Precis of passage
Precis writing is a very fine, significant and useful piece of composition
not only from the point of the University examination or other examinations in
the familiar sense, it is so even in te practical busy work-day life as a time-
saving device and an impressive art work.
The precis writer has to attempt precis-writing and continue its practice
with the following points in mind :
(I) Precis should be given approximately in one-third of the given passage
of fixed number of words as per the question. However, this is not a concern of
primary importance.
(ii) The point of greatest importance is how to shorten the given passage
in compact language. We have to scissor off the superficial words or phrases,
delete the examples and quotations and avoid the repetitions or elaboration of
the facts or the subject matter.
(iii) The central subject should be reproduced systematically and logically.
Besides, the answer has to be furnished only in one paragraph.
(iv) Precis has to be made invariably and as far as practicable in third
person
(v) The passage given should not be reproduced. Like every answer, may
be even more than that, this answer has to be given one's own words.
(vi) The title of precis should bear on leading idea contained in the passage.
Moreover, it should short and suitable representation of the said idea.
(vii) Precis should be simple and straight.
(viii) Generally some reflective passages are given for precis-writing.
Sometimes some descriptive or narrative passage is also set. However, every
passage, whichever it may be, is descriptive of some important topic.
Example - 1
In India we are most particularly concerned about the primary necessities
of life of our people. We are concerned with clothing, shelter and housing for
our people with education, health and so on. Unless you have these primary
necessities, it seems futile to talk about the life of the mind or the life of the
spirit. You cannot talk of God to a starving man, you must give him food. One
must deal with primary necessities, it is true. Nevertheless, even dealing with
them one has to leave some kind of ideal or objective in view. If that ideal or
objective in view somehow becomes less and less connected with growth of
the human mind, then there must be something wrong.
Title : BASIC NECESSITITIES IN INDIA
Precis : The primary necessities of India are concerned with clothing,
shelter and housing for our people with education health and so on without
these life seems to be feetile to talk about life of the mind spirit primary
necessities is some kind of ideal or objective in view. There must be something
wrong when it become less connected with growth of the human mind.
[5:58 pm, 12/10/2020] Xtylishsaurav1: I do not, I repeat, enjoy seeing animals, forced to perform unnatural
Example - 2
movements which they cannot possibly enjoy. I am prepared to believe that
animals are treated by their trainers with real bindness and affection. But that
is not the point. The Nazis enjoyed forcing their human victims to crawl about
naked and on all fours. Ought we really to enjoy seeing animals dressed in
crinolines and straining with trembling limbs to maintain an erect position ?
The thoughtless laughter, even of adults, which greets and encourages these
performances fill one with sadness.
Title : REALITY OF CIRCUS
Precis :I enjoy seeing animal which are treated by trains with real bindness
& affection. But Nazis human victims to crawl about naked & on all fours.
Ought we seeing animals dressed in cirnolines with trembling limbs to an erect
position ? The thoughtless laughter, which greets these performances fill on
with sadness
Example-3
In every country people imagine that they are the best and the cleverest
and the others are not as good as they are. The Englishmen thinks that he and
his country are the best; the Frenchman is very proud of France and everything
French; the Germans and Italians think no end of their countries and many
Indians imagine that India is in many ways the greatest country in the world.
This is all conceit. Everybody wants to think well of himself and his country.
But really there is no person who has not got some good in him and some bad.
And in the same way there is no country which is not partly good and partly
bad. We must take the good wherever we find it and try to remove the bad
wherever it may be. We are, of course, most concerned with our own country,
India. Unhappily, it is in a bad way today and most of own people are very
poor and miserable. They have no pleasure in their lives. We have to find out
how we can make them happier. We have to see what is stood in our ways and
customs and try to keep it, and whatever is bad we have to throw away. If we
find anything good in other countries we should certainly take it.
Title : CONCEIT
Precis : Citizens of different countries suffer from conceit. They suffer
from superiority complex. They overrate themselves and their countries, but
underrate other. Really, however, no country is fully good or bad. Besides, we
should be receptive to the good and indifferent to the bad. We should surely
take even the good found in others.
Example-4
Occasions cannot make spurs for young men. If you expect to wear spurs
you must win them. If you wish to use them you must buckle them to your
heels before you go into the fight. Any success you may achieve is not worth
having unless you fight for it. Whatever you win in life you must conquer by
your own efforts, and then it is yours a part of yourself. Let not poverty stand
as an obstacle in your way. Poverty is uncomfortable, as I can testify, but nine
times out of ten the best thing that can happen to a young man is to be tossed
overboard, and compelled to sink or swin for himself. In all my acquaitances !
[5:59 pm, 12/10/2020] Xtylishsaurav1: have never known one to be drowned who was worth saving.... To a young man
should be permanently commanded. You must not continue to be employed,
you must be employer. You must be promoted from the ranks to a command,
90
A-One Guess Paper, 2021
who has in himself the magnificent possibilities of life it is not fitting that he
go and find it, and command it. You can at least command a horse and there
can be generalization of them, and may carve out a fortune with them.
Title : SUCCESS HONOUR
Precis : Opportunities themselves cannot honour the young men. For
honour they have to make efforts and fight. Even success without fight is not
deserved and attainable. Really, poverty cannot stand in the way of success
The established fact is that most of the people are themselves responsible for
their rise or fall. Moreover, the young persons should never be parasites or
dependent. They can even grow rich only when they command and function as
employers.
Example-5
Education is not an end but a means to an end. We do not educate children
only for the purpose of educating them; the purpose is to prepare them for life
As soon as we realise this we will understand that it is very important to choose
a system of education which will really prepare children for life.
In many modern countries it has for sometime been fashionable to think
that by free education for all-whether rich or poor, clever or stupid one can
solve all the problems of society and build a perfect nation. But we can already
see that free education for all it not enough. We find in such countries a larger
number of people with university degrees than there are jobs for them to fill,
Because of their degrees, they refuse to do what they think 'low' work. In fact,
work with the hands is thought to be dirty and shameful in such countries.
When we say that all of us must be educated, what we mean is that all of
us must be educated in such a way, that each of us can do whatever job is
suited to his brain and ability. And, secondly that we can realize that all jobs
are necessary to society and that it is very bad to be ashamed of one's work or
to scorn someone else's. Only such a type of education can be called valuable
to society.
Title : EDUCATION
Precis : Education is a means and its object is to prepare the students for
living the life. It is wrong to think that free education can solve all the chronic
problems of our society. It has rather created more unemployment as the students
getting this education dislike manual work which they take for a low work.
This is a very wrong attitude. We should rather be ready to do any work suited
to our brain and ability.
Example - 6
What is really needed in the world, perhaps more than ever before, is not
some new world shattering discovery in nuclear physics, or some breath-taking
discovery in chemistry or medicine. The advance for which the world is waiting
beyond any doubt, is a small advance-a slight advance in charity, in
understanding forbearance, tolerance, justice and mercy. That is what the world
is waiting for and waiting rather anxiously.
[6:00 pm, 12/10/2020] Xtylishsaurav1: But charity and tolerance and forbearance and understanding of one another
are non-meterial matters. And in non-material things-in the simplest social
things-science has been helpless. It cannot help us to distinguish good from
evil.
May be, this will not always be so. Who knows? It is quite possible that
some day science will effect an improvement in human brain itself. Not a
structural improvement, for in structure the human brain is the greatest miracle
of all. Its understanding will come last. But there might well be a functional
improvement. This is far from fantastic. Already instances are known, like
amphcetamaine, which appear temporarily to increase the power of reasoning,
other chemicals are known which give intellectual stimulation. I should say
there is hope that man will one day improve on natural man, raise his intellectual
status and give him greater power of reasoning and understanding to abolish
war. Whether that will be so, whether he will have a better understanding of his
fellowmen remains to be seen.
There are troubulous times ahead. But those who fear the future are the
craven in spirit; for life is becoming more interesting and exciting.
Title : IDEAL HUMAN QUALITIES
Precis The need of the hour is not any startling scientific discovery but
ideal human qualities which the world is eagerly waiting for. These qualities
are not material and so science has no grip over them. In the distant future,
science may have functional development in human life. The man may improve
on the natural man, raise his intellectual level. But he may not have the better
understanding of his fellowmen. However, as the future is troublesome and
life exciting, man has to be fearless.
Example - 7
It is no doubt true that we cannot go through life without sorrow. There
can be no sunshine without a shade. We must not complain that roses have
thorns, but rather be grateful that thorns bear flowers. Our existence here is so
complex that we must expect much sorrow and suffering. Many people worry
and torment themselves about the mystery of existence. But although a good
man may, at times, be angry with the world it is certain that no man who was
ever discontented with the world did his duty in it. The world is like a looking
glass; if you smile, it smiles. If you frown, it frowns back. If you look at it
through a red glass all seems red and rosy; if through a blue. If you look at it
through a red glass all seems red and rosy: if through a blue, all blue; if through
a smoked one, all dull and dingy. Always try, then, to look at the bright side of
things; almost everything in the world has a bright side. There are some persons,
whose smile, the sound of whose voice, whose very presence is like a ray of
sunshine, and brightens the whole room. Greet everybody with a bright smile,
kind words and pleasant welcome. It is not enough to love those who are near
and dear to us. We must be so that we do so. While, however, you should be
grateful and enjoy to the full the innumerable blessings of life. We cannot
expect to have no sorrows or anxieties. Life has been described as a comedy to
those who think and a tragedy to those who feel. It is indeed tragedy at times
and a comedy very often, but as a rule it is what we choose to make it.
[6:03 pm, 12/10/2020] Xtylishsaurav1: Precis : We cannot escape from sufferings and sorrows in life. Our
world looks as the man looks at it. It is good and comfortable to those who
Title : BRIGHT
existence is really complex. There are both comedy and tragedy in life. But the
look at its bright side while to pessimists it is sad and sullen. The judicious
approach of life is only to welcome it as it is without questioning it. We have
only to enjoy the essential real life
Example - 8
In a civilised life there is a rule against violence. Against taking the law
into our own hands: it is a rule which most of us observe - so many, Indeed.
that a great number of people go through life accepting orderlines and non
violence as part of the scheme of Nature. But when some individual comes
into their midst who refuse to observe the current rules and follows the simple
role that might is right, the law abiding citizens of society do not know what do
to and look on in helpless bewildered confusion.
The last two wars did something to alter men's attitude towards the rules
of life, but much less than might have been expected. Men went into the fighting
line, not, because as our generals love to say, "Man is a fighting animal", but
because there were law abiding citizens obediently doing what the state told
them to do. It was the duty of the soldier to commit violence and murder upon
his country's enemies but he did these things under the order and the doing of
them bardly impaired his normal law-abidingness. Considering the fact that
for many years half the grown up men in Europe were engaged in trying to
murder one another one can only be astonished that the postwar increase in
crimes of violence has not been vastly greater. That is proof of how deeply the
habit of playing according to the rules has become ingrained in us.
Title : RIGHT IS MIGHT
Precis : Sometimes 'might is right' theory prevails. For a long time the
adults in Europe remained, engaged in violence. The two World Wars negative
the conception of law abidingness of people. But really the rule of law prevails
in a civilized society. Even in the period following two World Wars the people
resumed the course of order and safety.
Example - 9
What is a democratic government to do in a country where people are
steeped in ignorance and superstition, where there is opposition or resistance
to even mild reforms from vested interests in society? It can be said that if the
government is to go by consent or consensus it will not be able to do anything.
Could the government ever get the consent or consensus of people for abolition
of untouchability ? But has untouchability been really abolised ? Frankly
speaking, even now the code of Manu is in operation, the large part of code.
preparedy by Dr. Ambedkar is not in actual operation.
No law, perhaps, can come into full operation unless it is acceptable to the
people. And it is not nesessary to say that acceptability cannot come without
conviction. The government has been taking measure after measure to change
the socio-economic structure or to remove disparities, social ad economie
Not that all the measures have gone in vain. Feudalism has been abolished
[6:06 pm, 12/10/2020] Xtylishsaurav1: gates of universities, legislatures, government services etc. have been thrown
open to all castes and communities, exploitation of the weaker sections of the
people has been considerably reduced.
But there has been no change in the outoock of the people. Politicians and
administrators still behave like feadul lords; corruption, favouritism and
nepotisnm have not shown any sign of abatement, faith in caste system and all
that it may stand for has not weakened. In one word, independence, democracy
etc. have not shattered the age-old beliefs and convictions. No wonder the
blind are leading the blind.
Title: FAILURE OF MODERN DEMOCRACY
Precis: Acceptability of law is subject to conviction and conviction is not
pOssible as long as there are ignorance and superstition. In the modern
democracy, there is no conviction at all as the conditions for the same are not
met. Our society is still conservative. The government has made some pieces
ot legislation for the betterment of society, but society does not change tor tne
better. Still vested interests who are blind are leading the other unenligntene
peopie under democracy. Besides it can be said that nothing positive is possioe
if we want to do it with the consent or consensus of the present peopie
Example- 10
we have been asked whether we are happy to be living now or whether we
WIsh we had lived in the past, a few centuries ago. I am clear in my view and
must say emphatically that I am glad, very glad to be living in the modern age
There were pleasures in the past and there were adventures and many
other charms by which I am impressed, but there was also a great dea o
1gnorance and dullness and many other disadvantages on account of which
think life is happier today than it was in the past.
T am interested in education. Today all children receive free education
from the age of five or six until they are fifteen or sixteen. If they are clever,
they continue to receive education even while they are at the University. How
many children in the past learnt even to read and write? Very few, indeed. This
is a great advantage of the modern age.
T love travelling, for I find it a source of pleasure as well as education. It
brings new contact and experience which add to richness of life. Travelling is
much easier today than it was in the past and now we can even think of flying
to the moon. This was never possible in the past.
Then there are pleasures of music. Today thanks to the radio and the
television all of us can enjoy the best music in our homes. This pleasure was
not available in the past.
Title: PAST Vs. PRESENT
Precis: One is very glad to be living at present. No doubt there were
pleasant things in the past advantages and charms. One is impressed with
them. But in the past there were ignorance, dullness and many other
disadvantages too. On the other hand, today we have educational facilities. We
have universal and even free education today upto the age of sixteen right
from the age of five. One can cleverly enjoy free education even at the university
level. Besides, travelling facilities and the pleasures of music from radio and
[6:07 pm, 12/10/2020] Xtylishsaurav1: television sets are also available to us. Thus life is happier today and our mod.
age is better than the ancient times.
dern
Example-11
When we survey our lives and endeavours, we soon observe that almo
the whole of our actions and desires is bound up with the existence of ott
human things. We notice that our whole nature resembles to that of the soce
animal. We eat food that others have produced, we wear clothes that othes
have made, we live in houses that others have built. The greater part of
knowledge and belief has been communicated to us by other people throuoh
the medium of language which others have created. Without language our mental
capacities would be poor indeed, comparable to those of higher animals; we
have therefore, to admit that we owe our principal advantage over the beasts to
the fact of living in human society. The individual if left alone from birth,
would remain, primitive and beast like in his thoughts and feelings to a degree
that we can hardly conceive. The individual is what he is and it is living in
community which directs material and spiritual existence from the cradle to
the grave.
A man's value to his community depends primarily on how far his feelings
thoughts and actions are directed towards promoting the good of his fellow
beings. We call him good or bad according to his attitude in this respect.
cial
hers
Title: MAN'S SOCIAL INSTINCT
Precis:Our life and actions are vitally linked with those of our fellow
creatures. Our food, clothes and houses are all prepared by others. We owe
language and beliefs to other people. They have been imparted to us through
language. Our intellectual facilities would not have grown in the absence of
language. We are superior to other animals in so far as we live in human society.
A man deprived of human society would behave like primitive animals. A
man's value is judged in relation to the great human community. The greater
his usefulness for his fellows, the better he is.
Example-12
Nations, like individual, derive support and strength from the feeling that
they belong to an illustrious race, that they are the heirs of their greatness and
ought to be promoters of their glory. It is of momentous importance that a
nation should have a great past to look back upon. It inspires the life of the
present, elevates and upholds it and enlightens and lifts it up, by the memory
of the great deeds, the noble sufferings and the marvelous achievements of the
old. The life of nations, as of men, is a great treasure of experience, which
wisely used, leads to social progress and improvement; or misused, to dreams,
delusion and failures. Like men nations are purified and strengthened by trials.
Some of the most glorious chapters in their history are those containing the
record of suffering by means of which their character has been developed.
Love of liberty and patriotic feeling may have done much, but trial and suffering
nobly borne have done more than all.
Title: THE NATIONAL LIFE
Precis Nations get support and power from their sense of belongingness
to a celebrated race. They should be endowed with a rich past having the gloroUs
history ot trials, sufferings and sacrifices of the men of old. They a
strengthened when they pass the ordeal or trials. Living for liberty, the fee
of patriousm and the bravely borne trials and sufferings have contributeu
the life of nations and history bears a testimony to this.
Example- 13
Science has affected our life in innumerable ways. It has revohas also
transport and communications and thus made the world smaller. It has ai
made the world a better place to live in. We have well lighted cities with BO
sanitation. Science has provided all kinds of substances and machines a
sources ot power. There is almost no end to the benefits that science
conterred on us. AIl the sanme, the work of science is no unmixed blessinB
has created new problems. Scientific industry is recklessly exploiting ae
materials on the earth. Science has rendered life in cities less heann
Overerowding in cities, the air pollution largely because of smoke, cheap o
deficient in vitamins-these are all dangerous to health. Again, people n o
cities are denied sunlight, fresh air and exercise. Science has to attena
these problems.
SClence has also to take up problem of social life itself. It has to wO
for freedom from war and various social and economic evils. Science can dca
With these human affairs. There would be fewer follies, happiness and goou
Teeling all round if we applied the scientific attitude to all our affairs. Properiy
using sclence and cultivating the scientific spirit man can control his destn
Title: SCIENCE IS BLESSING
Precis: Science has revolutionized transport and communications. it
has given us control over nature, lessened distance increased our knowieage
of the universe and discovered wonderful medicines for curing diseases. it Can
deal with these human affairs.
Example 14
The pres, as a whole, and in this technical and restricted sense, is thus
pretty free in peaceful Britain. There is no shade of political opinion that does
not somehow contrive of express itself. But if we go on to imagine that any
particular organ of the Press enjoys the larger liberty of being a förum of public
opinion, we are gravely mistaken. Every newspaper is shackled to its own set
of overlords and, in its turn, like the Unmerciful Servant, exercises a powerful
bondage upon its readers and on the public generally. Indeed, we may say that
the heaviest restriction upon the freedom of public opinion is not the official
censorship of the Press, but the unofficial censorship by a Press which exists
not so much to express opinion as to manufacture it.
Title: FREEDOM OF PRESS
Precis: A press can continue to express itself freely if it has no shade of
political opinion. But every newspaper is shackled to its own set of over. Due
to this it exercise a powerful bondage upon its readers and on the public
generally.
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