Read the following passage carefully. (12 Marks)
1. Many of us believe that “small” means “insignificant”. We believe that small actions and
choices do not have much impact on our lives. We think that it is only the big things, the big
actions and the big decisions that really count. But when you look at the lives of all great people,
you will see that they built their character through small decisions, small choices and small
actions that they performed every day. They transformed their lives through a step-by- step or
dayby-day approach. They nurtured and nourished their good habits and chipped away at their
bad habits, one step at a time. It was their small day-to-day decisions that added up to make
tremendous difference in the long run. Indeed, in matters of personal growth and character
building, there is no such thing as an overnight success.
2. Growth always occurs through a sequential series of stages. There is an organic process to growth. When we look at children growing up, we can see this process at work: the child first
learns to crawl, then to stand and walk, and finally to run. The same is true in the natural world.
The soil must first be tilled, and then the seed must be sowed. Next, it must be nurtured with
enough water and sunlight, and only then will it grow, bear fruit and finally ripen and be ready to
eat.
3. Gandhi understood this organic process and used this universal law of nature to his benefit.
Gandhi grew in small ways, in his day-to-day affairs. He did not wake up one day and find
himself to be the “Mahatma”. In fact, there was nothing much in his early life that showed signs
of greatness. But from his midtwenties onwards, he deliberately and consistently attempted to
change himself, reform himself and grow in some small way every day. Day by day, hour by
hour, he risked failure, experimented and learnt from mistakes. In small and large situations
alike, he took up rather than avoid responsibility.
4. People have always marveled at the effortless way in which Gandhi could accomplish the
most difficult tasks. He displayed great deal of self-mastery and discipline that was amazing.
These things did not come easily to him. Years of practice and disciplined training went into
making his successes possible. Very few saw his struggles, fears, doubts and anxieties, or his
inner efforts to overcome them. They saw the victory, but not the struggle.
5. This is a common factor in the lives of all great people: they exercised their freedoms and
choices in small ways that made great impact on their lives and their environment. Each of their
small decisions and actions, added up to have a profound impact in the long run. By
understanding this principle, we can move forward, with confidence, in the direction of our
dreams. Often when our “ideal goal” looks too far from us, we become easily discouraged,
disheartened and pessimistic. However, when we choose to grow in small ways, taking small
steps one at a time, performing it becomes easy.
(I) On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following questions by
choosing the most appropriate option. (1×4 = 4 Marks)
1. The main idea in the first paragraph is that
a. Big things, big actions and big decisions make a person great
b. Small actions and decisions are important in one’s life
c. Overnight success is possible for all of us
d. Personal changes are not important
2. What does the writer mean by saying ‘chipped away at their bad habits’?
a. Steadily gave up bad habits
b. Slowly produced bad habits
c. Gradually criticized bad habits d. Did not like bad habits
3. Which of the following statements is true in the context of the third paragraph?
a. Gandhi became great overnight
b. Gandhi showed signs of greatness in childhood itself
c. Every day Gandhi made efforts to change himself in some small way
d. Gandhi never made mistakes
4. What is done by great people to transform their lives?
a. They approach life on a day-by-day basis b. They build character in small ways
c. They believe in performing everyday
d. All of these
(II) Answer the following questions as briefly as possible. (1×6 = 6 Marks) 5. How do small
actions and choices impact our lives?
6. Describe organic process of growth through an example from the text.
7. What according to the author is the ‘universal law of nature’?
8. How did Gandhi accomplish the most difficult tasks effortlessly?
9. Which things about Gandhi’s life were not seen by most people?.
10. How can we achieve our ‘ideal goals’?
(III) Pick out words from the passage which are similar in meaning to the following: (2
Marks)
a. intentionally / purposely (Paragraph 3)
b. of deep significance; far-reaching (Paragraph 5)
Answers
Answer
Answer (I)
1 b. Small actions and decisions are important in one’s life
2 a. Steadily gave up bad habits
3 c. Every day Gandhi made efforts to change himself in some small way
4 d. All of these
Answer (II)
Answer 5. Small actions and choices impact our lives as it forms a habit of consistency. This consistency itself becomes a lifestyle that helps one achieve great heights.
Answer 6. Just as when a child grows up: he learns to crawl, then he tries to stand and take steps. Soon, when his limbs strengthen, he runs without any care. Similarly, in this organic way, a man takes his steps towards greatness.
Answer 7. According to the author, 'The universal law of truth' is evident in nature. At first the soil is tilled, then a seed is sown. After that it is nurtured with water and sunlight. It grows and becomes fruitful. This is the way that is seen in nature and universe.
Answer 8. He did difficult tasks due to his self-mastery and discipline. After years of practice and disciplined training, he won over himself.
Answer 9. Most people only saw the outcome. They did not see the struggle and self-discipline that went into achieving the results.
Answer 10. We can achieve our goals by taking small steps. The big task can be divided into small achievable tasks so that it is not discouraging or burdensome.
Answer (III) a. intentionally / purposely - Deliberately
b. of deep significance; far-reaching - profound
Answer:
the word by pessimistic in the passage means