READING COMPREHENSION PASSAGE (CLASS 9 AND 10)GENERATION GAP

WORKSHEET 21

Read the following passage carefully: 

1. The difference in the ways of thinking and perception of the people of two different generations, which results in behavioural differences and sometimes, conflict among them is usually called generation gap. 

 

2. Generation gap is generally seen in the family between parents and their children. It is not only because of the gap in age, but also because of the way parents react to a particular situation. Children being very young and immature do not understand the way of thinking of their parents. In many cases, the parents, even if they are mature, do not identify with the changing values and thinking patterns of the modern world. This creates a communication gap between these two generations. 

 

3. Generation gap between parents and children is mostly caused by parents themselves. They do not talk openly to their children and take no part in solving their problems. This behaviour gives the impression about parents being authoritative persons, because they only dictate without understanding the problems faced by their children. As a result, the children become mentally isolated from their parents. Some parents become so busy with their work that they do not spend quality time with their family, which makes them completely unaware of how their children are growing, what kind of mentality is being developed in them, and so on. This ultimately creates a gap between them. They only realize it when it is too late. 

 

4. Changes in technology have led to the generation gap in this modern world. Children tend to spend most of their time with their mobile phones and are so busy with social media, that they do not discuss their problems with their parents. The Internet provides solutions to most of the worldly problems. So children, instead of contacting their own parents, take the help of the Internet in case of any problem, thus again reducing the communication, leading to generation gap between them.

 

5. The generation gap has greatly increased these days because the time is changing fast and people find it difficult to deal with this change. To overcome this problem, parents should show interest in all matters of their children and deal with them positively instead of just scolding them and leaving them alone to deal with their problems. Giving time to the children, having open communication, and allowing the child to feel free and not be under any kind of pressure, will eventually reduce the generation gap to a tolerable extent.

2.1 Answer the following questions in 30 – 40 words each, on the basis of your reading of the above passage : 

(a) What is generation gap? 
The difference in the ways of thinking and perception of the people of two different generations causing conflict is called generation gap.

(b) What causes the generation gap in the family? 
Generation gap is generally seen in the family between parents and their children. They do not talk openly to their children and take no part in solving their problem, parents being authoritative persons, because they only dictate without understanding the problems faced by their children causing children to be mentally isolated.

(c) How has advancement in technology led to the generation gap? 
The Internet provides solutions to most of the worldly problems. So children, instead of contacting their own parents, take the help of the Internet in case of any problem, thus again reducing the communication, leading to generation gap between them.

(d) What steps need to be taken to bridge this generation gap? 
Giving time to the children, having open communication, and allowing the child to feel free and not be under any kind of pressure, will eventually reduce the generation gap to a tolerable extent.

2.2 Answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate options from the given choices : 

(a) What is meant by the word, ‘particular’? (para 2) 

(i) specific
(ii) usual 
(iii) normal
(iv) instant 

(b) Which word is similar in meaning to the word, ‘isolated’? (para 3) 

(i) bound 
(ii) grown 
(iii) separated
(iv) unconcerned 

(c) Which word is opposite in meaning to, ‘solutions’? (para 4) 

(i) difficulties
(ii) irritations 
(iii) problems
(iv) decisions 

(d) Which word is opposite in meaning to the word, ‘reduce’? (para 5) 

(i) tear 
(ii) expand 
(iii) open
(iv) abridge