Reading Comprehension

Passage 1

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: 5

The culture of nuclear families is in fashion. Parents are often heard complaining about the difficulties in bringing up children these
days. Too much freedom in demand, too much independence; night parties; excessive extravagance, splurging pocket money; no time
for studies and family all this is a common cry of such families. Aren’t parents, themselves, responsible for this pitiful state? The
basic need of a growing youth is the family, love, attention, and bonding along with moral values. One should not forget that ‘charity
begins at home.

Independence and individuality both need to be respected, to maintain the sanctity of family. Children, today are to be handled with
tact to bridge the ever-widening generation gap. Only reasonable demands need to be fulfilled, as there are too many expenses to be
met and too many social obligations to be taken care of by the parents. Our forefathers lived happily in joint families. Children loved
to live with their cousins, and learned to adjust within their means. There was perfect harmony between the generations. There never
existed the concept of old-age homes. There was a deep respect for the family elders and love, care, and concern for the youngsters.
Even the minor family differences were solved amicably.

Questions:

1. Mention any two major common concerns of a nuclear family.

2. Who, according to the passage, is responsible for them?
3. Explain the expression ‘charity begins at home.
4. Describe the atmosphere in joint families.
5. Which word in the passage means ‘Holiness of life’?
 Passage 2

Educating boys and girls together has always been an important and stressful issue. Many parents believe that the educational process
can be more effective if the classes are divided according to the gender of the students. Although same-sex schools are considered too
conservative and strict in today’s times. Nevertheless, there are still supporters of this manner of education. Some parents are not in
favor of a co-educational system as they feel that the presence of the opposite gender distracts the attention of students and prevents
them from concentrating on their studies.

On the other hand, supporters of co-education feel that as boys and girls are different, it is a valuable experience for both genders to
communicate with each other. Moreover, the earlier boys and girls begin to communicate, the sooner they acquire social skills, which
are crucial to communicating freely in the world. Further, if there are girls in the class, boys may well possibly try to behave better in
order not to lose face in front of the girls.

Apart from all that has been mentioned above, educating boys and girls together helps them understand and mutually respect each
other from an early stage in life. This can help in building a generation that doesn’t suffer from gender bias and is open to healthy
competition even between the two genders.

Question 1.

Why according to the writer are some parents not in favor of the co-education system?

Question 2.

Why are socializing skills important?

Question 3.
Same-sex schools are considered…

Question 4.

What according to the writer helps girls and boys develop mutual respect?

Question 5.

Find words from the passage that mean

a. traditional

b. paying attention

c. vital

d. unfairness