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Our methods are based on principles of learning. Reading is assimilation-learning- and all learning
is a digestive process. But the mind can digest only so much at a time and no more. If the reader
goes twice as fast, he assimilates half as much. If he reduces his speed by half, he assimilates twice
as much. What, one might ask then, is the point of reading faster? It seems to take as long, in the
end, in relation to the amount of information that is assimilated, unless we skim through our
reading matter.
Any approach which emphasis speed and ignores efficiency has no effective answer to this. But let
us consider the position in the light of efficiency. As there is no possibility of increasing the rate at
which the brain can clear Information, the aim must be to increase the efficiency of reading; to
make the fullest possible use of the reader’s capacity and to avoid wasting it. The evidence is
unmistakable; there is an enormous waste of capacity; some of the most able people are among the
least efficient readers. This is largely the result of a technical problem of communication between
author and reader by means of the printed word; and from this problem come the main obstacles to
efficient reading. This is what happens:
First- the problem of communication. The writer, or for that matter, the speaker, conceives his
thought ‘whole’, as a unity, but must express it in a line of words; the reader, or listener must take
this line of symbols and from it reconstruct the original wholeness of thought. There is little
difficulty in oral communication, because the listener receives innumerable cues from the physical
expressions of the speaker; there is a dialogue, and the listener can out in at any time. The
advantage of group discussion is that people can overcome linear sequences of words by examining
ideas from different perspectives; which makes for wholeness of thought. But the reader is
confronted by line upon line of printed symbols, without benefit of physical tone and vocal
emphasis or the possibility of dialogue or discussion. In his very eagerness to master the technical
problem, he is prone to memorise, concentrating on the words themselves, looking at them instead
of looking for their meaning: and to the extent that he uses this most inefficient method of learning,
his capacity is wasted.
Second – assimilation is an active process of relating new information to existing knowledge. If, by
memorising, the reader turns his mind into a passive receptacle for printed words, he cannot use
his existing knowledge and his capacity is wasted.
Third – because the rate at which the brain can clear information is limited, the reader must, if he is
to read efficiently, vary his reading speed, taking more time where the work is heavy and less time
where it is light. Reading, therefore requires a wide range of speed. Readers in general seem to
become subdued by the printed word and are not nearly flexible enough in their speed: some
appear to have only one speed, whatever their knowledge of the subject or the difficulty of the
material. This inflexibility wastes capacity.
Last, if the reader becomes passive, he is inclined to mistake or ignore his purpose. Lack of purpose
is a great waste of capacity.
Our aim, therefore, is efficient reading. It is, perhaps, comforting for the reader to know that his
eyes need no training: quick results would certainly not be possible if he had to increase his visual
capacity. Although the purpose of everyday reading is complex, the requisite skills are not difficult
to acquire and the reader can expect quick improvements.
READING— END TIME :( _______: _______: ________)
1. According to the author, efficient reading implies all the following, except:
(a) purposeful reading.
(b) varying reading speed.
(c) increasing visual capacity.
(d) spending more time on difficult reading matter.
5. The technical problems of communication in conversation are fewer than those that exist
between the author and the reader because:
(a) spoken words are live while printed ones are mare symbols.
(b) the listener does not have to reconstruct the original wholeness of thought
(c) the listener can easily establish are linear sequence of ideas
(d) the listener gets many cues from the physical expressions of the speaker.
EXERCISE—END TIME: ( _______: _______: ________)
2. With the passage which set of contrasting ideas we can best relate to?
a) East :West
b) Modern : Ancient
c) Myth : Modernity
d) Materialism: Spiritualism
3. The author maintains that
a) The West is justified in its views about India
b) India is a land of uncountable riches
c) India is a land of snake-charmers
d) In ancient India wealth was in the hands of a lucky few.
4. In the phrase “Only the snake charmer remains “,the author suggests that
a) Indian mysticism is going down to its bottom level
b) Due to entering in the modern age and independently forming a democratic political system,
India has lost its great Maharajas; and from the past its only the snake charmer that remains.
c) Economically, from the ancient age to the modern era, India is under a decadence.
d) An ill-fed man in India still risks his life for living.
2. Which of the following expressions could be considered as the central theme of the poem?
(a) Pride goes before a fall.
(b) Time and tide wait for no man.
(c) Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
(d) None of the above.
Revolutionary changes have come in our thoughts and attitudes. This is evident in the proposition
that those whom social usage has decreed to be untouchables should be given the right to enter
temples. There is still a section of the orthodox who seek to justify the temple entry of the casteless
on scriptural sanctions, and not moral grounds: but such lopsided advocacy makes little impression.
The inner voice of the people has begun to tell them that neither the scriptures nor tradition nor the
force of personality can set a wrong right; the moral standpoint alone counts.
The suddenness with which we stepped out of one era into another with its new meaning and
values! In our own home, in our neighborhood and community, there was still no deep awareness
of human rights, human dignity, class equality. Amide the contradictions of the day there was our
ambiguous attitude to science. Even while science knocked at our door, the scared almanac with its
star readings held its ground. All the same, the impact on us of the western cult of region was real.
READING— END TIME :( _______: _______: ________)
5. Those who seek to justify measures like temple entry on scriptural grounds, according to the
author tend to ignore:
a) Scriptures.
b) Tradition
c) Human dignity
d) Moral grounds
EXERCISE—END TIME: ( _______: _______: ________)
1. The author of the passage would most likely agree with which one/two or three of the following
statements?
A. Monotheism motivated people to the sacrifice of human beings.
B. Monotheism evolved with the development of the intellect.
C. Polytheism preceded the belief in unseen spiritual forces.
(a) Only A (b) Only B
(c) Only C (d) A and B only (e) All the three
2. It can be inferred from the passage that the author considers the kind of underdeveloped
reasoning described in the passage to be a cause of
(a) apathy. (b) spontaneity.
(c) barbarity. (d) skepticism. (e) lethargy.
4. If the above passage is the core part of an article, the best title of that could be
(a) Witchcraft.
(b) Theology.
(c) Scientific method.
(d) Anthropology.
(e) Organic Evolution.
6. According to the passage, man’s belief in unseen spiritual powers can largely be attributed to
(a) Monotheism. (b) Polytheism.
(c) Fetishism. (d) Witchcraft.
(e) None of these.
Directions (Qs. 7-8): Pick out the word which is nearly SAME in meaning as the word printed in the
capitals as used in the context of the passage.
7. CONJURATIONS
(a) invoking (b) appeasement
(c) withdrawal (d) sentiments
(e) demands
8. LED
(a) forced (b) desired
(c ) appealed (d) made (e) followed
Directions (Qs 9-10): Pick out the word which is most OPPOSITE in meaning as the word printed in
capitals as used in the context of the passage.
9. INFALLIBLY
(a) erringly
(b) certainly
(c) indefinitely
(d) uncompromisingly
(e) clearly
10. ORDEAL
(a) trial (b) felicitation
(c) calamity (d) endowment (e)gift
EXERCISE—END TIME: ( _______: _______: ________)