Every person has the same number of hours in a day: 24. That’s 1,440 minutes to do everything—eat, sleep, study, play, scroll, and dream. So why do some people seem to get more done than others? The answer often comes down to how they manage their time.
Time management isn’t just about using a planner or setting alarms. It’s about **choosing how to spend your time based on what matters most**. If you spend two hours on social media, that’s two hours you’re not using to finish a project, exercise, or talk with your family. Economists call this idea **opportunity cost**—what you give up when you choose one thing over another.
Some people avoid planning because they don’t want to feel controlled by a schedule. But a good schedule doesn’t trap you—it frees you. When you decide ahead of time how you want to spend your hours, you gain control instead of being pulled in different directions.
Of course, not every minute needs to be productive. Rest and fun are important too. But knowing when to focus and when to relax is part of growing up. It’s easy to underestimate how small choices—like watching one more episode or putting off a task—can add up over time.
Time, once spent, cannot be earned back. There’s no refund on an afternoon wasted or an opportunity missed. That’s what makes it valuable. Unlike money, you can’t save time in a bank account. But you can invest it wisely.
Learning to use time well takes practice, just like learning to play an instrument or speak a new language. But those who do often find they not only get more done—they also feel less stressed and more confident about their choices.
Q1: What is the main idea of the passage?
Q2: What is meant by 'opportunity cost' in the context of time?
Q3: How does the author support the idea that managing time brings freedom?
Q4: What does the author imply by saying 'there’s no refund on an afternoon wasted'?
Q5: Why is the phrase 'invest it wisely' used to describe time?
Q6: What tone does the author use in this passage?
Printable Comprehension Practice
Visit us at https://readbuddies.com to practice interactively, track your progress, and explore more comprehension passages.
Q1: What is the main idea of the passage?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: The passage emphasizes time as a valuable, non-renewable resource and encourages wise, intentional use.
Q2: What is meant by 'opportunity cost' in the context of time?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The passage defines opportunity cost as what you give up when choosing one use of time over another.
Q3: How does the author support the idea that managing time brings freedom?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The passage says planning time gives control, preventing chaos and giving people more choice in how they live.
Q4: What does the author imply by saying 'there’s no refund on an afternoon wasted'?
✅ Correct Answer: A
💡 Reasoning: The metaphor means that time, unlike money, cannot be returned or recovered once used.
Q5: Why is the phrase 'invest it wisely' used to describe time?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The author compares time to money to suggest that careful decisions today lead to better outcomes later.
Q6: What tone does the author use in this passage?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: The tone is thoughtful and motivating, helping readers reflect on time without sounding harsh or rigid.