Comprehension
The first thing that a scholar should bear in mind is that a book ought not to be read for mere amusement. Half-educated persons read for amusement, and are not to be read for mere amusement; they are incapable of appreciating the deeper qualities that belong to a really great literature. But a young man who has passed through a course of university training should discipline himself at an early day never to read for mere amusement. And once the habit of this discipline has been formed, he will find it impossible to read for mere amusement. He will then impatiently throw down any book from which he cannot obtain intellectual food, any book that does not make an appeal to the higher emotions and to his intellect. But on the other hand, the habit of reading for amusement becomes with thousands of people exactly the same kind of habit as wine-drinking or opium-smoking: it is like a narcotic; something that helps to pass the time, something that keeps up a perpetual condition of dreaming, something that eventually results in destroying all capacity for thought, giving exercise only to the surface parts of the mind, and leaving the deeper springs of feeling and the higher faculties of perception unemployed.
Question: 1

What sort of people read for amusement?

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Reading for intellectual nourishment is important to develop deeper cognitive and emotional faculties, while entertainment-focused reading may hinder intellectual growth.
Updated On: Oct 8, 2025
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Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Identifying the relevant part of the passage.
The passage clearly mentions that "half-educated persons read for amusement."
Step 2: Conclusion.
Hence, the sort of people who read for amusement are half-educated persons.
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Question: 2

What does the truly educated person read?

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Reading for intellectual nourishment is important to develop deeper cognitive and emotional faculties, while entertainment-focused reading may hinder intellectual growth.
Updated On: Oct 8, 2025
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Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Identifying the relevant part of the passage.
The passage states that a truly educated person "throws down any book from which he cannot obtain intellectual food, any book that does not make an appeal to the higher emotions and to his intellect."
Step 2: Conclusion.
A truly educated person reads books that provide intellectual nourishment, stimulate higher emotions, and challenge their intellect.
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Question: 3

What are the ill effects of reading for mere amusement?

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Reading for intellectual nourishment is important to develop deeper cognitive and emotional faculties, while entertainment-focused reading may hinder intellectual growth.
Updated On: Oct 8, 2025
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Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Identifying the relevant part of the passage.
The passage mentions that reading for mere amusement "results in destroying all capacity for thought, giving exercise only to the surface parts of the mind, and leaving the deeper springs of feeling and the higher faculties of perception unemployed."
Step 2: Conclusion.
The ill effects of reading for amusement are the destruction of intellectual capacity, shallow thinking, and underdevelopment of deeper emotional and cognitive faculties.
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Question: 4

When should one train oneself for reading the right kind of books?

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Reading for intellectual nourishment is important to develop deeper cognitive and emotional faculties, while entertainment-focused reading may hinder intellectual growth.
Updated On: Oct 8, 2025
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Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Identifying the relevant part of the passage.
The passage states that one should discipline oneself "at an early day" to avoid reading for mere amusement and start reading for intellectual nourishment.
Step 2: Conclusion.
One should train oneself for reading the right kind of books at an early stage in life, particularly after receiving university training.
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Question: 5

Explain the phrase 'intellectual food'.

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Reading for intellectual nourishment is important to develop deeper cognitive and emotional faculties, while entertainment-focused reading may hinder intellectual growth.
Updated On: Oct 8, 2025
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Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Identifying the relevant part of the passage.
The passage uses the phrase "intellectual food" to refer to reading materials that nourish the mind, providing deeper intellectual and emotional stimulation.
Step 2: Conclusion.
"Intellectual food" means books or reading materials that challenge the intellect and provide deeper insights, knowledge, and thought-provoking ideas.
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Question: 6

Write the opposite word of 'discipline'.

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Reading for intellectual nourishment is important to develop deeper cognitive and emotional faculties, while entertainment-focused reading may hinder intellectual growth.
Updated On: Oct 8, 2025
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Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Identifying the relevant part of the passage.
The opposite of "discipline" can be understood as a lack of control or structure.
Step 2: Conclusion.
The opposite word of "discipline" is "indiscipline."
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Question: 7

Which word in the passage is nearest in meaning to 'entertainment'?

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Reading for intellectual nourishment is important to develop deeper cognitive and emotional faculties, while entertainment-focused reading may hinder intellectual growth.
Updated On: Oct 8, 2025
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Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Identifying the relevant part of the passage.
The word "amusement" in the passage is nearest in meaning to "entertainment."
Step 2: Conclusion.
The word "amusement" is closest in meaning to "entertainment."
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