Read the following passage and answer the questions A and B.

A most important truth, which we are apt to forget, is that a teacher can never truly teach unless he; is still learning himself. A lamp can never light another lamp unless it continues to burn its own flame. The teacher who has come to the end of his subject, who has no living traffic with his! knowledge, but merely repeats his lessons to his students, can only load their minds; he cannot quicken them.Truth not only must inform but inspire. If the inspiration dies out, and the information only accumulates, then truth loses its infinity. The greater part of our learning in the schools has been waste because, for most of our teachers, their subjects are like dead specimens of once living things, with which they have a learned acquaintance, but no communication of life and love.

A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1×5 = 5

(a) The word ‘apt’ mentioned in the very first line means.

(i) encouraged (ii) ready

(iii) suitable (iv) courageous

(b) A teacher can’t teach the students if he himself ¾

(i) learns (ii) does not learn

(iii) does not teach (iv) is found in imparting lessons

(c) What does the word ‘accumulate’ in the passage refer to?

(i) disperse (ii) expend

(iii) jumble (iv) gather

(d) Which of the following statements is true about truth?

(i) Truth inspires one. (ii) Truth is unnecessary.

(iii) Truth is not important. (iv) Truth should be ignored.

(e) What does the word ‘inform’ in the passage refer to?

(i) introduce (ii) observe

(iii) convey (iv) uniform

B. Answer the following questions. 2×5 = 10

(a) What are we apt to forget?

(b) ‘A lamp can never light another lamp unless it continues to burn its own flame’. Explain,

(c) Do you think that a teacher should have living traffic with his knowledge? Give reasons for your answer

(d) How does truth lose its infinity?

(e) Why has the greater part of our learning in the schools been waste?

Answers:

A. Multiple choice

(a) ⇒ (ii) suitable; (b) ⇒ (ii) does not learn; (c) ⇒ (iv) gather; (d) ⇒ (i) Truth inspires one; (e) ⇒ (iii) convey.

B. Open-ended

(a) We are very often apt to forget that a teacher is not able to teach well unless and until she/he keeps on still learning himself/herself.

(b) A lamp is compared to a teacher. A lamp which discontinues to keep on burning its own flame, is not in a position to light its surrounding lamps, just a teacher who stops learning himself cannot teach others well.

(c) Yes, I think that a teacher should have living traffic with his knowledge because it the teacher concludes his learning for himself and just repeats his lessons to his students, he can only load their minds, But they are deprived of real/proper education. A teacher should remember that learning is a continuous process.

(d) Truth not only informs but also inspires.Truth loses its infinity when more information is accumulated without inspiration.

(e) The grater part of our learning in the school has been waste because, for most of our teachers, their subjects are like dead specimens of once living things, with which they have a learned acquaintance, but no communication of life and love.