Article Writing Class 12 Format, Topics, Examples, Samples

An article is an expression of one’s thought on an issue

or a subject logically and coherently written in

meaningful paragraphs.

♦ Points to Remember:

 Give a title that catches the attention of the

reader.

 Begin with a striking opening sentence which

addresses the readers and gets them interested

in the topic.

 Present a strong argument for your ideas

supporting it with evidence or elaboration.

 Use linking devices (‘however’, ‘therefore’,

‘although’, ‘even though’, ‘in order to’) to make

the composition appear a whole.

 Introduce a new point at the beginning of each

paragraph that follows to strengthen your ideas.

 Develop your ideas as much as you can to make

them interesting and substantial.

 Conclude with your strongest point.

 Use passive voice, humour, emotive language,

rhetorical questions to provide a specific effect.

Split-up of marks:
♦ Marks will be awarded for:

 Format (Title + Writer’s name)

 Content (logical organisation, relevance)

 Expression (Accuracy + Fluency)

♦ Previous Years’ CBSE Examination Questions

♦ Very Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1.

The number of women in the police force seems

insufficient especially when we see the increasing

involvement of women in terrorist activities. Write an

article in 150-200 words for The Hindustan Chronicle’,

on the need of having more women in the police force.

(2010)

Answer:

Need Of Having More

Women In The Police Force

Women empowerment and participation has seen a

radical improvement in the recent few decades. Women

are no longer confined to their homes and have come

forward to excel in almost all fields, at par with men. But

it has been observed that the number of women in the

police force seems insufficient especially when we

compare their increasing number in terrorist activities.

Women are sure to prove their worth in the police force

as they are more committed to the cause they work for

and less corrupt, two qualities that are lacking in

policemen. The government needs to increase the

reserved quota for recruitment of women in the police

force. Women need to be given incentives to join the

police force and this is sure to prove favourable as they

bring with them a distinctly different and valuable set of

skills that is bound to change the way the police is

perceived in our community. As the job description of

the police expands beyond crime-fighting into

community service the presence of more women in the

police force is sure to help to burnish the tarnished

image of the police officers, improve community

relations and foster a more flexible and less violent

approach to maintaining law and order.

Question 2.

In many parts of our country girls are still discouraged

from going to school. Consequently, a sizable section of

the population is deprived of education. Schemes like

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, CBSE scholarship to the single

girl child and the Government’s policy of giving free

education to girls have come as a boon to our society.

Write an article in 150-200 words on the education of

the girl child in the country. (Delhi 2010)

Answer:
 Education Of The Girl

Child In The Country

Education of girls has been a high priority with the

Government of India. In the new millennium, India has

consolidated its earlier educational reforms with

increased resources and stronger policy commitments

for achieving elementary education, particularly for girls.

Reaching out to the girl child is primary to the efforts to

universalise elementary education. ‘Sarva Shiksha

Abhiyan’ or ‘Education For All’ programme recognizes

that ensuring the education of the girl child requires

changes not only in the education system but also in

society’s norms and attitudes.

A two-pronged gender strategy has hence been adopted

to make the educational system responsive to the needs

of the girls through targeted interventions which serve

as a pull-factor to enhance access and retention of girls

in schools on the one hand and generate community

demand for girls’ education through training and

mobilisation on the other hand. The CBSE has also

come up with the novel scheme of providing free

education from the sixth standard onwards to the single

girl child. The need of the times is that the government

should further improve the educational infrastructure

and make it more accessible and meaningful for the girl

child.
Question 3.

Advertisements have become a big business. They are

promoted by celebrities drawn from various fields like

films, sports, etc., leaving their influence on all people

specially the young. Write an article in 150-200 words on

‘The Impact of Advertisements on the younger

generation’. (Delhi 2010)

Answer:

Impact Of Advertisements On

The Younger Generation

The advertisement industry has a tremendous impact on

the younger generation. As citizens of the modern world,

advertisements have become a part of the daily lives of

youngsters and they have got used to being bombarded

with numerous advertisements over the course of their

day.

Advertisements have become so common for them that

they often do not even realize that they are hearing or

viewing them. So they have a pervasive influence on the

youth. In the ever-expanding world of consumerism and

advertising, companies are constantly looking for new

ways to sell their products to the youngsters by making

their commercials and campaigns more memorable, to

leave an impact on their minds. The younger generation

has become their prime target because they have more

spending power than ever before and increased avenues

at their disposal. Therefore companies spend enormous

amounts of money to rope in popular film stars,

cricketers, musicians etc. to endorse their products.

This helps to ensure popularity and early brand loyalty.

In the last decade many superbrands have looked

towards new and outrageous ways to capture young

audiences through appealing campaigns as these

youngsters are cognitively and psychologically quite

defenceless against advertisements. Clearly,

advertisements represent ‘big business’ and has a

significant effect on young people who need to be

educated about the effects of advertising, that is, media

literacy. This will prove to be helpful in mitigating the

harmful effects of advertising on youngsters.

Question 4.

The present-day youth are greatly stressed due to cut-

throat competition and consumerist culture. Write an

article in 150-200 words on the causes of the stress on

the modem generation suggesting suitable solutions.

(Delhi 2010)

Answer:

Causes Of Stress On

The Modern Generation

The main cause of stress on the modern generation is

the cut-throat competition and consumerist culture

prevalent in our society. This always puts them under

pressure of efficiency and productivity. The modern

environment is highly competitive and calls for

relentless effort on the part of each youngster. To

achieve the goals they have to devote all their time and

capacity, without rest. So they have no time to care even

for their own selves. They have no time for relaxing or to

pursue something of their own interest sounds like a

luxury to them. The effects of this stress on the youth

also visible in their physical being whereby they have

increased pulses and a lot of tension in their muscles.

With increased professionalism and specialisation there

seems no practical and suitable solution for this stress

due to the competition. In this age of consumerism, it is

not surprising that the youth of today are also constantly

vying to outdo each other in acquiring material things.

But now it is high time each one of us sat back in quiet

introspection to contemplate where we are actually

heading in this high-speed pace. Our health and well-

being will have to be our primary concern for, as they

say, “a healthy mind lies in a healthy body”. Let us stop

living like robots. We are humans and have to behave

likewise and not like machines which are our own

creation.

Question 5.

As compared to the older generation the youth of today

are greatly inclined to pursue adventurous activities

either for money or for

fun. There is a latest craze for joining reality shows,

rafting, rock climbing, mountaineering etc. Write an

article in 150-200 words on which life you would prefer—

safe or adventurous. (All India 2010)

Answer:

Live Life, Don’t Just Exist

To lead a life of adventure is certainly very exciting and

amazing. It involves breaking free of certain social

conditioning and challenging yourself to work upon your

mental fears, which are mostly in your mind, and

discovering unlimited freedom and opportunities. We,

therefore, need to be willing to undertake adventure as it

is a necessary part of happy existence. It is important to

spend your limited time on earth doing some of those

things that make a difference and give one enjoyment

rather than simply sinking all the time playing the normal

routine game of “delayed gratification”.

Taking action helps one to build a more enriching life

and enables you to embrace life with more passion each

day. The desire for sameness never contributors to

anything exciting but makes our life and spirit dull. A

variety of sports and recreation are adventurous to a lot

of people today. Some people race cars, skydivers jump

out of a 5 aeroplane, mountain-climbers scale peaks etc.

This helps them to escape their daily stress and gives

them a ‘high’. So it is important to live life to the fullest

and it is also surely worth making the effort to ‘live’ with

an adventurous spirit.

Question 6.

India is standing at the threshold of joining the

developed nations but that is not possible till we achieve

complete literacy in the country. The contribution of

students may be very significant in achieving our goals.

Write an article in 150-200 words on ‘The Role of the

Students in Removing Illiteracy’. (All India 2010)

Answer:

The Role Of Students In

Removing Illiteracy

Illiteracy is still a major blot on India, after more than

sixty years of its achieving independence. To an extent it

exemplifies India’s failure to reach out to its masses.

The removal of illiteracy has to be tackled on a priority

basis and students can play an important role in

achieving this goal. Since they are in the process of

receiving education themselves they are most

appropriate for also putting forth their services to

achieve the goal of educating the illiterate masses.

Students should be encouraged to carry the lamp of

knowledge by organizing events such as, ‘Each One,

Teach One’.

If every student resolves to teach two illiterate persons

in a year during his vacations, it will in the long run help

to eradicate illiteracy. The government should also

render full support to students in terms of infrastructure

in their contribution to the Indian Literacy Campaign.

Students can also play a vital role in the programme of

Adult Literacy. If all our students get together and try to

work towards achieving literacy among the masses,

then the day is not far when India too will join the league

of countries that have attained hundred percent literacy.

Question 7.

Compulsory value-based education is the only remedy

for inculcating values among the future citizens of the

country. This will also help in the prevention of crime in

the country. Write an article in 150-200 words on the

need of compulsory value-based education. (All India

2010)

Answer:

Value-Based Education

Value-based education is an educational philosophy, an

approach to teaching and learning that underpins away

a school organises itself develops relationships and

promotes positive human values. Schools that adopt

such an approach report that there is a qualitative

improvement in pupils’ attitude and behaviour. The

purpose of value-based education is to help the school

community think about and reflect upon positive

universal values and practical implications of expressing

them in relation to themselves and the community as a

whole.

Value-based education also supports schools in

promoting an inclusive school ethos and the methods of

working raise achievements and help pupils to raise

their self-esteem and take responsibility for their own

behaviour and learning. It also enables students to

examine the kind of life that is worth living and to

consider what kind of life they want for themselves. At

the core of value-based education lies an agreed set of

principles, deeply held convictions that underpin all

aspects of school life and work. The process is holistic

and developmental, demanding a greater deal from the

school’s community. Value-based education is thus a

philosophy for developing and supporting schools of

excellence.

Question 8.

Increase in the number of vehicles causes pollution and

traffic jams. Write an article in 150-200 words for ‘The

New Indian Express’, Delhi, highlighting the urgent need

to solve these man-made problems, giving suitable

suggestions. You are Madhav/Madhuri. (Delhi 2010)

Answer:

The Problem Of Pollution

By: Madhav

Cities, in general, have a great deal in common with

vehicles. In fact they often seem to be turning into

vehicles. India’s population and its traffic is

concentrated within its cities. The increasing number of

vehicles in Delhi is putting our city at the risk of

completely losing clean air to breathe. Delhi would have,

in fact, been buried under a pollution load if the Supreme

Court had not intervened to introduce cleaner fuels and

emissions technology in the city, in the form of CNG-run

public vehicles. Moreover, increase in the number of

vehicles also means getting stuck in rush traffic hour

which has also become a routine.

It is high time we now look towards solving this problem

of heavy traffic congestion which is taking a toll both on

our health and our time. The traffic police department

must use technology for controlling and monitoring the

movement of vehicles at important and busy crossroads

for which the department officials can also take the help

of Close Circuit T.V. Drives should be launched to

educate the masses about the importance of driving in

their respective lanes only and to follow traffic signals

strictly. Violation of these should result in fines and in

case of repeated offence the driving license of the

person should be confiscated.

Pollution check of vehicles by owners at regular

intervals should be made mandatory. This can also

contribute a lot in saving the environment from

pollution. Thus, we as responsible citizens just need to

make a start.

Question 9.

Corruption has become the order of the day. It has

entered all walks of life. Write an article for your school

magazine in 150-200 words on ‘The Role of Youth in

combating corruption’. You are Vijay/Vineeta. (Delhi

2011 2010)

Answer:

Role Of Youth In

Combating Corruption
By: Vijay

The problem of corruption is not new though it has

reached unprecedented proportions in recent years. It is

as old as society itself and •cuts across nations,

cultures, races and classes of people. Corruption is

rampant in our political and social life and like cancer

seems to be gnawing into the vitals of the society. It has

been argued that one of the many obstacles to the

development of poor countries is corruption. The youth

of the society have a lot of responsibility in combating

corruption. They are aware of this phenomenon but

negligent towards this issue. It is the youth, especially

the students, who have to take cudgels against the

demon of corruption and crush it altogether.

A beginning can be made in this direction by holding

anti-corruption drives. The ill-effects of corruption in

public life should be publicised through the internet,

facebook and blogs. The uprising young citizens need to

join hands as one and battle against corruption. They

need to spread awareness, more so in rural areas and

equip them with knowledge about this burning issue.

Recently the name of Anna Hazare has become

synonymous with combating corruption so the youth of

India have an idol among them whom they can follow.

The dedicated efforts of the honest youth are bound to

succeed in the long run in demolishing and vanquishing

this social evil which has earned us a bad name.

Question 10.

India is said to be a young country and is emerging as a

global power. The youth is getting increasingly

concerned about the problems of corruption,

environment, pollution, misuse of natural resources, etc.

Write an article in 150-200 words on your vision of India

in 2040. (Comptt. All India 2010)

Answer:

My Vision Of Future India

Most of us have a massive psychological barrier against

looking at the future vision of India and those who see

the future as growing directly out of the present also

often narrow their vision. It is my belief that the year

2040 will belong to those who try to see diversity as a

value in itself, not as an instrument for resisting new

monocultures of the mind or as a compromise

necessary for maintaining communal and ethical

harmony. India of the future will be central to the world

where the idea of diversity will be cherished as an end in

itself. My vision statement is not a prediction of what

will actually occur, nor is it a wish list of desirable but

unattainable ends. It is actually a statement of what we

believe is possible for our nation to achieve seeing the

level of concern that our present-day youth is showing

about problems of corruption, environmental pollution,

misuse of natural resources, etc. An essential

requirement for envisioning India in 2040 is to recognise

that the parameters which determine national

development have changed i in recent years and will

change further in the future. This is likely to open up

greater; possibilities than ever before. The growing I

influence in the fields of technology, education,

information, productive skills etc. lend credence to the

view that India will ; definitely achieve and sustain higher

economic growth and development in the coming

decades.

Question 11.

Due to the globalization of food industry and fast food

culture, traditional healthy diets are increasingly being

replaced by unhealthy junk food containing artificial

additives and preservative chemicals. Write an article in

150-200 words for a national daily on the need for

inculcating healthy dietary habits. (Comptt. All India

2010)

Answer:

Need To Inculcate

Healthy Dietary Habits

Due to globalisation and the advent of fast food culture,

traditional healthy diets have been replaced by

unhealthy junk food that has no nutritional value.

Children and even adults have become quite fond of this

junk food essentially because it is palatable and caters

well to their taste buds. Though junk food does not

come with a statutory warning, it is , actually harmful for

our health if we eat it on a regular basis as it contains

artificial additives and chemical preservatives. Hence

the need arises for inculcating healthy dietary habits. I

feel childhood is the best stage to inculcate good food

habits. Through constant reinforcement and an

emphasis on healthy eating choices at home parents

can ensure that their kids continue to eat healthy even

when they are away from home.

Parents should remember that kids learn their eating

habits from them so they should lead by example and

eat healthy themselves. This will encourage their kids to

follow in their footsteps. Children’s initial refusal to eat

healthy food should not discourage the parents.

Repeated exposure to healthy foods like fresh fruits and

vegetables, nuts, milk etc. will ensure that the kids might

want to try it out at some point. So, constant

encouragement is needed to make them try out healthy

food but do not force anything. Aim to make good

nutrition a way of life than a rule and healthy eating

habits will come naturally and not something that is

being enforced.

Question 12.

Travel is an important part of a man’s education. It

enables a person to learn manners, customs, languages

and history of different people and places and also

widens the circle of one’s acquaintances. Write an

article in 150-200 words on “Travel, an Important Source

of Education”. (Comptt. All India 2010)

Answer:

Travel – An Important

Source Of Education
To travel is to discover. If not necessary, travel is a very

important aspect of education, an experience to learn on

personal levels with hands-on experience. When people

travel to a new place they absorb and remember

information faster and retain it longer just by

experiencing it themselves. Travelling to other parts of

the country provides the opportunity to see different

cultures practising their everyday lives. It also enables a

person to learn the manners, customs, languages and

history of different people and places and widens the

circle of one’s acquaintances. While travelling to each

new place gives us a different experience, all of these

travels will add up to a worldly view that instils a feeling

of connection with people, places and events from all

over the globe.

In the past few years it has become a norm for people

from one country to travel to another country as a part

of their education programme. As wonderful as it is to

read about places and people who interest us, to

experience a personal visit to these places and interact

personally with these people allows us to understand

and even appreciate their world in a more lasting and

meaningful way. Our minds open up to new things,

people, places and experiences Very few ways allow for

greater learning than travel. It is one of the best and

most entertaining ways to get an education. While

classes, books and internet sites are great ways to learn

and build your knowledge base, travel takes what you

have already learnt and expands upon it.

Question 13.

India is making strides in the field of technology.

Technology has made life easier and more comfortable

than it used to be earlier. At the same time people are

turning to be more and more lazy and disease-prone.

Write an article in 150-200 words on the disadvantages

of too much of technology. (Comptt. All India 2010)

Answer:

Disadvantages Of Too

Much Technology

By: ABC

India has made rapid strides in the technological field.

Technology has made our life more easygoing and

comfortable than ever before. But these comforts

bestowed on us through technological advancements is

doing us more harm than good. In the 21st century,

technology has evolved to accommodate a more

convenient lifestyle and meet every need that could

possibly need fulfilling. With the right technology in your

home, you might just never feel the need to even leave

your bed. Our entire lifestyle has slowly but surely been

completely taken over by technology. This is having an

adverse effect on our well-being. We have become lazy

and disease-prone.

Modern technology has given us everything we want,

whenever we want and more than we actually need, with

the result that we have become a weak society. Unlike

the older generation, modern-day children do not have

the space and freedom of moving about and end up

cramped in front of their computers and video games.

This sedentary style of living causes the child to be

antisocial, thus making him socially weak. Also there is

added risk of obesity from less locomotion. A sedentary

lifestyle, coupled with wrong food habits, has made us

prone to illnesses. Though technology has greatly

contributed to human development, it has its flip side

and it is adversely affecting our health.

Question 14.

You are Keshav/Karuna, a social worker and counsellor.

You are concerned about the stressed behaviour of both

parents and students during the time of examination.

Write an article in 150-200 ivords to be published in a

local daily on ‘Supportive parents and stress-free

students’ giving ideas to enhance healthy and

meaningful PARENT- WARD rapport and for making the

atmosphere relaxed and encouraging during

examination time. (CompIt. Delhi 2012)

Answer:

Supportive Parents And

Stress-Free Students

By: Karuna,

Counsellor and Social Worker Most of the students and

their parents are under constant pressure and usually

suffer from high levels of stress especially during the

time of examinations. This does them no good because

it is a parents duty to reduce stress in their children and

help them overcome it. Young students should not be

left alone to struggle in the most difficult and significant

period of their life. They need to get endless support

from their parents. Better interaction between students

and parents can help to settle various problems

amicably and create a relaxed atmosphere during the

time of examination. Moreover, parents have to be

practical and realistic in their expectations.

They should always remain positive and acknowledge

even the minor achievements of their children. A healthy

and meaningful parent-ward rapport can help a student

overcome stress easily. Every parent should give their

child encouragement and support, especially during

academically stressful times. Encourage your child to

aim to do their best and be assured that it is the earnest

effort they make and not the result that matters the

most. Students who live in supportive environments,

develop a range of coping strategies and become more

resilient.

Question 15.

You are Keshav/Karuna, a social worker and counsellor.

You are concerned about senior class students ignoring

sports activities owing to the pressure of examination

and coaching classes. Write an article in 150-200 words

to be published in a local daily on how sports not only

promote physical fitness but also influence our

scholastic achievements. (Comptt. Delhi 2012)

Answer:
 Sports – Not To Be Sidelined

By: Karuna,

Social Worker and Counsellor It has become an

unfortunate trend that senior class students are ignoring

sports activities due to the pressure of examination and

coaching classes. They seem to have forgotten the fact

that sports not only promote physical fitness but will

also influence their scholastic achievements. Colleges,

in an effort and interest, to promote sports and games,

encourage the admission of students who have excelled

in sports by allotting a sports-quota to them. Besides a

fun and exciting way to get involved in competitive

physical activities, playing sports in high school can also

help with college admissions. Sports provide for a well-

rounded character. They help develop skills based on

teamwork and comradeship, as well as teach young

people how to set goals and persevere through

hardships to achieve those goals.

Moreover, members of the college admission board are

aware of the time and commitment that goes into being

a part of a team sport. They are more interested in

giving admission to those students who are able to

strike a keen balance between sports and academics

and who show a depth of commitment to a wide range

of activities. Participating in sports help to develop

these additional traits in a student. Indulging in a sport

positively influences academics by providing an avenue

to release the pent up pressure and easing the minds of

students at the time of examinations.

Question 16.

Your family has recently shifted from Kota in Rajasthan

to Ernakulam in Kerala, where your house is situated in

the midst of beautiful flowering plants and fruit-yielding

trees. Every minute and every second, you are

experiencing the joy of being in the lap of nature. Write

an article in 150-200 words on the diversity of nature

that you have experienced. You are Latha/Lalitha of

Class XII. (Delhi 2013)

Answer:

Joys Of Being In The Lap Of Nature

By: Latha, Class XII

When my family shifted from Kota in Rajasthan to

Ernakulam in Kerala, I was really excited because I had

heard about the diversity of nature one gets to

experience in this district. Also, I was extremely happy to

be moving away from the dry and arid climate of

Rajasthan. But nothing could have ever prepared me for

the natural joy I experienced when I reached Ernakulam.

Ernakulam is known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea. In

addition to getting a glimpse of the traditional rural

Kerala lifestyle and the variant villages, to the coconut

plantations and the coir villages, it was a relish to see

the scenic views of the dense green tropical forests and

colourful birds that enveloped us in an aura of peace

and warmth and brought us closer to nature. It was a

treat to be in the midst of the simple and

unsophisticated rustic life and the gorgeous greens.

Though Emakulam is a developed district, yet it has

managed to retain its natural beauty. It is also one of the

finest natural harbours in the world and a major centre

of trade and commerce.

Moreover, our house is situated in the middle of

beautiful flowering plants and fruit-yielding trees and

each and every second we are experiencing the

enormous joy of being in the lap of nature.

Question 17.

Write an article in 150-200 words on the topic, ‘Poverty

is the cause of all evils’, to be published in the Young

World of ‘The Hindu’, Chennai. (Delhi 2013)

Answer:

Poverty – The Cause Of All Evils

By: ABC, Correspondent,

The Hindu, Chennai Poverty, in one way or another, is the

fundamental cause of all evils. It fosters desperation

which, in turn, breeds crime. The lack of money breeds

all negative characteristics that people loathe; it breeds

hatred, anger and jealousy.

Poverty also breeds racism, classism, ethnicism as the

society itself stratifies to define classes to separate the

rich from the poor. It makes people dishonest as they

will do anything to get even a little bit of scarce money.

In today’s world, poverty has become the root cause of

all evils, because it has the power and ability to make

people compromise their once held and respected

values, cultures and religious beliefs. Poverty has

created a new race of people with common marks of

frustrations, loss of hope, prospects and value of life.

Poverty leads to illiteracy, unemployment,

dissatisfaction among individuals, corruption and crime

and all these handicaps not only the growth of

individuals but also the growth of the nation as a whole.

There is an urgent need also to find solutions to reduce

the gap between the rich and the poor.

Thus, poverty is indeed one of the biggest problems that

is affecting our society and it definitely stands as a

major obstacle in the development of an advanced,

progressive and peaceful nation.

Question 18.

Write an article in 150-200 words for your school

magazine on the topic, ‘Obesity among School Children’.

You are Mohini/Mohit. (All India 2013)

Answer:

Obesity Among School Children

By: Mohini

Obesity among school children is a global problem that

is on the rise. It appears to increase the risk of

subsequent morbidity, whether or not obesity persists

into adulthood.
Recent studies on urban Indian school children report a

high prevalence of obese and overweight children.

Outcomes related to childhood obesity include

hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, orthopaedic and

psychosocial problems.

The present generation children are more of couch-

potatoes who refrain from indulging in any kind of

physical activity and are confined indoors most of the

time. They have neither the urge nor the time to play

outdoor games. A majority of children prefer to spend

their time either glued to the television or the computer.

Lack of physical activity combined with eating junk food

makes children easy prey to diseases and ailments

which were never heard of in childhood. Added to this is

the lack of time because of which a child’s parents and

teachers are unable to pay due attention to the child’s

diet.

The need of the hour is thus a possible role of change in

the dietary pattern and the physical activities of children

so as to ensure that they lead healthy lives. Games, yoga

and other sports should be made a compulsory part of

school curriculum. Also it is imperative that all junk food

is banned from school canteens which should replace

this with healthy nutritious foods.

Question 19.

You are Raman/Ruchika. Write an article in 150-200

words for your school magazine on the topic, ‘Life

without Modern Gadgets’. (All India 2013)

Answer:

Life Without Modern Gadgets

By: Ruchika

Modern gadgets have enslaved us. They have made the

world jump forward with a leap, built a glittering

civilization, opened up innumerable avenues for the

growth of knowledge, and added to the power of man to

such an extent that it is possible to conceive that man

could triumph over and shape his physical environment.

Our life is driven by gadgets and gizmos so much so

that we cannot imagine even a day without them. On the

domestic front, electronic kitchen appliances have

proved to be a boon for housewives and relieved

pressure off them. The biggest brands in mobile phones

are also focusing on the present day needs and

visualising them in their gadgets. Our life comes to a

pause whenever we are disconnected from the internet.

Education, communication, commerce and industry are

all dependent on modern gadgets.

These modem gadgets have brought us to a height of

extreme convenience to such an extent that we have

forgotten our roots of simplicity—the simplicity of doing

things ourselves instead of a ‘machine’ doing it for us,

the simplicity of working together physically instead of

creating our own workspace at home, confining

ourselves to a lonesome boundary in life.

Life has really widened its prospect and with these

modem gadgets around we can do everything happily

and conveniently. We can do our personal stuff on these

and make them an important ‘member’ of our life.

Question 20.

Last week as you were coming back from school you

happened to see a huge plastic bag full of leftovers of

food being flung into the middle of the road from a

speeding car. You wondered how people can be so

devoid of civic sense. Write an article in 125-150 words

on why we lack civic sense and how civic sense can be

inculcated in children at a very young age. You are

Shiva/Shamini. (All India 2014)

Answer:
 Necessity To Inculcate Civic Sense

By: Shiva

It is indeed astonishing how people in our country can

be so devoid of civic sense. It is not considered as an

important value so it is not inculcated in children at a

very young age and is not practised and encouraged at

home.

When people talk about cleanliness of public places in

India, civic sense or the lack of it is often quoted as one

of the prime reasons for the squalor that we see all

around us. And this horrid state of apathy is not limited

to the lower and uneducated sections of society. Even

the affluent and educated folks are devoid of civic

sense. This is because civic sense is not inculcated in

us from a very young age. Therefore steps should be

taken up to inculcate civic education at the school level

itself. Incentives should be given to people who show

and practise civic sense. Use of dustbins should be

encouraged and there should be stringent laws for those

who flout basic civic sense.

This change has to come from within each individual. If

things are left to rot they become self-perpetuating.

Each one of us should try to resolve, to breathe and

reside in a pristine and hygienic surrounding.

Question 21.

You saw a stray dog beaten to death by a group of boys.

Their act infuriated you and you scolded them for their

cruel act. You decided to write an article on cruelty to

animals. Write the article in 125-150 words. You are

Nikhil/Naina. (All India 2014)

Answer:

Cruelty To Animals

By: Nikhil

Cruelty to animals or animal abuse is the human

infliction of suffering or harm upon animals for

purposes other than self-defence or survival. Animals

are being beaten up and starved every day and millions

of animals die each year because of human atrocities.

The plight of stray dogs and cows is a common sight in

India. It is inhuman to let them roam around on the

streets, let them eat garbage dumped on the roadsides

and exposing them to being hit by fast-moving traffic. Ill-

treatment and cruelty of these helpless creatures should

be stringently discouraged. Shelter homes should be

created for stray animals. To create awareness

regarding the ill-treatment of animals campaigns, drives

and street plays need to be organized. Moreover, we

need to observe Animal Rights Day.

Though we have a long way to go, but gradually by

making the public more aware about the issues of

animal cruelty and by making the society realise the

importance of animal rights, we will eventually learn to

live in harmony with them.

Question 22.

A newspaper report on a recent terrorist attack in your

locality shattered you. You decided to write an article in

a local daily on terrorist attacks and the need to

maintain peace and harmony in society. Write the article

in 125-150 ivords. You are Madhav/ Meena. (All India

2014)

Answer:

Need To Maintain

Peace And Harmony

By: Madhav

Terrorism has swallowed law and order. Terrorist

activities have knitted their web across our nation and

act as a major threat to the society and lives of billions

of civilians: Terrorism in India is very deep-rooted and

complicated and has been a social stigma in our

society. Its causes vary from political, religious

fanaticism, intolerance, fundamentalism, social and

economic factors. In our approach to I terrorism, we fail

to distinguish it from the use of violence or armed

struggle in a revolutionary situation. In spite of the

magnitude of the problem of terrorism, there has been

no consensus on a solution to this problem. In India the

attempts to control terrorism have been mainly through

the deployment of police, military and paramilitary

forces. More steps need to be taken up to control

terrorism. There should be a political will to tackle

terrorism. Vigilance should be improved and awareness

should be created through the media.

Ultimately it is only by improving social, economic and

political conditions and by fostering the forces of

democracy and secularism, peace and stability that the

battle against violence and terrorism can be won.

Question 23.

In the year to come (if you have not already done this

year) you are going to celebrate your 18th birthday.

Write an article in 150-200 words on the joys and

responsibilities of being eighteen. You are

Navtej/Navita. (Delhi 2015)

Answer:

Joys And Responsibilities

Of Being Eighteen
By: NA VITA

Being eighteen is fun but also a bit tough. It is that stage

of life when we have to cope with many changes in our

life. The most important thing about being a eighteen is

the responsibilities that come with it.

We are still considered young but our mind starts

forming opinions though we are not considered old

enough to express them. We are given a little more

freedom. We start to creep into the adult world and

encounter some new experiences. In these years of our

life we are discovering ourselves, new opportunities,

new duties and responsibilities. We have lesser

responsibilities as compared to our elders but we are

definitely responsible for our actions. This can

sometimes work to our disadvantage as at this phase of

our life we are always willing to try out new things and in

some of these we may falter.

One of the joys of being 18 years old is that we can get a

driving license and hence drive. This gives us a sense of

independence. Moreover we can rationalize every crazy

thing we do by stating the fact that we are still

teenagers. Another major joy is the fact that we can vote

at eighteen and feel accountable towards choosing our

leaders. There is definitely a pressure even while we

have loads of fun. So being eighteen is at times

stressful but an exciting stage of one’s life. It is not a

bed of roses but, neither is it a bed of thorns and we

must enjoy this short yet eventful phase of our life.

Question 24.

Write an article in 150-200 words on how we can make a

carefree and enjoyable place for women when they can

go wherever they like to without any fear of being stared

at, molested or discriminated against. You are

Navtej/Navita. (Delhi 2015)

Answer:

Women Safety In India

By: NAVTE.

Since the unfortunate December, 2012 incident in Delhi,

women security is now a big question in India than it

was before. Why aren’t Indian females safe? Who is

responsible for their safety? How should their safety be

assured?
These three questions have become features on our

national agenda.

Concerns about safety restrict the mobility and activity

of women and leave them with no choice but to

strategise everything from timings to travel, how to walk,

how to dress or commute. When we talk about women’s

safety, the biggest question is how do we keep our

mothers, sisters and daughters safe against violence

outside the house. Women are often stared at, molested

and discriminated against. Not only outside the house,

they are even discriminated against at the workplace

and in their homes. It is surely the responsibility of the

government and each one of us strive for a safer world

for women. Effective implementation of strict laws

protecting women’s’ rights is the need of the hour.

Offenders must be socially boycotted and severely

punished to deter future crimes against women. Another

imperative step is teaching self-defense techniques to

women and girls at schools, colleges, offices and

residential colonies.

As long as the mindset of people will not change,

women can never be safe. All we need to do is to be

alert and considerate. We have to develop basic morality

and nurture a value system that teaches respect for

women.

Women are not safe anywhere in the globe until the

thinking towards women changes. So the actual need of

the hour is a revolutionary change in the mindsets and

conscience of men so that they view women with regard

and respect.

Question 25.

Emotionally as well as intellectually, a woman is as good

as a man if not better. Yet we don’t allow her the same

status as a man enjoys in society. Write an article in

150-200 words on ‘Status of Women in Society’. You are

Navtej/Navita. (Delhi 2015)

Answer:

Status Of Women In Society

By: Navita
Women are emotionally and intellectually at par with

their men counterparts but unfortunately, they are not

given the same status that a man enjoys in the society.

It is generally seen and believed that women have lower

status in context to power and influence than men in all

spheres of life family, community, religion and politics.

Certain scholars have attributed this inferior status of

women to the patriarchal code of living. Though our

Constitution has laid down the equality of the genders

as a fundamental right but often women are

discriminated against at home, their workplace and in

the society in general. They don’t even get equal pay for

equal work at some places. They single-handedly

balance the pressures of domestic and public life.

In recent decades we have witnessed a series of laws

passed for the upliftment of women. These legislations

have been brought to give equal rights and privileges to

women as men, to eliminate discriminations against

women and remove inequality between genders.

But all these opportunities are wasted if certain

stereotypes and biases distort the way women are

perceived, often to their disadvantage.

Question 26.

Ragging has raised its ugly head again. A recent incident

at a prestigious school has shown that this evil has not

yet come to an end. Write an article in 150-200 words on

‘Ragging, an Evil’. You are Navtej/Navita. (All India 2015)

  a practice from the British era

 original aim, respect for hierarchy

 enforcing traditions, discipline

 Prefect—a teacher substitute

 misuse of authority

 vulgar aspect

 fatalities

 solution

Answer:

‘Ragging, An Evil’

By: NAVTEJ

Ragging is a social evil that has been in practice since

the British era. It was initiated with the aim to reiterate

respect for hierarchy and to misuse authority by

enforcing traditions and discipline.

Now this social evil has spread to educational

institutions. It is a damaging form of interaction of the

seniors in colleges or schools with their juniors or

newcomers. It has become increasingly unpopular due

to several complaints of serious injuries to the victims.

Due to this severity, strict laws against ragging have

been enforced by the Supreme Court. Under the pretext

of fun, new students are often assaulted, sometimes

stripped and intimidated by their seniors and this torture

leaves an indelible impression on their minds. Seeing

the vulgar aspect and fatalities of ragging it has been

strictly banned in many institutions and this is proving

effective. The Supreme Court too has declared ragging

as a criminal offence

Since ragging has degenerated into an unmitigated evil

it must go completely, and there can be no argument in

favour of this evil practice. Whenever it has raised its

ugly head, it has only shown the physical or mental

exploitation that new students are subjected to.

Question 27.

India is a tourist’s dream destination. Give your views on

the tourism potential of India in an article in 150-200

words. You are Navtej/ Navita. (All India 2015)

 places of worship —religious tourism

 foreigners—places of historical interest

  the rich —hill stations during summers

— the sun-kissed beaches in winters

— leisure tourism

 medical tourism—world-class hospitals

Answer:

The Tourism Potential Of India

By: Navita

India’s rich cultural history and heritage and its

geographical diversity make its international tourism

potential large and varied. Besides its cultural and

heritage tourism, India also offers medical, business,

educational and sports tourism.

Indian tourism with its places of worship, places of

historical interest, hill-stations, beaches etc. embraces a

vast array. For more than 4000 years, India has been

regarded as one of the most spiritual places on earth.

The Golden Temple at Amritsar, the Konark Sun Temple,

Samath etc. attract people from all over the world. The

places of historical interest in India like the TaMahal, the

Red Fort, Charminar etc. are a great attraction for

foreigners. During summers, tourists like to visit the hill

stations in India and in winters the sun-kissed beaches

are crowded with foreign tourists. Moreover, India is

placed among the top three medical tourism

destinations in Asia, due to the world-class hospitals,

quality and low-cost treatment and highly skilled

doctors. Thus, tourism in India has emerged as one of

the fastest-growing sectors which have contributed

significantly to our county’s economic growth and

development.

Question 28.

Midday meal scheme in the schools introduced by the

government serves several purposes. Millions of

children from the deprived sections of society get

nutritious food leading to good health, are attracted to

the schools, kept from going astray and developed into

good citizens. The scheme may have some drawbacks

too. Write an article in 150-200 words on all aspects of

the scheme. You are Navtej/Navita. (All India 2015)

Answer:
 The Midday Meal Scheme

By: Navita

The Midday Meal Scheme, a school meal programme

was introduced by the Government of India to improve

the nutritional status of school-going children who

belong to the deprived sections of the society. This

Scheme has attracted many impoverished children to

school thus also preventing them from going astray.

The Midday Meal Scheme, has been a successful

nationwide free school lunch program catering to all

students. It has helped in boosting school enrolment,

ending hunger, aiding the process of socialisation,

promoting gender equality by increasing female

enrolment and also creating employment opportunities

for poor.

But the Midday Meal Scheme has its drawbacks also.

The midday meal tragedy in Bihar which killed 23

children who ate the contaminated cooked food turned

the spotlight on the problems affecting this scheme.

Lack of monitoring, hygiene and corruption discredits

the Midday Meal Scheme. Experts say the scheme

suffers from structural problems, the biggest being the

lack of a proper monitoring mechanism. Children often

get low quality, insufficient and unhygienic food and

there is corruption in the delivery system.

The government has now decided to streamline this

scheme and involve parents and local members of the

community in its implementation. This will prove to be

the most positive step to ensure that the Midday Meal

Scheme serves its required purpose.

Question 29.

Morning assembly in the schools gives a cool and calm

start to the otherwise hectic schedule of the day. It can

be a means of passing important information to the

students. What are your views on this significant event

of the day? Write an article in 150-200 words on

‘Importance of Morning Assembly’. You are

Navtej/Navita. (All India 2015)

Answer:

Importance Of Morning Assembly

By: Navtej
Morning Assembly is one the most important aspects of

a school’s curriculum. It has the potential to nurture a

positive school ethos that stresses care for the self and

for others. It gives a cool and calm start to the otherwise

hectic schedule of the day.

Morning Assembly prepares students physically,

mentally and spiritually for the day.

A morning assembly includes prayer, songs, speeches

and physical exercises all of which energise us to begin

the day on an optimistic note.

Morning assembly has the potential to heighten

consciousness by generating a school ethos that is

calm, happy and purposeful. It also contributes to

developing personal autonomy and contentment. A

Morning Assembly is also a means for the whole school

to celebrate national festivals together. It gives a chance

to students to share stories, experiences and anecdotes

etc. At a later stage in our lives, we reflect and celebrate

a behaviour that reflects the values we have embedded

on a daily basis through our Morning Assembly.

Morning Assembly’s can become a very positive

experience once their influence and impact to both the

individual and the school, in general, is truly understood

and recognised.

Question 30.

A 12-year-old boy in your neighbourhood drives a car

and the parents proudly boast of it. Write an article in

150-200 words on the hazards of underage driving and

the need to educate the young ones and their parents on

the consequences of unlawful driving. You are

Vishnu/Vaishnavi. (Comptt. Delhi 2015)

Answer:

Hazards Of Underage Driving

By: Vaishnavi

A twelve-year-old boy in our neighbourhood drives a car

and the parents proudly boast of it. Unfortunately, this is

not a rare occurrence. In recent years we have seen a

rise of underage unlicensed drivers on the road. To

address this serious issue we need to first understand

the dangers of underage driving. The high number of

underage drivers transgressing the law by going for a

joyride can be attributed to peer pressure and a general

feeling of youthful invincibility. Teenagers have a feeling

that they can get away with breaking the law and this

gives them a sense of bravado. The hazards of

underage driving can result in loss of life or severe

physical and emotional scars on the survivors.

Underage driving should be totally discouraged by

parents who must talk to their children about the drastic

consequences of this action and the trouble they can

get into. The authorities too should take strict action

against parents if children break the law. The most

effective way to discourage underage driving would be

to teach responsibility by setting an example. If parents

drive with caution and obey traffic rules their children

will also abide the laws of the road.

Question 31.

It is said that if you educate a boy, you educate a person

and if you educate a girl you educate a family. Write an

article in 150-200 words on the importance of educating

women. You are Suresh/Shobha. (Comptt. All India

2015)

Answer:

Importance Of Educating Women

By: Shobha

Education of girls has been a high priority with the

Government of India. In the new millennium India has

consolidated its earlier educational reforms with

increased resources and stronger policy commitments

for achieving elementary education, particularly for girls.

‘Saroa Shiksha Abhiyan’ or ‘Education For All’

programme recognizes that ensuring the education of

the girl child requires changes not only in the education

system but also in society’s norms and attitudes. A two-

pronged gender strategy has hence been adopted to

make the educational system responsive to the needs of

the girls through targeted interventions which serve as a

pull-factor to enhance access and retention of girls in

schools on the one hand and generate a community

demand for girls’ education through training and

mobilisation on the other hand. The CBSE has also

come up with the novel scheme of providing free

education from the sixth standard onwards to the single

girl child.

If India wants to rank among the developed nations, it

must give foremost priority to female education

because if we educate a man, we educate an individual,

but if we educate a woman we educate an entire family.

If women are educated then problems like female

infanticide, dowry, domestic violence, child marriage and

other related atrocities will vanish. Education provides

the essential criteria to fulfil certain economic, political

and cultural functions and improves the socio-economic

status of women. At every age and level education

enhances the intellectual, social and emotional

development of women and enables them to meet their

basic needs. Thus most of the problems that our society

today faces can be eradicated by educating the girl

child.

Question 32.

Nowadays, students attend coaching classes early in

the morning or after school hours. You feel that this

trend makes them tired, affects their health and so their

grades. Write an article in 150-200 words to make the

students understand how this is not very helpful in

improving their grades and is a waste of their precious

time. You are Ram/ Rani. (Comptt. All india 2015)

Answer:

Coaching Classes

Waste Of Student’s Precious Time

By: Ram

To attend coaching classes has become more of a trend

which most students follow. This has happened

because of the growing competition and the desire

among students to excel. They feel that by attending

these coaching classes they will be able to improve their

grades but unfortunately, it is a waste of their precious

time. It makes them tired, affects their health and also

their grades. Coaching classes have become

synonymous in the lives of city students and students

find it hard to cope up with their studies without them.

Almost all students who attend coaching classes have

lost their time for recreation and physical activities.

Students sometimes travel long distances to attend the

so-called ‘reputed’ coaching centres thus wasting a lot

of time.

In today’s cut-throat competition the life of students is

as it is very stressful and combined with this stress is

the extra burden of attending coaching classes. Parents

too fail to realise how they are pressurizing the children

by making their already hectic work schedule more

strenuous by enrolling them in coaching classes.

Education is a natural process of learning and should

not be forced upon the children. Students who

overestimate their stamina join these coaching classes

and end up creating a mess of their daily routine.

Students are running from one place to another for

coaching and are unable to realise the value of time and

time management. Not only are coaching centres

unnecessary but are also adversely affecting the life of

students.

Question 33.

Teenagers often feel confused. They face a lot of

pressure from various quarters. Write an article in 120-

150 words, on ‘Stress the teenager’s face’. You are

Rani/Rama. (Comptt. Al 2015)

Answer:

Stress The Teenager’s Face

By: Ram

The teen stage of one’s life is filled with stress and

anxiety. This is because it is that stage of our life when

we face a host of novel problems and pressures from

various quarters.

To start with teenagers experience many significant

physical changes and at times they find it difficult to

cope with their bodies that grow and develop rapidly.

Combined with this is social pressure, peer pressure and

parental pressure. Most teenagers feel that academic

concerns feature at the top of their list of stress

stimulants. Worries about their future, the tension to

attain good grades and cut-throat competition cause

teenagers to experience inordinate amount of stress.

The stress that teenagers face today may vary from

academic pressure, physical appearances, peer

pressure etc. but these issues can be dealt with if

parents and guardians understand these problems and

approach them in a positive and friendly manner. Proper

guidance is vital especially in this very formative phase

in the life of children so that they can grow up to be

confident and optimistic adults. Finally teenagers need

to develop assertive-ness, training skills and learn

practical coping skills. They should always feel good

about doing a competent job rather than demanding

perfection from themselves and others.

Question 34.

TV and Internet have reduced the charm of reading for

children. Write an article in 120-150 words on the

reasons for this lack of interest. Suggest measures to

create a desire to read among children right from a very

young age. You are Ram/Rama. (Comptt. All India 2015)

Answer:

Lack Of Interest In Reading

By: Rama

Reading is an essential tool for lifelong learning. It has a

vital role to play in overall development. Reading

enables us to extend our scope of knowledge and

experience.

But due to technological development the charm of

reading has considerably reduced for children. They

spend so much time glued to the TV and internet that

reading a book in a quiet and peaceful corner of their

homes or library has become an archaic idea for most

children. This fast declining interest in reading culture

among children is a cause of concern and challenge to

all and we need to take up measures to alleviate this

problem.

The desire for reading needs to be inculcated among

children from a very young age. Parents should read out

books to their kids from the time when they are

incapable of reading. This way children learn that

reading is fun and not a chore. This will also help to

promote their attention span which is an important skill

for a child to concentrate. To develop the habit of

reading in children requires a number of skills that, in

most children, has to be formed by direct and informed

instruction provided through constant reiteration.

Question 35.

India is a land of diversity. One way in which it makes us

feel proud of it is the number of festivals we enjoy. Write

an article in 150-200 words on ‘Festivals of India’. You

are Karuna/ Karan. (Delhi 2016)

Answer:

Festivals Of India

By: Karuna

India is a land of diversity. People of different religions,

races and cultures peacefully coexist together. This

unity in diversity gives us Indians an opportunity to

celebrate a number of festivals thus giving us a sense of

joy and pride. These festivals create a sense of cultural

unity and brotherhood. Festivals give us a unique

opportunity to spend time with our friends and family

and also promote communal harmony.

India is a secular country and so we celebrate many

cultural and traditional festivals. Each festival is

celebrated differently and uniquely based on certain

rituals and beliefs. Some festivals are celebrated by the

whole nation and certain festivals are confined to

specific regions. But all the festivals are celebrated with

great enthusiasm.

Based on rituals and religions, festivals have been

categorized. There are Hindu festivals, the dates of

which are fixed on the basis of the Hindu calendar.

These include Diwali, Dussehra, Holi, Lohri,

Janamasthmi, Raksha Bartdhan to name a few. Then

there are festivals celebrated by Muslims. Important

among them are Ramzan, Id-Ul-Milad, Bakra- Id,

Muharram, etc. The most important festivals celebrated

by the Sikhs are the birthdays of their ten Gurus. The

Christians celebrate Good Friday, Easter and Christmas.

The uniqueness of our country lies in the fact that in

spite of diversities we celebrate and enjoy the fervour of

numerous festivals which are celebrated with a sense of

oneness.

Question 36.

Rising pollution, fast and competitive lifestyle, lack of

nutritious food etc. have caused health woes for a large

section of our population. Providing health care used to

be a charitable and ethical activity. Today it has become

a commercialized, money spinning business. Write an

article in 150-200 words on ‘How to provide proper

health care to the common man’. You are Karan/Karuna.

(Delhi 2016)

Answer:

How To Provide Proper

Health Care To The Common Man

By: Karan

The incessant rise in the levels of pollution, the fast and

competitive lifestyle and lack of nutritious diet has

caused numerous health problems to a large section of

our population. Earlier providing health care used to be a

charitable activity but today it has become so

commercialized, a money-spinning business. Though, to

a certain extent, commercialization of health care has

benefited us greatly. Privatisation of hospitals has

enabled to provide better medical facilities and good

ambience in hospitals. The unfortunate part however, is

that a great number of our population cannot afford

these facilities. These health care facilities are way

beyond the reach of the common man. 60% of the

population is economically weak and cannot afford to

pay the expenses of a private hospital. Medical care is a

basic necessity and stricter regulations need to be

implemented to standardize the health practices and

services across government and private hospitals.

To provide affordable health care to the common man

the government should initiate the setting up of more

primary health centres. At all these centres medical aid

must be made more accessible, more reliable and more

affordable. Essential medicines must be made available

free of cost at all such centres and the essential medical

facilities must also be available to all sections or

society.

Healthcare is the right of every citizen, without having to

go through hassles. Though we cannot say healthcare in

India is at par for the rich and poor, there is a silver lining

above the clouds, with the promise of a healthier

tomorrow.
Question 37.

India is an emerging economy. We are rich in natural

resources. Yet a significant proportion of our people is

living below poverty line. One cause of this poverty is our

rising population. Write an article in 150-200 words on

‘How to keep a check on population’. You are

Karuna/Karan. (Delhi 2016)

Answer:

How To Keep A Check On Population

By: Karan

Next to China, India is the second largest populated

country in the world. For a developing country like India,

this population explosion is a curse that is threatening

the development of the country and its society.

An emerging economy, with rapidly escalating

population is likely to face a lack in their resources, as

the resources available per person are always

plummeting, leading to increased poverty, malnutrition

and other population related problems. The need of the

hour is to keep a check on population. The first step in

this direction would be the education of the masses.

Their mental outlook needs to be altered. Moreover,

increasing the welfare and status of women and girls,

increasing awareness of family planning methods,

encouraging female empowerment can also play a very

major role in controlling population.

Improved standard of living also acts as a deterrent to

large family norm. The communication media like radio,

television and newspapers are a good means to

propagate the benefits of planned families to the

uneducated people in the rural and backward areas of

India. The government can give various types of

incentives to people who practice family planning. Strict

legal action should be taken against child marriage and

there should be proper enforcement of laws related to

child labour.

If the population growth in our country is not i kept under

check, no amount of progress made by India will make a

difference to the poverty that plagues us.

Question 38.

Women feel unsafe on the road, at their place of work

and even at home. There is an urgent need to change

the male mindset in its attitude towards women. Write

an article in 150-200 words on ‘How to make women

feel safe’. You are Karan/Karuna. (Delhi 2016)

Answer:

How To Make Women Feel Safe

By: Karuna

It is unfortunate that being in the 21st century with so

much technological advancement we still have not been

able to ensure the safety of women. Numerous cases

have been reported and many unreported about the

torture and humiliation that women are subjected to.

They are in fact the most vulnerable as far as their

safety and security is concerned.

Concerns about safety restrict the mobility and activity

of women and leave them with no choice but to

strategise everything from timings to travel, how to walk,

how to dress or commute. When we talk about women’s

safety, the biggest question is how do we keep our

mothers, sisters and daughters safe against

violence outside the house. Women are often stared at,

molested and discriminated against. Not only outside

the house, they are even discriminated against at the

workplace and in their homes.

We cannot just hold our legal system and the police

responsible for the atrocities committed to women. As

good citizens, we have a fundamental duty to contribute

towards bringing an order to ensure dignity and respect

for women so that they too can live with a sense of

freedom, pride and confidence. To ensure this is the

collective work of our society. A reform in the police

system is also needed wherein women police should be

deployed in most areas so as to make women feel safe.

CCTV cameras should be installed at strategic places

and these should be closely monitored. Our legal system

also needs reforms wherein stringent punishments that

are non-bailable in nature should be given to a person

who outrages the modesty of a woman. We also need

fast track courts to deal with offences and crimes

against women. These can be made responsible to clear

the cases on a day-to-day basis with fair trial as its core

principle.
The need of the hour is to take action not by force but by

will to make our country more safe and secure for

women and bring to reforms whereby women feel more

fearless and empowered.

Question 39.

Education has always been a noble profession. Our

ancestors received their learning at gurukuls and

ashrams. Even in the near past pathshalas (schools)

were associated with places of worship. Today,

education is fast becoming commercialized. Parents

have to shell out a lot of money on coaching classes,

tuition fees etc. Write an article in 150-200 words on

‘The State of Education, Today’. You are Karap/Karuna.

(All India 2016)

Answer:

The State Of Education Today

By: Karuna

Education has always been a noble profession and has

always been held in high esteem. Our ancestors

received their education in ashrams and gurukuls. Even

in the near past pathshalas (schools) were associated

with places of worships. But, in the present day,

education has become commercialized, a business

where lot of money is involved.

With the advent of a large number of private institutions

in the mid nineties, the agenda of education has been

hijacked and educational institutes have become a

profit-generating business. Schools, coaching centres

and educational institutes are prospering. They charge a

huge amount of money to impart education and parents

too are willing to shell out a lot of money to educate

their wards. Even the most reputed educational

institutes do not hesitate in taking large donations,

which parents give to them without any hassles.

Secondly, the state of education in our country today is a

cause of concern. Along with rampant

commercialization, the quality and standard of

education has not improved much. The curriculum in

schools and colleges lacks basic communication and

problem-solving skills, promotes rote learning, curbs

creativity and originality and lays too much emphasis on

marks. There is a need for a complete overhauling of the

quality of education being imparted in our institutions.

Another cause for concern is the dire shortage of

schools, colleges and educational infrastructure in our

country. The goal of education to harness the potential

of a student and to channelize it in the right way has

been lost. The need of the hour is for the government

and people to work hand in hand and improve these sad

state of affairs.

Question 40.

According to 2011 census, literacy rate of hundred

percent or around has been achieved by only a couple of

states in India. Illiteracy is found mostly among the old

and deprived sections of society. What can the youth do

to spread literacy in society? Write an article in 150-200

words on ‘Role of students in eradicating illiteracy’. You

are Karuna/Karan. (All India 2016)

Answer:

The Role Of Students In

Removing Illiteracy

Illiteracy is still a major blot on India, after more than

sixty years of its achieving independence. To an extent it

exemplifies India’s failure to reach out to its masses.

The removal of illiteracy has to be tackled on a priority

basis and students can play an important role in

achieving this goal. Since they are in the process of

receiving education themselves they are most

appropriate for also putting forth their services to

achieve the goal of educating the illiterate masses.

Students should be encouraged to carry the lamp of

knowledge by organizing events such as, ‘Each One,

Teach One’.

If every student resolves to teach two illiterate persons

in a year during his vacations, it will in the long run help

to eradicate illiteracy. The government should also

render full support to students in terms of infrastructure

in their contribution to the Indian Literacy Campaign.

Students can also play a vital role in the programme of

Adult Literacy. If all our students get together and try to

work towards achieving literacy among the masses,

then the day is not far when India too will join the league

of countries that have attained hundred percent literacy.

Question 41.

Increase in the number of private vehicles has caused

problems like rising air pollution, traffic jams, lack of

parking space, road rage etc. The solution lies in the use

of public transport. Write an article in 150-200 words on

‘ The Importance of Public Transport’. You are Karan/

Karuna. (All India)

Answer:

The Importance Of

Public Transport

By: Karan

Increase in the number of private vehicles in the last two

decades has led to an unprecedented rise in air

pollution, traffic jams, lack of parking space, road rage,

etc. One of the solutions to this problem lies in the use

of public transport.

Use of public transport reduces travel by private

vehicles. Public transport is beneficial as it not only

eases congestion on roads but also saves fuel, money

and energy. When people use public transport they

reduce their carbon footprint and conserve energy by

eliminating travel that would otherwise have been made

in a private vehicle. It also gives people energy efficient

choices and reduces overall greenhouse gas emissions

without reducing the mobility that is so vital to our

nation’s economic growth. To encourage more people to

use public transport the authorities need to improve

local train and bus services. Funds need to be allocated

to make public transport services accessible and more

reliable.

A bus with as few as 7-8 passengers is more fuel

efficient than an average single occupant car. The

recent odd-even rule for cars started by Chief Minister of

Delhi, Mr. Arvind Kejriwal was initiated to encourage the

use of public transport and thereby reduce pollution

caused by traffic. The authorities are working hard to

make public more aware of how useful, efficient and

less damaging to the environment the use of public

transport is.

Question 42.

In certain states of India there is a great imbalance in

the male female ratio. This is the result of special

treatment given to boys in the family. Why is it so? How

can we change this mindset? Write an article in 150-200

words on ‘Gender discrimination in society’. You are

Karuna/Karan. (All India 2016)

Answer:

Gender Discrimination In Society

By: Karuna

The 2011 census in India has revealed that the gender

imbalance is at its highest level in certain states of

India. A cultural preference for boys and the increasing

availability of prenatal screening to determine an unborn

child’s sex have helped contribute to a worsening in the

male-female ratio.
More boys and fewer girls in a population has

disastrous effects not only on the social life but also on

the economic vibrancy of a country. In India the male in

general and the male child, in particular, have privileged

position in the patriarchal family tradition. It is the sons

who inherit land, carry forward the family name,

financially provide for parents in old age and perform

rituals for deceased parents. Awareness needs to be

created in certain sections of society regarding equality

of women. Though Government regulations help to

improve the position of women in society, the actual

way to change the mindset of people is through

education and changing the ways that people think

about gender roles. The media must take active part in

educating the people about the importance of gender

equality. The government must enforce laws protecting

women in all spheres of life—be it at the domestic front

or at the professional front. More number of men must

be recruited in the fight against gender discrimination.

When men treat women with respect, the gender

equality movement is strengthened.

The girl deficit will create a society that will be much

less stable and much more volatile than it would be with

a balanced male female ratio.

Question 43.

While watching TV what we generally dislike most are

commercial breaks, yet, a number of advertisements do

add to our information. Write an article in 150-200 words

on ‘Advertisements as source of information’. You are

Karuna/Karan. (All India 2016)

Answer:

Advertisements As

A Source Of Information

By: Karan I

Commercial breaks are generally disliked by most of us

while watching TV, yet, a number of advertisements are

a source of information. They give us a fair knowledge

about the goods and services available in the market

and enable us to choose our options.

Advertisements are considered to be an integral part of

business which make people aware of the goods and

services available in the market. They promote

competition among producers and manufacturers who

have to maintain good quality of their goods to ensure

their sale. New products are introduced and popularised

through advertisements. The consumer saves time due

to prior knowledge about the product, its price, its

features, etc. Advertising is a very artistic way of

communicating with the customers with great

communication skills as its main characteristic.

Moreover they provide information to the producers or

the companies about their competitors and enable them

to match the level of their competitors.

Advertisements help to educate people. Social issues

like family planning, child labour, education of save girl

child, etc. are aptly highlighted through the medium of

advertisement. The public is made aware of several

social welfare schemes initiated by the government

through the medium of advertisements.

Advertisements open our vision to a wide variety of

products and services and definitely add to our

information in a light and entertaining manner.

Question 44.

You have turned 18 and gained the right to vote in the

upcoming election. Write an article in 150-200 words on

how fruitfully you are going to use your precious vote.

What do you think are the qualities necessary for a

candidate to become a good leader? You are

Amrit/Amrita. (Comptt. Delhi 2016)

Answer:
 Youth And Democracy

By: Amrit

In most countries, the age of 18 is when you are legally

and officially treated as an adult. This gives you the

privilege to enjoy certain rights alongwith the need to

fulfil certain duties. I have just turned 18 and become

eligible to vote. I am looking forward to casting my vote

in the upcoming elections. I feel a sense of patriotism

and responsibility towards my country, more so, as an

educated youth. My only concern is that I should be able

to use my precious vote fruitfully and choose the most

able candidate as our representative. The qualities that I

seek in a good leader are that One who can be trusted

and is known to live a life of honesty and integrity.

True authority is bom from respect for the good

character and trustworthiness of the person who leads.

A good leader instills confidence and followership by

having a clear vision and passion for being truly

successful. A leader must be strong and decisive but

also humble. An able leader makes sustainable

promises and is a person who sticks to his words.

We should remember that a good leader is not innately

bom. So always choose and vote for a candidate who

possesses the qualities of determination, self reflection,

open-mindedness, patience and knowledge.

Question 45.

Mobile phones have influenced children in a big way.

Write an article in 150-200 words on how they have

affected the younger generation. You are AmriAmrita.

(Comptt. Delhi 2016)

Answer:

Youth And Mobile Phones

By: Amrita

Technology has taken over every sphere of human life,

the most popular being mobile phones which have

drastically affected the lives of all people, especially

youngsters who feel absolutely lost if they are without

their cell phones.

It has been seen that every technological advancement

that provides dramatic benefits has consequential costs

and it is this area of mobile phone usage that needs

attention, particularly their affect on youngsters. Parents

are unable to understand their children’s obsession with

their mobile phones. They find the so called ‘mobile

culture’ stressful, causing a rift between members of a

family. The younger generation has grown up with

mobile phones and so are completely addicted to these

devices. The worry over the impact of this mobile

dependency on the present generation of youngsters is

its addiction which makes them couch potatoes and

gives them objectionable exposure. Since mobile phone

is a safety device we cannot prohibit youngsters from

using it but the solution lies in scheduling a fixed time

for its usage, parent counselling and checking and

diverting the attention of children and youngsters

towards other constructive activities.

The advantages or disadvantages of a mobile phone,

like any other device, depends entirely upon its usage.

The cell phone is very helpful and convenient and we

should ensure its optimal and positive usage.

Question 46.

Road accidents have doubled in the last few years. Write

an article in 150-200 words on the reasons for increase

in the number of accidents and how they can be

minimised. You are Dev/Devika. (Comptt. Delhi 2016)

Answer:

Alarming Rise In Road Accidents

By: Dev
Road accidents have become the leading cause of death

by injury and the tenth leading cause of all deaths

globally. In India, the pressure on roads has been on an

alarming rise and the lack of road sense has made

matters worse.

Driving licenses are issued on illegal gratifications to

some drivers and traffic rules and regulations are rarely

adhered to. The lack of tolerance and patience among

drivers leads to an increased sense of anger and

uncontrolled behaviour especially by the youngsters.

Moreover the condition of roads needs to be improved

and maintained. They are often full of potholes and their

condition worsens during the rainy season.

To prevent these accidents, it is imperative that effective

long and short-term measures are effectively adopted.

The traffic police needs to be more active and strict to

ensure proper implementation of rules. Higher fines

should be imposed and license of repeated offenders

should be confiscated. There should be an effective

check on the speed limit of vehicles.

To minimise the number of road accidents proper

awareness needs to be created among the masses

regarding road safety alongwith importance of

observation of traffic rules.

Question 47.

Parents keep on saving money to be spent on the

weddings of their children. This money could have been

spent, instead on their education. Write an article in 150-

200 words on ‘Importance of simple weddings’. You are

Anu/Anurag. (Comptt. All India 2016)

Answer:

Importance Of Simple Weddings

By: Anu

It is the responsibility of every parent to give a decent

upbringing and education to their child. But

unfortunately, there are still some parents who

compromise on their child’s education, especially if their

child is a girl, and instead save money to be spent on her

wedding.

The basic social structure in our country is such where

the marriage of a girl is more important than her

education. It is a rather costly affair and the parents

spend all their life-savings for this grand and

extravagant event. They do not want to compromise on

the expenditure of their daughter’s marriage so they end

up compromising on her education instead. Many a time

parents want their daughters to get a good education

with the sole purpose of enhancing her matrimonial

prospects.

The need of the time is to give a girl’s education

topmost priority. The concept of simple marriage should

be promoted. The money spent on a girl’s education is

actually an investment. Let us remember marriage is an

important but not the ultimate purpose of a girl’s life. It

is only a part of it and a choice some girls probably do

not wish to make. So a girl should be given good

education, good morals and she must be encouraged to

pursue her passions.

After all, a parent’s main concern is the welfare of their

daughter, so they should make a start by placing the

control of her future in her own hands by giving her a

good education.

Question 48.

You are Mr. Raghav, Physical Education Teacher in your

school. Write an article for the school magazine, in 150-

200 words, on ‘Exercise and Healthy Living’. (Comptt. All

India 2016)

Answer:
 Exercise And Healthy Living

By: Mr. Raghav,

Physical Education Teacher Modern life can be quite

stressful and taxing and therefore it is most important to

live a healthy life which we can lead only through a

disciplined routine and regular exercise. The health

benefits of physical activity and exercise are hard to

ignore.

Exercise keeps one active, alert and also sharpens one’s

memory. It enables one to develop a positive attitude,

increases productivity and gives long life. Morning walk,

Yoga, aerobics and other exercises help us to lead a

healthy life. Moreover, regular physical exercise

improves one’s muscle strength and boosts endurance.

Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and vital

nutrients to our tissues and help our cardiovascular

system work more efficiently.

Exercise and physical activity can also be a fun way to

spend time. It gives us a chance to unwind, enjoy the

outdoors or simply engage in activities that make us

happy. As a general rule, aim for at least thirty minutes

of physical exercise every day. Exercise is the miracle

cure we have always had but sometimes, probably for

too long, we neglect to take our recommended dose.

People of all ages need to exercise and reduce their

sedentary lifestyle which means we all need to think

about increasing the types of physical activities that can

easily be included in our daily routine.

Question 49.

Life in cities is not as safe as it used to be. People feel

more at risk today. The police department of your city

has been laying emphasis on public safety through

exhibitions, mock drills and seminars. Write an article in

150-200 words on ‘How to ensure safe life in cities’. You

are Aman/Anamika.

(Comptt. All India 2016)

Answer:

How To Ensure Safe Life In Cities

By: Aman

Living in a city enables people to advance socially and

economically. However many challenges exist for

people living in cities. One of the main challenges is the

question of the safety of city dwellers.

Crimes like kidnapping, murder, rape, robberies, chain-

snatching and crimes against women and senior

citizens are most common. The reasons for these can

be attributed to unemployment, illiteracy, greed and the

desire to maintain high status by acquiring easy money.

We cannot always hold our legal system and the police

responsible for the rise of crime rate in cities. It is the

duty of each one of us to be vigilant at all times and to

ensure our safety.

The police certainly need to be more active and vigilant.

Offenders need to be punished most stringently so as to

deter others about the repercussions in case they

commit the same crime. Parents need to inculcate

moral values in their children from a very young age so

that they grow up clearly understanding the difference

between right and wrong. The government should

generate more employment opportunities to ensure that

the number of unemployed youngsters in our country

does not rise.

It is definitely the collective responsibility of our

government, the police department and each one of us

to strive for a safe and secure city.

Question 50. Villages are lacking in basic facilities like

clean drinking water, proper sanitation etc. As a result

people suffer from various diseases. Write an article in

150-200 words on ‘Rural Health’. You are Arun/Karuna.

(Comptt. All India 2016)

Answer:

Rural Health

By: Karuna

Rural health care is one of the biggest challenges facing

the Health Ministry of India. With more than seventy per

cent of our population living in rural areas and the low

level of health facilities, mortality rates due to diseases

are on a high. So, rural life is healthy is more of a myth.

Healthcare is the right of every individual but lack of

quality infrastructure, dearth of qualified medical

functionaries and non-accessibility to basic medicines

and medical aid thwarts its reach to more than sixty per
cent of population that lives in rural India. Basic

amenities like clean drinking water, a proper sewage and

drainage system and the facility of toilets is still not

available to our major rural population.

Several organisations are working alongwith the

government and NGOs to improve the rural health

system in India. People living in rural areas need to be

made aware of the importance of cleanliness and

sanitation. Regular health check camps should be set-up

at primary health centres in rural areas. Health- Melas

should be organised to spread health awareness among

the masses.
Growth in national income is not enough by itself if its

benefits do not manifest themselves in the form of

better health facilities for all.

Question 51.

Our performance in Rio Olympics has told us that we do

not pay enough attention to ! athletics and outdoor

games. It is time we revised our attitude. Sports should

be an important part of a school’s daily routine. Write an

article in 150-200 words on the ‘Importance of Outdoor

Games’. You are Sreea/Thomas. (Delhi 2017 2016)

Answer:

Importance Of Outdoor Games

By; Sreeja
Our country’s performance in the Rio Olympics is

enough proof that athletics and outdoor games are not

given due importance and neglected completely by our

government, schools, colleges and by one and all. It is

high time we revise our attitude and make sports an

important part of our school and college curriculum.

It has been argued that sports should be made

compulsory right from the primary classes and should

be made an integral part of school education. Besides

providing a basis for physical fitness, sports and

outdoor games inculcate a spirit of competition and

impart a sense of discipline and togetherness in us.

Outdoor games also enable us to become more daring

and adventurous. We always think of a healthy mind in a

healthy body.

Both physical and mental well being are the essential

prerequisites for great achievement in our life. Thus, it is

actually high time we make the required efforts to spot

our sports talents when they are young and provide

them with all the necessary facilities and infrastructure

to hone their talent. They need to be trained from a very

young age to enable them to compete confidently with

world champions.

Question 52.

Every teenager has a dream to achieve something in life.

What they are going to become tomorrow depends on

what our youth dream today. Write an article in 150-200

ivords \ on ‘What I want to be in life’. You are

Simranif/Smita. (All India 2016)

Answer:

What I Want To Be In Life

By: Simranjit

Every teenager has a dream to achieve something in life.

Any person without an aim or dream drifts aimlessly and

can never achieve success. Aimless life is like a

rudderless ship which leads us nowhere.

I too have a dream that I will work very hard to fulfil. I

want to be a pilot. I have spent most of my childhood

reading aviation history which

has always fascinated me. Moreover, as a pilot I can

lead an adventurous life and also get an opportunity to

face various types of challenges. An action-oriented and

challenging career has always been my passion. My first

conscious entry into a plane was probably at the age of

six or seven years. I can still recall how awestruck I was

at the idea that the plane was actually going to fly with

so many people on board and thought that the person

who was going to fly the plane was probably a demi-

God. I was really fascinated by this person who I got to

know was called the ‘pilot’ and somehow the idea of

flying a plane got stuck in my mind since that tender

age.
My passion for flying a plane has grown with age and

today I am so happy that I have started on the voyage of

life which will ultimately make me fulfil my dream.

Question 53.

To have a fair complexion is an obsession in our society.

Demand for fair brides in matrimonial columns and sale

of fairness creams are evidence enough. Write an article

in 150-200 words giving your view on ‘Beautiful mind,

better than a fair complexion.’ You are Natwar/Nimmi.

Use the following clues: (All India 2016)

 the west, people like to be tanned

 fair complexion, only skin deep

 beautiful mind

 attitude to life
  behaviour in society, etc.

Answer:

Beautiful Mind, Supersedes A Fair Complexion

By: Natwar

To have a fair complexion is an obsession in our society,

more so where the female gender is concerned. Demand

for fair brides in matrimonial columns and the sale of

fairness creams are evidence enough how obsessed our

society is with fair complexion.

Though the people of our country blindly ape the

western culture, but in this respect they are not like

people in the West who like to be tanned. Let us not

forget that fair complexion is only skin deep and a

beautiful person is one who has a beautiful mind. All the

development and progress that we are so proud of in the

21st century has not been able to remove the shackles

of medieval mindset. It is actually our behaviour in

society that determines the kind of person we are. It is

high time we revaluate what we consider beautiful and

thus assess the unrealistic expectations and pressures

that are unnecessarily put on females to be superficially

beautiful.

Making technological progress is an achievement but

our real advancement would be when we get rid of this

racist mindset within our society. Unfortunately we still

have a long way to go to achieve that.

Thank You!
Question 54.

You are Ram/Rajani. You feel that India, with its rich and

varied heritage, linguistic and cultural diversity is an

excellent destination for tourism. Promoting tourism will

surely promote our economy. Write an article titled,

‘Promoting Tourism is Promoting Ourselves’, in 150-200

ivords, specifying the advantages of promoting tourism

and how it can be ; accomplished. (Comptt. Delhi 2016)

Answer:

Promoting Tourism Is Promoting

Ourselves

By: Ram 1

India is a vast country, with a rich and varied i heritage,

linguistic and cultural diversity and I therefore its tourist

potential is equally vast. ; Promoting tourism will also

play a vital role in the development of our country as it is

an important source of earning foreign exchange.

Tourism has become a thriving global industry with the

power to have a positive impact on the developing

countries. It is the largest service industry in India, so

the Ministry of Tourism, the nodal agency for developing

and promoting tourism in India runs and maintains the

“Incredible India” campaign.

India is a large country with a rich cultural heritage and

so it has the potential to provide ; great geographical

and cultural diversity to ! tourists. In spite of this the

number of tourists ; visiting India is decreasing rapidly

every year. I It’s always easy to have discussions on

what ; the tourism industry should do and what it is ; not

doing. Cleanliness, hygiene and safety are factors most

tourists thrive upon and in this sector our country’s

progress lags behind, mainly because there are no

stringent laws that i are effectively implemented. Indian

tourism ; industry has been hit by pollution. Resolving

these issues by imposing heavy fines on the ! polluters,

enforcing consumer laws, ensuring ! security of tourists,

especially females and providing decent and hygienic

accommodation I will go a long way in promoting

tourism and thereby salvaging the much needed foreign

exchange for our country.

Also the tourist infrastructure in India should I be

strengthened. Airports and railway stations should

provide accurate and reliable information to foreign

tourists about tourist destinations, hotels, taxis, etc.

Government-owned hotels should be managed properly.

The Government should take steps to restore the

splendour of the ancient monuments and also take

appropriate steps for the upkeep and maintenance of

the various tourist destinations. Although the tourism

industry has initiated many improvements lately, we still

have a long way to go so as to ensure tourism alone is

able to generate significant revenue for the country.

Question 55.

You are Ram/Rajani, a social activist. You feel

unnecessary hurry is the cause of stress that hurts

people right from children to elders and is crippling us in

many ways, even causing death. Write an article on the

topic, ‘Slow and Steady Wins the Race ‘ in 150-200

words, driving home how measured steps, meaningful

measures coupled with systematic approach can make

us achieve our goals. (Comptt. Delhi 2016)

Answer:

Slow And Steady Wins The Race

By: Ram

The famous saying, ‘Slow and steady wins the race’

emphasizes the problems one is likely to face due to

unnecessary hurry. This hastiness is the cause of stress

that hurts children and adults alike and is crippling our

society in many ways, even causing death.

A person who is consistent and steady in his approach

can achieve success even if he is slow because his

steps are measured, like the tortoise in the famous

‘tortoise and hare story’ in which the tortoise won the

race because of his tireless efforts. But the concept of

life being a race is flawed, because as soon as one

thinks of it in such terms he gets into an excited state of

agitation. Our life is not a race which can be won

through our hastiness. It is a fascinating journey wherein

measured steps and a systematic approach can enable

us to achieve our goals.

Success is very much an achievable target if we view

things with confidence; without giving up when things do

not seem to fall in place and being patient when it is

taking time to reach our expected destination. We may

often come across a person who, despite his

exceptional talent fails, while another person with

ordinary merit succeeds. The difference lies in the way

these two people have worked. The one who worked

hastily failed and the one who worked steadily and

consistently became successful. When we are in an

unnecessary hurry, our chances for making mistakes

and errors increase because in our hastiness we may

have to compromise on the quality of work. Let us

always remember there is no shortcut for success and

there is no alternative for hard work.

Question 56.

You are Ram/Rajani. You feel that in India, with its rich
and varied heritage, linguistic and cultural diversity is

essential to live in harmony which alone will lead to

prosperity and peace. Write an article on the topic ‘Unity

i in Diversity’, in 150-200 words, specifying the

advantages of unity and how we can promote it in spite

of our diversity in religion, culture and language. You

may quote relevant i examples. (Comptt. Delhi 2016)

Answer:

Unity In Diversity

By: Ram

India has a rich and varied heritage with linguistic and

cultural diversity. So to live in peace and harmony it is

essential to be united despite the differences in our

culture, caste or religion. We need to stay joined by only

one faith and that is a brotherhood.

The good thing about our country and its culture is that

it is tolerant and absorbing. The ! democratic set-up

facilitates the process of promoting unity. The diversity

in every religion or culture should therefore serve as a

source of strength. We need to be proud of our cultural

distinctiveness. Though our religions are different, their

basic teachings are the same, belief in the theory of

Dharma and Karma.

To promote unity in our diverse country we need to think

beyond petty interests and must . work for broader goals

to bring about prosperity and progress in our society.

Our social and cultural differences should not be looked

upon as conflicts but as varieties that enrich our society

and our nation as a whole. We celebrate various

festivals with a sense of unity, especially in schools and

colleges. We display a great sense of unity when there is

a foreign invasion challenge. The social customs and

traditions which all Indians observe, irrespective of their

caste and religion in different parts of our country, bring

a sense of unity which keeps alive the message of being

united despite our diversity.

Question 57.

You are Ram/Rajani. You are concerned about the

growing problem of obesity in children which leads to

type II diabetes. Write an article in 150-200 words titled

‘Health, the best Wealth,’ throwing light on what

problems arise if we eat junk food or overeat and

neglect our health, and how we can maintain good

health through right food and good habits. (Comptt.

Delhi 2016)

Answer:

Health, The Best Wealth

By: Rajani

‘Health is Wealth’, is an old saying which aptly sums up

the importance of maintaining good health. If we are

healthy we are physically and mentally contented as we

are away from medical conditions like hypertension,

diabetes, heart ailments etc.

In the past decade there has been an unprecedented

rise in the growing problem of obesity in children, which

is leading to type II diabetes. Children especially in the

cities, binge on junk food or overeat, have sugar-

sweetened beverages and include very few fruits and

vegetables in their normal diet. As a result they become

overweight and obese and make themselves vulnerable

to lifestyle diseases like high blood pressure and type II

diabetes.

It is imperative to ensure that children maintain a

healthy lifestyle through right food and good eating

habits. They should be encouraged to eat foods that

provide adequate nutrition and provide an appropriate

number of calories. Parents should look for ways to

make their favourite dishes healthier and ensure that

their children eat calorie-rich food in moderation.

Children should be encouraged to adopt an active

lifestyle where they engage in some sort of physical

activity daily. It is recommended to focus on small but

permanent changes in the children’s eating pattern than

a series of short-term changes which cannot be

sustained for long. To effectively address the complex

problem of childhood obesity a sustained effort to

promote a healthy lifestyle needs to be followed by

parents and these strategies need to be initiated in

children at a very early stage.

Question 58.

Choice of course after clearing Senior School

Examination produces a great deal of stress on the

minds of our students. Counselling can be of great help

to them. Write an article in 150200 words on the topic,

‘Role of counselling in choice of course’. You are

Ram/Rajani. (Comptt. Al 2016)

Answer:

Role Of Counselling In

Choice Of Course

By: Ram

Every student faces the question of ‘What Next?’ after

clearing his Senior School Examination. During this

phase most students face a great deal of stress and at

this time counselling regarding the choice of course can

prove to be of valuable help to them.

Many students face a dilemma while choosing a course

because the only career guidance they have is the

opinion of their parents, the teacher’s judgement and

their friends’ comments. These factors are certainly not

sufficient for a child to base the foundation of his entire

life and career. Professional counselling involves

scientifically developed aptitude and personality tests

that enable the counsellor to give the best-suited advice

to students to choose the course that best suits their

ability. Human capabilities are numerous and cannot be

measured but every person has some unique traits.

Based on their strengths, one of the keys that helps to

identify these i qualities is through the medium of

counselling. Counselling sessions help the students to

understand the pros and cons of the different streams

and the career paths they offer, so students can make

an informed choice and get a correct course

assessment that enables them to avoid risk of career

path change later in their life. Counselling thus provides

the essential morale-boost to students by building their

level of motivation that is very essential for longterm

success and improves their overall performance.

Question 59.

You are Raip/Rajani, a social activist. You feel that in

spite of all the hue and cry over the protection of women

in society are harassed on the road and even at home.

Write an article in 150-200 words on the topic ‘Women

must be given Honour’. Give suggestions on how

women can get honour in society. (Comptt. All India

2016)

Answer:

Women Must Be Given Honour

By: Ram, Social Activist

Women constitute almost half of the world’s population

and are equal stakeholders of society. But unfortunately,

even now, in the 21st century, violence against women is

rampant and their unnecessary harassment continues

despite the hue and cry of there being more laws to

ensure their protection.

It is a bitter reality that, every year, thousands of women

become victims of violence in their homes and are

harassed on the roads and sometimes these incidents

devastate their lives forever. These unfortunate

incidents affect the physical as well as mental health of

the victim. It is very important to take up concrete

efforts and introduce stem laws to ensure how violence

and harassment against women can be avoided and

how they can get their due honour in society.

We cannot just hold our legal system and the police

responsible for the atrocities committed to women. As

good citizens, we have a fundamental duty to contribute

towards bringing an order to ensure dignity and respect

for women so that they too can live with a sense of

freedom, pride and confidence. To ensure this is the

collective work of our society. We have to develop basic

morality and nurture a value system that teaches

respect for women, especially among young boys and

men.

A reform in the police system is also needed wherein

women police should be deployed in most areas so as

to make women feel safe. CCTV cameras should be

installed at strategic places and these should be closely

monitored. Our legal system also needs reforms

wherein stringent punishments that are non-bailable in

nature should be given to a person who outrages the

modesty of a woman. We also need fast track courts to

deal with offences and crimes against women.

The need of the hour is to take action not by force but by

will to make our country safe and secure for women and
bring in reforms where-by women feel more fearless and

empowered.

Question 60.

You are Ram/Rajani. Write an article in 150200 words on

‘Importance of Newspaper in our Life’. (Comptt. All India

2016)

Answer:

Importance Of Newspapers In Our Life

By: Rajani

Newspapers are the oldest and most reliable source of

news and information. The electronic media is at times

unreliable, gives inadequate information and is not

always available. Newspapers are not only most easily

available but they are also the cheapest. Moreover

newspapers are very important for students for a good

exposure to English language and enhancement of their

vocabulary through the “Editorial Column”. Newspapers

are written with honesty and sincerity unlike the

electronic media which sensationalizes news to

increase TRPs and sometimes misleads public.

Though news conveyed by TV news channels is quicker

and faster, these, many a time, tend to omit facts and

details about an incident and sometimes even

sensationalize news without a reason. Here the

newspaper comes in handy as it gives not only vital

details but also contains more reliable news. Besides,

the newspaper is easy to carry and can be read at any

time. Further, the permanence of the printed word helps

in refreshing one’s memory about certain facts and

incidents reported in the past. Newspapers also contain

many columns dedicated to advertisements like vacant

situations, buying or selling of goods, information about

missing persons, obituary news, etc. All this and much

more information is contained only in the newspaper.

Newspapers have been and will remain the mouthpiece

of the nation and the unseen advisers of the common

people.

Question 61.

You are Ram/Rajani, a social worker. The banning of

liquor shops is being taken up in many states. You

welcome the move. Write an article in 150-200 words

supporting the move, highlighting how it will promote

the society’s standard of living, health, economy etc. and

appreciating the governments that are ready to forego

the revenue that comes out of it. (Comptt. All India

2016)

Answer:

Banning Of Liquor Shops

By: Rajani

Many states have taken up the welcome move of

banning liquor shops. These states include Gujarat,

Bihar, Nagaland and Manipur and the Union Territory of

Lakshadweep. This move is most positive and will help

to promote the physical and mental well-being of society

in general.
Binge drinking and continued alcohol consumption

cause many health problems. Moreover, it decreases the

productivity of an individual, increases family problems

and is also one of the major causes of broken

relationships. People who drink heavily are most likely to

develop a physical and emotional dependency on

alcohol. With so many negative effects associated with

its consumption, there is no reason why one should not

appreciate the government’s move of banning liquor

shops.

It is also a matter of appreciation that the governments

are ready to forego a large amount of revenue that they

gain by selling liquor, only because it impacts negatively

on society. The Government of these states have

imposed complete ban for a social cause to create an

alcohol-free environment. Through this ban the

governments hope to improve society’s standard of

living. When alcohol is not available and there is no way

it can be bought the money one wastes on it is saved

and can be utilised productively elsewhere.

So there is no doubt about the fact that this bold and

welcome move taken by the government should be

appreciated and applauded.