I. Read the following passage and answer the questions. 10 Marks 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 True, 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 equivalent to a betrayal of the friendship. Indeed, the consequences may well spread way beyond friendship alone. It may lead to gossip spreading like a forest fire, destroying the peace of mind and even lives. 6. Words have the 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. 1.1. Read the given questions and write the answers in about 30–40 words. (3 x2=6) (a) How much of frankness is acceptable? (b) What does the term ‘put a filter’ mean in this context? (c) According to the writer, what is the best way to reveal ‘the truth’? 2.2. Choose the correct option that is closest in meaning to the words given below. (4x1=4) (a) The term ‘acronym’ used in the passage denotes a / an .......................... (i) bitter truth (ii) acrobat (iii) abbreviation of the title/phrase (iv) phrase (b) The word ‘attributes’ in the passage means ..................................... (i) a tribute (ii) characteristics (iii) tribes of Atri (iv) a brute (c) The word ‘forethought’ in the passage stands for ..................................... (i) precaution (ii) thinking in one’s mind (iii) a part of the forehead (iv) the first part of a book (d) The word ‘ blurt’, used in the passage stands for to ................................ (i) wipeout (ii) utter suddenly (iii) speak indistinctly (iv) be forthright
Answers
The answers to the given questions are as follows:
1. Frankness such that it does not hurt the sentiments of the listener is acceptable. Uttering a truth with kindness and restraining oneself is the right way.
2. 'Put a filter' in the given context means filtering one's words before speaking. Whatever a person thinks shouldn't be blurted out, instead careful consideration is required before uttering any word.
3. The best way to reveal a truth is to speak it with kindness. One should be kind and considerate while speaking the truth such that the listener is not hurt.
4)
(a) The term ‘acronym’ used in the passage denotes an abbreviation of the title/phrase.
(b) The word ‘attributes’ in the passage means characteristics.
(c) The word ‘forethought’ in the passage stands for thinking in one’s mind
(d) The word ‘ blurt’, used in the passage stands for to utter suddenly.
Answer:
1 frankness such that it does not hurt the sentiments a truth with kindness and retraining one shelf is the right way
2. put a filter in the given context means filtering once word before speaking what ever a person thinks shouldn't blotted out instead careful consideration is required before uttering
3. the best way to reveal with the truth is to speak with kindness
4. acrobat
5. Characterstics
6. think in Once mind
7. wipeout