Question

1. Frankness may be among the most overrated of virtues! And here's why. Because
unrestricted and unfiltered frankness is a recipe for breaking relationships, even the
closest ones. Such frankness is understandable, acceptable and even 'cute' only in
children under the age of five.
2. Thinking before one speaks and using restraint are hallmarks of growing maturity
and preparation for life. Learning to put a filter between thought and spoken word
(and, even more importantly, written word) is an important life skill. Think is a popular
acronym for Trúe, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary and Kind. This would do wonderfully
well as a filter in our minds.
3. It is good to speak what's true, but only along with the other attributes in the
acronym, particularly the last one, kindness. In the righteous glow of speaking what
we see as the truth, we often forget to be kind. We blurt out truths' even when it is
totally unhelpful and unnecessary to do so, let alone inspiring ! Too often, such truth-
telling is destructive rather than noble. Only those who do not care about the
consequences can afford the luxury of 'speaking their minds' whenever and
wherever they please. When relationships are at stake, it is essential to choose the
time, place and words appropriately when imparting unpleasant truths. And even
then, only when absolutely necessary and with the utmost kindness.
4. Speaking without forethought can be even more dangerous in other
circumstances, for example, when someone has entrusted us with a secret. A sign of
maturity is the ability to keep a secret. Very young children are incapable of
understanding the concept of a secret. To them, every piece of information is
interesting, new and meant to be shared. As we grow older, we all learn how to keep
a secret, but too often we keep only our own secrets and not those that others
confide in us. We may blurt out something a friend told us in confidence, perhaps
carelessly but often to appear important in other people's estimation. It gives us a
sense of power to know something that our friends don't, and it requires conscious
effort to keep the information to ourselves.
5. But this is the real test of an important life skill: self-restraint. Revealing a friend's
secret is a betrayal of the friendship. Indeed, the consequences may well spread
way beyond the friendship alone. It may lead to gossip spreading like a forest fire,
destroying peace of mind and even lives.
6. Words have power to hurt or heal. They are not mere tools for tweeting and
messaging. Before the tongue speaks, before the fingers fly over the keyboard, it is
important to pause and apply the THINK acronym filter. Is this True, Helpful,
Inspiring, Necessary and Kind?
7. Of course it is important to communicate. But it is far more important to be
considerate and compassionate. Speaking well is a skill: speaking kindly is a life
skill.
On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions in
30-40 words each:
$
(a) What degree of frankness is acceptable?
2M
(b) What does the term 'put a filter' mean in this context?
2M
(c) Which word in the passage means to confide in'?
IM
(d) Find an antonym of 'concealing' from the passage.
1M​

Answer 1

A)

unrestricted and unfiltered frankness is a recipe for breaking relationships, even the

closest ones. Such frankness is understandable, acceptable and even 'cute' only in

children under the age of five.

Answer 2

Explanation:

क्या महाभारत है भाई है