Comprehension Passage - 2

Title: Bad temper - The vice of the virtuous

The next ingredient is a very remarkable one: Good Temper. "Love is not easily provoked". Nothing could be more striking than to find this here. We are inclined to look upon bad temper as a very harmless weakness. We speak of it as a mere infirmity of nature, a family failing, a matter of temperament, not a thing to take into a very serious account in estimating a man's character.

And yet here, right in the heart of this analysis of love, it finds a place; and the Bible again and again returns to condemn it as one of the most destructive elements in human nature. The peculiarity of ill temper is that it is the vice of the virtuous. It is often the one blot on an otherwise noble character. You know men who are all but perfect, and women who could be entirely perfect but for an easily ruffled, quick tempered or touchy disposition. This compatibility of ill temper with high moral character is one of the strangest and saddest problems of ethics.

 The truth is there are two great classes of sins - sins of the Body,  and sins of Disposition.  The Prodigal son may be taken as a type of the first, the Elder brother of the second. Now society has no doubt whatever as to which of these is worse.  Its brand falls, without a challenge, upon the Prodigal. But are we right? We have no balance to weigh one another’s sins, and coarser and finer are but human words; but faults in the higher nature may be less venial than those in the lower, and to the eye of Him who is Love, a sin against Love may seem a hundred times more base. No form of vice, not worldliness, not greed of gold, not drunkenness itself does more to un-christianise society than evil temper. 

For embittering life, for breaking up communities, for destroying the most sacred relationships, for devastating homes, for withering up men and women, for taking the bloom off childhood; in short for sheer gratuitous misery-producing power, this influence stands alone. 

Jealousy, anger, pride, uncharity, self-righteousness, touchiness, doggedness, sullenness - in varying proportions these are the ingredients of all ill-temper. Judge if such sins of disposition are not worse to live in, and for others to live with than sins of the body. There is really no place in Heaven for a disposition like this. A man with such a mood could only make Heaven miserable for the all the people in it.

                                                                                                    Henry Drummond

Questions

1. What is the popular notion about 'bad temper'?

Answer -  According to the author, bad temper is considered as a harmless weakness and is spoken merely as if it is a mere infirmity of nature, a family failing or as a matter of temperament. 

2. How is bad temper 'the vice of the virtuous'?

Answer - Bad temper is one blot on an otherwise noble character. Men and women could be entirely perfect except for a ill-tempered disposition. Hence bad temper is referred as the vice of the virtuous.

3. Which class of sins is the worse and why - sins of the body or the sins of the disposition?

Answer - Sins of the disposition are worse than the sins of the body because evil temper un-Christianise the society more than the bodily sins. 

4. Mention some evils of bad temper?

Answer - Evil temper can embitter life, break up communities, destroy most scared relationships, devastate homes, wither up men and women, for taking the bloom off childhood. 

5. Why, according to the author, will there be no place in Heaven for bad-tempered folks?

Answer - According to the author, there will be no place in Heaven for bad-tempered folks because people with evil-temper can only make heaven a miserable place for all the people in it. 

6. Who is the author of this passage?

Answer - Henry Drummond.

7. What could be the title for this comprehension passage?

Answer - Bad temper - The vice of the virtuous. 

8. Name any three ingredients of ill temper?

Answer - Jealousy, anger and cruelty.

9. What is the nearest meaning for the word 'ruining' in the passage?

Answer - Devastating.

10. Find words from the passage which mean : breaking up, ruining, scandalising, souring, easily or quickly offended.

Answer - 1. breaking up: destroying.

               2. ruining: devastating.

               3. scandalising: withering.

               4. souring: embittering.

               5. easily or quickly offended: touchy.

Expansion of Idea - For Some The Journey is Quicker, For Some The Journey is Slow

Very often life is compared to a journey. When people set on a journey, some are quick enough to reach their destination while some meander on slow. Similarly in life people walk in their own pace. For some achieving destination is the only goal they planned and hence they set their mind on it. But some walk the way their life takes them, without having any idea what they wish to be. For such the journey could often be slow and dreadful.

Our pace of life also depends on our abilities, skills, goals and our determination. If you are determined, you can make your dream come true. But without determination life can stagnate for some. Life provides us with vast opportunities and experiences. It is upon us to make most of it and enrich our lives by living it to the fullest. Or else our journey of life would be slow and meaningless.

Expansion of Idea - Speech is the Gift of All, But Thought of Few

Human beings are very fortunate compared to other animals. One of the best things that happened to us is the speech. Speech is a gift which allows us to express our feelings, convey ideas, speak and communicate with others. The freedom of speech has allowed us to express and debate about our opinions on things. Talking has thus come naturally to us. Few use it in a good and wise way while for few it is just about talking without thinking.

Though all of us have the skill of reasoning, very few actually make use of it. Being rational is not everyone's cup of it. Thinking before speaking is actually foreign to few people. And all this results to what can be expected from such people - bunch of words spoken out without giving any thought to it. Decisions are made without worrying about the consequences of it. The thoughtless words are said and then paid heavily later.

But not everyone sail in the same boat. Some people actually think before saying. These people take their thoughts into consideration and make rational assessment of it. They worry about the consequences and speak wisely. The outcome of speech for such people are always worthwhile. This is because they are never reckless. Hence man should use the power of thinking before making a speech. Think more and speak less should be the motto of one's life. Because whatever you speak is the result of one's thinking. 

Expansion of Idea - Green City, Clean City

When we say 'green city', the first thing that comes to our mind is a city full of greenery. Lush green trees and plants everywhere! When we say 'clean city', the first thing that comes to our mind is a city completely clean of garbage, pollution and dirt. The combination of both blows our mind away. Something such would exist is a dream come true.

But think about it in this manner -  a city which is green because of lots and lots of trees swaying away all around would definitely keep away pollution, forest degradation and other environmental problems. Such city would help purify the air and allow us to breathe safely, without any worry of pollutants and gases. A green city will allow us to live a healthy life. Such city would gain an ecotourist importance and attract tourists and visitors from all around the world.

If such a city exists the residents of such city would rejoice because of all the attention. In turn, they would take certain measures to keep the city clean and set an example. Not only will the green city be maintained but the people of the city would plant more trees and try to maintain the green environment. Once the ecosystem is balanced, the city would remain free from diseases and the residents would enjoy healthy environs. But such city can still exists, if we as concerned citizens take initiative towards making it green and clean.

It is completely upon us as the concerned citizens to plant more trees, maintain them, maintain cleanliness and keep the environmental problems at bay. Even if it starts with one city, slowly and steadily it would grow. Imagine what the consequences be - good health and happiness everywhere!

Expansion of Idea - Live and Let Live

Life is the best gift to mankind. Enjoying life and allowing others to enjoy so is the right thing to do. Making use of every opportunity available to us helps to make life better. Such opportunities should be enjoyed and allowed others to enjoy as well. Every person has the right to make the most of the opportunity provided to him to improve his standard of living and to develop his own skills. Man in his own greed at times, takes away such opportunity from others who too deserve to enjoy. By doing so, we destroy the peace and well being of others.

No one can predict the time allotted to them to make their presence on this earth. Hence one should make the right use of his time and allow others to do so too. But greed overpowers all the desires. Greed not just to have everything to oneself, but greed to peace, greed to fame, greed to power and greed to success makes man cruel and selfish. In such cases, we destroy lives of others and bring harm to innocent people. We should allow each and everyone the opportunity to live and enjoy life. Every one has the right to do so. No one is less fortunate than other. 'Live and let live' indeed should be the prime principle of every individual's life.

Expansion of Idea - We Live in Deeds Not in Years

Man is known for his deeds. Our actions speak louder than our words. What a man does in his life counts more than how long he lived. You may live a short span life, but if your life is well-spent than such a life is far better than a life that is long lived. Life that we have is a god's gift, and it is upon us how we make the most of it.

What is the point in living a longer life which is wasted and has nothing to remember by! Man in it's entirety can survive on his actions rather than how long he lived. Deeds speak for themselves. Our deeds and our actions are what we are judged for, not for the length span of our life.  A life full of negativity, regrets and unpleasantness is not a life well spent.

You rather live short, but whatever time you spend on this earth it should be worth it. A good living never goes unnoticed. Some spend their life with actions that announce positivity, generosity, humility, charity and forgiveness. Such people are followed by many and often serve as examples to live by. Hence it is imperative that one should make a good living of his life and enjoy optimistic and positive approach. Because we live in deeds not in years. 

Expansion of Idea - There is Nothing Impossible in Life

For those who believe in themselves there is nothing impossible in life. People who are full of optimism always take life in a positive way. They do not allow negativity enter their mind and thus control their way of thinking. For such people there is nothing impossible in life, as they learn to fight problems and face challenges. One sees many obstacles in the path of success. These obstacles are barrier to success and can either let you down or take away the possibilities of life.

But just the fear of facing obstacles should not take your success from you. One must not run away from problems but face it with fortitude and courage. There are solutions to each and every problem, but it is all about your approach towards it that helps or hinders your progress. If we allow ourselves to look at life with fullness and entirety, we can foresee what is coming toward us.

Unbridled determination and perseverance can help us go long way in life. Looking at the brighter side of life can help build a positive approach. Only such attitude towards life can help turning impossible into possible. Optimists are one of the shining examples of this. They have a positive approach towards dealing with challenges and fighting problems. And only for such people everything is possible and nothing is impossible in life.

Expansion of Idea - Say No To Plastic

The usage of plastic has been one of the major cause of concern. Recently government came up with severe resolutions towards ban of plastic bags. It is high time that government take such step towards the use of plastic. We use plastic bags because their use is convenient for us. We can go empty handed for shopping and come loaded with plastic bags. We rarely think how our action can harm the environment. Plastic doesn't cost much, in fact at times they are even free. We have been using plastic for such a long time that we hardly ever realized that by doing so we have been abusing the planet.

Our carelessness has costed the planet. The planet suffers for our deeds which can have severe repercussions on our existence. Most we could do to save our Mother Earth is stop polluting it. And plastic is one such major pollutant. Use of plastic is harmful to nature. Though plastic can be advantageous to us, they also are a disadvantage to our existence. One disadvantage of plastic is that it is non-biodegradable. This means that plastic cannot be decomposed and hence the discarded plastic will keep piling up on the earth's surface. This is a major cause of concern for the environment upkeep. Many animals swallow plastic bags and suffer severe health threats. Plastic bags often get stuck in the sewage openings and cause problems. Plastic bags indirectly contribute to problems during floods. The quality of soil is also deteriorated due to plastic bags.

Government has definitely taken major steps towards ban of plastic bags. But that is not enough! Every individual needs to take firm step towards ban of plastic bags. Everyone has to contribute their bit to ban it. This can only be done when each one of us, stop using plastic bags for shopping or stop accepting plastic bags from vendors. One can carry their own bags made from cloth or jute. Our environment would become a better place to live only if we say no to plastic.

Expansion of Idea - Service To Man is Service to God

Today's world is just striving for the benefit of self, not for others. Majority of the people currently either serve themselves or serve the almighty. Selfishness and greed has plagued the entire world due to which humans have forgotten the cause of humanity. The important thing that humans do not realize is that God is not pleased by offering delicacies or prayers. On the contrary, he would be pleased if humans become useful to the needy or even feed the starving.

According to great philosopher Swami Vivekananda, 'In every God there is an individual and in every individual there is God.' This quote simplifies the complexity of the human thinking towards religion. People should willingly donate items to various charities, non profit organizations and to people who genuinely need them rather than temples where it could just get wasted. By doing such great deed, they indirectly serve God and offer their prayers to him. Such a perception should be imbibed in every individual's mind so that the world becomes a better place to live. Instead of offering gifts in form of food and clothing to temples, one can distribute such goods to the needy, who would be thankful. Such vote of thanks from the heart of a needy person serves far better as a blessing than one you think you may get from a temple.

The hypothesis for our direct service to God has been accurately defined by various philosophers. As a result, ' Service to man is service to God.'

Expansion of Idea - Dreamers Create A World Of Their Own

The world one dreams of is far better than the real world we live in. Our dreams allow us to create a world of our own where exists happiness, excitement and success. This little world of our own imagination which we dream, keep us content and allows us to stay away from our real problems. Dreams allow us to live in a world of hope and possibilities which inspire us to go on. What would we do without our dreams!

Dream plays a pivotal role in our life. We enjoy dreaming. This different world where our dreams take us, allow us to escape the harsh realities. Though dreams don't last long yet this small escapade from our real world do work out as a stress-buster. Dreams are the reason some people have managed to think out of the box. Dreams define you. Most of the inventions and discoveries we witness today are results of such dreams. A writer plots his story in his dreams and turns it out in his best fiction ever which may be relative from person to person.

One who dreams, remains happy in his own world where there are thrills and thoughts of happiness. Dreams are something you can look forward to when you are about to sleep. Yes! we do have to wake up after that and get back to the real world. But that is the whole point. Dreams allow dreamers to go on and fight to make it happen. Once you get back to the real world, try and work towards making the dream world real. And thus one can say that, 'Dreamers create a world of their own'. 

Expansion of Idea - Knowledge is Power

One can gain power through knowledge. Knowledge of something allows one to become powerful. It could be anything you are good at. A particular talent defines a person's skills in that area. Any specialization could help one overcome boundaries and attain success. Enough knowledge of something or anything can make a person dominate over others in his area of expertise.

A person who has acquired skills in any domain is self-sufficient enough to conduct his duties and affairs efficiently. Same could be said about a painter who knows how to get his work done, or a student who is well-read and is respected by his fellow students and teachers; or even a farmer who has knowledge of his farm and the climate. Such skilled personnel can maneuver their tasks seamlessly without any help from others. That is the case of an individual who acquires knowledge about something or anything he feels is important for him.

An avid reader gains knowledge through his reading and has his own speculations about the things happening around him. A person with knowledge does not believe in superstitions or beliefs which are presented to him but are not supported with real facts. Hence on the basis of his knowledge he could eradicate superstition from people's mind and create awareness among them. Such people with great knowledge have the power to become great leaders. Power of knowledge could make this leader respectable by his followers. They would look up to him for ideas and suggestions. But the same could not be said about a leader who himself lacks knowledge and is not well-read. And hence one can say that 'Knowledge is Power'.

Expansion of Idea - Failures Are The Stepping Stones To Success

To achieve success one has to face failure. Success is achievable only when we walk upon the path of failure. Each and everyone has to go through this stage where they have to face failures. Each of us wants to be successful, but not all of us get success in the first try. But does that mean that it is the end of the  world? Does that mean we should give up on our dream and go back to the life we do not wish to live? Definitely we should not give up. 'No' should not be the answer for such circumstances.

Failure teaches us how to achieve success. Those who can face failure with a smiling face can only achieve success. Because they have the courage to face challenges and use failures as stepping stone to attain success. Determination of a person play main role in an individual's life. If you have determination and believe in yourself then nothing is impossible. One should not be demotivated by the failure that he faces. We are not good enough in everything we do and we do have our own faults. Embracing faults and trying to overcome it requires great courage and strength. Reaching the goals after overcoming the obstacles is the biggest victory in itself. The equilibrium of failure and success is what makes our life wonderful. So one should never give up, but make it a point to fight the failures in order to achieve success. Because as it is rightly said, failures are the stepping stones to success. 

Expansion of Idea - A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

The essence of a particular written matter can be improved if it is converted to a virtually relaxing object. This same aspects directly corresponds with a picture. A picture is a virtual representation of any event which has occurred or can take place in the possible future.

The synopsis of a particular incident by a painting is infinite. A painting also provides various perspectives to a particular event or a situation. Let us take the example of 'The Jewel of Paintings' which is the 'Last Supper', which is  a 'Magnum Opus' of Leonardo Da Vinci. When art or historical aficionados glance at the picture, many perspectives of the Last Supper start generating in the brain. These perceptions can be greatly varied and may describe the entire plot in different ways. This can be considered the 'alchemy' of paintings. They have the ability to hypnotize an individual and trap him into thinking about that particular painting.

Before the concept of painting or other form of it was invented, matter was only available in the written form. As a result, imagining a particular scenario has a limitation and were not analyzed clearly. However, the invention of paintings in the form of arts paved the way for clarity of information. Individuals were able to understand concepts more clearly. As a result, a picture is really a divine art form. By this, I conclude that 'A picture is worth a thousand words'.

Expansion of Idea - Playing Safe Gets One Nowhere

Most of us believe in the policy of playing safe. As kids we felt safe holding our parent's hand while walking or crossing the road. Safety keeps us at peace. The thought of getting into trouble does not go well with most of us. As kids too we were taught to play safe. Our instinct tells us to ensure our safety first then think of everything else. As we grow as adults, we take this teaching very seriously. We rather prefer playing safe then taking risks as we fear of failure.

But consider what would have happened if none of us had the courage of taking risks. If the stone-age man had not taken risk and continued to live in the provided circumstances, what would have happened to our development as a human being. If he had not shown the courage to try out new things and learn new techniques, we may have ended up dwelling in the caves even today. Similarly consider the risks scientists take for the development of mankind, or astronauts take to learn more about the space and life around us. They do know that every step towards the unknown involves risk and threat to one's life but unless they go for it, how would they achieve success and gain new parameters in life.

All the progress that we see today, is a result of someone somewhere taking on certain challenges and risks for the betterment of the society. Agreed that, playing safe would keep you away from dangers and certain risks in life. Yet playing safe would also make your life dull and stagnate your growth. And hence one has to agree that 'playing safe would get one nowhere'.

Expansion of Idea - Honest Is The Best Policy

Being untruthful always lands you in trouble. You have to remember every little lie you speak, every time you are being scrutinized. And remembering each and every lie can never be easy. But at the same time, remembering truth is never a problem. Because you do not have to remember it. It always exists in your mind just the way it occurred. Maintaining a lie on the other hand could be worrisome. You never know what could be asked to you, and how you would maintain the same answer every time. A dishonest person has to make special efforts to remember his deceits.

On the other hand a honest person can always be free from all the worries. It always pays to be honest. Though at times we are too tempted to lie, but still how hard we try, truth can never be hidden, it always resurfaces even though you try hard to keep it under wraps. People will respect you for your honesty. A honest friend is more trustworthy than a dishonest one. At the end of the day, if you are facing troubles and wish to speak to someone, given a choice you would always turn to that one honest friend you have. Though honest people are said to be a bit frank and sarcastic, their honesty is still respected and trusted. Honesty brings peace, grace and dignity to your life. And hence it could be said that 'Honesty is the best policy'.

How To Prepare Well For Exams In Less Time

It is that time of the year when the only thing on children's mind is exams! Be it board exams or the annual exams; anxiety level arises not just in kids but parents too. One thing a child at this stage wishes is to do well and give his best shot. If you have been studying regularly throughout the year then there is nothing much to worry about. What is left for you is revisions and paper practice. But if you are one of those who study only when the exams are approaching then there is lot much to do and very less time. It is now that you make a plan and carry it out. Here are some tips on how you can do well in less time by making a plan and sticking to it throughout.

How To Prepare Well For Exams In Less Time

Choose Your Study Time

Choose one time of the day when you think you will be more comfortable studying. Select a time which suits you well - be it early morning, late night or even in the afternoon. The whole point of choosing this time is that you can be comfortable, attentive towards study and have fruitful results.

Review Your Lessons

It is important to review lessons that you study. What you can do while you are studying is whenever you come across any important point - jot it down or highlight it. If you come across important formulas for Math it is ideal to make charts for the same and stick them on the walls of your room. This way whenever you wish you go through them or memorize them by regularly viewing them.

Solve Question Papers

For students who appear for board exams the best way to achieve success is to solve many past question papers as possible. Solving question papers also helps you to identify questions which poses difficulty for you. Once you identify these questions, start a detailed study of them and practice. Also try and finish each papers in the assigned time.

Develop a Time Table

It would be ideal to develop a timetable that helps you to track down your study routine and monitor your progress. A well planned timetable helps you to pay equal attention to each and every subject. Try to include at least 3 to 4 subjects everyday plus some time for revision. With a well planned time table one gets to focus on each subjects at regular intervals.

Learn To Relax in Between

The concentration span of a human being is 45 minutes at a time. So one is allowed to take a break for 5 - 10 minutes after every 45 minutes. So when you make a timetable and consider studying 3 to 4 subjects in a single session, it would be advisable to spare 45 minutes for each subject and then take a break for few minutes to just freshen you up. You could relax your eyes or try some meditation or even splash water on your eyes for an instant lift in those breaks and rejuvenate yourself.

Eating Right

One needs good nutrition to set the balance right on energy, good thinking, clarity and good health. The food that you eat shapes your mind and body. Right breakfast improves better concentration and memory. For those who plan to study late in night or early in the morning, it is important to enjoy a power packed breakfast with portions of fresh fruit juices.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Before exam times or even during exams, it is important to get adequate rest. A child should get 7 - 8 hours of sleep. Sleeping relaxes you and takes away your anxiety. To start afresh, a child needs to have at least six hours of sleep. This sleeping time consolidates the brain of the child and the stored memory is refreshed. So plan a routine that does proper justice not just to your studying time but also your sleeping time. This prevents you from burning out. Not getting enough sleep may limit a child's ability to focus on problems and also lead them to aggressive behavior.

Enjoy Some Leisure Time

In between study routines enjoy enough leisure time which can help relax and rejuvenate you. Anything that you enjoy which does not involve studying can be opted for. For instance you could enjoy some music by listening to your favorite songs or even playing your favorite instrument. You could enjoy a session of swimming or go for a run or even a walk in the garden. This can take away your stress and refresh your mind.

Useful Tip to Study For Exams in One Night

If you are one of those kids who do not believe in studying throughout the year but right before the exam night, then you are in big trouble! So for kids like you the only thing to avoid any anxiety is not to go through the whole study material and revise all answers in one day. Because it is just not possible for an average student to revise the entire portion in a day. So my advice is to read the first primary source of content which are the textbooks made available to you. Read the textbook well and try to jot down important points. By doing this you can at least get most of the objectives right and secure satisfactory marks.

Ten Things You Should Do on Night Before Exams

1. Eat a light meal to prevent any lethargy the next morning. Try and eat homemade food.

2. Do not study throughout the night before the exam.

3. Get organized for the big day tomorrow. Keep everything that you need to carry with you handy.

4. Plan what would you wear the next day. Keep the clothes ready for the exam day on the previous night to avoid any anxiety.

5. Ensure you get enough sleep before exam day.

6. Set an alarm. Do not try to rush things in the morning. Allow the morning chores to be effortless by setting an alarm.

7. Before getting up practice meditation technique to keep anxiety at bay.

8. Eat a light breakfast. Avoid fried foods and coffee. Watch some television or listen to some music while enjoying breakfast.

9. Leave early for your exam center and reach before time. This would help you to settle your nerves and relax a bit before writing your paper.

10. Keep a positive mindset by assuring yourself that your performance is going to be better. 

Importance of Reading

Reading is one of the most important part of effective study skills. Effective study skills not only help us to achieve the goal of passing with flying colours but they also make our academic journey rather enriching, enlightening and pleasurable. And hence to improve our efficient study skills one should be adept in reading. One of the very important maxim says, 'Read and grow'. You find your intellectual as well as mental growth through reading. Reading cannot be just considered as a mode of learning but it is also one step that you take towards self enrichment.

Importance of Reading

Reading aloud and reading silently both have their own importance. Where reading aloud helps a child to improve his learning skills and beat the problem of understanding words; silent reading could help improve a child's reading speed and enjoy a book in more sitting and relaxed manner. Reading not only helps us understand the subject matter with much more clarity but it also enhances our knowledge. Reading improves our vocabulary building and pronunciation. The habit of reading helps develop self confidence in one and boosts our self esteem. An exposure to good literature helps a child to improve his intellectual development. Continuous reading helps a child to revise his studies and thus memorize textual content.

Points to Remember while Reading

To improve your reading skills you need to pay attention to certain points. Such few points for enhancing your reading skills are given below.

1. Reading works as a part of a vocal exercise which helps improve our voice modulation. And hence while reading, one should pay attention and work on the pronunciations, pace and grammar.

2. Read so as to develop your speaking voice by making the words sound in it's natural content such as whisper, dramatic speech or mysterious conversation. Never forget to consider the punctuation while reading.

3. If you have a session of group reading, practice and rehearse several times for better preparation.

4. It is necessary to read with proper understanding of words and scenes. Always keep a dictionary handy. Refer a dictionary or other reference materials, if you have a problem with what you are reading.

5. Always pay attention and concentrate on the subject matter. Never lose focus from the passage that you are reading.

6. While reading if you come across any pictures, diagrams, maps or charts, take a proper look at them. Never skip them while reading. These pictures or maps help us to understand the topic clearly.

7. Keep a notepad ready while reading. Whenever possible, highlight or underline certain keywords which you feel important and make notes. If you do not understand or have confusion with any word or sentence in a particular passage, note it down and check with your teachers for better understanding.

Do's and Don't of Reading

Reading is necessary factor for efficient study skills and hence it needs to be done properly. There are certain do's and don't that need to be followed while reading. Few are listed below to help you gain success in reading skills.

Do's of Reading

1. Reading should be carried in a place which is less noisy. Any corner of the house which ensures silence and peace is the perfect place for reading.

2. Sitting posture is very important while reading. One should sit comfortably for best reading experience.

3. Reading should be a matter of choice and hence read only when you wish to.

4. Keep notepad, pen and dictionary available with you when you sit to read. Note making is one of the most important part of reading.

5. Reading should be practiced daily without fail. Allot certain amount of time in your daily schedule for reading practice. Follow your reading schedule obediently.

6. Difficult subjects should be read only when you are in a good mood or in positive state of mind. Such subjects need complete attention and presence for good understanding.

7. Always keep a track of what you are reading to continue efficiently.

8. Allot some time at least twice a week to revise or re-read the study material you already read. Also make it a point to go through the highlighted or underlined content at regular intervals.

9. A splash of cold water helps relieve stress and fatigue. Hence it is advisable to splash cold water on your eyes for refreshing yourself.

10. Rest your eyes for a while if you have been reading for a long time. Just close your eyes and remain so for a couple of minutes before continuing.

Don'ts of Reading

1. Do not read in dim light.

2. Do not hold your book too close to your eyes.

3. Do not carry on with reading if others are forcing you to do so and it is not what you want.

4. Do not read if you are feeling tired and have a headache.

5. Do not read just to forget about it.

6. Do not make reading schedules which you cannot follow sincerely.

7. Do not read a book while watching television.

8. Do not read content which are not appropriate for your age.

9. Do not continue reading a passage if you are not able to understand or follow.

10. Do not lose focus from the passage while reading. 

Importance of Reading Aloud

My 15 year old son still wants me to read a story for him before he goes to sleep. And if I am tired and exactly not into the mood to read anything in particular for him, then he makes it a point to read aloud to me, anything maybe a funny article which would bring some smile back to my face and help me forget the stress I faced throughout the day. Though nowadays we don't very often get to enjoy this reading aloud activity much, yet we try to at least once or twice a week, depending on the amount of time we can manage to steal from our busy schedules. He needs this time as much as I do to unwind himself, as we have over the years found out that the reading aloud sessions can be much engaging. Once we start to read aloud, we make it a point to discuss about new word and theories that we come across. And over the years, I have never been ashamed to confess over to him, if I wasn't aware of the meaning of certain words or theories. It is just not necessary that a parent has to know everything, we are parents not super robots! Once we come upon some word that we don't know of, we just grab dictionary and search for the word or if it is a theory we google it. Over the years, we have discovered that the read aloud sessions we engage in also help us to forget about stressful day we faced and end up with something new in our heads which can really be de-stressing.

Reading plays an vital role in developing a child's vocabulary and personality.  Importance of Reading could only to made aware to children by their parents. But sometimes  a child can have problem with reading and understanding words. And this is where reading aloud can really be helpful. Reading is known to improve learning skills of a child but reading aloud can help a child to build confidence and beat the problem of understanding words. With regular practice of reading aloud a child can gain confidence and be fluent in language. One of the most important parenting tip for every parent is to encourage their children to read aloud. And this has to be started right from the young age, when a child practices to read. It is said that a good habit developed at very young age sticks by for a long time and can really prove to be helpful.  Thus making a child read aloud is one of the foundation stone a parent lays as child's first step towards success.

Importance of Reading Aloud

Reading aloud helps a child in lot ways than one could imagine.And the benefits of reading aloud helps your child in long run and it has an important contribution in shaping up his personality as it enhances his language skills, listening skills and learning skills.

Reading Aloud Improves Pronunciation

A regular dose of reading aloud not only improves learning but it also helps to improve pronunciation. If reading aloud is practiced daily by a child, he easily gets hang of the words which he had problem with pronunciation at an early stage. Improvement in pronunciation in turn helps in the development of speech and also improves writing skill.

Reading Aloud Improves Listening Skills

When a child reads aloud, he gets to hear his own voice which helps him to improve his listening skills and also helps him to understand what he is reading. I a parent is reading aloud for a child, a child focuses his attention on the parent and thus his mind learns to focus well without being distracted.

Reading Aloud Improves Writing Skills

The development and improvement of a spelling totally depends upon a child's perception towards a phonic sound and this is where the habit of reading aloud comes into the picture. Reading aloud helps a child to listen to the phonic sound a word makes, to detect the phonic syllables and to visually connect the letters together to form a word. Thus the spelling awareness is boosted. This whole process in turn, helps to improve your child's writing skills.

Reading Aloud Helps to Connect with Books

Reading aloud helps a child to build a positive connection with the books. The basic things which connect a child to a book like how to choose a book, how to hold them while reading, bookmarking, connecting the pictures with the words  and taking care of books are understood by the children. This connection helps a child to explore the path which helps him or her to discover new words, new writing skills and a whole new adventure.

Reading Aloud Helps in Strong Vocabulary Building

With constant reading aloud practice, a child is exposed to new letters, words, sentences, grammatical adaptation and phonic syllables, which helps in building strong vocabulary. Introduction of new words, their meanings and synonyms adds up to his mental database or library of words. This can definitely help a child in language skills and to achieve good grades in theoretical writing.

Reading Aloud Helps a Child to Explore New Ideas

When a child gets into the habit of reading aloud a story, his brain tries to be perceptive by understanding the way a story is about to develop. A child's brain thus works it's way on how the story may end using it's imagination. This helps the child to explore new ideas, to fetch his curiosity and help the brain development by allowing it to work to fullest potential.

Reading Aloud Promotes Fluent Reading

If a child is encouraged by his parents and teachers to read aloud right from his early age, then this habit can help a child with language development and thus build a strong foundation in overall language skills. Early speech problems such as stuttering or stammering can also be resolved by the habit of reading aloud. Even if a child may start slow with the reading aloud process, constant practice would definitely help him to be a fluent reader. This fluency in reading would be developed only by regular practice and a child would achieve great results.

Reading Aloud Helps a Child to Cope with Stress

A small read aloud session before going to bed can help a child to cope up with stress and anxiety, as it completely works as a distraction from the stressful scenario and helps a child to engage in something which can make him relax and get a good sleep.

Reading Aloud - Wonderful Way of Engaging in Quality Time with Children

In today's fast paced world, parents hardly get to spend quality time with children. Hence some reading aloud session not only guarantees quality time with children but also ensures that the time spent with them is engaging and constructive. Parents also get to understand their child's weaknesses and improvement pertaining to  the language and help them develop vocabulary building. A child surely is encouraged in a positive way, if his parents actively participate and engage in the reading aloud sessions.

Top Ten Reading Aloud Tips

Here are few reading aloud tips and strategies that can help you with parenting and to get started with your child in terms of development of skills and language.

1. It is advisable to start the reading aloud sessions for a child from an early age. Start with picture books and phonic sounds. Make the child read the word and study the picture, this way he learns to develop connection with words.

2. Story telling sessions by parents for younger kids work as a foundation stone for reading aloud sessions.

3. Reading aloud practice starts with you reading aloud to your child.

4. In the early stage of reading aloud session, start with you reading a sentence aloud first and making your child repeat it after you.

5. Making use of phonic sound and phonic syllables can be really helpful for better understanding of words for a child.

6. If your child finds it difficult to read out a sentence, then reading in chorus can help him improve.

7. Once a child gets better with the reading aloud technique, challenge him with new books, which are little more complex than the previous ones.

8. Make it a point to read the story in a grammatical way, like pausing and continuing if there is a comma or a full stop. Try and show excitement on exclamations and include a sigh at sad parts of the story.

9. Reading aloud sessions should be followed by the idea of speaking aloud your ideas and opinion about the passage. It is where you discuss out on the certain idea of the passage where a child can learn in-depth new words, concepts and new theories.

10. A parent or a teacher needs to be patient with a child during a read aloud session. Sometimes a child may have doubts of his own surrounding to a particular idea or an ending of a story. He may have several questions regarding it. A parent can encourage a child to come up with his or her own version of ending. His or her efforts should be appreciated and the doubts surrounding a particular idea should be resolved. 

Story Writings Tips for Students

Stories have always been an important part of our growing up. Don't everyone of us have a beautiful story, a fascinating tale or an unforgettable memory to tell which relates to those amazing nights of our growing up. Be it an adventure tale, a fairy tale, a ghost story or even a short moral story, stories never fail to amaze us. When we hear a good story, we are thrilled and that, my dear friend can happen to people of any age group. Hence stories are thoroughly enjoyed only when they are told in a way that is engaging and interesting. Be it a fiction or a true tale, the story is enjoyable or engrossing depending on how it is written or how it is told. And hence it is very important to tell or write a good story.

Story writing is an art, which anyone can adept, provided story writing tips are followed. Story writing tips are important  for school kids. Usually for story writing, school students are provided with points related to the story. Students have to write a story based on the points provided to them. Here are few story writing tips that can help you write a good story.

Top Six Story Writing Tips for Students

Read and Follow the Outline

Before writing a story, it is very important to read the outline of the story. Once you read the story outline, make sure you get an clear idea of the story plot before you start writing the story. Understand the story plot and follow the outline carefully. Do not miss a single point that is been provided to you.

Connect the Points

Once the points are read and understood, it is important to connect the points in your head to get an idea how the story would be written. While connecting the points to make a story, remember to connect the points in a way that the story would sound natural and real. Do not omit a single point from the story that is to be written. Omitting a point would disconnect the story from the rest of the points.

Use your Imagination

It is important for students while writing a story to include all the points provided. But those are just few points, rest is all on the students to fill in the missing details. These missing details can be filled by coming up with something imaginary which they can freely use in the story. The students have total freedom of come up with whatever they feel can help them connect the points and write a good story. Imagination plays a greater role while composing a story by using a bare outline that has been provided.

Making Use of Direct Speech

A story can become interesting if direct speech is introduced in it. A student can use every tool to make the story interesting and enjoyable for its audience. So introducing conversation in a story can be a good idea and thus making use of direct speech can help the story look and sound natural. Remember if direct speech is not what you are planning to use in the story you are about to write, then ensure that the story is written in past tense.

Conclude Interestingly

Whenever we hear or read a story, we always await the ending or conclusion. If a story doesn't end up brilliantly then it is not a good story. The ending of a story has to be striking. Try and make the ending interesting by adding a surprise element. A story can have a happy ending or an ending with strong moral, but it has to be written with a twist or a surprise.

Give a Proper Title

Sometimes a story outline is provided for students to write a good story and also to come up with a suitable title. A student should come up with a title that suits the story perfectly. This title could include either the main characters of the story or one can use an object or incident included in the story as a perfect title. Use of proverbs or saying or even morals work as a good idea for the title.  

How to Tackle a Comprehension Passage

One of the best tools aimed at assessing a child's reading and communication skills as well as his understanding of the language, a comprehension passage plays an important role in school papers and assessments. A child is judged by the way he tackles the comprehension passage and answers the questions followed. A comprehension passage comprises of either a prose passage or a poem passage which is followed by multiple questions either factual, evaluative or interpretative. While answering those, a child exhibits his command over the language and thus gets assessed. Once you understand how exactly you should handle the comprehension passage, then there is no stopping you. Few outlines to be followed and then just go on dealing with it effortlessly.The English passage question and answers are much more easier to deal with if you learn how to tackle them correctly. Lets learn few tips and tricks about answering comprehension questions strategy.

How to Tackle a Comprehension Passage

Read the Passage

First, most important thing one should do is quickly yet carefully read the passage. Few students start answering right away without even giving a glance to the passage. This can be a big mistake and then the answers may just go wrong. So it is advisable to read the passage carefully. Time constraints call for quick reading but see that you are thorough and understand the passage well. In case of a poem passage you should read it a couple of times just to get the idea.

Read and Understand the Questions

Once you are done reading the passage, have a look at the questions and try to understand them. Read the questions carefully and get a gist of it.

Go Back to the Passage

Before you start answering, get a quick look at the passage and try to connect the questions with it. Try and locate the answers that you are seeking by combing through the passage. This will facilitate your answering process as you would know the exact location of the answers.

Start Answering

Now that you know where the answers are start answering the questions. Be precise and to the point. Try and answer in simple sentences and avoid complex sentences as much as possible. Answering comprehension questions strategy is to try to write short answers and yet be concise.

Give a Proper Title

A comprehension passage always asks for a heading. So before giving a heading or a title to the passage survey the passage once again. Try to focus on the dominant theme of the passage and then develop an ideal heading based on it.