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Word Response
War I want to lay down my life for the sake of my nation.
Or
Mohan is searching the office of recruitment.
Or
You cannot join the Air Force with spectacles.
Look at the first sentence. Who attains prominence in such type of sentence ? The answer is
undisputedly ‘I’. In the second sentence something of no insignificance concerning ‘Mohan’ is reported.
In the third sentence disqualification due to spectacles on another person (you) is communicated. Such
types of responses are personal responses. They communicate facts/opinions/characteristics/qualities or
events concerning individuals however informed he may be. Unless something really deserves
attention, personal responses are not considered to be going in your favour.
Factual Response—in this category of responses are those responses that contain some fact about
the content to be communicated. Facts are of the following three types :—
● Universal Facts
● Simple Facts
● Rare Facts
Universal Facts—The sun rises in the east, is an example of a universal fact. These are non-
controversial and accepted universally.
Simple or Common Facts—These are events or those facts that are known to masses. You gather
simple facts as you grow up. Our country has states and union territories is a simple fact, which is
known even to a junior grade student. London is the capital of England is another example. Knowledge
of simple facts does not bring any credit to any person for the simple reason that no special effort or
involvement is needed to gather and contain them in your mind.
Rare Facts—These are those facts that are known to only a few who took special efforts/interest or
pains to gather them. Qualitatively there is no difference between a simple fact and a rare fact. A rare
fact is available in the cognitive world of only a few. In other words it is because of limited availability
a fact becomes rare. Wright Brothers invented the aeroplane is a common fact. But the information
‘Ivan Sir Kosky successfully flew the first helicopter is not commonly known and hence it will be
considered as a rare information or a rare fact.
Rare facts, since reflect an additional efforts, interests shown by the individual, are considered to be
good responses. They indicate on the intellectual richness/depth of a person. Possession of such
information makes your information unique and it will be taken so.
Injunction, Advices, Preaching or Command—Consider the following types of sentences :—
● You should respect your seniors.
● One must not forget the sacrifices of parents.
● You have to concentrate on your career now.
● Time is very precious. Don’t waste it.
● Follow the path shown by great people.
● Not gold, only men can make a nation great and strong.
The sentences mentioned above contain advice suggestions or command to others. Giving advice is not
wrong per se, but one must not attain the personality of a preacher. A preacher generally remains with content
only by suggesting others. Whether he is involved in the action himself is a secondary matter. Such type of
responses are not viewed favourably. The Armed Forces need a ‘doer’ and not a ‘preacher’. A doer’s priority is
to ‘act’ where as a preacher’s preference is to ‘say’. A preacher is happy by using appropriate words whereas a
doer will derive satisfaction only by his involvement into the required action.