126. Reading Skills Comprehension: Scholars

Scholars

Read the passages given below and answer the questions that follow them:

India was once considered the land of knowledge and enlightenment. In ancient times scholars from all over Asia and Europe used to flock to Taxila, Nalanda and other Indian centres of learning. Apart from the arts, culture, philosophy and religion, these scholars came to study medicine, law and martial arts. But despite having a vastly expanded university system and historical advantages, modem India has yet to provide international or even regional leadership in higher education.

The United States is by far the most successful country in attracting foreign students. But other countries such as Australia, Canada and Britain also aggressively market their universities abroad through their education, counselling services and recruitment fairs with the active cooperation of their diplomatic missions abroad.

Likewise, India should also capitalise on the advantages offered by its higher education institutions, market Indian universities abroad and facilitate the entry of foreign students into them.

The revenue from foreign students can be used to ease the financial crunch faced by Indian universities, improve academic facilities and subsidise the cost of educating Indian students.

But apart from economic advantages, many other benefits would accrue to the nation. India would gain global and regional influence, goodwill and become a major provider of higher education. Many Asian and African countries, especially the smaller ones have poorly developed university systems and would look to Indian universities for the higher education of their youth. At the same time, Indian students will not be deprived if 10 per cent supernumerary seats are created in universities and professional colleges for foreign students.

Already professional education in India has proved accessible and affordable for foreign students, especially from Malaysia, the Middle East and South Africa. In these countries higher education training facilities are limited. Many NRI (Non-resident Indian) families abroad, especially those from English-speaking industrialised countries are also keen to send their children to study in their motherland and hopefully to become attuned to their Indian roots in the process.

Questions

Answer briefly:

1. Why was India once considered to be a land of knowledge and enlightenment?

2. Name the countries which attract foreign students very much.

3. How can the revenue from foreign students be gainfully used?

4. Why is professional education in India proving accessible and affordable for foreign students?

II. Vocabulary:

1. Which of these words has the same meaning as ‘subsidise’?

(a) lessen (b) contribute (c) increase (d)non of these

2. The word ‘professional’ means:

(a) connected to a job (b) earn (c) job (d) related to business

3. The noun form of ‘aggressively’ is:

(a) aggressive (b) aggression (c) aggress (d) none of these

4. ‘Indian would gain global and regional influence….’ Here the word ‘influence’ is a/an:

(a) noun (b) adjective (c) verb (d) adverb

Answers

I.1. India was once considered to be a land of knowledge and enlightenment because scholars from all over the Asia and Europe flocked to Taxila and Nalanda to study arts, culture, philosophy, religion, medicine, law and martial arts.

2. The United States attracts the maximum number of foreign students. It is followed by Australia, Canada and Britain.

3. India can use the revenue earned from foreign students to aid Indian universities, improve academic facilities and subsidising the cost of educating Indian students.

4. Professional education in India is proving accessible and affordable for foreign students because countries like Malaysia, the Middle East and South Africa have limited higher education training facilities. Many NRIs send their children here to have their Indian roots.

II.1. (b) contribute

2.(a) connected to a job

3. (b) aggression

4. (a) noun

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