COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS ON A GIVEN STANZA FROM POETRY
SECTION B: POETRY
POEM 1: PRAYER OF THE WOODS
I. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow:
I am the heat of your hearth on the cold winter nights, the friendly shade
screening you from the summer sun, and my
fruits are refreshing draughts quenching your thirst as you journey on.
(a) How can the woods give us heat as well as coldness?
Ans. The wood from trees gives us heat when it is burnt in the fire place on cold winter nights. The leafy branches of the woods give us cool shade in summers.
(b) Name the figure of speech used in the line… the friendly shade screening you from the summer sun……
Ans. The figure of speech is: Personification or Alliteration.
(c) List the things the woods give us.
Ans. The woods give us heat in winter, shade in summer and juicy fruits in all the seasons.
(d) What does the line refreshing draughts refer to?
Ans. Juicy bites of the fruits.
II. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow:
I am the handle of your hoe, the door of your homestead, the wood of your
cradle, and the shell of your coffin. I am
the bread of kindness and the flower of beauty. ‘Ye who pass by, listen to my
prayer: Harm me not.
(a) Write down the line in the poem that explains the statement: The wood accompanies us from birth till death.
Ans. The line is “the wood of your cradle, and the shell of your coffin”.
(b) I am the bread of kindness and the flower of beauty. This means the woods give us:-
Ans. kind feelings and loveliness.
(c) Who is the speaker in the poem?
Ans. The woods.
(d) What is the prayer of woods to the human beings?
Ans. The woods pray to man that he should not harm them.
POEM 2: ON FRIENDSHIP
I. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow:
And a youth said, “Speak to us of friendship.”
Your friend is your needs answered.
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.
When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the “nay” in your own mind,
nor do you withhold the “ay.”
-
Name the poet and the poem.
Ans. The poet is Kahlil Gibran and the poem is ‘On Friendship’. -
What is the most important thing that we can give to our friend?
Ans. It is love. -
Why do we seek him?
Ans. We seek him for peace. -
How is our friend our fireside?
Ans. He is our fireside as he helps us in our difficult times.
II. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow:
And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;
For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all
expectations are born and shared, with joy that is un acclaimed.
When you part from your friend, you grieve not;
For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as
the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.
-
Name the poet and the poem.
Ans. The poet is Kahlil Gibran and the poem is ‘On Friendship’ -
When does our heart not cease to listen to our friend?
Ans. Even when our friend is silent. -
How are our thoughts and desires shared?
Ans. Without words. -
Why should we not grieve the parting from our friend?
Ans. As his absence would only enhance his qualities.
III. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow:
And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love
but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.
And let your best be for your friend.
If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know about its flood also.
-
Name the poet and the poem.
Ans. The poet is Kahlil Gibran and the poem is ‘On Friendship’ -
What should be the purpose of friendship?
Ans. It is the deepening of the soul. -
What should we preserve for our friend?
Ans. We should preserve our best for our friend. -
What should a friend know about our life?
Ans. He should know all about the highs and lows of our life.
IV. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow:
For what is your friend that you should seek him for hours to kill?
Seek him always with hours to live.
For it is his to fill your need, not your emptiness.
In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.
-
Why should we seek a friend?
Ans. We should seek him for having a fruitful time together. -
What is not our friend’s duty towards us?
Ans. It is not his duty to fill our emptiness. -
What should be the atmosphere of friendship?
Ans. It should be joyous. -
How does the heart find its joys?
Ans. The heart finds its joys in little things of happiness.
POEM 3: THE ECHOING GREEN
I. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow:
The Sun does arise
And make happy the skies,
The merry bells ring
To welcome the Spring,
The skylark and thrush,
The birds of the bush,
Sing louder around
To the bells’ cheerful sound,
While our sports shall be seen
On the Echoing Green.
(a) Name the poet and the poem.
Ans. The name of the poet is William Blake and the name of the poem is ‘The Echoing Green’.
(b) Name the birds which sing to welcome the spring.
Ans. The skylark and the thrush sing to welcome the spring.
(c) What purpose does the ringing of the merry bells serve in the poem?
Ans. The merry bells are ringing to welcome the spring season.
(d) How can you say that the mood in the poem is happy and carefree, celebrating a close bond between man and nature?
Ans. The words like happy, merry, cheerful, joy used in the poem create a happy and carefree mood in the poem. There is harmony between nature and man.
II. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow:
Till the little ones, weary,
No more can be merry;
The sun does descend,
And our sports have an end.
Round the laps of their mothers
Many sisters and brothers,
Like birds in their nest,
Are ready for rest,
And sport no more seen
On the darkening Green.
(a) What do the words weary, descend, an end and rest suggest?
Ans. They suggest that sports on the echoing green are going to end.
(b) Name the things that take rest at the end of the day.
Ans. Children, birds, men and women take rest at the end of the day.
(c) Why does the echoing green become the darkening green?
Ans. The echoing green becomes the darkening green because the sun sets and night falls.
(d) Name the figure of speech in the lines:
Many sisters and brothers, like birds in their nests, are ready for rest.
Ans. Simile
POEM 4: ONCE UPON A TIME
I. Read the stanza given below and answer the questions that follow:
Once upon a time, son,
they used to laugh with their hearts
and laugh with their eyes:
but now they only laugh with their teeth,
while their ice-block-cold eyes
search behind my shadow.
-
Name the poem and its poet.
Ans. The poem is ‘Once Upon A Time’ and the poet is Gabriel Okara. -
How did the people laugh in the past?
Ans. They laughed sincerely in the past. -
Explain: “They only laugh with their teeth”.
Ans. They laugh artificially. -
What does “ice-block-cold eyes” mean?
Ans. It means feelingless eyes.
II. Read the stanza given below and answer the questions that follow:
There was a time indeed
they used to shake hands with their hearts:
but that’s gone, son.
Now they shake hands without hearts
while their left hands search
my empty pockets.
-
Name the poem and its poet.
Ans. The poem is ‘Once Upon A Time’ and the poet is Gabriel Okara. -
How do people shake hands now?
Ans. They shake hands without any real feelings of friendship for each-other. -
Whom is the poet talking to?
Ans. His son. -
What is in the poet’s pockets?
Ans. Nothing. They are empty.
III. Read the stanza given below and answer the questions that follow:
‘Feel at home!’ ‘Come again’:
they say, and when I come
again and feel
at home, once, twice,
there will be no thrice
for then I find doors shut on me.
-
Name the poem and its poet.
Ans. The poem is ‘Once Upon A Time’ and the poet is Gabriel Okara. -
Who is invited to visit again?
Ans. The poet. -
What is meant by “feel at home”?
Ans. It means to feel comfortable. -
What is the rhyme scheme of the stanza?
Ans. abcdde
IV. Read the stanza given below and answer the questions that follow:
So, I have learned many things, son.
I have learned to wear many faces
like dresses – homeface,
officeface, streetface, hostface,
cocktailface, with all their conforming smiles
like a fixed portrait smile.
-
Name the poem and its poet.
Ans. The poem is ‘Once Upon A Time’ and the poet is Gabriel Okara. -
What has the poet learned?
Ans. He has learned to wear many faces like dresses. -
Explain: “a fixed portrait smile”
Ans. An artificial smile for a portrait. -
What is an office face?
Ans. It means artificial behaviour adopted by modern man at his workplace.
V. Read the stanza given below and answer the questions that follow:
And I have learned too
to laugh with only my teeth
and shake hands without my heart.
I have also learned to say,’Goodbye’,
when I mean ‘Good-riddance’:
to say ‘Glad to meet you’,
without being glad; and to say ‘It’s been
nice talking to you’, after being bored.
-
Name the poem and its poet.
Ans. The poem is ‘Once Upon A Time’ and the poet is Gabriel Okara. -
How does the poet laugh now?
Ans. He laughs artificially now. -
What does the poet actually mean when he says “Goodbye”?
Ans. He actually means “Good Riddance”. -
Is the poet really glad when he says “Glad to meet you”?
Ans. No, he is not.
VI. Read the stanza given below and answer the questions that follow:
But believe me, son.
I want to be what I used to be
when I was like you. I want
to unlearn all these muting things.
Most of all, I want to relearn
how to laugh, for my laugh in the mirror
shows only my teeth like a snake’s bare fangs!
So show me, son,
how to laugh; show me how
I used to laugh and smile
once upon a time when I was like you.
-
Name the poem and its poet.
Ans. The poem is ‘Once Upon A Time’ and the poet is Gabriel Okara. -
What does the poet want to unlearn?
Ans. He wants to unlearn all the muting things. -
What does the poet want to relearn?
Ans. He wants to relearn how to laugh naturally. -
What are the poet’s teeth being compared to?
Ans. The poet’s teeth are being compared to a snake’s fangs.
POEM 5: FATHER RETURNING HOME
I. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow:
His eyes dimmed by age
Fade homeward through the humid monsoon night.
Now I can see him getting off the train
Like a word dropped from a long sentence.
He hurries across the length of the grey platform
Crosses the railway line, enters the lane.
(a) Write two reasons for father’s eyes being dimmed?
Ans. His eyes are dimmed because of his old age and the humid monsoon night.
(b) Which line in the poem describes father’s irrelevance to the train?
Ans. The line is:
'Now I can see him getting off the train
Like a word dropped from a long sentence.'
(c) Where does father go after getting off the train?
Ans. He crosses the railway line and enters the lane.
(d) Which figure of speech is used in the line 'Like a word dropped from a long sentence.'?
Ans. Simile.
II. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow:
His sullen children have often refused to share Jokes and secrets with him. He
will now go to sleep.
Listening to the static on the radio, dreaming
Of his ancestors and grandchildren, thinking
Of nomads entering a subcontinent through a narrow pass.
(a) Name the poem and its poet.
Ans. The name of the poem is ‘Father Returning Home’. Its poet is Dilip Chitre.
(b) Explain the behaviour of old man’s children towards him.
Ans. His children have no time for him. They are indifferent towards their father.
(c) What does he do after being written off by his children?
Ans. He goes to sleep listening to the radio.
(d) How can you say that the old man’s dream mirrors that either he is thinking about his past or future?
Ans. He dreams of his ancestors or grandchildren. It shows that the old man is thinking about his past or future.
POEM 6: THE ROAD NOT TAKEN
1. Read the Stanza given below and answer the questions that follow:
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim.
-
Name the poem and the poet?
Ans. These lines have been taken from the poem ‘The Road not Taken’ written by Robert Frost. -
What does the poet see in front of him?
Ans. He sees two roads in front of him that diverge into different directions. -
What is the poet sorry about?
Ans. The poet is sorry because he can’t travel both the roads at the same time. -
What is the symbolic meaning of two different paths in the woods?
Ans. They represent the choices available to a person in his life.
2. Read the Stanza given below and answer the questions that follow:
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.
-
Name the poem and the poet?
Ans. These lines have been taken from the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ written by Robert Frost. -
Which path did the poet choose to travel?
Ans. He chose the path less travelled by. -
What does the poet mean by the word ‘difference’ in the last line?
Ans. The word ‘difference’ in the last line means that his choice has made him successful in his life. So, choice matters the most to bring about a change in life. -
Is the poet doubtful about his decision?
Ans. The poet is not doubtful, as he chose the path less travelled by and later he admits that this choice has made all the difference.
3. Read the Stanza given below and answer the questions that follow:
Because it was grassy and wanted wear
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back
-
Name the poem and the poet?
Ans. These lines have been taken from the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ written by Robert Frost. -
On which path did the poet move?
Ans. The poet moved on the path that had been less travelled. -
What does the poet think about the first path?
Ans. The poet thinks that he will come back and walk upon that path some other day in the future. -
How did both the roads look?
Ans. Both the roads were grassy and wanted wear. On that day, no one had crossed them yet.
POEM 7: ON HIS BLINDNESS
1. Read the Stanza given below and answer the questions that follow:
When I consider how my light is spent,
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide Lodged with me useless.
Q1. In the first line 'light' is a for vision. (metaphor/alliteration).
Ans. metaphor
Q2. The word 'spent means (used up/alienated)
Ans. used up
Q3. Name the poet of this poem.
Ans. John Milton
Q4. What is the meaning of the word 'talent' in the line" And that one talent..."?
Ans. The meaning of the word 'talent' is poetic gift.
2. Read the Stanza given below and answer the questions that follow:
But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies,
"God doth not need Either man's work or His own gifts.
Who best Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best.
Q1. Identify the figure of speech in the line.... But Patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies,
Ans. The figure of speech is personification.
Q2. The speaker is about to "murmur" the question about whether God would be so cruel as to make impossible demands of work, but then who steps to stop him?
Ans. Patience (inner voice) steps in to stop him.
Q3. What does Patience say about God?
Ans. Patience says that God does not need man's work nor any compensation for the gifts that He has given to man.
Q4. Which line in the poem says," The one who accepts God's control over his own existence is the best servant of God"?
Ans. Who best bear His mild yoke, they serve Him.
COMPREHENSION PASSAGES FROM GRAMMAR BOOK (SOLVED)
( 6 MARKS)
1. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below:
Penicillin is one of the most useful drugs invented by man. With its help, we can heal wounds caused by bacteria which cannot be otherwise healed. In the beginning, very few people knew of this wonderful discovery or its uses. First the scientists and then the ministers of governments were interested in it. Since penicillin could save the wounded soldiers, it was helpful in war. So, they decided to encourage the process of manufacture. Vast factories were set up for preparing it. Lives of hundreds and thousands of soldiers were saved with its help. Most people benefitted from it. Penicillin when introduced into the streams of the human blood, acts as an aid to those parts which are always fighting the deadly germs. It does not have power over every kind of bacteria, but certain kinds are destroyed by penicillin in the great majority of cases.
-
Choose the correct statement.
(a) Penicillin could save the wounded soldiers.
(b) Penicillin could not save the soldiers.
(c) Penicillin was harmful for the soldiers.
(d) Penicillin was discarded by the scientists.
Ans. (a) Penicillin could save the wounded soldiers. -
Who were interested in the discovery of Penicillin in the beginning?
(a) Governments
(b) Scientists and Ministers of Governments
(c) Teachers.
(d) Doctors
Ans. (b) Scientists and Ministers of Governments -
How was penicillin useful in wars?
Ans. It saved the soldiers wounded in war. -
How does penicillin act on human blood?
Ans. On introduction into human blood, penicillin acts as an aid to those parts which are always fighting the deadly germs. -
Fill in the blank with a suitable word from the passage.
The water level decreases in the….…streams…… in winters.
Ans. streams -
Match the following words in column A with their meaning from column B:
| A | B |
| :--- | :--- |
| aid | method |
| process | help |
| Decrease | |
Ans. Aid---help, process---method
2. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below:
In the eighteenth century, one of the first modern economists, Adam Smith thought that the whole annual produce of the land and labour of every country provides revenue to three different orders of people; those who live by rent, those who live by wages and those who live by profit. Each successive stage of the industrial revolution, however, made the social structure more complicated. Many intermediate groups grew up during the nineteenth century, between the upper middle class and the working class.. Farmers and peasants continue in all countries as independent groups. In spite of this development, one of the most famous writers on social class in the nineteenth century, Karl Marx thought that there was tendency for society to split into huge class camps, the capitalists and the workers. Influential as Marx's theory of social class was, it was over- simplified. The social make-up of modern societies is much more complex than he suggested.
-
According to the passage, doctors and teachers belong to the:
(a) intermediate group
(b) upper middle class
(c) working class
(d) middle class.
Ans. (b) intermediate group -
What effect did each stage of the industrial revolution make on social structure?
(a) made it easier to learn
(b) made it complicated
(c) made it simple
(d) made it flexible
Ans. (b) made it complicated -
Who developed the two-class theory?
Ans. Karl Marx -
Who are regarded as intermediate group?
Ans. They include small scale industrialists as well as the large ones, small shopkeepers and tradesmen, officials and salaried employees, skilled and unskilled workers and professionals, such as doctors and teachers. -
Fill in the blank with a suitable word from the passage.
India became……independent….. on 15th August 1947.
Ans. independent -
Match the following words in column A with their meaning in column B:
| A | B |
| :--- | :--- |
| split | yearly |
| annual | independent |
| | broken |
Ans. Split—broken, annual-- yearly
3. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below:
John Dalton was an English Chemist whose atomic theory is the basis of Chemistry. Dalton could not distinguish red from green. In 1784, he was the first to describe colour blindness which came to be known as Daltonism. The word is still used in French, Spanish and Russian.
After his death, the scientists from London and Cambridge examined DNA from fragments of Dalton's eyes preserved at his request by the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, and have shown that he lacked the gene for making green pigment in the retina. Dalton who lived from 1766 to 1844 gave instructions for his eyes to be examined after his death. He had believed that the vitreous humour, the clear substance in the inner chamber of the eyes must in his case, be tinted blue so that it absorbed red light. At the autopsy, no such blue tint was found. But from Dalton's perception of how he perceived light, scientist have concluded that he must have lacked the pigment in the retina that is sensitive to red light.
-
Which colours could not be distinguished by Dalton?
(a) red from blue
(b) red from yellow
(c) red from green
(d) blue from green.
Ans. (c) red from green -
What instructions did Dalton give regarding his eyes?
(a) To be preserved at home.
(b) To be examined after death.
(c) To be checked immediately.
(d) To be kept in museum.
Ans. (b) To be examined after death. -
Which languages still use the word 'Daltonism'?
Ans. French, Spanish and Russian language still use the word 'Daltonism'. -
What did Dalton believe about his own blindness?
Ans. Dalton believed that the vitreous humour, the clear substance in the inner chamber of the eyes, must in his case, be tinted blue so that it absorbed red light. -
Fill in the blank with a suitable word from the passage.
Scientist concluded that he…..lacked…..a pigment in his retina.
Ans. lacked -
Match the words in the column A with their meaning in the column B:
| A | B |
| :--- | :--- |
| described | shown |
| examined | explained |
| | checked |
Ans. described-explained, examined-checked.
4. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below:
Less obviously, but just as significant, are the social reasons behind the modern urge to travel. Foreign journeys were, at one time, expensive and difficult for most of the people to organize, in fact, an indulgence for the wealthy. Today, cheap airfares and package holidays have made foreign travel fashionable for many, especially for those who spend their lives working in crowded cities and in industry. Travel to foreign countries is now within the reach of the families who only thirty years ago would have hardly dreamt of such a thing. Indeed, for some, it has become a matter of personal pride to boast of. The more the time spent abroad, and the more glamorous and far-flung the destination, the better. Indians are now looking beyond the beaches of Goa to Miami beaches or to the mountains of Alps or the Niagara Falls or even the safaris of Africa for a new and vastly different experience. Travel companies have been quick to advertise the cultural and educational advantages of such holidays, selling wildlife exploration trips of the Amazon or the ancient temples of the east just as earnestly as they once did the 'Magic of Rome' or the 'Splendour of Ancient Athens'.
-
What was once considered an indulgence for the wealthy?
(a) horse riding in the forests
(b) foreign travel
(c) playing on the ice
(d) enjoying with family
Ans. (b) foreign travel -
What has made foreign travel fashionable now?
(a) beauty of locations
(b) people's mood
(c) cheap airfares and package holidays
(d) internet
Ans. (c) cheap airfares and package holidays -
What makes people dream of holiday abroad now?
Ans. People can now dream of a foreign holidays because of availability of cheap airfares and package holidays. -
Where do the Indians look forward to go for holidaying nowadays?
Ans. Indians are now a days looking forward to travel to Miami beaches or to Alps mountains or even for African Safari. -
Fill in the blank with a suitable word from the passage.
Mumbai is one of the most….crowded…. cities in India.
Ans. crowded -
Match the words in the column A with their meaning in the column B:
| A | B |
| :--- | :--- |
| expensive | sincerely |
| earnestly | freely |
| | costly |
Ans. expensive-costly, earnestly-sincerely
5. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below:
There are in our country, as in other countries of the world, thousands of differently abled persons, such as those who are blind or deaf and dumb. In some cases, these persons may have been born blind or deaf. while in others, they may have gone blind or deaf as a result of some illness or accident.
You sometimes, hear people say of such handicapped persons: "It is the work of fate" or "It is the will of God." Some even say, "They suffer the fruits of their own actions in the past." Even the parents of differently abled children often express such feelings and opinions, and they scarcely ever think of how they can help these unfortunate ones. This certainly is not the way to look at the problems of the differently abled.
Whatever may be the cause of their suffering, we have got to treat the differently abled with sympathy and understanding. In many instances, physically challenged children suffer from neglect and are left to themselves in their homes. This makes their life extremely sad and lonely. Our first duty is to make these children happier and less lonely by engaging them in different activities suitable for them. Secondly, we have got to educate these children and help them to live meaningful lives. We should secure benefits of education for them in schools intended for them. We ought to make them self-reliant by creating suitable employment opportunities for them. They will then have a sense of achievement. We will also feel satisfied that we have done our duty towards them.
-
How should we treat the differently abled children?
(a) indifferently
(b) with sympathy and understanding
(c) ignore their loneliness
(d) neglect them
Ans. (b) with sympathy and understanding -
According to the author, what is our first duty towards differently abled children?
(a) to make them homeless
(b) to make them healthy
(c) to make them happier and less lonely
(d) to make them run fast
Ans. (c) to make them happier and less lonely -
How do some children become differently abled?
Ans. As a result of some illness or accident. -
What makes the life of handicapped children sad and lonely?
Ans. They suffer from neglect and are left to themselves. -
Fill in the blank with a suitable word from the passage.
We must…..treat…. these children with love and sympathy.
Ans. treat -
Match the words under column "A" with their meaning under "B".
| A | B |
| :--- | :--- |
| sympathy | sad |
| lonely | nearly |
| | feeling pity and tenderness |
Ans. Sympathy---feeling pity and tenderness lonely----sad
6. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below:
In a reversal of the norm elsewhere, in India, policymakers and economists have become optimists while bosses do the worrying. The country's Central Bank has predicted that India's economy is likely to grow at a double- digit rate during the next 20-30 years. India has the capability with its vast labour and lauded entrepreneurial spirit. But the private sector, which is supposed to do the heavy lifting that turns India from the tenth largest economy to the third largest by 2030, has become fed up.
Business people often crib about India's problems but their irritation this time has a nervous edge. In the first quarter of 2011, the GDP grew at an annual rate of 7.8 percent; in 2015-17 it managed 6-7 percent. The economy may be slowing naturally as the low interest rates and public spending that got India through the global crisis have been belatedly withdrawn. At the same time, the surge in inflation caused by exorbitant food prices has spread more widely, casting doubt over whether India can grow at 8-10 percent in the medium term without overheating.
-
What rate of growth does the Central Bank predict for the Indian economy for the next 20-30 years?
(a) eight percent
(b) seven percent
(c) double digit
(d) five percent
Ans. (c) double digit -
Who is supposed to do the heavy lifting to turn India into the third largest economy?
(a) government agencies
(b) private sector
(c) public sector
d) property owners
Ans. (b) private sector -
What is India's capability to grow based on?
Ans. It is based on vast labour and lauded entrepreneurial spirit. -
What is casting doubts over India's growth rate?
Ans. The surge in inflation caused by exorbitant food prices is casting doubts. -
Fill in the blank with a suitable word from the passage.
He suffered from a….nervous….. breakdown.
Ans. nervous -
Match the words under column 'A' with their meaning under 'B'.
| A | B |
| :--- | :--- |
| crisis | large |
| optimist | difficult phase |
| | one who looks forward to a positive outcome |
Ans. Crisis----difficult phase, optimist-----one who looks forward to a positive outcome
7. 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 investments abroad, developing countries are missing opportunity of wealth creation.
-
The term 'brain drain' is also referred to as:
(a) capital flight
(b) human capital flight
(c) pull factors
(d) push factors
Ans. Human capital flight. -
Brain drain has terrible consequences on the economic development of:
(a) sending countries
(b) receiving countries
(c) developed countries
(d) undeveloped countries.
Ans. Sending countries. -
What do you mean by the term 'Brain drain'?
Ans. 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. -
Enumerate the push factors that lead to Brain drain.
Ans. The push factors include low wages and lack of satisfactory working and living conditions. -
Fill in the blank with a suitable word from the passage.
Every citizen must….contribute…. for the development of the nation wholeheartedly.
Ans. contribute -
Match the words under column 'A' with their meaning under 'B'.
| A | B |
| :--- | :--- |
| conflicts | decrease |
| reduce | disputes |
| | increase |
Ans. Conflicts---disputes, reduce--- decrease
8. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below:
One night, a man came to our house and told me, "There is a family with eight children. They have not eaten for days." I took some food and went out. When I finally came to the family, I saw the faces of those little children disfigured by hunger. There was no sorrow or sadness in their faces, just the deep pain of hunger. I gave the rice to the mother. She divided it in two and went out, carrying half the rice with her. When she came back, I asked her," Where did you go?" She gave me this simple answer." To my neighbour-they are also hungry." I was not surprised because poor people are generous but I was surprised that she knew they were hungry. As a rule, when we are suffering, we are so focused on ourselves; we have no time for others. We become selfish and self-centered. Having experienced the pangs of sufferings, we should, rather extend a helping hand to the poor and the needy.
-
The faces of the children reflected:
(a) sorrow
(b) joy
(c) hunger
(d) greediness
Ans. (c ) hunger. -
The action of the mother shows:
(a) selfishness
(b) hatred
(c) gratitude
(d) love
Ans. (d) love -
Where did the mother go after dividing the rice and why?
Ans. She went to her neighbour because they were also hungry. -
Why was the gentleman surprised?
Ans. He was surprised that she knew they were hungry. -
Fill in the blank with a suitable word from the passage.
The faces of the little children were …..disfigured….
Ans. disfigured -
Match the words under column 'A' with their antonyms under 'B'.
| A | B |
| :--- | :--- |
| simple | complicated |
| generous | hatred |
| | selfish |
Ans. Simple---complicated, generous---selfish
9. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below:
Health and hygiene go hand in hand. Health refers to a state of sound mind and physically fit body, free from any form of sickness, disorder or ailment. Hygiene refers to the good practices that prevent disease and lead to good health through cleanliness, proper sewage disposal, balanced and nutritious food, regular exercise, proper sleep, pure and fresh air and supply of safe drinking water. The proverb, 'Health is Wealth' is truly said of all things in the world. Health is the most valuable thing that one can possess. Money is, undoubtedly, a prized possession, but can it provide pleasure to a ruined health? As body and mind are closely related, the mind can never be sound and cheerful without sound health. An unhealthy man may have intelligence, merit and wealth but he cannot put them to use and reap their benefits. We must, therefore, adopt proper hygienic measures to preserve and maintain good health. Too much work or exercise, eating or drinking are injurious to health. A regulated life coupled with clear and pure mind makes life worth living.
-
Hygiene refers to practices that leads to good health through:
(a) balanced diet
(b) impure air
(c) abundant wealth
(d) regular play
Ans. (a) balanced diet -
Life will become worthless through:
(a) gambling and drinking
(b) regulated life
(c) pure mind
(d) healthy body
Ans. (a) gambling and drinking -
What does the term 'health’ refer to?
Ans. Health refers to a state of sound mind and physically fit body, free from any form of sickness, disorder or ailment. -
Can a wealthy but unhealthy man enjoy life?
Ans. No. -
Fill in the blank with a suitable word from the passage.
The selection in Army service is made purely on …merit….
Ans. merit -
Match the words under column 'A' with their antonyms under 'B'.
| A | B |
| :--- | :--- |
| fresh | use |
| preserve | stale |
| | destroy |
Ans. fresh---- stale, preserve--- destroy
10. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below:
Named after the former Prime Minister, Inder Kumar Gujral's mother, Pushpa Gujral Science City located on Jalandhar-Kapurthala Road, just west of Jalandhar, is extremely thrilling. Almost every branch of science is exhibited, right from physical, applied, natural and social sciences to health sciences, human evolution and civilization, engineering, technology, agriculture, the environment, ecosystems and Jurassic Park. In the Dome theatre, large format films are projected on 23 meter-tilted dome. Semi-circular giant dome screen produces huge images that soar and swoop above, beside and behind you, to give you a spectacular, immersible experience. The Light- Speed 3D Digital Theatre presents three-dimensional computer graphics, videos and the most advanced animations. Amazing Living Machine Gallery presents the intricate structures and functions of the human body using large human models. The Flight Simulator provides the visitors a sense of adventure. The Laser Theatre presents laser shows that carry the visitors to a wonderland to experience a mind-boggling mix of sound and laser beams. The Dinosaur Park displays the evolution of dinosaurs and the probable reasons for their extinction. There is also a kids' park containing tunnels, rides. bouncers etc. and an artificial lake that allows the visitors to indulge in boating. With all the wonderful attractions, a visit to the Science City would be highly informative and enjoyable.
-
Which facility provides a sense of adventure?
(a) kid's park
(b) dome theatre
(c) Flight Simulator
(d) Laser Theatre
Ans. (c) Flight Simulator -
Large human models are found in:
(a) Amazing Living Machine Gallery
(b) Dinosaur Park
(c) Digital Theatre
(d) Laser Theatre
Ans. (a) Amazing Living Machine Gallery -
Where is the Pushpa Gujral Science city located?
Ans. Pushpa Gujral Science City is located on Jalandhar-Kapurthala Road. -
What is displayed in the Dinosaur Park?
Ans. The Dinosaur Park displays the evolution of dinosaurs and the probable reasons for their extinction. -
Fill in the blank with a suitable word from the passage.
The works of famous painters are ….displayed…. in the Tagore Art Gallery.
Ans. displayed -
Match the words under column 'A' with their meaning under 'B'.
| A | B |
| :--- | :--- |
| spectacular | huge |
| giant | amazing |
| | dirt |
Ans. spectacular---amazing, giant---huge
