JAC Board Class 10th English Grammar Discursive Passages
JAC Class 10th English Grammar Discursive Passages Textbook Questions and Answers
Discursive Passages
1. Read the passage carefully.
Philosophy of Education is a label applied to the study of the purpose, process, nature and ideals of education. It can be considered a branch of both philosophy and education. Education can be defined as the teaching and learning of specific skills, and the imparting of knowledge, judgment and wisdom, and is something broader than the societal institution of education we often speak of.
Many educationists consider it a weak and woolly field, too far removed from the practical applications of the real world to be useful. But philosophers dating back to Plato and the Ancient Greeks have given the area much thought and emphasis, and there is little doubt that their work has helped shape the practice of education over the millennia.
Plato is the earliest important educational thinker, and education is an essential element in “The Republic” (his most important work on philosophy and political theory, written around 360 B.C.). In it, he advocates some rather extreme methods: removing children from their mothers’ care and raising them as wards of the state, and differentiating children suitable to the various castes, the highest receiving the most education, so that they could act as guardians of the city and care for the less able.
He believed that education should be holistic, including facts, skills, physical discipline, music and art. Plato believed that talent and intelligence is not distributed genetically and thus is be found in children bom to all classes, although his proposed system of selective public education for an educated minority of the population does not really follow a democratic model.
Aristotle considered human nature, habit and reason to be equally important forces to be cultivated in education, the ultimate aim of which should be to produce good and virtuous citizens. He proposed that teachers lead their students systematically, and that repetition be used as a key tool to develop good habits, unlike Socrates’ emphasis on questioning his listeners to bring out their own ideas. He emphasized the balancing of the theoretical and practical aspects of subjects taught, among which he explicitly mentions reading, writing, mathematics, music, physical education, literature, history, and a wide range of sciences, as well as play, which he also considered important.
During the Medieval period, the idea of Perennialism was first formulated by St. Thomas Aquinas in his work “De Magistro”. Perennialism holds that one should teach those things deemed to be of everlasting importance to all people everywhere, namely principles and reasoning, not just facts (which are apt to change over time), and that one should teach first . about people, not machines or techniques. It was originally religious in nature, and it was only much later that a theory of secular perennialism developed.
During the Renaissance, the French skeptic Michel de Montaigne (1533 – 1592) was one of the first to critically look at education. Unusually for his time, Montaigne was willing to question the conventional wisdom of the period, calling into question the whole edifice of the educational system, and the implicit assumption that university-educated philosophers were necessarily wiser than uneducated farm workers.
Word-Meaning: Holistic = comprehensive, Genetically = relating to genes or genetics, Ultimate = eventual, final
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any ten of the questions given below by choosing the most appropriate option: [10 x 1 = 10]
a. Philosophy of education is considered a branch of
(i) education and history
(ii) political science and sociology
(iii) philosophy and education
(iv) history and economy
Answer:
(iii) philosophy and education
b. Who believed that education should be holistic, including facts, skills, physical discipline, music and art?
(i) Aristotle
(ii) St. Thomas Aquinas
(iii) Michel de Montaigne
(iv) Plato
Answer:
(iv) Plato
c. Why do many educationists consider education a weak and woolly field?
(i) As they are not good in studies.
(ii) They found it irrelevant to every field.
(iii) Lack of practical approach and far from real world.
(iv) It can be understood by everyone.
Answer:
(iii) Lack of practical approach and far from real world.
d. What is an essential element in ‘The Republic’?
(i) Business
(ii) Education
(iii) Economy
(iv) Society
Answer:
(ii) Education
e. The term ‘Perennialism’ refers that
(i) one should teach those things which is of everlasting importance to all people.
(ii) one should teach according to the students’ interests.
(iii) one should point out the unnecessary approaches.
(iv) all of the above
Answer:
(i) one should teach those things which is of everlasting importance to all people.
f. What should be found in children born to all classes?
(i) Talent and intelligence
(ii) Habit and culture
(iii) Thought and approach
(iv) All of these
Answer:
(i) Talent and intelligence
g. Who proposed that teachers lead their students systematically?
(i) Plato
(ii) Michel de Montaigne
(iii) Aristotle
(iv) Thomas Aquinas
Answer:
(iii) Aristotle
h. What is the most important work on philosophy and political theory, written by Plato?
(i) Apology
(ii) The Republic
(iii) Phaedrus
(iv) The Symposium
Answer:
(ii) The Republic
i. Who emphasized the balancing of the theoretical and practical aspects of subjects taught?
(i) Aristotle
(ii) Plato
(iii) Socrates
(iv) St. Thomas Aquinas
Answer:
(iii) Socrates
j. Who coined the idea of Perennialism?
(i) Plato
(ii) St. Thomas Aquinas
(iii) Aristotle
(iv) Socrates
Answer:
(ii) St. Thomas Aquinas
k. Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to ‘rebirth’.
(i) inaction
(ii) decrease
(iii) renaissance
(iv) edifice
Answer:
(iii) renaissance
l. Find out a word from the passage opposite in meaning to ‘undevelop’.
(i) relevant
(ii) doubt
(iii) develop
(iv) malign
Answer:
(iii) develop
2. Read the passage carefully.
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 refers 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.
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-centred, the idea of sportsmanship is dismissed.
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.
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’s 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 unfavourable 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)’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 being 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.
Word-Meaning: Enduring = durable, Disposition aspects, Petty = small, minor, Batter = cripple
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any ten of the questions given below by choosing the most appropriate option: [10 x 1 = 10]
a. When is the idea of sportsmanship dismissed?
(i) When the team does not win.
(ii) When each athlete is not self-centred.
(iii) When the team wins because of one athlete.
(iv) When the athlete becomes too self-centred.
Answer:
(iv) When the athlete becomes too self-centred.
b. The elements of sportsmanship are
(i) good form
(ii) willingness to win
(iii) equity and fairness
(iv) all of these
Answer:
(iv) all of these
c. What does sportsmanship refer to in general?
(i) Fairness
(ii) Self-control
(iii) Courage and persistence
(iv) All of these
Answer:
(iv) All of these
d. What is the most common offence of bad sportsmanship?
(i) Act of cheating and follow rules
(ii) Cheating or breaking rules to gain an unfair advantage
(iii) Winning the hearts of people
(iV) All of the above
Answer:
(ii) Cheating or breaking rules to gain an unfair advantage
e. Who is a ‘sore loser’?
(i) One who loses the game, but wins the hearts.
(ii) One who punishes the athlete for showing the poor sportsmanship.
(iii) One who shows the poor sportsmanship after losing a game or contest.
(iv) One who is self-centred but wins the game.
Answer:
(iii) One who shows the poor sportsmanship after losing a game or contest.
f. What are the similarities between ‘sore loser’ and ‘bad winner’?
(i) Both want to win the game fairly.
(ii) Both are not self-obsessed.
(iii) Both win but lose the hearts of audience but win sportsmanship.
(iv) Both lose the sportsmanship, one after losing the match and the other after winning the match.
Answer:
(iv) Both lose the sportsmanship, one after losing the match and the other after winning the match.
g. If one does not take the responsibility for one’s defeat, is called .
(i) sore loser
(ii) bad winner
(iii) true player
(iv) leader
Answer:
(i) sore loser
h. What happens when athletes become too self-centred?
(i) The idea of sportsmanship is dismissed.
(ii) The importance of games increases.
(iii) They only believe in making money.
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(i) The idea of sportsmanship is dismissed.
i. Who acts in a shallow fashion after his/her victory?
(i) Sore loser
(ii) Bad winner
(iii) Self-centred player
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(ii) Bad winner
j. Which of the following doesn’t belong to ‘sportsmanship’?
(i) Self-control and respect for others
(ii) Fairness and willingness
(iii) Courage and persistence
(iv) Winning by hook or by crook
Answer:
(iv) Winning by hook or by crook
k. Find out a word from the passage opposite in meaning to ‘disbelieve’.
(i) courage
(ii) determination
(iii) believe
(iv) lethargy
Answer:
(iii) believe
l. Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to ‘general’.
(i) opinion
(ii) imaginary
(iii) uncommon
(iv) common
Answer:
(iv) common
3.Read the passage carefully.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is the space agency of the Government of India headquartered in the city of Bengaluru. Its vision is to “harness space technology for national development while pursuing space science research and planetary exploration.”
Formed in 1969, ISRO superseded the erstwhile Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) established in 1962 by the efforts of independent India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and his close aide and scientist Vikram Sarabhai. The establishment of ISRO thus institutionalised space activities in India. It is managed by the Department of Space, which reports to the Prime Minister of India.
ISRO built India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, which was launched by the Soviet Union on 19 April, 1975. It was named after the Mathematician Aryabhata. In 1980, Rohini became the first satellite to be placed in orbit by an Indian-made launch vehicle, SLV-3. ISRO subsequently developed two other rockets: the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) for launching satellites into polar orbits and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) for placing satellites into geostationary orbits. These rockets have launched numerous communications satellites and earth observation satellites. Satellite navigation systems like GAGAN and IRNSS have been deployed. In January 2014, ISRO successfully used an indigenous cryogenic engine in a GSLV-D5 launch of the GSAT-14.
ISRO sent a lunar orbiter, Chandrayaan-1, on 22 October, 2008 and a Mars orbiter, Mars Orbiter Mission, on 5 November 2013, which successfully entered Mars orbit on 24 September 2014, making India the first nation to succeed on its first attempt to Mars, and ISRO the fourth space agency in the world as well as the first space agency in Asia to successfully reach Mars orbit. On 18 June, 2016 ISRO successfully set a record with a launch of 20 satellites in a single payload, one being a satellite from Google. On 15 February 2017, ISRO launched 104 satellites in a single rocket (PSLV-C37) and created a world record. ISRO launched its heaviest rocket, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III), on 5 June 2017 and placed a communications satellite GSAT-19 in orbit. With this launch, ISRO became capable of launching 4 ton heavy satellites.
Word-Meaning: Exploration = inspection, Erstwhile = former, Subsequently = afterwards
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any ten of the questions given below by choosing the most appropriate option: [10 x 1 = 10]
a. What is the vision of ISRO?
(i) To harness space technology for national development
(ii) To give training to scientists only
(iii) To give information on science
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(i) To harness space technology for national development
b. Which of the following satellites was launched after the name of the great mathematician Aryabhata?
(i) Rohini
(ii) Aryabhata
(iii) Chandrayaan
(iv) PSLV
Answer:
(ii) Aryabhata
c. Where is the headquarter of ISRO located?
(i) New Delhi
(ii) Udaipur
(iii) Gandhinagar
(iv) Bengaluru
Answer:
(iv) Bengaluru
d. Who played an instrumental role in the establishment of ISRO?
(i) Aryabhata
(ii) Jawaharlal Nehru and Aryabhata
(iii) Jawaharlal Nehru and Vikram Sarabhai
(iv) Jawaharlal Nehru, Vikram Sarabai, and Aryabhata
Answer:
(iii) Jawaharlal Nehru and Vikram Sarabhai
e. Name the indigenous cryogenic engine launched by ISRO.
(i) GSTD-13
(ii) GSAT-14
(iii) GAGAN
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(ii) GSAT-14
f. ISRO is managed by and reports to .
(i) Scientists, President
(ii) Ministry of Defence, Prime Minister
(iii) Department of Space, Prime Minister of India
(iv) Soviet Union, NASA
Answer:
(iii) Department of Space, Prime Minister of India
g. When did ISRO send a lunar orbiter, Chandrayaan-1?
(i) On 22 October, 2009
(ii) On 24 September, 2013
(iii) On 22 October, 2008
(iv) None of the above
Answer:
(iii) On 22 October, 2008
h. What is the name of the first satellite to be placed in orbit by SLV-3?
(i) Aryabhat
(ii) Rohini
(iii) PSLV
(iv) ASLV
Answer:
(iii) PSLV
i. Which of the following is India’s heaviest rocket?
(i) Scout
(ii) Saturn
(iii) GSLV-Mk III
(iv) Rehbar-I
Answer:
(iii) GSLV-Mk III
j. When did ISRO launch 104 satellites in a single rocket (PSLV-C37) and created a world record?
(i) On 26 February, 2017
(ii) On 15 January, 2019
(iii) On 15 February, 2017
(iv) On 20 December, 2008
Answer:
(iii) On 15 February, 2017
k. Find out a word from the passage opposite in meaning to ‘unsuccessfully’.
(i) exceedingly
(ii) well
(iii) renowned
(iv) successfully
Answer:
(iv) successfully
l. Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to ‘aboriginal’.
(i) planetary
(ii) indigenous
(iii) familiar
(iv) institutionalized
Answer:
(ii) indigenous
4. Read the passage carefully.
The art of academic writing is not easy to master. It is a formal skill, which requires precision and accuracy, and is perfected by continuous and dedicated practice. Academic writing is the skilful exposition and explanation of an argument, which the writer has carefully researched and developed over a sustained period of time. It is a time-consuming activity and demands patience and perseverance. But the joy of reading and sharing with others, one’s succinctly composed piece of argument, is incomparable.
Before beginning to write, the writer must ask himself a few questions – Why am I writing? What is it that I intend to share with others? What purpose will my writing serve? Have I read enough about the topic or theme about which I am going to write? If one is hesitant to answer even one of the aforementioned questions, one better not write at all! Because academic writing is a serious activity – it makes one part of a shared community of readers and writers who wish to disseminate and learn from well-argued pieces of writing.
The structure of an argumentative essay should take the form of – Introduction (which should be around ten per cent of the entire essay), Body (it should constitute eighty per cent of the piece) and the Conclusion (again, ten per cent of the essay). The introduction should function as the hook which draws the reader in and holds his attention, the body should include cogent and coherently linked paragraphs and the conclusion should re-state the argument and offer a substantial ending to the piece.
Word-Meaning: Accuracy – carefulness, Perseverance – persistence, Succinctly – shortly, in brief, Disseminate – propagate, publicise, Cogent – convincing
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any ten of the questions given below by choosing the most appropriate option: [10 x 1 = 10]
a. What is an ideal form of an argumentative essay?
(i) Introduction and conclusion
(ii) Overview, introduction, and rest ten per cent of the essay
(iii) Introduction, body, and conclusion
(iv) Introduction, concise essay and conclusion
Answer:
(iii) Introduction, body, and conclusion
b. Which of the following statements about academic writing is not true?
(i) One’s succinctly composed piece of argument is comparable.
(ii) It is a formal skill, which requires precision, accuracy and continuous and dedicated practice.
(iii) It is not a quick and short term activity.
(iv) Art of academic writing is not easy to master.
Answer:
(i) One’s succinctly composed piece of argument is comparable.
c. What is a serious activity?
(i) Writing on sports
(ii) Academic writing
(iii) Writing on entertainment
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(ii) Academic writing
d. The ending or conclusion of paragraphs should be
(i) convincing
(ii) considerable and substantial
(iii) good
(iv) none of the above
Answer:
(ii) considerable and substantial
e. How does the art of academic writing become perfect?
(i) By itself
(ii) By regular and continuous practice as well as dedication
(iii) When the writer hesitates while writing
(iv) When the writer does not research but writes everything by his own knowledge.
Answer:
(ii) By regular and continuous practice as well as dedication
f. What is academic writing?
(i) The skilful exposition and explanation of an argument
(ii) It is a formal skill which requires precision and accuracy.
(iii) Structure of an argumentative essay
(iv) Both (i) and (ii)
Answer:
(iv) Both (i) and (ii)
g. Which of the following is the most joyful part of writing?
(i) Carefully researched and developed over a sustained period of time
(ii) Reading and sharing with others
(iii) Introduction, body and conclusion
(iv) None of the above
Answer:
(ii) Reading and sharing with others
h. Why an academic writer doesn’t write, if he hesitates to answer his own questions?
(i) Because it is a serious activity.
(ii) Because he can’t complete his writing.
(iii) Because he will not follow the correct format of writing.
(iv) Because he need to research more and more.
Answer:
(i) Because it is a serious activity.
i. How does introduction function?
(i) As a hook
(ii) As a catalyst
(iii) Both (i) and (ii)
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(i) As a hook
j. The art of writing is and demands patience and
(i) perfect / incomparable
(ii) comparable / research
(iii) time consuming / perseverance
(iv) none of these
Answer:
(iii) time consuming / perseverance
k. Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to ‘concisely’.
(i) cogent
(ii) substantial
(iii) aforementioned
(iv) succinctly
Answer:
(iv) succinctly
l. Find out a word from the passage opposite in meaning to ‘abstract’.
(i) substantial
(ii) beginning
(iii) cogent
(iv) incomparable
Answer:
(i) substantial
5. Read the passage carefully.
On August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain, with less than a hundred crew members to discover a new route to Asia. After spending a difficult time at sea, the party sighted land early on the morning of October 12, 1492. They set foot on an island in the Bahamas which they named A1 Salvador. Columbus presumed that the indigenous people were . Native Indians as he was under the mistaken belief that he had set foot on Indian soil. Probably some 10 million American Indians were natives to the land before the large-scale inhabitation by Europeans and subsequent annihilation of Native Americans started.
However, it took more than a hundred years after Columbus discovered America for the Europeans to finally take the momentous decision to make the New World their home.
The Native Americans actually welcomed the pale-skinned visitors primarily out of curiosity than anything else. They were fascinated by the steel knives and swords, fire spewing cannons, brass and copper utensils, etc. that these visitors brought with them. Eventually, cultural differences erupted. The natives could not stomach the arrogance of the newcomers and the scant respect they paid to nature. The European settlers viewed every resource — plants, animals, and people as something to be commercially exploited.
The native Indians were vastly outnumbered in the wars that ensued. The resistance they put up never proved enough to stop the European settlers. The nomadic lifestyle of the Indians, the relatively unsophisticated weapons at their disposal, the unwillingness of some of their own people to defend themselves, and the diseases of the white men — all contributed to the virtual elimination of their race. Some of the diseases brought by Europeans from their overcrowded cities that decimated the natives were: small pox, plague, measles, cholera, typhoid, and malaria. These deadly diseases, to which most natives had developed no resistance, devastated many tribes between 1775 and 1850.
America was named after an Italian navigator, Amerigo Vespucci, who explored the Northern parts of South America in 1499 and 1500 and later announced to the world about the discovery of a new continent.
Word-Meaning: Presumed = guessed, Indigenous = primitive, Probably = perhaps, Inhabitation = ownership, Momentous = transitory, Ensued = occurred
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any ten of the questions given below by choosing the most appropriate option: [10 x 1 = 10]
a. Who was Amerigo Vespucci?
(i) An Italian navigator
(ii) A German navigator
(iii) A French artist
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(iii) A French artist
b. After reaching on an island in the Bahamas, what was presumed by Christopher Columbus?
(i) He found a new route to Asia.
(ii) He assumed that the indigenous people were Native Indians.
(iii) Native Indians were vastly outnumbered in the wars.
(iv) He assumed that America was named after an Italian navigator.
Answer:
(i) He found a new route to Asia.
c. How did America get its name?
(i) After Christopher Columbus, while finding a route from A1 Salvador to Asia.
(ii) The Native Americans referred its name.
(iii) After the name of Amerigo Vespucci, who explored the northern parts of South America.
(iv) After the name of Amerigo Vespucci, who explored the southern parts of South America.
Answer:
(ii) The Native Americans referred its name.
d. Did the Native Americans welcome the pale-skinned visitors?
(i) Yes
(ii) considerable and substantial
(iii) Only few were welcomed.
(iv) none of the above
Answer:
(ii) considerable and substantial
e. Why did the Native Americans welcome the pale-skinned visitors?
(i) They were fascinated by the steel knives and swords, fire spewing cannons, brass and copper utensils etc., which visitors brought with them.
(ii) They were fascinated by their surroundings and culture.
(iii) Both (i) and (ii)
(iv) None of the above
Answer:
(ii) They were fascinated by their surroundings and culture.
f. From the passage we can infer that in comparison to the Europeans, Native Americans
(i) did not pay respect to their nature
(ii) paid respect to their nature
(iii) did nothing
(iv) none of the above
Answer:
(iv) none of the above
g. Diseases like small pox, plague, measles, cholera, typhoid, and malaria were brought by whom?
(i) The Native Americans
(ii) The pale-skinned visitors
(iii) The Europeans
(iv) Amerigo Vespucci
Answer:
(ii) The pale-skinned visitors
h. How many crew members were there with Christopher Columbus, while discovering a new route to Asia?
(i) Almost hundred
(ii) More than hundred
(iii) Less than hundred
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(i) Almost hundred
i. When did Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos to discover a new route to Asia?
(i) Between 1755 to 1850
(ii) On August 3, 1492
(iii) In 1499 and 1500
(iv) On 2 October, 1492
Answer:
(i) Between 1755 to 1850
j. Who were devastated by the deadly disease between 1775 and 1850?
(i) Indians
(ii) Tribes
(iii) Americans
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(iii) Americans
k. Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to ‘traveling’.
(i) presumed
(ii) nomadic
(iii) inhabitation
(iv) sail
Answer:
(iv) sail
l. Find out a word from the passage opposite in meaning to ‘undeveloped’.
(i) nomadic
(ii) developed
(iii) resistance
(iv) erupted
Answer:
(i) nomadic
6. Read the passage carefully.
Artificial intelligence (AI), sometimes called machine intelligence, is intelligence demonstrated by machines, in contrast to the natural intelligence displayed by humans and other animals. In computer science, AI research is defined as the study of “intelligent agents”: any device that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its chance of successfully achieving its goals. Colloquially, the term “artificial intelligence” is applied when a machine mimics “cognitive” functions that humans associate with other human minds, such as “learning” and “problem solving.”
The scope of AI is disputed: as machines become increasingly capable, tasks considered as requiring “intelligence” are often removed from the definition, a phenomenon known as the AI effect, leading to the quip, “AI is whatever hasn’t been done yet.” For instance, optical character recognition is frequently excluded from “artificial intelligence”, having become as routine technology. Capabilities generally classified as AI as of 2017 include successfully understanding human speech, competing at the highest level in strategic game systems (such as chess and Go), autonomous cars, intelligent routing in content delivery network and military simulations.
Artificial intelligence was founded as an academic discipline in 1956, and in the years since has experienced several waves of optimism, followed by disappointment and the loss of funding (known as an “AI winter”), followed by new approaches, success and renewed funding. For most of its history, AI research has been divided into subfields that often fail to communicate with each other. These sub-fields are based on technical considerations, such as particular goals (e.g. “robotics” or “machine learning”), the use of particular tools (“logic” or artificial neural networks), or deep philosophical differences. Subfields have also been based on social factors (particular institutions or the work of particular researchers).
The traditional problems (or goals) of AI research include reasoning, knowledge representation, planning, learning, natural language processing, perception and the ability to move and manipulate objects. General intelligence is among the field’s long-term goals. Approaches include statistical methods, computational intelligence, and traditional symbolic AI. Many tools are used in AI, including versions of search and mathematical optimization, artificial neural networks, and methods based on statistics, probability and economics. The AI field draws upon computer science, mathematics, psychology, linguistics, philosophy and many others.
Word-Meaning: Colloquial = conversational, Mimic = caricature, Cognitive = experimental, phenomenon = aspect
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any ten of the questions given below by choosing the most appropriate option: [10 x 1 = 10]
a. Artificial Intelligence is demonstrated by
(i) human beings
(ii) animals
(iii) machines
(iv) none of these
Answer:
(i) human beings
b. AI research is defined as
(i) the study of devices
(ii) the study of artificial intelligence
(iii) the study of intelligent agents
(iv) all of the above.
Answer:
(ii) the study of artificial intelligence
c. When is the term ‘artificial intelligence’ applied?
(i) When humans mimic cognitive functions
(ii) When machines mimic cognitive functions
(iii) Both (i) and (ii)
(iv) None of the above
Answer:
(iii) Both (i) and (ii)
d. AI capabilities include successfully competing at the
(i) Yes
(ii) No
(iii) Only few were welcomed
(iv) All of the above
Answer:
(i) Yes
e. Why did the Native Americans welcome the pale-skinned visitors?
(i) They were fascinated by the steel knives and swords, fire spewing cannons, brass and copper utensils etc., which visitors brought with them.
(ii) They were fascinated by their surroundings and culture.
(iii) Both (i) and (ii)
(iv) None of the above
Answer:
(i) They were fascinated by the steel knives and swords, fire spewing cannons, brass and copper utensils etc., which visitors brought with them.
f. From the passage we can infer that in comparison to the Europeans, Native Americans
(i) did not pay respect to their nature
(ii) paid respect to their nature
(iii) did nothing
(iv) none of the above
Answer:
(ii) paid respect to their nature
g. Diseases like small pox, plague, measles, cholera, typhoid, and malaria were brought by whom?
(i) The Native Americans
(ii) The pale-skinned visitors
(iii) The Europeans
(iv) Amerigo Vespucci
Answer:
(iii) The Europeans
h. The subfields of AI are based on
(i) the use of particular tools
(ii) More than hundred
(iii) both (i) and (ii)
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(iii) both (i) and (ii)
j. When did Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos to discover a new route to Asia?
(i) Between 1755 to 1850
(ii) OnAugust3, 1492
(iii) In 1499 and 1500
(iv) On 2 October, 1492
Answer:
(ii) OnAugust3, 1492
j. Who were devastated by the deadly disease between 1775 and 1850?
(i) Indians
(ii) Tribes
(iii) Americans
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(ii) Tribes
k. Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to ‘traveling’.
(i) presumed
(ii) nomadic
(iii) inhabitation
(iv) sail
Answer:
(iv) sail
l. Find out a word from the passage opposite in meaning to bundeveloped.
(i) nomadic
(ii) deveLoped
(iii) resistance
(iv) erupted
Answer:
(ii) deveLoped
7. Read the passage carefully.
Like their ancient toga-wearing counterparts, modem philosophers continue to disagree on the nature of freewill. Do we really have any control over the choices we make and the things we desire, and if so, to what degree? Theories of freewill vary, but the ancient words of Plato still line up with our modem perceptions of temptation and willpower. The revered Greek philosopher argued that the human experience is one of constant stmggle between the intellect and the body, between rationality and desire. Along these lines, true freedom is only achievable when willpower unchains us from bodily, emotional, instinctual slavery.
You can find similar sentiments throughout world religions, most of which offer a particular and often difficult path to rise above our darker natures And science? Well, science mostly agrees with all of this. Willpower is all about overcoming your natural impulses to eat cupcakes, skip your morning workout, flirt with the waiter, hit the snooze alarm and check your e-mail during a funeral. Your willpower, however, is limited. If life were a video game, you’d see a glowing “willpower” or “ego” meter at the top of the screen next to your “life” meter. Successfully resist one temptation, and the meter depletes a little. The next temptation depletes the “willpower” meter even more, until there’s nothing left at all.
Our modern scientific understanding of willpower in large part stems from a 1996 research experiment involving chocolate and radishes. Psychologist Roy Baumeister led a study in which 67 test subjects were presented with tempting chocolate, chip cookies and other chocolate- flavored treats before a persistence-testing puzzle. Here’s the catch: The researchers asked some of the participants to abstain from sweets and snack on radishes instead.
Baumeister’s results told a fascinating story. The test subjects who resisted the sweet stuff in favor of radishes performed poorly on the persistence test. They simply didn’t have the willpower left to resist slacking off The resulting paper, “Ego Depletion: Is the Active Self a Limited Resource?” inspired more than a thousand additional studies discussing everything from the influence of positive messages to the ego-sapping power of daily decisions.
Studies also show that cognitive capacity also affects our ability to hold out against temptation. Cognitive capacity is essentially your working memory, which you employ when resisting a temptation or holding a string of numbers in your head. A 1999 study from the University of Iowa professor Baba Shiv found that people tasked with remembering a two-digit number held out better than people remembering a seven-digit number when tempted with chocolate cake.
Word-Meaning:
Counterparts – complement, Perception – understanding, Instinctual – accustomed to, Snooze – nap, Temptation – allurement
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any ten of the questions given below by choosing the most appropriate option: [10 x 1 = 10]
a. What is willpower, according to the author?
(i) Overcoming our basic instincts
(ii) Wanting for something that we cannot achieve
(iii) Overcoming our natural impulses
(iv) All of these
Answer:
(iii) Overcoming our natural impulses
b. Cognitive capacity is the ability to
(i) resist a temptation
(ii) maintain balance between intellect and body
(iii) maintain balance between rationality and desire
(iv) all of the above
Answer:
(i) resist a temptation
c. When the author imagines life as a video game, there would be two types of metres to judge willpower
(i) Ego meter and Life meter
(ii) Temptation meter and Life meter
(iii) Willpower meter and Life meter
(iv) Ego meter and Willpower meter
Answer:
(iv) Ego meter and Willpower meter
d. What is cognitive capacity?
(i) Working memory that resists temptation
(ii) Working memory that aggravates temptation
(iii) It only soothes our mind.
(iv) Does nothing
Answer:
(i) Working memory that resists temptation
e. Who is Roy Baumeister?
(i) A philosopher
(ii) A psychologist
(iii) A scientist
(iv) A mathematician
Answer:
(ii) A psychologist
f. According to Plato, human experience is one of constant struggle between
(i) the intellect and the body
(ii) rationality and desire
(iii) both (i) and (ii)
(iv) temptation and repulsion
Answer:
(iii) both (i) and (ii)
g. Plato’s ancient words line up with our and willpower.
(i) old perceptions of temptation
(ii) modem perceptions of temptation
(iii) new perceptions
(iv) none of these
Answer:
(ii) modem perceptions of temptation
h. Most religions in the world recommend
(i) to rise above our dark nature
(ii) to understand the theory of freewill
(iii) to strengthen willpower
(iv) to disagree on the nature of freewill
Answer:
(i) to rise above our dark nature
i. What reference did the author give to the disagreement on the nature of freewill?
(i) Ancient toga-wearing counterparts
(ii) Theory of freewill
(iii) Religious sentiments
(iv) All of the above
Answer:
(i) Ancient toga-wearing counterparts
j. What employs working memory to resist temptation?
(i) Freewill
(ii) Cognitive capacity
(iii) Ego
(iv) Willpower
Answer:
(ii) Cognitive capacity
k. Find out a word from the passage opposite in meaning to ‘dissimilar’.
(i) similar
(ii) discharge
(iii) detach
(iv) release
Answer:
(i) similar
l. Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to ‘equal’.
(i) rival
(ii) counterpart
(iii) might
(iv) unparallel
Answer:
(ii) counterpart
8. Read the passage carefully.
The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and it is commanded by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four-star general. Two officers have been conferred with the rank of field marshal, a five-star rank, which is a ceremonial position of great honour. The Indian Army originated from the armies of the East India Company, which eventually became the British Indian Army, and the armies of the princely states, which finally became the national army after independence. The units and regiments of the Indian Army have diverse histories and have participated in a number of battles and campaigns across the world, earning a large number of battle and theatre honours before and after Independence.
The primary mission of the Indian Army is to ensure national security and national unity, defending the nation from external aggression and internal threats”, and maintaining peace and security within its borders. It conducts humanitarian rescue operations during natural calamities and other disturbances, like Operation Surya Hope, and can also be requisitioned by the government to cope with internal threats. It is a major component of national power alongside the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. The army has been involved in four wars with neighbouring Pakistan and one with China. Other major operations undertaken by the army include: Operation Vijay, Operation Meghdoot and Operation Cactus.
Apart from conflicts, the army has conducted large peace time exercises like Operation Brasstacks and Exercise Shoorveer, and it has also been an active participant in numerous United Nations peacekeeping missions including those in: Cyprus, Lebanon, Congo, Angola, Cambodia, Vietnam, Namibia, El Salvador, Liberia, Mozambique and Somalia. The Indian Army has a regimental system, but is operationally and geographically divided into seven commands, with the basic field formation being a division. It is an all-volunteer force and comprises more than 80% of the country’s active defence personnel.
It is the 2nd largest standing army in the world, with 1,237,117 active troops and 960,000 reserve troops. The army has embarked on an infantry modernisation program known as Futuristic Infantry Soldier As a System (F-INSAS), and is also upgrading and acquiring new assets for its armoured, artillery and aviation branches.
Word-Meaning:
Eventually – finally
Component – constituent
Calamities – disasters
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any ten of the questions given below by choosing the most appropriate option: [10 x 1 = 10]
a. What is Operation Surya Hope?
(i) Ensures national security
(ii) Humanitarian rescue operations
(iii) Maintains peace and security within its borders
(iv) All of the above
Answer:
(ii) Humanitarian rescue operations
b. The number of reserve troops in Indian Army is
(i) 9,60,000
(ii) 9,70,000
(iii) 9,65,000
(iv) None of the above
Answer:
(i) 9,60,000
c. What is the infantry modernisation program known as?
(i) Futuristic Infantry Soldier As a System (F-INSAS)
(ii) Future Infantry Soldier System
(iii) Futuristic Soldier Infant System
(iv) Futuristic Infant Soldier As a System
Answer:
(i) Futuristic Infantry Soldier As a System (F-INSAS)
d. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is a
(i) Five-star general
(ii) Four-star general
(iii) Three-star general
(iv) Two-star general
Answer:
(ii) Four-star general
e. The Indian army is operationally and geographically divided into
(i) six commands
(ii) four commands
(iii) five commands
(iv) seven commands
Answer:
(iv) seven commands
f. Two large peace time exercises conducted by Indian Army are
(i) Operation Vijay and Operation Brasstacks
(ii) Exercise Shoorveer and Operation Cactus
(iii) Operation Brasstacks and Exercise Shoorveer
(iv) Operation Meghdoot and Operation Vijay
Answer:
(iii) Operation Brasstacks and Exercise Shoorveer
g. The Indian Army originated from the armies of
(i) British Indian Army
(ii) East India Company
(iii) British Army
(iv) None of the above
Answer:
(ii) East India Company
h. ………….. of the country’s active defence personnel are in the Indian
Army.
(i) 70%
(ii) 65%
(iii) 80%
(iv) 75%
Answer:
(iii) 80%
i. Field Marshall (FM) is a
(i) Four-star rank
(ii) Five-star rank
(iii) Three-star rank
(iv) Six-star rank
Answer:
(ii) Five-star rank
j. The primary mission of Indian Army is
(i) National security, unity and maintaining peace within its borders.
(ii) To conduct humanitarian rescue operations
(iii) To participate in UN peacekeeping missions
(iv) All of the above
Answer:
(iv) All of the above
k. Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to ‘civilized’.
(i) noble
(ii) uncivilised
(iii) selfish
(iv) humanitarian
Answer:
(iv) humanitarian
l. Find out a word from the passage opposite in meaning to ‘external’.
(i) internal
(ii) essential
(iii) innate
(iv) artificial
Answer:
(i) internal
9. Read the passage carefully.
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 realisation 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’s lessons. No wonder that besides the scriptures in many cultures nature is also worshiped. The message that we get is to save our environment and maintain ecological balance. People are taught to live in harmony with nature and recognise 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 worshiped 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 drought, flood 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.
Word-Meaning:
Respective – particular, Mythologies – legends, folklores, Ethics – morality, Surroundings – particular place,
Scriptures – sacred text, Obstacle – hurdle, barrier, Progressive developing, growing
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any ten of the questions given below by choosing the most appropriate option: [10 x 1 = 10]
a. What are we taught in our growing up years as children at home and school, according to the passage?
(i) To lead the life of simplicity
(ii) Only to learn with friends
(iii) To worship the photos and idols of the gods of our respective religions
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(iii) To worship the photos and idols of the gods of our respective religions
b. What did the stories from our mythologies teach us?
(i) Etiquettes and manners
(ii) Ethics and morality
(iii) Style of living
(iv) Way of talking
Answer:
(ii) Ethics and morality
c. Besides scriptures is also worshiped in many cultures.
(i) man
(ii) nature
(iii) woman
(iv) none of these
Answer:
(ii) nature
d. What message does nature give to us?
(i) To save over environment
(ii) To maintain ecological balance
(iii) Both (i) and (ii)
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(iii) Both (i) and (ii)
e. Who made our lives comfortable with their hard work, love and care?
(i) Friends
(ii) Parents
(iii) Relatives
(iv) None of the above
Answer:
(ii) Parents
f. What are people taught?
(i) People are taught to live in harmony with nature.
(ii) People are taught to live in disharmony.
(iii) People are taught to lead the life of loneliness.
(iv) People are taught nothing.
Answer:
(i) People are taught to live in harmony with nature
g. What does the river teach us?
(i) Not to do anything
(ii) To be progressive in life
(iii) To keep the fighting spirit alive
(iv) Both (ii) and (iii)
Answer:
(iv) Both (ii) and (iii)
h. Why are snakes worshiped?
(i) They bite us.
(ii) They eat insects in the field and protect our grains for us.
(iii) They only eat milk.
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(ii) They eat insects in the field and protect our grains for us.
i. What is destroying our nature?
(i) Greed
(ii) Dishonesty
(iii) Indiscipline
(iv) Behaviour
Answer:
(i) Greed
j. If we learn to respect nature the quality of our life will .
(i) deteriorate
(ii) improve
(iii) glow
(iv) none of these
Answer:
(ii) improve
k. Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to ‘integrity’.
(i) sin
(ii) immorality
(iii) morality
(iv) evil
Answer:
(iii) morality
l. Find out a word from the passage opposite in meaning to ‘irresponsible’.
(i) maintain
(ii) responsible
(iii) untrustworthy
(iv) unaccountabLe
Answer:
(ii) responsible
10. Read the passage carefully.
I. Summer vacation offers families dilemmas and opportunities. For too many kids it becomes a period of intellectual passivity and stalled personal growth. For others — and their parents — it’s a time of overload and frantic scheduling.
2. “Summer is a great time for parents to build a relationship with their children,” says a renowned child psychologist. And it’s an opportunity both for the kids to learn and for the family to grow together. To make this a reality, educators and psychologists point to several simple strategies that parents can start planning before summer gets under way.
3. “Summer’s a perfect time for kids to take skills they’ve learnt in a classroom and use them in new ways.” notes a well-known educator. Comparing prices in a grocery shop can sharpen children’s mental maths skills. Taking measurements to build a new tree house or design a simple plaything teaches geometry. Car trips provide opportunities to study maps and learn geography. Some libraries offer free summer reading programmes for children.
4. Sometimes kids will need a small push in the right direction. Victoria encouraged her seven-year old son, Philip. to take part in their local library’s summer reading club. For every book report a child wrote, he received a raffle ticket. At the end of the summer sports prizes were raffled off. Philip, who’d painstakingly produced seven book reports won an autographed picture of a hockey star and had his name in one of his reports printed in the local newspäper. (If that’s not possible, encourage children to write letters to editors on current affairs, or about school-related issues.) “Philip moaned and groaned about writing the reports, but in the end, he was happy he put the effort in,” notes his mother. “And his ability to express himself really improved.”
5. It’s the daily practice of stimulation — intellectual, creative, esteem-building— that parents can give their children that have the greatest impact,” says an eminent researcher. In an informal study conducted in 1998 other researches surveyed successful college students about how they spent their free time from ages five to 12, then compared their activities with those of troubled youngsters. They found that the successful ones were more likely to play spontaneous games, more involved in household chores and more likely to engage in playful activities with their parents. Troubled youngsters spent far less time on chores or family games and more time on their own, planted in front of the TV or a video game.
6. Often, when parents are drawing up their summer plans, their focus is on entertaining and enriching their children. But experts agree that a summer built completely around a child’s self-fulfillment won’t help a youngster mature into a high thinking, caring member of his family or community.
Truly successful kids, say educators, are those who’ve learnt to budget time to help others — whether it’s helping an invalid neighbour or preparing their own family’s meals a couple of nights a week. Where parents fail, say experts, is in the way such responsibilities are presented. Too often, they’re trotted out as punishments instead of challenges. To make matters worse, parents often nag the child about the task, rather than simply setting a completion deadline and allowing the youngster to decide when and how he will meet it.
7. For most parents of school-age kids, the largest block of time they’ll have with their children is in the summer. With a little advance preparation, parents can use the summer to help develop their youngsters into smarter, more creative, more caring human beings.
Word-Meaning: Dilemmas – predicament, Opportunities – chances, Frantic – panic-stricken, Raffle – a means of raising money, Painstakingly – meticulously, attentively, Autographed – signed, Moaned – sobbed, cried, Stimulation – incite, provocation, Spontaneous – natural, voluntary, Trot out – to provide an explanation, excuse
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any ten of the questions given below by choosing the most appropriate option: [10 x 1 = 10]
a. What does summer vacation offer to families?
(i) Only fortune
(ii) Only misfortune
(iii) Dilemmas and opportunities
(iv) Only leisure time
Answer:
(iii) Dilemmas and opportunities
b. Summer is a great time for parents to build a with their children.
(i) relationship
(ii) new equation
(iii) proximity
(iv) all of these
Answer:
(i) relationship
c. What can children do by comparing prices in a grocery shop?
(i) Sharpen their intellect
(ii) Sharpen their mental maths skills
(iii) Sharpen their memory
(iv) Can do nothing
Answer:
(ii) Sharpen their mental maths skills
d. What sort of opportunities do car trips provide?
(i) To learn car driving
(ii) To read novel
(iii) To study maps and learn geography
(iv) Only merry-making
Answer:
(iii) To study maps and learn geography
e. What did Philip get for every book?
(i) Raffle ticket
(ii) Panal ticket
(iii) Lottery ticket
(iv) Nothing
Answer:
(i) Raffle ticket
f. Philip had won an autographed picture of a
(i) soccer
(ii) cricket
(iii) hockey
(iv) film
Answer:
(iii) hockey
g. Who are truly successful kids, according to educators?
(i) Those who always remain busy in their studies.
(ii) Those who only spend their time in playing.
(iii) Those who have learnt to budget time to help others.
(iv) All of these
Answer:
(iii) Those who have learnt to budget time to help others.
h. Who played spontaneous games?
(i) The successful youngsters
(ii) The troubled youngsters
(iii) The stupid youngsters
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(i) The successful youngsters
i. On which aspects do parents focus on during summer plans?
(i) Only on journey of hill stations
(ii) Only on entertaining and enriching their children
(iii) Only on giving moral education to their children
(iv) All of these
Answer:
(ii) Only on entertaining and enriching their children
j. What can parents do to their children with a little advance preparation during summer?
(i) They can become smarter, creative and caring human beings.
(ii) They can become lethargic.
(iii) They spend their time only on studies.
(iv) They can do nothing.
Answer:
(i) They can become smarter, creative and caring human beings.
k. Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to ‘chance’.
(i) event
(ii) reality
(iii) misfortune
(iv) opportunity
Answer:
(iv) opportunity
l. Find out a word from the passage opposite in meaning to ‘ignoramus’.
(i) dilemma
(ii) failure
(iii) success
(iv) intellectual
Answer:
(iv) intellectual
11. Read the passage carefully.
1. In the summer of 1967, when I was 10 years old, my father caved into my persistent pleas and took me to get my own dog. Together we drove in the family station wagon far into the Michigan countryside to a farm run by a rough-hewn woman and her ancient mother. The farm produced just one commodity – dogs. Dogs of every imaginable size and shape and age and temperament. They had only two things in common: each was a mongrel of unknown and distinct ancestry and each was free to a good home.
2. I quickly decided the older dogs were somebody else’s charity case. I immediately raced to the puppy cage. “You want to pick one that’s not timid,” my father coached. “Try rattling the cage and see which ones aren’t afraid.”
3. I grabbed the chain-link gate and yanked on it with a loud clang. The dozen or so puppies reeled backward, collapsing on top of one another in a squiggling heap of fur. Just one remained. He was gold with a white blaze on his chest, and he charged at the gate, yapping fearlessly. He jumped up and excitedly licked my fingers through the fencing. It was love at first sight.
4. I brought him home in a cardboard box and named him Shaun. He was one of those dogs that gives dogs a good name. He effortlessly mastered every command I taught him and was naturally well behaved. I could drop a crust on the floor and he would not touch it until I gave the okay.
5. Relatives would visit for the weekend and returned home determined to buy a dog of their own, so impressed were they with Shaun – or “Saint Shaun,” as I came to call him. Bom with the curse of an uncertain lineage, he was one of the tens of thousands of unwanted dogs in America. Yet by some stroke of almost providential good fortune, he became wanted. He came into my life and I into his – and in the process, he gave me the childhood every kid deserves.
6. The love affair lasted fourteen years and by the time he died I was no longer the little boy who had brought him along on that summer day. I was a man, out of college and working across the state in my first real job. Saint Shaun had stayed behind when I moved on. It was where he belonged. My parents, by then retired, called to break the news to me. My mother would later tell me, “In fifty years of marriage, I’ve only seen your father cry twice. The first time was when we lost Mary Ann” – my sister, who was stillborn. “The second time was the day Shaun died.”
7. Saint Shaun was the companion of my childhood. He was a perfect dog. At least that’s how I will always remember him. It was Shaun who set the standard by which I would judge all other dogs to come.
Word-Meaning: Persistent – constant, Pleas – appeal, Mongrel – a breed of dog, Ancestry – forebears, Rattling – knocking sound, Grabbed – grasped, snatched, Reeled – staggered, Determined – resolute, resolved, Lineage – ancestry, parentage, Providential – favourable, Stillborn – born dead
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any ten of the questions given below by choosing the most appropriate option: [10 x 1 = 10]
a. What did the farm only produce?
(i) Cat
(ii) Rabbit
(iii) Sheep
(iv) Dog
Answer:
(iv) Dog
b. What type of dogs were present there?
(i) Imaginable size and shape
(ii) Age
(iii) Temperament
(iv) All of these
Answer:
(iv) All of these
c. The narrator brought a dog home and named him
(i) Buddy
(ii) Bailey
(iii) Shaun
(iv) Charlie
Answer:
(iii) Shaun
d. How was Shaun?
(i) Well-behaved
(ii) Ill-mannered
(iii) Discourteous
(iv) None of the these
Answer:
(i) Well-behaved
e. For how many years did their love affair continue?
(i) Ten years
(ii) Eleven years
(iii) Twelve years
(iv) Fourteen years
Answer:
f. Who was Saint Shaun?
(i) The narrator’s relative
(ii) The narrator’s componion
(iii) The narrator’s childhood friend
(iv) None of these
Answer:
(ii) The narrator’s componion
g. When did the narrator’s father cry for the first time?
(i) When Mary Ann, the narrator’s sister died.
(ii) When the narrator failed in his annual exam.
(iii) When the narrator misbehaved with his teacher.
(iv) When the narrator’s one leg got fractured in a car accident.
Answer:
(i) When Mary Ann, the narrator’s sister died.
h. When did the narrator’s father cry for the second time?
(i) When Shaun came into his home.
(ii) When Shaun died.
(iii) When the narrator was slapped by one of his classmates.
(iv) All of these
Answer:
(ii) When Shaun died.
i. Write the name of a countryside which has been mentioned in the passage.
(i) Michigan
(ii) Dorset
(iii) Essex
(iv) Cheshire
Answer:
(i) Michigan
j. Who ran the farm where the narrator had gone?
(i) An orphan child
(ii) Rough-hewn woman and her mother
(iii) The narrator’s father
(iv) The narrator’s cousin
Answer:
(ii) Rough-hewn woman and her mother
k. Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to ‘continuous’.
(i) inconstant
(ii) weak
(iii) unstable
(iv) persistent
Answer:
(iv) persistent
l. Find out a word from the passage opposite in meaning to ‘irresolute’.
(i) tenacious
(ii) determined
(iii) unstable
(iv) timid
Answer:
(ii) determined
