Junior Intermediate Comprehension Passages

Hero-worshipping (Page:87)

Hero-worshipping is part of societies. Those heroes might be film stars, political leaders, sports stars or other persons. Hero-worshippers display passionate admiration and imitation of their ‘heroes’. Hero worshipping is a human quality that shows that a person is overawed by the personality cult. A hero becomes a demigod for him. His hero’s positive attributes become his guiding and inspiring principles and he becomes blind to the hero’s negative traits and weaknesses.

The instinct of hero worship springs from an internal inferiority complex. The result is that they are distanced from reality and live in a dream world of their own. It often thus becomes the biggest stumbling block in the progress of persons indulging in it. This plain passion often lands us in a cloud of illusion.

However, with rational thinking and perseverance we can produce more heroes rather than more hero-worshippers.

Questions

  1. What do hero-worshippers typically display towards their heroes?

  2. State True or False: A hero-worshipper becomes blind to the hero’s negative traits and weaknesses.

  3. According to the passage, from where does the instinct of hero worship spring?

  4. What is the ultimate result of indulging in hero-worshipping?

  5. What two qualities do we need to cultivate in order to produce more heroes rather than more hero-worshippers?

Answers

  1. Hero-worshippers show strong admiration. They also try to imitate their heroes.

  2. True. 

  3. The instinct of worship a hero springs from an internal inferiority complex. 

  4. The final result is that the person moves away from reality. They start living in a dream world. This also often stops their own progress.

  5. Rational thinking and perseverance


Disability and Pity (Page: 88)


"As someone with a disability, I'd like people to know there's a line between kindness and pity. I know that line from a lifetime of struggling with my disability, a realization I've come to after a lifetime of struggling with my disability. There are a few of them I overcome every single day. I will continue to face them for the rest of my life. This is my reality. Every day, I face barriers that get under my skin. I'm a smart, educated, ambitious person, yet many people only see my disability. Don't get me wrong, I've never been bullied; it's actually the opposite—people have pitied. At least once a day, I can see pity in the eyes or voice of someone I interact with.

The same can't be said for a woman who insisted on praying over my head to God. She proceeded to take away my disability and fix me. That situation was embarrassing and uncalled for. I didn't ask for her pity, nor did I ask for her prayers to "fix" me. I don't pity myself and neither should anyone. I should be shown kindness, but unless someone asks for pity, don't give it. Pity makes us feel less than."

Questions 

  1. How does pitying make someone feel?
  2. What can people see if they look past the writer's disability?
  3. State True or False: Disabled people are often bullied, and it is problematic for them to be shown kindness.
  4. According to the passage, what is more meaningful than pity?.
  5. As per the passage, what do disabled people want?
            a) Pity b) Dignity and respect c) Charity


Answers 

  1. Pity makes us feel less than.
  2. They can see that the writer is a smart, educated, ambitious person.
  3. False
  4. Kindness
  5. b) Dignity and respect

Change Starts From Home (Page:88)

"Why do we expect girls to come home early? Because we let boys roam around till late in the evening. Why do we expect girls to learn cooking? Because we never bother to teach our boys how to cook. Why do we expect our girls to be humble and gentle? Because we tell boys to be strong and bold.

Discrimination starts at home. It begins in the way we raise our children, in the expectations we set, and the roles we assign. A million homes make up a city, and a thousand cities make up a nation. But as we move from home to society, the discrimination multiplies, spreading far and wide.

It wears many faces—catcalling, eve-teasing, harassment, stalking, abuse, domestic violence, and worse. The unfortunate reality is that these forms of discrimination are not just limited to one part of society; they touch lives everywhere, often in ways we don't even notice.

The journey of change has to start with us. If we want to create a world where girls aren't held back by outdated expectations, we need to start questioning and reshaping the norms in our own homes. It's not just about raising girls right—it's about raising boys to respect, appreciate, and support them as equals. Only then can we hope for a society that truly stands for fairness, respect, and equality"

Questions:

  1. What role can we play to reduce discrimination,  according to the passage?
  2. State True or False : Raising our girls in the right way is enough to change society.
  3. Where does discrimination often begin, as suggested in the passage? 
  4. How does the passage suggest that discrimination spreads from one place to another?
  5. What are some examples of discrimination mentioned in the passage?

Answers: 

  1. Our role is to start questioning and reshaping the norms in our own homes.
  2. False
  3. Discrimination often begins at home.
  4. The passage suggests that as we move from home to society, the discrimination multiplies, spreading far and wide.
  5. Catcalling, Eve-teasing, Harassment, Stalking, Abuse, Domestic violence

1. Social Media (Page: 89)


Instagram is the worst social media network for mental health and wellbeing, according to a recent survey. It was associated with high levels of anxiety, depression, bullying, sleep quality and body image and FOMO, or the “fear of missing out.”

There were certainly some benefits associated with social networking for example, self-expression, community building and emotional support.

However, young people who spend more than two hours a day on social networking sites are more likely to report psychological distress. “Seeing friends constantly on holiday or enjoying nights out can make young people feel like they are missing out while others enjoy life,” the #Status Of Mind report states. “These feelings can promote a ‘compare and despair’ attitude.”

Social media posts can also set unrealistic expectations and create feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. This may explain why Instagram, where personal photos take centre stage, received the worst scores for body image and anxiety. As one survey respondent wrote, “Instagram easily makes girls and women feel as if their bodies aren’t good enough as people add filters and edit their pictures in order for them to look ‘perfect’.”

The more social networks a young adult uses, the more likely he or she is to report depression and anxiety.

Tips to reduce social media consumption

  • Set time limits
  • Turn off notifications
  • Replace social media with hobbies like reading, playing, exercising

Questions

  1. According to the passage, what is the likely outcome for a young adult who uses multiple social networks?
  2. List two tips to reduce social media consumption mentioned in the passage.
  3. According to a recent survey, which social media network is worst for mental health and wellbeing?
  4. What does the term FOMO stand for?
  5. State True or False: Young people who spend more than two hours a day on social networking sites are less likely to report psychological distress.

Answers: 

  1. To suffer from depression and anxiety.
  2. 1. Set time limits 2. Turn off notifications
  3. Instagram 
  4. Fear of missing out 
  5. False

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