AMCAT Reading Comprehension-6

PASSAGE-6

Personal development is the pursuit of developing, honing and mastering the skills that help us become the best that we can, with all that we have. It is the reaching for, and the realizing of, our full potential as human beings. We all want to live full, productive lives but, sometimes we just don't know where to begin. There is so much information 'out there' that it can be overwhelming and hard to sort. Depending on the problem, what seems to work for one person, may not necessarily work for everyone. There are so many different programs, strategies and techniques that it is hard to choose the right one.

One thing, however, is certain. If we want to accomplish anything in life and realize our full potential, we must have some skills - in this case, life skills. You begin by establishing a firm foundation. That foundation is "you". You must know who you are, what you want, and what you are capable of. You must then determine which values, goals and principles you will set up to guide your actions.

Often, the hardest part in any endeavor is getting started, however once you do, there is a surprising snowball effect. You will begin to feel good about what you're doing and you'll want to continue. You will want to keep improving yourself and you'll want to become the best that you can be. As you continue on the journey of personal development you will become aware that there is so much knowledge and information to be discovered and uncovered than you ever thought possible; knowledge about yourself, knowledge about others, knowledge about life and the world around you. 

The good news is that acquiring Essential Life Skills will not only contribute to your personal growth and development, it will make you a more interesting and dynamic individual. What good is all the financial success in the world if you don't have self-confidence or high self-esteem, know who you really are, what you want, or what you're doing here? We've all witnessed many outwardly successful and famous people who have not been able to find personal happiness. No amount of fame or fortune could fill the void they felt inside.

1) Why are life skills essential for personal growth?
a) It is important to acquire skills that help one fit into the society
b) Growth of an individual is incomplete without proper skills and manners
c) One can be happy by acquiring life skills, not by measuring success
d) These skills highlight the negative aspects of our personality

2) What can you infer from the term 'snowball effect'?
a) Downward trends such as feeling low about oneself are observed in people
b) to pursue knowledge, and improve oneself
c) Excess of knowledge can confuse a person
d) Improving life skills requires tremendous effort and determination

3) Which of the following best describes the 'foundation'?
a) Be clear about life and occurrence of circumstances
b) Be free and explore unseen dimensions of living life
c) Discover yourself and your qualities
d) Master the skills that will help you achieve your goals

4) What problems can we face in the beginning of personality development?
a) Abundance of problems makes it difficult to deal with them
b) Personality has various sides which are difficult to comprehend
c) There is no proper channel through which one can learn about personality
d) Different methods available to help us may not work effectively for all