Directions (Q. 1–10): Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words/ phrases have been given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
Once upon a time there was a little boy who was talented, creative, handsome, and extremely bright. A natural leader. The kind of person everyone would normally have wanted on their team or project. But he was also self-centered and had a very bad temper. When he got angry, he usually said, and often did, some very hurtful things. In fact, he seemed to have little regard for those around him. Even friends. So, naturally, he had few. “But,” he told himself, “that just shows how stupid most people are!”
As he grew, his parents became concerned about this personality flaw, and pondered long and hard about what they should do. Finally, the father had an idea. And he struck a bargain with his son. He gave him a bag of nails, and a BIG hammer.
“Whenever you lose your temper,” he told the boy, “I want you to really let it out. Just take a nail and drive it into the oak boards of that old fence out back. Hit that nail as hard as you can!” Of course, those weathered oak boards in that old fence were almost as tough as iron, and the hammer was mighty heavy, so it wasn’t nearly as easy as it first sounded. Nevertheless, by the end of the first day, the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence (That was one angry young man!).
Gradually, over a period of weeks, the number dwindled down. Holding his temper proved to be easier than driving nails into the fence! Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He felt mighty proud as he told his parents about that accomplishment. “As a sign of your success,” his father responded, “you get to PULL OUT one nail. In fact, you can do that each day that you don’t lose your temper even once.”
Well, many weeks passed. Finally one day the young boy was able to report proudly that all the nails were gone. At that point, the father asked his son to walk out back with him and take one more good look at the fence. “You have done well, my son,” he said. ”But I want you to notice the holes that are left. No matter what happens from now on, this fence will never be the same. Saying or doing hurtful things in anger produces the same kind of result. There will always be a scar.
It won’t matter how many times you say you’re sorry, or how many years pass, the scar will still be there. And a verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. People are much more valuable than an old fence. They make us smile. They help us succeed.
Some will even become friends who share our joys, and support us through bad times. And, if they trust us, they will also open their hearts to us. That means we need to treat everyone with love and respect. We need to prevent as many of those scars as we can.”
1. Choose the word which is MOST OPPOSITE in meaning of the word ‘self–centered’ as used in the passage?
1) Independent
2) Benevolent
3) Conceited
4) Egocentric
5) Exclusive
2. Which of the following statements is TRUE in the context of the passage?
1) The boy’s father couldn’t teach his son a lesson.
2) The boy was restless by nature
3) The father was very rich and could afford everything for his son.
4) The boy did not want to stay at home.
5) Other than those given as options
3. Choose the word which is MOST SIMILAR in meaning to the word ‘pondered’ as used in the passage?
1) Ignored
2) Disregarded
3) Contemplated
4) Agreed
5) Figured
4. What did the father give his son to control his temper?
1) He bought expensive gifts for his son.
2) He gave his son a bag of nails and a hammer.
3) He ordered his son to prepare sweets and food well in advance.
4) He started to ignore his son.
5) He encouraged him to grow up and live independently.
5. Choose the word which is MOST OPPOSITE in meaning of the word ‘dwindle’ as used in the passage?
1) Swell
2) Increase
3) Wane
4) Subside
5) Fade
6. Which of the following can be said about the little boy?
1) He was not a good son since her mother left home at an early age.
2) He was brilliant and good-looking.
3) He had quarreled with his father.
4) He was brought up by his father as his mother had died when he was a baby.
5) All of the above
7. Choose the word which is MOST SIMILAR in meaning to the word ‘prevent’ as used in the passage?
1) Pull
2) Liberate
3) Backward
4) Avoid
5) Disapprove
8. What task was given to the little boy by his father?
1) Hitting the nails on the backside wall
2) Entertaining other on his journey of life
3) To look after his home
4) All of the above
5) Other than those given as options
9. Which of the following is false in the context of the passage?
1) The father was sad because he was unable to control his anger.
2) The boy was pleased with new task.
3) Finally, the boy could lose his temper.
4) The boy did not let his friends play with others.
5) Only 1), 2) and 4)
10. Why was the father worried?
1) His son was self-centered.
2) He usually said or did hurtful thing to anyone while angry.
3) He had only son.
4) His son was very mischievous.
5) His son had no friends.
Answers:
1. 2
2. 5
3. 3
4. 2
5. 2
6. 2
7. 4
8. 1
9. 5
10. 2
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