Read the given passage and answer the question that follows. Time is the essence of life. It is the wealth given to us by God. Everyday all of us get 24 hours; nothing less, nothing more. Now, it is up to us how we use it. People who know how to make the best use of every moment easily open the doors of success in their lives and those who misuse time get failures one after the other. There is a saying that, ‘‘Spent time and spent words cannot come back.’’ Everybody is tied by the limits of time. Work wins appreciation only when it gets completed in a requisite time frame. Beyond the time allotted, work loses all its utility, however good may have been its quality. Just as falling of rains after the crops have dried up have no use; likewise, when the time is past the deadline, the work loses its importance and value. When iron is hot it can be cast into whichever shape we want. Once it gets cold nothing can be made out of it, however much we may beat the same. In the same way, a person who has learnt to wisely use his time and has understood how to cast himself according to the need of the time has actually learnt the true mantra of life. Shakespeare wrote in one of his plays, ‘‘I wasted time, and now doth time waste me.’’ It is true that a person who wastes even a little bit of time loses wonderful opportunities that he could have otherwise availed of by utilising that time. All the great leaders have one thing in common. They wisely utilise every moment of their time. When other people are busy in wasting time in laziness, great men are busy in making plans for the future. There is no person in history who wasted his time and still managed to achieve greatness. Therefore, there is great need to manage time wisely. ‘‘Careful Time Management’’ refers to careful planning of time and sincere execution of this plan. This is the only mantra to attain success in any endeavour. A simple change in outlook and some modification in one’s daily routine can result in a big jump forward towards greater achievements.
Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the word ‘laziness’ given in the second paragraph.
Industrious
Understanding the Question: Finding the Antonym of Laziness
The question asks us to identify the most appropriate antonym (opposite) of the word ‘laziness’ as used in the provided passage. We need to carefully read the passage and then evaluate the given options to find the word that means the opposite of being lazy or avoiding work.
Analyzing the Passage and the Word 'Laziness'
The passage discusses the importance of time management and contrasts the behaviour of successful people with those who waste time. In the second paragraph, it states, "When other people are busy in wasting time in laziness, great men are busy in making plans for the future." This context clearly defines ‘laziness’ as the act of wasting time, avoiding activity, or being idle, in contrast to the industriousness of ‘great men’ who are busy and planning.
Evaluating the Options for the Antonym of Laziness
Let’s examine each option to determine which one is the most appropriate antonym for ‘laziness’:
- Indolent: This word means wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy. This is a synonym of ‘laziness’, not an antonym.
- Inactive: This means not engaging in or involving any or much activity. While related to ‘laziness’, it simply implies a lack of activity, which might not always be due to laziness (e.g., being inactive due to rest). It is not the clearest or strongest opposite of ‘laziness’, which implies a disposition to avoid work.
- Industrious: This word means diligent and hard-working. Someone who is industrious is actively engaged in work or tasks. This directly contrasts with the state of being lazy, which is characterized by avoiding work or exertion.
- Lethargic: This means affected by lethargy; sluggish and apathetic. Lethargy is a state of being tired and lacking energy, often leading to inactivity or ‘laziness’. It is a state that can contribute to ‘laziness’, but it is not the antonym itself.
Identifying the Correct Antonym
Based on the analysis of the options and the context provided in the passage, the word that is the most appropriate antonym for ‘laziness’ is ‘Industrious’. The passage contrasts the ‘laziness’ of some people with the way ‘great men’ are ‘busy in making plans for the future’. The quality of being ‘busy’, ‘diligent’, or ‘hard-working’ is best captured by the term ‘Industrious’.
Detailed Comparison of Terms
| Term | Meaning | Relationship to Laziness |
|---|---|---|
| Laziness | Unwillingness to use energy; idleness | The word in question |
| Indolent | Lazy; avoiding activity | Synonym |
| Inactive | Not active or involved in activity | Related state, but not necessarily intentional avoidance of work |
| Industrious | Diligent and hard-working | Antonym |
| Lethargic | Sluggish, lacking energy | Can lead to inactivity and feeling lazy, but not the opposite of being lazy |
The table clearly shows that ‘Industrious’ is the direct opposite in meaning to ‘Laziness’.
Conclusion
Therefore, based on the meaning of the words and the context provided in the passage which contrasts ‘laziness’ with being ‘busy’ and ‘making plans’, the most appropriate antonym for ‘laziness’ among the given options is ‘Industrious’.
Revision Table: Key Concepts
| Concept | Definition | Relevance to Question |
|---|---|---|
| Antonym | A word opposite in meaning to another. | The question asks for the antonym of 'laziness'. |
| Laziness | The quality of being unwilling to work or use energy; idleness. | The word for which we need to find the opposite. |
| Industrious | Diligent and hard-working. | The correct antonym of laziness. |
Additional Information: Importance of Vocabulary for Comprehension
Understanding the meaning of words and their relationships (synonyms, antonyms) is crucial for comprehending passages and answering questions based on them. In this case, knowing the exact meaning of terms like ‘laziness’, ‘indolent’, ‘inactive’, ‘industrious’, and ‘lethargic’ allows us to correctly identify the antonym. The passage itself provides contextual clues by opposing ‘laziness’ with the active behaviour of ‘great men’, further reinforcing the choice of ‘industrious’.
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
Why, according to the writer can't people be motivated to use a resource prudently?
1. They feel that others may overuse the resource
2. It is possible to substitute the resource
3. Abundance of the resource availability
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
When do people use resources exhaustively?
The self-interest of people affects the use of renewable resources
People rooted in a locality
Which among the following is closest in meaning with the word 'deplete'?
