The famous Greek philosopher Aristotle said, 'Man is by nature a social animal.' What he meant was that man, by instinct, seeks the company of others and establishes relationships, much like most animals of the wild, for companionship and for physical and emotional support. Unlike animals, however, man's relationships give meaning to his existence and inspire him to do well in education, in the workplace, or in a profession that he pursues.
Relationships are of different kinds. Some are familial and intimate, formed by blood and by marriage; some are social like the ones we have with friends and some are made in school where we form close bonds with classmates and teachers. Relationships can also be fostered in the workplace, which may quickly change from professional to social. There are relationships also between human beings and animals, between children and their toys that they cannot part with. All these relationships keep us close to each other and provide us with all kinds of support, love, and affection. A person who has no family feels the pain of loneliness and isolation. There is no one to laugh or cry with him/her. When we share our joy with someone, it simply redoubles, and when we suffer a loss and someone shares our sorrow, it lessens. Relationships are thus needed for our emotional health.
To build relationships, we need to have trust and respect for each other, and love where this is needed. We cannot be selfish and possessive if we want to establish an effective relationship. But quite often we see people quarreling and fighting with each other which only brings misery and loss to all.
Choose the best answer from alternatives.
(a) Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word 'possessive'?
(i) dominating (ii) supportive (iii) productive (iv) independent
(b) A philosopher is a person who ______
(i) thinks deeply and seriously about life and other basic matters (ii) studies the origin of the universe (iii) systematically gathers and uses research and evidence (iv) tells others about their characters and predicts the future
(c) The synonym of 'isolation' is ______
(i) detachment (ii) entertainment (iii) fierce (iv) acquaintance
(d) The word 'foster' refers to ______
(i) cheer (ii) separate (iii) nourish (iv) imply
(e) According to the passage, a person with no family feels ______.
(i) complete satisfaction (ii) financial success (iii) loneliness and isolation (iv) constant excitement
(f) What keeps us close to each other?
(i) society (ii) family (iii) livelihood (iv) relationship
(g) The wild animals also need______
(i) food (ii) house (iii) company (iv) occupation
(h) Man establishes relationships for physical and emotional ______.
(i) support (ii) crisis (iii) breakdown (iv) separation
(i) The word 'wild' in 'animals of the wild' refers to ______.
(i) a natural state (ii) a domestic setting (iii) a workplace (iv) a classroom
(j) The word 'lessen' mentioned in the passage means______
(i) regenerate (ii) reform (iii) increase (iv) reduce
(a) (i) dominating
(b) (i) thinks deeply and seriously about life and other basic matters
(c) (i) detachment
(d) (iii) nourish
(e) (iii) loneliness and isolation
(f) (iv) relationship
(g) (iii) company
(h) (i) support
(i) (i) a natural state
(j) (iv) reduce