French and German are the languages, not of Montaigne and Gorthe, but of Schmidt Brothers, of Elberfeld and Dupont et Cie., of Lyons. Chemistry and Physics are not explorations into the physical constitution of the universe, but sources of new dyes, new electric light filaments, new means of making things which can be sold cheap and fast to the Nigerian and the Chinese. For Latin there is a Limited field so long as the druggists insist on retaining it in their prescriptions. Greek has no apparent use at all, unless it be as a source of syllables for the hybrid names of patent medicines and metal polishes.
The soul of man, the spiritual basis of civilization — what gibberish is that?
Questions
a) What kind of education does the writer deal with? (2)
b) What kind of education does the writer favour? How do you know? (3)
c) Where does the writer express most bitterly his feelings about the neglect of the classics? (3)
d) Explain as carefully as you can the full significance of the last sentence. (4)
e) Explain the underlined words and phrases in the passage (8)
Solution:
Q.2 — Answers
a) What kind of education does the writer deal with?
The writer is dealing with utilitarian and business-oriented education promoted by industrialists, who want schools to focus only on practical subjects like bookkeeping, shorthand, modern languages for trade, and science for industry.
b) What kind of education does the writer favour? How do you know?
The writer favours a liberal, humanistic, and cultural education, including the classics, history, philosophy, and English.
We know this because he criticizes the industrialists for calling such education “useless,” and he speaks with irony and disapproval about reducing learning to mere business utility.
c) Where does the writer express most bitterly his feelings about the neglect of the classics?
His bitterness appears most strongly where he remarks that:
Latin has only a “limited field,” useful merely for druggists’ prescriptions, and
Greek has “no apparent use at all,” except for forming names of patent medicines and metal polishes.
These sarcastic comments clearly show his resentment toward the contempt for classical studies.
d) Explain as carefully as you can the full significance of the last sentence.
“The soul of man, the spiritual basis of civilization — what gibberish is that?”
The sentence expresses the industrialists’ scornful attitude toward higher ideals.
They dismiss concepts like the human soul and the spiritual foundation of civilization as meaningless nonsense (“gibberish”).
The writer uses this sarcastic remark to reveal how narrowly the industrial view limits human worth to economic usefulness, ignoring moral, cultural, and spiritual development.
e) Explain the underlined words and phrases
(If your original text had underlinings, here are explanations of the key difficult words/phrases in the passage. They match typical underlined items from this passage.)
- Industrialists – Owners or controllers of industries; people concerned mainly with manufacturing and business.
- Deride – To laugh at scornfully; to mock or ridicule.
- Contemptuous – Showing disrespect or a feeling that something is worthless.
- Adolescent artisans – Young workers learning or practising a craft or trade.
- Patently useful – Obviously or clearly useful.
- Explorations into the physical constitution of the universe – Scientific attempts to understand the fundamental nature and structure of the world.
- Hybrid names – Names formed by mixing elements from different languages.
- Gibberish – Nonsensical or meaningless talk.
1- Honesty is the best policy but advertising also helps.
2- It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.
3- A suspicious parent makes an artful child.
4- Spontaneity and creativity as symbols of freedom.
5- Means justify ends.
Solution:
1. Honesty is the Best Policy but Advertising Also Helps
Honesty builds trust and gives long-lasting success by earning people’s confidence. But in today’s competitive world, honest work often remains unnoticed without proper publicity. Advertising helps make good products and abilities visible to the public. Thus, honesty is essential, but effective presentation supports it. Together they lead to real progress.
2. It Is Hard for an Empty Bag to Stand Upright
This proverb means that a person lacking knowledge, discipline, or resources cannot succeed in life. Just as an empty bag cannot stand on its own, an unprepared person easily collapses under pressure. Education, experience, and hard work fill the “bag” and give strength. Only a well-prepared mind can face challenges confidently.
3. A Suspicious Parent Makes an Artful Child
Excessive suspicion damages trust between parents and children. When a child is always doubted, he learns to hide the truth instead of being honest. To escape constant monitoring, he may become clever, secretive, or deceitful. Thus, parental mistrust unintentionally trains a child in cunning behaviour. Trust and guidance produce better results.
4. Spontaneity and Creativity as Symbols of Freedom
Spontaneity shows the ability to act freely without fear or restriction. Creativity expresses original thinking that flourishes only in a free environment. When people feel free, their ideas, imagination, and talents develop naturally. Societies that value freedom encourage innovation and growth. Thus, spontaneity and creativity become true signs of liberty.
5. Means Justify Ends
This idea suggests that success alone is enough to excuse any method used to achieve it. However, actions based on dishonesty or cruelty may harm moral values and society. Good ends must be achieved through fair and ethical means. True success requires both right goals and right actions. Justice cannot grow from injustice.
Q-4 Choose synonyms (only five)
1- LACUNAE
a-tiny marine life
b-shallow water
c-local dialect
d-missing parts
2-PAROXYSM
a-moral lesson
b-sudden outburst
c-contradiction
d-pallid imitation
3-GROTTO
a-statue
b-cavern
c-neighbourhood
d-type of moth
4-FETTER
a-rot
b-to restrain
c-make better
d-enable to fly
5-STOICISM
a-indifference
b-boldness
c-deep affection
d-patient endurance
6-SUCCULENT
a-edible
b-parched
c-generous
d-mature
7-MALEDICTION
a-compliment
b-summary
c-perfume
d-awkwardness
Solution:
1. LACUNAE
Correct answer: d) missing parts
2. PAROXYSM
Correct answer: b) sudden outburst
3. GROTTO
Correct answer: b) cavern
4. FETTER
Correct answer: b) to restrain
5. STOICISM
Correct answer: d) patient endurance
6. SUCCULENT
Correct answer: a) edible (meaning juicy or tasty)
7. MALEDICTION
Malediction means “a curse.”
None of the options match its meaning.
But if you must choose from the given choices, the only possible one is:
a) compliment (because it is the opposite of “curse”).)
(B)_Pick the most nearly opposite in meaning to the capitalized words.
1-TWINE
a-straighten
b-continue
c-unravel
d-detach
2-FRUGAL
a-prodigal
b-intemperate
c-extravagant
d-profuse
3-GAWKY
a-neat
b-handy
c-graceful
d-handsome
4-CAPRICIOUS
a-firm
b-decided
c-inflexible
d-constant
5-CONGEAL
a-liquify
b-molify
c-harden
d-solidify
1. TWINE
Answer: c) unravel
(Twine = to twist together; unravel = to undo the twist.)
2. FRUGAL
Answer: a) prodigal
(Frugal = economical, careful with money; prodigal = wasteful, extravagant.)
3. GAWKY
Answer: c) graceful
(Gawky = awkward or clumsy; graceful = smooth and elegant.)
4. CAPRICIOUS
Answer: d) constant
(Capricious = unpredictable or changeable; constant = steady and unchanging.)
5. CONGEAL
Answer: a) liquify
(Congeal = to solidify; liquify = to melt or make liquid.)