Question

Read the extract and complete the activities given below:

I spent 32 years in Information Technology out of which I was a Chief  Executive Officer or MD or the software head for 23 years for large global multinational software companies with thousands of software professionals worldwide and 6 offices in the US, 3 in Europe, 1 in Japan and 1 in Australia I had to travel all over the globe around 150 times for business. During this period, I had also written 4 books with 500-700 pages each on Information Technology published by Tata McGraw-Hill and then translated into chinese for global distribution. I learnt a lot of things when I was running these large companies. The first one was the importance of team work. In today’s world, nothing is possible without team work. You cannot be successful if you are a loner and an egoistic person. Secondly, you need to lead from the front by setting a good example in front of your staff. Third was that you need to treat your subordinates and your colleagues as friends. In my career, I made a few mistakes, but learnt a lot about motivation, being a good listener, target setting and the art of delegation which forms such an important part of today's management. After working for all these software companies for so many years, I wanted to return to my first love, i.e., to read and write on various subjects concerning human life and existence. Therefore, I gave up two offers of around 3 crore rupees per annum to become a writer. This is how my second innings as a writer in Marathi began. After this, I have written about 34 books in Marathi. Most of them have become bestsellers with tens of thousands of copies sold for each. However, it is not sales or the money that is important to me as much as the fact that these books have brought about very good changes in the lives of thousands of readers.

A1. Read the following statements and arrange them in proper sequence:  [2]

1. The narrator turned down high income job offers to pursue a career as a writer.
2. He led major global multinational software companies.
3. His writing brought about positive transformations in the lives of readers.
4. He learnt invaluable life lessons while heading multinational companies.

A2. Complete the following web-diagram on the ‘Key aspects of management’:  [2]

A3. Provide the supporting details from the extract that highlight the narrator's success as a writer:  [2]

Success as a writer	(1) ____________
	(2) ____________

A4. Personal Response:  [2]

Do you think passion is more important than wealth? Explain your views in about 50 words.

A5. Do as directed:  [2]

1. I passed from IIT.
   (Choose the correct option from the given alternatives showing the correct use of ‘Present Perfect Tense.’)
   1. I shall have passed from IIT.
   2. I have passed from IIT.
   3. I had passed from IIT.
   4. I has passed from IIT.
2. I made a few mistakes, but learnt a lot about motivation.
   (Choose the correct ‘Complex Sentence’ from the options given below.)
   1. Making a few mistakes, I learnt a lot about motivation.
   2. Though I made a few mistakes, I learnt a lot about motivation.
   3. I made a few mistakes and I learnt a lot about motivation.
   4. I made a few mistakes to learn a lot about motivation.

A6. Vocabulary:  [2]

Find out the words from the extract which mean:

1. lower in rank or position
2. person with whom one works
3. person who practices or shows selfishness or pride
4. involving many countries

Answer 1

A1.

2. He led major global multinational software companies.

4. He learnt invaluable life lessons while heading multinational companies.

1. The narrator turned down high-income job offers to pursue a career as a writer.

3. His writing brought about positive transformations in the lives of readers.

A2.

A3. 

Success as a writer	(1) Most of them became bestsellers.
	(2) That these books have brought about very good changes.

A4.

Yes, I believe passion is more important than wealth. While wealth can provide comfort, true happiness and fulfilment come from doing what one loves. The narrator gave up a high-paying job to follow his passion for writing, which positively impacted many lives. Passion brings meaning to life, whereas wealth alone cannot provide true satisfaction.

A5.

1. I have passed from IIT.
2. Though I made a few mistakes, I learnt a lot about motivation.

A6. 

1. Subordinate
2. Colleague
3. Egoistic
4. Global/Multinational