I. Read the Comprehension and answer the following questions 5x1=5
Most people who bother with the matter at all would admit that the English language is in a bad way, but it
is generally assumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about it. Our civilization is decadent
and our language-so the argument runs-must inevitably share in the general collapse. It follows that any
struggle against the abuse of language is a sentimental archaism, like preferring candles to electric light or
hansom cabs to aero planes. Underneath this lies the half-conscious belief that language is natural growth
and not an instrument which we shape for our own purposes.
Now it is clear that the decline of a language must ultimately have political and economic causes it is not
due simply to the bad influence of this or that individual writer. But an effect can become a cause,
reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an intensified form, and so on indefinitely. A
man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because
he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and
inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to
have foolish thoughts. The point is that the process is reversible. Modern English, especially written English,
is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the
necessary trouble. If one gets rid of these habits, one can think more clearly, and to think clearly is a
necessary first step towards political regeneration: so that the fight against bad English is not frivolous and is
not the exclusive concern of professional writers.
A. Answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate option:
Q.1. Many people believe that nothing can be done about the English language because –
(A) Bad habits spread by imitation
(B) We live in a decadent civilization
(C) There are too may bad writers
(D) People are too lazy to change their bad habits
Q.2. The author believes that –
(A) It’s now too late to do anything about the problem
(B) Language is a natural growth and cannot be shaped for our won purpose
(C) The decline in the language can be stopped
(D) The process of an increasingly bad language cannot be stopped
Q.3. The author believes that the first stage towards the political regeneration of the language would
be –
(A) Taking the necessary trouble to avoid bad habits
(B) Avoiding being frivolous about it
(C) Clear thinking
(D) For professional writers to help
Q.4. The author believes that –
(A) English is become ugly
(B) Bad language
(C) Our thoughts are becoming uglier because we ae making the language uglier
(D) Our civilization is decadent so nothing can be done to stop the decile of the language
Q.5. What causes bad language in the end?
(A) The bad influence of individual writers
(B) The imitation of bad language habits
(C) Political and economic causes.
(D) An assumption that nothing can be done about
Answers
Answer:
The author believes that the first stage towards the political regeneration of the language would be
taking the necessary trouble to avoid bad habits.
avoiding being frivolous about it.
clear thinking.
for professional writers to help.
Correct Option: A
taking the necessary trouble to avoid bad habits
The author believes that
it’s now too late to do anything about the problem.
language is a natural growth and cannot be shaped for our own purposes.
the decline in the language can be stopped.
the process of an increasingly bad language cannot be stopped.
Correct Option: C
the decline in the language can be stopped
people are too lazy to change their bad habits.
Correct Option: D
people are too lazy to change their bad habits
Answer:
A. The answers for the questions are as follows
1. b) We live in a decadent civilization. Due to decadent civilization, the many believe that nothing can be done about the English language.
2. d) The process of an increasingly bad language cannot be stopped. This is because language is natural growth and it cannot be shaped for our own purposes.
3. c) Clear thinking. By removing foolish thoughts and bad habits. one can automatically think clearly so that it will be the first necessary step towards the political regeneration.
4. c) Our thoughts are becoming uglier because we are making the language uglier. This is because, we make the English language to be ugly by foolish thoughts but the solvenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.
5. c) Political and economic causes. The decline in the language is mainly due to the economic and political cause and not on the bad influence due to an individual writer.
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