The flickering candlelight cast long shadows across the worn wooden table. Ten-year-old Maya traced the rim of her chipped teacup, her gaze fixed on the sputtering flame. This was their nightly ritual, a fragile defiance against the encroaching darkness that mirrored the uncertainty in their lives. Their family, once comfortably middle-class, had been thrown into turmoil by the sudden energy crisis. The government's hasty transition to renewable sources, while lauded by environmentalists, had left many, like Maya's family, struggling to adapt. The price of electricity had skyrocketed, and the unreliable solar panels installed on their roof provided only sporadic power. Maya remembered a time when lights blazed brightly, when the refrigerator hummed contentedly, and the television flickered with colorful images. Those were the days of plentiful, cheap energy – an era she now viewed with a wistful nostalgia. She recalled her father's frustrated sighs as he wrestled with the temperamental solar system, the arguments between her parents about dwindling resources, and the growing sense of vulnerability that pervaded their home. The crisis, however, had inadvertently fostered a resilience within the family. They learned to conserve, to value the simple things, and to rely on each other. They started a small garden, growing their own vegetables, and rediscovered the joy of shared meals by candlelight. Maya's grandmother, a storyteller from a generation that knew hardship firsthand, shared tales of rationing and resourcefulness during wartime, weaving a narrative of survival and adaptation that resonated deeply with Maya. As Maya listened to her grandmother's stories, she began to understand the interconnectedness between energy, history, and personal identity. The energy crisis wasn't just about electricity; it was about loss, adaptation, and the redefinition of their family's values. It was a challenge that forced them to confront their dependence on a readily available resource and re-evaluate what truly mattered. The flickering candlelight, once a symbol of hardship, became a quiet beacon of their shared resilience, a testament to their enduring spirit in the face of adversity. The crisis profoundly shaped Maya's worldview. She realized that energy, far from being a mere utility, was intrinsically linked to cultural practices, family dynamics, and individual experiences. It became a lens through which she viewed history, present, and the future, reminding her of the impermanence of abundance and the importance of sustainable living. The lessons learned around that flickering candle helped to forge a deeper understanding of herself and her place in the world.
1. What is the primary cause of the family's hardship, as depicted in the passage?
2. How did the energy crisis affect Maya's family dynamics?
3. What symbolic significance does the flickering candlelight hold in the passage?
4. What is the central theme explored in the passage?
5. According to the passage, how did Maya's grandmother contribute to the family's resilience?