1.
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: (10)
1. We live in an age of wonders and miracles. It has been called the ‘Age of Science’
and different aspects of our life that changed in the preceding centuries have been
attributed to science. This is completely true, but it is only one side of the coin. The
flip side is that as we have advanced more in the field of technology, something
fundamental to humanity has been left behind. Values such as empathy and concern
for our fellow human beings are gradually being eroded due to the onslaught of our
ever-evolving lifestyles, aided by the marvels of technological advancements
2. Take the example of the Internet. On the one hand, access to information and
knowledge at the click of a button is a veritable boon to everyone (especially
students) and this has made our lives much simpler. On the other hand, it has
severely limited actual contact with teachers, friends and elders. Thus, the learning
that a person gain is incomplete as he or she cannot easily take the advice that
another person can give on the basis of knowledge and practical experience that is
at his or her disposal.
3. Today, a small child can access and navigate the Internet with an ease that still
astounds those from the older generation. But what is even more astounding is the
neglect of the basic human traits of friendship, relationships and family values.
Owing to all the technological advancements and the gadgets available today,
children often miss out on the most enriching childhood experiences such as playing
outdoor games with friends, which apart from being immensely enjoyable and
physically exhilarating, also develop traits such as teamwork and discipline at an
early age.
4. But now when the concept of friends is gradually being limited to virtual friends on
social networking sites, one shudders to think of the implications for the personality
development of a child because the time spent with computers or mobile phones for
entertainment can never really substitute for the holistic benefits of outdoor play.
Such examples can be found in plenty.
5. Now if we compare the hustle and bustle of modern city life and the peace and
calm of a rustic village life, we can see that in cities, life is a race with a variety of
factors. It is a race that everyone tries their level best to win, but nobody actually
wins as it never ends.
6. As for me, I think this age of rapid development has created at least as many
problems as it has solved, if not more. The reason is that the basic goal of life, which
should be the pursuit of happiness, has now been replaced by the pursuit of money.
Money and happiness are considered analogous in our present society, but they
actually are not so. In this mindless pursuit of money, nobody has time now to
appreciate the beauty of life, which consists not of multi- billion-dollar skyscrapers,
but a simple act of kindness to someone in a time of need.
7. So there is an urgent need to stop for a moment and think about where we are
actually heading, is it development or destruction? Do we have to wait until people
have grown so much apart from each other that we cannot see the suffering of our
own species due to our mindless greed, or can we still mend our ways?
8. To answer this question, I will take the help of that most magnificent of human
feelings-hope. I sincerely wish that we, as the most intelligent species on earth,
would take our fair share of responsibility and sincerely think about the path we
should follow. Though mankind will possibly last for a long time thanks to its
determination and sheer ingenuity, we have to make sure we do not lose our
humanity somewhere along the way.
A. On the basis of your understanding of the passage answer the following
questions by choosing the most appropriate option. (1×6 = 6)
Question 1.
According to the passage, it is like one side of the coin to say that life has changed
owing to science as
(A) age of science has brought wonders and miracles.
(B) different aspects of life have changed due to science.
(C) there is another side of the coin to look at.
(D) this side of coin is true and sufficient to look at.
Question 2.
Which of the following is not true about the internet?
(A) It provides an easy access to information and knowledge.
(B) It has made our lives simpler.
(C) It has limited actual contact with teachers and friends.
(D) It can easily give advice based on personal experience.
Question 3.
Internet hampers the holistic growth of a child by ……………..
(A) encouraging human traits of friendship, society and family.
(B) enriching childhood experiences of outdoor games.
(C) providing virtual friends and gadgets.
(D) developing teamwork and discipline.
Question 4.
According to the passage, true happiness lies in ………
(A) simple acts of kindness
(B) rapid development
(C) multi-billion-dollar skyscrapers
(D) pursuit of money
Question 5.
The word ‘veritable’ in para 2 means:
(A) Actual
(B) Big
(C) Latest
(D) Perfect
Question 6.
Antonym of holistic is
(A) Agonistic
(B) Individualistic
(C) Optimistic
(D) Pessimistic
Answers:
1. Option (C) is correct.
Explanation: There is also a flip side to the technology because we have advanced
more in the field of technology and left behind humanity.
2. Option (D) is correct.
Explanation: Internet does not provide personal advice.
3. Option (C) is correct.
Explanation: Children get so addicted to virtual friends and gadgets that they miss
out on the most enriching childhood experiences.
4. Option (A) is correct.
Explanation: True happiness lies in a simple act of kindness and not mindless
pursuit of money.
5. Option (B) is correct.
Explanation: Veritable in para 2 means big or exciting.
6. Option (B) is correct.
Explanation: Holistic means dealing with or treating the whole of something or
someone and not just a part whereas Individualistic means more interested in
individual people than in society as a whole.
B. Answer the following questions as briefly as possible. (Do any 4) (1×4 = 4)
1. It has severely limited actual contact with …………….
2. Money and …………… are considered analogous in our present society but they
actually are not so.
3. We cannot see the suffering of our own species due to our …………….
4. I will take the help of that most magnificent of human feeling …………….
5. ……………. will probably last for a longer period of time.
Answer:
1. teachers, friends and elders
2. happiness
3. mindless greed
4. hope
5. Mankind
2. Read the following passage carefully and then answer the following questions.
(1×8 = 8)
The Global Teacher Prize
The Global Teacher Prize is a US 1 million award presented annually to an
exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to their profession. A
few years ago, an educational charity called the Varkey Foundation was concerned
that many problems around the world are caused by lack of education. They decided
to ask Populus, a leading research company, to find out more, by comparing
education in countries around the world.
One section was on how teaching compares with other professions. Their
investigation also covered many other key topics, such as are children encouraged
to become teachers. The results of this survey, published in 2013, shocked the
chairman of the Varkey Foundation, whose parents had both been teachers.
Therefore, in the same year, he decided to establish the Global Teacher Prize, with
the overall intention of raising the profile of the teaching profession. The first prize
was awarded in 2015.
The process of choosing a winner is a lengthy one. People can name a teacher they
know, or a teacher can apply themselves. In the first year, teachers from 127
different countries were nominated, and over 5,000 applications were received. After
the closing date, a team of judges carefully selects 10 finalists, who gather in Dubai
for an exciting event where the award is presented.
The winner in the first year was Nancie At well, a teacher from the USA, and media
interest in her success was enormous. After accepting her prize, Nancie gave a
speech in which she talked about the fact that as a teacher you can make a real
difference to students’ lives. Nancie discovered a love of books when she was a
child, and went on to become an English teacher. Like many other teachers, she
enjoys the chance to be creative in he classroom. She developed a technique called
the writing-reading workshop, which she first described in her bpok ‘In The Middle’.
The 2016 competition was also a great success. The award was presented to a
primary school teacher called Hanan A1 Hroub. She developed her own specialist
teaching approach, which is based on developing trusting and friendly relationships
with students, paying attention to their individual needs, and above all, rewarding
positive behaviour.
She wrote about this in her book ‘We Play and Learn’, which has inspired other
teachers to review the way they teach. Would you consider going into the teaching
profession? After all, no two days are the same, which is what attracts many to
teaching in the first place. Perhaps the Global Teacher Prize can inspire more people
to try to become the Outstanding teachers of the future!
A teacher’s average working week
Registration 1.5 hours
Teaching classes 25 hours
Pryparing lessons 5 hours
Marking homework/coursework 9 hours
Meetings 1.5 hours
Administration 2.5 hours
School duty 2 hours
Question 1.
Which organisation carried out a survey into education?
(A) Populas
(B) Global Teacher
(C) Varkey Foundation
(D) Play and Learn
Question 2
What questions did the education survey include?
(A) how teaching is compared with other professions
(B) whether children are encouraged to become teachers
(C) both (A) and (B)
(D) neither (A) nor (B)
Question 3
When was the Global Teacher Prize set up?
(A) 2012
(B) 2013
(C) 2015
(D) 2016
Question 4
What is the main aim of the Global Teacher Prize?
(A) making teaching popular
(B) to arouse media’s interest
(C) making teaching interesting
(D) raising profile of teaching
Question 5
How many teachers entered for the prize in the first year?
(A) 1,000
(B) 2,000
(C) over 5,000
(D) 5,000
Question 6.
Where does the prize ceremony take place?
(A) Dubai
(B) USA
(C) UK
(D) London
Question 7.
What was the name of Nancie At well’s teaching method?
(A) Writing-Reading Workshop
(B) Reading-Writing Workshop
(C) Play and Learn
(D) None of these
Question 8.
What does Hanan AI Hroub believe it is most important to focus on while teaching?
(A) Developing trust
(B) Paying attention to individual needs
(C) Rewarding positive behavior
(D) All of these
Answers:
1. Option (A) is correct.
Explanation: A few years ago, an educational charity called the Varkey Foundation
was concerned that many problems around the world are caused by lack of
education. They decided to ask Populus, a leading research company, to find out
more, by comparing education in countries around the world.
2. Option (C) is correct.
Explanation: One section was on how teaching compares with other professions.
Their investigation also covered many other key topics, such as are children
encouraged to become teachers.
3. Option (B) is correct.
Explanation: The results of this survey, published in 2013, shocked the chairman of
the Varkey Foundation, whose parents had both been teachers. Therefore, in the
same year, he decided to establish the Global Teacher Prize, with the overall
intention of raising the profile of the teaching profession.
4. Option (D) is correct.
Explanation: Global Teacher Prize was given with the overall intention of raising the
profile of the teaching profession.
5. Option (C) is correct.
Explanation: In the first year, teachers from 127 different countries were nominated,
and over 5,000 applications were received.
6. Option (A) is correct.
Explanation: After the closing date, a team of judges carefully selects 10 finalists,
who gather in Dubai for an exciting event where the award is presented.
7. Option (B) is correct.
Explanation: She developed a technique called the writing-reading workshop, which
she first described in her book ‘In The Middle’.
8. Option (D) is correct.
Explanation: The 2016 competition was also a great success. The award was
presented to a primary school teacher called Hanan Al Hroub. She developed her
own specialist teaching approach, which is based on developing trusting and friendly
relationships with students, paying attention to their individual needs, and above all,
rewarding positive behavior.
