Question

Read the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Printed Words This is how Mercier describes the impact of the printed word and the power of reading in one of his books: 'Anyone who had seen me reading would have compared me to a man dying of thirst who was gulping down some fresh, pure water .... Lighting my lamp with extraordinary caution, I threw myself hungrily into the reading. An easy eloquence, effortless and animated, carried me from one page to the next without my noticing it. A clock struck off the hours in the silence of the shadows and I heard nothing. My lamp began to run out of oil and produced only a pale light, but still I read on. I could not even take out time to raise the wick for fear of interrupting my pleasure. How those new ideas rushed into my brain! How my intelligence adopted them!'

1. How does the passage reflect the immersive nature of reading of Mercier?    1
2. Why did Mercier describe himself as a virtual writer?    1
3. How did reading influence Mercier's intellectual capacity and his engagement with new concepts? Explain in any two points.    2

Answer 1

1. The clock ticked by as he lit the lamp and read without his attention. Despite the oil running out in the lamp, he continued to read. He didn't want to disrupt his enjoyment of reading. 

2. Mercier referred to himself as a virtual writer, believing that writing was his true career, even if he had yet to publish anything substantial.
3.   
   1. Broadening of Perspectives: Reading exposed Mercier to new ideas, thoughts, and viewpoints, broadening his intellectual horizons. He explored diverse themes, genres, and authors to obtain insights into various civilisations, historical periods, and philosophical schools of thought. Mercier's exposure to many perspectives broadened his awareness of the world, allowing him to critically evaluate and analyse difficult concepts and challenges from various aspects.
   2. Development of Critical Thinking Skills: Mercier's reading helped him develop his critical thinking skills by forcing him to question assumptions, evaluate facts, and make well-thought-out decisions. Mercier learnt how to critically analyse and understand information by reading books. He learnt to distinguish fact and opinion, spot logical errors, and combine ideas into understandable frameworks.
      Mercier's intellectual investigation and analysis improved his analytical skills, allowing him to engage critically with complex subjects and disputes.