Directions: In this section, you have a few short passages. After each passage, you will find some items based on the passage. First, read a passage and answer the items based on it. You are required to select your answers based on the contents of the passage and the opinion of the author only.

My sister met a friend at the airport and they got talking. They had met after some years and while catching up, he mentioned, “You know Sumita, I have started focusing more and more on myself as I grow older. Earlier, I used to think that it is a selfish thing to do, but now I know that it is only by focusing on my own self that I can focus on the important things of life – my family, my work, and all the things I hold dear.” So true; he had hit upon an important eternal truth. So often we make the mistake of giving importance to everything else in life at the cost of our own selves. We go off on a tangent chasing a passion or a need, forgetting that life calls for balance. We think there is plenty of time for that later, but that time never comes for those who put it off. It is a matter of attitude and of prioritize.The simple truth is that everything we seek and the chase is a means to the same end – happiness and a fulfilled life, a need to pacify all turmoil and not be a victim of dissatisfaction and angst. Ultimately, the only thing we all seek is – a deep satisfaction of the inner self and the knowledge that we have led a fulfilled, balanced life, having made the most of this beautiful gift of life given to us. And how can one achieve that satisfaction? To answer that question, my sister brought up an interesting perspective, “Why are we alive? The difference between life and death is that we have a body, and hence, relationships and worldly needs. This cannot be ignored. So to my mind, leading a balanced life between our worldly limitations and spiritual aspirations is the most important thing. Just as we are born miniature versions and then grow and develop, that should be the aim of our lives too  to grow and learn.” There will always be a conflict between the worldly and the spiritual while we are alive.