Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow :
Happiness Then and Now
1. Happiness lies within the mind of an individual. No amount of external wealth may be helpful in making him happy. Our forefathers had lifestyles based mainly on the concept of “simple living and high thinking”. Excessive material wealth did not mean much to them.
2. The structural framework of our forefathers’ families was different from those of ours. The bond of love which they shared cannot easily be found today. The family provided an emotional cushioning effect against tension and stress. However, in today’s nuclear family, we are detached from feelings towards our kith and kin. This may finally destroy the family psyche.
3. The joint family system provided a proper environment for the child to grow up. The values of respect, tolerance, responsibility, and integrity were internalized in the child. In the long run, they became better human beings, compared to those in the present generation. Our forefathers felt happiest, if their children became honest human beings. But today, we are happy only if we retain our coveted material ends and are ready to resort to any means to attain that end.
4. Our forefathers had a vision to make India the best. To attain their ambitions, they were ready to make all sorts of personal sacrifices. On the other hand, today people are ready to migrate to the west, to enjoy a comfortable life. Often, they become successful in foreign lands. But, in the process, they become alienated from their motherland. Also, distance from their ailing parents is a worrying factor and keeps them perturbed. It is not easy for them to return, as their children will not be able to adjust to the Indian environment and way of life. Thus, this is a crisis and a frame of mind worse than their forefathers.
5. In our generation, tradition and modernity have intermingled to form a special system. We are happier than our forefathers in being able to lessen evils like the rigid caste system, untouchability, and child marriage, but we have failed to totally eradicate them. In fact electoral politics has made use of the caste system, through the issuance of party tickets on the basis of caste, community, and religion.
1. What is the big difference between our forefathers and us?
a. Our forefathers had more spiritual lifestyles. But today, our lifestyles are more materialistic and based around technology.
b. Our forefathers lives were deeply affected by the strife and wars during that time period, while our lives are more peaceful.
c. Our forefathers had lifestyles based mainly on the concept of 'simple living and high thinking'. But today, we are happy only if we attain our coveted material ends.
d. Our forefathers had lifestyles that were focused on coveted material ends. But today, our lifestyles are based mainly on the concept of 'simple living and high thinking'.
2. "The values of respect, tolerance, responsibility, and integrity were internalised in the child." Explain.
a. This means that the values of respect, tolerance, responsibility, and integrity became part of the nature of the child.
b. This means that the values of respect, tolerance, responsibility, and integrity were taught to the child in school.
c. This means that the values of respect, tolerance, responsibility, and integrity are not a part of the child’s nature.
d. This means that the values of respect, tolerance, responsibility, and integrity were repressed and erased from the child’s nature.
3. Why are people ready to migrate to the west?
a. People are ready to migrate to the west to enjoy a comfortable life and become unsuccessful.
b. People are ready to migrate to the west to earn less and less money.
c. People are ready to migrate to the west because the weather is much better there.
d. People are ready to migrate to the west to enjoy a comfortable life and become successful.
4. How does the joint family system make the child a good human being?
a. In a joint family, good values of honesty, respect, tolerance, responsibility, and integrity are internalised in the child and this makes him a good human being.
b. In a joint family, the child learns to communicate and interact with people from different generations, which makes him a good human being.
c. In a joint family, good values of dishonesty, disrespect, intolerance, irresponsibility, and integrity are internalised in the child and this makes him a good human being.
d. In a joint family, the child learns to communicate and interact with people from different generations, which does not make him a good human being.
5. Choose the correct option :
The synonym of 'coming or derived from a source outside the subject affected' as given in paragraph 1 is ______.
a. advancement
b. external
c. excessive
d. content
6. Choose the correct option :
The synonym of 'idea' as given in paragraph 1 is _____.
a. material
b. content
c. external
d. concept
7. Choose the correct option :
The antonym of 'exposure' as given in paragraph 2 is ______.
a. cushioning
b. framework
c. integrity
d. cohesive
8. Choose the correct option :
The antonym of 'scorned' as given in paragraph 3 is ______.
a. modern
b. disliked
c. coveted
d. nuclear
9. When did our forefathers feel happiest?
a. Our forefathers felt happiest when their children became successful human beings.
b. Our forefathers felt happiest when their children became literate human beings.
c. Our forefathers felt happiest when their children became kind human beings.
d. Our forefathers felt happiest when their children became honest human beings.
10. Which two factors have intermingled to form a special system?
a. Tradition and values have intermingled to form a special system in our generation.
b. Tradition and modernity intermingled to form a special system in our forefathers generation.
c. Tradition and modernity have intermingled to form a special system in our generation.
d. Tradition and values intermingled to form a special system in our forefathers generation.
