NCERT Book Class 9 English Words and Expressions Unit 4

 

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

 

In my opinion, the present symptoms of decadence are explained by the fact that the development of industry and machinery has made the struggle for existence very much more severe, greatly to the detriment of the free development of the individual. But the development of machinery means that less and less work is needed from the individual for the satisfaction of the community’s needs. A planned division of labour is becoming more and more of a crying necessity and this division will lead to the material security of the individual. This security and the spare time and energy which the individual will have at his command can be made to further his development. In this way the community may regain its health, and we will hope that future historians will explain the morbid symptoms of present-day society as the childhood ailments of an aspiring humanity, due entirely to the excessive speed at which civilisation was advancing.

 

1. What is responsible for the present degradation of individual development?

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

 

2. What is the meaning of development in relation to individuals?

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

 

3. What is the ‘planned division of labour’? How will it be helpful in human development?

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

 

4. What does the phrase ‘symptoms of decadence’ mean in the opening line?

(a) diagnosis of degradation

(b) warning signs of depravity

(c) signs of prosperity

(d) diagnosis of indifference

 

5. The phrase ‘crying necessity’ in the opening paragraph means:

(a) urgent need

(b) weeping need

(c) sad need

(d) average need

 

6. Circle the odd one out

(a) presence, distance, existence, being, alive

(b) possible, feasible, probable, unthinkable, obtainable

(c) violence, assault, roughness, passivity, fierceness

(d) conflict, contest, contention, rivalry, accord

(e) consolation, compassion, annoyance, sympathy, support