PSEB Class 10 English Chapter 3 Secret of Happiness Important Question Answers from English Main Course Book
PSEB Class 10 English Secret of Happiness Question Answers – Looking for questions and answers for PSEB Class 10 English Main Course Book Chapter 3 Secret of Happiness? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 10 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the exam. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Chapter 3 Secret of Happiness now. The questions listed below are based on the latest PSEB exam pattern. All the Questions Answers given at the back of the lesson have also been covered.
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PSEB Class 10 English Chapter 3 Secret of Happiness Textbook Questions
1. Which is the greatest day in any individual’s life?
Ans: The greatest day in any individual’s life is when they begin for the first time to truly realize themselves, to understand their true nature, capabilities, and potential. This moment of self-realization is more important than any external achievement like graduation, marriage, or career success because it marks the awakening of one’s inner power and understanding. It is the foundation upon which all future success and happiness are built, as it enables a person to recognize and access their dormant abilities and strengths.
2. What enthralled the student in the Psychology class?
Ans: The student became enthralled when the psychology professor described how the average person fails not due to lack of ability but because they don’t learn to control and consolidate their powers. The professor used the illustration of a burning glass to demonstrate this principle, showing how scattered sunlight has little effect on paper, but when focused through a magnifying glass to one point, creates intense heat that can burn through the paper. This vivid demonstration of the power of focused energy completely captivated the student’s attention and sparked his moment of self-realization.
3. Did the boy change as a result of the realization?
Ans: Yes, the boy changed dramatically and completely as a result of his realization. The moment of insight transformed him from a failure in his studies to a tremendous success. What had been a “veritable new birth”, a complete rebirth of his personality and approach to life. After understanding the principle of focusing his dissipated powers, he became “a grand success in whatever he chose to do.” The realization didn’t just improve his grades; it fundamentally changed who he was and how he approached everything in life, unlocking his full potential.
4. What is there in the personality of every man?
Ans: In the personality of every individual, there exists a great reservoir of unused power, vast untapped potential that remains dormant and unaccessed. According to psychologist William James, people habitually use only a small part of the powers they possess. Scientists suggest that the average person uses only twenty percent of their brain power, leaving eighty percent unused. This means there is enormous mental, emotional, and creative capacity within every person that could be activated and utilized if they knew how to access it.
5. How can weak personalities become strong?
Ans: Weak personalities can become strong by accessing the great reservoir of unused power within them. The secret is to “put a key into the lock, turn back the sluice gates and let that power, like a terrific stream, flow into your mind and personality.” This means learning to unlock and release the dormant potential within oneself. By gaining self-realization, learning to focus and consolidate scattered energies, and tapping into this inward power source, weak personalities can transform into strong ones. This inner power can also unify divided personalities, heal hurt minds, and bring peace and poise.
6. What would Chesterton preach if he had just one sermon to deliver?
Ans: If Gilbert Chesterton had only one sermon to preach in his entire life, he declared it would be a sermon against fear. Despite being an eminent man of letters who could have chosen any profound philosophical or theological topic, Chesterton selected fear as his single most important message. This choice reflects his understanding that fear is one of humanity’s most common and destructive enemies, touching everyone’s life in some way and preventing people from achieving their full potential and happiness.
7. What are the different types of fear experienced by the people?
Ans: People experience many different types of fears in their lives. Financial fears are very common, worries about money, job security, and economic stability. Health fears involve worrying about becoming sick and imagining the terrible consequences of bodily afflictions and diseases. Many people have fears about the future, anxiety about what lies ahead and uncertainty about tomorrow. Others are troubled by fears about the consequences of past acts and decisions, regret and worry about choices they’ve made. These various fears haunt people like ghosts and cast dark shadows over their happiness and peace of mind.
8. What did the author of ‘Secret of Happiness’ find when he flung open the door?
Ans: When the author finally gathered enough courage to fling open the door of his cabin in the North Woods, expecting to confront a whole array of gangsters with machine guns and pistols, he found only a little chipmunk that quickly scurried off into the darkness. This discovery left him feeling physically weak and deeply embarrassed (mortified) by his exaggerated fear. However, it taught him an invaluable lesson, that fears often appear much larger and more threatening in the darkness of our imagination than they actually are in reality when we confront them directly.
9. How can one have a real escape from fear?
Ans: The real escape from fear comes through developing deep, unshakable faith in God. One must believe firmly that they are not alone in this world, that God watches over them, cares for them, and will guide them through all difficulties and challenges. This profound spiritual faith brings total peace of mind and replaces fear with permanent confidence. The example of Kagawa demonstrates this, by immersing himself over a long period in the grace of God, he achieved a profound calm that nothing could destroy, even when facing mobs, threats, opponents, disease, and danger.
10. What was the priceless secret discovered by Mr Kagawa?
Ans: The priceless secret discovered by Kagawa was that by immersing himself over a long period in the grace of God, he could enter into a profound calm that nothing could destroy. Despite encountering mobs, being threatened by soldiers, hurt by opponents, having his eyesight threatened, and being afflicted by disease, he never lost his inner calm and peace. He testified that he was often amazed by the depth of this peace, which he had found through his relationship with God. In that spiritual relationship, he completely lost his fears and gained unshakable confidence and strength.
(ii) Answer the following questions in 50 words each:
1. Describe, in your own words, how the professor changed the total attitude of the student.
Ans: The psychology professor transformed the student’s attitude by explaining how people fail because they don’t consolidate their scattered powers. Using the burning glass illustration, he showed how focused energy creates intense results, while dispersed energy has little effect. This vivid demonstration sparked a sudden realization in the student, who understood why he was failing academically despite athletic success. The insight was so powerful that the student leaped up crying “I see it! I see it!” This moment of self-awareness changed him from a failure to someone who became tremendously successful in everything he undertook, demonstrating the transformative power of understanding and applying the principle of focused effort.
2. Write a small paragraph on “The Proper use of Human Energy.”
Ans: Human beings possess vast reserves of mental and physical energy, yet most people use only a fraction of their potential, scientists estimate only twenty percent of brain power is typically utilized. The proper use of human energy requires learning to focus and consolidate scattered powers toward specific goals, much like a burning glass focuses sunlight to create intense heat. Instead of letting energy dissipate uselessly in multiple directions, successful individuals draw their powers to a focus. This concentration transforms futile, scattered efforts into powerful, effective action. By unlocking the great reservoir of unused power within and channeling it purposefully, weak personalities become strong, divided minds become unified, and individuals achieve remarkable success and fulfillment in life.
3. Relate the incident of North Woods in your own words.
Ans: The author was alone in a remote cabin in the North Woods on a dark night when he heard frightening noises on the porch. His imagination ran wild with recent newspaper accounts of murders in the area. Paralyzed with fear, he sat frozen in his chair with every hair standing on end, certain that intruders or gangsters were approaching. The suspense became unbearable, and desperation finally gave him courage. He leaped to the door and flung it open, bracing himself to confront armed criminals. Instead, he discovered only a tiny chipmunk scurrying away into the darkness. Though left weak and embarrassed, he learned a valuable lesson: fears appear much more frightening in our imagination than they are in reality when confronted directly.
4. Write, in brief, the message given by Mr Kagawa.
Ans: Kagawa’s message was that profound, unshakable inner peace comes from immersing oneself over a long period in the grace of God. Through deep, sustained spiritual connection, one can achieve a calm that nothing can destroy, not mobs, soldiers’ threats, opponents’ attacks, endangered eyesight, or disease. This peace, found through relationship with God, eliminates all fears and provides remarkable inner strength and confidence. Kagawa testified that he was often amazed by the depth of this tranquility. His life demonstrated that true escape from fear and achievement of lasting peace comes not from external circumstances but from profound faith and continuous spiritual immersion in divine grace.
B. Vocabulary Exercises
(i) Give the synonyms of:
a. eminent
b. adversary
c. profound
d. poise
e. obstacle
f. illustration
g. futile
h. abundant
i conquer
j. total
Ans.
a. eminent : distinguished, famous, renowned, prominent, celebrated
b. adversary : enemy, opponent, foe, rival, antagonist
c. profound : deep, intense, extreme, thorough, complete
d. poise : balance, composure, calmness, equilibrium, serenity
e. obstacle : barrier, hindrance, obstruction, impediment, hurdle
f. illustration : example, demonstration, instance, sample, specimen
g. futile : useless, pointless, vain, fruitless, ineffective
h. abundant : plentiful, ample, copious, profuse, bountiful
i. conquer : defeat, overcome, vanquish, subdue, master
j. total : complete, entire, whole, full, absolute,
(ii) Give the antonyms of:
a. destroy
b. opponent
c. shakable
d. optimism
e. strength
f. ordinary
g. ignorance
h. real
i. fact
j. cautious
Ans.
a. destroy : create, build, construct, establish, preserve
b. opponent : supporter, ally, friend, partner, associate
c. shakable : firm, stable, steady, unshakable, solid
d. optimism: pessimism, negativity, gloom, despair, hopelessness
e. strength : weakness, frailty, feebleness, fragility, powerlessness
f. ordinary : extraordinary, exceptional, remarkable, unusual, special
g. ignorance : knowledge, awareness, understanding, wisdom, education
h. real : fake, false, artificial, imaginary, unreal
i. fact : fiction, falsehood, lie, fantasy, untruth
j. cautious : careless, reckless, rash, hasty, imprudent
(iii) Give one word for each of the following expressions:
a. a science that studies the working of the human mind
b. a speech from the pulpit in a church
c. one who believes in the bright side of things
d. a daily or periodic paper that gives news and views
e. one who does not believe in God.
Ans.
a. a science that studies the working of the human mind – Psychology
b. a speech from the pulpit in a church – Sermon
c. one who believes in the bright side of things – Optimist
d. a daily or periodic paper that gives news and views – Newspaper
e. one who does not believe in God – Atheist
(iv) Frame sentences to show distinction between the following pairs of words:
a. birth-berth
b. familiar-familial
c. gate-gait
d. adept-adapt
e. mental-mantle
f. root-route
g. peace-piece
Ans.
a. a. birth-berth
Birth: The birth of the baby brought great joy to the family.
Berth: I reserved a lower berth on the train for my journey.
b. familiar-familial
Familiar: The streets of my hometown are very familiar to me.
Familial: He inherited a familial disease from his grandfather.
c. gate-gait
Gate: Please close the gate when you leave the house.
Gait: The old man walked with a slow, unsteady gait.
d. adept-adapt
Adept: She is adept at solving mathematical problems.
Adapt: We must adapt to changing circumstances.
e. mental-mantle
Mental: Regular exercise improves mental health.
Mantle: The leader’s mantle passed to his successor.
f. root-route
Root: The tree’s roots go deep into the soil.
Route: We took the shortest route to reach home.
g. peace-piece
Peace: After the war ended, peace was restored in the country.
Piece: Please give me a piece of cake.
C. Grammar Exercises
(i) Fill in the blanks with suitable articles:
1. ______dog is_____faithful animal.
2. Tanuja is________honest girl.
3. I saw______American and____European at the market.
4. We visited____Golden Temple at Amritsar.
5. ____Himalayas have many ranges.
6. I use ____umbrella in the rainy season.
7. Chandigarh is _______capital of Punjab.
Ans.
1. A/The dog is a faithful animal.
2. Tanuja is an honest girl.
3. I saw an American and a European at the market.
4. We visited the Golden Temple at Amritsar.
5. The Himalayas have many ranges.
6. I use an umbrella in the rainy season.
7. Chandigarh is the capital of Punjab.
(ii) Change the following sentences into passive voice:
1. I know him very well.
2. They sought my help.
3. It is time to say goodbye.
4. This jug contains milk.
5. Don’t use foul language.
6. My father will receive me.
7. I annoyed her.
Ans.
1. He is known to me very well.
2. My help was sought by them.
3. It is time for goodbye to be said.
4. Milk is contained in this jug.
5. Let foul language not be used.
6. I will be received by my father.
7. She was annoyed by me.
(iii) Fill in the blanks with the appropriate comparatives or superlatives of the adjectives given in the brackets:
1. Milk is _____than water. (thick)
2. Pen is ___than the sword. (mighty)
3. Ludhiana is the ___city of Punjab. (large)
4. It is____said than done. (easy)
5. The condition of the patient is much ___now. (good)
6. ____late than never. (good)
Ans.
1. Milk is thicker than water.
2. Pen is mightier than the sword.
3. Ludhiana is the largest city of Punjab.
4. It is easier said than done.
5. The condition of the patient is much better now.
6. Better late than never.
(iv) Fill in the blanks with a non-finite
(to-infinitive, gerund or participle):
1. He used the illustration of the ____glass (burn).
2. The great success of life lies in ____ (put) a key into the lock and releasing that terrific power.
3. If I had only one sermon ___(preach), I would preach people____(shun) fear.
4. We allow ourselves ____(make) miserable by fear.
5. The person who wishes_____(become) adept in the art of _____(live) must learn ____(subdue) his fears.
6. I sat ____(root) to my chair.
7. I wanted ____(get) out of there.
8. I found the door ____(break).
9. He did not learn the art of ___(control) his powers.
10. ____(have) faith in God gives a lot of strength.
Ans.
1. He used the illustration of the burning glass.
2. The great success of life lies in putting a key into the lock and releasing that terrific power.
3. If I had only one sermon to preach, I would preach people to shun fear.
4. We allow ourselves to be made miserable by fear.
5. The person who wishes to become adept in the art of living must learn to subdue his fears.
6. I sat rooted to my chair.
7. I wanted to get out of there.
8. I found the door broken.
9. He did not learn the art of controlling his powers.
10. Having faith in God gives a lot of strength.
D. Pronunciation Practice
Speakers of English should learn to distinguish between the sounds/v/ and /w/ /v/ is produced with the help of upper teeth and lower lips./w/ is produced by rounding the lips as in the vowel sound in shoe and then immediately spreading the lips as in the vowel in the initial position of the word above. Now say the following words aloud:
| vest-west | vile-while |
| vale-whale | vine-wine |
| vie-why | vend-wend |
| vent-went | vim-whim |
| verse – worse | vain-wane |
Ans.
Distinguishing /v/ and /w/ Sounds
Important: Speakers of English should learn to distinguish between the sounds /v/ and /w/:
/v/ is produced with the help of upper teeth and lower lips (labiodental sound)
/w/ is produced by rounding the lips as in the vowel sound in “shoe” and then immediately spreading the lips
Practice Words – Say these aloud:
| /v/ sound | /w/ sound | Meaning Difference |
| vest | west | garment vs. direction |
| vile | while | evil vs. during |
| vale | whale | valley vs. sea mammal |
| vine | wine | climbing plant vs. alcoholic drink |
| vie | why | compete vs. question word |
| vend | wend | sell vs. go |
| vent | went | opening vs. past tense of go |
| vim | whim | energy vs. sudden desire |
| verse | worse | poetry vs. more bad |
| vain | wane | conceited vs. decrease |
Additional Practice Sentences:
1. V-sound: “Very few victims ventured to voice their views.”
2. W-sound: “We wondered why water was wasted.”
3. Mixed: “Victor went west wearing a velvet vest.”
4. Mixed: “The village women wove vines into walls.”
Words from the Chapter with /v/ sound:
very (very salutary)
victim (victim of fear)
veritable (veritable new birth)
various (various fears)
vast (vast potential)
vitality (life vitality)
E. Creative Writing and Extended Reading
1. List out some pieces of advice for a man who wants to succeed in life.
Ans. Ten Essential Principles for Success:
- Realize Yourself First
- Understand your true capabilities and potential
- Know your strengths and weaknesses honestly
- Self-awareness is the foundation of all achievement
- Focus Your Energies
- Consolidate scattered powers toward specific goals
- Like the burning glass, concentrate effort to create intensity
- Don’t dissipate energy in too many directions simultaneously
- Conquer Your Fears
- Examine fears rationally; bring them into the light
- Most feared things never happen or aren’t as bad as imagined
- Fear paralyzes potential, eliminate it to unlock capability
- Develop Unshakable Faith
- Cultivate deep spiritual connection and trust in divine care
- Faith provides profound calm nothing can destroy
- Believe you’re not alone; God watches over you
- Use More of Your Potential
- Remember you’re using only 20% of your brain power
- Access the great reservoir of unused power within you
- Put the key in the lock and release that terrific stream
- Transform Weaknesses into Strengths
- Weak personalities can become strong through inner power
- Divided minds can become unified
- Hurt souls can be healed through self-realization
- Stay Calm Under Pressure
- Like Kagawa, maintain peace despite mobs, threats, disease
- Profound calm comes from spiritual immersion
- External circumstances don’t control internal state
- Learn from Every Experience
- The author learned from the chipmunk that fears are exaggerated
- Every failure teaches something valuable
- Revelation can come in ordinary moments, stay alert
- Be Patient with Growth
- Immerse yourself “over a long period”, not quick fixes
- Deep transformation takes time and persistence
- Sustained effort over years creates unshakable foundations
- Seek Total Peace of Mind
- Make this your ultimate goal, not just material success
- With total peace, confidence replaces fear forever
- Inner peace enables outer achievement naturally
2. Write a paragraph on:
i. Fear, Man’s Worst Enemy
Ans. Paragraph (150-200 words):
Fear stands as humanity’s most destructive adversary, not because it’s rare but because it’s universal. As Gilbert Chesterton recognized, if he could preach only one sermon, it would be against fear, showing how seriously this “ordinary” enemy threatens human happiness and success. Fear touches everyone in multiple forms: financial anxiety, health worries, future uncertainties, and regrets about past decisions. These fears haunt us constantly, casting dark shadows over our potential happiness.
The destructive power of fear lies in its paralyzing effect. No person operates at their best when fear controls them. It lays its paralyzing hand on individuals, becoming the chief obstacle to personality development and success achievement. Fear prevents people from accessing their full potential, keeping them trapped at minimal functioning when enormous capability lies dormant within them.
Most tragically, fear is largely self-created. As Norman Vincent Peale demonstrates through his North Woods experience, we transform small realities into terrifying threats through imagination. Most feared things never happen, or when they do occur, prove far less terrible than anticipated. Like a ghost frightening us in darkness but vanishing in light, fear gains power from ignorance and loses it under examination. The first step toward defeating this enemy is bringing fears into daylight, examining them thoroughly, and watching them shrivel under rational scrutiny.
ii. Faith, Man’s Saviour
Ans. Paragraph (150-200 words):
Faith in God provides the ultimate escape from fear and the path to profound, lasting peace. As demonstrated through Kagawa’s remarkable life, deep spiritual faith creates an unshakable inner calm that no external circumstance can destroy. This Japanese preacher and social worker encountered angry mobs, threats from soldiers, attacks from opponents, endangered eyesight, and severe disease, yet through everything, his calm never left him. This wasn’t superhuman stoicism but the natural result of immersing himself “over a long period in the grace of God.”
True faith means believing absolutely that you’re not alone, that God watches over you constantly, cares for you personally, and will bring you through all difficulties. This deep, unshakable faith replaces fear with confidence, anxiety with peace, and desperation with hope. It doesn’t eliminate problems or provide escape from life’s challenges, but it provides something far more valuable, the ability to remain peaceful within those challenges.
The transformation faith produces is total. Where fear once paralyzed, confidence now energizes. Where anxiety once consumed mental energy, peace now provides strength. As Peale concludes, with deep faith in divine care, “you will have total peace of mind. Confidence, not fear, will be yours forever.” This represents not just improvement but complete transformation, from fear-driven existence to faith-sustained serenity. Faith doesn’t just help you cope; it fundamentally changes who you are and how you experience life.
iii. Self-Realization as a Key to Success
Ans. Paragraph (150-200 words):
Self-realization, the moment when you truly understand yourself for the first time, represents the greatest day in any individual’s life and the foundation of all future success. As Norman Vincent Peale illustrates through the college student’s transformation, this realization can happen with “dramatic suddenness,” changing someone from failure to tremendous success in a single revelatory moment.
The student was failing academically despite athletic excellence until a psychology lecture revealed the principle of focus. In that “flashing illumination,” he suddenly understood why he was failing, his powers were dissipated and scattered rather than consolidated toward his academic goals. This moment of seeing himself clearly, understanding his real self for the first time, transformed everything. Under “the spell of a veritable new birth,” he leaped up crying “I see it! I see it!” That revelation changed him “from a failure to a potential success, the possibilities of which were later abundantly realized.”
Self-realization matters so profoundly because you cannot change what you don’t understand. Until you realize you’re using only twenty percent of your brain power, you can’t access the other eighty percent. Until you understand your powers are scattered, you can’t focus them. Until you see yourself clearly, your actual capabilities, your real potential, the reservoir of unused power within you, transformation remains impossible. Self-realization provides the key that unlocks everything else, making it the essential first step toward any genuine success.
Punjab Board Class 10 English Chapter 3 Secret of Happiness Extra Question and Answers
Extract-Based questions
A.
“The greatest day in any individual’s life is when he begins for the first time to realize himself. It happened to a college student friend of mine once with dramatic suddenness. He was as unsuccessful in his studies as he was efficient upon the athletic field.”
Q1. What is the greatest day in a person’s life?
Ans. When they truly realize themselves for the first time, understand who they really are, what they’re capable of, their actual potential. Not graduation, not marriage, not career success. That moment of genuine self-discovery tops everything else because it unlocks everything that follows.
Q2. What was the student’s paradoxical situation?
Ans. He excelled brilliantly in athletics but failed miserably in academics. His body performed like a champion while his mind struggled like a failure. That contrast, being so good at one thing, so terrible at another, set up his transformation story.
Q3. What does “dramatic suddenness” suggest?
Ans. The realization hit him like lightning, not gradually. One moment he was floundering, the next moment everything became clear. Transformation doesn’t always take years, sometimes profound change happens in a flash, an instant that divides life into before and after.
Q4. Why is self-realization called the “greatest day”?
Ans. Because it’s the foundation for everything else. You can’t unlock your potential until you understand you have it. You can’t change direction until you see where you actually are. That moment of seeing yourself truly starts genuine growth and success.
Q5. What does this extract tell us about human potential?
Ans. Potential often stays hidden until self-awareness triggers it. The student always had ability for academics, he just hadn’t discovered how to access it. We carry capabilities we don’t know exist until something makes us see ourselves clearly.
B.
“In the personality of every individual there is a great reservoir of unused power. But in many of us just a miserable little trickle is getting through, and on that we live and do our work. The great secret of life is to put a key into the lock, turn back the sluice gates and let that power, like a terrific stream, flow into your mind and personality.”
Q1. What is the “great reservoir of unused power”?
Ans. An enormous storage tank of capability within every person, mental, emotional, creative power sitting dormant. Like a huge dam holding back water, most of it never released. Everyone possesses this reservoir regardless of current achievement; it’s human standard equipment.
Q2. What does “miserable little trickle” mean?
Ans. The tiny, pathetic amount of power actually flowing into our lives, barely enough to survive on. Like a massive dam with just a small drip leaking through. We’re living on scraps when abundance sits right there. That’s why life feels so hard, we’re using minimal resources.
Q3. What is “the great secret of life”?
Ans. Finding the key that unlocks your reservoir of power and opening the floodgates so that enormous capability pours into your life. Not acquiring new power, you already have it. The secret is accessing what you possess. Knowing the reservoir exists and how to open it changes everything.
Q4. What do “sluice gates” symbolize?
Ans. Barriers blocking your power, fear, ignorance, habit, limiting beliefs. Like dam gates that control water flow. The power is there, pressing against the gates. They keep it contained, controlled, minimized. Opening them releases torrents instead of trickles.
Q5. Why use “terrific stream” instead of “gentle flow”?
Ans. Because the power is enormous, overwhelming, forceful. “Terrific” means both wonderful and terrifying, awesome in the original sense. Not a gentle increase but a flooding torrent that transforms completely. The language matches the magnitude of transformation being described.
C.
“A fear is not unlike a ghost. It frightens you in the gloom, but there isn’t much to it when you get it into the light. Most of the things one fears never happen; at least they do not amount to anything. Once in a lonely cabin on a dark night, deep in the North Woods, I heard on the porch noises that sent a shiver up my spine… Finally, unable to stand the suspense longer and desperation lending bravado, I leaped to the door and flung it open, expecting to see a whole array of gangsters with machine guns and pistols. Instead, a little chipmunk scurried off into the darkness.”
Q1. How is fear like a ghost?
Ans. Terrifying in darkness but insubstantial in light. Ghosts seem real and threatening when you can’t see clearly. Turn on lights and nothing’s there, just imagination and shadows. Fear works identically, scary in ignorance, manageable in understanding. Both are mostly illusion gaining power from darkness.
Q2. What happens when you bring fear into the light?
Ans. It shrivels up, loses power, reveals its actual small size. “There isn’t much to it” when examined clearly. Like turning on lights in a scary basement, all the monsters vanish. Rational examination destroys fear’s power. That’s why the first step is “thorough-going knowledge” of your fears.
Q3. What created the author’s fear in the cabin?
Ans. Isolated location, darkness, mysterious noises, recent murder news, and mostly his imagination. The external factors were minimal, just normal cabin sounds. His mind transformed innocuous noises into armed intruders. Context and imagination created the terror, not actual danger.
Q4. How did his imagination exaggerate the danger?
Ans. Transformed chipmunk sounds into multiple armed gangsters with machine guns and pistols. “Whole array” of criminals where only tiny animal existed. That’s fear’s multiplication effect, one small stimulus becomes massive threat. Mind creates elaborate dangerous scenarios from minimal input.
Q5. What lesson did he learn from the chipmunk incident?
Ans. “It is very salutary to get a good look at your fears”, examining fears reveals how small they actually are. What seems terrifying in darkness becomes ridiculous in light. The chipmunk taught him that most fears are massively exaggerated. Reality rarely matches imagination’s disasters.
D.
“Kagawa had discovered a priceless secret, and he gave us his secret by saying that if one does as he did, ‘immerse himself over a long period in the grace of God,’ he will enter into a profound calm that nothing can destroy. Kagawa said that encountering mobs, threatened by soldiers, hurt by opponents, the calm never left him. His eyesight was threatened; disease afflicted him: but he never lost his calm. There is the real escape from fear. Get a deep, unshakable faith in the fact that you are not alone, but that God watches over you and cares for you and will bring you through all difficulties. Then you will have total peace of mind. Confidence, not fear, will be yours forever.”
Q1. What was Kagawa’s “priceless secret”?
Ans. Immersing himself over a long period in God’s grace created unshakable inner calm. Not occasional prayer but sustained, deep spiritual immersion over extended time. That continuous connection to divine grace produced peace that external circumstances couldn’t touch. The secret’s value is literally priceless, no money can buy it.
Q2. What tests did Kagawa’s peace face?
Ans. Angry mobs, soldiers’ threats, opponents’ attacks, endangered eyesight, disease. Every kind of threat, physical danger, health crisis, violence, personal attacks. Not theoretical peace tested in comfortable circumstances but real serenity proven through actual suffering and danger. That’s what makes it remarkable, it worked under fire.
Q3. Why does the author use repetition (“never left him…never lost”)?
Ans. To emphasize the constancy, the unbreakable nature of this peace. Not “usually stayed calm” or “mostly remained peaceful” but never lost it. That absolute consistency is the point, not temporary coping mechanism but permanent state of being. Repetition drives home the totality.
Q4. What is the “real escape from fear”?
Ans. Deep, unshakable faith that God watches over you constantly. Not positive thinking or self-help techniques but profound spiritual connection. Knowing absolutely that you’re not alone, that divine care surrounds you, that you’ll make it through whatever comes. That certainty eliminates fear’s foundation.
Q5. How does confidence replace fear?
Ans. When you know God will bring you through, you face situations with confidence instead of fear. Not confidence in yourself or circumstances but confidence in divine care. That shifts everything, same situations, different response. Fear says “I can’t handle this.” Confidence says “God will bring me through this.”
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. “Secret of Happiness” is written by ________.
A. William James
B. Norman Vincent Peale
C. Gilbert Chesterton
D. Kagawa
Ans. B. Norman Vincent Peale
2. The extract is taken from the book ________.
A. The Power of Positive Thinking
B. The New Art of Living
C. Stay Alive All Your Life
D. A Guide to Confident Living
Ans. B. The New Art of Living
3. The college student was unsuccessful in ________ but efficient in ________.
A. sports, studies
B. studies, athletics
C. athletics, academics
D. academics, sports
Ans. B. studies, athletics
4. The professor used the illustration of ________.
A. a mirror
B. a burning glass
C. a telescope
D. a prism
Ans. B. a burning glass
5. The student’s moment of realization was like ________.
A. a slow awakening
B. a flashing illumination
C. a gradual understanding
D. a peaceful meditation
Ans. B. a flashing illumination
6. According to William James, people use only ________ of their powers.
A. a large part
B. all
C. a small part
D. half
Ans. C. a small part
7. Scientists say the average person uses ________ percent of their brain power.
A. ten
B. twenty
C. thirty
D. fifty
Ans. B. twenty
8. In every personality there is a great ________ of unused power.
A. ocean
B. river
C. reservoir
D. fountain
Ans. C. reservoir
9. The book “If I Could Preach Only Once” was published by a ________ publishing house.
A. American
B. British
C. Japanese
D. Indian
Ans. B. British
10. Gilbert Chesterton would preach against ________.
A. poverty
B. ignorance
C. fear
D. disease
Ans. C. fear
11. Fear lays its ________ hand upon an individual.
A. helpful
B. paralyzing
C. gentle
D. supporting
Ans. B. paralyzing
12. The author’s frightening experience occurred in ________.
A. a city hotel
B. a mountain cabin
C. the North Woods
D. a desert camp
Ans. C. the North Woods
13. The noises on the porch were made by a ________.
A. gangster
B. bear
C. chipmunk
D. intruder
Ans. C. chipmunk
14. Kagawa was a ________ preacher and social worker.
A. Chinese
B. Korean
C. Japanese
D. Indian
Ans. C. Japanese
15. Kagawa achieved peace by immersing himself in the ________.
A. study of books
B. grace of God
C. practice of meditation
D. service of humanity
Ans. B. grace of God
16. According to the essay, the greatest day in life is when one begins to ________.
A. earn money
B. get married
C. realize himself
D. become famous
Ans. C. realize himself
17. The burning glass creates heat by ________ the sun’s rays.
A. scattering
B. reflecting
C. absorbing
D. focusing
Ans. D. focusing
18. Most of the things one fears ________.
A. always happen
B. never happen
C. happen partially
D. happen differently
Ans. B. never happen
19. The first step in conquering fear is to get ________ of them.
A. complete knowledge
B. partial understanding
C. vague idea
D. superficial awareness
Ans. A. complete knowledge
20. Kagawa never lost his calm despite ________.
A. wealth and fame
B. mobs and threats
C. praise and criticism
D. success and failure
Ans. B. mobs and threats
21. Norman Vincent Peale is known for his ________ message.
A. negative
B. neutral
C. positive
D. critical
Ans. C. positive
22. The student leaped to his feet crying ________.
A. “I understand!”
B. “Eureka!”
C. “I see it! I see it!”
D. “I know now!”
Ans. C. “I see it! I see it!”
23. One frog in a pond may sound like ________ when trying to sleep.
A. ten
B. fifty
C. a hundred
D. a thousand
Ans. C. a hundred
24. The real escape from fear comes through ________.
A. wealth
B. power
C. knowledge
D. faith in God
Ans. D. faith in God
25. The author felt ________ after discovering the chipmunk.
A. relieved and happy
B. limp and mortified
C. angry and frustrated
D. proud and confident
Ans. B. limp and mortified
True or False
State whether the following statements are true or false
1. Norman Vincent Peale wrote “The New Art of Living.”
2. The college student was successful in academics but failed in athletics.
3. The professor used the illustration of a telescope to explain his point.
4. William James was a famous psychologist.
5. The average person uses fifty percent of their brain power.
6. Gilbert Chesterton would preach about love if he had only one sermon.
7. Fear is described as one of man’s most common enemies.
8. The author found gangsters when he opened the cabin door.
9. Kagawa was an American preacher and social worker.
10. Kagawa achieved inner peace through his relationship with God.
11. Self-realization is described as the greatest day in one’s life.
12. The burning glass scatters sunlight to create heat.
13. Most fears are greatly exaggerated in our imagination.
14. Only others can conquer your fears for you.
15. Faith in God brings total peace of mind according to the essay.
Answers
1. True
2. False (He was successful in athletics but failed in academics)
3. False (The professor used a burning glass illustration)
4. True
5. False (The average person uses only twenty percent)
6. False (He would preach against fear)
7. True
8. False (He found a chipmunk)
9. False (He was Japanese)
10. True
11. True
12. False (It focuses sunlight to create heat)
13. True
14. False (Only you can conquer your own fears; others may help but ultimately you must do it yourself)
15. True
Fill in the Blanks
1. The greatest day in any individual’s life is when he begins for the first time to ________ himself.
2. The college student was efficient upon the ________ field but unsuccessful in studies.
3. The professor used the illustration of the ________ glass.
4. When sunlight is drawn to a ________, it creates intense heat.
5. The student experienced a ________ illumination that changed his life.
6. According to scientists, the average person uses only ________ percent of brain power.
7. In every personality there is a great ________ of unused power.
8. For most people, only a miserable little ________ of power gets through.
9. The great secret is to turn back the ________ gates and release the power.
10. Gilbert Chesterton would preach a sermon against ________.
11. Fear lays its ________ hand upon an individual.
12. A fear is not unlike a ________.
13. The author heard frightening noises in a cabin in the ________ Woods.
14. When the author opened the door, he found only a small ________.
15. ________ was a Japanese preacher and social worker.
16. Kagawa immersed himself in the ________ of God.
17. Despite many difficulties, Kagawa never lost his ________.
18. The real escape from fear comes through deep ________ in God.
19. Weak personalities can become ________ through inner power.
20. The man who succeeds can draw his ________ powers to a focus.
Answers
1. Realize
2. Athletic
3. Burning
4. Focus
5. Flashing
6. Twenty
7. Reservoir
8. Trickle
9. Sluice
10. Fear
11. Paralyzing
12. Ghost
13. North
14. Chipmunk
15. Kagawa
16. Grace
17. Calm
18. Faith
19. Strong
20. dissipated
Extra Questions
Answer Questions
1. What is the significance of self-realization according to Norman Vincent Peale?
Ans: Self-realization is described as the greatest day in any individual’s life because it marks the moment when a person truly understands their capabilities and potential for the first time. This awakening enables individuals to access their dormant powers and transform from failure to success. It is the foundation upon which all future achievements and happiness are built, as demonstrated by the college student’s dramatic transformation.
2. Explain the burning glass illustration and its significance.
Ans: The burning glass illustration demonstrates how scattered sunlight falling on paper has little effect, but when focused through a magnifying glass to one point, creates intense heat that burns through the paper. This illustrates the principle that success comes from concentrating one’s dissipated energies toward a specific goal rather than scattering them in multiple directions. It teaches that focused effort produces powerful results while unfocused energy remains futile and ineffective.
3. What does Peale mean by “a great reservoir of unused power”?
Ans: Peale refers to the vast untapped potential within every human being that remains dormant and unaccessed. Scientists estimate that people use only twenty percent of their brain power, leaving eighty percent unused. This reservoir represents the enormous mental, emotional, and creative capacity that could transform lives if people learned to unlock and channel it effectively toward their goals.
4. Why did Gilbert Chesterton choose fear as his sermon topic?
Ans: Chesterton chose fear despite being an eminent scholar because fear is one of humanity’s most common and destructive enemies that touches everyone’s life in some way. Fear paralyzes people, prevents them from achieving their full potential, and casts a shadow over happiness. He recognized that conquering fear is essential for living successfully and achieving genuine contentment.
5. How does the North Woods incident illustrate the nature of fear?
Ans: The North Woods incident demonstrates how fear magnifies small problems into terrifying threats through imagination. The author’s mind transformed a tiny chipmunk’s movements into an imagined attack by armed gangsters, causing extreme terror. When he finally confronted his fear by opening the door, he discovered the reality was far less threatening than his imagination had made it seem, teaching that most fears are greatly exaggerated.
6. What lesson does the author learn from the chipmunk incident?
Ans: The author learned that it is extremely beneficial (salutary) to directly examine and confront one’s fears rather than letting them grow in the darkness of imagination. When fears are brought into the light and looked at directly, they are usually much less impressive and threatening than we imagined them to be. This experience taught him that most fears are exaggerated mental constructions rather than real dangers.
7. Describe Kagawa’s secret to inner peace.
Ans: Kagawa’s secret was immersing himself over a long period in the grace of God, which gave him a profound calm that nothing could destroy. Despite encountering mobs, threats, attacks, endangered eyesight, and disease, his inner peace remained unshakable. This deep spiritual connection eliminated all his fears and provided remarkable strength and confidence that external circumstances could not disturb.
8. How can weak personalities become strong according to the essay?
Ans: Weak personalities can become strong by accessing the reservoir of unused power within themselves. This requires finding the key to unlock this power, turning back the sluice gates, and letting it flow like a terrific stream into one’s mind and personality. This inward power source can transform weakness into strength, unify divided personalities, heal hurt minds, and bring peace and poise.
9. What are the different types of fears mentioned in the essay?
Ans: The essay mentions financial fears (worries about money and economic security), health fears (anxiety about illness and bodily afflictions), fears about the future (uncertainty about what lies ahead), and fears about consequences of past acts and decisions (regret about previous choices). These various fears haunt people constantly and diminish their happiness and ability to function at their best.
10. Why must each person conquer their own fears?
Ans: While others may provide help and support, ultimately only the individual can conquer their own fears because fear is a personal, internal battle. Each person must find the courage to examine their fears, bring them into the light, and develop the faith or understanding that dispels them. External help is limited; the real work of transformation must come from within through self-awareness and personal effort.
11. What caused the college student’s transformation?
Ans: A psychology lecture on focusing scattered powers inspired a moment of deep self-realization, turning him from failure to success.
12. What does the student’s story teach about human potential?
Ans: It shows that success comes from self-understanding and focused energy, not from lack of ability.
13. What is meant by “unused human potential”?
Ans: It refers to the vast inner powers most people never use, only a small portion of our mental and emotional capacity is tapped.
14. How can people access their unused potential?
Ans: By self-realization, focusing their energies, and directing their inner power toward clear, purposeful goals.
15. Why is fear called humanity’s greatest enemy?
Ans: Because it weakens confidence, limits potential, and prevents people from living and performing at their best.
16. How can fear be overcome?
Ans: By recognizing and analyzing it honestly, realizing most fears are imaginary, and developing faith to replace fear with peace.
17. What lesson does the North Woods story illustrate about fear?
Ans: It shows how imagination magnifies fear, terrifying noises turned out to be just a harmless chipmunk.
18. How did Kagawa conquer fear?
Ans: Through deep faith in God, which gave him inner calm, courage, and unshakable peace even in danger and suffering.
19. What is the main message of “Secret of Happiness”?
Ans: True happiness comes from inner transformation, self-realization, focused energy, overcoming fear, and strong faith.
20. Why is Peale’s message still relevant today?
Ans: Modern life creates fear, distraction, and self-doubt; Peale’s teachings offer timeless guidance for peace and fulfillment.