Discursive Passages

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Introduction Discursive Passages

A passage where the writer rambles from topic to topic is called a discursive piece of writing. The adjective discursive is often used to describe a speech or writing that tends to stray from the main point, but the word can also have almost the opposite meaning. Discursive can also be used to describe an argument based on reason instead of intuition, a writing that is well-argued and well reasoned. Also tending to depart from the main point or cover a wide range of subjects. While attempting a ‘discursive passage’ it is important to read through the passage, scan for details, and then answer the given questions. 

Comprehension means the ability to read text, process it, and understand its meaning. It is an exercise that aims at improving or testing one’s ability to understand a language. It enables the reader to understand the content of the given passage and answer the questions that follow. The questions help to prove how well the reader has understood the text. A reader would be able to comprehend only when he has completely grasped the content, the theme of the text has understood what is asked through the questions. The art of attempting a comprehension can be easily developed by regular practice. 

POINTS TO REMEMBER 

One should keep the following points in mind before answering the questions set on a given unseen passage: 

1. Read the passage quickly to have some general idea
   of the subject matter.
   
2. Read the passage again and underline the important
   points.
   
3. Read the questions and try to know what has been
   asked.
   
4. Underline the portions where the probable answers
   may be available.
   

Read the passages given below and answer the questions based on them that follow by choosing the most appropriate option out of the given four alternatives: 

PASSAGE 1 

1. Keep your watch accurate. For some people, moving up the time on their watch will help them get up earlier. For others, they will remember that the time on the watch is wrong and will disregard it altogether. It may be helpful to set your watch just two minutes ahead instead of five or ten.

2. Keep a clock, phone, computer or anything that displays time in each room of your house. One of the easiest ways to run late is simply by not realising that the time is passing as quickly as it is.

3. Set all your clocks and watches to the same time. Don’t be an optimist. Things usually take longer than what you’d expect, even without major delays. If you have a dinner appointment at 7:30 p.m., don’t think you can work till 7 p.m., then take a bath, dress and reach on time. Realistically, calculate the time you will take at each step and then add 10 minutes more to allow for unexpected delays, or you cannot get to your job done in time.

4. Wake up when you are supposed to wake up. Don’t hit the snooze button, keep on lying in bed, and watch TV at the very start of your day. May be you can try even setting your clock 10 minutes earlier than you need. If you have difficulty with this, move your alarm clock to somewhere away from your bed; that way, you will have to get up to turn it off. Commit yourself to being 15 minutes early for everything. If you have to reach your place of work at 8:00, don’t even tell yourself this. Just tell yourself (and everyone else who listens – but don’t annoy them or make them think that they are late or early!) “I have to be at work at 7:45.” If you do this, you will be on time even with little unforeseen delays. You will be on time even with a traffic jam.

Question A – We should be _____ in approach with time management. 

1. Optimistic 
2. Pessimistic
3. Realistic 
4. Utopian

Answer 3. Realistic

Question B – It is good to commit yourself _____ for everything. 

1. To be late 
2. To delay
3. To being 15 minutes early 
4. To search the last moment 

Answer 3. To being 15 minutes early 

Question C – The passage highlights: 

1. The value of time 
2. The importance of being ahead of time 
3. The value of being upto time 
4. The value of calculating time 

Answer 2. The importance of being ahead of time 

Question D – To be punctual we should _____.

1. Hit the snooze button of the alarm clock 
2. Get up at the right time
3. Start watching TV in the morningKeep on lying in bed 
4. Keep on lying in bed 

Ans : 2. Get up at the right time 

Question E – The narrator does not deny which of the following activity just after waking up:

1. Hitting snooze button
2. Keep on lying in bed 
3. Watch TV 
4. Wake up when you actually have to 

Ans : 4 Wake up when you actually have to 

Question F – What does the author mean when he uses the word “delay”? 

1. Late
2. Turn off 
3. Disregard 
4. Accurate 

Ans : 1 Late 

Question G – One of the major reasons for being delayed is 

1. Absence of clock, phone or computer
2. Being overindulged in work
3. Not realising that time passes quickly
4. Not keeping a margin in the expected time of work

Ans : 3. Not realising that time passes quickly 

Question H – Being ahead by _____ minutes should be everyone’s commitment.

1. 10 minutes
2. 15 minutes
3. 5 minutes 
4. 30 minutes 

Ans : 2. 15 minutes 

Question I – The author uses the word ‘unexpected’ in paragraph 4. He means to say:

1. Commit
2. Unforeseen 
3. Annoy 
4. Snooze 

Ans : 2. Unforeseen 

Question J – Which word conveys the opposite of realistically?

1. Impracticable
2. Rational
3. Achievable 
4. Pragmatic 

Ans : 1. Impracticable 

Question K – Which word means ‘disregard’? 

1. Attention 
2. Consider 
3. Ignore 
4. Regard

Ans : 3. Ignore

Question  L – The narrator denies us to: 

1. Be realistic
2. Be optimistic 
3. Keeping our watch accurate 
4. Wake up when we are supposed to

Ans: 2. Be optimistic