Unseen passage for Class 9 - Passage 11

Unseen passage - Many urban dwellers, accustomed to the hustle of commuting through city subways, are familiar with the hurried corridors and crowded trains that characterize the experience. However, this particular morning brought a unique twist. A musician stationed himself at one of the subway entrances, treating passersby to six exquisite Bach pieces over a span of forty-five minutes. Despite the bustling environment, the atmosphere changed when a man noticed the performance three minutes in, pausing briefly before offering the musician his first one-dollar tip. Among the onlookers, a particularly intrigued three-year-old boy wished to linger and listen, but his mother curtailed his stay.

During the forty-five minutes, a total of one thousand and ninety-seven people passed by, with only six taking a moment to stop and appreciate the music. Surprisingly, the violinist managed to collect thirty-two dollars in tips. What remained unknown to the oblivious crowd was that the musician was none other than Joshua Bell, a world-renowned soloist, playing a violin valued at 3.5 million dollars. Just two days prior, he had performed in a concert where attendees paid an average of a hundred dollars for their seats.

The real-life experiment aimed to explore profound questions. Could people recognize beauty in mundane settings and during unconventional hours? Would they identify genius in unexpected situations? Perhaps most thought-provoking of all: if Joshua Bell's Bach performance went unnoticed in the subway, how many other remarkable experiences do people overlook simply because they are not in a prestigious venue like Carnegie Hall?

The subway, typically a bustling place in the morning, became the backdrop for this intriguing social experiment.

Unseen passage - There is a common belief that artists are not expected to have an interest in sports, but mountain biking holds significant importance in my life. It provides a break from my studio, allowing me to connect with nature. More importantly, the thrill of racing at top speed leaves no room to dwell on life's concerns. The focus shifts entirely to avoiding crashes, concentrating on the pain in your legs, and navigating the rocks on the path ahead.

Despite being in my sixties now, my passion for cycling dates back to my childhood. During the summer, my friends and I would venture into the woods, challenging each other to navigate steep hills and attempt daring jumps. Although our bikes were not designed for such adventures and often broke, I began sketching bicycles with robust tires that could withstand our escapades. These drawings resembled contemporary mountain bikes.

It took many years before someone actually brought my envisioned bike to life. By the 1980s, mountain bikes had become ubiquitous. During that period, my interest was in skateboarding, which I pursued for a decade until the physical toll became too painful. Transitioning to mountain biking seemed like a relatively safe way to stay fit, leading me to make new friends and engage in racing, providing a motivation for rigorous training.

Curiosity led me to explore the limits of my fitness and speed, resulting in surprisingly swift progress. I even secured victories in a couple of local races. Eventually, I decided to step away from competitive racing, primarily due to the potential impact on my career in case of a serious accident. Nevertheless, I continue to enjoy a three-hour mountain bike ride each week. When cycling in the hills and encountering another rider, the competitive spirit kicks in, and I can't help but strive to reach the top before them. Passing by, I imagine their surprise if they knew my age.