Comprehension For SBI PO set – 13
Comprehension set – 13
We all seek happiness but few, very-few, indeed, get it. We are unhappy partly because we desire much more than what we can hope to attain. Our countless desires are hard to be satisfied. And that is what makes us so sad in life. The secret of happiness lies in the simplification of life. Simple living encourages high thinking. It leads to contentment. Contentment gives us inner wealth, the wealth of the mind and of the soul. A contented man devotes himself to virtues, a man can feel true happiness. I do not mean that for simplification of life, a man should become an ascetic. The happiness of a sadhu is of a negative kind. I want positive kind of happiness. For this I must live in the midst of life and faithfully carry out my responsibilities to my home and my country. But all this should be done in the spirit of selfless service. A man who wants to lead a happy life, should also make others happy. In making others happy he will taste real and lasting happiness. There is a kind of joy in serving others with virtuous motives, in sacrificing what one has for the good of others. An act of goodness is of itself an act of happiness. The secret of perfect happiness lies in renunciation. Wealth may give us joy for a while and fame may provide us with fleeting excitement. But they cannot give us permanent happiness. Kings have everything to make them happy and yet they feel unhappy. It is because they do not practise renunciation. There is a sense of joy in doing one’s work honestly and efficiently. A research-worker feels joy in research and a journalist in writing. In doing one’s duty sincerely, one feels peace of mind which is an important essence of happiness. It is only by cultivating spirit of renunciation, self-sacrifice, contentment and science work that one can really be happy. The strings of misfortune spare none but they will not cow such a person.
1. What does a contented man do?
(a) He purses and assimilates the basic virtues of life
(b) He faces boldly the adversities of life
(c) He encounters the strings of misfortunes
(d) He gives up bad habits effortlessly
(e) None of these
2. Which of the following is the correct chain of things, as mentioned in the passage, leading to happiness?
(a) Contentment, high thinking, simple living, inner wealth
(b) Simple living, high thinking, inner wealth, contentment
(c) High thinking, simple living, inner wealth, contentment
(d) Inner wealth, simple living, contentment, high thinking
(e) Simple living, high thinking, contentment, inner wealth
3. According to the passage, the essence of happiness lies in _____
(a) worldly desires
(b)matching one’s abilities with the work undertaken
(c) avoiding all unfortunate events
(d) adopting a simple life style
(e) following the dictates of nature
4. We are unhappy partly because ______
(a) We have no inner strength
(b) We have lost moral and spiritual values
(c) We have countless, unfulfilled desires
(d) Our lives have become extremely complicated
(e) We carry several stresses and strains
5. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE in the context of the passage?
(a) One feels peace of mind in doing one’s duty sincerely
(b) Renunciation is the result of perfect happiness.
(c) Multiplicity of desires make us unhappy.
(d) Making others happy makes one happy.
(e) An act of goodness is an act of happiness
6. Which of the following is OPPOSITE in meaning to the word ‘fleeting’ as used in the passage?
(a) permanent
(b) passing
(c) fast
(d) momentary
(e) pleasing
7. A man who wants to live a permanent happy life should _____
(a) make others happy
(b) master the art of renunciation
(c) pursue wealth and fame
(d) inculcate the virtues of life
(e) keep a tight control on his desires
8. Which of the following is SIMILAR in meaning as the word ‘cow’ as used in the passage?
(a) spare
(b) conquer
(c) discard
(d) provoke
(e) mould
9. Which of the following statements in TRUE in the context of the passage?
(a) Human beings seldom seek happiness
(b) Doing one’s work sincerely hardly makes one happy
(c) Peace of mind is tangent to happiness
(d) Simple life is like a life of an ascetic
(e) A happy man is also not spared by the misfortunes
10. What according to the passage, is a positive kind of happiness?
(a) Keeping ones motives and feelings under control
(b) Love for life and a country
(c) Leading a simple life of an ascetic
(d) Carrying out all worldly activities in the spirit of selfless service
(e) None of these
Answer key:
1. (a) 2. (e) 3. (d) 4. (c) 5. (b) 6. (d) 7. (b) 8. (e) 9. (b) 10. (d)
