READING COMPREHENSION (CLASS 9 AND 10)SOLVED WORKSHEET 2

Solved Worksheet 2

MANAGING PEOPLE By Michael Platt 

Extract from Economic Times Dated October 29, 2020. 

1. I’ve been fascinated with monkeys since I was a kid. We’ve learnt a lot from monkeys. We have learnt a lot about what is core to our nature as primates in terms of the importance of social connections, but we’ve also learnt a lot about the ways in which forming strong connections with others can help you through times of crisis. 

2. I think that there are a few really important insights from neuroscience. One is that we human beings are social creatures by nature. We are wired that way. One of the most important jobs of the leader is to connect with the people that they manage and to help create environments in which people can work together efficiently and effectively and with great esprit de corps. There are a variety of lessons from neuroscience that teach us how to do that better — everything from making eye contact with the people with whom you’re talking, to utilising some technology to potentially get people on the same wavelength in a way that promotes trust and cooperation. 

3. We know from neuroscience, for example, that if we want to communicate more effectively with the people we manage, then we need to be simple, clear and concise — and, again, make eye contact as much as possible. Neuroscience is very strong on this, and those kinds of practices will lead to better chemistry with the person you are communicating with, getting into better synchrony with them, and more effective communication thereafter. 

DISCLAIMER: Views expressed above are the author's own.


Answer the following questions with reference to the text above.
1. What according to the author we learn from monkey?
We learn a lot about creating strong social connections with others that can help in times of crisis.
2. Mention a few important insights from neurosciences?
Neurosciences teach us variety of lessons everything from making eye contact with the people with whom we are talking, to utilizing some technology to potentially get people on the same wavelength in a way that promotes trust and cooperation.
3. How is neuroscience related to effective communication?
We know from neuroscience, for example, that if we want to communicate more effectively with the people we manage, then we need to be simple, clear and concise — and, again, make eye contact as much as possible.
4. Pick out words from the passage which mean the same as each one of the following.

1. Mammals – primates (para1)
2. morale of a group – esprit de corps (para2)
3. latent qualities or abilities – potential (para 2)
4. brief but comprehensive- concise (para 3 )
5. agreement with them – synchrony with them (para 3)

More than commission to check air pollution

This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Economic Times Dated November 3, 2020.

1. Air pollution is a serious problem with environmental, public health and economic dimensions. Tackling it requires concerted, consistent, science and evidence-based solutions. Focusing on its most visible aspects might help score some brownie points but will not help people breathe clean air. The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region (Delhi) and Adjoining Areas has the potential to address this problem but an institution by itself is not a solution. 

2. An impediment to improving air quality has been the inability and unwillingness of the authorities, particularly state governments, to address the issues outside of emergency situations or seasonal spikes. Thus, the focus is on solutions that promise, often falsely, immediate relief — hence the Rs. 20 crore smog tower, switching off engines at red lights, or talk of cloud seeding. Interventions by the judiciary have exacerbated this penchant for quick fixes. The predilection for high-visibility solutions has been underwritten by the public, who, too, are reluctant to accept that they have to modify their conduct for sustainable solutions. All this, together with poor implementation of existing regulations, has resulted in a crisis. Given this context, the commission, set up through an Ordinance, is likely to be of little avail — unless it serves as a platform to bring together the stakeholders, including state governments, relevant institutions, public representatives and civil society, and prepare society for sustained effort to change the way they live and work, informed by science. 

3. Air pollution costs lives, impacts productivity and cognitive abilities, and makes people more susceptible to disease, exacting a huge economic cost. It must be checked. 

Answer the following questions with reference to the text above. 

1. What according to the Commission of Air quality management is an impediment to pollution control?
An impediment to improving air quality has been the inability and unwillingness of the authorities, particularly state governments, to address the issues except on an emergency situations or now and then rarely.
2. Why is the situation Exacerbated?
Intervention of judiciary has exacerbated the problem of air pollution.
3. Will the ordinance regarding pollution norms be useful? Why?
Ordinance, is likely to be of little avail — unless it serves as a platform to bring together the stakeholders, including state governments, relevant institutions, public representatives and civil society, and general public as a whole.
4. What is the ultimate solution for pollution control in the national capital region?
The society as a whole should be prepared for sustained effort to change the way they live and work, informed by science.
5. Explain briefly the consequences of air pollution.
Air pollution costs lives, impacts productivity and cognitive abilities, and makes people more susceptible to disease, exacting a huge economic cost. It must be checked.
6. Pick out words from the passage (para 2) which mean the same as each one of the following.

1. a strong liking for something - Predilection 
2. Habitual or a tendency to do something - Penchant 
3. Something that worsens the situation - Exacerbated 
4. Able to be maintained for a long time - Sustainable 
5. A bye-law or a regulation - Ordinance