READING COMPREHENSION (UNSEEN)
3. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow :
It is a known fact that children generally emulate the adults. When a child imitates an elder smoking by holding a pencil between his/her tiny fingers, most of us find it quite cute. We fail to realise that this harmless imitation often results in actual smoking when they grow up. So it is time to take a pause and think about its consequences. According to WHO data, tobacco kills more than seven million people each year. While more than six million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use, many non-smokers die because they are exposed to second-hand smoke.
Over eighty percent of individuals, who start smoking during adolescence, will continue to smoke in adulthood, while one-third of them will die prematurely due to smoking-related diseases like cancer, heart disease and chronic lung diseases. Experimentation by children can rapidly escalate into heavy smoking.
Experts say that unless urgent action is taken immediately, the annual death toll could rise to more than eight million by 2030. This sure is a gloomy and cheerless world that we are leaving behind to our future generations. So it is time to motivate youngsters to stay away from this deadly habit.
Dr Shyama Chona, the educationist says, "The best way to motivate them to stay away from smoking is to involve them in some activities." She suggests that schools can organise events like sports, drama and story-telling sessions. Such participatory learning is very effective because it dissuades kids from smoking, when they themselves propagate its bad effects.
Parents have a big role to play when it comes to influencing their kids. Theatre director Arvind Gaur says that a smoking parent can never tell his/her child not to smoke because that would be too hypocritical.
[Adapted from an article, published in The Times of India dated March 14, 2018]
A. Tick the right answer : 1 x 6 = 6
(i) We find it cute when -
(a) a child imitates an adult
(b) an adult imitates a child
(c) a child copies an elder smoking by holding a pencil between his/her tiny fingers
(d) a child actually smokes.
(ii) According to WHO data, each year direct use of tobacco kills —
(a) seven million people
(b) more than seven million people
(c) less than six million people
(d) more than six million people.
(iii) In the opinion of experts urgent action should be taken —
(a) immediately
(b) after one year
(c) by 2030
(d) by the parents
(iv) Dr Shyama Chona is —
(a) a medical practitioner
(b) a psychologist
(c) a social worker
(d) an educationist
(v) 'Deadly habit' in paragraph 3 refers to —
(a) sports
(b) smoking
(c) play-acting
(d) story-telling
(vi) A smoking parent can —
(a) always tell his child to smoke
(b) tell his child to be hypocritical
(c) never tell his child not to smoke
(d) tell his child to be honest and truthful
B. Each of the following statements is either 'True' or 'False'. Write 'T' for True and 'F' for False In the boxes on the right-hand side. Also pick out suitable line(s) or phrase(s) from the passage in support of your answers: (1+1) x 3 = 6
(i) A child never imitates an elder smoking. □
Supporting Statement: _________.
(ii) Many non-smokers die because of passive smoking. □
Supporting Statement: _________.
(iii) Our future generations will be left in a dark and hopeless world due to smoking. □
Supporting Statement: _________.
C. Answer the following questions : 2 x 4 = 8
(i) How does a child imitate an elder smoking?
(ii) Name some of the smoking-related diseases.
(iii) Why should urgent action be taken immediately to stop smoking?
(iv) How can children be motivated to stay away from smoking?