Read the passage carefully and answer the following questions.
These days, it is not unusual to see people listening to music or using their
electronic gadgets while crossing busy roads or travelling on public transports,
regardless of the risks involved. I have often wondered why they take such risks :
is it because they want to exude a sense of independence, or is it that they want to
tell the world to stop bothering them ? Or is it that they just want to show how cool
they are ? Whether it is a workman or an executive, earphones have become an
inseparable part of our lives, sometimes even leading to tragicomic situations.
The other day, an electrician had come to our house to fix something. We told him
in detail what needed to be done. But after he left, I found that the man had done
almost nothing. It later turned out that he could not hear our directions clearly
because he had an earphone on. Hundreds of such earphones addicts commute by
the Delhi Metro every day. While one should not begrudge anyone their moments
of privacy or their love for music, the fact is ‘iPod oblivion’ can sometimes be very
dangerous.
Recently, I was travelling with my wife on the Delhi Metro. Since the train was
approaching the last station, there weren’t too many passengers. In our
compartment, other than us, there were only two women sitting cm the other side
of the aisle. And then suddenly, I spotted a duffel bag. The bomb scare lasted for
several minutes. Then suddenly, a youth emerged from nowhere and picked up the
bag. When we tried to stop him, he looked at us, surprised. Then he took off his
earpieces, lifted the bag, and told us that the bag belonged to him and that he was
going to get off at the next station.
We were stunned but recovered in time to ask him where he was all this while. His
answer : he was in the compartment, leaning against the door totally immersed in
the music. He had no clue about what was going on around him. When he got off,
earplugs in his hand, we could hear strains of the song.
Questions :
1. Why didn’t the electrician carry out the work properly ?
2. Why were the people in the Metro doubtful about the bag ?
3. Explain the term ‘earphone addicts’?
4. Why were the passengers stunned ?
Answers
Explanation:
(i) They take risks because they want to exude a sense of independence or to tell the world to stop bothering them.
(ii) He did not hear the instructions carefully and so did not do the work properly.
(iii) Nobody came forward to take the bag so, they thought it to be a bomb scare.
(iv) They were stunned at the carelessness and behaviour of the young boy.
(v) Persons who always wear earphones and keep listening to music(i) They take risks because they want to exude a sense of independence or to tell the world to stop bothering them.
(ii) He did not hear the instructions carefully and so did not do the work properly.
(iii) Nobody came forward to take the bag so, they thought it to be a bomb scare.
(iv) They were stunned at the carelessness and behaviour of the young boy.
(v) Persons who always wear earphones and keep listening to music(i) They take risks because they want to exude a sense of independence or to tell the world to stop bothering them.