SYBCom Sem 3 Comprehension - Passage 2 The Responsibilities of Young Citizens

Passage 2  Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follows. 

The Responsibilities of Young Citizens. --- By Lal Balladur Shastri

Whatever your station (position) in future life, you should first of all think of yourselves as citizens of this country. This confers (talks) on you certain rights, are guaranteed by the Constitution, but it also subjects you to certain responsibilities, which also have to be clearly understood.

Ours is a democracy, which enjoins freedom to the individual, but this freedom has to be subjected to a number of voluntary (self decided) restraints in the interests of organised society. And these voluntary restraints have to be exercised and demonstrated in everyday life.

A good citizen is one who obeys the law, whether there is a policeman around or not, and who takes delight in performing his civic (social) duties. In the olden days, sense of self-restraint and discipline was inculcated by the combined effort of the family and the teacher. The economic stresses of present-day life unfortunately do not leave enough time to the parents to look after the children.

In the educational institutions the numbers have grown so large as to take away the benefits, which used to accrue (accumulate) formerly by personal contact between the teacher and the taught. Inevitably (unavoidably), our young students are often left much to their own resources. Often this creates problems, which we all know about. This is an important aspect, which needs thorough examination. The responsibility of our young citizens is great. In my view every station in life is important in itself. Work has its own dignity and there is great satisfaction in doing one's own job to the best of one's ability. Whatever the duties, we should apply ourselves with sincerity and devotion. Such an approach, apart from being good in itself, also has the added advantage of opening avenues (paths) for further advancement. We have to see whether we have done our own job well before thinking of criticising anybody else. All too often, we succumb (surrender) to the temptation of decrying (criticizing) others without bothering to look to ourselves.

Never forget that loyalty (faithfulness) to the country comes ahead of all other loyalties. And this is an absolute loyalty, since one cannot weigh it in terms of what one receives. It is essential to remember that the entire country is one and that anyone who fosters (nurture) or promotes separatism or fissiparous (dividing) tendencies is not our true friend, What I have said stems (shoots/comes) from a desire to see that the youth of our country prepares itself in a disciplined and determined manner for the responsibilities of tomorrow A democratic country is sustained not by the greatness of a few but by the cooperative effort of the many. "The future of the country is in your hands and as the older generations complete their task the new ones come along to take their place. If they are well equipped as individuals and a; citizens, the country's future will be bright indeed. At a time when you are at the threshold of a new period in your life I would urge (need) you to play your role with confidence.

Our position with regard to secularism is known so well that it hardly needs any reiteration (restatement/repetition)). It is embodied in our Constitution, which ensures equal respect for all religions and equal opportunities for all citizens, irrespective of their caste and creed (belief)) and the faith which they profess (own). In spite of a seeming diversity, there is a fundamental unity in India, which we all cherish and it has to be our constant endeavor (try hard) to maintain and strengthen this unity.

The country can progress only if it does away completely with fissiparous tendencies and emerges as an integrated whole. And it is in the field of education that the seed of secularism has to be sown at the earliest stages, so that the plant can be carefully nurtured as it grows. (abridged version of a speech delivered by Lal Bahadur Shastri on 19 December 1964)

Questions & Answers: 

1.  What is the main idea of this passage?

Ans: The passage emphasizes the responsibilities of young citizens, highlighting the importance of civic duties, loyalty to the country, and the role of education in fostering secularism and unity.

2.  Describe two characteristics of a good citizen.

Ans: The two Characteristics of a Good Citizen are.. 1. A good citizen obeys the law regardless of supervision (policeman around or not). 2. A good citizen takes delight in performing civic duties.

3.  Which two institutions helped inculcate the qualities of a good citizen in human beings in the past? Are they as effective today as they were earlier.

Ans: Institutions that inculcated qualities of a good citizen are.. 1. Family and 2. Teachers. These institutions are not as effective today due to economic stresses on parents and large number of students reducing personal contact between teacher and student.

4.  What role has education to play for the development of our country?

Ans: The most important role of education in the development of our country is to inculcate secularism and unity in the citizens. In other words, It sows the seeds of secularism and nurtures unity, ensuring citizens respect all religions and have equal opportunities, thus fostering national integration.

5.  What will make our youth well-equipped as individuals and citizens?

Ans: Youth will be well-equipped through sincerity, devotion to their duties, and by preparing themselves in a disciplined and determined manner for future responsibilities.

6.  Explain the meaning of 'absolute loyalty'.

Ans:  Absolute loyalty means complete and unconditional loyalty to the country, without thinking or considering it against what one receives in return.

7.  Rephrase the following sentence beginning with the agent (doer Of the action) as the subject.

“A democratic country is sustained not by the greatness of a few but by the cooperative effort of the many.”

Ans: The cooperative effort of the many sustains a democratic country, not the greatness of a few.

8.  Explain the following sentence in your own words:

“In spite of a seeming diversity, there is a fundamental unity in India.”

Ans:  The sentence means that, despite the apparent differences among people, there is an underlying unity in India that is precious and needs to be maintained.

9.  write the meanings of the following words.

a.        Fissiparous: Dividing attitude, Separatist.

b.       secular: Not connected with particular religious.

c.        advance: Move forward or make progress.

d.       inculcate: Teach an idea, attitude, or habit.

10.   Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

a.       The students in the class are thinking (think) of ways to celebrate Teachers' Day.

b.       The soldier Succumbed (succumb) to his injuries.

c.       It is important that we sustain (sustain) the environment  for the greater good.