QUESTION BANK 2022-23

CLASS-XII

SUBJECT-ENGLISH

SECTION-A READING

READING COMPREHENSION

Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions given below

them.

Passage 1

The choices we make on a daily basis—wearing a seatbelt, lifting heavy objects

correctly or purposely staying out of any dangerous situation—can either ensure

our safety or bring about potentially harmful circumstances.

You and I need to make a decision that we are going to get our lives in order.

Exercising self-control, self-discipline and establishing boundaries and borders in

our lives are some of the most important things we can do. A life without

discipline is one that’s filled with carelessness. We can think it’s kind of exciting to

live life on the edge. We like the image of “Yeah! That’s me! Living on the edge!

Woo-hoo!” It’s become a popular way to look at life. But if you see, even

highways have lines, which provide margins for our safety while we’re driving. If

we go over one side, we’ll go into the ditch. If we cross over the line in the middle,

we could get killed. And we like those lines because they help to keep us safe.

Sometimes we don’t even realize how lines help to keep us safe.

I’m not proud of this, but for the first 20 years of my life at work, I ignored my

limits. I felt horrible, physically, most of the time. I used to tell myself “I know I

have limits and that I’ve reached them, but I’m going to ignore them and see if or

how long I can get by with it.” I ran to doctors, trying to make myself feel better

through pills, vitamins, natural stuff and anything I could get my hands on. Some

of the doctors would tell me, “It’s just stress.” That just made me mad. I thought

stress meant you don’t like what you do or can’t handle life, and I love what I do.

But I kept pushing myself, traveling, doing speaking engagements and so on—

simply exhausting myself. Finally, I understood I was living an unsustainable life

and needed to make some changes in my outlook and lifestyle.

You and I don’t have to be like everyone else or keep up with anyone else. Each of

us needs to be exactly the way we are, and we don’t have to apologize for it.

We’re not all alike and we need to find a comfort zone in which we can enjoy our

lives instead of making ourselves sick with an overload of stress and pressure.

Questions:

I) which of the characteristics are apt about the writer in the following context: “I

know I have limits and that I’ve reached them, but I’m going to ignore them and

see if or how long I can get by with it.”?

(a) Negligent (b) Indecisive

ii The reason why living on the edge has become popular, is because of the

(a) Constant need for something different.

(b) Population being much younger.

(d) Strong tendency to stay within our limits.

iii The phrase “potentially harmful circumstances” refers to circumstances that

can

(a) Certainly be dangerous. (b) Be fairly dangerous.

iv The author explains the importance of discipline and boundaries in our lives

using the example of

(a) Road accidents. (b) Traffic rules.

v The author attempts to __________________ the readers through this write-up.

(a) Rebuke (b) Question

vi Which of the following is the ‘noun’ form of the word ‘unsustainable’

(a) unsustain (b) sustain

vii What does the author mean when he says, “to get our lives in order”?

(a) To resume our lives. (b) To organize our lives.

viii Noun form of ‘dangerous’.

(a) Danger (b) endanger

ix What had the narrator finally understood?

X What do people need to find according to the narrator?

Passage 2

Cataract is the major cause of blindness, which is also caused by damage to the

cornea. It occurs more often in old age. As one starts growing old, the lens of the

eye hardens, loses its transparency and becomes opaque. It obstructs the light

rays from entering the eye.The onset of cataract blurs the vision. Sometimes, the

cataract patient sees multiple images instead of a single object image. Because of

the gradual development of cataract, the afflicted person loses his/her vision and

the world becomes dark to him/her. The development of cataract is a complex

process. However, the following factors can be attributed to its formation.

Cataract generally develops in old age but sometimes, children are born with

cataract because of hereditary defect. Eye injuries too, can cause cataracts.

People exposed to sun rays for longer periods develop cataract earlier than

others. Researchers opine that the smoke inhaled while smoking carries

substances internally damaging the eyes.

Ultraviolet radiation, invisible to the human eye, is linked to skin cancer. The

victim loses vision and the world becomes dark to him.

Questions:

i What is the major cause of blindness?

(a) pollution (b) mobile phones

ii Why does the lens of the eye become opaque in old age?

(a)it loses its transparency (b) it becomes dirty

iii How does cataract affect its victim ultimately?

(a) Leads to partial loss of vision (b) leads to complete loss of vision

iv How does one detect cataract in early stages ?

(a) Vision becomes clear (b) vision becomes blurred

v Find the word from Para 1 that means ‘that through which light cannot enter’.

(a) transparent (b) opaque

vi Noun form of patient.

(a) patient (b) patience

vii Type of cancer caused by ultraviolet radiation is.......

(a) blood cancer (b) breast cancer

viii The onset of cataract..........the vision.

(a) blurs (b) distracts

ix when does cataract generally occur?

x How is smoking responsible for the development of cataract?

Passage 3

Then all the windows of the grey wooden house (Miss Hilton used to live here.

She expired last week), were thrown open, a thing I had never seen before.

At the end of the day a sign was nailed on the mango tree: FOR SALE.

Nobody in the street knew Miss Hilton. While she lived, her front gate was always

locked and no one ever saw her leave or saw anybody go in. So, even if you

wanted to, you couldn’t feel sorry and say that you missed Miss Hilton.

When I think of her house I see just two colours, Grey and green. The green of the

mango tree, the grey of the house and the grey of the high iron fence that

prevented you from getting at the mangoes.

If your cricket ball fell in Miss Hilton’s courtyard you never got it back. It wasn’t

the mango season when Miss Hilton died. But we got back about ten or twelve of

our cricket balls.

The house was sold and we were prepared to dislike the new owners even before

they came. I think we were a little worried. Already we had one resident of the

street who kept on complaining about us to our parents. He complained that we

played cricket on the pavement; and if we were not playing cricket, he

complained that we were making too much noise anyway.

One afternoon when I came back from school Pal said, ‘‘Is a man and a woman.

She pretty, but he ugly like hell.’’ I didn’t see much. The front gate was open, but

the windows were shut again. I heard a dog barking in an angry way.

One thing was settled pretty quickly. Whoever these people were they would

never be the sort of people to complain that we were making noise and disturbing

their sleep.

A lot of noise came from the house that night. The radio was going at full volume

until midnight when the radio station closed down. The dog was barking and the

man was shouting. I didn’t hear the woman

Questions:

i Nobody went into Miss Hilton’s house because her front door was always.........

(a)locked (b) settled

ii Her house had only two colours----------

(a) Black and white (b) red and green

iii The high iron fence did not let the boys get __________ .

(a) at the mangoes (b) at the guavas

iv they never got it back if their __________ fell into her courtyard.

(a) Cricket ball (b) tennis ball

v The boys were ready to dislike the ____________ .

(a )new children (b) new owners

vi One resident of the street always ___________ about them.

(a) Talked (b) complained

vii The noun form of settle is-----

(a) Settling (b) settled

viii The adjective form of ‘station’----

(a) Stationed (b) stationary

ix How were the new owners of Miss Hilton’s house?

x Whose house was put on sale?

Passage 4.

Caged behind thick, glass the most famous dancer in the world can easily be

missed in the National Museum, Delhi. The Dancing Girl of Mohenjo – Daro is that

rare artifact that even school children are familiar with. Our school textbooks also

communicate a wealth of our 5000 years heritage of art. You have to be alert to

her existence there, amid terracotta animals to rediscover this bronze image.

2. Most of us have seen her only in photographs or sketches; therefore the impact

of actually holding her is magnified a million times over. One discovers that the

dancing girl has no feet. She is Wall, a little over 10 cm tall, the length of a human

palm, but she surprises us with the power of great art, the ability to communicate

across centuries.

3. A series of bangles of shell or ivory or thin metal clothes her left upper arm all

the way down to her fingers. A necklace with three pendants bunched together

and a few bangles above the elbow and wrist on the right-hand display almost

modern ar.

She speaks of the undaunted, ever hopeful human spirit. She reminds us that it is

important to visit museums in our country to experience the impact that a work

of art leaves on our senses, to find among all the riches one particular vision of

beauty that speaks to us alone.

Questions:

i The Dancing Girl belongs to:

(a) Mohenjo-daro (b) Greek culture

II In the museum she’s kept among:

(a) dancing figures (b) bronze statues

iii Which information is not given in the passage?

(a) the girl is caged behind the glass

(b) she is a rare artefact

(c)school books communicate the wealth of our heritage

(d) she cannot be rediscovered

iv. Great AK has power because;

(a) it appeals to us despite a passage of time

(b)its small and can be understood

(d) its magnified a million times

v. The jewelry she wears consists of ------

(a) Bangles of shell (b) necklace

vi. She reminds us of-----------

(a) Our culture (b) our past

vii. Synonym of the word ‘among’ in para 1

(a) Amid (b) between

viii. Antonym of the word magnify is---

(a) Amplify (b) enhance

ix. What is the size of the dancing girl?

x. What does the dancing girl speak of?

Passage 5

Once upon a time, there lived a queen in the city of Benaras. Her name was

Khema and she was the wife of King Bahuputtaka. One night, the Queen had a

dream of a beautiful golden goose that spoke with great wisdom, almost as if he

was a sage. She told her husband that she desperately wanted to see a bird just

like the one in her dream. So the King asked his ministers to find out all that they

could about a bird such as this. He was told that such a bird did exist but was

extremely rare and difficult to find. They advised him to build a beautiful lake on

the outskirts of Benaras so that he may attract such a rare and lovely creature to

reside there. In this way, the queen might have her wish. Towards the north, on

Mount Cittakuta, there lived about ninety thousand wild geese headed by a

beautiful golden goose called King Dhatarattha. He got to hear of this exquisite

lake surrounded by water lilies and lotuses floating on the surface. The King had

invited all the birds to come and live on it; promising that none of them would

ever be harmed. Corn was scattered on a daily basis in order to attract the birds.

So a couple of geese went up to their King, the golden goose and told him that

they were quite tired of living up on the mountains and would like to see this

wonderful lake where they had been promised food and protection. The king

agreed to their request and took the flock down towards Benaras. Meanwhile, at

the lake King Bahuputtaka had placed hunters all around in order to capture any

golden goose that happened to pass by. So the next morning, when the

headhunter saw this flock of geese approaching he was very excited to see their

golden leader. He immediately went about setting up a snare amongst the water

lilies and lotuses, as he knew that the leader would definitely be the first to alight.

The whole flock came flying down in one mighty swoop and as expected it was

the King‘s foot that touched the water first. He was ensnared and could not

escape. Seeing this, the other geese flew into a panic. But none had the courage

to try to free their king and so flew back to Mount Cittacuta for safety. All except

one. He was the chief captain, Sumukha. King Dhatrattha entreated him to fly to

safety too, as he would surely be captured if he stayed by his side. But Sumukha

replied that he would never desert his master in the face of danger and would

either try to save him or die by his side. At this point the hunter approached and

as Sumukha saw him he decided to appeal to his compassion. The hunter asked

the golden goose how come he had not noticed the trap that was set. The golden

goose replied that when one‘s time was up it was no use to struggle against what

was fated and one must just accept it. The huntsman was very impressed with his

grace and wisdom. He then turned to Sumukha and asked why he had not filed

with the other birds even though he was free to do so. Sumukha answered that

the golden goose was his King, best friend and master and that he could never

desert him even at the cost of his own life. Hearing this, the hunter realized that

these were a couple of rare birds of great nobility. He didn't care much for his

own King‘s reward and decided to do the right thing and set them free. He told

Sumukha that as he was ready to die for his King he would set them both free to

fly wherever they wished.

Questions:

i Why were the geese keen on visiting the lake in Benaras?

(a) They were invited personally by King Bahuputtaka

(b) They were tired of their told lake

(d) The lake was not very far from the mountains

(e) To lake was to be a source of good food and protection

ii Why did the king approach the ministers?

(a)In order to find out the best location for the lake

(b)In order to find out if a golden goose existed

(c)To enquire about his wife‘s dreams

(d) To devise a plan to capture all rare bird species

(e) To enquire about the best hunter in the locality

iii Why did the headhunter release the King, golden goose?

(a) He was impressed by his wisdom and nobility

(b) The geese were a rare species of birds

(d) The hunter sympathised with a golden goose

(e) The hunter did not want the chief captain to lose a friend

iv What was the king‘s intention behind building a lake?

(a) To attract all rare species of living animals and birds

(b) To beautify the city of Benaras

(d) He wanted to capture the golden goose

(e) He enjoyed bird watching and wanted to create a natural habitat for them

v Why did the flock of geese panic and retreat to Mount Cittacuta?

(a) Their King took the wrong route to the lake and they lost their way

(b) Their King, the golden goose, was captured

(d) They spotted many hunters by the lake

(e) None of these

vi What advice did the ministers give to the king?

(a) That no such golden goose existed and he was only wasting his time searching

for one

(b) To create an artificial golden goose, for the queen

(d) To open a sanctuary of rare birds for the queen

(e) To have a beautiful garden surrounded by flowers and trees

vii Which of the following statements would best describe the qualities of

Sumukha?

(1) Betrayer of the flock (2) The Selfless Goose (3) Loyal towards the king (4) The

native and ignorant goose

(a) Only (1) (b) Only (2)

(e) Only (2) and (3)

Instructions: Choose the word which is most nearly the same in meaning to the

word asked.

viii. Exquisite

(a) Expensive (b) Delicate (c) Elaborate

(d) Wonderful (e) Efficient

ix. Snare

(a) Trap (b) Alarm (c) Plan

(d) Arrangement (e) Efficient

x. Desert

(a) Displease (b) Encourage (c) Instigate

(d) Escort (e) Abandon

Passage 6

Akbar was the son of humble parents. His father was a schoolmaster. There was

never very much money in the house, so he didn‘t enjoy any luxuries. All he

wanted was to learn more and more. Books were not easily available then as they

were handwritten and very expensive. Akbar read all the books he could lay his

hands on. In due course, he mastered Arabic, Persian, Philosophy and Astronomy

and dreamt of getting a position at court. But for this, one had to really excel in

some field. Also one needed a patron close enough to the Emperor to

recommend a newcomer. It was a few months before he could find a patron and

a few more months before he could find a suitable opportunity to recommend

him to the Emperor who asked what he had learnt and what work he could do.

On hearing the same, he said, ―We are pleased to give the young man a chance.

Let him take charge of the royal poultry house!‖ When he heard the news Akbar

was heartbroken. He, a scholar, capable of debating with the most learned men,

was asked to look after chicking hens! All the same, he got down to work with

great determination. His only concern was hens. He saw to it that they were well

fed and had clean water, that their living quarters were clean and if a fowl took ill

that it was separated from the others and given proper treatment. Meanwhile,

the Emperor had forgotten about the scholar he had packed off to mind the hens.

But one day while his Finance Minister was reading out the palace accounts to tell

the Emperor how much money had been spent on the royal household, he

mentioned such a low figure that the Emperor sat up. ―Have most of the hens

died?he asked. ―No, your Majesty‖ was the reply – ―The hens are not only alive

but are plump and fit.‖ "Send for the scholar,‖ the Emperor demanded. When

Akbar came to the palace, the Emperor demanded ―Aren‘t you feeding them

properly?‖ ―I am, sire, only the food is different – I‘m feeding them what cannot

be used in the royal kitchen, vegetable peels and dough used to seal the vessels

while cooking for your Majesty. The hens not only enjoy it but it is also very good

for them. ―Good work, we hereby promote you to the rank of royal librarian.

Akbar was bitterly disappointed. He had spent the first thirty years of his life

gaining knowledge. How he wished to gain that knowledge and help people.

Instead, as head of the royal library he would be seeing only books and no people.

But he buckled down to organizing the library. A year later the Emperor came to

visit the library. He was surprised to find each book covered with a packet of silk,

velvet or brocade. There were hundreds of books and not one without a cover.

―You have used expensive material to cover the books but have not charged us.

Surely you are not spending your own money? Akbar bowed low, ―Your Majesty,

these covers did not cost anything. Everyday dozens of people come to the court

with humble grievances on sheets of paper which are folded and placed inside a

bag of the most expensive material that they can afford. I have used them. The

emperor was very pleased and gave him a bigger responsibility.

Questions:

i. Which of the following can be said about Akbar‘s family?

(1) They were poor and uneducated.

(2) They discouraged him from becoming courtier.

(3) He was ashamed of them and did not introduce them at Court.

(a) None (b) Only (1) (c) 2 and 3

(d) Only 3 (e) All of these

ii. Which of the following is TRUE in the context of the passage?

(1) Akbar was aged when he was finally made a courtier.

(2) Akbar excelled at whatever job the Emperor assigned him.

(3) The Emperor did not value a person‘s education but his family background.

(a) All of these (b) Only 2 (c) 1 and 2

(d) 2 and 3 (e) Only 1

iii. How many years of Akbar‘s life was spent gaining knowledge?

(a) 50 (b) 20 (c) 10

(d) 30 (e) None of these

iv. Choose the word which is OPPOSITE in meaning to the word BITTERLY as used

in the passage

(a) Sweetly (b) Angrily (c) Sourly

(d) Freezing (e) Gladly

v. How did Akbar handle his appointment as royal librarian?

(a) He was angry and was waiting for an opportunity to tell the king so

(b) He was thrilled since he loved books.

(d) He considered it a good opportunity to learn more

(e) He was very happy since he preferred reading to interacting with people.

vi. How did Akbar manage the cover for books?

(a) He used the used-sheets of papers

(b) He spent his own money for this.

(d) He was not aware of it.

(e) None of the above

vii. Why did the Emperor send Akbar when he was in charge of poultry?

(a) To test Akbar‘s knowledge of poultry.

(b) To see if Akbar was worthy of higher responsibility.

them.

(d) To scold him for feeding the poultry leftovers instead of healthy food.

(e)To demand an explanation for the poultry being overweight and unfit.

viii. What lesson can be learnt from the story?

(a) Patience and hard work will help one achieve success.

(b) Pursuit of riches and wealth is all that matters

(d)One should be satisfied with whatever job one gets and not much more.

(e)It is very difficult to get something in life without bribing.

ix. Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the word LOW

as used in the passage.

(a) Small (b) Gentle (c) Unhappy

(d) Short (e) Soft

x. Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the word CLOSE

as used in the passage.

(a) Shut (b) End (c) Neighbouring

(d) Dear (e) Careful

Passage 7

Oscar Wilde once remarked, “Most people are other people. Their thoughts are

someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.” As he

so wryly observed, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.” The vast

majority of us are not who we have been pretending to be, and the lives we’ve

been living until now are molded according to rules and values that are not our

own. Most of humanity is stuck in someone else’s discarded chewing gum and, is

yet to break free. Unless you have been brave enough to forsake this trap, here is

your likely portent: your religious convictions are those of your parents or

community and your political allegiances conform to the party system that society

offers. These are desirable choices that hold societies together. They make you

who you are, you might argue. True, but only if you might argue. True, but only if

you are content with admiring the wrapping and never looking inside the box. If

you dared to look you’d discover how these basic thoughts originate in a

fundamental belief formed during the first years of your life. Children usually

bend their perceptions and interpretations of reality to match those who care for

them. They find ways to please in order to receive attention. As they grow up, the

issues may change, but the initial patterns of conformity remain ingrained in

them. The price for surrendering to consensus is steep. It is nothing less than the

loss of individuality. You disengage from the grandness of creation and implode

into the holographic illusions humans have come to call reality. You become one

of Oscar Wilde’s other people thinking someone else’s opinions and assuming

they are your own. This condition is virtually universal. It is also the underlying

cause of the world as we know it. People cling so tightly to their personal and

social identities that they are blinded to anything that does not validate them.

The way out is easier than anyone might imagine. However, very few summon the

courage, for it requires them to leave the comfort of their own world and walk

alone, unaided by the crutch of dogma. Most people would rather get caught up

in the business of earning a living, raising a family unwillingly or helping their

community, than deal with the unsettling immensity of all that. Yet it seems that

all humans are meant to take this epic journey of discovery at some point in their

series of lives on this planet.

Questions:

i. In spite of the dismal scenario depicted in the passage, the writer talks of his

epic journey of discovery. This discovery pertains to the

(a) longing for immortality (b) Yearning for utopia

ii. The expression ‘holographic illusions’ means

(a) sense of bewilderment (b) shady dealings

(c)self-created phantasm (d) artificial images

iii. In the context of the passage, children adjust their ideas of reality, so that they

(a) are in conformity with their beloved ones

(b) can modify them according to the need of the situations

(d) can use them to their advantage

iv. Which of these is not true in the context of the passage?

(a)We generally imitate others in everything

(b) People are happy to take on others’ roles

(c)We speak in other people’s voices most of the time

(d) People are genuine in expressing their feelings

v. In the context of the passage, ‘wryly’ means

(a) repulsively (b) hesitatingly

vi. In the context of the passage, how can humanity get stuck in someone else’s

discarded chewing gum?

(a) By using discarded things

(b)By appreciating others' ideas

(c)By giving preference to others’ views over one’s own views.

(d) By choosing a product which is sponsored by some great personality

vii. What does the expression ‘lives a mimicry, passions a quotation’ mean?

(a) Lives an imitation, feelings a borrowing

(b) Lives a sham, feelings a deception

(d) Lives a duplication, feelings a recitation

viii. ‘Unless you have been brave enough to forsake this trap’ implies that one has

to be

(a) very pretentious to discard one’s convictions

(b) coaxed to come out of the clutches of tradition.

(d) daring enough to break free from the stranglehold of others’ views

ix. To which of the following does the picture presented in the passages, not

conform?

(a) Adopt a dogmatic approach towards life

(b) Subscribe to others’ views

(d) Cast themselves according to their own ways

x. The writer of this passage envisages a world where people will

(a) desire to make these choices which hold the societies together

(b) profess implicit allegiance to social institutions

(d) take pride in an unquestioned loyalty to old values

Passage 8

The task which Gandhiji had taken in hand was not only the achievement of

political freedom but also the establishment of a social order based on truth and

non-violence, unity and peace, equality and universal brotherhood, and maximum

freedom for all. This unfinished part of his experiment was perhaps even more

difficult to achieve than the achievement of political freedom. Political struggle

involved fight against a foreign power and all one could do was either join it or

wish it success and give it his moral support. In establishing the social order of this

pattern, there was a lively possibility of a conflict arising between groups and

classes, of our own people. Experience shows that man values his possessions

even more than his life because in the former he sees the means for perpetuation

and survival of his descendants even after his body is reduced to ashes. A new

order cannot be established without radically chaining the mind and attitude of

men towards property and at some stage or the other, the ‘haves’ have to yield

place to the ‘have-nots’. We have seen, in our time, attempts to achieve a kind of

egalitarian society and the picture of it after it was achieved. But this was done,

by a large amount, through the use of physical force. In the ultimate analysis, it is

difficult if not impossible, to say that the instinct to possess has been rooted out

or that it will not reappear in an even worse form under a different guise. It may

even be that, like a gas kept confined within containers under great pressure, or

water held by a big dam, once a barrier breaks, the reaction will one day sweep

back with a violence equal in extent and intensity to what was used to establish

and maintain the outward egalitarian form. This enforced egalitarianism contains,

in its bosom, the seed of its own destruction. The root cause of class conflict is

possessiveness or the acquisitive instinct. So long as the ideal that is to be

achieved is one of securing the maximum material satisfaction, possessiveness

can neither be suppressed nor eliminated but will grow on what it feeds. Nor will

it cease to be such – it is possessiveness, still, whether it is confined to only a few

or is shared by many. If egalitarianism is to endure, it has to be based not on the

possession of the maximum material goods which cannot be shared by others or

can be enjoyed only at the expense of others. This calls for substitution of

spiritual values for purely material ones. The paradise of material satisfaction that

is sometimes equated with progress these days neither spells peace nor progress.

Mahatma Gandhi has shown us how the acquisitive instinct inherent in man could

be transmuted by the adoption of the ideal of trusteeship by those who ‘have’ for

the benefit of all those who ‘have not’ so that, instead of leading to exploitation

and conflict it would become a means and incentive, for the amelioration and

progress of society, respectively.

Questions:

i. The unfinished task of Mahatma Gandhi was

(a) fighting against the foreign power

(b) establishment of a peacefully coexistent non-violent society

(d) None of these

ii. Select the best option to complete the sentence. Gandhi aimed at _____

(a) establishing a non-violent society (b) universal brotherhood

iii. According to the passage, people ultimately overturn the form of a social

order.

(a) which is based on conciliation and rapprochement

(b) which is not congenial to the spiritual values of the people

(d) which does not satisfy their basic needs.

iv. According to the passage, which of the following statements is not true?

(a) It is difficult to change the mindset of people towards property.

(b) In an egalitarian society, material satisfaction can be enjoyed only at the

expense of others.

achievement of maximum freedom for all

(d) In establishing the social order of Gandhiji’s pattern, the possibility of a

conflict between different classes hardly exists.

v. In the context of the passage, what is meant by adoption of the ideal of

trusteeship?

(a) The privileged class voluntarily renounces the possessive instinct

(b) Substitution of spiritual values by material values by those who live in the

paradise of material satisfaction.

(d) ‘haves’ to adopt the ideal for the benefit of the society.

vi. Choose the most appropriate title for the passage.

(a)The social order of Gandhi's vision

(b) The renunciation of the possessive instinct

(c)Material values vs. Spiritual values

(d) Class conflicts in an egalitarian society

vii. Answer the following questions in the context of the passage. Why does man

value his possessions more than his life?

(a) To get recognition in society

(b) To preserve his name even after death through his possessions.

comfortable life.

viii. Egalitarianism means

(a) violence (b) inequality

ix. In the context of the passage, which of the following statements is false?

(a) Satisfaction of material needs cannot earn peace and progress.

(b)Conflicts between groups and classes are bound to arise.

(c)The instinct of possession causes conflicts.

(d) The instinct of possession can be rooted out completely.

x. In the passage, the metaphor of ‘paradise’ has been given for _______

(a) fulfilling spiritual needs (b) renunciation of material goods.

Passage 9

In November 1918, Dr.Ambedkar joined Sydenham College as a professor of

political economics and worked there for two years. With his little savings, some

help from the Maharaja of Kolhapur, and with a loan of five thousand rupees from

his friend, Naval Bhathena, he left for England in 1920 to complete his studies in

Law and Economics. He resumed his studies at the London School of Economics

and kept his terms at Gray’s Institute of Law. He turned his attention to the

London Museum where the relics of the saintly and scientific thoughts are

preserved, where the ruins of the antique world are displayed and where Karl

Marx, Mazzini, Lenin and Savarkar had dug for knowledge and digested it. In the

Museum, he pored over books from morning till evening. Time was an important

factor with him. To save both money and time, he would go without lunch. After

this, the second round of reading begins at his residence. The endless reading

would go on till early morning. He told his roommate that his poverty and lack of

time required him to finish his studies as early as possible.

During these studies in London for his academic eminence, he had not forgotten

the real aim in his life. He could not for a minute forget the dumb faces of the

untouchables in India. He took up this matter with the Secretary of State for India

and also held discussion with Mr. Vithalbhai Patel in London. Neither could he

forget the alien political realities of the nation. In a paper read before the

Students Union and also in his famous thesis, “The Problem of the Rupees”, he

exposed the hollowness of the British policies in India, which caused a stir in the

academic world of London and Ambedkar was suspected to be an Indian

Revolutionary.

Questions:

i. Where did Dr.Ambedkar teach?

(a) London School of Economics. (b) Sydenham College

(c)London Museum (d) Gray’s Institute of Law

ii. Dr Ambedkar was a teacher of

(a) Political Economics (b) Law

iii. Who amongst the following was Dr Ambedkar’s benefactor?

(a) Raja of Kathiawar (b) Queen of England

iv. Name Dr Ambedkar’s friend who helped him to go to England.

(a) Nawal kishore (b) Karl Marx

v. Why did Dr Ambedkar try to finish his studies as early as possible?

(a) Due to illness (b) For lack of resources and time

vi. What was Dr. Ambedkar’s real aim in life?

(a) Upliftment of the downtrodden caste. (b) Upliftment of his family

Vii .What was the core slogan raised by Dr. Ambedkar?

(a) Self-awareness amongst the oppressed. (b) Open revolt

viii. Where did Dr. Ambedkar spend most of his time in London?

(a) Courtrooms (b) India House

ix. How many years did Dr. Ambedkar expose in his thesis?

(a) 1 year (b) 2 years

x. What did Dr. Ambedkar expose in his thesis?

(a) Marginality of the rulers (b) Infallibility of the British Rule

India.

Passage 10

The great sage once had a group of disciples. They were all very bright and eager

students and the sage had all the reasons to be proud of them. One day the sage

realized that he had imparted enough knowledge to his disciples. Now they were

all very learned. There was only one thing the sage had not taught them, and that

was the special verse that could bring the dead back to life. The sage knew that

such knowledge was too wonderful and could prove to be a dangerous thing in

the hands of someone who was not very wise. The sage pondered over this for a

long time. But he also knew that if he did not pass on this secret verse, it could die

with him. So, at last he called his cleverest disciple aside and said, ―I am going to

teach you a very special verse. If you chant this you can bring to life a dead person

or animal. Use only when you need it to and never misuse, or test your powers

vainly. He then called all the disciples together and said, ―I am sending you all

into the forest for forty days. Go together and come back together. Each one of

you has to guide one another and do good things. So the disciples started out

together into the forest. They were all united. But the clever disciple who knew

the verse wanted to show he was better than the others, as they walked into the

forest, they came across a dead tiger on the way. It was huge and looked wickedly

fierce even when dead. The clever disciple stopped and said to the others, ―Now

I am going to show you what our teacher had taught me alone. He has taught me

how to bring life back into the dead. The others would not believe him and he

said, ―I would prove it to you by bringing this tiger back to life.‖ But the other

disciples said, ―Do not do anything to prove your knowledge vainly. Moreover, if

you put life into this tiger, it will only turn on us and kill us all. This will not be a

wise thing to do. But the clever disciple had decided to prove himself and

prepared to recite the verse. But before he did so, the other disciples scrambled

up to the topmost branch of a big tree nearby. The disciple then recited the

magical verse. The tiger slowly began to breathe, ―It's working, cried the disciple

in excitement and joy. The tiger opened its eyes and saw him jumping and

shouting in front of him. Roaring loudly, the tiger pounced on the poor disciple

and killed him. The other disciples on the tree watched helplessly as the tiger

threw down the dead body of the disciple and went away into the forest. After

some time the disciples came down, took the body and went to the sage. The

sage looked at them and said, ―Now you see what can happen if you don‘t use

your learning wisely. Let this be a lesson for you. With that, the sage uttered the

magic verse and brought the dead disciple back to life. The sage then taught the

verse to all his disciples and sent them into the world to do well. He was sure that

after such a lesson, they would be wiser and use their knowledge learning only for

doing good.

Questions:

i. What did the sage say to his disciple while teaching his secret verse?

(a) Not to share it with others. (b) Not to practice it on animals

secret verse.

ii. Why was the sage proud of his disciples?

(a) Because they never misused their knowledge.

(b) Because they were very friendly with each other.

(d) Because they were very brilliant

iii. Why did all the disciples except one, climb up to the highest branches of the

tree?

(a) Because they did not know the secret verse.

(b) Because they wanted to watch the scene of the tiger coming to life, from a

distance.

(d) Because they did not approve of the behavior of one of their fellows

iv. Why were the disciples sent to the forest by the sage?

(a) He wanted them to be eliminated

(b) So that the disciple could show them the magic of the secret verse.

(d) To teach them the lesson not to use their learning unsafely.

v. What is the message conveyed in the passage?

(a) A teacher must pass on all his knowledge to others before he dies.

(b) Knowledge and learning should never be misused.

(d) None of these.

vi. Why did the sage decide to pass on his secret verse to his disciple?

(a) So that the cleverest disciple could revive the tiger.

(b) We wanted to see if the cleverest disciple abided by his instructions.

(d) So that the cleverest disciple could take his place.

vii. Why did the clever disciple recite the verse to the dead tiger?

(a) To carry out the instructions of the sage.

(b)To flaunt the power of the verse to the other disciples.

(d) So that he could test the power of the verse.

viii. How did the other disciples react when the clever disciple decided to bring

the tiger back to life?

(a) They tried to deter him from doing so (b) They remained indifferent

ix. Who is referred to as wicked and fierce by the author?

(a) All the disciples (b) The tiger

x. In the context of the passage, which statement is false?

(a) The sage was prejudiced against the clever disciple.

(b) The sage wanted the disciples to use their learning only for doing good.

(d) The sage taught the secret verse to all his disciples.

Note Making

Read the following passage carefully and make notes on them also give a

suitable title to them.

1. Destruction of forests has a major impact on the productivity of our croplands.

This happens in two ways. Soil erosion increases manifold and the soil literally

gets washed away, leading to an accentuated cycle of floods and droughts. But

equally important is the impact of the shortage of firewood on the productivity of

croplands. When firewood becomes scarce, people begin to bum cow dung and

crop wastes. In many places cow dung and crop wastes are now the major

sources of cooking energy. Thus, slowly every part of the plant gets used and

nothing goes back to the soil. Over a period of time this nutrient drain affects crop

productivity. Add to this the technology of the Green Revolution, the technology

of growing high yielding varieties on a limited diet of chemical fertilizers like

nitrogen, phosphates and potash. The total biomass production goes up and so

does the drain of the nutrients from the soil.

2. Women’s education in India is one of the foremost concerns of the

Government of India as well as of the society at large. It is due to the fact that at

the present time, the educated women play a very significant role in overall

development and progress of the country. Women hold a prominent position in

Indian society and all over the world. However, since the prehistoric times women

were denied opportunities and had to suffer for the hegemonic masculine

ideology. This unjustifiable and unwarrantable oppression had resulted into a

movement that was fought to achieve the equal status of women all over the

world. Women’s education in India is the consequence of such progress and this

led to the tremendous improvement of women’s condition throughout the world.

Nevertheless eradication of female illiteracy is considered as a major concern

today. In the present era, Indian society has established a number of institutions

for the educational development of women and girls. These educational

institutions aim for immense help and are concerned with the development of

women. In modern society, women in India have come a long way. Indian women

are at par with men in all kinds of tasks like reaching the moon, conquering

Mount Everest, and participating in all fields. All this is possible just because of

education and the profound impact it has had on women.

3. Life is not a bed of roses, but a bed of thorns. It is full of dangers and

difficulties. In the race of life, we should not be afraid of the risk which is but

natural. Success in any work in life goes to those persons who welcome risk.

Science would not have made such wonderful achievements if our scientists had

not risked their lives and comforts. The more difficult the work is, the harder our

efforts should be to perform it. Life is not smooth sailing. Petty difficulties frighten

a weak heart, who is not prepared to take a risk. But brave hearts achieve fame

and honour because they enjoy taking risks. In short, risk brings success and

works miracles.

4. Conversation is indeed the most easily teachable of all arts. All you need to do

in order to become a good conversationalist is to find a subject that interests you

and your listeners. There are, for example, numberless hobbies to talk about. But

the important thing is that you must talk about other fellow’s hobby rather than

your own. Therein lies the secret of your popularity. Talk to your friends about the

things that interest them, and you will get a reputation for good fellowship,

charming wit, and a brilliant mind. There is nothing that pleases people so much

as your interest in their interest. It is just as important to know what subjects to

avoid and what subjects to select for good conversation. If you don’t want to be

set down as a wet blanket or a bore, be careful to avoid certain unpleasant

subjects. Avoid talking about yourself, unless you are asked to do so. People are

interested in their own problems, not in yours. Sickness or death bores

everybody. The only one who willingly listens to such talk is the doctor, but he

gets paid for it.

5. In the world have we made health an end in itself? We have forgotten that

health is really a means to enable a person to do his work and does it well. A lot of

modern medicine is concerned with promotion of good health. Many patients as

well as many physicians pay very little attention to health; but very much

attention to health makes some people imagine that they are ill. Our great

concern with health is shown by the medical columns in newspaper, the health

articles in popular magazines and the popularity of the television programme and

all those books on medicine we talk about health all the time. Yet for the most the

only result is more people with imaginary illnesses. The healthy man should not

be wasting any time talking about health, he should be using health for work, the

work he does and the work that good health makes possible.

6. Although speech is the most advanced form of communication, there are many

ways of communicating without using speech. Signals, signs, symbols and

gestures may be found in every known culture. The basic function of a signal is to

impinge upon the environment in such a way that it attracts attention, as for

example, the dots and dashes of a telegraph circuit. Coded to refer to speech, the

potential for communication is very great. Less adaptable to the codification of

words, signs also contain meaning in and of themselves. A stop sign, for example,

conveys meaning quickly and conveniently. Symbols are more difficult to describe

than either signals or signs because of their intricate relationship with the

receiver’s cultural perceptions. In some cultures, applauding in a theatre provides

performers with an auditory symbol of approval. Gestures such as waving and

handshaking also communicate certain cultural messages. Although signals, signs,

symbols and gestures are very useful, they do have a major disadvantage. They

usually do not allow ideas to be shared without the sender being directly adjacent

to the receiver. As a result, means of communication intended to be used for long

distances and extended periods are based upon speech. Radio, television and the

telephone are only a few of such means.

7. Fat comes in two types; Omega-3 which is found in marine life and Omega-6

which is concentrated in vegetable oils. The first is good, the other is plain rotten.

The best source of Omega-3 is preferably sea-fish. But frying it in Omega-6 rich

vegetable oil kills all its goodness. Ageing brains have low levels of thiamin, which

is concentrated in wheat germ and bran, nuts, meat and cereals. Better brain-

food comes from liver, milk and almonds, which are rich in riboflavin and

extremely good for memory. Carotene, available in deep green leafy vegetables

and fruits, is also good for geriatric brains. So is a high iron diet; it can make old

brains gallop hyperactively like young ones. Iron comes from greens; liver shell-

fish, red meat and soyabeans. Seas-food, very high in iron, is an excellent diet

supplement. The New England Journal of Medicine reported in its May, 1985 issue

that 30 grams of fish a day could result in a dramatic drop in the chances of

acquiring cardiovascular diseases. Sea fish, particularly shell-fish, crabs, mackerel

and sardines, are more effective than riverine fish because the latter is more

vulnerable to chemical effluents.

8. Life is not a bed of roses, but a bed of thorns. It is full of dangers and

difficulties. In the race of life, we should not be afraid of the risk which is but

natural. Success in any work in life goes to those persons who welcome risk.

Science would not have made such wonderful achievements if our scientists had

not risked their lives and comforts. The more difficult the work is, the harder our

efforts should be to perform it. Life is not smooth sailing. Petty difficulties frighten

a weak heart, who is not prepared to take a risk. But brave hearts achieve fame

and honour because they enjoy taking risks. In short, risk brings success and

works miracles.

9. Conversation is indeed the most easily teachable of all arts. All you need to do