Reading Section — ENGLISH CORE STD 12 Science — Question

1. Have you ever caught yourself scratching your head, twitching your ear, tapping your foot or playing with your keys or pen? If you have, you are a sure fidgeter. And it is very likely that the habit has carried over from childhood, when your wriggling probably exasperated—and sometimes amused—your parents and teachers. It is not a pleasant sight to see a grown-up person fidgeting; in fact, it is a distraction.

2. Recently, some doctors in Britain have discovered that not only is fidgeting quite normal, it even does you good.

3. Almost everybody fidgets when hot, cold, hungry, thirsty or tired. Being kept waiting also brings us to fidgets. Most of this is normal but then with some this translates into exaggerated mannerisms, that is where we have a problem. When the British doctors wired up volunteers to an electric ‘fidgetmeter’, followed by a gruelling interview, some stayed almost completely still. Others made up to 57 movements in half a minute. Since the rate went up when disturbing topics were raised, it seemed that those who fidgeted more were the anxious types, needing to release nervous energy.

4. This is what led to the conclusion that fidgeting has its uses too—since it helps get rid of stress that could sometimes lead to headaches, muscle pain or even ulcers. Fidgeting is also believed to fight the flab. Add up all those little movements made by fidgeters during their waking hours and they burn up as much energy as a jog, the report said.

5. While British doctors may feel that fidgeting is an expression of anxious behaviour, doctors here do not necessarily agree.

6. Meanwhile, a former assistant professor in Los Angeles opines that fidgeting is a sign of “some underlying tension which is causing anxiety”. While one cannot make generalised statements, some experts feel that pencil-suckers yearn for babyhood, teeth-grinders and fist clenchers seem to be holding back their aggression, foot tappers wish to be on the move and people who scratch may wish to injure themselves.

7. A leading psychiatrist gives a positive side to the anxiety angle. According to him, “a bit of anxiety is not harmful since it induces one to do better. It often brings out the best in people—while meeting deadlines, submitting reports or at interviews and examinations.” He gives the example of tennis players who play with “manageable anxiety”, but warns that when the fidgets turn to restlessness, it might affect performance. Often, he says, a person suffering from a neurological illness ends up fidgeting deliberately, “mainly to distract his companion from his actual problem. It could be something as harmless as the shaking of the hand or twitching of the eye.”

8. Refuting this, another psychiatrist insists that fidgeting in no way should be considered good. “It may be innocuous unless it is harming the fidgeter or annoying others, but, what fidgeting really reveals is a lack of confidence and even social phobia, besides, of course, anxiety. It, in fact, sends non-verbal messages to people who then treat the person accordingly — as nervous or anxious individuals,” he adds.

9. Unfortunately, fidgeters often find it hard to kick the habit, even when it’s socially unacceptable.

10. While those fidgeting are themselves perturbed by the habit, efforts in controlling it could cause other problems, because, “the person could get hypertense or worried about being unable to tackle it and get more fidgety in the process.” Experts, in the meantime, keep suggesting remedies or tricks to get out of fidgeting habits, like playing with a coin in your pocket or glove, or wearing a ring which you can rub without others noticing. In Greece, many taxi-drivers carry worry-beads which they click while waiting to combat fidgeting, while some stores in London’s West End once sold pieces of polished stone designed for gently stroking with the thumb.

11. Dr James Buyers, a neurologist of London, hopes for a more lasting and practical solution. “Anything that will stop the speed of modern life for even half a minute will definitely be beneficial,” he says.

(i)a childish habit in a grown up

(ii)a sign of exasperation and amusement

(iii)not a pleasant sight and a distraction

(iv)normal and does good

(i)Playing with a coin in one’s pocket

(ii)Stopping the speed of life for even half a minute

(iii)Clicking on worry beads like Greek taxi drivers

(iv)Stroking polished stones with one’s thumb

(c) What are the positive speculations that the author makes about anxiety?

(i)facile

(ii)facial

(iii)faceted

(iv)factice

1.The Curative Remedies for Fidgeting

2.The Jury is Still Out on Fidgeting

3.Tennis Players and Their Manageable Anxiety

4.Many Aspects of Fidgeting

5.Fidgeting – a necessity

(i)1 and 2

(ii)2 and 3

(iii)only 4

(iv)3 and 5