1. Read the passage given below:
According to a survey, out of the world’s hundred richest people today, 27 are heirs and 73 are self-made. Of the self made 18 have no college degrees and 36 are children of poor parents, but some billionaires had neither a degree nor wealthy parents. In other words, super-achievers are not born, they are self- made people. It is not external favour that makes one a super-achiever, but one’s own struggle. Super achievement is not got through inheritance, but is self- acquired success. No one is a born billionaire, but everyone is a potential billionaire. It is the unfolding of one’s own potential that makes one a billionaire or super achiever. Nature does not discriminate between one person and another. Nature’s gifts come to everyone equally. It is the receiver himself who either utilizes them or not. So called deprived persons are in fact privileged persons. Their state of deprivation serves as inner motivation when they see others are progressing, it creates a strong incentive in their mind. It is this incentive that makes a person super. It inculcates strong urge in the individual to make something of his life. Any state of deprivation brings about a kind brainstorming which enhances inner spirit. They enter the world of competition working to their full capacity. They develop the spirit of do or die. It is this spirit that leads them to success. There are numerous examples of one rising to a high position through one’s own struggle, while one’s children might have turned ‘dull’. The reason is simple. The parent started his life with Page 3 of 7 the spirit of discontent; while his children started their lives with contentment. This reason is responsible for the difference between parents and children. One who is born into a poor family and achieves success by way of struggle achieves one more thing, which is more important than wealth i.e. intellectual development. His circumstances automatically develop an intellectual struggle in his mind. This struggle unfolds his inner capacity, and consequently he emerges an intellectually developed person. The laws of nature are greater than everything else. They are eternal they cannot be changed. The law of nature in this regard says that it is not ease but difficulty, effort not facility makes achievers out of ordinary people. So the future is full of hope and opportunity!
1. Identify the meaning of the word ‘potential’. (para 2)
a. Latent qualities b. prospective c. possible d. probable
2. Identify a word which means same as ‘incentive’. (para 2)
a. motivation b. enticement c. consideration d. temptation
3. Identify a word which means the same as ‘discontent’? (para 4)
a. struggle b. dissatisfaction c. deprivation d. discrimination
4. Identify a word which means the same as ‘eternal’? (para 6)
2 / 3
a. intellectual b. ephemeral c. everlasting d. incentive
5. How can deprived people become privileged people?
6. How do the children of some successful parents become ‘dull’ according to the writer of this passage?
7. Why does intellectual development take place faster in children of ‘poorer parents’?
8. What is the message the author is trying to give in this passage?
Answers
1. the ability to do something, possibly when that person doesn't know he can do it
2. something that encourages or pushes forward
3. dissatisfaction
4. c. everlasting
5. The state of deprived people acts as inner motivation when they see others developing, and this creates an incentive in their minds and they strive to do something beneficial and productive. They have a strong urge to make something of their life. They develop and do things with the spirit of 'do or die'.
6. The parent started his life with Page 3 of 7 the spirit of discontentment; while his children started their lives with contentment. This reason is responsible for the difference between parents and children. One who is born into a low-income family and achieves success by way of struggle achieves one more thing, which is more important than wealth, i.e. intellectual development.
7. This is because, given his circumstances, he automatically develops an intellectual struggle in his mind. A struggle to come out of the deprivation and to get better. This struggle unfolds his inner capacity, and consequently, he emerges an intellectually developed person.
8. The author tries to convey of how the spirit of 'do or die' is important in every situation, and how one must make full use of his potential to strive for better, progress in life and become successful.