Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
Most people find their lives purposeless, wasted and worthless. That is why with an ordinary illness or some slightly unfavourable situation, the individual prays for an end to his life. In the opinion of one psychologist, every person thinks of committing suicide more than once in his life.
It is a different thing that he does not develop enough courage to end his life. Even then some impulsive individuals commit suicide because of petty reasons like failing in examination, losing a job, quarrels in the family or defeat in a court of law. The number of people committing suicide because of such reasons in the increase.
Why do people commit suicide? Psychologists give various answers to this question. Some people say that a man gets such a disappointing atmosphere everywhere around him that he does not find any solution except this. According to some psychiatrists, people with violent tendencies who are unable to express them, destroy themselves by these tendencies.
Some persons find themselves so much lonely and helpless that they find no benefit in living and they think, ‘Why not to commit suicide? After all, what is there in life?’ Some persons think of committing suicide during emotional excitement and prepare a plan for suicide during such a condition.
The main reason for suicide is said to be depression due to physical illness or failure in examination, love or competition. A tendency of revenge is also said to be behind suicides. According to this opinion, some people commit suicide because of a burden of feeling guilty, since they are unable to find a solution to get rid of guilty feelings. Many others commit suicide because they are fed up of old age, rejection by a spouse, unemployment, court cases, etc.
The reason for suicide is the experience of the worthlessness of this life. It is also true that each person-not just once but many times- thinks of his life as worthless and many times a burden. To free himself from this burden, the person thinks of self-destruction. The question arises, ‘Is life so much worthless that on account of disappointment in small matters, one should think of ending it?’
If a self-analysis is made seriously, it will be found that every person finds many times that his life is worthless and burdensome.
Whatever the reason, but the worthlessness of life is felt with such intensity that by ending it, no difference is felt. Life is like a river, which keeps on flowing from its source to its merger into the sea.
1. With what is life compared?
2. When do people with violent tendency commit suicide?
3. When do some impulsive individuals commit suicide?
4. How do most people find their lives?
5. What is the main reason responsible for depression?
6. What is the opinion of one psychologist about committing suicide?
Choose from the passage the words that mean:
7. Husband or wife
8. Act of killing oneself
9. Being responsible for doing something wrong.
