Directions (Q.Nos.1 – 7): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words/phrases are printed in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.
Even-minded endurance is called ‘titiksha’ in Sanskrit. I have practised this mental neutrality. I have sat and meditated all night long in icy water in bitterly cold weather. Similarly, I have sat from morning till evening on the burning hot sands in India. I gained great mental strength by doing so. When you have practised such self discipline, your mind becomes impervious to all disturbing circumstances. If you think you cannot do something, your mind is a slave. Free yourself. I don’t mean that you should be rash. Try to rise above disturbances gradually. Endurance is what you must have.Whatever may be your trouble, make a supreme effort to remedy it without worry; and until it is resolved, practisetitiksha, is not this practical wisdom? If you are young and strong, then as you gradually strengthen, your will and mind you can practise more rigid methods of self discipline as I did. If you are thinking that the winter weather is coming and you are bound to catch cold, you are not developing mental strength. You have already committed yourself to certain weaknesses. When you feel you are susceptible to catching a cold, mentally resist it. This is the right mental attitude. In your heart, sincerely do your best at all times, but without anxiety. Worry only paralyses your efforts. If you do your best, God will reach down his hand to help you.
If you do not acknowledge weakness in the face of troubles and if you refuse to worry about your problems you will find out how much more successful, peaceful and happy you are. Daily make this affirmation, “I will be neither lazy nor feverishly active. In every challenge of life I shall do my best without worry about the future.” Don’t grieve for what you do not have. The most materially successful man may have the greatest worries and unhappiness. In contrast, I have seen in humble little huts and caves in India men who were true monarchs. The earthly throne of one such saint was a dried grass mat. He wore only a little loin cloth. Such are the real kings of the Earth. Some of them have no food, nothing at all; yet they are richer than the world’s millionaires. In biting cold weather, I saw one saint in the Himalayas who had nothing on. “Won’t you catch cold?” I said, Sweetly he answered, “I am warm with God’s love, how can I feel the cold?” Saints like him are greater than any crowned king. If without food, without any visible means of security, such men can be like king, peaceful and without worry, why can’t you?
1.What, according to the passage, will make you happy and successful? (3)
(1) Not grieving over what you have or don’t have
(2) Not being too rash in behaviour
(3) Not getting too much concerned about your problems
(4) Not allowing your mind to withdraw in a shell
(5) None of the above
2.Which of the following is similar in meaning to the word affirmation as used in the passage? (2)
(1) proclamation
(2) resolution
(3) pretension
(4) dedication
(5) observation
3.Which of the following is not true in the context of the passage? (5)
(1) Mind can be strengthened gradually practising rigid methods of self- discipline
(2) One should not acknowledge weakness in the face of trouble
(3) Material possessions do not necessarily make one happy
(4) Saints are richer than the world’s richest men
(5) One should constantly brood over what one does not have
4.What, according to the passage, is a practical wisdom? (2)
(1) Negation of all worldly pleasures
(2) Developing a right mental attitude
(3) Living in huts and caves in India
(4) Self discipline to attain neutrality
(5) None of the above
5.Which of the following is true in the context of the passage? (5)
(1) One should take extra care in winter
(2) Poor people cannot be happy
(3) Making mind receptive to all mental disturbances
(4) Longing for peaceful, successful and happy life
(5) None of the above
6.What declaration does the passage suggest you to make? (3)
(1) I shall use the full potential of my mind
(2) I shall practice even-minded neutrality
(3) I shall do my best without worrying about the future
(4) I shall strengthen my body, mind, will and awareness
(5) None of the above
7.Which of the following statements is true in the context of the passage? (4)
(1) Self discipline makes your mind flexible to change from one thought to another
(2) One should rise above the mental disturbances in a slipshod manner
(3) One should bear everything that comes to one’s life with ignominy
(4) One should face the challenge squarely without worrying about the future
(5) Material possessions pave the way for eternal happiness
