1. Read the passage given below.
The choices we make on a daily basis—wearing a seatbelt, lifting heavy objects correctly
or purposely staying out of any dangerous situation—can either ensure our safety or bring
about potentially harmful circumstances.
You and I need to make a decision that we are going to get our lives in order. Exercising
self-control, self-discipline and establishing boundaries and borders in our lives are some of
the most important things we can do. A life without discipline is one that’s filled with
carelessness.
We can think it’s kind of exciting to live life on the edge. We like the image of “Yeah! That’s
me! Living on the edge! Woo-hoo!” It’s become a popular way to look at life. But if you see,
even highways have lines, which provide margins for our safety while we’re driving. If we
go over one side, we’ll go into the ditch. If we cross over the line in the middle, we could get
killed. And we like those lines because they help to keep us safe. Sometimes we don’t even
realize how lines help to keep us safe.
I’m not proud of this, but for the first 20 years of my life at work, I ignored my limits. I felt
horrible, physically, most of the time. I used to tell myself “I know I have limits and that
I’ve reached them, but I’m going to ignore them and see if or how long I can get by with
it.” I ran to doctors, trying to make myself feel better through pills, vitamins, natural stuff
and anything I could get my hands on. Some of the doctors would tell me, “It’s just stress.”
That just made me mad. I thought stress meant you don’t like what you do or can’t handle
life, and I love what I do. But I kept pushing myself, traveling, doing speaking engagements
and so on— simply exhausting myself.
Finally, I understood I was living an unsustainable life and needed to make some changes
in my outlook and lifestyle.
You and I don’t have to be like everyone else or keep up with anyone else. Each of us needs
to be exactly the way we are, and we don’t have to apologize for it. We’re not all alike and
we need to find a comfort zone in which we can enjoy our lives instead of making ourselves
sick with an overload of stress and pressure.
On the basis of understanding of the passage answer the following questions :
Q1) Which of the characteristics are apt about the writer in the following context: “I know
I have limits and that I’ve reached them, but I’m going to ignore them and see if or how
long I can get by with it.” ?
1. negligent
2. indecisive
3. spontaneous
4. reckless
5. purposeless
6. patient
a) 2 and 5 b) 3 and 6 c) 1 and 4 d) 2 and 3
Q2) The reason why living on the edge has become popular, is because of the
a) constant need for something different. b) population being much younger.
c) exhausting effort to make changes. d) strong tendency to stay within our limits.
Q3) The phrase “potentially harmful circumstances” refers to circumstances that can
(a) certainly be dangerous. (b) be fairly dangerous.
(c) be possibly dangerous. (d) seldom be dangerous.
Q4). Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘outlook’, as used in the
passage.
1. A person’s evaluation of life
2. A person’s experiences in life
3. A person’s point of view towards life
4. A person’s regrets in life
5. A person’s general attitude to life
a) (1) and (4) b) (2) and (3) c) (3) and (5) d) (4) and (5)
Q5) Choose the option that best captures the central idea of the passage from the given
quotes.
1. It’s all about quality of life and finding a happy balance between work and friends.
2. To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.
3. Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.
4. Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.
a) Option (1) b) Option (2) c) Option (3) d) Option (4)
Q6) The author explains the importance of discipline and boundaries in our lives using the
example of
a) road accidents. b) traffic rules. c) lines on the highway. d) safe driving.
Q7) The author attempts to __________________ the readers through this write-up.
a) rebuke b) question c) offer aid to d) offer advice to
Q8) What is the message conveyed in the last paragraph of the passage?
a) Love what you do. b) Love yourself to love others.
c) Be the best version of yourself. d) Be yourself
Answers
Explanation:
The choices we make on a daily basis—wearing a seatbelt, lifting heavy objects correctly
or purposely staying out of any dangerous situation—can either ensure our safety or bring
about potentially harmful circumstances.
You and I need to make a decision that we are going to get our lives in order. Exercising
self-control, self-discipline and establishing boundaries and borders in our lives are some of
the most important things we can do. A life without discipline is one that’s filled with
carelessness.
We can think it’s kind of exciting to live life on the edge. We like the image of “Yeah! That’s
me! Living on the edge! Woo-hoo!” It’s become a popular way to look at life. But if you see,
even highways have lines, which provide margins for our safety while we’re driving. If we
go over one side, we’ll go into the ditch. If we cross over the line in the middle, we could get
killed. And we like those lines because they help to keep us safe. Sometimes we don’t even
realize how lines help to keep us safe.
I’m not proud of this, but for the first 20 years of my life at work, I ignored my limits. I felt
horrible, physically, most of the time. I used to tell myself “I know I have limits and that
I’ve reached them, but I’m going to ignore them and see if or how long I can get by with
it.” I ran to doctors, trying to make myself feel better through pills, vitamins, natural stuff
and anything I could get my hands on. Some of the doctors would tell me, “It’s just stress.”
That just made me mad. I thought stress meant you don’t like what you do or can’t handle
life, and I love what I do. But I kept pushing myself, traveling, doing speaking engagements
and so on— simply exhausting myself.
Finally, I understood I was living an unsustainable life and needed to make some changes
in my outlook and lifestyle.
You and I don’t have to be like everyone else or keep up with anyone else. Each of us needs
to be exactly the way we are, and we don’t have to apologize for it. We’re not all alike and
we need to find a comfort zone in which we can enjoy our lives instead of making ourselves
sick with an overload of stress and pressure.
On the basis of understanding of the passage answer the following questions :
Q1) Which of the characteristics are apt about the writer in the following context: “I know
I have limits and that I’ve reached them, but I’m going to ignore them and see if or how
long I can get by with it.” ?
1. negligent
2. indecisive
3. spontaneous
4. reckless
5. purposeless
6. patient
a) 2 and 5 b) 3 and 6 c) 1 and 4 d) 2 and 3
Q2) The reason why living on the edge has become popular, is because of the
a) constant need for something different. b) population being much younger.
c) exhausting effort to make changes. d) strong tendency to stay within our limits.
Q3) The phrase “potentially harmful circumstances” refers to circumstances that can
(a) certainly be dangerous. (b) be fairly dangerous.
(c) be possibly dangerous. (d) seldom be dangerous.
Q4). Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘outlook’, as used in the
passage.
1. A person’s evaluation of life
2. A person’s experiences in life
3. A person’s point of view towards life
4. A person’s regrets in life
5. A person’s general attitude to life
a) (1) and (4) b) (2) and (3) c) (3) and (5) d) (4) and (5)
Q5) Choose the option that best captures the central idea of the passage from the given
quotes.
1. It’s all about quality of life and finding a happy balance between work and friends.
2. To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.
3. Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.
4. Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.
a) Option (1) b) Option (2) c) Option (3) d) Option (4)
Q6) The author explains the importance of discipline and boundaries in our lives using the
example of
a) road accidents. b) traffic rules. c) lines on the highway. d) safe driving.
Q7) The author attempts to __________________ the readers through this write-up.
a) rebuke b) question c) offer aid to d) offer advice to
Q8) What is the message conveyed in the last paragraph of the passage?
c) Be the best version of yourself. d) Be yourself