A discursive unseen passage is a piece of writing that explores a particular

issue, subject or idea. It usually takes the form of an argument, expressing a

point of view in a reasoned and logical way.
Discursive passages are often used to explore complex ideas or issues. In a
discursive passage, the writer will present their argument clearly and try to
persuade the reader to see their point of view. To solve good discursive
passage, you need to be able to think critically and logically about you’re the
given topic.
A discursive passage explores a topic in depth. It delves into the different
facets of the topic, and presents multiple points of view. In contrast to an
expository passage, which simply presents information, a discursive passage
takes a more argumentative stance.

 Factual passages present information in an objective and informative

manner, while discursive passages present an argument or a point of
view. Factual passages contain details, facts, and figures that are
supported by evidence, while discursive passages involve analyzing
and interpreting the information.

PASSAGE-1
1. The choices we make on a daily basis—wearing a seatbelt, lifting heavy objects
correctly or purposely staying out of any dangerous situation–can either ensure our
safety or bring about potentially harmful circumstances.
2. You and I need to make a decision that we are going to get our lives in order.
Exercising self-control, self-discipline and establishing boundaries and borders in
our lives are some of the most important things we can do. A life with out discipline is
one that’s filled with carelessness.
3. We can think it’s kind of exciting to live life on the edge. We like the image of
“Yeah! That’s me! Living on the edge! Woo-hoo !” It’s become a popular way to look
at life. But if you see, even highways have lines, which provide margins for our safety
while we’re driving. If we go over one side, we’ll go into the ditch. If we cross over the
line in the middle, we could get killed. And we like those lines because they help to
keep us safe. Sometimes we don’t even realise how lines help to keep us safe.
4. I’m not proud of this, but for the first 20 years of my life at work, I ignored my
limits. I felt horrible, physically, most of the time. I used to tell myself “I know I have
limits and that I’ve reached them, but I’m going to ignore them and see if or how long
I can get by with it.” I ran to doctors, trying to make myself feel better through pills,
vitamins, natural stuff and anything I could get my hands on. Some of the doctors
would tell me, “It’s just stress.” That just made me mad. I thought stress meant you
don’t like what you do or can’t handle life, and I love what I do. But I kept pushing
myself, travelling, doing speaking engagements and so on— simply exhausting
myself.
5. Finally,I understood I was living an unsustainable life and needed to make some
changes in my outlook and lifestyle.
6. You and I don’t have to be like everyone else or keep up with anyone else. Each
of us needs to be exactly the way we are, and we don’t have to apologise for it.
We’re not all alike and we need to find a comfort zone in which we can enjoy our
lives instead of making ourselves sick with an overload of stress and
pressure.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the following questions.
(i) The reason why living on the edge has become popular, is because of the:
(a) constant need for something different.
(b) population being much younger.
(c) exhausting effort to make changes.
(d) strong tendency to stay within our limits.
(ii) Choose the option that best captures the central ‘idea of the passage from
the given quotes.
It’s all about quality of life and
finding a happy balance between To go beyond is as wrong as to fall
work and friends. short.
— Philip Green — Confucius
(1) (2)
Life is like riding a bicycle. To
keep your balance you must keep Balance is not something you find,
moving. it’s something you create.
— Albert Einstein — Jana Kingsford
(3) (4)
(a)Option (1) (b) Option (2)
(c)Option (3) (d) Option (4)
(iii) Which of the characteristics are apt about the writer in the following
context: “I know I have limits and that I’ve reached them but I’m going to
ignore them and see if or how long I can get by with it”?
1. Negligent 2. Indecisive 3. Spontaneous
4. Reckless 5. Purposeless 6. Patient
(a) 2 and 5 (b) 3 and 6 (c) 1 and 4 (d) 2 and 3
(iv) Which of the following will be the most appropriate title for the passage?
(a) Much too soon (b) Enough is enough
(c) How much is too much? (d) Have enough to do?
(v) The phrase “potentially harmful circumstances” refers to circumstances
that can:
(a) certainly be dangerous (b) be fairly dangerous
(c) be possibly dangerous (d) seldom be dangerous
(vi) Select the option that makes the correct use of “unsustainable”, as used in
pars 5.
(a) In the long run, the unsustainable officials followed emergency procedures.
(b) Emergency procedures were unsustainable by the officials.
(c) Officials reported an unsustainable set of events during the emergency.
(d) Officials admit that the emergency system is unsustainable in the longer run.
(vii) Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘outlook’, as
used in the passage.
1. A person’s evaluation of life 2. A person’s experiences in life
3. A person’s point of view towards life 4. A person’s regrets in life
5. A person’s general attitude to life
(a) (1) and (4) (b) (2) and (3) (c) (3) and (5) (d) (4) and (5)
(viii) The author uses colloquial words such as “yeah, and “Woo-hoo!”. Which
of the following is NOT a colloquial word?
(a) Hooked (b) Guy (c) Stuff (d) Stress
(ix) The author attempts to offer advice to …… ……. through this write-up.
(x) What does the author mean when he says, “to get our lives in order”?

(i) (a) constant need for something different.

(ii)(d) Option (4)
(iii) (c) 1 and 4
(iv) (c) How much is too much?
(v) (c) be possibly dangerous
(vi) (d) Officials admit that the emergency system is unsustainable in the longer
run.
(vii) (c) (3) and (5)
(viii) (d) Stress
(ix) the readers
(x) The author means to say ‘to organise our lives’