Discursive Passage - 16 | English Grammar for Grade 9 PDF Download

Read the following passage carefully:

1. Henry Ford was convinced that belief in self, whether positive or negative, always showed results. So if you believe you are capable, it’s true for you. Likewise, if you believe you’re incapable, that’s true for you as well.

2. Ford spoke from experience. For his humble beginnings as an apprentice machinist, when he had nothing with him except his passion for mechanics, to successfully founding the Ford Motor Company, his life was a fine example of belief in self. When Ford was working on designing a gasoline–powered car, his friend, the great Thomas Edison was not convinced about it. But Ford believed in his idea and carried on until he succeeded. A century later, cars still run on gasoline.

3. It is easy to see how positive beliefs work for us: when we believe we can achieve a goal, we work diligently and do what it takes until it sees the light of day – like Ford did.

4. There are those who look for reasons why things won’t go their way. And there are others who are only concerned about how they’ll make it work, and they do. This is because self–doubt and self–belief are products of the same mind.

5. Before 1970, experts believed that a man could not lift more than 500 pounds. Then along came Russian Olympian Vasily Alexeev, who decided to break the 500 pounds barrier. Initially, he could not lift more than 499 pounds. Then one day. his trainers put 501.5 pounds on his par without his knowledge, which he lifted thinking it was 499. Within a week of Vasily’s record–breaking lift, Serge Redding of Belgium and Ken Patera of USA also lifted more than 500 pounds.

6. So what was preventing these great weight lifters from crossing the 500–pound mark before 1970? It was their self–limiting belief. Once a new belief replaced the old one, there was no doubt left in their minds about their ability. William Shakespeare said: “Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”

7. Shakespeare uses the word ‘traitors’ to describe our doubts. He knew that despite being created by our own mind, our doubts cripple us, immobilise us and prevent us from reaching our potential. And just as a positive belief works in our favour, doubt – a negative belief – works against us. When you don’t have faith in your abilities, you have little motivation to–accomplish your goals. Consequently, you end up putting little, if any, effort towards making them a reality – and your goals never materialise.

16.1. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions in 30–40 words each:

(a) How do our beliefs affect us?

Our beliefs affect us in both positive and negative ways and show results accordingly. If we think of ourselves as capable performer, we will be capable. If we consider ourselves incapable, our work will reflect likewise.

(b) What was that unique character trait that made Ford a successful businessman?

The unique character trait that made Ford a successful businessman was his belief in himself. Even when others tried to convince him otherwise, as did Edison about gasoline powered engines, Ford remained unwavering in his self–belief and has been proved right.

(c) What was happening to the weight lifter?

The weight lifter was convinced about his disability to lift above 500 pound. When unknowingly he lifted 501.5 pounds it was proved that a mental block was holding back his ability to cross the 500 pound mark in weight lifting.

(d) ‘Our doubts are traitors”. Explain these words of Shakespeare.

Shakespeare was absolutely right to say that ‘our doubts are traitors’ in his play ‘Measure for Measure’. Here ‘traitors’ imply doubts. It is a negative belief in us. If we do not have faith in our abilities, we can never reach our goal.

16.2. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer of the following:
(a) In para 3, the synonym of ‘earnestly’ is __________.
(i) dilignetly
(ii) achieve
(iii) positive
(iv) crazily

Correct Option is (i) dilignetly

(b) In para 7, the antonym of ‘strengthen’ is __________.
(i) traitors
(ii) cripple
(iii) accomplish
(iv) potential

Correct Option is (ii) cripple

(c) Here ‘traitors’ imply doubts that are positive blief in us and enhance our working to our full potential. (True/False)

(d) ‘Self doubt’ in this context means __________.

not having faith in oneself