Read the passage given below:
1. The importance of sports and games in school encompasses more than just the benefit of physical activity. Increases in self-esteem and mental alertness makes school sports and games necessary for every schoolage child. Although the benefits of school sports abound with a diminishing economy, many schools are cutting out sports and physical education programmes to the detriment of students nationwide. According to Theodore Hesburgh, author of “The Importance of School Sports and Education,” it is imperative for school-age children to have access to sports and games. Not only does it empower youth and promote higher self-esteem, it also motivates students, enables them to earn better grades, especially in schools where obtaining certain grades is a prerequisite to staying in the team. Numerous physical benefits include maintaining a healthy weight, preventing chronic diseases and learning the skills necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle after graduating.
2. Promoting physical activity should start from the nursery room, according to Jean Zimmerman and Gil Reavill, authors of “Raising Our Athletic Daughters.” Promoting athletics as a parent is a crucial factor in determining whether your child will be interested in participating in sports. Playing with your child, whether throwing a football or baseball with your son, or teaching your daughter how to swim, teaches them the importance of being active. Encouraging your school-age children to participate in a sport of their choice may be the reason they continue to play when they enter school.
3. Some children do not consider themselves athletic and may prefer not to play organised school sports. They may be cut from the school team for lack of ability. For this group, there are intramural teams, which are sports for those not interested or able to play higher level athletics. It is important to remember in these cases not to make your children feel badly about not being a higher level athlete, but to remember the more important benefits of playing sports, and encourage them in this endeavor.
4. With a tough economy, many schools are cutting spending for sports and athletic programmes. Because of the many benefits of sports, it is imperative to continue the athletic programmes available to children. As a parent it may be necessary for you to become involved in the school board to have a say about keeping athletic programmes. Encouraging your children to speak up about their desire for athletics may also affect whether your school keeps their sports or cuts them out of the budget.
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer ANY TEN of the questions given below:
Question. Sports and games help to .................. .
(a) increase self-esteem
(b) promote mental alertness
(c) stay in the team
(d) Both (a) and (b).
Answer: B
Question. Intramural teams .................. .
(a) are organised within the walls of the school
(b) are meant for poor schools
(c) are meant for those not interested in higher level athletics
(d) Both (a) and (c).
Answer: C
Question. Apart from empowering the youth and providing self-esteem, sports and games also ................ .
(a) are obstacles for school children
(b) motivate and enable students to get better grades
(c) disturb students to do their best
(d) are cutting out physical education programmes
Answer: B
Question. Sports provide children .................. .
(a) techniques to maintain healthy weight
(b) ways to protect themselves from getting hurt
(c) skills of a differing lifestyle
(d) all of these.
Answer: A
Question. Pick the option showing the CORRECT use of the word ‘ability’ as used in para-3
(a) A little warm up will increase your ability to do rigorous exercise.
(b) ‘Hamlet’ is the ability of all Shakespeare’s plays.
(c) The youth was charged with ability.
(d) Her smile was a great ability.
Answer: A
Question. “With a tough economy, many schools are cutting spending on sports and athletic programmes.” Pick the option in which the meaning of ‘tough’ is NOT the same as it is used in the passage.
(a) It was a tough decision to make.
(b) She’s been having a tough time now.
(c) Don’t be too tough on her—she was only trying to help.
(d) He plays the tough guy in the movie.
Answer: C
Question. Pick the option which should NOT be done to make a child become interested in sports.
(a) Playing with a child.
(b) Throwing a football or baseball with him/her.
(c) Teaching him/her the importance of being active.
(d) Scolding him/her for not participating in sports.
Answer: D
Question. Parents should help their sons/daughters develop interest in sports. They can do so by acting as a motivator. (True/False)
Answer: True
Question. Parental interest in sports may be the reason for the fact that.................. in school.
Answer: Children continue to play
Question. What message does the author want to convey in para 3?
Answer: In para 3, the author wants to say that all school children should play sports organised by the schools.
Question. What advice has the author given to schools in para 4?
Answer: In para 4, the author has advised schools not to stop any athletic programme for children.
Question. Find the word in para 1 which is synonym of ‘includes’.
Answer: Encompasses
| CBSE Class 12 English Note Making Passage |