What have I learnt after eighty years on planet earth? Quite frankly, very little. I don't believe the elders and philosophers. Wisdom does not come with age. Maybe it is born in the cradle - but this too is conjecture, I only know that for the most part I have followed instinct rather than intelligence, and this has resulted in a modicum of happiness. You will find your own way to this reward which is in the end the only reward worth having.
To have got to this point in life without the solace of religion says something for all the things that have brought me joy and a degree of contentment. Books, of course; I couldn't have survived without books and stories. And companionship - which is sometimes friendship, sometimes love and sometimes, if we are lucky, both. And a little light laughter, a sense of humor. And, above all, my relationship with the natural world - up here in the hills; in the dusty plains; in a treeless Moha la choked with concrete flats, where I once found a marigold growing out of a crack in a balcony. I removed the plaster from the base of the plant and filled in a little earth which I watered every morning. The plant grew, and sometimes it produced a little orange flower which I plucked and gave away before it died. This much Ican tell you: for all its hardships and complications, life is simple. And a nature that doesn't sue for happiness often receives it in large measure.
Was it accidental, or was it ordained or was it in my nature to arrive unharmed at this final stage of life's journey? I live this life passionately, and I wish it could go on and on. But all good things must come to an end, and when the time comes to make my exit, I hope Ican do so with good grace and humor. But there is time yet, and many small moments to savor. A small ginger cat arrives on my terrace every afternoon, to curl up in the sun and slumber peacefully for a couple of hours. When he awakes, he gets on his feet with minimum effort, arches his back and walks away as he had come. The same spot every day, the same posture, the same pace. There may be better spots - sunnier, quieter, frequented by birds that can be hunted when the cat is rested and restored. But there is no guarantee, and the search will be never-ending, and there may rarely be time to sleep after all that searching and finding.
It occurs to me that perhaps the cat is a monk. By this I do not mean anything austere. I doubt anyone in single minded pursuit of enlightenment ever finds it. A good monk would be a mild sort of fellow, a bit of a sensualist, capable of compassion for the world, but also for himself. He would know that it is all right not toclimb every mountain.A good monk would know that contentment is easier to attain than happiness, and that is enough. And what of happiness, then? Happiness is a mysterious thing, to be found somewhere between too little and too much. But it is as elusive as a butterfly, and we must never pursue it. If we stay very still, it may come and settle on our hand. But only briefly. We must savor those moments, for they will not come our way very often.
The author's perspective on life is, it is
- complex
- beautiful
- simple
- worthy
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
The author states that despite life’s hardships and complications, life is ultimately simple. He emphasizes that one does not need religion, wisdom, or age to understand life. He focuses on finding contentment rather than overcomplicating life.
Thus, the correct answer is simple (Option C)
Which of the following statements is FALSE?
- The author strongly believes that age brings wisdom.
- The author couldn't imagine his life without books and stories.
- The author mostly followed his instinct rather than intelligence.
- The author maintains a harmonious relationship with the natural world.
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Identifying the False Statement from the Passage
Step 1: Understanding the Passage
The passage states that the author does not believe wisdom comes with age. Instead, he suggests that wisdom is either inborn or non-existent.
Step 2: Evaluating the Statements
- The author values books, instincts, and nature, making these statements true.
- The statement that wisdom comes with age contradicts the passage.
Step 3: Identifying the False Statement
The false statement is:
Option A: "Wisdom comes with age."
Final Answer:
Thus, the false statement is Option A.
Choose from the following the Synonym of 'conjecture' as used in the passage.
- Conclusion
- Assumption
- Perception
- Creation
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Understanding the Meaning of "Conjecture"
Step 1: Definition of "Conjecture"
The word "conjecture" means a guess or assumption based on incomplete information.
In the passage, the author uses "conjecture" to indicate that he cannot be certain about the nature of wisdom.
Step 2: Analyzing Incorrect Options
- Conclusion: Incorrect because a conclusion is based on logic and facts.
- Other options do not fit the meaning of "conjecture."
Step 3: Correct Meaning
The correct synonym is:
Assumption (Option B).
Final Answer:
Thus, the correct answer is "Assumption" (Option B).
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
- A smal ginger cat would arrive on the author's terrace every afternoon.
- The author once grew a marigold plant in his backyard and used to water it every morning.
- The author used to admire the little orange flower and would not let anyone pluck it.
- The author asserts that he believes in elders and the philosophers
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Identifying the Correct Statement from the Passage
Step 1: Key Information from the Passage
The passage mentions that:
- A small ginger cat visits the author's terrace every afternoon.
- The marigold plant was growing in a balcony crack, not in a backyard (Option B is incorrect).
- The author plucked the flower and gave it away (Option C is incorrect).
- The author does not believe in the wisdom of elders (Option D is incorrect).
Step 2: Identifying the Correct Answer
The only correct statement is:
Option A: "A small ginger cat visits the author’s terrace every afternoon."
Final Answer:
Thus, the correct answer is Option A.
In the author's opinion, a good monk would be a
1.Mild sort of person
2. Bit of sensualist
3. Compassionate person
4. Gloomy person
1.Mild sort of person
2. Bit of sensualist
3. Compassionate person
4. Gloomy person
- 1,2,3 and 4
- 3 and 4
- 1 and 2
- 1,2 and 3
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Identifying the Characteristics of a Good Monk
Step 1: Key Characteristics from the Passage
The passage describes a good monk as:
- Mild in nature – gentle and calm.
- A bit of a sensualist – enjoys small pleasures.
- Compassionate towards others – shows kindness and empathy.
Step 2: Eliminating the Incorrect Option
Gloomy (sad) is not a characteristic of a good monk.
Thus, Option D (1, 2, and 3) is correct.
Final Answer:
Thus, the correct answer is Option D (1, 2, and 3).
According to the passage, we infer that Nature is bounteous and it gives us
- happiness and protection.
- food and water.
- afterlife and rewards
- friendship and love
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Identifying the Primary Gift of Nature
Step 1: Key Theme from the Passage
The passage emphasizes the abundance of nature.
Nature provides:
- Trees, plants, and flowers
- Sustenance – which includes food and water
Step 2: Eliminating Incorrect Options
- Happiness and protection (Option A): These are benefits, but not the primary gift of nature.
- Afterlife and rewards (Option C): These are religious concepts that the author does not discuss.
- Friendship and love (Option D): These come from relationships, not nature itself.
Step 3: Identifying the Correct Answer
The primary gift of nature is:
Food and water (Option B).
Final Answer:
Thus, the correct answer is Option B.
Top Questions on Reading Comprehension
From a very early age, I knew that when I grew up, I should be a writer. I had the lonely child's habit of making up stories and holding conversations with imaginary persons, and I think from the very start my literary ambitions were mixed up with the feeling of being isolated and undervalued. I knew that I had a facility with words and a power of facing unpleasant facts, and I felt that this created a sort of private world in which I could get my own back for my failure in everyday life. I wanted to write enormous naturalistic novels with unhappy endings, full of detailed descriptions and arresting similes, and also full of purple passages in which words were used partly for the sake of their sound. I give all this background information because I do not think one can assess a writer's motives without knowing something of his early development.
His subject-matter will be determined by the age he lives in — at least this is true in tumultuous, revolutionary ages like our own — but before he ever begins to write he will have acquired an emotional attitude from which he will never completely escape. It is his job to discipline his temperament, but if he escapes from his early influences altogether, he will have killed his impulse to write. I think there are four great motives for writing, at any rate for writing prose. They are: (i) Sheer egoism: Desire to seem clever, to be talked about, to be remembered after death, to get your own back on grown-ups who snubbed you in childhood; (ii) Aesthetic enthusiasm: Desire to share an experience which one feels is valuable and ought not to be missed (iii) Historical impulse: Desire to see things as they are, to find out true facts and store them up for the use of posterity (iv) Political purpose: Desire to push the world in a certain direction, to alter other people's idea of the kind of society that they should strive after.
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