Discursive Passage Worksheet Solutions: The Relevance of Repetition | Class 11 English Grammar PDF Download

Read the following passage carefully:

1. The painstaking memorisation of mathematical tables, historical dates, capitals of countries and even poems leaves an indelible mark on every adult who has attented school. However, all educators deprecate this rote system learning by orally reciting and consigning lessons to memory as mindless and mechanical, which goes against critical thinking and creativity. But is this dichotomy between creativity and rote learning part of a lazy binary thinking?
2. We often hear about people who can repeat the entire telephone directory or memorise the entire dictionary. Indians have a history of highly developed systems of memorisation, perfected through centuries of Vedic learning. From a typically Western perspective, the permanency of the written word has been pitted against the ‘unconscious operation of memory’ of oral cultures, and held to be more reliable in cultural transmission. However, refuting this thesis, Fritz Stall, an Indie scholar observes that the oral tradition in India is remarkable, “because it has led to scientific discoveries that are of enduring interest”. Of course, this mugging up can be aural (i.e. chanting aloud) or visual—mentally storing images in a visual map.
3. The advantages of rote memorisation—like it expands areas of the mind to great possibilities—are now becoming evident to the world. Various accounts from ancient India, including those from travellers like I-tsing, point to the fool-proof system of oral memorisation and the capacity to absorb volumes of data.
4. A parallel dimension of transmission of knowledge also existed in India, with a flexible mode of oral communication through which knowledge was disseminated. One instance is the narrative-performative tradition of recitation, which extended basic story through interpolations, conscious extensions and embedding of sub-narratives. Many Indian myths, legends, epics, and fables such as Kathasaritsagara and Jataka stories were spread though this process. While the story remains the same, the interpretation changes according to who says it, where it is said and how it is said. While communicating mathematics, philosophy and other scientific disciplines, cryptic text forms were created, that facilitated memorisation.
5. A related question pertains to cognition—how can we transmit principles using memorisation as a creative tool rather than as a mechanical process of repetition? Bhaskara’s Lilavati, the seminal 12th century illustrates how memorisation and creativity go together.
6. The fact that Bhaskara’s methods still figure in Indian pedagogic consciousness was recently brought home in a news report on the Ramanujan School of Mathematics in Patna, which trains youngsters from poor families to clear the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) entrance test. This year, all the 30 students of the school got through IITs. Anand Kumar, the school’s founder, called it the “sheer power of practice to break the so-called IIT code” and a student attributed the success to his teacher’s ability to teach differential calculus through a “thrilling story of a daring robber”.

A. Answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate option:

Q.1. The dichotomy between creativity and rote learning is______
(a) increased by computer literates
(b) initiated by western thinkers
(c) the clash of the cultures of west and east
(d) opposed by Indian scholars

Ans: (b)
Explanation: The passage states that Western educators deprecate the rote system of learning and view it as mindless and mechanical, going against critical thinking and creativity. Therefore, the dichotomy between creativity and rote learning is initiated by Western thinkers.

Q.2. Rote learning has its own advantages as______
(a) it promotes learning without understanding
(b) it does not add pressure to the mental faculties
(c) mugging up can be aural as well as visual
(d) it expands areas of the mind to greater possibilities

Ans: (d)
Explanation: The passage mentions that the advantages of rote memorisation, such as expanding areas of the mind to great possibilities, are now becoming evident to the world. This option accurately reflects the information provided.

Q.3. The word ‘enduring’ in para 2 means______
(a) bear
(b) transitory
(c) lasting
(d) indelible

Ans: (c)
Explanation: The word "enduring" refers to something lasting over time. In the passage, it is mentioned that the oral tradition in India has led to scientific discoveries that are of enduring interest, indicating that these discoveries have lasting value.

Q.4. All educators condemn rote learning as______
(a) it is a feat of memory
(b) it is a parrot like learning
(c) it is mindless and mechanical
(d) it is against critical thinking and creativity

Ans: (d)
Explanation: According to the passage, educators deprecate rote learning because it is considered mindless and mechanical, which goes against critical thinking and creativity. This option correctly summarizes the viewpoint of educators.

Q.5. The oral tradition in India is called remarkable because______
(a) it has helped to preserve Vedic learning
(b) some of the old texts are still available
(c) it has led to scientific discoveries of enduring interest
(d) it provides capacity to absorb volumes of data

Ans: (c)
Explanation: The passage states that the oral tradition in India is remarkable because it has led to scientific discoveries that are of enduring interest. This option accurately reflects the reason why the oral tradition is considered remarkable.

Q.6. Cryptic texts were created for mathematics, philosophy, etc. because______
(a) these are very simple
(b) these are easy to remember
(c) these are short and easy
(d) they are easy to interpret

Ans: (d)
Explanation: The passage mentions that cryptic text forms were created for subjects like mathematics and philosophy to facilitate memorisation. These cryptic texts were likely designed to be easy to interpret, aiding in the process of memorisation.

B. Answer the following questions in brief:

Q.7. How is rote learning advantageous?

Rote learning is advantageous because it expands areas of the mind to greater possibilities, as mentioned in the passage. It allows individuals to memorise large volumes of data and facilitates the absorption of knowledge.

Q.8. Why were cryptic texts created for mathematics, philosophy etc.?

Cryptic texts were created for subjects like mathematics and philosophy to facilitate memorisation, according to the passage. These cryptic texts likely provided a concise and structured way of representing complex concepts, making them easier to remember and recall.

Q.9. Why is oral tradition in India called remarkable?

The oral tradition in India is called remarkable because it has led to scientific discoveries that are of enduring interest, as mentioned in the passage. The oral transmission of knowledge in India, with its highly developed systems of memorisation, has contributed to the preservation and dissemination of Vedic learning and other important cultural knowledge.

Q.10. What does Bhaskara’s Lilavati illustrate?

Bhaskara's Lilavati illustrates the connection between memorisation and creativity. The passage states that it exemplifies how memorisation and creativity can go together, highlighting the potential of rote learning as a creative tool rather than a mechanical process of repetition.

Q.11. Write the word from passage similar in meaning to these words.
(a) Separation (para 1)
(b) Ascribed (para 6)

(a) Dichotomy: In the given context, the term "separation" is being described as a dichotomy. A dichotomy refers to a division or contrast between two opposing things or ideas. It suggests that "separation" can be understood as a distinct and mutually exclusive concept that is characterized by the existence of two contrasting elements. The usage of "dichotomy" emphasizes the binary nature of separation, highlighting the presence of two distinct entities or concepts that are separate from each other.
(b) Attributed: In this case, the term "ascribed" is used to convey the meaning of "attributed." To ascribe something means to attribute or assign a particular quality, characteristic, or responsibility to someone or something. So, when the term "ascribed" is used in the context of paragraph 6, it implies that certain qualities, attributes, or responsibilities are assigned or attributed to a specific subject or object. It indicates that something is being ascribed or attributed to someone or something in order to explain its characteristics or determine its nature.