English Synonyms, Antonyms and Word Usage

Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.

It has been the tradition of our country that man is not measured merely in terms of money, and this is particularly true of scholars who impart education to others. In ancient times, a student used to live with his teacher or the Acharya and, just like the latter's own children, became a member of the family.

The Guru had to bear the entire burden of maintaining the pupil and in lieu of fees, the pupil would gather wood from the forests or take the cows for grazing. Till comparatively recent times, it used to be considered improper to charge any fees for imparting education. But times have now changed.

India cannot keep herself isolated from the rest of the world. Not only cotton, wheat, and maize but everything else of value is measured in terms of money. We should neither feel surprised nor should we blame anyone of those who have adopted the educational profession as a career, also measure their worth in terms of money.

Such a development was inevitable, for, when social recognition is based on money, teachers could not but fail to come under its influence. Teachers have, therefore, begun to make demands for more money. Previously, the students used to discharge their obligations towards their teacher by serving him while they were his students and later, when they had completed their education and entered family life, by imparting education to others.

Passage (Q96 – Q100) Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.

In my most frustrated moments of navigating chaotic traffic, I close my eyes in the back seat and imagine what it would be like if some day just a thought would transport me from one place to another.

At times, sitting relaxed on my terrace, I wonder if some day, just with the power of my thoughts would I be able to create the image of the most vivid blue ocean and a sandy beach in front of me? Then having had enough of that, could my thoughts switch the scene to that of snowy mountain peaks?

Just thinking of these seemingly impossible things gives me a sense of well-being, because I do believe that if you can think it, you can will it and achieve it. If it occurs as a thought, it is possible to fructify as reality. After all, everything big started with a thought. Looking at birds flying freely in the sky, humans must have thought of the possibility of flying centuries before the invention of aeroplanes. The tallest skyscraper, the longest bridge across the ocean, the fastest train, the internet, cell phones – all are the end result of one thought.

As technology advances and we become more confident in our abilities to transform thoughts to reality, the gap between the ideas and implementation keeps shrinking. Today, one of the biggest thrills of living is watching impossible-seeming thoughts turn to reality within one’s lifetime!

None of the big achievements or discoveries in life happened by thinking small. To achieve big stuff, you have to think big. The most pleasurable moments can be spent imagining what seems to be the impossible. Believe in yourself and your thoughts. Think beyond the realms of possibility and then aim to get there. Once there, think much beyond that possibility too. And then get going once again.