UNSEEN COMPREHENSION PASSAGE
1. Read the following paragraph and answer the questions
given below:
Rhinos are
enormous mammals that live mainly on the African Plains. A few can be found in
South Asia. Rhinos are generally black or grey with large armour-like flaps of
skin on their bodies. They sometimes measure 13 feet in length can weigh as
much as 6 tons. All rhinos have horns; some types have only one and others have
two. Rhinos like to eat at night, grazing on leaves, grass and twigs. During
the day, they prefer to rest or wallow in muddy pools. Shy and unpredictable,
the rhino has very poor eyesight, but a good sense of smell and hearing. If
disturbed, a rhino can be awesome enemy. Rhinos can come charging through the
brush at 30 miles an hour!
1. Where do Rhinos live?
(a) American rivers
(b) Indian mountains
(c) African Plains
(d) Sahara Deserts
2. What do Rhinos like to eat?
(a) insects
(b) frogs and fish
(c) eggs of birds
(d) leaves and grass
3. How many horns do Rhinos have?
4. What do they like to do in the day time?
5. Fill in the blank with a suitable word
from the passage:
Rhinos have a good
sense of ………………………
6. Match the words under column ‘A’ with
their meanings under column ‘B’
A B
grazing attacking
charging reading
eating
2. Read the following paragraph and answer the questions
given below :
India has one of
the richest and most exciting cultural traditions in the world. Our culture
goes back several thousand years. That is why ours is known as one of the
oldest civilizations in the
world. The culture
of country is made up of its customs, religions, music and dance. The food
habits of its people, the festivals they celebrate, the art and the handicrafts
made by them also help give the culture of a country its uniqueness. India is a
very large country. Different culture traditions are observed in different
parts of the country. In different states people speak different languages.
Even within the same state there are lots of forms of the same language. They
wear different clothes and eat different kind of foods. Yet we all are Indians.
We share a common culture of which we are very proud.
1. How old is Indian culture?
(a) one hundred years
(b) several hundred years
(c) one thousand years
(d) several thousand years
2. The culture of India is :
(a) common
(b) unique
(c) rare
(d) none of the above
3. What is the culture of a country made up
of?
4. What makes the culture of a country
unique?
5. Fill in the blank with a suitable word
from the passage:
In different
states people speak languages.
6. Match the words under column ‘A’ with
their meanings under column ‘B’
A B
exciting types
forms reading
inspiring
3. Read the following paragraph and answer the questions
given below :
Modern man’s life
has become very busy. Today, man has no time for himself. He is caught in the
battle of existence. It is indeed a sad life, where a man has no time to
nurture himself by doing things he enjoys doing. There are some who have no
choice in the matter. Life is series of battles for them and there is no time
to think of relaxation and leisure. But there are others who are compulsive
workers. They just work to fill up their time as they have never paused in life
to look around themselves and see how much more life has to offer to them. As a
matter of fact, such
people are prone
to health problems, because they always remain tense. If they take out some
time for themselves from their daily routine and spend it to rejuvenate
themselves, they will realise the value of leisure.
1. Compulsive workers are those
(a) who have no work to do
(b) who just work to fill up their time
(c) who are much relaxed workers
(d) who never take tension
2. Modern man has no time for himself
because
(a) he is now a relaxed person
(b) he is very lazy
(c) he is caught in the battle of existence
(d) he never takes things seriously
3. Why is the modern man’s life a sad life?
4. How can modern man realise the value of
leisure?
5. Fill in the blank with a suitable word
from the passage:
A man has no time
to himself.
6. Match the words under column ‘A’ with
their meaning under column ‘B’
A B
tense develop
nurture relax
worried
4. Read the following paragraph and answer the questions
given below :
The recognition of
the right of women to complete equality opened up new pathways of service and
encouraged women to play an increasingly effective role in public affairs.
Those who have watched India’s social and political trends in the decades prior
to her independence, regard the rapid advance of women and their easy
adaptation to new ways of life as a staggering achievement. Much of the credit
for this is due to liberal attitude adopted towards women by the social and
political thinkers of the day. They, one and all, believed that India’s
progress was closely linked with women’s advancement, and that if India wished
to recapture her past greatness, she should permit her women to share fully in
the glorious task.
1. Which right of women opened up new
pathways of service?
(a) right to vote
(b) right to equality
(c) right to work
(d) right to speak
2. India’s progress was closely linked with
(a) Women’s advancement
(b) Men’s advancement
(c) Children’s advancement
(d) Youngsters’ advancement
3. Who regards the rapid advance of women?
4. What did the social and political
thinkers believe?
5. Fill in the blank with a suitable word
from the passage:
India should
permit her to share fully in the
glorious task.
6. Match the words under column ‘A’ with
their meaning under column ‘B’
A B
prior free
liberal relax
before
5. Read the
following paragraph and answer the questions given below :
True happiness
always springs from within. It is subjective quality, independent of one’s
material circumstances. A contented mind is an essential condition of
happiness. It does not mean that a man should always have no aspiration in
life; but wild cravings of the heart should always be subdued. Contentment
stands for an uncomplaining acceptance of whatever happens in life. One should,
of course, do one’s best to improve one’s circumstances and position but one
should be prepared for defeat or failure. Contentment should be supplemented
with a readiness for self sacrifice. A good act, a noble deed, a gesture of
goodwill towards other, goes a long way in bringing happiness. Selfishness and
ill-will towards others are hostile to happiness. The maximum amount of true
happiness will always result from a pursuit that is not tainted by selfishness.
1. According to this passage, what is
independent of one’s material circumstances ?
(a) True prosperity
(b) True happiness
(c) True success
(d) True education
2. To be contented, one should be
(a) Sure about success
(b) Free all time
(c) Prepared for defeat
(d) Quarrelling with others
3. What is an essential condition of
happiness?
4. What is the meaning of contentment?
5. Fill in the blank with a suitable word
from the passage:
Contentment should
be supplemented with a for self
service.
6. Match the words under column ‘A’ with
their meanings under column ‘B’
A B
Circumstances subjective
Essential necessary
situations
6. Read the following paragraph and answer
the questions given below:
A hunter who
chases two hares at one and the same time may fail to catch them. Two hares may
run in two different directions and escape. So a person may follow two
different aims in life. It is generally seen that he fails to realise any of
them. If a man’s attention is divided between two things, he cannot apply full
mind and energy to any of them. The result is that he cannot be a success in
either of them. A lawyer can command a large practice at the bar, if he is
really absorbed in his own profession. But if he attempts to set up a business
along with his own profession, he can never do justice either to his own
profession or to his business. Either he will be an indifferent lawyer or he
will be a bad businessman. Hence, pursuit of two aims divides attention and
causes waste of energy.
1. Pursuit of two aims divides
(a) friendship
(b) property
(c) honesty
(d) attention
2. The passage advises us to
(a) follow two aims at one time
(b) divide mind and energy
(c) concentrate at one aim with full energy
(d) do two business at one time
3. When does a person fail to realise his
aim?
4. Why can’t a lawyer set up business
successfully?
5. Fill in the blank with a suitable word
from the passage:
A lawyer can
command a large at the bar.
6. Match the words under column ‘A’ with
their meaning under column ‘B’
A B
indifferent reason
cause neutral
realise
7. Read the
following passage and answer the questions given below:
Pollution and
other environmental problems are often considered to be the direct result of a
country’s development. Industrialization, growing number of factories, people’s
capability of purchasing more vehicles and electronic devices etc. are often
related to the economic condition and growth of a nation. These factors are
responsible for raising the level of pollution. Firstly, it is a matter of fact
that pollution and environmental problems are more prominent in poor countries
than in rich countries. Air, sound and water pollution in countries like India
and Bangladesh is far dangerous than in developed countries like Australia,
Canada and the UK. Furthermore, the number of factories does not represent the
amount of pollution it causes. Secondly, economic development does not mean
that a country will have industries and factories all over the country. Proper
planning and inspection from the government can ensure the minimal emission of
gas and other toxic elements into the water and the air. Finally, pollution is
a global issue and proper laws and their enforcement laws can reduce it to a
great extent. We cannot stop the natural causes of pollution but greater
percentage of environmental pollution is caused by the human actions.
Planting trees is
the best solution for air pollution, as it reduces the carbon ratio in the air
and releases oxygen. Furthermore, reduced usage of fossil fuels also helps to
mitigate the air pollution. The government should educate and encourage people
to use alternative sources of energy and help people to recycle and reuse the
products.
Q.1 What, according to the passage, is
considered to be the direct cause of Pollution?
(a) Country’s land
(b) Country’s economy
(c) Country’s development
(d) Country’s government
Q.2 Greater percentage of the environmental
pollution is caused by:
(a) Nature
(b) Human actions
(c) Government
(d) Plants
Q.3 What kind of issue is ‘pollution’?
Q.4 What is the best solution for air pollution?
Q.5 Fill in the blank with a suitable word from
the passage. Diesel and petrol are fuels.
Q.6 Match the words under column ‘A’ with their
meaning under ‘B’.
A B
prominent decrease
reduce noticeable
increase
8. Read the
following passage and answer the questions given below:
Brain drain, also
referred to as human capital flight, is the action of having highly skilled and
educated people leaving their country to work abroad. It has actually become
one of the serious concerns for the developing nations. While many people
believe that immigration is a personal choice that must be understood and
respected, others look at this phenomenon from a different perspective. What
makes those people leave their country, their own people, should be seriously
considered and a distinction between pull and push factors must be made. The
push factors include low wages and lack of satisfactory working and living
conditions. Social unrest, political conflicts and wars may also be the
determining causes. The pull factors, however, include intellectual freedom and
substantial funds for research. Brain drain has negative impact on the economic
prospects and competitiveness of sender countries. It reduces the number of
dynamic and creative people who can contribute to the development of their
country. Likewise, with more entrepreneurs taking their investment abroad,
developing countries are missing opportunity of wealth creation.
Q.1 The term ‘brain drain’ is also referred to
as:
(a) capital flight
(b) human capital flight
(c) pull factors
(d) push factors
Q.2 Brain drain has terrible consequences on the
economic development of :
(a) sending countries
(b) receiving countries
(c) developed countries
(d) undeveloped countries
Q.3 What do you mean by the term ‘Brain drain’?
Q.4 Enumerate the push factors that lead to
Brain drain.
Q.5 Fill in the blank with a suitable word from
the passage.
Every citizen must for the development of the nation
wholeheartedly.
Q.6 Match the words under column ‘A’ with their
meaning under ‘B’.
A B
conflict decrease
reduce dispute
increase
10. Read the following passage and answer the questions
given below:
Trees give shade
for benefit of others, while they themselves stand in the sun and endure the
scorching heat. They produce the fruit by which others profit. The character of
a good man is like
that of trees.
What is the use of this perishable body if it is not used for the benefit of
mankind? Sandalwood, the more it is rubbed, the more scent does it yield.
Sugarcane, the more it is peeled and cut into pieces, the more juice does it
produce. Gold, the more it is burnt, the more brightly does it shine. The men
who are noble at heart do not lose their qualities even by losing their lives.
What does it matter whether men praise them or not? What difference does it
make whether riches abide with them or not? What does it signify whether they
die at this moment or whether their lives are prolonged? Happen what may, those
who tread in the right path will not set foot in any other. Life itself is
unprofitable to a man who does not live for others. To live for the mere sake
of living one’s life is to live the life of dogs or crows.
Q.1 Which quality of a good man is compared to
that of a tree?
(a) Light
(b) character
(c) success
(d) Hunger
Q.2 The life of a man is unprofitable if he
(a) does not earn money
(b) does not get education
(c) does not live for others
(d) does not love anybody
Q.3 What do the trees teach us?
Q.4 What are the qualities of a good man?
Q.5 Fill in the blank with a suitable word from
the passage.
Everything in this
world is …………..
Q.6 Match the words under column ‘A’ with their
meaning under ‘B’.
A B
Endure walk
tread endless
bear
