I was born in Pandari, around 30 kilometers from Motihari in Bihar. My education started in my village madrasa and then in an Urdu-medium government school. I did not have any English medium then. 

When I discovered, at age 20 or 21 that Eric Arthur Blair aka George Orwell was born in Motihari. it made me wonder if I could be a writer too. That day, it became my dream. 

My Abba was the one who opened up the world of books for me. I must have been seven or eight, when he first gifted me a Hindi storybook. He was posted in a small town near Patna and visited our village home. Looking at the book I asked Abba if it was for my next class. I did not know then that books existed beyond the classroom. When Abba explained I was fascinated to hear about storybooks. I couldn’t believe I would not have to pester my mother or grandmother for my daily dose of bedtime stories. That was the beginning of my love affair with books. 

By the time I was in class 10, I had finished reading hundreds of novels-literary as well as pulp fiction. Some of my favourite writers were Ibn-e-Safi, Devaki Nandan Khatri, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. Prem Chand, etc. Nanaji (my maternal grandfather), who ran a Unani and Ayurvedic medicine shop in a small kasba (town) called Bairangania, used to be the only person from the area who knew English. My father cited him to motivate me to improve my English. Also, my private tutor, Janak Babu, made me believe that it was possible for a Bhojpuri-speaking Hindi Urdu-medium student like me to learn the language. After 10 months with Janaki Babu, I started reading comics in English. Two years later, in 1988, I read my first English novel, Khushwant Singh’s Train to Pakistan. The first book I actually bought myself was A Strange and Sublime Address by Amit Chaudhuri for the princely sum of Rs. 30 from a roadside bookseller.

The passage is written in a _____________.

Narrative style

The passage is written in a narrative style.

The passage presents a personal account of the author's upbringing, education, and literary influences. It is written in a narrative style, which means that it tells a story and presents events and experiences from the author's perspective. The passage follows a chronological order, starting from the author's early education in a village madrasa and Urdu-medium government school, then progressing to the discovery of George Orwell's connection to Motihari and the author's aspiration to become a writer.

The use of personal pronouns such as "I" and "my" indicates a first-person narrative, where the author directly shares their experiences and thoughts. The passage also includes anecdotes, such as the author's conversation with their Abba (father) about storybooks and the influence of their Abba and private tutor on their English language learning journey.

Overall, the passage presents a coherent narrative that tells the story of the author's literary journey and aspirations, making it an example of a narrative style of writing.

Explanation of wrong options:

Option 1: Reflective style - This option is incorrect because the passage does not primarily focus on introspection, contemplation, or deep self-analysis. While the author does reflect on their discovery of George Orwell's connection to Motihari and its impact on their aspirations, the overall tone and structure of the passage are more characteristic of a narrative rather than a reflective style.

Option 2: Dramatic style - This option is incorrect because the passage does not contain heightened emotions, intense conflicts, or theatrical elements that are typically associated with a dramatic style. The passage presents a straightforward account of the author's experiences and journey without relying on dramatic elements.

Option 4: Poetic style - This option is incorrect because the passage does not employ poetic devices such as meter, rhyme, or extensive use of figurative language. The language used in the passage is mostly descriptive and focuses on conveying information and personal experiences rather than creating a poetic ambiance.