Question

Read the passage given below:

What do we typically do when we find our children doing something we don’t approve of? We become reactive parents. Often, we pepper our reactions with lectures. When it doesn’t work and predictably so; we end up screaming and dole out a punishment. And our children react with anger, resentment or ‘can’t-be-bothered’ attitude. Buddhist Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh put it beautifully when he described how each child has both negative seeds- of anger, despair, hatred, fear and violence-and wholesome seeds- of love, happiness, compassion and forgiveness. According to him, what will blossom depends on the seeds we nurture. A parenting and educational approach that's gaining a large following internationally, called the Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA) by Howard Glasser, is very much in keeping with this Zen approach. The three main aspects of this approach are: Refuse to energize negativity. Relentlessly energize their positives. Reset: Do not react negatively and stay calm when the child does something wrong. Parents following this approach commit to not saying or doing anything that may fuel negativity in the child. But the parent has to make sure she/he does this very calmly, without any anger or resentment. While on a mission to cut the negative, the parent looks for every opportunity to energize the positive in the child. This is done through persistently appreciating the goodness in the child in the smallest of ways : You were really generous about sharing your pizza with your sister; I appreciate the hard work you have put in your project; It takes courage to stand up to a bully. If you observe, the appreciation is not about saying “excellent”, “amazing” or “good”, which is really an empty praise and does not speak much to the child. Qualifying apraise, on the other hand, gives the child direction and she/he begins to understand what qualities, values and strengths are appreciated. These are also necessary ingredients of life skills and success. This approach is not merely about noticing when the child is being good, it is about recognizing the child’s worth at every step. It’s about aligning his energy in believing that he has great qualities, which are being identified and validated by the parents at every step. He realizes that there is no point choosing negativity, as there are no pay-offs in it. So, start building your childs inner wealth — there is nothing to lose.

Answer the following questions, based on the given passage:

1. Complete the following sentence with an appropriate word:
   "we end up screaming and dole out punishment."
   In the above sentence., the author criticises the ______ approach of the parents.
2. Explain in about 40 words, when and how do parents become reactive.
3. In the line 'what will bloom will depend on the seeds we nurture' - what seeds does the author refer to?
   1. Seasonal seeds
   2. Social news
   3. Parental attitude
   4. Values and emotions
4. Explain in about 40 words why does NHA focus on reforming parents to reform children.
5. Share evidence from the text, in about 40 words, to support the view that parents appreciate the goodness of the child at every opportunity.
6. In paragraph 5, in what way does 'This approach' differ from the earlier approach?
7. Select the option that can be classified as qualifying a praise as explained in the passage:
   1. You can be more helpful.
   2. You demonstrated patience while teaching your junior.
   3. Use your skill to be an excellent sportsman.
   4. You have to be amazing in your work.
8. The phrase 'to cut the negative' in para 4 most nearly means:
   1. to reduce wasteful expenditure
   2. to stop criticizing
   3. to eliminate challenges
   4. to humiliate someone
9. Read the five headlines (a) - (e) given below:
   1. New Age Parenting
   2. Children - A Rebellious Generation
   3. Channelising Energy
   4. Teacher - A Nation Builder
   5. Skill Development - Careers Ahead
      Identify the option that displays the headline/s that Does/Do not correspond with the occurrences in the text
      1. (a) and (e)
      2. (c) and (e)
      3. (b) only
      4. (a) and (c)

Answer 1

1. "we end up screaming and dole out punishment."
   In the above sentence., the author criticises the reactive approach of the parents.
2. When parents see their children acting in ways they don't approve of, they become reactive. When their first attempts at teaching fail, they turn to yelling and punishment, which frequently results in unfavorable responses from the kids.
3. Values and emotions
   Explanation: The author describes values and emotions as foundational seeds that shape the growth of a child's character and behavior.
4. Because it believes in creating positive traits in children by first altering the parents' responses and interactions with their children, the Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA) focuses on reforming parents to reform children. This creates a supportive and upbeat atmosphere.
5. By consistently praising the child's even the slightest positive behaviors or attributes, parents show their appreciation for their goodness at every chance. Phrases like "You were really generous about sharing your pizza with your sister," "I appreciate the hard work you have put in your project," and "It takes courage to stand up to a bully" all demonstrate this.
6. The strategy in paragraph 5 is different from the previous strategy in that it places more emphasis on consistently recognizing the child's goodness, directing their energy in a constructive direction, and acknowledging their value at every turn rather than responding to negative.
7. You demonstrated patience while teaching your junior.
   Explanation: This is considered praise since it expressly acknowledges the patience shown during instruction, gives the child a clear and constructive behavioral direction, and adheres to the principles of the Nurtured Heart Approach.
8. to stop criticizing
   Explanation: In line with the Nurtured Heart Approach, which discourages responses that energize negativity, "cutting the negative" in paragraph 4 means halting or minimizing criticism and limiting behaviors that feed negativity.
9. (a) and (c)
   Explanation: The events in the narrative are consistent with the new parenting style and the skill of energy channeling.