Basic English Grammar rules can be tricky. In this article, we’ll get you started with the basics of sentence structure, punctuation, parts of speech, and more.
We also providing Extra Questions for Class 9 English Chapter wise.
Unseen Passages for Class 9 CBSE With Questions and Answers PDF
Comprehension Passages for Class (Grade) 9 CBSE With Questions and Answers PDF
Diagnostic test 1
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow. (8 marks)
1. The family of snakes called vipers includes some of the most poisonous snakes in the world. These snakes live mostly in rain forests and wet places. They also dwell inside small caves in the mountains. Some examples of the snakes in this fearsome group are the water moccasin, rattlesnake and copperhead—all of which are found in the United States of America; the bushmaster and the fer de lance of South America, and the puff adder of Africa.
2. Vipers have thick bodies, short tails, and triangular heads. The fangs in their upper jaws inject poison into their victims’ bodies almost like a hypodermic needle. When the snakes bite, they contract the muscles around their poison sacs. These sacs are located behind the eyes. The poison squirts out through the hollow fangs. Almost half a teaspoon of poison is put into a victim at one time. Vipers mainly eat amphibians, small mammals, lizards and nestlings. The venom of the snake is not used for predators, meaning, they don’t fight with the venom, but they use it only for the prey. Their venom has more than a dozen toxic components. Fortunately, many of these snakes are small, so their bite is not fatal. An interesting fact is that these snakes can go without eating for a year. According to folklore, the touch of the tongue of the viper snake could heal a person.
3. The viper snake can have a lot of babies. During the month of August, the female snake gives birth to about 20 young ones in a litter. The eggs stay inside the mouth of the female viper. They are fed by the mother till they are old enough to take care of themselves. When the young are ready to come out, they are set free in the wild.
4. There are actually two main types of vipers—the true vipers and the pit vipers. The pit vipers live in Asia and the Americas. The name comes from a small hollow in the side of the snake’s head just below the eye. This small hollow or pit has a special nerve or a temperature-sensing mechanism. This nerve helps the pit viper to find its warm-blooded prey. Their organs have the same function as that of a mammal’s. True vipers don’t have this special nerve and must rely on their keen sense of smell to find their food. Vipers don’t usually strike unless they are disturbed or are looking for food. Still, it is a good idea to stay away from them.
1. Complete the following statements in your own words based on your reading of the passage.
(a) The pit viper gets its name from ………………………………
(b) The viper’s bite is compared to an injection because ………………………………
(c) We know that the mother viper is very protective from the fact that ………………………………
2. Fill any two blanks in the table.
The vipers found in the following continents are:
| North America | South America | Africa |
| water moccasin rattlesnake (a) …………………….. |
(b) …………………….. (c) …………………….. |
(d) …………………….. |
Find words/phrases from the passage which mean the same as the following.
(a) young birds (para 2): …………………………….
(b) poisonous (para 2): …………………………….
(c) deadly (para 2): …………………………….
| Score: 7-8 – Good 5-6 – Satisfactory 4 or less – You need to develop reading skills through adequate practice. |
Diagnostic test 2
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow. (12 marks)
1. For more than four exhausting years, the Polish-bom Marie Curie and her husband, Pierre, worked in a large dilapidated wooden shed near their Paris lodgings. This shed, which was like a hothouse in summer and draughty and cold in winter, was the place where they spent the happiest years of their lives. It was here on a September night in 1902 that they finally discovered the radioactive element that they named ‘radium’ from the Latin word radius, meaning ‘ray’.
2. Radium provided the first effective treatment for some types of cancer, destroying the diseased human cells by bombarding them with radioactive particles.
3. The Curies had spent the historic day pouring measures of purified pitchblende into some 6,000 evaporating bowls. Marie Curie believed that the black mineral ore contained a completely new and dynamic element whose rays could destroy unhealthy body tissues. By constantly filtering and re-filtering the pitchblende, she hoped that the elusive element would crystallize in the bowls.
4. When they went home that evening the miracle had still not occurred. Then, just as they were about to go to bed, Marie decided to have another look at the particles in the bowls. She and Pierre hurried through the dimly-lit streets.
5. They let themselves into the darkened shed—with its rows of wooden tables and clutter of laboratory equipment—and Marie asked Pierre not to light the lamps. They moved cautiously forward and there, all around them, rays of light came from inside the small glass-covered bowls. Marie turned to her husband and said quietly, ‘Do you remember the day you said to me: “I should like radium to have a beautiful colour?” Look … Look!’
6. The bowls that lined the tables and the shelves on the walls gave off a soft, bluish-purple glow.
1. Answer the following in a sentences or two.
(a) Who researched on radium and where?
(b) How did they discover radium?
(c) Why did they decide to name the element so?
(d) Why was the discovery of radium important?
2. Find words/phrases from the passage which mean the same as any four of the following:
(a) run-down (para 1)
(b) letting in sharp currents of air (para 1)
(c) attacking with vigour and persistence (para 2)
(d) difficult to find (para 3)
(e) a crowded and disorderly collection of things (para 5)
| Score: 7-8 Good 5-6 Satisfactory 4 or less You need to develop reading skills through adequate practice. |
Type 1 Questions
1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. A few countries are using powerful electromagnets to develop high-speed trains called maglev trains. Maglev is short for magnetic levitation, which means that these trains will float over a guideway, using the basic principles of magnets to replace the old steel wheel and track trains.
2. If you’ve ever played with magnets, you would know that opposite poles attract and like poles repel each other. This is the basic principle behind electromagnetic propulsion. Electromagnets are similar to other magnets in that they attract metal objects, but the magnetic pull is temporary. A small electromagnet can easily be created by connecting the ends of a copper wire to the positive and negative ends of an AA, C or D-cell battery. This creates a small magnetic field. If you disconnect either end of the wire from the battery, the magnetic field is taken away.
3. The magnetic field created in this wire-and-battery experiment is the simple idea behind a maglev train rail system. There are three components to this system: a large electrical power source; metal coils lining a guideway or track and large guidance magnets attached to the underside of the train.
4 The major difference between a maglev train and a conventional train is that the former does not have an engine—at least not the kind of engine used to pull typical train cars along steel tracks. Instead of using fossil fuels, the magnetic field created by the electrified coils in the guideway walls and the track combines to propel the train.
5. The magnetized coil running along the track, called a guideway, repels the large magnets on the train’s undercarriage, allowing the train to levitate between 0.39 and 3.93 inches (1 to 10 cms) above the guideway. Once the train is levitated, power is supplied to the coils within the guideway walls to create a unique system of magnetic fields that pull and push the train along the guideway.
6. Maglev trains float on a cushion of air, eliminating friction. This lack of friction and the trains’ aerodynamic design allow these trains to reach unprecedented ground transportation speeds of more than 310 mph (500 kmph), or twice as fast as Amtrak’s fastest commuter train. At 310 mph, you could travel from Paris to Rome in just over two hours!
7. Germany and Japan are both developing maglev train technology, and are currently testing prototypes of their trains. In Germany, engineers have developed an electromagnetic suspension (EMS) system, called Transrapid. While maglev transportation was first proposed more than a century ago, the first commercial maglev train made its debut in Shanghai, China, in 2002, using a carriage developed by a German company.
8. Today several countries, including India, are planning to start this service.
1.1 Complete the following statements in your own words based on your reading of the passage. (1 x 5 = 5)
(a) The two ways in which Maglev trains are different from traditional trains are …………………………………….. .
(b) The principle on which these trains work is …………………………………….. .
(c) Maglev trains help reduce pollution because …………………………………….. .
(d) These trains are called frictionless because …………………………………….. .
(e) The first country to adopt Maglev technology was …………………………………….. .
1.2 Find words in the passage that mean: (1 x 3 = 3)
(a) forward movement (para 2) …………………………………….. .
(b) parts (para 3) …………………………………….. .
(c) traditional (para 4) …………………………………….. .
2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Origami is the Japanese art of creating shapes and figures simply by folding pieces of paper. In Japanese, oru means to “fold”, and kami means “paper”, so literally, the word origami means “to fold paper”. I can make paper animals, flowers, birds, insects or even objects like boats or windmills without the help of scissors or glue. You can easily learn it too. Once you learn the different types of folds that we use in origami, for example, the valley fold, the mountain fold, the reverse fold, the petal fold or the pleat, you can start making the basic shapes.
2. The finished origami figure is called a ‘model’, the method for folding a model is called a ‘design’, and drawn instructions for a model are called ‘diagrams’. An origami artist is usually called a ‘paperfolder’. Though washi is our traditional paper for origami, nowadays we use almost any type of paper or material so long it can crease and be folded. I have used paper made of rice, hemp, wheat and bamboo and materials like aluminium foil, paper and cloth napkins, and even currency notes! We can also put waste paper to use in origami. The only requirement for origami is a piece of paper, which makes it one of the most accessible and inexpensive arts. Origami today has expanded greatly and evolved beyond birds and boats.
3. Certain combinations of basic folds form bases which are starting shapes that are used to fold different models. The four most common bases are the ‘kite base’, the ‘fish base’, the ‘bird base’ and the ‘frog base’. The names of the bases reveal that many paperfolders like me enjoy folding models of animals and all other living creatures. Besides the many animal models, we can make models of almost all physical objects including people, faces, plants, vehicles and buildings. Some paperfolders fold abstract or mathematical shapes and others specialize in ‘modular origami’, where many simple shapes are assembled to form large elaborate structures.
4. There are now over 80 different types of origami styles like traditional, simple, complex, abstract, action, technical, and so on. There are many books available with diagrams showing how to make the origami pieces. You can also search origami diagrams from the Internet. Most origami sculptures are made from a few basic shapes, like those of a bird, fish, kite and frog. If you are really keen to learn and appreciate origami, you can attend workshops and exhibitions held almost all around the world.
5. Origami can be a rewarding hobby as it contributes to our all-round development. It teaches assimilation of concepts and ideas. It hones fine motor skills while introducing us to geometrical angles and triangles. It has taught me the value of patience and given me immense peace and joy. Though it may appear complicated at first, it is really very simple. All you need is to persevere and follow instructions carefully, then you too can easily create a magical world of your own.
2.1 Complete the following statements in your own words based on your reading of the passage. (1 x 5 = 5)
(a) The literal meaning of origami is …………………………………….. .
(b) The difference between a ‘model’ and a ‘diagram’ is that …………………………………….. .
(c) Origami is an inexpensive art because …………………………………….. .
(d) Modular origami is a kind of origami which is formed by …………………………………….. .
(e) The one quality that the narrator has inculcated from her hobby of origami is …………………………………….. .
2.2 Find words in the passage that mean: (1 x 3 = 3)
(a) isolated/distant (para 1) …………………………………….. .
(b) available/easy to get (para 2) …………………………………….. .
(c) sharpens/polishes (para 5) …………………………………….. .
3. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. An NGO is a non-governmental organization, which means it is not a part of the government and is not controlled by the government. NGOs tend to fill gaps in government service, providing research, facilities and services that a government is unable or unwilling to provide. There are both national and international NGOs working all over the world. NGOs usually have a core of paid staff and a wider group of volunteers who assist in their efforts. They tend to rely on donors and funders to keep the organization running and to pay for individual projects.
2. NGOs typically follow a participatory leadership style. All staff members are involved in the planning and decision-making processes, and the organization draws on the skills and expertise of all members as needed. An organization may be correctly labelled an NGO if it fulfills the four characteristics identified by The Commonwealth Foundation, a London-based NGO study group. NGOs are formed voluntarily by citizens with an element of voluntary participation in the organization, whether in the form of small numbers of board members or large numbers of members or time given by volunteers.
3. They are independent within the laws of society, and controlled by those who have formed them or by elected or appointed boards. The legal status of NGOs is based on freedom of association—one of the most basic human rights. The International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, developed by the United Nations Organization in 1966 and since ratified by 135 countries, grants the right to assemble.
4. NGOs are not for private personal profit or gain. NGOs may, in many countries, engage in revenue-generating activities, but must use the revenue solely in pursuit of the organization’s mission. Like other enterprises, NGOs have employees who are paid for what they do. Boards are not usually paid for the work they perform, but may be reimbursed for expenses they incur in the course of performing their duties. The aims of NGOs are to improve the circumstances and prospects of people and to act on concerns and issues detrimental to the well-being, circumstances or prospects of people or society as a whole.
5. NGOs are known by other names such as Nonprofit or Not-for-profit Organizations, Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO) and the Voluntary Sector, Independent Sector or the Third Sector, Philanthropic Sector or Charitable Organizations, Social Sector, Community Based Organizations (CBO) and Civil Society Organisations (CSO) where the name of the organisation reflects the distinguishing characteristics of the group.
6. NPOs are non-profit organizations. They may be the beneficiaries of endowments or. grants and they may also charge for their services, but they do not show profits. Any money earned is put back into the organization. An example of a large NPO is The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. There are many smaller NPOs providing social services around the world. NPOs typically have a larger paid staff than NGOs, and easier access to funds. In South Africa, there are many small NPOs working for the betterment of their communities.
7. Beyond providing services, a second and perhaps more important function of NGOs is as a facilitator of citizens’ participation in their societies. NGOs enable all voices to be heard when individuals form a group with others who have similar values and interests. NGOs often aim to promote understanding between citizens and the state.
3.1 Complete the following statements in your own words based on your reading of the passage. (1 x 5 = 5)
(a) An organization that works without aiming at making a profit is called while an organization that works for the welfare of the people without any support from the government is called. …………………………………….. .
(b) By saying that NGOs are not for private personal profit or gain, the narrator means that …………………………………….. .
(c) Donors are very important for NGOs because …………………………………….. .
(d) Volunteers are people who …………………………………….. .
(e) One benefit that NPOs have over NGOs is that …………………………………….. .
3.2 Find words in the passage that mean: (1 x 3 = 3)
(a) gave money back (para 4) …………………………………….. .
(b) donation/gift (para 6) …………………………………….. .
(c) someone who acts as a catalyst (para 7) …………………………………….. .
4. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Bom in Kasauli on 19 May 1934 in pre-independence India, Ruskin Bond is the quintessential Indian writer in English and a lifelong lover of India. Bond spent his early childhood in Jamnagar, Dehradun and Shimla. His parents divorced when he was young and he had a rather solitary childhood. In 1944, Ruskin’s father passed away, succumbing to malaria. He was raised by his mother (who remarried an Indian businessman), and other relatives. He completed his schooling at Bishop Cotton School in Shimla in 1952.
2. Ruskin’s love for books and writing had come early to him, since his father always surrounded him with books and encouraged him to write little descriptions of the surrounding natural beauty, as he took Rusty on hikes around the hills. It was after school that he began to carve out a niche as a writer.
3. Soon after his schooling, Ruskin left India to live in London. There, he took up odd jobs like working for a travel agency and a photograph shop. He lived there for four years, but memories of India continuously haunted and overwhelmed him.
4. Bond wrote his first story, Room on the Roof at the age of 17. It won him instant recognition and also the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1957, awarded to a British Commonwealth writer under 30. The book captured the vibrant mystique of the Himalayas, and evidently earned him his passage to India too. With the money that he earned from this book, he bought a ticket to India—his home for the rest of his life.
5. Upon returning, Bond chose to settle in the charming landscape of Dehradun and begin his career as a freelance writer. He wrote Vagrants in the Valley, as a sequel to The Room on the Roof These two novels were published in one volume by Penguin India in 1993. The following year, his much-acclaimed non-fiction books, Rain In the Mountains, Delhi Is Not Far, The Best Of Ruskin Bond, were also published by Penguin India. Bringing the past and the present together is Ruskin Bond’s speciality. A career now spanning four decades has won him tremendous critical acclaim. His writing is full of unassuming humour and quiet wisdom. His stories are sensitive and manifest a deep love for nature, Indian people and their eccentricities.
6. In 1987, the Indian Council for Child Education recognized his pioneering role in the growth of children’s literature in India, and awarded him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992 for Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra. He won the Padma Shri in 1999.
7. Bond’s novel The Flight of Pigeons has been adapted into the acclaimed Merchant Ivory film Junoon. The Room on the Roof was also adapted for a television serial. Short stories from collections such as The Night Train at Deoli, Time Stops at Shamli and Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra have been included in school text books.
8. In the year 2007, the Bollywood director Vishal Bharadwaj made a heart-warming film based on his popular novel for children, The Blue Umbrella. The movie won the National Award for Best Children’s Film. Media-shy, Bond prefers the quiet life of the hills and currently lives in Landour, Mussoorie’s well-known Ivy Cottage, which has been his home since 1964.
4.1 Complete the following statements in your own words based on your reading of the passage. (1 x 5 = 5)
(a) Ruskin’s childhood was not very happy because …………………………………….. .
(b) Ruskin’s father played a great role in his becoming a writer because …………………………………….. .
(c) We know that Ruskin was not happy in London because …………………………………….. .
(d) Ruskin “earned his passage to India” means …………………………………….. .
(e) Ruskin’s stories are loved because they are …………………………………….. .
4.2 Find words in the passage that mean:
(a) a typical example of something (para 1) …………………………………….. .
(b) giving in/surrendering (para 1) …………………………………….. .
(c) a special position (para 2) …………………………………….. .
5. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Bats are one of the most misunderstood creatures in the animal kingdom. Persecuted because of their – poor image—a result of the spreading of misconceptions and myths fanned by the public’s ignorance- bats have been shown to be intelligent, clean, gentle and likeable by emerging scientific evidence.
2. There are two distinct lineages in the bats’ evolution history: the megachiropterans and the microchiropterans. The former, more commonly known as flying foxes, are usually larger, feed exclusively on fruit and nectar, and dwell in huge tree colonies; while the latter, comprising about 760 species, are mostly insectivorous. However, scientists have yet to agree on the ancestry of the bats as one camp argues that both lineages share a common ancestor, whereas another believes they evolved separately.
3. Bats are the only mammals that possess the power of flight. Their unique wing structure earned them the Greek name, Chiroptera, meaning ‘hand-wing’. Just like birds, the flight characteristics of bats differ according to their various specialities; hence, the shape of their wings varies among the different species. Most bats are specialized nocturnal hunters though.
4. One common feature among bats is echolocation—their ability to navigate, hunt and communicate with the use of echoes of ultrasound. However, most fruit and nectar feeders depend on their highly developed sense of smell instead of echolocating. Certain species even use their excellent hearing to locate their prey by listening to the prey’s own calls. An interesting predator-prey relationship was discovered in the early 1980s when researchers found that frog-eating bats in Panama focused on the male frogs’ mating calls which later resulted in the frogs altering their call behaviour.
5. Like many other unfortunate animals, many bat species are facing the threat of extinction because of human short-sightedness. Fearing bats for all ignorant reasons, people have chosen to eliminate these ‘unwanted pests’, without fully understanding that bats play a key role in many of the world’s ecosystems. Subsequently, bat populations everywhere have been declining rapidly. For example, the population at Eagle Creek Cave, Arizona, has decreased by 99.9 per cent from 30 million to 30,000 since the 1960s! While some people target only a species they identify as pests, such as the vampire bats in Latin America, they often end up destroying many other species indiscriminately.
6. Unknown to many people, bats are actually a cornerstone species. That is, they are solely responsible for pollinating certain plants vital to the ecosystem. Without the bats providing their services, such plants could die out and affect many species dependent on them for survival, thus starting a chain reaction in the ecosystem.
7. Bats also help to keep the population of insects in check. About 75 per cent of the bat species feed on insects. Feeding on large quantities of whichever type of insect is most abundant, some North American bat species have been known to consume 600 mosquitoes in an hour! As people eliminate bats, they rely more on chemicals to control the increasing insect population. Consequently, they put the surrounding ecosystems and their own health in danger.
8. Even the fruit-eating bats, considered pests by the tropical fruit growers, help provide an important service. By eating the fruits too ripe for commercial harvest, they are actually removing attractions for real pests such as the Mediterranean fruit fly.
9. As more facts about bats are revealed in recent studies, the need for reversing trends of declining bat populations has become more urgent. However, this is possible only when people are educated on how indispensable bats are.
5.1 Fill in anv five blanks in the table below with the facts discussed in the passage. (1 x 5 = 5)
| Common name | (a) ……………………………… |
| food habits | (b) ……………………………… (c) ……………………………… (d) ……………………………… (e) ……………………………… |
| hunting time | (f) ……………………………… |
| move about with the help of | (g) ……………………………… |
| types | (h) ……………………………… (i) ……………………………… |
| importance to the environment | (j) ……………………………… keeping insects under control |
5.2 Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following, from the paragraphs indicated. (1 x 3 = 3)
(a) legends (para 1) …………………………………….. .
(b) family tree/roots (para 2) …………………………………….. .
(c) randomly (para 5) …………………………………….. .
6. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow. (8 marks)
1. Manufacturers of various products are currently competing with each other to produce a form of green packaging, that is, environment-friendly packaging. It is important because packaging is an important part of marketing these days, but much of it is a threat to the environment. There are two reasons for this threat. Firstly, the production of such packaging uses up a great deal of energy and secondly, the cartons and wrappers in which the goods are packaged are often difficult to dispose of when they are no longer in use. Therefore, they become waste material and a hazard to the environment.
2. People in most countries have become aware of the damage which modem living is doing to the environment and many of them are concerning themselves with the conservation of the environment for future generations. Thus, both politicians and scientists are now looking at issues of energy-saving and waste disposal with a view to making them more environmentally friendly.
3. Therefore, as far as packaging is concerned, it is vital that it is either recyclable or biodegradable. For example, instead of throwing out newspapers and glass bottles with their household rubbish, people in several countries are today being encouraged to put them in special containers to allow the material to be recycled. Some household waste, such as vegetable peelings, is naturally biodegradable and so decomposes gradually until it disappears.
4. Man-made goods are not so easily disposed off. Goods and packaging made of plastic create waste material that is particularly difficult to discard. This means that huge landfill sites have to be dug out so as to bury the plastic waste underground. This possibly is causing greater problems for the future generations.
5. Just as much of a problem is industrial waste i.e., waste that is generated by industries. This is a matter of grave concern since the effluent from factories often contains chemicals and these chemicals are generally released into water bodies like ponds, lakes and rivers, which leads to the pollution of water supplies. So it is of vital importance to ensure that waste from factories be monitored carefully in order to avoid such a calamity.
6. Technological advances fueled by nuclear power have added to the problem of waste disposal. The disposal of nuclear waste causes particular concern because it is radioactive and so possibly dangerous to life. The recent leaks from nuclear reactors in Japan and in Chernobyl in Russia have all added to this problem.
7. The high standard of living, which the people of many countries now enjoy, has resulted in a huge increase in waste material called carbon footprints. This could have a terrible effect on the ecology of the planet in the near future. Therefore, there is no doubt that urgent action must be taken by both the governments of all the countries and their people to save the environment from a terrible disaster even sooner than we realize.
6.1 On the basis of your reading of the passage, complete the following table. (1 x 5 = 5)
| Types of Waste | Examples | Effect on environment |
| recyclable waste | (a) ……………………………… | does not cause any harm, can be recycled |
| industrial waste | (b) ……………………………… | (c) ……………………………… |
| nuclear waste | radioactive leaks | (d) ……………………………… |
| (e) ……………………………… | vegetable peelings | causes no harm, disappears with time |
6.2 Find words from the passage which mean the same as anv three the following from the paragraphs indicated.
(a) substances that will decay naturally (para 3): ………………………………
(b) a site where waste material has been buried (para 4): ………………………………
(c) liquid waste matter (para 5): ………………………………
(d) an occurrence that causes great distress or destruction (para 7): ………………………………
7. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. After water, tea is the most popular beverage in the world. Its popularity has survived thousands of years and has played an important role in many cultures. It is enjoyed both hot and cold, as a refreshing drink, as part of a ceremony, or as a tonic for improved health.
2. The drink of Asia for hundreds of years, tea is believed to have been brought to Europe by the Dutch. Today, from remote Ladakh in India to Buckingham Palace in London, tea is synonymous with cheer. It is rightly said that there will be no agreement on a perfect cup of tea. Though for tea drinkers the brew is addictive, the preferred method of preparation and taste differ from person to person and region to region. From traditional black teas, to the newer, and extraordinarily healthy white teas, and recognizable flavoured teas such as Earl Grey, to exotic blends such as Rooibos Love, there is a flavour and a blend for everyone. Today many varieties of tea and tea brands are available in the market. An innovation is the tea-bag that is easy, quick and less messy than traditional ways of brewing tea. Green tea is popular in China and the Far East.
3. In Japan, the tea ceremony is a traditional way of greeting guests and is a social occasion. Unlike the tea we are familiar with, green tea is not drunk with sugar or milk. It is an olive-coloured liquid served in porcelain cups. In Morocco, green tea is infused with freshly plucked mint.
4. Some scientists believe tea prevents tooth decay because it is a rich source of fluoride.
5. Tea is also a folk remedy for stomach upsets, flu and diarrhoea. Tea is also said to have antioxidants that fight cancer and also has anti-ageing properties that fight the free radicals in our bodies. Research suggests that drinking tea reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer and lowers cholesterol levels in the blood.
6. A welcome thought for inveterate tea drinkers. Tea is the new apple-a-day to keep the doctor away!
7.1 Read the questions given below and write the option you consider the most appropriate for any six. (1 x 6 = 6)
(a) Tea is believed to have been introduced to Europe by the:
i. Chinese.
ii. Japanese.
iii. Moroccans.
iv. Dutch.
(b) “Tea is synonymous with cheer” means:
i. a cup of tea is always welcome.
ii. a cup of tea makes people happy.
iii. a cup of tea is good for health.
iv. a cup of tea can be found in any part of the world.
(c) A new and convenient way of making tea is:
i. without adding milk or sugar.
ii. by adding mint leaves.
iii. by boiling tea leaves.
iv. by using tea bags.
(d) The tea ceremony is a way of greeting guests in:
i. Morocco.
ii. China.
iii. the Far East.
iv. Japan.
(e) The fluorides in tea are useful in preventing:
i. headaches.
ii. cancer.
iii. tooth decay.
iv. heart problems.
(f) An inveterate tea drinker is one who:
i. hates drinking tea.
ii. loves drinking tea.
iii. is addicted to tea drinking.
iv. has never tasted tea in his/her life.
(g) The antioxidants present in tea make it a beneficial drink for patients suffering from:
i. headaches.
ii. tooth decay.
iii. flu.
iv. cancer.
7.2 Find words in the passage that mean the opposite of the following: (1 x 2 = 2)
(a) central (para 2): ………………………………
(b) unconventional (para 3): ………………………………
8. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Antarctica is a very harsh continent. There are no inhabitants and all one sees are kilometres and kilometres of snow all around. The temperatures can sink to minus 60 degrees in winters and remain around minus 20 degrees in summers. There is no sunlight for three to four months in winters. Conversely, in summers, daylight can stretch round the clock for months. Strangely, here the sun rises from the east and also sets in the east.
2. Summers are so disorienting that thick curtains have to be hung so one can lull oneself into believing that it is dark and time to go to sleep. In winters, special lights that emit rays like sunlight are installed to help distinguish between day and night.
3. While staying in Antarctica one can view the Aurora Australis, which is a celestial phenomenon of beautiful dancing lights in the sky in different colours and shapes caused by electrified particles emitted by the sun.
4. The Indian station called Maitri (Friendship) measures 10 by 8 cubic feet and is made up of wood on iron plates. It has individual rooms, a large dining room, library and common area. Heaters run by a powerful generator provide warmth and water is pumped from a nearby lake, Priyadarshini, named after Indira Gandhi. There is complete camaraderie among the team members at Maitri without any superior- subordinate relationship. Every team member contributes to the work. This includes clearing of snow and garbage disposal. Maitri is India’s second station. The first, Dakshin Gangotri, constructed in 1983, submerged in ice in 1989.
5. As per an inter-nation environment treaty, it is mandatory upon all teams to keep the area pollution-free. Garbage has to be burned and even the ashes are taken back to India. Environment enforcement can be done by any visiting expedition with a 24-hour notice.
6. Apart from India, 27 countries have put up 44 stations in Antarctica mostly for the purpose of scientific experiments. Russia has five, America four and India, China, Japan and South Korea one each.
8.1 Read the questions given below and write the option you consider the most appropriate. (1 x 8 = 8)
(a) A peculiar phenomenon of Antarctica is that:
i. there is no sunlight for months together.
ii. no. inhabitants can be seen for kilometres around.
iii. temperatures vary from -60 to -20 degree Celsius throughout the year.
iv. the sun rises from the east and sets in the east.
(b) The celestial dancing lights visible in Antarctica are called:
i. Aurora Americanis.
ii. Dakshin Gangotri.
iii. Aurora Australis.
iv. Priyadarshini.
(c) Summers in Antarctica are disorienting because:
i. there is no sun for six months.
ii. there is daylight all the time.
iii. there is snow all around.
iv. there are no inhabitants to be seen.
(d) Maitri is:
i. a hotel in the Antarctica.
ii. a ship anchored in the Antarctica.
iii. the Indian station where scientists conduct research in Antarctica.
iv. the name of a scientist who is the chief of the Indian scientists at Antarctica.
(e) The line that tells us that there is complete understanding among the people at Maitri is:
i. There is complete camaraderie among the team members.
ii. Every team member contributes to the work.
iii. Every member engages in clearing of snow and garbage disposal.
iv. all of the above.
(f) Antarctica is called a harsh country because:
i. it is extremely cold.
ii. it is extremely cold and there are no inhabitants to be seen.
iii. it is extremely cold, has no inhabitants and has months of daylight and months of night time.
iv. it has months of daylight and night time at a stretch.
(g) The word “emitted” means:
i. taken out.
ii. given out.
iii. taken in.
iv. thrown out.
(h) The word “camaraderie” means:
i. team members
ii. companionship
iii. loyalty
iv. family relations
9. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Hong Kong: Conservationists are blaming the freak weather phenomenon known as El Nino for the continuing decline in Asia’s once plentiful population of sea horses.
2. At a meeting in the Philippine province of Cebu recently, conservationists heard that the predicament of sea horses has become critical. “We still.have time but there is grave cause for concern,” said Heather Hall of the Zoological Society in London.
3. The El Nino weather effect has had a damaging impact on marine life throughout Asia. In some Asian waters, which have played host to large numbers of sea horses, the phenomenon of “red tides” has killed off huge quantities of fish and other marine life by depriving them of oxygen.
4. The “red tides” are so called because they are composed of vast amounts of dead algae which float to the surface and form a reddish hue. Recent “red tides” virtually wiped fish out of the local market for weeks.
5. The threat from El Nino compounds the problems sea horses already face from the practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine.
6. Sea horses’ bodies have been put to medicinal use for centuries, the bodies being pulped and then boiled to make an evil-smelling broth.
7. Traditional Chinese doctors use the broth to treat problems with the kidney, which they regard as one of the five vital organs of the body.
8. The kidney is considered to be a cooling or water element, which helps revive or soothe other parts of the body that have become inflamed.
9. The kidney is also seen as the source of a successful sex life, hence the belief that the sea horse acts as an aphrodisiac.
9.1 Read the questions given below and write the option you consider the most appropriate. (1 x 8 = 8)
(a) According to the experts El Nino has caused:
i. a decrease in the number of sea horses.
ii. a decrease in the number of fishes in the ocean.
iii. an increase in the number of sea horses.
iv. an increase in kidney problems.
(b) “Red tides” are harmful to marine animals because they:
i. inflame their body parts.
ii. cut off oxygen supply to the marine animals.
iii. supply them with too much oxygen.
iv. damage their kidneys.
(c) The sea horses are threatened by:
i. the conservationists.
ii. the Chinese doctors.
iii. the people of Philippines.
iv. the people of Hong Kong.
(d) Medicine from the sea horses is prepared by:
i. boiling the sea horses.
ii. reducing them to a pulp.
iii. first beating them to a pulp and then boiling them.
iv. roasting them.
(e) The kidney helps to cool the body by:
i. filling it up with water.
ii. sending water to the various organs.
iii. soothing parts that have been inflamed.
iv. being one of its vital organs.
(f) Two medicinal properties of sea horses according to the Chinese system of medicine are:
i. of curing headaches and colds.
ii. of curing kidney problems and diarrhoea.
iii. of curing brain fever and acting as an aphrodisiac.
iv. of curing kidney problems and acting as an aphrodisiac.
(g) The meaning of revive is:
i. to freshen up.
ii. to bring back to life.
iii. to destroy.
iv. to change.
(h) The word “phenomenon” means:
i. an occasion
ii. an event
iii. an accident
iv. a disaster
10. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Ernest Hemingway is one of the United States of America’s most beloved 20th century authors. He was bom in 1899. During World War I, he served as a volunteer ambulance driver in Italy, and later served in the Italian infantry. Hemingway was badly wounded in 1918.
2. Hemingway’s wartime experiences had a considerable influence on his writing. In fact, most of his novels focus on the need for physical and psychological strength to cope with difficulty and often violence. He was quite disillusioned by the war and became a leader of a group of young writers living in Europe who were known as the ‘lost generation’.
3. Hemingway was fascinated by the sport of bullfighting and described it in many of his novels and short stories. He also hunted big game in Africa, such as elephants, buffaloes, lions and tigers. He described his experiences as a hunter in a non-fiction book entitled The Green Hills of Africa.
4. Like Hemingway himself, his fictional heroes presented a tough, masculine image. Yet his strong men had to courageously accept their fate. In The Old Man and the Sea, one of Hemingway’s most renowned short novels, an old fisherman struggles for hours to bring in a huge and beautiful fish—only to have the fish eaten by sharks.
5. Towards the end of Hemingway’s life, he became sick, both physically and mentally. This man, who had written so eloquently about facing adversity with courage and grace, committed suicide in 1961.
10.1 Read the questions given below and write the option you consider the most appropriate for any six. (1 x 6 = 6)
(a) The effect Hemingway’s war experience had on his writing was that:
i. he wrote on the need for physical and psychological strength to cope with difficulty and violence.
ii. he wrote on the ill effects of war.
iii. he wrote books on hunting.
iv. he became a leader of a group of young writers living in Europe.
(b) In the book The Green Hills of Africa, Hemingway:
i. wrote about his experiences as a hunter.
ii. wrote about his love for bull fighting.
iii. wrote about his experiences of war.
iv. wrote about his life.
(c) In his book Old Man and the Sea the sharks finally eat the:
i. old man.
ii. fish.
iii. strong man.
iv. no one.
(d) One sport that fascinated Hemingway was:
i. hunting.
ii. sailing.
iii. bull fighting.
iv. fishing.
(e) Hemingway was bom in:
i. 1961.
ii. 1899.
iii. 1918.
iv. 1920.
(f) It was ironic that Hemingway committed suicide when:
i. he. had become so popular.
ii. he had always been so happy.
iii. he had established himself as a writer.
iv. he had always written eloquently about facing adversity with courage and grace.
(g) Which of these words in the passage means ‘with great fluency and clarity’?
i. adversity
ii. suicide
iii. eloquently
iv. grace
10.2 Find words from the passage that mean the same as: (1 x 2 = 2)
(a) soldiers who fight on foot (para 1): ………………………………
(b) very interested (para 3): ………………………………
11. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. So often these days we hear and speak of the conquest of Nature—‘the taming of a river’, ‘the war against insects’, and so on. These phrases are often used without consciously attaching any value to them, but they have an underlying attitude of hostility towards Nature and Nature’s creatures—a viewpoint that seems to assume Nature as an enemy that needs to be vanquished. Alternatively, Nature is seen merely as a ‘resource’ to be ‘exploited’—take the maximum out of it, regardless of what this does to the natural processes and to other creatures that depend on these processes. It is this attitude which views fellow human beings as a resource to be exploited, or other human communities as enemies to be conquered.
2. There is a growing lack of sensitivity and respect for our fellow creatures. This attitude is being drilled into a child by social forces, which can only be countered by environmental education. Sadly, in most cases, this is not done. What is done is to talk about the food web and the energy cycles and the ecological balance and how the removal of any element disrupts the whole system, and how this can affect human beings too. What this approach lacks is the essential interaction with Nature and with other human beings. Indeed, in many environmental activities the opposite takes place. A classic example of this is the making of a herbarium, or even worse, an insect collection, as is common in both formal and non-formal education in India. A child is often encouraged to pluck leaves and flowers and run after butterflies with a net, and is part of a large group of children similarly marauding Nature. It is even worse when the activity is also competitive, that is, who collects the maximum. A lot of knowledge maybe gained, but this knowledge emphasizes exploitation and conquest, not sensitivity and respect. Learning under a tree rather than in a classroom is far more effective and long lasting.
3. The alternative is to take up activities where ecological balance, ecological diversity, animal behaviour, human plurality and other such concepts and systems are introduced, with the stress on their intrinsic worth. Materials, processes and living beings do not exist only for human use—they are worthwhile in themselves.
11.1 Complete the following statements.
(a) People’s attitude towards nature is one of aggression, as we often talk of ………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. (1)
(b) In exploiting nature for their benefit, humans do not consider the harm they cause ……………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. (2)
(c) Often, the educational activities of children result in as ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. (2)
(d) Sensitivity and respect towards nature can be inculcated only through …………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. (1)
(e) The syllabus should include topics like:
i. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
ii. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
iii. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
iv. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
12. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. With increasing traffic and poor facilities, pedestrians seem to be the most vulnerable to fatal accidents amongst road users. Even though in the last six years the number of pedestrian subways in the city has almost doubled, experts feel that most of them are not well maintained or not well designed, discouraging pedestrians from using them.
2. Poorly maintained subways are not frequently used, making them prime spots for criminal activities. Many of them wear a deserted look, making them a usual haunt for people indulging in substance abuse. It is common for drug addicts to find a comer in a deserted subway. However, the police say this should not be a reason for people to avoid subways. ‘There hasn’t been any instance of criminal activities taking place in subways. We take enough measures to insure that subways are kept safe,’ said Deependra Pathak, Spokesperson, Delhi Police.
3. Experts feel that subways are not the best option as it is difficult to maintain them; and most of them are not disabled-friendly, making it impossible for the physically challenged to use them. The traffic- research cell of IIT Delhi carried out a study on traffic signals and suggested solutions to overcome the problem. In a detailed analysis they observed that traffic signals are very long, which results in more violations by pedestrians as well as motorists, putting the pedestrians at a higher risk.
4. ‘We have suggested that traffic signals be redesigned and waiting time brought down to not more than 180 seconds, which will be optimum for motorists and pedestrians. At present it varies from 250-300 seconds,’ said Geetam Tewari, a professor in IIT.
5. ‘On demand responsive signals can be installed. Pedestrians can press a button and the light turns red, giving a time of about 50 seconds for motorists to stop. This is a common feature on roads in the western countries. Free left turns on many roads also lead to accidents,’ added Tewari.
6. The discourteous attitude of motorists towards pedestrians is another reason for their being the usual victims. ‘The motorists are not at all considerate of pedestrians on the roads, which leads to so many fatal accidents. We try to carry out drives to educate motorists to be courteous to pedestrians and give them way to cross roads. Other than that we identify roads with heavy traffic and send proposals to the municipal bodies for construction of subways or over-foot bridges,’ said Qamar Ahmed, Joint Commissioner of Traffic Police.
12.1 Complete the following statements.
(a) Fatal accidents involving pedestrians have increased because of ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. (1)
(b) Pedestrians do not use subways as they are: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… (2)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
i. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
ii. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(c) Pedestrians violate traffic rules as: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. (2)
i. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
ii. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(d) ‘On demand-responsive signals’ …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. (1)
(e) To prevent accidents, the Traffic Police: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. (2)
i. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
ii. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
13. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. To build a team is one of the most difficult things to do and also one of the most essential. One has to contend with human beings who are complex, often having a range of individual problems—ego issues, personal agendas, jealousies, rivalries, passions and angers. Yet it is no longer possible to do it alone. However brilliant a single person may be, his ideas can only be implemented if there is a team of people not only willing but also enthusiastic about executing them. Although this realization is increasingly dawning upon institutions and organizations, we stumble because it is difficult to carry diverse people together. But however difficult, the task has to be done if not just the organization but eventually humanity itself has to survive.
2. We have to pass from the age of competition, which is one of individual endeavour to the exclusion of others, to that of cooperation, which means a network of people with a shared vision and work. We have to realize that we are all interlinked or interconnected. One person’s good cannot be obtained at the cost of another. Also, the individual good is dependent on the general good. There is a mutually beneficial relationship between the two.
3. The question arises: what is required to build a team and hold it together? We are obviously all groping because we stumble in our endeavours, but there are some essentials without which no team can be built. For any organization or group to succeed, there has to be a willingness to do so that comes from a shared goal or aim. All the members of the group must strive towards the same goal. Then, the group must have a leader whose authority is unquestioned. This implies that there must be a hierarchy in the group. Leadership does not come merely through external hierarchy, that is, the official position a person holds. The leader has to be a person whose moral integrity is beyond doubt. It is his moral authority that earns him respect and makes him an effective leader rather than his hierarchical position. The group itself has to be organized hierarchically according to the strengths of the individuals that are a part of it. It has to be a hierarchy of capacities and strengths rather than of positions.
4. Further, there has to be faith and humility between each member of the group to individually and collectively surrender their will to the divine will. This immediately takes away egotism and lifts away the burden of victory and defeat from human shoulders. All is, in the final analysis, as the Divine wills. We can only do our best according to our limited understanding. When the time comes our endeavours bear fruit not necessarily in the way we want them to, but in many unforeseen miraculous ways.
13.1 Complete the following statements.
(a) Building a team is a difficult thing to do as ………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… . (1)
(b) It is necessary to build a team because ………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… . (1)
(c) Individual effort is different from cooperation as ………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… . (1)
(d) The two essentials for the success of any group/organization are: ………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… . (1)
i. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
ii. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(e) A group leader must possess the following qualities: ………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… . (1)
i. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
ii. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(f) The hierarchy should be decided on the basis of ………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… . (1)
(g) The meaning of egotism is ………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… . (1)
14. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Five hundred and fifty million years ago, a giant amalgamated southern super continent—Gondwana— did indeed exist, centred roughly around present-day Antarctica. Things were quite different then: humans hadn’t arrived on the global scene, and the climate was much warmer, hosting a huge variety of flora and fauna. For 500 million years, Gondwana thrived, but around the time when the dinosaurs were wiped out and the age of the mammals got under way, the landmass was forced to separate into countries, shaping the globe much as we know it today.
2. To visit Antarctica now is to be a part of that history; to get a grasp of where we’ve come from and where we could possibly be heading. It’s to understand the significance of Cordilleran folds and pre- Cambrian granite shields; ozone and carbon; evolution and extinction. When you think about all that can happen in a million years, it can get pretty mind-boggling. Imagine: India pushing northwards, jamming against Asia to buckle its crust and form the Himalayas; South America drifting off to join North America, opening up the Drake Passage to create a cold circumpolar current, keeping Antarctica frigid, desolate, and at the bottom of the world.
3. For a person from the tropical region two weeks in a place where 90 per cent of the Earth’s total ice volume is stored is a chilling prospect (not just for circulatory and metabolic functions, but also for the imagination). It’s like walking into a giant ping-pong ball devoid of any human markers—no trees, billboards, buildings. You lose all earthly sense of perspective and time here. The visual scale ranges from the microscopic to the mighty: midges and mites to blue whales and icebergs as big as countries (the largest recorded was the size of Belgium). Days go on and on and on in surreal 24-hour austral summer light, and a ubiquitous silence, interrupted only by the occasional avalanche or calving ice sheet, consecrates the place. It’s an immersion that will force you to place yourself in the context of the earth’s geological history. And for humans, the prognosis isn’t good.
14.1 Complete the following statements.
(a) The giant continent Gondwana which existed ……………………………………………………………………………………….. was located.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… . (2)
(b) The globe much as we know it today took shape when
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… . (1)
(c) The aspects of the history of our planet that can be studied by visiting Antarctica are:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… . (2)
i. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
ii. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
iii. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
iv. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(d) The changes that took place when the Gondwana continent moved northwards include:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… . (2)
i. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
ii. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(e) According to you, human markers are:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… . (1)
Type 2 Questions
1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. The French Revolution was a period of radical social and political upheaval that had a major impact on France and indeed all of Europe. In 1789, old ideas about tradition and hierarchy, of monarchy, aristocracy and religious authority were abruptly overthrown by new principles of equality, citizenship and fundamental rights.
2. France was a powerful country but its people were divided into different groups and there was dissension among these groups. The aristocrats who owned one-fifth of the land in France did not have to pay taxes. They resented the power the ministers had but they themselves were unpopular with the people. The clergy also had special privileges. Not all the clergymen were wealthy but the Catholic Church possessed large areas of land.
3. The middle class were not entitled to the same privileges although they were becoming as rich as the nobles. Some of the peasants owned land but had only sufficient to feed themselves. They had to pay money to their lords as well as hefty taxes to the state.
4. In the late 1780s, the newly appointed finance ministers introduced new taxes which caused much unhappiness to the rich land owners. A committee known as the ‘Third Estate’ was formed to voice the people’s grievances. They condemned the power of the King and adopted the charter, ‘The Declaration of the Rights of Man’. The charter proposed church and government reforms and set out the basic rights of the citizens.
5. Meanwhile, a rebellion was brewing in the streets of Paris as there was a famine. The streets were crowded with starving people who had lost their patience with the long debates that did not seem to achieve any result. The citizens took their guns and stormed the Bastille, which was a large stone fortress.
6. The fall of the Bastille was followed by a second revolution leading to the subsequent end of monarchy. France declared itself a republic and both the King and Queen were guillotined.
1.1 Answer the following in your own words. (2 x 4 = 8)
(a) How many groups was France divided into in 1789? Which group was the most exploited?
(b) What happened in 1789?
(c) What was the Third Estate and what did it do?
(d) What happened because of the famine?
1.2 Find words in the passage that mean the same as: (1 x 4 = 4)
(a) disruption (para 1): …………………………………………….
(b) severe disagreement (para 2): …………………………………………….
(c) disapproved or censure (para 4): …………………………………………….
(d) suddenly attacked and captured (para 5): …………………………………………….
2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Dowry is the payment in cash or/and kind by the bride’s family to the bridegroom’s family along with the giving away of the bride called Kanyadaan. The word is an amalgam of the two words ‘Kanya’ which means a daughter and daan which implies charity. It originated in upper-caste Hindu families as the wedding gift to the bride from her family as insurance in case her in-laws mistreated her. Although dowry was legally prohibited in 1961, it continues to be highly institutionalized.
2. Unfortunately, the practice of dowry abuse is rising in India. The most severe form of abuse is bride burning, the burning of women whose dowries were not considered sufficient by their husbands or in-laws. Most of these incidents are reported as accidental bums in the kitchen or are disguised as suicide.
It is evident that there exists deep-rooted prejudices against women in India. Cultural practices such as the payment of dowry tend to subordinate women in Indian society.
3. When the dowry amount is not considered sufficient or is not forthcoming, the bride is often harassed, abused and made miserable. This abuse can escalate to the point where the bride loses her life. The official records of these incidents are low because they are often reported as accidents or suicides by the families. In Delhi, a woman is burned to death almost every twelve hours. The number of dowry murders is increasing. In 1988, 2,209 women were killed in dowry-related incidents and in 1990, 4,835 were killed for the same reason.
4. Despite the existence of rigorous laws to prevent dowry-deaths under a 1986 amendment to the Indian Penal Code (IPC), convictions are rare. Hence the crime continues unabated.
2.1 Answer the following in your own words. (2 x 4 = 8)
(a) Explain the basic act of dowry.
(b) Is dowry legal? What does it being legal or illegal signify?
(c) How does dowry affect women?
(d) What do the statistics about deaths tell you?
2.2. Find words in the passage that mean the same as: (1 x 4 = 4)
(a) a blend (para 1): …………………………………………….
(b) established in practice or custom (para 1): …………………………………………….
(c) increase rapidly (para 3): …………………………………………….
(d) a minor change or addition; an article added to the Constitution (para 4): …………………………………………….
3. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Physical health affects the mind and vice versa. Which of the two is the more important is like asking the age-old question: what comes first, the chicken or the egg. For our present subject, let us be clear that a sound mind in a sound body are prerequisites for high efficiency and good quality work in the office, factory or field, which leads to a sense of achievement and fulfillment.
2. Our health is, of course, important not only to us but also to our families and even to our employers. No wonder then that companies everywhere have a stake in the health and fitness of their employees and are willing to spend considerable money towards this purpose. Japanese companies particularly excel in this and the more successful among them start off the day with a body-bending and stretching session and even with the singing of the company song designed to promote loyalty and motivation among the workforce! This is considered an important factor contributing to high productivity and quality. Here is a lesson which has been emulated elsewhere in the world and could work wonders in India.
3. It is estimated that some 20,000 American firms have established in-house health clubs. Typical of these is a soft drink manufacturer which has spent about $2 million in setting up a health club at its head office in New York State. Such expenditure has proved to be a wise investment in achieving better efficiency and higher productivity. It has, indirectly, also helped reduce the premium on the health insurance of its staff. This business has grown so large that hundreds of consultancies have sprung up for the management of health clubs and fitness centres.
4. In some cases, there is a nominal contribution by the employees on the premise that they will value and use the facilities all the more. Some insurance companies have teamed up with employers in such ventures as better health contributes to a longer life and hence more premium! Though many firms in India have generous medical schemes, the movement towards health clubs and the like is yet to gain momentum.
3.1 Answer the following in your own words. (2 x 4 = 8)
(a) According to the author, what are the most important qualities required for efficiency in work?
(b) How do Japanese companies take care of their employees?
(c) What have American companies done for their employees and how have their actions helped them in return?
(d) What role to insurance companies play to ensure mental and physical health?
3.2 Which words in the passage mean the same as: (1 x 4 = 4)
(a) something required as a prior condition for something else to happen (para 1): …………………………………………….
(b) to have a special interest in something (para 2): …………………………………………….
(c) spending in a scheme or idea for profit (para 3): …………………………………………….
(d) very small; far below the real value or cost (para 4): …………………………………………….
4. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. With at least a month-and-a-half break in the school schedule for the summer, entertaining children can be a tough challenge. While students look forward to vacations to let off steam, looking after them or taking them on a holiday is a tough task. With the changing scenario on the home front, as more and more couples are taking to work seriously and opting out of the joint family fold, children’s recreation options during vacations are limited to just television or comics. Sending a kid to a summer camp or a creche during vacations, a phenomenon unheard of till a few of decade ago, has become an unavoidable circumstance today.
2. These summer camps are conducted over a short period of four to five weeks involving interesting and fun-filled activities. A whole new world is opened up for the child, who can have a taste of adventure or sports or can be a part of a personality development camp. Camps offer four to five weeks of engaging and absorbing activities from artistic pursuits like painting, origami, art, music; hobby classes like craft and cookery; opportunities for enhancing knowledge through computer courses and even spoken English to lessons in physical pursuits like yoga, cricket and tennis, or even trekking, rafting, and rock climbing. Parents can pick and choose the camp they think is most suited to their child.
3. Changing times and trends have made parents productivity oriented. They desire to tap their child’s potential and want him to participate in ‘productive play’. And where better to achieve this than at summer camps! These camps provide the child an opportunity for developing creative talents and for exciting the imagination. They also promote a sense of achievement and pride. Children make craft objects and take them home to show them to their parents. This gives them a sense of accomplishment.
4. Camps and creches develop the child’s confidence, as he/she is encouraged to do things on his/her own. Hyperactive and aggressive children are benefited by these camps as their energies are fruitfully channelized. Camps and creches are an ideal place for the child to learn social skills and also have some fun in the process.
4.1 Answer the following in your own words. (2 x 4 = 8)
(a) Why does the author say that it is difficult to entertain children?
(b) What were the children mostly doing before creche or summer camp came into play?
(c) How do summer camps work? What do they offer to the children?
(d) How to summer camps help children?
4.2 Find words in the passage that mean the same as: (1 x 4 = 4)
(a) development of events or situation (para 1): …………………………………………….
(b) a nursery where babies and young children are cared for during the working day (para 1): …………………………………………….
(c) focussed or leaning towards any specific objective (para 3): …………………………………………….
(d) extremely active (para 4): …………………………………………….
5. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Most of us would agree that it is admirable to be loyal—we approve of loyalty to our friends and loyalty to our country. When we speak of loyalty here we mean a readiness to help people when they are in difficulty or in danger, and a constant interest in their well-being at all times. It is often very clear when a person is being disloyal—when he lets his parents suffer without showing any concern, or fights in any army against his fellow countrymen, indiscriminately. For such people, most of us would feel disapproval.
2. However, there often arise situations in which it is harder to decide if a person is being disloyal or not. A clever child may resist his parents’ appeals to stop studying and pick up a job in order to help them financially. He may believe that he will be able to repay his parents more fully in the near future if he continues his studies for a few years longer, whereas, if he stops now, his talent will be wasted and never serve any purpose to anybody. On the other hand, if a boy’s parents are in great poverty, it might be disloyal for him to refuse to help them by going out to work and even if later in life he is successful, he may regret his disloyalty as a boy.
3. A more difficult problem sometimes is that of a human being’s relationship with the government of his country. A group of people who sincerely love their country and are anxious for its prosperity, may revolt against the government because they believe the government is bad for the country. They will immediately be called rebels and traitors. Calling them rebels may be correct, but not traitors, for they may be more truly loyal to the interests of their fellow countrymen than the government. Here we have to wait and see if they were inspired by true loyalty or by selfish interests.
5.1 Answer the following in your own words. (2 x 4 = 8)
(a) According to the writer who is a loyal person?
(b) How is disloyalty different from treachery?
(c) Why is it not correct to call people rebelling against their government for the benefit of the country traitors?
(d) Why is the boy mentioned in the passage called sensible?
5.2 Find Words in the passage that mean the same as: (1 x 4 = 4)
(a) without showing care (para 1): …………………………………………….
(b) struggle against (para 2): …………………………………………….
(c) rise in opposition of authorities (para 3): …………………………………………….
(d) motivated (para 4): …………………………………………….
6. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. One of the most important changes in education in the last century is the effort that many countries and communities are making to educate adults who did not get the education they wanted or needed when they were in school, or who did not have the opportunity to go to school at all.
2. Governments and Non-governmental Organizations (NGO) organize programs to teach adults how to read and write, how to do their jobs better, how to farm, and how to be healthier and take better care of the health of their families. Programmes are also meant to help adults finish high school. Adult education programmes are under way in in almost all the countries in the world.
3. The basic belief behind adult education programmes is that a country will be economically and politically stronger if its people are educated and are able to read, write and do useful work. Countries worry that their citizens who cannot read or write and cannot understand the news or participate in political life. These people will not be represented in the government. Farmers who do not know enough about modem farming techniques to use technology effectively. Without the help of these farmers, the country’s agricultural output and income will be lower.
4. However, adult education faces many obstacles. Adults are not accustomed to returning to school and sitting for long hours listening to teachers and reading books. Also, many adults are ashamed or afraid to go back to school. They often think that they will appear to be unintelligent or that they will fail. Adults often have little time for education. They have jobs and families and cannot spare four to eight hours every day to go to school. Because of these problems, adults often cannot go to school, so the school must go to the adults.
5. Education can be taken to adults in different ways. In India, for example, television has played an important role in bringing education to rural areas. Educational television programmes that do not require the learners to be able to read or write are broadcast using satellite transmission. The programmes are about how to have better health, how to improve farming, and how to make small businesses work better. Adults in rural areas watch these programmes and discuss them with an educational adviser who travels from town to town.
6. However, adults have some advantages in education. Adult learners often know exactly what they need to learn. Because they have the experience of life, they know what knowledge will be useful to them and what will not. If they cannot read or write, they have experienced the problems that illiteracy can cause.
If they cannot do their jobs well, they have experienced the loss of income or of job opportunities that lack of vocational training can cause. Adults have usually accumulated a wealth of experience of life in general that can help them in learning. They have more practical, everyday experience that can help them understand what they learn in school.
6.1 Answer the following in your own words. (2 x 4 = 8)
(a) Why do countries feel that adult education is essential for the country’s growth?
(b) How does education benefit individuals?
(c) What are the difficulties that adults face going back to school?
(d) How is it easier for people to learn as adults?
6.2 Find words from the passage that mean the same as: (1 x 4 = 4)
(a) hindrances or difficulties (para 4): …………………………………………….
(b) lack of ability to read or write (para 6): …………………………………………….
(c) gathered (para 6): …………………………………………….
(d) of or relating to an occupation or employment (para 6): …………………………………………….
7. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Headaches may be due to neurological causes, ophthalmic causes, ENT causes, vascular causes or dental causes.
2.. Those arising out of neurological disorders are usually associated with symptoms like nausea, vomiting, blurred vision and fits. This type of headache may be a warning of increased intracranial tension or intracranial tumors. Ophthalmic disorders like glaucoma and refractory errors may cause headaches. Dental caries and other disorders in the teeth may also cause severe headaches which can mimic sinusitis. Migraines cause more trouble and are usually episodic associated with an aura. They are also one-sided.
3. The most common cause of a headache, however, is sinusitis. This may be associated with nasal obstruction, a running nose, postnasal discharge, a dry cough and other such factors. With the nose being subject to various environmental pollutants and infections, sinusitis has become an increasingly common problem.
4. Sinuses are normal spaces or cavities within our skull. Ventilation and drainage of their secretions is essential for proper functioning of the nose. Our nose acts as a common drainage point for all sinuses. When the sinus pathway is obstructed, secretions collect in sinuses, leading to bacterial and fungal infections. The nasal obstruction may be caused by variations in the anatomy of the nose like deviation of the septum and formation of soft tissues like polyps.
5. Evaluation of patients with sinusitis requires a detailed examination by the doctor. The advent of nasal endoscopes has revolutionized the treatment of sinusitis. This reveals the complex anatomy and the changes causing disease in the nose and sinuses. The patient can also see all this on the monitor. Blood tests, X-rays and CT scan of the sinuses complement the endoscopy and play a vital role in evaluation.
6. Patients are initially treated with appropriate antibiotic therapy. The use of nasal endoscopes has brought about a great change in the treatment of the disease and surgical aspects. The earlier surgical methods like puncturing and lavage, which did not establish adequate drainage, are all obsolete now.
7. The latest surgical procedure called Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) uses the advanced nasal endoscope. This procedure precisely eliminates the blockage of natural pathways of the sinuses, restoring the normal flow of secretions. It also has a cosmetic advantage as it produces no external scar. The surgery can be performed as a day care procedure. Deviation of the septum, when present, is also corrected in the same sitting. There is no need for repetitions as in the older procedures.
8. Advanced surgical tools like Microdebrider help in adequate and efficient treatment which also makes FESS a safe and advanced technique in the management of sinusitis. The use of Microdebrider provides good mucosal preservation, reducing complications like bleeding. Therefore, it gives good post-operative results. Microdebrider also plays a vital role in polyp surgeries as it reduces the recurrence rate.
9. The nasal endoscope is also a great tool for performing other surgeries. Its role in removing orbital tumours with minimum invasive technique and in neurosurgery has revolutionized these fields.
10. Therefore, with these advanced options available in modem medicine, sinusitis is no longer a headache.
7.1 Answer the following. (2 x 4 = 8)
(a) What are the common causes of headaches?
(b) How does a migraine differ from a normal headache?
(c) How are patients with sinusitis evaluated?
(d) How does Microdebrider help?
7.2 Find words in the passage that mean: (1 x 4 = 4)
(a) imitate (para 2) …………………………………………….
(b) outdated/old-fashioned (para 6) …………………………………………….
(c) divergence/variation (para 7) …………………………………………….
(d) effected a radical change in (para 9) …………………………………………….
8. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Classrooms and schools have not only become a place of learning how to read and write but also where children pick up social skills. Sometimes these social skills range from learning how to speak with people or how to conduct oneself in various occasions but at times, children also leam other negative habits such as teasing and bullying. Unfortunately, teasing is seen as a part of growing up. Every child, no matter where they are, has experienced teasing or bullying in one form or the other. But teasing isn’t always innocuous, it can take a wrong turn when it becomes excessive or repetitive or even with a conscious intent to hurt another.
2. What seems to be an innocent name calling can actually turn out to be verbal bullying and this could also lead to psychological or physical bullying. Psychological bullying normally happens when a child is either intimidated or excluded from a particular social group or activity, which is the same as social ostracism, or when rumours are being spread about him/her.
3. Throughout the world, cases of bullying in schools as well as other institutions are very common and they happen to children of different socio-economic backgrounds, ethnicity, race etc. Researchers estimate that 20 to 30 per cent of school-age children are involved in bullying incidents, as either perpetrators or victims. The victims are usually students who seem to be different or are shy or physically weaker than the other children. They are easy targets for bullies as do not retaliate.
Bullying might result in both physical and mental trauma for the victims. The first sign of bullying can be seen in a sharp decline in a child’s academic progress as well as attentiveness in class. If unchecked, this could lead to a low self esteem and depression that may last into adulthood. Some of the signs a parent, guardian or a teacher could look out for possible cases of bullying are physical symptoms such as stomach aches or headaches, cuts and bruises and even a drop in their grades. Bullied children also show signs of passivity and not wanting to go to school and avoid social activities.
4. Studies have shown that most bullies themselves do not come from safe and secure environment that would provide them proper emotional growth. They too are affected even into adulthood. They have trouble forming positive relationships and are more apt to use abusive substances which may also lead to other criminal offences.
5. A parent or a teacher has the responsibility to address these issues and handle them with tact. It is very important as an adult and a caregiver to notice these signs, and not to belittle it by saying, ‘it happens to everyone’. The child should be given an opportunity as well as a safe space to interact and express his/her emotions without any hindrance.
The child should be given full empathy regarding any issue, especially if it is related to bullying. It is important for the child to be able to express themselves and if it is not possible for the child to verbalize his/her feelings, one should not rush them but continue to show empathy and maybe even read a story about bullying. The children can be encouraged to act out their frustrations and problems.
6. A mediator needs to be chosen to act as an intermediary so that adults can intervene and solve the issue. It is also the responsibility of the teacher to mediate between parents just so that the needs of the child can be addressed, whether they are the victim or the perpetrators, to judiciously solve the problem of bullying from both ends.
8.1 Answer the following. (2 x 4 = 8)
(a) Explain bullying in your own words.
(b) How does bullying affect the victim?
(c) How does bullying affect the bully?
(d) How can bullying be prevented?
8.2 Find words from the passage that mean the same as: (1 x 4 = 4)
(a) not harmful (para 1) …………………………………………….
(b) exclusion (para 2) …………………………………………….
(c) compassion (para 5) …………………………………………….
(d) a go-between or mediator (para 6) …………………………………………….
9. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Lately, parenting forums have been buzzing with parents looking for ideas on how to keep their teenagers from spending a lot of time on the computer and the Internet.
2. It seems that teenagers these days are hooked on to the computer just as they were hooked to the television just a decade ago. Whether they are spending time on social media, blogging, chatting or surfing the Internet, mounting evidence shows that teenage computer use can in some cases be classified as either a compulsion or even an addiction.
3. How do you know as a parent when your teenager’s computer use is going too far?
4. There is no easy litmus test here. If your teenager loves to play online games, he/she may not be alone. However, if your teenager seems to be sacrificing social opportunities or spending more than 25 hours a week in the online gaming arena, maybe something is wrong.
5. One of the Internet’s most popular games, the World of Warcraft, is a self-contained online world with millions of different players from dozens of countries around the world. This online realm sucks teenagers in easily, and some have been known to stay on the World of Warcraft site for more than 70 or 80 active hours per week.
6. Today’s teenager also has access to a variety of services available on the computer and over the Internet. Instead of using the telephone, they use instant messaging. They don’t get their pictures printed at the comer photograph shop anymore but upload digital pictures to MySpace and share them with friends and anyone else instantly.
7. Even the ever-present radio or stereo have fallen out of vogue because improved sound system can be attached to the computer. Watching a movie on television has been replaced with playing a DVD on the computer.
8. Some teenagers may even do their homework and school projects on the computer.
9. Considering that many people get addicted to the Internet, parents should be able to recognize when their teenager is developing a bad habit. The isolating, repetitive nature of computer work in general can be stunting in terms of development. In addition, parents should be concerned if their teenagers are not getting enough exercise, nutrition and sleep.
10. A friend of mine told me just a few days ago, “I caught my 11 year old son playing games on the Internet at four o’clock in the morning!
11. I am no exception; I also spend way too much time on the computer. Since our kids tend to do as they see, more often than not they do not do as they are told.
12. To establish a good and argument-proof plan when approaching your teenager, it is vital that you know exactly what your teenager is doing while on the computer and how much time he/she is spending on each particular activity. Establish which activities you will allow, and which websites or activities are off limits.
13. The Internet has become an unsafe place for teenagers in many respects, so you might also consider one of the software packages available that allow you to set parental controls similar to the parental controls which block certain TV programmes. Set an example yourself. If you’re an online junky or a solitaire addict, cut back on your computer use time and provide a good example. Take time to connect with your teenager and to bring your family together for non-computer/TV related activities and you’ll likely see their computer use time decrease.
9.1 Complete the following statements in your own words based on your reading of the passage.
(a) Why is it said that computers have become an addiction for teenagers?
(b) How can a user’s addiction for computers be identified?
(c) How has the computer affected other devices of entertainment?
(d) How can teenagers be discouraged from using computer continuously?
9.2 Find words from the passage that mean the same as:
(a) an urge or insistent desire to do something (para 2) …………………………………………….
(b) a territory or area (para 5) …………………………………………….
(c) popularity; a period of general or popular usage or favour (para 7) …………………………………………….
(d) important (para 12) …………………………………………….
10. Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.
1. It is generally well known that a number of ‘dangerous’ countries either possess or have the technology to produce nuclear weapons, and may be tempted to act irresponsibly. It is also worth remembering, however, that the country which possesses more nuclear weapons than any other, the United States, is the only power ever to have used nuclear weapons against people.
2. Nuclear weapons were first developed in the United States during the Second World War to be used against Germany. However, by the time the first bombs were ready for use, the war with Germany had ended and, as a result, the decision was made to use the weapons against Japan instead. Hiroshima and Nagasaki have suffered the consequences of this decision to the present day.
3. The real reasons why bombs were dropped on two heavily-populated cities are not altogether clear. A number of people in 1944 and early 1945 argued that the use of nuclear weapons would be unnecessary, since American Intelligence was aware that some of the most powerful and influential people in Japan had already realized that the war was lost, and wanted to negotiate a Japanese surrender. It was also argued that, since Japan has few natural resources, a blockade by the American navy would force it to surrender within a few weeks. If a demonstration of force was required to end the war, a bomb could be dropped over an area of low population.
4. All of these arguments were rejected, however, and the reasons why this decision was reached seem quite shocking to us now.
5. Since the beginning of the Second World War, both Germany and Japan had adopted a policy of genocide. Later on, even the US and Britain had used the strategy of fire-bombing cities (Dresden and Tokyo, for example) in order to kill, injure and intimidate as many civilians as possible. Certainly, the general public in the West had become used to hearing about the deaths of large numbers of people, so the deaths of another few thousand Japanese, who were the enemy in any case, would not seem particularly unacceptable -a bit of ‘justifiable’ revenge for the Allies’ own losses, perhaps.
6. The second reason is not much easier to comprehend. Some of the leading scientists in the world had collaborated to develop nuclear weapons, and this development had resulted in a number of major advances in technology and scientific knowledge. As a result, a lot of ‘normal, intelligent people’ wanted to see nuclear weapons used; they wanted to see just how destructive this new invention could be. It no doubt turned out to be even more ‘effective’ than they had imagined.
10.1 Answer the following in your own words.
(a) Which countries are referred to as “dangerous”?
(b) Why were the bombs dropped on Japan?
(c) What does the author feel about the use of nuclear weapons?
(d) What does the author feel about the number of casualties in the war?
10.2 Find words in the passage that mean the following:
(a) important, because of being powerful (para 3): …………………………………………….
(b) a sealing off a place to prevent goods or people from leaving or entering (para 3): …………………………………………….
(c) killing as many people as possible, including civilians (para 5) …………………………………………….
(d) worked together (para 6): …………………………………………….
11. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. According to a Buddhist saying, anger is like a piece of burning coal that we use to hit out against someone else. The hurried piece of live coal may hit the person, even injuring him as we intend at the moment. But the most injured, the most seared, is the one who hurls the coal, the one who held it in the first place.
2. Today, when religion is misused as a focus of anger, it is spirituality that will rescue the day. All religions warn against anger as a provocation, a hurdle in the path towards self-realization. Yet, we keep lapsing into it, conditioned by our animalistic zest where anger was a self-preservative tool. Today, it is no longer so since we are ‘civilized’, priding ourselves on being more than a step ahead of other animals in the evolutionary ladder. And science increasingly points out how anger has outlived its evolutionary use and today it is a double-edged knife, hurting us most, erupting as diseases—blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, skin diseases, weakened immune system, and thus sapping but very real chronic fatigue.
3. Yet, we invest anger with controlling power, see those who throw tantrums as powerful. But science is categorical that anger is a symptom of complete loss of control. While the skeptics may see this as psycho-babble, it is a scientific fact. The symptoms of anger are, for the most part, similar to fear! The iris widens, the heart pumps blood faster; the pressure on the circulatory system is heightened. The hair follicles on the body stand up, even the blood chemistry changes. The fight-or-flight hormones, in fact, are the same for anger and fear: adrenalin and non-adrenalin. In effect, the entire sympathetic mechanism is on a chronic alert, bombarding the system to prepare itself just as fear does. The first flush of anger may be ‘useful’, but the next one and the next keep circulating in the blood as chemicals that have outlived their moment, keeping us in a state of heightened sympathetic system arousal, which is a diseased state, leading to chronic ailments.
4. Anger disrupts even the simple mechanism of digestion, since the blood is busy running around to ‘help’ you hit out at the enemy. Other life-sustaining systems in the body too are in the go-slow mode in the person who is chronically angry. Over time, this causes adrenal gland exhaustion, causing the new-age disease called hypo-adrenalism, which leads to a variety of chronic diseases, including fatigue, migraine, and blood-pressure. Doctors may shut up these symptoms with pills, but long-term cures lie in erasing anger out of the system.
11.1 Complete the following blanks in your own words. (8 marks)
(a) Why does anger hurt the angry person the most?
(b) How anger and fear are similar?
(c) What are the diseases caused by anger?
(d) How does anger affect the digestive system?
11.2 Find words from the passage which are similar in meaning to the following words. (1 x 4 = 4)
(a) scorched; burnt (para 1): …………………………………………….
(b) unaffected (para 2): …………………………………………….
(c) tiredness (para 4): …………………………………………….
(d) removing (para 4): …………………………………………….
12 Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.
1. Almost everyone knows that outdoor air pollution can damage one’s health and lungs. But not many people are aware about indoor air pollution.
2. Your house, your office, school or college, and your work environment, shops and restaurants—all contribute in their own small way. In other words, about 80 per cent of our time is spent indoors without knowing that we are damaging our health.
3. Poor indoor air quality has been linked to lung diseases like allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD), and lung cancer. People who already have asthma and smoking-induced bronchitis suffer the most. Old people who are constantly indoors can also get pollution-related lung diseases.
4. Entry of air into the house is ventilation. Air can enter the house in many ways: natural ventilation when we open the doors or windows, or by infiltration through the cracks in the walls, floors or ceilings, or through exhaust fans or air conditioners.
5. These pollutants which invade our houses cause dry throat and cough in a very slow manner. One may forget that indoor air pollution may be the cause. Most of the unexplained coughs or cough-variant asthmas result from these causes.
6. Children seem to be more sensitive than adults. They are more sensitive to tobacco smoke. Patients who are allergic to mites or moulds suffer most when they enter a room that has carpets, curtains, and air conditioners. The effect can start in the womb if the mother or father smokes.
7. Levels of outdoor pollution are measured although little action is taken by anyone. Some countries have set guidelines for indoor air quality, but setting them in India will be difficult. For example, in a multi¬storeyed residential complex one does not worry about petrol pollution, but the vehicle exhaust enters homes thanks to basement car parks!
8. Self-discipline, individual choice, and control over what we use in our homes and how we ventilate them is the only way out. It is hard to control, check, establish, and maintain good levels of air quality in schools, offices, shops, and restaurants. However, we can be aware of the risks and make an effort to reduce them. Only individual effort, not law, can make the earth pollution-free.
12.1 Answer the following in your own words. (2 x 4 = 8)
(a) Which two kinds of people are prone to lung diseases?
(d) How can basement parking lots affect the residents living in the multi-story buildings?
(c) How have countries tried to tackle air pollution?
(d) How can individuals contribute towards reducing air pollution?
12.2 Find words in the passage which mean the opposite of the following: (1 x 4 = 4)
(a) indifferent (para 6): …………………………………………….
(b) business establishment (para 7): …………………………………………….
(c) safety (para 8): …………………………………………….
(d) increase (para 8): …………………………………………….