DISCURSIVE PASSAGES

PASSAGE 1:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
During our growing up years we as children were taught - both at home and school - to worship the photos
and idols of the Gods of our respective religions. When we grew a little older, we were to read holy books like
the Bhagwad Gita, Bible and Quran; we were told that there are a lot of life lessons to be learnt from these
holy books. We were then introduced to stories from our mythologies which taught us about ethics and
morality- what is good and what is bad. I also learnt to be respectful towards my parents who made my life
comfortable with their hard work and love and care, and my teachers who guided me to become a good student
and a responsible citizen.
Much later in life, I realised that though we learn much from our respective holy books, there is a lot to
learn from our surroundings. This realization dawned upon me when I learnt to enquire and explore.
Everything around us- the sun, the moon, the stars, rain, rivers, stones, rocks, birds, plants and animals - teach
us many valuable life lessons.
No wonder that besides the scriptures, in many cultures nature is also worshipped. The message that we get
is to save our environment and maintain ecological balance. People are taught to live in harmony with nature
and recognize that there is God in all aspects of nature.
Nature is a great teacher. A river never stops flowing. If it finds an obstacle in its way in the form of a heavy
rock, the river water fights to remove it from its path or finds an alternative path to move ahead. This teaches
us to be progressive in life, and keep the fighting spirit alive.
Snakes are worshipped as they eat insects in the field that can hurt our crops, thus protecting the grains for
us. In fact, whatever we worship is our helper and makes our lives easy for us. There are many such examples
in nature, but we are not ready to learn a lesson. Overcome with greed, we are destroying nature. As a result,
we face natural disasters like droughts, floods and landslides. We don’t know that nature is angry with us.
However, it is never too late to learn. If we learn to respect nature, the quality of our life will improve.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY FIVE questions from the 6 that follow.

i) We are told to worship photos and idols of Gods during our .

a. childhood
b. adulthood
c. growing up years
d. none of these

(ii) Parents should be worshiped because

a. they gave us Holy books to read
b. they taught us what is good and what is bad
c. they work hard to make our lives easier
d. they have read many mythical stories

(iii) One can learn life lessons from

1. Mythology 2. Reading Holy books
3. Nature 4. Worshiping photos and idols of God
a. 1,2,4
b. 1,3,4
c. 1,2,3
d. 2,3,4

(iv) The natural disaster that has not been talked about in the passage is:
a. Drought
b. Earthquake
c. Flood
d. Landslide

(v) A river teaches us to be

a. Stubborn
b. Obstinate
c. Progressive
d. Docile
(vi) Snakes are worshipped because they protect
a. Crops from animals
b. Crops from insects
c. Us from rodents
d. Us from insects

PASSAGE 2:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. It is an indisputable fact that the world has gone too far with the innovation of new technologies such as
mobile phones, the Internet and so on, due to which people are able to tour the cosmos virtually sitting at one
place using their smart devices or other technological gadgets. Though mobile internet access is oftentimes
hurried and short, it can still provide common internet features like alerts, weather data, emails, search engines,
instant messages, and games and music downloading.
2. Due to the easy access of smart phones, communication has been very effective and instant. People are able
to convey their message all around the globe to their loved ones without spending hefty sums of money. Adults
are always fond of such gadgets and they always welcome and adopt such new technology readily. Further,
young people have been able to broaden their minds and improve their skills by doing research on the Internet.
For instance, they use smart phones to look up any new word they come across. As we know that most of the
universities have online teaching provision and smart phones assist the students to complete their assignments
on time.
3. The mobile phone has been a lifesaver for a lot of people in case of an emergency. Likewise, the use of
smartphones can be of vital importance in preventing crimes in society by providing information to the security
forces in time.
4. Nonetheless, for the young the use of mobile phones can be like an addiction and they can misuse it. Young
people are also prone to getting involved in undesirable activities on the Internet. This might have an adverse
effect on their academic performance. Therefore, young people should always be monitored and made aware
of its bad outcomes.
5. Also a major contributor to its popularity is the availability of prepaid or pay–as–you–go services from a
phone shop or an online store. This allows subscribers to load text or airtime credits to their handsets by the
use of their credit cards, debit cards or by buying a prepaid card from the network they subscribe to. This plan
also doesn’t commit a particular customer to a contract. If prepaid card is not that appealing to you, then you
can opt to subscribe using the pay–by–month plan.
Q: On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer of the following:
(i) What are the bad outcomes of mobile phones for youth according to passage?
(a) it is very expensive so increase expense.
(b) pay–by–month plan.
(c) an adverse effect on their academic performance
d) None of these

(ii) How the communication become very effective and instant.

(a) Due to the new technology
(b) With the help of transport
(c) Due to the easy access of smart phones
(d) both (i) and (iii)

(iii) In para 1, the synonym of ‘innovation’ is ……………………

(a) Production
(b) sincerity
(c) invention
(d) prevention

(iv) In para 4, the antonym of ‘favourable’ is ……………………

(a) positive
(b) prone
(c) outcomes
(d) adverse
(v) Grown-ups should not monitor the use of new technology by young people.
(a) True
(b) False
(c) can’t say
(d) all of the above

(vi) Mobile internet can provide access to ……………………

a) emails
b) music download
c) weather data
d) all of the above

PASSAGE 3:

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

Subhash Chandra Bose passed through quarters inhabited by Englishmen and also met a large number of them
in the tram cars. The British using these cars were purposely rude and offensive to Indians in various ways.
The sensitive mind of Subhash revolted against such insulting and rude behavior of the British. On many
occasions, there was an exchange of hot words between him and misbehaving British. Majority of the students
of the Presidency College, where he studied, were free thinkers. The college continued to be a storm centre
and was looked upon by the British Government “as a hotbed of sedition, rendezvous of revolutionaries” and
was frequently searched by the police. The first two years of his life were greatly influenced by the group,
which styled itself as the neo-Vivekananda group and Subhash developed intellectually during this period.
The group generally followed the teachings of Rama Krishna and Vivekananda with special emphasis on
social service as means of spiritual development and was non-aligned to a revolutionary group. The shock of
the Great World War roused his political consciousness. He graduated at the age of 22 and enrolled himself
for the postgraduate with experimental psychology as a special subject.

His father, however, wanted him to go to England to appear for the Indian Civil Services. In spite of his mental
reservations, Subhash took it as a challenge. In England, he was greatly impressed with the freedom allowed
to students at Cambridge. Every student behaved in a dignified manner. Not withstanding his preoccupation
with his studies, he displayed his public spirit and fearlessness throughout his stay in England. He and K. L.
Gouba were selected by the Indian Majlis, to represent the British Government the difficulties the Indian
students encountered for admission to the University Officers’ Training Corps. Though he took a harsh view
of the British high handedness and racial arrogance, he did admire their qualities which exacted him. He
himself behaved there in a dignified way and was of the view that Indians who go abroad, must consider
themselves to be unofficial ambassadors of the country, who should uphold their country’s prestige. He was
quite serious in purpose and disliked anybody wasting time on trivialities.

On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following questions.

(i) Who were selected by the Indian Majlis?

a) Subhash Chandra Bose and KL Gouba

b) Jawahar Lal Nehru
c) Mahatma Gandhi
d) none of the above

(ii) Majority of the students of the Presidency college were .

a) radical
b) arrogant
c) unhappy
d) free thinkers

(iii) Whose teachings did the group generally followed?

a) Mahatma Gandhi
b) Rabindranath Tagore
c) Rama Krishna
d) Lala Lajpat Rai

(iv) Subhash Chandra’s father wanted him to go to England and appear for what?

a) Barrister’s exam
b) Indian Civil Services
c) Start the freedom movement
d) Judiciary exam

(v) At what age Subhash enrolled for his postgraduation?

a) 20 years b) 25 years
c) 22 years d) 21 years
(vi) Where is Cambridge University?
a) England
b) Germany
c) United States of America
d) France

PASSAGE 4:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
One day Nandu rode his horse to the village fair. On his way back he met Somendra, the merchant. The
merchant was a crafty man, ready to do anything to earn some money. The villagers knew this. In fact no one
knew what trick he would be up to next. Now, Nandu was poor and had no one in the world to call his own
except a beautiful, white horse. He loved it more than anything else in the world. The merchant had his eye
on the horse for a long time and tried to think of a way to get it for himself. Seeing Nandu, the merchant
thought, Nandu is a simpleton. Let me see if I can trick him out of his horse. So he said to Nandu, You live all
alone. How do you manage? What does a young boy like you need with a horse? Sell it to me and I shall make
you rich in return. Nandu replied, "No I don’t want to sell my horse."
But the merchant refused to give up so easily. He offered Nandu more money. Finally, when the offer
reached five hundred gold coins, Nandu paused and said. Five hundred gold coins seems like a good
price. But I have a condition. If you agree to it, I shall give you my horse. "What is it?", the merchant
asked impatiently. "Give me the money right now and I shall give you my horse when I have given you
ten lashes." After all he would resell the horse for over a thousand gold coins in the market. He would
take twenty lashes for such a gain. He agreed instantly. He ran home and got the money for Nandu and
brought along his whip as well. Nandu counted the money carefully. He then took the whip and the lashes
fell on the merchant’s back in quick succession. By the eighth lash the merchant was almost in tears but
he told himself that there were only two lashes to go and the horse would be his. The merchant held his
breath waiting for the final lashes. But Nandu had mounted his horse and was riding off. "Wait!", shouted
the merchant in anger. "What about the last lashes? Where are you going with the horse? We had a deal.
Nandu stopped and said, "I agree to give you the horse only after I had given you ten lashes. But it is
upsetting my horse. I’ll give you the last lashes later. Till then goodbye!" "Come back you cheat!", the
merchant shouted. But the crowd that had gathered around agreed with Nandu. A deal was a deal. Till
the last lash was given, the horse could not belong to the merchant. Nandu rode away richer by five
hundred gold coins and Somendra waited in vain for several days for the final lash which never came.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY FIVE from the six questions that follow.

i) Why did the merchant offer to buy Nandu’s horse?

a) He was very fond of the horse and wanted it for himself
b) It was his way of helping Nandu who was poor.
c) The horse would be useful for carrying goods to the market.
d) He hated Nandu and wanted to deprive him of something he loved.

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

1. Nandu was an orphan.

2. The merchant was very persevering.
3. The merchant was fond of Nandu's horse.

a) None
b) Only 1
c) Both 1 & 2
d) All 1, 2 and 3

iii) Why did Nandu set the condition of giving the merchant ten lashes?
a) To discourage the merchant from buying his horse.
b) To demonstrate how painful a whipping was so that the merchant would never hit the horse.
c) To bargain with the merchant to offer more money.

d) To outwit the merchant who was trying to cheat him.

iv) Why did the bystanders take Nandu’s side in the argument?
1. They hoped that Nandu would give them a reward from the five hundred gold coins he had
earned.
2. They were sure that the merchant would ill treat the horse and wanted to prevent that from
happening.
3. They knew that the merchant was a cheat and Nandu would be miserable without his horse of
whom he was very fond.

a) Only 1
b) Both 1 & 3
c) Only 3
d) None of these

v) What reason did Nandu cite for not giving the merchant the final lashes?

a) His horse was distressed by the whipping.

b) He realised that the merchant was in great pain and took pity on him.
c) He was following the advice of the people around.
d) He had changed his mind about selling his horse.

vi) Which of the following can be said about Nandu?

1. He was very cunning.

2. He needed money.
3. He was cruel to people but loved animals.
a) None of these
b) Both 1 & 2
c) Both 2 & 3
d) All 1, 2 and 3

PASSAGE 5:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow
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.
On the basis of understanding of the passage, answer ANY TEN questions from the twelve that follow.
(1×10=10)
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.” ?
1. negligent
2. indecisive
3. spontaneous
4. reckless
5. purposeless
6. patient
a) 2 and 5
b) 3 and 6
c) 1 and 4
d) 2 and 3

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.
c) exhausting effort to make changes.
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.
(c) be possibly dangerous.
(d) seldom be dangerous.
iv). Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘outlook’, as used in the passage.
1. A person’s evaluation of life
2. A person’s experiences in life
3. A person’s point of view towards life
4. A person’s regrets in life
5. A person’s general attitude to life
a) (1) and (4)
b) (2) and (3)
c) (3) and (5)
d) (4) and (5)

v) Choose the option that best captures the central idea of the passage from the given quotes.
a. It’s all about quality of life and finding a happy balance between work and friends.
2. To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.
3. Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.
4. Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.

vi) The author explains the importance of discipline and boundaries in our lives using the example of………
a) road accidents.
b) traffic rules.
c) lines on the highway.
d) Safe driving.

PASSAGE 6:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
Sniffer dog Tucker uses his nose to help researchers find out why a killer whale population off the northwest
coast of the United States is on the decline. He searches for whale faces floating on the surface of the water,
which are then collected for examination. He is one of the elite team of detection dogs used by scientists
studying a number of species including right whales and killer whales. Conservation canines are fast becoming
indispensable tools for biologists according to Aimee Hurt, associate director and co-founder of Working Dogs
for Conservation, based in Three Forks, Montana. Over the last few years, though, so many new conservations
dog projects have sprung up that Hurt can no longer keep track of them all. Her organization’s dogs and their
handlers are fully booked to assist field researchers into 2012. “Dogs have such a phenomenal sense of smell”,
explained Sam Wasser, director of the Center for Conservation biology at the University of Washington in
Seattle. He has worked with scat-detection dogs since 199(g). Scientists have been using Conservation Canines
in their research since 199(g). These dogs have enabled them to non-invasively access vast amount of genetic
and physiological information which is used to tackle conservation problems around the world. Such
information has proved vital for determining the causes and consequences of human disturbances on wildlife
as well as the actions needed to mitigate such impacts. The ideal detection dog is extremely energetic with an
excessive play drive. These dogs will happily work all day long, motivated by the expectation of a ball game
as a reward for sample detection. The obsessive, high energy personalities of detection dogs also make them
difficult to maintain as pets. As a result, they frequently find themselves abandoned to animal shelters, facing
euthanasia. The programme rescues these dogs and offers them a satisfying career in conservation research.
Choose the correct option
(i) What do dogs expect as a reward for their hard work?
(a) A bone
(b) Good treatment
(c) A ball game
(d) Food in excess quantity

(ii) How has the information provided by Conservation canines useful?

a) It has helped in determining the causes and consequences of human disturbances on wildlife
b) It has helped in stopping extinction.
(c) It has helped in determining the causes and consequences of wildlife on human life
(d) It has helped in identifying the causes of over population of whales.

(iii) What category of dogs does a Sniffer falls into?

(a) Pet
(b) Wild
(c) Untrained
(d) Detective

(iv) Which of the following words mean the OPPOSITE of disappointing?

(a) Phenomenal (b) Satisfying (c) Euthanasia (d) Rescue
(v) What is the most extraordinary feature about dogs?
(a) Phenomenal sense of smell
(b) They communicate through vibrations.
(c) Balancing tail.
(d) none of these.
(vi) Name the association co-founded by Aimee Hurt.
(a) the University of Washington in Seattle
(b) Working Dogs for Conservation
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of these

Passage 7:
Read the passage given below:
Sprouts relatively contain the largest amount of nutrients per unit of any food known to man. Sprouts produce
a fountain of power for chemical changes. Enzymes are produced, starch get converted into glucose. Protein
is transformed into amino acids and vitamin value increases. In fact a new explosion of life force takes place.
According to Doctor Bailey of the University of Minnesota, U.S.A. the vitamin C value of wheat increases
600 percent in the early sprouting period. Doctor C.R Shaw of the University of Texas Cancer Center found
that cancer was inhibited upto 90% when healthy bacteria was exposed to a cancer causing substance in the
presence of a juice made from wheat sprouts. Enzymes which initiate and control almost every chemical
reaction in our body are greatly activated in the sprouting process. Enzymes spark the entire digestive system
to synthesize the nutrients in our food into blood. They are the key to longevity. Sprouts are enjoyed more
when they are fresh. Mix sprouts with other food and dressings, according to your taste and enjoy eating them.
But eat them you must, everyday! You will soon realize that making sprouts a part of your diet has a dramatic
effect on your health. With this life food, all the cells of your body become active and agile. The nourishment
which develops as the sprouts grow is very stable and can be frozen or dried for future. Sprouted potato or
tomato seeds are likely to be poisonous. Alfalfa and moongbean sprouts are excellent soft food. They are
almost pre-digested and can be easily assimilated even by the children and the elderly. They contain every non
vitamin in perfect balance, necessary for the human body.
On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions,
(i) Sprouts are useful because they ………………
(a) Contain largest amount of nutrients
(b) Produce a fountain of power for chemical changes
(c) Produce enzymes, convert starch into glucose
(d) All of the above

(ii) The vitamin C value of ...................... increases 600 percent in the early sprouting process.
(a) Nutrients
(b) Glucose
(c) Wheat
(d) Enzymes

(iii) ................. Seeds are likely to be poisonous when sprouted.

(a) Alfalfa
(b) Moongbean
(c) Potato and tomato
(d) None of the above

(iv) ‘They’ are the key to longevity. Here ‘they’ refers to …………..
(a) Nutrients
(b) Vitamins
(c) Sprouts
(d) Enzymes

(v) When should sprouts be eaten to get maximum benefit?

(a) When sprouts are fresh
(b) when sprouts are stale
(c) when your body become active and agile
(d) all of the above

(vi) What disease is significantly subdued from juice made from wheat sprouts?
(a) Diabetes
(b) Cancer
(c) Genetic diseases
(d) Phycological diseases

Passage 8:
Read the passage given below:
One of the greatest advances in modern technology has been the invention of computers. They are widely
used in industries and in universities. Now there is hardly any sphere of human life where computers have not
been pressed into service of man. We have reached a stage when a computer has become an indispensible part
of man’s daily life Computers are capable of doing extremely complicated work in all branches of learning.
They can solve the most complex mathematical problems or put thousands of unrelated facts in order. These
machines can be put to varied uses. For instance, they can provide information on the best way to prevent
traffic jams. This whole process by which machines can be used to work for us has been called ‘automation’.
In the future automation may enable human beings to enjoy more leisure than they do today. The coming of
automation is bound to have important social consequences. Some years ago an expert on automation, Sir
Leon Bagrit, pointed out that it was a mistake to believe that these machines could ‘think’. There is no
possibility that human beings will be ‘controlled by machines’. Though computers are capable of learning
from their mistakes and improving their performance, they need detailed instructions from human beings to
operate. They can never, as it were, lead independent lives or ‘rule the world’ by making decisions of their
own. Sir Leon said that in future, computers would be developed which would be small enough to carry in the
pocket. Ordinary people would then be able to use them to obtain valuable information. Computers could be
plugged into a national network and be used like radios. For instance, people going on holiday could be
informed about weather conditions. Car drivers can be given alternative routes when there are traffic jams. It
will also be possible to make tiny translating machines. This will enable people who do not share a common
language to talk to each other without any difficulty or to read foreign publications.
(i) Computers are widely used in:
(a) Universities
(b) Homes
(c) Villages
(d) Outer space

(ii) Computers can help drivers to find alternate routes during………..

(a) Rainfall
(b) Landslide
(c) Traffic jams
(d) Unavailability of cabs

(iii) Computers can never lead ..................... lives?

(a) Interlinked
(b)Independent
(c) Interdependent
(d) Dependent

(iv) Who gives instructions to a computer?

(a) Internet
(b) Artificial Intelligence
(c) Robots
(d) Human beings

(v) What has been the biggest advantage of computers?

(a) They help in solving complex mathematical problems
(b) playing games
(c) using google map while travelling
(d) None of these

(vi) what is the synonym of indispensable.

(a) Essential
(b) Discipline
(c) Not important
(d) None of these

Passage 9:
Read the passage given below:
Just a decade ago, Nepal was a Himalayan kingdom where Buddhists and Hindus from surrounding countries
travelled on pilgrimage to see the temples of Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Boudhinath, Buddha Neelkantha
and Guhyeshwari among scores of others. They also thronged this tiny strip of an incredible Himalayan
landscape to see the great heritage cities of Kathmandu, Patan-Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. Ten years down the
line, this tiny Himalayan kingdom has undergone a dramatic change. Millions of people still travel to this
country for pilgrimages and nature treks. It has some of Asia’s best luxury resorts, deluxe hotels and
conference centres, supermarkets and, of course, restaurants offering not only the exotic Nepalese cuisine, but
also the best food from all over the world. Suddenly, Nepal has become the country for marriages, parties,
holidays, business deals, adventure holidays and for old world sightseeing. The Tribhuvan International
Airport is as full of backpackers as it is of business tycoons, who come to Kathmandu to conduct important
meetings with international groups. Apart from Kathmandu, most nature lovers visit Pokhara, where the
highest peaks of the sprawling Annapurna range of the Himalayas and the Machchepuchra peak stand brooding
over several resorts. The town’s crowning glory is Fulbari, a 167- room resort which offers every kind of
luxury one can dream of. The lakeside bazaar is really a shopper’s delight. A number of Kashmiri migrants
have settled around the Pokhara lake, where boating is available, and have opened shops selling leather and
metal goods, semi-precious stones, Tibetan and Nepalese handicrafts of the Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist
variety. The ride to see Mount Everest, which is also available from Kathmandu, is the most popular. Apart
from Kathmandu and Pokhara, the cities which attract hordes of culture visitors are PatanLalitpur, Bhaktapur,
Dhulikhel and Nagarkot. The last two are towns from where the sunset and the beauty of the snow-clad
mountain ranges are unforgettable. Nagarkot and Dhulikhel – both have luxury resorts where one can go lotus-
eating to one’s heart content and meditate upon the setting sun and its magnificent beauty each evening. The
earlier mentioned towns, namely Patan-Lalitpur and Bhaktapur are a different kettle of fish. Here are Durbar
Squares of majestic beauty, buildings built by the great rulers of Nepal’s past royal families and the best work
of architects, and Nepal can be seen Most of all, Nepal is a wonderful destination for all those who want to
gaze at the eternal Himalayas and store a treasure of peace in their souls to last for a lifetime.
Choose the correct option:
(i) What are Durbar Squares?
(a) Religious buildings
(b) Royal buildings
(c) Monasteries
(d) Amphitheatre

(ii) Business tycoons come to Kathmandu for…….?

(a) Pleasure
(b) Purchasing property
(c) Business meetings
(d) All of the above

(iii) What is Nepal known as?

(a) Pilgrim destination
(b) Himalayan kingdom
(c) Home of Mount Everest
(d) Tourist’s Paradise
(iv) Which of the following words mean the same as everlasting?
(a) Heritage
(b) Exotic
(c) Lifetime
(d) Eternal

(v) ) Name the towns from where the sunset and the beauty of the snow-clad mountain ranges are
unforgettable?
(a) Dhulikhel
(b) Nagarkot
(c) both a and b
(d) none of these

(vi) Where have the Kashmiri migrants settled?

(a) Around the Pokhara lake
(b) PatanLalitpur
(c) Bhaktapur
(d) None of these

Passage 10.
Read the passage given below:
The word Renaissance means rebirth. This period of history is considered to be a rebirth of learning and a
rediscovery of ideas which were lost during the Dark Ages. The Renaissance was a time when people began
to question and explore everything. This period of time from about 1300-1600 A.D. was an age of adventure
and curiosity. People became fascinated with the world around them. They set out on dangerous voyages to
explore unknown lands. Artists began to paint beautiful pictures in quite a different style from medieval times.
Music changed. Scientists studied plants, animals, man, the world around themselves, and even space.
People’s ideas about the earth and the Universe changed. Many new things were invented such as the printing
press and the telescope. This was the period during which Michelangelo sculpted, Botticelli painted, Columbus
sailed to North America, Shakespeare wrote his plays, and Mercator created world maps using longitude and
latitude Everything that concerned man and his life on earth became important to the people of the
Renaissance. The people began to investigate the study of what is known as humanism (thinking about the
interests and ideals of man). This was not a new idea. It was a revival of ideas that had been explored by the
Greek and Roman civilizations a long time before. It fact, people of the Renaissance became fascinated with
many Greek and Roman ideas including those involving sculpture, philosophy, painting and science.
(a) Which of these was a famous sculptor during the Renaissance period?
(i) Michelangelo
(ii) Pablo Picasso
(iii) Leonardo-Da-Vinci
(iv) Columbus

(b) What happened during the Renaissance period?

(i) People began to believe everything that was printed
(ii) People began to question the scientist
(iii) People began to question and explore everything
(iv) People became ardent believers in church

(c) What fascinated the people during Renaissance?

(i) Greek and Asian ideas
(ii) Church
(iii) Pope
(iv) Greek and Roman ideas

(d) Which of these was a famous playwright during the Renaissance period?
(i) Columbus
(ii) Shakespeare
(iii) Karl Marx
(iv) P.B. Shelley

(e) What is the literal meaning of the term Renaissance?

(a) Rebirth
(b) Awareness
(c )Revival
(d)All of the above

(f) ) Name two important inventions during the Renaissance period.

(a) Printing press
(b) Telescope
(c) Both a and b
(d) None of these
ANSWER KEY (DISCURSIVE PASSAGES)
PASSAGE-1
i) a) childhood
ii) c) they work hard to make our lives easier
iii) (c) 1,2,3
iv) (b) Earthquake
v) (c)Progressive
vi) (b)Crops from insects

PASSAGE-2
i) C) an adverse effect on their academic performance.
ii) D) both 1 and 3
iii) C) invention
iv) D) adverse
v) B) False
vi) D) all of the above

PASSAGE-3
i) (a)Subhash Chandra Bose and KL Gouba
ii) (d)free thinkers
iii) (c)Rama Krishna
iv) (b) Indian Civil Services
v) (c) 22 years
vi) (a) England

PASSAGE-4
i) (a)He was very fond of the horse and wanted it for himself
ii) (d) All 1, 2 and 3
iii) (d)To outwit the merchant who was trying to cheat him
iv) (c) Only 3
v) (a) His horse was distressed by the whipping.
vi) A) None of these
PASSAGE-5
i) (c) 1 and 4
ii) (a) Constant need for something different.
iii) (c) be possibly dangerous
iv) (c) (3) and (5)
v) d) Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.
vi) (c) lines on the highway.

PASSAGE-6
i) (c) A ball game
(ii) (a) It has helped in determining the causes and consequences of human disturbances on wildlife
(iii) (d) Detective
(iv) (b) Satisfying
(v) (a) Phenomenal sense of smell
(vi) (b)Working Dogs for Conservation
PASSAGE-7
(i) (a) Contain largest amount of nutrients
(ii) (c) wheat
(iii) (c) Potato and tomato
(iv) (d) Enzymes
(v) (a) When sprouts are fresh
(vi) (b) Cancer

PASSAGE-8

(i) (a) Universities

(ii) (c) Traffic jams
(iii) (b) Independent
(iv) (4) Human beings
(v) (a) They help in solving complex mathematical problems
(vi) (a) Essential

PASSAGE-9
i. (b) Royal buildings
(ii) (c) Business meetings
(iii) (b) Himalayan kingdom
(iv) (4) Eternal
(v) (c) both a and b
(vi) (a) Around the Pokhara lake

PASSAGE-10

(a) (i) Michelangelo

(b) (iii) People began to question and explore everything
(c) (iv) Greek and Roman ideas
(d) (ii) Shakespeare
(e) (iv) All of the above
(f) (iii) Both a and b

CASE-BASED FACTUAL PASSAGES

PASSAGE 1:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
(1) The Sahara sets a standard for dry land. It’s the world’s largest desert. Relative humidity can drop into the
low single digits. There are places where it rains only about once a century. There are people who reach the
end of their lives without ever seeing water come from the sky. Yet beneath the Sahara are vast aquifers of
fresh water, enough liquid to fill a small sea. It is fossil water, a treasure laid down in prehistoric times, some
of it possibly a million years old. Just 6,000 years ago, the Sahara was quite a different place. It was green.
Prehistoric rock art in the Sahara shows something surprising: hippopotamuses which need water year-round.
(2) We don’t have much evidence of a tropical paradise out there, but we had something perfectly liveable,
says Jennifer Smith, a Geologist at Washington University in St. Louis. At times when the Northern
Hemisphere tilts sharply towards the sun and the planet makes its closest approach, the increased blast of
sunlight during the North’s summer months can cause the African monsoon (which currently occurs between
the Equator and roughly 17°N latitude) to shift to the North as it did 10,000 years ago, inundating North Africa.
(3) Around 5,000 years ago, the monsoon shifted dramatically southward again. The pre-historic inhabitants
of the Sahara discovered that their relatively green surroundings were undergoing something worse than a
drought (and perhaps they migrated towards the Nile Valley, where Egyptian culture began to flourish at
around the same time).
(4) As the land dried out and vegetation decreased, the soil lost its ability to hold water when it rained. Fewer
clouds formed from evaporation. When it rained, the water washed away and evaporated quickly. There was
a kind of runaway drying effect. Around 4,000 years ago, the Sahara became what it is today. No one knows

how human-driven climate change may alter the Sahara in the future. It’s something scientists can ponder
while sipping bottled fossil water pumped from the underground. “It’s the best water in Egypt, “Robert
Giegengack, a University of Pennsylvania geologist, said — clean, refreshing mineral water. If you want to
drink something good, try the ancient buried treasure of the Sahara.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer any FIVE of the following questions (5x1=5)
(i) In the line ‘Prehistoric rock art in the Sahara’ the word “prehistoric” DOES NOT mean:
(a) primitive
(b) modern
(c) ancient
(d) pristine

(ii) Which of the following statements about the Sahara Desert is not correct?
(a) the inability of soil to hold water.
(b) the washing away and the fast evaporation of water.
(c) the tendency of soil absorbing all the water
(d) strong sunlight in the desert

(iii) What played an important role in the formation of Sahara as we know today?
(a) less cloud formation
(b) Deforestation
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) runway drying effect

(iv) The monsoon shifted dramatically southward again. When did this happen?
(a) 4000 years ago
(b) 5000 years ago
(c) 6000 years ago
(d) 10000 years ago

(v) Fossils water comes from heavy rains

(a) The statement is partially true.
(b) The statement is completely false
(c) The statement is partially false
(d) The statement is completely true

(vi) The shortage of water is evident from the fact that:

(a) It never rains.
(b) People cannot recognize rain
(c) Some people spend their entire life without experiencing rain.
(d) People do not know when will it rains

PASSAGE 2:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. When plastic waste is burnt, a complex weave of toxic chemicals is released. Breaking down Poly Vinyl
Chloride (PVC) used for packaging, toys and coating electrical wires. It produces dioxin, organ chlorine which
belongs to the family of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). A recent Dioxin Assessment Report brought
out by the United States Environment Protection Agency (USEPA) says the risk of getting cancer from dioxin
is ten times higher than reported by the agency in 1994.
2. The Delhi government is giving the green signal to a gasification project which will convert garbage into
energy without removing plastic waste. This way, no air pollution will be caused and the ash produced can be
used as manure. The project built with Australian assistance, will cost 200crore. It will generate 25 megawatts
of power and gobble 1,000 tons of garbage every day.
3. Technologies like gasification are a form of incineration. Incineration merely transfers hazardous waste
from a solid form to air, water and ash. Toxins produced during incineration include acidic gases, heavy metals
as well as dioxins and furans.
4. Municipal solid waste contains a mix of plastics. Breaking down this waste emits hydrochloric acid which
attacks the respiratory system, skin and eyes, resulting in coughing, vomiting and nausea. Polyethylene
generates volatile compounds like formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, both suspected carcinogenic. Breathing
styrene from polystyrene can cause leukemia. Polyurethane is associated with asthma. Dioxin released by PVC
is a powerful hormone disrupter and causes birth defects and reproductive problems.
5. Even the best run incinerators in the world have to deal with stringent norms. In Germany, air pollution
devices accounted for two-thirds the cost of incineration. Despite such efforts, the European Dioxin Inventory
noted that the input of dioxin into the atmosphere was the highest from incineration.
6. In the chart, we see the share of global plastic waste that is discarded, recycled or incinerated from 1980
through to 2015. Prior to 1980, recycling and incineration of plastic was negligible; 100 percent was therefore
discarded. From 1980 for incineration and 1990 for recycling, rates increased on average by about 0.7 percent
per year. In 2015, an estimated 55 percent of global plastic waste was discarded, 25 percent was incinerated
and 20 percent recycled.
7. Indian garbage has a low calorific content of about 800 kg and it has high moisture and requires

additional fuel to burn. Toxics link calculates that the electricity generated from such technology will cost
between 5 and 7 per unit, which is six times higher than conventional energy. India has chosen a dioxin
preventive route and burning of chlorinated plastics is prohibited under Municipal Solid Waste and
Biomedical Rules. Nearly 80 percent of Indian garbage is recyclable or compostable.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer any FIVE of the following questions (5x1=5)
(i) Dioxin causes
(a) Cancer
(b) Heart attack
(c) Hypertension
(d) Sickness

(ii) Which statements are NOT TRUE according to the passage?

1. India has adopted a preventive measure under which burning of chlorinated plastics is prohibited.
2. USEPA says that the risk of getting cancer from dioxin is hundred times higher than reported by the
agency in 1994.
3. Incineration merely transfers hazardous waste from a solid form to air, water and ash.
4. Hydrochloric acid attacks the digestive system, nose and eyes which results in diabetes and nausea.
(a) 1 and 3
(b) 2 and 4
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 1 and 2

(iii) Garbage can be converted into energy by

(a) Gasification
(b) Gratification
(c) A chemical process
(d) Incineration

(iv) During gasification, ash produced can be used as

(a) Fuel (b) pesticide (c) manure (d) none of these
(v) Converting waste to energy project will produce how much energy?
(a) 20 megawatts
(b) 200 megawatts
(c) 250 megawatts
(d) 25 megawatts

(vi) Which word in the passage means same as ‘waste material’? (Para 2)
(a) Gasification (b) Garbage (c) Pollution (d) Manure

PASSAGE 3:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Ayurveda, or the science of life, is an ancient system of Indian medicine that is 4000 years old. According
to Ayurveda, health depends on the normal balance of three elements of the body—vata (air), pitho (bile), and
kapha (phlegm).
2. Information about the system with proof is contained in two important medical treatises in Sanskrit
language - the Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta Samhita, considered as belonging to the physician Charaka,
and Sushruta who were surgeons. These are compilations of up-to-date medical knowledge made in the 1st
century AD and later in the 7th century AD. Another work widely followed in recent times is Vaghabhatta's
'Ashtangahridoyam'.
3. Sushruta identified as many as 1200 diseases, including tuberculosis and small pox. Ayurvedic treatment is
largely dietetic (food prescribed) and medicinal. All drugs used are obtained from indigenous plants. Charaka
lists 500 medicinal plants, and Sushruta mentions 760. In the older days, physicians used to collect the plants
and prepare the drugs themselves. Many of these have finally appeared in Western pharmacopoeias (books
describing drugs). Ancient Ayurveda included advanced surgical practices. Details of instruments for different
operations are given in the classical texts. Even plastic surgery was done, particularly for the restoration of an
amputated (cut off) nose, by transplanting tissue from the cheek. Modern surgeons have adopted this
technique.
4. Sushruta describes 20 sharp and 101 blunt surgical instruments including knives of various patterns. During
the British rule, large sections of the population, especially in the rural areas, continued to rely on Ayurveda.
But Allopathic (Western system of medicine) was officially encouraged by the British. Since independence,
however, Ayurveda has received official recognition. Ayurvedic universities and colleges have been started
and integrated courses are set up, combining the study of ancient remedies and modern medicine. Many
research institutions are now documenting ancient health practices and herbal remedies.

On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer any FIVE of the following questions (5x1=5)
(i) Ayurveda is
I. an ancient system of Indian Medicine
II. The science of life
Ill, a non-medical practice of herbs
IV. Very cheap in comparison to allopathic treatment

(a) I and IV
(b) II and III
(c) III and IV
(d) I and II

(ii) Which of the following is NOT benefit of Ayurveda?

(a) Non toxic
(b) Cures from root
(c) Obtained from plants difficult to find.
(d) Person specific

(iii) Ancient Ayurveda included advanced

(a) research
(b) system
(c) knowledge
(d) surgical practices

(iv) Ayurvedic universities focus on

(a) Combining the study of ancient and modern medicine.
(b) Finding dietetic alternatives to modern chemical based medicine.
(c) Study of books of ancient medicine.
(d) Popularising plant based medicine.

(v) The British encouraged system of Medicines.

(a) Ayurvedic
(b) Allopathic
(c) Homeopathic
(d) None of these

(vi) Since integrated courses in Ayurveda have been set up.

(a) independent
(b) Liberalization
(c) Independence
(d) Dematerialisation

PASSAGE 4:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Sportsmanship can be conceptualized as an enduring and relatively stable characteristic or disposition such
that individuals differ in the way they are generally expected to behave in sports situations. In general,
sportsmanship prefers to virtues such as fairness, self-control, courage, and persistence, and has been
associated with interpersonal concepts of treating others and being treated fairly, maintaining self-control if
dealing with others, and respect for both authority and opponents. Sportsmanship is also looked at as being
the way one reacts to a sport/game/player.
2. The four elements of sportsmanship are often shown being good form, the will to win, equity and fairness.
All four elements are critical and a balance must be found among all four for true sportsmanship to be
illustrated. These elements may also cause conflict, as a person may desire to win more than play in equity
and fairness and thus resulting in a clash within the aspects of sportsmanship. This will cause problems as the
person believes they are being a good sportsman, but they are defeating the purpose of this idea as they are
ignoring two key components of being sportsman like. When athletes become too self-centered, the idea of
sportsmanship is dismissed.
3. Today’s sporting culture, in particular the base of elite sport, places great importance on the idea of
competition and winning and thus sportsmanship takes a back seat as a result. In most, if not all sports,
sportsmen at the elite level make the standards on sportsmanship and no matter whether they like it or not,
they are seen as leaders and role models in society.
4. Since every sport is rule driven, the most common offence of bad sportsmanship is the act of cheating or
breaking the rules to gain an unfair advantage. A competitor who exhibits poor sportsmanship after losing a
game or contest is often called ‘a sore loser’ while a competitor who exhibits poor sportsmanship after winning
is typically called a ‘bad winner’. Sore loser behaviour includes blaming others for the loss, not accepting
responsibility for personal actions that contributed to the defeat, reacting to the loss in an immature or improper
fashion, making excuses for the defeat, and citing unfavorable conditions or other petty issues as reasons for
the defeat. A bad winner acts in a shallow fashion after his or her victory, such as by gloating about his or her
win, rubbing the win in the face(s) of the opponent(s), and lowering the opponent’s self-esteem by constantly
reminding the opponent(s) of poor performance in comparison (even if the opponent(s) competed well). Not
showing respect to the other team is considered to be a bad sportsman and could lead to demoralizing effects;
as Leslie Howe describes: “If a pitcher in baseball decides to pitch not to his maximum ability suggest that the
batter is not at an adequate level, [it] could lead to the batter to have low self-confidence or worth.”

On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer any FIVE of the following questions (5x1=5
i) Is it necessary to strike a balance between all the four elements of sportsmanship?
a) Yes
b) No
c) Any 2 can be balanced
d) Only 1 is sufficient
ii) Why has sportsmanship taken a backseat today?
a) Due to lack of balance between the elements
b) Due to the emphasis on winning
c) Due to drug abuse
d) None of the above

iii) If one does not accept responsibility for one’s defeat, one is called a:
a) Good sportsman
b) Bad winner
c) Sore loser
d) Prudent sportsman

iv) From the last paragraph, give the opposite of the word ‘deep’:
a) Competitor b) Pitch c) Immature d) Shallow
v) When does the spirit of sportsmanship die?
a) When the sportsman becomes too self-centered
b) When the player loses the will to play
c) When the sportsman behaves badly
d) None of the above

vi). Elements of sportsmanship may cause:

a) Attraction
b) Understanding
c) Balance
d) Conflict

PASSAGE 5:
Read the passage given below 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.
On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer any FIVE of the following questions (5x1=5)
(i) Diabetes is defined best as
(a) A family of blood infection
(b) A metabolic disease characterized by low blood sugar.
c) Throat disorder
(d) physical disorder

(ii) If your body does not produce sufficient insulin you have
(a) type 2 diabetes
(b) jaundice
(c) type 1 diabetes
(d) iron deficiency
(iii) CORRECT STATEMENT(S)
I. Diabetes is related to the sugar intake of your food.
II. Secretions of pancreas decrease during the night.
a) Only I is correct
b) Both I and II correct
c) Only II correct
d) Both I and II incorrect

(iv) Glucose from food gets absorbed in our

a) liver
b) Kidney
c) Stomach
d) bloodstream
(v) Find the word from the passage which means the same as “change from one form to another”. (Para 1)
a)invert:
b) convert
c) Divert
d) Advert

vi) Some of the most common symptoms are

1.Dry skin 2.High fever
3, Thirst 4. Frequent urination
5, Frequent fainting 6. Gain wait

i) 1,3,4
ii)1,23
iii) 2,5,6
iv) 2,4,6

PASSAGE 6. Floating Post Office

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

Tourists to Jammu and Kashmir have another attraction – a floating post office on the Dal Lake in Srinagar,
the first in the country. ‘Floating Post Office, Dal Lake’ – claimed to be the only one such post office in the
world – is built on an intricately carved maroon houseboat, fastened on the western edge of the Dal Lake. This
post office lets you avail of all the regular postal services available in the country while being afloat.

The seal used on everything posted from Floating Post Office is unique – along with the date and address, it
bears the design of a boatman rowing a shikara on the Dal Lake. The special feature of this post office is that
letters posted from here carry a special design which has the picturesque scenery of Dal Lake and Srinagar
city. These pictures reach wherever these letters are posted to and hence promote Kashmir as a tourist
destination across the world. This is actually a heritage post office that has existed since British times. It was
called Nehru Park Post Office before 2011. But then the chief postmaster John Samuel renamed it as ‘Floating
Post Office’.

The post office’s houseboat has two small rooms – one serves as the office and the other a small museum that
traces the philatelic history of the state postal department. It has a shop that sells postage stamps and other
products. But for the locals, Floating Post office is more than an object of fascination. 1-2 crore is deposited
per month in Floating Post Office by communities living in and around the Dal Lake. The lake has several
islets that are home to more than 50,000 people.
The greatest fear is the recurrence of 2014 like floods in which the houseboat had gone for a toss uncontrollably
pushed by the flood. Rescue teams had to anchor it using special mechanism in a nearby highland. Then it was
brought back on the Dal after the water receded. The biggest boon is that at no time of the year do you need a
fan in this post-office!
On the basis of your understanding of the given passage, answer ANY FIVE questions from the Six that
follow. (5x1=5)

i. What is the location of the Floating Post Office in Srinagar?

(a) On dal lake

(b) Near centaur
(c) On Pari Maha
(d) Near Clock Tower

ii. What is special about the seal used in the post office?

(a) design of a houseboat on the Dal Lake

(b) design of a boatman rowing a shikara on the Dal Lake
(c) design of a chinar tree on the Dal Lake
(d) design of Vaishno Devi Shrine on the Dal Lake

iii. Who renamed the post office as ‘Floating Post Office’?

(a) Chief Postmaster

(b) Postman
(c) Delivery agent
(d) Chief Minister

iv. What is the greatest fear that the post office has?

(a) Floods
(b) Earthquakes
(c) Tsunami
(d) Storm

v. What is the biggest boon of this post office?

(a) You do not need heat

b) You need water
c) You need air conditioning
(d) You do not need fan

vi) The antonym of word "unique":

a) Rare
b) Particular
c) Distinctive
d) Ordinary

PASSAGE 7:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

Social media has become almost a necessity for us, in today’s world. It’s become so important and evolved so
much, that we carry our social media with us throughout the day, on our phones.
One of the major benefits of social media is that you can connect with people all over the world, for free. This
comes in handy if you have friends who have travelled abroad. You can send those messages on Facebook or
Twitter or Instagram, and they can respond quickly from wherever they are. Social media helps to fortify and
maintain your personal relationships, even with people who are far away from you. If you have a family
member that’s travelling, you won’t have to wait until they return to hear about their adventures. Just hop on
Facebook or Instagram and start chatting and exchanging pictures.
This ability to communicate quickly and easily with people overseas is also very convenient for those who do
business, in foreign lands. Social media platforms provide a cheap, easy way to quickly communicate your
point to your customers or clients, who are across the world. You can send a private message, publicly share
something or video chat, for free. Using social media for a company is very cost effective and time efficient.
Staying connected to these people is important to improve your business relationship, and keep your company
running properly.
Staying connected to your social networks on the platforms that you use can be vital to your professional
success. Through social media sites, you can find jobs, inform your community of business opportunities and
career openings, and you can even monetize your accounts. Keeping a well-maintained network will help you
achieve success in your career. A good site to look at, if you’re trying to create a professional network, is
Linkedln. The site is designed specifically to help you advance in your career. You’ll open up plenty of new
opportunities that you didn’t have, before.

Being an active participant in social media is a great way to learn new things. News outlets are constantly
using social media, to help keep people in the loop. Social media is the way that news is heard, and it’s the
way that news is spread. You can make the argument that staying connected to social media is, in fact, staying
connected to life. It’s not only good for sharing and spreading news, it’s a great place to find out about people’s
opinions on various topics.
For example, if you’ve built a sports community, you’ll learn about the sports that you love. You can build
communities around politics, business, cars, family, education and pretty much whatever other topic you’d
like. Social media will enhance your life. It will provide you the chance to communicate, connect and be
involved like never before. You’ll stay connected with news outlets, family, friends and virtually whatever
else you’d like to connect with.
On the basis of your understanding of the given passage, answer ANY FIVE questions from the Six that
follow. (5x1=5)

(i) One of the major benefits of social media is that :

(a) you can see what is happening all over the world.
(b) you can connect with people all over the world for free.
(c) you can talk to people far away from you easily.
(d) you can connect with people you have never met before.

(ii) Using social media for a company is :

(a) very cost effective.
(b) time efficient.
(c) very profitable.
(d) (i) and (ii).

(iii) Being an active participant in social media is a great way to :

(a) meet new people.
(b) learn new things.
(c) increase your social circle.
(d) stay connected to life.

(iv) In today’s world, social media has become a ........... for us.
(a) necessity
(b) luxury
(c) backbone
(d) support

(v) Which of the following is NOT a social media platform ?

(a) Facebook
(b) Instagram
(c) Google
(d) Twitte

(vi) Social media platforms that you use can be vital to your professional success because through them you
can:
1. create a business circle and increase your business connections
2. inform your community of business opportunities
3. find jobs
4. monetize your accounts
5. inform your community of career openings
(a) 1, 2 and 4
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(d) 2, 3, 4 and 5

28
PASSAGE 8:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
Dried fruits are basically fresh fruits that have been dried. Fruits are dehydrated by conventional sun-drying
or other drying techniques. They shrivel up and the pulpy remains are the dry fruits that you enjoy at breakfast
or during those mid-meal breaks. As the water content is removed, the fruits become energy-bombs with
concentrated nutrients.

Some of the most common dry fruits and nuts are raisins, cashew nuts, almonds, walnuts, dates, figs, prunes
and apricots. Some varieties of dried fruits like mangoes, pineapples, cranberries, etc., are also available in
sugar-coated candied versions. Of these, dry fruits devoid of any additives are the best for your body.

Walnuts and almonds for the brain, cashews to fight migraine, apricots for healthy eyes and raisins for
digestion — these are only a few benefits of dried fruits and nuts. Dry fruits also help the body in the following
ways:

Loaded with essential nutrients, the benefits of dry fruits and nuts for health cannot be overlooked. Dry fruits
increase your nutrient intake as they are rich in potassium, iron, calcium and magnesium. The antioxidants
boost your immunity, keeping you healthy and free from diseases and other illnesses. People who include nuts
and dried fruits in their diet are well-aware of dry fruits’ benefits for weight loss. When consumed in
moderation, they help you reduce weight and stay fit. Those who swear by dry fruits are known to take in
lesser fats, sugar and more essential nutrients for proper metabolism.

Raisins and prunes are rich in iron and are beneficial for those who are anaemic. Dry fruits are packed with
nutrients like Vitamin B, minerals like phosphorous and copper, and unsaturated fats that boost the
regeneration of blood cells and hemoglobin in the body. Almonds, figs, pistachios and cashew nuts also give
energy and build stamina. Raisins play a significant role in lowering systolic blood pressure. They control
cholesterol and reduce inflammatory markers in the body. Almonds contain Vitamin E and monounsaturated
fatty acids that prevent spikes in cholesterol levels and maintain it at a healthy optimum. Brazil nuts keep a
check on blood pressure as they are a source of potassium, magnesium and calcium. As you can see, dry fruits
and nuts reduce the risk of heart diseases, stroke and heart attacks.

Dry fruits are a rich source of beta carotene, an antioxidant that battles anxiety and depression in people. These
antioxidants also improve memory. Dry fruits help to improve sleep and enhance learning and performance
On the basis of your understanding of the given passage, answer ANY FIVE questions from the Six that
follow. (5x1=5)
(i) After the water content is removed, the dry fruits become ........... with concentrated nutrients.
a) Healthier
(b) energy-bombs
c) Fatty sugar
(d) Unsaturated fats

(ii) Some of the most common dry fruits and nuts are :
1. mangoes
2. cashew nuts
3. lychee
4. walnuts
5. dates
6. raisins
7. cranberries
8. apricots
(a) 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8
(b) 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7
29
(c) 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8
(d) 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7

(iii) Raisins and prunes are beneficial for those who :

(a) Have high blood pressure.
(b) are anaemic.
(c) suffer from anxiety.
(d) have migraine.

(iv) Dried fruits pose a threat to our health if :

(a) they are not dried properly.
(b) they are not soaked in water.
(c) they are not taken in moderation.
(d) they are not taken in correct form.

(v) Brazil nuts keep a check on blood pressure as they are :

(a) monounsaturated fatty acids that prevent spikes.
(b) packed with minerals like phosphorous and copper.
(c) contain nutrients like Vitamin B and C.
(d) a source of potassium, magnesium and calcium.

(vi) Which of the following is NOT a benefit provided by the antioxidants in the dried fruits ?
(a) keeping you healthy
(b) boosting your immunity
(c) keeping you free from diseases or illnesses
(d) lowering your systolic blood pressure .

PASSAGE 9:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

India is home to 46.6 million stunted children, a third of world’s total as per Global Nutrition Report 2018.
Nearly half of all under-5 child mortality in India is attributable to undernutrition. Any country cannot aim to
attain economic and social development goals without addressing the issue of malnutrition. Poor nutrition in
the first 1000 days of a child’s life can also lead to stunted growth, which is associated with impaired cognitive
ability and reduced school and work performance. Malnutrition in children occurs as a complex interplay
among various factors like poverty, maternal health illiteracy, diseases like diarrhoea, home environment,
dietary practices, hand washing and other hygiene practices, etc. Low birth weight, episode of diarrhoea within
the last 6 months and the presence of developmental delay are often associated with malnutrition in most
developing nations including India. In present era malnutrition is reflected as double burden, one aspect is
undernutrition and other being overnutrition. But, in India and other low and middle-income countries
(LMICs), basically malnutrition is synonymous with protein energy malnutrition or undernutrition, which
signifies an imbalance between the supply of protein and energy and the body’s demand for them to ensure
optimal growth and function.

Globally, approximately 149 million children under-5 suffer from stunting. In 2018, over 49 million children
under-5 were wasted and nearly 17 million were severely wasted. There are now over 40 million overweight
children globally, an increase of 10 million since 2000. It is estimated that by 2050, 25 million more children
than today will be malnourished.

India is one among the many countries where child undernutrition is severe and also undernutrition is a major
30
underlying cause of child mortality in India. In a recently released Global Nutrition Report 2018, revealed the
prevalence of stunting, wasting and overweight at national level as 37.9, 20.8 and 2.4% respectively. In India
as per National Family Health Survey IV (2014-2015, recent in the series) 38.4, 21 and 35.7% of children
below 5 years suffer from stunting, wasting and underweight respectively (corresponding figure for NFHS III,
2005-2006 were 47.9, 19.8 and 42.5% respectively). Prevalence of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in India
is 7.5%.
In the 2018 Global Hunger Index, India ranks 103rd out of 119 qualifying countries. With a score of 31.1,
India suffers from a level of hunger that is serious. Figure given depicts dimensions and indicators of Hunger
index and its relationship with child malnutrition

On the basis of your understanding of the given passage, answer ANY FIVE questions from the Six that
follow. (5x1=5)
i. What is a major underlying cause of child mortality in India ?
a)malnutrition
b) undernutrition
c)overnutrition
(d) stunting

ii. As per National Family Health Survey IV, the prevalence of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in India is :

(a) 7.5% (b) 2.4% (c) 9.8% (d) 5.2%

(iii) By what year is it estimated that globally 25 million more children will be malnourished?
(a) 2030 (b) 2040 (c) 2050 (d) 2060

(iv) Which of the following is an indicator of inadequate food supply?

(a) Stunting
(b) under 5 mortality rate
(c) wasting
(d) undernourishment

(v) Undernutrition signifies an imbalance between the supply of protein and energy and the body’s demand
for them to:
(a) ensure proper development.
(b) ensure optimal growth and function.
(c) ensure a balanced lifestyle
(d) ensure sustainable growth.

(vi) Which of the following is NOT a factor in the occurrence of malnutrition in children?
(a) diarrhoea
(b) poverty
(c) Maternal health illiteracy
(d) low birth weight

PASSAGE 10:
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
In addition to using libraries and visiting art museums, historic site visitation is another common form of
public engagement with the humanities. According to the National Endowment for the Arts’ Survey of Public
Participation in the Arts (SPPA). The percentage of people making at least one such visit fell steadily from
1982 to 2012, before rising somewhat in 2017. Visits to historic sites managed by the National Park Service

31
(NPS) were substantially higher in 2018 than 1980, despite a decline in recent years.

In 2017, 28% of American adults reported visiting a historic site in the previous year. This represented an
increase of 4.4 percentage points from 2012 but a decrease of 8.9 percentage points from 1982. The bulk of
the decline in visitation occurred from 2002 to 2008. The recent increases in visitation rates were statistically
significant for the 35-44- and 45-54-yearold age groups 1. The larger change was found among 35-to-44-year-
olds, whose visitation rate increased 8.7 percentage points. Despite the increase from 2012 to 2017 for these
groups, there was a net decline in historic site visitation since 1982 for Americans of virtually all ages. Only
among the oldest Americans (age 75 or older) was the rate of visitation higher in 2017 than 35 years earlier.

From 1982 to 2017, the differences among age groups with respect to rates of historic site visitation decreased.
For example, in 1982, the rate of visitation among 25-to-34-year-olds (the group most likely to visit a historic
site in that survey) was approximately 11 percentage points higher than that of the youngest age group (18-to-
24-year-olds). and more than 17 points higher than that of people ages 65-74. By 2017, however, the visitation
rate of 25-to-34-year-olds had dropped to within five percentage points of the younger cohort and was virtually
identical of that for the older group.

While visitation rates are converging among the age cohorts, the differences by level of educational
attainment are still pronounced. In 2017, as in earlier years, the visitation rate among college graduates was
more than twice as high as the rate among those who finished their studies with a high school diploma (43%
as compared to 17%). Among those who did not finish high school, visitation rates were below 10%
throughout the 2008-2017 time period. Conversely, among Americans with a graduate or professional degree,
visitation rates were in the vicinity of 50% during these years. Data from the National Park Service (NPS)
indicate the types of historic sites visited most and also the demands made of these sites’ physical
infrastructure and staff. Visits to NPS historic sites rose from approximately 59.5 million in 1980 to almost
112 million in 2018. Throughout this time period, visits to historic sites constituted approximately a third of
total NPS recreational visitation.

Since hitting a recent low in visits in 1995, total visits to historic sites of all types increased 58% to a high of
120.3 million in 2016, before falling 7%, to 111.9 million visits in 2018.

Much of the recent growth in visits to historic sites occurred among parks classified as national memorials
and was driven by a particularly high level of visitation at sites that did not exist in 1995, such as the Franklin
Delano Roosevelt Memorial (3.3 million visitors in 2018), the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial (3.6 million
visitors), and the World War II Memorial (4.7 million visitors). As a result, visits to national memorials
increased more than 300% from 1995 to 2016, even as the number of sites increased just 26% (from 23 to 29).
In comparison, visits to national monuments increased only 3%, even as the number of sites in the category
increased by 9% (from 64 to 70). From 2016 to 2018, the number of visits fell in every category, with the
largest decline occurring at the memorial sites (down 10%), and the smallest drop at national monuments (3%)

On the basis of your understanding of the given passage, answer ANY FIVE questions from the Six that
follow. (5x1=5)
(i) Which of the following is NOT a common form of public engagement with the humanities?
(a) visiting art museums
(b) using libraries
(c) historic site visitation
(d)visiting public memorials

(ii) Which age group had a higher rate of visitation to historic sites in 2017 than 35 years earlier in America ?
(a) 35-44 year-olds
(b) 45-54 year-olds
(c) 75 or more year-olds
(d) 25-34 year-olds

32
(iii) After the year 1995, total visits to historic sites of all types increased 58% in the year .
(a) 2015
(b) 2016
(c) 2017
(d) 2018

(iv) Which of the following is NOT a historical memorial in America?

(a) World War II Memorial
(b) Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
(c) Lincoln Liberty Memorial
(d) Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

(v) The number of historical sites visits fell in every category from the year 2016 to the year 2018, with the
largest decline occurring at :
(a) the archaeological sites.
(b) the art museums.
(c) the memorial sites.
(d) the national monuments.

(vi) Though the visitation rates are converging among the age groups, the differences by the level of ..........
are still pronounced.
(a) employment attainment
(b) gender category
(c) international visitation
(d) Educational attainment

33
ANSWER KEY (CASE-BASED FACTUAL PASSAGES)

PASSAGE-1
i. (b) modern
ii. (a) the inability of soil to hold water
iii. (d) runway drying effect
iv. (b) 5000 years ago
v. (b) the statement is completely false
vi. (c) Some people spend their entire life without experiencing rain.
PASSAGE-2
i. A) cancer
ii. B) 2 and 4
iii. A) Gasification
iv. C) Manure
v. D) 25 megawatts
vi. B) Garbage
PASSAGE-3
i. (D) I and II
ii. (C) Obtained from plants difficult to find.
iii. (D) Surgical Practice
iv. (A) combining the study of ancient and modern medicine.
v. (B) Allopathic
vi. (A) independent
PASSAGE-4
i. a) Yes
ii. b) Due to the emphasis on winning
iii. c) Sore loser
iv. d) shallow
v. a) When the sportsman becomes too self-centered
vi. d) Conflict
PASSAGE-5
i. B) A metabolic disease characterized by low blood sugar.
ii. C) type 1 diabetes
iii. A) Only I is correct
iv. D) bloodstream
v. B) convert
vi. A) 1,3,4

PASSAGE-6
i. A)On Dal lake
ii. (b)design of a boatman rowing a shikara on the Dal Lake
iii. (a)Chief Postmaster
iv. (a)Floods
v. (d)You do not need fan
vi. d)Ordinary
PASSAGE-7
i. b) you can connect with people all over the world for free.
ii. (d) (i) and (ii).
iii. (b) learn new things.
iv. (a) necessity
v. (c) Google
34
vi. (d) 2, 3, 4 and 5

PASSAGE-8
i. (b) energy-bombs
ii. (a) 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8
iii. (b) are anaemic.
iv. (c) they are not taken in moderation.
v. (d) a source of potassium, magnesium and calcium.
vi. (d) lowering your systolic blood pressure .

PASSAGE-9
i. b)undernutrition
ii. (a) 7.5%
iii. (a) 7.5%
iv. (d) undernourishment
v. (b) ensure optimal growth and function.
vi. (d) low birth weight

PASSAGE-10

i. (d)visiting public memorials

ii. (c) 75 or more year-olds
iii. (b) 2016
iv. (c) Lincoln Liberty Memorial
v. (c) the memorial sites.
vi. (d) educational attainment

35