CBSE Class 10 English Be the change you want to see Assignment

Read the following passage carefully:

BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN OTHERS

We have learnt from modern psychology that nobody wants to be told what to do by someone else. We resist when someone tries to make us do something in a new way. Yet, we persist in trying to change others. If we want others to change their ways, telling them to do so will have little effect unless we are living examples of that behavior.

A team of researchers went to Africa to study the behavior of elephants. They came across a herd of elephants running wild, and destroying their environment.

They discovered that these were all teenage male elephants. They had no adult role models to learn from. The researchers arranged to have some adult elephants brought in. In the beginning, there was no change and the teen elephants continued to run wild and fight with each other. However, after a few days the teen elephants began to settle down. Over time, they became well behaved and their wild actions subsided.

On their own, the teen elephants had no role models and did not know how to behave. Once adults were introduced into their group, the teens had role models and began to be disciplined. In the same way, as parents, we teach our children through loving discipline and by setting an example. Our children do not believe in our words alone but in what they see us do. They copy our own good and bad habits because that is the example we set. Similarly, when we are in a position to train or teach others whether we are teachers, parents, employers, or citizens imploring others to be conscientious we must first set an example ourselves. That is the only way to bring about change. If we want to see positive change in others and in our family, neighborhood, community, society, or country, then we need to set a good example.

On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions:

a) How can you say that people dislike to be told what to do by someone else?

b) Why did the researchers arrange some adult elephants?

c) How did the introduction of adult elephants change the behavior of teenage male elephants?

d) What is the only way to bring about change?