The gap between the old people and young boys and girls is called the generation gap. While
the young people are inexperienced, rash and impatient, the elders are endowed with wisdom,
prudence and caution.This gap between the two generation is not a new phenomenon. It has
existed since time immemorial.
The people belonging to the older generation always wonder as to what has
gone wrong with the new generation. They feel that during their time, young boys and girls
were better behaved, more obedient and had greater respect for their elders.They feel that a
lack of respect for the old will bring ruin and spell disaster for the young. Young people on the
other side, feel that they are capable enough to learn on their own rather than lean heavily on
the older generation for any guidance. Young people do not like to be spoon-fed by their elders.
The generation gap has widened to such an extent that the old and the young people appear to
be living in two separate worlds without any interaction. In order to bridge this generation gap,
elders should adopt a more sympathetic approach towards the young and try to understand the
emotions, the aspirations and the problems of the young .The youth, on other hands, should
realize that if they have any difference of opinion, they should put across their viewpoints
before the elders in a very polite and respectful manner.
Although under the influence of the western education the problems of generation gap are
creating a lot of problems in India, yet it effect is still limited in our country due to the influence
of the joint family system prevailing in India. There are definitely a lot of advantages in the joint
family system. Therefor we should not follow the western system blind at the cost of the well-
tried Indian social and family tradition.
But this does not mean that the youth are always at fault. The real meaning of ‘Generation Gap’
is the lack of understanding between old new generations. It should be the duty of both the
generation to try to understand and respect one another’s views. Only then this problem can
be solved.
1 According to the old people, what is the difference between the young people of their time and the new generation?
2. What do you mean by ‘Generation –Gap’?
3. What can elders do to bridge the generation gap?
4. How should the youth behave in the presence of elders?
5. What has limited the influence of western education to widen the generation gap?
6. Write an antonym of the given words from passage
i) unblessed ii)sensibly
7. Write synonym of the given words from the passage
i) Alertness ii) Ambition
Answers
Answer:
1. The people belonging to the older generation always wonder as to what has gone wrong with the new generation. They feel that during their time, young boys and girls were better behaved, more obedient and had greater respect for their elders.They feel that a lack of respect for the old will bring ruin and spell disaster for the young
2. The gap between the old people and young boys and girls.
3. In order to bridge this generation gap,elders should adopt a more sympathetic approach towards the young and try to understand the emotions, the aspirations and the problems of the young.
4. The youth should put across their viewpoints before the elders in a very polite and respectful manner.
5. Less respect to elderly, they feel that they are capable enough to learn on their own rather than lean heavily on
the older generation for any guidance. Young people do not like to be spoon-fed by their elders.
6. 1) prudence
2) rash
7. 1) caution
2) aspiration