38. Reading Skills Comprehension: Ideals and Objectives

IDEALS  AND OBJECTIVES

(Translators’ Exam, 1994)

 In this work of incessant and feverish activity, men have little time to think, much less to consider ideas and objectives. Yet how are we to act, even in the present, unless we know which way we are going and what our objectives are? It is Only in the peaceful atmosphere of a university that these basic problems can be adequately considered. It is only when the young men and women, who are in the university today and on whom the burden of life’s problems will fall tomorrow, learn to have clear objectives and standards of values that there is hope for the next generation.

 The past generation produced some great men but as a generation, it led the world repeatedly to disaster. Two world wars are the price that has been paid for the lack of wisdom on man’s part in this generation. I think that there is always a close and intimate relationship between the end we aim at and the means adopted to attain it. Even if the end is right but the means are wrong, it will vitiate the end or divert us in the wrong direction. Means and ends are thus intimately and inextricably connected and cannot be separated. That, indeed, has been the lesson of old taught us by many great men in the past, but unfortunately, it seldom remembered.

1. People have little time to consider ideas and objectives because

 (a) they consider these ideas meaningless.

(b) they do not want to burden themselves with such ideas.

(c) they have no inclination for such things.

(d) they are excessively engaged in their routine activities.

 2. The burden of life’s problems’ in the fourth sentence refers to

(a) the incessant and feverish activities

(b) the burden of family responsibilities

(c) the onerous duties of life

 (d) the sorrows and sufferings

 3. The two world wars are the price that man paid due to

(a) the absence of wisdom and sagacity

(b) his not caring to consider the life’s problems

 (c) his ignoring the ideals and objectives of life

(d) his excessive involvement in feverish activities

 4. According to the writer, the adoption of the wrong means even for the right end would

 (a) not let us attain our goal

 (b) bring us dishonour

(c) impede our progress

(d) deflect us from the right path

 5. The word ‘vitiate’ used in the second paragraph means

 (a) negate

(b) debate

(c) tarnish

(d) destroy

ANSWERS:-

1. (d)

2. (c)

3. (b) 

4. (d)

5. (b)

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