1.

Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:Real praise, the sincere compliment is probably the most useful social tool of all. It’s the valued gold coin for conversation. Yet today, it is in danger of losing its brightness. For it is greatly misused and not properly exchanged. What is a true compliment? It’s one that benefits both giver and receiver. Once a painter and his young assistant were painting our house. The older man was wearing shiny new shoes. As the man started painting skillfully, my father-in-law said to the boy, “Son, when you can show up on the job to paint a house, wearing new shoes, you will be the master of your trade.”The painter smiled and did the best job. We all like to have our sense of personal worth built up or pointed out. And when one expert adds to another’s sense of dignity and speaks favourably of his skill, he is offering a compliment of the highest and rarest kind.A compliment differs from flattery in that it is objective and is given without thought of gain. Flattery is often merely lip service or excessive praise given for motive other than expressed.The greatest efforts of the human race have always resulted from the love of praise. This should be inspired in childhood. The wise parent makes it a point to compliment a child who deserves it. A woman I know has a 12-year-old son who considers washing dishes for his mother a great honour. One night, while washing a large dish, it slipped and crashed on the floor. Then his mother said, “You know, Robert, of all the times you have washed the dishes for me, this is the first time you dropped one”. Anxiety left the boy’s face and he smiled.As one psychologist advises, “Praise virtue and you will find few vices to criticise”. There is an art in this giving of compliments. Thus, the good compliment is always to the point and its timing is important. Don’t wait too long to tell a person what a good talk he gave or how well he cut your grass. But don’t do it immediately when he is expecting it either. Wait. Then when he thinks you may have forgotten, pass the praise.(i) On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it using headings and sub-headings.(ii) Write a summary of the passage and suggest a suitable title.

Answer»

(i) Notes:

1. The most useful social tools
1.1. real praise
1.2. sincere compliment

2. Gold coin of our conversation in danger
2.1. losing its brightness
2.2. greatly misused
2.3. not properly exchanged

3. True compliment benefits:
3.1. giver
3.2. receiver

4. Speaking favourably of others’ skills is
4.1. offering compliment
4.1.1.highest kind
4.1.2. rarest kind

5. Compliment differs from flattery
5.1. in objective
5.2. given without thought of gain

6. flattery is:
6.1. lip service
6.2. excessive praise
6.3. for motives

7. The greatest effort of the human race
7.1. love of praise
7.1.1. should be inspired in childhood

8. Psychological advice
8.1. praise virtue
8.2. find few vices to criticise

9. Art of giving compliment:
9.1. to the point
9.2. timely
9.3. don’t wait too long to tell

Summary
Real praise or a sincere compliment is the most useful social tool. It is our way of conversation that makes our compliment effective but now it is losing its impact because it is greatly missed. A true compliment is beneficial for both the giver and the receiver. Speaking favourably of others’ skills or appreciating others is offering a compliment of the highest and rarest kind. A true compliment is not flattery. It is objective and without expecting any return, while flattery is excessive praise offered for selfish motives. A good compliment is always to the point and offered timely.
Title – Compliment: The Most Useful Social Tool.’



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