Reading : 1. Happiness is not something far away and unattainable. Happiness does not depend on circumstances or objects. It is an inseparable part of our consciousness, of our essence, but hidden and covered from sight by our thoughts, desires and worries. We all seek happiness but few, very-few, indeed, get it. We are unhappy partly because we desire much more than what we can hope to attain. Our countless desires are hard to be satisfied. And that is what makes us so sad in life. The secret of happiness lies in the simplification of life. Simple living encourages high thinking. It leads to contentment. Contentment gives us inner wealth, the wealth of the mind and of the soul.
2. A contented man devotes himself to virtues; a man can feel true happiness. I do not mean that for simplification of life, a man should become an ascetic. The happiness of a sadhu is of a negative kind. I want positive kind of happiness. For this I must live in the midst of life and faithfully carry out my responsibilities to my home and my country. But all this should be done in the spirit of selfless service.
3. A man, who wants to lead a happy life, should also make others happy. In making others happy he will taste real and lasting happiness. There is a kind of joy in serving others with virtuous motives, in sacrificing what one has for the good of others. An act of goodness is of itself an act of happiness. The secret of perfect happiness lies in renunciation.
4. Wealth may give us joy for a while and fame may provide us with fleeting excitement. But they cannot give us permanent happiness. Kings have everything to make them happy and yet they feel unhappy. It is because they do not practise renunciation. There is a sense of joy in doing one’s work honestly and efficiently. A research-worker feels joy in research and a journalist in writing. In doing one’s duty sincerely, one feels peace of mind which is an important essence of happiness. It is only by cultivating spirit of renunciation, self-sacrifice, contentment and science work that one can really be happy. The strings of misfortune spare none but they will not cow such a person.
5. Happiness is like the sun, it is often hidden by the clouds of thoughts, worries and desires. We have to scatter and dissolve them to experience happiness. You don’t have to create happiness. All you have to do is calm your mind, because when there is a quiet mind and inner peace, there is happiness.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY TEN questions from the twelve that follow.
1. We are unhappy partly because we have ________________. (a) no inner strength (b) lost moral and spiritual values (c) countless, unfulfilled desires (d) extremely complicated lives
2. According to the passage, the essence of happiness lies in_____ (a) worldly desires (b) doing one’s duty sincerely (c) avoiding all unfortunate events (d) adopting a simple life style
3. Which of the following is the correct chain of things, as mentioned in the passage, leading to happiness? (a) contentment, high thinking, simple living, inner wealth (b) simple living, high thinking, inner wealth, contentment (c) high thinking, simple living, inner wealth, contentment (d) simple living, high thinking, contentment, inner wealth
4. What does a contented man do? (a) He assimilates the basic virtues of life (b) He faces boldly the adversities of life (c) He encounters the strings of misfortunes (d) He gives up bad habits effortlessly
5. What according to the passage, is a positive kind of happiness? (a) Keeping ones motives and feelings under control (b) Love for life and a country (c) Leading a simple life of an ascetic (d) Carrying out all worldly activities in the spirit of selfless service
6. A man who wants to live a happy life should _____ (a) make others happy (b) master the art of renunciation (c) pursue wealth and fame (d) inculcate the virtues of life
7. Which of the following is OPPOSITE in meaning to the word ‘fleeting’ as used in the passage? (a) permanent (b) passing (c) fast (d) momentary
8. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE in the context of the passage? (a) One feels peace of mind in doing one’s duty sincerely (b) Renunciation is the result of perfect happiness. (c) Multiplicity of desires make us unhappy. (d) Making others happy makes one happy.
9. The phrase “cow a person” refers to get someone: (a) spare (b) conquer (c) scare (d) provoke
10. Which of the following statements is TRUE in the context of the passage? (a) Human beings seldom seek happiness (b) Doing one’s work sincerely hardly makes one happy (c) Peace of mind is tangent to happiness (d) Simple life is like a life of an ascetic
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What is the answer of Q9?