Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow. We often fail to recognize opportunities. Indeed, even when we see an opportunity....

      

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

We often fail to recognize opportunities. Indeed, even when we see an opportunity we often manage it poorly. In the end, it does not give us the desired results. Tragically, opportunities do not come by every day. This is regardless that the focus is on business, or on any other workplace or on life generally.
Great opportunities are few and far between. When they finally arrive, they are likely to take the least expected character. This makes them difficult to recognize. We may only recognize them when they have already passed us by. Of course all of us have missed one opportunity or the other. However, a keen mind will help you to minimize missed chances.
It helps to be curious. This calls for deep insightful questions about the situations and environments that you find yourself in. when you seek to know new things you are more likely to generate new ideas that will lead to hidden opportunities. Curiously keeps your mind exercised and appropriately stretched.
Like a well-exercised muscle, your mind legs better and more effective when exercised this way. An exercised mind generates new ideas. It brings better insights and helps you to grab opportunities. A generous mind set is likely to see new opportunities. Such a mindset willing to give opportunities to others. It particulary recognizes opportunities that may be more useful to others than to the person seeing them. When you approach life this way, you are likely to see opportunities for yourself, too.
The greatest problems we encounter will most likely bring with them our lifetime opportunities. A difficult boss or a difficult business market may be what we need to open your eyes to that great opportunity and even personal potential.
It therefore pays to preserve. It is the persistence that will open up that opportunity. Quiting closes the door. A persistent mind-set hangs on long enough to see what lies at the end, you must have a confident mind-set.
There is always a light side to most circumstances. A mind-set that sees opportunities will appreciate the light side of things. It may from time to time even tends towards the “playful” and will be willing to break a few rules.
Sometimes things might not be as bad as they look. It might be when you are laughing at yourself that you see a whole new dimension of the circumstances. A bit of fun in difficult circumstances may be the energy needed to move on. Some of our worst moments might as well be our most hilarious ones in retrospect. That is why a mind-set with hindsight identifies opportunities faster because it is able to discern parallels between the present and the past. It seems the similarity of current circumstances and the likely outcomes of different courses of action. You develop hindsight by taking time to reflect on the past and particularly on the worst circumstances.
Finally, is the role of a grateful spirit. Gratitude shines a light on opportunities. When you are thankful for previous opportunities that have put you where you now are, you are more likely to see where else you should be. But when you are grumpy, all opportunities that you should see will blurred by dumbness of your grumpiness. Opportunities are managed by your mind-set and rarely by the many qualifications you my hold.
Adapted from the Daily Nation 19th may 2015

a) Referring to the first paragraph, what is tragic about opportunities?

b) Why is it difficult to recognize opportunities?

c) Identify and explain the style used in paragraph 4 of this passage.

d) In not more than 55 words, write a summary on the ways in which a persistent minds-set open up opportunities.

e) Explain the assertion that “sometimes things might not be as bad as they look.

f) i) Rewrite the following sentence beginning:
‘when exercised this way….’

Like a well-exercised muscle, your mind gets better and more effective when exercised this way.

ii)of course all of us have a missed one opportunity or other. Add a question tag
g) Explain the meaning of the following expressions As used in the passage.

i) Retrospect

ii) Grumpy

  

Answers


Martin
a) Tragically,opportunities do not come by everyday.

b) It is difficult because they take the least expected charcter.this makes them difficult to recognize

c) There is use of a simile.

An exercised mind generates new ideas or1likely to see new opportunities/helps you to grasp new opportunities.

d) A persistent mind-set hangs on long enough to see what lies at the end of the troubles

A mindset with hindsight identifies opportunities faster because it is able to discern parallels between the present and the past

Opportunities are managed by your mind-set? and rarely by the qualifications you may hold.

e)
- It might be when you are laughing at yourself that you see a whole new dimension or the circumstance.
-A bit of fun in difficult circumstances may be the energy need to move on.
-Some of our worst moments might as well be one of most hilarious one in retrospect.

f) (i) when exercised this way,like a well-exercised muscles,your mind gets better and more effective.
(ii) Haven’t we?

(i) Retrospect-thinking about a past event/situation with a different opinion from the one you had
Earlier/ remembering.

(ii) Grumpy-bad tempered/always complaining /unsatisfied

marto answered the question on June 11, 2019 at 07:20


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