Short Questions
1. Who wrote the quote about humans having two ears and one mouth?
- Benjamin Disraeli, a British statesman, wrote it.
2. Why do humans have two ears and only one mouth?
- So that we listen more and talk less.
3. What do the two rows of teeth and two lips act as?
- They act as fences that control our speech.
4. Why should we think before we speak?
- Because once words are spoken, they cannot be taken back.
5. What did the young man do to his friend?
- He spoke harsh words and hurt his friend.
6. What did the spiritual teacher ask the young man to do?
- He asked him to write his harsh words on paper, tear them up, and throw them out of the window.
7. Why couldn’t the young man collect the torn pieces of paper?
- Because the wind had scattered them everywhere, making them impossible to gather.
8. What was the lesson from the torn paper activity?
- Words, once spoken, spread everywhere and cannot be taken back.
9. Who was Socrates?
- Socrates was a great Greek philosopher.
10. What did Socrates tell his followers before speaking?
- He told them to ask three questions before speaking.
11. What are Socrates’ three questions?
- Is it true? Is it pleasant? Is it useful?
12. When should we speak, according to Socrates?
- Only if all three questions have a “YES” answer.
Long Questions
1. Why does the poet compare ears to funnels and lips to fences?
- Our ears are always open like funnels, so we can listen anytime.
- Our lips and teeth act as fences, so we must think before speaking.
2. Why did the young man visit his spiritual teacher?
- He had spoken harsh words to his friend and felt guilty.
- He wanted to correct his mistake and save his friendship.
3. What lesson did the teacher teach the young man with the torn paper?
- He showed that once words are spoken, they cannot be taken back.
- Just like the paper pieces scattered in the wind, words spread everywhere.
4. What does the phrase “Of the unspoken word, you are a master” mean?
- If you do not speak, you control your words.
- But once you speak, your words control you.
5. What was the first question Socrates asked before speaking?
- Is it true?
- If we are not sure whether something is true, we should not say it.
6. Why is it important that our words be pleasant?
- Harsh words hurt others and create problems.
- If words are not pleasant, they should remain unspoken.
7. What does Socrates mean by “Is it useful?”
- Our words should help or benefit others.
- If our speech is not useful, it is better to remain silent.
8. What is the main message of the lesson?
- Think before you speak because words cannot be taken back.
- Speak only if your words are true, pleasant, and useful.
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