Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions. This year, I celebrated twenty-five years with a Seeing Eye dog. When I came to “The Seeing Eye’ in 1983, I had no idea how much my canine partner would do for me. I can well remember walking down a country road independently, with a light step and joy in my heart, knowing that Novel- my first Seeing Eye dog- would keep me safe. Since that glorious beginning, my dogs have seen me through two university degrees while living in four different cities in Canada and the United States. These competent and loving guides have shown me amazing skills – keeping me safe from traffic, fallen trees, new places and a host of unseen dangers. I have acquired self-confidence and a faith that anything is possible with my dog at my side. Over the years, my dogs have always been a source of pride and pleasure for me, and I brag about them to my family and friends. Today, the way young Rambo manoeuvres me through the rush-hour traffic is wonderful. But it is all those little things like finding a table at a restaurant, finding empty cubicles at the physical therapy clinic where I work, that can mean so much more. Rambo is my sixth guide who arrived in June 2008 after Ruskin left me. He has already established himself in my heart. He is guiding me through another chapter in my life. I wish to thank all my friends at ‘The Seeing Eye’ for the support they have offered me over the years. I also thank them for being like family, most importantly, being there to train these furry soul-mates so well!
The biggest consolation of having a guide dog is that it will:
ensure utmost safety
Understanding the Benefits of a Guide Dog from the Passage
The passage describes the author's long and positive experience with guide dogs, highlighting various aspects of their role in the author's life. The question asks about the biggest consolation of having a guide dog based on the text provided.
Analyzing the Passage for Key Benefits
Let's examine the passage closely to identify the main advantages the author associates with their guide dogs:
- The author remembers their first dog, Novel, would "keep me safe" while walking independently.
- The dogs are described as "competent and loving guides" who keep the author "safe from traffic, fallen trees, new places and a host of unseen dangers."
- The author gained "self-confidence and a faith that anything is possible with my dog at my side." This increased confidence and ability to navigate different environments is a direct result of the safety and guidance provided.
- The passage mentions "little things" like finding a table or finding cubicles, which "can mean so much more." While valuable, these are presented as examples of the dog's specific skills rather than the overarching main benefit.
- Manoeuvring through rush-hour traffic is mentioned as "wonderful," which is a specific safety-related skill.
The recurring theme throughout the passage is the role of the guide dog in ensuring the author's safety and enabling them to live independently and confidently by navigating the world safely.
Evaluating the Options
Now let's look at the given options in light of the passage:
- be fun to walk with: The passage doesn't explicitly focus on the fun aspect of walking, although the author expresses joy and pride in their dogs. Safety and practical guidance are emphasized more strongly.
- ensure utmost safety: This aligns directly with the repeated mentions of keeping the author safe from various dangers, including traffic, fallen trees, new places, and unseen dangers. The ability to gain self-confidence and achieve major life milestones (university degrees in different cities) is fundamentally enabled by this safety.
- find a table at a restaurant: This is mentioned as a "little thing" that means a lot, but it is a specific task the dog performs, stemming from its overall guiding ability, rather than the single biggest consolation.
- avoid traffic snarls: Avoiding traffic is mentioned as a key skill ("keeping me safe from traffic," "manoeuvres me through the rush-hour traffic is wonderful"), but it is one aspect of the broader safety provided by the dog against a range of dangers.
Based on the passage's emphasis, the most significant benefit and the biggest consolation is the overall safety and security the guide dog provides, which in turn fosters independence and confidence.
The statement that the dog will "ensure utmost safety" best encapsulates the primary and most impactful role described in the passage. The other options represent specific skills or less emphasized benefits compared to the fundamental safety provided, which allows the author to navigate the world effectively.
Conclusion on the Biggest Consolation
Considering the strong and repeated emphasis on safety from various dangers as the foundation for independence and self-confidence described in the text, the biggest consolation a guide dog offers, according to this passage, is the assurance of safety.
| Benefit Mentioned | Relevance to "Biggest Consolation" |
|---|---|
| Keeping safe (from traffic, fallen trees, unseen dangers) | Repeatedly emphasized; foundational for independence and confidence. Supports "utmost safety". |
| Increased self-confidence and faith | Result of the safety and guidance provided; enabled by the dog's reliability. |
| Finding tables, cubicles ("little things") | Specific, helpful tasks; described as important but distinct from the overall core benefit. |
| Manoeuvring through rush-hour traffic | Specific safety skill; an example of how safety is ensured. |
| Being a source of pride and pleasure | Emotional benefit; less emphasized than the practical benefits of safety and guidance. |
Revision Table: Guide Dog Benefits
This table summarizes the key points related to the benefits of having a guide dog as discussed in the passage:
| Key Benefit | Passage Reference | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Safety and Security | "keep me safe", "keeping me safe from traffic, fallen trees, new places and a host of unseen dangers" | Presented as the primary function enabling independence and confidence. |
| Independence and Confidence | "acquired self-confidence and a faith that anything is possible with my dog at my side", navigating "four different cities" | Directly facilitated by the dog's guidance and the assurance of safety. |
| Practical Assistance | "finding a table at a restaurant", "finding empty cubicles" | Specific tasks that improve daily life; referred to as "little things" but important. |
Additional Information on Guide Dogs
Guide dogs are highly trained assistance animals that help people who are blind or visually impaired navigate their environment safely and independently. Their training involves many months of intensive work covering:
- Obstacle avoidance (overhead obstacles, objects in the path)
- Stopping at curbs and steps
- Navigating traffic safely
- Finding specific locations or objects upon command
- Intelligent disobedience (refusing a command that would put the handler in danger)
The partnership between a handler and a guide dog is built on trust and communication. The dog provides the practical skills of navigation and hazard avoidance, while the handler provides direction and decision-making. This partnership significantly enhances the mobility, confidence, and quality of life for individuals with visual impairments, with safety being a core component of the support they provide.
Similar Questions
Which of these statements is NOT true?
Who was the narrator’s first guide dog?
What does ‘canine partner’ refer to?
The main theme of the passage is:
It can be said that children are suffering from the disease if they have the following symptoms:
a) Pain in the stomach
b) Fever that does not go
c) Toxic shock
d) Vomiting
e) Pain in the whole body
- When the City Mayor says, "We are now on high alert in addressing the syndrome”, he means:
- The word ‘paediatric’ in the passage refers to:
- The new disease is said to be a ‘multi-system disorder’. This means:
- It was previously thought that ‘children seemed to have very little effect from this disease’. ‘This disease’ refers to:
- Which of the following is NOT an earlier Italian civilisation as mentioned in the passage?
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
What is the meaning of ‘intrigued’?
What are ice shelves?
What are icebergs?
When the iceberg turns upside down, it appears ________.
The use of science in its simple form has helped man to ____________
