Q3. Write a précis of the passage given below in about one-third of its length. Please do not give any title to it.
(passage) The habit of reading needs to be developed and cultivated. It can be one of the pleasures of your life and in the bargain you gain new knowledge, new words and new styles of expression. Reading books, periodicals and magazines gives a unique type of pleasure. Everybody can't enjoy reading because it requires a level of intelligence, personal interest, understanding, language skills and above all, solitude or the ability to detach the mind from other things. Reading demands concentrated attention to make sense. Childhood is the best period when the habit of reading can be developed. Unfortunately, today, reading is getting limited to notebooks, exam guides, answer keys and guess papers. The purpose is just to get through tests and not to understand culture or develop learning. Reading is getting replaced by viewing movies, watching T.V. serials and game shows, visiting chat rooms, browsing websites, surfing the internet, fiddling with multifunctional mobile phones and SMSing. They can't expand the knowledge base of a student like books can. The company of books is much more rewarding than the company of a mobile phone. The former adds to your knowledge and the latter makes you shallower only. Go to the fold of book-reading and make your mind richer. Just as we need food for growth and proper functioning of our body, similarly, we need food for the mind. Reading provides food for the mind. Reading may be classified as light or serious. It may be adventurous or spiritual. Every reading has its distinct pleasure. Some people like to read newspapers, periodicals, journals, etc. They are storehouses of general information about current events and various socio-political and economic problems. They offer us a peep into the world through which we can see the events taking place in various parts of the world. This type of reading is essential as it keeps us well-informed. In the fast moving world of today, we can hardly afford to ignore the happenings of the world. In today's globalised world, the events taking place in one part of one country have a bearing on the situation of another country. This kind of reading is informative and inculcating. Many people seek delight in reading books on travel and adventure. Reading such books instils a spirit of fight, fearlessness and adventure. It takes us far away from the dull and dreary world.
