Factual passages convey information in a straightforward and direct manner about a particular subject. Usually, the language and the style are simple and clear. Factual passages may give instructions or descriptions or report of an event or a new finding.
This grammar section explains English Grammar in a clear and simple way. There are example sentences to show how the language is used. Read class 1 to 10 unseen passage with questions and answers in English
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English will help you to write better answers in your Class 10 exams. Because the Solutions are solved by subject matter experts.
Unseen Passage for Class 11 Factual CBSE With Answers
As the title ‘Factual suggests the contents of such a passage are a collection of facts put together in a sequential manner. Factual description involves creating a complete mental picture of a particular person, place, object, beings or events. A factual description allows the reader to get a comprehensive view of the subject under discussion. It involves a step by step description of the subject in the best possible manner. In this way, the reader is able to compare or contrast facts, data or other information that is relevant. A factual passage is a detailed description of the physical attributes of the given topic.
Various subjects: ranging from animate to the inanimate have been described to enable the reader to frame an opinion of his own. Such descriptions either provide essential knowledge on the subject matter or provide a means of assessing the worth of the subject. Often it is the description that allows the reader to make judgments for himself. The success of a good description lies in the ability to describe the subject to its nearest accuracy with current information on the same.
Unseen Passage Factual Solved Question for Class 10 CBSE
1. Read the following passage carefully:
1. Though terracotta warriors of Xian district in China are one of the most significant archaeological excavations of the twentieth century. It is believed that Qin Shihuangdi (221-207 BC), considered the first emperor of China, ordered the creation of around 7000 life-size clay soldiers in 201 BC to guard his tomb for eternity. The emperor is believed to have unified China during his reign and hence, this army is also considered to be a commemoration of his victories.
2. The sculptures were discovered by a group of farmers in 1974 to the east of Xi’an in the Shaanxi province. While digging a well, the workers found three pits filled with the lifelike figures, which were made of a type of terracotta clay. Experts say that long ago, Emperor Shihuangdi ordered the creation of the clay army, along with a 20-square-mile tomb to house it. Apart from life-size statues of soldiers and horses, weapons which were found such as swords, spears, battle-axes, shields, crossbows, and arrowheads were found to be sharp, coated with chromium oxide which made them resistant to rust and corrosion even after being buried for more than 2000 years.
3. Shen Maosheng, from the Qin Shihuang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, said that archaeologists had located another 11 warriors but had not yet begun to excavate or dig up the sculptures.
4. Today, people from around the world visit China to see these terracotta warriors each of whose figures is individually carved. So they have different hairstyles, expressions, and facial features. Inside the pit, the statues are arranged by military rank which means that the higher the rank, the taller is the statue. As the lower half of each soldier is made of solid clay with the upper half being hollow, the figures remain upright.
5. The discovery of the terracotta army is significant as it helps us to understand the economic and social history of that period along with the military hierarchy that existed during that time.
1.1 Answer the following based on your reading of the passage.
(a) The creation of the clay soldiers was ordered by Qin Shihuangdi to guard his tomb and
(b) The terracotta soldiers were discovered by
(c) The weapons found in the pits had neither corroded nor rusted in spite of being buried because
(d) The statues of the terracotta soldiers have not fallen down because
(e) By studying the placement of the soldiers and the excavated town, one can understand the
(f) What was Shen Maosheng’s claim?
(g) Name the weapons found in the Shaanxi province.
(h) Describe the terracotta warriors in China that people come to see from all over the world.
2. Read the following passage carefully:
1. By generating a means of employment for people with excellent artistic abilities and incredible imagination, the animation industry is growing into a multi-crore industry with vast career prospects. The animation is the linking and the manipulation of still images to create an illusion of motion. Images, graphics, text, and audio are brought together to create a live moving picture on the screen. Thus the animator, who is an expert in animation art, gives life to a character using a blend of imagination and technology.
2. Aspirant animators must have a passion and a flair for drawing and creative imagination. In addition, they must also possess an advanced level of technological understanding. An animator must have good communication skills because the field requires him to meet and interact with a large number of people.
3. In the present scenario, animation has a plethora of opportunities in areas like films, cartoons, advertisements, television, and product designing. The animation industry can be broadly classified into categories like 3D and 2D animation, gaming, multimedia, web designing, and visual effects.
4. In India, the animation industry is growing immensely thus making the country a destination for the outsourcing of animation work. The reasons for this mainly are skilled workers and low cost of production besides the rise of the gaming industry. Apart from this, the Indian audience is showing keen interest in animated movies and commercials which has led several production houses to produce a greater number of animated movies.
5. Being aware of the increasing popularity of the animation industry, educational institutions across the country are beginning to include animation courses in their programme. A number of animation institutes have also come up in India which will help students both in grooming their creative skills as well as in their placements.
6. The magical world of animation is thus becoming one of the fastest and most lucrative industries in India. Despite a humble start in the year 1974 with the educational animation film ‘Ek Anek Aur Ekta’, the animation industry in India is a well-established career option today.
2.1 Provide answers to the following questions based on your reading of the passage in your own words.
Each blank in questions l(a)-(d) carries 1 mark and questions (e)-(g) also carry 1 mark each. Answer questions worth 8 marks. (8 marks)
(a) List some reasons for the growth of the Animation Industry in India. A few reasons have been listed for you.
(i) presence of people with artistic abilities and imagination
(ii) ……………………………………………….
(iii) ……………………………………………….
(iv) rise of the gaming industry
(v) ……………………………………………….
(b) State the qualities a good animator must possess.
(i) passion and flair for drawing
(ii) must have a ……………………………………………….
(iii) ……………………………………………….
(iv) must possess an advanced level of ……………………………………………….
(v) must have good communication skills
(c) What has the growth of the animation industry led to?
(i) inclusion of ……………………………………………….
(ii) establishment ……………………………………………….
(d) List a few categories of the animation industry.
(i) 3D
(ii) 2D
(iii) gaming
(iv) ……………………………………………….
(v) ……………………………………………….
(vi) ……………………………………………….
(e) When did the animation industry in India begin?
(f) Name the first animated film made in India.
(g) List some areas that animators have opportunities in.
3. Read the following passage carefully:
1. Every individual wants peace of mind. But it is hard to find a person who can say that he has attained such a state of mental equilibrium as will allow him to live a life of tranquility. Peace of mind is a distant dream for all of us. What is the reason for this? The reason is that people hanker after ideal peace, that is, pure peace–a peace that is free from all kinds of non–peace items.
2. But this kind of absolute peace is not in nature’s storehouse. Let us take the analogy of the rose. A rose is a very beautiful flower, but every stem has its thorns. Indeed, thorns are an integral part of the rose plant. A poet has rightly said that thorns serve as security guards for the flower. The translation of his Urdu lines is: “The safety of the flower would become impossible if the thorns were silk-like.’ So flowers have to be accompanied by thorns. There must be hard thorns along with soft flowers–that is, there must be non–peace items along with peaceful items. A peaceful mind is a very precious aspect of human nature and it too needs safety to maintain its sublime quality.
3 Studies in psychology show that an untroubled mind very soon becomes stagnant. It loses its creativity. For this reason, nature always leads people in challenging situations. It is a non–peace item which acts as a challenge for the mind. This guarantees that the creativity of a peaceful mind never comes to an end. A creative mind is always alive.
4 It is a common phenomenon that one who is born in affluence and has a problem–free life, very soon finds his mind becoming dull, while the one who is born into a life of problems and hardships, has an active mind. Such a person develops the creative thinking and his intellectual development continues unhindered.
5. Here, I would like to cite personal experience, concerning a politician who had two sons. He loved one of his sons very much. He got this son married to someone of his choice and presented him with a farmhouse in which to live a life of comfort, just as he pleased. I met this son and conversed with him. It seemed as if I were talking to a dull person. He did tell some jokes but could not utter a word of wisdom. I have met the other son also. He was not given a comfortable life by his father and so left town for another place. After a few years of struggle, he emerged as a successful person. When I met him, I found that his whole conversation was full of wisdom.
Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(a) It is a distant dream for all of us ………………………..
(i) Peace of mind
(ii) fulfilling our ambition
(iii) meeting our targets
(iv) climbing the mountains
Answer:
(i)
(b) The security guards for the flowers are ………………………..
(i) gardens
(ii) other plants
(ii) thorns
(iv) roots
Answer:
(iii)
(c) Thorns are an integral part of a rose plant. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) Nature always leads people into challenging situations. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(e) People who are born in ………………………. have a problem-free life.
Answer:
affluence
(f) People hanker after ………………………. peace.
Answer:
ideal/absolute
(g) Psychology studies show that an untroubled mind soon becomes ………………………..
Answer:
stagnant
(h) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “very far”. (para 1)
Answer:
distant
4. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
1. “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent,” said the French poet Victor Hugo. Early on Saturday morning, 20 participants of the Times Passion: Sufi Poetry and Music Appreciation Trail embarked on a journey into this ineffable nature of Sufi music through the streets of the capital.
2. The weekend passion trail started with a heritage walk at the Bada Batashewala Mahal and then moved on to the chilla of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, where the iconic saint is said to have lived for around 65 years. The walk was filled with facts on the historical significance of these places.
3. Serendipitously, the day, January 30, was also the final day of celebrations of the 712th urs of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. On the occasion, the trail participants visited the Nizamuddin Auliya dargah, where they offered a chadar, participated in the prayers of the Fadia ceremony, and listened to qawwali renditions.
4. The trail was led by Dhruv Sangari, a well–known Sufi singer who began training in classical music at the age of seven. Having developed an interest in Sufism, he also trained under the late Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Saheb and has been performing professionally since 2001 with his troupe Rooh.
5. The heritage walk was followed by a session on Sufi poetry and music, where Sangari introduced the participants to the message of peace and love that Sufism delivers. Sufism is a mystical dimension that focuses on the purification of oneself. This aspect is felt strongly in Sufi music too… The famous Persian poet and Sufi master, Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, once said, “I want to sing like the birds sing, not worrying about who hears or what they think.”
6. Sangari’s session also featured revelatory anecdotes from the lives of Sufi saints like Baba Bulleshah, and their links to the origin of popular Sufi poetry. “This was my first heritage walk and Sufi trail in Delhi and I was completely hooked. Dhruv made all the difference,” said Renuka Mahajan, a participant.
7. The passion trail culminated with a musical rendition by Sangari and his troupe where they performed popular Sufi songs like ‘Chhap Tilak Sab Chheen’ and ‘Dama Dam Mast Kalandar’.
8. “I was moved to witness in the eyes of the participants the joy of having felt something profound,” said the trail architect himself.
Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(a) At Nizamuddin Auliya’s dargah, the trail participants offered ……………………………
(i) flowers
(ii) clothes
(ii) chaddar
(iv) eatables
Answer:
(iii)
(b) The person who spoke on the Sufism and the message of peace and love at the meet is ……………………………
(i) Dhruv Sangari
(ii) Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
(iii) Renuka Mahajan
(iv) Rumi
Answer:
(i)
(c) Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan trained Sangari. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) Victor Hugo was an American poet. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(e) Dhruv Sangari began training in classical music at the age of ten. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(f) The heritage walk was followed by a session on sufi music and poetry. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(g) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “making people aware of something”. (para 6)
Answer:
revelatory
(h) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “too great to be expressed in words”. (para 1)
Answer:
ineffable
5. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
1. What makes a place sacred? A place where meditation is practised over many years automatically acquires certain powers. The place gets charged with the energy and vibrations from peaceful thoughts. Depending on the intensity of meditators, the sanctity and power of a particular place can thus remain charged, exuding powerful vibrations, for thousands of years. The Parshvanath Hills is one such place. Twenty–two of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras attained nirvana on this hill, and these enlightened persons were separated by thousands of years.
2. When a Tirthankara leaves his body, the equivalent of an atomic explosion takes place. The energy that united body and soul is released. This power is dispersed on the hill. The whole atmosphere and surroundings get surcharged. What the Parshvanath Hills are to the Jains, the Ganga is to the Hindus.
3. Lord Krishna said, “Among the armed, I am like Ram; I am like a crocodile among fish and the Ganga among rivers. Dear Arjuna, I am the beginning, the end and even the middle of existence”. The symbolism of the Ganga is worth understanding. Take away the Ganga from India and all the literature of India will become incomplete. Take away the Ganga and the names of many sages will perish; the spirit of pilgrimage will be lost. The Ganga has become the symbol of our collective spirit.
4 What is so special about the Ganga? There are rivers that are much longer, wider, larger, than the Ganga on this planet – the Brahmaputra, the Amazon, the Nile and the Hwang Ho… There is something unique about the Ganga that is not found in any of these great rivers: despite all the pollutants being pumped into the Ganga, it has somehow managed to maintain its relative purity. Chemically, it contains extraordinary properties –– its water does not putrefy or deteriorate even if kept bottled for long, unlike the water from other rivers. It is interesting to know that the water of the Ganga has properties different from those of other rivers but which seem to undergo a mystical change once they flow into the Ganga’s waters. This is a mystery that even science has not been able to understand, as yet.
Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(a) The Ganga symbolizes ……………………….. .
(i) purity
(ii) faith
(iii) collective spirit
(iv) all of the above
Answer:
(iv)
(b) The place which acquires certain powers is ……………………….. .
(i) where music is played
(ii) where meditation is practised
(iii) where there are statues idols
(iv) where bells keep ringing
Answer:
(ii)
(c) Water of the Ganga has properties different from those of other rivers. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) Twenty of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras attained ‘nirvana’ on the Parshvanath Hills. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(e) The four rivers as mentioned in the passage are ……………………….. .
Answer:
The Ganga, The Brahmaputra, the Amazon, and the Nile.
(f) Complete the analogy. What the Parshvanath Hills are to the Jains, ……………………….. .
Answer:
the Ganga is to the Hindus.
(g) All the literature of India will become incomplete if we take away ……………………….. .
Answer:
the Ganga
(h) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “to become worse”. (para 4)
Answer:
deteriorate
6. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
1. All along a 450–mile stretch of west coast America is the home of the tallest trees in the world. Once, in this narrow hinterland of the Pacific Coast, from central California to southern Oregon, were two million acres of these trees, the Coast Redwood. Today there are just a few hundred acres of them in Redwood Belt’s scattering of State Parks, protected forest reserves amidst which are stands of the giants.
2. About 25 miles due south of San Jose and the heart of Silicon Valley is one of the smaller of these stands, just 40 acres in the midst of the 4650–acre Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. And there I found myself one morning not so long ago peering up to spot the tops of trees that seemed to be touching the skies. All I got was a crick in the neck. A tip for other Escapists’: Stick to looking at the thick and rough-barked trunks.
3. But even looking at a trunk when you try to grab a view of The Giant’s trunk from close can be quite a challenge. The Giant, the star of the Park, has a trunk with a circumference of over 50 feet and a diameter of 17 feet. Maybe you can, but I couldn’t take it all in. Nor could I come anywhere near taking in the whole 275 feet of the Giant’s height. Once the tallest Redwood, it lost its title when a storm several years ago knocked down 75 feet of its top to bring it to its present height. But it’ll need the mother of all storms for its record of being the oldest tree in the park – an estimated 2000–plus years old – to be knocked down.
4. You wonder at such a giant growing from a tiny seed; 100,000 seeds to a pound will give you an idea of how tiny! You wonder too about the marvel of a root system that sinks only six to twelve feet holding up such giants till the Range you are talking to explain that the roots spread laterally and intertwine with the roots of other Redwoods to create a carpet.
Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(a) The Redwood forests are protected because of……………………….. .
(i) they are very old
(ii) they deserve the status of National Parks
(iii) they are worth a visit
(iv) all of the above
Answer:
(iv)
(b) The Giant’s height once was ……………………….. .
(i) 265 feet
(ii) 250 feet
(iii) 275 feet
(iv) 270 feet
Answer:
(ii)
(c) A storm had brought down the height of the tallest tree to its present height. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) The author got a crick in the neck while looking at the tall trees. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(e) The tallest trees in the world are spread over a ……………………….. . stretch of West Coast America.
Answer:
450–mile
(f) The Giant has a trunk with a circumference of over ……………………….. and a diameter of ……………………….. .
Answer:
50 feet, 17 feet
(g) One wonders at such a giant growing from a tiny
Answer:
seed
(h) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “to be filled with wonder”. (para 4)
Answer:
marvel
7. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
1. Mind management is a way to control one’s mind. To do this, we need to be cautious about our thinking process and also need a high level of understanding and meditation as well. Understanding is wisdom – 80 percent of people are knowledgeable, while 20 per cent are wise. Knowledgeable men take sides without reason. They feel sad seeing deprived people but jealous when they see happy people. They work in the guidance of others’ inspiration, take unnecessary responsibility to keep themselves disturbed.
2. A wise person does not stand for or against any idea without concrete reason. He works according to the situation and capacity. He looks at everything intellectually. To him, failure is a stepping stone for future success. So depression and conflict are not seen. Like the phrase ‘Stop, Look, Go’, first one should see, and this needs patience. Meditation is necessary to control and manage mind which then becomes an easy task.
3. Unless we control or manage our mind, it is difficult to achieve success and peace. Psychologists say every interest is first born in the mind as a seed. Then it continues to grow. Later it takes its real form which everybody can see. The interest that first appears in the mind remains weak for the first three minutes and it becomes strong within the next five minutes. All the negative aspects should be deleted within the first three minutes. If not taken out, they would become stronger later and you can never throw them out. After taking control over the mind, we can control passion, interest and unrest. Mind management is essential for a peaceful, successful and healthy life.
4. The age of computers has thrown us on the escalator of aspirations but has robbed us of simple charms like falling asleep. The compulsions of hectic schedules burden the mind and cause stress. However, the joys that elude us can be regained by practising power meditation. It creates tranquillity, simplifies life and cleanses the mind. It helps control indolence, ego and anger and builds confidence and patience. With power meditation, negative thoughts get dissipated and a sense of happiness is achieved.
Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(a) Mind management is essential …………………………
(i) for a peaceful, successful, and a healthy life
(ii) to remain fit
(iii) for a wealthy life
(iv) to dominate others
Answer:
(i)
(b) Traits exhibited by knowledgeable people are …………………………
(i) they take sides without reason
(ii) they are sympathetic to the deprived people
(iii) they are jealous of happy people
(iv) all of the above
Answer:
(iv)
(c) Mind management is a way to control one’s mind. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) Understanding is wisdom. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(e) A wise person feels jealous sometimes. (True/False).
Answer:
False
(f) The age of computers has robbed us of simple charms of life. ……………………….. .
Answer:
True
(g) Psychologists say that every ‘interest is first born in the mind as a .
Answer:
seed
(h) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “based on facts, not on ideas”. (para 2)
Answer:
concrete
8. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
A Purpose In Life
1. A noble purpose gives meaning to one’s own life and is of benefit to others. I realised this when researching on and writing about the life of Jamsetji Tata. What gave one man living in a colonised country the vision to advance it in the community of nations? He not only gave India the power of steel and hydroelectric energy, but also an institution of research.
2. He sent an educationist to Europe and the United States to report on what should be the best model for India. The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore was recommended as the model. But Jamsetji made it a point to see that his name was not associated with the university. After his death, his dream came true with the establishment of the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru. It was to be the fountainhead of science in the decades to come.
3. There are others too whose purpose in life has made a difference to society. Mother Teresa had a comfortable life at Loretto Convent, Kolkata. On a train journey to Darjeeling, she felt her ‘calling and wanted to give up her comfortable life in the convent and serve the poor and the needy.
4. After that, she took a three–month nursing course and returned to Kolkata. She devoted her time to the sick and the homeless. Touched by her sacrifice, some of her students joined her and work began. Not everyone has such a strong calling. When I asked her how one could be sure of one’s calling, she replied, “Deep down in our hearts we know exactly what our calling is, if we are sincere.”
5. One’s purpose is shaped over a period of time, but every noble purpose is based on a feeling for the suffering of others and a desire for alleviating that condition. Some years ago, in Kerala, a young man saw his father join Gandhiji and fight for opening temples to the HarijAnswer: When he grew up, the boy decided to take up agricultural studies, because he had seen the havoc caused by the Bengal famine. He went to Europe and studied agriculture. On his return to India, he spearheaded the Green Revolution. Dr. M.S. Swaminathan demonstrates how purpose intensifies with time.
Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(a) Jamsetji Tata sent an educationist to Europe and the United States because he wanted …………………………
(i) him to go abroad
(ii) the educationist to be away from him
(iii) him to understand the model best suited for India
(iv) to send him for a vacation
Answer:
(iii)
(b) When mother Teresa felt her “calling’ she was on her way to …………………………
(i) Darjeeling
(ii) Dehradun
(iii) Delhi
(iv) Dimapur
Answer:
(i)
(c) Mother Teresa took a six–month training course. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(d) A noble purpose gives meaning to one’s life. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(e) Mother Teresa served the sick and the homeless in …………………………
Answer:
Kolkata
(f) We all know what our ……………………….. is if we are sincere.
Answer:
calling
(g) Dr. M.S. Swaminathan spearheaded the ……………………….. Revolution.
Answer:
Green
(h) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “to make something less severe”. (para 5)
Answer:
alleviate
9. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
1. Diabetes is a metabolism abnormality that affects the way your body uses blood sugar (glucose), your main source of energy. To understand diabetes, you have to start from the beginning – with food. Your body converts a portion of the food you eat and digest into glucose. Glucose is then absorbed into your bloodstream, where it can enter the individual cells of tissue throughout your body to be used as energy. Before your cells will let glucose in, however, they need the help of insulin.
2. Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas – a gland located just behind your stomach. Normally, insulin acts like a master key, unlocking the doors of your cells and allowing glucose inside. To simply maintain this process, such as at night when you’re asleep, the pancreas releases a low level of insulin on a constant basis. When necessary, such as after a meal, your pancreas increases insulin supply to meet demand.
3. After you eat a meal or a snack, your pancreas releases more insulin to make sure the extra glucose in your bloodstream can enter your cells. If you have more glucose than you need, your body can remove the excess from your blood and store it in your liver and muscles or convert it to fat. Then, when you run low on fuel, your body can release this stored energy back into your bloodstream, where insulin is waiting to usher it into your cells.
4. If you have diabetes, this whole process goes awry. Instead of entering cells throughout your body, excess glucose builds up in your bloodstream and some of it may eventually be excreted in your urine. This can happen when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin (Type 1 diabetes), when your cells have become resistant to the effects of insulin (Type 2 diabetes) or, more commonly, when both of these problems occur.
Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(a) Diabetes is a ……………………….. .
(i) nervous disorder
(ii) metabolic disorder
(iii) throat disorder
(iv) physical disorder
Answer:
(ii)
(b) If your body does not produce sufficient insulin you have ……………………….. .
(i) type 2 diabetes
(ii) jaundice
(iii) type 1 diabetes
(iv) iron deficiency
Answer:
(iii)
(c) Diabetes is related to the sugar intake of your food. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) Secretions of pancreas decrease during the night. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(e) Glucose from food gets absorbed in our ……………………….. .
Answer:
bloodstream
(f) Pancreas produces the hormone ……………………….. .
Answer:
insulin
(8) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “change from one form to another”. (para 1)
Answer:
convert
(h) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “regular”. (para 2)
Answer:
constant
10. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
1. Few guessed that this quiet, parentless girl growing up in New York City would one day become the First Lady of the United States. Even fewer thought she would become an author and lecturer and a woman much admired and loved by people throughout the world.
2. Born Anna Eleanor Roosevelt in 1884 to wealthy, but troubled parents who both died while she was young, Roosevelt was cared for by her grandmother and sent to school in England. In 1905, she married her distant cousin, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She and her husband had six children. Although they were wealthy, her life was not easy and she suffered several personal tragedies. Her second son died when he was a baby. In 1921 her strong athletic husband was stricken with polio, which left him physically disabled for life.
3. Eleanor Roosevelt was a remarkable woman who had great intelligence and tremendous strength of character. She never let things get her down. She nursed her husband back to good health and encouraged him to remain in politics. She then helped him to become governor of New York, and in 1933, president of United States.
4. While he was president, she took a great interest in all the affairs of the country. She became her husband’s legs and eyes, she visited prisons and hospitals; she went down into mines, up scaffoldings, and into factories. Roosevelt was tireless and daring. During the depression she travelled all over the country bringing goodwill, reassurance, and help to people without food and jobs. During World War II she visited American soldiers in camps all over the world. The United States had never known a First Lady like her.
5. Roosevelt also kept in touch with the American people through a daily newspaper column called “My Day”. She broadcast on the radio and delivered lectures, all firsts for a First Lady.
Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(a) Eleanor’s husband was struck by ……………………….. .
(i) polio
(ii) paralysis
(iii) a brain disease
(iv) Parkinson’s disease
Answer:
(i)
(b) Eleanor Roosevelt was ……………………….. .
(i) an author
(ii) a lecturer
(iii) the first lady of the US
(iv) all of the above
Answer:
(iv)
(c) Before becoming the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt was the Governor of New York. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) Eleanor Roosevelt did not retire even after her husband’s death. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(e) When Eleanor was young, after her parents’ death, she was cared for by her ……………………….. .
Answer:
grandmother
(f) Eleanor married her distant cousin ……………………….. .
Answer:
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
(g) The daily newspaper column through which Eleanor Roosevelt kept in touch with people was
Answer:
“My Day
(h) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “huge”. (para 3)
Answer:
tremendous
11. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
1. January 26 is celebrated as Republic Day in our country. It was on this day, in 1950, the new constitution of independent India came into force and India became a democratic republic. The Constituent Assembly headed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, with Dr. BR Ambedkar as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, took more than two years to bring the world’s lengthiest constitution to its final shape.
2. The enormous task before the Constituent Assembly was to frame the basic law that would formalize India as a truly democratic nation. Democracy is aptly defined as a system of Government by the people, for the people and of the people. The founding fathers of the Constitution, therefore had to ensure that the basic law of the land contained sufficient provisions for the fulfilment of the democratic aspirations of the people of India not only in the political sphere, but also in the social and economic spheres. That explains the inclusion of a separate part in the Constitution, called the Directive Principles of State Policy.
3. These principles signify the fact that the framers of the Constitution were well aware of the wide gaps and inequalities that existed among the various sections of the Indian population. The Constitution makers had the wisdom to appreciate that political democracy is meaningless when an overwhelming majority of the population is historically trapped in poverty, illiteracy, ill–health and superstition. The Central and State Governments were expected to frame policies so that every citizen is assured of a decent living standard irrespective of sex, caste, religion, language and region.
4. The makers of our Constitution describe India as a Union of States and not as a federation. Being well conversant with the diversity of the nation in terms of the language, religion, caste and region, and its implications on the intended socio–economic development of the country as a whole, the makers of the Constitution opted for a political system in which the Central Government is equipped with overwhelming administrative, legislative and financial muscle. Most of the nations’ policies and programmes for socio-economic development originate at the Central Government, and the responsibility for their successful implementation is entrusted to the states.
Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(a) The programmes for the socio-economic development originate at …………………………
(i) state level
(ii) regional level
(iii) district level
(iv) central government level
Answer:
(iv)
(b) The British had left behind
(i) a developed India
(ii) a wealthy India
(iii) a poverty-stricken, illiterate India
(iv) a strong and healthy India
Answer:
(iii)
(c) The new constitution of independent India came into force in 1950 on 26th January. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was not part of the drafting committee. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(e) The constitution framers were not aware of the gaps and inequalities that existed among the Indian population. (True/False) Answer:
False
(f) The constitution-makers describe India as a Union of states and not as a …………………………
Answer:
federation
(g) The constitution-makers took more than two years to bring the world’s ……………………….. . constitution to its final shape.
Answer:
lengthiest
(h) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “recognize the good quality of somebody”. (para 3)
Answer:
appreciate
12. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
Hyderabad The City Of Nizams
1. Golconda Fort
In the 16th century, when Golconda was the capital of the Qutb Shahi Kingdom, it is believed that a shepherd boy came across an idol on the hill. It was then that the Kakatiya dynasty’s ruler built this fort. The fort is 120 m high. After it was captured by Aurangazeb, the Mughal emperor, the fort fell into ruins. The beautiful ruins of the fort have a story to tell. They make you wonder how the fort may have looked in its days of glory and grandeur. The fort also hosts a sound and light show every day, and the history of this fort is narrated in such an interesting manner that even a child can understand and enjoy it. The climb to the fort is a tedious one and unless you are physically fit, you should avoid the climb and relax in the gardens below. The view from the top is breathtaking and should suffice as a counter–an incentive to laziness.
2. Charminar
The next place to visit is the Charminar. The literal meaning of this monument is ‘four minarate’. is a mosque on the second floor. It is said that when the state was engulfed by the plague, Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, prayed to end the plague and promised to build a mosque in the very place where he was praying. Thus, Charminar came into being! The walk from the bottom to the top of the monument is a little spooky, owing to the narrowness of the pathway and the steepness of the steps. Once you reach the top after successfully negotiating the tiers of balconies, the view of the crowds bustling below will surely lift your spirits. Make sure you visit the nearby Laad Bazaar, where there are rows of shops selling the famous Hyderabadi glass bangles and lac bangles.
3. Salar Jung Museum
The Salar Jung Museum is the third largest museum in the country and boasts of owning the biggest one-man collection of antiques in the world. A visit to the Salar Jung Museum is a must, even if you are not a fan of antique stuff. You can view the Nizam’s collection of textiles, arms, metalware, ivory carvings, Indian bronzes, and carpets.
The main attraction is definitely the Musical Clock, made by Cook and Kelvy of England. Inside the clock is a timekeeper. Every hour, he comes out and beats a gong as many times as the time indicates. Another attraction at the museum is the Veiled Rebecca, an amazing sculpture made by the Italian sculptor, Giovanni Maria Benzoni.
Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(a) Golconda was the capital of the Qutab Shahi kingdom in the ………………………..
(i) 15th century
(ii) 16th century
(iii) 17th century
(iv) 14th century
Answer:
(ii)
(b) The main attraction in the Salar Jung Museum is …………………………
(i) metalware
(ii) collection of carpets
(iii) musical clock
(iv) ivory carvings
Answer:
(iii)
(c) Veiled Rebecca is kept in the Golconda fort. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(d) Laad Bazaar famous for its glass and lac bangles is near Charminar. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(e) ……………………….. ruler decided to build a fort on the hill.
Answer:
Kakatiya
(f) The Mughul ruler ……………………….. attacked and captured the fort which led to its ruin.
Answer:
Aurangazeb
(g) ‘Four minarates’ is the meaning of the word ………………………..
Answer:
‘Charminar
(h) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “the quality of being great”. (para 1)
Answer:
grandeur
13. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
1. When one thinks about predators, one thinks about power. Hyena, Great White Shark, and Sea Hawk–all pack a powerful punch. Their powerful muscles are critical for hunting but before anyone of them can eat, they each have to find and follow their chosen prey, which isn’t always easy.
2. Hyena has phenomenally powerful jaws and one of the strongest bites in the world. With a force of half a ton, they can crush bones like us munching popcorn. They eat the bone, the hair, even hooves, horns, and teeth. Hyena’s milk is a very special jam-packed with energy and four times richer than cow’s milk. But it takes a lot for mum to make such nutritious milk and without a decent meal, the supplies run low. Hyenas can take down prey more than three times their size.
3. Great White Shark with rows of razor-sharp teeth, the super heavyweight fish can deliver a bite of two tons. And sharks are powerful swimmers too, with bursts of speed of 25 miles an hour they can ambush their prey, capture them completely unawares. Great white sharks live alone. They can go for three months without food. They are the ultimate predator when it comes to swimming. They have special scales called denticles. These denticles reduce drag and their torpedo-shaped body means they are super streamlined cutting through the water with ease.
4. Osprey also known as Sea Hawk or fish Hawk, may only weigh the same as a bag of sugar, but Osprey can still pack one heck of a punch. They’re the ultimate fishermen and their incredible power lies in their flight muscles. After smashing into the water at up to 45 miles an hour, they have to take off from the water carrying a fish that can weight as much as they do. When there are hungry chicks to feed, dad does most of the hunting leaving mum to serve up dinner back at the nest. Plunging under water is seriously dangerous especially when one can’t swim. That’s why the bird needs those powerful flight muscles to haul itself back out of the water. Ospreys fly between Canada and South America every year to find the best fishing spots.
Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(a) When we think of predators, we think of ……………………….. .
(i) weakness
(ii) weight
(iii) hunger
(iv) power
Answer:
(iv)
(b) Osprey just might weigh the same as a bag of ……………………….. .
(i) sugar
(ii) salt
(iii) sand
(iv) cotton
Answer:
(i)
(c) Hyena have extremely powerful jaws. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) The sharks are not powerful swimmers. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(e) Ospreys fly between Canada and South America every year. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(f) Hyena’s milk is four times richer than ……………………….. milk.
Answer:
cow’s
(g) Great white sharks have special scales called …………………………
Answer:
denticles
(h) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “an animal that kills and eats other animals”. (para 3)
Answer:
Predators
14. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
1. Chromotherapy is based on the fact that various lights have definitive energy bands and are linked to various organs of the body, and can help to heal them. The body has been divided into seven chakras or seven colours. For instance, it begins with the colour red going up to the head where violet is present. Their effects are also varied. Here, red works for vegetative functioning of the body, green is the centre around the heart and violet and blue represent mind related energy or spiritual energy or the cognitive energy of the body. This form of alternative therapy provides light to specific organs of the body, in order to heal them.
2. This form of therapy has no side–effects. It can heal cataract, leukemia, anxiety and panic, among other things. But it has so far only been used as a supportive treatment. But let us not forget that there is definite interest in its scientific principles across the globe.
3. An interesting study that defines the reasons behind anxiety explains that changes in the biological clock leads to neurohormonal imbalance causing disorders. Croatian scientists suggest that “Chromotherapy can regulate neurohormonal balance in human brain by activating or inhibiting complex physiological, biological and biochemical processes in human brain such as synthesis of various neurohormones”.
4. It is primarily based on Einstein’s theory that body has energy correlate outside it and if this energy correlate is brought in contact with the organ, it can actually heal the body. This includes all forms of mental or personality disorders.
5. While different colours have different frequencies and respond differently when applied to body parts, a few pointers could help next time you feel ‘blue’. For instance, the colour orange is best for people suffering from digestive ailments and those with weak immune systems. Red works for increasing blood circulation and stimulating the body and mind. Consumption of yellow coloured fruits and vegetables energizes the muscles and nerves and is also beneficial to those suffering from paralysis.
Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(a) The unique thing about this theory is that ………………………..
(i) It is transparent
(ii) It is elaborative
(iii) It has no side effects
(iv) It deals with disorders
Answer:
(iii)
(b) Neurohormones are ……………………….. .
(i) chemicals created in the stomach
(ii) hormones created in the bloodstream
(iii) hormones created in the reproductive parts
(iv) hormones created in the brain
Answer:
(iv)
(c) The colour orange is considered best for people suffering from digestive ailments. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) This form of therapy can be used as a supportive treatment. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(e) Chromotherapy is based on the fact that various lights have definitive ………………………..
Answer:
energy
(f) Red colour works for the vegetative functioning of the ……………………….
Answer:
body
(g) ……………………….. colour is the centre around the heart.
Answer:
Green
(h) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “to become ………………………..
Answer:
heal
15. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
1. Both water and energy are integral parts of the human body. By weight, about 60% of an adult’s human body is water and dehydration is one of the biggest single killers of children in the modern world. Life without water is unthinkable.
2. The human body needs its daily intake of food to meet its energy requirements, which according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations is about 1,800 kcal per day. Life without energy is equally unthinkable.
3. The energy that we take in through food again depends, amongst other things, on the water for agriculture, and often that water is pumped with electrical or other forms of energy. The interdependence of energy and water is evident.
4. The world at large seeks both water and energy security. The Worldwatch Institute estimates that about 1.1 billion people (one–fifth of the world population) live in areas of physical water scarcity and another 1.6 billion are facing economic water shortage (when existing water sources cannot be used because of a lack of investment in water-related infrastructure). We will probably have a world population of 9 billion by 2050 and this will put further stress on the water sourcing and supply systems. Here again the connection between energy and water is evident: globally about 70% of water consumption is for the agricultural sector. No water, no food, no energy.
5. Actions needed on the waterfront include a reduction in water usage for agriculture (pump efficiencies, drip irrigation instead of flood irrigation, change in crop patterns), recycling of water, extensive rainwater harvesting programmes, stoppage of run–offs and water pollution.
6. We need to remind ourselves that the fossil-based energy that we rely on so much for almost everything we do is stored solar energy. And while the sun took over 150 million years to store its energy in the form of fossil fuels, we are busy discharging that huge solar battery in a matter of a few hundred years.
Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(a) By weight, an adult human body contains about ……………………….. water.
(i) 60%
(ii) 65%
(iii) 70%
(iv) 75%
Answer:
(i)
(b) The interdependence of ……………………….. is evident.
(i) energy and food
(ii) food and water
(iii) energy and light
(iv) energy and water
Answer:
(iv)
(c) By 2050, the increase in population will put stress on the water and supply system. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) Human beings are utilizing fossil fuel very fast. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(e) Not many children die of dehydration in today’s age and time. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(f) Fuel found under the ground such as coal is called ……………………….. fuel.
Answer:
fossil
(g) We get …………………………. from food.
Answer:
energy
(h) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “clear/easily seen”. (para 3)
Answer:
evident
16. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
1. The Canadian Rocky Mountains or the Canadian Rockies are breathtakingly beautiful mountains and a precious ecosystem with a wealth of wildlife, lush forests including a large variety of flora, ice-capped peaks, and among the most picturesque landscapes, you will see in the world. Glaciers, waterfalls, lakes, limestone caves, canyons, and fossils of marine animals are part of this splendid landscape.
2. The Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks are a UNESCO World Heritage site. According to the UNESCO, this province has outstanding physical features – “Classic illustrations of glacial geological processes – including ice fields, remnant valley glaciers, canyons and exceptional examples of erosion and deposition – are found throughout the area. The Burgess Shale Cambrian and nearby Precambrian sites contain important information about the earth’s evolution.”
3. For all these reasons, these mountains are also great for activities like hiking, fishing, trekking, mountaineering, skiing, camping, and sightseeing. This presents a challenge to the authorities because these beautiful mountains and valuable ecosystems could likely be a target for commercial and economic exploitation.
4. So, how is this challenge being met? The Rockies are divided into many national parks. This means these are protected areas with many controls in place regarding what can be done within the area – whether by commercial organisations, other groups or the private visitor. This World Heritage label also implies many responsibilities for protection and special care.
5. For example, there is the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site where four national parks are part of this site – Banff, which is the most popular and visited; Jasper; Kootenay: and Yoho. Besides, there are three British Columbia Provincial Parks –– Hamber Provincial Park, the Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park and Mount Robson Provincial Park. These parks are known for their scenic splendour and together receive millions of visitors annually.
6. The idea is to encourage tourism and allow visitors to enjoy the spectacular Rockies but to ensure that it is done in harmony with the environment. Many hotels exhort their guests to help them in being environment–friendly by asking them not to waste water or electricity. Some of them provide guestroom amenity containers which are biodegradable. At some resorts, you will see environmental reminder tips in the rooms.
7. There is a strong civic consciousness ingrained within the citizens so that the environment is preserved.
Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(a) …………………… get attracted to these Rockies.
(i) The people who love hiking, fishing, trekking, etc.
(ii) The people who want to be eco–friendly
(iii) The environmentalists
(iv) All of the above
Answer:
(iv)
(b) The number of parks the Rockies are divided into are …………………..
(i) three
(ii) four
(iii) two
(iv) five
Answer:
(ii)
(c) Very few visitors like to visit these parks as rules are not in place.
Answer:
False
(d) The National Park status has helped preserve the ecosystem.
Answer:
True
(e) The Canadian Rockies have a precious ecosystem with a wealth of …………………….
Answer:
wildlife
These Rockies are also worlded…………………… sites.
Answer:
Heritage
(g) Amenity containers are provided to the guests in the guestroom that is……………………
Answer:
biodegradable
(h) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “excellent”. (para 1)
Answer:
splendid
17. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
1. The most powerful and respected oracle in the ancient world was to be found in Central Greece in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. To the ancient Greeks, Delphi was the centre of the world. According to Legend, Zeus, father of the gods, released two eagles from the opposite ends of the world and where they met –– at Delphi – was judged the centre and marked by a stone called the oniphalos or novel. Around 1400 B.C, Delphi was a sacred site dedicated to the earth goddess Gaia. Legend relates that the place was marked by a large python which Apollo, son of Zeus, killed. Apollo then set–up his oracle on the site, with a priestess, known as the Pythia the medium. In the seventh and sixth centuries B.C., during the height of the Oracle’s popularity, thousands of pilgrims, rich and poor, made the journey to consult Apollo through the Pythia.
2. In the inner sanctum of the temple, the Pythia sat on a sacred gold tripod placed over a deep crack in the earth. She was a local, middle-aged woman who would utter the oracle through a series of frenzied and incoherent sounds made while she was in a trance-like state, induced by chewing bay leaves or by inhaling the toxic volcanic vapours that rose from the chasm at her feet.
3. Questioners were first required to purify themselves in the waters of the Castalian spring nearby. Then followed a ritual in which a goat was sprinkled with cold water; if the goat trembled all over, it could be sacrificed and the God petitioned. The pilgrim paid his fee and presented his question, written on a tablet, to the attendant male priest, who then submitted it to the Pythia. Her garbled reply, delivered in a voice not her own, was interpreted by a priest, who gave the answer in verse to the supplicant. At the height of the Oracle’s popularity, three priestesses were required to cope with all the queries.
4. The Delphic oracle was consulted on political matters particularly the establishment of Greek colonies as well as on everyday issues such as marriage, fertility or money problems. Sometimes the Oracle’s pronouncements were straightforward; for instance, Socrates was told that he was the wisest man in Greece. However, many of Oracle’s replies were not. The king went ahead and attacked Persia, but it was his own empire that was destroyed.
Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(a) According to legend, the father of the gods was …………………..
(i) Zeus
(ii) Apollo
(iii) Gaia
(iv) Pythia
Answer:
(i)
(b) Appollo, son of Zeus, killed a large …………………..
(i) lizard
(ii) python
(iii) frog
(iv) snake
Answer:
(ii)
(c) To the ancient Greeks, Delphi was not the centre of the world. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(d) The attendant male priest took the question from the pilgrim who then presented it to Pythia. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(e) The oracle became popular because only rich pilgrims started visiting the place to consult Apollo.
Answer:
False
(f) Pythia, the priestess sat over …………………… in the inner sanctum of the temple.
Answer:
a golden tripod
(g) Pilgrims were asked to purify themselves in the waters of ……………………….
Answer:
the Castalian spring nearby
(h) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “considered to be holy”. (para 1)
Answer:
‘sacred’.
18. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
1. Among all the building parts, which have captured maximum human attention? Possibly the roof structurally a challenge to ensure it does not collapse; aesthetically important for it covers the whole building; functionally critical since it has to take on rain, sun or snow; and to top it all, constructing a roof over an empty space below demands high skill. Accordingly many ideas have evolved across time in every settlement.
2. People are obsessed not only with how the roof is built but also with how it is seen, from above as a roof and from under as a ceiling. Along with a sloping site, say in the hill station, what we see below are mostly roofs after roofs, in receding stepped fashion, which offers an attractive profile for the whole hill station. Looking up from the interior of a space, we generally see flat white painted surface, which could appear predictable and dull for many people. As such, there have been experiments with the roof both in terms of materials and technology, to evolve an attractive roof.
3. One such method is to cast the RCC roof with inverted clay pots or shallow mud bowls set within as filler material. Conceptually it is a method to substitute the replaceable concrete by cheaper clay pots to reduce cost and weight.
4. As such, there are no structural problems or apprehensions about the performance of the roof. Once cast, the ceiling appears attractive with inverted pots, as if it’s decorative false roofing.
5. With the centring ready for the roof, the clay pots of chosen diameter are kept face down as per design, at designated spacing and pattern. A thin layer of mud is spread around the pots to ensure they do not move during the concreting, steel reinforcements tied as per the advice of. the structural engineer around and above these pots, electrical conduits are placed around the pots with no fixture overlapping with the pots and then the roof is cast. The spacing for steel reinforcement needs to be specially designed based on pot size, room spans, and such others, hence this idea does require a qualified engineer around.
6. The mud layer is removed from underneath after concreting, highlighting the pattern of the pots. While the soffit of the roof shows an attractive pattern of clay pots, the upper surface is flat to take on another floor.
7. Of course, any pattern can be produced today by a false ceiling, but they come at an extra cost, can be justified only at specific locations and are done with cheaper materials like POP (Plaster of Paris) or gypsum. 8. If we can build naturally and integrally to get a unique roof design, better to choose such right alternative methods over the more commonplace false ceiling methods.
Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(a) Among all the building parts …………………… has captured maximum human attention.
(i) ceiling
(ii) roof
(iii) walls
(iv) floors
Answer:
(ii)
(b) For making a roof with a clay pot, one requires …………………..
(i) a plumber
(ii) a carpenter
(iii) an electrician
(iv) a qualified engineer
Answer:
(iv)
(c) Roof is the part that has to withstand the weather changes, such as summer, winter, and rough winds. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) In hill stations, we find flat roofs. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(e) Inverted clay pots are cheaper than concrete and look attractive as well. (True/False)
Answer:
True
(f) Any pattern can be produced by a false ceiling with cheaper materials like …………………..
Answer:
POP or gypsum
(g) The upper surface of the roof is kept flat to facilitate the construction of …………………..
Answer:
another floor
(h) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “to completely fill your mind”. (para 2)
Answer:
‘obsessed’.
19. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
1. Tourists visiting Singapore can get up close with the major river ecosystems of the world, complete with its flora and fauna. For, Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) – which is the holding company. of the famed Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari and the Singapore Zoo – has recreated such an ecosystem. Created on a 12-hectare land, it offers a glimpse of the wildlife, mostly freshwater fauna of some of the iconic rivers of the world. This includes the Ganges and Mississippi, Mekong and Yangtze river, Murray, Congo and the Nile. Also included is a guided cruise along a man-made river to get a peep into the wildlife found in the Amazon region.
2. While 85 percent of the collections are designed to be viewed walking through special enclosures and galleries, each with a theme, the Amazon River Quest boat ride provides a glimpse of the remaining 15 percent. A pair of giant pandas alongside a couple of red pandas housed in the climate-controlled exhibit in the Yangtze River zone is one of the major attractions of the River Safari. The walkthrough exhibits give a glimpse of nearly 400 plant species and over 6,000 animal specimen, representing 200 species, making the river safari the first of its kind in Asia.
3. The river zone of the Ganges is set against the facade of a temple and the wildlife is represented by the gharial and the goonch catfish. Moving on to different river zones, one can catch a glimpse of giant river otters, Chinese giant salamanders (world’s largest amphibian), Mekong giant catfish (world’s largest freshwater fish which measures up to 3 m in length and weighs about 295 kg) among others. The Amazon River Quest which is actually a boat ride meandering through a man-made river, takes the visitors close to the jaguar, giant anteater, Brazilian tapir, capybara, and a few other species that live along the Amazon River.
4. Though the message of conservation underlying the concept is important, the project has also stemmed from WRS’ constant need to innovate to ensure an increase in the tourist footfalls so they can be financially self–sufficient.
Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(a) One can find major river ecosystems of the world in ………………….. .
(i) Jurong Bird Park
(ii) Night safari
(iii) Singapore zoo
(iv) Wildlife Reserves Singapore
Answer:
(iv)
(b) One of the major attractions of the River Safari is
(i) pandas
(ii) tigers
(iii) penguin
(iv) peacocks
Answer:
(i)
(c) The Amazon River Quest is a boat ride through a man-made river to see the various animals (True/False)
Answer:
True
(d) Wildlife Reserves Singapore offers a glimpse of the wildlife only. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(e) A pair of giant pandas is housed in the climate-controlled exhibit in the ……………………
Answer:
Yangtze River zone
(f) The tourists have to go through special enclosures and galleries to see ……………………
Answer:
the wildlife
(g) One of the two–fold objectives of WRS is ……………………
Answer:
conservation of flora and fauna
(h) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “catch sight of/spot”. (para 1).
Answer:
glimpse.
20. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
1. Holiday plans ensure promises and perils; hopes and hypes; excitement and disappointments; good news and not–so good news. The not–so good news is that not everyone can plan a vacation to Arctic Alps or to the Amazon to observe the diverse wildlife there for obvious reasons like lack of resources or failure to obtain the necessary sanction for leave. The good news is that there is so much to eye, experience and enjoy right where you live – amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. For some, vacation is all about circus, beach, malls, movies, shopping, reading, and catching up on sleep. But for nature enthusiasts, this is the time to make the best of wildlife spotting in the city.
2. The wildlife diversity and cities have always been treated as an oxymoron. In highly congested and thickly populated cities with myriad skyscrapers, flyovers, malls, heritage buildings, and magnificent edifices, it’s incredibly amazing to see wildlife abound in their own secretive niches. The untamed birds, insects, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and of course the untended plants are all over.
3. Summer vacations render an awesome reprieve from the stressful work schedule and also bestow time to enjoy pleasant surprises over a cup of morning coffee in your own neighbourhood – birds g, squirrels relishing mangoes, spotted owlets peeping out in stupor from tree holes, and butterflies hovering over the peacock flower.
4. This is the season to look out for the fiery blossoms of Indian Laburnum and Copper Pods. Indian Laburnum otherwise known as the golden shower tree produces gorgeous pendulous inflorescence and is a greatly refreshing sight to behold when the city is actually reeling under a heatwave. Copper pods produce dense clusters of crinkled yellow flowers which are highly relished by the rose-ringed parakeets.
5. Birds to look out for in home gardens and in the neighbourhood are magpie robins, tree pies, golden orioles, wagtails, hoopoes, sunbirds, sparrows, tailor birds, barbets, kingfishers, woodpeckers, babblers, warblers, bee-eaters, bulbuls, shrikes, shikras, koels, pipits, parakeets, rollers and sometimes even the rare paradise flycatchers and pitta. Each bird has a distinct call and it is easy to trace their presence to their sound, which is otherwise not too easy.
Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:
(a) An ‘oxymoron? here refers to ………………….. .
(i) oxygen
(ii) skyscrapers
(ii) wildlife in congested cities
(iv) flyovers
Answer:
(iii)
(b) For nature enthusiasts, vacation is the time to …………………..
(i) look for wildlife around
(ii) go for movies
(iii) catch up on sleep
(iv) go to mall
Answer:
(i)
(c) One feels stressed in summer vacation because one needs time to look for wildlife around the city. (True/False)
Answer:
False
(d) We find magpie robins and tailor birds around our houses.
Answer:
True
(e) Birds can be distinguished because every bird has …………………..
Answer:
a distinct call
(f) People plan a vacation to the Amazon or Arctic Alps to observe …………………..
Answer:
the diverse wildlife
(g) Summer is the season to look out for the fiery blossoms of …………………… and.
Answer:
Indian Laburnum, Copper pods
(h) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “easy to see or understand”. (para 1)
Answer:
“obvious.
