Reading Comprehension Class Exercise-01

Directions: Read the following excerpts and identify the central idea in each of them.

A. Litigation is not always the best way to resolve conflicts. Mediation offers an alternative
approach and can be quite efficient and successful. Mediation can be faster and less expensive
and can lead to creative solutions not always possible in a court of law. Additionally,
mediation focuses on mutually acceptable solutions, rather than on winning or losing.

B. The nub of the restorationist’s criticism of preservationism is the claim that it rests on an
unhealthy dualism that conceives nature and humankind as radically distinct and opposed to
each other. Dissatisfaction with dualism has figured prominently in the unhappiness of such
environmentalists with mainstream industrial society. Inexcusably, the writings of the
restorationists themselves offer no evidence to support this indictment.

C. Imagine the dilemma of the Indian mind in the face of the fact that the two principal leaders
of the national struggle for independence, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, should
have come to contrary conclusions. Gandhi was for an outright rejection of Western
civilization while Nehru was for all-out industrialization. However, both spoke from utter
conviction and were extremely articulate in stating their positions.
 PASSAGE A

After the end of World War II, a pervasive but unfortunately fallacious economic perspective took
hold. Based on the United States’ successful emergence from the Depression at the same time that it
entered World War II, the idea that war was good for an economy became fashionable. However,
linking the United States’ economic recovery with its entry into World War II is a prime example of
flawed economic thinking.

Supporters of the war-benefits-economy theory hold that a country at war is a country with a booming
economy. Industry must produce weapons, supplies, food and clothing for the troops. The increased
production necessitates the hiring of more people, reducing unemployment. More employment means
more money in the pockets of citizens, who are then likely to go out and spend that money, helping
the retail sector of the economy. Retail shops experience an increase in business and need to hire more
workers, further reducing unemployment and adding to the economic momentum. While this scenario
sounds good in theory, it does not accurately represent what truly happens in a war time economy.

In reality, the government can fund a war in a combination of three ways. It can raise taxes, cut
spending on other areas, or increase the national debt. Each of these strategies has a negative impact
on the economy. An increase in taxes takes money out of an individual’s hands, leading to a reduction
in consumer spending. Clearly, there is no net benefit to the economy in that case. A reduction in
government spending means that the people who normally depend on the govt. now must spend more
of their own money. This again leaves the economy depressed. Of course, a government could go into
debt during the war, but such a strategy is worse. It simply means that at some point in the future,
taxes must be increased or spending decreased. Plus, the interest on the debt must be paid as well.

➢ What is the author TALKING ABOUT?

Theme:

Central Idea:

➢ What does the author FEEL about the subject?

1. Does he give his own opinion?
2. If he does give his own opinion, is it Positive or Negative?

Tone:

➢ What does the author want to SAY ABOUT THE SUBJECT?

Purpose:

Message:
1. Which of the following is true regarding the “pervasive but fallacious economic perspective”?
1. People took the appearance of one phenomenon with another to believe that one caused the other.
2. The U.S. emerged from the Depression only because it entered World War II.
3. The booming economy during wartime created thousands of jobs in the U.S.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
A. Only 1.
B. Only 2.
C. Only 2 and 3.
D. Only 1 and 3.

2. The passage implies which of the following about a government that funds a war by
increasing the national debt?
1. It is no worse off than it would be funding a war by cutting spending or increasing taxes.
2. It incurs greater costs in the future than it would by adopting either of the other two methods.
3. It must increase taxes in order to pay off the interest on the debt.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
A. Only 1 and 3.
B. Only 3.
C. Only 1 and 2.
D. Only 2.

3. Which of the following statements would the author agree with?

1. A country at war has a booming economy, in theory and in practice.
2. A decrease in the amount of money consumers have boosts economic growth.
3. An improvement in the retail business generates employment.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
A. Only 1 and 2.
B. Only 2 and 3.
C. Only 1 and 3.
D. None of these.
PASSAGE B

Bureaucratic delivery systems in India have a dual structure, a legacy of our historical past. Primarily,
they are expressed in the form of Departments and Boards. In delivery systems where the orientation
is towards departments, there exists a parallel hierarchy which is reflected by the presence of the
Secretariat and the Directorate. The Secretariat consists of generalists and the Directorate is manned
by specialists. In India, usually the head of Directorate (Director) reports to the head of Secretariat
(Secretary) and the Secretary reports to the political executive. Sometimes, however, both Directors
and Secretaries report directly to the political executive.

In the board type delivery systems, directors and secretaries are absent. There is a Chairman and there
are Members, who are all knowledgeable in their respective domains. In India, the Ministry of
Railways operates in this manner. One has never heard of a railway secretary. The boards report to the
political executive directly. In simple terms, domain specialization is the buzz word for boards.
 ➢ What is the author TALKING ABOUT?

Theme:

Central Idea:

➢ What does the author FEEL about the subject?

1. Does he give his own opinion?
2. If he does give his own opinion, is it Positive or Negative?

Tone:

➢ What does the author want to SAY ABOUT THE SUBJECT?

Purpose:

Message:

4. Consider the following statements:

1. Generalists are found only in Departments while Specialists are found only in Boards.
2. India’s dual bureaucratic delivery systems are a legacy of our British rulers.
With reference to the passage, which of these statements is/are correct?
A. Only 1. B. Only 2. C. Both 1 and 2. D. Neither 1 nor 2.

5. Consider the following statements:

1. A Director is always subordinate to a Secretary, who in turn is always subordinate to the
political executive.
2. India has never had a Railway Secretary because such an officer would lack specialized
knowledge.
With reference to the passage, which of these statements is/are correct?
A. Only 1. B. Only 2. C. Both 1 and 2. D. Neither 1 nor 2.