Reading Comprehension

Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions below.

Meditation is an exercise in quieting the mind. Meditation can help restore mental balance leading to a feeling of happiness and contentment.

Think of the brain as a faucet where the water is constantly flowing. The flowing “water” is our thoughts about such things as the never-ending list of tasks that we have to do, should do, didn’t do, and might do. Stopping the flow of these thoughts and slowing down the mind is the goal of meditation. By turning off the faucet, a person who practices meditation can attain clearer thinking, improved health, and a greater understanding of their own goals.

When one first sits down to meditate, it may seem like one’s mind is racing at 100 miles a minute. One thinks of the report that needs to be turned in, the dishes that haven’t been done, and the countless other problems in life that unconsciously stream in. This is because when meditating, one finally realizes how active the mind actually is. The focus must then be taken away from these thoughts and cantered instead of breathing deeply through the nostrils and out through the mouth. Although it seems simple to “just breathe,” it is easier said than done in reality. Blocking out external thoughts takes a great deal of effort. Sitting in an upright position with legs folded and thumbs just barely touching the index fingers, meditation can bring relaxation and inner peace. All thoughts of the things that should, could, and would be, fade away as the mind is quieted.