unseen passage 3

 

The Lesson of Patience

Ravi was a bright and enthusiastic student who lived in a bustling town filled with schools, parks, and libraries. From an early age, he had dreamt of becoming a great scientist, someone who could discover new things and make the world a better place. Ravi loved learning about the world, reading books, and exploring new ideas. However, there was one subject that made him anxious — mathematics. No matter how hard he tried, some problems seemed too difficult to solve, and when he failed, frustration would quickly take over his mind.

Often, when Ravi came across a challenging math problem, he felt overwhelmed and wanted to give up immediately. He would put down his pen, sigh deeply, and think that maybe he wasn’t meant to be good at this subject. This made him feel disappointed and less confident in his abilities. Ravi’s parents noticed his discouragement and tried to encourage him, but the change did not come easily.

One day, during a math class, Ravi’s teacher, Mr. Sharma, observed that several students, including Ravi, were struggling and growing frustrated. After class, Mr. Sharma called Ravi aside and spoke gently, “Ravi, I see that you are very eager to learn, but sometimes, the mind needs time and patience just like the heart needs calm to beat steadily.”

Mr. Sharma continued, “Let me share a story with you. The greatest inventors, scientists, and scholars you read about in books didn’t succeed overnight. Thomas Edison failed thousands of times before inventing the light bulb. Albert Einstein worked patiently on his theories, facing many doubts and difficulties. The secret to their success was not rushing but steady, patient effort. Studying is like planting a seed in the ground. You don’t get a tree instantly. You water it, care for it, and wait, and slowly it grows strong and tall.”

These words touched Ravi deeply. He realized that his frustration was stopping him from learning effectively and that being patient could help him overcome difficult lessons. From that day forward, Ravi began to change his approach to his studies. Whenever he encountered a hard problem, instead of giving up, he took a deep breath, re-read the question carefully, and tried to break it down into smaller parts. He gave himself time to think and asked his teacher or classmates for help when needed.

Slowly but surely, Ravi saw improvement. What once seemed impossible gradually became understandable. His confidence grew as he solved more problems correctly. The satisfaction of overcoming a difficult challenge fueled his motivation to learn more. Mathematics, which he once feared, became a subject he could enjoy.

At home, Ravi would spend extra time reviewing his lessons patiently, understanding the concepts rather than rushing to finish. His parents noticed the change and praised his determination and calm approach. Ravi felt happier and more in control of his learning journey.

Over the months, not only did Ravi’s math skills improve, but his overall attitude toward learning transformed. He learned that patience was not just a passive waiting but an active, steady effort that builds competence and self-belief. In fact, patience became Ravi’s greatest lesson—one that he realized would serve him well, not just in studies, but in every challenge life might present.

Ravi’s story is a reminder that success in studies, or any skill, is rarely instant. It comes from persistence, patience, and a willingness to keep trying, even when things seem difficult. Just as a tree grows slowly from a tiny seed, knowledge and skill take time and care to blossom fully.

Questions:

(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage): [2 marks]

1. Frustrated (line 5)
   (a) happy and calm
   (b) annoyed and disappointed
   (c) excited
   (d) careless
2. Steady (line 12)
   (a) quick and sudden
   (b) regular and continuous
   (c) weak
   (d) irregular

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of ‘fast’? [1 mark]

(a) deep
(b) tired
(c) slow
(d) bright

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words:

(a) What kind of student was Ravi and what challenge did he face? [2 marks]

(b) What advice did Mr. Sharma give Ravi about studying? [2 marks]

(c) How did Ravi change his attitude toward learning? [1 mark]

(d) What analogy did Mr. Sharma use to explain patience in study? [2 marks]

(e) What benefits did Ravi experience by being patient in study? [2 marks]

(iv) In not more than 70 words, narrate the sequence of events from Ravi’s struggle with studies to his learning patience and seeing improvement. [8 marks]

Question 5:

(i) Fill in each of the numbered blanks with the correct form of the word given in brackets: [4 marks]

1. Ravi (1) ________ (find) some subjects difficult at first.
2. Mr. Sharma (2) ________ (notice) Ravi’s frustration and gave advice.
3. Ravi (3) ________ (try) patiently to solve problems step by step.
4. He (4) ________ (begin) to enjoy learning and improve.

(ii) Fill in the blanks with appropriate words: [4 marks]

(a) Success in study requires patience ________ steady effort.
(b) Ravi took a deep breath and read the problem ________ carefully.
(c) He worked slowly ________ understanding the concepts.
(d) The teacher shared stories ________ great inventors and scholars.
(e) Learning is like planting a seed that grows ________ time.
(f) I prefer patience ________ rushing and giving up.
(g) We stayed ________ the library to complete our homework.
(h) Ravi was proud ________ his improvement through patience.